LABVIEW AND LABWINDOWS/CVI NOW OFFER REMOTE, DISTRIBUTED I/O

Graphical and Visual Programming Tools Better Equipped for Process
Monitoring and Control Applications

Austin, Texas - April 19, 1995 - National Instruments - The Virtual
Instrumentation Company - announced today LabVIEW and LabWindows/CVI
instrument drivers for the 6B Series digitizing and signal conditioning
I/O modules, which are also available from National Instruments. Process
control engineers can now use LabVIEW or LabWindows/CVI software with the
6B Series in remote or distributed process monitoring and control (PM&C)
applications. The 6B modules are compatible with the company's AT-485 and
AT-232 plug-in serial interfaces, also announced today at ICEE.

The LabVIEW and LabWindows/CVI instrument drivers for 6B Series modules
allow process engineers to use the application software products in remote
or distributed PM&C applications. In particular, engineers can use LabVIEW
or LabWindows/CVI with 6B Series modules in applications where the I/O
points are located long distances from the computer or are scattered
throughout a building or factory site.

About the 6B Series

The 6B Series is a line of single-channel analog I/O modules with
high-performance isolation and signal conditioning. Each 6B Series input
module includes signal conditioning that is reconfigurable in LabVIEW or
LabWindows/CVI for different signal types, a 16-bit integrating ADC, and
an RS-485 network interface. Process engineers can use the LabVIEW and
LabWindows/CVI drivers to program 6B modules for different signal types,
ranges, and data formats. Users can plug 6B modules into backplanes that
transfer power and communications to all modules. These backplanes also
provide screw terminals for signal connections, an RS-485 repeater, and an
RS-232 interface for easy connection to a computer. Users can network up
to 256 6B modules to a single serial port.

LabVIEW and LabWindows/CVI - PM&C Software for the Factory Floor and
LabLabVIEW is the company's multiplatform graphical instrumentation
software for Windows PCs, Macintosh computers, Sun SPARCstations, and HP
9000 Series 700 workstations. LabWindows/CVI is an automatic
code-generation package for developing PM&C applications using ANSI C on
Windows-based PCs and Sun SPARCstations. Process control engineers can use
the libraries of ready-to-use controls, graphs, and strip charts in
LabVIEW and LabWindows/CVI to quickly and easily build custom user
interfaces and control panels. With these tools, users can build
man-machine interfaces (MMIs). Combined with data acquisition and signal
conditioning hardware, these MMIs can run on high-performance PCs and
workstations for PM&C applications on the factory floor or in research
labs. For example, a system can monitor PLCs controlling a variety of
variables, such as temperature, pressure, pH, force, displacement, light
intensity, and flow. Target industries include electronics, automotive,
aerospace, foods, textiles, paint, petrochemical, pulp and paper, metal,
pharmaceutical, and water/wastewater.

Add-On Toolkits Simplify Industrial Applications

The company also offers add-on toolkits to help system developers use
LabVIEW and LabWindows/CVI for custom industrial applications. The LabVIEW
SPC Toolkit contains virtual instruments (VIs) for integrating statistical
process control (SPC) capabilities directly into LabVIEW data acquisition
applications. The LabVIEW and LabWindows/CVI PID Control Toolkits include
numerous PID control algorithms for implementing direct control. With the
LabVIEW Picture Control Toolkit, scientists can create custom front panel
displays, including special bar graphs, polar plots, and Smith charts;
users can also display and animate custom objects, such as robot arms or
conveyor belts. Process control engineers can use the SQL Toolkits to
connect Windows PCs running LabVIEW or LabWindows/CVI software to more
than 20 local or remote databases.

About National Instruments

National Instruments manufactures software and hardware products for PCs
and workstations that scientists and engineers use to build virtual
instrumentation systems for a wide range of industries and applications.
National Instruments stock is traded on the NASDAQ National Market System
under the symbol NATI. Further information on National Instruments may be
obtained from the company's SEC filings or by contacting the company's
Investor Relations Department at (512) 338-9119.

Pricing, Availability, and For More Information

The 6B Series modules are available now with prices starting at $180. The
6B Series backplanes are available now with prices starting at $45.
LabVIEW and LabWindows/CVI drivers for the 6B Series are available in
source code at no charge from National Instruments FTP or BBS sites. In
addition, the drivers will be added to the company's regular disk and
CD-ROM distributions, and are available free of charge from National
Instruments. Users can also order copies of the drivers on floppy disk
when purchasing 6B modules. LabVIEW and LabWindows/CVI are available now
with pricing starting at $995. The LabVIEW and LabWindows/CVI add-on
toolkits are available now with pricing starting at $295. For more
information, contact National Instruments, 6504 Bridge Point Parkway,
Austin, Texas 78730-5039, (512) 794-0100. Or call toll free in the U.S.
and Canada at (800) 433-3488, fax (512) 794-8411, e-mail info@natinst.com.
Readers can also access information through the National Instruments
InstrumentationWeb at http://www.natinst.com/.

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