Wireless Design & Development articles from April 2008

Wireless Design & Development archives from April 2008

Wireless: a bright spot in the '08 economy.(UP FRONT)
April 1, 2008... As it concerns the health of the U. S. economy, it's hard to maintain an optimistic viewpoint these days. There is no doubt that many sectors of the economy face a major retrenchment. However, I feel there is ample reason to believe that the...

Static printed advertising turned into lively animated displays.(EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES & MARKETS)
April 1, 2008... Digital View's ActivPrint[TM] is a new technology that turns static advertising into eye-catching animated displays. ActivPrint uses programmable e-paper technology and animation combined with the latest design techniques to bring advertising...

OneSIMCard makes it easier and cheaper for military personnel to stay in touch.(EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES & MARKETS)
April 1, 2008... It's not uncommon for family and friends to send toiletries, magazines, photos, and other personal items to our fighting forces in Iraq to help make their time away a bit more tolerable. Alex Filippov, general manager of Long Distance Post,...

Hear and be heard in the noisiest places.(EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES & MARKETS)
April 1, 2008... Audience recently demonstrated at CTIA Wireless 2008 the industry s first voice processor based on the intelligence of the human hearing system. The processor enables instantaneous noise suppression of 25 dB for both stationary and...

RFID memory windshield inlay designed for vehicle ID market.(EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES & MARKETS)
April 1, 2008... KSW Microtec AG has launched the KSW windshield inlay offering customers more accurate, efficient and secure vehicle access into various locations and premises. With a read range of approximately 18 feet and a larger memory chip, the inlay...

FIC solutions help bridge adjacent standards within the wireless infrastructure.(PRODUCT NEWS: WHAT'S HOT)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] IDT[R] (Integrated Device Technology. Inc. announces a new family of common public radio interface(CPRI)-based functional interconnect chip (FIC) solutions. These products. which bridge adjacent standards within the...

Receiver subsystem bridges the gap between RF and digital worlds.(PRODUCT NEWS: WHAT'S HOT)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The LTM9001 is the first in a series of System in a Package (SIP) signal chain receiver modules, leveraging Linear's uModule[TM] packaging technology. This family of integrated receiver subsystems is intended to...

GPS quality TCXO in a LCC package.(PRODUCT NEWS: WHAT'S HOT)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Vectron International announces the release of its smallest temperature compensated crystal oscillator (TCXO) to date. The VTM3 TCXO offers similar phase noise performance to the company's VTC4 and VTC1 TCXOs in a...

Low-power MCUs doubles battery.(PRODUCT NEWS: WHAT'S HOT)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Silicon Laboratories Inc. has released a family of microcontrollers (MCUs) capable of operating down to 0.9 V, enabling portable devices to derive power from a single-cell battery for the first time. The C8051F9xx...

Module designed for embedding Bluetooth connectivity.(PRODUCT NEWS: WHAT'S HOT)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Lemos International's Parani-ESD1000 is a Class 1 type embedded Bluetooth serial module designed for users who are wishing to embed Bluetooth connectivity directly onto the circuit boards of RS-232-based equipment....

Single chip wireless solution for USB dongles.(PRODUCT NEWS: WHAT'S HOT)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Nordic Semiconductor nRF24LU1[TM] single chip 2.4 GHz transceiver enables the implementation of ultra-compact, high performance USB dongles for wireless peripherals by providing a true single chip solution in a 5...

Rad-hard UltraCMOS[TM] devices for space applications.(PRODUCT NEWS: WHAT'S HOT)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Peregrine Semiconductor's UltraCMOS[TM] PE97022 and PE97042 phase locked loop (PLL) frequency synthesizers are a pair of 3.5 GHz Integer-N PLLs that provide a normalized phase noise of -216 dBc/Hz, and feature...

Customizable CPU platform collects, processes and delivers data at processor speeds up to 1.2 GHz.(PRODUCT NEWS: WHAT'S HOT)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Critical Link, LLC has released a high-speed, high-end processing edition of its customizable CPU platform, the MityDSP[R]. This latest member of the MityDSP family--the MityDSP-Pro[R]--collects, processes and...

Simplify spectrum/signal analyzer selection with 5 key considerations: understanding your specific design needs and the functionality required can ease the selection process.(EYE ON T&M ANALYZERS)
April 1, 2008... Spectrum and signal analyzers can be a critical asset in wireless development and manufacturing. Spectrum and signal analyzers are perhaps the most fundamental and flexible tools in the wireless engineer's test kit, and can be a critical asset...

Enhanced RFCMOS paves the way for UWB systems: UWB circuit topologies using low-cost 180 nm RFCMOS allows system components to achieve high performance with low power in a compact design.(Cover story)
April 1, 2008... Recent Ultra Wideband (UWB) product demonstrations have illustrated the many varied applications that will employ this technology, including wireless and wired data communications systems with both mobile and fixed devices. This allows...

Software defined radio--the "Holy Grail" for the industry: a new design concept is needed where the same RF design can be reconfigured to handle future radio requirements.(SOFTWARE DEFINED RADIO)
April 1, 2008... Wireless in the commercial world started in the late 1980s with the advent of car phones and 2 pound handsets that cost more than $2000. The first problem that the industry needed to solve was that of reducing size and cost in order to make the...

Building onto baseband's serial RapidIO foundation: enhancing the IQ data pipe with pre-processing: second- and third-generation serial RapidIO devices enhance 3G+ baseband performance and function.(SERIAL RapidIO DEVICES)
April 1, 2008... This article is the second of three articles focusing on how enhancements in second- and third-generation serial RapidIO devices can improve 3G+ baseband processing. The first article in this series demonstrated how serial RapidIO serves as the...

Signal generator covers RF and microwave frequencies.(PRODUCT FOCUS: SIGNAL GENERATORS)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Anritsu Company introduces its MG37020A fast switching microwave signal generator that covers both RF and microwave frequencies from 10 MHz to 20 GHz. The device, with 100 [micro]sec per point typical switching...

Microwave analog signal generator features fast switching speeds.(PRODUCT FOCUS: SIGNAL GENERATORS)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Agilent Technologies, Inc. announces its Model N5183A compact microwave analog signal generator that is an extension to its MXG signal generator platform, providing frequency coverage to 20, 32 or 40 GHz. Featuring...

MIMO testing in one instrument.(PRODUCT FOCUS: SIGNAL GENERATORS)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Rohde & Schwarz offers its SMU200A RF signal generator as well as its AMU200A baseband generator and fading simulator that combine everything required for 2x2 MIMO (multiple input multiple output) tests in one...

True drop-in replacement for the Tektronix VXI module.(PRODUCT FOCUS: SIGNAL GENERATORS)
April 1, 2008... The Ascot division of Giga-tronics announces its Model VX4357 with 32 SPDT 5AMP switches, a true drop-in replacement with full software and hard ware compatibility for the Tektronix VXI Module. It is has the same connector and pin-outs,...

Hermetically sealed RF switches feature high isolation.(PRODUCT NEWS)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Mini-Circuits unveils its rugged CSWA2-63DR+ ceramic RF/microwave SPDT switch that operates from 0.5 to 6 GHz in the absorptive mode (good output VSWR in OFF state). Measuring 4 x 4 x 1.2 mm, the device handles tight...

Isolators for digital TV transmitters.(PRODUCT NEWS)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] RADITEK, Inc. announces its LL1 isolator model for digital TV transmitters that has five options covering TV channels 2 through 6. Covering 49 to 88 MHz with 6 MHz bandwidth and a 100 W internal load, these units can...

RF power transistors function in wireless base stations.(PRODUCT NEWS)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] TriQuint Semiconductor announces its RF LDMOS power transistor line that supports the needs of wireless telecommunications base stations and MMDS (multichannel multipoint distribution service) applications. RF power...

PWM buck regulators feature sequencing capabilities.(PRODUCT NEWS)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] ON Semiconductor introduces its NCP312x family of dual output pulse width modulation (PWM) buck regulators that offer special auto-tracking and sequencing capabilities. Featuring integrated MOSFETs that deliver 2 A...

Coaxial resonator oscillator delivers low phase noise.(PRODUCT NEWS)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Z-Communications, Inc. announces its lead-free, RoHS compliant, single frequency coaxial resonator oscillator (CR02741ALF) in S band (2741 MHz), offering low phase noise performance of -115 dBc/Hz at l0 kHz offset....

Emulation products for hardware, embedded software co-verification.(PRODUCT NEWS)
April 1, 2008... EVE introduces its ZeBu-Personal for system-on-chip (SoC) hardware verification and software development that shortens time to tape-out, improves product quality and eliminates costly respins, while accelerating software development ahead of...

High frequency RFID reader ICs: propel new application designs.(FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY: RFID)
April 1, 2008... According to Moore's Law, the number of transistors on an IC doubles every 2 years. In theory then, the performance and functionality of ICs will continue to increase exponentially. It's this continual improvement that has created a new...

NFC in the real world: moving to system on chip (SoC) integration.(FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY: RFID)
April 1, 2008... The success of Near Field Communication (NFC) across a range of applications depends on its large-scale adoption. This means simple, low-cost implementation of the technology in mass-market electronic devices, from mobile phones and laptops to...

Antenna tuning switch delivers IMD performance of -110 dBm.(PRODUCT NEWS)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation releases its UltraCMOS PE42641 SP4T antenna tuning switch that delivers an IMD performance of-110 dBm, making it suitable for converged designs that require high linearity and low...

VCO operates from 2425 to 2440 MHz.(PRODUCT NEWS)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Crystek Crystals Corporation unveils its CVCO55CC-2425-2440 VCO that operates from 2425 to 2440 MHz with a control voltage range of 0.3 to 4.7 V. It features a typical phase noise of -113 dBc/Hz at 10 kHz offset, and...

Connector features a dovetailed housing.(PRODUCT NEWS)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Anderson Power Products (APP) offers its Multipurpose Powerpole connector that is designed with proprietary flat wiping technology. The dovetailed housing allows users to interlock multiple housings into vertical or...

Filter for high performance cable increases available bandwidth.(PRODUCT NEWS)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] TriQuint Semiconductor releases its filter for high-speed wideband cable television digital tuner applications that enables CATV tuner, baseband and set-top box (STB) manufacturers to build smaller, high performance...

Super-capacitors reduce EMI noise.(PRODUCT NEWS)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Tecate Industries announces its CAP-XX's ultra-thin G series of general-purpose super-capacitors. Comprised of the GS and GW series of single-cell and dual-cell devices, the RollS-compliant parts overcome the power...

Switching power supplies available in three package styles.(PRODUCT NEWS)
April 1, 2008... Astrodyne Corporation announces its multi-package PMK225 line of high density switching power supplies that provide output power of 225 W with active PFC. All models accept universal input from 90 to 264 VAC and six models, in each package...

DC/DC converter offers 3 kVDC isolation.(PRODUCT NEWS)
April 1, 2008... Murata Power Solutions announces its NMK series of isolated 2 W single output DC/DC converters that provides performance in a small, pin compatible, industry-standard SIP package, allowing for drop-in replacement of other devices. Comprising...

Digital potentiometer offers 150-year data retention.(PRODUCT NEWS)
April 1, 2008... Austriamicrosystems expands its digital potentiometer portfolio with the AS 1507, the successor of the AS 1506, a 256-tap SPI-interfaced non-volatile dual digital potentiometer available with 10, 50 and 100 k[ohms] resistance. It is suitable...

Integrated substrate packages for wireless applications.(PRODUCT NEWS)
April 1, 2008... Jacket Micro Devices, Inc. (JMD) announces highly-integrated substrate packages for wireless applications. The proprietary multi-layer organic (MLO) technology is suitable for front-end modules (FEMs) and emerging embedded applications,...

Fixed attenuators are available in five values.(PRODUCT NEWS)
April 1, 2008... Trilithic's RF & Microwave Components division releases fixed attenuators that are designed for 10 W DC-6GHz. This fixed attenuator series is available in 3, 6, 10, 20 and 30 dB attenuation values. Model HFP-510-6 features rugged construction...

Power amplifier features on-chip power detector.(PRODUCT NEWS)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Mimix Broadband, inc. introduces its XP1042-QT and XP1043-QH driver and power amplifier pair in RoHS compliant, standard 3 x 3 and 4 x 4 millimeter QFN plastic packages, covering 12 to 16 GHz. The XP1042-QT driver...

Micro card edge data connectors target medical applications.(PRODUCT NEWS)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] The Harting micro card edge data (MCE) connector range is aimed at board-to board mezzanine or small "pluggable daughter card" applications. These MCE connectors are suitable for high rates (up to 14 Gb/s) of data...

Demonstration board implements capacitive touch-sensing interfaces.(PRODUCT NEWS)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Microchip Technology, Inc.'s PICDEM Touch Sense 1 demo board is designed for capacitive touch-sensing applications. The board comes with a PICkit serial analyzer and the royalty-free retouch sensing solution software...

Voltage controlled crystal oscillator features an HCMOS output.(PRODUCT NEWS)
April 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Connor-Winfield introduces its Model XO125 5 V voltage controlled oven compensated crystal oscillator (VCOCXO) with an HCMOS output. The oscillator is designed for Stratum 3E applications that require a low aging...

Processors inspire new applications.(TECHNOLOGY AWARD)
April 1, 2008... Texas Instruments Inc. introduces four new OMAP[TM] processors, based on the market's first broad offering of the ARM[R] Cortex[TM]-A8 core, providing a combination of laptop-like performance at handheld power levels in a single chip. With more...