Wireless Design & Development articles from October 2007

Wireless Design & Development archives from October 2007

Gadget mania--which one is worth the-price?(UP FRONT)
October 1, 2007... If you are like me, you may not be fully aware of how great an impact the mobile phone accessory market has had on the wireless industry. For most consumers it is no longer enough to have the latest and greatest cell phone, they also want all...

Virtual voice for hire.(EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES & MARKETS)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... IVO Software, the manufacturer of IVONA launches Say.Expressivo.com. Internet users are now able to find out for free how the "virtual voice talent" reads, send voice messages to friends or publish on a blog. The service is very simple to...

Manage M2M Airtime.(EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES & MARKETS)
October 1, 2007... KORE Telematics announces key features to its PRISMT Web portal, a comprehensive management interface for M2M wireless network services. PRISM now features enhanced online billing and usage reports that enable customers to view and manage their...

Gamma XPress.(EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES & MARKETS)
October 1, 2007... SUSS MicroTec, a manufacturer of precision equipment for the semiconductor and emerging markets launches the Gamma XPress, an advanced coaling cluster targeting wafer bumping as well as LED manufacturing applications. The Gamma XPress coating...

Secure IP Telephony Solutions.(EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES & MARKETS)
October 1, 2007... Enterasys Networks Inc., the Secure Networks Company, announces a comprehensive approach to secure IP Telephony solutions from leading voice vendors. Enterprises worldwide want to ensure the same reliability, quality, manageability, mobility...

Miniature bipolar NPN/PNP transistors available in the SOT23FF package.(WHAT'S HOT: PRODUCT NEWS)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Now available in the SOT23FF package, Zetex Semiconductors' miniature bipolar NPN and PNP transistors are well suited for MOSFET gate driving in newer power supplies: The transistors provide lower saturation voltage,...

Sub-harmonic mixer.(WHAT'S HOT: PRODUCT NEWS)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Hittite Microwave Corporation's GaAs MMIC sub-harmonic SMT mixer is suited for microwave radios, VSAT, test & measurement, instrumentation and military applications from 14.5 to 19.5 GHz. The HMC258LC3B is a...

SoC Functional Verification Kit increases both productivity and predictability.(WHAT'S HOT: PRODUCT NEWS)(Cadence Design Systems Inc. to provide verification kit )(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... To deliver innovative products on time, engineers need automated verification process management, IP reuse and the latest verification methodologies. The Cadence" SoC Functional Verification Kit provides high levels of automation with reusable...

Vibration motor driver IC creates worldwide buzz in personal handsets.(WHAT'S HOT: PRODUCT NEWS)
October 1, 2007... The launch of Melexis MLX90283 brings new capabilities in packaging and power efficiency to the vibrating alert feature on cell phones, PDAs or iPhones. This single-phase brushless vibration motor driver 1C allows increased battery life while...

UWB antenna with filter-assist functionality.(WHAT'S HOT: PRODUCT NEWS)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Omron Electronic Components LLC's WXA-N2SL is a surface-mounted polymeric antenna designed to transmit and receive high-speed wireless signals in the next-generation consumer electronic products market. The antennas...

Design-in over-current protection with a single fuse.(WHAT'S HOT: PRODUCT NEWS)(Littelfuse Inc. to launch its new series of fast acting ROHS and UL compliant)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Addressing the need for smaller embedded device protection of higher-current applications, Littelfuse announces the release of a new series of fast-acting ROHS and UL compliant, subminiature surface-mount fuses. Measuring 10.10 mm (0.397") long...

EM software helps shorten design process.(WHAT'S HOT: PRODUCT NEWS)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Applied Wave Research, Inc. (AWR[R]) introduces AXIEM[TM] electromagnetic (EM) design software, a design tool that delivers EM analysis as a true upfront design technology, helping to diagnose issues early, thereby...

CSSP platforms offer performance Level that bluetooth 2.1 + EDR requires.(WHAT'S HOT: PRODUCT NEWS)
October 1, 2007... QuickLogic[R] Corporation announces a new UART (universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter) system block for use with its Customer Specific Standard Product (CSSP) platforms. The high-performance core supports the full 3 Mbit/sec required for...

Trying on RF amplifiers? Get the right fit: amplifiers continue to occupy greater board area, consume more power and have higher costs. The task of selecting the right amplifier for a specific application is more critical than ever.(EYE ON AMPLIFIERS)
October 1, 2007... As wireless standards keep evolving, RF system designers are faced with continuous lenges to reduce cost and size and to improve the overall performance of their systems. Techniques that were "rocket science" 20 years ago are now implemented in...

The shrinking mobile network: compact and fully-integrated, a NIB helps companies quickly build an internal mobile network that allows real-world testing.(Cover story)
October 1, 2007... Successful mobile networking products depend on thorough testing in real-world environments. What works for one handset, application, or service platform may not work for another, so the testing environment should be flexible enough to support...

Design challenges of portable medical monitoring systems: today's portable medical devices produce design challenges, both in the form factor of the device and the electronics inside.(MEDICAL ELECTRONICS)
October 1, 2007... Government and medical organizations are driving to put patients more in control of their health care today. To allow patients more time in the home versus hospitals or doctors offices, the medical industry is leveraging portable, remotely...

Minimizing power consumption and energy requirements in wireless and mobile applications: only a circuit-activity-dependent analysis at the architectural level indicates where power optimization opportunities exist.(POWER DESIGN)
October 1, 2007... Power consumption and energy requirements today are the primary concerns of hardware designers who implement wireless and mobile applications. Although EDA tools are emerging that support a lowpower design flow from RTL input down to GDSII...

EMC filters for medical applications.(PRODUCT FOCUS: FILTERS)
October 1, 2007... EPCOS' SIFI-F (B84111FM) compact two-line filters are available in a medical version for applications where low leakage current is a critical factor. They have a low maximum leakage current of 2 [micro]A, and they offer desirable suppression of...

Waveguide low-pass filters.(PRODUCT FOCUS: FILTERS)
October 1, 2007... Link Microtek introduces its AMQ-LP1 series of waveguide low-pass filters that provide a rejection of better than 100 dB, failing to 70 dB at band edges. The filter series comprises five standard parts, using waveguide sizes of WR340, WRI37,...

COTS single line feed-thru EMI filters.(PRODUCT FOCUS: FILTERS)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Spectrum Control, Inc. offers COTS single line feed-thru EMI filters that are commercially equivalent to M 15733-PRF/72, M15733-PRF/73 and M 15733-PRF/74. These filters are offered in both AC and DC models with...

Acoustic wave filter.(PRODUCT FOCUS: FILTERS)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Skyworks Solutions, Inc. announces that is has commenced volume shipments of its first high-performance bulk acoustic wave (BAW) filter, the SKY3310-0360LF, which is initially being deployed for wireless local area...

Cooling filters.(PRODUCT FOCUS: FILTERS)(W. L. Gore & Associates to introduce its new line of cooling filters)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. announces an addition to its line of telecommunications products for improving system reliability. The GORE" Cooling Filters use ambient air to cool electronic components in outdoor...

Wide range VCO.(PRODUCT NEWS)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Crystek Corporation offers its CVCO55CW-1600 to 3200 VCO that operates from 1600 MHz to 3200 MHz with a control voltage range of 0.5 to 20 V. It features a typical phase noise of-93 dBc/Hz at 10 kHz offset, and it...

Three-channel constant-current LED driver.(PRODUCT NEWS)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Allegro MicroSystems, Inc. introduces a three-channel constant-current LED driver with an on-chip oscillator for simple programmable brightness control. It is typically used to drive a cluster of red/green/blue (RGB)...

Multi-band combiner.(PRODUCT NEWS)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Renaissance Electronics Corporation offers a multi-band combiner, which can take between two to 16 channels and combine them into a single signal with very low loss and intermodulation performance. This combiner...

Inductor less boost converter.(PRODUCT NEWS)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] austriamicrosystems introduces the AS 1301, the inductor less DC/DC boost converter in an upcoming portfolio. The AS1301 is capable of output currents as high as 50mA from a wide ranging input of 2.7 to 5.25 V. The...

Low power RF transceiver.(PRODUCT NEWS)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Maxim Integrated Products introduces its MAX2830 single-chip, direct-conversion, low power 802.11 g/b RF transceiver with integrated power amplifier, Rx/Tx/antenna diversity switches and crystal oscillator circuitry....

Multimedia system for mobile handsets.(PRODUCT NEWS)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] NXP Semiconductors announces its Nexperia PNX4903 GSM/GPRS-optimized multimedia system for the ultra low-cost segment of the mobile handset market. Delivering complete system-level operation in a single monolithic...

Rise time filter kits for HDMI testing.(PRODUCT NEWS)(Picosecond Pulse Labs to release new product)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Picosecond Pulse Labs announces the release of its Model 5915 rise time filters for HDMI cable and sink DUT compliance testing. They use a broadband, matched circuit design that minimizes reflections and unwanted test artifacts, making them...

Low dropout regulator.(PRODUCT NEWS)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Microchip Technology Inc. announces its MCP1703 low dropout regulator (LDO), a 250 mA I_DO with low quiescent current, high input voltage, over-voltage protection and thermal shutdown on a single chip. It is...

Crystal oscillators.(PRODUCT NEWS)
October 1, 2007... Silicon Laboratories Inc. announces its Si570/1 family of user-programmable crystal oscillators (XO) and voltage-controlled crystal oscillators (VCXO) that support any-rate frequency synthesis. Using proprietary DSPI,L technology and an...

X & Ku band isolator/circulators.(PRODUCT NEWS)(MECA to expand its isolators and circulators )(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] MECA has expanded its connectorized isolators and circulators designed for high frequency X & Ku band (8.0 to 18.0 GHz) applications. They feature SMA-Female connectors and average power ratings of 2 W. Other...

30 W termination.(PRODUCT NEWS)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] BroadWave Technologies, Inc. introduces its Model 559247030 30 W 50 [OMEGA] termination with a QN female bulkhead connector that mates quickly without tools. This termination is for base station functions, and offers...

Jitter attenuators.(PRODUCT NEWS)(Valpey Fisher Corporation to introduce new products)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Valpey Fisher Corporation introduces its VFJA400 and VFJA401 integrated clock/PLL timing modules for synchronization in SONET and SDH network elements. They offer the ability to select one of four preset input frequencies from 8 kHz to 200 MHz...

Low power microwave tuner.(PRODUCT NEWS)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Tyco Electronics announces the M/A-COM TU6401, a lightweight low power SIGINT microwave tuner designed for signal search and collection applications. The M/A-COM TU-6401 provides simultaneous narrowband and wideband...

Bypass low noise amplifiers.(PRODUCT NEWS)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Hittite Microwave Corporation introduces its Models HMC605LP3(E) and HMC593LP3(E) bypass low noise amplifiers (LNAs) which are suitable for applications in telematics, broadband, WiMAX, WiBro and fixed wireless bands...

Baseband signal generator.(PRODUCT NEWS)(Rohde & Schwarz to announce solutions for signal generator)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Rohde & Schwarz announces solutions for its R&SSMU200A RF signal generator and R&SAMU200A baseband signal generator that allow them to become single-instrument solutions for evaluating 2 x 2 Multiple Input Multiple...

Multi-LIN transceiver system.(PRODUCT NEWS)
October 1, 2007... Melexis introduces its MLX80001 four-channel LIN (local interconnect network) transceiver IC that can reduce system costs of the LIN physical layer by 20% compared to multiple single transceiver ICs found in, for example, a body control module....

Coaxial four-way power combiner.(PRODUCT NEWS)(Mini-Circuits to announce coaxial four way power combiner for applications)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... Mini-Circuits announces the model ZB4PD-232-50W+ coaxial four-way power combiner for applications from 600 to 2300 MHz. The 0[degrees] combiner, which can also be used as a power splitter, handles power levels at each of the four ports to 50 W....

Surface mount chip and coaxial equalizers.(PRODUCT NEWS)(EMC Technology to introduce mount chip and coaxial equalizers)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... EMC Technology introduces a line of surface mount chip and coaxial equalizers to compensate for frequency variations in RF and microwave subsystems. They are available in a fixed frequency response version and a temperature variable frequency...

Wireless analog I/O for data logging.(PRODUCT NEWS)
October 1, 2007... Otek Corporation announces its Model TR550 transmitter that can be used as a stand-alone wired data logger or as a serial link (RS232/485) with a selectable baud rate from 1200 to 19.2 KB, 8N 1. Since the transmitter has its own offset and...

Coaxial resonator oscillator.(PRODUCT NEWS)(Z-Communications Inc. to introduce oscillators)(Brief article)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Z-Communications, Inc. announces its Models CRO2555A-LF, CRO2615A-LF and CRO2650A-LF lead free, RollS compliant, coaxial resonator oscillators in S band (covering the frequency range from 2520 to 2680 MHZ). These...

DAC/ADC switch matrix.(PRODUCT NEWS)
October 1, 2007... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Renaissance Electronics introduces its Model 18A1NAG DAC/ADC switch matrix that supports a high level of integration during qualification testing for digital and analog assemblies operating at microwave frequencies....

Series of transistors.(PRODUCT NEWS)
October 1, 2007... Allegro announces a series of Darlington transistors designed for audio amplifiers. With a high safe operating area, (SOA) and low thermal resistance derived from a thinner-die technology, Allegro's STD series achieves high power performance in...

Fast design of wireless telemetry systems.(TECHNOLOGY AWARD)
October 1, 2007... Zarlink Semiconductor Inc. has made available a development kit that enables faster design and evaluation of wireless telemetry systems linking implanted medical devices with monitoring and programming equipment. The ZLE70101 Application...

RFID adoption hurdles start to tumble.(FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY: RFID)
October 1, 2007... It would seem that every year has to be "the year" in which RFID will take off, only to be postponed by another 12 months. As it stands, actual mid implementations are still scarce and traditional barcode technology remains pervasive. That...

Securing the hole in RFID security.(FOCUS ON TECHNOLOGY: RFID)
October 1, 2007... Businesses and government agencies are driving the demand for radio frequency identification (RFID) technology to help improve supply chain logistics and security. Wal-Mart, Best Buy and the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) have each discussed...