Pickering Interfaces to Showcase Modular Test Solutions at Electronica 2024
Pickering Interfaces will present advanced PXI/PXIe and LXI switching and simulation tools, including a next-gen PXIe embedded controller and enhanced Microwave Switch Design Tool, designed to streamline electronic testing and verification.
Pickering Interfaces will showcase its range of industry-standard modular PXI/PXIe and LXI signal switching and simulation products for electronic test and verification – including a new single-slot PXIe embedded controller and the recently released updated version of its Microwave Switch Design Tool – on stand #240 in Hall A3 at electronica, taking place from November 12th to 15th, at Messe München in Munich, Germany.
Every two years, the electronics industry comes together at electronica in Munich, Germany. For 60 years, the world's leading trade fair for the electronics industry has showcased rapid technological development across all sectors, from semiconductors and components to assemblies and systems. 70,000 visitors from more than 100 countries will meet with 3,000 exhibitors across 18 halls and over 90,000 m2 of exhibition space. Conferences and forums provide in-depth insights into the latest research and application trends – from automation to electromobility and smart energy. And this year, the show’s theme is how electronics, from AI to green tech and smart cities to wireless, is paving the way for a sustainable, liveable future – the All Electric Society.
“Our modular switching and simulation products are based on familiar open industry standards that ensure long-term availability, shorten development time, and ultimately speed time-to-market,” said Steve Edwards, Switching Product Manager at Pickering. “With expert-level knowledge in architecting switching and simulation systems, we help our customers achieve their test objectives efficiently and deliver products with intuitive tools to enhance development teams’ design efforts and productivity. The result is scalable COTS test systems that can be optimized to meet their needs today and in the future.”
Pickering will launch its next generation Xeon PXIe embedded controller at the show – the most compact and powerful 3U one-slot embedded controller available for the PXI Express platform. Powered by an 11th generation Intel Xeon processor, combined with 64 GB DDR4 memory, and with up to 28 GB/s system throughput, the controller will easily support high bandwidth test and measurement applications with future-ready PCIe Gen4 and 10GBASE-T interconnectivity.
The company will also showcase the latest version of its Microwave Switch Design Tool (MSDT) – a free online tool for configuring PXI and LXI RF and microwave switching subsystems with just a few clicks – which was recently updated to add schematic design and simulation capabilities. The latest iteration of this web-based tool accelerates the design to production process – from block diagram to mechanical layout – minimizing risk by enabling engineers to design custom RF switching subsystems with an immediate visual indication of electrical performance.
Also on display will be a prototype of a new 12-slot LXI/USB chassis, scheduled for release in early 2025. With 12 slots in a 2U form factor, engineers can fit up to 24 PXI or PXIe switching, simulation and instrumentation modules in a 4U rack, providing a distinct advantage over traditional PXI chassis. Additionally, the chassis includes a removable embedded controller and power supply. Its USB-compatible and LXI-compliant interfaces facilitate direct control through standard interfaces available on most PCs, providing a cost-effective entry point into modular test and measurement applications.
Alongside these technologies, Pickering will also showcase the following switching, simulation, and software products on stand #A3.240 at electronica 2024:
- A PXI-based BMS (battery management system) test demo, combining multi-cell battery simulators with other switching and simulation modules
- Turnkey LXI microwave switch and signal routing subsystems
- A range of PXI switching and simulation modules, including high density BRIC switching matrices, high voltage multiplexers, RF switching, and digital I/O
- PXI fault insertion modules – for simulation of fault conditions in automotive/avionics applications, including reliability testing of safety critical controllers
- PXI programmable resistor modules – for simulating sensors in control and management systems under test, allowing users to verify system response
- PXI high channel count microwave multiplexer range offering bandwidth up to 40GHz
- Configurable PXI microwave switch platform that allows RF engineers to combine a wide range of high-performance relay types while minimizing chassis slot usage
- Switch Path Manager (SPM) signal routing and Cable Design Tool (CDT) software.
