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Modular Instrumentation Highlights
D Sargent- May 1, 2011
ADLink introduces PCIe digitizerThe PCIe-9842 PCI Express digitizer from ADLink is designed for applications such as LIDAR tests, optical fiber tests, and radar signal acquisition. The digitizer has a 200-Msamples/s sampling rate for 14 bits of data across one channel, and its 100-MHz bandwidth analog input is designed to receive ±1-V high-speed signals with 50-Ω impedance. As the PCIe-9842 converts a signal from analog to digital, it can transfer the data to the host-system memory at a rate of 400 Mbytes/s.
ADLink provides legacy drivers so users can develop applications with Microsoft C++ and Visual Basic. The company also provides a task-oriented driver (DAQPilot) for accelerating development. www.adlinktech.com.
Pickering expands RF switch family
Pickering Interfaces is expanding its range of PXI RF switches with the introduction of the 40-755 multiplexer. The 40-755, which supports up to 10 SP4T RF switches in a single module, is available in two versions.
The high-density version occupies one slot of a 3U PXI chassis and uses a multi-way connector that is suitable for switching frequencies to 500 MHz. A high-frequency version uses SMB connectors and is suited for switching signals to 1.8 GHz.
Pickering says the 40-755 is suitable for use in both commercial and military ATE systems. It can serve in PXI- and LXI-based systems that are replacing VXI-based military ATE systems that require large numbers of SP4T RF switch subassemblies. www.pickeringtest.com.
Microwave Office and VSS aid PXI design
AWR has announced that National Instruments employed AWR's Microwave Office and VSS (Visual System Simulator) software tools to optimize the performance of NI's 20-Hz-to-3.6-GHz downconverter, a key element used within NI's PXIe-5665 VSA (vector signal analyzer). Using the AWR tools, AWR reports, NI was able to optimize the downconverter and adhere to space constraints to develop the high-performance VSA. AWR's software tools allowed NI to model the downconverter within VSS and then select various components from Microwave Office's Modelithics library to ensure sufficient isolation and RF power.
"We have used AWR's Microwave Office and Visual System Simulator throughout the process of developing the PXIe-5665 VSA," said Jin Bains, R&D hardware director of RF products at National Instruments. "The tools are extremely intuitive, and they allow us to do critical RF design with a minimum number of iterations."
Bains (Ref. 1) noted that the AWR tools were helpful in designing a high-frequency filter that helped meet both size and performance requirements. He added that NI relied on Microwave Office software to design bias networks for RF amplifiers used in the downconverter, providing sufficient bandwidth while offering adequate RF isolation, all without wasting DC power or generating excessive heat. He also said that the design flow process converged in a few steps and resulted in minimal EM simulation time, resulting in a minimum number of design spins.
REFERENCE
1. Bains, Jin, "National Instruments Uses AWR Software with Confidence in the Design of High-Performance Vector Signal Analyzer," Microwave Office Success Stories, AWR. web.awrcorp.com/Usa/Success-Stories/Microwave-Office/National-Instruments.
Microwave Office and VSS aid PXI design
AWR has announced that National Instruments employed AWR's Microwave Office and VSS (Visual System Simulator) software tools to optimize the performance of NI's 20-Hz-to-3.6-GHz downconverter, a key element used within NI's PXIe-5665 VSA (vector signal analyzer). Using the AWR tools, AWR reports, NI was able to optimize the downconverter and adhere to space constraints to develop the high-performance VSA. AWR's software tools allowed NI to model the downconverter within VSS and then select various components from Microwave Office's Modelithics library to ensure sufficient isolation and RF power.
"We have used AWR's Microwave Office and Visual System Simulator throughout the process of developing the PXIe-5665 VSA," said Jin Bains, R&D hardware director of RF products at National Instruments. "The tools are extremely intuitive, and they allow us to do critical RF design with a minimum number of iterations."
Bains (Ref. 1) noted that the AWR tools were helpful in designing a high-frequency filter that helped meet both size and performance requirements. He added that NI relied on Microwave Office software to design bias networks for RF amplifiers used in the downconverter, providing sufficient bandwidth while offering adequate RF isolation, all without wasting DC power or generating excessive heat. He also said that the design flow process converged in a few steps and resulted in minimal EM simulation time, resulting in a minimum number of design spins.
REFERENCE
1. Bains, Jin, "National Instruments Uses AWR Software with Confidence in the Design of High-Performance Vector Signal Analyzer," Microwave Office Success Stories, AWR. web.awrcorp.com/Usa/Success-Stories/Microwave-Office/National-Instruments.
