Allion Selects LeCroy Equipment for USB Specification Testing

Allion has selected LeCroy Corporation’s USB 3.0 Test Suite to provide its customers with complete SuperSpeed USB compliance testing. With data rates up to 10 times faster than Hi-Speed USB (USB 2.0), SuperSpeed USB (USB 3.0) requires the most advanced technology to ensure specification conformance.

LeCroy’s global expertise in oscilloscopes and serial test solutions will enable Allion to provide comprehensive physical and protocol layer transmitter and receiver testing, giving vendors the assurance that their products perform as outlined by the USB 3.0 specification before hitting store shelves and consumers homes. The LeCroy testing suite also provides Allion with complete testing solutions for SATA and other high-speed serial data standards.

The LeCroy USB 3.0 Test Suite features the latest advancements in test and measurement technology to provide the increasingly sophisticated measurement and analysis capabilities necessary to test compliance for USB 3.0.

• Oscilloscopes: The oscilloscopes provide fast and thorough transmitter verification, as well as characterization and Time Domain Reflectormetry (TDR) measurements.
• PeRT3 (Protocol-enabled Receiver and Transmitter Tolerance Tester): Uses a fully automated, protocol-aware system for measuring receiver testing
• Voyager verification system: The world’s first USB 3.0 protocol analyzer exerciser platform provides 100 percent accurate protocol capture and can emulate both USB 2.0 and USB 3.0, allowing for functionality, reliability and performance testing.

“LeCroy’s USB 3.0 Test Suite is the solution that fully integrates transmitter and receiver testing to meet the compliance requirements for SuperSpeed USB,” James Ou, Allion’s Director of Personal Application Testing Center, said in a recent release. “LeCroy’s end-to-end test equipment lineup addresses the increasingly sophisticated measurement and analysis capabilities that are required by SuperSpeed USB, and we are pleased to be able to offer this preeminent solution to our customers.”

CeBIT 2010 Unveilings Wow Tech World

CeBIT 2010, the world’s largest annual technology showcase, set the tech world abuzz this year with exciting new technology on every table. Now that CeBIT has come to an end, here’s a look at some of the new technologies and trends we saw at the Hannover, Germany trade show:
SuperSpeed USB (USB 3.0). Continuing to build on the momentum of its unveiling just over a year ago, the USB Implementers Forum announced that 50 SuperSpeed USB products – including notebooks, motherboards, storage controllers and external storage devices – have passed compliance and certification testing.
SSDs. Several new SSDs were unveiled at CeBIT, including Corsair’s new SandForce SF-1200 chip. With 280 Mbps read and 260 Mbps write speeds, it features one of the fastest controllers on the market. Plextor has also entered the SSD market, releasing its flagship 2.5” solid state drives. And not to be outdone, Patriot created an extravagant PC using 40 SSDs, capable of ripping a Blu-ray in under a second.

333 Motherboards. Motherboard manufacturers are combining the latest technologies to unleash unprecedented performance. GigaByte introduced its 333 Onboard Acceleration motherboards, featuring USB 3.0, 3x USB power boost and SATA 3.0. ASROCK also introduced its line of True 333 Onboard Motherboards, all of which include USB 3.0, SATA 3.0 and eSATA, which reaches data transfer rates of up to 3 Gbps.
Overall, CeBIT 2010 was an exciting show that highlighted the enormous steps taking place in consumer technology. USB 3.0 and SATA 3.0 continue to be adopted at lightning pace, and there seems to be no end in sight to applications for these new data transfer technologies. Needless to say, we can’t wait to see which new technologies will be showcased next year.

Increasing Automotive Complexity Requires Careful Planning and Execution

Like so much of today’s technology, in-car technology has evolved at a rapid rate. Modern in-car networks have developed to support not only basic vehicle functions, but also entertainment and navigation systems.

Controller Area Network (CAN). The primary in-car network serial bus in today’s cars is the Controller Area Network (CAN). Originally developed in 1985 by Bosch, CAN remains the international standard for in-car networking. CAN utilizes twisted wire pairs to reduce wiring complexity, weight and cost while providing a reliable solution in high-interference environments. CAN also is able to operate at data speeds up to 1 Mbps, with High-speed CAN used for engine management and brake control and Low-speed CAN used for window and seat operations.

Location Interconnect Network (LIN). When CAN’s versatility and bandwidth is not needed, LIN offers a cost-effective, low-speed serial bus within the CAN network. Requiring only a single wire for physical implementation, LINs allow in-car connection and communication between intelligent sensors and actuators.

FlexRay. This newest vehicle bus standard was designed to be faster and more reliable than CAN. Developed by BMW and DaimlerChrysler for use in drive-by-wire systems, FlexRay offers deterministic and fault-tolerant data transmission with a bandwidth of up to 10 Mbps.

Media Oriented Systems Transport (MOST). MOST is the in-car bus standard for interconnecting multimedia components. MOST, which addresses the increasing popularity of in-car entertainment, navigation and telecom systems, has a maximum data rate of 50 Mbps; future generations are expected to reach 150 Mbps.

USB. Finally, USB technology, which has become ubiquitous on PCs and devices, has also made its way into the automobile. Devices are now being connected in vehicles via USB, allowing for “plug-n-play” capability among a wide variety of media players and devices that consumers expect to utilize in their automobiles.

Modern automobile network architecture has become increasingly complex, increasing the need for reliable vehicle bus standards and performance testing. The number of buses and protocols will increase as our entertainment and system needs grow, and the speed of innovation will continue to require updated and improved standards. The Allion Connect Certification Program ensures reliable connectivity between consumer electronics devices and automobiles. To learn more about how Allion can test and validate your automotive solutions, contact Allion Test Labs

Allion Puts LG Monitors to the Test

Allion recently had the opportunity to test the LG Network Monitor, a low-cost solution allowing multiple users to virtually share a PC. The LG monitors were put through a rigorous battery of tests designed to evaluate their performance and compatibility. The results were impressive.
The LG computer monitors first went through the Windows Compatibility Test. Ten monitors were connected to a computer running Microsoft Windows to evaluate their compatibility with the operating system as well as their performance when running multiple applications simultaneously.
The second test performed was the Software Compatibility Test, a “multitasking test” in which various programs ranging from Microsoft Word to professional graphic design software are run simultaneously.
The final test, the Performance Test, measured the frames per second being displayed, examining for any lag or delay in the interconnected monitor installation. Final results exceeded expectations for overall performance and stability. All tests were passed at 90 percent or higher, with several, including the Device Enumeration Test and Power Management Test, passing with 100 percent compatibility. The tests demonstrated the monitors’ exceptional performance under the most demanding circumstances.
LG, in partnership with Allion, produced the accompanying video to document the rigorous nature of Allion’s display test services.

Intel Reveals Strategy to Lead SSD Market

Intel aims to be the worldwide leader in the solid state drive (SSD) market. The company plans to unseat Samsung as the top market player while bringing SSDs to the forefront. In the SSD retail market, Intel currently claims the lead in the U.S. and sits second worldwide.

Intel’s joint venture with Micron Technologies Inc. has rolled out the first in a family of 25-nm devices, which, in addition to putting Intel almost a year ahead of the competition in terms of technology, gives Intel a significant cost advantage; while 34-nm competitors have an average cost of $1/GB, Intel’s 25-nm NAND part will average $0.50/GB. Intel plans to ship its new line of 25-nm device-based SSDs later this year.

“We want to be a leader in SSDs,” Tom Rampone, the VP and general manager of Intel’s NAND Solutions Group, told EE Times at a recent event. “We want to bring SSDs out of the niche markets and into the mainstream.”

Compelling SSD features, including unprecedented speeds, durability, and silent operation, will bring big benefits to end-users in both personal and enterprise applications. Also noteworthy is that SSDs enable new technologies such as SuperSpeed USB (USB 3.0) to achieve higher data transfer rates than what is possible with traditional HDDs. As we reported earlier this year, 2010 is shaping up to be the year for SSDs.

Crucial RealSSD C300: It's Fast

After months of screen shots, pre-release videos and an appearance at CES, the Crucial RealSSD C300, announced in December, is nearing its public debut.

Sold and distributed by Micron’s retail branch, Crucial, the C300 uses Micron’s firmware and Marvell’s new SATA6Gb/s solid-state drive (SSD) controller to reach new levels of speed and performance. It is the first SSD to use ONFI 2.1 NAND flash memory, which offers performance of up to 200MB/s while enhancing power management. The C300 will be the industry’s fastest solid-state drive (SSD) for notebooks and desktop PCS.

TweakTown performed a series of SSD tests on the Crucial RealSSD C300 to see how its performance held up to the competition. Using PCMark Vantage, a hardware performance benchmark, to measure and compare performance, they found the C300 far outperformed the other drives on the market. For instance, during gaming the C300 was able to run 201.26MB/s, while the 100GB RunCore Pro V came in second with 154.42MB/s. The C300 ran Windows Media Center at 261.40 MB/s, with the runner up performing at 190.75MB/s. The only exception was its abnormally low performance when running Windows Media Player, which testers believe is likely due to a firmware glitch. After zooming through all the tests, without the chance to idle, the C300 showed no significant decrease in performance.

With its improved reliability, lower power consumption and blazing speeds, the C300 offers a new level of computing performance. As TweakTown put it, “At this point in time, there is no other drive, platter or solid state that is in the same league as the Crucial RealSSD C300.” The C300 will be ready for consumers later month. The 125GB model will be available for $499 and the 256GB for $799.

DisplayPort 1.2 Opens New Data Opportunities

As we recently highlighted, Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) formally unveiled the eagerly awaited DisplayPort v1.2 specification. This new extension offers a number of new features: in addition to doubling the data rate and providing multi-streaming capabilities, DisplayPort v1.2 has the ability to transfer audio, video, USB, Ethernet, power, and data from multi-touch panels, cameras, microphones and more. By supporting a wide range of data through a single cable, DisplayPort continues to trend toward a unified interconnect and creates opportunities for manufacturers and consumers.

DisplayPort v1.2 data-supporting capabilities create a more simplified interface while increasing performance and reducing costs. The ability to transfer USB and Ethernet data will allow users to connect their monitor via DisplayPort and utilize the same cable to carry USB signals to the display, significantly reducing cable clutter and creating a simplified user experience. DisplayPort will allow manufacturers to add features to their products while creating simpler designs.

Additionally, the increased throughput of DisplayPort 1.2, which has an aggregate data rate of 17.28 Gbps, greatly improves performance by allowing for faster refresh rates of 120 Hz and, in turn, increased color depth, higher resolutions, and support for 3D gaming. DisplayPort’s energy efficiency as well as its ability to eliminate redundant cables reduces the interface’s energy consumption and costs. In-Stat projected that DisplayPort will see 194 percent annual growth in 2010, due primarily to the growing adoption of mobile PCs and to DisplayPort’s low power consumption.

The DisplayPort standard continues to gain traction in the industry and create opportunities for application development. VESA’s executive director Bill Lempesis has called DisplayPort the “standard of choice across the industry.”