100 and 50 MHz, Programmable-Voltage
Digital Waveform Generator/Analyzers
NI 655x
• 100 MHz maximum clock rate
• -2.0 to 5.5 V programmable voltage
levels in 10 mV steps
• 20 channels with per-channel, per-cycle
bidirectional control
• 1, 8, or 64 Mb/channel onboard memory
• Real-time hardware comparison of
acquired data
• Complex triggering and pattern
sequencing
• Interactive waveform and script
editor software
• Synchronization and Memory Core
(SMC) for tight synchronization with
other SMC-based devices
Operating Systems
• Windows 2000/NT/XP
• LabVIEW Real-Time
Recommended Software
• LabVIEW
• LabWindows/CVI
• SignalExpress
Driver and Editing Software
(included)
• NI-HSDIO driver
• Script Editor
• Digital Waveform Editor
(included with 8 and
64 Mb/channel models)
Calibration
• NIST traceable
• 2-year external calibration cycle
Product
NI 6552
NI 6551
Platform
PCI, PXI
PCI, PXI
Channels
20
20
Maximum Clock
Rate (MHz)
100
50
Voltage Levels
Programmable, 10 mV steps
Programmable, 10 mV steps
Memory
Scripting
Programmable
(Mb/channel) (Linking/Looping)
Data Delay
1, 8, or 64
1, 8, or 64
Per-Cycle
Tristate
Hardware
Comparison
Table 1. NI 655x Selection Guide
Overview
The National Instruments 6552 and
6551 are 100 and 50 MHz digital
Mixed-signal design validation and test
waveform generator/analyzers,
Interfacing to digital electronics
respectively, for characterizing,
Aerospace/Defense
validating, and testing digital
Subsystem emulation
Bit error rate tester (BERT)
electronics. These modules feature
Communications
20 channels with per-channel,
Multimedia chipset emulation
per-cycle direction control and deep
Consumer Electronics
onboard memory with triggering and
CMOS and CCD imaging sensors
pattern sequencing. You can program
Digital display tests
the voltage levels on NI 655x devices
with 10 mV resolution. You can use them with the NI Digital Waveform
Editor, an interactive software tool for creating, editing, and importing
digital waveforms. With the SMC, you can create mixed-signal test
systems with digitizers, arbitrary waveform generators, and other digital
waveform generator/analyzers, or you can synchronize multiple digital
waveform devices to build high-channel-count test systems.
Applications
Semiconductor
Design High-Performance Tests
For building high-performance stimulus-response systems, the NI 655x
devices include:
• A sophisticated timing engine to adjust for the timing parameters
of the device under test
• Programmable voltage levels for testing multiple devices or
characterizing a single device under changing conditions
• Per-cycle tristate for bidirectional communication
• A versatile memory architecture for maximum flexibility of waveform
and scripting memory
The hardware architecture is designed to preserve high signal quality,
and an eye diagram of the PXI-6552 generation is shown in Figure 1.
You can use the internal clock or an external clock, such as from the
NI PXI-5404, through the front panel. You can also shift the data
generated, data acquired, and exported sample clock relative to the
onboard clock for clock frequencies above 25 MHz, which is critical to
adjust for propagation delays and setup-and-hold times in the device
under test.
Programmable voltage levels are needed when testing different
devices or when characterizing how a given device performs under
changing conditions. With NI 655x devices, the high and low levels for
100 and 50 MHz, Programmable-Voltage
Digital Waveform Generator/Analyzers
acquisition and generation can be set independently. You can program
the voltage levels between -2.0 and 5.5 V with 10 mV resolution for TTL,
LVTTL, LVCMOS, ECL, PECL, and other signal level compatibility.
The SMC memory architecture is designed for maximum flexibility
between waveform memory and scripting memory, the instructions for
pattern linking and looping. Using a single memory bank, you can
allocate as much memory as needed for script and waveform data, giving
you maximum flexibility from test to test.
Driver Software
NI 655x devices include the NI-HSDIO driver with an intuitive, powerful
API based on IVI guidelines. The Windows-compatible NI-HSDIO driver
provides an API for LabVIEW, SignalExpress, LabWindows/CVI, and other
text-based development environments.
Figure 1. Eye Diagram of NI PXI-6552 Generation
Create Digital Waveforms Interactively
with the Digital Waveform Editor
With the NI Digital Waveform Editor, an interactive software tool for
creating and editing digital waveforms, you can import existing test
patterns from popular spreadsheet and VHDL simulation packages in
ASCII or value change dump (VCD) formats. Once imported, you can view
the waveforms graphically and edit them interactively for new devices or
new test conditions. You can also build new waveforms with built-in fill
patterns such as pseudorandom bit sequences (PRBS) and count
up/down patterns. When ready to test your device, the waveforms import
seamlessly into NI LabVIEW, SignalExpress, and C. The Digital Waveform
Editor is included with the 8 and 64 Mb/channel memory models, and is
a separate add-on for use with the 1 Mb/channel model.
Figure 2. Digital Waveform Editor with ASCII and VCD Import Wizards
Ordering Information
NI PCI-6551 ................................................................778950-0M
1
NI PCI-6552 ................................................................778951-0M
1
NI PXI-6551 ................................................................778538-0M
1
NI PXI-6552 ................................................................778539-0M
1
1
Where M is: 1 (1 Mb/channel), 2 (8 Mb/channel), or 3 (64 Mb/channel)
Includes NI 655x device and NI-HSDIO driver. The 8 and 64 Mb/channel models also
include the Digital Waveform Editor.
Software
NI Digital Waveform Editor ..........................................778724-03
Cable
SHC68-C68-D2 ..............................................................188142-01
SHC68-HIX38 ..............................................................192681-1R5
Accessories
CB-2162 ........................................................................778592-01
SMB-2163......................................................................778749-01
Build Tightly Synchronized Mixed-Signal Test Systems
NI 655x devices use the same SMC architecture as the NI 5122 high-
resolution digitizers and NI 5441 arbitrary waveform generators, so you
can combine these devices to build tightly synchronized mixed-signal
prototyping and test systems. For tight timing requirements, these PXI
modules phase-lock to the 10 MHz reference clock on the PXI backplane.
If you have an external precision reference, you can import it through the
front panel SMB connector.
BUY NOW!
For complete product specifications, pricing, and accessory
information, call (800) 813 3693 (U.S. only) or go to
ni.com.
BUY ONLINE
at
ni.com
or
CALL (866) 265 9891 (U.S.)
2
100 and 50 MHz, Programmable-Voltage
Digital Waveform Generator/Analyzers
Specifications
These specifications are valid for the following temperature ranges: PXI: 0 to 55 °C, PCI: 0 to 45 °C.
Channel Characteristics
Number of data channels ...................................................... 20
Direction control of data channels ........................................ Per-channel, per-cycle
Generation Signal Characteristics (data, DDC ClkOut, and PFI <0..3> channels)
All voltage ranges specified into 1 M
Generation voltage range ...................................................... -2.0 to 5.5 V
Generation signal type .......................................................... Single-ended
Number of programmable voltage levels.............................. 1 voltage low level and 1 voltage high level applies to all data,
Clk Out (sample clock only), and PFI channels
Generation voltage range restrictions................................... -0.5 to 5.5 V (up to 50 MHz clock rate)
-2 to 3.7 V (up to 50 MHz clock rate)
-0.5 to 3.7 V (50 to 100 MHz clock rate; NI 6552 only)
Generation voltage swing ..................................................... 400 mV to 6 V (up to 50 MHz clock rate)
400 mV to 4.2 V (50 to 100 MHz clock rate; NI 6552 only)
Generation voltage-level resolution ...................................... 10 mV
DC generation voltage-level accuracy................................... ±20 mV (excluding system crosstalk)
Output impedance.................................................................. 50 nominal at 25 °C
Maximum DC drive strength.................................................. ±50 mA maximum per channel
±600 mA maximum for all data, clock, and PFI channels
Channel power-up state ........................................................ Drivers disabled, 10 k input impedance
Ω
Ω
Ω
Acquisition Signal Characteristics (data, strobe, and PFI <0..3> channels)
Acquisition voltage range...................................................... -2.0 V to 5.5 V
Number of programmable acquisition thresholds ................ 1 voltage low threshold and a strobe voltage high threshold applies to all data
and PFI channels
Minimum detectable voltage swing...................................... 50 mV
Acquisition voltage threshold resolution .............................. 10 mV
DC acquisition voltage threshold accuracy ........................... ±30 mV (excluding system crosstalk)
Input impedance .................................................................... 50 or 10 k (default), software-selectable per channel;
applies when powered on and within valid voltage range
Ω
Ω
Timing Characteristics
Sample Clock
Sample clock sources ............................................................ 1. Onboard clock (internal VCXO with divider)
2. CLK IN (SMB jack connector)
3. PXI_STAR (PXI backplane; PXI only)
4. STROBE (DDC Connector) – Acquisition only
Onboard clock frequency range ............................................ NI 6551: 48 Hz to 50 MHz. (settable to 200 MHz/N; 4 N 4,194,304)
NI 6552: 48 Hz to 100 MHz (settable to 200 MHz/N; 2 N 4,194,304)
Exported sample clock delay range....................................... 0 to 1 sample clock periods for clock frequencies 25 MHz
Exported sample clock delay resolution................................ 1/256 of sample clock period for clock frequencies 25 MHz
≥
≤ ≤
≤ ≤
≥
Exported Sample Clock Jitter (typical using onboard clock)
Period jitter
Cycle-to-cycle jitter
20 ps (rms)
35 ps (rms)
BUY ONLINE
at
ni.com
or
CALL (866) 265 9891 (U.S.)
3
100 and 50 MHz, Programmable-Voltage
Digital Waveform Generator/Analyzers
Generation Signal Characteristics (data, DDC Clk Out, and PFI <0..3> channels)
Data channel-to-channel skew.............................................. ±300 ps (typical across all data channels)
±900 ps (maximum across all data channels)
Maximum data channel toggle rate ...................................... NI 6551: 25 MHz; NI 6552: 50 MHz
Data formats .......................................................................... NRZ
Data position modes.............................................................. Rising edge, falling edge, delayed relative to sample clock
Generation data delay range................................................. 0 to 1 sample clock period for clock frequencies 25 MHz
Generation data delay resolution.......................................... 1/256 of sample clock period for clock frequencies 25 MHz
≥
≥
Acquisition Signal Characteristics (data, strobe, and PFI <0..3> channels)
Channel-to-channel skew ...................................................... ±400 ps (typical across all data channels)
±900 ps (maximum across all data channels)
Minimum detectable pulse width ......................................... 4 ns (required at both acquisition voltage thresholds)
Acquisition timing delay range.............................................. 0 to 1 sample clock periods for clock frequencies 25 MHz
Acquisition timing delay resolution....................................... 1/256 of sample clock period for clock frequencies 25 MHz
≥
≥
Waveform Characteristics
Memory and Scripting
Onboard memory size
(assumes no scripting
instructions)
1 Mb/channel
(for generation sessions)
1 Mb/channel
(for acquisition sessions)
8 Mb/channel
(for generation sessions)
8 Mb/channel
(for acquisition sessions)
64 Mb/channel
(for generation sessions)
64 Mb/channel
(for acquisition sessions)
Generation Modes
Waveform:
Generate a single waveform once, N times, or continuously.
Scripted:
Generate a simple or complex sequence of waveforms. Use scripts to describe the waveforms to be generated,
the order in which the waveforms are generated, how many times the waveforms are generated, and how the device
responds to script triggers.
Triggers (inputs to the NI 655x)
Trigger types .......................................................................... Start Trigger, Pause Trigger, Script Trigger <0..3> (generation sessions only)
Reference Trigger (acquisition sessions only)
Multirecord Advance Trigger (acquisition sessions only)
Sources .................................................................................. 1. PFI <0> (SMB jack connector)
2. PFI <1..3> (DDC connector)
3. PXI_TRIG<0..7> (PXI backplane, PXI only), RTSI <0..7> (PCI only)
4. PXI_STAR (PXI backplane, PXI only)
5. Pattern match (acquisition sessions only)
6. Software (user function call)
7. Disabled (do not wait for a trigger)
Trigger detection.................................................................... 1. Start Trigger (edge detection: rising or falling)
2. Pause Trigger (level detection: high or low)
3. Script Trigger <0..3> (edge detection: rising or falling, Level detection: high or low)
4. Reference Triggers (edge detection: rising or falling)
5. Advance Trigger (edge detection)
Minimum required trigger pulse width ................................. 30 ns
Destinations........................................................................... 1. PFI 0 (SMB jack connector)
2. PFI <1..3> (DDC connector)
3. PXI_TRIG <0..7> (PXI backplane, PXI only), RTSI <0..7> (PCI only)
Each of the triggers can be routed to any of the 13 destinations
except the pause trigger cannot be exported.
BUY ONLINE
at
ni.com
or
CALL (866) 265 9891 (U.S.)
4
100 and 50 MHz, Programmable-Voltage
Digital Waveform Generator/Analyzers
Events (outputs from the NI 655x)
Event types............................................................................. Marker <0..3>, Data Active event, Ready for Start event
Destinations........................................................................... 1. PFI 0 (SMB jack connectors)
2. PFI <1..3> (DDC connector)
3. PXI_TRIG <0..7> (PXI backplane)
Each of the events can be routed to any of the destinations with the exception of the
Data Active event. The Data Active event can only be routed to the PFI channels.
Miscellaneous
Interval for external calibration............................................. 2 years
Onboard Clock Characteristics (only valid when PLL reference source is set to “None”)
Frequency accuracy................................................................ ±100 ppm (typical)
Temperature stability............................................................. ±30 ppm (typical)
Aging...................................................................................... ±5 ppm first year (typical)
Power Requirements
Typical .................................................................................... 21.6 W
Maximum ............................................................................... PXI: 26.5 W; PCI: 27 W
Physical
Dimensions ............................................................................ PXI: Single 3U CompactPCI Slot. PXI Compatible
PCI: 12.6 by 35.5 cm (4.95 by 13.9 in.)
Environment
I/O Panel Connectors
Label
CLK IN
PFI 0
CLK OUT
Digital Data and
Control (DDC)
External Function(s)
Sample Clock, External PLL
Reference Input
Events, Triggers
Exported Sample Clock,
Exported Reference Clock
Digital Data Channels, Exported
Sample Clock, STROBE, Events, Triggers
Connector Type
SMB jack
SMB jack
SMB jack
68-pin VHDCI
Operating temperature .......................................................... PXI: 0 to 55 °C in all NI PXI chassis except the following. 0 to 45 °C when installed
in an NI PXI-1000/B and PXI-101x chassis (meets IEC-60068-2-1 and IEC-60068-2-2).
PCI: 0 to 45 °C
Storage temperature.............................................................. -20 to 70 °C
Relative humidity ................................................................... 10 to 90% relative humidity, noncondensing (meets IEC-60068-2-56)
Storage relative humidity ...................................................... 5 to 95% relative humidity, noncondensing (meets IEC-60068-2-56)
Certifications and Compliance
Safety
NI 655x devices meet the requirements of the following standards for safety and electrical equipment for measurement, control,
and laboratory use: IEC 61010-1, EN 61010-1, UL 61010B-1, CAN/CSA C22.2 No. 61010-1
EMC ....................................................................................... Emissions: EN 55011 Class A at 10 m. FCC Part 15A above 1 GHz Immunity:
EN 61326:1997 + A2:2001, Table 1, CE, C-Tick, and FCC Part 15 (Class A) Compliant
BUY ONLINE
at
ni.com
or
CALL (866) 265 9891 (U.S.)
5
