Components
MPEG104 PC/104-Plus MPEG-1 encoder
Parvus Corp. in Salt Lake City is offering the MPEG104 PC/104-Plus form factor MPEG-1 encoder board for capturing high-quality analog video and audio streams, encoding them in compressed MPEG-1, M-JPEG, or JPEG formats, and sending them to a host computer over a 32-bit PCI bus. The module is based on the Winbond W99200F video encoder and supports as many as four composite video inputs and one stereo audio input at full NTSC or PAL frame rates. It encodes pictures in IBP syntax at SIF and QSIF resolutions as fast as 30 frames per second and supports single frame sizes as large as 720 by 576 pixels. The board is for live video encoding where rugged environmental conditions and space constraints exist, such as remote video surveillance, solid-state digital video recorders, and medical and industrial monitoring. For more information contact Parvus by phone at 801-483-1533, or online at www.parvus.com.
Board products
PowerPC single-board computer
Thales Computers in Raleigh, N.C., is introducing two rugged PowerEngine7 single-board computers (SBCs). The air-cooled (RA) and conduction-cooled (RC) PowerEngine7 SBCs combine high performance with low power dissipation for data processing applications in aerospace, military, and harsh-environment applications. The boards have single or dual PowerPC-750FX processors operating at 700 MHz, providing more than 1600 Dhrystone 2.1 MIPS, while drawing 14 watts of power. The RA and RC PowerEngine7 SBCs have as much as 512 megabytes of SDRAM memory and as much as 128 megabytes of flash memory. The Avignon host bridge system controller is optimized for the PowerPC processor, while the ALMA2e VME-PCI bridge provides for 2eSST transfers. For more information contact Thales by phone at 800-848-2330, or online at www.thalescomputers.com.
Databuses & networking
Dual-redundant MIL-STD-1553 interface card
Andor Design in Syosset, N.Y., is offering the PC13001 dual-redundant MIL-STD-1553 interface card with a half-size PCI form factor for simulation, testing, monitoring, data communications, and production/validation test plans of the components of the avionics multiplex bus. The card has error injection, programmable output amplitude, and programmable message parameters. It can operate in independent or simultaneous mode as a bus controller, multiple simulated remote terminals, or full/selective monitor. Users can choose between 1553 A, B, or McAir protocols through program control. The software code is included. For more information contact Andor Design by phone at 516-364-1619, or online at www.andordesign.com.
Accessories
EMC clip-on gasket with water seal
Holland Shielding Systems BV in Dordrecht, The Netherlands, is offering a series of electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding gaskets for doors and panels. These gaskets require a low closure force and are for doors and panels with a flenged edge to enable designers to build enclosures less rigidly and with larger tolerances than they can with other gaskets, company officials say. The highly conductive metal alloy guarantees an optimal electrically conductive contact with a very low initial force. This prevents bending of doors and panels. The gaskets are compatible with commonly used construction materials such as aluminum, zinc-plated steel, and stainless steel. For more information contact Holland Shielding by phone at +31-78-6131366, or online at www.hollandshielding.com.
Computers
Portable multifunction scalable computer server
Acme Portable Machines Inc. in Azuza, Calif., is offering a line of portable server computers called the GMII-102. The "lunchbox" portable workstation has 2.0-GHz or 3.0-GHz Pentium 4 processors, eight expansion slots, and hard disk drive in a package measuring 16 by 10.75 by 8.25 inches. The GMII-102 is for military and aerospace applications, as well as for test and measurement, field data acquisition, law enforcement, automotive, and telecommunications. Each unit uses two USB ports and an Ethernet/Fast Ethernet port. The GMII-102 has a PCMCIA/Card Bus option supporting type II or type III options and two additional serial ports, one enhanced parallel port, internal flat-panel 14.1-inch XGA TFT display. Contact Acme Portable Machines online at www.portablesys.com.
Connectors
Military-quality connectors for surveillance cameras
Omnetics Connector Corp. in Minneapolis is introducing miniature circular connectors for the soldiers' surveillance and target-acquisition systems. These rugged-but-miniature connector and harness systems route signals and power to the soldiers' visual systems and transmitters. Omnetics MMC series of circular connectors offer as many as 27 pins, polarized mating, threaded metal shells, and can include shielded cable harnesses. Connectors ensure field reliability and ruggedness to MIL-DTL-83513-level specifications and are available in customized plating for night operations. A beryllium copper flex-pin design provides ruggedness and controls insertion forces over thousands of connection cycles. For more information contact Omnetics online at www.Omnetics.com.
Signal processing
Signal processor for radar-tracking system
Primagraphics in Charlottesville, Va., is providing support for moving platforms by extending the capabilities of the Primagraphics radar tracking system called Radar Video Processor (RVP) Tracker. This enhancement will enable RPV Tracker function on ship and airborne platforms, where the motion of the platform must figure into true measurement of target speed and heading. The RVP Tracker provides an integrated capability for automatic target tracking from primary radar video. It can also interface with a wide variety of radar types — including ACP/ARP, RADDS, ASDE-3, and specialized serial and parallel formats — and incorporates clutter-processing algorithms that provide enhanced signal quality for the plot extraction and tracking. RVP Tracker distributes radar video across a network, which enables a broad range of display options. For more information contact Primagraphics online at www.primagraphics.com.
Optoelectronics
Family of miniature precision-motion products
Newport Corp. in Irvine, Calif., is offering the NewStep series of positioning products to provide automation to laser and electro-optic experiments. The family includes the NewStep NSC100 controller and NewStep NSA12 actuator. The actuator is a direct replacement for manual micrometers to enable precise motorized control. It measures 60 millimeters long by 30 millimeters in diameter. The controller is for manual and computer control via RS232. A manual knob controls motor speed and initiates home searches and computer control. The controller is for hand-held devices or optical tables. The NewStep is for OEM and laboratory applications that require automated and/or remote control of adjustable stages and mounts. For more information contact Newport online at www.newport.com.
Data storage
155-gigabyte Fibre Channel solid-state flash drives
BiTMICRO Networks in Fremont, Calif., is offering the E-Disk Fibre Channel solid-state drive at 155 gigabytes in a 3.5-inch form factor. The E-Disk nonvolatile flash drive requires no device drivers for installation and operation, and supports duplex burst rates as fast as 400 megabytes per second. The hot-swap drive comes with 40-pin SCA 2 connectors and mean time between failures of 2 million hours. The device could be a building block for RAID arrays and SES/SEI-compliant Fibre Channel SAN rack-mounted enclosures in controlled and mission-critical data centers. For more information contact BiTMICRO online at www.bitmicro.com.
To submit new products for consideration, send them to John Keller by e-mail at [email protected], or by post at 98 Spit Brook Road, Nashua, N.H. 03062. Please include a high-resolution color photo.
