Electronic Design UPDATE: February 23, 2005

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Electronic Design UPDATE e-Newsletter
Electronic Design Magazine
PlanetEE ==> www.planetee.com
February 23, 2005
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Today's Table Of Contents:
1. Industry View
  *Smart Threshold Switches Could Reduce Standby Losses
2. Focus On Analog
  *20-MHz CMOS Amplifiers Boast High Precision
3. News From The Editors
  *Upgraded USB Analyzer Aids Software Development
  *High-Energy Varistors Satisfy Automotive ESD Protection Needs
  *Soft-Radio FPGA XMC Handles Switch-Fabric Interfaces
4. Upcoming Industry Events
  *Embedded Systems Conference
  *Design, Automation and Test in Europe
  *Symposium on Quality of Electronic Design
5. Magazine Highlights: February 17, 2005
  *Cover Story: Engineering Feature -- You Got Game
  *Technology Report -- POL Power Supplies Come In Many Flavors
  *Technology Report -- Latest Scopes Look To Satisfy Engineer Wish 
   Lists
  *Design View/Design Solution -- Optimize Timing Margins For Your 
   High-Speed Interface

Electronic Design UPDATE edited by Lisa Maliniak, eMedia Editor

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Free Webcast: Advances in Mixed-Signal Testing
March 9 at 2:00 p.m. EST

This webcast, sponsored by LeCroy, will present new technology that 
allows engineers to add 32 digital channels to existing four-channel 
oscilloscopes. It also will present easy-to-use techniques for testing a 
mixture of analog and digital signals. Emphasis will be placed on 
practical examples, including setup, triggering, decoding of digital 
buses, and making measurements on mixed analog-digital signals.

To register, go to:
http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=2B4B:1001CD

*****

Free Showcast: Embedded Systems Conference
March 10 at 4:00 p.m. EST

Embedded designers deal with a host of constraints: low power 
consumption, high performance, and reliability, to name a few. Not 
surprisingly, these are the same issues being addressed by the trends 
expected at this year's Embedded System Conference (ESC). The show 
features tiny, low-power 8-bit MCUs side by side with the latest boards 
utilizing high-speed interconnects such as PCI Express. Our ESC 
showcast, sponsored by Actel and Kontron, will track the latest products 
and prototypes at the show.

To register, go to:
http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=2B4C:1001CD

*****

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

Next-Generation Physical Verification -- Beyond DRC to Yield Enablement: 
Synopsys' techcast explores today's physical verification tools.
http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=2B4E:1001CD

Signal Integrity Testing: Michael Lauterbach of LeCroy Corp. describes 
advances in testing for signal integrity.
http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=2B4E:1001CD

Next-Generation In-House PCB Prototyping: Produce your own PCB 
prototypes without the use of hazardous chemicals.
http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=2B49:1001CD

*****

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:

What do you think could drive the most interesting innovations in gaming 
technology?
-- Enhanced processors and expanded memory for faster action and 
increased functionality
-- Improved graphics and audio technology for a more realistic 
multimedia experience
-- Shrinking size and power requirements for increased portability
-- Connectivity advances that enable more multiplayer gaming
-- Sensor-equipped input devices for interactive, lifelike action

Go to Electronic Design ==> http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=2B52:1001CD

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1. Industry View -- Exclusive to Electronic Design UPDATE
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Smart Threshold Switches Could Reduce Standby Losses
 
By Roger Franz
 
Standby energy losses have proliferated with the widespread use of power 
supplies that are always partially on (see "I Turned The Lights Off, But 
What About Standby Power?" Electronic Design, Dec. 8, 2004, p. 19, ED 
Online 9258). While the U.S. is focused on requiring a 1-W maximum for 
standby power losses, the European Code of Conduct will require less 
than 0.3 W in 2005 for small units like battery chargers. Standby losses 
also are reaching critical performance limitations in solid-state 
devices. Leakages from many millions of transistors per chip contribute 
substantially to current consumption. 
   The challenge is to find solutions to this growing global waste of 
energy. Sleep transistors and other design approaches have helped 
minimize off-state current drain. Control chips for analog power 
supplies also are readily available. All these approaches add 
complexity and, therefore, cost. What if there were a less costly and 
complex approach to limiting standby leakages?
   One possible solution, threshold switching, does not appear to be 
widely recognized. A voltage-controlled threshold switch can change 
from low to high conductivity above a characteristic voltage. This 
behavior also is called bistability, which refers to two distinct 
operating regions. In another variation, threshold switches may be 
used in current-controlled, rather than voltage-controlled, mode. The 
characteristic current-voltage operating curves are referred to as 
N-shaped and S-shaped, respectively. A thyristor is a familiar 
example of a current-controlled switch having a third terminal. 
   Another way to describe threshold switching is negative differential 
resistance. In contrast to a linear Ohmic device, resistance in some 
materials may change dramatically over current or voltage. These 
devices function with only two terminals, which means they could be 
used as smart switches requiring no additional control lines. 
Unwanted standby leakage might therefore be reduced without cost and 
complexity, if only the devices could be found.
   Now where do you go to buy a threshold switch? Unfortunately, none 
seems to be available anywhere on the market. This condition exists 
even though many types of materials that may be used in the 
fabrication of voltage-controlled threshold switches are reported in 
industry literature. One of the often-cited classes of materials 
having threshold properties is the chalcogenides (selenium and 
tellurium, for example). The memory switching effect of chalcogenides 
recently has been commercialized in phase-change memory devices. 
Other promising materials include noncrystalline silicon, III-V 
semiconductors, and more recently, organic semiconductors. These 
materials are likely to be more compatible with current and future IC 
technologies than the chalcogenides. A material thus can be chosen to 
match the particular device or system in need of leakage control.
   Although extensive literature exists on threshold switching and 
related technologies, these structures have not been applied to 
solving practical leakage problems. One reason is that researchers 
have focused mainly on highly crystalline materials rather than the 
amorphous structures that have threshold-switching properties. 
Another reason seems to be that the non-Ohmic behavior that is the 
unique property of a threshold switch has not even been recognized as 
having useful applications. Nonlinear resistance is not exactly a 
household term for most of us schooled in traditional electronics. 
Finally, threshold devices must be optimized to achieve the on-off 
ratios required for effective leakage control while off, but not to 
contribute to unwanted losses that could negate their usefulness 
while on.
   The development of threshold switches to reduce leakage represents a 
new approach that could address some of the energy wasted by today's 
power-supply designs, as well as today's silicon and tomorrow's 
advanced IC materials. Who will take up the challenge?
 
Roger Franz has held positions in analytical chemistry, quality 
assurance, and project management and has published papers in trade 
magazines and technical journals. His background in materials is being 
brought to bear in his current position as environmental data manager at 
Motorola, where heavy metals like lead, cadmium, mercury, and hexavalent 
chromium are being phased out. He holds degrees from Grinnell College 
and Northwestern University and is a Six Sigma Green Belt. He can be 
reached at mailto:[email protected].

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

Electronic Design UPDATE ==>
http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=2B43:1001CD

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

***20-MHz CMOS Amplifiers Boast High Precision
The 12-V CMOS op amps in the OPA series are laser-trimmed during final 
assembly to calibrate offset voltage and temperature drift. The OPA727 
is specified for a maximum 150-microvolt offset with 
1.5-microvolt/degree C drift, comparable to precision bipolar 
amplifiers. AC performance specs include 20-MHz bandwidth, 
30-V/microsecond slew rate, 600-ns settling time, and 0.0003% harmonic 
distortion. The input common-mode range extends to ground for true 
single-supply operation and output swings to within 150 mV of the rails, 
maximizing dynamic range. A shutdown version, the OPA728, reduces the 
quiescent current to 6 microamps (typically) and features a digital 
ground reference pin for easy interface to standard logic levels in 
dual-supply applications. The OPA727 (single version) and OPA728 (single 
with shutdown) are packaged in an MSOP-8 and 3- by 3-mm DFN-8. The 
OPA2727 (dual) is packaged in a 3- by 3-mm DFN-8 and SO-8. The OPA727 
and OPA728 are priced from $1.45 in 1000-piece quantities. The OPA2727 
pricing is $2.20 in 1000-piece quantities.
     Texas Instruments ==> http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=2B58:1001CD

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3. News -- From The Editors
**********************

***Upgraded USB Analyzer Aids Software Development
USB Explorer 200PRO is an enhanced version of the Explorer 200 USB 2.0 
protocol analyzer. New capabilities include a hardware trigger, fully 
comprehensive USB class decoding, data export functionality, and a 
software development kit that enables time-saving customizable USB 
software analysis. The decoding function helps developers of embedded 
software, drivers, and applications to easily visualize various USB 
protocol subsystem layers. The device supports all USB classes. Some 
additional features include automatic speed discovery of 
device-under-test memory, 32 Mbytes of FIFO memory, and a timestamp with 
16.67-ns (60-MHz) precision. Made in Switzerland by Ellisys, the USB 
Explorer 200PRO is available now from the company's U.S. agents, Saelig 
Co. It costs $5999.
     Saelig Co. Inc. ==> http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=2B56:1001CD

***High-Energy Varistors Satisfy Automotive ESD Protection Needs
Automotive applications are increasingly looking for answers to 
electrostatic-discharge (ESD) protection. The CANbus series of 
high-energy varistors is designed specifically for that reason. The 
surface-mount devices are part of the TransGuard line of 
transient-voltage suppressors. They can handle high in-rush (peak) 
currents of 4 A (8 by 20 ms) and feature a rate of 0.1 failures per 
billion hours. They also boast transient-energy ratings of 0.015 Joules 
(10/1000 ms), a working-voltage rating range of up to 18 V, and a 
capacitance value of 22 pF at 1 MHz. Devices come in 0603 size discrete 
chips, as well as in 0405 two-element arrays and 0612 four-element 
arrays. Price starts at $0.055, with a lead time of stock to eight 
weeks.
     AVX Corp. ==> http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=2B54:1001CD

***Soft-Radio FPGA XMC Handles Switch-Fabric Interfaces
The 7140 PMC incorporates a Virtex II-Pro FPGA. With the FPGA, 
customization as well as support for VITA 42 switch fabrics like Serial 
RapidIO are incorporated. The front end couples two +4-dBm full-scale 
analog RF inputs to 14-bit, 105-MHz analog-to-digital converters that 
can work with Texas Instruments’ Graychip GC4016 quad downconverters. 
There’s a matching TI DAC5686 upconverter with dual digital-to-analog 
converters, enabling the module to handle reception and transmission. 
The module has 512 Mbytes of SDRAM and a PCI interface. The 7140 PMC 
costs $6995.
     Pentek Inc. ==> http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=2B55:1001CD

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

Register Now for the Embedded Systems Conference San Francisco 2005!

The Embedded Systems Conference San Francisco will be held March 6-10, 
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at the largest systems design exhibition in North America. Register now 
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Register by March 3rd to save up to $150 on conference rates or for a 
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Go to: http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=2B51:1001CD

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

March 6-10, Embedded Systems Conference
San Francisco, Calif.
http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=2B53:1001CD

March 7-11, Design, Automation and Test in Europe (DATE)
Munich, Germany
http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=2B50:1001CD

March 28-30, IEEE International Symposium on Quality of Electronic 
Design (ISQED 2005)
San Jose, Calif.
http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=2B57:1001CD

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

February 17, 2005:

* Cover Story: Engineering Feature -- You Got Game
Tap into the design secrets behind the next generation of gaming 
systems.
http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=2B45:1001CD

* Technology Report -- POL Power Supplies Come In Many Flavors
An influx of novel point-of-load converters wrangles with tougher 
semiconductor demands.
http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=2B44:1001CD

* Technology Report -- Latest Scopes Look To Satisfy Engineer Wish Lists
Making the desiger's job simpler is the driving force behind many DSO 
"dream" features.
http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=2B46:1001CD

* Design View/Design Solution -- Optimize Timing Margins For Your 
High-Speed Interface
http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=2B47:1001CD

For the complete Table of Contents, go to Electronic Design ==>
http://nls.planetee.com/t?ctl=2B48:1001CD

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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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