Instrument drivers take some of the sting out of controlling test instruments by adding an abstraction layer. Almost everyone who uses computers has had experiences with drivers, and probably not good ones. In the olden days, if you had wanted to hook an old printer up to a new computer, you would have searched through […]
Instrumentation
I’ve got the measurement blues again
Back from a three-year hiatus, I’m covering test and measurement again. This time, it’s for EE World.
Engineer ambitiously or be acquired?
Emerson Electric makes a significant offer to acquire NI, which is fighting back.
BNC interface lets piezoelectric sensors hook up to data acquisition gear
A new interface allows the use of IEPE sensors on all data acquisition devices with a 1-MΩ BNC interface. The TA487 IEPE Signal Conditioner is a simple adaptor that allows any PicoScope or oscilloscope to capture and measure signals from a large selection of piezo-electric IEPE sensors, such as the Pico Technology TA095 accelerometer. Integrated […]
ATEasy gets a facelift for 2021
The test programming environment also adds usability features and 64-bit support.
OpenVPX backplanes designed for horizontal-mount enclosures
New OpenVPX backplanes are designed for horizontal-mount enclosures. The horizontal-mount backplanes can be placed into 1U-4U tall 19-in rackmount OpenVPX enclosures. They provide enough space to have three 3U slots or one 3U and one 6U slot side-by-side. So, a wide range of configurations and size options are available. The backplanes are typically designed to […]
NI CEO: COVID-19 on day one
NI CEO Eric Starkloff’s first decision was what to do about COVID-19 the night before he took over on February 1, 2020. Since then, he’s seen the opportunities in communications resulting from the pandemic. How would you like to take on a new leadership role just as a pandemic takes hold? That’s what Eric Starkloff […]
Versatile development enclosures support SOSA, OpenVPX
Versatile backplane/chassis configurations are geared for 3U and 6U OpenVPX and SOSA development. The versatile development enclosures start with a line of single-slot power and ground backplanes in various 3U and 6U configurations. This includes VITA 65 (standard VPX), VITA 66.4 (VPX with optical), and VITA 67.3 types (VPX with RF). The backplanes can be […]
Basics of monitoring vs. testing in current, voltage and power
Industrial measurements often must take place via specialized transducers sized specifically for the current and voltage swings involved. Will Delsman | NK Technologies Older ammeters worked great when the current flowed at a steady 50 or 60 Hz. Consider the antique GE model 8AK1A1AF. I have one that remains accurate after decades of use and […]
Multifunction test instruments connect to PCs via USB/Wi-Fi
Digilent Inc.’s OpenScope: Open-source PICMZ All-in-One Instrumentation Device is available for immediate shipment worldwide from Digi-Key Electronics, a global electronic components distributor, the companies announced today. The OpenScope MZ is a portable multi-function programmable instrumentation module. What does that mean? It is a device that connects to a computer (through Wi-Fi or a USB cable) that allows […]
