ElectronicsWeekly - 07-13 March 2012

Prévia do material em texto

World of silicon 
opens up at ISSCC
NEWS REPORTS FROM THE INTERNATIONAL SOLID-STATE CIRCUITS CONFERENCE PAGES 8 TO 11
Raspberry Pi captures public imagination
RS AND FARNELL GET FIRST DISTRIBUTION DEALS FOR LOW-COST EDUCATIONAL COMPUTER PAGE 4
Testing power supply efficiency
HOW TO MINIMISE ERRORS WHEN MEASURING POWER SUPPLY EFFICIENCY PAGE 14
7-13 March 2012 | No. 2498 | ElectronicsWeekly.com
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the week at
ElectronicsWeekly.com 7-13 MARCH 2012 EW | 3
icrochip.comicrochip.comwww.miwww.mi
EDITOR’S CHOICE PRODUCT OF THE WEEK
Microcontrollers for all seasons
BLOG WATCH
Maxim’s plan targets FPGAs
Smallest embedded Wi-Fi module
RTX claims to have the smallest 
embedded Wi-Fi module based on 
an Energy Micro microcontroller. 
The RTX4100 development module 
will be used to link low-power sen-
sors and actuators to the internet 
for machine-to-machine (M2M) ap-
plications. “It can be integrated into 
devices to support various wireless 
standards including 802.11 b/g/n. 
The module features a built-in and 
an external antenna,” said Peter Mar-
iager, chief technology officer at RTX.
www.rtx.dk 
Low-power MCU has LCD control
Renesas Electronics has announced 
the RL78/L12 range of low-power mi-
crocontrollers with an on-chip LCD 
controller that reduces current con-
sumption by about 30% compared 
to its previous MCUs. Designed for 
small LCD panel applications there 
are 18 product versions with pin 
count ranging from 32 to 64, and on-
chip flash memory capacities ranging 
from 8kbyte to 32kbyte. 
www.renesas.eu
Motor control tool is free
Toshiba Electronics Europe has 
announced a free software tool for 
design and test of embedded motion 
control applications built around 
ARM Cortex-M3 motor control mi-
crocontrollers. Dubbed MotorMind, 
it is compatible with Toshiba’s TMP-
M37x microcontrollers, which are 
notable for a hardware vector engine 
(VE) and programmable motor drive 
(PMD) outputs.
www.toshiba-components.com
Debugger gets slimline probe
IAR Systems has introduced a slim-
line in-circuit debug probe which it 
has integrated into its C/C++ com-
piler and debugger tool suite. I-jet, 
as part of the Embedded Workbench 
IDE, supports microcontrollers based 
on ARM7, ARM9, ARM11, ARM 
Cortex-M, ARM Cortex-R4, and ARM 
Cortex-A5/A8/A9 cores.
www.iar.com/ijet
Embedded standards group
An embedded computing standards 
group has been founded by firms in-
cluding: Advantech, Congatec, Data 
Modul, Kontron and MSC. Called 
SGET, it will look at the Computer-
on-Module (COM) specifications 
Qseven and a dedicated ARM mod-
ule specification. 
www.sget.org
ARM Cortex-M3 gets touchy-feely
Fujitsu has added capacitive touch 
functionality to its FM3 family of 
ARM Cortex-M3 based microcontrol-
lers. FM3touch uses an ADC-based 
capacitive sensing algorithm to reach 
a high sensitivity of only a few femto-
Farad, using one pin-per-touch input 
channel without the need for external 
components.
emea.fujitsu.com/semiconductor
Cognitive computer uses MRAM
Everspin Technologies, the devel-
oper of Spin-Torque magnetic-RAM 
(MRAM), has demonstrated its 
memory technology being used in a 
cognitive computing platform. Cogn-
iMem Technologies is using MRAM 
to store and restore the content of 
the neurons in a system with 4,096 
silicon neurons that mimic how the 
human brain processes data.
www.everspin.com
Motor chip gets four add-ons 
Freescale has squeezed a microcon-
troller, mosfet gate drive, voltage 
regulator and LIN bus physical layer 
into a single control chip for brush-
less DC motors. The 16bit mixed-sig-
nal MCUs are called the S12 MagniV 
S12ZVM family.
www.freescale.com
Silicon Labs goes M3 for USB 
Silicon Labs has introduced a 
family of microcontrollers based 
around ARM’s 32bit Cortex-M3 core. 
Called Precision32, it includes 32 
SiM3U1xx and SiM3C1xx products 
with footprint-compatible USB and 
non-USB options.
www.silabs.com
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news
News: Raspberry Pi with 
www.electronicsweekly.com
www.electronicswee y.com
computer on a stick
www.electronicsweekly.com
more onlinemore onlinemore online
News: Raspberry Pi with a News: Raspberry Pi with a 
week to goweek to goweek to go
www.electronicsweekly.comwww.electronicsweekly.com
Blog: Element14 CEO speaks: Blog: Element14 CEO speaks:
Computer literacy & Raspberry PiComputer literacy & Raspberry PiComputer literacy & Raspberry Pi
www.electronicsweekl .comwww.electronicsweekly.comwww.electronicsweekly.com
News: In depth: Raspberry Pi, theNews: In depth: Raspberry Pi, theNews: In depth: Raspberry Pi, the
ccomputer on a stickcomputer on a stick
www.electronicsweekly.comwww.electronicsweekly.comwww.electronicsweekly.com
Raspberry Pi has arrived: RS and 
Farnell get first distribution deals
ElectronicsWeekly.com4 | EW 7-13 MARCH 2012
R
aspberry Pi, the £25 edu-
cational computer from 
Cambridge, will be distrib-
uted globally by RS Com-
ponents and Premier Farnell, and the 
Model A has been given a RAM boost 
to 256Mbyte.
“RS Components and Premier Far-
nell will be responsible for all distri-
bution of the Model A and Model B 
devices,” Raspberry Pi Foundation 
executive director Eben Upton told 
Electronics Weekly. 
“This should help to address peo-
ple’s concerns around our ability to 
ramp to serious volume, and around 
the economics of the device – these 
companies wouldn’t sign up for this 
unless there was a strong business 
case for them.”
“There will also be an increase in 
the RAM size for the model A to 
256Mbyte, still within the $25 budg-
et,” he added.
Set up by a group of high-flying 
Cambridge techies, the Raspberry Pi 
Foundation aims to inspire a genera-
tion of programmers by putting com-
petent, low-cost hardware into the 
hands of children and teenagers, 
much in the way that Sinclair com-
puters did in the 1980s.
The ARM11-based computer is the 
size of a credit card and simply plugs 
into a TV or monitor, a keyboard and 
a mouse to form a potent Linux com-
puter with powerful graphics. More 
Raspberry Pi details here.
There are two versions: Model A 
($25) has one USB 2.0 port, and B 
($35)has two instead USB 2.0 ports 
The appointment of RS and Farnell as distributors proves that the markets intend to take it seriously, writes Steve Bush
and Ethernet. “Raspberry Pi provides 
a revolutionary low-cost platform, 
which opens up programming to a 
whole new audience,” said Glenn 
Jarrett, head of marketing at RS. 
“We are very honoured to have 
been chosen to work with the foun-
dation as a distribution partner at the 
launch of this exciting new tool,” he 
added. 
Both RS and Farnell, which also 
trades as Element14, have active 
community websites – respectively: 
DesignSpark and element14.
“RS was selected as a distribution 
partner for Raspberry Pi because, in 
the eyes of the foundation, it con-
nects with engineers across the globe 
throughout their careers,” said RS.“As such, the company is well 
Computer programming – at the right price 
positioned to provide Raspberry Pi 
adopters with support, advice and 
access to additional resources as 
they embark on new development 
 activities. 
“It was particularly impressed 
with the DesignSpark community 
and resources provided for new de-
velopers working on Open Source 
designs.” 
Raspberry Pi B boasts two USB 2.0 ports, and Ethernet
news
Start-up pursues flickering 
light alternative to Wi-Fi
ElectronicsWeekly.com6 | EW 7-13 MARCH 2012
And another 
one bites 
the dust 
MANNERISMS
Glass coating cuts arcing, raises operation 
voltage of ceramic chip capacitors by 1kV
PASSIVES
OPTICS
W
hat do Wilbur and Orville 
Wright, and Bob Dennard 
have in common? They 
invented things which have been 
supremely useful for members of 
the human race but which have lost 
enormous amounts of money, writes 
David Manners in his Mannerisms 
Blog on ElectronicsWeekly.com.
The airline services industry has 
not made a penny piece in profit over 
its lifetime, nor has the DRAM 
industry.
The announcement of the 
bankruptcy of Elpida makes you 
wonder: Why do people do it? Why 
do they run airlines? Why do they 
manufacture DRAM?
Apart from Samsung, the DRAM 
industry has lost $14bn in the past 
three years.
In the disaster year of 1985, when 
all the US DRAM makers except 
Texas Instruments and Micron pulled 
out of the business, the industry lost 
$6bn.
Over the 40 years since DRAM first 
appeared on the market the 
accumulated losses must be 
immense. 
Last week Elpida, the last of the 
Japanese DRAM makers, has gone 
bust owing $5.5bn.
For Japan, DRAM was the product 
which propelled them, in 1988, to 
over 50% of world semiconductor 
market share with six companies in 
the top 10.
Governments vied for DRAM fabs 
offering grants, loans and tax 
holidays just to get these money-
burners to locate in their countries.
In the 1990s, the Scottish wooed 
NEC and Hyundai. The Welsh wooed 
LG. The Taiwanese authorities have 
fought a losing battle trying to prop 
up their failing DRAM-makers.
The Japanese have been 
subsidising Elpida but have now 
learnt their lesson.
“What doesn’t work in global 
competition doesn’t work even with 
the help of state funds,” says Kaname 
Tajima, head of the industrial unit of 
Japan’s ruling Democratic Party, “we 
must discern Japan’s strength and 
learn lessons from the failure.”
Quite so.
Mannerisms
electronicsweekly/com
A
n Edinburgh start-up is 
using light instead of radio 
for wireless comms, writes 
David Manners. Edinburgh 
start-up Visible Light Communica-
tions (VLC) is intending to use flick-
ering LEDs instead of 802.11 Wi-Fi 
for broadband communications.
Data rates of up to 500Mbit/s have 
been achieved for the technology, 
called Li-Fi, but the first product 
from VLC – a consumer transmitter – 
will deliver data rates of 100Mbit/s 
using VLC’s SIM-OFDM technology 
and optical spatial modulation. It is 
due for launch next year.
The technology was invented by 
Edinburgh University’s Harald Haas. 
“At the heart of this technology is a 
new generation of high-brightness 
light-emitting diodes,” said Haas. 
“Very simply, if the LED is on, you 
transmit a digital 1, if it’s off you 
transmit a 0.”
High speeds are achieved by 
implementing parallel data 
transmission using arrays of LEDs, 
where each LED transmits a different 
N
orfolk-based capacitor maker 
Syfer has pushed up the 
operation voltage of ceramic 
chip capacitors, by over 1kV in 
many case sizes, regardless of local 
humidity. 
“Typical devices include a 2kV 
multi-layer ceramic chip capacitor in 
a 1206 package [100pF to 3.3nF], 2kV 
in 2220 with capacitance range of 
220pF to 33nF, 3kV in 1880 [100pF to 
3.3nF], and 5kV in 2220 package 
with 220pF to 4.7nF capacitance,” 
said the firm. 
Key to the voltage increase is an 
undisclosed process that puts a glass 
coating over the capacitor body 
without covering the end terminals. 
“Arcing is the problem with high 
voltage” said Syfer MD Howard 
Ingleson. “A standard 1206 X7R chip 
capacitor might be rated at 2kV, but 
in 90% humidity the arcing voltage is 
lower.” Unlike the surface of a PCB 
which is smooth, the naturally 
irregular surface a ceramic promotes 
arcing by absorbing moisture and 
pollution. It also picks up tiny spots 
of tin from the terminals of adjacent 
capacitors during manufacture. 
“X7R is quite a rough surface,” said 
Ingleson. “If we polished it, it would 
do much better.” A thin coating of 
glass takes the ceramic surface out of 
the equation. “A standard 2,300V 
part goes up to 3,520V with the 
coating. The higher voltage is very 
consistent with changes in 
humidity,” said Ingleson. “You can 
go up a voltage range with the same 
size chip.” 
Why doesn’t every one do this? “It 
is not easy to coat the ceramic 
without coating the electrodes,” he 
said. And, why not a polymer 
coating? “Glass, won’t come off,” said 
Ingleson. “We have seen this with 
conformal coating.” 
The coating process has been 
branded ProtectiCap. 
“ProtectiCap and a matte tin layer 
over the nickel base termination 
minimises the risk of flash-over and 
avoids the need for the customer to 
apply conformal coating after 
soldering,” said Syfer. 
The coated X7R capacitors are 
aimed at power supplies, lighting 
ballasts, inverters, and general high 
voltage circuits, with values from 
100pF to 33nF, in packages from 
1206 to 2220, at voltages from 2 to 
5kV. 
Syfer
www.syfer.com 
data stream. Also mixtures of red, 
green and blue LEDs can be used to 
alter the light’s frequency, with each 
frequency encoding a different data 
channel.
Because it uses light rather than 
radio signals, VLC could be used in 
aircraft, integrated into medical 
devices and hospitals where Wi-Fi is 
banned, or even underwater, where 
Wi-Fi doesn’t work.
The snag with LiFi is, of course, 
that it relies on line of sight.
VLC’s SIM-OFDM technology and 
optical spatial modulation allows 
LED light to modulate at a rate so fast 
as to be imperceptible to the human 
eye, but which can be picked up by 
receivers such as suitably configured 
smartphone cameras at speeds of 
hundreds of megabits per second, 
enabling the light source to transmit 
data.
“At the rate we currently adopt 
wireless data, we will ultimately run 
out of radio spectrum as we cope 
with the long-term demand of 
wireless data transmissions and the 
trillions of bytes of data 
communicated every month,” said 
VLC chief executive Gordon Povey 
(pictured). “Turning a light source, a 
simple household LED bulb for 
example, into a localised data 
communications centre, is a 
potentially viable alternative.”
Visible Light Communications
visiblelightcomm.com/
Povey: A viable alternative
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news
Flexible organic sensor for 
touch-screens and controls
ElectronicsWeekly.com8 | EW 7-13 MARCH 2012
ORGANIC
The IEEE holds the 
International 
Solid-State Circuits 
Conference once a year 
in San Francisco. 
It is the world 
show-case for cunning 
on-chip circuit design 
and is a partner to 
IEDM, the IEEE’s 
electron devices 
meeting which 
highlights innovation 
amongst the detailed 
nuts and bolts of chip 
design.
U
sing organic 
transistors, en-
gineers at the 
University of 
Leuven have deposited 
a complete capacitive 
touch interface on flex-
ible plastic foil. 
“These are to the authors’ best 
knowledge the first capacitive sen-
sors on a flexiblefoil,” said the team. 
“We see applicability in future flexi-
ble touch-screens as well as control 
interfaces for consumers: for scroll-
ing up and down in an e-reader, for 
 example.” 
Both sensors and circuit were 
made on an existing three-metal 
layer pentacene transistor process 
from Eindhoven-based Polymer Vi-
sion. Like many organic electronic 
processes, it yields slow n-FETs, so 
the circuits had to be designed with 
the much faster p-channel FETs. 
Two touch patterns were devel-
oped, an analogue slider whose 
 capacitance changes depending on 
finger position (Figure 1) and a two-
dimensional touch array (photo). 
The slider readout circuit is reset 
by clock2 (running at 330Hz) which 
causes the capacitors to discharge. 
Clock1, which is in anti-phase with 
Clock2, then connects the sensor into 
the circuit whose output voltage then 
climbs at a rate proportional to the 
ratio of the fixed capacitor (25pF) 
and the sensor capacitor (0-500pF) – 
and largely unaffected by process 
variations. The voltage at Vout at the 
end of Clock2 is available for process-
ing outside the scope of the project. 
The same readout circuit is used 
for the matrix array of 5x5mm touch 
pads, with columns switches ground-
ing one column at a time, and row 
switches presenting the capacitance 
to the readout circuit. Row and col-
umn scanning signals come from an 
organic transistor frequency divider 
built with four flip-flops and eight 
NAND gates. Refresh rate is 93Hz. 
The output from the matrix is a se-
ries of analogue voltages, and meas-
urements indicate that more resolu-
tion (down to 1mm) is available with 
the existing circuit by interpolating 
between signals from adjacent rows 
and columns. 
Figure 1: (a) Dimensions of the capacitive sensor, (b) the working 
principle of the sensor and (c) schematic view of the architecture of the 
sensor read0out circuit
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Navigate to the Future
Integration speeds you past design challenges on the road ahead
news
Flying resonators raise solar efficiency
ElectronicsWeekly.com10 | EW 7-13 MARCH 2012
A
biopotential acquisition chip 
from Imec and its Netherland 
partner Holst Centre has been 
singled out for praise at the Interna-
tional Solid-State Circuits Confer-
ence in San Francisco. 
“There has been a growing interest 
in wearable biopotential-monitoring 
systems, which have very strict re-
quirements in terms of power dissi-
pation, high signal quality, small area 
and robust operation during ambula-
tory use,” said the ISSCC. 
This chip has the “first analogue 
motion artifact suppression tech-
nique that does not degrade the per-
formance of an analogue front-end”, 
it claimed. 
The three-channel chip consumes 
192μW from a 1.2V supply (160μA) 
and is capable of rail-to-rail DC offset 
rejection for suppressing motion arti-
facts, while achieving 120dB CMRR 
(common-mode rejection), 1GΩ 
input impedance, and 1.3μVrms 
input- referred noise at 100Hz band-
width. 
Made on 0.18μm CMOS, the chip 
measures 8x5mm. “The biopotential 
acquisition asic improves the quality 
of recording in portable biopotential 
monitoring systems, particularly in 
ECG [electrocardiography], said the 
ISSCC. 
Including the acquisition chip, 
Imec and Holst are presenting 14 pa-
pers at ISSCC 2012. Among these are 
descriptions of three successive ap-
proximation ADCs for reconfigurable 
radios: A 1.7mW 11bit 250Msample/s 
2x interleaved pipelined ADC in 
40nm CMOS, a 70dB 10bit 
0-80Msample/s current-integrating 
ADC with adaptive dynamic ranging, 
and a 7-10bit 0-to-4Msample/s ADC 
with 6.5-16fJ/conversion-step. 
There is also a 60GHz transceiver 
chip in 40nm digital low-power 
CMOS, “obtaining sufficient error 
vector management [EVM -17dB at 
7Gbit/s] for modulations as complex 
as QAM16 in the four channels spec-
ified by IEEE802.15.3c”, said ISSCC. 
 Addressing thin-film transistors 
made from unusual semiconductors, 
Imec has papers on: a hybrid (organic 
+ solution-processed metal-oxide) 
bidirectional RFID tag, and a 6bit 
10Msample/s current-steering DAC 
made with amorphous GaInZn oxide 
thin-film transistors, achieving a 
spurious free dynamic range of over 
30dB up to 300kHz. 
Wearable biopotential monitoring chip
MEDICAL
On-die aerial 
Thz imaging
SENSORS
Integration cap THz mixer 
under ground 
plane Ring antenna
I
maging far-infra-red (sub-millime-
tre) radiation between 300GHz and 
3THz could mean seeing several 
millimetres under the skin or inside 
teeth. It can be detected as heat, but at 
ISSCC researchers, including a team 
from STMicroelectronics, described 
imaging it as RF radiation. Key to 
this is a 32x32 array of square 80μm 
pixels, each dominated by a circular 
antenna (BW=0.6-1THz) built from 
metallisation, with two internal con-
nections feeding anti-phase RF into a 
differential nmos distributed resistive 
detector made from a single novel 
65nm n-mosfet (pictured). This allows 
the fet to work above its ft (=160GHz). 
S
olar panels are generally 
connected in series strings, 
followed by a high-voltage 
inverter to make mains 
voltage. Shading of a single panel 
severely cuts the output of the entire 
series string. 
Inverse parallel diodes are 
generally connected to bypass 
shaded panels – an arrangement that 
does not allow for partial shading of 
some panels. One-inverter-per-panel 
(‘microinverters’) is an expensive 
way around the whole problem. 
At ISSCC, a team from Dartmouth 
College New Hampshire and Solar 
Semiconductor presented a different 
solution which maintains an equal 
voltage across all the panels in a 
string regardless of shading. 
This leads to higher power 
extraction, said the team. Instead of a 
diode, they connect a series-
connected (series-resonant) inductor 
and capacitor across each panel 
through a 0.35μm 90V CMOS/
LDMOS chip. 
This chip can disconnect the 
resonator, and alternatively connect 
it across the panel above in the string. 
Careful control of timing allows 
energy to be transferred (as half-
cycles of sinewave current) from the 
lower panel to the upper panel, and 
vice versa. 
Each chip can handle three 
resonators, and multiple chips can be 
cascaded to handle long strings (see 
Figure 1). 
With all the resonators switching 
up and down in synchronisation, 
energy can be inched arbitrarily up or 
down the string. 
Vmpp is the voltage at which 
maximum power can be extracted 
from a panel for a given current. 
“Due to the first-order logarithmic 
variation of Vmpp with short circuit 
current, the strategy recovers mis-
match loss over a widerange of mis-
match levels,” said the team. 
Oscillator, gate-drive, timing and 
communication are all integrated. Six 
off-chip mosfets are needed to 
implement the double-pole double-
throw power switch. 
Conversion efficiency is above 
99% and, as the circuit replaces 
diodes that are conventionally 
collected together in a junction box 
with all the necessary connections, it 
can be retrofitted to existing 
installations. 
www.dartmouth.edu
www.solarsemiconductor.comFigure 1
POWER
news
ElectronicsWeekly.com 7-13 MARCH 2012 EW | 11
Figure 1: Transceiver block design
WIRELESS
K
orean engineers have 
implemented a 15μA 5.8GHz 
active wake-up radio using 
mixed signal processing. 
Wake-up radio is a way of cutting 
the power consumption of a seldom-
used receiver – in this case an active 
car tag for road-tolling. 
Inside a wake-up radio there are 
two receivers: a simple low-power 
one that is just complex enough to 
recognise the desired signal, and a 
more power-hungry full featured 
receiver that demodulates and 
decodes data from the signal; as well 
as a transmitter if two-way 
communication is required. 
The simple receiver awaits the 
signal and, when it thinks it has 
found it, wakes the comprehensive 
receiver. 
Best power consumption is 
achieved when the simple receiver is 
just sophisticated enough not false-
trigger the full receiver too often. 
To help the system along, the 
desired signal can be customised for 
wake-up reception. 
In the case presented at ISSCC, the 
data part of the signal – modulated at 
256kbit/s – is preceded by 15-17 
cycles of simple 14kHz AM 
modulation. The team rejected a 
SAW front-end for the wake-up 
receiver as being too wideband 
(leading to false triggering), and too 
lossy to be sensitive enough. 
Instead, they used a four transistor 
LC-tuned high-gain RF envelope 
detector feeding a comparator as a 
one-bit ADC (see diagram). 
A low-power delay-based band-
pass filter decides if the tell-tail 
14kHz signal is present. 
Made on 0.13μm CMOS, final 
sensitivity in the wake-up radio is 
-45dBm (MI=0.85). 
The associated full receiver is 
similar in architecture, but has an 
LNA before the envelope detector, 
and an analogue band-pass filter 
between that and the one-bit ADC. 
256kbit/s decoding is on a separate 
chip. 
Sensitivity is -61dBm (MI=0.85) 
and current consumption is 19mA. 
The +5dBm transmitter on the 
same chip draws 40mA delivering 
data at 512kbit/s. 
The design is a team effort between 
KAIST and PhyChips. 
www.kaist.edu/
www.phychips.com/
Active wake-up 
radio allows long 
range RF tagging
mouser.com
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news
Safe gas analyser a hit with councils 
ElectronicsWeekly.com12 | EW 7-13 MARCH 2012
TEST
MANNERISMS
£108m bill for 4G mobile interference goes to operators
B
irmingham design consul-
tancy ByteSnap has put 
mobile phone-like user-
friendliness into an intrin-
sically safe industrial gas analyser. 
The brief was to bring analysers for 
landfill gasses up-to-date by incor-
porating a fast colour user interface 
without compromising Zone 0 (maxi-
mum) safety. 
Being intrinsically safe puts strict 
requirements onto the internal cir-
cuit, while a comprehensive interface 
means running an operating system,. 
“There are tough power require-
ments, you have got to limit the 
amount of power going into each part 
of the circuit,” company founder 
Dunstan Power told Electronics 
Weekly. “Basically, you can put 1W 
into each part of the circuit. We did it 
for 800mW for the whole device.” 
To meet this, the company chose 
an ARM9 running Windows CE at 
400MHz. Without a powerful smart-
phone processor to fall back on, Byte-
Snap developed its own lightweight 
user interface, which it calls SnapUI. 
“This is the first time ByteSnap’s user 
interface development framework 
and Windows CE have been used in 
an intrinsically safe device that is ap-
proved for Zone 0 environments,” 
said co-founder Graeme Wintle. 
A
typically British fudge could 
hinder the roll-out of 4G 
mobile services, writes David 
Manners It’s a bit surprising that it’s 
only now that proposals have been 
issued for dealing with the inter-
ference between digital terrestrial 
broadcasting and 4G mobile phone 
transmissions.
Ofcom was pointing out last June 
that the frequencies for digital terres-
trial TV broadcasting were ‘adjacent’ 
SnapUI, aimed at Windows CE, 
separates user interface design from 
the application code, into an XML 
configuration file, which enables the 
user interface to be developed on a 
desktop in parallel with embedded 
system development. 
With an operating system and dis-
play, available markets have been 
broadened by adding multi-language 
support – new translations can be 
added to the XML file without re-
coding the application. 
Despite the power limit, the ana-
lyser, the 5000 series from Geotechni-
cal Instruments, has a number of 
built-in sensors alongside the gas de-
tector. 
“With ByteSnap’s help we have de-
veloped a gas analyser that is a gener-
ation ahead of the competition. Not 
only can it take readings in under 10 
seconds, it combines GPS, Bluetooth, 
an accelerometer, compass and a col-
our screen. It even operates in tem-
peratures from -10°C to +50°C,” said 
Geotechnical project manager Steve 
Earp. “We’ve found ease of use to be 
a killer feature, local councils remark 
upon how quickly staff get up and 
running with it.” 
ByteSnap
www.bytesnap.co.uk
to the 800-900MHz band being auc-
tioned for 4G.
What we now have is a classic Brit-
ish fudge. Earlier this week the De-
partment for Culture, Olympics, 
Media and Sport (DCMS) accepted 
that 4G transmitters are going to af-
fect terrestrial TV broadcast recep-
tion in nearby households. It said all 
of these households will be issued 
with filters on the basis of their prox-
imity to the transmitters.
The filters will connect to set-top 
boxes and this process will be so sim-
ple anyone can do it, says DCMS. Fil-
ters will do the trick for most of the 
900,000 households, but for about 
10,000 they will not work, so will 
have to switch to satellite or cable 
TV. If a household cannot switch to 
cable or satellite – and the DCMS 
thinks there could be 500 such 
households – they’ll be given 
£10,000 by the government and told 
‘you’re on your own’.
The DCMS recommends that 
groupings of the cast-out 500 could 
pool their money to invest in addi-
tional relay transmitters.
The nationwide cost of providing 
the filters will be £108m, funded by 
the winners of the 4G spectrum auc-
tion which has been delayed by bick-
ering among potential licensees. It is 
currently due later this year.
The departmental secretary of state 
Ed Vaizey said: “We expect the de-
ployment of 4G mobile services in 
800MHz and 2.6GHz to begin in 2013 
in the UK, when the spectrum has 
been cleared and is available for 4G 
services to be deployed.” Clearing 
could be a reference to the need to 
use the frequencies currently allocat-
ed for the Olympic Games. 
electronicsweekly.com/mannerisms
interview
Taking European 
markets head-on 
Analog Devices is changing the way it markets its 
semiconductors in Europe. Pascal Cerruti tells 
Richard Wilson why
ElectronicsWeekly.com 7-13 MARCH 2012 EW | 13
W
e will be more 
aggressive in the 
way we market 
our products, 
says Pascal Cerruti, European 
marketing communications 
director at Analog Devices. The 
semiconductor company plans to 
change its emphasis from just selling 
components to selling platforms, 
including reference designs, software 
and tools as well as silicon. 
“This is a new position for the 
company in Europe,” says Cerruti. 
The more agressive sales strategy is 
the brainchild of ADI’s vice-president 
of sales for the EMEA region, Carsten 
Suckrow, who joined the chip 
company just over a year ago.Europe accounts for about a 
quarter of ADI’s sales. There is 
belief in the company that it can 
increase its share of the European 
market by capitalising on its 
reputation, especially in analogue 
semiconductor technologies. 
The company is aiming for double-
digit growth in its European business 
over the next three years. “We are re-
asserting the ADI brand, particularly 
in the analogue world,” says Cerruti. 
“It is all about reaching new 
markets.” 
The company’s largest market 
sectors in Europe are automotive and 
communications. Cerrutti says there 
is a plan to target new end markets 
with specific products and platform 
offerings. Focus markets include 
industrial process control, metering 
systems and instrumentation.“We are 
looking for new business and new 
customers in these focus areas,” says 
Cerruti. 
An example of the new strategy 
was the company’s promotion of its 
iCoupler digital isolator product 
family at the end of last year.
Despite the signal isolator market 
being highly competitive with 
companies such as Texas Instruments 
and Avago, ADI believes it has the 
products to grow its business by 
targeting specific markets across 
Europe. “In a way it is a test case for 
the new strategy,” says Cerruti.
Rather than just marketing 
components the company has 
worked with its distributors Arrow 
and Silica on evaluation boards. “We 
have also designed our own boards 
and created circuit designs which are 
available on the website,” says 
Cerruti. 
The company is also reviewing its 
sales channels in various European 
countries. It is using its distribution 
channel to grow business in France 
and Italy as well as its traditionally 
strong markets of Germany and the 
UK.
Cerruti also says the company 
would work closely with its 
distributors on new product 
introductions. “We will launch 
products through distribution with 
guaranteed product availability and a 
strong presence on websites,” says 
Cerruti. “There is a real sense of 
urgency in this now for us,” adds 
Cerruti. 
Analog Devices
www.analog.com
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power systems
Testing power supply efficiency
Andrew Skinner outlines some of the critical factors to help minimise errors when measuring power supply efficiency
ElectronicsWeekly.com
I
n the industrial and medical 
equipment markets increasing 
numbers of manufacturers of 
end systems are asking power 
supply manufacturers for both the 
headline efficiency of products and 
for high efficiency levels over the 
typical operating load range of their 
equipment. 
Even when their own equipment 
does not fall within the scope of any 
standards or directives, there is a real 
desire to produce environmentally 
responsible products.
It is common to benchmark the 
efficiency of products against 
existing standards such as 80 Plus, 
even if they are not required for the 
end application: 80 Plus requires that 
the input and output power is 
measured to within 0.5% accuracy, 
which means results in a ±1% 
accuracy on the efficiency 
measurement. 
Looking at the effects of that on the 
80% efficient power supply ±1.5W is 
not a significant error. As the 
efficiency goes up to 90% or 95%, 
the error is around ±1W – a level that 
seems quite acceptable when 
considering input power. But if you 
look at the losses in the power supply 
instead, then the story is rather 
different.
Taking the 80% efficient power 
supply, a loss of 25W is seen, and in a 
typical power supply temperature 
rises of around 50°C at full load 
would be expected. So a ±1% 
measurement accuracy could 
actually equate to a 13% error 
(±6.5°C), which is a perfectly 
acceptable level of accuracy. 
However, with an efficiency of 90% 
the error can be as high as ±25%, 
giving a variation in temperature rise 
of greater than 10°C, which can halve 
the life of the electrolytic capacitors 
and have a significant impact on the 
end application.
Above 90% efficiency, the impact 
of this ±1% measurement accuracy 
becomes more critical. If an engineer 
were to design in a power supply that 
was 96% efficient and then try to use 
a unit that is at 94% there could be a 
problem with temperatures varying 
by over 20°C. At these levels it is 
becoming increasingly more 
important for design engineers to 
verify a power supply’s performance 
before specifying it in a design.
The efficiency of an AC-DC power 
supply is typically measured using 
an AC power analyser – checking the 
input voltage, the input current, the 
power factor and the power. 
The specification for a typical AC 
power analyser looks quite good, 
with a headline specification that can 
be 0.1%, but other factors such as the 
size of the measured signals versus 
the measurement range, and the 
frequency of the signals, can reduce 
the final measurement accuracy. 
Perhaps more interesting is how 
the output power is measured. When 
using a digital multimeter, voltages 
can be measured very accurately. 
Typically, current is often not so 
accurate, as it depends on the range: 
often a higher accuracy can be 
achieved by measuring the voltage 
across a calibrated shunt resistor to 
measure current.
Digital multimeters use a sampling 
technique for measurements but 
unfortunately the sampling 
frequency and algorithms used are 
rarely explained in the product 
literature – you could take two or 
three multimeters from different 
manufacturers and get fairly 
significant differences in the 
measurement results. 
As an example, of the noise that 
can be present in the output of a 
power supply, Figure 4, shows the 
output current (voltage across a 
calibrated shunt) for a 10W power 
supply. 
It is clear that the signal is not DC, 
Figure 4: Measuring output current – Spike noise with 
frequency content over 10MHz 
Figure 5: Block diagram illustrates the set-up used 
to measure the efficiency of the CFE400M digital 
power supply.
 
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ElectronicsWeekly.com 7-13 MARCH 2012 EW | 15
Figure 2: Efficiency of a 100W power supply from the point of view of 
PSU lo es
Figure 2: Efficiency of a 100W power supply from the point of view of Figure 2: Efficiency of a 100W power supply from the point of view of 
PSU lossesPSU losses
Figure 3: Accuracy of test equipmentFigure 3: Accuracy of test equipment
input power
Figure 1: Efficiency of a 100W power supply from the point of view of Figure 1: Efficiency of a 100W power supply from the point of view of 
input powerinput power
there is a low frequency 
characteristic to it and 
spike noise that has 
frequency content in 
excess of 10MHz. 
To accurately measure 
the efficiency of our 
CFE400M digital power 
supply, a number of 
techniques were used to 
improve the 
measurement accuracy. 
First, external calibrated 
current shunts were used 
for both input and output 
current measurements, 
with RC filtering added 
to minimise the noise – 
so as not to rely on the 
unspecified filtering 
characteristics of the 
measurement equipment. 
This enabled the input 
power to be measured 
with accuracy of about 
±0.4%,output current to 
just over ±0.1% and the 
output voltage to ±0.02%. 
This resulted in an 
efficiency measurement 
that is accurate to within 
±0.5%.
Figure 6 shows the 
measured efficiency: the 
blue line shows the 
measured results, but 
actually the efficiency 
lies between the max and 
min lines – between 93 
and 94%. Statistical 
techniques based on 
multiple measurements 
on multiple power 
supply samples could, of 
course, be used to further 
improve the accuracy. 
The efficiency of the 
power supply is at a level 
where direct comparison 
of unit efficiencies is 
difficult due to the 
sensitivity to 
Figure 6: CFE400M 24V Achievable accuracy with filtered signals
measurement error. So an engineer 
may find that the measured 
efficiency of this or similarly 
specified products may not appear to 
be the same as that claimed on the 
manufacturer’s datasheet, depending 
upon the measurement method used. 
Andrew Skinner is chief technology officer at 
TDK-Lambda UK
TDK-Lambda UK
www.uk.tdk-lambda.com/cfe
Benchmark 
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wireless
Military radio gets 
4G power gain
RF power optimisation technology developed in 
Cambridge for mobile phones has been applied to a 
military radio system, writes Steve Bush
ElectronicsWeekly.com16 | EW 7-13 MARCH 2012
C
ambridge Consultants has 
adopted novel RF power 
technology for a military 
radio software-defined 
radio (SDR) architecture. Called 
ModStar, the architecture relies on 
Coolteq from Nujira, also Cambridge-
based, which is a super-fast tracking 
switching power-supply technique 
that can modulate the supply rail of 
an RF power amplifier (PA) to follow 
the RF amplitude profile. 
The result of Coolteq, which Nujira 
sells as modules for base-stations and 
chips for phones, is a PA that wastes 
less heat because it always operates 
with just enough headroom to keep it 
linear, and no more. 
Software-defined radio copes with 
arbitrary modulation schemes at arbi-
trary frequencies 
by using broad-
band RF hardware, 
fast ADCs and 
DACs, and copious 
amounts of digital 
signal processing. 
“In recent years, 
defence organisa-
tions around the 
world have invest-
ed in a variety of 
custom radio sys-
tems, using many different air inter-
faces, to perform specific tasks,” said 
Cambridge Consultants (CCL). “A 
key challenge for operations today is 
ensuring that all of these different air 
interfaces can be interoperable in the 
field, and that seamless communica-
tions can be conducted on any of the 
legacy systems. SDR can provide ex-
actly this capability, delivering sup-
port for multiple air interfaces within 
a single, flexible implementation.” 
However, SDR radios can be bulky 
and less power-efficient than radios 
dedicated to particular bands and 
modulation. “The ModStar architec-
ture has been designed to enable im-
plementation of SDR modules that 
can link multiple communication 
platforms in a lightweight device that 
would be far more portable for 
troops,” claimed CCL. “Portability is 
enhanced by Nujira’s efficient enve-
lope tracking technology for power 
amplifiers, that can extract double 
the power output from a given power 
transistor. Equipment and battery 
size are minimised by reducing filter-
ing and power consumption require-
ments, allowing smaller form factors 
or wider bandwidths to be achieved.” 
CCL is making extra use of the fast 
PA power supply. “Nujira’s compo-
nent tracks the envelope, and we are 
also doing something else with it,” 
CCL business development manager 
Tim Phipps told Electronics Weekly. 
ModStar uses an open loop polar 
modulator with non-continuous time 
feedback and software pre-distortion. 
Non-continuous time feedback com-
pensates for changes in frequency, 
temperature and power without the 
need for a compli-
cated continuous 
time polar loop, 
said CCL. The re-
sulting design is an 
efficient power 
amplifier with 
multi-band, multi-
mode operation. 
“The polar loop 
modulator we have 
incorporated into 
the ModStar archi-
tecture is an extremely robust tech-
nique that has been used in millions 
of mobile phones, that can deliver ex-
ceptional performance with extreme-
ly high reliability for military appli-
cations,” said Phipps. 
A proprietary Cartesian-to-polar 
conversion ensures continual phase 
lock is achieved within the radio and, 
according to CCL, zero crossings are 
handled with a novel DSP technique. 
“The advantage of this architecture is 
that the radio design is simplified; 
with the most significant design chal-
lenges being moved into the digital 
domain, where they can be resolved 
with an integrated and scalable solu-
tion. A digital, fractional N synthesis-
er provides a clean reference clock 
signal with an inherently low phase 
noise,” said the firm. 
www.cambridgeconsultants.com
www.nujira.com
Relec Electronics Ltd
Tel: +44 1929 555700 Fax: +44 1929 555701
e-mail: sales@relec.co.uk
www.relec.co.uk
DIN rail ac-dc power supplies
Relec Electronics can supply DIN Rail 
power supplies from 10 to 960W in 
output power from stock and at extremely 
attractive prices. Units are available in single 
phase, 3-phase and dc input versions with 
output voltages of 5V, 12V, 24V and 48V as 
standard. Low profile versions are available 
that are only 56mm deep (AMR Series) in 
power ratings of 10W, 24W, 36W, 60W and 100W.
DIN rail battery chargers
A range of DIN rail mounted battery 
chargers for industrial applications, 
available with both ac & dc inputs 
for 12V, 24V, 36V & 48V systems. 
These provide a low cost solution 
where battery back-up is required 
and have all of the features to add 
external low voltage disconnect relays
and contactors to protect your battery.
DIN rail mounting RFI filters
Relec Electronics offer a range of single 
phase and 3-phase EMC filters
designed for DIN rail Mounting. 
These EMC filters are designed 
specifically for mounting on TS35 
DIN rails in industrial control 
systems. The FMAB (1-stage) and 
FMBB (2-stage - high attenuation) are 
suitable for single phase systems, the FMAC 
(1-stage) for 3-phase systems and the FMAD series 
(1-stage) for 3-phase systems with a neutral conductor.
DIN rail dc-dc power supplies
A range of DIN rail brackets and accessories 
for standard dc-dc converters as well as a 
range of chassis mounting dc-dc converters 
with a DIN rail mounting accessory 
bracket. Special mounting brackets 
have been developed to accept a 
wide range of standard regulated dc-dc 
converters with 1 or 2 isolated outputs up to 
30W for applications requiring DIN rail mounting 
where a bespoke circuit board is not available.
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Search for power efficiency/density 
is changing power system design
Steve Oliver explores power circuits design at the system-level to explain the impact of specific 
architectural choices on efficiency, physical size and materials cost
ElectronicsWeekly.com18 | EW 7-13 MARCH 2012
Figure 1
T
he basic functions of any 
power supply are transforma-
tion (shifting voltage levels), 
and regulation. Traditional 
power supply architectures co-locate 
these functions – and that of isolation 
and necessary ancillary functions 
such as EMI filtering. The newest 
power conversion functional blocks 
separate out those basic functions 
allowing each to be individually opti-
mised, and performance maximised. 
Beyond that, they provide the sys-
tem designer with new degrees of free-
dom; there is greater choice about 
where to locate transformation and 
regulation – and isolation – in the 
power system hierarchy, and much 
greater flexibility in managing power 
dissipation. 
Conversion blocks now operate at 
high efficiency but some level of loss 
cannot be avoided. By considering the 
power architecture as a whole, the de-
signer can not only minimise losses 
but, to a significant extent, choose 
where they will appear. 
Power distribution philosophies 
have evolved through several genera-
tions, especially in respect of what 
happens on the system cards. In gen-
eral, incoming power, usually AC 
mains, is converted to a DC bus, clas-
sically at 48V, that is routed across the 
backplane. The line cards (in the tele-
comms system case) transform that 
voltage either directly to the power 
rails that the card uses or, in newer ar-
chitectures, via two separate steps; a 
non-isolated buck/boost regulator fol-
lowed by a fixed-ratio DC-DC convert-
er or current multiplier. 
Two steps rather than one might at 
first appear to be a retrograde step, but 
the cumulative efficiency of the opti-
mised blocks is better than the total of 
what went before. A key component 
in this mix is the current multiplier or 
voltage transformation module; de-
signers can now call on a true “DC 
transformer” providing a fixed-ratio 
conversion, at well over 93% efficien-
cy, and capable of delivering well over 
100A from around 7cm² of PCB area. 
When taking the system view, an 
important step is recognising that the 
48V bus need no longer be regarded as 
nominal and variable, but fixed and 
indeed, “rock-solid”. Engineers on 
past systems had to allow for that 
nominal 48V to vary over a wide 
range. With a “solid” 48V on the back-
plane, the first converter on the line-
card can be a narrow-input-range 
component rather than a wide-range 
design. This change alone can reduce 
the losses in that function. Wide back-
plane bus voltage was often tolerated 
because of having to allow, in high-
availability systems, for switch-over to 
an alternate source – batteries or a 
local generator. 
Taking the system view, adding a 
stage of buck/boost regulation to the 
stand-by supply, and if necessary im-
proving the regulation performance of 
the primary supply’s power entry 
module, ensures the provision of the 
totally-stable 48V bus. In effect the de-
signer has chosen to re-locate some of 
the inescapable losses off the line 
card, upstream in the architecture. A 
typical analysis can show over 60% 
reduction in worst-case intermediate 
bus conversion and distribution losses 
on the board; and as much as a 3.5% 
efficiency improvement under worst-
case input voltage of 36V. That is, 
there is a cost to boost the 36V (per-
haps from an under-performing bat-
tery pack) to the stable 48V: but this is 
more than offset by the gains in effi-
ciency on the system card when it 
draws on a stable input bus. At the 
same time, the power density of the 
intermediate conversion stage can rise 
by as much as 50%.
In the past acceptance of less-than-
perfect DC system buses reflected the 
need to design cards and sub-systems 
that would be used in the field as up-
grades. Today upgrades have become 
rare and the more common scenario is 
to replace an entire installation. But 
even so, the power available to feed 
the cabinet, or room, or building does 
not change. It becomes the telecomms 
or datacomms specialist’s job to deliv-
er the maximum performance for that 
input power: and the task of the 
power supply architect to make as 
much of the power budget as possible 
available to perform the main function 
of the backplane. Some tasks become 
simpler; the processor that demands 
many tens of Amps at under 1V must 
have some measure of supply regula-
tion very close to its pins, to handle 
massive power transients. Any signifi-
cant length of PCB copper between 
the final stage of the power hierarchy 
and the CPU cannot be tolerated.
The good news for the power design-
er is that with high-efficiency devices 
and the new freedom to relocate loss-
es, thermal design almost ceases to be a 
problem. As a proportion of the power 
dissipated by the Asic or network proc-
essor, the minimal heat dissipated by 
an over-90%-efficient final stage of reg-
ulation can almost be neglected and 
becomes a minor part of the thermal 
load that mustbe carried away from the 
SoC (system-on-chip) device. All of the 
power input to a system eventually ap-
pears as heat; the power system archi-
tect now has new methods to ensure 
that as much of that energy as possible 
has done useful work. 
Steve Oliver is marketing and sales vice-
president at Vicor
Vicor
www.vicorpower.com
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> Mannerisms: 
When Andy Grove 
changed Intel’s 
mission statement
In September 1999, Andy Grove, 
co-founder and the then chairman of 
Intel, came to London and announced 
that Intel had changed its mission 
statement to become the ‘building 
block supplier to the Internet econo-
my’ from the old mission statement 
which was to be ‘the building block 
supplier to the new computer 
industry’.
In pursuit of the new mission 
statement, Grove said that the 
company had invested in 250 
companies involved in such diverse 
Internet-related activities from 
providing optical components 
(Bookham Technology) to providing 
last minute deals on flights and hotel 
rooms (lastminute.com). 
Some of Intel’s investments - like 
network processor company Softcom 
and comms chip supplier Level One - 
were for 100 per cent of the compa-
nies, others were for minority stakes. 
Collectively, said Grove, the amount 
of money spent on theseinvestments 
was out-running the amount of money 
Intel was investing in its own business.
“The last year we have spent more 
money acquiring some seven 
companies than we have spent on 
capital spending - for the first time 
ever : $4 billion on acquisitions, $3 
billion on capital spending”, he said.
electronicsweekly.com/mannerisms
> BeagleBoard in the spotlight
Before we launch the March/April 2012 competition, let’s have 
another themed roundup of posts... on BeagleBoard matters, the 
single-board powered by Texas Instruments and its OMAP3530 
system-on-a-chip.
electronicsweekly.com/gadget-master
> Battery capacity label by 31 May
The requirement of the EU Batteries and Accumulators Directive 
2006/66/EC that any automotive or portable batteries should 
display a capacity label has been extended to 31 May 2012.
electronicsweekly.com/blogs/directivedecoder
> In-car displays to power ahead with 50% growth
Sat-navs and in-console monitors will increase flat panel dispaly 
shipments for the automotive segment by nearly 50% to 62 million 
units in 2015.
electronicsweekly.com/distributionworld
> JellyBean@Home? 
Slashgear considers whether Google’s rumoured software 
environments are actually the same thing – Android 5.0. 
electronicsweekly.com/blogs/eyes-on-android
the week online
Highlights from
Raspberry Pi with a week to go
A closer look at this capable 
cheap educational computer.
electronicsweekly.com/news
What’s in store for ST-
Ericsson?
ST seems finally to have woken up to 
the fact that ST-Ericsson is a ticking 
timebomb which could wreck it.
electronicsweekly.com/mannerisms
ST top management gets a 
bollocking
ST has been the subject of a stinging 
note from Arete Research Services. 
electronicsweekly.com/mannerisms
SpaceX, Orbital Sciences 
prepare for landmarks
The first commercial vehicles 
intended to dock with the ISS space 
station are making good progress on 
their way to launch.
electronicsweekly.com/news
Joining ARM
After leaving ES2, Sir Robin 
Saxby got a lot of letters.
electronicsweekly.com/mannerisms
Embedded market goes 
ARM crazy
The embedded industry follows the 
general trends in electronics for 
smaller, less power-hungry and 
multicore devices.
electronicsweekly.com/news
4G transmitters will affect TV 
reception
In the UK, about 900,000 homes will 
be affected.
electronicsweekly.com/news
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complement Electronics Weekly’s 
more traditional text-based articles. 
Take a look behind the scenes, and 
step through the photos in our 
latest galleries.
> 50th anniv. of US orbital space flight
> CES International 2012
> Elektra Awards 2011 - Winners
> Spy-in-the-sky circuit-board glider
test 
mi.yokogawa.commi.yokogawa.comwww.tmwww.tm
Test set gets CAN/LIN bus monitor
Electrical safety monitor and vital 
signs monitor in handhelds 
The Rigel Medi-
cal Med-eKit Lite 
(pictured right) is a 
handheld vital signs 
testing kit, featur-
ing a 288 electrical 
safety analyser and 
the UNISIM vital 
sign simulator.
The instrument 
can be used for oper-
ation and test con-
trol of all IEC 62353 
and IEC 60601 required electrical 
safety tests in manual, semi auto-
matic or fully automatic test modes. 
Featuring built-in automated test-
ing, the portable UniSIM is the small-
est simulator capable of undertaking 
six tests, enabling medical device en-
gineers to quickly, easily and accu-
rately undertake NIBP, SpO2, ECG, 
temperature, IBP and respiration 
functionality tests simultaneously 
using a single instrument.
www.rigelmedical.com
Test firms combine boundary 
scan tester with USB scope
XJTAG and Pico Technology have 
collaborated on the development of 
a portable boundary scan and oscil-
loscope system.
The system combines XJTAG’s 
boundary scan technology with the 
digital signal acquisition capabilities 
of the Pico Technology oscilloscope.
“As board designs have become 
more densely populated, restricted 
access to devices such as BGAs 
means oscilloscopes continually 
have to evolve,” said Simon Payne, 
CEO of XJTAG. 
“This is the next logical step, com-
bining oscilloscope and boundary 
scan technologies,” said Payne. “The 
PicoScope software is also well-suit-
ed to this system, as it’s a Windows 
program that can run alongside the 
XJTAG software on a PC without 
modification,” said Alan Tong, man-
aging director, Pico Technology. 
Called XJTAG Expert, the system 
ElectronicsWeekly.com20 | EW 7-13 MARCH 2012
PRODUCT 
FOCUS
has an integrated high speed USB 
2.0 to JTAG controller providing a 
high speed interface to the 
JTAG chain, combined with a 
digital oscilloscope, spectrum 
analyser, waveform and func-
tion generator and serial pro-
tocol analyser. 
It requires two USB ports, 
and can supply power to low-
power target systems, which 
means that testing can be done 
even without a source of 
mains power. The unit con-
tains the licence for the 
XJTAG system. 
www.xjtag.com
www.picotechcom
Signal integrity network analysers 
take S-parameter measurements
LeCroy has introduced 8- and 12-port 
models of the SPARQ series of signal 
integrity network analysers. The 
SPARQ makes S-parameter measure-
ments, like a more expensive vector 
network analyser. 
For example, the 12-port SPARQ is 
priced similarly to a 4-port VNA, 
claimed the supplier. 
All SPARQ models use a built-in 
OSLT calibration kit to allow users to 
calibrate the analyser and measure 
the device under test, without using 
calibration standards that are exter-
nal to the instrument. 
This means that a user can com-
plete a full 12-port S-parameter meas-
urement in approximately 30 min-
utes with much of that time being 
unattended acquisition and calcula-
tion time. 
When using a network analyser 
with only 4 ports, signal integrity en-
gineers can measure the S-parameters 
of only a single differential lane. 
“While useful, these measure-
ments only provide a partial under-
standing of circuit behavior, and do 
not characterize the crosstalk be-
tween lanes,” said LeCroy.
With the SPARQ-3012E, users can 
measure the complete 12-port S-pa-
rameter matrix in both single-ended 
and mixed-mode representations. 
www.lecroy.com
Carrier aggregation on test 
mobile delivers faster data rates 
Aeroflex’s TM500 LTE test mobile 
supports carrier aggregation, which 
ttid.co.uk - for all your instrument needs
As UK distributors for Ametek Programmable 
Power we offer DC power supplies and AC 
power sources to beyond 300 killowatts.
test
www.anritsu.co. m.com.comwww.anritsuwww.anritsu
Bit error rate analyser gets 28G/32G modules
ElectronicsWeekly.com 7-13 MARCH 2012 EW | 21
PRODUCT 
FOCUS
is an important feature of LTE-
 Advanced. 
This feature allows multiple carri-
ers comprised of either contiguous or 
non-contiguous spectrum to be 
added together, allowing wider chan-
nel bandwidths, and faster data rates, 
to be achieved.
For LTE-Advanced, 3GPP Release 
10 introduced several new features to 
augment the existing LTE standard 
and to meet or exceed the targets of 
the International Telecommunica-
tions Union (ITU) for IMS-Advanced. 
These features are aimed at raising 
the peak data rate to 1Gbit/s and 
 beyond. 
Achieving this speed will require a 
channel bandwidth that is much 
wider than the 20MHz currently 
specified for LTE. 
This will not be possible with just 
a single carrier in the limited spec-
trum bands available to most opera-
tors. Consequently, carrier aggrega-
tion, the ability to combine multiple 
carriers scattered around the spec-
trum, will be used to achieve the 
wider effective bandwidth that will 
be required, typically up to 100MHz.
www.aeroflex.com
TEST & MEASUREMENT
More than ever …
... we need energy, power and our planet. Yokogawa is 
the marketleader in innovative test and measurement technologies 
focusing on the challenges related to energy conservation, effi ciency 
and sustainability Together with our customers we help design, build 
and deploy next generation products that increase the quality of life, 
productivity and the effi cient use of the world’s resources.
Energy effi ciency in everyday consumer goods, new greener modes of 
transport and development of renewable energy sources are some of 
the areas where more than ever Yokogawa is changing everyone’s future 
for the better. Just take a closer look to the DL850 ScopeCorder
We are working on a sustainable future
For more information on our DL850 ScopeCorder, scan the code 
with your smartphone. Or check the website tmi.yokogawa.com. 
Or contact Yokogawa Measurement Technologies Ltd on 
01928 597200 and ask Andy Barnes for more information.
test
www.agilent.com/find/M81909090gilent.com/find/M81gilent.com/find/M81www.agwww.ag
Waveform generator for 5-7GHz
ElectronicsWeekly.com22 | EW 7-13 MARCH 2012
PRODUCT 
FOCUS
136Gbit/s waveform generator 
has 16QAM modulation
Southern Photonics has worked with 
Micram on the development of a 
34GS/s arbitrary waveform generator. 
The AWG-34G can be used to gener-
ate high-order complex modulation 
formats, such as 16QAM, at speeds of 
up to 136Gbit/s. 
“Currently available bench-top 
AWGs do not have the bandwidth 
necessary to meet the needs of future 
communications systems develop-
ment,” said John Harvey, CEO of 
Southern Photonics. “With Micram’s 
fast VEGA signal converter technolo-
gy we are enabling researchers to 
generate any high speed multi-level 
electronic signal they require, then 
convert them into complex modulat-
High performance PSUs
for bench or system
For full information
 visit our web tour at: 
aimtti.co.uk/go/ql
The QL Series II is the latest and highest performance linear regulated 
power supply series from Aim-TTi, building upon the success of the original 
QL series and adding a new 242W triple output model (QL564T).
Very high precision, very low noise, excellent dynamics
Advanced user interface with numeric and rotary control
Multiple voltage/current ranges for increased flexibility
Switchable remote sense provides perfect load regulation
Comprehensive protection including OVP and OCP trips
Extended memories for power supply set-ups steps, up to 110
Compact bench footprint; modular width for rack mounting
Duplicate power and sense terminals at rear (P models)
Auxiliary output now fully variable 1.00V to 6.00V at 3A 
with selectable voltage and current metering (T models)
Full voltage set & current readback on auxiliary O/P (-TP models)
Bus programmable via USB, RS232, GPIB and now LAN (P models)
LAN interface is LXI class C compliant
IVI drivers are supplied providing support for common applications such as 
LabView, LabWindows, and HP/Agilent VEE.
LXI (Lan eXtensions for Instrumentation) is the LAN 
based successor to GPIB, combining the advantages of 
Ethernet with the simplicity and familiarity of GPIB. 
The TTi laboratory power supply range now includes many models with LXI 
support, both Linear and PowerFlex with power from 75W up to 1200W.
Measurably better value
THURLBY THANDAR INSTRUMENTS
Glebe Road, Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire, PE29 7DR
Tel: 01480 412451 e-mail: info@aimtti.com
Web: www.aimtti.co.uk
Trademarks: 
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VEE - Agilent Technologies
THE BEST IN TEST
FOR 25 YEARS
0800 583 4455 www.sjelectronics.co.uk
Electronics Weekly. Quadrant House, The Quadrant, Sutton, Surrey SM2 5AS www.electronicsweekly.com 
Editorial 020-8652 8642: Fax: 020-8652 8979 electronics.weekly@rbi.co.uk Publishing director David Wilson, 
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Web editor Alun Williams alun.williams@rbi.co.uk 020 8652 8313 Production editor Sue Proud sue.proud@rbi.co.uk 020 8652 
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Reed Business Information Limited. A member of BPA. Electronics Weekly is a trademark of Reed Business Information Limited.
ADVERTISING: Display Group sales manager Lee De La Rue Browne lee.delaruebrowne@rbi.co.uk 020 8652 3262 Account managers Teo Tansiri teo.tansiri@rbi.co.uk 020 8652 
8209: Julie West julie.west@rbi.co.uk 020 8652 3112 Classified Sales executive Paul Roberts 020 8652 8410 paul.roberts@rbi.co.uk 
Recruitment recruitment.services@rbi.co.uk 020 8652 3400 Direct copy line Pre-press co-ordinator Dan Long daniel.long@rbi.co.uk 020 8652 3127 
products
ElectronicsWeekly.com 7-13 MARCH 2012 EW | 23
ed optical signals using our IQ Trans-
mitter,” said Harvey.
www.southernphotonics.com
Fast serial link analyser can han-
dle many different protocols
Tektronix has introduced a protocol 
test platform for high-speed serial 
links with data rates up to 10Gbit/s. 
According to the supplier, the 
TPI4000 protocol analyser will allow 
one instrument to be used to perform 
multiple test functions and to look 
at protocols such as Ethernet, fibre 
channel, common public radio in-
terface (CPRI), and serial front panel 
data port (FPDP).
The series consists of two models. 
The TPI4202 is a portable unit with a 
built-in monitor and keyboard and 
supports up to eight ports. The 
TPI4208 is a 4U rack-mount unit that 
supports up to 32 ports. Each can be 
configured with options to support 
different data rates and protocols.
www.tektronix.com
Power quality analysers measure 
energy waste and cost
Fluke has a range of three-phase 
power quality analysers which use a 
patented algorithm to measure ener-
gy waste and also to quantify its cost. 
The 430 series II analyser allows 
operators to assess the impact of new 
energy-efficient, electronically- 
driven systems from lighting to motor 
controls to HVAC and calculate the 
cost of wasted energy. The analyser 
features three new measurement 
functions, as well as hardware, soft-
ware and firmware improvements. 
New models have up to 32Gbyte 
(8Gbyte standard) memory, a swap-
pable SD memory card and USB con-
nectivity for longer power and energy 
logging and faster data download. 
Both models are compliant with the 
stringent international IEC 61000-4-
30 Class-A standard. Each one can 
monitor systems with up to 10 power 
quality parameters on one screen and 
record up to 150 parameters on four 
phases simultaneously, meeting the 
EN50160 standard, and are safety 
rated 600 V CAT IV/1000V CAT III. 
www.fluke.com
ollic.comollic.comollic.comwww.atowww.ato
Tool support for Cortex-M0/M3
Sub-1GHz wireless transceiver 
has +20dbm output 
Silicon Laboratories has a range of 
sub-GHz transceivers, the EZRadio-
PRO Si446x transceiver family which 
offers a transmit output power of 
+20dBm, sensitivity of -126dBm, link 
budget of 146dB and RX adjacent 
channel selectivity of 58dB. 
They also feature an antenna diver-
sity algorithm developed to counter-
act the effects of multipath and fad-
ing, effectively doubling the wireless 
range in a multipath/fading environ-
ment. Designed with continuous fre-
quency coverage from 119MHz to 
1050MHz, the transceivers support a 
number of advanced modulation 
techniquesincluding 4GFSK, (G) 
FSK, GMSK and OOK, with support 
for maximum data rates up to 
1Mbit/s (4GFSK). 
They achieve a 50nA sleep/ 
standby current with register reten-
tion. Transmit current specifications 
as low as 17mA at +10dBm can be 
achieved for coin-cell battery appli-
cations and 85mA at +20dBm for 
higher performance applications.
www.silabs.com
24 EW7-13 MARCH 2012 ElectronicsWeekly.com
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ElectronicsWeekly.com/jobs 7-13 MARCH 2012 EW 25
ULTIMATEDESTINATION
Careers that inspire
OPPORTUNITIES IN PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT
We’re driven by big ideas. Creativity, inspiration and engineering excellence shine through 
in every aspect of our new vehicles – raising our standards yet further, and fuelling our 
growth in over 170 countries worldwide.
But no matter how exceptional the results we achieve, the drive for perfection never 
stops. We’re at the forefront of innovation, with an incredibly diverse and enticing
product mix. And to stay there, we need all kinds of engineers to help us further push
the boundaries in everything from whole vehicle design and infotainment to electrical
engineering and hybrid engines.
Our ceaseless search for great ideas is taking us in some fascinating new directions. If you
want to explore where your thinking could take you, visit www.jaguarlandrovercareers.com
Scan with your QR
reader to visit the
mobile site.
Field Applications Engineers (x3) for Microchip
To help realise our ambitious growth plans for our highly successful semiconductor business, we are expanding our Microchip semiconductor support team. We currently have three vacancies in locations across the UK mainland
for Field Applications Engineers. In these field based roles, you will visit our customers to promote and offer support and guidance in the evaluation, selection and design-in of products from this world class manufacturer.
The successful candidate will demonstrate the ability to:
O Identify and support customers’ new design project needs through in-depth, hands-on technical expertise
 O Liaise with and support our field sales team whilst managing your own design project tracker
 O Identify new customers and develop design-in opportunities, taking ownership of the activity and participating in reviews
 O Work closely with customers’ engineering teams to provide creative and innovative design solutions
 O Align product offers to their appropriate target industrial markets
 O Maintain an active supplier relationship, attend exhibitions & conferences and undertake training sessions
In return we offer:
O Highly attractive salary, car scheme and benefits package
 O Comprehensive training and development programs in the UK, Europe and the United States
 O Exciting prospects for personal growth and career progression in a vibrant and dynamic work environment
 
Candidates should ideally be qualified to HNC/Degree level in Electronic Engineering, with a proven track record in electronics hardware and software design. You may already be working in a similar role, however we are equally 
interested in applications from design engineers currently working ‘at the bench’ who are looking for their next career step in electronics. To apply, please send your CV by email to recruitment@anglia.com or by post to the 
address below. However, should you require further information about this position then call Michelene Hircock on 07775 513027.
www.anglia.comSandall Rd, Wisbech, Cambs, PE13 2PS
The UK’s leading independent authorised distributor of electronic components
26 EW7-13 MARCH 2012 ElectronicsWeekly.com
Microchip has a position for a District Sales Manager for the North of England
If you are an experienced Sales Management professional with a history of achievement in the Semiconductor Industry and are looking to join a
market leading and highly successful semiconductor manufacturer, please contact us without delay!
We are also interested in hearing from individuals keen to pursue a pure field sales role.
The Company
Microchip Technology Inc. is a leading provider of microcontroller and analog semiconductors, providing low-risk product development,
lower total system cost and faster time to market for thousands of diverse customer applications worldwide. The company has a turnover of
over $1.4 billion and employs over 7500. For more information, visit the Microchip website at www.microchip.com.
Location
Applicants should ideally reside in the North of England
Job Summaries/Key Attributes
The ideal candidates will:
• Be a highly motivated and results focussed individual.
• Be fully conversant with the UK market for semiconductors.
• Have significant experience of relevant industry selling and/or Marketing experience.
• Ideally have some man management experience (for the DSM position).
Microchip is an equal opportunity employer, and successful candidates for the DSM role can expect:
A competitive salary package, including quarterly Company performance related bonus schemes, a company car or generous car allowance, a new
hire share grant plus an on-going performance related share programme, discounted Microchip share purchase scheme, private medical insurance,
21 days paid holiday per year and a contributory Pension Scheme.
To apply
Please send your CV and letter of application to europe.humanresources@microchip.com
or apply via our website at www.microchip.com/careers
No Agencies
H.R. Microchip Ltd, Microchip House, 720 Wharfedale Road, IQ Winnersh, Wokingham, Berkshire, UK, RG41 5TP
District Sales Manager – North of England
www.microchip.com
The Microchip name and logo are registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Incorporated in the USA and other countries. ©2012 Microchip Technology Inc. All rights reserved. REC141UK/02.12
RECRUITMENT PARTNER OF CHOICE
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ElectronicsWeekly.com/jobs 7-13 MARCH 2012 EW 27
technical | commercial| executive | permanent | contract
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