As an established engineering company specializing in switching and simulation solutions for test and measurement, we’ve encountered numerous challenges and strategies that can significantly impact the effectiveness of testing systems. In this article, I want to share some best practices that we’ve found specifically vital for RF and microwave switching and signal routing.
Understanding the Challenges
One of the first hurdles we face in designing automated production testing systems for our RF and microwave switch products is the complexity of the signals we work with. High frequencies and power levels can introduce issues such as signal loss and interference, which can compromise the accuracy of our tests. Selecting components that can handle these demands while maintaining signal integrity is crucial.
Another challenge is resource management. Developing automated test equipment (ATE) can significantly drain engineering resources, pulling us away from our core product development tasks. It’s essential to balance creating effective testing solutions and ensuring that our primary projects continue to progress.
RF & Microwave Testing Options
- COTS Modular-Based Subsystems: These systems use open platform, industry-standard, commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components to build a flexible and customizable solution. Frequency ranges run from 100MHz to 110 GHz, and this option can be particularly advantageous if your engineering team is already familiar with industry-standard PXI/PXIe chassis and backplane systems. It also allows for easy integration of additional modules as testing needs evolve.
- Flexible PXI & LXI Products: These flexible, configurable PXI and rack-mount LXI microwave switch solutions may be specified with a mix of high-performance microwave relays up to 110 GHz bandwidth at 50Ω impedance or up to 2.5 GHz at 75Ω impedance and a range of connector types. LXI (LAN eXtensions for Instrumentation) products offer a straightforward Ethernet-based connection scheme, and are ideal for setups where ease of connection is a priority.
- Turnkey LXI Systems: These turnkey LXI microwave switch subsystems are designed for applications with critical performance and relatively static configuration. They require close collaboration with product teams to ensure the signal routing meets specific requirements. While they may not offer the same level of reconfigurability as modular systems, they can deliver optimal performance for highly defined testing scenarios.
With each of these three options for building out your system, you’ll need to balance the amount of functionality you build vs. buying outright. Where internal resources are available, the learning curve and expertise required to spec out, design, and validate an optimized RF/Microwave switching system can be frustrating and time-consuming, to say the least. Issues to consider include the types of relays, length and types of cabling, performance characteristics, longevity, documentation, flexibility, cost and more.
Enter Pickering’s Microwave Switch Design Tool (MSDT)
If only there was a free online tool that could help engineers graphically design, simulate, and model PXI and LXI microwave switching systems up to 110 GHz, featuring low VSWR (Voltage Standing Wave Ratio), high isolation, low loss, and high-power handling. It would also be great if this graphical tool makes comprehensive customization for varios components like relays, connectors, and cables, with LED relay switch path indication, custom labeling and documentation easy to achieve. And, if engineering teams could collaborate on the design schema, simulate performance, and adjust the design before producing the first unit, that would be a game changer.
Well, Pickering Interfaces has just released a tool that accomplishes all these tasks and supports the creation of flexible and turnkey RF and microwave switching solutions, vastly simplifying the development process and reducing time to market and cost.
Making the Right Choice
Now, regarding your choice between COTS modular-based systems, flexible PXI & LXI products, and turnkey LXI systems, deciding between the three options available often comes down to the specific needs of your project. If you anticipate needing to reconfigure your system frequently, a COTS modular-based subsystem might be the best fit. On the other hand, if your application requires a more static setup, a turnkey system could be better for you.
When considering whether to build or buy a turnkey project, weigh your team’s expertise and capacity against the potential risks. Building in-house can provide a tailored solution, but it can also divert resources from other critical projects. Purchasing a turnkey solution can help mitigate risks and ensure a reliable and enduring system without overextending your team. Pickering offers free long-term, worldwide applications support for standard and custom designs with 3-year product warranties, alleviating the need for additional design and validation due to future component obsolescence.
Conclusion
Navigating the landscape of RF and microwave testing requires careful consideration of the challenges and available options. By understanding the strengths and limitations of each approach, you can make informed decisions that enhance testing capabilities and accelerate your design to production process while focusing on your core engineering tasks and mitigating obsolescence risk. I hope these insights help you in your journey to develop effective RF and microwave testing systems.
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RF & Microwave Test: What is the Optimum Strategy? today.
