Microwave Journal
www.microwavejournal.com/articles/27130-pickering-interfaces-microwave-switching-solutions-on-display-at-edi-con-usa

Pickering Interfaces' microwave switching solutions on display at EDI CON USA

September 15, 2016

Pickering Interfaces will showcase their broad range of PXI and LXI RF & Microwave switching solutions, along with their soon-to-be-released 2-slot USB/LXI Modular Chassis and LXI Simulation Tool at EDI CON USA 2016, Booth 822 taking place September 20-22 in Boston, Mass.

2-slot USB/LXI Modular Chassis– This new chassis offers a small, lightweight form factor, making it ideal for portable, benchtop and space restrictive applications. It supports one or two 3U PXI modules and accepts the majority of Pickering’s PXI products. The USB compatible and LXI compliant interfaces enable the chassis to be controlled directly through standard interfaces found on most personal computers—allowing for a very cost effective route into the modular test and measurement market.

LXI Simulation Tool–This simple and highly portable tool provides users with a simple and highly portable platform for application development. Supported products include Pickering Interfaces’ PXI & LXI switching modules as well as partial support of their PXI simulation and instrumentation products. This tool allows programmers to develop and debug test code for Pickering's LXI switching devices prior to receiving the devices or before installing the LXI switching in a test system.

Pickering’s RF & Microwave Switching solutions range from low-level DC signals to RF and Microwave. These switching solutions can be used to increase the flexibility of Test and Measurement systems with signal bandwidths up to 65GHz. Configurations available within their PXI and LXI platforms include multiplexers, matrices, transfer switches and general-purpose switches. These RF & Microwave switching solutions include:

PXI RF Multiplexers (series 40-760)– this new range of RF Multiplexers is available in the following configurations: dual, quad and octal 4 to 1, single, dual and quad 8 to 1, single and dual 16 to 1 and single 32 to 1. All of the multiplexers have versions with automatic terminations to manage VSWR effects, which could degrade the performance of a test system.

PXI Microwave Multiplexers (40-785B)– designed for switching 50Ω signals up to 40GHz. They are available as a single or dual 6 to 1 multiplexers with relays mounted on the front panel. The single slot version can support up to three supplied remotely mounted multiplexers.

PXI Microwave Multiplexers (40-784A)– support 4 to 1 or 6to 1 multiplexers in single, dual or triple formats. They are characterized for 6GHz, 18GHz, 26.5GHz, or 40GHz and have excellent performance throughout their frequency range. All models occupy just two 3U PXI slots.

All of these new and improved microwave switch modules include visual indicators of the relay setting thru the use of blue LEDs that indicate when a normally open path has been closed. These indicators are provided as an aid to help the user with visual checking of routing during system debug phase of test system development.

LXI Microwave Multiplexer (60-800) – this range of multiplexers is designed for switching 50Ω signals up to 26.5GHz. With the capability of supporting up to 16 banks of 6 to 1 multiplexers—it is ideal for constructing complex microwave switching systems for many applications.

Also highlighted in the booth will be their eBIRST Switching System Test Tools. These tools, designed specifically for Pickering’s PXI, PCI or LXI products, simplify switching system faultfinding by quickly testing the system and graphically identifying the faulty relays.

Pickering will also be showing a range of LXI and PXI switching, PXI chassis and PXI battery simulators.

Pickering Interfaces stands behind all of their manufactured products with a standard three-year warranty and guaranteed long-term product support. Pricing and availability information is supplied on their web site at www.pickeringtest.com.