©
National Instruments Corporation
1-1
DAQCard-DIO-24 User Manual
Chapter
1
Introduction
This chapter describes the DAQCard-DIO-24, lists what you need to get
started, describes software programming choices and optional
equipment, and explains how to unpack your DAQCard-DIO-24.
About the DAQCard-DIO-24
Thank you for buying the National Instruments DAQCard-DIO-24. The
DAQCard-DIO-24 is a low-cost, low-power, 24-bit, parallel digital I/O
card for PCs and Macintoshes equipped with a Type II PCMCIA slot.
An OKI 82C55A PPI controls the 24 bits of digital I/O. The 82C55A is
flexible and powerful when interfacing with peripheral equipment, can
operate in either a unidirectional or bidirectional bus mode, and can
generate interrupt request outputs. The 82C55A can be programmed for
a wide variety of 8-bit or 16-bit digital I/O applications. With the
standard 50-pin I/O connector on available cables, you can easily
connect digital signals to the DAQCard-DIO-24. The pin assignments
for this connector are compatible with standard 24-channel digital I/O
applications.
The DAQCard-DIO-24 is packaged with NI-DAQ software, the
National Instruments complete driver with a library of DAQ functions
for DOS and Windows or Macintosh applications. Using NI-DAQ, you
can quickly and easily start your application without having to program
the card at the register level.
The small size and weight of the DAQCard-DIO-24, coupled with its
low power consumption, make this card convenient for use in portable
computers. This portability makes remote data acquisition practical.
The card requires very little power when operating, thus extending the
life of your computer batteries.
In addition, the low cost of a system based on the DAQCard-DIO-24
makes it ideal for laboratory work in industrial and academic
environments. You can use the 24 TTL-compatible digital I/O lines to
switch external devices, such as transistors and solid-state relays, read
the status of external digital logic, and generate interrupts.