User manual

Glossary
NI-DAQ User Manual for PC Compatibles G-4 ni.com
coupling the manner in which a signal is connected from one location to another
CPU central processing unit
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 (1) data acquisition—collecting and measuring electrical signals from
sensors, transducers, and test probes or fixtures and inputting them to a
computer for processing
(2) data acquisition—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
DC direct current
DDS Direct Digital Synthesis
device A plug-in DAQ board, card, or pad that can contain multiple channels and
conversion devices. Plug-in boards, 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.
differential input an analog input consisting of two terminals, both of which are isolated from
computer ground, whose difference is measured
digital port See port
DIN Deutsche Industrie Norme (German Industrial Standard)
DIO digital I/O
dithering the addition of Gaussian noise to the analog input signal