Remote monitoring & engineering by customers #PAuto

As part of its VPS (VigilantPlant Services: a suite that helps customers achieve the ideal plant) initiative, Yokogawa Electric Corporation will release an upgraded VPSRemote service solution later this month. VPSRemote is a solution for the remote monitoring and general and preventive maintenance of systems. The upgraded VPSRemote now allows users to link their plants around the world and provide operation support and engineering services from specified locations on the network. The upgraded VPSRemote solution can now be used with information systems as well as control systems.

Development Background

As plant control systems grow more complex and sophisticated, they are increasingly used together with safety instrumented systems, manufacturing execution systems, and the like. Manufacturers with global operations, thus, need the capability to provide remote operation support and engineering services for both the control and the information systems used at their plants.

Yokogawa has provided remote maintenance service since the 1980s, and in 2012 released VPSRemote, a remote monitoring and general and preventive maintenance service that is delivered over a dedicated, highly reliable, and fast network. Yokogawa has now upgraded VPSRemote to add flexibility in how these services are provided.

Outline of Upgrade
1. Support of the use of dedicated networks by customers for the remote operation support and engineering
With this upgrade to VPSRemote, customers now can set up a dedicated network linking their plants and engineering departments. Via this network, company personnel can share access to system displays and, in real time, perform operations, set parameters, and change settings from any location on the network. Thus, for example, operators at a main factory can check the condition of a system at a new plant in another country. If required, they can provide remote support to an operator while viewing the target system’s display.

2. Information systems support
Previously, VPSRemote could only be used with the CENTUM integrated production control system and the ProSafe-RS safety instrumented system. The upgraded VPSRemote service now covers information systems such as the Exaquantum plant information management system. Using VPSRemote, both Yokogawa’s Global Response Centers and Yokogawa’s customers now have the ability to remotely monitor and maintain the control and information systems at plants 24 hours a day, all year round.

Major Target Markets and Purposes
Oil, petrochemical, iron and steel, pulp and paper, electric power, gas, and other types of plants
• Remote operation support and engineering by customers
• Remote operation support and engineering by Yokogawa

Outline of VPSRemote
VPSRemote is a remote service solution that has been used by Yokogawa’s Global Response Centers (GRCs) to link with the systems at customer plants. As VPSRemote only allows connections from predetermined domains, remote monitoring and maintenance can be performed without endangering system security. This solution has enabled the GRCs to provide the support needed to quickly troubleshoot problems and recover from failures. This also allows the collection and analysis of information needed for preventive maintenance and enables automatic notification of system failures to the GRCs. With this upgrade to VPSRemote, customers now have the same ability to provide remote monitoring and maintenance services for their plant facilities.

Yokogawa will continue to work hard to improve its entire range of VigilantPlant Services, including VPSRemote, with the aim of ensuring safe and highly efficient operations over the entire lifecycle of its customers’ plant facilities.

Vibration meter for maintenance engineers

The MTN/VM220; a compact, handheld meter for measuring vibration and temperature levels has been launched by Monitran.

The MTN/VM220 conforms to ISO10816-3 and is ideal for detecting the early signs of component wear or failure in machinery, motors, gearboxes, pumps and other mechanical assemblies. The meter includes a crisp, colour LCD display and has the ability to store up to 100 readings (temperature and acceleration, velocity or displacement) against a real-time clock.

Measuring just 122 x 78 x 28mm, the MTN/VM220 has an easy-to-grip, tough rubberised case and a long-life rechargeable battery. It is supplied with a probe into which is integrated a dual-output, general purpose sensor, the MTN/2200T, which has default sensitivities of 100mV/g and 10mV/oC. Also included are a magnetic base and spike (for use with the probe), a coiled cable (0.5m nominal to 2m extended) with a 4-pin Lumberg connector at each end, and a universal (battery) charger; all in a foam-lined and durable carry case.

Andy Anthony, Monitran’s Managing Director, comments: “We’re extremely pleased with the look, feel and performance of our new vibration meter. Also, having hinted late last year that the meter was to be launched at Southern Manufacturing & Electronics, we’ve already received enquiries and advance orders from customers.”

Voltage and continuity

Rugged family of two pole testers provides instant readings under any working condition

Fluke has introduced the Fluke® T90, T110, T130 and T150 Voltage and Continuity Testers. The new family of rugged two pole voltage/continuity testers offers a combination of light, sound, vibration and digital display to provide instant answers under any working condition.

The Fluke two-pole testers feature high-quality construction, including a heavy-duty moulded case, thicker wiring with WearGuard™ wear indicator, a sturdy battery case and durable probe protector. The Fluke T90, T110, T130 and T150 are Cat IV 600 V, Cat III 690 V (T110, T130 and T150 models), or Cat III 600 V, Cat II 690 V (T90 model) safety rated.

The two-pole testers offer four ways to indicate AC/DC voltage: a clear, instantly visible LED indicator, a bright digital display of the measurement value (T130 and T150 only), an audible continuity test, and vibration to provide tactile feedback so electricians know there is voltage present, which is especially helpful in noisy environments or when they cannot take their eyes off the probes.

The testers are ergonomically designed for comfort all day and are easily used even when wearing gloves. The bright backlit display on the T130 and T150 ensures that buttons and indicators are visible under any lighting condition and the audio on/off setting allows testing in quiet areas without disturbing others. The T150 also measures resistance.

The Fluke two-pole voltage and continuity testers offer electricians the features, functions and price/performance to fit any application or preference.

High quality calibration and service!

Keithley  has introduced KeithleyCare Plans to provide owners of Keithley instrumentation with fast, high quality instrument calibration and repair services at a fraction of the cost of “per-event” service. KeithleyCare plan purchasers receive priority service on repairs and calibration, as well as minimize their equipment downtime, service costs, and administrative hassles.

KeithleyCare Gold Plans
KeithleyCare Gold Plans offer multiple years of protection in three- and five-year increments. These plans include free repairs, expedited priority service that reduces equipment downtime by three days, and complimentary shipping both to and from Keithley’s facility (within the United States). Each repair service includes calibration and adjustment to OEM specifications and verification to unpublished specifications.

KeithleyCare Calibration Plans
KeithleyCare Calibration Plans offer multi-year coverage in three- or five- year increments and are designed to simplify calibration management and help ensure covered equipment provides peak operating performance. These plans include expedited priority service that reduces downtime by two days and complimentary shipping one way. Calibration and adjustment to OEM specifications is included, as well as verification to unpublished specifications.

Purchasers of either plan automatically receive the latest reliability and performance enhancements for their instrumentation when they return it to Keithley for service.

These plans offer purchasers a variety of important benefits:
*    Lower costs: Customers realize significant savings over per-event repair and calibration prices while eliminating unbudgeted expenses. For example, although an expedited repair of a critical instrument might cost $1,700 to $3,200 without KeithleyCare coverage, that same expedited repair would cost just $120 per year if the instrument was covered by a KeithleyCare five-year Gold Plan.
*    Less downtime: Plan purchasers get expedited service with faster turnaround times (typically three days for calibration and five days for repair).
*    Greater convenience: Customers can place just one order for multiple years of KeithleyCare services, eliminating administrative hassles.
*    Higher service quality: Keithley follows strict guidelines and requirements to provide the highest quality of service. The company is registered to ISO 9001:2000 , and its Metrology Services Group is accredited to ISO 17025:2005 .
*    Greater accuracy: Keithley calibration equipment and measurement uncertainties are among the best in the industry, so customers can be assured their instruments are providing their most accurate readings. Keithley’s lab takes more measurements than most calibration providers, providing additional assurance that all the instrument's specifications have been adequately verified.

(No details on deliveries or rates outside the US given in this release! Ed)

Tougher and safer than mercury thermometers

Noel Heary of Irish Power & Process (IPP) tells us that Fluke Calibration has introduced the 1551A Ex and 1552A Ex “Stik” Thermometers, engineered to give temperature calibration specialists the durable, intrinsically-safe digital instrument they need for precision temperature calibration.

The 1551A and 1552A “Stik” thermometers provide a highly precise and durable digital replacement for mercury-in-glass thermometers. They are intrinsically safe (ATEX and IECEx compliant), so they can be used safely where potentially explosive gases may be present. More durable than mercury-in-glass thermometers, they can be used reliably outdoors or on the production floor.

Process manufacturers of chemical, pharmaceutical, food or petroleum products require accurate temperature measurements. Since temperature sensors are subject to drift with time, regular calibration or verification against a reliable reference thermometer is required. But finding a reference thermometer that is accurate, repeatable and robust has been a challenge.

Although mercury thermometers are accurate and repeatable, they are fragile and pose the risk of a mercury spill, which can endanger the environment and human health. Several U.S. states and numerous European Union countries have banned their use in industrial applications. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has funded research to identify alternatives. But such initiatives have been hampered by the lack of an electronic alternative that was intrinsically safe, repeatable and accurate.

The Fluke “Stik” Thermometers help solve this problem, and get production managers out of a potential bind, by providing the measurement accuracy, durability and safety required in industries such as oil and gas production and petrochemicals—with no mercury hazard.
The 1551A Ex “Stik” Thermometer covers a temperature range of –50 °C to 160 °C (–58 °F to 320 °F). The model 1552A Ex covers a range of –80 °C to 300 °C (–112 °F to 572 °F). Both models are accurate to ± 0.05 °C over their full temperature range.

The stainless steel probe and digital readout of the Fluke 1551A Ex/1152A Ex “Stik” Thermometers are fixed together and calibrated as a system. The accuracy specification is easy to understand since it includes all uncertainty components, including drift, for up to one year. Unlike competing products, the large backlit LCD display rotates 90 degrees, making it easy to read from any angle.
A user-configurable stability/trend indicator lets the technician know when temperature is stable enough to record an accurate measurement. A user-settable auto-off function extends typical battery life to three hundred hours. A low-battery indicator and stop-measure function prevent erroneous measurements from being made due to low battery life. A simple three-point calibration function allows you to easily and accurately calibrate the “Stik” Thermometer. Data logging to internal memory of up to 10,000 time-stamped measurements is optionally available.

Hybrid circuit protection technology

Tyco Electronics has introduced a Metal Hybrid PPTC (MHP) technology useful for high-rate-discharge battery applications at ratings above 30VDC/30A such as cordless power tools, e-bikes and back-up power supplies. MHP technology uses a new hybrid circuit protection approach that combines a bimetal protector in parallel with a polymeric positive temperature coefficient (PPTC) device. This integrated solution provides resettable overcurrent protection and utilizes the low resistance of the PPTC device to help prevent arcing in the bimetal protector at higher currents, while also heating the bimetal to keep it open and in a latched position.

Due to advances in lithium ion (Li-ion) technology, smaller, lighter weight, and higher power Li-ion batteries can now replace nickel cadmium or lead acid batteries previously used in high-rate-discharge battery applications. This trend has resulted in a rapidly expanding market for high-rate-discharge Li-ion battery applications, which, in turn, has created the need for cost-effective, robust circuit protection devices that help ensure battery safety in end-products.

However, few protection solutions address high-rate-discharge battery applications and traditional circuit protection techniques tend to be large, complex and/or expensive.  In response, MHP technology provides a cost-effective, space-saving device that conventional circuit protection approaches are unable to deliver.

The initial product in a planned family of MHP devices, the MHP30-36 device, has a 36VDC/100A maximum rating and a time-to-trip of under five seconds at 100A (at 25 degrees C). The device’s hold current is 30A and the initial resistance is under two mOhms.

The MHP30-36 device offers excellent arc suppression characteristics compared to standard breaker devices that must limit the number of switching cycles since arcing between contacts may damage them. The MHP30-36 device can also help reduce the number of discharge FETs and accompanying heat sinks in applications that typically use IC-plus-FET battery protection designs.

“Available in a convenient small form factor, the MHP30-36 device provides a rugged, resettable circuit protection solution that offers battery pack designers and manufacturers a method to optimize space, reduce cost, enhance safety and help meet future battery safety requirements,” said Ty Bowman, Global Battery Market Manager.

The MHP device technology can be configured for various applications, and higher voltage (up to 400VDC) and hold current (60A) devices are currently in development. Future design considerations include battery protection in Li-ion battery packs used in e-scooters and light electric vehicles (LEVs), as well as standby-power applications and non-battery applications such as electric motor protection.

Measurement engineering services for North Sea installations

Emerson’s METCO Services has been awarded a contract by Maersk Oil North Sea UK Limited to provide measurement engineering support for its British North Sea offshore operations for the next three years. Emerson is to provide Total Metering Management (TMM) services on Maersk Oil’s Gryphon and GP III FPSO (floating production, storage and offloading) units and Janice FPU (Floating Production Unit).

As part of the €2.25 million service agreement, Emerson field technicians will be stationed full-time on the offshore installations. An additional metering engineer will work with the Maersk Oil engineering team at its Aberdeen facility to assist in the verification of daily production figures. Emerson will also help Maersk Oil ensure that systems, procedures, operations and maintenance comply with regulatory authority requirements.

Emerson has also been awarded a two-year contract by Maersk FPSOs to provide TMM services for the oil and gas metering systems on the Maersk Peregrino in the southwest part of the Campos Basin region, Brazil.

Donald Angus, business development director for Emerson's METCO Services, said, “We are delighted that Maersk Oil and Maersk FPSOs have recognized the benefits of our local experience and knowledge combined with our outstanding track record of delivery. We look forward to helping them improve the accuracy and reliability of their measurements.”  

METCO is Emerson's specialist measurement services organization, providing audit and consultancy services, field technicians, and office-based engineers to help oil and gas companies manage their fiscal, allocation, and environmental measurement infrastructure. METCO is registered with First Point Assessment under registration number 10040967 and with Achilles under registration number 76564.

New stress analysis service

Having built their first transducer in 1991, Applied Measurements of Reading (GB) now offer an ISO 9001 compliant stress analysis service to complement existing in-house manufacturing of strain gauge based sensors for the measurement of load, force, pressure, torque and linear displacement.

Increasingly measurements are required on parts that either cannot be moved or the application is for research and long term monitoring is required. This might include bonding of strain gauges directly to components, structures or machines.  The service can be tuned to suit specific customer requirements that may include installation and calibration only, design of bespoke transducers to run a test or full installation, testing and reporting on completion.

Applied Measurements can accommodate all measurement parameters including short as well as long term tests, harsh or potentially explosive environments, multiple measurement channels and extremes of temperatures. These include both fixed and rotating applications where wireless signal transmission may be required.

Typical applications include:

• Torque measurement on drives & PTO’s
• Static tests such as structural monitoring with remote data acquisition
• Fatigue tests for life estimations & equipment failure investigation
• Gravimetric level control of silos and hoppers
• Press force monitoring
• Residual stress analysis and crack propagation
• Custom sensors for automotive, marine, aerospace etc

Applied Measurements’ field service team travel throughout Britain and overseas and there are few applications the team haven’t seen before. “We are already highly experienced in the supply of sensors into industries as diverse as medical, marine and motor racing. We understand the needs of bespoke applications and what it takes to get reliable measurements in conditions that are often less than ideal,” stated David Johnson, Head of Business Development.

As Senior Structural Engineer Adrian Robinson at Wright Group says about the service supplied, “we find them to be very flexible and reliable in meeting our demanding needs. We would have no hesitation in recommending them to other companies”
And Airbus UK Launch Manager endorses these services further by saying “they have supported every aspect required of this program in a prompt, efficient and innovative manner whilst playing an integral part in supporting the most successful FTI program in Airbus UK’s history”

The British Society of Strain Measurement (BSSM) underpins installation standards, as the quality of the strain gauge application is vital to reliable long-term measurements. “As one of the most experienced manufacturers of strain gauge transducers in the country, we are grateful for this opportunity to partner Sensor Solutions Ltd - specialists in this type of work, as it is integral to the expansion of our skills base and adds to our continuing success. Additionally, launching of this service coincides with the increased traffic being seen amongst insightful engineering organisations for a service to qualify the actual performance of equipment against predicted, as well as audit of aging plant,” concluded Johnson.

Single source measurement auditor selected

Three-year £2.25M contract to be managed by Emerson’s METCO Services includes 60 audits per year and four full-time engineers providing measurement support

BP has selected Emerson's METCO Services as its single-source provider for offshore and onshore measurement audits and for onshore contract measurement engineering support of BP installations in Britain. The company will also provide operational support to the existing BP Measurement engineering team.

“Selecting Emerson as the single provider for measurement audits and support will streamline management of these services,” said George Bird, Sub-Sector Lead, Procurement & Supply Chain Management, BP. “Having one team of contract measurement engineers working together to support our many offshore installations will also enable more efficient and improved servicing.”

Four full-time, UKAS-accredited auditors will complete 60 measurement audits per year. They will use the METCO 'Inspect' electronic audit package for reporting and scheduling audits on some of BP’s key pipeline infrastructure. “Having all 60 measurement audits conducted by METCO will ensure that they are completed professionally, efficiently and consistent with BP processes and standards,” said Jim Barton, BP’s Measurement Manager & Technical Authority.

Emerson’s METCO Services will also provide measurement support to ensure all meter maintenance is properly completed and recorded, and to manage operational spares and fiscal test equipment to help ensure continuous uptime of metering equipment. Emerson engineers will also compute erroneous measurements so they can be corrected. This measurement support team will initially include at least four full-time engineers at Emerson's Aberdeen facility.

Donald Angus, Business Development Director for Emerson's METCO Services, said, “We are delighted that BP recognised the knowledge and experience of our local team, combined with our outstanding track record of delivery. We look forward to helping them make the most of their measurements.”

METCO is Emerson's specialist measurement services organisation, providing audit and consultancy services, field technicians, and office based engineers to help oil and gas companies manage their fiscal, allocation, and environmental measurement infrastructure.

Tube fittings in tight awkward spaces

Brennan Industries has a new presetting tool used to preset ferrules on tubing prior to final assembly into a fitting. The presetting tool is ideal when an installation must be made in tight spaces or hard-to-work areas.

Manufactured from carbon steel, these presetting tools for instrumentation tube fittings are available in sizes 5/8 inches and up.

“The presetting tool lets major portions of installation work happen in a more favorable work setting because it allows for the presetting of the ferrules onto the tubing in a safe, open and ground level area,” said Bill Jarrell, vice president of marketing at Brennan. “Users that have installations in cramped areas or overhead will benefit from our preset tool.”

To use the preset tool, the user must secure the tool in a vise, remove the protective nut and assemble the fitting nut and ferrules loosely onto the tool then insert the tubing through the nut and ferrules until it bottoms in the preset tool.

After standard assembly procedures have been followed, the tubing with the nut and ferrules can be removed from the body of the preset tool and attached to the tube fitting body by following standard reassembly instructions.

Maintenace management portfolio

David Hipkin SoftSols (EMEA) Limited Group Managing Director (left ) reviews Agility and Plan 4 with Plan4 chief architect James Park

SoftSols Group has extended its range of innovative solutions with the acquisition of Plan4 from Solutions PT. This Computerised Maintenance Management System (CMMS) expert, which has a 25-year track record of success in the market, has announced the acquisition as part of its ongoing commitment to deliver simple, affordable software solutions which provide an outstanding return on investment.

The move means that existing Plan4 customers will have the added peace of mind that their software will now be managed by a specialist in the maintenance software industry. Plan4 is widely used in the manufacturing sector by organisations including bakery chain Greggs, Dupont and TK Maxx.

David Hipkin, SoftSols (EMEA) Limited Group Managing Director, comments, “Despite the recession, we’re managing to buck the trend and grow our business. We’re already selling our facilities and manufacturing maintenance management systems to companies around the world including organizations in Poland, Australia and China. Our acquisition of Plan4 is an extremely exciting development for us, enabling us to offer an enhanced product range to all our customers, backed up by first class levels of training, service and support.

“Many of SoftSols’ customers have been with us since we began in 1983. Having upgraded through previous product generations they are now using our state of the art browser-based CMMS, Agility. Our new Plan4 clients will have access to the very latest in technology and innovation from our portfolio. We will work hard to ensure that they continue to have confidence in both the Plan4 system and our ongoing relationship.”

The Plan4 system enables maintenance and engineering teams to keep a record of all plant equipment, including monitoring maintenance schedules and generating work orders. Effective maintenance systems are vital to maintaining healthy plant, reducing maintenance costs, minimising downtime, improving energy efficiency and ultimately enabling businesses to lower their cost base.

As part of the acquisition deal, Plan4 chief architect James Park will join the SoftSols team, bringing with him 25 years experience in the maintenance business. David Hipkin adds: “James will be an important addition to our development team here at SoftSols, enabling us to continue to effectively support Plan4 customers and develop the platform. His experience will also be valuable in the ongoing development of our existing CMMS system Agility.”

Training at Maintec

Visitors to the MCP stand at Maintec 2010 in Birmingham (GB 2/3 Marckh 2010), will be able to spend time talking to hands-on training and consultancy experts. Of particular relevance, in the current climate, is that MCP can show how effective maintenance can reduce business costs, with typical ROI of 200% within 2 years.

New courses launched
Newly launched are the 2 day courses focused on Maintenance Explained for Operators, Technicians and Maintenances Staff, and how these can help develop a lean manufacturing strategy. These are run in parallel with Managing Plant Reliability courses which cover the new EC machinery directives.

National skills academy champion
As the champion for the Food and Drinks Manufacturing National Skills Academy, MCP can provide specialist advice for those in interested in improving the performance of their operatives in these sectors. The aim is to multi-skill operators and technicians to undertake maintenance, electrical and mechanical tasks safely.

Mechanical to electrical conversion
For the technician and engineer, specific technical training course are offered at centres around Britain. In particular City and Guilds mechanical to electrical conversion course are proving popular. Other courses include PLCs, Control and Instrumentation and 17th Edition electrical training

Speaker session
The speaker session at the seminars will be given by Peter Jackson: This is entitled
‘What about maintenance skills?’ In the current climate the desire to be ‘Lean’ means necessitates people needing a wider range of skills. Asset management encompasses a vast number of techniques and principles which require a clear understanding in order to be effective. To produce the desired results manufacturers need a structured approach to maintenance training. He will explain how a training framework (developed by MCP and NSA Food and Drink Manufacturing) will help deliver manufacturing excellence.

Mobile workforce @ Shell

Improving in-the-field decision making for operations workforce

Royal Dutch Shell’s Downstream Manufacturing Division has entered into a multi-year partnership with Invensys Operations Management. Shell will utilise Wonderware’s Mobile Collaboration Solutions mobile workforce and decision-support solution as one tool in the Ensure Safe Production (ESP) initiative at 29 of its global manufacturing facilities. The Mobile Collaboration Solutions system will provide downstream operations with configurable software and rugged, intrinsically-safe mobile hardware to more effectively manage the equipment-surveillance process and regulatory compliance tasks. By implementing this module, field operators will be able to optimise work processes, resulting in improved asset reliability and availability and reduced overall maintenance costs.

Invensys will provide this mobile workforce solution to help Shell operators, field engineers and supervisors create, define and routinely execute equipment surveillance and regulatory procedures following best practices, corporate policies and regulatory mandates. When executing these in-the-field procedures using the Wonderware Mobile Collaboration Solutions solution on their mobile computers, operators are made aware of potential equipment issues in real time so that they can take corrective action immediately, as well as maintain regulatory compliance.

Software for high accuracy recognition and metrology

LMI Technologies Inc. (LMI) announces the release of Version 4.1 of their HexSight software for high accuracy recognition and metrology. The new V4.1 HexSight Software adds further support for colour image processing and hardware acceleration and now supports Sony Intelligent Cameras.

“HexSight 4.1 is a first class recognition and metrology library suitable for deployment on PCs and now embedded platforms like the Sony Intelligent Camera product line”, says Terry Arden, CEO of LMI Technologies.

HexSight’s geometric pattern recognition technology offers flexible and reliable contour-based identification of objects unaffected by scale, orientation, lighting, occlusion, clutter, contrast reversal, or even subtle colour variation. After finding objects, it delivers a flexible set of metrology tools to measure and confirm that the parts meet key tolerances.

To maximise capabilities of the software, HexSight 4.1 incorporates a wide range of third party camera and frame grabber support. The latest release adds support for fully compliant GigE Vision Cameras, adding to the current capability to work with any IEEE 1394(Firewire) and USB camera that uses a DirectShow driver.

HexSight 4.1 is ideal for a vast array of machine vision challenges including road sign detection, solar wafer inspection, shirt tag location and analyses, optical character recognition, brake pad inspection, part sorting and sizing plus many other applications.


"But don’t just take our word for it. Test your ideas today by downloading your free trial of the HexSight software" .

Flying probe

The true integration between ATE flying probe and boundary-scan test

Aiming to further enrich its range of solutions for the test and repair of electronic boards, Seica, in partnership with Temento Systems, has developed the FlyScan module as a new approach to the integration of the boundary scan technique and flying probe test systems. The true innovation of FlyScan, is today available on the complete line of Pilot/Aerial flying probe testers, it’s full integration at the core system level, ensuring the following capabilities at a competitive price:

• Automatic generation of the test program in a single software environment (Seica VIVA)
• Automatic creation of the boundary scan program also for nets which are not of the JTAG type, using the “extended test” function and the flying probes to transform them into “JTAG testable” nets
• Automatic elimination of test redundancies
• Automatic fault diagnostics, with real-time generation of additional tests executed by the flying probes for the specific identification of the faulty component.
• A single test report in the VIVA environment
• Management of the faults detected by the boundary scan test in the Seica Repair Station environment

Even though its development and integration is the result of a significant investment in R&D, the basic idea of the FlyScan module is very simple: it exploits the specific benefits of flying probe and boundary scan testers, creating a single test program which utilizes the full capabilities of both, not as two entities working independently, but in a fully integrated system.

Compared to the classic approach where a board is subjected first to a standard flying probe test and then to a boundary scan test on a separate test station, the core interaction between the worlds of flying probe and boundary scan test enabled by the Seica FlyScan module provides a decidedly improved test result, easily measurable in terms of speed, throughput and fault coverage.

FlyScan is now available on all Seica’s Pilot/Aerial flying probe systems, from the entry-level Aerial M2 right up to the top of the range Pilot V8.

USB Oscilloscope

USB-DSOs: Compact and Sophisticated
A new breed of USB controlled instruments use PCs for the information screen and operation panel.

The days are now over when oscilloscopes heated up labs all around the world due to there high power consumption. With the availability now of USB on virtually every PC and laptop, the space needed for a digital oscilloscope has shrunk to just the size of a match box. Computers are now standard tools for every employee so why should you spend extra money duplicating displays, power supplies and buying boxes with expensive knobs and buttons on?

The Taiwanese-based supplier Acute (distributed in Europe by StanTronic Instruments) offers the DS-1000 Series family of PC-based digital oscilloscopes, which provide the majority of functions and features required by design, test and process engineers.

Graded Performance
The three family members all offer two channels and a vertical resolution of 9 bits/Ch. All units can be cascaded to give up to 6 channels and all channels in use are shown on one display.

The 3 units differ from each other in bandwidth, sampling rate and triggering capabilities. The basic model, called the DS-1002, provides an analogue bandwidth of 100 MHz, a real-time sampling rate of 100 MS/sec in single channel mode and 50 MS/sec in dual channel mode. The equivalent sampling rate for capturing repetitive signals is 2.5 GS/sec with a memory length of 64k points. The second member of the family, the DS-1102, offers an analogue bandwidth of 200 MHz, a real-time sampling rate of 200 MS/sec in single channel mode and 100 MS/sec in dual channel mode. The equivalent sampling rate for capturing repetitive signal is 5 GS/sec with a memory length of 64k points. For users with needs for more memory, the third member of the family called the DS-1202 may be the right choice. It has the same features as the DS-1102 but with an extended memory depth of 512k points.

Whereas the DS-1002 features the classic trigger capabilities like rising/falling edge and delay, the DS-1102 & DS-1202 offer an additional TV trigger and the DS-1202 a TV line trigger as well. In Roll Mode, all units can show signals continuously up to a setting of 200 ms/div and store the signals to hard disk up to the capacity of the disk.

Display Signals
All Acute digital oscilloscopes are operated by the same software, which displays waveforms and all related parameters on the PC´s screen to look like a conventional oscilloscope. Cursors are available for precise measurements of voltage and time parameters. The input coupling can be set to AC, DC or GND for each individual channel. A 20 MHz low pass filter is standard.

Sums, Differences and higher Maths
The power of the PC can be utilised to perform all kinds of maths functions like add, division etc. as well as the famous Lissajous curves. To perform an FFT on a signal, the units offer anti aliasing filters like triangle, cosine, Lanczos and gaussian.

The Acute DSO family (USB 1.1 compatible, USB 2.0 preferred) are shipped with two probes, USB cable, manual and software, all packaged into a quality pouch.

Wireless T&M

Remote display multimeter brings wireless technology to contact electrical measurement

Fluke has introduced the industry’s first digital multimeter with a detachable wireless display. The new Fluke 233 Digital Multimeter (DMM) uses a wireless transmitter to immediately send measurements to the detached display, improving safety and increasing productivity for industrial and commercial electricians and electronic technicians.

The Fluke 233 Remote Display Multimeter gives users ultimate flexibility in difficult test situations. By simply sliding the wireless display out of the meter body, the user can place the display where it is most easily seen, up to 10 metres from the point of measurement, while putting the meter in the best position to take measurements. The low-power, 2.4 GHz-ISM Band wireless signal that transmits measurement data is resistant to electromagnetic interference. The radio transmitter automatically turns on when the display is removed from the meter and off when the display is re-attached. The removable display is magnetic and has a flat bottom, so it can be conveniently mounted or placed on a flat surface where it can easily be seen. When the display is attached, the Fluke 233 operates as a conventional multimeter.

The Fluke 233 will measure up to 1000V AC and DC and up to 10A. It offers a 10,000 microF capacitance range, measures frequencies to 50kHz and captures min/max and average readings automatically. It features a 6,000-count display and includes a built-in thermometer that enables users to take temperature readings easily without carrying a separate instrument. An auto-off feature maximises battery life. The Fluke 233 is safety rated for use in CAT IV 600V/CAT III 1000V working environments.
Designed for both convenience and safety, the Fluke 233 makes it easier to take measurements in hard-to-reach places, or make measurements in machines or panels that are physically separated from a limit or isolator switch. It is ideal in areas where the operator cannot be close to the active measurement point, like clean rooms or hazardous areas. Making measurements without holding the meter can help users improve their visual focus on their test probes and work more safely.
The detachable wireless display lets the user:

• Find a comfortable position to view and record test data, even when the test location is hard to reach or in a dirty or noisy environment.
  
• View readings when the test point is across the room, or in the next room.
  
• See test results even when the meter is hidden behind an equipment enclosure.
  
• Run tests and read results at a safe distance from shock and arc flash hazards, moving machinery and other dangers.
  
• Separate the tasks of positioning the meter and reading test results, so the user can devote full attention to each job and work more safely.

Signal generator

New RF Vector Signal Generator provides Industry’s best Combination of high Throughput and low Phase Noise

Keithley Instruments has upgraded its popular RF Vector Signal Generator line for RF engineers with new capabilities that reduce signal generation times and enhance signal quality. In contrast with competitive signal generators, which typically force users to choose between best signal quality and maximum test throughput, the Model 2920A’s no-compromise design combines both capabilities in the same instrument. Patent-pending technology allows the Model 2920A RF Vector Signal Generator to support both frequency and amplitude switching rates that are significantly faster than any competitive system. Unlike systems optimized either for development or production, it is a cost-effective solution whether used on the bench for design verification testing or in production testing.

Continuing Technical Leadership in MIMO Testing The Model 2920A is the latest addition to Keithley’s MIMO (Multiple-Input, Multiple-Output) testing system solutions. MIMO signals can be easily generated and analyzed by using Keithley’s SignalMeister™ RF Communications Test Toolkit software and Model 2820A Vector Signal Analyzers in conjunction with Model 2920As. When used in conjunction with the signal personalities provided in SignalMeister software, it is not only capable of generating pure signals but can generate impaired signals for in-depth receiver characterization and testing. Model 2920A Applications Applications include R&D, product development, and production testing of a growing range of wireless products such as femtocells, access points, mobile devices, wireless modules and air cards, and wireless chipsets. The Model 2920A’s operating mode flexibility makes it an excellent choice for MIMO device and system R&D applications, as well as in engineering education settings.

The Model 2920A, which provides signal generation bandwidth options up to 80MHz with a frequency range of either 10MHz–4GHz or 10MHz–6GHz, builds on the capabilities of Keithley’s Series 2900 signal generator line. It expands the Series 2900 line’s applications for testing wireless devices to today’s high throughput, complex modulation, and wide bandwidth wireless telecom standards, including LTE, GSM/EDGE, cdmaOne, cdma2000, W-CDMA, HSPA, HSPA+, LTE, WLAN, WiMAX, WiBro, TD-SCDMA, DVB (Digital Video Broadcast), and GPS (Global Positioning System).

The unit is optimised for calibrating and testing components such as amplifiers, filters, and wireless receivers thoroughly over their full range of performance at exceptional speed. Several major advances allow it to provide substantially higher test throughput than earlier signal generation options:

Industry’s fastest frequency tuning: A new, patent-pending technique that ensures fast settling of phase-locked loop synthesizers allows the Model 2920A to tune to a new frequency on a device under test’s (DUT’s) operating band in 300μs or less. Competitive products typically require 600μs or longer to tune to a new frequency.

Industry’s fastest amplitude switching: The Model 2920A provides electronic attenuation and a fast-tracking, automatic level control loop to stabilize quickly on a new power level, which allows switching to a new amplitude in as little as 150ms (compared to more than 500μs for competitive generators). This fast settling time speeds testing a device over its full power handling range.

Waveform switching in a single clock cycle: Because devices that operate on multiple standards require rapid switching between numerous complex signals during testing, the Model 2920A’s on-board arbitrary waveform generator includes a 100-megasample memory to hold large individual waveforms or multiple smaller ones. This deep memory, combined with the instrument’s speed-optimized list mode and a sequencer operating mode, supports switching from one waveform to another within a single processor clock cycle—even with waveforms based on different standards that use different modulation schemes.

High speed signal file transfers: The Model 2920A offers a direct link from its DSP processing circuit block to an external PC via a USB 2.0 bus that maximizes operating speed. In this high-speed Desktop Control Panel operating mode, an external PC assumes control of the Model 2920A, just as if it were the instrument’s on-board processor controller. This mode supports transferring signal files from a PC directly into the Model 2920A’s arbitrary waveform memory at 100Mb/sec for faster, simpler downloading of extremely large files (such as streaming video test signal files, signal files modified by channel models, and radar profile files). When combined with its high download speed and Keithley applications software, the Model 2920A can perform fast, efficient Dynamic Frequency Selection (DFS) conformance testing on WLAN access points. This test package allows verifying a device’s compliance with FCC, ETSI, and TELEC requirements related to ensuring that WLAN access point transmissions detect and do not interfere with government radar signals (such as weather radar or air traffic control radar).

Users have the flexibility to create waveform files offline and download them into its arbitrary waveform memory using a USB memory stick or the GPIB or LAN interfaces. This transfer flexibility will be useful for those who prefer to employ third-party tools to create signal files, such as The MathWorks’ MATLAB® interactive programming environment.

The Model 2920A’s enhanced speed performance doesn’t compromise its phase noise performance. Unlike competitive signal generators, which are typically designed to maximize either throughput (for production test applications) or signal purity (for design verification applications), it includes new capabilities that allow optimizing for whichever performance aspect is most critical for a specific application:

Ultra-low phase noise option: High signal purity is essential when creating complex HSPA+, 802.11n WLAN, 802.16e WiMAX, and LTE signals. To ensure the quality of these signals, the Model 2920A-UPN Ultra Low Phase Noise option provides phase noise ≤-135dBc/Hz at a 300kHz offset on a 2GHz carrier. That allows generating WCDMA signals with EVMs <0.85%. This option also permits the Model 2920A to generate 5.8GHz, 40MHz bandwidth WLAN 802.11n signals with an EVM of less than ‑43dB and WiMAX signals with a residual RCE (Relative Constellation Error) ≤-43dB. Just as important, the Model 2920A provides no-compromise tuning times as fast as 750µs when the low phase noise option is used.

Low amplitude range option: The Model 2920A’s wide signal range makes it ideal for testing a broad spectrum of receivers and components. The Model 2920A-LAR Low Amplitude Range option extends that range to allow the generator to output signals as low as ‑130dBm or as high as +13dBm. In addition, the Model 2920A offers excellent accuracy, repeatability, and stability specifications, so test system designers can set narrow limit bands in their test protocols, helping to ensure higher product quality:

• Absolute amplitude accuracy of ±0.6dB (typically ±0.3dB) from
  -110dBm to +13dBm up to 3GHz
  
• ±0.05dB relative amplitude accuracy (linearity)
  
• ±0.05dB amplitude repeatability

Availability
The Model 2920A’s combination of high speed and high quality signal generation performance makes its pricing even more competitive because users can perform multiple applications with the same instrument—from design verification testing to production testing—extending the usage of each unit purchased. Option prices, whether the ultra-low phase noise option or optional personalities tailored to various telecom standards, are also at or below the cost of competitive solutions. Orders are being taken now for delivery in six weeks.

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