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The ability to put the stimulus
and measurement instruments
where they are needed — with
minimal or no cabling back to
the core of the system — is a
feature unique to LXI. Modules
such as the Agilent L4400A
series are designed for this
type of remote or distributed
application (Figure 6).
Another factor that favors LXI
is remote debugging and trouble-
shooting. Service technicians
with remote access privileges
can diagnose a test system from
practically anywhere using a Web
browser. If a LAN-connected
webcam is added to the system,
the remote technician can even
see what is happening as they
troubleshoot.
Figure 6. LXI-based switching modules enable the creation of powerful remote test systems.
9.
IEEE-1588 synchronization
In high-volume production
lines, the ability to shave even
one second of test time per
module may be worth thousands
of dollars. In such cases, any
change to hardware or software
that causes an increase in test
execution time is unacceptable.
LXI addresses test time
through extensive triggering
capabilities, beginning with
a standardized trigger bus in
Class A LXI instruments. LXI
also provides a new way to
improve test execution time:
self-triggered measurements
based on a precise real-time
clock are synchronized from
instrument to instrument. With
this capability, measurements
can be performed without
intervention from the host
computer, minimizing or even
eliminating trigger wiring in a
test system and reducing I/O
4
bottlenecks.
7
Conclusion
LXI is built for the long
haul and is well-suited to
automotive electronic test.
Its main benefits are in cost,
scalability and ease-of-use,
but LXI also offers advantages
in performance, longevity,
flexibility, synchronization
and rack space. More informa-
tion is available online at
www.lxistandard.org and
www.agilent.com/find/lxi.
References
1. LXI ConneXion, April 2006,
Stefan Kopp; available from
www.lxiconnexion.com
2. LAN latency issue, The Appli-
cation of IEEE 1588 to Test
and Measurement Systems
by John C. Eidson; available
from www.lxistandard.org
3. Agilent application note
A Comparison Between PXI
and the Agilent 34980A for
Switch/Measure Applications
shows a 40 percent savings;
publication number
5989-5852EN available
from www.agilent.com
4. Online article, "Making High
Speed Measurements Through
Triggering," available from
www.agilent.com
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