Articles – Page 521

IMEC sets major step towards 3D integration of DRAM on logic

September 30, 2009

Leuven, Belgium — September 30, 2009 — IMEC and its 3D integration partners have taped-out Etna, a new 3D chip integrating a commercial DRAM chip on top of a logic IC. The new 3D stack resembles as close as possible to future commercial chips. It consists of a 25µm thick logic die on top of which a commercial DRAM is stacked using through-silicon vias (TSVs) and micro-bumps.

The 3D demonstrator mimics all aspects of the approach by stacking an advanced commercial DRAM product chip on IMEC’s proprietary CMOS logic IC. As an example, heaters are … Read More → "IMEC sets major step towards 3D integration of DRAM on logic"

Riding the Rails

Linear Technology Makes Power Fun?

by Kevin Morris

September 29, 2009

Let’s just acknowledge up front that practically nothing is as unexciting for digital designers as power supply design.

All the way back to when we were wire-wrapping our TTL parts, there was absolutely no inspiration in the part of the project where we put that “+5V” on the board. Who picked 5V for those things anyway? Didn’t they know what we had available? 9V batteries – nope. 1.5V batteries – that could get us to either 4.5V or 6V – close but nope. 120V AC (in the US) – super nope! Maybe … Read More → "Riding the Rails"

Networks on a Chip

Not Just Another NoC NoC Joke

by Bryon Moyer

September 29, 2009

A while ago we took a broad look at the status of IP, with an eye to ease of use, reuse, and interconnectability. And, in fact, it’s a complicated matter. Moreso when you get to the issue of interconnecting various kinds of IP. There are two fundamental challenges as our SoCs get more and more mind-bogglingly complex. One is how you hook all this stuff up, and the other is how you hook on to the hook-up.

Zero-Threading

Marketing or Engineering?

by Bryon Moyer

September 29, 2009

There’s an ancient piece of marketing wisdom that says, “If you can’t fix it, feature it.” While commonly attributed to technology, it has, in fact, been practiced since pre-historic times.

When the Bosporus broke open, flooding the area now known as the Black Sea in an event that might be the Great Flood survived by Noah and his menagerie, it was presumably a catastrophe of immense proportions. Until some developers took a look at the new shoreline property on the Crimea and said, “Dude, these are some killer beaches!& … Read More → "Zero-Threading"

58VIN, 2A with IOUT, 2.4MHz Step-Down DC/DC Converter Draws Only 85µA of Quiescent Current & Withstands 80V Transients

by Kevin Morris

September 29, 2009

MILPITAS, CA – September 28, 2009 – Linear Technology Corporation announces the LT3980, a 2A, 58VIN step-down switching regulator with Burst Mode® operation to maintain quiescent current under 85µA. The LT3980 operates within a VIN range of 3.6V to 58V, with overvoltage lockout protection against transients as high as 80V, making the device ideal for load dump and cold-crank conditions commonly found in automotive applications. Its internal 3.4A switch can deliver up to 2A of continuous output current at voltages as low as 0.79V. The LT3980’s Burst Mode operation provides ultralow quiescent current, well suited for applications such as … Read More → "58VIN, 2A with IOUT, 2.4MHz Step-Down DC/DC Converter Draws Only 85µA of Quiescent Current & Withstands 80V Transients"

Green Hills Software to Present and Exhibit at ISA Expo 2009

by Kevin Morris

September 29, 2009

SANTA BARBARA, CA — September 29, 2009 — Green Hills Software, Inc., the largest independent vendor of embedded software solutions, will speak at the ISA Expo in Houston, TX, during the week of October 5, 2009. At booth 2533, Green Hills Software will also demonstrate its latest embedded software solutions.

Green Hills Software will present:

Topic: Leveraging COTS Software for Building Safe Control Systems
When: Wednesday, October 7, 2009 12:30pm — 1:00pm
Where: Reliant Center, Safety & Security Exchange X-Pod Theater, exhibit hall, Booth 2703
Who: Joe Fabbre, Technical Solutions Manager, Green Hills Software

Synopsis
Commercial … Read More → "Green Hills Software to Present and Exhibit at ISA Expo 2009"

Aonix Announces PERC® Java Virtual Machine for BeagleBoard

by Kevin Morris

September 29, 2009

San Diego, CA, September 29, 2009 —Aonix®, the provider of the PERC product line for embedded and real-time Java developers, announced Java™ virtual machine support for the low-cost BeagleBoard with its flagship product PERC Ultra. More developers and projects will be able to quickly and more cost efficiently launch development that takes advantage of PERC’s new graphics support via the ARM®-based BeagleBoard. The BeagleBoard is distributed by Digi-Key Corporation and available through its global websites.

“For projects planning final deployment on ARM processors, PERC Ultra and the BeagleBoard are a … Read More → "Aonix Announces PERC® Java Virtual Machine for BeagleBoard"

Embedded Signal Processing Capabilities of the LatticeECP3 sysDSP Block

by Jim Turley

September 23, 2009

Enhanced DSP Capabilities

The success of the LatticeECP2M family in addressing the 2G/3G wireless arena, coupled with discussions with customers, has served to drive the architectural improvements made in the LatticeECP3 DSP block. Several key points have been addressed. First and foremost, backward compatibility has been maintained with the current LatticeECP2/M DSP. There is also finer control of … Read More → "Embedded Signal Processing Capabilities of the LatticeECP3 sysDSP Block"

The Death of the Trade Press

Engineering Away Objectivity

by Kevin Morris

September 22, 2009

Obsolescence is a familiar and friendly concept to engineers. In fact, it is our job. We are professional creators of obsolescence. Each day, we go to work with the goal of making some previous work of engineering obsolete. Our revised rodent retention device must surpass, supersede and exceed all previous versions, else we have failed.

Audio Cassettes – gone. Rotary-dial telephones – expurgated, and not a moment too soon. Typewriters, cathode ray tubes, mimeograph machines – all banished to the backwaters of vintage-retro curiosity by our hard-working, innovation-happy profession.

Occasionally, however, … Read More → "The Death of the Trade Press"

A World Of Their Own

Tanner Charts a Different Course

by Bryon Moyer

September 22, 2009

They were your typical pack of teenage kids. By turns rough-and-tumble and vulnerable. On top of the world while at the same time knocked about by forces they didn’t understand or couldn’t control. Watching them on the beach that Saturday, they could have been any kids anywhere in the world. They’d fight, they’d squabble, they’d play, they’d slap each other’s backs, they’d even undulge the slightest hint of a hug. They competed with each other and yet they were the best of … Read More → "A World Of Their Own"