EDN Asia articles from September 2006

EDN Asia archives from September 2006

The interconnect issue.(ednasia comment)
September 1, 2006... While communication between designers and foundries is a well-known problem of the deep nanometric age, still another communication problem cropping up is communications between various blocks in the SoC space. Interconnects inside chips...

Step-down circuit with [I.sup.2]C interface extends battery life.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)
September 1, 2006... Texas Instruments' tiny, high-performance power conversion IC works in tandem with processing platforms that use TI's Smart-Reflex power and performance management technologies. Designed to extend battery life in 3G phones and other portable...

"Industry's first" fast-mode plus devices.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)
September 1, 2006... Royal Philips Electronics has launched what the company claims is the industry's first [I.sup.2]C Logic devices based on the Fast-mode Plus (Fm+) specification. The [I.sup.2]C Fast-mode Plus specification goes up to a frequency of 1MHz...

ESD protection for automotive engine-control systems.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)(Maxim Integrated Products Inc.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The MAX6603 from Maxim Integrated Products is a small analog conditioner for interfacing resistive temperature devices (RTDs) to microcontrollers. It amplifies platinum RTD signals for ADC conversion, and provides up to [+ or -] 5kV ESD...

UXGA resolution RGB amplifier eliminates negative supply.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)
September 1, 2006... The LT6557 from Linear Technology Corporation is said to be the fastest triple video amplifier for single supply applications. It features a wide output swing that extends to 0.8V of supply rails, making it the only wideband RGB amplifier...

Small, low-noise, high-linearity LNAs for 2.2GHz cellular infrastructure.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)
September 1, 2006... Avago Technologies has a pair of very low-noise, high-linearity, high-gain balanced amplifier modules that operate in the 1.8- to 2.2-GHz frequency range. Housed in a small package (5.0x6.0x 1.1mm), they are ideal for diversity antennas,...

Improved material for 256Mbit FeRAM using 65nm technology.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)
September 1, 2006... The Tokyo Institute of Technology, Fujitsu Laboratories Ltd, and Fujitsu Ltd have jointly developed an improved material for a new generation of non-volatile ferroelectric random access memory (FeRAM). The material is a modified composition of...

Radio transmitter IC consumes 30% less power.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)
September 1, 2006... Micrel Inc.'s MICRF405 is said to be the industry's most power-efficient radio transmitter IC in its class. The latest in Micrel's family of low-power RadioWire radio solutions, this IC complements Micrel's MICRF505/506 line of low-power radio...

Mass-producible polymeric UWB antenna.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)
September 1, 2006... Omron Corporation has launched a SMD Polymeric Antenna (type: WXA-N1SL) for short-range, wireless ultra-wideband (UWB) applications. UWB is a recently commercialized short-range wireless technology, expected to be widely adopted in consumer...

Second gen low-cost GSM single-chip.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)
September 1, 2006... Infineon Technologies AG recently announced that the first E-GOLDvoice chip produced in Dresden worked at the first attempt, and has already been used to make phone calls on GSM networks. E-GOLDvoice is said to be the most highly integrated...

Dual-tuner DVB-T ExpressCard 54 reference design for notebooks.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)
September 1, 2006... The MicMamba 2D-XC from Micronas is a dual-tuner DVB-T ExpressCard 54 reference design for notebook computers. With two independent tuners on a single card, notebook users can watch one program while recording another, enabling the notebook to...

High-speed buffer and multiplexer family sets signal integrity benchmark.(INNOVATIONS AND INNOVATORS)
September 1, 2006... National Semiconductor Corporation has introduced four new current-mode logic (CML) signal-conditioning buffers and multiplexers with 25-picoseconds of jitter for the best signal integrity in the industry. The family features integrated...

Japanese power-supply vendors see engineers as competitive advantages.(GLOBAL DESIGNER)
September 1, 2006... Are you feeling a twinge of fear about all those well-educated Chinese engineers who may right now be working on a design that competes with your company's product? Warnings in the business and trade media are currently bombarding engineers in...

Germanium boosts thermophotovoltaic efficiency.(GLOBAL DESIGNER)
September 1, 2006... Whereas photovoltaic cells directly convert light to electricity thermophotovoltaic cells rely on light to drive a heat absorber and then convert the heat to electrical energy. The Belgian-based 1MEC (Interuniversity Microelectronics Center)...

WiMax transceiver matches client to band.(GLOBAL DESIGNER)
September 1, 2006... Flexibility in frequency band is a big obstacle in WiMax deployment and is also the reason that the wireless-broadband technology can work in any region worldwide. Such flexibility, however, can result in the need for multiple radio...

Dropped call: breaking down a broken cellphone.(prying eyes)
September 1, 2006... That's the thought that ran through my mind I when I discovered a Sanyo MM-8300 advanced cellphone, snapped into two pieces at the clamshell hinge and lying in the curb near my home office. What's under the phone's fashionable plastic skin, and...

FPGAs balance lower power, smaller nodes: drip by drip: the FPGA industry faces the endless and unavailing task of addressing demand for low-power operation, even as vendors face the lure of performance, density, and price-per-gate advantages of the 65nm process node.(Cover story)
September 1, 2006... About eight years ago, just when FPGA vendors figured out how to increase the gate counts of their devices to rival those of ASICs, the market started demanding higher performance. It took the industry about four years to make these...

Capacitive touch sensors gain fans: capacitive proximity sensors embody an old concept that today's IC technologies promise to deliver. Vendors vie to win over new markets in the automotive, consumer, and industrial markets using methods that combine traditional analog with the best of contemporary digital techniques.(design feature)
September 1, 2006... While electronics engineers struggle to embed more functions into ever-shrinking size and power-consumption footprints, product designers wrestle with a bigger but similarly unchanging picture. Their perspective, which resonates from the board...

Making vehicles safer by making them smarter: new features must be smarter to add value without distracting the driver and increasing the risk of accidents.(design feature)
September 1, 2006... According to semiconductor-market-research company IC Insights, electronic content made up 23% of the total price of an automobile in 2004, and it will make up 40% of the price by 2010. Many of the earliest in-car electronic systems replace...

"Moving from 90 to 65mm brings significant benefits to the customer".(Interview)
September 1, 2006... Per Holmberg, Worldwide Director of Programmable Digital Systems Marketing at Xilinx Inc., provided insights to EDNAsia on moving from 90 to 65nm. Excerpts: How important is being the first to come out with a 65nm FPGA solution? A...

Input capacitor considerations: functions that require different features are not always compatible on a single capacitor.(special report)
September 1, 2006... The input capacitor performs two main operating functions for a boot-strapped converter. First, it is the power source during the soft-start process. During this process, it is the source of current for the converter's gate drives. It also...

Microcontroller, JFET form low-cost, two-digit millivoltmeter.(design ideas)
September 1, 2006... The circuit in Figure 1 offers an inexpensive alternative to commercial digital voltmeters. Although it has only two digits, it provides considerable flexibility and thus lends itself to customization by means of a microcontroller and its...

Inexpensive envelope tracker handles wide signal variations.(design ideas)
September 1, 2006... Converting band-limited NRZ (non-return-to-zero) data to a digital format suitable for micro-processors and other digital systems poses problems when a signal's duty cycle or amplitude varies or when its average level unpredictably wanders...

Hartley oscillator requires no coupled inductors.(design ideas)
September 1, 2006... Examine a traditional Hartley-oscillator circuit, and you'll note its trademark: a tapped inductor that determines the frequency of oscillation and provides oscillation-sustaining feedback. Although you can easily calculate the total inductance...

OHCI improves 1394b performance in notebooks.(SEMICONDUCTORS)
September 1, 2006... The TSB83AA22ZAJ open-host controller interface (OHCI) 1394b Link/PHY gives designers the ability to build devices using a 1394b Link and PHY layer on the same chip. Said to be the smallest 1394b device on the market in a 7x7mm BGA package, the...

"Zigbee Your Way," based on TI's true SoC solution.(SEMICONDUCTORS)(AeroComm Inc.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The ZB2430 "Zigbee Your Way" transceiver is based on the Texas Instruments 802.15.4 SoC and Z-Stack technology. It provides OEMs with top wireless performance in power consumption, integration, range, features and functionality. Ideal for...

Compact interface controller for high reliability motor apps.(SEMICONDUCTORS)(Digital View Ltd.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The ALR-1400 interface controller is a highly integrated PC, DVI and Video interface controller for TFT LCD panels that provides an easy-to-use, plug-and-play solution for a range of basic monitor functions. Designed for easy implementation,...

SHA-1-based token authentication simplified.(SEMICONDUCTORS)(Dallas Semiconductor Corp.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The DS2705 SHA-1 provides the master side of a secure hash algorithm-based (SHA) token authentication scheme, and orchestrates the challenge/response sequence. This dedicated device eliminates the hardware and software development of a host...

Low power active mixer offers wide bandwidth.(SEMICONDUCTORS)
September 1, 2006... This high performance mixer features low power consumption, and the ability to operate from low frequency up to GHz. The LT5560 can be configured either as an up- or a down-converting mixer, providing flexibility for a wide range of high...

DC/DC converters for military power systems with new filters.(SEMICONDUCTORS)
September 1, 2006... This filtering and active surge suppression module enables fast design of military specification (MIL STD) power systems using economical industrial dc/dc converters. The DSF200LV reduces design time and cost, as well as system time-to-market....

Stereo audio amplifiers optimized for multimedia monitors and notebooks.(SEMICONDUCTORS)
September 1, 2006... The MAX9777/MAX9778 highly integrated audio amplifiers combine a stereo 3W bridge-tied load (BTL) audio amplifier, stereo headphone amp, headphone sensing, and a 2:1 input multiplexer. The MAX9777 has an [I.sup.2]C interface, and the MAX9778...

Upgraded design supports faster PowerPC.(EMBEDDED)
September 1, 2006... The PowerNode3+, a follow-up to the company's PowerNode3 computing node, is designed to provide users with more computing power at higher speeds. This upgraded design features up to two PowerPC 7448 running at 1.4GHz, the latest PowerPC from...

I/0 module monitors and controls SSRs.(EMBEDDED)(Sensoray)(solid state relays )(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Model 2652 is an expansion of the company's 2600 series of smart I/O modules. It monitors and controls any combination of up to eight standard solid state relays (SSRs), and provides I/O services to a 2601 communication module, which in turn...

Tool for Freescale RS08 devices.(EMBEDDED)(SofTec Microsystems)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The inDART-One In-Circuit Programmer/Debugger is a powerful programming and debugging tool for Freescale HC08-, S08-, RS08-, S12- and S12X-based systems. Providing native support for Freescale RS08 family of microcontrollers, this tool comes...

Programmer supports fast JTAG Flash programming.(EMBEDDED)
September 1, 2006... The JTAGFLASHpro Flash programmer/Bring-Up Tool is a standalone device for high-speed Flash memory/device programming via the JTAG interface. Combining hardware from Guardian-SE JTAG Emulators with dedicated software, the device can be used to...

Mass deployment of video home networking.(EMBEDDED)
September 1, 2006... A plastic optical fiber (POF) to Ethernet transceiver solution that enables mass deployment of video home networking driving IPTV and HDTV services has been launched. Making for highly flexible, secure and stable solutions with virtually no...

Realm announces iDentity Series.(EMBEDDED)(Realm Systems)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... The iDentity Series solution comprises iD3 Ultra-Mobile Server and iD1200 Management Router. Compact iD3 Ultra-Mobile Server is self-contained, biometrically-authenticated Linux server with on-board IBM PowerPC processor, memory, and storage...

Single channel integrated UART and RS-232 transceiver.(EMBEDDED)
September 1, 2006... The XR19L220 (L220) is a highly integrated device that combines a full-featured single channel universal asynchronous receiver and transmitter (UART), and an RS-232 transceiver. Designed to operate with a single 3.3 or 5V power supply, it is...

Press-fit power tap connectors for increased current-carrying capacity.(PASSIVES)
September 1, 2006... These single-pole power taps with press-fit termination come in 6- and 10-pin versions. Power can be supplied via screw-mount connectors, or via slip-on pluggable connectors with cable lugs or flat terminal sockets (e.g "faston"). All variants...

EMI suppression in dc motors in motor vehicles.(PASSIVES)
September 1, 2006... The Combi-Suppressor comprises a film capacitor and a multilayer ceramic varistor connected in parallel in a plastic case. This packaging technology offers mechanical protection for the components, and facilitates automatic picking and...

Hybrid coupler.(PASSIVES)(Innovative Power Products, Inc.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Model IPP-2013 is a high power, 3dB, 90[degrees] hybrid coupler for the 500 to 2,500MHz frequency range. It combines two signals with up to 200W CW of total output power. This hybrid is produced in a drop-in style package with solder tab...

Precision film resistor for moisture sensitive apps.(PASSIVES)
September 1, 2006... This line of anti-corrosive precision chip resistors eliminates moisture concerns associated with typical nickel chromium precision resistors. Designated the RNCS Series, it is available in industry standard 0402 to 2512 sizes, and has a...

First RF filter set for MediaFLO.(PASSIVES)
September 1, 2006... This low-loss RF filter for mobile communication devices supports MediaFLO mobile television applications. The SAW filters (LH58D and LH58D2) are intended for channels 53 (707MHz) and 55 (719MHz) of MediaFLO, which was developed by Qualcomm...

Tantalum fused capacitor protects against short circuits.(PASSIVES)
September 1, 2006... The TBW Series tantalum fused capacitor provides increased protection against short circuit failure modes. Using a thin film technology, the capacitor has an internal fuse to protect against short circuits, as well as lower ESR limits than many...

Microwave chip resistors perform up to 40GHZ.(PASSIVES)
September 1, 2006... Designated the MWR Series, this microwave/RF termination resistor is rated for operation at frequencies up to 40GHz. Constructed using the company's TaNFilm self passivating thin film resistive element, it provides a stable corrosion-resistant...

Low ESR capacitor combines Oxicap and MLCC anodes.(PASSIVES)
September 1, 2006... The CoreCap NPV Series of niobium oxide (NbO) ceramic multianode chip capacitors offers low ESR, high ripple current absorption, safety and high reliability. The Series meets all RoHS requirements and will operate in any lead-free assembly...

Platform combines flexible measurements with USB connectivity.(TEST & MEASUREMENT)
September 1, 2006... The NI CompactDAQ platform is ideal for sensor and electrical measurements on the benchtop, in the field and on the production line. It offers an eight-slot chassis that accepts I/O modules capable of measuring up to 256 channels of electrical,...

Low-cost automotive and ISM band RF test systems.(TEST & MEASUREMENT)
September 1, 2006... This low-cost, scalable functional tester is designed for automotive and general-purpose test markets. The Agilent TS-5020 also helps manufacturers get their products to market faster by accelerating test-system deployment. Ideal for testing...

ProASIC3 FPGAs selected for miniature USB-based test equipment.(TEST & MEASUREMENT)
September 1, 2006... The single-chip, Flash-based ProASIC3 field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) have been selected for use within the USBscope50, part of Elan Digital Systems' portfolio of miniature USB-based test and measurement equipment. The secure, low-power...

Measurement platform comes in a variety of bundles.(TEST & MEASUREMENT)(Cascade Microtech Inc.)(Brief article)
September 1, 2006... Measuring semiconductor wafers, ICs, pc boards, MEMS and bioscience devices, the M150 measurement platform allows users to switch between devices in minutes. Interchangeable standard parts make this 150mm measuring device customer-configurable,...

Digital TV test platform for new mobile standards.(TEST & MEASUREMENT)
September 1, 2006... The R&S SFU TV test platform generates test signals in accordance with important global digital TV standards, including 8VSB/ATSC, J.83/B, DVB-S2, DVB-S, DVB-T, DVB-H, DVB-C, DIRECTV and FLOTM. R&S SFU-K199 analog interferer and R&S SFU-K37...

Safe, rugged pressure and temperature recorder.(TEST & MEASUREMENT)
September 1, 2006... The PRTemp1000IS is a rugged pressure recorder that accurately monitors and records pressure and temperature at user programmable reading intervals. Certified as intrinsically safe for Class I, Division 1, groups A, B, C and D, and...

Low-cost current-shunt monitor IC revives moving-coil meter design.(Analog Applications Journal: Brief)
September 1, 2006... Introduction Despite their lack of resolution and accuracy in comparison to digital meters, analog moving-coil meters remain the display of choice when it comes to tracking a reading's trend or drawing information upon a measurement's rate...