Page 2.1
PXI/PXIe 2-POLE HIGH DENSITY MATRIX (40/42-588)
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SECTION 2 - TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
SECTION 2 - TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
MECHANICAL DESCRIPTION
The 40/42-588 matrix is a 2-slot wide PXI/PXIe module comprising a mother card and two matrix daughter cards
(32x8 version) or one matrix daughter card (16x8 version). The mother card contains the PXI/PXIe bus interface
and is connected to the daughter cards via ribbon cables. The daughter cards are linked via a PCB to PCB
interconnection and each contain half the overall matrix as well as a front panel user connector.
FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION
A functional block diagram is provided in Figure 2.2. The module is powered by +5V and +3.3V (PXI) or +3.3V and
+12V (PXIe) supplies via PCI Bus connectors mounted on the mother card. The interface to the user test equipment
is via front panel mounted 104-pin D-type connectors mounted on the matrix daughter cards. Each daughter card is
a 16x8 2-pole matrix constructed using electro-mechanical relays. The Y-bus of the 16x8 matrices is linked between
the two daughter cards via isolation relays. Both matrix daughter cards are configured so that the Y-bus is routed
to the front panel connector. Having two sets of Y-bus connections allows one to be used as a loop-thru for matrix
expansion. The module’s switching architecture is shown in Figure 4.1.
The daughter cards receive data and power from the mother card. The matrix relays are energised via control
signals from the relay drivers on the daughter cards which receive serial control signals from the PCI bridge on
the mother card via isolator devices. The PCI bridge provides the interface to the PXI/PXIe backplane of the host
chassis via bus termination devices. The PCI bridge is configured by an EEPROM.
ANALOG GROUND
All signal paths are routed between internal signal ground planes which are connected to the A_GND pins on the
front panel connector, each signal pin has an adjacent A_GND pin. The internal ground planes are isolated from the
module and chassis ground but can be connected to front panel ground by the addition of 0Ω links in positions R11
and R12 on the matrix daughter cards.
Figure 2.1 - 40/42-588 32x8 2-Pole Matrix Module