Overview and Applications

National Instruments 612x and 613x devices combine the latest in

PC technologies to deliver simultaneous sampling for high-channel-

count, high-speed applications. Use these modules in a variety of

applications, including:

• IF digitization

• Transient recording

• ISDN, ADSL, and POTS manufacturing test in the telecom industry

• Ultrasound and sonar testing

• High-energy physics

Features

These devices fall under the NI S Series product family. The “S”

stands for simultaneous sampling, as this is the most apparent

benefit of the dedicated analog-to-digital (A/D) converter per

channel architecture. However, the architecture has other less

obvious but very important advantages.

More Data Throughput – The dedicated A/D converter per channel

architecture provides a much higher aggregate sampling rate

compared to traditional multiplexed data acquisition devices.

Traditional multiplexed data acquisition devices share one A/D converter

among multiple channels, keeping the aggregate data throughput

constant, regardless of the number of active channels. S Series

aggregate data throughput increases linearly with the number of

active channels.

Better Dynamic Specifications – The analog input path on S Series

devices is tuned for both accurate DC and dynamic measurements,

compared to traditional multiplexed data acquisition devices that

suffer from settling time and distortion error created by switching

the input channel. Traditional multiplexed data acquisition devices

are ideal for DC measurements, but are not the best solution for

dynamic measurements.

Many Input Ranges – You can configure each analog input channel to

use one of several voltage ranges. Make the most of your input

resolution by selecting among the four voltage ranges offered by the

NI 612x and 613x devices.

Large Onboard Memory – NI 6123 and NI 6133 devices feature a 16 or

32 MS onboard memory while the NI 6122 and NI 6132 devices

feature a 16 MS memory. With deep onboard memory, capture high-

bandwidth signals over long periods of time, regardless of

bus limitations.

S Series Multifunction DAQ – up to 16-Bit,

up to 3 MS/s per Channel, up to 8 Analog Inputs

Input

Family

Bus

Analog Inputs

Resolution (bits)

Sampling Rate

Input Ranges

Digital I/O

Counter/Timers

Trigger

NI 6123

PCI, PXI

8

16

500 kS/s per channel

4

8 @ 10 MHz

2, 24-bit

Analog, digital

NI 6122

PCI, PXI

4

16

500 kS/s per channel

4

8 @ 10 MHz

2, 24-bit

Analog, digital

NI 6133

PCI, PXI

8

14

4

8 @ 10 MHz

2, 24-bit

Analog, digital

NI 6132

PCI, PXI

4

14

4

8 @ 10 MHz

2, 24-bit

Analog, digital

Table 1. Channel, Speed, and Resolution Specifications

NI 6123, NI 6122, NI 6133, NI 6132

• 4 or 8 simultaneous-sampling

differential analog inputs

• 14- or 16-bit resolution

maximum sampling rate

• 4 analog input ranges

• Deep onboard memory –

16 or 32 MS

• 8 digital I/O lines

(5 V/TTL/CMOS);

two 24-bit counter/timers

• Digital and analog triggering

• Measurement services that simplify

configuration and measurements

Operating Systems

• Windows 2000/NT/XP

Recommended NI Software

• LabVIEW 7.x or higher

• LabWindows/CVI 7.x or higher

• Measurement Studio 7.x or higher

• Digital Waveform Editor

• SignalExpress 1.x or higher

Other Compatible Software

• VI Logger 2.x or higher

• Visual Studio .NET

• Visual Basic, C/C++, and C#

Measurement Services

Software (included)

• NI-DAQmx driver

• Measurement & Automation

Explorer configuration utility

• VI Logger Lite data-logging software

Calibration Certificate Available