Portable Signal Generator Suits Test Applications

Signal Forge has released a portable signal generator designed for use with National Instruments' Labview and other automated test environments. The SF1010 Portable Signal Generator with Remote Control supports the SCPI (Standard Commands for Programmable Instruments) interface, which allows test engineers to quickly add the portable signal generator to most of the popular automated test environments, including Labview, Labwindows/CVI and HP's VEE.

The SF1010 is a portable signal generator with a frequency range of 1Hz to 1GHz - which may be extended to 2.6GHz with add-on Frequency Expansion Modules. It provides numerous waveform modulation functions, making it useful or applications such as building surveys, installation and maintenance of facility-based cellular and wireless networks, and a variety of other field-test and lab-bench-test applications.

The SF1010 is small enough, at 8.5 x 5.4 x 1.5in, and light enough, at 1.75lb, to carry in a laptop computer bag. Unlike other portable signal generators, the SF1010 generates a stable, accurate RF frequency up to 2.6GHz.

The waveform modulation functions supported are: AM, ASK, BPSK, Chirp, FSK, OOK and Sweep. For customers who do not wish to write their own programs, SF1010 may be operated using the EZ Wave software that ships with the device. EZ Wave is a simple control application that makes the SF1010 ready to use out of the box without additional programming or integration. The software runs on any Windows-based PC with the Vista, XP and 2000 operating systems.

CSEM Tailors SoC For Portable Wireless Products

CSEM has developed Icycom, an RF system-on-chip (SoC) integrating a 900MHz low-power RF transceiver, a 32-bit 150uA/MHz dual-MAC DSP RISC core with 96kibytes of SRAM. Icycom runs off a 1V supply, compatible with a single alkaline cell, and is optimised for long battery life, consuming 3.5mA in receiving active mode, 40mA for 10dBm transmission and 1.1uA in standby with RTC running.

Additional peripherals such as a voltage-divider are all included on the same chip. This addresses lithium batteries, ADC, SPI, I2C, UART and I2S. The Icycom SoC opens the way to ultra-compact, autonomous wireless systems such as WSN, BAN and others. Samples and development kits are available.

Low-Power DAC For Portable Applications

Wolfson Microelectronics has launched the WM8912, an ultra-low-power DAC designed to extended playback time, reduce system cost and enhance audio performance in portable applications. These applications include media players, headsets, multimedia phones and navigation devices. The WM8912 features Wolfson's SmartDAC technology, a low-power DAC capacitor switching architecture, which enables DAC-to-headphone power consumption of less than 4mW.

Also incorporated into the WM8912 is Wolfson's Class W amplifier technology, an evolution of Class G, which includes an adaptive dual-drive charge pump and DC servo circuit architecture. The Class W ground-referenced amplifier technology uses an adaptive dual-drive charge pump to optimise power dissipation and eliminate the need for large DC blocking capacitors on both headphone and line outputs, resulting in savings in PCB space and the audio subsystem bill of materials.

The WM8912 also features a control write sequencer to ensure ease of system design by enabling and disabling the DAC with a single register write. Flexible clocking options are provided by a low-power frequency locked loop (FLL). A programmable dynamic range controller compresses the output signal ensuring maximum volume is achieved when desired. Used in conjunction with the Retune Mobile parametric equaliser, the WM8912 offers features to optimise the performance of an output transducer, such as a headphone or speaker.

The total package is said to allow consumer electronics designers to develop highly differentiated end products at a reduced cost. The WM8912 is available for sampling in a 32-pin 4x4mm QFN package. WM8912 customer evaluation boards with the Wolfson Interactive Setup and Configuration Environment (WISCE) are available to aid device evaluation and development. WISCE connects to the evaluation board over USB and offers an interactive register map interface. This interface provides good control and overview of the device settings.

MMA7660FC Enhances Portable Electronic Interfaces

Mouser Electronics has released Freescale Semiconductor's MMA7660FC, a three-axis +/-1.5g I2C digital capacitive accelerometer with integrated embedded intelligence and reduced power consumption. The Freescale Semiconductor MMA7660FC features programmable functions such as orientation, tap, and shake detection, as well as a unique auto-wake for extended battery life.

Packaged in a small, low-profile 3 x 3 x 0.9mm DFN, it enhances portable electronic user interfaces for mobile phones, small appliances and gaming. The MMA7660FC uses I2C communication and programmable interrupt functionality to provide direct communication to the main system processor with simplicity and flexibility.