Synthetic instruments in automatic test systems
Nov 1, 2004
By John Stratton This article will describe why there is a move toward synthetic instrument ATS architecture, how synthetic instrument architecture will differ from that of a stand-alone instrument, and how it is possible to achieve high-performance measurements in a synthetic instrument framework....
GSM/GPRS quad band power amp includes antenna switch
Nov 1, 2004
Combining gallium arsenide (GaAs) power amplifier circuit with integrated passive devices (IPDs) and microvia high-density interconnect (HDI) technology,...
M/A-COM produces new AlGaAs PIN diodes
Nov 1, 2004
M/A-COM, a business unit of Tyco Electronics, claims it has improved the performance of aluminum gallium arsenide (AlGaAs) flip-chip PIN diodes to set...
Products
Nov 1, 2004
Test and Measurement 3G base station test system Racal Instruments Wireless Solutions (RIWS) has announced its enhanced and upgraded 3G base station test...
Military modernization accentuates synthetic instrumentation
Nov 1, 2004
Ashok Bindra, Editorial Director For more than the last 60 years, electronic test and measurement instruments have evolved significantly to address the challenges of both commercial and...
Direct-sequence UWB signal generation and measurement
Nov 1, 2004
By Peter Cain This article discusses how to generate and measure ultra-wideband signals to design and test the performance of radio receivers handling UWB signals. A number of novel techniques, such as pulse shape recovery and frequency measurements on sub-nanosecond pulses, are described using modern test equipment....
Power supply and ground design for WiFi transceiver
Nov 1, 2004
By Roger Bremer, Tracey Chavers, Zhongmin Yu A solid RF layout requires careful planning of board stack-up, power supply routing, supply bypassing, and grounding. These techniques, along with correct placement of filter components, can address PLL spurs as demonstrated by an IEEE-902.11a/g transceiver reference design....
Designing a ZigBee-ready IEEE 802.15.4-compliant radio transceiver
Nov 1, 2004
By Khanh Tuan Le Besides highlighting the physical (PHY) and MAC
layers of the IEEE 802.15.4 standard, and the network, security and application
layers of the ZigBee wireless technology, this article focuses on efficient
implementation of IEEE 802.15.4-compliant radio-on-a-chip by identifying
potential low-power features in the standard, suitable transceiver architectures
and considering standard CMOS design issues....
Comparing windows for multitone suppression
Nov 1, 2004
By Raghavendra G. Kulkarni Harmonic interference suppression requires windows with fast decaying sidelobes. When the requirement is to keep peak sidelobes low, Harris windows are preferred; but when the mainlobes are to be of minimum widths, the recently published Kulkarni windows offer a good choice....
Signal Processing
Nov 1, 2004
Clock buffer Pericom Semiconductor Corporation has launched a family of 3.3 V, 1:4 LVPECL clock buffers with speeds up to 800 MHz. The PI6C4853x ICs target...
FCC adopts Access Broadband-over-Power-Lines rules
Nov 1, 2004
The Federal Communications Commission released the text of its Report and Order addressing Access Broadband over Power Lines. On Oct. 14, the FCC adopted...
Do we really need a unified ultra-wideband (UWB) standard?
Nov 1, 2004
Ashok Bindra, Editorial Director The way the two ultra-wideband (UWB) camps direct sequence code division multiple access (DS-CDMA) led by Freescale semiconductor vs. multiband orthogonal...
Medium impedance RF probe is rugged and wideband
Oct 1, 2004
By Bryan Irons Arugged, low-cost RF probe can be made from materials readily available in the lab. This probe is useful for making relative measurements while troubleshooting...
Passive components
Oct 1, 2004
High-frequency capacitor Murata Electronics North America has announced its NFM18PS 0603 size surface-mount three-terminal capacitor series. This new...
Products
Oct 1, 2004
Test and Measurement Active probe Tektronix Inc. has introduced the P7380 Differential Probe with Z-Active Architecture, a hybrid approach comprises a...
Simulation tech supports nanometer silicon designs
Oct 1, 2004
With the introduction of new resistance and capacitance engines for its full-chip, transistor-level parasitic extraction solution, Calibre xRC, EDA vendor...
Quantifying system performance of GSM/GPRS PAs with differing levels of integration
Oct 1, 2004
By Mendy Ouzillou The two key power amplifier metrics are power and efficiency. When comparing
power amps with different levels of integration, the context of how the
specifications are defined is important. The performance of the system solution
is referenced to the antenna and battery, then distilled into one metric....
