Investor Relations
Integrated Solutions
National Instruments develops innovative instrumentation hardware and software that turn a computer into a high-performance, low-cost solution for measurement and automation. During our first decade, we focused on monitoring and controlling traditional instruments. In our second decade, we began the revolution of "virtual instrumentation," enhancing and replacing traditional systems. In our third decade, our focus on computer-based measurement and automation. This is an overview of our major product lines and their introductory dates.
1977: GPIB Interfaces
National Instruments has a leadership position in delivering the technology for monitoring and controlling traditional, vendor-defined instruments. The latest generation of GPIB products features the high-speed HS488 protocol for increased system performance.
1986: Instrumentation Software
The leading software packages, LabVIEW and LabWindows/CVI, are part of a software family that delivers increased productivity to engineers and scientists. LabVIEW 5.0 was named 1999 Test Product of the Year by Test & Measurement World.
1987: Plug-in Data Acquisition (DAQ)
Leveraging the PC, DAQ hardware acquires and analyzes physical data, such as temperature, pressure, and vibration. The combination of DAQ hardware and LabVIEW software replaces traditional instruments at a lower cost and ushers in the era of the "virtual instrument."
1988: VXI
As an open specification, the VXI standard takes advantage of the latest computer technologies to decrease test costs, increase throughput, and reduce development time. National Instruments is a leader in providing VXI controllers, software, and measurement modules.
1992: Signal Conditioning
The SCXI (Signal Conditioning eXtensions for Instrumentation) system is a versatile, high-performance signal conditioning platform. Used as a conditioning front-end for plug-in DAQ boards, or as a complete remote data acquisition system.
1994: Portable Instrumentation
Advanced technologies and custom ASICs lead to complete measurement functionality in a small format. Product line includes GPIB control, DAQ boards, computer-based instruments, and industrial communications.
1996: Computer-Based Instruments
By leveraging the PC, our computer-based instruments replace traditional instruments and derive greater benefit from advances in computer technology. Our computer-based instruments, which include PXI and VXI modules and PC plug-in boards, deliver bottom-line performance for automated test and measurement.
1996: Automation Software
Whether a manufacturing system involves discrete or process control, batch control, or remote monitoring and supervisory control, National Instruments industrial automation software -- Lookout and BridgeVIEW -- deliver ease of use and development productivity.
1996: Industrial Communications
A wide variety of hardware and software products facilitate communication with industrial devices, such as process instrumentation, PLCs, and other I/O devices commonly used in industrial automation.
1997: Motion Control
Our ValueMotion and FlexMotion products deliver direct motion control from a PC. Easy-to-use plug-in motion boards, software, and peripherals provide seamless integration of motion, vision, data acquisition, and instrument control in one system.
1997: Distributed I/O
Open, industrial networks pave the way to move data acquisition and control functions out into the field via intelligent, distributed I/O products. FieldPoint is our industrial I/O system that is ideal for distributed applications.
1997: Machine Vision
Easy-to-use IMAQ Vision image processing software and IMAQ image acquisition hardware bring achievable, cost-effective PC-based vision applications to end-users in measurement and automation.
1997: PXI/CompactPCI
PXI is an open, standardized platform that combines PC technology with modular industrial packaging, integrated instrumentation functionality, and industry-standard software. Based on and compatible with CompactPCI, PXI is an optimum solution for test, measurement, data acquisition, and industrial automation.
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