Product Update
Staff -- Test & Measurement World, 11/1/2003
EDITORS' CHOICE
Smart camera costs less than $2000
Targeting cost-sensitive inspection
applications, the DVT Legend 510 SmartImage CMOS camera includes the integrated
ring lights, Ethernet compatibility, and 640x480-pixel resolution found in other
DVT Legend models. The compact 1.6x2.2x4-in.gray-scale camera employs an
embedded PowerPC processor and can capture up to 75 frames/s. The camera
operates with DVT's Windows-based Framework software, which includes tools for
functions such as pattern finding and blob analysis. Coupled with Framework, the
Legend 510 can operate in precision-measurement, motion-control, and
statistical-process-control applications.
Price: $1995. DVT, Duluth, GA, 770-814-7920; www.dvtsensors.com .
EDITORS' CHOICE
X-Stream scopes go mainstream
LeCroy now brings its Windows-based, X-Stream technology to a mainstream line of scopes—the Waverunner 6000 Series with bandwidths from 350 MHz to 2 GHz. Engineers who test embedded systems and other products get the functionality of Windows without the high price of high-end scopes. All but the 350-MHz Model 6030 digitize at 5 Gsamples/s, and all scopes come with 1 Msample/channel of memory (up to 12 Msamples/channel optional). All scopes come with a 500-MHz passive probe that presents 9.5 pF to the circuit under test.
LeCroy redesigned the scope's user interface to add dedicated buttons for commonly used features while keeping basic scope functions under the control of knobs. All models feature a touch screen so you can use them with or without a mouse. You also get five USB ports—one on the front panel—for connecting external peripherals such as CD-RW drives and memory sticks. All WaveRunner scopes work with optional software that add mask testing, power analysis, digital filters, and jitter analysis.
Prices: $7490 to $25,990. LeCroy, Chestnut Ridge. NY. 800-453-2769; www.lecroy.com.
PCI Express bus exerciser
Agilent's E2969A protocol test card lets you perform compliance tests on computer peripherals designed for the PCI Express serial bus. You insert the card into a motherboard's PCI Express slots and then install a peripheral under test on top of the card. By connecting the card to a host computer (through the USB 2.0 port) or to Agilent's E2960 protocol analyzer, you can monitor PCI Express bus transactions passively or by injecting test packets into the bus. The card also lets you test the motherboard for compliance.
Price: $4975. Agilent Technologies, Palo Alto, CA. 800-452-4844; www.agilent.com/find/pci_express.
Ease into DSP programming
Data Translation's DT Measure Foundry/RT Streaming software package lets you add the USB-based Fulcrum II card to its list of data sources. The software package will download your application to the Fulcrum's onboard DSP. Thus you skip having to learn DSP programming to program the Fulcrum II board. You can use the Fulcrum II as a data-acquisition system and stream data over the USB port to the host PC. Or, you can use the DSP to perform filtering and other signal-processing functions.
Price: $1995. Data Translation, Marlboro, MA. 508-481-3700; www.datatranslation.com.
VHDL simulator flags inadequately tested code
The CoValidator VHDL simulator and coverage analyzer, the first component of Impulse's forthcoming CoDeveloper hardware/software design suite, enables users to quickly identify specific lines of code that are not adequately covered by their HDL test suites. It also identifies sections of the code that may be candidates for further testing, optimization, or elimination. Serving developers of VHDL applications for Xilinx, Altera, Actel, QuickLogic, and other FPGAs, CoValidator red-flags sections of source code that have not been executed, identifies branch conditions that have not been tested, and provides detailed coverage reports (in a variety of formats, including HTML) to help track the progress of test-suite development.
Color-coded graphs dynamically linked with the actual code (displayed in a context-sensitive source-code editing window) help engineers quickly visualize untested and unused segments of code. Coverage data may be generated from a single simulation run or from an entire test suite involving hundreds or thousands of test cases.
Price: $850 for a node-locked annual license; $1495 for a perpetual license. Impulse, Kirkland, WA. 425-576-4066; www.CoValidator.com.
Cadence links IC design and manufacturing
Cadence Design Systems has unveiled its Encounter Test Solutions suite of test tools to support a unified test methodology bridging design and manufacturing. Encounter Test Solutions helps design and test engineers reduce test cost and improve test coverage to aid in product quality improvement. In addition, it accelerates defect identification and links design and manufacturing data.
Encounter Test Solutions consists of two products: Encounter Test Design Edition and Encounter Test Manufacturing Edition. The Design Edition includes automated design-for-test (DFT) insertion and can serve designs with more than 50 million gates. It supports memory built-in self-test (BIST), embedded core test, test compression with x-state masking, and delay tests. The Manufacturing Edition is a failure-diagnostic environment that analyzes design intent and manufacturing information.
Price: $75,000 to $750,000 for a one-year license. Cadence Design Systems, San Jose, CA. 800-746-6223; www.cadence.com .
