VXI
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The VXI bus architecture is an open standard platform for automated test based upon VMEbus. VXI stands for VME eXtensions for Instrumentation, defining additional bus lines for timing and triggering as well as mechanical requirements and standard protocols for configuration, message-based communication, multi-chassis extension, and other features. In 2004, the 2eVME extension was added to the VXI bus specification, giving it a maximum data rate of 160 MB/s.
The basic building block of a VXI system is the mainframe or chassis. This contains up to 13 slots into which various modules (instruments) can be added. The mainframe also contains all the power supply requirements for the rack and the instruments it contains. Instruments in the form of VXI Modules then fit the slots in the rack. VXI bus modules are typically 6U in height (see Eurocard) and C-size (unlike VME bus modules which are more commonly B-size). It is therefore possible to configure a system to meet a particular requirement by selecting the required instruments.
The VXIbus grew from the VME bus specification, it was established in 1987 by Hewlett Packard (now Agilent Technologies), Racal Instruments, Colorado Data Systems, Wavetek and Tektronix. VXI is promoted by the VXI bus Consortium, whose sponsor members are currently (in alphabetical order) Agilent Technologies, Bustec, National Instruments, Racal Instruments, Teradyne, and VXI Technology. VXI's core market is in Military and Avionics Automatic Test Systems; its use outside this core market has declined in recent years.
The VXI plug&play Alliance, also known as VXIpnp, specifies additional hardware and software interoperability standards, notably the Virtual Instrument Software Architecture or VISA. Application software that supports VXIplug&play instrument drivers for controlling instruments include LabVIEW and MATLAB.
In 1997 a more recent standard, PXI, was launched. It is of a similar format to VXI, but features a smaller form factor, up to 132MBytes/sec data rate, and is based on the industry standard PCI bus.
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