Pickering expands USB supporting PXI modules with 40-738 model

The USB products can be devices under test or USB instrumentation. The 40-738 supports the operation of 8 USB products from a single module and provides standard USB 0.5A device power on all channels.

USB products connected to the 40-738 initiates the same driver install procedures familiar to USB users. The PXI controller, remote or embedded, installs using the vendor’s drivers as though the product was connected to the controller’s USB ports. In addition, the 40-738 provides a means to independently connect or disconnect the USB data and power wires, allowing the user to simulate fault conditions on the USB interface, or completely disconnect the USB product as though the USB connector had been physically unplugged. This method assures that the connected USB device on a physical port is released at the time of disconnect. As well as providing a programmatically controlled USB connection, the 40-738 eliminates the need for free standing powered hubs in a system – it creates a system where USB connectivity is installed through the test system rather than the controller.

In addition to aiding the testing of USB products the 40-738 allows the addition of USB instrumentation such as power meters, scopes, and data acquisition products – expanding the range and types of test products that can be supported from a PXI system. Combined with connections from the controller’s Ethernet port to LXI instrumentation. it allows the controller to be at the heart of hybrid tests systems which use the industries primary control interfaces of PXI, LXI, GPIB, and USB.