EDN Asia articles from October 2004

EDN Asia archives from October 2004

Looking beyond CMOS.(ednasia.comment)
October 1, 2004... Some designers and semiconductor production engineers have questioned the utility of traditional wisdom of the last 30 years that the number of transistors on a chip doubles every two years. I think there is a need to question one more...

High-speed ADCs for advanced signal processing applications.(leading edge)
October 1, 2004... Texas Instruments announced five new members of the ADS5500 high-speed ADC family. The ADS5500 family now consists of three 14-bit ADCs and three 12-bit ADCs available in speeds of 80, 100 and 125 MSPS featuring spurious-free dynamic range...

IC enhances camera flash-charger efficiency.(leading edge)
October 1, 2004... The xenon-based flash unit within digital and film cameras is a major drain on their already stressed batteries. Using the ZXSC440 from Zetex photoflash charger controller IC, you can push efficiency to 75%, much better the 50% of other charger...

Web-based power supply toolkit for power design.(leading edge)
October 1, 2004... Fairchild Semiconductor's Web-based Offline Power Supply Toolkit enables designers to reduce design cycle times while addressing specific application requirements. It features tutorials, selection tools, and design aids specifically addressing...

IC cleans up messy analog video signals.(leading edge)
October 1, 2004... Video--and everything else--may be going digital, but the analog video signal still has a major role to play. ICs in Maxim's MAX7450 family provide front-end signal conditioning by restoring the dc level of the ac-coupled signal, compensating...

Multimedia chip enables high-res video playback.(leading edge)
October 1, 2004... MagicEyes has introduced the MMSP2 application processor for multimedia handsets used for video recording and playback, and teleconferencing. The single chip integrates 2 ARM9 cores and 4 hardware processors for video images and 2-D graphics....

HD audio codec with Dolby Labs' multi-channel audio technology.(leading edge)
October 1, 2004... Realtek Semiconductor Corp. and C-Media Electronics Inc. announced a series of HD audio codec ICs which use a combination of the former's mixed-signal process technology and the latter's multimedia multi-channel audio software technology. The...

P-channel MOSFET with low on-resistance.(leading edge)
October 1, 2004... A chipscale p-channel power MOSFET that offers what's said to be the industry's lowest on-resistance of any such device with a footprint area under 3 square mm was released by Siliconix incorporated. Aimed at battery switch, power amplifier,...

WLAN controller enables high-def digital multimedia content streaming.(leading edge)
October 1, 2004... VIA Networking Technologies has extended its range of wireless networking solutions with its Wi-Fi certified VNT VT6655 802.11g WLAN controller, a single chip solution featuring an IEEE 802.11g media access controller (MAC) and integrated...

Multi-channel MPEG-4 codec.(leading edge)
October 1, 2004... Pentamicro's AT2041 is a multi-channel MPEG-4 codec chip, with advanced simple profile@level 5, that provides a highly integrated video compression and decompression solution in digital video recording systems (DVRS), video editing systems,...

Broadband, 2-channel vector multiplier spans IF and RF input ranges.(leading edge)
October 1, 2004... Analog Devices has introduced a two-channel vector multiplier for gain and phase control applications. The ADL5390 vector multiplier can replace as many as six discrete components previously required for gain and phase control in wireless...

Dc/dc controller allows "highest efficiency" at light loads.(leading edge)
October 1, 2004... Linear Technology's LTC3737 is a two- two channel dc/dc step-down switching controller with output tracking to ensure proper startup of multiple voltage systems. It features a user selectable mode to specify light load operation at highest...

Robust 1200V control ICs reduce design cycle.(leading edge)
October 1, 2004... International Rectifier's 1200V-rated IR2214 and IR22141 high voltage integrated circuits (HVICs) for industrial motor drive control can be safely used as a single-part solution in high voltage industrial systems for protection circuits as well...

A switch for any occasion: Texas Instruments offers engineers myriad choices in switches.(Safe bet series: a special series from TI Standard Linear and Logic)
October 1, 2004... That Texas Instruments stays at the cutting edge of technology is no accident. The company has been investing in new technology, and remains committed to doing so, keeping it on the forefront of innovation in new product development. Nowhere is...

Sound bytes: if it weren't for audio converters, some of our favorite products would just be spinning their wheels.
October 1, 2004... Since Harvey Fletcher and WA Munson in 1933 defined the first broadly adopted characterization of human hearing, research has refined our collective understanding of the auditory response (references 1 through 4). The accepted range of useful...

Handling memory fragmentation: fragmentation can be a sticky problem. How memory allocation occurs determines whether, when, and how memory fragmentation becomes an issue.(design feature)
October 1, 2004... Ultimately, memory fragmentation leads to out-of-memory conditions, even when plenty of free memory may still in fact exist in the system. Given enough time, a system that constantly generates memory fragmentation, regardless of how little,...

Driving out complexity with abstraction tools: embedded development tools continue to incorporate higher levels of abstraction to balance the increase in design complexity.(design feature)
October 1, 2004... Complexity is relative. It can prevent you from solving a problem if you can't characterize and understand the problem within a specific context. At the same time, it provides an opportunity to differentiate your product offerings. Furthermore,...

DC/DC converter drives Lumileds white LEDs from a variety of power sources--design note 340.(Design Notes)(Light Emitting Diode )(Advertisement)
October 1, 2004... Introduction LEDs are usually driven with a constant DC current source in order to maintain constant luminosity. However, most DC/DC converters are designed to deliver a constant voltage by comparing a feedback voltage to an internal...

Flash SSDs--inferior technology or closet superstar? While each may have its advantages, choosing between DRAM and Flash memory depends largely on the need.(special report)(solid-state disks)
October 1, 2004... There's been a lot of talk in the storage industry recently about solid-state disks (SSDs) and their ability to dramatically speed up a computing environment's performance. One thing that is rarely discussed is the difference between different...

"DRAM race is finished; flash race is just starting".(Interview)
October 1, 2004... Loh Kin Wah, president and managing director, Infineon Technologies Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, discusses his perceptions about the memory industry. Excerpts: EDN Asia: Can you say something about the new memory technologies Infineon is...

High performance amplifiers: high performance analog solutions from linear technology.(Advertisement)
October 1, 2004... Most Precise Instrumentation Amp Has Digital Gain Control The industry's most precise rail-to-rail instrumentation amplifier, the new LTC[R]6915, features digitally controllable gain. The gain can be programmed on-the-fly to 0, 1, 2, 4, 8,...

Circuit produces variable numbers of burst pulses.(design ideas)
October 1, 2004... The add-on circuit in Figure 1 can produce one to 15 burst pulses with the same number of spaces between the bursts at a pulse width (frequency) that an external square-wave generator at the input sets. The add-on circuit produces a variable...

Simulate input-offset current for current mirrors.(design ideas)
October 1, 2004... Simulating the output-offset current of a current mirror is straightforward. You simply have to apply an input current, measure the output current, and calculate the difference. This output-offset current, however, is not equal to the...

Method provides fast, glitch-free isolation of [I.sup.2]C and SMBus signals.(design ideas)
October 1, 2004... [I.sup.2]C is a popular serial protocol for power controllers, ADCs and DACs, EEPROMs, and other devices. In certain data-acquisition and power-control situations, you must isolate the [I.sup.2]C master from one or more slave devices for noise,...

USB-to-serial bridge connectivity.(ICs, SoCs & IP Cores)
October 1, 2004... * Allows connectivity between serial-based embedded applications and new laptops or legacy-free PCs * Contains 8052 MCU with 16KB RAM that can be loaded from host or external on-hoard memory via an I2C bus * 10KB ROM with I2C boot...

[mu]C for static/native OS banking applications.(ICs, SoCs & IP Cores)
October 1, 2004... * SecureAVR microcontroller * With 64K ROM 4K, EEPROM and 2K RAM * Fully certified for banking applications--granted MasterCard CAST and Visa Level 3 security approvals * Supplied as die on sawn wafer * AT90SC6404R, $0.85...

"Industry's first" SoC solution for B-PON.(ICs, SoCs & IP Cores)
October 1, 2004... * e300 platform based on PowerPC core operating at 266MHz * DDR SDRAM memory controller * Three Ethernet controllers * 155/622Mbps downstream and 155Mbps upstream performance * B-PON layer termination * DBA for enhanced...

LCD display drivers with MLA technology.(ICs, SoCs & IP Cores)
October 1, 2004... * With fully integrated graphic display RAM * High speed interfaces support moving images at speeds faster than 15 frames per second * Designed to drive color super-twisted nematic (STN) displays with max size of 132 columns by 132...

Programmable timing devices.(ICs, SoCs & IP Cores)
October 1, 2004... * Offer IEEE 1149.1a compliant JTAG boundary scan interface with DFT infrastructure and support device programming within same scan chain * Target wide range of applications in communications, storage, digital consumer and industrial...

Controller for unregulated bus converters.(ICs, SoCs & IP Cores)
October 1, 2004... * For 48V dc/dc and off-line ac-dc power supplies * Work over wide range of input voltages, including 400V power-factor-corrected ac-dc converters and 48V intermediate buses for telecom, datacom, and server systems * Converter IC...

Advanced triple-output dc/dc controllers.(ICs, SoCs & IP Cores)
October 1, 2004... * Contain two synchronousbuck PWM controllers * ISL6402 optimized for wide range of applications * ISL6402A designed for xDSL customer premises equipment (CPE) compatibility * Two PWM converters in each IC operate 180[degrees] out...

Wireless LAN and Bluetooth in SiP package.(ICs, SoCs & IP Cores)
October 1, 2004... Philips BGW200 WLAN SiP 802.11b low-power Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN) and Bluetooth semiconductor "system-in-a-package" (SIP) solution is specifically designed to be used at the same time in small form-factor systems such as smart...

Broadband programmable gain amplifier.(ICs, SoCs & IP Cores)
October 1, 2004... * Output IP3 at 100MHz: 47dBm * maximum output rower: 21dBm * Bandwidth: LF to 850MHz * Propagation delay: 0.8ns * Maximum gain: 33dB * Noise figure: 7.3dB (max gain) * Gain control range: 22.5dB * Gain control...

Multichannel gamma buffer ICs.(ICs, SoCs & IP Cores)
October 1, 2004... * EL5524, EL5624, EL5724 and EL5824 integrate 4, 6, 8 and 10 gamma buffers respectively; each includes single high-speed V(COM) amplifier * Deliver rail-to-rail input and output performance * with slew rate of 15V/us and 140mA peak...

Three high-speed LMH amps.(ICs, SoCs & IP Cores)
October 1, 2004... * Current feedback (CFB) amplifiers designed for portable communications and video applications * LMH6723/24/25 are single, dual and quad CFB operational amplifiers * Provide high speed (370MHz) * Low power (1mA), high output...

GaAs HBT driver power amplifiers.(ICs, SoCs & IP Cores)
October 1, 2004... * For cellular base station infrastructure applications * Provides up to +37dBm of output power (P1dB) * With high power efficiency (greater than 35% at P1dB) * High linearity (+50dBm OIP3) * Higher gain (14 to 20 DB) under...

"Industry's first" 6-pin [mu]C family.(ICs, SoCs & IP Cores)
October 1, 2004... * Includes PIC10F200, PIC10F202, PIC10F204 and PICIOF206 * Offer 256 to 512 instructions (X12-bit program words) of Flash program memory and 16 to 24 bytes of data RAM memory * Also features precision 4MHz internal oscillator, 33...

Processors integrate Bluetooth, CAN and USB.(ICs, SoCs & IP Cores)
October 1, 2004... * CP3BT23, CP3BT26, CP3UB26 and CP3CN23 connectivity processors feature CompactRISC 16-bit [micro]C core * 256Kbytes on-chip Flash * 32Kbytes on-chip static RAM * 8Kbytes on-chip data Flash * Able to address up to 12Mbytes...

GreenChip IC for adapter applications.(ICs, SoCs & IP Cores)
October 1, 2004... * Combines both QR and CCM modes of operation into one IC with SO8 and DIP8 footprint * Over-temperature and overvoltage protection * Demagnetization detection * With reduced power frequency of less than 3W during standby *...

Wide bandwidth video switches.(ICs, SoCs & IP Cores)
October 1, 2004... * Quad single-pole double-throw (SPDT) video switches * TS5V330 supports operating range from 4.5 to 5.5V * TS3V330 operational from 3.0 to 3.6V * Both devices offer low differential gain and phase (TS5V: [D.sub.G] = 0.64%,...

"Industry's first" 3U PXI card.(Boards & Systems)
October 1, 2004... * Provides two input channels, each with 16 bit A/D for true simultaneous sampling, 1MS/s maximum sampling rate, 500kHz bandwidth, internal and external triggering and external docking * Combines advantages of 16-bit resolution,...

Cordless voice modules for DECT/cordless phones.(Boards & Systems)
October 1, 2004... * Two versions of CVM--SC14CVM2.4 and SC14CVM1.9 * SC14CVM2.4 uses National's SC14428 baseband controller * CMOS chip optimized to handle all audio signal and data processing for 2.4GHz ISM digital band handset or base station *...

Ready-to-run PFC evaluation board.(Boards & Systems)
October 1, 2004... * Capable of handling up to 3kW of power * Accepts 85 to 265Vnns input voltage at 50 to 60Hz * Incorporates 7720 Series Power Factor Correction Module * Standard applications for 7720 Series PFC Module include switching power...

"World's smallest" PXA270 embedded CPU card.(Boards & Systems)
October 1, 2004... * Complete PXA270 computer on DIMM200 module * Measures 1.2 x 2.6 x 0.1 inches * Optimized for mobile embedded designs where low-power consumption and small size are critical * Intel Wireless MMX technology enables high-performance...

Video processor daughter card for i.MX21.(Boards & Systems)
October 1, 2004... The FS453 PC-to-TV scan converter supports Freescale i.MX21, i.MX1 and i.MXL applications processors. The FS453 sister chip, the FS454, provides Macrovision compliance. The FS453 and FS454 ICs are compatible with virtually all PC graphics...

Pick and place tool for SMT.(Manufacturing Tools & Services)
October 1, 2004... * Tree-modularity concept, with volume and technology scalability * Capability to place up to 300 part numbers ranging from 0101 to odd forms * One-minute changeover from 30 to 100k cph * High pick and place performance with low...

Tool for P-CAD PCB design system.(Manufacturing Tools & Services)
October 1, 2004... * Offers technologies for layout and routing, and improved support for high-speed design * Includes schematic editor that supports multichannel and hierarchical design, topological autorouter, interactive routing engine, and improved...

Batch printer for flexible production.(Manufacturing Tools & Services)
October 1, 2004... * Stores printing parameters, solder paste and stencil specification * Automatically aligns PCBs to stencils with an integrated vision system * Avoids blocked stencil apertures with underside stencil cleaning system * Combines...

Compact dispense-control package.(Manufacturing Tools & Services)
October 1, 2004... * Small footprint; flexible and scalable * Benchtop format; targeted at batch processing or prototyping * Recommended for solder pastes, surface mount adhesive and bonding * Optional features such as automatic pattern recognition...

Tools and aids for 16-bit dsPIC DSC.(Manufacturing Tools & Services)
October 1, 2004... The development tools for Microchip's 16-bit dsPIC DSC include the MPLAB Integrated Development Environment (IDE). The MPLAB In-Circuit Debugger 2 (ICD 2), also a device programmer, supports dsPIC DSC architecture. Additional software tools...

3-D drawing tool for CAD systems.(Manufacturing Tools & Services)
October 1, 2004... * 3-D drawing capability incorporated directly into core product * Supports interoperability with all major CAD systems including UGS PLM I-DEAS, CATIA V5 and Unigraphics NX * Has new capabilities and tools to assist in speedy...

Low-cost flip-chip capability.(Manufacturing Tools & Services)
October 1, 2004... * AdVantis AFC-42 * Offers speed, flexibility and cost-per-placement efficiency * Uses single beam positioning system * Includes high end assembly functionalities such as high magnification cameras, flip-chip algorithms, fluxing...

Small PIN diodes for mobile phones.(Power Components, Supplies and Devices)
October 1, 2004... * Reduce capacitance by 15%, compared with HVL142A, to 0.16pF al 1.8GHz frequency * On-resistance reduced by 40% to 2.1[ohm] at 1mA * Harmonic distortion improved by 3dB to -45.1dBc at +35dBm * EFP package of HVL147, and TEFP...

DZM series lead-free power inductors.(Power Components, Supplies and Devices)
October 1, 2004... * Low voltage, high-current inductor * Designed for switching power supplies and portable electronics * Filter and smooth ac ripple current in dc circuits utilizing 200 [degree]C insulation system * Operates within-40 to 155...

Compact PNP with increased load handling.(Power Components, Supplies and Devices)
October 1, 2004... * First batch of products from Zetex Generation 5 bipolar process * With switched load power handling capability of 70W * 20V PNP transistor exhibits -130mV (max) VCE(sat) for Rsat rating of 31 m[ohm] * Sustains continuous...

Low power flexible 400mV reference.(Power Components, Supplies and Devices)
October 1, 2004... * Low quiescent current: 5.6uA * Wide supply range: 1.4 to 18V * 400mV reference: [+ or -]0.75% accuracy from 0 to 70 [degrees]C [+ or -]1% accuracy from -40 to 85 [degrees]C [+ or -]1.5% accuracy from -40 to 125 [degrees]C ...

Accurate multi-cell Li-ion battery charger.(Power Components, Supplies and Devices)
October 1, 2004... * Accurate over extended temperature range of -10 to 100 [degrees]C * Voltage regulation accuracy remains within [+ or -]0.5% * Charge current accuracy slays within [+ or -]4% * Source current monitoring accuracy resides in narrow...

Circuit protection product family expanded.(Power Components, Supplies and Devices)
October 1, 2004... Raychem Circuit Protection's new Gas Discharge Tubes (GDTs) are targeted at telecom equipment and surge protection modules, as well as industrial, commercial, consumer, and automotive electronics. They are commonly used to help protect...

Buck-boost converter delivers 1.2A.(Power Components, Supplies and Devices)
October 1, 2004... * Fixed frequency operation with input voltages above, below or equal to output * Up to 1.2A continuous output current * Single inductor, no Schottky diodes required * Only 28uA quiescent current in burst mode operation *...

P-channel MOSFET with "lowest" on-resistance.(Power Components, Supplies and Devices)
October 1, 2004... * With--30V drain source breakdown voltage and -4.5V gate drive voltage * On-resistance of 2.7m[ohm] (typ.), approx 25% lower than that of HAT107211 * Available in SOP-8 size small surface mount package * Target applications are...

Triple switching regulator delivers big power.(Power Components, Supplies and Devices)
October 1, 2004... * Wide 3.5 to 25V input voltage range * Three switching regulators with internal power switches: 3A step down, 2A step-down, 1.5A inverter/boost * Antiphase switching reduces ripple * Independent shutdown/ soft-start pins *...