February 26, 2008

Agilent's x-ray systems take a new direction
Previously a staunch proponent of using laminography to diagnose solder-joint defects, Agilent Technologies has incorporated digital image reconstruction in its Medalist x6000. Read more

Transmissive 2-D x-rays speed PCB inspection
To build x-ray inspection systems for double-sided printed-circuit boards, MatriX Technologies forgoes slow tomosynthesis techniques in favor of using its Slice Filter Technique in conjunction with high-speed transmissive 2-D x-ray analysis. Read more

Machine-vision focus shifts with application
Dalsa sales and marketing VP Philip Colet commented on hot topics in the machine-vision industry and discussed whether CMOS will replace CCD. Read more

Handling quality
Austriamicrosystems, a provider of mixed-signal ICs for power-management, sensor, and mobile-entertainment applications, employs innovative test and test-handling techniques to ensure the quality of the devices that it sells into communications, industrial, medical, and automotive markets. Read more

Smart cameras serve as LabView targets
NI Vision product manager Matt Slaughter commented on National Instrument's entry into the smart-camera market in an exclusive interview. Read more

Vision software available in trial version
Cognex is offering a free trial version of its VisionPro 5.0 machine-vision software, which the company says can be used to acquire data from any GigE Vision, FireWire, Camera Link, or high-speed analog camera.
Read more

Cree to acquire LED Lighting Fixtures
Cree has signed a definitive agreement to acquire privately held LED Lighting Fixtures (LLF) in a cash and stock transaction valued at approximately $77 million, plus up to an additional $26.4 million over a three-year period. Read more

Moritex IR light source covers broad spectrum
Designated the MHAB-100, this incandescent infrared light source from Moritex offers a broad light spectrum unachievable with LED light sources. Read more

The state of color machine vision
What are the advantages and limitations of using color in machine-vision-based inspection? What are the choices of camera technologies? An article on the Dalsa Web site explores these and other issues. Although it opens with a description of Dalsa's color cameras, the piece goes on to discuss the technology more generically. Read more

Take a challenge, win a prize
This is the last week to take the February Oscilloscope Challenge.

Question: Which statement about active and passive probes is most accurate?
Prize: TomTom ONE GPS
Sponsor: Yokogawa

Take the Oscilloscope Challenge

February issue looks at yield improvement
Read our February issue to learn how a combination of DFT and ATE tools can drive yield improvement. Another feature explains how three engineers have taken different approaches to improve jitter and BER testing for SerDes devices. Read it today.

Industry calendar of events
Upcoming events include APEX (April) and The Vision Show (June). For more information about these and other test-related events, visit our online calendar.