EDN Asia articles from September 2005

EDN Asia archives from September 2005

Dual-core chips: the shadow falls.(ednasia.comment)
September 1, 2005... Dual-core microprocessors have become a buzzword today. Both semiconductor and machine makers are lining up dual-core products. The last Computex at Taiwan, now the second biggest computer show in the world, after CeBit, showed major computer...

Hot-swappable deserializer optimizes cable/backplane interconnects.(leading edge)
September 1, 2005... Serial interfaces between PCs or embedded processors and their peripherals are hot, and with good reason: they save power, space, and cost compared to wide parallel busses. A trio of similar parts from Maxim shows how advanced the interface ICs...

Floating-point devices enable top audio quality at consumer prices.(leading edge)
September 1, 2005... Texas Instruments' three new floating-point DSPs are based on the TMS320C67x DSP generation. The C67x DSP generation-based core is a C-efficient, VL1W architecture that offers significant application performance improvements. The TMS320C6722,...

Motion-smart modules for low-power drives.(leading edge)
September 1, 2005... Fairchild Semiconductor's Motion-Smart Power Modules (SPM) offer a highly integrated solution for low-power (below 100XW), brushless dc (BLDC) motor applications. The Motion-SPM devices integrate multiple functions in a single compact package,...

Configurable power supplies offer non-standard voltages and safety approval.(leading edge)
September 1, 2005... Configurable power supplies offer a fast way for designers of industrial, IT, and medical systems to incorporate safety-agency-approved power supplies in their systems. "A configurable power supply is right for the designer who needs something...

Do-it-all spectrum analyzer for small budgets.(leading edge)
September 1, 2005... The R&S FSL from Rohde & Schwarz is a spectrum analyzer that can be used for a number of applications. It is versatile in the lab, fast in production and easy to carry. It is available in four different models with a frequency range up to 3 or...

2nd gen power MOSFET increases efficiency in power converters.(leading edge)
September 1, 2005... STMicroelectronics has introduced devices built using the second generation of the company's MDmesh high-voltage power MOSFET technology. Suited to SMPS (Switch Mode Power Supplies), Power Factor Correction (PFC) and power adapters, these...

Reference design makes ZigBee deployments work seamlessly with existing applications.(leading edge)
September 1, 2005... Chipcon AS and Figure 8 Wireless recently demonstrated a version of its Z-Gate reference design. The Z-Gate provided interoperability between ZigBee nodes built on the ZigBee Alliance's Home Controls--Lighting profile and LonWorks-based devices...

Compact iMOTION motor drive IC for appliances.(leading edge)
September 1, 2005... International Rectifier has expanded its iMOTION integrated design platform offerings with its introduction of the IR3103, a half-bridge FredFET with gate driver IC that does not require a heatsink for electronic motor drive applications up to...

Laser-based optical sensors for mouse manufacturers.(leading edge)
September 1, 2005... Agilent Technologies' laser navigation sensor technology is now available to mouse manufacturers worldwide. Three versions of the laser-based optical mouse sensors are being offered: one for high-end cordless mice, one for high-end corded mice,...

Philips offers thermal models of its power semiconductors.(leading edge)
September 1, 2005... Royal Philips Electronics is providing thermal models of its power semiconductors to help customers accurately predict the thermal performance of their devices in a fraction of the time it takes to build and test prototypes. This enables...

Small switching supply meets RoHS, shock, EMC standards.(leading edge)
September 1, 2005... Designed for telecom, ATE, automation, and similar applications, the LPT18 power supply from Taiyo Yuden takes line-level ac and produces two dc outputs, with an overall rating in the 18W range. The 114mm long x 32mm wide x 28mm high unit...

Fast, easy to use logic analyzers.(leading edge)
September 1, 2005... Two logic analyzers from Tektronix--the TLA7012 portable mainframe and TLA7016 benchtop mainframe--are compatible with all TLA modules and provide throughput that is at least three times faster than previous mainframe models enabling faster...

Politically correct power: it's not sexy but, increasingly, it's the law: if you want to sell your products into a growing number of geographic markets, you have no choice but to be a good power-line citizen. Fortunately, power-semiconductor manufacturers are easing the needed compliance.
September 1, 2005... One of the intended consequences of universal-power-supply designs--those that accommodate inputs from 100V ac or less to 240V ac or more--is that the power-management circuits become source-independent and the designer need consider only...

2012 X5R 47[micro]F MLCC now available.
September 1, 2005... Samsung Electro-Mechanics (Samsung) has completed development of an MLCC with the highest capacitance, 47 [micro]F in a 2012 case size with an X5R dielectric (-55[degrees]C to 85[degrees]C, capacitance change [+ or -] 15%). The device features...

Chip inductor now in 0603 size.(Advertisement)
September 1, 2005... Samsung Electro Mechanics (Samsung) has come out chip inductor in a 0603 case size with a quality factor at least 6.5% better than that for competing devices when operating in frequencies of 100MHz or higher. The new device measures 0.6mm long...

Multi-layer BPF and balun in 1608 size.
September 1, 2005... Bluetooth and wireless LAN modules are being installed in mobile products to enable wireless networks. and users are requiring ever-better performance module components that are smaller and smaller. At least 50% of all new mobile phones are...

Sensors and ICs simplify current measurements: today's drive toward energy efficiency at every level makes current the fast-growing measurement. Designers can now choose from a bewildering variety of hardware to best implement techniques that have minimal impact on the host circuitry.(design feature)
September 1, 2005... From tiny, battery-powered tire pressure sensors to multimegawatt wind turbines, the nature of today's electronics and the incessant drive to improve energy efficiency make energy measurement a hot topic for every designer. At the low end of...

Crosstalk penalty in serial-communication high-speed modules: electromagnetic crosstalk, among its many detrimental effects, degrades receiver sensitivity. The mitigation of crosstalk becomes increasingly challenging as data rates increase for higher throughout, as module sizes shrink for increased port density, and as supply rails tower for reduced power dissipation.(design feature)
September 1, 2005... The crosstalk between two channels is the ratio of the output of Channel A (with no input signal) divided by the output of Channel B (excited by the input signal). The crosstalk in decibels from B to A is defined as: CROSSTALK = 20 log...

PoE problem to ponder.(POWER puzzler #6)
September 1, 2005... Test your power supply design knowledge as it pertains to Power over Ethernet by trying your hand at answering the three questions below. Check your answers at www.powerint.com/puzzler6 and enter for a chance to win a new Apple iPod Mini. ...

New horizons in automotive electronics.(EDITORIAL)
September 1, 2005... From $70.3 billion in 2003, automotive electronics revenue will to rise to $113.4 billion in 2008, with a CAGR of 8.3 percent between 2002 and 2008, according to iSuppli. An interesting emerging area in automotive electronics is automotive...

Advances in smart auto sensors and actuators.(automotive SUPPLEMENT)
September 1, 2005... The ever-increasing importance of electronics in automobiles brings with it a growing need for low-cost, reliable sensors and actuators. These devices do not exist by themselves, but must communicate with the system's main electronic control...

FlexRay network topologies ideal for design of distributed safety applications.(automotive SUPPLEMENT)
September 1, 2005... Automotive network designers have to be aware that there is an important influence from the network topology layout on system safety. Availability and reliability of communication under automotive constraints need an application specific...

The role Flash-based electronic control units networks inside smart cars.(automotive SUPPLEMENT)
September 1, 2005... The technological advancements of electronics in today's vehicles are being driven by the challenge to make the vehicle safer, more energy efficient and networked. Flash-based microcontrollers are the command centre for Electronic Control Units...

Digital countdown timer never needs battery replacement: building a basic countdown timer that achieves more than 10 years of continuous operation.(special report)
September 1, 2005... Using just an MCU, LCD, 32kHz crystal and a single resistor a basic countdown timer can be built that achieves better than 10 years of continuous operation from a common coin cell battery shown in Figure 1. [FIGURE 1 OMITTED] An...

MP3 Technology leader emphasizes intellectual property protection.(special report)
September 1, 2005... SigmaTel, Inc., the Austin, Texas-based market leader, for portable MP3 player technologies, reaffirms the Company's commitment to protecting the interests of our many customers that have selected SigmaTel due to the competitive features that...

"We're investing heavily in multi-standard development".(ednasia interview)(Interview)
September 1, 2005... Frontier Silicon is a fabless company offering a range of semiconductor solutions for digital radio and TV, and mobile digital TV. Its core products include complete DAB modules, DVB-T solutions, DMB solutions, and SoC devices and receiver...

Power supply control solutions ... at the touch of a button: high performance analog solutions from Linear Technology.(Advertisement)
September 1, 2005... Portable devices need to draw minimal current when off--ideally zero--to maximize battery life. Implementing push-button on/off control disconnects everything from the battery except the push-button control circuitry. Providing graceful...

Interrupt-driven keyboard for MCS-51 uses few components.(design ideas)
September 1, 2005... Designers of micro-controller-based products that require a keypad for user data entry can select from dedicating an input line for each key, continuously polling the keypad's x and y lines, or generating an interrupt whenever a user presses a...

Circuit adds foldback-current protection.(design ideas)
September 1, 2005... For many applications that require power-supply currents of a few amperes or less, three-terminal adjustable-output linear voltage regulators, such as National Semiconductor's LM317, offer ease of use, low cost, and full on-chip overload...

High voltage current feedback amplifier.(new products: Semiconductors)
September 1, 2005... * High speed * 420MHz bandwidth (G = 1, -3dB) * 6500V/[micro]s slew rate (Vcc = [+ or -] 15 V, 20V step) * 40ns settling time (0.1%, Vcc = +15V, 10V step) * High output drive, IO = 100mA * Excellent video performance ...

Step-up DC/DC converter with output disconnect.(new products: Semiconductors)
September 1, 2005... * High efficiency up to 95% * Inrush current limiting and output disconnect * Programmable output voltages up to 6V * 1.5 to 6V input range * Programmable/synchronizable fixed frequency operation up to 1.5MHz *...

P-channel load switches for 1.5V on-resistance ratings.(new products: Semiconductors)
September 1, 2005... * Five power MOSFETs that work directly from 1.5V core supply voltages with on-resistance as low as 45 milliohms * Eliminate need for level-shifting circuitry and maximize power-saving benefits of low operating voltages in battery-operated...

Anadigics intros more tuner ICs.(new products: Semiconductors)
September 1, 2005... * Family of integrated tuners * Provides complete RF front-end integration in small 6x6mm QFN package * AIT1010 optimized for all analog and digital video applications * AIT1021 designed for digital video and data applications ...

Dual-input Li-ion charger IC for single-cell battery handhelds.(new products: Semiconductors)
September 1, 2005... * Complete charger for single-cell Li-ion and Li-polymer batteries * Dual input of power sources (cradle and USB) * Low component count * Integrated pass element * Fixed 380mA USB charge current * Programmable cradle...

DC/DC converter with dual rail current sense amplifiers.(new products: Semiconductors)
September 1, 2005... * Dual 100mV ([+ or -] 2.5%) rail-to-rail current sense amplifiers * Wide input voltage range of 2.5 to 25V * 3A, 42V internal switch * High efficiency power conversion up to 91% * Drives LEDs in buck-mode, buck-boost mode or...

TI and RadioScape's chips and modules for DRM standard.(new products: Semiconductors)
September 1, 2005... Texas Instruments and RadioScape have announced what they say are the world's first chips and modules for the Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) standard. The TMS320DRM3xx family is based on TI's digital signal processor (DSP) technology and...

Samtec expands I/O interface product line.(new products: Passives)
September 1, 2005... Samtec has added a large number of modular jacks, high speed/high density interfaces, and new standard options to its I/O Interface product line. These are in addition to its existing line of D-Subs, Modular Jacks, and High Frequency Serial...

RF connector product line.(new products: Passives)
September 1, 2005... * Micro-Mini connectors (MMCX Series)--available as jacks and plugs and with choice of through-hole, surface mount, and edge-mount terminations; "ganged" variation of through-hole option on these connectors also offered for terminating two,...

Cable assemblies for medical applications.(new products: Passives)
September 1, 2005... * Designed to withstand autoclaving and irradiated sterilization essential for medical instruments and test tubes * Meet all stringent industry and governmental regulatory requirements * Cable interconnects specifically fabricated to...

16-bit, 250 kS/s, 80 analog inputs multifunction DAQ.(new products: Test & Measurement)
September 1, 2005... * Improved performance * Two 16-bit analog outputs (833kS/s) * 24 digital I/O; two 32-bit counters; digital triggering * Correlated DIO (8 clocked lines, 1MHz) * High-performance NI-DAQmx driver software and additional...

IC tester for high throughput production line test.(new products: Test & Measurement)
September 1, 2005... * Small footprint integrated circuit test (ICT) system * IC-100 * "Zero footprint" bench top test system that can sit on top of most handlers and probers yet combines a powerful and flexible architecture with a fast, simple to use GUI...

GPS receiver simplified with protocol software tool.(new products: Test & Measurement)
September 1, 2005... * Configuring, monitoring, and repair of NMEA-0183 based products, including GPS receivers, now simplified by protocol software tool * Users may now view, scan, transmit, receive, and log NMEA-0183 based serial data, with features such as...

Fast, quality test results in PCB X-ray inspection.(new products: Test & Measurement)
September 1, 2005... * Automatic X-ray inspection system * Provides both high geometrical resolution as well as high contrast resolution * Precise calibration of "Field of View" and grey-scale resolution ensures accurate and repeatable results *...

Analog voltage monitor with JTAG interface.(new products: Test & Measurement)
September 1, 2005... * Analog voltage monitor controlled via IEEE 1149.1 (JTAG) bus * Expands reach of monitoring capability to mixed signal voltages for live system health checks or embedded fault observation and prediction * Low-power, analog voltage...

Noise design kit by Advanced RFIC.(new products: Test & Measurement)
September 1, 2005... * Targeted at RF applications * Allows IC designers to select optimum transistors for their course of design cycle * With advanced search algorithm that automatically lists best transistors with option of plotting critical electrical...

More functions for R&S MPEG-2 measurement platform.(new products: Test & Measurement)
September 1, 2005... Rohde & Schwarz is adding many new functions to its R&S DVM family. The R&S DVM family is a measurement system for monitoring, analyzing, recording and generating MPEG-2 transport streams. All instruments of the DVM family can now be equipped...