Magazine for applied electronics, automation, industrial electronics, programming, new technologies, hardware and software

---- NEW----Spread spectrum transceiver controlled by PIC-Project-------- Light Dimming Regulation-Project ---- Engineer’s Assistant Using a PIC16F84A- pdf - in Downloads section ----                       
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Lowest-Power Flash MCUs From Texas Instruments Available for Only 99 Cents
Device Speeds Time to Market for Battery Powered Products
DALLAS (Nov. 29, 1999) - Based on the industry's lowest power embedded flash memory technology, Texas Instruments introduced four new microcontrollers (MCUs), broadening its 
 MSP430 product line. The new devices allow portable/battery powered end equipment manufacturers more flexibility by permitting upgrades in the field and enabling more robust code development, last minute code fixes, increased testability, lower manufacturing costs, reduced time to market, and non-volatile data capture. See http://www.ti.com/sc/msds2132u
Two of the new devices are extensions of TI's MSP430C112x line of 16-bit RISC (reduced instruction set computing) MCUs. These flash devices, designated MSP430F112 and MSP430F1121, feature four kilobytes (4KB) of flash memory, an operating voltage range of 1.8V to 3.6V and 2.2V to 3.6V respectively, and up to 8 MIPs performance. The MSP430F1121 also includes a comparator module, which enables low cost, high-precision analog-to-digital conversion (ADC).
The other two devices, the MSP430F110 and MSP430F1101, offer a new, low cost product line in flash-only versions, providing the same functionality as the MSP430F112 and MSP430F1121, except they offer a smaller 1KB flash memory at a lower price point....
http://www.ti.com/sc/msp430

Burr-Brown Announces Quad, 16-Bit Digital-to-Analog Converter with High-Voltage Output
TUCSON, Ariz. (BUSINESS WIRE) December 1, 1999 Burr-Brown Corporation (NASDAQ: BBRC) today announced 
 the DAC7744, a quad, 16-bit digital-to-analog converter (DAC)providing the low power and small size needed in industrial and process control, automatic test equipment (ATE), motor control, and data acquisition systems.
The DAC7744 features a high-voltage output range specifically designed for fast settling in both single supply (+15V) and dual supply (±15V) applications. Within these systems, the DAC7744 converts a digital signal from a microprocessor into an analog output to precisely control a "real world" action.
"The quad DAC7744 is the first of a new family of 16-bit D/A converters targeted for high performance applications," said Don Travers, product marketing manager at Burr-Brown.
The DAC7744 features low power consumption (50mW per DAC), fast settling time (10µs to 0.003%), unipolar or bipolar operation, programmable reset (mid-scale or zero-scale), and guaranteed 16-bit monotonicity over the -40°C to +85°C temperature range. It accepts 16-bit parallel input data, has double-buffered DAC input logic (allowing simultaneous update of all DACs), and provides a readback mode of internal input registers.
The DAC7744 is priced from $29.58 in 1,000 piece quantities and packaged in a 48-lead SSOP. Delivery is from stock.
www.burr-brown.com

PREMIS™ EMI-Reducing Frequency Timing Generators
Cypress's new PREMIS™ Frequency Timing Generators reduce EMI in a variety of systems (from printers to video games) by as much as 20 dB.

 They ease the process of passing government-mandated emission testing, speeding time-to-market.

The PREMIS product family relies on modulating the frequency of output signals with a low-frequency carrier to reduce EMI. This technology enables systems to pass increasingly difficult EMI testing without resorting to costly shielding or redesign.

Every device in the PREMIS product line offers selectable input to output frequency, -1.25 percent to -3.75 percent down spread output, and integrated loop filter components. Designed in low-power CMOS, the devices operate with either a 3.3V or 5V supply.

The W181, W183, and W185 offer output ranges of 28-75 MHz. The W180, W182, and W184 output frequencies ranging from 8-28 MHz. The W180 and W181 come in 8-pin SOIC packages; the W182 and W183 are offered in 16-pin SOICs; and the W184 and W185 come in 24-pin SSOPs. All of the devices are available today.

28-75 MHz Output Range W181
W183
W185
8-28 MHz Output Range
W180
W182
W184

see More...

New Miniaturized Inductors From Vishay Serve-DC/DC Converters and Power Line Filtering Circuits
MALVERN, PENNSYLVANIA
—November 5, 1999—Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. today announced that it is adding to its selection of inductors five new families of surface mount, high-current
components in the 1813, 2218, 3020, 3114, and 3722 packages.With footprint diameters ranging from 4.5 mm to 9.5 mm and height profiles as low as 3.2 mm, the new inductors are ideal for notebook computers, cell phones, pagers, and other end products where space is at a premium. Typical applications will include buck and boost dc-dc conversion and power line filtering circuits.
www.vishay.com/news/11-5-99/dcdc.html

ANNOUNCING ANSOFT HFSS VERSION 7.0 WITH Optimetrics(TM)
PITTSBURGH- -November 17, 1999--Ansoft Corporation (NASDAQ: ANST) today announceda major new release of the Ansoft High 
 Frequency Structure Simulator (Ansoft HFSS) version 7.0. Version 7.0 integrates an optimization and parametrics module called Optimetrics(TM) and a significantly faster solver engine. Powerful new design features allow users to predict unwanted resonances in components, reduce problem size by using more powerful absorbing boundary conditions, and customize the interface to streamline their design process. Ansoft HFSS is a full-wave finite element electromagnetic (EM) simulator that enables engineers to design three-dimensional (3D) high-frequency structures such as connectors, IC packages, and antennas found in cellular telephones, communications systems, and microwave circuits.

Ansoft is a leading developer of high performance EDA software. Ansoft products are used by engineers in the design of high performance electrical devices and systems, such as cellular phones, satellite communications, circuit boards, motors and anti-lock braking systems (ABS). Ansoft markets its products worldwide through its direct sales force and distributors, and provides comprehensive customer support and training.
www.ansoft.com

Code Composer Studio eXpressDSP™ Real-Time Software Technology

Designed for the Texas Instruments (TI™) high performance TMS320C6000 digital signal processor (DSP) and power efficient TMS320C5000 DSP platforms,
Code Composer Studio™ is a development environment that tightly integrates the capabilities of the following components within an extendible plug-in architecture:
- Integrated development environment (Code Composer) with editor, debugger, project manager, profiler, Probe Points, and more
- C Compiler, Assembly Optimizer and Linker (Code Generation Tools)
- Instruction Set Simulator
- Real-Time Foundational Software (DSP/BIOS TM)
- Real-Time Data Exchange Between Host and Target (RTDX TM)
- Real-Time Analysis and Data Visualization Code Composer Studio integrates all host and target tools in a unified environment. It also simplifies DSP system configuration and application design to help designers get started faster than ever before. Code Composer Studio initially will be available for Windows 95 and NT4, with Windows 98 and Unix support to follow.
more info: http://www.ti.com/sc/expressdsp

Altera Ships First 0.18-Micron APEX 20KE for SOPC-Based Communications Design
- New On-Chip Architectural Features, such as CAM, LVDS, and PLLs, Support High-Performance Requirements of Next-Generation Communications Design
- Family Provides Performance at High-Densities While Offering Complete Software Support and a Full-Range of Communications IP Cores
- Capabilities Underscore Company's Commitment to System-on-a-Programmable-ChipTM Strategy
San Jose, Calif., November 1, 1999--Altera Corporation (Nasdaq: ALTR) today announced shipment of the EP20K400E, the first member of Altera's APEX (TM) 20KE family of programmable logic devices (PLDs) that targets the needs of next-generation communications designs requiring high-performance, single-chip solutions. The first member implements 400,000 gates (1 million maximum system gates) and is based on an advanced 0.18-micron, six-layer-metal, 1.8-V process and offers a number of new architectural and functional features. Included among these features are on-chip content-addressable memory (CAM), low-voltage differential signaling (LVDS), and phase locked loops (PLLs), enabling designers to create true System-on-a-Programmable-Chip (SOPC) silicon for leading-edge communications applications such as Layer 3 routers and switches, wideband CDMA baseband signal processing, and ATM cell processing and traffic management. 
more information:


Spread spectrum transceiver controlled by PIC

In modern telecommunications spread spectrum methods are widely present. Regardless whether it is frequency hooping method, direct sequence method or time hooping method, these aspects have a lot in common:

· Excellent signal/noise ratio,
· Efficient usage of radio spectrum,
· Great immunity on jamming and minimized danger of 'listening'.

Fast development of microcontrollers seeks for the usage of these devices in modern telecommunications. This article is to present the simplicity if a transceiver based on the spread spectrum method of frequency hooping.

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Light Dimming Regulation

This device regulates the light dimming. It regulates the light intensity of standard bulbs. This is an illustration how we can use microcontrollers in applications such as controlling the intensity of light dimming. In this article, you also can find out how to connect a microcontroller to an AC power line, and to a triac. We can design the same function in a simpler way though, using (triac, diac, couple of resistors and capacitors). There are numbers of electrical schematics available on the net, describing how to do this. My unit is powered directly from an AC line. Powering from AC line enables the microcontroller to directly trigger a triac (for example - triggering without optotriac and similar things, which usually characterize microcontroller and triac connection.)
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Convert Analog into Digital Challenge - Project


Surfing on the net, visiting websites connected to electronics, I also visited TI.  I noticed the banner  “Convert Analog to Cash – TI $60,000 Analog Design Challenge “ . It sounded interesting to me, so I decided to find out more...and here is my journey...

This competition was organized by TI together with other sponsors. The money fond for rewards was $60.000. First price was $5.000. Many of the rewards were components, software, books, developing tools.

This article is a description of my project, sent to TI, entering the competition. I also provided two files,  sch and pcb. You can download them at the bottom of this article.

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Historical perspective:
Microcontrollers:
Silicon Rabbits
Flexibility as a characteristic in their case showed out to be warmly welcomed. We can find them all around from toys to the most complex uses in industry

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Who Is Magdalene?
Magdalene is a code name for a robotic hand, which is being developed in our offices at the moment. The name - it just happened that some of us spelled it out...and here comes Magdalene

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controllers

Wide range of opportunities is opened  in the field of digitally controlled systems by microcomputer development. Digitally measured information are rapidly processed. Complex systems are easily controlled.
 The diversity of controlling software allows more creativity to experts. New approach in controlling was introduced, using the fuzzy regulators. The expert, familiar with the certain process, easily can implement the solution, by simply writing and changing the program code.

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DSP in data acquisition  
- Short introduction to DSP processors and data acquisition
The Positron Brain from the Isaac Asimov's SF novels - is still a SF, but there is a simple fact coming out of this. We all are surrounded by a large number of ''devices'' whose ''behavior'' is pretty complicated and demands ''constant monitoring of the outside world and answering to its impulses''...

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VISUAL DESIGNER 4.0
"When we talk about designing a data acquisition system, we usually think about finding the most practical and optimal solutions - both hardware and software." ...
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