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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: 23900
Published every Tuesday from the UK.
Issue 242: 15 November 2005
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26983 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] Programme promises painless RoHS compliance
[2] Compact MCUs expand into automotive applications
[3] Subsystems match Virtex-4 family performance
[4] AdvancedTCA platform has 16-slot backplane
[5] Connectors support new ExpressCard standard
[6] CameraLink acquisition runs at express rates
[7] Regulator does the lot for TFT LCD panels
[8] Charge pump drives up to 17 LEDs
[9] Development environment compiles C faster
[10] Design kit smoothes the switch to SOI
* New technical articles and case studies
* Other featured product news
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Laurence Marchini, Editor, writes:
There is always a thorny problem of where to draw the line in our
editorial coverage. Needless to say, we will always bring you the news
of all the latest components. And subassemblies such as board-level
computing and control and power supplies certainly feature in our
coverage. But clearly nobody logs on to Electronicstalk to read about
the latest set-top box or desktop PC.
The dilemma can be even greater in certain sectors - and military
electronics is a particularly sensitive area. Certainly the same
arguments apply to components and subassemblies. However, some of the
military systems stories that pass through our newsdesk - although not
strictly relevant to an electronics OEM audience - are fascinating in
their application of leading-edge technologies.
Fear not, though: however interesting the latest advances in
electronic warfare may be, we are well aware that such technology is
not everyone's cup of tea. Far more interesting is this week's story
in the media that the Danish Army is testing out the world's first
medically documented audio-pillow with music for relaxation and
inspiration as an aid to relaxation for its peace-keeping troops in
the town of Kosovska Mitrovica in Kosovo.
The MusiCure - see www.musicurepillow.dk - is a soft pillow that
chirps like a bird and is designed to lull the soldiers to sleep. And
I guess that makes it ideal for peace keeping duties.
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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M-SYSTEMS GROWS BY MORE THAN 50%
(M-Systems, 14 Nov 2005)
M-Systems reports record revenues and EPS for third quarter 2005.
Quarterly revenues grew by more than 50% year-over-year to $133
million and earnings per share more than doubled to $0.34.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/mys/mys115.html
or send a blank email to mailto:mys1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
PULSE EXPANDS WITH ACQUISITION OF LK PRODUCTS
(Pulse, 11 Nov 2005)
Pulse has expanded its wireless communications product offering
through the acquisition of LK Products Oy, a producer of cellular and
non-cellular antennas and integrated modules for mobile handsets.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/pls/pls138.html
or send a blank email to mailto:pls1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
SUPPORT AND DEVELOPMENT CENTRE OPENS IN CHINA
(ANT, 09 Nov 2005)
ANT is opening a new support and development centre in China to
provide local service and expertise to China's rapidly growing IPTV
market.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ant/ant129.html
or send a blank email to mailto:ant1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
OXFORD STUDENTS IN LINE FOR SUPPORT
(The MathWorks, 15 Nov 2005)
The MathWorks is to sponsor Oxford University postgraduate research
students and undergraduate students in a number of disciplines.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/mth/mth152.html
or send a blank email to mailto:mth1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
FCI ACQUIRED BY GLOBAL PRIVATE INVESTMENT FIRM
(FCI, 11 Nov 2005)
FCI, one of the largest manufacturers of connectors and interconnect
systems in the world, has been acquired from French energy group Areva
by Bain Capital, a leading global private investment firm.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/fci/fci138.html
or send a blank email to mailto:fci1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
MEMBERSHIP CONTINUES TO GROW
(National Microelectronics Institute, 15 Nov 2005)
The National Microelectronics Institute (NMI) has announced
substantial growth in membership for the 12 months running up to its
2005 AGM held in Cardiff.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/nai/nai105.html
or send a blank email to mailto:nai1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
ARTESYN REPORTS THIRD-QUARTER 2005 RESULTS
(Artesyn Technologies, 11 Nov 2005)
Artesyn Technologies has reported its financial results for the third
quarter ended 30th September 2005.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/art/art211.html
or send a blank email to mailto:art2[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
HDD DESIGN COMPETITION SEEKS NEW IDEAS
(Toshiba Europe Storage Device Division, 15 Nov 2005)
The winning design from Toshiba's Hard Disk Drive Revolution
Competition will be considered for production by one of Toshiba
Europe's manufacturing partners.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tsh/tsh117.html
or send a blank email to mailto:tsh1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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OUR TOP NEW PRODUCT SELECTION
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[1] PROGRAMME PROMISES PAINLESS ROHS COMPLIANCE
(SGS, 15 Nov 2005)
SGS has created a new programme specifically aimed at helping
producers meet the strict requirements of RoHS and where necessary,
take corrective actions to meet the maximum concentration of
substances allowed. The company's RoHS programme employs individuals
with genuine legislative and component knowledge who can apply reason,
interpretation and skill to resolve the most challenging RoHS and WEEE
related issues. The company's goal is to help companies minimise the
financial and administrative burden that this complex legislation
requires. The RoHS programme is a single product certification which
can be extended to for certification of a product series, as long as
the range of products are produced using the same raw materials, the
management system has a similar function and the "basic design" has
not changed significantly.
Request free details from the supplier:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/ml/sgs/103/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/sgs/sgs103.html
or send a blank email to mailto:sgs1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[2] COMPACT MCUS EXPAND INTO AUTOMOTIVE APPLICATIONS
(Renesas Technology Europe, 15 Nov 2005)
Renesas Technology Europe has added 36 new models to its R8C/Tiny
series of small low-pin-count high-performance 16bit microcontrollers
with on-chip Flash memory. The new lineup includes devices that
feature a reduced minimum operating voltage and wide temperature range
in addition to a LIN interface. The addition of these models will
enable the series to meet specific requirements in an even wider
variety of applications, such as battery-powered products, in addition
to consumer, security, imaging and industrial devices, automotive
equipment and OA products.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ren/ren204.html
or send a blank email to mailto:ren2[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[3] SUBSYSTEMS MATCH VIRTEX-4 FAMILY PERFORMANCE
(Nallatech, 09 Nov 2005)
Nallatech has introduced four products in its COTS FPGA computing
range, combining the processing and I/O performance of Xilinx Virtex-4
FPGAs with enhancements to its DIME-II architecture, including host
interface improvements and enhanced clocking. Part of Nallatech's
strategic product roadmap, these products extend performance density
for customers demanding the full capabilities of Virtex-4 in high
performance embedded computing (HPEC) applications, including
surveillance and reconnaissance, software defined radio and signal
intelligence. Nallatech's announcement includes the BenNuey-PCI-X, a
PCI-X Dime-II motherboard with on-board Virtex-4 FX FPGA and three
Dime-II expansion sites.
Request free details from the supplier:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/ml/nal/134/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/nal/nal134.html
or send a blank email to mailto:nal1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[4] ADVANCEDTCA PLATFORM HAS 16-SLOT BACKPLANE
(Elma Electronic UK, 15 Nov 2005)
Elma has developed a new ETSI-compliant system platform for
AdvancedTCA applications. Backplanes for ATCA have to meet stringent
requirements for data transfer rate and signal integrity. At the heart
of the Elma's 13U system is a newly developed 16-slot full mesh
monolithic-construction backplane. Both the power entry modules (PEM)
and the two shelf management controllers provided are pluggable.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/elm/elm130.html
or send a blank email to mailto:elm1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[5] CONNECTORS SUPPORT NEW EXPRESSCARD STANDARD
(FCI, 15 Nov 2005)
FCI has developed module connectors and module kit components to
support module manufacturers' implementations of ExpressCard
technology. The Personal Computer Memory Card International
Association (PCMCIA) has developed the ExpressCard standard as
replacement for the PC Card standard, which defines the popular
CardBus and PC Card add-in cards. The new standard will carry forward
the benefits of removable communication, storage, I/O, multimedia,
security and adapter cards to new generations of mobile and desktop
personal computers, industrial PCs and test/measurement equipment.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/fci/fci143.html
or send a blank email to mailto:fci1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[6] CAMERALINK ACQUISITION RUNS AT EXPRESS RATES
(National Instruments, 15 Nov 2005)
With the new National Instruments PCIe-1430 image acquisition board,
engineers and scientists can now use a single board to acquire images
from two independent base-configuration CameraLink cameras. Using PCI
Express, the NI PCIe-1430 board can acquire images from two CameraLink
cameras at speeds up to 255Mbyte/s and clock rates up to 85MHz, the
maximum defined by CameraLink. Traditionally, engineers and scientists
performing multicamera inspections through a PCIbus with datarates
more than 100Mbyte/s had to purchase multiple computers and multiple
CameraLink frame grabbers. With the introduction of PCI Express and
the NI PCIe-1430 image acquisition board, these engineers and
scientists now can acquire high-speed data from two independent
cameras through a standard PC bus.
Request free details from the supplier:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/ml/naa/230/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/naa/naa230.html
or send a blank email to mailto:naa2[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[7] REGULATOR DOES THE LOT FOR TFT LCD PANELS
(Maxim Integrated Products, 15 Nov 2005)
Maxim Integrated Products introduces the MAX8761, a complete
linear-regulator power supply for thin-film transistor (TFT)
liquid-crystal-display (LCD) panels used in LCD monitors and LCD TVs.
Highly integrated to save cost and space, the device includes a
high-performance linear regulator, a positive and a negative
charge-pump regulator, built-in power-up sequence control, and a
high-current operational amplifier. Additionally, the MAX8761 provides
logic-controlled high-voltage switches to control the positive
charge-pump output.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/max/max246.html
or send a blank email to mailto:max2[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[8] CHARGE PUMP DRIVES UP TO 17 LEDS
(Linear Technology Corp, 15 Nov 2005)
New from Linear Technology is the LTC3208, a fully integrated 850kHz
low-noise high-efficiency 1x/1.5x/2x charge pump multiple-display LED
driver. It can drive up to 17 LED current sources: a one to four LED
main display, a one or two LED subdisplay, a one to three LED RGB
display, a one to four camera LED display, and a one to four LED
auxiliary display, all from a compact 5 x 5mm QFN package. Each
display has digital control with independent dimming and programming
via a two-wire I2C serial interface.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/lne/lne210.html
or send a blank email to mailto:lne2[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[9] DEVELOPMENT ENVIRONMENT COMPILES C FASTER
(National Instruments, 15 Nov 2005)
National Instruments has announced NI LabWindows/CVI Version 8.0, a
proven ANSI C development environment for test and automation. This
latest version continues to build on the software's 17-year history of
continued innovation and backward compatibility with faster code
execution and deployment in addition to better real-time integration
that extends LabWindows/CVI to deterministic and reliable test
applications. Engineers can speed their test applications with
optimising compiler support in LabWindows/CVI 8.0. The software now
provides configuration templates for Intel, Microsoft and Borland
optimising compilers to produce faster running code, significantly
increasing the throughput of automated test applications.
Request free details from the supplier:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/ml/naa/231/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/naa/naa231.html
or send a blank email to mailto:naa2[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[10] DESIGN KIT SMOOTHES THE SWITCH TO SOI
(SOISIC, 15 Nov 2005)
Soisic has successfully produced six working integrated circuits from
90nm silicon-on-insulator tapeouts to qualify its
customer-owned-tooling (COT) design kit. The devices were produced on
Freescale Semiconductor's advanced SOI process technology and provide
fabless ASIC designers a clear path to seamlessly migrate their
CMOS-based designs onto an SOI process to achieve better performance
and lower power consumption for their chips. On its first pass through
the fab, Soisic successfully taped out standard cells with three VTs,
input-output circuitry, memories and a data encryption and decryption
circuit consisting of 8 million transistors. All the parts worked
successfully and all were produced to qualify Soisic's COT design kit
for 90nm SOI process technology.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/soi/soi100.html
or send a blank email to mailto:soi1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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New Technical Articles and Case Studies
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DSP DRIVES SELF-POWERED HARDWARE ENCODER
(Analog Devices, 15 Nov 2005)
The SHARC processor has been designed into the Home Theatre Connect
DTS-610 from Creative.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/anc/anc348.html
or send a blank email to mailto:anc3[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
HEADSET TAKES ON BLUETOOTH WITH DSP ENHANCEMENT
(Cambridge Silicon Radio, 15 Nov 2005)
The new iMuffs stereo headset is designed with iPod users in mind,
offering complementary styling and excellent audio performance.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/cam/cam210.html
or send a blank email to mailto:cam2[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
ATCA TOPOLOGY DESIGN REACHES 10GBIT/S
(FCI, 14 Nov 2005)
FCI's AirMax VS high-speed connector technology has been designed into
Northrop Grumman Interconnect Technologies' 16 slot dual star
topology, built to reach speeds of 10Gbit/s.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/fci/fci139.html
or send a blank email to mailto:fci1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
BALL GRID ARRAY TECHNOLOGY IMPROVES FISH TAGGING
(CIL Custom Interconnect, 11 Nov 2005)
Andover-based electronics design and manufacturing company CIL, has
worked with Cefas to develop data storage tag (DST) for fish that uses
double-sided ball grid array technology.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/cus/cus118.html
or send a blank email to mailto:cus1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
CARDS SECURE CONFERENCE COMMUNICATIONS
(Metanetworks Technologies, 15 Nov 2005)
Intrusion detection and prevention PCI cards feature in SCinet - the
massive network supporting the 2005 International Conference for High
Performance Computing and Communications.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/meo/meo102.html
or send a blank email to mailto:meo1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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Other featured new product news
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PCI EXPRESS OPTIMISED FOR STRATIX II GX FPGAS
(Altera Europe, 10 Nov 2005)
Altera has extended its PCI Express range with the release of a x8 PCI
Express MegaCore function optimised for Stratix II GX FPGAs.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/aeu/aeu183.html
or send a blank email to mailto:aeu1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
STEP-DOWN REGULATOR HAS WIDE INPUT RANGE
(Allegro MicroSystems Europe, 15 Nov 2005)
The A8499 is a versatile high-voltage step-down regulator integrated
circuit with an input voltage range from 8 to 50V.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/alb/alb211.html
or send a blank email to mailto:alb2[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
ENVIRONMENT PROVIDES FULL ECLIPSE SUPPORT
(Green Hills Software, 15 Nov 2005)
Users of the Eclipse framework and its C/C++ development tools can now
take advantage of the DSO capabilities of the Multi development
environment and C/C++ compilers.
Request free details from the supplier on Multi:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/ml/gre/200/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/gre/gre200.html
or send a blank email to mailto:gre2[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
LED RANGE SIGNALS BRIGHTNESS INCREASE
(Agilent Technologies, 15 Nov 2005)
Agilent Technologies has introduced what it claims to be the
industry's brightest LEDs for the outdoor electronic sign and signals
market.
Request free details from the supplier on Mid-power AlInGaP lamps:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/ml/agi/317/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/agi/agi317.html
or send a blank email to mailto:agi3[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
DEVICE COOLS PACKAGES DURING LEAD-FREE REFLOW
(Cookson Electronics, 10 Nov 2005)
Cookson Electronics Assembly Materials announces the launch of Alpha
Coolcap thermal protection devices, developed to cool components
during high temperature lead-free reflow and rework processes.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/cok/cok108.html
or send a blank email to mailto:cok1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
LASER DIODES POWER UP TO 60W
(Photonic Products, 15 Nov 2005)
The Sony SLD 43 Series of high-power 808nm wavelength array laser
diodes is designed for high power solid state laser excitation or
material processing applications.
Request free details from the supplier on Sony SLD 43 Series:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/ml/pot/136/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/pot/pot136.html
or send a blank email to mailto:pot1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
LI-ION BATTERIES DELIVERS POWER, SAFETY AND LIFE
(A123 Systems, 10 Nov 2005)
A123 Systems, developer of a new generation of lithium-ion batteries,
is delivering batteries with unprecedented power, safety, and life as
compared with conventional lithium technology.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ash/ash100.html
or send a blank email to mailto:ash1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
ADC HAS IMPRESSIVE SETTLING TIME
(Texas Instruments, 10 Nov 2005)
Texas Instruments has announced a 16-channel, 24bit
analogue-to-digital convertor that is claimed to feature the fastest
channel cycle rate and lowest latency in its class
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tex/tex917.html
or send a blank email to mailto:tex9[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
FLASH-BASED MODULE APPROVED FOR E-PASSPORT USE
(Sharp Microelectronics Europe, 15 Nov 2005)
The new Secure IC module from Sharp is the first Flash-based device
for e-passports to receive validation for EAL4+ (Evaluation Assurance
Level 4+) of the Common Criteria.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/skc/skc126.html
or send a blank email to mailto:skc1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
MAKING MORE SPACE FOR NOISE SUPPRESSION
(Murata Electronics (UK), 10 Nov 2005)
Murata has announced the SMD BNX022, the latest addition to its
comprehensive EMIFIL range of noise suppression products.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/mut/mut109.html
or send a blank email to mailto:mut1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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