Latest News

Semtech Claims World's Smallest Dual Point-of-Load Regulator

By Loring Wirbel September 2, 2010

Semtech Corp. has introduced a 1.8-amp dual point-of-load regulator it calls the world’s smalles.  The SC283 combines two step-down regulators in an 18-lead MLPQ package measuring 2 x 3 x 0.8 mm.

Nordic Offers Racing Development Kit to Spur Ultra-low-power RF LInk Applications

By Loring Wirbel August 31, 2010

Nordic Semiconductor ASA of Oslo is offering a unique racing-toy evaluation kit to help spur interest in the 2.4-GHz Ultra Low Power RF system on a chip it has developed, the nRF24LE1.

Pentek Debuts PMC Form-factor Clock Synthesizer

By Loring Wirbel August 27, 2010

Pentek Inc.’s Model 7191 multi-frequency clock synthesizer builds off the popularity of the company’s earlier Model 7190, but combined low-noise VCXO’s with a clock synchronizer IC from Texas Instruments Inc.

Freescale takes PowerQUICC into new Cost-Sensitive Markets

By Loring Wirbel August 24, 2010

Freescale Semiconductor has introduced three new members of the PowerQUICC microcontroller family, based on a Power e300 core, aimed specifically at low-cost communication and embedded industrial applications.

Lattice Updates CPLD Design Tools

By Loring Wirbel August 17, 2010

Lattice Semiconductor Corp. wants to make sure that, in the rush of attention to high-end FPGAs, the simpler CPLD programmable logic device is not forgotten.

+ view all news

Blog Posts

EtherNet/IP Industrial Network Tools Deserve a Look

By Jon Titus August 30, 2010

Early this summer [2010] I received an email announcement from Innovasic Semiconductor about the RapID "platform" for EtherNet/IP in industrial equipment. The communications use the company's fido1100 communications controller chip. Engineers and designers can download a complete RapID package of tools and documents from the Innovasic website for a free 180-day evaluation (registration required).

TI C6000 DSP Software Uses Drag-and-Drop Program Modules

By Jon Titus August 25, 2010

Texas Instruments has a treat for engineers who write signal-processing code for the company's TMS320C6000 DSP devices, such as C674x, as well as DaVinci video processors based on C6000, which include DM643x and DM648 devices. So, instead of  having to write code from scratch, engineers can pull together graphical representations of functions such as IQ math, Fourier transforms, and FIR filters.

Free the JTAG Debug Protocols

By Jon Titus August 18, 2010

Recently I started to evaluate a development kit that cost about $US 180. Taking the kit beyond a basic demonstration, though, required using a "JTAG" programming-and-debugging pod that sells for about $US 300. Information about the kit doesn't specify the pod as a needed accessory, so engineers might get a shock when they buy a low-cost kit and find they must pay almost twice as much again just to try some demo programs or write code on their own.

+ view all blogs

More News

Pentek Debuts PMC Form-factor Clock Synthesizer

By Loring Wirbel August 27, 2010

Pentek Inc.’s Model 7191 multi-frequency clock synthesizer builds off the popularity of the company’s earlier Model 7190, but combined low-noise VCXO’s with a clock synchronizer IC from Texas Instruments Inc.

Freescale takes PowerQUICC into new Cost-Sensitive Markets

By Loring Wirbel August 24, 2010

Freescale Semiconductor has introduced three new members of the PowerQUICC microcontroller family, based on a Power e300 core, aimed specifically at low-cost communication and embedded industrial applications.

Lattice Updates CPLD Design Tools

By Loring Wirbel August 17, 2010

Lattice Semiconductor Corp. wants to make sure that, in the rush of attention to high-end FPGAs, the simpler CPLD programmable logic device is not forgotten.

Crystek Offers Coaxial Resonator Oscillator for SATCOM, Base Stations

By Loring Wirbel August 9, 2010

The CVCO55CXT-6900-6900 is the latest member of the 55CXT family from Crystek Corp., a coaxial resonator oscillator designed for digital radio, base station, and satellite communication applications.

Skyworks Itroduces New Surface-mount Pin Diodes

By Loring Wirbel August 2, 2010

Skyworks Solutions Inc. has introduced two new families of PIN diodes for transmit/receive switch applications.  The high-power surface mount devices can be used in either commercial or military radio systems, in series or shunt applications of greater than 20W.

+ view all news