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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: 23,500
Published every Tuesday from the UK.
Issue 207: 15 March 2005
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21828 product announcements and technical articles on our
website http://www.electronicstalk.com/ - all fully searchable
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In this issue:
* Editor's Message
* Other industry news
* Our Top new products selection
[1] Video interfaces take content protection onboard
[2] Motion processors capture servo traces
[3] Novel PFC chips correct in one cycle
[4] Capacitor packs provide powerful backup
[5] PCB design solutions enhanced
[6] Virtual platform precedes TI's new audio processor
[7] Big claims for 82in TFT LCD
[8] Microwave cable assemblies perform up to 18GHz
[9] Quarter bricks aim for wireless applications
[10] Low-profile card squeezes in four ports for POS
* New technical articles and case studies
* Other featured product news
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Laurence Marchini, Editor, writes:
The past seven days have certainly been a bumper week for news on the
Electronicstalk website with dozens of launches timed to coincide with
a plethora of exhibitions and conferences - notably those in San
Francisco and Hanover.
But for me the highlight of the week comes from Dionics in its
technical article "RoHS: the good, the bad and the ugly", detailed
below, which poses the question: What do franchised distribution, the
independent channel and a chip counterfeiter have in common?
As I have mentioned before in this column, our industry is not unique.
Wherever money is there to be made from fraud, there will always be
somebody prepared to exploit it. And, as Dionics quite rightly points
out, the RoHS Directive offers a whole new avenue for those wishing to
make a fast buck.
For while the typical counterfeit electronic component can usually be
spotted (albeit too late in the day) because of its inability to meet
its supposed functional specification, a bogus lead-free component
could easily turn out to be surplus lead-laden stock unscrupulously
"rebadged" as lead free. And, in the absence of a quick and easy
component testing procedure, no-one is any the wiser as the component
does exactly what it is supposed to do.
The "error" might only be spotted when the finished assembly is
withdrawn from the market for failing an RoHS assay.
Perhaps it wasn't such a good idea to buy all those components on
e-Bay!
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, email 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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MARGIN FOCUS BEGINS TO PAY OFF FOR NATIONAL
(National Semiconductor, 14 Mar 2005)
National Semiconductor has reported a GAAP profit of $77.4 million, or
21 cents per share, on revenues of $449.2 million for the third
quarter of fiscal 2005.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/nat/nat323.html
or send a blank email to mailto:nat3[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
AGERE ACQUIRES MODEM-ART
(Agere Systems, 10 Mar 2005)
Agere Systems has acquired Modem-Art, a privately held developer of
advanced processor technology for 3G/UMTS mobile devices.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/age/age170.html
or send a blank email to mailto:age1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
BEIJING HOSTS ASIAN EXPANSION
(Tensilica, 15 Mar 2005)
Tensilica has expanded its presence in the Asian market with the
opening of its first office in China, based in Beijing.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tey/tey100.html
or send a blank email to mailto:tey1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
CSR ACQUIRES CLARITY TECHNOLOGIES
(Cambridge Silicon Radio, 15 Mar 2005)
CSR has acquired Clarity Technologies, a leading provider of software
and services for improving the audio quality and performance of
voice-based communications systems and products.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/cam/cam185.html
or send a blank email to mailto:cam1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
BROADCOM TO ACQUIRE ZEEVO
(Broadcom Corp, 09 Mar 2005)
Broadcom Corp has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Zeevo, a
privately-held, Santa Clara-based provider of semiconductor and
software solutions for Bluetooth wireless headset products.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/brd/brd100.html
or send a blank email to mailto:brd1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
DAGE ELECTRONICS INTEGRATED SYSTEMS ACQUIRED
(TT Electronics, 14 Mar 2005)
Global electronics manufacturing company TT Electronics has acquired
Dage Electronics Integrated Systems (DEIS), a division of Dage
Holdings, with sites in China and the UK.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tct/tct104.html
or send a blank email to mailto:tct1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
KONTRON ACQUIRES DOLCH COMPUTER SYSTEMS
(Kontron UK, 10 Mar 2005)
Kontron has acquired Dolch Computer Systems for an undisclosed cash
amount.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/kon/kon157.html
or send a blank email to mailto:kon1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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OUR TOP NEW PRODUCT SELECTION
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[1] VIDEO INTERFACES TAKE CONTENT PROTECTION ONBOARD
(Chrontel, 09 Mar 2005)
New from Chrontel are two DVI (digital visual interface) transmitters,
the CH7312 and CH7313, which support HDCP (high-bandwidth digital
content protection) and comply with Intel's SDVO (serial digital video
output) PC interface specification. The CH7312 device was revealed at
the Intel Developer's Forum (IDF) in San Francisco in the first public
demonstration of a SDVO-compliant DVI/HDCP transmitter IC.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/chr/chr107.html
or send a blank email to mailto:chr1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[2] MOTION PROCESSORS CAPTURE SERVO TRACES
(Performance Motion Devices, 14 Mar 2005)
New from Performance Motion Devices (PMD), the Magellan family of
motion processors incorporates real-time servo trace capture. This
advanced trace capability improves servo tuning performance, optimises
motion trajectories, and can be used to capture time sensitive data.
Available in one-, two-, three- and four-axis versions, these
intelligent motion ICs control DC brush, brushless DC, microstepping
and pulse and direction motors. The advanced trace feature allows up
to four motion variables to be stored at the same time, and each
variable can be either 16 or 32bit in size.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/pef/pef101.html
or send a blank email to mailto:pef1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[3] NOVEL PFC CHIPS CORRECT IN ONE CYCLE
(International Rectifier, 09 Mar 2005)
New from International Rectifier is the IR1150 family of mPFC
(microPFC) for AC/DC power factor correction (PFC) circuits. The
compact SO-8-packaged device cuts PFC control board space in half, and
enables a simplified and flexible high density solution for computing,
industrial, consumer electronics and home appliances from 75W to 4kW.
IR's new one cycle control (OCC) approach in the IR1150 delivers the
performance of continuous conduction mode (CCM) PFC with the
simplicity, reliability and low component count of a discontinuous
current mode (DCM) circuit for PFC applications.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/sil/sil216.html
or send a blank email to mailto:sil2[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[4] CAPACITOR PACKS PROVIDE POWERFUL BACKUP
(Maxwell Technologies, 14 Mar 2005)
Maxwell Technologies has released 15V Boostcap ultracapacitor packs
and modules that provide easy-to-integrate energy storage and power
delivery solutions for a wide range of consumer, industrial and
transportation applications. The new packs and modules, each of which
incorporates six Boostcap BCAP0350 ultracapacitor cells, give system
designers "plug and play" 15V building blocks that can supplement or
replace 12V batteries in electronic systems with varying voltage and
current requirements.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/maw/maw100.html
or send a blank email to mailto:maw1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[5] PCB DESIGN SOLUTIONS ENHANCED
(Mentor Graphics UK, 15 Mar 2005)
Mentor Graphics Corp has released a new version of its PADS PCB design
solutions. The PADS2005 update features significant enhancements that
improve the designer's productivity and ability to optimise designs
for performance and manufacturing. This release also extends the
capabilities of PADS Logic to enable faster schematic capture, viewing
and analysis by design team members and increased ease-of-use features
for the full PADS flow.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/men/men342.html
or send a blank email to mailto:men3[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[6] VIRTUAL PLATFORM PRECEDES TI'S NEW AUDIO PROCESSOR
(Virtio Corp, 11 Mar 2005)
Virtio Corp has released a software development model for the Texas
Instruments' TMS320DA295 portable audio playback processor. The
VPDA295 Virtual Platform, which features fast, full-function emulation
of TI's recently introduced device, provides developers with the
ability to develop and test their software without waiting for
hardware availability. In addition, the VPDA295 platform gives
developers insight into and control of software execution that are
impossible on the hardware platform.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/vti/vti102.html
or send a blank email to mailto:vti1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[7] BIG CLAIMS FOR 82IN TFT LCD
(Samsung Electronics (UK), 15 Mar 2005)
Samsung Electronics, the leading provider of TFT-LCD display panels,
has developed the world's largest 82in TFT LCD. This full HD image
quality TFT-LCD panel was developed at the company's new 7th
generation production complex in Tangjeong, Korea. Over the years,
Samsung has made a series of breakthroughs in TFT-LCD technology ahead
of the competition. Samsung first developed the 40in model in August
2001, the 46in panel in October 2002, the 57in model in December 2003
and now the first 82in panel. The soon-to-be operational Tangjeong
production facility uses glass substrates that measure 1.87 x 2.20m
enabling to produce two 82in panels from a single substrate.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/sao/sao100.html
or send a blank email to mailto:sao1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[8] MICROWAVE CABLE ASSEMBLIES PERFORM UP TO 18GHZ
(Gigatronix, 15 Mar 2005)
Ku-flex is a new range of durable microwave coaxial cable assemblies
for the Ku-band frequency range (12-18GHz) from Gigatronix, developed
for 50ohm applications to 18GHz where consistent high performance
characteristics, flexibility and low loss are critical. This makes
them an ideal solution for test, instrumentation and other high
frequency applications. Incorporating a flexible alternative to RG402
(141) and RG405 (086) semi-rigid cables, they remove the requirement
for hand or precision bending and forming equipment whilst still
maintaining the durability and performance characteristics commonly
associated with semi-rigid cable assemblies.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/gga/gga105.html
or send a blank email to mailto:gga1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[9] QUARTER BRICKS AIM FOR WIRELESS APPLICATIONS
(SynQor Europe, 09 Mar 2005)
SynQor has released a new family of quarter bricks targeting wireless
applications and other areas where 24, 48 or 60V inputs are supplied
to the same board. The PowerQor PQ40 Giga series has a 4:1 operating
input voltage range of 18-75V, and is offered in the industry standard
quarter brick footprint and pinout. Available output voltages are 3.3V
(25A) and 5V (20A).
Request free details from the supplier:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/syb/118/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/syb/syb118.html
or send a blank email to mailto:syb1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[10] LOW-PROFILE CARD SQUEEZES IN FOUR PORTS FOR POS
(Lava Computer, 14 Mar 2005)
The Lava Quattro-PCI/LP (four-port serial card) is the latest addition
to the Lava line of multiport serial cards in a low-profile form
factor. Retail POS system builders and kiosk integrators will enjoy a
new level of flexibility and control over POS systems by instantly
adding four high speed COM ports (16550 UARTs) with detachable fan-out
cables on the PCIbus. No other multiport serial card offers as much
flexibility for space-constrained POS systems as the Lava
Quattro-PCI/LP (four-port serial card).
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/lav/lav100.html
or send a blank email to mailto:lav1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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New Technical Articles and Case Studies
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MEMS MICROPHONES DOMINATE NEW CELLPHONE DESIGNS
(Knowles Acoustics, 11 Mar 2005)
As designers continue to integrate new features into sleek new
cellphone designs, there continues to be a drive for integrated
components and for size reductions of each individual component.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/kow/kow108.html
or send a blank email to mailto:kow1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
ROHS: THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY
(Dionics, 14 Mar 2005)
What do franchised distribution, the independent channel and a chip
counterfeiter have in common?
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/dio/dio105.html
or send a blank email to mailto:dio1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
MCU ENABLES AUTHORISATION AND PAYMENT MODULE
(Zilog, 10 Mar 2005)
Zilog and USA Technologies have developed what they believe to be the
world's first authorisation, payment and networking module designed
specifically for everyday electronic devices.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/zil/zil143.html
or send a blank email to mailto:zil1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
FRUGAL MCU ENABLES LONG LIFE FOR BATTERY ECG
(Texas Instruments, 09 Mar 2005)
Recom Managed Systems is using TI's MSP430F149 ultra-low-power MCU and
analogue technologies in its battery powered high-fidelity biomedical
signal processing and recording platform.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tex/tex779.html
or send a blank email to mailto:tex7[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
FFT CORES OFFER LOW-RISK SIGNAL PROCESSING
(RF Engines, 11 Mar 2005)
RF Engines has had two new contract successes for its recently
released HyperSpeed and HyperLength fast Fourier transform (FFT)
products.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/rfe/rfe120.html
or send a blank email to mailto:rfe1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
SIMULATION OPTIMISES LASER DRIVER THERMAL DESIGN
(Flomerics, 15 Mar 2005)
A consulting organisation has used thermal simulation to optimise the
design of a heatsink used in a parallel optical transmitter,
dramatically reducing engineering time and costs.
Request free details from the supplier on Flotherm:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/flo/143/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/flo/flo143.html
or send a blank email to mailto:flo1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
DAB MODULE GIVES SONY EASY ENTRY TO AFTER MARKET
(RadioScape, 10 Mar 2005)
Sony Corp has chosen RadioScape's RS350A DAB module design as the
basis for its upcoming automotive DAB radios.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/rab/rab142.html
or send a blank email to mailto:rab1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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Other featured new product news
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NONVOLATILE DACS COME IN DUALS AND QUADS
(Maxim Integrated Products, 09 Mar 2005)
New from Maxim Integrated Products are the MAX5108/MAX5109 (dual) and
MAX5115/MAX5116 (quad) nonvolatile, rail-to-rail, buffered, 8bit D/A
convertors (DACs).
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/max/max214.html
or send a blank email to mailto:max2[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
MCUS BEEF UP FOR MOBILE MULTIMEDIA
(Sharp Microelectronics Europe, 11 Mar 2005)
Sharp Microelectronics Europe has enhanced the performance
capabilities of its BlueStreak ARM9-based 32bit SoCs.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/skc/skc115.html
or send a blank email to mailto:skc1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
REGULATOR POWERS UP TFTS AND BACKLIGHTS
(Linear Technology Corp, 10 Mar 2005)
The LT1942 is a highly integrated quad switching regulator designed to
provide all necessary power supply functions for TFT displays and
their required white LED backlighting.
Request free details from the supplier on LT1942:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/lne/134/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/lne/lne134.html
or send a blank email to mailto:lne1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
RFID TRANSCEIVER HAS MULTIPLE STANDARDS COVERED
(Melexis, 14 Mar 2005)
A new highly versatile 13.56MHz RFID transceiver IC targets
applications such as portable data terminals, access control readers,
contactless payment terminals and smart label printers.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/mle/mle107.html
or send a blank email to mailto:mle1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
KIT HOSTS SOFTWARE-DEFINED RADIO DEVELOPMENT
(SBS Technologies, 15 Mar 2005)
Last week at the Embedded Systems Conference in San Francisco, SBS
Technologies released the newest member of its TS Series
high-performance FPGA computing line.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/sbs/sbs153.html
or send a blank email to mailto:sbs1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
EMBEDDED BOARDS GAIN WINDOWS CE 5.0 SUPPORT
(Winsystems, 10 Mar 2005)
Winsystems has added Windows CE 5.0 support to its PC/104,
PC/104-Plus, EPIC and EBX single board computers.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/wns/wns106.html
or send a blank email to mailto:wns1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
PARTITIONING SPEEDS HIGH-DENSITY PCB DESIGN
(Cadence Design Systems, 09 Mar 2005)
Cadence has developed new design-partitioning technology for the
Allegro PCB Editor, extending the industry-proven technology of the
Cadence Allegro system interconnect design platform.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/cad/cad275.html
or send a blank email to mailto:cad2[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
BUDGET ROUTE TO CUSTOM ENCLOSURES
(Phoenix Electronics Distribution, 11 Mar 2005)
A new approach to custom enclosures has been introduced by Phoenix
Electronics.
Request free details from the supplier on Custom enclosures:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/pho/123/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/pho/pho123.html
or send a blank email to mailto:pho1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
DC/DC MODULE HAS TWO CONVERTORS INSIDE
(Ideal Power , 15 Mar 2005)
New from Ideal Power, the CTH485033ABCD-2525 half-brick DC/DC module
is based on the company's "two convertors inside" concept using
patented "buck reset" technology for high flexibility.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ida/ida109.html
or send a blank email to mailto:ida1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
VME SBC HANDLES HARSH-ENVIRONMENT APPLICATIONS
(Aitech Defense Systems, 15 Mar 2005)
The rugged new C106 single board computer is a VME64x-compliant
solution featuring up to 1.5GHz of processing power and 4Gbyte of
onboard NAND Flash memory.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ait/ait101.html
or send a blank email to mailto:ait1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
EMBEDDED MODULE FILLS A GAP
(Kontron UK, 10 Mar 2005)
The X-board computer-on-module (COM) is the second ARM-compatible
Intel XScale technology based module in Kontron's X-board product
family of small embedded form factor modules.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/kon/kon160.html
or send a blank email to mailto:kon1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
FOUR-PORT SERIAL CARD FEATURES ONBOARD PROTECTION
(Advantech (UK), 15 Mar 2005)
The PCI-1612CU is a four-port RS232/422/485 Universal PCI
communication card with solid surge protection and isolation
protection functions for long-distance communication through harsh
environments.
Request free details from the supplier on PCI-1612CU:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/axv/179/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/axv/axv179.html
or send a blank email to mailto:axv1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
EASY ANSWER TO EARTH-LOOP TESTING
(LEM UK, 14 Mar 2005)
The Heme Geo 30 clamp-on earth tester is designed to simplify
earth-loop testing and provide nonintrusive leakage-current
measurement.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/lmu/lmu136.html
or send a blank email to mailto:lmu1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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