Design News

SANTA CLARA, CA -- Sigrity, Inc. announces the release of Channel Designer, an analysis solution that offers the flexibility and accuracy required for high-speed serial links.

"Our customers have found that designs with high-speed serial links operating at multi-gigabit speeds require more than traditional analysis," said Dr. Jiayuan Fang, president of Sigrity. "It is essential to accurately predict bit error rate to ensure a robust implementation that can handle anticipated jitter and noise levels. With millions of bits of data to be considered over a wide frequency spectrum from DC to tens of gigahertz, it can be extremely challenging to obtain reliable time-domain simulation results from band-limited channel models. Channel Designer provides unparalleled precision, and builds on Sigrity's long-standing strength in S-parameter handling for accurate system-level transient simulation."

According to Sigrity, the analysis solution provides support throughout the process, from feasibility studies through design verification. The channel analysis output includes 2D and 3D eye diagrams, along with bathtub curves, for accurate bit error rate prediction.

The channel design capture environment includes a net-based, block-wise schematic editor for designs ranging from a single net interconnect to an entire bus traversing multiple boards. The analysis solution provides high simulation accuracy for accurate transient simulation for designs from DC to 10 gigahertz and more.

The analysis solution uses an industry standard IBIS Algorithmic Modeling Interface (AMI) transmitter and receiver model plus unique capabilities such as cascaded model support to simplify the flow.
SAN JOSE, CA -- Force10 Networks announced it has been awarded a patent (US Patent 7,448,132 - "Method of Manufacturing a High-Layer-Count Backplane") for its backplane circuit board design and manufacturing method for high performance switch/routers that uses a three ounce or more copper weight in a high-speed, high layer count design.

“These backplane fabrication innovations are critical to advancing our technology to ensure we’re supporting the increased traffic throughput needs of our customers at the lowest total cost of ownership,” said Joel Goergen, Force10 Networks Chief Scientist. “New and emerging applications are placing unprecedented demands on networks, while managers, more than ever, are tasked with building a cost-effective, resilient, and reliable infrastructure -- and this patent is an additional step in meeting both goals.”

The fully passive copper backplane reliability delivers a throughput of five Terabits per second. The patented fabrication method uses three ounces or heavier copper weight in a high-speed, high layer count design where there is both primary and secondary power, eliminating the need to utilize busbar technology or separate power boards to route the power. This patented capability facilitates the ability to build a single, lower-cost backplane solution for signals and power.

EL SEGUNDO, CA – AWR has acquired Simulation Technology and Applied Research Inc. (STAAR). STAAR develops 3D parallelized FEM tools for EM simulation of components and subsystems that operate at RF and microwave frequencies.
 
STAAR founder, Dr. John DeFord, will continue to oversee the company’s operations at its Wisconsin facility. “The unique 3D FEM EM analysis technologies developed by Dr. DeFord and his colleagues are a perfect complement to our current EM solutions,” said Sherry Hess, vice president of marketing at AWR
SANTA CLARA, CA – EDesign and EMS firm NBS will acquire CompServ, whose president will head the companies, the company said today. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Fremont, CA-based EMS company CompServ president Michael Maslana will become as CEO and president of NBS. He replaces NBS founder, president and CEO Craig Arcuri, who is leaving to spend more time with family and to pursue his passion for aviation.
Privately held NBS has estimated annual sales of about $40 million. For its part, in 2005 CompServ acquired electronics test company Datest Corp.

In a press release, Maslana said, “By combining CompServ’s organizational infrastructure, sales and marketing,and supply chain expertise with NBS's stellar reputation, the more diversified stronger company is positioned not only to meet the market’s demands, but also to expand our services and footprint."

The company will seek additional business from existing customers, make strategic acquisitions and selectively enter global markets, he added.


BANNOCKBURN, IL – IPC has named Kevin Schuld director of assembly technology. He will be responsible for working with technical committees on standards development in the assembly technology area.
 
Schuld has over 20 years of experience within the electronics industry, having held various quality, evaluation and component engineering positions for companies such as Hitachi, Texas Instruments and Honeywell. Most recently, he was the senior customer quality engineer at Qualcomm CDMA Technologies.
 
“Kevin has well-rounded experience in customer quality management, statistical process controls, component and materials engineering and technical writing, not to mention that he’s well-versed in IPC’s assembly standards,” said Dave Top, IPC vice president of standards and technology.
AUSTIN, TX – National Instruments (NI) has named three trends that it believes will improve the efficiency of test and measurement systems in 2009.

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