PC-based digital pattern generator has long memory

Semiconductor and electronics test and design engineers now only need one instrument to produce digital signals for all common logic families.

Semiconductor and electronics test and design engineers now only need one instrument to produce digital signals for all common logic families.

Strategic Test's UF7221 is a full-length PCI card that provides a maximum output rate of 40MHz on 32 digital channels and can be equipped with up to 4096Mbit signal memory for generating long signals at the maximum output rates.

Compared to traditional instruments the UF7221 is less expensive, faster to use and eliminates the need for multiple instruments to output different signal levels.

The UF7221 is also the only PCI card to support all logic families and to offer such deep signal memories.

A 6U CompactPCI version (UC7221) and 3U PXI version (UX7221) are also now available and are similarly unique in their class.

Each 4bit (nibble) can be programmed with a different high and low output level from -2 to +10V in 10mV increments.

This output range can generate signals compatible with ECL, PECL, TTL, LVDS, LVTTL, CMOS and LVCMOS.

The output rate of the signals can be programmed from DC to the 40MHz maximum output rate.

Each channel can drive a maximum current of 100mA (maximum 200mA per nibble).

Differential signals such as ECL and LVDS are generated in the onboard hardware.

This has the advantage that only one databit is used for each pair of differential signals so that more channels are available.

It also serves to conserve onboard memory.

Software drivers for Windows XP, 2000, NT, Me, 98 and Linux are supplied, and drivers for Matlab, LabView, Agilent's-VEE and DasyLab are available as cost options.

The UF7221 has two operating modes.

In standard mode the user first transfers the data to the onboard memory before starting the output.

This mode allows all 32 channels to be used at the maximum output rates of up to 40MHz.

The alternative FIFO mode uses the PCIbus master capability of the card to continuously transfer data from the PC to the card during the output process and allows signals longer than the available on-board memory to be generated.

Using either mode, tests can be repeated much quicker than traditional GPIB-based pattern generators that have a limited data transfer rate between instrument and the PC of typically 1Mbyte/s.

The UF7221 been designed to optimise the use of onboard memory when using less than 32 channels.

For tasks that require only 8 or 16 channels, a unique UltraFast feature called automatic memory reallocation (AMR) reconfigures the on-board memory so that the active channels can use all of it.

This means that when using 16 channels up to 256Mbit per channel is available and with eight channels each channel can generate signals of up to 512Mbit in length.

Customers who don't want to make their own programs can use the SBench program running under Microsoft Windows that is supplied with the card.

SBench supports all of the UF7221's features.

Simple digital patterns can be generated within SBench and graphically displayed prior to output.

More sophisticated signals can be created using third-party programs, such as Matlab and imported into SBench as an ASCII text file.

The UF7221 has an extensive list of available options.

In addition to the on-board memory options, there is the multiple replay option for outputting a series of different patterns at very high speed (several hundred per second are possible), gated replay that only generates output when an external TTL signal changes level, star hub synchronisation for synchronising the clocks and triggers of up to 16 cards and the extra I/O option for controlling external equipment or reading external status information with the additional 24 slow digital I/O channels and four analogue 12bit D/A output channels.

The UF7221 with 128Mbit memory costs $5290, with 256Mbit $6214, 512Mbit $7285, 1024Mbit $8510, 2048Mbit $10,036 and with the 4096Mbit option $12,717.

All UltraFast cards are supplied with free drivers for Windows and Linux, the SBench measurement and signal generation program, source code programming examples in Visual Basic, C/C++ and Delphi; two years hardware warranty and lifetime software updates including future Windows and Linux drivers.

Technical support is provided at no cost for the product lifetime.

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