Important Information
Warranty
The NI 5620 is warranted against defects in materials and workmanship for a period of one year from the date of shipment, as evidenced by
receipts or other documentation. National Instruments will, at its option, repair or replace equipment that proves to be defective during the
warranty period. This warranty includes parts and labor.
The media on which you receive National Instruments software are warranted not to fail to execute programming instructions, due to defects
in materials and workmanship, for a period of 90 days from date of shipment, as evidenced by receipts or other documentation. National
Instruments will, at its option, repair or replace software media that do not execute programming instructions if National Instruments receives
notice of such defects during the warranty period. National Instruments does not warrant that the operation of the software shall be
uninterrupted or error free.
A Return Material Authorization (RMA) number must be obtained from the factory and clearly marked on the outside of the package before
any equipment will be accepted for warranty work. National Instruments will pay the shipping costs of returning to the owner parts which are
covered by warranty.
National Instruments believes that the information in this document is accurate. The document has been carefully reviewed for technical
accuracy. In the event that technical or typographical errors exist, National Instruments reserves the right to make changes to subsequent
editions of this document without prior notice to holders of this edition. The reader should consult National Instruments if errors are suspected.
In no event shall National Instruments be liable for any damages arising out of or related to this document or the information contained in it.
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maintenance instructions; owner’s modification of the product; owner’s abuse, misuse, or negligent acts; and power failure or surges, fire,
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Copyright
Under the copyright laws, this publication may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying,
recording, storing in an information retrieval system, or translating, in whole or in part, without the prior written consent of National
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CVI™, LabVIEW™, MITE™, National Instruments™, NI™, ni.com™, PXI™, and RTSI™ are trademarks of National Instruments Corporation.
Product and company names mentioned herein are trademarks or trade names of their respective companies.
WARNING REGARDING USE OF NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS PRODUCTS
(1) NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS PRODUCTS ARE NOT DESIGNED WITH COMPONENTS AND TESTING FOR A LEVEL OF
RELIABILITY SUITABLE FOR USE IN OR IN CONNECTION WITH SURGICAL IMPLANTS OR AS CRITICAL COMPONENTS IN
ANY LIFE SUPPORT SYSTEMS WHOSE FAILURE TO PERFORM CAN REASONABLY BE EXPECTED TO CAUSE SIGNIFICANT
INJURY TO A HUMAN.
(2) IN ANY APPLICATION, INCLUDING THE ABOVE, RELIABILITY OF OPERATION OF THE SOFTWARE PRODUCTS CAN BE
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COMPUTER HARDWARE MALFUNCTIONS, COMPUTER OPERATING SYSTEM SOFTWARE FITNESS, FITNESS OF COMPILERS
AND DEVELOPMENT SOFTWARE USED TO DEVELOP AN APPLICATION, INSTALLATION ERRORS, SOFTWARE AND
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DEVICES, TRANSIENT FAILURES OF ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS (HARDWARE AND/OR SOFTWARE), UNANTICIPATED USES OR
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HEREAFTER COLLECTIVELY TERMED “SYSTEM FAILURES”). ANY APPLICATION WHERE A SYSTEM FAILURE WOULD
CREATE A RISK OF HARM TO PROPERTY OR PERSONS (INCLUDING THE RISK OF BODILY INJURY AND DEATH) SHOULD
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DAMAGE, INJURY, OR DEATH, THE USER OR APPLICATION DESIGNER MUST TAKE REASONABLY PRUDENT STEPS TO
PROTECT AGAINST SYSTEM FAILURES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO BACK-UP OR SHUT DOWN MECHANISMS.
BECAUSE EACH END-USER SYSTEM IS CUSTOMIZED AND DIFFERS FROM NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS' TESTING
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INCORPORATED IN A SYSTEM OR APPLICATION, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE APPROPRIATE DESIGN,
PROCESS AND SAFETY LEVEL OF SUCH SYSTEM OR APPLICATION.
Compliance
FCC/Canada Radio Frequency Interference Compliance*
Determining FCC Class
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has rules to protect wireless communications from interference. The FCC
places digital electronics into two classes. These classes are known as Class A (for use in industrial-commercial locations only)
or Class B (for use in residential or commercial locations). Depending on where it is operated, this product could be subject to
restrictions in the FCC rules. (In Canada, the Department of Communications (DOC), of Industry Canada, regulates wireless
interference in much the same way.)
Digital electronics emit weak signals during normal operation that can affect radio, television, or other wireless products. By
examining the product you purchased, you can determine the FCC Class and therefore which of the two FCC/DOC Warnings
apply in the following sections. (Some products may not be labeled at all for FCC; if so, the reader should then assume these are
Class A devices.)
FCC Class A products only display a simple warning statement of one paragraph in length regarding interference and undesired
operation. Most of our products are FCC Class A. The FCC rules have restrictions regarding the locations where FCC Class A
products can be operated.
FCC Class B products display either a FCC ID code, starting with the letters EXN,
or the FCC Class B compliance mark that appears as shown here on the right.
FCC/DOC Warnings
This equipment generates and uses radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in strict accordance with the instructions
in this manual and the CE Mark Declaration of Conformity**, may cause interference to radio and television reception.
Classification requirements are the same for the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the Canadian Department
of Communications (DOC).
Changes or modifications not expressly approved by National Instruments could void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment under the FCC Rules.
Class A
Federal Communications Commission
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC
Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated
in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and
used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this
equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case the user will be required to correct
the interference at his own expense.
Canadian Department of Communications
This Class A digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment Regulations.
Cet appareil numérique de la classe A respecte toutes les exigences du Règlement sur le matériel brouilleur du Canada.
Class B
Federal Communications Commission
This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the
FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential installation.
This equipment generates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the
instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is no guarantee that interference will not
occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can
be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of
the following measures:
•
•
•
•
Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the receiver is connected.
Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.
Canadian Department of Communications
This Class B digital apparatus meets all requirements of the Canadian Interference-Causing Equipment Regulations.
Cet appareil numérique de la classe B respecte toutes les exigences du Règlement sur le matériel brouilleur du Canada.
Compliance to EU Directives
Readers in the European Union (EU) must refer to the Manufacturer's Declaration of Conformity (DoC) for information**
pertaining to the CE Mark compliance scheme. The Manufacturer includes a DoC for most every hardware product except for
those bought for OEMs, if also available from an original manufacturer that also markets in the EU, or where compliance is not
required as for electrically benign apparatus or cables.
To obtain the DoC for this product, click Declaration of Conformity at ni.com/hardref.nsf/. This website lists the DoCs
by product family. Select the appropriate product family, followed by your product, and a link to the DoC appears in Adobe
Acrobat format. Click the Acrobat icon to download or read the DoC.
*
Certain exemptions may apply in the USA, see FCC Rules §15.103 Exempted devices, and §15.105(c). Also available in
sections of CFR 47.
** The CE Mark Declaration of Conformity will contain important supplementary information and instructions for the user or
installer.
Conventions
The following conventions are used in this manual:
<>
Angle brackets that contain numbers separated by an ellipsis represent a
range of values associated with a bit or signal name—for example,
DBIO<3..0>.
»
The » symbol leads you through nested menu items and dialog box options
to a final action. The sequence File»Page Setup»Options directs you to
pull down the File menu, select the Page Setup item, and select Options
from the last dialog box.
This icon denotes a note, which alerts you to important information.
This icon denotes a caution, which advises you of precautions to take to
avoid injury, data loss, or a system crash.
bold
Bold text denotes items that you must select or click on in the software,
such as menu items and dialog box options. Bold text also denotes
parameter names.
italic
Italic text denotes variables, emphasis, a cross reference, or an introduction
to a key concept. This font also denotes text that is a placeholder for a word
or value that you must supply.
monospace
Text in this font denotes text or characters that you should enter from the
keyboard, sections of code, programming examples, and syntax examples.
This font is also used for the proper names of disk drives, paths, directories,
programs, subprograms, subroutines, device names, functions, operations,
variables, filenames and extensions, and code excerpts.
Chapter 1
Taking Measurements with the NI 5620
Acquiring Data with Your NI 5620 ...............................................................................1-2
Chapter 2
How the NI 5620 Works................................................................................................2-1
Digitizing the Signal—The ADC....................................................................2-3
Incorporating the DDC....................................................................................2-4
Block Diagram...............................................................................................................2-5
Other Features................................................................................................................2-6
Triggering........................................................................................................2-7
Calibration .....................................................................................................................2-7
Synchronizing Multiple PXI Devices............................................................................2-8
Appendix A
Appendix B
Technical Support Resources
Glossary
Index
© National Instruments Corporation
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NI 5620 User Manual
1
Taking Measurements
with the NI 5620
Thank you for buying a National Instruments (NI) 5620 digitizer.
This chapter provides information on installing, connecting signals to,
and acquiring data from the NI 5620.
The NI 5620 has the following features:
•
•
One 14-bit, 64 MS/s analog-to-digital converter (ADC)
Deep onboard sample memory (amount varies depending on model)
Installing the Software and Hardware
For step-by-step instructions for installing the NI-SCOPE software and the
NI 5620, see the Where to Start with Your NI 5620 Digitizer document.
There are two main steps involved in installation:
1. Install the NI-SCOPE driver. You use NI-SCOPE to write programs
to control your NI 5620 in different application development
environments (ADEs).
2. Install your Spectral Measurements Toolset (SMT) CD, if included.
The SMT provides frequency-domain functionality and examples.
3. Install your NI 5620. See the Where to Start with Your NI 5620
Digitizer document.
© National Instruments Corporation
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NI 5620 User Manual
Chapter 1
Taking Measurements with the NI 5620
Acquiring Data with Your NI 5620
You can acquire data programmatically either by writing an application for
your NI 5620 or using one of the examples that ships with NI-SCOPE.
Programmatically Controlling Your NI 5620
To help you get started programming your NI 5620, the software comes
with examples that you can use or modify.
For time-domain examples, go to the following default locations:
•
LabVIEW—Open the Functions palette, and go to Instrument I/O»
Instrument Drivers»NI SCOPE»IF Digitizers.
•
•
C and Visual Basic—Go to vxipnp\winXX\Niscope\Examples.
LabWindows/CVI—Go to cvi\samples\Niscope.
For frequency-domain LabVIEW examples, go to LabVIEW 6\examples\
Spectral Measurements Toolset. For LabWindows/CVI examples,
go to cvi\samples\smt.
For more detailed function reference help, see the NI-SCOPE VI Reference
Help, located at Start»Programs»National Instruments»NI-SCOPE.
Safety Information
The following paragraphs contain important safety information that must
be followed during installation and use of the device.
Caution Do not operate the device in a manner not specified in the user manual. Misuse
of the device may result in a hazard. The safety protection built into the device may be
compromised if it is damaged in any way. If the device is damaged, return it to NI for repair.
Caution If the device is rated for use with hazardous voltages ( >30 Vrms, 42.4 Vpp, or
60 VDC), you must connect a safety earth ground wire. See Appendix A, Specifications,
for maximum voltage ratings.
Caution Do not substitute parts or modify the device. Use the device only with chassis,
modules, accessories, and cables specified in the installation instructions. All covers and
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Chapter 1
Taking Measurements with the NI 5620
Caution Do not operate the device in an explosive atmosphere or where there may be
flammable gases or fumes. The device can only be operated at or below pollution degree 2,
as stated in Appendix A, Specifications. Pollution is foreign matter, solid, liquid, or gas that
may produce a reduction of dielectric strength or surface resistivity. The following is a
description of pollution degrees:
•
Pollution degree 1: No pollution or only dry, non-conductive pollution
occurs. The pollution has no influence.
•
Pollution degree 2: Normally only non-conductive pollution occurs.
Occasionally, however, a temporary conductivity caused by
condensation must be expected.
•
Pollution degree 3: Conductive pollution occurs, or dry,
non-conductive pollution occurs, which becomes conductive due to
condensation.
Caution Signal connections must be insulated for the maximum voltage for which the
device is rated. Do not exceed the maximum ratings for the device. Remove power from
signal lines before connection to or disconnection from the device.
Caution This device can only be operated at installation category I, as stated in
Appendix A, Specifications. The following is a description of installation categories:
•
Installation category IV is for measurements performed at the source
of the low-voltage installation. Examples are electricity meters and
measurements on primary over current protection devices and ripple
control units.
•
Installation category III is for measurements performed in the building
installation. Examples are measurements on distribution boards,
circuit-breakers, wiring, including cables, bus-bars, junction boxes,
switches, socket-outlets in the fixed installation, and equipment for
industrial use and some other equipment such as stationary motors
with permanent connection to the fixed installation.
•
•
Installation category II is for measurements performed on circuits
directly connected to the low voltage installation. Examples are
measurements on household appliances, portable tools and similar
equipment.
Installation category I is for measurements performed on circuits not
directly connected to MAINS. Examples are measurements on circuits
not derived from MAINS, and specially protected (internal)
MAINS-derived circuits.
Caution Clean the device with a soft non-metallic brush. The device must be completely
dry and free from contaminants before returning it to service.
© National Instruments Corporation
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NI 5620 User Manual
2
Hardware Overview
This chapter provides an overview of the features and functionality of the
NI 5620.
How the NI 5620 Works
A signal follows this path through the NI 5620 to your host computer:
1. The signal enters the NI 5620 through the analog front panel
connector, INPUT. To find more about the front panel, see the
2. The signal is filtered and conditioned. Gain and dither are applied to
and AC Coupling section for more information.
Digitizing the Signal—The ADC section for more information.
4. (Optional) The digital downconverter (DDC) digitally “zooms in”
on data. See the Incorporating the DDC section.
5. The data is sent to onboard memory (the buffer). See the Storing Data
in Memory section for additional information.
6. The data is transferred to your host computer.
Analog
Input
P
X
I
Filtering/
Conditioning
DDC
(Optional)
Onboard
Memory
ADC
B
u
s
Figure 2-1. Basic Signal Flow
© National Instruments Corporation
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NI 5620 User Manual
Chapter 2
Hardware Overview
Connecting Signals
Figure 2-2 shows the NI 5620 front panel, which contains three
connectors—two SMA connectors and an SMB connector.
One of the SMA connectors, INPUT, is for attaching the analog input signal
you wish to measure. The second SMA connector, REF CLK IN, is a
50 Ω,10 MHz, AC-coupled reference input. The SMB connector, PFI1,
is for external digital triggers.
5620
64 MS/s Digitizer
INPUT
50
+20 dBm MAX
REF CLK IN
50
+16 dBm MAX
PFI 1
Figure 2-2. NI 5620 Front Panel
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Chapter 2
Hardware Overview
Conditioning the Signal—Impedance, Dither, Gain, and AC Coupling
To minimize distortion, signals receive a minimal amount of conditioning.
There is one set gain, and all signals are AC coupled, meaning that the
NI 5620 rejects any DC portion of a signal. The NI 5620 also has a set input
impedance of 50 Ω and applies dither to the configurable signal.
Input Impedance
The input impedance of the NI 5620 is 50 Ω. The output impedance of the
source connected to the NI 5620 and the input impedance of the NI 5620
form an impedance divider, which attenuates the input signal according to
the following formula:
Rin
------------------
Vm = Vs ×
Rin + Rs
where Vm is the measured voltage
Vs is the unloaded source voltage
Rs is the output impedance of the external device
Rin is the input impedance of the NI 5620
If the source whose output you are measuring has an output impedance
other than 50 Ω, your measurements will be affected by this impedance
divider. For example, if the device has 75 Ω output impedance, your
measured signal will be 80% of the value it would have been at 50 Ω.
Dither
Dither is random noise added to the input signal between 0 and 5 MHz.
Dither lowers the amount of distortion caused by differential nonlinearity
in the ADC when a signal is digitized. When an FFT is applied to the signal,
this random noise cancels out most of the distortion created by differential
nonlinearity. Dither is not automatically applied, but you can enable it in
software.
Digitizing the Signal—The ADC
Regardless of your requested sample rate, the NI 5620 ADC is always
running at 64 MS/s. If you request a rate less than 64 MS/s, the timing
engine of the NI 5620 stores only 1 sample in a group of n samples,
effectively reducing the sample rate to 64/n MS/s.
© National Instruments Corporation
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NI 5620 User Manual
Chapter 2
Hardware Overview
Incorporating the DDC
You may optionally route the data through the DDC before storing it in
onboard memory.
The DDC is a digital signal processing (DSP) chip, the Intersil
HSP50214B. The first stage uses a digital quadrature mixer that shifts
a signal to baseband from any frequency within the digitizer’s range.
The next stage decimates (reduces the sample rate) by an integer from 4
to 16384. A series of programmable digital lowpass filters prior to each
stage of decimation prevents aliasing when the sample rate is reduced.
The decimated data may be retrieved as in-phase and quadrature, or as
phase and magnitude. A discriminator allows you to take the derivative
of the phase to demodulate an FM signal.
By mixing, filtering, and decimating the sampled data, the DDC allows
you to zoom in on a band of frequencies much narrower than the Nyquist
band of the ADC. The lower sample rate means that signals of longer
duration can be stored in the same amount of memory. For spectral analysis,
a smaller, faster FFT may be used to look at only the band passed through
the DDC.
Refer to the NI-SCOPE VI Reference Help for specific DDC attributes
you can use to program your NI 5620. If you installed the included
measurement software, there is also online help for LabVIEW users using
the DDC.
Storing Data in Memory
Samples are acquired into onboard memory on the NI 5620 before being
transferred to the host computer. The minimum size for a buffer is
approximately 256 samples, although you can specify smaller buffers in
software. When specifying a smaller buffer size, the minimum number of
points are still acquired into onboard memory, but only the specified
number of points are retrieved into the host computer’s memory.
During the acquisition, samples are stored in a circular buffer that is
continually rewritten until a trigger is received. After the trigger is received,
the NI 5620 continues to acquire posttrigger samples if you have specified
a posttrigger sample count. The acquired samples are placed into onboard
memory. The number of posttrigger or pretrigger samples is limited only by
the amount of onboard memory.
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Chapter 2
Hardware Overview
Block Diagram
This block diagram is intended for advanced users. An explanation of some
of these features follows.
Digital
Downconverter
Dither
Analog
Input
(INPUT)
Onboard
Memory
Data Path
Logic
MITE
(PXI Interface)
+
Filter
ADC
P
X
I
Voltage
Controlled
Oscillator
Phase
Detector
TIO
PLL
(Timing and Control)
10 MHz
Reference
Input
CalDAC
(REF CLK IN)
CLK 10
Trigger and
Clock Routing
PXI Trigger
External Trigger
EXT TRIG
(PFI)
Figure 2-3. Block Diagram
The digital downconverter is a digital signal processor (DSP) that allows
you to digitally zoom in on data, which reduces the amount of data
transferred into memory and speeds up the rate of data transfer. The digital
downconverter does this by frequency-translating, filtering, and decimating
signals after they go through the ADC. See the Incorporating the DDC
section for more information.
The PLL uses a phase dectetor to synchronize the acquisition clock to
either a 10 MHz reference clock supplied through REF CLK IN or to the
CLK 10 signal from the PXI backplane. You can also choose to leave the
© National Instruments Corporation
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NI 5620 User Manual
Chapter 2
Hardware Overview
acquisition clock in a free-running state, in which the acquisition clock is
not synchronized to any external reference.
The voltage controlled crystal oscillator (VCXO) is a 64 MHz clock.
The trigger and clock routing area directs clock signals and triggers.
The TIO is the timing engine used for the NI 5620.
The MITE is the PXI bus interface. The MITE provides high-speed direct
memory access (DMA) transfers from the NI 5620 to the host computer’s
memory.
Other Features
This section contains information on other features on the NI 5620.
Multiple-Record Acquisitions
After the trigger has been received and the posttrigger samples have
been stored, you can configure the NI 5620 to begin another acquisition
that is stored in another memory record on the device. This process is a
multiple-record acquisition. To perform multiple-record acquisitions,
configure the NI 5620 to the number of records to be acquired before
starting the acquisition. The NI 5620 acquires an additional record each
time a trigger is accepted until all the requested records have been stored
in memory. After the initial setup, this process does not require software
intervention.
Between each record, there is a dead time during which the trigger is not
accepted. If the record length is greater than 80 µs, this dead time will be
500 ns. If, however, the record length is less than 80 µs, the dead time will
be 80 µs. During this time, the memory controller sets up for the next
record. There may also be additional dead time while the minimum number
of pretrigger samples are being acquired. Figure 2-4 shows a timing
diagram of a multiple-record acquisition.
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Chapter 2
Hardware Overview
1
2
3
Trigger
500 ns
Acquisition
In Progress
Buffer
1
2
1 = Trigger Not Accepted (Pretrigger Points Not Acquired)
2 = Trigger Not Accepted (500 ns Dead Time)
3 = Trigger Not Accepted (Acquisition in Progress)
= Trigger Accepted
Figure 2-4. Multiple-Record Acquisition Timing Diagram
Triggering
You can externally trigger the NI 5620 through the digital line, PFI1. You
can also use software to trigger it. Figure 2-5 shows the different trigger
sources. The digital triggers are TTL-level signals with a minimum
pulse-width requirement of 100 ns or 16 ns times the DDC decimation.
Software
RTSI <0..7>
Trigger
8
PFI1
PXI Star
Figure 2-5. Digital Trigger Sources
Calibration
Although the NI 5620 is factory calibrated, it needs periodic calibration to
verify that it is still within the specified accuracy. For more information on
calibration, contact NI or visit the NI Web site at ni.com.
© National Instruments Corporation
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NI 5620 User Manual
Chapter 2
Hardware Overview
Synchronizing Multiple PXI Devices
The NI 5620 uses a PLL to synchronize the 64 MHz sample clock to a
10 MHz reference clock. You can either supply the reference clock through
the SMA connector (REF CLK IN) on the front panel or use the system
reference clock on the PXI backplane.
The PXI bus and the NI 5620 have the following timing and triggering
features that you can use for synchronizing multiple digitizers:
•
•
System Reference Clock—This is a 10 MHz clock on the PXI
backplane with 100 ppm accuracy. It is independently distributed to
each PXI peripheral slot through equal-length traces with a skew of
less than 1 ns between slots. Multiple devices can use this common
timebase for synchronization. This allows each NI 5620 to phase lock
to the system reference clock.
SMA connector (REF CLK IN)—This is a 10 MHz reference input
that you can use to connect your external frequency source for
synchronization.
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A
Specifications
This appendix lists the specifications of the NI 5620. These specifications
are typical at 25 °C unless otherwise specified.
General Specifications
Number of channels ............................... 1
Resolution .............................................. 14 bits
Max sample rate..................................... 64 MS/s (also integer
divisions of 64 MS/s)
Onboard memory
Using DDC (complex data) ............ 8 MS
Not using DDC ............................... 16 MS
Input
Signal level
Nominal .......................................... 0 dBm ( 0.316 V)
Full-Scale........................................ +10 dBm ( 1.000 V)
Max with dither enabled ................. +9 dBm ( 0.891 V)
Max non-operating input level........ +20 dBm ( 3.16 V)
Max DC input voltage..................... 2 V
Input impedance..................................... 50 Ω
Coupling................................................. AC
Fully specified frequency range............. 5 to 25 MHz
Analog bandwidth (–3 dB range)........... 25 kHz to 36 MHz
© National Instruments Corporation
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NI 5620 User Manual
Appendix A
Specifications
VSWR
0.1 to 25 MHz..................................< 1.5:1
25 to 32 MHz...................................< 3:1
Dither (can be disabled)
Frequency range ..............................15 kHz to 3 MHz
Frequency
Internal Sample Clock
Frequency ........................................64 MHz / n, where 1 ≤ n ≤ 232
Accuracy..........................................< 12 ppm (after calibration)
Noise sidebands
Offset
100 Hz
1 kHz
Density
< –100 dBc/Hz
< –120 dBc/Hz
< –130 dBc/Hz
< –130 dBc/Hz
10 kHz
100 kHz
Residual FM ...........................................< 2 Hzpk–pk in 10 ms
Amplitude
Average noise density............................. –134 dBm/Hz
Spurious responses (0 dBm signal)
5 to 25 MHz, dither enabled............< –80 dBc
0.1 to 32 MHz, dither disabled........–80 dBc
Residual responses (input terminated)....< –85 dBm
Frequency response (5 to 25 MHz)
Relative (to response at 15 MHz)....Less than 0.25 dB
Absolute...........................................Less than 0.5 dB
Absolute, using calibration table.....Less than 0.1 dB
Absolute (0.1 to 32 MHz)................ 2.5 dB
Relative
(0.1 to 32 MHz, to 15 MHz)............ 1.5 dB
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Appendix A
Specifications
0
-10
-20
-30
dB
-40
-50
-60
-70
0
20
30
80
90
10
40
50
60
70
100
Frequency (MHz)
Figure A-1. Frequency Response from 5 to 100 MHz
Phase
DDC
Group delay variation
(5 to 25 MHz)......................................... 9 nspk-to-pk
Group delay variation
(0.5 to 30 MHz)...................................... 26 nspk-to-pk
Decimation rate with
installed software ................................... 32 to 4096
DDC tuning resolution........................... 0.014901 Hz
© National Instruments Corporation
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Appendix A
Specifications
Triggering
Modes .....................................................Immediate, software, digital
Sources....................................................PFI 1, RTSI<0..7>, PXI star
Export .....................................................RTSI<0..7>, PFI 1
Slope .......................................................Rising, falling
Pretrigger depth ......................................Up to 16 MS
Posttrigger depth.....................................Up to 16 MS
Minimum pulse width.............................100 ns
PFI 1 Input/Output
PFI 1 Connector......................................SMB male
Trigger level ...........................................TTL
Max input voltage...................................5.5 V
External Frequency Reference Input
Connector (REF CLK IN) ......................SMA female
Impedance...............................................50 Ω
Input amplitude.......................................–5 to +15 dBm
Max nonoperating input level.................+16 dBm
Max DC input voltage ............................ 10 VDC
Frequency ...............................................10 MHz
Required frequency accuracy ................. 40 ppm
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Appendix A
Specifications
Environmental Specifications
Calibration interval ................................ 1 year
Warm-up time ........................................ 10 minutes
Operating environment
Ambient temperature ...................... 0 to 50 °C
Humidity ......................................... 10 to 90%, noncondensing
Storage environment
Storage temperature ........................ –20 to 70 °C
Humidity ......................................... 5 to 95%, noncondensing
Maximum altitude.................................. 2000 meters
Pollution degree .................................... 2
Indoor use only
Power Requirements
+3.3 VDC ( 5%).................................... < 600 mA, 400 mA typical
+5 VDC ( 5%)....................................... < 1.5 A, 1 A typical
+12 VDC ( 5%)..................................... < 450 mA, 330 mA typical
–12 VDC ( 5%)..................................... < 35 mA, 24 mA typical
Maximum Working Voltage
Channel to earth ..................................... 2 V, Installation Category I
Safety
Meets the requirements of the following standards for safety for electrical
equipment for measurement, control, and laboratory use:
EN 61010-1:1993/A2:1995, IEC 61010-1:1990/A2:1995,
UL 3101-1:1993, UL 3111-1:1994, UL 3121:1998,
CAN/CSA C22.2 no. 1010.1:1992/A2:1997 d.
© National Instruments Corporation
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Appendix A
Specifications
Electromagnetic Compatibility
CE, C-Tick, and FCC Part 15 (Class A) compliant
Electrical emissions ................................EN 55011 Class A at 10 m FCC
Part 15A above 1 GHz
Electrical immunity ................................Evaluated to EN
61326:1997/A1:1998, Table 1
Note For full EMC compliance, you must operate this device with shielded cabling. In
addition, all covers and filler panels must be installed. See the Declaration of Conformity
(DoC) for this product for any additional regulatory compliance information. To obtain the
DoC for this product, click Declaration of Conformity at ni.com/hardref.nsf/. This
Web site lists the DoCs by product family. Select the appropriate product family, followed
by your product, and a link to the DoC (in Adobe Acrobat format) appears. Click the
Acrobat icon to download or read the DoC.
Dimensions
PXI-5620 (1 PXI slot).............................10 cm by 16 cm by 2.0 cm
(3.9 in by 6.3 in by 0.8 in)
Certifications and Compliances
CE Mark Compliance
Conductive Immunity
When tested as specified in EN 61000-4-6 at 3 Vrms, the spurious response
will be within specifications except at the test frequency. A spurious signal
of up to –45 dBm may appear at the test frequency.
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B
Technical Support Resources
Web Support
National Instruments Web support is your first stop for help in solving
installation, configuration, and application problems and questions. Online
problem-solving and diagnostic resources include frequently asked
questions, knowledge bases, product-specific troubleshooting wizards,
manuals, drivers, software updates, and more. Web support is available
through the Technical Support section of ni.com.
NI Developer Zone
The NI Developer Zone at ni.com/zone is the essential resource for
building measurement and automation systems. At the NI Developer Zone,
you can easily access the latest example programs, system configurators,
tutorials, technical news, as well as a community of developers ready to
share their own techniques.
Customer Education
National Instruments provides a number of alternatives to satisfy your
training needs, from self-paced tutorials, videos, and interactive CDs to
instructor-led hands-on courses at locations around the world. Visit the
Customer Education section of ni.com for online course schedules,
syllabi, training centers, and class registration.
System Integration
If you have time constraints, limited in-house technical resources, or other
dilemmas, you may prefer to employ consulting or system integration
services. You can rely on the expertise available through our worldwide
network of Alliance Program members. To find out more about our
Alliance system integration solutions, visit the System Integration section
of ni.com.
© National Instruments Corporation
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Appendix B
Technical Support Resources
Worldwide Support
National Instruments has offices located around the world to help address
your support needs. You can access our branch office Web sites from the
Worldwide Offices section of ni.com. Branch office Web sites provide
up-to-date contact information, support phone numbers, e-mail addresses,
and current events.
If you have searched the technical support resources on our Web site and
still cannot find the answers you need, contact your local office or National
Instruments corporate. Phone numbers for our worldwide offices are listed
at the front of this manual.
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Glossary
Prefix
p-
Meanings
pico
Value
10–12
10–9
10– 6
10–3
103
n-
nano-
micro-
milli-
kilo-
µ-
m-
k-
M-
G-
mega-
giga-
106
109
Numbers/Symbols
%
+
–
/
percent
positive of, or plus
negative of, or minus
per
°
degree
plus or minus
ohm
Ω
<
less than
A
A
amperes
A/D
AC
analog-to-digital
alternating current
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Glossary
AC coupled
ADC
allowing the transmission of AC signals while blocking DC signals
analog-to-digital converter—an electronic device, often an integrated
circuit, that converts an analog voltage to a digital number
ADC resolution
the resolution of the ADC, which is measured in bits. An ADC with
16 bits has a higher resolution, and thus a higher degree of accuracy,
than a 12-bit ADC.
ADE
alias
application development environment
a false lower frequency component that appears in sampled data acquired
at too low a sampling rate
amplification
a type of signal conditioning that improves accuracy in the resulting
digitized signal and reduces noise
amplitude flatness
a measure of how close to constant the gain of a circuit remains over a range
of frequencies
analog bandwidth
attenuate
the range of frequencies to which a measuring device can respond
to decrease the amplitude of a signal
B
b
bit—one binary digit, either 0 or 1
B
byte—eight related bits of data, an eight-bit binary number. Also used to
denote the amount of memory required to store one byte of data.
bus
the group of conductors that interconnect individual circuitry in a computer.
Typically, a bus is the expansion vehicle to which I/O or other devices are
connected. An example of the PC bus is the PCI bus.
C
C
Celsius
CMOS
complementary metal oxide semiconductor. A process used in making
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© National Instruments Corporation
Glossary
CMRR
common-mode rejection ratio—a measure of an instrument’s ability to
reject interference from a common-mode signal, usually expressed in
decibels (dB)
coupling
the manner in which a signal is connected from one location to another
D
data path logic
a signal router
dB
decibel—the unit for expressing a logarithmic measure of the ratio of two
signal levels: dB=20log10 V1/V2, for signals in volts
dBm
Decibels with reference to 1 mW, the standard unit of power level used in
RF and microwave work. Using this standard, 0 dBm equals 1 mW, 10 dBm
equals 10 mW, and so on. In a 50 Ω system, 0 dBm equals 0.224 Vrms
.
DC
direct current
DDC
See digital downconverter.
dead time
default setting
a period of time in which no activity can occur
a default parameter value recorded in the driver. In many cases, the default
input of a control is a certain value (often 0) that means use the current
default setting.
differential input
digital downconverter
dither
an analog input consisting of two terminals, both of which are isolated from
computer ground, whose difference is measured
a DSP that selects only a narrow portion of the frequency spectrum, thereby
eliminating unwanted data before it is transferred into memory
random noise added to a signal before it is digitized to minimize distortion
created by differential nonlinearity
DMA
direct memory access—a method by which data is transferred to/from
computer memory from/to a device or memory on the bus while the
processor does something else. DMA is the fastest method of transferring
data to/from computer memory.
double insulated
a device that contains the necessary insulating structures to provide electric
shock protection without the requirement of a safety ground connection
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Glossary
drivers
DSP
software that controls a specific hardware instrument
digital signal processor
E
EEPROM
electrically erasable programmable read-only memory—ROM that can be
erased with an electrical signal and reprogrammed
F
FFT
fast Fourier transform
filtering
a type of signal conditioning that allows you to remove unwanted signals or
frequency components from the signal you are trying to measure
G
gain
the factor by which a signal is amplified, sometimes expressed in decibels
H
hardware
the physical components of a computer system, such as the circuit boards,
plug-in boards, chassis, enclosures, peripherals, cables, and so on
harmonics
Hz
multiples of the fundamental frequency of a signal
hertz—the number of scans read or updates written per second
I
I/O
input/output—the transfer of data to/from a computer system involving
communications channels, operator interface devices, and/or data
acquisition and control interfaces
impedance
in.
resistance
inch or inches
inductance
the relationship of induced voltage to current
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© National Instruments Corporation
Glossary
input bias current
input impedance
the current that flows into the inputs of a circuit
the measured resistance and capacitance between the input terminals of a
circuit
instrument driver
interrupt
a set of high-level software functions that controls a specific plug-in DAQ
board. Instrument drivers are available in several forms, ranging from a
function callable language to a virtual instrument (VI) in LabVIEW.
a computer signal indicating that the CPU should suspend its current task
to service a designated activity
interrupt level
ISA
the relative priority at which a device can interrupt
industry standard architecture
L
LabVIEW
a graphical programming language
least significant bit
LSB
M
m
meters
M
(1) Mega, the standard metric prefix for 1 million or 106, when used with
units of measure such as volts and hertz; (2) mega, the prefix for 1,048,576,
or 220, when used with B to quantify data or computer memory
MB
megabytes of memory
MITE
MXI Interface to Everything—a custom ASIC designed by NI that
implements the PCI bus interface. The MITE supports bus mastering for
high-speed data transfers over the PCI bus.
multiple-record
acquisition
multiple, distinct chunks (or records) of data
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Glossary
N
noise
an undesirable electrical signal—Noise comes from external sources such
as the AC power line, motors, generators, transformers, fluorescent lights,
soldering irons, CRT displays, computers, electrical storms, welders, radio
transmitters, and internal sources such as semiconductors, resistors, and
capacitors. Noise corrupts signals you are trying to send or receive.
O
Ohm’s Law
onboard memory
overrange
(R=V/I)—the relationship of voltage to current in a resistance
the device memory. Onboard memory is distinct from computer memory.
a segment of the input range of an instrument outside of the normal
measuring range. Measurements can still be made, usually with a
degradation in specifications.
P
PCI
Peripheral Component Interconnect—a high-performance expansion bus
architecture originally developed by Intel to replace ISA and EISA; it is
achieving widespread acceptance as a standard for PCs and workstations
and offers a theoretical maximum transfer rate of 132 Mbytes/s
peak value
PFI
the absolute maximum or minimum amplitude of a signal (AC + DC)
Programmable Function Input
PLL
phase-locked loop
PXI
PCI eXtensions for Instrumentation. PXI is an open specification that
builds on the CompactPCI specification by adding instrumentation-specific
features.
R
R
resistor
RAM
random-access memory
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© National Instruments Corporation
Glossary
random interleaved
sampling
method of increasing sample rate by repetitively sampling a repeated
waveform
real-time sampling
record length
sampling that occurs immediately
the size of a chunk (or record) of data that can be or has been acquired by a
device
resolution
the smallest signal increment that can be detected by a measurement
system. Resolution can be expressed in bits, in proportions, or in percent
of full scale. For example, a system has 12-bit resolution, one part in
4,096 resolution, and 0.0244% of full scale.
rms
root mean square—a measure of signal amplitude; the square root of the
average value of the square of the instantaneous signal amplitude
ROM
read-only memory
S
s
seconds
samples
S
S/s
samples per second—used to express the rate at which an instrument
samples an analog signal
sample rate
sense
the speed that a device can acquire data
in four-wire resistance the sense measures the voltage across the resistor
being excited by the excitation current
settling time
the amount of time required for a voltage to reach its final value within
specified limits
Shannon Sampling
Theorem
a theorem stating that a signal must be sampled at least twice as fast as the
bandwidth of the signal to accurately reconstruct the signal as a waveform
source impedance
a parameter of signal sources that reflects current-driving ability of voltage
sources (lower is better) and the voltage-driving ability of current sources
(higher is better)
system noise
a measure of the amount of noise seen by an analog circuit or an ADC when
the analog inputs are grounded
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Glossary
T
temperature
coefficient
the percentage that a measurement will vary according to temperature.
See also thermal drift.
thermal drift
measurements that change as the temperature varies
thermal EMFs
thermal electromotive forces—voltages generated at the junctions of
dissimilar metals that are functions of temperature. Also called
thermoelectric potentials.
thermoelectric
potentials
See thermal EMFs.
TIO
timing input/output. The engine used for timing and control.
transfer rate
the rate, measured in bytes/s, at which data is moved from source to
destination after software initialization and set up operations; the maximum
rate at which the hardware can operate
trigger
TTL
any event that causes or starts some form of data capture
transistor-transistor logic. A digital circuit composed of bipolar transistors
wired in a certain manner.
V
V
volts
VAC
volts alternating current
volts direct current
VDC
Verror
voltage error
vertical sensitivity
VI
the smallest voltage change a device can detect
virtual instrument—(1) a combination of hardware and/or software
elements, typically used with a PC, that has the functionality of a classic
stand-alone instrument (2) a LabVIEW software module (VI), which
consists of a front panel user interface and a block diagram program
Vrms
volts, root mean square value
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© National Instruments Corporation
Glossary
W
waveform shape
the shape the magnitude of a signal creates over time
working voltage
the highest voltage that should be applied to a product in normal use,
normally well under the breakdown voltage for safety margin
© National Instruments Corporation
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Index
dead time, in multiple-record acquisitions, 2-7
digital downconverter. See DDC (digital
downconverter).
digitizing the signal (ADC), 2-3
dither, 2-3
A
AC coupling, 2-3
acquiring data
multiple-record acquisitions, 2-6
programmatically, 1-2
ADC, 2-3
amplitude specifications, A-2 to A-3
E
electromagnetic compatibility, A-6
environmental specifications, A-5
external frequency reference input
specifications, A-4
B
basic signal flow (figure), 2-1
block diagram for NI 5620 digitizer, 2-5 to 2-6
F
C
frequency specifications, A-2
calibration, 2-7
certifications and compliances, A-6
conditioning signals
AC coupling, 2-3
G
gain, 2-3
dither, 2-3
gain, 2-3
H
input impedance, 2-3
conductive immunity, A-6
connecting signals, 2-2
conventions used in manual, vi
customer education, B-1
hardware installation, 1-1
hardware overview, 2-1 to 2-8
basic signal flow (figure), 2-1
block diagram, 2-5 to 2-6
calibration, 2-7
conditioning signals
D
AC coupling, 2-3
dither, 2-3
gain, 2-3
data, storing in memory, 2-4
data acquisition
multiple-record acquisitions, 2-6
programmatically, 1-2
DDC (digital downconverter)
incorporating, 2-4
input impedance, 2-3
connecting signals, 2-2
digitizing the signal (ADC), 2-3
incorporating DDC, 2-4
multiple-record acquisitions, 2-6 to 2-7
overview, 2-4
specifications, A-3
© National Instruments Corporation
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Index
signal path from NI 5620 to host computer, 2-1
storing data in memory, 2-4
programmatically controlling the NI 5620, 1-2
PXI devices, multiple, synchronizing, 2-8
synchronizing multiple PXI devices, 2-8
triggering, 2-7
R
REF CLK IN connector, 2-2, 2-8
I
incorporating DDC, 2-4
S
input impedance, 2-3
input specifications, A-1 to A-2
installing software and hardware, 1-1
safety information, 1-2 to 1-3
safety specifications, A-5
signal conditioning
AC coupling, 2-3
dither, 2-3
gain, 2-3
M
maximum working voltage, A-5
MITE interface, 2-6
input impedance, 2-3
signal path from NI 5620 to host computer, 2-1
SMA connectors, 2-2, 2-8
software installation, 1-1
specifications
multiple-record acquisitions
overview, 2-6
timing diagram (figure), 2-7
amplitude, A-2 to A-3
certifications and compliances, A-6
conductive immunity, A-6
DDC, A-3
N
NI 5620 digitizer. See also hardware
overview; specifications.
acquiring data, 1-2
dimensions, A-6
block diagram, 2-5 to 2-6
controlling programmatically, 1-2
front panel (figure), 2-2
electromagnetic compatibility, A-6
environmental, A-5
external frequency reference input, A-4
frequency, A-2
general, A-1 to A-2
input, A-1 to A-2
maximum working voltage, A-5
PFI 1 input/output, A-4
phase, A-3
power requirements, A-5
safety, A-5
installing software and hardware, 1-1
safety information, 1-2 to 1-3
NI Developer Zone, B-1
NI-SCOPE driver, 1-1
P
PFI 1 input/output specifications, A-4
phase detector, 2-5
phase specifications, A-3
phase-locked loop (PLL), 2-5
power requirement specifications, A-5
triggering, A-4
storing data in memory, 2-4
synchronizing multiple PXI devices, 2-8
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Index
system integration, by National
Instruments, B-1
System Reference Clock, PXI, 2-9
V
voltage, maximum working, A-5
voltage controlled crystal oscillator
(VCXO), 2-6
T
technical support resources, B-1 to B-2
TIO (timing engine), 2-6
trigger and clock routing area, 2-6
triggering
W
Web support from National Instruments, B-1
Worldwide technical support, B-2
digital trigger sources (figure), 2-7
overview, 2-7
specifications, A-4
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