Chelmsford, MA. Pickering Interfaces announced it will exhibit at SEMICON West July 10 to 12 in San Francisco, where the company will showcase its latest high-density PXI and Ethernet LXI switching and simulation solutions along with its signal-routing software. The company cited several products it will exhibit:
- Model 65-221 high-density modular LXI Ethernet reed-relay matrix. Originally designed to test semiconductors at wafer and package levels, this reed relay matrix combines the latest LXI chassis with new plug-in matrices. The range comprises four models covering matrices of up to 1,536 x 4 in increments of 128, 768 x 8 in increments of 64, 384 x 16 in increments of 32, and 192 x 32 in increments of 32. Users can specify as many or as few plug-ins (up to six) required and can field-upgrade the chassis to extend the matrix when necessary. Another important feature is that over 1,500 relays can be closed simultaneously for specific conditions for parametric testing. These plug-ins also offer built-in scan list sequence stores with triggering capability, providing users with the ability to set a series of up to 200,000 predetermined sequences on an LXI instrument. The sequences can be triggered by software or one of the sixteen DIO software configurable open collector triggers. They also feature multi-bus capability for parallel testing.
- Model 40-559 BRIC ultrahigh-density large PXI matrix modules. This range of large PXI matrices are robust 1-A/20-W switching modules, with up to 4,096 crosspoints. Constructed with the Pickering Electronics’ Series 120 4-mm x 4-mm reed relays, this new generation of 1-A PXI matrices delivers twice the density of competing large matrix modules, the company said. Available in 2-, 4-, or 8-slot PXI sizes, these PXI matrices enable a complete functional ATE system to be housed in a single 3U PXI chassis and allow the use of lower cost 8- or 14-slot PXI chassis. The range comes with Pickering’s Built-in Relay Self-Test (BIRST) and is also supported by eBIRST Switching System Test Tools. These tools provide a quick and simple way of finding relay failures within the modules.
- Model 40-297 PXI precision programmable resistor module. Designed as a simple solution for applications requiring accurate simulation of resistive sensors, this series includes 50 model configurations per platform and is also available in PCI form factor. Each version offers users the choice of channel count, range, and setting resolution. Units feature resolution from 0.125 Ω to 2 Ω and channel counts from 3 to 18’ and basic accuracy is 0.2% plus or minus the resolution.
All of Pickering’s PXI switching and simulation modules can be used in any PXI chassis and can be fitted to PXI hybrid slots in a PXIe chassis. They also can also be used in Pickering LXI Modular chassis for users preferring control via an Ethernet port, including Pickering’s USB/LXI chassis. The 4-slot USB/LXI modular chassis (60-105) complements Pickering’s 2-slot USB/LXI modular chassis in that they both offer a small, lightweight form factor suitable for portable, benchtop, and space-restrictive applications. These chassis are designed for desk or rack mounting and feature remote control via USB or LXI Ethernet. Remote control over a network enables the switching function of a test system to be located as close as possible to the target equipment. The 4-slot chassis supports between one and four Pickering 3U PXI modules. Possible systems include switching matrices up to 2,208 crosspoints or up to 72 channels of programmable resistor/sensor simulation.
Both the 2-slot and this new 4-slot chassis are USB 3-compatible and have a fully compliant LXI interface. These communications standards enable the chassis to be controlled directly through standard interfaces found on most personal computers and tablets that support HTML5, allowing for a practical route into a variety of applications in the modular test and measurement market.
In addition, Pickering Interfaces will highlight its Switch Path Manager signal-routing software, which simplifies signal routing through switching systems and speeds up the development of switching-system software. Switch Path Manager supports Pickering’s PXI, LXI, PCI, and GPIB switching modules and the interconnection between these products. Pickering will also highlight its eBIRST switching system test tools. Designed specifically for Pickering’s PXI, PCI, or LXI products, these tools simplify switching-system fault-finding by quickly testing the system and graphically identifying the faulty relay.
Commented Bob Stasonis, director of sales and marketing at Pickering Interfaces, “We offer a large range of switching and sensor simulation products—over 1,000 in PXI alone—that are tightly designed to meet the needs of functional test engineers. If we don’t have what you need, we will work to design a custom solution.”