January 15, 1998

Cover Story

• EDN Hands-On Evaluation
  Virtual processors and the reality of software simulation
  DSP and mP simulators range from simple instruction-level analyzers to cycle-accurate simulators that allow you to model an entire system. This Hands-On Evaluation compares a sampling of the available simulators to help you weigh their features and benefits.
  --Markus Levy, Technical Editor

Design Features

• Digital-camera interfaces lead to ubiquitous deployment
  Low-cost digital cameras and evolving interfaces simplify video-capture tasks. Meanwhile, software developers tackle advanced edge- and motion-based algorithms for compelling visual applications.
  --Maury Wright, Technical Editor

• EEPROM: survival of the fittest
  EEPROMs are expanding and transforming their features to meet evolving application needs and competitive pressure. EEPROM technology is also diversifying and finding homes in some surprising places. Charles Darwin would be proud.
  --Brian Dipert, Technical Editor

• Designing a USB hub: basic options and issues
  All peripheral devices connect to the Universal Serial Bus through hubs. How you design a USB hub depends on the purpose you want it to serve.
  --Harry Inia, National Semiconductor, and Doug Dyment, Computer Access Technology Corp

• Postregulation technique efficiently supplies multiple output voltages
  Various methods for regulating multiple-output power supplies exist. An emerging technique--secondary-side postregulation, or SSPR--provides advantages for high-frequency, high-power-density dc/dc converters.
  --Gedaly Levin, Cherry Semiconductor Corp

• Take tunable lowpass filters to new heights
  With current output multipliers and fast amplifiers, you can design active lowpass filters whose cutoff frequencies you can electrically tune from 10 Hz to at least 10 MHz.
  --Tom Napier, Consultant