National Instruments PXIe-5451 PXI Waveform Generator

The PXIe-5451 (Part Numbers: 781204-01, 781204-02, and 781204-03) is a 16-bit, 400 MS per second, dual-channel Arbitrary Waveform Generator, which enables maximum flexibility and performance. The three PXIe-5451 part numbers differ in their onboard memory sizes: part number 781204-01 has 128 MB, part number 781204-02 has 512 MB, and part number 781204-03 has 2 GB. The device has 2 output channels, a maximum bandwidth of 145 MHz, and a maximum update rate of 400 MS per second. The NI PXIe-5451 is the perfect device designed for testing devices with I/Q inputs and generating multiple wideband signals. This model also functions as the baseband component of an RF Vector Signal Generator. General applications of the PXIe-5451 include prototyping, validating, and testing of semiconductor components and communications, radar, and electronic aerospace/defense systems.

The NI PXIe-5451 comes with memory and synchronization features, which allows the storage of waveforms and instructions on the onboard memory. Parameter segments in sequence list, the maximum number of waveforms in memory, and number of samples available for waveform storage, are flexible and user defined. This module comes with higher memory options of 512 MB and 2 GB. It also features single trigger, continuous trigger, stepped trigger, and burst trigger modes. In single trigger mode, play time is <100 KS/s and extendable up to 400 MS/s using the other trigger modes.

The NI-FGEN is the driver software allows the configuration, control, and calibration of the PXIe-5451. Application programming interfaces can be provided for LabVIEW, LabWindowsTM/CVITM, Microsoft Visual C++ .NET, Microsoft Visual C/C++, Measurement Studio, and Microsoft Visual Basic application development environments.

The NI PXIe-5451 can integrate mixed-signal test systems by enabling synchronization with vector signal analyzers/generators, high-speed digitizers, digital waveform analyzers/generators, and other signal generators with its NI Synchronization and Memory Core (SMC) architecture.  Multiple arbitrary waveform generators can also be synchronized to form a phase-coherent multichannel generator for applications such as MIMO (multiple-input, multiple-output) or beam forming antenna schemes. The NI device has a recommended operating temperature range of 0 °C to 55 °C. The device weighs 19.4, and measures 8.5 x 1.6 x 5.1 in. in dimensions.