how to use backplane signal for outside world

[alanxie]

PXI 6551 board has some signals on backplane such as PXI_STAR, PXI_TRIG<0:7>. But I don't see an external port for these signals. Are these signals only used for the communication between multiple PXI board on the same chassis? Can I use these signals to communicate with outside world, say my DUT? Since thess do not have a connector on the front panel, I don't know how to use them to talk to outside world.

Tieling

[Photon_Dan]

There are signals on the PXI backplane that are used for triggering / timing functions between cards in the chassis.  To get those signals to interact with your DUT, you can route them using the PFI pins available on the PXI-6551.  Check out the timing and triggering Knowledgebase article here and the HSDIO help files here.

Dan Press
PrimeTest Automation

[alanxie]

There are only 4 PFI connector PFI<0:3>. They are all taken up in my application. Does it mean I cannot use them directly?

[Steve_B]

Hi alanxie,

If you are using your PFI Lines in your application then you will not be able to route yout PXI_Trig lines to the front panel of your device. The PXI_STAR line can be routed to your CLK OUT or your DDC CLK OUT. In the help files that Dan linked to you can navigate to Devices>>NI 655x>>Hardware Architecture>>Signal Routing>>Signal Routing for PXI Devices. This table will show you all of the available signal routing for the device including how you can use the PXI_TRIG lines internally.