Spectrum Introduces M4x.22xx Series of PXIe-based Digitizers

Spectrum GmbH has expanded its line of PXIe-based (PXI Express) high-speed digitizers with nine new cards. The M4x.22xx series includes modules that offer one, two or four fully synchronous channels).

3xm4x22xx_pxie_5gsps_digitizrt_400pxEach channel is equipped with its own analog-to-digital converter (ADC) with real-time signal sampling at rates from 1.25 GS/s to 5 GS/s and scope-like signal conditioning circuitry that allows programming of parameters such as input gain, signal offset and coupling. The digitizers also offer bandwidth up to 1.5 GHz making them ideal for automated testing applications where wideband electronic signals from DC to the GHz range need to be acquired and analyzed.

Typical applications include semiconductor and component testing, radar, wireless and digital communications, laser and optical systems, automotive, power, physics, surveillance, medical science, aerospace and defense.

The front-end circuitry of the M4x.22xx series digitizers is complemented by a trigger system, an on-board acquisition memory of 4 GSamples and data acquisition and readout modes.

Acquisition and readout modes include single-shot capture (for transient recording), FIFO (for streaming data directly over the bus), segmented memory (Multiple Recording), gated acquisition (Gated Sampling) or the combination of segmented acquisition of fast signals in parallel with slow continuous data recording (ABA mode). Trigger events can also be time stamped to know when they occurred.

All the M4x.22xx series digitizers are packaged in a dual width 3U module, which incorporates a four lane PCI-Express Generation 2 interface. The interface allows data transfer speeds in excess of 1.7 GB/s making the cards suitable for use in today’s PXIe mainframe systems.

For rapid waveform display and analysis, acquired data can be transferred to an embedded or external processor. In addition, data can be shared with other modules like arbitrary waveform generators (AWGs) to create more capture-replay or stimulus-response, testing scenarios.

To ensure measurement quality and repeatability, the M4x.22xx series digitizers are all optimized for dynamic performance. On-board calibration is standard and a clocking system drives the 8-bit ADCs on each channel synchronously so that timing measurements are precise and inter-channel phase errors are minimized. Dynamic parameters provide bit measurement (ENOB) as high as 7.5 bits, signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) up to 46.9 dB and spurious free dynamic range (SFDR) of over 62 dB.

The modules also incorporate FPGA-based firmware so that acquired data can be processed on-board prior to being transferred over the bus. Block averaging and block statistics packages are available for high trigger rate applications that require hardware-based processing functions. Block averaging can be used to reduce signal noise and improve measurement resolution, while block statistics perform a peak detection process that yields a waveform’s maximum, minimum and average values.

For more information, visit Spectrum website.

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