Benetel launches ISM band test system using NI technology

Oct. 11, 2010
The BTS-115 mass production test system can be configured to test any standard in the unlicensed Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) spectrum between 433 MHz and 2.4 GHz.

PRESS RELEASE

Wireless Markets Benefit from a Test System Capable of Testing Two ISM Products Simultaneously

Benetel (Dublin, Ireland), the wireless design and test company, has launched the BTS-115, an ISM band mass production test system (MTS) based on National Instruments PXI modular compact test solution. The BTS-115 has been especially designed for use by OEM’s seeking to manufacture low-cost wireless sensors for emerging industries such as medical patient monitoring, smart metering, smart classrooms, asset location and RFID.

The BTS-115 can be configured to test any standard in the unlicensed Industrial, Scientific and Medical (ISM) spectrum between 433 MHz and 2.4 GHz utilizing standards such as Zigbee, Bluetooth, WiFi (802.11b&g), UWB (802.15.4a), ActiveRFID and also combinations of these standards. Benetel has successfully deployed the BTS-115 in China at 868MHz and 915MHz with a 15 second RF test time, giving a throughput of approximately one million units a year.

“BTS-115 utilizes National Instruments industry-leading software and hardware platform to produce a product that offers many advantages to OEMs in markets such as medical and smart metering,” said John Wootton, UK & Ireland Area Sales Manager, National Instruments. “Benetel, a National Instruments Alliance Partner, delivers an effective solution to functional testing of wireless products in mass production.”

“With the release of the BTS-115, Benetel continues to demonstrate our ability to drive down unit test costs for all classes of wireless products. OEM unit test costs can be driven down without compromising on test requirements, yet still maintaining our high standards of test repeatability and reliability,” said John Doyle, CEO, Benetel. “This Mass Production Test System, maximizes through-put of over-the-air testing of ISM band wireless sensors by testing products in parallel from a single test rack. Benetel has customized this MTS for use with customers in the field and it has given significant cost and efficiency savings.”

Benetel’s Common Test Platform (CTP) is based on National Instruments LabVIEW and NI TestStand software platform. BTS-115 utilises an NI PXI chassis incorporating NI Multifunction DAQ hardware, an NI RF Vector Signal Analyser and Vector Signal Generator, and an NI PXI controller.

ISM band wireless sensors have demanding requirements in terms of battery life, environmental resilience and cost. Benetel's BTS-115 has been developed to address these challenges while providing OEM’s with a compact MTS suitable for remote manufacturing at EMS facilities. The system has several unique features derived from Benetel’s Common Test Platform:
a.. OEMs now have a MTS optimized for maximum through-put of over-the-air testing and a system capable of testing multiple ISM products simultaneously.
b.. In a two-product test configuration BTS-115 delivers cost efficiency savings of approximately 50% and reduces test times by up to 50%.
c.. The system’s auto-calibration features enable day-to-day operations to be safely de-skilled while maintaining world-class repeatability and reliability standards.
d.. Remote login features enable data to be analysed by OEMs on an on-going basis.
e.. The ability to add in-circuit tests, testing voltage, current and other hardware functions commonly found on wireless sensor products.
f.. The BTS-115 can be configured to test in the ISM band utilizing standards such as Zigbee, Bluetooth, WiFi (802.11b&g), UWB (802.15.4a), ActiveRFID and also combinations of these standards as required.
g.. Benetel’s deployment acceleration program enables BTS-115 to be commissioned within 24 hours.

For more details about the BTS-115 contact: [email protected].

About Benetel
Benetel is a wireless design and test company with exceptional experience in mass-production functional test systems. Benetel’s test systems are based on our Common Test Platform which allows Benetel to respond quickly to any wireless test requirement with a focus on maximising throughput and ROI. The solution increases overall test system reliability helping to reduce field returns. Unit test costs are reduced to a maintainable, steady level which leads to a reduced cost base in the test department and a shorter lead time to market. Benetel has developed innovative test solutions in a variety of wireless application areas including: Basestations, Mobiles, GPS, Automotive Radar, Bluetooth, 802.11 and Keyless entry. The company has established a strong reputation in Ireland, UK, Czech, China, Switzerland, France and USA.

About National Instruments
National Instruments is transforming the way engineers and scientists design, prototype and deploy systems for measurement, automation and embedded applications. NI empowers customers with off-the-shelf software such as NI LabVIEW and modular cost-effective hardware, and sells to a broad base of more than 30,000 different companies worldwide, with no one customer representing more than 3 percent of revenue and no one industry representing more than 15 percent of revenue. Headquartered in Austin, Texas, NI has more than 5,000 employees and direct operations in more than 40 countries. In the UK & Ireland, NI is headquartered in Newbury, Berkshire, providing local sales, marketing and support, and has been named in the Financial Times 50 Best Workplaces for the past five years.

Source: Benetel

--Posted by Vision Systems Design

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