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FlexRIO Custom Instrumentation

FlexRIO Custom Instrumentation
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FlexRIO Custom Instrumentation

Product catalog summary
FlexRIO Custom Instrumentation Overview
FlexRIO Custom Instrumentation offers customizable hardware solutions with user-programmable FPGAs and high-speed I/O, supporting graphical programming with LabVIEW or VHDL/Verilog. It is available in two architectures: modular I/O and integrated I/O, each suited for different applications.
Target Applications
  • Scientific and medical instrumentation
  • RADAR/LIDAR
  • Signals intelligence
  • Communications
  • Medical imaging
  • Accelerator monitoring/control
  • Automated test
  • Custom protocol emulation
The Two FlexRIO Architectures
The modular architecture uses FlexRIO Adapter Modules with PXI FPGA Modules for digital interfacing and communication. The integrated architecture supports high-speed serial interfaces and advanced converter technologies using Xilinx UltraScale FPGAs.
FlexRIO With Integrated I/O
This setup includes a mezzanine I/O module and an FPGA backend, offering high-speed data communication and synchronization with PCI Express Gen 3 x8 connectivity for data streaming up to 7 GB/s.
FlexRIO With Modular I/O
Comprising modular I/O and FPGA modules, this architecture supports reconfigurable instruments with inline DSP capabilities, ideal for high-channel-density systems.
Key Advantages of FlexRIO
  • Access to high-speed converter technologies
  • Customizable FPGA resources for signal processing
  • High-speed data streaming and synchronization
  • Platform-based approach for test and measurement
FlexRIO Software Experience
Includes example programs for FPGA programming with LabVIEW, Host APIs, and detailed help files. The FlexRIO streaming driver supports basic digitizer and waveform generator functionality without FPGA programming.
Hardware Services
FlexRIO offers coprocessor modules for additional DSP capability and transceiver modules for high-performance ADCs and DACs. The FlexRIO Module Development Kit allows for custom I/O module creation.
Adapter Modules Overview
This document provides an overview of various adapter modules for FlexRIO, including digital, transceiver, RF, and camera link modules, highlighting their capabilities and applications.
Digital Adapter Modules
These modules offer configurable digital I/O channels for high-speed communication and custom protocol emulation.
Transceiver Adapter Modules
Suitable for high-speed acquisition and generation, these modules support RF modulation and demodulation with real-time processing.
RF Adapter Modules
Cover frequencies from 200 MHz to 4.4 GHz, suitable for custom signal processing and synchronization.
Camera Link Adapter Module
Supports image acquisition from Camera Link 1.2 standard cameras, enabling FPGA-based image processing.
Key Advantages of FlexRIO
FlexRIO allows real-time signal processing with FPGAs, reducing system load and enabling high-performance I/O.
Extensive Libraries of FPGA IP
LabVIEW provides a wide range of FPGA IP for various applications, including signal processing and control.
Platform-Based Approach to Test and Measurement
PXI is a PC-based platform for measurement and automation, offering high performance and low cost.
Product Categories
  • Source Measure Units: Combine high-precision source and measurement capabilities.
  • FlexRIO Custom Instruments & Processing: Provide high-performance I/O and powerful FPGAs.
  • Vector Signal Transceivers: Combine a vector signal generator and analyzer with FPGA-based processing.
  • Data Acquisition Modules: Offer a mix of analog I/O, digital I/O, and trigger functionality.
Hardware Services
NI hardware includes a one-year warranty with additional service programs available for extended coverage and maintenance.
Service Program Options
  • Standard and Premium Programs: Offer extended repair coverage and system configuration.
  • PremiumPlus Service Program: Offers customizable services such as on-site calibration.
Technical Support
NI provides a 30-day trial for phone and email support, extendable through a Software Service Program membership, with global support in over 30 languages.
See more

Catalog excerpts

FlexRIO Custom Instrumentation-1

Have a question? Contact Us. PRODUCT FLYER FlexRIO Custom Instrumentation CONTENTS FlexRIO Custom Instrumentation Target Applications The Two FlexRIO Architectures FlexRIO With Integrated I/O FlexRIO With Modular I/O Key Advantages of FlexRIO FlexRIO Software Experience Platform-Based Approach to Test and Measurement PXI Instrumentation Hardware Services NATIONAL ^INSTRUMENTS Page 1 | ni.com | FlexRIO Custom Instrumentation

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FlexRIO Custom Instrumentation-2

• Software: Includes example programs for programming FPGAs with LabVIEW, Host APIs for LabVIEW and C/C++, I/O module specific shipping examples, and detailed help files • LabVIEW-programmable Xilinx Kintex UltraScale, Kintex-7, and Virtex-5 FPGAs with up to 4 GB of onboard DRAM • Analog I/O up to 6.4 GS/s, Digital I/O up to 1 Gbps, RF I/O up to 4.4 GHz • Custom I/O with FlexRIO Module Development Kit (MDK) • Data Streaming up to 7 GB/s and multi-module synchronization with NI-TClk Custom Solutions Without Custom Design The FlexRIO product line was designed for engineers and scientists who need...

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FlexRIO Custom Instrumentation-3

Target Applications • Scientific and medical instrumentation Signals intelligence Medical imaging Accelerator monitoring/control Automated test Custom protocol emulation The Two FlexRIO Architectures A key advantage of the FlexRIO product line is you can use the latest high-speed converter technologies before they are widely available in traditional commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) instruments. This is particularly valuable in applications that continue to push requirements for sample rate, bandwidth, resolution, and channel count. The original FlexRIO architecture relies on modular FlexRIO Adapter...

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FlexRIO Custom Instrumentation-4

Parallel Digital Converters High-Speed Serial Converters Figure 2. The original FlexRIO architecture was well suited for traditional converters with single-ended or LVDS interfaces for data communication. The new FlexRIO architecture was designed to interface with the industry’s latest high-speed converters based on high-speed serial interfaces running protocols like JESD204B. Page 4 | ni.com | FlexRIO Custom Instrumentation FPGA Backend Timing and synchronization PCI Express Gen 3x8 Xilinx Ultrascale FPGAs 4 GB onboard memory

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FlexRIO Custom Instrumentation-5

These FlexRIO modules consist of two integrated parts: mezzanine I/O module that contains high-performance analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), digital-to-analog converters (DACs), or high-speed serial connectivity, and an FPGA backend for user-defined signal processing. The mezzanine I/O module and FPGA backend communicate over a high-density connector that supports eight Xilinx GTH multigigabit transceivers, a dedicated GPIO interface for configuration of the I/O module, and several pins for routing clocks and triggers. The products based on this architecture are identified by a model number...

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FlexRIO Custom Instrumentation-6

Streaming Driver FlexRIO modules with integrated I/O modules are supported in the FlexRIO streaming driver, which was designed to support basic digitizer and arbitrary waveform generator functionality without requiring FPGA programming. The driver supports finite or continuous acquisition/generation on any high-speed serial FlexRIO products with analog I/O and is intended as a high-level starting point before further customization on the FPGA. In addition to basic streaming functionality, you can use the driver for configuration of the I/O module’s analog front end, clocking, and even direct...

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FlexRIO Custom Instrumentation-7

FlexRIO Signal Generator Modules FlexRIO Digitizer Modules feature high-performance DACs with lightweight analog front-ends designed to maximize bandwidth and dynamic range. PXIe-574511 NI recommends the use of a chassis with > 58 W slot cooling capacity, such as the PXIe-1095, for FPGA designs utilizing the majority of KU040 or KU060 FPGA resources while running at clock rates over 150 MHz. FlexRIO Module Development Kit With the FlexRIO Adapter Module Development Kit (MDK), you can build your own FlexRIO I/O module that is tailored to your application. This process requires electrical, mechanical,...

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FlexRIO Custom Instrumentation-8

These FlexRIO products are comprised of two parts: modular, high-performance I/O called FlexRIO Adapter Modules, and powerful FlexRIO FPGA Modules. Together, these parts form a fully reconfigurable instrument that can be programmed graphically with LabVIEW or with Verilog/VHDL. FlexRIO FPGA Modules can also be used with NI Peer-to-Peer streaming to add inline digital signal processing (DSP) capability to a traditional instrument. PXI FPGA Modules for FlexRIO NI’s FlexRIO FPGA Module portfolio is highlighted by the PXIe-7976R and the NI 7935R Controller for FlexRIO, which both feature large DSP-focused...

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FlexRIO Custom Instrumentation-9

Digitizer Adapter Modules for FlexRIO Digitizer Adapter Modules for FlexRIO can be used with a PXI FPGA Module for FlexRIO or the Controller for FlexRIO to create a high-performance instrument with customizable firmware. With sampling rates from 40 MS/s to 3 GS/s and up to 32 channels, these modules cover a wide range of requirements for both time and frequency domain applications. Digitizer Adapter Modules also provide digital I/O capability for interfacing with external hardware. Table 4. NI offers Digitizer Adapter Modules for FlexRIO with up to 3 GS/s, up to 32 channels, and up to 2 GHz of bandwidth....

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FlexRIO Custom Instrumentation-10

Table 5. NI offers Signal Generator Adapter Modules for FlexRIO for both low-speed control and high-speed generation. Resolution (bits) Maximum Sample Rate Maximum Bandwidth Full-scale Output Range Digital Adapter Modules for FlexRIO Digital I/O Adapter Modules for FlexRIO offer up to 54 channels of configurable digital I/O that can interface with single-ended, differential, and serial signals at a variety of voltage levels. When combined with a large, user-programmable FPGA, you can use these modules to solve a variety of challenges, from high-speed communication with a device under test to...

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FlexRIO Custom Instrumentation-11

Table 7. Transceiver Adapter Modules are ideal for applications that require high-speed acquisition and generation on the same instrument. Transceiver Adapter Modules are available in both single-ended and differential configurations, with up to 250 MS/s analog input and 1 GS/s analog output. Analog Input Resolution (bits) Maximum Analog Input Sample Rate Analog Output Resolution (bits) Maximum Analog Output Sample Rate Transceiver Bandwidth Voltage Range RF Adapter Modules for FlexRIO RF Adapter Modules for FlexRIO feature frequency coverage from 200 MHz to 4.4 GHz, with up to 200 MHz instantaneous...

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