Glossary
G-2
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ADC
analog-to-digital converter—an electronic device, often an integrated
circuit, that converts an analog voltage to a digital number
ADC resolution
the resolution of the ADC, which is measured in bits. An ADC with 16 bits
has a higher resolution, and thus a higher degree of accuracy, than a 12-bit
ADC.
AI
analog input
AIGATE
analog input gate signal
AIGND
analog input ground signal
AISENSE
analog input sense signal
alias
a false lower frequency component that appears in sampled data acquired
at too low a sampling rate
ANSI
American National Standards Institute
AO
analog output
AOGND
analog output ground signal
ASIC
Application-Specific Integrated Circuit—a proprietary semiconductor
component designed and manufactured to perform a set of specific
functions for a specific customer
asynchronous
(1) hardware—a property of an event that occurs at an arbitrary time,
without synchronization to a reference clock (2) software—a property of a
function that begins an operation and returns prior to the completion or
termination of the operation
B
bandwidth
the range of frequencies present in a signal, or the range of frequencies to
which a measuring device can respond
base address
a memory address that serves as the starting address for programmable
registers. All other addresses are located by adding to the base address.
BIOS
Basic input/output system—BIOS functions are the fundamental level of
any PC or compatible computer. BIOS functions embody the basic
operations needed for successful use of the computer’s hardware resources.
