8762B-011 - Agilent / Hewlett-Packard

High performance switches for

microwave and RF instrumentation

and systems

Agilent Technologies offers a versatile

line of multiport coaxial switches. These

50Ωmechanical-latching switches come

with the performance and reliability

that you have come to expect in Agilent

microwave accessories.

Offering excellent electrical and

mechanical performance with broad-

band operation, high isolation, low

SWR, long life, and exceptional

repeatability, these switches are

designed with your applications in

mind. Frequency ranges are available

to 4 GHz and 18 GHz for the A and B

models with SMA connectors and to

26.5 GHz for the C models with APC-

3.5 connectors.

The 8762A, 8762B, and 8762C

(Figure 1) are single-pole double-

throw switches with high isolation,

>100 dB at 4 GHz for the A model,

>90 dB at 18 GHz for the B model

and >50 dB at 26.5 GHz for the C

model. All models terminate the

unused port with 50Ω, a key feature

for your applications where low SWR

is required on all ports.

The 8763A, 8763B, and 8763C

(Figure 2) have 4 RF ports with one

internal 50Ωtermination designed

for applications requiring a transfer

switch or a cross switching element.

Agilent 8762/3/4A,B,C

Coaxial Switches

Product Overview

Figure 1. Agilent 8762 Figure 2. Agilent 8763

dc to 4 GHz

dc to 18 GHz

dc to 26.5 GHz

The 8764A, 8764B, and 8764C

(Figure 3) round out the family with

5 RF ports, giving you flexibility to

configure the switch for your specific

needs.

Applications

Multi-source switching

The 8762A, 8762B or 8762C is an

excellent choice for applications

where you require selection of multi-

ple signal sources, frequency coun-

ters, or signal control devices such as

modulators or filters, or routing sig-

nals from multiple sources as shown

in Figure 4.

Transfer switching

For applications requiring a “transfer

switch,” as shown in Figure 5, an

8763A, B, or C is the ideal choice to

insert a component, such as a filter or

mixer, into a signal path. Another pop-

ular use is to switch between a device

under test and a through path for sys-

tem calibration. The 8763A,B,C’s inter-

nal load can terminate the device

under test when in the through mode

(up to 1 watt).

Reverse signal path

Figure 6 shows how an 8762 and

8764 may be used to provide a “trans-

ceiver” configuration. This example

illustrates how one amplifier can be

used to transmit or receive. Any

application where the signal path

direction needs to be reversed could

use this configuration.

Port 1 Port 2 Port 3 Port 4 Port 5

Pivot

armature

Solenoid

drive pin #1

Solenoid

drive pin #2

Common

drive pin

(-) (-)(+)

Figure 3. Agilent 8764

Signal

source A

Signal

source B

To receiver

8762B

Figure 4. Multi-source switching

Signal

out

Device

Figure 5. Agilent 8763 used as a transfer

switch (equivalent circuit action)

50Ω

1 C 2

50Ω

Pivot

armature

Solenoid

drive pin #1

Solenoid

drive pin #2

Common

drive pin

(-) (-)(+)

1 2 3 4 5

Pivot

armature

Solenoid

drive pin #1

Solenoid

drive pin #2

Common

drive pin

(-) (-)(+)

8762 8764

Figure 6. Signal reversal

Portable and remote applications

Due to their small package size, light

weight, low power consumption, and

high reliability, these switches are

ideal for your portable or remote

applications. The light weight and

repeatability make them well suited

for portable spectrum analyzers and

other portable microwave test equip-

ment. Their 1,000,000 cycle life make

them the ideal candidate for system

design, such as communications

repeaters or remote monitoring sta-

tions that demand minimal mainte-

nance. The switch’s automatic coil

disconnect feature and low current

drain during switching minimize the

amount of power needed for operat-

ing the switches.

Dedicated switching

For larger switching systems, where

many switches will be used to provide

complex signal routing, a switch driv-

er such as the 87130A or 70611A is

recommended. The 87130A rack-and-

stack switch driver and the MMS-

based 70611A Option 001 are conven-

ient, flexible Interface Bus (GPIB) or

Modular Systems Interface Bus (MS-

IB) switch controllers, providing driv-

er circuitry, indicator readback cir-

cuitry and firmware that makes it

easy to integrate switch components

into a switching system. Controlling

the 87130A is simple using either a

PC or workstation based GPIB con-

troller and Agilent Interactive Test

Generator (Agilent-ITG) or Agilent

Visual Engineering Environment

(Agilent VEE). The 70611A gives man-

ual control via the MMS user inter-

face or can also be controlled via an

GPIB equipped PC or workstation.

In addition, the built-in firmware

makes it possible to define often used

switch paths. With the path com-

mand, macros can be designed which

open and close the right solenoids to

select the desired switch port, and

the path may be given a meaningful

name. Remember that only one select

pin should be activated at one time to

prevent rapid cycling of the switch.

Both the 87130A and 70611A provide

position monitoring and reporting,

which make it possible for a program

to determine if all the switches are in

their proper state (position) before the

program continues with testing. A

programmable wake up condition

makes it possible to ensure that the

matrix or switching system starts up

in a predetermined state, to prevent

damage to delicate equipment from

excessive power. This would also be

the state that the system returns to

after a power interruption.

Accessory cables and adapters make

it easy to quickly get the 8762/3/4

working with the 87130A or 70611A.

Reference literature number 5963-

2038E, Switch Attenuator Driver

Configuration Guide.

For smaller switching needs, the

11713A attenuator/switch controller

provides simple GPIB control for up

to ten 8762/3/4 switches. Connecting

cables can be ordered which make it

easy to connect the switches to the

11713A.

Operation and use

How the switch works

All the switches are “break before

make;” the switched ports are not

connected to each other preventing

possible damage to sensitive circuits.

The standard configuration switch

uses 24 Vdc for the switching voltage,

Option 011 specifies a voltage of

5 Vdc, and Option 015 specifies

15 Vdc. Option T15 and T24 are

TTL/5V CMOS compatible with

15 Vdc and 24 Vdc drive respectively.

Driving the switch

For standard, Option 011, and 015

switches, switching is accomplished

by applying the supply voltage to pin

“C” and grounding the appropriate

pin to actuate the switching mecha-

nism. Avoid grounding both RF path select

pins as rapid cycling may occur. After

the switch is fully latched (30 ms),

the drive current is automatically dis-

connected. If the drive circuit is

pulsed, the pulse duration must be at

least 30 ms to ensure that the switch

will fully latch. For TTL/5 volt CMOS

compatible drive (Options T24 and

T15), apply the supply voltage to pin

“C,” and ground to pin #1. Switch

positions by applying a TTL “high” or

TTL “low” to pin #2 as needed. See

Table 1.

Remote indication (TTL options excluded)

The position of the switch may be

determined by utilizing the open and

closed states of the internal coil con-

tacts. Figure 7 displays two indicator

circuits, one to provide a TTL output

and one that directly activates an

LED. The circuits will output a TTL

“HI” and LED “ON” if the switch is in

the state shown in Figure 7. When

drive pin 1 contact is closed (as

shown), RF port 2 is connected to

common port. For the Agilent 8763/4,

see Figures 2, 3, and Table 1 for cor-

responding RF port connections. The

circuits shown are designed to oper-

ate with coil voltage of 24V. If other

voltage switches are used, the circuit

components must be modified to

accommodate that voltage.

Since current is drawn through the

solenoid for these indicator circuits,

inadvertent switching is prevented by

limiting the current to 5 mA. Additional

design information may be required

from the component manufacturer for

the circuits described in Figure 7,

depending upon specific applications.

Agilent Technologies assumes no

responsibility for use of any circuits

described herein, and makes no repre-

sentations or warranties, expressed or

implied, that such circuits are free

from patent infringements.

Figure 7. TTL and LED remote indicator circuits

Standard drive TTL drive1

Model number Pin 1 Pin 2 Pin 22RF path

8762A/B/C Ground Open TTL high 1 to C closed

2 terminated

Open Ground TTL low 2 to C closed

1 terminated

8763A/B/C Ground Open TTL high 1 to 2 closed

3 to 4 closed

Open Ground TTL low 1 terminated

2 to 3 closed

4 open

8764A/B/C Ground Open TTL high 1 open

2 to 3 closed

4 to 5 closed

Open Ground TTL low 1 to 2 closed

3 to 4 closed

5 open

HIGH

LOW

Absolute max input

Minimum on state

Maximum off state

7.0V

3.0V

0.4V

0.0V

Table 1. Switching logic table

Figure 8. Control voltage states

1. Pin 1 is always at ground

2. See Figure 8 for control voltage states

Specifications

Agilent model numbers 8762A 8762B 8762C

8763A 8763B 8763C

8764A 8764B 8764C

Frequency range dc to 4 GHz dc to 18 GHz dc to 26.5 GHz

Insertion loss <0.20 dB, dc to 2 GHz <0.20 dB, dc to 2 GHz <0.25 dB, dc to 2 GHz

<0.25 dB, 2 to 4 GHz <0.50 dB, 2 to 18 GHz <0.50 dB, 2 to 18 GHz

<1.25 dB, 18 to 26.5 GHz

Isolation >100 dB, dc to 4 GHz >90 dB, dc to 18 GHz >90 dB, dc to 18 GHz

between ports >50 dB, 18 to 26.5 GHz

SWR through line <1.10, dc to 2 GHz <1.10, dc to 2 GHz <1.15, dc to 2 GHz

<1.20, 2 to 4 GHz <1.20, 2 to 12.4 GHz <1.25, 2 to 12.4 GHz

<1.30, 12.4 to 18 GHz <1.40, 12.4 to 18 GHz

<1.80, 18 to 26.5 GHz

Into internal <1.10, dc to 2 GHz <1.10, dc to 2 GHz <1.15, dc to 2 GHz

50Ωload <1.20, 2 to 4 <1.20, 2 to 12.4 GHz <1.25, 2 to 12.4 GHz

(8762s and 8763s) <1.30, 12.4 to 18 GHz

<1.80, 18 26.5 GHz

Connectors SMA (f) SMA (f) 3.5 mm (f)

Insertion loss repeatability

dc to 18 GHz 0.03 dB maximum 0.03 dB maximum 0.03 dB maximum

18 to 26.5 GHz 0.5 dB maximum

(Up to 1,000,000 cycles measured at 25° C)

General operating data

Maximum power rating 1 watt average; 100 watts peak (not to exceed average power rating); +7 Vdc

Life 1,000,000 cycles minimum

Switching solenoid Switching speed 30 ms maximum

Switch drive data

Parameter Test conditions Minimum Nominal Maximum Units

Supply voltage

Standard, Option T24 20 24 32 V

Option 015, Option T15 12 15 20 V

Option 011 4.5 5 7 V

Supply current Switching; pulse width ≥30 ms maximum

Standard, Option T24 @ Vcc = 24 Vdc 120 mA

Option 015, Option T15 @ Vcc = 15 Vdc 182 mA

Option 011 @ Vcc = 5 Vdc 400 mA

Impedance

Standard, Option T24 200 ohm

127 mH

Option 015, Option T15 82 ohm

57 mH

Option 11 13 ohm

8mH

Options T15 and T24

High-level input 3 V

Low-level input 0.4 V

Max high input current Vcc = Max 300 µA

Vinput = 7.0 Vdc

Supply current (quiescent) Vinput = 0.0 2.0 mA

Vinput = 7.0 50 µA

Environmental

Operating Humidity Vibration Shock

temperature 95% RH, 40°C, 0.05”, 50 g's,

–25° to +75°C 5 days 10 to 55 Hz 3 ms

Physical specifications

Dimensions: Per Figure 9

Weight: 245 g (9 oz.)

Dimensions in millimeters and (inches)

Figure 9. Product outlines

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Product specifications and descriptions in this

document subject to change without notice.

Agilent Technologies, Inc.

Printed in U.S.A. January 08, 2002

5952-1873E