EDN articles from January 2006

EDN archives from January 2006

802.11n progress: consensus building or end run?(EDN.COMMENT)
January 5, 2006... The industry has well-documented the impasse in the IEEE 802.11n-standard development for next-generation WiFi wireless LANs. Intel and Broadcom led factions that agreed only to disagree. In the summer, the IEEE committee formed a...

Improving machinery vibration analysis.(SIGNAL PATH / designer[SM]: Tips, tricks, and techniques from the analog signal-path experts)
January 5, 2006... Machinery downtime during normal shift operations is very costly due to lost production, but it is also avoidable. Preventative maintenance systems are being used to improve the operating efficiency of machinery used in factories, power plants,...

PMC card fits multimedia applications.(pulse: INNOVATIONS & INNOVATORS)
January 5, 2006... Curtiss-Wright Controls has introduced the AtlasPMC/2, a dual-channel, high-resolution PMC graphics controller featuring a range of multimedia features for VME, CompactPCI, and PCI systems. The company based the card on ATI Technologies' Radeon...

ADC blazes at 190M samples/sec but sips power.(pulse: INNOVATIONS & INNOVATORS)
January 5, 2006... The new ADS5546 ADC from Texas Instruments targets applications in wireless communications, video and imaging, test and measurement, and instrumentation. The chip offers 73.2-dB full-scale SNR and 84-dBc SFDR (spurious-free dynamic range) at...

SiGe power amp targets PHS handsets to WiFi.(pulse: INNOVATIONS & INNOVATORS)
January 5, 2006... Toshiba based its new TA4401-CT power amplifier on three cascaded RF stages that target linearity, efficiency, and low power in wireless applications in bands ranging from 1.9 to 2.5 GHL The targets include PHS (personal-handy-system) handsets,...

Scopes' array of features, performance, size, and price breaks new ground.(pulse: INNOVATIONS & INNOVATORS)
January 5, 2006... To change the landscape in the market, a new digital-oscilloscope family needn't offer the industry's widest bandwidth or highest sampling rate, especially when the new instruments break ground in other ways. Tektronix's DPO 7000 series has...

Dilbert.
January 5, 2006... HELLO, THIS IS ASOK THE INTERN. I AM TRYING TO SET UP A CONFERENCE CALL WITH YOUR BOSS AND 15 OTHER PEOPLE. COULD YOU TELL ME ALL OF THE TIMES HE IS AVAILABLE IN THE NEXT SIX MONTHS? ONLY AUGUST SIXTH BETWEEN 8:35 AND 8:40. SO...

Platform simplifies video.(pulse: INNOVATIONS & INNOVATORS)
January 5, 2006... Texas Instruments' DM6443 and DM6446 processors are the first two devices in the DaVinci family. These devices integrate a 594-M Hz video-optimized TI C64x+ DSP core, a 297-MHz ARM926EJ-S processor core, and a video-processing subsystem in a...

GSM phone on chip targets handsets.(pulse: INNOVATIONS & INNOVATORS)
January 5, 2006... Silicon Laboratories recently introduced what it claims is the first fully integrated single-chip phone for GSM (global-system-for-mobile-communication)/GPRS (general-packet-radio-system) handsets. The AeroFone Si4905 integrates the...

Physicists force six atoms to act like quantum "cats".(RESEARCH UPDATE)
January 5, 2006... In work with ramifications for quantum computing and cryptography, scientists at NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) have coaxed six beryllium ions into a state of entangled superposition, in which their nuclei simultaneously...

Carbon nanotubes suck heat from high-performance amps.(RESEARCH UPDATE)
January 5, 2006... Fujitsu has announced that it will employ carbon nanotubes in heat sinks for high-frequency, high-power amplifiers that will find use in next-generation base stations. Because conventional face-up packaging techniques suffer from...

Chip electrically controls the speed of light.(RESEARCH UPDATE)
January 5, 2006... Researchers at IBM have fabricated the first optical chip that electrically controls the speed of light. The chip works by electrically altering the effective index of the refraction of an integrated photonic-crystal waveguide. The component...

EDA-tool pairing tackles ESL "model gap".(GLOBAL DESIGNER)
January 5, 2006... As an enabling technology for the wider implementation of system-level design, Tenison and Spiratech have created a closely integrated pairing of their respective VTOC and Cohesive EDA products. Tenison's software converts models of circuit...

ADCs use less than 100 mW at 40 MHz and 14 bits.(GLOBAL DESIGNER)
January 5, 2006... "The lowest power delta-sigma ADCs available anywhere" is the claim of fabless-semiconductor vendor Xignal Technologies. It based its product concept on an architecture it calls continuous-time delta-sigma. With it, designs can achieve...

Half-measures.(SIGNAL INTEGRITY)
January 5, 2006... Perky little Miss Flynn, my fifth-grade physical-education teacher, used to admonish her flock: "Never go in for half-measures; always try your hardest." I like to test rules, so as life progressed, I tried drinking as much as possible and...

Valuing uncertainty.(TALES FROM THE CUBE)
January 5, 2006... As a junior member of a technical staff, I was testing and characterizing how well the automatic-gain-control and target-acquisition algorithms operated with a new visible-light camera sensor. The vision system needed to be able to distinguish...

Choosing high-speed amplifiers for noise-sensitive applications: voltage feedback, current feedback, bipolar, CMOS-all have advantages and drawbacks. Here's a road map for picking the best type for your application.
January 5, 2006... High-speed amplifiers have broken the gigahertz barrier, making them an attractive choice in many applications. Fundamental differences exist in the types of amplifiers on the market. The two most critical characteristics involve process...

Serial streams shrink embedded-system designs: mobile- and small-form-factor-product designers turn to fabric technology and off-the-shelf computer modules to beat the competition.(Cover Story)
January 5, 2006... A new wave of extremely compact embedded computing platforms is finding its way into industrial, medical, consumer, and other space-critical applications. Despite their compact size, these small, off-the-she If computing elements offer...

Design challenges steer automotive electronics: the automotive industry uses sophisticated mechanical design tools but could benefit from electronic system design automation.
January 5, 2006... Sit in any new car, and it doesn't take long to notice that a lot more electronic components exist in vehicles today than did five years ago. But the GPS, satellite radio, DVD/video screen, automatic climate control, and gas-mileage-monitoring...

Designing RF-IC filters using an automated circuit and layout synthesis: RF-IC designers can automate tedious filter-design iterations by integrating design steps with an electromagnetic simulator.
January 5, 2006... The filters in an RF IC are important elements, affecting the IC's performance, size, and cost. Traditionally, design of RF-IC filters requires three steps: lumped-element circuit synthesis from specifications, layout synthesis of individual...

Easy Drive[TM] ADCs simplify measurement of high impedance sensors--Design Note 379.(DESIGN NOTES)(Advertisement)
January 5, 2006... Delta-sigma ADCs, with their high accuracy and high noise immunity, are ideal for directly measuring many types of sensors. Nevertheless, input sampling currents can overwhelm high source impedances or low-bandwidth, micropower signal...

CMOS inverters convert RF to digital signal.(design ideas: READERS SOLVE DESIGN PROBLEMS)
January 5, 2006... Applications ranging from frequency counting and synthesis to sensor signal conditioning require conversion of RF signals to digital-logic levels. In such situations, designers typically use a high-speed voltage comparator to perform the...

Instrumentation amplifier extends DSO.(design ideas: READERS SOLVE DESIGN PROBLEMS)
January 5, 2006... To determine the specifications of a solar-generating plant, I needed to accurately measure the load current a product consumed. The product switched several internal devices on and off during an interval of several seconds. An ammeter showed...

Virtual instrument determines magnetic core's B-H-loop characteristics.(design ideas: READERS SOLVE DESIGN PROBLEMS)
January 5, 2006... To design an inductive component that contains a magnetic-core material, an engineer must accurately measure the material's characteristics. A magnetic core's dynamic hysteresis loop, or "B-H curve," contains valuable information about core...

BJT/MOSFET hybrid retains benefits of each design.(DISCRETE SEMICONDUCTORS)
January 5, 2006... Targeting high-voltage, high-switching-frequency applications, this family of ESBTs (emitter-switched bipolar transistors) suits industrial three-phase auxiliary-power supplies and SEPICs (single-ended primary-inductance converters) for...

DirectFET MOSFETs reduce 200W-converter power loss.(DISCRETE SEMICONDUCTORS)
January 5, 2006... The 80V 1RF6668 and 100V IRF6662 DirectFET MOSFETs primary-side power switches provide high efficiency for powering isolated de/dc-bus converters, ASICs, network-processing units, and FPGAs in advanced networking and communication systems. The...

Wireless-LAN InGaP HBT power amplifier features 30-dB power gain.(DISCRETE SEMICONDUCTORS)
January 5, 2006... Pairing with the vendor's LX5511 amplifier, the LX5506M targets 802.11 a/b/g applications, which include the 2.3- to 2.5-GHz bandwidth. This InGaP (indium-gallium-phosphide) HBT (heterojunction-bipolar-transistor) power amplifier provides a...

I/O expanders control power functions.(DISCRETE SEMICONDUCTORS)
January 5, 2006... The AAT4296 and AAT4298 I/O expanders manage six functions through a control wire, allowing designers to expand general-purpose-I/O resources in portable, battery-powered systems. Both devices facilitate voltage level-shifting, operating at a...

Low-saturation-voltage BJTs target portable and battery-powered systems.(DISCRETE SEMICONDUCTORS)
January 5, 2006... Aiming at applications in power management, battery charging, low-dropout regulation, vibrator motors, LED backlighting, disk-drive control, and camera flash, this BJT (bipolar-junction-transistor) family provides long battery life in cell...

Half-bridge MOSFET-driver ICs have flexible gate-drive levels.(DISCRETE SEMICONDUCTORS)
January 5, 2006... Siliconix 1.8V half-bridge N-channel-MOSFET drivers provide flexible gate-drive levels, reduce component count, and minimize expense in high-frequency, high-current, dc/dc, synchronous-rectifier buck power supplies. The SiP41108, SiP41109, and...

Innovative ESD-protection device has an ultrasmall design.(DISCRETE SEMICONDUCTORS)
January 5, 2006... Replacing four discrete devices including multiplayer varistors, the [micro]Clamp3324P reduces the necessary space for ESD (electrostatic-discharge) protection by 77% compared with competing devices. The vendor constructed the low-voltage,...

CMOS image sensors feature low dark current and low noise.(INTEGRATED CIRCUITS)
January 5, 2006... The vendors manufacture the CYIHDSC9000AA color and CYIHDSM9000AA monochrome 9 million-pixel CMOS image sensors in the 0.13-micron CMOS process, providing a 3710x2434 maximum resolution. The devices provide low dark current and low noise. Other...

Class-KB audio power amplifier targets car-audio applications.(INTEGRATED CIRCUITS)
January 5, 2006... Based on BiCMOS and double-diffused-MOS technology, the TB2905HQ Class-KB audio power amplifier suits car-audio needs, such as CD, DVD, and navigation applications. Features include four BTL (bridge-tied-load) amplifier channels, standby...

Active-pixel design provides major noise reduction.(INTEGRATED CIRCUITS)
January 5, 2006... A 3.3-micron active-pixel design provides the ADCC-3960 EP 1.3 million-pixel CMOS image sensor with 10 times less noise than competing devices. With a one-third optical format, the sensor can process 15 frames/sec at full SXGA resolution and 30...

DAT stirs piracy fears, loses out to plastic discs.(reality check: YESTERDAY'S HYPE MEETS TODAY'S REALITY)
January 5, 2006... In the mid-1980s, DAT (digital-audio tape) was poised to become a mainstream music medium. Sampling modes varied from 12 bits at 32 kHz to 24 bits at 96 kHz, resulting in storage capacities of 90 minutes to three hours. But DAT's real claim to...

A new approach to streamlining the application of advanced technologies.(ADVERTORIAL)(Advertisement)
January 19, 2006... Today's increasing silicon complexity drives engineers to continually leverage the latest advances in electronic design. However, no company can afford to have its design teams consuming time and effort adopting individual technologies....

EDA industry needs a reality check.(EDN.COMMENT)
January 19, 2006... Four years ago, the EDA industry appeared to be on top of the world; now, it appears to be taking desperate measures to show a recovery. In 2001, when every other industry was struggling under the weight of the worst recession in modern times,...

High-performance analog front ends.(ANALOG / edge)
January 19, 2006... High-Speed Signals High-speed conversion systems, especially in the telecommunications field, allow the input to the ADC to be AC-coupled either through a transformer, a capacitor, or a combination of both. For the test and measurement...

Single/dual, high-performance, low-power, 8-bit, 1.5 GSPS ADC (3 GSPS DES mode).(Featured Products)
January 19, 2006... The ADC08D1500 is the industry's lowest power, best performing, dual 8-bit 1.5 GSPS analog-to-digital converter. It simultaneously digitizes two signals to 8-bit resolution at sampling rates up to 1.5 GSPS or one signal at sampling rates up te...

1.2 GHz, low distortion op amp with shutdown.(Featured Products)
January 19, 2006... The LMH6703 is a very wideband, DC coupled monolithic operational amplifier designed specifically for ultra-high resolution video systems as well as wide dynamic range systems requiring exceptional signal fidelity. Benefiting from National's...

Differential, high-speed op amp.(Featured Products)
January 19, 2006... The LMH6550 is a high-performance voltage feedback differential amplifier. The fully differential topology allows balanced inputs to the ADCs and can be used as single-ended-to-differential or used as differential-to-differential. This...

High-performance, low-power, dual 8-bit, 500 MSPS A/D converter.(Featured Products)
January 19, 2006... The ADC08D500 is the industry's lowest power dual 8-bit 500 MSPS analog-to-digital converter. It simultaneously digitizes two signals to 8-bit resolution at sampling rates up to 500 MSPS or one signal at sampling rates up to 1 GSPS. Consuming a...

Embedded computer features conductive cooling.(pulse: INNOVATIONS & INNOVATORS)
January 19, 2006... The new seven-slot, 3U Hercules CompactPCI system from Inova Computers features a special aluminum heat sink that conducts heat away from the CPU and peripherals. This thermal-management scheme prevents hot spots inside the chassis and extends...

Class D makes audio chip Grade A.(pulse: INNOVATIONS & INNOVATORS)
January 19, 2006... Available in a 4x4-mm package, the LM4935 audio chip provides a complete subsystem for smart phones and VOIP (voice-over-Internet Protocol) handsets. The device handles many common analog and digital input and output formats and includes a...

Feedback loop.(pulse: INNOVATIONS & INNOVATORS)
January 19, 2006... "Consider how a youngster might think about it 'Why should I blow four to eight years in college fighting for one of a steadily declining number of engineering jobs that are all getting sent overseas anyway?'" Bruce Lone, in EDN's Feedback...

Driver handles three-phase brushless motors.(pulse: INNOVATIONS & INNOVATORS)
January 19, 2006... The high cost of electronic control for BLDC (brushless-dc) motors has long been one of the barriers to their use in system designs. Now, Apex Microtechnology is offering a low-cost motor-driver IC to remove that barrier for users of...

Dilbert.(pulse: INNOVATIONS & INNOVATORS)(Cartoon)
January 19, 2006... ALICE, YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE NEWEST MEMBER OF "THE WORLD'S GREATEST INTERNS." [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] THAT'S A SCAM TO CONVINCE GULLIBLE INTERNS TO BUY OVERPRICED WALL PLAQUES. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] I'LL BE DISPLAYING YOU...

Supply controls LED-light levels.(01.19.06)
January 19, 2006... The LTC3783 current-mode multitopology converter drives hi power-LED strings and clusters. The device provides constant-current PWM (pulse-width-modulated) power to control the brightness level of LEDS. It can achieve a dimming ratio of...

Scopes combine big displays, small footprint.(pulse: INNOVATIONS & INNOVATORS)
January 19, 2006... With its WaveRunner Xi line, LeCroy brings big-scope performance and a 10.4-in. touch-sensitive display to a package whose benchtop footprint is no larger than that of scopes that offer much lower performance. What's more, the units achieve...

UWB-chip-set maker preps rollout of consumer products.(01.19.06)
January 19, 2006... You've been hearing about UWB (ultrawideband) technology for seemingly a decade while waiting for products to appear. Most pundits blame the standards impasse on the IEEE 802.15 committee. However, Matthew Shoemake, president and chief...

Digital-power controller is fast and software-configurable.(pulse: INNOVATIONS & INNOVATORS)
January 19, 2006... Ron Van Dell, president and chief executive officer of Primarion, likes to preface his introduction of the company's new digital-power-conversion and -management family with a detailed explanation of exactly what "digital power" is--and isn't....

SOI wafers host higher precision op amps.(pulse: INNOVATIONS & INNOVATORS)
January 19, 2006... With its VIP50 process for operational amplifiers, National Semiconductor uses SOI (silicon-on-insulator) structures to build precision amplifiers. The VIP50 has complementary 4-GHz PNP and NPN transistors; a trench that reaches to the silicon...

Altera's John Daane: programmable patriarch.(VOICES)(Altera Semiconductor)(Interview)
January 19, 2006... John Daane is president and chief executive officer of FPGA-maker Altera. He is also a former design engineer who worked his way through the ranks at ASIC-maker LSI Logic before taking the helm at Altera. Daane's position and background...

Logarithms: the new floating point?(GLOBAL DESIGNER)
January 19, 2006... From the University of Newcastle upon Tyne spin-off Northern Digital comes a microprocessor whose maker claims to be the first to operate directly on numbers that are held in a logarithmic representation. The device targets applications that...

MIMO delivers range, beam forming delivers video: next generation wireless-LAN technologies 802.11G to deliver DVD-quality video.(DIGITAL DEN)
January 19, 2006... With the approach of the 2006 rendition of the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), EDN decided to take a look at a couple of the latest WLAN wireless-LAN) technologies that purport to carry video. By the time this article hits print, CES will have...

Rarely asked questions: strange but true stories from the call logs of analog devices.(RAQ's)
January 19, 2006... It's easy to drive an EE to drink--but what drives one to poetry? Q. My SPICE simulation worked perfectly, but now I've a larqe production batch which doesn't meet its specification. A. Analog circuit simulation is one of the most...

Processing options: choose the right mix of processing technologies for embedded-system designs.
January 19, 2006... The number of options for choosing the best processor for embedded-system designs continues to increase. In addition to microprocessors, microcontrollers, and DSPs (digital-signal processors), several unified microprocessors from companies such...

Variations on a theme: handheld game systems proliferate, touting varied features and price tags: entertainment consoles are going mobile in a big way, following in the footsteps of their computer forerunners. At this early stage in the game, there's no shortage of opinions on what defines the perfect system, leading to a diversity of product alternatives.
January 19, 2006... Traditional TV-tethered video consoles are in no danger of obsolescence, but portable counterparts are beginning to supplement and, to a limited degree, supplant them (Reference 1). Although mobile units don't directly drive large-screen...

Complete 10A switchmode DC/DC power supply in an IC form-factor: high performance analog solutions from linear technology.
January 19, 2006... Pre-manufactured DC/DC power supplies, also referred to as point-of-load (POL) modules, have been promising simpler, smaller and quicker solutions. However, they fall short in meeting the demands for system assembly of densely populated...

Accurately judging endurance for solid-state storage: determining the appropriate solid-state-storage approach for OEM applications can be difficult, especially when suppliers often rely on varying methods to measure the performance of their products. It is no wonder the selection process is daunting.
January 19, 2006... Designers require a common measure for accurately evaluating storage options and their reliability. Endurance can provide such a measure, and understanding how to evaluate it correctly can help designers effectively select the right approach....

Clear calls from the road: voice-interface technology improves the safety and clarity of hands-free communication in automobiles.(FORTMEDIA)
January 19, 2006... Talking and driving--a dangerous combination, for sure, yet popular for a generation that wants to stay in touch with family and friends, no matter where they are or what they are doing. "Of all the accessories for cell phones, the ones people...

Programmable analog circuits yield single-chip sinusoidal oscillators.(design ideas: READERS SOLVE DESIGN PROBLEMS)
January 19, 2006... Programmable-logic devices provide a popular method of implementing complex functions in digital designs. Although manufacturers don't yet offer analog circuits whose complexity compares to VLSI digital circuits, field-programmable analog...

Enhanced, three-phase VCO features ground-referenced outputs.(design ideas: READERS SOLVE DESIGN PROBLEMS)
January 19, 2006... Three-phase VCOs (voltage-controlled oscillators) see service in many applications, including power inverters and in electronic-music synthesis as control and modulation sources. A previous Design Idea describes a basis for a simple,...

Fast, high efficiency, standalone NiMH/NiCd battery charging design note 380.(DESIGN NOTES)(Advertisement)
January 19, 2006... Introduction Although recent popular attention is focused on Lithium Ion batteries, one must not forget that other battery chemistries, such as Nickel Cadmium (NiCd) and Nickel Metal Hydride (NiMH) have advantages in rechargeable power...

Improved current monitor delivers proportional-voltage output.(design ideas)
January 19, 2006... This Design Idea expands the capabilities of a previously published one (Reference 1). The original version featured a current transformer whose secondary winding formed part of an oscillator's tank circuit. Under normal conditions, direct...

Low-noise charge pump/linear regulator targets wireless-handset applications.(OPTOELECTRONICS/DISPLAYS)
January 19, 2006... Functioning as a charge pump and a linear regulator, the low-noise CM4072 LED driver runs at 250 kHz for powering white LEDs to backlight TFT (thin-film-transistor) LCDs in wireless devices. By integrating the charge pump and linear regulator...

Multipurpose LED driver comes in small package.(OPTOELECTRONICS/DISPLAYS)
January 19, 2006... Suiting high-brightness LEDs in torch- or flash-system applications for cameras and portable electronic devices, the NCP5603 white-LED driver uses a charge-pump structure for power conversion. The device uses two external ceramic capacitors,...

Cell-phone-camera LED driver has low noise and high efficiency.(OPTOELECTRONICS/DISPLAYS)
January 19, 2006... The 850-kHz, lx/1.5x/2x LTC3217 multimode charge pump drives multiple high-current LEDs in cellular-phone-camera applications. Using constant-frequency operation for low noise, the device can drive four LED current sources at 600-mA total...

Phototriac families come in a variety of trigger currents.(OPTOELECTRONICS/DISPLAYS)
January 19, 2006... Reducing EMI-noise harmonics and featuring low peak-operating currents, the VO4157 and VO4158 series of zero-crossing GaAs (gallium-arsenide) infrared LEDs are optically coupled to a photosensitive zero-crossing triac detector chip. Devices in...

Series of LED indicators has a variety of options.(OPTOELECTRONICS/DISPLAYS)
January 19, 2006... Available in red, green, yellow, blue, and white, the Q-Series of LED indicators features optional bicolor, tricolor, and flashing LEDs. Additional features include solder-lug/ quick-connect terminals, wire terminations, and 200-mm elongated...

Surface-mount LED has 13-cd intensity.(OPTOELECTRONICS/DISPLAYS)
January 19, 2006... This 3.2x1.8x1.75.-mm, high-brightness, diffused surface-mount LED features a 13-cd intensity, suiting flash applications. The AOT3218 (advanced-optoelectronic-technology) LED's small package outline includes a 1208 viewing angle with uniform...

Fast LCD monitors have 4-msec response time.(COMPUTERS AND PERIPHERALS)
January 19, 2006... The 17-in. SyncMaster 740BF and 19-in. SyncMaster 940BF LCD monitors feature technologies including MagicSpeed, MagicTune, MagicZone, MagicColor, and MagicBright II. MagicSpeed provides the 4-msec gray-to-gray response time; MagicTune enables...

3-D monitors retain full resolution.(COMPUTERS AND PERIPHERALS)
January 19, 2006... Using stereoscopic 3-D technology, the SD1710 StereoMirror display features two 17-in. active-matrix LCD monitors in an up/down configuration, separated at a 110[degrees] angle. A semitransparent mirror at a bisecting angle between the two...

Network hard drive has built-in network-media server.(COMPUTERS AND PERIPHERALS)
January 19, 2006... Operating on a Freescale Power-Quicc II MPC8241 processor, the StorCenter network hard drive features a built-in network-media server and Gigabit Ethernet speed. Features include 160- and 250-Gbyte capacities, IAB (Iomega Automatic Backup) Pro...

Hard-drive kit converts notebook hard drives into external hard drives.(COMPUTERS AND PERIPHERALS)
January 19, 2006... Converting a notebook hard drive into an external hard drive, the Travelstar upgrade kit comprises a 2.5-in. hard drive in 40-, 60-, 80-, and 100-Gbyte capacities; installation instructions; the Apricorn EZ Gig II hard-drive-cloning and upgrade...

PDAs yield to smart phones and media players.(reality check: YESTERDAY'S HYPE MEETS TODAY'S REALITY)
January 19, 2006... Few products that have enjoyed the volume-market success of the PDA have had such a short run when it comes to popularity. Palm Pilots went from being a novelty in 1997 to megahit status around the turn of the century. But the stand-alone PDA...

Flawed reality.(reality check: YESTERDAY'S HYPE MEETS TODAY'S REALITY)(Correction Notice)
January 19, 2006... Our Oct 27, 2005, Reality Check incorrectly stated that the original design of the Denver airport's ill-fated luggage-handling system used Invensys Systems' Wonderware InTouch. EDN regrets the error. Go to www.edn.com/article/ CA6275425 for...