Microwave Engineering Europe - December 2007 - (Page 32) 32 PRODUCTS Fully-integrated AM/FM radio receivers feature long wave and short wave band coverage with unmatched seek performance Silicon Laboratories Inc. has announced the expansion of its successful broadcast audio product line to include what it claims to be the industry’s first fully-integrated AM/FM radio receivers with shortwave (SW) and long-wave (LW) band coverage. The high-performance Si4734/35 integrate the entire receiver from antenna input to audio output reducing size and solution component count by more than 90 percent compared to existing implementations. In a tiny 3- x 3-mm package, the Si4734/35 not only simplifies the design of existing SW and LW radios but also enables the addition of SW/LW capability to consumer electronics devices such as handsets and MP3 players, broadening the reach of SW and LW broadcast content used by consumers in Europe. The high level of integration of the Si4734/35 ultimately reduces design time, allowing customers to bring their products to market more quickly with a higher level of quality. The devices use a patented digital low-IF architecture with an onchip digital signal processor (DSP) that enables a variety of features and significant performance enhancements not possible using traditional analog architecture-based products. The receivers offer fully automated digital tuning in all supported bands, including 1 kHz step sizes, and selectable channel bandwidth filters for optimal audio quality. In addition, the family does not require factory-aligned components, further improving reliability and reducing manufacturing cost compared to existing receivers which can require up to three stages of manual tuning. Unmatched seek performance allows customers to rapidly find all available stations with no false stops. Superior selectivity and a highly linear front end enable consumers to hear more stations in crowded broadcast environments. These features are vital differentiators for short-wave frequencies where there are hundreds of valid broadcasters in a very wide spectrum. The Si4734/35 are EN55020 certified, and claim to be the only radios to offer AM/FM/SW/LW bands in a single IC with FM RDS decode (Si4735), providing station and song identification to listeners. With only a few external components and a simple command interface, the Si4734/35 can quickly replace existing solutions to deliver higher quality radios with more features and reduced system cost. The Si4734/35 are footprint compatible with the Silicon Labs portfolio of FM receivers, AM/ FM receivers, FM transmitters and FM transceivers. This allows customers to easily and cost-effectively configure their products with a range of features appealing to different end-customer segments. A full reference board with complete schematics, layout files and a robust software development environment is available to customers to facilitate evaluation and design. www.mwee.com/204201781 High frequency power inductor designed for pick-and-place machines Providing design engineers with a robust, cost-effective through hole device, TT electronics BI Technologies Magnetic Components Division has developed a high frequency inductor with excellent power dissipation. Designated the HM58 Series, the inductor features a thick coil wire rated for saturation current up to 60 A, making it ideal for industrial and high frequency applications. The inductor features three open sides, providing customers with a device designed specifically for automatic pick and place equipment. It also provides a more cost-effective solution due to the minimal amount of materials required with the open design. In addition to its high current rating, the inductor features low DCR losses and Connector modification service tailors interconnect to specific applications and needs Aviel Electronics modifies standard industry connector designs to meet specific requirements. Recently, a military customer approached the company for help. They had a panel designed around a competitor’s SMB connector and were experiencing a variety of problems in the field. The first issue was that the SMB connectors would easily disengage when minimal axial force was applied to a mated pair. To solve this issue, the company’s engineers designed a custom locking mechanism for the SMB Plug that would work on standard SMB Jacks. Moisture entering the connector through the interface was the next problem. The customer’s application was subject to harsh climate and no ingress of water in harmful quantity was allowed when their enclosure was immersed is suitable for high frequency applications up to 1 MHz. It is ideal for use in applications with limited PCB space due to its small size. The HM58 Series high current cube inductor features inductance values from 0.22 µH to 2.00 µH, with DCR tolerance of ±3 percent. Operating temperature range is -40 to +125 degrees Celsius. Devices outside these specifications to meet customer requirements can also be produced on request. www.mwee.com/204201793 in water up to one meter. The company modified the SMB Plug and added internal o-rings to achieve an IP67 rating. Finally, the last issue was to ensure that technicians could not accidentally mismatch the input and output cables. A reverse polarity version of the connector with a visually distinguishable coupling mechanism now makes this physically impossible. The company’s capabilities cater for to specific needs and short lead-times for prototypes. www.mwee.com/204201617 Microwave Engineering Europe ● December 2007 ● www.mwee.com 032_MWEE.indd Sec1:32 23/11/07 12:50:42 http://www.mwee.com/204201781 http://www.mwee.com/204201617 http://www.mwee.com/204201793 http://www.mwee.com
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