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01 November 2006

News & Analysis | Technical Features | Opinion | Interview
News & Analysis
Incompatibility slows mobile TV uptake
As mobile TV gears up in earnest, operators and handset vendors are finally coming to grips with a slew of problems that are impeding its uptake—including some of their own making.

IMS day has not yet dawned
While IP Multimedia Subsystem promises to usher in the era of true network convergence, participants at last September's VON conference cautioned that its day has not yet dawned.

IBM plots storage tech roadmap
IBM Corp. has partnered with Infineon spin-off Qimonda AG and Taiwan's Macronix International Co. Ltd on phase-change RAM.

Researchers build 'first' hybrid silicon laser
Intel Corp. and University of California, Santa Barbara researchers have joined forces to create the world's first electrically powered hybrid silicon laser, which promises terabit-level optical computer data pipes and high-performance computing applications.

Frontier, SigmaTel push for DAB in China
The companies will jointly offer a combined digital audio broadcasting, FM and MP3 player platform for portable devices in a bid to win over China OEMs.

Standards body gives voice to chipmakers
Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International has set up the Manufacturing Technology Forum to give device and equipment suppliers an early voice in the standards-making process.


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Catalyst Semi beefs up analog roadmap
While 90 percent of its revenue comes from its memory business, Catalyst Semiconductor Inc. has opted to focus its R&D initiatives on new analog products.

Enhanced FPGA suits compute-intensive apps
Startup Velogix Inc. is developing a high-performance programmable-logic platform to run the billions of operations each second needed by applications like video and imaging, and communications.

CPU maker touts 'carbon-free' processor
Taipei-based Via Technologies Inc. is marketing its latest low-power processor as "carbon-free."

Firm takes optical burst switching to market
Matisse recently introduced a dual-node system that puts burst switching to practical use, based on a topology that's meant to compete with Internet Protocol-over-dense wave-division multiplexing.

Hands-free infotainment demands good software
Smart software leads to a quality audio experience with the hands-free phone in the car. It also conserves cellphone power and allows designers to solve unique problems.

Automotive security apps go wireless
Designers of automotive wireless systems face challenges such as cost-effective performance enhancements, power consumption, system size and encryption security.

Wireless ASICs enable tire pressure monitoring
Microelectronics that help meet tire pressure monitoring system criteria should further enhance car safety in an economical manner for OEMs and car buyers alike.

Improve ADCs for high-speed apps with noise
Adding some out-of-band noise dither can improve the differential nonlinearity of the ADC and increase its spurious-free dynamic range.

Optimize power in portables with DSPs
Here are some tips on how to optimize power consumption by terminating peripherals' unused pins on the C5509A, C5507 and C5503 DSPs.

HDL Coder offers shortcut to IC design
The MathWorks Inc. recently launched the Simulink HDL Coder, giving thousands of Matlab and Simulink users a direct path to FPGA or ASIC implementation.

Tool reduces need for immersion at 45nm
Invarium helps customers maximize their lithography equipment with a new patterning-synthesis software that limits the number of advanced layers requiring immersion at 45nm.

HP readies chipset for Itanium servers
Hewlett-Packard Co. has developed an enhanced chipset that expands memory, I/O bandwidth and capacity for its low-end Itanium servers.

I/O virtualization software eases network traffic
NetXen's NetSlice performs I/O virtualization by bypassing the virtual-machine monitors present in many server OS suites.

Cadence launches enhanced Virtuoso
The refined platform offers a constraint-driven design flow and an IDE that provides a single 'cockpit' for both logical and physical design.

VoIP chip loaded with GbE devices
TI's latest VoIP processor ensures delay-free voice in small- and medium-business applications by combining a 300MHz MIPS processor and 150MHz C55x DSP with dual GbE MAC devices and an on-chip GbE switch.

LSI Logic moves to serial with new adapter cards
The company has expanded its adapter cards portfolio with entry-level to top-of-the-line products using both the PCI-X and PCI Express interfaces—all geared for the 3Gbps versions of the storage interfaces.

RMSe cuts code complexity for rights mgt.
SafeNet's RMSe scales back the code complexity and memory requirements offered in the original rights-management system package, while keeping the bulk of its predecessor's license-management features.

Intrusion detection, prevention boost switching system
Trapeze Networks has added an intrusion detection/prevention system into its Mobility System 5.0., which integrates the security functions directly into the wireless infrastructure.

Topology router goes into auto mode
A breakthrough technology from Mentor Graphics puts autorouting on a par with manual PCB layout.

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Technical Features
How to effectively evaluate RTOSes
To survive in an increasingly competitive market, companies must maximize software investments by critically evaluating their choice of real-time operating systems. (PDF file)

Use model-based design to optimize video safety systems
Discover how a model-based design can reduce the time required to develop and optimize a video system that monitors unintended lane departure. (PDF file)

Accelerate algorithms with FPGA coprocessors
Learn code acceleration and techniques for code conversion to hardware coprocessors. (PDF file)

Verify macro model accuracy with PSpice test circuits
Instead of investigating op amp macro models' shortcomings, it would be wiser to have a collection of circuits that allows users to test any model. (PDF file)

Optimize losses in soft-switching applications
This article discusses reverse conducting IGBTs designed for soft-switching applications used in induction heating devices. (PDF file)

Reduce cost with open architecture platforms
TEMs are enhancing their competitive position by using open architecture platforms such as ATCA and MicroTCA, enabling them to outsource a greater portion of their equipment design. (PDF file)

Wireless broadband showcases emerging apps
The need for "communications-on-the-go" and its fulfillment will provide new opportunities as well as new lifestyle and work options, much of which will be enabled by the broadband wireless era. (PDF file)

Circuit-switched video streaming for handsets
Circuit-switched-based streaming services provide an attractive method of delivering multimedia content to mobile devices over existing deployed packet-switched-based networks. (PDF file)

Camera phone image processing 'magic' revealed
This article discusses the challenges of creating a good image from a CMOS sensor inside a camera phone. (PDF file)

Homogenization eases FEM simulation
Boasting satisfactory accuracy for practical applications, homogenization is a useful tool for replacing highly complex periodic structures in finite element simulation. (PDF file)

Evolve, evaluate, employ new benchmarks
In an industry where the only constant is change, benchmarks must continually adapt to embrace new usage models. (PDF file)

Instruments shorten nanoscale test times
Measurements and test system features that facilitate speed and accuracy in instrumentation for nanotechnology research must be understood by users to arrive at more reliable measurements. (PDF file)

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Opinion
Convergence presents opportunities with stakes
Silicon for converged devices is ready. It's coming with software and system design support—something critical for convergence-centric multimedia applications.

Outsource the interconnect
Outsourcing the SoC interconnect design is a direct, straightforward measure to reduce the impact of the OEM software-shift phenomenon on the IC industry.


Interview
Turning science-fiction idea into fact
David Schurig sat down with EE Times to describe how the cloaking device works and what electronic engineers can do to turn the science fiction idea into fact.

Talkback

eeForum:
Demystifying Vietnam
What does Vietnam offer that a rising number of top-tier semiconductor companies are setting up and expanding operations there?

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