PXIe-6544/45 - New features and capabilities

NI high-speed digital instruments have continuously been expanding on speeds and features available in hardware and software. The NI PXIe-6544/45 devices further expand on these speeds and advanced capabilities. This paper discusses these differentiating features and capabilities.

1. Comparison of the High-Performance Digital Product Line
2. Clock Speed
3. Timing and Clocking
4. Streaming Rates
5. Voltage Levels
6. SMC Features
7. Conclusion
8. Related Links

The NI PXIe-6544/45 devices are PXI Express-based 32-channel digital instruments capable of clock rates up to 200MHz. You can programmatically select voltages of 1.2, 1.5, 1.8, 2.5, or 3.3 V. Each channel can be configured for input or output independently. Streaming rates at 700 MB/s to the PC and 400 MB/s from the PC make the NI PXIe-6544/45 devices some of the highest streaming digital products in the industry. They feature an onboard direct digital synthesis (DDS) clock that you can use to clock your digital data from 0 to 200 MHz with sub-Hz resolution.

≫ View more information on NI PXIe-6544/45 devices.

High-speed digital products can be broken into low-cost and high-performance devices. NI PXIe-6544/45 devices are high performance. They feature a Synchronization and Memory Core (SMC) daughter card, which offers tighter synchronization and advanced timing capabilities. With SMC-based instruments, you can use advanced features such as data delay and scripting. The NI-TCLK API makes it easy to synchronize multiple digital and analog instruments.

NI PXIe-6544/45 devices have features that expand on the existing SMC-based capabilities of high-speed digital instruments. The following topics cover some of these differences.

≫ Compare high-speed digital products.

NI PXIe-6544/45 devices feature maximum clock rates of 100/200 MHz, which make it possible for you to test chips that require higher speeds.  These speeds make the NI PXIe-6544/45 devices ideal for testing ADCs and DACs with sampling rates up to 200 MSPS.

Figure 2 shows the eye diagram of the NI PXIe-6545 at 200 Mbps.

For example, consider 16-bit, 200 MSPS DAC. You can use NI PXIe-6544/45 (32 channels) devices to generate data (continuously or in bursts) to test the DAC at its maximum capacity. You can use them with other NI modular instruments such as digitizers or source measure units (SMUs) to characterize the DAC for various tests including SFDR, SNR, IMD, INL, and DNL tests at higher rates.

Figure 3 shows dynamic characteristics of a DAC running at 200 MSPS.  The PXIe-6545 is used to generate digital data clocked at up to 200MHz.

Table 1. This table shows the different SMC based digital instruments and the maximum clock rate that they can achieve.

NI PXIe-6544/45 devices use an onboard clock with higher precision using the direct digital synthesis (DDS) method. With this clock, you can now achieve sub-Hz resolution on clocking frequencies for generation and acquisition. Components requiring arbitrary frequencies, which could not be achieved before, can now be tested with the NI PXIe-6544/45 devices.

Figure 4 shows the frequencies that can be achieved by the onboard DDS clock of the NI PXIe-6544/45.  In this case the time-base used on the divide down instrument is 200MHz.

Streaming rates at 660 MB/s to PC memory and 400 MB/s from PC memory makes NI PXIe-6545 the highest streaming digital instrument in the industry.  These devices are based on PXI Express technology and, when used with a redundant array of inexpensive disks (RAID) and a PXI Express chassis, can achieve high data throughput rates.  You can use them to stream high-definition digital and video signals for generation or acquisition. You can now use them to test LCD screens, TV components and signals (up to 1080p at 60 Hz for HD signals), RF chips, and HD radio. Compared to the existing SMC-based devices, the NI PXIe-6544/45 devices are the only instruments based on the PXI Express architecture.

Table 2. This table shows the maximum input and output streaming rates of the SMC based high speed digital instruments.

NI PXIe-6544/45 devices offer software selectable voltage levels of 1.2, 1.5, 1.8, 2.5, and 3.3 V, which means you can use them to interface with digital devices requiring differing voltage levels.

Table 3. With the flexible voltage levels of the SMC based high-speed digital instruments you can interface to various devices.

Note: Only the VOH and VIH levels can be programmatically selected on NI PXIe-6544/45 devices. The VIL and VOL levels are always 0 (GND). If you are looking to program all four voltage levels (VOH, VIH, VIL and VOL), consider the NI 655x devices.

With the SMC daughter card on the NI PXIe-6544/45 devices, you gain advanced features such as data delay and scripting.  You can shift your data with respect to your clock for up to one period of the clock. You can apply data delay on frequencies ranging from DC to 200MHz.

Table 4 shows the data delay capabilities of different high-speed digital devices.

The NI PXIe-6544/45 devices feature buffers and electronics, which make them some of the leading digital waveform generator/analyzers in the industry. Their sampling rates, streaming capabilities, timing, and synchronization features make them ideal instruments for digital testing, interfacing, and communication.

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