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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 187: 19 October 2004
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19099 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] Chipset enables ADSL modems on a budget
[2] Microcontrollers take three CANs onboard
[3] Water-soluble lead-free paste set to clean up
[4] Five instruments in one from new digital scopes
[5] Infra-red transceiver shrinks to fit slim handsets
[6] CompactFlash adapters add serial I/O
[7] Analyser checks for passive intermodulation
[8] Power quality analysis comes to hand
[9] Philips power semiconductors join thermal library
[10] Analogue arrays double processing capability
* New Technical Articles and Case Studies
* Other featured product news
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Laurence Marchini, Editor, writes:
Immediately below this Editorial is a link to a story concerning the rather depressing results of a survey carried out buy training provider Premier EDA Solutions. British universities, it seems, are still turning out electronics graduates who are ill-prepared for life in the electronics industry.
To be fair, this is nothing new: during the 1980s I myself recruited a number of electronics graduates into the publishing business, and was somewhat surprised to find that while all the applicants were well grounded in all the relevant theories of electronics, their real-world applications knowledge was sadly lacking.
In the intervening time there has been no shortage of schemes that have purported to address this imbalance, but the Premier survey would seem to suggest that these may have all been in vain.
The survey has further worrying conclusions when it comes to continuing training within the workforce. For although 67% of employees surveyed felt training is fundamental to business and the right of every employee, they perceived their employer's attitude towards training was only as a useful addition for specific projects.
I appreciate that to many it may appear slightly contradictory on the one hand to call for specific job-related training to improve graduates’ ability to do their jobs while decrying employers for restricting training to directly job-related issues. But if young engineers are not given the tools and the means to “think outside the square” we severely restrict their ability to innovate.
And a shortage of innovation is more worrying than any form of skills shortage.
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 e-mail 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!
SURVEY REFLECTS SKILLS DEFICIT IN NEW GRADUATES
The UK's ability to maintain an edge in design and development is being jeopardised by a lack of suitably equipped graduates from its universities, according to a recent survey.
Premier EDA Solutions, 19 October 2004
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/pem/pem100.html
or send a blank email to mailto:pem1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
JOINT VENTURE TARGETS CHINESE DIGITAL TV
STMicroelectronics is forming a joint venture with HDIC, a company from the prestigious Shanghai Jiaotong University that develops technologies for digital TV.
STMicroelectronics, 13 October 2004
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/stm/stm122.html
or send a blank email to mailto:stm1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
FIRST CHINESE PLANT OPENS FOR BUSINESS
National Semiconductor has officially opened its first manufacturing plant in China, an assembly and test facility in Suzhou Industrial Park.
National Semiconductor, 18 October 2004
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/nat/nat297.html
or send a blank email to mailto:nat2[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
VMETRO TO ACQUIRE TRANSTECH DSP
Transtech DSP has entered into an agreement to become a wholly owned part of the Vmetro group, a company quoted on the Norwegian stock exchange.
Vmetro, 15 October 2004
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/vme/vme114.html
or send a blank email to mailto:vme1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
NEW COMPANY MASTERS LCOS MICRODISPLAYS
Researchers from Ghent University and IMEC have created a new company to accelerate the integration of liquid-crystal-on-silicon (LCOS) microdisplays in day-to-day applications.
IMEC, 13 October 2004
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ime/ime156.html
or send a blank email to mailto:ime1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
ELECTRONICS COMPANIES LEAD UK PATENT LIST
Electronics companies dominate the top five places in the UK Patent Office's list of patent applicants, according to its "Facts and figures" booklet for 2003.
The Patent Office, 15 October 2004
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/pff/pff100.html
or send a blank email to mailto:pff1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
UPS MAKER EXPANDS INTO PURPOSE-BUILT HEADQUARTERS
As part of an ongoing expansion programme, Socomec Sicon UPS has moved its UK headquarters to customised premises at Cirencester Business Park in Gloucestershire.
Socomec Sicon UPS, 14 October 2004
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/soc/soc108.html
or send a blank email to mailto:soc1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
NEW HQ REUNITES COMPANY
Power conditioning specialist Powervar has moved its operations out of Shrivenham Hundred Business Park and into a new international headquarters and distribution centre on Kembrey Park, Swindon.
Powervar, 15 October 2004
http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/pob/pob107.html
or send a blank email to mailto:pob1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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OUR TOP TEN NEW PRODUCTS SELECTION
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[1] CHIPSET ENABLES ADSL MODEMS ON A BUDGET
(STMicroelectronics, 14 October 2004)
The Unicorn II USB ADSL chipset cuts overall modem system cost to the lowest in the industry. The new product enables manufacturers to produce an ADSL USB modem package below the magical Eur 10 barrier. In addition to slashing overall system cost, the Unicorn's overall physical layer and throughput performance makes it a best-in-class product. Compared with its predecessor Unicorn I, the bill of materials of the Unicorn II has been reduced by more than 20% due to the integration of external components.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/stm/stm123.html
or send a blank email to mailto:stm1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[2] MICROCONTROLLERS TAKE THREE CANS ONBOARD
(Renesas Technology Europe, 19 October 2004)
Six new M32C/88 group microcontrollers are the first devices from Renesas to incorporate three-channel CAN controllers. The M32C/88 group is part of the M16C family's M32C/80 series and inherits the M16C features of highly efficient C-language compatibility, high EMS, low EMI and low power consumption. The devices incorporate a high-performance CPU core together with a comprehensive set of peripheral functions and large capacity, highly reliable Flash memory.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ren/ren159.html
or send a blank email to mailto:ren1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[3] WATER-SOLUBLE LEAD-FREE PASTE SET TO CLEAN UP
(Indium Corporation of America, 18 October 2004)
Indium3.1 is a water-soluble Pb-free solder paste with exceptional printing, ideal for fine-pitch applications. The unprecedented stencil life virtually eliminates solder paste waste. In addition, Indium3.1 exhibits excellent wetting under both air and nitrogen reflow atmosphere. Any residue is easily cleaned with water. The resultant solder joints are shiny and smooth, including those of ultra fine-pitch components.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/idi/idi132.html
or send a blank email to mailto:idi1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[4] FIVE INSTRUMENTS IN ONE FROM NEW DIGITAL SCOPES
(Chauvin Arnoux UK, 18 October 2004)
The new Metrix line of digital oscilloscopes comprises 40MHz instruments for industrial maintenance and 100MHz units for electronics applications. It also includes the first 600V Cat III insulated self-contained portable oscilloscope on the market. These oscilloscopes, a perfect illustration of what might be called "pluri-instruments", combine five complementary devices in one and provide original functions, outstanding readability, and great performance, thanks in particular to their 12bit 1Gsample/s convertor, all in a minimum footprint.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/cau/cau100.html
or send a blank email to mailto:cau1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[5] INFRA-RED TRANSCEIVER SHRINKS TO FIT SLIM HANDSETS
(Agilent Technologies, 18 October 2004)
The HSDL-3209 is billed as the industry's smallest, low-power SIR (serial infra-red) transceiver. The transceiver is encased in a miniature package only 1.6mm high, which is ideal for slim portable devices such as 2.5G and 3G mobile phones, PDAs, e-wallets, smart phones and portable printers. It operates from supply voltages as low as 2.4V and can interface to input/output logic circuits with logic-high levels down to 1.5V.
Request a free brochure by post:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/agi/253/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/agi/agi253.html
or send a blank email to mailto:agi2[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[6] COMPACTFLASH ADAPTERS ADD SERIAL I/O
(Sealevel Systems, 13 October 2004)
Sealevel Systems has released four new CompactFlash serial I/O adapters aimed at mobile computing applications. These cards offer a convenient way to add RS232, RS422 or RS485 communications to PDAs and other mobile devices not normally equipped with serial ports. Target applications include medical, point-of-sale (POS), data acquisition, and control. Each of the CompactFlash devices offers low power consumption and easy installation.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/sal/sal113.html
or send a blank email to mailto:sal1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[7] ANALYSER CHECKS FOR PASSIVE INTERMODULATION
(Smiths Interconnect - Summitek Instruments, 14 October 2004)
The SI-400C passive intermodulation (PIM) analyser covers the frequency band from 138 to 512MHz. As countries expand into the lower frequency bands for wireless communication and data transmission, while simultaneously upgrading existing networks with modern digital radios - particularly for emergency services - they are making extensive use of the VHF and UHF portions of the spectrum. The combination of the inevitable RF congestion in these bands and the critical nature of these services means that there is increasing concern about the potential for interference.
Request a free brochure by post:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/sek/101/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/sek/sek101.html
or send a blank email to mailto:sek1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[8] POWER QUALITY ANALYSIS COMES TO HAND
(Fluke (UK), 18 October 2004)
A new series of handheld three-phase power quality analysers comer with innovative features that enable power quality problems to be assessed faster and in greater detail. The first instruments of their type to meet the Cat IV 600V safety standard, they can measure all phases and neutral on virtually every connection in a low-voltage application. The new Fluke 433 and 434 three-phase power quality analysers are troubleshooting tools designed for applications in industry, healthcare, business, public services and all areas where power quality is critical.
Request a free brochure by post:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/flu/160/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/flu/flu160.html
or send a blank email to mailto:flu1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[9] PHILIPS POWER SEMICONDUCTORS JOIN THERMAL LIBRARY
(Flomerics, 18 October 2004)
Flomerics has made ready-to-run thermal models for Philips' power semiconductors available to designers via the SmartParts3D website. Design engineers can now instantly download complex, calibrated thermal models of power semiconductor packages from Philips to incorporate in their Flotherm thermal simulations. This approach saves time and also increases thermal modelling accuracy as the SmartParts3D models have been created and validated by experts from Flomerics and Philips. Models are available now for the TO220 series packages, and models for isolated TO220, D2-PAK, D-PAK, SOT223, SO8 and LFPAK packages are expected to follow soon.
Request a free brochure by post:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/flo/136/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/flo/flo136.html
or send a blank email to mailto:flo1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[10] ANALOGUE ARRAYS DOUBLE PROCESSING CAPABILITY
(Anadigm, 19 October 2004)
Two new field programmable analogue arrays (FPAAs) offer twice the processing capability of Anadigm's entry-level device at an aggressive price point. These new devices open the way for programmable analogue implementations in high-volume audio, industrial, and medical systems. Priced starting at $5.08 in 10,000-piece quantities, the new AN122E04 and AN222E04 combine streamlined I/O configuration options with the same configurable analogue block (CAB) resources as Anadigm's flagship FPAA products, giving designers all the signal processing capabilities they need for high-volume analogue filtering, sensor conditioning, and basic PID control applications.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ana/ana132.html
or send a blank email to mailto:ana1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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New Technical Articles and Case Studies
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MICROCONTROLLERS ENABLE CASHLESS VENDING
(Zilog, 14 October 2004)
The new Generation 5 (G5) e-Port, a cashless transaction application developed by USA Technologies in conjunction with Zilog, will be shown this week at the NAMA National Expo in Chicago.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/zil/zil134.html
or send a blank email to mailto:zil1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
CLOCK DRIVER PERFORMS IN DDR2 TESTER
(Inphi Corp, 18 October 2004)
CST has selected the Inphi INCU877 PLL clock driver IC as the memory clock buffer for use on the CST SP3000-DDR2 tester.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/inp/inp102.html
or send a blank email to mailto:inp1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
EMBEDDED FLASH MEMORY STIRS UP THE TYPHOON
(M-Systems, 18 October 2004)
High Tech Computer Corp is using M-Systems' Mobile DiskOnChip to bring the benefits of high-performance embedded memory to leading smartphones.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/mys/mys106.html
or send a blank email to mailto:mys1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
NOVEL FIBRE LINK AIDS REMOTE CAMERA BROADCAST
(Lemo (UK), 14 October 2004)
Cove Broadcast has developed the industry's first digital optical link for remote camera broadcast operation using Lemo connectors.
Free brochure on Fibre-optic connectors:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/lem/114/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/lem/lem114.html
or send a blank email to mailto:lem1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
ADAPTER AIDS AIRSURPRISE SIGNALLING SYSTEM
(Performance Technologies, 13 October 2004)
AirSurprise Technologies is using solutions from Performance Technologies in an SS7 system developed for China Unicom International, the world's third largest mobile telecommunications operator.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/pfo/pfo130.html
or send a blank email to mailto:pfo1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
SONET EVOLVES RESILIENCY, SERVICES AND INTEGRATION
(Agere Systems, 18 October 2004)
Emerging trends in "old reliable" Sonet equipment focus on resiliency, services, and integration, says Giovanni Cintorrino from Agere Systems Telecommunications Division.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/age/age154.html
or send a blank email to mailto:age1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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Other featured product news
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DUAL-MODE AMP SAVES POWER IN SENSOR APPLICATIONS
(National Semiconductor, 13 October 2004)
The LMV422 is billed as the lowest supply current, dual power mode operational amplifier available on the market.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/nat/nat296.html
or send a blank email to mailto:nat2[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
MANAGER RUNS LITHIUM- AND NICKEL-BASED CELL PACKS
(Microchip Technology, 14 October 2004)
The PS501 is an integrated, reprogrammable fuel-gauge for two, three and four series cell lithium-ion and lithium-polymer, or six to 12-cell nickel metal hydride and nickel cadmium applications.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ari/ari176.html
or send a blank email to mailto:ari1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
RELAYS DRIVE TOWARDS MINIATURISATION
(Omron Corp, 15 October 2004)
Omron's has upgraded its popular MYS series of general-purpose relays.
Free brochure on MYS series relays:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/oro/114/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/oro/oro114.html
or send a blank email to mailto:oro1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
COMPACT POWER INDUCTORS ARE BURSTING WITH ENERGY
(Pulse, 19 October 2004)
A new family of through-hole shielded shaped-core 4040-size power inductors stand only 8mm high yet deliver an energy density of 152uJ.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/pls/pls128.html
or send a blank email to mailto:pls1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
FLEXIBLE CONFIGURATION FOR ELECTRONICS RACK
(Eurobex Manufacturing, 14 October 2004)
Eurobex Manufacturing now produces a complete line of industrial electronic racks.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/eob/eob105.html
or send a blank email to mailto:eob1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
KEYPADS SECURE FINANCIAL APPLICATIONS
(EAO, 18 October 2004)
The W.series of fully customisable banking keypads and keyboards, are guaranteed to meet the demanding security requirements of banks and other financial institutions.
Free brochure on W.series:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/eao/160/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/eao/eao160.html
or send a blank email to mailto:eao1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
MUNICH DEBUT FOR WATERPROOF RF CONNECTOR RANGE
(Bulgin Components, 19 October 2004)
Bulgin is set to launch a novel waterproof SMB RF connector range at Electronica 2004.
Free brochure on PX041x SMB connectors:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/bul/119/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/bul/bul119.html
or send a blank email to mailto:bul1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
REWORK STATION ISN'T JUST HOT AIR
(Kaisertech, 13 October 2004)
The JBC AM 6500 rework station combines hot air, desoldering, pick and place and soldering modules to cover the main tasks for through-hole and SMT board rework and repair.
Free brochure on JBC AM 6500 rework station:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/kai/141/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/kai/kai141.html
or send a blank email to mailto:kai1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
SCALABLE FRONT-END PROVIDES UP TO 5.6KW
(Power-One, 14 October 2004)
The FXP6000-32 AC/DC front-end power supply accepts common input voltages from 200 to 480V AC and provides 32V DC output at 175A from a rear-mounted, hot-plug floating connector.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/pxw/pxw104.html
or send a blank email to mailto:pxw1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
EMBEDDED PROCESSOR BOARD IS FREE FROM LEAD
(DSP Design, 14 October 2004)
DSP Design has released its first lead free ready AMD Geode GX533 at 1.1W processor based PCI-104 board.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/dsp/dsp108.html
or send a blank email to mailto:dsp1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
GPIB CONTROLLER SPEEDS ONTO PCI EXPRESS
(National Instruments, 13 October 2004)
National Instruments has developed the test and measurement industry's first GPIB controller for PCI Express.
Free brochure on NI PCIe-GPIB:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/naa/170/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/naa/naa170.html
or send a blank email to mailto:naa1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
POCKET-SIZED PRICING FOR POCKET-SIZED DMMS
(Meterman, 15 October 2004)
A new low-cost series of shirt-pocket-sized professional digital multimeters (DMMs) are loaded with measurement functions and features, but start at just GBP 19.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/mer/mer106.html
or send a blank email to mailto:mer1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.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:
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
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Engineeringtalk - for mechanical/automation engineers
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Industrialsafetytalk - for safety professionals
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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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