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ELECTRONICSTALK
The Independent Weekly Product Information Guide
for Electronics Engineers
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London, UK
ISSN 1475-2913 - Free subscription
Published every Tuesday at 12:30 (UK)
Issue 47: 15 January 2002
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3768 product announcements and technical articles
on our web site, all fully searchable at
http://www.electronicstalk.com/ - take a look!
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In this issue:
* Editor's Message
* Our Top Ten new Products Selection
1. Embedded support for Geode processor
2. Analysis tool checks structure of RTL code
3. Flash FPGAs gun for ASICs with million-gate device
4. In-system-programmable MCU shrinks to 3mm square
5. Novel autorouter tackles topology - not shapes
6. SM connectors aim for high-datarate integrity
7. Video codec covers standard and high definitions
8. Thermal supervisor shrinks to quarter size
9. Tester aids Bluetooth development
10. Easy installation for optical encoders
* New Technical Articles and Case Studies
* ...And take a look at these stories too...
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Laurence Marchini, Editor, writes:
In my last Editorial of 2001, I expressed the wish that the new year might see fewer malicious viruses floating around the Internet. Fat chance!
The year is only a couple of weeks old, and yet each download of mail seems to bring up the inevitable warning that the attachment to such and such a message is infected with which ever virus is the current flavour of the minute.
Naturally, as one who e-mails a newsletter weekly to some 4000 souls, I am rather in the firing line in that my email address appears in an awful lot of address books. And, I hasten to add, my initial reaction to the arrival of a virus is sympathy for the (almost inevitably innocent) sender.
It is the originators of these viruses that deserve to receive our anger. And recent arrests in the Far East have gone a little way towards assuaging this wrath.
But consider this for a moment: just about every virus designed to cause maximum impact has been targeted at Microsoft software. (Indeed, it is generally the structure of the Outlook address book that is used to proliferate the infection throughout the net.)
So am I the only one who is worried about the potential threat to embedded applications using web-enabled real-time operating systems such as Windows CE .NET and Windows XP Embedded?
There are certainly some sick individuals out there who are capable of infecting desktop operating systems. We can only hope that (like the Millennium Bug) they can't make the jump to embedded systems.
I hope you find this issue of our weekly newsletter useful. In addition to the new products, news and ideas featured here, there are hundreds more on our website and dozens more being added daily, so do take a look if you can. But you don't need web access! All the full stories behind the summaries and headlines in this newsletter can be retrieved by email alone: see details below. In the meantime, if you've got any suggestions as to how we might make the site or the newsletter better, email me directly.
Best wishes
Laurence Marchini, Editor
mailto:lauren[-email removed-]nicstalk.com
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THIS WEEK'S INDUSTRY NEWS
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REAL-TIME SUPPORT FOR 32 AND 64BIT CORES
The Microsoft Windows CE.NET real-time operating system supports the industry-standard 32 and 64bit MIPS microprocessor architectures and cores.
MIPS Technologies, 9 January 2002
mailto:mip1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/mip/mip144.html
PAIR TO BOOST MESSAGING CONTENT
Bluefish Technologies has signed a development agreement with VIPMobile to jointly deliver a revolutionary new SIM-enabled application to existing mobile handsets.
Bluefish Technologies, 14 January 2002
mailto:bue1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/bue/bue100.html
ATRENTA ACCUMULATES FUNDING FOR TOOL DEVELOPMENT
Predictive analysis tool developer Atrenta has announced the second closing of Series A $11.2 million equity investment.
Atrenta, 9 January 2002
mailto:atr1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/atr/atr100.html
ART AND E-SIM TO JOIN UP SPEECH AND HANDWRITING
e-SIM has entered into a strategic partnership with ART, Advanced Recognition Technologies.
ART, Advanced Recognition Technologies, 9 January 2002
mailto:arb1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/arb/arb104.html
MENTOR EXPECTS IMPROVED EARNINGS IN Q4
Mentor Graphics expects fourth quarter 2001 earnings before goodwill and charges to exceed First Call consensus estimates of $0.42.
Mentor Graphics UK, 10 January 2002
mailto:men1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/men/men157.html
INNOVEDA LOOKING TO BEAT Q4 ESTIMATES
Innoveda expects to report approximately $22 million in revenue and approximately $2.6 million of operating income, before amortisation, for the fourth quarter of 2001.
Innoveda, 11 January 2002
mailto:inn1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/inn/inn125.html
IS3 TAKES ASTRO TO BECOME AVANT! DESIGN CENTRE
Integrated Semiconductor Supply Solutions (iS3) has selected Astro, Avant!'s solution for ultra-deep-submicron (UDSM) physical design closure.
Avant! Corporation, 11 January 2002
mailto:ava1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ava/ava112.html
PROOF OF CONCEPT FOR ENHANCED DVDS
ANT, IBM, InterActual Technologies, OpenGlobe and Wind River have completed the industry's first technology demonstration for the playback of enhanced DVDs in a consumer electronics DVD player.
Wind River Systems, 14 January 2002
mailto:wia1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/wia/wia113.html
PAIR FOCUS ON CORE-CENTRIC DESIGN SOLUTION
Monterey Design Systems and eASIC have entered a strategic agreement to provide the industry's first core-centric hierarchical design solution.
Monterey Design Systems, 14 January 2002
mailto:mon1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/mon/mon110.html
SAGEM NETS FURTHER SET-TOP-BOX ORDER
French cable TV operator France Telecom Cable has ordered more than 100,000 ICD 500 digital set-top boxes from Sagem.
Sagem, 15 January 2002
mailto:sge1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/sge/sge100.html
BENCHMARK CHOSES TERADYNE FOR NOVEL IRISH FACILITY
Benchmark Electronics has selected the Teradyne GR Pilot LX fixtureless flying prober test system, and Teradyne GR Force/A3 test and inspection data preparation solution.
Teradyne, 9 January 2002
mailto:tee1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tee/tee110.html
CZECHS SIGN FOR $4 MILLION MOBILE MONITOR
RadioMobil, a division of Deutsche Telekom Group, has invested $4 million in Tektronix' complete mobile network monitoring system for nine sites in all major cities throughout the Czech Republic.
Tektronix, 14 January 2002
mailto:tek1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tek/tek123.html
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OUR TOP TEN NEW PRODUCTS SELECTION
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1. Embedded support for Geode processor
Designers using the National Semiconductor Geode processor can now use both Microsoft's new Windows CE.NET operating system and National's development and reference platforms. Windows CE.NET includes a Geode processor-based board support package that reduces the time required to get the operating system working with National's information appliance development platforms. Using this board support package, developers can create highly flexible, connected and compact devices featuring the Geode X86 processor.
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2. Analysis tool checks structure of RTL code
SpyGlass 3.0 from Atrenta is a predictive analysis tool that cuts IC design time by providing the industry's first structural analysis of RTL (register transfer level) code. With its built-in fast synthesis engine, SpyGlass 3.0 can detect very complex structural problems at RTL that otherwise only show up at the gate level. SpyGlass 3.0's new graphical user interface correlates the RTL coding violations with schematics (automatically generated) to help designers get to the source of the problem and figure out the best way to debug their design.
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3. Flash FPGAs gun for ASICs with million-gate device
ProASIC Plus is Actel's second-generation family of Flash-based field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). Based on a 0.22-micron process, Actel's new single-chip, in-system- programmable ProASIC Plus family will consist of six devices ranging in density from 150,000 to 1 million system gates. The combination of a fine-grained, ASIC-like architecture and nonvolatile Flash configuration memory makes ProASIC Plus offering a strong ASIC alternative.
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4. In-system-programmable MCU shrinks to 3mm square
Cygnal Integrated Products has chosen Embedded Systems 2002 to make its European trade show debut. Among the products featured on the Cygnal stand (hall 12, stand F30) will be the world's smallest in-system programmable system-on-chip device, the C8051F300 microcontroller. Delivering an unprecedented feature set for its tiny 3 x 3mm footprint, the F300 enables localised data acquisition, processing, communication and control.
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5. Novel autorouter tackles topology - not shapes
Altium has unveiled Situs, its next-generation Topological Autorouter that will be included in the upcoming version of its Protel board-level design system. The Situs autorouter breaks new ground for the PCB industry as it incorporates Altium's next-generation Topological Autorouting technology, which allows designers to move beyond the constraints of current shape-based technologies.
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6. SM connectors aim for high-datarate integrity
Honda Connectors has a new range of surface-mount connectors specifically designed for high-speed signal interfaces such as Ultra SCSI-320, PCI-X and future Ultra SCSI-640. The 0.8mm-pitch HDRA series is available in standard 68-pin and dual 136-pin configuration and offers a complete solution including straight PCB connectors, board-edge styles for SMT assembly.
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7. Video codec covers standard and high definitions
Philips Semiconductors reckons it is the first manufacturer to ship a multistandard high-definition (HD) video codec to the mass market. Aimed at computer applications, the new SAA7108A/09A HD codec is the first video codec to incorporate HD and standard definition output capability on the same chip. It offers both standard and HD-ready TVs a rich variety of low-cost, PC-generated content such as movies, 3D games, decoded TV broadcasts and high resolution graphics.
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8. Thermal supervisor shrinks to quarter size
Micrel Semiconductor has developed a highly accurate, miniature two-zone thermal supervisor IC for thermal management using embedded thermal diodes such as those found in CPUs from Intel and Advanced Micro Devices, Xilinx VIRTEX FPGAs, and other high performance devices. Available in 6-pin SOT23 packaging, the MIC280 features highly accurate remote temperature measurement, six independent thresholds, I2C/SMBus compatibility, a programmable interrupt output, and numerous features to enhance ease of use and system reliability.
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9. Tester aids Bluetooth development
Anritsu has added to the support it offers to developers of Bluetooth wireless technology with the introduction of the ME7865A Bluetooth prequalification test system (PQTS). The ME7865A is the most cost-effective and compact system to offer comprehensive analysis of Bluetooth radios. It addresses all 16 test cases in the Bluetooth RF test specification at frequencies up to 3GHz.
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10. Easy installation for optical encoders
Agilent Technologies has a series of two-channel miniature optical incremental encoders providing ease of installation at an extremely competitive price of less than $15 each in 1000-piece quantities. These encoders use Agilent's own reflective encoder module which enables miniaturisation of the encoder package design.
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New Technical Articles and Case Studies
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FLAT PANEL REPLACES CRT IN MEDICAL EQUIPMENT
Planar Systems has collaborated with leading health-care equipment specialist Datex-Ohmeda to develop a flat-panel monitor for the medical environment.
Planar Systems, 11 January 2002
mailto:plc1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/plc/plc108.html
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...And take a look at these stories too...
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MCUs TAKE CONTROL OF TELEPHONE HANDSETS
Holtek Semiconductor has a new series of telephone controllers, providing designers with a new range of telephone control solutions.
Holtek Semiconductor, 9 January 2002
mailto:hlt1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/hlt/hlt103.html
FRUGAL DSL LINE DRIVER BOOSTS OFFICE PORT DENSITY
Elantec Semiconductor has developed a very low power DSL line driver ideal for high-density central office (CO) applications.
Elantec Semiconductor, 9 January 2002
mailto:ela1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ela/ela105.html
LOW-LOSS SCHOTTKY DIODES FOR DC/DC CONVERSION
New low-forward-voltage compact SMD Schottky diodes from Shindengen provide secondary rectification in DC/DC convertor applications.
Shindengen UK, 10 January 2002
mailto:sha1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/sha/sha103.html
EASE OF USE CLAIM FOR SWITCHING CONTROLLER
National Semiconductor has a novel switching controller for power management applications in set-top boxes, automotive systems and information infrastructure.
National Semiconductor, 11 January 2002
mailto:nat1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/nat/nat148.html
FASTER, SMALLER MCUs BOOST CONSUMER APPLICATIONS
Hitachi has expanded its Tiny Series of single-chip microcontrollers with the new H8/3694 series.
Hitachi Europe, 11 January 2002
mailto:hit1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/hit/hit131.html
CONVERTORS OFFER SIMPLIFIED INDUSTRIAL INTERFACING
New from Analog Devices, the AD7782/83 24bit sigma-delta ADCs are read-only to make interfacing simple for low-frequency measurement and low-power data acquisition applications.
Analog Devices, 11 January 2002
mailto:anc1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/anc/anc118.html
NOVEL PACKAGE SHRINKS LOW-PIN-COUNT AUDIO DEVICES
Wolfson Microelectronics is meeting demand for ever-smaller audio and multimedia designs, with the addition of ultraminiature quad flat no-lead packaging for key devices in its product family.
Wolfson Microelectronics, 15 January 2002
mailto:wol1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/wol/wol116.html
MORE ROM FOR DSPs
Two new programmable TMS320C54x digital signal processors from Texas Instruments incorporate seven times more on-chip read-only memory.
Texas Instruments, 15 January 2002
mailto:tex2[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tex/tex203.html
PRECISION METAL-FILM RESISTORS FOR LOW-COST USES
The new RE 0207 and RE 0204 from VTM (UK) are two ranges of precision metal-film resistors in the popular 0207 and 0204 (0.25 and 0.125W) body sizes.
VTM (UK), 10 January 2002
mailto:vtm1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/vtm/vtm108.html
ORGANIC CAPACITORS PERFORM BETTER FOR LONGER
New aluminium organic capacitors from Micromark C and CD sustain their capacitance at high operating frequencies, thereby enabling component count and system cost savings.
Micromark C&CD, 15 January 2002
mailto:mmk1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/mmk/mmk101.html
ONLINE KNOWLEDGE CENTRE FOR WEB-BASED EDA TRAINING
The Mentor Graphics OnLine Knowledge Centre provides a variety of technical training and product information including self-paced courses that focus on a particular tool or design methodology.
Mentor Graphics UK, 10 January 2002
mailto:men1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/men/men156.html
64BIT SUPPORT BOOSTS MODELLING PERFORMANCE
Ansoft has released a 64bit technology solution compatible with Sun Microsystems' Solaris operating environment (OE).
Ansoft Corporation Europe, 11 January 2002
mailto:ans1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ans/ans118.html
PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC DESIGN SOFTWARE IS 35% FASTER
The latest release of the Cypress Semiconductor Warp design tools and environment expands support for Cypress's Programmable Serial Interface (PSI) devices.
Cypress Semiconductor, 11 January 2002
mailto:cyp1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/cyp/cyp132.html
DEVELOPMENT BOARD SPEEDS FPGA COPROCESSOR DESIGN
New from Wind River, the 405GP SBC hardware reference design enables rapid development of FPGA and CPU coprocessing hardware, as well as the testing and debugging of software.
Wind River Systems, 11 January 2002
mailto:wia1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/wia/wia112.html
WINDOWS XP EMBEDDED AVAILABLE FROM STOCK
The new Windows XP Embedded operating system is available from stock at Abacus Polar.
Abacus Group, 15 January 2002
mailto:aba1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/aba/aba104.html
PRODUCTIVITY GAINS CLAIMED FOR UPDATED PCB SUITE
Mentor Graphics has upgraded its Board Station family, including enhanced support for concurrent design, additional operating system support and improved system integration and performance.
Mentor Graphics UK, 15 January 2002
mailto:men1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/men/men158.html
TINY SWITCH SUITS HANDHELD EQUIPMENT
KSU top-actuated ultra-miniature detect switches from ITT Industries, Cannon feature a light actuation force of 0.7N without tactile effect and are totally protected against overload conditions.
ITT Industries, Cannon, 11 January 2002
mailto:itt1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/itt/itt105.html
D-SUB CONNECTOR RANGE INCLUDES POWER AND PRESS FIT
Radiatron reckons the Erni TMC series of D-sub connectors offers the industry's widest choice of configurations, including power and press-fit versions for backplane applications.
Radiatron Components, 11 January 2002
mailto:rag1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/rag/rag101.html
FULL RANGE OF APPROVALS FOR FINE-PITCH IDCs
Harting has introduced a range of 2.54mm (0.1in) insulation displacement connectors which meets DIN 41651/MIL-C 83 502, UL/CSA and other national and international standard approvals.
Harting, 11 January 2002
mailto:har1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/har/har120.html
DIE BONDER WORKS TO MICRON RESOLUTION
New from Production Equipment Sales is the DB-100, a high-accuracy eutectic die bonder with flip chip function and 1um pick/place resolution.
Production Equipment Sales, 15 January 2002
mailto:pro1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/pro/pro105.html
FRUGAL POWERPC MEZZANINE CARD
Force Computers has added a low-power-dissipation member to its family of PowerPC-based PCI mezzanine card (PMC) modules.
Force Computers, 10 January 2002
mailto:for1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/for/for103.html
CPU STEPS INTO OBSOLETE APPLICATIONS
A timely offering for OEMs and engineers using outgoing SC400- and DX5-based PC/104 boards, Datasound Laboratories have launched the MZ104+ CPU as a direct replacement.
Datasound Laboratories, 14 January 2002
mailto:dab1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/dab/dab109.html
AUDIO ANALYSER MAKES SOUND COMMERCIAL SENSE
The new ATS-2 audio analyser from Audio Precision has just been introduced in the UK by TTi (Thurlby Thandar Instruments).
TTi (Thurlby Thandar Instruments), 9 January 2002
mailto:bla1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/bla/bla135.html
SAW TECHNOLOGY CREATES BETTER TORQUE SENSORS
Sensor Technology has introduced the Torqsense RWT range of SAW-based rotary torque transducers.
Sensor Technology, 9 January 2002
mailto:sec1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/sec/sec102.html
EMC TEST SOFTWARE CHECKS EUT FUNCTIONALITY
A new facility for monitoring equipment under test (EUT) during RF immunity testing is now available for Schaffner's powerful test management software EMC Compliance 3.
Schaffner EMC, 14 January 2002
mailto:sca1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/sca/sca136.html
TESTING FROM POWER TO TELECOMMS
Yokogawa Martron has produced a new UK shortform catalogue covering the full range of Yokogawa test and measurement instruments for the electronics, power and telecommunications industries.
Yokogawa Martron, 14 January 2002
mailto:yoa1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/yoa/yoa109.html
FREE MEASUREMENT SEMINARS ON THE WEB
Keithley Instruments is to broadcast two free web seminars over the Internet later this month.
Keithley Instruments, 14 January 2002
mailto:kei1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/kei/kei116.html
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Have you seen our other newsletters?
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We also publish other engineering newsletters like this
once a week. All are free, so take a look:
Engineeringtalk - for mechanical/automation engineers
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Laboratorytalk - for all lab and research personnel
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Manufacturingtalk - for production engineers
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