Wireless Design & Development articles from November 2008

Wireless Design & Development archives from November 2008

Industrial community boosts productivity online.(UP FRONT)(Survey)
November 1, 2008... A key measure of success for OEMs is their ability to get new products to market quickly. Early on, wireless manufacturers must find and source the right components and parts during product design and manufacturing stages to meet demanding...

Single-chip reference designs available for any base or relay station form factor.(WHAT'S HOT: PRODUCT NEWS)(DesignArt Networks)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] DesignArt Networks' WiMAX SoC platform, the DAN2400, is a family of single-chip base and relay station reference designs which help WiMAX equipment vendors build a complete radio access network (RAN) product...

Advanced RFID tag simplifies attachment process ensuring greater quality control.(WHAT'S HOT: PRODUCT NEWS)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Available from Murata Electronics North America is the LXMS31 series MAGICSTRAP [TM] for complete coverage in the UHF band (850 to 965 MHz). This advanced Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag is designed to be...

SoC provides one solution across multiple base station platforms.(WHAT'S HOT: PRODUCT NEWS)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Fujitsu Microelectronics America, Inc. has released a mobile WiMAX base station SoC, a highly integrated, flexible device built using the Fujitsu 65 nm process technology. Designed to meet the cost requirements of a...

Platform offers complete channel emulation of WiMAX, LTE, 4G and beyond.(WHAT'S HOT: PRODUCT NEWS)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Electrobit (EB) has released a radio channel emulation platform that exceeds the performance requirements for WiMAX, LTE and 4G testing to ensure that end users have the best possible wireless connection. EB Propsim...

The peripheral value of Bluetooth low energy wireless technology: probably the only major impediment to the rapid uptake of Bluetooth low-energy wireless technology is fear among non-RF designers about designing-in the technology.(BLUETOOTH TECHNOLOGY: PART 2 OF 2)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATIONS OMITTED] Initial applications for Bluetooth low energy wireless technology include, leisure, healthcare, entertainment and office. So, for example, a person working out could use their smartphone, equipped with a Bluetooth...

Developing a standard hand phantom for wireless testing: a standardized hand phantom used together with the SAM head phantom for radiated performance testing mirrors real-world use.(WIRELESS TEST: PART 1 OF 3)
November 1, 2008... In the early '90s, the IEEE began working on a standardized model for the human head and upper torso for use in Specific Absorption Rate (SAR) testing of wireless devices. This SAM Head Phantom (SAM = Standard Anthropomorphic Model or Specific...

Mobile phone growth drives need for security, enhanced user functionality via fingerprint sensors: originally intended solely for securing access to a device and its stored content, fingerprint sensors have evolved into a multi-function touch control capable of much more than just authentication.(Cover story)
November 1, 2008... [FIGURE 1 OMITTED] More than 10 million cell phones today integrate tiny semiconductor-based fingerprint sensors to provide an additional level of security, safeguarding the phone from unauthorized use if the device is lost or stolen. This...

Does miniaturization really matter? Limitations placed on which switch can be used due to its size, often exclude the option of using the "right" switch with the most advanced technology.(EYE ON SWITCHES)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] In today's love affair with ultra-subcompact devices, it is easy to succumb to the temptation of thinking that smaller is always better. From laptops to cell phones, the decreasing size of wireless digital devices is...

Choosing an infrared receiver based on AGC type: the primary performance characteristic to evaluate when choosing an infrared receiver is its ability to receive data signals and to suppress all other sources of noise.(INFRARED RECEIVERS)
November 1, 2008... Until recently, most light bulbs used for domestic lighting in the United States were incandescent. While Asia and Europe have largely switched to fluorescent lighting, Americans have been slow to adopt compact fluorescent lights (CFLs). While...

Brainstorm.(WIRELESS SENSOR NETWORKS)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Welcome to Brainstorm! As sensor nodes are usually battery-powered devices, the critical aspects designers face concern how to reduce the energy consumption of nodes so that the network lifetime can be extended...

WiFi inadequate as real-time asset and patient tracking solution: WiFi RTLS is less accurate and ultimately more expensive than an RTLS installation designed specifically for monitoring the location and status of equipment and people.(WIFI RTLS: DESIGN TALK)
November 1, 2008... WiFi (802.11)-based tracking technology is currently riding a wave of popularity dependent upon the seductive presentation that a real-time location system (RTLS) can be piggybacked onto an existing WiFi infrastructure, saving customers time...

The 5 factors critical for RTLS success.(RTLS: DESIGN TALK)(real-time location systems)
November 1, 2008... Real-time location systems (RTLS) are an increasingly important strategic capability for a variety of business applications. After deciding it can benefit your organization, you need to consider the five critical factors that can ensure long...

MEMS microphones make the grade.(TECHNOLOGY AWARD)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Despite the proliferation of electronics devices that integrate voice, music, and video, the quality of sound produced by these handheld electronics has not lived up to consumer expectations. Analog Devices, Inc.,...

Coaxial attenuators for power applications.(PRODUCT NEWS)(MECA Electronics)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MECA announces its compact 5 W, N-Type and SMA male-to-female coaxial attenuators that are suitable for demanding power applications from DC to 6 GHz or DC to 18 GHz. Standard attenuation values of 3, 6, 10, 20 and...

Mini oscillators operate from 0.75 to 250 MHz.(PRODUCT NEWS)(Fox Electronics Inc.)(Brief article)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Fox Electronics introduces its 3.2 x 2.5 mm HCMOS XpressO oscillators in any frequency from 0.75 to 250 MHz. With a wide frequency range and an industry standard footprint and pin-out, these 3.3 V oscillators are...

RF analyzer produces fast test times.(PRODUCT NEWS)
November 1, 2008... Agilent Technologies, Inc. introduces its FieldFox handheld RF analyzer, an integrated handheld instrument for wireless network installation and maintenance. Key measurements include cable and antenna test from 2 MHz to 4/6 GHz, spectrum...

Multi-core DSPs deliver advanced features.(PRODUCT NEWS)
November 1, 2008... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] picoChip, Inc. introduces its PC202-10, PC203-10 and PC205-10 high-performance picoArray devices. These multi-core DSPs deliver processing power of up to 262 GIPS and 35 GMACS. These enhanced members of the PC20x...