January 3, 2008

The Best in Test: 2008
The winners of the 2008 Best in Test Awards include an oscilloscope, a multimeter, EDA software, an area camera, and a WiMAX tester. Read about all 12 winners and then cast your vote for the Test Product of the Year. Read More

A practical approach to production test of UWB devices: Part 3
DFT techniques can overcome limitations of multisite and native-mode test for ultra-wideband-device production test, reports Adam Smith of Verigy. Read More

Engineering microscopes zoom in on defects
Both destructive and nondestructive microscopy tools now complement and surpass the scanning electron microscope. These instruments are moving imaging and analysis tasks that were once outsourced back into the manufacturing environment. Read More

Software wrapper links Matlab to instruments
Mike Flaherty, an applications engineer at Agilent Technologies, uses Matlab scripts to generate waveforms with an arbitrary waveform generator (AWG). Read More

You can't shrink heat
At a nonprofit computer recycling facility, the incoming e-waste stream yielded a batch of approximately 100 HP Model 1530 LCD monitors. While many still worked, approximately one third showed only black screens. Read More

AT4 Wireless selects Agilent Mobile WiMAX protocol tester
Agilent Technologies and AT4 Wireless have announced that AT4 Wireless' WiMAX Forum Accredited Lead Lab will use Agilent's N6430A WiMAX protocol conformance test (PCT) and development solution, which is based on the Agilent E6651A Mobile WiMAX test set, for PCT testing of WiMAX devices. Read More

In-Stat says UWB beginning to take off
Ultrawideband-enabled notebook PCs shipped this year, PC peripherals will follow in 2008, and over 400 million UWB-enabled devices will ship in 2011, the market-research firm reports. Read More

IPC releases November PCB industry results
Rigid PCB shipments are down 9.6% and bookings are up 11.8% in November 2007 from November 2006. Flexible circuit shipments in November 2007 were down 1.6% and bookings were up 12.6% compared with November 2006. Read More

January challenges include Environmental Test question
For January, we have added an environmental test question to our challenge line-up. Answer one of our challenge questions correctly, and you could win a prize, courtesy of the contest sponsor.

ENVIRONMENTAL TEST CHALLENGE
During vibration testing, most mechanical failures are blamed on which factor?
Prizes: Two $100 Best Buy gift certificates
Contest sponsor: Cincinnati Sub-Zero

OSCILLOSCOPE CHALLENGE
How can you minimize the effects of probe loading?
Prize: TomTom ONE navigation system
Contest sponsor: Yokogawa

Go to the Challenge page

December/January issue covers fiber-optic power meters,
machine vision
One feature in our most recent issue looks at trends in fiber-optic power meters and includes a comparison chart of available models. Another explains how FPGAs are improving machine-vision systems. The issue also includes the Machine-Vision and Inspection Test Report.
Read it today!

Industry calendar of events
Upcoming events include OFC/NFOEC (February), Measurement Science Conference (March), and APEX/IPC Printed Circuits Expo (March). For more information about these and other test-related events, visit our online calendar.

December/January Issue