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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: 23,780
Published every Tuesday from the UK.
Issue 229: 16 August 2005
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24962 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] Nonvolatile FPGAs sleep on the job to save energy
[2] Multicore processor is optimised for H.264 codec
[3] EDA tools get to grips with power managed designs
[4] SAR convertor claims top linearity
[5] Compact models integrate thermal and EMC design
[6] Fibre connectors shrink to half the size
[7] Analyser is dedicated to PCI Express development
[8] cPCI board offers heavyweight signal processing
[9] Programmable supplies include Ethernet option
[10] Pentium M based SBC hosts XP Embedded designs
* New technical articles and case studies
* Other featured product news
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Laurence Marchini, Editor, writes:
Now, I'm all for using renewable energy sources: I have a
solar-powered battery charger on my electric golf trolley, and I'm
really looking forward to powering my laptop with a fuel cell (just as
soon as I can reconcile myself to the idea of such volatile reactions
going off in such close proximity to my "crown jewels").
But I have to admit that this week's news from Singapore that
researchers at the Institute of Bioengineering and Nanotechnology have
developed a urine-powered micro battery really does stir the
imagination.
Certainly, it would be easy to dismiss such claims as "taking the
proverbial battery fluid", but once you reconcile yourself to the fact
that we're a good way past April Fools Day and realise that the basic
chemistry of the reaction is perfectly legitimate, the potential could
be enormous. And, for one who numbers many diabetics among his friends
and family, the initial application for the technology - effectively
as a self-powered blood sugar level test sample - is stunningly
elegant.
Not surprisingly, during the "silly season" the popular press has
latched on to the story with alacrity - my search of the Google news
archives brought up no fewer than 48 mentions. And it seems the
headline writers have been having a field day!
But while the punsters have flourished with phrases such as "urine
charge" and "a wee battery" appearing in several media, pundits have
been slow to spot the full potential of the device.
"The battery is currently suited for use with disposable devices - it
is not yet ready to power laptops or iPods", says (among others)
HindustanTimes.com - which rather brings me back to those volatile
reactions I mentioned earlier.
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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LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL (AGAIN)
(Agere Systems, 16 Aug 2005)
The industry is rolling again with good times, happy days and
renaissance, argues Dave Sonnier, Chief Technology Officer, Agere
Systems.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/age/age184.html
or send a blank email to mailto:age1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
NEW FACILITY PRODUCES STATE-OF-THE-ART STENCILS
(MicroStencil Ltd, 15 Aug 2005)
MicroStencil has opened a new production facility for the manufacture
of ultra-fine-pitch screen printing stencils.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/miz/miz100.html
or send a blank email to mailto:miz1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
NOVEL SERVICE OFFERS ONLINE ACCESS TO FREE SAMPLES
(Beganto, 15 Aug 2005)
A "quickie" survey of engineers at the recent Embedded Systems
Conference highlighted shortcomings in the way designers access
component samples to complete their design projects.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ben/ben100.html
or send a blank email to mailto:ben1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
SOLID STATE SUPPLIES ACQUIRES WORDSWORTH
(Solid State Supplies, 12 Aug 2005)
Solid State Supplies has acquired single board computer supplier
Wordsworth Technology for GBP 1.674 million.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/sol/sol151.html
or send a blank email to mailto:sol1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
ANRITSU TO ACQUIRE NETTEST
(NetTest, 12 Aug 2005)
Anritsu has signed a definitive agreement to acquire NetTest, the
leading global provider of network monitoring systems and field use
communications test products.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/net/net134.html
or send a blank email to mailto:net1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
NEW OFFICE BRINGS FRESH AIR TO THE AMERICAS
(Purex International, 12 Aug 2005)
Purex International, manufacturer of fume extraction systems for
soldering, lasers, laboratories, welding and other applications, opens
the doors of Purex Americas for business this week.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/pur/pur101.html
or send a blank email to mailto:pur1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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OUR TOP NEW PRODUCT SELECTION
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[1] NONVOLATILE FPGAS SLEEP ON THE JOB TO SAVE ENERGY
(Lattice Semiconductor UK, 12 Aug 2005)
Lattice Semiconductor has developed a novel power-saving feature that
reduces standby power by over a factor of 1000 for its LatticeXP
family of nonvolatile FPGAs. Sleep mode uses the LatticeXP device's
unique Flash and SRAM architecture to provide an ultralow standby
state that can be entered in nanoseconds and exited in less than 2ms.
While in sleep mode, the LatticeXP device draws as little as 120uA of
total power supply current.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/lat/lat170.html
or send a blank email to mailto:lat1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[2] MULTICORE PROCESSOR IS OPTIMISED FOR H.264 CODEC
(Telairity Semiconductor, 16 Aug 2005)
A breakthrough processor architecture for high-definition (HD) video
encoding has been launched by Santa Clara-based Telairity
Semiconductor. Harnessing multiple independent vector/scalar cores,
the multicore Telairity-1 architecture is specifically designed to
handle the demanding computational requirements of the H.264 (MPEG-4
Part 10) HD codec. H.264 is set to supersede MPEG-2 as the standard by
which HD video is compressed in the professional broadcast environment
for transmission, storage, and editing, where the new standard will
deliver the same or better picture quality with a lower bit rate.
Beginning with the T1P2000 multicore video processor, the first
system-on-chip (SoC) to be built using the new architecture, H.264
encoding solutions implemented with Telairity-1 will offer the
smallest footprint and lowest cost for broadcast-quality H.264 video
compression, requiring typically less than one quarter the number of
chips of general-purpose DSP solutions.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tew/tew100.html
or send a blank email to mailto:tew1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[3] EDA TOOLS GET TO GRIPS WITH POWER MANAGED DESIGNS
(ArchPro Design Automation, 16 Aug 2005)
ArchPro Design Automation has released its first product: MVSIM is
billed as the world's first electronic design automation (EDA)
solution for verification of power managed designs. The product
supports ARM Intelligent Energy Manager (IEM) technology. Today's
designers of multiple-voltage chips have to settle for verification of
power management schemes after the silicon has been created. Bugs are
often found in power management schemes after silicon is spun, causing
time and cost-consuming revisions to silicon, system and software.
ArchPro's MVSIM product for the first time changes this paradigm to
enable verification prior to silicon spins.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/arh/arh100.html
or send a blank email to mailto:arh1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[4] SAR CONVERTOR CLAIMS TOP LINEARITY
(Texas Instruments, 12 Aug 2005)
Texas Instruments reckons it has developed the industry's most linear
16bit successive-approximation (SAR) analogue-to-digital convertor
(ADC). The ADS8372 features 16bit no missing code performance,
600Ksample/s datarate, less than 0.75LSB (maximum) integral
nonlinearity (INL) and less than 0.5LSB (maximum) differential
nonlinearity (DNL) over the entire industrial temperature range (-40
to +85C). The device is ideal for advanced, real-time applications in
automated test equipment, medical imaging, optical networking,
high-speed control loops and high-resolution data acquisition systems.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tex/tex864.html
or send a blank email to mailto:tex8[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[5] COMPACT MODELS INTEGRATE THERMAL AND EMC DESIGN
(Flomerics, 15 Aug 2005)
Flomerics has released Version 6 of its integrated analysis
environment for physical design of electronics, with improved
communication between thermal and electromagnetic compatibility (EMC)
simulation. The latest Flotherm and Flo/EMC software packages further
reduce the time required for integrated simulation by automatically
generating two different meshes, one optimised for thermal simulation
and one for EMC simulation.
Request free details from the supplier:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/ml/flo/153/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/flo/flo153.html
or send a blank email to mailto:flo1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[6] FIBRE CONNECTORS SHRINK TO HALF THE SIZE
(3M Telecommunications and Networks, 16 Aug 2005)
3M has launched its new Hot Melt LC connectors which are now available
to data and telecommunications professionals who install fibre optic
networks. The 3M connectors, which accommodate single-mode or
multimode fibre, come in simplex and duplex versions for a variety of
cable sizes ranging from 250 and 900um buffer up to 3mm jacketed
cable. The new connectors offer all the advantages of 3M patented,
preloaded, hot melt technology - fast installation, ease of
termination, reliability, low insertion loss and high yield - but at
half the size of SC and ST connectors. The new 3M LC connectors also
meet and exceed TIA568-B.3, ISO11801 and EN50173-1 specifications.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/mtl/mtl100.html
or send a blank email to mailto:mtl1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[7] ANALYSER IS DEDICATED TO PCI EXPRESS DEVELOPMENT
(Vmetro-Transtech, 16 Aug 2005)
Vmetro has expanded its highly successful Vanguard analyser family
with the introduction of the Vanguard Express PCI Express protocol
analyser. Designed for debugging, testing and validating the PCI
Express protocol, the Vanguard Express analyser allows testing of x1,
x4 and x8 PCI Express card-edge and XMC form factors. The Vanguard
Express is the only PCI Express analyser offered for the XMC form
factor. XMC is the PCI Express Mezzanine Card defined in the VITA 42.3
specification.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/vme/vme123.html
or send a blank email to mailto:vme1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[8] CPCI BOARD OFFERS HEAVYWEIGHT SIGNAL PROCESSING
(Kane Computing, 15 Aug 2005)
The SignalMasterQuad is a new Lyrtech CompactPCI signal processing
board, now being sold in the UK by Kane Computing (KCL). This new
member of the SignalMaster family consists of two clusters, each
containing two TMS320C6416 or TMS320C6713 DSPs and a Virtex-II FPGA.
Each cluster can deliver up to 16,000MIPS of DSP processing power and
up to 8 million gates, giving a total of 32,000MIPS of DSP power and
16 million gates.
Request free details from the supplier:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/ml/kan/176/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/kan/kan176.html
or send a blank email to mailto:kan1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[9] PROGRAMMABLE SUPPLIES INCLUDE ETHERNET OPTION
(Amrel/American Reliance , 12 Aug 2005)
Available now from Amrel/American Reliance are the SPS and HPS series
of programmable switching power supplies. This expansion of Amrel's
ePower line of power supplies will offer customers more choices and
more control. The ePower's SPS rack-mount units range from 1.2 to
30kW, up to 800V DC and 2700A DC. The HPS panel-mount units range from
20 to more than 900kW, 10 to 2500V DC, and 23 to 7500A DC. Both units
are available with an embedded Ethernet interface.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/amg/amg100.html
or send a blank email to mailto:amg1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[10] PENTIUM M BASED SBC HOSTS XP EMBEDDED DESIGNS
(Arcom, 10 Aug 2005)
Arcom has further extended its range of ready-to-run development kits
by introducing a Windows XP Embedded option for the Apollo - the
Pentium M based single board computer designed for applications
demanding long term product availability and high performance fanless
operation. The Apollo is built on power efficient Intel Centrino
technology and is an industry standard EBX form factor (8 x 5.75in).
Request free details from the supplier:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/ml/arc/143/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/arc/arc143.html
or send a blank email to mailto:arc1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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New Technical Articles and Case Studies
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CRIMPING TOOL ADDRESSES "BIG THREE" CRITERIA
(FCI-Burndy, 12 Aug 2005)
At its core, the process of crimping electrical connectors is not
complicated: however, the same cannot be said about the process of
choosing a crimping tool, says Robert Poirier.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/fcb/fcb100.html
or send a blank email to mailto:fcb1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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Other featured new product news
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HIGH-SIDE MONITOR EASES OPTICAL INTERFACING
(Analog Devices, 12 Aug 2005)
A new high-side monitor provides a compact solution for the
commonproblem of interfacing an optical power monitoring device, such
as a logarithmic amplifier, to the cathode-side of a PIN photodiode.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/anc/anc318.html
or send a blank email to mailto:anc3[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
DUAL EL LAMP DRIVERS COVER A BIG AREA
(Supertex, 15 Aug 2005)
The HV841 and the HV839 are high voltage driver ICs designed to drive
two electroluminescent (EL) lamps with a combined area of up to
3.5in2.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/sup/sup110.html
or send a blank email to mailto:sup1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
COMPACT POWER MODULE PROMISES PFC COMPLIANCE
(Fairchild Semiconductor, 10 Aug 2005)
A new smart power module uses a partial power factor correction
switching convertor circuit topology, and is ideal for 1-3kW air
conditioners.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/fai/fai355.html
or send a blank email to mailto:fai3[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
SAW DUPLEXERS SWITCH TO PLASTIC PACKAGES
(NDK, 12 Aug 2005)
NDK has released a new series of SAW duplexers in plastic packages.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ndk/ndk118.html
or send a blank email to mailto:ndk1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
DSP EMULATOR CONNECTS WITH ETHERNET
(Blackhawk, 11 Aug 2005)
The Blackhawk LAN560 is the first of its kind, integrated network
device and JTAG emulator, which connects directly to a LAN, WAN or
Wi-Fi via a 10/100Mbit/s Ethernet RJ45 connector.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/blk/blk100.html
or send a blank email to mailto:blk1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
UPGRADE FOR SIGNAL- AND POWER-INTEGRITY ANALYSIS
(Ansoft Corporation Europe, 15 Aug 2005)
Ansoft Corp has upgraded its full-wave electromagnetic-field simulator
optimised for signal- and power-integrity analysis of high-performance
PCBs and IC packages.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ans/ans217.html
or send a blank email to mailto:ans2[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
DRIVER DEVELOPMENT TOOLKITS COME UP TO DATE
(Jungo, 12 Aug 2005)
Jungo Software Technologies has released new versions of its driver
development toolkits WinDriver USB/PCI for host driver development and
WinDriver USB Device for firmware code generation.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/jun/jun120.html
or send a blank email to mailto:jun1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
THERMAL GREASE FILLS WIDE AND NARROW GAPS
(Chomerics Europe, 15 Aug 2005)
T660 high performance thermal grease from Chomerics has been designed
for use in high power applications that require maximum thermal
performance.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/cho/cho133.html
or send a blank email to mailto:cho1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
M12 CONNECTORS TURN TO QUICK MATING
(Phoenix Contact, 10 Aug 2005)
With the Speedcon quick locking from Phoenix Contact, it only takes
half a turn to make electrical connections with an M12 plug connector
system.
Request free details from the supplier on Speedcon:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/ml/pni/155/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/pni/pni155.html
or send a blank email to mailto:pni1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
NEW STRUCTURE PRODUCES COMPACT PB-FREE LASERS
(Photonic Products, 12 Aug 2005)
New from Photonic Products is the first range of lead-free
visible-wavelength laser diodes, rated to 50C, and offering very high
output powers in tiny 5.6mm packages.
Request free details from the supplier on Sanyo DL-LS1148 and
DL-LS1164:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/ml/pot/133/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/pot/pot133.html
or send a blank email to mailto:pot1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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