Electronic Design UPDATE: April 21, 2004

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Electronic Design UPDATE e-Newsletter
Electronic Design Magazine 
PlanetEE ==> http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eA0DJhUf0A0Jvu0Ax
April 21, 2004
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Today's Table Of Contents:
1. Editor's View
  * Broadband Over Powerline Should Boost Competition, Lower Prices
2. Focus On Embedded Systems
  * Harnessing Software For Routing
3. News From The Editors
  * Analog/Mixed-Signal Process Allows Operation To 60 V
  * Motion-Control Card Delivers Advanced Features
  * Worldwide Semiconductor Sales Climb To $15.58 Billion
4. Upcoming Industry Events  
  * IEEE Workshop on Electronic Design Processes
  * Reconfigurable Architectures Workshop
5. Magazine Highlights: April 12, 2004
  * Cover Story: Engineering Feature -- Electronic Waste: Be Part Of The 
    Solution
  * Leapfrog: First Look -- 3D Graphics/Video Engine Puts Punch In 
    Portable Systems
  * Leapfrog: First Look -- Dual-Core DSP Serves Up 40-Bit Precise 
    GFLOPS
  * Design View / Design Solution -- Design Maximum Data Flow Into Your 
    Communications System
  

Electronic Design UPDATE edited by John Novellino

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Go to: http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eA0DJhUf0A03Hf0AZ

TAKE OUR CURRENT QUICK POLL:
How important is the issue of electronic waste today? Post your comments 
online for the April 12th cover story (ED Online 7820) or this issue's 
Editorial (ED Online 7819).

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1. Editor's View -- Exclusive to Electronic Design UPDATE
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Broadband Over Powerline Should Boost Competition, Lower Prices

By Louis E. Frenzel, Communications/Networking Editor

After years of technological development, testing, and regulatory 
wrangling, a new form of broadband access is poised for takeoff. Known 
as Broadband over Powerline (BPL), this technology offers high-speed 
Internet access similar to cable TV and digital subscriber line (DSL). 
BPL puts high-speed digital data on the existing ac power lines using 
special modulation techniques. The electrical utilities are excited 
about a potential new revenue stream from their existing infrastructure.
   Today, well over 20 million households have some form of high-speed 
broadband Internet access. Most of it is supplied by cable TV 
companies like Cox and Time Warner. Many local phone companies also 
supply DSL Internet access. The number of cable Internet subscribers 
is roughly twice the number of DSL subscribers. With BPL coming 
online, consumers will have a third choice that should kick the 
competition up a notch and help lower monthly rates. Furthermore, one 
of the real benefits of BPL is that for the first time, many small 
towns and rural areas will finally get some broadband service.
   BPL is expected to provide downloads at rates up to about 3 Mbits/s. 
That is almost as good as the best cable TV and DSL services. In 
general, the monthly rate should be on par or even less than the $30 
to $50 per month for cable and DSL.
   In February, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) fully 
authorized BPL service so the utilities could go ahead and implement 
systems. About a dozen test systems have been in operation for a year 
or so with great success. So, we can expect to see this new service 
coming soon.
   One of the potential downsides of BPL is interference. The broadband 
modulation techniques used cover a range of 1 to 30 MHz. With those 
signals floating around power lines, there could be interference to 
radio services. The amateur radio community is really up in arms 
about BPL possibly interfering with ham radio communications in their 
HF bands. The American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the official 
spokes-organization for amateur radio, has lobbied the FCC about BPL, 
but to little avail. The FCC says that there may be some interference 
even though BPL must conform to standards for radiation under Part 15 
of the FCC rules and regulations. Despite the fuss, it looks like BPL 
will go ahead.
   While the radiation from the power lines will be real, I suspect the 
signal level to be pretty low. If a ham's station and antenna are 
close to the power lines, there may be some interference. How many 
hams will be impacted? Hard to say, but probably not many.
   This situation is like the outcry about ultra-wideband (UWB) 
communications from a few years ago. UWB uses short pulses with a 
huge bandwidth for short-range communications. The concern was that 
it would interfere with all manner of microwave communications, such 
as cell phones, GPS, and services in the unlicensed 2.4-GHz band. Did 
that occur? Not really, simply because the Part 15 radiation levels 
are so strict. I predict that the same will occur with BPL. Even 
though I am a licensed ham (W5LEF) and work the HF bands, I'm not 
that worried. My amateur radio colleagues will probably hate me for 
saying this, but I believe the ARRL's response was overkill. I've 
been a member of ARRL for practically all of my adult life, and I am 
happy the group is defending our turf. The hams' concern is valid, 
but let's wait and see what happens and then fix the problem, if it 
does actually occur. The FCC provides for that. Here's to the success 
of BPL.

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/eA0DJhUf0A0BHTI0Aj

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2. Focus On Embedded Systems
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***Harnessing Software For Routing
Are you ready to hear about networking software? No such luck. Instead, 
we have a tool to address the dreaded wire routing problem harnesses 
that most embedded designers need to contend with at one time or 
another. The SolidWorks Routing software is set of tools to automate the 
design of routes for wires, cables, tubes, and pipes plus harness 
bundles. This bridges the gap between electrical and mechanical design 
to speed product development. The 3D geometry is generated using a 2D 
point-and-click interface.
  SolidWorks Corp. ==> http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eA0DJhUf0A0BHTJ0Ak


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3. News -- From The Editors
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***Analog/Mixed-Signal Process Allows Operation To 60 V
The 1.5-micron PBC3 process offers BCD (bipolar-CMOS-DMOS) capability 
for analog and mixed-signal ICs operating at up to 60 V. Optimized for a 
wide range of voltage nodes between 5 and 60 V, the process suits a 
variety of power-management and smart-power applications for consumer, 
automotive, and industrial markets. These include motor drivers, power 
interface drivers, and power regulation circuits. PBC3 combines 
low-voltage CMOS logic, bipolar control circuits, and DMOS transistors 
on one chip, allowing integrated, multifunction designs. The process 
also features a broad set of bipolar devices such as low- to 
high-voltage NPNs, lateral PNPs, and vertical PNPs with operating 
capabilities to 72 V. A complete design environment, including a Cadence 
process design kit, fully characterized device models, and a 
comprehensive manual are available. Pricing and delivery depends on 
customer requirements.
     PolarFab ==> http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eA0DJhUf0A07mZ0A3 

***Motion-Control Card Delivers Advanced Features
The Magellan-PCI motion-controller board, which comes in one-, two-, 
three-, and four-axis versions, provides such advanced features as 
trajectory generation, servo loop closure, quadrature signal input, 
motor output signal generation, performance trace, on-the-fly changes, 
and commutation. It supports brushed, brushless dc, and step motors and 
can communicate through the PCIbus via a serial port or through the CAN 
bus. The board incorporates the company's Magellan motion processor, so 
designers can create motion systems using standard C or C++ programming. 
Input parameters accepted include position, velocity, acceleration, 
deceleration, and jerk. PLC-style external input/output breakpoints can 
be used to program automatic profile changes. Prices start at $744 in 
OEM quantitites.
     Performance Motion Devices Inc. ==> http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eA0DJhUf0A0BDpk0Ah 

***Worldwide Semiconductor Sales Climb To $15.58 Billion
Reflecting the improving market conditions around the globe, worldwide 
sales of semiconductors in February 2004 rose 30.8% compared to February 
2003, as reported by the Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA). While 
total sales of $15.58 billion reflect a modest 0.2 percent increase over 
the numbers from January 2004, the SIA noted that February historically 
has been a relatively weak month for chip sales. "The strong 
year-on-year growth of more than 30% reflects the steady improvement in 
business conditions, a trend which we expect will continue throughout 
2004," said SIA President George Scalise. "We are encouraged by the 
recovery in demand in the wireline communications sector. Although 
companies remain cautious about inventories, February shipments actually 
trailed semiconductor consumption. As a result, we do not expect 
inventory corrections will be a drag on chip sales going forward." 
   The SIA noted that sales of programmable logic devices and standard 
cells grew in February by 4.3%, driven by a recovery in the wireline 
communications market. Microprocessor sales declined by 0.7%, 
reflecting historic patterns of subdued PC sales in the month. Sales 
in the United States and Japan declined slightly, while all other 
geographic regions recorded increases. The wireless communications 
sector and consumer electronics, which propelled the growth cycle 
with strong, double-digit increases through year-end were also flat 
to down in the month, but are expected to exhibit renewed momentum as 
the year progresses.  
   The SIA's Global Sales Report (GSR) is a three-month moving average 
of sales activity. The GSR is tabulated by the World Semiconductor 
Trade Statistics (WSTS) organization, which represents approximately 
66 companies. The moving average is a mathematical smoothing 
technique that mitigates variations due to companies' monthly 
financial calendars.
   Semiconductor Industry Association ==> 
   http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eA0DJhUf0A07EI0A6


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4. Upcoming Industry Events
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May 5-6, NEPCON East/Electro
Boston, Mass.
http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eA0DJhUf0A0BHTK0Al 

May 23-28, Society for Information Display Symposium, Seminar, and 
Exhibition
Seattle, Wash.
http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eA0DJhUf0A0BHTL0Am 

Company-sponsored events:

April-June, Automated Test Summit (National Instruments)
10 cities in U.S., Mexico, and Canada
http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eA0DJhUf0A0BHTM0An 

May, Aerospace and Defense Symposium (Agilent Technologies)
Five cities in North America
http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eA0DJhUf0A0BHTN0Ao 

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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.

April 12, 2004:

* Cover Story: Engineering Feature -- Electronic Waste: Be Part Of The 
Solution 
Environmentally conscious designs, take-back programs, and legislative 
measures aim to embed more recycling within the electronics culture.
http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eA0DJhUf0A0BHUy0AY

* Leapfrog: First Look -- 3D Graphics/Video Engine Puts Punch In 
Portable Systems
http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eA0DJhUf0A0BHUz0AZ

* Leapfrog: First Look -- Dual-Core DSP Serves Up 40-Bit Precise GFLOPS
http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eA0DJhUf0A0BHU10AM

* Design View / Design Solution -- Design Maximum Data Flow Into Your 
Communications System
http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eA0DJhUf0A0BHU20AN

For the complete Table of Contents, go to 
Electronic Design ==> 
http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eA0DJhUf0A0BHTO0Ap

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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, Associate 
Publisher: 
mailto:[email protected]
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