Glossary
G-4
ni.com
counter/timer
a circuit that counts external pulses or clock pulses (timing)
CTR
counter
D
D/A
digital-to-analog
DAC
digital-to-analog converter—an electronic device, often an integrated
circuit, that converts a digital number into a corresponding analog voltage
or current
DAC0OUT
analog channel 0 output signal
DAC1OUT
analog channel 1 output signal
DAQ
data acquisition—(1) collecting and measuring electrical signals from
sensors, transducers, and test probes or fixtures and inputting them to a
computer for processing; (2) collecting and measuring the same kinds of
electrical signals with A/D and/or DIO devices plugged into a computer,
and possibly generating control signals with D/A and/or DIO devices in the
same computer
DAQ-STC
data acquisition system timing controller chip
dB
decibel—the unit for expressing a logarithmic measure of the ratio of
two signal levels: dB = 20log
10
(V
1
/V
2
), for signals in volts
DC
direct current
DGND
digital ground signal
DIFF
differential mode
differential input
an analog input consisting of two terminals, both of which are isolated from
computer ground, whose difference is measured
DIO
digital input/output
DIP
dual inline package
dithering
the addition of Gaussian noise to an analog input signal