Comprehensive Product Summary – Support‑Pac(PC)603

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### 1. Product Overview

Product Name: Support‑Pac(PC)603
Article Number: Support‑Pac(PC)603
Model / Series: MS‑C Device Driver Pack for PIO Series
Manufacturer: CONTEC Co., Ltd.
Product Category: Software / Device Driver Package
Supported Hardware: PIO48C, PIO48W, PIO96, PIO144 digital I/O boards
Primary Function: DOS‑based Microsoft‑C device driver package enabling communication and control of CONTEC digital I/O boards.

The Support‑Pac(PC)603 is a dedicated software driver package developed by CONTEC for use with its PIO‑series digital I/O interface boards. Designed for Microsoft‑C environments under DOS, it provides low‑level driver support, enabling developers to integrate and control CONTEC’s PIO48C, PIO48W, PIO96, and PIO144 boards in custom measurement, automation, and control applications. The package forms part of CONTEC’s broader API‑PAC and VI‑DAQ software ecosystem, which supports a wide range of analog, digital, counter, and communication modules across Windows and Linux platforms.

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### 2. Key Features

- Dedicated DOS Driver Package: Optimized for Microsoft‑C compiler environments, providing direct hardware access to PIO‑series boards.
- Supported Boards: Fully compatible with PIO48C, PIO48W, PIO96, and PIO144 digital I/O boards.
- High‑Performance I/O Control: Enables direct digital input/output operations, port configuration, and interrupt handling.
- Unified Software Architecture: Integrates with CONTEC’s API‑PAC(W32) and VI‑DAQ libraries for cross‑platform development.
- LabVIEW and Visual Studio Integration: Compatible with National Instruments LabVIEW and Microsoft Visual Basic/C++ environments through API‑PAC and API‑GPLV(W32) interfaces.
- Comprehensive Board Support: Extends to PCI, ISA, CompactPCI, and PC Card form factors across CONTEC’s product line.
- Ease of Setup: Includes configuration and diagnostic utilities for quick installation and verification of board operation.
- Sample Programs and Libraries: Provides example source code for rapid application development and testing.
- Hardware Independence: VI‑DAQ and API‑PAC libraries allow the same application code to operate across different CONTEC hardware models.
- Free Software Updates: Latest driver libraries and sample programs are available for download from CONTEC’s global portal.

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### 3. Technical Specifications

Supported Boards:
- PIO48C (ISA bus, 48‑channel digital I/O)
- PIO48W (ISA bus, 48‑channel digital I/O with opto‑isolation)
- PIO96 (ISA bus, 96‑channel digital I/O)
- PIO144 (ISA bus, 144‑channel digital I/O)

Supported Operating Systems:
- DOS (Microsoft‑C environment)
- Windows 95 / 98 / Me / 2000 / XP / NT 4.0 (via API‑PAC(W32))
- Linux (via API‑DIO(LNX) and IO‑LIB(LNX))

Supported Programming Languages:
- Microsoft Visual Basic 4.0–6.0
- Microsoft Visual C++ 2.0–6.0
- Visual Basic .NET 2002 / 2003
- Visual C++ .NET 2002 / 2003
- Visual C# .NET 2002 / 2003
- Borland C++ Builder 5.0 / 6.0
- Borland Delphi 4.0 / 5.0 / 6.0
- National Instruments LabVIEW 5.0–7.1
- gcc / Kylix2 (Linux)

Driver Libraries Included / Supported:
- API‑DIO(98/PC)NT, API‑DIO(98/PC)W95 (Digital I/O)
- API‑AIO(WDM), API‑AIO(98/PC)NT, API‑AIO(98/PC)W95 (Analog I/O)
- API‑CNT(98/PC)NT, API‑CNT(98/PC)W95 (Counter Input)
- API‑SIO(98/PC)NT, API‑SIO(98/PC)W95 (Serial Communication)
- API‑GPIB(98/PC)NT, API‑GPIB(98/PC)W95 (GPIB Communication)
- API‑SMC(98/PC)NT, API‑SMC(98/PC)W95 (Motor Control)
- API‑TIMER(W32) (Timer Control)
- API‑PAC(W32) unified library for Windows
- API‑DIO(LNX) and IO‑LIB(LNX) for Linux environments

Hardware Interface: ISA bus (for PIO48C/W/96/144)
I/O Channels: 48, 96, or 144 digital input/output lines depending on board model
Signal Type: TTL‑level digital I/O
Power Requirements: Supplied via host PC bus
Dimensions / Weight: Dependent on board model (typical ISA full‑length board dimensions: approx. 312 × 107 mm)
Material: Multi‑layer PCB with gold‑plated edge connector

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### 4. Functionality

The Support‑Pac(PC)603 provides the essential DOS‑level device drivers required to operate CONTEC’s PIO‑series digital I/O boards. It enables direct access to digital input and output ports, allowing developers to read and write bit or port data, configure direction registers, and manage interrupts.

When used in conjunction with CONTEC’s API‑PAC(W32) or VI‑DAQ libraries, the driver extends functionality to Windows and LabVIEW environments, supporting event‑driven control, background data collection, and logical device abstraction.

Typical Use Cases:
- Industrial automation and process control
- Data acquisition and monitoring systems
- Machine control and test equipment
- Laboratory instrumentation and measurement setups
- Embedded control systems using DOS or Windows PCs

Compatibility:
- Fully compatible with CONTEC’s PIO48C, PIO48W, PIO96, and PIO144 boards.
- Integrates with LabVIEW via VI‑DAQ and API‑GPLV(W32).
- Compatible with Visual Basic, C/C++, and .NET development environments.
- Supports both ISA and PCI bus architectures through unified API‑PAC libraries.

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### 5. Components & Accessories

Included Items:
- Support‑Pac(PC)603 driver disk (DOS device driver package)
- Configuration utility for board setup
- Diagnostic utility for hardware verification
- Sample source code for Microsoft‑C environment
- Documentation and help files

Optional Add‑Ons:
- API‑PAC(W32) unified driver library (Windows)
- VI‑DAQ LabVIEW‑compliant VI library
- API‑GPLV(W32) GPIB driver for LabVIEW
- COM‑DRV(W32) standard COM driver for serial communication
- API‑DIO(LNX) and IO‑LIB(LNX) for Linux environments

Connectors:
- Standard 50‑pin or 68‑pin headers (depending on board model) for digital I/O signal connection
- Compatible with CONTEC accessory cables and terminal blocks

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### 6. Installation & Setup

System Requirements:
- IBM‑compatible PC with ISA bus slot
- DOS operating system with Microsoft‑C compiler environment
- Minimum 640 KB conventional memory
- Available disk space for driver installation

Installation Procedure:
1. Insert the Support‑Pac(PC)603 disk into the target system.
2. Run the setup program to install the DOS device driver.
3. Configure board parameters (I/O address, interrupt level) using the configuration utility.
4. Verify installation using the diagnostic utility.
5. Integrate driver calls into Microsoft‑C application code.

Windows Integration (via API‑PAC):
- Use the API‑PAC setup program to install DLL libraries under Windows XP/2000/NT/Me/98/95.
- Select the corresponding CONTEC board model during installation.
- API functions become available for use in Visual Basic, C/C++, or LabVIEW.

Linux Integration:
- Load kernel module drivers (API‑DIO(LNX), API‑AIO(LNX), etc.).
- Use provided sample programs and configuration scripts to initialize the board.
- Build user interrupt source code into the driver if required.

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### 7. Performance & Capabilities

Digital I/O Control:
- Up to 144 digital I/O channels per board.
- Individual bit or port‑level control.
- Hardware digital filtering to prevent chattering.
- Event‑driven interrupt handling for input changes.

Data Acquisition:
- Foreground and background data collection supported.
- Event‑driven control functions for real‑time operation.
- High‑speed I/O access through direct port addressing.

System Performance:
- Low‑latency response suitable for real‑time control under DOS.
- Efficient driver architecture minimizing CPU overhead.
- Compatible with high‑speed PCI and ISA bus operations.

Limitations:
- DOS environment limits multitasking and memory access.
- Not compatible with National Instruments GPIB drivers when using CONTEC GPIB boards.
- Cannot execute simultaneously with API‑GPIB(98/PC) on the same hardware.

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### 8. Standards & Compliance

Hardware Standards:
- IEEE‑488 / IEEE‑488.2 (for GPIB communication boards)
- TTL‑level digital I/O signaling
- ISA / PCI / CompactPCI / PC Card bus compliance

Software Standards:
- Microsoft‑C compiler compatibility
- Win32 API compliance (for API‑PAC(W32))
- LabVIEW VI library compatibility (VI‑DAQ, API‑GPLV(W32))
- Linux kernel module compliance (RedHat and TurboLinux distributions)

Regulatory Compliance:
- Designed and manufactured under CONTEC’s ISO‑certified quality management system.
- Conforms to CE and FCC standards for electromagnetic compatibility when used with certified hardware.

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### 9. Additional Information

Warranty:
Standard CONTEC warranty applies to software and associated hardware products. Typically includes one‑year limited warranty covering defects in materials and workmanship.

Technical Support:
- Comprehensive online documentation and FAQs available at [www.contec.com](http://www.contec.com).
- Free technical support via CONTEC’s global support portal.
- Access to “API‑TOOL Developer’s Site” for driver updates and sample programs.

Maintenance & Updates:
- Free downloads of the latest driver libraries and sample programs.
- Regular updates for Windows and Linux driver compatibility.
- Diagnostic and configuration utilities included for ongoing maintenance.

Software Upgrades:
- API‑PAC(W32) and VI‑DAQ libraries are continuously updated to support new operating systems and hardware.
- Backward compatibility maintained across multiple generations of CONTEC boards.

Documentation & Resources:
- Online manuals and help files for each driver library.
- Sample code demonstrating analog, digital, counter, and communication functions.
- Configuration and diagnostic utilities for verifying board operation.

Global Portal:
- [http://www.contec.com/apipac/](http://www.contec.com/apipac/) – API‑PAC driver library site
- [http://www.contec.com/vidaq/](http://www.contec.com/vidaq/) – VI‑DAQ LabVIEW library site
- [http://www.contec.com/gplv/](http://www.contec.com/gplv/) – GPIB driver for LabVIEW

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### Summary

The Support‑Pac(PC)603 is a specialized DOS device driver package developed by CONTEC Co., Ltd. for Microsoft‑C environments, enabling full control of the company’s PIO48C, PIO48W, PIO96, and PIO144 digital I/O boards. It provides the foundational software layer for direct hardware access, digital signal control, and integration into custom automation and measurement systems.

Through its compatibility with CONTEC’s API‑PAC(W32) and VI‑DAQ libraries, the Support‑Pac(PC)603 extends its utility beyond DOS, supporting modern Windows and Linux environments, and offering seamless integration with LabVIEW, Visual Studio, and Borland development tools.

The package exemplifies CONTEC’s modular software architecture—offering unified APIs, cross‑platform support, and free software updates—making it a robust and future‑proof solution for industrial automation, data acquisition, and control applications.