Introduction; About The Daqcard-1200 - National Instruments DAQPad-1200 User Manual

Introduction

About the DAQCard-1200

© National Instruments Corporation
This chapter discusses what you need to get started, optional software,
optional equipment, how to unpack the DAQCard-1200, and safety
information for using the device.
The DAQCard-1200 is a low-cost, low-power AI, AO, DIO, and TIO card
for computers equipped with a Type II PC Card slot. The card contains a
12-bit, successive-approximation A/D converter (ADC) with eight inputs,
which you can configure as eight single-ended or four differential channels.
The DAQCard-1200 also has two 12-bit D/A converters (DACs)
with voltage outputs, 24 lines of TTL-compatible DIO and three 16-bit
counter/timer channels for TIO. The specially designed standard 50-pin I/O
connector for the DAQCard-1200 enables you to connect all the analog,
digital, and timing signals to the card. The DAQCard-1200 is fully
software configurable and factory calibrated so that you can easily install
the card and begin acquiring data.
The low power consumption of the DAQCard-1200 makes this card ideal
for use in portable computers and makes portable data acquisition practical.
The card requires very little power when operating, thus extending the life
of your computer batteries.
In addition, the low-cost and multifunctional nature of a system based on
the DAQCard-1200 makes it ideal for laboratory work in industrial and
academic environments. The multiple channel 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. You can use the AO channels
to generate experimental stimuli or for machine and process control and
analog function generation. You can use the 24 TTL-compatible DIO lines
for switching external devices such as transistors and solid-state relays, for
reading the status of external digital logic, and for generating interrupts.
You can use the counter/timers to synchronize events, generate pulses, and
measure frequency and time. The DAQCard-1200, used in conjunction
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DAQCard-1200 User Manual