Electronic Design UPDATE: April 19, 2006

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Electronic Design UPDATE e-Newsletter
Electronic Design Magazine
Electronic Design ==> www.electronicdesign.com
April 19, 2006
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http://news.electronicdesign.com/t?ctl=275C5:484C79
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Today's Table Of Contents:
1. Industry View
  *Backward Compatibility Is Important In Open-Standard Backplanes
2. Focus On Analog
  *Audio Amp Outputs More Power Using Less Board Space
3. News From The Editors
  *RoHS Catalog Identifies Old Parts With New Names
  *4-Gbyte Memory Module Comprises 72 Standard Devices
  *Protective Vents Tolerate Harsh Environments
4. Magazine Highlights: April 13, 2006
  *Cover Story: Engineering Feature -- IP Integration Is Standard Fare
  *Technology Report -- Demanding Applications Push NAND Flash Densities
  *Leapfrog: First Look -- Mini CMOS MEMS Oscillator Marks A New Era 
   For Timing
  *Design Solution -- Design High-Speed Data Links With Link-Level Simulation

Electronic Design UPDATE edited by Lisa Maliniak, eMedia Editor
mailto:[email protected]
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1. Industry View -- Exclusive to Electronic Design UPDATE
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Backward Compatibility Is Important In Open-Standard Backplanes

By Justin Moll, Director of Marketing, Elma Bustronic

Architectures like the VMEbus have been so successful largely due to 
their continued performance enhancements while maintaining backward 
compatibility. Over the years, the steps have been incremental for 
these types of backward-compatible open-standard (BCOS) technologies. 
But today, new innovations can take VME and CompactPCI to 
revolutionary levels...

Read the full article at 
http://news.electronicdesign.com/t?ctl=275BF:484C79

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

VARTA Introduces New Generation Lithium Polymer Batteries

These new Polymer batteries from VARTA Microbattery deliver the 
highest energy density available with longer life expectancy and an 
enhanced discharge rate. VARTA PoLiFlex ultra-slim batteries provide 
excellent performance in extreme temperatures and exhibit virtually no 
swelling. The technology is intrinsically safe; the product is 
currently available.

http://news.electronicdesign.com/t?ctl=275C2:484C79

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*******************Live on ElectronicDesign.com*****************

Free Webinar: Measurements and Analysis for Switch-Mode Design
Thursday, April 27, 2006 at 2:00pm ET

This seminar covers the measurements of interest for designers of 
switch-mode power-conversion circuits and devices. We'll review the 
acquisition of voltage and current, their relationship in switch-mode 
power-conversion circuits, and the analysis of power-device switching 
losses, conduction losses, safe operating area, and dynamic 
on-resistance. Register today!

http://news.electronicdesign.com/t?ctl=275BB:484C79

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2. Focus On Analog
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***Audio Amp Outputs More Power Using Less Board Space
A tiny audio amplifier from National Semiconductor increases output 
power while shrinking package size by 30 percent over most existing 
amplifiers. According to the company, the LM4995 Boomer 1.3-W mono 
Class AB audio amplifier is housed in the world's smallest micro 
surface-mounted device (SMD) package, which measures 1.25 by 1.25 mm 
with a 0.4-mm pitch. It targets cell-phone hands-free and ringer 
functions. Operating on a single 5-V supply, the LM4995 can drive an 
8-ohm speaker load at a continuous average output of 1.3 W with less 
than 1 percent total harmonic distortion plus noise (THD+N). It offers 
a power-supply rejection ratio (PSRR) of 74 dB at 217 Hz and a low 
quiescent power-supply current of 1.6 mA for longer battery life in 
portable systems. Pricing is $0.65 each in 1000-unit quantities. The 
amplifier is available now in a lead-free, nine-bump micro SMD 
package. An evaluation board is also available.
     National Semiconductor ==> 
http://news.electronicdesign.com/t?ctl=275C6:484C79

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3. News -- From The Editors
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***RoHS Catalog Identifies Old Parts With New Names
A distributor of electronic components and test equipment has released 
an interactive RoHS-compliant catalog to help ease the transition to 
the EU directive. Newark InOne's Web-based catalog features 40,000 
RoHS-compliant products. The tool lets users view both new and old 
part numbers of a particular product. This is important because many 
manufacturers have been changing part numbers as they release 
RoHS-compliant versions of their products. The catalog also serves as 
a guide, with sections dedicated to understanding the directive, 
analyzing parts' lists for compliance, ensuring accuracy, and 
information about purchasing RoHS-compliant products. The free catalog 
can be found on the company's Web site.
     Newark InOne ==> http://news.electronicdesign.com/t?ctl=275CA:484C79

***4-Gbyte Memory Module Comprises 72 Standard Devices
A 4-Gbyte, four-rank registered dual-inline memory module (RDIMM) from 
Staktek fits server and workstation applications. The module utilizes 
72 standard 512-Mbyte memory devices to create a product that meets 
JEDEC specifications for RDIMM dimensions (30-mm core). According to 
the company, the four-rank memory organization can deliver better 
system performance than a two-rank memory module of the same capacity. 
The module is based on Staktek's ArctiCore Technology, which is 
designed to improve thermal, mechanical, and electrical performance in 
high-speed applications. Utilizing a double-sided, multilayer flexible 
circuit with embedded interconnect technology folded around a rigid 
thermal core, ArctiCore increases the available area for mounting 
devices while enhancing thermal management, reliability, and thinness. 
Licensing and manufacturing services for the 4-Gbyte, four-rank 
ArctiCore modules are currently available.
     Staktek Holdings Inc. ==> http://news.electronicdesign.com/t?ctl=275CB:484C79

***Protective Vents Tolerate Harsh Environments
The latest protective vent from W.L. Gore withstands extreme 
conditions such as widely fluctuating temperatures, extreme moisture, 
and large amounts of environmental contaminants. A tough metal housing 
delivers durability in harsh and explosive environments. The Gore Vent 
provides protection and pressure equalization for electrical 
enclosures, outdoor electronics, domestic appliances, and other 
products containing electronic components. Gore protective vents allow 
air to pass freely through housings, so they virtually eliminate the 
stress caused by sudden changes in temperature and pressure that can 
compromise gaskets or housing seals. These vents also provide the 
advantage of easy access to sensitive electronics for maintenance 
without enabling contaminants such as water, chemicals, oil, or dust 
to enter the housing. The vent is available in a wide variety of sizes 
and configurations.
     W.L. Gore and Associates ==> http://news.electronicdesign.com/t?ctl=275CC: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 are 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=275C4:484C79

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

April 13, 2006

* Cover Story: Engineering Feature -- IP Integration Is Standard Fare
  Solving the IP puzzle is getting easier, thanks to significant 
  movement toward industry-standard IP exchange formats and new choices 
  for interconnect fabrics.
http://news.electronicdesign.com/t?ctl=275BE:484C79

* Technology Report -- Demanding Applications Push NAND Flash Densities
  Advances in process technology and cell structures promise higher 
  storage capacities and faster read/write operation.
http://news.electronicdesign.com/t?ctl=275BD:484C79

* Leapfrog: First Look -- Mini CMOS MEMS Oscillator Marks A New Era For Timing
  Use of standard CMOS processes, design, and packaging methods yields 
  the smallest high-performance, low-cost programmable IC oscillator to date.
http://news.electronicdesign.com/t?ctl=275C1:484C79

* Design Solution -- Design High-Speed Data Links With Link-Level Simulation
  An integrating link simulator can act as a kind of "motherboard" for 
  the various models and simulators used to tackle signal-integrity issues.
http://news.electronicdesign.com/t?ctl=275C0:484C79

For the complete Table of Contents, go to Electronic Design ==>
http://news.electronicdesign.com/t?ctl=275C3:484C79

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EiED Online -- Building A SAS RAID File Server

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, "Building A SAS RAID File Server." 
Adaptec's 335SAS enclosure and 4805SAS RAID controller are the 
centerpieces to this high-performance server that Bill has built. It 
also incorporates AMD's FX-60 dual-core Athlon 64 processor on ASUS's 
latest K89N-LR motherboard. It's cool and fast.

http://news.electronicdesign.com/t?ctl=275BC:484C79

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TAKE A POLL!

Researchers have created a nanotube-laced paint that blocks, or 
greatly attenuates, RF signals. Should it be used to block the ringing 
of cell phones in places like theaters?

-- No, that violates my Constitutional rights
-- Maybe, but it could be hazardous in emergency situations
-- Yes, I hope it's used on a wide-scale basis
-- There are better ways to deal with cell-phone noise

Vote at Electronic Design ==> http://news.electronicdesign.com/t?ctl=275C9:484C79

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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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