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DAQ M Series
NI 6238/6239 User Manual
Isolated Current Input/Current Output Devices
NI 6238/6239 User Manual
July 2006
371913A-01
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Support Worldwide Technical Support and Product Information ni.com National Instruments Corporate Headquarters 11500 North Mopac Expressway Austin, Texas 78759-3504 USA Tel: 512 683 0100 Worldwide Offices Australia 1800 300 800, Austria 43 0 662 45 79 90 0, Belgium 32 0 2 757 00 20, Brazil 55 11 3262 3599, Canada 800 433 3488, China 86 21 6555 7838, Czech Republic 420 224 235 774, Denmark 45 45 76 26 00, Finland 385 0 9 725 725 11, France 33 0 1 48 14 24 24, Germany 49 0 89 741 31 30, India 91
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Important Information Warranty The NI 6238/6239 is warranted against defects in materials and workmanship for a period of three years from the date of shipment, as evidenced by receipts or other documentation. National Instruments will, at its option, repair or replace equipment that proves to be defective during the warranty period. This warranty includes parts and labor. The media on which you receive National Instruments software are warranted not to fail to execute programming instructi
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NATIONAL INSTRUMENTS PRODUCTS ARE INCORPORATED IN A SYSTEM OR APPLICATION, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE APPROPRIATE DESIGN, PROCESS AND SAFETY LEVEL OF SUCH SYSTEM OR APPLICATION.
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Contents About This Manual Conventions ...................................................................................................................xiii Related Documentation..................................................................................................xiv NI-DAQ...........................................................................................................xiv NI-DAQmx for Linux...................................................................................
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Contents Chapter 4 Analog Input Analog Input Circuitry .................................................................................................. 4-1 Analog Input Range....................................................................................................... 4-2 Connecting Analog Current Input Signals .................................................................... 4-3 Method 1 ..............................................................................................
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Contents AI Pause Trigger Signal ..................................................................................4-24 Using a Digital Source ......................................................................4-24 Routing AI Pause Trigger Signal to an Output Terminal .................4-25 Getting Started with AI Applications in Software.........................................................4-25 Chapter 5 Analog Output Analog Output Circuitry ................................................
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Contents Chapter 7 Counters Counter Input Applications ........................................................................................... 7-3 Counting Edges ............................................................................................... 7-3 Single Point (On-Demand) Edge Counting ...................................... 7-3 Buffered (Sample Clock) Edge Counting......................................... 7-4 Non-Cumulative Buffered Edge Counting ...............................
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Contents Counter Timing Signals .................................................................................................7-26 Counter n Source Signal..................................................................................7-26 Routing a Signal to Counter n Source...............................................7-27 Routing Counter n Source to an Output Terminal ............................7-27 Counter n Gate Signal ..................................................................
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Contents Chapter 8 PFI Using PFI Terminals as Timing Input Signals .............................................................. 8-2 Exporting Timing Output Signals Using PFI Terminals............................................... 8-3 Using PFI Terminals as Static Digital Inputs and Outputs............................................ 8-3 Connecting PFI Input Signals........................................................................................ 8-3 PFI Filters .........................
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Contents Chapter 11 Bus Interface DMA Controllers ...........................................................................................................11-1 PXI Considerations ........................................................................................................11-2 PXI Clock and Trigger Signals........................................................................11-2 PXI and PXI Express.....................................................................................
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About This Manual The NI 6238/6239 User Manual contains information about using the NI 6238 and NI 6239 M Series data acquisition (DAQ) devices with NI-DAQmx 8.1 and later. National Instruments 6238/6239 devices feature up to eight differential analog input (AI) channels, two analog output (AO) channels, two counters, six lines of digital input (DI), and four lines of digital output (DO). Conventions The following conventions are used in this manual: <> Angle brackets that contain numbers s
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About This Manual italic Italic text denotes variables, emphasis, a cross-reference, or an introduction to a key concept. Italic text also denotes text that is a placeholder for a word or value that you must supply. monospace Text in this font denotes text or characters that you should enter from the keyboard, sections of code, programming examples, and syntax examples. This font is also used for the proper names of disk drives, paths, directories, programs, subprograms, subroutines, device
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About This Manual The C Function Reference Help describes functions and attributes. The NI-DAQmx for Linux Configuration Guide provides configuration instructions, templates, and instructions for using test panels. Note All NI-DAQmx documentation for Linux is installed at /usr/local/natinst/nidaqmx/docs. NI-DAQmx Base The NI-DAQmx Base Getting Started Guide describes how to install your NI-DAQmx Base software, your NI-DAQmx Base-supported DAQ device, and how to confirm that your device is
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About This Manual tools. Refer to the following locations on the Contents tab of the LabVIEW Help for information about NI-DAQmx: � Getting Started»Getting Started with DAQ—Includes overview information and a tutorial to learn how to take an NI-DAQmx measurement in LabVIEW using the DAQ Assistant. � VI and Function Reference»Measurement I/O VIs and Functions—Describes the LabVIEW NI-DAQmx VIs and properties. � Taking Measurements—Contains the conceptual and how-to information you need to ac
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About This Manual .NET Languages without NI Application Software The NI Measurement Studio Help contains function reference and measurement concepts for using the Measurement Studio NI-DAQmx .NET and Visual C++ class libraries. This help collection is integrated into the Visual Studio .NET documentation. In Visual Studio .NET, select Help»Contents. Note You must have Visual Studio .NET installed to view the NI Measurement Studio Help. Device Documentation and Specifications The NI 6238/62
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1 Getting Started M Series NI 6238/6239 devices feature eight differential analog input (AI) channels, two analog output (AO) channels, two counters, six lines of digital input (DI), and four lines of digital output (DO). If you have not already installed your device, refer to the DAQ Getting Started Guide. For NI 6238 and NI 6239 device specifications, refer to the NI 6238/6239 Specifications on ni.com/manuals. Before installing your DAQ device, you must install the software you plan to u
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Chapter 1 Getting Started Device Specifications Refer to the NI 6238/6239 Specifications, available on the NI-DAQ Device Document Browser or ni.com/manuals, for more detailed information on NI 6238/6239 devices. Device Accessories and Cables NI offers a variety of accessories and cables to use with your DAQ device. Refer to Appendix A, Device-Specific Information, or ni.com for more information. NI 6238/6239 User Manual 1-2 ni.com
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2 DAQ System Overview Figure 2-1 shows a typical DAQ system, which includes sensors, transducers, cables that connect the various devices to the accessories, the M Series device, programming software, and PC. The following sections cover the components of a typical DAQ system. Sensors and Cables and DAQ DAQ Personal Transducers Accessories Hardware Software Computer Figure 2-1. Components of a Typical DAQ System DAQ Hardware DAQ hardware digitizes input signals, performs D/A conversions to
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Chapter 2 DAQ System Overview A Isolation Barrier Analog Input AI GND A Analog Output Digital Routing Bus A Bus and Clock Interface AO GND Generation Digital Counters Isolators RTSI PFI/Static DI P0 P0.GND PFI/Static DO P1 P1.GND Figure 2-2. General NI 6238/6239 Block Diagram DAQ-STC2 The DAQ-STC2 implements a high-performance digital engine for NI 6238/6239 data acquisition hardware. Some key features of this engine include the following: � Flexible AI and AO sample and convert timing � Many
