USB Coaxial Switches for RF & Microwave Test and Measurement Applications

Coaxial switches are commonly used in applications where RF signal routing is required between one or more locations, via some form of switch driving hardware (to power the switch) and software/firmware (to navigate the various switch paths). Depending on the complexity of the switching matrix, a considerable amount of setup and configuration will be required. With the advent of USB, widely recognized for its capability to power up and having a standard set of embedded drivers in most operating systems (OS), creating a fully standalone USB switch provides an economically viable alternative for everyday switching needs. This solution which is literally a pure plug-andplay device, will save precious development time and hardware setup costs especially for R&D and design validation groups. This application note describes features and application examples of a USB coaxial switch, and various options for measuring multiple devices under test (DUT) or performing multiple tasks with a single connection.