Measurement Computing Data Translation DT3010 Series, User Manual, Page: 124 / 232

Principles of Operation
123
Specifying One or More Channels
You can specify one or two analog output channels in the analog output channel list, either
starting with DAC 0 or with DAC 1.
Values are output simultaneously to the entries in the channel list.
Output Ranges and Gains
Each DAC on the DT3010 Series board can output bipolar analog output signals in the range
of ±10 V.
Through software, specify the range for the entire analog output subsystem as
−
10 V to +10 V,
and the gain for each DAC as 1.
If you are using a single-value operation, specify a gain of 1; refer to page 125 for more
information on single-value operations.
If you are using an analog output channel list, the subsystem defaults to a gain of 1 for each
channel; therefore, you do not have to specify the gain.
D/A Output Clock Sources
DT3010 Series boards provide two clock sources for pacing the output of each channel in the
analog output channel list:
• An internal D/A output clock that uses the 24-bit D/A Counter on the board.
• An external D/A output clock that you can connect to the screw terminal panel.
The following subsections describe the internal and external D/A output clocks in more
detail.
Internal D/A Output Clock
The internal D/A output clock uses a 20 MHz time base. Conversions start on the falling edge
of the counter output; the output pulse is active low.
Through software, specify the clock source as internal and the clock frequency at which to
pace the analog output operation.
The minimum frequency supported is 1.2 Hz (1.2 Samples/s). For DT3010, DT3010-268,
DT3010/32, and DT3010/32-268 boards, the maximum frequency supported is 500 kHz
(500 kSamples/s) with 100 mV steps or 200 kHz (200 kSamples/s) with full-scale steps. For
DT3016 boards, the maximum frequency supported is 200 kHz (200 kSamples/s) with 100 mV
steps or 100 kHz (100 kSamples/s) with full-scale steps. See
page 125 for more information on
these conversion modes.