NI Features PCI/Compact PCI, PCI and PCMCIA Instruments
Electronic News -- EDN, April 16, 2001
National Instruments Corp. (NI) today rolled out three data acquisition instruments, including its first simultaneous sampling high-speed data acquisition device for the PXI/CompactPCI instrument platform.
The 12-bit NI 6115 multifunction I/O device samples measurements up to 10MS/sec on each of four 12bit analog channels, according to Austin-based NI (nasdaq: NATI). The input bandwidth of the device is 5MHz and provides software selectable filters of 50kHz and 500kHz for alias protection.
According to the company, the NI 6115 DAQ device, available now for $3,995, is capable of correlated high-speed operations combining analog input, analog output timed digital I/O and counter/timer functions. Its features include: two high-speed analog output channels that sustain waveform generation up to 2.5MS/sec or 4MS/sec for a single-channel; analog and digital triggering; eight high-speed digital I/O lines clocked up to 10MS/sec; PLL, PXI and external clocking for synchronization; two 24-bit, 20MHz counter/timers; 64Mbytes of onboard SDRAM; and streaming to disk up to 8MS/sec.
NI also introduced the NI 6534, a digital I/O instrument that combines pattern I/O, handshaking and change detection on the same device. Available for both PCI and PXI/CompactPCI platforms, the device delivers 32 lines of five V/TTL digital I/O and start and stop triggering, according to NI. It can transfer in 8-, 16- or 32-bits, NI said. The NI 6534 also features two independent data paths with 32Mbytes of onboard memory per data path. The device can transfer data at 80Mbytes/sec. for pattern I/O or handshaking I/O. With the six different handshaking modes on the device, users can easily communicate with a peripheral device or an external system, NI said. Users can connect the NI 6534 to a variety of external devices, such as custom scanners, ASICs or electronic components, the company said. Pricing for the NI 6534 is $1,695 for the PCI version and $1,995 for the PXI version.
Last but not least of NI's new products is an E Series data acquisition device for the PC Card platform. The $695 DAQCard-6024E includes many of the capabilities of NI's full-size E Series instruments squeezed into a size suitable for laptop computers, the company said. The card features 12 bits of resolution at 200kS/sec on 16 single-ended or eight differential input channels. The device also features two 12-bit analog outputs, eight TTL digital I/O lines, and two 24-bit counter/timers. A shielded latching connector keeps the card's cable securely attached to the card.
