Discover the Power of PXI
Andrew Lyubenko
FSE in Siberia
National Instruments Confidential
Instrumentation Timeline
1965
1987
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1995
1997
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What is PXI?
• PXI = PCI eXtensions for Instrumentation
• Open specification governed by the PXI Systems
Alliance (PXISA) and introduced in 1997
• PC-based platform optimized for test,
measurement, and control
• PCI electrical-bus with the rugged, modular,
Eurocard mechanical packaging of CompactPCI
• Advanced timing and synchronization features
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PXI Systems Alliance (PXISA)
• Founded in 1998
• PXISA Goals:
– Maintain the PXI specification
– Ensure interoperability
– Promote the PXI standard
• Currently 68+ Members Comprise PXISA
• PXISA Website (www.pxisa.org)
– Specifications
– Tutorials, Application Notes, and White Papers
– Locate member companies and products
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Partial PXISA Member List
Complete list at pxisa.org
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PXI Specification
Mechanical
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High-performance connectors
Eurocard mechanical packaging
Forced-air cooling by chassis
Environmental testing
Electromagnetic testing
Electrical
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Industry-standard PC buses
System reference clocks
Star trigger buses
PXI trigger bus
Software
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Microsoft Windows software frameworks
Software components that define HW configuration and capabilities
Virtual Instrument Software Architecture (VISA) implementation
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PXI System Overview
PXI Backplane
PXI Controller
• Embedded PC,
remote PC or remote
laptop interface
• Runs all standard
software
Chassis
•PCI/PCI Express bus
•Synchronization
Peripheral Slots
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Embedded PXI System Controllers
Windows-Based Embedded Controllers
• High-performance
• Integrated peripherals
• Entire system in one chassis
Real-Time Embedded Controllers
• Determinism and reliability with LabVIEW Real-Time
• Select high-performance or low-cost/low-power
• Headless operation
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Remote PXI System Controllers
PC Control of PXI
• Use latest high-performance PCs
• PCI Express with MXI-Express
• PCI with MXI-4
• High-speed, software transparent links
• Up to 110 MB/s sustained throughput
• Build multi-chassis PXI systems
• Copper and fiber-optic cabling options
Laptop Control of PXI
• Use latest high-performance laptop computers
• ExpressCard with ExpressCard MXI
• PCMCIA CardBus
• High-speed, software transparent links
• Up to 110 MB/s sustained throughput
• PXI controllers for portable applications
• Use with DC-powered chassis for mobile systems
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PXI Chassis
Chassis Offering
• 4, 6, 8, 14, and 18-slot
• Portable, benchtop, and rack-mount
• AC and DC options
• PXI/SCXI combination chassis
with integrated signal conditioning
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Wide Range of PXI Modules
Data Acquisition and Control
Multifunction I/O
Analog Input/Output
Digital I/O
Counter/Timer
FPGA/Reconfigurable I/O
Machine Vision
Motion Control
Signal Conditioning
Temperature
Strain/Pressure/Force/Load
Synchro/Resolver
LVDT/RVDT
Many More. . .
Modular Instrumentation
Digital Waveform Generator
Digital Waveform Analyzer
Digital Multimeter
LCR Meter
Oscilloscope/Digitizer
Source/Signal Generator
Switching
RF Signal Generator
RF Signal Analyzer
RF Power Meter
Frequency Counter
Programmable Power Supply
Many More. . .
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Bus Interfaces
Ethernet, USB, FireWire
SATA, ATA/IDE, SCSI
GPIB
CAN, DeviceNet
Serial RS-232, RS-485
VXI/VME
Boundary Scan/JTAG
MIL-STD-1553, ARINC
PCMCIA/CardBus
PMC
Profibus
LIN
Many More. . .
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Others
IRIG-B, GPS
Direct-to-Disk
Reflective Memory
DSP
Optical
Resistance Simulator
Fault Insertion
Prototyping/Breadboard
Graphics
Audio
Many More. . .
What’s New in PXI?
PXI Express
• Increases throughput with 2.0 GB/s per slot dedicated
bandwidth
• Industry’s best synchronization and latency specification
• Ensures compatibility with your existing software and all
1000+ PXI modules
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Expanding Our PXI Portfolio
Good (PXI)
Better (PXI)
Best (PXI Express)
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Low Cost
PCI based
General purpose data
acquisition, bus interfaces,
motion control
MXI-Express PXI-8184,
PXI-8145, PXI-1036
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High Performance &
Power
PCI based
General purpose
automated test, high
channel count data
acquisition
Fiber-Optic MXI, PXI8196, PXI-8196 RT, PXI1045
Lowering Cost
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High Performance,
Power, & Bandwidth
PCI Express based
High frequency or
resolution IF/RF, high
speed digital
interfaces, high speed
imaging
PXIe MXI-Express,
PXIe-8103, PXIe-1062
Improving Performance
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Increasing (Improving) Bandwidth
Max Bandwidth (Mbytes/s)
Industry Bus Performance
10000
PCI Express (x4)
1000
Gigabit Enet
PCI (32/33)
USB 2.0
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IEEE 1394a
VXI
Fast Enet
HS-GPIB
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USB 1.1
GPIB (488.2)
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10000
1000
100
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Approximate Latency (usec)
Decreasing (Improving) Latency
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0.1
Dedicated Bandwidth per Device
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What’s New in PXI?
PXI Express
• Increases throughput with 2.0 GB/s per slot dedicated
bandwidth
• Industry’s best synchronization and latency specification
• Ensures compatibility with your existing software and all
1000+ PXI modules
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Increased BW Enables New Applications
• PXI applications requiring PCI bandwidth
– General purpose automated test (DMMs, switching,
baseband instruments, etc)
– General purpose data acquisition (AI, AO, DIO, etc)
– Bus interfaces (CAN, 1553, ARINC, etc)
– Motion control
• PXI applications requiring PCI Express bandwidth
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High frequency, resolution IF / RF systems
High speed digital interfaces
High channel count data acquisition
High speed imaging
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100 MHz
Differential CLK
PXI
PXI Express
Star
Trigger
SYNC100
Differential Star
Triggers
PXI Trigger Bus (8 TTL Triggers)
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PXI
Peripheral
PXI Express
Hybrid
Peripheral
PXI Express
Hybrid
Peripheral
SYNC
Control
PXI Express
Hybrid
Peripheral
PXI Express
System
Timing Slot
System
Controller
PXI Express
10 MHz
CLK
100 MHz
Differential CLK
PXI
PXI Express
Star
Trigger
SYNC100
Differential Star
Triggers
PXI Trigger Bus (8 TTL Triggers)
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PXI
Peripheral
PXI Express
Hybrid
Peripheral
PXI Express
Hybrid
Peripheral
SYNC
Control
PXI Express
Hybrid
Peripheral
PXI Express
System
Timing Slot
System
Controller
PXI Express
10 MHz
CLK
PXI and Hybrid Slots Ensure Compatibility
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Key PXI Features
• Eases system integration
– Current product offering >1000 PXI modules
– Integrate with existing GPIB, Serial, VXI systems
– Future expandability
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Modularity – “Buy only what you need”
PC-feel
Advanced Timing and Synchronization
Uses Standard Technology
User Defined Systems
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Real Time Architectures on PXI
Non-Deterministic
Deterministic
HW-Timed I/O
Non-Deterministic
Deterministic
Controller
I/O Element
Non-RT OS
Windows, Linux, etc.
Data Bus
FIFO
Clock
DA
C
Software Task 1
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Clocked I/O
Non-Deterministic
Deterministic
PXI System
Controller
PXI Timing BackplaneI/O Element
Non-RT OS
Windows, Linux, etc.
Software Task 1
DAC
DAC
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RTOS
Non-Deterministic
Deterministic
PXI System
Controller
PXI Timing BackplaneI/O Element
RTOS
LVRT, RT Linux
Software Task 1
DAC
DAC
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ADC
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On-Board Processing
Non-Deterministic
Deterministic
PXI System
Controller
PXI Timing BackplaneI/O Element
Non-RT OS
Smart I/O Element “RIO”
Windows, Linux, etc.
FPGA
Task2
Software Task 1
DAC
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ADC
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PXI Products Serves Many Applications
Benchtop
•Manufacturing Test
•Design Validation
•Data Acquisition Systems
•Hardware-in-the-Loop
Rack-Mount
Portable / Embedded
•Manufacturing Test
•Data Acquisition Systems
•Machine Monitoring and Control
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•In-Vehicle Systems
•Design Validation
•Rapid Control Prototyping
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Additional Information:
www.pxisa.org
www.ni.com/pxi
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