Function of Buffer Chips

[Chem Lab]

I have purchased a new DAQ board, the PCI-6221. The older DAQ Board was connected to a converter box that contained two octal buffer chips, the SN54/74LS244 and the SN54/74LS541. These were connected to the digital lines only. I'm not entirely sure of the function of these buffer chips and was wondering if they were still necessary with the newer DAQ board. Thanks in advance.

[LA 75]

Hello,

What DAQ board did you have before?

thanks,

LA

[Chem Lab]

Hi,
It's a Multifunction I/O Board for a Macintosh NuBus, September 1995
Edition, Part Number 320174B-01. Sorry for not saying that initially, thanks.

Kathleen

[LA 75]

Hello Kathleen,

You shouldn't need that converter box anymore. All you need to make your connections to the board is am SCB-68 (Shielded Connector Block) and an SHC68-68-EPM Shielded Cable. Do you have these already? If not, I can put you in contact with a Sales Rep that will be more than glad to help you out. Please let me know about this.

thanks,

LA

[Chem Lab]

Hi again, and thank you for your patience.
I have the following:
CB-68LPR Part# 777145-02 (I/O Connector Block)
SHC68-68-EPM Part# 192061-01 (Noise Rejecting, Shielded Cable)
The converter box is still necessary to house the connector block and it also has some pertinent connections for the instrument it will be connected to. Unfortunately I underestimated the size of the connector block, and it will not fit into the current converter box, as it is now, but if I remove the buffer chips it will be possible, plus I'd like to know if I need to connect these to my knew connector block. Thanks again, I hope this was the information you needed.

Kathleen

[LA 75]

Hello Kathleen,

I was trying to find some information about those buffer chips, but I couldn't find anything about them. What is the exact name of that converter box containing those chips? Is it a National Instruments product?...if it is, it might be pretty old because I can't find information about them.

I can tell you for sure though that you are not required to make a connection from these buffer chips to the Terminal Block. You only make the connections that you want to make. Therefore, unless you are sure that by removing them you are not going to affect the other connections to the instrument, then I would go ahead and remove them. If you are still hesitant whether to remove them or not, and the converter box is a National Instruments product, then I can continue digging for information about them once you tell me the exact them of that converter box.

Have a great day!

LA

[WM_John_Weeks]

http://www.alldatasheet.com/view.jsp?sSearchword=74LS541

It's a tri-state buffer. It has greater current capability than a standard 74LS chip, but the newer boards have even greater capability. The newer boards also have tri-state outputs, so these chips would seem to be completely redundant.

[Chem Lab]

Thanks for all of your help. That's exactly what I needed to know, I can continue as planned. Thanks again.

Kathleen