EADS North America Defense Test & Services Introduces the High-Density VXI Racal Instruments™ Adapt-a-Switch® X-Series

EADS North America Defense Test & Services introduces the Racal Instruments™ Adapt-a-Switch® X-Series modular switching products. The new switch cards contain significantly more functional area than the standard Adapt-a-Switch® series which means more relays per card and state-of-the-art electrical performance, including increased isolation, higher bandwidth, and reduced crosstalk. These new high-density Racal Instruments Adapt-a-Switch® plug-ins were originally developed for the Agile Rapid Global Combat Support System (ARGCS) which is comprised of a core of standard and tailored VXIbus-based modular products. Developed in cooperation with the DoD NxTest working group for use in the ARGCS ACTD, these switches offer significant improvements for both military and commercial applications. These products include:

The X-Series Adapt-a-Switch® Carrier accommodates up to six plug-in switch cards in a two-slot VXIbus carrier. The 1260-100X provides an integral analog bus which can be used to connect two or more plug-ins enabling large multiplexers and matrices to be dynamically configured via software control. Integral EMI/RFI shields eliminate crosstalk and radiation between the plug-ins ensuring low-noise performance and excellent signal integrity. The plug-ins are inserted easily and directly from the front panel without removing the carrier from the VXIbus chassis.

The 20-Channel 10 Amp Adapt-a-Switch® power switch plug-in is configurable as 20 channels of SPST, 10 channels of DPST, or 10 channels of (1X2). It is ideal for applications requiring high-current switching of AC and DC power supplies as well as current sources. The advanced “exclude” command prevents simultaneous switch closures ensuring maximum safety when switching power supplies.

This high-density Adapt-a-Switch® switch card provides maximum flexibility to construct a wide range of scanner/multiplexer and matrix configurations under software control. Software configurable as five (2 x 8) matrices with 12 (1 x 2 multiplexers, this switch card is ideal for single-ended switching applications in ATE, Audio, Video or Telecom.

This Adapt-a-Switch® plug-in switch card provides maximum flexibility allowing the user to construct a wider range of scanner/multiplexer and matrix configurations while maintaining excellent bandwidth and signal integrity. With bi-directional relays and designed for two-wire operation, this switch card is ideal for ATE, telecom, and datacom applications. This module is software configurable as 8 (1x8) multiplexers or as a (2x24) matrix.

The Racal Instruments 1260-X153, a high-frequency, 1 GHz coaxial 1x4 binary tree plug-in, is intended to switch high frequency/high fidelity signals. It is an ideal choice to connect signal source and measurement instruments such as oscilloscopes, digitizers, arbitrary waveform generators, pulse/pattern generators, and counter/times.

This is the first regular series Adapt-a-Switch® plug-in, 1260-117, to be adapted to the new X-Series carrier. The 1260-A2X-117 is a 52-channel, SPDT, switch card plug-in, and each channel can switch up to 2 A, 300 VAC or VDC. In addition, each channel can be used independently or externally linked to form custom switching networks.

“The expanded real estate and the enhanced performance offer our customers a choice flexibility in the arena of high density switch systems,” stated Dr. Mark Minot, Vice President of the Instruments Business Unit. “Built on the success of our Adapt-a-Switch® platform coupled with development under the exacting military standards of the ARGCS program, the Racal Instruments X-Series is an additional modular alternative for our customers who prefer the performance of the VXIbus platform.”

EADS North America Defense Test and Services designs, manufactures, sells, and services electronic test and measurement equipment, systems, and software to leading high-technology customers throughout the world. The company offers an extensive range of products and services, from modular instruments to turnkey automatic test systems, which are ideal for use in a wide variety of applications, including commercial functional test and measurement, laser diode burn-in and production, microcomputer production, and jet engine test.

EADS North America Defense Test & Services is an industry leader in providing automatic test solutions and service excellence to military and civil aerospace automatic test markets. The company works with core customers to define test requirements and deliver support solutions by providing general purpose ATE products, designing and building unique ATE, enhancing and integrating software offerings, and establishing nationwide OEM and military test engineering services. Among the key market sectors the company serves are Military, Aerospace, Marine, Medical, Telecommunications, Semiconductor, and Commercial Manufacturing.

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