National Instruments Low-Cost Multifunction I/O Board for ISA Lab-PC+ - Manual (Page 13)

© National Instruments Corporation 1-1 Lab-PC+ User Manual
Chapter 1
Introduction
This chapter describes the Lab-PC+; lists what you need to get started; describes the optional
software and optional equipment; and explains how to unpack the Lab-PC+.
About the Lab-PC+
The Lab-PC+ is a low-cost multifunction analog, digital, and timing I/O board for the PC. The
Lab-PC+ contains a 12-bit successive-approximation ADC with eight analog inputs, which can
be configured as eight single-ended or four differential channels. The Lab-PC+ also has
two12-bit DACs with voltage outputs, 24 lines of TTL-compatible digital I/O, and six 16-bit
counter/timer channels for timing I/O.
The low cost of a system based on the Lab-PC+ 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 analog output channels can be
used to generate experiment stimuli and are also useful for machine and process control and
analog function generation. The 24 TTL-compatible digital I/O lines can be used for switching
external devices such as transistors and solid-state relays, for reading the status of external digital
logic, and for generating interrupts. The counter/timers can be used to synchronize events,
generate pulses, and measure frequency and time. The Lab-PC+, used in conjunction with the
PC, is a versatile, cost-effective platform for laboratory test, measurement, and control.
Detailed specifications of the Lab-PC+ are in Appendix A, Specifications.
What You Need to Get Started
To set up and use your Lab-PC+ board, you will need the following:
Lab-PC+ board
Lab-PC+ User Manual
One of the following software packages and documentation:
NI-DAQ for PC compatibles
LabVIEW
LabWindows/CVI
Your computer