Glossary
PXI-8150 Series User Manual
G-2
© National Instruments Corporation
B
B
bytes
backplane
An assembly, typically a printed circuit board, with connectors and
signal paths that bus the connector pins.
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.
C
C
Celsius
cache
Small portion of high-speed memory used for temporary storage of
frequently used data
CMOS
Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor; a process used in making
chips
CompactPCI
An adaptation of the PCI specification for industrial and/or embedded
applications that require a more robust mechanical form factor than
desktop PCI. CompactPCI provides a standard form factor for those
applications requiring the high performance of PCI as well as the small
size and ruggedness of a rack-mount system.
D
DC
Direct Current
DIMM
Dual In-line Memory Module
DMA
Direct Memory Access; a method by which data is transferred between
devices and internal memory without intervention of the central
processing unit
DRAM
Dynamic RAM (Random Access Memory); storage that the computer
must refresh at frequent intervals