As operating frequencies evolve to increasingly higher levels, more Pickering RF and microwave switching solutions will support 110 GHz to meet the latest RF testing requirements.
The 40-781A-92x (PXI) and 42-781A-92x (PXIe) modules consist of a single or dual microwave switching payload, capable of switching up to 110 GHz into 50 Ω. They are available with external terminations, and connections are made via high-quality SMA 1.0 connectors mounted on the front panel. Externally terminated switches offer the advantage that the user-accessible terminations can be removed and replaced with higher-power RF loads to increase signal levels. This switching topology flexibility also allows for alternative configurations to alter switching functionality, such as 4-port terminated bypass (1 termination removed) and 5-port DP3T bypass (both terminations removed).
The 40/42-781A-92x range incorporates latching relays, which minimizes heating effects when the switches are activated (compared to fail-safe switches), as only a pulsed signal is required for operation (since the latching relay contacts retain their last set state when power is removed). The LED indicator provides clear visual confirmation of the switch status, a useful feature for verifying system operation.
Steve Edwards, Switching Product Manager at Pickering, commented: "These new 40/42-781A-92x modules are particularly applicable to emerging microwave technologies, such as automotive radars, as well as radar and satellite testing applications or short-range terrestrial secure communications. Although designed for microwave applications, the modules also have many uses across the RF spectrum where extremely low insertion loss and ultra-high isolation are critical. They can also be used at lower frequencies where power handling of up to 35 W (without termination) is required."
An integrated relay cycle counting function enables proactive monitoring of module health for predictive maintenance of the test system. The number of operations per contact is stored in the module and can be used to determine if a relay is nearing the end of its service life. This information could allow for a review of system connections so that signals applied to frequently used contacts are swapped with those of infrequently used contacts, thus extending the relays' lifespan.
The 40/42-781A-92x series is supplied with drivers that enable compatibility with all common software programming environments. Regarding operating systems, all Microsoft-compatible versions of Windows and popular Linux distributions are supported, as well as other real-time hardware-in-the-loop (HiL) tools.
More information : https://www.pickeringtest.com/
