Oscilloscopes embrace Java technology

As the complexity of product designs increases and new standards are endorsed, the need for testing capabilities that are specific to the end product increases. For example, a disk drive manufacturer will need test tools designed specifically for testing disk drives. And, as time-to-market frames shrink, these test capabilities need to be accessed quickly.

To meet these challenges, Tektronix (Beaverton, OR) is offering the first test and measurement instrument implementation of Java technology. This technology, licensed by Sun Microsystems (Mountain View, CA), is currently available on Tektronix TDS 700C oscilloscopes and will be included in its future high-end oscilloscopes. The company believes the technology will enable it to deliver application-specific measurement functionality quickly, without requiring customers to make costly investments in new equipment.

Java technology provides Tektronix oscilloscopes with the ability
to access application-specific measurement capabilities and, in
the future, will allow users to develop their own applications.

Three application-specific software applications are available, with additional applications planned for later this year. The TDSDDM1 application provides specific measurement capabilities for the disk drive industry. TDSPWR1 is for designers concerned with the power consumption of components, subassemblies, or systems. And TDSPRT1 enables users to print multiple screens of waveform acquisition.

The applications are delivered via floppy disks that auto-load the software onto the internal disk drive of a Tektronix scope, negating the need to recalibrate the scope. Once loaded, the applications integrate into the scope's menu-based interface.

According to the research firm Prime Data (Carlsbad, CA), the entire test and measurement industry is moving toward application-specific measurement capabilities. Based on this forecast, Tektronix plans to provide more customer-specific applications and may offer the capability for users to develop their own applications in the near future.

The TDSDDM1 is priced at $850, and the TDSPWR1 is $350. Both are available 12 weeks ARO, and as of June they will be available 2 weeks ARO. The TDSPRT1 is available for free download from the company's Web site at http://www.tek.com/ measurement/support/. To run any of these applications requires a single run-time environment, TDSRTE1, which costs $150. All three applications are available on the company's TDS 700C Series oscilloscopes. For more information from Tektronix, call 800-426-2200, fax 503-627-5139, visit http://www.tek.com.