Detailed Specifications of NI PXIe-6358 Multifunction DAQ Module
The NI PXIe-6358 is a high-performance multifunction data acquisition (DAQ) module designed for the PXI Express (PXIe) bus architecture, belonging to National Instruments (NI)’s X-Series—engineered for high-speed, high-resolution measurement and control. Its key advantages include 24-bit analog input resolution, 1.25 MS/s single-channel sampling rate, and the high bandwidth of PXIe (up to 8 GB/s per slot), making it ideal for precision-critical applications such as scientific research, industrial process monitoring, and high-speed automated testing.
1. Basic Information
- Module Series: X-Series Multifunction DAQ, optimized for PXI Express bus
- Part Number: 781063-01 (standard model); 781063-02 (extended temperature model)
- Physical Dimensions: 1-slot 3U PXIe form factor, 10.0 cm × 16.0 cm (width × length)
- Weight: Approximately 6.0 ounces (0.17 kg)
- Interface Type: 68-pin VHDCI (Very High-Density Cable Interconnect) connector; PXIe x1 lane for high-speed data transfer
- Operating Temperature Range:
- Commercial grade: 0°C ~ 55°C
- Extended grade (model 781063-02): -40°C ~ 85°C (for harsh environments)
- Shock Resistance: 100 g peak (11 ms duration)
- Vibration Resistance: 5 g RMS (10 Hz ~ 500 Hz)
- Ingress Protection: IP30 (prevents solid foreign object intrusion)
- Compliance: Meets FCC Part 15 Class A, CE EN 61326-1, UL 61010-1, and IEC 61010-1 safety & EMC standards
2. Core Technical Specifications
2.1 Analog Input
- 16 single-ended channels / 8 differential channels (software-selectable)
- Supports Referenced Single-Ended (RSE), Non-Referenced Single-Ended (NRSE), and Differential (DIFF) modes
- Resolution: 24-bit SAR ADC (Successive Approximation Register), no missing codes (differential nonlinearity: ±0.5 LSB)
- Single-channel: Up to 1.25 MS/s (mega samples per second)
- Multi-channel (8 differential): 1.0 MS/s aggregate (synchronized multiplexing)
- Input Ranges: 8 software-switchable ranges for versatile signal capture:
- ±500 mV, ±200 mV, ±100 mV, ±50 mV
- Integral Nonlinearity (INL): ±1 LSB (maximum)
- Noise: 3.5 μVrms (at ±10 V range, 10 Hz ~ 100 kHz bandwidth)
- Common-Mode Rejection Ratio (CMRR): 100 dB (DC ~ 60 Hz)
- Input Impedance: 10 GΩ (parallel with 100 pF)
- Overvoltage Protection: ±30 V (powered on), ±15 V (powered off)
- Memory Buffer: 16,384-sample FIFO (First-In-First-Out) buffer, reducing CPU load during high-volume data acquisition
2.2 Analog Output
- Channel Count: 2 independent analog output channels
- Resolution: 16-bit DAC (Digital-to-Analog Converter), integral nonlinearity: ±1 LSB
- Update Rate: Up to 2.86 MS/s per channel (supports high-speed waveform generation)
- Output Range: ±10 V (standard), output current: ±5 mA continuous per channel; ±20 mA peak (short-circuit limited)
- Performance: Offset error ±2 mV (typical), gain error ±0.1% of full scale (typical), output impedance 0.1 Ω (typical)
2.3 Digital I/O
- Channel Configuration: 24 bidirectional digital I/O lines (5 V TTL/CMOS-compatible)
- Drive Capability: 24 mA sink/source current per line (sufficient for industrial-grade components)
- Timing: 20 MHz internal clock, supporting digital signal sampling/generation up to 10 MHz
- Software-configurable input/output direction per line
- Supports digital triggering, correlated I/O (synchronized with analog I/O), and pattern generation
- Built-in debouncing filters (10 ns ~ 1 ms) to suppress electrical noise
2.4 Counter/Timer
- Configuration: 2 independent 32-bit counters/timers with 80 MHz base clock
- Event counting (up to 10 MHz input frequency)
- Frequency/period measurement (resolution: 50 ns)
- Pulse width modulation (PWM)
- Time-interval measurement (resolution: 50 ns)
- Pulse generation (custom duty cycle: 0.1% ~ 99.9%)
2.5 Synchronization & Triggering (PXIe Advantage)
- Bus Bandwidth: PXIe x1 lane provides up to 8 GB/s data transfer (vs. 132 MB/s for legacy PXI), enabling real-time streaming of large datasets
- PXIe Star Trigger: Nanosecond-level clock synchronization across multiple PXIe modules (e.g., multiple PXIe-6358 units)
- Trigger Lines: 8 dedicated PXIe trigger lines for module-to-module coordination
- External Clock Input: 0.1 Hz ~ 10 MHz external clock for system-wide timing alignment
- Analog Edge Trigger: Rising/falling edge with adjustable threshold (±10 V range)
- Digital Edge Trigger: TTL-compatible edge on digital I/O or PXIe trigger lines
- Software Trigger: API-initiated trigger for automated workflows
3. Software & Driver Support
- Recommended Drivers: NI-DAQmx 15.0 and above (required for full PXIe feature access, including high-speed DMA)
- Programming Compatibility:
- NI Ecosystem: Fully integrated with LabVIEW (2015+), LabWindows/CVI (2015+), and Measurement Studio (2015+); includes pre-built VIs for data acquisition, waveform analysis, and instrument control
- Third-Party Languages: Supports C/C++, C#, Python (via pyDAQmx bindings), and MATLAB (via NI-DAQmx Toolbox); compatible with test automation frameworks (e.g., NI TestStand)
- Calibration: Built-in NI-MCal (Modular Calibration) technology, automatically compensating for nonlinearity and temperature drift. Recommended calibration interval: 2 years.
- Diagnostics: Real-time self-test (signal path verification, clock integrity check), error logging, and noise monitoring via driver APIs
4. Typical Application Scenarios
The NI PXIe-6358’s 24-bit resolution and PXIe speed make it ideal for:
- Scientific Research: Low-noise measurement of weak signals (e.g., biomedical EEG/ECG, particle detector outputs)
- Industrial Process Control: High-precision monitoring of temperature, pressure, and flow in semiconductor fabs or chemical plants
- Automotive Testing: Calibration of ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) sensors (e.g., LiDAR, radar) and battery cell voltage measurement
- Aerospace & Defense: Avionics system testing (flight control sensor signal acquisition) and missile guidance component validation (extended temperature model)
- Electronics Validation: High-speed testing of precision analog components (e.g., op-amps, ADCs/DACs) and IoT sensor modules
5. Selection & Compatibility Notes
- Ideal Use Cases: Applications requiring 24-bit high resolution, 1.25 MS/s sampling rate, and PXIe high-bandwidth data transfer; suitable for noise-sensitive or high-speed measurement tasks
- Comparison with Legacy Models:
- vs. NI PXI-6259 (M-Series): PXIe-6358 offers 24-bit resolution (vs. 16-bit) and PXIe bus (vs. PXI), but fewer analog outputs (2 vs. 4); choose for precision over channel count
- vs. NI PXIe-6368 (X-Series): PXIe-6358 has lower sampling rate (1.25 MS/s vs. 2 MS/s) but lower cost; ideal for mid-speed precision applications
- Chassis Compatibility: Works with all NI PXIe chassis (e.g., PXIe-1075, PXIe-1082) and third-party PXIe-compliant chassis; backward compatible with hybrid PXI/PXIe chassis
- Signal Conditioning: Pair with NI SCC-68 or SCXI-1125 modules for amplification, filtering, or isolation (e.g., SCXI-1144 for 2500 Vrms isolation in high-noise environments)
- Limitations: Non-isolated analog channels (avoid use in high-voltage systems >30 V); 2 analog outputs (insufficient for multi-channel control needs)
- More Analog Outputs: NI PXIe-6363 (4 analog outputs, 1.25 MS/s)
- Higher Sampling Rate: NI PXIe-6368 (2 MS/s, 24-bit)
- Isolated Channels: NI PXIe-6378 (250 Vrms isolated analog inputs)
