==============================
Microwaves & RF UPDATE
MWRF -
www.mwrf.com
November 17, 2005
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Greetings and welcome to your personal copy of Microwaves
and RF UPDATE e-newsletter. Please see below for address-change or
subscribe/unsubscribe instructions.
Today's Table of Contents:
1. Of Collaboration and Consolidation
2. Microsemi to Acquire Advanced Power Technology
3. RF SoC Supports Implantable Glucose Monitor
4. CST Now Shipping CST MICROWAVE STUDIO Software
5. Keithley Contest Winner Rewards Cal Lutheran University
6. VXI Technology Selects Agilent's I/O Library Suite
7. Meca Launches Microwave Isolators/Circulators
8. EPX Microwave Releases First Switch Catalog
9. Happenings - Conferences
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***************
1. Viewpoint
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Of Collaboration and Consolidation
Yet another pair of companies has announced their plan to merge
resources, as the high-frequency industry continues its trend of
consolidation. Certainly, the acquisition of Advanced Power
Technology (APT) by Microsemi should result in a single entity that
is financially stronger than either of the former companies and, for
customers, a single source for a wider array of analog,
mixed-signal, and high-power semiconductors.
The trend has been most visible this year in the
computer-aided-engineering (CAE) side of the business, notably with
Eagleware's acquisition of Elanix, Agilent's followup acquisition of
the combined Eagleware-Elanix, and Computer Simulation Technology's
addition of APLAC. Don't forget the many acquisitions that have
helped to build Ansoft, such as McNeil-Schwendler and Compact
Software. Consolidation generally results in a stronger remaining
company, but less competition. Is it a good thing for this industry?
Share your thoughts with me at
mailto:jbrowne@penton.com.
JACK BROWNE
Technical Director
*************
2. News
*************
Microsemi to Acquire Advanced Power Technology
Microsemi Corporation announced the signing of a definitive
agreement to acquire Advanced Power Technology (APT), expanding its
portfolio of analog and mixed signal devices in the RF marketplace
for defense, aerospace, and medical applications. Under the terms of
the agreement, APT shareholders will receive $2.00 US per share in
cash and 0.435 shares of Microsemi common stock for each share of
APT common stock. According to Patrick Sireta, Chairman and CEO of
APT, "We are very pleased to join Microsemi's team. This business
combination will result in a very powerful value proposition to
customers, investors, and employees." The transaction, which has
been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of both
companies, is subject to regulatory approval and an APT shareholder
vote. It is expected to close at the beginning of the second quarter
of Microsemi's fiscal 2006 business year.
Advanced Power Technology --->
http://news.mwrf.com/t?ctl=19CAB:49027F
Microsemi Corporation --->
http://news.mwrf.com/t?ctl=19CAE:49027F
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3. News
*********
RF SoC Supports Implantable Glucose Monitor
Integrated-circuit (IC) supplier AMI Semiconductor (AMIS, Pocatello,
ID) has developed a low-power system-on-chip (SoC) solution for a
new implantable glucose monitoring system developed by DexCom. The
application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) transmits information
from the implanted sensor over the 402-to-405-MHz medical implant
communications service (MICS) band reserved for implantable devices.
According to Kirk Peterson, AMIS wireless product manager, "Our
ASTRIC technology with its quick start oscillator proved crucial to
reach the very low power consumption allowed for the RF
communication." The specifications for the AMIS solution were
developed in close collaboration between the engineering teams at
DexCom and AMIS and required extremely low power consumption due to
implant longevity and size restrictions. The total average current
drain from the battery is less than 3 microamperes. The AMIS SoC
includes a 32-kHz oscillator, current and voltage references,
high-precision analog-to-digital converter (ADC), digital filtering,
and sensor bias running at 100-percent duty cycle, and a low-duty RF
section. Andy Rasdal, president and CEO of DexCom, notes "The
performance of the AMIS solution is very impressive, considering the
ultra-low power consumption requirements and other unique features
of the device."
AMI Semiconductor --->
http://news.mwrf.com/t?ctl=19CB7:49027F
DexCom --->
http://news.mwrf.com/t?ctl=19CB5:49027F
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4. News
*********
CST Now Shipping CST MICROWAVE STUDIO Software
Computer Simultation Technology (CST) has announced the latest
version of its three-dimensional (3D) time-domain electromagnetic
(EM) simulator, version 2006 of the CST MICROWAVE STUDIO. The new
version features a major redesign in the architecture and new
functionality. The software uses the CST DESIGN ENVIRONMENT as a
common access point to the company's solver technology, and
simplifies the comparison of models and cosimulations through a new
multi-document interface. According to Jonathan Oakley,
vice-president of sales and support for CST of America, the new
version is the culmination of many years of research and development
into the most efficient and accurate computational solutions to 3D
electromagnetic problems." He added that the new software version
offers "an unrivalled time domain solver, a state-of-the-art
frequency-domain solver, and an even more powerful CAD interface"
help design engineers to increase their design throughput. The new
version supports easy coupling of EM simulation with circuit and
thermal analysis, a complete tetrahedral frequency-domain solver, an
improved interface with Cadence Allegro, automated cosimulation with
the Advanced Design System (ADS) software suite from Agilent
Technologies, a new distributed computing scheme to minimize data
transfer time, and JEDEC-compliant automated bond wire creation.
CST ---
http://news.mwrf.com/t?ctl=19CBA:49027F
**********
5. News
**********
Keithley Contest Winner Rewards Cal Lutheran University
Giving is better than receiving, according to Dr. Ira Goldberg of
California Lutheran University (CLU). After winning a test system as
part of a promotion sponsored by test-equipment supplier Keithley
Instruments (Cleveland, OH), Dr. Goldberg (Professor of Chemistry
and Physics at CLU) turned around and donated the test system to his
favorite university. The Keithley equipment included a model 2015
total harmonic distortion digital multimeter, model 2701
Ethernet-based data acquisition system, model 2700 data acquisition
system, and two model 7700 switch modules, is now being used in
CLU's Chemistry and Physics labs to help shorten the time it takes
to collect and analyze data. Researchers can collect experimental
data and send it to a computer for immediate analysis and then gain
online access to data at their desks for review and reporting. As
Dr. Goldberg noted, "Keithley equipment is particularly well-suited
for these applications because of its easy set-up for computer
networking. This is especially important in our new
physics-bioengineering research program, which is multidisciplinary
and requires several different laboratories to address a particular
problem." Eventually, this equipment will be interfaced with
Keithley instruments in other CLU labs, including those in the new
physics-bioengineering building.
Keithley Instruments --->
http://news.mwrf.com/t?ctl=19CB0:49027F
************************ ADVERTISEMENT ****************************
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Are you a company looking for a good engineer?
Or an engineer looking for a good company?
Find the right match, at
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*******************************************************************
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6. News
*********
VXI Technology Selects Agilent's I/O Library Suite
VXI Technology has selected the Agilent I/O Libraries Suite as the
standard I/O platform for its LXI products. The software simplifies
and accelerates the process of connecting test instruments. It
supports automatic detection of instruments connected to a personal
computer, automatic interface configuration, and verification of
connected instruments that mix Ethernet/LAN, VXI instruments, GPIB,
RS-232 and USB, as well as a variety of software environments from
multiple vendors. According to Jon Semancik, business development
manager for VXI Technology, "By developing around Agilent's open I/O
libraries, we are able to provide our customers with an
industry-standard VISA layer, ensuring a forward-looking platform
for application-software developments." He added "our LXI products
and Agilent's I/O libraries also allow our customer base to develop
complete test solutions in virtually any programming language." LXI
combines built-in measurement science and PC-standard I/O
connectivity of rack-and-stack instruments with the modularity and
size reduction of cardcage-based systems. The LXI standard provides
a basis for long life-cycle instrumentation implementations that are
not limited by bandwidth, software or computer-dependent
architectures.
Agilent Technologies --->
http://news.mwrf.com/t?ctl=19CB1:49027F
LXI Consortium --->
http://news.mwrf.com/t?ctl=19CAD:49027F
VXI Technology --->
http://news.mwrf.com/t?ctl=19CB2:49027F
*********
7. News
*********
Meca Launches Microwave Isolators/Circulators
Meca Electronics (Denville, NJ) has announces a series of
RF/microwave isolators and circulators with coaxial connectors.
Available with both Type N and SMA connectors, the components
operate at frequencies from 0.8 to 8.0 GHz. Insertion loss ranges
from 0.4 dB at the lowest frequencies to 0.6 dB at the highest
frequencies, with maximum VSWR of 1.35:1 for all models. Isolation
ranges from 20 dB at the lowest frequencies to no less than 17 dB
from 2 to 4 GHz. For more information on the isolators and
circulators, visit the company's web site.
Meca Electronics --->
http://news.mwrf.com/t?ctl=19CB4:49027F
*********
8. News
*********
EPX Microwave Releases First Switch Catalog
EPX Microwave has announced a new catalog with details on a complete
line of electromechanical switches for applications from DC to 26.5
GHz. The components include single-pole, double-throw (SPDT)
switches; single-pole, multithrow switches; double-pole,
three-throw switches; and transfer switches. The switches are
available with a variety of different connector types and actuator
voltages, as well as a long list of options that include status
indicators, TTL drive, and internal terminations. For a copy of the
free catalog, visit the company's web site.
EPX Microwave --->
http://news.mwrf.com/t?ctl=19CAC:49027F
*******************************
9. Happenings - Conferences
*******************************
Automatic RF Techniques Group (ARFTG)
66th Microwave Measurements Conference
December 1-2, 2005
Marriot Hotel, Washington, DC
http://news.mwrf.com/t?ctl=19CB6:49027F
International Electron Devices Meeting (IEDM)
December 5-7, 2005
Hilton Washington Hotel
Washington, DC
http://news.mwrf.com/t?ctl=19CA7:49027F
IEEE Radio and Wireless Symposium
January 17-19, 2006
San Diego Convention Center
San Diego, CA
http://news.mwrf.com/t?ctl=19CBB:49027F
RF & Hyper
March 21-23, 2006
CNIT
La Defense, Paris, France
http://news.mwrf.com/t?ctl=19CA6:49027F
CALL FOR PAPERS
IMAPS International Conference on
High-Temperature Electronics (HiTEC 2006)
May 15-18, 2006
Hilton of Santa Fe
Santa Fe, NM
http://news.mwrf.com/t?ctl=19CA9:49027F
************************ ADVERTISEMENT ****************************
For the most complete directory of microwave
companies and products, visit:
http://news.mwrf.com/t?ctl=19CB9:49027F
*******************************************************************
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http://news.mwrf.com/t?ctl=19CB8:49027F
MICROWAVES AND RF (MWRF) UPDATE e-NEWSLETTER CONTACTS
====================================================
Technical Director: Jack Browne
mailto:jbrowne@penton.com
Associate Editor: Laurie Collins
mailto:lcollins@penton.com
Advertising/Sponsorship Opportunities:
Paul Barkman at 1-908-704-2460 or
mailto:pbarkman@penton.com
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