User manual

Introduction

Chapter

This chapter describes the PC-DIO-96/PnP; lists what you need to get

started; describes software programming choices, optional equipment,

and custom cables; and explains how to unpack the PC-DIO-96/PnP.

About the PC-DIO-96/PnP

Thank you for purchasing the National Instruments PC-DIO-96/PnP.

PnP refers to the Plug and Play technology used in this board. See the

Conventions Used in this Manual section in About This Manual for an

explanation. The PC-DIO-96/PnP is a 96-bit, parallel, digital I/O

interface for ISA computers. Four 82C55A programmable peripheral

interface (PPI) chips control the 96 bits of digital I/O. The 82C55A can

operate in either a unidirectional or bidirectional mode and can generate

interrupt requests to the host computer. You can program the 82C55A

for almost any 8-bit or 16-bit digital I/O application. All digital I/O

communication is through a standard, 100-pin, male connector. The

PC-DIO-96/PnP also includes an 82C53 counter/timer that can send

periodic interrupts to the host system.

If you have the non-PnP version of the PC-DIO-96/PnP, see

Appendix E, Using Your PC-DIO-96 (Non-PnP) Board, for the

differences between the PnP version and the non-PnP version.

You can use the PC-DIO-96/PnP in a wide range of digital I/O

applications. With the PC-DIO-96/PnP, you can interface any PC to any

of the following:

• Other computers

– Another PC with a National Instruments PC-DIO-96/PnP,

PC-DIO-24, or AT-DIO-32F

– IBM Personal System/2 with a National Instruments

MC-DIO-24 or MC-DIO-32F