<s>
An	O
RF	B-Algorithm
switch	I-Algorithm
matrix	I-Algorithm
is	O
an	O
array	O
of	O
RF	B-Algorithm
switches	I-Algorithm
arranged	O
to	O
route	O
radio	O
frequency	O
(	O
RF	O
)	O
signals	O
between	O
multiple	O
inputs	O
and	O
multiple	O
outputs	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
In	O
addition	O
to	O
signal	O
routing	O
,	O
the	O
RF/Microwave	O
Switch	O
Matrix	O
may	O
also	O
contain	O
signal	O
conditioning	O
components	O
including	O
passive	O
signal	O
conditioning	O
devices	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
attenuators	O
,	O
filters	B-Architecture
,	O
and	O
directional	O
couplers	O
,	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
active	O
signal	O
conditioning	O
,	O
such	O
as	O
amplification	O
and	O
frequency	O
converters	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
Switch	O
Matrix	O
is	O
made	O
up	O
of	O
discrete	O
electronic	O
components	O
including	O
RF	B-Algorithm
switches	I-Algorithm
and	O
signal	O
conditioners	O
that	O
are	O
mounted	O
together	O
in	O
a	O
mechanical	O
infrastructure	O
or	O
housing	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
leaves	O
test	O
system	O
designers	O
with	O
two	O
choices	O
for	O
their	O
switch	O
matrix	O
design	O
:	O
Insourcing	O
or	O
outsourcing	B-Architecture
.	O
</s>
<s>
Proprietary	B-Device
concerns	O
are	O
a	O
big	O
issue	O
especially	O
in	O
the	O
Aerospace	O
Defense	O
industry	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Creating	O
a	O
switch	O
matrix	O
in-house	B-Architecture
removes	O
this	O
issue	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Solid	O
state	O
switches	O
come	O
in	O
three	O
types	O
:	O
PIN	O
diode	O
,	O
FET	B-Application
,	O
and	O
hybrid	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
This	O
custom	O
switch	O
matrix	O
would	O
employ	O
14	O
EM	O
switches	O
and	O
a	O
number	O
of	O
different	O
signal	O
conditioners	O
including	O
:	O
power	O
splitters	O
,	O
amplifiers	O
,	O
mixers	O
,	O
filters	B-Architecture
,	O
and	O
attenuators	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
RF	B-Algorithm
Switch	I-Algorithm
Matrices	O
are	O
also	O
used	O
heavily	O
in	O
the	O
Television	O
Broadcast	O
market	O
for	O
the	O
reception	O
and	O
re-broadcast	O
of	O
TV	O
Channels	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
The	O
RF	B-Algorithm
Switch	I-Algorithm
Matrix	I-Algorithm
allows	O
channel	O
changes	O
to	O
be	O
made	O
remotely	O
,	O
without	O
any	O
interruptions	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Software	O
Control	O
:	O
A	O
software	B-Application
driver	I-Application
will	O
need	O
to	O
be	O
developed	O
to	O
provide	O
an	O
interface	O
between	O
the	O
control	O
hardware	O
and	O
test	O
system	O
program	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
Test	O
equipment	O
manufacturers	O
offer	O
instruments	O
that	O
provide	O
a	O
power	O
supply	O
,	O
driver	O
circuitry	O
,	O
and	O
software	B-Application
drivers	I-Application
that	O
essentially	O
saves	O
a	O
test	O
system	O
designer	O
time	O
and	O
cost	O
by	O
eliminating	O
two	O
of	O
the	O
six	O
switch	O
matrix	O
design	O
challenges	O
:	O
power	O
and	O
control	O
hardware	O
design	O
as	O
well	O
as	O
software	B-Application
driver	I-Application
development	O
.	O
</s>
<s>
These	O
new	O
products	O
offer	O
test	O
system	O
designers	O
a	O
power	O
supply	O
,	O
driver	O
circuitry	O
,	O
and	O
software	B-Application
drivers	I-Application
all	O
wrapped	O
together	O
in	O
a	O
mainframe	O
.	O
</s>
