I received this today via email and thought some of you may be interested in it. #5 is the PCB related
news.
I downloaded it and installed it but haven't played with it yet. I don't know if it's worthless or useful, but
hey it's free!
later,
Larry E.
=================================================================
TEST & MEASUREMENT WORLD ONLINE UPDATE NEWSLETTER
Presented by Test & Measurement World Online
http://www.tmworld.comJune 5, 2002
=================================================================
Test & Measurement World is your resource for information about electronics
testing.
1. June issue of T&MW now online
2. IEEE MTT-S keynote report: From microwaves to Microsoft
3. Agilent adds datacom and mixed-signal options to 93000 SOC tester
4. RFIC tester accommodates mixed-signal and digital instruments
5. Kovac Software releases free PCB design software
6. Quality Vision acquires RAM Optical Instrumentation
7. IEST moves headquarters to new location
============ Sponsor: Raytheon, Reliability Analysis Lab ============
If a component fails to meet specs, what then?
Read about the latest techniques for analyzing electronic
parts and semiconductor components in Raytheon's "Reliability
Analysis News," a FREE publication for design engineers, quality
labs, and production personnel. Articles include Analysis Tips,
Recent Findings from the Lab, and such features as "Failures in
Microelectronics Packaging."
Subscribe today at
http://email.tmworld.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=eHPy0Eierw0DbU0Bngc0Av====================================================
1. June issue of T&MW now online
Check out these features from our most recent issue:
"DFT puzzle comes together"
Senior Technical Editor Rick Nelson takes a look at both digital and analog
design-for-test techniques.
http://email.tmworld.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=eHPy0Eierw0DbU0Bni70AF"Sharpen x-ray images"
New techniques help increase the resolution of x-ray systems and sharpen
images of tiny components and defects.
http://email.tmworld.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=eHPy0Eierw0DbU0Bni80AG"Test VSR optical interfaces"
While the Very Short Reach (VSR) optical interface cuts the cost of
connecting network components, it requires measurements on each of 12
channels. This article provides an overview of the necessary tests.
http://email.tmworld.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=eHPy0Eierw0DbU0BnjA0AQ"Calibrate VNAs over the Internet"
A new service from the UK's National Physical Laboratory (NPL) eliminates
the need for engineers to transport verification devices to a national
measurement institute.
http://email.tmworld.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=eHPy0Eierw0DbU0BnjB0AR2. IEEE MTT-S keynote report: From microwaves to Microsoft
The IEEE Microwave Theory and Techniques Society (MTT-S) kicked off its 50th
anniversary celebration at the International Microwave Show being held in
Seattle this week. At the plenary session, MTT-S president John Barr of
Agilent Technologies traced microwave engineering's evolution from Marconi's
December 12, 1901, trans-Atlantic transmission to today's wireless Internet.
An indication of the evolution of concerns of microwave engineers from
Marconi's time to the present was afforded by the selection of a software
executive--Juha Christensen, corporate VP of Microsoft's mobility group--as
keynote speaker. Marconi didn't worry much about the user interface--his
software was the Morse code. Today, though, a user's experience with a
mobile product determines whether that product is successful. Customers
aren't looking for the most technologically sophisticated, highly integrated
single-chip radios inside mobile devices; instead, they are looking for
out-of-the-box ease of use.
For the rest of the story, visit:
http://email.tmworld.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=eHPy0Eierw0DbU0BnjC0AS============ Sponsor: Edmund Industrial Optics ============
Edmund Industrial Optics is a worldwide leading supplier of optical
components and imaging systems for Test and Measurement. EO designs
and manufactures a wide array of lenses, micro lenses, prisms, thin-
film coatings and optical sub-assemblies. Our optical engineering
team designs stock and custom precision products for test &
measurement, machine vision and factory automation applications.
http://email.tmworld.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=eHPy0Eierw0DbU0Bl5w0AP====================================================
3. Agilent adds datacom and mixed-signal options to 93000 SOC tester
Agilent Technologies (Palo Alto, CA) has expanded its 93000 Series test
platform to support test of high-speed data-communications and mixed-signal
devices. The company's XP (for eXtended Platform) option adapts the Agilent
81250 ParBERT benchtop tester for high-volume production-test applications,
integrating 10-Gbits/s bit-error-rate test capabilities within the 93000
Series system.
For more, visit:
http://email.tmworld.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=eHPy0Eierw0DbU0BnjD0AT4. RFIC tester accommodates mixed-signal and digital instruments
Credence Systems (Fremont, CA) has introduced the ASL 3000RF mixed-signal,
radio-frequency integrated-circuit (RFIC) test system for wideband, wireless
communications devices, including those targeting 802.11 wireless local area
networking (WLAN) standards and third-generation (3G) mobile communications
services. The system offers both RF and mixed-signal instrumentation, and
its scaleable architecture enables users to upgrade their systems with
analog, digital, and enhanced RF test capabilities.
The ASL 3000RF features four parallel RF receivers, each with a dedicated
digital signal processor (DSP). The system accommodates up to eight RF ports
at 6 GHz and up to 64 50-MHz digital pins. Price: $400,000 (RF only) to
less than $1 million (fully configured).
5. Kovac Software releases free PCB design software
AutoTRAX EDA, an electronic board-level design software suite that runs on
desktop PCs, is now available at no charge from Kovac Software (Stafford,
UK). The software combines schematic capture, circuit simulation, PCB
layout, and 3-D modeling of both parts and the final board.
AutoTRAX EDA features a drag-and-drop schematic capture module with integral
SPICE simulation and virtual instruments such as oscilloscopes, function
generators, and spectrum analyzers. Engineers can rapidly create a final
board using the PCB design wizard. You can download the software and print
out the manuals at
http://email.tmworld.com/cgi-bin2/flo?y=eHPy0Eierw0DbU0BnjE0AU6. Quality Vision acquires RAM Optical Instrumentation
Quality Vision International (Rochester, NY) has acquired RAM Optical
Instrumentation (ROI) from Newport Corp. (Irvine, CA). Newport has spun off
ROI as part of its sale of the majority of its Industrial Metrology Systems
Division. ROI will continue to produce noncontact dimensional inspection
equipment.
7. IEST moves headquarters to new office
The Institute of Environmental Sciences and Technology (IEST; www.iest.org)
will relocate to Rolling Meadows, IL, as of July 1. The new address will be
IEST
5005 Newport Dr., Suite 506
Rolling Meadows, IL 60008-3841
Ph: 847-255-1561
Fax: 847-255-1699
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