CDMA analyzer for measuring spread-spectrum transmitters. The HP 85725B code-division-multiple-access (CDMA) measurement personality software and HP 8590E Series spectrum analyzer perform CDMA testing to meet EIA/TIA/IS-95, -97, and -98 standards. The measurement personality controls the analyzer setting; measures signal parameters; calculates the results; and displays the results, including pass/fail messages, numerically and graphically. The new personality software makes power measurements as much as three times faster than the earlier version. The spectrum analyzer starts at $11,750, and the measurement personality is $3000. Hewlett-Packard Co., Santa Clara, CA. (800) 452-4844, ext 9762.

Stand-alone DSP system. The DSPLab-56002 includes a DSP56002, analog I/O, a keypad, an LCD, and control software. Analog I/O is via stereo 16-bit, 50-kHz A/D and D/A converters. External memory comprises 32k words of zero-wait-state SRAM and 32 kbytes of flash memory. You can program the instrument with a built-in PC interface or by replacing an EPROM. The product also includes an assembler and a debugger. The debugger interfaces with the DSP card through the 56002’s OnCE emulation port. The system costs $975. Domain Technologies Inc., Plano, TX. (214) 985-7593.

Oscilloscope triggering devices provide a wide range of event-triggering options. The SuperProbe family of oscilloscope triggering devices lets you set pattern-matching triggers. On the SuperProbe II models, you can also set three clocked triggering modes. The SuperProbe I has 17 digital inputs for pattern matching and accommodates signal frequencies to 40 MHz. Match-to-output time is 20 nsec max. The SuperProbe II has 18 digital inputs, the same timing specifications as the SuperProbe I, and a variety of clocked triggering options. Prices range from $99 to $549. Programmable Designs Inc., Ann Arbor, MI. (313) 769-7540.

Analysis software offers mathematical, scientific, and engineering functions. Snap-Master General Analysis 3.0 provides equation builder, intelligent data processing, and data-point processing. Function groups include arithmetic, trigonometric, calculus, statistical, logical, digital filter, and time. The software runs on PCs under Windows and costs $495. Hem Data Corp., Southfield, MI. (810) 559-5607.

Technical computing software available under the Linux operating system on PCs. Mathematica 2.2 provides numeric and symbolic capabilities, 2- and 3-D graphics, and a high-level programming language. The software costs $995. Wolfram Research Inc., Champaign, IL. (217) 398-0700.

PC software for DSOs. Software for the company’s line of digital storage oscilloscopes (DSOs) lets you capture waveforms and view them on PCs in real time. The software controls DSO operation from a PC via a standard RS-232C interface. The software comes with the DSOs. The 20M-sample/sec P-3820 costs $849, the 20M-sample/sec P-2820 costs $1249, the 50M-sample/sec P-3850 costs $1355, and the 40M-sample/sec P-2840 costs $1595. HC Protek, Northvale, NJ. (201) 767-7242.

Lowpass antialiasing filter board includes drivers for LabView. The AAF-3 PC plug-in lowpass filter provides antialiasing and noise elimination in data-acquisition systems. The SETAAF3 driver library integrates with National Instruments’ LabView graphical programming software. Each board has two, four, six, or eight channels and comes standard with eight-pole elliptic and linear-phase filter types that are software-selectable by channel. Butterworth, Bessel, and Cauer filter types are optional. The filters have a programmable cutoff frequency of 1 Hz to 100 kHz. Programmable gains range from 0.5 to 2000, and input signals range from ±2.5 mV to ±10V. Prices for the boards, including drivers, start at $1095. Alligator Technologies, Costa Mesa, CA. (714) 850-9984.

100-MHz AWG for VXIbus. The 3151 arbitrary-waveform generator (AWG) offers programmable output voltages, up to 1-ppm internal-reference accuracy, an external clock input, nine standard waveforms, multiple trigger modes, and multiple unit synchronization. The C-sized module complies with the latest revision of the VXIbus and VXI plug&play specifications. Prices for the module start at $3500. Racal Instruments Inc., Irvine, CA. (714) 859-8999.

Software automates test sequencing. The LabView Test Executive Library of virtual instruments lets you create test sequences and control test execution for automated-test applications in production and manufacturing. The software includes a multilevel user interface for displaying test results, operator and unit-under-test serial-number prompts, pass/fail banners, and runtime error reporting. The software works with the company's LabView software and hardware for instrument control, data acquisition, and signal conditioning. The software runs on PCs under Windows and Windows NT, Macintosh, Power Macintosh, Sun SPARCstations, and HP 9000 Series 700 workstations. A full-development system costs $695, and runtime licenses cost $195. National Instruments, Austin, TX. (512) 794-0100.

Low-cost, Windows-based, data-acquisition board for PCs. The $595 5509LF has a 100-kHz, 12-bit A/D converter; eight differential analog inputs; a 1024-word FIFO buffer; programmable gains of one, two, four, or eight, or one, 10, 100, or 500; dual DMA, and multiple triggering modes. The FIFO allows uninterrupted data acquisition, even when Windows is servicing interrupts. The board comes with high-speed data-acquisition software. Adac Corp., Woburn, MA. (617) 935-6668.

Triple-output power supply costs $995. The HP E3631A provides 0 to –25V at 1A, 0 to 25V at 1A, and 0 to 6V at 5A. The supply includes IEEE-488 and RS-232C interfaces for remote-control operation. The low-noise power supplies feature 0.01% load-and-line regulation. Separate digital panel meters let you simultaneously monitor voltage and current. Hewlett-Packard Co., Santa Clara, CA. (800) 452-4844, ext 9764.

Low-cost digital control boards use solid-state relays. The $99, 24-line CIO-DO24DD and the $139, 48-line CIO-DO48DD di-rect-drive boards switch circuits up to 50V and currents up to 500 mA. A clamping circuit protects each group of eight inputs from damaging voltages. Typical applications include relay control, printer hammers, and alarm lamps. Computer Boards Inc., Mansfield, MA. (508) 261-1123.

PCMCIA MIL-STD-1553 interface. The CM1553-1 rugged PC Card enables any computer with a PCMCIA socket to communicate with 1553 avionics systems for development, simulation, and maintenance. You can configure the device as a dual-redundant bus controller, remote terminal, or bus monitor to process 1553 messages automatically. The type III PCMCIA card, software, and cables costs $3995. Ballard Technology, Everett, WA. (800) 829-1553.

Software integrates IEEE 488.2 control into Windows 95 applications. Driver488/WIN/95 supports the company’s 8- or 16-bit PC/IEEE 488.2 controller boards. The software supports the company’s IEEE 488 command set and includes interfaces to user-written applications in C, C++ for Windows, or Visual Basic. The software also includes interactive control programs for application startup, instrument communication verification, and interactive IEEE 488 instrument control. Because the driver is part of the Windows 95 virtual-machine logger and does not rely on the DLLs used in earlier versions, I/O and interrupt processing are significantly improved. The driver with the 8-bit controller board costs $395, and the driver with the 16-bit controller board costs $495. IOtech Inc., Cleveland, OH. (216) 439-4091.

DC-to-AC inverter lets you power instruments from 12V dc. The HP 34397A lets you power instruments from the cigarette lighter of an automobile or from an external 12V battery. The standard version provides 115V ac at 60 Hz from a 10.5 to 15V input. Output power rating is 100W continuous and a 5-min rating of 200W. A 230V- ac-at-50-Hz-output option is also available. The inverter costs $160. Hewlett-Packard, Santa Clara, CA. (800) 452-4844, ext 9800.

Math modeling tools. Fixed-Point Blockset 1.0 lets you model and simulate fixed-point quantization effects and reduces the time required for fixed-point design methods. The tool costs $595 for PC and Macintosh systems. System Identification Toolbox 4.0 is an analysis module with GUI-based tools for building mathematical models of dynamic systems using I/O test data. The tool costs $595 for PC and Macintosh systems. Customers can up-grade for $195. Both tools require MathWorks. The MathWorks Inc., Natick, MA. (508) 653-1415.

Software smoothes transition to Windows 95. Users of LabView or LabWindows/CVI application software who are planning to upgrade their PCs to Windows 95 can take advantage of the company’s Preview programs. Members of the program receive pre-release copies of LabView or LabWindows/CVI for Windows 95. When the products are shipped, members are automatically sent the official release copy. The Preview Program costs $295. National Instruments, Austin, TX. (512) 794-0100.

Low-cost signature analyzers for pc boards. The T1500 ($1395) is a self-contained instrument for testing unpowered pc boards. The instrument generates a current-limited ac drive signal via a pair of probes to produce an analog-impedance signature. The technique works on all types of active and passive components including analog and digital ICs. The instrument has a dual-channel mode that lets you simultaneously display two signatures. The T1000 ($695) is nearly identical to the T1500, but requires an oscilloscope to display test signatures. The T1000 provides a transistor curve tracing function. Polar Instruments Inc., Bellingham, WA. (360) 398-1946.

Five virtual instruments require no development work. The VirtualBench family of virtual instruments is ready to run out of the box. All the devices require is one of the company’s PCMCIA DAQCards or parallel port DAQPads and a PC with Windows 3.x or Windows 95. The family comprises the VirtualBench-Scope oscilloscope, the VirtualBench-DSA dynamic signal analyzer, the VirtualBench-FG function generator, the VirtualBench-DMM digital multimeter, and the VirtualBench-Logger data logger. The instruments cost $195 each or $495 for the set. National Instruments, Austin, TX. (512) 794-0100.

Disk-drive test system tests PRML channels. The HP E5020S Read/Write Analyzer tests partial-response maximum-likelihood (PRML) channels including PR4, EPR4, and E2PR4 classes. The VXI-based test module can shape an incoming waveform to exactly match any sampled-data channel. It samples at 250M samples/sec for production tests and >500M samples/sec for research-and-development tests. The basic system costs $75,700 plus $5000 for system software. Hewlett-Packard, Santa Clara, CA. (800) 452-4844, ext 9965.

Tool captures printer data streams for diagnosing problems. The Printer Monitor attaches to the parallel port to let you capture, view, print, and save printer data streams. The tool is useful when a printer is not performing as expected, and the source of the problem is the data being sent to the printer. The tool includes DOS software and costs $199. Agile, Hercules, CA. (510) 724-1600.

Tool provides continuous flow of information over networks. LabTechnet establishes a continuous flow of information from multiple sources to multiple destinations. The significant difference from other network tools is that only individual data points are transferred from the server to the client over the net, reducing network traffic and time delay. The software is independent of network topology and can be used on LANs, WANs, or the Internet. The same architecture and code are used regardless of the network type. The software is a $295 option to the company’s LabTech notebook and control products. Laboratory Technology Corp., Wilmington, MA. (508) 657-5400.

RF-detector probes available for frequencies from 500 Hz to 1 GHz. The Micro-LC model 6104 RF detector probe ($59.95) measures energy from 500 Hz to 30 MHz, model 6105 ($69.96) measures energy from 100 kHz to 300 MHz, and model 6106 ($79.95) measures energy from 1 MHz to 1 GHz. The probes come with twin 4-mm banana-plug connectors for attaching to DMMs and have a replaceable gold-plated test tip. ITT Pomona Electronics, Pomona, CA. (909) 623-3463.

Image-measurement-and-analysis software for the PC. SigmaScan ($495) and SigmaScan Pro ($995) Version 2.0 are Windows 95-compatible and perform 44 measurements, including area, perimeters, angles, major and minor axes, and shape factors. The tools let you plot or export data. The Pro version adds a macro recorder, image-processing filters and convolutions, image math, and overlay layers. The tools use images from any Twain-compliant scanner and previously digitized images. The Pro version lets you capture images using a video camera and frame grabber. Jandel Scientific Software, San Rafael, CA. (415) 453-6700.

Compact switching system has 96 channels. The Model 708 switching system requires 3.5 in. of a 19-in.-wide rack. The low-heat-generating design eliminates the need for vent holes in the housing and an internal fan. A sealed enclosure makes the system suitable for harsh environments and cleanrooms. The system also provides 16 digital input channels protected to 42V and 16 open collector outputs protected to 25V. Up to five mainframes can be connected for applications requiring more channels. The switching system costs $2295. Keithley Instruments Inc., Cleveland, OH. (216) 248-0400.

Programmable dc power supplies have rms output-current meter. The PPS series programmable dc power supplies have a true dc/ac rms converter that can accurately measure true rms current waveforms up to 8-MHz bandwidth. The series includes 40 power supplies that operate in local mode or in a remote mode using a standard IEEE-488 interface. Prices range from $895 to $3395. American Reliance Inc., Arcadia, CA. (818) 303-6688.