National Instruments 700 - Manual (Page 11)

© National Instruments Corporation 1-1 DAQCard-700 User Manual
Chapter 1
Introduction
This chapter describes the DAQCard-700; lists what you need to get started, software
programming choices, and optional equipment; and explains how to unpack the DAQCard-700.
About the DAQCard-700
Thank you for your purchase of the National Instruments DAQCard-700. The DAQCard-700 is
a low-cost, low-power analog input, digital, and timing I/O card for computers equipped with a
Type II PCMCIA slot. The card contains a 12-bit, successive-approximation ADC with 16
single-ended or 8 differential analog inputs, 8 lines of TTL-compatible digital input, and 8 lines
of digital output. The DAQCard-700 also contains two 16-bit counter/timer channels for timing
I/O. The optional 50 pin I/O connector for the DAQCard-700 enables you to easily connect all
your analog, digital, and timing signals directly to the card. The DAQCard-700 is fully software
configurable and calibrated so that you can easily install the card and begin your acquisition
without having to spend time configuring or calibrating the card.
The DAQCard-700 ships with NI-DAQ, National Instruments complete DAQ driver which
handles every function listed on the data sheet for our DAQ hardware. Using NI-DAQ you can
quickly and easily start your application without having to program the card on the register level.
The small size and weight of the DAQCard-700 coupled with its low-power consumption make
this card ideal for use in portable computers, making remote data acquisition practical. The card
requires very little power when operating and has a standby mode that uses even less power, thus
extending the life of your computer batteries.
In addition, the low cost of a system based on the DAQCard-700 makes it ideal for laboratory
work in industrial and academic environments. The multichannel analog input is useful in signal
analysis and data logging. The 12-bit ADC is useful in high-resolution applications such as
chromatography, temperature measurement, and DC voltage measurement. The 16 TTL-
compatible digital I/O line can be used for switching external devices such as transistors and
solid-state relays, for reading the status of external digital logic, and for generating interrupts.
The counter/timers can be used to synchronize events, generate pulses, and measure frequency
and time. The DAQCard-700, used in conjunction with your computer, is a versatile, cost-
effective platform for laboratory test, measurement, and control.
Detailed specifications of the DAQCard-700 are in Appendix A, Specifications.