Electronic Design UPDATE: August 4, 2004

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Electronic Design UPDATE e-Newsletter
Electronic Design Magazine 
PlanetEE ==> www.planetee.com
August 4, 2004
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Today's Table Of Contents:
1. Editor's View
  * Flash Memory Is On A Roll
2. Focus On Power
  * Advanced Process Makes Mightier MOSFETs
3. News From The Editors
  * Plastic Six-Pin DIP Relays Suit Mil-Aero
  * LCD Modules Feature Dual Power Capability 
  * Wideband Noise, Jitter Analyzer Has Low Residual Noise
4. Upcoming Industry Events
  * IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society Symposium
  * Embedded Software Development Conference
  * International Display Research Conference and Fourth International 
Meeting on Information Display
  * International Conference on the Commercialization of Micro and Nano 
    Systems
5. Magazine Highlights: July 19, 2004
  * Cover Feature: Technology Report -- Analog Front Ends Max Out 
    Performance
  * Leapfrog: First Look -- Instrument Advances Help Communications 
    Design
  * Leapfrog: First Look -- Low-Cost FPGAs Spin Out High Performance
  * Design View / Design Solution -- Using LCD Panels For TVs Takes 
    Technology To The Outer Limits

Electronic Design UPDATE edited by John Novellino, Executive Editor

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HURRY! HURRY! YOU CAN WIN $500. PHOTO ESSAY CONTEST: AUGUST 6 DEADLINE!
Electronic Design presents "A Day in the Life of an Electronics 
Designer" photo essay contest. Grab your camera and snap away to show 
the "guts and glory" of you (and your team) at work. We'll publish the 
winning photos as part of our September 13 YOUR Most Important Issue of 
the Year, our annual special edition focusing on EE career issues. You 
can win $500 for best photo series, $250 for best single photo, or $50 
if we use any of your photos in the issue.

Deadline for submissions is August 6. Be sure to include names and 
titles of all photo subjects, as well as company name and the type of 
work-in-process that the photo illustrates.
Submit photos digitally to: mailto:[email protected]
Or mail to: Mark David, Editor-In-Chief
Electronic Design, 45 Eisenhower Drive, Paramus, NJ 07652
Or call Mark at: (201) 845-2467 

*****

2004 BALLOT For Electronic Design's ENGINEERING HALL OF FAME
It's time to elect the Class Of 2004 to our Engineering Hall Of Fame. 
Here's your opportunity to vote for this year's inductees. Our ONLINE 
BALLOT allows you to vote for as many nominees as you deem worthy and to 
name your own candidates, too.

Go To Zoomerang ==> 
http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eA0Gl4E70Fh10BKI30AZ

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BE SURE TO VISIT Electronic Design's Web site, where the power of 
Electronic Design is a mouse click away! Read our Web exclusives, enjoy 
our Quick Poll, discover Featured Vendors, access our archives, share 
viewpoints in our Forums, explore our e-newsletters, and more.

TAKE OUR CURRENT QUICK POLL:
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Go to Electronic Design ==> http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eA0Gl4E70Fh10BGmZ0Ak

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1. Editor's View -- Exclusive to Electronic Design UPDATE
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Flash Memory Is On A Roll

By Dave Bursky, Digital ICs/DSP Editor

Flash memory has become the digital film of the future, replacing rolls 
of film in still cameras and videotape in the new MPEG-4 digital video 
cameras. Memory manufacturers like Samsung, Micron, and Toshiba have 
pushed features to the limit, creating 90-nm chips that can store 2 
Gbits using standard single-bit/cell storage schemes and 4 Gbits/chip 
when multilevel cell (MLC) technology is used. These numbers will double 
as process features drop to 65 nm and below. Companies such as SanDisk 
and M-Systems are working hand in hand with memory suppliers to develop 
not only the memory chips but also the control circuits that will help 
optimize performance by providing error checking and correction (ECC), 
wear leveling, and data encryption.
   Flash memory once cost substantially more per bit than almost every 
other memory technology. But now that costs have been drastically 
reduced due to advances in architectures such as NAND flash and the 
MLC, which doubles the effective density, new applications are 
opening in general-purpose data storage as well.
   In addition to the widespread use of NAND-based flash chips in memory 
cards that can plug into digital cameras, MP3 players, digital video 
handycams, and cell phones, NAND-based chips are becoming the 
dominant memory architecture employed in USB-based memory plug-in 
devices for laptop and desktop systems. Furthermore, companies such 
as M-Systems have developed an embedded flash architecture suited to 
creating small solid-state replacements for hard disk drives. These 
devices look just like IDE hard drives to the operating system.
   The USB attachable memories are fast becoming the solid-state 
alternative to floppy and other high-density removable disks (zip 
disks, for example). USB memory sticks now come in capacities from 
about 8 Mbytes to 2 Gbytes in a wide variety of packaging options, 
some of which also include a fingerprint sensor and controller to 
prevent unauthorized access to stored data. Such security is needed 
since the plug-in devices are now being used to hold more and more 
company critical data, from strategic corporate marketing 
presentations to the latest corporate financial data and 
specifications for forthcoming products.
   NOR-based flash memories are also used in this part of the market. 
But the chip densities aren't as high, typically peaking at 128 Mbits 
for now, and that could make them a more expensive alternative to 
NAND-flash options. The one-bit-per-cell NOR-based devices don't have 
any data integrity issues though, providing a solid platform for 
program and data storage. Indications are that the two-bit-per-cell 
NOR implementations are also pretty stable and may not need the ECC 
overhead. 
   The NAND flash industry still faces some challenges. To achieve the 
higher density using MLC memories, designers of USB memory sticks 
have to provide some level of error checking and correction, since 
the MLC cells are more prone to data loss than single-bit/cell 
schemes. In the consumer memory card market, the loss of a bit or two 
won't make much difference when viewing megapixel images or listening 
to an MP3 audio file.
   Yet USB memory sticks target a broader range of applications, 
including the storage of program code and data. Missing or incorrect 
bits would play havoc with that type of storage. Many memory sticks 
pack a processor that performs ECC operations as well as encrypts the 
data to protect the information if the USB device should get lost. 
The processor can also perform wear leveling, a scheme that monitors 
the number of write operations to each memory cell and distributes 
the writes more evenly across all the cells in the memory chips, 
preventing one portion of the chip from wearing out too early. 

To comment on this Editor's View, go to Reader Comments at the foot of 
the Web page:  

Electronic Design UPDATE ==> 
http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eA0Gl4E70Fh10BKI40Aa

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2. Focus On Power
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***Advanced Process Makes Mightier MOSFETs 
Two 30-V MOSFETs take advantage of the PowerTrench process technology, 
which yields a very low Miller charge (Qgd), Rds(on), and total gate 
charge (Qg) and improves gate-drain charge to gate-source charge ratio 
(Qgd/Qgs). The FDS6294's very low Qgd, 3 nC (typical), provides 
excellent performance in high-frequency, narrow duty-cycle switching 
operations. This is well-suited to high-efficiency synchronous buck 
power-supply designs for notebook computers. The FDS6294 has an Rds(on) 
of 11.3 mohms max and comes in an SO-8 package. In addition to boasting 
a low Miller charge, Rds(on), Qg, and a Qgd/Qgs less than 1, the 
FDS7288N3 comes in an SO-8 FLMP (flipchip in a leaded molded package). 
This technology offers a very low junction-to-case thermal resistance, 
low electrical resistance, and low package inductance. The device is 
lead-free and complies with EU standards taking effect in 2005. For 
1000-piece lots, the FDS6294 costs $0.78, and the FDS7288N3 costs $1.52. 
Both are available eight weeks after ordering.
     Fairchild Semiconductor ==> http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eA0Gl4E70Fh10pdF0Aq 

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3. News -- From The Editors
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***Plastic Six-Pin DIP Relays Suit Mil-Aero
Two plastic solid-state relays that come in six-pin dual-inline packages 
(DIPs) suit commercial, military, and aerospace applications. The ZD20CF 
series of 2-A, 60-V dc relays offers short-circuit/overload protection 
up to 33 V dc. The ZD24CC series of 500-mA, 80-V dc units offers 
protection up to 60 V dc and features trip status feedback. The relay 
also detects overloads such as a high current surge. Once tripped, the 
devices remain off until the overload or short is corrected and the 
relay is cycled. Both devices optically isolate control circuits from 
load transients and eliminate ground loops and signal ground noise. A 
low off-state leakage current ensures a high off-state impedance. The 
relays also come in a surface-mount package. The ZD20CF and ZD24CC cost 
$18 each in lots of 10,000. Lead time is 10 weeks.
     Teledyne Relays ==> http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eA0Gl4E70Fh10BKI50Ab 

***LCD Modules Feature Dual Power Capability
The LM42315 and LM62315 displays use the 128-by-240 LCD module with the 
T6963-compatible AX6963 controller and come in 5- and 3.3-V versions. 
The modules ensure the long-term availability of a module compatible 
with the LM4229 display. The LM42315 is offered with a white, 
yellow-green, red, or yellow-green and red bicolor LED backlight, while 
the LM62315 has a high-brightness, long-life CFL backlight. Options 
include on-board negative voltage, temperature compensation, and 
touchscreen capabilities. FSTN and STN gray, yellow, and blue modes are 
available. OEM prices start at $53.87 each for 1000 pieces. Delivery is 
from stock to 10 weeks.
     Densitron Corp. ==> http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eA0Gl4E70Fh10BKI60Ac 

***Wideband Noise, Jitter Analyzer Has Low Residual Noise
Less than 1 ps of residual noise and a residual noise floor of 0.001 ps 
set the PN9500 wideband noise and jitter analyzer apart. It measures 
phase noise up to 500 MHz and can be configured to measure any kind of 
source from 2 MHz to 140 GHz. Other features include dynamic range of 
0.001 ps rms on a 10-GHz buffer, true peak-to-peak jitter capability 
with selectable mask filters and a peak-to-peak detector, and 
easy-to-use "auto" functions. The analyzer goes for $37,500.
     Aeroflex ==> http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eA0Gl4E70Fh10BCIT0Ay 

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4. Upcoming Industry Events
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Aug. 13-15, IEEE Product Safety Engineering Society Symposium
Santa Clara, Calif.
http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eA0Gl4E70Fh10BKBH0An

Aug. 17-19, Embedded Software Development Conference
San Jose, Calif.
http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eA0Gl4E70Fh10BKI70Ad

Aug. 23-27, 24th International Display Research Conference and Fourth 
International Meeting on Information Display
Daegu, Korea
http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eA0Gl4E70Fh10BKBI0Ao 

Aug. 29-Sep. 2, Ninth International Conference on the Commercialization 
of Micro and Nano Systems
Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eA0Gl4E70Fh10BKI80Ae 

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5. Magazine Highlights
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In case you missed them, here are some of the high points of our most 
recent issue.

July 19, 2004:

* Cover Feature: Technology Report -- Analog Front Ends Max Out 
  Performance
These mixed-signal chips fit their target applications like a glove, 
speeding up system design and ultimately time-to-market.
http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eA0Gl4E70Fh10BKBJ0Ap

* Leapfrog: First Look -- Instrument Advances Help Communications Design
One company's horde of signal sources, enhanced analyzers, power meters, 
and connectivity test sets splashes down on IMS.
http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eA0Gl4E70Fh10BKBK0Aq

* Leapfrog: First Look -- Low-Cost FPGAs Spin Out High Performance
Leveraging 90-nm process rules and a logic architecture that minimizes 
chip area, the Cyclone II FPGAs deliver a cost-sensitive, 
high-performance solution.
http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eA0Gl4E70Fh10BKBL0Ar

* Design View / Design Solution -- Using LCD Panels For TVs Takes 
  Technology To The Outer Limits
http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eA0Gl4E70Fh10BKBM0As

For the complete Table of Contents, go to 
Electronic Design ==> 
http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eA0Gl4E70Fh10BKBN0At

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CONTACTS: Electronic Design UPDATE e-NEWSLETTER
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Editorial: Lucinda Mattera, Associate Chief Editor:
mailto:[email protected]

Advertising/Sponsorship Opportunities: Bill Baumann, 
Publisher: 
mailto:[email protected]
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