Product Update

The Aeroflex 3000 Series PXI-based modular test suite encompasses four signal-generation and signal-analysis PXI modules, including the first PXI RF signal source. The suite includes the 3010 3-GHz RF synthesizer (single-slot 3U), the 3020 2.5-GHz digital RF signal generator (two-slot 3U), the 3030 3-GHz RF digitizer (two-slot 3U), the 3060 2.5-GHz RF combiner (single-slot 3U), and software for creating waveforms and for automating GSM/EDGE and other mobile-phone measurements.

The 3010 can serve as a stand-alone frequency synthesizer or as the core synthesizer for the Aeroflex 3020 PXI digital RF signal generator or the Aeroflex 3030 PXI RF digitizer module. The 3010 synthesizer offers 1-Hz resolution and phase noise that's typically less than –20 dBc/Hz. Frequency settling time is typically 200 ms. The 3020 digital RF signal generator combined with the 3010 produces IQ modulated or CW signals between 250 MHz and 2.5 GHz with an IQ bandwidth to 15 MHz. The internal arbitrary waveform generator has a 32-Msample capacity.

The 3030 RF digitizer module, used in conjunction with the 3010, downconverts 330-MHz to 3-GHz RF signals and digitizes baseband signals to 5 MHz. The 3060 is a four-port RF combiner covering 300 MHz to 2.5 GHz.

Price: PXI modules, $2500 to $11,000; software, $1500 to $3500. Aeroflex, Plainview, NY. 516-694-6700; www.aeroflex.com .

No longer must you use data-acquisition cards from National Instruments to use LabView RT, the real-time extension to LabView. Now, you can develop LabView RT code on a Windows-based PC, then download and run it on any PowerDaq PCI data-acquisition card from United Electronic Industries. All PowerDaq cards now come with LabView RT drivers that run the embedded code. If you own LabView RT, then you need only a PowerDaq card and a $50 interface card.

To use PowerDaq cards with LabView RT, you install the interface card and a PowerDaq card into the RT target computer. The interface card lets you connect to a development PC through Ethernet. You write your RT software on the development PC and download your code to the PowerDaq card on the remote PC through the interface card. You can run the PowerDaq-carrying PC as though it's an embedded system: Just remove the monitor, keyboard, and mouse. PowerDaq cards come in analog input, analog output, digital I/O and multifunction I/O flavors.

United Electronic Industries, Canton, MA.781-821-2890; www.ueidaq.com.

The CT3116 DMM kit comes with two fused probes, two flexible silicone-jacketed leads, and two fully insulated alligator clips to enable safe testing and troubleshooting electronic of industrial equipment. The two 4-mm contact tip fused probes incorporate internal ceramic fuses rated at 10 A (600 V/50 kA). For increased safety, the probe's contact tip is sheathed by a spring-loaded cover. Price: $39. Cal Test Electronics, Yorba Linda, CA. 714-221-9330; www.caltestelectronics.com.

Intellitech's PT100 enables the simultaneous test and configuration of an unlimited number of PCBs that comply with the IEEE 1149.1 standard. The tester balances test times with handling times to optimize throughput. It preserves individual access to each unit under test so it can program, for example, a unique serial number.

The PT100 itself is a collection of self-contained parallel-tester-card building blocks connected by a flexible ribbon cable. The cards are housed in 19-in. 3U-height rack-mountable boxes, each of which can hold 16 cards. Each card supports one IEEE 1149.1 controller and 24 reconfigurable tester channels (providing 0.8 V to 5 V at up to 84 mA). The IEEE 1149.1 interface can transfer data at 64 Mbits/s. Each tester card also has a high-speed clock channel that supports clock rates to 500 MHz. A secondary connector permits integration of the PT100 with automated board handlers and external fixturing.

A single PC employing an Intellitech PXI or PCI interface card and running the company's Scan Executive software controls the tester cards. Users can employ the company's Eclipse Test Development Environment to develop test programs.

Base prices: four-card version—$9750; additional cards—$1800. Intellitech, Durham, NH. 603-868-7116; www.intellitech.com .

Two new modules extend the capabilities of the DL750 Digital ScopeCorder for automotive, motor, power supply, robotic, and other electromechanical-type applications. The 701280 frequency module has two isolated 16-bit channels, each of which updates at 25 kHz and works with signals that have frequencies between 0.01 Hz and 200 kHz. The 701275 acceleration/voltage module also supplies two independent, isolated 16-bit channels. Each channel accepts both acceleration and voltage inputs, samples at up to 100 ksamples/s, and has a 40-kHz bandwidth. Price: 701280—$1400; 701275—$1300. Yokogawa, Newnan, GA. 770-254-0400; www.us.yokogawa.com.

Designed to plug into the CompactPCI bus, the dual-channel DC438 and DC436 digitizer cards use 12-bit ADCs to sample signals at rates of up to 200 Msamples/s and 100 Msamples/s, respectively. Each 6U card comes with acquisition memory of 32 kpoints/channel, which can be optionally increased to 2 Mpoints. You can install up to 20 modules in a single crate to achieve a multichannel system with up to 40 inputs. Price: DC436—$8490; DC438—$10,990. Acqiris, Monroe, NY. 845-782-6544; www.acqiris.com.

Complete with integrated signal conditioning, the PXI-4220 and PXI-4204 PXI data-acquisition modules work with LabView 7 Express to acquire and analyze high-voltage and high-speed strain with 16-bit measurement accuracy. Each module provides simultaneous sampling rates of up to 200 ksamples/s. The PXI-4220 is intended for structural test and aerospace applications, while the 100-V input range of the PXI-4204 makes it useful for 14-V and 42-V automotive measurements. Base price: PXI-4220—$1795; PXI-4204—$1995. National Instruments, Austin, TX. 512-683-0100; www.ni.com.

Symmetric's modular data acquisition system combines multichannel 24-bit analog-to-digital conversion with accurate GPS time-stamping of acquired analog data. The PAR4CH is a four-channel board with programmable acquisition rates of 0.1 Hz to 5000 Hz and a 2-Mbyte memory buffer. Connected to a PC and the digital I/O connector on the PAR4CH, the PARGPS provides time stamping accurate to within 10 µs, along with other GPS parameters such as location and satellite count. Boards are optionally available in vinyl-covered steel desktop enclosures. Prices: PAR4CH—$550; PARGPS—$400. Symmetric Research, Kirkland, WA. 702-341-9325; www.symres.com.