Technical Description; Mechanical Description; Functional Description - Pickering PXI 40-597 User Manual

SECTION 2 - TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION
pickering
SECTION 2 - TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION

MECHANICAL DESCRIPTION

The 40-597 BRIC Module comprises an alloy chassis, 2 slot (BRIC2), 4 slot (BRIC4) or 8 slot (BRIC8) width, with
an integral backplane which contains the interface circuitry and is fitted with 37-pin connectors for the matrix card
assemblies.Up to 2 matrix cards (BRIC2), 4 matrix cards (BRIC4) or 8 matrix cards (BRIC8) can be plugged into the
backplane, each matrix card being secured in position by screws in the top and bottom rail at the front of the BRIC
chassis. Cooling for the BRIC chassis is provided by slots in the top and bottom covers.

FUNCTIONAL DESCRIPTION

A functional block diagram is provided in Figure 2.3. The BRIC Module is powered by a +5V input via Compact PCI
connector J1 mounted on the backplane. The interface to the user test equipment is via front panel mounted 37-pin
D-type connectors on the matrix card assemblies. Each matrix card comprises a motherboard and a daughterboard
configured as a 32x12 1-pole matrix with 12 isolation relays for connection to the Y-bus. Matrix card connections
to the backplane are via J2 to J5 (J2 to J9 for BRIC8), this provides power, control signals from the PCI interface
and connection to the analog bus. The analog bus routes Y signals to all the installed matrix cards creating a single
large matrix. The overall matrix is programmed as a single entity with Y isolation relays automatically switched by
the software. As the Y signals are not available for external connection, signal paths are set up between two X
connections using a single Y line as a link. The switching architecture for the 40-597 is shown in Figure 2.2. The
overall size of the matrix may be increased or decreased by adding or removing matrix card assemblies.
The matrix relays are energised via control signals from the relay drivers, which are addressed by the PCI bridge
U1 and control logic mounted on the Backplane. The PCI Bridge U1 is configured by EEPROM U2 and the control
logic by U7.
Figure 2.1 - Fully Populated 40-597 BRIC8 Matrix Module
1-POLE 2A BRIC 3U PXI MULTI-SLOT MATRIX 40-597
Page 2.1