National Instruments Expands High-Density Switching Capabilities for PXI

The set of new relay cards includes multiple two-wire switches for differential measurements and 16-row switches that give engineers an increased number of simultaneous connections for large switching applications. All cards take full advantage of the innovative NI SwitchBlock architecture, which simplifies connectivity through internal column expansion. The NI SwitchBlock comprises an expandable carrier that accommodates up to six relay cards while occupying just four slots in a PXI chassis. Engineers can combine up to four NI SwitchBlock carriers to create internally routed matrices with as many as 8,832 crosspoints in a single PXI chassis.



The new cards also integrate with NI Switch Executive switch management software to give engineers the ability to graphically configure their switch systems one relay at a time for total control, or automatically route signals across multiple relay cards simply by specifying endpoints. This high level of abstraction helps engineers to quickly and efficiently begin developing their application. By combining NI Switch Executive with NI LabVIEW system design software, engineers can abstract numerous route groups to easily configure, program and maintain large matrix configurations. All NI SwitchBlock solutions also include the new NI Switch Health Center software, which increases long-term system reliability by automatically running onboard diagnostics that verify relay continuity and display relay count information.



Additionally, engineers can combine the NI SwitchBlock with mass interconnect solutions from MAC Panel and Virginia Panel, which provide a single rugged connection point between multiple NI SwitchBlock connectors and a test fixture. This further simplifies wiring for large matrix configurations and helps engineers streamline hardware integration and reduce test setup time.