eeProductCenter Ultimate Products 4.4

Analog Boards / Buses DSP Electromechanical Embedded Tools Interconnects Microprocessors Memory Logic and Interfaces Passives / Sensors PLDs / FPGAs Power Components Power Sources RF / Microwave Test / Measurement

Product Shopper New Product Info

(1)
ON SEMICONDUCTOR
Clock generation devices improve timing accuracy, simplify design

eeProductCenter's Gina Roos says:
"ON Semiconductor has expanded its PureEdge high-performance clock generation product portfolio with the introduction of the NB3N3002 and NB3N5573 clock generators. These PLL-based devices are said to create ultra-low jitter quality clocks that improve timing accuracy, increase design flexibility and lower cost for PCI Express, Ethernet and FBDIMM applications."

Readers Say::
"Very attractive price."
"My application is using a PECL clock at 210 MHz with a PN of -80dBc/Hz @ 100Hz. The mentioned clock generators may not replace the parts in my application. Would definitely consider them if I have new requirement."
"It was developed in 0.25um CMOS technology. It can be improved with 90nm and 65nm also."
"They seem to be a good idea for high frequency oscillators."
"Good improvement."

USABILITY RANK: 1

(2)
MAXIM
Instrumentation amplifiers guarantee 20 microvolt max offset voltage

eeProductCenter's Gina Roos says:
"Maxim Integrated Products has introduced the MAX4208 and MAX4209H instrumentation amplifiers that feature the company's patented current-feedback architecture, a spread-spectrum autozeroing technique. The new autozeroing technology constantly measures and corrects the input offset voltage, thereby eliminating drift over time and temperature, said Maxim."

Readers Say::
"Good."
"They'll give a good chance of improving SNR."

USABILITY RANK: 2

(3)
AVNERA
Wireless audio chips claim 'wired quality' sound

eeProductCenter's Audio DesignLine says:
"Avnera Corporation has announced wireless audio ICs for wireless speakers, microphones, headphones and headsets that deliver uncompressed CD-quality sound and claim to solve the interference problems that have been typical of previous wireless audio solutions. "

Readers Say::
"Nice addition to ever increasing wireless solutions."
"Great consumer idea."
"Excellent."
"I will try anything once. If it works. It's a huge milestone and I could think of a huge range of projects that would have seen big gains with a simple wireless audio interface at this quality. As stated, if they work as advertised, look out!"

USABILITY RANK: 4

(4)
MICROCHIP
12-bit DAC integrates EEPROM in small package

eeProductCenter's Gina Roos says:
"Microchip Technology Inc. has released the MCP4725 digital-to-analog converter (DAC), which the company claims is the industry's first DAC to combine an integrated EEPROM and 12-bit resolution in a miniature 6-pin SOT-23 package. The low-power, single-channel DAC offers a buffered voltage output and is suitable for space-constrained portable and battery-powered applications."

Readers Say::
"It seems to be a good idea to put an EEPROM into a DAC IC. I'd like to use it."

USABILITY RANK: 3

(5)
WOLFSON MICROELECTRONICS
Audio DAC delivers advanced digital filtering options

eeProductCenter's Rich Pell says:
"Wolfson Microelectronics has announced the ultra-high-performance WM8741 24-bit stereo DAC, which combines high-end specifications with advanced digital filtering options that allow designers to shape the subjective quality of the sound. According to the company, the device creates a more "analog feel" than previous audio DACs using conventional digital filtering and conversion techniques."

Readers Say::
"Nice high-end specs."

USABILITY RANK: 8

(6)
TEXAS INSTRUMENTS
Low-power ADCs target portable industrial, medical apps

eeProductCenter's Gina Roos says:
"Texas Instruments Inc. (TI) has introduced a pair of 16-bit analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) that it claims to offer 2x better linearity (+/-1.5 LSB maximum INL) than competing devices. The low-power ADS8317 and ADS8326 ADCs are said to provide an easy performance upgrade for portable, battery-powered applications including industrial data acquisition and portable medical instrumentation."

Readers Say::
"Operation over wide supply range is a very attractive feature."
"Good, but could be a little bit cheaper."

USABILITY RANK: 7

(7)
STS
Audio chip targets high-definition wireless platforms

eeProductCenter's Gina Roos says:
"STS Inc. has announced the availability of its fourth-generation audio baseband chip for digital wireless audio platforms. The STS DARR81 chip enables simultaneous audio connections of consumer electronics (CE) devices such as headphones, speakers, home theater systems, flat panel TVs, game consoles, iPod and portable media player docking stations, and PCs for uninterrupted streaming of high-definition (HD) uncompressed wireless audio."

Readers Say::
"Simultaneous connections."

USABILITY RANK: 6

(8)
ANALOG DEVICES
ADI reduces power and cost for its direct digital synthesizers

eeProductCenter's Janine Love says:
"Traditionally, portable and embedded systems designers looking to add frequency synthesis capability choose to go with phase-locked-loops (PLLs) or implement it on their field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). Analog Devices is now adding another choice to the mix with its AD9913 direct digital synthesizer (DDS). This new DDS aims to offer portable and embedded system designers a viable option that compares on cost, power consumption, and performance."

Readers Say::
"Lower power is the hot topic of the day."

USABILITY RANK: 9

(9)
ASAHI KASEI MICROSYSTEMS (AKM)
Ultra-small 24-bit audio DAC targets portables

eeProductCenter's Rich Pell says:
"Asahi Kasei EMD Corporation (AKM) has announced the AK4372 ultra-small 24-bit DAC with integrated high-output headphone amplifier. Offered in a 2.5 x 3.0-mm chip-scale package -- and 61% smaller than the company's previously introduced QFN-packaged AK437x DACs - the AK4372 targets portable applications such as cell phones, smart phones and portable media players."

Readers Say::
"Nice for consumer products."
"I am sure it is pretty good, maybe we will use it according to our application."
"I see some problems with noise."

USABILITY RANK: 5

(10)
CIRRUS LOGIC
Clocking ICs deliver low noise for high-end audio systems

eeProductCenter's Gina Roos says:
"Cirrus Logic Inc. has introduced its CS2XXX family of clocking ICs. Focusing on audio applications such as A/V receivers, mixing consoles, multi-track recorders, digital recorders and set-top boxes, these ICs, which include the CS2000, CS2100, CS2200 and CS2300, provide precise clocking solutions for audio system designs."

Readers Say::
"Programmable is nice."

USABILITY RANK: 10

In case you were wondering, here's how Ultimate Products works: Our editors select up to 10 of the most significant products posted at www.eeProductCenter.com during the calendar quarter. Then, using an electronic balloting process, we submit the products with the accompanying editorial reviews to selected, qualified readers. Those readers score the products by technical significance and
USABILITY on a scale of 1 through 5, with 5 being the highest score. The product ranked No. 1 in each category was judged as most technically significant for that category. Relative
USABILITY rankings and selected reader comments are also reported. More than 1,000 of you helped to choose these products. As always, we are grateful for your enthusiastic participation.

Patrick Mannion
Editor-in-Chief, Techonline Network and eeProductcenter.com
pmannion@cmp.com