A Real-Time Multi-Channel Signal Acquisition Card Based on PCI Express Interface

In this paper, we introduce a real-time multi-channel signal acquisition card based on PCI express interface and describe the design of direct memory access (DMA) data transfer system based on PCI-express windows driver model (WDM). The signal acquisition card contains a programmable FPGA logic and a PLX PCI express-to-PCI bridge. The solution to use a PLX PEX 8114 bridge external to the programmable FPGA logic allows to greatly simplifying projects at the level of the on-board local bus. We also compare the performance with another card which is based on PCI interface. Our result shows that PCI express interface can achieve significant performance benefit. The high performance, low cost, and easy connectivity of PCI express interface are ideal for many applications - especially those currently limited by the lack of high-speed interconnect.