Active Components
Tiny Low-Cost Rail-to-Rail Amplifiers from Linear Technology
Linear Technology has introduced the LTC6087 and the LTC6088, low cost dual and quad amplifiers, which combine speed, precision and low power in a tiny DFN package. Featuring rail-to-rail input and output stages, these amplifiers achieve 750uV (max) offset voltage, 14MHz GBW and 1pA bias current, while consuming only 1.25mA (max) per amplifier. The LTC6087 and LTC6088 offer 93dB (min) PSRR, and the large signal voltage gain of 136dB ensures gain linearity. These amplifiers also maintain a low frequency noise of just 5.8uVp-p.
High Junction-Temperature TRIACs from STM Enable Smaller Heatsinks and Higher Power Density
STMicroelectronics has announced a new series of high-temperature TRIACs, which maintain full specified performance up to a junction temperature of 150 degrees C, and which deliver outstanding turn-off capability – ideal for appliance motor-control applications, in particular – at their maximum temperature. The high-junction-temperature TRIACs will enable manufacturers to lower their costs by using considerably smaller heatsinks, and also allow the end product to benefit from more reliable operation in hot environments.
Power MOSFETs from STMicroelectronics Enable Higher Frequencies and Lower Losses in DC/DC Supplies
STMicroelectronics has announced two new Power MOSFETs, intended for the most demanding DC/DC converter applications, which use the latest version of ST's proprietary STripFET technology to deliver extremely low conduction and switching losses, up to 3W lower in a typical voltage regulator module, and to achieve the lowest figure of merit – FOM = Rds(on) x Gate Charge (Qg) – among comparable competitive devices.
Chipset provides full-featured, flexible approach to implementing complete AMD CPU power solution
International Rectifier has introduced the IR3514 and IR3507 XPhase chipset for AMD parallel and serial VID (PVID and SVID) processors. The IR3514 control IC enables designers to migrate from AMD processors requiring a parallel VID to SVID processors without the need to change the motherboard. Combined with the IR3507 phase IC, the IR3514 provides Power Saving Interface (PSI) capability to turn phases(N-1) on or off depending on CPU load requirements. The IR3514 is designed to receive power savings commands through the SVI serial bus and communicates this information to the IR3507 phase IC to improve efficiency at light loads and MIPS per watt.
Automotive audio power amp has I2C diagnostic capability
Toshiba Electronics Europe has launched a four-channel car audio amplifier IC that combines a new circuit structure with an enhanced process technology to deliver improved sound quality and enhanced reliability. The new TB2932 also features I2C bus functionality that allows control, diagnostic and configuration settings.
Powervoltage-Feedback Amp Achieves Industry’s Best Combination Of Performance And Power says ADI
Analog Devices has introduced what is said to be the lowest power voltage-feedback amplifier in its class, making it ideal for densely populated, thermally sensitive instrumentation equipment that requires high-speed signal conditioning. Operating at 850 MHz, the ADA4857 high-speed op amp consumes 5 mA, less than half the power of competing voltage-feedback amps, while featuring the industry's most well-balanced combination of performance specifications.
Variable-Gain Amplifier Supports High-Speed, Multichannel Data Access In Advanced Cable Equipment
Analog Devices, Inc. is introducing a general-purpose two-channel, digitally controlled VGA developed with specific features for today's CMTS upstream receiver applications. The two-channel AD8372 VGA enables designers to incorporate more CMTS channels while simultaneously improving modem performance and the quality of upstream cable signals. The new VGA's space-saving design reduces component count and board area by allowing designers to fit more channels into a given space or pack the same number of channels into a smaller area.
Flip-Chip Stereo Headset Amplifier from STMicroelectronics Brings Premium Handhelds Closer to Audio Nirvana
STMicroelectronics has announced the TS4601, a stereo headset amplifier optimized for feature-phone applications that improves audio performance, extends battery life and enables more responsive user controls compared to existing solutions.
TI introduces DirectPath 2VRMS audio line driver
Texas Instruments today introduced a 2VRMS DirectPath audio line driver targeting home entertainment applications where size and cost are critical design parameters. The latest addition to TI's audio amplifier portfolio provides customers with the flexibility to operate from a 3.3V power supply to reduce total system cost and to adjust input gain levels to optimize performance in television peripherals such as set-top boxes, HDTV receivers, DVD players, gaming consoles and portable media players.
Driver family meets demands of next generation LEDs
A family of three flexible LED Drivers from Zetex Semiconductors provides designers with the performance needed by the next generation of high brightness LEDs. The ZXLD132X inductive DC-DC converter series drive single or multiple LEDs with currents from 700mA through to 1.5A, in buck, boost and buck/boost configurations. Housed in a tiny 3mm x 4mm DFN package, the drivers can reduce the circuit footprint of existing solutions by up to 50%.
Highly integrated transmit processor for wireless basestations
Texas Instruments has introduced a single-chip wireless transmit processor that combines digital upconverter (DUC), crest factor reduction (CFR), and digital pre-distortion (DPD) linearization functions. The GC5322 device increases the efficiency of multi-carrier power amplifiers (PAs) in the RF transmit signal chain and eliminates the need for more costly high-performance RF power amplifier components. This enables basestation OEMs to achieve power efficiencies of 25 percent or more for Class AB PAs and reaching 40 percent or more for Doherty PAs.
Dual-core processors for high-performance multimedia systems such as car information systems
Renesas Technology Europe has announced the development of the SH7786 group of dual-core processors built around twin SH-4A CPU cores. The SH7786 group is intended for high-performance multimedia systems, especially Car Information Systems (CIS) such as car navigation systems. It incorporates dual Renesas Technology SH-4A high-performance CPU cores to achieve superior processing power of up to 1920 million instructions per second (MIPS) (when operating at 533MHz).
Microprocessor for low-power, battery-operated TFT-display solutions with Linux
Renesas Technology Europe has announced the immediate availability of the SH7721 microprocessor for battery-operated devices that use TFT displays and feature-rich Linux user interfaces. The SH7721 SH-3-based microprocessor has 170 DMIPS performance, 32Kbyte unified cache and a five-stage pipeline. It integrates a TFT-controller with up to 1024x1024 resolution, depending on colour depth, and with an associated dedicated 2.4Kbyte line-buffer RAM to prevent flickering.
Multi-function driver IC consolidates stepper and brush-DC motor controls
Toshiba Electronics Europe has announced a multi-motor driver IC with valuable integrated features, allowing engineers to establish a common hardware solution to driving multiple stepper motors or brush DC motors. The Toshiba Electronics TB62237BFG uses Toshiba's high-voltage IC technology to combine four H-bridge outputs with motor-control logic for stepper and brush DC motors, as well as three DC-DC converters, a built-in timer and protection functions. This creates a highly integrated solution for single-, dual- and quadruple-axis motor driving duties. The DMOS motor-driver outputs achieve low on-resistance of 0.6O for low-loss operation, leading to high efficiency. A further benefit is low heat dissipation, which enhances reliability and reduces cost by easing thermal management.
Precision digital-output temperature sensors from STM
STMicroelectronics has announced a series of precision digital-output temperature sensors, operating over the -55 to +125 degrees C temperature range, which are ideal for low power applications in a broad range of product areas. The cost-competitive STxx75 devices are software-compatible drop-in replacements for industry-standard LM75, DS75 and TCN75A parts, and also complement ST's STLM20 analog temperature sensor, now being used in several mobile phone designs
IGBT/MOSFET gate drive optocouplers with 2.0 A output current
NEC Electronics has introduced the first product in a new series of IGBT/MOSFET gate drive optocouplers. The PS9552 consists of a GaAlAs LED on the input side and a photo diode with signal processing circuit and power stage on the output side. It is a combination of a fast optocoupler providing galvanic isolation and an IGBT/MOSFET driver supplying high output voltage and current. The design features common mode transient immunity of at least 15 kV/µs, output current of at least 2 A and high switching speed (tPHL/tPLH = 0.5 µs max.).
Integrated GPON fibre access gateway device
PMC-Sierra has announced the availability of a Gigabit-speed, multi-service fibre access gateway device with an integrated ITU-T G.984 GPON interface. The MSP7160 integrates all of the functionality required for a GPON residential gateway, and leverages PMC-Sierra's proven GPON interoperability and software layers to improve performance and reduce OEM time-to-market and development costs. The availability of this new device will enable carriers to expand HD video service offerings to consumers through the mass deployment of high bandwidth broadband and support necessary enhancements to applications, such as video and picture sharing, P2P and data storage.
Three-phase 600V IC features extra channel for PFC or brake and ground fault protection
International Rectifier has introduced the IRS26302D protected 600V three-phase gate driver IC with ground fault protection. The IC has a seventh gate drive channel for a power factor correction (PFC) switch or inverter brake, making it well-suited to medium power appliance motor control and many other general-purpose three-phase inverter applications.
High output current wide band amplifier supports peak upstream power levels for full rate ADSL applications
Combining a -3dB bandwidth of 510MHz with an output current of +/- 200mA at 9.4Vpp, the Comlinear CLC2000 high output current wideband dual amplifier from Solid State Supplies is capable of supporting the peak upstream power levels for upstream full-rate ADSL applications.
Processor Companion family upgraded with trickle charger and RTC that uses standard 12.5pF external crystal
Ramtron International has announced that it has upgraded its FM31x Processor Companion family to include a more efficient trickle charger and a real-time clock (RTC) that requires only a standard 12.5pF external watch crystal. The new FM3127x/L27x Processor Companion features 4, 16, 64, or 256 kilobits (Kb) of nonvolatile F-RAM memory, a high-speed two-wire interface, and highly integrated support and peripheral functions for advanced processor-based systems.
High-efficiency switching MOSFETs for synchronous DC-DC converters
Toshiba Electronics Europe (TEE) has added two new devices to its UMOS V-H Series high-speed switching MOSFETs to provide higher drain current (ID), and lower on-state resistance (RDSON), combined with the power efficiency advantages of the other members of the product family. Developed by Toshiba, the TPCA8012-H and TPCA8019-H n-channel MOSFETs extend the UMOS V-H Series with higher drain current of 40 Amps (A) and 45A (max.) and lower RDSON of 4.9 milliohms (mΩ) and 3.1mΩ , respectively (max. value at VGS = 10V). The UMOS V-H Series MOSFETs are targeted for use in synchronous DC-DC converters in power supplies.
Single chip control solution for dual industrial motor drives
Renesas Technology Europe has launched its latest member of the SuperH line-up of products. The SH7285 has been designed for the high-end drives, AC servos and general-purpose inverter markets. It offers up to 768k of fast MONOS (Metal Oxide Nitride Oxide Silicon) embedded Flash enabling the CPU clock to run at 100MHz. It has all the features and characteristics necessary to control two high-end industrial drives.
Fairchild Semiconductor Introduces the Industry’s Most Integrated CCFL Backlight Inverter Drive ICs for LCD Backlight Systems
Fairchild Semiconductor introduces the industry's most integrated CCFL backlight inverter drive ICs providing space and cost savings, superior system reliability and simplified design for N-N half-bridge, push-pull, and P-N full-bridge LCD backlight inverter designs. The FAN7316 and FAN7317, featuring a wide input voltage range, and built-in open lamp protection (OLP) and open lamp regulation (OLR*) circuit, eliminate up to 30 external components in four lamp circuit inverter designs compared to similar devices on the market. These highly integrated CCFL backlight inverter drive ICs also feature selectable dimming polarity and analog and burst dimming functions, which simplify design and speed time-to-market.
ST’s MEMS Sensor Enables In-Air Motion Control in New PC and Media Remotes from Gyration
STMicroelectronics today announced that its three-axis acceleration sensors are used to enable motion control in the new Air Mouse and Music Remote from Gyration, the consumer electronics brand from Movea, Inc., and the industry leader in motion-sensing devices for the home and office.
Toshiba licenses ARM Cortex™-M3 32-bit RISC processor for ASIC and ASSP applications
Toshiba Electronics Europe (TEE) is now offering the synthesisable ARM Cortex™-M3 32-bit RISC processor for use across the company's full range of ASIC technologies. Based on the license agreement with Toshiba Corporation, TEE can deploy the ARM Cortex–M3 core in high-performance, low power consumption, minimum pin count ASICs, ASSPs and other system on chip (SoC) solutions. Potential applications will include real-time industrial systems, wireless communications and portable consumer products.
STMicroelectronics Adds Audio Processor with Highly-Efficient Audio Codec to All-Digital Sound Terminal™ Family
STMicroelectronics today announced a new audio processor – based on an ARM7TDMI® core coupled with ST's proprietary FFX (full flexible amplification) digital modulation technology. The STA331 audio processor, with integrated, high-efficiency Class D Codec, offers a very high level of flexibility that enables it to be used across the full range of consumer audio products, from portable and wireless devices to home theatre and audio systems. The audio processor is a significant extension to ST's Sound Terminal™ family of high-quality single-chip audio solutions.
Analog Devices’ Networked Entertainment Reference Design Supports All Leading High-Definition Video Transport Sources
The rapid growth of high-definition (HD) home entertainment systems has made the connections between an increasing number of sources and displays more difficult. High Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) cables support a limited distance, and content protection restrictions preclude most of the traditional interconnect solutions. Several approaches have been proposed, but Analog Devices' HDAnywhere™ networked entertainment solution is the only one that works with any source, over any common transport. It enables connections to wall-mounted displays without cables, ceiling mounted projectors without putting wires through the walls, and televisions in other parts of the house without running any new wires.
Power MOSFET Boosts Efficiency in Paralleled Server Power Supplies
STMicroelectronics has announced a power MOSFET – the STV300NH02L – featuring low, micro-Ohm ON-resistance to reduce losses and increase efficiency in demanding power supply systems. This new high-current N-channel device is intended particularly for the paralleling configuration power supplies that are widely used to increase system reliability in server applications.
IDB-1394-Compliant Devices Feature Embedded Multimedia Functions
Fujitsu Microelectronics Europe has announced the development of two new controller devices, the MB88388A and MB88389, which support the IDB-1394 (*1) standard for in-vehicle multimedia networks. Sample shipping of these new devices will begin from December 1, 2007.
10G Ethernet LAN-PHY mapper for WDM networks
Fujitsu Microelectronics Europe has announced its MB87Q2091 10G Ethernet LAN-PHY mapper targeting Ethernet mapping and transport applications. The MB87Q2091 enables transport of multiple service types (both synchronous and asynchronous) including 10GE LAN-PHY or WAN-PHY, SDH/SONET STM-64/OC-192 or OTN OTU-2 signals. With support for multiple mapping modes, the device provides maximum flexibility to manage Ethernet LAN/WAN transport over metro and core networks and complements Fujitsu's family of products for 10G SDH/SONET and Ethernet applications as well as 40G SDH/SONET/OTN applications.
Voice recorder IC series has proprietary message management system
Nu Horizons Electronics has announced the availability of Winbond's ISD1700 ChipCorders. This family of single-chip multi-message voice record and playback devices features a proprietary message management system that allows the chip to self-manage address locations for multiple messages. This unique feature provides sophisticated messaging flexibility in a simple, push-button environment.
Solenoid Driver Ensures Reliable Solenoid Control for Automotive & Industrial Inductive Load Applications
Fairchild Semiconductor has introduced the FDMS2380 , a Dual Integrated Solenoid Driver (DISD) with built-in recirculation and demagnetization circuits designed specifically for driving inductive loads. Other integrated features include over-voltage, over-current and over-temperature circuits to protect the device as well as a diagnostics feedback pin. The FDMS2380 is packaged in a space-saving 8mm x 12mm PQFN package.
CMOS Amplifiers Feature 1pA Bias Current and Low Noise
Linear Technology has introduced the LTC6081 and the LTC6082: CMOS Op-Amps that push the limits of precision with 3.5MHz gain-bandwidth and less than 90uV offset over the entire -40°C to +125°C temperature range. Featuring rail-to-rail input and output stages, the dual LTC6081 and quad LTC6082 achieve low frequency noise of just 1.3uVp-p and low input bias current of 1pA max at 25°C, making these amplifiers ideal for precision instrumentation.
Flyback convertor for driving vacuum fluorescent displays
The new A4401 from Allegro MicroSystems Europe is an automotive-grade quasi-resonant discontinuous flyback convertor control IC which provides all the necessary control functions for driving a vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) with the minimum of external components.
RF Engines Ltd (RFEL) announces new CORDIC IP design
RF Engines Limited (RFEL) has announced the availability of its latest 'Vector Rotation/Translation' IP core product. This core offers a sub-set of the features provided by the traditional CORDIC algorithm and dependant on the application, delivers significant savings in cost, power and size.
Processor Core Family Offers New Features and Memory Power Reductions Up to 30%
Tensilica has announced that it has enhanced its successful Diamond Standard processor product line, the lowest-power, most area-efficient and highest-performance licensable cores on the market. The new second-generation Diamond Standard processors include several new features including additional multiplier and divider functional units, several hardware optimizations that lower memory power by up to 30%, and an optional bridge to AXI-based AMBA systems.
Piezoelectric Amplifier for Space-Constrained and OEM Applications
DSM has introduced the ultra-compact VF-90 linear piezoelectric amplifier for space-constrained and OEM applications. The product is a new addition to DSM's line of voltage follower linear amplifiers and offers several performance features ideal for driving piezoelectric loads in actuators and stages. The VF-90 is a third-party product compatible with National Instruments' CompactRIO and CompactDAQ modular chassis, thus enabling the use of the amplifier in both open- and closed-loop motion control applications.
Power FET from Toshiba achieves an output power of 65.4W at 14.5GHz
Toshiba Corporation today announced that it has developed a gallium nitride (GaN) power field effect transistor (FET) for the Ku-band (12GHz to 18GHz) frequency range that achieves an output power of 65.4W at 14.5GHz, the highest level of performance yet reported at this frequency band. The main application of the new transistor will be in base stations for satellite microwave communications, which carry high-capacity signals, including high-definition broadcasts. Toshiba plans to start sample shipment of the new power FET by the end of 2007 and to go into mass production by the end of March 2008.
High-speed video multiplexers from Texas Instruments
Texas Instruments has introduced three high-speed video multiplexers, combining wide bandwidth, high slew rate, fast switching time, and low switching glitch to optimize performance in professional video applications. High-speed multiplexers are used to switch between multiple sources in applications such as projectors, monitors and routers. Beyond video, the device can also be used in other high-speed signal multiplexing applications.
Controller Monitors DC/DC Switching Regulator's Input & Output Voltages
Linear Technology has introduced the LTC2953-1, a high-reliability push-button controller that integrates supervisory voltage monitors and timers for tracking a switching regulator's input and output voltages. The LTC2953-1 uses a power-fail input (PFI) comparator and undervoltage lockout (UVLO) comparator to trigger software and hardware control outputs when the input supply drops below two separate threshold voltages.
