How can I synchronize multiple FlexRIO cards using PXI_Trig

[ChrisFarmerWIS]

Hi,

I am currently helping a client to set up inter-card triggering using FlexRIO.  We are not having much success, and there are not a lot of examples to refer to on this subject.

My system:

• PXIe-1075 Chassis
• PXIe-8130 Controller (running Windows 7 64-bit)
• Slot 7: PXIe-7965R with NI 5761 I/O Module (RIO1)
• Slot 9: PXIe-7965R with NI 5761 I/O Module (RIO0)
• Software: LabVIEW 2010 and RIO 3.5.1

The host application is using the VISA API to appropriately route and map triggers, although it is unsure whether this is correct.

The FPGA SW in RIO0 is setting PXI_Trig1 high when it detects a trigger.  The FPGA SW in RIO1 is setting PXI_Trig2 high when it detects a trigger. They both continue to check that PXI_Trig1 and PXI_Trig2 are both high before proceeding to acquire data.

At present only RIO0 acts on the triggers and acquires, whilst RIO1 is still waiting to see both PXI_Trig1 and PXI_Trig2 set to high before proceeding.

Perhaps there is a simpler way of approaching this?

Any help would be appreciated.

[Ryan_V[DE]]

Hey Chris,

This is Ryan Verret, and I'm the FlexRIO product manger. Can I get in touch with you offline? Would you care to share your email address? If not, can I contact you through Karthik, who I assume is your DSM? Thanks!

Regards,
Ryan

[RonnyVel]

Hi Chis

Its Ronny here.

Ive been doing some reading this afternoon and I cant seem to locate anything to help us.

I see Ryan has responded to you. I tried to get in contact with Ryan via linkedin and youtube as he posted a nice channelizer demo on there that might be useful.

Rgds

Ronny

[Ryan_V[DE]]

Hi Ronny,

Sorry for not getting back to you. I'll be honest, I haven't logged into linkedin in quite a while. And apparently my YouTube account is linked to my personal email, and I suppose I missed your note amidst the hundreds of spam emails I receive each week. Anyway, my channelizer code is not quite ready for public distribution, but I do have some other code and documents I can provide. Are you working with Chris on this project? Can we take this offline?

Regards,

Ryan 

[neomit]

Do you have any examples on this synchronization of multiple FlexRIO cards using PXI_trig? 

[Dave.T]

Hello Neomit, 

We have developed a library that has an example for multidevice synchronization.  You can download the FlexRIO Instrument Development Library (FIDL) here

The devices are synchronized using a Common Periodic Time Reference (CPTR) in much the same way the VST does for multidevice sync.  You can read more about how that works by looking at the context help of the Generic Synchronization project in the FIDL or in the VST Help

[neomit]

Still lost, wondering if there is any of host and FPGA vis using host-driven synchronization scheme available.

[Dave.T]

Download the FIDL

Then navigate to Start > All Programs > National Instruments > NI FlexRIO Instrument Development Library > Generic > Generic Synchronization

Open that project, it implements Host Driven Synchronization.  You can use that synchronization scheme for other modules beyond the ones preconfigured in the "Generic" project.