Design Features: March 3, 1994

Cover Story
ATM networking	bridge is under construction along the informationhighway, one that promises to span the gulf between the network needs of telephony and data communications. The bridge's name is asynchronous transfer mode (ATM). -- Richard A Quinnell, Technical Editor
Design Features The hottest new technologies and the latest design techniques to help you work efficiently and effectively.
Ratio detection precisely characterizes signals' amplitude and frequency	Straightforward models of how humans perceive sound and color lead to amazingly simple techniques that use Gaussian filters and ratio detectors to extract signals' information content. -- Robert H McEachern, Consultant
Simulation programs iron out transmission-line effects	Before you cast your high-speed-circuit design in concrete, submit it to a simulation program for scrutiny. These programs can identify reflection noise on traces, as well as crosstalk between traces, and can verify whether logic levels remain within noise margins. -- Carol J Steinberg and Ian M Wilson, MicroSim Corp
Step-by-step procedures help you solve Spice convergence problems	Spice's iterative approach for arriving at answers to nonlinear problems doesn't always converge on a solution. But you can use the guidelines given here to converge 90 to 95% of the time. -- Charles Hymowitz, Intusoft
Embedded systems developers embrace the PC architecture	The incredible shrinking PC is becoming the architecture of choice for many embedded applications. -- DAVID SHEAR, Technical Editor
User-interface prototypes help you design products real people can operate	By simulating your product's user interface and trying it out before committing it to hardware, you'll get to market faster and improve the odds that customers will love your design. -- DAN STRASSBERG, Senior Technical Editor