NATIONAL Instruments has introduced four new NI FlexRIO FPGA adapter modules, extending its PXI software-defined instrumentation.
According to National Instruments, the user-configurable NI FlexRIO products give engineers a commercial off-the-shelf solution which allows easier implementation of FPGA technology for advanced automated test and measurement systems.
The NI FlexRIO solutions combine a programmable PXI or PXI Express-based FPGA module and an I/O adapter module. The four new adapter modules are suited for real-time measurements, non-destructive test and ultrasound applications, communications systems and scientific research.
According to Dave Lines, the chief engineer of Diagnostic Sonar, the team used NI FlexRIO and designed an advanced ultrasound instrument in less than three months.
The tight integration of NI FlexRIO hardware and LabVIEW FPGA software meant the development process was significantly shortened.
“We were able to create an instrument that was much more customizable and scalable compared to existing systems,” said Lines.
National Instruments says the release of the NI FlexRIO adapter modules reflects its continuing investment in FPGA-based RIO. The company will continue to expand its selection of PXI modular instrumentation with user-configurable FPGAs.
Designed for test and measurement applications that require real-time performance and hardware signal processing, the new modules include the NI 5761, NI 5751, NI 5752 and NI 6583.
NI 5761 is a four-channel, 14-bit, 250 MS/s broadband high-performance digitizer adapter module designed to meet a wide range of signal processing application needs including communications system design, intermediate frequency (IF) acquisition, multiple input, multiple output (MIMO), radar and scientific research.
NI 5751 is a 16-channel, 50 MS/s, 14-bit digitizer adapter module for test and measurement in areas such as experimental physics, NDT and medical imaging.
NI 5752 is a 32-channel, 50 MS/s, 12-bit digitizer adapter module optimized for NDT and ultrasound applications; includes AC-coupled differential inputs with integrated VGAs and time-varying gain curves, as well as 16 digital outputs for pulser stimulus.
NI 6583 is a 32 single-ended and 16 LVDS/mLVDS channels, digital adapter module with data rates up to 300 Mbit/s for test and communication requiring mixed digital logic.
Engineers can control and reconfigure the FPGA on the NI FlexRIO host module using the LabVIEW FPGA software.