Glossary

5-2

Glossary
Adapter
A piece of hardware which
contains one or more PCMCIA
sockets.The Adapter contains
the interface between the
Socket Controller and the Host
System.
AUTOEXEC .BAT
A set of commands in the form
of a batch file program that are
automatically executed by DOS
to help configure your system
when you Boot-Up your
computer.
BIOS
An abbreviation for Basic
Input/Output System. A set of
instructions/routines stored in
ROM. These routines work
closely with hardware devices
(memory chips, disk drives and
monitor) to input and output
interrupt requests indicating
when a device is ready to
accept or send data.
CONFIG.SYS
A system configuration com-
mand file that contains install-
able device drivers, memory
management commands and
control files that DOS accesses
and uses when your system
starts up.
DPRAM
Dual Ported Random Access
Memory. The data for
communication between PC
and CANcard are exchange via
a DPRAM.
I/O
An abbreviation for lnput
Output. Refers to the sending
(input) and receiving (output) of
data through an 110 channel in
the CPU. Example: The
keyboard inputs data to the 110
channel in the CPU that in turn
is output to the monitor.
IRQ
An abbreviation for Interrupt
Request. A signal sent by a
device and routed through the
BIOS indicating when a device
is ready to accept or send data.
PCMCIA
Personal Computer Memory
Card International Association,
a trade association of leading
hardware and software
vendors, established to adopt a
set of standards pertaining to
adapter slots and PC cards for
portable PC accessories.
Slot
A receptacle on a micro,
portable, laptop or palmtop
computer that is used to insert
and operate PCMCIA PC
Cards. Also referred to as a
Socket.
Socket
Same as Slot (see above).