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| Chips |
(Click here for older articles)
| Today's Feature |
- New - Not Yet a Uniform Recovery in IC SalesIC Insights tempers its positive outlook on economic recovery in the chip industry with a caveat that recent figures do show a wide variation in sales among market segments, casting a pall over the possibility for a full industry recovery. For the most part, however, executives remain encouraged. (EDN)
| Embedded Systems -- Chips Subsections |
| Products |
| News |
| Resources |
| - Embedded Systems (Top Page) - |
| Products |
- New - Hot-Swap Power Controller Targets High-Reliability PCI Hot-Plug Applications
A new hot-swap power controller IC supporting the latest PCI hot-plug standards is now available from Micrel Semiconductor. The MIC2590 is a dual-slot power controller that supports all system voltages required by PCI, including the 3.3-V auxiliary voltage specified by PCI Standard Version 2.2. The device supports +12-V, -12-V, 3.3-V, 5.0-V primary supplies, and 3.3-V auxiliary supplies with overcurrent protection. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
- New - The Latest in Power Products
Microsemi introduces a low-cost boost controller for handheld appliance applications that Chip Center's Nasser Kutkut compliments for its very low quiescent current and for an efficiency greater than 85%. Two new voltage-mode, 100-kHz PWM step-down DC-DC controllers from Maxim earn mention for their attractive price tag, and Supertex's new fixed frequency HV9606 PWM controller notably integrates many functions that typically require external circuitry, making it smaller and less expensive. (ChipCenter: Power)
- New - NEC Develops New Video Decoder System LSI
NEC claims the world's first single-chip with video decoder function and embedded three-dimensional Y/C separation circuit with the introduction of its uPD64011, which it says is able to decode NTSC, PAL and SECAM, the world's most widely used broadcasting systems. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
- New - TI Says Video Decoder For Display Devices Improves Ease Of Use For Consumers
Texas Instruments claims two more industry firsts with its release of an all-format digital video decoder--a device with an analog front end including three 9-bit, 165-MHz ADCs and a 10-bit, 80-MHz ADC--and an industryıs first complete programmable analog interface circuit for controlling position, pressure and plate resistance measurements in four-wire touch-screen applications. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
- New - Embattled Gate Array Players Pull out an Ace
Booted from the high end of the ASIC market by faster, more efficient cell-based chips, and from the low end by increasingly flexible and inexpensive FPGAs, the gate array is supposed to be dead. But several vendors, including the biggest name in gate arrays, haven't heard. They are fielding what they call a new class of ASIC platforms that could become strong candidates for the bulk of ASIC designs. (EE Times)
- New - Power Management Chip from STMicroelectronics Includes Battery Charger Control
STMicroelectronics introduces the STw4101 power management chip that integrates all of the functions required for managing battery power and charger control in digital cellular handsets and other battery powered mobile applications. Housed in a 6x6mm TPGBA package, the STw4101 includes six LDO analog regulators to supply RF circuits, the baseband chip, audio chip, vibrator and other functions. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
- New - Ten Flash-Based 16-Bit Microcontrollers Now Available from Motorola
Motorola expands its 16-bit HCS12 lineup with ten new additions and offers some specifics on the product roadmap. It also offers a special deal on licenses of the Metrowerks CodeWarrior tools for the HCS12 Flash family. An Electronic Design feature focuses on the background debug mode of the Motorola line, which reportedly eliminates the need for an ICE (significantly lowering development costs) and allows in-circuit debugging, making field diagnostics practical. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
- New - Maxim Ramps a Four-Fold Family of DASs
A series of new low-power, multichannel data-acquisition systems from Maxim feature a multiplexed 16-bit ADC, 10-bit DACs, a 1.25V internal reference, two voltage monitors (1.8V and 2.7V), a real-time clock with alarm function, an on-chip oscillator and a PLL. The devices target portable and battery-powered applications, offering 1.8-V to 3.6-V, single-supply operation at 1.15-mA power consumption. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Sharp Intros Family of ARM-based MCUs
Sharp Microelectronics of the Americas (SMA) today expanded its BlueStreak family of microcontrollers with a line of 16/32-bit MCUs with LCD controllers. The devices are for use in applications such as industrial control, white goods, smart appliances, marine applications and low-end PDAs. The MCUs purportedly offer the performance of a 32-bit ARM7TDMI core, but only require 16-bit external addressing. The BlueStreak family includes four specialized microcontrollers, with each one consuming very little power, the company says. (Electronic News)
STMicroelectronics Introduces 40-MHz Microcontroller
STMicroelectronics wraps embedded flash memory around its ST10 core and emerges with a 16-bit, automotive grade chip with as many as 143 general I/O lines in eight ports. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
ARC-Based Codec Supports Four Simultaneous Channels and Choice of Vocoders
Fujitsu Microelectronics America offers an embeddable VoIP CODEC core, a test chip and an evaluation system designed for wireless and broadband voice client applications. Fujitsuıs claim to fame with the core is that it beats standard VoIP in its ability to integrate with any method of physical transmission--including 802.11x wireless LANs, Bluetooth Access points, 802.16 Fixed Wireless Access, and Internet-based multimedia messaging in the emerging 3G and 4G cellular markets. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
- New - Fujitsu Features Two New 32-Bit CAN Bus Microcontrollers
The latest 32-bit FULL-CAN bus microcontrollers from Fujitsu build on the company's FR architecture--a five-stage pipelined RISC core with 16 general-purpose registers and internal Harvard structure. Model MB91F365G is designed for automotive, industrial and like applications, while the '366G adds on a 32-kHz clock input for real-time clock reference and offers a calibration unit in place of a DAC. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Sarnoff Rolls Out IP Cores for TV, Digital Video
Sarnoff offers IC providers and consumer electronics OEMs a new family of IP cores for TV and digital video, including what it calls smarter MPEG-IP, for better picture quality and reduced storage requirements. (Electronic News)
Something New, Times Two for Oki
Oki Semiconductor has unveiled the ML674000, an ARM-based, 32-bit MCU recognized as and the first of a line of standard MCU products available from Oki in North America. In conjunction with Adamya Technologies, the company also announces a Bluetooth PCMCIA reference design offering developers a complete wire replacement solution for handheld, laptop, and desktop computer connections. The reference design is based upon Oki's BQB-qualified chipset and module and Adamya's C-Blue software stack. (e-inSITE)
Tyco Electronics Touts Flexibility of Dual-Output Converters
Tyco Electronics announces the JHW050xx series of dual-output, 50-W DC/DC converters, targeting the next generation of ICs and DSPs. With the new products, designers can change voltage levels to both the I/O and core of devices to ease the on-going migration to lower voltages. (e-inSITE)
Analog Devices Extends Microconverter Family
Analog Devices debuts a pair of new MicroConverters and accompanying evaluation kit for the data acq arena. The12-bit device is touted for its small size, while the 24-bit device is advertised for its abundance of on-chip memory. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Applied Power Electronics Conference Hosts PWM controller from Supertex
The HV9606 PWM controller from Supertex enables the creation of efficient power supplies for BMP applications, boasting fixed frequency current-mode control and on-chip features that reduce the number of necessary external components. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
DSP Cores Target Wireless Handset, Speech Processing Applications
Adelante Technologies has introduced a new family of extendable DSP cores, core acceleration IP, and tools for the development of complete DSP sub-systems for wireless handset applications, digital control and speech processing applications. Fully integrated with the DSP sub-system and external interfaces, the company's foundry-independent Galaxic DSP Technology cores and sub-systems have been designed to interface with other processors, peripherals and system I/O in multi-processor SoC designs targeted at wireless handset, digital control and speech processing applications. (Electronic Business)
Embedded Processor Enables Portable MP3 Recording
Low power and 90-MHz clock speeds characterize a new ARM7-based embedded micro from Cirrus Logic that targets portable and set-top digital audio device, car audio jukebox system, and general purpose controller applications. The device enables the recording and playback of MP3 content with real-time MP3 encoding and the decoding of digital music in the WMA, MP3 and AAC playback formats. (Electronic Business)
Hitachi Intros SuperH MCUs With Flash Memory
The SuperH family welcomes two new MCUs into its ranks, both of which integrate a 10-bit ADC with a 5.4-us conversion time--ideal for digital video and DVD as well as industrial equipment implementations. (Electronic Business)
Hitachi Intros SuperH MCUs With Flash Memory
RadioScape has announced the availability of a new PulseDSP synthesizable core and implementation tools. According to the company, the technology can be used to create field-programmable, DSP-based accelerators for a wide variety of wireless, multimedia and custom ASIC applications. (Electronic Business)
Maxim's High-Performance DACs Pack 32 Output Channels
Maxim launches a trio of 16-bit, 32-channel voltage output D/A converters, earning mention from Chip Center's Alex Mendelsohn because there's so much to be said about them beyond the somewhat skimpy press release. (ChipCenter: Test & Measurement)
Tality, ARC Partner To Provide IP-Based GPS Platform
Tality and ARC International roll a new GPS platform, whose combination of Tality's GPS baseband IP and ARC's ARCtangent-A4 will enable mobile communications and telematics developers to integrate a low-power GPS module into their SoC-based consumer and communications applications. (Electronic Business)
IBM Raises the Bar of Embedded Computing
The 32-bit 4xx family of PowerPCs welcomes two enhanced additions, the 266-MHz 405GP and the 400-MHz 440GP, both of which are currently sampling and should see full production by summer. Chip Center EE Expert David Gilbert comments on the low (under 2-W) power consumption, numerous features and extended packaging options of the 405GP, whose only drawback may be the lack of a floating-point unit. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Motorola Expands Three Product Lines and Transfers One
Motorola offers four new microcode packages, designed for UMTS, 3G mobile, and similar applications, to support and extend its MPC825x and MPC826x processors. The company also rolls a 400-MHz PowerPC MPU, the MPC8245. This device and fellow '8241 are available in extended temperature versions. The company also kicks off a new series of ColdFire-based microprocessors with the introduction of the MCF5249 to the portable audio, industrial control and security arenas. As the company expands its existing portfolios, it also removes--SmartSynch recently announced that it has acquired Motorola's CreataLink 2XT product line. In other company headlines, Motorola creates a third-party program for wireless software developers, called the Applications Global Network. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Chip Center Compliments TI's Latest Transceivers
Ideal for backplanes and serial interconnects where power, price, and performance are all important, Texas Instruments' sub-gigabit SerDes transceivers are just waiting to find homes in wireless base station interconnects and backplanes for mid-range networking equipment, reports Networking editor Lee Goldberg. (ChipCenter: Networks)
Mapping FPGA Moves
Chip Center's Murray Disman says Xilinx' release of the Virtex-II Pro sets a new performance standard for the PLD industry in terms of combining I/O speed and embedded processing power. Though the Virtex claims to fame are well-matched by several of its competitors, each will likely serve a separate niche in the embedded arena. Altera claims that its upcoming DSP-based Stratix devices can execute algorithms, such as the discrete cosine transform, at 250-MHz--twice the speed that can be obtained from an FPGA like Virtex-II with embedded multipliers. (ChipCenter: PLD)
Graphics/Video Power Supply Solution from Intersil
Intersil's latest Endura is a dual regulator IC designed for graphics card applications. The ISL6529 features a synchronous-buck PWM controller for high-current supply to the graphics processor unit and a lower-current linear regulator to supply power to memory circuits. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
STMicro Introduces New 8-bit Embedded Flash Micros
The ST7Lite0 flash 8-bit series tags on to STMicroelectronics' ST7 family of standard microcontrollers, providing low-cost and fully integrated solutions complying with automotive quality requirements. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
TI Proclaims Another Industry's First
Texas Instruments says it now offers the industry's first stereo audio CODEC family with a built-in USB controller and an internal S/PDIF-compatible I/O terminal. Addressing the consumer's need to download and edit digital audio material on PCs as well as transmit the data to audio equipment, the family targets mini-stereo decks, portable CD/cassette radios, headphone/microphone combo units and domestic-use robots. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Micrel Shows How Fast--and How Low--LDO Can Go
The first of a new family of ultra-low output voltage, high-current low-dropout regulators (LDOs) is now available from Micrel Semiconductor. The 1.5-A dual supply MIC49150 is capable of output voltages down to 0.9-V. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Chip Center Power Play
Nasser Kutkut scopes out Powerex's new hybrid IC, which sports an integrated DC/DC converter, and Fairchild Semi's FAN8200, a two-channel drive IC for two-phase stepping motor drive system applications. (ChipCenter: Power)
New Chip Simplifies 3G Base Station Design
The newest member of Analog Devicesı VersaCOMM family of digital converters, the AD6623 is a 104-MSPS, four-channel transmit signal processor (TSP) designed for multi-mode, multi-standard wireless base station architectures. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
New Product News
Seiko's S-8460 is a high-efficiency, PWM buck and boost switching regulator-controller that requires only one coil instead of two. This allows for a reduction in external components and board space while the high efficiency of the S-8460 will help prolong battery life. It also includes an automatic-selection control circuit, a reference voltage source, an oscillation circuit and an error amplifier. Applications for the S-8460 include single-cell Lithium-Ion devices such as PDAs, cell phones, notebook PCs and power supply modules that require a battery and AC adapter. (ChipCenter: Circuit Cellar)
- New - New Product News From Microchip
Circuit Cellar calls the TC670 the industryıs first predictive fan failure IC. A single resistor divider is adequate for setting the RPM alarm level and implementing predictive fan failure without the need for software. Eliminating the need to purchase more expensive and often custom-made 3-wire fans, the space-saving SOT-23 package has the ability to detect critical fan speed (RPM) of 2-wire and 3-wire fans and provide thermal failure protection in temperature-sensitive equipment. (ChipCenter: Circuit Cellar)
Xilinx Changes the Face of FPGA
Xilinx makes multiple headlines with its launch of a new family of FPGAs that combine embedded PowerPCs with 3.125-Gbit/sec serial I/O transceivers. One e-inSite piece shares the inside scoop from company execs, while another take explores the company's IP Immersion technology. Electronic News reports that the new Virtex-IIs will be manufactured on IBMıs 0.13- and 0.10-micron copper-based process technology, and EBN compares the Xilinx effort with those of competitor, Altera. Separately, Mentor Graphics announces comprehensive tool support for the Virtex-IIs. (EE Times)
Siliconix Helps Prolong Battery Life in Mobile Products
Vishay Intertechnology subsidiary Siliconix has released a multi-output, sequence-selectable power-supply controller intended for mobile computing and communications applications. It claims a conversion efficiency of up to 95% with synchronous rectification. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
| News |
- New - Biography of a Super Chip
Motorola is the birthplace of an innovative idea that combines the low cost of silicon with the functionality and performance of gallium arsenide. The gallium-arsenide-on-silicon technology has the potential--with some tweaking--to become the super chip of techno-dreams. (MARATHON Digital Publishing {scan via})
- New - Fab Closures Impacting Global IC Fabrication Figures
IC wafer processing is on the decline, according to SIA figures, as ill-equipped and older fabs are being put out of commission. (EE Times)
- New - Joint Venture for Next Generation of Chips
The Japanese government is partially subsidizing an endeavor by five of its chip makers to develop new semiconductor technologies, an effort that will commence in June and may expand to include additional participants. (EE Times)
- New - Not Yet a Uniform Recovery in IC Sales
IC Insights tempers its positive outlook on economic recovery in the chip industry with a caveat that recent figures do show a wide variation in sales among market segments, casting a pall over the possibility for a full industry recovery. For the most part, however, executives remain encouraged. (EDN)
- New - Self-Configuring Array Enables Atomic-Scale Fabrication
A next-generation configurable circuit architecture is being proposed by a group of designers at startup Cell Matrix. The company is building small prototype chips based on the concept. The architecture goes beyond basic FPGAs by building arrays of 'cells' rather than simply reconfigurable gates. Each cell has a small amount of logic and local memory and communicates with its nearest neighbor. The novel aspect of the approach is the ability of cells to modify the operation of their neighbors during run-time. (EE Times)
- New - Cirrus' Digital Entertainment Bet may pay off
It may be too soon to tell whether Cirrus Logic, founded in 1984 as a pioneer in the fabless movement on the strength of its PC graphics chip sets, can ride the digital consumer wave to another crest of prosperity. But early reviews of CEO David French's bold move appear for the most part to favor Cirrus' chances. Last May, Cirrus announced it was withdrawing from the magnetic-storage IC market, betting everything instead on networked digital entertainment and outlining a vision of consumers using wireless networks to move digital content around their homes. (EE Times)
- New - Cypress PSoCs Back in the Spotlight
The analog blocks set the Cypress PSoC family apart from other SoC parts. Embarking on his hands-on experience with these devices, EE Expert Robert Ashby was admittedly a bit skeptical about the usefulness of these analog capabilities--but it quickly became apparent just how much this functionality could benefit a processor. (ChipCenter: EE Expert)
- New - DSP Vendors' Focus Shifting to Software
In the opinion of Texas Instruments' Greg Degali, OEMs are increasingly looking to DSP suppliers for silicon support, which has birthed an ever-expanding portfolio of code-compatible products and complimentary system-level devices. This trend has caused DSP vendors to wander from their hardware origins into software territory, where both the host or IDE side, and the target or application content side must be considered as vital pieces of the software puzzle. (Electronic Buyers' News)
- New - EDN Announces Electronics Industry Innovation/Innovator of the Year Award Winners
EDN has recognized its most recent round of award-winning innovators and innovations, which included Rabbit Semiconductor in Computers, Boards, and Buses; eDevice in Embedded Development; National Semiconductor in EDA; and Fujitsu, Linear Technology and Analog Devices in various IC categories. (Electronic Business)
- New - IR Steps in to Buy Troubled Newport Fab for $81M
International Rectifier has become the latest potential savior of the analogue and mixed-signal foundry in Newport, Wales, following a recent announcement that it is to buy the in-administration facility for $81M. The fab, currently European Semiconductor Manufacturing and before that Newport Wafer-Fab, called in administrators in January following a collapse in customer demand. (EE Times)
- New - New Pub Focuses on Product Development Shift in Electronics Industry
Reed Business Information will expand the ranks of its electronics publications with a new quarterly addition, Electronics Design Chain, which will debut in May, targeting senior execs with supply chain management and supplier integration issues. (Electronic Business)
- New - TI on Top of DSP Design Trends
Texas Instruments says four of the five leading Japanese wireless handset manufacturers will use its OMAP application processors for their 3G handsets. Japan is currently leading the 3G migration, and TI is encouraged by the support of the major players for its technology. (Electronic News)
- New - Academic License for 922T
The Chip Implementation Center of the National Science Council of Taiwan will make the ARM922T core available to Taiwanese university students for academic research. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
- New - Backplane Switch-Fabric ICs Go To The Next Level
In a special report on switch-fabric ICs, Electronic Design follows an emerging trend in next-generation switches and routers: the design-in of non-proprietary chipsets that support 2.5- and 10-Gbit/s line speeds. (Electronic Design)
- New - Cypress Hits High Mark With USB Sales
Cypress Semiconductor trumpets the sale of its two-millionth USB 2.0 peripheral controller, which enables information appliances of all kinds to connect to external mass storage devices via a 480 Mbit/second USB 2.0 link. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
- New - Economical Flyback Converter Operates Off 48-V
An Electronic Design application note shares how using a coupled inductor sharply cuts leakage between the input and output. (Electronic Design)
- New - Embedded Start-Ups at Crossroads
The embedded-processing market is undergoing a massive shakeout, forcing companies to exit the sector, shift strategies, or put up a for sale sign. Although a recovery in the chip industry is under way, a lack of venture capital and the yearlong industry slump have left many licensable-IP and fabless IC-core start-ups weak and vulnerable. (EE Times)
- New - LSI Merge Under Way Between Japanese Chip Providers
Hitachi and Mitsubishi are pooling their non-memory resources in a quest to become a more powerful presence in the SoC semiconductor business. The companies will share a common brand name and pursue joint LSI product research and development, while maintaining other individual interests apart from the newly-formed company. (EE Times)
- New - Micronics and Honeywell Enter Microfluidic Technologies Co-Promotion Agreement
Honeywell's Embedded Controls unit is partnering with Micronics for the promotion of their joint solutions in commercial applications. The companies are working together under a three-year contract for DARPA--the central research and development arm for the Department of Defense--to develop a miniaturized blood cell counting instrument that employs their respective flow sensor and microfluidics technologies. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
- New - Winphoria Completes Motorola Inter-Vendor Verification and Validation Testing
Winphoria Networks has completed the Inter-Vendor Verification and Validation (IVVV) program with Motorola, achieving interoperability compliance for its mobile switching center with Motorola's CDMA centralized base station controller. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
- New - Corporate Shifts in Chips
Digital imaging chip developer NuCORE Technology names Kotaro Yui president of its Japanese subsidiary, and STMicroelectronics moves Andrea Cuomo up to corporate VP and Advanced Systems Technology General Manager. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Industry Blasts House Export Control Legislation
Proposed legislation that would significantly tighten restrictions on technology exports is being denounced by U.S. electronics manufacturers as misguided. Lawmakers are again seeking to renew the Export Administration Act, which has lapsed for nearly a decade and must be renewed annually by the president. The House bill limits the use of 'foreign availability' and 'mass market' status to relax export restrictions on items like microprocessors and servers as well as strengthening congressional oversight of U.S. export controls. (EE Times)
AmberWave and IQE Ramp 200-mm Strained Silicon Epiwafers
AmberWave has partnered with IQE Silicon Compounds for the high-volume production of epiwafers based on AmberWave's proprietary (epsilon)MOS strained silicon technology. AmberWave has licensed its Generation 1 strained silicon technology to IQE's Silicon Compounds division for the production of 200-mm wafers, which will be available to AmberWave's licensees for use in next-gen digital, wireless and optoelectronic applications. (e-inSITE)
ARM in Attendance at ESC
ARM used the Embedded Systems Conference as a platform for the launch of its new RealView multi-core debugger, which gives developers the ability to use an 'OS-aware', multi-core debugger for systems based on multiple ARM cores and mixed-architecture designs that use an ARM/DSP combination. It also unveiled the ARM RealView Developer Kit, including compilation tools, RealView debugger and JTAG interface unit, for solutions based on Philips' new embedded controller--an architecture with an ARM7TDMI-S processor core and embedded Flash technology. Separately, the company announced shipment of its Multi-ICE v2.2 Emulator and Trace Debug Tools v1.2. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Award-Winning Embedded Chips
In-Stat/MDR, publisher of the Microprocessor Report, names the final winners of its most recent round of Analysts' Choice Awards, honoring the best new microprocessor chips and most promising new microprocessor technology unveiled in 2001. Winners include Broadcom and Motorola. In a decision based on readers' choice, Electronic Design News honored Texas Instruments and Cypress MicroSystems as two of its Innovation of the Year award winners. (e-inSITE)
Calimetrics Announces ML Technology Roadmap
Calimetrics has unveiled its ML (MultiLevel recording) technology roadmap for writable and rewritable optical disc drives and media, providing the market with a cost-effective and backward compatible path to extend capacities from 2-GB up to 60-GB per disc side. Sanyo is the first to implement the ML Recording technology, which it demonstrates in the ML ENDEC, a standard IC that triples the capacity and performance of CD-R/RW drives. (e-inSITE)
CMOS Sensors Target Image Delivery on Mobile Units
Startup Transchip and Hitachi Semiconductor are on the hunt to bring digital camera capabilities to mobile phones, and have separately announced CMOS sensor modules to deliver such capabilities. (EE Times)
DSP Design Partnership
The DSP models of LSI Logic have been integrated into the AXYS Design MaxLib library and AXYS has joined LSI's Partner Program to offer the MaxLib models and its MaxSim Developer Suite as a solution for LSI customers. (e-inSITE)
East German Chip Zone is Growing Despite Global Slowdown
East Germany's Silicon Saxony community is weathering well the economic storm that is assailing the rest of the semiconductor industry. (e-inSITE)
Fujitsu Shrinks Fingerprint Sensor for Portable Apps
Fujitsu lays claim to a tiny fingerprint sensor that is about one-tenth the size and less than half the cost of conventional sensors. The up-and-coming SweepSensor shuns the conventional method of pressing down on a sensor pad--instead, users slide the tip of a finger across a narrow sensor region. Software then reconstructs an image of the fingerprint, identifies its unique markers and decides whether it matches the fingerprint templates stored in a system's memory. The technology targets portable gear such as PDAs and cell phones. (EE Times)
Intel Moves to 90-nm
Determined to show the semiconductor world it's still boss, Intel says it has produced a fully-functional test chip that boasts the smallest transistor dimensions and highest SRAM cell density in the industry. (EE Times)
New Residence for Cyan Technology
Cyan Technology opens a US office to ensure that American developers have the support and service they need. The Boston-based office will direct US sales and provide worldwide marketing direction. The company recently released an evaluation board and free software development tools for its first product, the eCOG1 communications engine, developed for a wide range of applications from smart-card readers to intelligent sensors and next-generation Internet-enabled devices. The tools boast more than eight years of development and include a compiler, simulator and emulator. (PRWeb)
On-chip Test Generators Said to be Key to Cost Control
Mentor Graphics' CEO spoke out at the Semico Summit about the rising costs of testing, saying that on-chip test generators will be a forced choice for many chip makers. (Electronic Buyers' News)
Sanyo Spin-Off to Sell Security System ID Controllers
Biometrics-based security hardware and software are on the development agenda for Sanyo's new brainchild, SecurityArt. (EE Times)
SPIL Chooses Teradyne's Tiger for Chipset Production Test
Siliconware Precision Industries has selected Teradyne's Tiger test system for Chipset Production test. Teradyne credits the design win to the system's TwinMode pin electronics architecture, which delivers full functional test capability on any pin providing configuration flexibility for test of emerging devices which include multiple high-speed interface standards. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Wireless Discussion at OMAP Event
The Texas Instruments' OMAP Technology Summit focused on the transition from 2.5G to 3G mobile communications, particularly in India, where the conference was hosted. TI business at the conference included the appointment of Wipro Technologies and Sasken Communication Technologies to serve as OMAP technology centers in Asia. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
SiRF Makes GPS Gains
GPS chipset maker SiRF Technology has completed a $20 million round of funding to grow its influence in consumer, telematics and wireless markets. The company is forming alliances with several industry players and rolling two new product families. EE Times has more on the new products and design-ins. (Electronic News)
Adding on ARM Cores
Macronix has licensed the ARM7TDMI core, which will supplement its own logic IP lineup as an integrated solution available to portable device manufacturers. UMC, an ARM Foundry Program Partner, has licensed the ARM946E and ARM1022E cores. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Oak Technology Chooses inSilicon
inSilicon Corporation says Oak Technology has integrated its USB 2.0 PHY into the new OTI-4110 SoC, which has been designed for personal imaging and printing applications. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
US Military Migrating from Custom to COTS
Although military spending is up, supplier interest in providing specialized embedded systems, components, hardware and software is waning, since the government is, comparatively speaking, a low-volume customer. Increasingly, the government is looking at traditional COTS parts to meet military needs. (Electronic News)
Mixed-Signal Driver ASIC for IEEE 1394 and I2C Buses
The tri-bus communication capabilities of an emerging set of compact, radiation-hardened ASICs may more than compensate for some performance trade-offs. (NASA Tech Briefs)
On the ESC Beat
Cypress Semi is one of many exhibitors staking out a section of the show floor at the Embedded Systems Conference, where its demonstration will focus on USB 2.0 and On-the-Go connectivity products. In cooperation with third-party partners UB Video and Ingenient Technologies, Texas Instruments shows new H.26L video encoding technology that has been implemented on its TMS320C64x DSP family. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Program Draws IP Cores into IBM's Design Flow
IBM Microelectronics has kicked off a program intended to make sure that IP cores from third parties work properly with its proprietary design tools when designed into an IBM ASIC. IBM's Blue Logic IP Collaboration Program formalizes an effort to have IP cores interoperate with other cores on a device and be brought into an ASIC design flow without breaking IBM's tools. (EE Times)
Smart Scopes: Spot the Secrets Within Waveforms
DSOsı job keeps getting harder, but scope makers keep finding ways to satisfy ever-tougher demands. Wider bandwidth, quicker ADCs, and deeper memories are only part of the story. Giving designers insights and answers when they need them now requires moreıand fasterıintelligence. (EDN)
Split May Force Two Sets of Silicon
Automakers implementing drive-by-wire systems are searching for a safety-critical data bus, with two different CAN bus alternatives being proposed by The FlexRay Consortium and the TTA Group. Chip makers are awaiting a common standard, since the cost of producing two sets of silicon would be prohibitive. (EE Times)
The Inside Track: Embedded Technology on the Menu in the Valley
Embedded technology is everywhere, but the opportunities are bigger in some places than others, and the economics have changed. Electronic News pulls together three executives who make their living in the embedded space and shares some excerpts of a recent conversation over breakfast. Topics range from connectivity and convergence to automotive and security applications. (Electronic News)
January Slump No Surprise for SIA
The Semiconductor Industry Association reported a typical post-holiday decrease in semiconductor sales for January, but is still optimistic for increased sales, particularly in the second half of the year. (Electronic News)
3G Handset IC Market Poised For Explosive Growth
A recent report from Allied Business Intelligence examines the various issues resulting from the new 3G signal and data processing requirements, as well as the latest semiconductor advances, the 2.5G/3G migration path, modules and embedded designs, and the expected impact that the upwards migration path will have on intermediate frequency (IF), RF and digital IC chip providers. In addition, the report examines the semiconductor content for all cellular standards--from 2G to 2.5G and 3G standards of GPRS, 1XRTT, EDGE and WCDMA-- through 2006. (Electronic Business)
IP Power Grid Library Program Adds Virage Logic and NurLogic Design
Two more companies have joined Simplex Solutions' IP Partners Program, which is designed to build, pre-validate, and distribute transistor-accurate power grid models for IP libraries and components. (Electronic News)
Trio Takes Lead in Advanced 90-Nanometer CMOS Process Technologies
Royal Philips Electronics, STMicroelectronics and Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company have reached agreement on a new advanced 90-nm (0.09-micron) CMOS process. The agreement between the three companies also includes the development of CMOS processes to the next technology node at 65-nm and beyond. Test devices for 90-nm have already been successfully fabricated by ST and Philips in Crolles, France, and by TSMC in Hsin-Chu, Taiwan. Prototyping of 90-nm products is expected to take place in the second half of this year. EE Times reports on the pooling of resources and sharing of risks for sub-0.1-micron IC development. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
A Guide for Online Information About: Logic Gates
Click through some of the resource links in a tutorial on Logic Gates, straight from the pages of Circuit Cellar magazine. (ChipCenter: Circuit Cellar)
Adaptive PID Controllers
EE Expert Peter Raeth continues his quest toward a better implementation of adaptive control methods, exploring the possibilities for speed through Proportional, Integral, Derivative Controllers. (ChipCenter: EE Expert)
DATE Update
Electronic News interviews industry execs to get their insight on the trend toward convergence in analog and digital design, nowhere more evident than on the show floor at the recent DATE conference. Also at the show, CAST announced the addition of the C80186TX Microprocessor core to its line of general purpose IP for electronic design, and Sonics shared a new memory scheduler IP core. (Electronic News)
Keynote Speech About System Approaches to Power Management
Dennis Monticelli, a distinguished Fellow at National Semiconductor, will deliver the first keynote speech at the plenary session of the Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition (APEC) 2002. The speech will address 'System Approaches to Power Management,' discussing new ways of solving today's complex power management problems resulting from performance demands for new system-level designs. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Where Does All This Power Come From?
EE Expert Darren Ashby acknowledges his ignorance in the matter of switching power supplies, but takes the opportunity to teach himself, and others, a little more about the world of power. This basic tutorial offers advanced links for further study. (ChipCenter: EE Expert)
Crossroads For Mixed-Signal Chips
Cutting and pasting intellectual property speeds the design of a system on chip by fabless semiconductor companies, report two authors from Techno Venture Management in an IEEE Spectrum online feature. (MARATHON Digital Publishing {scan via})
IBM Will Steer PowerPC into Mobile Mart
IBM intends to take its PowerPC architecture into the mobile sector, in direct competition with Intel's Xscale, said the senior VP of the company's Technology Group. To get there, IBM is establishing a separate design group in Raleigh, N.C., that initially will create follow-on products based on the PowerPC 405LP (low power) SoC, which is slated to sample next quarter. (EE Times)
Measurements Reveal Lost Power
Compensate for measurement delays between voltage and current to get accurate power measurements in switching power supplies and motor drives. (Test & Measurement World)
One Size Never Fits All
The term 'SoC' and the technology it refers to have become somewhat of an industry catch-all. But while highly integrated chips are, indeed, ideal for many applications, they can be more of a Catch-22 for others. Electronic Business demystifies the ubiquitous SoC and talks about where--and how--the technology makes sense. (Electronic Business)
ZiLOG Spins Reorganization Plan
ZiLOG has gotten the approval it needs to advance a previously announced Chapter 11 reorganization, although it says it will continue business as usual with its customers. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
| Resources |
Attention, Hardware and Software Engineers
The Chalkboard Network is offering a new course on the energy efficient design of electronic systems. The interactive course targets handheld device developers, addressing a number of issues relevant to system-level design.
Chip Center Tutorials Keep You on the Cutting Edge
Join in on Chip Center's tutorials and linked discussions, which will address both technical and non-technical subjects like DSP bootstrapping and migrating from technician to engineer. Let Chip Center know if there's a topic you'd like to see on the list.
Don't Get Left Behind
The Online Symposium for Electronics Engineers has opened its doors, with live technical lectures and Q&A sessions updated on a weekly basis. Topics include wireless, DSP algorithms, embedded processing, and more.
EDA Portal
EEdesign.com is a stepping stone into the EDA industry, with seminar invitations, product information, and access to design tools.
ESC's Next Round
Sign on for the next Embedded Systems Conference near you. The show is celebrating Spring in California at San Francisco's Moscone Convention Center, then it's off to China. Course offerings and exhibits span the spectrum of embedded systems development, from Internet appliances to DSP, automotive, wireless and Java.
On the Embedded Edge
In case you haven't heard about Texas Instruments' Embedded Edge magazine, hook up with the archived editions and be sure to take a gander at the next batter up. Featured stories focus on development tool trends and eXpress DSP algorithm compliance--plus get the latest product announcements and handy tech tips.
Schedule for PTI Seminars
Tap into PTI Seminars to keep up on IC design and fabrication, electronics and devices, and more. A whole year of courses is already planned--all you have to do is sign up for your interest.
TI Teaches Tools and Technology
Hook up here with up-and-coming webcasts from Texas Instruments, and get a host of information on DSP-related topics along with live Q&A sessions--a different seminar every month. If you miss one, just access the archives to catch up.
Benchmarks in Embedded Systems
The EDN Embedded Microprocessor Benchmark Consortium (EEMBC) provides benchmark certification and consulting to the embedded industry.
ChipCenter Reference Library
This is your access point for lots of good information covering applications, design tools, consultants, intellectual property, trade shows and standards.
Standards Watch
Here is your access point to the standards world.
Janice Hughes and Cindy Carrier
In 1994, Janice joined Circuit Cellar INK's staff first as technical editor then as managing editor. Since leaving INK, Janice has offered marketing communications services for embedded computing companies. After earning an English degree, Cindy has made her living doing freelance technical editing and writing.
Please send your comments to embedded.editors@cox.net.
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