Test & Measurement: September 2, 1996

Industrial pressure sensor is accurate to within ±1%.

Offered in measurement ranges from 100 to 10,000 psi, the MSP-300 pressure transducer delivers an accuracy of ±1% of full scale at room temperature for applications requiring measurement of gases or liquids. The sensor, which offers its output signal in volts, millivolts, or milliamps, is >2 in. long and has a ¼-in. NPT fitting with 24 in. of cable. All signal-conditioning electronics come in a stainless steel cover. The MSP-300 costs <$100 (50). PTC Electronics Inc, Wyckoff, NJ. (201) 847-0500.

Reflective sensor reads through glass.

Using an infrared LED and a phototransistor, the OT93168 reflective sensor detects the presence or absence of paper, such as checks, currency, tickets, and documents. The sensor even reads through glass, offsetting the reflective problems usually encountered with glass. The unit operates over a temperature range of -40 to +80°C and has a maximum forward voltage of 1.6V. Typical peak wavelength is 940 nm. The OT93168 costs $2.05 (1000). Opto Technology Inc, Wheeling, IL. (847) 537-4277.

Kit calibrates DMM through serial port.

You can recalibrate the ASYC II series of 50,000-count DMMs without opening the meter using the SX-ASYC IIC calibration kit. No mechanical adjustment is needed. You can perform full calibration digitally via an RS-232C serial port. The kit includes an adapter to isolate and format signals, a 25-to-9-pin adapter for connecting to any type of serial port, a power supply, LabWindows drivers, and adjustment software. The calibration kit costs $199. Metrix SA, Brea, CA. (714) 922-1239.

Data generator accepts all logic technologies.

The DG2020 data generator verifies, characterizes, and tests digital systems and components using a flexible output pod that works with all logic families, including TTL, CMOS, ECL, and 3.3V-based designs. With a 200-MHz clock rate and as many as 36 output channels, the DG2020 is useful for simulating a variety of signals. The instrument also supplies everything required to load, modify, and output vectors, eliminating the need for an external computer. Prices range from $11,745 (12 channels, TTL only) to $27,840 (36 channels, variable output). Tektronix Measurement Business Division, Pittsfield, MA. (800) 426-2200.

PCI-bus imaging board teams with metrology software.

The vendor now bundles its Falcon-PCI image-processing board for the PCI or VL bus with Sight Systems' Vision Metrology Library to form a metrology machine-vision system. The software, which runs under DOS and Windows, provides accurate and repeatable edge-detection operations, as well as constructions, geometrical calculations, and low-level functions. The Falcon handles both RS-170 and Consultive-Committee-International-Radio video capture. The base price is $4995. Univision Technologies Inc, Burlington, MA. (617) 221-6700.

Power tester finds intermittent faults.

The Poc-it power tester troubleshoots intermittent faults and performs power-on cycle testing. You can randomly vary on and off times with a resolution of 10 msec to realistically simulate an operating environment. With its updated V2.0 software, Poc-it can detect twice as many error conditions as it could before. The unit accepts two 5V-dc inputs and one optically isolated 10 to 30V-dc input. Cycled outputs comprise one for 120V ac at 10A and a 5A relay contact. Poc-it costs $295; the upgrade to V2.0 software costs $50. MicroTools Inc, Simsbury, CT. (203) 651-6170.

VXIbus analog I/O modules offer multichannel operation.

Five C-sized analog I/O modules for the VXIbus carry as much as 4 Mbytes of SRAM. The two-channel, 18-bit Model 4443 A/D and D/A converter costs $5995. The 16-channel, 16-bit Model 4452 A/D and D/A converter costs $7495. The 32-channel, 12-bit Model 4453 D/A converter costs $6995. A high-performance, 14-bit A/D converter, the Model 4474 offers a 512k-sample memory for use in radar processing and transient analysis. It costs $9695. The Model 4475 provides 32 channels of delta-sigma A/D conversion with 16-bit resolution. Suitable for sonar applications and on-line machine monitoring, the Model 4475 costs $9245. Pentek Inc, Upper Saddle River, NJ. (201) 767-7100.

Mixed-signal oscilloscope plugs into PC.

Requiring two adjacent 8-bit ISA-bus slots, the DSO-28464 delivers four DSO channels, 16 logic-analyzer channels, and an integrated FFT/spectrum analyzer. The card samples each of the four DSO channels at 100M samples/sec with an analog bandwidth of 125 MHz and stores 64k samples/channel. The 16-channel logic analyzer operates as fast as 100 MHz, storing 64,000 states/channel. The DSO-28464 provides full cross-triggering between the oscilloscope and the logic analyzer. The scope costs $3299. Link Instruments Inc, Fairfield, NJ. (201) 808-8990.

MPEG-2 analyzer tests DVB systems and networks in real time.

Codeveloped by the vendor and David Sarnoff Research Center, the HP E6276A MPEGscope DVB provides real-time testing of the MPEG-2 transport stream layer in digital video broadcast (DVB) applications. It comprises an HP Vectra PC, an ISA-bus-analysis card, and Windows-based real-time analysis software provide virtually instantaneous test results. An optional demodulator interfaces directly with 64-QAM cable systems. The system costs $44,450. Hewlett-Packard, Santa Clara, CA. (800) 452-4844.

Enhanced power meter is simple to use.

The redesigned Model 4200A RF power meter has a display that is easier to read and a user-friendly front panel. The device also features expanded measurement capabilities. For pulse-modulated carriers, the Model 4200A can now measure pulse (peak) power when the duty cycle is known. You can enter a duty cycle range of 1.0 to 100%, with 100% equivalent to CW power. The IEEE 488-programmable instrument has a frequency range of 10 kHz to 100 GHz. Prices start at $3150. Boonton Electronics Corp, Parsippany, NJ. (201) 386-9696.

Calibrator checks voltage, current, and resistance.

The 5720A multifunction calibrator, a higher-accuracy version of the 5700A, offers low uncertainties to meet calibration requirements of DMMs with scale lengths to 8.5 digits. The 5720A offers a choice between 95% and 99% confidence specifications. You can calibrate the instrument to full specifications in all ranges and functions using three artifact standards: a 10V-dc reference and IW and 10-kW resistance references. The 5720A costs $29,950. Fluke Corp, Everett, WA. (206) 347-6100.

Waveform monitor accepts analog/digital inputs.

The updated LV 5100D waveform monitor accommodates two serial inputs and one three-wire analog input, switching automatically between 525-line, 60-Hz and 625-line, 50-Hz systems. Monitor modes include waveform (overlay and parade), component vector, picture, and a stereo audio phase/amplitude display with an electronic scale. The LV 5100D costs $6495. Leader Instruments Corp, Hauppauge, NY. (516) 231-6900.

Multichannel acquisition system records 100k samples/sec.

The Odyssey data-acquisition system continuously records 32 analog and 32 digital channels at 100k samples/sec for >30 minutes. A DSP on each channel performs real-time measurements, triggering, and data reduction. In addition, the Odyssey sports a Pentium processor to run other applications, even when recording. Odyssey records >200M samples/channel and includes an Ethernet interface and Windows-based software. Prices start at $20,900. Nicolet Technologies, Madison, WI. (608) 276-5600.

System hones timing accuracy of wireless base stations.

The HP 58000 custom-timing synchronization module helps eliminate blocked or dropped cells caused by poor timing in wireless base stations, as well as the static and crosstalk that occur when two cellular callers overhear each other's conversation. The price of the HP 58000 series depends on configuration. For lower volume wireless applications, the HP 58503A GPS time- and frequency-reference receiver costs $5400. Hewlett-Packard, Santa Clara, CA. (800) 452-4844.

Digital indicator handles industrial weighing.

The AN3070 digital weight indicator conforms to worldwide metrology, safety, and EMC standards, including OIML Class III/IIIL, NTEP, S.WA, PTB, UL, CSA, TUV, and CE. Part of the Weigh Guard series, the AN3070 provides 50 measurements/ sec, excites as many as eight 350[ohm] load cells, and translates noisy signals into an accurate and stable display of weight. The indicator has an internal resolution of 1 ppm and a display resolution of 1/60,000. The AN3070 costs $950. Analogic Corp, Peabody, MA. (508) 977-3000.

Data-acquisition system sports Ethernet interface.

Housed in a lightweight package that you can mount on a DIN rail, the EDAS-1001E-1 data-acquisition system provides 32 channels of TTL digital I/O, programmable as inputs or outputs in four 8-bit ports. The system also includes a 10BaseT interface and built-in Transfer Control Protocol/Internet Protocol to communicate over any Ethernet LAN. Two 16-bit counter channels perform frequency measurements and general-purpose event counting to 250 kHz. The EDAS-1001E-1 costs $749. Intelligent Instrumentation Inc, Tucson, AZ. (520) 573-0887.

Dual-trace scope operates at 60 MHz.

In addition to a bright, sharp 6-in. CRT, the Model 6506 60-MHz dual-trace oscilloscope provides X10 alternate sweep magnification. The single-time-base scope has sweep speeds to 10 nsec/div and an internal sync separator for viewing video signals. It also offers an alternate trigger for a stable display of unrelated signals, auto-focus, and Z-axis input. The Model 6506 costs $999. HC Protek, Northvale, NJ. (201) 767-7242.