Down Converter Hardware Development in a PXI (PCI (Peripheral Component Interconnect) Extensions for Instrumentation) Form Factor

As a result of Phase Matrix Inc.’s Phase I investigative studies, a 3U Down Converter solution employing a family of five PXI modules (occupying 10 physical PXI slots) was formulated which when integrated with a commercial off the shelf (cots) PXI digitizer and system controller provides a twelve slot Measurement Hardware Emulator (MHE) solution covering the DOD application frequency band of 100 KHz - 26.5 GHz. The family of PXI modules is also capable of being configured into 5 slot and 7 slot configurations in support of commercial applications in the 100 KHz – 2.9 GHz and 2.7 to 26.5 GHz frequency bands respectively. During Phase II, Phase Matrix will develop, demonstrate, and validate the Down Converter family of five PXI modules in the context of a Synthetic Instrumentation environment. The demonstration will encompass the validation of both low frequency (i.e., frequency/time based measurements) and RF/MW measurement (i.e., amplitude & phase) capabilities of a twelve slot 100KHz-26.5 GHz MHE housed in a commercial off the shelf (cots) PXI chassis. Detailed Phase III transition plans for both commercialization and Navy/DOD dual use application will also be formulated during the Phase II development phase in anticipation of transitioning the technology to Phase III.