National Instruments RT Series User Manual page 31

Glossary
B
BIOS
bus
C
cache
channel
D
DAQ
© National Instruments Corporation
basic input/output system—BIOS functions are the fundamental level
of any PC or compatible computer. BIOS functions embody the basic
operations needed for successful use of the computer hardware resources.
the group of conductors that interconnect individual circuitry in a computer.
Typically, a bus is the expansion vehicle to which I/O or other devices are
connected. Examples of PC buses are the ISA and PCI bus.
high-speed processor memory that buffers commonly used instructions or
data to increase processing throughput
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.
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 boards plugged into a computer,
and possibly generating control signals with D/A and/or DIO boards in the
same computer
G-1 RT Series DAQ Device User Manual