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.

For more information contact:
Michael McGregor @ 210-661-8661 ext 307 or michaelm@autotest.com