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.
