New Cumberland, Pennsylvania
A new series of low-phase-noise, oven-controlled crystal oscillators is available from Techtrol Cyclonetics, Inc. These high-performance SC crystal oscillators are offered in frequencies from 40 to 125 MHz with +13-dBm output power into 50 (omega). Their frequency stability is ±0.05 ppm over an operating-temperature range of 0° to +70°C. On a unit with a 100-MHz center frequency, the phase noise is characterized as −124 dBc at 100-Hz offset with a noise floor of −172 dBc/Hz at 100 KHz.

The 235H series oscillators are housed in a 2.0-x-2.0-x-.75-in.-high steel can. Options include an AT cut crystal; radio-frequency output via PC pins or an SMA-F connector; voltage-controlled or mechanical tuning; and dual RF outputs. Delivery time for the 235H series oscillators is 12 weeks after the receipt of the order. Contact Techtrol Cyclonetics, Inc. at www.tci-ant.com for specific pricing information.

Hudson, New Hampshire
Micronetics has now come to market with a 128-to-160-MHz, ultra-low-noise voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO). Known as the MW500-1343, this VCO has an exceptionally low phase-noise level of −147 dBc/Hz at around 100 kHz. The phase-noise level is −125 dBc/Hz at around 10 kHz and −100 dBc/Hz at around 1 kHz. Its power output is +10.5 dBm + 1.5 dB with a +12-V supply (31 mA). The VCO's stability is further assured by pushing and pulling of only 0.06 MHz/V and 0.13 MHz p-p, respectively. Its harmonics are at least 20 dB down. The tuning voltage range for 128 to 160 MHz is 0 to 13 V. But the VCO can operate up to 20-V tuning, which provides 178 MHz at reduced power (+6 dBm). It comes in a 0.500-in.²-x-0.15-in. surface-mounted package. Its modulation bandwidth is 123 MHz (−3 dB), which is exceptionally fast for this low operating frequency. The temperature drift is only −0.02 MHz/°C. For more information on the Micronetics VCO, go to www.micronetics.com.

Houston, Texas
Mimix Broadband, Inc. is a company that designs, develops, and supplies high-performance monolithic-microwave integrated circuits (MMICs) for microwave and millimeter-wave wireless-communication applications. Recently, it successfully upgraded to ISO 9001:2000. As a result, the company has been recommended for registration to ISO 9001:2000, the internationally recognized quality-management-system standard administered by the International Organization for Standardization. Det Norske Veritas (DNV) Certification, Inc. has recommended registration for Mimix to ISO 9001:2000. Mimix was previously registered by DNV to ISO 9001:1994. Achievement of this new registration reinforces the company's focus on quality while highlighting the fact that it is the cornerstone of the development of all business processes.

To achieve ISO 9001:2000 registration, a company must complete a comprehensive audit of the quality system. This audit encompasses documented procedures and operations from every department with a focus on customer satisfaction and continual improvement of processes and procedures. The company must also continue to maintain and improve its quality system as verified by semi-annual audits. For further information, go to www.mimixbroadband.com.

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Ansoft Corp. has come to market with version 5.0 of its RMxprt high-performance electronic-design-automation (EDA) software. It also has released version 6.0 of its SIMPLORER Service Pack 4. Both software packages are available now.

RMxprt is the company's popular software for the design of electric machines. New features of version 5.0 include a schematic winding editor, improved core-loss calculation, and a design template for claw-pole generators. The RMxprt software is available in four packages: induction machines, DC commutated machines, synchronous machines, and electronically commutated machines. Its starting price is $6900.

SIMPLORER is a new paradigm for the virtual prototyping of large-scale mechatronic, power-electronic, and electromechanical systems. It is Ansoft's multi-domain, electromechanical-system-simulation software. Service Pack 4 for SIMPLORER includes a variety of new models, graphical-user-interface enhancements, and significant improvements in its VHDL-AMS simulation capabilities. All of these features greatly enhance the software's usability for digital-circuit and control-system design and verification. Current SIMPLORER customers can download Service Pack 4 for free by using the new "web-update" feature within SIMPLORER's help menu. They also can go to www.ansoft.com/ots/index.cfm.

More information on either product can be obtained at www.ansoft.com.

Sunnyvale, California
Maxim Integrated Products recently introduced the MAX1963/MAX1976 regulators. The company claims that they are the world's first and smallest 100-mV low-dropout (LDO) linear regulators to operate from a 1.62-V input and deliver a guaranteed 300-mA continuous-load current. Typically, these linear regulators are used to power processor curves at 1.5 V. The devices have only 17% (typical) efficiency loss when powered from a 1.8-V I/O supply versus 61% using other linear regulators that are powered from a 3.8-V lithium-ion battery.

The MAX1963/MAX1976 provide very high output-voltage accuracy (±1.5%) over all load, line, and temperature conditions. These ICs are available in fixed-output voltages ranging from 0.75 to 3.0 V. Their active-low, open-drain reset output remains asserted for at least 2.2 ms (MAX1963) or 70 ms (MAX1976) after the output voltage reaches regulation.

The MAX1963 and MAX1976 have an internal PMOS pass transistor. Thus, the low 70-microamp supply current remains independent of load and dropout voltage. Other features include a logic-controlled shutdown, short-circuit protection, and thermal-overload protection.

The MAX1963/MAX1976 are available in 6-pin SOT23 and 6-pin, 3-x-3-mm TDFN packages. They are screened for the extended industrial temperature range (−40 to +85°C). Prices start at $0.62 (2500-up, FOB USA). For more details, go to www.maxim-ic.com.

Milpitas, California
Xicor, Inc. has announced the availability of the X98000 family of high-speed analog front ends (AFEs). The X98027 operates at up to 275 MSamples/s. The X98000 family includes four additional products operating at frequencies of 240 MSamples/s, 210 MSamples/s, 170 MSamples/s, and 140 MSamples/s.

Each product in the new family of AFEs has three independent 8-b channels. The devices combine high-performance, low-noise signal processing with a low-jitter, digital phase-locked loop to produce high-resolution images. The three AFE channels have high linearity and matching for superior grayscale performance. A very high input bandwidth is provided for ultra-sharp images. Additional peaking control can restore image sharpness when long cable lengths are used. An innovative automatic-black-level-compensation (ABLC) circuit eliminates offset errors due to mismatch and drift. The internal digital phase-locked loop (DPLL) doesn't just provide lower clock jitter. It also has 64 phase steps with high linearity in comparison to a maximum of 32 phase steps in competitive products.

The X98027 supports QXGA resolution up to a refresh rate of 60 Hz. The X98024 supports WUXGA resolution (1920 x 1200), while the X98021 supports UXGA (1600 x 1200). The X98017 supports WSXGA resolution (1536 x 1024). Finally, the X98014 supports SXGA (1280 x 1024) and all lower resolutions. Samples are available now with production scheduled for the fourth quarter of this year. Pricing for the X98014 starts at $9.00 in 1000-piece quantities. For more information, go to www.xicor.com.

London, United Kingdom
Xilinx, Inc.'s investment in the industry' most advanced 90-nm and 300-mm chip-making technology is already paying off for customers. Most recently, the company achieved new breakthrough price points for what's claimed to be the world's first 90-nm family of programmable chips. Those chips have been shipping since March of this year. Xilinx is now offering Spartan-3 FPGAs with one million system gates for an unprecedented $12.00 along with three different Spartan-3 FPGAs for under $7.00. Spartan-3 platform devices range from 50,000 to 5 million system gates with prices starting at $2.95. This represents a cost savings of up to 80% over competitive offerings.

The company's early commitment and investment in 90-nm and 300-mm manufacturing technology has resulted in an 80% chip-size reduction compared to competitive products on 130-nm technology. With strong yields ramping quickly, Xilinx is now shipping four of the eight total members of the Spartan-3 FPGA family. The company is even on track to deliver the entire Spartan-3 family in full-volume production early next year.

The 3S50, 3S200, and 3S400 Spartan-3 devices (with 50,000, 200,000, and 400,000 system gates, respectively) are available now for less than $7.00. The 3S1000 Spartan-3 device with 1 million system gates also is now available for $12.00. The entire Spartan-3 family will be available in volume production in early 2004. Family members can be purchased either from distributors worldwide or directly from Xilinx at www.xilinx.com/spartan. To find out more, visit www.xilinx.com.