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Chapter 3
Hardware Overview
©
National Instruments Corporation
3-13
PFI connectors to the voltage output of software-programmable DACs.
The thresholds for the PFI lines are individually programmable, which is
useful if you are importing signals from multiple sources with different
voltage swings. The front panel PFI inputs can be routed to any PXI_Star
triggers, PXI triggers, or other front panel PFI outputs.
Using Front Panel PFIs As Outputs
The front panel PFI outputs are +3.3 V drivers with 50
Ω
output
impedance. The outputs can drive 50
Ω
loads, such as a 50
Ω
coaxial cable
with a 50
Ω
receiver. This cable configuration is the recommended setup to
minimize reflections. With this configuration, the receiver sees a single
+1.6 V step—a +3.3 V step split across the 50
Ω
resistors at the source and
the destination.
You also can drive a 50
Ω
cable with a high-impedance load. The
destination sees a single step to +3.3 V, but the source sees a reflection.
This cable configuration is acceptable for low-frequency signals or short
cables. You can select the signal source from the front panel triggers
(PFI <0..5>), the PXI star triggers, the PXI triggers, or the synchronization
clock (PXI_CLK10, the DDS clock, or PFI 0). The synchronization clock
concept is explained in more detail in the
section.
You can independently select the output signal source for each PFI line
from one of the following sources:
•
Another PFI <0..5>
•
PXI triggers <0..7> (PXI_TRIG <0..7>)
•
PXI_STAR <0..16>
•
Global software trigger
•
PFI synchronization clock
The PFI synchronization clock may be any of the following signals:
•
DDS clock
•
PXI_CLK10
•
PFI 0 Input
•
Any of the previously listed signals divided by the first frequency
divider (2
n
, up to 512)
•
Any of the previously listed signals divided by the second frequency
divider (2
m
, up to 512)