Windows 7 & 64-bit Support and Streamlined LXI Instrument Discovery Added in ZTEC’s Software Release

December 17, 2009 – ZTEC Instruments introduces an updated software package for their M-Class oscilloscopes and waveform generators in PCI, PXI, VXI, & LXI.

The M-Class consists of the following series of instruments:

• ZT4610 series: 4GS/s max real-time sampling, 8 bit ADC resolution
• ZT4440 series: 800 MS/s max real-time sampling, 14 bit ADC resolution
• ZT4430 series: 500 MS/s max real-time sampling, 13 bit ADC resolution
• ZT4420 series: 1 GS/s max real-time sampling, 12 bit ADC resolution
• ZT4210 series: 1 GS/s max real-time sampling, 8 bit ADC resolution

Windows 7 and 64-bit Windows are now supported by M-Class instruments in all available platforms: PCI, PXI, VXI, & LXI. The standard software delivered with all ZTEC instruments includes drivers for common programming environments (C/C++, IVI®-C, LabVIEW^TM, and COM), ZWave® or ZScope® Control Software, and ZFind^TM Resource Manager.

Additionally, LXI users are now able to easily discover their instruments using the ZFind^TM Resource Manager without any knowledge of the IP address. The discovery process consists of 3 easy steps: search, select, & add. This enhancement is available in both Windows and Linux.

Learn more about what’s included with a ZTEC instrument >>

ZTEC Instruments Releases a Major Update for its Line of EPICS Oscilloscopes

December 17, 2009 – ZTEC Instruments releases a major update to its 8, 12, 13 and 14-bit Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System (EPICS) digital oscilloscopes / digitizers. ZTEC improved its implementation of the embedded EPICS IOC (input/output controller) for its EPICS instruments, making it easier for users to quickly and easily integrate these instruments into their EPICS environment without spending the time and expense of developing their own EPICS instrument drivers.

ZTEC Instruments’ EPICS oscilloscopes are the only high-performances oscilloscopes available with an embedded EPICS IOC. They are available in five different series; each series includes two and four channel models:

• ZT4610 series: 4GS/s max real-time sampling, 8 bit ADC resolution
• ZT4440 series: 800 MS/s max real-time sampling, 14 bit ADC resolution
• ZT4430 series: 500 MS/s max real-time sampling, 13 bit ADC resolution
• ZT4420 series: 1 GS/s max real-time sampling, 12 bit ADC resolution
• ZT4210 series: 1 GS/s max real-time sampling, 8 bit ADC resolution

ZTEC’s EPICS oscilloscopes are used at particle accelerators, high energy light sources and other large experiments around the world for a variety of remote waveform monitoring and waveform analysis applications. The instruments are controlled using LAN/Ethernet. They can be controlled and/or monitored from multiple clients located anywhere, provided the clients have access (and permission) to the instrument’s IP address.

The EPICS IOC has been updated and now supports roughly 900 process variables (PVs). All instrument functionality is accessible via EPICS and the Channel Access (CA) network protocol. EPICS display managers such as Extensible Display Manager (EDM) and Motif Editor and Display Manager (MEDM) can control and monitor one or more EPICS scopes at a time.

ZTEC provides free EDM and MEDM panels for controlling and monitoring its EPICS scopes. The ZTEC panels can be modified to meet the specific needs of each user in different locations. For example, one user many configure a panel to display the captured waveforms from multiple instruments on a single display, but not include any items for controlling the instruments. Another user may configure a panel such that it exposes key control items (e.g., the ability to change the horizontal capture time and the vertical voltage range) and displays the captured waveforms for only a single instrument.

In addition to embedded EPICS, all M-Class ZTEC oscilloscopes and signal generators come with free programming support tools and instrument drivers for Windows (including Windows 7 and 64-bit) and Linux. Software support is provided for C/C++, IVI-C, LabVIEW, COM, MATLAB and other environments.

ZTEC also provides the free ZFind application for Windows and Linux with its M-Class instruments. VXI-11 discovery was added to ZFind with this release. The VXI-11 discovery feature finds all ZTEC oscilloscopes and signal generators on a network and enables users to quickly connect to the desired instrument(s); all without having to know each instrument’s IP address. ZFind can also be used to easily generate control scripts using SCPI commands.

Learn more about ZTEC Instruments’ EPICS oscilloscopes>>

Vibrant integrates ZTEC products into Test System for Sandia National Labs

ZTEC's digitizers and waveform generators are being applied within Vibrant's NMSBA project with Sandia National Labs for Validation of Process Compensated Resonance Testing (PCRT)

For more information about Vibrant, visit their website.

ZTEC Instruments Hires Gary Tilley as Vice President of Sales and Marketing

October 20, 2009 – Fifteen year veteran of the test and measurement industry brings strong international and domestic sales leadership.

Gary Tilley has joined ZTEC Instruments as Vice President of Sales and Marketing. Gary will help establish a larger market presence for ZTEC Instruments globally and grow into adjacent markets. Previously, Gary was responsible for managing one of the largest global accounts at Teradyne Inc. Prior to joining Teradyne, Gary was a Senior Director at Novellus Systems and a Vice President at LTX Corporation (now LTX-Credence). Gary is also an 11 year Navy veteran serving in nuclear submarines. He holds an MBA from Stanford University and a BS in Electronics Management from Southern Illinois at Carbondale.

“I’m very excited that Gary has joined ZTEC”, said Christopher Ziomek, President of ZTEC Instruments. “Gary brings a high level of experience and broad perspective that will be an asset to the entire organization.”

“ZTEC’s new LAN-based instruments allow users to control and monitor test instrumentation remotely. This creates exciting new opportunities for users who can benefit from operating instruments from a safe or convenient location. ZTEC’s innovative graphical user interface and reliable drivers are sure to make our customers successful”, says Gary. “We also look forward to helping our OEM partners exceed their customer’s expectations in both performance and cost by providing superior integration tools.”

Gary states, “Additionally, we continue to be a value-add supplier to our ATE (Automated Test Equipment) customers. Our commitment to legacy support will remain a cornerstone of ZTEC Instruments’ objectives.”

About ZTEC Instruments

ZTEC Instruments is a pioneering modular instrument company whose product focus is oscilloscopes and waveform generators. ZTEC products are unique in that they provide powerful benchtop instrument capabilities in modular instrument form factors, including PCI, CompactPCI/PXI, VXI, and LXI. For more information about ZTEC Instruments and how our products can address your test and measurement needs, please visit www.ztecinstruments.com.

Fastest Sampling 12, 13 and 14-bit High Resolution Oscilloscopes in PCI, PXI, VXI & LXI

ZTEC Instruments introduces three new series of high resolution 300 MHz bandwidth oscilloscopes in PCI, PXI, VXI and LXI form factors. The new ZT4420 (12-bit), ZT4430 (13-bit), & ZT4440 (14-bit) series of oscilloscopes are the fastest sampling oscilloscopes or digitizers available in PCI, PXI, VXI and LXI at these levels of ADC resolution.

All instruments offer 128 Msamples of acquisition memory on each input channel. The instruments can be interleaved for 256 Msamples maximum acquisition length on one half the channels.

• The ZT4440 series has 14-bit ADC resolution and a maximum real-time sampling rate of 400 MS/s per channel, or 800 MS/s max when interleaved
• The ZT4430 series has 13-bit ADC resolution and a maximum real-time sampling rate of 250 MS/s per channel, or 500 MS/s max when interleaved
• The ZT4420 series has 12-bit ADC resolution and a maximum real-time sampling rate of 500 MS/s per channel, or 1 GS/s max when interleaved

These oscilloscopes provide the same powerful triggering, acquisition, waveform math, and analysis functions that are commonly found in today’s performance benchtop instruments and that are found in ZTEC’s other M-Class oscilloscopes. In fact, they can replace benchtop oscilloscopes in many ATE, aerospace, defense and particle accelerator applications. The LXI instruments specifically are ideal for applications requiring remote monitoring and control as well as for portable test applications.

These powerful modular oscilloscopes are available in 2 channel models (ZT44x1 PCI, PXI, VXI and LXI) and in 4 channel models (ZT44x2 VXI and LXI only). With their on-board processing, the ZT4420, ZT4430, & ZT4440 series calculate over 40 waveform parameters related to a waveform’s voltage, time and frequency characteristics. Four calculation channels for performing basic and advanced math on acquired data are also standard with each oscilloscope. Math functions include add, subtract, multiply, integration, differentiation, FFT, histograms, parameter trending and more.

These oscilloscopes accept a wide range of voltage levels, handling up to +/- 210 V CAT I direct inputs. With input ranges from 1 mV/div to 1 V/div (10 vertical divisions) for 50-ohm input impedance, and from 1.25mV/div to 5 V/div for 1M-ohm input impedance, they cover a wide range of voltage levels without the need for external signal conditioning (attenuators, probes, etc.). This is important in automated and remote test applications where it is difficult or impossible to quickly add/remove external conditioning.

Free instrument drivers from ZTEC help users easily integrate the ZT4420, ZT4430, & ZT4440 series into ATE and embedded test systems. Drivers and programming support are available for key programming environments including LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, MATLAB, COM, Visual C/C++, Visual Studio and others.

Additionally, all oscilloscopes include ZScope™ control and display software and the ZFind instrument locator and configuration utility. The intuitive ZScope™ soft front panel application, with the look and feel of a benchtop instrument, gives users complete control of the instrument and displays acquired waveforms, math waveforms, and waveform parameter data. ZFind™ enables users to easily identify what ZTEC instruments are installed on the current host and even share instruments with other computers. ZFind™ also lets users send SCPI commands to connected instruments and read back information from those instruments.

Learn more about the ZT4420 series >>
Learn more about the ZT4430 series >>
Learn more about the ZT4440 series >>

EDM and MEDM Control and Display Panels for EPICS Oscilloscopes

ZTEC Instruments announces new Extensible Display Manager (EDM) and Motif Editor and Display Manager (MEDM) control and display panels for their Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System (EPICS) digital oscilloscopes.

The EDM and MEDM panels can be used to control all instrument functions and monitor acquired waveforms in real time. Additionally, the panels can be modified by end users to meet their specific needs. For example, a user can modify the ZTEC panels to display captured waveforms from multiple instruments on a single display.

ZTEC Instruments’ EPICS oscilloscopes are the only high-performances oscilloscopes with a built-in EPICS IOC. The instruments are accessed via LAN/Ethernet. Using EPICS, complete oscilloscope control and monitoring is possible using process variables (PVs) published using the Channel Access (CA) network protocol. Together with the new EDM and MEDM panels, users can easily integrate ZTEC EPICS oscilloscopes into their EPICS environment without having to write instrument drivers and/or display and control GUIs.

The new panels are available for download and evaluation:
Download the EDM panel >>
Download the MEDM panel >>

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For access to an online EPICS oscilloscope, contact ZTEC

New Multi-Channel Waveform Generators Deliver High Channel Density

ZTEC Instruments announces their new series of waveform generators, the ZT5210. Available in PCI, PXI, VXI, & LXI, these multi-channel waveform generators feature a sampling rate of 200 MS/s, a bandwidth of 50 MHz, and 14-bit resolution.

The ZT5210 series provides high channel density for all platforms with 2 independent outputs on PCI & PXI, and 2 or 4 outputs on VXI & LXI. Each output channel is completely independent of the other channels, making these instruments ideal for applications requiring independent control of each output. Additionally, the dual memory on each channel allows waveforms to be played from one memory bank while a second waveform is loaded into the other memory bank on the same channel. In binary modulation mode, the output toggles between the waveforms in each memory bank based on an external input or trigger.

In addition to its arbitrary waveform generator features, the ZT5210 series offers a robust function generator library. Built-in functions include sine, square, triangle, ramp, pulse, sinc pulse, Gaussian pulse, Lorentz pulse, AM, FM, DC, haversine, havercosine, half cycle sine, noise, multi-tone, & serial data.

New PC Oscilloscope Software Provides a Familiar Benchtop User Interface to Modular Oscilloscopes

ZTEC continues to drive the convergence of modular and benchtop digital oscilloscope capabilities and improve modular oscilloscope interfaces with the introduction of ZScope 2.0. ZTEC Instruments’ new ZScope 2.0 software runs on a PC and interfaces with ZTEC’s M-Class PCI, PXI, VXI, & LXI modular oscilloscopes. This includes the ZT4210 (300 MHz, 1 GS/s) and ZT4610 (1 GHz, 4 GS/s) series of oscilloscopes. With ZScope 2.0, users can control oscilloscopes during acquisition and load, view, zoom, and analyze previously saved waveforms while connected or disconnected to an instrument.

LXI Compliance for High Channel Density Oscilloscopes

ZTEC Instruments has earned LXI Class C compliance for its 1 GHz ZT4610 and 300 MHz ZT4210 LAN/Ethernet-based digital oscilloscopes. With LXI certification, these oscilloscopes become the highest channel density LXI oscilloscopes on the market today.

Designed specifically for ATE, aerospace & defense, and remote test applications, the ZT4610 and ZT4210 LXI oscilloscopes deliver the advanced functionality commonly found in today’s benchtop scopes. Their small size and remote control and monitoring capabilities enable users to easily obtain high channel density and to interface with instruments across the lab or around the world via an Ethernet/LAN connection.

Learn more about the ZT4610 and ZT4210 LXI oscilloscopes >>

Small Form Factor

These compact, 1U height, half-rack width, high channel density oscilloscopes provide powerful features that are normally found only on much larger benchtop instruments. Two, four-channel instruments can be mounted side by side in a standard instrument rack, providing users with eight oscilloscope input channels in only 1U of rack space. These LXI instruments address a key need for test applications that must occupy as little space as possible.

Remote Access & Control

With their Ethernet connectors, the ZT4610 and ZT4210 LXI units offer complete remote control and monitoring of the instrument. This includes the ability to view waveform data and transfer data and setup files from anywhere as long as the user has access to the instrument’s IP address.

Powerful Features

These high-performance oscilloscopes are available in 2 and 4 channel versions. Key specifications include:

• ZT4610: 1 GHz analog bandwidth, up to 4 GS/s real-time sampling, and up to 64M sample record lengths
• ZT4210: 300 MHz analog bandwidth, up to 1 GS/s real-time sampling, and up to 256M sample record lengths

Additionally, the robust analog front-end on the ZT4210 gives users the ability to accurately measure a wide range of input voltage levels up to +/-300 V CAT II. With full scale input ranges from 400 Vpp to 12.5 mVpp, the ZT4210 enables ATE and embedded test systems users to measure an extremely wide range of signals without the need for external signal amplification or attenuation. This is important for automated and remote test applications where it is difficult or impossible to quickly add or remove external signal conditioning.

Both units calculate over 40 waveform parameters and include four calculation channels for performing basic and advanced math on acquired data. Math functions include add, subtract, multiply, integration, differentiation, FFT, histograms, parameter trending and many more.

Free Software & Drivers

Free instrument drivers from ZTEC help users easily integrate the LXI units into ATE and embedded systems. New IVI-C drivers, in addition to drivers for other key programming environments including LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, MATLAB, COM, Visual C/C++, Visual Studio and others can be downloaded from the ZTEC website.

Additionally, ZTEC offers free ZScope control and display software and the ZFind instrument locator and configuration utility. The intuitive ZScope soft front panel application, with the look and feel of a benchtop instrument, gives users complete control of the instrument and displays acquired waveforms, math waveforms, and waveform parameter data. ZFind enables users to easily identify what ZTEC instruments are installed on the current host. ZFind also lets users send commands to connected instruments and read back information from those instruments.

Learn more about the ZT4610 and ZT4210 LXI oscilloscopes >>

ZTEC Featured in "Scopes Shorten Time To Insight" Article in Evaluation Engineering

ZTEC Instruments is featured in the July 2008 issue of Evaluation Engineering in an article entitled "Scopes Shorten Time To Insight" by Tom Lecklider.

Click here to read the article >>

300 MHz EPICS Oscilloscopes Designed for Particle Accelerator Control Applications

ZTEC Instruments introduces the ZT4210 EPICS oscilloscopes designed specifically to operate in the Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System (EPICS) environment. ZTEC’s 300 MHz ZT4210 EPICS oscilloscopes, along with the 1 GHz ZT4610 series EPICS scopes introduced earlier this year, are the first self-contained high performance digital oscilloscopes designed with an internal EPICS IOC (Input/Output controller). Learn more about ZTEC’s EPICS oscilloscopes >>

These small, 1U height, half-rack width, rack mountable, high channel-density oscilloscopes include powerful features that are normally found only on much larger benchtop instruments. ZTEC’s EPICS oscilloscopes are ideal for particle accelerator oscilloscope applications, where fast signal acquisition, waveform math and analysis, high channel-density, and remote instrument monitoring and control are crucial.

All ZT4210 EPICS units include an internal EPICS IOC with Channel Access to publish set/get process variables (PVs) that are used to change and query all instrument states. The PV names can be modified by users to reflect local naming conventions and avoid conflict with other instruments on the network.

New EPICS features introduced with the ZT4210 EPICS scopes include the ability to upload waveform files (for example, into a reference channel), the addition of a PV that allows users to send SCPI commands to the instrument and the creation of EPICS environmental variables, such as EPICS_CA_AUTO_ADDR_LIST. For customers who have already purchased a ZT4610 EPICS unit, ZTEC will update the older units for free so that they also support the new EPICS features.

For non-EPICS users, the ZT4210 LAN is available. The LAN units are identical to the ZT4210 EPICS units, with the exception of the internal EPICS IOC.

The ZT4210 EPICS and ZT4210 LAN units, with their Ethernet connectors, offer complete remote instrument control including the ability to view waveform data and to transfer data and setup files from anywhere, as long as the user has access to the instrument’s IP address.

These high-performance oscilloscopes are available in 2 and 4 channel versions. Key specifications include 300 MHz analog bandwidth, up to 1 GS/s real-time sampling, and up to 256Mpoint record lengths. The ZT4210 series calculates over 40 waveform parameters and includes 4 calculation channels for performing basic and advanced math on acquired data. Math functions include add, subtract, multiply, integration, differentiation, FFT, histograms, parameter trending and many more.

Free instrument drivers from ZTEC enable users to programmatically control the ZT4210. Drivers are available for key programming environments including LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, MATLAB, COM, Visual C/C++, Visual Studio and others.

Additionally, ZTEC offers free ZScope control and display software and the ZFind instrument locator and configuration utility. The intuitive ZScope soft front panel application, with the look and feel of a benchtop instrument, gives users complete control of the instrument and displays acquired waveforms, math waveforms, and waveform parameter data. ZFind enables users to easily identify which ZTEC instruments are installed on the current host. ZFind also lets users send commands to connected instruments and read back information from those instruments.

Learn more about ZTEC’s EPICS oscilloscopes >>

300 MHz LAN Oscilloscopes With +/-300 V CAT II Direct Inputs Offer Powerful Benchtop Scope Performance & High Channel Density

ZTEC Instruments introduces its ZT4210 LAN oscilloscopes. These small, 1U height, half-rack width, rack mountable, high channel density oscilloscopes provide powerful features that are normally found only on much larger benchtop instruments. Designed specifically for ATE, aerospace & defense, and embedded test applications, these LAN oscilloscopes deliver all the necessary functionality. Their small size and remote monitoring capabilities enable users to easily obtain high channel density and to interface with instruments across the lab or around the world via a network connection. Learn more about the ZT4210 LAN oscilloscopes >>

These high-performance oscilloscopes are available in 2 and 4 channel versions. Key specifications include 300 MHz analog bandwidth, up to 1 GS/s real-time sampling, and up to 256M sample record lengths. The ZT4210 series calculates over 40 waveform parameters and includes 4 calculation channels for performing basic and advanced math on acquired data. Math functions include add, subtract, multiply, integration, differentiation, FFT, histograms, parameter trending and many more.

Evolution of Instrumentation Features ZTEC's New LAN Oscilloscopes

ZTEC's new LAN oscilloscopes are featured in Embedded Computing Design's "Evolution of Instrumentation" article.

Go to the article >>

New 300 MHz PXI, PCI, and VXI Oscilloscopes Offer Benchtop Performance

ZTEC Instruments introduces the ZT4210 series of 300 MHz oscilloscopes in PXI, PCI, and VXI form factors. These oscilloscopes provide the same powerful triggering, acquisition, math, and analysis functions that are commonly found in today’s benchtop instruments and in ZTEC’s other M-Class oscilloscopes. In fact, the ZT4210 series is designed to replace benchtop oscilloscopes in many ATE, aerospace, defense, and portable test applications. Prices for the ZT4210 series start at $4,450 US. Learn more about the ZT4210 series.

These powerful modular oscilloscopes are available with 2 channels (ZT4211 PXI, PCI, and VXI) and with 4 channels (ZT4212 VXI only). Key specifications include 300 MHz analog bandwidth, up to 1 GS/s real-time sampling, and up to 256M samples record length. With its on-board processing, the ZT4210 series calculates over 40 waveform parameters related to a waveform’s voltage, time and frequency characteristics. The ZT4210 also comes standard with four calculation channels for performing basic and advanced math on acquired data. Math functions include add, subtract, multiply, integration, differentiation, FFT, histograms, parameter trending and more.

The ZT4210 accepts a wide range of voltage levels, handling up to +/- 300 V CAT II direct inputs. With input ranges from 1.25 mV/div to 40 V/div (10 vertical divisions) the ZT4210 covers an extremely wide range of voltage levels without the need for external signal conditioning (attenuators, probes, etc.). This is important in automated and remote test applications where it is difficult or impossible to quickly add/remove external conditioning. Free instrument drivers from ZTEC help users easily integrate the ZT4210 series into ATE and embedded test systems. Drivers and programming support are available for key programming environments including LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, MATLAB, COM, Visual C/C++, Visual Studio and others.

Additionally, ZTEC offers free ZScope™ control and display software and the ZFind instrument locator and configuration utility. The intuitive ZScope™ soft front panel application, with the look and feel of a benchtop instrument, gives users complete control of the instrument and displays acquired waveforms, math waveforms, and waveform parameter data. ZFind enables users to easily identify what ZTEC instruments are installed on the current host and even share instruments with other computers. ZFind also lets users send SCPI commands to connected instruments and read back information from those instruments. Visit the ZT4210 Series page to learn more about ZTEC’s ZT4210 oscilloscopes.

ZTEC Featured in Test & Measurement World: VXI Keeps Hanging Around

Mark Morris, Vice President of Sales, is quoted in "VXI Keeps Hanging Around" in Test & Measurement World. Click here to read the article

ZTEC Featured in the PXI Test Report: PXI and Bench Instruments Evenly Matched

ZTEC Instruments is featured in the March issue of the PXI Test Report in Test & Measurement World.

View the article: PXI and Bench Instruments Evenly Matched

1 GHz LAN Oscilloscopes Offer Powerful Benchtop Scope Performance and High Channel Density

January 17, 2008 – Albuquerque, NM – ZTEC Instruments introduces the ZT4610 LAN oscilloscopes. These small, 1U height, half-rack width, rack mountable, high channel density oscilloscopes provide powerful features that are normally found only on much larger benchtop instruments. These LAN oscilloscopes are perfect for ATE, Aerospace & Defense, and embedded applications, where channel density is crucial, and for remote access applications where users must access instruments across the lab or around the world, via a network connection.

These high-performance oscilloscopes come in 2 and 4 channel versions. Key specifications include 1 GHz analog bandwidth, up to 4 GS/s real-time sampling, and up to 64Mpoint record lengths. The ZT4610 series calculates over 40 waveform parameters and includes 4 calculation channels for performing basic and advanced math on acquired data. Math functions include add, subtract, multiply, integration, differentiation, FFT, histograms, parameter trending and many more.

The ZT4610 LAN with its Ethernet connector, offers complete remote control of the instrument including the ability to view waveform data, and transfer data and setup files from anywhere, as long as the user has access to the instrument’s IP address.

Free instrument drivers from ZTEC help users easily integrate the ZT4610 LAN into ATE and embedded systems. Drivers are available for key programming environments including LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, MATLAB, COM, Visual C/C++, Visual Studio and others.

Additionally, ZTEC offers free ZScope control and display software and the ZFind instrument locator and configuration utility. The intuitive ZScope soft front panel application, with the look and feel of a benchtop instrument, gives users complete control of the instrument and displays acquired waveforms, math waveforms, and waveform parameter data. ZFind enables users to easily identify what ZTEC instruments are installed on the current host. ZFind also lets users send commands to connected instruments and read back information from those instruments.

Visit http://www.ztecinstruments.com/family/zt4610 to learn more about ZTEC’s ZT4610 LAN oscilloscopes.

EPICS Oscilloscopes Designed for Particle Accelerator Control Applications

January 17, 2008 – Albuquerque, NM – ZTEC Instruments introduces the ZT4610 EPICS oscilloscopes designed specifically to operate in the Experimental Physics and Industrial Control System (EPICS) environment. In fact, the ZT4610 EPICS units are the first self-contained high performance digital oscilloscopes designed with a built-in EPICS IOC (Input/Output controller).

These small, 1U height, half-rack width, rack mountable, high channel-density oscilloscopes provide powerful features that are normally found only on much larger benchtop instruments. EPICS oscilloscopes are ideal for particle accelerator oscilloscope applications, where fast signal acquisition, waveform math and analysis, and high channel-density are crucial.

All ZT4610 EPICS units include an internal EPICS IOC with Channel Access to publish close to 400 process variables (PVs) for control and querying of nearly all scope functions. The PV names can be modified by users to reflect local naming conventions and avoid conflict with other instruments on the network.

For non-EPICS users, there also exits a ZT4610 LAN series of products. The LAN units are the same as the ZT4610 EPICS units except that they do not have the internal EPICS IOC.
The ZT4610 EPICS and ZT4610 LAN units, with their Ethernet connectors, offer complete remote instrument control including the ability to view waveform data and to transfer data and setup files from anywhere, as long as the user has access to the instrument’s IP address.

These high-performance oscilloscopes come in 2 and 4 channel versions. Key specifications include 1 GHz analog bandwidth, up to 4 GS/s real-time sampling, and up to 64Mpoint record lengths. The ZT4610 series calculates over 40 waveform parameters and includes 4 calculation channels for performing basic and advanced math on acquired data. Math functions include add, subtract, multiply, integration, differentiation, FFT, histograms, parameter trending and many more.

Free instrument drivers from ZTEC enable users to programmatically control the ZT4610. Drivers are available for key programming environments including LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, MATLAB, COM, Visual C/C++, Visual Studio and others.

Additionally, ZTEC offers free ZScope control and display software and the ZFind instrument locator and configuration utility. The intuitive ZScope soft front panel application, with the look and feel of a benchtop instrument, gives users complete control of the instrument and displays acquired waveforms, math waveforms, and waveform parameter data. ZFind enables users to easily identify which ZTEC instruments are installed on the current host. ZFind also lets users send commands to connected instruments and read back information from those instruments.

Visit the EPICS oscilloscope page for more information.

ZTEC Instruments Introduces New ZT450-5x Oscilloscopes

ZTEC Instruments is pleased to announce major hardware and firmware upgrades to its popular ZT450-5x oscilloscopes. The ZT450-5x products are members of ZTEC’s C-Class line of Performance Modular Oscilloscopes. The ZT450-5x offers 750 MHz 50-ohm analog bandwidth, up to 2.5 GS/s real-time sampling, up to 32M sample record lengths, and 8-bit vertical resolution. The ZT450-5x is available in PCI, PXI and VXI.

IVI-C Drivers and Improved ZWave Control Software for ZTEC Function Generators

ZTEC Instruments now provides IVI-C drivers for its ZT530 series of PCI, PXI and VXI function generators / arbitrary waveform generators. The IVI-C driver architecture is defined by the Interchangeable Virtual Instruments (IVI) Foundation and is supported and used by instrumentation manufacturers and end users around the world.

ZTEC Instruments Introduces High Performance VXI Oscilloscopes for Aerospace & Defense Applications

The performance of benchtop scopes with the size and channel-density advantages of VXI

September 17, 2007 – AUTOTESTCON, Baltimore, MD – ZTEC Instruments introduces high performance ZT4610 VXI digital oscilloscopes that are ideal for high-density aerospace and defense ATE applications. The VXI C-size instruments provide 1 GHz analog bandwidth and a maximum 4 GS/s sampling rate. The two channel ZT4611 and the four channel ZT4612 are both available in standard memory (up to 16 Msample record lengths) and long memory (up to 64 Msample record lengths) versions.

With 16 or 64 Msample record lengths and fast sampling, the ZT4610 VXI provides the deep memory required to acquire and display even the most complex signals, including signals that contain fast events. The deep memory can be used in either continuous or segmented mode. Combined with a convenient pan and zoom feature, continuous memory mode is ideal for general purpose troubleshooting and signal inspection. In segmented memory mode, up to 32,000 waveforms can be captured, viewed individually or overlaid, stored, and analyzed. Segmented mode is ideal for the analysis of repetitive signals, such as those found in many of today’s communications standards.

In addition to the key banner specifications, the ZT4610 VXI offers input signal conditioning, advanced triggering, and a variety of acquisition modes, just like high-end benchtop scopes. Trigger types include rising/falling edge, pattern, state, pulse width, video, and multi-event cascading triggers. Acquisition modes include averaging, envelope, equivalent time, peak detect, high resolution, and fast acquisition.

The ZT4610 VXI also provides users with a number of waveform analysis tools. The instruments calculate over 36 waveform parameters for each acquired waveform, providing quick insight into waveform behavior. With four math channels, users can perform waveform math using basic functions like add, subtract, multiply, as well as more advanced functions like FFT, histograms, mask testing, and limit testing.

Free instrument drivers from ZTEC help users easily integrate the ZT4610 VXI into ATE or embedded systems. The drivers enable seamless instrument integration into key programming environments including IVI, LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, MATLAB, COM, Visual C/C++, Visual Basic and others. Additionally, ZTEC offers free ZScope control and display software. The ZScope soft front panel application, which runs on Windows and Linux, gives users complete control of the instrument and displays acquired waveforms.

Learn more about the ZT4610 Family >>

New ZWave Function Generator Software from ZTEC Improves User Interface

ZTEC Instruments announces dramatically improved ZWave control software and drivers for its ZT530 C-Class Function / Arbitrary Waveform Generators.

First and foremost, the new ZWave soft front panel (SFP) application for ZTEC’s C-Class function generators is easier to use and looks and operates like a traditional benchtop signal generator. According to Boyd Shaw, ZTEC Instruments’ Director of Marketing, “Over the years, we receive a lot of feedback on our original ZWave function generator software. Customers were telling us that the hardware was great, but that the accompanying software was not as easy to use as they would like. Customers wanted ZWave to look and operate like a benchtop function generator. We gathered the customer inputs and developed a completely brand new user interface. And in the process, we added a number of other improvements.”

The new ZWave is a class-level application and connects to and controls any ZT530 instrument. The new drivers that are part of the ZWave installer also provide class-level support. Users can change instrument platforms, if necessary, without re-writing any software. For example, if a user has written code for a ZT530 PCI instrument, they can then use that same code for a ZT530 PXI instrument without rewriting any code. The new drivers also provide hooks into key programming environments such as: C, LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, COM, Visual Studio and others.

The original ZWave only ran on Windows 2000 and XP. Additionally, the new ZWave also runs on Windows Vista and Linux 2.6.x.

ZFind is also included as part of the ZWave application and driver installer. The ZFind utility enables users to easily identify what ZTEC instruments are installed on the current host.

The new ZWave and instrument drivers are available for free, and can be downloaded from the ZTEC Support Center. Even if you don’t have a ZTEC function generator, you can still download the software and evaluate the ZWave interface.

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ZTEC Instruments’ New Oscilloscope Software Promotes Code Re-Use & Supports Windows Vista and Linux

ZTEC Instruments continues to provide cutting edge software technology for their PCI, PXI, and VXI-based oscilloscopes. This software helps decrease test system maintenance costs through code re-use and standardization between different instruments while supporting key programming environments and the latest major computer operating systems.

The new software developer’s kit (SDK) and drivers package for ZTEC’s C-Class and M-Class oscilloscopes adds support for Windows Vista and Linux 2.6.x to its existing support for Windows 2000 and XP. Class-level instrument drivers provide seamless integration of ZTEC’s PCI, PXI and VXI modular oscilloscopes into key programming environments including C, LabVIEW, LabWindows/CVI, COM, Visual Studio and others. MATLAB support has also been added, making it easy to transfer acquired waveform data between ZTEC’s oscilloscopes and MATLAB.

The new ZT4610 performance oscilloscope series is ZTEC’s first M-Class product. ZTEC will soon release other M-Class products, including precision and economy series oscilloscopes and function / arbitrary waveform generators. ZTEC’s C-Class instruments consist of the ZT450 series of performance oscilloscopes, the ZT410 series of precision oscilloscopes, the ZT430 series of economy oscilloscopes and the ZT530 series of function / arbitrary waveform generators.

Class-level instrument drivers enable scope users to use the same programming interface for all instruments of the same instrument class. This is a major benefit for anyone wanting to avoid changing code when changing instruments, computing platforms, or modular instrumentation bus architectures. For example, if a user’s instrument requirements change, they can replace a ZTEC C-class precision ZT410 PCI oscilloscope with any C-class performance ZT450 VXI oscilloscope without rewriting any test code. Likewise, if a customer wishes to migrate from VXI to PXI, no software changeover is required.

With this new software release, ZTEC has not left behind existing customers using previous versions of its drivers. Customers with code written for an existing ZTEC oscilloscope can easily upgrade and take advantage of the new software. A key benefit for existing customers will be the ability to use the latest ZScope soft front panel application.

The newly released version of the ZScope soft front panel runs on Windows Vista, XP, and 2000. ZScope for Linux and for native Mac will be available in the near future. ZScope is the key control and viewing application for all ZTEC modular oscilloscopes. ZScope provides an easy and intuitive way to interface with all ZTEC scopes of the same class. ZScope makes modular oscilloscopes as easy to use as traditional benchtop instruments. With ZScope, users can completely control the instrument; view captured, computed and reference waveforms; save and recall waveform data and instrument settings, and more. With a single ZScope application, users can easily switch between multiple instruments and view and control many different instruments within a test system.

The new SDK, instrument drivers and ZScope application are available for free, and can be downloaded at www.ztecinstruments.com/download-software Even if you don’t have a ZTEC oscilloscope, you can still download the software and evaluate the ZScope interface.