WHAT’S ONLINE

FREE WEB SEMINAR

Through the use of TCAD simulation software and services, semiconductor companies can reduce product development cost and enhance process and device performance even before silicon is available. Join Electronic Design EDA Editor, David Maliniak, for a look at Synopsys' Sentaurus TCAD process and device simulation software during this live web seminar on November 8th at 2 pm EST. If you can't make it, don't worry; the event will be archived on the site the next day. So register now!

http://w.on24.com

Polling

What type of programming language do you use in your design work, if any?

• A standard language like C and BASIC

• An object-oriented language like C++ and Java

• A graphical language like LabVIEW

• Assembly language or machine code

• Other

• I never use a programming language

To vote, go to http://www.eepn.com

WHAT'S UP

ICCAD 2005

San Jose, CA • November 6-10, 2005

The International Conference on Computer Aided Design presents state-of-the-art research in design automation and attempts to link design technology with design automation. Furthermore, this year ICCAD is expanding its focus to include emerging technologies including nano technology, electro-chemical components, and MEMS and its integration in sensor systems, biochips and lab-on-chip devices.

To find out more about this event, visit:

http://www.eepn.com/Events/

Datasheet Central

New for November is our updated listing of companies who supply Microcontrollers & Related Chips & SoCs. Our Datasheet Central listing makes it fast and easy to link to the datasheets and application notes on vendor web sites. To visit Datasheet Central, go to http://www.eepn.com and scroll down to Datasheet Central.

Joe Desposito’s Blog

This month Joe writes about note taking software: Microsoft Corp.'s OneNote and EverNote Corp.'s EverNote. If you're still taking notes in a composition book, you may want to check out Joe's findings on these high-tech note-taking programs. Just point your browser to http://www.eepn.com and scroll down to Joe Desposito's Blog.

COOLSITES

https://www.freedfm.com/!freedfmstep1.asp

This page of the Advanced Circuits web site offers a service called FreeDFM, which is a free test of a pc-board's manufacturability. The service provides a graphical report within minutes showing any potential issue with your board along with detail as to their nature and location. The service also gives you a price quote for your board, which you can take or leave.

http://www.findchips.com

One of our readers tipped us off on this site, and we think it's worth your time to investigate. The site aims to perform the fastest, most complete distributor search available today on the Internet. After you enter a part number (or substring), FindChips.com will simultaneously query over 20 distributors, and return the responses to you in real time, in the order completed. In addition to chips, the search engine combs distributor inventory for all types of electronics, including passives, connectors, optoelectronics, and more.

http://www.LPC2100.com

This site contains a slew of links for the Philips LPC2000 family of ARM microcontrollers. The links encompass such goodies as documentation, tools, news, application notes, and user group info.

http://www.ledmuseum.org

One of our old favorites and a site that's worth re-visiting is Craig Johnson's incredible effort dedicated to LEDs. As LEDs find their way into more and more products in their inexorable march to replace Edison's invention, this site provides a better understanding of the breadth and depth of this technology.

http://www.grinderbench.com

Want to know how your java-enabled cell phone performs? This new site allows anyone to download EEMBC's GrinderBench mobile Java benchmarks to a cell phone to test the performance of common tasks enabled by Java. You'll need to fill out a form, though, before you can use the benchmarks.

http://www.modelithics.com

This is a new web site created specifically to serve the simulation needs of RF and microwave engineers. The site centralizes access to information on models for thousands of individual components. The models are used to simulate complex designs using high-frequency circuit simulation tools like Agilent Technologies EEsof Advanced Design System and Genesys, Applied Wave Research Microwave Office, and Ansoft Designer. Requires registration.