National Instruments 779176-01 PXI Waveform Generator

National Instruments manufactures the 779176-01, also known as the PXI-5412, which is an arbitrary waveform generator with a frequency of 20 MHz. It can produce common functions including sine, square, triangle, and ramp signals as well as user-defined waveforms. It delivers accurate waveform production with its output range of -6 V to +6 V and direct digital synthesis (DDS) technology. Housed in a small 1-slot 3U PXI module, this device has a 14-bit resolution sampling rate of 100 MS/s and up to 256 MB of onboard memory.

In comparison to conventional GPIB-based instruments, the 779176-01 allows waveform downloads at up to 84 MB/s by utilizing the PCI bus for communication with the host computer. It makes use of the Synchronization and Memory Core (SMC) architecture to synchronize with digitizers and digital waveform generators/analyzers, enabling the development of mixed-signal test systems. Phase-coherent multi-channel generation can be achieved by synchronizing multiple arbitrary waveform generators.

The 779176-01 uses digital interpolation, which moves reconstruction images to higher frequencies and lessens the effect of analog filter distortions, to improve the quality of the output signal. Excellent passband flatness and enhanced image rejection are the outcomes of this method, guaranteeing low-distortion output signals. Interpolation and analog filtering can be turned off for applications that require square waves and pulses, which will result in minimum pulse aberrations and quick rise/fall periods.

With four trigger modes—single, continuous, burst, and stepped—the 779176-01 facilitates sophisticated waveform sequencing and triggering. By eliminating the requirement for multiple waveform downloads, it can store many sequences and the waveforms that go along with them in onboard memory, making testing more effective and quicker.

Multiple 779176-01 units can be synchronized with less than 500 ps of module-to-module skew when T-Clock technology is used for synchronization. 1.06 μHz sample rate resolution and outstanding stability and flexibility are offered by the high-precision sample clock. The gadget may phase lock to an external reference and import its sample clock from several sources.

A user-friendly API is provided by the driver program NI-FGEN, which is compatible with LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, VisualBasic, and Visual C/C++. To make development easier, it comes with a soft front panel for non-programmatic use and many of example programs. For high-reliability applications, the 779176-01 is also compatible with the LabVIEW Real-Time Module.