cRIO Sync Toolkit

The cRIO GPS Syncronization Toolkit (cRIO GST) provides a time synchronization between distributed CompactRIO^TM systems, based on the GPS time signal with an accuracy of some microseconds.

CompactRIO systems are often used for distributed measurement systems, where the correlation of measurement data is essential for evaluation. The internal time source of a CompactRIO system is based on a crystal and thus affected by temperature which produces a time drift.

A possibility to synchronise CompactRIO systems is the GPS system. Besides the exact geo position also a very accurate time stamp, as well as a pulse signal is provided, which deviates only few microseconds between distributed systems. With this information and the exact pulse signal as a trigger, it is possible that different CompactRIO systems can be synchronized among each other, without the necessity of a wire in between – just by GPS.

The GPS Synchronization Toolkit uses the GPS time signals for precise timing calculation. Based on the internal 40 MHz signal of the cRIO FPGA and the GPS time clock, an exact system time is calculated. This system time is resynchronized with every new GPS pulse; this makes sure that everyCompactRIO system has  exactly the same time information. In addition the toolkit provides an exact adjustable acquisition trigger signal, which can be used to acquire measurement signals within each system with high stability.