Laptop-based mobile Instrumentation

30th March 2007

Spectrum GmbH

ES Admin

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Based on the Docking Station product line from Magma Mobility Electronics Inc. the complete test & measurement product line of Spectrum is now mobile. Using one of the available Docking Stations with 1, 2 or 4 slots any of the PC instruments of the M2i series of Spectrum can be plugged-in. This combination allows the use of Digitizers up to 500 MS/s, A/D cards starting with 100 kS/s on 16 synchronous channels, Arbitrary Waveform Generators and Digital I/O cards up to 125 MS/s.

Two connectivity options are available: either the proven PCCard interface (PCMCIA) or the modern ExpressCard (supporting both standards ExpressCard/34 and ExpressCard/54). Using this connection one can even achieve a sustained transfer speed in FIFO mode of more than 100 MB/s. Using singleshot mode the large on-board memory of the M2i cards of up to 4 GByte is available for data storage.

Using the state-of-the-art instrument drivers the Docking Stations are Hot-Plug capable. This makes them a powerful solution for field applications or as an universal shared laboratory instrument. The 1 slot Docking Station as well as the 2 slot version are also available with a DC option. This enhances the application range of the PC instruments towards drive tests in the automotive area.

The connection of the cards is fully software transparent making no difference in programming and usage whether the card is plugged into a desktop PC or used with a Laptop. Using the included Windows drivers one can easily program the cards using C/C++, Delphi or Visual Basic. As an option drivers for LabVIEW, LabWindows, MATLAB, DASYLab or Agilent VEE are available. For Laboratory use the powerful SBench software is included in the delivery free of charge. SBench offers standard oscilloscope and generator features.