EDN Asia articles from August 2006

EDN Asia archives from August 2006

Product differentiation in designs.(comment)
August 1, 2006... Three reasons give designers an edge over manufacturers in product differentiation. First, manufacturers make products for many competing customers. For instance, foundries make semiconductors for rival semiconductor vendors. In this scenario,...

Mobile radio triple play with WLAN, Bluetooth, and FM audio integrated solution.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)
August 1, 2006... Texas Instruments has launched a solution that integrates mobile WLAN (mWLAN), Bluetooth, and FM stereo audio all in a space-saving platform for mobile phones. As the fifth generation of the company's mWLAN platform, the WiLink 5.0 solution...

High performance, configurable ATCA blade for VoIP and telecom.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)
August 1, 2006... The KAT4000 from Artesyn Communication Products, a subsidiary of Artesyn Technologies, is a configurable AdvancedTCA (ATCA) blade for telecom infrastructure applications. Equipped with four AdvancedMC expansion sites, the ATCA blade features a...

Self-protected electronic fuse for inrush current limiting apps.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)
August 1, 2006... ON Semiconductor's NIS5112 is the latest member of its SMART HotPlug family. This integrated self-protected, resettable, electronic fuse utilizes a high side N-channel FET, and is driven by an internal charge pump. Designed for use in 12V...

Fast CompactPCI board overcomes traditional PCI local bus bottlenecks.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)
August 1, 2006... The C269 Equinox is a first dual Pentium IV single-board computer for embedded telecom and defense applications. It was developed to meet the needs of OEMs seeking low power, ultra-high performance, and high resolution video for command,...

Tool accelerates C into hardware for Nios II processor-based systems.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)
August 1, 2006... Altera's Nios II C-to-Hardware Acceleration (C2H) Compiler is a productivity tool for developers of Nios II-based systems that increases the performance of their embedded software. As the number of embedded designs using FPGAs increases, the...

Tiny Schottky bridge rectifiers in surface mount HD DIP package.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)
August 1, 2006... Central Semi-conductor Corp. has released tiny Schottky bridge rectifiers packaged in the HD DIP surface mount case. Claimed to be the world's smallest, the CBRHDSH1-40L (1A) and CBRHDSH2-40 (2A) devices are 40V low VF bridge rectifiers with a...

Tiny class AB audio amplifier delivers improved output power.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)
August 1, 2006... The Boomer 1.3W mono Class AB audio amplifier from National Semiconductor is said to be the world's smallest micro SMD package for cellphone hands-free and ringer functions. Housed in a 1.25 x 1.25mm, 0.4mm-pitch micro SMD package to save space...

STMicro intros one-chip optical mice family.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)
August 1, 2006... Independently developed by STMicro-electronics, the VT5363 single-chip mice are the first in a new family of standard optical mice ICs that benefit customers with high levels of integration, excellent navigation performance and low-power...

High ESD protection for multi-gate logic.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)
August 1, 2006... Royal Philips Electronics is providing a broad portfolio of advanced ultra-low power (AUP) logic products with 5Kv of electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection--said to be two times the industry standard of 2.5Kv and higher than any multi-gate...

High bandwidth test point access fixtures for HD multimedia interface.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)
August 1, 2006... The Agilent N1020A is said to be the highest bandwidth high definition multimedia interface (HDMI) test point access fixture currently available. It delivers measurement bandwidth beyond 6GHz, with rise times well below 100ps, which supports...

Low dropout regulator in space-saving wafer level chip scale package.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)
August 1, 2006... Austriamicrosystems' ultra low dropout regulator (LDO) delivers improved operating times in battery-powered portable equipment such as PDAs, digital cameras, Bluetooth, and GPS modules. It is designed to extend talk and standby times of mobile...

IGBTs reduce 60% power dissipation in motion control apps.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)
August 1, 2006... The IRGB4056-DPbE IIRGB4061-DPbF, IRGB4062-DPbF and IRGP-4062DPbF are four 600V insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs) that reduce power dissipation in inverters by up to 60% in motor control applications up to 2.5kW. Co-packaged with...

Next-generation Bluetooth finds a niche.(GLOBAL DESIGNER)
August 1, 2006... IS Bluetooth dead in the water? Not if you believe ABI Research (www.abiresearch.com), which predicts that vendors will ship more than 500 million Bluetooth radios this year. In a study entitled "Bluetooth: The Global Outlook," the consulting...

Dual-mode platform for mobile phone takes advantage of global expansion.(pulse)
August 1, 2006... Renesas Technology plans to develop the SH-Mobile G Series, an integrated platform with software and dual-mode application processors, for 3G mobile phones. The company expects to complete the joint project with NTT Docomo (www.nttdocomo.com),...

NDAS undressed: dissecting a NAS substitute.(prying eyes)(network direct attached storage)(network attached storage)
August 1, 2006... Ximeta's NDAS (network-direct-attached-storage) NetDisks sell for less than "pure" NAS (network-attached storage) drives. To do so, they shift some of the processing burden to the PCs that connect to them. What's inside the enclosure, and how...

Designers cast a skeptical eye on mixed-signal SOCs: the functions are necessary, but integration challenges keep analog IP out of the mainstream for SOC design.(system on chip)(internet protocol)(Cover story)
August 1, 2006... The easiest lesson to draw from the consumer-electronics market is that integration is everything. Mobile beats portable. Palmtop beats mobile, and shirt pocket trumps palmtop. Even in desktop devices, such as game consoles, sleek packaging and...

Hazardous-voltage primer: understanding the hazards associated with voltage, and knowing the principles of safety and the importance of certification are the keys to safe design and product use. Even low voltage is hazardous and can damage products and harm users.(design feature)
August 1, 2006... It is common knowledge that wall-outlet voltages of 120V in the United States and 230V in Europe can cause severe shock or death, but did you know that many people consider 120 and 230V to be low-voltage? Believe it or not, according to most...

Displays invade embedded-system space: full-color graphics displays in high-volume consumer products, such as mobile phones and music players, have captured the attention of the public and set new standards for embedded-device design.(design feature)
August 1, 2006... As prices plummet, embedded-system designers are turning to graphical displays to simplify operation, ease system upgrades, and distinguish their products. Designers of traditional embedded products focused on maximizing performance with less...

"Development tools, reliability, and scalability are more crucial to developers than real-time capabilities".(interview)(Interview)
August 1, 2006... Jane Gilson, Director, Mobile and Embedded Devices Division, Microsoft Corporation, recently gave EDN Asia some insight into embedded operating systems (EOSs), and their continued relevance in the near future. Excerpts. What are the...

Resettable overcurrent protection for ADSL equipment: transmission performance measurements demonstrate the effect of PPTC circuit protection devices on ADSL performance.(special report)
August 1, 2006... Telecommunications network equipment must comply with regional safety agency standards that mandate the use of overcurrent and overvoltage protection to help achieve safe and reliable performance. Resettable polymeric positive temperature...

JFET cascode boosts current-source performance.(design ideas)
August 1, 2006... Many process-control sensors, such as thermistors and strain-gauge bridges, require accurate bias currents. By adding a single current-setting resistor, [R.sub.1], you can configure voltage-reference circuit I[C.sub.1] to produce a constant and...

Microcontroller delivers voltage-multiplied dc power.(design ideas)
August 1, 2006... The combination of an external circuit and a low-voltage microcontroller occasionally requires a significantly higher power-supply voltage. You can use either an external boost converter to increase the logic supply or a buck converter to...

Low-dropout linear regulators deliver constant currents.(design ideas)
August 1, 2006... Linear voltage regulators offer a simple method of producing a constant current by connecting a fixed resistor between the regulator's output and ground nodes. The regulator's constant output voltage produces a constant current through the...

High-port-density gigabit Ethernet transceiver.(SEMICONDUCTORS)
August 1, 2006... The TLK2226 is a six-channel gigabit Ethernet transceiver that provides a full-featured, flexible interface in data communications and telecommunications equipment. It combines high port density with a small footprint and ultra-low power...

Mini 802.11 b/g power amp consumes low current.(SEMICONDUCTORS)
August 1, 2006... The E-pHEMT (enhancement-mode pseudomorphic high-electron-mobility transistor) power amplifier is designed for IEEE 802.11b/g mobile wireless local area networks (WLANs). Featuring high linear output power at low operating current with a...

Triple voltage [micro]P supervisory for multi-volt systems.(SEMICONDUCTORS)
August 1, 2006... Consuming only 6.21[micro]A the AS1920/AS1922 family of triple voltage [micro]P supervisory circuits is ideal for battery-powered equipment, computers, intelligent instruments, critical [micro]P and [micro]C power monitoring, controllers and...

High efficiency 500mA main/camera LED driver.(SEMICONDUCTORS)
August 1, 2006... The LTC3210 is a highly integrated, 800kHz, low noise, high efficiency 1x/1.5x/2x multimode charge pump for driving main and camera LEDs in cellular phones. It provides 5 LED current sources at up to 500mA of total output current: a 4 x 25mA...

High speed SRAM for automotive apps.(SEMICONDUCTORS)
August 1, 2006... The IS61WV20488 is a 2Mx8, 16Mb, high speed SRAM with access times as fast as 8nS. It utilizes low power technology and is targeted at networking, telecom and automotive applications requiring a high density, high speed, zero latency, fully...

Low-power detection/protection circuits operate up to 72V.(SEMICONDUCTORS)
August 1, 2006... The MAX16010-MAX16014 overvoltage protection/detection circuits operate from 5.5 to 72V. Targeted at high-voltage applications as found in automotive, industrial, server, and battery stack applications, the devices have different integrated...

Tuner eases DTV transition.(SEMICONDUCTORS)
August 1, 2006... Integrating three tuners--analog, digital, and cable--in a chip smaller than a thumbtack, the MicroTuner MT2131 tuner eliminates more than 100 components from the silicon tuner BOM, slashing external BOM cost by 60%. Manufacturers can now...

4-channel [I.sup.2]C and SMBus multiplexers and switches.(SEMICONDUCTORS)
August 1, 2006... The PCA9544A, PCA9545A and PCA9546A are 4-bit bidirectional translating (level shifting) [I.sup.2]C and SMBus multiplexers and switches that support voltage level translation between 2.5, 3.3 and 5V buses--essential in mixed voltage [I.sup.2]C...

MAX-Link solution supports WiMAX apps.(SEMICONDUCTORS)
August 1, 2006... The MAX-Link series of transceivers is designed for WiMAX applications. The AT86RF535A is a single-chip radio operating at 3.5GHz with multiple bandwidth options. Combining a low-noise amplifier, power amplifier driver, receive/transmit mixer,...

Controller solution for color laser printers.(SEMICONDUCTORS)
August 1, 2006... The STDC3000 is a complete controller solution for color laser printers and multi-function printers (MFPs). A highly integrated and scalable SoC solution, it provides designers and manufacturers with lower BOM cost and high image quality for...

Low noise amplifier for high-end medical apps.(SEMICONDUCTORS)
August 1, 2006... The TSH300, intended for high-end industrial, medical and instrumentation applications, features low input noise of 0.65nV/sqrtHz, coupled with a bandwidth of 200MHz at a gain of 5V/V (GBP = 1GHz). With its high slew rate of 230V/[micro]s and...

Power management unit for multimedia device market.(SEMICONDUCTORS)
August 1, 2006... The PCF50626 PMU is designed to meet the high power requirements of multimedia applications for mobile devices. Supporting and adding functionality to Intel Corporation's processor family (codenamed Monahans) based on third generation Intel...

Phase control ICs enhance power density, efficiency.(SEMICONDUCTORS)
August 1, 2006... The IR XPhase family of scalable multiphase converter chipset devices has been expanded with the IR3084 and IR3084U XPhase Control ICs. The ICs are designed to be used with the company's IR3086A Phase IC and companion DirectFET power MOSFETs to...

Power amplifier for WiBro apps.(SEMICONDUCTORS)
August 1, 2006... This linear power amplifier (PA) for wireless broadband (WiBro) applications operates in the 2,300 to 2,390MHz frequency band, and meets the stringent orthogonal frequency division multiplex (OFDM) linearity requirements of the WiBro high-speed...

31-button remote controller with jack-detect function.(SEMICONDUCTORS)
August 1, 2006... The MAX11041 wired, remote-controller receiver IC for portable media players decodes up to 31 resistor values on an external, wired remote controller composed of low-cost pushbutton/membrane switches and 1% resistors. Its versatile architecture...

LCD with effective light reflection control.(DISPLAYS)
August 1, 2006... This mobile TFT-LCD has 'AFFS (advanced fringe field switching)-Outdoor' technology that significantly enhances contrast ratio and reduces outside reflections on panels. The AFFS-Outdoor features improved transmission of 5.9%, external LCD...

Molded LED guides use one LED to backlight displays.(DISPLAYS)
August 1, 2006... This family of single-LED molded light guides offers high brightness with better efficiency, reduced part count and lower cost to many applications. MicroLens backlights provide single LED monochrome, bi-color or tri-color backlights....

More light, more colors.(DISPLAYS)
August 1, 2006... The luminous efficacy of the Power TopLED has been increased and its color palette extended to produce various red and yellow tones, up to 150% more efficient than before, depending on the color. Most of the light generated in the chip is...

Portable emitter enables tiny power LED flashlights.(DISPLAYS)
August 1, 2006... The LUXEON Portable PWT1 is a tiny power LED designed for flashlights and other portable lighting applications. The emitter generates 26 lumens at 350mA from a package size of only 2.0x1.6x0.7mm, providing a uniform white light output, with a...

20x4 character PLED.(DISPLAYS)
August 1, 2006... The 20-character xfour-row display module is said to be the largest character PLED offered in the industry. It features an LCD-compatible interface (Samsung KS0066 and Hitachi HD44780 compatible). It offers over 100:1 contrast ratio, and...

LED bulbs for maintenance intensive, low-voltage apps.(DISPLAYS)
August 1, 2006... These high-powered white MR16 TrackLEDs are engineered to handle the variations in voltages that may accompany "noisy" or "dirty" ac or dc power supplies, eliminating burnout from incoming voltages that are higher than the lamp's capacity. The...

Vivid colors in environs with high ambient light.(DISPLAYS)
August 1, 2006... These TFT LCD modules comprise an 8.4-inch (21cm-diagonal) super video graphics array (SVGA) TFT LCD module, an 8.4-inch (21cm-diagonal) video graphics array (VGA) TFT LCD module, and a 6.5-inch (17cm-diagonal) video graphics array (VGA) TFT...

Green laser diode modules.(DISPLAYS)
August 1, 2006... Green laser diode modules are appropriate for spectroscopy, particle measurement, medical tissue analysis, interferometry, holography, robotic control and more. Model 2501 is a fixed focus CW diode pumped laser diode module with a beam...

Multiple-output power for LCD TVs and monitors.(POWER SOURCES & CONDITIONING DEVICES)
August 1, 2006... The MAX8728 power supply generates all supply rails for thin-film transistor (TFT), liquid-crystal display (LCD) panels in TVs and monitors. It includes step-down and step-up regulators, positive and negative charge pumps, and a dual-mode,...

150W RoHS-compliant desktop power supply.(POWER SOURCES & CONDITIONING DEVICES)
August 1, 2006... This 150W ac/dc external power supply for portable equipment has 5.1W per cubic inch power density and 88% minimum efficiency. The small AML150 needs no internal or external fan to deliver full power at up to 40[degrees]C ambient, and 60% power...

Power supplies use regulated triple outputs.(POWER SOURCES & CONDITIONING DEVICES)
August 1, 2006... Providing a 20W output power in a compact, fan-cooled case, the HF20W-TL series ac/dc switchers have an 85 to 264V-ac input and robust filtering. Three models provide 5/ [+ or -] 12, 5/ [+ or -] 15, or 5/12/-5V-dc regulated triple-output...

4W single-output switching power supply provides 5.5V dc.(POWER SOURCES & CONDITIONING DEVICES)
August 1, 2006... With 90 to 264V-ac universal input and regulated output voltages, the single-output DA4 series switching power supply delivers 5.5V dc with 4W total power, and 15msec typical holdup time. For 0 to 0.75A loads, the device features overload and...

Lithium-ion charger with cold-temperature offset.(POWER SOURCES & CONDITIONING DEVICES)
August 1, 2006... The linear, single-cell SC804 lithium-ion battery charger integrates a cold-temperature-offset pin that allows an external resistor divider to adjust the charging-temperature range. The device allows a board design to function in multiple...

Power transformers feature low profile and UL approval.(POWER SOURCES & CONDITIONING DEVICES)
August 1, 2006... This family of 50/60Hz power transformers feature printed circuit board mounts with UL approval. RoHS-compliant SS, SD, DD and UD Series, they provide a desirable level of performance and reliability, and offer a variety of power ratings and...

Medically approved switching power supplies.(POWER SOURCES & CONDITIONING DEVICES)
August 1, 2006... The PMMK-150 product line of high density open frame switching power supplies are designed to meet the space and performance needs in low-to moderate-power medical systems and instrumentation applications. This series provides output power of...

Bus analyzer, exerciser and programmer.(TEST & MEASUREMENT)
August 1, 2006... The CAS-1000-12C is used to monitor and test devices and systems that incorporate one or more [I.sup.2]C buses. It can be used to monitor in real-time and log [I.sup.2]C bus traffic, generate traffic to exercise the bus and communicate to its...

Compact spectrum analyzer with tracking generator and other functions.(TEST & MEASUREMENT)
August 1, 2006... The FS315 is a spectrum analyzer that comes with a built-in tracking generator. It allows precise measurements in the frequency range from 9kHz to 3GHz with settable resolution bandwidths from 200Hz to 20MHz. The tracking generator can be used...

Handheld spectrum analyzer measures radiation.(TEST & MEASUREMENT)
August 1, 2006... The 9102 handheld spectrum analyzer, targeting network operators, broadcast stations, regulation authorities, and engineering offices, tests actual radiation against defined limits. The 9131 EMF (electromagnetic-field)-measurement option allows...

Optimization platform improves wireless service QoS.(TEST & MEASUREMENT)
August 1, 2006... The Wireless Network Optimization Platform enables RF engineering teams to optimize and troubleshoot radio access networks and wireless services, and quickly identify problems. New features, such as a flexible user interface, and improved...

Capturing yield-impacting defects on critical layers early.(TEST & MEASUREMENT)
August 1, 2006... Enabling chipmakers to innovate faster and yield higher while protecting their profitability, this fifth-generation broadband UV/visible brightfield inspection system is an extension of the 23XX platform. The 2367 delivers increased sensitivity...

Bluetooth test instrument with EDR and AFH measurement.(TEST & MEASUREMENT)
August 1, 2006... The MT8852B Bluetooth test set has both Bluetooth enhanced data rate (EDR) and adaptive frequency hopping (AFH) testing capability. This verification tool for chip set developers, module manufacturers, and developers of consumer products that...

Probe offers 3.125Gb/s SRIO protocol analysis.(TEST & MEASUREMENT)
August 1, 2006... The FS4410 Serial RapidIO (SRIO) protocol analysis probe is used with Agilent Technologies logic analyzers in the development of computers and peripherals incorporating the SRIO architecture. The probe allows non-intrusive probing of SRIO buses...