September 1, 1998

Cover Story

• Innovative processes bring systems on chips to life
  Full system-on-chip design supplements digital cores with analog circuitry, memories, and, sometimes, RF blocks. Unique silicon-process technology lets these vastly different functions successfully coexist on a silicon chip.
  — Jim Lipman, Technical Editor

• Will DAB finally take off?  
  A decade in design, digital audio broadcasting is readying to take to the airwaves. As a result, broadcasters, equipment makers, and IC vendors are anxiously evaluating real-world consumer acceptance.
  — David Marsh, Contributing Technical Editor

Design Features

• Media processors target digital video roles
  Several IC vendors are touting processors, generally based on VLIW architectures, that can handle media-processing chores for applications from PC multimedia to high-definition digital TV. The proponents believe that only a programmable device offers the flexibility necessary to serve in such volatile and evolving applications. Ultimately, media processors may prosper, but system designers so far have preferred fixed-function ICs and ASICs.
  — Maury Wright, Technical Editor

• Choosing a waveform generator: The devil is in the details
  When you choose a digital instrument for synthesizing analog waveforms, a little time spent learning how the generator works can ensure that you don't regret your choice.
  — Dan Strassberg, Senior Technical Editor

• Optimize output-voltage accuracy of adjustable low-dropout regulators
  An adjustable LDO is a good choice when you need a nonstandard voltage, but getting the highest accuracy from one requires a few circuit tricks.
  — Paul Paglia, Telcom Semiconductor

• Flash ADC takes the uncertainty out of high-speed data recovery
  Traditional methods of recovering data and clock information from noisy baseband signals fail at data rates higher than 30 Mbps. Using the same flash ADC to sample both the input data and its phase eliminates timing errors and makes it possible to recover data at 500 Mbps.
  — Tom Napier, Consultant

Leading Edge

• Audio DACs extend four R's: resolution, rate, range, and ratio
• Tiny modules provide big computer power
• Integral sense saves cents in current-gauging ICs
• Software drivers for instruments become device-independent
• ADSL IC debuts; standards languish
• Insulating foundation raises chip speed
• Multilevel-cell memories offer the "write" touch

• Motion controller shakes hands with USB
• SOCKS middleware extends server/firewall features
• Re-engineering layout tool makes chips look their best
• NT workstations dive to less than $2000
• SRAMs take a new approach
• IC slashes workgroup hub costs
• IC puts teeth into gear-position-sensing

Design Ideas

• Transistor quickly wakes sleeping LDO
• Circuits provide 4- to 20-mA PWM control
• Circuit uses simple LED for near-IR light

• Two-DAC circuit adds and subtracts
• Calibration technique uses sound

Columnist

• Power-plane resonance
  — Howard Johnson, PhD

Products

• New Product Database (registered users only) 

Departments

• ednmag.comment
• Where should your systems grow?—Michael Markowitz, Worldwide Editorial Director
• Cars and complexity—Graham Prophet, EDN Europe Editor In Chief 
• Linux revisited

• Name That Widget—Enter our contest and win $100

• Editorial Staff
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