Electronic Design UPDATE: December 20, 2004

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Electronic Design UPDATE e-Newsletter
Electronic Design Magazine 
PlanetEE ==> www.planetee.com
December 20, 2004
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Today's Table Of Contents:
1. Industry View
  * The Right Switches Let Users "Converse" With Machines
2. Focus On Analog
  * MCM Holds Two 14-Bit Sampling ADCs
3. News From The Editors
  * 1.2-kW DC Supply Is Compact
  * Java-Based Software Customizes Copiers
  * Micron Regains No. 2 Ranking In DRAMs
4. Upcoming Industry Events
  * IEEE International Conference On Consumer Electronics
  * 18th IEEE International Conference on Micro-Electronic Mechanical 
    Systems
  * Enterprise Linux Summit
5. Magazine Highlights: December 16, 2004
  * Cover Story: Engineering Feature -- A Bright Outlook For Solar Power 
    Generation
  * Leapfrog: First Look -- DDS V1.0 Standardizes Publish/Subscribe
  * Design View/Design Solution -- Wireless Systems Are Great -- If
    They're Secure
  
Electronic Design UPDATE edited by John Novellino, Senior Technology 
Editor

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Webcast Panel:  Selecting the Best ASIC Solution, II
January 27 at 2:00 EST

An important consideration when starting an ASIC design is which 
platform to use. Options include a full-cell-based design, a structured 
or platform ASIC, or a field-programmable gate array. If you know the 
performance requirements and your needs for specialized intellectual 
property, you are halfway there. This panel, moderated by Digital 
ICs/DSP Editor Dave Bursky, will examine selection issues and 
design/performance tradeoffs. Panelists from Fujitsu, NEC, and Toshiba 
will provide their views and answer questions regarding the various 
design approaches.

To register, go to: http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eijK0Gl4E70EmQ05Am0AE

*****

TechCast: Next-Generation Physical Verification -- Beyond DRC to Yield 
Enablement
January 19 at 2 p.m. EST
Sponsor: Synopsys

Physical verification (PV) is already one of the most tangible links 
between design and manufacturing. But at 90 nm and below, designers want 
more direct control over the overall yield. Here, a PV tool will be the 
key component of the overall methodology, encompassing design and 
manufacturing. The requirements of such a methodology as well as the 
fundamental change in the physical verification process itself will 
shape next-generation PV tools. This TechCast will explore how today's 
PV tools can answer such challenges.

To register, go to: http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eijK0Gl4E70EmQ05Am0AE

*****

THOUGHT YOU'D MISSED THEM? DON'T WORRY, THEY'RE ARCHIVED
Electronic Design's webcasts are available online:

Signal Integrity Testing: Michael Lauterbach of LeCroy Corp. describes 
advances in testing for signal integrity.
http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eijK0Gl4E70EmQ05Am0AE
 
COM Express -- Emerging Standard: Bill Wong examines the new 
Computer-on-Module standard from the PICMG.
http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eijK0Gl4E70EmQ0BMBG0A6

Selecting the Best ASIC Solution, I: Dave Bursky discusses the selection 
process with a panel of ASIC manufacturers.
http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eijK0Gl4E70EmQ0BMVH0AS

*****

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.

Are you considering use of system-in-a-package technology in your 
upcoming design projects?
-- Yes
-- No
-- Thinking about it
-- Never heard of it

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1. Industry View -- Exclusive to Electronic Design UPDATE
**********************

The Right Switches Let Users "Converse" With Machines

By Alfred Woo, Technical Marketing Manager, Synaptics

Touch has long been the primary mode of interaction between people and 
devices. From early stone tools to modern devices such as toasters and 
calculators, the operator's touch has been the basic means of 
controlling a device. Over time, a wide range of mechanical touch 
controls -- buttons on calculators, levers on toasters, knobs on audio 
amplifiers -- has been developed to simply and efficiently interact wih 
devices. Simple control paradigms work well with these simple machines. 
Basic off-on is easily controlled with a switch, and simple audio volume 
is easily controlled with a rotary knob.
   As machines get more complex, simple control paradigms become 
inadequate. Our needs transcend merely controlling the device. We 
need to converse with it. Since touch is the language used to talk to 
machines, we now need a more expressive language than basic buttons 
and knobs.
   Today, we converse with cell phones, portable music players, digital 
cameras, and even smart wristwatches. In modern devices, more 
functionality is heaped into ever smaller form factors while the 
physical interface is evaporating. Interfaces need to become far 
richer to keep up. In this environment, electrical touch sensors 
become more cogent than mechanical controls.
   Of the two general classes of electrical touch sensors, capacitive 
sensors are by far more expressive than resistive sensors. Capacitive 
sensors can capture subtlety of position to 1/1000 of an inch, sense 
close proximity as well as direct touch, and gauge pressure by 
measuring user contact area.
   Capacitive sensors are also very adaptable. They can be made in a 
variety of shapes and sizes, but all operate on the same basic 
principles. An electrode array in the sensor forms one plate of a 
capacitor, while the user's finger forms the second plate. A thin 
insulating material acts as the dielectric between the two. The 
electrode shape, array layout, and dielectric thickness are all 
variable, yielding a sensor technology that is adaptable to a wide 
range of size, industrial design, and functionality constraints. This 
adaptability is evident in the marketplace. Capacitive sensor 
technology can be found in notebook PCs, portable audio players, 
PDAs, and ATM touchscreens.
   Within this extended family of capacitive sensors is enabled a rich 
set of interaction modes. Capacitive sensors can be designed to 
accept off/on button actions, 1D scrolling control, 2D cursor 
control, text entry, and gesture recognition. Moreover, a single 
physical sensor can be multilingually conversant in all modes, 
enabling a very rich and fluent language between the user and the 
machine.
   Capacitive sensors, however, lack tactile feedback. Unlike mechanical 
controls, there are no tactile cues when actions have been performed. 
While capacitive sensors present great industrial design 
opportunities for sleek interfaces, usability can suffer if they're 
poorly designed.
   Smart design choices can overcome the shortcomings. Physical bumps 
should delineate capacitive buttons. Like the bumps on the "F" and 
"J" keys on a keyboard home row, these "braille bumps" effectively 
guide the users' sensitive fingertips to specific locations. 
   In a capacitive button layout, interior buttons are less accessible. 
It can be useful to size interior buttons larger than buttons on the 
periphery. Additionally, a button's accessibility should be matched 
to its function. Commonly used controls should be larger and placed 
closer to the fingers, while less used controls can be placed in less 
accessible locations.
   Ridges or texture changes should tactilely delineate other sensing 
areas. This feature type is useful in bounding active areas used for 
scrolling or 2D cursor control.
   Designers should also be keenly aware that approximately 8% of the 
population is left-handed. Optimal interface design will permit 
easy-to-use operation with either hand.
   Optimizing the interface is a matter of matching interface technology 
to the device's fluency requirements. The emerging need for extremely 
rich interfaces, however, has certainly tipped the balance toward 
electronic touch sensors. Good interface design, paired with the 
appropriate touch technology, enables people and their devices to 
fluently speak a common language and ensures a satisfying user 
experience. 

Alfred Woo previously held positions at Pulse Interactive, Dub Media, 
and Seagate Technology. He received a BS in mechanical engineering from 
the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He can be contacted at 
mailto:[email protected].

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

Electronic Design UPDATE ==> 
http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eijK0Gl4E70EmQ0BNgw0AX

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*************************ADVERTISEMENT***************************

Physical verification is one of the most tangible links between design 
and manufacturing. The change in the physical verification process will 
shape the next generation PV tools. This webcast will explore how a PV 
tool like Hercules PVS (Physical Verification Suite) from Synopsys can 
answer such challenges.

Register now:
http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eijK0Gl4E70EmQ0BNgx0AY

DATE: Wednesday, January 19, 2004 TIME: 2:00 p.m. EST

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2. Focus On Analog
**********************

***MCM Holds Two 14-Bit Sampling ADCs 
The ADSD-1410 is a multichip module (MCM) that houses two 14-bit, 10-MHz 
analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), two 30-MHz sample-hold amplifiers, 
two edge-triggered start-convert functions, and a digitally multiplexed 
20-MHz output buffer. The two ADCs can run independently at 10 MHz each. 
Alternating blocks of data can be clocked from the three-state output 
buffer continuously at 30 MHz. Optimized signal-return and 
analog/digital ground paths, as well as localized capacitive decoupling, 
offer a 150-microV rms noise level. Signal-to-noise ratio is 78 dB, and 
total harmonic distortion is -80 dB. The device runs on plus-and-minus 5 
V and +15 V, consuming 1.7 W. It comes in a 28-pin, double-DIP, ceramic 
package. A commercial version (0 to 70 deg. C) costs $482 for 500 
pieces. A military version (-55 to +125 deg. C) costs $732 for 500 
pieces. For sample quantities, delivery is in two weeks. Production 
quantities require four to six weeks.
     Datel Inc. ==> http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eijK0Gl4E70EmQ0qyb0Ax 

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3. News -- From The Editors
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***1.2-kW DC Supply Is Compact
A 19-in. rack-mounted chassis just 1U (1.75 in.) high houses a dc power 
supply capable of delivering 1.2 kW at 30 V. The Model VSP4030's output 
ranges are 0 to 40 V and 0 to 30 A. Users can control the unit via 
front-mounted 10-turn potentiometers and three-digit meters or by 
computer through an RS-232 interface. Future models will include a GPIB 
interface. Analog remote sensing automatically maintains desired 
voltage. Up to nine supplies can be cascaded, for a total of more than 
10 kW. Cooling is by front-to-back airflow, so no space is required 
between supplies. The Model VSP4030 dc power supply costs $1725 and is 
available for immediate delivery.  

***Java-Based Software Customizes Copiers
Embedded processors and Java 2 Micro Edition (J2ME) software are turning 
next-generation copiers and scanners into documentation-management 
centers. Canon USA's latest systems manage multidepartment document 
needs through MEAP (multifunctional embedded application platform), a 
programmable software application platform. MEAP was written in Java 
using the J2ME environment. Canon can use the platform to customize 
applications that can run inside the copying system, tailoring the 
system to meet specific workflow processes or unique industry 
requirements. Each MEAP-based application might typically appear as a 
soft button on the unit's LCD panel. When the soft button is selected, 
the system shifts to a customized interface with tabs that correspond to 
specialized applications developed to support the workflow required by 
the system's owner. The software runs on a 30-MHz processor with 512 
Mbytes of RAM and a 20-Gbyte hard drive. Prices for the systems start at 
about $5800.
     Canon USA ==> http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eijK0Gl4E70EmQ0BNgy0AZ 

***Micron Regains No. 2 Ranking In DRAMs
DRAM sales grew by a mere 0.7% in the third quarter compared to the 
second quarter to reach a total of $6.7 billion. But sales at Micron 
Technology rose by 4.4%, allowing the Boise, Idaho-based company to 
regain the number two spot from Hynix, a South Korean manufacturer. The 
figures, from market research firm iSuppli Corp., show that Samsung 
retained its commanding lead in the market with a 29.8% share. Samsung's 
sales grew by 8.1%. Hynix had overtaken Micro in the second quarter, but 
Micro's strong performance gave it a 15.9% to 15.5% edge in the third 
quarter. Infineon ranked fourth at 14.3%, giving the top four companies 
a total of 75.6% of the DRAM market.
     iSuppli Corp. ==> http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eijK0Gl4E70EmQ0BCl80AO

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

Jan. 8-12, IEEE International Conference On Consumer Electronics
Las Vegas, Nev.
http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eijK0Gl4E70EmQ0BNg10AN 

Jan. 30-Feb. 3, 18th IEEE International Conference on Micro-Electronic 
Mechanical Systems
Miami, Fla.
http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eijK0Gl4E70EmQ0BNg20AO 

Jan. 31-Feb. 2, Enterprise Linux Summit (OSDL-ELS)
Burlingame, Calif.
http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eijK0Gl4E70EmQ0BNg30AP 

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

December 16, 2004:

* Cover Story: Engineering Feature -- A Bright Outlook For Solar Power 
Generation
A revolution is under way as new solar generation systems support an 
overburdened power grid.
http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eijK0Gl4E70EmQ0BNg40AQ

* Leapfrog: First Look -- DDS V1.0 Standardizes Publish/Subscribe
Connectionless data-conversion middleware promotes data-centric 
applications.
http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eijK0Gl4E70EmQ0BNg50AR

* Design View/Design Solution -- Wireless Systems Are Great -- If 
They're Secure
http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eijK0Gl4E70EmQ0BNg60AS

For the complete Table of Contents, go to Electronic Design ==> 
http://lists.planetee.com/cgi-bin3/DM/y/eijK0Gl4E70EmQ0BNg70AT

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CONTACTS: Electronic Design UPDATE e-NEWSLETTER
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Editorial: Mark David, Editor-in-Chief
mailto:[email protected]

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