The descriptions of the new products listed in this section are based on information supplied to us by the manufacturers. Physics Today can assume no responsibility for their accuracy. For more information about a particular product, visit the website at the end of the product description.
Modular data acquisition devices
Agilent Technologies' U2300A series USB modular data acquisition (DAQ) family consists of seven modules. They all use the standard high-speed USB 2.0 interface (480 megabits/s) that provides plug-and-play and hot swappable connectivity. The modules come bundled with the Agilent Modular Instrument Measurement Manager software. The series can function as a standalone or modular device that plugs into the U2700A series chassis, in which up to 384 channels can be accommodated. The U2300A series has a sampling rate of up to 3 megasamples/s for a single channel and 1 MSa/s for multiple channels and offers 12-bit or 16-bit A/D resolution and 24-bit programmable digital I/O. The DAQ devices provide both pulling and continuous modes, which can acquire data continuously once the trigger signal is received. Agilent Technologies Inc, 5301 Stevens Creek Boulevard, Santa Clara, CA 95051, http://www.agilent.com
Interactive measurement software
National Instruments Corp has released LabVIEW SignalExpress, interactive measurement software that simplifies data logging, instrument control, and academic instruction. It enables users–-with just a few mouse clicks–-to quickly acquire live measurements from more than 400 modular and standalone instruments, log the data to a disk, and export them to a spreadsheet application, such as Microsoft Excel. LabVIEW SignalExpress provides more than 200 functions, including frequency and time and statistical analysis, that allow users to analyze their data as they acquire them. The new package 's interactive environment helps students quickly visualize theories learned in the classroom and better understand their real-world applications. SignalExpress can provide a plug-and-play setup with the NI CompactDAQ USB-based instruments. National Instruments Corporation, 11500 North Mopac Expressway, Austin, TX 78759-3504, http://www.ni.com
PXI products for hybrid test systems
Keithley Instruments has introduced the KPXI product line that adheres to the PXI standard, based on the industry standard PCI interface, and is designed for high-speed automated production testing. Users can combine the data acquisition and tight trigger synchronization features of the new products with the precision measurement capabilities of the company 's hybrid test system architecture instruments.
The new devices include software examples and drivers that work with various programming languages. The KPXI line consists of simultaneous data acquisition boards, multifunction analog I/O modules, high-speed analog output boards, digital I/O modules, digitizer modules, PXI chassis, embedded PC controllers, MXI bridges for remote PC control, and GPIB interface cards. Keithley Instruments Inc, 28775 Aurora Road, Cleveland, OH 44139, http://www.keithley.com
Dynamic signal analyzer
IOtech has announced the 600 series of dynamic signal analyzers. The 640 and 650 models are targeted for noise, vibration, harshness, and rotating machinery applications, and both include for each input a 24-bit sigma-delta A/D converter that features a spurious-free dynamic range of 108 dB. The 640 has four analog inputs with a range of ±10 V and one programmable output channel that generates both continuous and swept sine wave signals. The 650 model has five analog inputs with a range of ±40 V. The 600 series supports such analog input types as accelerometer, velocimeter, proximity, microphone, and tachometer. Users can select up to four of the company 's eZ-series software packages that enable data recording, resonance testing, balancing functions, and production applications. Analysis rates are programmable from 20 Hz to 40 kHz. IOtech, 25971 Cannon Road, Cleveland, OH 44146, http://www.iotech.com
VME-based computing platform
The Celero CVME-7448M from Cornet Technology is a VME-based PCI Express multiprocessing device that provides a single-board computing solution for embedded military and aerospace designers. It can collect, analyze, and disseminate a high volume of real-time data and is designed to allow the use of PCI Express as a switched interconnect interface. VME applications can include signal intelligence, automated test equipment, and satellite ground stations. The CVME-7448M is powered by an engine that consists of four Freescale PowerPC MPC7448 processors, each running at a clock speed of 1.267 GHz. The engine includes two PMC/XMC high-speed I/O sites linked in a PCI Express switched fabric interconnect interface via the VME switched standard, which allows the routing of up to 16 lanes of 2.5 gigabits/s of traffic. Cornet Technology Inc, 6800 Versar Center, Springfield, VA 22151, http://www.cornet.com
Digital I/O module
Acromag 's new IP-EP200 series Industry Pack I/O modules interface digital I/O signals to an Altera Corp Cyclone II field-programmable gate array (FPGA). All units in the series feature the device with its 20 000-logic element, 240-kilobit RAM and 26 embedded multipliers. One IP-EP200 model provides 48 bidirectional TTL I/O lines, another offers 24 differential RS-485 I/O lines, and a third has 24 LVDS I/O lines. A combination model pairs 24 TTL with 12 RS-485 I/O lines in a single IP module. Additional features of the IP-EP200 series include 64 000 × 16 local static RAM under FPGA control to meet memory demands and a programmable phase-locked-loop-based clock synthesizer that generates frequencies from 250 kHz to 100 MHz. The new devices allow users to develop and store their own instruction set in the FPGA for adaptive computing applications. Acromag Incorporated, 30765 South Wixom Road, P.O. Box 437, Wixom, MI 48393-7037, http://www.acromag.com
Temperature input devices
Measurement Computing Corp has released the WLS-TC and WLS-TEMP temperature input devices that include an RF module with the company 's USBTC and USB-TEMP products to allow for wireless data transfer. The new units operate within the ISM 2.4-GHz frequency band and are designed to meet IEEE 802.15.4 standards. Users can acquire and process temperature data to monitor and control at distances up to 150 feet indoors and as much as 2460 feet line of sight outdoors. The WLS-TC supports eight channels of J, K, R, S, T, N, E, and B thermocouple inputs, while the WLS-TEMP adds to the thermocouples thermistor, resistance temperature detector, and semiconductor temperature sensor capabilities. The devices are bundled with all of the company 's software drivers and its TracerDAQ software package. Measurement Computing Corporation, 10 Commerce Way, Norton, MA 02766, http://www.measurementcomputing.com
Module for sound and vibration analysis
Data Translation has introduced the DT9837, a high-accuracy multifunction module for sound and vibration analysis. It has four simultaneous 24-bit sigma-delta ADCs with support for IEPE (integrated electronics piezoelectric) sensor inputs that include a 4-mA current source and AC or DC sampling. The inputs are synchronized with an independent tachometer input to provide data streams matched in time. The device has a sampling rate of more than 52 kHz per input channel and simultaneous operation of A/D and D/A subsystems for maximum performance; it incorporates a D/A converter for waveform generation. The DT9837 is supported by the company 's Measure Foundry, a software package that allows users to quickly and easily create noise and vibration applications. The module is self-powered via a USB connection to a PC. Data Translation Inc, 100 Locke Drive, Marlboro, MA 01752-1192, http://www.datx.com
A/D converter for data acquisition
Semtech Corp has announced the SX8722, a high-resolution data acquisition product for MEMS sensors that interfaces with most Wheatstone bridge chemical, pressure, and magnetic sensors to condition and read data. The device features the company 's Zooming-ADC, a 16-bit A/D converter with a 10-bit preamplifier to allow the SX8722 to zoom in on a small portion of the analog signal and apply the full ADC to that part of the signal. An input multiplexer means the SX8722 can measure up to four differential sensors, seven single-ended sensors, or a combination of the two. The gain of the preamplifier is programmable from 0.5x to 1000x in 10% steps, and sensor offset compensation can be extended up to 15x full-scale input. The SX8722 is optimized for battery applications with two power-saving shutdown modes. Semtech Corporation, 200 Flynn Road, Camarillo, CA 93012, http://www.semtech.com
PXI switching module
The 40-612 PXI switching module from Pickering Interfaces is a very high-density versatile multiplexer (MUX). It features a wide range of switching configurations and incorporates high-quality electromechanical relays, with connections made via a front panel 160-pin connector. The module can be software configured into one of a large number of different MUX modes. The relays allow the MUX banks to be set in single- or two-pole mode, and interbank switching enables the channel count to be increased up to a maximum of 128. When a new channel is selected, the 40- 612 may be operated as a conventional MUX with break-before-make action. Isolation switching connects only the currently active MUX bank to the analog common, thus keeping capacitive loading and leakage currents in large systems to a minimum. Pickering Interfaces Inc, 2900 Northwest Vine Street, Suite D, Grants Pass, OR 97526, http://www.pickeringtest.com
Stress analysis test system
Vishay Intertechnology has developed the System 7000, designed for use with Vishay Micro-Measurements Strain-Smart software. The new system has all the features needed to acquire, reduce, and present data from strain gauges and related sensors for stress analysis testing and can be configured with a virtually unlimited number of sensors; when users choose the appropriate card, various sensors can be intermixed for a total of 128 channels. The new system has a measurement accuracy of ±0.05% of full scale, with each channel card using a 24-bit A/D converter. Scan rates up to 2048 samples/s are available for simultaneous reading of all sensor inputs. System 7000 is capable of self-calibration with a removable calibration reference. An Ethernet interface allows the synchronization of multiple scanners. Vishay Intertechnology Inc, 63 Lancaster Avenue, Malvern, PA 19355-2143, http://www.vishay.com
