Serving the Electronic Design Community Since 1956
Security Goes Beyond Cryptography
March 20, 2008 9:45 am | by Jon Titus, Senior Technical Editor | Articles | Comments“When engineers start to network devices, security becomes a top design requirement,” said Tim Stapko, lead software engineer at Digi International. “But many designers of embedded systems just don’t think about security. When they do, they might consider security as an add-in option or think of security as simply encrypting communications.”
GPS Modules put Products on the Map
March 20, 2008 9:42 am | by Jon Titus, Senior Technical Editor | Articles | CommentsWhen a product such as a child locator, surveying instrument, or autonomous vehicle requires position information, a GPS module can provide it. Prices for devices that provide this information range from less than a dollar for chips used in cell phones to hundreds of dollars for modules and boards that offer high accuracy. Cell-phone GPS receivers might get you “close enough,” but higher-end modules can offer centimeter accuracy. “At its simplest, a GPS receiver acquires satellite signals, decodes their information, and calculates a position, time, and velocity,” explained Joel Avey, director of marketing at Trimble for the company’s advanced devices.
Physical Layer Package Expands FlexRay Testing Capability
March 20, 2008 8:00 am | Product Releases | CommentsProviding eye diagram mask test and physical layer measurement parameters to LeCroy’s WaveRunner Xi oscilloscope for FlexRay testing, a physical layer test package combines with existing protocol triggers and decode tools to create a single instrument that can conduct advanced FlexRay triggering, protocol decoding and physical layer test. Allowing automotive engineers to effectively debug the FlexRay protocol and efficiently verify signal integrity, the solution includes tools such as trigger and decode for CAN, LIN, I2C, SPI UART with mixed-signal oscilloscope options make the package well suited for embedded controller design and debug with support for 10 Mb/s, 5 Mb/s and 2.5 Mb/s standard data rates.
SMT DC/DC Converters Feature Internal SMD Construction
March 20, 2008 7:56 am | Product Releases | CommentsV-Infinity announced the VAT0.25 and VBT0.25 series of 0.25W DC/DC converters that feature a SMT package and internal SMD construction. They are designed to convert fixed voltages into isolated voltages and do not require a heatsink or external components. These series are suited for a wide range of applications including mixed analog/digital circuits, test and measurement equipment, process/machine controls, and datacom/telecom fields.
Inkjet Printhead Presents Five-times the Resolution than Screen Printing
March 20, 2008 7:53 am | Product Releases | CommentsTrident's 256Jet-D inkjet printhead features a durable, serviceable design and stainless steel construction for printing of a variety of direct write, printable electronic applications with up to five times higher resolution than possible with screen printing, according to the company. The printhead can be used for printing traces, contacts, embedded passives and components (resistors, capacitors, inductors, etc.) on printed circuit boards as well as for the printing of flexible photovoltaics
100 MHz Crystal Oscillator Provides High-speed, Current-steering Logic Output
March 20, 2008 7:16 am | Product Releases | CommentsMaxim Integrated Products introduced the DS4100H 100 MHz, HCSL-output crystal oscillator (XO) for PCI Express applications. Said to be the first XO to provide a high-speed, current-steering logic (HCSL) output, the DS4100H eliminates the need to translate from CMOS, LVDS, or LVPECL formats to HCSL. Manufactured using a fundamental AT-cut crystal technology, it integrates a
Illuminated LED Toggle Switch Series Display Circuit Status for Multiple Applications
March 20, 2008 5:27 am | Product Releases | CommentsNKK Switches announced the M2100 series of LED-tipped miniature toggle switches, and the TL series of illuminated standard-size toggle switches. The two series offer engineers an array of highly visible lighted electromechanical toggle switches that display circuit status for multiple applications ranging from hand held devices to front panel interfaces. The M2100 series of miniature LED-tipped toggles are available in power or logic level rated options.
Oscilloscopes Feature Large Display, Fast Waveform Update Rate
March 19, 2008 12:46 pm | Agilent Technologies | Product Releases | CommentsAgilent Technologies expanded its mixed-signal and digital-storage oscilloscope portfolio with 10 new models that comprise its next-generation InfiniiVision 7000 Series. The series offers bandwidths up to 1 GHz and a deep memory waveform update rate of up to 100,000 waveforms per second. Each model, equipped with a 12.1-inch XGA LCD display comes in a package that is 7" deep and weighs 14 lb.
USB to Synchronous Cable Enables IP Data Communications for Tactical Radios
March 19, 2008 12:39 pm | Product Releases | CommentsSealevel Systems’ ACC-188 USB Synchronous Interface Adapter enables tactical radios currently used by the U.S. Armed Forces to interface to PCs and transmit IP based data. According to the company, the adapter allows warfighters to quickly transmit and receive data such as GPS maps, images, coordinates, and IM type communications.
Op Amp Combines High Voltage and High Accuracy
March 19, 2008 12:31 pm | Product Releases | CommentsTexas Instruments introduced a precision power operational amplifier (op amp) which operates on supplies up to 100V and provides a high output current of ±50mA with a 150 mA short circuit limit. The OPA454 is unity-gain stable and can track fast moving signals since it has a slew rate of 10V/µs and gain-bandwidth product of 2.5 MHz. It features a single or dual supply of ±4V (8V) to±50V (100V).
Linear Regulator Cuts MSP430 System Standby Power In Half
March 19, 2008 11:17 am | Product Releases | CommentsConsuming what is presented as the lowest quiescent current in the industry at 500nA, the Texas Instruments' TPS780xx LDO also has a voltage select pin for designers to dynamically shift to a lower voltage level in a MSP430 microcontroller-based battery-powered design when the microprocessor is in sleep mode to cut power by as much as half. Stable with any output capacitor greater than 0.1µF
Designing Appliances that Communicate
March 19, 2008 10:03 am | by Bob Gohn, vice president marketing, Ember Corporation | Articles | CommentsThe need for our appliances to be networked is rapidly emerging, and fortunately, so are the means with the advent of ZigBee low-cost wireless platforms.
Miniature Signal Conditioning IC Enhances Optical Sensors' Proximity and Object Detection
March 19, 2008 7:55 am | Product Releases | CommentsAvago Technologies today announced a miniature single-chip signal conditioning IC that is said to enhance the performance and robustness of optical sensors used for proximity or object detection in consumer and industrial applications. When used with optical proximity sensors, the APDS-9700 signal conditioning IC provides
Synchronous Data Acquisition Products Offer High-speed Performance Over Ethernet
March 19, 2008 6:54 am | Product Releases | CommentsDATAQ Instruments announced the DI-785 and DI-788 Ethernet data acquisition models. Multiple units, separated by over 100m, can synchronize at samples rates as high as 180 KHz per unit by simply daisy-chaining ordinary CAT-5 cables between them. With up to 32 fully isolated channels per box, and support for as many as eight simultaneously connected boxes
Switching Regulators are Pin Compatible
March 19, 2008 6:27 am | Product Releases | CommentsMEGA Electronics’ M78 0.5A and 1.0A switching regulators are suited to replace 78xx linear regulators and are pin compatible. With efficiencies up to 96 percent very little energy is wasted as heat, eliminating the need for heat sinks and reducing overall weight. The regulators include a thermal shutdown, short circuit protection with continuous automatic recovery and low ripple and noise. Normal operating temperatures are from
