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Electronix Express Newsletter
August 2005 Issue
1. VFIR companion chip targets MP3 players and mobile handsets
The STIR4230 VFIR (very-fast-infrared) companion chip provides 16-Mbps wireless communication. More than just a PC peripheral, its target use in portable- and other embedded-system applications is proving successful.
It can transfer a 3-Mbyte file in 2 seconds or 100 Mbytes of data in less than 90 seconds and provides IrDA (Infrared Data Association)-compatible protocol processing. A simple SPI (serial-peripheral interconnect) serves as the interface to the host. Available in a 4x4-mm QFN, the STIR4230 costs $5.95 (1000), including IrDA protocol software for MP3 decoders
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2. Silicon-Based Tuners to Replace Canned
Makers of TVs and other devices such as set top boxes (STBs) are looking beyond the tuners of yesterday.
These older "canned" tuners were made up of discrete devices that took up a lot of space in the overall systems. Now companies such as Philips, Microtune and Xceive are looking to replace these canned tuners with silicon-based devices. The silicon-based devices take up much less space and can offer significantly more functionality.
The market forecast for these tuners is bright. The digital set-top box and digital TV semiconductor market is expected to triple over a 5 year period - growing from $3.1 billion in 2003 to $9.3 billion in 2008.
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3. IBM and Eastman Kodak team up to offer CMOS image-sensor technology services
IBM is making CMOS(complementary metal oxide semiconductor) image-sensor technology and manufacturing services available for use in consumer products, such as camera phones and digital cameras.
IBM and Kodak kicked off an endeavor to develop CMOS image sensors last fall. Jeff Couture, an IBM spokesman, said "the combination of our CMOS manufacturing technology, combined with Kodak's IP, offers an overall package for consumer applications like cell phones, where images can be taken in low-light, or 'dark current' situations, and are attractive for companies using image sensors for commercial applications."
CMOS image sensors have the potential to play a role in more professional applications, According to Couture "CMOS offers more features on a single chip. And it delivers better picture quality and a better angle response [in low light]."
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4. Analog Devices Revs Auto, Infotainment Platforms
Analog Devices Inc. (ADI) today laid out a road map for its Blackfin car telematics platform. This platform aims to capitalize on the power of a single processor to reduce telematics system costs, size and development time.
The Blackfin processors contain a combination of DSP and microprocessor functions. Its' aim is at embedded audio, video and communications applications in the automotive market.
Today's cars are no longer just a means for travel. They have become a rolling media processing solution. The automotive industry looks to thread the needle of low-cost and feature-rich electronics delivery with the introduction of high-end systems to mid-tier vehicles. These Blackfin processors are just the solution to bring these features to life at the right price.
The Blackfin allows hands-free applications that combine speech recognition, multi-microphone noise and echo cancellation algorithms, and text-to-speech applications - all running on a 400MHz processor, along with the CAN network protocol, Bluetooth stacks and system general diagnostics code.
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5. Digital Terrestrial TV Set Tops Ready For Blast Off
The worldwide retail value of all Digital Terrestrial TV (DTT) Set Top Boxes (STBs) will "blast off" during 2006, and power drive up to more than $10 Billion during 2009.
Australia currently leads the world for consumption of High Definition TV (HDTV) Digital Terrestrial Set Top boxes, with North America running in second place. Japan and China have emerging markets for DTT STBs that support High Definition.
As a greater number of countries are turning on local Digital Terrestrial TV broadcasts, this trend is sure to continue to accelerate.
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6. Another Record Year For Cell Handsets, But Growth is Slowing
The mobile phone market keeps humming along-on pace for a fourth consecutive record year in 2005 in terms of unit volumes. The rate of growth, however, is slowing. Shipments should grow just under 6% year-over-year.
"The slowing pace is a result of some mature markets at, or near, full penetration, and weaker-than-expected growth in some emerging ones," says Allyn Hall, Director of Wireless Research, "It's a sign of a maturing industry."
Worldwide handset revenue is expected to approach $112 billion.
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7. Robot vacuum cleaner cleans up in many ways
The Roomba robot vacuum has taken off! Since its introduction to the retail market in 2003, the Roomba has sold more than 1.2 million units at a cost of $199 despite several competitors and imitators.. The manufacturer of this robot vacuum is iRobot Corp, a company primarily known to be a designer and manufacturer of military and industrial-exploration robots.
The Roomba is made possible by a clever design that combines low-cost sensors, a 16-bit microcontroller, flash memory, a multithreaded operating system, an efficient motor and drive, and advances in battery technology, all compacted into a disk-shaped unit. The next step? On May 25, 2005, the company announced the Scooba, a robotic floor-mopping unit that it plans for retail sale early in 2006. It vacuums loose debris, squirts down a special cleaning fluid from Clorox, and squeegees up the dirty water.
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8. Vision chips mimic eye/brain functions
A second wave of imaging chips with very different capabilities is emerging from research labs around the world called 'vision chips'. These devices are typically parallel computers on a chip implementing a processor per pixel to mimic neural processing circuitry in the retina. Unlike imaging chips for cameras, which strive for high resolution and accurate colour reproduction, vision chips copy aspects of eye and brain functions such as edge and motion detection. Target applications include security systems, autonomous robots, artificial implantable retinas, and biochemical analysis. The Scamp-3 vision chip promises to enable robots and automated inspection, surveillance and vehicle-guidance systems to see in a manner similar to human sight.
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9. Blue Seven-Segment Display?
BivarOpto introduces an blue seven-segment display for applications as medical and life support systems, avionics, industrial controls, and where the greater eye appeal and color enhancements will improve accurate visual perception and attention. Each segment of the new 1.0" seven-segment display features two chips in series. These displays employ Cree Technology-based dice, high-efficiency InGaN chips.
The BD Blue Series is available in a range of single-digit, seven-segment LED displays, ranging in 5 different digit heights from 0.301" (7.7mm) to 1.0" (25.4mm), in 24 styles and models. Connection and the choice of either common anode or common cathode circuitry enables use in any numeric display configuration, including right and left hand decimal, including 18 alpha characters. Standard wavelength is 465nm (peak), featuring a specially compounded diffused lens for even color distribution. Standard face color is black with white diffused segments. Other segment or face colors are available by special order.
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