e-Ismosys edition 1

e-Ismosys: The newsletter for users and partners of Ismosys.com

Welcome to the first edition of e-Ismosys, the newsletter of the web-based user and partner portal that provides "Engineering Solutions for the Global Electronics Industry". Created specifically for the electronics engineering community Ismosys.com brings together products, services, expertise and resources to help improve engineering efficiency, speed-up product development cycles and reduce the costs and risks associated with time to market challenges.   

Ismosys.com features...

• Outsourced Design and Manufacturing
• Easy access to current and emerging technology products
• News, features, releases, articles
• Engineering services and service providers
• Significant silicon vendor endorsement

Index to Product Features in this issue

• About "Engineering Solutions for the Global Electronics Industry"
• It's here! Flexible & affordable outsourced European electronic design?
• AdvancedTCA & COM Express expertise from a leader in the communications networking and commercial systems
• When "do it yourself" software doesn't make sense
• Ultra-small data acquisition chip uses proprietary signal amplification circuitry
• Stop here for computer-aided design (CAD), simulation, 3D modelling data
• FREE Cyan RF-Solved Evaluation Kit for visitors to Embedded World
• 1 to 12 layer boards - from prototyping to production assembly
• Low-power, high performing CODECs and FM transmitters delivering dramatically extend battery life and best-in-class sound quality
• Innovative custom RF expertise - by the day or by the hour
• VHDL design for FPGAs - from concept to realization
• Spectrum Group moves into Turkey with acquisition of DesTek Elektronik
   

Launched in 2007 Ismosys.com is rapidly establishing itself as an important source of information for the electronic engineering and design community with over 4,000 users. Offering its members thousands of active links to providers of engineering data, application notes, engineering expertise and product information. Ismosys already boasts 50+ partners spanning silicon manufacturers, software companies, design houses and manufacturing companies. Partnerships are also being extended to include businesses providing engineering services and the site even includes a recruitment section.  Although still very much in the early stages of development the site is already attracting visitors from no fewer than 46 countries around the world.

Ismosys.com features a powerful search engine that enables it users to access (currently) greater that 40,000 individual products from more than 36 manufacturers. The site is searchable by manufacturer, description, application, part number, or by keyword. Other features currently accessible to users include: a unique Applications database, Wanted Software and Software download features; Breaking News; Technology Index; Featured Products; Featured Partner, Commercial Services; Design Services and an on-line store. The Live Support section of the site is scheduled to go live in the near future.

We recognise that Ismosys.com is still very much work in progress and at this stage it might not be able to meet all of your requirements. That said, we recommend that you book-mark the address and call back at regular intervals. We promise that you'll always find something new  - a something that might be just what you're looking for.  

For more information and to register visit http://www.ismosys.com/

Escalating cost and timescale pressures in today's commercial world means that Engineering Managers cannot always internally resource every engineering activity. Many OEMs companies have already benefited from the comprehensive suite of product development elements provided by Xentech Solutions Ltd.

The desire for a flexible and affordable external resource often leads the OEM down the path of off-shore developments but the eagerness with which this route is adopted can mask its complexities and there are many opportunities for a costly stumble along the way. Outsourcing off-shore may offer cost benefits, but not always the control required. However, with ISMOSYS.COM, Engineering Managers have easy access to a wide range of partners much nearer to home and leveraging their collective experience is a very efficient way of gaining all the benefits, whilst minimising the risks.

Introducing Xentech Solutions
Ismosys.com's first partner, Xentech Solutions, is a case in point. Recognising that product development is a complex process and success depends upon multiple activities coming together in a controlled but flexible manner, Xentech Solutions works with its clients to help them ease the peaks and troughs of the development process.

With a background in embedded system, hi-speed digital hardware & FPGA design and embedded software development together with advanced knowledge of IP Networking, Xentech Solutions has all the skills necessary to carry out complex architecture definitions and detailed design work. And with its considerable experience of cost effective provision of reliable product to major global OEMs, the Xentech team is able to deliver a complete project into volume manufacturing or work directly with the client customer's internal design teams to solve short term resourcing or skills shortages.

Xentech Solutions also understands that a product cannot be taken to market without the full set of relevant regulatory approvals. With the team's global experience of product development, Xentech Solutions delivers the required certifications to allow CE and UL marking with confidence.

Ismosys.com recognises the imperative to contain costs whilst maintaining control of a product development and with trusted partners such as Xentech Solutions this can be achieved! Partnering with Xentech Solutions enables an OEM to transfer the essential aspects of the development process from a fixed- to a variable-cost, allowing more flexibility, yet keeping local control in Europe.

Engineering expertise, innovative technologies and industry leading architectures help OEMs, systems integrators and solution providers bring smaller, better performing products to market faster and more economically. RadiSys® Corporation is a global provider of advanced embedded solutions for the communications networking and commercial systems markets. The company's products include embedded boards, application enabling platforms and turn-key systems, which are used in today's complex computing, processing and network intensive applications. RadiSys is paving the way for AdvancedTCA, COM Express, and other leading-edge technologies.

Close cooperation with customers is a key aspect of the RadiSys mission, many of whom are setting the pace in the fields of Internet routers, ultrasound machines, MRI imagers, and other sophisticated systems. Radisys has particular expertise in the field of mobile telephony, where it's assisting customers to enable the latest, hottest media-rich services and applications.

Radisys technology is currently powering products from Comverse, Nokia, Nortel Networks, Philips Medical, Siemens, and many more of the world's leading technology companies

We're delighted to welcome RadiSys® Corporation as partner in the Design Services section of the Ismosys.com

Proven Software Solutions mission is to help embedded product developers reduce their cost, risk and time-to-market by providing working source code which has been tested, debugged and deployed in a product. PSS enables embedded product developers to integrate working functions at the middle layer and so free up their in-house resource to focus on developing the essential differentiating features at the application layer.

PSS is continuously building its portfolio of working software IP: It offers simple drivers like I2C and LCD display drivers through to the latest and more complex SD/MMC memory card drivers and audio, video and image codecs. It also lists File Systems such as FAT32 (its most latest offering) and more esoteric software functions such as a CPU Task scheduler which co-ordinates activity between several ‘threads' and a Real-Time Clock. The latter provides a set of interlinked functions to account for time and the passage of time through seconds to years, recorded through on board timers.

The FAT32 File System, which is required by all embedded products if they need to manage files between storage media such as SD and CF cards, is a complex piece of code to develop. The FAT32 File System source code, which is available from PSS through Ismosys.com, took the original developer no less than five man-months to develop. The task of retuning the source code for the customer's own platform is a simple one and the potential savings to be made are huge! Further, the PSS FAT32 system has additional features such as encryption, providing the user with the added security against (for example) illegal copying of data stored on a memory card.

According to estimates from leading Industry analysts more than half of embedded products are launched late to market because of the software required: One PSS customer was facing possible cancellation of their contract because they were unable to get the image decoder working at the performance required by the application. PSS was able to leverage its "Software Wanted" service to locate the software required, which together with the expertise of the PSS  engineering support team, soon got the project back on track.

Code available from PSS can be seen and, in cases downloaded from the Ismosys portal. The "Software Wanted" service can be accessed simply by clicking on the [ ] box and completing the online form.

Semtech Corp has applied its proprietary ZoomingADC^TM signal amplification circuitry in an ultra-small data acquisition device that enables manufacturers of portable sensing systems to use lower-cost sensors without sacrificing accuracy. The new SX8723 converts analog sensor data into a digital signal for processing and is one of the most versatile data acquisition devices available. It's capable of direct connections with a wide array of pressure, chemical or magnetic sensors and is designed to operate off of a single Li-ion battery without loss of its 16-bit precision, even with a depleted battery.

Semtech's ZoomingADC 10-bit preamplifier technology enables the SX8723 to "zoom in" (with a programmable gain from 0.1 to 1000) on a small portion of the analog signal and apply the full 16-bit ADC to only that part of the signal. It features a unique offset control mechanism and delivers the highest gain of any device on the market, enabling designers to use lower cost sensors but still achieve the required sensitivity level. The SX8723 features two differential inputs or four single-ended inputs and two digital I/Os to interface directly with up to four sensors that can be a mix of pressure, magnetic and chemical, making the device a "sensing platform" capable of deployment across a manufacturer's entire range of sensors.
The SX8723 is available in a 4x4 mm MLPD12 leadless 12-pin package that can be mounted on a board using any conventional SMD soldering process. It is fully RoHS and WEEE compliant. 

Key Features of the SX8723

• ZoomingADC 16-bit ADC + 10-bits preamplifier with a programmable 0.1x to 1000x gain in 10% steps
• Sensor offset compensation up to 15 times full scale of input signal
• Two differential or four single-ended analog inputs
• RC oscillator
• Two general purpose digital input/output lines
• Sleep and power saving modes
• I2C serial connection for MCU
• Interfaces directly with most Wheatstone bridge sensors

Accelerated Designs Incorporated (ADI), the one-stop source of data for computer-aided design (CAD), simulation, 3D modelling and other engineering functions has concluded a Distribution agreement with Ismosys.com. Ismosys will represent ADI in the European territories and handle the distribution of its products, particularly its ULTRA LIBRARIAN library tool, online globally

Welcoming ADI as an Ismosys.com partner Nigel Bond, Business Development Manager stated, "as a one-stop source of CAD data, which customers are able to speedily customize to their own company requirements and the requirements of their customers, ADI has the potential to fulfil a critical need for Ismosys.com customers and partners:  "ADI has an existing library of 500,000 electronic design automation CAD parts that can be quickly and easily ported to complement any existing CAD tool, and its Ultra Librarian library tool is simply the fastest, most accurate EDA Library tool available for the creation and maintenance of an EDA Library"

Visiting Embedded World in Nuremberg, Germany in February? Visit Cyan Technology on Stand 57826, Hall 9 and get a hands-on demo of the company's revolutionary Cy-Solved applications and take away a RF-Solved Evaluation Kit, absolutely FREE!. (Downloaded voucher required)

Including RF-Solved, USB-Solved, Ethernet-Solved and Motor Control-Solved applications, RF-Solved^TM is Cyan's ISM Band networking solution that offers a unique level of flexibility, enabling the system designer to escape the constraints and limitations of standards based alternatives. Based around a pair of Adaptive Modules AM001 plus development carrier boards, the RF-Solved Evaluation Kit enables evaluation of basic network in a ready to go environment and allows programming via AT command set. The kit also includes the Cyan eICE USB dongle and CyanIDE toolchain which enable the software on the eCOG1kG microcontroller to be easily customised to individual requirements.

RF-Solved^TM Eval. Kit Features:

• 868MHz ISM Band
• >600m range without amplification
• 15Kbp/s data rate (shared amongst complete network)
• Co-existence with 2.4GHz Bluetooth and WLAN

The kit's underlying protocol Cy-Net^TM is an extended implementation of the MicrelNet® cluster tree topology solution and can be adapted to support self-healing, self-forming networks, RF repeater based systems with complex tree or star network topologies in addition to simple point to point communications. This flexibility results from a combination of easy to use tools and rapidly customisable software built on top of ready to use solutions and a modular API platform.

A seamless service for the prototyping, production assembly and test of 1 layer to 12 layer boards, including ROHS compliant, silver, epoxy, and immersion copper finish. Advent Electronics' expertise also extends to metal and plastic case designs and building, including manufacturing and final assembly.

Advent Electronics' manufacturing infrastructure capabilities include state-of-the-art test environments, temp.-cycling and lead-free manufacture. Wherever possible, Advent ensures that prototypes are built in the same facility as the volume production, a policy that ensures seamless progression from one end of the manufacturing process to the other. Production requirements ranging from 500 to 10K boards per month can easily be accommodated.

Advent has selected its CM partners in Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and China as much for their flexibility and customer-service as for their expertise and cost/value proposition. The company is therefore able to offer European customers a turn-around time from receipt of accepted Gerber files to prototype assembly in as little as seven-days. Advent offers fast-turn prototype and production level assembly of 1 -12 layer boards - including  SMT & manual inserts, PCBA & testing, MIL-STD-105; 0.65AQL single sampling plan, IPC-A-610C and ROHS compliance.

Leadis Technology has recently diversified beyond display solutions and is currently transforming the consumer listening experience with a range of innovative, patent-pending ICs that dramatically extend battery life and deliver best-in-class sound quality.

Leadis' low-power, high performing CODECs and FM transmitters are finding ready markets in applications such as portable media players, mobile handsets, and aftermarket audio accessories where its proprietary integrated digital architecture dramatically reduces parts count and BOM costs at the system level.                           

FM Transmitter - LDS9200
This compact, broadcast quality FM stereo transmitter wirelessly connects portable audio sources such as MP3 players and aftermarket satellite radios, to stereo equipment in the home or car. It supports 87.5 to 108MHz for US and Europe and 76 to 90MHz for Japan. Pre-emphasis and transmit power level can be selected to comply with country-specific regulations.

CODEC with 50mW Headphone Amplifier - LDS9302/302L
This CODEC delivers excellent stereo audio performance at 1/3rd the power dissipation of comparable devices. Ideal for portable consumer electronic devices, it includes a patent-pending stereo headphone amplifier capable of driving headphones with 50mW at 3.3V. Its high efficiency capless mode eliminates large and costly DC blocking with no power penalty. An on-chip switching power supply can also provide system power, offering further cost and component count savings.

CODEC with FM Transmitter and HP Amp - LDS9350
This compact and elegant device combines the high fidelity and low power performance of the LDS9302 Codec with the LDS9200 stereo FM transmitter to offer dramatically reduced system parts count and BOM cost. To transmit wirelessly to FM bands, the LDS9350 contains a programmable internal RF power amplifier with broadcast quality performance. Audio may be output to Line Out, 50mW headphone amplifier or FM radio transmitter. The device supports all global FM bands.

Ropet RF-design is a specialized RF engineering consultancy. Available on a daily or hourly basis Ropet-RF-design's consultancy services provides innovative custom solutions to meet every customer's unique and individual needs. Ropet's services span relief for the customer's own over-pressed staff, an expert independent design review prior to committing to production to full blown RF circuit design.

Other services provided by Ropet include a customizing service for COTS RF modules firmware, full custom firmware design, antenna design and simulation, production of Technical Construction Files (TCFs) and management of compliance approvals.

Ropet RF-design's expertise is also available in a range of high-performance standard products that offer a quick and cost-effective solution. Modules include;

• Multiplied (gated) crystal oscillator modules
• Phase Locked Oscillators (PLO/PLL)
• RF transceiver module (868 / 915 MHz)
• Avionics IFF 1 Watt gated oscillator module
• Dual 1030 / 1090 MHz gated local oscillator module
• Wireless temperature and humidity sensors

Specialising in VHDL design for FPGAs, Skylogic's business strategy is to support the design flow from concept to realisation. Based in Belgium, SkyLogic is a design and consultancy bureau with extensive hard- and soft-ware system design expertise together with data communication and data processing systems experience, which enables the timely and cost-effective delivery of complete and fully verified FPGA-based solutions including boards, IP-cores and simulation environments.

Skylogic prides itself in both in its ability to quickly integrate into the customer's design team and its flexibility to work from a variety of project inputs spanning specification documents, behavioural models and even flat C-code.

Following its acquisition of Istanbul based DesTek Elektronik the Spectrum Group now has two account managers, two FAEs and a sales and account manager focussing on Turkey's consumer and white-goods manufacturers and on the OEMs active in her dynamic metering, comms and military markets.