ExpressBus gets a digitizer

Test Measurement World Staff - November 1, 2009

The ExpressCard interface, which replaces CardBus (PCMCIA) in notebook computers, now has a digitizer card. The EC14150 from Signatec adds two analog channels (±5 V) to a notebook PC. The 54-mm module samples at up to 150 Msamples/s with 14-bit resolution, and because the card uses a synthesized sample clock, you can set the sample rate from 45 MHz to 150 MHz.

The EC14150 card has 512 Mbytes of waveform memory (256 Mbytes/channel) that you can use as a FIFO memory, or you can use it to store data samples for later transfer to a PC’s memory. The card supports segmented memory, like an oscilloscope, with a maximum segment size of 128 Mbytes. The ExpressCard interface makes the PCI bus accessible to PC peripherals. With that bus, the EC14150 can send 180 Mbytes/s of data to the host PC.

In addition to its two analog inputs (50-Ω input impedance), the EC14150 has a trigger input and a 50-MHz digital I/O channel.

Price: $4900. Signatec, www.signatec.com.