Genie NI 5421 User Manual
NI 5421 Specifications
NI PXI/PCI-5421 16-Bit 100 MS/s Arbitrary Waveform Generator
Unless otherwise noted, the following conditions were used for each
specification:
• Analog Filter enabled.
• Interpolation set to maximum allowed factor for a given sample rate.
• Signals terminated with 50 Ω.
• Direct Path set to 1 V
and High-Gain Amplifier Path set to 12 V
• Sample clock set to 100 MS/s.
Typical values are representative of an average unit operating at room
temperature. Specifications are subject to change without notice. For the
most recent NI 5421 specifications, visit
To access all the NI 5421 documentation, including the NI Signal
Generators Getting Started Guide, which contains functional descriptions
of the NI 5421 signals, navigate to Start»Programs»National
Instruments»NI-FGEN»Documentation.
Hot Surface If the NI 5421 has been in use, it may exceed safe handling temperatures and
cause burns. Allow the NI 5421 to cool before removing it from the chassis.
Contents
, Low-Gain Amplifier Path set to 2 V
pk-pk
.
pk-pk
ni.com/manuals.
pk-pk
,
CH 0 ........................................................................................................ 2
Sample Clock .......................................................................................... 14
Onboard Clock ........................................................................................ 17
Phase-Locked Loop (PLL) Reference Clock .......................................... 18
CLK IN ................................................................................................... 19
PFI 0 and PFI 1 ....................................................................................... 20
DIGITAL DATA & CONTROL (DDC) ................................................ 22
Start Trigger ............................................................................................ 24
Markers ................................................................................................... 26
Waveform and Instruction Memory Utilization...................................... 27
Calibration............................................................................................... 29
Power ...................................................................................................... 29
Software .................................................................................................. 30
Environment............................................................................................ 31
Safety, Electromagnetic Compatibility, and CE Compliance................. 33
Physical ...................................................................................................34
Where to Go for Support......................................................................... 36
CH 0
(Channel 0 Analog Output, Front Panel Connector)
Table 1.
Specification Val ue Comments
Number of
1 —
Channels
Connector SMB (jack) —
Output Voltage Characteristics
Output Paths 1. The software-selectable Main Output Path setting
provides full-scale voltages from 12.00 V
5.64 mV
into a 50 Ω load. NI-FGEN uses either the
pk-pk
pk-pk
to
—
Low-Gain Amplifier or the High-Gain Amplifier when
the Main Output Path is selected, depending on the Gain
attribute.
2. The software-selectable Direct Path is optimized for
IF applications and provides full-scale voltages from
DAC
1.000 V
16 bits —
to 0.707 V
pk-pk
pk-pk
.
Resolution
NI 5421 Specifications 2 ni.com
Table 1. (Continued)
Specification Val ue Comments
Amplitude and Offset
Amplitude
Amplitude (V
) 1. Amplitude
pk-pk
Range
Path Load
Minimum Value Maximum Value
Direct 50 Ω 0.707 1.00
1 kΩ 1.35 1.91
Open 1.41 2.00
Low-
50 Ω 0.00564 2.00
Gain
Amplifier
1 kΩ 0.0107 3.81
Open 0.0113 4.00
High-
50 Ω 0.0338 12.0
Gain
Amplifier
1 kΩ 0.0644 22.9
Open 0.0676 24.0
Amplitude
3 digits —
Resolution
Offset Range Span of ±25% of Amplitude Range with increments
<0.0014% of Amplitude Range.
values assume
the full scale
of the DAC is
utilized. If an
amplitude
smaller than
the minimum
value is
desired, then
waveforms less
than full scale
of the DAC can
be used.
2. NI-FGEN
compensates
for userspecified
resistive loads.
Not available on
the Direct Path.
© National Instruments Corporation 3 NI 5421 Specifications
Table 1. (Continued)
Specification Val ue Comments
Maximum Output Voltage
Maximum
Path Load Maximum Output Voltage (V
Output
Vo l t a g e
Direct 50 Ω ±0.500
1 kΩ ±0.953
Open ±1.000
LowGain
Amplifier
50 Ω ±1.000
1 kΩ ±1.905
Open ±2.000
High-
Gain
Amplifier
50 Ω ±6.000
1 kΩ ±11.43
Open ±12.00
Accuracy
DC Accuracy For the Low-Gain or High-Gain Amplifier Path:
±0.2% of Amplitude ± 0.05% of Offset ±500 µV
(within ±10 °C of self-calibration temperature)
±0.4% of Amplitude ± 0.05% of Offset ±1 mV
(0 °C to 55 °C)
For the Direct Path:
Gain Accuracy: ±0.2% (within ±10 °C of self-calibration
temperature)
Gain Accuracy: ±0.4% (0 °C to 55 °C)
DC Offset Error: ±30 mV (0 °C to 55 °C)
) The Maximum
pk-pk
Output Voltage
of the NI 5421 is
determined by
the Amplitude
Range and the
Offset Range.
All paths are
calibrated for
amplitude and
gain errors. The
Low-Gain and
High-Gain
Amplifier Paths
also are
calibrated for
offset errors.
Specifications
valid only for
high impedance.
AC Amplitude
Accuracy
±1.0% of Amplitude ±1 mV 50 kHz sine
wave.
Output Characteristics
Output
50 Ω nominal or 75 Ω nominal, software-selectable. —
Impedance
Load
Impedance
Output amplitude is compensated for user-specified load
impedances.
—
Compensation
NI 5421 Specifications 4 ni.com
Table 1. (Continued)
Specification Val ue Comments
Output
DC —
Coupling
Output
Enable
Software-selectable. When disabled, CH 0 out is terminated
with a 1 W resistor with a value equal to the selected output
—
impedance.
Maximum
Output
Overload
The CH 0 output can be connected to a 50 Ω, ±12 V
(±8 V for the Direct Path) source without sustaining any
damage. No damage occurs if the CH 0 output is shorted to
—
ground indefinitely.
Waveform
Summing
The CH 0 output supports waveform summing among
similar paths—specifically, the outputs of multiple NI 5421
—
signal generators can be connected together.
Frequency and Transient Response
Bandwidth 43 MHz Measured at
–3 dB.
Digital
Interpolation
Software-selectable Finite Impulse Response (FIR) filter.
Available interpolation factors are 2, 4, or 8.
—
Filter
Analog
Filter
Software-selectable 7-pole elliptical filter. Available on
Low-Gain
Amplifier and
High-Gain
Amplifier Paths.
Passband
Flatness
Pulse
Response
Direct
+0.6 dB to –0.4 dB
100 Hz to 40 MHz
Direct
+0.5 dB to –1.0 dB
100 Hz to 20 MHz
Path —
Low-Gain
Amplifiers
High-Gain
Amplifiers
+0.5 dB to –1.2 dB
100 Hz to 20 MHz
Path Analog Filter
Low-Gain
Amplifier
High-Gain
Amplifier
and Digital
Interpolation
Filter disabled.
Rise/Fall Time <5 ns <8 ns <10 ns
Aberration <10% <5% <5%
© National Instruments Corporation 5 NI 5421 Specifications
2.0
1.0
0.0
–1.0
–2.0
–3.0
–4.0
dB
–5.0
–6.0
–7.0
–8.0
–9.0
–10.0
1.0M 10.0M 48.0M
Guaranteed Specification
Typical
Frequency (Hz)
+0.3 dB
–0.4 dB
+0.4 dB
–0.4 dB
–0.4 dB
Figure 1. Normalized Passband Flatness, Direct Path
2.0
+0.6 dB
1.6
1.2
0.8
0.4
0.0
Amplitude (V)
–0.4
–0.8
–1.2
–1.6
–2.0
0.0 20.0n 40.0n 60.0n 80.0n 100.0n
Time (s)
Figure 2. Pulse Response, Low-Gain Amplifier Path 50
Ω Load
NI 5421 Specifications 6 ni.com
Table 1. (Continued)
Specification Val ue Comments
Suggested Maximum Frequencies for Common Functions
Function Path Disable the
Analog Filter
and the Digital
Interpolation
Filter for Square,
Direct
Low-Gain
Amplifier
High-Gain
Amplifier
Sine 43 MHz 43 MHz 43 MHz
Ramp, and
Square Not Recommended 25 MHz 12.5 MHz
Triangle.
Ramp Not Recommended 5 MHz 5 MHz
Triangle Not Recommended 5 MHz 5 MHz
Spectral Characteristics
Signal to
Path Amplitude
Noise and
Distortion
(SINAD)
Direct
Low-Gain
Amplifier
1 MHz 64 dB 66 dB 63 dB
10 MHz 61 dB 60 dB 47 dB
20 MHz 57 dB 56 dB 42 dB
30 MHz 60 dB 62 dB 62 dB
40 MHz 60 dB 62 dB 62 dB
43 MHz 58 dB 60 dB 55 dB
High-Gain
Amplifier
–1 dBFS.
Measured from
DC to 50 MHz.
SINAD at low
amplitudes is
limited by a
–148 dBm/Hz
noise floor.
© National Instruments Corporation 7 NI 5421 Specifications
Table 1. (Continued)
Specification Val ue Comments
Spectral Characteristics (Continued)
Spurious-Free
Path Amplitude
Dynamic
Range
(SFDR) with
Harmonics
Direct
Low-Gain
Amplifier
1 MHz –76 dBc –71 dBc –58 dBc
10 MHz –68 dBc –64 dBc –47 dBc
20 MHz –60 dBc –57 dBc –42 dBc
30 MHz –73 dBc –73 dBc –74 dBc
40 MHz –76 dBc –73 dBc –74 dBc
43 MHz –78 dBc –75 dBc –59 dBc
Spurious-Free
Path Amplitude
Dynamic
Range
(SFDR)
without
Harmonics
Direct
Low-Gain
Amplifier
1 MHz –88 dBFS –91 dBFS –91 dBFS
10 MHz –87 dBFS –89 dBFS –91 dBFS
20 MHz –80 dBFS –89 dBFS –89 dBFS
30 MHz –73 dBFS –73 dBFS –74 dBFS
40 MHz –76 dBFS –73 dBFS –74 dBFS
High-Gain
Amplifier
High-Gain
Amplifier
–1 dBFS.
Measured from
DC to 50 MHz.
Also called
harmonic
distortion.
SFDR with
harmonics at low
amplitudes is
limited by a
–148 dBm/Hz
noise floor.
All values are
typical and
include aliased
harmonics.
–1 dBFS.
Measured from
DC to 50 MHz.
SFDR without
harmonics at low
amplitudes is
limited by a
–148 dBm/Hz
noise floor.
All values are
typical and
include aliased
harmonics.
43 MHz –78 dBFS –75 dBFS –60 dBFS
NI 5421 Specifications 8 ni.com
Table 1. (Continued)
Specification Val ue Comments
Spectral Characteristics (Continued)
0 ºC to 40 ºC
Path Amplitude
Total
Harmonic
Distortion
(THD)
Direct
Low-Gain
Amplifier
–77 dBc
20 kHz –77 dBc (typical)
(typical)
–70 dBc
1 MHz –75 dBc (typical)
(typical)
5 MHz –68 dBc –68 dBc –55 dBc
10 MHz –65 dBc –61 dBc –46 dBc
20 MHz –55 dBc –53 dBc —
30 MHz –50 dBc –48 dBc —
40 MHz –48 dBc –46 dBc —
43 MHz –47 dBc –45 dBc —
0 ºC to 55 ºC
Path Amplitude
Total
Harmonic
Distortion
(THD)
Direct
Low-Gain
Amplifier
High-Gain
Amplifier
–77 dBc (typical)
–62 dBc (typical)
High-Gain
Amplifier
–1 dBFS.
Includes the 2
through the 6
harmonic.
–1 dBFS.
Includes the 2
through the 6
harmonic.
nd
th
nd
th
–76 dBc
20 kHz –76 dBc (typical)
(typical)
–76 dBc (typical)
–69 dBc
1 MHz –74 dBc (typical)
(typical)
–61 dBc (typical)
5 MHz –67 dBc –67 dBc –54 dBc
10 MHz –63 dBc –60 dBc –45 dBc
20 MHz –54 dBc –52 dBc —
30 MHz –48 dBc –46 dBc —
40 MHz –46 dBc –41 dBc —
43 MHz –45 dBc –41 dBc —
© National Instruments Corporation 9 NI 5421 Specifications
Table 1. (Continued)
Specification Val ue Comments
Average Noise
Density
Intermodulation
Distortion (IMD)
10.2 MHz and
11.2 MHz
Amplitude
Path
V
pk-pk
Range
dBm dBm/Hz
Average Noise Density
nV
-----------
Hz
dBFS/
Hz
Direct 1 4.0 18 –142 –146.0
Low Gain 0.06 –20.4 9 –148 –127.6
Low Gain 0.1 –16.0 9 –148 –132.0
Low Gain 0.4 –4.0 13 –145 –141.0
Low Gain 1 4.0 18 –142 –146.0
Low Gain 2 10.0 35 –136 –146.0
High Gain 4 16.0 71 –130 –146.0
High Gain 12 25.6 213 –120 –145.6
Path Each tone is
Direct
Low-Gain
Amplifier
High-Gain
Amplifier
–81 dBc –80 dBc – 62 dBc
Average Noise
Density at small
amplitudes is
limited by a
–148 dBm/Hz
noise floor.
–7 dBFS.
All values
are typical.
10.6 MHz and
–81 dBc –79 dBc – 61 dBc
10.8 MHz
19.5 MHz and
–78 dBc –66 dBc –54 dBc
20.5 MHz
19.9 MHz and
–78 dBc –65 dBc –50 dBc
20.1 MHz
34.0MHz and
–75 dBc –58 dBc –51 dBc
35.0 MHz
34.8 MHz and
–75 dBc –58 dBc –51 dBc
35.0 MHz
42.0 MHz and
–75 dBc –55 dBc –51 dBc
43.0 MHz
42.8 MHz and
–75 dBc –55 dBc –50 dBc
43.0 MHz
NI 5421 Specifications 10 ni.com
10.0
0.0
–10.0
–20.0
–30.0
–40.0
dBm
–50.0
–60.0
–70.0
–80.0
–90.0
0.0 25.0M 50.0M 75.0M 100.0M 125.0M 158.0M 175.0M 200.0M
Frequency (Hz)
Figure 3. 10 MHz Single-Tone Spectrum, Direct Path, 100 MS/s,
Interpolation Factor Set to 4
Note The noise floor in Figure 3 is limited by the measurement device. Refer to the
Average Noise Density specification.
© National Instruments Corporation 11 NI 5421 Specifications
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