Electronic Design UPDATE: January 18, 2006

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Electronic Design UPDATE e-Newsletter
Electronic Design Magazine 
Electronic Design ==> www.electronicdesign.com
January 18, 2006
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http://news.electronicdesign.com/t?ctl=1E168:484C79

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Today's Table Of Contents:
1. News Focus
  *OIF Forms New Implementation Agreements
2. News From The Editors
  *Low-Voltage Analog Switches Target Portable Designs
  *Digital Video Receiver Chip Adds TV To PCs
  *Chip Resistor Maintains 0.03-Percent Ratio Stability
3. TechView Scope
  *What Trends Will Affect You In 2006?
4. Upcoming Industry Events
  *DesignCon 2006
  *Smart Manufacturing For Electronics
  *PCB Design Conference West
5. Book Review
  *"Rapid System Prototyping with FPGAs"

Electronic Design UPDATE edited by Lisa Maliniak, eMedia Editor
mailto:[email protected]
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1. News Focus
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OIF Forms New Implementation Agreements

The Optical Internetworking Forum (OIF) has introduced three 
significant implementation agreements (IAs) in its continuing effort 
to improve and fine-tune the world's fiber-optic networks. This 
nonprofit organization works with the world's leading carriers, 
component manufacturers, system vendors, and other standards 
organizations to accelerate the deployment of interoperable, 
cost-effective, and robust optical networks.
   The OIF's work groups develop standards-like documents that 
specify uniform, interoperable methods that optical equipment 
vendors and telecom carriers use to implement global networks. Two 
of the new IAs -- Security Extensions for UNI and NNI (for control 
plane functions) and Security for Management Interfaces to Network 
Elements (related to provisioning and monitoring agreements) -- 
address security issues.
   Both IAs help safeguard transport networks against security 
threats and attacks. They leverage recently improved Internet 
Engineering Task Force (IETF) security mechanisms, including IPsec 
and Internet key exchange. Also, they ensure that the protocols work 
with both IPv4 and IPv6.
   The third IA is the Multi-Source Agreement for Integratable 
Tunable Laser Assemblies. It details a communications protocol, 
electrical interface, power supply, optical specifications, and 
mechanical interface for use in telecom equipment operating in the 
C or L band. Also, it focuses on the standardization of a 
continuous-wave laser subassembly for integration into the larger 
3.5- by 4.5-in. transponders as well as the popular mall-form-factor 
3- by 2.2-in. transponder.
     Optical Internetworking Forum ==> 
http://news.electronicdesign.com/t?ctl=1E169:484C79

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*******************Live on ElecDesign.com***********************

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Thursday, February 9, 2005 at 2:00 pm ET

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http://news.electronicdesign.com/t?ctl=1E16A:484C79

Free eBook: Black-Box Approach To ADCs

This eBook provides a black-box approach to the traditional 
analog-to-digital coverter (ADC) tutorial. It concentrates on 
the common characteristics of all ADCs and what they imply for 
the system-level designer. The second chapter is now available. 
Download the first two chapters today!

http://news.electronicdesign.com/t?ctl=1975B:484C79

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2. News -- From The Editors
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***Low-Voltage Analog Switches Target Portable Designs
Three low-resistance analog switches from ON Semicondutor are 
designed for high-current switching of an audio signal in 
low-voltage portable and wireless applications. The lead-free six-, 
10-, and 16-pin analog switches only consume between 1.2 sq. mm and 
4.7 sq. mm of board space, which the company claims is up to 70 
percent less than competing switches. The NLAS3799MNR2G is a 
low-voltage, ultra-low on-resistance, dual dual-pole dual-throw 
switch. It achieves total harmonic distortion of 0.11 percent and 
on resistance of 0.35 ohm. The NLAS5223MNR2G is a low-voltage, 
ultra-low on-resistance dual single-pole dual-throw (SPDT) switch. 
Finally, the NLAS5123MNR2G is a 1-ohm on-resistance single SPDT 
analog switch with 0.012-percent total harmonic distortion and 
break-before-make capability. Respective pricing is set at $0.97, 
$0.67, and $0.56 each in 10,000-unit quantities
     ON Semiconductor ==> http://news.electronicdesign.com/t?ctl=1E16B:484C79

***Digital Video Receiver Chip Adds TV To PCs
The DIB7710-P digital video broadcast receiver chip makes it easier 
to add a TV receiver to a PC. Developed by DiBcom, the digital video 
broadcasting-terrestrial (DVB-T) chip consumes just 250 mW. Its PCI 
interface simplifies integration with a tuner chip onto a small PCI 
add-in card. The chip rounds out the company's family of DVB-T 
chips, which includes the DIB7700-P. This version's USB 2.0 
interface can be incorporated as part of a USB "dongle" for use with 
desktop or laptop systems. The DIB7710-P can be used in 
single-antenna or diversity modes. The diversity mode offers up to 
an 11-dB gain, allowing systems to use smaller antennas or achieve 
improved coverage. Contact the company for OEM pricing.
     DiBcom ==> http://news.electronicdesign.com/t?ctl=1E16C:484C79

***Chip Resistor Maintains 0.03-Percent Ratio Stability
The CDHV thick-film chip resistor divider maintains good ratio 
stability under high voltages. It's designed for use in high-voltage 
power supplies, power switching equipment, and inverter controls. 
Manufactured with an alumina substrate, the CDHV can handle voltages 
up to 3 kV, with a voltage coefficient down to 5 ppm/V. Resistance 
values of 1 mega-ohm to 20 giga-ohms are available in a range of 
standard and custom resistance ratios from 10:1 to 500:1. At 2000 
hours, the ratio stability is less than 0.03 percent at full power 
and 70 deg. C. The CDHV comes in a small 2512 case and has a choice 
of top-only and wraparound terminations. The top-only resistor 
divider is 0.240 by 0.126 in. with a profile of 0.025 in. Pricing 
starts at $1.95 each in 1000-piece quantities. Lead time is six to 
eight weeks.
     Vishay Intertechnology ==> http://news.electronicdesign.com/t?ctl=1E16D:484C79

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Give us your view and we may give you a t-shirt!

Take our short "Industry Barometer" online survey to give us your 
unique view of the electronics industry. Five minutes is all it 
takes to answer eight short questions and enter to win one of five 
stylish Electronic Design t-shirts. 

Go to http://news.electronicdesign.com/t?ctl=1CFBC:484C79

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3. TechView Scope 
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What Trends Will Affect You In 2006?

Changes and trends coming in 2006 are likely to affect how we live, 
work, and play. That's according to the latest issue of the 
IEEE-USA Today's Engineer Online, which examines the coming 
trends in technology, energy, climate change, workforce, 
employment benefits, immigration, infrastructure, and the 
economy. In "What Lies Ahead: Forecast for 2006," Today's 
Engineer author George McClure, a noted expert on technology 
careers and retirement benefits, looks at where things are 
today and where they're likely headed.
   For example, significant upgrades are needed to repair the United 
States' crumbling infrastructure, including $50 billion to improve 
the national power grid over the next five years. "As power demand 
increases by 50 percent in 20 years," McClure writes, "so will the 
problem of getting it to the user, as well as the prospect for 
further blackouts, if reliability is not improved."
   The article also addresses the economy and employment issues. 
McClure suggests that because of continued growth in productivity, 
the gross domestic product (GDP) likely will grow at 3.5 percent for 
the next year. Unemployment will continue at about the same 
5-percent rate. Pressure to deal with the guest worker issue, both 
with terms for H-1B work visas and for a solution to the illegal 
immigration problem, will continue. Pressure also is building for a 
trade adjustment assistance act to provide benefits for workers 
displaced in the services sector because their jobs moved elsewhere. 
Read the full-length article at the Today's Engineer Web site.
     IEEE-USA ==> 
http://news.electronicdesign.com/t?ctl=1E16E:484C79
		 
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Free Test & Measurement Catalog

Keithley has published its new 2006 Test and Measurement Catalog, a 
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production applications. Each catalog section contains a tutorial on 
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Call 1-800-588-9238 for a copy, or visit 
http://news.electronicdesign.com/t?ctl=1E176:484C79

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

February 6-9, DesignCon 2006
Santa Clara, Calif.
http://news.electronicdesign.com/t?ctl=1B2DE:484C79

February 21-23, Smart Manufacturing For Electronics Conference
San Francisco, Calif.
http://news.electronicdesign.com/t?ctl=1E177:484C79

March 26-31, PCB Design Conference West
Santa Clara, Calif.
http://news.electronicdesign.com/t?ctl=1CFBE:484C79

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5. Book Review
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"Rapid System Prototyping with FPGAs: Accelerating the Design 
Process"
By R.C. Cofer and Ben Harding

If you've never been part of an FPGA project and now you must manage 
or develop an FPGA, then this book is for you. If you're trying to 
figure out how to build a design with an FPGA or use particular FPGA 
development tools, then this book isn't for you... 

Read the full book review at 
http://news.electronicdesign.com/t?ctl=1E170:484C79

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EiED Online -- Insteon Now

Embedded in Electronic Design (EiED) Online is your source for 
technical insight and hands-on reviews. Read Technology Editor Bill 
Wong's latest EiED Online column, "Insteon Now." Building a better 
mousetrap? That's what Insteon from SmartHome is. Insteon is a 
replacement for the venerable X-10. Bill Wong checks out the Insteon 
development kits for combining powerline control with embedded 
devices.

http://news.electronicdesign.com/t?ctl=1E171:484C79

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TAKE A POLL!

How much personal satisfaction do you derive from your work as an 
engineer?

-- A great deal
-- A moderate amount
-- A little
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Vote at Electronic Design ==> http://news.electronicdesign.com/t?ctl=15410:484C79

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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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