UF2e-7210

Overview

The UF2e-7200 series of high-speed Digital Pattern Generator cards are used to generate digital signals with clock rates of up to 40 MHz. Applications include testing electronic components (e.g. ADC's, DAC's, FPGA's) and electronic systems. Compared to traditional pattern generators, these cards are less expensive, have memory depths of up to 4GigaBytes. At slower clock rates the cards can output very long signals using the streaming mode directly from the PC's hard disks. The Strategic Test cards are designed to offer maximum versatility, ease of programming, long-term reliability and low power consumption. Manufactured in Germany the instrument cards include a two year hardware warranty combined with lifetime technical support and software updates - which includes new drivers for future operating systems and third-party software.

Digital Outputs

The UF2e-7210 Digital Pattern Generator card card allows you to generate digital signals with clock rates from 1 kHz to 10 MHz on 16, 8, 4 or 1 bits. When using 8-bits or less all of the card memory can be used allowing longer replay times – a feature that's unique to the ST cards. The outputs are programmable from -2.0V to +10.0V and every 4 bit groups HIGH and LOW levels can be programmed with different levels which means you don't have to use different devices to support multiple logic families. Logic families supported include: ECL, PECL, TTL, LVDS, LVTTL, CMOS and LVCMOS. If differential signals are required, these are generated in hardware so that only one data bit is used for each differential pair which saves memory space. Capable of driving 110 Ohm termination.

Deep Signal Memory and Streaming to the PC

The UF2/UF3 cards are supplied as standard with 256 MBytes signal memory. This can be expanded as a cost-option at the factory in binary increments up to 4 GBytes. It's also possible with the UF2e-7200 series to stream the data continuously to stream the data to or from the PC RAM. A RAID controller and multiple hard disks could also be used. When streaming is used much longer signals can be output than is possible using only the card memory.

Unlike older the PCI and PCI-X bus where the bus is shared, PCI Express x1 has the advantage that every slot has a maximum continuous transfer rate ('streaming') of up to 120 MBytes/s. This means if four cards are installed, that the total system transfer rate is up to 480 MBytes/s. Note that the limit of 120 MBytes/s is determined by current motherboards; the UF2e card is able to transfer up to 160 MBytes/s.

Sampling Clock

Unlike other manufacturers cards that offer a limited choice of fixed sample rates, the UF2e cards allow you to obtain a clock rate with a fine degree of accuracy by using one of the six different modes available that use a combination of internal 10 MHz reference clock, PLL, hardware divider, quartz clock, external reference clock and external clock. There is also a factory option to install a second quartz for applications that require highest accuracy and stability at a customer-specific sample rate. The external clock connector can be programmed as either an input or as an output when you want to synchronize external equipment.

Flexible Triggering

The Pattern Generators have an external TTL trigger line for feeding in a trigger signal and also a trigger output if you need to synchronize external equipment with the start of output. The external trigger has three possible modes: edgle, level and pulsewidth. The card can also be software triggered and includes a delay option. In addition, the XBaseIO option can be used to AND/OR two more external trigger inputs.

Synchronization

The Star Hub option is available in two versions that synchronize the clock and trigger signals of either up to 5 cards or 16 cards within the PC. Systems with hundreds of channels can be perfectly synchronized. It's also possible to configure mixed mode systems that contain a mixture of digitizer, arbitrary waveform generator and high-speed digital instrument cards.

This option only needs to be purchased for one card in the system and consists of a small daughterboard that is factory-installed to the card. The clock and trigger signals are then distributed by small ribbon cables to this and the other cards. The 16 card version being larger in size does require an additional PCI slot width.

For larger configurations, the System Star Hub option allows up to 271 cards to be synchronized by distributing the clock and trigger signals across up to 17 PC's.

Advantage of PCI Express for instrumentation

Read an application note on the advantages of PCI Express here .

Applications

Typical applications include: Electronic component and system test or development

What's Included?

We believe that the Strategic Test instrument cards offer the best price vs performance and lowest cost-of ownership available. The following items are included:

• 256 MByte onboard memory
• +100 page printed user manual
• SDK's for Microsoft Windows and Linux
• Example source code programs for Visual Basic, Visual C++, Borland C++ Builder, Gnu C, Borland Delphi, VB.NET, C#, J#
• SBench measurement and generation program
• Two year hardware warranty, optional 5 years
• Lifetime technical support
• Lifetime updates for Windows and Linux SDK's, including future versions
• Lifetime updates for optional third-party drivers (if purchased), also future version releases

Specifications

Options

Application options

Cables

Software

Pricing

Questions