Electronic Design UPDATE: July 6, 2005

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Electronic Design UPDATE e-Newsletter
Electronic Design Magazine
PlanetEE ==> www.planetee.com
July 6, 2005
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Today's Table Of Contents:
1. News Focus
  *Low-Power Transceiver Links Medical Implants With Basestation
2. News From The Editors
  *TV Tuner Chip Targets Handhelds
  *ETX Module Supports Pentium M
  *Photo ICs Offer High Speed In A Small Package
3. TechView Scope
  *White LEDs Illuminate The Third World's Future
4. Upcoming Industry Events
  *Intl Symposium on Low Power Electronics
  *LinuxWorld Conference and Expo
  *2005 Digital Power Forum
5. Book Review
  *"Stuff You Don't Learn In Engineering School: Skills for Success 
   in the Real World"

Electronic Design UPDATE edited by Lisa Maliniak, eMedia Editor
mailto:[email protected]
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Need To Go Green? We Can Help!

The European Union, as well as Japan and China, are about to 
restrict the use of environmentally hazardous materials in 
electronic components and systems through the Restrictions on 
Hazardous Substances (RoHS) directive. Electronic Design's RoHS 
Reference Center has the information you need to make the shift to 
green designs. The second chapter of our eBook, "Electronic Design's 
Guide To New International Environmental Laws," is now available for 
download. And don't miss our comprehensive list of industry and 
government Web sites and contacts. 

http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=DC86:1001CD

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1. News Focus
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Low-Power Transceiver Links Medical Implants With Basestation 

The ZL70100 transceiver chip from Zarlink merges RF and 
ultra-low-power technology to create a device designed exclusively 
for wireless communication systems that link implanted medical 
devices and basestations. Applications for this new transceiver 
include implanted pacemakers, defibrillators, neurostimulators, and 
blood-glucose sensors. 
   The transceiver operates in the Medical Implant Communication 
Service (MICS) band at 402 to 405 MHz and the ISM band at 433 to 
434 MHz. The chip fully complies with the complete MICS standard 
defined by the FCC and European Telecommunications Standards 
Institute (ETSI).
   Zarlink's RF technology allows high-speed 500-kbit/s data 
transmission over a typical two-meter range. In comparison, many 
previous implanted communication systems relied on magnetic 
coupling between coils in an in-body device and a basestation. 
This previous approach operated up to a 10-cm range with data 
transmission rates of less than 100 kbits/s.
   The ZL70100 supports transmission rates of 800 kbits/s for raw 
data and 500 kbits/s for usable data, while consuming less than 5 
mA of supply current when active. With the ability to 
aggressively duty-cycle the radio transceiver, the ZL70100 lets 
implanted devices quickly transmit large amounts of patient 
health and device performance data with minimum impact on the 
battery life of the implanted device.
   Average "sleep" current is a key design factor in implanted 
medical devices because most do not require constant 
communication and instead transmit data on a scheduled or 
as-required basis. The ZL70100 radio transceiver contains an 
ultra-low-power wakeup system with an average current demand of 
just 200 nA. In addition, high integration means that the ZL70100 
chip requires just two external components excluding antenna 
matching, enabling manufacturers to use substrate space savings 
to increase battery size and support advanced functionality while 
also lowering bill-of-materials costs. 
   The industrial-grade ZL70100 transceiver chip for basestations is 
the first device available in this product line. It is available 
now in a 48-pin QFN package or as bare die. The device is 
supported by an evaluation board and reference design. 
Qualification of the same transceiver chip for implantable 
applications is currently under way. The implantable device will 
be available later this year.
     Zarlink Semiconductor ==> 
http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=DC81:1001CD

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2. News -- From The Editors
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***TV Tuner Chip Targets Handhelds
The MT2260 single-chip tuner supports U.S. and European mobile TV 
broadcast networks. Targeted for cell phones and other handheld 
systems, it operates across the European UHF (470 to 890 MHz) and 
U.S. L-band (1670 to 1675 MHz), the spectra currently allocated for 
DVB-H broadcast TV services. The chip, based on a patent-pending 
architecture, will let mobile-device users view real-time broadcast 
TV with full-motion, high-quality video and CD-quality sound. 
Implemented in a silicon-germanium process, the tuner chip comes in 
a 6- by 6-mm, 40-contact QFN package. It consumes as little as 20 mW 
in viewing mode when operating from a 2.7-V supply. Power-down and 
sleep modes are both incorporated to further conserve battery power. 
An integrated pre-amp filter trims system cost and helps reduce 
interference from a mobile phone transmitter. The MT2260 is sampling 
now and costs $5 apiece in lots of 10,000 units.
     Microtune Inc. ==> http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=DC8A:1001CD

***ETX Module Supports Pentium M
The ETX-IM333, based on Intel's 855GME chip set, supports the 2-GHz 
Pentium M and 1.3-GHz Celeron processors. The module includes 
interfaces for CRT/LVDS displays with resolutions up to 1280 by 1024 
pixels. It also features 10/100 Ethernet, Ultra ATA EIDE, four USB 
2.0 ports, AC'97 Audio, serial and parallel ports, and PS/2 keyboard 
and mouse ports. The ETX module costs $975.
     Adlink ==> http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=DC89:1001CD

***Photo ICs Offer High Speed In A Small Package
The S9684 series of photo ICs combines high sensitivity and high 
speed in a compact package. The ICs target laser-beam detection 
applications such as print start timers for laser printers, digital 
copiers, and fax machines. Each device achieves highly stable 
digital output--even when laser power or ambient temperature 
fluctuates--by comparing the two signals from its dual-element 
silicon PIN photodiode. Both photo ICs in the series have high 
sensitivity due to a current amplifier with two gain levels. The 
S9684 has 20-time gain, while the S9684-01 has six-time gain. 
Maximum rise and fall time is 5 ns, and maximum propagation delay 
time variation is +/-5 ns. The compact surface-mount package 
measures 3 by 1.3 by 4 mm. Pricing is $2.91 in small quantities. 
Delivery is five to six weeks ARO.
     Hamamatsu Corp. ==> http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=DC88:1001CD

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3. TechView Scope 
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White LEDs Illuminate The Third World's Future

White LEDs can save the world--or at least a lot of money and oil, 
especially in developing countries. Evan Mills of Berkeley Lab's 
Environmental Energy Technologies Division believes that highly 
efficient, cost-effective white LEDs can replace the inefficient, 
polluting kerosene lamps commonly used for illumination in the third 
world. In turn, this would save 77 billion liters of fuel and $38 
billion each year. 
   More than 1.6 billion people in the world have no access to 
electricity and must rely on lamps that burn kerosene, diesel, 
propane, or biomass-based fuels for light. But these fuel-based 
lamps emit more than 100 kg of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere 
each year for an annual total of about 190 metric tons. They also 
generate 1/500th the illumination of electric light sources, with 
much lower energy efficiency. 
   White LED systems, on the other hand, are far superior. 
Solar-powered white LEDs could cost $25 each without the need for 
subsidy. Annually, users would save up to a month's income by 
using them instead of fuel-based lamps. White-LED lamps also are 
rugged and portable. They use direct current, have long service 
lives, and could even run on widely available AA batteries. 
   "Efficiencies of only 5 lumens per watt in the mid-1990s are 
moving towards 100 lumens per watt (compared to 0.1 lumen per 
watt for a flame-based lantern)," Mills writes in the May 27, 
2005 issue of Science. "Commercially available 1-W WLEDs require 
80% less power than the smallest energy-efficient compact 
fluorescent lamps and can be run on rechargeable batteries 
charged by a solar array the size of a paperback novel."
   There are several key steps before these inexpensive and 
efficient wonders could be distributed to the areas of the world 
that need them the most. Manufacturers would have to design and 
field-test affordable high-performance systems for different 
applications like reading, cottage industries, schools, and 
public areas. Pilot programs would need to be mounted. And, 
viable business models for reaching the target markets would have 
to be developed. 
   "As they modernize, developing countries can select better 
technologies, and in so doing surpass levels of efficiency 
typical of industrialized nations," Mills writes. In fact, such 
LEDs could deliver more light than 100-W light bulbs.
     Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory ==> http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=DC8B:1001CD

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4. Upcoming Industry Events
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August 8-10, International Symposium on Low Power Electronics and 
Design (ISLPED) 2005
San Diego, Calif.
http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=DC82:1001CD

August 8-11, LinuxWorld Conference and Expo
San Francisco, Calif.
http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=DC87:1001CD

September 12-14, 2005 Digital Power Forum (DPF)
Wakefield, Mass.
http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=DC83:1001CD

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5. Book Review
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"Stuff You Don't Learn In Engineering School: Skills for Success in 
the Real World"
By Carl Selinger

Let's face it, engineers are not known for their charismatic people 
skills. However, most engineers can't make it on technical skills 
alone. Other, more people-oriented skills are essential for a 
successful career. Engineers need to be able to promote their ideas, 
share them with others, and work with a wide variety of people. 
"Stuff You Don't Learn In Engineering School" is designed to teach 
these skills and thereby help its readers become effective and 
proficient in the corporate world...

Read the full book review at 
http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=DC7F:1001CD

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Embedded in Electronic Design (EiED) Online is your source for 
technical insight and hands-on reviews. Read Bill Wong's latest EiED 
Online column, "Getting On The Network: Fast." NetBurner's 
Coldfire-based MOD5270 development kit cuts initial development time 
down to hours, not days.
http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=DC7E:1001CD

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TAKE A POLL!

If you're an amateur radio operator, which best describes you?

-- I design and build my station equipment
-- I'm an avid kit builder
-- I scratch-build gear from books or magazines
-- I'm an appliance operator

Vote at Electronic Design ==> http://www.elecdesign.com

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Designing With Video Signals

Dealing with digital video signals in the analog world can be 
tricky. Arm yourself with knowledge and download our eBook, 
"Analog/Mixed-Signal Components For 21st Century Video," by 
Analog/Power Editor Don Tuite. Chapter 1 covers the basics, and the 
recently added Chapter 2 discusses interfacing video amps to 
digital-to-analog converters.

http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=DC84:1001CD

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CONTACTS: Electronic Design UPDATE e-NEWSLETTER
==================================

Editorial: Mark David, Editor-in-Chief
mailto:[email protected]

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