Category: Uncategorized
-
Symmetricom Expands Test Set Portfolio with High-Performance Test Probe
Symmetricom, Inc., has launched a high-performance, low-cost measurement solution, the Symmetricom 3120A Phase Noise Test Probe, which can be used to test reference clocks. The latest addition to Symmetricom’s state-of-the-art timing test set portfolio, the 3120A Test Probe comes in a convenient small form factor and measures phase noise and Allan deviation as part of the base hardware kit. Additional software options are available to measure AM noise floor and signal statistics such as HDEV, TDEV, MDEV and jitter, and for use as a frequency counter and for mask testing.
Unlike traditional solutions that are desktop-bound due to size and weight, Symmetricom’s 3120A Test Probe is small enough to be carried around from location to location, and inexpensive enough to have at each bench. Whether used on a busy manufacturing floor, in a tight server closet or in R&D labs, the 3120A helps characterize reference clocks, used in high-performance applications, to achieve the highest accuracy without requiring calibration.
The 3120A Test Probe comes with intuitive software to take measurements and conduct analysis, the company said. The 3120A Phase Noise Test Software displays results in seconds without the need for external data processing.
“The Symmetricom 3120A is an excellent low-cost phase noise test probe that customers can use with their existing PC equipment to achieve state-of-the-art measurements,” said Sam Stein, chief scientist for Symmetricom. “It is an ideal extension to Symmetricom’s line of phase noise products.”
Symmetricom will introduce the 3120A Test Probe at the Precise Time and Time Interval (PTTI) Systems and Applications Meeting, which takes place on November 26 – 29 in Reston, Virginia. Symmetricom will be at booth #6 conducting demonstrations and providing information about the 3120A Test Probe, in addition to Symmetricom’s other timing and synchronization products.
-
Topcon’s Ray O’Connor Receives Honorary Doctorate
The Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) has conferred the award of honorary doctorate on Ireland native Ray O’Connor, president and CEO of Topcon Positioning Systems.
The award was conferred in recognition of O’Connor’s outstanding achievements in international business and innovation. Originally from County Kildare and now based in California, O’Connor attended the ceremony accompanied by his wife Nancy, as well as several family members who are living in Ireland and in the United Kingdom.
Past recipients of honorary doctorates from DIT include: Pierce Brosnan, actor and philanthropist; Mary Robinson, former president of Ireland; Arthur Ryan, chairman of Penneys; Phil Coulter, musician, composer and music ambassador; Angela Brady, president of the Royal Institute of British Architects; and Dr. Martin McAleese, Irish peace activist.
The honorary doctorate award is conferred on a small number of individuals who have made an exceptional contribution in their field. The award is conferred at the annual DIT graduation ceremony and recipients are introduced as standard bearers for DIT graduates starting out on their careers.
In his speech to the assembly, the DIT president, Professor Brian Norton welcomed O’Connor back to DIT, where he had completed his studies in construction in the early 1980s.
About O’Connor, Norton said, “Your positive, forward-looking approach to developing new businesses, and your ability to work across geographical and cultural borders, provide a real example to us as educators and to our graduates as young professionals.”
O’Connor traveled to the U.S. when he finished his studies at DIT. He worked for a number of different companies before joining Topcon America, a division of the Tokyo-based Topcon Corporation in 1993. Outlining his career path, Murphy said O’Connor had joined a Topcon team of 40 people, and now leads a company employing more than 800 worldwide.
“O’Connor was the first person who was not Japanese or of Japanese descent to receive the prestigious Toshiba Business Performance Award for his superior leadership and performance,” Mike Murphy, dean of the College of Engineering and Built Environment, said.
In addition to his role as president and CEO of Topcon Positioning Systems, earlier this year Ray O’Connor was appointed senior managing executive officer of Topcon Corporation. O’Connor said, “It is indeed a distinctive honor and humbling experience to be included in this extraordinary group of world leaders in receiving this special award from DIT.”
O’Connor was conferred in the company of DIT graduates of the Department of Engineering and Built Environment, accompanied by their families. The Dublin Institute of Technology (DIT) is one of the largest institutes of higher education in the country with more than 19,000 students and a staff of about 2,000.
-
Acquisition of Fastrax Expands u-blox’ GNSS Portfolio
u-blox has acquired privately owned, Finnish-based Fastrax Oy, a company that specializes in a broad range of GNSS positioning and antenna modules. The company brings additional products to u-blox’ portfolio, including software GNSS solutions used for consumer and industrial applications, and advanced GNSS modules that include an integrated antenna.
“Over its 12 year history, Fastrax has established itself as a successful player in the global positioning markets worldwide,” said Thomas Seiler, u-blox CEO. “Their modules exploit the best features of four leading GNSS chip vendors and include advanced antenna modules. These products are an excellent complement to our existing portfolio, and will benefit from u-blox’ economy of scale in terms of our advanced R&D capabilities, semiconductor technologies, global sales channels, established supply chain, and high-volume manufacturing resources.”
“Combining our leading GNSS products and technologies will give our customers a more attractive choice, while streamlining our operations and lower costs,” said Fastrax CEO, Taneli Tuurnala. “This merger brings together two recognized, profitable GNSS technology leaders with broad market base; the sum of this acquisition is significantly larger than its parts.”
The acquisition entails purchase of 100% of the shares of Fastrax Oy at a price of 13.0 million Euros. Certain pay-out rules apply to Fastrax management members, u-blox said in a statement. The company expects revenue of about CHF 2 million and an EBIT of CHF 0.1 million for the remainder of 2012, and revenue of CHF 13 to 15 million with an accretive EBIT margin of 15-20% for 2013.
-
CoreLogic: Top 25 Zip Codes in NYC at Risk of Property Damage from Hurricane Sandy
Note to Readers: The CoreLogic storm-surge analysis provided below was developed based on the projected path of Hurricane Sandy as of 12:30 p.m. ET Monday, October 29.
CoreLogic has released data showing the top 25 zip codes in New York City-Northern New Jersey-Long Island that are at risk of exposure to residential property damage from hurricane-driven storm-surge flooding when Hurricane Sandy hits the Atlantic coast later today. Massapequa, located on the South Shore of Long Island, holds the top spot with more than $4.6 billion in total structure value at risk.
In a report issued Saturday, CoreLogic also provided an estimate of the total number of residential properties at risk among the coastal Mid-Atlantic states, assuming Sandy hits the coast as a Category 1 hurricane. Within that seven-state region, nearly 284,000 total residential properties valued at almost $88 billion stand at risk:
According to CoreLogic, the number of residential properties in eight major metro areas and their respective potential exposure to damage are as follows:
CoreLogic reports that hurricane-driven storm-surge flooding can cause significant property damage when high winds and low pressure causes water to amass inside the storm, releasing a powerful rush over land when the hurricane moves on shore. The CoreLogic analysis measures damage from storm surge and does not include potential damage from wind and rain associated with hurricanes.
To view a map showing hurricane-driven storm-surge risk through Google Earth, visit here. To download the map as a KML file, visit here. Static maps depicting storm surge in the Northeast are available upon request.
For more information on CoreLogic storm-surge methodology, data and analysis, download a copy of the more in-depth 2012 CoreLogic Storm Surge report at http://cl.internal.cvic.com/corelogic/url.php?cin=2d2e1y1w2c2c.
-
Topcon Unveils B110 GNSS Receiver Board
Topcon Positioning Systems announces the light, ultra-compact dual-frequency positioning engine, the B110 GNSS receiver board. The B110 is the first GNSS board with Topcon’s new Vanguard ASIC, supporting 226 universal channels for GPS, GLONASS and Galileo tracking and scalable positioning from sub-meter DGPS to sub-centimeter RTK.
The B110 board’s small size, low power consumption and flexible communication interfaces make it easy to integrate into any precise positioning application, reducing the time-to-market for OEM customers.
Features that facilitate easy integration include:
- Compact 40 x 55mm footprint with low power consumption
- 226 universal channels with GPS + GLONASS L1/L2, Galileo E1 and SBAS “all in view” tracking
- High performance RTK engine
- Industry-leading position update rate of 100Hz
- SD/MMC card interfaces for quick and easy support for data logging – just add a memory card holder
- Serial, USB, CAN, I2C, PPS and EVENTIN.
-
Symmetricom Launches RoHS Compliant GPS Time Servers
Symmetricom, Inc., has introduced new RoHS compliant versions of its existing SyncServer S200 and SyncServer S250 GPS Network Time Servers. Designed for large or expanding IT enterprises, the cost-effective SyncServer S200 and S250 with optional rubidium-based atomic clocks will reliably continue operational service for extended periods when primary time sources are impaired.
Accurate network time-keeping is essential for modern data networks to support a number of key functions — including precision time stamping, scheduled data backups, network management and security. These functions all rely on networked clocks to stay synchronized with each other. By using enterprise owned servers, companies are better poised to ensure accurate, reliable and more simplified network timing and synchronization, Symmetricom said.
The European Union’s Restriction of Hazardous Substances directive (or RoHS) assures environmental responsibility for the materials used in electrical and electronic equipment. The SyncServer S200 and S250 now offer network managers and engineers RoHS certified, entry-level time servers that still allow them to take advantage of rubidium-based clock technology. Unlike the more commonly deployed time servers that leverage temperature-compensated crystal oscillator (TCXO) and oven-controlled crystal oscillator (OCXO) technologies, the rubidium-based SyncServers provide superior holdover — technology that allows the network to continue to operate with accurate timing when the primary reference (usually GPS) is temporarily impaired due to events such as GPS jamming, antenna breakage, or solar interferences.
Communications and information technology managers can now take control of their network timing and synchronization and be assured of very accurate timing in their network that will not degrade or disrupt services during long periods where holdover is necessary, Symmetricom said.