Electronic Design UPDATE: April 13, 2005

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Electronic Design UPDATE e-Newsletter
Electronic Design Magazine
PlanetEE ==> www.planetee.com
April 13, 2005
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Today's Table Of Contents:
1. News Focus
  *Integrated Control Cuts Size And Power In Cell Phones
2. News From The Editors
  *DC-DC Controller Sheds Transformers
  *Memory, Wireless Lead The Pack In 2004
  *Low-Power Image Sensor Also Processes Pix
3. TechView Scope
  *Biometrics Ensure Document Security At Busy Printers
4. Upcoming Industry Events
  *NEPCON East/Electro
  *SID International Symposium 2005
  *Sensors Expo

Electronic Design UPDATE edited by Lisa Maliniak, eMedia Editor

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Free Webcast: Maximize System Mobility By Selecting The Best Memory 
Options
April 21, 2005 at 2 p.m. EDT

Mobile systems such as cell phones, handheld media players, and PDAs 
depend on both volatile and nonvolatile memory to store ever 
increasing amounts and types of data. But choosing the best memory 
for your next design can be a confusing, time-consuming proposition 
if you don't know how to sort through all of the options and 
understand which memory best suits your application. Join Samsung 
Semiconductor Inc. and Electronic Design's Editor-at-Large Dave 
Bursky for this one-hour webcast that will help you cut through the 
confusion to choose the optimal memory solution.

To register, go to:
http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=75A5:1001CD

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1. News Focus
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Integrated Control Cuts Size And Power In Cell Phones

By integrating the power-control circuits, the MMM6035 power 
amplifier (PA) eliminates the need for directional couplers and 
detector diodes in dual-, tri-, and quad-band GSM/GPRS cell phones. 
This two-die module from Freescale Semiconductor provides more than 
45-dB dynamic range with analog input voltage. 
   The MMM6035 covers the 850- and 900-MHz low bands and the 1800- 
and 1900-MHz high bands. It has standard 50-ohm I/O impedance. 
The required 3-dBm input power produces an output of 34.2 dBm in 
the low bands and 31.5 dBm in the high bands. The power-added 
efficiency (PAE) is 51% to 53% in the low bands and 43% to 45% in 
the high bands. The chip handles Class 12 GPRS operating mode 
(50% duty cycle), and dc power is 3 to 4.5 V.
   The MMM6015 is similar. In addition to the gallium-arsenide PA 
and power-control circuitry, it includes integrated IPD low-pass 
filters and complete antenna switching. These features 
effectively eliminate the need for most external surface-mount 
discretes from most designs. The pc-board space needed for these 
functions can be reduced by as much as 40%. Such full integration 
reduces manufacturing complexity and shortens design time, which 
is so critical in cell designs today. 
   The PA's antisaturation technology prevents switching transients 
when the battery voltage sags from a low battery. Low-band 
current limiting prevents battery collapse under extreme 
conditions. Both features enhance available handset battery life. 
The output on the low bands is 33 dBm with 43% PAE. The output on 
the high bands is 30 dBm with 35% PAE. A built-in current limiter 
prevents high current under excessive voltage standing-wave 
ratio. 
   The MMM6035 comes in a 6- by 6- by 1-mm package, while the 
MMM6015 is housed in a 6- by 8- by 1.2-mm package. Samples of 
both are available now. Full production is expected this quarter. 
The MMM6035 costs $2.50 while the MMM6015 costs $4.50, both in 
quantities of 10,000 units.
     Freescale Semiconductor ==> http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=75AC:1001CD

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2. News -- From The Editors
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***DC-DC Controller Sheds Transformers
The LT3782 step-up dc-dc controller features 96% efficiency and 
two-phase operation to deliver high output power. It uses only two 
inductors, eliminating the need for power and current-sense 
transformers. Also, it can regulate a 50-V output at 4-A load 
current from input sources ranging from 10 to 36 V. The two-phase 
operation minimizes input and output ripple currents, and it reduces 
the value requirements of both the input and output capacitors. With 
10-V gate drive and 4-A peak drive current, the LT3782 can drive 
industrial-grade high-power MOSFETs at high efficiency. Using 
adjustable slope compensation, time delay, and undervoltage lockout, 
as well as synchronous operation and clock synchronization, 
power-supply designers can tailor the circuit to achieve optimum 
performance. The LT3782 is offered in a thermally enhanced 28-lead 
SSOP. It's rated for –40 deg. C to 125 deg. C operation. Pricing in 
1000-piece lots is $4.70 each.
     Linear Technology Corp. ==> http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=75AE:1001CD

***Memory, Wireless Lead The Pack In 2004
In 2004, semiconductor suppliers offering memory and wireless 
devices outperformed firms focused on other products, according to 
the final annual semiconductor rankings from iSuppli Corp. 
Semiconductor suppliers that derive much of their revenue from sales 
of memory chips, such as Samsung and Infineon, expanded their 
revenue by rates ranging from 29.1% to 58% last year. Other 
semiconductor suppliers, including Texas Instruments and Freescale 
Semiconductor, received major boosts in revenue due to their 
participation in the wireless market. Wireless represented the 
fastest-growing application market for semiconductors in 2004, with 
revenues growing by 31.2% for the year. Worldwide semiconductor 
revenue growth in 2004 was 24%, compared to 14.9% in 2003. With 
revenue growth expected to slow to 6.1%, iSuppli predicts that chip 
suppliers will have a tougher time in 2005.
     iSuppli Corp. ==> http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=75AD:1001CD

***Low-Power Image Sensor Also Processes Pix
A camera system-on-a-chip (SoC) combines image sensing and 
processing. It also can enhance images at low light levels. To 
achieve the latter, Micron Technology’s 2-Mpixel MT9D111 uses the 
company's DigitalClarity technology. The sensor captures 15 frames/s 
when it's running at full 1600- by 1200-pixel resolution. In 
reduced-resolution mode (800 by 600 pixels), this low-power sensor 
SoC runs at 30 frames/s and draws less than 150 mW. Integrated in 
the chip is Micron's advanced 2-Mpixel sensor core with a 
sophisticated image flow processor. It also packs real-time JPEG 
compression, a 10-bit on-chip analog-to-digital converter, and 
advanced color interpolation for truer colors and sharper details. 
The integrated auto focus and JPEG compression save design costs and 
space typically incurred by a required companion chip. In lots of 
10,000, the MT9D111 costs about $9. 
     Micron Technology Inc. ==> http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=75A8:1001CD

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3. TechView Scope 
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Biometrics Ensure Document Security At Busy Printers

Sharing a printer in a big office can be difficult when you're 
responsible for confidential documents. Whether it's government 
work, proprietary information, financial data, or even human 
resources material, that printout will be available to anyone who 
strolls by the printer—unless the printer uses the SecurePrint 
system, that is. Designed by Silex Technology America, SecurePrint 
includes the FUS-200N fingerprint reader with USB interface, the 
SX-5000U2 four-port USB device-to-device server, and SX-SecurePrint 
Software.
   The reader is connected to the printer. The software is installed 
on the necessary computers in the office. Users enroll their 
fingerprints in the system. The software's algorithm creates a 
unique pattern of data points for each fingerprint. When users 
want to print documents, the printer will hold those documents 
until the users enter their fingerprint on the reader. For an 
extra level of security, additional readers can be installed at 
the individual computers. Users would touch the reader before 
sending the document to the printer and then touch the printer's 
reader to release the document for printing.
   The system was designed to help businesses and other workplaces 
comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability 
Act and Sarbanes-Oxley Act, which regulate privacy and security. 
During December's Government Solution Summit in Bonita Springs, 
Fla., attending system integrators nominated the package for the 
Best Government Solution Award.
     Silex Technology America ==> http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=75A9:1001CD 

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4. Upcoming Industry Events
**********************

May 4-5, NEPCON East/Electro
Boston, Mass.
http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=75AF:1001CD

May 22-27, Society for Information Display (SID) International 
Symposium 2005
Boston, Mass.
http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=75B0:1001CD

June 6-9, Sensors Expo and Conference
Chicago, Ill.
http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=75AB: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: "Time For Smalltalk?" 
http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=75A3:1001CD

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TAKE A POLL!

Are you currently using the Linux operating system on your PC or 
server?

-- Yes, my computer currently runs Linux
-- I'm experimenting with it
-- No, but I'm thinking about it
-- I would never use Linux

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

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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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