Pickering UK Launches Industry's First PXI/PXIe Microwave Relay Module with 110 GHz Signal Switching
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Update time : 2023-06-30 09:22:03
Pickering Interfaces, a global provider of modular signal switching and simulation solutions for electronic test and verification, today announced a new PXI/PXIe microwave relay module with 110 GHz signal switching for demanding RF and communications applications, including emerging technologies such as automotive radar. The new product was presented at the IMS (International Microwave Symposium). This new SPDT with termination is the first switch module in Pickering's microwave switch product family to offer 110 GHz switching capability with the highest RF switching performance of any existing switch system from Pickering. As operating frequencies become higher, more of Pickering's RF and microwave switching solutions will support 110 GHz to meet the latest RF test requirements.
The 40-781A-92x (PXI) and 42-781A-92x (PXIe) modules contain one or two microwave transfer switch units capable of switching frequencies up to 110GHz at 50Ω. These modules support external termination and are connected via front panel mounted, high quality SMA 1.0 connectors. The advantage of externally terminated switches is that users can adjust the terminator performance as needed, replacing it with a higher power RF load to improve signal quality. This flexible switch topology also allows for use in reconfiguring and changing switch functions such as terminated 4-port bypass (removing 1 terminator) and 5-port DP3T (removing both terminators). The 40/42-781A-92x series features a self-locking relay that requires only a pulse signal to operate (when powered off, the contacts of the self-locking relay remain in their last set state when powered on), thus minimizing the thermal effect of the switch when powered on (compared to a power-down reset switch). LED indicators are provided so that the user can clearly observe and confirm the switch status - useful for verifying system operation. Steve Edwards, Pickering's switch product manager, explains the new products: "These new 40/42-781A-92x modules are particularly well suited to emerging microwave technologies, in addition to radar and satellite or short-range land-based secure communications test applications, such as automotive radar testing. While these modules are designed for microwave applications, they also have many uses across the RF spectrum, such as applications requiring extremely low insertion loss and ultra-high isolation. These modules can also be used at lower frequencies, such as applications requiring load power up to 35W (unterminated)." The on-board relay cycle counting feature allows proactive "health" monitoring of the module for predictive maintenance of the test system. Data on 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 life. This information can be referenced to modify the system connections to exchange signals on frequently used contacts with signals on lightly used contacts to extend the operating life of the relay. The 40/42-781A-92x series comes with drivers that can be used in all major software programming environments. In terms of operating systems, all current versions of Microsoft Windows and major Linux versions are supported, as well as other real-time hardware-in-the-loop (HiL) tools.
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