IOtech Joins LXI Consortium

By DE Editors

IOtech (Cleveland,OH) has joined the recently formed LXI Consortium standardsorganization. LXI - LAN eXtensions for Instrumentation - is anext-generation, LAN-based modular platform architecture for automatedtest systems.

Introduced by Agilent Technologies and VXI Technologyin September, LXI combines elements of GPIB instruments and VXImodules. With LXI engineers are said to get the reduced size of VXI,the throughput of LAN, and the performance measurements of GPIB. LXIdoes not require a cardcage, nor a slot 0, nor does it require anexpensive PC-to-instrument communications link.

LXI modules are full-rack width, 1U tall or half-rack width, 1U or 2Utall. Signals enter and exit the module from its front panel while LAN(IEEE 802.3), power, and trigger cables are on the back of the module.All modules are designed to mount in a standard 19-inch rack or stackedon the bench.

The LXI Consortium, a not-for-profit corporation, seeks to develop,support, and promote the LXI standard. LXI’s compact size and operationcharacteristics should make it well suited to meet the needs ofaerospace defense engineers developing radar, electronic warfare,satellite, and military communications systems.

IOtech’s commitment to the consortium brings to 14 the number ofcompanies officially committed, with additional membership commitmentsexpected. Among the other members of the LXI Consortium are Aeroflex,Analogic, Bruel and Kjaer, California Instruments, Elgar ElectronicsCorp., Keithley Instruments, Measurement Computing Corp., Phase Matrix,Pickering Interfaces, and Teradyne.

For more on IOtech, click here. Go to the LXI Consortium website for complete details.