National Instruments Measure Data Acquisition - Manual (Page 87)

Glossary
© National Instruments Corporation G-3 Measure Data Acquisition User Manual
C
channel Pin or wire lead to which you apply or from which you read the
analog or digital signal. Analog signals can be single-ended or
differential. For digital signals, you group channels to form
ports. Ports usually consist of either four or eight digital
channels.
channel clock The clock controlling the time interval between individual
channel sampling within a scan. Boards with simultaneous
sampling do not have this clock.
clock Hardware component that controls timing for reading from or
writing to groups.
conversion device Device that transforms a signal from one form to another. For
example, analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) for analog input,
digital-to-analog converters (DACs) for analog output, digital
input or output ports, and counter/timers are conversion devices.
coupling The manner in which a signal is connected from one location to
another.
D
D/A Digital-to-analog.
DAC Digital-to-analog converter. An electronic device, often an
integrated circuit, that converts a digital number into a
corresponding analog voltage or current.
data acquisition Process of acquiring data, typically from A/D or digital input
plug-in boards.
device A plug-in data acquisition board that can contain multiple
channels and conversion devices.
device number The slot number or board ID number assigned to the board when
you configured it.
DIFF Differential. A differential input is an analog input consisting of
two terminals, both of which are isolated from computer ground
and whose difference you measure.