Launching Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missiles from jet fighters requires a sophisticated power system in the aircraft. Specialized power supplies, located in the pylons of the fighter, provide the power and control for launching a variety of missiles.

These supplies include high voltage outputs to ignite the missile's propellant and arm the warheads. Audio signals are processed by the supplies to keep the pilot appraised of the missile status. A complex arrangement of relays and launch control signals interlocks and releases the missile at the appropriate command.

Testing these supplies requires a full featured tester plus specialized applications modules to simulate the launch command sequence. Precise voltage pulses must be applied and measured to determine correct operation of the power supplies. Real time testing is critical to prevent destructive test cycles.

AUTOTEST offers a solution:

A dedicated Launch Command Control Card in the application fixture. The card is a state machine that, once triggered by computer command, initiates a precisely timed sequence of applied voltages and multiplexed triggered measurements.

Multiple test results are obtained from limited test data. Voltages applied and measured yield timing data and voltage drop data. Extrapolated from this data is verification of proper control sequencing and component values within the supplies.

The state machine consists of a debounced solid-state switch to start the sequence. A variable clock provided the time base to increment a state counter.

The state counter steps through consecutive addresses in a PROM. Each address holds a 7-bit binary mask. Three bits are used to control an eight-channel multiplexer to route signals to the DMM. One bit triggers the DMM trough an opto-isolated buffer driver to preserve the digital circuit ground.

Voltage drops set up by series resistor combinations produce the target voltages used to calculate the precise values of the embedded resistors in the supplies. Comparison of the measured values to expected norms verifies contact closure and conductivity of the relays and paths in the supplies.

In addition to controlling applied voltages and thus relay closures, the successive PROM address masks set the multiplexer channel and trigger the DMM to read and store the appropriate voltage in the next memory location. Later, the readings are extracted and analyzed by the computer program.

The ability to vary the state clock timing permits minor adjustment to resolution of state time base. Manipulation of the bits between successive state masks allows for a high degree of flexibility in adjusting and modifying the sequence timing.

The concept proved to be high stable, reliable and versatile. Currently there are five separate implementations of this application. Minor PROM variations also make it possible to implement this design in similar applications. This approach provided a cost-effective solution to a complex testing requirement.

 OCI Solar Power announced today a partnership with CPS Energy in San Antonio, Texas to enter into negotiations to produce 400 megawatts of power, making it one of the largest solar power development projects in the country. The solar development project is unique in its size as well as scope, and includes working with the community to not only secure a renewable, cost effective solar power source but also to drive long-term economic development with investments of more than $100 million in capital projects and the creation of more than 800 area jobs.

 

The project will include the development of several solar plants, constructed with proven, leading-edge solar technologies. The additional sustainable resource added to the power grid in south central Texas will drive renewable energy costs and increase efficiencies for the area. The 400 megawatts of energy generated will power the equivalent of 90,000 homes during daylight hours.

 

“OCI Solar Power is proud to enter negotiations with CPS Energy to potentially partner on its goal of creating a solar energy manufacturing and development hub in San Antonio,” said Kirk Milling, Chairman of the Board of OCI Solar Power. “The project will also create a new standard and model for communities working to build their sustainable energy resources. Combining this effort with capital investment and economic development creates a winning combination for both the city and region.”

 

In addition, the project will drive significant investment in research & development and job creation for San Antonio.  With this news, OCI Solar Power will relocate its headquarters to San Antonio, along with its Engineering and Operations Center.

 

Construction on the first solar facility will begin in 2013 with additional facilities built through 2016, subject to Power Purchase Agreement negotiations.

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS (March 1, 2005) Autotest Co. announced today that Cherokee International of Tustin, CA had entered into a "partnership for the future" to deliver multiple new STS 475 Power Supply Test Systems to Cherokee International facilities in Mexico and China as well as Cherokee International’s parent facility in California.

The agreement includes multiple new Autotest STS 475 Solid State Systems as well as upgrades to existing Autotest installations at Cherokee.  The agreement involves from 16 to 20 new and upgraded ATE systems.  Autotest has been an ATE supplier to Cherokee since 1986.

"Technology is driving much of Cherokee’s growth," said Michael McGregor, VP for Sales and Marketing with the U.S. based Autotest Co. "Autotest is a technology leader, and we've built a very successful business over the years by developing relationships that provide solutions and support for customers such as Cherokee, wherever they are in the world. We're excited about our continuing partnership with Cherokee because it allows us to contribute and benefit from their technological leadership and development"

About Cherokee International

CHEROKEE INTERNATIONAL is a world-class manufacturer of standard and custom switch mode Power Supplies for telecommunications, workstations, networking, and industrial process control.  For more information, visit Cherokee International at www.cherokeellc.com

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS (December 12, 2001) - Autotest Company (ATE Manufacturer) recently announced that its industry-leading APG for Windows^TM software is now configurable for testing the quality and the validity of input/output communications for remote ATE applications employing Ethernet and "1153" interface protocols. The new Autotest systems are designed for testing applications utilizing external communications inputs or operations where life-critical information is processed, such as with many military and medical applications.

The highly sophisticated Autotest Ethernet signal emulation circuitry addresses issues surrounding the testing of remote or portable units which use LAN TCP/IP input and output communications. The new circuitry addresses drawbacks associated with testing methods that are unable to verify input and output signal parity and compatibility The built-in attenuating and monitoring capability eliminates the need for separate testing or special adaptation for communication sensitive testing. The circuitry for attenuators, detectors and isolated AC/DC power supplies is contained on a single, small circuit card with connections for AC, Monitor outputs and Ethernet input and output. In addition to the primary features and benefits associated with the standard Autotest APG test configurations, Autotest testers can now be easily configured for a variety of external or remote input protocols.

Autotest Company designs, manufactures and markets ATE, power supply and UPS test products and systems for the power source industry.

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS (December 2011) Autotest Company, San Antonio, Texas, today announced that AEG Power Solutions in Plano, Texas has awarded Autotest a new contract for multi-functional Automated Test Equipment (ATE) units for Inverter Test  applications associated with Utility Class Solar Generation programs.

The new award includes multiple standalone ATE's for inverter power subsystem, module and board assemblies. This contract is worth well over $500 thousand dollars and represents a specialized turn-key Automated Test Equipment supportable by AEG Power Solutions.

Michael McGregor, Autotest Vice President for Sales and Marketing, noted: Autotest Company is pleased to work with a  company of the caliber of AEG Power Solutions on this very technical and renewable energy critical project. This reinforces our commitment to provide our customers with integrated, sensitive and complex requirements with time tested industry accepted tests and protocols in a seamless, cost-effective and timely manner.

About AEG Power Solutions

AEG Power Solutions www.aegps.com is located in Plano, Texas and is owned by 3W Power S.A.  AEG Power Solutions offers the world's most comprehensive portfolio of premium power supply and control products, systems, solutions and services. Their solutions are designed specifically to interface with utility electrical grids, providing high efficiency, customized energy solutions for all applications requiring complex, intelligent power supply control.

 About 3W Power S.A. Corporation

3W Power S.A. is the holding company of AEG Power Solutions Group. Shares and Warrants in the company are admitted to trading on NYSE Euronext, Amsterdam. Shares are also traded on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange.

About Autotest Company

Autotest Company designs, manufactures and markets Automated Test Equipment (ATE) for power supply, Green Energy,   and UPS products and systems for the Aerospace / Defense  industry. AUTOTEST, the AUTOTEST logo, and APG for Windows are trademarks of Autotest Company. Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corp.

Greenstar Awards Autotest LED Lighting Test Contract

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS (December 2011) Autotest Company, San Antonio, Texas, today announced that Greenstar in Boerne, Texas has awarded Autotest a new contract for multi-functional Automated Test Equipment (ATE) for LED Lighting Production Test  applications associated with Utility Class Street Lighting programs.

The new award includes APG for Windows software and turn-key standalone ATE for testing completed LED Lighting assemblies. This contract is a new product area for Autotest Company and represents a specialized Automated Test System supportable by Greenstar.

Reid Nesbit, Autotest Director of ATE Sales, noted: "Autotest Company is pleased to work with a  company of the caliber of Greenstar on this very technical and renewable energy critical project. This reinforces our commitment to provide our customers with integrated, sensitive and complex requirements with time tested industry accepted tests and protocols in a seamless, cost-effective and timely manner."

About Greenstar

Founded in 2009, GreenStar (www.greenstarled.com) is an innovative USA-based company designing, manufacturing, and distributing highly advanced, eco-friendly, and cost-saving light emitting diode (LED) lighting systems to municipalities and commercial businesses around the world.  Greenstar is in the process of moving to a new production facility in San Antonio, Texas.

 About Autotest Company

Autotest Company designs, manufactures and markets Automated Test Equipment (ATE) for power supply, Green Energy,   and UPS products and systems for the Aerospace / Defense  industry. AUTOTEST, the AUTOTEST logo, and APG for Windows are trademarks of Autotest Company. Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corp.

    SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS (April 15,2010) Autotest Company, San Antonio, Texas, today introduces a new version of the Time Measurement System with enhanced features for Sequencing and Transient Modes.

The new system provides greater reliability and space-savings by replacing the previous systems separate timer/counter and programmable trigger boards’ discrete circuitry with a single board utilizing Complex Programmable Logic Devices (CPLDs). This board will soon be available to existing customers as a replacement for their existing timer, accompanied by a software revision to make available its new features. Below is a summary of the new instrument.
    Overview

    The new and enhanced Timer/Counter board, (PN1104888), is a direct replacement for the existing (PN1101173-100). Downward compatibility is maintained via the new software driver and system configuration file. The single exception is the now obsolete Frequency Measurement mode. In addition the new board provides features that enhance the performance of all modes of the timer application. Reduction in footprint through the use of CPLDs, has allowed for the circuitry to fit on a single PCB and in addition enabled the introduction of isolated grounds for each trigger channel plus one for the load transient step function. Overall the circuitry has been organized to make the board more serviceable and reliable.
    New Features Include

        Analog Interface - Comparators

            Each of the 5 programmable comparators and the 2 TTL Comparators has their own isolated power supply and ground. (the old board shared 4 grounds)

            Each programmable comparator has two bipolar ranges of input, ±10V and ±100V.  (the old board had fixed ranges 1-100, 2@0-20,2@+/-10)

            Comparator filter - mainly in support of the Sequencing mode where the Comparators are directly receiving the UUT output, there is a selectable roll-off filter. This filter will eliminate the majority of the high frequency components of a UUT making DC threshold selections more accurate.

            The TTL channels have software selectable trigger directions. (on the old board these were board level jumper selected)
        Dynamic Load Step Generator

        The programmable load step output that directs the step-rate and amplitude of a load in Dynamic Step mode is significantly enhanced.

            Isolated power supply and ground (old board shared grounds with comparators)

            Independent DAC for programming the Load Step amplitude. (the old board used comparator 2)

            Step Rate is programmable in eight frequencies from 5 to 1KHz. (was an “adjustable” pot on old board). For downward compatibility the 100Hz and Stop-Step options are still available.

            The Duty cycle is selectable in decades from 10% to 90%. (fixed at 50% previously)
        Counter/Latch/Triggering

            All latches are now 16-bit. (8-bit for Sequencing previously)

            The Start trigger may be programmed to come from any of the analog or TTL inputs or by the LSYNC signal from ATE sources. (previously Comparator 4)

            The Stop trigger may also be software selected from Comparator 1, 2, 4, or 5.

            With the new triggering features a Sequencing test could begin from a Comparator instead of from LSYNC, and a Time Interval test may be started or stopped by different Comparators through the Comparator Interface input instead of the Matrix Timer input.

    Mode Features

        Sequencing

            Software selectable Start Trigger with LSYNC, any of the five Programmable Comparators or the two TTL Triggers.

            Software selectable TTL trigger direction.

            Count from the selectable Time Base (10Hz-10MHz) or the External Clock (Comparator 3).

            All time latches are 16 bit, providing 4095 counts of the selected Time Base.
            All inputs isolated.

            All programmable comparators have selectable ranges of ±10V or ±100V.

            Selectable Noise Filter on comparator inputs.

        Time Interval

            Comparator 4 and Comparator 5 directed to the Measurement Matrix Timer output High to High Shield and Low to Low Shield respectively.

            Start counting from any of the selected Start Triggers – Software selectable LSYNC, Comparator 1-5 or TTL 1-2.
            Stop latch selectable from Comparators 1, 2, Matrix High or Low.

            Count from the selectable Time Base (10Hz-10MHz) or the external clock (Comparator 3).

            Stop latched at first crossing (Single-Crossing) or last crossing before DisArm (Multi-Crossing).

            Matrix Single Channel uses Comparator 4 and 5 fed by Matrix High and High Shield.

        Transient

            Armed and Disarmed by Load Step signal selection

            Eight selectable Load Steps of 5H-1KHz with duty cycles from 10%-90%, or from external clock through Comparator 3 Interface input.

            Timer input in Single Channel mode from Peak Detector to Comparators 1 & 2.

            Comparators 1 & 2 directed to Program of Start and Stop channels.

        Totalize

            Gated counter with count through Comparator 3 Interface

            Start channel selectable as Comparators 1, 2, Matrix High or Low (Comparator 4)

            Stop channel selectable as Comparators 1, 2, Matrix High or Low (Comparator 5)

        Crossings Counter

            Start with Arm Control going true

            Count crossings for the programmed threshold of any comparator channel designated as Start.

            Latch output with Arm Control going false

            Full 8 bit saturating counter (255 crossings may be captured).

    About Autotest Company

    Autotest Company designs, manufactures and markets Automated Test Equipment (ATE), power supply, Fuel Cell and UPS test products and systems for the power source industry. AUTOTEST, the AUTOTEST logo, and APG for Windows are trademarks of Autotest Company. Windows is a trademark of Microsoft Corp.