EE-Evaluation Engineering articles from March 2006

EE-Evaluation Engineering archives from March 2006

They're still roving.(EDITORIAL)
March 1, 2006... It doesn't seem possible that the two Mars Exploration Rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, have been on the red planet for more than one Martian year, which in elapsed time is more than two earth years, and still are performing practically...

Cognex hosts free machine vision seminars.(In The News)
March 1, 2006... Cognex, a supplier of machine vision systems, is offering a series of free machine vision seminars now through June in major cities throughout the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The Understanding and Applying Machine Vision Sensors half-day...

Kulicke & Soffa sells test businesses.(In The News)
March 1, 2006... Kulicke & Soffa Industries, a supplier of semiconductor wire bonding assembly equipment, has announced a plan to tighten its focus on semiconductor assembly equipment and materials. The company signed a definitive agreement to sell its wafer...

Seattle engineer wins participation prize.(In The News)
March 1, 2006... Anthony Reed, an electrical engineer at Boeing in Seattle won an Apple iPod nano for his participation in EE's recent Readers' Choice Awards. Mr. Reed was among the many readers who took time from their busy schedule to vote in the annual...

Environmental test seminars.(Dates)
March 1, 2006... Hobbs Engineering will conduct several environmental test-related seminars during April and May. The schedule in College Park, MD, includes Design for Reliability and Comprehensive HALT and HASS on April 3-4, HALT and HASS Workshop on April 5,...

Harness/Backplane Analyzer tests 20,000 points.(Product Briefing)
March 1, 2006... The CH2 High-Voltage Wiring Harness/Backplane Analyzer offers test voltages to 1,500 VDC and 1,000 VAC in a modular system expanding from 160 to 20,000 test points. The analyzer can self-learn the wiring pattern from a sample assembly, be...

Real-time scopes are bandwidth upgradeable.(Product Briefing)
March 1, 2006... The Infiniium 80000B Series of 2-, 3-, 4-, 6-, 8-, 10-, 12-, and 13-GHz real-time oscilloscopes features upgradeable bandwidth and improved signal integrity. The noise level ranges from 1.0 mVrms to 3.3 mVrms at 100-mV/div sensitivity and from...

Vector Signal Generator is LXI compliant.(Product Briefing)
March 1, 2006... The Model 2910 RF Vector Signal Generator uses Software-Defined Radio (SDR) Architecture to help increase design flexibility and provide adaptability as wireless standards evolve. Features include an intuitive touch-screen graphical user...

Portable DSOs feature 500-kpoint memory.(Product Briefing)
March 1, 2006... The WaveJet Series offers two- and four-channel oscilloscopes with bandwidths of 100, 200, 350, and 500 MHz. The scopes feature a maximum sample rate of 2 GS/s, 500 kpoints/channel memory, a 7.5" color display, and USB connectivity. An...

Analyzer addresses 10-Gb/s serial applications.(Product Briefing)
March 1, 2006... The SIA-4000 Signal Integrity Analyzer is designed for serial data applications with speeds to > 10 Gb/s including PCI Express Gen 2, FB DIMM, 8X Fibre Channel, and SONET. It also accommodates 10-GHz clock and PLL applications and tests...

Source Measure Unit has USB storage function.(Product Briefing)
March 1, 2006... The Model GS610 Source Measure Unit combines a programmable DC power supply with a 5 1/2-digit multimeter in a half-rack size. It includes a USB port and GPIB and RS-232-C communications interfaces; an Ethernet port is optional. ...

Seizing power accurately: a single-parameter modulated RF power measurement is just so 20th century.(RF POWER METERS)(Cover story)
March 1, 2006... The first step in making accurate RF power measurements is choosing the sensor most appropriate for the signal. Obviously, you wouldn't use a sensor limited to 1 mW (0 dBm) for a 1-W (30-dBm) signal. Nor can you use a thermal sensor to measure...

Addressing the flash memory challenge: along with the outstanding performance of today's flash memory come the challenges of testing such devices.(IC ATE)
March 1, 2006... The popularity of consumer products such as music players, cell phones, and digital cameras is fueling rapid growth for NAND flash memory, surpassing NOR revenues for the first time this year. Intense price competition in the consumer market...

Consumer storage devices enter data acquisition market: hands off your kid's digital camera! Buy your own memory card for data acquisition.(DATA STORAGE)
March 1, 2006... What influence could accessories used in mainstream consumer products have on the comparatively very small and specialized test and measurement business? Is the question easier to answer if narrowed down to the area of data storage? In many...

Taking advantage of scan for yield improvement: yield improvement at sub 100-nm technologies relies on the latest scan test techniques.(DESIGN FOR TEST)
March 1, 2006... As IC feature sizes shrink below 90 nm, in-line inspection techniques to determine yield-limiting problems become more difficult. Fortunately, advances in scan test and failure diagnosis provide tools offering effective analysis for yield...

Burn-in for high-power devices: heat flow considerations play an important role in any strategy for burning in high-power devices.(ENVIRONMENTAL TEST APPLICATIONS)
March 1, 2006... The purpose of burn-in with test is to significantly increase the reliability of high-power devices by detecting and eliminating parts that fail early in service. Devices are stimulated by various inputs, including pulsed inputs or built-in...

Instrumentation buyers guide.(Directory)
March 1, 2006... EE's 21st annual Instrumentation Buyers Guide is a comprehensive, up-to-date listing of the companies that manufacture or rent instrumentation products. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The guide is arranged in two...

The truth about arc detection: there seems to be no limit to the questions regarding the benefits and pitfalls of arc detection.(HIPOT TEST)
March 1, 2006... With the ever-increasing list of features and options available for equipment in the field of test and measurement, it is getting more challenging to select the appropriate instrument for the job. One feature that has caused substantial...

Antennas for automotive standards.(EMC PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
March 1, 2006... The AT4318 and AT4333 Microwave Horn Antennas address the high pulsed field-level requirements of the latest automotive standards. The AT4318, with a typical gain of 17 dBi at 1.2 GHz increasing to >18 dBi at 1.8 GHz, provides the required...

High-voltage capacitors.(EMC PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
March 1, 2006... The selection of high-voltage capacitors for use in EMI filters for I/O ports of telecommunications and network equipment has expanded with units in 1206, 1808, and 1812 case sizes. The 2-kV capacitors are suitable for AC terminations, commonly...

RF Absorber material.(EMC PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
March 1, 2006... CHO-MUTE[TM] 9020 Elastomer RF Absorber provides wideband attenuation within operating frequencies of 30 MHz to 12 GHz. RF absorption is up to 20 dB. The flexible, environmentally friendly material comes in sheets, die cut, or molded parts....

EMI/environmental Gasket.(EMC PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
March 1, 2006... The Connector-Seal Gasket uses a patent-pending design to provide both EMI and environmental protection for flange-mounted connectors. The design features a rigid layer between either silicone or fluorosilicone elastomeric materials and an...

Pre-Selector.(EMC PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
March 1, 2006... The RF915 Pre-Selector has 12 frequency bands ranging from 9 to 35 kHz to 15 to 30 MHz. Each band offers a 40-dB rejection of unwanted signals in the stop band and a 4-dB insertion loss in the passband. When used with a Laplace EMC analyzer,...

Dual-Band Probe.(EMC PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
March 1, 2006... The PI-01V Dual-Band Probe covers the 925- to 965-MHz and 1,805- to 1,880-MHz GSM frequency bands, suppressing signals below 880 MHz and above 1,950 MHz. The field range is 0.2 to 400 V/m. EMC Test Design, www.rsleads.com/603ee-190 ...

Design and analysis software.(EMC PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
March 1, 2006... EMI Analyst[TM] is an intuitive software package that performs detailed analyses of conducted and radiated emissions and conducted and radiated susceptibility. It requires minimal knowledge of electromagnetics or EMI testing and allows EMC...

Small Enclosures.(EMC PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
March 1, 2006... The RFI versions of the 1594 Heavy-Duty Small Enclosures are molded in a metal-loaded plastic that gives attenuation levels of >50 dB from 100 to 1,000 MHz. Walls 3-mm thick provide both mechanical and EMC protection. The units come in five...

Rack Integrated System.(EMC PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
March 1, 2006... The Rack Integrated System for EMC and EW applications includes 300-W amplifiers for frequency bands 200 MHz to 1.0 GHz, 1.0 to 2.5 GHz, 2.5 to 7.5 GHz, and 7.5 to 18.0 GHz. It can be tailored to meet specific requirements for frequency range...

Environmentally friendly shields.(EMC PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
March 1, 2006... EcoGreen[TM] EMI Shields have been developed in response to recent environmental directives such as the European Union's RoHS and WEEE. The shields are halogen-free per IEC 61249-2-21 and flame retardant per UL94-V0. Shielding effectiveness is...

Conductive epoxy adhesive.(EMC PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
March 1, 2006... Polymer System EP51N is a nickel-filled, two-component epoxy adhesive that produces high strength and tough bonds resistant to thermal cycling and chemicals including water, oil, and most organic solvents over a temperature range of...

Slim Surface-Mount Filter.(EMC PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
March 1, 2006... The BNX022 Surface-Mount Suppression Filter measures 12 mm x 9 mm x 3 mm and weighs 0.8 g. It features a 35-dB minimum insertion loss over a frequency band of 1 MHz to 1 GHz, a rated voltage of 50 V, and a current of 10 A. Murata Electronics...

Modular cabinets.(EMC PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
March 1, 2006... The S Series Industrial Cabinets provide 46-dB shielding effectiveness from 30 MHz to 1,000 MHz, a modular extrusion-based frame system integrated with BeCu gaskets, and shielded ventilation. The bezels are rated to 6,600 lb static load, and...

LCD/camera Filter Arrays.(EMC PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
March 1, 2006... The CM1450/CM1451 EMI Filter Arrays for LCD and camera interfaces use Praetorian[TM] Application Specific Integrated Passive (ASIP[TM]) process technology to integrate spiral inductors on the same substrate as resistors, capacitors, and ESD...

SIP device with EMI Filter.(EMC PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
March 1, 2006... The QPI-8 Active EMI Filter is a system-in-a-package (SIP) device that includes the hot-swap function. The filter section provides active conducted common-mode and differential-mode noise attenuation from 150 kHz to 30 MHz. The QPI-8 is...

Three-phase filters.(EMC PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
March 1, 2006... The PE3P Series is a three-phase, three-wire chassis-mount EMI/RFI line filter with good noise attenuation in both forward and reverse directions for common mode and differential mode. The filters handle up to 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 75, and...

Alternate slot gaskets.(EMC PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
March 1, 2006... Three new beryllium-copper gaskets, the 93AS32, 187AS32, and TF187AS32, feature slots that alternate from one side to the other across the contact radius of a symmetrical profile. This design enhances the strength of the gasket while...

RF test chambers.(EMC PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
March 1, 2006... The TS 712x family of rugged RF test chambers offers high shielding effectiveness over a wide frequency range for performing tests on modules and devices in accordance with ISM, GSM, CDMA, UMTS, WLAN, and Bluetooth[R] standards. The series...

Benchtop test enclosure.(EMC PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
March 1, 2006... The STE3000B 8" x 17" x 10 1/2" RF test enclosure is used for troubleshooting, tuning, aligning, and testing electronic devices. The enclosure features access holes with ultrafine shielded mesh gloves for equipment manipulation, or it can be...

Single- and two-phase filters.(EMC PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
March 1, 2006... The new FN 2412 filter is designed for common single-phase supply networks and offers a maximum continuous operational voltage of 250 VAC. The FN 2412H filter operates on two phases in a three-phase power network for handling voltages up to 520...

Portable shielding labs.(EMC PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
March 1, 2006... EMI shielding enclosures for use as portable, temporary pre-compliance testing facilities are constructed with durable, lightweight, nickel/copper/silver STATEX[R] fabric. Manufactured to military specifications, the flexible foil material...

Miniature-footprint filters.(EMC PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
March 1, 2006... The MSM Series of surface-mount feed-through EMI filters offers a 0.078" x 0.049" footprint and current ratings up to 10 A. The filters have minimal residual inductance, and the self-resonant frequency extends to the microwave band for use in...

Mesh-free glass.(EMC PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
March 1, 2006... Datastop is a Pilkington Glass product that provides high attenuation over a wide frequency range and optical clarity due to the absence of any metal mesh. It can be used in any shape or size as windows or glazed panels in conjunction with...

Shrink shielding.(EMC PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
March 1, 2006... Shrink-N-Shield combines an outer jacket consisting of a flame-retardant Polyolefin shrink tubing lined with Z-Cloth[TM] metallized-fabric shield, a lightweight, flexible copper/nickel conductive fabric with shielding effectiveness averaging 85...

Harsh-environment gasket.(EMC PRODUCT SHOWCASE)
March 1, 2006... The 99-128 Fold-Over Spherical Radius Contact Gasket, designed for applications that encounter light to moderate vibration, exhibits a high contact force. The beryllium copper shielding gasket is available with 12 electronic-grade plating...

PC-based measurement and automation solutions.(LITERATURE MARKETPLACE)
March 1, 2006... Free 2006 catalog featuring new product information, application overviews, and key specifications on Advantech's: [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] * Data Acquisition and Control Cards * Industrial Communication Cards * Motion Control...

Vibration screening systems.(LITERATURE MARKETPLACE)
March 1, 2006... Our vibration stress screening systems shake the "bugs" out before your products leave your plant. Rates of 10 to 10,000 units per day work on automotive, consumer, medical, and general industrial products. Get the "bugs" before they become...

Test equipment auctions.(LITERATURE MARKETPLACE)
March 1, 2006... Find new and used test equipment at LabX. Buy and sell using auctions and classified ads. * More than 100,000 items for sale * Join 90,000 members * Post a FREE Wanted Ad The first place to look for test equipment. LabX,...

Humidity calibration solutions.(LITERATURE MARKETPLACE)
March 1, 2006... Featuring the Model 2500 [+ or -]0.5% RH Humidity Calibration Chamber, NVLAP-accredited Thunder Scientific is recognized the world over as the industry standard for NIST-traceable two-pressure humidity calibration technology. High-accuracy...

Current Datalogger.(LITERATURE MARKETPLACE)
March 1, 2006... The OM-CP-OCTPROCESS Low-Cost, Portable, Battery-Powered Datalogger automatically measures and records current in -20- to 120-mA range; records 16,383 current measurements through each of eight input channels; uses a 16-b ADC to deliver 0.01-mA...

Electrical safety tester.(LITERATURE MARKETPLACE)
March 1, 2006... The 4320 is a new 4-in-1 electrical safety tester from Slaughter Company, Inc. The 4320 provides AC hipot, DC hipot, insulation resistance, and ground bond testing in a single feature-rich and low-cost instrument. With its multifunction...

Custom EMI filters.(LITERATURE MARKETPLACE)
March 1, 2006... Captor custom-designs EMI filters to control interference on power, data transmission and signal lines, often in difficult environments. Colorful 6-page brochure covers engineering, testing, and production of these complex filters, as well as a...

Led testing.(LITERATURE MARKETPLACE)
March 1, 2006... The Smart FINN[TM] is a unique tool delivering highly accurate full color and intensity readings for a broad range of LEDs. Smart FINN is suitable for use in any test environment. Learn about its operation, applications, and features and find...

High-Voltage racks.(LITERATURE MARKETPLACE)
March 1, 2006... Kepco's BHK-MG High-Voltage Linear Voltage-Current Stabilizers feature 0 to 300 V to 0 to 2,000 V output ranges and digital and analog programming control. The 40-W (half-rack) and 200-W (full-rack) models, for bench or rack-mount use with...

Sound and Vibration Toolkit.(LITERATURE MARKETPLACE)
March 1, 2006... Easily handle audio measurements, fractional-octave analysis, sound and vibration displays, and much more with the National Instruments Lab-VIEW Sound and Vibration Toolkit. Combined with the industry-standard LabVIEW development environment,...

10-bit Digitizers.(LITERATURE MARKETPLACE)
March 1, 2006... The DC282, DC252, and DC222 PXI/CompactPCI Digitizers featuring unmatched high-speed performance are featured in a new datasheet. The digitizers offer a choice of front-end input mezzanines providing up to 3-GHz input bandwidth or switchable...

RF and Microwave Test Accessories.(LITERATURE MARKETPLACE)
March 1, 2006... Free Agilent RF and Microwave Test Accessories Catalog. Quickly and conveniently identify RF and MW test accessories such as switches, attenuators, adapters, and more. The catalog features product highlights and easy-to-read comparison tables...

Switch matrix modules.(LITERATURE MARKETPLACE)
March 1, 2006... Digalog[TM] introduces the DigESwitch. It provides you with five 46x8 switch matrix modules that, when combined, offer you a 230x8 switch matrix. The DigESwitch uses high-reliability ATE-grade relays all controlled through an Ethernet...

Temperature loggers.(LITERATURE MARKETPLACE)
March 1, 2006... Accurate eight-channel, remote temperature loggers with CompactFlash[R] memory for applications where dedicated PCs or laptops are not feasible. The USB-5203 logs data from thermocouples, RTDs, thermistors, and semiconductor temperature sensors...

Leak current tester.(LITERATURE MARKETPLACE)
March 1, 2006... The 3156 Leak Current HiTESTER is a single unit capable of measuring leak current in compliance with the IEC, UL, and JIS standards. It includes built-in networks simulating human resistance according to the above specifications. One unit can...