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Timing tool expansions improve synchronisation

A National Instruments product story
Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Oct 17, 2007

National Instruments' new timing features are suited to the development and control of large distributed systems such as particle accelerators and high-energy physics systems.

National Instruments has released additions to the NI timing tools range, including the industry's first PXI Express timing and synchronisation controller and a PXI module that synchronises PXI systems over GPS, Inter-Range Instrumentation Group (IRIG) and IEEE1588.

Users can achieve improved synchronisation and timecode capabilities in PXI systems, which is important for synchronising multiple systems, precisely timestamping events and improving measurement accuracy in automated test and data acquisition applications.

These new timing features are suited to the development and control of large distributed systems such as particle accelerators and high-energy physics systems.

Engineers can use the industry's first PXI Express system timing controller, the NI PXIe-6672, to synchronise multiple PXI Express systems with nanosecond precision.

The controller also makes it easy to synchronise PXI Express systems with GPIB, VXI and other measurement and instrumentation systems.

This system timing controller generates high-resolution clocks from DC to 105MHz for clocking instruments at precise frequencies and includes a high-stability TCXO reference with 1 part per million stability.

With the controller's onboard routing of internal and external clocks and triggers, engineers have complete control over the PXI trigger bus, star trigger lines and system reference clock.

They can also use this controller to implement complex synchronisation schemes in a single PXI Express chassis, an important capability for high-channel-count and high-performance test and measurement applications.

The NI PXI-6682 module provides GPS time, location and velocity, IRIG-B decoding and IEEE1588 synchronisation.

The module is designed for timestamping and triggering measurements or events across large physical objects such as aeroplanes and bridges or geographically distributed systems such as power grids and accelerators.

Engineers can also use the module as a grandmaster in an IEEE1588 network.

The IEEE1588 precision time protocol (PTP) provides a standard method to synchronise PXI, LXI and other IEEE1588-based devices on an Ethernet network.

Additionally, the NI PXI-6682 features complete PXI system timing controller functionality including the capability to control the PXI trigger bus, star trigger lines and system reference clock.

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