A UK signal switching and conditioning manufacturer has developed two new LXI-compliant switching products, using ruthenium and rhodium relays.

The first of the new devices, the 60-310 High Voltage Matrix is capable of hot switching 500 V DC signals and cold switching V DC signals, and is contained within a compact 2U full rack width enclosure.

Incorporating rhodium plated reed relays that are optimised for high-voltage switching applications which necessitate a long service life, it has been designed for performing insulation tests on cable harnesses and PCB as well as testing for breakdown voltages of semiconductor devices and relays.

Meanwhile, the 60-510 LXI Low Thermal EMF Matrix is a low-thermal EMF 56x33 matrix capable of switching 150V DC signals with carry current up to 1 Amp. The matrix is contained within a compact 2U full rack width enclosure.

The matrix uses instrument grade ruthenium sputtered relays to ensure a very long service life with very good low-level switching performance and ultra-stable contact resistance stability, while typically providing less than 2.5 m volts of thermal EMF.

Both devices can be controlled through any W3C-compliant web browser thanks to the incorporation of IVI, SOAP and Direct I/O drivers and soft front panels.

David Owen, Business Development Manager for Pickering Interfaces, said: "LXI is a rapidly growing part of our business. It has gone from nothing to being a significant proportion of revenue in less than 18 months and sales have been particularly strong in Europe.

"We are seeing a rapidly growing adoption of LXI in the test and measurement industry and Pickering Interfaces is fully committed to building a strong LXI business to compliment its PXI business."

Sources:

Pickering Interfaces Introduces Two New LXI Matrix Switching Solutions, 16/07/07 http://www.pcb007.com/anm/templates/article.aspx?articleid=17408&zoneid=131&v=

Pickering Expands LXI-Compliant Switching Products, 16/07/07http://www.efytimes.com/efytimes/fullnews.asp?edid=20364&magid=11

Ÿ Adfero Ltd