ChipCenter Communicator Vol. 2 No. 27 If you're a U.S. engineer, welcome back from an extended Independence Day holiday. If you're not, that's where we've been these past two days. For this abbreviated week, the Communicator offers a chance to get free samples of some very impressive chips, as well as three "how-to" articles that may save your next design -- and your job. We finish with a pair of links to the wonderfully crazy world of university students. SPONSORED BY: Avnet -- Get your free samples from Avnet. ******************************************************************* IDT Attacks System Bandwidth Challenges with New x72 SuperSync II FIFOs. The x72 FIFOs operate at 100 MHz and are available in 32Kbit to 4Mbit densities. The devices support the industry's highest data rates essential to today's terabit and gigabit switches and routers. Get your free samples from Avnet. http://tm0.com/sbct.cgi?s=58186426&i=219464&d=303083 ******************************************************************* ONLINE POLL: SAFETY ROPE OR HANGMAN'S NOOSE? As a result of safety-critical software disasters, Texas has decided that software engineering affects life, health, and property, and therefore creating a professional licensing exam. Their definition of software engineering includes work on embedded and real-time systems. ChipCenter asks should EEs be required to pass such a certification exam? http://tm0.com/sbct.cgi?s=58186426&i=219464&d=303084 WIN ONE OF 3 PALM VIIs EVERY WEEK You can even register once a day! http://tm0.com/sbct.cgi?s=58186426&i=219464&d=303085 WE GOT SAMPLES. Everybody likes something for free and although we cannot absolutely guarantee that you'll get a sample of the 50 or so ICs we're featuring at the other end of this link, it's as close to a sure thing as you're likely to see. http://tm0.com/sbct.cgi?s=58186426&i=219464&d=303086 MINI AMPS. How would you go about generating an ac current of 4 - 10 mA at 10 V? Sometimes stepping ac down is required for test and this application article runs through several options that offer workable solutions. http://tm0.com/sbct.cgi?s=58186426&i=219464&d=303087 DOUBLING UP. Ever the resourceful EE, Robert Ashby likes to stretch resources -- which are usually scarce. In this article, he shows us how to make one pin in our design do the work of two or more. http://tm0.com/sbct.cgi?s=58186426&i=219464&d=303088 UP IN FLAMES. That's what might happen to your product -- figuratively, if not literally -- if you ignore the correct product-testing procedures. George Martin's article will help put you on the right test track. http://tm0.com/sbct.cgi?s=58186426&i=219464&d=303089 TOO MUCH IS NOT ENOUGH. A U.S. university in Philadelphia has announced plans for a wireless network that will span its campus. That leads Paul McGoldrick to ask if it is possible to be too connected. http://tm0.com/sbct.cgi?s=58186426&i=219464&d=303090 UNDER COVER. Speaking of university students, Brian McGinty reports on a clandestine plot to take over the music industry by a bunch of 20-somethings using a home PC with sound card, some mixing boards, and $49 Radio Shack microphones. http://tm0.com/sbct.cgi?s=58186426&i=219464&d=303091 ******************************************************************** If for any reason you'd prefer not to receive any future editions of ChipCenter Communicator, please reply to this e-mail and type UNSUBSCRIBE in the subject line of your reply. You are currently subscribed under the e-mail address [EMAIL PROTECTED] Please use this address when trying to unsubscribe. ********************************************************************
