Agilent L4445A
Microwave Switch/Attenuator Driver
Data Sheet
• LXI compliance includes
built-in Ethernet connectivity
• Fully-featured graphical
Web interface
• Control of most popular
microwave switches and
attenuators
• Expandable with 34945EXT
and attenuators are supported
through the distribution boards.
The distribution boards enable
fast and easy connection to the
microwave devices.
Microwave switch/attenuator
driver offers support of most
common microwave switches
with distribution boards for
• Distribution boards allow
for easy wiring
• Switch read-back capabilities
easy configuration
• External power option
The Agilent L4445A is a LXI
Class C compliant instrument
that controls external switches
and attenuators. With its small
size and Ethernet connectivity,
the switch/attenuator driver
can be placed wherever your
application needs it.
for simultaneous switching
Using this LXI instrument, you’ll
get all the benefits of an Ethernet
connection, instrument Web
server, standard software drivers
and more. The LXI standard is
supported by multiple vendors,
enabling lower cost of test with
accelerated test integration and
development.
• Software drivers for
most common programming
environments
The Agilent L4445A provides
digital outputs to control
switches, attenuators, and
other devices that are typically
used to route signals in a high
frequency system. Many of the
most popular microwave switches
Agilent Technologies
The optional GPIB interface
has many years of proven
reliability and can be used
for easy integration into
existing applications.
The L4445A ships with the
Agilent E2094 I/O Libraries
Suite making it easy for you to
configure and integrate instru-
ments into your system — even
if your system includes instru-
ments from multiple vendors.
Fully-featured graphical Web
interface makes it easy to set-up
and troubleshoot your tests from
anywhere in the world
Figure 1. The Web interface makes it easy to set up, troubleshoot and maintain
your test remotely
TM
Additionally, since the Web
server is built into the instru-
ment, you can access it on any
operating system that supports
the Web browser without
having to install any special
software. Password protection
and LAN lockout are also
provided to limit access for
additional security.
IVI and LabVIEW software
drivers that provide compati-
bility with the most popular
development environments:
The built-in Web browser
interface provides remote
access and control of the
instrument via a Java-enabled
browser such as Internet
Explorer. Using the Web
interface, you can set up,
troubleshoot, and maintain
your instrument from remote
locations.
• Agilent T&M Toolkit for
Microsoft Visual Studio®.NET
and Agilent VEE Pro
• National Instruments
LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI,
TestStand, and Switch
Manager
• View and modify
instrument setup
Software for most popular
programming environments
Full support for standard pro-
gramming environments
• Microsoft C/C++® and
Visual Basic®
• Configure switch channels
and switch pairs
ensures compatibility and effi-
ciency. You can use direct I/O
with the software you already
have and know, or use standard
• Open or close switches
• Send, receive and view
SCPI commands
• Define and execute
switch sequences
• View error queue
• Get status reports on
relay cycle counts, firmware
revisions, and more
3
High-performance switching wherever your application needs it
Y1150A-Y1155A distribution
boards ordered separately
9-pin cable
Power
button
Status LEDs
34945EXT
extender holds
4 distribution
boards
User supplied switches and cables
4
Product Specifications
Specifications and Characteristics
34945EXT switch drive
64 channels, low side drive mode
64 channels, TTL drive mode
Driver off voltage (max)
Driver off leakage current
Driver on current (max)
Driver on voltage (max)
30 V
500 uA
600 mA
0.5 V @ 600 mA
Hi output voltage
Lo output voltage
Lo input current
3 V @ Iout = 2 mA
0.4 V @ Iin = 20 mA
20 mA
34945EXT position indicator sense inputs
Channels
64
Lo input voltage (max)
Hi input voltage (min)
Input resistance
0.8 V
2.5 V
>100 kΩ @ Vin ≤ 5 V
>20 kΩ @ Vin > 5 V
30 V
Maximum input voltage
34945EXT switch drive power supply (34945EXT powered by 34945A)
Voltage
Current
24 V nominal
(external power supply
required for switches
needing different voltages)
100 mA continuous +
200 mA (15 ms pulse,
25% duty cycle)
34945EXT external power connection
LED indicator (Current mode divers)
Voltage range
Current limit
4.75 V to 30 V
2 A
Channels
64
Supply voltage
LED drive current
5 V nominal
5 mA nominal
(prog 1-20 mA)
0.8 V
Driver compliance voltage
Maximum 8 34945Ext’s per L4445A
5
Product Specifications (continued)
Memory
States
5 instrument states with user label in non-volatile memory
General specifications
Power supply
Universal 100 V to 240 V 10%
50 Hz to 60 Hz 10% automatically sensed
15 VA
Power line frequency
Power consumption
Operating Environment
Full accuracy for 0°C to 55°C
Full accuracy to 80% R.H. at 40 °C
Storage environment
-40°C to 70°C
Dimensions (H x W x L)
40.9 x 212.3 x 379.3 mm
1.61 x 8.36 x 14.93 in
34945EXT dimensions
38.1 x 114.3 x 284.5 mm
1.5 x 4.5 x 11.2 in
with distribution boards installed
Weight
3.6 kg, 8.0 lbs
Safety conforms to
EMC conforms to
Warranty
CSA, UL/IEC/EN 61010-1
IEC/EN 61326-1, CISPR 11
1 year
6
Product Specifications (continued)
Software
Agilent connectivity
software included
Agilent I/O Libraries Suite 14 or greater (E2094N)
Minimum system requirements
PC hardware
Intel Pentium 100 MHz, 64 Mbyte RAM, 210 Mbyte disk space
Display 800x600, 256 colors, CD-ROM drive
Operating system1
Windows 98 SE/NT/2000/XP
®
Computer interfaces
Standard LAN 10BaseT/100BaseTx
Optional IEEE 488.2 GPIB
Software driver support for programming languages
Software drivers
IVI-C and IVI-COM for Windows NT®/2000/XP
LabVIEW
Compatible with programming tools and environments
Agilent
VEE Pro
T&M Toolkit
(reqs Visual Studio.NET)
National Instruments
TestStand
Measurement Studio
LabWindows/CVI
LabVIEW
Switch Executive
Visual Studio.NET®
C/C++
Microsoft
Visual Basic 6®
1 Load I/O Libraries Version M for Windows NT support or version 14.0 for Windows 98 SE support
7
Here is the final recommended
configuration:
We recommend that the switch
be ordered with options for
24 V coils, position indicators,
and socket connectors. Since
24 V latching relays are speci-
fied, there is no need for an
external power supply. The
L4445A instrument can provide
power for a single 34945EXT.
Easy-to-build ribbon cables
can be built to interface each
of the switches to the Y1150A
and Y1152A distribution boards.
See the Application note:
Ordering information
Example configuration:
•(qty 2) 87206B DC-20 GHz
SP6T Switches
A test system is being built
that requires the following
Microwave Switching:
•(qty 8) N1810UL DC-20 GHz
SPDT Switches
•(qty 2) Agilent 87206B
SP6T Switches
•(qty 1) L4445A
Switch/Attenuator Driver
(when ordering the L4445A,
the 34945EXT is automatically
added for controlling switches)
•(qty 8) Agilent N1810UL
SPDT Switches
Select the quantity of distribu-
tion boards for the required
switches using the ordering
info below:
•(qty 2) Y1152A
Distribution Boards
Configuring an RF/ Microwave
Switch System (5989-2272EN)
for additional configuration
details.
•(qty1) Y1150A
Distribution Board
•Qty 2 Y1152A
Distribution boards
to control qty 2
87206B switches.
•Either build own cables using
off-the-shelf parts, or order
qty 1 Y1159A 16-to-16 pin
connect kit (supplies for 2
cables) and qty 2 Y1157A
9-to-10 pin cable kit
•Qty 1 Y1150A
Distribution board
to control qty 8
(supplies for 4 cables).
N1810UL switches.
Notice that each Y1152A can
also drive two N181x switches.
Therefore if you only needed
to drive 4 N1810 switches,
then you could have controlled
those switches via the Y1152A
distribution boards already
selected.
8
L4445A Accessories
Cable kits for connecting
Ordering information (Continued)
Distribution boards are required
for control of external switches.
One 34945EXT external driver
required for each 64 coils –
holds 4 distribution boards
per 34945EXT extender
switches to distribution boards:
L4445A Microwave Switch/
Attenuator driver
Includes User’s guide on CD,
test report, power cord, and
Quick Start package
Y1157A
9-to-10 pin cable kit for
Y1150A, Y1152A, Y1154A -
supplies to build 4 cables
Y1158A
Y1150A
Option -GPIB
Adds GPIB interface
10-to-10/10-to-14 pin cable kit
for Y1153A, Y1154A -
supplies to build 2 cables
34945EXT distribution board
for 8 N181x SPDT switches
Option 0B0
Y1151A
Deletes printed manual set,
full documentation included
on CD ROM
Y1159A
34945EXT distribution board
for two 87104x/106x multiport
or 87406B matrix switches
16-to-16 pin cable kit for
Y1150A/51A/52A/53A/54A/55A-
supplies to build 2 cables
Option ABA
Y1152A
English printed manual set
34945EXT distribution board
for one 87204x/206x or 87606B
switch and two N181x switches
Other accessories
Y1160A
Rack mount kit for
L4400 series instruments-
racks 2 instruments side-by-side
with sliding tray
Y1153A
34945EXT distribution board
for two 84904/5/6/7/8 or
8494/5/6 step attenuators
For additional information
please visit:
http://www.agilent.com/find/L4445A
Y1154A
34945EXT distribution board
for two 87222 transfer switches
and six N181x SPDT switches
Y1155A
34945A distribution board
w/ generic screw terminals
for driving 16 switch coils
9
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Data Sheets
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Switzerland (German) 0800 80 53 53 (Opt 1)
United Kingdom 44 (0) 118 9276201
41 (21) 8113811(Opt 2)
5988-6302EN
Agilent VEE Pro
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Agilent W1140A-TKT
Other European Countries:
Revised: May 7, 2007
T&M Toolkit 2.0 with
Test Automation
5989-1439EN
Agilent E2094N
I/O Libraries Suite 14
Product specifications and descriptions
in this document subject to change
without notice.
5989-2272EN
Configuring an
RF/Microwave Switch System
© Agilent Technologies, Inc. 2007
Printed in USA, May 17, 2007
5989-4828EN
Agilent Technologies
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