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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 198: 11 January 2005
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20,527 product announcements and technical articles
on our website, all fully searchable at
http://www.electronicstalk.com/ - take a look!
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In this issue:
* Editor's Message
* Other industry news
* Our Top new products selection
[1] Audio amp saves handset power and space
[2] LVDS transmitter meets new Intel specs
[3] Audio transistors take temperature in their stride
[4] Board brings FPGA development to the desktop
[5] Reference design kit checks out frugal processor
[6] Software adds DVD functionality to consumer kit
[7] Encapsulants have smart card chips covered
[8] Practical guide to surge testing
[9] Compact format for embedded device server
[10] Software turns source into Airbus power tester
* New technical articles & case studies
* Other featured product news
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Laurence Marchini , Editor, writes:
If anyone ever needed to be assured of the importance of the consumer
electronics business, they only have to look at the number of
"serious" announcements that have emanated from the Consumer
Electronics Show CES 2005 during the past week.
Many of these feature on the Electronicstalk website, and are featured
in this newsletter. Many more have been reported in the consumer
media, and more still can be found on or via the show website at
http://www.cesweb.org/default.asp.
Gone are the days, it seems, when the electronics industry lived or
died according to the fortunes of the business computing market, or
even business communications. Today it is the portable media player,
the personal video recorder and the ever-fuller-featured digital
camera that dominates the thinking of many of the world's major
component suppliers.
Below you can read of component innovations from companies such as
Texas Instruments, Philips, Zetex and STMicroelectronics, all of which
promise a more enjoyable multimedia entertainment experience, when but
a few short years ago those same companies would have been more
obsessed with the "simple" technology of making a business computer or
industrial controller run faster. And just a few years before that,
those same companies (or their antecedents) would have been
concentrating the lion's share of their development efforts on
components for the global defence industry.
I suppose that is the sort of progress that we can all applaud - not
to mention the fulfilment of the predictions of all those lifestyle
predictions made in the 1970s and 1980s that by the year 2000 we would
all have far more time and money to appreciate our leisure. Or is it
just my imagination that we're all working longer and harder as well?
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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CENTRE FOCUSES ELECTRONICS RESEARCH
(Henkel Technologies, 06 Jan 2005)
The Henkel Electronics Group has opened its new Irvine, California
Research and Applications Centre.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/hen/hen113.html
or send a blank email to mailto:hen1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
OMRON DONATES Y100 MILLION TO TSUNAMI VICTIMS
(Omron Corp, 06 Jan 2005)
Omron Corp is to donate Y100 million through the Japan Community for
UNICEF for victims of the Asian tsunami following the earthquake off
Indonesia.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/oro/oro118.html
or send a blank email to mailto:oro1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
FREE ELECTRONIC PROTOTYPING BOARDS FOR EDUCATION
(Schmartboard, 11 Jan 2005)
Schmartboard is offering free electronic prototyping boards to
education and non-profit institutions to help educate people in
electronics and robotics.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/sbo/sbo112.html
or send a blank email to mailto:sbo1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
EXCEPTIONAL YEAR FOR SIGE SEMICONDUCTOR
(SiGe Semiconductor, 11 Jan 2005)
SiGe Semiconductor has reported sales revenues of US $20.1 million
(CDN $24.6 million) for 2004 - a five fold increase compared with the
previous year.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/sif/sif161.html
or send a blank email to mailto:sif1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
FOURTH-QUARTER REVENUES SHOW POSITIVE SIGNS
(STMicroelectronics, 11 Jan 2005)
STMicroelectronics estimates that net revenues for its 2004 fiscal
fourth quarter will be $2328 million, a sequential increase of 4.3%
and at the higher end of its previously announced guidance range.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/stm/stm150.html
or send a blank email to mailto:stm1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
STRONG ASIAN GROWTH FUELS NU HORIZONS
(Nu Horizons Electronics Corp, 10 Jan 2005)
Nu Horizons Electronics Corp has reported financial and operating
results for the third quarter and nine months ended 30th November
2004.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/nuh/nuh115.html
or send a blank email to mailto:nuh1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
TI TOPS DSL MARKET SURVEY
(Texas Instruments, 05 Jan 2005)
TI has become the number-one supplier of DSL customer premises
equipment worldwide with 37% market share, according to iSuppli Corp.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tex/tex738.html
or send a blank email to mailto:tex7[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
ACCORD ACCELERATES HD RADIO ADOPTION
(iBiquity Digital Corp, 07 Jan 2005)
Twenty-one of the USA's top radio broadcast groups have signed with
iBiquity Digital Corp to accelerate broadcast conversion of 2000 AM
and FM stations to digital HD Radio technology.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ibi/ibi105.html
or send a blank email to mailto:ibi1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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OUR TOP NEW PRODUCT SELECTION
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[1] AUDIO AMP SAVES HANDSET POWER AND SPACE
(Texas Instruments, 10 Jan 2005)
Texas Instruments has released a high-performance, filter-free stereo
Class-D audio power amplifier that enables designers of cellphones to
develop audio-rich products, while maximising talk time and audio
quality. With about two-thirds lower quiescent current and 80% lower
noise floor than its nearest competitor, the TPA2012D2 packs high
efficiency and audio quality in a tiny package, enabling the features
and form factors consumers demand.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tex/tex745.html
or send a blank email to mailto:tex7[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[2] LVDS TRANSMITTER MEETS NEW INTEL SPECS
(Chrontel, 06 Jan 2005)
Chrontel is now sampling a new LVDS (low voltage differential signal)
transmitter, the CH7308A, which is the world's first LDVS chip that
complies with Intel's new, proprietary SDVO (serial digital video
output) PC interface specification. LVDS devices are mixed-signal ICs
(integrated circuits) that are used in almost every laptop PC to
transmit display pixel data from the CPU motherboard, across the open
hinge of the laptop, to the flat panel display.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/chr/chr106.html
or send a blank email to mailto:chr1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[3] AUDIO TRANSISTORS TAKE TEMPERATURE IN THEIR STRIDE
(ON Semiconductor, 10 Jan 2005)
ThermalTrak is an innovative family of output transistors with
internal bias control that provide a simplified single-device solution
for audio amplifier design. Featuring patent-pending technology, these
devices eliminate tedious warm-up time, enable quick and precise
temperature adjustment, and improve both sound quality and bias
stability. The initial devices will be ideal for use in high-end
consumer audio amplifiers and receivers, as well as professional audio
applications such as theatre, stadium and PA sound systems.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/onw/onw167.html
or send a blank email to mailto:onw1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[4] BOARD BRINGS FPGA DEVELOPMENT TO THE DESKTOP
(Orange Tree Technologies, 10 Jan 2005)
Orange Tree Technologies has developed ZestSC1, a desktop FPGA
development board with High Speed USB 2.0 host computer interface. It
is intended for FPGA development work, training and education, and
also for applications such as data acquisition, control, DSP and image
processing. The High Speed USB 2.0 interface runs at 480Mbit/s and can
also run at the Full Speed USB 1.1 rate of 12Mbit/s.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ora/ora101.html
or send a blank email to mailto:ora1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[5] REFERENCE DESIGN KIT CHECKS OUT FRUGAL PROCESSOR
(Transmeta Corp, 10 Jan 2005)
Transmeta Corp has released a new Efficeon processor technology
evaluation platform and reference design kit for the next generation
of energy efficient, high performance, fanless and compact designs.
The Efficeon Technology Reference Design Kit is a manufacturing-ready
reference design comprising schematics, PCB layout, bill of materials,
reference design guide and drivers with BIOS support available from
multiple BIOS vendors.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tsm/tsm104.html
or send a blank email to mailto:tsm1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[6] SOFTWARE ADDS DVD FUNCTIONALITY TO CONSUMER KIT
(Sonic Solutions, 06 Jan 2005)
AuthorScript CE 6 is billed as a major breakthrough in bringing the
power and performance of PC-based DVD and CD creation and playback
technology to lower-cost consumer electronics (CE) devices. Coupling
all of the power, features, and flexibility that system manufacturers
have come to expect from Sonic, with a significant optimisation in
size and processor performance, AuthorScript CE 6 is the ideal
solution for next-generation DVRs with built-in DVD recording
capabilities and other DVD- and CD-enabled CE devices.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/slu/slu106.html
or send a blank email to mailto:slu1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[7] ENCAPSULANTS HAVE SMART CARD CHIPS COVERED
(Henkel Technologies, 07 Jan 2005)
The Electronics group of Henkel has three new UV-cure encapsulants for
use in smart card IC module manufacturing. The dam-and-fill products
are to be marketed under Henkel's Hysol brand and are named Hysol
3323, Hysol 3327 and Hysol 3329. Developed using the latest
single-component epoxy technology, these encapsulants provide faster
curing times, improved adhesion, minimised tape warpage and excellent
performance during reliability testing, compared with existing UV- or
thermal-cure encapsulants.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/hen/hen114.html
or send a blank email to mailto:hen1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[8] PRACTICAL GUIDE TO SURGE TESTING
(REO (UK), 06 Jan 2005)
REO UK has produced an impartial and practical guide to the EMC
standard, EN61000-4-5, which deals with surge testing. Typical urban
buildings suffer from surges of about 6kV about three times a year.
These can be caused by slow mutual inductances or common impedances.
However, they are often caused by normal, unavoidable thunderstorm
activity in the local area. The REO guide explains the EMC rules on
surge testing and how to avoid resulting problems.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/reo/reo124.html
or send a blank email to mailto:reo1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[9] COMPACT FORMAT FOR EMBEDDED DEVICE SERVER
(Sena Technologies, 11 Jan 2005)
The Nemo10 is a compact and low-cost embedded device server designed
for OEMs to embed Ethernet connectivity directly onto the circuit
boards of equipment like security systems, POS, factory machinery and
medical devices. The Nemo10 has a standard pin space with a
dual-inline, 24-pin design for onboard installation, allowing
designers to reduce layout time and accelerate time to market.
Request free details from the supplier:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/sna/103/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/sna/sna103.html
or send a blank email to mailto:sna1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[10] SOFTWARE TURNS SOURCE INTO AIRBUS POWER TESTER
(Elgar Electronics Corp, 10 Jan 2005)
The ABD100 test suite is a powerful software package that greatly
simplifies power bus compliance testing of components and subsystems
for the Airbus A380 aircraft. Used in conjunction with the SmartWave,
Elgar's premier AC source, the ABD100 test suite provides a simple,
one button solution for generating the vast array of complex power
waveforms required to certify products for use on the A380.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/elg/elg104.html
or send a blank email to mailto:elg1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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New Technical Articles and Case Studies
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SQUEEGEE BLADES AND LEAD-FREE SOLDER PASTE
(Photo Stencil, 11 Jan 2005)
William E Coleman examines the effects of lead-free solder on squeegee
blade performance.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/pht/pht100.html
or send a blank email to mailto:pht1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
POLYCARBONATE FILMS HELP IN SCREENING WINDOWS
(Autotype, 07 Jan 2005)
Autoflex PC is being used as a critical component for the construction
of an innovative range of electromagnetic interference shielded
display windows.
Request free details from the supplier on Autoflex PC:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/aut/103/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/aut/aut103.html
or send a blank email to mailto:aut1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
MODELLING MAKES PACKAGING PERFECT
(Comsol, 07 Jan 2005)
Mathematical modelling using Femlab is helping to optimise a
breakthrough process for fabricating "flip-chip" carriers.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/cso/cso101.html
or send a blank email to mailto:cso1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
SPEECH RECOGNITION SOLUTION KEEPS HANDS FREE
(ScanSoft United Kingdom, 11 Jan 2005)
Cullmann has selected the ScanSoft VoCon speech recognition solution
to speech-enable a new modular and cordless universal hands-free kit
for mobile telephones.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/sso/sso107.html
or send a blank email to mailto:sso1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
FPGA OPENS THE DOOR FOR NEXT-GENERATION DESIGNS
(Actel Europe, 11 Jan 2005)
UTStarcom has selected Actel's antifuse-based SX-A field-programmable
gate array as a controller on the CPU control board of its
market-leading mSwitch and 3G products.
Request free details from the supplier on SX-A:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/act/195/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/act/act195.html
or send a blank email to mailto:act1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
STRUCTURED ASICS SPEED SATELLITE MODEMS TO MARKET
(Altera Europe, 11 Jan 2005)
Mark Vanderaar and Ganesh Narayanaswamy describe how HardCopy
structured ASICs from Altera were used in a modem designed by
Efficient Channel Coding for broadband Internet access through
satellites.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/aeu/aeu143.html
or send a blank email to mailto:aeu1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
IP SOC ENABLES DIGITAL HOME TELEPHONE
(Texas Instruments, 05 Jan 2005)
Texas Instruments has played a key role in the development of Viseon's
digital home telephone, the VisiFone.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tex/tex740.html
or send a blank email to mailto:tex7[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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Other featured new product news
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CONVERTOR IS BIASED ABOUT CCD IMAGERS
(Linear Technology Corp, 07 Jan 2005)
A novel dual-channel DC/DC convertor generates positive and negative
outputs for biasing CCD imagers.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/lne/lne113.html
or send a blank email to mailto:lne1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
TRIPLE DELAY LINE PROMISES SKEW-FREE RGB VIDEO
(Intersil, 11 Jan 2005)
An integrated triple analogue delay line enables systems using
Intersil's video over twisted-pair products to transmit and receive
skew-free RGB (red, green, blue) video over 300m of Cat5 cable.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ina/ina328.html
or send a blank email to mailto:ina3[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
CONTACTORS SUPPORT HIGH SPEED DEVICE TESTING
(Alliance Sales (Europe), 06 Jan 2005)
The Johnstech Array Series of high performance test contactors are
designed to support high speed digital, high speed memory and
analogue/mixed signal applications.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/all/all112.html
or send a blank email to mailto:all1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
IDE SUPPORTS CONFIGURABLE PROCESSORS
(Green Hills Software, 06 Jan 2005)
The Multi integrated development environment (IDE), Green Hills Probe
and Slingshot debug device are now available for ARC International's
full line of configurable processors.
Request free details from the supplier on Multi for ARC:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/gre/180/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/gre/gre180.html
or send a blank email to mailto:gre1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
REFERENCE DESIGN SPEEDS PORTABLE AUDIO TO MARKET
(Texas Instruments, 10 Jan 2005)
Texas Instruments has released its latest audio processor and a beta
version of its upcoming production-ready reference design for portable
audio applications.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tex/tex746.html
or send a blank email to mailto:tex7[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
MCU ALLOWS LOW-VOLTAGE MOTOR CONTROL
(Renesas Technology Europe, 05 Jan 2005)
The H8/36087F series is the first high-performance low-cost 3V motor
control solution from Renesas Technology Europe.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ren/ren174.html
or send a blank email to mailto:ren1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
CONDITIONERS BOAST INSTRUMENT CLASS PERFORMANCE
(Impulse Corporation, 11 Jan 2005)
New from Impulse Corp is the Dataforth SensorLex 8B series of isolated
analogue signal conditioners.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/imp/imp132.html
or send a blank email to mailto:imp1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
FORUM TO FOCUS ON IC VERIFICATION CHALLENGES
(National Microelectronics Institute, 11 Jan 2005)
Continuing its programme of technical and business forums, The
National Microelectronics Institute (NMI) is organising an event
focused on the verification challenges in IC design.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/nai/nai101.html
or send a blank email to mailto:nai1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
CONVERTOR CHIP SIMPLIFIES RESOLVER APPLICATIONS
(DDC United Kingdom, 10 Jan 2005)
The RD-19240LS is a low-cost resolver-to-digital convertor that is
ideal for cost-effective medium-accuracy industrial applications.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ddc/ddc118.html
or send a blank email to mailto:ddc1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
NOVEL FEEDBACK TECHNIQUE AIDS AUDIO QUALITY
(Zetex, 05 Jan 2005)
New from Zetex at the Consumer Electronics Show is a direct digital
feedback technology claimed to set new standards in digital amplifier
sound quality.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/zet/zet151.html
or send a blank email to mailto:zet1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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Have you seen our other newsletters?
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Professionals. Sign up to be put on free circulation at
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