EE-Evaluation Engineering articles from May 2006

EE-Evaluation Engineering archives from May 2006

Fully charged in about 8 minutes.(EDITORIAL)
May 1, 2006... Public acceptance of electric vehicles has been hampered by a number of reasons, one of them styling--or should I say lack of styling. The vehicles I have seen remind me of boxes on tiny wheels with an almost equal length to height ratio. They...

Geotest joins LXI Consortium.(In The News)
May 1, 2006... Geotest-Marvin Test Systems has joined the LXI Consortium as an advisory member. LXI (LAN eXtensions for Instrumentation) is a next-generation, LAN-based modular platform for automated test systems. The LXI standard provides a basis for...

Retlif acquires Radiation Sciences.(In The News)
May 1, 2006... Retlif Testing Laboratories has acquired Radiation Sciences Inc. (RSI), a company that offers Tempest, military, and commercial EMI/EMC testing and related engineering and consulting services. RSI will do business as a wholly owned subsidiary...

First LXI products hit market.(In The News)
May 1, 2006... Agilent Technologies and Elgar Electronics are the first companies to ship LXI-certified products according to a recent announcement from the LXI Consortium. LXI certification indicates approval by the LXI board to officially license the LXI...

EMC Symposium.(Dates)
May 1, 2006... The IEEE International Symposium on Electromagnetic Compatibility will be held Aug. 14-18 in Portland, OR. The schedule includes a technical program featuring papers presented by recognized industry experts, workshop sessions, and an exhibition...

AUTOTESTCON 2006.(Dates)
May 1, 2006... ATUOTESTCON 2006, sponsored by the IEEE Aerospace and Electronic System Society, is scheduled for Sept. 18-21 at Disneyland[R] Resort in Anaheim, CA. The general theme for the annual conference is "Integrating Maintenance Into the DoD Net...

Scope digitizes and stores waveforms.(Product Briefing)
May 1, 2006... The Model 5105B is a 150-MHz analog oscilloscope with the capability to digitize and store waveforms with 1-GS/s A/D converters. A built-in RS-232 interface enables a PC to capture waveforms or control the unit. A single button switches from...

Synchro/resolver instrument has 0.001[degrees] resolution.(Product Briefing)
May 1, 2006... The Model 8810A is a full-function instrument that performs most synchro/resolver evaluation, calibration, and test functions on components, assemblies, and systems. It provides independent dual inputs, high-resolution touch-screen controls,...

Compact system performs flexible measurements.(Product Briefing)
May 1, 2006... The USB-based NI CompactDAQ Modular Data Acquisition System has an eight-slot chassis that accepts I/O modules that measure up to 256 channels of electrical, physical, mechanical, and acoustic signals. It delivers connectivity and signal...

Tool speeds up boundary scan development.(Product Briefing)
May 1, 2006... JTAG ProVision[TM] is a project-oriented tool that accelerates and simplifies the development of boundary scan applications based on the IEEE 1149.x standards. It creates a full set of tests and in-system programming solutions and automatically...

500-MHz scopes feature two analysis windows.(Product Briefing)
May 1, 2006... Two new rack-mountable 500-MHz bandwidth instruments in the DL9000 signalXplorer Digital Oscilloscope Series sample up to 5 GS/s on two channels or 2.5 GS/s on all four channels. The DL9040 comes with 2.5 Mpoints of memory per channel, the...

Rugged relay I/O module designed for USB 2.0.(Product Briefing)
May 1, 2006... The ECONseries DT9817-R, a digital I/O relay output module for USB 2.0, drives solid-state or mechanical relays. It provides up to 500 V channel-to-channel isolation on eight digital input lines with an input voltage range of [+ or -]3 V to [+...

Managing in the new global environment.(MANAGER'S FORUM)(Company overview)
May 1, 2006... Numerous books and articles address globalization of the economy, but I will specifically focus on the challenges and methods applied to transform a prototypical, regionally centered American test and measurement company into a modern global...

What problems can boundary scan solve?(DESIGN FOR TEST)(Cover story)
May 1, 2006... Boundary scan is going crazy. From humble beginnings in 1990 targeted at solving the limited-access problems of traditional board test based on a physical-touch technology such as bed-of-nails and flying probe systems, IEEE 1149.1 boundary scan...

"About a volt" isn't good enough: standards based on quantum-mechanical phenomena have performance unmatched by man-made artifacts.(CALIBRATORS)
May 1, 2006... Urban Legend 37: Speeding case thrown out of court because police radar gun had not been calibrated for five years. This defense argument might not work for you although radar-derived evidence has been found unreliable in several...

The ups and downs of digital data conversion: some helpful hints demystify the use of digital up and down conversion in today's communications applications.(DATA ACQUISITION)
May 1, 2006... Digital up converters (DUCs) and digital down converters (DDCs) are not only critical in communications applications such as software-defined radio, but also can be helpful in applications where high-speed streaming of narrow bandwidth signals...

Contrasting vision systems.(MACHINE VISION)
May 1, 2006... Because vision systems don't become bored or tired, they are ideal solutions to many repetitive inspection applications. For example, checking the clarity and orientation of printing on a component could easily be done by a human operator....

Extending the power of XML: what if there were a way to incorporate accountability directly into the same work that produces the actual design?
May 1, 2006... As indispensable as computers are in electronics analysis, they generally have failed to meet their potential in supporting long-term business objectives. To date, there has been little effort to comprehensively capture and reuse the content of...

Keeping it clean: powering ATE is a dirty job, and don't let anyone tell you to ignore it.(POWER CONDITIONING)
May 1, 2006... You've just won a program to replace an older weapons system with the latest upgrades. But when it comes to support, you find marketing plans to update only the ATE's programmable supplies, computer, and instrumentation. The older system had...

ATE buyers guide.(Directory)
May 1, 2006... EE's 25th annual ATE Buyers Guide is a comprehensive, up-to-date listing of the companies that offer automated test equipment. The guide is arranged in two sections. First is a product/company cross-reference showing the types of equipment...

How good is your ground? Make sure all your equipment is connected to a good EMI ground.(EMC PRACTICES)
May 1, 2006... With today's focus on higher speeds and wider bandwidths, it often is helpful to revisit basic--yet critical--design considerations. As a refresher topic on grounding techniques, we present this update of an article that appeared in the January...

Automated Device Programmer.(ATE)
May 1, 2006... The Helix Automated Device Programmer handles a range of packages including MSOP, SOIC, PLCC, SSOP, and TSSOP with an overall throughput of 800 devices/h. The desktop system comes standard with two tube input and output handling systems....

PXI controller card.(PC TEST)
May 1, 2006... The PXI-3488 Card provides an interface between GPIB instruments and PXI-equipped systems compliant with IEEE 488.1 and IEEE 488.2. The 1-kB onboard FIFO and high-speed bus accelerated by the on-board CPLD produces a 1.5-MB/s data transfer...

CAN communications module.(PC TEST)
May 1, 2006... The PXI/PCI 3058 CAN Module is similar to and pin compatible with the company's PXI/PCI 3051 except for limited functionality and lower cost. Four ports, two on the baseboard and two on the PXI card, are provided. Each channel is a 32-b CAN...

PXI-based Battery Simulator.(PC TEST)
May 1, 2006... The 41-750 Battery Simulator supplies 2.8 A to a remote load at voltages up to 6 V. The module offers a transient load response typically

Peak power meter.(COMMUNICATIONS TEST)
May 1, 2006... Both peak power meters in the ML2490A Series feature 65-MHz bandwidth and, when used with the company's MA2411B Pulse Sensor, achieve a typical rise time of 8 ns. Resolution can be set as low as 1 ns on display times up to 200 ns. The ML2495A...

HSUPA transmitter tests.(COMMUNICATIONS TEST)
May 1, 2006... Firmware for the FSQ Signal Analyzer and FSU and FSP Spectrum Analyzers has been enhanced with High-Speed Uplink Packet Access (HSUPA) analysis capabilities. It allows measurements to be made on HSUPA base-station transmitters and modules....

Digital Megohmmeter.(INSTRUMENTATION)
May 1, 2006... The 380260 Autoranging Digital Megohmmeter is a digital tester with a large, dual backlit display. It features insulation resistance to 2,000 M[ohm], a low-resistance function with continuity, a lock-power-on function for hands-free operation,...

Programmable Power Supplies.(INSTRUMENTATION)
May 1, 2006... The Genesys[TM] 2U, 3,300-W Programmable Switching Power Supply provides high power density, output up to 600 VDC or 400 A, and an active power factor correction of 0.99 typical at full load with the single-phase input and 0.94 typical with...

Boards for embedded applications.(INSTRUMENTATION)
May 1, 2006... The 1-MHz/16-b DaqBoard/3000USB[TM] Series of data acquisition boards features 24 high-speed digital I/O and up to 32 differential or 64 single-ended analog inputs with seven programmable input ranges from [+ or -]100 mV to [+ or -]10 V full...

Bridge/strain gage datalogger.(LITERATURE MARKETPLACE)
May 1, 2006... The NOMAD[R] OM-CP-BRIDGE110 is a portable, easy-to-use datalogger featuring a real-time clock module that allows high-speed downloads and extends battery life to more than 10 years. It is designed for use with strain gages, load cells,...

Shielded honeycomb fan filter.(LITERATURE MARKETPLACE)
May 1, 2006... Shielded Fan Filters provide high, reliable shielding level at competitive prices. They include patented spiral gasket and honeycomb blending process of the aluminum panels for >80 dB shielding at 1 GHz. The filters are compatible with 60-,...

High-Voltage racks.(LITERATURE MARKETPLACE)
May 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...

Field monitoring products.(LITERATURE MARKETPLACE)
May 1, 2006... New field monitoring products include two laser-powered probes covering 5 kHz to 30 MHz and 100 kHz to 4.2 GHz. A field monitor with auto-recognition to adapt to laser or battery-powered probes and six battery-powered E- or H-field probes...

Humidity calibration solutions.(LITERATURE MARKETPLACE)
May 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...

Switch matrix modules.(LITERATURE MARKETPLACE)
May 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...

Antenna Kit.(LITERATURE MARKETPLACE)
May 1, 2006... The new Model AK-571-4 Antenna Kit provides a convenient and accurate antenna solution for increased frequency requirements. It includes one SAS-571, one SAS-574, and low-loss cables and adapters in an antenna storage case with several extra...

Combination board tester.(LITERATURE MARKETPLACE)
May 1, 2006... The QT2256-320PXI functional tester of PCBs through fixtures comes with back tracking facility. High number of channels, PMUs for enhanced fault coverage, and Test Sequencer software for automated test sequence. Qmax BCS Test for CPU boards and...

EMI/RFI shielding.(LITERATURE MARKETPLACE)
May 1, 2006... Just updated 52-page shielding catalog includes new metalized fabric profiles and alternate slot gaskets plus standard and custom shielding products. Includes to-scale technical drawings for all BeCu finger stock. Also pictured and explained...

Optics and optical components.(LITERATURE MARKETPLACE)
May 1, 2006... 2006 optics and optical components catalog contains 7,000+ products. 200+ new products include EO Designed High Resolution MVO[R] Line Scan Lenses, ReflX[TM] Reflective Microscope Objectives, and TECH SPEC[TM] Precision Aspheric Lenses....

Programmable Switching.(LITERATURE MARKETPLACE)
May 1, 2006... Programmable Switching Systems for ATE and communications. LAN, telephony, digital, fiber-optic, microwave, and RF systems. GPIB-, RS-232-, or LAN-controlled. Matrices or multiplexers. Automate production, lab, or environmental test....

Report Generation Toolkit.(LITERATURE MARKETPLACE)
May 1, 2006... Easily create and edit reports with Microsoft Word and Microsoft Excel with the National Instruments Lab-VIEW Report Generation Toolkit for Microsoft Office. Develop customized, professional reports with this library of flexible, easy-to-use...

Current monitoring module.(LITERATURE MARKETPLACE)
May 1, 2006... Spectrum Control's new data acquisition module enables monitoring and reporting of individual load and voltage status for remote installations and uses SNMP to manage the changes in state. Spectrum Control, Inc., 814-474-4362, www.specpower.com...

Technical Writing Services.(LITERATURE MARKETPLACE)
May 1, 2006... Veteran's Technical Writing Services write environmental test plans, test procedures, and test reports. Can save you many dollars in preparing test documentation. Our vets write Procedures 1AW MIL-STD-810, DO-160, and PRF 28800. Uses your...

4-megapixel camera.(LITERATURE MARKETPLACE)
May 1, 2006... Adimec announces the Adimec-4050m, a 4-megapixel camera for fast machine vision applications. The Adimec-4050m is a CMOS-based camera that offers the superior image quality of CCD cameras. It operates at speeds up to 140 full frames per second...

Custom EMI filters.(LITERATURE MARKETPLACE)
May 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...