Chips

Feb 2002 (Click here for older articles)

Embedded Systems -- Chips Subsections

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Products

Fairchild Intros Zero-Voltage Switching Controller
Fairchild Semiconductor expands its portfolio of products for power factor correction with the introduction of the FAN4822 PFC controller, targeted for power supplies of 500-W or more. The company says the device's continuous boost architecture allows designs to achieve the high power factor (up to 98%) and the low total harmonic distortion necessary to comply with 'green' initiatives for energy efficiency and noise reduction in consumer electronics. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Infineon Introduces New VDSL Chipsets
Infineon Technologies rolls a 4-Band VDSL chipset family featuring two distinct functionalities. The 4bVDSL chipset is a fully standards-compliant option for ATM over VDSL, and it claims the PoVDSL chipset as the industry�s first Packet over VDSL solution. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Multi-Protocol, WLAN Design Platform Integrates UniPHY DSP Core
3DSP has launched a new IP-based development platform for designing multi-protocol Wireless LAN (WLAN) SoCs that are capable of supporting up to three different Wireless LAN modulation/demodulation schemes in parallel. According to the company, a single SoC device can now be implemented that will enable Wireless Access Points to support different WLAN network protocols simultaneously. In addition, the devices created by 3DSP's new development platform reportedly can simultaneously accept multiple data streams based on the same protocol, thereby increasing data throughput over a WLAN to any Access Point. (Electronic Business)
TI's Fusion of Bluetooth and FireWire May Revolutionize More Than Car Radios
Chip Center's Networking editor Lee Goldberg picks TI as its Product of the Week winner for a new 1394b bus solution optimized for in-car infotainment apps. The new chipsets are a smart pairing of Bluetooth and 1394, likely to make it into more markets than the automotive one targeted by TI. (ChipCenter: Networks)
Microsemi Introduces Low Cost Boost Controller for Handheld Appliance Applications
Cost-conscious mobile device designers looking for a high-efficiency, high-voltage boost controller can tap into Microsemi's LX1741, which features a pseudo-hysteretic pulse frequency modulation topology that's designed to deliver greater than 85% efficiency, reduce board size and lower cost. (e-inSITE)
Movement on the Maxim Front
The Maxim MAX400x line of power controller ICs has been designed for closed-loop bias control of GSM power amplifiers, operating in the 100-MHz to 2.5-GHz frequency range, supporting GSM/GPRS, EDGE, or TDMA cellular handset applications. Another set of two new devices, the MAX1966/MAX1967 voltage-mode, 100-kHz PWM step-down DC/DC controllers, are touted as providing the lowest cost 1-A to 15-A power supplies. Also out, the MAX6953 LED display driver and controller. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
New Bluetooth Baseband IC Series Provides On-board Flash, USB Ports
Fujitsu offers a pair of new Bluetooth Baseband ICs for hands-free cellular phones and other mobile wireless applications. The ICs are Bluetooth v1.1-compliant and provide all baseband signal processing and protocol hardware required by Bluetooth radios, as well as supporting a variety of external RF ICs. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Startup Rolls Suite of Cores, Tools for DSP Subsystems
IP core vendor Adelante Technologies will serve up a soup-to-nuts suite of DSP cores at the Embedded Systems Conference. The company's DSP Galaxic will include IP, subsystems and tools for the development of complete DSP subsystems for multiprocessor SoCs. (EE Times)
DSP-Based Solution Ideal for Portable Multimedia Appliances
Texas Instruments boasts the high performance and flexibility of the premier member of its Digital Media family of SoCs, a device that offers more than 2,125 programmable MIPS with a 125-MHz 'C54x core, on-chip programmable imaging coprocessors and a 160-MHz ARM9 RISC microprocessor with cache. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Fujitsu Expands 32-Bit CAN Bus Microcontroller Family
Fujitsu Europe adds a new set of 32-bitters to its MB91360 line, all fabricated using 0.35-micrometer geometry embedded flash technology and boasting FULL-CAN bus interface and single voltage Flash memory. The new devices are based on Fujitsu's 5-stage pipelined RISC, known as the 'FR'-core. (e-inSITE)
Motorola Launches Next Evolution of Camera-on-a-Chip
Motorola hails its latest VGA image sensor as smaller, lower power and lower cost--ideal for digital still cameras and cell phones, PDAs and other portable devices. The MCM20114 was developed using the company's ImageMOS technology, which Motorola says enhances color and minimizes noise while achieving excellent light sensitivity across the visible spectrum, resulting in more vibrant image quality comparable to conventional CCD sensors. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Optocouplers for Data Bus Interfaces
NEC is readying three new ultra-small optocouplers for market. The devices boast four on-chip circuits in a 0.8-mm lead pin pitch package. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Tiny Chipset Enables Ultra-Small Camera Modules In Mobile Apps
Conexant Systems has introduced a low-power CMOS camera chipset for wireless handsets and other mobile devices that includes a CMOS sensor in a small, one-fifth-inch optical format as well as a companion processor chip. (e-inSITE)
ARC Intros Java Extensions For The ARCtangent-A4 Processor
ARC offers new Java extensions for its configurable ARCtangent-A4. Developed by Digital Communications Technologies, the extensions add a mere 5K gates to the 32-bit processor or a total of less than 40K gates to an integrated RISC/Java application. In addition, the company reports that chip performance has been benchmarked at about 7 CaffeineMarks per MegaHertz (CM/MHz). (Electronic Business)
LEDs for a Wide Range of Applications
Agilent Technologies offers a new series of LEDs for automotive interior lighting and backlighting for industrial instruments and electrical appliances. The LEDs are available in the PLCC-2 SMT package and Agilent claims high reliability over a wide operating temperature range of -55 �C to +100 �C. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Merger yields SafeNet encryption IC
Bolstered by its recent merger with Securealink BV, SafeNet is intensifying its efforts to penetrate the embedded security market with a range of chips, software and boards products. The company will introduce its SafeXcel-810 encryption IC for smart card readers, originally designed by Securealink at the RSA Conference in San Jose, CA. (EE Times)
Power & Power IC Product Reviews
Chip Center's Nasser Kutkut reports that Analog Devices' new Li-Ion charge controller, the ADP3806, precisely controls the charging voltage to within less than �0.7% across a wide temperature range, allowing these controllers to better ensure a full recharge with high accuracy. And, if you're thinking about shrinking your power supply, Linear Technology's newest 2.7-MHz boost controller will probably be able to help. (ChipCenter: Power)
Infineon Expands its Microcontroller Portfolio
Infineon Technologies markets what it calls a new generation of microcontrollers, including an 8-bit SoC product, a lineup of 16-bit microcontrollers with embedded flash, and a new member of its AUDO family of 32-bit micros. The company also extends its 88 family of security devices with the introduction of a new 32-bit chip card microcontroller, which is aimed at GSM/UMTS mobile communications network service providers and mobile banking applications. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Lots of Action on the ARM Front
ARM has launched its Integrator/CP development platform for SoC developers leveraging the ARM9 core family. The integrated platform includes some of the most frequently-used PrimeCell peripherals. The company has added several new members to its technology access program (ATAP) and its technology is featured in four new members of Atmel's AT91 family. At the 3GSM World Conference, ARM allied with SuperScape and Hantro to offer new mobile device software solutions. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Motorola Moves in Automotive Arena
Motorola's MPC500 Family of 32-bit microcontrollers has been selected by Siemens VDO Automotive for its integrated powertrain management systems. At the Embedded Systems 2002 exhibition, Motorola is announcing an array of technical innovations in automotive telematics developed by its mobileGTalliance, whose members include Fonix, QNX Software, Pi Technologies and Nextel. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
OCDS Emulator for the Infineon XC16x Microcontroller Family
Nohau Corporation adds the EMUL166-PEGASUS-OCDS-PC emulator for the Infineon XC16x microcontroller family to its line of C166 emulators. The emulator supports the on-chip Watch Points, which enable breaking or triggering on complex events including ranges of Instruction Fetch addresses and Read or Write addresses that are AND'd or OR'd with data values. The logic also includes a trigger input pin. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Texas Instruments Rolls New MCUs
Texas Instruments introduces four new additions to its MSP430 line of 16-bit RISC MCUs, which it says can provide up to 50 times more processing performance at the same l ow-power consumption as the existing family members. The flash MCUs feature increased signal processing power, an integrated 10-bit ADC and a small form factor ideal for cost-sensitive embedded applications. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
To Market With Maxim
Maxim Integrated Products introduces the MAX6661 remote temperature sensor and intelligent closed-loop fan controller, featuring voltage-controlled fan speed for reduced noise and increased reliability. Also out, the MAX1980 step-down slave controller for low-voltage, high-current, multiphase DC-DC applications. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Airify, Helic Partner In Cellular-WLAN Convergence Chipset
Through its partnership with Helic, Airify Communications hopes to unite the large number of existing wireless standards under a single, inexpensive solution. That solution is one product that will leverage the similarities of the protocols and exploit the advances in digital signal processing. Sounds good--but too good to be true?, wonders Chip Center's Paul O'Shea. (ChipCenter: Wireless)
The Latest From Analog Devices
Analog Devices launches its new ADSP-219x line, which combines the 219x core with analog integration and VisualDSP++ development tools. The company also recently unveiled two new members in its SoftFone baseband processor family for GSM/GPRS terminal applications. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Tight Specs, Tighter Lips
With claims of extremely stringent jitter performance, plus features that improve testability while cutting costs, Quake's first transceiver design is poised to assault the 10KbaseX market. But with so much of its architecture shrouded in mystery, we can only speculate on its chances, says Chip Center's Lee Goldberg. (ChipCenter: Networks)
Xilinx Expands Encryption/Decryption Solutions
Chip Center's Murray Disman gets the scoop on Xilinx' migration to the AES algorithm and how its security agenda reflects industry trends. (ChipCenter: PLD)
Best-in-Class Claims for USB Controller Chip
SMSC is sampling a new single-chip USB 2.0 peripheral controller IC that supports all UDMA modes from 1 through 4 and transfers data packets to and from ATA/66 and ATA/100 disk drives at the maximum sustainable USB 2.0 burst data rate of 53 Mbytes/s. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
The Cost of Color Comes Down
National Semi rolls a series of six voltage-regulator devices for white LEDs in cell phones and handhelds. (EE Times)
Versatile Chip a Welcome Addition to Microprocessor Market
The multi-purpose VR4181A from NEC truly fulfills its low-power, high-performance claims, says EE Expert David Gilbert. (ChipCenter: EE Expert)
10-Bit/12-Bit ADCs Enable Cable Reverse Path Applications
One of the newest converters from Analog Devices is the AD9430, a 12-bit ADC optimized for high-speed, high-SNR applications such as digital return path. An Analog Devices submission to EDN shares some of the high-performance converter solutions for the cable reverse path that complement the company's portfolio. (EDN)
BAE Launches Microprocessor for Space Applications
BAE Systems has introduced a radiation hardened, general purpose microprocessor for satellite applications. The RAD750 microprocessor is a licensed, radiation-hardened version of the PowerPC 750, which the company claims offers almost ten times the performance of current space processors. (Electronic Business)
Motorola Expands Flash-based Hybrid Controller Lineup
The most recent addition to Motorola's 56800 family combines DSP and MCU functionality in a cost-conscious package for implementation in appliance, home security and control applications. Chip Center's Paul Schreier says it's not altogether innovative, but the price is right for those deeply embedded applications. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Agere Intros Next-Gen IC for Cost-Effective, High-Capacity Disk Drives
Agere says its new 1-Gb/s MS55X read-channel chip is the key element of IP in SoC designs from Agere integrating advanced read-channel technology with various drive functions including the microprocessor, hard disk controller and error correction code (ECC) algorithms. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
ChipWrights Ready for Q2 Roll
ChipWrights puts DSP and RISC together in one 32-bit fixed-point architecture aimed at digital imaging apps. The company is already working with Metrowerks on a CodeWarrior-based SDK for its CWvx. (e-inSITE)
Firm Claims First UMTS/GSM/GPRS Baseband Processor
PrairieComm has announced its development of a single-chip baseband processor for enabling both UMTS and GSM voice calls. The company's PCI5110 integrated baseband processor has been designed to facilitate the production of 3G handsets that are similar in size to today's 2G handsets while increasing handset transmission speeds as well as enabling advanced data applications. Already demonstrated at the company's Rolling Meadows, Illinois laboratories, the new processor will be showcased later this month at the 3GSM World Congress in Cannes, France. (e-inSITE)
New ICs Combine LDO and Switch With Dual-Current Limit
Targeting USB applications, Texas Instruments has introduced a new family of ICs that combine an LDO regulator and a single switch with a dual-current limit for power management. The new power management devices are destined for deployment in high-power USB peripherals such as ADSL modems, PC and digital still cameras, Zip drives and digital speakers. In addition, the ICs can be used in high-performance DSPs that require power-up sequencing. (e-inSITE)
SMSC Unveils USB Device Controllers
Standard Microsystems enters the USB arena with a set of new high-speed ICs for external disk drives and USB memory card readers. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Stratix Staking Out ASIC Design Territory
As Altera's Apex loses ground to Xilinx's Virtex, the company rushes to market with the new Stratix architecture, which is being hailed as a high-performance stand-in for ASIC-based SoCs. EE Times reports that the block-friendly Stratix gives designers more routing resources to play with. The interconnect is uniform across the die, and with the help of Altera's latest tools designers can freeze functional blocks and reposition them on the design or use them for another design without having to resynthesize. Mentor Graphics steps up with EDA support for Stratix. (EE Times)
Two-Channel Stepper Motor Controller for Low-Power Motors
The new two-channel stepper motor module CPCI-SFT364 from Siemens A&D is specially designed for controlling two low-power motors up to approximately 150 watts, such as those used in the manufacture and inspection of semiconductors. The module is used in cPCI-based microcomputer bus systems technology and can also be installed in Sicomp industrial microcomputers. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Chip Shots
Atmel makes Chip Center news with its release of its secure AT94S in-system programmable SoC and Chip Express comes in with a new ASIC family featuring Modular Array Technology. (ChipCenter: PLD)
NEC Develops Scalable System LSI Interface
NEC has developed a 5Gbit/sec serial interface IP core for system LSI chips. The core is scalable, allowing multiple cores to act as multiple channels thus extending the data transmission rate. The concept of developing a multi-channel serial link is a logical extension of current chip-to-chip interconnect technology, said Masakazu Yamashina, a NEC senior manager. (Electronic News)
Chip Center Test & Measurement Trio
Editor Alex Mendelsohn takes on the latest press releases from the world of Test & Measurement, including his Product of the Week pick--the dual-processor 4530 Series of RF power meters from Boonton, attractive from both development and production-line engineering standpoints. A new 14-bit, 40-MHz CMOS ADC from TI/Burr-Brown is a real screamer, and B&K Precision's inexpensive portable meter gives you a handle on capacitor values. (ChipCenter: Test & Measurement)
Circuit Cellar Features Winbound Solution for Text-to-Speech
Hailed as the industry's first single-chip TTS IC, the WTS701 from Winbound incorporates the company's proprietary Multi-Level Storage technology and a concatenation algorithm to enable TTS functionality with minimal use of computing and memory resources. (ChipCenter: Circuit Cellar)
Low-Cost Stepping Motor Drive IC Delivers High-Efficiency Performance
Fairchild Semiconductor's new two-channel drive IC for two-phase stepping motor drive system applications boasts some advantages over similar devices in the company's existing portfolio and stacks up favorably against the competition as well, says Chip Center's Paul O'Shea. (ChipCenter: Analog Avenue)
Open Frame Isolated DC/DC Converters
Astrodyne's ASDH series of open-frame, isolated, 5-, 7-, and 10-Watt DC/DC converters are designed to meet the needs of telecommunications and embedded system applications. Over 40 models are available with wide 4:1 input ranges of 9 to 36 VDC and 18 to 75 VDC with single and dual outputs from 3 to 15 VDC. (ChipCenter: Circuit Cellar)
Chip Center's Network News
Lots of functionality and features, coupled with an aggressive radio design, may give Marvell and even Intersil some serious competition in the 2.4-GHz market. But what's with the world's longest Safe Harbor Statement, wonders Chip Center's Lee Goldberg in his review. He also takes a gander at Connect One's Internet Protocol Engine--one-chip wonders in several flavors that are certain to make a wireless splash. (ChipCenter: Networks)
Via Launches Fast Ethernet Controller
Via Technologies rolls a new a Fast Ethernet controller with enhanced management features. Called the Via Rhine III VT6105, it simplifies system-building by combining the physical layer, MAC and management layers into one, allowing OEMs to more easily incorporate the latest networking standards into their products. The chip is suitable for a range of server and workstation applications as well as the full range of PC compatible information appliances, such as set-top boxes, Web pads and Internet appliance. (Electronic News)

News

ADI Awarded for Advances and Innovation
Analog Devices reports on its recent capture of a total of six product awards in a one-month time span. The awarding publications include EDN and Electronic Products. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Impressions From the 'Other' Embedded Conference
Chip Center's Paul Schreier stacks up Germany's recent Embedded Systems 2002 show against San Francisco's upcoming Embedded Systems Conference. Believe it or not, hours of operation are notably different for the two events, and attendees at the German show are more numerous and better qualified. Automotive and industrial networks were the focus in N�rnberg, while DSP was not given heavy play as an embedded systems option, says Schreier. (ChipCenter: DSP)
Intel in Position for Power-Efficient Circuit Design
Intel is working on a power-efficient circuit design that will be achieved through body bias, adaptive body bias and complementary signal generator (CSG), according to Intel fellow Justin Rattner, who is director of Intel Labs microprocessor research. The company CTO shared several research breakthroughs that extend the reach of silicon devices in his keynote address at the Intel Developer Forum. (e-inSITE)
Five Industry Leaders Launch Initiative to Ensure Interoperability in DMT-VDSL Market
Alcatel, GlobespanVirata, Ikanos Communications, STMicroelectronics and Zarlink Semi are the founding members of the Discrete Multi-Tone--Very-high-data rate Digital Subscriber Line (DMT-VDSL) initiative, with the goal of producing interoperable DMT-based semiconductors that meet international standards for broadband VDSL. The DMT-VDSL initiative is committed to DMT as the line coding technology of choice for the delivery of more reliable, higher quality VDSL-based data, video and voice services to homes and businesses. (e-inSITE)
No Place to Go But Up
After enduring what the Semiconductor Industry Association calls the worst year ever in 2001, during which chip sales fell 32%, chipmakers can only expect improvements. In a recent interview with Investor's Business Daily, SIA President George Scalise talked about the impact of last year's downturn and the prospects for the coming year. (e-inSITE)
64-bit Processor Cores Knock at Embedded's Door
A handful of prominent vendors are about to heave 64-bit microprocessor cores into the embedded-systems market. Though SuperH, MIPS Technologies and Toshiba would like nothing more than to see embedded designers break out of their 32-bit shackles, it's unclear how many designers are ready to take the leap. Armed with processing engines that could have once gone into servers and workstations, the 64-bit proponents say they can overcome the issues of power and die size while delivering performance long considered out of reach for embedded design. (Electronic Buyers' News)
And the Winners of Microprocessor Report's Analysts' Choice Awards are�
Cahners In-Stat/MDR, publisher of the Microprocessor Report, listed IBM and MIPS among the winners of its fourth annual Analysts' Choice Awards, honoring the best new microprocessor chips and most promising new microprocessor technology unveiled in 2001. (e-inSITE)
Companies to Leverage Strengths in Joint WLAN Chipset Development Effort
RF Solutions and Ellipsis Digital Systems are partnering to develop a dual-band (5-GHz, 2.4- GHz), multi-protocol wireless LAN chipset for network interface cards, access points and gateways. In addition to 802.11a, the new wireless solution will support 802.11b and the recently drafted 802.11g protocols. (e-inSITE)
EEMBC Elects Chair for 8- and 16-Bit Micro Subcommittee
EEMBC, the Embedded Microprocessor Benchmark Consortium, has named NEC Electronics' David Lamar as chair to facilitate the organization and development of benchmark standards for the 8- and 16-bit microcontrollers widely used in automotive and industrial applications. (e-inSITE)
Intel's IDF Agenda
The Prestonia microprocessor line and the Plumas chipset are among the many new desktop and wireless computing offerings on show from Intel at its Developer Forum in San Francisco. The company says its new products and others like it are the key to economic recovery in the industry. Although the company puts itself among the avant garde in new technology--announcing, for example, an up-and-coming 0.09-micron process for use in high-speed microprocessors, flash memories, and other chips--it is definitely more a follower in chipsets, says Electronic News. (Electronic Buyers' News)
ASE Unveils Bluetooth Packaging Technology
Advanced Semiconductor Engineering has introduced its fine pitch bonding (FPB) technology for Bluetooth ICs and also announced that it has been working with Cambridge Silicon Radio to build its next-generation Bluetooth chip with a single-chip implementation of the baseband, microcontroller, memory and radio. (e-inSITE)
Concord Unveils COACH-Based Camera
Zoran's COACH processor and CMOS sensor power Concord Camera's new EYE Q Duo 1300 digital camera, to be launched at the Photo Marketing Association tradeshow in Orlando, Florida. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Analog IP Vendor Becomes Fabless Chip Supplier
Gain plans to position itself as a packaged IC provider for high-speed serial communications, abandoning its 7-year run in analog design and IP. It intends to deliver products over the next 12 to 18 months that will address Serial ATA, Infiniband, 3GIO and other PHY technologies. Chip Center's Lee Goldberg reports on the company's entrance into the USB 2.0 PHY market, complimenting Gain on its attention to detail in the development of a high-performance, low-power PHY tranceiver. (EE Times)
Using PLDs For Implementing High-Performance DSP Applications
Altera has released a new white paper entitled 'Using PLDs for High-Performance DSP Applications' that focuses on the design of DSP applications using programmable logic devices. Available right now, the new white paper can be accessed at http://www.altera.com/literature/wp/wp_dsp_app.pdf. (e-inSITE)
Closing News on 3GSM World Congress
At the recent 3GSM World Congress, STMicroelectronics and Imagination Technologies shared their intent to develop a mobile multimedia entertainment solution, to be known as the Pocket Multimedia Platform. Fathammer showcased its X-Forge 3D game engine running on TI's OMAP processor platform at the Texas Instruments booth. And, reports e-inSite, much of the buzz surrounded embedded Linux player MontaVista, who earned the notice of many networking IC suppliers, OEMs and cell phone makers who were lured by the promise of open-source cost savings. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Cypress Highlights
Cypress Semiconductor brings its USB and timing solutions to the Intel Developer Forum, just one of many to showcase USB 2.0 in demonstrations and presentations. The company also announces that its EZ-USB SX2 intelligent Serial Interface Engine (SIE) has successfully passed the full suite of compliance tests set by the USB Implementers Forum, and it has delivered first revenue shipments and production volumes of the EZ-USB FX2 USB 2.0 microcontroller to Computer Access Technology Corporation for use in the company's Universal Port Tester 2.0 verification system and EL200 industrial USB 2.0-to-Ethernet Link. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
The Low-Tech War on Terrorism
The good news is that hardware and software technology already exist for the implementation of homeland transportation security. The task is to get it in place expeditiously, says EBN's Jack Robertson in his Closer Look column. (Electronic Buyers' News)
Chip News From Embedded Systems 2002
Accent will offer a full range of SoC design services and develop application platform solutions for customers using the MIPS32 4Kc and MIPS64 5Kc cores. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Sanyo Licenses ARM PrimeXsys Wireless Platform
SANYO steps up as the second licensee of the ARM PrimeXsys Wireless Platform, which it will use in its development of multimedia ASICs targeted at the wireless market. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
TI Executive Joins Chip Startup as CEO
TransDimension, an Irvine, CA chip startup, has named Rick Goerner as its new president and CEO. He replaces Ping Liang, the company's CEO since founding, who will assume the role of chairman. Prior to TransDimension, Goerner was president and COO of the Texas Instruments/Silicon Systems Storage Products group, a business unit with more than $1 billion in revenue. (Electronic Buyers' News)
Zoran And Sanyo Ship Improved DVD Technology
Sanyo and Zoran cut out the second microcontroller traditionally used to control the DVD loader drive with their jointly developed, single-chip solution for Sanyo's Vaddis-based DVD player. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
RISC-Based Microprocessors for Cost-Sensitive Embedded Apps
Toshiba and MIPS are collaborating on a next generation 64-bit microprocessor, the TX-99, which will be based on an enhanced MIPS core code-named 'Amethyst.' (ChipCenter: WebScan)
STMicro Debuts ICU Family
STMicroelectronics launches an embedded controller platform, known as FIVE, that combines microcontroller functionality with a dedicated 'Decision Processor' oriented to high-level algorithms and a visual programming approach. The company also shared recent headlines with General Software, who optimized its Embedded BIOS 2000 for STMicro's STPC Atlas SoC. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Xyron Offers Fresh Approach to Solve Processor Latency
Startup IP house Xyron Semiconductor is ready to unveil a new technology that uses SRAM bits to take care of some of the more mundane tasks that can slow down a processor's performance, reports EE Times. Hoping to sell its technology to microprocessor vendors, Xyron believes processor designers are better off throwing more hardware at task switching and interrupt scheduling. Rather than being handled in software, internal and external interrupts are directed to the RTOS hardware. By having this hardware mechanism built into a CPU, the latency normally associated with these tasks is taken out of the picture, allowing a CPU to spend its time doing more useful things like decoding audio and video algorithms, the company said. (EE Times)
Few Surprises Expected at Intel Developer Forum
Though its host would surely claim otherwise, the highlight of this season's Intel Developer Forum may end up being the lack of excitement it generated in the weeks leading up to the conference. As planned, show-goers will get a sneak peeks at the first network processor based on Intel's XScale architecture, the company's new 533-MHz frontside processor bus, the mobile market version of the Pentium 4, and the first Celeron chip based on the Willamette-class version of the P4. (Electronic Buyers' News)
Altera Takes Aim at Xilinx With New PLDs
The odds of Altera blowing Xilinx out of the water with its new Stratix architecture vary, depending on who you ask. Electronic News offers both views on the news, with commentary from Chip Center's own PLD persona, Murray Disman. (Electronic News)
Gbit Ethernet Competition Hits Boiling Point
Three new entrants to the Gigabit Ethernet-over-copper market--Massana, Mysticom and Cicada Semi--are fielding transceiver silicon that will challenge the established players, adding fuel to a market that Dataquest predicts is headed for rapid growth. (EE Times)
Tality Opts Out as QuickLogic Moves In
The close of several design centers are in the works for Tality, who has decided to withdraw from board-level, mechanical and packaging services for wireline data and telecommunications. It will focus, instead, on communications IC design and IP for these markets and on its wireless business. QuickLogic is on the opposite track, opening a new embedded software design center in Bangladore. (e-inSITE)
UMC, Infineon Invest in Security Processor Startup
United Microelectronics and Infineon have invested in Corrent Corp.�s third round of funding. This round, led by United Investments, has raised $16 million, bringing the startup's fundraising total to $32 million. Corrent came on the network security scene 11 months ago with a high-speed network security architecture, and it recently delivered the first samples of what it claims are the industry�s highest performing gigabit-speed SSL processors. (e-inSITE)
Cadence And Agilent Unite to Speed Electronic Design
Cadence Design and Agilent Technologies have announced an electronic and RF alliance to develop IC design solutions for wireless and wireline communications. The news breaks along with competitor Applied Wave Research's announcement of updates to its analysis tool for RF communications. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Chipset Enables Ethernet over VDSL on EdgeXpress Universal Access Platform
Kenetec has selected Infineon�s Octal 10BaseS chipset for the EdgeXpress, its Universal Access Platform. By delivering high-speed voice and data services to businesses over the existing copper telephone infrastructure, 10BaseS eliminates the need to rewire and makes the local loop Ethernet ready. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
GSM/GPRS Alliance
Under the terms of a recent agreement, STMicroelectronics and Alcatel will pursue chipset solutions for the GSM/GPRS wireless connectivity market. The companies will share an IC design team and IP developments driven by ST's ST100 DSP core. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Fifth Generation COACH at PMA
Zoran's COACH V is featured in new cameras at the Photo Marketing Association trade show. Two versions of the Camera on a Chip were launched in January. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
MIPS Technologies Announces Availability of Fastest Licensable Core
MIPS rolls the 64-bit, 600-MHz MIPS64 20Kc hard core at a 0.13-micron fabrication process, designed to achieve a maximum performance of 1370 Dhrystone 2.1 MIPS (with inlining). The 20Kc microarchitecture is scalable to 1-GHz in a 0.10-micron process. The core already is available at 400-MHz in TSMC's 0.18G-micron process. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Alliance Aims at Automotive Electronics
A partnership between Valeo and International Rectifier will birth new power modules earmarked for power electronics systems. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
DATE 2002 Conference to Spotlight IP, SoC Issues
Intellectual property for use in system-on-chip designs will be a major topic at this year's Design Automation and Test in Europe conference. Slated for March 4-8 at the Palais des Congr�s in Paris, the Date conference and exhibition will devote one day each, March 5 and 6, to IP and SoC issues, respectively. (EE Times)
Get Cooking With Cypress MicroSystems and Circuit Cellar
Cypress MicroSystems and Circuit Cellar Magazine kick off the PSoC Design Challenge 2002, where embedded systems designers are invited to concoct the most innovative implementation of Cypress' Programmable SoC technology. The top prize winner will receive $5,000. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Linear Technology Launches
Linear Technology delivers up to 1.2-A of continuous output current at 95% efficiency with its LTC1879--a synchronous, fixed frequency step-down regulator--and introduces the LTC1629-6, a PolyPhase synchronous step-down controller with a 0.6-V reference designed to power high-current, sub-1V ICs such as network processors and graphic chips. Also out, the LTC3704, a current mode positive-to-negative DC/DC controller with wide input voltage range from 2.5-V to 36-V. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
PTSC Makes Intentions Known With ASI Acquisition
Patriot Scientific has signed a Letter of Intent to acquire Aspect SemiQuip International, a private manufacturer of capital equipment used in the production of semiconductor chips. The impending acquisition has PTSC looking to the MEMS market that is targeted by ASI's emerging technology. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
TSMC Champions Silicon Standardization
TSMC's suggestion of standardizing the industry around its technology has some asking whether the company has too much power over small-time foundries who are striving to compete. (Electronic Buyers' News)
Xscale Gathers Team Players for PDA Play-Off
With the official launch of its Xscale, Intel expands the low-power, high-performance options available to PDA developers. The company aims to take its share of wins away from Motorola's DragonBall and TI's OMAP, and Wind River pledges its support with a solution set that includes its Tornado IDE and VxWorks RTOS. Design wins follow close on the heels of the product launch. (EE Times)
Intersil Announcements
Intersil reports that its PRISM WLAN technology has been incorporated into a new Wi-Fi wireless print server and PC card from TROY Wireless. It also unveils three new members of its Endura family: the Endura ISL6557 two- to four-phase, 5-bit VID PWM controller and two micro-sized, 3.3-V single PWM controllers. The company also initiates an alliance with Cisco to jointly develop an 802.11g reference design that will help companies develop client adapters for enterprise and residential networking applications. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Online Training Speeds Embedded Application Design
Motorola invites embedded engineers to explore its 68HC08 line of 8-bit Flash MCUs with a seven-hour, 11-module technical training program, available free of charge in conjunction with TechOnLine. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Silicon-based Image Sensor Captures Three Times Color Resolution
Foveon has announced a new full-color image sensor technology that it claims offers several significant advantages over both CCD- and CMOS-based image sensor designs. The first digital camera design to implement the company's new X3 technology will be the SD9 SLR digital camera from Sigma Corporation. EE Times has more. (e-inSITE)
Automotive Telematics Makers Looking for Leader to Drive Standards Home
Profitability and innovation will remain elusive goals for the telematics market until standards provide some definite direction and industry leaders convince OEMs of the viability of telematics systems, said several participants in a recent SAE roundtable discussion. (EE Times)
Multimedia Platform from Motorola
At the recent PalmSource Expo, Motorola unveiled a new multimedia platform that leverages its DragonBall Super VZ processor, a multimedia controller from MediaQ, a camera module from Sony and TealPoint Software's TealMovie. (e-inSITE)
Patents for Profitability
More and more developers are patenting their innovations in anticipation of the potential rewards of patent infringement. This strategy is making headway in markets ranging from IP to embedded Internet device technology. (EE Times)
DSP Forecast for the Future
A new report from Cahners In-Stat/MDR shows great promise for DSP technology in ASIC design, with performance needs and space limitations driving ever-increasing integration. (Electronic Business)
Intel Eyes Robotic-Controller Sockets for Xscale
Intel may have uncovered a new direction for its chip-making expertise: low-power, high-performance robotic controllers. The interest generated by such products surfaced at a recent symposium that Intel held on the possibilities of robotic uses for its Xscale microarchitecture. Experts in robotics from eight major U.S. research labs were invited to present the state of the art in autonomous robots to engineers at Intel Research. The presentations revealed a common need for lower power combined with higher performance for robots and wireless appliances. (EE Times)
ISSCC Debates
Those looking for a brouhaha at the International Solid-State Circuits Conference almost got one as technologists debated the future of Moore's Law for analog circuits. A panel with digital technologists on one side and analog 'dinosaurs' on the other tried to project the consequences of using nanometer-scaled CMOS devices. And a panel discussion focusing on the possible use of optical interconnects on silicon ICs drew a decidedly skeptical response. Seen as a possible savior for future I/O-limited high-performance devices, optical interconnects were dismissed by several panelists who said the interconnect problem has been overstated. (EE Times)
Spotlight on Cyan
Cyan Technology has secured �2 million in second-round funding from NIF Ventures and The Cambridge Gateway Fund. The investment will be used to further develop the eCOG product family, a series of 16-bit microcontrollers dedicated to high-performance, low-power, and cost-effective networked consumer applications, and to grow Cyan�s sales, marketing, and customer support. The company has just rolled its eCOG1, a 16-bit flash microcontroller specifically designed as a low-power communications engine. eCOG1 is a feature-rich microcontroller targeted at reliable intersystem communications and it comes complete with a comprehensive development toolkit and real-time in-circuit emulator. (Cyan Technology)
As Alchemy Steps into Personal Connectivity, MIPS Lends a Hand
AMD is earning headlines with its acquisition of Alchemy Semiconductor, and MIPS capitalizes on the company's licensing of its technology. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) Generation Techniques Using a Microcontroller
In a Chip Center Networking App Note, Cypress Semi's Dave Bordui shares two techniques for generating DTMF tones or just about any other waveform: the simple square-wave technique, and the more flexible DAC-LUT. (ChipCenter: Networks)
Embedded Intelligence from ARM
ARM will present three papers at the Embedded Intelligence Congress, a special show running alongside Embedded Systems 2002 in Nuremberg from February 19th to 21st. Sessions include: Hardware Architectures, The ARMv6, and Meeting the Challenge of Debugging Today's Complex SoC. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Qualcomm Claims First Zero IF Chipset For Cell Phone Applications
Qualcomm has announced its development of three different multi-mode chipsets for wireless handset applications. The radioOne Zero IF Multimode Chipset Qualcomm's Zero IF chipset has been designed to eliminate the need for IF ICs, SAW filters and VCOs. Featuring a 2.7 to 3.0 volt supply, the new chipset also performs the receive and transmit functions for 3G CDMA2000 1X wireless devices. (Electronic Business)
Speaking Out at ISSCC
In a surprising turn, plenary speaker Dennis Buss, technology VP of Texas Instruments, told show-goers at the International Solid-State Circuits Conference that low-voltage CMOS offered the best hope for building portable Internet appliances, and that problematic analog and RF circuitry could be 're-architected' for compatibility with CMOS processes. ISSCC keynoter Fred Boekhorst, senior VP of research at Philips, predicts that future electronic systems will bring ambient intelligence into everyone's lives, adapting and responding to humans and objects--but not without extraordinary improvements in circuit and system design. (EE Times)
Clean Sweep for National Semi
National Semiconductor's COP8SCR Flash microcontroller has been designed in to a smart digital washing machine by Merloni, enabling the such services such as remote tele-assistance, tele-diagnostics and tele-alarm concepts. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Dip Doesn't Drag Down Optimism
Chip sales showed an overall decrease of 32 percent over 2001, but the Semiconductor Industry Association remains confident that at least a slight increase will become evident beginning in Spring as demand for mobile phones and PCs is expected to rise. (EE Times)
DSP Basics
As DSPs blaze trails through the semiconductor industry, earning increasing design-wins in hosts of multimedia, wireless and imaging applications, Circuit Cellar's Brant Schroeder offers a one-stop source for online information about digital signal processing. (ChipCenter: Circuit Cellar)
ISSCC Show-Down
Intel and Hewlett-Packard will showcase their jointly developed McKinley processor at the International Solid-State Circuits Conference, with paper presentations focusing on the architecture's cache and circuit designs. ArTile Microsystems, Simplex Solutions and Toshiba present a paper detailing their collaboration to create the first-ever design implemented in the new X Architecture, which features the use of diagonal interconnect. The paper discusses the application of the X Architecture to the physical implementation of a RISC processor core, resulting in a 20 percent improvement in design performance and 10 percent savings in design area. (EE Times)
LVDS Devices to Take Divergent Paths to Communications Market
EE Times compares the LVDS strategies of Fairchild and National Semiconductor as revealed by their product showcases at the recent DesignCon show. (EE Times)
QuickSilver Claims Advantages of Adaptive IC
Companies are looking for new ways of combining high-performance with efficiency for the next generation of integrated devices. QuickSilver is just one example--the company has developed what it calls an Adaptive Computing Machine (ACM), designed to offer a low power, fully adaptive chip with silicon architecture that basically changes on the fly to create the specific hardware necessary to perform new or different functions. The company sees its ACM technology as superior and a valid alternative to existing microprocessors, DSP, ASIC and FPGA technologies. (e-inSITE)
Report on ISSCC 2002
EE Design offers an overview of the technical issues being addressed at this year's International Solid-State Circuits Conference, from high-speed ADCs to new standards in communications chips. (Electronic Design)
Taking a Look at Cygnal's C8051F000
Cygnal offers an 8051 with a twist--a fast, low-power device that enables easy reprogrammability, thanks to a flash-based design that eliminates the need for a separate programmer, an EPROM eraser, and an in-circuit emulator. (ChipCenter: Circuit Cellar)
Taking an Active Role in Automotive Safety
Philips and MobilEye BV are constructing an SoC that will enable automotive safety functions like adapative cruise control and forward collision warning, a development that they hope will pave the way for increasingly autonomous driving systems. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Texas Instruments Technology News
TI ramps up a new 0.09-micron logic manufacturing process to propel next generation developments in its DSPs and in Sun UltraSPARCs. The company also rolls what it hails as the industry's first family of ICs combining an LDO regulator and a single switch with a dual current limit for power management in USB applications. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Trio Spotlights Semiconductor Issues
In anticipation of the International Solid-State Circuits Conference, EE Times hosted a meeting of the minds with Sun Microsystems' David Greenhill, IBM's Jeffrey Welser, and Nick Tredennick of the Dynamic Silicon Newsletter. Their conversation mixes up process and materials and adds a touch of reconfigurable computing as the icing on the cake. (EE Times)
Xilinx Announces Alliances
Nu Horizons Electronics and Xilinx have announced the availability of the Engineering Solutions Platform, a high-end modular development solution based on Xilinx' Virtex-II FPGAs. Xilinx has also introduced new Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) IP cores and services with partners Amphion Semiconductor, CAST and Helion Technology. (ChipCenter: WebScan)
Avnet Program Aims to Simplify Complex Designs
A new partnership program unites the development tools and design services of Avnet's engineering branch with component partners who will jointly piece together platform solutions for board-level systems and system-on-chip designs. Charter members include National Semiconductor, Motorola, Philips Semiconductors, Xilinx and emWare. (EE Times)
Designing a 50-Watt Flyback Converter 101
Texas Instruments' Lisa Dinwoodie pens a Chip Center column on power conversion, targeting the hardware engineer who is suddenly tasked with designing an isolated, low-power converter; one that is cheap, small, and efficient. It steps through the design procedure for the power stage of a typical flyback converter. (ChipCenter: Analog Avenue)
Form, Fit and Function in $1500 DSOs
Test & Measurement World editors scope out four low-cost DSOs of different types and reporte their findings on performance and usability. (Test & Measurement World)
PWM and Synchronous Rectifier Controller ASICs
A report available through NASA Tech Briefs describes two radiation-hard ASICs that constitute a mixed-signal chip set that performs all the control functions for a power-converter module (PCM) in a spacecraft power-supply system. One of these ASICs serves mainly as a PWM controller for the circuitry on the primary side of a transformer in the module; the other ASIC is mainly a synchronous rectifier controller (SRC) for the circuitry on the secondary side of the transformer. (NASA Tech Briefs)
Real-Time-Programmable Reconfigurable-Vision Active-Pixel Sensors
Images can be subdivided in real-time into overlapping windows with different spatial resolutions. Active-pixel IC image sensors that can be programmed in real-time to effect artificial reconfigurable vision on demand have been developed and demonstrated. (NASA Tech Briefs)
Separate Emissions by Bandwidth
Set up your EMI receiver or spectrum analyzer correctly to insure valid emissions measurements. (Test & Measurement World)
Shera Licenses DCT's Lightfoot Java Core
Shera International has acquired a license to use DCT's Lightfoot Java processor core for inclusion in a secure SoC. The project, scheduled for Q3 completion, will deliver a single-chip microcontroller for embedded applications requiring secure communications. The chip will integrate DCT's 32-bit Lightfoot core with industry-standard communication ports, analog and digital I/O, on-chip program and data Flash, hardware-assisted encryption processing, plus proprietary I/O to support the particular design requirements of Shera's client base. (DCT)
Using Nonlinear Filters for Better Signal Fidelity
Simple linear digital filters are useful in many noise-reduction applications, but rather inadequate for data-cleaning applications. This EDN submission offers some real-world examples and advice on implementing scale-invariant nonlinear digital filters in such circumstances. (EDN)

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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