Agile & Intelligent Servos / Drives From Panasonic

The new A4 Servo is the next generation of Panasonic's MINAS product line. It sports a fast frequency response of 1KHz, improved real time auto gain tuning, new vibration control features, and 2Mpps command input. The size has also been reduced up to 30% compared to Matsushita Panasonic Electric Work's older A-Series, and along with the UL and CE certifications, the A4 Series servo drive & motor is also in compliance with SEMI F47 Standard.

Key Features:

• Motor types: Super low, low, middle and high inertia
• Speed response frequency 1kHz
• Incremental encoder (2500p/r)
• Absolute Encoder (17bit) available
• Vibration control
• Real-time auto tuning
• Pulse and analog command input
• Fast response and positioning
• Position, velocity and torque control

NXP Smart Switches Support HDMI 1.4 Specification

NXP Semiconductors has unveiled intelligent switches supporting the HDMI 1.4 specification. The NXP TDA19997 and TDA19998 smart switches support the Audio Return Channel (ARC) feature, an option introduced in the HDMI 1.4 release, which reduces the number of cables required to deliver audio upstream for processing and playback.

Building on the success of previous HDMI smart switches from NXP, the TDA19997 and TDA19998 include support for all mandatory 3D over HDMI features. NXP is the one of the first semiconductor companies to deliver silicon supporting HDMI 1.4. The Audio Return Channel specified in HDMI 1.4 enables HDTVs directly receiving audio and video content to send the audio stream to an amplification system over the HDMI cable, eliminating the need for an extra cable.

The NXP TDA19997 and TDA19998 smart switches also include built-in auto-adaptive equalisers that can handle up to four HDMI 1.4 inputs, automatically maintaining audiovisual quality over HDMI cables up to 30m in length. Their highly integrated design eliminates the need for external components, reducing the overall Bill of Materials for TV manufacturers, while delivering an enhanced viewing experience. The TDA19997 and TDA19998 are embedded with five EDID extensions for HDMI and VGA, as well as high levels of ESD protection.

The TDA19998 smart switches take advantage of NXP's F3 architecture, which guarantees fast port switching between HDMI devices while keeping a secured HDCP-protected HDMI stream at the output. The F3 architecture also enables best-in-class power efficiency of all systems in active and standby modes.

The NXP TDA19997 and TDA19998 comprise the second generation of NXP's HDMI smart switches, and are part of a portfolio of scalable solutions for the digital home, enabling TV makers to target a broad audience. The TDA19997 and TDA19998 are pin-to-pin compatible with previous generation smart switches from NXP and provide TV makers with flexibility in adapting to end-user demand. Engineering samples of the TDA19997 are available immediately from NXP.

EASIC In-A-Box Kits Make ASIC Design Accessible

EASIC has announced the availability of two ASIC-in-a-Box design kits that enable ASIC design to be widely accessible. Through simplifying the design flow, the design kits allow engineers who are unfamiliar with ASIC design to quickly complete designs. Nextreme ASICs are constructed to help simplify design, verification and silicon processing steps within the overall flow.

The ASIC-in-a-Box design kits provide software and documentation for completing and implementing Nextreme chip designs, and also deliver board design and debug guidelines for designing systems that incorporate Nextreme devices.

The kits contain: EASIC's eTools software suite that includes utilities for configuring PLLs/clocks, assigning pins/pads, generating memories and post-placement configuration; and DRC Magma DA's Blast RTL software for performing synthesis and placement; documentation and design tutorials to accelerate design implementation; JTAG programming cable for configuration and debug; and technical support website access. Designers can choose from one of two design kits.

Ophir-Spiricon 10kW Sensor Measures High Powers

Ophir-Spiricon has announced the 10kW Power/Energy Sensor, said to be the first detector to directly measure very high powers and power densities. Designed for material processing applications such as welding and metal cutting, the 10kW measures YAG and fibre lasers in the 1040-1100nm range, and CO2 lasers at 10.6um. An aperture of 45mm allows for measurement of broad beams.

The maximum power for concentrated beams is up to 10kW/cm2 and the maximum energy density for a 10ms pulse is up to 150J/cm2. Ephraim Greenfield, chief technical officer, Laser Measurement Group, Ophir-Spiricon, said: 'The 10kW power/energy sensor uses a reflective cone to deflect the laser beam over the peripheral circumference of the sensor.

'This increases the radiated area and reduces the power density to manageable levels.' The 10kW Power/Energy Sensor features Ophir Smart Connector technology that automatically configures and calibrates connected displays, including the company's Orion PE, Nova, Nova II, Vega, Laserstar, USBI, Pulsar, and Quasar.

Linear Unveils H-Grade DC/DC Controller

Linear Technology has announced the H-grade version of the LTC3824, a 4V to 60V input range, low quiescent current step-down DC/DC controller in a small thermally enhanced MSOP-10 package. This H-grade device is guaranteed up to a 150C operating junction temperature range and is suitable for automotive and industrial applications subjected to high ambient temperatures, demanding a small solution size for output voltages ranging from 0.8V to Vin at up to 5A.

The device's 4V minimum input voltage supports automotive cold crank and the 60V maximum input voltage survives inductive load dumps without the need for external clamping circuits. The LTC3824H can be configured for Burst Mode operation, which reduces the controller's no-load current draw to only 40uA and safely powers pre-biased loads. The shutdown current is 7uA. With 100 per cent duty cycle capability, the LTC3824H has a very low dropout voltage, allowing Vout to approach Vin, a feature that extends the run time in battery-powered applications.

In addition, the LTC3824H can be programmed to a fixed frequency from 100kHz to 600kHz. For noise-sensitive applications, the device can be synchronised to an external clock over the same range. Its onboard Mosfet gate driver powers an external P-channel Mosfet to produce greater than 90 per cent conversion efficiency. The LTC3824H's current mode architecture provides fast line and load transient response as well as cycle-by-cycle over-current protection. Additional features include programmable current limit and soft-start, along with over-voltage protection. The LTC3824H operates and is guaranteed over an operating junction temperature range of -40C to 150C.

Yamaichi Card Reader Features 1.2mm Stand-Off

Yamaichi Electronics is now offering the FPS009-2910-0 push/push SD card connector with stand-off. The FPS009-2910-0 card reader has been developed on the basis of the established top-mount component FPS009-2901-0. It offers the same features as the top-mount component, but also has a stand-off of 1.2mm to allow for mounting of other components underneath/below the reader.

As a top-mount component, it is designed for the assembly on the top side of the PCB. A close metal cover together with four grounding tabs ensures good EMC behaviour. The reader is equipped with two card brakes that avoid the fling-off of the card. Further features include: smooth push-in/push-out card insertion and extraction mechanism with defined ejection; soft lock mechanism for the SD card; automatic card detection; and a write-protection switch.

The card reader FPS009-2910-0 is packaged and delivered on tape reel belts. This component for Flash memory card applications suits wireless communication, portable computing and end-consumer applications. Yamaichi Electronics offers this card reader with stand-off as well as a wide range of card connectors for all available Flash and SIM card types with different form factors such as micro SD, mini SD, SD, RS-MMC, MMCmicro, MMC, Compactflash, xD and so on, as well as multi-card versions.

Aaeon Motherboard Uses Intel Chipset

Aaeon has released the EMB-9658T embedded motherboard, which adopts the Intel GME965 + ICH8M chipset. The EMB-9658T is an advanced embedded motherboard that features PCI-Express and IAMT2.5. It comes with an Intel Core 2 Duo/Celeron M (socket-P based) processor based on the Intel GME965 + ICH8M chipset (the ICH8ME is optional for RAID support) for a high-performance computing platform.

This model supports two 200-pin DDRII SODIMM modules with support for a total of 4GB maximum at a speed of 533/667. The EMB-9658T equips Intel 82566MM and Intel 82573L chipsets for two 10/100/1000Base-TX Ethernet RJ-45 connectors. For the expansion interfaces, one PCI, one Mini PCI and one PCI-Express x4 through a riser card are available. The EMB-9658T supports LCD/CRT, LCD/DVI, LCD/TV, CRT/DVI, TV/DVI, simultaneous/dual-view displays with LCD and CRT resolution support of up to 2,048 x 1,536 to meet abundant interface requirements.

It features up to 24-bit dual-channel LVDS, one DVI-I and SDVO. Display memory is shared by the system memory for up to 384MB/DVMT 4.0. The Intel GME965 integrates TV-out function that supports NTSC/ PAL/ HDTV: 480p/720p/1080i/1080p. The EMB-9658T also deploys the high-definition 5.1CH audio interface in order to complete its multimedia capabilities. All of the integrated features of the EMB-9658T target the digital signage, automation, gaming and medical markets.