EDN Asia articles from May 2005

EDN Asia archives from May 2005

Mixed signal SoCs: caught between two worlds.(ednasia.comment)(System on chip)
May 1, 2005... The real world is analog. The virtual world is digital. Both the worlds meet on mixed-signal SoC and shake hands. The real world is said to be almost always two to three generations behind the virtual world. Some designers say that the real...

WLAN solution brings Wi-Fi connectivity to the home.(wireless local area network)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
May 1, 2005... Texas Instruments' TNETW1350 single chip IEEE 802.11 a/b/g compatible media access controller (MAC) baseband processor coupled with the company's flexible radios offers manufacturers a cost-optimized solution that complements its broadband and...

Load switch provides MOSFET functions for low-power designs.(leading edge)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
May 1, 2005... A series of integrated low-power load switches from Fairchild Semiconductor, designated the Intellimax FPF200x family, combine protection, control, and fault monitoring in an SC70 package. Using these devices, you can control switch turn-on,...

Single-chip solution for multi-standard HDTVs and car multimedia centers.(high defintion television )(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
May 1, 2005... STMicroelectronics' single-chip set-top box (STB) solution supports high definition H.264/AVC and VC1 specifications, which are poised to enable the next generation of high quality consumer video systems and broadcast services. The...

Flexible two-chip powerline networking solution.(leading edge)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
May 1, 2005... Maxim Integrated Products' flexible and cost-effective two-chip, powerline networking solution comprises MAX2986 and MAX2980. Extensive programmability ensures that one hardware design meets the disparate world regulations with some software...

14-bit ADC claims superior SFDR.(software-defined radio)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
May 1, 2005... Applications such as software-defined radio and high-capacity base station design need superior spurious-free dynamic range for successful implementation. The AD9444 from Analog Devices, a 14-bit, 80Msps A/D converter, specifies typical SNR of...

Step-down switching regulator with 100[micro]A quiescent current.(leading edge)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Linear Technology's LT3434EFE is a high voltage, Burst Mode step-down switching regulator that maintains quiescent current under 100[micro]A. It operates within a VIN range of 3.3 to 60V, making it ideal for load dump and cold-crank conditions...

Tomato LSI expands TFT LDI family with new TL1771.(leading edge)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Tomato LSI, a DDI specialized venture-company, has developed the TL1771 driver chip for TFT-LCD displays used in cellphones. Providing 128 source x 160 gate resolution, the device can be used for 1.3-, 1.8-, 1.6-, 1.5-inch. main panels, and...

Transistors eliminate thermal lag in Hi-Fi amplifiers.(leading edge)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... ON Semiconductor's ThermalTra is a family of output transistors with internal bias control that provide a simplified single-device solution for audio amplifier design. The devices eliminate tedious warm-up time, enable quick and precise...

SAW filter for GPS with 0.8dB insertion loss in passband.(Surface Acoustic Waves)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... A GPS function, with all the advantages it offers in terms of personal security, is a must for third-generation mobile phones destined for the North American market. Even in Japan, China and elsewhere in Asia, growing demand is anticipated for...

4-Gbps FibreChannel test module performs protocol analysis.(leading edge)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Agilent Technologies' $20,000 1735A test module for 1-, 2-, and 4Gbps FibreChannel optical networks not only performs real-time protocol analysis, but also generates traffic to stimulate the network tinder test. In combination with support for...

Samsung's "world's largest" 21-inch OLED.(Organic Light-Emitting Diode)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Samsung Electronics has developed what it says is the largest single-panel AM (active matrix-based) OLED (organic light-emitting diode) display for TVs. According to the company, the 21-inch. OLED features the highest resolution at 6.22 million...

Host controller powers USB storage devices.(leading edge)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The USB104+, a new four-port USB 2.0 host controller from Parvus, can directly power attached devices and delivers transfer rates 40 times faster than legacy, USB 1.1 products. This 3.55 x 3.775-inch. PC/104-Plus form-factor module provides...

Third-party IP: a shaky foundation for SoC design: commercial modules help designers meet schedules and cost objectives, but risks abound.(Cover Story)
May 1, 2005... Lawyers have labeled reusable design blocks, or cores, as IP (intellectual property), despite the fact that most electronics designers use IP to mean Internet Protocol, and most engineers prefer to describe such products as "virtual cores."...

0603 X5R 10[micro]F, 0402 X5R 2.2[micro]F, the highest capacitance.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Samsung Electro-Mechanics has introduced a new 10[micro]F multi-layer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) in a 0603 case size and a 2.2[micro]F version in a 0402 case size, with much stabilized capacitance under the DC bias. Both of Samsung's...

0805 X6S 10[micro]F with better DC bias performance.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Samsung Electro-Mechanics has completed development of a 0805 X6S 10[micro]F MLCC with a very small fall-off in capacitance induced by DC bias voltage. The capacitance value of an MLCC is inversely proportional to the thickness of the...

Measured response: can benchmarks usefully compare energy efficiency? Tools and benchmarks are beginning to appear that try to tackle how to compare power and energy efficiency between processors.(design feature)
May 1, 2005... Benchmarks for comparing the relative performance between processor alternatives are strictly design-productivity tools. They do not, by themselves, make a technical challenge solvable, but they can reduce the amount of time it takes a...

Supply voltage measurement and ADC PSRR improvement in MSC12xx devices.(power supply rejection ratio)
May 1, 2005... This article describes a simple method to compensate for analog supply voltage variations in Texas Instruments MSC12xx devices with one of the unconnected ADC inputs of the [DELTA][SIGMA] ADCs. The ability to measure the supply's voltage change...

Reaching down: 32-bit processors aim for 8 bits: the ongoing effort to supply low-cost, 32-bit processors has them beginning to encroach on the territory that 8-bit processors now own.(design feature)
May 1, 2005... A new breed of low-cost, 32-bit devices is targeting the healthy market share that 8- and 16-bit devices have exclusively supported. According to isuppli's 2004 microcontroller-unit-market forecast, 8-bit devices account for more than 40% of...

"Our goal is to maintain our position as the No. 1 player in the system solutions field".(ednasia interview)(Interview)
May 1, 2005... Driven by memory products such as DRAM and Flash, the semiconductor industry has seen a year-on-year increase of 28 percent. Renesas' COO, S. Ito, discusses the company's offering and current position in the worldwide semiconductor ranking. ...

Multi-listener equalization in the home theater: "Home entertainment" has transitioned from single person enjoyment to multiperson experience calling for a new set of requirements in audio playback systems necessary to provide each listener with high-quality listening experience.(special report)
May 1, 2005... With multichannel audio now widely available in consumer media such as DVD, DVD-Audio, Super Audio CD (SACD), as well as HDTV, home entertainment has rapidly transitioned from a single person sitting in the "sweet spot" to a multi-person...

5W to 200W PolyPhase step-up DC/DC converters: high performance analog solutions from Linear Technology.(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
May 1, 2005... Several years ago Linear Technology pioneered the technique of PolyPhase[R] operation to advance power delivery, power density, thermal performance and reliability of high current step-down (buck) power supplies. By reducing the input and...

10W step-up DC/DC converter: 20[mV.sub.P-P] output ripple, needs only one 47[micro]F output capacitor.(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
May 1, 2005... Small size, high efficiency, low noise and simplicity are all key features for battery powered applications and point-of-load converters in low voltage systems. By incorporating these features, the LTC3428 is well suited for such applications....

96% efficient 200W step-up DC/DC controller.(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
May 1, 2005... With 10V gate drive ([V.sub.CC] [greater than or equal to] 10V) and 4A peak drive current, the LT3782 can deliver high output power by driving industrial grade or standard MOSFETs. The LT3782 is a current mode 2-phase step-up DC/DC controller...

0.88[V.sub.STARTUP], 8MHz, 4-phase, 5A synchronous step-up DC/DC converter in 2.6[cm.sup.2] and 2.05mm profile.(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
May 1, 2005... The LTC3425 is a PolyPhase monolithic DC/DC converter with synchronous operation, true output disconnect and up to 3A continuous output current (5A switch current) in a 5mm x 5mm QFN package. The IC can operate as a 2-, 3- or 4-phase...

How does a PolyPhase step-up converter improve on its single phase counterpart?(Advertisement)
May 1, 2005... First of all, a PolyPhase topology saves space and simplifies layout by removing bulky, hard-to-place components and replacing them with easier-to-fit, low profile components. PolyPhase step-up DC/DC converters have higher efficiency,...

Laser simulator helps avoid destroyed diodes.(design ideas)
May 1, 2005... Laser diodes can destroy themselves in a few nanoseconds, so testing the response and stability of a feedback-stabilized laser-diode driver can be expensive. The simulator circuit in Figure 1 shows a typical laser-diode package, which contains...

Differential driver doubles as versatile RF-switch driver.(design ideas)
May 1, 2005... Designed as a high-speed driver for 12-bit ADCs, the AD8137 controls SPDT GaAs (gallium-arsenide) FET-MMIC (microwave-monolithic-IC) and PIN-diode RF switches and thus provides a low-cost and versatile alternative to conventional switch...

Dual DC/DC converter with integrated Schottkys generates [+ or -] 40V outputs and consumes only 40[micro]A quiescent current: design note 359.(Advertisement)
May 1, 2005... Introduction As portable devices become more sophisticated and require higher display resolution, there is an increased demand for accurate, high voltage bias supply solutions with wide input and output voltage ranges. The traditional...

RF-telemetry transmitter features minimal parts count.(design ideas)
May 1, 2005... Requirements for portable, short-range telemetry systems frequently include low power consumption, small size, and low cost. The circuit in Figure 1 meets these criteria and uses only three off-the-shelf ICs and a few passive components....

2-phase dc/dc controller without transformers.(new products: Semiconductors)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... * Delivers high output power using two inductors, eliminating need for power and current sense transformers * Regulates 50V output at 4A load current with 96% efficiency from 10 to 36V input source * 2-phase operation minimizes input...

Energy metering SoC offers production flexibility.(new products: Semiconductors)(system-on-chip)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
May 1, 2005... * Functions for conventional 1-phase 2-wire and 1-phase anti-tamper energy metering, which meet utility requirements * Highly integrated metering system-on-chip, requiring minimum external components to perform all meter functions *...

30A POL converters for densely packed boards.(new products: Semiconductors)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
May 1, 2005... * Two series of ultra compact 30A point-of-load converter modules for use on densely packed PCBs * SIL30E vertical-mount modules occupy board area of just 0.6[in.sup.2] (4[cm.sup.2]) * SMT30E surface-mount modules are 0.32in (8.1mm)...

DDR2 memory modules with high-speed registers.(new products: Semiconductors)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... * Family of high-speed registers for memory-intensive applications such as high-end servers and advanced computing * Maximize DDR2 registered memory module performance by precisely controlling signals going to each DRAM on module *...

CMOS image sensor enables better medical device.(new products: Semiconductors)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... * Swallowable diagnostic device takes high-quality, high-speed photos as it passes through patient's esophagus * CMOS sensor, embedded in PillCam, features higher frame-rate than original PillCam SB design * With one sensor at either...

System solution provides seamless Wi-Fi integration into USB-enabled devices.(new products: Semiconductors)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
May 1, 2005... Texas Instruments Incorporated has launched a high-performance, cost-optimized IEEE 802.11 b/g system solution with universal serial bus (USB) 2.0 capabilities. The TNETW1450 MAC (media access controller) baseband processor coupled with TI's...

Small 8-bit microcontroller family.(new products: Semiconductors)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... * Two more members of LPC900 8-bit microcontroller (MCU) family * Available in 10-pin HVSON package * Dimensions of 3.0 x 3.0 x 0.85[mm.sup.3] * Designed for space-constrained applications * Incorporates many system-level...

Pre-processor chip cuts wireless base station costs.(new products: Semiconductors)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
May 1, 2005... * Crest factor reduction (CFR) processor designed to increase efficiency of base station power amplifiers--highest-cost component in cellular base station systems * Limits signal peaks, driving down peak-to-average ratio (PAR) of...

Direct digital feedback amplifier technology.(new products: Semiconductors)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... * Achieves THD+N figure of less than 0.005% and damping factor greater than 250 * Scalable amplifier system architecture that can be applied to broad range of amplifier power levels * Simplifies system design and reduce costs *...

Powerful multichannel signal processor for sensors.(new products: Semiconductors)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... * Low-power, low-noise, multichannel, 16-bit programmable sensor signal processor * Provides amplification, calibration, signal linearization, and temperature compensation * Delivers powerful overall performance approaching inherent...

Dual-channel DAC for 3G wireless base stations.(new products: Semiconductors)(digital-to-analog converter)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... * High performance, dual-channel 500MSPS digital-to-analog converter (DAC) * Features greater level of built-in signal processing * Decreases noise and reduces radio frequency design requirements and base station costs * Offers...

Flexible power management unit for portable devices.(new products: Semiconductors)
May 1, 2005... * Dynamically programmable products for powering advanced application and communication processors based on ARM technology, including Intel's Xscale processor family * Features 12 integrated power domains for reduced board space and...

DC/DC controller with tracking and PLL capability.(new products: Semiconductors)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... * Wide input range from 4 to 32V * [+ or -] 0.67% 0.6V reference voltage accuracy * Output voltage tracking capability * Programmable margining * Optional use of sense resistor * True current mode control * Phase lock...

Surface-mount inductors in 2525 package size.(new products: Passives)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... * Specified for saturation currents up to 40A and offer typical DCR values as low as 3.0m[ohm] in package measuring 1.8mm * With higher-performing, space- and power-saving solutions for dc/dc converter and energy storage applications in end...

Lead-free niobium oxide capacitors.(new products: Passives)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... * Environmentally-friendly replacement for aluminum, polymer and high CV ceramic devices * Low ESR version of OxiCap Niobium Oxide (NbO) solid electrolyte capacitors * Designed as lead- and halogen-free as well as non-burn up to rated...

Current sense inductors with through-hole design.(new products: Passives)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... * Feature encapsulated through-hole design with isolation between primary and secondary of 3,750V * Made of UL Class B-related materials * Applications include feedback elements linking output and pulse control circuitry, switch mode...

Filter inductors for boost PFC applications.(new products: Passives)(Coil Winding Specialist)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... * Inductance ranges from 1 to 301[micro]H, and current rating from 100 to 250A * E-70304-010 ** Rated at 8[micro]H at 250A ** Dimensions 1.75 x 1.75"x with height size of 1.25" ** DC resistance less than 0.7m[ohm] *...

Surface mount wirewound chip inductors.(new products: Passives)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... * Designed for high frequency applications in wide range of consumer, commercial and industrial devices * Combine performance and miniature packaging * Provide protection against challenging EMI problems in high frequency filtering...

Ferrites: extended core series for power transformers.(new products: Passives)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... Core shapes U126 and 1126 have been added to the EPCOS range of U and I cores (U93, 193, U101 and U141) for power transformers. The U126 doses the gap between the U101 and U 141. Wider post spacing and long posts make this core ideal for...

100mA to 1A li-lon charger with advanced safety.(new products: Power Sources & Conditioning Devices)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... * Standalone charger with charge current programmable to 1A * Charges single cell li-lon batteries directly from USB port * Preset charge voltages of 4.2 and 4.4V * Thermistor input for temperature qualified charging * Power...

Low-voltage simple synchronous buck regulators.(new products: Power Sources & Conditioning Devices)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... * Synchronous, high-frequency step-down switching voltage regulator capable of driving up to a2A load with excellent line and load regulation * Switcher designed for low-output voltages in cable and xDSL modems, DSPs, FPGAs and set-top...

80W external adapter provides 87% efficiency.(new products: Power Sources & Conditioning Devices)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
May 1, 2005... * Designed for LCD TV, home entertainment, networking and gaming applications * Universal input adapter is an external power supply that decreases heat through high efficiency topology in tiny, low-profile package that meets new EPA Energy...

Single-cell Li+ chargers with thermal regulation.(new products: Power Sources & Conditioning Devices)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
May 1, 2005... * Single-/dual-input linear battery chargers for single-cell lithium-ion (Li+) batteries * Frees users of PDAs, smartphones, DSCs, and MP3 players from carrying wall cube * Offer up to 14V overvoltage protection at AC and USB inputs...

Trench MOSFETs improve power circuit efficiency.(new products: Power Sources & Conditioning Devices)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... * Reduce resistance between drain and source ([RDS.sub.(on)]) to improve overall power circuit efficiency by 30% in portable products when compared to similarly packaged competitive solutions * Small signal, 20V MOSFETs specifically...

12-bit, 185Msps ADC targets PA linearization.(new products: Power Sources & Conditioning Devices)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
May 1, 2005... Linear Technology's LTC2220-1 is a 12-bit 185Msps ADC that achieves excellent AC performance with low power consumption. In a 9x9mm QFN package and using just 910mW, it achieves over 67.5dB SNR and 80dB SFDR up to 140MHz input. It features a...

LCD voltmeter.(new products: Test & Measurement)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... * With large, clear LCD that shows 17 position "analog" style display * With full scale deflection of 1V * Can be used in many places where quick indication of level, rather than an exact reading, may be required * Needle on...

Test set tools.(new products: Test & Measurement)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
May 1, 2005... * Provides integrated system with high accuracy and repeatability for R&D teams and chipset manufacturers testing multi-format wireless devices * Expedite chip, module, application and wireless-device development process * Eliminates...

Acceleration/emulation system.(new products: Test & Measurement)(Brief Article)(Advertisement)
May 1, 2005... * Delivers up to twice the speed and capacity of first-generation Palladium system * Built on company's processor-based verification technology * Targeted at designers verifying most complex system-on-chips (SoCs) in wireless,...

One-box solution for transmitter measurements on WiMAX signals.(new products: Test & Measurement)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... * Performs TX measurements on OFDM signals in accordance with standard 802.16-2004 * Records signal that is 1.5 to 28MHz wide and analyzes and displays results in table or graph, enabling an exact characterization of modulation quality and...

LVDS digital waveform generator/analyzers for PXI.(new products: Test & Measurement)(low-voltage differential signaling )(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... * 400 and 200Mb/s digital waveform generator/analyzers interface to low-voltage differential signaling (LVDS) devices using PXI platform * Ideal for military and aerospace ATE applications, such as surveillance, avionic communications,...

Measuring receiver provides all signal and attenuator calibration functions in one instrument.(new products: Test & Measurement)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2005... The FSMR Measuring Receiver introduced by Rohde & Schwarz is said to be the industry's first single-instrument for calibrating all key parameters of signal generators and fixed and variable attenuators. It eliminates the need to cable together...