Contents
May 11, 2006
Cover Story
- Designers cast a skeptical eye on mixed-signal SOCs
The functions are necessary, but integration challenges keep analog IP out of the mainstream for SOC design.
Design Features
- Hazardous-voltage primer
Understanding the hazards associated with voltage and knowing the principles of safety and the importance of certification are the keys to safe design and product use. Even low voltage is hazardous and can damage products and harm users. - Spread-spectrum clocking: measuring accuracy and depth
Designers use data-rate smearing to spread EMI across multiple frequency bands. Learn how to quickly test and verify your implementation. - Effective use of IC-amplifier macromodels requires understanding their limitations
Someday, IC manufacturers may provide users with amplifier macromodels that are as detailed as those that device designers use. Until then, you must make do with less detailed models, whose effectiveness depends on your understanding of their limitations.
Pulse
- Fabless-ASIC company tries new model
- DFM tools help with "lithography-friendly" layouts
- Voices: Chandu Visweswariah: IBM innovation brings statistics to digital-IC design
- MEMS microphone has digital output
- Consortium invests $800,000 for five years
- Spin-coating process produces TFT with liquid silicon
- FROM EDN EUROPE: NI simplifies data acquisition with USB
- FROM EDN EUROPE: IP provider mounts structured ASICs on standard-cell libraries
- FROM EDN EUROPE: AVR µC hits nA current levels
- FROM EDN EUROPE: Converter extends battery life
- FROM EDN EUROPE: Fast-charge Li-ion cells from USB
- FROM EDN EUROPE: Motor-control package ups HVAC efficiency
- FROM EDN EUROPE: $1 MCU features ARM Cortex core
- Compact controller eases embedded-system motion
- Process yields custom boards in five days
- Software reduces cell-phone test time by nearly an order of magnitude
Departments and Columns
- Baker's Best
Charge your SAR-converter inputs
- edn.comment
Mind of the engineer
- Prying Eyes
NDAS undressed: dissecting a NAS substitute
- Reality Check
Wireless protocol lags initial expectations
