1. Product Overview

Product Name: Support-PAC(PC)353
Article Number: Support-PAC(PC)353
Product Title: Device Driver Packet MS-C for DA12-6LC(PC)
Manufacturer: CONTEC Co., Ltd.
Series: API-PAC / LabVIEW Support Software Series

The CONTEC Support-PAC(PC)353 is a comprehensive software driver package designed to enable seamless operation of the CONTEC DA12-6LC(PC) analog I/O board within Microsoft Windows and National Instruments LabVIEW environments. It is part of CONTEC’s API-PAC software suite, which provides unified driver libraries and development tools for industrial measurement, control, and communication hardware. The Support-PAC(PC)353 package includes the MS-C device driver, configuration utilities, diagnostic tools, and sample programs, ensuring full compatibility with CONTEC’s analog, digital, counter, and communication modules.

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2. Key Features

- LabVIEW Integration: Fully compatible with National Instruments LabVIEW versions 7.1, 7.0, 6.1, and 6i, allowing direct use of CONTEC hardware within LabVIEW-based measurement and automation systems.
- Unified API Architecture: Built on CONTEC’s API-PAC(W32) framework, providing a consistent programming interface across analog, digital, counter, and communication devices.
- Hardware Independence: The same VI (Virtual Instrument) functions can be used across multiple CONTEC devices, including PCI, ISA, CompactPCI, and PC Card modules.
- User-Friendly VI-DAQ Library: Simplifies analog and digital I/O operations through LabVIEW-compatible VI libraries, minimizing setup complexity and enabling rapid system development.
- Comprehensive Driver Support: Includes API-AIO, API-DIO, API-CNT, API-GPIB, API-SIO, API-SMC, and API-TIMER libraries for full control of analog, digital, counter, GPIB, serial, motor, and timer functions.
- Cross-Platform Compatibility: Supports Windows XP, 2000, NT4.0, Me, 98, and 95, with additional Linux driver libraries (API-AIO(LNX), API-DIO(LNX), API-GPIB(LNX), API-CNT(LNX), IO-LIB(LNX)) for RedHat and TurboLinux distributions.
- Diagnostic and Configuration Utilities: Includes API-TOOL Configuration and diagnostic programs for board detection, setup verification, and performance testing.
- Sample Programs and Documentation: Provides practical examples in Visual Basic, Visual C++, C#, Delphi, and LabVIEW for rapid application development.
- Free Software Updates: Latest driver libraries and sample programs are available for download from CONTEC’s global portal (www.contec.com).

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3. Technical Specifications

- Supported Operating Systems:
- Windows XP Professional / Home Edition
- Windows 2000 Professional
- Windows NT Workstation 4.0 (SP3 or later)
- Windows Me / 98SE / 98 / 95
- Linux (RedHat 6.2–9, TurboLinux 6.0–8.0, kernel 2.2.13–2.4.21)

- Supported Programming Environments:
- National Instruments: LabVIEW 7.1 / 7.0 / 6.1 / 6i / 5.1 / 5.0
- Microsoft: Visual Basic 6.0 / 5.0 / 4.0, Visual C++ 6.0 / 5.0 / 4.x / 2.0, Visual Basic .NET 2003 / 2002, Visual C++ .NET 2003 / 2002, Visual C# .NET 2003 / 2002
- Borland: C++ Builder 6.0 / 5.0, Delphi 6.0 / 5.0 / 4.0

- Supported Hardware Interfaces:
- PCI, ISA, CompactPCI, PC Card (CB, PM), LPCI, CPCI
- Compatible with DA12-6LC(PC) and other CONTEC analog I/O boards

- Driver Libraries Included:
- API-AIO(WDM), API-AIO(98/PC)NT, API-AIO(98/PC)W95
- API-DIO(98/PC)NT, API-DIO(98/PC)W95
- API-CNT(98/PC)NT, API-CNT(98/PC)W95
- API-GPIB(98/PC)NT, API-GPIB(98/PC)W95
- API-GPLV(W32) (LabVIEW GPIB driver)
- API-SIO(98/PC)NT, API-SIO(98/PC)W95
- API-SMC(98/PC)NT, API-SMC(98/PC)W95
- API-TIMER(W32)

- Physical Characteristics:
As a software package, Support-PAC(PC)353 has no physical dimensions or weight. It is distributed electronically or via installation media accompanying CONTEC hardware.

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4. Functionality

The Support-PAC(PC)353 enables the DA12-6LC(PC) analog output board to operate seamlessly within Windows and LabVIEW environments. It provides a complete set of driver functions for analog signal generation, digital I/O control, counter/timer operations, and communication interfaces.

- Analog I/O Control: Supports up to 64 channels for analog input/output. Sampling can be triggered by internal or external clocks, with start/stop control via analog or TTL signals.
- Digital I/O Operations: Allows bit-level or port-level digital input/output with hardware filtering to prevent chattering.
- Counter and Timer Functions: Provides event-driven counting, pulse generation, and timing with microsecond precision.
- GPIB Communication: IEEE-488.2 compliant, supporting master/slave mode configuration and DMA/FIFO data transfer.
- Serial Communication: Supports up to 256 channels with configurable buffer sizes (256–65535 bytes) and XON/XOFF flow control.
- Motor Control: Enables PTP motion, jogging, and multi-axis interpolation for stepper and servo motors.
- LabVIEW Integration: VI-DAQ and API-GPLV(W32) libraries allow direct use of CONTEC hardware within LabVIEW without complex setup.

Use Cases:
- Industrial measurement and control systems
- Automated test equipment (ATE)
- Data acquisition and signal processing
- Process monitoring and instrumentation
- Motion control and robotics
- Laboratory automation and research instrumentation

Compatibility:
Fully compatible with CONTEC’s analog I/O (DA12-6LC(PC), DA12-8(PCI), DA12-16(PCI)), digital I/O, counter, and communication boards.

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5. Components & Accessories

Included Components:
- Device driver package MS-C for DA12-6LC(PC)
- API-PAC(W32) unified driver library
- VI-DAQ LabVIEW VI library
- Configuration utility (API-TOOL Configuration)
- Diagnostic utility for hardware and software verification
- Sample programs for supported languages
- Documentation and help files

Optional Add-ons:
- API-GPLV(W32) for GPIB communication under LabVIEW
- COM-DRV(W32) for serial communication under LabVIEW
- Additional API libraries for other CONTEC modules (AIO, DIO, CNT, SMC, TIMER)

Connectors:
Dependent on the DA12-6LC(PC) hardware; typically includes analog output terminals and control signal connectors.

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6. Installation & Setup

System Requirements:
- Windows XP/2000/NT/Me/98/95 or compatible Linux distribution
- Available PCI or ISA slot for DA12-6LC(PC) board
- Minimum 64 MB RAM and 50 MB free disk space

Installation Procedure:
1. Run the API-PAC setup program.
2. Select the CONTEC board (DA12-6LC(PC)) to install.
3. The setup utility automatically installs the appropriate DLL libraries and configuration files.
4. Use the API-TOOL Configuration utility to verify board detection and driver functionality.
5. Launch LabVIEW or supported programming environment to begin development.

Configuration:
- Hardware parameters (e.g., sampling rate, trigger mode) can be set via the configuration utility.
- Diagnostic tools verify correct installation and operation.
- Auto-detection of installed boards is supported in API-TOOL Configuration Ver.4.10 or later.

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7. Performance & Capabilities

- Analog I/O: Up to 64 channels, high-speed sampling, internal/external clock synchronization.
- Digital I/O: Up to 64 channels, hardware filtering, bit-level control.
- Counter Input: Up to 16 boards controllable, event and interrupt-driven counting.
- Serial Communication: Up to 256 channels, configurable buffer sizes, XON/XOFF flow control.
- GPIB Communication: IEEE-488.2 compliant, supports DMA and FIFO, up to 4 boards controllable.
- Motor Control: Multi-axis synchronization, PTP motion, jogging, and bank motion modes.
- Timer Control: Microsecond-level timing accuracy, ActiveX control for Visual Basic integration.
- Linux Drivers: Provide equivalent functionality through shared libraries and kernel modules.

Limitations:
- Some older boards may not support simultaneous operation with National Instruments drivers.
- ISA board auto-detection not supported under Windows NT 4.0/3.51.
- Certain functions (e.g., ActiveX control) unavailable in older OS versions.

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8. Standards & Compliance

- IEEE-488 / IEEE-488.2: For GPIB communication compliance.
- Windows Hardware Compatibility: Verified for Windows XP/2000/NT/Me/98/95.
- Linux Kernel Compliance: Tested on RedHat and TurboLinux distributions (kernels 2.2.13–2.4.21).
- Plug and Play (PnP): Supported for PCI and CompactPCI devices.
- API-PAC Standardization: Unified API structure across all CONTEC hardware categories ensures consistent software behavior.

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9. Additional Information

Warranty & Support:
- Standard CONTEC software warranty applies.
- Technical support and driver updates available through CONTEC’s global portal (www.contec.com).
- Free downloads of the latest driver libraries, sample programs, and documentation.

Maintenance:
- Regular updates provided for compatibility with new OS versions and hardware.
- Diagnostic utilities assist in troubleshooting and performance verification.

Software Updates:
- Latest versions of API-PAC(W32), VI-DAQ, and API-GPLV(W32) available online.
- Updates include bug fixes, new board support, and enhanced performance features.

Documentation & Resources:
- Online developer resources at http://www.contec.com/apipac/
- LabVIEW driver information at http://www.contec.com/vidaq/
- GPIB driver information at http://www.contec.com/gplv/

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Summary

The CONTEC Support-PAC(PC)353 is a robust, multi-platform driver package engineered to integrate the DA12-6LC(PC) analog I/O board into modern measurement and control systems. It provides a unified API architecture, extensive language support, and seamless LabVIEW integration, enabling engineers to develop high-performance data acquisition and control applications efficiently. With comprehensive driver libraries, diagnostic tools, and free software updates, Support-PAC(PC)353 ensures long-term reliability and flexibility across industrial, laboratory, and research environments.