Owner's manual

Glossary
75
External Trigger A voltage pulse from an external source
that triggers an event such as digital
input latch signal.
F
FIFO First-In First-Out Memory Buffer: The
first data stored is the first data sent to
the acceptor.
Fixed-Point A format for processing or storing
numbers as digital integers.
Floating-Point A format for processing or storing
numbers in scientific exponential
notation (digits multiplied by a power
of 10).
Function A set of software instructions executed
by a single line of code that may have
input and/or output parameters and
returns a value when executed.
G
GUI Graphical User Interface: An intuitive,
easy-to-use means of communicating
information to and from a computer
program by means of graphical screen
displays. GUIs can resemble the front
panels of instruments or other objects
associated with a computer program.
H
Handler A device driver that is installed as part
of the operating system of the
computer.
Hardware The physical components of a computer
system, such as the circuit boards,
plug-in boards, chassis, enclosures,
peripherals, cables, and so on.
I