EDN Asia articles from December 2006

EDN Asia archives from December 2006

Happy golden anniversary, HDD!(ednasia comment)
December 1, 2006... Before we ring out the year, let us together celebrate the golden jubilee anniversary of the hard disk. Back in 1956, IBM designers were working on replacing tape with a storage medium enabling random access to data. Their work led to the...

Miniature, 1W dc/dc converters with 3kV isolation.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)
December 1, 2006... Texas Instruments has introduced a 1W, unregulated dc/dc converter in a miniature package that features 3kV isolation. The DCH01 family of plug-in power modules operates from a 5V input, and provides single voltages of 5, 12 and 15V...

Transceivers operate up to 20MBps/250kbps for low EMI.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)
December 1, 2006... Linear Technology Corporation has launched the LTC2856/ LTC2857/ LTC2858 low power RS485/422 transceivers. Operating on 5V supplies, the LTC2856-1, LTC2857-1 and LTC2858-1 operate at maximum data rates of 20MBps, while the LTC2856-2, LTC2857-2...

2 to 18GHz down converter for EW and ECM applications.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)
December 1, 2006... Endwave Defense Systems, a manufacturer of RF subsystems and components for defense and homeland security applications, has announced the release of a down converter module that operates over a broad frequency range of 2 to 18GHz, making it...

Tunable antenna varicap diodes for digital terrestrial broadcast capable mobile phones.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)
December 1, 2006... Renesas Technology has launched two tunable antenna varicap diodes for digital terrestrial broadcast capable portable and mobile terminals: the RKV653KP featuring a small size of 0.6X0.3mm, and the extended-package RKV653KL. A tunable...

PMICs for Intel XScale processor with low supply current.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)
December 1, 2006... The MAX8660 and MAX8661 from Maxim Integrated Products are high efficiency power-management ICs (PMICs) designed specifically for the Intel Monahans, the third-generation Intel XScale technology-based applications processors. The PMICs and the...

Gen2 Summit protocol analyzer.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)(LeCroy Corp.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... The LeCroy PETracer Gen2 Summit is LeCroy's highest performance PCI Express analyzer for customers in server, workstation, desktop, graphics, storage, and network card markets. With advanced features such as support for PCI Express Spec...

Paper-thin Wi-Fi power amplifier.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)
December 1, 2006... SiGe Semiconductor's Range-Charger SE2523BU offers high performance and power efficiency in a new paper-thin package with a profile of just 0.5mm. The ultrathin design also reduces power consumption by 25%, making it ideal for embedding Wi-Fi...

NI extends SignalExpress Tektronix Edition to new oscilloscopes.(pulse)
December 1, 2006... National Instruments has announced support for the Tektronix TDS1000B and TDS2000B Series of digital storage oscilloscopes in NI SignalExpress Tektronix Edition, an interactive PC-based measurement software that design and test engineers use to...

8-channel 8-bit DACs with high linearity.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)(Austriamicrosystems AG)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... The AS1504/05 family of low-power, 8-channel 8-bit DACs deliver an integral nonlinearity (INL) of [+ or -]0.15LSB (typ.) and [+ or -]0.75LSB (max.), as well as differential nonlinearity (DNL) of [+ or -]0.1LSB (typ.) and [+ or -]0.5LSB (max.)....

Robust RS-485 transceivers in tiny MSOP package.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)
December 1, 2006... The ISL317XE family of 3.3V RS-485/RS-422 transceivers from Intersil Corporation saves 50 to 70% of board space, and delivers full-featured IEC61000 ESD-protected transceivers with 20Mbps data transmission rate. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ...

Compact baseboard for ETX 3.0.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)(Kontron)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Kontron's ETX mini-Baseboard is a very compact ETX baseboard for ETX 3.0-compliant designs. Available in a 130x155mm footprint, the RoHS-compliant miniBaseboard is barely larger than an ETX module (95X 125mm). As a result, it can easily be...

Decorative flexible light LEDs for consumer and industrial apps.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)
December 1, 2006... Avago's ASMT-Lx50 and Lx60 are said to be the industry's first light strip modules that can be bent into any shape that a designer can imagine without affecting performance. The thin flexible light optical light strips, which provide a bright...

ETSI adds IP support to DAB, simplifying a DVB-H migration.(GLOBAL DESIGNER)
December 1, 2006... Despite the efforts by Nokia and Qualcomm to guide the deployment of mobile-TV services to DVB-H (digital-video-broadcasting-handheld) and MediaFlo technologies, respectively, those aren't the only choices. Giant British Telecom, for instance,...

Chinese fab gets popular IP blocks.(GLOBAL DESIGNER)
December 1, 2006... Chinese fab SMIC (Semiconductor Manufacturing International Corp.) has just added plans to support IP (intellectual-property) cores from ARM in 90nm-chip designs. The two companies announced that SMIC would offer ARM's low-power Metro cores and...

Main players will pick DVB-H for mobile TV.(GLOBAL DESIGNER)
December 1, 2006... The mobile-TV technology that finally dominates will employ open standards and a competitive market, according to Nokia "The analogy here is GSM [global system for mobile communication], which made possible personal telephony and affordable...

Tiny computer holds embedded treasure.(prying eyes)
December 1, 2006... The Waysmall series from Gumstix offers designers a line of Linux-based computer systems that easily fit into the palm of your hand. Housed in an 83x36x15mm plastic case, these miniature systems provide XScale processing power along with an MMC...

Circulating currents: the warnings are out: understanding how, to avoid or minimize the effects of circulating currents can make your designs more robust. Every engineer should know the techniques for neutralizing this insidious phenomenon.(coverstory)(Cover story)
December 1, 2006... Circulating currents can wreak havoc for a design engineer, no matter whether your application is computers or communications. Some engineers lack an appreciation for circulating currents because of the schematic convention of using a ground or...

The right video architecture can make all the difference: digital-video broadcast and the iPod phenomenon have ignited a race to bring video to the palmtop. Processing architectures are at the center of the struggle.(design feature)(Company overview)
December 1, 2006... Video is going handheld. Consumer-electronics manufacturers are rushing past handheld DVD players to compete against the Video iPod. Handheld receivers for the emerging DVB (digital-video-broadcast) standards are on everyone's drawing boards....

Integrating boundary scan into multi-GHz I/0 circuitry.(specialreport)
December 1, 2006... The external interfaces of integrated circuits (ICs) have been experiencing two trends: significantly improved testability due to IEEE standards under the 1149 umbrella, and significantly increased performance requirements as system speeds and...

"Most OEM companies will make 45nm products at foundries".(interview)(Wolfgang Ziebart, Reinhard Ploss and Tan Soo Hee of Infineon Technologies AG)(Interview)
December 1, 2006... On the sidelines of the recent inauguration of Infineon's fab at Kulim, Malaysia, EDN Asia spoke to Dr Wolfgang Ziebart, President & CEO, and Dr Reinhard Ploss, Corporate Senior Vice President & General Manager, Infineon Technologies AG; and...

Ultralow-cost, two-digit counter features few components.(design ideas)
December 1, 2006... The ultralow-cost, two-digit- counter circuit in Figure 1 represents an attempt to reduce the number of components using a mostly software approach and a low-cost microcontroller, the PIC16F84A. The circuit lacks the current-limiting resistors...

Two-wire, four-by-four-key keyboard interface saves power.(design ideas)
December 1, 2006... You can use a microcontroller that includes an ADC to design a two-wire-plus-ground keyboard interface. For example, you can use a resistive voltage divider to identify a pressed key (Reference 1). A microcontroller's integrated ADC typically...

Stackable controller maximizes energy performance.(SEMICONDUCTORS)(Texas Instruments Inc.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... This highly flexible, power management IC turns power supplies in data centers and telecommunications equipment into fully scalable, stackable power systems with greater load-handling capability and maximum efficiency. The TPS40140 synchronous,...

Tantalum chip capacitors offer high-reliability screening.(SEMICONDUCTORS)
December 1, 2006... Tantamount HiRel COTS T95 series solid tantalum chip capacitors are designed to provide high-reliability screening and surge current testing options. Designed for safety-critical avionics and military applications such as radar and weapon...

Next-generation 500V and 600V HVICs.(SEMICONDUCTORS)(International Rectifier Corp.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... These 19 500V and 600V HVICs, half-bridge, and high- and low-side drivers address a wide range of applications including motor control, lighting, switch-mode power supplies, audio, and flat-panel displays. They are offered with single or dual...

TFT displays in landscape QVGA resolution.(SEMICONDUCTORS)(Solomon Systech Limited)(quarter video graphics array )(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... The SSD2116 is a highly integrated single chip driver for portable 262K color AV TFT displays in landscape QVGA resolution. Compared with the industry's two-chip approach, this device integrates source driver, gate driver, and external power...

More memory in low-power, CAN-enabled PIC MCUs.(SEMICONDUCTORS)(Microchip Technology Inc.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... The four-member PIC18F4685 family of high-performance, low-power 8-bit CAN microcontrollers have 80 or 96Kbytes of Flash, and integrated EEPROM memory to accommodate the growing complexity of CAN applications. This is the largest amount of...

Power MOSFETs optimize dc/dc conversion, reduce power losses.(SEMICONDUCTORS)
December 1, 2006... These 18 power MOSFET devices optimize dc/dc conversion, and reduce power losses at critical current levels. Ideal for CPU/GPU power delivery, dc/dc conversion, and both low and high side switching in computing applications such as desktops,...

Laser diodes combine high visibility with low current.(DISPLAYS)
December 1, 2006... The HL6362MG/HL6363MG laser diodes (640nm wavelength band, 45mW maximum optical output power) are suitable for use in medical scanners, measurement equipment and next-generation display applications. Supplied in a 5.6mm package, they are single...

Anotherm pc boards improve LEDs in display apps.(DISPLAYS)
December 1, 2006... IRC's anotherm aluminum substrate provides display system design engineers a lighter, cooler and less expensive method of mounting multiple visible LEDs. Recently developed with superior thermal conductivity to address the problem of heat...

Brightness control in portable applications simplified.(DISPLAYS)
December 1, 2006... The ISL29001 and ISL29002 sense visible light (380 to 770nm) and convert light intensity to an easy-to-use 15-bit, [I.sup.2.]C standard digital output signal. These devices integrate a current amplifier, a 50Hz/60Hz rejection filter to...

104 x 16 OLED with contrast ratio up to 1000:1.(DISPLAYS)
December 1, 2006... The OSD04160LBAG01, a 0.87 104X16 monochrome OLED, measures 31X9mm. It is targeted for a wide range of applications including consumer audio, MP3, USB, and caller ID. This monochrome OLED features a contrast ratio up to 1000:1; brightness up to...

Integrating TFT LCDs into digital signage apps simplified.(DISPLAYS)
December 1, 2006... ArtistaControlCenter brings a new level of flexibility and simplicity of integration to digital signage applications utilizing multiple TFT LCDs. The software works in conjunction with the patented ArtistaNET or ArtistaUSB display controllers...

High-brightness SMT white LED for automotive apps.(DISPLAYS)
December 1, 2006... This line of miniature LEDs is suited to operate under the severe environmental conditions in automotive and electronic sign applications, as well as a variety of home and office applications. The ASMT-SWBM long-life, high-brightness SMT white...

High power mini LED driver.(DISPLAYS)
December 1, 2006... The ZXLDI350 LED driver operates from an input supply of between 7 and 30V. It can produce an adjustable output current of up to 350mA to support a LED chain of up to eight 1W LEDs. Its use of the 2.9x2.8mm footprint TSOT23 5-pin package, and...

Development kits enable easy installation of RGB color sensors.(TEST & MEASUREMENT)
December 1, 2006... Each of these easy to use "plug-and-play" development kits that save customers time in evaluating its latest ROB color sensor products comes complete with all the tools and software customers need to quickly develop their color sensing and...

Oscilloscope for high-speed design and analysis.(TEST & MEASUREMENT)(Tektronix Inc.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... The DPO70000 Digital Phosphor Oscilloscope (DPO) and DSA70000 Digital Serial Analyzer (DSA) extend the real-time DPO performance of the DPO7000. Included with this series is key high-end functionality found previously only on the TDS6000C....

Improved RF and microwave design software.(TEST & MEASUREMENT)
December 1, 2006... RF and microwave design software GENESYS 2006.07 includes enhancements and additions that make the job of RF and microwave design easier. These enhancements include improved modeling for faster solution convergence. Eye diagrams, now a standard...

Measurement solution for WiMAX requirements.(TEST & MEASUREMENT)
December 1, 2006... The Vector Signal Generator R&S SNJ100A in combination with the compact Spectrum Analyzer R&S FSL is a cost-efficient production measurement solution for WiMAX applications. Internal options alloy, users to perform tests in accordance with the...

PCl-digitizer cards stream at 200M samples/sec.(TEST & MEASUREMENT)(Strategic Test Corp.)(Brief article)
December 1, 2006... Based on the UF2 series carrier card, the PCI-digitizer carols use a 66MHz/32-bit PCI PCI-X bus continuously transferring data to the host PC at 225M samples/sec. Using multiple 8-bit ADCs, the cards have a 100Msample/sec maximum sampling rate...

Upgrade for debugging tool improves USB performance.(TEST & MEASUREMENT)
December 1, 2006... Updating the J-Scan boundary-scan debugging and programming tool, Version 2.1 allows circuit designers to facilitate early test development, shortening the development cycle and prototyping process. Version 2.1 communicates to the target...

Global Report 3: worldwide analog, power, system, and IC design.(Report)
December 1, 2006... In 2004, we conceived the Global Report as an annual project that would allow us to leverage our editorial resources worldwide and to address the global reader base with the results. Readers seemed to appreciate both the inaugural and the 2005...

Surfing for market share? Ride the efficiency wave: government agencies are joining utility companies to reduce power consumption by targeting inefficient power supplies.(POWER)
December 1, 2006... Efficiency is a hot topic in today's power-supply market. Once relegated to a less important role, improved efficiency is now a major movement on a global front. There are two major reasons for this shift. First, power-grid managers have their...

Linux masters the mobile market: with a huge assortmenf of server, embedded, and consumer-electron-ICs designs already in its portfolio, the linux operating system dives into the exploding worldwide mobile-phone marketplace.(System Design)(Company overview)
December 1, 2006... Featuring free source code, no licensing fees, and zero per-unit royalties, the Linux operating system has captured the attention of product developers around the globe. To date, Linux has done remarkably well in the Web-server and...

Globalization and analog: analog is the real world, and needs differ from place to place. Accordingly, Analog engineers face challenges in accounting for a multiplicity of standards, conventions, and consumer preferences, epending on where a product finds use.(Analog)
December 1, 2006... The requirements of globalization often impact analog-system designers more than they do other designers because analog is the interface to the real world. That world changes from country to country and from culture to culture. The old phone...

IP plays cautiously in emerging markets: all the big ip vendors are offering ip to emerging countries, such as China, India, and, to some degree, Russia. but if you are designing ics in those countries, don't be surprised if established ip companies refuse access to their rtl and offer you only a hard core or require you to work with one of their "trusted partners.(Chip Design)(Company overview)
December 1, 2006... As systems and semiconductor companies tap into emerging countries such as China, India, and Russia for low-cost engineering resources, most of the biggest IP (intellectual-property) companies are also doing business in those countries. But...

Analog applications journal brief: improved CAN network security with TI's SN65HVD1050 transceiver.
December 1, 2006... A CAN transceiver must reliably transmit data in extremely harsh operating environments that place an extraordinary electrical burden on the device. Since the transceiver is typically the only interface between expensive node electronics and...