Glossary
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National Instruments Corporation
G-7
M
m
Meter.
master
A functional part of a MXI/VME/VXIbus device that initiates data transfers
on the backplane. A transfer can be either a read or a write.
module
A board assembly and its associated mechanical parts, front panel, optional
shields, and so on. A module contains everything required to occupy one or
more slots in a mainframe. SCXI and PXI devices are modules.
MSB
Most significant bit.
mux
Multiplexer—a switching device with multiple inputs that sequentially
connects each of its inputs to its output, typically at high speeds, in order to
measure several signals with a single analog input channel.
N
NC
Normally closed, or not connected.
NI
National Instruments.
NI-DAQmx
The latest NI-DAQ driver with new VIs, functions, and development tools
for controlling measurement devices. The advantages of NI-DAQmx over
earlier versions of NI-DAQ include the DAQ Assistant for configuring
channels and measurement tasks for your device for use in LabVIEW,
LabWindows/CVI, and Measurement Studio; increased performance such
as faster single-point analog I/O; and a simpler API for creating DAQ
applications using fewer functions and VIs than earlier versions of
NI-DAQ.
noise
An undesirable electrical signal. Noise comes from external sources such
as the AC power line, motors, generators, transformers, fluorescent lights,
CRT displays, computers, electrical storms, welders, radio transmitters,
and internal sources such as semiconductors, resistors, and capacitors.
Noise corrupts signals you are trying to send or receive.
P
PCI
Peripheral Component Interconnect—a high-performance expansion bus
architecture originally developed by Intel to replace ISA and EISA. It offers
a theoretical maximum transfer rate of 132 Mbytes/s.
