The National Instruments cPCI-GPIB is a GPIB controller card engineered for CompactPCI systems. It integrates GPIB-compatible instruments and devices into automated test, measurement, data acquisition, and instrument control workflows. Built on National Instruments’ PCI-MITE and TNT family ASICs, this card delivers high-performance IEEE 488.2 interface capabilities with onboard DMA control for efficient data movement without host processor intervention.
Technical Specifications
Core Architecture
• Interface Type: GPIB (General Purpose Interface Bus) Controller
• Bus Type: CompactPCI (cPCI)
• ASIC Technology: PCI-MITE and TNT family; TNT provides IEEE 488 Talker, Listener, and Controller functions
• GPIB Connector: IEEE 488 standard 24-pin connector with 8 data lines, 8 control lines, 3 handshake lines
Data Transfer Performance
• 3-wire handshake: Up to 1670 kbytes/s
• IEEE 488.1 3-wire interlocked handshake: More than 1.5 MB/s
• HS488 (High-Speed Noninterlocked Handshake): Up to 7980 kbytes/s or more than 7.7 MB/s
• Timestamp Resolution: 50 ns
• DMA Controller: Onboard for autonomous data transfers
Electrical Requirements
• Power Supply: +3.3 V, 320 mA (typical), 500 mA (maximum)
• Power Source: PCI Express channel (no external supply required)
• PCI/PCIe Compliance: Compatible with 3.3 V and 5 V PCI slots; PCI Specification 2.1 (PCI-MITE); PCI Express Base Specification Revision 1.0a (PCIe)
Physical Dimensions
• PCIe-GPIB: 9.754 cm × 6.888 cm (3.840 in. × 2.712 in.)
• PCI-GPIB: 13.3 cm × 10.7 cm (5.25 in. × 4.20 in.) and 12 cm × 6.44 cm variants
• Low-profile configurations available (PCIe-GPIB/LP and PCI-GPIB/LP)
– Key Features
• Onboard DMA controller eliminates processor overhead during instrument communication
• Multiple handshake protocols support legacy and high-speed IEEE 488 instruments
• Native support for signal lines: DIO1-DIO8, EOI, DAV, NRFD, NDAC, IFC, SRQ, ATN, REN, Shield, and Signal Ground
• Compact form factor options for space-constrained cPCI chassis
– Compatibility & Integration
• Driver Support: Compatible with NI-488.2 software on Windows and Linux platforms
• GPIB Protocol Compliance: Full IEEE 488.2 implementation
• System Integration: Operates within CompactPCI architecture for industrial and laboratory test systems
