Tiny SMD Fuse Approved for Space Applications

Reliability and ruggedness take on a whole new meaning for electronics used in space applications. There’s no repair truck that can come out and replace failing devices. Schurter has released a new SMD fuse type called the MGA-S that has passed the rigorous ESA/SCC Generic Specification No 4008 for space applications. The MGA-S is based on the design of Schurter’s existing MGA. The fuse is hermetically sealed and constructed such that no arcs or gasses can escape with disconnects. Its performance provides consistent pre-arcing times and overcurrent disconnects at rated voltage, regardless of vacuum conditions. Stable derating curves at higher ambient temperatures and durability against mechanical vibration and shock are also requirements of the space industry.

The key differences between a fuse for aerospace and a standard fuse lies in the extensive testing, by means of a “Burn-In“ procedure to validate the correct performance of each fuse; the results are recorded. The MGA-S offers a standard 1206 footprint (3.2 mm by 1.55 mm), making it the smallest SMD fuse qualified for use in equipment for space.

Schurter, Santa Rosa, CA. (707) 636-3000. [www.schurter.com].

3U cPCI Card Blends Synchro/Resolver and LVDT/RVDT Sim Functions

The magic of semiconductor integration has fueled the emergence of multi-function boards. Exemplifying that trend, North Atlantic Industries has announced the availability of a 4-channel Digital-to-Synchro/Resolver or Digital-to-LVDT/RVDT Converter on a 3U cPCI card. The 75DS2 3U cPCI card is ideally suited for military and commercial programs, including airborne, shipboard, ground mobile and C3I applications. The DSP-based 75DS2 includes up to four independent, isolated, programmable Synchro/Resolver or LVDT/RVDT simulation channels. Each channel has 16-bit resolution, ±1 arc-minute accuracy, and a short circuit protected output with 1.5, 2.2 or 3.0 VA drive capability. The unit requires +5 VDC and ±12 VDC power supplies, and operates over a frequency range of 47 Hz to 10 KHz.

The 75DS2 provides continuous background Built-In-Test (BIT) on all functions and channels, including reference and signal loss detection. BIT is totally transparent to the user, requires no programming, and doesn’t interfere with the normal operation of the card. Each Digital-to-Synchro/Resolver and Digital-to-LVDT/RVDT Converter channel is self-calibrating, without requiring removal of the card. The 75DS2 is available with an operating temperature range of -40° to +85°C or 0° to +70°C. Conduction-cooled versions with wedgelocks are also available. Pricing for 100 pieces of the 75DS2 starts at $2,495 each.

North Atlantic Industries, Bohemia, NY,
(631) 567-1100. [www.naii.com].

Power Distribution System Aims at Military Vehicles

There’s no doubt that military vehicles are being tasked to carry and support an ever growing set of computing and electronics gear. Curtiss-Wright Controls Embedded Computing has announced the availability of the Power Accessory Distribution System (PADS), a ready-to-use, rugged, drop-in power source that delivers 110 VAC as well as 12 VDC and 5 VDC power outlets in 28 VDC power-based military vehicles.

PADS enables soldiers to power a myriad of electronic devices that would otherwise not be supported by their vehicle’s traditional 28 VDC power supply, without compromising the vehicle equipment. This compact accessory power system provides power conditioning and power outlets for 110/12/5V common plug items. The rugged, modular PADS system is designed for use in harsh environments. It supports operation over a -30° to +55°C temperature range. Power outlets provided by PADS include dual 12V “cigarette” receptacles, dual 110 VAC utility outlets, dual 5V USB ports and an 18-30V input connector.

Curtiss-Wright Controls Embedded Computing, Leesburg, VA.
(703) 779-7800. [www.cwcembedded.com].

VME SBC Serves Up Intel Quad-Core LV Xeon

For technology refresh and tech update programs, traditional VME is still the major military form factor. And VME vendors continue to roll out new designs for VME. An example is GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms’ new V7812 dual-slot SBC. The V7812 targets military applications that require the quad-core processing performance of the Intel Xeon processor and the advanced capabilities of the ATI Radeon M72 graphics module. Such applications would typically include data encryption, flight simulation control and video compression.

As the first SBC to be designed by the company to take advantage of the capabilities of the newly announced Intel 5100 MCH (Memory Controller Hub) chipset, the V7812 offers either an Intel Dual- or Quad-Core LV Xeon processor with 4 Mbytes of L2 cache to deliver outstanding performance. The V7812 can be optionally ordered as a VXS board, providing an additional Gigabit Ethernet connection routed to P0 in addition to the standard dual Gbit Ethernet connections on the front panel. Support is provided for up to 4 Gbytes of DDR2 ECC SDRAM, six USB 2.0 ports,and four Gbit Ethernet ports (two via optional VXS). A 120 Gbyte 2.5-inch SATA disk or 8 Gbyte SSD SATA drive can optionally be configured on the board.

GE Fanuc Intelligent Platforms, Charlottesville, VA. (800) 368-2738. [www.gefanucembedded.com].

Tool Does Thermal and Flow Analysis IC Package Modeling

It’s impossible to avoid the trend toward processors and other key components ramping up in wattage. More power means more challenges dissipating heat. Fortunately tools are available that enable military system designers to analyze and model the thermal performance of their systems. Daat Research has added tools for modeling IC packages into its Coolit v.8 CFD thermal analysis software. The tools build detailed parametric chip models that can be converted to compact models, and the user can switch between detailed and compact models as desired.

Included is a library of hundreds of popular Ball Grid Arrays (BGA), Dual Inline Packages (DIP) and Quad flat Packages (QFP). The user can copy and modify the models, or add new models to the library. Coolit v.8 also delivers many improvements in algorithms for computation and presentation of results. These and many other enhancements make Coolit even more user-friendly and powerful to use. Coolit v.8 is now shipping.

Daat Research, Hanover, NH. (603) 643-2999. [www.daat.com].

VXS Star Backplane Has Eight Slots

The VXS architecture marries the best of both worlds of VME legacy support and switched fabric performance. The military is already using it in a variety of applications where that “here today” level of performance is required. Elma Bustronic Corporation has developed a new size for its line of VXS Backplanes. The 8-slot VXS Backplane features a Star routing topology and fits in most 4U high horizontal mount enclosures.

The 8-slot Star VXS Backplane complies with the VITA 41.0 specifications. It features one hub slot and seven payload slots in a 14-layer controlled-impedance stripline design. Backplane simulation confirms strong signal performance. The 6U high backplane has power studs in 3.3V, 5V, 12V and GND along the top and bottom of the backplane to allow for flexible power options. Bustronic also offers VXS Star backplanes in 5 slots and an 8-slot with one hub, 5 payload and 2 legacy VME64x slots. Dual Star topologies include versions in 8, 12, 18, 20 and 21 slots. Pricing for the 8-slot VXS Star backplane is under $1,500 depending on volume and configuration requirements.

Elma Electronic, Fremont, CA. (510) 656-3400. [www.elma.com].

Fanless PC/104 Card Sports 500 MHz Geode LX800

The PC/104 form factor with its compact size and inherent ruggedness continues to be a favorite for space-constrained military applications. Diamond Systems announced its latest PC/104 form factor single board computer, Rhodeus, based on the AMD LX800 processor. Rhodeus offers mid-range computing power in a compact, low power consumption and low cost PC/104 single board computer.

Rhodeus is based on the AMD Geode LX800 processor operating fanless at 500 MHz. It includes 64 Kbyte L1 cache and 128 Kbyte L2 cache. The board supports up to 1 Gbyte of DDR SDRAM using a SO-DIMM socket. It provides both IDE and CompactFlash mass storage options. Video consists of an integrated VGA controller with 2D acceleration and support for high-resolution CRT and LCD displays. A full set of I/O is provided to support application requirements, including Ethernet, UDMA-33 IDE, two USB 2.0 ports, one RS-232 and one RS-232/422/485 serial port, floppy, legacy keyboard and mouse, and programmable watchdog timer. Power consumption is 5W typical, and operating temperature is 0° to 60°C. The board includes the PC/104 ISA bus for additional I/O expansion. The Rhodeus single board computer is available immediately. Prices start under $350 in small quantities for models with 256 Mbytes of DDR SDRAM.

Diamond Systems, Mountain View, CA. (650) 810-2500. [www.diamondsystems.com].

Chipset Is Optimized for High-Frequency DC/DC Apps

In this age of distributed power and mixed voltage levels, power system design is getting ever more complex for military system designers. International Rectifier eases the way by introducing a 25V synchronous buck converter DirectFET MOSFET chipset for point-of-load (POL) converter designs. The new 25V chipset combines IR’s latest-generation HEXFET MOSFET silicon and benchmark DirectFET packaging technology to deliver a high-density, single control and single synchronous MOSFET solution in the footprint of an SO-8, and with slim 0.7 mm profile.

The IRF6710S2 is ideally suited as a control MOSFET due to the device’s very low gate resistance of 0.3 ohms and very low Miller charge (Qgd) of 3.0 nC, which significantly reduces switching losses. The IRF6795M and IRF6797M feature extremely low RDS(on) to significantly reduce conduction losses while the integrated Schottky reduces diode conduction losses and reverse recovery losses, making these devices well suited for high-current synchronous MOSFET circuits. Pricing for the IRF6710S2TR1PbF begins at $0.66 in 10,000-unit quantities. Pricing for the IRF6795MTR1PbF and IRF6797MTR1PbF begins at $1.35 and $1.65 respectively each in 10,000-unit quantities.

International Rectifier, El Segundo, CA. (310) 726-8512. [www.irf.com].

Signal Generator Does Delay and Width Control on Eight Channels

When engineering budgets get tight, using test instrumentation that supports a variety of uses makes a lot of sense. Berkeley Nucleonics has made an upgrade in the timing circuitry on the cost-saving Model 505 Pulse / Digital Delay Generator. This Model 505 is now shipping standard from the factory with 10nS delay and width resolution. This model represents an excellent value for users who need multiple channels of timing to gate, delay, synchronize or pulse various components to a research experiment. The 10nS edge resolution is available on all 16 edges (8 Channel Model). Delay and Width control on all eight channels with 10nS resolution gives users the ability to address a handful of devices using a single Pulse / Delay Generator.

The Model 505 gives users up to eight fully defined pulse channels with 10nS resolutions for both delay and width. Gate widths are also achievable as narrow as 10nS. The product ships from stock, includes RS-232 and GPIB, and is priced at $1,990 for two Channels of Delay + Width, $2,496 for four Channels of Delay + Width, and $4,098 for eight Channels of Delay + Width.

Berkeley Nucleonics, San Rafael, CA. (800) 234-7858. [www.BerkeleyNucleonics.com].

Ethernet Device Server Talks to RS-232/422/485 Ports

The military has warmed to Ethernet in a big way. It’s a useful means to talk to a wide array of serial I/O. The Industrial Automation Group of Advantech introduces the EKI-1524 Serial Device Server, which is the latest addition to the EKI-1500 family, allowing up to four RS-232/422/485 serial devices to be remotely monitored, managed and controlled over Ethernet and Internet Protocol (IP) networks. Equipped with dual 10/100Base-TX Ethernet ports and dual Media Access Controllers (MACs), this innovative device ensures data transmission even in the event of a network link failure.

The EKI-1524 offers a number of conventional operating modes that allow connections to be initiated by either attached serial devices or remote Ethernet hosts using both UDP/IP and TCP/IP protocols. The EKI-1524 Serial Device Server is packaged in a compact and thin DIN-rail mount chassis. They are ruggedized for demanding industrial applications with 4,000 VDC Ethernet ESD protection, dual 12 to 48 VDC power inputs with power line surge (EFT) protection of 3,000 VDC, and feature an operating temperature range of 0° to 60°C to ensure system uptime.

Advantech, Irvine, CA. (949) 789-7178. [www.advantech.com].

19-Inch Rack Cases Boast Rugged Frames

There’s been a slow shift among military customers whereby they’re asking for ever more complete and integrated systems. This often means providing the system completely with the enclosure and racks. A new family of 19-inch rack cases from Hammond Manufacturing is available in 1, 2 and 3U heights and depths of 8 inches (203 mm), 13 inches (330 mm) and 18 inches (457 mm). The cases are suitable for housing a wide range of equipment, either mounted in a 19-inch rack or, if required, the units can be used as a desktop enclosure.

The all-aluminum construction consists of a heavy-duty extruded frame, removable vented or plain top and bottom covers and optional 19-inch rack mounting angles and self-adhesive rubber feet. The front and rear panels are removable and interchangeable; they are of flat construction to make machining and screening a simple process. Front panel handles that mount to the rack mounting angles are optionally available to assist with insertion and removal from a rack; to provide greater support for heavy loads, rear-mounting brackets can also be specified. The RM family is finished in durable black powder coat paint as standard.

Hammond Manufacturing, Cheektowaga, NY.
(716) 630-7030. [www.hammondmfg.com].

Board Family Tests PCIe Slots Via IEEE Std. 1149.6

Military test systems no long require the complexity of a mass of racks and boards. Now quite a bit of test and debug functionality can be done on the desktop using PCI Express. Along just those lines, Goepel Electronic recently introduced the CION Module /PCIe-x(1/4) family as additional interface cards within the popular CION Module product range. The new low-cost modules are plugged directly into a x1 or x4 PCI Express slot and controlled by means of a TAP (Test Access Port). Because of the onboard IEEE 1149.1 and IEEE1149.6 test channels, all high-speed signal pins, low-speed signal pins and voltage supply pin of PCI Express-compliant connectors are structurally testable.

The CION Module /PCIe-x1 and the CION Module /PCIe-x4 are plugged directly into the connector to be tested. They are able to completely test PCI Express Standard V2.0-compliant slots via dot1/dot6 for correct pin contacting. Because the modules provide transparent TAP, several CION modules of the same or different type can be cascaded due to the daisy chain principle. Altogether, the CION Module product family already has ten different models for the flexible test of numerous analog and digital interfaces.

Goepel Electronic, Jena, Germany. +49-3641-6896-739. [www.goepel.com].

Dual-Port 10 GbE Packet Processor Rides AMC

The acceptance of the Advanced Mezzanine Card (AMC) form factor among military system developers will depend a lot on how well MicroTCA gains mindshare in this market. Comms/networking functions are where AMCs particularly shine. Along such lines, VadaTech has introduced the AMC220, a packet processor for Dual10-Gbit Ethernet based on the AMC.1 specification. This two-port module is offered in a mid-height form factor with the option to order the full-height design. Pre-configured as a TCP Offload Engine, this AMC provides socket layer services to a Cavium OCTEON CN56xx/CN57xx Multicore processor, and can be loaded either by a four-lane PCIe interface or optional flash memory. This host processor enables the AMC220 to process Ethernet packets at line rate while reducing the overhead associated with new standards for packet processing on embedded CPUs.

The AMC220 has options for six to twelve processor cores and is available from 600 MHz to 1 GHz speed grades. Compliance with the newest IPMI version 2.0 allows for manageability that is independent of the operating system, which is supported by Linux, Windows, Solaris and VxWorks. The two RJ-45 micro USB connectors for both USB and RS-232 are located on the front panel of the AMC alongside two SFP+ connectors. The basic configuration pricing of the AMC220 starts around $2,000.

Vadatech, Henderson, NV. (702) 896-3337. [www.vadatech.com].

FPGA Development Kit Eases DSP System Design

FPGA computing has a had a tremendous impact on a variety of military applications like radar, sonar, SIGINT and anything that calls for a dense amount of signal processing. Easing the process of FPGA system development, VMETRO has rolled out its FusionXF FPGA development kit. FusionXF is targeted at reducing the design time and optimizing the performance of complex FPGA and PowerPC processing systems.

FusionXF includes FPGA HDL functions, software APIs, drivers, utilities, example designs and documentation to simplify the task of integrating FPGAs into an embedded real-time DSP system design. It provides the building blocks to build a fully functional FPGA design that a customer can easily integrate their FPGA algorithms and logic into. FusionXF enables the control and utilization of FPGA resources from PowerPC processors and efficient data streaming within a single FPGA and between processors and FPGAs in a system. With the core functionality and glue logic to create a fully functional FPGA design provided by FusionXF, valuable project time can be spent implementing application-specific functionality, e.g., optimizing computational algorithms. FusionXF is currently supported on VMETRO’s VPF2 (VXS) and HPE640 (VPX) hybrid PowerPC and FPGA boards, FPE650 quad-FPGA VPX board, and AD1500 and AD3000 A/D XMC/PMC modules.

VMETRO, Houston, TX. (281) 584-0728. [www.vmetro.com].

15W DC/DC Converter Series Features Wide Input Range

Military power system designers like to think in blocks. That’s why modular DC/DC converters play such a major role in military distributed power architectures. Martek Power announced the release of the 1500UFR series of highly efficient DC/DC power converters. The 1500UFR series is a family of low-noise single and dual DC/DC converters. Packing up to 15W of power into a low profile 2 x 1 x 0.4-inch package with efficiency up to 86%, the series offers ultra wide input ranges of 9-36 VDC, 18-75 VDC and 4:1 input range, and is available in output voltages of 3.3, 5, 5.1, 12, ±12 or ±15 VDC.

The modules are specially designed to address the application needs for data communication equipment, mobile battery-driven equipment, distributed power systems, communications equipment, mixed analog/digital subsystems and robotic systems. The 1500UFR are priced at $20.20 per unit for volume orders. The 1500UFR modules are available in a RoHS-compliant version.

Martek Power, Torrance, CA. (310) 202-8820. [www.martekpower.com].

Command Center Consoles Ready for Rugged Duties

Today’s military is highly reliant on computing and communications gear. That means the command center gear most follow suit. With just that in mind, the Mobile infrastructure solutions from Optima EPS include full command centers down to cabinets geared for mobile applications. A new line of consoles, desk systems and enclosures for the mobile command and communications markets addresses applications in battlefield command, law enforcement/HSS, emergency services, mobile labs, and more. The command centers are based on the latest human engineering concepts and ergonomic designs to ensure optimum “usability.”

Based on standard modules, the range can easily be modified to suit most applications and ensures optimum access to critical information in command and control environment. Optima’s full range of cabinet enclosures can be ruggedized for mobile applications. This provides a wide range of highly ruggedized, Mil-Spec, seismic, datacom, or cost-effective standard platforms to choose from. Optima’s console design permits peripheral equipment to be installed using standard EIA rack mounting rails that can support over 300 lbs of equipment. Highly ruggedized versions are optional. Pricing for basic configurations of Optima’s command centers starts at under $3,000 and varies widely depending on size and design needs.

Optima EPS, Tucker, GA.
(770) 496-4000. [www.optimaeps.com].

Fanless, Rugged Display Computer Aims at Harsh Apps

The net-centric operations trend in the military is boosting demand for display-based computer terminals to fill out the various endpoints of the network. The DC1 from MEN Micro combines the new Intel Atom processor with aluminum construction to provide a low-power, highly reliable computer that withstands the harsh environments found within many mobile, mission-critical and harsh applications. This is a fanless display computer that is both rugged and maintenance-free.

Because the control electronics are located directly behind the display, the DC1 employs conductive cooling between the electronics and the display, eliminating the need for a cooling fan. The DC1 enables variations in display resolution and size, processor type, I/O configuration and power supply, so users can tailor the system to specific applications. The DC1 comes standard with a 15-inch display with optional display sizes from 12 to 19 inches available as well as with a wide range of power supplies. The design is also tamper-proof to deter vandalism. All components of the IP54-protected DC1 are soldered and only M12 or D-Sub I/O connectors are used. The electronics are prepared for coating to withstand humidity. Pricing for the DC1 is $3,132 for a single unit.

MEN Micro, Ambler, PA., (215) 542-9575. [www.menmicro.com].

Conduction-Cooled cPCI SBCs Sport 1.5 GHz Core2 Duo LV

Multicore/dual-core systems have moved from exotic to mainstream in the military embedded systems. An early adopter of Intel dual-core processors, Kontron’s latest is the ITC-320 3U CompactPCI CPU boards featuring three types of single and dual-core Intel processors in four different designs, including a rugged conduction-cooled version for reliable operation in even the harshest environments. The first version comes equipped with the latest dual-core 1.5 GHz Intel Core2 Duo LV processor.

Using the 1.2 GHz Intel Core Duo processor on the Kontron ITC-320 provides the performance-per-watt ratio for applications that need to balance computing performance with low power consumption. The Kontron ITC-320 series also supports the 1.0 GHz Intel Celeron M processor, which is an appropriate choice when power dissipation is a critical issue. The Kontron ITC-320 series features all the I/Os that are available on the latest laptop PCs such as the UXGA graphics controller with PCI Express, two Gbit Ethernet network interfaces configurable by software either on the front RJ-45 connectors or on the rear J2 connector, quad SATA 150 ports and quad USB 2.0 ports. The rugged conduction-cooled version of the Kontron ITC-320 series of CompactPCI CPU boards enlarges the application range of the product for harsh environments.

Kontron, Poway, CA. (858) 677-0898. [www.kontron.com].

600W MicroTCA Power Modules Support AC or DC

The new MTC600 series power modules from Emerson Network Power are compact self-contained power solutions for MicroTCA systems. They are compliant with the PICMG MicroTCA.0 Revision 1.0 specification and are available in AC-input and DC-input versions. The MTC600 series MicroTCA power modules are high power density, single-width units; the AC-input MTC600-AC version is 12 HP high and the DC-input MTC600-48 version is 9 HP high. The MTC600-AC has an input range of 90 to 264V, making it suitable for use with single-phase supplies virtually anywhere in the world, while the MTC600-48 has an input range of -39.5V to -72V, which accommodates both -48V and -60V battery plants.

Both versions of the MTC600 power module provide 16 output channels, each capable of delivering 12V at 7.6A of payload power and 3.3V at 150 mA of management power. This is sufficient for a complete MicroTCA system comprising up to 12 AdvancedMCs (AMCs), two MicroTCA Carrier Hubs (MCHs) and two Cooling Units (CUs). Pricing starts at $865 for the MTC600-AC and $825 for the MTC600-48 (100s).

Emerson, St. Louis, MO. (314) 553-2000. [www.emerson.com].

Drop Test Software Does Shock Assessment

Knowing just how rugged a system is requires numerous tests, drop testing among them. Along such lines, Data Physics offers a package for applications such as product fragility assessment, prototype testing and cushion evaluation. This latest addition to the SignalCalc analyzer platform works with drop and/or shock test machines. The new Drop Test application software provides users with the ability to capture and display drop waveforms, perform ‘fairing’ and pass/fail testing relative to tolerances specified in accordance with industry, military or user-defined standards. The package offers unlimited display layouts, automated reporting and optional shock response spectrum (SRS) measurements.

The base package contains the most essential Drop Test features including transient waveform capture, standards-based or user-defined tolerance limit checks, waveform fairing and velocity change calculations, manual movement of tolerance lines around a captured waveform and the calculations of resultant shock magnitudes for triaxial sensors. The advanced Drop Test option adds SRS analysis capabilities to the base package. The new application comes equipped with internal signal generators that allow the user to simulate actual drop tests with classical waveforms such as half sine, saw tooth and trapezoid.

Data Physics, San Jose, CA. (408) 437-0100. [www.dataphysics.com].

3.5-Inch SBC with Geode LX800 CPU Draws 10W

Size, weight and power keep moving further to the top of many of today’s military design requirements. With just that in mind, the new MSB800UL from Digital-Logic is a 3.5-inch single board computer (SBC) based on a 500 MHz AMD Geode LX800 processor that is said to provide performance equivalent to that of an 800 MHz chip. To optimize cooling, the processor is located on the underside of the board, enabling a direct connection to the housing. So passive cooling does not have to be set up.

The board provides standard PC interfaces and an additional 10/100BASE T Ethernet LAN. In contrast to the PC/104-Plus cards, all interfaces are connected to standard plugs; this means low-cost, cable-free housing integration. The SBC uses the Geode CS5536 chip set. The main memory of the MSB800 can be equipped with SODIMMs in the range of 128 Mbytes to 1 Gbyte. The video controller that is integrated in the Geode processor supports VGA displays with up to 1600 x 1200 pixels. The SBC has dimensions of 146 mm x 102 mm x 20 mm (L x W x H) and weighs only 0.2 kg. Designed for low power consumption—typically 10 watts—the MSB800UL operates within the temperature range of 0° to +60°C. A MTBF (Mean Time Between Failure) value of more than 200,000 hours confirms the high level of reliability and the long life cycle of the single board computer.

Digital-Logic, Luterbach, Switzerland,
+41 (0)32/ 681 58 40. [www.digitallogic.ch].

Coaxial Resonator Oscillator Boasts Compact Package

Oscillators are critical components for military applications like digital radio equipment and satellite communications systems. Serving such needs, the CVCO38CC-3660-3700 from Crystek operates is a coaxial resonator oscillator packaged in the super-compact 0.380-in. x 0.380-in. x 0.220-in. SMD package, achieving 42% space savings over the standard 0.5-in x 0.5-in package. The CVCO38CC-3660-3700 from Crystek operates from 3660 MHz to 3700 MHz with a tuning voltage range of 0.3 VDC to 4.7 VDC. The CVCO38CC family is available in models that operate from 2.2 GHz to 4.4 GHz in bands. This coaxial VCO features a typical phase noise of -108.69 dBc/Hz at 10 KHz offset and has excellent linearity.

It exhibits an output power of +4.0 dBm typ. into a 50 ohm load with a supply of +5.0 VDC and a typical current consumption of 30 mA. Pushing and Pulling are both minimized to 1.0 MHz/V and 2.5 MHz, respectively. Second harmonic suppression is -15 dBc typical. Pricing for the CVCO38CC-3660-3700 will start at $15 ea. in volume.

Crystek Ft. Myers, FL. (239) 561-3311. [www.crystek.com].

Solid State Disk PCI RAID Adapter Has High MTBF

As program and data needs ramp up in military applications, so too does the demand for rugged high-performance RAID storage. The LT-PCI-CF from Lauron Technologies is a high-performance PCI 64-bit, 66 MHz, 4-channel SSD RAID adapter that supports data rates of up to 533 Mbytes/s. This is a single slot adapter available in 2 Gbyte to 128 Gbyte capacities and is populated with a fast, reliable Compact Flash module. Since the adapter houses all SSD memory, the LT-PCI-CF provides a single card solution for non-rotating media requirements.

The unit has an MTBF greater than 1,000,000 hours provided by built-in EDC/ECC and Wear Leveling algorithms. The endurance with Erase/Write Cycles is greater than 1,000,000. The benefit of the Built-in Flash SSD controller/bridge is that it supports Ultra DMA modes, which yield data transfers at speeds of up to 133 Mbyte/s per channel. The LT-PCI-CF supports RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 0+1, RAID 5 or JBOD. Stripping modes transfer data to all four channels simultaneously while mirror modes transfer data on both channels. The LT-PCI-CF is shipped with Windows and Linux Device drivers along with RAID management utilities.

Lauron Technologies, Naples, FL.
(239) 431-6237. [www.laurontech.com].

Extension Kit Expands Links to PXI from a Laptop

The days when it took large racks of slot-card boards to implement a military test system are long gone. Now the same role can be filled by PC-based cards, leveraging the speeds of PCI Express. Adding a link to PXI as well, is a multi-slot ExpressCard-to-PXI extension system from ADLINK. The EC-8560/PXI-8565 extends more PXI slots from an ExpressCard-based laptop computer via a shielded cable connection up to seven meters (23 feet) in length. PXI devices installed in the extension PXI chassis behave and work as if they are directly installed in the host system and do not require any additional driver or software installation.

The EC-8560/PXI-8565 implements PCI Express-based control of PXI modules and consists of the EC-8560 ExpressCard extension card installed in a laptop computer, a shielded cable, and the PXI-8565 PXI remote extension card. The EC-8560 is in the ExpressCard/34 form factor, uses one x1 lane, and communicates with the extension PXI chassis via a shielded twisted copper cable. The PXI-8560 remote extension card then converts the PCI Express signal into a 32-bit/66 MHz PCI interface for additional PXI slots.

ADLINK, Irvine, CA. (949) 423-2354. [www.adlinktech.com].