EDN - September 17, 2009

Manufacturers are offering SOI and MEMS alternatives to PIN-diode, GaAs, and electromechanical switches for a variety of RF applications, but you need to understand RF-switch specs before you commit to a new technology.

• Departments and Columns
• Baker's Best
• A designer's guide to op-amp gain error
• Prying Eyes
• T-Mobile's G1: Google's Android OS emerges
• Tales From The Cube
• Lightning strikes sewage setup
• Tapeout
• Reference-tool flows and process-design kits, part one
• edn.comment
• Robots, jobs, and war

• Design Ideas
• Resistive DAC and op amp form hybrid divider
• Emulate SPI signals with a digital-I/O card
• Connect two buttons with just two wires
• Missing pulse detects position or produces a delay

• Features
• Design Feature
• In search of a better DRAM: evolving to floating bodies
• Breaking down the sensor-signal path

• Pulse
• Mentor unveils strategy at DAC
• Osram develops direct-emitting green-laser diode
• Voices
• Voices: Newark/Premier Farnell's Gary Nevison: scoping out the Environmental Design of Electrical Equipment Act