Electronic Design articles from March 2006

Electronic Design archives from March 2006

Will Moore's Law run into a power roadblock?(integrated circuit design)(Editorial)
March 2, 2006... Welcome to One Powerful Issue, with a special focus on power-the unifying force in the designs you're working on, from the most compact in-ear Bluetooth headset to the fastest Global Hawk UAV. Power-integrity issues often are the most...

What's all this autosave stuff, anyhow?(Pease PORRIDGE)(data saving)(Editorial)
March 2, 2006... When I first began to type on a computerized word-processing system, I realized that a power outage was potentially disastrous. You could type a carefully crafted four-page memo, nicely polished, and it all would go away if the power went...

New power technologies will reduce IT operating costs significantly.(POV: POINT OF VIEW)
March 2, 2006... Server power densities have increased dramatically over the last five years, from 800 W/[ft.sup.2] to 1600 W/[ft.sup.2]. Also noteworthy is the fraction of data-center energy consumption by non-IT loads, which has grown to more than 50% of the...

Power-management ICs meet application needs with higher levels of integration.(tech VIEW)(Summit Microelectronics SMB122)
March 2, 2006... Power-management ICs continue to evolve to meet specific application requirements. For example, some multifunction power-manager ICs focus on portable power systems. These ICs answer the portable system manufacturers' need to develop small...

Fractional-turn transformer helps switcher handle any output range.(Tech VIEW: ANALOG & POWER)(XP Power RCL175 ac to dc converter)
March 2, 2006... Need a custom ac-dc switching supply for small production runs? Look at XP Power's RCL175 (see the figure). Designers can specify any voltage level up to the maximum rating of each output while maintaining full agency approvals for industrial,...

IC provides precise digital control of analog supplies.(Tech VIEW: ANALOG & POWER)(Linear Technology LTC2970 and LTC2970-1)(Brief article)
March 2, 2006... For high-availability server and communications applications, Linear Technology's LTC2970 enables precise voltage control and I2C power-system monitoring in systems that use simple voltage-regulator chips. The LTC2970 uses a seven-channel,...

System-on-a-chip FPGAs mix ASIC and programmable approaches.(Tech VIEW: DIGITAL)(Lattice Semiconductor LatticeSC)(field-programmable gate arrays)(application specific integrated circuits)
March 2, 2006... The LatticeSC family of system chips from Lattice Semiconductor melds some of the best features of ASIC technology and the flexibility of FPGA-based logic. This combination has yielded higher performance and more integration than previous FPGA...

Next-generation processor delivers more on a tight power budget.(Tech VIEW: DIGITAL)(Texas Instruments OMAP3430)
March 2, 2006... Users want more multimedia on their cell phones. That means more processing without increasing the power requirements. While that sounds like a tough task, Texas Instruments' next-generation OMAP3 processor fits the bill. This chip uses...

Full-chip optimization tool boosts ICs' yield and performance.(Tech VIEW: EDA)(Chip Optimizer from Cadence Design Systems Inc.)(electronic design automation)(Brief article)
March 2, 2006... Two pressing issues loom for chip designers--the length of time it takes to achieve design closure and the difficulties in attaining acceptable fab yields. With what Cadence terms "manufacturing-aware" chip optimization, Chip Optimizer...

FPGA design analyzer delivers a two-speed-grade advantage.(Tech VIEW: EDA)(PlanAhead 8.1 from Xilinx Inc.)(field programmable gate arrays)(electronic design automation)(Brief article)
March 2, 2006... As FPGAs grow larger, incorporate more on-chip resources, and become more like ASICs in many ways, FPGA design flows must evolve with them. The latest iteration of the PlanAhead design analyzer follows on the heels of a revision of Xilinx's ISE...

Tools target multivoltages.(Tech VIEW: EDA)(ArchPro Design Automation, Inc. introduced MVRC and MVSYN)(electronic design automation)(Brief article)
March 2, 2006... Multiple voltage islands have become a critical element of power management in system-on-a-chip (SoC) design. Two tools are now available from ArchPro Design Automation to automate the implementation and verification of these multivoltage...

Next-generation Wi-Fi 802.11n is almost here.(Tech VIEW: WIRELESS)(Marvell 88W8660 and 88W8361)(SiGe Semiconductor's SE2545A10)
March 2, 2006... We haven't been waiting for the next generation of Wi-Fi as long as the Ultra-Wideband (UWB) people have been waiting for their standard. But it is taking longer than most of us expected. For a while, it looked like 11n was going to go the way...

The solution to portable wireless power is ...(Tech VIEW: WIRELESS)(cellphone batteries)(Brief article)
March 2, 2006... Cell-phone subscribers love their extra features, from today's color screens to tomorrow's video. But all that stuff really eats power. Fortunately, several companies are developing ways to add more bells and whistles while managing power...

Protocols, PoE, and the less-is-more objective: three European developments give EES frugal but flexible design opportunities.(Eurowatch)(National Semiconductor LM5071)(STMicroelectronics TS4962)(Ericsson Power Modules AB)(Power over Ethernet)
March 2, 2006... STOCKHOLM, SWEDEN * Ericsson Power Modules has joined the Power Management Bus (PMBus) Implementers Forum. The company now can contribute to the development of a future, standardized digital power-management platform that it believes will...

Vector-processing MCU skimps on power: the ARM9-based LPC3180 combines 208-MHz, 228-MIPS performance with fine-tuned power control.(PUTTING NEW TECHNOLOGY IN PERSPECTIVE)(microcontroller unit from Philips Semiconductors )
March 2, 2006... Rule number one for designers of portables: Optimize the power usage in embedded applications for long battery life and efficient cooling. A number of options exists to reach this goal, whether it's powering down idle components within a system...

Digital vs. analog power control a fight to the ... draw? They're different, but by borrowing some digital approaches to design simplification, analog can play nicely with digital in many vendors' portfolios.(one POWERFUL issue)
March 2, 2006... The gossip: Analog and digital will soon battle for control of power-supply regulation. The reality: When it comes to feedback-loop control, both approaches seem to happily coexist. (See "True Digital," p. 46, and "Looks Like Analog, Designs...

Develop affordable mixed-signal battery-charger designs: using these techniques, your battery-charger designs can take advantage of the best of both the analog and digital worlds.(Design SOLUTION POWER)
March 2, 2006... As battery-powered electronic devices gain in ubiquity and power, the need for easily adaptable battery-charger designs arises. With just standard components, battery-charger designs can become more flexible and more cost-effective. A...

FET-OR circuit switches between main and backup supplies.(Design Briefs: INNOVATIVE DESIGNS FROM READERS)(field effect transistors)
March 2, 2006... The circuit of Figure 1 provides a "diode-OR" function for applications that must switch automatically between the main and backup supply voltages. Such applications include battery-backed memory supplies and any battery-operated device with a...

Battery stack drives seven white LEDs.(Design Briefs: INNOVATIVE DESIGNS FROM READERS)(light emitting diodes)
March 2, 2006... Illuminating more than one very bright white LED requires a choice of configuration, either series or parallel. Of course, each configuration has design tradeoffs. A parallel connection requires a lower voltage across each LED, yet ballast...

Li-Ion batteries last through long run times.(Component VIEW)(Valence Technology U-Charge Power System)(DC-DC converters)
March 2, 2006... Eight new models in Valence Technology's U-Charge Power System lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery line perform well in applications with long run times. The RT and XP models are built with the company's proprietary Saphion technology, which...

Designers can use the GSM11 series power supplies from Condor D.C. Power Supplies as drop-in replacements for the company's GSM7 series.(NEWS IN BRIEF: POWER)
March 2, 2006... Designers can use the GSM11 series power supplies from Condor D.C. Power Supplies as drop-in replacements for the company's GSM7 series. However, the GSM11 models deliver over 50% more power and completely comply with the European Union's...

Measuring just 5 by 8 by 1.6 in., the APS400MX series of 400-W switching power supplies is well suited for medical or industrial applications.(NEWS IN BRIEF: POWER)
March 2, 2006... Measuring just 5 by 8 by 1.6 in., the APS400MX series of 400-W switching power supplies is well suited for medical or industrial applications. This series from Advanced Power Solutions offers single and dual outputs ranging from 2 to 58 V and a...

A series of RoHS-compliant (Restrictions on Hazardous Substances) 150-W ac-dc power supplies from Artesyn Technologies works well as front ends for systems with distributed power and point-of-load architectures.(NEWS IN BRIEF: POWER)
March 2, 2006... A series of RoHS-compliant (Restrictions on Hazardous Substances) 150-W ac-dc power supplies from Artesyn Technologies works well as front ends for systems with distributed power and point-of-load architectures. The high-density TLP150 series...

PDA module.(Catalogue Literature Review)
March 2, 2006... Acquire, analyze, and present your data in the palm of your hand. The National Instruments LabVIEW PDA Module extends LabVIEW graphical development to handheld devices so you can easily create custom applications to run on Palm and Microsoft...

Free 2006 NI measurement and automation catalog.(Catalogue Literature Review)
March 2, 2006... Featuring new product information, comparison charts, key specifications, and information on: * NI LabVIEW 8 Distributed Intelligence * PCI Express M Series * PXI Flexible-Resolution Digitizer * USB Data Acquisition Modules...

Kontron X-board <GP8> delivers high-performance, low-power solution.(PRODUCT ALERT)
March 2, 2006... The Kontron X-board module is built around the Intel 80219 General Purpose PCI processor with up to 600MHz speed. It combines the Intel XScale core, which has a built-in PCI bus application bridge, with intelligent peripherals such as the...

Delta's new Delphi Series high powered E48SH eight brick DC-DC converter.(PRODUCT ALERT)
March 2, 2006... Delta Electronics introduces the E48SH high-powered eighth brick into Delphi Series of Board Mounted DC/DC Power Converters. The E48SH, 48V input, single output, isolated, DC/DC converter, delivers up to 50A of output current or 120W of...

Caplugs' catalog released.(PRODUCT ALERT)
March 2, 2006... (Buffalo, N.Y.) -- Caplugs' product catalog features more than 80 new parts along with our existing product lines of caps, plugs, edge liners, grommets, wraps, nettings, and Clear view[TM] tubing. The 150-page, full-color catalog highlights...

Condor's new power supply delivers 50% more power and is completely lead-free.(Product Alert)
March 2, 2006... GSM11 Series, the next generation power supply from Condor D.C. Power Supplies Inc. (Oxnard, CA) represents significant performance and material advantages over the company's current GSM7 series. With a 2.00" x 2.28" footprint, the new power...

Long range wireless RS-232 via Bluetooth.(Product Alert)
March 2, 2006... LEMOS/INITIUM have developed a reliable easy to install, low cost, long range Bluetooth wireless serial communication link for the industrial, medical, commercial and consumer markets. The Promi-SD Class 1 allows long range of up to 1,200...

IR MOSFET chip set delivers up to 2 percent higher efficiency in two-phase DC-DC buck converters.
March 16, 2006... The IRF7823PbF and IRF7832ZPbF 30V HEXFET [R] MOSFETs deliver high light-load efficiency in 45A, two-phase synchronous buck converters powering the latest Intel and AMD notebooks. The new devices are designed to be used as a chip set in...

Model-based design: choose targets after abstraction.
March 16, 2006... Target platforms needed to be the first choice when developing systems using assembler. Moving on to C, designers had more flexibility. But they were quickly locked into a specific target as the run-time libraries prevented migration to...

Designers have some breathing room, but California power deadlines loom.(Energy Commission of California's standards of power supply )(Editorial)
March 16, 2006... Those of you scrambling to meet the July deadline for the California Energy Commission's power-supply efficiency standards have gotten a bit of a reprieve--though you're not getting as much of an extension as the Consumer Electronics...

Bob's mailbox.(Pease PORRIDGE)(Letter to the editor)
March 16, 2006... Dear Bob: The letter from Dave Miller* reminded me of a recent tire episode and questions. The front tires of my Camry needed replacing. The dealer insisted that the new pair go on the rear (and rotated the rear tires to the front). He claimed...

Choice of process, library gets complex at 130/90 nm.(integrated circuits)
March 16, 2006... Gone are the days when "just get it right" summed up the job. Today, chips have to be right, cheap, and done yesterday. When developers search for shortcuts, they invariably choose the path of least resistance. To save time and mitigate...

Latest amateur-radio satellite is no empty suit.(Tech VIEW)(introduced by Radio Amateur Satellite Corp. and Amateur Radio Relay League)
March 16, 2006... We've all heard references to clueless executives as "empty suits." But the old Russian Orlon spacesuit that crew members tossed out of the International Space Station (ISS) and into free-floating Earth orbit on February 3 was anything but...

USB/AC-adapter battery-charger IC recharges portables at turbo speed.(Tech VIEW: ANALOG & POWER)(Summit Microelectronics SMB135)
March 16, 2006... The first product in a family of programmable lithium-battery-charger ICs for portable consumer applications is built around a 1-A current-mode step-down switching supply. Intended for USB or ac adapter power sources, Summit Microelectronics'...

Ethernet-over-Sonet/SDH mapper offers carrier-class features.(Tech VIEW: COMMUNICATIONS)(PMC-Sierra PM4390 Arrow M8xFE )
March 16, 2006... Ethernet dominates the local-area network (LAN) space. However, carriers continue to use legacy plesiochronous digital hierarchy (PDH) T1/T3 formats. Also, Sonet and synchronous digital hierarchy (SDH) still dominate the metro-area network...

Metro Ethernet access switch supports all deployment scenarios.(Tech VIEW: COMMUNICATIONS)(Accton Technology ES4826)
March 16, 2006... Designers looking to break into the hot metro Ethernet market have a new tool. Accton's ES4826 MetroBox-AS Metro Ethernet access switch supports every deployment scenario, from pure Ethernet access for multitennant units to triple-play service...

Speedy dual-port memories deliver data at up to 36 Gbits/s.(Tech VIEW: DIGITAL)(Cypress Semiconductor FullFlex)
March 16, 2006... According to their developer, Cypress Semiconductor, the latest FullFlex dual-port memories offer 150% more throughput than their competitors. With a maximum 36-Gbit/s throughput, the company says these chips also are the first dual ports to...

Network processors make easy work of multilayer application acceleration.(Tech VIEW: DIGITAL)(Cavium Networks CN31XX, CN30XX, CN31XX, CN36XX)(Brief article)
March 16, 2006... Ten additional devices in the Octeon family of system-on-a-chip processors from Cavium Networks deliver highly integrated solutions for next-generation wired networks, wireless networks, and control and storage applications. All of the models...

IP and PHY chip team up for HDMI solutions.(Tech VIEW: DIGITAL)(high-definition multimedia interface)(intellectual property and physical-layer)(Silicon Image Sil 9002 )(Brief article)
March 16, 2006... Designers can use Silicon Image's latest intellectual property (IP) and a companion physical-layer (PHY) interface chip to implement high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI) receiver and transmitter solutions. Fully compliant with the HDMI...

Integrate DVD functions and reduce costs.(Tech VIEW: DIGITAL)(LSI Logic DoMiNo 8633 and 8683)(Brief article)
March 16, 2006... Two chips integrate most ATSC HDTV DVD recorder functions. This significantly reduces the bill-of-materials cost of implementing HD digital video recorders by $15 or more. The DoMiNo 8633 and 8683 from LSI Logic perform full high-definition...

In IC design, you can't debug what you can't see.(Tech VIEW: EDA)(Siloti SilVE and SimVE from Novas Software Inc.)(electronic design automation)
March 16, 2006... It's getting harder in today's IC design flows to observe on-chip signal data. In full-chip regression simulation runs, dumping all signals for analysis is prohibitively expensive. Thus, designers must become selective. The problem intensifies...

Design environment simplifies the design process.(Tech VIEW: EDA)(Pilot Design Environment from Synopsis Inc.)(electronic design automation)(Brief article)
March 16, 2006... Many of the bottlenecks in complex system-on-a-chip (SoC) design projects aren't really related to design itself, but rather to the design process. Factors such as multisite development work, staffing issues, and the quality of libraries and...

Laptop lid may be home for a personal media display.(Tech VIEW: EMBEDDED)(PortalPlayer and Microsoft Corp. )
March 16, 2006... PortalPlayer and Microsoft are working to keep your laptop lid shut, at least some of the time. They aren't trying to lock you out from your data, though. Rather, they want to extend battery life and improve interaction by adding the always-on...

Frequently asked questions.(Design FAQs: LAN eXtensions for Instrumentation (LXI))(local area networks)(Editorial)
March 16, 2006... FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS What is LXI? LAN eXtensions for Instrumentation (LXI) is the architecture for test systems. It's based on proven, widely used standards such as Ethernet. What are these widely used standards? ...

Single-chip transceiver brings 3G handsets up to speed: the SW3200 integrates CMOS and WEDGE/HSDPA RF functionality for next-generation performance.(PUTTING NEW TECHNOLOGY IN PERSPECTIVE)(Sirific Wireless SW3200)
March 16, 2006... The wait for 3G was like being stuck on hold, listening to an unending loop of the Muzak take on "The Wayward Wind." Fortunately, the wayward winds of 3G have stopped blowing, because its cell phones have finally arrived. And with 3G networks...

Solving the wear and tear of flash memory: innovative storage technology instills a longer, more predictable life for flash memory.(PUTTING NEW TECHNOLOGY IN PERSPECTIVE)(SiliconDrive from Silicon Systems )
March 16, 2006... Hard disks have long used self-monitoring, analyses, and reporting technologies (SMARTs). Now, flash-memory disks can join the club. Flash memory-based systems have become successful because the lifetime of the flash subsystem is often much...

To what degree MSEE or MBA? More EEs today wrestle with whether or not to go for an advanced technical degree or an MBA. Now, they can have it both ways.(ENGINEERING FEATURE: MSEE VS. MBA)(master of science of electronics engineering and master of business administration degree)
March 16, 2006... Thinking about pursuing a graduate degree? If so, you've got an important decision to make: Will it be an advanced technical degree, an MBA, or something in between? "I get this question from every student that comes and talks to me," says...

Know the way to San Jose for this year's ESC, or else: PCI Express and ZigBee are among the many sizzling technologies crowding the marquee at the 2006 Embedded Systems Conference.(TECHNOLOGY REPORT: EMBEDDED SYSTEMS CONFERENCE)
March 16, 2006... This year's Embedded Systems Conference (ESC) is shaping up to be one of the hottest shows ever. Vendor expectations for the show, scheduled for April 3-7 at the McEnery Convention Center in San Jose, Calif., reflect the cautious but generally...

Follow heuristic guidelines to make surface-mount PC-Board footprints: these rule-of-thumb specifications will keep your anxiety level low and your prototype design first-pass success level high.(Design SOLUTION DIGITAL)
March 16, 2006... Are you designing a pc-board (PCB) layout containing ICs or other components, but your PCB-layout software lacks footprints? Don't stress! Although it won't be optimized for production, you can quickly and easily create a PCB layout-package...

Use Excel to calculate A-D level-shifter resistor values.(Design Briefs: INNOVATIVE DESIGNS FROM READERS)(analog-to-digital converters)
March 16, 2006... Many times, the need arises to interface single-supply analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) and comparators to real-world signals like [+ or -]5 V. Of course, it's possible to condition the signal using operational and/or instrumentation...

Tiny circuit saves big on relay power.(Design Briefs: INNOVATIVE DESIGNS FROM READERS)
March 16, 2006... Designers frequently use special circuits to reduce the power required to hold a relay in the latched position. Analog circuits such as the "brute force" resistor-capacitor solution or the time-variable current sink tend to be very bulky or...

New design tools can make your analog layouts "Shape Up".(IFD: POWERFUL IDEAS FOR DESIGN)
March 16, 2006... There's no doubt that the challenge of designing analog integrated circuits gets more intense every day. Market demand and price pressures for end products reduce the design time. Add to that demanding performance and frequency requirements and...

Biometric sensor has the touch for PC security.(Component VIEW)(AuthenTec EntrePad 1610 )(Editorial)
March 16, 2006... A tiny fingerprint sensor provides a comprehensive answer for protecting PC users against security threats like identity theft, forgotten passwords, and fake finger spoofing. The EntrePad 1610 is built to take advantage of the Trusted Computing...

Freescale Semiconductor has expanded its accelerometer line.
March 16, 2006... Freescale Semiconductor has expanded its accelerometer line with three highly sensitive sensors built with microelectromechanical-systems (MEMS) technology. The additions are the company's first MEMS-based sensors aimed at the low-cost consumer...

The ATS642LSH sensor from Allegro MicroSystems addresses.
March 16, 2006... The ATS642LSH sensor from Allegro MicroSystems addresses critical requirements specific to anti-lock braking (ABS) speed-sensing applications. In particular, the digital speed sensor meets far airgap requirements and incorporates algorithms...

In response to industry demand for smaller, lower-power.
March 16, 2006... In response to industry demand for smaller, lower-power components, Heraeus Sensor Technology has developed an 0603 surface-mount-device (SMD) package platinum resistance-temperature-detector (RTD) sensor element. The 0603 package footprint is...

Brushless Motor Control Developer's Kit speeds application creation.(... EMBEDDED)
March 16, 2006... * The MC73110 Brushless Motor Control IC Developer's Kit is built around the company's MC73110 controller. It operates in internal profile, velocity, or torque mode. Also, it delivers six-step and sinusoidal commutation, analog or digital...

Network-reprogrammable CAN MCU suits power control applications.(... EMBEDDED)
March 16, 2006... * The T90CAN32/64 is a 16-MIPS, 8-bit AVR-based microcontroller with a built-in controller-area network (CAN) interface. With its CAN-based in-application programming capability, the chip can be reprogrammed over the CAN bus. This...

Low power, 8-bit IR remote control incorporates learning function.(... EMBEDDED)
March 16, 2006... * The 8-bit, Z8-based, Crimzon ZLP12840 microcontroller targets infrared (IR) remote applications. Its on-chip learning mode allows it to copy the output of other remote control units so it can act as a universal remote. A built-in IR amplifier...

PDA Module.(ELECTRONIC DESIGN: Catalogue Literature Review)
March 16, 2006... Acquire, analyze, and present your data in the palm of your hand. The National Instruments LabVIEW PDA Module extends LabVIEW graphical development to handheld devices so you can easily create custom applications to run on Palm and Microsoft...

High performance sockets and adapters.(ELECTRONIC DESIGN: Catalogue Literature Review)
March 16, 2006... Includes GHz bandwidth sockets for BGA and QFN only slightly larger than the IC with integral heatsink for medium power and optional heatsinking to over 100 watts. Up to 500k insertions. Adapters for prototype, test, and more. Quick turn volume...

PICmicro [R] development system.(ELECTRONIC DESIGN: Catalogue Literature Review)
March 16, 2006... ClearView [TM] Mathias is a full-featured ICE with a highly productive Development and Debugging environment for the PICmicro. Mathias fully emulates the selected device including all peripherals. See why Engineers choose TechTools. ...

New low cost USB DAQ from NI--starting at $145.(ELECTRONIC DESIGN: Catalogue Literature Review)
March 16, 2006... Free Data Logging Software Included Acquire and log data in minutes with new USB DAQ devices from National Instruments. With ready-to-run data logging software and driver software for LabVIEW included, taking measurements is simple. The...

Snap mount aluminum electrolytic capacitors deliver 50% more life without added cost.(PRODUCT ALERT)
March 16, 2006... For high-reliability power supply applications, the new LBB series snap mount capacitors offer up to 3,000 hours life at 85 [degrees]C, with full-rated voltage and ripple... 50% longer life than standard products of comparable price. Its low Z...

New automotive low-side intelligent power switches feature high power density and diagnostic feedback.(PRODUCT ALERT)
March 16, 2006... International Rectifier's IPS10xx intelligent power switches are qualified to Q100 for harsh automotive environments. The new line includes the IPS1011R, a 13mOhm IPS in a D-Pak that enables high power density. The IPS devices include a...

ISI Lead Free Interposers for DDR2 BGAs.(PRODUCT ALERT)
March 16, 2006... ISI Lead Free Interposers allow OEMs to use standard eutectic (leaded) SMT assembly processes, even when BGAs are only available in lead-free packaging. DDR2 memory chips are one common application, although ISI supplies interposers for a...

Keithley's 2006 Test and Measurement Product Catalog.(PRODUCT ALERT)
March 16, 2006... Keithley's 2006 Test and Measurement Product Catalog offers details and specifications on the company's general-purpose and sensitive sourcing and measurement products, DC switching, RF switching and measurement, specialized power supplies,...

Breaking the fossil-fuel addiction: GM readies fuel cells for the masses.(HydroGen3, hydrogen fuel cars of General Motors Corp.)(Editorial)
March 30, 2006... President Bush has called us a nation "addicted to oil." I had a taste of freedom from our fossil-fuel fixation when I road-tested a car powered by hydrogen fuel cells at GM's Advanced Technology Center in Torrance, Calif., earlier this month....

What's all this mental math stuff, anyhow?(Pease: PORRIDGE)(puzzles)(Editorial)
March 30, 2006... Some night when you can't get to sleep, try these puzzles in your head in the dark. they're at least as good as counting sheep. I've done them in my head, and they're kinda fun. (1.) Little Egbert bought a mountain. Its shape was a perfect...

EDA must free designers to focus on differentiation.(POV: POINT OF VIEW)(electronic design automation)(Column)
March 30, 2006... Today's IC designers are in a tough spot. Differentiation has never been more important to the success of their products. Intensely competitive markets and shrinking product life cycles place a premium on any competitive edge. In an ideal...

Piezoelectric motor delivers precise positioning in small applications.(Tech VIEW)(New Scale Technologies)
March 30, 2006... Sometimes you need a really small motor, and stepper motors and voice coil motors just won't cut it. Try the Squiggle series of piezoelectric motors from New Scale Technologies. These devices can deliver 10-[micro]m closed-loop repeatability....

Fast high-voltage pin driver doubles ATE throughput.(Tech VIEW: ANALOG & POWER)(automatic test equipment)(ISL55100A from Intersil Holding Corp.)(Brief article)
March 30, 2006... Along the lines of "Who watches the watchmen?" one of the toughest jobs for analog electronics has always been driving the pins on automatic test equipment (ATE). In this case, we're talking about speed coupled with high drive for test during...

Quarter-brick power density hits 380 W.(Tech VIEW: ANALOG & POWER)(Ericsson Power Modules PKM4000BPI)(Brief article)
March 30, 2006... In telecom and data-center applications, dc-dc brick converters' power density keeps going up to match the number of point-of load (POL) converters on the board. The latest in the quarter-brick format (57.9 by 36.8 by 12.7 mm) is Ericsson Power...

Graphics controller takes aim at embedded applications.(Tech VIEW: DIGITAL)(Fujitsu Microelectronics MB86276)
March 30, 2006... The MB86276 graphics display controller targets 2D applications in the U.S. like mid-range car navigation systems and entertainment products--similar to products now being designed into high-end vehicles in Japan and Europe. Developed by...

Verification methodology spans Plan To Closure.(Tech VIEW: EDA)(Incisive Plan-to-Closure Knowledge System from Cadence Design Systems Inc.)(electronic design automation)
March 30, 2006... Verification has always been hard, but it's growing exponentially more difficult with increasing system-on-a-chip (SoC) complexity. It's tempting for verification teams to adopt new languages, methodologies, and technologies to turn up those...

Small scopes deliver big debug capability.(Tech VIEW: TEST & MEASUREMENT)(Tektronix DPO4032, DPO4034, DPO4054 and DPO4104)(digital phosphor oscilloscopes)(Brief article)
March 30, 2006... The latest family of Tektronix digital phosphor oscilloscopes speeds up the debugging of new designs, especially embedded systems, by making it easier to view, navigate, and analyze large amounts of acquired waveform data. To do that, the four...

Control, Analysis Software Connects Instruments To PCs Via USB.(Tech VIEW: TEST & MEASUREMENT)(SignalExpress Tektronix Edition from Tektronix Inc. and National Instruments Corp.)(Brief article)
March 30, 2006... Specifically designed for the DPO4000 scopes and AFG3000 waveform generators, NI SignalExpress Tektronix Edition is an interactive software package that lets users acquire, analyze, and document measurements via their PCs without programming....

Low-power Wi-Fi breakthrough offers active RFID and location services.(Tech VIEW: WIRELESS)(G2C501 from G2 Microsystems Inc.)
March 30, 2006... Radio-frequency identification (RFID) is one of the fastest-growing wireless technologies. It brings the benefits of both barcode and wireless technology to asset management, product tracking, shipping and transportation ID, inventory control,...

Air-conditioner chip set is way cool: white-goods designers must maximize efficiency to meet the demands set by new regulations and markets.(PUTTING NEW TECHNOLOGY IN PERSPECTIVE)(International Rectifier iMotion integrated circuit)
March 30, 2006... If you think appliances built for the North American market lag in innovation, you're probably right. For decades, white goods built for Europe and Asia have been quieter and more efficient. But as the implications of rising energy costs sink...

High-definition radio: it's the new wave: with the technology and a standard already in place, high-definition radio needs the hardware to catch up ... and maybe some public relations.(ENGINEERING FEATURE: HIGH-DEFINITION RADIO)(Cover story)
March 30, 2006... The crowded radio airwaves are crackling. Local AM and FM stations remain a staple among all age groups, whether you're tuned in while stuck in morning traffic or you've got the headphones on during an evening jog. The Sirius and XM satellite...

Wireless sensing spawns the connected world: innovations in sensing, wireless communications, and computing technologies foreshadow ultra-intelligent environments and enhanced lifestyles.(TECHNOLOGY REPORT: MEMS SENSORS)(microelectromechanical systems sensors)
March 30, 2006... Seamless connectivity between people, objects, and events--such a climate once seemed so daunting. Not any more, thanks to rapid-fire advances made in sensor, computing, and communications technologies, let alone the pervasive use of the...