NI NIPXIE-5442

100 MS/s, 16-Bit Arbitrary Waveform Generator
with Onboard Signal Processing
NI PXIe-5442 NEW!
• Baseband and intermediate
frequency generation
• Interpolation and pulse-shaping filters
• Carrier frequencies up to 43 MHz with
355 nHz resolution
• 16-bit resolution, 100 MS/s
sampling rate
• 400 MS/s effective sampling rate
with digital-to-analog converter
(DAC) interpolation
• 32, 256, and 512 MB of onboard memory
• Multimodule synchronization with
<20 psrms skew
Recommended Software
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•
•
•
•
LabVIEW
LabWindows™/CVI
LabVIEW SignalExpress
Measurement Studio
Digital Filter Design Toolkit
Included Software
Operating Systems
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•
•
•
•
•
NI-FGEN driver
LabVIEW Express VIs
NI Modulation Toolkit
NI Analog Waveform Editor
FGEN Soft Front Panel
LabVIEW Real-Time driver
• Windows Vista/XP/2000/NT
Calibration
• Gain and offset self-calibration
• 2-year external calibration cycle
Overview
The National Instruments PXIe-5442 is a 100 MS/s arbitrary waveform
generator with onboard signal processing (OSP). OSP functions include
pulse shaping and interpolation filters, gain and offset control, a
numerically controlled oscillator (NCO), and IQ mixing for quadrature
digital upconversion. With 16-bit resolution and -91 dBc close-in
spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR), the NI PXIe-5442 is ideal for
baseband I/Q and intermediate frequency (IF) generation. Common
applications include prototyping, validation, and testing of semiconductor
components and communications, radar, and electronic warfare systems.
The NI PXIe-5442 is also a full-featured arbitrary waveform generator
capable of generating general-purpose test signals at a maximum output
range of 2 Vpk-pk into a 50 Ω load.
With its National Instruments Synchronization and Memory Core
(SMC) architecture, the NI PXIe-5442 aides in the integration of mixedsignal test systems by enabling synchronization with other instruments
such as digitizers, digital waveform generator/analyzers, and other
signal generators. In fact, you can synchronize multiple arbitrary
waveform generators to form a phase-coherent multichannel
generator for generating multiple I/Q signal pairs common in
applications such as MIMO (multiple input, multiple output) or
beamforming antenna schemes.
High-Speed Data Streaming
As a PXI Express instrument, the NI PXIe-5442 makes use of the
PCI Express bus to continuously stream data from the host controller
at rates up to 540 MB/s, much higher than the maximum output rate
of the instrument. This enables the generator to continuously output
waveforms at 100 MS/s (200 MB/s) from either host memory or other
high-end storage solutions such as RAID hard drive arrays. Applications
that benefit from this capability include RF/IF data streaming in signal
intelligence, data record and playback, and scientific applications.
Onboard Signal Processing
(Digital Upconversion)
Onboard signal processing (OSP) significantly extends waveform
playback time and shortens waveform download times (see Figure 1).
A field-programmable gate array (FPGA) on the NI PXIe-5442 implements
the OSP functionality, which delivers several signal processing functions
used to perform digital upconversion to an intermediate frequency. The
signal processing functions include the following.
Onboard Signal Processing
Waveform
Memory
Output
Engine
Pre-Filter
Gain I
Pre-Filter
Offset I
Filtering and
Interpolation
Pre-Filter
Gain Q
Pre-Filter
Offset Q
Filtering and
Interpolation
X
IQ
Rate
–
Iφ
IQ Rate
Rate Change
(OSP Interpolation)
Digital
Gain
DAC
Interpolation
DAC
X
Qφ
NCO
Sample Rate
Rate Change
Effective
Sample Rate
Figure 1. Onboard signal processing uses the NI PXIe-5442 module’s FPGA to perform
inline processing of the waveform data stored in the module’s memory.
• Independent I and Q prefilter gain and offset – Adds gain and
offset imbalance impairments and I and Q prefilter gain. You can
adjust the offset before or during the generation of an output signal.
100 MS/s, 16-Bit Arbitrary Waveform Generator with Onboard Signal Processing
–25
–30
–40
Amplitude (dBm)
• Pulse-shaping finite impulse response (FIR) filter – Shapes
and interpolates the waveform data. The FIR filter coefficients are
programmable and include flat, raised cosine, and root raised cosine.
Digital interpolation factors range from one to 16,384 times.
• Numerically controlled oscillator (NCO) – Produces sine and
cosine waveform data for quadrature digital upconversion and
features 355 nHz frequency resolution and 0.0055 deg phase
resolution for precise control of impairments such as frequency error
and quadrature skew. You can adjust NCO frequency and phase before
or during waveform generation.
• Quadrature digital upconversion with impairments – Upconverts
signals, models channel effects, and tests receiver robustness. In
quadrature upconversion, I and Q complex waveform data is stored in
waveform memory and is passed to the OSP block. OSP then shapes
and interpolates the baseband signal and upconverts it to a carrier
frequency of up to 43 MHz. You can choose to suppress the lower or
upper modulation sideband by adjusting the NCO in-phase and
quadrature output phase settings. For modeling channel effects and
testing the robustness of a receiver, you can use OSP to add several
impairments to the signal during waveform generation. Add IQ gain
imbalance and DC offset impairments by adjusting the per-filter gain
and offset settings, and introduce quadrature skew and frequency
error by adjusting the I or Q carrier phase and frequency.
• Baseband interpolation – Generates smooth baseband signals.
You can use the NI PXIe-5442 OSP block to interpolate low-samplerate waveforms to a much higher sample rate, thereby improving the
output frequency spectrum by relocating zero-order sample-and-hold
reconstruction images to higher frequencies. With the images at
higher frequencies, the NI PXIe-5442 seventh-order lowpass analog
filter can greatly suppress them without disturbing the signals’
amplitude response or phase information. For example, you can
interpolate a waveform created at a 10 kS/s sample rate to
10.24 MS/s by using 1024 times digital interpolation in the OSP.
The upsampled signal is then passed to the DAC, which can also
interpolate by two, four, or eight times, resulting in an effective
sampling rate of 81.92 MS/s (eight times DAC interpolation).
Because you sample the original waveform at only 10 kS/s, rather
than 81.92 MS/s, you achieve a 1:8,192 compression ratio,
resulting in dramatically faster waveform computation and download
times. Alternatively, you can use the resulting compression to
efficiently store data in the NI PXIe-5442 onboard memory to gain
significantly longer playback times. Extended generation is essential
for improving the statistical significance of many communications
measurements and displays such as bit error rate, trellis plots, and
constellation plots.
–50
–60
–70
–80
–90
–100
–105
10
15
20
25
30
Frequency (MHz)
35
40
Figure 2. The NI PXIe-5442 with onboard signal processing digitally upconverts and
generates the frequency spectrum of a W-CDMA physical layer signal. (external sample
clock = 92.16 MHz)
• Amplitude modulation (AM) – Generates AM radio signals. By
using only the in-phase (I) path of the OSP block, you can generate an
AM radio signal by directly downloading the message signal into
onboard memory. The message signal scales the amplitude of the
NCO programmable frequency output.
• Single tone and function generation – Generates standard,
user-defined waveforms. Using the OSP block NCO, the NI PXIe-5442
can generate sine, square, triangle, ramp, and other standard and
user-defined waveforms just as a function generator does. You may
adjust the frequency of the output waveform during generation with
355 nHz resolution for generating phase-continuous frequency sweeps
and hops. You also can adjust the phase relative to other synchronized
instruments, the PXI 10 MHz reference clock, or an externally supplied
reference clock.
DAC Interpolation
The NI PXIe-5442 uses digital interpolation to improve the output signal
quality of smooth waveforms. Every DAC produces reconstruction images
in the frequency domain as a result of the conversion process. Appearing
at |fo ± nfs|, where fo is the frequency of the desired signal and fs is the
sampling rate, reconstruction images are undesirable for smooth signals,
such as sine waves.
Typically, arbitrary waveform generators suppress the reconstruction
images by using high-order lowpass filters with a cutoff frequency near
the generator’s Nyquist frequency (50 MHz for a 100 MS/s sample rate).
By using a high-order filter with such a low cutoff frequency, the filter’s
nonidealities, such as passband ripple and nonlinear phase, significantly
affect generator performance. The NI PXIe-5442 uses digital
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2
100 MS/s, 16-Bit Arbitrary Waveform Generator with Onboard Signal Processing
interpolation to increase the effective sample rate, relocating the
reconstruction images to higher frequencies.
NI SMC-based generators have the unique capability to store multiple
sequences and their associated waveforms in the generator’s onboard
memory (see Figure 4). In automated test applications involving multiple
tests, each requiring a different waveform sequence, you can download
all of the sequences and waveforms once at the beginning of the test
cycle and store them in the generator’s memory for the entire session.
By downloading all required waveforms and sequences once to an
SMC-based generator instead of repeatedly reloading them for each
test, you save time and improve throughput.
10.0
0.0
–10.0
–20.0
dBm
–30.0
–40.0
–50.0
Timing and Synchronization
–60.0
–70.0
–80.0
–90.0
0.0
25.0
50.0
75.0
100.0
125.0
Frequency (MHz)
158.0
175.0
200.0
Figure 3. Using a combination of digital interpolation and analog filtering, the
NI PXIe-5442 greatly reduces the DAC reconstruction images as shown for the 10 MHz
sine signal generated at 100 MS/s using 4X interpolation for a 400 MS/s effective
sampling rate. (The noise floor is limited by the measurement device.)
By doing so, the required analog filter cutoff frequency is increased,
which lessens the filter’s distortion effects. With the combination of
digital interpolation and analog filtering, the NI PXIe-5442 has excellent
passband flatness and improved image rejection, ensuring a lowdistortion output signal.
For sharp waveforms, such as square waves and pulses, you can
disable interpolation and analog filtering to produce fast rise/fall times
and low pulse aberration (overshoot, undershoot, and so on).
Using NI T-Clock (TClk) synchronization technology, you can synchronize
multiple NI PXIe-5442 modules for applications requiring a greater
number of channels, such as I/Q signal generation or multiple IF
generation for MIMO systems. Because it is built into the SMC, TClk can
synchronize the NI PXIe-5442 with SMC-based high-speed digitizers and
digital waveform generators and analyzers for tight correlation of analog
and digital stimulus and response. Using onboard calibration
measurements and compensation, TClk can automatically synchronize
any combination of SMC-based modules with less than 500 ps moduleto-module skew. Greatly improved from traditional synchronization
methods, the skew between modules does not increase as the number of
modules increases. To achieve even better performance, you can use a
high-bandwidth oscilloscope to precisely measure the module-to-module
skew. With the oscilloscope measurement for calibration information,
TClk can achieve <20 ps module-to-module skew (see Figure 5).
Waveform Sequencing and Triggering
You also can program the NI PXIe-5442 to sequence and loop a set of
waveforms. You can choose from several methods to advance through
the sequence of waveforms. In some cases, you know the duration of
each waveform in advance, so you can program the generator to loop
each waveform a specified number of times. When you do not know
the duration before the start of generation, you can use a hardware or
software trigger to advance the generator to the next waveform in the
sequence. The NI PXIe-5442 implements advanced triggering behavior
with four trigger modes: single, continuous, burst, and stepped. For a
detailed discussion of these modes, please consult the
NI Signal Generators Help Guide available at ni.com/manuals.
Sequence Sequence
Waveform Waveform
Waveform
Instructions Instructions • • •
• • •
1
2
n
1
2
Sequence
Instructions
m
Free
Memory
Figure 4. NI SMC-based arbitrary waveform generators increase test throughput by
storing all the waveforms and sequences required for a set of tests in onboard memory.
Figure 5. Using SMC TClk synchronization, multiple NI PXIe-5442 modules can achieve
<20 ps channel-to-channel skew.
The NI PXIe-5442 sample clock has three modes: Divide-by-N,
High-Resolution, and External. The direct digital synthesis (DDS)-based
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3
100 MS/s, 16-Bit Arbitrary Waveform Generator with Onboard Signal Processing
high-resolution sample clock has a sample rate resolution of 1.06 μHz.
This offers exceptional stability and sampling rate flexibility. The
NI PXIe-5442 can also import its sample clock from the CLK IN, PXI star
trigger, and PXI trigger bus. In addition, you can phase-lock the oscillator
in the NI PXIe-5442 to an external reference or the PXI 10 MHz
reference clock.
Driver Software
Accurate, high-throughput hardware improves the performance of a
measurement system, but easy-to-use, reliable software reduces
development time and ongoing support costs. NI-FGEN, the driver
software for the NI PXIe-5442, is the world’s most advanced and
thoroughly tested arbitrary waveform generator software. It features:
• Intuitive application programming interface (API) – In
NI LabVIEW and LabWindows/CVI as well as Microsoft Visual Basic
and Visual C/C++, the NI-FGEN API is engineered to use the least
number of functions possible while maintaining flexibility. Each driver
function has thorough online searchable documentation. The NI-FGEN
Quick Reference Guide further simplifies programming by providing an
overview of each driver function’s LabVIEW icon, function name,
parameters, and data types.
• LabVIEW Express VIs – For generating an arbitrary repetitive
signal, the LabVIEW Express VI is a configuration-driven method of
programming the NI PXIe-5442 without accessing the underlying
NI-FGEN functions.
• Function generator mode – Using the OSP’s numerically
controlled oscillator, the NI PXIe-5442 can behave as an arbitrary
function generator with 355 nHz frequency resolution. Using function
generator mode, you can generate phase-continuous frequency
sweeps and hops.
• Soft Front Panel – For quick, nonprogrammatic use of the
NI PXIe-5442, the Soft Front Panel supports arbitrary waveform and
standard waveform generation.
• Example programs – NI-FGEN provides 23 programming examples
for LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, Visual C++ 6.0 and .NET, and
Visual Basic 6.0, giving developers references on which to base
custom applications.
• LabVIEW Real-Time Support – For remotely deployed, autonomous
measurement systems or applications requiring the highest possible
reliability, NI-FGEN works with the LabVIEW Real-Time Module.
Modulation Toolkit for LabVIEW1
The NI Modulation Toolkit for LabVIEW provides functions for signal
generation, analysis, and visualization of custom and standard analog
and digital modulation. With the Modulation Toolkit, you can develop
and analyze custom modulation formats and generate these with the
NI PXIe-5442. Some of the standard measurement functions include
error vector magnitude (EVM), modulation error ratio (MER), and ρ (rho).
Functions are also available for injecting impairments including IQ
gain imbalance, quadrature skew, and additive white Gaussian noise
(AWGN). Visualization functions include trellis, constellation, and
2D and 3D eye diagrams. This hardware and software combination
gives you access to customizable functionality not available in
traditional instrumentation.
Modulation/Demodulation
•
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•
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4-, 8-, 16-, 32-, 64-, 128-, 256-QAM
2-, 4-, 8-, 16-FSK
MSK and GMSK
8-, 16-, 64-PSK
BPSK, QPSK, OQPSK, DQPSK, π/4DQPSK
AM, FM, PM
Modulation Analysis Functions
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ρ (rho)
DC offset
Phase error
Quadrature skew
IQ gain imbalance
Bit error rate (BER)
Frequency deviation
Additive white Gaussian noise
Burst timing measurements
Modulation error ratio (MER)
Error vector magnitude
Visualization and Analysis
• Trellis diagrams
• Constellation plot
• 2D and 3D eye diagrams
Modulation Impairments
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•
•
•
•
•
Multitone
DC offset
Fading profile
Frequency offset
Quadrature skew
IQ gain imbalance
1The
NI Modulation Toolkit data sheet is available separately.
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4
100 MS/s, 16-Bit Arbitrary Waveform Generator with Onboard Signal Processing
Analog Waveform Editor1
The NI Analog Waveform Editor is an interactive software tool for
creating and editing analog waveforms. In the editor, each waveform
comprises different segments, and each segment comprises a collection
of primitives. You can create a new waveform segment by selecting
from a library of more than 20 waveform primitives (see Table 1), by
entering a mathematical expression, or by importing data from a file.
You can then combine waveform primitives point-by-point using addition,
multiplication, or division to create more complex segments (see Figure 6).
You can concatenate multiple segments to make a larger waveform.
To further process the waveform, you can apply standard or custom
FIR and IIR filters or smooth any discontinuities between different
waveform segments. Once complete, all the settings you chose to
create the waveform are stored alongside the waveform’s raw sample
data, making it easy to reload the waveform in the editor and modify
the settings of a particular segment or primitive.
1The
NI Analog Waveform Editor data sheet is available separately.
Waveform Primitives
Sine
Square
Triangle
Sawtooth
Uniform noise
Triangular noise
Gaussian noise
Sinc
Gaussian pulse
Exponential rise/decay
Trapezoid
Stairstep
Haversine
Impulse
Cardiac
Table 1. Partial List of Configurable Waveform Primitives Available in the
NI Analog Waveform Editor
Specifications
Full specifications for the NI PXIe-5442 can be found online at ni.com.
Figure 6. You can combine more than 20 different waveform primitives to create more
complex waveforms.
Ordering Information
NI PXIe-5442 ......................................................................780109-0M1
1
M (onboard memory): 1 (32 MB), 2 (256 MB), 3 (512 MB)
Includes SMB 112 cable, NI-FGEN driver, FGEN Soft Front Panel, NI Modulation
Toolkit for LabVIEW, and NI Analog Waveform Editor.
Recommended PXI Switch
NI PXI-2593............................................................................778793-01
Note: All images show typical results for one production-quality NI PXIe-5442.
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For complete product specifications, pricing, and accessory
information, call 800 813 3693 (U.S.) or go to ni.com/pxi.
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5
NI Services and Support
NI has the services and support to meet
your needs around the globe and through
the application life cycle – from planning
and development through deployment
and ongoing maintenance. We offer
services and service levels to meet
customer requirements in research,
design, validation, and manufacturing.
Visit ni.com/services.
Training and Certification
NI training is the fastest, most certain route to productivity with our
products. NI training can shorten your learning curve, save development
time, and reduce maintenance costs over the application life cycle. We
schedule instructor-led courses in cities worldwide, or we can hold a
course at your facility. We also offer a professional certification program
that identifies individuals who have high levels of skill and knowledge on
using NI products. Visit ni.com/training.
Professional Services
Our NI Professional Services team is composed of NI applications
and systems engineers and a worldwide National Instruments Alliance
Partner program of more than 600 independent consultants and
integrators. Services range
from start-up assistance to
turnkey system integration.
Visit ni.com/alliance.
OEM Support
We offer design-in consulting and product integration assistance if you
want to use our products for OEM applications. For information about
special pricing and services for OEM customers, visit ni.com/oem.
ni.com • 800 813 3693
Local Sales and Technical Support
In offices worldwide, our staff is local to the country, giving you access
to engineers who speak your language. NI delivers industry-leading
technical support through online knowledge bases, our applications
engineers, and access to 14,000 measurement and automation
professionals within NI Developer Exchange forums. Find immediate
answers to your questions at ni.com/support.
We also offer service programs that provide automatic upgrades to
your application development environment and higher levels of technical
support. Visit ni.com/ssp.
Hardware Services
NI Factory Installation Services
NI Factory Installation Services (FIS) is the fastest and easiest way to
use your PXI or PXI/SCXI combination systems right out of the box.
Trained NI technicians install the software and hardware and configure
the system to your specifications. NI extends the standard warranty by
one year on hardware components (controllers, chassis, modules)
purchased with FIS. To use FIS, simply configure your system online
with ni.com/pxiadvisor.
Calibration Services
NI recognizes the need to maintain properly calibrated devices for
high-accuracy measurements. We provide manual calibration
procedures, services to recalibrate your products, and automated
calibration software specifically designed for use by metrology
laboratories. Visit ni.com/calibration.
Repair and Extended Warranty
NI provides complete repair services for our products. Express repair
and advance replacement services are also available. We offer
extended warranties to help you meet project life-cycle requirements.
Visit ni.com/services.
*351502A-01*
351502A-01
National Instruments • [email protected]
© 2007 National Instruments Corporation. All rights reserved. CVI, LabVIEW, Measurement Studio, National Instruments, National Instruments Alliance Partner, NI, ni.com, SCXI,
and SignalExpress are trademarks of National Instruments. The mark LabWindows is used under a license from Microsoft Corporation. Other product and company names listed
are trademarks or trade names of their respective companies. A National Instruments Alliance Partner is a business entity independent from National Instruments and has no
agency, partnership, or joint-venture relationship with National Instruments.
2007-8959-101-D