Dual-channel digitizers provide synchronous 3.2 GS / sec, 12-bit sampling of each channel

A new dual-channel digitizer provides synchronous 3.2 GS / sec, 12-bit sampling of each channel. This means that there is no need to lose data, even when the card acquires data, with both channels operating at their maximum sampling rate. The ultra-fast bus allows all data to be transferred directly to the computer’s storage memory or even to CUDA-based GPUs for processing and analysis. Prices start at $ 17,940.

The new M5i.3321-x16 is designed to handle a wide variety of signals. Fast and high sampling frequency of the device mresolution is supported by fully functional front electronics with 1 GHz bandwidth, programmable full-scale ranges from ± 200 mV to ± 2.5 V and variable offset. To allow the capture of long and complex waveforms, there is a generous 4 GB (2 GSamples) built-in memory. This can be an option to industry-leading 16 GB (8 GSamples) if needed. The built-in memory can act as a ring buffer, as a transient recorder, or as a FIFO buffer, for streaming the received data directly through the bus. It can also be divided into segments to record multiple events, even when they occur at very fast trigger speeds. Trigger events are time-stamped and many sophisticated trigger modes (such as software, window, reactivation, logic, and delay) are available to ensure that important events are never missed.

With a 12-bit resolution, the M5i.3321-x16 card offers exceptional dynamic range. Measurements are performed with improved accuracy and better signal-to-noise ratio than those made with more conventional 8-bit test instruments. Importantly, the additional resolution allows users to capture small signals that can travel over larger ones, revealing the fine details of the signal that are often missed by lower resolution devices.

Regardless of the computer, two powerful fans transfer heat from the computer case through holes in the front panels.
Installing the card on a computer makes it a powerful testing tool that can be used to receive and analyze signals in a huge variety of applications. The front panel provides SMA connectors for channel inputs, clock and trigger inputs and outputs, as well as four multifunction digital I / O lines. Additional clock and trigger connections allow you to synchronize the card with additional digitizers or other measuring devices. The set of features makes the model very suitable for capturing fast signals found in fiber optics, mass spectrometry, semiconductor testing, RF recording, AI, radar, LIDAR, communications, astronomy and quantum technology.

The ability to stream data directly to the CUDA GPU is possible with the company’s SCAPP package (Spectrum’s CUDA Access for Parallel Processing), which is available as a low-cost option. SCAPP includes the necessary drivers to support the CUDA GPU and allows users to develop their own processing procedures. To help you get started, the package includes working examples that can be modified and upgraded.

The cards come with all the tools you need to use them on a Windows or Linux computer. A software development kit (SDK) is provided so that maps can be programmed in almost any language, including C, C ++, C #, Delphi, VB.NET, J #, Python, Julia, Java, LabVIEW and Matlab. The SDK contains all the necessary driver libraries as well as programming examples. Alternatively, for users who do not want to write code, the company offers SBench 6 Professional. This powerful measurement software provides complete control of the map, along with many options for display, analysis, storage and documentation.

The new model joins two other products in the M5i series, the M5i.3330-x16, a single-channel card that can sample at speeds up to 6.4 GS / sec, and the M5i.3337-x16, a dual-channel card that offers synchronous 3.2 GS / sec sampling both channels and full 6.4 GS / sec per channel. These cards offer a bandwidth of 2 GHz.

Spectrum Instrumentation Corp., 401 Hackensack Ave, Fl 4, Hackensack, NJ 07601, (201) 562-1999, www.spectrum-instrumentation.com