Pickering Pxi 41-182A User manual

Page (1)
50Ω 6GHz SOLID STATE ATTENUATOR 41-182A
pickering
Issue 1.1 February 2019
User Manual
50Ω 6GHz Solid State Attenuator
(Model No. 41-182A)
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Page (II) 50Ω 6GHz SOLID STATE ATTENUATOR 41-182A
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Page (II) REED RELAY MODULE 40-110/115/120/125
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© COPYRIGHT (2019) PICKERING INTERFACES. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, transcribed, translated or stored in any form, or by
any means without the written permission of Pickering Interfaces.
Technical details contained within this publication are subject to change without notice.
ISO 9001
Reg No. FM38792

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REED RELAY MODULE 40-110/115/120/125
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TECHNICAL SUPPORT
For Technical Support please contact Pickering Interfaces either by phone, the website or via e-mail.
WARRANTY
All products manufactured by Pickering Interfaces are warranted against defective materials and workmanship for a period of
three years, excluding programmable power supplies, from the date of delivery to the original purchaser. Any product found to be
defective within this period will, at the discretion of Pickering Interfaces be repaired or replaced.
Products serviced and repaired outside of the warranty period are warranted for ninety days.
Extended warranty and service are available. Please contact Pickering Interfaces by phone, the website or via e-mail.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
Pickering Interfaces operates under an environmental management system similar to ISO 14001.
Pickering Interfaces strives to full all relevant environmental laws and regulations and reduce wastes and releases to the
environment. Pickering Interfaces aims to design and operate products in a way that protects the environment and the health and
safety of its employees, customers and the public. Pickering Interfaces endeavours to develop and manufacture products that can
be produced, distributed, used and recycled, or disposed of, in a safe and environmentally friendly manner.
Worldwide Technical Support and Product Information
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Germany
Tel: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
Sweden
Tel: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
USA
Tel: (West) [phone]
Tel: (East) [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
Czech Republic
Tel: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]
France
Tel [phone]
E-mail [email protected]
Pickering Interfaces Headquarters
Stephenson Road Clacton-on-Sea CO15 4NL United Kingdom
Tel: [phone]
E-Mail: [email protected]
China
Tel: [phone]
E-mail: [email protected]

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Page (IV) REED RELAY MODULE 40-110/115/120/125
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MEANING / DESCRIPTION SYMBOL
PROTECTIVE EARTH (GROUND)
To identify any terminal which is intended for connection to an external conductor for
protection against electric shock in case of a fault, or the terminal of a protective earth
(ground) electrode.
DANGEROUS VOLTAGE
To indicate hazards arising from dangerous voltages.
WARNING / CAUTION
An appropriate safety instruction should be followed or caution to a potential hazard
exists.
Refer to the relevant instructions detailed within the product manual.
HEAVY
If this product is heavy reference should be made to the safety instructions for
provisions of lifting and moving.
STATIC SENSITIVE
To indicate that static sensitive devices are present and handling precautions should
be followed.
!
kg
SAFETY SYMBOLS
PRODUCT SAFETY
The following safety symbols may be used on the product and throughout the product documentation.

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Copyright Statement ...................................................................II
Technical Support and Warranty................................................III
Product Safety .............................................................................IV
Contents (this page)....................................................................V
Warnings and Cautions ..............................................................VII
Section 1
Technical Specication...............................................................1.1
Section 2
Technical Description .................................................................2.1
Functional Description..........................................................2.1
Section 3
Installation....................................................................................3.1
Pre Operation Checks...........................................................3.1
Hardware Installation ............................................................3.2
Software Installation .............................................................3.2
Section 4
Programming Guide....................................................................4.1
Programming Options For Pickering PXI Cards.................4.1
Module Architecture..............................................................4.3
Programming The Module ....................................................4.4
Using Pickering Drivers in LabVIEW ...................................4.6
Programmable Attenuator Soft Front Panel .......................4.7
Section 5
Connector Information................................................................5.1
Section 6
Trouble Shooting.........................................................................6.1
Section 7
Maintenance Information............................................................7.1
CONTENTS

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WARNINGS AND CAUTIONS
WARNING - HAZARDOUS ENVIRONMENTS SYMBOL
This product is not specically designed for use in hazardous environments, for example in explosive
atmospheres. If the product is to be used in hazardous environments we recommend that the user
ensures suitable protective measures are taken.
!
WARNING - DANGER OF ELECTRIC SHOCK SYMBOL
This module may contain hazardous voltages. Before removing the module from the rack remove all
supplies and disconnect user I/O signals.
Unused slots in the PXI/LXI chassis are populated with blanking plates to prevent access to user
I/O signals that may be present. Blanking panels are available to order from Pickering in a variety
of slot widths. If the product is not used in this manner for example by using an extender card then
additional care must be taken to avoid contact with exposed signals.
CAUTION - HANDLING OF ELECTROSTATIC-SENSITIVE DEVICES SYMBOL
Certain semiconductor devices used in this equipment are liable to damage due to static voltage.
Observe the following precautions when handling these devices in their unterminated state, or
sub-assemblies containing these devices:
1. Persons removing sub-assemblies from equipment using these devices must be earthed by a
wrist strap and a resistor at the point provided on the equipment.
2. Soldering irons used during the repair operations must be low voltage types with earthed tips and
isolated from the mains voltage by a double insulated transformer.
3. Outer clothing worn must be unable to generate static charges.
4. Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) tted with these devices must be stored and transported in
anti-static bags.
CAUTION - PRODUCT DOCUMENTATION SYMBOL
Suitably qualied & trained users should ensure that the accompanying documentation is fully read
and understood before attempting to install or operate the product.
!
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
All cleaning and servicing requires the equipment to be isolated and disconnected from the power source and user I/O
signals (refer to the Maintenance Section).
• Appropriate manual handling procedures should be followed as dictated by the weight of the individual module or
the combined weight of the modules & chassis.
• Should a fault occur with the module or chassis, immediately isolate and disconnect the incoming power to the
chassis and the user I/O signals.
• Ensure the equipment is installed, operated and maintained by trained and authorised personnel.
• For suitably equipped products in the event of an emergency press the red “emergency stop” button situated on
the front of the unit.

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Page 1.1
50Ω 6GHz SOLID STATE ATTENUATOR 41-182A
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SECTION 1 - TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
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PXI 6GHz Triple Solid State Attenuator 41-182A
ISSUE 1.1 FEB 2019
• 10MHz To 6GHz Programmable Attenuator
• 0 to 31.75dB in 0.25dB Steps For Fine Level
Control
• Three or Six Channels Per Module
• Solid State Switching For Long Service Life
• Robust SMA Connectors
• VISA, IVI & Kernel Drivers Supplied for Windows
• Supported in PXI or LXI Chassis
• 3 Year Warranty
A
1dB 2dB 4dB 8dB0.5dB 16dB0.25dB
B
ATTENUATOR 1
A
1dB 2dB 4dB 8dB0.5dB 16dB0.25dB
B
ATTENUATOR 2
A
1dB 2dB 4dB 8dB0.5dB 16dB0.25dB
B
ATTENUATOR 3
41-182A Triple 6GHz Solid State Attenuator Functional Diagram
(Default Condition Shown - All Channels Set To 0dB Attenuation)
The 41-182A is a programmable RF attenuator module that has
3 (one slot) or 6 (two slots) channels each capable of inserting a
signal loss of 0 to 31.75dB in 0.25dB steps. The attenuator uses
solid state switches for a long service life and fast operation with
minimum settling time and no signal bounce. The inclusion of
DC blocking reduces the risk of damage to the switches by the
accidental application of DC sources from ampliers or other bias
devices.
The 41-182A is ideal for conditioning signal levels in RF test
systems to ensure equipment is used in its optimal signal level
range. Fast attenuator operating speed ensures minimal system
delays in setting up the required attenuation and a service life
which is independent of the number of operations allows the
sequence of RF tests to be arranged to optimize the life of other
switching components in the system.
The attenuators can be connected in series to increase the
attenuation range available and the high isolation minimizes signal
leakage.
The attenuators can be used for the back to back testing of
devices, providing the ability to condition the signal level between
the two devices. It is also ideal for the conditioning of special to
type signal sources which lack ne level control.
SMA connectors ensure that the attenuators can be used
with standard cabling and the input and output ports are fully
interchangeable.

Page 1.2 50Ω 6GHz SOLID STATE ATTENUATOR 41-182A
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SECTION 1 - TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
6GHz Triple Solid State Attenuator – 41-182A
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Specifications
Insertion loss for every discrete attenuator setting
for all channels of 41-182A-003 (normalized to 0dB)
Insertion loss for 41-182A-003 with each
attenuator channel set to 0dB
VSWR for 41-182A-003
with all attenuator channels set to 0dB
Attenuation values for 41-182A-003
with three attenuator channels in series
(set to major step values)