Nicslab XSOM-CORE System-on-Module for Driving Photonic Integrated Circuits

XSOM-CORE is a System-on-Module (SoM) for precision control and measurement of Photonic Integrated Circuits (PICs). All signal and power connections are brought out on a single 262-pin SO-DIMM connector, which mates with a carrier board that supplies power and routes signals to the device under test (DUT).

The module provides 16 voltage output channels with selectable bipolar (±5 V, ±10 V, ±20 V) or unipolar (0–5 V, 0–10 V, 0–20 V) ranges, driven by a 16-bit DAC with update rates up to 100 kHz per channel. Sixteen programmable current-limited output channels support current limits up to 300 mA per channel, also at 16-bit resolution and 100 kHz update rate.

For signal acquisition, XSOM-CORE includes 16 single-ended analog inputs (0–10 V) and 16 differential analog inputs (±0.1 V differential, 0–10 V common-mode), each with 16-bit ADC resolution and sampling rates up to 100 kHz. Host communication uses a standard Ethernet interface.

Carrier board integration

XSOM-CORE is used together with a carrier board that forms the basis of a complete system. The carrier board powers the module and can act as a passive interface routing signals to the DUT, as an active expansion platform adding peripherals, connectivity or I/O, or both. The module is intended for industrial, laboratory, and test-and-measurement applications.