NI PCI-5421 waveform model module

Description

NI-FGEN provides programming interfaces for the following application development environments:

• LabVIEW • LabWindows™/CVI™

• Measurement Studio

• Microsoft Visual C++ .NET

• Microsoft Visual C/C++

• Microsoft Visual Basic

The FGEN Soft Front Panel supports interactive control of the NI 5421. The FGEN Soft Front Panel is included on the NI-FGEN driver CDs. Measurement & Automation Explorer (MAX) provides interactive configuration and test tools for the NI 5421. MAX is also included on the NI-FGEN CDs. You can use the NI 5421 with NI SignalExpress.

Note To ensure that the NI PCI-5421 cools effectively, follow the guidelines in the Maintain Forced-Air Cooling Note to Users included in the NI 5421 kit. Also, to maximize airflow and extend the life of the device, leave any adjacent PCI slots empty. The NI PCI-5421 is intended for indoor use only.

National Instruments is committed to designing and manufacturing products in an environmentally responsible manner. NI recognizes that eliminating certain hazardous substances from our products is beneficial not only to the environment but also to NI customers. For additional environmental information, refer to the NI and the Environment Web page at ni.com/environment. This page contains the environmental regulations and directives with which NI complies, as well as other environmental information not included in this document.

Output Paths
1. The software-selectable Main Output path setting provides full-scale voltages from 12.00 Vpk-pk to 5.64 mVpk-pk into a 50 Ω load. NI-FGEN uses either the Low-Gain amplifier or the High-Gain amplifier when the Main Output path is selected, depending on the Gain attribute.
2. The software-selectable Direct path is optimized for intermediate frequency (IF) applications and provides full-scale voltages from 1.000 to 0.707 Vpk-pk.

In Arbitrary Sequence mode, a sequence directs the NI 5421 to generate a set of waveforms in a specific order. Elements of the sequence are referred to as segments. Each segment is associated with a set of instructions. The instructions identify which waveform is selected from the set of waveforms in memory, how many loops (iterations) of the waveform are generated, and at which sample in the waveform a marker output signal is sent.