BAE Systems, National Instruments and Phase Matrix Introduce 26.5 GHz PXI Synthetic Instrument

“By working with National Instruments and Phase Matrix, we have developed a high-performance, next-generation RF synthetic instrument that supports frequencies exceeding 26 GHz,” said Robert Wade Lowdermilk, Engineering Fellow at BAE Systems. “PXI Express provides the data throughput and control signals required to support the increased bandwidth necessary for RF and microwave applications. By using NI FPGA-based hardware and LabVIEW, we have been able to quickly develop multiple high-performance measurement modes for several applications.”

Phase Matrix developed the family of downconverter modules, which consists of an RF input conditioner, microwave band input, low band input, local oscillator and an IF output conditioner. The five modules can be configured into six primary configurations operating over the frequency ranges of 100 kHz to 2.9 GHz, 2.7 GHz to 26.5 GHz and 100 kHz to 26.5 GHz. The modules use programmable input signal conditioning in the form of pre-selection filtering in the 2.7 GHz to 26.5 GHz frequency range with bandwidths of 40 MHz and 120 MHz and an input attenuator that can be programmed from 0 dB to 70 dB in 10 dB steps. The local oscillator module switching speed is less than 1 ms and provides rapid RF/microwave frequency translation when used with PXI Express digitisers and controllers. The modules also operate in both narrowband IF (21.4 MHz) and wideband IF (250 MHz) modes. Additionally, the modules are intended for use with LabVIEW, the NI Modulation Toolkit and the NI Spectral Measurements Toolkit.

“The new PXI downconverter modules from Phase Matrix can be used in portable synthetic instrument test systems that can be programmed to perform a suite of common RF/microwave signal analysis functions or emulate older or obsolete instruments,” said Michael N. Granieri, Vice President of Advanced Programs and Business Development at Phase Matrix. “These modules deliver the performance required for next-generation RF and microwave test and measurement systems.”

The new PXI Express-compatible RF and microwave downconverter family complements the wide breadth of PXI modules National Instruments has developed for RF and communications applications, including the NI PXIe-5122 100 MS/s, 100 MHz dual-channel digitiser and NI PXI-5152 2 GS/s, 300 MHz digitiser/oscilloscope. Additionally, engineers and scientists can take advantage of the intuitive graphical programming of LabVIEW and the software’s extensive library of digital signal processing functions to accelerate system development.

“PXI Express delivers the highest bandwidth and lowest latency of all mainstream commercial test and measurement bus technologies,” said Tim Fountain, Market Development Manager for Military and Aerospace at National Instruments. “We are excited to work with BAE Systems and Phase Matrix to develop a world-class test platform that delivers the power and performance of PXI Express to military and commercial RF applications.”