Test & measurement The highest density reed relay PXI solution
Pickering Interfaces was recently presented with a Queen’s Award for Outstanding Short Term Growth. The company’s products are used in a wide range of industries around the globe including, automotive, aerospace and defence, energy, industrial, communications, medical and semiconductors. Enhancing its diverse portfolio, the company recently released ultra high- density PXI matrix modules that have 39 per cent higher density than competing modules. Instrumentation Monthly met up with Pickering’s CEO, Keith Moore, to find out more about the company and the new modules
manufactures modular signal switching and simulation for use in electronic test and verification. Pickering’s products are specified in test systems installed throughout the world and have a reputation for providing excellent reliability and value. The company operates globally with direct operations in the UK, the USA, Germany, Sweden, France, Czechia and China, together with additional representation in countries throughout the Americas, Europe and Asia. Pickering exports 95 per cent of its production; 40 per cent to
P
Pickering CEO, Keith Moore receiving the award from HM Lord Lieutenant, Jennifer Tolhurst
North America, 35 per cent to Europe and 20 per cent to Asia and has seen sales growth of 25 per cent on average per year during each of the past three years. This growth was recently recognised when the company was presented with a Queen’s Award for Outstanding Short Term Growth in overseas sales over the last three years.
PXI PrecIsIon resIsTor Modules chosen for saTellITe Payload TesTIng A
leading small satellite company, delivering operational space missions for a range of applications, recently selected
Pickering's PXI precision resistor modules for its satellite payload testing. Satellite payload testing is critical for several
reasons. First, as the hardware is extremely expensive, a lot of testing is expected. Second, if a failure occurs after launch, it is extremely difficult, and likely impossible, to return the entire product for service. Satellites and payloads are complex systems made up of multiple mixed-technology sub- systems. The traditional approach to satellite development is a very linear fashion; specify everything up front, design to specification, test the prototype, and then assemble and verify the flight unit. This linear approach is obviously very time-consuming and unsuitable for rapid, lower-cost developments, which require more agile methodologies. The use of simulation can provide major
improvements on cost and timescale. Using COTS components and standard toolsets, a sub-system simulator can be developed and tested far in advance of flight-grade equipment, often at a much lower cost. This yields two major advantages to the project: the designs are developed and progressed far in advance of the main development; and
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interface simulators can be used for system integration testing far in advance to identify and resolve sub-system integration issues. When specifying hardware for this latest
simulation requirement, a decision was made by the customer not to base it on heritage tools and strategies. Instead, however, it was decided to take a fresh look at what was available and what was possible, with the goal of choosing an optimally engineered solution within a defined budget. The decision was made to base the hardware
primarily upon the PXI standard, with Pickering Interfaces as one of the main suppliers. In the case of the Thermal Control System, which monitors key temperatures within the satellite, a key test product in this solution is a high-density PXI precision resistor module. Six modules were used to simulate thirty-six space-grade thermistors across their full range of -80ºC to +55ºC. These PXI precision resistor modules were the only commercially available solution that could cover the entire range of the thermistors requiring simulation. In addition to the precision resistor
modules, Pickering Interfaces also supplied PXI switch modules for RF signals, high power switching, as well as isolated power supply cards. The main functions of the switching modules were to isolate interface paths
ickering Interfaces, a business that continues to go from strength to strength, is a British success story. Based in Clacton-on-Sea, Essex, the company designs and
physically, to simulate RF switch feedback contacts and to distribute load channels across multiple paths. One of the key advantages of Pickering Interfaces switching modules is that they provide complete and physical isolation from the DUT where necessary. This is a key requirement when connecting into flight-grade equipment, whereby a single-point failure in the test equipment can easily cost over $1.6 million in flight hardware. The solution serves as a good example of
the variation of products that can only be found in PXI and at a low cost.
October 2019 Instrumentation Monthly
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