Design your own PXI module
-- Test & Measurement World, 11/14/2008 2:08:00 PM
National Instruments has merged its LabView FPGA (field-programmable gate array) development software with a PXI module to create a platform for custom testers. The company’s FlexRIO platform puts an FPGA on a PXI card. You can develop your own test module by programming the PXI card’s Xilinx FPGA with LabView. Programming the FPGA lets you put intelligence right on the module. For example, you can program the FPGA to perform signal processing or analyze serial data protocols. Through LabView FPGA, you can gain access to 66 differential digital signals on the FPGA that run at speeds up to 1 Gbps. For single-ended operation, you get 132 pins at speeds up to 400 Mbps.
The PXI module needs an adapter card that connects your signals to the FPGA. Currently, National Instruments provides a digital adapter (NI 6851) that lets you connect 54 single-ended channels to the FPGA. Voltage levels include 1.8 V, 2.5 V, and 3.5 V (5-V compatible). The NI 6851 can transfer signals at 100 MHz, which means you can test DDR (dual-data rate) memory at 200 MHz.
If you prefer to build your own adapter, National Instruments can provide you with design information through CAD and PCB files and drawings. The company is currently working with third-parties such as system-integrator Averna, who can develop custom adapters for the FPGA. Averna has developed an adapter module for the IEEE 1394b serial data bus. A program for the FPGA decodes the bus’ protocol.
Base prices: NI FlexRIO FPGA modules—$2999; NI 6851 adapter module—$999; FlexRIO development kit—$4999. National Instruments, www.ni.com/flexrio.
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