[Product Innovation] Smart Biasing Keeps RF Power Amplifier On Track
Despite recent improvements in the performance of RF LDMOS field-effect transistors (FETs), temperature drift and aging continue to affect the efficiency and linearization of power amplifiers using these transistors. In addition, the combination of...
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Ashok Bindra
[Ideas For Design] Temperature-Sensor Circuit Provides Dual-Slope Output
The excellent linearity of integrated-circuit temperature sensors makes them ideal for direct analog compensation of the thermally induced errors inherent in many circuits. For example, a negative-sloped temperature sensor could compensate for an...
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Daniel Burton
[Ideas For Design] Excel Formula Calculates Standard 1%-Resistor Values
The Excel cell formula below calculates the nearest standard 1%-resistor value without using a lookup table or macro. Type or electronically paste the text below into any cell (other than A1). The formula will calculate the nearest 1%-resistor for the...
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Christine Schneider
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[Ideas For Design] Wideband Filter Only Has Two Different Components
Wideband filters with bandwidths in excess of an octave can be created by cascading a high-pass filter and a low-pass filter. In this design idea, nine-pole high-pass and low-pass filters have been constructed using a modified equal-element design. A...
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Richard M. Kurzrok
[Editorial] It's A New Year—With A Fresh Chance To Recover
As the first month of the new year draws to a close, there are good reasons to believe that the economy will be rekindled, restoring the high-tech industries to their former glory. New yet reduced budgets have been approved, lifestyle routines are...
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Dave Bursky
[Celebrating 50 Years] Reader Polls/Flashback
FLASHBACK>10 YEARS AGO JANUARY 23, 1992 RECENT TECHNOLOGY BREAKTHROUGHS IN the IC plug-in card arena promise to impact all segments of the computing industry, from portable systems to high-end...
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Staff
[Forefront] Nonvolatile Memory Cuts The Price Of Digital Storage
A 3D write-once memory structure from Matrix Semiconductor Inc., Santa Clara, Calif., promises to achieve a cost so low—just $0.02 to $0.03 per megabyte—that the cost of a 64- or 128-Mbyte memory card will be competitive with a roll of...
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Dave Bursky
[Forefront] Group Forms To Support Standardized IP Core Socket Interface
For system-on-a-chip (SoC) design to become mainstream, it be-hooves the semiconductor in- dustry to embrace a common intellectual property (IP) core interface that would make IP integration a true "plug-and-play" proposition. That's what the Open...
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David Maliniak
[Forefront] Online Design Tool Includes Flash Microcontroller
Design analysis and simulation have been added to National Semiconductor's interactive online design and prototyping tools for its flash-based COPS8 microcontrollers. Webench 3.0 now includes a new site, microcontroller.national.com, that...
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Ashok Bindra
[Forefront] Alliance To Develop GHz Power-Management ICs
Intersil Corp. of Irvine, Calif., has partnered with Tempe, Ariz., startup Primarion to develop multigigahertz power-management ICs. Intersil will license Primarion's digital power architecture to develop new power controllers for advanced...
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Ashok Bindra
[Forefront] FPGA Tools Upgrade Aids Logic Optimization
Synplicity's upgrade to its Amplify Physical Optimizer software and Synplify Pro logic synthesis tool, Amplify 3.0, is a physical synthesis tool for FPGAs. It has been augmented by Synplicity's Total Optimization Physical Synthesis (TOPS) technology....
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David Maliniak
[Forefront] Supply Packs 1500 W Of Power In 1U Space
A 500-W hot-swappable power supply from Transistor Devices (TDI) raises the level of power obtainable in a 1U high rack space. Offering five independent outputs, the Zeus series supply measures just 4.75 in. wide by 13.72 in. deep, permitting three...
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David G. Morrison
[Forefront] Emulation Replicate Brings Efficient Verification
Ikos VStation-5MX Replicate Station multiplies the power of emulation for in-circuit and targetless system-level verification of SoC designs. It uses the compiled database from Ikos' VStation-5M emulator, providing a known-good database and...
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David Maliniak
[Forefront] Thermal Interface Cools Beyond 125°C
Thermalcure, a thermal interface product from Eden Outsource, is a gap filler for temperatures too hot for traditional silicone-based interface materials that melt at 125°C. It maintains its strip shape and cooling properties thanks to a...
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David G. Morrison
