advancedTCA extensions for instrumentation and test (AXIe)

With the AdvancedTCA Extensions for Instrumentation and Test (AXIe), the modular concept of the telecom platform, AdvacedTCA( ATCA), known from the telecom sector, is adapted to measurement technology. The initiator of this platform concept is the AXIe consortium, which consists of Aeroflex Corp, Agilent Technologies and Test Evolution Corp.

AXIe creates a broad approach to avoid incompatible single solutions. The three companies come from measurement and test engineering backgrounds and have some experience in the aforementioned areas.

AXIe is intended to create a universal platform for measurement, test and semiconductor test technology into which future hardware and software developments can be integrated. Existing ATCA components can be integrated as well as existing components from PCIExtension for Instrumentation( PXI), LAN Extensions for Instrumentation( LXI) and Interchangeable Virtual Instrument (LXI). AXIe represents a universal metrology platform with high scalability and modularity. The AXIe systems can be designed as racks with up to 14 vertically arranged slots, subracks with horizontal slots and as benchtop units with plug-in modules. The various modules can be plugged into the slots for PCI Express( PCIe). The AXIe system is based on ATCA PICMG 3.0.

General purpose instrumentation can be used with the AXIe system, as well as the functions of the local bus, trigger bus, a frequency reference, sync and trigger functions. There is a version 1.0 for general purpose instrumentation and version 1.1 for semiconductor testing.