Test & Measurement World News

• 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.
  
• Basler outfits scout light cameras with GigE interface
  
  January 26, 2012
  Eight new camera models, each with a Gigabit Ethernet interface, join Basler's scout light series of area-scan cameras aimed at cost-sensitive applications that require only basic functions.
  
• Product tryout: iOS spectrum analyzer lights up with WiFi
  
  Martin Rowe, Senior Technical Editor, January 25, 2012
    T&MW's hands-on tryout of Oscium's WiPry, a spectrum analyzer/power meter for WiFi frequencies, shows how the instrument operates. The WiPry connects to any iPad, iPod Touch, or iPhone.
  
• GL's ATM emulator performs IMA simulations
  
  January 25, 2012
  Software from GL Communications simulates inverse multiplexing of ATM cell streams over multiple physical links, retrieving the original stream at the far-end from these physical links.
  
• Crossbeam, Spirent test 4G/LTE network security
  
  January 25, 2012
  In a joint project, Crossbeam Systems and Spirent Communications emulated more than a million simultaneous mobile subscribers using smartphones and tablets to evaluate 4G/LTE network security.
  
• R&S drive-test software gains MIMO functions
  
  January 24, 2012
  Rohde & Schwarz has added MIMO-specific measurement functions to its ROMES4 drive-test software that enable users to identify interferers that reduce MIMO performance in LTE networks.
  
• Altair chipset finishes LTE Band Class 14 testing
  
  January 24, 2012
  Altair Semiconductor announced that its FourGee-3100/6200 LTE chipset has successfully completed LTE Band 14 interoperability testing with Alcatel-Lucent infrastructure in support of public safety.
  
• IEEE plans mobile video standards
  
  January 23, 2012
  During the 2012 CES show in January, the IEEE announced plans to develop three standards that will cover mobile video communications.
  
• Agilent Infiniium scope software tests HSIC signals
  
  January 23, 2012
  U7248A compliance test software for Agilent Infiniium oscilloscopes lets you automatically validate the electrical and protocol compliance of HSIC (High-Speed Inter-Chip) devices and hosts.
  
• Tektronix TPI4000 analyzer tests multiple serial protocols
  
  January 23, 2012
  With the TPI4000 protocol analyzer and its configurable protocol database, you can analyze, stimulate, stress, and characterize a variety of high-speed serial links at speeds of up to 10 Gbps.
  
• Smart devices create opportunities for test vendors
  
  Olga Yashkova, Program Manager, Test & Measurement Practice, Frost & Sullivan, January 20, 2012
  The rapid changes that are taking place in the wireless communications industry are driving growth in the wireless test equipment market. With the growing number of wireless subscribers, smartphones, wireless data services, mobile banking, and social-networking applications, there is a need for increased functionality in test and measurement tools.
  
• Silicon Designs rolls out ±5-g MEMS accelerometer
  
  January 19, 2012
  Joining Silicon Designs' 2210 series of single-axis accelerometer modules is a ±5-g model that incorporates MEMS capacitive sensing elements in a housing that occupies a footprint of just 1 square in.
  
• L-com USB 3.0 cables employ bulkhead connector
  
  January 19, 2012
  L-com offers fully shielded USB 3.0 cable assemblies with a Type A female bulkhead connector in a housing that mounts to virtually any panel thickness using an electrically grounded flange.
  
• Mentor expands CFD design tools through acquisition
  
  January 19, 2012
  With the acquisition of Flowmaster Group, a provider of 1-D CFD (computational fluid dynamics) simulation software, Mentor Graphics moves into the adjacent CAE mechanical-analysis space.
  
• Cognex ID reader boasts intelligent tuning
  
  January 18, 2012
  A fixed-mount industrial ID reader, the DataMan 300 from Cognex employs intelligent tuning that automates the settings of the reader's integrated lighting to find the best light setup for each part.