Reconfigurable CompactPCI Cards Process At 2 Gsamples/s In Real Time

Nov. 29, 2004

Two CompactPCI plug-in card analyzers, which come in a 6U form factor, perform real-time synchronous signal processing at up to 2 Gsamples/s. The AC240 dual-channel and AC210 single-channel analyzers offer a reconfigurable data-processing unit (a Vertex II FPGA) that can execute 5-ns multiplications thanks to 74,000 logic cells, 328 dedicated 18- by 18-bit multipliers with 32-bit results, and 7 Mbits of memory. This suits the analyzers for radar signal processing, mass and millimeter spectrometry, acoustic microscopy, and interferometer signal processing. Each has a 1-GHz analog bandwidth per channel.

Designed by Acqiris, each card features calibrated gain and offset ranges. Users who need proprietary processing algorithms on digital data can take advantage of an available firmware development kit that defines the architecture and provides the basic framework for programming the data-processing unit. Several front-panel digital I/O connectors offer extended real-time control of the digital processing unit—two connectors for direct control and one for a third analog output signal from a 16-bit on-board digital-to-analog converter (DAC).

Control over the trigger and time base is even more flexible thanks to four multimedia-extension (MMX) connectors, which make it possible to use an external clock or a 10-MHz reference signal, a trigger output, and two additional I/O digital control lines (A&B). The two control lines can be employed to monitor or modify the platforms' status and configuration or act as a built-in 10-MHz source.

Pricing starts at $18,990. Delivery starts next month.

Acqiriswww.acqiris.com (877) 227-4747

About the Author

Roger Allan

Roger Allan is an electronics journalism veteran, and served as Electronic Design's Executive Editor for 15 of those years. He has covered just about every technology beat from semiconductors, components, packaging and power devices, to communications, test and measurement, automotive electronics, robotics, medical electronics, military electronics, robotics, and industrial electronics. His specialties include MEMS and nanoelectronics technologies. He is a contributor to the McGraw Hill Annual Encyclopedia of Science and Technology. He is also a Life Senior Member of the IEEE and holds a BSEE from New York University's School of Engineering and Science. Roger has worked for major electronics magazines besides Electronic Design, including the IEEE Spectrum, Electronics, EDN, Electronic Products, and the British New Scientist. He also has working experience in the electronics industry as a design engineer in filters, power supplies and control systems.

After his retirement from Electronic Design Magazine, He has been extensively contributing articles for Penton’s Electronic Design, Power Electronics Technology, Energy Efficiency and Technology (EE&T) and Microwaves RF Magazine, covering all of the aforementioned electronics segments as well as energy efficiency, harvesting and related technologies. He has also contributed articles to other electronics technology magazines worldwide.

He is a “jack of all trades and a master in leading-edge technologies” like MEMS, nanolectronics, autonomous vehicles, artificial intelligence, military electronics, biometrics, implantable medical devices, and energy harvesting and related technologies.