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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 204: 22nd February 2005
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21,285 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] USB 2.0 Flash storage enters embedded world
[2] Inductors cut resistance to save wireless power
[3] Kit turns FPGAs to extreme DSP applications
[4] Chip bridges the gap from USB to serial ATA
[5] Model-driven embedded development goes graphical
[6] Software offers thermal validation for IC packages
[7] Full-band PCS filter cuts out RF switch
[8] Fibre interface links CPUs with remote I/O
[9] Handheld tester checks out cable bandwidth
[10] Kit to accelerate embedded evaluation
* New technical articles & case studies
* Other featured product news
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Laurence Marchini , Editor, writes:
The news widely reported in the consumer media last week that
Microsoft has issued a product recall on the mains leads for as many
as 70% of its Xbox video game consoles returns to a subject explored
in this column last year. The problem, as ever, will be that Microsoft
is in no position to contact the owners of the faulty equipment
directly.
Clearly it is not practical for every single piece of consumer
electronic equipment to have its owner registered with the
manufacturer. Although (as I said before) the motor industry seems to
be able to track down second-, third- or even fourth-hand owners of
faulty cars.
But consumer electronics companies could do a lot more to gather data
on their customers. For example, a quick scan of my "Warranties" file
at home reveals uncompleted warranty cards for TVs, VCRs and all
manner of small appliances, proving that rather than complete the form
and stick on a stamp it is much easier simply to staple the receipt to
the card and file it.
I was reminded of this yesterday when I took a new pair of golf shoes
out of their box. The waterproofing warranty card was simple to
complete, didn't ask a load of pointless market-survey-type questions
and (shock horror) was reply paid.
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 BOOST OKI'S TFT DRIVER DOMINANCE
(Oki Electric, 21 Feb 2005)
Oki Electric has signed a contract to acquire the driver chip business
for large TFT LCDs from Texas Instruments Japan.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/oki/oki157.html
or send a blank email to mailto:oki1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
RAMTRON PICKS BRACKNELL FOR EUROPEAN BASE
(Ramtron International, 16 Feb 2005)
US semiconductor maker Ramtron International has set up its European
sales office in Bracknell, in the heart of the UK's own "silicon
valley".
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ram/ram124.html
or send a blank email to mailto:ram1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
CYPRESS TO SELL OFF MAGNETIC RAM BUSINESS
(Cypress Semiconductor, 16 Feb 2005)
Cypress Semiconductor is aiming to divest Silicon Magnetic Systems
(SMS), a subsidiary company founded to commercialise magnetic random
access memories (MRAMs).
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/cyp/cyp249.html
or send a blank email to mailto:cyp2[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
SWEDEN IS NEXT STEP IN CSR EXPANSION
(Cambridge Silicon Radio, 17 Feb 2005)
Cambridge Silicon Radio has established CSR Sweden, a new design
centre for wireless chips based in Lund, Sweden.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/cam/cam183.html
or send a blank email to mailto:cam1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
TAIWAN OFFICE TO FOCUS TECHNICAL SUPPORT
(TTPCom, 22 Feb 2005)
TTPCom has opened its new office in Taiwan, staffed primarily by
technical engineers to provide local support to the company's growing
customer base in the country.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ttp/ttp196.html
or send a blank email to mailto:ttp1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
ANSOFT MORE THAN DOUBLES EARNINGS
(Ansoft Corporation Europe, 17 Feb 2005)
Ansoft Corp has published financial results for its third quarter of
fiscal 2005 ended 31st January 2005.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ans/ans206.html
or send a blank email to mailto:ans2[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
SATURN ACQUISITION ADDS CALIFORNIAN PRESENCE
(Integrated Microelectronics, 22 Feb 2005)
Integrated Microelectronics has completed the acquisition of the EMS
and ODM assets of Saturn Electronics and Engineering (Tustin) and its
subsidiary Saturn Electronics Philippines (Tustin).
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/igr/igr112.html
or send a blank email to mailto:igr1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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OUR TOP NEW PRODUCT SELECTION
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[1] USB 2.0 FLASH STORAGE ENTERS EMBEDDED WORLD
(M-Systems, 22 Feb 2005)
uDiskOnChip USB 2.0 Flash storage is now available for the embedded
market. uDiskOnChip merges M-Systems' proven expertise in the USB 2.0
high-speed interface with its Flash knowhow in embedded systems to
deliver the ideal storage solution for a vast array of markets such as
thin clients, POS workstations, gaming, single board computers (SBCs)
and telecom infrastructure equipment. uDiskOnChip is an innovative
solution that was developed specifically with embedded systems
designers in mind.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/mys/mys111.html
or send a blank email to mailto:mys1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[2] INDUCTORS CUT RESISTANCE TO SAVE WIRELESS POWER
(Murata Electronics (UK) , 21 Feb 2005)
The latest family of multilayer chip inductors from Murata features
exceptionally low DC resistance, making these miniature devices ideal
for use in a wide range of high frequency applications where
minimising power consumption is a critical factor. When incorporated
into chip coils, Murata's new LQG15HS series achieves the lowest DC
resistance of any devices currently available.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/mut/mut100.html
or send a blank email to mailto:mut1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[3] KIT TURNS FPGAS TO EXTREME DSP APPLICATIONS
(Nallatech, 17 Feb 2005)
Building on the success of the Xilinx Virtex-II, XtremeDSP Development
Kit, Nallatech has successfully developed and delivered the Xilinx
XtremeDSP Pro development kit, a powerful DSP development platform for
high-performance signal processing applications such as software
defined radio, networking, HDTV, 3G wireless and video processing
applications. The Virtex-II Pro XtremeDSP Development Kit has been
developed by Nallatech in partnership with Xilinx and continues their
successful programme for providing powerful DSP development platforms
based around Nallatech's Dime-II systems architecture for
high-performance FPGA systems.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/nal/nal127.html
or send a blank email to mailto:nal1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[4] CHIP BRIDGES THE GAP FROM USB TO SERIAL ATA
(Oxford Semiconductor, 16 Feb 2005)
Supporting the rapid transition to serial ATA storage, the OXU921S
from Oxford Semiconductor is the world's first bridge chip to provide
transparent data transfer between a USB2.0 port and an external SATA
disk drive. A highly integrated device, the bridge chip dramatically
simplifies implementation of external hard disk and optical disk
drives for both PC and Mac platforms. In its 128-pin QFP package, the
OXU921S features an integral SATA PHY, USB2.0 PHY and ARM7TDMI
processor.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ofo/ofo120.html
or send a blank email to mailto:ofo1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[5] MODEL-DRIVEN EMBEDDED DEVELOPMENT GOES GRAPHICAL
(I-Logix Europe, 22 Feb 2005)
Statemate 4.0 is billed as the industry's most comprehensive
model-driven development (MDD) tool for embedded systems. Statemate's
redesigned graphical user interface (GUI) offers substantial
performance and workflow improvements by combining many of the tool's
popular views into a single integrated development environment (IDE)
designed to improve productivity. Statemate's single IDE increases
readability, navigation, and streamlines the development process by
reducing model creation and modification times by allowing more
efficient data access, multi-element manipulation, and minimising
mouse click rates.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ilo/ilo130.html
or send a blank email to mailto:ilo1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[6] SOFTWARE OFFERS THERMAL VALIDATION FOR IC PACKAGES
(Fluent, 17 Feb 2005)
Icechip is novel package-level thermal validation software for IC
package designers, and is the latest addition to the portfolio of
design simulation and verification tools from the Icepak Division of
Fluent. Icechip is designed to increase the fidelity of package
thermal design by modelling details of IC package structures and it
significantly reduces the turnaround time for simulations of today's
increasingly complex IC packages. The tool is developed in
collaboration with Harvard Thermal, the industry expert in the use of
ECAD-based interfaces to thermal simulation software.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/fue/fue108.html
or send a blank email to mailto:fue1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[7] FULL-BAND PCS FILTER CUTS OUT RF SWITCH
(Agilent Technologies, 17 Feb 2005)
Agilent Technologies has developed a higher-performance film bulk
acoustic resonator (FBAR) full-band transmit filter for handsets, data
cards and other wireless products operating in the US PCS (personal
communications service) frequency band. Compared with full-band SAW
(surface acoustic wave) transmit filters offered by competitors,
Agilent's FBAR filter provides superior performance in an equivalent
or smaller package.
Request free details from the supplier:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/agi/275/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/agi/agi275.html
or send a blank email to mailto:agi2[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[8] FIBRE INTERFACE LINKS CPUS WITH REMOTE I/O
(Hardent, 17 Feb 2005)
The Opix is a novel solution that offers a completely transparent way
of interconnecting a standard PC/104 CPU card and one or more remotely
located I/O cards using optical fibre. This permits the I/O card(s) to
be located away from the CPU card (up to 2km) without requiring any
modifications to the existing software or hardware. The use of an
optical link with a high-speed protocol (patent pending) provides
complete electrical isolation, allowing for continuous fault detection
and elimination of: signal voltage drop; noise susceptibility; static
discharge vulnerability; and differences in reference ground.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/had/had100.html
or send a blank email to mailto:had1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[9] HANDHELD TESTER CHECKS OUT CABLE BANDWIDTH
(Fluke Networks, 21 Feb 2005)
The new CableIQ qualification tester is billed as the first cabling
bandwidth tester for network technicians. This intuitive handheld tool
shows network technicians what speeds existing cabling can support and
helps those technicians quickly solve network connectivity problems.
CableIQ's qualification test helps techs troubleshoot connectivity
problems, deploy new technologies like VoIP and upgrade network to
higher speeds. The qualification test determines if existing cabling
can support 10Base-T, 100Base-T, VoIP and gigabit Ethernet.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/flk/flk101.html
or send a blank email to mailto:flk1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[10] KIT TO ACCELERATE EMBEDDED EVALUATION
(Anders Electronics, 18 Feb 2005)
Anders Electronics has released a comprehensive embedded systems
development and evaluation platform that will significantly simplify
and speed the design, prototyping and testing of Windows CE and
Linux-based applications. The new Hurricane Evaluation Kit combines
the latest ARM-based system-on-module (SOM) technology with a
high-resolution, 6.4in TFT LCD, a preloaded operating system, and a
variety of supporting hardware, software and documentation, to provide
a comprehensive "out-of-box-ready" development platform.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/and/and111.html
or send a blank email to mailto:and1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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New Technical Articles and Case Studies
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DIGITAL MEDIA PROCESSOR HELPS "PLACESHIFT" TV
(Texas Instruments, 17 Feb 2005)
The Slingbox Personal Broadcaster is a groundbreaking product from
Sling Media that won numerous awards at the 2005 International
Consumer Electronics Show.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tex/tex773.html
or send a blank email to mailto:tex7[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
COMPACT FRUGAL POWER AMP SLIPS INTO NEC'S CANDYBAR
(Agilent Technologies, 18 Feb 2005)
NEC has incorporated Agilent's W-CDMA power amplifier into a new 3G
video handset, the NEC 338.
Request free details from the supplier on ACPM-7881:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/agi/276/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/agi/agi276.html
or send a blank email to mailto:agi2[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
RF SYSTEM SOLUTION SUITS SAMSUNG
(Renesas Technology Europe, 16 Feb 2005)
A quad-band Edge RF system solution from Renesas Technology is being
used by Samsung Electronics in its new Edge mobile handset.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ren/ren181.html
or send a blank email to mailto:ren1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
EMULATION SYSTEM SPEEDS DTV CHIP VERIFICATION
(Cadence Design Systems, 16 Feb 2005)
ATI Technologies has adopted the new Cadence Palladium II
acceleration/emulation system to significantly accelerate the
functional verification of its high-performance digital TV chip
designs.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/cad/cad269.html
or send a blank email to mailto:cad2[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
LARGE PUSHBUTTONS ARE KEY TO PACKAGING MACHINERY
(Duraswitch, 17 Feb 2005)
Duraswitch licensee Eastprint is producing switch panels using
PushGate Large Key pushbuttons for IntelliPack's SmartBagger and
SmartAim packaging equipment.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/dur/dur140.html
or send a blank email to mailto:dur1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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Other featured new product news
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DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEMS SHRINK TO 6MM SQUARE
(Texas Instruments, 17 Feb 2005)
A pair of low-noise, low-cost data acquisition microsystems are
claimed to provide the industry's best performance and value for
demanding applications.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tex/tex769.html
or send a blank email to mailto:tex7[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
RFID CHIP STANDS OUT FROM THE HERD
(EM Microelectronic, 17 Feb 2005)
The EM4569 is a 125kHz, 512bit contactless identification CMOS RFID IC
intended for use in electronic read/write RF transponders.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/emm/emm102.html
or send a blank email to mailto:emm1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
PROTECTION DEVICE GOES BOTH WAYS ON USB
(Semtech, 22 Feb 2005)
The EClamp3343C protection device has a novel design that allows it to
work with both upstream and downstream USB 2.0 (full speed) and
on-the-go (OTG) ports in portable electronics and peripherals.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/sem/sem128.html
or send a blank email to mailto:sem1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
WLAN IP OPTIMISED FOR PORTABLE CONSUMER PRODUCTS
(NewLogic, 17 Feb 2005)
A new WLAN IP solution is optimised for portable consumer product
applications such as mobile phones, MP3 players, digital still cameras
and game consoles.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/new/new130.html
or send a blank email to mailto:new1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
SOFTWARE SHRINKS PROGRAMMABLE ANALOGUE DESIGNS
(Anadigm, 21 Feb 2005)
The latest version of AnadigmDesigner2 introduces a range of new
features that give designers greater flexibility in designing and
prototyping FPAAs.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ana/ana138.html
or send a blank email to mailto:ana1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
BOUNDARY SCAN SYSTEM SPEEDS PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
(Goepel Electronic, 16 Feb 2005)
Goepel Electronic has released a new version of the System Cascon
graphical boundary scan operating system.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/gpe/gpe109.html
or send a blank email to mailto:gpe1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
KEYFOB ENCLOSURES BRING CONTROL TO HAND
(Phoenix Electronics Distribution, 16 Feb 2005)
A new range of ergonomic keyfob enclosures is suitable for a wide
range of control applications.
Request free details from the supplier on Keyfob enclosures:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/pho/120/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/pho/pho120.html
or send a blank email to mailto:pho1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
HIGH THERMAL STABILITY FOR POTTING COMPOUND
(Master Bond, 16 Feb 2005)
A new two-component epoxy system boasts high thermal stability, high
thermal conductivity, superior electrical insulation properties and
outstanding dimensional stability.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/mae/mae106.html
or send a blank email to mailto:mae1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
IMAGE SENSOR AIMS FOR HIGH-VOLUME HANDSETS
(OmniVision, 21 Feb 2005)
OmniVision Technologies has released its first CameraChip based on the
Standard Mobile Imaging Architecture introduced by Nokia and
STMicroelectronics in January 2004.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/omv/omv100.html
or send a blank email to mailto:omv1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
SERIAL DEVICE SERVERS GO WI-FI
(Moxa Technologies, 21 Feb 2005)
The NPort W2004/W2250/W2150 series of wireless serial device servers
brings traditional serial devices into the WLAN era.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/mox/mox102.html
or send a blank email to mailto:mox1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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