Comms ICs
Avago Technologies Continues Expansion of Next-Generation SFP+ Transceiver Products for 10 Gbps Ethernet Apps
Avago Technologies has announced yet another expansion of its family of SFP+ optical transceiver modules for next-generation 10 Gbps Ethernet equipment designs. The new additions to Avago's SPF+ transceiver series include the 10/1 Gbps dual-rate AFCT-701SDDZ 10GBASE-Long Range (LR) single mode and AFBR-703SDDZ 10GBASE-Short Range (SR) multimode fiber transceivers for use in enterprise and data center applications. The dual-rate operation allows flexibility in data rate control through hardware or software control.
Intelligent Network Controller with Built-in TCP/IP Developed for Home Networking
In response to the emerging network enabled home appliance market as well as the support the increasing number of internet connected industrial products, EPSON Electronics has developed the S1S60000 single-chip network controller. Available from 2001 Electronic Components, the S1S60000 incorporates all of the protocol stack functions and other elements needed to connect household and industrial appliances to a network As protocols required for TCP/IP connectivitiy are processed internally, only simple commands and data need to be sent from the host microcontroller in order to enable TCP/IP communication.
High Linearity Downconverting Mixers Improve Performance & Reduce Power Consumption in 3G & 4G Wireless Basestations
Linear Technology has announced the LTC554x family of four new high dynamic range downconverting mixers covering the 700MHz to 4GHz wireless infrastructure frequency range. The LTC554x mixers offer outstanding IIP3 (input third-order intercept) of 26dBm, low noise figures of 9-10dB and high conversion gain of 8dB, enabling excellent dynamic range performance for both main receivers and digital predistortion receivers.
Phyworks quad equalizer extends XAUI lanes by 50%
Phyworks has announced a high performance quad backplane equalizer chip for line cards using IEEE802.3ae XAUI backplane interfaces. The PHY3980 can drive four 3.125Gbps FR-4 PCB data lanes at distances of up to 60 inches (1.5m), an increase of up to 50% over existing pin-compatible solutions.
Microtune - Ultra-Small, Super-Integrated MicroCeiver IC Platform
Microtune has announced details of a new ultra-small, low-cost technology platform, named MicroCeiver, the foundation for the Company's new highly integrated receiver products for the digital TV and cable TV markets.
Complete Communication Solution For Portable and Maritime Mobile Transceivers
The new CMX885 Marine VHF baseband processor is designed to meet the global requirements of low cost, highly integrated marine VHF transceivers by offering complete audio processing with selectable audio processing order.
Atmel - Next-generation, feature-rich Active AM/FM Antenna ICs
Atmel has announced the availability of a new active antenna integrated circuit (IC) designed for AM/FM car antenna applications. The new ATR4252 IC provides the industry's highest integration, automatic gain control, supply voltage regulator with overvoltage protection and an antenna sensor. Designers can now develop smaller, high-performance active antenna solutions for applications located in the mirror, bumper, rear or side windows of a car. In addition, the antenna detection functionality is ideal for modern window or glass antennas. The robust IC also addresses other antenna types including window, pole or shark fin antennas with its small 4 x 5 mm footprint.
Peregrine Semiconductor Delivers Best-in-Class 2-bit Digital Step Attenuator for 4G LTE Applications
Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation, a leading supplier of high-performance RF CMOS and mixed-signal communications ICs, today announced the new PE43204 2-bit UltraCMOS Digital Step Attenuator (DSA). This newest addition to Peregrine's highly popular DSA portfolio offers best-in-class performance with exceptional attenuation accuracy and linearity, making it ideal for 4G Tx/Rx applications such as cellular base stations and remote radio heads where a DSA is required to adjust the power level. In diversity Rx applications the fast switching PE43204 protects the receive path and prevents overdriving the A/D converter.
HDMI 1.4 Transceiver for Consumer Audio/Video Designs
Analog Devices has expanded its Advantiv advanced television portfolio with the introduction of the first HDMI 1.4 (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) transceiver for home and pro (professional) AV (audio/video) designs. ADI's ADV7623 HDMI 1.4 transceiver incorporates Xpressview fast switching technology, which enables seamless, automatic switching between HDMI-enabled AV devices in a fraction of a second, eliminating up to 19 seconds of delay required by many AV systems.
Phyworks 10G CMOS transceiver is first to integrate temperature sensor and diagnostic reporting
Phyworks has introduced the first single chip transceiver in CMOS to offer an integrated ±3°C temperature sensor and diagnostic reporting. Designed for 10GBASE-SR and 1G to 8G Fibre Channel SFP+ optical applications, the PHY3070 can be used with an external junction-temperature monitoring transistor to improve module temperature sensing accuracy. This reduces measurement variance due to the influence of IC temperature.
Analog Devices Delivers Breakthrough Radio Frequency Circuits for 4G Cellular Base Stations
Analog Devices has introduced a series of highly integrated RFICs (radio frequency integrated circuits) designed for LTE and 4th generation (4G) cellular base stations. LTE is a set of enhancements to the UMTS (universal mobile telecommunications system) standard and is considered to be the last step toward the 4th generation of radio technologies in cellular networks.
HDMI Chip from STMicroelectronics Cuts Time-to-Market for High-Definition TV Products
STMicroelectronics has introduced a chip that simplifies the design of HDMI-compliant connections for high-definition products such as set-top boxes, Blu-ray players, game consoles and HDTVs. The new IC, the HDMI2C1-5DIJ, assures designers of meeting HDMI specification version 1.3, while occupying up to 70 percent less board space than an equivalent network of discrete components for ESD protection, boosting, and level shifting of HDMI control signals.
Black Sand Technologies - First 3G CMOS RF Power Amplifier
Black Sand Technologies, Inc., a fabless semiconductor company specializing in advanced power amplifier technology for wireless applications, today announced that it has produced what it says is the world's first 3G CMOS RF Power Amplifier (PA). Black Sand's proprietary CMOS PA architecture offers a breakthrough in combined performance, cost, battery life, and reliability for mobile devices such as mobile phones and datacards. The company also announced today that it has received US$10 million in its second round of funding.
Avago - GPS Low Noise Amplifiers with Integrated Pre- and Post-High Rejection FBAR Filters
Avago Technologies today introduced a new miniature compact highly integrated GPS low noise amplifier (LNA) that offers superior performance levels. Avago's ALM-1812 integrates a LNA and pre- and post high-rejection filters in a miniature compact package to provide a complete, compact and high-performance GPS RF front-end module that will help simplify the design of a wide range of GPS handset applications. Avago is a leading supplier of analog interface components for communications, industrial and consumer applications.
Frequency Synthesizers with Sub-Picosecond Jitter Ease Timing Design for High-Speed Systems
Maxim has introduced the MAX3671/MAX3673 low-jitter, frequency synthesizers with nine phase-aligned LVPECL outputs for high-speed systems. These devices utilize a low-noise VCO and PLL architecture to generate high-frequency (312.5MHz), low-jitter (0.3psRMS) clock signals from a 62.5MHz reference-clock input. Configured through three 4-level control inputs, the MAX3671 simultaneously generates two different frequencies for both Ethernet port clocking and MAC clocking, while the MAX3673 generates outputs for CPRI/UMTS reference clocking (122.88MHz, 245.76MHz).
u-blox launches ultra-low power GPS technology platform
u-blox has announced the upgrade of its core CMOS technology to u-blox 6. Products based on u-blox 6 will have dramatically reduced power requirements thanks to new intelligent power management features. The innovations enable significantly extended battery life for power-critical GPS applications.
NXP Ships One millionth FlexRay Transceiver for Automotive Networking
NXP Semiconductors today announced that it has shipped its one millionth FlexRay transceiver to the automotive industry. This landmark shipment reiterates its number one position as the leading supplier of in-vehicle networking technology, making NXP the only provider to ship over a million FlexRay Physical Layer compliant transceivers. It also reflects a rapid increase in the adoption of FlexRay in-vehicle networking technology among car OEMs globally.
Maxim - RS-232 Transceiver Integrates ±70V Fault Protection
Maxim has introduced the MAX13223E, a ±70V fault-protected, dual-channel RS-232 transceiver. Pin compatible with the industry-standard MAX3223E, the MAX13223E is the first overvoltage-protected RS-232 transceiver on the market. It integrates ±70V fault protection on the RS-232 interface pins, thus eliminating the need for external fault-protection circuitry, such as polyswitch limiters and zener diodes.
Quad Linear Equalizer Resolves Challenging Signal Integrity Problems Up to 10.3Gbps in Copper Interconnects
Maxim has introduced the MAX3986, a 1Gbps to 10.3Gbps, quad linear equalizer for copper interconnects. A high-performance, stand-alone equalizer, this device offers best-in-class port matching (typical return loss is 24dB) and channel-to-channel isolation (33dB, typ). Each channel is capable of compensating for losses in 20 inches of FR4, with data rates up to 10.3Gbps.
STMicroelectronics Introduces Silicon Tuner Supporting Digital-Terrestrial TV Standard as Analog Switch-Off Gathers Pace
As demand grows for economical equipment allowing households to access digital terrestrial television services, STMicroelectronics has introduced a single-chip DVB-T silicon tuner that enables manufacturers to simplify product assembly and supply-chain management.
Wideband RF Quadrature Modulator Targets Wireless Infrastructure
CML Microcircuits is targeting its new wideband RF I/Q modulator IC at the designers of, broadband wireless access systems (WiMAX), microwave link transmitters (including ODFM/COFDM), cellular picocell/nanocell systems, satellite communications and any other wideband wireless infrastructure systems requiring high performance I/Q modulation.
Fujitsu - USB 3.0 to SATA Bridge IC
Fujitsu Microelectronics has announced the MB86C30A, one of the first available USB 3.0 to SATA bridge ICs, which supports the ultra-fast 5Gbps maximum data transfer rate of SuperSpeed USB, the USB 3.0 specification. The MB86C30A is the first in Fujitsu's new MB86C30 Series of USB 3.0 to SATA bridge ICs. When embedded in PC peripheral devices the IC provides an order of magnitude increase in data transfer rates from external storage devices, such as hard disk drives (HDDs), to PCs, in comparison to the USB 2.0 specification.
PMC-Sierra Multi-service convergence platform enables end-to-end OTN deployment in Carrier networks
PMC-Sierra has launched the PM5420 HyPHY 20G and PM5426 HyPHY 10G devices to enable the convergence of high-bandwidth data, video and voice services over Optical Transport Network (ITU-T G.709 OTN) based Metro infrastructures. OTN is the industry's choice as the replacement technology for SONET/SDH, providing optimised transport of IP services. The global transition, however, has been delayed by the need for low-power, cost-effective service gateways with simultaneous protocol support for Carrier Ethernet, video, storage area network (SAN), OTN and SONET/SDH at the network edge.
Avago Technologies - Balanced Low Noise Amplifiers for Cellular Infrastructure Applications
Avago has announced two ultra-low noise, high gain, high linearity Gallium Arsenide (GaAs) balanced low noise amplifiers for cellular infrastructure applications. Avago's MGA-16516/17516, which are the latest additions to its family of economical, easy to use LNAs, helps to significantly improve the sensitivity and dynamic range of cellular infrastructure applications. Both LNAs feature a compact footprint and are designed to be used as first stage LNAs. Typical applications include cellular base station transceiver radio cards, tower mounted amplifiers, combiners, repeaters and remote/digital radio heads.
National Semiconductor Claims Industry’s Lowest-Noise Frequency Synthesizer
National Semiconductor has announced a low-noise, fully integrated frequency synthesizer. The PowerWise LMX2541 provides less than 2 milli-radians (mrad) root-mean-square noise at 2.1 GHz and 3.5 mrad RMS noise at 3.5 GHz, outperforming the nearest competitor by 10 dB in both in-band phase-locked loop (PLL) noise and spurious performance.
Avago Technologies - Miniature FBAR Band 2 High Isolation Duplexers for UMTS Handsets and Data Terminals
Avago Technologies today announced a new miniature PCS duplexer that has been specifically designed for use in UMTS Band 2 handsets. The ACMD-7407 duplexer, which is the latest addition to Avago's family of PCS duplexers, is 33 percent smaller than its previous versions. Designed using Avago's own FBAR technology, this UMTS duplexer has a common footprint and targets designers of PCS handsets, and data terminals operating on the U.S. PCS frequency band. Avago is a leading supplier of analog interface components for communications, industrial and consumer applications.
Low-Jitter Transceivers from National Semiconductor are said to Deliver 30 Percent More Backplane and Cable Reach
National Semiconductor has introduced two energy-efficient, quad transceivers that are said to extend backplane and cable reach up to 30 percent farther than competitive devices. These PowerWise signal conditioning devices drive high-speed signals in data center servers and storage area networks (SANs). The DS50PCI401 is PCI-SIG-approved to the PCI Express (PCIe) Gen1 (2.5 Gbps) and Gen2 (5 Gbps) specifications, while the DS64BR401 supports both 3 Gbps and 6 Gbps SATA/SAS specifications, along with other high-speed signaling standards such as XAUI, serial Rapid IO (sRIO) and Fibre Channel.
Very-Low-IF ASK/OOK Receiver Minimizes System Cost by Eliminating an External IF Filter
Maxim has introduced the MAX7036 very-low-IF, superheterodyne receiver for ASK/OOK data in the 300MHz to 450MHz frequency range. Only requiring a few external components to implement a complete receiver-chain solution, this device integrates an LNA; self-contained PLL block; 400kHz IF filter with RSSI; and analog baseband, data-recovery circuitry. To ensure excellent, consistent receiver sensitivity of -109dBm, these critical blocks have been designed to operate over the -40 degrees Celsius to +105 degrees Celsius temperature range. The MAX7036 is ideal for applications such as remote keyless-entry systems, car alarms, home security systems, remote controls, and garage door openers.
Silicon Labs - Single Channel Telephony IC
Silicon Laboratories claims the industry's highest performance, highest integration and lowest power family of single-channel foreign exchange station (FXS) solutions. The Si3217x ProSLIC family is the first to integrate everything needed for an FXS interface into a single package, reducing board area by 50 percent without compromising the performance and diagnostic capabilities typical of traditional telephony service.
Downconverting SiGe Mixer for WCS, LTE, WiMAX, and MMDS Base Stations
Maxim has introduced the MAX19996A, a fully integrated, 2000MHz to 3900MHz downconverting mixer with an on-chip LO buffer. Designed using Maxim's proprietary, monolithic SiGe BiCMOS process, this device delivers an unparalleled combination of linearity, noise performance, and component integration over an exceptionally wide band of operation.
Digital Step Attenuators Feature Serial Addressability
Peregrine Semiconductor has released the latest in the new UltraCMOS Digital Step Attenuator 50Ω series. Building on their high-performance predecessors, along with direct and latched parallel interface logic these new HaRP-enhanced devices also offer highly flexible serial programmability with attenuation options covering a 7.75 dB (PE43501)and 15.75 dB (PE43601) attenuation range in 0.25 dB steps.
SMSC Launches Ethernet Controller
SMSC today launched the LAN89218, its first TrueAuto high-performance single-chip 10/100 Ethernet controller. This device is designed specifically to meet the high reliability standards required by automotive applications such as on-board diagnostics or fast software download interfaces for central gateway and telematics modules, navigation systems, radio head units and connectivity devices.
Compact Multimode Silicon Tuner Receives T-DMB, ISDB-T, and DAB Broadcasts
Maxim has introducesd the MAX2169, a multimode silicon tuner for mobile TV. This device receives signals in the FM, VHF-III, UHF, and L-band spectrums, making it ideal for multimode applications that need to receive mobile TV and audio broadcasts.
Avago Expands Series of Miniature PCS FBAR Band Duplexers with Environmentally ‘Green’ Version
Avago has announced the addition of an environmentally 'green' PCS FBAR Band Duplexer to its series of miniature duplexers. The ACMD-7409 duplexer, which was designed using Avago's own FBAR technology, targets designers of PCS handsets, and data terminals operating in the U.S. PCS frequency band.
Exar’s wireless UART chipset eliminates cables for serial or parallel interfaces
Exar's wireless UART chipset is now available from Nu Horizons. The chipset comprises a low-power single-chip transceiver, the XR18W753, and a wireless UART controller, the XR18W750, connected via an I2C bus master interface. By replacing cabled connections in industrial environments, the Exar solution increases equipment mobility, simplifies installations, and accelerates time to market.
Low-leakage quad RS-422 transmitters deliver maximum ESD protection in small packages
Intersil has developed a series of small-footprint, quad 16.5kV ESD-protected RS-422 transmitters. These innovative devices feature wide supply-voltage operating ranges for motor control applications, process control networks, telecommunications products and factory automation systems.
850MHz to 1550MHz SiGe Mixer Delivers Unparalleled Spurious Intermodulation Rejection
Maxim has introduced the MAX2051, a high performance, fully integrated, 815MHz to 1550MHz SiGe passive mixer. Designed specifically for multicarrier cable head-end downstream video, cable modem termination systems (CMTS), video-on-demand and DOCSIS(R)-compliant edge QAM modulation, and wireless-infrastructure applications, the MAX2051 delivers an unparalleled combination of linearity and spurious suppression over an exceptionally wide IF bandwidth of 50MHz to 1000MHz.
Toshiba expands family of low noise SiGe MMIC amplifiers featuring integrated pass-through capability
Toshiba Electronics Europe has announced a new family of miniature, low noise amplifiers that provide good linearity and low current consumption in VHF-UHF wide band applications where input signal strengths may be variable. The new SiGe cellpack devices are particularly suitable for stationary and mobile terrestrial tuner applications where they can be used to improve dynamic range and minimise distortion while reducing power consumption and component density.
Re-Drivers Support PCIe Gen II and SATA/eSATA Gen III Data Rates
Maxim Integrated Products has introduced two new re-drivers to support the industry's latest high-speed serial interfaces. The MAX4950 is a quad-channel buffer designed to re-drive PCI Express (PCIe) Gen I and Gen II signals (up to 5.0Gbps). The MAX4951 is a dual-channel (Tx and Rx) re-driver for SATA/eSATA Gen I (1.5Gbps), Gen II (3.0Gbps), and Gen III (6.0Gbps) signals. These protocol-specific re-drivers are intended for use in storage and computing applications that carry signals over long traces, through passive backplanes and connectors, and then over long cables to either an internal or an external storage device.
picoChip claims industry’s first HSPA+ femtocell SoC to support true eight-user operation
picoChip has launched the picoXcell PC312 HSPA+ femtocell system-on-chip (SoC), the industry's first such device to support eight users, with simultaneous voice and data services. Offering 64QAM modulation and 3GPP Release 7 features for high-speed communication, the device is the newest addition to the picoXcell PC3xx family of single-chip femtocells launched in 2008. All are fully pin-compatible and offer customers a seamless migration path.
