2005 Best in Test Awards- Honorable Mentions

Meterman Test Tools' PM series of handheld digital multimeters provide UL safety ratings up to CAT III at 300 V and CAT II at 600 V. Units in the series—the PM51, the PM53, and the PM55—measure AC/DC voltage, frequency, capacitance, and resistance with an audible continuity beeper. Features include a 4000-count autoranging display for the PM51; transient protection to 4 kV and overload protection to 450 V for the PM53; and frequency measurements to 30 kHz for the PM55. Base price: $27.95.
 

Combining a router tester, bit-error-rate tester (BERT), and storage-area network (SAN) tester, Agilent's N2X tests Internet Protocol (IP) services at protocol layers 1 to 3. The tester contains network interfaces to connect to network elements such as core routers, edge routers, and enterprise switches. The N2X can detect a lost packet and tell you at which layer the error occurred. It also has a 40-Gbps OC-768 optical interface, a tri-rate (10/100/1000 Mbps) Ethernet interface, and a 10-Gbps line-interface card. Base price: $35,000.
 

The DataBlaster JT 37x7/TSI scalable boundary-scan controller provides a choice of three high-speed serial interfaces—USB, Ethernet, and FireWire—in a single module. Features include high-throughput flash programming, high TCK rate, and full support for programmable voltage levels for input/output signals. In addition, users can take advantage of the Ethernet interface to remotely control DataBlaster over the Internet. DataBlaster is compatible with existing test and in-system programming applications developed on JTAG's tools. Base price: $4000. 
 

The Spyder2 line-scan camera includes a Camera Link interface, flat-field correction, Correlated Double Sampling, and a single tap operating at 40 MHz. The camera offers an 8- or 10-bit selectable output, a single 12-V to 15-V power supply, and 14-µm by 14-µm pixel size. Adjustable analog and digital gain, analog and digital offset control, test pattern, line statistics, and camera diagnostics are also featured. Price: $1500.
 

The SigmaSure suite of software performs real-time capture and analysis of test and process data over the Web, letting engineers remotely manage test stations and control tester software across all sites from their desktops. A personalized dashboard customizes analyses, reports, and alarms with information about the product, factory, and operator. Discovery wizards detect which test stations, fixtures, and measurements are failing the most and also provide insights into resolution and prevention. Base price: $72,000.
 

Tidal Engineering's Synergy488 Gateway consists of a single-board computer along with application-specific firmware to provide Ethernet, IEEE 488, and RS-232 communications capabilities to a variety of environmental chamber controllers. The unit is available in two models—TE1643 and TE1588—and consumes less than 5 W at 7–24 VDC and has an operating temperature range of –40°C to +85°C. Base price: $355 each in quantities of 25 units.
 

The Aeroflex PN9500 Wideband Noise and Jitter Analyzer has a low residual noise floor (0.001 ps) and measures phase noise at up to a 500-MHz offset from the signal's nominal frequency. The jitter test instrument has a dynamic range of 0.001 ps rms on a 10-GHz clock buffer. The modular PN9500 can be configured to measure any kind of frequency source from 2 MHz to 140 GHz. Base price: $37,500 at a 1-MHz offset.
 

The PresencePlus P4 vision sensors inspect for correct features, regardless of product orientation or position. Inspections can be done at high rates of throughput, typically 1500 to 6000 parts/min. The built-in live video image output allows users to view the sensor's inspections in real time and view failed inspection images without the use of a PC. The P4 can interface to machines and factory networks via its built-in 10/100 BaseT Ethernet connection, RS-232 port, or discrete inputs/outputs. Price: $995.
 

Available in 3U and 6U sizes, the SG series of DC power supplies offer an output voltage of 0 to 60 V or 0 to 600 V. The 3U modules offer 5 kW to 15 kW of power; the 6U versions offer 20 kW to 30 kW. Up to five units may be used in parallel to achieve a 150-kW maximum configuration. The series includes two models: The SGI has intelligent controls for sequencing and constant power, while the SGA offers front-panel programming of voltage, current, and overvoltage protection. Base price: $3795.
 

Signametrics' SM2060 line of 71/2-digit PCI and PXI DMMs feature 1400 readings/s, triggered events, and counting and temperature measurements. The SM2060 unit offers DC and AC volts of 100 nV to 330 V. The SM2064 adds 20,000 readings/s and offers capacitance, DC currents down to 50 pA and up to 2.4 A, offset ohms, extensive triggering, RTD and thermocouple temperature, event counting, and DCI, ACV, and DCV source and measure capabilities. Base price: $2495.
 

In-System Programming (ISP) tools from BP Microsystems provide customers with an inexpensive way to program boards on the production line. The ISP method lets customers connect a manual programmer to a board via a cable interface using a custom socket module, a 48-pin DIP socket module, or a bed-of-nails fixture. To ensure that the device algorithm is accurate, BP requests that users provide a sample board, interface hardware, and pin mapping. Base price: $995.
 

The DL1700E series of portable, 500-MHz digital scopes includes advanced digital serial bus (I2C, CAN, SPI) triggering and analysis. The scopes offer up to 4 million data points of memory on all channels, and they acquire data 30 times/s for a 1 Mpoint-per-channel acquisition rate. The DL1700E scopes can be controlled from any network connection using the built-in Web server and 10/100 BaseT Ethernet connector or from a PC via the USB or IEEE 488 port. Base price: $5995 for a two-channel unit. 
  

The IFR 3900 Digital Radio Test Set is a modular portable test set platform for advanced digital professional mobile radio (PMR) communications. The 3900 includes TETRA digital trunked radio systems support for mobile-terminal and base-station testing. Direct input of signal power of up to 125 W provides compatibility with mobile and infrastructure test requirements. IEEE 488 and IP-addressable Ethernet connections allow remote control and remote operation, respectively. Base price: $29,160.
 

The Abacus 5000 IP Telephony Migration Test System allows testing of voice signaling protocols when they travel over an IP infrastructure. By combining telephony and IP protocols—SIGTRAN, SIP-T, and IPv6—the Abacus 5000 helps engineers build a network, identify performance limits, measure voice quality, and start IP telephony network pilots. SIP-T (Session Initiation Protocol for Telephones) is used to connect PSTN and IP networks together by handling the Signaling System 7 protocol typically found on the PSTN. Price: $20,000.
 

ScanExpressTPG is an automatic boundary-scan test vector generation tool that features an integrated development environment (IDE) system, generating boundary-scan tests from scratch through a built-in wizard. The wizard automatically displays the most relevant data and recommends the most likely selections when progressing through the various stages of preparing and generating test vectors. The tool uses the ScanPlusDFT Analyzer to produce test coverage reports and ScanPlus Runner to execute created tests, all from a single user interface. Price: $12,450.
 

PXIT's PX2000-336 features a 4.25-GHz bit-error-rate tester (BERT) and traffic generator in a double-slot 3U PXI module. The instrument features a high-accuracy clock source, a data pattern generator, and an error detector. The module automatically performs bit-error-rate analysis to characterize the quality of devices from 1.0625 Gbps to 4.25 Gbps. Software features include a DLL providing the functions of the API, an ActiveXControl wrapper for the DLL, and a LabView VI wrapper for the DLL. Price: $35,000.
 

Built specifically for semiconductor device characterization and testing, the DSPT9012 offers a Windows-based user interface, multi-device testing, a variety of programming tools, and up to 12 independent high-accuracy and high-power source measurement units. Applications for this desktop parametric tester include characterization of simple circuits, low-capacity reliability tests, and matched-device analysis. Price: $55,000.
 

Tektronix's RSA series of real-time spectrum analyzers targets engineers who are developing RF products that range from identification tags to sophisticated radar systems. The instruments capture and analyze time-varying RF signals in response to trigger events, and they can acquire a record of a span of RF frequencies, showing frequency, time, and modulation domains in time-correlated displays. Four models in the series provide frequency coverage to 8 GHz and offer various memory-depth configurations. Base price: $22,900.
 

BuySellProbes.com is an online marketplace that allows buyers to find probe bargains, hard-to-find probes, fixturing components, kits, and testers. Members receive e-mails as soon as specified surplus parts become available. IDI screens the parts before they go live to ensure the listed parts are relevant to ATE industry guidelines, and buyers can access a seller rating system to monitor seller reliability. Price: Free, seller pays commission.
 

The LRS-9424 life-test and burn-in systems, which are used for burn-in of laser diodes and LEDs, hold up to 1024 devices packed in TO-can style packages. Individual fixture heaters and temperature controls provide ±1°C accuracy and ±0.5°C stability throughout the test cycle. The system supports test temperatures from 25°C to 150°C. Test fixtures for the chamber hold 32, 64, or 128 devices. Base price: $106,000 for a 512-channel system.
 

SwifTest performs real-time monitoring and sampling while running on ATE systems, and it is available in three configurations: SwifTest-ATE displays test data for on-tester debug and characterization; SwifTest-Monitor acts as an intelligent data filter, and it provides real-time triggers and alerts to improve test operations; SwifTest-MX can activate sampling techniques for individual tests that are within statistical control and deactivate sampling if lot statistics begin to drift outside of an acceptable range. Price: $35,000 per seat.
 

The AstroDAQ Xe is a 36-Gbyte hard drive that captures data at sample rates up to 200 kHz/channel, regardless of the number of channels installed. Each channel can be configured separately for isolated high voltage (up to 600 Vrms), thermocouples, RTDs, pressure transducers, and load cells, eliminating the need for external signal conditioning. Sample rates are selectable from 1 sample/min to 200,000 samples/s/channel. Base price: $4995.
 

The PXI-5670 is a 2.7-GHz RF vector signal generator module that offers true 16-bit resolution arbitrary waveform generation at 100 Msamples/s (400 Msamples/s interpolated), up to 256 Mbytes of memory, and a 22-MHz real-time bandwidth. Signal generation ranges from 250 kHz to 2.7 GHz. The PXI card produces analog and custom digital modulation as well as standard digital modulation formats such as AM, FM, PM, ASK, FSK, MSK, PSK, and QAM. Price: $12,995 to $17,995.
 

Router Solutions' newest version of CAMCAD data-preparation software features Data Doctor for analysis and correction as well as support for Teradyne 228X/TestStation CKT, Teradyne Z1800 IPL, Viscom AOI, and Asymtek Glue/Paste Dispense export modules. The DFT module analyzes copper regions for solder mask and component violations, and it records the analysis results on viewable layers for visual confirmation. Price: $4950 for a perpetual single-user license.
 

Agilent Technologies' Infiniium 80000 series of four-channel oscilloscopes consists of three models with bandwidths of 10 GHz, 12 GHz, and 13 GHz. Sample rates are 40 Gsamples/s on two channels or 20 Gsamples/s on four channels. A set of InfiniiMax II probes, with bandwidths of 10 GHz and 12 GHz, accompany the scopes. Base price for scope: $94,000 for 10 GHz.
 

The SU640 SDV-1.7RT camera captures images in the near-infrared or short-wave infrared (900 nm to 1700 nm) wavelength. The InGaAs camera features a solid-state image sensor with 640-x-512-pixel resolution with a 25-µm pitch. It has anti-blooming protection, programmable exposure times, 14-bit digital Camera Link compatible output, and RS-170 compatible analog output. Price: $40,000.
 

The CNT-90 measures and analyzes frequency, time interval, and phase, and its lets you view measurements through trending plots and histograms. When running as a benchtop instrument, the CNT-90 can save 250,000 measurements/s into its 750,000 sample internal memory. When running as part of an automated test station, it can transfer 2000 readings/s to a host PC over an IEEE 488 or USB link. A standard model has a range of 300 MHz, with 3-, 8-, and 14-GHz ranges optional. Base price: $2045.
 

Targeting disk-drive testing, the RW2000 noise source incorporates a 2-GHz Gaussian noise source with a 50-MHz digital noise source. It also includes colored noise, which allows users to change the distribution of power vs. frequency to simulate uneven distributions that may occur in disk drives. Price: $19,000.
 

The WaveTest system is an 802.11 traffic generator and performance analyzer that tests the features of WLAN devices. It also tests Wi-Fi features such as overlapping coverage areas, roaming, and advanced switching architectures. WaveTest can be used in shielded environments or in an open-air environment to match the product use in the real world. Users can save a snapshot of a problem and bring it back to the lab for analysis. Base price: $28,995.
 

The PMD-1608FS is a USB-based data-acquisition module that provides eight simultaneously sampled, 16-bit analog inputs with continuous multichannel samples rates of up to 100 ksamples/s and burst sample rates of up to 200 ksamples/s. It also offers 8 bits of digital I/O and a 32-bit counter. The provided software includes TracerDAQ (an oscilloscope, strip-chart recorder, and datalogger application), Universal Library (a programming interface for Windows and .NET), and InstaCal (an installation, test, and calibration application). Price: $399.
 

Emulation Technology's Microgrippers attach to oscilloscopes, logic analyzers, and other test instruments to measure high-frequency signals on chip packages. Without degrading the signal fidelity or adding noise, the probes provide high-frequency signal measurements to 1 GHz, 3 GHz, 5 GHz, and 10 GHz. The Microgrippers are are available in 2.54-mm to 0.2-mm lead pitches and are used with TQFP/PQFP, SSOP, SOIC, and all gull-wing leaded-circuit packages. Base price: $22 each.
 

Targeting inspection of lead-free solder, the VJE X2500 is an automated x-ray inspection system that offers integrated motion control and image measurement analysis. The setup program uses the 1-2-GO interface, allowing users to characterize the process and also to inspect from every angle. On-screen representation of boards allows for easy maneuvering and gives users instant and accurate information. Price: $150,000.
 

The STX-230 and STX-430 can emulate and analyze the Serial ATA and Serial Attached SCSI buses, enabling you to test disk drives, motherboards, tape drives, disk arrays, and host-bus adapters. Both models support 1.5-Gbps and 3.0-Gbps data rates. The eight-port STX-430 can test four bidirectional data links, while the four-port STX-230 tests two. The instruments can act as a bus exerciser, pattern generator, or device emulator. Base price: $14,900.
 

Used in cable and harness testing, TestStats software collects data in a structured format and exports it to Excel, simplifying statistical analysis and leading to greater quality control. The software pinpoints the root cause of failures and sees trends in the product's life cycle. With the software's regression analysis feature, engineers can use factors such as age, failure counts, life expectancy, derived limits, and thresholds to make decisions regarding maintenance schedules and process modifications. Base price: $7200.
 

The GX5280 series from Geotest is a line of 3U PXI high-speed digital I/O cards that offer up to 64-Mbyte memory depth per channel with a memory-access method that limits required PCI memory space. The DRAM-based cards have a data rate of up to 100 MHz, and they provide up to 32 I/O channels with selectable I/O levels of 1.5 V, 1.8 V, 2.5 V, 3.3 V, and 5 V. Price: $3295 to $3995.
 

Turbo AC provides an analog-signal source and capture capability across a 150-MHz bandwidth in a single instrument, and it offers less than –96 dB distortion at 1 MHz. Turbo AC addresses set-top box and xDSL applications as well as 16-bit and greater audio requirements. It's available for Teradyne's Catalyst, Tiger, and FLEX ATE systems. Base price: $127,500.
 

The Automated Ink Marker is a permanent ink stamp that is small enough to be built directly into bare boards or IC test fixtures. The marker uses the electronic pass signal from test electronics and directly stamps the board under the test. It can be used on most ATE equipment. Prices: Actuator—$110; ink cartridge—$6.75; electronics—$750 to $2000.
 

The MS2781A Signature from Anritsu offers spectrum- and signal-analysis tools that engineers can use to develop advanced RF and microwave communications systems, including WLAN, 3G, and 4G. The Windows XP-based analyzer features digital modulation analysis over the 100-Hz to 8-GHz frequency range, measuring the entire range in one sweep without bandswitching or preselection. It also includes an optional 30-MHz resolution bandwidth for capturing, measuring, and analyzing wide modulation bandwidth signals. Base price: $49,500.