August 28, 2008

Dynamic range unraveled
A spectrum analyzer's distortion and noise floor directly affect its dynamic range. Understanding the measurements you need to make can help you evaluate whether an analyzer's dynamic range is adequate for a given application. Read More

A D V E R T I S E M E N T How to Increase Your Odds of Finding Infrequent Glitches Application Note Evaluating Oscilloscopes for Best Signal Visibility. This application note reviews some of the factors that impact oscilloscope update rates and shows you how to compute probabilities of capturing infrequent events. Plus, it includes side-by-side measurement examples that compare the probabilities of capturing an anomalous event using various vendors' MSOs. Click here to download this application note.

Test Ideas: Sync sine waves over three decades
Our debut Test Ideas column describes a circuit that can synchronize a sine-wave output through three decades of frequency, while maintaining low total harmonic distortion and constant amplitude. Read More

EMC exhibits and demonstrations kick off Symposium in the Motor City
The IEEE International Symposium on Electromagnetic Compatibility featured new EMC products and experiments in its opening days. 
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From 14-sample/s DAQ to 6.6-GHz PXI--with a helping of software
Introductions by National Instruments at its annual NIWeek event included LabView version 8.6, WiFi and Ethernet data-acquisition devices, 6.6-GHz PXI RF signal analyzers and generators, and reconfigurable I/O (RIO) devices. The company, in conjunction with Lego, announced a new educational robotics product. Read More

A D V E R T I S E M E N T Fundamentals of Digital Phosphor™ Technology in Real-Time Spectrum Analyzers Detection is the first step in characterizing, diagnosing, understanding and resolving any problem relating to time-variant signals. As more channels crowd into available bandwidth, new applications utilize wireless transmission, and RF systems become digital-based, engineers need better tools to help them find and interpret complex behaviors and interactions. This application note describes Tektronix’ patented Digital Phosphor technology or DPX ® Spectrum display and how it addresses situations involving brief, intermittent, complex and/or coincident signals. Also covered are the methods for achieving its key performance specifications. Click here

Companies display new calibration products at NCSLI conference
Metrologists are typically not impressed by the latest technology because they consider it unproven. Thus, the exhibit hall at the NCSL International conference often has the same equipment year after year. Nonetheless, new product sometimes appear, as was the case during this year's gathering. Read More

Get unsmart
"Is Google Making Us Stupid?" That's the provocative title of an article by Nicholas Carr that explores the side effects of reprogramming our brains for Web interaction. Read More

Protek's LCR meter boasts 0.3 percent accuracy
Powered by a 9-V battery, the Model Z580 from Protek measures inductance, capacitance, resistance, and impedance at a rate of 3 measurements/s with basic measurement accuracy of +/-0.3 percent. Read More

Tektronix increases speed of waveform generators
According to Tektronix, its AWG7000B arbitrary waveform generator is 20 percent faster than previous models in the AWG B series. 
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Last chance to take the August Challenges
Answer a challenge question correctly, and you could be eligible to win a prize.

Oscilloscope Challenge:
Question: In an FFT, the frequency resolution is inversely proportional to what?
Prize: TomTom ONE GPS
Sponsor: Yokogawa

Data-Acquisition Challenge:
Question: Which kind of sensor typically uses six wires?
Prize: $300 American Express gift card
Sponsor: Data Translation

Go to the Challenge Page

Is your ESD simulator reliable?
Read our August issue to learn how can verify the output of an ESD simulator. Also, our cover story explains how engineers at Luminex Corp. test their high-throughput bioassay analysis equipment. The issue also includes the Machine-Vision & Inspection Test Report.
Read it today

Industry calendar of events
Upcoming events include Autotestcon (September) and the International Test Conference (October). For more information about these and other test-related events, visit our online calendar.