Oscilloscope Output Signal for Engine Position Tracking

[cRIO+FPGA Apps]

Hi all,

My project involves designing a FPGA-based Enginge Control Module (ECM aka ECU) development platform for a 6 cylinder Diesel engine. Before running the actual engine, I would like to simulate the cam and crank signals to test my Engine Position Tracking (EPT) strategies. I was thinking of using an oscilloscope digital output signal and send it to the analog/digital C series module on my cRIO-9014 as if there was an actual signal coming out of the cam and crank sensors.

 I was told that a NI-9401 could be use to generate these signals, how does an oscilloscope output signal compares to the NI-9401? If the NI-9401 is the way to go, how would I implement that in my code? Would it require more FPGA code (I'm thinking yes)?

Thanks

[Brian_T]

Hello,

The NI-9401 is a 5V/TTL digital I/O module capable of updating at 10MHz.  Depending on what you are concerned about, it may be a great substitution for an oscilloscope output signal.  Implementing this module into your FPGA application will require some more code, but it should be minimal depending on the complexity of the signal you are trying to output.  If all you need is a square wave output, the code would simply consist of another loop in your FPGA VI that has one write node and toggles the values outputted to this node.  Some sort of timing mechanism would also be required in this loop, but that would be it.  

I hope this helps.  Please let me know if you have any further questions.  

Thanks,

Brian T

Applications Engineer

National Instruments