Chapter 1 Introduction; About The Daqcard-500 - National Instruments Corporation DAQCard-500 User Manual

Chapter 1
Introduction
This chapter describes the DAQCard-500, lists what you need to get started, your software
programming choices, and explains how to unpack the DAQCard-500.

About the DAQCard-500

Thank you for purchasing the National Instruments DAQCard-500. The DAQCard-500 is a low-
cost, low-power analog input, digital I/O, and timing I/O board for computers equipped with a
Type II PCMCIA slot. The board contains a 12-bit, successive-approximation ADC with eight
single-ended analog inputs, four lines of TTL-compatible digital input, and four lines of digital
output. The optional 27-pin I/O connector for the DAQCard-500 enables you to easily connect
all your signals directly to the card. The DAQCard-500 is fully software configurable and
calibrated so that you can easily install the card and begin your acquisition without having to
spend time calibrating the card.
The DAQCard-500 ships with NI-DAQ, National Instruments' complete DAQ driver that
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-500 coupled with its low-power consumption make
this board ideal for use in portable computers, making remote data acquisition practical. The
board 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-500 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 eight TTL-
compatible digital I/O lines can be used for switching external devices such as transistors and
solid-state relays, and for reading the status of external digital logic. The DAQCard-500, used in
conjunction with your computer, is a versatile, cost-effective platform for laboratory test,
measurement, and control.
Detailed specifications for the DAQCard-500 are in Appendix A, Specifications.
© National Instruments Corporation 1-1 DAQCard-500 User Manual