Technologies of the Year
Analog:
Best ADC for Medical Applications (Tie):
Texas Instruments - ADS5281
National Semiconductor - ADC12EU050
Best Implementation of a Fast Interface on an ADC:
Linear Technology - LTC2274
Best Raw Performance for an ADC:
Analog Devices - AD7626 SAR
Best Power/Performance Ratio for an RF ADC:
Texas Instruments - ADS6149 and ADS61B49
Best Continuous Improvement to Industry Standards for an Amplifier (Tie):
Analog Devices - ADA4857 operational amplifier
Texas Instruments - INA333 instrumentation amplifier
Communications:
Best Wireless Chip:
G2 Microsystems - G2C547 Wi-Fi SoC
Best Wireless Chipset:
Quantenna Communications - QHS series of Wi-Fi chips
Components:
Best Image Sensor Technology:
OmniVision Technologies - OmniBSI digital imaging architecture
Best LED Technology:
Osram Opto Semiconductors - white-LED prototype
Best Enclosure Accessory:
Spiralock - self-locking fasteners
Digital:
Best All-Around FPGA:
Actel - ProASIC3 and Igloo FPGA families
Best Performance FPGA:
Achronix Semiconductor - Speedster FPGA family
Best Memory Chipset:
MetaRAM - MetaSDRAM chip set
EDA:
Best EDA Product:
Mentor Graphics - Olympus-SoC place-and-route system
Embedded:
Best Embedded USB Standard (Tie):
Micro/sys - StackableUSB
Small Form Factor - MiniBlade; utilized by SiliconSystems and Samtec
Power:
Best Power Semiconductor:
Qspeed Semiconductor - Q-series silicon-based diodes
Test & Measurement:
Best Test Instrument
LeCroy - WavePro 7 Zi oscilloscopes
Automotive:
Best Vision Processor:
STMicroelectronics and Mobileye N.V. - second-generation EyeQ2 vision processor
Computers:
Best Microprocessor:
Intel - 7400 Xeon processors
Best GPU:
Nvidia - Tesla C1060 processor
Best Graphics Board:
AMD - ATI Radeon HD 4870 X2 board
Consumer:
Best HDTV:
Samsung - LN46A750 HDTV
Best Media Product:
Archos - 5 and 7 Internet media tablets
Best Audio Product:
Logitech - Squeezebox Boom audio system
Industrial:
Best IC:
Texas Instruments - SN65HVS882 serializer
Best Sensor:
Analog Devices - ADIS16365 inertial sensor
Medical:
Best Sensor:
Tronics Microsystems - MEMS pressure-sensor system
Military:
Best Silicon Transistors (Tie):
Freescale Semiconductor - MRF6V14300H transistor
HVVi Semiconductor - PVV1011-300, PVV1214-25, PVV1214-100, HVV1012-060, HVV1012-100, and HVV1012-250 HVVFET transistors
Best Silicon Carbide Transistor:
Microsemi - 0150SC-1250M, 0405SC-1000M RF power transistors
Best Clock Oscillator:
Vectron International - VMEM5Q military clock oscillator
Best Signal Source:
ITT Corp. - WaveCorSLO 2.0 signal source
Best RF Memory:
KOR Electronics - 10-bit digital RF memory
Best Optical Shutter Technology:
UniPixel - Time Multiplexed Optical Shutter (TMOS) technology
Best Video Technology:
EffectiveUI and Intelligence Gaming - RealityV video technology
Best Surveillance Camera:
Electrophysics Corp. - Hurricane surveillance camera
Best Leapfrog:
Analog Devices - ADIS16209 dual-axis MEMS inclinometer and accelerometer
Read Contributing Editor Roger Allan's commentary on the ADIS16209.
Best Idea for Design:
“New Way To Use Kirchoff’s Law Simplifies Circuit Analysis,” Anshi Chen, Stanford Research Systems
Best Idea for Design Runner-Up:
“Two AA Cells Power Class D Amp To Produce Huge Audio Volume,” Nick Allen-Rowlandson, Maxim Integrated Products
Engineering Hall of Fame: