PXIe-6591

The PXIe-6591 is a high-speed serial instrumentation module from National Instruments, designed for advanced validation, compliance testing, and development of multi-gigabit serial communication systems within PXI Express platforms. It is built around a Xilinx Kintex-7 FPGA and high-speed transceiver architecture, enabling flexible, software-defined serial test and measurement capabilities.

The module is engineered for high-performance SerDes and digital communication testing, supporting deterministic timing, low-latency data handling, and fully customizable protocol development.

Key Features of PXIe-6591

The NI PXIe-6591 provides up to 8 high-speed serial lanes, supporting data rates up to approximately 12.5 Gbps per lane depending on configuration and implementation.

Core features include:

• Up to 8 TX and 8 RX serial channels
• FPGA-based Kintex-7 architecture
• Multi-gigabit transceiver (MGT) design
• Fully programmable serial protocol implementation
• Deterministic synchronization via PXI Express backplane
• High-speed streaming and buffered data handling

Each lane operates independently, enabling parallel testing of multiple high-speed links.

FPGA-Based Flexible Architecture

At the core of the PXIe-6591 is a Xilinx Kintex-7 FPGA, which enables deep customization of:

• Custom serial protocol stacks
• Encoding schemes (e.g., 8b/10b, 64b/66b)
• Real-time signal processing
• Error injection and detection
• Link training and compliance testing logic
• High-throughput buffering and streaming

This makes it a highly flexible platform for both research and production-level validation.

PXI Express Timing and Synchronization

The PXIe-6591 integrates with the PXI Express timing architecture, providing:

• Shared system reference clock distribution
• Trigger bus synchronization across modules
• Deterministic multi-instrument coordination
• Low-latency PCIe backplane communication

This allows multiple PXI modules to operate as a synchronized test system.

Software Integration

The module is supported by NI’s software ecosystem:

• LabVIEW FPGA Module
• NI LabVIEW
• NI TestStand
• NI PXI driver frameworks

This enables automated test development, FPGA-level customization, and scalable production testing workflows.

Typical Applications

The PXIe-6591 is widely used in:

• High-speed SerDes validation
• Semiconductor and IC testing
• FPGA/ASIC verification
• Optical and electrical communication system testing
• Automotive high-speed network validation
• Aerospace and defense communication systems
• Custom protocol research and development

PXI System Context

The PXIe-6591 operates within a PXI Express chassis, leveraging:

• PCI Express backplane bandwidth
• System timing and synchronization buses
• Multi-instrument deterministic test coordination
• Scalable modular instrumentation architecture

It is typically deployed in advanced ATE (Automated Test Equipment) systems.

Summary

The NI PXIe-6591 is a 12.5 Gbps, 8-channel high-speed serial PXI Express module built on a Kintex-7 FPGA, designed for flexible, deterministic serial protocol testing and validation in complex measurement systems.