Network Card - Network Interface Controller (NIC) User Manual
Glossary
NI PCI-8254R User Manual G-2 ni.com
FireWire A high-speed serial interface invented by Apple Computer in 1989, also 
known as IEEE 1394 or iLink.
FPGA Field-programmable gate array. An FPGA is a semi-conductor device 
which contains a large quantity of gates (logic devices), which are not 
interconnected, and whose function is determined by a wiring list, which is 
downloaded to the FPGA. The wiring list determines how the gates are 
interconnected, and this interconnection is performed dynamically by 
turning semiconductor switches on or off to enable the different 
connections.
H
HDL Hardware description language. An example of an HDL is VHDL—a 
language used to design digital circuitry.
hot swapping The act of removing or swapping a device when the computer is still on.
I
IEEE Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. A standard-setting body
IIDC IEEE 1394 Trade Association Instrumentation and Industrial Control 
Working Group, Digital Camera Sub Working Group.
isolated A signal which has no electrical connection to the overall system power.
N
NI-IMAQdx Driver software for National Instruments IEEE 1394 and Gigabit Ethernet 
interface devices.
P
pixel The fundamental picture element in a digital image. The smallest 
resolvable rectangular area of an image, either on a screen or stored in 
memory. Each pixel has its own brightness and color, usually represented 
as red, green, and blue intensities.










