Cooperation on Embedded Ethernet solutions

Hirschmann™, one of the brands of the US data communications specialist Belden, and the system integrator port from Halle (Saale) have entered into an agreement for close cooperation in the area of Embedded Ethernet solutions. In future, as a certified engineering partner, port will supply Hirschmann™ switching technology to manufacturers of intelligent automation equipment, such as motor starters, frequency converters and sensors. This equipment includes not only an Ethernet switch IP core but also fully embedded Ethernet modules that function as Profinet I/O devices, EtherNET/IP adapter devices or EtherCAT slave controllers.

Embedded solutions enable intelligent automation equipment to be linked into Ethernet networks and conveniently administered using specialized management software such as HiVision. As a certified engineering partner of Hirschmann™, port will offer manufacturers of such equipment an extensive service package ranging from consulting through licensing right down to the integration of tailored embedded solutions.

The system integrator port is a specialist for fieldbus communications with many years' automation experience.

"The fact that port has access to a large number of field equipment manufacturers means that this agreed cooperation will enable us to significantly advance our plans to establish Ethernet technology in the automation market", comments Wolfgang Schenk, manager of Hirschmann Automation and Control, the Industrial Ethernet business unit at Belden. "We also need to continue concentrating on vertical integration, which means providing solutions that offer users genuinely seamless technology. This not only involves appropriate infrastructure components, such as Ethernet switches and a matching network management system, we also need to extend the functionality and manageability of these components all the way to the endpoints, the intelligent actuators and sensors. We therefore needed to expand our conventional, highly successful sales channels, whose particularly strengths lie in the field of system integration and value added distribution. With port as sales partner for our embedded module and as certified engineering partner for the individual integration and customization of customer interfaces we are now perfectly set up." port's CEO Dietmar Franke adds: "The proven industrial switching technology from Hirschmann™ means that we can now offer our customers an additional competitive edge for their equipment."

For further information, view website: www.belden-emea.com    Refer to page 117

Pickering Interfaces' new range of 6GHz PXI solutions

Pickering Interfaces is expanding its range of 3U PXI RF/Microwave solutions with the introduction of 4 new solutions with frequency coverage to 6GHz.

The 40-880 is a 10MHz to 6GHz solid state SPDT switch available as dual, quad, hex and octal configurations.

The 40-881 is a 10MHz to 6GHz solid state SP6T available as a single or dual version.

The 40-882 is a 10MHz to 6GHz solid state SP4T switch available in single, dual, triple or quad configurations.

The 6GHz switch solutions occupy one, two or three 3U PXI slots depending on the configuration.

The 41-182 is a 10MHz to 6GHz solid state programmable attenuator available in single, dual or triple configurations, each attenuator having an attenuation range of 0 to 31.75dB in 0.25dB steps.

All the new 6GHz solutions have been designed to have consistent RF performance with low VSWR and high switch isolation through the use of high levels of RF screening and SMA connection solutions.. Each product uses solid state switches to ensure a very long service life when used within their rating. All switches include automatic termination of unused paths to reduce VSWR effects in connecting cables.

The 6GHz solutions are an excellent alternative to the use of electromechanical relay or microwave switch based designs. The designs provide a higher frequency alternative to electromechanical relay designs and a higher density, lower cost alternative to microwave switch designs, while offering faster operation and longer life.

All the new designs can be supported by any PXI compliant 3U PXI chassis and are supported by Pickering Interfaces Modular LXI chassis for applications requiring Ethernet based control.

Pricing and availability information is supplied on website: www.pickeringtest.com or e-mail: David.owen@pickeringtest.com  Refer to page 123

PXI and PC-based test equipment and test solutions

A subsidiary of the Marvin Group, Geotest - Marvin Test Systems is a global producer of PXI and PC-based test equipment and test solutions. Located in Irvine, California and with a worldwide network of distributors and representatives, Geotest is an ISO-9001 company producing hundreds of products for the electronics test industry. Geotest's products and services include PXI chassis and instruments, test executive and development software (ATEasy), test systems and integration services for the military, aerospace, semiconductor, communications, medical and industrial market segments.

The PXI Semiconductor Test System -TS-900
Geotest's TS-900, an integrated PXI-based test system that is targeted for semiconductor OEMs, fabless semiconductor vendors and packaging / test vendors needing a low cost, configurable test system. The basic system includes a high performance, 20 slot, 3U chassis, an integrated, high-performance receiver interface and Geotest's market-leading GX5295 100 MHz digital instrument which features a PMU per pin architecture and per pin programmability -- providing high-performance digital and mixed-signal test capabilities.

The TS-900 base system offers comparable system features and capabilities found in proprietary ATE systems. Available as a benchtop (Figure 1) or cart-based model (Figure 2), the TS-900 takes full advantage of the PXI architecture to achieve a cost-effective and full-featured test solution. In addition, the test system incorporates a custom-designed performance test interface that supports the use of PCB Device Under Test (DUT) boards -- a proven and high-performance method for interfacing to the device under test. Additionally, the receiver interface's pin blocks are field configurable, allowing users to upgrade the receiver when they modify or upgrade the configuration of the PXI system. The configuration of the receiver can support up to 512 digital channels, as well as a range of analog, power supply and RF resources.

The basic system offers lots of room for expansion -- 14 additional PXI slots are available for adding more digital or analog test resources as needed.

The base system includes the following features and capabilities:

1) 20-slot, high-power PXI chassis with integral receiver interface.
2) Embedded Core 2 Duo controller.
3) (64) 100 MHz digital channels with per pin PMU (expandable to 512).
4) 64 static digital channels (expandable to 128), which can be used for fixture ID, UUT static control or DUT board relay control.
5) 0 -- 40 volt user power supply (expandable to 4 channels).
6) System self-test fixture and test program, which provides functional verification of the system.
7) ATEasy test executive and programming environment.
8) DIOEasy digital waveform editing and display tool.

The basic system offers lots of room for expansion -- 14 additional PXI slots are available for adding more digital or analog test resources as needed. In addition, Geotest offers software tools for converting STIL and WGL test vectors to Geotest's digital vector format.

The TS-900 combines some of the key features associated with proprietary ATE systems with the benefits of the PXI modular architecture. The result is a test system that provides outstanding value and features for test engineers looking for cost-effective solutions to support design verification, failure analysis, pilot runs or focused production test.

Geotest - Marvin Test Systems in profile
Geotest - Marvin Test Systems, Inc. is a global supplier of PXI and PC-Based test equipment, software and automated test solutions for the electronics industry. Geotest's products and services include PXI chassis and instruments, Test Executive and development  software (ATEasy), test systems and integration services. For over 20 years, Geotest has been  supplying test and measurement products and solutions to leading global manufacturers in the  military, aerospace, semiconductor, communications, medical, and industrial market segments. For further information, view website: www.geotestinc. com

Borri launches new range of uninterruptible
power supplies aimed at small critical applications

Leading European uninterruptible power supply (UPS) manufacturer, Borri has added two exciting new compact UPS solutions to its impressive range. The new models are aimed at providing back-up power to CCTV, EPOS, small office hardware, security, and sensitive applications where pure power is required.

The cutting-edge models are compactly designed in order to fit in and around workspace areas, are highly reliable and ultra-efficient, thanks to the incorporation, by Borri's engineers, of the latest developments in UPS advances, ensuring effective and high quality protection for all connected devices.

The first of these highly affordable models is the B60, a 800VA - 2000VA unit, which combines advanced digital Line Interactive (VI) technology with a pseudo sinewave output. This particular form of simulated sinewave makes the B60 ideal for smaller but critical power back-up situations such as CCTV, EPOS, small office hardware applications and small PC workstations.

Completing the line-up is the B200, a 1000VA - 2000VA UPS which has the same multifunctional features as the B60, but also includes a digitised PWM-based controller, which provides a pure sinewave output, making it suitable for highly sensitive electrical and electronic items.

Both of these high efficient UPS solutions from Borri include automatic voltage regulators (AVRs) as standard and can safeguard against voltage fluctuations of up to 30 percent from normal.  This ability to regulate a precise output voltage without switching to battery power not only extends battery life, but ensures optimum runtime should the mains power fail completely.

Borri's B60 and B200 UPS solutions have been manufactured to provide the highest levels of protection and combine separate IEC power outlets for surge suppression with supporting RJ11 and RJ45 filtering for telephone, modem and router lines.

For efficient and easy to use analysis, both models come with in-built LCD screens to display connected load and battery charge levels, input and output voltages and fault or overload warnings.

Users also benefit from the free, advanced, download of intelligent shutdown and monitoring software, which allows them to communicate with the UPS directly from any computer via its USB port.

This intuitive software, which is compatible with most operating systems, also enables automated UPS start-up and shut-down programming, data and history logging and email messaging.

Supported by sophisticated advances in technology, Borri's two new UPS solutions have been designed to deliver impressive efficiency, without any compromise on protection levels. Also, the B60 and B200, like all of Borri's UPS solutions, are made to the highest manufacturing standards and incorporate superior engineering. All equipment is rigorously tested and quality control inspected prior to despatch, to ensure the highest level of customer satisfaction.
 
In addition to being the sole UK distributor for all of Borri S.p.A. UPS systems, the company is also renowned for its exceptional 24/7 maintenance and service support for all makes of UPS, generators and air-conditioning units. For further information, view website: www.borri.co.uk   Refer to next page