Vector signal generator aids RF characterisation

Engineers now have a complete platform for accelerating RFproduct design, validation and manufacturing test with NationalInstruments new 2.7GHz NI PXI-5670 RF vector signal generator.The new module is the latest addition to the company's RFproduct line, which also includes the NI PXI-5660 RF vectorsignal analyser and Modulation Spectral Measurements Toolkits forLabView 7 Express.

The new PXI-5670 module offers true 16bitresolution arbitrary waveform generation at 100Msample/s(400Msample/s interpolated), up to 256Mbyte of memory and 22MHzreal-time bandwidth giving engineers a highly precise, flexiblevector signal generator with the performance required for rapidprototyping and automated test.

"The NI RF vector signalgenerator combined with the RF vector signal analyser makes aflexible platform for wireless communication systemdevelopment", said Professor Robert Heath, Jr, LeadingResearcher for the Wireless Networking and Communications Groupin the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department at theUniversity of Texas at Austin.

"We have been using the NIvector signal generator, vector signal analyser, ModulationToolkit and LabView 7 Express for both rapid prototyping ofalgorithms for multiple input, multiple output (MIMO) 4G wirelesssystems and for making wireless channel measurements".

Thenew RF vector signal generator offers signal generation from250kHz to 2.7GHz and can produce analogue and custom digitalmodulation as well as standard digital modulation formats such asASK, FSK, MSK, PSK and QAM.

The module's deep memory of upto 256Mbyte offers extended playback time for complex modulatedsignals, which addresses research and development needs forsimulation of signal transmission in real-world conditions.

Thismodule has advanced timing and triggering capabilities, making itideal for scientific research, consumer electronics,communications, aerospace/defence and semiconductor testapplications.

In addition, the software flexibility of thePXI-5670 module makes it an excellent fit for emergingapplications including software defined radio, radio frequencyidentification (RFID) and wireless sensor networks.

"Withthe new vector signal generator, engineers can for the first timeuse one platform from design through manufacturing", saidJoseph E Kovacs, NI RF Product Manager.

"Because of the PXIplatform and LabView, R and D engineers can link to simulationtools such as Ansoft Designer.

Manufacturing engineers willespecially benefit from the speed, compact 3U form factor, highthroughput and cost effectiveness of the PXI platform".

ThePXI-5670 module includes the NI Modulation Toolkit for LabView 7Express and the NI-RFSG instrument driver.

The Modulation Toolkitoffers functions for signal generation, analysis andvisualisation of analogue and digital modulation, both standardand custom.

Some of the standard measurement functions includeerror vector magnitude (EVM), modulation error ratio (MER) andRho.

The toolkit also offers functions to inject impairments intoa communications system including IQ gain imbalance, quadratureskew and additive white Gaussian noise (AWGN).

Visualisationfunctions include trellis, constellation and two- andthree-dimensional eye diagrams.

NI-RFSG is a fully functionalinstrument driver and works with a variety of applicationsoftware including LabView 7 Express, LabWindows/CVI and C.

TheNI PXI-5670 RF vector signal generator is a combination of the NIPXI-5610 2.7GHz RF up-convertor, the NI PXI-5421 16bit arbitrarywaveform generator and the NI Modulation Toolkit.

Each of theseproducts can be purchased separately.