Help choose a PXI system

[jeet]

Hello,

I need to select a PXI system with the following capabilities:

(1)    SPI Interface – I have already selected NI – 8452.

(2)    Analog Outputs – I would need a module with 8 analog outputs (14-bit or 16-bit).

(3)    Analog Inputs – I would need 16 analog inputs.

(4)    Counters – I would need at least two counters that can do the following:

1. Count number of edges in a 50 ms time period
2. Measure frequency – of the order of 32 kHz, 1500Hz …
3. Measure Time period

(5)    Power Supply with current measurement: PXI 4132 has been selected

(6)    Digital Outputs: So far, I only need 3 digital outputs that I can get from NI-8452 SPI module too.

(7)    Digital Interrupts/Trigger: I need atleast 2 inputs that can be used as digital interrupt/trigger lines. This tester will be talking to a chip that needs to interrupt the tester regularly after its done with certain measurement (ADC measurement etc.). Can the digital i/O from NI-8452 be used as Interrupt lines? I didn’t find any description related to that.

(8)    Integrated Controller and chassis: I selected PxIe-1073 but I have to make sure that it has enough slots to fit all modules.

(9)    Relay switch module: PXIe-2569 would be sufficient.

Please help me select modules for Analog outputs, inputs, counters and digital interrupts.

Thanks

Jeet

[Chris-G · Accepted solution]

Hi Jeet,

There are several other specs that you may want to consider on top of what you’ve provided, such as sampling/updating rate for the AI/AO, whether you need simultaneous sampling, whether your AI measurements will be single-ended or differential, what voltage ranges are necessary for the AI/AO channels, and what your total system bandwidth needs to be.

But based on what you’ve provided, the following modules would be a good place to start:

PXI-6733 – 8 Channel, 16 bit AO card:   This card should provide the AO functionality required.

PXIe-6363 – 16 differential or 32 single-ended AI, 16 bit, 4 counters, 48 DIO channels:   This card can provide the 16 AI channels, the 2 counters required, and the 2 trigger lines required. Note that the trigger lines will use the DIO lines on either port 1 or 2 (port 0 lines do not directly correspond to a PFI line, which is what you want to use as a trigger). You may also consider the PXIe-6341 if you are only doing single-ended input.

In terms of the chassis, the PXIe-1073 would work if you want to control the chassis from a separate desktop using MXI-Express integrated controller. If you want to use an embedded controller, the PXIe-1062Q should work, depending on the system bandwidth you require. If you want the embedded controller for the PXIe-1062Q, the PXIe-8133 is pretty much the best controller you can get.

Have you tried using the PXI advisor? Here is a link to it. It’s a pretty helpful tool to make sure everything you get will work together. In summary, based on the selections you already made it looks like the modules you want are:

USB-8452

PXI-4132

PXI-6733

PXIe-6363

PXIe-2569

Hopefully that helps give you a good place to start.

[jeet]

Hello Chris,

I came up with a configuration quite similar to what you suggested.

USB-8452

PXI-4132

PXIe-6363

PXIe-6363

PXIe-2569

Notice that instead of 6733, I am thinking of using one more PXEe-6363. By using two 6363 cards, I get required number of AOs in addition to extra functionality that 6363 has to offer (extra DO, AI lines), whereas with 6733, I only get analog outputs and nothing else and it 6733 is more expensive that 6363.

What do you think?

Jeet

[Chris-G]

Good call Jeet. Yea I would do that if you know that you won't need any more AO channels. In general, the X-series DAQ cards are nice because they allow more flexibility than any other cards, so that's a good idea.

Chris