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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 203: 15th February 2005
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21,161 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
* Other industry news
* Our Top new products selection
[1] Kit speeds cellular system development
[2] Tiny TFTs cram in colour content
[3] Transceivers combine fast data with control
[4] Wireless platform combines applications and modem
[5] Xenpak module puts 10Gbit/s over legacy fibre
[6] Chipset moves Frontier into digital TV market
[7] Compiler enables working silicon from SystemC
[8] Module provides universal AC front end
[9] RF shield speeds handset testing
[10] Spectrum analyser extends to 3G coverage
* New technical articles & case studies
* Other featured product news
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Laurence Marchini , Editor, writes:
Perhaps I'm being cynical here, but for me the biggest stories from
this week's 3GSM World Congress in Cannes has nothing at all to do
with advancing technology, but more to do with increasing revenue for
mobile operators.
The GSM Association's sub-$40 handset initiative (see
www.gsmworld.com) is a highly laudable scheme to expand communications
technologies in the developing world.
"One of our key goals as a global trade association is to help connect
the 'unconnected' people of the world, a mission that is critical to
the social and economic development of many emerging market countries",
said Craig Ehrlich, Chairman of the GSM Association. "By directly
addressing the cost of handset ownership, we believe that we can
unlock the new 'ultra-low cost' market segment".
According to the association, the initial unit volume target for the
first six months, once shipments begin, is 6 million handsets. This
equates to approximately 1% of
the global handset market. As economies of scale kick-in, this new
market segment has the potential to add more than a 100 million new
connections per year.
There are certainly winners in the equation other than the operators:
the handset manufacturers backing it (most notably Motorola) will be
keen to keep older technology manufacturing lines running at full
capacity while they wait for more developed markets to adopt newer
technologies with higher added value.
Component and subassembly manufacturers, though, may be less than
enthusiastic. The increased demand for "jellybean" parts will do
nothing for the components business other than exacerbate component
shortages and commit production to low-margin parts.
Finally an apology to those of you who were waiting with baited breath
for last week's Electronicstalk Newsletter, which was delayed by
several hours due to a crash while our server was processing a
newsletter for another of our "Talk" titles. It seems that e-mail
newsletter servers do have something in common with old fashioned
printing presses after all!
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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ACQUISITION TO EXPAND IMAGING PORTFOLIO
(Cypress Semiconductor, 15 Feb 2005)
Cypress Semiconductor is to acquire SMaL Camera Technologies, a
designer of industry-leading digital imaging solutions for a variety
of business and consumer applications.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/cyp/cyp247.html
or send a blank email to mailto:cyp2[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
ACQUISITION PAVES THE WAY FOR NEW KOREAN CENTRE
(Agilent Technologies, 10 Feb 2005)
Agilent Technologies has completed its acquisition of Wavics, a
Korean-based designer and manufacturer of power amplifier modules for
the worldwide mobile handset market.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/agi/agi273.html
or send a blank email to mailto:agi2[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
SUCCESSFUL YEAR FOR ARC INTERNATIONAL
(ARC International, 10 Feb 2005)
ARC International has published its unaudited financial results for
the six months and full year ended 31st December 2004.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ara/ara179.html
or send a blank email to mailto:ara1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
DONATION TO ENHANCE SYSTEMVERILOG USABILITY
(Cadence Design Systems, 15 Feb 2005)
Cadence Design Systems has donated SystemVerilog data type and
intellectual property (IP) encryption technology to the IEEE P1800
Working Group to enhance SystemVerilog usability.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/cad/cad268.html
or send a blank email to mailto:cad2[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
FUJITSU TO TRANSFER LCD OPERATIONS TO SHARP
(Sharp Microelectronics, 09 Feb 2005)
Sharp and Fujitsu have entered into a basic agreement regarding the
transfer of Fujitsu's liquid crystal display (LCD) operations to
Sharp.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/srp/srp103.html
or send a blank email to mailto:srp1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
CONDOR HAS EAGLE EYE OUT FOR STAFF
(Condor DC Power Supplies, 10 Feb 2005)
Condor will open its European headquarters in the UK during the first
quarter of 2005, and is looking for new recruits to staff it.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/cob/cob114.html
or send a blank email to mailto:cob1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
FIRST QUARTER REVENUE EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS
(ScanSoft United Kingdom, 09 Feb 2005)
ScanSoft has announced financial results for the first fiscal quarter
of 2005 ended 31st December 2004.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/sso/sso108.html
or send a blank email to mailto:sso1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
TEMPLETON SEES ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES IN 3G
(Texas Instruments, 15 Feb 2005)
Rich Templeton, President and CEO of Texas Instruments has outlined
his company's strategy to drive 3G mobile phones to global masses.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tex/tex764.html
or send a blank email to mailto:tex7[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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OUR TOP NEW PRODUCT SELECTION
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[1] KIT SPEEDS CELLULAR SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT
(Philips Semiconductors, 15 Feb 2005)
Philips and ARM have collaborated to produce a complete development
kit for the market-leading Nexperia Cellular System Solution 6120.
Using leading edge ARM RealView tools, the Nexperia Mobile Developer
Kit (NMDK) makes integrating multimedia applications into a mobile
phone simple, significantly reducing time-to-market for Philips'
customers. This makes the NMDK ideal to implement applications such as
the capture, playback and streaming of real-time 3GPP and MPEG-4 audio
and video files, as well as additional features such as gaming,
security and audio enhancements.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/phi/phi305.html
or send a blank email to mailto:phi3[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[2] TINY TFTS CRAM IN COLOUR CONTENT
(Three-Five Systems, 15 Feb 2005)
Three-Five Systems has two new 2.2in colour TFT displays that feature
the high resolution and thin profile required for smaller sized
smartphones or other applications requiring increased information
content. The new displays are available as Platform Products which
allow for semi-customisation of the standard product configuration.
TFS' design centres and application engineers throughout the world can
customise the Platform Products to meet virtually any set of customer
requirements in a short period of time, reducing original equipment
manufacturers' time to market and development costs.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/thf/thf100.html
or send a blank email to mailto:thf1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[3] TRANSCEIVERS COMBINE FAST DATA WITH CONTROL
(Agilent Technologies, 15 Feb 2005)
Agilent Technologies has introduced the industry's fastest low-power
infra-red (IR) transceivers that offer IrDA-compliant data
transmission at up to 4Mbit/s and enable mobile phones and PDAs to
function as universal IR remote controls for televisions, VCRs, DVDs
and other home appliances. A 4Mbit/s datarate means that Agilent's
HSDL-3020 and HSDL-3021 transceivers can transfer a 640 x 480-pixel
photo in approximately 0.7s and a 329Mbyte 1280 x 960-pixel image in
approximately 2.3s. Such speeds are becoming critical as the newest
camera-phone designs now permit applications such as downloading
pictures directly to photo-quality printers.
Request free details from the supplier:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/agi/274/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/agi/agi274.html
or send a blank email to mailto:agi2[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[4] WIRELESS PLATFORM COMBINES APPLICATIONS AND MODEM
(Texas Instruments, 15 Feb 2005)
Texas Instruments has developed a new wireless platform that combines
applications and modem functionalities and allows handset
manufacturers to easily scale across multiple market segments for
GSM/GPRS/Edge and UMTS standards. Built on TI's successful OMAP
processor technology, and more than 10 years serving the high-volume
handset modem marketplace, the new OMAP-Vox family of solutions merges
both modem and applications functionality onto the existing OMAP
architecture. OMAP-Vox solutions share a common software platform that
can be re-used for a variety of growing market requirements and bring
overall development costs down.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tex/tex765.html
or send a blank email to mailto:tex7[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[5] XENPAK MODULE PUTS 10GBIT/S OVER LEGACY FIBRE
(Emcore, 14 Feb 2005)
Emcore Corp has released a novel 10Gbit/s Ethernet compatible Xenpak
module, part number EEX-8100-XEN (EX4), which enables extended
distance transmission over both multimode and single-mode fibres. The
EX4 is a proprietary Emcore product which plugs into standard Xenpak
slots and can transmit up to 1km on legacy multimode fibre, and up
1.5km on some higher grade legacy multimode fibres. The module can
also transmit up to 40km over installed single-mode fibre.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/emr/emr100.html
or send a blank email to mailto:emr1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[6] CHIPSET MOVES FRONTIER INTO DIGITAL TV MARKET
(Frontier Silicon, 14 Feb 2005)
With the launch of two new products specially designed for receiving
terrestrial digital multimedia broadcasting (T-DMB) services on mobile
phone handsets, Frontier Silicon now offers a complete RF and baseband
chip solution for mobile digital television. The combination of the
world's lowest power and smallest footprint RF chip (Apollo) and the
lowest power consumption T-DMB baseband chip (Kino) will allow handset
manufacturers to rapidly enable mobile operators and broadcasters to
offer digital broadcast services to consumers.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/fon/fon118.html
or send a blank email to mailto:fon1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[7] COMPILER ENABLES WORKING SILICON FROM SYSTEMC
(Celoxica, 15 Feb 2005)
Celoxica has begun shipping Agility Compiler for SystemC to customers.
The v1.0 tool includes an array of advanced system design capabilities
for the synthesis of SystemC models to hardware. The tool produces
IEEE compliant RTL descriptions as input to popular ASIC/SoC synthesis
flows, and generates gate-level EDIF netlists for high-density
programmable logic devices. With Agility Compiler, designers can
produce working silicon from SystemC models much earlier in the design
flow, accelerating system verification and SoC prototyping.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/cel/cel165.html
or send a blank email to mailto:cel1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[8] MODULE PROVIDES UNIVERSAL AC FRONT END
(Vicor UK, 10 Feb 2005)
The high-boost VI-HAM harmonic attenuator module is a universal AC
input, PFC front-end module optimised for use with Vicor's V375 series
of DC/DC convertors. A single high-boost VI-HAM may be used with any
combination of V375 series DC/DC convertors (available in quarter-,
half- and full-brick packages) up to 600W, resulting in a power
conversion system with twice the power density, fewer components and
lower cost compared with previous VI-HAM based solutions. Parallelable
versions are also available for applications requiring more than 600W
of output power.
Request free details from the supplier:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/vic/124/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/vic/vic124.html
or send a blank email to mailto:vic1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[9] RF SHIELD SPEEDS HANDSET TESTING
(Willtek Communications, 10 Feb 2005)
The 4921 RF shield is a novel radio frequency shielding solution for
use in the testing of wireless devices such as 3G cellular phones, as
well as data cards and WLAN equipment in large service centres and
manufacturing lines. The shielding box is designed to hold the mobile
phone under test and potentially an antenna coupler, and provides
connectors for external test equipment. The new box is the first of
its kind to fulfil all the requirements of repair factories and
production centres in terms of attenuation, longevity, price and
dimensions.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/wil/wil125.html
or send a blank email to mailto:wil1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[10] SPECTRUM ANALYSER EXTENDS TO 3G COVERAGE
(Anritsu (UK), 15 Feb 2005)
The MT8220A UMTS Master is a portable handheld Node B analyser that
brings the unprecedented size, performance, and cost advantages of
Anritsu's Spectrum Master to 3G/UMTS applications. Covering the UMTS
ranges of 824-894 and 1710-2170MHz, as well 2300-2700MHz, the MT8220A
can conduct both RF and demodulated measurements. In addition, it
functions as a spectrum analyser with continuous frequency coverage up
to 7.1GHz, with best-in-class DANL (displayed average noise level) of
typically -153dBm at 1GHz and built-in smart measurements for easy
operation.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/anr/anr173.html
or send a blank email to mailto:anr1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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New Technical Articles and Case Studies
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IR MICROCONTROLLER TURNS OFF THE TV
(Zilog, 10 Feb 2005)
TV-B-Gone is a keychain sized device that looks like most car remote
control products, but with the unique power to switch off most makes
and models of television sets with the push of a button.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/zil/zil141.html
or send a blank email to mailto:zil1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
CONTROLLER ENABLES NOVEL POWER TOOL SAFETY DEVICE
(Texas Instruments, 09 Feb 2005)
SawStop is now in production with a new power table saw equipped with
a revolutionary sensing and instant brake feature enabled by
TMS320C2000 digital signal controllers.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tex/tex757.html
or send a blank email to mailto:tex7[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
AUTOMOTIVE MANUFACTURER CLEANS UP
(Guyson International , 14 Feb 2005)
Three Kerry Microclean SC1000 stencil cleaners are improving
productivity as well as cleaning quality for an assembler of printed
circuit boards for engine management control systems.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ker/ker121.html
or send a blank email to mailto:ker1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
USB TO SERIAL ADAPTERS PUT PERIPHERALS AT THE POS
(Quatech, 09 Feb 2005)
Gateway Ticketing Systems is using Quatech USB to serial adapters to
connect vital peripherals in its newest POS system release, Galaxy 2.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/qut/qut100.html
or send a blank email to mailto:qut1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
SYSTEM AIDS ANALYSIS OF MISSILE DEFENCES
(National Instruments, 10 Feb 2005)
Boeing has selected an NI LabView- and PXI-based solution for
acquisition of vehicle launch environments on the ground-based
midcourse defence system vehicle flight test programme.
Request free details from the supplier on LabView:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/naa/186/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/naa/naa186.html
or send a blank email to mailto:naa1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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Other featured new product news
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CONVERTOR DIGITISES MULTIPLE RATIOMETRIC SENSORS
(Linear Technology Corp, 10 Feb 2005)
The LTC2447 is a high accuracy, variable speed/resolution 24bit
delta-sigma ADC that features a unique multiplexing architecture to
directly digitise multiple ratiometric sensors.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/lne/lne124.html
or send a blank email to mailto:lne1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
DIRECT ACCESS ARRANGEMENT SHRINKS EMBEDDED MODEM
(Silicon Laboratories, 15 Feb 2005)
Silicon Laboratories has added the industry's most integrated embedded
modem solution to its ISOmodem family.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/snl/snl113.html
or send a blank email to mailto:snl1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
CATALOGUE IS DEVOTED TO ROHS COMPLIANT COMPONENTS
(Farnell InOne, 15 Feb 2005)
The electronics industry's first RoHS Directive compliant catalogue
features more than 1600 RoHS compliant products, from suppliers such
as National Semiconductor, Epcos and AVX.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/far/far157.html
or send a blank email to mailto:far1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
SMALL CLAIMS FOR SAW FILTERS
(AVX, 10 Feb 2005)
AVX has released a new series of surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters
for use in mobile phones and GPS applications.
Request free details from the supplier on SF16 series:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/avx/106/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/avx/avx106.html
or send a blank email to mailto:avx1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
IP CORE BOOSTS VIDEO GRAPHICS PERFORMANCE
(Imagination Technologies, 15 Feb 2005)
The PowerVR MVED1 IP core enables advanced video graphics performance
with low power consumption in a range of applications such as mobile
and handheld multimedia and mobile TV.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/iag/iag128.html
or send a blank email to mailto:iag1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
DISPLAY POLARISER ADDS A UNIQUE LOOK
(Digital Displays, 14 Feb 2005)
The Silvariser is a novel display enhancement polariser from Digital
Displays that adds a unique look to any liquid crystal display and
provides high contrast and increased viewing angle.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/did/did104.html
or send a blank email to mailto:did1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
COOL SOLUTIONS FOR ADVANCEDTCA SYSTEMS
(Rittal, 09 Feb 2005)
Rittal's high-capacity RiCool II fans provide reliable heat
dissipation up to 3.2kW for the entire ATCA shelf, even in the event
of a single fan failure.
Request free details from the supplier on RiCool II fans:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/rit/187/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/rit/rit187.html
or send a blank email to mailto:rit1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
INTEGRATED DC POWER SYSTEM COMES IN 2U CASE
(Unipower Europe, 14 Feb 2005)
The Gravitas X100-12 is a fully integrated DC power system combining
high-power-density, hot-swap rectifier modules with a DC distribution
section and a monitor and control section.
Request free details from the supplier on Gravitas X100-12:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/uni/131/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/uni/uni131.html
or send a blank email to mailto:uni1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
MORE OPTIONS FOR QUARTER-BRICK CONVERTORS
(SynQor Europe, 09 Feb 2005)
The PowerQor Peta series of quarter-brick DC/DC convertors is now
available with output voltages of 1.0, 1.2, 1.5 and 1.8V in addition
to the previously announced 3.3V.
Request free details from the supplier on PowerQor Peta series:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/syb/117/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/syb/syb117.html
or send a blank email to mailto:syb1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
DATA TIMING GENERATOR IS SOURCE OF LOGICAL TEST
(Tektronix, 11 Feb 2005)
The Tektronix DTG5334 data timing generator and three new output
modules expand the company's DTG5000 logic source family.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tek/tek219.html
or send a blank email to mailto:tek2[-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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