EDN Asia articles from February 2007

EDN Asia archives from February 2007

Change in design paradigm.(ednasia comment)
February 1, 2007... Designers must look at Microsoft getting into chip design as something more than the Company's excursion into a new area. Perhaps it is the harbinger of a new era. In the Wintel times, when Intel hardware and Microsoft software worked...

Floating-point DSP for cost sensitive applications.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)
February 1, 2007... Texas Instruments' TMS320C6720 DSP is said to be the industry's lowest cost floating-point DSP. Designed for cost-sensitive applications such as musical instruments, medical, biometrics, radio broadcasting, audio conferencing, instrumentation,...

MCU built with MONOS embedded Flash technology for controlling electric motors in automobiles.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)
February 1, 2007... Renesas Technology's SH7147F 32-bit RISC MCU is specialized for controlling the electric motors increasingly being used in automotive chassis, safety, and hybrid electric systems. The 64MHz, SuperH-family device is said to be the first MCU for...

Broadcasting to every last corner of the nation.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)
February 1, 2007... Terrestrial digital multimedia broadcasting (T-DMB) is used to transmit radio and TV programs as well as data to mobile receivers such as cellular phones, handhelds or pocket pcs. The video information is coded with the powerful MPEG-4 AVC...

LDO regulator with low quiescent current for automotive modules.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... The NCV8664 from ON Semiconductor is a linear regulator that incorporates reverse battery, short circuit and overload protection with the lowest quiescent (Iq) current performance over a wide automotive temperature range. The LDO regulator...

Tiny 'Monahans P' embedded system on module.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)
February 1, 2007... Strategic Test has announced what the company claims is the world's smallest Intel/Marvel 'Monahans P' system on module (SOM). Called the TRITON-290, it measures just 67.6x26x4.2mm, and contains an 806MHz PXA290 processor coupled with 64MB...

Single-cell, high-current Li-Ion/Li-Polymer charge management controllers.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... The MCP73833 and MCP73834 single-cell, high current (1A), Li-Ion/Li-Polymer linear charge-management controllers are fully integrated charge-management controllers that combine several key, standard charge-management, and safety features in a...

Accurate, lab quality handheld RF power meter.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Keithley Instruments' Model 3500 Portable RF Power Meter is a lab-quality, handheld RF power meter designed to make RF power measurements in both field and R&D lab environments. This compact model provides the accuracy of a benchtop RF power...

Single-chip ZigBee solution with bundled software stack and excellent sensitivity.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)
February 1, 2007... The SN250 is a single-chip ZigBee wireless networking solution from STMicroelectronics (ST) that integrates a 2.4GHz IEEE 802.15.4-compliant radio transceiver, and a 16-bit microprocessor with EmberZNet software stack. This power-efficient chip...

Oscilloscope for multi-gigabit serial data network analysis apps.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... The emergence of multi-gigabit serial standards is driving down power budgets and timing margins. As a result, accurate analysis of signal path and interconnects in both time- and frequency-domains is critical to fully understand the effects of...

32-bit, dual-core automotive MCUs with flexible low-power modes.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)
February 1, 2007... Freescale's dual-core, 32-bit microcontroller (MCU) family is designed to enhance the power efficiency and flexibility of automotive body electronics. The latest addition to Freescale's MPC55xx portfolio, the MPC5510 family is the first...

ZigBee extends range to 40 miles.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... MaxStream's XBee XTender wireless bridge extends the range of ZigBee and 802.15.4 networks up to 40 miles. Because the ZigBee and 802.15.4 standards focus on low-cost, low-power wireless monitoring and controlling of electronic devices, ZigBee...

Merchant SOC for industrial motor circuit protection and circuit breaker applications.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Teridian Semiconductor's 71M6403 Electronic Trip Unit is said to be the industry's first merchant SOC for industrial motor circuit protection and circuit breaker applications. The device provides reliable start-up in motor circuit protection...

Single-chip receiver for mobiles handles TV and radio.(GLOBAL DESIGNER)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Start-up Mirics Semiconductor describes its new MS1001 RF-tuner IC as a "polyband" device for mobile digital-broadcast reception. Although several companies Have recently made announcements that focus on the mobile-TV sector, Mirics says that...

Enterprise networks tout 10Gbps speed.(pulse)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... Systimax Solutions is building upon its proprietary network-analysis tools and techniques to create reliable and high-performance structured cabling. The company recently introduced the 10Gbps GigaSpeed X10D UTP (unshielded-twisted-pair) copper...

Mini-NAS: an unfinished masterpiece?(prying eyes)
February 1, 2007... D-Link's (www.dlink.com) DSM-604H Central Home Drive was, as its name implied, one of the first NAS (network-attached storage) devices that targeted home and SOHO (small-office/home-office) users. Its compact chassis befitted D-Link's stated...

Low-cost kits: the new FPGA designer trend.(Cover story)
February 1, 2007... Dominating communications and complex industrial applications. FPGA makers are looking toward design wins in lower end automotive and consumer devices. With today's devices blurring the distinctions between CPLDs and FPGAs, low-cost design kits...

Display of power: portable devices get bigger LCD screens without bigger batteries: consumer-electronics developers face a host of challenges when designing for small, portable-system applications.(design feature)
February 1, 2007... The ready availability of high-resolution color LCDs in high-end cellphones and handheld media players has changed the landscape of consumer electronics by raising user expectations for display quality in portable devices. Meanwhile, the...

"We are upbeat about the progress we have made in India".(Interview)
February 1, 2007... With PLDs increasingly finding their way into telecom and consumer products, Altera is increasing its focus on the booming Indian market. Chris Balough, Director of Software and Nios Marketing, Altera Corp., spoke about the Company's...

Single microcontroller pin senses ambient light, controls illumination.(design ideas)
February 1, 2007... AS in a previous Design Idea (Reference 1), this design uses an LED as a transducer to measure the ambient-light level and to provide illumination. This Design Idea uses the same principle as its predecessor but consists of only one LED, two...

Some latest developments.(EDITORIAL)
February 1, 2007... The global market for non-entertainment automotive electronics was $36.8bn in 2005, and is projected to reach $52.1bn in 2010, with the strongest demands coming from Asia and Europe. (Figures from Reed Electronics Research.) I shall touch upon...

Automating the injection of faults for engine management development.
February 1, 2007... Engine control units are present in many applications today, often involving safety-critical applications that demand highly predictable behaviour and reliable operation in environments such as avionics, automotive and the operation of heavy...

Scalable, reconfigurable automotive test platform for ECMs.
February 1, 2007... Test of electronics for the automotive industry is full of challenges. The quality imposed by safety and reliability requirements, is close to that of the avionic industry. Quality certifications (AVSQ, VDA6, EAQF, QS9000, etc.) demand strict...

High voltage LDO regulators for harsh environments.(SEMICONDUCTORS)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... This family of high voltage-input low-dropout (LDO) linear regulators can withstand the requirements for harsh operating environments. The devices offer a wide input voltage range of up to 45V, providing transient protection for applications...

250mA micropower LDOs withstand up to 80V input.(SEMICONDUCTORS)
February 1, 2007... The LT3012 and LT3013 are micropower LDOs with input voltage capability up to 80V. Both feature low dropout voltage of 400mV while delivering up to 250mA of load current. The wide adjustable Vout capability from 1.24 to 60V makes them ideal for...

ADC and 5V operation to low-end S08 MCUs.(SEMICONDUCTORS)
February 1, 2007... The MC9S08QD4 (QD4) provides the flexibility and functionality to help developers design a wider array of embedded applications. The device's high level of integration and 5V support within a compact, 8-pin package make it ideal for...

Low cost HBT high linearity driver amplifiers.(SEMICONDUCTORS)
February 1, 2007... The MAAMSS0071 features an expansive frequency range, high-linearity and reliability, which makes it ideal for a variety of wireless applications, including WiMAX, WiBro, and UMTS/WCDMA base stations. It has gain blocks with an output of P1dB...

Smart load switch family expanded.(SEMICONDUCTORS)
February 1, 2007... The MIC94066/67/68/69 are part of a family of smart high-side load switches. The ICs are high output current switches housed in 2x2mm MLF packages, and are ideal for portable applications such as cellular phones, PDAs, MP3 players, digital...

900kHz selectable-gain amplifiers.(SEMICONDUCTORS)
February 1, 2007... The MCP6G0x are the first amplifiers to have a gain-select pin in place of a negative-input-pin, enabling digital gain control for better system accuracy and dynamic range. They can be used as drop-in replacements for op amps,...

30W power supply has 2 x 4-in. footprint.
February 1, 2007... The BLP30-3000G ac-dc power supply provides 30W, 2"-4" footprint currents: +5V @ 3.5A (5A peak), +12VDC @ 2A, and -12VDC @ 0.5A. It is an ideal power source for a myriad of space-constrained, 1U-high applications including: data networking,...

450W hot-swap front-end offers high efficiencies and [I.sup.2]C interface capabilities.(POWER SOURCES & CONDITIONING DEVICES)
February 1, 2007... The SFP450-12BG 450W, hot-swap, ac-dc front-end [I.sup.2]C-compatible power supply utilizes advanced topologies and thermal management techniques to deliver 12VDC at 36.6A, with efficiencies exceeding 89%, and a power density of 9W/in3. It...

125Vdc high voltage system.(POWER SOURCES & CONDITIONING DEVICES)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... The 125Vdc Cordex 3.3kW high voltage integrated system, with 26.4A capacity, was specifically designed for recharging all types of stationary batteries for large utilities, petrochemical and industrial uses. It offers standard features like...

Small 120W external power supply for medical apps.(POWER SOURCES & CONDITIONING DEVICES)(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... This compact 120W power supply is targeted at medical and other portable applications where high isolation and low leakage current specifications are required. The AMM120 is offered with both Class I (with ground) and Class II (no ground) ac...

Remote power for IP security cameras.
February 1, 2007... Here's a complete remote power product adds power to Ethernet cables and separates power and data at the camera. Consisting of the PSD14 splitter and the POE20U midspan, this PoE package is suited for IP security cameras even if they are not...

AC-DC mini encapsulated linear power supply.(POWER SOURCES & CONDITIONING DEVICES)
February 1, 2007... EB encapsulated modules have series regulated outputs ranging from 1 to 75V, and as high as 2.5A. Their footprint is 3.5 x 2.5 inches. Output power range is 0.5 to 14W. These modules have a thermal barrier running through the power supply,...

Internal 20W power supply.
February 1, 2007... Condor GEC products meet international performance requirements and international safety standards, including UL, CSA, CE and CISPR 22. They are also EMC and RoHS compliant. The Condor GECA20 is a 20W internal power supply with commercial...

KVA ac power source.(POWER SOURCES & CONDITIONING DEVICES)(Behlman P2001 )(Brief article)
February 1, 2007... The Behlman P2001 ac source for benches and test racks is a solid state unit that delivers 2000 VA of clean, regulated ac power in a single 5.25" high bench-top chassis that easily converts into a rack mount unit. It is designed to provide...

Debugging interface supports new microprocessor families.(TEST & MEASUREMENT)
February 1, 2007... The usb2Sprite debugging interface targets Freescale Semiconductor's ColdFire and DSP 56300 microprocessor families. The device provides an embedded-system designer a USB 2.0 interface to the on-chip-debugging features, including the vendor's...

Upgrade for multimeter features a function generator.
February 1, 2007... Featuring a function generator that can source pulses and sine waves 20V p-p, the SMX2064 DMM (digital multimeter)/LCR (inductance/capacitance/resistance) meter generates pulses in a burst of as many as 60,000 pulses or a continuous signal with...

Low-cost analog output devices for USB.(TEST & MEASUREMENT)
February 1, 2007... Three low-cost, 16-bit high-drive analog output USB devices have been engineered to incorporate many user-suggested features that make the product line unique to the DAQ industry. The USB-3110, USB-3112, and USB-3114 have integrated high-drive...

Monitoring solution for video over IP and IPTV apps.(TEST & MEASUREMENT)
February 1, 2007... The IP/GigE Option simplifies and strengthens network monitoring by allowing network engineers to view multi or single program transport streams over gigabit Ethernet networks, identify signal degradation issues, and correct problems. This...

WiMAX 802.16e protocol conformance test solution.(TEST & MEASUREMENT)
February 1, 2007... This development test mode for the WiMAX 802.16e protocol conformance test solution gives first-line WiMAX equipment manufacturers, chipset developers, and protocol stack developers an early opportunity to test both subscriber and basestation...

Maximum fail safety for SFN networks.
February 1, 2007... Here's an option that allows broadcasting network operators to monitor single frequency network (SFN) functionality. This helps to prevent transmission failures. The option R&S ETX-K10 for the R&S ETX-T DTV monitoring receiver monitors the...

LabVIEW drivers for wireless sensor networks.(TEST & MEASUREMENT)
February 1, 2007... LabVIEW drivers for wireless sensor networks give engineers and scientists working with these devices the ability to fully integrate their ZigBee, IEEE 802.15.4 or proprietary wireless sensors into the LabVIEW graphical development environment....