Using%20PXI

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Using PXI to Build Measurement and Automation
Systems
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Overview

• PXI/CompactPCI architecture
• Mechanical
• Electrical
• Software
• Third party support
• PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturing Group
  (PICMG)
• PXI Systems Alliance
• Configuring a PXI system
• Products and technology
• Applications

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Filling the Gap
VXI
Price
Desktop PC
Performance
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PXI Starts with CompactPCI
CompactPCI puts PC technology in a small, rugged
package by combining three standards
PCI bus
CompactPCI
Eurocardpackaging
Better IEC connectors
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Why use the PCI bus?

• Wide industry support
• Plug and play capability
• Thousands of software products
• 32-bit data transfers at 33 MHz (132 Mbytes/sec)
• PCI is a de facto standard

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Why Use Different Connectors?

• Higher pin count
• Rugged and reliable
• Integrated shield
• Impedance matched
• Most importantlyMORE SLOTS!

J2
J1
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Why Use Eurocard Packaging?

• Proven through decades of use in industrial
  applications (VME, VXI, and so on)
• Defined by IEEE 1101 standard
• Readily available mechanical components
• Excellent thermal properties
• Modular, rugged, and compact

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PC Motherboard Controller Backplane
PC motherboard with four PCI slots
CompactPCI 8-slotbackplane
CompactPCI embeddedcontroller
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Peripheral Sizes in PCI and CompactPCI
PCI
PXI/CompactPCI
Half size
Users can redesign PCI boards to fit in
PXI/CompactPCI with littleor no electrical
changes
3U
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PXI Combines Standard Technologies
CompactPCI
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The Open PXI System Specification
The PXI system specification extends CompactPCI
for instrumentation.
S
Specification Revision 2.0
Software
Electrical
Mechanical
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Mechanical Extensions

• PXI improves reliability and interoperability
  with
• Mandatory active cooling
• Temperature testing and ratings
• System-level environmental specificationsfor
  EMC, shock, vibration, and humidity
• Defined embedded controller location

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PXI/CompactPCI Form Factors

• All 3U cards work in 6U systems

64-bit PCI and
J2
PXI Features
3U
PXI/CPCI
J1
32-bit PCI
6U Adapter Panel
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Software Extensions

• PXI speeds application development because
• PXI Controllers MUST support a standard software
  framework by including a pre-loaded operating
  system (OS)
• Peripherals modules MUST be supplied with a WIN32
  device driver

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PXI and PC Software Is Identical

• Operating systems and application software run
  unchanged on PXI systems
• Configuration tools recognize PXI modules as PCI
  devices

We ported from a desktop PC to PXI without
changing any code Len Burczyk, Los Alamos
National Laboratories
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Electrical Extensions
PXI timing and triggering improves performance
System controller
Star trigger controller
Peripheral
Peripheral
Peripheral
132 MB/s, 33 MHz, 32-bit computer bus
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PXI Leverages VXI Features
Timing and triggering extensions in PXI and VXI
Local Bus Triggers Clock Star Bus VXI 12
lines 8 TTL, 2 ECL 10 MHz ECL D-size
only PXI 13 lines 8 TTL 10 MHz TTL 1 per slot
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Trigger Bus Synchronizes Modules
PXI-6070E
NI 5102
PXI-6533
Start scan
RTSI oscillator
Multifunction I/O
Oscilloscope
Digital I/O
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PXI Architecture Summary
PXI builds on CompactPCI to define complete
measurement and automation systems
CompactPCI
High performance connectors
PCIbus
EuroCard
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The CompactPCI Specification Body

• PCI Industrial Computer Manufacturers Group
• Governs the core CompactPCI specification
• Focus on telecommunications infrastructure
• Online directory contains hundreds of products
• More than 500 company members
• www.picmg.org

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The PXI Specification Body
www.pxisa.org

• Charter of this group is to- Promote PXI-
  Ensure interoperability- Control the PXI
  specification
• Focus is on user success in measurement and
  automation
• More than 50 company members

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PXI Systems Alliance Members
GenRad Gespac Goepel Electronic GDE Systems
(Marconi) GTE-ERS Innovative
Integration KineticSystems LeCroy MAC Panel MEN
Mikro Elektronik Talon Instruments
Acqiris Advanced Power Designs Advanced Test
Methods Alphi Technology AMP Analogic ASCOR ARVOO
Engineering ATEME AT Engineering Tech. Ctr. BB
Technologies BittWare Research Systems Bode
Enterprises BRIME CH Technologies CHROMA
ATE Data Patterns Dateppli Datum Dolch Computer
Systems
National Instruments Pickering Interfaces PX
Instrument Tech. Racal Instruments Rohde and
Schwarz Quantum Controls SBS GreenSpring Shaanxi
HiTech SRC TestWare Tracewell Systems TTI
Testron Vero Electronics (APW) Virginia Panel
Corp. ZYNX Schroff Marek Micro ERNI Ballard
Technology
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Configuring Your PXI System

• 1. Choose your OS and application development
  software
• 2. Select your PXI chassis
• 3. Select a remote or embedded controller
• 4. Select your PXI modules
• 5. Select your accessories
• 6. Select NI Installation Services

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Step 1 Choose Your Software

• Select a Windows operating system
• Select a standard application programming
  interface
• Graphical programming LabVIEW
• Text-based programming Measurement Studio
• Real-time program development LabVIEW RT

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Step 2 Select Your Chassis

• Choose enough slots for room to grow
• four or eight slot chassis
• use MXI-3 for multichassis configurations
• Consider application requirements
• portable or embedded
• bench-top or rack-mount
• Integrated signal conditioning (SCXI)
• combination chassis with PXI and SCXI

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Flexible Installation Options
PXI/CompactPCI

• For applications in
• Test and measurement
• Data acquisition
• Industrial automation

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Step 3 Select Your Control Scheme

• Embedded controllers
• Most compact solution
• Modular easy maintenance
• Pentium and Pentium III class
• Windows or LabVIEW RT (8156B/333)
• Remote MXI-3 controllers
• Short or long distance
• Fully transparent
• Low-cost

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LabVIEW RT on Embedded Controller
Ethernet
Host LabVIEW RT on PC runningWindows NT/9x
Target RT Engine on PXI controller
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LabVIEW RT on DAQ Modules
Host LabVIEW RT on Embeddedcontroller running
Windows NT/9x
Target RT engine on PCI or PXI/CompactPCI DAQ
board
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Multisystem Extension InterfaceMXI-3
architecture
PCI
CompactPCI
Secondary
1.5 GHz
MXI-3
SerialI/F
MXI-3
SerialI/F
PCI 1
High speed serial link
Primary
PCI 0
Still software transparent!
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MXI-3 Configurations
PCI to PXI/CompactPCI
PXI/CompactPCI to PXI/CompactPCI
Cabling- Copper (up to 10 m)- Fiber Optic (up
to 200 m)
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MXI-3 Benefits

• More slots for PCs and PXI/CompactPCI
• High-performance serial link
• Easy to integrate software transparent
• Short and long distances
• Low-cost

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Step 4 Select Your I/O Modules
Choose from more than 50 NI modules
Interfaces GPIB SCSI and Ethernet PCMCIA CAN and
DeviceNET RS-232 RS-485
DAQ and control RT series Multifunction
I/O Digital I/O Analog output Image
acquisition Motion control Counter/timers
Instruments Oscilloscopes Digital
multimeters Arbitrary waveform generators Temperat
ure meters Switch multiplexers Serial data
analyzers MXI-2 kits for VXI/VME
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PXI Modules Link to Other Standards
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Third-Party Modules

• Use online directories
• ni.com/pxi
• pxisa.org
• picmg.org
• Look for PXI module compliance data
• Environmental specifications
• Regulatory specifications
• Driver software support

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Step 5 Select Your Accessories

• Connectivity scheme
• Cabling
• Terminal blocks
• Direct front panel connection
• Third party receivers
• Signal conditioning
• Chassis-based SCXI
• External
• Mounting kits

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Step 6 Select NI Installation Services

• Receive a ready-to-use PXI system
• Configure online with PXI configurator
• National Instruments installs
• PXI modules in your chassis
• Memory upgrades
• National Instruments application software
• All required driver software

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PXI Configurator Online!

• Point
• ni.com/pxiconfig
• Click
• choose chassis
• choose controller and software
• choose modules
• Configure
• place modules in slots
• select accessories
• review the online price quote
• order complete systems online!

ni.com/pxiconfig
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Summary

• PXI is a complete system specification that
  extends CompactPCI for measurement and
  automation
• PXI and CompactPCI are open specifications
  supported by numerous vendors
• Hundreds of products are available today for
  configuring PXI/CompactPCI systems