EADS North America Defense Test & Services Unveils the Racal Instruments Adapt-a-Switch PXI® Product Line

Irvine California, September 15, 2005 - Building upon the versatility of its Adapt-a-Switch® high-density product line, historically used in VXI, GPIB or Ethernet testing environments, EADS North America Defense Test & Services now offers its first release of Adapt-a-Switch PXI modules: eleven switch and four digital I/O modules for use in the PXI/cPCI test environment. Utilizing a Racal Instruments designed PXI carrier, these modules can be used in a PXI chassis without any modifications to the module itself. The carrier allows the modules to extend beyond the front of the PXI chassis, thereby ensuring that the modules take advantage of the available service area between the front of the chassis and the cable/test receiver.

"Now PXI integrators no longer need to choose between low current ratings and low channel counts," stated Kevin Leduc, Director, Instruments Business Unit. "The modules' extended 12.1" depth provides greater density and functionality, including high-speed data transfer, high channel count and high switching ratings compared to typical PXI switch models. Higher performance equals greater value."

Four (4) versions of Racal Instruments 1260-1114, high-density, digital I/O modules are being released. With either 96 TTL, CMOS, or OC (open-collector) I/O's or 48 high-voltage/high-current OC I/O's, this module is ideal for a wide variety of test applications. It is perfect for military applications such as power switching in field-level or depot-level ATE power supply control. It is also applicable in microprocessor-based I/O digital signal acquisition and processing specific to the semiconductor manufacturing industry for board-level test verifications. Priced from $1,345.00 with stock to 6-week delivery.

With seven (7) standard versions, the high-density switch matrix, Racal Instruments 1260-1145, provides passive monitoring capability of up to 144 cross points. This switch module, ideal for differential applications, i.e. long signal lengths and signal loss or noise-level concerns, is perfect for automotive system-level testing such as airbag deployment where signal loss concerns due to long signal paths must be addressed. In addition, signal connection paths can be easily changed via software without having to manually change the externally provided signals. Priced at $1,745.00 with stock to 6-week delivery.

Racal Instruments 1260-1138A is a 64-channel, 2-wire scanner/multiplexer, with each 1 x 8 MUX reconfigurable and expandable by constructing many combinations of larger multiplexers. Its differential signal input along with single-ended capability provides high signal integrity for audio, telecom, and datacom applications. Useful for continuity testing, bandwidth applications, and/or signal integrity applications, it is suitable for the automotive industry. Priced at $1,375.00 with stock to 3-week delivery.

With coaxial or multi-pin connectors, 500 MHz bandwidth, electromechanical I/O's that are bi-directional, low channel crosstalk, low channel insertion loss, and high channel isolation, Racal Instruments 1260-1150, is ideal for RF applications such as passive interface with function generators, arbitrary waveform generators, pulse generators, universal counters, and/or even high-speed or fast-pulsed signals. Priced at $2,675.00 with stock to 6-week delivery.

Racal Instruments 1260-1118, is a switch module ideal for general purpose, universal applications that require fundamental signal switching. An 80 channel, 2A, 300 VAC/VDC, 100 MHz, SPST switch, it is the ideal choice for a wide-range of passive signal switching applications. Priced at $945.00 with stock to
6-week delivery.

And, last but not least, Racal Instruments 1260-1120 is a 20-channel SPST switch with high individual 10ADC/13AAC switch ratings. Its maximum 300 W or 125 VDC/250 VAC input range makes it ideal for AC or DC power switching, especially for situations where high current requirements cannot be met by general purpose switching. Priced at $1,210.00 with stock to 6-week delivery.

Each of the released modules includes one of the company's standard Adapt-a-Switch plug-ins, which can be re-hosted to VXI, GPIB, Ethernet, and RS-232 platforms using Racal Instruments' available carriers and mainframes. The PXI carrier, however, will also be sold separately to ensure that our customers who have already purchased the Adapt-a-Switch modules can obtain the added versatility of being able to use their current modules in the PXI test environment.

About EADS North America Defense Test & Services
EADS North America Defense Test & Services designs, manufactures, sells, and services electronic test and measurement equipment, systems, and software to leading high-technology customers throughout the world. The company offers an extensive range of products and services, from modular instruments to turnkey automatic test systems, which are ideal for use in a wide variety of applications, including commercial functional test and measurement, laser diode burn-in and production, microcomputer production, and jet engine test. EADS North America Defense Test & Services is an industry leader in providing automatic test solutions and service excellence to military and civil aerospace automatic test markets. The company works with core customers to define test requirements and deliver support solutions by providing general purpose ATE products, designing and building unique ATE, enhancing and integrating software offerings, and establishing nationwide OEM and military test engineering services. Among the key market sectors the company serves are Military, Aerospace, Marine, Medical, Telecommunications, Semiconductor, and Commercial Manufacturing.

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