Pickering 4 782B Series User manual

pickeringtest.com Issue 3.0, September 2023
PXI/PXIe Microwave Transfer Switch Module
4x-782B User Manual

Page (ii)
© Copyright (2023) 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.
FM38792

Page (iii)
Worldwide Technical Support and Product Information
Pickering Interfaces Headquarters
Stephenson Road, Clacton-on-Sea, CO15 4NL United Kingdom
Tel: [phone]
e-mail: [email protected]
USA
Tel: (West) [phone]
Tel: (East) [phone]
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Tel: [phone]
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Czech Republic
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e-mail: [email protected]
China
Tel: [phone]
e-mail: [email protected]
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 fulfil 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.

Page (iv)
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
The following safety symbols may be used on the product and throughout the product documentation.
Product Safety

Page (v)
Contents
Copyright Statement........................................................................................................................................................(ii)
Technical Support and Warranty...................................................................................................................................(iii)
Product Safety...................................................................................................................................................................(iv)
Contents (this page).........................................................................................................................................................(v)
Warnings and Cautions...................................................................................................................................................(vi)
Section 1
Technical Specification....................................................................................................................................................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
Testing Operation........................................................................................................................................................3.3
Section 4
Programming Guide.........................................................................................................................................................4.1
Programming Options for Pickering PXI/PXIe Modules......................................................................................4.1
Module Architecture...................................................................................................................................................4.2
Programming the Module.........................................................................................................................................4.3
Using Pickering Drivers in LabVIEW.......................................................................................................................4.5
Section 5
Connector Information .....................................................................................................................................................5.1
Section 6
Trouble Shooting..............................................................................................................................................................6.1
Section 7
Maintenance Information................................................................................................................................................7.1
Appendix A
Part Number List......................................................................................................................................... A.1

Page (vi)
WARNING - Hazardous Environments Symbol
This product is not specifically 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.
!
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:
• 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.
• 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.
• Outer clothing worn must be unable to generate static charges.
• Printed Circuit Boards (PCBs) fitted with these devices must be stored and transported in anti-static bags.
Warnings & Cautions
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/PXIe/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 - Product Documentation Symbol
Suitably qualified & 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.

Page 1.1 pickeringtest.com
Section 1 - Technical Specification
The 40-782B (PXI) and 42-782B (PXIe) have one or two
microwave transfer switches with a characteristic impedance
of 50 Ω and are available in 18 GHz, 26.5 GHz, 40 GHz or 50 GHz
versions. Connections are made via front panel mounted high
quality SMA, SMA 2.9 or SMA 2.4 coaxial connectors, depending
upon the frequency range.
Transfer switches have four ports with two switch states. In
the default (de-energized) state, ports 1 to 2 and 3 to 4 have
signal paths between them. In the energized state the signal
paths are between ports 1 to 3 and 2 to 4 (see diagrams).
The 4x-782B gives you the highest RF and microwave
switching performance available within a Pickering switching
system. Although designed for microwave applications, they
yAvailable as PXI or PXIe Modules
y1 or 2 Transfer Switches Per Module
yRemote Mounted Version Available
y50 Ω Characteristic Impedance
y18 GHz, 26.5 GHz, 40 GHz & 50 GHz Options
yFailsafe & Latching Relay Options
yRelay Cycle Counting Included
yLED Indication (Failsafe Versions Only)
yDrivers Supplied for Windows & Linux,
Plus Support for Real-time Systems
yPXI Version Supported by PXI or LXI Chassis
y3 Year Warranty
Microwave Transfer Switch
(Part No. 4x-782B) in Single Format
have many uses in the RF spectrum where extremely low
insertion loss and ultra high isolation are critical. They may
also be used for lower frequency applications where power
handling to 240 W is required.
Remote Versions
The remote versions, as well as occupying less panel space,
allow the microwave transfer switches to be placed closer to
the UUT and RF test equipment. This can shorten the length of
cables and improve system performance. Remote switches are
supplied with a 1.5 m interface cable.
2
4
1
3
Transfer Switch 1
B B
A
A
Position A: 1 to 2, 3 to 4
Position B: 1 to 3, 2 to 4
Remote version controls 1 or 2
remotely mounted microwave transfer
switches via interface cables
pickeringtest.com
4x-782B
PXI/PXIe Microwave Transfer Switch Modules
Issue 4.0 September 2022

Page 1.2 pickeringtest.com
Section 1 - Technical Specification
Product Compatibility
The 4x-782B range has been introduced as an update to the
existing 40-782A family. The existing family remains orderable but
the new 4x-782B is recommended as it provides additional options
such as the PXIe control interface. The RF performance of the
4x-782B is identical to the existing 40-782A.
Relay Type
To provide maximum flexibility this range is available with either
failsafe or latching relays. For definition, the contacts of failsafe
relays return to the default state when the system power is
removed whereas latching relay contacts retain their last set state
when the power is removed.
Relay Cycle Counting
To aid with module “health” monitoring all versions are provided
with a relay cycle counting cycle feature. The number of operations
per contact are stored on the module and can be used to determine
if a relay is approaching EOL. This information could allow system
connections to be revised so that signals applied to heavily used
contacts are swapped with lightly used contacts to prolong the
working life of the relay(s).
Microwave Transfer Switch
(Part No. 4x-782B) in Dual Format
2
4
1
3
Transfer Switch 1
B B
A
A
Position A: 1 to 2, 3 to 4
Position B: 1 to 3, 2 to 4
2
4
1
3
Transfer Switch 2
B B
A
A
pickering
BANK 1
Remotely Mounted Microwave
Transfer Switches
2 off Interface Cables
1.5m Length
40/42-782B
Remote
Version
BANK 2
Remotely Mounted Microwave Transfer Switch Versions
Interconnection Between 4x-782B Remote Version and
Remotely Mounted Microwave Transfer Switches
Microwave Transfer Switch and Cable
for Remote Mounting
4x-782B
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PXI/PXIe Microwave Transfer Switch Modules

Page 1.3 pickeringtest.com
Section 1 - Technical Specification
Specifications - 18 GHz & 26.5 GHz Versions
Connectors: SMA
Insertion Loss: <0.2 dB to 3 GHz
<0.3 dB to 8 GHz
<0.4 dB to 12.4 GHz
<0.5 dB to 18 GHz
<0.7 dB to 26.5 GHz (26.5 GHz versions only)
Isolation: >80 dB to 3 GHz
>70 dB to 8 GHz
>65 dB to 12.4 GHz
>60 dB to 18 GHz
>50 dB to 26.5 GHz (26.5 GHz versions only)
VSWR: <1.2:1 to 3 GHz
<1.3:1 to 8 GHz
<1.4:1 to 12.4 GHz
<1.5:1 to 18 GHz
<1.7:1 to 26.5 GHz (26.5 GHz versions only)
RF Average Carry
Power at 25 °C:
240 W to 3 GHz
150 W to 8 GHz
120 W to 12.4 GHz
100 W to 18 GHz
40 W to 26.5 GHz (26.5 GHz versions only)
Typical Isolation - 26.5 GHz Versions
Typical VSWR - 26.5 GHz Versions
Typical Insertion Loss - 26.5 GHz Versions
Typical VSWR - 18 GHz Versions
Typical Isolation - 18 GHz Versions
Typical Insertion Loss - 18 GHz Versions
4x-782B
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Specifications

Page 1.4 pickeringtest.com
Section 1 - Technical Specification
Specifications - 40 GHz Versions
Connectors: SMA 2.9
Insertion Loss: <0.8 dB to 40 GHz
Isolation: >50 dB to 40 GHz
VSWR: <1.9:1 to 40 GHz
RF Average Carry Power at 25°C: 80 W to 6 GHz
60 W to 12.4 GHz
50 W to 18 GHz
20 W to 26.5 GHz
10 W to 40 GHz
Typical Isolation - 40 GHz Versions
Typical VSWR - 40 GHz Versions
Typical Insertion Loss - 40 GHz Versions
4x-782B
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Specifications