Mini-Circuits U2C-1SP2T-63VH, USB-2SP2T-DCH, USB-4SP2T-63H, USB-1SP8T-63H, USB-1SP16T-83H User Manual

AN-49-012 Rev.:B (January 10, 2019) M171660 (R94356) File: AN-49-012(B).doc
This document and its contents are the property of Mini-Circuits

User Guide

USB/I2C/SPI/TTL High Isolation Solid State

RF Switch Modules

Important Notice

This guide is owned by Mini-Circuits and is protected by copyright, trademark
and other intellectual property laws.

The information in this guide is provided by Mini-Circuits as an accommodation
to our customers and may be used only to promote and accompany the
purchase of Mini-Circuits’ Parts. This guide may not be reproduced, m odif ied,
distributed, published, stored in an electronic database, or transmitted and the
information contained herein may not be exploited in any form or by any means,
electronic, mechanical recording or otherwise, without prior written perm ission
from Mini-Circuits.

This guide is subject to change, qualifications, variations, adjustments or
modifications without notice and may contain errors, omissions, inaccuracies,
mistakes or deficiencies. Mini-Circuits assumes no responsibility for, and will
have no liability on account of, any of the foregoing. Accordingly, this guide
should be used as a guideline only.

Trademarks

Microsoft, Windows, Visual Basic, Visual C# and Visual C++ are registered
trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. LabVIEW and CVI are registered
trademarks of National Instruments Corporation. Delphi is a registered
trademark of Delphi Technologies, Inc. MATLAB is a registered trademark of
The MathWorks, Inc. Agilent VEE is a registered trademark of Agilent
Technologies, Inc. Linux is a registered trademark of Linus Torvalds. Mac is a
registered trademark of Apple Inc. Python is a registered trademark of Python
Software Foundation Corporation.

All other trademarks cited within this guide are the property of their respective
owners. Neither Mini-Circuits nor the Mini-Circuits solid state RF switches are
affiliated with or endorsed or sponsored by the owners of the above referenced
trademarks.

Mini-Circuits and the Mini-Circuits logo are registered trademarks of Scientific
Components Corporation.

Mini-Circuits

13 Neptune Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11235, USA
Phone: [phone]
Email: [e-mail]
Web: www.minicircuits.com

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AN-49-012 Rev.: (January 10, 2019) M171660 (R94356) File: AN-49-012(B).doc
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Table of Contents

Chapter 1 – General Information ......................................................... 5-8

1.1 Scope of the User Guide ..................................................................................... 5

1.2 Warranty ............................................................................................................. 5

1.3 Definitions ........................................................................................................... 5

1.4 General safety precautions ................................................................................. 5

1.5 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 5

1.6 Service and Calibration ....................................................................................... 6

1.7 Contact Information ............................................................................................. 6

1.8 Technical description ....................................................................................... 6-8

1.8.1 Features of Mini-Circuits ........................................................................................... 6

1.8.2 Model Selection Guide ............................................................................................... 7

1.8.3 Intended Applications ................................................................................................. 7

1.8.4 Conformity .................................................................................................................. 7

1.8.5 Supported Software environments ............................................................................. 7

1.8.6 Included Accessories and Options ............................................................................. 8

Chapter 2 – Installation and Setup .................................................... 9-12

2.1 Software Setup ................................................................................................... 9

2.2 Installation .................................................................................................... 10-11

2.3 Switch control and power Setup .................................................................. 12-14

2.3.1 USB Control ............................................................................................................. 12

2.3.2 I2C Control (for U2C models) ................................................................................... 12

2.3.3 SPI Control (U2C-1SP2T-63VH only) ...................................................................... 13

2.3.4 TTL Control (USB-1SP16T-83H only) ...................................................................... 14

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Table of Contents

Chapter 3 – Using Mini-Circuits' GUI ............................................. 15-22

3.1 USB interface ............................................................................................... 15-16

3.2 Sequence Mode ........................................................................................... 17-19

3.3 Firmware update & recovery ....................................................................... 20- 22

Chapter 4 – Revision history ................................................................ 23

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AN-49-012 Rev.: (January 10, 2019) M171660 (R94356) File: AN-49-012(B).doc
This document and its contents are the property of Mini-Circuits

1 Chapter 1 – General Information

1.1 Scope of the User Guide

This user guide provides general introduction, installation instruct i ons and operating information
for Mini-Circuits USB high isolation (H-series) solid state switch modules. For information on
Mini-Circuits USB/Ethernet mechanical switches please see:

https://www.minicircuits.com/app/AN49-002.pdf

For information on USB-SP4T-63 solid state switch see:

https://www.minicircuits.com/app/AN49-009.pdf

1.2 Warranty

See Mini-Circuits website http://www.minicircuits.com/support/ordering.html for warranty
information.

1.3 Definitions

Note: A note advises on important information you may need to ensure proper operation of the equipment.

There is no risk to either the equipment or the user.

A caution advises about a condition or procedure which can cause damage to the
equipment (no danger to users).

A warning alerts to a possible risk to the user and steps to avoid it. DO NOT proceed
until you are sure you understand the warning.

1.4 General safety precautions

Please observe the following safety precautions at al l times when using Mini-Circuits USB
RF switch modules.

Ensure that all instruments using mains power supply are properly grounded to
prevent risk of electrical shock.

1. Do not attempt to switch signals of greater power than the switch is rated for in its
datasheet.

2. Safe power input degrades below specified frequency range. Do not input signals
below the specified frequency range.

1.5 Introduction

Mini-Circuits has developed a new series of solid state USB RF switch modules in rugged, low
profile cases. Switches covering DC to 8GHz with up to 4 switches in a unit of various types
from SPDT to SP16T are available. Despite being solid state switches with the high speed and
reliability expected from such switches Mini-Circuits’ USB solid state switch modules also
provide very high isolation (80 - 110 dB depending on model) and can handle up t o 4 W power
terminated internally.
The switches can be controlled via the supplied GUI, or most common lab test soft ware using
supplied DLLs. Mini-Circuits even provides the command codes for direct control (See
programming guide for details) and also have addit i onal control methods from direct parallel
control at TTL voltage to SPI allowing many unit s t o be connected in a daisy chain.

CAUTION

WARNING

WARNING

CAUTION

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This document and its contents are the property of Mini-Circuits

1.6 Service and Calibration

The solid state switch modules do not require any periodic service or calibration. The only user
service possible for the switch is external cleani ng of the case and connectors as needed. Do
not use any detergents or spray cleaning solution s t o clean the switch. To clean the connectors
use an alcohol solution, and to clean the case a soft, damp cloth.

1.7 Contact Information

Mini-Circuits inc.
13 Neptune Ave
Brooklyn, NY 11235
Phone: [phone]
General Fax: [phone]
Sales / Customer Service Fax: [phone]

[e-mail]

For regional offices and tech support see

http://www.minicircuits.com/contact/offices.html

1.8 Technical description

1.8.1 Features of Mini-Circuits Switch modules

• Absorptive solid state switch

• Wide band frequency range (model dependant).

• High speed switching

• Electronic switching; high isolation; high reliability, life not related t o s w itching cycles.

• High power handling (model depend ent)

• All RF ports SMA(F)

• Programmable, timed switching sequence

• Easy GUI installation and operation, simplif ies complex switching and timing setups

• USB HID ”plug & play” device

• ActiveX com object and .Net class library for use with other software: C++, C#, CVI

®

, Delphi®, LabVIEW®
8 or newer, MATLAB® 7 or newer, Python, Agilent VEE®, Visual Basic®, Visual Studio® 6 or newer, and
more(see programming manual and application note

AN-49-001 for details)

• User friendly Graphical User Interface for any Windows® 32 or 64 bit computer command line support
for Linux

®

computers

• All power via USB

For Additional details, performance data and gra phs, outline drawing, ordering information and
environmental specifications, see our catalog at:

https://www.minicircuits.com/WebStore/PortableTestEquipment.html

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1.8.2 Model Selection Guide

Model Name

Frequency

Range

(MHz)

Switch

Type

Number of

switches in

module

Max Input

Power

(W)

Control Protocols

U2C-1SP2T-63VH

10 - 6000 SPDT 1 2 USB, SPI & I2C

USB-2SP2T-DCH

DC* - 8000

SPDT 2 3.15 USB

USB-4SP2T-63H

1 - 6000 SPDT 4 1 USB

U2C-1SP4T-63H

1 - 6000 SP4T 1 1 USB & I2C

USB-2SP4T-63H

1 - 6000 SP4T 2 1 USB

USB-1SP8T-63H

1 - 6000 SP8T 1 1 USB

USB-1SP16T-83H

1 - 8000 SP16T 1 1 USB & TTL(parallel)

* True DC, passes DC current up to 60mA.

1.8.3 Intended Applications

Mini-Circuits solid state high isolation switches are intended for i ndoor use in:

- Lab and test equipment setups for both manual and automated measurements

- Control systems

- Automated switching of signal paths in a complex system
The models can be used by anyone familiar with the basics of electronics measurements or
electronic control systems.

1.8.4 Conformity

Mini-Circuits USB solid state switches conform to all requirements for the following
international standards

:

RoHS – The model complies with EU directive for Restriction of Hazardous Substances

for 6 substances.

USB 2.0 – The model meets the specifications of the Universal Serial Bus Ver. 2.0

communication standard as described by USB-IF.

USB HID – The model meets the requirements for Universal S erial Bus Human

Interface Devices according to USB-IF’s Device Class Definition for Human
Interface Devices firmware rev. 1.11.

I

2

C – Models with U2C prefix also meet requirements for an I2C slave device as defined

in Rev 6 of the I

2

C bus specification and user manual.

1.8.5 Supported Software environments

Mini-Circuits USB solid state switches have been tested in the following operating systems:
32 bit systems: Windows 10, Windows 8, Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows XP Windows
98
64 bit systems: Windows 10, Windows 8, Windo ws 7, Windows Vista, Linux
The switches will work with almost any software environment that supports ActiveX or .Net
including:

C++, C#, CVI®, Delphi®, LabVIEW® 8 or newer, MATLAB® 7 or newer, Python, Agilent VEE®,

Visual Basic®, AutoIT, Visual Studio® 6 or newer, and more

For more information see the Solid State Switch modules Programming Manual and
application note

AN-49-001 on our website.

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AN-49-012 Rev.: (January 10, 2019) M171660 (R94356) File: AN-49-012(B).doc
This document and its contents are the property of Mini-Circuits