National Instruments Corporation1-1AT-MIO/AI E Series User ManualIntroduction Chapter1This chapter describes the AT E Series boards, lists what you need toget started, describes the optional software and optional equipment, andexplains how to unpack your AT E Series board.About the AT E SeriesThank you for buying a National Instruments AT E Series board. TheAT E Series boards are the first completely Plug and Play-compatiblemultifunction analog, digital, and timing I/O boards for the PC AT andcompatible computers. This family of boards features 12-bit and 16-bitADCs with 16 and 64 analog inputs, 12-bit and 16-bit DACs withvoltage outputs, eight and 32 lines of TTL-compatible digital I/O, andtwo 24-bit counter/timers for timing I/O. Because the AT E Seriesboards have no DIP switches, jumpers, or potentiometers, they areeasily configured and calibrated using software.The AT E Series boards are the first completely switchless andjumperless data acquisition boards. This feature is made possible by theNational Instruments DAQ-PnP bus interface chip that connects theboard to the AT I/O bus. The DAQ-PnP implements the Plug and PlayISA Specification so that the DMA, interrupts, and base I/O addressesare all software configurable. This allows you to easily change theAT E Series board configuration without having to remove the boardfrom your computer. The DAQ-STC makes possible such applicationsas buffered pulse generation, equivalent time sampling, and seamlesslychanging the sampling rate.The AT E Series boards use the National Instruments DAQ-STCsystem timing controller for time-related functions. The DAQ-STCconsists of three timing groups that control analog input, analog output,and general-purpose counter/timer functions. These groups include atotal of seven 24-bit and three 16-bit counters and a maximum timingresolution of 50 ns.A common problem with DAQ boards is that you cannot easilysynchronize several measurement functions to a common trigger or
