Electronic Design UPDATE: May 17, 2006

1. Industry View: Accelerated Testing Creates Better Products Sooner
2. Focus on Power: 30-V MOSFETs Serve Buck-Converter Applications
3. News From The Editors:
   Online Gaming Network Bridges Platform Gap
   
   Sensor-Equipped Combat Gear Records Military Activities
   
   Interop 2006: Networks Gear Up For Imminent Data Storm
   

   Magazine Highlights: May 11, 2006
   

   Cover Feature: The Cell Phone—Now That's Entertainment
   

   Technology Report: Rear-Projection HDTV Microdisplays Fire Back
   

   Leapfrog First Look: Low-G Sensors Mold A New MEMS Market
   

   Design View/Design Solution: Yes, You Can Do Digital Audio With Real-Time Java
   

Every product design that contains a microprocessor, circuit card, or electromechanical assembly can benefit from highly accelerated life testing (HALT) to increase the speed of development, eliminate design flaws, and keep the project within budget. The HALT technique shortcuts and avoids design problems by quickly exposing any weak links in a product or production process. As a result, these problems can be fixed before they become expensive field or manufacturing issues...

International Rectifier’s IRF7835PbF and IRF7836PbF are 30-V synchronous buck HEXFET MOSFETs intended for dc-dc synchronous point-of-load (POL) converters. The SO-8 MOSFETs are well suited for systems requiring small size, high efficiency, and improved thermal conduction that results in increased power density. Typical applications include notebook microprocessor power supplies and point-of-load (POL) converters used in high-end servers and advanced telecom and datacom systems...

The HSpice circuit simulator has been the golden simulation sign-off standard for the past 25 years. The newest version performs faster by focusing on the accuracy and capabilities required to meet today's design challenges. This webcast is a must-see for engineers using Spice for analog, digital, or high-frequency IC, board, or package designs. View today!

Sensor-Equipped Combat Gear Records Military Activities
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) is exploring the use of wearable sensors and recorders to aid in the recall and recording capabilities of soldiers in action. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) tested five such systems at the United States Arms Aberdeen Test Center in Aberdeen, Md. last week...

Interop 2006: Networks Gear Up For Imminent Data Storm
Thanks to networks, we are moving into an era when devices can access data or applications at any time from any place. And while most consumers use networks for basic Internet access today, all signs point to widespread acceptance of more sophisticated communications technologies tomorrow. Communications/Networking Editor Louis Frenzel discusses this and many of the other trends, technologies, and products he observed at Interop 2006...

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