Glossary
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National Instruments Corporation
G-3
cold-junction
compensation
a method of compensating for thermoelectric voltages created when a
thermocouple is connected to a measurement device
conversion time
The time required, in an analog input or output system, from the moment a
channel is interrogated (such as with a read instruction) to the moment that
accurate data is available.
counter/timer
a circuit that counts external pulses or clock pulses (timing)
coupling
the manner in which a signal is connected from one location to another
CPU
central processing unit
crosstalk
an unwanted signal on one channel due to an input on a different channel
D
D/A
digital-to-analog
DAC
D/A converter. An electronic device, often an integrated circuit, that
converts a digital number into a corresponding analog voltage or current.
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 PC, and possibly generating control
signals with D/A and/or DIO devices in the same PC.
DAQCard-500/700
refers to the DAQCard-500 and DAQCard-700
DAQCard E Series
refers to the DAQCard-AI-16E-4 and DAQCard-AI-16XE-50
DC
direct current
device
Device is used to refer to a DAQ device inside your computer or attached
directly to your computer through a parallel port. Plug-in devices,
PCMCIA cards, and devices such as the DAQPad-1200, which connects to
your computer parallel port, are all examples of DAQ devices. SCXI
modules are distinct from devices, with the exception of the SCXI-1200,
which is a hybrid.