Product Update
Staff -- Test & Measurement World, 4/1/2002 2:00:00 AM
USB-to-IEEE 488 converter
If you can't or don't want to install an IEEE 488 interface in your computer, you can control IEEE 488 instruments from your USB port with the 488-USB module. The 488-USB supports IEEE 488.2 protocols and operates with Windows 98/ME/2000/XP. You send instrument commands from your application program (Visual Basic, C++, etc.) to the module's driver. The driver supports command sets for ICS Electronics and National Instruments IEEE 488 controllers. A later version will add VISA compatibility, which will let you use LabView or Agilent VEE. Price: $395. ICS Electronics, Pleasanton, CA. 925-416-1000;www.icselect.com.
DS3 telecom patch cables
When you need to monitor or troubleshoot DS3 communications lines, you need to connect test equipment. Often, you have to use adapters to get the right connections, which degrade the signal you want to measure. Pomona's set of patch cables includes models with BNC, standard WECO, mini-WECO, Bantam, and 4-mm banana plugs. All cables have a standard 75-Ω impedance. Price: $32 each. Pomona Electronics, Pomona, CA. 909-623-3463;www.pomonaelectronics.com.
Logic analyzer uses "connectorless" probing
With constantly increasing bus speeds comes the need for faster logic analyzers, but as speeds increase, probes will alter the signal you want to measure. To meet the demands for both speed and signal integrity, Tektronix has introduced new measurement modules for the TLA700 series of logic analyzers with "connectorless" probes that reduce input capacitance.
The measurement modules come with 34, 68, 102, or 136 channels with timing acquisition speeds up to 8 Gsamples/s. For state analysis, the modules accept external clock speeds up to 800 MHz. Memory depth starts at 128 ksamples with options to 32 Msamples (all channel counts) or 64 Msamples (68 and 136 channel counts only).
The TLA700's measurement modules need probes, and you have two options. For general-purpose applications, you can use a 34-channel single-ended probe set with sockets for connecting the probes to pin headers. To reduce probe capacitance, thereby increasing signal integrity, Tektronix offers a 34-channel single-ended probe that mounts directly to circuit cards designed with appropriate pads. The lack of connectors reduces total input capacitance to 0.7 pF. The probe head includes mounting screws that hold the head in place through holes designed into the circuit board.
In addition to carrying logic signals, the probes carry analog signals that you can view with a Tektronix oscilloscope. The TLA700 uses a four-channel analog switch module that lets you steer any four channels to an oscilloscope. Using iView software, you can display the oscilloscope inputs on the logic analyzer.
Price: 34-channel module with 128 ksamples of memory and 120 MHz state analysis—$8000–$28,700; 136-channel module—$17,000; 136-channel module with 64 Msamples of memory and 120 MHz state analysis—$63,000–$80,900; 34-channel general-purpose probe—$4000; connectorless probe—$2000. Tektronix, Beaverton, OR. 800-426-2200, code 1257;www.tektronix.com/la.
Modular testers check network designs
Two network analyzers from Agilent give designers and test engineers flexible instruments that can operate on all types of standard LAN and WAN communication links. The J6800A network analyzer includes its own PC and can accept two line-interface cards that let it make time-synchronized measurements on independent networks. The smaller J6801A distributed network analyzer accepts only one line-interface card and requires an external computer. Agilent offers 11 different line-interface cards that work with standard communication protocols such as STM-1o/OC-3, E3/T3, and 10BaseT. Users can hot swap interface cards. Both instruments will operate with wireless, wired, or fiber-optic networks.
The analyzers can log communication data and store it internally, although the units also provide a SCSI II interface that links them to external disk drives. Instrument users can take advantage of the company's J6841A network analyzer software that will process in real time communication data, such as that obtained from monitoring a voice-over-IP network. The software also can process stored data.
Price: J6800A—$22,000; J6801A—$12,500; J6841A—$7995; modules—$3000 to $15,000. Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA. 800-452-4844;www.agilent.com.
Capture monochrome or color megapixel images
As electronic assemblies take advantage of smaller components, inspection systems demand higher resolution images. The DuncanTech DT4000 digital camera provides a 1600x1200-pixel array that can produce monochrome or color images. The camera provides progressive scanning and interline transfers that let it offer electronic-shutter operations. Image digitization takes place right in the camera, and the company's AccuColor algorithms let the camera deliver crisp, clear color images that require no additional processing. Color images are put out using either a 24- or 30-bit format, and the camera user may set pixel resolution at 8 or 10 bits.
The camera comes with a Camera Link interface, but parallel LVDS or RS-422 interfaces are available as options. You also can specify an optional analog output that lets you view an image using one of several video-signal formats, such as NTSC or PAL. The company provides DTControl software that supplies a simple user interface that controls all of the camera's features, such as triggering, targeting, and exposure.
Price: $6000. DuncanTech, Auburn, CA. 530-888-6565;www.duncantech.com.
IC embedded-test tool offers integrated environment
LogicVision has introduced Embedded Test 4.0 (ET4.0), which supports the hierarchical design methodologies commonly used in the development of complex integrated circuits. ET4.0 provides a structured framework for planning system-on-chip (SOC) test. It extends capabilities familiar to LogicVision icBIST users and introduces the integrated infrastructure so you can perform time-efficient diagnostics and debug in a manufacturing environment.
ET4.0 streamlines the implementation of embedded test, reducing design-for-test implementation and verification time. In addition, ET4.0 provides for vectorless transfer of test data. ET4.0 reduces silicon debug and diagnostics time and helps you manage capital expense by extending the life of existing testers or enabling the use of lower cost ATE. It also supports reusability of embedded-test IP throughout an SOC's life.
An ATE-independent interactive user interface permits real-time hierarchical diagnostics for logic, memory, and PLLs. ET4.0 currently supports these systems: Advantest 66XX series, Credence Systems Duo and Quartet, and Teradyne Catalyst.
Price: $300,000–$1,000,000 for a 1-yr license. LogicVision, San Jose, CA. 408-453-0146;www.logicvision.com.
System performs laser-diode life test
The LD 960-32 life-test system for semiconductor laser diodes employs ThetaDelta's conductive-thermal-control technology for precise control of diode temperature during the life test process. The system can perform life tests on up to 960 diodes, with 30 diodes at each of 32 independent thermal sites; a microprocessor-controlled source drives each individual diode. The system continuously monitors all diode parameters and temperatures during life test and logs data at user-specified intervals. The LD 960-32 has a thermal capacity of up to 500 W per thermal site and a temperature range of 25°C to 250°C.
Base price: $200,000. ThetaDelta, Lawrence, MA. 978-689-0136;www.thetadelta.com.
Spectrum analyzer extends bandwidth
The FSU26 microwave spectrum analyzer increases the range of the FSU family of instruments from 3.6 GHz and 8 GHz up to 26.5 GHz. Targeting emerging third-generation (3G) mobile technologies and satellite applications, it can make spurious emissions measurements at 12.75 GHz, as specified for 3G Wideband-CDMA (W-CDMA) standards.
The throughput features of the FSU26 maximize productivity in the development lab, where designers run many tests on a few devices to characterize performance limits, and on the production line, where there are fewer tests but many devices. A special "list mode" provides up to 10-times improvement in test time for harmonic and intermodulation tests by allowing users to acquire only the harmonics of interest. In addition, the instrument's large acquisition memory minimizes the number of sweeps needed to capture broad frequency spans. The memory's 10,000-point capacity is the equivalent of up to 16 conventional displays.
Base price: $52,540. Delivery: seven weeks. Tektronix, Beaverton, OR. 800-426-2200, code 1260;www.tektronix.com.
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