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A G R E AT E R M E A S U R E O F C O N F I D E N C E (a)
Switch Systems (b)
for Aerospace
and Defense
Testing
Jerry A. Janesch, Alan Ivons, A switching system can be as simple as the Keithley Model 7999-4 SPDT
Microwave switch (a) or as large as one based on the Model 7002 ten-slot
Keithley Instruments, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio mainframe (b).
Testing for state-of-the-art systems requires with different instruments can be run on the Configuration of a switch system
choosing the appropriate switching systems same DUT or multiple instruments can test Switch systems can be simple or elabo-
and applying them correctly. multiple DUTs. For example, in Figure 1 a rate. For example, a single-pole, double-
D
switching system makes it possible to test a throw (SPDT) switch can be used to route
EFENSE and aerospace electron- large number of tactical radios undergoing signals to two different DUTs, as shown in
ic systems cover an enormous burn-in in an environmental chamber. This Figure 2a. It can be expanded further into a
range, from active devices, such article will briefly discuss several important "multiplexer" configuration, so that a single
as radio frequency integrated aspects of configuring a switch system. instrument can be routed to many different
circuits (RFICs) and microwave
monolithic integrated circuits (MMICs), to
remote sensing devices, to complete space
communication systems. All of these require
extensive testing at all stages of development
and production with testing requirements
that cover an equally broad range: DC meas-
urements from femtoamperes to amperes,
and from nanovolts to kilovolts, and RF/mi-
crowave measurements from a few MHz to
beyond 40GHz.
Despite this variety, tests in all these
areas share one important characteristic:
Automation can make them faster and more
repeatable and help to reduce operator er-
ror. An essential part of automated testing
is a switching system, which routes signals
between measurement instruments and the Figure 1: In a typical lifetime test, the DUT (here a handheld tactical radio) can be stressed at an
device under test (DUT). Multiple tests elevated level for a specified period, then its electrical characteristics can be measured.
Switch Systems for Aerospace and Defense Testing May 2004 1
Electrical specifications for RF and
microwave switching systems
Bandwidth--Most switch system users
would like to have as wide and as flat a band-
width switch as possible. However, if the
equipment to be tested involves no frequen-
cies higher than 18GHz, it's a waste of mon-
ey to use a 40GHz switch. It's also important
to remember that as bandwidth increases, the
selection of connectors and cables becomes
more important.
Insertion Loss--Any component added
Figure 2: (a) A single-pole, double-throw to the signal path will cause some degree of
Figure 4: A nonblocking matrix makes it pos- loss. This loss is especially severe at higher
(SPDT) switch can be used to route signals to
sible to switch any signal to any DUT at any
two different DUTs. (b) This can be expanded or resonant frequencies. When signal level is
time. While this configuration has the highest
into a "multiplexer" configuration, so that a
single instrument can be routed to many differ-
flexibility, it's also the most expensive. low or noise is high, insertion loss is particu-
ent DUTs, as in this 1x16 multiplexer. Both of larly important.
these use a "blocking" arrangement, in which ing receiving ranges and multipath effects. Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR)--
only one signal path is active at any given time.
This means adding both active components, Any mismatched impedances in the signal
like amplifiers, and passive components, like path (Figure 6) will increase VSWR. For op-
DUTs. Figure 2b shows a 1