Saelig Company, Inc., announces the availability of the PicoScope PS4000A Series of 20 MHz USB 3.0-connected PC oscilloscopes providing two, four, or eight high-resolution analog channels. These portable scopes have a compact footprint with BNC connectors that accept all common probes and accessories. With a high vertical resolution of 12 bits, 20 MHz bandwidth, 256 MSa buffer memory, and a fast sampling rate of 80 MS/s, the PicoScope 4000A series has the advanced measurement power and functionality to provide precision results.
The PicoScope 4000A Series is unlike conventional oscilloscopes with eight-bit resolution and limited capture memory, or card-based digitizers that require an expensive mainframe. The 12 bits of hardware resolution extends to 16 bits using the Resolution Enhancement mode. These scopes include a built-in signal generator/AWG and a SuperSpeed USB 3.0 interface that both powers the instrument and delivers 480 Mbit/s communications to the host PC.
PS4000A scopes can analyze serial buses such as UART, I2C, SPI, CAN, and LIN, plus control and driver signals without needing any additional software other than the complimentary PicoScope 6 package. The user interface with time- and frequency-domain waveform views provides automatic measurements of important waveform parameters for up to 1M waveform cycles with each triggered acquisition. PicoScope 6 software has an SDK that gives users direct programming control of the hardware for custom applications. These scopes also work with the PicoLog 6 data logging software for lower speed/long duration captures.
With the provided software, it’s easy to view audio, ultrasonic, vibration, and power waveforms, analyze timing of complex systems, and perform a wide range of precision measurement tasks on multiple inputs at the same time. The 4000A series of oscilloscopes suits a wide range of electrical, mechanical, audio, LiDAR, radar, ultrasonic, NDT, and predictive maintenance systems, providing precise measurements and analysis of repetitive or single-shot long-duration waveforms. Pricing starts at $899.
For more information, contact:
Saelig Company
www.saelig.com
Sunstone Circuits — a printed circuit board (PCB) solutions provider for prototypes, medium volume, and production quantities — has announced a better way to get free Gerber files when placing a PCB order through the PCB123 Free CAD Tool.
As always, PCB123 users can easily design and order prototypes and production through Sunstone’s full manufacturing service line by clicking on the “ORDER” button inside PCB123 to send the design straight to Sunstone’s OneQuote form to allow the user to make all of the PCB choices they need for their design.
In addition to all the normal PCB parameters, users also have a choice of engineering level and can either build for Prototype (Limited Review) or jump over to Sunstone’s PCBpro service for complex services or full-blown production.
In the past when the user wished to receive a set of Gerber files for their completed order, an email or phone call to the support team was required. Now, simply checking a box in the order process allows users to have their Gerber files ordered and sent without any further steps on the user’s part.
For more information, contact:
Sunstone Circuits
www.sunstone.com
Cal Test has introduced three new unique BNC to banana jack attenuating adapters. What is unique is that in addition to being fully insulated BNC male to 4 mm sheathed banana jack adapters, they are attenuating adapters providing 1,000V CAT II and 600V CAT III protection.
The three available attenuating values are identified by the BNC insulator color:
These attenuators are ideal for those lower frequency (<100 kHz) but higher voltage applications where safety calls for probes and leads more robust than standard oscilloscope probes. Using 4 mm DMM probes and/or insulated alligator clips provides a safer, more durable handheld test setup. Pricing starts at $31.10.
For more information, contact:
Cal Test Electronics
www.caltestelectronics.com
B&K Precision announces its 9140 Series Triple Output Multi-Range DC Power Supplies. With three isolated and individually controllable outputs, the 9140 (32V, 8A) and 9141 (60V, 4A) provide up to 300W of clean power with low ripple and noise or 100W per channel in a compact 2U half-rack form factor.
The front panel features a 4.3 inch LCD and unique output terminals that support sheathed banana plugs or spade lug type connectors. Multiple outputs combined with advanced list mode programming, data logging, and extensive protection features make these power supplies suitable for a wide range of benchtop or test system applications.
This series offers several enhanced features not available on any of B&K Precision’s existing triple output power supplies. Powerful list mode features include list sequencing and step triggering for synchronizing events. List mode programs can be assigned to run on one or multiple channels simultaneously. Output sequencing allows users to link the output states between multiple channels with configurable on/off delays.
Both models come equipped with LXI compliant LAN and USB (USBTMC compliant and USBVCP) interfaces for remote control and programming with an optional GPIB interface. Remote control PC software, LabVIEW™, and IVI drivers are provided to simplify instrument control and test system integration.
The USB host port on the front panel allows for logging voltage and current measurements directly to an external Flash drive. The 9140 Series is also cTUVus certified, indicating compliance with Canadian and US National Safety Standards.
Both models start at $1,850 and are backed by a three year standard warranty.
For more information, contact:
B&K Precision
www.bkprecision.com
In modern offline AC-DC power solutions, programmability and adaptive control offer the flexibility and intelligence needed by smart home devices to better interface with their power systems. In these systems, a secondary side microcontroller (MCU) is typically not capable of starting a system without the use of a separate bias power supply.
A new reference design from Microchip Technology, Inc., solves this problem using the MCP1012 high voltage auxiliary AC-DC controller, demonstrating the ability to remove the independent bias power supply in many applications.
The MCP1012 offline auxiliary device enables the system to transfer control of the power and duty cycle to a secondary MCU. The control between the system and the load can be more precise and purposefully coupled through a design that can be simplified, reducing size and cost.
The reference design uses a patented isolation technique for isolated feedback. This patented isolation technique called Inde-Flux transformer technology is being licensed to Würth Elektronik eiSos. Inde-Flux technology is used in the Inde-Flux Transformer (part number 750318659), the first transformer made by Würth Elektronik eiSos using this IP and sold as part of Microchip’s 15W MCP1012 offline reference design.
This transformer combines the signal power and signal communication into one device, eliminating the need for optical feedback or an independent signal transformer. The option is also available to use more traditional approaches with a planar pulse transformer on the reference design, as well as the ability of the design to work with more traditional optocouplers and signal transformers.
The secondary-side control is then enabled through a combination of the transformer and Microchip’s newly released MCP1012 AC-DC controller along with the SAM D20 series 32-bit MCU.
The MPC1012 primary-side auxiliary controller provides for system start-up, gating, and protecting an offline flyback converter for the secondary MCU. The device enables a range of benefits such as direct measurement and active regulation of voltage and/or current, high loop bandwidth by direct loop closure, and simplified communication for load-referenced systems.
The 15W MCP1012 offline reference design provides the principal working elements for a 15W offline power design with the necessary firmware to enable the elimination of the auxiliary power supply on the primary side. This can reduce the complexity of the system including eliminating the need for optocouplers in many applications such as appliances and smart speakers. This Inde-Flux transformer technology (in cooperation with Würth Elektronik eiSos) can be scaled to standard and custom transformer designs for different voltages and power levels as needed.
The 15W MCP1012 offline reference design includes a user guide and comes with schematics and bill of materials, design files, firmware, and a demonstration unit. Microchip also offers a fundamental 1W evaluation board, the DT100118, for the MCP1012 AC-DC controller.
The 15W MCP1012 offline reference design, part number EV37F82A, is available for $225 each. The DT100118 1W reference design is available for $115 each.
For more information, contact:
Microchip Technology
www.microchip.com
ExpressPCB has announced the release of its new Plus PCB Design Suite (ExpressSCH Plus™ and ExpressPCB Plus® version 3.0). Highlights of the newly added features include an integrated search and download for components using SnapEDA®, schematic link between ExpressSCH Plus and ExpressPCB Plus, as well as netlist validation between the printed circuit board (PCB) layout and the schematic.
These new features will drastically simplify component creation and library management, shortening the design time and increasing the accuracy for PCB layout.
Historically, engineers have spent days (or even weeks) creating computer-aided design (CAD) models for each component in their circuit board designs, which is a time-consuming and error-prone process. With the advent of SnapEDA, engineers have benefitted from ready-to-use CAD models for their designs, made in collaboration with component suppliers, so that they can jump straight to design. This has allowed millions of engineers to accelerate bringing their designs to life, while enabling them to focus on what they do best.
This new version of ExpressPCB includes a direct integration with SnapEDA’s cloud-based libraries. Engineers can search SnapEDA’s database directly from ExpressSCH Plus, and then place symbols, footprints, and 3D models directly into their PCB designs, significantly boosting their design productivity.
ExpressPCB has been trusted by designers at some of the largest technical companies in the world for over 20 years, and this release will drastically improve their design cycle times. Now, the time from download to design has been shortened and simplified making it a very powerful integrated design tool.
For more information, contact:
ExpressPCB
www.expresspcb.com
