Embedded Technology Journal - March 30, 2010

a techfocus media publication :: March 30, 2010

From the Editor A little sanity check from time to time is a good thing. Here at ETJ Galactic Headquarters we like poll our readers, suppliers, and just the average embedded developer on the street. This week we've got the results of a quick microcontroller survey to see what MCU makers are planning - or not. It's good information to have if you're planning a new project soon. In January it was Cliff. In February it was Ian. Now, there are just a few days left for YOU to be our March winner of a $500 Amazon.com gift certificate for the best posts on Journal Forums. Thanks as always for reading. We encourage you to share your thoughts in the new easier-to-use comments area right below the articles; don't be shy. Or you can get a lively discussion going on our new FORUMS. Jim Turley - Editor, Embedded Technology Journal        EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS Looking Beyond Low Power MCUs As more electronic applications require low power or battery power, energy conservation becomes paramount. Today’s applications must consume little power, and in extreme cases, last for up to 15-20 years, while running from a single battery. To enable applications like these, products with Microchip’s nanoWatt XLP Technology offer the industry’s lowest currents for Sleep, where extreme low power applications spend 90%-99% of their time. Click here to learn more. Embedded Technology Journal Forum Competition Win 500 bucks just for being smart! LEMME AT THEM FORUMS! (Click here for competition details) On Demand Evolving the Coverage-Driven Verification Flow (WHITE PAPER) Achieving functional coverage closure is challenging and time-consuming with today's complex designs. Read how unique coverage-targeting algorithms in intelligent testbench automation tools reduce time to coverage closure by 90%. (Mentor Graphics) Lowering Total System Power Using Xilinx FPGAs (CHALK TALK) In this webcast, Chalk Talk host Amelia Dalton talks with Jameel Hussein of Xilinx about optimizing system-level power with FPGAs, and features and tools that simplify low-power design with Xilinx FPGAs. (Xilinx) Pushing The Envelope in FPGA Design Using PlanAhead (CHALK TALK) Want to have the best FPGA designs on the block? You have to push the technology to stay competitive. Join Amelia Dalton as she talks with Greg Daughtry of Xilinx in this Chalk Talk about pushing the envelope in FPGA design. (Xilinx) EasyPath-6 FPGAs Deliver Lowest Total Product Cost in Six Weeks (CHALK TALK) Confused about FPGA cost reduction? There are easy options for even the most sophisticated FPGAs. Join Amelia Dalton and Shekhar of Xilinx in this Chalk Talk about cost-reducing your Virtex FPGA design with EasyPath. (Xilinx) New in the Forums InVisage Image Sensor Technology I can imagine them being used in high-speed applications. High speed cameras heavily benefit from sensitive sensors, as the exposure time can be reduced, thus reducing motion blur. In our project, we do high speed 3D video captures of flying bats,... Posted on 03/27/10 at 4:08 AM by: jast Dynamic memory allocation on small devices I recently had a discussion with some peers about the use of dynamic memory allocation on small embedded devices (like small Atmel microprocessors). What do you think? Is there a purpose for dynamic memory allocation on these small devices with limited me... Posted on 03/25/10 at 6:08 AM by: jast Looks like I dropped a zero. Of Looks like I dropped a zero. Of course 1.1 microns is equivalent to 1100 nanometers. We'll fix it. Posted on 03/23/10 at 3:16 PM by: Jim Turley "the company now uses a Paleolit "the company now uses a Paleolithic 1.1-micron (110 nm) process" Which is it? 1.1 micron (1100 nm) or 0.11 micron (110 nm)? Posted on 03/23/10 at 2:57 PM by: gabor@alacron.com InVisage Image Sensor Technology Jim Turley took a look at quantum dots and image sensors in his article (click here). Do you think this technology might replace CMOS image sensors? Posted on 03/23/10 at 1:57 PM by: kevin

Current Feature Articles Microcontroller Evolution at an End? by Jim Turley How normal are you? Surveys provide an interesting look at the world and a "sanity check" by comparing our colleagues' responses to our own. "Am I a typical programmer, or am I the only one who…?" Recently I've been beavering away on a survey of microcontroller chip makers, users, and developers. The responses were good, and they give us a peek into what users want, need, and don't want. We also get some hints on what microcontroller makers are planning and what they're not.  Read More Inside-Out Pixels and Quantum Dots by Jim Turley The Embedded World Keeps on Growing by Dick Selwood A Cloud-On-A-Chip The Kind of Fun Stuff Intel Gets To Do In The Labs by Bryon Moyer The Moving Picture Show by Jim Turley Actel's Three-Legged Stool by Jim Turley Microchip Maxes Out Mighty Mites by Jim Turley Latest News March 30, 2010 QuickLogic First to Market Display Controller Solution Supporting 60 fps Content Refresh over MDDI Type 2 New Benchmark Comparison of ITTIA DB SQL and SQLite Kozio Introduces In-System Diagnostics for Texas Instruments OMAP™ 4 Platform Saelig Introduces Rugged Puck Antennas for Indoor/Outdoor Wireless Use Terawins, Inc. Selects MIPS Technologies' Processor IP for Next-Generation Multimedia ICs Atomthreads RTOS Adds STM8 Support Infinite Power Solutions Achieves ISO 9001:2008 Certification NEC Electronics America Expands 8-Bit All Flash Microcontrollers for Industrial, Consumer Electronics Precision Control RF Micro Devices® Features Ember ZigBee® Technology In New Family Of High Performance Front End Modules For Smart Energy Applications Lowest Power, 16-Bit, 80Msps ADC Reduces Noise in Data Conversion Systems March 29, 2010 EnSilica launches major new version of its eSi-RISC Development Suite austriamicrosystems' new battery management data acquisition front-end IC features highest accuracy available MIPS Technologies and Virage Logic Partner to Offer Optimized Embedded Memory IP Triple Output, Buck/Buck/Boost Synchronous DC/DC Controller Targets Automotive Start/Stop Systems March 25, 2010 Digi-Key Corporation Announces Stock on NXP Semiconductor's Energy-Efficient Lighting Solution WD® Introduces 2.5-Inch SATA Hard Drives That Meet Demands for Today's AV/DVR and Surveillance Markets Curtiss-Wright Controls Introduces New Rugged VXS Multi-Channel Data Recorder with Solid State Drives MOST150 Now Allows Safety Critical Applications Curtiss-Wright Controls Doubles Memory on Buffer Memory XMC Card and Passes Rugged Qualification March 24, 2010 Digi-Key Corporation Announces Stock on Molex Mini-Fit H2O™ Series MOST150 Broadens In-car Multimedia ADLINK Reveals ATCA Blade with Dual 6-core Intel® Xeon® Processor L5638 VIA Takes the Jitters Out of Online HD Video

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