The
new MI-788 Networked Acquisition Controller (NAC ) is designed to optimize and
reduce the overhead time that instruments and network components require for
handshaking, coordinating, triggering and data flow in test systems. The MI-788
NAC streamlines the cycle of triggering and data flow among instruments for
higher throughput and faster data collection. The NAC is specifically designed
to work with network analyzers and the MI Technologies family of microwave
receivers.Marion Baggett, Manager, Applications and Systems Engineering at MI Technologies, said, "The typical antenna test and measurement system has a variety of instruments that need to talk to each other in order to acquire and process data. The time it takes for all of these instruments to acknowledge each other in the system and coordinate data collection is the overhead. The MI-788 NAC delivers significant improvement in antenna test and measurement systems by streamlining and reducing the amount of overhead required to acquire and process measurements."
The MI-788 NAC manages the position trigger from the position controller, the external trigger to the receiver and the "measurement done" signal from the receiver. This optimizes the triggering cycle among these different instruments for high throughput timing and data collection.
Baggett added, "In maximizing acquisition throughput, the NAC buffers acquisition data, provides external RF multiplexer control switching and device-under-test beam steering control in a single acquisition trigger sequence. Multiple axis position data information can be recorded during measurements using the high speed position data. This data can be recorded at each receiver measurement providing additional measurement system accuracy."
Click here to download the MI-788 NAC data sheet.