Product Update

Want to make sure no one uses that uncalibrated instrument on the lab bench? If the instrument has a detachable power cord, the Lockout 320 can make sure no one powers it up until proper adjustments are made. You simply remove the power cord, insert the Lockout 320's elastomeric nose into the instrument's power-cord receptacle, and twist the Lockout 320's thumbscrew clockwise, causing its nose to expand and firmly grip the receptacle's interior surface. Then, you insert a padlock through the unit's lock hole. You can also daisy-chain a locking cable through several Lockout 320 units to deter theft of multiple lab instruments or computers. Base price: less than $20. Southside Safety, Chesapeake, VA. 757-546-3520; www.southsidesafetyinc.com.

The Model 2412 codec converts PAL or NTSC analog video signals into an MPEG2 elementary stream in accordance with the UDP (User Datagram Protocol) and RTP (Real Time Protocol) Ethernet specifications. In decode mode, the codec converts Ethernet streams into composite and S-video signals. A three-board PC/104 system, the single-channel Model 2412 comes with Linux and Apache Web servers; the Linux software supports multicasting and includes a network router. The codec's RS-232 ports provide pan, zoom, and tilt signals. Optional boards expand the codec's capabilities to four channels; an additional option adds support for IEEE 1102.11b wireless LANs. A Windows-compatible fast stream player can display Model 2412-generated MPEG2 data with less than 1s latency. Base price: $1311. Sensoray, Tigard, OR. 503-684-8005; www.sensoray.com.

If you use a data-acquisition card from CyberResearch, you can now plot data and process it without writing your own application. DAQLab software lets you analyze and view data either in real time or post acquisition. The software will accept data from any of the company's CYDAS series of ISA or PCI data-acquisition cards.

DAQLab lets you process data using predefined functions such as fast Fourier transforms. You build your own functions through equations. Functions available to equations include the usual math operators, plus you can perform power calculations, use Boolean functions, trigonometric functions, statistical functions, averaging functions, and filters. You then can plot the processed data with DAQLab, or you can save data to files for processing with spreadsheets. DAQLab also contains TCP/IP support, which lets you control data-acquisition cards through a browser. You also can use the TCP/IP support to move data from a remote PC over a LAN or over the Internet and into a local PC for processing.

Price: $695. CyberResearch, Branford, CT. 203-483-8815. www.cyberresearch.com .

The Impact system, a stand-alone machine-vision package, lets you add vision capabilities to almost any type of production equipment. The small module's built-in Inspection Builder software provides algorithms for pattern matching, blob analysis, and subpixel gauging, as well as other common vision and metrology applications. You don't have to be a programmer to develop applications, though. A point-and-click user interface makes it easy to set up algorithms and construct complete applications. In addition, you can save any vision algorithms and routines you develop for use in other applications. You can also add Java or other third-party controls to the system's library of functions.

An Impact module can capture as many as 60 images/s from the company's line of Digital Serial Link high-speed cameras. The line of cameras includes high-resolution and micro-head models. Each complete vision system mounts close to a production line using DIN rails, and you can communicate with Impact devices on a production line over an Ethernet network. The network connection lets a remote user extract data and display images.

Base Price: $6500. PPT Vision, Eden Prairie, MN. 952-996-9500; www.pptvision.com.

Synopsys has announced its entry into the logic BIST market with its DFT Compiler SoCBIST software, which offers deterministic logic BIST capabilities. Compared to full scan, SoCBIST cuts tester time by more than tenfold and reduces test-data volume 100 to 400 times while deterministically retaining scan's high fault coverage. In addition, SoCBIST needs 20 or fewer ATE pins and requires less than 1% of the vector memory that a full-scan approach would require.

SoCBIST supports multiple internal scan chains within a device under test, encoding scan-test input data as seeds and scan-test results data as signatures. An extension of Synopsys's one-pass test-synthesis flow, SoCBIST is transparently integrated within the Synopsys Design Compiler, DFT Compiler, and Physical Compiler flows. The integrated approach eliminates costly iterations between design synthesis and test implementation, and it enables IC designers to achieve timing and DFT closure simultaneously. In addition, SoCBIST provides comprehensive and easy-to-use design-rule checking and validation features, and it includes BIST integration, verification, diagnostic, and debug tools.

Base price: $175,000 for a one-year license. Synopsys, Mt. View, CA. 650-584-5000; www.synopsys.com.

You can now test communication networks at data rates as high as 43 Gbits/s using the J7230C OmniBER OTN communications performance analyzer. The instrument tests SONET/SDH and optical transport network (OTN) protocols used in equipment undergoing development as well as in equipment you may need to qualify for use in a network. The manufacturer expects the instrument to be used to test line cards, modules, and complete communication systems. Standard data rates range from 52 Mbits/s to 40 Gbits/s, and you can also test at the 43-Gbits/s data rate used with optical-translator units designated OTU-2 and OTU-3.

The analyzer's suite of testing tools includes testing and analyzing forward error correction capabilities, and the unit can add errors to transmissions to simulate network conditions. You can also use the OmniBER to generate structured SON ET/SDH and OTN signals so you can validate device performance to Telcordia/ ITU-T standards.

Base price: $360,000. Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA. 800-452-4844, ext. 7756; www.agilent.com.

You can cut the time needed to develop and test real-time software by starting with visual models of a process rather than trying to write C or C++ code. The Tau/Architect and Tau/Developer tools use the Unified Modeling Language (UML 2.0) to let you model complex software projects using visual notation. The Tau/Architect software lets you prove that project requirements are both sensible and correct regardless of whether you plan to use hardware, software, or both to implement a system. By using a standard model technique, you avoid the need to develop portions of an application just for testing purposes.

If you want to include actual code development, you can use Tau/Developer to prove concepts and move directly into C or C++ code. Because you start with proven concepts, you eliminate many of the code-and-debug loops inherent in most real-time software development projects. In addition, code developed with Tau/Developer operates with all real-time operating systems. Both development tools stress the use of models to prove the correctness of an application before moving to the steps needed to convert ideas into reality.

Price: Tau/Architect—$8000; Tau/Developer—$11,900. Telelogic, Irvine, CA. 949-830-8022; www.telelogic.com.

Instead of simply shining a light on your next microscopic specimen, consider a EtherGlow light source that provides a source of randomized light. Not only does this light source provide an even illumination, it simplifies microscope setup. Among other benefits, an EtherGlow light source eliminates the need to focus the microscope's condenser lens, position the light aperture, or align the light source.

The patented EtherGlow material uses submicron spheres of reflective material that randomizes light so it exits from the EtherGlow surface in every direction. Thus, the light source "automatically" matches the numerical aperture of any microscope objective and provides perfect Kohler illumination. The characteristics of an illuminator also eliminate Fresnel diffraction rings on small objects. You can use one of the manufacturer's light sources with a variety of microscope types.

Base price: $1895. Tamar Technology, Thousand Oaks, CA. 805-480-3358; www.tamartechnology.com.

With a recent addition to its Infiniium line, Agilent Technologies has jumped into the 6-GHz scope market. The 54855A boasts a 6-GHz analog bandwidth and, unlike offerings from competitors Tektronix and LeCroy, can sample at 20 Gsamples/s on all four channels. When combined with the new InfiniiMax active probes, the 54855A becomes a full 6-GHz measurement system.

Agilent claims the Inifiniimax set of active probes can handle bandwidth comparable to that of the scope. A single-ended solder-in probe supports signal bandwidths to 5.2 GHz, while a solder-in differential probe's 7-GHz bandwidth exceeds that of the scope. A differential browser probe lets you troubleshoot signals up to 5.3 GHz. This probe and its single-ended cousin use an amplifier that compensates for the transmission-line characteristics of the probe leads. In addition, the active probes won't introduce a load that can alter a signal. To make probing easier, the probes include an ergonomic sleeve that you slide over the probes and cables .

Agilent has further expanded its Infiniium line with the introduction of the 54854A 4-GHz scope. The two new scopes are the first to run Windows XP; each contains a CD-RW drive, so you can load any Windows program into the 5-Gbyte hard drive and write measurement data to a CD. Although the Inifiniium scopes were the first DSOs to contain a PC motherboard and run Windows, they weren't open systems until now.

Prices: 54855A (6 GHz) $58,995; 54854A (4 GHz) $49,995; probes range in price from $3850 to $8850. The scopes do not come with any probes, so you need to order them separately. Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA. 800-452-4844, ext. 7768. www.tm.agilent.com.

Designed to work with CAMI Research's CableEye tester, CAMI's AutoBuild software provides guided assembly for cable and wire-harness manufacturing. During construction, an assembly technician touches a probe to an unterminated wire or connector pin, and the software shows where that point should be connected. Audible feedback confirms a proper connection or warns of an error. As the operator attaches each new wire, AutoBuild tests the entire assembly and provides a checklist showing all completed good connections. When the assembly is complete, the software generates a printed report showing construction time and operator performance.

AutoBuild lets an operator place diodes and resistors by name and value, check resistance values over the range of 0.5 Ω to 10 MΩ, and test conduction and isolation resistance against specified thresholds.

Base price: CableEye Model M3 cable tester—$1995 for 152 test points (expandable to more than 1000 test points); AutoBuild software—$225. CAMI Research, Lexington, MA. 781-860-9137; www.camiresearch.com .