LOOKING FOR THE RIGHT
INDUSTRIAL SOLUTION?
Discover embedded, communication and automation solutions tailored to your application.
- LabVIEW Compatibility: Fully compliant with National Instruments LabVIEW versions 7.1, 7.0, 6.1, and 6i, enabling direct use of CONTEC I/O modules within LabVIEW environments.
- Unified API Architecture: The API-PAC(W32) library provides a consistent Win32 API interface across all CONTEC boards, allowing developers to reuse code even when hardware changes.
- Hardware Independence: VI-DAQ and API-PAC libraries are designed to operate across multiple hardware types (PCI, ISA, CompactPCI, PC Card, USB), minimizing reconfiguration effort.
- Comprehensive Board Support: Supports analog I/O, digital I/O, counter, motor control, GPIB, and serial communication boards.
- Cross-Platform Support: Available for Windows (XP, 2000, NT, Me, 98, 95) and Linux (RedHat, TurboLinux distributions).
- Event-Driven Data Collection: Supports foreground and background data acquisition with event-driven control functions.
- Diagnostic and Configuration Utilities: Includes setup and diagnostic tools for hardware detection, configuration, and performance verification.
- Sample Programs and Documentation: Provides extensive sample code and help files for Visual Basic, Visual C++, C#, Delphi, and Borland C++ Builder.
- Free Software Distribution: API-PAC(W32) and related drivers are provided free of charge with CONTEC hardware or downloadable from the CONTEC global portal.
- IEEE-488.2 Compliance: GPIB communication drivers conform to IEEE-488.2 standards for reliable instrument interfacing.
- High-Performance Analog I/O: API-AIO(WDM) library supports up to 64 channels with internal/external sampling clocks and interrupt-driven data acquisition.
- Linux Driver Suite: Includes API-GPIB(LNX), API-DIO(LNX), API-AIO(LNX), API-CNT(LNX), and IO-LIB(LNX) for open-source environments.
- Unified API Architecture: The API-PAC(W32) library provides a consistent Win32 API interface across all CONTEC boards, allowing developers to reuse code even when hardware changes.
- Hardware Independence: VI-DAQ and API-PAC libraries are designed to operate across multiple hardware types (PCI, ISA, CompactPCI, PC Card, USB), minimizing reconfiguration effort.
- Comprehensive Board Support: Supports analog I/O, digital I/O, counter, motor control, GPIB, and serial communication boards.
- Cross-Platform Support: Available for Windows (XP, 2000, NT, Me, 98, 95) and Linux (RedHat, TurboLinux distributions).
- Event-Driven Data Collection: Supports foreground and background data acquisition with event-driven control functions.
- Diagnostic and Configuration Utilities: Includes setup and diagnostic tools for hardware detection, configuration, and performance verification.
- Sample Programs and Documentation: Provides extensive sample code and help files for Visual Basic, Visual C++, C#, Delphi, and Borland C++ Builder.
- Free Software Distribution: API-PAC(W32) and related drivers are provided free of charge with CONTEC hardware or downloadable from the CONTEC global portal.
- IEEE-488.2 Compliance: GPIB communication drivers conform to IEEE-488.2 standards for reliable instrument interfacing.
- High-Performance Analog I/O: API-AIO(WDM) library supports up to 64 channels with internal/external sampling clocks and interrupt-driven data acquisition.
- Linux Driver Suite: Includes API-GPIB(LNX), API-DIO(LNX), API-AIO(LNX), API-CNT(LNX), and IO-LIB(LNX) for open-source environments.
Comprehensive Product Summary: Contec-Labtech Driver for CONTEC Cards
### 1. Product Overview
Product Name: Labtech Driver for CONTEC Cards
Model / Series: LabVIEW and API-PAC Software Suite
Article Number: Contec-Labtech
Manufacturer: CONTEC Co., Ltd.
Category: Software Driver Package for Data Acquisition and Control Hardware
Product Type: Device Driver and API Library for CONTEC I/O, GPIB, Analog, Digital, Counter, and Communication Boards
The Contec-Labtech driver suite is a comprehensive software solution designed to enable seamless integration of CONTEC’s wide range of industrial measurement and control hardware with National Instruments LabVIEW and other major programming environments. It provides a unified driver architecture, API libraries, and configuration utilities that simplify the development of data acquisition, automation, and control systems across multiple hardware interfaces including PCI, ISA, CompactPCI, and PC Card platforms.
### 2. Key Features
- LabVIEW Compatibility: Fully compliant with National Instruments LabVIEW versions 7.1, 7.0, 6.1, and 6i, enabling direct use of CONTEC I/O modules within LabVIEW environments.
- Unified API Architecture: The API-PAC(W32) library provides a consistent Win32 API interface across all CONTEC boards, allowing developers to reuse code even when hardware changes.
- Hardware Independence: VI-DAQ and API-PAC libraries are designed to operate across multiple hardware types (PCI, ISA, CompactPCI, PC Card, USB), minimizing reconfiguration effort.
- Comprehensive Board Support: Supports analog I/O, digital I/O, counter, motor control, GPIB, and serial communication boards.
- Cross-Platform Support: Available for Windows (XP, 2000, NT, Me, 98, 95) and Linux (RedHat, TurboLinux distributions).
- Event-Driven Data Collection: Supports foreground and background data acquisition with event-driven control functions.
- Diagnostic and Configuration Utilities: Includes setup and diagnostic tools for hardware detection, configuration, and performance verification.
- Sample Programs and Documentation: Provides extensive sample code and help files for Visual Basic, Visual C++, C#, Delphi, and Borland C++ Builder.
- Free Software Distribution: API-PAC(W32) and related drivers are provided free of charge with CONTEC hardware or downloadable from the CONTEC global portal.
- IEEE-488.2 Compliance: GPIB communication drivers conform to IEEE-488.2 standards for reliable instrument interfacing.
- High-Performance Analog I/O: API-AIO(WDM) library supports up to 64 channels with internal/external sampling clocks and interrupt-driven data acquisition.
- Linux Driver Suite: Includes API-GPIB(LNX), API-DIO(LNX), API-AIO(LNX), API-CNT(LNX), and IO-LIB(LNX) for open-source environments.
### 3. Technical Specifications
Supported Operating Systems (Windows):
- Windows XP Professional / Home Edition
- Windows 2000 Professional
- Windows NT Workstation 4.0 (SP3 or later)
- Windows Me / 98SE / 98 / 95
Supported Operating Systems (Linux):
- RedHat Linux 6.2 – 9.0 (Kernels 2.2.14 to 2.4.21)
- TurboLinux 6.0 – 8.0 (Kernels 2.2.13 to 2.4.18)
Supported Programming Languages:
- 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
- Borland: C++ Builder 6.0 / 5.0, Delphi 6.0 / 5.0 / 4.0
- Linux: gcc, Kylix2
Supported Hardware Interfaces:
- PCI, ISA, CompactPCI, PC Card (CardBus), and USB modules
Supported Board Categories:
- Analog I/O (AD/DA boards)
- Digital I/O (DI/DO boards)
- Counter and Timer boards
- Motor Control boards
- GPIB Communication boards
- Serial Communication boards
Typical Supported Boards (Examples):
- Analog I/O: ADA16-32/2(PCI)F, AD12-16U(PCI)EH, DA12-8(PCI), AD16-16(LPCI)L
- Digital I/O: PI-64L(PCI), PIO-32/32L(PCI), PIO-16/16L(LPCI)H, PIO-48D(CB)H
- GPIB: GP-IB(PCI)F, GP-IB(LPCI)F, GP-IB(CPCI)F, GP-IB(CB)F
- Counter: CNT24-4(PCI), CNT32-8M(PCI), CNT32-4MT(CB)
- Motor Control: SMC-2P(PCI), SMC-4P(PCI), SMC-3(PC)
- Serial Communication: COM-2(PCI)H, COM-4(PCI)H, COM-8(PCI)H, COM-1(CB)H
Compliance: IEEE-488.2 (for GPIB), Plug and Play (PCI/CompactPCI), Win32 API standard.
### 4. Functionality
The Contec-Labtech driver suite enables seamless communication between CONTEC hardware and software applications. It provides:
- LabVIEW Integration: VI-DAQ and API-GPLV(W32) libraries allow direct control of CONTEC analog, digital, counter, and GPIB modules within LabVIEW environments.
- Unified API Access: API-PAC(W32) provides a consistent DLL-based interface for all CONTEC boards, simplifying programming and maintenance.
- Foreground/Background Data Collection: Supports event-driven data acquisition, allowing continuous monitoring even when the application is minimized.
- Hardware Auto-Detection: Automatically identifies installed CONTEC boards via API-TOOL Configuration utility.
- Diagnostic Tools: Built-in diagnostic programs verify board installation, driver functionality, and I/O performance.
- Cross-Language Support: Functions can be called from multiple programming environments, enabling flexible system integration.
- Linux Functionality: Provides shared libraries and module drivers for analog, digital, counter, and GPIB boards, complete with sample programs and interrupt handling.
Use Cases:
- Industrial automation and process control
- Laboratory data acquisition and instrumentation
- Embedded system development
- Machine control and motion systems
- Remote monitoring and distributed I/O networks
### 5. Components & Accessories
Included Software Components:
- VI-DAQ (LabVIEW VI library for analog/digital/counter I/O)
- API-GPLV(W32) (LabVIEW GPIB driver)
- COM-DRV(W32) (Serial communication driver)
- API-PAC(W32) (Unified Win32 API driver library)
- API-AIO(WDM) (High-performance analog I/O library)
- API-DIO, API-CNT, API-SMC, API-TIMER (Dedicated libraries for digital I/O, counter, motor, and timer control)
- API-TOOL Configuration Utility
- Diagnostic and Setup Programs
- Sample Programs and Help Files
Optional Add-ons:
- ActiveX Controls (e.g., CONTEC ACX Timer Control)
- Linux Driver Suite (API-LNX series)
- API-TOOL Developer’s Site access for updates and downloads
Connectors and Interfaces:
- Standard PCI/ISA/CompactPCI connectors
- PC Card/CardBus interfaces
- RS-232C ports for serial communication boards
- IEEE-488 connectors for GPIB boards
### 6. Installation & Setup
System Requirements:
- Compatible Windows or Linux operating system
- Installed CONTEC hardware board (PCI, ISA, CompactPCI, or PC Card)
- Administrative privileges for driver installation
Installation Procedure:
1. Run the API-PAC Setup Program to install the required DLL libraries.
2. Select the specific CONTEC board model during setup.
3. Configure board parameters using the API-TOOL Configuration Utility.
4. Verify installation using the included Diagnostic Program.
5. For LabVIEW users, install VI-DAQ or API-GPLV(W32) and integrate the provided VIs into the LabVIEW environment.
Configuration Options:
- Hardware parameter setup (e.g., sampling rate, trigger mode)
- IEEE-488.2 configuration for GPIB boards
- Serial port settings (baud rate, parity, flow control)
- Logical device mapping for unified API access
### 7. Performance & Capabilities
- Analog I/O: Up to 64 channels, internal/external sampling clocks, interrupt-driven acquisition, simultaneous multi-channel sampling.
- Digital I/O: Up to 64 channels per board, hardware digital filtering, bit-level I/O control.
- Counter/Timer: Up to 16 boards controllable, microsecond-level timing precision, event-driven interrupts.
- Motor Control: Multi-axis synchronization, PTP motion, jogging, bank motion, and origin return modes.
- GPIB Communication: IEEE-488.2 compliant, supports master/slave modes, DMA/FIFO transfer, 3-line handshaking.
- Serial Communication: Up to 256 channels, configurable buffer sizes (256–65535 bytes), XON/XOFF flow control.
- Linux Drivers: Support for interrupt handling, trigger monitoring, and console/X-Window sample programs.
Limitations:
- Some older boards not supported under Windows XP/2000.
- National Instruments GPIB drivers cannot be used simultaneously with CONTEC GPIB drivers.
- ISA board auto-detection not available under Windows NT 4.0/3.51.
### 8. Standards & Compliance
- IEEE-488.2: Compliance for GPIB communication boards.
- Win32 API Standard: Conformance for Windows driver libraries.
- Plug and Play: Supported for PCI and CompactPCI boards.
- Operating System Certification: Verified operation under Windows XP/2000/NT/Me/98/95 and Linux kernel versions 2.2–2.4.
- Software Development Standards: Compatible with Microsoft Visual Studio, Borland IDEs, and National Instruments LabVIEW.
### 9. Additional Information
Warranty & Support:
- Software provided free of charge with CONTEC hardware.
- Technical support and documentation available via CONTEC Global Portal (www.contec.com).
- Diagnostic utilities and sample programs included for troubleshooting and learning.
Maintenance & Updates:
- Free software upgrades and driver library downloads available from the API-TOOL Developer’s Site.
- Regular updates ensure compatibility with new operating systems and hardware revisions.
- User manuals, help files, and online documentation provided for all supported libraries.
Licensing:
- Free for use with CONTEC hardware products.
- Redistribution or modification subject to CONTEC licensing terms.
Documentation & Resources:
- Online resources:
- VI-DAQ: [http://www.contec.com/vidaq/](http://www.contec.com/vidaq/)
- API-GPLV(W32): [http://www.contec.com/gplv/](http://www.contec.com/gplv/)
- API-PAC(W32): [http://www.contec.com/apipac/](http://www.contec.com/apipac/)
- API-TOOL Developer’s Site for latest driver libraries and sample programs.
### Summary
The Contec-Labtech Driver Suite is a robust, multi-platform software package that bridges CONTEC’s industrial-grade I/O hardware with modern development environments. Through its unified API architecture, LabVIEW integration, and extensive hardware support, it enables engineers and developers to build high-performance data acquisition, control, and automation systems efficiently. With comprehensive diagnostic tools, sample programs, and free updates, the Contec-Labtech suite represents a complete, scalable, and developer-friendly solution for industrial measurement and control applications.
### 1. Product Overview
Product Name: Labtech Driver for CONTEC Cards
Model / Series: LabVIEW and API-PAC Software Suite
Article Number: Contec-Labtech
Manufacturer: CONTEC Co., Ltd.
Category: Software Driver Package for Data Acquisition and Control Hardware
Product Type: Device Driver and API Library for CONTEC I/O, GPIB, Analog, Digital, Counter, and Communication Boards
The Contec-Labtech driver suite is a comprehensive software solution designed to enable seamless integration of CONTEC’s wide range of industrial measurement and control hardware with National Instruments LabVIEW and other major programming environments. It provides a unified driver architecture, API libraries, and configuration utilities that simplify the development of data acquisition, automation, and control systems across multiple hardware interfaces including PCI, ISA, CompactPCI, and PC Card platforms.
### 2. Key Features
- LabVIEW Compatibility: Fully compliant with National Instruments LabVIEW versions 7.1, 7.0, 6.1, and 6i, enabling direct use of CONTEC I/O modules within LabVIEW environments.
- Unified API Architecture: The API-PAC(W32) library provides a consistent Win32 API interface across all CONTEC boards, allowing developers to reuse code even when hardware changes.
- Hardware Independence: VI-DAQ and API-PAC libraries are designed to operate across multiple hardware types (PCI, ISA, CompactPCI, PC Card, USB), minimizing reconfiguration effort.
- Comprehensive Board Support: Supports analog I/O, digital I/O, counter, motor control, GPIB, and serial communication boards.
- Cross-Platform Support: Available for Windows (XP, 2000, NT, Me, 98, 95) and Linux (RedHat, TurboLinux distributions).
- Event-Driven Data Collection: Supports foreground and background data acquisition with event-driven control functions.
- Diagnostic and Configuration Utilities: Includes setup and diagnostic tools for hardware detection, configuration, and performance verification.
- Sample Programs and Documentation: Provides extensive sample code and help files for Visual Basic, Visual C++, C#, Delphi, and Borland C++ Builder.
- Free Software Distribution: API-PAC(W32) and related drivers are provided free of charge with CONTEC hardware or downloadable from the CONTEC global portal.
- IEEE-488.2 Compliance: GPIB communication drivers conform to IEEE-488.2 standards for reliable instrument interfacing.
- High-Performance Analog I/O: API-AIO(WDM) library supports up to 64 channels with internal/external sampling clocks and interrupt-driven data acquisition.
- Linux Driver Suite: Includes API-GPIB(LNX), API-DIO(LNX), API-AIO(LNX), API-CNT(LNX), and IO-LIB(LNX) for open-source environments.
### 3. Technical Specifications
Supported Operating Systems (Windows):
- Windows XP Professional / Home Edition
- Windows 2000 Professional
- Windows NT Workstation 4.0 (SP3 or later)
- Windows Me / 98SE / 98 / 95
Supported Operating Systems (Linux):
- RedHat Linux 6.2 – 9.0 (Kernels 2.2.14 to 2.4.21)
- TurboLinux 6.0 – 8.0 (Kernels 2.2.13 to 2.4.18)
Supported Programming Languages:
- 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
- Borland: C++ Builder 6.0 / 5.0, Delphi 6.0 / 5.0 / 4.0
- Linux: gcc, Kylix2
Supported Hardware Interfaces:
- PCI, ISA, CompactPCI, PC Card (CardBus), and USB modules
Supported Board Categories:
- Analog I/O (AD/DA boards)
- Digital I/O (DI/DO boards)
- Counter and Timer boards
- Motor Control boards
- GPIB Communication boards
- Serial Communication boards
Typical Supported Boards (Examples):
- Analog I/O: ADA16-32/2(PCI)F, AD12-16U(PCI)EH, DA12-8(PCI), AD16-16(LPCI)L
- Digital I/O: PI-64L(PCI), PIO-32/32L(PCI), PIO-16/16L(LPCI)H, PIO-48D(CB)H
- GPIB: GP-IB(PCI)F, GP-IB(LPCI)F, GP-IB(CPCI)F, GP-IB(CB)F
- Counter: CNT24-4(PCI), CNT32-8M(PCI), CNT32-4MT(CB)
- Motor Control: SMC-2P(PCI), SMC-4P(PCI), SMC-3(PC)
- Serial Communication: COM-2(PCI)H, COM-4(PCI)H, COM-8(PCI)H, COM-1(CB)H
Compliance: IEEE-488.2 (for GPIB), Plug and Play (PCI/CompactPCI), Win32 API standard.
### 4. Functionality
The Contec-Labtech driver suite enables seamless communication between CONTEC hardware and software applications. It provides:
- LabVIEW Integration: VI-DAQ and API-GPLV(W32) libraries allow direct control of CONTEC analog, digital, counter, and GPIB modules within LabVIEW environments.
- Unified API Access: API-PAC(W32) provides a consistent DLL-based interface for all CONTEC boards, simplifying programming and maintenance.
- Foreground/Background Data Collection: Supports event-driven data acquisition, allowing continuous monitoring even when the application is minimized.
- Hardware Auto-Detection: Automatically identifies installed CONTEC boards via API-TOOL Configuration utility.
- Diagnostic Tools: Built-in diagnostic programs verify board installation, driver functionality, and I/O performance.
- Cross-Language Support: Functions can be called from multiple programming environments, enabling flexible system integration.
- Linux Functionality: Provides shared libraries and module drivers for analog, digital, counter, and GPIB boards, complete with sample programs and interrupt handling.
Use Cases:
- Industrial automation and process control
- Laboratory data acquisition and instrumentation
- Embedded system development
- Machine control and motion systems
- Remote monitoring and distributed I/O networks
### 5. Components & Accessories
Included Software Components:
- VI-DAQ (LabVIEW VI library for analog/digital/counter I/O)
- API-GPLV(W32) (LabVIEW GPIB driver)
- COM-DRV(W32) (Serial communication driver)
- API-PAC(W32) (Unified Win32 API driver library)
- API-AIO(WDM) (High-performance analog I/O library)
- API-DIO, API-CNT, API-SMC, API-TIMER (Dedicated libraries for digital I/O, counter, motor, and timer control)
- API-TOOL Configuration Utility
- Diagnostic and Setup Programs
- Sample Programs and Help Files
Optional Add-ons:
- ActiveX Controls (e.g., CONTEC ACX Timer Control)
- Linux Driver Suite (API-LNX series)
- API-TOOL Developer’s Site access for updates and downloads
Connectors and Interfaces:
- Standard PCI/ISA/CompactPCI connectors
- PC Card/CardBus interfaces
- RS-232C ports for serial communication boards
- IEEE-488 connectors for GPIB boards
### 6. Installation & Setup
System Requirements:
- Compatible Windows or Linux operating system
- Installed CONTEC hardware board (PCI, ISA, CompactPCI, or PC Card)
- Administrative privileges for driver installation
Installation Procedure:
1. Run the API-PAC Setup Program to install the required DLL libraries.
2. Select the specific CONTEC board model during setup.
3. Configure board parameters using the API-TOOL Configuration Utility.
4. Verify installation using the included Diagnostic Program.
5. For LabVIEW users, install VI-DAQ or API-GPLV(W32) and integrate the provided VIs into the LabVIEW environment.
Configuration Options:
- Hardware parameter setup (e.g., sampling rate, trigger mode)
- IEEE-488.2 configuration for GPIB boards
- Serial port settings (baud rate, parity, flow control)
- Logical device mapping for unified API access
### 7. Performance & Capabilities
- Analog I/O: Up to 64 channels, internal/external sampling clocks, interrupt-driven acquisition, simultaneous multi-channel sampling.
- Digital I/O: Up to 64 channels per board, hardware digital filtering, bit-level I/O control.
- Counter/Timer: Up to 16 boards controllable, microsecond-level timing precision, event-driven interrupts.
- Motor Control: Multi-axis synchronization, PTP motion, jogging, bank motion, and origin return modes.
- GPIB Communication: IEEE-488.2 compliant, supports master/slave modes, DMA/FIFO transfer, 3-line handshaking.
- Serial Communication: Up to 256 channels, configurable buffer sizes (256–65535 bytes), XON/XOFF flow control.
- Linux Drivers: Support for interrupt handling, trigger monitoring, and console/X-Window sample programs.
Limitations:
- Some older boards not supported under Windows XP/2000.
- National Instruments GPIB drivers cannot be used simultaneously with CONTEC GPIB drivers.
- ISA board auto-detection not available under Windows NT 4.0/3.51.
### 8. Standards & Compliance
- IEEE-488.2: Compliance for GPIB communication boards.
- Win32 API Standard: Conformance for Windows driver libraries.
- Plug and Play: Supported for PCI and CompactPCI boards.
- Operating System Certification: Verified operation under Windows XP/2000/NT/Me/98/95 and Linux kernel versions 2.2–2.4.
- Software Development Standards: Compatible with Microsoft Visual Studio, Borland IDEs, and National Instruments LabVIEW.
### 9. Additional Information
Warranty & Support:
- Software provided free of charge with CONTEC hardware.
- Technical support and documentation available via CONTEC Global Portal (www.contec.com).
- Diagnostic utilities and sample programs included for troubleshooting and learning.
Maintenance & Updates:
- Free software upgrades and driver library downloads available from the API-TOOL Developer’s Site.
- Regular updates ensure compatibility with new operating systems and hardware revisions.
- User manuals, help files, and online documentation provided for all supported libraries.
Licensing:
- Free for use with CONTEC hardware products.
- Redistribution or modification subject to CONTEC licensing terms.
Documentation & Resources:
- Online resources:
- VI-DAQ: [http://www.contec.com/vidaq/](http://www.contec.com/vidaq/)
- API-GPLV(W32): [http://www.contec.com/gplv/](http://www.contec.com/gplv/)
- API-PAC(W32): [http://www.contec.com/apipac/](http://www.contec.com/apipac/)
- API-TOOL Developer’s Site for latest driver libraries and sample programs.
### Summary
The Contec-Labtech Driver Suite is a robust, multi-platform software package that bridges CONTEC’s industrial-grade I/O hardware with modern development environments. Through its unified API architecture, LabVIEW integration, and extensive hardware support, it enables engineers and developers to build high-performance data acquisition, control, and automation systems efficiently. With comprehensive diagnostic tools, sample programs, and free updates, the Contec-Labtech suite represents a complete, scalable, and developer-friendly solution for industrial measurement and control applications.
-
N_software.pdf
PDF Catalog
No accessories available.