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ELECTRONICSTALK
The Independent Weekly Product Information Guide
for Electronics Design, Development and Manufacturing Engineers
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ISSN 1475-2913 - Free subscription
Published every Tuesday from the UK.
Issue 135: 14 October 2003
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13126 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] Real-time scope takes on 4.25Gbit/s serial data
[2] ADC claims speed record
[3] FPGA core outperforms 8051 microcontrollers
[4] Blinking ICs take a dim view of LEDs
[5] Backplane connector crams in the contacts
[6] Global appeal for switching adapter
[7] FPGA platform speeds PCI Express development
[8] Drivers go high and low to simplify power design
[9] Handheld analyser takes on wireless networks
[10] Acquisition board runs up to 125Msample/s
* New Technical Articles and Case Studies
* ...And take a look at these stories too...
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Laurence Marchini, Editor, writes:
Around the time of last year's GSM World Congress, I ventured to suggest that it wouldn't be too long until handsets would only comprise a small sector of the GSM market. Well, this week, market research expert E-Principles has even gone so far as to put a timescale on the shift of influence (see below).
Such is the new evangelism in the market for machine-to-machine (M2M) connectivity, says a new report, that even with massive expansion in the handset market in emerging areas such as China, M2M applications will dominate within the next eight years.
Even the provision of new 2.5 and 3G services provide something of a double-edged sword (no pun intended - honest). Witness this week's news from TTPCom (also featured below) that its new Edge module has been successfully demonstrated downloading data at 216Kbit/s under "real-world" conditions - a download speed that makes those of us still denied a broadband landline all the more impatient for new services.
The report must make mixed reading for Motorola. Having signalled its intention to spin off its semiconductor operations (which have a significant stake in the cellular market as a whole), this week the US giant reported a trend-bucking 19% increase in handset shipments and a 44% increase in orders for the quarter.
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.
Alternatively, the full stories behind all the summaries and headlines in this newsletter can be retrieved by email alone: see details below.
In the meantime, if you have any suggestions as to how we might make the site or the newsletter better, email me directly.
Best wishes
Laurence Marchini, Editor
mailto:ne[-email removed-]nicstalk.com
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THIS WEEK'S INDUSTRY NEWS
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To read more, use the web links. Or get the full stories emailed back to you: just send a blank email to the address shown. It's a free service. Try it! It works!
WOLFSON TO EXPAND INTO NEW HQ
Wolfson Microelectronics has purchased new premises to house its corporate headquarters in Edinburgh.
Wolfson Microelectronics, 8 October 2003
mailto:wol1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/wol/wol153.html
QUEENS UNIVERSITY BELFAST GAINS NEW RESEARCH LAB
Xilinx is providing major financial and technology support for a significant new research project at Queens University Belfast.
Xilinx, 13 October 2003
mailto:xil1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/xil/xil104.html
MEMS STARTUP WINS SHARE OF DARPA PROJECT
Memtronics Corp has received a $3.69 million, three-year research contract from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) entitled "Robust, reliable RF MEMS capacitive switches".
Memtronics Corp, 14 October 2003
mailto:mmt1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/mmt/mmt100.html
NEW NAME REVEALS RADIATRON'S PARENTAGE
To underline the strength of being part of the Acal group, electromechanical specialist Radiatron is being renamed Acal Radiatron, with several new franchises, a new website and a new brochure.
Acal Radiatron, 10 October 2003
mailto:rag1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/rag/rag117.html
SUMMIT SETS UP SHOP IN CALIFORNIA
Summit Design has opened a new office in San Jose, California.
Summit Design, 9 October 2003
mailto:smm1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/smm/smm101.html
M2M SET TO DOMINATE CELLULAR LANDSCAPE
A new report predicts that the number of cellular machine-to-machine connections will overtake the number of cellphone subscribers in North America, Western Europe and Japan within eight years.
E-principles, 13 October 2003
mailto:epr1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/epr/epr101.html
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OUR TOP TEN NEW PRODUCTS SELECTION
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1. Real-time scope takes on 4.25Gbit/s serial data
Steadily advancing data speeds and new serial architectures are a hallmark of today's emerging computing and communications technologies. Designers, running compliance tests on fast digital protocols, are challenged with the complexities of these new architectures and adherence to a hierarchy of standards that ensure interoperability between devices. The new Tektronix TDS7704B 7GHz DPO and the CSA7404B communications signal analyser raise performance levels with superior measurement fidelity, unrivalled analysis, and uncompromised usability to speed the validation, debug, characterisation and test of complex, high-speed designs.
* Request a free brochure by post:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/tek/187/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tek/tek187.html
or send a blank email to mailto:tek1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
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2. ADC claims speed record
The ADS7881 is the first successive approximation (SAR) analogue-to-digital convertor (ADC) at any resolution to achieve 4Msample/s. Designed from the company's Burr-Brown product line, the device is ideal for advanced applications requiring high speed and low power, such as optical networking, portable medical systems, high-speed data acquisition, spectrum analysers, imaging and telecommunications.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tex/tex519.html
or send a blank email to mailto:tex5[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
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3. FPGA core outperforms 8051 microcontrollers
The Core8051 8bit high-performance embedded microcontroller is an intellectual property (IP) core optimised for Actel's nonvolatile, single-chip ProASIC Plus, Axcelerator, SX-A and RTSX-S FPGAs. The fully functional core, which executes all ASM51 instructions, delivers performance up to 24 times higher than alternative 8051 MCU solutions by executing instructions in a single cycle - unlike most competing 8051 devices that execute instructions in two to twelve clock cycles.
* Request a free brochure by post:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/act/155/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/act/act155.html
or send a blank email to mailto:act1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
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4. Blinking ICs take a dim view of LEDs
Two new series of I2C general purpose I/O expanders (PCA953x and PCA955x) are optimised for controlling LED dimming and blinking in products ranging from mobile phones to servers in computing, communication and networking applications. These new 2, 4, 8 and 16bit devices represent an innovation in I2C capabilities, allowing designers an easier way to build systems with more dimming or blinking LEDs than previously possible using just basic general purpose I/Os (GPIO) or microcontrollers (MCUs).
* Request a free brochure by post:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/phi/228/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/phi/phi228.html
or send a blank email to mailto:phi2[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
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5. Backplane connector crams in the contacts
Handling data transmission rates up to and beyond 12.5Gbit/s, the AirMax VS backplane connector system from FCI offers high speed computing and network system designers a pin density providing up to 50 differential pair or 150 single ended connections per 25mm daughtercard slot spacing. AirMax VS is built around a common insert moulded leadframe assembly (IMLA) that supports both differential pair and single ended signal lines. Its "virtual shield" (VS) construction eliminates the need for interleaving shields, which minimises impedance mismatch and provides added flexibility in board layout design.
* Request a free brochure by post:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/fci/114/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/fci/fci114.html
or send a blank email to mailto:fci1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
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6. Global appeal for switching adapter
A new 10W switching adapter series is available with a universal input range from 90 to 264V AC and four interchangeable AC input sockets that make it ideal for worldwide applications, including portable test equipment and EPOS systems. The new TR10R adapters feature continuous short circuit protection to ensure high levels of protection. The new adapters have a typical efficiency of 75%, and conductive EMI meets CISPR/FCC class B specifications.
* Request a free brochure by post:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/ure/121/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ure/ure121.html
or send a blank email to mailto:ure1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
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7. FPGA platform speeds PCI Express development
A new flexible development solution supports a variety of uses in the development, prototyping and verification of PCI Express-based systems in FPGAs. The system offers a fast track to designers looking for rapid time to market, and provides a means to achieve future compliance certification. The flexible development solution supports endpoints, legacy endpoints, switches, advanced switches and root complexes, providing unprecedented capability for rapid prototyping, development and debugging that is the main reason for the explosive growth in FPGA-based systems. The development solution can be configured with either Altera's Stratix GX EP1SGX25F or Stratix GX EP1SGX40G transceiver-based FPGAs.
* Request a free brochure by post:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/men/284/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/men/men284.html
or send a blank email to mailto:men2[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
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8. Drivers go high and low to simplify power design
International Rectifier has introduced the new multifunction IR2304 and IR2308 600V high- and low-side driver ICs. Featuring integrated protection, the new ICs are ideal for half-bridge MOSFET or IGBT circuits used in lighting ballasts, power supplies and motor drives. The IR2304 is designed for low drive current with 60/130mA output source/sink capability, enabling a lower cost solution and simplifying circuits for smaller MOSFETs or IGBTs such as the IRF830 or IRFBC30.
* Request a free brochure by post:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/sil/171/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/sil/sil171.html
or send a blank email to mailto:sil1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
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9. Handheld analyser takes on wireless networks
The MS2711D Spectrum Master is a handheld spectrum analyser that delivers greatly improved sweep speed, and is designed with a built-in pre-amplifier to increase sensitivity and dynamic range. The overall performance and field-proven design of the MS2711D make it the instrument of choice for field technicians who need to quickly locate, identify, record, and solve problems during the installation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of today's wireless systems.
* Request a free brochure by post:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/anr/156/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/anr/anr156.html
or send a blank email to mailto:anr1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
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10. Acquisition board runs up to 125Msample/s
Increasing digital speed and wider digital bit patterns have resulted in test and research engineers increasingly seeking hardware with ultra-high-speed bit capture and generation. The Spectrum Mi70 series from Dataquest Solutions has been designed to meet these requirements with speeds up to125Msample/s and the capability to work with bit patterns arrangements up to 64bit wide.
* Request a free brochure by post:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/daq/103/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/daq/daq103.html
or send a blank email to mailto:daq1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
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New Technical Articles and Case Studies
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POWER SWITCH CUTS CHARGER CONSUMPTION
(Fairchild Semiconductor, 8 October 2003)
Korean PSU manufacturer Dong Yang Instrument is using Fairchild's FSDH0165D power switch to power its award-winning TAD137 mobile phone charger used in Samsung cellular phone applications.
* Free brochure on FSDH0165D:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/fai/261/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/fai/fai261.html
(or email mailto:fai2[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
ACCELERATOR CHIP SIMPLIFIES I/O EXPANSION MODULE
(PLX Technology Europe, 9 October 2003)
Rapid-Technology has developed its new PMC I/O expansion module using the PLX PCI 9656 I/O accelerator chip.
* Free brochure on PCI 9656 I/O accelerator:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/plx/111/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/plx/plx111.html
(or email mailto:plx1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
DECODER CHIP REACHES THE PINNACLE OF PC TV
(Philips Semiconductors, 10 October 2003)
Pinnacle Systems has chosen Philips' SAA7134 A/V decoder chip for its PCTV stereo.
* Free brochure on SAA7134 A/V decoder chip:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/phi/230/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/phi/phi230.html
(or email mailto:phi2[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
BUDGET FPGAs ENABLE SPEEDY STORAGE APPLIANCE
(Altera Europe, 13 October 2003)
Texas Memory Systems (TMS) has used multiple Altera Cyclone FPGAs to enable the breakthrough performance of its RamSan-320 data storage appliance.
* Free brochure on Cyclone FPGAs:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/aeu/100/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/aeu/aeu100.html
(or email mailto:aeu1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
CELLULAR DATA MODULE HANDLES LEADING-EDGE RATES
(TTPCom, 14 October 2003)
TTPCom has achieved a 216Kbit/s download using its recently announced Edge module.
* Free brochure on Edge module:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/ttp/164/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ttp/ttp164.html
(or email mailto:ttp1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
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...And take a look at these stories too...
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GEOMETRY SHRINK PAYS DIVIDENDS FOR FPGA USERS
(Xilinx, 8 October 2003)
Xilinx reckons its investment in the industry's most advanced 90nm and 300mm chip-making technology is already paying off for customers.
* Free brochure on Spartan-3 FPGAs:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/xil/103/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/xil/xil103.html
(or email mailto:xil1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
DISTRIBUTION BUFFERS OFFER WIDE FREQUENCY RANGE
(Cypress Semiconductor, 8 October 2003)
Two high-performance zero delay buffers feature a guaranteed total timing budget window.
* Free brochure on CY23020-1 and CY23020-3:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/cyp/208/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/cyp/cyp208.html
(or email mailto:cyp2[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
FOUR-PLL DESIGN BOOSTS PC CLOCK ACCURACY
(IDT, 13 October 2003)
IDT has entered the PC clock market with a family of devices (CV104, CV105, CV107 and CV109) aimed at current desktop computing platforms.
* Free brochure on CV104, CV105, CV107 and CV109:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/idt/149/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/idt/idt149.html
(or email mailto:idt1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
DIGITAL INTERFACE SIMPLIFIES WLAN CORE
(NewLogic, 13 October 2003)
NewLogic Technologies has developed a WLAN dual-band radio IP core in CMOS technology with a digital interface (HiSS).
* Free brochure on WiLD with HiSS:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/new/120/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/new/new120.html
(or email mailto:new1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
WHITE LED DRIVER HAS BUILT-IN SOFT-START
(Supertex, 14 October 2003)
The HV9903 is a fixed-frequency DC/DC boost convertor IC designed to drive up to six white LEDs with constant current at efficiencies over 85%.
* Free brochure on HV9903:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/sup/109/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/sup/sup109.html
(or email mailto:sup1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
MULTILAYER CHIP VARISTOR PROTECTS PORTABLE DEVICES
(TDK Electronics Europe, 13 October 2003)
TDK has begun volume production of the industry's first 0201 type multilayer chip varistor.
* Free brochure on 0201 type multilayer chip varistors:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/tdk/102/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tdk/tdk102.html
(or email mailto:tdk1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
TINY CLAIMS FOR WATCH CRTSTAL
(Fox Electronics, 13 October 2003)
Measuring just 3.2 x 1.2mm with an extremely low profile of 0.95mm, the FSN is claimed to be the smallest miniature watch crystal available.
* Free brochure on FSN watch crystal:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/fox/121/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/fox/fox121.html
(or email mailto:fox1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
FPGA SYNTHESIS IMPROVES QUALITY OF RESULTS
(Synplicity, 9 October 2003)
A number of quality of results improvements in the latest versions of the Synplify and Synplify Pro FPGA synthesis packages provide increased performance and area reduction for Xilinx devices.
* Free brochure on Synplify 7.3.2 and Synplify Pro 7.3.2:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/sya/146/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/sya/sya146.html
(or email mailto:sya1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
REFERENCE BOARDS SUPPORT 64BIT DEVELOPMENT
(Toshiba Electronics Europe, 10 October 2003)
A new range of reference boards will speed the design and testing of digital consumer electronics and networking applications based on the TX49 family of 64bit MIPS-based RISC embedded processors.
* Free brochure on RBHMA4300, RBHMA4400 and RBHMA4500:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/tos/194/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tos/tos194.html
(or email mailto:tos1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
LOW-JITTER DLL MACROS TARGET DDR INTERFACES
(True Circuits, 14 October 2003)
A new line of delay-locked loop analogue hard macros is aimed at high-speed, DDR-style interface applications.
* Free brochure on DDR DLL macros:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/tue/102/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tue/tue102.html
(or email mailto:tue1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
LCD MODULE PROVIDES TOP OPTICAL PERFORMANCE
(Hitachi Europe - Display Products Group, 14 October 2003)
Designed specifically to meet the needs of industrial applications, the TX14D11VM1CBA is a 5.7in quarter-VGA transmissive colour TFT LCD module claimed to provide superb optical performance.
* Free brochure on TX14D11VM1CBA:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/hch/104/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/hch/hch104.html
(or email mailto:hch1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
BNC CONNECTORS STAND THE TEST OF PERFORMANCE
(Warwick Test Supplies, 9 October 2003)
Pomona Electronics has extended its wide range of BNC connectors and adapters with the introduction of several new models for easy, hands-free testing in controlled voltage conditions.
* Free brochure on Pomona Electronics BNC connectors and adapters:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/wwi/104/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/wwi/wwi104.html
(or email mailto:wwi1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
MASS IMAGING IMPROVES IC THERMAL PERFORMANCE
(DEK, 14 October 2003)
DEK has successfully applied mass imaging techniques to improve the uniformity of thermal interface material deposited between a silicon die and its package lid during semiconductor packaging.
* Free brochure on ProFlow DirEKt:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/dek/150/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/dek/dek150.html
(or email mailto:dek1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
IMAGE CAPTURE CARDS COMPRESS TO NEW STANDARD
(Kane Computing, 13 October 2003)
The DS-4000 range of PCI image capture and compression cards is based on H.264/MPEG4-AVC compression standards.
* Free brochure on DS-4000 range:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/kan/147/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/kan/kan147.html
(or email mailto:kan1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
HIGH PERFORMANCE AND LOW PRICES FOR BENCH SCOPES
(LeCroy, 10 October 2003)
The WaveRunner 6000 is the latest generation of the popular WaveRunner range of DSOs, featuring five models covering a bandwidth range from 350MHz to 2GHz.
* Free brochure on WaveRunner 6000:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/lew/105/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/lew/lew105.html
(or email mailto:lew1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
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Have you seen our other newsletters?
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We also publish other professional technical newsletters like this once a week. All are free, so take a look:
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Engineering vacancies on the internet
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There are many recruitment websites out there, but Electronicstalk can recommend the following as we have had a relationship with them for some time:
Engineers Online: http://www.engineers-online.co.uk/
GoJobsite: http://www.gojobsite.co.uk/
Jimfinder.com: http://www.jimfinder.com/
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Browse the Electronicstalk archive by email!
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