ICs & Semiconductors

Atmel Corporation has announced production availability of a low-frequency (LF) RFID transponder device, the ATA5577M1330C-PP. Designed for applications in building access control systems, industrial automation, consumer and industrial segments, and as tokens, key fobs or transponders, this new device offers designers the ability to develop more flexible, high-performance tag devices.

Wolfson Microelectronics’ high performance stereo digital-to-analogue converter (DAC), the WM8918, has been selected by Sharp to provide audio for its latest ‘docomo with series’, AQUOS PHONE st SH-07D smartphone, which are now available in Japan from NTT DOCOMO. Powered by Android 4.0 (Ice Cream Sandwich), the AQOUS PHONE st SH-07D features a 1GHz core processor, an 8 megapixel camera, an LCD touchscreen display and a music player delivering high quality audio playback.

Texas Instruments (TI) has unveiled a new family of image processing chips that have been designed for front projectors, which will enable broader standardisation of 3D and interactive technologies. Projectors with the new chipset design, which will be incorporated in shipping units starting late summer 2012, will be able to seamlessly display content from common 3D-formats supported by HDMI 1.4, from virtually any mobile device including tablets, smart phones, laptops and Blu-ray players.

Fujitsu Semiconductor Europe (FSEU) has epanded its “New 8FX” family of high-performance 8-bit microcontrollers to include nine new products from the 48-pin MB95690 series, featuring brushless DC motor control functionality, and six products from the 64-pin MB95810 series, featuring analogue comparator technology.

STMicroelectronics has introduced the “Mystique” family of products, high-speed active-protocol bi-directional converters for managing audio and video signals between DisplayPort and HDMI, the two most common digital-display interface technologies used in computer and consumer electronics.

Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) has introduced a new audio headset detection and configuration switch integrated circuit (IC) that enables universal headset support for audio applications in a single chip.

CISSOID has launched VOLGA, the first high-speed comparator guaranteed for operation from -55°C up to +225°C.VOLGA is a comparator available in a tiny TDFP (thin dual flat pack) surface mount hermetically sealed ceramic package, with footprint of only 5 x 5.5mm.

NXP Semiconductors has introduced the TJA1022, a dual LIN 2.2 transceiver that provides an interface between a LIN master/slave protocol controller and the physical bus in a LIN network. It combines two LIN transceivers into a single package, offering more compact, flexible and cost-efficient modules in the car. The TJA1022 is primarily intended for modules with multiple LIN sub-networks such as body control modules, gateway modules, and intelligent parking assistance that will help to enhance passenger comfort and the overall driving experience.

Microchip has broadened its portfolio of zero-drift operational amplifiers (op amps) with the debut of the MCP6V11 and MCP6V31 single amplifiers.  Operating with a single supply voltage as low as 1.6V and a quiescent current as low as 7.5 µA, these ultra-high-performance devices will be able to  offer some of the industry’s lowest quiescent current for the given bandwidth without sacrificing the optimal performance essential for portable applications in the consumer, industrial and medical markets.

Bosch GmbH Automotive Electronics has retained its position as the world’s top supplier of automotive microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) in 2011, according to an IHS iSuppli Automotive MEMS report with $625 million in revenue last year. That figure represents a 19 percent expansion from $524 million in 2010 and outpaced the 14 percent growth of the automotive MEMS industry as a whole. It was also $339 million ahead of its nearest rival, Denso of Japan, which grew 9 percent to post revenue of $286 million.