Glossary

monotonicity

A characteristic of a DAC in which the analog output always increases as

 

the values of the digital code input to it increase.

multichannel

Pertaining to a radio-communication system that operates on more than one

 

channel at the same time. The individual channels might contain identical

 

information, or they might contain different signals.

multifunction DAQ

See MIO.

multiplex

To assign more than one signal to a channel. See also mux.

mux

Multiplexer—A set of semiconductor or electromechanical switches

 

arranged to select one of many inputs to a single output. The majority of

 

DAQ cards have a multiplexer on the input, which permits the selection of

 

one of many channels at a time.

 

A switching device with multiple inputs that sequentially connects each of

 

its inputs to its output, typically at high speeds, in order to measure several

 

signals with a single analog input channel.

N

NI

National Instruments.

NI-DAQ

The driver software needed to use National Instruments DAQ devices and

 

SCXI components. Some devices use Traditional NI-DAQ (Legacy); others

 

use NI-DAQmx.

NI-DAQmx

The latest NI-DAQ driver with new VIs, functions, and development tools

 

for controlling measurement devices. The advantages of NI-DAQmx over

 

earlier versions of NI-DAQ include the DAQ Assistant for configuring

 

channels and measurement tasks for your device for use in LabVIEW,

 

LabWindows/CVI, and Measurement Studio; increased performance such

 

as faster single-point analog I/O; and a simpler API for creating DAQ

 

applications using fewer functions and VIs than earlier versions of

 

NI-DAQ.

NI-PGIA

See instrumentation amplifier.

non-referenced signal

Signal sources with voltage signals that are not connected to an absolute

sources

reference or system ground. Also called floating signal sources. Some

 

common example of non-referenced signal sources are batteries,

 

transformers, or thermocouples.