Wireless Design & Development articles from November 2006

Wireless Design & Development archives from November 2006

Cell phones: think twice before you toss.(UP FRONT)(Personal account)
November 1, 2006... Like most people today, I have a box at home filled with used cell phones, along with their chargers and accessories. Each time I drop one in the box, I say to myself--"I really should do something useful with these or, at the very least, find...

Transfer information from Web to mobile device.(TransSend)
November 1, 2006... The Bluetooth SIG introduces its TransSend[TM] client/server application that allows Internet content such as maps, addresses, phone numbers and other text and images to be wirelessly transferred from a Bluetooth[R] enabled PC to another mobile...

Web browser for your BlackBerry or Treo.(EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES & MARKETS)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Opera Software announces that Opera Mini[TM], the free Web browser for mobile phones, is available for the BlackBerry[TM] and Palm[R] handsets. Opera Mini offers BlackBerry and Palm Treo[TM] users a faster delivery of Web pages and overall...

OpenLaszlo applications combined with Java Platform.(EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES & MARKETS)
November 1, 2006... Sun Microsystems Inc. announces a collaboration to enable OpenLaszlo applications to run on devices supporting the Java[TM] Platform, Micro Edition (Java ME) application. With this move, Sun and Laszlo are actively contributing resources to a...

Security software protects Blackberry users.(SMobile Systems's BBProxy)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... SMobile Systems, announces that its mobile anti-virus solution for BlackBerry users offers immediate protection against many of the vulnerabilities exposed by the BBProxy security tools, which has been released to the public by Jesse D'Aguanno,...

Spread spectrum architecture lowers noise while maintaining output.(PRODUCT NEWS: WHAT'S HOT)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... This mono, 2.65 W, Class D Boomer[R] audio amplifier from National Semiconductor Corporation reduces electromagnetic interference (EMI) more than 11 dB below the FCC limit to lower system noise in portable devices, including cell phones, smart...

SBC supports M2M wired and wireless connectivity.(PRODUCT NEWS: WHAT'S HOT)(single board computer)(machine-to-machine connectivity)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... WinSystems introduces its LBC-GX500, a highly integrated, single board computer (SBC) designed for machine-to-machine connectivity (M2M). The LBC-GX500 offers a variety of wired and wireless connectivity options. Among them are 802.11 wireless...

Improved power efficiency for portable applications.(PRODUCT NEWS: WHAT'S HOT)
November 1, 2006... ON Semiconductor's low Vce(sat) bipolar junction transistors (BJTs) portfolio includes WDFN6, WDFN3, SOT-23, SOT-563 and ChipFET packages. These devices incorporate advanced silicon technology and provide better power efficiency and longer...

Store and retrieve a gigabyte of data.(PRODUCT NEWS: WHAT'S HOT)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Available in Flash memory densities of 32-, 256-, and 512-Kbytes, Atmel[R] Corporation's SAM7SE microcontrollers include an external bus interface (EBI) that provides access to massive amounts of external NAND Flash, SDRAM, CompactFlash[R],...

Soft processor boosts embedded processing performance.(WHAT'S HOT: EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Xilinx, Inc. has released the 5.00 version of its MicroBlaze[TM] soft processor. The 32-bit RISC core now delivers a 45% increase in integer performance, providing 240 DMIPS in Virtex-5[TM] FPGAs. The core extends floating point performance to...

SAW filters for evolving WiMAX industry.(WHAT'S HOT: EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES)(surface acoustic wave)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Vectron International introduces a series of surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters specifically designed to meet the needs of the WiMAX industry. Available at several center frequencies and bandwidths required for all key WiMAX applications, they...

Telematic platform reduces time-to-market.(WHAT'S HOT: EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES)
November 1, 2006... Morey Corporation announces the introduction of its Enabling Telematic Solution Set for the hardened-electronics industry including the new WarHammer[TM] Platform featuring Wavecom wireless CPUs. Wavecom's Q24 series wireless CPUs enable...

Software verification platform.(WHAT'S HOT: EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES)
November 1, 2006... S2 Technologies' STRIDE 2.0 embedded software verification platform provides infrastructure and tools that enable development teams to accelerate continuous integration, testing and verification of embedded software. This platform supports...

RF scanning receivers for multimedia network characterization: the heart of any RF measurement system is a powerful, fast and accurate RF scanning receiver.(TECHNOLOGY FOCUS: SCANNING RECEIVER SYSTEM)
November 1, 2006... Wireless networks are increasingly becoming more complex to manage, having operated in an exponential growth cycle while adding new services and features for the last 10 years. In parallel with the growth are the next-generation network...

Development Test Mode.(TECHNOLOGY FOCUS: SCANNING RECEIVER SYSTEM)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Aeroflex releases its Development Test Mode for the WiMAX 802.16e protocol conformance test solution. The availability of this product gives first-line WiMAX equipment manufacturers, chipset developers and protocol stack developers an early...

Vector signal analyzer.(TECHNOLOGY FOCUS: SCANNING RECEIVER SYSTEM)(National Instruments)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... The National Instruments PXI-5661 is a modular 2.7 GHz RF vector signal analyzer with wide real-time bandwidth, optimized for automated test in a compact, 3U PXI package. It is suitable for high-throughput RF acquisition and measurements. The...

RF network analyzer.(TECHNOLOGY FOCUS: SCANNING RECEIVER SYSTEM)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Agilent Technologies Inc. announces another version of its ENA Series RF network analyzer. Featuring a high performance, extended lower frequency range and a fast speed, the Agilent ENA is a suitable product for manufacturing and R&D engineers...

All-in-one field measuring OTDR.(TECHNOLOGY FOCUS: SCANNING RECEIVER SYSTEM)(Optical Time Domain Reflectometer)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... Anritsu introduces its ACCESS Master MT9083A Series, the all-in-one field measuring OTDR for construction and maintenance of Optical Networks. It features multiple wavelengths and options to satisfy any network testing requirement, access or...

Mobile wireless connection made easy: strategies to optimize transceiver range and mitigate congestion in metro WiFi backhaul include dealing with issues such as spectral efficiency, signal degradation and congestion control.(Cover story)
November 1, 2006... The growing popularity of metropolitan WiFi networks highlights the strengths and weaknesses of using a mesh architecture for WiFi backhaul. More broadband applications, such as VoIP, HDTV and streaming multimedia, are starting to share the...

Web-based applications and industrial mobile devices--a good marriage? The best solution for providing applications to mobile devices is one that supports both Web and legacy applications.(WIRELESS INTERNET TECHNOLOGIES)
November 1, 2006... It is the challenge of many IT directors ho are maintaining and/or rolling out wireless handheld devices to decide what application philosophy to adopt in their supply chain. With the wide variety of mobile devices being introduced and the...

Universal baseband signal processing for RFID readers: a cleaner signal from an analog filter means that the subsequent digital processing is much simpler.(RFID READERS)
November 1, 2006... There two approaches to architectural design when considering a universal baseband signal processing for an RFID reader the: 1) "do it all in DSP method" or 2) dynamically programmable analog signal processing. A universal baseband signal...

How to extend talk-time in power-hungry multimedia handsets: using a power-efficient, multilevel PA is the first step in removing power amplifiers as a major drain on battery life.(POWER AMPLIFIERS)
November 1, 2006... For the handset designer who has already squeezed every microwatt of power savings out of the baseband section of a handset, the radio section in general and the power amplifier in particular offer hew potential in cutting power consumption,...

The case for (and against) ZigBee wireless network: in wireless Industrial Networks, the application and environment ultimately dictate what type of network wins.(ZIGBEE WIRELESS NETWORK)
November 1, 2006... ZigBee[TM] has received a lot of exposure recently. As a standard, ZigBee or 802.15.4 is an excellent choice for many low-power, low-data rate wireless communication applications. However, is it really for everything? The answer is, of course...

ESD protection for bipolar integrated circuits: integrated circuits require protection from electrostatic discharge (ESD). Some of the protection is built in and some comes from the application circuit.
November 1, 2006... To properly protect an integrated circuit (IC), the following topics should be considered: * Delivery model for ESD to the IC * ESD protection circuits inside the IC * Interaction between application circuits and the IC internal...

Radio frequency switching module.(SEMICONDUCTOR)
November 1, 2006... Dow-Key Microwave Corporation offers the DK-PXI-1001, a multifunctional radio frequency (RF) switching module for mobile, desk-top testing stations. The matrix is compatible with PXI standard chassis and cards. Originally configured as an 18...

Monolithic microwave circuit transmitters.(SEMICONDUCTOR)
November 1, 2006... Mimix Broadband introduces a family of Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) transmitters in RollS-compliant, surface mount technology (SMT) packages, covering 10 to 45 GHz. These parts feature high linearity,...

Absorptive switches.(SEMICONDUCTOR)
November 1, 2006... Mini Circuits introduces SPDT absorptive switches with an internal CMOS control driver which delivers improved performance by providing high isolation, very low insertion loss and high input IP3 over the entire DC/3000 MHz band. Operating from...

Blackfin processor.(SEMICONDUCTOR)
November 1, 2006... Analog Devices Inc. announces its Blackfin[R] processor, which enables Hitachi, Ltd. to implement an innovative feature that allows the Hitachi Wooo D series of digital video recorders (DVRs) to automatically extract and play back key...

Digital RF attenuator.(TRANSMISSION COMPONENTS)
November 1, 2006... Mini-Circuits introduces the model DAT-31-PN digital RF attenuator for 50D applications which performs from DC to 2.4 GHz. The 5-b component provides 31 dB total attenuation with an LSB of 1 dB and MSB of 16 dB. The attenuation accuracy is...

Interference Cancellation Analysis Tool.(PLATFORM)
November 1, 2006... TensorComm, Inc. announces its Interference Cancellation Analysis Tool (ICAT), a platform for analyzing interference on wireless networks. The company developed ICAT to identify interference in wireless networks and to quantify the performance...

Data receiver.(INTEGRATED SUBSYSTEMS)(Radiometrix NRX1)(Brief article)
November 1, 2006... The Radiometrix NRX1 is a VHF equivalent of the company's UHF NRX2 radio data receiver, but allows engineers to gain extra reach with their system designs. Its usable range exceeds the 10 km mark when a matching transmitter is employed. The...

Ultra wide-band radar sensors.(INTEGRATED SUBSYSTEMS)
November 1, 2006... M/A-COM, introduces the 24 GHz ultra wide-band (UWB) radar sensors for driver-assistance systems. M/A-COM's 24 GHz short-range radar sensor is a highly-integrated smart sensor designed to improve safety and comfort functions in automotive...

RF transceiver reference designs.(INTEGRATED SUBSYSTEMS)
November 1, 2006... Texas Instruments Inc. expands its portfolio of complete wireless signal chain solutions for WiMAX applications by introducing three release-to-production radio frequency (RF) transceiver reference designs. These designs support IEEE's...

Solution for low current applications.(POWER)
November 1, 2006... Power-One, Inc. announces the availability of a Z-One[TM] compatible solution for low current applications. The solution is based on Micrel's MIC68000 family of linear regulators that are now interoperable with Z-One Point of Load converters...

Buck converters.(POWER)
November 1, 2006... Maxim Integrated Products introduces the MAX5096/ MAX5097 easy-to-use, 40 V input, Dual Mode[TM] buck converters with user-selectable low-dropout (LDO) mode. At a high-output load, the converters reduce power dissipation by operating as...

Isolated power modules.(POWER)
November 1, 2006... Tyco Electronics Power Systems, Inc. introduces the KW006-010[TM] Series of sixteenth brick isolated power modules, a new generation of single-output DC/DC power converters. Designed for optimum efficiency and power density, this 33 W DC/DC...

DC/DC step-down power converter.(POWER)
November 1, 2006... Semtech Corp. announces the SC250 and SC251, the first members of a DC/DC step-down (buck) power converter family designed to improve battery life by providing adaptive DC power control in CDMA and WCDMA handsets. CDMA and WCDMA handsets...

Power sensors.(TEST)
November 1, 2006... Boonton Electronics announces the launch of two peak power sensors, type 56006 and 58318. Type 56006 is worldwide and one of the fastest sensors in its class. A rise time faster than 7ns, which is equivalent to a bandwidth of 50 MHz, ensures...

High input resistance probes.(TEST)
November 1, 2006... LeCroy Corporation introduces an addition to the family of single-ended active probes featuring a high-input resistance of 1 Mw and low input capacitance of 0.9 pF. These two probes, the ZS1500 (1.5 GHz) and ZS1000 (1 GHz) maintain full system...

High power inductor.(PASSIVE)
November 1, 2006... BI Technologies announces a low-profile, high-power inductor for voltage regulators. The HM72A series inductor is being specified for a variety of power applications, including servers, notebooks, work stations, DC/DC converters and...

Power resistors.(PASSIVE)
November 1, 2006... TT electronics IRC Advanced Film Division has extended its MHP series power resistors with 20 and 35 W devices. Designated the MHP-20 and MHP-35, the highly stable power resistors are housed in a TO-220 style package and feature low thermal...

Wide-band oscillator.(SIGNAL SOURCES)
November 1, 2006... Universal Microwave Corporation announces its lead-free, RoHS compliant, wideband oscillator (UMZ-1601-A16-G) in the 800 to 1600 MHz frequency range, which features low-phase noise performance of--100 dBc/Hz at 10 kHz offset from the carrier...

Crystal oscillator.(SIGNAL SOURCES)
November 1, 2006... MMD Components announces a line of compact, low-jitter low-voltage positive emitter coupled logic (LVPEC) voltage-controlled crystal oscillators (VCXOs) with frequency ranges up to 700 MHz and utilizing inverted mesa and AT strip crystals....

WiMAX Baseband Card.(TECHNOLOGY AWARD: EDITORS' CHOICE)
November 1, 2006... Intel Corporation has developed a new baseband card that helps speed the creation of WiMAX base stations. The Intel NetStructure[R] WiMAX Baseband Card is Intel's first integrated hardware and software platform for transport, control and...

Software shapes next-generation RF instrumentation.(radio frequency, software-defined radio )
November 1, 2006... The growth of RF technology in the wireless communication industry over the past few years has been astonishing. This year alone, more than 850 million cellular hones will be manufactured and sold around the globe. As production volumes rise,...

Sustaining network performance while deploying new 3G services.(third generation wireless technology)
November 1, 2006... The majority of cellular service providers plan, maintain and troubleshoot their Radio Access Network (RAN) performance by performing extensive drive tests and using prediction-based models. Since radio access networks comprise most of the...