Wireless Design & Development articles from July 2007

Wireless Design & Development archives from July 2007

Buyer beware.(UP FRONT)(Product/service evaluation)
July 1, 2007... By the time this column is in print the much anticipated launch of Apple's iPhone will have occurred and some tech hungry consumers will have invested $500 to $600 for the latest electronic "must have" gadget. On June 29th Apple's iPhone...

Broadcast systems.(EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES & MARKETS)(Einstein Wireless)
July 1, 2007... Einstein Wireless, a Wisconsin-based wireless carrier, has become the only wireless carrier in the nation to launch a cell broadcast system that will alert its subscribers about natural disasters, terrorist attacks, chemical explosions,...

Smart City.(EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES & MARKETS)(Smart City Telecommunications L.L.C.)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... AirMagnet Inc. announces that Smart City, a provider of event technology, uses AirMagnet's suite of products for wireless assurance at top tradeshows and conventions across the nation. Smart City relies on AirMagnet's wireless LAN toolset...

GPShopper--all on select Sprint phones.(EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES & MARKETS)
July 1, 2007... Sprint customers can now search and find products at local retailers, see price and availability information, and get directions to the store--all on select Sprint phones. Sprint and GPShopper recently announced the launch of Slifter, a mobile...

Smart paper tickets.(EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES & MARKETS)(Brief article)
July 1, 2007... Assa Abloy Identification Technologies launches a new line of smart paper tickets. The tickets are suitable for use in Public Transport networks, loyalty and leisure passes or as tickets al events. The tickets are based on NXP's mifare[R]...

Bluetooth solution.(PRODUCT NEWS: WHAT'S HOT)
July 1, 2007... Broadcom Corporation announces its latest Bluetooth[R] technology, which combines Bluetooth 2.1 features, enhanced data rate (EDR) technology and a Class 1 RF transceiver in a single, monolithic chip. Broadcom's general-purpose Bluetooth...

FPGA platform.(PRODUCT NEWS: WHAT'S HOT)
July 1, 2007... Xilinx, Inc. announces that its XtremeDSP[TM] Virtex[TM]-5 SXT FPGAs have passed the latest PCI Express[R] Endpoint v1.1 base specification compliance workshop and are listed on the PCI-SIG[R] integrator's list. The Virtex-5 SXT FPGA platform,...

Switch configurations.(PRODUCT NEWS: WHAT'S HOT)
July 1, 2007... TeraVicta Technologies, Inc. has added two additional products to its switch family: a Double Pole Double Throw (DPDT), designated TT2214, and a Single Pole Four Throw (SP4T) configuration, designated TT 1414, in the DC to 7 GHz switch product...

Wireless and optical communication applications.(PRODUCT NEWS: WHAT'S HOT)
July 1, 2007... Jazz Semiconductor[R] announces the release of its 130 nm SiGe BiCMOS technology (SBC 13) designed for high-speed wireless and optical communications applications. This process combines industry standard 130 nm CMOS with 200 GHz HBT NPN...

High-dynamic range direct demodulators.(WHAT'S HOT: EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES)
July 1, 2007... The Skyworks Solutions' SKY73012 is an integrated, broadband, high-dynamic range quadrature demodulator with outputs that are differential and can be directly connected to most commonly available analog to digital (A/D) converters. It is also...

Location detection SoC.(WHAT'S HOT: EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES)
July 1, 2007... Texas Instruments Inc. introduces a System-on-Chip (SoC) solution with a hardware location engine targeting low-power ZigBee[R] /IEEE 802.15.4 wireless sensor networking applications. The CC2431 is based on an SoC solution for low-power RF...

BEL SAW filter.(WHAT'S HOT: EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES)
July 1, 2007... Murata Electronics North America introduces a miniature Boundary Elastic Surface Acoustic Wave (BEE SAW) filter measuring 0.8 x 0.6 x .365 mm. This represents a 75% decrease in volume and 66% reduction in area compared to other filters, making...

Wireless antenna lab rolls on wheels.(WHAT'S HOT: EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES)
July 1, 2007... ETS-kindgren's AMS-8050 is a wireless antenna measurement lab that rolls on wheels. Although compact in size, the AMS-8050 performs like larger chambers and can be used for design validation, pre-certification testing and performance...

Enabling the next generation of WCDMA capable mobile devices: RF transceiver reduces the overall cost of ownership by focusing on both the physical hardware costs and the engineering and production costs.(RFICs: TECHNOLOGY FOCUS)
July 1, 2007... The handset industry is expected to grow at a Growth Rate (CAGR) of approximately 9% between 2006 and 2010, which equates to an increase of more than 400 million devices. This is impressive growth for the world's largest consumer market, unless...

Acoustic wave sensors infiltrate the auto industry: acoustic wave devices are an attractive candidate for wireless sensor applications where a small footprint, robust design and low power requirements are critical for wide-scale implementation.(Cover story)
July 1, 2007... Acoustic wave devices have played an important role in consumer and communication systems over the last 50 years due to their high performance, small and high reproducibility. The telecommunications industry is the largest volume application,...

Simulating phase-locked loops: phase-locked loop simulation continues to be a big challenge for designers. The Envelope Simulator can help by providing both frequency- and time-domain capabilities.(EDA SOFTWARE)
July 1, 2007... Phase-locked loop design and simulation continue to present major challenges for wireless system and RFIC designers. PLLs must be designed to meet requirements and specifications such as tuning range, tuning resolution, closed-loop phase noise,...

Adaptive rate technology goes the distance; advancements in adaptive rate technology provide a more compelling solution for high frequency bands.(MILLIMETER WAVE RF SYSTEMS)
July 1, 2007... As more and mission-critical voice and data traffic traverses high-capacity wireless networks, high-speed millimeter wave RF systems are gaining ground for improved security, reliability, availability and value. The most-recently allocated 60...

The DTV transition: unlimited equipment opportunities: while the DTV transition will almost certainly provide plentiful opportunities for equipment designers, manufacturers and importers, keeping abreast of the FCC rules is imperative.(COMPLIANCE UPDATE)
July 1, 2007... After many fits and starts, the United States is finally poised to replace its analog television technology with the technologically superior digital television ("DTV'") format. The U.S. Congress has mandated that, beginning on February 17,...

SMT connector.(PRODUCT FOCUS: CONNECTORS)
July 1, 2007... Advanced Interconnections Corporation introduces the B2B[R] high density SMT connector line, which is now available in a 500 position footprint on 1.27 mm pitch. Designed for high I/O board to board applications where durability and reliability...

Card connectors and cover sets.(PRODUCT FOCUS: CONNECTORS)
July 1, 2007... ITT Electronic Components introduces Cannon Express Card 26 pin-edge card connectors and cover sets that meet the PCMCIA industry's demands for 34 mm and 54 mm wide modules. Stainless steel cover sets assemble easily and they can either be...

Connector cordsets.(PRODUCT FOCUS: CONNECTORS)
July 1, 2007... TURCK introduces its RJ11 over-molded connector cordsets for industrial phone connections. A polyurethane body provides integrated strain relief and tab protection for industrial environments. The cable features two shielded, twisted wire pairs...

Pitch connector family.(PRODUCT FOCUS: CONNECTORS)
July 1, 2007... Omnetics launches a single row version of its NanoMiniature Bi-Lobe[R] 0.025" pitch connector family, designed to deliver ultra-reliable signal contact direct from the PCB into the connector. With a profile of 0.115" high, these connectors...

Connector options.(PRODUCT FOCUS: CONNECTORS)
July 1, 2007... FCI announces D-Subminiature 7W2 connector options to enable -48 V or -60 V DC input connections to power modules used in MicroTCA shelves. Each power contact provides 24 A current-carrying capacity. The shielded connectors are designed to fit...

FPC connectors.(PRODUCT FOCUS: CONNECTORS)
July 1, 2007... Omron Electronic Components LLC announces the availability of a series of low profile FPC connectors that feature a rotary locking mechanism that offers easy operation and secure mounting in tight work spaces. These FPC connectors are suitable...

USB connectors.(PRODUCT FOCUS: CONNECTORS)
July 1, 2007... Molex Incorporated introduces its latest Micro-USB connectors that allow increased design flexibility and compactness in portable mobile devices. These connectors are setting the standard for future portable devices, which are becoming so thin...

Interconnect reduces PTH drilling.(PRODUCT FOCUS: CONNECTORS)
July 1, 2007... Endicott Interconnect Technologies introduces an HPC-Z interconnect, which provides signal connections only where desired, with functional isolation for single- or double-side surface mount partitions. The HPC-Z interconnect solves thick board...

Multi-Function Circuit family.(SEMICONDUCTORS/ICS)
July 1, 2007... TriQuint Semiconductor announces the availability of three packaged devices in its Multi-Function Circuit (MFC) family. These products are now available in industry-standard packages, offering greater manufacturing flexibility for existing...

Multiple switch IC.(SEMICONDUCTORS/ICS)
July 1, 2007... Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation unveils the UltraCMOS[TM] PE42110 multiple switch IC for advanced multi-band WCDMA handsets. This device incorporates four independent high-performance RE switch devices on a monolithic flip-chip IC...

Direct digital synthesizer.(SEMICONDUCTORS/ICS)
July 1, 2007... Analog Devices introduces the AD9912 direct digital synthesizer (DDS) which provides impressive spurious free dynamic range (SFDR) performance: output signals up to 400 MHz while consuming less than 1000 mW. This level of performance is...

Broadband relays.(SEMICONDUCTORS/ICS)
July 1, 2007... Teledyne Relays introduces two families of ultra-miniature broadband TO-5 relays, featuring a practical surface-mount that simplifies circuit-board manufacturing. The SGRF100 and SGRF300 are formed lead versions of Teledyne's GRF100 and GRF300...

Radiating cable antennas.(TRANSMISSION COMPONENTS)
July 1, 2007... Tyco Electronics announces a line of M/A-COM radiating cable antennas, which is designed to replace conventional antennas in applications that require wide frequency bandwidths and deployment in physical spaces that present extreme challenges...

Vector network analyzers.(TEST)
July 1, 2007... Rohde & Schwarz introduces the Option ZVx-K6 for the R&S ZVA four-port vector network analyzers and R&S ZVT analyzers with three or more ports. This capability provides the first technique to allow RF and microwave power transistors and...

Signal analyzers.(TEST)
July 1, 2007... Anritsu Company introduces the MS2690A and MS2691A signal analyzers that have good measurement performance and speed compared to comparable analyzers in their class. Covering the 50 Hz to 6 GHz frequency range, the MS2690A /MS2691A can be used...

PCB and RF technology.(SOFTWARE)
July 1, 2007... Cadence Design Systems announces the addition of PCB (Printed Circuit Board) RF (Radio Frequency) technology and design methodology to the Cadence[R] Allegro[R] PCB Design XL and GXL offerings. These additional capabilities address the key...

Signal Studio software.(SOFTWARE)
July 1, 2007... Agilent Technologies announces the availability of its Signal Studio for 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) software. Designed to work with Agilent's N5182A MXG and E4438C ESG vector signal generators, Signal Studio software helps wireless R&D and...

Power IC delivers high output power.(POWER)
July 1, 2007... RF Micro Devices introduces the RFMD's 28 V GaN 10 W RF3822 powerIC which is optimized for high efficiency with 16 dB gain over a wide operating bandwidth in a 50[ohm] impedance environment. The RF3822 utilizes advanced heat sink and power...

High efficiency amplifier.(POWER)
July 1, 2007... Freescale Semiconductor introduces the Doherty amplifier, which has many characteristics that enable high efficiency. When properly designed, it can deliver efficiency increases of 11 to 14% when compared to standard parallel Class AB...

Crystal oscillator.(SIGNAL SOURCES)
July 1, 2007... Vectron International announces the addition of a low-noise, high frequency (VHF) oven controlled crystal oscillator (OCXO) to its C4550 OCXO family. Vectron's C4550 OCXO provides customers in the military, test and measurement and telemetry...

Active Frequency/Multiplier.(SEMICONDUCTORS/ICS)
July 1, 2007... Hittite Microwave Corporation introduces a GaAs MMIC x2 Active Frequency Multiplier which is suitable for point-to-point and point-to-multipoint radios, VSAT, telecom, test instrumentation, military, space and fiber optics applications from 8...

Wide band buffer amplifier.(SEMICONDUCTORS/ICS)
July 1, 2007... Mimix Broadband, Inc. introduces a gallium arsenide (GaAs) monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) wide band buffer amplifier with on-chip drain bias coil and DC blocking. Using 0.30 micron gate length GaAs pseudomorphic high electron...

Memory interfaces.(SEMICONDUCTORS/ICS)
July 1, 2007... Lattice Semiconductor Corporation announces FPGA support and performance for HyperTransport[TM] technology and three popular memory interfaces. The LatticeSC[TM] and LatticeSCM[TM] FPGA families (collectively, the "LatticeSC/M" families) now...

Laser navigation sensor.(SEMICONDUCTORS/ICS)
July 1, 2007... Cypress Semiconductor Corp. introduces a laser navigation sensor as part of its OvationONS[TM] laser navigation sensor family. The CYONS 1001G delivers unmatched speed and accuracy with low power consumption, using Cypress's patent-pending...

High-frequency boost converter.(POWER)
July 1, 2007... Fairchild Semiconductor introduces the FAN5336 high-frequency integrated boost converter, which allows designers to achieve an 87% system efficiency, low EMI and board space savings in a wide range of small LCD bias supply and white LED...

DC/DC converters.(POWER)
July 1, 2007... Tyco Electronics' Power Systems business announces general availability of its Austin MegaLynx point-of-load (POL) DC/DC converters in SMT packages. Designed to meet the power needs of the latest generation of FPGAs and ASICs, the Austin...

Millimeter-wave amplifiers.(AMPLIFIERS)
July 1, 2007... Endwave Corporation announces the release of millimeter-wave JCA amplifiers that exhibit low noise characteristics over broad bandwidths. This extension of the JCA family of low noise amplifiers features 6 models from 26 to 40 GHz. Features...

Test management software.(SOFTWARE)
July 1, 2007... National Instruments announces NI TestStand 4.0, the latest version of the company's test management software designed to help engineers develop and deploy automated validation and manufacturing test systems. The version of NI TestStand...

Chip inductors.(PASSIVES/INDUCTORS)
July 1, 2007... Datatronic Distribution, Inc. introduces the DR354-0 chip inductors, which feature a miniature design that delivers good performance and value in high frequency circuit designs for a wide range of electronic equipment. The DR354-0 chip...

Technology award: microcontrollers outperform FPGAs.(EDITOR'S CHOICE: JULY 2007)
July 1, 2007... Atmel[R] Corporation's new line of customizable microcontrollers deliver as much as 8X the performance for DSP algorithms that are frequently implemented in FPGAs. with substantially reduced power consumption and unit IC costs that are 30% to...

Test platform.(TEST)
July 1, 2007... Azimuth Systems, Inc. introduces the ADEPT-n MIMO test platform for testing 802.11 n products that will allow vendors to improve Wi-Fi product quality and speed time-to-market. The ADEPT-n MIMO test platform is one of the first single-box,...

Frequency for challenging environments.(TRANSMISSION COMPONENTS)
July 1, 2007... ETS-Lindgren's Models 3106 B, 3115 and 3117 feature increased frequency range performance as well as high gain and low VSWR across the antenna frequency band, resulting in efficient amplifier use, higher field strengths and lower power...

Low phase noise amplifiers.(AMPLIFIERS)
July 1, 2007... Hittite Microwave Corporation introduces the broadband, ultra low phase noise distributed MMIC amplifiers, which are suitable for military, space, test equipment and fiber optic applications from 2 to 18 GHz. The HMC606 and HMC606LC5 are GaAs...

Quad-band power amplifier module.(AMPLIFIERS)
July 1, 2007... Anadigics, Inc. introduces a quad-band linear EDGE (Enhanced Data rate for GSM Evolution) power amplifier module for 2.75G and 3G cell phones, PDAs and wireless PC cards that use the GSM/EDGE cellular standard. The EDGE standard has been...

Log video amplifiers.(AMPLIFIERS)
July 1, 2007... Endwave Corporation announces the release of a series of millimeter-wave successive detection log video amplifiers as part of the expanding product line from the acquisition of ALC Microwave. These products are suitable for use in early warning...

Audio power amplifier.(AMPLIFIERS)
July 1, 2007... National Semiconductor Corporation introduces a single-chip Boomer[R] audio power amplifier that delivers high voltage for driving ceramic speakers used in a wide range of 3 V portable devices. Driving the ceramic speaker at higher voltages...

Amplifier designed for multipurpose use.(AMPLIFIERS)
July 1, 2007... Stealth Microwave introduces the SM0825-40, a GaAs FET amplifier designed for multipurpose use in military and commercial markets. The unit operates from 800 to 2500 MHz with a P1dB of 40 dBm across the band and an OIP of +50 dBm. Small signal...

MOSFET relays.(AMPLIFIERS)
July 1, 2007... Omron Electronic Components LLC announces the availability of the G3VM-21LR and 41LR series SSOP MOS FET relays. These relays measure 1.8H x 2W x 3.8L mm and will deliver designers a board space savings of 67% when compared to a standard SOP...

Monolithic microwave.(AMPLIFIERS)
July 1, 2007... Mimix Broadband, Inc. introduces a gallium arsenide (GaAs) monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) three stage power amplifier featuring an on-chip temperature compensated output detector. Using 0.15 micron gate length GaAs pseudomorphic...

ALC Log Amplifiers.(AMPLIFIERS)
July 1, 2007... Endwave Corporation announces a product line of ALC Log Amplifiers. A logarithmic amplifier is a specialty amplifier subsystem that is primarily used as an amplitude detector of input signal strength on the front-end of pulsed radar and other...

High power amplifiers.(AMPLIFIERS)
July 1, 2007... TriQuint Semiconductor announces the release of two satellite communications (sat-com) high power amplifiers (HPAs). The die-level products, TGA4916 and TGA4906, are the latest examples of TriQuint's evolution of ground terminal sat-com RF...

Single board computer.(BOARDS & MODULES)
July 1, 2007... WinSystems announces the launch of their EBX-compatible Intel 1.8 GHz Pentium[R] M single board computer. The EBC-855-G-1.8-1 is a RoHS-compliant, processor and l/O-intensive board offering -40[degrees] to +70[degrees]C temperature operation....

Buck regulators.(SEMICONDUCTORS)
July 1, 2007... Micrel Inc. launches a family of 2 MHz PWM buck regulators. This includes the MIC4723 (3A); the M1C4720 (2A); and the MIC4721 (1.5A). The MIC4723 and MIC4720 are offered in a 3 X 3 mm MLF[R]-12 and a thermally-enhanced MSOP-10 package, while...

Quintplexer module.(SEMICONDUCTORS)
July 1, 2007... Avago Technologies announces a quintplexer module delivering superior global positioning system (GPS) performance levels. Avago's integrated and compact ACFM-7102 quintplexer delivers an improvement in insertion loss while delivering high GPS...

Diode arrays.(SEMICONDUCTORS)
July 1, 2007... Infineon Technologies announces a family of TVS (transient voltage suppressor) diode arrays intended specifically to protect CAN (controller area network) automotive control networks and industrial bus systems from voltage spikes as high as 30...

Single-chip stepper motor driver ICs.(SEMICONDUCTORS)
July 1, 2007... AMI Semiconductor announces two single-chip stepper motor driver ICs that will reduce component count and bill of materials (BOM) cost in dynamic motion applications. The AMIS-30521 and AMIS-30522 allow engineers to eliminate the need for...

Mixer modules.(SEMICONDUCTORS)
July 1, 2007... Hittite Microwave Corporation introduces four connectorized passive GaAs MMIC I/Q mixer modules, which combine tile attributes of good image rejection, wide IF bandwidth and high isolation; making them suitable for high performance...

Third generation non-volatile FPGAs.(SEMICONDUCTORS)
July 1, 2007... Lattice Semiconductor Corporation announces the availability of its third generation non-volatile FPGAs, the LatticeXP2[TM] family. With enhanced capabilities, the LatticeXP2 family doubles maximum logic capacity to 40K Look Up Tables (LUTs),...

Electron mobility transistor.(SEMICONDUCTORS)
July 1, 2007... Nitronex develops a 28 V, 100 W gallium nitride high-electron mobility transistor (HEMT) suitable for WiMAX applications. Designed using Nitronex's patented SIGANTIC[R] NRFI process, the NPT25100 GaN-on-Si power transistor is designed...

Synchronous-boost Topology.(SEMICONDUCTORS)
July 1, 2007... Texas Instruments Incorporated introduces a device based on a high-frequency synchronous-boost topology with constant current sink to drive single, high-brightness white light emitting diodes (LEDs). The 2 x 1.5 x 0.625 mm device uses an...

High reliability mixer.(SIGNAL PROCESSING)
July 1, 2007... Mini Circuits introduces the ADE-R39WLH+ high reliability mixer, which delivers 300 to 400 MHz of level 10 (LO power +10 dBm). it features ultra wideband and hermetically sealed ceramic quad. It also contains a low conversion loss of 7.5 dB...

Silicon switch matrix.(SIGNAL PROCESSING)
July 1, 2007... Skyworks Solutions introduces silicon CMOS switch matrix for LNB with tone/voltage decoder. A 4 X 2 switch matrix combining a digital decoder with the RF switching network and tone/voltage detect designed for European and Asian market...

Band-pass filter.(SIGNAL PROCESSING)
July 1, 2007... Spacek Labs introduces the Model F55-4 V, which is a band-pass filter with a 2% pass-band at 55 GHz. The filter assembly consists of four high-Q iris-coupled waveguide cavities with optional waveguide to coax adaptors at each end. The pass-band...

C bipolar transistor.(SIGNAL PROCESSING)
July 1, 2007... Tyco Electronics announces the M/A-COM MAPRST1030-1KS, a 1000 W peak, class C bipolar transistor designed for 1030 MHz pulsed avionics applications. The transistor is suited to operate in IFF/TACAN (tactical air navigation system) or similar...

Electronics thermal analysis software.(SOFTWARE)
July 1, 2007... Flomerics releases version 7 of its Flotherm electronics thermal analysis software featuring a Response Surface Optimization capability. Earlier versions of Flotherm included a sequential optimization capability allowing users to specify...

Hybrid couplers.(POWER)
July 1, 2007... MECA's CTN Series loads are available in 250 W and 500 W models and provide good return loss across all bands from DC to 3 GHz, making them suitable for many base station and in-building wireless system applications. Both models feature N-Male...

High performance converters.(POWER)
July 1, 2007... FDK Corporation announces the addition of two high performance DC/DC converters to its Senpai Series of non-isolated point-of-load (POL) converters. The PMRI2TR7510 converter operates from a 6.0 to 14.0 VDC input bus, and delivers up to 10 A in...

Power entry module.(POWER)
July 1, 2007... Spectrum Power Management Systems introduces a power entry module (PEM) compliant to the PICMG ATCA300 PEM specifications providing -48 VDC power and circuit protection at the equipment interface of an Advanced Telecom Computing Architecture...

Expansion of A/D converter portfolio.(DIGITAL HARDWARE)
July 1, 2007... austriamicrosystems expands its A/D converter portfolio with the AS1524 12-bit, low-power, single-channel full-differential A/D converter and the AS1525 dual-channel single-ended low-power A/D converter. Combining ultra low-power operation at a...

Wave based oscillators.(SIGNAL SOURCES)
July 1, 2007... Vectron international announces that it has extended the output frequency range of its Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) based oscillators beyond the gigahertz barrier. The S0-720 clock oscillator and VS-720 voltage controlled oscillator will both...

Digital temperature sensor.(SENSORS & TRANSDUCERS)
July 1, 2007... Maxim Integrated Products introduces the DS75LX, a digital temperature sensor that allows up to 27 addresses on one 12C communication bus. To enable 27 address combinations, this temperature sensor provides three dedicated address pins that can...