Test & Measurement World News

• Goepel adds PXI unit to LIN interface module line-up
  
  February 6, 2012
  Goepel Electronic has expanded its range of LIN communication controllers for testing electronic control units with the introduction of the PXI 3078, a module that provides two LIN bus or K-Line interfaces and supports LIN specifications 1.3, 2.0, and 2.1.
  
• KLA-Tencor rolls out trio of wafer inspection systems
  
  February 6, 2012
  The 2900, Puma 9650, and eS800 series of inspection systems address the wide range of defect issues that new materials, structures, and design rules have imposed on manufacturers of advanced chips.
  
• Mitsubishi model library moves to Agilent design system
  
  February 6, 2012
  Agilent Technologies announced that the latest model library for Mitsubishi Electric's nonlinear GaAs and GaN RF devices is now available for use with Agilent's ADS (Advanced Design System).
  
• Imec demonstrates fast hyperspectral camera
  
  February 3, 2012
  Nanoelectronics research firm Imec demonstrated a hyperspectral camera at SPIE Photonics West 2012 that it says is compact, low cost, and fast—achieving an equivalent speed of 2000 lines/s.
  
• GL hones PacketScan's trigger/search capabilities
  
  February 3, 2012
  GL Communications has updated its PacketScan VoIP analysis software to work with its VBA and CDR applications to trigger on calls and generate comprehensive call-detail reports, including audio files.
  
• Test products showcased at DesignCon 2012
  
  Martin Rowe, February 2, 2012
  Oscilloscopes, network analyzers, and waveform generators highlight annual conference
  
• Waveform analyzer plug-in smokes at 50 GHz/32 Gbps so engineers can stay cool
  
  Bill Schweber, February 2, 2012
  86108B precision waveform analyzer module from Agilent for their 86100C/D DCA wide-bandwidth oscilloscope family targets engineers testing high-speed serial links. Agilent demonstrated the modules and hit hst at DesgiCon 2012.
  
• Panel probes T&M’s tech chiefs
  
  Rick Merritt, EE Times, February 2, 2012
  A DesignCon panel probed the leaders of the major test and measurement companies on a broad range of issues. All agreed test problems are becoming increasingly thorny, and at least one member of the audience gave panelists flak for not doing enough to solve customers' toughest challenges.
  
• Multitest teams MEMS modules with test handler
  
  February 2, 2012
  Semiconductor test-equipment manufacturer Multitest announced that it has shipped the first MEMS equipment for the MT9510 pick-and-place test handler to an IDM in the US.
  
• Signalion tweaks RF AMC module for LTE
  
  February 2, 2012
  The AMC-SRRM tunable RF module from Signalion is now available for LTE FDD and TDD field applications covering 3GPP Band 1 (1.920 GHz to 2.170 GHz) and Band 38 (2.570 GHz and 2.620 GHz) frequencies.
  
• M/A-COM expands offerings for cellular infrastructure
  
  February 1, 2012
  Used for band switching in multichannel and multimode base stations, the MASW-010350 SP4T switch and the MASW-010351 SP5T switch provide isolation of 60 dB and 51 dB, respectively, at 2.1 GHz.
  
• AIA announces plans for the future
  
  February 1, 2012
  The industry trade goup cited name changes, educational programs, standards development, and certification initiatives as part of its commitment to advancing vision and imaging technology worldwide.
  
• Advantech CPU module slashes power consumption
  
  January 31, 2012
  Leveraging Intel Atom dual-core N2600 and D2700 processors, the SOM-6765 is one of Advantech's most pronounced low-power CPU modules, consuming 6 W on a compact COM Express R2.0 Type 2 module.
  
• GAO's handheld performs GigE BER testing and more
  
  January 31, 2012
  The Model A0060001 from GAO Tek is a 10/100/1000-Mbps Ethernet tester that combines network testing, data-packet capture, traffic generation, cable testing, and BER testing into one handheld unit.

   

  
  
• TI unveils SimpleLink family of wireless processors
  
  January 30, 2012
  Intended to simplify wireless design, the SimpleLink line of connectivity devices from Texas Instruments offers solutions for multiple wireless technologies, including WiFi, ZigBee, 6LoWPAN, and ANT.
  
• Mini thermocouple connector transmits data up to 300 ft
  
  January 30, 2012
  Part of Omega Engineering's MWTC Smart Connector series, this miniature battery-powered connector can wirelessly transmit temperature data from J, K, T, E, R, S, B, C, and N type thermocouples.
  
• What's a half digit, anyway?
  
  Martin Rowe, January 29, 2012
  Manufacturers of digital multimeters will specify their meters using numbers of digits like 4 1/2. This article explains what the half digit means.
  
• Kistler's tiny accelerometer minimizes mass loading
  
  January 27, 2012
  The single-axis Type 8640A is Kistler's dimensionally smallest, lowest-mass PiezoBeam IEPE (Integrated Electronics Piezo Electric) accelerometer, weighing just 3.5 g.
  
• M/A-COM phase shifters curtail attenuation variation
  
  January 27, 2012
  X-band additions to M/A-COM's family of digital phase shifters, the 4-bit MAPS-010146 and the 6-bit MAPS-010166, minimize the variation in attenuation over their phase shift range.
  
• Temperature transmitter serves as virtual chart recorder
  
  January 26, 2012
  The iTHX-SD transmitter from Newport Electronics lets you monitor and record temperature, relative humidity, and dew point over an Ethernet network or the Internet with just a web browser.