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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 23,000
Published every Tuesday from the UK.
Issue 157: 23 March 2004
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15520 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] SAR certification to generate confidence
[2] Serdes drives a bigger backplane
[3] Conformal coating covers its tracks
[4] Ultrathin screens allow minute detail
[5] Up-convertor cuts basestation power budget
[6] Plug-top PSU aims for global power
[7] GPRS modules strike up three bands
[8] Transceiver upgrades links to Gigabit Ethernet
[9] DMM combo kit offers 19% price cut
[10] Nanocrystalline cores suppress inverter harmonics
* New Technical Articles and Case Studies
* ...And take a look at these stories too...
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Laurence Marchini, Editor, writes:
If my postbag for the past week or so is any kind of industry barometer, it's a good job that there's a reasonable length of time until the deadline for the implementation of the RoHS Directive in July 2006.
The latest batch of correspondence has been an equal spread between those of you who are looking for advice, some who have spotted flaws in the legislation and many who just can't see it working.
For example, Peter Swanson of Intertronics points out that the whole focus on lead-free solder is something of a "red herring" in any case as he has yet to find any evidence of lead from solder leaching out into the environment. What's more, he points out, the increased temperatures required for lead-free soldering processes will obviously consume more energy - hardly an environmentally sound move then.
Several readers have expressed concern about the problems that lead-free processing will create in the repair and rework environment. These range from the simple practicalities of higher temperatures for hand soldering to likely problems in sourcing original (lead-based) components to repair older circuitry after the directive has been enacted. As Kevin Aston of JHS and Co puts it: "In the music industry nothing ever gets scrapped, we regularly have 30-year-old products in for repair".
If all this paints a rather confusing picture of the RoHS Directive, then perhaps we should all sit down and read it (if you have a spare week or so). Joking aside, though, the proposed legislation is already riddled with "get-out clauses" covering classes of equipment that are exempt from legislation. And it will be interesting to see whether the results of the UK Government's consultation period can clarify its implementation.
In the meantime, there are a number of useful resources and sources of information for those of you wishing to learn more. These include (in no particular order): Farnell InOne (www.farnellinone.co.uk), Dionics (www.dionics.com), Zircon (www.zirkonlimited.co.uk) and ERA Technology (www.era.co.uk).
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, e-mail 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!
3G SHORTFALL LEADS TO Q2 PESSIMISM
Agere Systems has updated its outlook for the second quarter of fiscal 2004 as a result of lower-than-expected shipments of 3G chipsets for mobile phones.
Agere Systems, 18 March 2004
mailto:age1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/age/age132.html
XICOR ACQUISITION TO EXPAND ANALOGUE PORTFOLIO
Intersil has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Xicor, expanding its portfolio of high growth, standard analogue products.
Intersil, 23 March 2004
mailto:ina2[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ina/ina282.html
65NM PROCESS TO START SAMPLING IN 2005
Maintaining a two-year cycle between manufacturing technology generations, Texas Instruments has revealed details of its 65nm semiconductor manufacturing process technology.
Texas Instruments, 23 March 2004
mailto:tex6[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tex/tex604.html
UK DESIGNER SCOOPS TOP AWARD
A UK PCB designer has beaten entries from all over the world to take best overall design in the 18th Mentor Graphics PCB Technology Leadership Awards.
Mentor Graphics UK, 23 March 2004
mailto:men2[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/men/men291.html
HOTLINE OFFERS ADVICE ON ROHS AND WEEE DIRECTIVES
Farnell InOne has launched a dedicated hotline providing information and support relating to the upcoming RoHS and WEEE Directives.
Farnell InOne, 19 March 2004
mailto:far1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/far/far139.html
CANADIAN LASER DIODE PLANT COMES ON STREAM
After completing a one-year development phase, Laser Components' wholly owned Canadian subsidiary is now in full production of its own high power pulsed laser diodes.
Laser Components (UK), 19 March 2004
mailto:lse1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/lse/lse102.html
STRONG SHOWING FROM TEKTRONIX IN Q3
Tektronix has reported net sales of $243.5 million and net earnings from continuing operations of $43.9 million or $0.50 per share, for the third quarter ended 28th February 2004.
Tektronix, 23 March 2004
mailto:tek1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tek/tek199.html
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OUR TOP TEN NEW PRODUCTS SELECTION
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1. SAR certification to generate confidence
Research has shown that although considerable disquiet remains about the radiation effects of mobile handsets, retailers often lack the knowledge required to advise and reassure would-be purchasers. The end user can now rest assured that, if a product has the BABT SAR Mark affixed, it complies with the current EU standard, and that ongoing surveillance is carried out to ensure that the product continues to comply with this standard.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/bbt/bbt101.html
or send a blank email to mailto:bbt1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
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2. Serdes drives a bigger backplane
A new discrete serialiser/deserialiser (serdes) is capable of error-free transmission over 80in of standard backplane trace. Manufactured in TI's advanced 130nm CMOS technology, the TLK3118 is a flexible, redundant XAUI serial transceiver compliant with the IEEE802.3ae specification for 10 Gigabit Ethernet. Ideal for local, metropolitan and wide area network applications, the device enables designers to reduce board space and design time.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tex/tex601.html
or send a blank email to mailto:tex6[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
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3. Conformal coating covers its tracks
Electrolube is to launch a new, high build conformal coating at Nepcon (stand G408) that is particularly effective at covering lead ends and sharp corners. DCRT is a red, flexible, modified silicone resin that increases the lifetime of vital electronic equipment by protecting it from hazardous environments. Highly effective and easy to use, it is suitable for dip coating and brushing. Formulated especially for the protection and camouflage of electronic assemblies in the defence and aerospace industries, DCRT offers excellent adhesion for even high altitude applications.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/eec/eec120.html
or send a blank email to mailto:eec1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
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4. Ultrathin screens allow minute detail
Leading the way in technological advances for screen printing, DEK has produced wire mesh screens that are so thin they can facilitate printing down to 25um, offering customers the opportunity to print in minute detail. Compared with 100-150um features as the normal industry standard for screen printing, DEK's brand new ultrathin high-strength wire mesh now offers screen technology surpassed by none. Fine detail results can now be realised using this new mesh's 20um thread diameter.
Request a free brochure by post:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/dek/161/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/dek/dek161.html
or send a blank email to mailto:dek1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
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5. Up-convertor cuts basestation power budget
The AD6633 is a digital up-convertor featuring breakthrough technology claimed to significantly reduce output power requirements for 3G wireless basestation power amplifiers. The AD6633's innovative VersaCrest crest reduction engine enables optimum baseband-to-IF (intermediate frequency) signal conversion by anticipating and reducing power peaks earlier in the signal chain. Traditionally, basestation manufacturers have relied on expensive, highly linear power amplifiers to avoid output signal distortion caused by large peaking signals. Analog Devices' new solution reduces peak-to-average power by up to 6dB, the equivalent of replacing a 40W amplifier with a 10W device.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/anc/anc217.html
or send a blank email to mailto:anc2[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
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6. Plug-top PSU aims for global power
With a universal input capability, the TR30R family of high-power plug-top power supplies will save equipment manufacturers from having to offer multiple PSU options for different countries. This will enable them to cut inventory levels, simplify order processing and reduce costs. The 30W rated TR30R adapters, which have an input range from 90 to 264V AC, can be equipped with up to four interchangeable AC input sockets that make them suitable for worldwide operation.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ure/ure125.html
or send a blank email to mailto:ure1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
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7. GPRS modules strike up three bands
A new series of triband GPRS modules features two type-approved product variants, one supporting 850, 1800 and 1900MHz bands, the other for 900, 1800 and 1900MHz operation. Both modules are GPRS Class 10, enabling datarates in excess of 83.2Kbit/s, and support the adaptive multirate (AMR) speech codec. The ITM3208 and ITM3209 modules support both AT commands and SIM Toolkit 99 enabling them to be easily customised for a wide range of applications, from commercial machine-to-machine asset management to PDAs and laptops.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ttp/ttp176.html
or send a blank email to mailto:ttp1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
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8. Transceiver upgrades links to Gigabit Ethernet
A new pluggable transceiver delivers Gigabit Ethernet data transmissions over commonly installed copper cable, offering a low-cost upgrade path to Gigabit Ethernet. The new product offers network equipment manufacturers the ability to support small-form factor pluggable (SFP) ports for both optical and copper-based connections, saving cost.
Request a free brochure by post:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/agi/216/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/agi/agi216.html
or send a blank email to mailto:agi2[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
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9. DMM combo kit offers 19% price cut
A new money-saving combo kit combines a top-of-the-range 170 series digital multimeter (DMM) with thermocouple and a handheld infra-red thermometer. The kit is targeted at industrial technicians and comes with a 19% saving on individual list prices. The Fluke 179/61 kit includes the Fluke 179 true-RMS industrial DMM and the Fluke 61 infra-red thermometer.
Request a free brochure by post:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/flu/151/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/flu/flu151.html
or send a blank email to mailto:flu1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
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10. Nanocrystalline cores suppress inverter harmonics
A new range of large nanocrystalline cores made of Nanoperm are available with a novel stadium-shaped geometry or in round shapes with up to 300mm outer diameter. These large cores are particularly efficient at reducing unwanted motor bearing voltages in large inverter drives, and can be used as common-mode chokes simply by fitting them over the motor cables.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/mgn/mgn100.html
or send a blank email to mailto:mgn1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com
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New Technical Articles and Case Studies
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CHIPSET PROVIDES A WIRELESS EDGE
(Analog Devices, 23 March 2004)
Quanta Computer has selected wireless terminal chipsets from Analog Devices for its new Edge device.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/anc/anc219.html
(or email mailto:anc2[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
CORE HELPS MAKE MUSIC FOR NETGEAR
(ARM, 17 March 2004)
The newly released Netgear MP101 wireless digital music player is powered by the ARM9 core family-based Marvell Libertas 88W8510H SoC.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ank/ank140.html
(or email mailto:ank1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
SOFTWARE SPEEDS SENDO HANDSET
(fg microtec, 18 March 2004)
The new Sendo M570, recently shown at the 3GSM World Congress in Cannes, incorporates fg microtec's fmM1251 technology.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/fgm/fgm105.html
(or email mailto:fgm1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
WIRELESS NETWORK PROCESSOR APPLIES MULTIPLE PLLS
(True Circuits, 22 March 2004)
Ubicom has successfully implemented multiple True Circuits PLL hard macros in its IP3023T wireless network processor using TSMC's 130nm process technology.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tue/tue105.html
(or email mailto:tue1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
NOVEL PANEL DESIGN TACKLES TRAFFIC ROUTING
(Duraswitch, 17 March 2004)
German Duraswitch licensee Schurter has developed a new design for use by Adolf Nissen Elektrobau in traffic routing systems.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/dur/dur131.html
(or email mailto:dur1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT FOR AFFORDABLE BROADBAND
(Agere Systems, 22 March 2004)
Efficient traffic management is the key to delivering QoS and increasing provider revenue for personal broadband services, argues Agere's Systems Applications Engineering Manager, Deepak Kataria.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/age/age133.html
(or email mailto:age1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
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...And take a look at these stories too...
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UART BRIDGE CHIP LINKS TO COM PORT AND FLASH
(Elan Digital Systems, 17 March 2004)
By connecting an SD Flash Card or SD controller to the parallel port of an Elan VPU device, data can be accessed simultaneously with an active COM port connection to the UART.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ean/ean103.html
(or email mailto:ean1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
ENHANCED BASEBAND CODEC FOR MODERN DIGITAL RADIO
(CML Microcircuits, 18 March 2004)
The CMX981 is an extremely-low-power advanced digital-radio baseband processor, combined on-chip with a voice codec/processor and an audio PA.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/cml/cml102.html
(or email mailto:cml1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
FPGAs COME IN ROHS-COMPLIANT PACKAGES
(Actel Europe, 23 March 2004)
Actel Corp can now supply "green" and lead (Pb)-free packaging options for all its antifuse- and Flash-based FPGA product families.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/act/act171.html
(or email mailto:act1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
QUAD-DATARATE SRAMS REACH 72Mbit
(Cypress Semiconductor, 23 March 2004)
Cypress Semiconductor has begun sampling a new family of 72Mbit QDR-II and DDR-II devices, the world's highest density and highest bandwidth SRAMs.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/cyp/cyp226.html
(or email mailto:cyp2[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
ELECTROLYTICS LAST LONGER AT HIGH VOLTAGES
(NIC Eurotech, 19 March 2004)
NRE-WB aluminium electrolytic capacitors are ideal for use in electronic ballasts for fluorescent lighting and other high-voltage applications that require high-temperature long-life performance.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/nic/nic133.html
(or email mailto:nic1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
COMPACT DIODES AIM FOR HANDSET ESD PROTECTION
(Semtech, 19 March 2004)
The MicroClamp family of ultrasmall transient voltage suppressors (TVS) is designed expressly for ESD protection on cellphones, PDAs, digital cameras, and other portable electronic designs.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/sem/sem122.html
(or email mailto:sem1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
TRANSLATOR EASES SWITCH TO CAN
(Pi Technology, 18 March 2004)
Automotive systems engineers have a new tool to ease the integration of on-vehicle CAN-based systems with legacy hardware.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/pit/pit106.html
(or email mailto:pit1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
HIGH-FREQUENCY PWM SENDS FAN NOISE TO THE DOGS
(JMC Products, 17 March 2004)
A new range of high-frequency PWM fans perform at low noise levels by eliminating the power switching noise of the fan.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/jmc/jmc110.html
(or email mailto:jmc1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
SPEEDY ACCESS TO RACKS, CONSOLES AND ACCESSORIES
(Equipto Electronics Corp, 18 March 2004)
A wide array of vertical racks, 15-degree sloped front consoles, workstations and instrument cabinets can be shipped within five working days of receipt of order.
Free brochure on Express Line:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/equ/103/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/equ/equ103.html
(or email mailto:equ1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
RACK SOLUTION HAS NETWORKS COVERED
(Rittal, 22 March 2004)
The innovative TE7000 condenses all networking rack requirements into a single enclosure without compromise.
Free brochure on TE7000:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/rit/167/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/rit/rit167.html
(or email mailto:rit1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
FUSEHOLDER TAKES HIGH-CURRENT PROTECTION ONBOARD
(Schurter, 23 March 2004)
Schurter has developed a new PCB-mounting fuseholder approved for currents up to 16A (VDE) or 20A (UL).
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/scc/scc120.html
(or email mailto:scc1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
INSPECTION SYSTEM GETS TO GRIPS WITH FLIP CHIPS
(Blundell Production Equipment, 18 March 2004)
Ersa has upgraded its market-leading BGA inspection system.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/bun/bun113.html
(or email mailto:bun1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
GEM OF A SYSTEM FOR DISPLAY PANEL REPAIRS
(Kaisertech, 19 March 2004)
The Unitek Eapro Emerald is a TAB-repair system for the LCD/PDP panels generally found in computers, consumer electronics, defence industry electronics, medical devices and many other products.
Free brochure on Unitek Eapro Emerald:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/kai/134/0
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/kai/kai134.html
(or email mailto:kai1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
MOTHERBOARDS UPGRADE TO LATEST INTEL AND AMD CPUs
(QDI, 22 March 2004)
QDI has released an upgraded version of its highly successful P2PE/800 motherboard with the launch of the P2PE/800 Pro, upgraded to support Intel's new Prescott CPUs.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/leg/leg113.html
(or email mailto:leg1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
DAB MODULE PUTS DIGITAL RADIO INTO CARS
(Frontier Silicon, 23 March 2004)
The Roadster is a compact new DAB digital radio module for the automotive industry.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/fon/fon107.html
(or email mailto:fon1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
VECTOR SIGNAL GENERATOR AIDS RF CHARACTERISATION
(National Instruments, 18 March 2004)
Engineers now have a complete platform for accelerating RF product design, validation and manufacturing test with National Instruments new 2.7GHz NI PXI-5670 RF vector signal generator.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/naa/naa144.html
(or email mailto:naa1[-email removed-]ctronicstalk.com )
NOVEL CONTACT SIMPLIFIES PGA TEST FIXTURES
(Ardent Concepts, 22 March 2004)
A new range of high-performance PGA test fixture solutions is based on innovative proprietary interconnect technology - the Redundant Contact.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ard/ard102.html
(or email mailto:ard1[-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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