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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 153: 24 February 2004
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15010 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] Digital RF architecture cuts wireless power budget
[2] Intermediate bus quarter-bricks reach 600W
[3] Pushbutton takes LCD onboard
[4] Flash memory shrinks to 90nm process
[5] WCDMA amplifier leads new performance generation
[6] Kits put colour sensors to the test
[7] Ethernet-enabled embedded SBC busts $100 barrier
[8] Grabber designed with OEM requirements in mind
[9] Software provides easy access to embedded FPGAs
[10] BGA rework system provides efficient heat
* New Technical Articles and Case Studies
* ...And take a look at these stories too...
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Laurence Marchini, Editor, writes:
It would be very glib (not to mention dimensionally inaccurate) to compare milestones with London buses. (You know the old adage: you wait for ages and then three turn up at once.) But by any measure this has been a big week so far.
This week at the 3GSM World Congress in Cannes, the GSM Association has revealed that there are now more than one billion GSM subscribers in the world - and that's pretty impressive, as it means that one in six people on earth has a GSM phone.
What's more, this historic milestone has been reached only 12 years after
the launch of the first networks.
However, somewhat closer to home, today, Electronicstalk has surpassed 15,000 stories. OK, I know it sounds a little parochial, but with a record 186 stories posted on the site this week, we believe that (like GSM) we are the number-one in our field - and that in less than four years since our launch.
Seriously, though, the flow of information channelling through our pages shows no sign of abating. And with a succession of major exhibitions and conferences on both sides of the Atlantic, the keyboards have been running hot and our fingers are wearing a little shorter every day.
Nonetheless, we will stick to our guns and will continue to post every single relevant news item that we can find in the world of electronic engineering - wherever in the world it may happen.
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!
EXPANSION FOR POWER PLANT
Fairchild Semiconductor is to expand its Mountaintop 8in facility, dedicated to manufacturing power components.
Fairchild Semiconductor, 24 February 2004
mailto:fai2[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/fai/fai279.html
300mm WAFER FAB ON COURSE FOR Q3 STARTUP
Toshiba has completed construction of the building for a new 300mm wafer-fabrication facility at Oita Operations in Kyushu, Japan.
Toshiba Electronics Europe, 24 February 2004
mailto:tos2[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tos/tos214.html
WAREHOUSE PROMISES IMPROVED EASTERN SERVICE
In a move to better serve its customers in the Far East and support its own global expansion, Premier Farnell has opened a warehouse in Shanghai, in one of China's Free Trade Zones.
Farnell InOne, 23 February 2004
mailto:far1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/far/far137.html
US JURY UPHOLDS PATENT CLAIMS
FCI has won a substantial victory in its patent infringement suit involving its BGA connector technology brought in the USA against Hon Hai Precision Industries.
FCI, 23 February 2004
mailto:fci1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/fci/fci117.html
GSM CLAIMS 198 MILLION NEW SUBSCRIBERS IN A YEAR
GSM made excellent ground in 2003, adding a total of over 198 million new subscribers to reach almost 990 million customers worldwide, according to market data from EMC.
GSA - Global Mobile Suppliers Association, 23 February 2004
mailto:gsa1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/gsa/gsa110.html
AGILENT GOES THROUGH BREAKEVEN AHEAD OF SCHEDULE
Agilent Technologies has reported orders of $1.73 billion for the first fiscal quarter ended 31st January 2004, 27% above one year ago.
Agilent Technologies, 24 February 2004
mailto:agi2[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/agi/agi209.html
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OUR TOP TEN NEW PRODUCTS SELECTION
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1. Digital RF architecture cuts wireless power budget
A radical new approach to wireless chip design applies digital technology to greatly simplify RF processing and dramatically cut the cost and power consumption of transmitting and receiving information wirelessly. The DRP (digital RF processor) architecture has been successfully integrated on two Bluetooth products, as well as a GSM/GPRS digital transceiver in TI's lab.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tex/tex583.html
or send a blank email to mailto:tex5[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
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2. Intermediate bus quarter-bricks reach 600W
Vicor has released the first members of a new family of 48V input intermediate bus convertor modules (IBCs). Offered in standard quarter-brick format and operating from a 38-55V DC input, the IBC family consists of nine fixed-ratio standard models with nominal outputs from 3 to 48V DC (3, 4, 6, 8, 9.6, 12, 16, 24 and 48V) delivering up to 100A or 600W. IBCs incorporate VI chip bus convertors (BCMs) into the quarter-brick standard as "VICs-in-a-brick".
Request a free brochure by post:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/vic/119/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/vic/vic119.html
or send a blank email to mailto:vic1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
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3. Pushbutton takes LCD onboard
A novel LCD programmable pushbutton offers more intelligence and functionality for control panels. The switch combines pushbutton simplicity with the possibility to display any function as text or graphics - even animation - through an integrated LCD on the button itself, thereby disposing of the need for additional legends and labels. The LCD is multicolour and delivers clear, high-contrast images for wide-angle viewing.
Request a free brochure by post:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/eao/143/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/eao/eao143.html
or send a blank email to mailto:eao1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
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4. Flash memory shrinks to 90nm process
Intel has developed the world's first NOR Flash memory device on 90nm manufacturing technology. Intel Wireless Flash memory is the company's fifth generation of Flash memory technology and will retain the high performance features of Flash memory needed by wireless handset makers.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/iel/iel128.html
or send a blank email to mailto:iel1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
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5. WCDMA amplifier leads new performance generation
SiGe Semiconductor is claiming a technology breakthrough with the RangeCharger SE5120, a new power amplifier for WCDMA cellular handsets. Leveraging an advanced silicon germanium process, the SE5120 delivers benchmark levels of integration and performance, allowing designers to build third generation (3G) cellular handsets with higher signal quality, smaller form factors and reduced cost. The RangeCharger SE5120 is optimised for WCDMA handsets operating in the 1920-1980MHz band.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/sif/sif150.html
or send a blank email to mailto:sif1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
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6. Kits put colour sensors to the test
Agilent Technologies has released two colour sensor application development kits combining ready-to-use integrated colour sensor modules with detailed application information. The kits are designed to provide a quick and easy way for engineers to discover how colour detection, measurement and control capabilities can be integrated into their applications. Agilent offers these application kits in versions for transmissive and reflective colour sensing applications.
Request a free brochure by post:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/agi/210/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/agi/agi210.html
or send a blank email to mailto:agi2[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
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7. Ethernet-enabled embedded SBC busts $100 barrier
At only $98 per unit, JK Microsystems' new picoFlash is a 186-compatible DOS computer with Ethernet whose performance rivals competitor's Ethernet-enabled products for a fraction of the cost. Slightly larger than a credit card, the picoFlash is a fully programmable, compact single board computer ideally equipped for data acquisition, industrial control and communications applications.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/jkm/jkm110.html
or send a blank email to mailto:jkm1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
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8. Grabber designed with OEM requirements in mind
The FlashBus Spectrim is the latest addition to the Integral Technologies range of frame grabbers. The FlashBus Spectrim family of boards are the latest in a successful line of high quality image acquisition boards. A bus-mastering video frame grabber designed with OEM requirements in mind, the FlashBus Spectrim family uses the Philips TriMedia video processor and a 16Mbyte SDRAM frame buffer to give it the flexibility needed for stringent applications.
Request a free brochure by post:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/lam/102/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/lam/lam102.html
or send a blank email to mailto:lam1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
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9. Software provides easy access to embedded FPGAs
Altium's Nexar FPGA development system is now shipping, along with a new 2004 range of "LiveDesign-enabled" products. The software products commencing shipment include two new product lines, Nexar and CircuitStudio, and updated versions of Altium's existing Protel and CAMtastic products. In addition to these software releases, Altium is also launching the industry's first FPGA-based LiveDesign-enabled development board, which Altium calls a NanoBoard (nano-level breadboard). The NanoBoard (RRP Eur 995) will be included free with Nexar and Protel software licences for a limited time.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tas/tas148.html
or send a blank email to mailto:tas1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
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10. BGA rework system provides efficient heat
The APE Marksman BGA rework system features a 1200W reflow head plus a 1200W under board heater for optimum efficiency. In addition the reflow head has 64mm of z-axis travel to accommodate virtually any component height. A computer interface is standard for unlimited thermal profile storage and additionally four integrated real-time thermocouples are included for profile development.
Request a free brochure by post:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/kai/132/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/kai/kai132.html
or send a blank email to mailto:kai1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
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New Technical Articles and Case Studies
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MEMORY SYSTEM BOOSTS AUTOMOTIVE CAMERA RELIABILITY
(Virage Logic, 19 February 2004)
The reality of cars that warn drivers of road hazards and track potentially dangerous behaviour of other nearby cars is closer than you think, thanks to MobilEye Vision Technologies.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/vir/vir135.html
(or email mailto:vir1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
MCU PROVIDES FLEXIBLE AUTOMOTIVE SOLUTIONS
(Motorola SPS, 23 February 2004)
The 32bit MPC5500 microcontroller series is ready for the automotive marketplace, and Visteon Corp is leading the way in the technology integration and application.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/mot/mot184.html
(or email mailto:mot1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
FLAGSHIP DSP UPGRADES DOLBY REFERENCE PLATFORM
(Texas Instruments, 23 February 2004)
Dolby Laboratories has selected the TMS320C67x generation as the basis for a new reference platform that supports Dolby Digital Professional Encoder.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tex/tex585.html
(or email mailto:tex5[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
USB CONTROLLER ENABLES VGA DOCKING STATION
(NetChip Technology, 23 February 2004)
MCT Corp's UVDock is a USB 2.0 Universal VGA docking station designed around NetChip's NET2280 USB 2.0 device controller.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ntc/ntc101.html
(or email mailto:ntc1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
INTEL TAKES SYSTEM MANAGEMENT ONBOARD
(OSA Technologies, 19 February 2004)
Intel has integrated OSA management building blocks into its Intel Desktop Utilities (IDU) application shipping in Q2 with next generation Intel desktop boards.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/osa/osa102.html
(or email mailto:osa1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
TANNER HAS DESIGNS ON MARS ROVERS
(EDA Solutions, 20 February 2004)
Integrated circuits designed using software from Tanner EDA are ensuring the successful operation of the cameras on the NASA Mars Exploration Rovers Opportunity and Spirit.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/eso/eso104.html
(or email mailto:eso1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
TOOLKIT SPEEDS MEDICAL IMAGING DEVELOPMENT
(Wind River Systems, 23 February 2004)
Siemens Medical Solutions is one step ahead of its competition with the Magnetom Avanto, magnetic resonance system for body scanning.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/wia/wia188.html
(or email mailto:wia1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
TIME TO RETHINK MEMS DEVICE MANUFACTURE
(Applied Microengineering, 24 February 2004)
The design-house/foundry model for the fabrication of MEMS devices that his company has been pursuing for a number of years simply does not work, says AML's Rob Santilli.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/aml/aml103.html
(or email mailto:aml1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
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...And take a look at these stories too...
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CONTROLLER POWERS UP PENTIUM 4 PLATFORMS
(Intersil, 18 February 2004)
The Endura ISL6565 is a three-phase synchronous-buck PWM controller IC for powering Intel Pentium 4 processors on VR 10.X platforms.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ina/ina278.html
(or email mailto:ina2[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
PHYSICAL LAYER DEVICE IS FIRST FOR PCI EXPRESS
(Texas Instruments, 19 February 2004)
Further strengthening its commitment to PCI Express architecture technology development and deployment, TI has released the first discrete PCI Express physical layer chip.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tex/tex581.html
(or email mailto:tex5[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
HOT-SWAP POWER CONTROLLER MEETS PCI EXPRESS SPECS
(Micrel Semiconductor Europe, 24 February 2004)
The MIC2592A is billed as the first hot-swap power controller IC to support the current PCI Express power control requirements.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/mib/mib143.html
(or email mailto:mib1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
NOVEL PACKAGE KEEPS MOSFETS COOLER
(Vishay Siliconix, 24 February 2004)
A new family of TrenchFET power MOSFETs come in novel reverse-lead TO-252 DPAK packages.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/vsh/vsh106.html
(or email mailto:vsh1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
ULTRACAPACITORS PROVIDE POWERFUL STORAGE
(NessCap, 18 February 2004)
NessCap has added 3 to 100F models to its exclusive 2.7V ultracapacitor product line.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/nes/nes102.html
(or email mailto:nes1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
FILTERS ADDRESS MACHINE-TOOL-SPECIFIC STANDARD
(Schaffner EMC, 24 February 2004)
Schaffner has developed a number of new EMI filters to meet the forthcoming product-specific standard for machine tools, EN50370.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/sca/sca157.html
(or email mailto:sca1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
SOFTWARE AIDS CAD TO THERMAL MODEL CONVERSIONS
(Fluent, 19 February 2004)
Icepro 4.0 is a model clean-up tool for electronics cooling analysis that makes it easy to convert any CAD model into an efficient thermal model.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/fue/fue104.html
(or email mailto:fue1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
TOOLSET BRINGS DSP DEVELOPMENTS TOGETHER
(The MathWorks, 23 February 2004)
A new embedded target for TMS320C2000 digital signal controllers allows embedded control systems engineers to visually design, implement and verify real-time control and signal processing algorithms.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/mth/mth122.html
(or email mailto:mth1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
PROTOCOL BEEFS UP WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS
(Aerocomm, 23 February 2004)
In response to heavy market demand for a robust mesh networking protocol, AeroComm has developed its MeshRF peer-to-peer technology.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/aro/aro118.html
(or email mailto:aro1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
BANKNOTE VALIDATOR JOINS KIOSK RANGE
(Rittal, 18 February 2004)
As part of its kiosk enhancement programme Rittal has added a banknote validator system to its list of accessories.
Free brochure on Kiosk banknote validator:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/rit/163/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/rit/rit163.html
(or email mailto:rit1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
LARGE-FORMAT TFT PANELS SET TO OUST PLASMA
(Display Technology, 20 February 2004)
Large-format TFT panels are not just limited to applications in television receivers.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/dpl/dpl104.html
(or email mailto:dpl1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
NOVEL CONTACTS MAKE FOR SILENT SWITCHING
(Matsushita Electric Works UK, 23 February 2004)
Based on an all-new type of contact system, the compact ASQ switch uses sliding contacts with an ultralong overtravel stroke that absorbs variations in actuation.
Free brochure on ASQ switch:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/mat/147/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/mat/mat147.html
(or email mailto:mat1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
NOVEL ANTENNA SUITS MANY FREQUENCIES
(Wifi-Plus, 23 February 2004)
Wifi-Plus has created a single feed antenna solution for WiMax 802.16A standard radios and chipsets.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/wif/wif101.html
(or email mailto:wif1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
SUPPORT SYSTEM HANDLES SMT BOARDS WITH CARE
(Transition Automation, 20 February 2004)
The Flex-Kit board support system is the newest product in the Board-Lok tooling family.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tsi/tsi101.html
(or email mailto:tsi1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
FLEXIBLE FASTENER GETS TO GRIPS WITH WIRES
(Panduit, 23 February 2004)
Tak-Tape is a thin and flexible fastener which is an economical and flexible cable management solution for general purpose bundling.
Free brochure on Tak-Tape:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/pan/110/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/pan/pan110.html
(or email mailto:pan1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
DRIVE TO STANDARDISE SIXTEENTH-BRICK CONVERTORS
(Celestica Power Systems, 24 February 2004)
Celestica is working with Cherokee International to drive the standardisation of a new sixteenth-brick DC/DC convertor footprint.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/cst/cst101.html
(or email mailto:cst1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
HANDHELD FIBRE TESTER IS EIGHT INSTRUMENTS IN ONE
(EXFO Electro-Optical Engineering, 23 February 2004)
The FOT-930 MaxTester is a next-generation, multifunction optical loss test set for network service providers, installers and contractors, as well as cable television operators.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/exf/exf135.html
(or email mailto:exf1[-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
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Manufacturingtalk - for production engineers
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Processingtalk - for process engineers
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QA-talk - for quality assurance professionals
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Subcontractingtalk - for the subcontract manufacturing industry
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Buildingtalk - for the building and construction industry
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CIMtalk - for automation engineers and the industrial IT sector
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*** Coming soon - join now ***
Printingtalk - for printers and print buyers
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