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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: 23,560
Published every Tuesday from the UK.
Issue 224: 12 July 2005
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24327 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] Protocol analyser aids wireless design
[2] Programmable mixed signal chip takes USB onboard
[3] Cat7 data cable promises futureproof performance
[4] Tantalum chips handle lead-free reflows
[5] Software embeds Internet security
[6] Low-loss ferrite shrinks power supply cores
[7] Electronic breaker needs no sense resistor
[8] PXI instrument chassis offers eight slots
[9] Rack-mount enclosures keep their cool
[10] Programmable module mimics old-wave consoles
* New technical articles and case studies
* Other featured product news
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Laurence Marchini, Editor, writes:
I know it's all too easy to poke fun from the outside, but there are
certain conventions within certain sectors of the electronics business
that are just plain daft. Whether it be hanging on to outdated
(non-metric) units of measurement or using archaic language, there are
plenty of examples where the rest of us can be left scratching our
heads in bewilderment.
And you really do have to sympathise with non-English-speaking
engineers who are trying their damnedest to understand.
Now, as an old stager, I rather thought there were no surprises left;
but this week I came across a new classic, and it came from the test
and measurement industry - a sector where you might think that clarity
of communication would be paramount, bearing in mind the potential
breadth of market for "jellybean" instruments such as resistance
testers, DMMs and the like.
But no: there I was left scratching my head by a story from one of the
respected names in the business (no names, no pack drill), describing
its latest handheld instrument as having a 6000-digit display.
Not surprisingly this set the alarm bells ringing. My logical brain
suggested that one had to unfurl the display to see the full readout.
Then (fortunately) a filter kicked in and I realised that I had come
across another piece of "small-sector jargon". The explanation - quite
"naturally" - was that it was really a four-digit display. But because
the instrument was capable of reading up to 600.0V, the industry
convention was to call it a 6000-digit display. How foolish I felt!
But, hang on, this is rubbish, isn't it? I don't really care whether
the test and measurement industry describes a four-digit display as a
6000-digit display when it's talking among itself. But the rest of us
live in the big wide world, where we have certain conventions of
language - don't we?
And surely anyone who wants to convey information to that big wide
world had better remember that "small-sector jargon" only makes sense
to people within that sector - and can be absolute gibberish to
potential customers.
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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AGERE TO EXPAND STORAGE OPERATION
(Agere Systems, 11 Jul 2005)
Agere Systems is to expand its presence in Longmont, Colorado, with a
new facility and increased employee base.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/age/age180.html
or send a blank email to mailto:age1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
MODEST GROWTH FOR NU HORIZONS
(Nu Horizons Electronics Corp, 08 Jul 2005)
Nu Horizons Electronics Corp has reported financial and operating
results for the first quarter of fiscal 2006, reflecting the period
ended 31st May 2005.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/nuh/nuh123.html
or send a blank email to mailto:nuh1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
WEBSITE STANDS THE TEST OF COMPARISON
(RS Components UK, 12 Jul 2005)
The new RS website gives users, for the first time, the ability to
compare any number of the 150,000 products in terms of cost and
attributes side-by-side on a single page.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/rsc/rsc112.html
or send a blank email to mailto:rsc1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
NEW NAME FOR MATSUSHITA ELECTRIC WORKS
(Panasonic Electric Works UK, 08 Jul 2005)
Milton Keynes based Matsushita Electric Works, with its brand name
NaiS, has been renamed Panasonic Electric Works UK (PEWUK) and has
adopted Panasonic as its new brand name.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/mat/mat158.html
or send a blank email to mailto:mat1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
CHINESE CENTRE OPENS FOR BUSINESS
(Esmertec, 08 Jul 2005)
Esmertec has officially opened its R and D and customer support centre
in Chengdu, China.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/esm/esm114.html
or send a blank email to mailto:esm1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
MODEST GROWTH DISAPPOINTS ARC
(ARC International, 08 Jul 2005)
ARC International reports that its unaudited turnover for the first
half of calendar year 2005 will be approximately GBP 5.4 million,
nearly 9% higher than the corresponding period in 2004.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ara/ara202.html
or send a blank email to mailto:ara2[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
DTI AND MOD FUND PRINTED CIRCUIT RESEARCH
(Qinetiq, 12 Jul 2005)
Qinetiq is researching the potential for printing complete electronic
circuits, including transistors, resistors and capacitors, with
separate backing from both the DTI and the MoD.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/qin/qin100.html
or send a blank email to mailto:qin1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
RESEARCH LOOKS INTO DOPANT DIFFUSION SUPPRESSION
(Innos, 12 Jul 2005)
Innos is to work closely with the University of Southampton to
research novel methods of dopant diffusion suppression in
semiconductors.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/iod/iod114.html
or send a blank email to mailto:iod1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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OUR TOP NEW PRODUCT SELECTION
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[1] PROTOCOL ANALYSER AIDS WIRELESS DESIGN
(LeCroy, 06 Jul 2005)
The UWBTracer protocol analyser was developed by LeCroy's Protocol
Solutions Group (formerly Computer Access Technology), the market
leader in USB protocol analysis tools. The UWBTracer is capable of
capturing and decoding WiMedia and WUSB protocols. By capturing
traffic between a MAC and PHY, the user can display protocol traffic
from boards currently in the design phase. The analyser software can
logically organise and display the protocol hierarchically at the
WiMedia and WUSB levels.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/lew/lew109.html
or send a blank email to mailto:lew1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[2] PROGRAMMABLE MIXED SIGNAL CHIP TAKES USB ONBOARD
(Cypress Semiconductor, 12 Jul 2005)
The CY8C24794-24LFXI is the newest member of the Cypress PSoC
mixed-signal array family and is the first PSoC device to integrate a
USB 2.0 serial interface engine (SIE), offering a sophisticated USB
implementation with shorter design cycles, reduced component and
bill-of-material costs and board space and power consumption savings.
The newest PSoC device also includes Cypress's CapSense technology,
offering an efficient solution to replace mechanical switches and
controls with simple, touch-sensitive controls. The CY8C24794-24LFXI
is ideal for human interface devices (HIDs), including mice,
keyboards, gamepads and joysticks, as well as uninterruptible power
supply (UPS) and other PC peripheral applications.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/cyp/cyp265.html
or send a blank email to mailto:cyp2[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[3] CAT7 DATA CABLE PROMISES FUTUREPROOF PERFORMANCE
(Datwyler (UK), 11 Jul 2005)
New from Datwyler, Uninet 7150 4P is a futureproof Cat7 (and higher)
data cable offering bandwidth reserves of up to 1500MHz, double
shielding (PiMF) and a very robust design. The new twisted pair cable
is compatible with every standard connector system and has been
optimised for the transmission of broadband cable TV signals. It is
suitable not only for all applications up to class F but also for
multimedia applications. In addition, the new AWG-22 cable enables the
simultaneous transmission of two communication services such as data,
voice and TV transmissions over Ethernet (via cable sharing).
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/daf/daf102.html
or send a blank email to mailto:daf1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[4] TANTALUM CHIPS HANDLE LEAD-FREE REFLOWS
(AVX, 08 Jul 2005)
New environmentally friendly tantalum chip capacitors from AVX feature
a high volumetric efficiency, delivering a high capacitance to voltage
ratio based on stable MnO2 electrodes. Complying with RoHS
requirements, the TLJ consumer series is ready for 3x reflow, 260C
peak temperature lead-free assembly systems. Available in standard EIA
case sizes A, B, C D and the low profile W, the devices have a
capacitance range of between 10 to 150uF, and a capacitance tolerance
of +/-20%.
Request free details from the supplier:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/ml/avx/117/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/avx/avx117.html
or send a blank email to mailto:avx1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[5] SOFTWARE EMBEDS INTERNET SECURITY
(Accelerated Technology, 08 Jul 2005)
New from Accelerated Technology, Nucleus Internet protocol security
(IPsec) software comprises an embedded solution that provides data
authentication and encryption over the Internet at the IP level.
Embedded developers building defence applications and network
equipment like routers and virtual private network (VPN) gateways can
now implement the Nucleus IPsec software into their solutions to
secure users' privacy. The Nucleus IPsec software seamlessly
integrates with the IPv4 layer and IPv6 layer of the Nucleus NET
TCP/IP stack. This eliminates the need to modify any other layers of
the open system interconnection (OSI) model.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/acl/acl112.html
or send a blank email to mailto:acl1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[6] LOW-LOSS FERRITE SHRINKS POWER SUPPLY CORES
(Dexter Magnetic Technologies Europe, 07 Jul 2005)
Dexter Magnetics has a new low loss ferrite material that features low
core loss and high saturation flux density, resulting in smaller,
better performing cores for transformers. TDK's PC47 has a core loss
of 250kW/m3 at 100kHz, 200mT, 100C - significantly lower than previous
generation materials - and a saturation flux density of 420mT at
1000A/m, 100C, which also outperforms PC44 and PC40 ferrite grades.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/dee/dee101.html
or send a blank email to mailto:dee1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[7] ELECTRONIC BREAKER NEEDS NO SENSE RESISTOR
(Linear Technology Corp, 11 Jul 2005)
Linear Technology has introduced the LTC4213, an electronic circuit
breaker that senses load currents using the on-resistance of an
external MOSFET, eliminating the need for a sense resistor. This new
method not only reduces voltage and power loss in the switch path, but
also lowers the cost and simplifies design. This is especially
beneficial to low voltage systems since the sense resistor voltage
drop constitutes a significant portion of the supply voltage. For
ultra-low-voltage applications, the LTC4213 operates over a bias
supply range of 2.3 to 6V and monitors voltages from ground up to 6V.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/lne/lne177.html
or send a blank email to mailto:lne1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[8] PXI INSTRUMENT CHASSIS OFFERS EIGHT SLOTS
(Adlink Technology, 06 Jul 2005)
The PXIS-2680P is the latest addition to the family of 3U PXI chassis
from Adlink Technology. A highly integrated and fully mobile 3U PXI
instrument chassis, the PXIS-2680P provides an eight-slot capacity for
PXI/CompactPCI modules. Defined as the next generation for rugged
portables, the PXIS-2680P comes with many flexible and extremely
powerful features never seen before in the mobile PXI arena.
Request free details from the supplier:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/ml/adl/159/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/adl/adl159.html
or send a blank email to mailto:adl1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[9] RACK-MOUNT ENCLOSURES KEEP THEIR COOL
(Hybricon Corp, 07 Jul 2005)
Hybricon Corp has a new line of 10U rack-mount enclosures (the RME21XC
Extreme Cooling Series) which have been designed to provide a cost
effective platform for high power applications. The power dissipation
levels of today's high power VITA 1.7 VME64x, VXS, and CompactPCI
switch fabric boards just keep increasing; in the past few years power
dissipation in the 50-60W range was the norm, now the range is
increasing to 75-100W.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/hyr/hyr106.html
or send a blank email to mailto:hyr1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[10] PROGRAMMABLE MODULE MIMICS OLD-WAVE CONSOLES
(Bazix, 12 Jul 2005)
The Dutch company Bazix, in co-operation with the Japanese companies
ASCII and MSX Association, has started taking pre-orders on the One
Chip MSX, a new computer system based on PLD technology. The core of
the computer system is an Altera Cyclone FPGA chip, which can be
reprogrammed to perform a wide variety of operations. The device comes
with all I/O and A/V connectors needed to function as an ordinary home
computer, either connected to a television or a VGA monitor. By
default, the One Chip MSX is configured as an MSX1 computer system.
The MSX standard originates from a co-operative venture between ASCII
and Microsoft, and was very popular in the 1980s and early 1990s.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/baz/baz100.html
or send a blank email to mailto:baz1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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New Technical Articles and Case Studies
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THERMAL MANAGEMENT IN ATCA COMPLIANT SYSTEMS
(Control Resources, 12 Jul 2005)
Nathan Lavoie, Vice President of Engineering at Control Resources,
describes schemes for integrating fan control within the Advanced
Telecom Computing Architecture.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/clr/clr104.html
or send a blank email to mailto:clr1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
STORAGE PROCESSOR DRIVES HP'S NEW SERVER
(AMCC, 08 Jul 2005)
The AMCC PowerPC 440SP storage processor has been designed into the
new HP ProLiant P600 Serial Attached SCSI (SAS) controller.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ayg/ayg106.html
or send a blank email to mailto:ayg1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
POWER MANAGEMENT CHIP IS SOUND HANDSET CHOICE
(Dialog Semiconductor, 08 Jul 2005)
A combined audio and power management IC launched last year by Dialog
Semiconductor features in a new mobile phone handset claimed to be the
first on the market based on an Intel cellular processor.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/dal/dal116.html
or send a blank email to mailto:dal1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
BLUETOOTH CHIP DOMINATES HEADSET MARKET
(Cambridge Silicon Radio, 08 Jul 2005)
CSR BlueCore silicon now features in iPod-compatible stereo headphones
from three companies: iTech, WiGear and Airlogic.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/cam/cam194.html
or send a blank email to mailto:cam1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
FPGA DESIGN IS RIGHT ON TIME
(Celoxica, 07 Jul 2005)
Celoxica has successfully completed critical design work for the
Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space (ACES) programme.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/cel/cel177.html
or send a blank email to mailto:cel1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
FLYING PROBE TEST SYSTEM OFFERS FLEXIBLE UPGRADES
(Itochu Europe, 12 Jul 2005)
Accutron of Limerick required a flexible test platform that would
allow it to add boundary scan and functional test at a later stage.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/itc/itc101.html
or send a blank email to mailto:itc1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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Other featured new product news
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MOSFETS PAIR UP TO RAISE CONVERTOR EFFICIENCY
(International Rectifier, 11 Jul 2005)
Two new 30V MOSFET synchronous buck convertor chipsets suit notebook
computer designs where small size, high efficiency and improved
thermal conduction are required.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/sil/sil228.html
or send a blank email to mailto:sil2[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
TRUE DROP-IN SOLUTION TO EMI PROBLEMS
(Alliance Semiconductor Corp, 12 Jul 2005)
Alliance Semiconductor Corp reckons it has developed the industry's
first zero cycle slip EMI reduction device.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/adu/adu112.html
or send a blank email to mailto:adu1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
SINGLE-CHIP DVD RECORDER HANDLES TWO TUNERS
(LSI Logic Europe, 08 Jul 2005)
The third-generation DoMiNo 8653 (DMN-8653) is the first single-chip
DVD recorder system processor to integrate dual encoding for
dual-tuner HDD/DVD recorder platforms.
Request free details from the supplier on DoMiNo 8653 (DMN-8653):
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/ml/lsi/201/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/lsi/lsi201.html
or send a blank email to mailto:lsi2[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
DEV KIT ENABLES HIGH-END PROFESSIONAL AUDIO
(Kane Computing, 11 Jul 2005)
The PADK is a stand-alone board based on the new TMS320C6727 digital
signal processor, and is aimed at high-end professional audio
applications.
Request free details from the supplier on Lyrtech PADK:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/ml/kan/172/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/kan/kan172.html
or send a blank email to mailto:kan1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
DSP DEVELOPMENT SOFTWARE WINDS BACK THE CLOCK
(Texas Instruments, 12 Jul 2005)
The new CCStudio Platinum Edition provides a single IDE that supports
multiple TI platforms in one installation and at the same cost as a
single platform.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tex/tex853.html
or send a blank email to mailto:tex8[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
DISK DEVICE POINTS TO NOVEL NAVIGATION INTERFACE
(ITT Electronic Components, 08 Jul 2005)
ITT Industries, Electronic Components has developed an innovative
360-degree and N-way variable-rate pointing and navigation control
technology for handheld and portable devices.
Request free details from the supplier on Pointing and navigation
disk:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/ml/itt/146/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/itt/itt146.html
or send a blank email to mailto:itt1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
COMPACT FORMAT FOR INDUSTRIAL POWER INTERFACE
(Harting, 08 Jul 2005)
A new Push/Pull power interface is designed for high-current
industrial, transport or telecomms applications where IP65/67
protection is required in a small connector format.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/har/har187.html
or send a blank email to mailto:har1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
ALL-IN STANDBY SYSTEM ASSURES TELECOMMS SUPPLIES
(Power-One, 11 Jul 2005)
The PODS 16 standby-power system comes in a completely self-contained
outdoor power cabinet providing rectification, system management,
power distribution and climate control.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/pxw/pxw117.html
or send a blank email to mailto:pxw1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
RF MODULES COVER 2.4GHZ ISM BAND
(Nanotron Technologies, 11 Jul 2005)
Nanotron Technologies has developed a new generation of RF modules for
the 2.4GHz ISM band - the nanoPAN 5360 and nanoPAN 5361.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/not/not107.html
or send a blank email to mailto:not1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
MODULES OFFER SPEEDY ROUTE TO USB 2.0
(Kanda.com, 12 Jul 2005)
QuickUSB modules make it easy to add USB 2.0 to a product with a
minimum of hassle.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/kad/kad102.html
or send a blank email to mailto:kad1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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