34970A and 3499A/B/C

Switch Systems
Product Overview Which would be best for your application?

34970A

3499A/B/C
 Module and Mainframe
Selection
The 34970A and 3499A/B/C each
have a set of modules that can be
plugged into the mainframes. The
modules offer different types and
total number of switches and/or
measurement inputs and outputs.
You are able to select the modules
that provide the best solution to
Introduction the switch and measurement needs
of your specific application.

The 34970A Data Acquisition/Switch Unit and the 3499A/B/C The 34970A System offers 8 different
Switch/Control System are both very popular Agilent products. plug-in modules. The modules
include both low-frequency and RF
Both systems offer a great solution for switching applications but multiplexers, a matrix switch, a
they each have differentiating features that will make them better general-purpose switch, and a mul-
tifunction module that includes dig-
suited to specific applications. With this general product overview
ital input/output,
you should have a better idea of what the 34970A and 3499A/B/C analog output,
and totalizer
products are, what they are capable of, and which one is the
capabilities.
best choice for your application. Module and mainframe selection,
The 3499 Family offers a selection of
user interface and measurements, module connections, and
30 different plug-in modules includ-
system cost are the topics covered. ing multiplexer, fiber-optical
multiplexer, general-purpose relay,
matrix, digital I/O, VHF module, RF
module, Microwave module, Form-C
relay, and three multifunction mod-
ules. The 3499A/B/C mainframes
are also compatible with the earlier
generation HP 3488A
Switch/Control Unit
modules (4447xx).

2
The size of the 34970A and 3499A, of channels available when a high The modules available for the
3499B, and 3499C mainframes channel count, 2-wire multiplexer 34970A and the 3499A/B/C are
enable them to accommodate a module is installed in every avail- listed below in Table 2. As you can
specific number of modules. The able slot. The 34970A and see from the chart there are many
34970A mainframe provides 3 slots 3499A/B/C are best suited for appli- different types of switch modules to
for modules to be installed. The cations with less than 60 channels choose from. You can easily identify
3499A, 3499B and 3499C differ only up to 360 channels. For applications a module or modules that provides
in the number of slots that are avail- with a channel count greater than the best solution your test applica-
able for modules. The 3499A can 360 channels, VXI switching is tion needs. For more specific
accommodate up to 5 modules. The recommended. Information on module specifications please refer
3499B can accommodate 2 modules. Agilent VXI switching can be found to the product data sheets at:
The 3499C has been designed with 9 at www.agilent.com/find, then enter www.agilent.com/find/3499 and/or
electrical connections for modules, System Switches. www.agilent.com/find/34970A.
and enough physical space for 14
modules. The additional space in Table 2. Modules
the 3499C mainframe enables the Module Type 34970A 3499A/B/C

2- or 3-slot RF and Optics modules Multiplexer 34901A 20 Ch armature N2260A 40 Ch armature

34902A 20 Ch reed N2266A 40 Ch reed
to be plugged in without giving up
34908A 40 Ch 1 wire armature N2270A 10 Ch 1000V
a usable slot. The combination of an 44470A 10 Ch
individual module channel count, 44470D 20 Ch
and the total number of modules General Purpose 34903A 20 Ch N2261A 40 Ch
that can be installed in one main- N2267A 8 Ch, 8A
44471A 10 Ch
frame determines the total number 44471D 20 Ch
of channels available for an appli- 44477A 7 Ch SPDT (Form C)
cation. Table 1 (below) gives you an Matrix 34904A 4x8 N2262A 4x8
idea of the maximum number of 44473A 4x4
channels possible for each main- Digital I/O N2263A 32-bit TTL
frame by showing the total number 44474A 16-bit TTL
Multifunction 34907A Two 8-bit Dig I/O, N2264A 12 GP, 3 GP 5A, 16-bit Dig I/O
26-bit Event Counter, N2265A 4x4 matrix, 16-bit Dig I/O
Table 1. Mainframes Two 16-bit Analog out N2269A 2 DAC, 16-bit Dig I/O
Mainframe Mainframe # of Module Maximum Fiber-Optical N2280A Quad 1x2
Size Slots # of Channels
(2-wire) Multiplexer N2281A Dual 1x4
34970A 1/ Rack 3 60 N2282A Single 1x8
2
2U RF & Microwave 34905A Dual 4 Ch 2G 50 Ω N2268A Dual 1x4 3.5G 50 Ω
3499B 1/
2 Rack 2 80 34906A Dual 4 Ch 2G 75 Ω N2272A Single 1x9 1.0G 50 Ω
2U N2276A Dual 1x6 20G 50 Ω
3499A Full Rack 5 200 N2276B Relay driver (2 switches)
2U 44472A Dual 1x4 300M 50 Ω
3499C Full Rack 9 360 44478A Dual 1x4 1.3G 50 Ω
5U (electrical) 44478B Dual 1x4 1.3G 75 Ω
14 44476A Triple 1x2 18G 50 Ω
(physical) 44476B Relay driver (2 switches)

3
Controlling the Switch Systems
and Making Measurements Scanning & Monitoring
The 34970A and 3499A/B/C both the Plug&Play driver. BenchLink The 34970A allows you to combine
use switching plug-in modules to Data Logger is a PC-based software a DMM (either internal or exter-
route signals to and from your test that comes with the 34970A. The nal) with the multiplexer channels
system or multiplex signals to BenchLink Data Logger software to create a scan. During a scan,
external instruments. Measure- provides an easy way to set-up a the instrument connects the DMM
ments and instrument control test to acquire measurement data. to the configured multiplexer
capabilities of the 34970A and The 34970A can store the data or channels one at a time and makes
3499A/B/C are what really differ- it can perform real-time display a measurement on each channel.
entiate the products from one and analysis of the incoming Automatic scanning and channel
another. The measurement capabil- measurements. These user inter- monitoring can be started by man-
ities, control, monitoring ability, faces can be used to make meas- ually pressing a front-panel button,
and channel-scan rates for each of urements, control switch states, by sending a software command,
the systems are included in this or implement the scan and/or an external TTL trigger pulse, an
section. Comparing this informa- monitor features. alarm-initiated action, or an inter-
tion to the needs of your applica- nally paced timer. During a scan
tion will make it easy for you to Measurements & Alarms you can store up to 50,000 readings
identify which one of these sys- The 34970A mainframe includes a in non-volatile memory. Each time
tems is best for your application. DMM that works in conjunction a new scan is started the 34970A
with the Multiplexer plug-in mod- clears all the reading stored in
34970A ules 34901A, 34902A, and 34908A. memory from the previous scan.
User Interface Up to 11 different measurements
(listed below) and engineering unit Since the 34970A switching is per-
The 34970A is easy to manually
conversions can be made using formed as a scanner where only
control by pushing front-panel
these modules in the 34970A. The one channel is closed at any time,
buttons, or program using SCPI
34970A also has the capability to it may be important to your test
(Standard Commands for Program-
flag any out-of range measurements system to achieve or exceed a spe-
mable Instruments) commands, or
by comparing the input signals with cific scan rate. Switching scan
four different configurable limits rates for the 34970A modules are
and activating an alarm. shown in Table 3 at right. The
measurement scan rates vary
34970A Measurements depending on the type of measure-
ment being made. See the 34970A
• Temperature measured with
data sheet for measurement scan
Thermocouples, RTDs, and
rate details.
Thermistors
• DC and AC volts Continuous monitoring of a select-
• 2- and 4-wire Resistance ed channel, configured for meas-
urement, scan or digital I/O, can
• Frequency and Period
be displayed even during a scan.
• DC and AC current The 34970A takes readings on the
• 4 alarms for High/Low or both single channel as often as it can.
limits for each channel The readings displayed by the
• Digital I/O monitor are not stored in memory
but the readings concurrently
• Analog outputs (DAC)
taken during a scan will be stored
in memory.

4
3499A/B/C
User Interface
The 3499A/B/C is easy to manually scan list. Once a scan is set up, A single channel can be monitored
control by pushing front-panel the user can select an arm source, continuously even during an
buttons, or program using SCPI a trigger source, the number of instrument scan.
(Standard Commands for Program- sweeps, and the delay time for
mable Instruments) commands, each individual channel. The 3499A/B/C is able to store
HP 3488A commands or the con- and recall instrument setups. The
venient Plug&Play or IVI drivers. The 3499A/B/C monitor feature instrument setups include the sta-
The 3499A/B/C user interfaces allows users to continuously moni- tus of relay channels, and/or the
can control switch states as well tor a selected switch or module static digital I/O state, module con-
as implement the scan and moni- status from the front display. The figuration, as well as scanning
toring features. 3499A/B/C status can be a specific setups (scan lists, arm count,
switching channel, a digital I/O arm source, etc.). Table 3 below
port, or the state of all switches or includes the scan rates for the
digital I/O on one plug-in module. 34970A and 3499A/B/C modules.

Table 3. 34970A and 3499A/B/C module scan rates

34970A 3499A/B/C
Module Type Modules Scan Rate Modules Scan Rate
Ch/s Ch/s

Measurements Multiplexer 34901A 20 Ch armature 120 N2260A 40 Ch armature 80

34902A 20 Ch reed 120 N2266A 40 Ch reed 350
The 3499A/B/C provides a wide 34908A 40 Ch 1 70 N2270A 10 Ch 1000V 100
wire armature 44470A 10 Ch 43
assortment of switch capability as
44470D 20 Ch 43
well as Digital I/O and DAC. The
General 34903A 20 Ch 120 N2261A 40 Ch 80
3499A/B/C is a valued component
Purpose N2267A 8 Ch, 8A 20
in electronics test systems for Switch 44471A 10 Ch 43
connecting instruments such as 44471D 20 Ch 43
DMMs, counters, spectrum analyz- 44477A 7 Ch SPDT 43
(Form C)
ers, LCR meters, signal sources,
Matrix 34904A 4x8 120 N2262A 4x8 80
power supplies and oscilloscopes.
44473A 4x4 43
The 3499A/B/C can also be used
Digital I/O N2263A 32-bit TTL
for applications that require 44474A 16-bit TTL
microwave, and optics switching.
Multifunction 34907A Two 8-bit Dig I/O, N2264A 12 GP, 3 GP 5A, 80
Innovative parallel driving circuits 26-bit Event Counter, 16-bit Dig I/O
are used in the 3499A/B/C mod- Two 16-bit Analog out N2265A 4x4 matrix, 80
ules to open/close switches simul- 16-bit Dig I/O
N2269A 2 DAC, 80
taneously, which significantly 16-bit Dig I/O
increases test throughput. The
Fiber-Optical N2280A Quad 1x2 50
3499A/B/C does not have an inter- Multiplexer N2281A Dual 1x4 40
nal integrated DMM for making N2282A Single 1x8 4
measurements as the 34970A does. RF & 34905A Dual 4 Ch 2G 50 Ω 60 N2268A Dual 1x4 3.5G 50 Ω 20
Microwave 34906A Dual 4 Ch 2G 75 Ω 60 N2272A Single 1x9 1.0G 50 Ω
Scanning & Monitoring N2276A Dual 1x6 20G 50 Ω 40
N2276B Relay Driver 40
The 3499A/B/C can be program- (2 switches)
med to perform a channel scan, or 44472A Dual 1x4 300M 50 Ω 43
44478A Dual 1x4 1.3G 50 Ω 43
channel monitoring either from
44478B Dual 1x4 1.3G 75 Ω 43
the front panel, or by using software 44476A Triple 1x2 18G 50 Ω 43
commands. Up to 200 channels 44476B Relay driver 43
(2 switches)
and/or bits can be included in one

5
Switch and Measurement
Connections
34970A
Some test systems must be easily The 34970A has simplified the cables can be ordered in addition
moved or modified for different choice of how to wire the modules to the modules. The ability to
devices under test. Having a by integrating on-board screw order the terminals separately
removable wiring terminal or a terminal connectors. enables the user to purchase dedi-
pre-wired cable would be optimal cated terminals for different appli-
for this type of application. The cations so the terminal will not
terminal or cable can simply be need to be re-wired if the same
swapped or moved to the new test system is used for different
test configuration and will prevent applications. Other modules such
the need to rewire a terminal for as the 4447xx, or Optics, Micro-
each application. wave, and RF modules include the
terminals (i.e. SMA, BNC…) for
Other test systems can be config-
application specific connections.
ured once and may be slightly
See the 3499A/B/C data sheet for
modified as time goes on and the
specific module wiring connection
need changes. In this case it would 3499A/B/C details at www.agilent.com/find/3499.
be easiest to connect wires directly
The 3499A/B/C modules offer
to the module. The type of wiring
flexibility in terminal wiring with
connections offered by the 34970A
different types of terminals and
and 3499A/B/C are very different
cables available. Many of the mod-
and may be a key consideration for
ules, N22XXX, allow the user a
your application.
choice of screw terminal, crimp &
insert terminal, or a DIN96 to quad
D25, or dual D50 cables. Since a
choice of the type of wiring con-
nection is available the terminals/

3499A/B/C Switch Modules

3499A/B/C Terminals

6
System Costs Summary

If you have not found a differenti- Both the 3499A/B/C and 34970A
ating factor between the 34970A are excellent choices for pure
and the 3499A/B/C that would switching applications. The prod-
convince you one is the right prod- ucts also offer flexibility in config-
uct for your application perhaps uration or size that would provide
cost would be that deciding factor. you a great switch solution and
at a good value.
34970A
The 34970A can be a low cost solu- The 34970A Data Acquisition/Switch
tion to 60 Channels or less switch- Unit is typically used in R&D
ing. The mainframe can be ordered and/or Manufacturing Test applica-
with an option to remove the inter- tions. It is a flexible instrument
nal DMM which reduces the price and can be used for data logging,
as a data acquisition system,
significantly if measurements are
and/or a switch system. Test appli-
not needed. The inclusion of the
cations with up to 60 channels,
wiring terminals on the modules
and low to medium sample rates
also allows the 34970A to provide
are easily addressed by the 34970A.
a low cost solution.
The 34970A can also be used for
3499A/B/C applications requiring transducer-
based measurements such as ther-
The 3499A/B/C offers a wide
mocouple or strain.
selection of both mainframes,
modules, and terminals/cables. The 3499A/B/C Switch/Control
The wide selection enables solu- System offers high channel count
tions for applications from 60 switching for various types of
to 360 channel applications and switches. The 3499A/B/C can be
specialized switching such as used in Engineering Test systems
RF, microwave and optics. The for R&D and/or manufacturing
3499A/B/C is an affordable solu- to switch many test instruments
tion for a wide range of applica- in a single system.
tions. The product versatility the
3499A/B/C offers spans a range The switching topologies used
of prices and is better deter- are matrices, multiplexers and
mined by selecting 3499 compo- independent signal-quality
nents for specific applications. switch closures.

7
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