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FEATURES

Signal Integrity
Addressing ‘Power-Aware’ Challenges of Memory Interface Designs
Memory interfaces are challenging signal integrity engineers from the chip level to the package, to the board, and across multiple boards. As the latest DDR3 and DDR4 speeds support multi-gigabit parallel bus interfaces with voltage swings smaller than previous generation interfaces, there is no room for error in any modern memory interface design. The combination of complete model libraries, advanced tools and engineering expertise addresses modern buses and data rates.
by Ken Willis and Brad Brim

Cover Story
Lead-Free Assembly Design for Manufacturability Considerations
The changeover to lead-free has brought with it serious implications for many key design rules. A look at the system-level management requirements and key DfM elements shown to improve overall yield, quality and reliability of high-complexity, high-reliability hardware.
by Matt Kelly and Mark Hoffmeyer, PH.D.

Quality Assurance
Availability Index and Minimized Reliability Costs
A model for quantifying how the total cost of improving and maintaining reliability can be minimized, and the relationship of that minimized cost to the availability index.
by Ephraim Suhir, Ph.D., and Laurent Bechou, PH.D.

ESD Basics
How Much Protection Is Enough?
Five questions to ask concerning ESD protection.
by The ESD Association

FIRST PERSON

• Caveat Lector
  Rethinking responsibility.
  Mike Buetow
  
  

• Talking Heads
  HDPUG’s Marshall Andrews.
  Mike Buetow

MONEY MATTERS

• ROI
  The great equalizer.
  Peter Bigelow

• Focus on Business
  Evaluating technology improvements.
  Susan Mucha

TECH TALK

• Designer’s Notebook
  Footprints' accuracy.
  W. Scott Fillebrown
  
  

• In Flex
  Reducing flex assembly thickness.
  Dale Wesselmann
  
  

• Tech Tips
  Solvent approval.
  Brian Ellis
  
  

• Technical Abstracts
  In case you missed it.