The Covid-19 pandemic has forced many people to spend more time in front of a TV set. Here’s a look at what’s inside the cable box responsible for a large portion of home entertainment. Examine the hook-up for many cable TV customers and you’ll likely find something like the Cisco Explorer 8642HDC DVR. This set-top box has been out for several years, long enough for … [Read More...] about Teardown: Cisco Explorer 8642HDC high-definition DVR with multi-stream cableCARD interface
Main Content
FROM THE EDITORS
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Aimee Kalnoskas
Richardson Electronics to offer Fuji Electric 7th-generation (X-Series) IGBT modules -
Lee Teschler
IEDM highlights: GaN HFETs get a p-channel version that operates at gigahertz speeds -
Martin Rowe
5G FWA reaches 5 km: What’s behind it? -
Bill Schweber
Even model railroads are now networked, Part 2: Digital control takes over -
Lynnette Reese
What is signal attenuation? -
Jeff Shepard
Nano grids, microgrids, and zero net energy consumption
Sponsored Content
Pushing the Boundaries of High Voltage GaN Power Conversion
10 kW Applications Gain High Efficiency Power Conversion from Highly Scaled GaN HEMTs (25% lower loss than SiC in the standard TO-247 package) Authors: Carl Neufeld, Senior Member of Technical … [Read More...] about Pushing the Boundaries of High Voltage GaN Power Conversion
FAQ
Even model railroads are now networked, Part 2: Digital control takes over
The traditional model railroad power and control has transitioned from simple hardwired loops to advanced networking in the past decades, bringing many benefits and a few … Read about Even model railroads are now networked, Part 2: Digital control takes over
Good-bye x-ray tubes, hello “vacuum” transistors
Among the presentations at this year’s IEDM: A silicon vacuum transistor that operates at over 38 kV. Examine a hospital x-ray machine or a high-power RF transmitter and you’ll find a beefy … Read about Good-bye x-ray tubes, hello “vacuum” transistors
Nano grids, microgrids, and zero net energy consumption
Electric utility grids around the world are undergoing a fundamental change in architecture. The centralized grid that was designed to provide inexpensive electricity with a reasonable level of … Read about Nano grids, microgrids, and zero net energy consumption
Even model railroads are now networked, Part 1: The not-so-simple loop
The traditional model railroad power and control has transitioned from simple hardwired loops to advanced networking in the past decades, bringing many benefits and a few drawbacks. Anyone … Read about Even model railroads are now networked, Part 1: The not-so-simple loop
Podcasts
RETRO Rx from Los Alamos is the focus of Episode 2 of R&D 100 – The Podcast
Following up on the popular inaugural episode of R&D 100 – The Podcast, we recently released Episode 2. In this episode, co-hosts Paul J. Heney and Aimee Kalnoskas, editors with R&D World, talk a little about the first year of the publication’s revamped website and what the top article has been. Then, they delve into RETRO Rx, […]
Focus on Analog ICs
WL-CSP 25-W RF switch replaces mechanical relays
Menlo Microsystems, Inc. announced the production release of the MM5130, the first high-performance RF switch manufactured with their proprietary Ideal Switch technology. The MM5130 is designed to … [Read More...] about WL-CSP 25-W RF switch replaces mechanical relays
Audio design help from Misco now available through Digi-Key
Electronics distributor Digi-Key will now handle services from MISCO, a one-of-a-kind resource offering complete audio development. This addition is an expansion of Digi-Key’s Marketplace initiative, … [Read More...] about Audio design help from Misco now available through Digi-Key
DIP switches available in piano, rotary, and slide actuator styles
CUI Devices announced the first launch from their Switches Group with the introduction of a new line of DIP switches. Available in piano, rotary, and slide actuator types, the DIP switches offer 1.27, … [Read More...] about DIP switches available in piano, rotary, and slide actuator styles
Focus on Microcontrollers
IEDM highlights: A 2D lidar on a chip
Samsung researchers have advanced the concept of a solid-state lidar with the development of a single-chip device with a 10-m range. Light Detection and Ranging (lidar) technology normally requires … [Read More...] about IEDM highlights: A 2D lidar on a chip
Reference platform speeds design of Wi-Fi HaLow devices based on IEEE 802.11ah spec
Palma Ceia SemiDesign announced the availability of the company’s Wi-Fi HaLow Reference Platform, including all necessary hardware and software, for the design of Wi-Fi HaLow devices and systems based … [Read More...] about Reference platform speeds design of Wi-Fi HaLow devices based on IEEE 802.11ah spec
mGig PHY chips boast low power consumption, exceed IEEE cable reach requirements
Marvell introduced its second-generation Alaska Octal Scalable mGig PHY family, bringing high performance, cable reach, low power, and speed to enterprise networking infrastructure. The mGig PHYs are … [Read More...] about mGig PHY chips boast low power consumption, exceed IEEE cable reach requirements
Focus on Power Electronics
IEDM highlights: GaN HFETs get a p-channel version that operates at gigahertz speeds
Researchers at Cornell University and Intel Corp. say they’ve devices a wide-bandgap p-type transistor counterpart of the n-channel GaN HFET. In a paper to be presented at the upcoming IEDM conference (Paper #8.3, “GaN/AlN p-Channel HFETs with I max … [Read More...] about IEDM highlights: GaN HFETs get a p-channel version that operates at gigahertz speeds
NMB’s PWM cooling fans now available from Sager Electronics
Sager Electronics, a North American distributor of Interconnect, Power and Electromechanical components, is now stocking NMB’s high performance PWM cooling fans. NMB’s new series of high performance, 4 wire, PWM driven fans with tachometer signal … [Read More...] about NMB’s PWM cooling fans now available from Sager Electronics
Good-bye x-ray tubes, hello “vacuum” transistors
Among the presentations at this year’s IEDM: A silicon vacuum transistor that operates at over 38 kV. Examine a hospital x-ray machine or a high-power RF transmitter and you’ll find a beefy vacuum tube. Vacuum devices still rein for applications … [Read More...] about Good-bye x-ray tubes, hello “vacuum” transistors
Focus on 5G
5G FWA reaches 5 km: What’s behind it?
In a video interview, 5G Technology World speaks with Qualcomm’s Mohammed Al Khairy on how the company worked with Ericsson and US Cellular to reach that distance. In 1877, Alexander Graham Bell ran a 3-mile (5 km) wire from his lab in … [Read More...] about 5G FWA reaches 5 km: What’s behind it?
Wi-Fi tester takes to the field
Sniff and troubleshoot all versions of Wi-Fi on a PC and FieldPal from octoScope. For years, octoScope has focused on Wi-Fi testing in the lab through its octoScope test chamber and accessories known as “Pals.” The FieldPal, takes octoScope’s … [Read More...] about Wi-Fi tester takes to the field
How to calculate RF power amplifier efficiency
5G brings higher data rates and a need for more efficient power amplifiers. Understand and calculate a PA’s efficiency. Radio communication systems steadily improve data rates and overall system performance. With that higher performance comes … [Read More...] about How to calculate RF power amplifier efficiency
Embedded Systems
ROS now supports 64-bit processor cores
SEGGER has announced that its embOS real-time operating system now supports 64-bit processor cores. Today, most IoT implementations and other sophisticated embedded applications rely on 32-bit CPUs. In the very near future, however, they will … [Read More...] about ROS now supports 64-bit processor cores
Software tools help build Linux-based environments for Renesas RX MCUs
IAR Systems adds support for Renesas RX microcontrollers (MCUs) in build tools supporting implementation in Linux-based frameworks for automated application build and test processes. This addition further extends IAR Systems’ offering for flexible … [Read More...] about Software tools help build Linux-based environments for Renesas RX MCUs
SoC design software supports ASIL B, D safety levels in automotive apps
Synopsys announced new functional safety (FS) derivatives of its popular DesignWare ARC processor IP to simplify and accelerate the development of automotive system-on-chips (SoCs). The safety-enhanced processor portfolio, which includes the Synopsys … [Read More...] about SoC design software supports ASIL B, D safety levels in automotive apps
