EDN Asia articles from July 2005

EDN Asia archives from July 2005

Matching our passions.(ednasia.comment)(Editorial)
July 1, 2005... I recently attended an event celebrating the 40th anniversary of Analog Devices. In the interest of full disclosure, the company is a significant advertiser in EDN (as I am sure you know). Nonetheless, the message I came away with applies to...

Small single-chip battery charger for Bluetooth headsets.(leading edge)
July 1, 2005... Texas Instruments' highly integrated charge and power management device combines a single-cell Li-Ion USB/AC charger with a high efficiency, synchronous dc/dc power converter. The IC supports a wide range of space-limited portable applications,...

Wire-wound chip inductor features high current capacity.(leading edge)
July 1, 2005... As components shrink, inductors have lagged in that progression, largely due to the laws of physics. A new member of a series of wire-wound chip inductors from Taiyo Yuden is, according to the vendor, the first to offer 1A rating in an EIA 1210...

Chipcon launches sub-1GHz RF-chips.(leading edge)
July 1, 2005... Chipcon AS has launched two products based on its SmartRF 04 technology platform, CC1100 multichannel RF transceiver and CC 1150 multi-channel RF transmitter. Said to provide the "lowest total system cost solution" for multi-channel one-way and...

Microchip offers "super-small" op amps across 10kHz to 10MHz bandwidths.(leading edge)
July 1, 2005... Microchip Technology has launched single-supply, rail-to-rail input/output, low-power operational amplifiers (op amps) in space-saving 5-pin SOT-23 packages that operate over bandwidths that range from 10kHz to 10MHz. The SOT-23 package saves...

STMicro puts up to 8 dies in multi-chip package.(leading edge)
July 1, 2005... STMicroelectronics' 1.6mm BGA (Ball Grid Array) contains as many as eight stacked memory chips. Designed to help satisfy the ever-increasing demand for more memory in smaller volume, these multi-chip package (MCP) devices contain between two...

IR expands iMOTION line-up of integrated power modules.(leading edge)
July 1, 2005... International Rectifier's 600V integrated power modules (IPMs) simplify the design of compact, high-performance variable-speed motion control power stages for appliances such as air conditioners and commercial freezers. Designed specifically...

NI intros "lowest-priced" USB digital I/0 device.(leading edge)
July 1, 2005... National Instruments' lowest-priced USB digital I/O device comes with NI USB-6501, a full-speed USB 2.0 device ideal for research, academia and lab automation applications. Priced at just $95, the device includes 24 digital I/O lines and a...

Pump high-current LEDs with inductorless driver.(leading edge)
July 1, 2005... To service the increasing popularity of LEDs--especially white ones-vendors continue to develop increasingly efficient and low-cost driver topologies. The inductor-free LTC3215 from Linear Technology Corp delivers up to 700mA at over 90%...

ADI intros advanced video filtering for consumer video applications.(leading edge)
July 1, 2005... Analog Devices' family of video filters are designed to case the analog video signal conditioning challenges in advanced consumer video applications, such as HDTV, personal video players and DVD recorders. Able to condition HD (high definition)...

Digital potentiometers that fit in 3 x 3mm TQFN.(leading edge)
July 1, 2005... Maxim's MAX5477/MAX5478/MAX5479 and MAX5487/MAX5488/ MAX5489 are said to be the industry's smallest 256-step, dual, nonvolatile digital potentiometers with on-chip EEPROM. Packaged in a 3x3mm TQFN, integrated memory enables the devices to...

Oscilloscope software for test and validation of FB-DIMM and 2nd-gen PCI-Express.(leading edge)
July 1, 2005... Tektronix has announced a new Fully Buffered DIMM (FB-DIMM) module and an update to its existing PCI-Express compliance test modules for the RT-Eye Serial Data Compliance and Analysis Software for the company's oscilloscopes. Both modules will...

2-bit logic translator increases design flexibility with wide voltage range.(leading edge)
July 1, 2005... Fairchild Semiconductor's FXL2T245L10X is a low-voltage 2-bit logic-level translator that offers wide voltage range, "output enable" (3-state) capability and ultra-compact packaging. Ideal for use in digital circuits to translate from lower to...

Embedded-systems standards: Avoiding high-performance headaches: board manufacturers are updating their offerings to participate in the exploding high-performance segment of the embedded-system market.(Cover Story)
July 1, 2005... Embedded-designers find themselves in a perpetual tug of war, with management demanding reduced budgets and schedules and customers insisting on more system functions. Designers traditionally deal with this struggle by incorporating into their...

Hidden applications for the three-terminal shunt regulator; inexpensive semiconductor devices that have more power supply design applications other than shunt regulators.(design feature)
July 1, 2005... Many semiconductor companies make three-terminal shunt regulators. These devices have an internal precision reference, operational amplifier and an internal shunt transistor to control a precision voltage source. The typical circuit application...

Targeted DSPs take aim: DSP options continue to expand and are targeting optimized configurations for specific applications. Check out the inaugural online table for a detailed view of current device and core offerings.(EDN Asia 2005 DSP directory)(Digital signal processors.)
July 1, 2005... Welcome to the 2005 EDN Asia DSP directory. This directory continues to grow at a substantial rate each year-so much so, that this year's edition, found on the online version of this article at www.ednasia.com, comprises an annual update of...

Microdisplay technologies: projection systems lose contrast: three technologies are jockeying for market share in the projection-television market, each making improvements that are erasing the differences among them.(design feature)
July 1, 2005... Flat panels, move over. Microdisplay rear-projection-TV systems have come from behind to become the new "kings of the big screen," growing an astounding 225% in dollar value from 2003 to 2004, according to market data from Quixel Research....

Designing for efficiency?(POWER puzzler #4)
July 1, 2005... Take a break from your daily routine and test your power supply design knowledge by answering the three questions below regarding new mandatory energy efficiency requirements. Check your answers at www.powerint.com/puzzler4 and enter for a...

Marching to Moore's beat.(Richard Templeton about Texas Instruments)(Interview)
July 1, 2005... Richard Templeton, president and CEO of Texas Instruments, sat down with Electronic News to discuss his company's growth prospects, its position on foundries, and its stance on cooperative technology development. Excerpts: Electronic News:...

Efficient system level verification and performance analysis using SystemC: how to achieve greater than 90% cycle accuracy for functional verification of mixed SystemC and HDL environment.(special report)
July 1, 2005... These days, functional verification and performance evaluation of multi-million gate SoCs is a daunting task. There are two major elements that contribute to reduction in efficiency in the overall development process of an SoC: traditional...

Silicon oscillators: high performance analog solutions from linear technology.(Advertisement)
July 1, 2005... When was the last time you considered replacing a crystal oscillator with another clock device? In all likelihood, the answer is "never," and for good reason. After all, what performs like a crystal? The answer may surprise you. At the...

Dynamic-load circuit determines a battery's internal resistance.(design ideas)
July 1, 2005... The simplest model of a battery comprises an ideal voltage source that connects in series with a resistance whose value--often a few milliohms-depends on the battery's electrochemical condition and construction. If you attempt to use an...

Single-wire keypad interface frees microcontroller-I/O pins.(design ideas)
July 1, 2005... In most keypads, pressing a key closes a contact that bridges two lines in an xy matrix. If you use a microcontroller to detect a key closure, checking the states of (x+y) lines requires an equal number of I/O pins. Occupying only one free I/O...

Control a processor's power supply in real time.(design ideas)
July 1, 2005... In battery-powered applications in which power management is key, a microprocessor may adjust its core voltage corresponding to an increase or a decrease in clock speed, allowing full processing power when necessary but not wasting excess power...

8-bit incremental magnetic rotary encoder.(Semiconductors)
July 1, 2005... * Targeted at cost-sensitive industrial and automotive applications * Suited for use in human-machine interface (HMI) applications, such as front panel switches, or as alternative to optical encoder-based applications where dust or other...

[micro]power converter with integrated Schottky.(Semiconductors)
July 1, 2005... * Tiny solution size * Low quiescent current of 150uA, * Internal 1A, 36V switch * Integrated Schottky diode and PNP output disconnect * Internal reference override pin * 25V at 80mA from 3.6V input * Auxiliary NPNs...

64-bit mobile processor for notebook PCs.(Semiconductors)
July 1, 2005... * Based on AMD64 technology enables powerful 32-bit computing with seamless transition to 64-bit computing * Offers enhanced virus protection (EVP), an advanced security feature designed to prevent spread of certain viruses *...

Peer-to-peer transceivers boost range.(Semiconductors)
July 1, 2005... * Remove server from RF communication system facilitating fully expandable mesh networking * Complement AC4490 transceivers, giving OEMs flexibility to choose protocol that best suits application * Support independent communication...

DFN package for high-precision industrial op amp.(Semiconductors)
July 1, 2005... * Features good combination of offset, drift and noise characteristics * Leadless, near-chip-scale package is less than 1mm thick and features contacts on only two sides, minimizing board space requirements and enhancing thermal...

30A buck controllers shrink power-supply size.(Semiconductors)
July 1, 2005... * Allow design of high-output-current, compact power supplies with minimum number of external components * Internal voltage regulators allow operation from 5, 12, or 24V power bus, while output voltage is adjustable from 0.6 to 5.5V *...

SensorPath digital temperature sensor offers high accuracy.(Semiconductors)
July 1, 2005... Texas Instruments' 10-bit resolution digital output temperature sensor with single-wire SensorPath interface protocol can measure temperature without any external sensing components. The small package size of TMP141 is a good fit for...

Single output dc/dc converters deliver low voltage.(Semiconductors)
July 1, 2005... * Highly integrated single-output, isolated converters with output currents of 6A and output voltages down to 1.8V * Available in three different, industry standard pin patterns * Delivers high levels of flexibility and functionality to...

Single-chip transceivers reduce design time and cost.(Semiconductors)
July 1, 2005... * Multiport T3/E3 transceivers combine framers and line interface units (LIUs) * Consist of DS3174 (quad), DS3173 (triple), DS3172 (dual), and DS3171 (single) SCTs, plus DS3170, tiny single-port SCT * Minimize design time, component...

Multi single-function, logic level translator.(Semiconductors)
July 1, 2005... * Multiple-function, single-supply, logic level translator * Offers PCB space savings and reduced Bill of Material part count * Combines common Boolean logic functions and level translation into single device * Offers up to 9...

"Building block" for single-output buck converters.(Semiconductors)
July 1, 2005... * Fully-optimized, full-function 15A single output synchronous buck converter achieves more than 90% efficiency at full load * Addresses requirements from 5.5 to 13.2Vin and 0.8 to 8Vout, maintaining full load capability of 15A *...

Sub woofer amplifier boosts audio performance.(Semiconductors)
July 1, 2005... * 500W RMS into 4[OMEGA] analog input Class D reference design * Achieves THD+N figures of better than 0.05% from 1W up to 90% full power * Based on Acoustar ZXCD1000 modulator IC * Compensates for bridge mismatches, power supply...

Step-down controller with start-up regulator.(Semiconductors)
July 1, 2005... * Wide 4 to 60V input voltage range * Output voltages up to 36V * Adaptive non-overlap circuitry prevents switch shoot-through * Reverse inductor current inhibit for discontinuous operation improves efficiency with light loads ...

Bluetooth broad application module.(Boards, Cards & Modules)
July 1, 2005... * Targeted at long range and plug-and-play simple industrial applications without need for external host controller and programming * Basic signaling control and data flow done by on-board 16-bit CPU * Can be directly accessed through...

PLC on chip module.(Boards, Cards & Modules)
July 1, 2005... * Single chip programmable logic controller * Module programmed by EZ LADDER PC-based software featuring ladder diagram and function block programming * Can be embedded into OEM products such as sensors, drives, custom controls and...

Internal USB to RS-232 serial adapters.(Boards, Cards & Modules)
July 1, 2005... * USB to RS-232 serial adapters * Available in both one- and two-port models * Intended for mounting directly to PC's chassis, eliminating need for external converters and providing clean, professional installation * USB bus...

Shared memory embedded boards.(Boards, Cards & Modules)
July 1, 2005... * Family of embedded boards based on SCRAMNet GT shared memory data communications arachitecture * Deliver real-time control and data networking faster than boards based on its predecessor, SCRAMNet * Each board features industry...

Full-size CPU card with LAN option.(Boards, Cards & Modules)
July 1, 2005... * Uses Intel 82865GV chipset that supports CPU speeds up to 3.2GHz with 400/533/800MHz front side bus speeds * Supports Intel hyper-threading technology * High memory capacities up to 4GB DDR DRAM and dual-channel DDR memory interface...

Quad-band transmit module.(Boards, Cards & Modules)
July 1, 2005... * 6x6 mm integrated RF transmit module for quad-band GSM/GPRS handset applications * Integrates InGaP HBT power amplifier (PA), pHEMT antenna switch, harmonic filters and CMOS power control circuitry in small transmit module *...

Evaluation board for power factor correction.(Boards, Cards & Modules)
July 1, 2005... * Adds comprehensive PFC front end to any power supply design * Contains all necessary control and power circuitry, along with required inductor assembled onto compact board * Capable of handling up to 3kW of power with proper heatsink...

PICMG 2.18 CompactPCI development kit.(Boards, Cards & Modules)
July 1, 2005... Hybricon Corporation has released its PICMG 2.18 development chassis that complies with the PICMG 2.18 specification. As the fourth switch fabric to be implemented on CompacePCI, this is an example of the trend for system architectures to move...

Scan modules expand application areas.(Test & Measurement)
July 1, 2005... * Family of digital I/O scan modules (DIOS) for enhancing testability of complex printed circuit boards * Cover all standard DIMM connector pinouts and wide range of operating voltages * Contain programmable logic and built-in 10MHz...

Handheld TV analyzer for broadcast applications.(Test & Measurement)
July 1, 2005... * Combines functions and characteristics of full-featured spectrum analyzer with functionalities of TV test receiver * Compact size makes it suitable for mobile use * Can process both analog and digital TV signals * Useful for...

Faster scans with ion trap mass spectrometer.(Test & Measurement)
July 1, 2005... * High-performance ion trap mass spectrometer (MS) allows pharmaceutical and academic life-science researchers to identify 60 to 80% more peptides than preceding models in proteomics applications * Improved scan cycle times, enabling...

PXI controllers deliver higher performance.(Test & Measurement)
July 1, 2005... * PXI-8196 said to be industry's highest-performance embedded controller with increased overall performance by more than 50% compared to existing PXI controllers operating with 2.5GHz Mobile Intel Pentium 4 Processor * PXI-8195 includes...

ESD simulator system.(Test & Measurement)
July 1, 2005... * Electrostatic discharge (ESD) simulator system with elevated discharge voltage of 30kV, exceeding industry ESD test standards requiring pulse voltages of 25kV * Said to comprehensively fulfill severe degrees of testing required by...

"World's fastest" real-time oscilloscopes.(Test & Measurement)
July 1, 2005... Engineers tasked with developing next-generation systems that operate at serial data rates in excess of 4Gb/s and need access to equipment that will help facilitate their design processes are likely to turn to the family of digital storage...

Ceramic capacitors reduce short-circuit risk.(Passives)
July 1, 2005... * Minimize risk of short circuits if capacitor is damaged * Suitable for applications in which capacitor is permanently connected to positive pole without extra safety measures * Connected in series (MLSC) * No extra safety...

High-wattage resistor assembly with circuit protection.(Passives)
July 1, 2005... * Rugged, cost-effective high wattage power resistor assembly * Features optional in-line circuit protection device designed to prevent motor damage from overheating in stall condition * Consist of high-wattage power wirewound resistor...

RF surface mount high inductance chokes.(Passives)
July 1, 2005... * Specifically targeted for use in starter circuits and electronic ballasts within the lighting industry * Able to handle high voltage spikes * Can also be used in any RF application where high inductance is required *...

Metal dual BNC connector with panel grounding.(Passives)
July 1, 2005... * Designed for RF, video and broadcast transmission * Engineered to provide space saving efficiencies in combination with superior stability of BNC connectors * Suited for employment on high-density PCBs in a broad range of high...

Metal resistor technology for current sense applications.(Passives)
July 1, 2005... * Flameproof, open air current sense resistor technology suited for high current motor control and power regulation applications * Capable of withstanding 70A of current rated from 1 to 5W at 85[degrees] C with resistance values from 0.005...

IR intros sub-ohm on-resistance microelectronic relay.(Passives)
July 1, 2005... International Rectifier's PVY117 Series microelectronic relays (MER) are designed to increase product reliability by replacing eledromechanical and reed relays that have fragile moving parts and metallic contacts with more reliable, solid-state...

Preface.
July 1, 2005... WELCOME TO THE SECOND EDN Global Report. This second special edition, which augments the recurring editions in North America, Japan, China, Europe, Asia, and Australia, may have arrived sooner than you expected. In fact, it arrived sooner than...

EDN's ongoing commitment to global coverage.
July 1, 2005... This second EDN Global Report speaks volumes about the importance of covering design from an international perspective. But if you still need convincing that design is a worldwide activity, consider the origins of EDN's venerable and popular...

Digital-signal processing pervades application segments.(Editorial)
July 1, 2005... IF YOU WERE ADVISING a young man or woman approaching engineering school today, what advice would you offer about specialization? This second EDN Global Report has affirmed my belief that experts in digital-signal processing are going to be at...

Engines of change: microcontrollers evolve to meet the challenges of the open road, adding power, peripherals, and memory options.(GLOBAL REPORT: AUTOMOTIVE)
July 1, 2005... AWAY FROM THE BOOM-AND-BUST CYCLES of consumer electronics, the global automotive industry continues to thrive as an outlet for semiconductor vendors and equipment makers. According to market-research company IC Insights, automakers consumed...

A hard look at software reliability: as electronics permeate the car, software reliability takes on paramount importance. Industry organizations and tool vendors are acting to help engineers ensure the quality of code that can have life-or-death implications.(GLOBAL REPORT: AUTOMOTIVE)
July 1, 2005... When electronics control mechanical systems, vehicle builders must ensure that all systems perform flawlessly. With increasing software complexity, error-free software assumes importance equal to defect-free hardware. As vehicle manufacturers...

The land of rising standardization: Toyota, Nissan, and Honda lead the automotive-standards push in Japan.(GLOBAL REPORT: AUTOMOTIVE)
July 1, 2005... For decades, a car was essentially an aggregation of machine parts, with the exception of some electric system controls such as a starter motor, wipers, and several types of lamps. Computers and electronics first entered the auto in...

Invisible sensors permeate car control: modern autos bristle with sensors that contribute to everything from engine control to passenger safety. Sensor technologies are evolving to deliver ease of design, higher reliability, and more functions.(GLOBAL REPORT: AUTOMOTIVE)
July 1, 2005... Sensors and processors, like alien creatures in science-fiction movies, really have taken over today's cars. They're not only in visible areas, such as the passenger compartment (see "Extra sensor(y) perception," at...

Electronics challenge the car's power grid: optional content necessitates a new approach to designing electrical-distribution systems.(GLOBAL REPORT: AUTOMOTIVE)
July 1, 2005... Recent years have seen an explosion in the use of electronics in cars. Electronic systems now fill numerous safety, performance, and passenger-convenience roles, and because automakers offer many such systems as buyer options, the EDS...

The battle for silicon supremacy: programmable logic vies with ASSPs, ASICs, and processors for communications-gear sockets.(silicon technologies)
July 1, 2005... IT'S HARDER THAN EVER these days to choose the silicon technologies that comprise a complex system such as a wireless base station, a telecom central-office switch, or an enterprise router. Design teams must deal with evolving standards that...

High-performance DSOs untangle serial-data streams: as electronic systems depend more and more on serial communication, sophistication digital scopes, powered by clever software, are becoming essential equipment.(digital storage oscilloscopes)
July 1, 2005... New electronic technology often begets even newer electronic technology. Few more impressive examples of this maxim exist than the jitter-measurement-and serial-data-stream-analysis capabilities of modern high-end DSOs (digital storage...

India's chip designers target communications: reusable cores and verification take center stage in communications-centric IP development.(IP cores for data and telecom)
July 1, 2005... Although everyone associates India with software development, the country is also,home to a growing IC-design-services industry. India's design companies are leveraging their expertise and have started offering IP (intellectual-property) cores...

Motor control: the variable-speed revolution: cheap, powerful silicon is transforming 19th-century motor technology for the 21st century. The payoffs? Higher performance, increased efficiency, and quieter operation for home appliances.(GLOBAL REPORT: INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION AND CONTROL)
July 1, 2005... "A BUNCH OF THINGS ARE COMING TOGETHER." That's how V Sukumar, a senior applications manager for Fairchild Semiconductor, begins a discussion of trends in motor control for the white-goods market. Several factors--semiconductor and motor...

Reaching new performance levels in white goods: DSP-based motor control delivers benefits for home-appliance engineers and users alike.(GLOBAL REPORT: INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION AND CONTROL)
July 1, 2005... Driven by the needs of consumers and the increasingly complex dictates of regulatory agencies, home-appliance manufacturers must provide more intelligence, functions, and features in their products. The experience of Indesit Co, a major...

Virtual instrumentation drives hardware-in-the-loop simulation: off-the-shelf computing and data-acquisition hardware can power accurate simulations of complex real-world systems.(GLOBAL REPORT: INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION AND CONTROL)
July 1, 2005... With the power and flexibility of today's computers, engineers and scientists are increasingly using virtual instrumentation for HIL (hardware-in-the-loop)-simulation applications. A key element of virtual instrumentation is the use of COTS...

Motor control in medicine: improving precision is putting robotic systems to work in the lab, in the hospital, and even inside the patient.(GLOBAL REPORT: INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION AND CONTROL)
July 1, 2005... Embedded motor control for robotic applications is changing medical research and procedures, from the drug-development lab to the radiology department to the operating room. Robotics has profoundly affected the efficiency of drug-discovery...

Building consumer confidence: designers face a challenge in choosing among ASIC, structured-ASIC, ASSP, DSP, and microprocessor technologies for use in high-volume, digital-media products.(consumer-electronics design)
July 1, 2005... THE CONSUMER-ELECTRONICS MARKET is experiencing unprecedented innovation, thanks to the shift from analog to digital technology in signal processing. At the same time, the consumer segment has become the driver of the tech economy as digital...

China's compression choice: although it's not yet an official standard, China's AVS codec is gathering support--including silicon--as an alternative to H.264 in consumer designs.(H.264)(Codec Installation Package)
July 1, 2005... In the competition between next-generation audio/video compression standards, the popularity of H.264 is on the rise. But H.264 may not be the best fit for all markets or applications. For instance, the AVS (Advanced Audio Video Coding Standard...

Power management in consumer electronics: new initiative saves 40% power on 90-nm test design.(increasing power density)
July 1, 2005... The current boom in consumer-electronics products, here in India and worldwide, has come as a mixed blessing. The growth of mass markets for electronic entertainment and communication products benefits the industry, especially the various...

Power management: a critical consideration: with consumer-electronics designs, engineers must look far beyond the battery and adopt a system-level approach to power management.(power-management system)
July 1, 2005... Power continues to be an issue worldwide, as ICs get more power-hungry and the demand for portable, battery-powered consumer products grows. Designers must take advantage of numerous methods to conserve energy through the deployment of proper...

Programmable prices: low-cost offering land programmable logic in consumer devices.
July 1, 2005... On March 1, Xilinx celebrated a banner year for its new bargain-priced FPGAs, as it unveiled the newest version of the Spartan family, Spartan-3E. "Today, we are introducing an FPGA with 100,000 gates for $2 in volumes of 500,000," says Wim...

Roundtable.(panel discussion in telecommunications industry)(Panel Discussion)
July 1, 2005... EDN's worldwide experts weigh in on technologies and trends in their regions. The complete text of the roundtable discussion is available at www.edn.com/global. "It seems to me that communications standards are often so volatile and...