Product Details

The NI PCI-5406 is a high-performance DDS function generator card for PCI bus computers, designed for precision stimulus generation and frequency response testing. It features one analog output channel with 16-bit DAC resolution, supporting sine and square waveforms up to 40 MHz, while triangle and ramp signals reach 5 MHz. It can also produce DC output and pseudorandom noise for a wide range of bench test requirements. The card adopts direct digital synthesis technology to deliver ultra-fine frequency resolution, enabling smooth and stable frequency sweep for component characterization and calibration tasks. It is equipped with 32 kB onboard waveform memory and supports long frequency list sequences with abundant adjustable frequency steps.

This function generator supports load impedance compensation, which automatically corrects output amplitude according to the actual load impedance to reduce measurement error. Users can select 50 Ω or high-impedance working mode, and the output voltage can reach ±5 V into 50 Ω load or ±10 V for high-impedance load. It supports adjustable phase offset from -180° to +180°, which is convenient for multi-card phase synchronization. The built-in digital interpolation filter with 2x or 4x multiplication can smooth the output waveform and suppress imaging spurs. It accepts external reference clock locking through the BNC reference input port to align frequency with other measurement instruments. The front panel is fitted with BNC connectors for analog output, reference clock and sync signal, plus PFI trigger lines for digital triggering. The RTSI bus enables tight synchronization with NI digitizers, DSA cards and other DAQ hardware to build complete stimulus-response test systems. It supports software trigger, external edge trigger and burst trigger modes for gated pulse output and single-shot waveform generation. The standard PCI form factor fits common industrial PC chassis and can be quickly installed into existing automated test stations.

This function generator card is widely used in passive component calibration, filter frequency response testing, sensor excitation, audio device performance verification, power circuit injection testing and laboratory educational measurement. It is driven by the NI-FGEN driver, compatible with LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI and C/C++ programming environments, supporting automatic sweep sequence setup, amplitude adjustment and marker signal configuration. As a legacy signal generation hardware, the PCI-5406 is mainly used for maintenance and replacement of old automated test platforms. It provides repeatable, stable analog excitation signals, preserves mature test procedures and avoids the high cost of redesigning the whole measurement framework. Its operating temperature range is 0°C to 55°C, supporting reliable continuous operation for laboratory and light industrial test tasks.