Page 2.3
BRIC
INTEGRATED PXI MATRIX SYSTEM WITH BIRST™ (40-562B)
pickering
SECTION 2 - TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION
A functional block diagram for the BRIC4 version is provided in Figure 2.5 - other BRIC sizes have the same
architecture with 2, 8 or 12 slot occupancy. The module is powered by a +5V and +3.3V input via compact PCI
connector J1 mounted on the backplane. The interface to the user test equipment is via the front panel mounted
micro-D connectors, mounted on the matrix daughtercards.
The matrix daughtercards comprise a PCB populated with relay drivers and reed relays configured as 44x4, 22x8,
11x16 or 5x32 matrices. The analog bus, which comprises control lines, Y-connections and power, interconnects the
daughtercards via backplane mounted connectors J2 to J7. All the fitted daughtercards are programmed as a single
matrix. The overall size of the matrix may be increased or decreased by adding or removing daughtercards. Y-bus
Isolation relays fitted to the 44x4 and 22x8 daughtercards disconnect unused paths from the selected signal path
to ensure the bandwidth of the matrix is maximized (11x16 and 5x32 daughtercards do not have isolation relays).
A BRIC module is always fitted with a two slot matrix daughtercard in slots 1 and 2. The daughtercard in slot 1 is
configured so that the Y bus is routed to the front panel connector (see Figure 2.4).
The matrix relays are energised via control signals from the relay drivers, which are addressed by the PCI bridge and
control logic mounted on the backplane to output the required signal. The PCI Bridge is configured by an EEPROM.
X1
X2
X3
X22
X1
X2
X3
X22
Y1
Y2
X1
X2
X3
X22
X1
X2
X3
X22
Y3
Y4
X1
X2
X3
X22
X1
X2
X3
X22
Y15
Y16
Isolation
Relays
50-Pin Connector to Backplane
Slot 1 Matrix Daughtercard
X23
X24
X25
X44
X23
X24
X25
X44
X23
X24
X25
X44
X23
X24
X25
X44
X23
X24
X25
X44
X23
X24
X25
X44
Isolation
Relays
50-Pin Connector to Backplane
Slot 2 to 18 Matrix Daughtercard
68-pin
Front Panel
Micro-D
Connector
68-pin
Front Panel
Micro-D
Connector
Figure 2.4 - Matrix Daughtercards: Relay Schematic
