News briefs

Keithley Instruments aims to fill a gap in on-wafer semiconductor test between benchtop analyzers and production parametric test systems with its new Automated Characterization Suite, or ACS. The ACS works with the company’s Model 4200 semiconductor characterization system as well as with its source/measurement instruments and pulse/pattern generators.

The Model 4200 itself (pictured) is now available with the new Model 4205-PG2 pulse-generator card, which offers a patent-pending “Segment ARB” mode that lets users generate complex waveforms using simple line segments. New Model 4200-based applications support RF, power-FET, and flash test.

The ACS is designed to address the challenges introduced by emerging technologies such as scaled CMOS and LDMOS. The suite helps engineers perform extended test and data collection without having to rely on custom in-house or third-party software. ACS supports automation at the wafer or cassette level to enable unattended testing and collection of large statistical data samples.

For wafer-level test, Keithley ACS systems feature a utility that lets users build wafer-description files with integrated test plans. Color-coded wafer maps are updated in real-time during test execution to show pass/fail metrics. An interactive prober controller allows users to control wafer movement using the ACS software during test development to validate test setups on actual structures and during lot disposition to navigate to a problem area of the wafer and execute testing manually. A range of drivers offers integration with a range of semiautomatic and fully automatic probers. www.keithley.com.

Corelis has announced that its CodeSymphony software development and JTAG debug environment will now be included as part of AMCC PowerPC 405EZ evaluation kits. CodeSymphony is based on Eclipse, an open platform that provides a suite for building, compiling, and debugging embedded applications for PowerPC 4xx systems.

When used with the Eclipse Integrated Development Environment (IDE), CodeSymphony provides a simple GUI for managing a project. Developers can set up one or more build environments by specifying the compiler and build options, allowing for revisions of an embedded system. CodeSymphony also provides a pre-built GNU C/C++ cross tool-chain for Linux and Windows that includes a compiler, linker, and debugger, along with other tools configured for PowerPC targets.

“The use of Eclipse for the CodeSymphony software environment provides the best in terms of embedded technology, support, and flexibility for our customers in the embedded market,” said Terence Nakada, embedded tools product manager at Corelis. “And by adding JTAG emulation, users can readily migrate their application code from the development board to the actual target board.” www.amcc.com; www.corelis.com.

Universal Switching reports that it has acquired all product lines and assets of switch-module and system-manufacturer Matrix Systems, located in Calabasas, CA. Founded in 1969 by Jack Singleton, Matrix pioneered advances in modular switching products. Norton Alderson, VP of marketing at Universal Switching, said that his company will maintain a portion of the Matrix line, although some products will be discontinued, or “available only to reorder clients.” Universal Switching will support “in-warranty” products shipped by Matrix since April 16, 2006, and will support most out-of-warranty issues on an individual basis. www.uswi.com

The International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) has issued “Integrated Circuits—EMC evaluation of CAN transceivers,” a standard that specifies test methods, setups, signals, and procedures as well as failure criteria for evaluating the electromagnetic compliance (EMC) of transceivers used in controller area networks (CANs). Topics include immunity against RF common-mode disturbances on the signal lines, emissions caused by nonsymmetrical signals regarding the time and frequency domain, immunity against transients, and immunity against electrostatic discharges (ESD). www.iec.ch.

With serial data streams constantly increasing in speed, an oscilloscope can quickly need replacing. The ScopemaX from Wavecrest can extend the life of a 1-GHz to 6-GHz oscilloscope by making measurements at up to 12.5 GHz and at data rates up to 6 Gbps.

The ScopemaX converts an incoming signal into one that the oscilloscope can accurately display, and it currently works with specific models of scopes from Agilent, LeCroy, and Tektronix. It provides one single-ended or differential input from a cable or probe. SMA cables connect the ScopemaX to the oscilloscope.

Windows-based oscilloscopes that let you install software will control the ScopemaX through the oscilloscope’s USB port. Even if your oscilloscope does not let you install software, you can still take advantage of ScopemaX. Just install the software on a PC and connect the PC to an oscilloscope through a GPIB port and to the ScopemaX through a USB port.

You can use the ScopemaX software to perform jitter analysis, measure rise and fall times, look at eye diagrams, and perform time-interval analysis. Using the ScopemaX software, you can compare the performance of oscilloscopes from different manufacturers through a common interface.

Price: $35,950. Wavecrest, www.wavecrest.com.

Anritsu’s MS271xB family of microwave spectrum analyzers cover from 9 kHz to 7.1 GHz, 13 GHz, and 20 GHz. Prices start at $12,950, $16,950, and $19,950, respectively. Features include 1-Hz to 3-MHz resolution bandwidth, amplitude accuracy better than ±1.3 dB, phase noise of –114 dBc/Hz at 10-kHz offset, and 100-dB (typical) dynamic range.

The instruments can perform RMS detection and channel power ratio measurements as well as AM/FM demodulation and limit testing. For EMC precompliance testing, the analyzers have a quasi-peak detector and CISPR bandwidths. They also offer a 65-dB range input step attenuator and 20-W input protection. Optional power-meter functionality supports Anritsu’s 6-GHz PSN50 sensor with ±0.16-dB power-measurement accuracy.

All three models offer optional WCDMA/HSDPA RF measurements and IQ demodulation hardware to support WCDMA demodulation. The 7.1-GHz MS2717B has an optional tracking generator to support filter and amplifier measurements and optional WiMAX measurements. Each analyzer has a 256-Mbyte compact flash drive and a 256-Mbyte USB flash drive as well as Ethernet and USB 2.0 connections. Power consumption is 35 W.

Anritsu, www.us.anritsu.com.

International Microwave Symposium, June 3–8, Honolulu, HI. Sponsored by IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society (MTT-S). www.ims2007.org.

Design Automation Conference (DAC), June 4–8, San Diego, CA. Sponsored by IEEE, SIGDA, and EDA Consortium. www.dac.com.

International Robots & Vision Show, June 12–15, Chicago, IL. Sponsored by Automated Imaging Association and Robotic Industries Association. www.machinevisiononline.org.

Learn about other conferences, courses, and calls for papers at www.tmworld.com/events.