Learn how PXI has grown to be the de-facto standard for automated test over the past nearly two decades.

1. ni.com/pxi
The Future of Test Is Open
with the PXI Platform
Adam Foster
Senior Product Manager
Automated Test Systems
National Instruments

2. 2ni.com/pxi
The best time to plant a tree
was 20 years ago.
“
“
Planting a Tree

3. 3ni.com/pxi
Characteristics of a Mature Tree
• Deep Roots
• Stable Trunk
• Growing Crown
• Grows Fruit
• Healthy Foliage

4. 4ni.com/pxi
Systems Alliance
Characteristics of the Mature PXI Platform
• Founded in 1997
• 60+ Vendors
• 2000+ Modules
• Latest Technology
• Growing Market Share

5. 5ni.com/pxi
PXI Balances Standardization and Innovation
Systems Alliance
Windows Frameworks
Hardware Configuration
Virtual Instrument
Software Architecture
High-Performance
Connectors
Eurocard Mechanical
Packaging
Forced-Air Cooling by
Chassis
Environmental Testing
Electromagnetic Testing
Industry Standard PC
Buses
System Reference
Clocks
Star Trigger Buses
PXI Trigger Bus
Software Electrical Mechanical
Vendor-Defined
FunctionalityCalibration
Usage of
Synchronization
Signal Connectivity
Module-Specific
Shielding
Application Programming
Interface (API)
Interactive/Debugging
Interface

6. 6ni.com/pxi
PXI Revenue Forecast for Test Applications
17.6%
CAGR
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020
Revenue[$Million]
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
1400
1600
1800
Source: Frost and Sullivan

7. 7ni.com/pxi
PXI Integrates All Instrumentation Protocols

8. 8ni.com/pxi
Advantages of PXI Instrumentation
• High Measurement Quality
• Low Latency & High Throughput
• Software-Defined Functionality
• Integrated Timing and Sync
• Reduced Test Times
• Reduced Size, Weight, and Power
• Broad Instrumentation Portfolio

9. 9ni.com/pxi
Advantages of PXI: Measurement Quality
Traditional
Instruments
PXI
Instruments
28
26
24
22
20
18
16
14
12
10
8
6
4
Resolution[Bits]
1 10 100 1K 10K 100K 1M 10M 100M 1G 10G 100G
Sample Rate [Samples/s]
Modular
Innovation
Year: 2014

10. 10ni.com/pxi
Advantages of PXI: High Throughput & Low Latency
USB 3.0
10
1
100
1000
10000
IncreasingBandwidth[MByte/s]
Decreasing (approx.) Latency [μs]
10000 1000 100 10 1 0.1
VME/VXI
PCI/PXI
USB 2.0
Gigabit Ethernet
PCI/PXI Express 2.0 (x8)
PCI/PXI Express 3.0 (x8)
PCI/PXI Express 1.0 (x8)
GPIB (HS 488)
GPIB (488.1)
64X More
Throughput
1000X Less
Latency

11. 11ni.com/pxi
3
6
12
24
TotalSystemBandwidth[GB/s]
PXI with
PCI
PXIe with
PCIe Gen 1
PXIe with
PCIe Gen 2
PXIe with
PCIe Gen 3
Increasing PXI Chassis System Bandwidth

12. 12ni.com/pxi
Advantages of PXI: Software-Defined Functionality
Box Instrument
Inline
Processing
Signal
I/O
Measurement
Analysis
Host Computer
Test
Executive
Test
Routine
PXI Chassis
PXI Modular InstrumentEmbedded PXI Controller
Inline
Processing
Signal
I/O
Measurement
Analysis
Test
Executive
Test
Routine

13. 13ni.com/pxi
Integrated Timing and Synchronization
PXIeController
Instrument1
Instrument2
Instrument17
10 MHz Clock
Single-Ended Triggers
100 MHz Differential Clock
100 MHz Sync Clock
Single-Ended Star Trigger
Differential Star Triggers
External Clock Source
Box Instrument 1
Box Instrument 2
Box Instrument 17
PXIBox Instruments
Single-EndedTriggers
10MHzClock

14. 14ni.com/pxi
Advantages of PXI: Reduced Test Times
Performance
Gap
ProcessingPower
Time
PXI- Based
Test Systems
Dual-Core
CPU
Quad-Core
CPU
Octo-Core
CPU
Dual-Core CPU
ProcessingPower
Time
Traditional Box
Instruments

15. 15ni.com/pxi
First PXI
Controller
PXI Express
Technology
Quad-core
Processing
Real-Time
Operating System
Dual-Core
Processing
Octo-Core
Processing
Increasing PXI Controller Performance
ProcessingPower
1997 2003 20102002 2007 2015

16. 16ni.com/pxi
Previous PXI Phase 1 PXI Phase 2
Technology
Traditional Box
Instrumentation
NI PXI RF
Instrumentation
NI Vector Signal
Transceiver
Year Early 2000’s 2007 2012
Test Time
Reduction
1X 10X 200X
WLAN
Protocols
Tested
802.11a
802.11b
802.11g
802.11a
802.11b
802.11g
802.11n
802.11a
802.11b
802.11g
802.11n
802.11ac
Case Study: Reduced Test Times
“We improved test speeds by
more than 200X compared to
traditional rack-and-stack
instruments while significantly
improving test coverage."

17. 17ni.com/pxi
Advantages of PXI: Reduced Size, Weight, and
Power
PXIBox Instrument
P o w e r
C o n s u m p t i o n
PXI
B o x I n s t r u m e n t
S i z e / F o o t p r i n t W e i g h t / P o r t
a b i l i t y
PXIBox Instrument

18. 18ni.com/pxi
Case Study: MEMS Test Cost Reduction with PXI
"Using PXI and LabVIEW, we were
able to test our MEMS devices at a
fraction of the cost, weight, power
consumption, and footprint of our
previous ATE system.”
Previous ATE PXI System Reduction
Cost $450k $40k 11X
Footprint 277 ft3 1.75 ft3 158X
Weight 4000 lbs. 60 lbs. 66X
Energy 10 kW 0.6 kW 16X

19. 19ni.com/pxi
Broad Modular Instrumentation Portfolio
Multifunction I/O
FPGA / Reconfigurable I/O
Digital I/O
Analog Input / Output
Vision and Motion
Counter / Timer / Clock
DAQ and Control
Oscilloscopes
High-Speed Digital I/O
DMM & SMU
Signal Generators
Switching
RF Analyzers & Generators
Instrumentation
GPIB, USB, LAN
RS232 / RS485
CAN, LIN, DeviceNet
SCSI, Ethernet
VXI - VME
Boundary Scan / JTAG
Interfaces
60+ Vendors
2000+ Modules

20. 20ni.com/pxi
Characteristics of a Mature Tree
• Deep Roots
• Stable Trunk
• Growing Crown
• Grows Fruit
• Healthy Foliage

21. 21ni.com/pxi
Systems Alliance
Characteristics of the Mature PXI Platform
• Founded in 1997
• 60+ Vendors
• 2000+ Modules
• Latest Technology
• Growing Market Share