OPTO 22 PAMUX, User Manual

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GLOSSARY
Pamux User’s Guide
E-3
driver
A software program that provides instructions for transferring data between an application
program and a peripheral device. The Pamux driver provides an interface that allows a user to
program a Pamux system.
DLL
Dynamic link library, a library of executable functions that can be accessed by one or several
Windows applications. Libraries may also be provided in static rather than dynamic form.
flat-ribbon cable
See
ribbon cable.
handle
A number assigned by an operating system or driver to a resource (such as an AC28 card) as a
means of identifying it. The operating system or driver may assign sequential numbers to
resources to keep track of them.
ICTD
Integrated circuit temperature detector, a probe whose current output is proportional to absolute
temperature. ICTDs are highly repeatable and easy to use because they don’t require
resistance-measuring circuity, high-precision voltage amplifiers, or cold-junction compensation.
I/O
Input/output, the transfer of data to or from a computer system involving communication
devices, operator interfaces, and/or data acquisition and control interfaces.
I/O channel
See point.
I/O module
A device that provides an interface between signals received from “real world” field devices and
the logic signals used in computers and controllers. For example, a thermocouple input module
can convert a millivolt signal from a thermocouple into a numeric value that can be interpreted
by a host computer. A digital output module can send a signal to turn a field device (such as a
motor) on or off. Most I/O modules feature one point of I/O; an exception is quad pak modules,
which feature four points of I/O.
I/O mounting
rack A device into which I/O modules and/or brain boards can be installed.
I/O point
See
point.
ISA
Industry Standard Architecture, the most common bus architecture on the mother board of DOS-
based computers.