Microcontroller Targets Smart Card Readers

Atmel Corporation has announced the Atmel AVR microcontroller designed for the smart card reader market. The AT90SCR050 includes an Atmel AVR microcontroller, 16KB of ROM, USB FS 2.0 and smart card interface with an integrated DC/DC to support cards compliant with the EMV L1 requirement and ISO7816. These features offer designers a complete system solution to help bring their high-volume products to market at cost-effective price points.

The AT90SCR050 is a member of the AT90SCR range. With an Atmel AVR secure microcontroller embedded in these devices, customers can use the free AVR Studio and AVR JTAGICE Mkii that support all AVR-based microcontrollers. An evaluation kit, AT90SCR100MEB-01, is available for this device. AT90SCR050 samples are available now in QFN28 packages and QFN24 packages by special specific request only.

Yamaichi Card Reader Features 1.2mm Stand-Off

Yamaichi Electronics is now offering the FPS009-2910-0 push/push SD card connector with stand-off. The FPS009-2910-0 card reader has been developed on the basis of the established top-mount component FPS009-2901-0. It offers the same features as the top-mount component, but also has a stand-off of 1.2mm to allow for mounting of other components underneath/below the reader.

As a top-mount component, it is designed for the assembly on the top side of the PCB. A close metal cover together with four grounding tabs ensures good EMC behaviour. The reader is equipped with two card brakes that avoid the fling-off of the card. Further features include: smooth push-in/push-out card insertion and extraction mechanism with defined ejection; soft lock mechanism for the SD card; automatic card detection; and a write-protection switch.

The card reader FPS009-2910-0 is packaged and delivered on tape reel belts. This component for Flash memory card applications suits wireless communication, portable computing and end-consumer applications. Yamaichi Electronics offers this card reader with stand-off as well as a wide range of card connectors for all available Flash and SIM card types with different form factors such as micro SD, mini SD, SD, RS-MMC, MMCmicro, MMC, Compactflash, xD and so on, as well as multi-card versions.

IBase Offers IB945 CPU Card For High-End Platforms

IBase Technology, a manufacturer of industrial motherboards, has introduced the IB945 PICMG 1.0 full-size CPU card. It uses the latest Intel Q45 Express chipset, which supports Intel Core2 Quad processors to deliver energy-efficient performance across a variety of high-end platforms. With support for the new dual-channel DDR3 memory technology at 1,066MHz, it offers a higher bandwidth and better performance than DDR2, while operating at a lower memory voltage for lower DIMM power consumption.

With the Intel Graphics Media Accelerator 4500 and Chrontel CH7307C controller device, IB945 is claimed to provide good graphics performance with interfaces for a VGA CRT and a DVI display. It has six SATA ports to provide a faster transfer rate for improved data access and six USB ports that allow connection to various peripherals and computing devices. Other features of the IB945 include two gigabit local-area networks (LANs), two COM ports, IDE and parallel ports, ISA high drive, digital input/output (I/O), a watchdog and a Mini PCI Express socket for added expansion. Dimensions are 338mm x 122mm. Samples of the IBase IB945 PICMG 1.0 full-size CPU card are available now.

Keithley Adds 3731 Reed Relay Matrix Card

Keithley Instruments has expanded its series 3700 system switch/multimeter and plug-in card range with the addition of a plug-in switching card, the Model 3731 6x16 high-speed, reed relay matrix card. The model 3731 is a two-pole, six row x 16 column reed relay matrix card. High-speed dry reed relays (<0.5ms actuation times) make it a good choice for applications that demand a combination of high throughput and long switch life. The model 3731's relay contacts are rated for more than one billion no-load switch operations.

As a matrix card, the model 3731 offers users the flexibility to connect any of up to six differential instrument channels to any combination of 16 devices under test (DUTs). Any row can be connected to the series 3700 mainframe's analogue backplane by using the analogue backplane connection relays. This allows for easy matrix column expansion. A single model 3706 mainframe can support a matrix of up to six rows by 96 columns when six model 3731 cards are installed. By using the TSP-Link master/slave communication bus, multiple mainframes can be linked to create even larger switch configurations.

The analogue backplane also offers automated access to the high-performance multimeter built in to the model 3706 mainframe. The model 3731 uses two 50-pin male D-sub connectors for signal connections. A detachable model 3731-ST accessory is available for making screw terminal connections. The model 3731 is the latest addition to the growing family of plug-in switch and control cards for Keithley's series 3700 system switch/multimeter platform, adding to the line of high-density and general-purpose plug-in cards that accommodates a range of signals and topologies including multiplexer, matrix, and isolated switch functions.

The series 3700 offers scalable, high-performance switching and multi-channel measurements that are optimised for automated testing of electronic products and components. Keithley's series 3700 platform satisfies the demands of medium- to high-channel count applications, with its ability to control up to 576 multiplexer channels in a six-slot, 2U form factor. A high-performance integrated DMM option, the model 3706, provides fast, low-noise measurements with resolutions up to 71/2-digits.

Series 3700 system switch/multimeter instruments include a variety of capabilities optimised for high-speed testing, including LXI Class B compliance with IEEE 1588 time synchronisation; Keithley's embedded Test Script Processor (TSP) technology that offers system automation, throughput, and flexibility by bringing PC-like functionality into the instrument; and TSP-Link, a master/slave communication bus that simplifies expanding systems to keep pace with changing test demands. TSP-Link provides for integration with series 2600A system Sourcemeter instruments, for adding high-speed I-V source and measurement capabilities.

MPX-885 Mini PCI-E Card Has Small Form Factor

BVM has introduced the MPX-885 - the latest addition to its family of Mini PCI-E 30x51mm form factor cards. The card integrates all the functions required to perform external A/V capture for industrial and commercial markets such as home security, commercial surveillance, vehicles' DVR, commercial machine vision and industrial image control. Based on Conexant's CX23885 chipset, the video-and-audio decoder supports NTSC, PAL and SECAM video formats to give a high-performance, cost-effective AV capture capability.

Colour and monochrome video are supported with a full end-to-end 10-bit video data path; the stereo or mono selectable audio path is 16-bit throughout to ensure high-fidelity audio. The card operates at up to 30 frames/s and supports 1-8 composite, 1-4 S-Video or composite with two YPbPr (component) inputs. The MPX-885 joins other Mini PCI-E cards that offer a range of functionality: two Giga LAN; DVI interface; 24-bit dual-channel LVDS; 802.11 b/g/n wireless LAN and four RS232 ports are all available in the small form factor.