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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
Last week's delivered circulation: over 22,000
Published every Tuesday from the UK.
Issue 150: 3 February 2004
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14612 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] Two chips are smaller than one for Bluetooth
[2] Dual-core device stars in embedded processor line
[3] Adaptable architecture speeds new FPGA generation
[4] Press-fit contacts cut stresses on D-types
[5] Encoders shrink to surface mounting
[6] Big AND Flash memories write faster
[7] Processor takes charge of cost-sensitive printers
[8] Software tackles memory power drain
[9] Spread-spectrum SoC for sub-$3 wireless USB
[10] Connectors for backplanes and plug-in boards
* New Technical Articles and Case Studies
* ...And take a look at these stories too...
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Laurence Marchini, Editor, writes:
I have to admit that I do have a slight virus. But before anyone takes this as confirmation that I have, indeed, been partly responsible for the remarkable proliferation of the Mydoom bug, let me assure you that this is purely biological.
True enough, with an e-mail address that appears in many thousands of people's address books, this week I have received tens if not hundreds of messages telling me that I have tried to send an infected attachment to somebody. And anyone not familiar with the habit of today's viruses of "spoofing" addresses from infected address books might think I was some kind of Internet "plague dog".
Let me reassure you that until a biological virus finds a way to cross the species barrier from man to machine, you are perfectly safe to read this e-mail.
And now we have a slightly better idea of exactly who you are.
Don't worry if that all sounds a little Orwellian, but during the past week we have compiled the latest statistics on the geographical breakdown of our "active" readership - that is those of you who use our enquiry service - and it made some surprising reading.
I hate to appear naïve, but we had always assumed that being based in Europe (or more specifically the UK), that the majority of our users would reflect that. But no, the UK ranks only at number two in the list of enquirers, accounting for a scant 16% of enquiries.
No, the number-one national source for enquiries is the good old USA, accounting for close on 22% of the enquiries run through our system during 2003. No other country comes close - indeed, no other country makes it into double-digit percentage points.
This to me proves two things. The first is that the web transcends national bias - lets face it, it's not as if the USA itself doesn't host enough sites performing a service that competes with Electronicstalk. But secondly, it proves once again that no matter how close we may all become through technological advances, language is still the greatest barrier to communication.
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!
ACQUISITION TO SPEED 32BIT MCU MOVES
ARM has entered into an agreement to acquire Triscend Corp, a pioneer and leader in configurable system-on-chip devices and customisable microcontrollers.
ARM, 28 January 2004
mailto:ank1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ank/ank127.html
AGERE CONTINUES REVENUE IMPROVEMENTS
Agere Systems has reported revenues of $516 million for its first quarter of fiscal 2004, up 18% from revenues in the year-ago quarter, and up 2% sequentially.
Agere Systems, 29 January 2004
mailto:age1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/age/age124.html
RESTRUCTURING CHARGES BITE INTO Q4 FIGURES
ON Semiconductor Corp has revealed that its total revenues in the fourth quarter of 2003 were $279 million, an increase of 5% from the third quarter of 2003.
ON Semiconductor, 3 February 2004
mailto:onw1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/onw/onw139.html
ACQUISITION ADDS TO ANALOGUE ABILITIES
Synopsys is to acquire substantially all the assets of Analog Design Automation, a leading provider of automated circuit optimisation solutions for analogue, mixed-signal and custom ICs.
Synopsys, 29 January 2004
mailto:syn2[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/syn/syn213.html
FINISAR TO ACQUIRE HONEYWELL LASER BUSINESS
Finisar is to acquire Honeywell's VCSEL Optical Products business, based in Richardson, Texas, for approximately $75 million in cash.
Finisar Corp, 28 January 2004
mailto:fni1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/fni/fni118.html
NEW TECHNOLOGIES BRING ARTESYN BACK FROM BRINK
Artesyn Technologies has reported financial results for the fourth quarter and year ended 26th December 2003.
Artesyn Technologies, 29 January 2004
mailto:art1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/art/art172.html
Q4 GROWTH CONCLUDES PROFITABLE YEAR FOR RADISYS
Radisys has reported revenues of $55.3 million for the quarter ended 31st December 2003, a 17% increase from the same period last year, and up 10% from the prior quarter.
Radisys, 2 February 2004
mailto:rad1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/rad/rad124.html
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OUR TOP TEN NEW PRODUCTS SELECTION
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1. Two chips are smaller than one for Bluetooth
A new two-chip Bluetooth solution, using the recent Skyworks 1.2 compatible radio, sees the overall PCB surface required reduced to less than 49mm2. This means that the very cost attractive two-chip solution is even smaller than most "single-chip solutions" available. The XE1401 is the first member of the EasyBlue family and is tailored for battery-powered applications requiring both SCO and ACL connection types. Clear and simple to use EasyBlue tools and a starter kit are available for first-time Bluetooth developers.
Request a free brochure by post:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/xem/130/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/xem/xem130.html
or send a blank email to mailto:xem1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
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2. Dual-core device stars in embedded processor line
Analog Devices has expanded its Blackfin processor family to include a new class of embedded processor, the ADSP-BF561, which integrates two identical Blackfin cores. This new product enables symmetric multiprocessing (SMP) and boasts performance of 750MHz and 1500 MMACs (million multiply-accumulate operations) per core. With this introduction, customers now have access to extremely low-power, small form factor processors for new types of portable consumer applications such as digital still and video cameras, portable media players and wireless networked devices. The company has also enhanced performance to 750MHz on its popular single-core ADSP-BF533 Blackfin processor.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/anc/anc207.html
or send a blank email to mailto:anc2[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
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3. Adaptable architecture speeds new FPGA generation
Featuring the industry's first adaptable FPGA architecture, Stratix II FPGAs offers more than double the logic density in a single device and are 50% faster than first-generation Stratix devices. This latest generation of Altera's high-density FPGA architecture is 25% more efficient than first-generation Stratix devices, allowing designers to pack more functionality into less logic area. The combination of the 90nm manufacturing process and a highly efficient architecture enables maximum integration, resulting in dramatic cost reductions when compared to previous high-density architectures.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/aeu/aeu110.html
or send a blank email to mailto:aeu1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
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4. Press-fit contacts cut stresses on D-types
A novel design of machined, press-fit contact is now part of IQC's extensive range of D connectors. The design ensures that any insertion forces applied during assembly are absorbed by the contact and not transferred onto the PCB and offers a robust, secure mounting. There are many benefits to the design which include reduction in assembly time and cost, high reliability, elimination of the requirement for additional soldering and a reduction in the risk of cross contact shorting - especially in the case of the high density variant.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/iqc/iqc105.html
or send a blank email to mailto:iqc1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
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5. Encoders shrink to surface mounting
Agilent Technologies has developed the industry's smallest surface-mount reflective optical encoders for a wide range of consumer, office and industrial automation applications. The Agilent AEDR-8300 series encoders are 45% smaller than the industry's current smallest encoder. Their miniature size and surface-mount packaging make it extremely easy for design engineers to incorporate these devices in tight spaces, such as the inside of a motor case in a copier or directly on a printed-circuit board for storage devices.
Request a free brochure by post:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/agi/207/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/agi/agi207.html
or send a blank email to mailto:agi2[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
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6. Big AND Flash memories write faster
A new series of 256Mbit AND Flash memories offers a write speed of approximately 4Mbyte/s, three times faster than that of the current 128Mbit version, and improved ease of use through on-chip memory management functions. It is available in the same small CSP package as the current model. The new series uses a 0.13-um process and Renesas Technology's AG-AND Flash memory cell technology that offers multilevel cell technology and high speed. Two 3.3V power supply voltage models are available.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ren/ren125.html
or send a blank email to mailto:ren1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
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7. Processor takes charge of cost-sensitive printers
The NS9775 is the latest in the range of ARM9-based NET+ARM microprocessors from NetSilicon. Designed as a high-performance single chip solution to drive a new generation of lower cost, network connected desktop colour laser printers and multifunction printers (MFPs), the NS9775 offers a breakthrough in cost and performance for this rapidly growing market.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/nts/nts106.html
or send a blank email to mailto:nts1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
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8. Software tackles memory power drain
PowerEscape Analyzer and PowerEscape Analyzer+Cache are designed to help algorithm designers, software developers and system architects create cooler, faster and cheaper electronic appliances and systems. The products are the first commercially available tools that enable designers to optimise the critical algorithms of today's electronic appliances and systems for lower power. The new PowerEscape products address the increasingly problematic power and performance issues in electronic systems.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/pes/pes100.html
or send a blank email to mailto:pes1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
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9. Spread-spectrum SoC for sub-$3 wireless USB
The WirelessUSB LR (CYWUSB6935) is a low-cost 2.4GHz radio SoC solution delivering up to 50m or more of wireless connectivity for commercial and industrial applications. WirelessUSB LR extends the value of Cypress's successful WirelessUSB product family into longer-range commercial and industrial multipoint-to-point applications, including building and home automation, industrial control, utility metering, transportation, paging systems and presentation equipment.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/cyp/cyp220.html
or send a blank email to mailto:cyp2[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
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10. Connectors for backplanes and plug-in boards
Rittal has a new range of connectors for backplanes and plug-in boards to extend its product offering to the electronics industry. The male and female connectors include both power and signal versions of the popular DIN41612 configuration. Designed for Euroboard use in mechanical systems, which meet IEC60297, the range includes fully loaded and part loaded two-row B body and three-row C body connectors.
Request a free brochure by post:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/rit/162/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/rit/rit162.html
or send a blank email to mailto:rit1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
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New Technical Articles and Case Studies
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FRENCH CEA INVESTIGATES NOVEL TRANSFORM
(RF Engines, 30 January 2004)
RF Engines has recently leased a hardware/software demonstrator to one of the French Atomic Energy Commission Laboratories to evaluate the pipelined frequency transform hardware architecture.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/rfe/rfe113.html
(or email mailto:rfe1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
EMBEDDED DETERMINISTIC TEST SPEEDS TO SIGNOFF
(Mentor Graphics UK, 30 January 2004)
Motorola used the TestKompress embedded deterministic test tool for the manufacturing test of its new MRC6011 reconfigurable compute fabric device.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/men/men287.html
(or email mailto:men2[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
BLUETOOTH MODULE INCREASES SAFE WORKING DISTANCES
(Brainboxes, 2 February 2004)
Brainboxes is working with Power Isolators to improve the safety of power engineers working on electricity networks.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/bai/bai114.html
(or email mailto:bai1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
ANALYSERS CHECK ADSL INTEROPERABILITY
(TraceSpan Communications, 30 January 2004)
Both British Telecom and France Telecom have purchased the DSL Xpert multilayer analyser.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tce/tce101.html
(or email mailto:tce1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
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...And take a look at these stories too...
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ANTI-ALIAS FILTER HANDLES BOTH DEFINITIONS
(Fairchild Semiconductor, 28 January 2004)
The FMS6418A is a highly integrated, triple video driver that is selectable for high definition (HD) or standard definition (SD) signal filtering.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/fai/fai275.html
(or email mailto:fai2[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
BRIDGE SPEEDS ACCESS TO FIREWIRE STORAGE
(Oxford Semiconductor, 29 January 2004)
Increased data transfer performance for small block sizes and disk striping capability feature in the latest FireWire (IEEE1394a) to IDE (ATA7) bridge IC from Oxford Semiconductor.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ofo/ofo115.html
(or email mailto:ofo1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
LEAD-FREE DDR MODULES PREPARE FOR ROHS COMPLIANCE
(SMART Modular Technologies, 29 January 2004)
A new range of lead-free DDR modules will help OEMs meet emerging global requirements banning lead from electronics products.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/sma/sma129.html
(or email mailto:sma1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
MOSFETS CLAIM NEW LOWS OF ON-RESISTANCE
(Vishay Siliconix, 30 January 2004)
A new trio of 250V N-channel TrenchFET power MOSFETs offer the lowest on-resistance available in the SO-8, PowerPAK SO-8 and D2PAK packages for this voltage rating.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/vsh/vsh104.html
(or email mailto:vsh1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
BATTERY MONITOR MOVES IN ON MOBILE DEVICES
(Arizona Microchip Technology, 30 January 2004)
Microchip's PS700 battery monitor provides precise predictions of battery capacity and condition resulting in longer run time and improved system-power management.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ari/ari159.html
(or email mailto:ari1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
AMPLIFIER PROVIDES THREE FAST CHANNELS FOR VIDEO
(Zetex, 30 January 2004)
For driving component video lines, the ZXFV203 triple channel video amplifier from Zetex is characterised for loads of up to 400pF.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/zet/zet134.html
(or email mailto:zet1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
COLOUR DISPLAY DRIVERS TARGET WIRELESS HANDSETS
(Dialog Semiconductor, 2 February 2004)
Dialog Semiconductor has entered a new product area by offering colour display driver ICs for wireless handsets to its customers in this key target market.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/dal/dal105.html
(or email mailto:dal1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
LCD TV IN ONE
(Philips Semiconductors, 3 February 2004)
The TDA15500 is a single-chip solution for low-end LCD TV sets.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/phi/phi251.html
(or email mailto:phi2[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
RELIABLE SWITCHING FOR SINGLE-MODE FIBRES
(Link Microtek, 30 January 2004)
The new WA series optical relay has been designed to provide a reliable means of switching single-mode optical fibres in a variety of networking and long-distance data-transmission applications.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/lib/lib141.html
(or email mailto:lib1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
SCHEMATIC-DRIVEN LAYOUT BOOSTS DESIGN PRODUCTIVITY
(EDA Solutions, 28 January 2004)
Tanner EDA has added a schematic-driven layout (SDL) package as an option for its popular L-Edit V10.2, analogue and mixed signal layout and verification software.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/eso/eso102.html
(or email mailto:eso1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
HANDSET SOFTWARE FRAMEWORK SPEEDS DEPLOYMENT
(Open-Plug, 29 January 2004)
A new software platform aims make the deployment process of mobile handsets faster, more reliable and more flexible.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/onp/onp101.html
(or email mailto:onp1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
FAMILY GROUP TO UNIFY VERIFICATION
(Adveda, 3 February 2004)
The Univers product family is a unified verification solution for both hardware and embedded software design of SoCs.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ayl/ayl101.html
(or email mailto:ayl1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
ENCLOSURES CONFIGURED ONLINE
(Server Racks Australia, 28 January 2004)
A new online shop front has been set up specially to handle the requirement for custom-configurable electronics enclosures.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/srv/srv100.html
(or email mailto:srv1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
HIGH-DENSITY ADDITION TO MODULAR CONNECTOR LINE
(ODU UK, 30 January 2004)
A 10-position module with stamped 0.76mm diameter pin-type contacts is the latest addition to the ODU-MAC modular connector line.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/odu/odu127.html
(or email mailto:odu1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
CABLE RANGE INCLUDES NOVEL TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS
(In2Connect, 3 February 2004)
In2Connect now represents Calmont Wire and Cable of the USA.
Free brochure on Calmont Wire and Cable:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/ion/107/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ion/ion107.html
(or email mailto:ion1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
VGA CAMERA SHRINKS TO SIXTH-INCH FORMAT
(Toshiba Electronics Europe, 3 February 2004)
Toshiba will start mass production of its latest series of VGA camera modules, the TCM8230MD series, in May this year.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tos/tos210.html
(or email mailto:tos2[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
CUTTING THE COST OF ACQUISITION
(Adept Scientific, 29 January 2004)
Adept Scientific has made significant reductions to the prices of the whole PCI-DAS 6000 range of data acquisition boards from Measurement Computing.
Free brochure on PCI-DAS 6000 range:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/ade/154/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ade/ade154.html
(or email mailto:ade1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
RECIPROCAL INTERPOLATING COUNTER MASTERS TIME
(TTi (Thurlby Thandar Instruments), 29 January 2004)
The SR620 universal time-interval counter measures time interval, frequency, period, pulsewidth and phase as well as rise and fall times.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/bla/bla186.html
(or email mailto:bla1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
LATEST TEST TOOLS CATALOGUE PUBLISHED
(Fluke (UK), 3 February 2004)
Fluke has just released its 2004 test tools catalogue.
Free brochure on Test tools:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/flu/150/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/flu/flu150.html
(or email mailto:flu1[-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:
Engineeringtalk - for mechanical/automation engineers
Email mailto:join-eng-ta[-email removed-]o-talk.com for your copy
Laboratorytalk - for all lab and research personnel
Email mailto:join-laboratoryta[-email removed-]o-talk.com for your copy
Manufacturingtalk - for production engineers
Email mailto:join-manufacturingta[-email removed-]o-talk.com for your copy
Processingtalk - for process engineers
Email mailto:join-processingta[-email removed-]o-talk.com for your copy
QA-talk - for quality assurance professionals
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Subcontractingtalk - for the subcontract manufacturing industry
Email mailto:join-subcontractingta[-email removed-]o-talk.com for your copy
Buildingtalk - for the building and construction industry
Email mailto:join-buildingta[-email removed-]o-talk.com for your copy
CIMtalk - for automation engineers and the industrial IT sector
Email mailto:join-cimta[-email removed-]o-talk.com for your copy
*** Coming soon - join now ***
Printingtalk - for printers and print buyers
Email mailto:join-printingta[-email removed-]o-talk.com for your copy
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