Low-cost FPGA-design starter kits

Four design kits for FPGAs are available. The $695 Integrator Series FPGA starter kit includes the TI-ALS action logic system with Viewlogic or OrCAD libraries and utilities, the Module Mover, and logic-integration software. The high-end design kit, the FPGA deluxe, costs $4495 and includes schematic capture, PLD-equation entry, simulation, logic synthesis, and a device programmer. Texas Instruments, Dallas, TX. (800) 477-8924, ext 4500.

DSP56001 development board costs $199

The MightyMight 56001 (MM56001) development system is based on the BNK56-MOD1 board, which contains a 33-MHz Motorola DSP56001 DSP chip, 96 kbytes of zero-wait-state SRAM, and 32 kbytes of EPROM. The system also includes the BNK56-MOD7 controller module for development. It has an RS-232C interface, which allows communication between the BNK56-MOD1 and the host. It also includes a debugger and a C utility library. In the host-computer/debug mode, the debugger has full control over the DSP. You can view and modify registers and memory, single step, set breakpoints, and download code. BNK Electronics Inc, Englewood Cliffs, NJ. (201) 894-5905.

Miniature 8W dc/dc converters are 100% burned in

The 800 series of 8W dc/dc converters is 100% burned in for 72 hours. The units' six-sided metal case measures 1×2×0.375 in. They operate over a 30 to +71°C range with no derating or heat sinking. The series features 5, 12, and 15V outputs in single-, double-, and triple-output models. The units also have input filters and remote on/off control. $58 to $66.50. Conversion Devices, Brockton, MA. (508) 559-0880.

DIP converters output 1W. D-3 dc/dc converters output 1.2W (1W for the 5V output models)

Housed in a DIP-type package measuring 0.5×0.4 in., the units accept inputs of 5, 12, 15, or 24V and output 5, 9, 12, 15, 24, ±5, ±12, or ±15V. Output voltage accuracy equals ±5%, and total output ripple and noise measures 150 mW p-p max. Operating range spans 0 to 70°C. $18.75 and $19.75 for single- and dual-output models, respectively. Alban Inc, Santa Clara, CA. (408) 988-3949.

Silvered-mica snubbers quash 100,000-V/µsec transients

The Snubber Mike line of silvered-mica capacitors handles 3.7-kA peak currents and 8.7A steady state. These units exhibit unmeasurable changes in capacitance over frequency and temperature and withstand millions of "shots" without degrading. Capacitances range from 100 pF to 0.01 µF, and voltages range from 500 to 1.5 kV dc. $0.15. Cornell Dublier, New Bedford, MA. (508) 996-8564.

Voice chip attains consumer pricing

The ISD1100 is a solid-state analog record and playback device that stores 10 sec of sampled audio. Because it stores the audio as analog charge levels in EEPROM, the device does not need A/D conversion. It contains input and output preamplifiers, AGC, and filters on-chip. $5.48 in DIPs; $4.18 as bare die (1000). Information Storage Devices, San Jose, CA. (800) 332-8638.

ICs drive optocouplers or serve as power-supply front ends

The UC39431 and UC39432 ICs contain an accurate voltage reference, a high gain-bandwidth error amplifier, and a linear-transconductance output-stage current source. In optocoupler applications, the linear transconductance amplifier replaces a common-emitter transistor amplifier, which has inherent nonlinear characteristics, to provide accurate control of the LED current. The UC39431 also includes three precision, low-temperature-coefficient resistors, which you connect to provide one of six regulated output voltages. An external resistor programs the UC39432's transconductance amplifier, allowing a more stable design in closed-loop optocoupler-feedback applications. $1.25 (1000). Unitrode Integrated Circuits Corp, Merrimack, NH. (603) 424-2410.

Audio IC handles 16-bit stereo

Offering all the functions of the Sound Blaster Pro except FM synthesis, the 82C928 costs just $15 (1000). The device offers interfaces for the Windows Sound System, the AT bus, the OPL-3 and -4, and MIDI. It also has a CD-ROM-drive interface and handles 16-bit data at a 48-kHz data rate. Opti Inc, Santa Clara, CA. (408) 980-8860.

MPEG audio decoder fits in small package

The SAA2500 MPEG decoder complies with MPEG Layers 1 and 2 and automatically conforms to the audio data rate. It also demultiplexes ancillary data in the audio bit stream. The device has selectable output-data precision from 16 to 22 bits and provides automatic de-emphasis of the decoded audio. Sample cost is $25. Philips Semiconductors, Sunnyvale, CA. (800) 447-1500, ext 3000.

VME board offers multiprocessor capability

Based on dual TMS320C40 DSP chips, the DSP220 6U VME board offers 80 Mflops of peak processing power. Each processor has 128 kbytes of EPROM and a 2k×16-bit dual-ported SRAM along with zero-wait-state program memory. The communications ports on the C40 connect to the VME P2 connector. $5495. Olsson Research Inc, Edmonds, WA. (206) 778-9480.

Tiny video system transmits long distances

The PC-7 video system, which comprises three small boards and a 2.7-oz color video camera, fits in small spaces and can transmit without wires as far as 10 mi. The boards are connected by flexible ribbon cable and can be arranged in different configurations. The smallest configuration is a 2.25-in. cube. Camera, $370; transmitters start at $50. Supercircuits, Austin, TX. (512) 335-9777.

Wireless data link connects computer equipment

A pair of transceiver units known as Comrad enables a computer to communicate wirelessly with another computer or with peripheral equipment. The units connect to RS-232C ports and operate on the 900-MHz radio band. No FCC license is necessary. $429.95. Communications R&D Corp, Indianapolis, IN. (317) 290-9107.

Digital-coupler IC re-places optocouplers

The ISO150 uses high-voltage capacitors instead of an LED and photodiode to transmit signals across the isolation barrier. This alternative device to high-speed optocouplers offers faster performance, lower power consumption, and better isolation specifi- cations. The coupler also acts as a transceiver, whereas optocouplers are unidirectional. Primary applications include digital isolation for A/D and D/A conversion, multiplexed data transmission, and I/O-port isolation in instru-ments. The IC requires no external components. Key specifications include an 80-Mbps typical data rate, 25-mW max power con-sumption per channel, 2400V-rms isolated partial discharge, and 16.5-mm creepage distance. In a 24-pin DIP, $7.75 (1000). Burr-Brown Corp, Tucson, AZ. (602) 746-1111.

Featherweight PC needs only 50 mW

The uVG25 PC-compatible module measures 52×80 mm and consumes 50 mW at 5V. The module uses two 50-pin connectors for interface to your system; it offers 32 parallel I/O lines, two serial channels, and a real-time clock. The module's processing core includes a 10-MHz V25 processor and as much as 1 Mbyte of memory. From $120. Skylake Talix, Southampton, Hampshire, UK. (44) 703-666403.

PCMCIA sockets and plugs adopt various orientations

A line of PCMCIA sockets and plugs suits traditional horizontal as well as vertical orientation. Through-hole and surface-mount versions are available. Standard options on most plugs include left- or right-hand ejector buttons, electrostatic-discharge clips, and locking clips. An 88-pin plug for DRAM cards is also available. $0.041 per pin for sockets and $0.037 per pin for plugs. Delivery is five working days ARO. Samtec, New Albany, IN. (812) 944-6733.

System adds cellular connection to PCs

The Ubiquity 2000 attaches to a mobile computer via a serial port and provides a range of voice and fax cellular-communication services. It transfers wireless data over cellular-digital-packet-data (CDPD) or circuit-switched cellular systems. The system permits clear, wireless voice and data communication inside buildings and in fringe areas. $1595. Pacific Communication Sciences Inc, San Diego, CA. (619) 535-9500.

Fuzzy-logic design and simulation tool offers increased capability

CubiCalc 2.0 offers a variety of improvements over the previous version. Those improvements include control over each step of the fuzzy inference process, 3-D-decision surface-display plots, and array-variable support for complete system simulation, including nonfuzzy computations. CubiCalc 2.0 costs $495; an upgrade from the previous version costs $100. The programmers version, CubiCalc RTC 2.0, costs $795, and an upgrade costs $150. HyperLogic, Escondido, CA. (619) 746-4089.

Embed your state diagram

Many embedded systems can benefit by using finite-state machines (FSMs). However, the best way to develop and describe an FSM is with state diagrams. But then you must embark upon the tedious conversion of the FSM into working code. BetterState software from R-Active now solves that problem by generating code for you once you design the FSM. BetterState generates C, C++, VHDL, or Verilog HDL code. The program allows you to input your state diagrams via graphical images on an IBM PC running Windows. BetterState allows for hierarchical design; that is, to simplify design and visualization, you can include many states into one higher level state. The software also detects race conditions, detects design errors, and creates clear listings. You can select an if-then-else or a table method of code generation. $1195. R-Active, Cupertino, CA. (408) 252-2808.

Heat-pipe heat sinks cool power semiconductors

A line of heat-pipe heat sinks uses a non-ozone-depleting fluid. The heat sinks suit outside-traction applications. Standard models are available for semiconductor devices up to 3.94 in. in diameter and dissipate up to 3000W. Models with thermal resistances as low at 0.01°C/W at 10-ft/sec airflow are available. $260 (1000). Thermacore Inc, Lancaster, PA. (717) 569-6551.

Single-board computer runs Basic

Based on the 8032 processor, the ANC-3052B module allows designers to create applications programs in Basic. The module offers a 32-kbyte RAM bank and sockets for as much as 64 kbytes of PROM in addition to the Basic interpreter in ROM. The board includes two external interrupts, two counter/timers, and eight digital I/O lines, along with a 20-pin adapter that can be wire-wrap configured to meet the I/O signal's pinout needs. The board costs $198; it's available without Basic for $146. Antona Corp, West Los Angeles, CA. (310) 473-8995.

Heat sinks cool TO220, 218, TO3-P, and multiwatt devices

A family of 1.65- and 2-in.-wide heat sinks mounts vertically and provides a threaded mounting hole. You can mount the heat sinks with tin-plated solderable studs or screws. $1 (1000); delivery is three to four weeks ARO. International Electronic Research Corp, Burbank, CA. (213) 849-2481.

ATM comes to VME systems

By connecting to a DS3 telephone service, the CVME901 board brings asynchronous-transfer-mode (ATM) communications to VME systems. The board offers a hardware-based ATM adaptation layer (AAL) that handles packet segmentation and reassembly for service categories AAL 3/4 and AAL5. An on-board i960 processor handles congestion control, error checking, and the host interface. The board's DMA controller handles data at rates to 48 Mbytes/sec, ensuring that the board can handle communications traffic at the DS3 link's full speed. $4597 (100). Cyclone Microsystems, New Haven, CT. (203) 786-5536.

NiMH batteries hold 40% more juice than NiCd batteries

The DR19 and DR31 nickel metal-hydride (NiMH) batteries last 40% longer than comparably sized NiCd batteries. The DR19 is a 10.8V, 1500-mAhr battery in a 9×4/5A package. The DR31 is a 10.8V, 2400-mAhr battery in a 9×4/3 A package. DR19, $99; DR31, $169 (retail). Duracell International Inc, Bethel, CT. (203) 796-3281.

PTC thermistors make dandy self-regulating heaters

Positive-temperature-coefficient (PTC) thermistors combine a heater and thermostat in one ceramic material. Because of their high temperature coefficient of resistance, these devices respond to temperature changes by automatically adjusting their power dissipation, maintaining a nearly constant body temperature over a wide ambient-temperature range. Configurations include chips and disks with no leads as well as special configurations with patterned holes. An application note is available. Standard devices cost $0.20 to $1 in large quantities. Keystone Carbon Co, St Marys, PA. (814) 781-4444.

Tiny four-channel data logger accepts plug-in signal conditioners

The self-configuring, battery-powered MicroDataLogger accepts signal conditioners for temperature, humidity, pressure, light level, ac and dc current, power, luminance, occupancy, and rotational velocity, among other parameters. The logger stores 16,000 12-bit readings per channel. An internal real-time clock time-stamps the data. <$1000. Architectural Energy Corp, Boulder, CO. (303) 444-4149.

Tiny black-and-white TV camera comes on a single chip

The V-007's camera IC measures 0.55×0.42 in. A complete camera assembly in an aluminum case and bearing a 4-mm lens measures 1.37 in. square. The IC has a 312×287-pixel image-sensor array. Pixel size is 19.6×16 µm. Automatic exposure range is 40,000:1, and AGC is adjustable to 10 dB. The camera is sensitive into the infrared. A demo unit operates from a 9V battery and plugs directly into any type of monitor. $249. Marshall Electronics Inc, Culver City, CA. (310) 390-6608.

Inverter stage integrates all power components for 1-hp motor drive

The MHPM7A15A60 hybrid power module integrates a 3-phase input rectifier bridge, a 3-phase output inverter, a brake transistor-diode, an optional current-sense resistor, and a temperature sensor on its insulated metal substrate (IMS). The 600V, 15A module drives 1-hp (750W) or smaller motors to bring intelligent motor control down to office equipment and household appliances. The output inverter uses matched IGBTs and free-wheel diodes. Other features include access to both positive and negative dc bus and a single-phase ac-input option. $50 (100). Motorola Semiconductor Products Sector, Phoenix, AZ. (602) 244-3103.

Nickel metal-hydride cell is available in "prismatic" form

The model HHF80T nickel metal-hydride (NiMH) cell comes in rectangular, or "prismatic," form, permitting more densely packed batteries than possible with cylindrical cells. The cells measure 17 mm long×6.1 mm wide×67 mm high. The cells have a nominal output voltage of 1.2V and a nominal capacity of 760 mAhr. $8 (500 to 1000). Panasonic Industrial Co, Secaucus, NJ. (800) 848-3979.

Camera IC digitizes images on chip

The ASIS-1070 CMOS IC integrates a 160×160-pixel photodiode image-sensor array with enough active circuitry to produce an automatic-exposure camera. You can select video output in analog mode, complete with synchronization pulses, or in digital mode as 8-bit parallel or as serial data. The IC operates with a frame rate of 0.5 to 24 frames/sec. The effective image-array size is 1.68×1.68 mm, and you can select from four image formats of 120×120, 120×160, 160×120, or 160×160 pixels. Additional on-chip automatic black-level calibration maintains image stability without external components. The IC consumes less than 100 mW of power and comes in a 44-pin PQFP. $10 (10,000). VLSI Vision Ltd, Edinburgh, UK. (31) 539-7111.

One chip and two plug-in cards connect SCSI-2 to the PCI bus

A single 32-bit chip takes advantage of the PCI local bus to connect directly to a SCSI-2 bus. The 36C70 provides an internal 2-kbyte FIFO buffer that facilitates synchronous 10-Mbyte/sec data-transfer rates. The chip comes in a 100-pin metric quad flatpack and is pin-compatible with NCR's 53C810 chip. However, unlike the NCR chip, which requires add-in drivers, the 36C70 provides built-in support for the operating system. The 36C70 has four functional blocks: SCSI, a PCI interface, a FIFO buffer, and a serial ROM interface. The chip complies with the PCI 2.0 specification. The company also offers two PCI-to-SCSI cards based on the 36C70 IC. The TMC-3260 card features active and autotermination, which lets the card automatically sense if the SCSI card resides in the middle of the SCSI bus and disables termination. The card has SCSI-2 50-pin internal and 50-pin external connectors. The TMC-3260-MEX card operates in applications that integrate the SCSI ROM BIOS into the PCI BIOS or that do not require a boot ROM. The 36C70 costs less than $20 (OEM). The TMC-3260 costs $259. Future Domain Corp, Irvine, CA. (714) 253-0400.

800V half-bridge driver comes in single IC

The PWR-INT100 is an 800V, half-bridge driver IC that interfaces between 5V control logic and MOSFETs driving high-voltage, 2-hp, brushless dc motors at rates up to 50 kHz. The IC incorporates a lockout for full-bridge implementation, which prevents both high- and low-side transistors from turning on simultaneously. The drivers sink 300 mA and source 150 mA. $1.76 (1000). Power Integrations Inc, Mountain View, CA. (415) 960-3572.

Red and green LEDs are sunlight-visible

The red SLA-570 LED provides a luminous intensity of 2400 mcd at 10 mA, and the green version emits 750 mcd, both exhibiting a 24° viewing angle. The units have 100,000-hour MTBF. Green LED, $0.07; red LED, $0.125 (10,000). Rohm Corp, Antioch, TN. (615) 641-2020, ext 121.

Toroidal power transformers optimize efficiency and power-to-weight ratios

The Toro transformer line has power ratings from 10 VA to 8 kVA. A 100-VA model weighs 1.9 lbs and has an efficiency rating of 86%. The transformers are UL1411-listed. The units have a self-contained mounting scheme that eliminates external brackets. $12 (OEM); delivery four to six weeks. Amecon Inc, Anaheim, CA. (714) 634-2220.

Zener diodes come in surface-mount package

The RSZ5200 series of zener diodes comes in SOT-23-style packages. Zener voltages range from 2.5 to 51V, and power dissipation is 225 mW. The devices' operating range is 55 to +150°C. $0.04 (1 million). Rohm Corp, Antioch, TN. (615) 641-2020, ext 134.

Extender card allows live board insertion

The Smart Extender board series isolates all signal and power connections to a board under test under an on/off-switch control. It ramps power voltages when activated, which prevents power spikes, and automatically daisy-chains signals to the next slot when deactivated. It includes resettable fuses on the power lines and a built-in current monitor. The board adds <1-nsec delay to signal lines. VME and PC/AT bus versions available. From $795 (VME).Catalyst Enterprises Inc, San Jose, CA. (408) 268-4145.

5½-digit DVM attaches to PC's parallel port

Unlike classical handheld meters, the 1.41×3.75×6.3-in. Intelligent DVM includes no display; it uses your PC to present its readings. The $299.95 autoranging unit (1-range version, $239.95) offers an error of ±0.01% of full-scale-range (FSR) and a ±0.015% FSR/°C temperature coefficient. A $339.95 unit reduces errors by 40% and is 1/10 as sensitive to temperature. On the most sensitive range, the units resolve 100 nV; the least sensitive FSR is ±200V. A differential multiplexer scans eight inputs; there are two digital outputs. Conversion speed is 13 readings/sec. Windows-based software provides full control; it converts readings to engineering units and displays data as numbers or graphs. Delta Quest, San Jose, CA. (408) 997-8644.

VME board harnesses PowerPC CPU

The VM- TR2 and the VGPW2, first models in the PowerEngine family of single-board VME computers, use the IBM PC601 as a core processor. The boards run the UNI/X, UNI/RT5, and AIX RISC System 6000 operating systems; they operate at 50- or 66-MHz clock speeds and come with 16 Mbytes of memory. From $6000. Cetia, Toulon, France. (33) 94.08.80.00.

Mixed-signal design tool adds pro-grammable logic

Using one tool, you now can design and simulate a system that includes programmable logic and discrete digital and analog parts. PLSyn, a new member of Microsim's Design Center family, adds the programmable-logic capability. You can describe the programmable-logic design directly on the schematic (along with other analog and digital devices); use a synthesis language or logic symbols; or combine both methods. The software accommodates hierarchical designs with tens of thousands of gates. PLSyn lets you simulate designs, before and after physically implementing the pro-grammable logic, using either timing estimates or timing data from the actual device implementation. You can run the simulation on either PLogic (for completely digital designs) or on PSpice A/D (for mixed analog/digital designs). The Design Center's integrated environment provides interactive stimulus editing and graphical waveform analysis. Design Center with PLSyn costs $3500 to $5500 ($4550 to $7150 internationally) for use on PCs under Microsoft Windows, and $7600 to $14,500 ($9900 to $18,850 internationally) for use on Sun workstations under Open Windows. MicroSim, Irvine, CA. (714) 770-3022.

Updated motherboard boosts speed

The Leopard 486 SLC2/66 PC motherboard--a 66-MHz version of a 33-MHz predecessor--allows operation at rates as high as 19.3 MIPS. The board's external-bus speed remains at 33 MHz, but the resident IBM 486SLC2 µP operates at 66 MHz and has a 16-kbyte internal cache. Two VESA local-bus slots allow direct processor access to high-performance peripherals. $399. Alaris Inc, Fremont, CA. (510) 770-5700.

Timing-driven FPGA design from synthesis to layout

Neocad's High Level Design Link software for its FPGA Foundry 4.1 program links with Synopsys's logic-synthesis tools to let you create designs that meet your timing and frequency requirements. You specify those requirements at the hardware-description-language (HDL) level, and the software automatically places and routes a design to meet those requirements, if possible. The software supports Xilinx 4000-family FPGAs. Prices for High Level Design Link start at $2500. FPGA Foundry 4.1 also provides design support for Motorola's MPA1036 FPGA, starting at $3995. FPGA Foundry 4.1 includes Prism, an FPGA partitioning tool that maintains timing performance across multiple FPGAs. The tool lets you focus on system design and functional details instead of the size of logic blocks and how they are implemented in an FPGA. The Prism partitioning module starts at $3995. Neocad, Boulder, CO. (303) 442-9121.

Temperature sensor outputs digital number

The DS1620 digital thermometer and thermostat converts a temperature reading to a 9-bit digital number in less than 1 sec. The sensor does not require external digital devices, such as A/D converters. The factory-calibrated unit has a 0.5° resolution over the 55 to +125°C temperature range. Two user-definable setpoints allow the unit to operate as a thermostat. The thermostat stores test points in nonvolatile memory. $2.50 (5000). Dallas Semiconductor, Dallas, TX. (214) 450-0448.

Free demo disk aids visual programming

Two demo programs show how to use the DT VEE and VB-EZ visual-programming tools. DT VEE lets you create data-acquisition programs via visual programming. VB-EZ works with Visual Basic to prototype data-acquisition applications rapidly. Data Translation Inc, Marlboro, MA. (508) 481-3700.

Chip gauges battery charge

The MTA11200 monitors and digitally integrates both charge and discharge currents for a battery, providing a real-time estimate of active battery capacity. The device also senses and compensates for self-discharge effects when a battery pack is not in service. Its calculations of capacity remaining include compensation for temperature, discharge rate, and battery type. $3.75 (10,000). Microchip Technology, Chandler, AZ. (602) 786-7200.

Handheld LCD DMM/DSOs display transient waveform anomalies

TekMeters are handheld, battery-powered DMM/digital storage oscilloscopes (DSOs) with LCDs. The $859 THM 550, with its single DSO channel, includes one of the custom ICs. The $999 THM 560 and $1259 THM 565--both of which offer two DSO channels--include two of the chips. (The THM 565 has a backlit display and more features than the other two models.) When you power up one of the units, it behaves as a 4000-count true-rms DMM that offers such functions as resistance measurement to 40 M Ohm, an audible continuity indication, and a diode-check mode. Pushing one button turns on the DSO function. The DSO bandwidth is 5 MHz; each DSO channel can acquire 25 Msamples/sec in real time. The two-channel models sample simul-taneously. Six alkaline AA cells power the units for four hours. You can also use rechargeable cells. Tektronix Inc, Beaverton, OR. (800) 426-2200.

Huge DSP chip combines four processors

Following the pattern of many DSP-board manufacturers that are incorporating multiple processors into their designs, Texas Instruments is now dupli- cating that trend in silicon. The MVP processor (TMS320C80) combines four 32-bit integer DSPs, a 32-bit RISC processor, and a 100-Mflops floating-point unit into a 3/4-in.-sq device. MVP includes 50 kbytes of SRAM, a transfer controller, and a video controller. Its transistor count is nearly 4 million, and its combined processing power exceeds 2 billion operations/sec. To achieve this density, TI uses a 305-pin ceramic pin-grid array and the same 0.5-µm process that it uses for 16-Mbit DRAMs. The TMS32C080 is in sample production until early 1995, when full production will be available. When in full production, the device will cost $300 to $400. Texas Instruments, Houston, TX. (800) 477-8924, ext 4500.

Lithium thionyl-chloride cells run for 15 years continuously outdoors

Eternacell lithium thionyl-chloride cells have an open-circuit voltage of 3.65V and capacities ranging from 0.9 to 30 Ahr. Cell sizes include 2/3A, 1/2AA, AA, C, D, and DD. The cells are hermetically sealed in stainless-steel cases and have a 15-year outdoor service life min. 2/3A, $4.97; DD, $17.95 (1000). Power Conversion Inc, Elmwood Park, NJ. (800) 452-1211.

Sponge-metal NiCd cells deliver 80% more juice than conventional NiCds

The SM80 4/5A cylindrical NiCd P130ASJ cell has a 1.3-Ahr capacity. You can recharge the cell in an hour. $2.50 (1000). Panasonic Industrial Co, Secaucus, NJ. (800) 848-3979.

Module and bus bring 320-Mbyte/sec I/O to VME

SkyChannel bus architecture allows numerous processors to share access to system resources at data rates as fast as 320 Mbytes/sec. To maximize bus utilization, the synchronous 64-bit bus uses centrally arbitrated packetized data transfers with buffering at each end. Designed for multi-processing applications, SkyChannel bus allows as many as 4096 processors to be interconnected. Each processor accesses memory and other system resources as part of a 16-Tbyte address space. Thus, the processors can share all memory, which simplifies data exchange. Various SkyChannel products are available from the bus designers. Each uses the Shamrock II compute daughter card as its basis. The Shamrock II offers four i860 processors and 128 Mbytes of DRAM connected by a four-channel bus with crossbar switch. A link to external SkyChannel buses is one of the card's resources. The Skybolt II 6U VME card accepts one Shamrock daughter card and links the SkyChannel bus to the VME backplane's P2 connector. At the system level, the SkyStation II holds two daughter cards and provides them with 512 Mbytes of bulk memory, high-speed parallel I/O, and a SCSI-2 port. The SkySystem is a 500W VME64 chassis with SkyBolt boards, tape, disk, and CD-ROM drives, color monitor, keyboard, and software tools. For designers building their own systems, the SkyBridge interconnect plugs onto the P2 connectors to provide a four-channel bus between boards. The Skybolt II 6U card and SkyStation II system cost $20,000 each. The SkyBridge, Skybolt II 9U cards, and SkySystem products cost $30 to $50k, depending on configuration. The SkyBridge inter-connect costs approximately $600/board. Sky Computers Inc, Chelmsford, MA. (508) 250-1920.

External supply meets UL544

These medical power supplies, designed as desktop adapters, operate from a 90 to 264V-ac input and develop a 12V at 2A output, which is fully regulated. The units meet the 100-µA leakage requirement for patient-connected grounded equipment, as well as UL544 and IEC601-1 requirements. The supplies also feature protection from overloads, short circuits, and overvoltage transients. Operating range spans 0 to 40°C. $39 (1000). Top-Link Computer, Milpitas, CA. (408) 946-7888.

$99 buys 68HC11 proto board with Basic, Forth, C, assembler

For $99, you can play with the Motorola 68HC11 8-bit µC using Forth, C, Basic, or assembly languages. New Micros' NMIT-0020 integrates a 68HC11 with 0.5 kbytes of EEPROM, 8 kbytes of RAM, LCD/keypad interfaces, battery backup, and sockets for 8 to 32 kbytes of RAM/ EPROM/ROM/EEPROMs. Forth resides in µC ROM (can be disabled). The board comes with Motorola Small C, Basic, and assembler, all ported to the board for easy start-up. $99. New Micros Inc, Dallas, TX. (214) 339-2204.

Ready-to-run 8051 system with compiled Basic

The Universal Dallas Development board combines the RAM-backed Dallas Semiconductor 8-bit 8051 soft microcontroller with a prototyping board and a compiled Basic development system. All you need is a keypad and an LCD for a complete system. The board has an RS-232C port, a serial printer port, a 4×4-key keypad interface, a 4- or 8-bit LCD interface, an 8-bit ADC, and four 300-mA, 12V relay-driver outputs. $199. Systronix, Salt Lake City, UT. (801) 534-1017.

Get a glimpse of the future of programming

This demo package of the LabView for Windows graphical programming software is extremely fun to use. More important, it gives you an idea of how you will program embedded systems in the future. Free. National Instruments, Austin, TX. (512) 794-0100.

Learn how to use low-pin-count µCs

This evaluation package includes the hardware and software to assemble, simulate, and evaluate the 68HC705 µC. It also includes an introductory guide to using µC and some sample code. If you've ever wanted to play with a µC, here's your chance. 68HC705KICS, $168.05. Motorola Inc, Austin, TX. (512) 891-2035 or contact your nearest Motorola distributor.

Lithium primary batteries are thin enough to fit in PCMCIA cards

Powerdex lithium primary batteries furnish 3 or 6V outputs yet measure 0.7 mm thick. Units come in 6.6×9.4-, 4.6×7.4-, and 3×3.9-cm sizes. Capacities are 50 to 1400 mAhr. You can solder the batteries' coplanar side tabs directly to a pc board. Gould Electronics Inc, Eastlake, OH. (800) 722-7890.

2-oz handheld device pinpoints sources of EMI

ScanEM is a near-field EMI tracer that locates electromagnetic-emission hot spots from 30 MHz to 1 GHz. The battery-powered unit, whose $129.95 suggested price includes batteries, has no trailing power cord. Credence Technologies Inc, Santa Cruz, CA. (408) 459-7488.

Type II PCMCIA card holds 16-channel ADC

The 5-mm-thick, DaqCard-700 includes a 16-channel ADC, 16 digital I/O lines, and three 16-bit counter/ timers. The device takes 80k samples/sec. You can configure it for input ranges of ±10, ±5, or ±2.5V. The card works in notebook PCs. The vendor provides software support in its LabView, LabWindows, and LabWindows/CVI packages. $695. National Instruments Corp, Austin, TX. (512) 794-0100.

Kit evaluates low-power applications

Based on the Motorola 68HC11E9 µC, the M68-EBLP11KIT consists of an evaluation board, development code, a low-power-design manual, technical documentation, extra crystals, and batteries. The evaluation board contains the µC, a 14-character, two-line LCD, an RS-232C interface, low-power LCD driver chips, a wire-wrap area, and a battery holder. The 68-HC11E9 µC has 512 bytes of RAM and EEPROM, 38 I/O lines, and an eight-channel, 8-bit ADC. A typical application runs from two weeks to a month using batteries. If you often use standby mode, battery life can last up to two months (full out, without any standby, reduces battery life to 30 to 40 hours). You can also power the board with a regulated power supply (2.7 to 5.5V dc) or unregulated power (7.5 to 15V dc). By changing clock frequency, you can experiment with clock-speed tradeoffs. Pre-programmed into the 12-kbyte ROM on the µC is a monitor program called BUFFALO, which includes a debugger and a one-line assembler/disassembler. You can also download assembled code developed on your computer. Motorola, Austin, TX. (512) 891-3465.

8-bit 68HC11C0 targets handheld applications

Working with Motorola, AT&T has developed a customized 68HC11 as the main controller for some of its mobile and cellular telephones. The µC controls one or more DSP engines as well as peripheral hardware. The resultant µC, the 68HC11C0 runs with external program memory and can access an address space of up to 256 kbytes. It extends the classic 68HC11 64-kbyte space by adding two address lines, which are driven by an address-paging scheme. The external memory bus multiplexes address and data with an 18-bit address and 16 bits of data. The chip provides a full set of peripherals to minimize additional hardware needs. Motorola, Microcontroller Technologies Group, Austin, TX. (512) 891-3465.

Inverters power CCFT backlighting of dual-scan color LCDs

The L360B series of cold-cathode fluorescent-tube (CCFT) inverters works with the Sharp LM64C08P and the Hitachi LMG972/XUFC dual-scan color LCDs. The inverters measure 120×20×13 mm. and accept inputs from 10.8 to 13.2V dc. Output is 1600V-ac rms for the Sharp LCD and 1300V-ac rms for the Hitachi LCD. Typical output current is 4.8 mA rms. Both inverters offer brightness control. The manufacturer's factory is ISO9001 approved. $20 (OEM). Xentek Inc, San Marcos, CA. (619) 471-4001.

Feature-packed 80C51-type mC includes 10-bit ADC

The 8XC576, an 80C51 derivative, is a highly integrated controller with a Universal Peripheral Interface and an ADC with 9-bit accuracy. The IC's designers reduced the parts' irradiated noise to ease compliance with FCC standards. Though the IC's EMI/RFI emissions depend on the application, the company claims that the 8-bit µC has reduced emission more than 20 dB in some designs. Additional features include 8 kbytes of ROM/EPROM, 256 bytes of RAM, three 16-bit counter/timers, a programmable counter array, an on-chip watchdog timer, analog comparators, enhanced UART, two PWM outputs, power and oscillator failure detection, user-programmable outputs, and Schmitt trigger inputs. $4.90 (5000). Philips Semi-conductors, Sunnyvale, CA. (408) 991-5207.

Transceiver simplifies SONET/ATM linkage

To simplify the design of asynchronous-transfer-mode (ATM) systems over the synchronous optical network (SONET), the CY7B951 SONET serial transceiver (SST) has absorbed numerous components formerly needed in SONET physical-layer interface designs. One of the first such components is a line receiver. The CY7B951 device accepts signals from fiber-optic modules, coaxial cable, or twisted-pair interfaces without external buffering. The device also eliminates the need for external components in its PLL designs. Instead, the SST fully integrates the PLLs, including filter components, and the PLLs offer a 10-psec rms jitter. In addition, the PLLs operate at 155.54- or 51.84-MHz SONET frequencies. The SST provides separate PLLs for clock/data recovery and for data transmission. The incorporation of a transmit-clock PLL also allows the receiver PLL to avoid drift in the absence of data transitions. When the carrier-detect input line indicates the loss of receive signals, the receive PLL switches its reference to the transmit clock rather than free-running on no signal. The device comes in a 24-pin SOIC package and costs $45 (100). Cypress Semiconductor, San Jose, CA. (408) 943-2600.

Tools tame device with four DSPs and RISC µP

The MVP (Multimedia Video Processor, or TMS320C80) includes four 32-bit DSPs along with a RISC µP that has a floating-point unit, a transfer controller, a video controller, and some common memory. A set of DSP development tools helps you control the chip. The MVP tools include simulators, a debugger, a C compiler, an executive, a library of DSP and multi- processing primitives, and an algebraic assembler. A device simulator provides a view of the five on-chip processors; you can in- dependently view and manipulate each processor. A system-level simulator lets you verify system perform- ance and compatibility with system devices. An expanding DSP-primitive software library comes with the $30,000 tool kit. Texas Instruments, Denver, CO. (800) 477-8924, ext. 4500.

800-MHz op amp draws only 5 mA

The AD8001 current-feedback op amp is the first standard product from Analog Devices' newest high-speed complementary bipolar process. This process produces transistor switching frequencies--2.5 and 4.5 GHz for npn and pnp devices, respectively--that are five times greater than the company's older complementary bipolar process. The process produces ICs that require less power at higher speeds, allows smaller geometry, and fits many more die on one wafer (although at higher wafer costs). What results is a $3.36 (1000) unity-gain amplifier that features a 3-dB bandwidth of 800 MHz, typically drawing just 5 mA of supply current on ±5V supplies. Maximum supply current over temperature is 6.5 mA. In addition to the video characteristics, namely differential gain and phase and gain flatness, other notable specifications include a slew rate of 1200V/µsec and settling time to 0.1% of 8 nsec. Analog Devices, Wilmington, MA. (617) 937-1428.

Single-board PC includes on-board development firmware

Often, developing low-end PC-based embedded systems requires that you load various tools into the target to debug your code. In these applications, a keyboard and video display may not exist on the target. Borland's TDREMOTE, a target-resident utility, allows you to use the company's Turbo Debugger on the target system. The SBC2040 includes firmware that can support Borland's Turbo Debugger. You just connect a cable between the PC and the SBC2040. When you've debugged the program, the unmodified .exe file is burned into EPROM and plugged into the SBC2040. A flash EEPROM package is available for field upgrades. The single-board computer suits diskless applications and includes two serial ports, a parallel port, and a watchdog timer. Onboard memory handles four 32-pin memory ICs, for a total of up to 4 Mbytes of memory. A PC/104 interface and a six-channel 12-bit A/D con-verter are also included. $275; $75 for the A/D option. Micro/Sys, Glendale, CA. (818) 244-4600.

Power PC processor comes to VMEbus

The PowerPC processor architecture has made it to the VMEbus in the form of the MVME160x computer-board family. The boards employ a modular architecture to provide a range of CPU and memory options with a common base. Options include 66- or 100-MHz CPUs and as much as 128 Mbytes of DRAM. The 160x family base boards contain the peripheral devices linked over a 32-bit PCI local bus running at 33 MHz. Peripherals directly on the PCI bus include Ethernet and wide-SCSI-2 ports and an SVGA driver. The CPU, along with its local ROM and secondary cache, plugs into the PCI bus through a socket on the base board. The module can contain either a 66-MHz PC603 processor or a 100-MHz PC604 processor; its design ensures that all high-frequency signals remain within the module and that the CPU remains decoupled from the PCI bus. The MVME160x family comes with extensive software support. The boards come with a five-year parts-and-labor warranty for factory repair. An 8-Mbyte DRAM configuration costs from $3575. The MVME1604 starts at $4575. Motorola Computer Group, Tempe, AZ. (800) 759-1017, ext PR.

Power-factor correctors need few external components

In the next few years, US and European regulatory agencies will mandate that a broad range of products incorporate power-factor correction. The LT1248 and LT1249 power-factor controllers provide this correction for universal off-line power systems with very few external parts. For a wide range of loading conditions, the ICs achieve a power factor of over 0.99. The ICs use fixed, high-frequency, PWM current averaging and require no slope compensation. The advantage of this approach is that the ICs achieve lower line-current distortion and can use lower-cost switches and magnetics than ICs or systems that rely on either peak-current detection or zero-current switching. Protection features include peak-current limiting and instantaneous overvoltage protection. The LT1248 can operate at frequencies as high as 300 kHz. The LT1249's switching frequency is fixed at 100 kHz, but this IC comes in eight-pin DIPs ($3.19) and SOICs ($3.44); the LT1248 comes in 16-pin DIPs ($3.53) and SOICs ($3.76 (1000)). Linear Technology Corp, Milpitas, CA. (408) 432-1900.

Multimedia development kit includes DSP application software

PC Media is a software/hardware combination for IBM PC-based multimedia applications. Motorola also offers a development kit that includes a developer's board based on the company's DSP56002 DSP chip. The company is using the 24-bit, fixed-point chip as the DSP engine. The kit comes with sample application software, which runs on the developer's board. The $7500 kit also includes versions of DSP-task software from Motorola and third-party vendors, a C compiler, an assembler linker, reference designs, and documentation. The PC Media kit currently works with a single-task host-based server and a single-task DSP operating system. As such, it allows users to test individual applications. The included task software provides modem, fax, telephone-answering-machine, full-duplex speaker-phone (with echo cancellation), voice-compression, sound synthesis, text-to-speech translation, and .WAV recording and playback tasks. Motorola will add caller-ID, sample-rate-conversion, V.FAST, VSELP, and voice-recognition tasks. Motorola, Austin, TX. (512) 891-2030.

8-bit µC combines 8051 with 64 bytes of RAM

The 83C750/83C750 integrates the 8051 core processor with 64 bytes of RAM and 1 kbyte of masked or OTP ROM. Using assembly language and this part, you can handle a range of low-end applications. Even better, you can prototype and do initial product builds with the OTP part, and when the design is stable, shift to lower-cost ROM parts. Clock rates run from 3.5 to 40 MHz. It executes a basic instruction cycle in 12 clock cycles. At 40 MHz, the CPU delivers 2- to 3-MIPS performance. You can also get a low-cost, pseudo ICE (in-circuit emulator) to debug your code. Philips Semiconductors, Sunny-vale, CA. (800) 447-1500.

PC-on-a-board suits embedded applications

The SAT-V40 is a PC-compatible board for embedded applications. It includes 24 digital I/O lines, eight 12-bit ADC inputs, three serial ports, a printer port, three counter/timers, a watchdog timer, and a precision power-fail reset on a single board. An 8-MHz V40 µP controls the 4.5×7-in. board. Four 32-pin memory sockets support up to 2 Mbytes of memory. If you need more than the standard I/O options, you can add PC/104 modules to the board. You can also use the C-Thru-ROM C source-level debugger and the ROM-DOS embedded operating system. Prices for SAT-V40 start at $295. WinSystems Inc, Arlington, TX. (817) 274-7553.

High-voltage ICs displace magnetic components for electronic ballasts

The IR2155 self-oscillating power MOSFET/insulated-gate bipolar-transistor (IGBT) gate driver is the first in a family of power ICs tailored to electronic ballasts for fluorescent lighting, partly because of its small size (8-pin DIP) and low cost ($1.96 (100) and $0.98 (50,000)). These power ICs can drive low- and high-side MOSFETs or IGBTs from logic-level, ground-referenced inputs. The IR2155 also suits high-frequency switch-mode power supplies and motor drives. The IC features an integrated high-side driver that replaces the discrete transformer drive circuits, an on-chip self-starting oscillator that eliminates additional control circuitry, and an on-chip shunt regulator that generates 15V from the high-voltage bus via a low-wattage dropping resistor. Because of the on-chip regulator, the IC can operate without a bias supply directly off the rectified line voltage. A companion driver, the IR2111 ($1.58 (1000)), is identical to the IR2155 except that it doesn't include the internal oscillator and regulator. You can use this IC with the IR2155 to implement a full-bridge 160W fluorescent ballast and other H-bridge circuits for larger power supplies. International Rectifier, El Segundo, CA. (800) 245-5549.

Disk-on-a-chip replaces BIOS EPROM and stores 16 Mbytes of data

Portable and embedded computers can now include "disk" storage that takes up no space. DiskOnChip, a flash-memory module that replaces a computer's BIOS EPROM, stores not only the BIOS, but also as much as 16 Mbytes of programs or data. The multichip module includes an ASIC and a firmware-implemented flash-file system that together make the flash memory emulate a conventional disk drive. DiskOnChip's control ASIC and associated circuitry circumvent the BIOS socket's lack of a write-pin connection, thus allowing full read/write capability. Each DiskOnChip module contains at least one 1-Mbyte flash chip. The BIOS, flash-file system, and PCMCIA Socket Services software occupy about 0.1 Mbyte, leaving a minimum of 0.9 Mbyte of flash for use as solid-state disk storage. The modules operate at 5V and are available in 28-pin DIP and surface-mount versions. A 1-Mbyte module sells for $99 ($80 in quantities of 1000 or more). In high-capacity versions (4 Mbytes or more), the incremental cost is about $45 per megabyte. Eurom Inc, Fremont, CA. (510) 505-9083.

PCMCIA card holds removable hard-disk cartridge

Removable disk storage goes an extra step in a new PCMCIA card. You can remove the card from your computer and can remove a plug-in 60- or 80-Mbyte disk cartridge from the card. You can even change cartridges without removing the card from your system. The SQ1080 is a Type III PCMCIA card with a 1.8-in. hard-disk drive. When you remove a cartridge from the card, all you remove is the disk platter and the cartridge housing. All of the disk drive's fragile components, including head assembly and spindle motor, remain in the card. SyQuest claims the cartridges can withstand shock forces of 2000g, compared with a typical 200g or less for a complete 1.8-in. drive. The combination of high shock tolerance and relatively low cartridge prices make the SQ1080 a strong candidate for portable data and program storage. The 80-Mbyte cartridge sells for $40 in OEM quantities, making incremental storage cost only about $0.50/ megabyte. A fixed 1.8-in. drive of comparable capacity typically costs about $200 (OEM). SyQuest's OEM price for the SQ1080 and one removable cartridge is $300. SyQuest Technology Inc, Fremont, CA. (510) 226-4000.

$59µC board is programmable in C

The P-57 Mustang is the first in a series of small, low-cost boards that allow you to prototype in C. This first product is based on the PIC 16C57 µC from Microchip Technology. The board costs $59; in addition, you can buy the Mustang C development kit for $150, which includes a C compiler, assembler, in-circuit simulator, and source-level debugger along with the 2×3-in. P-57 Mustang board, power supply, and RS-232C cable. The C compiler generates code for a virtual microcontroller (VMC). The CPU on the board emulates this generic VMC, making the C code portable to future versions of the Mustang board based on other µCs. The PIC 16C57 has 20 I/O lines, 2048x12-bit ROM, 72-byte RAM, and a real-time clock/counter. The board's 8-kbyte EEPROM is expandable to 64 kbytes. The I²C serial bus connects the EEPROM and the µC, providing an inexpensive memory interface that lets you easily expand memory capacity. A 1×2-in. prototyping area allows you to customize or expand the system. P&E Microcom-puter Systems Inc, Woburn, MA. (617) 353-9206.

Op amp measures input current in 10^-15A

The LMC6001 A grade features a guaranteed input current of 25 fA when operating from a single 5V supply. This current is the equivalent of 156 electrons entering the input of an amplifier every millisecond. Grade B and C devices feature maximum input currents of 100 and 1000 fA, respectively. Other guaranteed characteristics include 350-µV offset voltages, 10-µV/°C drift, 850-µA maximum supply current, and a 40 to +80°C operating temperature range. Acknowledging the long-turn-on settling times common to other low-input-current amplifiers, the company also tests the A grade's input current at three intervals in the first minute of operation to guarantee quick settling. The device's input-referred noise is typically 22 nV/(Hz)², and input-current noise is typically 1.3×10^-16A/(Hz)². All grades are available in eight-pin DIPs with the above guaranteed performance. Pricing for the A, B and C grades is $8.50, $5.15, and $1.40 (1000), respectively. The A and B grades also come in metal cans for $12.50 and $8.50, respectively. National Semiconductor, Santa Clara, CA. (408) 721-6973.

68HC05 family member gets more ROM and RAM

You don't need a big, expensive 8-bit microcontroller (µC) for many embedded tasks. But you do need low cost coupled with the right amount of on-chip memory and few peripherals. Targeting that need, Motorola has expanded the K series µCs, the low end of the base 68HC05. The 68HC05K3 delivers an 8-bit µC with 64 bytes of RAM, 920 bytes of ROM, and 32 bytes of byte-erasable EEPROM. The K3 expands on-chip memory from the earlier K0 and K1, which have 32 bytes of RAM, 504 bytes of ROM, and 64 bits of user EPROM (K1). The larger memory gives you more room to execute code and hold intermediate values, as well as work with a larger software stack. Like the K0, the K3 is also available in a 1.8V, low-power versions for power-restricted applications. $2.26 (50,000) for 1.8V version. Motorola Inc, Austin, TX. (512) 891-2000.

68060 µP runs three times faster than 68040

By employing techniques developed for RISC processors, the 2.5-million transistor 68060 µP executes the 68040 instruction set with three times the performance at twice the clock rate of the 68040. Features to achieve this boost include a deep execution pipeline, dual-issue superscalar execution units, an internal Harvard architecture with separate 8-kbyte instruction and data caches, a branch cache, and a demand-paging memory-management unit (MMU). Including the on-chip floating-point unit (FPU), the 68060 executes 250M operations/sec at 50 MHz. The 68060 family includes three µPs: the 68060, the 68LC060, and the 68EC060. The 68LC060 omits the on-chip FPU, and the 68EC060 omits the FPU and the MMU. Two four-stage RISC engines execute the fixed-format instructions emitted by the instruction converter. The 68060 can simultaneously execute two integer instructions or one integer and one floating-point instruction. The 68060 is fully compatible with the 68040's user mode. However, there are differences in the supervisory mode. Most important, the 68060 has a smaller stack frame than the 68040, so you must rewrite supervisory code that makes direct accesses to state information in the stack frame. In addition, the 68060 employs a bus that's compatible with the 68040. 68060, $263; 68LC060, $169; 68EC060, $150 (10,000). Motorola Inc, Austin, TX. (512) 891-2917.

GPS receiver fits in 3U VME card

The DGPS is a low-power 3U VME module that contains a complete GPS receiver. The receiver can track six of eight available satellites and automatically selects among the eight to obtain the most accurate position and velocity data. Connection to the receiver data is made through a serial port. The module also provides a 1-pulse/sec timing signal accurate to 1 msec and a universal time code. The module comes with a microstrip antenna. $1092 (OEM qty). Dynatem, Mission Viejo, CA. (714) 855-3235.

PCMCIA disk drive stores 128 Mbytes

A 128-Mbyte, 1.8-in. hard-disk drive from MiniStor is the highest capacity PCMCIA drive currently shipping. The two-platter drive uses glass media for increased capacity and shock-sensor technology to protect data from errant write heads during an impact. Shock tolerance is 200g. Mounted on a card that fits into a Type III PCMCIA slot, the drive is available with a PCMCIA or an IDE interface. Average seek time is 16 msec, average latency is 6.67 msec, and data-transfer rates range from 11 to 22 Mbps. $699. Also from MiniStor for use with any PCMCIA card is a unit that adds a PCMCIA slot to a drive bay of any PC/AT-type system. Suggested retail price for the DockIt Socket is $249. MiniStor Peripherals Corp, San Jose, CA. (408) 943-0165.

Enhanced system memory boosts board performance

By employing a memory architecture that always provides peak performance, two additions to the MVME197 board family are able to achieve more than 150 MIPS per processor. The boards come in one- and two-processor versions, and a four-processor version planned for early 1994. The architecture of the MVME197SP and MVME197DP boards begins with 128 Mbytes' worth of error-checking and -correcting DRAM coupled to an 88110 processor. Mezzanine expansion boards can build the main memory size to 640 Mbytes. The memory's design supports 3-1-1-1 burst transfers. Cache structures augment the main memory design on both boards. Each processor features 16 kbytes of on-chip cache. In addition, the boards have up to 256 kbytes of secondary cache for each processor. The combined effect of these memory structures is a MIPS rating of 153 for each processor. To develop software for real-time applications, the boards offer compatibility with VMEexec, a proprietary development-tool suite. The boards also feature SCSI-2 and Ethernet I/O ports and software compatibility with the earlier MVME187 board family. Software the boards can run includes Unix System V/88 release 4.1, PSOS, and VxWorks. The SP single-processor model sells for $32,995; the dual-processor board costs $44,995. Motorola Computer Group, Tempe, AZ. (602) 438-3000.

SCSI adapter for PCI bus processes 2000 I/O requests/sec

QLogic's QLA1000-PI SCSI host-adapter board for the PCI bus processes 2000 I/O requests/sec while queuing 1600 requests/sec. It provides burst data trans-fers at 132 Mbytes/sec and sustained transfers of 20 Mbytes/sec. The board achieves its performance via the company's ISP1020 SCSI coprocessor that has dual on-chip processors. One processor controls the SCSI-bus protocol; the other, a 16-bit RISC pro-cessor, handles data flow and related commands. The board is ASPI- and CorelSCSI-compatible and is available with drivers for DOS, Windows, Windows NT, NetWare, SCO Unix, and OS/2. $289 (1); <$200 (OEM). QLogic Corp, Costa Mesa, CA. (714) 438-2200.

IC pair provides FM LED data link

The CSA1781N is an FM modulator that puts digital data on an LED beam using FSK modulation. A companion chip, the CXA1111P/N is an AM/FM-radio IC that decodes the LED-transmitted data. The pair operates over a 2.6 to 6V supply range and can create an IR data link that handles 60 kbps. Samples are available; the CXA1781 costs $12, and the CXA1111 costs $5. Production price will be $10.50 and $1.60 (1000), respectively. Sony Component Products Co, Cypress, CA. (800) 288-7669.

Free design estimator compares the advantages of EPLDs

The Logic Professor com-pares Xilinx EPLDs as a replacement for TTL and other PLDs. You enter the design specifications, and the software estimates the number and type of EPLDs you need to perform the task. Xilinx Inc, San Jose, CA. (800) 231-3386.

Not just for the military anymore

Until recently, the high prices ($3000 to $15,000) of night-vision devices kept them out of the range of most users. Now Moonlight Products carries a line of these devices, including scopes, binoculars, and goggles, with prices ranging from $459 for the palm-sized Moonwalker scope to $1999 for the MPN 50K-I night-vision goggles. Although the company originally targeted the products at border-patrol and law-enforcement agents, people are buying the devices for recreation, such as boating, observing wildlife, and photography. The latest addition to the line, the Moonlight NV-100 ($749), is an advanced electro-optical spotting scope featuring 10,000-times light-amplification capabilities and 4.3-times image magnification. The extra image magnification of the optics allows you to see longer distances than most night-vision devices allow, according to the com-pany. Moonlight Products, San Diego, CA. (619) 625-0300.

Document-management system runs under Windows

The AutoEDMS document-management sys-tem for Windows lets you find, store, manage, retrieve, view, and print virtually every type of drawing, document, and image. The software provides document tracking to meet ISO 9000 require-ments. AutoEDMS for Windows starts at $895. ACS Telecom, Lomita, CA. (310) 325-3055.

EPLD-design software costs $89.95

XEPLD version 4.1 is a design tool for Xilinx XC7000 family of erasable programmable logic devices (EPLDs). The software interfaces to logic compilers, such as ABEL, CUPL, and Palasm. Xilinx Inc, San Jose, CA. (408) 559-7778.

The fuzzification of DSP

One reason to use fuzzy logic on a DSP chip is flexibility. You may already be using a DSP chip in your application. But you may want to implement some of the design using fuzzy logic. You can always create the fuzzy-logic code by hand where you need it. Now you can use fuzzy-logic development tools. Inform Software Corp's fuzzyTECH MCU320 tools generate optimized assembly-language code for Texas Instruments' TMS320C2X and TMS320C5X fixed-point DSP chips. They also generate C code for use on the TMS 320C3X and TMS320C4X floating-point DSP chips. The fuzzyTECH MCU-320 Edition ($1890) is a software-development environment that includes graphical design editors, simulators, and application-code generators. The fuzzyTECH MCU-320 Explorer ($199) is an evaluation version that includes all the same tools but limits the design to two inputs and one output. It also includes an animated simulation to get you started. Texas Instru-ments Inc, Houston, TX. (800) 477- 8924, ext 4500.

Z80 extended to 16 bits, 32-bit addressing

The Z380 16-bit µP supports clock rates up to 40 MHz. Unlike the Z80's 4-bit data paths, the Z380 has full 32-bit data paths for 32-bit address and data calculations. It performs 8-, 16-, and 32-bit operations. The Z380 also extends the Z80's dual-register set to two register groups, each with four sets of registers. You can use the Z380 register sets as register banks for fast context switching. The Z380 takes two 40-MHz clocks to execute a basic instruction (100 nsec). Most instructions execute in three clock cycles. The Z380's hardware is semipipelined: It starts the next instruction fetch while finishing execution of the current instruction. The Z380 is code-compatible with the Z80 and Z180 µPs. $10 (100,000). Zilog Inc, Campbell, CA. (408) 370-8056.

Radar technology licensed for automotive- safety applications

Drivers may soon receive some high-tech help in avoiding collisions, thanks to radar-based sensors. The Department of Energy's Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory developed the sensors using off-the-shelf components and licensed the technology to Amerigon Inc (Burbank, CA). The sensors include a receiver that detects echoes of rapid, wideband radar pulses (about 1 million/sec) reflected from objects at distances from 0 to 200 ft. A computer chip generates short electrical pulses (from 50 trillionths of a second to less than 1 billionth of a second), which the sensors then send out, receiving back radar echoes. The devices accept echoes only from objects within set distances, adjust to the objects within that environment, and detect any motion within those areas. Amerigon anticipates using the technology to create onboard devices to signal for vehicles in a driver's blind spot and to act as backup warning systems and parking aids. Lawrence Livermore National Library, Livermore, CA. (510) 422-1100.

Seven-chip set builds digital TV camera

A seven-chip set of ICs from Hitachi lets you build small, CCD-based, digital-TV cameras. The chip set comprises the H8/337 µC, the HA118144 correlated double-sampling/automatic gain-control (CDS/AGC) IC, the HD49306 9-bit A/D converter, the HD49801 video DSP, the HD49803 timing generator, the HD49307 three-channel, 8-bit D/A converter, and the HD49802 electronic-zoom IC. Because of the digital-camera architecture, this chip set reduces the number of camera adjustments to five from the typical 10. In addition, the DSP technology suppresses the false signals associated with CCD image sensors. The digital-camera chip set accommodates CCDs with effective horizontal resolutions to 768 pixels. The CDS/AGC IC amplifies and compensates the CCD's output signal and feeds the processed signal to the DSP. All image-quality manipulation, including color clipping, gamma compensation, and color gain, occur within the DSP. For analog-output cameras, you can feed the digital output of the DSP directly to the chip set's three-channel D/A converter. A member of the company's H8 µC family, the H8/337, controls all digital-camera functions. This µC incorporates 32-kbyte RAM. The chip set is available in several packaged versions. A prototype chip set, model HMM49111, costs $95. The HMM49101 basic production chip set costs $65 (10,000), and the HMM49104 basic production chip set with electronic zoom costs $85 (10,000). Hitachi America Ltd, Brisbane, CA. (415) 589-8300.

Tiny, PC-compatible computer has graphics display

The PC-com-patible FPWX includes an LCD graphics display in a thin, flat package measuring 2.6×4.5×1 in. The display has a 128×64-pixel monochrome, graphic, back-lit or reflective LCD. The CPU is a 9.2-MHz processor with 128 or 512 kbytes of system RAM, 128 or 256 kbytes of BIOS EPROM, and a socket for one 128- to 512-kbyte disk-emulator EPROM or flash EEPROM. A 64-pin PC-104 bus pinout-compatible header provides expansion. Adapters are available for ISA bus and PC-104 cards. The basic system with 128-kbyte RAM costs $249 (100). Mesa Electronics, Emeryville, CA. (510) 547-0837.

Software-based sound synthesizer costs less than $5

Integrated Circuit Systems (ICS) has introduced the WaveFront VS, a general-MIDI wave-table synthesizer. The software runs under Windows and works on 486- and Pentium-based PCs that have audio codecs. It makes high-quality wave-table synthesis widely available at $4 (10,000). The software improves the sound quality over FM-music synthesis, the current technology for low-end sound cards, in Windows applications. ICS licensed the technology from its developer, Intel Architecture Labs. Under terms of the agreement, the two companies will market the technology jointly. Integrated Circuit Systems Inc, Valley Forge, PA. (610) 630-5300.

Data compression as fast as 40 Mbytes/sec

The ALDC1-20S and -40S adaptive lossless data-compression chips allow 20- and 40-Mbyte/sec processing. The chips provide data-compression ratios greater than 2 to 1 in real time. The devices support multiprotocol DMA interfaces, industry-standard µP interfaces, eight/16 selectable data buses with selective parity checking, and 16-byte FIFO buffering and bypass mode. Both devices employ a 5V, 0.8-µm CMOS process. The ALDC1-20S sells for $38.30; the ADLC1-40S sells for $70.20 (10,000). IBM Micro-electronics, Hopewell Junction, NY. (914) 892-5389.

Prototype real-time graphical human-machine interfaces

VAPS 3.1 provides a set of tools to help you build real-time graphical human-machine interfaces. In addition to helping you create a prototype, the VAPS C code generator translates the graphical prototypes, including animation properties, interactive behavior, and connections into executable C code. You can integrate the generated C code with real-time kernels. VAPS runs on workstations, and prices start at $16,500. The company plans to introduce a version for Windows. Virtual Prototypes Inc, Montreal, PQ, Canada. (514) 341-3874.

Single-chip function generator operates at 20 MHz

The MAX038 function generator produces sine, square, sawtooth, and pulse waveforms at up to 20 MHz using only a few external components. Typical sinewave distortion is <1%. A programmed current (2 to 700 µA) and an external capacitor control the oscillation frequency. An external control voltage produces pulse-width-modulation or sawtooth waveforms by varying the duty cycle between 10 and 90%. Another control voltage modulates the programmed frequency by ±70%. The output buffer has a 0.1 Ohm output impedance and delivers ±20 mA to a load. The MAX038 comes in 20-pin DIP or wide-SO package. From $9.50 (1000). Maxim Integrated Products, Sunnyvale, CA. (408) 737-7600, ext 6087.

Thermoelectric coolers offer larger temper-ature drops and lower power consumption

The K series thermoelectric coolers come in one-, two-, three-, or four-stage versions. Single-stage versions can develop a 70°K differential while multistage coolers can drop 120°K or more. The multistage coolers use different materials for their various stages. Built-in thermistors are also available. The coolers measure 40×40 mm; heights range from 2.6 to 32.2 mm. Single-stage cooler, $5; four-stage, $35. Atramet Inc, Farmingdale, NY. (516) 694-9000.

FPGA hits 100-MHz counters

The pASIC38x FPGAs combine a pro-prietary antifuse tech-nology with a single flip-flop/multiple-output core logic element and X-Y-matrix chip routing. Cypress claims FPGA clock rates up to 100 MHz for loadable counters and 85 MHz for chip-to-chip operations. Built on a 0.65-µm CMOS process, the FPGA architecture relies on an amorphous-silicon anti-fuse. The antifuse is blown to make a connection and has a resistance of 50V with less than 1-fF capacitance. The architecture provides 1000 to 4000 usable gates. Chip I/Os range from 40 to 122 pins. The architecture provides eight high-drive input cells for high-fan-out I/O inputs and two high-drive clock cells for clocking. I/O cells do not have sequential elements. Each I/O is bidirectional and is driven internally by an enabled inverter fed by a two-input OR gate (one input negated). Cypress supplies a VHDL-based tool set, Warp3, for development. Warp3 supports the pASIC380 family as well as Cypress PLDs. The kit provides VHDL top-level design and simulation, including device targeting and device-specific timing simulation. Cypress Semiconductor, San Jose, CA. (408) 943-2600.

IDE cache controller boosts disk-I/O rates

The BusLogic KT-410A, 910A, and 510A IDE cache controllers for the VL, PCI, and ISA buses, respectively, greatly increase the throughput of data between disk drives and a system processor. The PCI- and VL-bus versions transfer data at 5 Mbytes/sec on the disk side and 20 Mbytes/sec on the system side. The ISA version has a transfer rate of 5 Mbytes/sec on both sides. Each controller connects a system to four IDE drives, each storing as much as 4 Gbytes, and two floppy-disk drives. You can configure the controllers to provide disk mirroring or linking. The controllers require the addition of DRAM cache memory in 256-kbyte, 1-Mbyte, or 4-Mbyte SIMMs. You can mix and match different-capacity SIMMs for a total of 512 kbytes to 16 Mbytes of cache. The VL, PCI, and ISA versions cost $175, $255, and $105, respectively. BusLogic Inc, Santa Clara, CA. (408) 492-9090.

FPGA environment simplifies the design process

Taking an FPGA design from concept to silicon typically requires the use of many tools. ViewFPGA simplifies this task by controlling and automating the process. The software provides process and data management, integration to system-level design, and links to FPGA-vendor layout tools. By tightly integrating more than 50 tools and utilities, the software reduces the learning curve for executing FPGA designs. Because ViewFPGA keeps you following the correct design methodology, you no longer have to know the detailed design processes of--and differences between--each family of FPGAs. To create designs, use any combination of schematics, ABEL, JEDEC, and VHDL. Coupling hardware description languages (HDLs) using VHDL or ABEL with logic synthesis lets you create and simulate a design before selecting a target FPGA device. Cross-probing among any of the design-entry methods and simulations simplifies design debugging. If you already use Viewlogic's Unix-based Powerview or Windows-based Workview Plus family of design tools, you can add ViewFPGA for $8200 or $5750, respectively. ViewFPGA is part of Programmable Architect, which costs $25,000 for Unix-based systems and $21,000 on Windows-based systems. ViewArchitect also provides design entry, simulation, and synthesis capabilities. Programmable Architect, in turn, is part of Programmable Expert, which costs $30,000 for Unix-based systems and $25,000 for Windows-based systems. Programmable Expert also includes Programmable Architect plus place-and-route tools for Actel, Altera, or Xilinx. Viewlogic Systems, Marlboro, MA. (508) 480-0881.

Zeropower SRAM provides battery-backed memory for SMT boards

The two-piece Zeropower and Timekeeper battery-backed SRAMs allow you to send the IC portion of the assembly through SMT manufacturing equipment without melting the battery. The M48Z18-100MH1 Zeropower RAM is an 8-kbyte, 100-nsec SRAM. A companion snap-on battery pack called the M4Z28-BR00SH1 preserves the SRAM's contents for more than 10 years without external power. The M48T18-100MH1 Time-keeper RAM adds a real-time clock to the 8-kbyte SRAM. A combination bat-tery/crystal Snaphat for the Timekeeper RAM is called the M4T28-BR12SH1. The real-time clock's registers occupy the top 8 bytes of the RAM's 8-kbyte address space. Uncorrected, the clock crystal in the M4T28-BR12SH1 is accurate to approximately one minute per month. Using software-calibration routines and an internal Timekeeper calibration register, you can improve that accuracy to better than five sec/month. Both the Zeropower and Timekeeper RAMs incorporate circuitry that monitors the external system power. This circuitry switches the RAM's power source to the on-chip battery and disables system access to the protected RAM when external power fails. This is the circuitry you would have to design if you were developing your own battery-backed SRAM. Both the Zeropower and Timekeeper SMT RAMs come in conventional-size 28-lead SOICs. M48Z18-100MH1 Zeropower RAM, $6.25; M4Z28-BR00SH1 battery module, $1.75; M48T18-100MH1 Timekeeper RAM, $10; M4T28-BR12SH1 battery/crystal module, $2 (10,000). SGS-Thomson Microelectronics, Phoenix, AZ. (602) 867-6100.

Smart ATM switch self-routes cells

Designed to handle data in packets, the T7650 switch provides a 2×2 switching node that meets the needs of asynchronous-transfer-mode (ATM) switching applications. The device is self-routing and crosspoint-buffered, allowing it to automatically route and pass ATM cells without collision. The switch's function is to accept synchronously clocked data packets in 8-bit (with parity) parallel form from an input port and pass the data to the appropriate output port. The data packets the device passes can be 10 to 80 bytes long and must contain header information that describes the packet's length. Once the device establishes a data path, it counts the bytes passing through to ensure that the entire packet has moved before changing its configuration. The switch routes the high-priority data first. If the data has a clear path through the switch, the data passes through without buffering, achieving a latency of 11 clock cycles. If the switch is already in use, however, it stores incoming data packets in one of 16 on-chip 512-byte FIFO buffers--one FIFO for each of the four priority levels along each of the four possible paths through the switch. The T7650 offers a TTL-com-patible interface. $23.45 (10,000). AT&T Microelectronics, Allen-town, PA. (800) 372-2447.

Digital audio chip pro-vides CD-quality sound

The EMU8000 digital audio chip for add-in and mother-boards is part of an audio system comprising the EM81000 sound-file library and EMU8200 control soft-ware. The sound library resides in external ROM and DRAM. The system also provides MIDI compat-ibility, user-definable sampled sound libraries, 32-voice polyphony, digital sample-rate conversion, and audio pitch transposition. $35 for DSP chip and ROM. E-MU Systems Inc, Scotts Valley, CA (408) 438-1921.