Glossary
PCI-6023E/6024E/6025E User Manual
G-12
©
National Instruments Corporation
pulse trains
multiple pulses
pulsed output
a form of counter signal generation by which a pulse is outputted when a
counter reaches a certain value
Q
quantization error
the inherent uncertainty in digitizing an analog value due to the finite
resolution of the conversion process
R
RAM
random-access memory
real time
a property of an event or system in which data is processed as it is acquired
instead of being accumulated and processed at a later time
referenced signal
sources
signal sources with voltage signals that are referenced to a system ground,
such as the earth or a building ground. Also called grounded signal sources.
relative accuracy
a measure in LSB of the accuracy of an ADC. It includes all non-linearity
and quantization errors. It does not include offset and gain errors of the
circuitry feeding the ADC.
resolution
the smallest signal increment that can be detected by a measurement
system. Resolution can be expressed in bits, in proportions, or in percent of
full scale. For example, a system has 12-bit resolution, one part in 4,096
resolution, and 0.0244% of full scale.
ribbon cable
a flat cable in which the conductors are side by side
rise time
the difference in time between the 10% and 90% points of a system’s step
response
rms
root mean square—the square root of the average value of the square of the
instantaneous signal amplitude; a measure of signal amplitude
RSE
referenced single-ended mode—all measurements are made with respect
to a common reference measurement system or a ground. Also called a
grounded measurement system.
PCI.book Page 12 Wednesday, September 16, 1998 9:09 AM