National Instruments has added timing tools including its first PXI Express timing and synchronisation controller and a PXI module that synchronises PXI systems over GPS, Inter-Range Instrumentation Group (IRIG) and IEEE 1588.

Offering improved synchronisation and timecode capabilities in PXI systems is important for synchronising multiple systems, timestamping events and improving measurement accuracy in automated test and data acquisition applications.

The PXIe-6672 controller can be used to synchronise multiple PXI Express systems with nanosecond precision. The controller will also synchronise PXI Express systems with GPIB, VXI and other measurement and instrumentation systems.

This system timing controller generates high-resolution clocks from DC to 105MHz for clocking instruments at precise frequencies and includes a high-stability TCXO reference with 1ppm stability.

The PXI-6682 module provides GPS time, location and velocity; IRIG-B decoding; and IEEE 1588 synchronisation. The module is designed for timestamping and triggering measurements or events across large physical objects such as airplanes and bridges or geographically distributed systems such as power grids and accelerators.