October 10, 1996 TOC

October 10, 1996

Design Features

ADSL: the end of the wait for home Internet?
Accessing the Internet from home can be a drag: Long access times make for a slow, tedious process. But new DSL technology may bring relief for bored commuters on the information highway.
—Stephen Kempainen, Technical Editor

Choices and confusion spread wider as spread spectrum goes mainstream
ICs, subsystems, and modules for spread-spectrum communications are now widely available. However, before committing to the technology, you should resolve issues of system performance, complexity, compatibility, and interoperability.
—Bill Schweber, Technical Editor

Postlayout EDA tools lock onto full-chip verification
Postlayout verification is your final chance to check a design before fabrication.
—Jim Lipman, Technical Editor

C and C++ extensions simplify fixed-point DSP programming
Assembly-language programming has always been a practical necessity with fixed-point DSPs. New and proposed extensions to C and C++, however, make high-level-language programming much easier.
—Denise Ombres, Texas Instruments Inc

Implement DSP functions in FPGAs to reduce cost and boost performance
A programmable DSP isn't always the best choice to implement a signal-processing function, such as a FIR filter or Viterbi decoder. By hardwiring specific DSP functions in an FPGA, you can boost system performance and reduce cost.
—Gregory Ray Goslin, Xilinx Inc

Protection techniques ensure mC reliability in power-control circuits
Protecting the mC is critical in power-control applications. Protection methods range from limiting input voltages and noise spikes to preventing an out-of-control program from locking up the mC.
—Richard J Valentine, Motorola Inc

Field-programmable devices
Field-programmable devices come in a variety of fruity flavors, and more are arriving all the time…
—Clive "Max" Maxfield, Intergraph Computer Systems

Out in Front

Audio and 3-D announcements signal the Comdex season	Multimedia connector system eliminates rats' nests, squelches EMI	Integrated EDA system eases complex-ASIC design
Calling all innovations	DACs, ADCs increase speed and resolution, cut power	Isolated A/D converter eases motor-current measurements
Low-cost FPGA/CPLD-to-ASIC conversions	New low-voltage ASIC libraries are power-stingy	Data-analysis software free for a month
Ask EDN	High-density FRAM: ready for prime time	Web sites offer tool access
CAMs, dual-port memories smash low price points	Workstation/servers target 3-D graphics to multiprocessing	Video-processor chip set fits picture to screen
IC hastens demise of ISA bus	Compact package keeps cool, saves space	Heat-pipe system cools notebook µPs
Color DSOs mimic analog-scope displays	IC conditions and com-pensates resistive bridge sensors
Smart-card OSs aid application development	Instruments simulate wireless transmission paths

Design Ideas

Two-quadrant analog multiplier uses no log amps	Simple circuit detects voltage overranges	Remote switch uses no-power fiber-optic link
Op-amp oscillators simplify RF designs	Asynchronous circuit divides frequency by 1.5	Wideband AGC has 60-dB dynamic input range
Waveform generator demodulates FM signals	X-Y keypad uses µC's serial port

Columnist

Let's grab this bull by the horns
—by David Brubaker, Contributing Editor

A tale of two analyzers
—by Jack Ganssle, Embedded Systems Contributing Editor

Products

Components Showcase	Electronic Design Automation	European Products
Integrated Circuits	Computers & Peripherals
Embedded Systems	Literature

Departments

Editorial

Signals & Noise

Table of Contents

October 10, 1996

Design Features

Out in Front

Design Ideas

Columnist

Products

Departments