NEWS RELEASE – Feb. 15, 2005 – Automated test engineers now can use National Instruments new 400 and 200 Mb/s digital waveform generator/analyzers to interface to low-voltage differential signaling (LVDS) devices using the PXI platform. The new modules are ideal for military and aerospace ATE applications, such as surveillance, avionic communications, satellite and intelligence. Engineers also can use the modules to interface to communications subsystems or semiconductor devices such as A/D and D/A converters.LVDS is rapidly gaining momentum among automated test system developers for its high data rates and low power consumption.
Because LVDS is differential, it offers high noise immunity and common mode rejection. The differential nature also permits a small voltage swing while still maintaining high signal integrity. This low-voltage swing minimizes power dissipation and also provides potential for fast data rates in the hundreds of Mb/s. Using LVDS, engineers can now transfer data at fast rates with low power and across longer distances, which is not possible with other single-ended or differential technologies.The NI PXI-6562 and NI PXI-6561 LVDS digital waveform generator/analyzers offer 200 and 100 MHz clock rates with 200 and 100 Mb/s data rates respectively in single data rate mode and 400 Mb/s and 200 Mb/s respectively in double data rate mode.
The modules feature 16 LVDS channels with user-defined per-channel direction control for acquisition or generation in single data rate mode and deep onboard memory up to 128 Mb/channel. The new modules are built on the common Synchronization and Memory Core (SMC) architecture, so they tightly synchronize with other SMC-based modular instruments, such as the recently released 200 MS/s PXI digitizer and arbitrary waveform generator. Engineers also can use the SMC synchronization technology to build high-channel-count systems using multiple LVDS modules. To quickly create test applications with the modules, engineers can use two powerful software tools: Express VIs in the NI LabVIEW 7.1 graphical development environment and the NI Digital Waveform Editor for creating and editing test vectors.
About PXI
PCI eXtensions for Instrumentation (PXI) is an open specification governed by the PXI Systems Alliance www.pxisa.org that defines a rugged, CompactPCI-based platform optimized for test, measurement and control. PXI products are compatible with the CompactPCI industrial computer standard that is supported by more than 60 member companies and more than 1,000 products. PXI offers additional features such as environmental specifications, standardized software and built-in timing and synchronization.
About NI Modular Instruments
NI offers essential technologies for test, which combine high-performance hardware, flexible software and innovative timing and synchronization technology for test and design applications. NI modular instruments offer accurate, high-throughput measurements from DC to 2.7 GHz. The product family includes:
- High-resolution digitizers (up to 14 bits, up to 200 MS/s)
- Signal generators (up to 16 bits, 200 MS/s)
- Digital waveform generator/analyzers (up to 200 MHz)
- Digital multimeters (up to 6½ digits)
- RF vector signal generators and analyzers (up to 2.7 GHz)
- Dynamic signal analyzers (up to 24 bits, 204.8 kS/s)
- Switching (multiplexers, matrices and general purpose)About National InstrumentsNational Instruments is a technology pioneer and leader in virtual instrumentation – a revolutionary concept that has changed the way engineers and scientists in industry, government and academia approach measurement and automation.
Leveraging the PC and its related technologies, virtual instrumentation increases productivity and lowers costs through easy-to-integrate software, such as the NI LabVIEW graphical development environment, and modular hardware, such as PXI modules for data acquisition, instrument control and machine vision.
Headquartered in Austin, Texas, NI has more than 3,400 employees and direct operations in approximately 40 countries.
In 2004, the company sold products to more than 25,000 companies in 90 countries.
For the past six years, FORTUNE magazine named NI one of the 100 best companies to work for in America.
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, Contact National Instruments or visit their web site at www.ni.com .