PXI Express System Timing Controller is a first says National Instruments

Engineers can use the industry’s first PXI Express system timing controller, the NI PXIe-6672, to synchronise multiple PXI Express systems with nanosecond precision. The controller also makes it easy to synchronise PXI Express systems with GPIB, VXI and other measurement and instrumentation systems. This system timing controller generates high-resolution clocks from DC to 105 MHz for clocking instruments at precise frequencies and includes a high-stability TCXO reference with 1 ppm stability. With the controller’s onboard routing of internal and external clocks and triggers, engineers have complete control over the PXI trigger bus, star trigger lines and system reference clock. They can also use this controller to implement complex synchronisation schemes in a single PXI Express chassis, an important capability for high-channel-count and high-performance test and measurement applications.

The new NI PXI-6682 module provides GPS time, location and velocity; IRIG-B decoding; and IEEE 1588 synchronisation. The module is designed for timestamping and triggering measurements or events across large physical objects such as airplanes and bridges or geographically distributed systems such as power grids and accelerators. Engineers can also use the module as a grandmaster in an IEEE 1588 network. The IEEE 1588 precision time protocol (PTP) provides a standard method to synchronise PXI, LXI and other IEEE 1588-based devices on an Ethernet network. Additionally, the NI PXI-6682 features complete PXI system timing controller functionality including the capability to control the PXI trigger bus, star trigger lines and system reference clock.