Electronic Design articles from August 2004

Electronic Design archives from August 2004

Cell phone rings in with MMS functionally.(TechScope: electronics technology at work and at play)
August 9, 2004... It seems that no one carries a mere phone anymore. The latest handhelds pack all kinds of multimedia features, and the Motorola A630 is no exception. When it's closed, it looks like an ordinary cell phone. But flip it open, and you'll find a...

Epilepsy patients use mind control to move a computer cursor.(TechScope: electronics technology at work and at play)
August 9, 2004... Much like a scene from some sci-fi flick, four epilepsy patients successfully learned how to control a cursor on a video screen using only their minds. This important development from researchers at Washington University at St. Louis could lead...

PlanetEE.com.(power design 365)(Brief Article)
August 9, 2004... THE GLOBAL RESOURCE FOR ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS Aimed at electronics engineers and engineering managers worldwide, PlanetEE serves as a gateway to the individual Web sites of the highly respected engineering publications and specifier's tools...

Broadband over powerline: beyond the interference.(Editorial)
August 9, 2004... I wonder if any of you readers will march on Washington to protest FCC chairman Michael Powell's recent statements promoting the future of broadband over powerline (BPL). I know BPL is an incendiary issue with many of you, not because you're...

What's all this clinometer stuff, anyhow?(Pease Porridge)
August 9, 2004... When I decided to go on a bicycle trek in Nepal a few years ago, I planned to instrument the tough hills with a clinometer to measure the slopes I'd be ascending and descending. Well, designing a "clinometer" shouldn't be Rocket Science. A...

Zigbee and ECC secure wireless networks.(POV: point of view)
August 9, 2004... Not all wireless networking environments are created equal. An enterprise with mobile workers firing data back and forth, for example, has very different needs than a hospital outfitted with wireless patient-monitoring equipment. The standards...

Design efficiency will keep your product from BOMing out.(Design Analysis)
August 9, 2004... Measured by part count and cost, design efficiency often is the most significant factor in determining the bill of materials (BOM) of a piece of electronic equipment. Design efficiency can be equally or more important than the additional...

8-bit SAR, 20-bit delta-sigma ADCs up the ante on converter specs.(Analog & Power)
August 9, 2004... A new 18-bit successive-approximation-register (SAR) converter and a 20-bit delta-sigma unit expand the speed and accuracy envelopes for analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). Made by Analog Devices, the 18-bit AD7641 SAR converter runs at a...

Dual USB-port switches handle 1.2 A, protect supplies from faults.(Analog & Power)
August 9, 2004... A novel current-limited switch for host USB ports delivers up to 1.2 A of output current for each of two channels. Developed by Maxim Semiconductor, the MAX1558 includes an accurate, programmable, internal current-limiting circuit that protects...

Low-distortion PGA helps ADCs convert higher IFs.(Analog & Power)
August 9, 2004... Cellular basestation designers crave higher intermediate frequencies, which places greater demands on analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). The trend is toward 110, 120, and soon, even 170 Msamples/s. At the same time, 14-bit ADCs require a...

Collaboration spawns a structured-ASIC flow.(EDA)
August 9, 2004... Structured ASICs are gaining market traction. Designers find that a migration path from FPGA to structured ASIC and, potentially, to standard-cell or custom ASIC is a good way to manage costs. Yet a unified flow that supports all options has...

SoC implementation tool yields speedier frequency results.(EDA)
August 9, 2004... A revise of AmmoCore's Fabrix system-on-a-chip (SoC) implementation suite improves quality of results, promises reduced die sizes, and aims to shorten design cycles. The suite combines floorplanning and silicon virtual prototyping with physical...

Nearly 1000 I/Os are found on Hardi's latest FPGA-based ASIC prototyping board.(EDA Roundup)
August 9, 2004... NEARLY 1000 I/Os ARE FOUND on Hardi's latest FPGA-based ASIC prototyping board. The FPGAPRO_2x3 gives users access to multigigabit serial links and embedded PowerPC processors. The board also can be used as a standalone system for prototyping...

Precision method for laser diode emission control.(Design / idea)(Advertisement)
August 9, 2004... In many applications where light is used to control a process, it is very important to maintain a constant light level. In some systems, a simple LED or laser diode is used to create a light source to provide illumination, however, even with...

FPGAs bring custom-ASIC economy to system design: designed for cost-sensitive applications, two FPGA families tackle system designs previously considered approachable only with custom silicon.(Putting New Technology In Perspective)
August 9, 2004... Getting more for less is the eternal struggle of the semiconductor industry, especially with digital logic. That's why designers applaud the trend of FPGAs implemented in processes with ever-smaller feature sizes. Now, costs for many low- to...

Ethernet processor cuts networking overhead: this multiprocessor chip uses hardware acceleration to handle remote DMA and iSCSI by itself.(Putting New Technology In Perspective)
August 9, 2004... Ethernet is everywhere. It's easy to use and install, but the advent of 1-Gbit/s Ethernet is stressing even the latest gigahertz processors. So, it's hardware acceleration to the rescue. Heeding the call, Siliquent Technologies' Ethernet...

Securing the games: surveillance/intelligence technology and 70,000 in security personnel combine to gird Greece against potential terrorist attacks at the 2004 Summer Olympics.(Engineering Feature)(Cover Story)
August 9, 2004... SECURITY CONCERNS REMAIN HIGH AS the Summer Games open in Athens this month, with international threats as well as domestic ones: Greek terrorists set off three bombs in the city on May 5. Although the explosions caused no casualties, they...

Thanks for the memory.(Embeded In Electronic Design)
August 9, 2004... The program runs! Break out the champagne. It's time to ship. Or is it? Diagnostic tools such as debuggers and trace applications are invaluable in tracking down bugs. However, an often overlooked or unavailable tool is the...

Starter Kit sets sights on STR7 MCU.(Embedded News)
August 9, 2004... The ARM-based STR7 from STMicroelectronics gets a boost with the latest Hitex Tantino JTAG debugger. The Hitex Starter Kit for the STR7 MCU includes the HiTex evaluation board, a Tantino JTAG module, and a complete developer suite with...

IDE adds peripheral wizard.(Embedded News)
August 9, 2004... Taking advantage of built-in and external 8051 peripherals can be a chore given the wide range of MCU parts available. Hi-Tech Software's Hi-Tech C for 8051 version 9.01 tackles the problem with its peripheral wizard support to create header...

Clock generator looks to embedded MIPS systems.(Embedded News)
August 9, 2004... Designers of MIPS-based embedded systems no longer need to utilize clock generators targeted for other platforms like the PowerPC. Another option is PMC-Sierra's CM5470 clock generator for MIPS processors. This chip generates multiple clocks...

32-bit MCU tackles encryption, DSP, and communication chores.(Embedded In Electronic Design)
August 9, 2004... Ravenous demand for greater functionality and more secure connections continues unabated among communication and networking applications. Freescale Semiconductor's latest line of 32-bit ColdFire microprocessors targets this space with a range...

MCUs possess x86 compatibility.(Embedded Hardware)
August 9, 2004... A NEW RATING SYSTEM FROM ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES COMPLEMENTS A RECENTLY UNVEILED LINE OF THE COMPANY'S X86-COMPATIBLE PROCESSORS. The rating system is designed to replace the megahertz-related naming convention for its embedded processors. It...

PCI-X RAID controllers find homes on the midrange.(Storage)
August 9, 2004... A PAIR OF LOW-PROFILE, PCI-X RAID CONTROLLER BOARDS IS DESIGNED FOR THE LATEST SERIAL ATA (SATA) DRIVES. Utilizing the BC4000 RAID controller, the BC4452-H and BC4852-H boards handle four and eight drives, respectively. Up to four 2U boards can...

Accelerating XML 200-fold.(Embedded In Electronic Design)
August 9, 2004... XML is the new lingua franca of the Internet, and it's finding homes in embedded applications as well. Text-based XML encoding isn't the most efficient because it requires analysis before processing. Tarari's RAX Content Processor (RAX-CP)...

PCI carrier supports quad FPGAs.(Embedded In Electronic Design)
August 9, 2004... The BenNuey-PCI-4E crafted by Nallatech features one Xilinx Virtex-II Pro FPGA and three DIME-II expansion slots. Each slot can handle an additional Virtex-II Pro. The DIME-II architecture is for high-speed links between FPGAs. The board...

Fibre Channel links recorder.(Embedded In Electronic Design)
August 9, 2004... The MDR data recorder, which utilizes the PowerMIDAS 5000 I/O Controller, comes preconfigured to accept either Front Panel Data Port (FPDP) or Serial FPDP data streams. VMetro's recorder can handle multiple streams of data with an aggregate...

ETX SBC packs 1.7-GHz Pentium M.(Embedded In Electronic Design)
August 9, 2004... The eTX-Lx15 ETX (Embedded Technology Extended form factor) module from Diversified Technology is designed for high-performance embedded applications requiring enhanced video support. This single-board computer (SBC) supports up to a 1.7-GHz...

Taking logic-analyzer probing for granted can spell trouble.(Design View Test)
August 9, 2004... For decades, engineers have relied on logic analysis as their main system-validation tool. Thanks to technology advances, the digital systems they design continue to jump in speed and complexity, requiring more sophisticated analysis tools....

PIR light controller relies on a missing-pulse detector.(Design briefs: innovative designs from readers)
August 9, 2004... Figure 1 shows a way to control a light (or other 120-V ac appliance) with a passive-infrared (PIR) alarm sensor. The original concept was to turn a closet or shop light on whenever someone went into the room and turn the light off when no one...

Solid-state relay features load indicator.(Design briefs: innovative designs from readers)
August 9, 2004... Several years ago, I designed a remote energy-control system that split a building into sections and wired the overhead space heaters into "zones." As space was an issue and OAC5s (optically isolated output modules) were way too big, each...

Component specifier: the latest notable components at a glance.(New Products)
August 9, 2004... Component Specifier SENSORS/TRANSDUCERS ED Online 8439 TYPE/Model Features SENSORS REFLECTIVE Choice of infrared LED, verical-cavity surface- SENSORS emitting laser, or visible red emitting...

Eval card eases implementation of TCP/IP, SSL, and IPsec engines.(Communications)
August 9, 2004... * The EVAL-01 system helps IC developers quickly install, configure, and evaluate the company's TCP/IP, SSL, and IPsec offload engines. As a result, customers can cut months from their IC-development cycles and diminish the risk in implementing...

Silicon blocks demonstrate speedy serial interface for WLANs.(Communications)
August 9, 2004... * All IP blocks that support the company's IEEE 802.11 WiLD wireless local-area network (WLAN) now come in silicon, making it possible to demonstrate what's claimed as the first commercial digital interface (HISS or High Speed Serial) between...

Wireless access points whip up data-transfer rates.(Communications)
August 9, 2004... * Based on the Atheros Super AG and Super G enabled chip sets, a new line of wireless local-area network (WLAN) access points boosts the speed of data transfers via frame bursting, wireless network optimization, and real-time compression. The...

Ethernet test system doesn't blink at 10-Gbit/s data rates.(Communications)
August 9, 2004... * A rugged, field-portable 10-Gbit Ethernet tester offers the tools necessary to install, commission, and troubleshoot high-speed networks. For field technicians, the CMA 5000 Multi-layer Test Platform enables network installation and...

Timing chips take on tight margins in Sonet/SDH and PDH systems.(Communications)
August 9, 2004... * Sonet/SDH and plesiochronous digital hierarchy (PDH) systems can take advantage of a timing-chip duo to achieve exceptional performance. The ZL30106 digital phase-locked loop (PLL) offers an OC-3 jitter compliance margin of 20 ps rms and...

Wireless test system scans up to 2000 channels/s.(Communications)
August 9, 2004... * The instrument-grade, high-speed Integrated Dispatch Enhanced Network (iDEN) Scanner for cellular radiophones can scan up to 2000 channels/s. A proprietary algorithm offers fast, accurate measurement of iDEN signal strength, and a USB...

Network-tester option adds support for upcoming ITU-T jitter standard.(Test & Measurement)
August 9, 2004... * A high-precision jitter-analysis option for the MP1590A network performance tester delivers +20-mUI p-p accuracy in jitter measurement. Dubbed the MP1590A-30, it supports the phase-analysis method recommended in the revised International...

Socket tester runs interconnect tests on 200-pin DIMMs.(Test & Measurement)
August 9, 2004... * Designers encounter many obstacles when using boundary-scan techniques to test sockets. The ScanDIMM-S0200 intelligent socket tester overcomes those problems, performing advanced interconnect tests on 200-pin double data-rate small-outline...

Software lets serial data analyzers test for PCI Express compliance.(Test & Measurement)
August 9, 2004... * A PCI-SIG-certified set of compliance/ debug tools for PCI Express' physical-layer signals comes with the SDA-PCIE software package. As a result, users of the SDA6000A/6020 serial data analyzer now can test for PCI compliance. These tests,...

Loaded PCI DAQ board suppresses costs.(Test & Measurement)
August 9, 2004... * The DaqBoard 1000 PCI-based 16-bit, 200-kHz data-acquisition (DAQ) card offers synchronous analog, digital, and frequency I/Os; free extensive Linux software support; and DMA bus mastering. With that feature set, it still costs $375. All...

Beam me over, Scotty.(TechScope: electronics technology at work and at play)(quantum teleportation demonstration at University of Innsbruck in Austria)(Brief Article)
August 23, 2004... THOUGH WE'RE A LONG WAY from jaunting to other planets, it's no longer simply pure science fiction. Researchers at the University of Innsbruck in Austria in collaboration with Daniel F. James of Los Alamos National Laboratory recently...

Vigilant computer agents protect the homeland.(TechScope: electronics technology at work and at play)(Brief Article)
August 23, 2004... Each day, Oak Ridge National Laboratory dispatches thousands of agents on a search for threats to national security. While these agents maintain 24/7 vigilance, they aren't elite government operatives. They're software programs that scan the...

Duke purchases iPods for incoming fresh class.(TechScope: electronics technology at work and at play)(Brief Article)
August 23, 2004... Awaiting Duke University freshmen this fall is an added surprise, as each will receive an iPod. While they're known best as portable music players, these pocket-sized digital devices download text material in addition to audio. The Duke iPods...

PlanetEE.com.(power design 365)(Brief Article)
August 23, 2004... THE GLOBAL RESOURCE FOR ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS Aimed at electronics engineers and engineering managers worldwide, PlanetEE serves as a gateway to the individual Web sites of the highly respected engineering publications and specifier's tools...

Biometrics on passports: best bet for tight security.(Editorial)(Editorial)
August 23, 2004... The 9/11 Commission Report offers myriad recommendations on how we can tighten homeland security, but the finding that offers the greatest impact is one being addressed by electronic designers--at least those of you working on biometric...

Bob's mailbox.(Pease Porridge)(Letter to the Editor)
August 23, 2004... Hello Bob: I recently saw a question in Nuts & Volts magazine asking why the three-pin linear regulator package pinouts differ between the positive and negative regulators. The answer was that it prevented the input voltage from going to the...

10-Gbit Ethernet is ready, along with its customers.(POV: point of view)
August 23, 2004... The past year has seen great progress in the development of l0-Gbit Ethernet technology and its infrastructure, creating improvements that strongly support its wider adoption in growing segments of the computing market. Blade servers, networked...

R&D lab spinoff provides industry-wide access to tools, processes.(In The Labs)(Advanced Technology Development Facility)
August 23, 2004... The Advanced Technology Development Facility (ATDF) is now open for business. An independent subsidiary of Sematech's R&D wafer lab and associated analytical laboratories, it began operation last month. This Sematech spinoff will offer a wide...

Nanoelectronics, data security, COTS video generator.(European Watch)(commercial off-the-shelf)(European Nanoelectronics Initiative Advisory Council)(Brief Article)
August 23, 2004... European strategy for nanoelectronlcs Pasquale Pistorio, president and chief executive of STMicroelectronics, will chair the Technology Platform group of a new European initiative called ENIAC (European Nanoelectronics Initiative Advisory...

Sophisticated reference designs illuminate the art of power engineering.(Analog & Power)
August 23, 2004... Power-supply design is an art with too few practitioners. Two recent reference designs illustrate this point. One relates to power factor correction (PFC), which limits conducted noise. Switched supplies draw input power in short,...

Lithium battery-charger IC integrates FETSs to drive 2 A for fast charging.(Analog & Power)(field effect transistors)(Brief Article)
August 23, 2004... Consumers not only want long battery life, they also want to charge their batteries in next to no time. So, here is a synchronous, switch-mode battery-charger IC to fill the bill. The bq24100 from Texas Instruments includes power FETs that...

IP rations power in generic 130-nm ASICs.(Analog & Power)(intellectual property, application specific integrated circuits)(Brief Article)
August 23, 2004... An intellectual-property (IP) platform reduces dynamic and static (leakage) power in mobile chips built on generic 130-nm process technologies. From Virtual Silicon Technology, the Mobilize platform adds an nMOS sleep device to each...

Frequently Asked Questions: LDO voltage regulators.(Power Design FAQs)(low-dropout)
August 23, 2004... What's an LDO? The low-dropout (LDO) voltage regulator offers a much smaller minimum required voltage (the dropout voltage) between its input and output voltage levels than other types of regulators. The LDO's main components are a power...

Low-Drop-Out (LDO) voltage-regulator family powers portable RF, analog systems.(Product Q&As)(radio frequency)
August 23, 2004... 150-mA CMOS LDO For Digital Applications This LP3990 150-mA CMOS LDO has preset output voltages from 0.8 to 3.3 V, and meets the requirements of portable and battery-powered devices. It offers the ideal balance between fast load transient...

ADSL modem/VolP gateway chip brings internet phones to the masses.(Communications)(asymmetric digital subscriber line, voice over internet protocol)(Brief Article)
August 23, 2004... Though it's taken longer than we all thought, Voice over Internet Protocol (VolP) is finally here. Cable-TV companies are offering it, and even some regular phone carriers are promoting it as a service over their DSL lines. Its quality is on...

Multirate VCSEL transceiver targets access networks.(Hot Product)(vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser)(Brief Article)
August 23, 2004... Both Sonet/SDH and Ethernet play a major role in the short to medium metro-access networks that extend to 50 km. Picolight has come up with a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) transceiver to address this burgeoning market. The...

EDR standard infuses speed, lowers power in Bluetooth chips.(Communications)(enhanced data rate)
August 23, 2004... Some thought Bluetooth would never arrive, much less be successful. But the industry has quietly plugged away over the past couple of years and made it a big success. Already, 150 million more Bluetooth chips have been shipped this year than in...

Plastic Antennas may clobber copper, aluminum cousins in portables.(Communications)(Brief Article)
August 23, 2004... "Low Cost Antennas Using Conductive Plastics or Conductive Composites," a U.S. patent document from Integral Technologies, describes how a special resin can be used to create "Plastennas" for cell phones, radios, and other portable...

DSP performs magic in scopes, but don't ignore the tradeoffs.(ahead of the Curve)(digital signal processors)
August 23, 2004... When I set up a measurement and look at my scope, the first thing that comes to my mind isn't that the display might have some inaccuracies. I intuitively trust that my name-brand instrument delivers accurate readings. However, with scopes...

Connectivity software suite harnesses LANs to accelerate testing.(Components & Test)(local area networks)
August 23, 2004... The connection of instruments and application programs of all types is the driving force behind a new suite of I/O and toolkit software for communications over local-area networks (LANs) like Ethernet. As the originator of the GPIB (IEEE 488),...

Mini inductive sensors target embedded apps on the squeeze.(Components & Test)(Brief Article)
August 23, 2004... Embedded applications often require small sensors to fit in tight areas, such as those found in metal-stamping industries. A novel series of 3-mm diameter sensors gives designers another option in this arena. The Bi-1EH03 line of Picoprox...

Ultra-stable microwave coax cables match up with multiple cutoffs.(Components & Test)(Brief Article)
August 23, 2004... The SLA series microwave coaxial cables from Semflex are specifically matched to the maximum frequency ranges of N, SMA, 2.29-mm, 1.85-mm, and other popular connectors. These double-shielded cables build on the company's LA290 cables. Different...

Learn ABCs of JTAG boundary-scan testing with software bundle.(Components & Test)(Joint Test Access Group)(Brief Article)
August 23, 2004... BOUNDARY-SCAN TESTING (IEEE1149.1/JTAG) is a novel procedure for some test engineers and technicians. But ScanWorks Interconnect Development Station version 3.4 from Asset Intertech should ease their transition to developing and deploying Joint...

70-GHz modular sampling scope measures 200-ps system jitter.(Components & Test)(Brief Article)
August 23, 2004... The TDS8200 modular sampling oscilloscope and 82A04 phase-reference module from Tektronix enable system jitter measurements of 200 ps rms. According to the company, these devices represent performance benchmarks for testing high-speed serial...

Memory-card reader takes on an assortment of formats.(Digital)(SMSC USB2223 and USB2224)(Brief Article)
August 23, 2004... The wide variety of memory-card types and their infiltration into digital cameras, PDAs, cell phones, MP3 players, and so on require host systems to be as flexible as possible. The USB2223 and USB2224 memory-card reader chips from SMSC provide...

Immersion-lithography tool dives toward 70- to 45-nm features.(Digital)(Brief Article)
August 23, 2004... Thanks to a joint effort, an immersion lithography tool with an ultra-high numerical aperture (NA = 1.3) and 193-nm wavelength is on the horizon. Exitech's MS-193i microexposure device will help speed the development of critical infrastructure...

Technology center opens doors to all silicon-driven developers.(Digital)(Silicon Valley Technology Center)(Brief Article)
August 23, 2004... The Silicon Valley Technology Center (SVTC) gives startup and established companies the opportunity to develop and characterize their silicon-based technologies cost-effectively, accelerating time-to-revenue. Customers of Cypress...

Tool lends concurrency to FPGA/PC-board design process.(EDA)(field programmable logic arrays)
August 23, 2004... With many more faster and denser FPGAs finding their way onto pc boards, it's about time for FPGA and pc-board tools to begin to talk. If there's any hope of dealing with the complexities of pin assignments within the compressed timeframes of...

Startup aims to automate RTL closure process.(EDA)(register transfer level)(Blue Pearl Software Inc.)(Brief Article)
August 23, 2004... Rising design complexity causes innumerable headaches in achieving functional design closure. Startup firm Blue Pearl Software plans to address design closure at RTL using a combination of design-rule checks. Its ultimate goal is to cut down on...

RTL can now be executed in a SystemC simulator.(EDA Roundup)(register transfer level)(Brief Article)
August 23, 2004... * RTL CAN NOW BE EXECUTED IN A SYSTEMC SIMULATOR thanks to Carbon Design Systems' integration of its DesignPlayer engine into CoWare's ConvergenSC SystemC simulator. Joint customers of Carbon Design and CoWare now can use a SystemC simulator...

A design platform for TSMC'S silicon-germanium(SiGe) process.(EDA Roundup)(Brief Article)
August 23, 2004... A DESIGN PLATFORM FOR TSMC'S SILICON-GERMANIUM (SIGE) PROCESS will be the end result of a partnership between TSMC and Applied Wave Research. The platform for TSMC's 0.35-[micro]m SiGe process will include AWR's Analog Office RFIC design...

Novel processor modules add options to designer's plate.(Embedded)(Ultimodule Inc.'s UM-SK-104 Starter Kit, Kontron's DIMM-PC/Lite)(Brief Article)
August 23, 2004... Two different compact module-based product families recently added new members to their lineups. The first, Kontron's DIMM-PC/Lite, utilizes a 68- by 40-mm small-outline dual-inline memory-module (SO DIMM) form factor. It's built around...

Dual-platform Linux toolkit quickens development/test pace.(Embedded Software)(Brief Article)
August 23, 2004... The Linux Pro ADK (Application Development Kit) from Monta Vista Software supports a generic x86 environment and the developer's choice of platform, such as PowerPC, ARM, SH, or MIPS. The ADK combines support for both platforms with Monta...

Development kit supports 8051 flash MCU with on-chip PLD.(Embedded Hardware)(Brief Article)
August 23, 2004... The use of development kits can minimize startup time. The DK3300 development kit includes the MCU, USB JTAG debugger, and Raisonance Rkit Development Suite plus an evaluation version of Keil's [micro]Vision2 integrated development...

PC/104 developer platform combines PCI and ISA cards.(Embedded)(peripheral component interconnect, industry standard architecture)(Brief Article)
August 23, 2004... PC/104 boards deliver a range of interfaces while supporting the PCI and ISA bus. The PCIO4+DEV open-frame development platform from Parvis Corp. allows access to the PC/104 boards, plus the PC ISA and PCI boards. This is handy for development...

Tools tackle new processors.(Embedded Software)(Brief Article)
August 23, 2004... LINUX AND WINDOWS CE SPREAD OUT TO MORE PROCESSORS WITH NEW TOOL RELEASES, as Microsoft's Windows CE now supports MIPS Technologies' 550-MHz MIPS32 24K family of cores. The cores target connected and small-footprint devices, including...

Low-level measurement gets high-level treatment: a nanovoltmeter, an ac-dc current source, and a dc current source set new standards for low-level voltage, current, and noise measurements.(Putting New Technology In Perspective)
August 23, 2004... Low-level measurements in research, metrology, nanotechnology, superconductivity, and other low-voltage and low-resistance applications require a special breed of test equipment. Keithley Instruments accepts this challenge with three new...

Thrifty ICs tame multichannel-audio I/O: a series of codecs and class-D drivers provides a gaggle of inputs and outputs for car and home audio systems without resorting to fistfuls of ADCs and DSPs.(Putting New Technology In Perspective)
August 23, 2004... New home and auto audio systems handle a host of input and output channels. Home A/V receivers interface with set-top boxes, VCRs, and Dolby 5.1. A new car's audio inputs include navigation systems, mobile phones, CD/DVD players, and...

Chips in space: on-the-fly intelligence.(Military Electronics)(Cover Story)
August 23, 2004... Conventional wisdom has it that the consumer market will drive the next stage of growth in electronics. But designers should also be aware of investments in the military command, control, communications, computer, intelligence, surveillance,...

Divide and conquer: on-chip hardware adjuncts accelerate MCUs: enhanced on-chip peripherals or asymmetric multiprocessing helps optimize performance and power consumption, avoiding the need to resort to higher-power processors.(Technology report: microcontrollers)
August 23, 2004... Matching microcontrollers to most applications is a relatively simple feat. The task becomes more onerous, though, when high performance meets low-power requirements. Portables, remote monitoring systems, and even low-cost motor controls fall...

Control high-frequency effects when distributing power to DSPs: high clock rates and signaling speeds in today's DSPs introduce a new set of power-related problems that require careful decoupling.(Design Solution Power)(digital signal processors)
August 23, 2004... High-speed DSP system designs are becoming increasingly complex due to the DSP's clock speed and potential issues related to signal integrity, power distribution, noise, and electromagnetic radiation. For these reasons, designers need to...

Tachometer measures very low frequencies.(Design briefs: innovative designs from readers)
August 23, 2004... The circuit shown in the figure is a three-digit tachometer that lets you measure low-frequency events recurring at intervals of 0.235 to 15 seconds--that is, from 4 to 255 rpm. Thus, it's suitable for those biomedical applications that measure...