RF Switch Matrix - Example Applications

Example Applications

Custom Switch Matrices are used extensively throughout test systems in the wireless and aerospace defense sectors for design verification and for manufacturing test. They have a wide range of complexity, from the simple to the complex.

• An example of a simple design switch matrix application would be a 1:16 MUX configuration that routes 12 satellite TV feeds into a single spectrum analyzer input that performs signal integrity checks on the satellite feeds. Such a design would require 5 Single Pole 4 Throw coaxial EM switches as well as the necessary interconnecting coax cable for the signal routing, along with a mechanical infrastructure, power supply, and switch driver circuit to mount, power, and operate the switches.

• An example of a more complex switch matrix is an application that is measuring jitter on multiple high speed serial data buses. First, the switch matrix receives the data bus signals, then provides the proper switching and signal conditioning for the signals before feeding the signals to the test and measurement instruments. This custom switch matrix would employ 14 EM switches and a number of different signal conditioners including: power splitters, amplifiers, mixers, filters, and attenuators.

RF Switch Matrices are also used heavily in the Television Broadcast market for the reception and re-broadcast of TV Channels. Typically a Cable TV "Headend" will contain a matrix to enable multiple dishes that are aligned to different satellites to be routed to a bank of receivers. The RF Switch Matrix allows channel changes to be made remotely, without any interruptions.