Pickering customises LXI microwave switch and signal routing
Custom-engineered LXI microwave switch and signal routing subsystems, created to customers’ specifications has been introduced in a turnkey service by Pickering Interfaces.
This service delivers cost-effective multiplexer, matrix and complex routing solutions, ready-to-use out of the box with a quick turnaround, says the company.
The supplier of modular signal switching and simulation solutions for electronic test and verification offers integrated microwave test packages which include switches, a dedicated soft front panel and all the wiring, in a suitable enclosure. The packages are supplied fully tested, with full documentation and a three-year warranty.
The service provides compact, rack-mounted, multiplexer, matrix and complex routing designs based on an industry-standard LXI/Ethernet interface, designed and manufactured by Pickering’s switching experts. Solutions are available with bandwidths from DC to 67GHz at 50Ohms, with terminated or unterminated options and bandwidths up to 2.5GHz at 75Ohms.
The cost-effective microwave switch subsystems are available on a fast turnaround, adds Pickering. They are documented to ensure performance repeatability when ordering additional systems and each includes a familiar programming environment using Pickering’s standard switch application programme interface (API) which supports all major test programming languages. It also helps to accelerate software integration, Pickering adds. For complex subsystems, Pickering’s Switch Path Manager signal routing software can be “significantly reduce integration time”.
Keith Moore, CEO, Pickering Interfaces, explains the reason for the introduction. “More and more, our customers ask for out-of-the-box solutions that are complete and ready-to-run with minimal fuss and set-up time.” The customer provides a configuration and specifications and Pickering’s engineers will work closely with the customer to provide “everything a microwave test engineer needs to get a complex microwave test system up and working the first time”.
Pickering can also turn a custom design into a commercial off the shelf (COTS) product, offering product support for more than 15 years.
Pickering Interfaces designs and manufactures modular signal switching and simulation for use in electronic test and verification. It offers switching and simulation products for PXI, LXI, and PCI applications, supported by cable and connector solutions, diagnostic test tools, application software and software drivers created by its in-house software team.
