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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 228: 09 August 2005
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24838 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] Supertransmissive LCD is a natural performer
[2] Software takes on SoC register management
[3] Low-cost FPGA tackles big DSP applications
[4] High-density claims for low-noise LDOs
[5] Transformers feature flexible configuration
[6] Spread spectrum family strikes up a new band
[7] TVS shrinks to less than a quarter the size
[8] Quarter-brick powers through thermal barriers
[9] Transceiver integrates more to cut power and space
[10] Free-to-air tuner comes down to one chip
* New technical articles and case studies
* Other featured product news
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Laurence Marchini, Editor, writes:
Although August is almost certainly the slowest month of the year in
our business, there are almost always one or two bright points, and
one regular one is the publication of the latest statistics from the
UK Patent Office.
The total number of patents granted at the UK Patent Office in 2004
was 10,541, up 8% on the previous year. Hardly surprisingly,
technology companies take most of the places in the top 10 patentees
published in the latest "Facts and figures 2004-2005" booklet - a must
for all statistics freaks and free of charge from www.patent.gov.uk.
It is no great surprise that UK companies are once again absent from
the "top 10", but it is certainly impressive to see an "old stager"
like Hewlett Packard at number one once again (up from second place
the year before), with 294 patents granted during 2004. Other notables
include: NEC in third place with 234 patents; Samsung at number 6 with
166; and Ericsson at number eight, just ahead of Motorola and Intel.
One company (probably not surprisingly) absent even from the top 50
list in the booklet is the UK's somewhat diminished former giant
Marconi. Once a veritable powerhouse of innovation - both as GEC and
Marconi - seemingly despite its much criticised "penny-pinching"
management during the 1970s and 1980s, Marconi is again in the news
this week courting investors for partnership/merger/takeover deals
(delete as applicable!).
We can only hope that some form of deal can be pulled together. The
Marconi name is synonymous with the UK electronics industry. It may be
a shadow of its former self, but (call me sentimental) we cannot
afford to lose it.
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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AMIS REORGANISES MIXED-SIGNAL BUSINESS
(AMI Semiconductor, 05 Aug 2005)
AMI Semiconductor is to integrate its foundry services business into
its mixed-signal business unit.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/amb/amb172.html
or send a blank email to mailto:amb1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
APRIO ATTRACTS INVESTMENT
(Aprio Technologies, 03 Aug 2005)
KT Venture Group, the investment partner of KLA-Tencor, is to invest
in Aprio Technologies, the leading design for manufacturing software
and technologies company.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/apo/apo109.html
or send a blank email to mailto:apo1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
STOCKHOLDERS GIVE GREEN LIGHT TO MERGER
(Entegris, 05 Aug 2005)
The stockholders of both Entegris and Mykrolis Corp have approved the
proposed merger between the two companies.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/eeg/eeg103.html
or send a blank email to mailto:eeg1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
MANUFACTURING FACILITY ADDS VALUE
(Display Technology, 08 Aug 2005)
A new value added manufacturing facility provides assembly, test,
production and fitting of touch screen assemblies to TFT, LCD and
single board computer system solutions.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/dpl/dpl106.html
or send a blank email to mailto:dpl1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
INDIA AND CHINA DRIVE MOBILE EXPANSION
(Informa Telecoms and Media - ARC Group, 08 Aug 2005)
The global mobile market is forecast to pass 2 billion subscribers
this year and be approaching 3 billion by the end of 2010.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/acg/acg107.html
or send a blank email to mailto:acg1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
BOOKHAM COMPLETES FOUR QUARTERS OF GROWTH
(Bookham, 03 Aug 2005)
Bookham has announced financial results for its fourth quarter and
fiscal year 2005, ended 2nd July 2005.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/boo/boo188.html
or send a blank email to mailto:boo1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
REPORT DETAILS GROWTH OF SIC MICROELECTRONICS
(WTC Wicht Technologie Consulting, 08 Aug 2005)
The market for Silicon Carbide (SiC) devices will exceed $50 million
by 2009, according to a new study by WTC, a market research company
located in Munich.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/wtc/wtc101.html
or send a blank email to mailto:wtc1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
STRAINED-SI TRANSISTORS SHOW POTENTIAL
(Innos, 04 Aug 2005)
A joint project between Innos and Imperial College London has
demonstrated the potential for high-speed low-power applications using
strained-Si transistors.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/iod/iod116.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] SUPERTRANSMISSIVE LCD IS A NATURAL PERFORMER
(NEC Electronics (Europe), 08 Aug 2005)
NEC Electronics Europe is now shipping samples of its new 12.1in super
video graphics array (SVGA), amorphous silicon, thin film transistor
liquid crystal display (TFT LCD) module, part number NL8060BC31-32.
This module features NEC LCD Technologies' proprietary
supertransmissive natural light TFT (ST-NLT) technology, which enables
display of vivid colours in environments with high ambient light.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/nec/nec115.html
or send a blank email to mailto:nec1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[2] SOFTWARE TAKES ON SOC REGISTER MANAGEMENT
(Denali Software, 08 Aug 2005)
Denali Software describes Blueprint as the latest advancement in
electronic system level (ESL) design. Blueprint automates the
generation and management of the hundreds, and often thousands, of
control registers used in complex chip designs as a source for
efficiency improvements in system-on-chip (SoC) design. Created for
chip developers, Blueprint addresses all elements of register
management, including description and generation of control register
logic, assertions and verification models, firmware interfaces and the
accurate documentation necessary for system-level design. The vast
numbers of on-chip registers that are part of all complex designs
define the software interface to the chip, and usually represent the
largest portion of the chip specification or programmer's guide.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/deo/deo101.html
or send a blank email to mailto:deo1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[3] LOW-COST FPGA TACKLES BIG DSP APPLICATIONS
(Altera Europe, 05 Aug 2005)
Available now from Altera Corp, the Cyclone II EP2C70 is billed as the
industry's largest, low-cost FPGA. The EP2C70 device is a compelling
alternative to ASICs and ASSPs, delivering high functionality at the
lowest possible cost. The availability and on-time delivery of the
90nm EP2C70 device continues Altera's track record of operational
excellence. The EP2C70 device has 68,416 logic elements, 1.1Mbit of
embedded memory and 150 dedicated 18x18 multipliers, resulting in over
40% more dedicated DSP resources than the nearest competing FPGA.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/aeu/aeu172.html
or send a blank email to mailto:aeu1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[4] HIGH-DENSITY CLAIMS FOR LOW-NOISE LDOS
(Vishay Siliconix, 03 Aug 2005)
Two new 150mA low-noise low-dropout (LDO) regulators boast the highest
available current density in the small five-pin SC-70 package. Their
extremely small 2 x 2mm footprint makes them well suited for use in
battery-powered equipment such as cellphones, PDAs, pagers, digital
cameras, MP3 players, cable and DSL modems, and other noise-sensitive
electronics. Under a 150mA load condition, the SiP21101 and SiP21102
feature an extraordinarily low dropout of 130mV and a ground current
of 110uA, helping to prolong battery life in low-voltage portable
electronic systems.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/vsh/vsh124.html
or send a blank email to mailto:vsh1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[5] TRANSFORMERS FEATURE FLEXIBLE CONFIGURATION
(Wurth Elektronik UK, 09 Aug 2005)
New from Wurth Elektronik, each device in the WE-Flex series of
transformers consists of six independent windings which can be
connected on the board as required. The 25 transformers in the range
facilitate more than 500 transformer and choke variants. The
transformers still show an outstandingly low level of leakage
inductance.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/wur/wur110.html
or send a blank email to mailto:wur1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[6] SPREAD SPECTRUM FAMILY STRIKES UP A NEW BAND
(Aerocomm, 05 Aug 2005)
Aerocomm has developed a 868MHz spread spectrum transceiver
specifically for products destined for the European market. Aerocomm
is one of a few select companies to gain approval for an RF solution
that operates in this highly restricted European band. On the date of
its release, more than 20 expectant manufacturers have already
designed the AC4868 transceiver into their products. Built to provide
OEMs with licence-free RF communications over long distances - up to
15km - the AC4868 becomes the essential, affordable alternative to
products operating in the saturated 433MHz band. Priced at hundreds of
dollars less than competing solutions, it is the only fully certified
868MHz transceiver to deliver up to 250mW of output power (EIRP) - the
maximum allowed in Europe.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/aro/aro123.html
or send a blank email to mailto:aro1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[7] TVS SHRINKS TO LESS THAN A QUARTER THE SIZE
(Semtech, 04 Aug 2005)
Semtech Corp has announced the RClamp3304N, a 3.3V transient voltage
suppression (TVS) protection device with a footprint that is 77%
smaller than the industry standard. Replacing up to nine discrete
components, the RClamp3304N uses exclusive Semtech process technology
to achieve full functionality with great clamping performance in a
small device. This design, combined with the company's new leadless
SLP packaging, results in a footprint measuring only 2.6 x 2.6mm with
an ultralow 0.6mm profile.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/sem/sem132.html
or send a blank email to mailto:sem1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[8] QUARTER-BRICK POWERS THROUGH THERMAL BARRIERS
(Power-One, 03 Aug 2005)
New from Power-One is the 46A QTS48T46096 quarter-brick bus convertor.
Industry-leading efficiencies, over 97%, combined with advanced
thermal-management techniques deliver precedent-setting
elevated-temperature performance; 95% of full-rated power is available
at 70C with only 61m/min linear airflow. The 5:1 fixed-ratio design
also increases overall power-system efficiencies by providing a 9.6V
bus voltage (48V input) that reduces the input/output voltage deltas
of point-of-load devices.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/pxw/pxw118.html
or send a blank email to mailto:pxw1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[9] TRANSCEIVER INTEGRATES MORE TO CUT POWER AND SPACE
(Sires Labs, 03 Aug 2005)
The latest transceiver chip from Sires Labs consumes 50% less power
than competing devices that use conventional methods. The new version
of this optical PMD (transceiver) chip integrates the transimpedance
amplifier (TIA), limiting amplifier, VCSEL driver, digital diagnostics
(control and status) and LVDS interface which are typically available
as individual components. Hence the resultant saving in power and also
board space. The product, as well as an evaluation board are available
for sampling. The transceiver chip is optimised for speeds ranging
from 1 to 3.125Gbit/s and consumes just 210mW of power.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/sib/sib100.html
or send a blank email to mailto:sib1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[10] FREE-TO-AIR TUNER COMES DOWN TO ONE CHIP
(Zarlink Semiconductor, 08 Aug 2005)
Zarlink Semiconductor has launched the ZL10039 device, the industry's
first single-chip satellite tuner for free-to-air (FTA) satellite DTV
receivers. Combined with Zarlink's ZL10313 satellite demodulator, the
ZL10039 direct conversion tuner offers the most integrated and
cost-effective front-end solution for the FTA satellite market. The
new tuner includes a high-performance low-noise amplifier (LNA),
eliminating the need for additional RF circuitry.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/mif/mif203.html
or send a blank email to mailto:mif2[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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New Technical Articles and Case Studies
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DESIGN FOR EXCELLENCE
(UK CAM, 08 Aug 2005)
Design for excellence is a philosophy that promotes rapid and
successful products by encouraging communication and co-operation,
says Nik Vyas.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ukc/ukc101.html
or send a blank email to mailto:ukc1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
DISPLAY BUFFER BRINGS LCD TVS UP TO SPEED
(Intersil, 09 Aug 2005)
Programmable display buffer widens viewing area in Samsung's advanced
TFT-LCD televisions matching plasma performance.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ina/ina357.html
or send a blank email to mailto:ina3[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
MULTIFUNCTION HANDHELD MAJORS ON BLUETOOTH
(Cambridge Silicon Radio, 09 Aug 2005)
BlueCore technology can now be found inside Gizmondo - the new
multi-entertainment handheld from Tiger Telematics.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/cam/cam200.html
or send a blank email to mailto:cam2[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
QUALITY OF SILICON IS KEY TO ARM-BASED SOCS
(Cadence Design Systems, 03 Aug 2005)
Global UniChip Corporation of Taiwan has adopted Cadence Encounter RTL
Compiler global synthesis to improve the quality of silicon of its
hardened IP.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/cad/cad305.html
or send a blank email to mailto:cad3[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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Other featured new product news
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32-CHANNEL DACS BOAST TOP INTEGRATION
(Maxim Integrated Products, 09 Aug 2005)
The MAX5762-MAX5765 (16bit) and MAX5773-MAX5775 (14bit) are billed as
the most precise and most compact 32-channel DACs that integrate a
programmable offset and gain calibration algorithm.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/max/max234.html
or send a blank email to mailto:max2[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
BRIDGE CHIPS FUTUREPROOF STORAGE INTERFACES
(Oxford Semiconductor, 09 Aug 2005)
The OXUF924DSa and DSb provide external storage designers with a
complete solution for bridging between SATA disks and USB2.0,
FireWire400, FireWire800 and external SATA ports.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ofo/ofo124.html
or send a blank email to mailto:ofo1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
MIXED-SIGNAL MCUS SHRINK INTO 20-PIN PACKAGES
(Silicon Laboratories, 03 Aug 2005)
Silicon Laboratories has expanded its small form factor family of
mixed-signal microcontrollers with the addition of four new small
memory option devices.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/snl/snl121.html
or send a blank email to mailto:snl1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
CHARGER CHIPS MANAGE TWO SOURCES
(Linear Technology Corp, 04 Aug 2005)
The LTC4075 and LTC4075X are stand-alone dual-input linear battery
chargers that efficiently manage charging single-cell Li-ion batteries
from two separate power sources.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/lne/lne183.html
or send a blank email to mailto:lne1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
LEVEL SHIFTER HAS AUTOMATIC DIRECTION SENSOR
(Pericom Semiconductor Corp, 08 Aug 2005)
Novel universal level shifter technology allows designers to use a
bidirectional automatic direction sensor for supporting different
voltage levels being designed into next-generation applications.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/pom/pom114.html
or send a blank email to mailto:pom1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
COMMON-MODE CHOKE SHRINKS TO CHIP SCALE
(TTI Europe, 08 Aug 2005)
The DLPONS is billed as the world's smallest common-mode choke coil
for high-speed differential transmission line noise suppression.
Request free details from the supplier on DLPONS:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/ml/tti/134/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tti/tti134.html
or send a blank email to mailto:tti1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
DEVELOPMENT SYSTEM BOOSTS BLUETOOTH VOICE QUALITY
(Cambridge Silicon Radio, 08 Aug 2005)
Clear Voice Capture technology is now available as part of the BlueLab
development system.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/cam/cam199.html
or send a blank email to mailto:cam1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
CPCI ENCLOSURE HOSTS HIGH AVAILABILITY SYSTEMS
(Adlink Technology, 04 Aug 2005)
The cPCIS-6418U is a 4U-high rack-mount CompactPCI enclosure with an
eight-slot 6U backplane and redundant power supplies.
Request free details from the supplier on CPCIS-6418U:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/ml/adl/162/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/adl/adl162.html
or send a blank email to mailto:adl1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
BATTERIES BOOST DENSITY FOR TELECOMMS BACKUP
(Saft, 08 Aug 2005)
Saft offers a choice of three advanced battery technologies to provide
backup power for telecomms infrastructure applications.
Request free details from the supplier on Intensium:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/ml/saf/124/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/saf/saf124.html
or send a blank email to mailto:saf1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
LOW-PROFILE PCIE GRAPHICS CARD HAS WIDE APPEAL
(Matrox Graphics , 05 Aug 2005)
The Millennium G550 LP PCIe is the world's first low-profile PCI
Express (PCIe) x1 graphics card.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/mao/mao104.html
or send a blank email to mailto:mao1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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