AUGUST 2, 1979 EIGHT-BIT SLICES YIELD FAST, HIGH-DENSITY LOGIC/120 How IBM's advanced packaging condenses processor power/ 109 Low-glitch d-a converter clears up display problems/ 131 Electronics ORGPflIZInG BUBBLE MEMORY ARRAYS And save you valuable space.

Model 20 SIP trimmers save you precious PC Model 20 SIP trimmers have a low tempco of board space, yet don't cost a fortune. Only 100 ppm/°C over —55°C to +125°C .785" X .185" X .079" in size, the Model temperature range. Power rating is 0.50 watts at 20 SIP trimmer occupies just 25% of the board 70°C. The stable cermet element offers infinite space used by comparable DIP configurations and resolution. The wiper assembly idles at both 50% of that used by conventional /34 -inch ends of travel, eliminating damage from forced rectangular trimmers. The low board profile of adjustment. .185-inches and .100-inch spacing are ideal for Put these little jewels to work for you. Dramatic meeting all of your high density PC board space savings, the ring of Boums quality, trimmer needs. and sparkling performance, too. Contact your local Priced at only 75C* in 1,000 to 4,999 quantities, Bourns representative for evaluation samples Model 20 SIP trimmers are available in 18 or send today for complete details. Or, see EEM standard resistance values ranging from 10 ohms directory, Volume 2, pages 3804, 3805. to 5 megohms. Options of either hand or TR1MPOT PRODUCTS DIVISION, BOURNS, INC., machine insertion, plus compatibility with 1200 Columbia Avenue, Riverside, CA 92507. automatic test equipment add up to more cost Phone: 714 781-5050. TWX: 910 332-1252. savings yet. European Headquarters: Boums AG. Zugerstrasse 74 6340 Baar. There's no sacrifice in performance either. Sealed Switzerland. Phone: 042 33 33 33. Telex: 78722.

to withstand industrial cleaning processes, •Domesuc U SA pnce only

17;. 11111111 - pounni\TÉ° For Immediate Application—Circle 120 For Future Applicatio Our basic miniature snap action precision switch (up above) Then there's our choice of terminals: screw, solder or QC. And, is the standard of the industry. 34,816 variations make it our choice of circuitry: SPDT, SPST/NO or SPST/NC. Add it all the standard of the switching world. up and you'll come to three conclusions: Example: Our miniature comes in 17 standard actuators... 1. This is the most versatile miniature switch plus 43 more special forms and shapes already tooled (like the you can spec — 34,816 times over. examples down below) ...plus Cherry will produce any design your 2. Only Cherry—with 25 years of snap switch application needs. The standard actuators alone range from as experience— could offer such a lollapaloosa at high as 400 grams operating force at 15 amps to an operating the right price., with the right delivery dates. force as low as 2grams at 3amps. 3. You need our complete catalog...and Example: Our miniature comes in your choice of five (count free sample switch. Just call...write...or them!) five ratings— from 0.1 amp gold crosspoint contacts... to a TWX ... say "Lollapaloosa!"... and we'll send full 15 amps. With 3, 5and 10 amps in between. you both. Free. No strings.

CHERRY ELECTRICAL PRODUCTS CORP. Sunset Avenue, Waukegan. IL 60085-312/689-7700—TWX 912/235-1572 Circle 1 on reader service card Low-cost hard disk are here 11 megabytes of hard disk and 64 kilobytes of fast RAM in a Z80A for under $10K. Two floppy drives, too. Naturally, it's from Cromemco.

It's a reality. In Cromemco's new microcomputer field. Software Cro- Included in that cabinet, too, is Model Z-2H you get all of the above memco is known for. Software like Cromemco ruggedness and reliability. and even more. With Cromemco you this: Cromemco is time-proved. Our get it all. • Extended BASIC equipment is a survey winner for In this new Model Z-2H you get • FORTRAN IV reliability. Of course, there's Cro- not only a large-storage Winchester • RATFOR (RATional FORtran) mennco's all-metal cabinet. Rugged, but also two floppy • COBOL solid. And, there's the heavy-duty disk drives. In the hard disk drive you • Z80 Macro Assembler power supply (30A @ 8V, 15A @ get unprecedented storage capacity • Word Processing System +18 V, and 15A @ —18V) for cir- at this price-11 megabytes unfor- • Data Base Management cuitry you'll sooner or later want to plug into those free card slots. matted. with more coming all the time. You get speed—both in the 4MHz Z80A and in the fast SMALL, RUGGED, RELIABLE CALL NOW 64K RAM which has a chip access With all its features the new Z-2H, With its high performance and low time of only 150 nanoseconds. You including its hard disk drive, is still price you KNOW this new Z-2H is get speed in the computer minimum housed in just one small cabinet. going to be a smash. Look into it instruction execution time of 1micro- right now. Contact your Cromemco second. You get speed in the hard computer store and get our sales disk transfer rate of 5.6 megabits/sec. literature. Find out when you can see it. Many dealers will be showing EXPANDABILITY the Z-2H soon—and you'll want to You get expandability, too. The be there when they do. high-speed RAM can be expanded to 512 kilobytes if you wish. And the computer has afull 12-slot PRESENT CROMEMCO USERS card cage you can use for additional We've kept you in mind, too. Ask RAM and interface cards. about the new Model HDD Disk Drive which can combine with your

BROADEST SOFTWARE SUPPORT Hard disk drive at lower left can be inter- present Cromemco computer to give changed just by sliding out and disconnecting you up to 22 megabytes of disk With the Z-2H you also get the plug. Seven free card slots are available. storage. broadest software support in the Z-2H includes printer interface card. Cromemco in c or p or a t e d 280 BERNARDO AVE., MOUNTAIN VIEW, CA 94040 • (415) 964-7400 Tomorrow's computers now Circle 2 on reader service carda Electronics The International Magazine of Electronics Technology Vol. 52, No. 16 •August 2, 1979

41 Electronics Review Highlights COMMUNICATIONS: Echo-canceling chip opens up use of satellites, 41 RESEARCH: Panel calls for university R&D in materials, 42 Cover Maturing bubbles take diverse forms, 99 AUTOMOTIVE: Ford dashboards get electronic look, 43 The architectural options for magnetic BUBBLE MEMORIES: Bell Labs shows off 11.5 -megabit chip, 44 bubble memory devices represent compro- MANAGEMENT: RCA Solid State adds adash of Pepper. 46 SATELLITES: AT&T has chance at new services, 50 mises in access speeds, voltage require- NEWS BRIEFS: 50 ments, control-circuit complexities, and INTEGRATED CIRCUITS: Bipolar TRW chip has 1-jim linewidths, 52 packaging. As memory makers prepare to 65 Electronics International bring out 4-megabit and larger chips, they WEST GERMANY: Electronic unit optimizes fuel injection, ignition, 69 must meet these problems head on. EUROPE: Growing laser, optoelectronics markets indicated, 70 Cover photograph is by Don Carroll. JAPAN: Benefits of digital control come to one-loop systems, 72 GREAT BRITAIN: The British Post Office moves into fiber optics, 74 Changes likely in Communications Act, 88 83 Probing the News Rep. Lionel Van Deerlin (D., Calif.) has COMMUNICATIONS: Britain gambles on System X, 82 watered down his legislative proposals— Bell legislation takes a new tack, 88 COMPANIES: Growing pains for , 92 from complete replacement of the 1934 CONSUMER ELECTRONICS: Tape plays agrowth tune, 94 Communications Act to less ambitious 99 Technical Articles amendments. As a result, chances for MEMORY: Bubble memories come to the boil, 99 enactment by this Congress have improved. PACKAGING: 100,000 chips fit where 6,000 fit before, 109 DESIGNER'S CASEBOOK: Current source drives automatized loads, 116 Multilayer packaging meets LSI challenge, 109 Counter banks stagger radar's pulse rate, 117 Nine chips in single 23-layer carrier mounted Modulating the flyback inverter reduces supply's bulk, 119 on cards and boards with 7 to 16 layers SOLID STATE: ECL byte-slice parts attain system speeds, 120 COMMUNICATION: Data-encryption unit accesses memory directly, 126 increase chip density of IBM mainframe DATA ACQUISITION: Low-glitch d-a inverter lowers parts count, 131 computers more than 15 times. ENGINEER'S NOTEBOOK: Separating data, addresses on 488 , 136 8080 makes relative jumps, 137 LSI lets ECL show its speed, 120 CALCULATOR'S NOTES: HP-25 program speeds cost estimates, 138 Emitter-coupled logic is faster than TTL at 141 New Products the gate level, but limited density has dimin- IN THE SPOTLIGHT: Capacitance meter spans nine ranges, 141 ished this advantage with interconnect DATA ACQUISITION: 4-bit a-d converter runs at 30 MHz, 144 delays. Fairchild's new 8-bit-slice mainframe COMPONENTS: Zinc oxide makes varistors better, 146 COMMUNICATIONS: CCD camera has high resolution, 150 parts give ECL its head. INSTRUMENTS: Logic-state analyzer has three clocks, 151 .. . and in the next issue Departments Publisher's letter, 4 A special report on peripheral integrated Readers' comments, 6 circuits .. . a direct-step-on-wafer reduc- Editorial, 12 ing photolithographic technique People, 14 Meetings, 30 Electronics newsletter, 35 Washington newsletter, 57 Washington commentary, 58 International newsletter, 65 Engineer's newsletter, 140 Products newsletter, 153 Services Employment opportunities, 154 Reprints available, 160 Reader service card, 163

Electronics/August 2, 1979 3 Electronics Publisher's letter A tantalizing glimpse of the future growth of the market may very well of new bubble memory technolo- be slowed by the lack of enough gy was provided at the recent Second experienced engineers. In fact, the EDITOR-IN-CHIEF: Kemp Anderson Joint Intermag — Magnetism and shortage is already apparent, the Magnetic Materials Conference in authors concede. EXECUTIVE EDITOR: Samuel Weber New York (p. 44), where one techni

MANAGING EDITORS: Arthur Erikson, cal spectacular followed another. It (Vice again Great Britain is turning Gerald M. Walker is a future that promises severe chal- to electronics technology to help lenges— for example, how to orga- the country compete in the interna- ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITORS: Howard Wolff, Alfred Rosenblatt nize chips designed to contain 16 tional marketplace. Having begun to million bits of memory. But even as make itself heard in semiconductors SENIOR EDITORS: William F. Arnold, Ray Connolly researchers unveil their startling with the formation of Inmos, the innovations, users in the real world British lion is now roaring after digi- ART DIRECTOR Fred Sklenar are just beginning to step over the tal telecommunications.

ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Michael J. Riezenman threshold of applications. London bureau manager Kevin The cover article in this issue Smith's story on System X (p. 83) DEPARTMENT EDITORS (p. 99) provides a good overview of Aerospace/Military. Ray Connolly underscores the UK's vital interest in Circuit Design: Vincent Biancomano the bubble memory devices that are exporting the digital telephone sys- Communications & Microwave: now moving into the marketplace. tem that is being installed now in its Harvey J. Hindin Computers & Peripherals: Anthony Durniak As co-author George Reyling, man- domestic exchanges. One of the Consumer & Industrial: John Javetski ager of bubble memory subsystems interesting sidelights of the British Test, Measurement & Control: for National Semiconductor Corp., conversion to digital technology is Richard W. Comerford Microsystems & Software: John G. Posa Santa Clara, Calif., points out, the the change in procurement proce- New Products: Michael J. Riezenman, truly high-volume applications of dures dictated by the magnitude of Pamela Hamilton bubble memories are not yet known. the undertaking. Instead of compet- Packaging & Production: Jerry Lyman Solid State: Raymond P. Capece "The first uses appear to be as ing, the equipment suppliers had to

CHIEF COPY EDITOR: Margaret Eastman replacements for disk storage, but make cooperative efforts, each sup-

COPY EDITORS: Mike Robinson. this application may be afalse lead," plying amodule for the total system. Charlotte Wiggers, Jeremy Young he says. "I think that, as with micro- "Competitive development pro- ART: Charles D. Ciatto, Associate Director processors, the volume sales will be grams were ruled out," Kevin Paula Piazza, Assistant Director for products not anticipated today." reports, "a procedure that may be EDITORIAL SECRETARIES: Janet Noto, Reyling, with seven years of expe- repeated in other European countries Maryann Tusa rience in , represents faced with the same problems." EDITORIAL ASSISTANT: Penny Reitman. the user's view in National's bubble To help export System X, the Post Marilyn B. Steinberg memory program. Co-author Peter Office has formed a consortium REGIONAL EDITORS New York: Benjamin A. Mason (212) 997-2245 George, as manager of bubble- called British Telecommunications Boston: James B. Brinton (617) 262-1160 memory design, concentrates on the Systems Ltd. Its first test will be Chicago: Larry Marion (312) 751-3805 physical details. how much interest System X attracts Dallas: Wesley R. Iversen (214) 742-1747 Los Angeles: Larry Waller (213) 487-1160 Involved in bubble-chip design at the telecommunications exhibition Palo Alto: William F. Arnold, Manager; since 1971, George observes, "In the in Geneva next month. Bruce LeBoss, Computers & Instruments next four years we will see 16-mega- (415) 968-2712 Washington: Ray Connolly (202) 624-7592 bit bubble-memory chips using the Frankfurt: John Gosch 72-5566 contiguous-disk technique." London: Kevin Smith 493-1451 Paris: Arthur Erikson, As more companies get into bub- Kenneth Dreyfack 720-20-70 ble memory design and production, Tokyo: Charles Cohen 581-9816

McGRAW-HILL WORLD NEWS August 2. 19/9 Volume 52. Numb, IV 00,84 1, opes uf Mus ,ssue printed

Editor: Michael Johnson Electronics (iSSN C013 5070) Published every other Thursday by James E Hackett. Controller. Thomas H King, Manufacturing. John W Brussels: James Smith McGraw Hill. Inc Founder James H McGraw 1860 1948 Publication Patten, Sales. Edward E Schirmer, International office 1221 Avenue ol the Americas, NY. NY 10020. second Class Officers of the Corporation Harold W McGraw. Jr ,President. Chiel Milan: Jeff Ryser Postage paid at New York. N Y and additiOnal mailing offices Executive Officer. and Chairman of the Board. Robert N L andes. Senior Moscow: Peter Hann Executive, editorial, circulation and advertising addresses Electronics. Vice President and Secretary. Ralph J Webb. Treasurer McGraw HIM Building, 1221 Avenue of the Americas. New York NY Title registered in U S Patent Office. COpyrighte 1979 by McGraw Hill, Stockholm: Robert Skole 10020 Telephone (212)997.1221 Teletype 12 7%0 TWO 710 581 4879 Inc All rights reserved The contents ol this publication may not be Cable address MCGRAWHIt L NE WYORK reproduced in whole or in part without he consent of copyright owner Tokyo: Rober E. Lee Subscriptions Smiled to prolessional persons with active responsibility Where necessary, permission is granted by the COpyrighl owner for in electronics technology No subscriptions accepted without complete libraries and others registered with the Copyright Clearance Center identification of subscriber name, title or job function, company or organ (CCC) to Photocopy any article herein for the base fee of $0 50 per copy PUBLISHER: Paul W. Reiss iration, and product manulactured or services performed Based on 01 the article plus SO 25 per page Payment should be sent directly to the information supplied, the publisher reserves the right to reject non CCC Copying done tor other than personal or internal relerence use qualified requests Subscription rates in the United Slates and posses without he express permission of McGraw Hilt is prohibited Requests or GENERAL MANAGER, DIRECT MARKETING sions Sit one year. $29 two years. $43 three years. company addressed special permission or bulk orders should be addressed to the publisher and company libraries $23 one year. $41 two years $5/3 three years. ISSN 0013.5070/79U %F. 25 OPERATIONS: Horace T Howland APO,FPO addressed $35 one year only Canada and Mexico $19 one Subscribers The publisher, upon written request to our New York year. $32 two years 547 three years Europe $46 one year. 578 two Office from any subscriber, agrees to refund that parr of Inc subscription CIRCULATION MANAGER: Herbert A. Hunter years. $110 three years. Japan. Israel and Brazil $70 one year $115 two price applying to copies not yet Mailed Please send change ol-address years. 5165 three years. Australia and New Zealand $95 one year. $170 notices or complaints to Fulfillment Manager. Subscription orders lo RESEARCH MANAGER: Margery D. Sholes Iwo years 5240 three years including air freight all other countries $50 Circulation Manager. Electronics. at address below Change eaddress one year. $85 two years. $125 three years Limited quota of subscriptions notices should provide old as well as new address, including zip codes MARKETING ADMINISTRATION MANAGER: available at higher Man-basic rate lor persons allied lo field served Attach address label from recent issue Allow one month for change to Frances M. Vallone Check with publisher tor these rates Single copies $4 00 Please allow become effective Subscriber Service call (609) 448.8110, 9 a m to 4 our to eight weeks for shipment p m EST BOOKS & SPECIAL PROJECTS MANAGER: Officers of McGraw Hill Publications Company Gordon L Jones, Postmaster Please send form 3579 to Fulfillment Manager, Electron• President, Group Vice Presidents Daniel A McMillan, James E Boddort ics. P 0 Box 430. Hightstown. N J 08520 Janet Eyler Senior vice Presidents Ralph R Schutz, Editorial Vice-Presidents

4 Electronics/August 2, 1979 KEPCO bipolar power

you can control it through zero, linearly

+ + d-c VOLTS

ZERO -TIME UP TO 3 VOLTS PER MICROSECOND

- d-c VOLTS

4ige .....duresairmegflegRONONWPW"

«derdleiTe' Aogree ~ di"

MM.

•

C.fee

• :7)

TWO NEW MODELS MODEL VOLTS AMPS BOP 50-2M ± 50V ± 2A BOP 100-1M ±100V ±1A other models: ±15V, ±- 36V, ±72V KEPC0,, For complete specifications, write Dept. AH F-14

KEPCO, INC. •131-38 SANFORD AVENUE •FLUSHING, N.Y. 11352 U.S.A. •(212) 461-7000 •TWX #710-582-2631 •Cable: KEPCOPOWER NEWYORK Circle 5 on reader service card World's most popular — DRIVING Readers' comments Spreading the word AN To the Editor: On behalf of 6800 users, I would like to make the MONOBLOC® ULTRASONIC following widely known. The 6800 instruction CLR (memo- Ceramic TRANSDUCER? ry) performs a read memory before storing zero. This can lead—indeed has led for me—to serious debugging headaches if the memory in question The ENI Model 1040L Power is the output register of aperipheral- Amplifier was designed as interface adapter and the interrupt the ultimate wideband power flags of the control register are source for ultrasonic appli- therefore inadvertently reset. cations. Capable of produc- Iimagine other users, too, imple- ing more than 400 watts of ment special-purpose interfaces that continuous output into any perform separate operations on read- ultrasonic transducer, the ing out of and writing into particular Model 1040L covers the memory locations. CLR seems on the Temperature surface to be a useful way of gener- frequency range of 10kHz Compensating ating a write into memory without to 1MHz without tuning. disturbing the accumulators, but it Stable and becomes a trap if the "phantom" General Purpose read is undesirable. M. J. Randall ERIE Red Cap Monobloc* Wellington, New Zealand Ceramic Capacitors are in a • quality class by themselves More than meets the eye and today represent astandard of excellence unequalled in To the Editor: The letter from J. W. the industry. Pehoushek in the April 26 issue on Monobloc elements, Its exclusive true reading revamping plan-view displays solid structures of fused ceramic, power meter, make matching ["Waste as savings?" p. 6] was good are produced in awide range of and ultrasonic system cali- but not the complete story. It could capacitance values, charac- bration easy and accurate. be another "Big Brother strikes teristics and sizes. They offer inherent stability with conservative With fail-safe reliability, un- again," but not this time. The power voltage ratings for long, trouble- savings is indeed 450 watts; however, conditional stability, 100% free life. there are about 47 PVDs per center, solid state componentry and The combination of Monobloc extremely rugged construc- rather than the 20 he estimates. and "Weecon> "capacitors, under First, what kills solid-state circuits tion the 1040L is the best the famous Red Cap name, more than heat? Less heat means provide circuit engineers with ultrasonic power source you more reliability, which means fewer unlimited design flexibility. can buy. parts used over time, less mainte- For detailed information nance, and less downtime per PVD. Best delivery in the or ano obligation demon- Second, what do you do with this industry for these popular stration contact: extra 450 watts of heat times 47 Z5U values ... Electronic Navigation PvDs? Remove it by air condition- .1 .47 .68 1.0 2.2 4.7 p. F. Industries, Inc. ing—what else? The power savings alone of 450 3000 Winton Road South II Capacitance range watts for each PVD with a$1 million 100 pF. thru 7.5 i.LF. Rochester, New York 14623 expenditure looks out of reason, but II 25, 50, 100, 200, 500 Volts Tel. 1716)473-6900 we are working with a complete • Broadest range of TC Telex 97-8283 ENI ROC system. Making it better at an over- all cost savings is the end result. materials and tolerances Frank J. Ammel Write for catalog 8100 Lenexa, Kansas Righting the record Er-11 To the Editor: Several errors were The World's Leader introduced in my article "Reducing ERIE TECHNOLOGICAL PRODUCTS, INC. in Power Amplifiers Pu.'s even-order harmonics" [April State College, Pa. 16802 814-237-1431

6 Circle 6 on reader service card Electronics/August 2, 1979 or' -gar\

Use our 532 stand-alone. Or lath ascope. Operate it from aterminal. It portable.

The best way to troubleshoot a microcomputer is with another But that's not all. Software signature analysis on 32 channels microcomputer. Ours. is astandard feature. Options include RS-232 and IEEE-488 The Paratronics Model 532 looks like alogic state analyzer. interfaces, aserial communication test probe, and additional But it's more. It's really apowerful microcomputer programmed program space for defining special functions. to perform logic analysis functions. Our Model 532 will solve your design, production test, and With 32 channels, 21 triggering modes, and adeep, high- servicing problems. Contact us for ano-obligation evaluation speed trace memory, you can debug systems based on 8-bit or the unit from one of our local sales offices. Or write for our free, latest breed of 16-bit microprocessors. illustrated booklet, "Check It Again, Sam." See for yourself how Since the Model 532 is amicrocomputer, it's smart and easy our microcomputer can help yours. to use. For example, you can store your tests in RAM or aset of Paratronics Inc., 122 Charcot Ave., San Jose, CA 95131 UV PROMS for automatic playback. Our analyzer even (408) 263-2252/TWX: 910-338-0201 remembers front panel settings so you don't have to. Outside California—Call Toll Free: (800) 538-9713

PARATRONICS INC. DEBUGGING MICROCOMPUTERS? It takes one to know one.

Tim ,hlorlei 5i2 Lop State Analyzer. aIst11 blown mt‘ nxemputer fee ',nil Smso• (pin, probe, Jna'apttoru .1 . prue only

\ #001tellealle1b, \slur :: t

W.0 Wii‘efrrie 14q1e.misgee

For additional information 4 For a demonstration 7 New possibilities for your Printed Circuit Between $18,000 to $45,000 Simply input ideas Board Readers' comments with Joystick or iFr Graphic tablet WIMA Miniature 12, p. 150], and Iwish to point out the major ones.

Capacitors In paragraph 2, it is the output of ART the divider and not the output of the voltage-controlled oscillator that is compared with the input frequency at the loop's phase detector. In para-

graph 3, the modulation index can- THE not be calculated directly from the equation given, although reducing Computer does work, 6800

100- 00(s) does reduce the sideband noise. OF you do the thinking WimA In paragraph 4, the addition of capacitor C' makes the filter a second-order type, not a third-order one. The bandwidth and damping are not, as stated in paragraph 7, filter characteristics, but loop pa-

0,1 rameters. Further, a reduction in STATE 63 - WIMA harmonic output does not necessarily decrease the range over which the phase-locked loop will operate. Finally, in order to make sense of Instant Recall: Add or delete the curves in (d), the following entire blocks of drawings with explanation is required. If a PLL one command frequency multiplier having adamp- ing factor of 1.2 and a bandwidth of 100 Hz is needed, a standard WIMA MKS 2 second-order loop must be designed to meet the specifications. But it will with aPCM of 5mm be found that the loop's output contains excessive phase jitter. The new miniatures from WIMA help Therefore the loop must be redesign- you to save space on your Printed ed with adamping factor of 2.2. Circuit Boards and can be utilised To determine N, and thus C', we everywhere. They are the smallest first calculate R = r2,7- 3)/(5(r i, plastic cased, metallised polyester Plotter gives camera ready 7-2). Given a required damping of 1.2 art in minutes Capacitors available. and adesigned damping of 2.2, R = Capacitance values 0.01 —0.47 biF 0.55. From (d) then, N = 21.2.

(1 e.iF with 75 mm PCM.) Thus 7- 3 = r2/N and C' = r3 R2. WIMA FKS 2from 1000 pF. R. P. Leck All capacitors are resistant to Holmdel, N. J. DRAFTING-ADVANCED moisture. Lower Please ask for To the Editor: The article about low- our special voltage operational amplifiers in the catalogue. May 10 issue r`C-mOS touch given micros, op amps," p. 44] says that Only at ICorporation WILH. WESTERMANN the Intersil amplifiers can run on AIDED Order yours today! Spezialvertneb elektron. Bauelemente supplies "as low as ±0.5 volt— P. O. Box 2345 • D-6800 Mannheim 1 significantly less than the ± 1-v * PC Layout Fed. Rep. of Germany bipolar op-amp design touted by * Schematic * Mechanical U.S. Sales Offices: National Semiconductor Corp." Ac- * Hybrid BOSL & ROUNDY • 3333, Delray Drive tually, as indicated on the data Ft. Wayne • Indiana 46815 (219) 483-3378 sheet, the LMIO runs on ±0.6 y at 25°C and on ±0.65 v over the full (415) 848-6600 THE INTER-TECHNICAL GROUP INC. North Dearman Street • P. 0. Box 23 military temperature range. Corporation Irvington New York 10533 Robert Pease (914) 591-8822 National Semiconductor Corp. TAW ELECTRONICS CO. Santa Clara, Calif. 835 Addison Street 4215 W. Burbank Blvd., Burbank Berkeley, CA 94710 California 91505 • (213) 846-3911 COMPUTER

8 Circle 8 on reader service card Circle 165 on reader service card aNEW laboratory TM system so good you'll want it 7111

tttttt

SUPERIOR SOFTWARE • Benchmark tests show TWO to TH REE times the system thruput over existing laboratory systems. E Better human engineering makes the system easier to use. • FIRSTLAB software is upward com- patible to larger PDP II "s. \

DIGITAL EQUIPMENT CORPORATION® FIELD SUPPORT NEAR YOUR SITE • Digital Equipment Corporation ,the manufacturer of the PDP I "s. has worldwide facilities for installation and field service. o The Real-Time FIRST'LaB" Software is backed up by Digital Equipment Corporation software sup- port people and includes software THE BEST OF BOTH WORLDS update services for one year.

you'll want it NO OTHER LABORATORY SYSTEM FIRST because: IN THIS PRICE RANGE CAN COME NEAR FIRSTLAB PERFORMANCE. u proven hardware u For complete details on our bench- a superior software mark tests and specifications. write E worldwide installation & service to FIRST. Li the best price/performance Cl Ask other manufacturers for their benchmark figures and compare them PROVEN HARDWARE with ours. Tens of thousands of PDP 1I "'s are o then — after you have compared them all. successfully operating all over the world. FIRSTLAB is afamily of PDP II " laboratory systems. ranging from the you'll want FIRSTLAB smallest to the largest configuration. FIRST because IT'S THE BEST!

Dept. E-L-79( LI-A )

'Registered trademark of Digital Equipment Corporation, Maynard, Mass.

Trademark of First Computer Corporation

TWX NUMBER 910-651-1916 Circle 9 on reader service card Emst computer corporation corporate square/825 north casa avenue /westmont, 60559/(312) 920.1050 Rockwell is more than

Over 100 lbs. the builder of lighter than competitive axles million-mile axles. in its class. Much more.

The SQHP has optional aluminum castings that save another 90 lbs. for maximum payload and revenue dollars.

industries. Following are some exam- You may have heard Rockwell ples of our balanced diversification. International referred to as "the com- pany that makes heavy-duty truck Automotive. components." Our SQHP tandem (Salmo. fiscal 1978: $1.5 billion.) truck axle is aprime example of our One-half of the highway tan- automotive capabilities; it's designed dem tractors in North America are to go over amillion miles in line-haul equipped with Rockwell axles — and service, and half amillion miles with- more than half of the heavy-duty out amajor overhaul. We can pro- trucks stop with Rockwell brakes. duce products like this because we We're also amajor supplier of drive- operate the country's largest inde- lines, steel and styled aluminum pendent automotive components wheels, mechanical devices, castings, research facility. stainless steel wheel covers, reinforced Providing components for the plastic and other components for land transportation industry, how- trucks, trailers, buses, vans and The Shuttl e orbiter's 1978 operating income cavernou scargo bay passenger cars. measures 6Ojeet long by 15. fret Aerospace. in diamete r. (Sales, fiscal 1978: $1.4 billion.)

We're prime contractor to NASA for its Space Shut- 1978 total sales tle orbiters and their main ever, is only one of Rockwell's busi- engines, and nesses. Rockwell International is a for major multi-industry company, apply- ing advanced technology to awide range of products — in automotive, integrating the entire Space Shuttle aerospace, electronics and general system including selected payloads. lo Recently an additional $1.9 billion Worldwide, Rockwell-Goss presses has been added to our existing NASA General Industries. are serving publishers in more than (Sales, fiscal 1078, 31.5 billion.) contract to complete the initial fleet of 80 countries. Shuttle orbiters. Rockwell is one of the world's largest suppliers of high-technology Over 14,300 scientists Electronics. valves for the energy market and for (Sales. fiscal 1978: *1 .3 billion.) and engineers. general industry. Our extensive We're one of the world's leading technology is also being applied to Of our 114,000 employees, suppliers of avionics — communica- the world's growing need for alternate one in eight is either ascientist or an tions, navigation and flight control sources of energy. We're involved in engineer. They constitute about one equipment for air transport, general projects for nuclear energy, coal percent of America's total scientific- aviation, and government aircraft. gasification, flue gas desulfurization, engineering community. This We also make and solar, wind and geothermal technological base positions us for power. We also make printing leadership in each of our product presses, textile equipment, industrial areas. It also makes our corporate Rockwell-built sewing machines, power tools and slogan, "... where science gets microwave systems are products for utilities. down to business," afact. improving Speaking of our printing comMUnications presses, most of America's big news- Business is good. worldwide. papers are printed on them. The list of major American dailies that are Rockwell printed on Rockwell-Goss Metroliner International's total presses alone reads like aWho's Who sales for 1978 were of newspapers. Another Rockwell- $5.67 billion. microelectronic Goss press, the Signature Fiscal 1978 was the systems and devices HV, is designed most profitable year and guidance and to give smaller newspapers in Rockwell's his- control systems. and commercial printers unprece- tory. Net income, And we manufacture dented speed and flexibility. up 23% over and install telecommunications systems fiscal 1977, was for businesses and governments Today our $176.6 million, worldwide. Metroliner offers generating a As amatter of fact, we're one of improved reproduction, record the nation's largest independent speed and economy to major $5.02 suppliers of microwave daily newspapers. per share. systems for trans- mission of tele- Earnings phone calls, televi- per share sion pictures and computerized data. For more of the We've Rockwell story, please write us: been making Rockwell International, and installing Dept. 815G, 600 Grant Street, microwave sys- Pittsburgh, PA 15219. tems for over 25 years, and our many customers include telephone companies, Rockwell pipeline companies, rail- International roads, U.S. and foreign government agencies and the Public Broadcasting Service. ...where science gets down to business Electronics/August 2, 1979 Circle 11 on reader service card 11 Editorial_

The IEEE talks, but who listens?

Why is it that hardly anyone in Washington softer language. "It is too hysterical to merit listens when the Institute of Electrical and serious consideration," contends one Senate Electronics Engineers addresses issues of law staffer. "I am surprised that aprofessional and economics? It is because the IEEE is society like the IEEE is coming on like this. widely regarded as politically naive. And that In one breath they say they recognize that assessment, unfortunately, is avalid one. the law needs to be changed, and in th çnext The IEEE Committee on Telecommunications that they want to retain an economic status Policy demonstrated its naivete late last quo. What's worse, they want to turn back month when it urged the House and Senate the clock and grant antitrust exceptions in not to tinker with the existing structure of the name of protecting 'the network'." Bell Telephone Laboratories on the grounds Certainly Bell Labs is aphenomenon of that it is "a major and irreplaceable national electronics technology that would be difficult resource." It asked that American Telephone to replace. But it is not irreplaceable. Nor is & Telegraph Co. and other telecommunications the Bell telephone network the "fragile and companies be exempt from antitrust laws so complex entity" that the IEEE'S committee that they might perform "the coordination would have the Congress believe. necessary to continue effective planning, The leadership of the IEEE should move technological improvement, and management quickly to dissociate itself from the naive of the telecommunications network." claims of the Committee on Telecommuni- "Adolescent rubbish" is the term used by cations Policy. For in anational capital where one congressional committee staffer to hundreds of position papers on as many issues characterize the IEEE presentation. Other pour in daily, it is an unfortunate fact of life legislative sources now immersed in the that the misguided views of that committee revision of the 1934 Communications Act are being viewed as the position of the IEEE are expressing similar judgments, albeit in as awhole.

A timely idea deserving consideration

The four-day, 40-hour week is an idea whose good sense in lopping 20% off the amount time has come now that the seemingly of commuting that must be done—and perpetual gasoline shortage has moved in. President Carter has made conservation one That's the message from the American of the cornerstones of his energy policy—it Electronics Association, which is trying to appears that the Pentagon has no intention persuade President Carter to intervene. of taking any waivers lying down. The attitude Why involve the President? Well, it seems at the Department of Defense is that the that the Walsh-Healey Public Contracts Act AEA'S suggestion is not to be taken seriously in effect bars Government contractors from because its implementation would open acan switching to the four-day week. Actually, a of worms at the Pentagon—clamor for a section of the law mandates overtime pay for four-day week by civilian employees. any hours over eight worked each day; AEA The attitude of the military is ashame, chairman Noel Fenton, president of Acurex particularly in light of the commander in Corp., Mountain View, Calif., has wired the chief's adjuration to use less gasoline. The President asking for awaiver of that clause. AEA'S request is one that deserves to be given While the shorter week makes marvelous aserious hearing.

12 Electronics/August 2, 1979 Finally, you can have all the advantages of DMMs and none of the disadvantages of analogs for about the same price. ‘ithi • Our new 169 is atough, lightweight, battery- powered digital multimeter for use in the field or on the bench. It is a3 /12 -digit, full 5-function DMM with respect- able .25% DC accuracy. Its low-parts-count, high-efficiency design keeps power consumption to aminimum for longer component life and fewer failures. MTBF is 20,000 hrs. or about 10 years. 10 All 5functions are fully protected-1400V peak on DCV and ACV, 300 V on fl, 2A (250V) on ou ve pi' DCAfor quick and replacement. ACA. The fuse Extensive is externally vibration accessible stress- Y testing assures the 169 will stand up to all the mechanical shock and abuse normally associated with tough

y our ast Cost-conscious ease of maintenance is so thoroughly designed into the 169 that only one calibration adjustment ayear is required. That adds up to acost-of-ownership no other competitive needle • DMM can touch. For example, the 169 needs only one battery change per year at acost of about $3.50. Its nearest competitor requires 10 changes costing three times as much. When you factor in features like function and range annunciation right on the display, auto-zero, auto polarity, 60% larger display than other DMMs and the easy-to-read, color coded front panel, KEITH LEY we think you'll get the point. No analog meter or Keithley Instruments, Inc. Keithley Instruments, GmbH DMM can match the price/performance of the new 28775 Aurora Road Heiglhofstrasse 5 169. It costs $149. Cleveland, Ohio 44139 D 8000 München 70 12161248-0400 WEST GERMANY For information on the 169 or any Keithley Telex: 98-5469 10891714-40-65 DMM call (800) 321-0560 Telex:184115212160

Telex: 98-5469. In Ohio, Keithley Instruments SARL Keithley Instruments Ltd. call (216) 248-0400. 44, Rue Anatole France 1, Boulton Road F-91121 Palaiseau Cedex GB-Reading, Berkshire RG2 ONL Circle #12 for literature FRANCE UNITED KINGDOM Circle #13 for demonstration 1011014-22-06 10734186-12-87 Telex:18421204188 Telex:18511847047 Price U.S.A. only. Peoplt

Mark Shavit to direct and test and measurement equip- ment in Israel. Lambda's subsidiary in Israel Home grown. Shavit is high on Lambda's manufacturing capabili- As general manager of Lambda ties, and its ability to respond quick- Electronics Inc.'s new power supply ly to market needs. Perhaps even development and manufacturing fa- more important, he is confident cility in Israel, Mark Shavit is out to about the quality of the engineering make it big in Europe. "Our and manufacturing team that he will mandate is to meet European draw from Israel's engineering com- NEW requirements, whether in production munity. "My country's experience in or engineering," he says, "and we power supply techniques comes pri- JEDEC Standard hope to come up with original and marily from military electronics ac- cost-effective designs." tivity—you can be sure it's very "Chip Carrier" Currently getting to know the highly developed here," he says in Test Sockets parent company at its headquarters his slightly accented English. "We in Melville, N. Y., Shavit will fly have had to meet very Draconian VERSATILE TEXTOOL SERIES back to Israel in September, amonth specs with respect to heat dissipation ACCEPTS ALL JEDEC STANDARD before opening a modest 17,000- and environmental requirements." CHIP CARRIERS square-foot facility in Carmiel, But will he be able to apply this to This versatile new TEXTOOL "chip carrier" about a50-minute drive northeast of the standard off-the-shelf products test socket series includes off-the-shelf Haifa. Five years or so off for the that are Lambda's forte? "We will models to accept all JEDEC Standard carriers new Lambda Electronics (1979) with from 16 to 84 leads and body sizes up use our brains," he says quietly. to and including 1.250" square on .050" Ltd. is growth to 100,000 ft' of space "The combination of our smarts and centers. and a $20 million-to-$25 million Lambda's marketing and manufac- In addition, only minor tooling changes business, mostly for export to Eu- turing system should do very well." allow the socket also to accept JEDEC Stan- dard .040" center packages or virtually any rope. Shavit has several reasons for other non-standard chip carrier. believing such growth possible. A positive locking system enables No tariffs. "We Israeli engineers loading and unloading literally with the Zilog's systems approach fingers. A new lid design have an advantage over American allows the same engineers in dealing with Europe," will be broadened by Sweet socket to accept he explains. "We are more accus- packages rang- ing from .050 tomed to meeting the diversity of Zilog Inc.'s new director of market- to .100" thick. requirements among the countries ing, Bill Sweet, is deliberately interchangeably. there. We have been fighting to get a biased. He and the team he has put Other significant foothold in this market for years." features of TEX - together are out to bring a heavier TOOL'S new "chip carrier" sockets include Another plus is that his exports from systems orientation to what he alid design that eliminates shorting against Israel, an associate member of the regards as the largely component- contacts or P.C. board and which will not separate from the socket body under nor- Common Market, will be admitted biased view of the microprocessor mal usage, integral mounting holes and to Europe tariff-free. and microcomputer maker based in minimum lid overhang at the back of the Shavit's youthful look belies both Cupertino, Calif. socket to permit maximum P.C. board mounting density. his 50 years and his extensive experi- Sweet feels that a better balance All TEXTOOL "chip carrier" sockets ence, which he gained in the U. S. as between systems and components is are ideally suited for both test and burn- well as Israel, his birthplace. His necessary. "As the microprocessor in applications and are available in a wide variety of materials to meet specific test bachelor's and master's degrees in market matures, things like software requirements. electrical engineering came from the and documentation are what in- Detailed information on these and Massachusetts Institute of Technolo- fluence the sale," he says. Hardware, other products in a wide choice of mate- gy, Cambridge, Mass. In 1961, at readily available, will become less of rials from TEXTOOL ... IC, MS! and LSI sockets and carriers, power semiconductor age 32, he was one of the founders of afactor. In Sweet's view the custom- test sockets, and custom versions .. . is Signetics Corp.—as he points out, er will soon be saying, "Don't tell me available from your nearest TEXTOOL sales the first company to specialize in representative or the factory direct. about your hardware. You have to integrated circuits. (He was known tell me about your Fortran, your then as Mark Weissenstern, a name Cobol compiler." he changed to Shavit upon returning The 36-year-old Sweet comes by to Israel in 1965.) For the last eight his systems orientation from close to years he has worked at the level of 12 years in sales and marketing posi- managing director and vice president tions. He was marketing director for PRODUCTS, INC. for subsidiaries of American elec- National's microcomputer systems 1410W Pioneer Drive •Irving. Texas 75061 tronics firms making operations for two years and held 214/259-2676

14 Circle 414 on reader service card Electronics/August 2, 1979 GI offers the advantages of RAM Data can be stored and recalled in the EAROM cells up to 10' times. and EAROM With fast read and write times coupled with a non- volatile memory, the ER1711 opens new application options. in asingle chip. Examples: business machines and instruments where con- stantly changing data must be retained in a power off Now there's aRAM that retains its data status; and any microprocessor based system where apor- in a power-down situation without the tion of the memory must be retained to insure its operat- need for abackup battery. The mating ing functions. of a RAM with an EAROM in a single If you have specific application questions, or would low-cost chip—the ER1711 — has created a whole new like complete specifications on the ER1711 RAM/ EAROM world of design possibilities. write or call General Instrument In normal operation, the ER1711 is a 256 x4-bit static Microelectronics, RAM with afast 900ns read or write time. At power on/ power 600 West John Street, off/ power fail occurrences, single pulse programming con- Hicksville, N.Y. 11802, trols the data flow to and from the RAM and EAROM cells. 516-733-3192.

We help you compete.

GENERAL INSTRUMENT CORPORATION MICROELECTRONICS El People • ELMITRONS you want now Systematic. With minimakers as competi- for your multi-colour tors, Zilog needs software clout, says Sweet. displays sales and marketing posts at Perkin- Elmer's Data Systems division (then • luminous intensity up to 2,000 cd/sq.m called Interdata) and at General • trace width up to 0.15 mm Electric Co.'s process-control com- • writing speed up to 2mm/lis puter and nuclear energy divisions. • easy reading even in bright sunlight due to Sweet is also at the center of a $5 excellent distinction of spectrum colours — from million lawsuit brought by National red through discrete hues to green over trade secrets, alleging he and • spherical, flat, round and 6- through 20-inch five other former employees took rectangular screens with angles of deflection specifications for its upcoming I6-bit from 50° to 100° and a post-glow time of microcomputer with them when they 0.001 through 10 s. joined Zilog [Electronics, June 21, p. 34]. Sweet denies any wrongdoing, The ELMITRONS are available in the following but otherwise declines to discuss the modifications: suit. • single-beam or dual-beam models (the latter New competitors. Chip makers come in single- or double necked makes), rear- will have to be concerned with wall-screen and on-screen-grid models. systems software as they compete Vibro -shock-explosion-proof ELMITRONS can with makers, Sweet be safely used at high altitudes. says, moving on to what is now prob- ably his favorite subject. Digital Equipment Corp., for example, has years of experience with software behind it, "built not only by DEC but by its customers also," he continues. In comparison, a chip maker's soft- L.É=i/QMI ware experience amounts to "virtual- ly zero." Zilog's sales will grow this year to 32/34 Smolenskaya-Sennaya $40 million, up from last year's $18 121200 Moscow million (see p. 92). In maintaining USSR the firm's growth, software—and Telephone 251-39-46, Telex 7586 Sweet's overall systems approach— will undoubtedly play an ever- increasing role.

16 Circle 16 on reader service card Electronics/August 2, 1979 hp MEASUREMENT COMPUTATION 11 product advances from elmsHewlett-Packard

AUGUST 1979 New plotter developments: automatic paper advance, interfaces for OEMs, and simple operation 4E»

Recent developments in Hewlett- Packard plotters bring some new capabilities to plotter users. • Automatic paper advance for unat- tended plotting with HP's three mul- ticolor plotters-7220S, 7221S, and 9872S. • Simple, abbreviated, English-like, plot- ter commands in an RS-232-C /CCITT V.24 interfaced plotter. • A new RS-232-C/CCITT V.24 interface module to make the low-cost HP 7225A plotter available for many new OEM and end-user applications. In addition to these new capabilities, HP's existing line of plotters provides a selection to meet your exact graphic needs. Multicolor Plotters with Paper Advance

If your plotting needs include: 1) Repetitive or sequential graphics from automated production and engineer- ing test systems 2) Unattended graph generation at a central computer site 3) Frequent multiple copies of quality multicolor graphs for presentations or reports Convert your present 7221A or 9872A to include paper advance capability. Although paper advance HP now offers you three choices—the is an integral part of the plotter and not available as an accessory, HP will convert your existing easy-to-program 9872S for HP-IB control- 9872A or 7221A to include the chart advance capability if it was purchased prior to July 1, 1979. This (continued on third page) offer is effective until April 1, 1980.

IN THIS ISSUE Hi-speed printer for OEMs • Simplifying radar measurements • New chip cuts design costs New DC power supply New 26.5 GHz pulsed RF counter catalog from HP simplifies radar measurements

This new Automatic Frequency • Frequency profile of pulse (using a Converter, called the Model 5355A, not delaying gate from an HP 5359A Time only measures the average frequency in Synthesizer). Measure frequency rf bursts as narrow as 60 ns, but also uses linearity in pulse compression radars the time interval capability of the 5345A to and frequency variation in doppler measure pulse repetition interval, pulse radar. width, and pulse-to-pulse timing. • CW microwave and submicrowave The 5355A covers the frequency range frequency from dc -26.5 GHz. of 0.4 -1.6 GHz. For frequency extension, Measure STALO, COHO, or two frequency converter heads, similar in magnetron frequencies to 1 Hz concept to the familiar power meter resolution in 1second. heads, are available. These rf heads are • Pulse width, pulse repetition interval called the 5356A 18 GHz Frequency with 2 ns single shot resolution. Converter Head and the 5356B 26.5 GHz • Pulse repetition frequency with reso- Frequency Converter Head. For lution of 2 x 10 -9 per second. frequency measurements on pulse The 5345/55/56 is far more than a modulated signals, simply connect the pulsed microwave counter. It is also a Frequency Converter Head to the source, high performance CW microwave press PULSE mode on the 5355 counter. High sensitivity of -20 dBm, keyboard, and read the frequency on the high FM tolerance of 60 MHz p-p and high 5345 display. Select the 5345A GATE resolution suit it for all your CW frequency TIME for the resolution required—as high measurements. Simply push the CW as 10 kHz, 1kHz, 100 Hz, or better. pushbutton on the 5355 and select the Measurements are now completely 5345A GATE TIME for the desired automatic and require no auxiliary resolution. equipment. This means that In summary, the 5345/55/56 is the measurements which used to take highly industry's highest performance skilled operators and loads of equipment microwave counter, combining the best (e.g. transfer oscillator techniques, cavity performance characteristics of three wave meters, or spectrum analyzers) can different instruments into one. You now be made easily and quickly. The get the economy and convenience of 5345/55/56 opens up awhole new world pulsed, CW and time interval of design improvement possibilities by measurements in a single counter. making measurements which simply couldn't be performed previously. Choosing the right power supply for Specific radar measurements made by your application is easy with HP's new the 5345/55/56 are: Get more information by checking B on DC Power Supply Catalog. This 128- • Average carrier frequency in pulse. the HP Reply Card. page catalog contains product descrip- tions, photographs, outline drawings, With anew automatic frequency converter plug-in for the HP 5345A Frequency Counter, you can specifications, and prices for HP's com- now measure pulsed frequencies as well as CW frequencies to 26.5 GHz with greater resolution and plete line of power supplies covering the accuracy than previously possible. range from 10 W to 11 kW. Products in- clude: • Low-cost lab supplies • General purpose lab and system power supplies • Precision voltage and current sources • High power industrial supplies • OEM modular power supplies • Digitally programmable power sources • Multiprogrammers Included is a section detailing several methods to control DC power supplies using the HP Interface Bus. In addition, another section covers power supply ac and load connections.

For your free copy, check A on the HP Reply Card.

:MEASUREMENT COMPUTATION NEWS Automatic paper advance plotters produce up to 280 graphs unattended

(continued from first page) O E> CCITT V.24 paper advance plotters, should prove useful to you as a central computer or system resource. Programs can be initiated by a number of users in different locations on your mini or main- frame computer and the output produced on a "shared", unattended paper advance plotter. HID-IB Systems

Both production test and engineering test procedures using HP-IB systems will benefit from the paper advance plotter's repetitive or sequential graphic reports. Many applications in these areas hitherto impractical for single sheet, operator attended plotting will find paper advance graphics to be a practical and desirable addition to their system. HP-GL—The Easy Graphics Language

Another new development in HP plot- ters is the utilization of HP-GL with an RS-232-C/CCITT V.24 interface plotter. A simplified graphics language. HP-GL uses an abbreviated form of English words that are easy to remember and thus easy-to-use. Several HP plotters, including HP's In addition to the convenience and economy of unattended plotting, HP's three automatic paper 7220A, general purpose and OEM plotter advance plotters also feature an impressive number of other capabilities including: six character have over 40 different, built-in HP-GL in- sets, 36 pen speeds, and over 40 different graphic instructions. structions to simplify programming. Low Cost Plotter with Versatile lers, or the easy-to-use RS-232-C/CCITT and miscellaneous mathematical and Interfaces V.24 interfaced 7220S, or the optimized centered symbols. A third new development, the hardwire for timeshare 7221S. All three of these • Programmable character size, slant RS-232-C/CCITT V.24 interface module, multicolor plotters feature automatic and direction. now makes the low-cost, high-quality HP paper advance which can plot, cut and • Over 40 different graphic instructions 7225A plotter available for many new stack up to 140 A3 (11 x17 in.) graphs or including automatic pen selection. OEM and end user applications. In addi- 280 A4 (8 /12 x 11 in.) graphs without • Point digitizing, labeling, character siz- tion to its low initial price, the 7225A operator attendance. ing, programmable graph limits, rota- owner can also expect low-cost-of- The integrated paper advance capabil- tion, windowing. ownership thanks to HP's rugged, new ity for these plotters consists of two elec- • Excellent line quality and repeatability linear stepper mechanism that eliminates tromechanical modules on the sides of at all 36 pen speeds, from 10 to 360 many moving parts. the plotter to hold and pull the 61 m (200 mm/s. This plotter also uses HP-GL language, ft.) roll of sprocket-punched paper across 24-Hours-a-Day Operation making graphics instructions and plotter the platen. For convenience, the sprocket commands easy to remember and easy holes are carried on perforated strips Paper advance plotters enable you to to use. Its plotting speed between points bordering the graph area, allowing you to carry on your plotting 24-hours a day— is 250 mm (10 in.) per second and text tear away the sprocket holes for standard unattended. Both repetitive graphics for is drawn at up to three characters size paper output. report and meeting presentations, and per second. In addition, all three of these plotters sequential graphs plotted against chang- Three additional personality modules have all the capabilities and features of ing parameters can be programmed in for the 7225A provide HP-IB, GP-10, and their multicolor, single-sheet counter- advance to run through the night. 8-bit parallel interfacing to meet various parts, the HP 7220A, the 7221B, and the OEM requirements. Shared Graphics Resource 9872B. For example: • Six resident character sets including Depending on your interface require- For full information, check C on the three European and three Latin sets, ments, either the HP-IB or RS-232-C/ HP Reply Card.

11F \T OUPE'14110.\ Nfr 11S Generate high-quality, low-cost overhead transparencies in minutes with enhanced HP 45B and graphics terminal inzE> Creating high-quality overhead trans- can be easily recalled, updated, uses about 400 overhead transparencies parencies that enhance and reinforce changed, or deleted as necessary. per month for new product introductions, spoken presentations usually entails Low Cost management presentations and cus- considerable lead time, expense and in- tomer training. Producing these trans- flexibility. One must assemble the data, The impetus to design such a system parencies by traditional methods was decide what the format should be and and software capability came from HP's costing over $140,000 per year. A System then "rough sketch" what the slide should realization that producing overhead 45B Desktop Computer and its Graphics transparencies was consuming large look like. Then the whole thing is turned Presentations Software Pack, coupled amounts of time and money. For exam- over to a graphic artist for production. with an HP 9872A Plotter has reduced this ple, HP's Desktop Computer Division A Fast Alternative expediture to about $14,500 or from $30 per slide to only $3. In addition, turn To solve this visual data bottleneck, around time has been reduced from 3 Hewlett-Packard has expanded the days or more to less than 15 minutes. This capabilities of one of its newest desktop means either the System 45B or HP's computers and one of its versatile com- 2647 can be cost justified as adedicated, puter terminals. HP's new System 45B or 2647A Intelligent Graphics Terminal, to- stand-alone transparency generator, de- pending on the type, variety, and volume gether with the HP 9872A Four-Color of slides generated. Plotter, now enable you to produce professional quality overhead trans- For more information on HP's over- parencies in minutes and at afraction of head transparency capability, the cost of traditional methods. check D on the HP Reply Card. Versatile Performance The System 45B/Plotter or In- telligent Terminal/Plotter sys- tem plus HP's new graphics presentation software allows you to generate even the most complete overhead transpar- encies: graphs, charts, x-y relationships, charts with vari- able letter sizes, shadings and colors. Plus much more. No Expertise Needed HP graphics presentation software helps you design transparencies through easy-to-use CRT-displayed menus that enable anyone to generate overhead slides. No programming knowledge or computer expertise is required. On the System 458 keyboard simply type a number or letter corresponding to func- tions displayed on the menu to select mul- tiple colors, character sizes, and fonts; plot graphs and charts; draw lines; even edit transparencies. For example, to pro- duce aslide in vertical or horizontal form, just type in V or H. The software auto- matically scales and formats your transparency. To make editing easier, slides first appear on the System 45B CRT to be viewed and/or altered, before being drawn in final form on the plotter. By using tb tape cartridges on both the System 45B and HP 2647 for storage, an entire presentation—dozens of slides—can be stored on a single cartridge. Each slide

'MEASUREMENT/COMPUTATION NEWS HP offers "how to" newsletter for service technicians

Bench Briefs, a bimonthly publication, new methods of testing, and new tools is your private line to Hewlett-Packard that simplify service and troubleshooting. ,.,.... 1î customer service. It is offered to techni- Bench Briefs are full of practical informa- cians doing repair, calibration, incoming tion such as HP-IB programming hints for ---,-. ••••,---..e.r- , ,....=..,....."' -....,..."-..,..,.. 4 inspection, and system configuration of selected instruments, or Hewlett- Pac- '- "' 4--- •• -•.`". ',...--Z-_----"e, ' -eire' HP electronic instruments. It is particu- kard's IC and transistor part number to larly useful to service managers that want manufacturer number cross references, to plan future training programs for their as well as factory recommendations for personnel. updating or modifying HP products. This attractive 8-page bulletin contains For a sample issue and a subscription Bench Briefs: an HP service that improves customer seminar training schedules, qualification form, check E on the HP your service. service tips, instrument modifications, Reply Card.

Give your bus devices a better chance—simulate system conditions early in development

8170A LOGIC PATTERN GENERATOR *a* Designing a digital system? adequate data depth from the nonvolatile Developing a hardware control circuit? memory. Keyboard entry in the selected Trying out a new D/A? For success at address and data codes facilitates rapid system level, each device must be data loading. The handshake capability developed and tested under the exact extends application to dynamic test of L. ADDRESS conditions it will later meet. This is peripheral adaptors, duplex peripherals f • HANDSHAKE • SELECT • START • STOP scarcely possible with "homemade" and remote I/0s. For memory-buffered DATA • BREAK •. QUALIFIER switch boxes. Even data generators peripherals such as alphanumeric lacked the specialized bus capabilities. displays, the 8170A emulates the R/W But now, with the HP 8170A Logic Pattern operation envisaged with the processor. Generator, you can create true-to-life conditions right from the start. Device development becomes independent and you can make decisions before firmware and software are committed. With many bus capabilities, the 8170A can For hardware function tests, the For details, check F on the HP Reply stimulate practically any bus device. 8170A's 8/16-bit bus provides an Card.

Microwave link analyzer offers dual IF capability 4E0 For microwave radio stations employ- HP's MLA incorporates a slope control ing 70 and 140 MHz intermediate fre- which can be adjusted to compensate for quencies, the 3711A/3712A Microwave these errors. In contrast to FM systems, Link Analyzer (MLA) is an economical digital radio links require a larger way of providing acomplete range of de- dynamic display range for IF flatness dicated measurements at both 70±-25 measurements. For such applications, MHz and 140±-50 MHz. The back-to- the new MLA provides 16 dB range. back residual performance of this latest The MLA's new frequency identifica- MLA has been improved substantially, tion system provides both fixed and vari- making it the best currently available. able markers. The variable marker may Further improvements in measuring per- be adjusted over the whole measurement formance can be achieved with the addi- range while its frequency is continuously tion of digital averaging and nor- monitored on a5-digit counter. The same malizing accessories. counter can be used to measure the fre- / In FM radio relay systems, IF flatness quency of IF signals, providing aquick Measurement limit masks and adjustment in- measurements with a resolution of and easy method of checking and adjust- structions may be displayed on the screen when the new dual IF MLA is used with an 0.025 dB/cm are required frequently. At ing modulator center frequency. 8501A Storage-Normalizer and desktop such sensitivities, the errors introduced For more information, check G on the HP computer. by connecting cables may be significant. Reply Card. SMEASUREMENT COMPUTATION NEWS HP's high speed thermal graphics printer available to OEM's

The caseless version of HP's new thermal graphics printer, Model 11479A, facilitates in- tegration into OEM systems.

• speeds of up to 480 lines- Packard, uniformly spaces 560 print re- packaged, and perforated into 330 stan- per-minute sistors on .33 mm (.013 in.) centers. Be- dard size sheets. And it's simple and cause of their low thermal mass, these quick to load. • high resolution (77 dots per print resistors can be heated and cooled The reliable performance of the 9876 is inch) characters very rapidly so that speeds of up to 480 the result of continued technological ad- • sophisticated graphics capa- lines-per-minute can be attained. Micro- vancements made by HP in thermal print- bility and alphanumeric processor control insures reliability by ing for its computer product line. The printing monitoring and controlling all voltages as 9876 is further supported by HP's re- well as the printhead temperature. This sponsive service organization located in protects the printhead from potential more than 170 locations throughout the The most versatile HP printer ever damage. world. offered, the 9876A Thermal Graphics The 9876 prints characters in a5 x 7 dot Printer, is now available to OEMs. Com- matrix. Its full character set contains 128 bined with design flexibility, the 9876's standard ASCII characters (upper and To find out more about the OEM advan- proven features of high-speed, quiet op- lower case) and control characters. tages of HP's 9876A, check H on the eration, superb print quality and reliable Seven additional character sets, always HP Reply Card. performance offer the OEM virtually in the printer, can be accessed through unlimited marketing opportunities. software: French, German, Katakana, Design Flexibility British, Spanish, Danish/Norwegian and Swedish/Finnish. Also, users can create Two interfacing modes provide flexibil- up to seven new characters at atime by ity of use with awide variety of large com- defining special dot patterns which are puters, desktop computers and terminals then stored in the printer's memory. from HP, as well as from other manufac- High Contrast Paper •.• turers. The 9876's 7-bit or 8-bit parallel Y ikYf rAll IPV''.141P interface, with ASCII TTL level, features Another advantage of the 9876 is its Strobe, Peripheral Acknowledge, and thermal paper. The 9876's black-print Busy lines, and readily adapts to most paper sets a new standard for high- popular parallel printer interfaces on the contrast and fade resistance. Its printouts market today. The 9876 also uses HP-IB provide excellent reproduction capability nua. 2 Soc•41 (Hewlett-Packard's implementation of over an extended length of time. The IEEE Standard 488-1975) interfacing. blueprint paper provides excellent, An OEM can choose to purchase the high-contrast printouts, especially well The HP thermal graphics printer is excellent for 9876 with or without its outer shell. In suited for immediate work sources. Avail- applications which require high-speed listings, either configuration, the printer is fully able in either 8/12 in. or 21-cm widths, the frequent work reports or quick plotting and functional and ready to be connected to 9876 thermal paper comes fanfolded, flat graphics. the system. Without its outer shell (Model 11479A), the unit can be incorporated in the OEM's cabinetry to better fit functional 60 DIM ASE 180] ! Dimension AS 70 PRINTER IS 7,1 and product design requirements. ! Assign FLASH as system printer. BO Re-define left bracket as double quote E to " 90 PRINT USING "M,K";CHRS Printhead Technology (27)&"&n91c20f20g2OH" 100 PRINT CHRS(27n"&k1S"; TAB<35);"DEMO INSTRUCTIONS "t6HRS(.27) 110 PRINT LIN(1) The heart of the 9876 is its monolithic ! Print first 3 lines manually 120 In: READ AS ! Fetch line printhead. A unique thin film technique, 130 IF Af="QUIT" THEN Done ! Finished ? developed and proven by Hewlett-

3.14EASUREME.VT COMPUTATION NEWS HEWLETT-PACKARD NEWS

18-segment display system is ¡LP based and has low power requirements A proven display with a micro- processor-based controller to provide an easy-to-read display, very low power re- quirements and easy interfacing has been introduced by Hewlett-Packard.

This new system, the HDSP-87XX Series, substantially reduces the en- gineering development costs and time previously required for an 18-segment display. Incorporated into the micro- processor controller are pre-pro- grammed routines to accept, decode and display standard ASCII data. In addi- tion, the 5.0 Voperation, standard LSTTL compatible inputs and four separate dis- tions in instrumentation, telephone available from all Hewlett-Packard com- play formatting modes, allow easy inter- equipment, data entry terminals and ponent distributors. face to the customer's keyboard or mi- automatic banking terminals. Single line croprocessor-based system. 16-, 24-, 32- or 40-character display The low voltage, compact size and lengths are available. Check Ion the HP Reply Card for more solid state features are great for applica- The new HDSP-87XX series is now information.

New designer's catalog available—free

A new designer's catalog describing limiters and detectors. HP's microwave integrated products is Amply illustrated with charts, graphs now available. The catalog contains list- and photos, this 80-page catalog can be ings of abroad line of components for the avaluable tool for designers of communi- control, conversion, generation and cations systems, instrumentation, mea- amplification of RF and microwave surement systems, EW, and radar systems. systems. Detailed, up-to-date specifications are provided for all products listed, including For your free copy, check J on the HP switches, attenuators, comb generators, Reply Card.

Hybrid designs made easier with new bipolar transistor chip

For economical hybrid designs with dream for wide dynamic range broad- 100 mW linear power and gain to 5 GHz, band applications. For immediate deliv- consider HP's new, reliable HXTR-5001 ery, call your local franchised HP dis- Silicon Bipolar Transistor Chip. tributor. This new transistor, the fourth in HP's family of bipolar chips, offers typical Send for the complete technical data power output figures at 1dB gain com- sheet, including S-parameters, bonding pression of 23 dBm at 2 GHz and 22 dBm instructions, and design information. at 4 GHz. Typical associated gain is Check K on the HP Reply Card. 13.5 dB at 2 GHz and 8 dB at 4 GHz. New general-purpose linear power transistor For high performance along with low chip is designed for high output power and gain cost, the HXTR-5001 is a designer's to 5 GHz.

Sfr frfr 'T COMPUTATION NEWS Test your components under conditions similar to actual circuit operation 4=8*

New multi-frequency LCR meters for lab, production and quality control.

Discrete components, as well as semiconductor devices, can now be evaluated under conditions similar to those in which they operate. Hewlett- Packard's new microprocessor- controlled, multi-frequency LCR meters give you component and semi-conductor test capability in a laboratory, a produc- tion line and in quality control/inspection measurements. Automatic Features

With a push of a button, HP's new 4274A and 4275A LCR meters are au- tomatically set up to measure L,C,R, D, Q, G, ESR, X, B, IV -0, delta or delta percent in either parallel or series modes and at or near operating signal level and fre- quency. Both instruments have automatic zero offset capability that automatically components. For higher frequencies, Standard Features compensates for stray capacitance and choose HP's 4275A. Ten spot frequen- There are many other built-in, standard residual inductance in test leads or fix- cies between 10 kHz and 10 MHz are features in HP's 4274A and 4275A LCR tures at all spot frequencies. standard, making high frequency C-V meters, such as automatic/manual opera- For low to medium frequency (100 Hz characteristics in semiconductors tion, self test, remote HP-IB operation and to 100 kHz) applications, the 4274A offers easier to do. current/voltage monitoring. measurements at 11 spot frequencies. The 51/2-digit, high-resolution mode This provides more accurate measure- and 0.1% basic accuracy greatly contri- ments when determining ESR frequency bute to the quality and reliability of impe- To find out all the details on these new characteristics of electrolytic capacitors dance measurements on electronic multi-faceted LCR meters, please check and testing of MIL and IEC specified components and materials. L on the HP Reply Card.

East-4 Choke Cherry Road, Rockville, MD 20850, Ph. (301) 258-2000 hn MEASUREMENT South-PO Box 10505, 450 Interstate North Pkwy. COMPUTATION Atlanta, GA 30348, Ph (404) 434-4000 product •MMOCOO fromnews Howleff•Oackerd Midwest-5201 Tollview Dr ,Rolling Meadows, IL 60008, Ph. (312) 255-9800. West-3939 Lankershim Blvd. North Hollywood. CA 91604. Ph. (213) 877-1282. Mr' Europe-Central Mailing Depot, P O. Box 529. Amstelveen-1134. Netherlands. July/August 1979 Ph (020) 47 20 21 Japan-Yokogawa-Newled-Packard Ltd.. Ohashi 29-21 Takaido-Higashi 3-chome • Suginami-ku. Tokyo 168. Ph 03-331-6111. HEWLETT-PACKARD

Editor: Bojana Fazarinc

Editorial Offices: HEWLETT ilk PACKARD 1507 Page Mill Road Palo Alto, California, 94304 U.S.A. The Centigrid: You're making it the next industry standard

When we first introduced the Centigrid we called it The Relay of Tomorrow. But you liked it too well to wait. .. the ultra-low profile; the terminal spacing that permitted direct pc board mounting; the same low coil power and excellent RF switching characteristics as the TO-5. You began putting it into your new designs immediately. And you've never stopped. Then, early in 1978, we introduced acompanion relay: the sensitive Centigrid II, designed for applications requiring ultra- low power dissipation. The can was just atad taller, but it still took up only .14 sq. in. of board space. And it still offered the same TO-5 proven reliability. You took to it almost as fast as the original Centigrid. Now that both Centigrid relays are qualified to levels "L" and "M" of MIL-R-39016 (including internal diode suppressed versions) they are fast becoming industry standards. If you'd like complete specification data on either or both, call or write us today.

Ir TELEDYNE RELAYS 12525 Daphne Avenue, Hawthorne, California 90250 •(213) 777-0077 U.K. Sales Office: Heathrow House, Bath Rd. MX, TW5 9QQ •01-897-2501 European Hqtrs.: Abraham Lincoln Strasse 38-42 •62 Wiesbaden, W. Germany •6121-700811

Circle 27 on reader service card

HMOS Goes 4-wide delivers the 1Kx4-bit 2148 fast static RAM, 1 purebred descendent of our high performance 2147.

Introducing the first memory components in asystem 2148 Specifications are normally deselected at any HMOS* high performance 2148-3 2148 2148-6 static RAM organized given time, the larger your system Max. Access 55 70 85 ideally for wide-word the lower your power dissipation per Time (ns)

memory systems. Intel's bit. (See chart.) It means simpler Max. Active 125 125 125 new 1Kx4-bit HMOS designs and lower costs for cooling Current (mA) 2148 gives designers and power supplies. Max. Standby 30 30 30 Current (mA) access times to 55ns, low Our track record: 7million active power and automatic reliable HMOS RAMs clocked and unclocked systems. standby. Plus the economy We achieved the 2148's fast and reliability you've come All three 2148 versions are fully access and low power using TTL compatible and operate from to expect from MOS de- HMOS. It's the patented high vices. In fact, the 2148 asingle +5 volt supply. performance technology we delivers exactly the pioneered in 1976 with our 2115A/ Intel gives you ahead start same advantages as 2125A 1K fast static RAMs. And We're delivering the 2148 today. our HMOS industry To get ahead start on the next standard 4Kx1-bit generation of high performance 2147. memory designs, contact your local The 2148 is great Intel sales office or distributor. news for anyone de- Or write Intel Corporation, 3065 signing high speed, Bowers Avenue, Santa Clara, special purpose mem- California 95051. ories where word widths are in multiples of four. You'll get the speed and modularity you need for high speed control inteJdelivers. store, cache, buffer and bit- o ak 8k 12k 16k\

slice applications. Plus the Europe: Intel International, Brussels. Belgium. Japan: high density that means Intel Japan. Tokyo. United States and Canadian distributors: it's the same process we use to Arrow Electronics. Alliance. Almac/Stroum, Component 75% fewer components than Specialties. Cramer, Hamilton/Aynet, Harvey. Industrial produce our industry standard Components, Pioneer, Wyle/Elmar, Wyle/Liberty, L.A. Varah comparable 1K designs. and Zentronics. 16-bit microcomputer, the 8086. Sure bet for lower power Intel has already delivered over Our 2148 will help you 7million HMOS RAMs. This gives reduce system power con- 2148 users aproven track record of sumption dramatically. It reliability and volume availability. features automatic power For more detailed information down on deselection on HMOS dependability, request and uses standby current our comprehensive HMOS only afraction that of constant Reliability Report #18. current devices. And since most The 2148 is in the 18-pin 1Kx4 industry standard pinout. It is fully

'HMOS is a patented Intel process. static, so you can use it in both

Electronics/August 2, 1979 Circle #29 for Information. 29 "THE Meetings AmZ8000 Conference on Simulation, Measure- Impact of Improved Clocks and IS BETTER:' ment and Modeling of Computer Oscillators on Communication and Systems, National Bureau of Stan- Navigation, National Bureau of dards et al., University of Colorado, Standards, NBS headquarters, Gai- Boulder, Colo., Aug. 13-15. thersburg, Md., Sept. 18-20.

N Third Rocky Mountain Symposium Wescon/79 Show and Convention, on Microcomputers, IEEE et al., IEEE and Electronic Conventions Colorado State University, Pingree Inc. (El Segundo, Calif.), Brooks Park, Colo., Aug. 19-21. Hall, San Francisco, Sept. 18-20.

International Conference on Parallel Autotestcon—Automatic Support Processing, IEEE, Shanty Creek System for Advanced Maintainability Lodge, Bellaire, Mich., Aug. 21-24. Conference, IEEE, Radisson Hotel, Minneapolis, Sept. 19-21. 23rd Annual International Technical Symposium and Exhibit, The Society 29th Annual Broadcast Symposium, of Photo-Optical Instrumentation IEEE, The Washington Hotel, Wash- Engineers (Bellingham, Wash.), ington, D. C., Sept. 19-21. Town and Country Hotel, San Diego, Calif., Aug. 27-30. Telecom '79—Third World Telecom- munications Exhibition, Internation- Compcon Fall '79-19th IEEE Com- al Telecommunications Union, Pal- puter Society International Confer- ais des Expositions, Geneva, Sept. ence, IEEE, Capital Hilton Hotel, 20-26. Washington, D. C., Sept. 4-7. ¡PC Fall Meeting, The Institute for Second International Fiber Optics Interconnecting and Packaging Elec- and Communications Exposition, In- tronic Circuits (Evanston, Ill.), formation Gatekeepers Inc. (Brook- Sheraton Palace Hotel, San Francis- line, Mass.), Hyatt Regency O'Hare co, Sept. 23-27. Hotel, Chicago, Sept. 5-7. Mini/Micro Computer Conference 25th Annual Holm Conference on and Exposition, sponsored by the Electrical Contacts, Illinois Institute organization of the same name of Technology (Chicago), Palmer (Anaheim, Calif.), Anaheim Convention The AmZ8000 House, Chicago, Sept. 10-12. Center, Anaheim, Sept. 25-27. is cheaper, easier, and a whole lot faster to pro- Materials, Measurement Second International Conference on and Applications Conference, Institu- Electrical Variable Speed Drives, gram than the 8086. tion of Electrical Engineers (Lon- Institution of Electrical Engineers, Call Advanced Micro don), University of Aston, Birming- at the IEE headquarters, London, Devices and get all the ham, England, Sept. 10-13. Sept. 25-27. facts on the AmZ8000. It's the best 16-bit CPU Fall Conference, USE Inc. (the Ultrasonics Symposium, IEEE, there is. organization for those who use Sper- Monteleone Hotel, New Orleans, ry Univac's series 1100 computers, Sept. 26-27. Bladensburg, Md.), Diplomat Hotel, Advanced Miami, Fla., Sept. 10-14. Gallium Arsenide Integrated Circuit Symposium, IEEE, Sahara Tahoe Micro Optical Communication Conference, Hotel, Lake Tahoe, Nev., Sept. IEEE, RAI Conference Building, Am- 28-29. Devices sterdam, Sept. 17-19. Northeast Personal and Business ri Ninth European Microwave Confer- Computer Show, Northeast Exposi- 901 Thompson Place ence, Institution of Electrical Engi- tions (Brookline Village, Mass.), Sunnyvale, CA 94086 neers (London), The Brighton Cen- Hynes Auditorium, Boston, Sept. Tel: (408) 732-2400 tre, Brighton, Sussex, England, Sept. 28-30. 17-21.

30 Circle 30 on reader service card Electronics/August 2, 1979 Every domestic PROM new PROM personality module or provide a 1-year parts and labor manufacturer evaluates our modify an existing one. We rou- warranty on modules and a 2-year programmers, so you get tinely submit each module to the parts and labor warranty on control PROMs programmed exactly to PROM manufacturer to evaluate our units. vendors' specs. design and test our programming. Our U.L. listed Series 90 PROM We have secured vendor approval Learn more from our 98-page programmer consists of inter- on modules for practically every PROM User's Guide. changeable plug-in PROM personal- PROM currently in use. A definitive work including ity modules and a control unit. To We have modules for specific cross reference charts on PROMs keep the system current and to in- PROMs, for whole PROM families and other programmable devices. sure programming reliability, we and for gang programming 8 Call or write Pro-Log Corporation, constantly work with the engineer- PROMs simultaneously. We also 2411 Garden Road, Monterey, CA ing departments of all domestic have a generic module for MMI 93940, phone (408) 372-4593. PROM manufacturers. They inform PALs. us of important new programming algorithms and PROM technologies. Backed by a 2-year warranty. PRO-LOG Thus, as new PROMs come along or Based on the field-proven reli- CORPORATION as old PROMs change their al- ability of 5,000 PROM programmers gorithms, we can quickly develop a and 10,000 personality modules, we Microprocessors ot your fingertips.

Circle 31 on reader service card Mostek's MD Serie. 16 new boards.

0 Since its introduction, Mostek's MD Series STD-Z80 BUS Flexibility of Z80-based, 4.5"x 6.5" microcomputer All our A/MX cards are STD-Z80 BUS com- boards has received overwhelming acceptance. patible. Just match the proper MDX modules Engineers have found both MDX functional to your design. Choose either 2.5MHz or modules and MD single-board computers offer 41VIliz versions. Modify your system at any maximum versatility at minimum cost. And time by simply adding, exchanging or delet- our 16 new boards will open the door to even ing MDX cards. more microcomputer applications. This allows you to buy only what you need, reduce hardware development time, and Mostek MD Series quickly respond to changing product defini- tion and market conditions. MDX-CPU1 Z80 CPU with 2PROM sockets and 4timers And with more and more manufacturers MDX-DRAM 8 8K Dynamic RAM multi-sourcing the STD-Z80 BUS, you're MDX-DRAM 16 16K Dynamic RAM assured of along-lived industry standard. MDX-DRAM 32 32K Dynamic RAM MDX-EPROM/UART Combination EPROM/UART Mostek's MD Series has the extensive MDX-DEBUG EPROM/UART with 10K ROM-based software support of our powerful Matrix Development MDX-P10 32 bit programmable parallel I/O Systeni m,plus awide range of software and MDX-SIO 2channel programmable serial I/O accessories for quickly developing and proto- MDX-SST* Hardware single step typing your system. MDX-FLP' Floppy disk controller MDX-MATH" High speed floating point math Distributor Availability MDX-A/D 8' 8Bit A/D The best way to evaluate the MD Series is MDX-D/A 8' 8Bit D/A to call your local Mostek distributor and ask MDX-A/D 10* 10 Bit A/D Converter

MDX-A/D 12 8 12 Bit A/D Converter about the MDX-PROTO kit. This powerful MDX-D/A 12' 12 Bit DIA Converter evaluation kit is available now for only $1095. MDX-UMC' Universal Memory Card For the complete MD Series update, see MDX-SRAM 4* 4K Static RAM your local Mostek distributor. Or call or write MDX-SRAM 8* 8K Static RAM Mostek, 1215 West Crosby Road, Carrollton, MDX-SRAM 16' 16K Static RAM lbxas 75006; phone (214) 242-0444. In MDX-EPROM-4 8 EPROM Module Europe, contact Mostek Brussels, phone MDX-CPU 2' New Z80 CPU Board 660.69.24. MDX-SC/D 8 System Controller and Diagnostic Board MDX-INT* Interrupt Expander and Timer Board MOSTEK MD-SBC1 Z80, 8K PROM, 2K RAM, 40 I/0 lines MD DOS* Dual Floppy Disk Operating System Software MITE-80* Multiple Independent Tasking Executive Software

•New See us at WESCON booth #1500 and #1501

Circle 33 on reader service card 111!911!111111 MDX-UMC

A r 111 %SY r

MDX -MATH

s MDX-EPROM-4 II 11 o SS 13 bblb0,1 --

1VIDX -SST ' • `We - • • t !1,11,1 11 !1!!!!!!!!!!! 1 ttL MDX-A/D 8 47'

, [. • ^ (

!!! 1111111 7ni :,1 MDX-FLP - more V competitive the video terminal business gets, the more Intel helps us maintain leadership."

Sal Nuzzo, President, Hazeltine Corporation

"Intel makes it easy for us to apply their new products. An example is the Intellec® development system. Frankly, Idon't see how any company can design aproduct that uses microcomputers without Sal Nuzzo: "Inters introduction of the microcomputer asystem such as the Intellec system. The Intellec revolutionized the computer terminal industry. system features such as in-circuit emulation (ICE) and We were first to use amicrocomputer in aterminal — PL/M programming language are essential time- Intel's 8008, years ago, and we've maintained a savers. With our Intellec systems we can convert our price/performance edge over the years by quickly existing programs for the 8080 microcomputer to taking advantage of Inters breakthroughs. Inters new 16-bit microcomputer, the 8086, quickly, "This is atough, competitive industry. Getting and increase throughput ten times. That's flexibility:' aproduct to market first can make all Intel® microcomputer products and the difference. Any company that doesn't development systems can make the move fast to take advantage of new competitive difference for your company. technology will simply get left behind. For more information, contact your So at Hazeltine, akey part of our strategy local Intel sales office or distributor, or is to work closely with technology leaders write Intel Corporation, Literature —such as Intel. They introduced the Department, 3065 Bowers Avenue, Santa microcomputer, and have continued to Clara, CA 95051. 408/987-6475 innovate with developments such as the I6-bit 8086 microcomputer. Taking advantage of their new products has enabled us to con- sistently give our customers higher performance and greater reliability. sIntellec Development System

inteldelivers. Circle No. 34 for information Electronics newsletter

Mostek showing With its eye on the growing market for general-purpose data-conversion devices, Mostek Corp.'s Telecommunications department plans to begin new 8- bit C- MOS shipping samples next month of a complementary-mos analog-to-digital a-d converter .. . converter chip that could be the first in anew line of components from the Carrollton, Texas, company. The MK5160 will be a 16-channel-input 8-bit device designed as apin-compatible alternative to the ADC0816 built by National Semiconductor Corp., Santa Clara, Calif.

.. . as well as Mostek Corp.'s Telecommunications department has also been active with new circuits within its specialty area lately. In March, the group began CCD filter quietly circulating limited quantities of samples of a charge-coupled- to use with codec device filter known as the MK5201 designed to work with Mostek's complementary-mos codec parts. The 5201 is housed in a 16-pin package with typical power dissipation specified as 100 mw. Though available only on a limited basis to select customers to date, samples of the part are scheduled to be shipped through normal sales channels in September.

Satellite antenna GTE plans to announce what may be the first satellite communications antenna aimed at the urban environment — most now are placed far from for urban sites electronically noisy cities, making necessary long ground links. The coming from GTE antenna, to be unveiled next month by the GTE International Systems Corp., Waltham, Mass., at Telecom-79 in Geneva, Switzerland, uses unusual offset-feed geometry and strategically placed microwave absorber material to cut its sensitivity to terrestrial interference. Its sidelobes are as much as 10 dB lower than those of conventional designs while its beam is pencil thin—about half adegree wide.

Western Digital Specialty semiconductor house Corp. appears to have the first entry into what is shaping up as another lucrative device business: a designs chip for single chip that supplants software for controlling a data interface with X.25 packet switching packet-switching networks. Specifically, the Western Digital device, the WD2501, is designed for the X.25 packet-switching protocol, now the world standard. It implements the first two levels of X.25, physical and link controls that are administrative procedures allowing a user to get in and out of the network, in a complex chip of about 30,000 gates. The Newport Beach, Calif., firm already has discussed the device with many potential customers and specification sheets go out this month, to be followed in October by samples.

Feerst backs Forced by a heart attack to withdraw from this year's IEEE election, perennial presidental candidate Irwin Feerst has thrown his support behind Schneider for Burk Schneider, who was nominated by the board of directors. Feerst has IEEE president decided on Schneider because of the candidate's views on professional activities, especially on the issue of job security for EES. Feerst's move will confuse the voting in what is now atwo-way race between Schneider and petition candidate Leo Young, who is presently the executive vice presi- dent of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. In the last election Feerst pulled a little over 40% of the vote; however, his support among voters appears to be slipping. This year's balloting would have been his fifth try to become IEEE president.

Electronics/August 2, 1979 35 Electronics newsletter

NEC's U.S. arm NEC Microcomputers Inc., the U. S. marketing and services outlet for some of Nippon Electric Corp.'s chips, has found a niche of its own. to build, sell According to David Millett, marketing manager for the Wellesley, Mass., Multlbus boards company, it will soon begin building and marketing afamily of Multibus- compatible board products. The first will be afloppy-disk controller board that will use NEC's µPD765 dual-density chip.

National's NS16000 Coming into the 16-bit microcomputer market behind Intel, Zilog, and will be famil of Motorola, National Semiconductor Corp. plans to try to make up the lost y ground and more when its NS 16000 breaks from the gate next year. In a 8, 16, and 32 bits move to pass the field, the Santa Clara, Calif., firm is expected to announce the NS 16000 as afamily of 8-, 16-, and 32-bit microcomputers that would let customers upgrade capabilities within the same family, say industry insiders. The NS 16000 series, made with National's new shrunk- en n-channel mos process called x-mos, may also include specialized coprocessors to handle high-level languages and other functions. The NS 16000 is the subject of asuit by National against Zilog (p. 92).

Peripherals coming Look for Texas Instruments Inc. to begin shipping samples soon of several new general-purpose peripheral chips designed for use with the integrated- from Ti for injection-logic version of the company's 16-bit 9900 microprocessor —the stlport of 9900A SBP9900A. To be fabricated on an I2L gate array that the Dallas company has developed for internal use, the new peripheral chips will be the first to support the 9900A, which was introduced in its original version more than two years ago. Expected in sample quantities before year-end are the SBP9960, 61, 64, and 65. They will handle functions such as input/output control and timing.

Executive salarles Reflecting the booming marketplace, average salaries of electronics execu- tives are up 8.6% from their base salaries ayea r ago, according to asurvey growing 8.60/o of 610 companies covering 3,900 managers by the American Electronics this year, says AEA Association. But, as might be expected, chief executive officers are averaging 11%. Excluding bonuses, average base salaries for CEOs in $5 million, $100 million, and $1 billion companies rose, respectively: $10,000 to $70,000; $20,000 to $120,000; and $20,000 to $195,000 over last year. In the same company categories, senior manufacturing executives average 10% raises to $38,000, $65,000, and $95,000, respectively. Senior market- ing and engineering executives show similar percentage increases to, respectively, $40,000, $60,000, and $80,000 or more.

Addenda Millennium Systems Inc. of Cupertino, Calif., will introduce at Wescon next month a microprocessor evaluation and troubleshooting instrument that will sell for less than $1,000. It is called the Micro System Design- er. .. . Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corp. is soon to embark on an ambitious program to let customers design their own 3870-like micro- computers. The company has divided the basic chip into four sections— central processor, memory, input/output, and analog—and will let the user mix and match functions. .. . George Schlageter has been named director of manufacturing operations at the new Mahwah, N. J., oscillo- scope plant of Philips Test and Measuring Instruments Inc.

36 Electronics/August 2, 1979 ..., ...... «11,, .•

1 1 1 MICRO Hi ANALYZER Small size. Small price. Big Each trigger is 27 bits wide, user You can afford to put a2710 features. It's Biomcction's new definable as 1, 0or "don't care" wherever microprocessor data analysis 2710 Data Domain Analyzer. by masking. To track down bugs in is the task at hand. Your Gould Here it is, Biomation's new 2710, programs made up of repetitious Inc., Biomation representative, listed aversatile, desk top microprocessor routines you can delay recording of below, can arrange ademonstration. data domain analyzer. It's asuper data by up to 9999 trigger events. Or, for more information, write Gould software sleuth, with 27 input channels, Or recording can be delayed up to Inc., Biomation Division, 4600 Old each 64 bits deep. You can record 9999 clock periods. You can Ironsides Dr., Santa Clara, CA 95050. data, address and up to three control even capture up to 31 words of pre- Phone 408-988-68(X). lines to help debug 8-bit micro- trigger data. processor programs. Or tackle data The 2710's 24-key control panel problems on any kind of logic circuitry. puts all this power at your fingertips. oomn To isolate faults in program loops, Enter and display in hex, octal or use the 2710's two-level combinational decimal notation. Controls for the 16 triggers to do "nested" triggering. digit IFD display enable you to scroll through recorded data word by word or to address aspecific word. The keyboard even lets you add or subtract in hex, octal or decimal notation, or mixtures.

.I.JULL1 piornofioi

CALC •• • GOTO OCT DEC MIX ARM Imead Loci ADDRESS I DATAI DUAL I —.— —.— —.— —

C a E f %OEM •• RCA ST IRGA- MUA- OLT C • EVA

,— —.— —.— —..— —.— — DELAY I TRIGGER /MASK / CLOCK' _ I 1 A b SPEC • STEP EV S DIY C TFIC A OCT SPEC DIVE MS* A DEC MEN

TRG B HEX CALC 4 5 6 7 USE B CLEAR ENTER L J" CLOCK STOP

at 0 l 2 3

RFA Crockett Eastern Instru Pal Jenk, Radiation W A Scottsdale AZ (602) 994-5400 Dallas, TX (214) 251.1776 Cornwells Heights. PA (2(5) 245-6660 Hamden. C (2031 281-0810 Pod Chest r NY (9141 937- 301) Orlando. Fl (305) 425 5505 Creative Marketing DB Assoc EQS PiVan Showalter Ward/Davis McLean, VA (703) 893-6612. 13 De Witt NY (315) 446-0220 Chesterland, OH (216) 729-2222 Ch.cago. 11 (312)539-4838 Bellevue. WA (206) 455-4922 Redondo Beach. CA (2(3) 973-7772 EleavedOn. OR 1503) 644-9164

Circle #37 for information Instant American Data Comm Edited by HAROLD C. FOLTS, data communications standards consultant; and HARRY R. KARP, Editor-in-Chief, Data Communications, McGraw-Hill Publications Company. 1133 pages.

89 complete and unabridged standards

Consultative Committee for International International Organization for Standardization Telephone and Telegraph 11 standards, including ... 43 standards, including ... ISO 646-1973 7-bit coded character set for 112 Power levels for data transmission over information processing interchange telephone lines ISO 1745-1975 Information processing—basic mode V.15 Use of acoustic coupling for data control procedures for data transmission communications systems V.54 Loop test devices for modems (and ISO 3309-1976 Data communication—high-level provisional amendments, May 1977) data link control procedures— X.25 Interface for terminals operating in the frame structure packet mode on public data networks X.28 Interface for astart/stop mode on apublic American National Standards Institute data network situated in the same country 11 standards, including ... X.29 Procedures for exchange of control informa- X3.4 Code of information interchange tion and user data between apacket mode DTE and apacket assembly/disassembly X3.24 Signal quality at interface between data facility (PAD) processing technical equipment for synchronous data transmission X.95 Network parameters in public data networks X3.36 Synchronous high-speed data signaling rates between data terminal equipment and data Electronic Industries Association communications equipment 13 standards, including ... X3.44 Determination of performance of data RS-232C Interface between data terminal equipment communication systems and data communication equipment employing serial binary data interchange Federal Standards RS-269B Synchronous signaling rates for data 11 standards, including... transmission FED-STD-1003 Bit oriented data link control RS-363 Standards for specifying signal quality for procedures transmitting and receiving data processing FED-STD-1010 ASCII bit sequencing for serial-by-bit terminal equipments using serial data transmission transmission at the interface with non-syn- chronous data communication equipment FED-STD-1011 Character structure for serial-by-bit RS-449 General purpose 37-position and 9-position ASCII transmission interface for data terminal equipment and FED-STD-1012 Character structure for parallel-by-bit data circuit-terminating equipment ASCII transmission employing serial-binary data interchange

38 Electronics/August 2, 1979 access to all mid International unications Standards Data communications standards are undeniably necessary and helpful. But ...the proliferation of standards by the many committees and groups has left the data communications equipment user and designer searching through numerous publications to find the applicable standards for each job.

Now: that time- and effort-wasting trial is over. With the publication of this landmark resource, you can quickly and accurately determine exactly which standards apply to the project at hand, and speedily integrate those standards into your own network requirements.

Presents all relevant data Need to know the latest standards for... communications •data transmission over public data networks? standards promulgated by: •computers and information processing systems? •Consultative Committee for International •peripheral equipment? Telephone and Telegraph (CCITT) •signal quality and analog and digital interfaces? •International Organization for Standardization (ISO) It's all here, and more, complete with introductory •American National Standards Institute (ANSI) descriptions of the groups that promulgate the •Electronic Industries Association (EIA) standards ... and relational charts of similar interfacing standards produced by different groups. •Federal Telecommunications Standards Committee (FTSC)

Design Engineers Find the technical specs you need instantly. Planning Engineers Determine which standards apply to avast range of networks and components. Operations Managers Learn whether the equipment you're buying will operate at all applicable standards.

r- 1 Return coupon to Order today using this coupon! Data Communications Standards P.O. Box 669 Hightstown, New Jersey 08520

Send me copy (copies) of DATA Name _ COMMUNICATIONS STANDARDS (099782- 9) on a 10-day money-back guarantee. Iun- Title derstand that if Iam not-absolutely satisfied. I may return the book(s) within ten days at no Company _ further obligation. Otherwise. McGraw-Hill will bill me S165. for each copy, plus applicable Address sales tax, shipping and handling charges. City State __ Zip _

SAVE MONEY! Enclose payment in full, plus local soles tax. and McGraw-Hill pays all regular shipping and handling charges Ten-day money-back guarantee still applies. Check enclosed Bill me Bill my company __ _ Company purchase order rr Thls offer subject to acceptance by McGrow-Hill EL 2

Electronics/August 2, 1979 39 Tpch o leadersh

The sonics are supe high-performance, low-cost, SuperPower complements. When did you last design a power amp as Speak loudly and carry a big load. nearly free from total harmonic distortion as your To get distortion-free performance while devices and your design could make it? driving high inductive loads such as speakers, If recently, you probably just designed in our you need output units with high SOA and fT. new family of complementary SuperPower drivers In the past all you could expect was about 1MHz and output transistors. fT with a 100 V, 1A SOA. Now our MJ15022/23 family offers unprecedented 4 MHz response at If not lately, read on... this is for you. this power level.

Advancing the edge in drivers. Parts, performance and prices. Low distortion, high-quality sound at low and Sixteen new SuperPower devices are now high output levels demands arange of high-speed, available specifically for high-power, high-quality complementary drivers linear over their entire audio amps. Drivers and outputs. At competitive current range. Plus PNPs as close in performance or better prices. to NPNs as peas in a pod. We do that in our new 8 A drivers. Design them into your new audio systems. See your authorized Motorola distributor, or contact Prices NPN "CEO fr (100-up) Motorola Semiconductor Products Inc., PNP Package vet. staz NPN PNP P.O. Box 20912, Phoenix, 8 A Drivers AZ 85036 for your data sheets MJ3247 MJ3237 TO-66 120 20 $1.20 81.30 and free Power Leader MJ3248 MJ3238 TO-66 150 20 1.35 1.45 Selector Guide. And, for our MJ4247 MJ4237 TO-3 120 20 1.65 1.80 MJ4248 MJ4238 TO-3 150 20 1.75 1.90 new Power Data Book... MJE 15028 MJE 15029 TO-220 120 30 1.15 1.22 just $5.00. Get SuperPower MJE 15030 MJE 15031 TO-220 150 30 1.30 1.40 18 A Outputs sonics for your MJ 15022 MJ 15023 TO-3 200 4 3.00 3.20 MJ 15024 MJ 15025 TO-3 250 4 »3.50 3.70 Innovative systems All are complements. Gain linearity is typically a flat 2:1 for any given unit, gain matching 3:1 for through silicon. any pair over a 100 mA to 3A range. Min gain is 40, reducing to 20 at 4 A. No other drivers sound off like that. With 20 MHz min fT plus 0.1 I.Ls typ tf they make excellent switches and there's no chance MOTOROLA INC. they'll slow down your output devices one bit.

40 Circle 40 on reader service card Electronics/August 2, 1979 Echo-canceling chip opens way to increased use of satellite channels by Hari.eyJ. Hindin, Communications &Microwave Editor

sors which break the echo path by Bob Aaron, the head of Duttweil- Bell Labs' n-channel MOS effectively opening the transmission er's section describes how the chip chip, in production at line when the echo's amplitude works as avoice signal, converted to becomes too high. Another candi- digital at the satellite receiving Western Electric, will be date for replacement is the method terminal, is received through Bell's which adds attenuation to reduce the ESS-4 digital switch. installed in fourth quarter amplitude of the echo. The circuitry "It looks at the digital speech for implementing this method is signal and then compares the actual By the end of the year, telephone expensive. echo with an estimate of the echo communications via satellite will But perhaps even more important signal that it generates. As a result, begin undergoing adrastic technical than its echo-canceling properties is it generates what amounts to an change. The voice-garbling echoes the implication for the future of all- error signal. that occur over the 45,000-mile-long digital satellite links. (Right now, "The chip then adapts and gets an paths will be eliminated by an n- the links to the satellite are analog, even better estimate of what the channel mos chip developed by Bell rather than digital.) Digital technol- actual echo is and this is repeated Laboratories, and already in full ogy will enable system designers to many times. Then the chip takes the production at Western Electric, the apply the benefits of large-scale inte- replica of the echo that it has gener- Bell System's manufacturing arm. gration to their circuits, as well as ated and subtracts it from the real By the fourth quarter, the relatively the myriad possibilities inherent in echo while not disturbing the normal cheap chip will start being installed digital stored-program control. The speech transmission." in Bell's digital switches that feed ability to cancel echoes in such Two of these chips—one at each the satellite ground stations. systems inexpensively is likely to The development of the digital encourage their introduction. echo-canceling chip could by itself Few details. At this point, Bell double the number of satellite engineers are not ready to release the. circuits now being used by American technical details of their mos Telephone & Telegraph Corp. in The chip is the work of engineer Don its telephone network. (AT&T uses Duttweiler of the digital techniques 5,500 circuits out of 36,000 available section at Bell in Murray Hill, N. J. in three Comstar satellites.) This is He did everything from the original because of the way the phone mos design through its computer company now deals with the echo simulation and final test. The chip problem. So severe is the garbling includes about 35,000 transistors, that transcontinental telephone calls which puts it in the LSI class. It are not sent by satellite both ways. dissipates about 0.75 watt and oper- Rather, AT&T uses what it calls ates from a5-volt power supply. It is composite circuits: one end of the a stand-alone device, doing its job conversation goes by satellite, the without the help of amicroprocessor other end via ground links. The or peripheral memory. echoes would be far too severe if the complete conversation went via the Crammed full. Engineer Don Duttweiler long satellite path; echoes are not as holds the echo-canceling chip he designed severe via the shorter ground path. that does the job of the seven printed-circuit The new chip could also be used boards on the table that cost much more. on standard terrestrial links. It could That's Bob Aaron, head of Duttweiler's replace old-fashioned echo suppres- design group at Bell Labs, in background.

Elactronics/August 2, 1979 Electronics review

the needs of at least 10 to 20 years The problem of echoes ahead, especially studying the inher- ent device physics." The echo problem was recognized back in the 1960s when satellite telepho- The NRC panel, chaired by the ny began. Echoes occur in all telephone networks. They stem from signal University of Miami's Norman G. reflections at network connection points. Most often, this occurs where the Einspruch, was made up largely of standard four-wire lines used for long-distance connections are connected to people from universities and from the local two-wire lines via transformers called hybrids. These hybrids cause the semiconductor and computer slight but unavoidable electrical impedance differences that result in signal industries. Their 305-page report, reflections that are perceived as echoes. which assesses current U. S. semi- For calls over a distance of up to about 1,800 miles, echoes are handled conductor electronics, is titled "Mi- by purposely introducing loss in the network to keep the echo amplitude down to acceptable levels. Over more than 1,800 miles, echoes are crostructure Science, Engineering, controlled in terrestrial lines by devices called suppressors, which are and Technology," and is available activated by the speaker's voice and stop the echoes by interrupting their from the Solid State Sciences Com- path of travel. However, sometimes this causes bits of the conversation to be mittee of the council at the National clipped off. This happens, for example, when one speaker interrupts the Academy of Sciences in Washing- other. ton, D. C. This clipping is not very pleasant and research had been going on to find a Limits. While memory chips are better way to suppress echoes—especially for the long distances of satellite now pushing toward 1million bits of circuits. By the mid-1970s these efforts had borne fruit but the echo storage in a complex circuit with cancelers that became available were small electronic systems in them- selves, used valuable power, and were expensive. In fact, they were so structural features less than amicro- cumbersome that they are not really being considered as a viable solution to meter wide, the panel believes that the problem. such achievements are approaching For example, the voice common carrier, Comsat Laboratories, has experi- the "fundamental limits of available mented with a piece of analog gear designed to cancel echoes. It is made up materials." Submicrometer circuit of several circuit boards that consume about 20 watts. It is under test in dimensions, the panel points out, fall Canada and not in operational use. H.J.H. "within a range for which there is a peculiar gap in the understanding of condensed matter—solids, liquids, end of the long haul four-wire line— cause the chip does the job in milli- and amorphous substances—since can provide for full two-way echo- seconds. The 0.3 second it takes to one is not able with confidence to free communications. What is more, make a45,000-mile trip to the satel- extrapolate upward from the atomic the estimating and correction pro- lite and back to earth remains, but scale nor downward from bulk cess does not result in any noticeable this is too small to be a factor in a solid-state." additional delay in transmission be- conversation. For instance, there are problems with identification of both natural Research and implanted material impurities in very small circuits. Also, the chemi- cal and electronic effects at edges, National Research Council calls for surfaces, and interfaces of thin films are poorly understood. university R&D in electronic materials Accordingly, the panel's report spells out national research needs in U. S. world leadership in microelec- sary to produce the patterns for such microstructure science and engineer- tronic devices may be jeopardized circuits, and exploratory fabrication ing. To improve the fabrication of unless more university centers are of the circuits themselves. The microelectronic devices it calls for established for high-risk research on limited research efforts at universi- more research in the formation and the microstructure of materials and ties now, says the NRC report, show etching of thin films; on the interac- for training more engineers and a "disappointing tendency to emu- tions of electrons, photons, and ions scientists in this work. late industrial efforts, rather than to with materials; and on improved That is the judgment of a Nation- explore in new, high-risk directions." instrumentation for analysis of very al Research Council panel. Its Citing microstructure R&D pro- small devices. The panel also calls recommendation: establish new re- grams in other countries, notably for greater collaboration between gional centers along the lines of Japan, the NRC study says U. S. university and semiconductor indus- Cornell University's Submicron Fa- university researchers "should not try laboratories, as well as an cility to do research in such areas as concentrate on just the problems of increase in programs of nonproprie- the very large-scale integration of extrapolation of current technology; tary research and development on electronic and magnetic devices, the industry expects to solve those prob- the part of industry. submicrometer lithography neces- lems. They should rather anticipate "Our main conclusion," the panel

42 Electronics/August 2, 1979 says, "is that a high level of long- uum fluorescent display. The center cars already have an array of new range research activity closely re- also cycles through a checkout sensors dictated by fuel economy lated to integrated-circuit technolo- procedure that determines whether and emissions regulations, it is rela- gy is essential" to continuing nation- 11 systems, such as lights, oil pres- tively easy to recycle the data as al success. -Ray Connolly sure, engine temperature, and alter- input for an instrument display. Of nator, are within their operating course, "electronics will be used to Automotive limits. And it has a chronographic give us amarketing edge," he adds. function to keep track of the month, Larry Lopez, manager for elec- day, and time. tronic instrumentation and features Ford dashes get Actually, the instrument panel engineering at Ford's Electrical and uses a trio of vacuum fluorescent Electronics division, Dearborn, electronic look displays, as shown in the photo Mich., explains that two micropro- below. The familiar fuel gage needle cessors and a programmable logic Detroit automakers will be battling has been replaced by an analog bar array are part of apackage that uses in a new arena this fall, this one chart that shows remaining fuel as a 23 integrated circuits to drive the defined by the dashboard features proportion of gas tank capacity. And new cluster. The fuel gage is driven they can offer using solid-state elec- the conventional speedometer has by an American Microsystems tronics. The result—as evident from been replaced by 0.8-inch-high num- S2000A microprocessor plus an ana- the instrument cluster to be intro- bers that indicate speed in kilomet- log-to-digital chip that converts the duced by Ford Motor Co. in its top- ers or miles per hour. fuel level sensor's electrical resist- of-the-line Lincoln Continentals— Space limits. The electronic bells ance into adigital equivalent. will be an entirely new look. Not and whistles do not come cheap. The speedometer is driven by a only will displays new to the automo- Detroit engineers note that the cost programmable logic array from In- bile be used, but they will also pre- of the all-electronic cluster is about sent information that has never five times that of its electromechani- Message center. Electronic instrument pan- before been offered to the driver. cal counterpart. But limited space el uses trio of vacuum fluorescent displays. Ford calls its array of electronic behind the instrument panel of the Fuel gage is at left, speedometer (with elec- goodies a message center. It flashes downsized autos of the 1980s force tromechanical odometer not visible) at messages regarding the auto's per- the consolidation of numerous dis- center. Derived information such as distance formance on two lines of agreenish- crete gages into a compact display. to destination is called up via row of push- blue 20-character alphanumeric vac- Also, explains one engineer, since buttons to show up on two-line display, right.

Electronics/August 2, 1979 43 Electronics review

terdesign, while the message center after General Motors' Cadillac divi- include generators, read-write lines, for system checkout and timing has sion first offered a trip computer and adetector. a Motorola 6800 with a 64-K read- using a gas-discharge numeric read- Contiguous disks are a relatively only memory that stores 77 words, out as an $1000 option for its Seville new way to pack large numbers of such as the days of the week and the [Electronics, March 2, 1978, p. 40]. bubbles into a chip of magnetic months of the year. If fuel supply or Buick will offer it this year for about garnet. Dense chips are possible system operating conditions drop $800. Cadillac has dropped that unit because the technique permits no below safe levels, an automatic for its 1980 models, but aspokesman gaps in the propagating pattern visual and audible warning is pro- says that it will be replaced by a needed to move bubbles around the duced by the message center. more advanced package this fall. As chip for reading and writing. Cur- The Ford unit, which also per- for the price of the Ford panel, the rent conventional patterns are chev- forms trip log calculations such as company will say only that it will be ron-shaped; on contiguous-disk de- estimated time of arrival and dis- less than for General Motors' trip vices the pattern resembles overlap- tance to empty, comes 18 months computer. -Larry Marion ping circles or disks. By comparison with the new Bell Bubble memories chip, the largest bubble memories in production use the chevron patterns and contain roughly 1 megabit of Bell Laboratories shows off chip storage. The possibility of fabricat- ing a chip with as much memory as with acapacity of 11.5 megabits Bell's indicates that the future of the memories may lie with contig- The record for the largest-capacity ures a hefty 28 by 30 millimeters, or uous disks rather than the conven- bubble-memory chip belongs to two more than 1inch on aside. The chip tional kind. researchers, Terry Nelson and Ray- was described by Nelson of Bell's Minimum features. The 11.5 mond Wolfe, at Bell Laboratories, magnetics department at the Second megabit chip, which has 1,792 minor Murray Hill, N. J. Their experimen- Joint Intermag-Magnetism and loops with 6,441 bits each, has an tal chip, using the dense so-called Magnetic Materials Conference held eight-micrometer period—the size of contiguous-disk approach, could the- last month in New York. It contains the propagating pattern before it oretically store 11,542,272 bits— the read and write elements required begins to repeat itself—and was roughly 11.5 megabits—and meas- of a fully functional memory. These made with minimum features of 2

Memory disk doesn't spin

BASF Aktiengesellschaft, Rhein, West Germany, has taken an older memory technology and given it a modern twist. The technology first surfaced in the early 1960s before magnetic bubbles were discovered. Like bubbles, it relies on magnetic domains. But these domains are stored in metallic layers, rather than in the bubbles' garnet, and the domain shapes are flat, rather than cylindrical. At the New York magnetism conference, BASF described the memory approach applied to a flat magnetic disk that is perhaps the first removable, nonvolatile magnetic memory with no moving parts. To make the 0.2-in, thick module, a thin iron-nickel-cobalt layer with circular magnetic anisotrophy is vacuum-deposited onto a 2-by-2-in. glass substrate and subsequently etched into four long parallel spirals. All magnet- ic fields necessary for domain nucleation, propagation, and inductive sensing are generated by a copper conductor pattern on a Mylar layer. The metallic and conductor layers are registered and attached to a 3-by-3-in. that has 32 edge connectors. The ensemble is finally potted in a square-shaped epoxy resin. Each spiral acts as a 12,288-bit shift register, so the system has a total capacity .of 49,152 bits. Data can be written at any rate up to 125 kilobits/sec, and the maximum access time at this rate is 98.3 milliseconds. At the maximum data rate, 500 kilobits/sec, the device consumes 17.3 watts. Thus, the module is not terribly fast nor power sparing. It does, however, offer "low cost per function," according to Herbert Henkler, co-author of BASF's paper. "The whole feature, along with the electronics necessary for control, driving, and sensing, will be [available] in the $100-to-$150 range," he says.

44 Electronice/August 2, 1979 The first modular 2400 bps modem. That's Rockwell Micropower.

Now you can easily and economically integrate a2400 bps modem within the functional system of terminals or com- munications equipment. The reason —the versatile design of Rockwell's R24, asynchronous MOS-LSI modem. The R24 divides its functions into three modules: one for the transmitter and two for the receiver. Each module is encased in aplastic pack- age that can be plugged into standard con- nectors or wave soldered onto system PC boards. Total module area required is only about 25 sq. inches. R24 gives designers functional flexibility, too. Its Bell 201 B/C and CCITT V26 and V.26 bis compatible. And with a minimum of interfacing circuitry, it can be configured for operation on leased lines or the general switched network. Rockwell gets you started in performance analysis and system design with an R24 modem on an evaluation board. Everything you need for your prototype design. A new generation of modems from the leading OEM manufacturer of high speed LSI modems. That's Rockwell Micropower working for you. For more information, contact D-727- F8 Microelectronic Devices, Rockwell International; P.O. Box 3669, Anaheim, CA 92803, or phone (714) 632-3729.

pRockwell International ...where science gets down to business

Electronics/August 2, 1979 Circle 45 on reader service card 45 Electronics review

attracting bubbles and pulling them along under the influence of a rotat- ing magnetic field provided by criss- crossed coils of wire. To get worka- ble operating margins on the Bell device, only 1,350 of the 1,792 loops were used, "which works out to 8.7 megabits," says Nelson. This num- ber is "significant, being slightly over one megabyte," he adds. The next step for Bell is to try to use the MITEL implants at shorter periods—ulti- mately producing periods of 4 gm, for four times the present chip's density. CMOS/LSI However, it should be noted that ion implantation is not the only way LIQUID-CRYSTAL- to make contiguous disks. Two other papers at the conference, one from DISPLAY IBM's Watson Research Center and Disk tem. Drawing shows layout ot ion- one from Rockwell International's DRIVER/LATCHES implanted contiguous disks that guide mag- Electronics Research Center in Ana- MD4330 •MD4331 •MD4332 netic bubbles through the 1in. 2-plus garnet heim, Calif., both described devices 30 &32-BIT REGISTER DRIVERS chip developed at Bell Laboratories. with two levels of complementary- permalloy contiguous patterns. In mm. Because of the chevron pattern, past attempts using a single permal- 00111 a conventional chip would need 1 loy layer, bubbles had problems MITI minimum features to yield an getting by the cusps of the disks. To 8-am period. This feature size avoid these problems, when the approaches the state of the art for bubble nears the cusp, one layer is OrOIM optical lithography. Contiguous disk shut off and the other activated. chips made with such resolution Though showing potential, "both H00101 could be at least four times as dense papers presented only preliminary as conventional chips. results," says Pugh. "They showed MITCI Bell defines the contiguous disks simple propagation, but they didn't by implanting helium and neon ions have switches, nucleators, or sens- III ILL in the garnet substrate in which the ing." -John G. Posa bubbles reside. IBM, which has in the DRIVES UP TO FOUR 7-SEGMENT OR TWO past championed a bubble-lattice Management 16-SEGMENT LCD READOUTS DIRECTLY structure for achieving higher densi- THE LATCHED DATA CAN BE CHANGED BY ties, is also working with contiguous SERIALLY SHIFTING NEW DATA INTO THE disks using ion implantation to fabri- RCA Solid State adds REGISTER AT SPEEDS OVER 3MHz cate them. But it first grows an extra Low-Power AI Consumption with High- garnet layer to receive the ions [Elec- Power Performance the dash of Pepper tronics, July 19, p. 39]. According to FEATURING: Emerson Pugh, manager of explora- On Aug. 6, Robert S. Pepper, 44, 403 to 18 VOLT OPERATION tory magnetics at IBM's Thomas J. will become general manager of the *SYNCHRONOUS OR ASYNCHRONOUS RESET Watson Research Center, Yorktown Solid State division of RCA Corp., *INPUTS WAVE-SHAPED ON-CHIP Heights, N. Y., "We are seeing ten *FULL PARALLEL TRUE/COMPLEMENT Somerville, N. J. Like every job of OUTPUTS times the density [of conventional his professional career, the position *STD 40-PIN DUAL-IN-LINE PACKAGES designs]." was unsought; Pepper was recruited Not the same. Unlike semiconduc- while vice president of Analog For more information write of phone tor doping where impurities are Devices Inc. and general manager of 1745 JEFFERSON DAVIS HWY SUITE 611 introduced in precise quantities to its Semiconductor division in Wil- 004 ARLINGTON,TEL 703-243-1600 VA 22202 alter conductivity, bubble implants mington, Mass. are intended solely to impart damage Pepper takes over divisional re- to the crystal lattice. This forces sponsibility for an organization MITEL short magnetic vectors to act along grossing about three times as much Semiconductor the cusps and curves of the disks, as his old employer. But he is not

46 Circle 46 on reader service card Electronics/August 2, 1979 It's all in the latest

HEATHKIr CATALOG

Have you seen a real These sophisticated products are computerized, digital home weather station... easy to build kits. Illustrated step- or a precision electronic by-step instructions guide you from unpacking the kit to final plug-in scale for your bathroom ...or egimidigifflw and detailed explanations help you advanced educational programs learn how the product works from that let you learn electronics 4A+ the inside out. It's fun, easy and educational. or automotive maintenance at home... or a to- tally broadbanded amateur radio transceiver So send for your free catalog today. It's the ...or the world's only programmable color TV best way we know to find out what's new in with fully automatic antenna rotor? If you electronics and have fun doing it! Read about haven't, send for a free Heathkit Catalog. how you can build some of the finest electronic You'll see nearly 400 unique electronic prod- products available today! ucts — the latest technology, the newest fea- tures, the best values. The kinds of quality 4•1 miming an products Heath Company has been offering HEATH Heath Company, Dept. 510-560 Schlumberger Benton Harbor, Michigan 49022 for some 60 years! it's fascinating reading. But Please send me my FREE Heathkit Catalog. the excitement doesn't stop there. Iam not currently receiving catalogs.

ifSend for your FREE Catalog Today! : Name

coupon is missing. write: Heath Company, Dept. 510-560 Benton Harbor, Mi 49022 Address

Heathkit products are displayed, sold and serviced City State coast-to-coast at Heathkit Electronic Centers (Units of Schlumberger Products Corporation). See the white CL-706 Zip pages of your phone book. MI MI III In

Electronics/August 2, 191-) Circle 47 on reader service card 47 Grayhill Electronics review Solid State worried: "I have had no second grated-circuit business, citing a list thoughts. I simply do not plan to of its achievements in that area—the Relays fail— Ihate to lose. Iexpect to have development of the first practical IC a steady pair of hands when Iwalk television sound channel, the first made to into the office on the sixth." successful high-voltage power la, That's probably how it will be. and the first practical application of keep switching Pepper is no stranger to the pressure ion implantation, among others. of fast tracks, either the corporate or He left Sprague in 1975 for reliably racing variety. A fierce business and Raytheon Co.'s Missile Systems sports competitor, he used to enter division, Bedford, Mass., where, he motorcycle races without the factory says, "I learned the systems engi- backing that other racers enjoyed. neers' side of the problem—they "A lot of the time Ibeat those guys," want circuits that fit their block he says, and he has a room full of diagrams, not lectures about sophis- trophies to prove it. After a serious ticated technology." accident made him stop racing, he In April 1976, he moved to helped prepare the machine that now Analog Devices as director of R&D holds the motorcycle land-speed and four months later became gener- record. Pepper's Hall-effect elec- al manager of the Semiconductor tronic ignition was the cycle's only division. In less than 18 months, he part that gave no trouble. was named a corporate vice presi- Pepper looks forward to the chal- dent. Making the announcement, lenge of the RCA job. "The Solid Ray Stata, Analog's president, noted State division is the only IC maker I that under Pepper the division's sales used to play war games with in my had grown by 50% in the prior 12 mind," he says. "I tried to place months and that profits had reached myself in its management's shoes in record highs. Analog insiders say a way I never did with firms like that this compounded yearly growth Intel. Iguess it was because Ihave rate will be a major factor in always been impressed by the divi- Analog's achievement of $100 mil- sion's capabilities and with the work lion in gross receipts a full year done at RCA'S Princeton [research] ahead of expectations. laboratories. Isee no reason why the Pepper downplays the praise, No short cuts! division can't contribute far more to stressing that he wanted to stream- If you are concerned with product RCA. Ihave been assured by [RCA performance, nothing less than line new product introductions and Grayhill Solid State Relays will executive vice president Roy H.] to give the division greater focus in satisfy your quality needs, because Pollock and [RCA president Edgar they are manufactured without the H.] Griffiths that money and back- Well-regarded. General manager Robert S. short-cuts that-can adversely affect ing will be there if needed. You can Pepper looks for the division he is taking performance. Designed to switch forget any doubts you may have had inductive loads, Grayhill Solid State over to be making long strides in the right Relays have built-in snubber about the division's future within the direction within the next two years. networks with high DV/DT charac- corporation." teristics and ahigh blocking voltage Past achievement. RCA was no rating. This means continuing doubt impressed with Pepper's track reliable performance, and lower total product cost. record. Since he obtained his docto- rate in electrical engineering in Choice of isolation type 1964, his fortunes have risen steadi- and package style. ly. He agreed to a year's leave of Grayhill Solid State Relays are available in optically isolated, absence from his appointment to the transformer isolated and reed relay faculty at the University of Califor- (Hybrid) versions (most with zero nia, Berkeley, to set up a linear IC voltage turn-on), in six package facility for the Sprague Electric Co., styles. North Adams, Mass. The one-year Ask for your free copy of the leave stretched into an 11-year full- Grayhill Solid State Relay Catalog. time job as Pepper was promoted to become technical assistant to the chairman of the board.

CryÀ Insiders say Pepper made it possi- 111111 ble for Sprague to enter the inte- 561 Hillgrove Avenue •LaGrange, Illinois 60525 (312) 354-1040

48 Circle 48 on reader service card Electronics/August 2, 1979 Technological leadership.

Sense Up Input to 10 kW Loads

Control current, kilowatts and costs with the biggest TO-220 Triac around.

Controlling big-kilowatt loads in big-power Under full 25 A power-cycling conditions applications is no longer the exclusive domain with ATJ of 35°C to 125°—a worst-case, of premium-priced stud and pressfit-packaged accelerated test—reliability of the MAC223 series metal Triacs. was proven. Conclusively. Motorola's state-of-the-art, MAC223/223A Motorola publishes results of these tests together TO-220 Triac turns on a whole new ballgame in with other environmental and package integrity medium-/high-current designs where performance tests in Reliability Report RAW4220, available and price go hand-in-hand. on request. That's unique, too. How did we do it? We extended the current- Save a third of your dollar. carrying capability of our TO-220 package by redesigning it to accommodate a bigger, heftier, By actual comparison, based on latest available 100-up pricing, the Motorola TO-220 Triac family 25 A (RMS) chip with 250 A surge capacity. performs as well as a metal equivalent for just Handle up to 10 kW. two-thirds the cost. Price range for the MAC223s with three-quadrant triggering is only $1.63 to With a 400 V unit from the 100-800 V series, $4.48. Add a few cents for each "A" series device you can easily control 5,000 W or more in AC for four-quadrant triggering. power switching, heating, lighting, motor controls and power supplies. A 200 V unit controls Call our authorized distributor or contact Motorola 2,500 W. And if you're into really heavy 400 V- Semiconductor Products Inc., RO. Box 20912, and-above systems, the MAC223-10 unit affords Phoenix, AZ 85036 for complete data on the power-handling in excess of 10 kW. That's perfor- MAC223/223A Triac. mance that matches metal Triacs. Motorola SuperPower discretes like these will If it sounds simple, it's not. always be in control of the world's Reliability is first. Innovative systems And last. And always. You don't just redesign a package. You redesign it for reliability. And you through silicon. put in the best chip technology you can furnish. The result is an all-diffused and glass-passivated chip for parameter uniformity and stability within a small. rugged Thermowattrm TO-220 that stands up to the worst kind of punishment. MOTOROLA INC. Electronics/August 2, 1979 Circle 49 on reader service card 49 For Rent Rental Electronics rents all kinds of Electronics review Amplifiers, Analyzers, Calibrators, Counters, Couplers, Generators, Meters, Micro- computer Development Systems, Modula- key markets. Perhaps most impor- Satellites tors, Oscillators, Oscilloscopes, Power tantly, though, he "emphasized Supplies, Printers, Probes, Recorders, pragmatic engineering solutions Synthesizers, Terminals, Test Sets... and much more. rather than the existing science- AT&T has chance Rental Electronics rents equipment oriented approach to design." from ADDS, Ailtech, Associated Research, Associates say that "he trims fat, at new services Beehive, Biomation, Boonton, Brush, admits mistakes, solicits ideas, puts Dana, Data I/O, Digitec, Doric, Dranetz, Elgar, Esterline-Angus, Fluke, GenRad, Halcyon, the right people in the right jobs, The people at American Telephone Hewlett-Packard, Honeywell, Hughes, Intel, gives 200% of himself, and gets at & Telegraph Co. should be happy Keithly, Krohn-Hite, Lambda, Lear least 150% from those around him— about the Federal Communications Siegler, Marconi, Monsanto, Narda, Nicolet, and meanwhile, everybody has one Commission's July 18 decision—or Northeast, Power Design, Programmed hell of agood time." Power, Singer, Sorenson, Tally, Techni-Rite, really, nondecision —to let amorato- Tektronix, Tenney, Texas Instruments, An acquaintance from his days at rium expire on the leasing of chan- Wavetek...and many more. Sprague says that Pepper "respects nels on the Comstar domestic satel- Rental Electronics, Inc. Rental Centers people who admit mistakes, but God lites to non-government private-line In the U.S.: Anaheim, CA (714) 879-0561 • help you if you try to cover one up users. This means that AT&T is now Mountain View, CA (415) 968-8845 • and he finds out." Northridge, CA (213) 993-7368 •Ft. free to offer services it had been Lauderdale, FL (305) 771-3500 •Orlando, RCA Solid State, bigger than eith- barred from providing specifically FL (305) 351-3015 • Des Plaines, IL er Sprague or Analog's IC opera- via satellite. These include cable (312) 827-6670 •Burlington, MA (617) tions, should have more inertia. "I television and various point-to-point 273-2770 or (800) 225-1008 •Gaithersburg, don't see massive changes in the next MD (301) 948-0620 •Greensboro, NC and multipoint distribution services. (800) 638-4040 •Oakland, NJ (201) six months," Pepper says, "but in the Competition. When it adopted its 337-3788 or (800) 452-9763 •Rochester, next two years, Iexpect the division satellite policies in the early 1970s, NY (800) 631-8920 •Cleveland, OH to be making long strides in the right the FCC prohibited AT&T from sell- (800) 323-8964 •Dallas, TX (214) 661-8082* directions." -James B. Brinton ing these services so as to enable Houston, TX (800) 492-9021 •Seattle, WA (206) 641-6444 •In Canada: Vancouver, BC (604) 278-8458 •Rexdale, Ontario (416) 675-7513 •Montreal. Quebec (514) News briefs 337-5575. Hand-held calculator accesses peripherals • BM MI MI MN Hewlett-Packard Co.'s new HP-41C hand-held calculator [Electronics, July 19, p. 33] turns out to be an exceptionally powerful system: the $295 unit Call one of our rental centers today for immediate action. Or return this can be connected through its four ports to such peripherals as a thermal coupon to Rental Electronics, Inc . printer, a magnetic card reader, an optical character-reading wand, and a 19347 Londelius St., Northridge, memory. It can execute 130 preprogrammed functions and will accept CA 91324. plug-in application software supplied by the Palo Alto, Calif., company or 0 Send me your Rental Catalog. written by users. El Send me your Equipment Sales Up to four random-access-memory modules ($45 each) can be plugged in Catalog — Imay be interested in to store as many as 2,000 lines of data, equivalent to 319 registers. HP buying some of your "previously developed the peripherals especially for the calculator. The card reader costs owned" equipment. $195; the thermal printer, $350. The wand, available early next year, will 0 Ihave an immediate need for the read standard bar code. The Corvallis, Ore., division of HP's Calculator following rental equipment: Products group developed and builds the HP-41C, as well as the 11 comple- mentary-MOS chips around which it is designed. Please have someone from your nearest Inventory Center phone Northern Telecom to add more acquisitions me at Though it has spent $276 million in cash and stock to acquire four makers of Name data-processing and telecommunications gear in the United States last year, Title Canada's Northern Telecom Ltd. is still not through. More acquisitions are Company planned, perhaps including a software developer along with more hardware Address vendors. Several new distributed data processing products are coming from a subsidiary, Northern Telecom Systems Corp. of suburban Minneapolis. This Mail Stop fall, it will follow up with hardware and software for word processing, joining City the bandwagon of manufacturers of distributed data-processing equipment. Adding word processing to their product lines [Electronics, July 19, p. 81], State/Zip Northern Telecom Systems' salesmen are also packaging "Office of the Phone Future" proposals using telecommunications gear from a sister corporation, Northern Telecom Inc., of Nashville, Tenn. Company sources, however, say a merger of the two subsidiaries of Northern Telecom is not imminent and that the joint sales efforts are part of an experiment to see how the two companies work together in the marketplace. EL 8/2/79 II GSA I. G5 ,045.219.1 Ne g c 1979 Rental Eleclronea In,-

50 Electronics/August 2, 1979 It All Rental Companies Look Alike, How Do You Chooses

Need an oscilloscope or logic analyzer in as you need us to be, with competitive ahurry? Do you have ashort term short term rates, lower rates for need for amicroprocessor development extended periods, even aselection of system? Chances are you've already rental/purchase plans. discovered that renting the electronic But there's an even better reason equipment you need makes sense. But to make Rental Electronics your equipment which rental company? rental company. It's called service. It starts When you call Rental Electronics, when our rental experts answer your phone call. you're tapping amulti-million dollar To us, service means going that extra step inventory of electronic equipment from to meet your particular needs — for aspecial Hewlett-Packard, Tektronix, Intel and piece of equipment, atight delivery schedule, every other major manufacturer. So we're acustomized rental or rental/purchase arrange- sure to have what you need — even the ment, or just straight answers and a newest equipment. helpful attitude. Our on-line real-time computer When it comes to service we're positively lets us give you immediate availability fanatical. And it pays off. During the past information while you're still on the phone. twelve months, for example, 92% of our first- Even if what you need is at another of our ten syteees time customers have come back for more. stocking centers across North America. Next time you consider renting, consider Renting from Rental Electronics makes good Rental Electronics. Give us ashot at your business. economic sense, too. We're big enough to be as flexible We're confident we'll turn you into arepeat customer.

Test and Measurement Instruments

Here is just asmall sampling of the test and measurement Tektronix 465 Oscilloscope. BW 100 equipment available today from Rental Electronics. For a MHz; display 8x 10; 5mV/div to 5 complete list, use the coupon opposite. V/div sens.; sweep rate 50 ns/div to 0.5 s/div; x10 magnifier; dual trace; Hewlett-Packard 1640A Serial Data Analyzer. delayed sweep; x-y operation. Identifies and locates failures to the com- ponent level; RSC 232C; 2048 characters, Hewlett-Packard 8565A/100 Spectrum monitor buffer, plus 1024 characters Analyzer. 0.01 to 22 GHz with internal transmit message buffer; Sync or Async. mixer; 14.5 to 40 GHz with 11517 external mixer; 100 Hz and 300 Hz resolution bandwidth; Absolute Biomation K 100 D Logic Analyzer. 16 Amplitude Calibration: —110 dbm to +30 dbm. channels; 1024 word memory; clock rates up to 100 MHz; signal timing resolution to Brush 260 Strip Chart Recorder. 1mV to lOns; built-in display and keyboard control. 500 V; chart speeds 125 mm/sec. to 1mm/

min., incl. four event markers; pressurized i T7 Honeywell 101 Recording System. 7or 14 tracks [ ink; response: DC to 100 Hz. depending on head assembly; Y2 in. (7 tracks) or 1in. (14 tracks) tape; 8tape speeds from 0.937 ips to 120 ips; direct bandwidth to 2 MHz (wide band) and to 600 kHz (intermediate band); FM bandwidth to 80 kHz (wide band) and to 40 Rental Electronics, Inc. kHz (intermediate band); reel size to 15 in., An WVIIBMICal. company coaxially mounted. ... adifferent breed. MULTIBUS Electronics review compatible data competition to get started and grow. Thus the Bell System has been using acquisition Comstar —a satellite launched joint- ly by AT&T and General Telephone and control systems. and Electronics Corp. —only for long-distance phone calls. (See re- lated story on p. 41.) The ADAC 700 Series of data acquisition systems plug directly into Companies who filed objections the MULTIBUS of single board computers from Intel and National. The with the FCC to letting AT&T in on 710 Series is the first low level analog to digital system available that the private-line action included RCA, includes such unique features as the capability to withstand common Western Union, American Satellite, mode voltages of up to 250V while digitizing low level outputs from bridges, thermocouples and other low level transducers. A software Xerox, and Satellite Business Sys- programmable gain amplifier with optional cold junction compensation tems. The last two are still getting circuit can be programmed on achannel to channel basis. The low organized to provide service. They level analog to digital card and low level multiplexer expander card feared competition from AT&T and can be supplied with either 8or 16 differential inputs per card. Resolu- voiced the oft-expressed worry that tion is 12 bits. it would subsidize the new services The 735 AID high level analog to digital series is supplied with from other revenues. 16 to 64 single ended or pseudo differential inputs. It also is jumper The ball is now very decidedly in selectable for 8, 16, or 32 differential analog inputs. The inputs can be AT&T's court. It says it is still decid- either voltage or current loop. The 735 AID features a12 bit high speed ing whether even to file tariffs analog to digital converter with throughput rates of 35 KHz basic and 100 KHz optional. The series include bus interfacing with asoftware describing any additional services it selection of program control/program interrupt and ajumper selection might offer. However, it could go of memory mapped 110 or isolated 110. Up to 2channels of 12 bit digital into business almost overnight. to analog converters can be supplied. Three Comstar satellites in orbit' The extensive series of MULTIBUS compatible analog 110 boards have 85% of their capacity unused. is further complemented by the 735 DAC Series. They are supplied The IBM-backed Satellite Business with up to 4channels of 12 bit digital to analog converters, MULTIBUS Sysiems may be most affected by interfacing, 2scope/recorder pen control circuits, 8discrete digital what AT&T does. It will have no outputs with 8high current sinks, 8discrete digital inputs, and memory satellites in place before 1981, and mapped or isolated I/O interfacing. Optionally available are third wire sense for ground noise rejection and 4to 20 ma current loop outputs. potential customers may look to Send for full technical data: AT&T instead of the newcomer. However, competition may lead to cheaper, more innovative services. As for the others, RCA and West- ern Union say their channels are fully booked, and so are new craft to be launched in 1980. American Satellite rents channels; so will Xer- ox. -H. J. Hindin, R. Connolly

Integrated circuits

Bipolar TRW chip has 1-pm line widths

Late in July, researchers at TRW Inc. completed an experimental test chip, employing bipolar semiconductor technology, that has minimum line widths of 1micrometer. "It might be the first very large-scale integrated bipolar device," says Barry Dun- bridge, manager of the TRW Micro- electronic Center in Redondo Beach, Calif., where the work was done.

CORPORATION Moreover, it comes at atime when a 70 TOWER OFFICE PARK •WOBURN, MA 01801 • 617-935-6668

52 Circle 52 on reader service card Electronics/August 2, 1979 Electronics Magazine announces • • • an invaluable, time-saving library of design facts and figures.

CIRCUITS CIRCUITS CIRCUITS CIRCUITS design CIRCUITS CIRCUITS tec ni ues foR electRonics foR electRonics engneeRs engneeRs engineeRs engneeRs engneeRs engneeRs engneeRs Electronics Electronics Design engneeRs Book series Circuits for Book Series Techniques engneeRs Electronics engneeRs for Electronics Engineers Engineers

The most unique, useful, and innovative circuits published in The best of Electronics' popular "Engineer's Notebook," this Electronics highly respected "Designer's Casebook." All is an indispensable storehouse of solutions to avast range organized by function, and complete with component values, of frequently encountered design problems. You'll find ahost circuit diagrams, waveshapes where applicable, and clear of proven techniques to assist you at every point in the explanations of operations and applications. development of an engineering project—when you're making measurements... interpreting data... making calculations... 346 circuits from all over the world—arranged by choosing materials... controlling environment ...laying out 51 of the most useful functions designers use to and purchasing components, and interconnecting them implement their systems, including... swiftly and accurately. •Amplifiers •Analog to digital & digital to analog Here's just a sampling of the useful information converters •Counters •Detectors •Discriminators •Display circuits •Function generators •Integrators you'll have at your fingertips... •Logic circuits •Memory circuits • •How to use soluble masks to •How to convert coordinates circuits •Power supplies •Protection circuits •Switching protect pc boards from solder. and find SWRs graphically. circuits •Temperature control •Timing circuits •Voltage •How to evaluate power dis- •How to compare coaxial-cable regulating circuits •and many more. sipation in microcircuit design. shielding effectiveness. •How to hand-solder DIP •How to calculate resistance The end result is acomplete, practical, easy-to-use manual circuits to save testing dollars. for sum and difference for engineers and advanced technicians involved in research, •How to compare the power of networks. C-MOS with TTL. •How to use aprogrammable development, design, testing, or production of any kind of •How to really look at low-drift calculator to analyze filter electronics hardware. IC op amps. designs. •How to accurately closed •How to compute response of No electronics engineer should be without these two resistor loops. RLC networks with ashort essential resources, guaranteed to make your •How to drive LEDs directly program. professional life easier. from C-MOS logic outputs. •and much, much more.

Solve design problems fast. Avoid tedious manual Order today, and don't forget the other valuable calculations. Cut bench and development time. All when you Electronics Magazine Books on the coupon below. get the professional edge with this must-have sourcebook.

Electronics Magazine Books Fri I. If after my 10-day free-trial examination Iam not fully satisfied Iunderstand P.O. Box 669. Hightstown, NJ 08520 that my payment will be refunded. (609) 448-1700. ext. 5494 CI Payment enclosed ID Bill firm O Bill me Charge to my credit card: O American Express C) Diners Club No. of Copies Title Price Q Visa D Master Charge• Microprocessors $ 8.95 Applying Microprocessors $ 9.95 Acct No. Date Exp. Large Scale Integration 9.95 Basics of Data Communications $12.95 'On Master Charge only. first numbers above name Circuits for Electronics Engineers $15.95 Name Title Design Techniques for Electronics Engineers $15.95 Memory Design: Microcomputers Company to Mainframes $12.95 Personal Computing: Street Hardware and Software Basics $11.95

City State Zip

Discounts of 40% on orders of 10 or more copies of each book. Signature

Electronics/August 2, 1979 53 Electronics review

TRW-led team is in the midst of putting together its proposal for the Department of Defense's very high- speed integrated circuits (viisic) program. The fabrication of other test chips in the 1-gm range has been reported in semiconductor industry circles, but these chips use mos technology. Dunbridge says, "I know of no other bipolar examples." Firms that have bipolar capabilities at this level on aQuad PC board include IBM Corp., Bell Laborato- When you build the new Xylogics Model 610 Disk Controller into your DEC Unibuse ries, and Texas Instruments, he CPU, you get more than just RK11/RK05 emulation. points out. With the Model 610 Disk Controller, you can accommodate up to four cartridge Bidding. All four firms are taking drives by CDC, EM&M, Pertec, Western Dynex and others providing storage capac- part in VHSIC bidding, Bell through ity to E1OMB of unformatted data. Media compatibility is obtained with any of the front load 5MB drives. The Model 610 is fully software compatible too. its Western Electric equipment- Best of all, you get all this on one making subsidiary. With phase 1A quad single printed circuit board. For I of VHSIC calling for construction of RK11/ RK05 emulation, go with Xylogics brassboard electronic subsystems Model 610 Disk Controllers. And get real performance! XlflOgiCS with devices having 1.25-µm mini-

*Trademark of Digital Equipment Corporation mum feature size, an early demon- Xylogics, Inc., 42 Third Avenue, Burlington, Massachusetts 01803 (617) 272-8140 stration gives a bidding firm "a nice Internabonal Subseary Xylowc, International Lid Lynlon House Moi Lune Geowds CeD5s SL9 ElAY Unded Kongdom Tel (928131 88287 leg up," says Dunbridge [Electronics, We did it with ... innovation/imagination/integrity Sept. 14, 1978, p. 81]. Along with the small geometries, Circle 54 on reader service card the request for VHSIC proposals also establishes anew criterion for device performance. It replaces the stan- LARGEST RADAR INVENTORY IN THE WORLD dard speed-power product with a

SYSTEMS AUTOTRACK ANTENNA SCR-584 TRACKING SYSTEMS "gate—clock-frequency product." SPARES RADAR SYSTEM K BAND MONOPULSE 40 KW E-34 Circuits with a 1.25-gm minimum AN/ALT-6-7-8 360 deg AZ 210 deg EL. 1 mil. accu- X BAND NIKE AJAX/HERCULES AN-APG-33 racy. Missile sel. accel. and slew rates. X BAND HI -RES MONOPULSE MOD IV linewidth must have an equivalent AN /APG•51 Amplidyne control. Handle up to 20 ft. X BAND OCA PAR II AN/APN-69 dish. Compl. control chassis. ALSO in X BAND FIRE CONTROL 250 KW M-33 gate—clock-frequency product ex- AN/APN-102 stock 10 cm. van mounted rad. system. X BAND MOBILE 40 KW AN MPO-29 AN/APN-169 Conical scan. PPI. 6 ft. dish. 300 pg. X BAND BEACON 100 W AN/DPN-62 ceeding 5X 10" gate-hertz per AN/APO-50 instr. bk. on radar. $50. S BAND 10' DISH 500 KW AN/MPO-18 AN/APO-55 S BAND 250 KW AN/MPO-10A square centimeter. AN/APS-20 RF SOURCES S BAND 250 KW AN/MPS-9 AN/APS-31A 17-27 KHz 200 W CW X BAND HAWK MPO-34 This assumes a maximum power AN/APS-42-45 125-450 KHz 4 KW CW X BAND HAWK MPO-33 dissipation of about 3watts/cm' and AN/APS-64 2-30 MHz 3 KW CW C BAND 1.5 MW MPS-19(C) AN/ASB-4/9 4-21 MHz 40 KW CW S BAND 14' DISH PRELORT a minimum clock speed of 25 mega- 24-350 MHz 100 W CW AN/CPS-6B SEARCH SYSTEMS AN 80-240 MHz 500 W 2-5 uS KU BAND AIRBORNE 135 KW B•58 hertz. The inherently faster bipolar AN/DPN-32 175-225 MHz 300 KW 1. 20 uS X BAND WEATHER 250 KW AN/CPS-9 AN 200-2000 MHz 40 W CW approach to fabricating circuits X BAND WEATHER 40 KW AN/SPN-5 AN 210-225 MHz 1 MW 5 uS X BAND 7 KW AN/TPS-21 AN/FPS-20-75 385-575 MHz 1.5 KW CW could have advantages over moS in X BAND CW DOPPLER AN/PPS-9/12 AN/FRC-39 400-700 MHz 1 KW .03 DC C BAND HOT FDA 1 MW TPS-37 AN/FAT-IS 950-1500 MHz 1 KW .06 DC reaching these goals. C BAND 285 KW AN/SPS-5B/D AN/GPA-30 900-1040 MHz 5-10 KW .006 DC S BAND HGT FINDER 5 MW AN/FPS-6 The TRW test chip is about 270 AN /GPA-126 1.2-1.35 GHz 500 KW 2 uS S BAND COHERENT 1 MW AN/FPS-18 AN/MPO-4A-10 1.5-9.0 GHz 150 W CW S BAND 1 MW NIKE AJAX/HERC mils on aside, and has 10,000 1-gm AN/MPO-29 3.2-3.3 GHz 10 KW .002 OC L BAND 40 ANT 500 KW AN/FPS-75 AN/MPS-19 2.7-2.9 GHz 1 MW 1 uS L BAND 500 KW AN/TPS-1D/GSS-1 gates, clustered on a small part of AN/1/141PX-7 3.1-3.5 GHz 1 MW 1.3 uS UHF 1 MW HELIHUT TPS-28 AN/MS0-1A 2.7-2.9 GHz 5 MW 2-3 uS the chip. The connecting pads are 4 AN/SPA-4A 4.4-5.0 GHz 1 KW CW C BAND TRACKER AN/SPA-8 5.4-5.9 GHz 5 MW .001 DC Pwr: 1.5 MW Range: 250 miles mils square and 8 mils apart, center AN/SPN-5 6 GHz 1 MW 1 uS Rece: paramp Display 5" "A" scopes. to center. AN/SPS-5B 6.2-6.6 GHz 200 KW .37 uS 10' dish w/linear or circ. polarization. AN/SPS-6C 8.5-11 GHz 200 W CW The TRW researchers made their AN/SRW-4C 9.375 GHz 40 KW .5-1-2 uS NIKE HERCULES AN/TPN-12/17 8.5-9.6 GHz 250 KW .0013 DC SPARES/MAINTENANCE device with conventional photolitho- AN/TPS-1D,E 15.5-17.5 GHz 135 KW .33-1-3 uS Over 10,000 major components in stock 24 GHz 40 KW .15 uS AN/TPS-10D w/repairs and overhaul facilities incf: graphic production equipment, but AN/TPS-28 35 GHz 50 KW .1 uS SHOP 1 di 2 MAINTENANCE VANS. Dunbridge thinks the 1-urn level is AN/TPS-34B MODULATORS AN/TPS-37 SEND FOR FREE 24 PAGE CATALOG 25 KW 5.5 KV 4.5 A; .0025 DC AN/TPX-21 its limit. He is convinced that direct 144 KW 12 KV 12 A; .001 DC AN /UPA -25-35 250 KW 16 KV 16 A; .002 DC writing electron-beam techniques AN/UPX-4-6 405 KW 20 KV 20 A; .1 DC Radio AN/UPX-14 500 KW 22 KV 28 A; .001 DC are the answer to pushing down to HIPAR Research 1 MW 25 KV 40 A; .002 DC MK-25 Instrument 3 MW 50 KV 60 A; 30 uS submicrometer ranges, based on Nike Ajax 10 MW 76 KV 135 A; .001 DC Co., Inc. Nike Hercules studies to date. -Larry Waller 66 MW 160 KV 400 A; .00 SCR-584 2 Lake Avenue Ext., Danbury, CT 06810 (203) 792-6666 • Telex 962444

54 Circle 168 on reader service card Electronics/August 2, 1979 now Z8, Z8000 Updates available now available: MC68000 Update available as soon as the product is real 2900 Chip Slice 1979 EBG! The first thorough analysis. Available now Completely new listings of catalogs, new phone numbers, new addresses, new man- Subscribe to the Update series for An Introduction to Micro- computers: Volume 2 — Some Real Microprocessors. You ufacturers, sales reps, and distributors! will receive complete descriptions of all new microprocessors The total market in abook—four directories and dedicated support devices as soon as the products are in one! available.

Updates available now: Future updates: TMS1000*, 8048. 8022. S2000 2150, MKS886. 9902. 9903. 9940, 2900; 3872. 3873, MC6805, COPs, 6801. SY6551. IM6103. MC68000 R6531, PPS4. Z8; 6809; Z8000

Am9511 Arithmetic Processor The first thorough analysis

Serial I/O Devices Coverage now complete D-to-A and A-to-D converters The new revolution

For general support parts, subscribe to the Update series for An Introduction to Microcomputers: Volume 3 — Some Real Support Devices.

Updates available now: Future updates: Serial 10 - 2651, 2652, S100 Bus. Memory Devices. F3843, F3846, MC6854; D A Multiply/Divide Devices. Video converters. A D converters. Controllers, Keyboard Display Am9511; Floppy disk con- Controllers; Telecommunica- trollers, Busses - Heath H8, tion Devices; IEEE 488 Inter- STD, IEEE 488 face Devices

•Revlsion Noteworthy new coverage from previous edition of Volume 2

The only book of its An Introduction to Microcomputers: Volume 2 — Some Real Microprocessors and Volume 3 — Some Real Support kind in the field. Devices are two unique books. They are the only independent sources of complete information on microprocessors and sup- port devices. Each book has six updates a year. To accommo- If you haven't got it, date updates, the books are printed loose-leaf, with a handsome binder available. you're not in the market. Order Form

NUPPIER TITLE PA IGE OT V AMT 151 Polo« 2 — Sono Pee 18.croprocelsc« 1978 Fete ...Poor oo« 125 00

To insure prompt delivery 180 Veer« 2 bode 1500 18 7 Volume 3 — Sorne Reel Sop«. Dove« 1971 Toren «5«. door 515 00 enclose your check with .95 Polo« 3 Onear / 500

99 vol.,. 2 e« 3 update ISoboret.. 10 «owes or see, se. , SAO DO the coupon now. 91 Polren« 2 Uocletes only hor omen) 125 DO 98 PoIrrne 3 Upaste only IS.. owe& 525 DO

br .5 ST bey Ar« melon« coIy «brew 85. Gelder« «ode« «node SE Oro Arree 191« T..

P•ToPere on «pence rnue be enc.« To. pure.« or .10178m « 5«.. le So...op Crorpes «MAIM« ol STO 00 or mete on Ow U S A FOAM« Le». I10070.101fflreeeeent All brew. earn mot ha ono«. o ITS « Ilan ere« on • là 5 bank TOTAL AMOUNT

Electronics Buyers' Guide 80015 11.Pereell COMMA SA.* re. reverP05010 ..^..e. 1221 Ave. of the Americas fore« «en « 00 «Or« eo snoporm U.G.T. 1.7.18111«1011111 0••• 10« ee «et Woo 3 • «Po ma« Us« New York. N.Y. 10020 • Ionre• « An «I00 or oeue«recoeTeo imeer SO 75 pew be« UPS W oo 10 denl o roe No «Pa (541,90..«US rlo C.* Mel My 10 e« Po« ewer non soorreor lo e 016.01 Yes. please send me _ copy(ieS) of 1979 EBG I've enclosed D $40 per copy for surface mail Name $52 per copy for air marl Full money-back guarantee if returned in Address 10 days City State

Name Z,g) Phone

Please send information on: Company OSBORNE & ASSOCIATES o Other Osborne publications 630 Bancroft Way, Dept. E6 o Becoming an Osborne dealer Street o School discounts Berkeley, California 94710 U.S.A. O List of foreign distributors 14151548-2805 TWX 910-366-7277

City Country

Electronics/August 2, 1979 Circle 55 on reader service card 55 15K ROMs. 3weeks. 32K ROMs. 4weeks,

When it comes to service, product availability and fast prototype turnaround, we can't be beat. And that means 16K ROM prototypes in three weeks, 32K ROM proto- types in four weeks. Volume production in five to six weeks. Even quicker if it's absolutely needed. We know there is no product area where responsiveness to your needs is more impor- tant than in mask programmable ROMs. So we pioneered a unique dual capability—first mask programming for lowest cost in high volume production, and last mask program- ming for fastest delivery to meet critical production schedules in as little as two weeks. Take a look at the ROM Flow Chart and you'll see how we do it. With our "varied stage inventory" we can put your ROM codes into our production cycle at three different stages: diffusion mask, contact mask or metal mask. The choice is yours. Because the needs are yours. Our SY2316B, SY2316A, SY4600, SY2332 and SY2333 ROMs come in the standard speeds you need-30Onsec and 45Onsec. And soon you can add our 64K ROM to the list. Pin compatibility in our 2048x8, 4096x8 and 8192x8 ROMs gives you built-in memory expansion capability. And you can usually do it with no hardware changes. When you buy ROMs from Synertek, you're buying total service. For samples, data sheets and our comprehensive folder "Synertek ROMs ASAR" contact your local Synertek distributor, sales representative or Memory Product Marketing, Synertek, Inc., 3001 Stender Way, Santa Clara, California 95051. (408) 988-5611. TUC: 910-338-0135. Synertek sales offices: Eastern Region, Boston (617) Lid 329-5522; Mid America Region, Chicago (312) 986-8989: Western and Northwest Regions, Santa Clara (408) 255-3941; Southwest Region, Los Angeles (714) 752-5535; Europe, London, Direct Dial: 44-344-24555.

3001 Stender Way. Santa Clara, California 95051 S SYNERTEK, INC. (408) 988-5600.1WX: 910-338-0135. Circle 56 on reader service card Washington newsletter

Congress to toughen Watch for the Senate Governmental Affairs committee to make "its own meaningful reorganization" of U. S. foreign trade administration with weak Carter plan relatively little regard to President Carter's proposal last month. That was to revamp trade made clear when the White House plan's chief sponsor, Ambassador Robert S. Strauss of the Office of the Special Trade Representative, conceded to chairman Abraham Ribicoff (D., Conn.) in hearings that the Carter plan "is flawed." The Carter plan calls for the special trade office to become the office of the U. S. Trade Representative, with Cabinet rank and trade policy and negotiating responsibility acquired from the State Department, while the Commerce Department would be renamed the Department of Trade and Commerce, with an additional undersecretary for trade, along with a 300-person staff now in the Treasury Department to enforce antidumping and countervailing duties statutes.

Senate weighs Federal research and development policies, which prohibit granting contractors the exclusive commercialization rights to Government-funded granting contractors inventions, are being reviewed in the Senate, along with the adequacy of exclusive patent use Patent Law protection of inventors. Hearings began before the August recess on S. 1215, abill that would encourage more industrial competition for R&D funds by granting inventors exclusive rights to commercializa- tion in non-Government markets.

839.8 billion outlay Navy antisubmarine warfare (Asw) funding of $39.8 billion over the five fiscal years from 1979 through 1983 will experience steady annual growth for antlsub weapons during the first three years before dropping in fiscal 1982 and then rising foreseen through '83 sharply again. That is the estimate of New York market research firm Frost & Sullivan Inc., which forecasts growth over the five-year period for electronic sensors, as well as weapons and targets, countermeasures, and research and exploratory development. The estimate attributes the 1982 dip in electronics spending to outlays for ASW platforms— aircraft, submarines, and surface ships, which account for about 60% of the total market —and for command, control, communications, and intelligence technical support and facilities. The five-year market for sensors, including sonar, sonobuoys, and ASW avionics improvements, is pegged at just under $5.5 billion, plus $4.8 billion for weapons and targets, $1 billion for countermeasures, and nearly $2 billion for R&D.

Bigger budget Strong criticism of the Federal Communications Commission's operations and management are set for fall publication by congressional investigators is answer in the General Accounting Office. But the FCC, which already has adraft to GAO criticisms of the GAO report, is countering the criticism of its weaknesses by drawing up a fiscal 1981 budget request asking for $81 million, about 12% more than it expects to get for fiscal 1980, which begins Oct. 1. FCC officials say more money is needed for 156 more staffers and other resources to improve its performance in areas criticized by the GAO, even though the increase runs counter to aWhite House inflation-fighting directive urging all agencies to hold budgets to existing levels.

Electronics/August 2, 1979 57 Washington commentary

The flaw in Carter's ointment for electronic mail

When the White House finally put out the service will proceed with caution, Bolger adds. President's policy statement on the U. S. Postal The added fact that the service would be Service's future role in electronic mail, most of precluded from ever developing an end-to-end the public was too absorbed in the Cabinet message system with electronic display and purge to notice. But within the House and optional hard-copy printouts at the recipient's Senate, Carter's limited endorsement of the home or office provides little solace to potential service's entry into the business is already being privately owned competitors. "Limiting the criticized as unrealistic and unworkable; for his postal service to physical delivery of hard copy plan and some of its more appealing aspects like facsimiles still gives it adistinct advantage. are totally flawed by one of its eight conditions. It starts out with 40,000 post offices that could The President would have electronic mail be converted into message terminals," notes one pricing subject to regulation by two Federal electronic message service competitor. agencies—the Federal Communications Com- mission for electronic transmission charges and Opposition on the Hill the Postal Rate Commission for pricing of mail The Carter policy's proposal to divide juris- delivery. "My God," exclaimed one Senate diction over electronic mail between the FCC committee staffer, "I can't believe it! Having to and the PRC and then see how that works for deal with one [commission] can be bad enough. five years is providing congressional opponents Two would be impossible. Disputes would inevi- to USPS market entry with aready-made reason tably wind up in the courts. The idea is unwork- for rewriting the plan altogether. And the oppo- able." Similar exclamations could be heard sition has some legislative heavyweights on its from almost every corner of the Government, as team. Among them are South Carolina's Ernest well as industry. F. Hollings, chairman of the Senate communi- cations subcommittee; Nevada's Howard W. The good points Cannon, Chairman of the parent Commerce That jurisdictional botch more than offset the Committee; and the first- and second-ranking desirability of the Carter policy's seven other minority members of the Hollings subcommit- conditions for USPS participation in electronic tee, Arizona's Barry Goldwater and New Mexi- mail. They would mandate an open and compet- co's Harrison H. Schmitt, a former astronaut. itive market by refusing extension of the postal All four have written to the President to the service's private express statutes beyond letter effect that the postal service should leave elec- mail to cover electronic transmission, as well as tronic communications to the private sector to require that postal electronic operations be set develop, and Hollings and Schmitt are moving up as aseparate entity to prevent their subsidy to bar postal service appropriations altogether if by regular mail services or tax money. it "develops or procures its own electronic Other conditions would require the postal message system." service to: buy transmission services from The White House view is that the U. S. Postal carriers, rather than build its own network; Service's use of electronic communications to make its delivery services available to all speed transmission and printout of messages and carriers at the same rates it charges itself; and physical delivery would improve both productiv- ensure that interconnection with the mail ity and efficiency in providing nationwide cover- delivery system be available to all companies by age in 1985 and beyond. Moreover, it points to developing technical interconnection standards Carter's mandated conditions as protecting the through a cooperative effort with the American interests of private competitors. National Standards Institute, the private car- Some sort of electronic message service riers, and an impartial arbiter, if needed. statute will emerge eventually, of course, but it Postmaster General William Bolger says he is may bear little resemblance to President pleased with the Carter policy, calling it fair to Carter's plan because of the plan's faulty juris- both the postal and private sectors. He also dictional proposal. That is regrettable, for the sought to soothe continuing industry concern by plan has more good points than bad ones. Yet noting that "no one should jump to the conclu- the White House seems to be losing the initia- sion that an electronic mail system of any large tive on this issue already, now that President scale is just around the corner. It is not, because Carter has let his staff do the spadework for it remains to be seen how ready the public is to Congress and dig alegislative grave for another accept and use such a system." The postal of his proposals. -Ray Connolly

58 Electronics/August 2, 1979 SPRACUE® YOUR ONE-STOP SOURCE THE MARK OF RELIABILITY FOR POWER SUPPLY 'LYTICS .1ale ..„,..._ r.i ,\

SPRAGUE Case Size .....Operating Engineering Capacitance VVVDC TYPE Range (D. xL.) Temp. Range Range (1F) Range Bulletin 1.375" x2.125" to -55°C to 150 to 5to 3457B 602DX 3.000" x5.625" +85°C 270,000 250

1.375" x2.125" to -40°C to 410 to 7.5 to 3441E 32DR 3.000" x8.625" +85°C 310,000 150

32DX 1.375" x2.125" to -40°C to 180 to 10 to I- 3441E M 3.000" x8.625" +85°C 320,000 200 a. 1.375" x2.125" to -40°C to 80 to 10 to Z 36DX 3.000 "x 8.625 " +85 °C 390,000 450 3431D i 1.375" x2.125" to -40°C to 90 to 6to 3431D 36DF 3.000" x8.625" +85°C 660,000 450 Supplement 1

1.375" x2.125" to -55°C to 170 to 200 and 3461 623D 3.000" x5.625" +85°C 4,700 250

.400" x .552" to -55°C to 4.7 to 6.3 to 3452A 6720 .625" x1.337" +105°C 1,500 100

.750" x1.125" to -55°C to 15 to 6.3 to 3452A 6730 1.000" x3.625" +105°C 15,000 250

.750" x1.125" to -55°C to 15 to 6.3 to 3452.1 674D 1.000" x3.625" +105°C 15,000 250

604D .750" x1.625" to -55°C to 50 to 5to 3458A 4-Terminal 1.000" x3.625" +105°C 16,000 200 OUTPUT 622D 1.375" x2.125" to -55°C to 2,800 to 5to 3459 Sym. Cap. Tol 1.375" x5.625" +85°C 67,000 55

4320 1.375" x2.125" to -40°C to 470 to 6to Stacked-Foil 3.000" x5.625" +85°C 100,000 503443A

For complete technical data on the capacitor type(s) in which you are interested, write for appropriate engineering bulletin(s) as shown above, to: Technical Literature Service, Sprague Electric Co.. 35 Marshall St., North Adams, Mass. 01247. SPRAGUE® THE MARK OF RELIABILITY THE BROAD-LINE PRODUCER OF ELECTRONIC PARTS asubsidiary of GK Technologies

Circle 59 on reader service card NEC Newscope

ler channel that permits data transfer between an operator station and the ASIRÁ Computers Introduced central processor at a data rate of one million bits per second. The third is To N. American Market an LSI and microprocessor-based in- tegral disk controller with adata transfer rate of 1.2 megabytes. Supporting the new hardware is a complete structure of programming languages, operating systems and applica- tion packages. Advanced "BASIC" and ANSI 74 COBOL compilers are avail- able with each model. An executive system which supports multi-user, multi- job environment is provided. Also avail- able is an advanced data management system that supports formatted data entry and update, file management, report generation and English-language inquiry functions. Plus integrated application software systems that simplify initial user start-up — — operations. These include sales order NEC and NEC Information Systems, to 32 operator stations. Each can operate processing, sales analysis, inventory Inc., an NEC subsidiary in Lexington, at peak efficiency in atransaction proces- control, accounts receivable, accounts Mass., recently introduced a series of sing mode because of the unique NEC payable, general ledger and payroll powerful small business computers in the technology embodied in the products. packages. North American market. The ASIRÁ series has three important Circle 61 on reader service card The new ASTRA (trade mark) series features that ensure its high-performance makes extensive use of NEC-developed capabilities. One is a new 16-bit micro- processors, circuitry and systems archi- processor, with a set of 114 business tecture to provide extraordinary power EDP-oriented instructions, which is two ISSCC Award in the four compatible systems — Models to three times more powerful than the Three NEC engineers won the 1978 210, 230, 250 and 270. most popular 16-bit microcomputers in best paper award for their paper "A The systems accommodate from one use today. The second is aDMA control- High-speed 1600-Gate Bipolar LSI Processor" which was co-authored by • three engineers of Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Public Corporation (NTT). The award was presented to the six Japanese engineers at the official Fiber Optics opening ceremony of the 1979 ISSCC in Philadelphia earlier this year. System The three NEC engineers winning the award are Kodo Kimura, Toshio Commissioned Nakamura and Toro Takahashi of IC Design Engineering Department, IC In Brazil Division. The award winning paper described ahigh speed 8bit slice processor fabricat- ed by a new advanced bipolar process The NEC-equipped optical fiber cable at a bit rate of 34 megabits, or provide technique named the PSA (poly-silicon communications system has been suc- 480 telephone circuits. self-aligned) combined with three-layer cessfully commissioned for telephone CETEL's system is the second such metallization and 120 pin gang local use in Brazil. installation provided by NEC outside bonding, affording large integration The fiber optics system, commissioned Japan, the first being the 45 megabit (1,600 gates), low power dissipation by Companhia Estadual de Telefones system engineered for Vista-Florida (1.5 watts) and high speed operation. (CETEL), links its two telephone offices Telephone System in Walt Disney By using the LSI chip, byte data can over a distance of 5 - kilometers in Rio World, Florida. be handled within 40 nanoseconds in de Janeiro. It can transmit information Circle 60 on reader service card the read-modifying-write mode. No.109

Iraq Irrigation NEC At INTELCOM 79 Control System Contract For NEC Iraqi Government has awarded NEC a contract for the design, manufacture and installation of a telecontrol and supervisory system for agricultural irrigation. The irrigation telecontrol and tele - metering system will incorporate NEC's most sophisticated computer and com- munications technology as well as its control know-how. It will have more than 20 remote stations to monitor water level in the canal at 80 locations and remotely control water gates and NEC, as one of the largest exhibitors this year was the Intra-company pumps. The data monitored at these at INTELCOM 79 (International Tele- Electronic Mail System, a highly check points will be sent over radio communications Exposition) held in advanced facsimile system designed for links to the central control station Dallas, Texas, received unanimous praise full duplex facsimile communications which, in turn, will control the water for its entire exhibit from customers that is integrated with real-time voice gates and the pumps. and other exhibitors alike. communications. The computer-controlled system Of special interest at the NEC booth Another first for NEC at the show will be powered partly with solar cells was the DP-100 Connected Speech was the NEC 45 M/b Fiber Optics to operate telecontrol and telemeter- Recognition System. It was successfully Transmission System which uses laser ing equipment so as to economize on demonstrated as the world's first com- beams to send thousands of calls si- the cost of power supply and to permit mercially available data entry system multaneously over thin glass fiber cables. easy maintenance. that recognizes fluid, connected speech. NEC's new digital switching system, A new attraction at NEC's booth NEAX 61 (also called Time Machine), Circle 170 on reader service card was shown to be an impressive system High-Speed Facsimile Unveiled for the central office market.

NEC recently introduced a high- encoding system for 2-dimensional speed digital facsimile transceiver with coding. The encoding systems are auto- new encoding system — the M.H. matically selected depending on the (Modified Huffmann) system for type of distant machine. 1-dimensional coding and the READ The new high-speed facsimile trans- (Relative Element Address Designation) ceiver, NEFAX-6200K, can transmit a standard A4 size document at a rate of 20 to 40 seconds (9,600 BPS, 3.85 lines/mm) or 40 to 80 seconds (4,800 BPS, 3.85 lines/nun). In addition to high-speed transmission, the new facsimile equipment incorporates many man-hour saving and other features. These include multi-page trans- DP-100 Connected Speech Recognition System mission, automatic paper cutting, auto- matic transmission initiated from receiving side, automatic reception initiated from transmitting side, auto- matic speed selection, duplicating capability, override communication capability and many others. Nippon Electric Co., Ltd. NEFAX-6200K high-speed facsimile Circle 169 on reader service card P0 Bo I, Takanawa. Tokyo. Japan Program into your bookshelf the ... and retrieve them instantly

As easy to read as any professional publication in electronics

Sample Listing

0 Jones, John J 0 Name Chmn & CEO, Microprocessor Div of Computers 0 Current title/organization/address/phone Inc, 1023 W Warner Ave, Dayton, OH 45479, Tel (513) O Date, place of birth 555-2000. ® Born: Mar 26, 1926, Philadelphia, PA. 0 Education: MBA, Harvard Business School, 1950; BSEE, O Degrees earned/institutions/dates Univ of III., 1946; PhD (Hon), Yale Univ, 1977. CD Profes- 0 Previous affiliations/dates/highest positions sional Experience: Natl Bur of Standards, 1956-74, Adm 0 Current directorships/starting dates Eng; Litton Ind, 1954-56, Sr Eng; NCR Corp, 1950-54, Eng. ®Directorships: Computers Inc since 1975. Or- O Current organization membership/starting dates/ ganizations: IEEE since 1946, Sec Head 1972-73; AAAS highest offices/dates since 1971; Midwest Ind Mgt Assn since 1974. ® O Honors, awards, prizes/granting group/dates Awards: Fellow, IEEE, 1977; Public Service Award, City 0 Fields of patents/key patents/dates of Dayton, 1976. ® Patents Held: 8in computer circuits, OD Noteworthy products, designs, incl Special Circuit for Microcomputer Chip Design accomplishments/dates 1975. e Achievements: founded Microprocessor Inc © Published book titles/publishers/dates 1974; project manager on first application of micro- processors for standard interfaces 1975. CD Books: 4 Personal data incl Small Circuits and Their Applications (editor), McGraw-Hill, New York, 1975. Personal: married 1950 to Mary (Smith), children John k, Jane Anne, Kevin. Residence: 344 W 34th St, Dayton, OH 45403, Tel (513) 555-4343.

Unique Convenience Feature Contents Index of biographees by affiliation Preface A special 80-page index lists individual organiza- tions, complete with the names and titles of top Key to Information in the Biographies employees. By looking up the names in the general Table of Abbreviations biography listing, you can get acomplete profile of Alphabetical Practices the organization's top management in amatter of minutes. Plus an easy-access listing of independent Biographies consultants in every electronics specialty. Index of Biographees by Affiliation

62 Electronics/August 2, 1979 biographies of 5,240 of your colleagues... any time you choose!

Profiles the Top Management of Major Electronics Firms throughout the World —and more

McGraw-Hill's Leaders in Electronics Prepared by the Staff of Electronics Magazine 651 pages

This is the only reference devoted solely to biographies of the most influential people in electronics. Worldwide in scope, it focuses on 5,240 individuals: executives...technical managers...designers and developers of im- portant products and processes...government and military officials...academics...editors and publishers...securities analysts...directors of trade and professional groups...and consultants.

With LEADERS IN ELECTRONICS on your bookshelf, you no longer have to search through many different sources for biographi- cal data on your colleagues. What's more, you don't have to strain your eyes reading minus- cule type, nor do you have to waste valuable time trying to decipher seemingly endless para- graphs of abbreviations. Boldface type spot- lights the various information categories so that you can scan entries rapidly to pinpoint what you need.

Order today using this coupon!

r- 7 Return coupon to: Leaders in Electronics P.O. Box 669 Hightstown, New Jersey 08520 (609) 448-1700, ext. 5494

Send me copy (copies) of Leaders in Name Electronics on a10-day money-back guarantee. I Title understand that if Iam not absolutely satisfied, Imay return the book(s) within ten days at no Company further obligation. Otherwise, McGraw-Hill Address will bill me $39.50 for each copy, plus applicable sales tax, shipping and handling charges. City State Zip

SAVE MONEY! Enclose payment in full, plus local sales tax, and McGraw-Hill pays all regular shipping and handling charges. Ten-day money-back guarantee still applies. Check enclosed Bill me Bill my company company purchase order * This offer subiect to acceptante by McGraw-Hill. EL?

Electronics/August 2, 1979 63 A report on electro optics: Low cost GaAs IR emitters.

RCA offers aline of standard IR emitters that cost under $1.00 for volume orders.

No matter what the price, every electro optic product RCA makes must meet our high standard for reliability. In gallium-arsenide IR emitters, that standard results in amean time before failure far greater than 100,000 hours. Variety of applications. Sealed in arugged hermetic package, RCA IR emitters are inter- changeable with most standard types. They're compatible with silicon phototransistors or photodiode detectors. And designed for awide range of industrial applications. Including: card and paper tape SG1004). They exhibit the same Power outputs range from 1mW readers, shaft encoders, intrusion wavelength characteristics as the to 2.4 mW minimum for continuous alarms, high speed sorting and above types. operation. And from 24 mW t040 mW counting, smoke detection, and Yet the extremely small size of typical for pulsed operation. optical switches. these devices (.095 inches, overall An integral reflector in the OP-10 Pulsed or continuous. diameter) permits close mounting package used for these devices For continuous DC or low-current dimensions with aminimum of focuses output to a15° half angle at pulsed operation, you can choose the cross coupling. 50 percent intensity points. SG1009 series. Or for high-current Large quantities available. pulsed operation, the SG1010 series. Typical spectral radiant flux (percent). No matter what your application, Power outputs are 4mW loo RCA can probably provide an emitter minimum, 7mW typical for contin- Relative spectral to meet your needs. uous wave operation. Up to 200 mW 80 —radiant And we can deliver as many as flux-% for pulsed power output. you need from stock. Both types are available with so For further information on the glass lenses for anarrow beam RCA line of IR emitters, contact RCA pattern, 8° half angle beam spread Electro Optics and Devices, Lan- at 50 percent intensity points, or with 40 caster, PA. Buenos Aires, Argentina. simple flat glass windows for 30° Brussels, Belgium. Sao Paulo, Brazil. beams. 20 Ste. Anne-de-Bellevue, Quebec, Minis for close mounting. Canada. Sunbury-on-Thames, If space is aproblem, consider 0 Middlesex, England. Stuttgart, W. our minis (SG1002, SG1003, 850nm 900nm 950nm 1000nm 1050nm Germany. Mexico 16 D.F., Mexico.

64 Circle 64 on reader service card Electronics/August 2, 1979 International newsletter

Japan's Mitsubishi Mitsubishi Metal Corp. claims it is the first company in the world to grow 100-lattice-orientation gallium-arsenide single crystals in semi-insulating grows round grades by the Czochralski method. The ingot diameter is now 2inches but GaAs wafers will be increased to 3 inches in the near future. Potential customers have started to receive wafer samples on which to grow epitaxial layers and then fabricate test devices like field-effect transistors and integrated circuits. If the substrates prove suitable, their conventional, circular shape and larger area than the presently available roughly triangular Bridgeman wafers will be abig step toward the mass production of fine-pattern devices. Mitsubi- shi says that it will initially offer the 2-inch wafers for about $93 each.

Bubbles store Siemens AG is about to unveil a computerized numerically controlled (cNc) system for machine tools built around a256-kilobit bubble memory instructions for working in conjunction with a 16-bit microprocessor. These devices are German CNC system part of the Sprint 8T CNC system that the Munich company will introduce at the Third European Machine Tool Exhibition, to be held Oct. 10-18 in Milan, Italy. The bubble memory is equivalent to some 600 meters of punched tape and stores the parts-machining programs; the microprocessor performs the necessary calculations and communicates with the system's peripheral devices.

France's LEP builds Scientists at France's Laboratoires d'Electronique et de Physique Appli- quée (LEP) believe they are up with the leaders in gallium-arsenide low-noise and power metalized-semiconductor field-effect-transistor technology. A research GaAs MES FETs arm of RTC-La Radiotechnique Compélec and other French companies in the Philips group, the LEP will have prototypes for both low-noise and power GaAs MES FETs within the next year or so. In low-noise devices, the lab, located outside Paris in Limeil Brévannes, is aiming for a transistor with 5-dB gain and a low 5-dB noise factor at 20 GHz. Also, by using vapor-phase epitaxy and putting the aluminum gate on the substrate before the source and drain, it hopes to bring the device's gate length down to 0.3 ean from the present 0.5 m. In power GaAs MES FETs, the goal is a5-W transistor delivering 5-dB gain between 6and 12 GHz. Gold "pillars" will run from the source electrode through the substrate to the underside of the device, replacing overlays.

Fm dipole antenna Matsushita Electric Industrial Co. has developed a prototype of a high- performance, frequency-modulation-band dipole antenna that could combines efficiency provide consumers with an efficient indoor antenna. Distributed loading with small size keeps it small, and varactor tuning optimizes its performance across the band. The dc voltage used for station selection in an fm receiver's varactor tuner is also fed via coaxial cable to the varactor diodes in tuned circuits at the center of the antenna for automatic tracking. The antenna, which is only about 30% as long as afolded dipole, is built around a7-by-43-cm printed-circuit board. It consists of two zigzag dipole legs, which resonate somewhat above the fm band, and coil-varactor lumped-loading circuits, which bring down the resonant frequency to that of the station to which the receiver is tuned. Matsushita also contemplates making another model with abuilt-in power supply and tuning knob.

Electronics/August 2, 1979 65 International newsletter

Toshiba flat-panel Corp. has announced Japan's first multicolor light-emitting-diode flat-panel display, amatrix of 64 by 64 picture elements that measures 81 LED display glows by 81 mm. Each element consists of adjacent red and green gallium- red, orange, green phosphide LEDS and can emit red, green, or orange light. Diode drive voltage is 2 y from asingle 5-v supply. Brightness is 90 ft-L: the relatively high efficiency of 3% to 4% for the red diodes and 0.3% and 0.4% for the green ones eliminates any need for reflectors, say Toshiba engineers. Since the color of each dot can be controlled independently, the display can handle both alphanumeric and graphic data, including bar graphs. Appli- cations in microprocessor systems as well as industrial controls are foreseen. The firm expects to have samples available next year for $470. Somewhat earlier and for a much lower price, it plans to introduce matrixes 100 elements high by several dots wide for such industrial applications as its new one-loop controllers (see p. 72).

Reading machine Extending their work on optical character recognition, engineers at AEG-Telefunken's research laboratories in Ulm, West Germany, have translates books developed a reading system for the blind that reads the characters in a into braille book and prints them in braille on paper tape. The reader uses some of the same principles as the mail-sorting equipment the company recently installed in apost office for reading typed addresses [Electronics, Dec. 21, 1978, p. 60]. A prototype of the reader will be ready this year. By 1981 AEG-Telefunken plans to have ready a system incorporating a speech output device and capable of reading abook aloud.

NEB survives with Britain's National Enterprise Board has been granted astay of execution by the new Conservative government and will retain arole in encouraging wings clipped in a high-technology projects— particularly computer software and microelec- Conservative Britain tronics and its applications—as well as supporting the growth of small companies. But its activities will be restricted by a requirement to make investments in partnership with the private sector and most likely by a smaller budget. It will also have to sell assets worth $200 million by the year-end with stakes in such companies as Ferranti Ltd., ICL Ltd., and Brown Boyen i Kent Ltd. as likely candidates. The NEB's commitment to the new microcircuit company, Inmos, continues.

Addenda Encouraged by the success of its first wafer-fabrication plant in Greenock, Scotland, and by the prospect of agovernment investment grant of about $26 million, National Semiconductor Corp. of Santa Clara, Calif., is planning a five-year $100 million investment in another plant there. Eventual overall capacity will be 100 million chips per month, making the facility one of the largest in Europe. .. . Against heavy international competition, the German ITT subsidiary, Standard Elektrik Lorenz AG, has won a$250,000 million contract to supply ground-based navigational equipment to air traffic control authorities in Mexico. The order follows a similar one placed by the Mexicans with SEL last year. .. . The Japanese cabinet has approved an increase of 10.2% in military spending to atotal of 2.094 trillion yen for 1979. It includes construction of a defense microwave communications network.

66 Electronics/August 2, 1979 Now you can have a broader scope of capabilities in aTM 500 package... from Tektronix.

You can judge an oscilloscope by the company it keeps, and the company that makes it. When Tektronix builds anew scope, reliability and technology are designed in. Along with awide range of performance to match our scopes to your toughest application. We've built two NEW TM 500 Scopes to prove it. The only thing small about these new scopes is their size. They're big on performance, 80 MHz bandwidth with Call the Tektronix Field Office one and 10 MHz bistable storage with the other. nearest you today for details on TM 500 Oscilloscopes. Or, to request a You can slip these scopes into aTM 500 Mainframe, TM 500 Catalog, call Tektronix's toll select the other instruments you need—from over 40 free automatic answering service: in our TM 500 line—and create your own test set. 1-800-547-1512. In Oregon, call collect: 644-9051. Send letterhead The new 80 MHz TM 500 Scope features dual trace requests to: Tektronix, P.O. Box 500, enhanced automatic triggering, true X-Y capability and 76-260, TM 500 B4, Beaverton, maximum sensitivity of 5mV/div. And, the new 10 MHz Oregon 97005. In Europe: bistable storage scope features dual trace and true X- Tektronix International, Inc., Y capability plus auto-erase and variable European Marketing Centre, enhancement for increased writing speed. Postbox 827, 1180 AV Amstelveen, The Netherlands. Telex: 18312. And when you add the versatile capabilities of our dual trace, 15 MHz oscilloscope and our compact 5MHz TM 500 scope, you've got aTM 500 scope for virtually every Designed for application. From the company that knows Configurability oscilloscopes best. Tektronix. • Teictronix CCeMMTTECITOEXCalENCE

For immediate action, dial our toll free automatic answering service 1-800-547-1512 PCB Simplicity with Bendix Brush Connectors.

• Fewer damaged boards. • One connector instead of multiple, fixture- mounted connectors. Bendix Brush Connectors—a broad product line. • Mother Board, Daughter Board, Input/Output, PC receptacle body styles. • 2, 3and 4 row configurations. • 90° and straight PC, solderless wrap, crimp re- movable terminations with multiple lengths and plating options. Bendix Brush contacts improve electrical charac- teristics. • Highly redundant contact sites with multiple elec- trical paths and wiping action. • Gold plated wire bristles mesh together intimately with gas-tight junctions. • Stable contact resistance even after extreme me- chanical durability abuse to 20,000 matings.

Bendix Brush Connectors can streamline your printed circuit board designs. They don't require the extra board support necessary with conventional, higher mating force connectors and they eliminate the need for secondary actuation systems or pro- cedures used with zero-insertion force connectors. Here's how: Bendix Brush Connectors increase circuit count per board. • Reduce number of boards by allowing more cir- cuits per board. For full information, call (607) 563-5302, or write • Greater board effectiveness by providing exact The Bendix Corporation, Electrical Components Divi- circuit counts up to 400 contacts in only one sion, Sidney, New York 13838. connector! Bendix Brush Connectors reduce mating force 70% to 90%. • Less complex board supports. • Secondary actuators eliminated. • Extended mechanical life. Up to 20,000 mates/ un mates. We speak connectors. Circle 68 on reader service card Electronics international

Sign,trcani developments In euh' Electronic system optimizes ignition and fuel injection by John Gosch, Frankfurt bureau manager

derived from aswitch on the throttle Comparison tests, Bosch says, Microcomputer unit valve—are stored in the microcom- show a substantial savings in fuel. provides accurate, constant puter's memory. Each memory loca- For example, a Motronic-equipped tion contains a certain data combi- engine burns up to 5% less gas than control of both variables, nation for these two parameters, and the same engine using fuel injection each combination in turn corre- in combination with conventional thereby saving gas sponds to a particular fuel injection ignition. The savings is up to 20% for and ignition time. the same engine using a carburetor Some top-of-the-line car models Deductions. Using the data it thus and conventional ignition. BMW fig- slated to come off the production obtains, the computer calculates the ures that on the average its new 732i lines at Bayrische Motoren Werke injection and ignition timing and models to be fitted with the AG (BMW) in Munich this fall will the amount of fuel to be injected for Motronic system will consume as have something new under their acertain engine revolution value and much as 7% less fuel than its fleet of hood and dashboard: a digital elec- gas pedal position. It then feeds its comparable cars without the system. tronic system that integrates the outputs in the form of command Constant control. The prime rea- circuitry for controlling both the fuel signals to the transistorized ignition son for the greater fuel economy is injection and the ignition. A develop- system and to the fuel injection that the integrated system makes ment of Robert Bosch GmbH of nozzles. possible highly accurate and stable Stuttgart, the system will "contrib- ute considerably toward fuel econo- my and acleaner exhaust." The heart of the so-called Motron- ic system is a multichip microcom- puter consisting of a Cosmac 1802 microprocessor from RCA'S Solid State division; a data and program read-only memory, also from RCA; and an input/output circuit, ajoint RCA-Bosch design. These parts are contained in an electronic control unit (see photo) mounted under or near the dashboard. In operation, sensors under the hood pick up information on engine speed, crankshaft position, in- take-air flow, and engine and in- take-air temperature. Inductive pickups on the engine's flywheel, for example, provide data on engine speed and the crankshaft's position. The amount of intake air is derived from the air flowmeter, and regular temperature sensors determine the engine and air temperature. Thrifty. Some 1980 BMW cars will come with this integrated electronic system from Robert The data on engine revolutions Bosch GmbH. Dubbed Motronic, it determines the optimum fuel injection and ignition values and gas pedal position—the latter at least once per engine revolution, thus improving fuel consumption.

Electronics/August 2, 1979 69 Electronics international

control of both injection and igni- to changing gas pedal positions. growth rates, they see annual rises of tion. With the combination of sensor The system is said to require roughly 20% for the years ahead. outputs representing a particular virtually no maintenance. The per- Easier to assess is the market for operating condition like idling or manently stored data on engine revo- optoelectronic devices. Günther Hat- acceleration, the computer constant- lutions and gas pedal position in the zinger, sales and marketing manager ly determines the optimum, or most microcomputer's memory will not for optical components at Siemens economical, amount of fuel to be change during the engine's lifetime, AG in Munich, pegs the 1978 world injected and the optimum ignition Bosch points out; neither tempera- market for semiconductor-type op- and injection timing for a specific ture nor car voltage variations will tical devices (excluding solar cells) condition. Because of its high speed, alter that data. Also, the system's at about $430 million. Of that the computer can go through its various components are built to last amount, Western Europe consumed calculations and come up with as long as the engine itself. The only roughly one third, or $146 million. optimum results at least once during parts that need occasionally be One third of that, or some $50 each engine revolution. replaced are the spark plugs. million, he says, is West Germany's Quick off the mark. The Motronic The Motronic system, Bosch says, consumption. Other analysts come system also enhances performance, can easily be adapted to suit changed surprisingly close to those figures. Bosch says. For example, it facili- requirements as may be demanded Hatzinger says sales of such tates starting the engine in cold by new types of fuel or by new devices will continue to rise una- weather. Furthermore, right after exhaust gas regulations that govern- bated during the years ahead—at an being started, the engine runs ment authorities may choose to estimated 30% annually. Giving a smoothly, responding without jerks impose in the future. breakdown for the market, he notes that visible-light-emitting diodes ac- Europe count for two fifths of the total. Another two fifths is claimed by infrared LEDs, and the remaining Munich's Laser '79 exhibit points to one fifth by optocouplers, reflectors, and related items. growing laser, optoelectronics markets Ready for work. As for technolo- gy, the laser market has reached the About as good aplace as any to spot laser-based and optoelectronic sys- stage of "backbreaking and down- the trends in Western Europe's tems and subsystems last year. West to-earth applications-oriented design optoelectronics markets is the bien- Germany alone accounted for about work," according to Hans Rotten- nial laser exhibition held on the $80 million worth. Adding between kolber, head of Rottenkolber GmbH, sprawling Munich fairgrounds. This 70% and 100% to those figures, the a Munich holographic equipment year, the 5,200 specialists from experts say, would take military maker. Adds Gerd vom Hovel, around the world—including a dele- consumption into account. As for general manager of the Munich Fair gation from the People's Republic of China—who turned out for Laser '79/Opto-Elektronik early last month generally indicated aslowing pace for technology but strong growth for business. The market for laser equipment, of course, is not quite transparent. For one thing, it is difficult to assess the role of lasers and related elec- tronic parts in complete systems. For another, it is well-nigh impossible to obtain accurate figures on laser consumption for military purposes. Figures. The general consensus, however, is that Western Europe consumed between $220 million and $250 million worth of nonmilitary

Voice on beam. The RLK-2 laser transceiv- er, developed by the Yugoslav firm lskra, is a hand-held unit whose laser beam serves as the medium for voice communications.

70 Electronics/August 2, 1979 Take the step up from handheld DMM's

hip I

Ma • a Mr Mane» Ile • Ili

er 1 I Ch 191 1.2 3LI o 119 lb Fluke's new 8010A you'll be owning the finest and 8012A bench/portable quality DMM's available. DMM's. You'll find all the Contact the Fluke stocking features of our popular 8020A distributor, sales office or handheld DMM plus many more representative in your area or call: sulators, and general use above 20 capabilities (some not found in any 800-426-0361 other DMM) in these two instru- MS1. A Fluke exclusive found in both If you prefer, just complete and mail ments. At prices only afew dollars the 8010A and 8012A. Ask for our the coupon below. more than most handhelds. Conductance Measurements Applica- tion Note. A sensible package with sensible features. The 8010A and 8012A's lb tell the truth. Fluke's hybrid true RMS converter gives you the honest bench/portable design is ideal for those who want the best of both ac answers you demand. You can FLUKE measure non-sinusoidal waveforms worlds. They fit smartly on your bench and use ac power or get out to 50 kHz without missing any right up and go to the job with you. significant distortion components. • U.S. Prices only. Optional rechargeable batteries are Exclusive capabilities for surpris- available. Both incorporate the same ing prices. For high current mea- IN THE U.S. AND NO N- EUROPEAN COUNTRIES: IN EUROPE: design goals that made our handheld surement applications, the 8010A John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc. Fluke (Holland) By. 8020A DMM so rugged and reliable. boasts an extra 10A range for $239*. P.O. Box 43210 MS #2B P.O. Box 5659,5004 EB Extensive overload protection (to The 8012A replaces the current range Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 Tilburg, The Netherlands (206) 774-2481 (013)673-973 6000V) and 0.1% basic dc accuracy with another important feature — Telex: 32-0013 Telex: 52237 make for two DMM's you can really two low ohms ranges, making it the O Please send 8010A/8012A specifications. rely on. 20 basic ranges of ac and world's widest range ohmmeter. Its 1 D Please have asalesman call. dc volts and current, six ranges of milliohm resolution (on the 2f2 range) 0 Please send me your Conductance resistance plus three ranges of con- is ideal for locating shorts in circuit Measurements Application Note. ductance prove their measurement boards and motor windings. All for Name only $299.* versatility. 'Iltle Mail Stop Conductance = 1/Resistance. Handheld or bench/portable: It's Company It's aunique way to measure high your choice. Whichever best fits resistance and check leakage in your application, you can buy them Address capacitors, pcb's, cables and in- both from Fluke. With confidence that City State Zip

For Technical Data circle #70 on Reader Service Card iblephone ( ) Ext. For Demonstration circle #71 on Reader Service Card El 8/79 Electronics international

and Exhibition Co., which served as guishes 16 powder-particle diame- applicable to the critical loops in host to Laser '79, "The show is turn- ters between 1and 192 micrometers large systems to distribute the risk ing more and more into a forum for and analyzes their distribution using and eliminate the possibility that practical and marketable systems an -based microcomputer. failure of a single processor could that are based on a relatively young Yet another example is a portable affect more than one loop. The base technology." laser transceiver, model RLK-2, load of control in such a system One example is Rottenkolber's from the Yugoslav firm Iskra, priced could still be handled by a digital 141K-1 "holo—double-pulse" camera at about $16,000 a pair. A gallium- system in which each processor that uses two laser beams to literally arsenide infrared laser transmitter controlled a larger number of loops. make the noise of, say, an engine, with a peak pulse power of 5 watts The new unit can also be mixed with visible by way of ahologram. Anoth- and a p-i -n photodiode receiver give analog controllers. er is a laser granulometer from the the set arange of up to 7kilometers. Built into Toshiba's controller is a Compagnie Industrielle des Lasers Because the laser beam does not repertoire of more than 60 functions, (Cilas), part of the French Compag- scatter, the company notes, there is including subroutines for control, nie Générale d'Electricité (coE). no way to eavesdrop on this walkie- linearization, arithmetic computa- The $25,000 instrument distin- talkie. -John Gosch tion, logic and comparison, and out- put. The number of subroutines— Japan including repetitions—in the pro- gram of one controller can total up to 50, although far fewer would be Benefits of digital process control used in atypical installation. These functions are written in the come to one-loop systems I2 kilobytes of read-only memory on board. Four kilobytes of program- Direct digital control for industrial of analog controllers and auxiliary mable ROM are included to allow the processes is now available in incre- components. It also makes possible user to configure his particular sys- ments as small as one loop. Such some applications—like adaptive, tem, including calling subroutines controllers have long been desirable, pH, and internal reflux control— and setting parameter values. Thus but they have remained too costly. that would not usually be attempted the PROM selects the input-signal Now, the TOSDIC-211 one-loop with analog controllers because they processing, control algorithm, and digital controller from Toshiba are insufficiently precise over the linkage information and sets initial Corp. provides in one unit all the wide operating ranges involved. values for the program. functions supplied by acomplete line The one-loop controller is equally Loading up. Toshiba prefers cus- tomers to do their own program- ming, rather than have the company do it. Therefore, it has also devel- oped a PROM writer with a specially designed keyboard and display, which it calls a system loader. A hard-copy printer is provided for permanent records, as is a PROM eraser for correction and updating. Since some users will have little occasion to change the system once it is running, Toshiba will rent as well as sell the loader. To encourage users to load their own systems, Toshiba sells an unprogrammed con- troller for some $2,200 but charges $2,500 for aprogrammed one. Actual processing is implemented by Toshiba's 8085 microprocessor. Working memory, including storage of operator inputs, is a 2-kilobyte complementary-mos random-access memory, which has alithium battery backup in case of power failure. In control. Toshiba's one-loop digital controller performs more than 60 functions, including Front-panel controls and readouts some that can be done by an analog unit only by adding extra hardware. similar to those on an analog con-

72 Electronics/August 2, 1979 CYN-Ftes‘stance \iccso\)oi dpo\oc \cocis\stocs ceed 'MO vd\s, 2E) cepeces see or\ \kosup) o ot 0055 o\-eNs (1-‘0Y, 'Me e350 \s co\ed 400 ves, ocopeces,Rosccp) 030 o 0 o\-\riis roe( — o ret4v4oc\c\ cecocc\ e Mog£:‘ -ao o pc/4e ticic-ecig copodel\ 0\\-\ec sci-e\\ec, code OO ecor\ocimcd \-\t`e-Os o\so e pcodueoc-\ Foc ded\s oc\d \ces the yeoc's rc\ost (2!\ 322-333'\ cicd os\c \\'e \--\£00 \-\01\.\\•1., 0 \-\‘, exe\cig peel& i\AOSFE.1 deve\oprec-\\, cS\o\

oc vete \o \Ce ocidess \De\ce

o

eteCf‘eee

eie(S1, P•-,sl‘Ot.sSG‘P3sp•%g, (2'3

233 es- Se.5 " 9190-3AB-6291

Ge'' 9°245 )322 13i:c3i1):473 on reader seryice Electronics international

troller, as well as a calculatorlike per second—three of the four digital keyboard and display on the side of transmission speeds on which Euro- the controller, allow adjustments by pean postal and telecommunications the operator and readout of values authorities have standardized. stored in the RAM. The first such contract, worth $3 Parameters are processed in the million, has been placed with Plessey form of a4-byte floating-point word. Telecommunications Ltd., Beeston, Separate 12-bit analog-to-digital Nottingham, for the optical cable and digital-to-analog converters are systems on one 34-mb/s and four used for inputs and outputs. 8-mb/s routes totaling 110 km; BICC Since all controllers are identical Telecommunications Cables Ltd. except for their PROMs, which are will serve as subcontractor. Last highly reliable, adefective controller month, General Electric Co. Ltd. can be replaced by inserting its (GEc), London, received the second, Optical link. Repeater station (right) is part PROM into a good controller and worth $5.72 million, for one 140-, of Plessey's 8-MID/s trial system. then substituting the new unit. one 34-, and two 8-mb/s links total- Extras. Although the TOSDIC- ing 172 km. plant. Rather than buy, both GEC 211 costs perhaps $700 more than an A third contract, to complete the and STC have invested in pilot analog unit, it has auxiliary func- post office's present plans, is ex- production plants to make graded- tions built in that usually can be pected to go shortly to Standard index fibers, which they supply to performed by an analog controller Telephones & Cables Ltd. (sTc), their own in-house cable manufac- only by adding extra hardware. For London, an ITT subsidiary. Worth turers. Their cables will be used on example, the simple control of the some $4 million, it will call for two the post office's 140-mb/s trunk- flow of agas requires four auxiliary 140- and four 8-mb/s systems. route systems. functions. The output of the sensor Though the systems may be mar- The electronics in the systems that measures flow must be linear- ginally more expensive, as fiber costs involves high-radiance light-emitting ized by taking the square root of its fall the payoff will come. Further- diodes from Plessey Optoelectronics output. Compensation for tempera- more, the attractions of these first- & Microwave Ltd. [Electronics, Dec. ture and pressure is required, but generation fiber-optic links are con- 23, 1976, p. 47 or 5E] in low-bit-rate before the former is made, the siderable. The 8.448-mb/s 120- systems and gallium-aluminum-arse- output of the thermocouple used to channel telephone system developed nide lasers from STL Laboratories sense temperature must be linear- by Plessey, for example, can operate Ltd. in the trunk systems from GEC ized. Toshiba's one-loop digital con- at distances up to 15 km without and STC. The receiver equipment troller performs all these and the repeaters, compared with 3.5 km for uses avalance photodiodes from RCA. control without extra hardware. conventional systems. Thus repeaters The LEDs operate at 850 nanometers, Furthermore, a cascade loop, could be eliminated from well over and the lasers at 900 nm. which usually requires two analog 80% of the BPG's junction networks, The repeater requirement. The controllers, can be implemented by which link neighboring exchanges, laser-photodiode combination used the new unit at asignificant savings. according to J. E. Midwinter, head by both STC and GEC will be suffi- It would typically include the PID of the Optical Communications Sys- cient to meet a post office require- (proportional, integral, derivative) tems division at the post office's ment of 8to 9km between repeaters control function used twice and five Martlesham Research Centre. on trunk routes. auxiliary functions. -Charles Cohen However, for its field trial system The basic technology so far devel- from Maidenhead to Slough, Plessey oped can meet the BPG's require- Great Britain developed arepeater technology that ments for several years to come. The it hopes to be able to exploit in over- 140-mb/s system, for example, can seas markets, according to F. A. readily be run in tandem, by picking BPO moves into Onions, the firm's director of mar- up the second cable fiber, to achieve keting and planning. "The targets a 278-mb/s data rate. The use of fiber optics are urban and low-density trunk hybrid techniques will allow repeat- networks," he says. ers to be packed in the same space, Fiber optics is making the big jump For all the systems in the present the post office says. Second-genera- from engineering evaluation to oper- round, the suppliers will use graded- tion systems, according to one BP0 ational status on the British telecom- index fiber with attenuations of expert, could be the first to operate munications network. The British about 2to 3decibels/km. BICC buys in asingle mode and will work at the Post Office is awarding contracts for its from Corning Glass Works in the longer wavelengths of 1.3 to 1.5 450 kilometers of optical links at a U. S., with whom it has a manufac- micrometers. Wavelength fiber total cost of some $13 million. Data turing option, and then forms the attenuations of 0.2 dB have already rates will be 140, 34, and 8megabits cable at its Prescott, Merseyside been reported. -Kevin Smith

74 Electronics/August 2, 1979 DESIGN BECKMAN TRIMMERS IN. DESIGN PROBLEMS OUT.

Our precious metal contacts let you set and forget. There are many reasons to make Beckman particularly important in low resistance settings. your trimmer choice. But there's one that's actu- In addition, our brush contact offers low ally worth its weight in gold. It's our precious noise and high overall reliability. So when you metal brush contact. Unique to the industry. And specify Beckman, you get asuperior product in invaluable to your application needs. With it, you every way. All at acompetitive price. can forget about long term drift. To find out more about the trimmers you In the rheostat mode, our precious metal set and forget, contact your local Beckman dis- brush contact would drift from its original setting tributor. Or write: Helipot Division, Beckman typically less than 2ohms with time and tempera- Instruments, Inc., 2500 Harbor Boulevard, ture changes. A base metal stamped contact would Fullerton, California 92634. In Europe write: drift typically as much as 20 ohms under the same Beckman Instruments (Belgium) S.A., 14, conditions. That makes our precious metal contact Avenue Hamoir, 1180 Bruxelles, Belgium. 10 times better in setting stability alone! This is Phone: (02) 275.44.30. Telex: 23577.

BECKMAN Electronics/August 2, 1979 Circle 75 on reader service card 75 INTRODUCING THE BUBBLE MACHINE.

From Fairchild, first family of lets you test anumber of devices The Xincom 5585 is backed ATE, comes the solution to the at once—wafers or packages — by the largest service and magnetic bubble memory testing without compromising test support team in the industry. problem. quality. That's an important Worldwide training. Over 20 The Xincom 5585 has been advantage when you consider major field service centers in the developed to test and character- the longer test times for bubble U.S., Europe and Asia. And a ize all currently available mag- memories. global network of applications netic bubble domain memory And we haven't forgotten specialists to help you get the devices as well as future devices. software. No one offers more. most from your Fairchild system. It's atrue general-purpose For more information about system that can be used in the Xincom 5585 Magnetic engineering and produc- Bubble Memory Test System, tion.The 5585 can just contact accommodate your nearest various architec- Fairchild tures and tech- sales office nologies, and today. Or memory sizes up write Test to 65 million bits. Systems The key to the 5585 is its Group, Fair- unique Bubble Memory Pattern A high-level test language, child Camera Computer (BMPC). This high- ageneralized data reduction and Instrument Corporation, speed processor was developed library, test management 1725 Technology Drive, especially for testing bubble reporting systems, and ahighly San Jose, California 95110. memories. It provides the speed interactive tester operating Telephone: (408) 998-0123. and versatility required to execute system. When you go with a TWX: 910-338-0558. complex, sophisticated test Fairchild test system, you're exercises. We've also developed getting hundreds of man-years in the 5585 the most efficient of software development. Plus device interface system available- the commitment of the world's IRCHI L.I=1 fully programmable current loop leading test system specialist to drivers, magnetic field coil drivers continue to work with you. TEST SYSTEMS GROUP and precise signal discriminators. As bubble memory technology So you can exercise your device is developed further, we'll over an exceptionally wide range continue to meet your needs— The of operating conditions. without obsoleting your software are family For engineering character- investment. This is abig ization, the 5585 is apowerful economy when you consider development tool. For increased that nearly 75% of your total throughput, its parallel operation testing cost is software-related. of All. 76 Circle 77 on reader service card Electronics/August 2, 1979 e'e%' MAG NE Zilog's powerful Z8000, the gener- Try it out with These two PDS 8000 models parallel ation-ahead 16-bit microprocessor the capabilities of the Model 10 that delivers big computer perform- the Model 15. and 15 but give you the added power ance at microprocessor prices, is on Everything in the PDS 8000 of 10 megabytes of rack-mounted the shelf today at Zilog distributors Model 10, plus Zilog's Z8000 hard disc drive. $20,000* around the country. Order it as the Development Module, aZ8000 and $21,500* 40-pin Z8002 with 64KB direct based computer board with 2K words addressing, $107.10* Or, choose the For complete hardware 48-pin Z8001 with 8MB segmented characterization. addressing, $139.30* Supporting Coming soon, an emulation sub- it is the versatile PDS 8000 family system for your PDS 8000. It will of development systems. provide total hardware development

The base package, of EPROM (expandable to 8K words), 16 Kwords of dynamic RAM the Model 10. (expandable to 32K words), dual support capability for the Z8000 as Your most economical entry to serial interface, 32 programmable well as the Z8. Z8000 product development. Every- I/O lines, four 8-bit programmable thing you need to start your Z8000 counter-timers and agenerous wire For more wrap area. $11,995* information, write. For more complex ideas, Well send you acomplete packet of technical data on the PDS 8000 Models 25 and 30. family and Z8000 Development Module together with the name and location of your nearest Zilog distributor. Address: Zilog, 10460 software development: a64K byte Bubb Road, Cupertino, CA 95014. microcomputer, CRT dual floppys, Or call (800) 538-9367 toll free. interfaces, 9-slot card cage, power (In California call (408) 446-4666.) supplies, aZ8000 software develop- ment package, operating system, •Suggested Domestic U.S. prices only. editor, linker and utilities. $10,500* Z8001 and Z8002 prices are for quantity 100

An affiliate of EON ENTERPRISES INC. Zilog Circle 79 on reader service card Engineering said these new counters were the best values in the industry

We said "prow itr They did.

You'd expect our design en- for these new counters. That due to noise, they incorporated gineers to be biased in favor of means you get better temperature stainless steel RFI shields. these new counters. But when we spec's, aging rates, and better They're standard on all models. challenged them, they convinced short term stability than with We're convinced. You won't find us by going back to basics: either free air crystals or TCXO's. abetter value in counters. "Face it, in acounter, basically As aresult, two elements determine whether measure- Compatible, or not you can get accurate ment accu- of course repeatable readings: the input racy is Fluke solved amplifier and the crystal improved the problem of oscillator. and putting low-cost In these new counters we've calibration products on the used new thick film hybrid cir- cycles can be IEEE-488 bus cuits to control input amplifier extended. with the Model circuit characteristics and reduce And because these low-power 1120A IEEE instrument costs. ovens can operate from batteries, il•anslator. With these new there's no time wasted in the cal With it, you hybrids lab waiting for the oscillator to can use any of we get warm-up. More importantly, cal these new excellent lab accuracy is preserved when counters with a sensitivity, you take the instrument back to number of aflat response the bench." other Fluke and, at the same The instruments in compact, portable time, we have engineers IEEE-488 mini-test systems. reduced the effect of parasitics. went on As aside benefit, with hybrids and on. It's Performance That Counts the parts counts are less. This For For design engineering and means there are fewer compo- example, R&D, the Models 7260A and nents to fail. to reduce 7261A are full-feature universal The new ovenized oscillator false counter-timers. Both are 125 MHz options were designed especially triggering models with options to 1300 MHz. With the 7261A you get 10 ns In the U.S. CALL TOLL 7250A 7260A 7261A FREE (800) 426-0361. resolution and aphase modulated (For residents of Alaska, Frequency 80 MHz 125 MHz 125 MHz timebase option. This option Hawaii, and Washington, the number is (206) 774-2481.) 520 MHz 520 MHz eliminates time interval averag- ing errors caused by input signal/ In Europe, contact: Frequency Options Fluke (Holland) By., 1300 MHz* 1300 MIL* timebase phase coherence. P.O. Box 5053, Sensitivity (RMS) 50 MHz 10 mV 10 mV 10 mV The 7250A is an autoranging 5004 EB Tilburg, 80 MHz counter. It's atrue price/ The Netherlands, Telephone (013) 673973. 100 MHz 15mV(80MHz) 15 mV 15 mV performance leader for bench Telex: 52237. 125 MHz — 35 mV 35 mV and production applications. Compare their performance Period x x x features for yourself. FLUKE Period Average X. x x

Time Interval 100 na 100 na 10 na El 8 79 John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc. Time Interval Average x x P.O. Box 43210 M/S 2B Phase Modulated x Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 Time Base Option Yes, I'd like some proof too. Please arrange ademo. Ratio, Totalize, CPM x x x Send 7260A/7261A Information. x x x Autoranging Send 7250A Information. RFI Shield x x x Send 1120A Translator Information.

Oven Time Base Options x x x Name Title IEEE Option x x x Company Mail Stop

Price $675* $850* $995* Address City State Zip

*U.S. prices only. Phone ( ) **1300 MHz available soon. -J For Technical Data circle #80 on Reader Service Card For Demonstration circle #8I on Reader Service Card Analog LSI testing

In automatic-testing applica- A valuable supplement to tions, new high-accuracy analog the conventional dc voltage LSI devices are eying test engi- readout is called Device neers fits. And this is just the Normalized Scaling. Readout beginning. is provided in the form Specifications in microvolts, where Vo and V, are picoamps, and hundredths of programmable. In many adecibel are fast becoming applications this can greatly commonplace. simplify test plans. Pin counts are already in the 18-28 range, with 40-pin packages on the horizon and 60 doubtless to follow. everal levels of auto- A/D converters with 12-bit matic calibration are provided to resolution are soon to give way to attain the accuracies specified 14 bits, and no one will bet against for both the standard system and 16 before too awfully long. the Precision DC Module. So, what engineers need Calibration accuracies are right now is areally stable, fast, ensured by an ultra-stable, analog test system for 12-bit A/D temperature-compensated, zener- Considering both gain error and and DIA devices and beyond. A diode reference assembly, offering tag error, this means that meas- system that can handle the mixed NBS reference. It provides full urements can be made to plus technology of present devices, calibration accuracy when inserted or minus 6millivolts at 10 volts. with acomfortable reserve of into any A300 system. And a And measurement time is amere speed, accuracy, and flexibility. replacement assembly can take 100 microseconds. For whatever the future holds. over whenever factory recali- But for those who need truly bration is necessary. high accuracy, the A300 offers Moreover, the Precision DC an optional Precision DC Module, Module is now available for the Inits new A300 family of which allows voltage measure- hundreds of J273 Linear Test analog LSI test systems, Teradyne ments to .005 percent of reading, Systems presently in the field. has effected amarriage of high with atag error as low as 10µV. For more information on the accuracy and high speed that is An order of magnitude more A300 analog LSI test systems unique in the industry. accurate than any other system in and the Precision DC Module, Our standard dc system the marketplace today, the meas- write Teradyne, 183 Essex Street, allows measurements to be made urement technique is aproprie- Boston, MA 02111. within .05 percent of reading. tary combination of successive approximation and triple-slope integration schemes, which makes measurement times beyond 600 microseconds rarely necessary.

leteeele 82 Circle 82 on reader service card Electronics/August 2, 1979 Probing the news Analysis of technology and business developments

Britain gambles on System X

New digital switching system, to be shown first time at Geneva, is also designed to get nation back into export market

by Kevin Smith, London bureau manager Few telecommunications projects operation ever undertaken by the covert attempt by the government's have caused more controversy than British telecommunications industry, National Enterprise Board, an agen- the British Post Office's aptly named it has employed 600 Post Office and cy set up to help technology compa- System X, which will be shown next industry engineers; the full cost will nies, to merge two of the suppliers— month for the first time at the be around $300 million. Plessey Telecommunications Ltd. quadrennial telecommunications ex- Yet the secrecy surrounding Sys- and Standard Telephones and Ca- hibition in Geneva. The project is tem X has made for bad publicity, bles Ltd. That, in turn, caused along intended to move Britain's telephone with reports that committee proce- dispute over how to sell System X network, the third largest in the dures involving the Post Office and overseas, for Britain wants to get world, from analog to digital opera- its three suppliers were slowing back into the export market. tion during the 1980s, as well as design and that hardware would be But, despite the dissension, when make the nation amajor telecommu- outdated even before the wrappings Post Office and industry executives nications exporter. The largest single were removed. This triggered a finally decided to talk they were

DIGITAL 2-Mbis SYSTEMS

ANALOG RELAY SETS I COOEC CIRCUITS DLT (TS16) UNIT CONTROL 2Mbis MULTIPLEXER r INTERFACE

ANALOG THROUGH CARDS COOEC DIGITAL DLT CIRCUITS INTERFACE UNIT

SIGNALING INTERWO RKING ANALOG-LINE-TERMINATING

SUBSYSTEMS SUBSYSTEMS SWITCHES DIGITAL DIGITAL 2-Mbh SYSTEMS INTERFACE MULTIPROCESSOR CONTROLLER TIME SWITCH 96 OF SPACE OCK '

TONE GENERATOR

INPUT G OUTPUT o MF

SIS - SIGNALING INTERWORKING SUBSYSTEM MCS - MAINTENANCE-CONTROL SUBSYSTEM TS16 - TIME SLOT SIXTEEN (COMMON CHANNEL SIGNALING) MSS - MANAGEMENT -STATISTICS SUBSYSTEM CENTRAL CONTROL UNIT OCS - OVERLOAD-CONTROL SYSTEM OLT - DIGITAL LINE TERMINATION (DIGITAL SWITCHING OS - OPERATING SYSTEM MF - MULTIFREOUENCY SIGNALING SUBSYSTEM) MIS - MESSAGE-TRANSMISSION SUBSYSTEM CPS - CALL-PROCESSING SUBSYSTEM DMA - DIRECT MEMORY ACCESS DSS - DIGITAL-SWITCHING SUBSYSTEM

Getting the call. British Post Office's System X will get its first showing at next month's Geneva telecommunications show. It is a digital network whose integrated services"Will be able to cover everything from small rural exchanges to computer-based record-keeping centers. In the diagram above, circles in multiprocessor indicate software; the hexagons are the software handlers.

Electronics/August 2, 1979 83 Probing the news signal interworking system used for internal communication and commu- nication with older exchanges. The unanimously bullish on the prospects group is also developing a remotely for System X. The hardware, controlled digital data concentrator described for the first time at an for use in sparsely populated and Finally international switching symposium fringe urban areas. Modularity also in May [Electronics, May 24, P. 76] will ease assimilation of new technol- has all the ingredients expected in a ogies as they evolve. modern exchange: a digital central The core of the program is asingle Fiber optics switch, stored program control, and data base that must capture design four-wire common channel signal- data once only, eliminating manual availability. ing. There is ahigh degree of modu- transcription and interpretation of larity in hardware and software, engineering information with big AZ Jaco, Phoenix (800) 423-5073 from which exchanges of all sizes gains in accuracy. Computer-aided Moltronics, Phoenix (602) 272-7951 can be assembled. The hardware is design and manufacturing invades CA Moltronics, L.A. (213) 773-6521 stuffed full of microprocessors: the every stage of the manufacturing Moltronics, S.D. (714)278-5020 Moltronics, San Jose (408) 263-7373 next-generation control processor process: artwork generation, through Jaco, Chatsworth (213) 998-2200 will use amicroprocessor array. printed-circuit-board manufacture, Jaco, San Diego (800) 423-5073 Jaco, San Jose (408)263-1100 End of an era. The birth of System to tape preparation for numerically CO Arrow, Denver (303) 758-2100 X marked the end of an era in the controlled drilling machines, to prep- Jaco, Denver (800) 423-5073 Post Office. Because of the huge cost aration of programs for insertion CT Arrow, Hamden (203) 248-3801 of developing the new exchange equipment and for automatic test C C 1., Wilton (203) 762-8691 systems, competitive development equipment. FL Arrow, Ft. Lauderdale (305) 776-7790 Arrow, Palm Bay (305) 725-1480 programs by all three suppliers were Too many paths. At the early Hammond, Orlando (305) 849-6060 ruled out. stage, says Roy L. Harris, the Post GA Arrow, Atlanta (404) 455-4054 The UK's solution combines sound Office's director of telecommunica- IL Arrow, Chicago (312) 893-9420 engineering practice and political tions strategy, the System X strategy Camelot, Chicago (312) 583-5588 expediency in the adoption of ahigh- team "was faced with serious prob- MD Arrow, Baltimore (301) 247-5200 ly modular design, with all three MA Arrow, Woburn (617) 933-8130 lems arising from divergent ap- Lionex, Burlington (617)272-9400 manufacturers developing separate proaches, standards, and strategies." MI Arrow, Ann Arbor (313) 971-8220 system modules. GEC Telecommuni- In November 1977 an outsider, Sir Camelot, Livonia (313) 591-0055 cations Ltd. took the contract for the William Barlow, took over as chair- MN Arrow, Edina (612) 830-1800 stored program control processor, man of the Post Office and forced MO Olive, St. Louis (314)426-4500 Plessey Telecommunications for the through recommendations of Sir NH Arrow, Manchester (603) 668-6968 digital switch modules, and Stan- William Ryland, managing director NJ Arrow, Moorestown (609) 235-1900 Arrow, Saddlebrook (201) 797-5800 dard Telephones and Cables for the for telecommunications, advancing Mid Atlantic, Bellmawr (609) 931-5303 NM Electronic Devices, Albuquerque (505) 293-1935 Jaco, Albuquerque (800) 423-5073 30 NY Arrow, Farmingdale (516) 694-6800 Zeus, Elmsford (914) 592-4120 NC Arrow, Kernersville (919) 996-2039 Hammond, Greensboro (919)275-6391 25 SYSTEM X OH Arrow, Cincinnati (513) 761-5432 Arrow, Cleveland (216)248-3990 Arrow, Dayton (513) 253-9176 OR Parrott, Beaverton (503) 641-3355 PA Arrow, Moorestown (215) 928-1800 TXE4/4A Arrow, Pittsburgh (412) 351-4000 SC Hammond, Greenville (803)233-4121 TX Arrow, Dallas (214) 386-7500 Arrow, Houston (713) 491-4100 TXE2 Solid State, Dallas (214) 352-2601 o Solid State, Houston (713) 772-8483 UT Jaco, Salt Lake (800) 423-5073

CROSSBAR WA Jaco, Seattle (800) 423-5073 Parrott, Bellvue (206) 747-6150

5 WI Arrow, Oak Creek (414) 764-6600 CAN Future, Montreal (514) 731-7441 STROINGER Future, Ottawa (613) 820-8313 Future, Toronto (416) 663-5563 Future, Vancouver (604) 438-5545 1984 1989 4.) 1979 Spectronucs

Coming and going. The British Post Office predicts that System X all-digital exchanges will begin replacing TXE semielectronic types as well as crossbar versions in the 1980s.

84 Electronics/August 2, 1979 FINALLY AFIBER OPTIC LINK YOU CAN TAKE SERIOUSLY Introducing the first data link Missing Link. It contains modules, that features low cost, versatility, connectors, terminated cable and and high performance. instructions. All for $495. $49.95 per module and Or, if you have bigger plans, Sweet SpotTmLED you can order modules in1000 lot Our unique Sweet quantities for $49.95 each. Spot design lets SPX4140—TRANSMITTER you couple to a variety of ca- bles including Siecor, Galite and Dupont plastic or glass. 2kilometers transmission at SPX4141—RECEIVER 10 Mb/s(min) with 10 -8 BER LED performance this power- ful opens the door to unlimited -Jae application ideas. And since the modules are acompact .5"x.5"x 1.3", they're easy to design into existing systems. From Spectronics, Full microcomputer the fiber optics leader compatibility If that sounds impressive, it True TTL compatibility, 0° to should. Because Spectronics is the 70°C operation, and a5 volt only company advanced enough unregulated power requirement to take this technology to the pro- are important features. But state- duction stage. of-the-art IC design also provides Ask your Spectronics distribu- single line, self clocking, optical tor for The Missing Link, or contact data transmission at maximum Spectronics for information at 830 rated performance. East Arapaho Road, Richardson, The Missing Link Texas 75081; Telephone (214) Now you can evaluate all the 234-4271. features of our modules through our special fiber optic kit, The

SPearailleS Adivision of Honeywell

©1979 Spectronics Circle 85 on reader service card Fairchild's AFIT 4000 will test aPCB with 200 ICs in 20 seconds It will locate and isolate faults and tell you if they're assembly errors or component failures. Its library disk gives you the routines to program tests for TTL, DTL, CMOS, ECL, CTL and other popular logic. It will measure resistance to 1001M It can pay for itself in ayear. Let us show We'll also show you how the AFIT 4000 can generate programs for you how. Li. its sister systems for depot repair and field testing of your digital PCBs. Write or call: Fairchild Test Systems Group, Subassembly Test Systems Division, 1625 White Drive, Titusville, FL 32780. (305) 267-7212.

EI R IL—CD

Test Systems Group The First Family of ATE

86 Circle 86 on reader service card Electronics/August 2, 1979 Probing the news

the target by one year. "He concen- trated our minds on one objective— Geneva '79," says one manufacturer. And he succeeded: the first ex- changes went live in April, says Sir William, with one to be up and running in Geneva. The ultimate test of the concept came when the first factory ex- changes were put together. But, says John Tippler, deputy to the director of the System X development department, "the modules have been going together very nicely." More reservedly, one manufacturer agrees there are bound to be some prob- lems, but he is confident they can be overcome. In fact, the Post Office has kicked off its System X program with orders for one trunk, two junc- tion, and five local exchanges worth about $16 million and due to come into service by the end of 1982. The changeover should be very rapid after that. But how exportable is the end product? Post Office engineers stress that it represents a total systems approach to a smooth transition from an analog to an all-digital network. In effect, System X was designed from the top down, a digi- tal system superimposed on the existing analog system. Consequent- ly, the Post Office is rushing through This A P power breadboard Its power supply is fixed 5VDC, 1amp. exchanges needed to create a skele- includes a pulse detector, Need variable power? Our ton digital data network to provide a complete with memory. general-purpose POWERACE 101 variety of computer-based services Our Model 102 POWERACE gives has a variable 5-15 VDC 600 ma for the business community. Such a you a complete digital prototyping power supply. And POWERACE 103 complete package, the Post Office lab in one compact package. gives you a triple-output power believes, could have attractions for It will detect positive or negative- supply for prototyping both linear developing countries. going pulses as short as 10 nano- and digital circuits: fixed 5 VDC Sales company. To help sell Sys- seconds. It has a memory. This, 750 ma, fixed +15 VDC 250 ma, and tem X, the Post Office is offering its combined with its 3logic indicators, fixed -15 VDC 250 ma. systems know-how in a newly gives you a built-in logic probe. Try one. Call your local A Pdistri- butor. Who's that? Phone (toll-free) formed consortium, called British Like our other power breadboards, it has 16 distribution buses of 25 tie- 800-321-9668 and we'll tell you. And Telecommunications Systems Ltd., points per bus and 1,680 tie-point ask for the complete AP catalog, with its three suppliers. Headed by terminals. The Faster and Easier Book. managing director John Sharpely, formerly marketing director of Ples- sey Telecommunications, the compa- AP PRODUCTS ny will promote System X overseas INCORPORATED to the final tender stage. And when a Box 110L •72 Corwin Drive Painesville, Ohio 44077 contract is won, a consortium mem- Tel. 216/354-2101 ber will be chosen as lead contractor TWX: 810-425-2250 either because it has available factory space and can offer delivery, Faster and Easier is what we're all about. or because of historic links in a particular country.

Electronics/August 2, 1979 Circle 87 on reader service card 87 Probing the news

Communications Bell bill takes adifferent tack

Amendments to Communications Act of 1934, not new law, would require separate AT&T subsidiaries for new businesses

by Ray Connolly. Washington bureau manager

Whatever revisions to telecommuni- Commerce Committee's communi- AT&T subsidiaries for competitive cations regulation emerge from the cations subcommittee. The Califor- services and products while permit- 96th Congress will conic in the form nia Democrat, sponsor of H. R. ting "the current partnership be- of amendments to the 1934 Commu- 3333, which would restructure the tween the Long Lines company, the nications Act rather than its replace- Federal Communications Commis- Bell operating companies, and the ment by a sweeping new law that sion and largely deregulate broad- independent telephone companies to embraces broadcasting issues as casting, drastically altered his pro- continue for purposes of providing well. Moreover, telecommunications posal after the bill became mired in Message Telephone Service [mTs]." leaders in the House, Senate, and his own subcommittee. At the same time, Van Deerlin White House now seem to agree that Widely criticized at the time of its would drop his earlier plan to end if American Telephone & Telegraph initial introduction [Electronics, June regulation of the MTS network by the Co. and its Western Electric Co. 22, 1978, p. 58], the Van Deerlin Federal Communications Commis- manufacturing arm get into new proposal is being redrafted to drop sion after 10 years and would require competitive markets, it must be done broadcasting issues and concentrate that MTS could be resold by any through separate subsidiaries operat- solely on telecommunications regula- customer—a service now prohibited ing at adistance from the parent. tion. And, like S. 611, its Senate by FCC rules. Thus the legislative controversy counterpart sponsored by South Car- AT&T competitors see a loophole over how best to control evolving olina Democrat Ernest Hollings in Van Deerlin's observation that competition in U. S. markets domi- [Electronics, March 29, p. 58], the "while MTS is the only service that nated by the Bell System moved new Van Deerlin proposals will be could be provided directly by the closer to resolution during July. [he introduced as amendments to the network, the network would be able breakthrough came on action by existing law, rather than as replace- to own facilities for other services, Rep. Lionel Van Deerlin, chairman ments for it. The Hollings bill has including private line, foreign ex- of the House Interstate and Foreign already cleared the committee. change, CCSA, and enhanced data Not far enough. While most advo- cates of competitive telecommunica- tions praised Van Deerlin's change in style as making passage of legisla- tion much more likely before next year's adjournment, most claim his proposals do not go far enough in separating AT&T'S components. The Ad Hoc Committee for Competitive Telecommunications (ACCT), for one, wants all Bell System interex- change services, not just competitive services, in a separate subsidiary. Similarly, the North American Tele- phone Association (NATA), compris- ing interconnection and service com- panies, believes "that the creation of totally separate subsidiaries for di- rect carrier entry into competitive markets is the fairest' solution for Bill revised. Rep. Lionel Van Deerlin has all parties." Bill progressing. A reform bill by Sen. altered his Communications Act reform bill. Van Deerlin proposes separating Ernest Hollings is out of committee.

88 Electronics/August 2, 1979 Power budget tight? Thermal management aproblem?

Powercube's new advance in reli- Depending on power requirements, output high able power conversion may be your answer. frequency AC, up to 250 watts maximum, is available with four modules. Output is to the 5TR200, aset of two new This new power conversion system provides Cirkitblock modules I:1 incorporating an input transformer higher power and sets new standards in efficiency. Energy that operates with the 40 V peak square wave at anominal formerly dissipated as heat is put to useful work Heat prob- frequency of 25 KHz. The secondary voltage is stepped lems are minimized: heat sink requirements are simplified. down and regulated using magnetic switching techniques. For flexibility in meeting power requirements The modules supply 5VDC at 20 Afor high-efficiency driv- and customer options, the new high powered AC input set. ing of logic elements. IC's, etc. Available conditioned power not required by the Model ASPG, 250-watt AC-AC (high frequency) converter is 5TR200 modules can be used to supply power to other packaged into a3- or 4-module unit ® and provides the standard Cirkitblock modules for developing auxiliary out- Powercube universal interface 40V peak square wave re- puts C. quired by all Powercubeo Cirkitblocke output modules. Terminals are available for both 115/220 VAC. For detailed information on the new extension of the Powercube line, write or call Powercube. Operation with input frequency range of 47-440 Hz. Input circuits provide EMI filtering and transient protection as re- quired in most military and aerospace applications (re: MIL- STD-461 and MIL-STD-704A).

POVVERCUBE 10 A SUBSIDIARY OF UNITROOF CORPORATION POWERCUBE CORPORATION. EIGHT SUBURBAN PARK DRIVE. BILLERICA. MASSACHUSETTS 01821 • (617) 667-9500

Electronics/August 2, 1979 Circle 89 on reader service card 89 If this is , Probing the news local exchange facilities by carriers what you're competing with AT&T. ACCT'S Herbert Jasper, executive services such as the proposed Ad- vice president, was most sharply crit- looking for vanced Communications System." ical of the Van Deerlin proposals in a 1 The FCC would decide what is a letter to the subcommittee chairman, permissible "enhancement," a power calling his MTS plan "wholly unwar- that competitors see as potentially ranted." Jasper argues that "no

0 troublesome. credible evidence—indeed nothing HIGH r- There is concern, too, that West- but unsupported claims— has been TEMPERATURE ern Electric Co. would not have to be offered to show that either competi- g.... operated as a subsidiary, much less tion or concepts in the pending legis- CAPACITORS spun off as originally proposed. Van lation pose any threat—technical or Deerlin now proposes that "Western economic—to 'the network.' Thus, Performance Data 1 Electric be required to establish there is no reason to assume that TO

OH 's TEMPERATURE CHARACTERISTICS ITYPHIIII separate divisions —an accounting 11 service, or MTS, requires aspecial 1 separation of functions— for sales in statutory status to ensure universal 10. eINàULÁTIOÑ RE 'SISTANC E*' the regulated (sales to Long Lines service or to ensure adial tone." lo • = TFHT and operating companies) and un- ACCT's alternative, Jasper wrote,

10 " 1=K TFHT 150V/ regulated markets. To the extent "would take nothing away from -- that Western Electric desires to AT&T or from 'the network.' It 10' ,_. _•14.1HT __/ participate in unregulated mar- would merely organize all Bell's 10. kets—terminal equipment, data pro- interexchange services in a separate

1 5 cessing, computers, etc.— it would be subsidiary parallel to, rather than 10 CAPACITANCE VARIATION required to make products available superior to, the operating companies. 5 % 0 through aseparate subsidiary, which The competitors must have a more 5

10 TFHT 6 TAAHT may or may not be the same as the nearly equal status if competition is 15 subsidiary providing services." Only to be enhanced." those subsidiaries would be free of IEEE's view. A substantially dif- 15 — DISSIPATION FACTOR 77.4HT 10 05 the 1956 consent decree preventing ferent position more favorable to % 0 TFHT a.r...--.--..—f AT&T from entering unregulated AT&T -75 -50 -25 0 25 50 75 100 125 150 175 200 was advanced by the Commit- TEMPERATURE (' CI markets, but Van Deerlin's earlier tee on Telecommunications Policy of proposal requiring Western to sell the Institute of Electrical and Elec- Specify Standard TSeries Custom outside Bell would be dropped. tronics Engineers. While acknowl- Capacitors, made with DuPont TEFLON® Finally, the FCC would be required edging the need for revisions to — for temperatures to 200° C. and to oversee the mechanics of transi- communications law brought about beyond. tion "to preserve the availability of by technological advancements, the the system engineering services pro- IEEE unit warned that Congress gelnsulation Resistance up to 10 12 ohms vided private line users today." should seek to acquire more techno- *Dissipation factor down to .02% Timetable. Van Deerlin's revised logical expertise before rewriting the •Temperature Coefficient down to proposals will not be put into appro- present laws in amanner that threat- -90 1.40 ppm/°C. priate legislative language until Con- ens to "diminish the utility and For complete data and FREE TechniTip, gress returns from its August ad- future capabilities of the telecommu- please fill out coupon and mail today. journment. Then AT&T and avariety nications network while increasing Also available: CSeries Mica for energy of competitive industry groups are consumer costs." storage, and KSeries Mica for maximum likely to call on the House subcom- The IEEE committee warned that mittee chairman to incorporate other volumetric efficiency. "the network is a fragile and multiple revisions into his measure. complex entity which is generally — — — — — — — — — — — — AT&T indicates it is still studying taken for granted; it can be severely Name the Van Deerlin changes, but initial degraded at greatly increased cost if Title indications are that the company the present mechanisms, standards, Company finds it much preferable to the and state-of-the-art conditions are City earlier bill. On the other hand, Inter- not clearly understood." State Zip national Telephone and Telegraph Bell Telephone Laboratories— Please send FREE TechniTip on Custom T Corp. and the specialized common which Van Deerlin would leave Series Film Capacitors. carriers represented by ACCT, the ad largely unchanged except for the hoc committee, want Van Deerlin to creation of separate accounting sys- specify that legislative revisions will tems for regulated and unregulated (1.--";USTOM not exempt any Bell System seg- segments of AT&T —"should be rec- ments from future antitrust action, ognized as a major and irreplaceable CUSTOM ELECTRONICS, INC. as well as a need to define in detail national resource," the IEEE commit- 12 Browne St., Oneonta, NY 13820 equal access and access charges to tee declared. El PH: 607-432-3880 TWX: 510-241-8292

90 Circle 90 on reader service card Electronics/August 2, 1979 The magazine you're reading now, could be Now specify or order guaranteed your own. on-frequency 11P crystals by phone.

Just tell us what microprocessor you are using (manufacturer and number) and the frequency you want. One of our 31 stock frequencies will fill your needs. Its that simple. Because we work with microprocessor manufacturers, most crystals are ready for delivery, off-the-shelf. Prices range from Drop off the routing list. Get your own fresh, $2 to $6 each (at 100 pieces per frequency). Give us acall at (815) 786-8411. or call your CTS Distributor. unclipped copy mailed to your home or (Specs in EEM.)CTS Knights. Inc.. 400 Reimann Street, office. Turn to the subscription card in the Sandwich, Illinois 60548. back of the magazine. If somebody has beat you to it, write: Electronics, P.O. Box 430, CTS KNIGHTS, INC. Hightstown, N.J. 08520. Circle 91 on reader service card

NEW from STAR MICRONICS: Low cost tool for design and Series OMB vve' trouble-shooting miniature audio transducers Pocket Size replace costly Slide-Switch Resistance speakers &piezo Substitution ceramic crystals! Unit STAR SERIES 0M8:8ansducers are ideal for telecommunications equipment. automotive and aircraft systemS, medical instruments and other products Three models—rated still only S58 at 15. 6and 12 volts DC—produce acontinuous tone or interrupted '•beeper '' sound over any audible frequency range Current drain is low only 15 mA for the 15 volt model. 40 mA at 6and 12 volts with an externally-applied 2.048 Hz half-duty cycle • Over 11 million ohm values 'is fit standard DIP sockets or may be wave-soldered directly to PC boards without ,;;;ttional wir ing Wr ite today tor complete engineer ing data and prices • 1% accuracy resistors • Unique in convenient size STAR offers you a complete line of precision- engineered, solid state

• Rugged construction audio indicators... U s Palen! Nos 3 974 499 3 887 914 are; 4 Ohs 733

Small enough to take anywhere in your pocket, this aluminum-housed unit delivers a very broad range of resistance steps. Excellent for both development and repair work. Half-watt 1% tolerance resistors give an IIPP accurate range from 1 to 11,111,110 ohms, MMB: one ot in one-ohm steps. Has three binding posts, SM8 to CMB the tiniest one to ground case. available CMB miniature SOB cost effective with wires Available now from stock. Order Catalog solid-state buzzers smoke detector horn No. 7092-236. 5% discount for cash with order. Ask your dealer, or contact: star rrucrorucs inc P111:11717@ al:3[11:1D.orexe. SUBSIDIARY OF STAR MFG CO LTD ri PAN AM BUILDING, Suite 2308 Manufacturers of Scientific Instruments 200 Pirk Ave ,New York, N Y 10017 P.O. Box 27324 •Richmond, VA. 23261 ClITO Stu illerealcs. Inc •212/986-6770 •TWX 710-581-4082 79-1 .804/264-2858 IN CANADA CALL: LENBROOK INDUSTRIES, LTD. • Circle 171 on reader service card 416/438-4610 Circle 172 on reader service card Probing the news

Companies Growing pains for Zilog

Rivals talk about personnel, production, and product woes, but president Faggin says four-year-old company is on right track

by William F Arnold. San Francisco regional bureau manager Cash is the lifeblood of any new between two founders was resolved as well. "They tried to do four company, but it's no foolproof cure only when one left the company. processes at once instead of perfect- for all headaches. The reason is Then other key management person- ing them one at atime," points out a that it is not so easy these days to nel left, to be replaced with new competing marketing executive. start up and grow a high-technology blood as the Cupertino, Calif., com- • Zilog has too narrow a product company, no matter how much pany reorganized. Products, some line and the wrong mix of products. money is available initially. The made with different processes, com- • Choices of second sources— Mos- technology is so dynamic and the peted for space in the company's one tek for the Z80 and Advanced Micro start-up costs are so high that the wafer-fabrication area. The Z8000 Devices Inc. for the Z8000 —are payoff in products and profits can be (Zilog's top gun against Intel Corp.'s questionable because both will end along time coming. 8086 and Motorola Semiconductor up taking business away from Zilog. A case in point is four-year-old Group's upcoming 68000 systems) Called unfair. "I don't think these Zilog Inc. Backed by the mighty and Z8 are coming into the market- accusations are just," replies Faggin. Exxon Corp. and originator of the place later than announced, al- "I don't take them seriously." He world-class 8-bit Z80 microproces- though this delay is not unusual sees such talk as common sniping by sor, it comes close to having had the among chipmakers. And the high- people who forget what their own best possible start. With the Z80 flying company got its image clipped companies have been through. under its wing, tiny Zilog soared into a little when it lost the first round in About products, he says, "After all, wide visibility, pushed along by the a $5 million damage suit by Nation- we're only four years old. Clearly, potential of two other chips, the 16- al Semiconductor Corp., which al- we can't have the product line of a bit Z8000 and the single-chip 8-bit leges that Zilog stole trade secrets on company that has been in business Z8 microcomputer. anew 16-bit microcomputer. 10 years." Even s'o, Faggin says that But as Zilog begins its fifth year, National's suit rankles Zilog pres- young Zilog already has developed the stresses and strains of rapid tech- ident . It alleges that three advanced microcomputers. nological growth have produced the five former employees— headed by Faggin also puts management following scenario. First, a dispute Bill Sweet, who became Zilog's problems behind him. "The compa- marketing director (see p. 14) — took ny is stronger than it ever was," he with them confidential papers on the declares. "It had problems; the prob- design and marketing plans of lems were fundamentally manage- National's own upcoming NS16000 ment problems," he continues. when they left for Zilog. Zilog "We've solved them." But there denies that the papers are either have been some recent defections. confidential or important and main- For example, Charlie Bass, system tains that with its own 16-bit device division general manager [Electron- it has no interest in National's. ics, Jan. 4, p. 14], and Masatoshi All the commotion has industry Shima, designer of the Z80 and observers saying what they think is Z8000 and instrumental in the wrong. Here is aselection: design of the industry-standard • Organization is poor. Says an 8080, left to return to Intel [Elec- industry analyst, "They haven't tronics, April 12, p. 34]. pulled together, there's a lot of It is hard to measure the cost of turmoil. And they're losing money." such turmoil on a new company. But • Zilog is having process problems the cost can be roughly measured by parent Exxon Enterprises, which Thoughtful president. Zilog's Federico owns more than 80%. So far Zilog's Faggin says company is stronger than ever. accumulated losses are less than $10

92 Electronics/August 2, 1979 million, including losses last year of less than $6 million on sales of about $18 million, depending on the accounting system used. This year, Zilog expects to become profitable in Find out in time... the fourth quarter, with projected annual sales of about $40 million. These figures would depend on how Exxon capitalizes expansion, includ- Real time. Bit errors are more likely to occur ing the new manufacturing plant in grouped together than evenly distributed. The best Boise, Ida., due to open this year. way to find them is in real time. And Tau-Tron More capacity. Faggin is optimis- tic. He sees the Boise plant, for offers the only instruments available to make these example, giving Zilog a "substantial significant measurements. increase" in capacity so that it can Error distribution analysis for communications grow further. At the same time, networks, telemetry, or magnetic storage systems. although microcomputer and periph- With Error Analyzers by Tau-Tron. When you eral logic parts represent a large need to know .. . in time. portion of business, Zilog is expand- ing its microcomputer-compatible memories, with such devices as the 6132, a 4,096-by-8-bit pseudo-static RAM. Some Z8000 peripherals also are due out toward the end of the year. And the agreement is still on that National will second-source the 6132 and the two companies will codevelop 2-K-by-8-bit and 8-K-by- 8-bit companions that will work with the Z8000 and the NSC 16000 [Elec- tronics, April 26, p. 33]. As for his choice of second sources for the Z80 and Z8000 and the risk that they will take the business away from Zilog, Faggin says, "The choice of astrong partner was inten- tionally made to create a strong market. The key in microcomputers is to get them designed in. The stronger the partner, the more that will happen." How does Exxon see it? "Probably tau-tronInc 11 Esquire Road. North Billerica. Mass. 01862 Fi there's a basis for many of the Tel: (617) 667-3874 rumors" critical of Zilog, according to Donald L. Spalinger, Exxon's contact executive with Zilog. He generally attributes problems to Circle 93 on reader service card those typical of a high-technology company in afast start-up mode. Spalinger says that Exxon has no performance goals for Zilog except 1979 Electronics the general one that it is "going to be a microcomputer systems company. Buyers' Guide It will be both a components and a systems house." Marketing director The only book of its kind in the r Electronie Buyers Guide Sweet agrees when he says that chip- field. If you haven't got it, 1221 Ave. of the Americus makers have to be concerned with you're not in the market. New York, N.Y. 10020 systems software. He expects that as Yes, please send me _ copy(ies) of 1979 EBG. D I've enclosed $30 per copy delivered in the USA or the market matures, customers will To insure prompt delivery Canada. be less concerned with hardware and I've enclosed $52 per copy for delivery elsewhere enclose your check with Name more interested in such matters as this coupon. Company Fortran and Cobol. El Street 1979 edition available City State Zip in June. Electronics/August 2, 1979 93 Probing the news

Consumer electronics Tape plays agrowth tune

Worldwide sales of audio and video versions to amateurs will rise as much as 22% ayear in near future, study says

by John Gosch, Frankfurt bureau manager The world has become wrapped up in sales. Magnetic tape for commercial eight-track cartridge and cassette, magnetic recording tape. So indi- applications, mainly in the computer the amateur audio tape market has cates a new study of international sector, accounts for the remaining increased by leaps and bounds, as is demand for all types of tape by 30%, some $680 million. seen in by the rapid penetration of Agfa-Gevaert, one of Europe's top Video vital. Video tape occupies a cassette recorders into the home. In tape producers. It says that not only relatively strong position in the Europe, recorder saturation on a have sales increased 15% annually equation, and it should grow strong- per-household basis shot up from during the past few years, but they er. The world consumption of audio 10% in 1970 to 91% last year, Agfa will increase even more rapidly — tape by amateurs last year amounted says. The corresponding figures for 22% in some years. to some 670 million square meters, Japan are 26% and 118%, which Analysts at Agfa, a West Ger- eight times more than video tape. means that aconsiderable number of man-Belgian concern that also But in value the ratio works out to Japanese households have more than makes photographic accessories, say only 3.2 to 1, or $1.216 billion for one recorder. In the U. S., penetra- that the 15% rate has pushed the audio and $38 million for video. tion went from 46% to 170%. world market from about $1.9 billion The study predicts the video tape Like the audio market, that for in 1974 to roughly $2.27 billion in market will increase considerably video tapes was originally the 1978, with the U. S. accounting for during 1980-83 relative to that for domain of professional users. For the some 50% and Western Europe and audio, until the volume of audio tape hobbyist, the video tape age did not Japan for about 30% and 12%, consumed will be only four times start until 1971, when Philips respectively. that of video tape-1.003 billion entered the market with its video Singling out audio and video tape versus 252 million square meters. In cassette recorder (vcR). for amateur use only, the Agfa terms of market value, however, Despite the lack of standardiza- researchers come up with a world- video will grow much more rapidly. tion among VCRs, Agfa says, the wide consumption of $1.59 billion Since the introduction in the entertainment electronics industry is for 1978. That figure represents 1950s of the home reel-to-reel certain that video recorder sales will about 70% of last year's total tape recorder, and in the 1960s of the increase rapidly. The reason: the high level of color TV saturation — 94%, 95%, and 44% in the U.S., Japan, and Western Europe, respec- tively—will do alot to push VCR. Giving an estimate, the company puts the number of video recorders that will be in use worldwide this year at about 3.6 million. The number should climb to some 12.2 million by 1981 and to a whopping 32 million by 1983. Tape sales will be stimulated not only by users' desire to record TV programs but also by their wish to arrange their own programs. Agfa has already made a start with its so-called Video Transfer Service, enabling amateurs to have their own 8-millimeter films and 35-mm slides recorded on video tape. III

94 Electronics/August 2, 1979 High Caliber Calibration With Double-Barreled Backup

Looking for new ways For more details call to cut the time and (800) 426-0361t or con- expense of calibration? tact the Fluke Office, Then look into Fluke's 5100-Series automatically in the units you want Representative, or Distributor in Calibrators. and the scale factor you select. You your area. They help you reduce the invest- get twelve digits of programming, In the U.S.A. send to: ment costs, knob-twisting drudgery, output, frequency, and error read- John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc. risk of human error, and skill re- out that are fully annunciated. The P.O. Box 43210, MS# 2B quirements of your calibration and 5101B adds a minicassette write- Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 verification jobs. Cal lab, QA, and read feature to store cal procedures In Europe send to: production test managers around up to 61 steps long. With elec- Fluke (Holland) B.V., the world have reported dramatic tronics taking over for complicated P.O. Box 5053 increases in throughput. mechanical controls, remarkable 5004 EB Tilburg, You name the application. From reliability is achieved. verifying the performance of single- The Netherlands function panel meters to the total New 20 Ampere "Boost" Capabil- Phone: (013) 673973 Telex 52237. calibration of 4/12 -digit DMM's. The ity. To calibrate high levels of DC 5100-Series approach gives you the and/or AC current, the new 5220A Transconductance Amplifier works tin Alaska. Hawaii. Washington or Canada call (206) flexibility to get your job done 774-2481. From countries outside U.S.A. and Europe call quickly, accurately, and economically. as an integrated system with the (206) 774-2398. At aprice of $7,495,* you get an 5100B/5101B. It provides up to 20 •US. prices only. entire cal lab in abox. The equiva- amperes with 100 µA resolution. lent calibration instruments bought The 4V DC and 3V rms AC compli- separately could easily cost $15,000 ance voltages will drive virtually or more. And the 5100-Series has a any current-measuring device. 10 MHz option for wideband AC FLUKE 1100V 50 kHz "Boost" Capabil- voltmeters plus complete IEEE-488 e ity. In other calibration applications, and RS-232 compatibility for you may need up to 1100V rms at systems use. relatively high frequencies like 50 Automatic, Fast, and Reliable. In kHz. That's ajob for the 5205A the 5100B, amicrocomputer makes Precision Power Amplifier capable all the range and resolution deci- of 200 niA output. Like the 5220A, sions, remembers the calibration it's directly controlled in closed-loop limits you choose, computes errors fashion by the 5100-Series.

For Technical Data circle 094 on Reader Service Card For Demonstration circle 095 on Reader Service Card 6100-5100/5220

The stuff that dreams am made o£

A whole kingdom of richly endowed electron devices to make your design dreams come true.

The imaginative shall inherit the earth. ponents. We deliver hundreds of millions of And we want you to be part of our kingdom. them each year to discerning design and com- We have amind-boggling collection of won- ponent engineers. Our tough pre-test burn-in drous little electron devices to ensure that all techniques and fully automated QA methods your design dreams for the future do indeed make failure virtually an event of the past. come true. If you can imagine it, NEC probably Modern electronic systems are becoming manufactures it. Check out our rich range of more complex and tinier by the day. Any products: tantalum capacitors, zener diodes, "wonder product" — from a liquid crystal TO-92 and SOT-23 small signal transistors, watch to ahuge intercontinental telecommu- power transistors, optoelectronic devices, nications system —is only as good as the Fluorescent Indicator Panels (FIPsTTM), SCRs components inside. NEC wants you to be and TRIACs, DIACs, linear ICs and ECL choosy when selecting such components. memory ICs. After all, afailed diode, transistor or capacitor Give your ideas the best our kingdom can make atotal system look bad. A failure has to offer. Specify NEC. For the royal treat- is afailure. It makes sense to go with the best. ment, just fill out accompanying coupon and Rummage through our treasure of tiny send it to us today. gems. NEC has established aglobal reputa- tion for producing a wide range of highly sophisticated and reliable electronic com- NEC If you have designs on the future.

NEC Electron, Inc. Mr. Jason Stewart, Executive Vice President 3120 Central Expressway Santa Clara, CA 95051

Dear Jason:

I'm interested in your royal collection of little gems. Please send along your latest product line catalog and current rep list.

NAME TITLE COMPANY ADDRESS Let the crown prince of The House of NEC, Jason Stewart, show you the way to an enriched electronics CITY future that won't cost you aking's ransom. STATE ZIP ELECT-1 Circle 97 on reader service card DESIGN BECKMAN CONVERTERS IN. DESIGN PROBLEMS OUT.

Replace the DAC80 with our new 7580. Pin for pin, you'll come out power, performance and money ahead.

Presenting Beckman's two new 12-bit CMOS digital - linearity are, of course, guaranteed over 0°C to +70°C. to-analog converters, the 7580V and 7580I.They fit The 7580 lowers system cost several ways. Lower into the same DAC80 socket, but improve your system power means lower supply cost. One model for ±-12V

performance three ways: lower power consumption, or :4- 15V operation means no increased price for a better performance and lower total cost. special version and lower inventory costs. And don't The complete converter—buffers, switches, forget the unnecessary +5V decoupling capacitor. ladder, reference and output amplifier—really lowers If you want better performance and lower cost, the boom on power. 150mW for the 7580V or 120mW look into the 7580 series from Beckman. You'll be for the 75801 will give the power supply areal break. designing in the industry standard and getting across- Also, no +5V supply means no +5V decoupling the- board, pin-for-pin compatibility. All from Beckman, capacitor and no +5V supply noise. And the CMOS and all for the kind of competitive pricing you've been inputs can be driven by CMOS or TTL without buffers. looking for. Write or call Advanced Electro-Products The performance advantages include better Division for more information. Beckman Instruments, guarantees for zero offset, gain, differential linearity Inc., 2500 Harbor Boulevard, Fullerton, CA 92634. and supply rejection. Monotonicity and -± /12 LSB Telephone (714) 871-4848, Extension 3235.

BECKMAN® 98 Circle 98 on reader service card Electronics/August 2, 1979 Technical articles

Bubble memories come to the boil

How magnetic bubbles are propagated, manipulated, and routed affects a memory's speed, voltage needs, package—and future market

by P. K. George and G. Reyling Jr., National Semiconductor Corp., Santa Clara, Calif.

With the announcement of devices by a number of the 5-volt power supply regime and in addition elimi- companies, magnetic-bubble memories have at long last nates drive coils, it will be attractive to semiconductor arrived. Already several major semiconductor firms are and microprocessor manufacturers. positioning themselves to do battle for the component However, as the capacity of a chip goes up, so and subsystem markets that will undoubtedly emerge in typically do its average access time and voltage require- the early 1980s and grow throughout the decade. ments—unless its organization is changed so as to coun- The 256-K and 1-megabit chips will employ the coil- ter those undesirable side-effects to some degree. The driven, field-access technology almost exclusively. But it tradeoffs become quite complicated, but a look at them is likely that for the next generation of 4-megabit devices will aid the designer in assessing the various chips and and possibly even 16-megabit parts, the bubble-chip their implications for different memory systems. Such an propagating pattern will change from the conventional organizational perspective also helps in anticipating the asymmetric-chevron array to the contiguous-disk pat- future 1-megabit and 4-megabit chip designs. tern. On the horizon is a current-access technology Today's product recently introduced by Bell Telephone Laboratories. It could solve the power supply and performance problems In most existing and proposed bubble memory chips, associated with field-access technology, though at a the bubbles travel along major and minor loops. Because price—it departs vastly from the cost-reduction strategy asurplus of minor loops is always included, this kind of of the past. But because it brings bubble memories into organization provides the built-in redundancy that is

Electronics/August 2, 1979 99 All the contending technologies represent logical Is and Os by the presence and absence of a reverse domain of magnetization in this thin film. (Other schemes in which different states of the domain wall represent data have fallen into disfavor, partly because of difficulties over incorporating the necessary redundancy.) Figure la shows some cylindrical magnetic domains in an epitaxial garnet film that have been stabilized by the presence of an external bias field. The magnetization of each of these domains has adirection opposite to that of the remainder of the film, from which it separated by a transition region known as aBloch wall. It also produces astray magnetic field above the film surface like that of amagnetic dipole (Fig. lb). Moving bubbles It is by means of this field (or equivalently the mag- netic surface charge) that the bubble can be moved in the plane of the film. Conventional bubble memories make use of field-access propagation. The layer in which the bubbles occur has on it athin-film permalloy pattern that lies in the plane of a rotating magnetic field gener- 1. Domains. Common to all bubble-memory chips is the formation ated by two coils. The changing poles thus induced in the of stable bubble domains with a magnetization opposite in polarity permalloy pattern attract the bubbles beneath and drag to that of the epitaxial garnet film (a). Stray magnetic field of reverse them along from one pattern element to another, as domains is indicated by lines of flux (b). shown in Fig. 2. The asymmetric-chevron pattern in the figure is currently regarded as the most desirable propa- vital if decent yields are to be obtained with high- gation element: however, it works well for propagation in capacity chips. The loops can be arranged in various one direction only. A more severe drawback of this ways, but what is organizationally possible with them is technology is the degree of lithographic resolution to a large extent dictated by the other chip compo- needed to create the gap between the chevrons, which is nents—the bubble generators, replicators, and detectors, typically only one half to two thirds of the bubble plus the gates for transferring or swapping bubbles diameter. Giyen a 2-micrometer bubble and spacing between the major and minor loops. These components between bubbles that is usually four times their diameter in turn will be affected by the increased chip capacity (or six to eight times the gap), asymmetric-chevron and decreased bubble size that future memory designers patterning is restricted to a 1-megabit chip capacity for will be bound to employ. most manufacturable chip sizes. Indeed as early as 1975, A magnetic-bubble memory sandwiches athin film of the feasibility of making a 1-megabit chip was demon- magnetic material between two permanent bias magnets. strated by Rockwell International Corp. and volume

2. Conventional. Most field-access magnet- ic-bubble memories use asymmetrical-chev- ron patterns. Their drawbacks: propagation is good in one direction only, and the critical lithographic dimension—the spacing be- tween two neighboring chevrons—is at best two thirds the bubble diameter.

100 Electronics/August 2, 1979 TABLE 1: ORGANIZATIONAL FEATURES OF MAJOR-MINOR LOOP CONFIGURATIONS

Organization Advantages Disadvantages

Serial register few pins, low voltage, simple design low yield, long access time

Major-minor loop few pins, low voltage, short access time, redundancy complicated power-down, long cycle time

Block-replicate short access and cycle time, simple power-down with swap, relatively high voltage relatively few pins, redundancy

Bonyhard short access and cycle time, low-voltage power-down complicated gates and controller possible, few pins, redundancy

Multi-block same advantages as block replicate plus higher data rate many pins, redundancy compromised by peripheral area

G loop unidirectional transfer gates, operation in continuous long cycle time, complex controller readout mode possible, low voltage, few pins, redundancy

production of such chips is expected in the early 1980s. TABLE 2: HOW BUBBLE MEMORY CHIPS ARE ORGANIZED The emerging candidate for larger-capacity chips is Company Chip Chip organization Detection capacity scheme contiguous-disk technology, which can to some extent be 144 by 64 bits, 92 K alternate bit regarded as a refinement of conventional field-access Texas major-minor/swap technology. The permalloy patterns are replaced by a Instruments Inc. 256 bits by 1K, 256 K consecutive bit thin drive layer of in-plane magnetization produced by block replicate/swap ion-implanting the surface of the garnet film with a Rockwell 256 bits by 1K, alternate bit, pattern of contiguous disks. Proper selection of the International 256 K block replicate/transfer dual detectors implanted geometry combines with a rotating magnetic Corp. field to produce attractive and repulsive charge walls 256 bits by 1K, Hitachi Ltd. 256 K consecutive bit that circulate around each disk and drag the bubbles block replicate/transfer with them, passing the bubbles on from one disk to the 256 bits by 1K. Fujitsu Ltd. 256 K alternate bit next (Fig. 3). This technology improves on permalloy major-minor/transfer technology in three important respects: the lithography National 256 bits by 1 K, Semiconductor 256 K consecutive bit requirements are relaxed; the rotating drive field can block replicate/swap generally be less intense; and bidirectional propagation Corp. 1 256 bits by 4 K, can be achieved with no performance loss. Intel Corp. consecutive bit The reason contiguous-disk technology yields greater megabit multi-block replicate/swap densities is that empirically the lithography resolution required is one and a half to two times the bubble eddy-current losses in the metal package components. diameter. That means 1-µm bubbles could be propagated That problem has been recognized for some time and in a structure using current lithographic minimum various current-access approaches that would eliminate feature sizes. Thus contiguous disks open the door to a the coils have been proposed. The most recent of those, 4-megabit chip, provided that the problems associated announced by Andrew Bobeck of Bell Laboratories, is with 1-µm-bubble materials can be solved and also illustrated in Fig. 4. The design relies on two conductive provided that the required chip components can be sheets punctured with rows of elongated holes. Every demonstrated for 1-µm bubbles, as most of them have hole on one sheet overlaps with the ends of two holes on for 2-µm bubbles. It is also possible that contiguous disks the other sheet. Current flowing in the sheets transverse- will yield a shrunken, alternative version of the 1- ly to the axis of the holes produces fields (or poles) that megabit asymmetric-chevron chip, depending upon how attract bubbles underneath to (or repel them from) the fast the technology progresses. At least one manufactur- ends of these holes. (The polarity of the poles at any er appears to be planning contiguous-disk 256-K and instant can be deduced from the right-hand rule.) By 1-megabit parts. driving both sheets with alternating current, bubbles can be advanced from one hole to the next—and in either Problems with coils direction. Moreover, the lithography requirements are A disadvantage of field-access technology—whether about one quarter to one half of the propagation period chevron or contiguous-disk—is its requirement for a (or one to two times the bubble diameter), making high-frequency rotating field. Though it has been current-access technology comparable in density to demonstrated that the bubbles themselves are capable of contiguous-disk technology. But what may be more 500-kilohertz operation, apractical upper limit is proba- important is its potential for operating at a 1-megahertz bly 200 kHz. This limit is set by the power dissipation intrinsic data rate with a 5-v supply—clearly out of the due to both skin-effect losses in the coil windings and question for field-access technology. Hypothetical 256-K

Electronics/August 2, 1979 101 3. Next pattern. Next-generation bubbles will use contiguous-disk technology. In place of a permalloy overlay, patterns of in-plane magnetization are ion-implanted directly into garnet. Advantages include bidirectional propagation and a bubble size that halves the lithographic resolution.

current-access chips with these characteristics have been access bubble memory would be packaged in a similar proposed that dissipate less than 0.5 watt, which is (albeit smaller) Mumetal shield; but the chip-carrier comparable to the power dissipation levels of existing would likely be multilayered to provide a return current bubble technology. path to compensate for the bias-field variations produced Thus far the net performance benefit of the technolo- by the on-chip currents. Also, the die's higher power gy is somewhat obscure. For example, because the dissipation might require special heat sinking to the conductor resistance is so low, the page size—that is, the package substrate, and the high currents might also major-loop length—must be made large, which compro- require special bonding consideration. mises performance. Furthermore, driver losses may be much higher than for field-access devices because of the Support circuits high current and low voltage required from their func- Regardless of technology type, a common bubble- tion driver chips (to be discussed later). What is clear, memory system will place one or more packages on a however, is that elimination of the coils would considera- card along with the necessary support circuits to form a bly simplify the packaging of bubble memories and complete memory system. For a manufacturer to be reduce its relatively high cost by perhaps 20%. competitive in bubble-memory systems, he must equip the bubble chip with specialized large-scale integrated The final package support circuits. These LSI chips are indispensable, for Figure 5 shows the construction of a typical field- by replacing the 20 to 50 conventional semiconductor access bubble memory package. The chip-carrier has the packages required to realize the memory system, they shape of an E to facilitate coil assembly and is made reduce the required board area by about afactor of eight either from filled epoxy board (as shown) or from poly- at the very least—not to mention the cost savings. imide tape beam-lead—bonded to the chip and with a The functional building blocks of such asystem, which coil-support structure molded round it (not shown). For will fit on aboard of 9 to 16 square inches, are shown in most commercial applications an open-ended Mumetal Fig. 6. Central to the system is the controller, which shield provides a return path for the magnetic flux serves as the interface between the bubble chip and produced by the permanent-magnet bias plates, at the system bus. It generates all of the system timing and same time shielding the chip from stray external fields. control functions and supervises the handshaking opera- The chip-carrier and lead-frame assembly is inserted tions required to access and transfer data between the into the shield and magnet assembly and potted in place. system bus and the bubble memory module. The control- (Since potting does not lend itself to volume production, ler currently available for Texas Instruments Inc.'s 92-K several companies are instead injection-molding aplastic bubble interfaces with one bubble device only; more package around the E frame and inserting the magnets recently designed controllers, such as Intel Corp.'s 7220 into pockets in it before sliding the assembly into the controller for its 1-megabit bubble chip, will operate up mu-metal tube.) The final product, which takes the form to eight of these devices in parallel. shown in Fig. 5, can be expected to be used for The function driver chip produces the control currents contiguous-disk chips in the future, since the device required to generate and replicate the bubbles, as well as packaging requirements will remain essentially un- to transfer or swap them between storage loops and input changed from existing technology. or output tracks on the chip. In the past, the driver chip Although requiring no coils, the proposed current- current levels have been made to track the temperature

102 Electronics/August 2, 1979 4. No coils. Eliminating the coils of field- access bubbles, the current-access technol- ogy proposed by Bell Laboratories relies on conductive sheets to produce drive fields. Pluses include high data rate, bidirectional propagation, and a density similar to that of contiguous-disk memories. of the bubble package so as to improve performance. nent currents, bubble size, and the number of series- While no longer absolutely necessary for recently interconnected components. designed bubble chips, that strategy is likely to be Replication—the splitting of bubbles to produce two continued as it will extend the operating temperature for each one—generally requires three to four times the range of the memory. current needed to transfer (or swap) them from major The sense amplifier converts the analog output signals loop to minor loop, making it more difficult to deal with produced by the magnetic bubbles into arri-compatible as the number of minor loops—and hence the number of data stream, which is transmitted by a serial data bus to gates in series—increases with chip capacity. the controller. The controller partitions the addressed Figure 7 shows the voltages required for a 400-mil- page into 8-bit bytes and transfers them to a first-in, square conventional field-access chip. For agiven capac- first-out buffer in readiness for future accessing over the ity N, the number of minor loops is assumed to be system data bus. (N/2) /12 and the length of each 2 (N)". Capacity N is For low-power memory systems, the circuits that drive 256 K for 3.3-gm bubbles and 1 megabit for 1.8-gm the X and Y coils can also be integrated; larger systems bubbles, as indicated on the figure. Since N is of course will require discrete power transistors to drive the coils. proportional to the square of the bubble diameter, inter- In most cases, out-of-phase triangular wave signals in mediate values of the capacity can be inferred. Assuming the coils produce the rotating field. For a current-access each loop contains a series-connected gate of 10 squares system, high-current conductor drivers will be needed. of equivalent resistance, the results indicate that a 35-v supply is required for replication for 256-K or larger Component considerations capacities. However, because the duty cycle of that Several basic component functions are required within component is less than 1/256 of the time, it is possible to the bubble memory chip itself. Basically, they include use voltage-boosting techniques to render the power generation, transfer (or swap), replication, and detec- supply requirements less severe. tion. Those components place various constraints on Minimizing voltage needs system requirements and hence affect the chip organiza- tion indirectly. By and large, generation has the least Rockwell employs such techniques in its RM B256 influence because it uses low voltage and few generators bubble memory, relying on ± 12-v supplies to produce are required on achip. It is normally achieved by nuclea- the necessary replicating pulses. Texas Instruments has tion—creating a bubble domain— under a current instead divided the replicate line in half and uses a 16- or conductor. With proper design that technique appears 20-v supply. Since +5 and + 12 y are standard in a usable for bubbles as small as 1gm. Nucleation of 1-gm microprocessor-based system, those devices may both be bubbles has been demonstrated in connection with con- less desirable than others. A third possible solution for a tiguous-disk devices at current densities of less than 256-K chip is to pair higher-conductivity conductor 10 7 amperes/cm 2. metal with voltage-boosting techniques to reduce the All remaining components play a more important role supply voltage to ± 12 v, thus avoiding altogether the in determining what organization is feasible and also complexity of having to split the replicate line. optimal. The reason is that the organization must mini- The supply problem becomes even worse in relation to mize the high system supply voltage needed by a large the 1-megabit chip. In that case, even the transfer (or chip, and that voltage is directly determined by compo- swap) gate voltage is difficult to produce with a + 12-v

Electronics/August 2, 1979 103 BUBBLE MEMORY BOARD CHIP INTERCONNECTS CHIP.CARRIER

\./ BONOS LEAD FRAME PINS

supply. One way to circumvent the problem is to orga- major loop, where real estate is less restricted. nize the chip as a 256-by-4-K device instead of a 512- Several different transfer (or swap) gates have been by-2-K part. That is just what Intel has done for its demonstrated for 2-gm bubbles, some with resistances as 1-megabit 7110 part. The main disadvantages of that low as 2to 4squares and with typical operating currents approach lie in the lengthened access time and longer of 40 mA. This places a 1,000-loop-by-4-K contiguous- testing required, due to the increased minor-loop length. disk major-minor-loop chip with a 12-v supply well within grasp, assuming that scaling does not increase the A parallel solution component current. Early 1-gm work by IBM Corp. with Another strategy would use a higher-conductivity a slightly different switch design seems to indicate that conductor and divide the replicate conductor in half. about 4 squares of resistance and a current of 70 mA Because the current margin for replication is typically would be required, which would still be compatible with ± 20%, it is feasible to connect the two sections in a 12-v system that uses voltage doubling. parallel without sharply reducing yield as a result of A 4-K loop has such a long access time, however, that resistance mismatch. Moreover, with a multilayer chip- a pair of 2-megabit chips might more advantageously be carrier (like the one Intel uses), the extra interconnec- placed on adie to realize the 4-megabit chip. An alterna- tions necessitated by the split conductors can be made tive that decreases the access time is bidirectional bubble easily without adding any pins to the package. Several propagation, which is well within the capabilities of companies are now exploring various alternatives to contiguous-disk devices. Bidirectional bubble motion aluminum-copper-alloy conductors to make feasible a would halve the access time of alarge-capacity chip. 512-by-2-K loop scheme. Rockwell recently reported on results with silver and Plessey Ltd. its with gold. Detector demands The component availability for contiguous-disk Detection of bubbles also plays a role in determining devices is much less certain than for conventional devices what organization is feasible or desirable— particularly because of the relative newness of the technology. Still, for conventional field-access technology, where the less for 2-µm bubbles, all the required functions have been sensitive magnetoresistive thick-film detector is em- demonstrated except for replication. Replication is more ployed. Detector problems stem from several sources. As difficult in contiguous-disk devices because in them, a rule, sensitivity decreases with bubble size and this, unlike conventional structures, the propagation elements again, begins to boost power supply requirements, espe- have very localized poles, which do not stretch the cially when it is coupled with the generally large resist- bubbles to ease the task of dividing them in half. Hence, ances required for voltage drops great enough to yield a a separate current conductor is needed to stretch the satisfactory output. Also, the threshold range appears to bubbles, complicating the design. It is likely, therefore, be better for detection of alternate bits than for consecu- that if a replicator is developed for contiguous disks, it tive bits because the overlap of bubble signals is reduced. will take up considerable real estate, so that it will However, in this case the reproducibility of the threshold probably appear not in minor loops but rather in the setting depends upon matching active and dummy detec-

104 Electronics/ August 2, 1979 5. Packaging. Conventional field-access bubble memories all share a similar packaging scheme. E-shaped chip-carrier is surrounded by coils and shipped into Mumetal tube with bias magnets. Package will UPPER be employed for future contiguous-disk devices as well. BIAS MAGNET consists of astorage area formed by the minor loops and //- - an input-output area provided by the major loop. Redun- // // dancy is added to the storage area simply by designing in - --// additional loops so that after final testing a prescribed number of minor loops are good. Generally, about 10% redundancy is required. A page—the data intended for the minor-loop storage area —is written serially into the major loop via the MU METAL TUBE LOWER generator (G) and transferred (or swapped) by a gate BIAS (S) in parallel into the minor loops, where it resides until MAGNET needed. Reading the page involves transferring it to the major loop, replicating it into the detector, and returning it to the minor loops. It is the last step that creates the bottleneck in aconventional major-minor-loop organiza- tion. Because data must be cleared from the major loop before another operation can be performed, cycle times tend to be long. If the chip is designed to retain data in the major loop, then proper address selection can eliminate lengthy access by overlapping page-access and -restore opera- tions for sequential reads, but at a penalty in controller complexity. Also, because the major loop is oriented at tors geometrically as well as in permalloy properties: the 90° to the minor loops, data in the major loop may suffer closer together the two detector elements are, the better. margin degradation; therefore TI elects to return data to The above observations have led to several different the minor loops before powering the coils down. approaches to chip design. Probably the most conserva- The attractive features of the simple major-minor- tive and most expensive scheme is reflected in Rockwell's loop organization are the low voltage it requires for RBM256 part, where alternate bits are detected with transfer (or swap) and its ability to be matrix-selected, side-by-side active and dummy elements. The disadvan- which reduces the number of system components. If tage of that approach is that three more pins are double-period propagation elements are used in the required, along with additional sense electronics. Texas major loop along with consecutive bit detection, the peak Instruments, on the other hand, uses one consecutive-bit data rate for this organization can match the rotating- detector in its 256-K part. It puts a guard rail between field frequency. the active and dummy detectors, which are several First variation propagation periods apart. The latter approach is prefer- able to the alternate bit approach since it doubles the The block-replicate organization of Fig. 8b eliminates data rate, but it is more difficult to design and process the power-down and data-transfer bottleneck of the and therefore will affect yields. conventional major minor-loop organization. In this For the thin-film detectors used in contiguous-disk organization the major loop of Fig. 8a is split into input devices, consecutive-bit detection should be straightfor- and output tracks, which are placed at oppposite ends of ward, provided the stretching process does not narrow the minor loops. Because pages are replicated directly the margins (that is, reduce the bubble's stability range) into the output track, data is not removed from the too much. By elongating the propagation period in the minor loops during aread operation. Nor, if aswap input neighborhood of the current loop used for stretching, the is provided, is data removed for a write operation, and problem of detection should be less organizationally hence the device can power down immediately. restrictive with athin-film element than with its conven- Another important feature results from the elimina- tional thick-film counterpart. tion of the closed major loop. A read or write operation can be performed as soon as the input and output tracks Loop organizations have cleared, so that the read and write cycle times are Their organization into major and minor loops is akey short. Also possible are sequential reading and writing of ingredient in the success of bubble memories both addresses that are physically displaced by these track because it yields a shorter access time than a simple lengths. The main disadvantage of this organization is serial organization (such as that used in the 64-K Fujitsu the relatively high replicate-line voltage. But as has been part) and because it provides a framework for introduc- pointed out, the problem can be circumvented for 256-K ing redundancy. and 1-megabit parts by subdividing the replicate line. A schematic diagram of amajor-minor-loop organiza- Figure 8c shows a multiple-block-replicate organiza- tion like that used in I's 92-K chip is shown in Fig. 8a. It tion comprising two side-by-side block-replicate chips

Electronics/August 2, 1979 105 having swap lines in common. Some of the generator and MICROPROCESSOR INTERFACE detector lines could also be combined and the replicate lines connected in parallel to reduce the number of pins (see below). The features of this organization are essen- tially the same as that for a single block-replicate chip except that the read and write cycle times (excluding CONTROLLER latency) are halved and the data rate therefore doubled. That is basically the organization Intel has selected for its 1-megabit 7710 part, except that it uses four blocks instead of two and has doubled and folded the MAGNETIC . length of the minor loops to reduce the number of gates. FUNCTION SENSE BUBBLE DRIVER MEMORY - 1 AMPLIFIER The two main disadvantages of the multiple-block- replicate are that it requires more pins than the standard block-replicate organization and that the peripheral area is increased, making the chip more susceptible to defects. COIL DRIVER X Attractive alternative

COIL An attractive alternative to the block-replicate struc- DRIVER ture for large-capacity chips has been suggested by P. I. Y Bonyhard of Bell Telephone Laboratories. Shown in Fig. 8d, it is basically an improved major—minor-loop CURRENT DRIVERS REOUIRED FOR CURRENT ACCESS BUBBLE MEMORY organization without the power-down problems of the earlier design. Upon loss of power an address is written CONTROLLER SENSE into the track that can be subsequently read, allowing BUS AMPLIFIER BUS the page stranded in the major loop to be returned to its minor-loop location. S. Memory system. Several manufacturers have built large-scale As an alternative, Bonyhard proposed that if the integrated circuits for controlling and interfacing bubble memories. A minor loops were split in half to form two sets and two minimum system comprising bubble chips, controller, function driver, major loops were employed, the performance of this coil drivers, and sense amplifiers fits on a board as small as 9 in.' organization could be very good. In this high-perform- ance version, sequential page addressing is possible with- 50 out a break in the data stream, and the access time is halved. However, because there are twice as many minor loops, data-block length doubles and the write cycle time is increased. Connecting the vo track to the major loops also allows partial rewriting of pages without the neces- 40 sity of an external buffer.

VHEPL IGAIE Because only one replicate switch is employed, the voltage requirements for the Bonyhard organization are low. As originally proposed, the swap lines for the high- •""-• 30 performance version were connected in parallel, which 10 would probably diminish yields due to resistance mismatch and the narrow current margins of the swap +24 component. Nevertheless, it is an attractive organization for a conventional 1-megabit field-access device, even 20 though it appears to be losing ground to the block- replicate organization. Still, it may yet gain appeal for contiguous-disk designs if swapping becomes possible, 12—. since it requires only a single replicate switch, and even

10 10 that could be eliminated by employing a nondestructive detector design.

The G loop

1MEGABIT 256 K 1 As already noted, a replicator does not yet exist for a U 1 2 3 4 5 contiguous-disk device. However, if the major loop of a BUBBLE DIAMETER (pm) conventional major—minor-loop organization is cut and returned to the opposite end of the minor loop, an 7. Voltage requirements. Supply voltages have a strong effect on attractive solution to that problem is obtained. Figure 8e bubble chip organization. Swap (S) or transfer (T) gate and replicate presents what, for obvious reasons, is called a G-loop voltages must be increased as smaller bubbles are used. Voltage- organization. For a read operation, data is transferred boosting can allow compatibility with microcomputers. Chart applies out of the minor loops into the G loop where it can be to a400-mil-square conventional field-access chip. read destructively or nondestructively by a thin-film

106 Electronics/August 2, 1979 8. Organizations. Conventional major-minor loop (a), used in Ti's 92-K chip, sutlers data bottlenecks and can lose data with power-down. Block-replicate architecture (b) in today's 256-K chips duplicates data into I/O tracks, stores it in loops. Multiple-block-replicate (c) in Intel's chip uses four blocks to reduce cycle times and boost data rate, but a simpler alternative proposed by Bell Labs' Bonyhard (d) is similar to conventional major-minor-loop structure, can return any page stranded in the major loop on power-down to the minor loops upon restart.

detector employing current-loop stretching and then (if transfer function. On the other hand, its controller appropriate) returned to the minor loop through the design is complex and performance is somewhat low. On transfer-in port. balance, it would appear to be an attractive candidate The advantage that this organization has over the for a 4-megabit contiguous-disk chip. Table 1summar- conventional major—minor-loop organization is that izes the key features of all organizations discussed. returning data does not interfere with the next read Synchronizing systems operation. Also, the placement of write after read auto- matically implies that read-modify-write operations can Since addresses are not normally stored with the data easily be performed. in bubble memories, a power failure will leave the The power-down problem can be eliminated by closing memory address and the controller address register the G loop with a return path, shown as the broken line unsynchronized. An initialization procedure is therefore in the figure. Upon powering up, properly tagged data necessary to bring the memory up. One way is by using a can be returned to its rightful location in the minor dedicated bit or bits in each page of data as a marker; loops. A similar organization can be constructed with however, the entire memory contents might then have to two-way transfer gates to accommodate bidirectional be read to locate the marker—a process that would take propagation. The virtues of the G loop are its use of a megabit memory with a 100-K/s data rate all of 10 simple components and the low voltage required for the seconds. A much shorter initialization time is obtained

Electronics/August 2, 1979 107 9. Multilevel. Multilevel architectures can reduce access times. In two-level approach of (a), frequently accessed data is stored in smaller cache loops; the number of levels could be greater. Organization of (b) uses expanded major loop to hold several pages. by the more conventional practice of providing a dedi- for a page not in the cache causes an algorithm to be cated loop that is accessed directly. In fact, most bubble executed that exchanges an inactive page in the cache memory manufacturers add an extra loop to their prod- for the requested page in storage. ucts for addressing purposes. This loop also stores amap In a field-access device this replacement algorithm is of the bad storage loops on the chip, which are masked complicated by the need for synchronization between the out. During system initialization, the map data is written cache and the storage area. However, introduction of an into an external buffer memory, which is used later to intermediate idling position eliminates the problem. For ensure reading from and writing into only the good the newer current-access device the cache and the stor- storage loops. age area can be controlled separately, making the cache Table 2 presents a survey by company of the bubble organization that much more appealing. Bidirectional memory organizations that each of them either is using bubble propagation will, in either case, improve perform- or has discussed at engineering levels. The rapid develop- ance but much more so when the storage area can be ment of the technology is illustrated by 1-megabit parts controlled independently of the cache area. soon available. A 4-megabit chip will probably be The two-level organization of Fig. 9a can be general- announced as early as two years from now. ized to an arbitrary number of levels; it has been done in literature where the organization is sometimes referred Multilevel organizations to as abubble ladder. Numerous theoretical studies of its As chip capacities increase in the future, it is likely properties have been made in connection with dynamic that bubble technology will be pushed to maintain or reordering of data. even decrease present access times. The high-perform- Figure 9b shows a diagram of alternative multilevel ance version of the Bonyhard organization attacks the organization in which the major loop is expanded to hold problem of speed by, in essence, placing two major- mi- several pages. Again, this organization is more suited to nor-loop chips on the same die, each with half the loop the case where the major loop and the storage area can length of the equivalent original organization. Another be controlled separately and it would therefore be most approach employs the equivalent of an on-chip cache. useful in a current-access scheme with bidirectional The basis for a cache approach is the observation that propagation. accesses to memory are generally localized during the In both multilevel designs, quite a large number of execution of a program. Hence an overall improvement storage pages must overlie the same cache page to ensure in performance can be obtained if the pages that contain a significant improvement in performance. That limits the most recently accessed information are positioned flexibility in choosing the replacement algorithm and near the read port. increases controller complexity. In general, reducing Figure 9 shows two organizations that employ this access time is an expensive proposition. Given the poten- strategy. In Fig. 9a the storage area of a conventional tially high data rate of current-access bubble devices, it major—minor-loop organization has been split in two, one is likely that a scheme will be found to reduce existing part acache with rapidly accessible pages and the other access times for large-capacity chips. Users will then be a longer-loop storage area. The interchange of pages able to select between expensive, high-performance and between the two is established by a true swap gate. The inexpensive, low-performance bubble memory chips most recently used pages are maintained in the cache for much as system designers now choose between bipolar easy accessing through the major loop, and any request and mos cirLuits loi memory applications.

108 Electronics/August 2, 1979 Making 100,000 chips fit where at most 6,000 fit before

Multilayer, multichip packages mount on multilayer circuit cards plugged into multilayer boards in IBM 4331/4341 computers

by G. G. Werbizsky, P. Winkler, and F. W. Haining, International Business Machines Corp., System Products Division, Endicott, N. Y.

El Some of today's most advanced packaging technolo- faster than the 370/115. The price/performance ratio of gies are contributing to the success of the new IBM 4331 the two models is three to five times better than that of and 4341 processors. The techniques support the electri- the older units. cal performance required by the new large-scale inte- As Fig. 1 indicates, the complete 4331/4341 chip grated chip developments, allowing faster machine cycle packaging structure houses LSI circuits in: times; they facilitate servicing; and they also shrink the • Multilayer ceramic modules, which are mounted on size of the mainframe cube. • Multilayer, high-density printed-circuit cards using The new 4331 and 4341 systems replace the low end of mil measurements, which plug into IBM Corp.'s System/370 mainframe family. The 4331 • Multilayer printed-circuit boards using millimeter can hold up to 1megabyte of main memory and has up dimensions and employing to four times the instruction rate of the 370/115. The • Special connectors. 4341, with up to 4 megabytes of memory, is 3.5 times By "multilayer" is meant more than just a half dozen

1. Module-on-board. The 100.000 circuits inside IBM's 4331 and 4341 computers employ three levels of interconnection: LSI chips in multilayer ceramic modules are soldered to subsidiary multilayer printed-circuit cards that in turn plug into a large multilayer pc board.

Electronics/August 2, 1979 109 2. Multum in parvo. Typical multilayer ceramic module from a 4331 or 4341 IBM processor can hold as many as nine chips. Measuring 2 inches (50 millimeters) square, it has 361 pins on 100-mil grid and conceals the equivalent of nearly 33 feet of wiring.

layers. The ceramic module has up to 23, the subsidiary pc card 7or 8, and the main pc board 10 or 16. The card-on-board package in the new system holds over 100,000 circuits. In the System/370s (which admit- tedly have the components and performance of their time, the early I970s), the same size of package has a capacity of between 3,000 and 6,000 circuits. In other words, one complete board in the new processors is comparable to between 15 and 17 boards in the System/370s. This increase in circuit capacity reduces

EARLY LARGE SCALE INTEGRATION TECHNOLOGY CARD ON BOARD TECHNOLOGY

TWO SIGNAL AND FOUR SIGNAL AND TWO POWER PLANES FOUR POWER PLANES

SI SI

S2

VI

V.

V2

S2 V4

S3

S4

—1[4-- 8MILS h 16 MILS

8MILS 16 MILS

40 MIL OIAMETER 31. MIL DIAMETER

56 MILS 41 MILS

•••

5 2MILS 4 .1 MILS --10-1

100 MILS 100 MILS

CHARACTERISTIC 88 .18 IMPEDANCE ,Zo 80.12

INDUCTIVE PLUS CAPACITIVE 1.28 0.8 COUPLING COEFFICIENTS ,K L K,

96 I/O 268

3. The old and the new. IBM's newer cards (right) have more layers, finer lines, and smaller plated through-holes than their predecessors (left). They also have vias between signal layers. This structure has greater circuit density, lower noise, and a low characteristic impedance.

110 Electronics/August 2, 1979 the mainframe space requirements by eliminating extra to their plated sites using iBm's "flip-flop" solder-reflow input/output gates and the associated interconnecting interconnection technique. Finally, to protect the chips, a cables. Moreover, the number of actual wired connec- cap filled with inert gas is welded atop the module. tions has been reduced to anew minimum. Up to 10 meters (nearly 33 feet) of wiring is concealed within these 4-mm-thick multilayer modules, which can A multilayer module therefore interconnect more high-density logic chips The greatest contribution to the 4331 and 4341's high than any earlier IBM circuit modules. circuit density is made by the multilayer, multichip Two module sizes-35 and 50 mm square—are used ceramic modules. These units have up to 23 layers and to meet differing input/output pin needs. The larger has can carry up to nine interconnected LSI chips. They are 361 1/0 pins, and the smaller, 196. These pins form a approximately 4 millimeters thick and either 35 or 50 grid pattern on standard 100-mil centers, and they also mm square. are narrower in diameter than their predecessors in Each layer of a module begins as part of acontinuous previous module designs. Besides affording high density, cast sheet of ceramic material, which is cut into pieces the modules do not degrade circuit performance and 175 millimeters (about 7inches) square, then punched at increase reliability, maintainability and interchangeabil- high speed with holes so that electrical connections can ity. A typical ceramic module is shown in Fig. 2. later be made between the layers. Take acard Conductive paste is then extruded onto some pieces through metal masks, forming awiring pattern unique to The ceramic modules are wave-soldered into plated agiven layer. Stacks of pieces with the required configu- through-holes in the subsidiary printed-circuit cards— rations of conducting-line and insulation layers, layer- the next level of interconnection. These 3-by-S-inch to-layer connections, and reference and power planes are seven- or eight-layer cards have agrid of plated through- laminated together and trimmed to form individual holes also on 100-mil centers. modules, which are then fired in a furnace to harden the Figure 3 shows how they compare with earlier IBM ceramic. Finally, the upper surface of the module is circuit cards. Their three or four voltage planes are plated with LSI chip sites. mostly composed of copper and are subtractively etched. After electrical testing of the ceramic modules and the But the four signal layers (two internal and two exter- attachment of their input/output pins, a number of nal) are made by an additive copper plating, since the chips—at most nine but more typically six—are joined tolerances of the circuit lines had to be held to ± 1mil to

ECUM) o o o CIa ci boopo [flu Duna b o o o o o o o a a o no ErfenDb000p0000000rrici ) b ci o -0 CI CI o o crib )apbb000m00000no EfED—bb00000000 o op

.J. 0 SI ,P 6i- ••• el,[7-PPi e rtrPP 0 GI itYiclii-11

4. Crowded real estate. A closeup of circuit card shows that three circuit lines can run through the channel between two plated through-holes. The larger holes on 100-mil centers accommodate ceramic modules. Smaller holes are vias between adjacent signal layers.

Electronics/August 2, 1979 111

c ca r r • o -1,

o ad r

0 I 11 I

I 0 no

0 VIA VIA

• 0 oo

0

11 M 0 oo r SERVICE SERVICE

I 0 /

0 po LOGIC LOGIC

I lip , =I

0 op I

0 I

0 go

I 0 r 11=1 L 'I.

5. Multilaysred. A section of the processor's main board reveals a complex structure. Six inner signal planes, interconnected with programmable vias, and eight power planes are combined with outer special busing and change and rework planes.

reduce coupled noise and impedance to the levels speci- to the board's metric grid. The three lines per wiring fied. As a result, cards for the 4331 and 4341 have channel here permits various combinations of wire rout- approximately half the crosstalk of System/370 cards, ing in order to assure minimal circuit noise. and their signal circuits are maintained at acharacteris- The connection to the main board is made by means of tic impedance (Zo)of 80 ohms ± 12 ohms. an unusual connector system. Besides including 268 uo As for the layout of the copper pc lines, three of them points per card socket, it mates the card's 0.100-inch may pass through the channel between the copper lands pitch to the board's 2.5-mm grid; a two-part spring surrounding the plated-through holes in the signal planes makes the connector more reliable than current IBM (Fig. 4). (Industry practice is two pc lines per channel.) designs. Altogether, then, a complete 18-card-position In part, this is because the holes and hence the lands board for the new processors has 4,824 uo points or around them are smaller than in earlier IBM cards, a 150% more than the 1,920 I/0 points in a complete reduction in size made possible by the reduced diameter 20-card-position board for System/370. of the ceramic module's uo pins. Some of these plated through-holes lack the lands Crossovers between cards necessary for attaching modules and serve as program The package also uses card-to-card crossover connect- vias, linking signal layers. They provide sites for more ors. They allow circuitry that cannot be fitted on one than 10,500 signal-line connections per card, as against card to be combined on two cards without tying up the 2,747 plated through-hole vias in the System/370s. interconnections in the card-to-board interface. They The four signal and three or four power planes of the were designed specifically for a 17.5-mm metric card new cards give the designer more flexibility in routing spacing (Fig. 6) and are unique in that they provide and distributing of signals and power. This flexibility is impedance and noise control with two internal ground further increased by the large number of uo points per reference planes and with ground ties specifically desig- card—up to 268 on its connector edge, as against 96 in nated for different first-level technologies. The design of the /370 packaging structure. these connectors is such as to prevent reverse plugging. On this connector edge, the cards also feature a The backbone of the processor package is the main unique and disciplined line-to-land wiring distribution printed-circuit board. It holds 18 subsidiary pc cards and system that aids in connecting its signal and power 8uo connectors to external equipment. planes to the board and in mating the card's English grid The pc boards are the first in an IBM processor to use

112 Electronics/August 2, 1979 6. Hole card. This card is plugged into both a bottom-edge connect- or, which has 268 input/output contacts, and a topcard crossover connector. Shown in detail in the inset, the crossover connector bridges adjacent cards so as not to tie up board connections.

as necessary. This last feature reduces repair time and error during rework (Fig. 7). The engineering changes themselves are made with twisted pairs of 0.0035-inch- diameter wires reflow-soldered to pads on the board's bottom surface. These twisted pairs lower signal noise and have tighter impedance control than do single wires. The top surface of the board is a special voltage distribution plane. It is supplied by six special voltage connectors containing three voltage inputs with atotal of 18 possible special voltage points. The board is a field-replaceable unit (FRu)— the first of its kind in an IBM system. It can be replaced in the the metric system. Their metric dimensions are in field in less than one hour. accordance with the recommended industry standard Tying it all together dimensions. There are two board types. One has 10 printed-circuit planes, the other 16-4 or 8 internal A density of 1,000 vo connections per board is power, a plane for engineering changes and rework on handled by a connector using grouped trilead cable, a the bottom surface, and aspecial busing plane on the top flat cable with alternating signal and ground lines. There surface (Fig. 5). The board with six signal planes also are 125 I/O connections per five-cable grouping and uses programmed through-holes to interconnect pairs of eight groupings per board (Fig. 1). In comparison, signal planes and increase the available wiring. The current IBM products have individual 24-contact matrix of plated through-holes on both boards is on connectors in 12 positions providing only 288 I/O connec- 2.5-mm centers. Between the holes on the signal planes tions per board. up to four printed-circuit lines may run. Consequently, The new vo connector uses asplit or bifurcated spring the number of wirable connections that can be made is contact mounted in the board. A small printed-circuit fully amatch for LSI requirements. card with gold-plated tabs along one edge mates with The bottom surface of the board accommodates all these springs. Trilead cables with 18 signal and 7ground engineering changes and other overflow wires. Besides connections are connected to the other end of the small redundant vias, it includes pc lines that may be deleted circuit cards. Each small card has 25 vo connections

Electronics/August 2, 1979 113 •••

«WO eze 4110. i 11 um um se a> se ••• • te• a• drob• ••• • rompour •• eau «u • • • • e e a a • «IV ••• mat amp • AK mir / a11P•••et • • mac% isc 1st AR a ± • •••5 • • ¡pa j. 1Stw uol w is • • ;11> • • e• • • • • 1St I* »CM U z•• • . • • • • • 1•• 'fit 1st lad 1• • • • • • IrU IMILM 11111- 11

.1e • • • • • • • • • aimeameele • • • a • • • • ewe . • •••• a• •. 4•• • b.•• •... hisrelbr reerar in,ar ga•g•••:•••:••,,,;••... •• e••• •:• r •r •r • •••• • r er •g..,... ,•:. pz. •. • c• blr.rt—. • 114 as er 044 5 ; • dor art' •• gib* it p. • •e. ••• a a MI a__ • .... 1.1••••••••••4:1•••• • b .

al • 111 t• .11 or di g a • as a a a a a op •b In •

• g g • U a • lk s•

• irN e if 811" 111 J. A • a •• •

.• worse Jr Pr 111, • a s a a • »agate* a • • . e gee./ ihrebe. 1111. As, •. to• •• •• a /ALA • 1••••••••• . • a •4••C• • • ...a*. p se ,••••••• • • • • de e• • & • & • • • b • • •ie r r •r ••• • f••• es • .• . a4. i• • • • • • • • • • ••••'• •ea . ;•er•d.P•r.r .r.; • • a • 011••rer . er•re: N.: • a

7. Quick change. On this engineering change plane, all changes use twisted pairs of 0.0035-in.-diameter wire that are reflow-soldered to pads on the board. Modifications and repairs to the board can be made rapidly, and complete dismantling is unnecessary.

and five are packaged in one grouping in a molded circuit board. Besides adding structural strength, it has housing. The cable groupings permit orderly wiring from marked on it the location points needed for precise board to board or from board to 1/0 connection. alignment of card sockets and precise mounting of With such awiring system, the cables can be routed in boards, decoupling capacitors, power distribution cables, the mainframe raceways where there is an optium flow and probe masks. (The probe mask is a transparent of cooling air. Each cable grouping is also equipped with plastic overlay perforated with a grid of holes that helps a handle, to ease extraction and reinsertion during a service technician to locate any node on the main service and field testing of the interior of the machine board.) The stiffener is molded to precise tolerances and frame. Clamps mounted on a platform hold the grouped enables all of these functions to interact without interfer- trilead cables fast. The platform lets the cable move but ence or error during assembly and servicing. prevents it from interfering with board replacement. A combination molded card-holder, actuation tool In this new packaging system, including the carriers, guide, and wire retainer in one molded part permits there are many multifunction molded parts, including rapid and precise location and the engagement of each carriers for the connector pins mounted on the edge of card to the proper position on the board. the subsidiary cards and the housing on the main board Mixing metric and nonmetric for the cable groupings. The housing also holds two captive screws that lock into a metal retainer bar Intermixing metric and nonmetric versious of cards is mounted on a board stiffener. When engaged with the done with an adapter. IBM system/370 technology cards retainer bar, the screws actuate the connector with a with 96 edge i/o connections may be plugged into the scissors-like action. Thus contact is made with up to 268 metric board by using a96-edge-connection adapter that i/o connections using a minimal force that is less than converts the nonmetric grid pattern into a metric grid the stresses incurred with a conventional straight plug pattern. In addition to the latest level of advanced- connector. technology components, the machines use compatible The board stiffener is a plastic frame epoxied onto the modular cards and boards from current technology. CI

114 Electronics/August 2, 1979 Upward mobility. New Pressure Transducer

Catalog law e'er% gib gib 401111,11111Ms

Ifyou measure p res- 4 " 1" 11/% 11111111111 sure. you'll want z' this condensed catalog It describes awide range of pressure trans- ducers and related instruments All units are built to exacting qual- ity standards for reliable, trouble-free operation in the toughest environments And at mi prices you have to like Send for catalog of stock models

11 DATA, uccessorINSTR , UT,IVIc. ,E,NtruTS ,IDNivi C. 4 Hartwell Place. Lexington. Mass. 02173 617-861-7450 TWX 710-326-0672

Circle 115 on reader service card

When are you going to get your very own, personal subscription to Electronics? Now, X-10, Al-250, and Al-400 piezo audio indicators from Projects Unlimited come with PC pins making It could be very important to you. mounting fast and simple. And we're not just referring to your status in the Get great features, too! Continuous tone. Wave solder- office hierarchy able. 2.7-4.0 KHz frequency range. —50' to +80°C You (and we) are in aquick-moving operating range. 84-98 dbA at 1foot. Minimum 1000 hours design life. And more. business. News breaks frequently Change is the For full details on these simple-to-use warning devices, name of the game. Awareness is the way to win write for free catalog: Projects Unlimited, 3680 Wyse You've got to follow what's going on Road, Dayton, Ohio 45414. beyond your specialty Your career may have to Phone: (513) 890-1918. projects® last longer than your specialty TWX: 810-450-2523. unlirnted If change is the game, obsolescence is the penalty for losing. Obsolescence of products, A SIMPLE of technology and, unfortunately of people. We can't change this fact. But we can help you cope WA with it. Give us one hour of reading time every two weeks and we will keep you aware of what's going on around you and around the changing world of electronics technology Move up. Fill out one of the subscrip- tion postcards in this issue.

Electronics Magazine. The one worth paying for.

Electronics/August 2, 1979 Circle 173 on reader service card 115 Designer's casebook

generator are obtained from circuitry associated with the isolated secondary winding of the transformer in the Floating current source drives power supply. automatized test fixture Operational amplifier AI inverts and scales the output of the d-a converter. The maximum output voltage from by Richard M. Fisher the converter is —9.99 volts and results in a full-scale ADT Security Systems, Clifton, N. J. output voltage of 5.115 y from AI.A2, in conjunction with RI (= 100 ohms), thus provides afull-scale output current of 51.150 m. This generator provides aprogrammable current to drive The V-groove mos field-effect transistor, Q1,serves as any load, making the unit ideal for production-line test- a voltage-to-current converter. Q1 performs the conver- ing. Because the constant-current source floats—that is, sion at high accuracy, because the Y-mos device requires is not connected to ground—it can drive loads ener- no gate current. gized either by positive or by negative potentials of as As for using the current source, implementation is much as 90 volts. easy with any energizing potential. If the device—the The output current is resolved to 50 microamperes by load—under test is driven by a positive voltage (b), it is the 10-bit input to adigital-to-analog converter (a). The necessary to connect the generator's positive output to maximum current that can be delivered to the load is the supply voltage. The negative port of the generator is slightly more than 50 milliamperes. brought to the load. As shown, the 10-bit command input is transferred to For negative potentials, the situation is similar, with the d-a device through optocouplers, thus isolating the source positive terminal being connected to the load as DAC-10Z from ground paths under virtually all condi- shown. The negative port is connected to the supply tions. Note the 5-, + 15-, and — 15-V potentials for the voltage.

MSB LSB 10-BIT DIGITAL INPUT

I lI1 11 Ili 1k52 We—• 11 1 1 1 1 1k52 +o

—If— '/, MCT6 MCT6 /1 10 pF

1kS2 11 1 1 1 1 1 1 15 V POWER 11111111 5k5 -2 48 1(52 SUPPLY MSB LS8 15V 100 k52 10 1(52 10-BIT d-a CONVERTER CA3140 TWe-- 470 52 DAC-10Z al 5V A1 A2 2N6658 100 1c12 COMMON 100 kl2

1k5 -2 R1 -15V 100 52

FLOATING CURRENT FLOATING CURRENT SOURCE SOURCE

Ground tree. Programmable current source (a) has balanced output LOAD LOAD for driving active loads energized by either positive or negative 1 1 potentials (b). 10-bit digital control provides source with resolution of 50 µA. Unit's full-scale output is slightly greater than 50 mA.

116 Electronics/August 2, 1979 each having a time between pulses of (1,201 —M) micro-seconds, where M denotes the Mth pulse of 200, Counter banks stagger are generated. As shown, 12-bit counters A1—A 3, comprising the radar's pulse rate main counter chain, advance at a 1-megahertz rate. When the counter reaches its maximum, the carry by Prakash Dandekar Tata Electric Companies, Bombay, India output of A3, serving as the synchronous output, is generated. The same signal is used to preset the main counter to a In many radar applications, the instantaneous pulse- 12-bit binary number, N, which is determined by the repetition frequency must be varied in an orderly fashion state of the offset counter A4—A6. Because A4—A6 is also to improve the read-out accuracy of the system's clocked, this unit is incremented with every sync pulse, moving-target indicator. Considerable circuitry is usual- so during each cycle the main counter is initialized at a ly required to achieve the so-called staggered operation, higher value than it was previously. Thus the repetition but as shown here, two sets of synchronous counters can time is reduced by 1e on each pass. be easily connected to control the prf over any range, Note that the offset counter is initialized at a mini- while providing superior MTI performance. mum value of B5116 (see A—D inputs of A4—A 6) and Normally, designers resort to transmitting pulses at advances to a maximum of C1816 (= 2' 2) before it is each of three selected periods only, in order to simplify reset by logic gates G1—G 3.Thus, the difference between circuitry. Specifically, apopular technique is to transmit the counter's maximum and minimum is 200 counts, a group of three 1-microsecond pulses spaced at 1, 1.1, meaning the instantaneous pulse-repetition rate will vary and 1.2 milliseconds repeatedly. When this is done, from 1,200 to 1,001 microseconds. The maximum and however, the filtered output of the MTI is not uniform minimum values may be easily changed, however, so that and so—aside from causing discontinuities in the curve any pulse-repetition frequency range can be set. of MTI filter output versus target velocity—this method When the counter reaches 3,096, corresponding to a creates blind velocity points, or ranges over which veloci- rate of 1,001 jis, A4—A 6 is loaded with B511 6.The rate ty cannot be determined accurately. becomes 1,200 jis once more, and the cycle is repeated.E With this circuit, a perfectly smoothed response is Designer's casebook is a regular feature in Electronics We Invite readers to submit original achieved by increasing the number of staggered pulses and unpublished circuit ideas and solutions to design problems. Explain briefly but thoroughly per given time. Thus in this case, a group of 200 pulses, the circuit's operating principle and purpose. We'll pay 850 for each item published.

1M HzC LOC K

CK CK CK EN P EN P MAI N A, A2 A3 COUNTE R CARRY CARRY EN T CARRY EN T SYNC HRONOUS OUTPUT LOAD LOAD A LOAD

co CII

0,, GB 0,0 CK Qs 1k O CK 0,, GB CI , O. CK

EN P EN P OFFSET A4 A5 COU NTE R A6 CARRY EN T CARRY EN T co ", 7420 8 C 0 LOAD B C D LOAD A El C D LOAD CI

C2

C3 5 V — 5 V 5 V 5V 5V 5V

G3 C4 A1 — A6: 74163 Y.7432 C5 ALL INV ER TERS: 7404 C6

C7 62 Cs 7430 Cg SYNC HRO NOUS 1,199 I 1,198 1,002 I 11,001 psI I 1,200 OUT PUT C10

C11 ONE GROUP OF 200 PULSES

Smooth staggering. Two 12-bit counter chains generate a group of repeating N pulses spaced at (1,201— M) µS,where M denotes the Mth pulse of N. for incremental staggering of the radar-pulse rate. Master clock sets absolute value of maximum pulse-repetition frequency.

Electronics/August 2, 1979 117 The Personal INTERNATIONAL Computing Book

peRsonal

k rri eRcn,..g and OE CRYSTAL sorrwaRe basics

!Electronics OSCILLATOR Eiipok. Series

ELEVEN Take the computer International's OE series of Crystal Oscillator Elements provide a revolution into complete crystal controlled signal source. The OE units cover the range your own hands! 2000 KHz to 160 MHz. The standard OE unit is designed to mount direct More than 50 articles are presented on a printed circuit board. Also from leading publications in the field available is printed circuit board l'Orgeleow, to give you this up-to-date guide that plug-in type. The various OE units are divided answers all your questions on person- into groups by frequency and by al computing precisely and reliably. temperature stability. Models 0E-20 and 0E-30 are temperature compensated units. The listed "Overall Hardware •Software •Theory Accuracy" includes room temperature or «gem •Applications • Helpful Hints 25° C tolerance and may be considered a maximum value rather than nominal. Order today, and don't forget the other All OE units are designed for 9.5 to 15 volts dc operation. The 0E-20 and 0E-30 require a regulated source to maintain the listed tolerance valuable Electronics Magazine Books with input supply less than 12 vdc. listed in the coupon below. Prices listed include oscillator and crystal. For the plug-in type add the suffix "P" after the OE number; eg 0E-1P. rElectronics Magazine Books 0E-1, 5 and 10 can be supplied to operate at 5 vdc with reduced rf P.O. Box 669, Hightstown, NJ 08520 output. Specify 5 vdc when ordering. Send me... Mtn Output — 10 dbm min. All oscillators over 66 MHz do not have - copies of Microprocessors @ $8.95 frequency adjust trimmers. copies of Applying Microprocessors @ $9.95

Oscillator 2000 Kitt 67 MHz 140 MHz copies of Large Scale Integration @ $9.95 *btu Element to to to Overall 25 t Tice 66 Mc 139 MHz 160 Mitt Accuracy Tolerance copies of Basics of Data Communica- tions @ $12.95 035213 0E-1 $14 24 copies of Circuits for Electronics 035214 0E-1 $16.35 .01% .005% Engineers @ $15.95 035215 0E-1 $20.57 —30° to +60°C copies of Design Techniques for ±.0005% Electronics Engineers @ $15.95 035216 0E-5 $17.67 -±.002% 2 —66MHz copies of Memory Design: Micro- 035217 0E-5 $20.83 —10° to +60°C ±.001% computers to Mainframes @ $12.95 035218 0E-5 $27.43 67 to 139 MHz copies of New Product Trends in Electronics, No.1 @ $14.95 ±.0025% 140 to 160 MHz copies of Personal Computing: Hardware and Software Basics @ $11.95 Oscillator Discounts of 40% on orders of 10 or more Wok, Element 4800 ON: lo 20000 Kitt Overall tet copies of each book. IMO« hoe Accuracy biome t must be fully satisfied or you will refund full 035219 0E-10 $20.83 i .0005% Zero payment if the book is returned after ten-day —10° to +60°C trimmer trial examination. D Payment enclosed D Bill firm 12 Bill me 035220 0E-20 $30.59 ± .0005% Zero —30° to +60°C trimmer charge to my credit card: 13 American Express Diners Club G Visa Master Charge 035221 0E-30 $63.30 ±.0002% Zero —30° to +60°C trimmer Acct. No. Date Exp

On Master Charge only, first numbers above name

Name Title

Company

Street

City State Zip NTERNATIONALCRYSTAL MFG. CO., INC. 0 North Lee. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102 Signature 405/236-3741

118 Circle 118 on reader service card Electronics/August 2, 1979 pulse modulator and also through a power-driver connected to Q2. Details of these blocks vary with indi- Modulating the flyback inverter vidual requirements and so are not shown in detail here. Picking the right ferrite core is asubject in itself and has reduces supply's bulk been discussed in various papers.

In general, coils T2,, and T2b charge during the time by Vladimir Brunstein Nova Electric Manufacturing Co., Nutley, N. J. interval t1, and discharge through the load resistance R1 during t2.Note that an inexpensive optical coupler may be used to replace T2b. The voltage on the transformer The cost, size, and weight of an inverter will be reduced secondary will be: if aflyback transformer, modulated by ahigh-frequency n carrier, is configured in the inverter's output stage. VL = — (1) 1— r Modulating the flyback transformer is more efficient than attempting to modulate push-pull or bridge circuits, where: as is sometimes done. = efficiency of the power stage The two subassemblies that are most difficult to r = miniaturize in the standard inverter are the output filter t, = turn-on time for transistor Q1 and transformer. But while the output filter can easily be T = commutation period t, + t2 simplified in a number of ways, the dimensions of the E = dc input voltage power transformer are determined mainly by the operat- It is seen that the equation lends itself to achiev- ing frequency. ing the end solution, for if the duty cycle is varied by the The obvious solution to reducing the volume and sine wave while keeping the turn-off time of Q, constant, weight of the transformer and the number of filter then the peak value of the secondary will follow the components, then, is to convert the dc input to a high sinewave reference as shown in the timing diagram. frequency, such as 20 kilohertz. Here the harmonics of This action results if t, = k, sin cot, for in that case the output signal will be significantly higher than the Eq. 1becomes: demodulated frequency, and so a simple low-pass filter VI = K2 sin cot (2) can be used to recover the desired 60-Hz waveform. Using the flyback scheme brings an additional simpli- where IC, and K2 are constants. fication, compared to a push-pull or bridge configura- In reality, one half of the sine wave would normally be tion. The recovered voltage on the secondary of the inverted, as shown for V1. Q2 and Q3 act as 60-Hz transformer will be amplitude-modulated, and only a synchronous commutators serving to restore the original capacitor will be required to obtain the low-frequency wave shape. component. Note that only a relatively small output capacitor, C, As shown, a 60-Hz sinewave voltage is required to is required for filtering—no choke is necessary. Total drive the flyback transformer via an error amplifier and harmonic distortion at the output is less than 5%.

20-kHz CARRIER PULSE-WIDTH MODULATOR/ 60-Hz DRIVER SINEWAVE REFERENCE

FEEDBACK DERIVED FROM Vo wp o, t,-.11.--

We nnnnnnnnnnnnfin

FROM 60 Hz DRIVER vL AT

Miniaturization. Inverter, if implemented in modulated flyback configuration, will provide 60-Hz output from dc voltage using fewer filter components and smaller power transformer than conventional designs. An added benefit is load isolation. Less than 5% total harmonic distortion at output can be achieved with just one low-value filter capacitor—no supply choke is needed.

Electronics/August 2, 1979 119 ECL accelerates to new system speeds with high-density byte-slice parts

LSI reduces interconnect delays that have throttled ECL, allowing it to overtake available mainframe TTL

by Paul Chu, Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corp., Mountain View, Calif.

D For the drag racer, torque came first, and tire tech- switching times, but at small- and medium-scale levels of nology has been struggling to connect more and more of integration, it cannot fully realize the edge it holds over it with the drag strip pavement ever since. For those who the next-fastest bipolar technology, TTL. Widely avail- race logic, the analogy is short gate delays and the need able large-scale TTL integrated circuits have dominated to develop integrated circuits dense enough to avoid the fast logic field. losing the speed in interconnections and package delays. Fairchild Camera and Instrument Corp. has been Emitter-coupled logic (Ea) offers subnanosecond pushing back the limits of ECL density, however. At this

C BUS CBUS A BUS B BUS ENABLE à

9/ 9/ ERROR CORRECTION 9/ 9/ CODE ENCODER

+ C BUS s MULTIPLEXER DIRECT MULTIPLEXER 8 BUS ENABLE

C LATCH A BUS C LATCH CONTROL ENABLE

t 9 /9 CLR ERROR-CORRECTION 9 CODE DECODER

G 2 MULTIPLEXER MULTIPLEXER js MULTIPLEXER

r P ARITHMETIC G AND LOGIC UNIT

RESULT RESULT=O CARRY e CARRY OUT SHIFT 1/0 0 } LINKAGE AND I SHIFTER /. CARRY IN SHIFT 1/0 7

CLOCK RESULT REGISTER

FUNCTION MODIFIER ENABLE AND STATUS FUNCTION LINE 10 MODIFY AND it_ OVERFLOW ERROR SPECIAL OR INVALID FLIP FLOP ERROR INSTRUCTION STATUS DIGIT I? DECODER LATCH

CLEAR

1. Byte slice. The heart of a new family of 8-bit-slice devices, the F100220 address and data interface unit (ADIU) operates on 8 bits of data plus a ninth parity bit. Its set of 27 instructions includes binary and packed and unpacked binary-coded-decimal arithmetic.

120 Electronics/August 2, 1979 'ar's International Solid State Circuits Conference, the layers of metalization on the chip, providing a hook-up Mountain View, Calif., company announced the availa- flexibility capable of implementing the functions of up to bility of a family of LSI ECL bit-slice parts designed for 300 equivalent discrete gates. use in mainframe computers [Electronics, Feb. 15, 1979, But a bit-slice microprocessor, specifically the p. 125]. These four chips, with their 8-bit slices and F100220 family, offers a more cost-effective alternative, thorough error-catching facilities, threaten to take the in the form of general-purpose building blocks that span lead in the high-performance logic chase. No commer- a variety of architectural partitioning requirements and cially available bit-slice parts can touch them. computer applications. The four new parts are: Bit-slice microprocessors are becoming increasingly • The F100220 address and data interface unit (Amu), attractive to computer engineers as basic logic building which has extensive binary and decimal arithmetic as blocks. They offer flexibility in instruction set, data-path well as logic, shift, and data-manipulation capabilities. It width, and system architecture while providing the can function as an arithmetic and logic unit (ALU) in the designer with the economic benefits inherent in multiple- data path and concurrently as amemory interface buffer use, and therefore high-volume, LSI circuits. In addition, through allocation of one of its three ports. the microprogrammed design required by bit-slice • The F100221 multiple-function network (mFN), which microprocessors aids the engineer: the design method contains latches accessible by several bidirectional buses. tends to be more structured and easier to follow than It performs diverse tasks such as data multiplexing/de- that of hard-wired logic. multiplexing, register-stack addressing, assisting with error-checking code, or serving as amultiport file. A growing family • The F100222 dual-access stack (DAS), a 32-word- The four members of the Fairchild F100220 family by-9-bit register file with two independent ports for data, are designed for use in highly bus-oriented systems. They address, and read/write control. are partitioned to perform functions useful in avariety of • The F100223 programmable interface unit (Plu), a applications. By integrating more functions onto a chip general-purpose TTL-compatible input/output device for and operating on aslice of data 8bits wide in one chip, adapting acentral processing unit or peripheral control- interconnections are shortened and interchip signal ler to asystem 1/0 bus. delays are reduced below those of a 4-bit—slice parts at These four devices can be used in various parts of the present on the market. In addition, bidirectional buses data path in a microprogrammed machine. The cycle are used whenever possible to reduce the number of time of a system using them is on the order of 40 interconnection paths, hold back the number of pins nanoseconds for a64-bit data path. needed for each device, and save circuit-board space. Three-bus slice For the sake of reliability and data integrity, the new Fairchild devices automatically generate, store, and The F100220 address and data interface unit (ADIu) check parity bits, one of which is attached to each byte is a 9-bit microprocessor slice that can be cascaded to of data. This consistent parity checking is unusual handle wider data paths. It has athree-bus structure and among current bit-slice microprocessor products. But it a high-speed binary/decimal ALU (Fig. 1). All three is an important feature that makes possible diagnostic buses (A, B, and C), which allow communications to the programs for isolating aproblem to the device level. various system data paths and register files, are bidirec- Fairchild's FlOOK family of small- and medium-scale tional and 9bits wide—for 8data bits and aparity bit. integrated ECL circuits are already used in systems need- Four instruction bits (13, 12, II, lo) and a multiplexed ing high speed and low noise. ECL produces slow edge control line called the function modifier and status line rates that allow noise coupling to be reduced in high- (Fms) define the ADiu's commands. The 27 commands speed circuits. Complementary outputs, constant supply in the instruction set include avariety of binary arithme- current, and wired-OR capability also ease design of ECL tic, packed and unpacked binary-coded-decimal arithme- circuits generally. The FlOOK family of circuits, in tic, single-bit shifts, data transfers, logic operations, and particular, adds voltage and temperature compensation error-correction code operations. to provide constant output voltage levels, input thresh- The high (or 1) state of the clock input (ce) causes the olds, and propagation delays over atemperature range of ADIU to decode and execute the command. Operands can 0° to 85 °C and operation from asupply voltage ranging come to the ALU from any of three buses, the internal C from —4.2 to — 5.7 volts. Direct-current noise margins latch, or the result register. The ALU result is always are increased and the specifications of switching charac- strobed into the result register at the trailing edge of the teristics are tightened significantly, permitting higher clock pulse and is available to all three bus drivers using operating frequencies. the appropriate bus-enable controls. The internal gate delays of these circuits are so short Status flags such as overflow, zero, or carry, and error that the interconnection and packaging delays represent indications like parity or invalid digit are also available a much larger portion of the system's total logic state for convenient conditional branching by the micropro- delay. To take full advantage of this speed, it is neces- gram sequencer. Carry-propagate (P) and carry-gener- sary to rely on more LSI parts. ate (-6) signals for high-speed expansion are also One approach now available is the gate array. The provided. When these signals are used with acarry—look- F200 gate array, for example, consists of amaster diffu- ahead unit such as the F100179, a 64-bit ALU with an sion of 168 discrete ECL switches. The interconnection of add time of less than 35 ns can be built. these switches can be customized by varying the two Although diversified, the four functions performed by

Electronics/August 2, 1979 121 Physical characteristics

The four devices in the new 8-bit-slice family are built with about 4 watts, to operate safely with air-cooling. Metal Isoplanar technology developed by Fairchild some eight clips can be used to solder the leaded package to a circuit years ago [Electronics, March 1, 1971, p. 52]. The new board, or the leadless version may be mounted on a parts have about 1,000 gates per chip and internal gate carrier such as that manufactured by AMP Inc. (shown). delays of 700 picoseconds. The ADIU has die size of 203 by 230 mils. The MFN measures 264 by 254 mils, the DAS is 180 by 220 mils, and the PIU occupies a chip of about 52,900 square mils. The circuits are supplied in a 68-pin LSI package compatible with the standard footprint developed by the Joint Electron Device Engineering Council. The chips are mounted on ceramic bases about 1inch square with the 68 signal and power paths routed from the die to the package edge through gold-plated metal on the base piece. A ceramic cover is placed over the wire-bonded chip to provide a hermetic seal. The package has excellent electrical and thermal char- acteristics. The junction-to-ambient thermal resistance is 15°C/watt with a heat sink and air flow of 500 linear feet per minute, allowing the ECL circuits, which dissipate

the F100221 multiple-function network (MFN) have single-bit or multiple-bit error has occurred. enough in common to be incorporated in one LSI circuit. Should asingle-bit error be found, the byte containing It contains six 5-bit latches that are loaded and accessed the error is decoded and the ADIU handling that 8-bit by five 5-bit bidirectional buses, a 10-bit bidirectional slice of data is signaled to correct the error through function bus that operates in various ways depending on function lines F9 to F12 .It is told which bit is in error over the mode of operation, two additional function inputs, the A, B, C, and D buses, which are interconnected and two enable signals for drivers and receivers. according to the Hamming parity-bit matrix. When a double-bit error is discovered, a special signal is gener- Multifaceted 4-bit member ated that system designers can use to initiate other Although the MFN is designed to work with the 8-bit recovery procedures. slice, the limited number of pins on the package (see When the MFN is in the register-stack addressing "Physical characteristics," p. 122) forced achange to 5 mode, two 4-bit fields, each with a parity bit, are bits for the MFN buses. As mentioned, all data carried by combined to generate one 8-bit field with asingle parity these chips has aparity bit added automatically; for each bit. This resulting field is the stack address and is stored 8-bit slice of data, a9th bit is carried for parity. The pin in an output latch called the stack-address register. limitation would not allow five 9-bit buses for the MFN, The MFN'S six latches are accessible by the A and B so it works on 4 bits of data plus a parity bit. Hooking buses and are used as four index registers and two page two MFN chips in parallel with an exclusive-OR gate registers. In the indirect addressing scheme, the high- connecting the parity bits gives a9-bit data path. order bits of the address are selected from one of the When operating as a bus multiplexer/demultiplexer, page registers and the low-order bits are selected inde- function lines F1 to F3 control the routing of data from pendently from one of the index registers. four 5-bit-wide bidirectional buses (A, B, C, and D) to a Alternatively, the contents of the page-zero latch can fifth bidirectional 5-bit bus (E), with no internal storage be combined with an external constant supplied via the C and minimal propagation delay. Conversely, the E bus or E buses to form adirect address. All transfers, again, may be routed to any one of the A, B, C, or D buses. If check and maintain odd parity. desired, single-bit inversion of the data being multi- Finally, when it is operated as a multiport file, the plexed onto the E bus may also be done, with acompen- mFN's five bidirectional 5-bit buses are used as data sating inversion of the parity bit to assure correct parity paths to access four internal latches. Each latch is loaded in all cases. or accessed by either adedicated bus (B, C, D, and E) or In the error-correction-code assist mode, the MFN a common bus (A), depending on the signals placed on performs exclusive-OR operations over either a4-byte or function lines F1 to F12. an 8-byte field to generate the necessary Hamming A register file of 32 9-bit words is available in the check code and its related syndrome vector. F100222 dual-access stack (DAs). As its name implies, The Hamming code is generated by the MFN on the register file has two independent read/write ports, outgoing data, such as data being written into memory, each with its own data and address lines and separate while the syndrome vector is calculated to check the read/write control signals (Fig. 2). Data parity is correctness of received data, such as that read from checked and stored; optionally, address parity may also memory. The MFN can then decode the syndrome vector be checked. Since this is a true two-port memory, the to determine if the data in the field is correct or if a situation of address contention can occur when the writ-

122 Electronics/August 2, 1979 ENABLEWRITE A WRITE CLOCK AENABLE ADATA 9 BUS DRIVER HAOUTPUT- BUS -7- . BUS RECEIVER SELECTORADATA HOLDING DRIVER " ADATABUS LATCH - CHECKERPARITY APARITYDATA PARITY r... ASELECTOR STACK32 x9 1CHECKER PARITY CHECKERPARITY 8PARITYDATA 1 CHECKERPARITY BSELECTORPARITY

BDATA 9 BUS BUS RECEIVER DRIVERWRITE SELECTORBDATA I 8HOLDINGOUTPUTLATCH DRIVERBUS - B BUSD ATA ENABLEWRITE 8 BADDRESSPARITY CLOCK1 B ENABLE 1 AADDRESSt PARITY DECODER IDECODER A PARITYCHECK PARITYCHECK ADDRESSFLIP-FLOPSPARITY ANDERROR FORDATA ERROR COMPARATOR1 ERROR CONTENTIONADDRESSLOGIC SEOADD AAADDRESSPARITY BBADDRESSPARITY

2. Stacked. The A and B buses can independently access the 32 9-bit registers contained in the F100222 dual-access stack (DAS). Address-contention logic prevents the writing into an address location by one port while the other is reading or also writing into that location.

ing of data to a memory location through one port is which are compatible with the three-state bus design overlapped with the reading or writing of information to common among rri circuits. In addition, the PIU has a the same location through the other port. An address- powerful interrupt structure, with both inherent and equal flag detects such contention and provides asignal user-defined interrupting conditions that can be inhibit- that may be used by external logic for error recovery. ed or masked. An identification-comparison feature The DAS has amaximum access time of 10 ns, making it facilitates unit-to-unit data transfer on amultidrop bus. ideally suited for use as high-speed arithmetic or control For greater throughput, or for parallel transfer of registers in a microprogrammed processor or in data- address, command, or status information between vo buffering applications. nodes, the three bidirectional buses may be expanded to provide another byte path and an independent set of four TTL-compatible interface handshake and control signals. The F100223 programmable interface unit (Piu) is Using the A and B ports together, adata transfer rate designed to handle input/output communications on the order of 3megabytes per second can be achieved. between central processing unit, channels, and vo Once again, the generation and checking of parity on all peripherals. Since most ho interfaces use ra, circuits, data transfers assure data integrity. Buffers in the PIU the PIU has TTL-compatible vo. Figure 3 shows the permit immediate retransmission of data received internal registers of the device. The A, B, and C buses improperly, for quick correction of transmission line provide atotal of 26 lines that can be programmed to be faults. Furthermore, interlocking data transfers by unidirectional or bidirectional, with or without automat- acknowledging on a byte-by-byte basis prevents loss of ic handshaking. If automatic handshaking is desired, data that could occur in a"blind" transmission environ- four lines of the C bus are used for data service and ment. A variety of transmission protocols can be built acknowledge signals (two lines each for the A and B around these provisions to suit specific applications. buses), providing interlocked data transfer for the other To illustrate the multiple functions of these devices, two ports. All three ports have high current-sinking examine a generalized 32-bit computer implemented capability (48 milliamperes) with open-collector outputs with them. The microprogrammed CPU is made up of and Schmitt-triggered receivers with built-in hysteresis four ADIUS, and uses multiple DAs and MFN chips in its for greater noise rejection. data paths (Fig. 4). The combination of the ADIU and Data communication with the device being interfaced DAS yields a powerful structure with binary or decimal is handled by nine three-state data access lines (DAL), arithmetic and logic manipulation capabilities and a

Electronics/August 2, 1979 123 PROGRAMMABLE INTERFACE UNIT IPIU)

A BUS B BUS CBUS REGISTER REGISTER REGISTER

•

MODE BUS INTERRUPT REGISTER CONTROL MASK

ADDRESS DATA ACCESS REGISTER LINES (DAL)

3. Communicating. The F100223 program- 4BITS / mable interface unit (PIU) has three buses 3BITS,/ that interface the central processing unit and

nine TTL-compatible three-state data- WRITE CHIP ADDRESS WRITE WRITE INTERRUPTS ID access lines for communicating with the ADDRESS DAL attached channel or peripheral device.

read/write scratchpad memory for bus-to-bus data or conditional branch paths while the previous instruction is address transfer and modification. being executed. Address pointers select current instruc- The input source operands and output results of the A tions for decoding and asimple algorithm can increment and B ports of the ADIU are provided by the A and B the pointer for either abranch or no-branch decision. buses, respectively. The A and B buses are then connect- A microprogram sequencer chip designated the ed to the bidirectional A ports of the DAS chips, but F100224 is now under development for use in this micro- other connections to the A and B buses can be made if program controller section; a variety of F1004XX the application requires. memory devices are already available to complete the The DAS Chips are physically grouped in fours, but control store portion of the machine. A microinstruction logically organized as 8 banks of 16 register files. register is used to hold the microinstruction currently Addressing is provided by two MFNs operating in the being executed. This allows the execution of the instruc- register-stack addressing mode. If desired, the 9-bit tion to be overlapped with the fetching of the next address outputs of the MFN can address up to 16 banks microinstruction in apipelined fashion. of 16 registers. This organization facilitates the context Another set of mFNs completes the CPU. Their bidirec- switching required in applications such as interrupt tional-bus multiplexer/demultiplexer abilities let them servicing or multiprogramming. Instead of spending time be used to handle data-alignment operations such as byte to save and restore working registers during and after swapping or barrel shifting on information moving interrupts, this organization lets the system just swap to between the ADIUs and DASS and the data bus. anew bank of working registers. In the main storage processor, the ADIU and MFN are Because of its dual-port capability, the DAS can pre- combined to handle address-field and data processing sent two inputs to the ADIU and receive and store the between main storage, CPU, and i/o channels. They also result during the same cycle. Moreover, its simultaneous do data validity checking, address comparison, and limit read/write ability allows it to store aprevious ALU result checking. The storage processor performs single-bit—er- while fetching anew value for another arithmetic opera- ror correction and double-bit—error detection for 32- or tion or the continuation of adouble-precision arithmetic 64-bit—wide data paths. operation. The DAS stores key information for access protection and effective memory partition. In addition, the dual- Microprogrammed port design of the DAS facilitates its use as a cache Controlling this arithmetic and logic portion of the interface to main storage, in cases where a wide data CPU is the microprogrammed controller. This portion of path operating at lower speed controls one port while a the machine gets the macroinstruction from memory, narrow data path accesses the second port at higher decodes it, and through the microprogram sequencer speed in an arbitrary sequence. Incidental conflict of fetches the next microinstruction from the control addresses is detected for contingent action. memory. The DAS can be applied here as a macroin- Communications between the CPU and channels, struction register to buffer the macroinstructions coming between two channels, or between channels and from main memory. Because of its 10-ns access time, the input/output controllers are handled by Pius. The ADius DAS can access instructions along either sequential or are connected to the Pills through their C ports via two

124 Electronics/August 2, 1979 L MEMORY INTERFACE TO STORAGE PROCESSING UNIT CENTRAL PROCESSING UNIT

A-STACK SOURCE AND B-STACK SOURCE AND DESTINATION ADDRESS DESTINATION ADDRESS

MFN MFN MFN MFN

DAS DAS DAS OAS OAS DAS DAS DAS

DAS MACROINSTRUCTION REGISTER APORT BPOFIT STATUS ADDRESS AND DATA INTERFACE REGISTER UNIT (ADM) MEMORY MAPPER CPORT

BRANCH ADDRESS EXTERNAL ADDRESS C MFN

MICROPROGRAM CONTROL TO SEQUENCER .11-• REST OF CPU PROGRAMMABLE ECL TO TTL INTERFACE CONVERSION UNIT IPILH H MICROINSTRUCTION CONTROL MEMORY REGISTER MFN =MULTIPLE FUNCTION NETWORK DAS =DUAL ACCESS STACK

4. Illustrative. One possible 32-bit computer design using the bit-slice devices has four ADIUs forming the arithmetic and logic unit and two banks of DAS chips—one for each of the ADIU data buses—providing multiple register files. The third ADIU bus is used for input/output. mFNs working in the multiport file mode. The four example, he can shrink the microinstruction-word width internal ho ports serve as byte-wide bus interface regis- and bring costs down. ters. Each port can be selected to communicate to This new 8-bit slice family complements and supple- outside TTL circuitry through use of level translators ments the F1 OOK subnanosecond ssi/msi family and the (F100124, F100125). The PIU links the system to other F200 gate array to offer a sophisticated tool for high- TTL interfaces externally. Its flexible I/O bus structure speed system designs. It is the fastest and widest bit-slice allows a powerful storage hierarchy to be set up for family on the market today with a bidirectional bus transfer of command, status, and address sequences. architecture and built-in parity generation, storage, and Obviously, with amicroprogrammed computer such as detection. this, some consideration must be given to the design of Future ECL LSI products the microinstructions themselves. Typically, the sequenc- er instruction and the branch-address fields control the New circuits are being identified and developed to microinstruction flow of the microprogram. During expand the family. As mentioned, a high-speed micro- branching operations, the microprogram can alter its program sequencer is on the list of products to come. execution sequence in response to the status of external Future development efforts in F1 OOK ECL are aimed test inputs and condition codes from the data path. The toward denser circuits of about 5,000-gate complexity, other fields of the microcontrol word contain instructions rather than toward shorter internal gate delays. At and addresses for the ADIUS, MFNs, DASs, and other subnanosecond speed, system performance can only be miscellaneous logic in the system. enhanced by more on-chip integration and by optimizing This is a highly horizontal microinstruction word packaging techniques. Circuit and packaging innova- format, which means there is a dedicated field for each tions are the keys to future ECL LSI products. CI control function. A designer may decide to trade in some Acknowledgements performance to reduce costs by going to what is called a The author wishes to thank William K. Owen, Daniel Wong, Cheuk Chu, and more vertical scheme. By sharing control fields, for Patrick Yin of the ECL engineering group for their technical contributions.

Electronics/August 2, 1979 125 One-chip data-encryption unit accesses memory directly

5-V peripheral circuit implements National Bureau of Standards' data-encryption algorithm at 640 bits per second

by John Beaston, Intel Corp., Santa Clara, Calif.

0 Data-encryption devices—the latest products of or both. The 8294 is driven by an external processor large-scale integration —are the hot new rookies of the through a series of control- and interrupt-logic circuits communications and computer industries. Developed as (Fig. 2). For convenience in exercising the required a result of the U. S. Government's establishment of a control, seven auxiliary output lines are provided for data encryption standard (DES) for the safe transmission functions defined by the user. of sensitive but not classified data, the devices, which can Conversion of data from plain text to encrypted be purchased as chips, plug-in boards, or stand-alone (cipher) text with the 8294 is particularly simple and boxes, promise to break into the lineup of any system requires three steps. First, a set-mode command is whose data is not to be compromised. issued, enabling the desired interrupt outputs or DMA Data-encryption and -decryption units (DEus) imple- interface if needed. Then an enter-new-key command is ment an algorithm developed by the National Bureau of issued, followed by the 64-bit key. The key is entered in Standards [Electronics, June 21, 1978, p. 107]. This algo- 8-bit bytes. Each of these bytes must have odd parity as rithm, experts generally agree, is secure enough for most represented by the least significant bit. Finally, an practical purposes. That means that for commercial data encrypt-data or decrypt-data command is issued to set manipulation or digital voice handling such as occurs in the chip into the desired mode. the computer, banking, or telephone industries, the codes Once these procedures have been completed, data is generated cannot be cracked in a "reasonable" amount encrypted or decrypted by simply writing 8 data bytes of time without an inordinate amount of effort. and reading back 8converted data bytes. Clearly, all the Many of the major semiconductor houses have entered commands used during data conversion must be "legal." the burgeoning DEU market—Western Digital and Fair- For example, they must effect achange from encryption child Camera and Instrument are two examples. Anoth- to decryption without affecting the key by which inter- er is Texas Instruments, which has recently introduced a rupt outputs are activated. So that the change may be dedicated peripheral-microcomputer chip to perform the done properly, the mode that the chip is operating in is necessary encryption and decryption [Electronics, July stored in the status output buffer register and may be 19, 1979, p. 140]. read out at any time. Intel's entry is a low-cost single-chip implementation. The three steps to turn the chip on are carried out Already certified by the NBS, the 8294 (Fig. 1) is the under software control from the central processing unit only single-chip device also offering direct memory (cPu) with which the DEU is interfaced. For example, access (DMA) and compatibility with Intel's full line of the set-mode command is issued with the appropriate microprocessor devices. In terms of applications, the command to activate the desired interrupts. If the user 8294 is particularly suited for nonvoice data security wants to enter a new key, the device's status must be when high speed is not required. checked before the enter-new-key command is issued. Turning it on Failure to check properly may result in the 8294's ceas- ing to operate, and it would then have to be restarted. The 5-volt 40-pin 8294 converts data at the rate of 640 The key-entry procedure itself is straightforward. bits per second using 64-bit blocks of data and a 64-bit After the enter-new-key command is issued, the 8data encryption key (including 8 parity bits). It has three bytes representing the new key are written into the interrupt outputs to aid in loading and unloading data data-bus input buffer 1 byte at a time, beginning with and operates in the encryption or the decryption mode, the most significant. The input-buffer-full (18F) flag is set when a new byte is written and reset when the 8294 This is the second article in a series on integrated-circuit accepts the byte. implementations of the National Bureau of Standards' data Before writing new data, the CPU must wait until encryption standard. The first article appeared in the July 1BF = 0. After the eighth byte is accepted by the DEU, 19 issue, page 140. the completion-flag (CF) bit goes high (CF = 1). At this

126 Electronics/August 2, 1979 READ-ONLY MEMORY

,1 6 4.a . 1

lb I «'«ell• 1114 .14 I 4. ir ...... 6 I o 1 I • P t î ell .1 ..1"i 4 • ...1-"ei .1 ro I CT •

À •• o e • '6 o lo • .a"ernri 7-e •

414-14-10 rV cl

ARITHMETIC INSTRUCTION AND LO( FC DECODER UNIT

ALU ONTROL

CLOCK BUFFER

STATE - EXTERNAL TIMING DATA-GUS CONTROL LOGIC GE NE HA TflH fE ER

1. Compatible. ftie Intel 8294 data-encryption chip is perfectly willing to work with any microprocessor or peripheral in its family. It is designed for low-speed applications—up to 640 bits per second—although this figure can be multiplied by n by connecting nchips in parallel.

point, the 8294 tests the validity of the key and resets CF. block. This last step enables the CPU to check that 113F = Resetting CF enables the CPU to check the key-point- 0and CF = 1to terminate the input mode. error (KPE) bit to determine that the key has been When encryption or decryption is complete, the entered, stored, and validated before the data bytes conversion-complete (CCMP) and output-available (0Av) themselves are entered. interrupts are activated and the output-buffer-full (OBF) The use of the CF bit to indicate the validity of the KPE flag is set true (DBF = 1). OAV and OBF are reset to false flag makes it impossible to use CF = 1to flag the end of again after each of the converted data bytes is read by the 8-byte entry. A counter must therefore be used. CF the CPU. The CCMP interrupt goes false on the first can then be reserved to validate the KPE flag. reading by the CPU and stays false. For CPU-based data transfers, the processor writes 8 After all 8 bytes have been read by the central pro- data bytes into the DEu's data-input buffer to be en- cessing unit, CF goes false, allowing the CPU to test for crypted or decrypted. When the eighth byte has been this value in order to end the read mode. The CCMP received, CF goes high to indicate acceptance of the data interrupt also may be used to initiate aservice routine to

Electronics/August 2, 1979 127 acknowledgment signal from the DMA controller (an Intel 8257 or the equivalent) that the requested DMA cycle has been granted, the latter for the signal used to request aDMA cycle. Lines 130—P 6 are definable by the user as a 7-bit port that may be employed, for example, to pass additional information between the CPU and the 8294. They have nothing to do with the encryption function. Applications In abreadboard application developed by Intel during the design of the 8294, the chip encrypts and decrypts a text file stored on the Intellec microcomputer develop- ment system diskette. Extension of this design may read- ily be made to allow the chip to be used in more sophisticated applications. In this case, the chip is mounted on a plug-in printed-circuit board (Fig. 3), along with its support circuitry. 2. Easy encryption. The 5-volt. 40-pin 8294 must be controlled by The system requires one 8294 with DMA capability, an external microprocessor. Convenient features include seven defin- including address generation for 16-bit addresses (han- able output lines and a DMA interface. Data is encrypted and dled by the 8212), buffering to the Intellec system's bus decrypted according to the NBS's data encryption standard. (the function of the 8226s), and chip-select logic. The dual in-line switch is used to give the configura- perform the next series of data reads and writes. tion an interrupt mode. The CPU can then query the As an alternative, the DEU-CPU data transfers may be 8294 and drive it directly for each data transfer. Wheth- done using direct memory access (DMA). In this case, an er in a CPU-monitored mode or with DMA, the system external DMA controller, rather than the CPU, supervises uses the CCMP signal from pin 24 of the 8294 to notify the actual data transfers. The only CPU involvement is the CPU when the DEU has completed atransfer. loading buffer addresses into the DMA controller and To start the system, the board is inserted into a card telling the 8294 how many 64-bit blocks are to be slot in the Intellec system. The user then types a encrypted or decrypted. command consisting of afile name, a D or an E symbol, Once loaded with this initializing data, the CPU is free and a sequence of eight ASCII characters. The file name to resume other tasks while all DEU data is being trans- is the name of the ISIS-II file to be encrypted or fered transparently. The CPU is interrupted only after all decrypted, and the D or E indicates whether decryption data transfers and conversions are complete. or encryption is to be performed. The eight ASCII char- acters are the key used by the 8294 in encoding or An inside peek decoding data or text in the file. All of the 8294's functions are handled internally by When encryption or decryption has been completed, stored in the device's programmable read- the new file (containing either plain or encrypted text, only memory. The use of microcode results in a slower respectively) replaces the old file on the diskette. If any data throughput rate than that achieved by other errors—such as input/output problems with the devices— for example, IBM's 2845 and 3846 and Motoro- diskette—arise during translation, the original file is left la's Infoguard systems—through hardware implementa- undisturbed, as the system uses atemporary holding file tion of the DES algorithm. However, the 8294 has the during both encryption and decryption. advantage of low cost. Furthermore, it requires no extra Note that this system encrypts everything on the file. integrated circuits for support if used in CPU-controlled Therefore headers and other special symbols used by operations and only DMA-support hardware if used with other software to recognize and manipulate the file are that feature. no longer recognizable. In an actual implementation, Although most of the 40 pins of the 8294 have readily total encryption could seriously affect the file's usability understood functions, several require an explanation. For and would have to be corrected in software. example, pin 9 (A o)is used to select the register to be In this application, support logic was added for direct accessed for the next operation. The data buffer is memory access so that the CPU could complete other selected by a 0 on this line, and the command/status processing during encryption and decryption. Most of register is chosen by a 1. In conjunction with the not- the circuitry on the pc board would be unnecessary in a read (b) and not-write (WNt) lines (pins 8 and 10, minimum application (without DMA). respectively), this signal chooses the proper register. If The other additional hardware required if DMA is the triplet RD, Wk, and Ao is 100, 010, 101, or 011, the implemented is a chip-selection or decoding module. registers chosen are, respectively, the data-input buffer, This logic is used to determine whether or not the CPU is the data-output buffer, the command-input buffer, or addressing the 8294 during initialization and processing. the status-output buffer. The not-DMA-acknowledgment The use of DMA has the dual effect of accelerating the (DAcK) and DMA-request (DRQ) connections are used to throughput rate of the 8294 somewhat and of off-loading implement direct memory access—the former for an the monitoring of the DEU from the CPU. However, since

128 Electronics/August 2, 1979 MODÉ £294 S.EI,deCTIO • :'!.. • . ::: •

• " ' .. : i 1 • :: : ::I ::: • : :DMA •• leiff:R.FftAg • •• • •• •

roquIstis INTERFftg .

3. Breadboard. When mounted with its auxiliary and support chips on a printed-circuit board, the 8294 functions as an encryption plug-in for a computer development system disk. In this application, memory is accessed directly, although that is not always necessary. the CPU's involvement with data encryption and decryp- buffer and the time they will typically be encoded or tion is limited to reading 8 bytes from the data-output decoded and available at the data-output buffer; during buffer and putting 8more into the data-input buffer, the this period, the CPU can perform other functions. amount of time the CPU is occupied monitoring and The software used in the development-system circuit handling the 8294 is fairly limited. described earlier is relatively simple. Note, though, that On the other hand, the availability of DMA implemen- a loop is established after the input and output file tation on the 8294 makes it possible to parallel several of names have been established. This loop is necessary so the devices, along with the DMA controllers associated that the program can ensure that the command being with each. Such parallel processing greatly increases the given to the DEU has been accepted (detected by the throughput of the encryption and decryption process. It presence of a 1in bit 0 of the command-input buffer). can probably be useful up to a data-transfer rate of There are afew software subtleties to be aware of. For about 19,200 bits per second. Above this rate, a hard- example, since the 8294 is designed to code 8bytes at a ware-based implementation is preferable. time and since the file may not be an even multiple of 8 Obviously, far more sophisticated applications could bytes, the last block of data read must be filled with Os be developed using other operating-system software and until it is 8bytes long. handling different-sized blocks of data. The principles of Also, remember that after the DEU'S mode has been operation, however, remain the same. All that is required set, the output-data buffer is cleared by reading it and is to set the DEU to the proper mode, write the key into it, discarding the contents. This operation is necessary and convert 8bytes of data at atime, either under DMA because the 8294 will hold the data valid in the output- or CPU control. How the files are handled and what data buffer indefinitely (assuming no power-down disposition is made of the decoded text are individual occurs). If the last conversion attempt was unsuccessful, design decisions. not completed, or otherwise aborted or abandoned, this buffer could have 1 byte of encoded or decoded data Software present at the beginning of the new processing cycle. Since the 8294 operates under microprocessor soft- When all the software setup work is out of the way, ware control, the processor must, at a minimum, the data conversion proceeds in a straightforward initialize the chip, set up the DMA controller to handle manner. In the application program discussed earlier, the block of memory to be encrypted or decrypted, and data is read from the diskette file in blocks of 1,024 respond to an interrupt when the processing is over. In a bytes converted and written into the temporary file in the minimum configuration (again, without DMA), the same block size. Upon completion of the data conversion, processor must also read the 8 bytes into the 8294's assuming it was successful (that is, no uo errors or disk data-input buffer. There is a 100-millisecond delay errors were encountered), the new file replaces the old between the time the 8bytes are placed in the data-input file, which is first closed and then deleted.

Electronics/August 2, 1979 129 Pay as you

Our advanced liquid phase epitaxial manufacturing lines produce the grow. world's brightest green LED lamps -luminious intensities of 24 mcd can be obtained with drive currents of 10mA. In addition, usable light output can be provided in most applications at 3mA and under. Capable of being driven directly off TTL, MOS. and CMOS When you start to circuitry, Xciton green LED's can be used interchangeably with existing work, it's easy to spend red LED's without change in drive currents.

High efficiency green LED's are available in the standard T-1 3/4 and T-1 your whole paycheck. package -for volume applications and custom needs. And that's agood What About Price and Delivery? reason to join the Try us. An integrated quality assurance and engineering support program Payroll Savings Plan assures timely delivery of product with an average 8 week lead time. and buy U.S. Savings Prompt quotations, competitive pricing, accessible technical assistance, plus Bonds. unmatched product service with aone year warranty -is what Xciton is all about. Catalog, spec sheet, and free samples are available from the factory Because Bonds grow direct. Let Xciton make your Green LED Lamps. with you. So while you're working hard doing your Xciting Call Cliff Jurus job, Savings Bonds Xciton Corporation Shaker Park, 5 Hemlock Street can be working hard Latham, New York 12110 doing their job. And that (518) 783-7726, TWX: 710-444-4962 job is making money for Xcitonl you. Circle 130 on reader service card Bonds can help cultivate your dreams. Whatever they are. A WHEN YOU NEED college education, down payment on anew DEC... house, or along-awaited •••••••••• vacation. Even aretire- ment nest egg. TERMINALS :Getliteq(111.1:. Put U.S. Savings • VT-100 Bonds to work for you, • LA36 ronkoRD storing away the fruits • LA120 of your labor. The most exciting, Plant the seeds of • LA180 most comprehen- sive DESIGN your future today. You'll ENGINEERING o be surprised what they PDP11 /03 HANDBOOK and PURCHASING can grow into. SYSTEMS GUIDE, (Including english & metric). E Bonds pay 69,', interest when held to maturity of 5years (4 Vg% the first Approximately LSI/11 year). Interest is not subject to state or 200 pages. local income taxes, and federal tax may MODULES Send for yours' be deferred until redemption. now and get the Demand.. .Delivery first one off the press. Demand...Discounts MANUFACTURERS OF: ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS—BINDING POSTS— Demand...UNITRONIX BANANA PLUGS—PRINTED CIRCUIT JACKS & CONNECTORS— PRINTED CIRCUIT PLUGS & PINS—SOLDER TERMINALS—TEFLON' INSUL— ATED TERMINALS—SPACERS & STANDOFFS— PANE L & CHASSIS HARDWARE—STANDARD & FOLDING HANDLES—SQUARE WRAPS —SWISS O UNITUNIX AUTOMATIC SCREW MACHINE PRODUCTS Take CORPORATION stock- (201) 874-8500 ONCORD ELECTRONICS CORP. inAmerica. 30 GREAT JONES STREET 198 Route 206 • Somerville, NJ 08876 NEW YORK, N.Y. 10012 TELEX 833184 TWX 710-581-4930 A public service of this publication (212) 777-6571 and The Advertising Council.

130 Circle 174 on reader service card Circle 175 on reader service card Electronics/August 2, 1979 D No designer of a digital-to-analog converter intends his device to produce spurious fast transients; the very Dma converter's name given these transients—glitches—bespeaks their undesirability. But the problem has plagued d-a convert- ers since their inception. low-glitch design Some applications can forgive this shortcoming. But when d-a converters are used to drive the beam- lowers parts count deflection circuits of acathode-ray-tube graphic display system, distortion caused by glitches is easy to see and more than just annoying. Converters used for this in graphic displays purpose must have short settling times and high current drive capability in addition to a low glitch level. Rapid settling is vital to flicker-free display of complex 15 small matched current sources patterns: the converter must be able to update at about 10 megahertz or faster. High current output makes reduce size of fast transients possible the high slew rates required for good pulse produced by asynchronous switching transmission over coaxial cable. Many current state-of-the-art d-a converters can provide the fast settling and high current output needed by Michael Yuen to drive CRTs. But until now, with the introduction of the Hybrid Systems Corp., Bedford, Mass. Hybrid Systems 394 12-bit current-output d-a converter, the low glitch level has remained elusive. A number of

1. Display effects. A cathode-ray-tube display with its X-axis deflection circuit driven by a conventional digital-to-analog converter and its Y-axis one by a new low-glitch converter shows how a radial spoke pattern is distorted by glitches into aseries of vertical lines.

Electronics/August 2, 1979 131 deglitching techniques have therefore been called upon display would consist of straight lines radiating from the to compensate for the effect. center. Glitches in the output of the X-axis converter The effects of glitches on a CRT are easily demon- displace the beam momentarily to the left. The result is a strated. Since the position of the electron beam is deter- series of vertical lines with each line representing a mined by the voltages (outputs from the d-a converters) major transition, the point where a glitch occurs. In an at the X and Y inputs, any spikes or transients that alphanumeric display, the glitches cause distortion in the appear at these inputs will displace the beam momentari- shape of the characters. ly from its course or position. The direction of displace- To understand the techniques used to build the above- ment is dependent upon the origin (X or Y input) and mentioned low-glitch d-a converter, the source of these polarity of the glitch. long-troublesome voltage spikes must be examined in some detail. The asynchronously switched transistors Graphic effects that control the analog outputs of modern d-a converters If the X input of a CRT is driven by a conventional are the main culprits. converter and the Y input is driven by a low-glitch A simplified diagram (Fig. 2) shows how bipolar converter, as in Fig. 1, the effect of glitches becomes transistors are used in a4-bit d-a converter. Depending clear. The digital inputs to the d-a converters are gener- on the input logic levels, the diodes steer current either ated by a computer programmed to produce a spoke through the transistors, turning them on, or through pattern. If neither converter produced any glitches, the themselves, turning the transistors off. In high-speed

2. Glitch maker. Four-bit converter uses solid-state switches to control its analog output. Glitches are produced by digital feedthrough of high-speed TTL signals by way of the steering diodes, and by the current ladder during asynchronous switching of the transistors.

3. Spike shrinkage. Glitches produced at major transitions by a conventional d-a converter (the large spike) and a new Hybrid Systems 394 12-bit converter are compared on an oscilloscope. The large excursion is nearly half the full 1-V output. The other's amplitude is smaller by a factor of 16: as a result, the settling time is much shorter. V =50 mV/DIV

H =20 ns/DI V

132 Electronics/August 2, 1979 Conventional deglitching techniques

A number of deglitching techniques are in wide use, vent glitch problems in CRT graphic display systems. A despite their drawbacks. The most common method is to multiplying converter's analog output is proportional to the use a fast sample-and-hold at the d-a converter's output product of a variable reference and the input code. In the (a). The sample-and-hold is normally operated in the track typical setup shown (c), a pair of current-output convert- mode and is switched to the hold mode just before the ers drive each CRT input (X deflection and Y deflection). converter is updated. When the converter has settled to The two fixed-reference converters determine the position the new value, the sample-and-hold is switched back to of the starting point (X0, Y0) of the display line. Their the track mode. Thus the glitch period is effectively outputs are summed with the external variable-reference isolated from the output. (multiplying) d-a converters, which are driven by a Of course, to be effective, the sample-and-hold itself 0-to-10.0-volt ramp reference. The ratio and magnitude of should not introduce significant voltage spikes at the the multiplying units' digital codes determine the slope output. In addition to the cost of the sample-and-hold, and length respectively of the line being generated on the which can be as high as that of a converter of comparable display. Complex display characters are made up of a speed and resolution, this technique introduces extra series of these straight lines. Since glitches occur only delay due to the sample-and-hold acquisition time. This when the converter input codes are changing, this setup usually limits the update rate to 2 megahertz or less. minimizes the code updating as the beam is essentially Additional error from sample-and-hold offset and droop being driven by the ramp. In addition, the input codes can can be expected. be changed during the retrace of the beam when the For graphic display systems that can tolerate a lower screen is usually blanked. converter-update rate, a bandwidth- or slew-rate-limited This method offers an attractive solution to the glitch circuit is sometimes used for deglitching (b). At equilib- problem in a CRT graphic display system, but is not rium, the balanced diode bridge forces Vo to be equal to without its limitations. The most obvious is the cost of the V0'. Vo will follow Vo' as long as Vo'h I/C. Therefore, two extra converters. Moreover, the updating logic is more any fast-changing signals like glitches are filtered out. complex, as four converters must be updated instead of Unfortunately, this reduces the converter's overall two. Finally, only one straight-line segment may be drawn response time. This compromise may be justified, howev- per sweep, so that in a complex character-generation er, in applications where reduced bandwidth without system, where many such segments are required, the glitches can be tolerated. devices must have a very fast settling time, 100 nanosec- Multiplying converters are sometimes used to circum- onds or less.

FIXED REFERENCE D-A SAMPLE ANO VouT D-A CONVERTER HOLD CONVERTER

STROBE MULTIPLYING (a) D-A +v CONVERTER

CATHODE-RAY TUBE

+10

RAMP 0 GENERATOR

FIXED REFERENCE 0 A CONVERTER

MULTIPLYINGD-A 1CONVERTER

-v

Electronics/August 2, 1979 133 lbsi000000b 2-5 2-6 2-7 2-'0 2-11 2-12

o

o

o

o

IOUT CODE =1111 1111 1111

o o

4. Designing out glitches. In this low-glitch 12-bit d-a converter design, the input lines for the most significant 4 bits are decoded and drive 15 matched current sources, each of which o contributes 1/16of total output. As the table shows, only one current source is switched in successive major transitions, and sources are either turned on or off, never both at once. o Further glitch reduction is achieved by matching the switching points for the lowest 8 bits.

o HYBRID SYSTEMS 394 DECODER TRUTH TABLE

Decoder input Decoder output o

2 2 2 2 Outputs to current switches

O 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 o O 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1

0 0 1 0 O 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1

O 0 1 1 O 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 o 0 1 0 0 O 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1

O 1 0 1 O 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1

0 1 1 0 O 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 o 0 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

1 0 0 0 O 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

1 0 0 1 O 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 o 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

1 0 1 1 O 0 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

1 1 0 0 O 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 o 1 1 0 1 O 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

1 1 1 0 0 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 o

134 Electronics/August 2, 1979 V =5 V/DIV ....00.1111111111111111111111.1110111.111.1." 11.1.1"."m " .."."».

V= 0.2 V/DIV

S. Settle down. Nonsaturating current switches and input storage registers included in the design contribute to the high-speed performance of the 394. This output wave- H =20 ns/D IV J form shows settling to within 0.05% in about 50 nanoseconds after full-scale switching. applications, these switches are often driven by Tn. output of 1volt. Monotonicity and differential linearity signals with very short rise and fall times; therefore, of ± /12 least significant bit are maintained over the some digital feedthrough at the output of the converter is commercial temperature range. unavoidable. However, this feedthrough is usually much To achieve these performance specifications, the smaller than the glitches commonly produced by the decoding technique illustrated in Fig. 4 is used. The asynchronous switching of the converter's transistors. converter is essentially divided into two sections. The The instant after the digital input code changes, these lower-order 8 bits that together contribute 6.22% current switches briefly assume a temporary state that (225/4095) of the total output current is a conventional produces atransient output. d-a converter using a R-2R current ladder. Instead of For example, if the time it takes to turn the switching the usual scheme, which has the upper 4 bits drive four transistor on exceeds the time to turn it off, the 0-to-1 current sources with abinary weight of /12 ,'A, '/8, and 1/16, transitions take longer than 1-to-0 transitions. Thus the input lines are decoded and drive 15 matched current when a transition in the input occurs from a value of 7 sources. Each matched current source has aweight of '/16 (0111) to 8 (1000), instead of a smooth change in the of the total output. Hence by switching on the correct output of the converter, it momentarily swings toward number of current sources, any combination of the bina- 0000 before returning to 1000. The worst case usually ry weights /12 ,/14 ,'/8, and 1/16can be achieved. occurs at the half-scale transition (that is, from a value As seen in the truth table, the decoder has been of 011 .. . 1to 100 .. . 0) where all of the switches designed to switch only one current source for each must change state. In this case, the excursion can have a successive major transition. Also, the coding is such that half-scale magnitude. switching between any of the 16 major transitions The traces of two glitches are shown on an oscilloscope involves either turning current sources on or turning in Fig. 3. The greater of the two was produced by a them off—never both in the same step. In this way conventional high-speed 12-bit d-a converter during a glitches produced by the asymmetrical switching times half-scale transition. The excursion is almost half scale are practically eliminated. Since no current source has a for a full-scale output of 1volt. Because of the large weight of more than V16 of the total output, the glitch excursion, the settling time is increased. The smaller of level is greatly reduced. To obtain afurther glitch reduc- the two glitches was produced by the 12-bit Hybrid tion, the switching points for the lower 8 bits of the Systems 394 d-a converter during a major transition. converter are optimized and matched. The magnitude of this spike is but asixteenth that of the Nonsaturating current switches, together with input larger one; the settling time is also much improved. storage registers, produce the high speed characteristic of the new current-output d-a converter. As shown in Low-glitch design Fig. 5, the unit settles from full-scale switching to None of the conventional deglitching techniques (see ±0.05% in about 50 nanoseconds. p. 133) such as added sample-and-hold circuitry are used To achieve 12-bit accuracy, all 15 current sources are to achieve this reduction. Its new design approach precisely matched. All 15 sources must be scanned to reduces glitches while cutting the number of components pick out the largest source; the remaining 14 are then needed for aCRT display. matched to that value. Fortunately, this entire task is The 2-by-4-inch module has a full-scale current out- accomplished with the aid of an automated system put capability of 21 mA that allows it to drive 50-9-- programmed to trim the entire unit, including gain and terminated coaxial cable, and it delivers a full-scale offset, in less than 8seconds. III

Electronics/August 2, 1979 135 Engineer's notebook

appended for synchronizing the bit stream, so that 00110111, for example, is the equivalent of 37 hex, and Separating data from 01001010 is 4A hex. The coding of bits 5 to 7 (as addresses on the 488 bus counted from right to left) identifies the information on bits 1through 4as representing data, if bits 5to 7 = 3, by Trung Nguyen or address locations, if bits 5 to 7 = 4 or 5. This Systron-Donner Corp., Van Nuys, Ca/if. interface easily determines under which category the bit stream will be identified, so that addressing information will be recognized as preceding the data, ensuring that This relatively simple interface offers a convenient way the appropriate circuitry will display only data. of detecting and differentiating between addressing Address flip-flop AI is reset when the hexadecimal information and data words on the industry-standard value of input bits Ds—D, equals 4 or 5, so disabling 488 instrumentation bus. It uses standard parts, is inex- counter A2 (through gate GI) after bits D1—D 4 are stored pensive, needs no complex clocking circuitry, and elimi- in it. Thus, if ASCII character V (56 hex) is sent, 0110 nates the need for software interaction. (6) is loaded in the counter and decoded by A3 so that Information on the bus is transmitted as a series of only address register V (A4) is enabled. 8-bit bytes associated with ahexadecimal code. Normal- On the other hand, data flip-flop A5 is set when the ly a 7-bit ASCII character is sent, with the eighth bit hexadecimal value of input bits 5 through 7 equals 3,

Differentiation. 488-bus interface distinguishes address information from data bits, so that data alone may be displayed without using excessive software. Address bits detected are stored in register V. to be utilized in system as required. Data bits then fill V, W, and X. ASCII "E" command at end of data stream fires A8. forces registers' contents to be dumped into d-a converter.

136 Electronics/August 2, 1979 and so data is loaded into the V register. If there is more After all data bytes are loaded into A4, A6, and A7, an than 1 data byte in the stream following the address execute command represented by ASCII "E" triggers byte, A I is clocked by the new data and the contents of one-shot A B, thus permitting data to be transferred to

A5 are transferred to A I.A l's output is combined with the digital-to-analog converter, A9. The stream required the data valid (DAv) pulse at G I so that A2 will be to generate an output of 5.48 volts at A9 would thus be advanced by one count. V548E. The numeral 5 is loaded into V, and 4 and 8 are The address decoder, A3, thus activates register W loaded in registers W and X, respectively, by advancing

(A 6). Register X (A 7) is brought into operation if a third A2. This operation eliminates the need to address each data byte is sent in a given group. register for each data byte—that is, V5W4X8E. El

By passing the desired relative displacement of the PC as a parameter through the D-E register pair, relative 8080 program counter jumping of the PC can be effected virtually anywhere makes relative jumps within the 64 kilobytes of available memory. The routine simply adds the contents of D-E to the current PC location stored in register pair H-L in order to bring the by Prakash Dandekar Tata Electric Companies, Bombay, India PC to its new location. This location is then stored in the H-L register. The desired displacement should be expressed in 2's Although the conditional and unconditional jump complement form. A positive displacement of X will commands found in the 8080's instruction set allow cause the program to jump forward X locations from the programs to be positioned anywhere in memory, all initial PC location; a negative displacement will have the jumps are absolute and require specification of a 16-bit opposite effect. absolute address. The short routine of six instructions When an unconditional jump is desired, the CALL presented here, however, makes it easy for the program instruction should be used to summon the relative-jump counter (PC ) to make relative jumps either ahead of or subroutine PCRJMP, as shown. A conditional jump (i.e. behind its own starting point, adding greatly to the JZ, JZN, JP) can be ordered by the corresponding call 8080's versatility. instruction CZ, CNZ, or CP. El

8080 RELATIVE-JUMP SUBROUTINE

Source statement Comments

•

LX .I D, DISP ;displacement in (DE)

CALL PCRJMP ;call PC relative jump routine

;current (PC) on stack

PCRJUMP : XTHL ;current (PC) in (HL)

DAD D ;displacement added to (HL)

;result in (HL)

XTHL ;modified (PC) on stack

RET ; modified (PC) in (PC)

;program control transferred

;to new area

Electronics/August 2, 1979 137 Calculator notes

personal-fatigue/delay allowance (PFDA). Determined empirically, L depends heavily on the manufacturing HP-25 program makes processes used in a given company but is relatively independent of the particular product manufactured. fast cost estimates Having v, the program determines the cumulative by Joe Barocio average cost of the first through the xth unit from z = Teledyne Lewisburg, Lewisburg, Tenn. v/(1 +y). The program then finds total cost, C, by multiplying zand x. Consider the example where 1,276 electronic relays The learning curve, also known as the experience or (x) are to be produced; the cost of one electronic relay improvement curve, is a well-known tool for predicting (a) is $1.65; the learning curve factor (L) is 0.83; and the total manufacturing cost of a product from the the PFDA is 0.166. Introducing these constants into the established cost of the first unit. Given any learning program as instructed yields I/ = $0.2413, z = $0.3300 curve factor, this program uses its tabulated values to and C = $491.02. find unit, cumulative average, and total costs in a frac- This value compares favorably with the longhand solu- tion of the time it would take to calculate those costs by tion of $490.67. Note the error between these two values hand. will be considerably greater when x is equal to a small The formula based on the learning curve factor, L, is value (less than 10), or when a step learning curve (a axY, where y is the manufacturing cost of unit x, a is factor of less than 0.50) is used CI the cost of the first unit and y is the log of L divided by Engineers notebook is aregular feature in Electronics. We Invite readers to submit original log 2. L per se represents an index of the cost of design shortcuts, calculation aids, measurement and test techniques, and other ideas for manufacturing a series of units, and it is affected by a saying engineering time or cost. Well pay $50 for each Item published.

HP725 PROGRAM FOR ESTIMATING PRODUCTION COSTS

i Code Key

01 31 ENTE I _ Registers 02 74 R/S

03 23 00 STO 0 Ro

04 74 FL'S Ri (log L)/log 2 05 14 08 f log

06 02 2 R2 1+ PFDA

07 14 08 flog

08 71

09 23 01 STO 1

10 14 03 f yX

11 61 y Instructions

12 74 R'S

13 24 01 RCL 1 • Key in program

14 01 1 • Enter RUN mode and initialize 15 51 • Key in the cost to produce the first unit, total number of units desired, 16 15 22 g lix learning-curve factor, and personal fatigue/delay allowance factor: r 17 61 R/S, RIS, ILI, R/S, (PFDA), R/S 74 18 R/S The cost of the xth unit (i.e. yl is displayed 19 24 00 RCL 0 • Press R/S to display the cumulative-average cost, z. 20 61 Y

21 01 1 • Press RIS to display the total cost for xunits, x •z.

22 24 02 RCI '

23 51 •

24 61 •

25 13 00 GTO 00

138 Electronics/August 2, 1979 "How aZehntel in-circuit test system made me ahero with my sales reps!' Tom McShane. VP of Marketing. Racal-Vadic,

"Last year, Racal-Vadic introduced a of satisfied users throughout the world. Also, they're revolutionary new product — atriple modem — specialists. In-circuit testing is their ONLY business. and sales took off like askyrocket. Because of this, they provide outstanding service Production, however, lagged behind, much to and engineering backup every step of the way. the chagrin of sales reps — and customers. As far as I'm concerned, whether it's modems There were logical reasons. This PC board had or in-circuit test systems, you just can't beat three times the component complexity (including a experience. microprocessor) of anything we'd built before. By the way. Zehntel just sent me an informative Our yield of good boards was less than 60%. booklet entitled "How to Beat Murphy's Law with And since our functional tester didn't indicate the an In-Circuit Test System." It's worth sending for" type and location of failures, it was taking our techs forever to rework boards. A real bottleneck had developed. PLAN TRONICS Then we installed aZehntel Model 800 TROUBLESHOOTER In-Circuit Test System. Zehntel Within six weeks we were shipping TEN TIMES as many triple modems as before! 2625 Shadelands Drive, Walnut Creek, CA 94598 l In seconds, our Zehntel in-circuit inspector Tel: (415) 932-6900 •TWX: 910-385-6300 was finding the common assembly errors — wrong - RI value, out of tolerance, mismarked or dead analog Ill and digital components, solder bridges, open circuits. And since precise rework instructions on ALL failures is printed out in simple English, our techs could repair the boards much faster. Today, board yield is well over 90%. Production is keeping pace with sales, and once again I'm ahero with my sales reps — and my customers. Why did we choose Zehntel? For one thing, they're pioneers in in-circuit testing, with hundreds

Circle 139 on reader service card Engineer's newsletter

Get hands-on Traditionally, users of thick-film hybrid have two sources of prototypes. One is the independent hybrid house, and the other is in-house develop- experience with your ment. Now they have a third choice: Cermalloy has opened a lab to thick-film prototypes provide thick-film users with up-to-date production and test facilities to determine the feasibility of new circuit designs. Circuit prototyping and limited production facilities will also be available in the new lab. In most cases Cermalloy will be able to provide acustomer with aprototype within two weeks after receiving the circuit design or artwork. In addition, a customer's engineers will be permitted to work alongside Cermalloy staff members in the new lab to gain first-hand production experience. For additional details about the laboratory, contact Cermalloy, Cermet Divi- sion of Bala Electronics Corp., Union Hill Industrial Park, West Consho- hocken, Pa. 19428.

Program aids If you would like to take some of the black art out of network design, a new low-cost, interactive program from Security Research Laboratories network design will demystify you for amere $550. It computes transfer functions, gains, stability, and so on for two-port networks at any frequency. Available in Fortran IV and Basic, the ND-1 software uses simple instructions to handle complex networks while plotting all items over any selected range. It even permits the engineer to use measured parameter data as well as design data in predicting the response of a network. For further informa- tion, write to Security Research Laboratories, P. 0. Box 49, Dept. EDI, Medfield, Mass. 02052.

A square hole Considering tritium gas as a source of back-up lighting? Corning Glass Works had this use in mind when it developed precision glass tubing with a for tritium rectangular instead of circular cross section. In a square tube, the tritium light-source—gas plus phosphor coating—can lie flat and thus save display space. This type of tubing made it possible to use tritium lighting in extremely slim liquid-crystal-display watches. Available in borosilicate glasses, it comes in widths of 0.100 to 0.150 inch and heights of 0.030 to 0.040 inch. Additional information may be obtained from the Electronic Materials Department of Corning Glass Works, Corning, N. Y. 14830.

A reliable way Every engineer today needs a good basic knowledge of the principles of to learn about design reliability. To meet this need, the Reliability Analysis Center at Griffiss Air Force Base, N. Y., has prepared a course specifically for reliability circuit designers who have had little or no previous reliability training. Major elements in the course are: part selection, specification and control; part derating, plus derating guidelines; reliability allocation and prediction; reliability analysis, testing, and program management; reliability design techniques such as redundancy, environmental protection, and design simplification and analysis; and life-cycle-cost and design-to-cost philoso- phies. The four-day course will be given for $400 in Seattle, Aug. 27-30, and Orlando, Fla., Dec. 10-13. For further information call Mrs. L. Mack at the Reliability Analysis Center, (315) 330-4151. -Jerry Lyman

140 Electronics/August 2, 1979 New products_

Capacitance meter spans nine ranges

31/2-digit instrument uses dual-threshold technique to minimize errors caused by dielectric absorption, measures up to 199.9 mF, sells for $190

by Richard W. Comerford, Test, Measurement & Control Editor

The 3001 is a 3/12 -digit meter that , however, tend to re- of a 120-v or 240-v main." With measures capacitance in nine ranges, tain charge; after discharge, a resid- batteries, he says, it easy for power the lowest resolving 1 pF and the ual voltage can appear on their to fall below useable levels without highest able to measure values to terminals. If not dealt with, this volt- the user knowing it, thus invalidating 199.9 mF. At 23°C, the $190 unit's age would shorten the charge time all readings. "On a production line, basic measurement uncertainty is and thus shift the reading to avalue this could mean big trouble." ±0.1% of reading ± 1count on the below the actual capacitance. Locating the 100-pF zero-calibra- seven lowest ranges and ± 0.5% of A refinement of the technique tion knob in the center of the panel, reading ± 1count on the two high- devised by design engineer Larry away from the input terminals, lets a est. Temperature variation affects Fischer does away with this problem. user zero the instrument without his the accuracy of all ranges by only Called dual-threshold slope integra- hand introducing stray capacitance. ±0.01% of reading at maximum tion, it uses two voltage thresholds: Overall calibration is accomplished over the instrument's 5°-to-45°C the first, at a value well above any by adjusting a single potentiometer operating range. possible residual voltage, starts a from the back. The adjustment is In the design of the meter's front charge-time measurement and the also far from the power source; end, Continental Specialties Corp. second ends it. The difference in together with internal shielding, this engineers managed to overcome threshold is fixed for each range, as minimizes line-induced capacitance what marketing director Marty is the resistance, so capacitance is errors. Weinstein refers to as "the biggest directly proportional to the measure- The 3001 will be available starting bugaboo" —dielectric absorption. ment time. Each complete charge- in September along with a test jig The 3001 measures capacitance indi- discharge cycle takes only 0.3 s on for production line testing. Clock rectly, noting, as do other meters, all but the highest range, where it and gate signals provided at the rear the time it takes to charge an takes 3.5 s. permit the unit to be used with a •unknown capacitor through aknown According to Fischer, the choice remote display or limit comparator, resistance to a fixed voltage thresh- of line operation rather than battery which is planned for introduction old-Typically, an unknown capacitor power for the 3001 was dictated by later this year. is charged and discharged several practical considerations. He found Continental Specialties Corp., 70 Fulton times asecond during atest, with the that, with few exceptions, such Terrace, New Haven, Conn. 06509. Phone display updated after each cycle. meters are used "within easy reach (203) 624-3103 [338]

10p F 3001 CAPACITANCE METER 1p F 100p F

100n F 1000p F

O I O. PVVR 1000pF '"--100mF

ZERO CAL RANGE

CONTINANTAL •PACIALTIRS CORPORATION

Electronics/August 2, 1979 141 it -it If Newton Were Measuring Today, He'd Probably Rent A Measurement System From General Electric.

Today, it takes system, or rely on more than a bonk competent GE on the bean to technicians to make test obser- configure a system vations. When you to your require- need a measure- ments. They can ment system, you rack mount and can rent the wire the units equipment as a together for a single unit from old turnkey operation; the GE Rental even run the Shop nearest you. (There are 48 nationwide). test and reduce the data for you. We'll select your equipment from our huge Down-to-earth service. That's what you get rental inventory of instrumentation from lead- when you "gravitate" to General Electric, ing manufacturers, calibrated with standards your complete instrument rental source. traceable to the NBS. Our computerized inventory control provides instant information For your FREE RENTAL CATALOG call collect on availability and location of equipment for (518) 372-9900, or write fastest delivery. General Electric Company, Your phone call sets in motion a conven- Apparatus Service Division, ient weekly or monthly rental program. You Bldg. 4, Room 210, 1 River Road, can specify components for your measurement Schenectady, N.Y. 12345.

ALA. BIRMINGHAM (205)9254449* ARIZ. PHOENIX (602)278-8515, TUCSON (602) 294-3139 •CAL. LOS ANGELES (213) 642-5350. SACRAMENTO (916) 383-1324, SAN FRANCISCO (415) 436-9260 • COL. DENVER (303) 320-3252 • CONN. SOUTHINGTON (203) 621-4059 • R.A. JACKSONVILLE (904) 751-0615. MIAMI (305) 940-7723 • GA. ATLANTA (404)457- 5563 • ILL. CHICAGO (219) 933-45CO. or (312) 854-2994 • IND. EVANSVILLE (812)479-0248, FT. WAYNE (219)484-9073, INDIANAPOLIS (317) 639-1565 • 10. DAVENPORT (319) 285-7501 • KY. LOUISVILLE (502) 452-3311 • LA. NEW ORLEANS (504)367-6528 •MD. BALTIMORE (301)332-4713* MASS. BOSTON (617)396-9600* MICH. DETROIT (313) 285-6700. Ext. 208 or 209 • MINN. MINNEAPOLIS (612) 522-4396 • MO. KANSAS ow (816) 231-4377. ST. LOUIS (314) 965-7115 • NEW JERSEY FAIRFIELD (201) 227-7900 • N.Y. BUFFALO (716)876-1200. SCHENECTADY (518)385-2195* N.Y.C. FAIRFIELD. N.J (201 227-7900 •N.C. CHARLOTTE (704)525-0311 •OH. CINCINNATI (513)874-8512, CLEVELAND2(16) 441-6111. TOLE- DO 419) 691-3501 •ORE. PORTLAND (503) 221-5101 • PENN. PHILADELPHIA (609) 424-4450. or 215) 923-0383, PUTS- BURGH (412) 462-74(X) • S.C. GREENVILLE (803) 277-4093 • TENN. MEMPHIS (901) 525-5393 • rF. DALLAS (214) 357- 7341. HOUSTON (713) 672-3570 • Uf. SALT LAKE CITY (801) 973-2253 •VA. RICHMOND (804) 232-6733 •WASH. SEATTLE (206) 575-2987 • W.V. CHARLESTON (304) 345-0920 • WISC. APPLETON (414) 739-7766. MILWAUKEE (414) 744-0110 • PUERTO RICO PONCE (809) 843-4225. or 4625.

GENERAL ELECTRIC Circle 143 on reader service card New products

and 24-bit multipliers and convert- multiplexed data acquisition, X-ray Data acquisition ers. The new 4-bit unit is a fully and ultrasound imaging, image pro- parallel (flash) converter that can cessing, and facsimile. 4-bit converter operate at any conversion rate from TRW LSI Products, division of TRW Inc. 's dc up to its 30-MHz maximum. Electronics Components Group, P. O. Box runs at 30 MHz "Furthermore, it works without an 1125, Redondo Beach, Calif. 90278. Phone external sample-and-hold circuit," (213) 535-1831 (3811 Monolithic device consumes Bucklen points out. Other features calculated to win only 250 mW, sells for users, in his opinion, are a total MOS device converts 8bits power consumption of 250 mw from $29 each in hundreds two supplies (+ 5- and — 6-v), hous- using capacitance network ing in a standard 16-pin ceramic The excitement in analog-to-digital dual in-line package, and a 100- By using a capacitance network in converters—and there is plenty of piece price of $29. The converter has its new mos analog-to-digital con- late—has been mainly in three amaximum nonlinearity of ± Vs of a verter, West Germany's Siemens AG areas: high speed, high resolution, least significant bit, an aperture has obtained what it believes are and low cost with low speed and jitter of ± 30 ps, and recovery time remarkable performance character- modest resolution. Common to all from a full-scale step of no more istics for such adevice. Intended as a three areas has been design for than 20 ns. Controls are provided for link between sensors and micropro- compatibility with microcomputers. selecting straight binary or offset 2's cessors, the 8-bit SAB3060P a-d Meanwhile, somewhat in the back- complement output coding in either converter sports a maximum nonlin- ground, are ballooning video appli- atrue or inverted sense. earity of ± /12 least significant bit. cations that require high speed and TRW LSI Products believes its 4-bit The device, based on n-channel low price but can tolerate low resolu- converter is the first such monolithic silicon-gate technology, uses succes- tion. TRW LSI Products is drawing a unit to reach production, although sive approximation to convert analog bead on this market segment with its , Sunny- voltages into 8-bit digital words. TDC1021J —a 4-bit monolithic de- vale, Calif., announced a version in Measuring ranges of 0 v to between vice with a conversion rate of 30 1977. So far AMD has built 30-MHz 1and 8 y are selectable. The conver- megasamples per second. engineering samples for internal sion accuracy checks in at ± I LSB. "The TDC1021J fills in the last evaluation, says a spokesman, but At aclock rate of 2 MHz, conversion little converter gap," says Willard K. has no set production schedule. "But time is 40 µs, whereas at 3 mHz it Bucklen, applications engineer at the we will be in this market," he says. becomes 25 its. TRW Electronics division, which has Among applications TRW sees for The SAB3060P generates its se- up to now concentrated largely on the 4-bit converter are video and lectable reference voltages-1 to 8 such upper-end items as 12-, 16-, radar data conversion, high-speed v—by charge distribution in the binary-weighted capacitance net- work. With this method, says Karl Hirschel, product manager for mi- crocomputers at Siemens in Munich, a higher input impedance and a higher linearity can be obtained than with moS converters using inte- grated resistance networks. Further- more, since the reference and mea- suring voltage sources are only capacitively loaded, driver amplifiers are not needed. Internal resistance of these sources is less than 3kI2 each. Now available in sample quanti- ties, the SAB3060P carries a price tag of about $11 in 100-piece lots. Larger-quantity lots can be had later this year, with delivery time for 1,000 pieces about four to six weeks. Siemens Corp., 186 Wood Avenue South, Iselin, N. J. 08830, or Siemens AG, 8000 Munich 1, P. O. Box 103, West Germany (383)

144 Electronics/August 2, 1979 Yes it's true — There is acompletely new kind of FFT-based Spectrum Analyzer it does give you an extra dimension in high-speed, high-resolution spectrum analysis, DC —100KHz. it plugs into any Tektronix® Series 7000. it has the same "1-2-3-READ" Three-Knob simplicity of conventional tuned analyzers. it is truly a basic, general-purpose instrument.

ftSCn,, , tji., ,SPAN Plz

PLUS many other unique performance and presentation of the high-resolution convenience features... extra dimensions of value, only span (foreground). And every parameter of in the Rockland Model 7530A. the setup is annotated on-screen, in large, clear • Up to 90dB dynamic range. alphanumerics... automatically.

— 160dBV/V-Rlz noise floor. Get the complete story on the newest and • 1Hz resolution, DC-100KHz. best thing to happen to spectrum analysis • Directly calibrated, cursor-probed measurements of every in a decade. Call the factory for a point (amplitude and frequency) on every spectrum demonstration of this remarkable new displayed, in Volts, Power Density, dBV, and dBR (relative instrument.., or write for the Model 7530A to selected reference). brochure, and we'll send you our 48-page Spectrum Analysis Handbook free — a mini-textbook on FFT-based Check out that "extra dimension"... You always see the instrumentation! entire 0-100KHz spectrum (background), you always know what part of it you have selected for detailed study (inten- ® Registered trademark, Tektronix, Inc. sified background segment), and you then see a full-screen

Rockland Systems Corporation, Rockleigh Industrial Park, Rockleigh, N.J. 07647, (201) 767-7900, TWX 710-991-9852

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CIRCLE 145 New products

Components rf, intermediate-frequency, and au- tomatic-gain-control amplifiers and as line drivers and isolation stages. Zinc oxide makes Like their 110, 120, and 130 predecessors in the series, the new varistors better single-stage devices have 50-9 input and output impedances and are fully Units withstand 4,000-A cascadable for any gain. Also like the earlier models, they are thin-film surges and boast hybrid circuits hermetically sealed in metal TO-39 cans. As such they speedy response times afford more consistent performance than discrete designs, not to mention Taking the plunge into anew market greater reliability and greater tem- area, Victory Engineering Corp. has Sintered at a high temperature, the perature stability. begun producing metal-oxide varis- devices exhibit sharp, symmetrical The MWA210, 220, and 230 have tors. For over 20 years the company breakdowns. "What you're really afrequency range of 0.1 to 600 MHz, has manufactured both silicon and looking at is a back-to-back zener a typical gain of 10 dB, and 1-dB silicon-carbide varistors, but it now diode," observes Molee. The units compression output levels of +1.5, believes the time is right to enter the use solder-clad copper leads, which +10.5, and + 18.5 dBm, respective- market long dominated by General are placed across the entire body of ly. Comparable figures for the 310, Electric. vEco's new metal-oxide the device, reducing formation of 320, and 330 amplifiers are 0.1 mHz varistors protect against high-volt- local hot spots under pulsing condi- to 1 GHz; 8-, 8-, and 6.2-dB gains, age transients, as its other varistors tions. No compensating components respectively; and + 3.5, +11.5, and do, and in addition sport high tran- are needed with these varistors; they + 15.2 dBm, respectively. Noise fig- sient current capabilities and fast may be inserted directly into the ures range from 4to 9dB, depending response times. circuit across the power lines. on type. High-reliability versions can "Metal-oxide varistors aren't that Affording protection against tran- be made to MIL-S-883, Method simple to make," notes C. S. Molee, sient surges that occur when trans- 5004.4, Class B. vice president for engineering. "But formers switch, motors start, or Prices range from $5.50 to $7.00 there are distinct advantages to there is high-current interruption, in lots of 100; units are currently using them." Among those advan- the varistors may be used to isolate available from stock. tages are: a high transient current solid-state circuitry and related com- Motorola Semiconductor Products Inc., P. 0. capability of up to 4,000 A at 85 °C; a ponents from relay coils and sole- Box 20912, Phoenix, Ariz. 85036. Phone response time of less than 35 ns; and noids, for example. Alan Wagstaff at (602) 244-6394 [345] the ability to withstand up to 2,000 Priced at $0.49 each in 1,000- pulses with only a 10% derating of piece quantities, the varistors may the nominal voltage value. replace devices such as selenium Low-cost ceramic chip The VECO line of Zorbguard varis- surge suppressors, silicon power zen- tors includes three different kinds: ers, gas-discharge tubes, and carbon capacitors handle 15 kV the R series, a disk type with radial spark gaps. Delivery is from stock to leads and nominal voltage ratings six weeks. Working voltages up to 15 kv are from 117 v to 1,400 V; the A series, Victory Engineering Corp., Victory Road, achieved by a line of high-voltage a cylindrical device with axial leads Springfield, N. J. 07081. Phone Bud Molee at ceramic capacitors with a single and nominal voltage ratings between (201) 379-5900 [341] dielectric layer. They supplement a 27 v and 430 v; and for low-voltage standard line of multilayer devices applications, the Z series, adisk type rated to 4 kv. Proprietary glass- and with radial leads and voltage ratings Rf amplifiers cover silver-free noble-metal contacts from 27 v to 120 V. Both the R and make them easy to mount and Z series have nominal voltage tem- 1-GHz range provide high adhesion contact with perature coefficients of less than excellent resistance to solder leach- 0.05%/ °C, and the A series is rated Additions to the MWA series of ing. Available values range from 10 at less than 0.03%/ °C. The R series wideband radio-frequency amplifiers to 5,000 pF in N PO and X7R dielec- has a response time of 35 ns, while extend its upper frequency limit trics. In quantities of 1,000, they sell the A and Z both respond within no from 400 MHz to 1 GHz. The new for 95 cents to $3.85 each. Delivery more than 40 ns. amplifiers should prove useful as takes four to eight weeks. These varistors are nonlinear, volt- broadband linear amplifiers in mili- Johanson Dielectrics Inc., 2220 Screenland age-dependent resistors made pri- tary, commercial, and consumer Dr., Burbank, Calif. 91505. Phone William marily from grains of zinc oxide. equipment and, more specifically, in Jensen at (213) 848-4465 [346]

146 Electronics/August 2, 1979 lab or field, production or process, OEM or general purpose. The Omnigraphic® Series 100 lets i you select the model that's right for your application

The Sedes 100 is acomplete family of X-Y record- ers with a model available to meet your specific re- cording need. Each model is built around a basic mainframe. The completely self-contained main- frame stands alone but can act as the basic building block for your particular application. The Series 100 meets both general purpose as well as special pur- pose system applications. Houston Instrument's patented non-con- tacting capacitance feedback transducer re- places the slidewire and potentiometers, neatly eliminating the most troublesome components of X-Y servo systems. For complete information contact Jim Bell, Houston Instrument, One Houston, Square, Austin, Texas 78753 (512) 837-2820. Outside Texas call toll free 1-800-531-5205. In Europe con- tact Houston Instrument, Rochester- laan 6 8240 Gistel Belgium. Phone 059/277445.

No more slidewire cleaner, no more slidewire lubricant, no more slidewire

Prices begin at $970 * Quantity discounts available houston 1 DIVISION OF altuscm&LomeW •U.S. Domestic Price Only Instrument 'Registered Trademark of Houston Instrument "the graphics -recorder company"

If you would like a representative For literature only circle 146 to contact you circle 147 MOTOROLA HELPS STRETCH GAS MUG

Automotive manufacturers are adjusted to give high mileage produced just such agenius. caught between arock and tends to produce unacceptable ahard place. They are obliged levels of pollution. The same ELECTRONIC not only to reduce fuel con- engine, adjusted for low ENGINE MANAGER. sumption, but also, at the same pollution levels, uses more gas and gives disappointing It's an electronic engine-man- 1985 performance. 275 MPG agement system, controlled by 1983 The trick is to burn exactly amicrocomputer that thinks 26 MPG 1981 the right amount of fuel at like afirst-rate automobile 22 MPG exactly the right moment. But 1979 mechanic. It lives inside the car, 19 MPG what is "right" depends on a and because it can make amil- whole complex of constantly lion calculations each second, it changing factors, including Government mandated Corporate Average Fuel can automatically regulate car- Economy (CAFE) standards. Source: NHTSA terrain, engine and air tempera- buretion, spark timing, and time, to reduce harmful ex- ture, barometric pressure, and the recirculation of exhaust haust gas emissions. And these the load and speed of the car. gases through the engine. It objectives seem to be mutually It would take agenius to makes all these adjustments exclusive. juggle all those factors. continuously, so you get as An engine whose carbu- Fortunately, Motorola has been much performance with as little retor and spark timing are working on the problem for pollution as possible, whatever some time, and has in fact the driving conditions are at that particular moment. It's areal computer in Y MAKING ENGINES THINK. miniature, with amemory and and they're aremarkable but models of two-way radios, and the ability to manipulate what it not unique we no longer make home TV learns in terms of what it al- demonstration sets here at all. ready knows. It works so well of the kinds of We make microelectronics that car and heavy-duty-equip- things Motorola carry telephone services to ment manufacturers in is doing with places where there are no America and Europe plan to microelectron- A mic oco npu ter, phone lines. Transmit electro- drawn larger use it, some as early as the ics today. than I fe cardiograms and voice mes- 1980 model year. sages simultaneously from the IMAGINATIVE scene of an accident to anear- IMPOSSIBLE WITHOUT ELECTRONICS. by hospital. Help the energy in- ELECTRONICS. dustries develop the resources Motorola is not only one of the of the earth, the sea and the sun. Such precise, continuous en- world's largest manufacturers And we help make auto- gine management would be im- dedicated exclusively to mobile engines think about how possible without the integrated electronics, but also one of its they use precious fuel. circuit, an electronic micro- foremost designers of custom cosm that contains the equiva- and standard semi- lent of twelve thousand conductors. transistors and measures about We've come along MOTOROLA 5mm square. These small way from the time when miracles are the central nervous we put radios into cars Making electronics history system of Motorola's electronic fifty years ago, and TV sets engine-management system, into America's living rooms. since 1928. Now we make hundreds of Circle 149 on reader service card

For further information. write Public Affairs Office, Corporate Offices, Motorola. Inc., 1303 E. Algonquin Road. Schaumburg, Illinois 60196.

Motorola and 8 are registered trademarks of Motorola. Inc. New products

Communications tor allows the tube to operate at effi- tion and conversion of these TV ciencies greater than 41% by lower- signals into an immobile image on a ing the total beam power when the normal TV monitor. The unit will CCD camera has drive level to the tube is reduced. operate in amoving environment. This makes the tube desirable for When acting as a transmitter, the high resolution pulsed operation and lessens the 280 receives a conventional CCTV primary power drain when the TWT input signal that is digitized and Unit with 248,832 pixels operates in its small-signal region. then fed into a solid-state memory. By using a patented termination Once a transmit command is given, resolves 350 lines vertically technique that has been successfully the memory is read out from left to applied for several years in Hughes' right, with acursor on the TV screen and 360 lines horizontally coupled-cavity TwTs, the designers showing how much of the picture is of the 876H were able to minimize left. Two sending speeds are avail- Using an image-sensing charge- able: 35 seconds for a single field coupled device with 248,832 picture picture with 240 by 256 picture elements (which it believes is the elements, and 74 seconds for a full largest number so far reached by frame picture using 240 by 512 dot- such adevice), Matsushita Electron- interlaced pixels. ics Corp. has developed a mono- In the receiving mode, the 280 chrome video camera that combines accepts the formatted, slow-scan TV high resolution with low weight, input, and reconstructs the static power consumption, and size. Capa- picture, using the same solid-state ble of resolving 360 lines horizontal- memory provided for the frame ly and 350 lines vertically, the freeze during transmission. The unit completely solid-state camera meas- uses 6bits to show 64 gray levels. ures 64 mm wide by 84 mm high by its phase distortion while keeping The transceiver sells for $8,000 if 149 mm deep and weighs only 540 g gain variation down to 1.2 dB across the lower resolution is selected, or (without a lens). It draws a total of the 500-MHz band both at saturation for $10,000 if higher resolution is 4.7 W from three power supplies: and under small-signal conditions. desired. Delivery time is within 60 to +15 V, +8 v, and — 12 V. The 876H utilizes periodic-perma- 90 days. Because of the high reliability nent-magnet focusing and forced-air Colorado Video Inc., P. 0. Box 928, Boulder, made possible by its all-solid-state cooling. It can be modified for power Colo. 80306. Phone Glen Southworth at design, the CCD camera is especially levels up to about 1,500 W. Measur- (303) 444-3972 [404] well suited to remote surveillance ing 22 in. long by 5 in. in diameter, and measurement applications. Its the TWT weighs 28 lb. Priced at size and weight should make it about $22,000, the TWT can be deliv- Microwave FET puts out attractive for portable TV and video ered in 9to 11 months. tape recorder applications, as well. Hughes Aircraft Co., Electron Dynamics 10 dBm at 10 GHz The camera will operate with a Divsion, 3100 West Lomita Blvd., Torrance, minimum light intensity of 10 lux Calif. 90509. Phone Chuck Zilm at (213) A gallium-arsenide field-effect tran- and features a signal-to-noise ratio 534-2121 [403] sistor intended for use in the of 50 dB. Its 75-9 video output frequency range from 2 to 12 GHz, delivers a standard peak-to-peak the LND832 is a dual-gate device voltage of 1V. The delivery schedule TV transceiver communicates that typically offers a power output and price of the camera have not yet of 10 dBm at 10 GHz with a drain been determined. video data over phone lines bias of 4V. It will operate with drain Panasonic Electronic Components, One Pa- biases as high as 10 V. The transistor nasonic Way, Secaucus, N. J. 07094. Phone Designed to provide narrow-band is available as a chip with dimen- (201) 348-7276 [401] video communications over standard sions of 23 by 17 by 5 mils; it can voice-grade telephone circuits, the also be mounted on carriers. model 280 combines both transmis- The multilayer devices use re- Traveling wave tube supplies sion and reception modes to furnish cessed gates and n+ contract layers video teleconferencing. The trans- for resistance to burnout and break- 700-W cw power for Ku-band ceiver offers three functions: a frame down. The chips, which are available freeze capability that captures a from stock, sell for $150 each in The model 876H is a Ku-band trav- single image; conversion of this quantities of one through nine. eling-wave tube that can supply 700 frozen picture into a slow-scan tele- Raytheon Co., Special Microwave Devices W of continuous-wave power from vision signal suitable for transmis- Operation, 130 Second Ave., Waltham, 14.0 to 14.5 GHz. A two-stage collec- sion over audio channels; and recep- Mass. 02154 [405]

150 Electronics/August 2, 1979 New products

and data is collected on each selected memory even when a trace point is Instruments edge. In the other two modes, one not generated—should the trigger clock is designated the "master" and sequence not be found, for example. Analyser has the other two are "slaves." The In this mode the data listing is master is the last to occur in labeled HISTORY AT STOP or NO three clocks sequence. As the clock pulses occur HISTORY AVAILABLE. in sequence, the slaves strobe data Options are available for connect- into holding registers, and, at the ing the 1610B to athermal printer or Logic-state instrument end of each sequence, the master to the IEEE-488 general-purpose aimed at multiplexed buses strobes all of the data into the interface bus. The basic analyzer analyzer memory. sells in the U. S. for $12,500. offers extra modes The 16/16-bit mode collects 16 Hewlett-Packard Co., 1507 Page Mill Rd., data bits with one clock and the OR- Palo Alto, Calif. 94304 [351] Based on the pioneering model ed combination of the other two 1610A, Hewlett-Packard's latest clocks for the remaining 16 bits. In keyboard-controlled logic state ana- the 16/8/8-bit mode, the three 20-MHz pulse generator lyzer adds three-phase qualified clocks operate separately. clocks, a sequence protect function, Emulator. The 1610B has a can deliver 2A at ± 100 V and a memory retrieval mode for sequence protect function that, when quicker and easier analysis of micro- activated, causes the analyzer to The model PG-13D high-power computer and random-logic systems. collect data in the same manner as pulse generator is a versatile instru- Designated the model 1610B, the the 1610A. Data storage begins after ment that may be set to deliver new instrument, which is especially the last sequence term preceding the pulses of up to ±100 vat ± 2 A. It well suited for analyzing multiplexed trigger point, and all sequence terms can put out its full power at frequen- buses, can collect data on either or are displayed complete with labels. cies from 1Hz to 3 MHz. Its output both edges of each of its three clocks. When the function is inactive, data amplitude drops with increasing fre- Altogether up to four OR-ed min- storage is initiated immediately, and quency; at its top pulse repetition terms may be used as qualifiers on all of the 64 states relative to the rate of 20 MHz, the output may be each clock phase. trace point are captured. Sequence varied between 2.5 and 25 v at 0.5 A. Three data-capture modes are terms are neither labeled nor listed possible with the 1610B: 32-bit, separately. 16/16-bit, and 16/8/8-bit. The 32- The new analyzer has a memory bit mode is similar to that of the retrieval mode that allows the user to 1610A; the three clocks are OR-ed, examine the contents of the analyzer

Both current- and voltage-output modes are provided. In the latter, the source impedance is approximately 50 9. In the former, the compliance voltage is specified in the region of 100 V. Like most lower-power pulsers, but unlike many high-power units, the PG-13D provides variable rise and fall times, adjustable pulse widths and delays, and dc offsets. It sells for $2,980 and has a delivery time of 60 days. Velonex, adivision of Varian Associates, 560 Robert Ave., Santa Clara, Calif. 95050. Phone Perry McCown at (408) 244-7370 [355]

Electronics/August 2, 1979 151 Listen to the Band In Real Time • •

•

REAL TIME. .Yes, Real Time! When the theme is fast changing and sweeping ificatio across the band, only real time interpretatibn gives dwidth41 dB) 25 MHz full appreciation. If that's your scene, Surface esolution (3 dB) 50 kHz Acoustic Wave chirp transform spectral analysis 'Spectral ripple . 1 dB pk to pk has got it taped ... . Max input signal level -- 16 dBm pp (100 mV pp) The W1748 Spectrum Analyser is based on real Dynamic Range (sidelobe limited) 30 dB time chirp transform signal processing using SAW Dynamic Range (noise limited) 60 dB techniques. Basically the unit provides within an Maximum output signal 1 28 volts pk analysis time of 40s, a 500 point resolution of Processing time 40ps analogue or digital signals in a 25 MHz bandwidth. Output data rate 1 MHz/Rs Designed for use in military airborne equipment Duty cycle 50% Power supplies 17V to 40V 1A as a fast spectral processor, the unit outputs the + 7V to + 40V 1A spectral content of input signals at a rate of 1 Internal Power MHz/Rs. Supply regulation ± 15V, + 5V Frequency scaling techniques permit the Weight 5 4 Kg (12 lbs) analyser to operate at kHz bandwidths with the Size 125 X 195 X 330 mm same resolution and intrinsic speed. Case ') ATR short MESL Microwave A division of RACAL•MESL Ltd

Locher-id Industrial Estate, Newbridge, Midlothian. EH28 8LP, Scotland. Telephone 031-333 2000 Telex 72384

Circle 152 on reader service card Gle0003 43..‘ .2. Products newsletter

Ti expands ROM Later this summer, Texas Instruments Inc., Dallas, Texas, plans to offer two additional versions of the TMS1000 4-bit microcomputer, with differ- range for TMS1000 ent amounts of on-board read-only memory. The TMS1400, with 4 microcomputer kilobytes of on-board ROM, is expected to sell in the $3.00 to $3.50 range, and the TMS1700, a half-kilobyte version, will be priced between $1.30 and $1.50. The original TMS1000 with 1 kilobyte of ROM is currently selling, in high-volume quantities, for about $1.75, while the 2-kilobyte TMS1100 goes for about $2.10.

Users may opt for Systron-Donner Corp.'s Instruments division in Concord, Calif., is poised to introduce a new family of universal counters that will allow users to varied instruments specify exactly what they want in their instruments. The UC1100 series in single counter will consist of a microprocessor-based mainframe that provides two identical channels, each equipped with controls and adisplay, to measure frequency, period, period averaging, time-interval averaging, and ratio, as well as complex-mixed simultaneous measurements. The IEEE-488-com- patible mainframe has a space for four instrument modules that initially will include: a 100-MHz input amplifier; a 3V2-digit voltmeter to measure trigger levels and external voltages; and 512-mHz and 1.25 -GHz prescalar inputs. Base price is about $2,000.

Graphics option New graphics capabilities are sprucing up Okidata Corp.'s Slimline series of line printers. With four different dot densities availaple —100 by 100, adds adaptability 70 by 72, 60 by 72, and 60 by 60—the microprocessor-controlled matrix to line printers printers can reproduce anything displayed on a cathode-ray tube. This includes areas of solid black, maps, bar codes, charts, and labels, as well as character sets such as Arabic, Chinese, and Farsi, which require large matrices of dots. Priced at $95, the graphics option is available with the 125- and 250-line-per-minute printers from the Mount Laurel, N. J.-based firm.

Fiber-optic modems The asynchronous CRS-100 and synchronous CSY-100 fiber-optic modems from Canoga Data Systems used to be compatible only with the become more versatile RS-232-C data-communications interface. Now, at no increase in price, the Canoga Park, Calif., company is offering compatibility with MIL- STD-188, RS-422, RS-423, and ccirr standard V.35. The move was a response to user requests, the company says.

Switches meet U. S. Analog switches have recently been added as a category to the U. S. Government's Qualified Parts List (QPL), and Siliconix Inc.'s DG180 standards for Qualified series of switches was among the first to receive this approval. The QPL iS Parts List part of MIL-M-38510—a Government standard covering semiconductor devices. QPL numbers for the analog switch category are 11101 through 11108, corresponding to the Santa Clara, Calif., firm's part numbers DG181, 182, 184, 185, 187, 188, 190, and 191. These switches are used in such equipment as military aircraft, missiles, spacecraft, navigational electronics, and detection systems.

Electronics/August 2, 1979 153 Cl assified section FOR ENGINEERING/TECHNICAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

-CLA SSIFIED SALES REPRESENTATIVES Sales Manager—Mary Ellen Kearns-212/997-3306 Chicago Linda Nocella 312/751-3770 Detroit Mac Huestis 313/873-7410 Philadelphia . Dan Ferro . .215/568-6161 Atlanta .Maggie McClelland 404/892-2868 Cleveland Mac Huestis. 216/781-7000 Houston Mike Taylor 713/659-8381 Pittsburgh... Jack Gardner 412/227-3658 Boston. Jim McClure 617/262-1160 Dallas Mike Taylor .214/742-1747 Los Angeles . Ana Galas .213/487-1160 San Francisco .Peter McGraw 415/362-4600 Chicago Bill Higgens 312/751-3733 Denver Shirley Klotz 303/837-1010 New York Larry Kelly .212/997-3594 Stamford William Eydt .203/359-2860

Engineer

ENGINEERS/ MANAGERS

ELECTRONICS ELECTRONIC ENGINEERS, $18,000445,000. For the elec. tronics engineer, New England ENGINEERS offers the widest diversity of positions available anywhere. Douglas Aircraft Company offers diverse, interesting opportunities in As one of the largest, long established (15 years) tech- reliability engineering for electronics engineers whose early-career aspirations nical placement organizations are broader than being adesigner. in the area, we can represent you with a wide variety of clients, large and small, for e Selected candidates will join an expanding group working on electronic positions ranging from entry systems for Douglas-built commercial aircraft. level to senior management. Nationwide representation is also part of our service. Con. • There will be close working contact with many of the nation's tact Bob McNamara, E. P. leading electronics manufacturers in designing, analyzing, testing, and REARDON ASSOCIATES, Wm Washington St., Dedham, MA fielding flight-control, communication, navigation, instrumentation, and 02026 (617/329-2660). other systems utilizing microprocessors, LSI memories, optoelectronics, ELECTRONICS ENGINEInts, and other current technologies. $15K-$401C. Immediate west coast & national positions • Opportunity exists to work in and learn a wide spectrum of reliability and entry level thru mgmt in Com- safety design and analysis disciplines--examples are computer-aided mercial, aerospace & coMmu- ications industries. We will performance analysis, FMEA and fault-tree analysis, circuit functional put you in Contact with large, medium or Small prestigious analysis, reliability testing, part application and failure analysis, cos desiring backgrounCls in thermal design evaluation and test. analog, digital, microproces- sor, instrumentation, Micro- wave technology & related • A unique aspect of the position is the ability to select, for long-term areas. For Immediate con- specialization, those areas that the individual finds most rewarding. fidential response, call or send resume vesalary hittorY Requirements are an EE degree, plus one to five years' experience; ex- to Glenn Enigiish, President, GLENN ENGLISH AGENCY, perience not required in reliability. 7840 Mission Center Ct., Sap Diego, PA 92108 (714/291,- Put your background and experience to work for you today. Send a 9220).

brief summary of your education and experience to Mery Kurtz, 36-26. DESIGN ENGINEERS to $3811 Central Penna. Design con- nectors/terminals, micro-pro. cessors. Outstanding reloca- tion packages. Prompt con. fidential reply. MECK ASSOC. PERSONNEL, 1517 Cedar Cliff, Camp Hill, PA 17011 (717/ IVICOCOIVIVEL.1_ 761-4777). all positions fee -paid DOUGLAS CCIFPPOPRATION the nation s foremost AIRCRAFT CO. wilercllY placement network since 1933

3855 Lakewood Blvd. EM79 NATIONAL 111 PERSONNEL Long Beach, CA 90846 CONSULTANTS

An Equal Opportunity Employer

NATIONWIDE ELECTRONICS PLACEMENT Digital Ckt Dsgn •Hardware Sys Dsgn Analog Ckt Dsgn •Software Sys Dsgn Quality Reliability • Test Equipment Mtnce Entry Level through Management All Fees are Exclusively Employer Paid

E. J. STEPHEN ASSOCIATES Concord Pike, Suite 86, Wilmington, DE 1980 1601 (302)654-5350 154 r Electronics/August 2, 1979 Hardware/Firmware, Software, Product and Application Engineers OUR GR WTH CAN BE YOUR GRO WI

At Allen-Bradley Systems Division, we apply "state-of-the-art" computer and microprocessor technology to industrial systems. This Division has grown four-fold since 1975 and is still growing ... strong! As an important part of an international corporation, employing over 13,000 people, we emphasize stability and a sophisticated professional environment, which promotes your growth and ours. Opportunities exist for engineering professionals in the following areas. HARDWARE/FIRMWARE DESIGN ENGINEERS We have a variety of challenging assignments for engineers able to take responsibility to design and develop programmable controllers and numerical control systems employing digital and analog design techniques. Your background should include a B.S.E.E., scientific or advanced degree with 2 • years of related experience. Involvement with computer and microprocessor design is highly desirable. SOFTWARE ENGINEERS Since receiving your engineering or scientific degree (EE., Comp. Eng., Comp. Science, Math, or Physics), you have two or more years experience establishing a strong engineering orientation and an background, preferably with minicomputers. You are ready to assume project responsibility for software specifications, including design, test and documentation. Projects can include numerical control, communications and machine dependent software. PRODUCT/MARKETING ENGINEERS Draw upon your experience to identify market possibilities for new products. Duties include participation in research, exploration, identi- fication and recommendations for product opportunities based on anticipated industry-wide requirements. Background should include B.S.E.E. with 2 or more years experience and understanding of micro- processor technology and applications. APPLICATIONS ENGINEERS Use your engineering skills to define customer control system require- ments, determine design strategy and prepare proposals. Also implement control systems, participate in customer/sales training programs and be involved in new product planning and development. You presently have an engineering degree or equivalent experience in industrial control systems. Exposure to microprocessors and/or programming helpful.

If your experience and career goals match these professionally rewarding positions, you owe it to yourself to contact us. The total compensation plan is good, including generous benefits and the career growth possibilities are exceptional! Act NOW! Send your resume and salary history/requirements to:

Duane C. Smith, Salaried Employment Supervisor

ALLEN-BRADLEY CO. Systems Division Dept EM 747 Alpha Drive •Highland Heights, Ohio 44143 Quality in the best tradition.

An Equal Opportunuty Employer M/F

Electronics/ Auq :j.:, 2, 1979 155 Enginee , CAD Specialists

Unique Opportunity To Join National's Newest Group

We are presently estabhshinq a Corporate CAD group to develop more sophisticated approaches to complex IC designs. Professionals who can meet the challenge are encouraged to investigate the truly rewarding opportunities that now exist.

The individuals who join this exceptional group will be involved with developing and supporting circuit simulation, device models and gate level logic at Litton Aero Products — simulation. Candidates should possess a MS or PhD in EE or CS the Avionics Innovator along with three to five years of relevant experience. Act now by calling lob Hasselbrink COLLECT at (408) 737- 5640 or send a resume to his attention at National Imaginative research and creative problem solving have made Aero Semiconductor, 2900 Semiconductor Drive, Santa Products a leader in the avionics industry. Clara, California 05051. An equal opportunity employer, m/f h In 1968, Aero Products introduced the first Inertial Navigation system for commercial aircraft. Since then, Aero Products people have developed a great many other systems as well, including radio navigation, ground proximity warning, airborne display and computer systems. all for commercial aircraft applications.

We are now seeking a few, select people who can help design tomorrow's avionics systems. If you thrive on tackling new National challenges, look into Litton Aero Products for a permanent career change. Semiconductor We provide astimulating work environment in an area of Southern California noted for its relaxed, informal lifestyle and wide variety of cultural and recreational activity. Strapdown Inertial Guidance Sr. Systems Engineer This position requires a degree in Electrical Engineering or PRODUCT EVALUATI',0 Physics. preferably advanced Your professional experience should include 3-5 years in system requirements analysis. system ENGINEER design and related tasks for Electro Mechanical. Strapdown or A high image, fast expanding, state of the art Laser Inertial Navigation Systems company is seeking a Product Evaluation Engineer, E.E. with general experience in all Reliability Engineer phases of consumer electronics and design experience in TV. Candidates for this senior level position should have BS in Engineering and at least 5 years of experience in all phases of We are attractively located 70 miles SE of reliability engineering Dallas in beautiful lake country where traffic is no problem.

Digital Design Engineer Interested candidates should send resume with This position requires recent experience in state-of-the-art logic experience and salary history to: design and microprocessor applications Minimum requirements are BSEE and 5 years experience EMPLOYMENT MANAGER CURTIS MATHES CORPORATION Analog Design Engineer P.O. BOX 150, Athens, Texas 75751 an equal opportunity employer m I A design specialist is required for circuit applications of gyro accelerometer control electronics, servo amplifiers. precision DC to digital quantizers. as well as AID and D/A converters This position requires a BSEE and minimum of 5years ELECTRONIC PROFESSIONALS experience ELECTRONIC •Manufacturing •Engineering •Administrative •Management For immediate employment consideration regarding these TECHNICIAN Completely confidential recruiting openings or for information on other career opportunities at Aero INTERNATIONAL Products, please phone Arne Ronning Collect at. (213) 887-4220. Position available for experienced Electronic Technician to work on 1401N Cedar Crest Blvd Allentown, PA 18104 Or send your resume (or letter of interest) to his attention at plasma physics and controlled fus- 12151437 ,5551 sion experiments. Salary commen- SHS surate with experience. Resume including names of three references ""-- SUN BELT MGRS. & ENGRS.- to be sent to: Electronic & Electrical Director Enioy living in the energy rich South/South Plasma Physics Laboratory west Confidential representation. 25 years' industry experience University of Saskatchewan Aero Products JOHN WYLIE ASSOCIATES, INC. Saskatoon LittOn 6700 Eton Ave., Canoga Park, CA 91303 Professional Recruitment Consultants Saskatchewan, Canada 522 S Boston. Tulsa, OK 74103 An Equal Opportunity Employer 57NOWO 19181585-3166

156 Electronics/August 2, 1979 ‘eg

F UTURE IS lee

OPPORTUNITY ... CHALLENGE ... ENGINEERING now while program assignments are growing. Ask us career openings exist NOW at Boeing Wichita today just how your experience and background can Company on a number of long range programs involving match our many requirements. We think you'll be advanced aircraft systems. Staffing is underway for pleasantly surprised at what we have to talk about. the early phases of a range of projects relating to AND MIDWEST LIVING, the kind of friendly neighbor Air Force bombers and tankers. environment you won't find elsewhere in a Metropolitan Air Launched Cruise Missiles Integration .. .Offensive area without big city problems is waiting ... for families and Defensive Avionics Systems .. . Countermeasures and families-to-be. Wichita, with an area population Systems .. . Electronic Agile Radar Systems .. . of 383,312, has close-to-work living, excellent schools Electronic Steerable Antenna Systems ... Weapon including three universities, smog-free four-season System Trainers .. . Aircraft Winglets .. . and Automated climate and recreational activities, informal atmosphere Test Equipment. Join these high technology programs with ample opportunity for personal expression and growth.

IMMEDIATE REQUIREMENTS include the following which require U.S. Citizenship and BS or higher degree in Engineering, Physics, Computer Science or Math.

• STRUCTURAL DESIGN • INSTRUMENTATION TEST • STRESS ANALYSIS • TEST PLANNING • PRODUCT SYSTEMS ENGINEER • CONTROL SYSTEM ANALYSIS

• ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONIC • ELECTRONIC SYSTEM ANALYSIS INSTALLATION DESIGN • SYSTEM SAFETY • GROUND SUPPORT REQUIREMENTS ELECTRICAL/ELECTRONICS • POWER DISTRIBUTION ANALYSIS • INSTRUMENTATION DESIGN • FACILITIES ENGINEERS - • TECH WRITER - ELECTRONICS/ ELECTRICAL/MECHANICAL MECHANICAL • MANUFACTURING RESEARCH & • ELECTRONICS/ELECTRICAL TESTING DEVELOPMENT ENGINEERS • FLIGHT SYSTEM TESTING • TOOL ENGINEERS

Send resume to: Jim Snelling, Boeing Wichita Company Airdsmeeiv&i. 4300 E. MacArthur Road, Dept. E7 Wichita, Kansas 67210 or Call Collect (316) 687-3057 WICHITA COMPANY An Equal Opportunity Employer M F

Electronics/August 2, 1979 157 ELECTRONIC PROJECT SCHOOLS World Open University—A Non' ENGINEERING ENGINEER Resident Graduate School—Division of Electrical, Electronics & Computer •Design•Systems•Marketing Engineering offers full graduate Prominent electronic manu- courses in areas: Applied Math- •Manufacturing $20-$50K facturer offers project posi- ematics & Physics; Electronics tion that requires engineering Engineering:, Electrical Circuits; Com- Our clients hove urgent intermediate puters & Advanced Programming; •Manufacturing and managerial experience. to senior level positions in the fol- Engineering Communications Systems; Control lowing areas of expertise •Software-Systems Systems; Energy-Power Systems; Analyst Must be willing to accept full Nondestructive Testing—leading to •EW/ECM Design MS., Ph.D., Sc.D., Eng.D., Tech. D.— •Circuit/Logic Design •Software-Realtime department responsibilities •Modem Design guided by full professors having a •Hi-Density Packaging in two years. Requires CMOS series of original contributions to •Signal/Voice and logic design experience. inter-national learned societies. Processing Request complete information to Coll us collect to el' your objec- tives or send your resume in strict WOU, PO Box 5505. Orange, CA We offer YOU FREE services-all confidence. Contact in Confidence: 92667, USA, enclosing $5 in US. or costs and fees paid including US $7 outside of US. for airmailing. Self authored original paper reprints •Careful attention to your (2121 557-1000 from national learned societies may overall needs. OLIVER get proper credits. WOU is racially •Valuable advice on locations O-R-T-U-N-E Associates nondiscriminatory. To mention and companies. lePersonnelr Agency 401 Broad Hollow Road Electronics in request. \;4•,Crin itique/modification as 505 Fifth Avenue Melville, NY 11 74 7 New York, N.Y. 10017 needed of your resume. , 51 6-2 49-0202 BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES POSITIONS VACANT How To Earn Money As A Consultant including specimen contracts) $25. Business Psychology Intl, 890 44 Voice of America has opportunities National Press Bldg.. Washington. 41111111111111111111 tor U.S. citizens qualified as civil, DC Electronic. Mechanical and Electrical ENGINEERS/ Engineers. Supervisory openings available in Liberia and Philippines MANAGERS Systems Engrs. for broadcast station construction protects BS in Engineering or ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS, Data Processing $14,000-$39,000. With 18 years equivalent experience in construction experience in placing of Elec- Electronics and contract supervision required. tronics Professionals, we pres- Salaries to $46.000 Must be available on a world wide ently have 160 openings in basis. Starting salary commensurate Would Manufacturing Engrs. the New England area plus ECM Engrs. with skills and experience plus hous- another 240 nationwide. All ing and overseas allowances. Civil positions are Fee Paid by our Tool Design Engrs. Service Application IForm SF- lilt you hire client companies. Many are Air Traffic Cont,'. Syst. Engrs. exclusive listings from small Rotating Devices Engrs. available at Office of Personnel R&D labs to large interna- Thermometric Engrs. Management i formerly the Civil tional corporations. Profes- Digital CKT Design Engrs. Service Commission) Job Informa- an engineer sional counseling and place- Power Systems Engrs. tion Centers and most federal build- ments. P. F. Canavan, AAA ings should be sent to International PERSONNEL ASSOCIATES, 14 Sr. Military Systems Engrs. Hayestown Ave., Danbury, CT Field Engrs.lElectronic Equip. Communication Agency. Code 15-79, who 06810 (203/744.1820). Digital Systems Engrs. Washington. D.C. 20547. An Equal Production Control Opportunity Employer. ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS, Programmers/Mgrs. $18,000-$50,000. Choice entry couldn't level to management posi- OA and/or GC Engrs. tions immediately available in Technicians Electronic Engineer, Sun Belt, ex- Pennsylvania & national loca- ompatues Assume, Our Fees cellent opportunity. salary 8. tions. Reply in strict con• Submit Resume, Call or Vls,t benefits. Murkett ASSOÇ, Box 527. understand fidence to J. G. Weir, Presi- THE ENGINEER'S INDEX Montgomery, AL 36101 dent, WEIR PERSONNEL SER- 33 Federal Street, Suite 701 VICES, 535 Court St., Read. Boston, Massachusetts 02110 this ing, PA 19603 (215/376-8486). Telephone (6171482-2800 ENGINEERS to $40K. We "specialize" in entry to 8 magazine? yrs experience in electronics. EMPLOYMENT SERVICES Clients and 100 offices nation- Of course not. ELECTRONICS is wide. Call or send resume. CAREER ASSOCIATES, P.O. the technical publication for tech- Box 86, N. Dartmouth, MA ELECTRONIC ENGINEER nical people. It they can't under- 02747 (617/997-3311). M.E.s, I.E.s, E.E.s, Ch.E.s—Let our Stand it. they can't receive it. That's ELECTRONICS ENGINEERS, • search firm represent you to our $17K-$32K. Junior and Senior tor in the appliLatiOn ot process autOrnation clients in Northern Calif If you are why, when you're looking for quali- Design Engineers both local and computerization has a unique and seeking a more prestigious position fied engineers, you should consid- and national. Reply in strict challenging opportunity for ahands on type with increased responsibilities and a confidence to A-CAREER PER- er our Classified Section. engineer m process computer and micro better Future, send a resume or SONNEL AGENCY, 11401 Val- For only $65.00 per inch your re- ley Blvd. #108, El Monte, CA processor based systems maintenance in request a position profile and at no 91731 (213/444-0394). corporating analog. digital and software charge we will provide you with in- cruitment advertising will reach an positions fee-paid subsystem responsibilities m its Virginia terview opportunities. Register in our over 90.000 pre-screened engi- exclusive Executive Search Program NATIONAL All replies strictly confidential All neers as they're reading to combat PERSONNEL Qualified applicant should have minimum Fees employer paid at Management lob obsolescence, while they're InPo CONSULTANT AS degree 113SEE preferredi with three to Recruiters, 1900 Point West Way. thinking about their future and five years working experience in computer Suite 281. Sacramento, CA 95815 bettering themselves. controlled process or machine tool 1916) 920-0441 systems, along with the ability to work with There's no charge for typeset- software at both the assembler and ma ting and free layout service is chine language levels. Knowledge of provided. electro-optic and electro-mechanical inter Electronic engineering growth posi- face systems is aplus Ability and desire to tions with clients located nationally. For more information call or Engineers—SE Locations, Process. interface directly with production and Our service is enhanced by the fact write: Power Light. Software. Hardware. management is essential that Iam an EE with 20 years in in- Systems. Instrumentation, Facilities. dustry and over 10 years in placing Fee Paid. No Contracts, 12 yrs. For immediate consideration please send professionals on an employer fee ELECTRONICS experience. Send resume to Ted resume with salary history to: P-9845, paid basis. Send your resume to Joe McCulloch, Electronics, Class, Mn. Dept, P.O. Box Torcassi, Director. J. Anthony & Beall Associates Post Office Box 900 900, N.Y, N.Y. 10020. Associates. PO Drawer AD. P.O. Box 5042 New York, N.Y. 10020 Linchburg. OH 45142. 513 ,364- Spartanburg, S.C. 29304 EEO M F H 2305. Phone: 212/997-2556

158 Electronics/August 2, 1979 Radar Engineers focus on Kwajalein 4000 miles from the continental US is the Kwajalein Atoll, acoral reef formation in the Pacific where agroup of American companies are working on alarge scale radar network. Our client, one of the most broadly based enterprises in Electronics, currently requires: digital design engineer K S.iON Foreign Servii Must have 5 10 years related experience including abackground in devices used in large radar systems signal processing etc ... and data recording equipment. These equipments would include: high speed A/D's, micro processors, dedicated computer 1.0 channels, high speed (ECL) buffering memories, display and formatting digital logic, and system control logic. General related experience would also include interfacing high speed devices I10-20 megabits , sec). High speed digital "pipeline" processing I10MHz and greater). Benefits include overseas and extended work schedule allowances: ENGINEERS position leads to re-assignment opportunities at US east coast facility: family housing: additional vacation accrual during foreign assignment, and transportation for annual home visits. For career and utestyte, system engineer Choose Phoenlx New England based to mid S3O's To coordinate data interpretation as related to the hardware system Enjoy the good life, year-round recreational activi- involving occasional field trips to the Pacific. Must have 5-10 years related experience and an understanding of hardware interaction between analog ties and exciting career development opportunities portions of radar and computer 1/0 processing channels. Background must in the ideal environment of Arizona's Valley of the have included system analysis to alevel required for proiecting modifications or changes to alarge radar system for upgrading. Sun. Call Bruce Palmer Collect at (201)777-6900 or send resume to: 881 Allwood Road Systems Engineers Clifton. NJ 07012 BS or MSEE with experience in system and soft- Professionals Placing Professionals An equal employment opportunity MF ware analysis, design and application of digital flight control systems with emphasis in aircraft guidance and controls and/or navigation. =South Electronic Engineers Pacific BS or MSEE and two or more years experience in electronic design of digital and/or analog cir- cuitry. Applications include flight control systems and cockpit display systems for both commercial TECHNICAL WRITERS and military aircraft. $16-$35K+ SOFTWARE/HARDWARE Support Software Design Career positions available with top corporations if you have six months experience or MORE. BS or MS degree in computer science, math or PARTIAL LISTINGS OF AREAS OPEN: engineering with experience in designing support CALIFORNIA • D.C. AREA • MASSACHUSETTS software for microprocessors. Position will provide ARIZONA • OHIO • NEW JERSEY support software for navigation and flight man- SO. CAROLINA • FLORIDA e PENNSYLVANIA agement computer systems. Experience with (OTHER LOCATIONS AVAILABLE) PASCAL is desirable. Use our professional, confidential and personal consulting service. Many of our positions are listed with us on an ex- Real Time Software Development clusive basis. Select the location and opportunity YOU WANT. BS or MS degree in computer science, math or Call Michael Dunn-215-667-2900 Collect. engineering with experience in systems engineer- (or send resume with salary requirements) ing and real time applications software. Experi- YOU will be contacted immediately ence with PASCAL and assembly language in flight JUDGE, INC control applications is desirable. Two Bala Plaza Bala Cynwyd, Pa. 19004 (Call NOW!) For a professional interview) To find out more about these challenging profes- sional opportunities in our growing industry, send your resume, with salary history, in confidence, to: J. L. Kenyon, Technical Employment

SreE R"« II FLIGHT SYSTEMS

P. O. Box 21111 Phoenix, Arizona 85036

We're An Equal Opportunity Employer M/F/H

Electronics/August 2, 1979 159 REPRINTS AVAILABLE FROM ELECTRONICS

No. of copies R-815 Higher power ratings extend V- _ R-434 Designing systems with the stan- wanted Charts MOS FETs' dominion 8 pp dard interface 12 pp _ R-823 Communications satellites $3.00 _ R-813 Data-link control chips: bringing R-432 An update on communications _ R-516 Electronic symbols $2.00 order to data protocols 10 pp satellites 8 pp _ R-213 Electromagnetic spectrum (up- R-811 Multiplexing liquid-crystal dis- _ R-430 Choosing the right bipolar tran- dated 1976) $3.00 plays 10 pp sistor model for computer-aided _ R-326 Optical spectrum (6-page report _ R-809 New methods and materials stir design 20 pp and chart) $3.00 up printed wiring 10 pp R-424 Microprocessor applications _ R-807 Here come the big, new 64-K 28 pp ROMs 14 pp _ R-805 Why and how users test micro- processors 8 pp Books Articles R-801 World market report 1978 24 pp _R-819 McGraw-Hill's Compilation of All articles are $3.00 each. Quantities of 5 or R-734 Microcomputer families expand Data Communications Stan- more in any combination are $2.00 each. 20 pp dards-89 standards from 5 R-730 Special report —Automotive organizations 1133 pp $165.00 R-923 A burst of energy in photovol- electronics gets the green light _ R-903 Personal Computing: Hardware taics 18 pp 10 pp and Software Basics—Electron- _ R-921 LSI-based data encryption dis- R-716 Special report—Japanese wave ics Book Series 266 pp $11.95 courages the data thief 14 pp in semiconductor technology _ R-803 New Product Trends in Electron- _ R-919 Special report —VSLI shakes the 24 pp ics 1977—Electronics Book Se- foundations of computer archi- _ R-714 Special report —active filter ries 333 pp $14.95 tecture 24 pp technology 6 pp _ R-732 Memory Design: Microcomput- _ R-917 Memory products 20 pp R-712 Special report —large-scale inte- ers to Mainframes—Electronics _ R-915 The race heats up in fast static gration 16 pp Book Series 180 pp $12.95 RAMs 12 pp R-710 Personal computers mean busi- _ R-726 Design Techniques for Electron- _ R-913 Lithography chases the incredi- ness 8 pp ics Engineers: 293 time-saving ble shrinking line 12 pp _ R-708 So you want to be a consultant ideas in 48 chapters—Electron- _ R-911 Transmitting data by satellite 6 PP ics Book Series 370 pp $15.95 calls for special signal handling R-703 Special report —memories _ R-711 Circuits for Electronics Engi- 8 pp 16 pp neers: 306 circuits in 51 func- R-909 Special market series—Elec- R-702 World market report 1977 24 pp tional groups—Electronics Book tronics abroad 8 pp _ R-614 Power supply choices for so- Series 396 pp $15.95 R-907 Touch-tone decoder chip mates phisticated designs 8 pp R-31D Designer's Casebook Number 1 analog filters with digital logic _ R-612 Fiber-optic communications 106 pp $5.50 8 PP special report 24 pp R-704 Thermal Design in Electronics 52 _ R-901 1979 world market survey and R-610 Special report on hybrid-circuit pp $5.00 forecast 24 pp technology 19 pp _ R-701 Applying Microprocessors— _ R-829 Special report: New networks tie _ R-526 How reliable are today's compo- Electronics Book Series 191 pp down distributed processing nents 16 pp $9.95 concepts 16 pp _ R-522 Special report on power semi- _ R-608 Basics of Data Communica- R-827 Tackling the very large-scale conductors 12 pp tions—Electronics Book Series problems of VLSI: a special R-514 Eight ways to better radio 303 pp $12.95 report 15 pp receiver design 6 pp _ R-602 Large Scale Integration—Elec- _ R-821 Codecs answer the call 18 pp _ R-512 Design of circuits for dangerous tronics Book Series 208 pp _ R-817 How bit-slice families compare environments 4 pp $9.95 18 pp R-508 Designing microprocessors with R-520 Microprocessors— Electronics _ R-816 Packaging technology responds standard logic 12 pp Book Series 154 pp $8.95 to the demand for higher densi- _ R-506 The case for component burn-in R-011 Computer-aided Design 135 pp ties 9 pp 7 PP $4.00

Payment must USE THIS PAGE AS YOUR ORDER FORM accompany your order Cost of orders Mail your order to: Make check or money order payable to Elec- Plus 10% handling charge Janice Austin tronics Reprints. All orders are shipped TOTAL AMOUNT ENCLOSED ELECTRONICS REPRINTS prepaid by parcel post. Allow two to three P.O. Box 669 weeks for delivery. We will make any editorial SEND REPRINTS TO Hightstown, N.J. 08520 reprint to order in quantities of 500 or more. For price list and additional information call Name (609) 448-1700 ext. 5494. Company Dept Back issues now available: 1960 to 1969, $5.00 each Street 1970 to 1973, $3.00 each 1974 to 1978, $4.00 each City State Zip

160 Electronics /August 2, 1979 Electronics advertisers Aug. 2, 1979

ADAC • Hewlett-Packard Company 17-26 $ Rental Electronic* 50 51

Advanced Micro Devices 111 • Houston Instrument 147 • Rockland Systems Corporation 145

• Rockwell International 10-11 • AP Products 87 ICorporation

Beckman Instrument Advanced Electro Intel Corporation MC SD 34 Rockwell Microelectronic Device Div. 45 Products

• Siemens AG Munich Intel Memory Systems 28-29 • Beckman Instruments, lielipot

Solarex 162 International Crystal Mfg. Co. • Beridix Corporation Electrical Comp. Div. 68

Spectronics 84-85 International Rectifier Corp. Boachert 3c1C

Sprague Electric 59 1-1 • Bourns ?r18 (, Keithley Instruments

• Star Micronics

• Cherry Electrical Products Kepco Inc.

Synertek 56 • Clair« Electronics M.E.S.L.

Ten-Iron Inc. 93

• Concord Electronics Corporation Mitel Semiconductor Inc. 41

Tektronix 187

Cromemco Mostek Corporation 3? 33

• Teledyne Relays /

CTS Corporation 91 Motorola Semiconductor Product* 40 49

Tencor Instruments

• Custom Electronics 90 $ Motorola Corporate 148 149

Teradyne Inc. 8. 1

Data Instruments • Murata Mfg. Co. Ltd.

Textool Products Inc.

• Electronic Navigation Industries NEC Electron Inc. Unitronix 130

Borg Electronorgtechica Nippon Electric Co. Ltd. 60 61 Wilhelm Westermann 8

• Erie Technological Products • Norma Mebtechnik Gmbil Xciton 130

Fairchild SATS Div. Osborne & Associates 55 Xylogica 54

Fairchild Test Systems 717 // Paratronics, Inc. 7 Mks 78-79

$u First Computer Corporation Classified and em ployment advertising Phipps& Bird Inc. 91 F J Eberle. Manager 212-997-2557

Allen-Bradbey Co. 155 Fluke, John Mfg. Co. 71 8 Beall Assoc. 158 Ptantronica Zehntel 139 Boeing Wichita Co. 157 Curtis Mathes Corp. 156 Douglas Aircraft Co. 154 Eastern Executive Assoc. 159 • Fujitsu Limited • Powercube Corporation 8,-i Engineers Index 158 Fortuna Personnel Agency 158 Judge Inc. 159 • General Electric Instrument Rental 14? 143 Litton Aero Product 156 Division • Projects Unlimited 111, National Personnel Consultants 154, 158 National Semiconductor 156 Oliver Associates 158 Saskatchewan, University of 156 General Instrument Microelectronics Pro-Log 31 She International 156 Sperry Flight Systems 159 Stephen E.J. 154 WylW Associates, John 156 • Gould Biomation • Racal Dana Instruments Ltd. 2E-3E

• For more information of complete product line see • Grayhill, Inc. 48 • Radio Research Instrument Company 54 acNertisement in the latest Electronics Buyers Guide • Advertisers in Electronics International j Advertisers in Electronics domestic edition pm Heath Co. Schlumbsirgair 4 i RCA Solid State 64

Electronics/August 2, 1979 161 Advertising Sales Staff Advertising sales manager: Paul W. Reiss 1221 Avenue of the Americas. New York, N.Y. 10020 [212] 997-4371 Atlanta, Cis. 30302 Michael Charlton The best 100 Colony Square, 1175 Peachtree St., N.E. [404] 892-2868 Boston, Mass. 02118: Frank Mitchell 607 Boylston St. [617) 262-1160 Chicago, Ill. 80811 solar technology, 645 North Michigan Avenue Jack Anderson (3121 751-3739 Robert M. Denmead [3121 751-3738 Cleveland, Ohio 44112 William J. Boyle [716] 248-5620 Costa Mesa, Calif. 92828: Robert E. BOadlcker first... 3001 Red Hill Ave. Bldg. #1 Suite 222 [714] 557-6292 Dallas, Texas 75201: John J. Uphues 2001 Bryan Tower, Suite 1070 1214] 742-1747 Denver, Colo. 80203: Harry B. Doyle, Jr. at affordable prices. 123 Speer Blvd. #400 [303] 837-1010 Detroit, Michigan 48202 Jack Anderson 1400 Fisher Bldg. 13131 873-7410 Fort Lauderdale, Fla. 33308: Michael Charlton 3000 N.E. 30th Place, Suite #400 1305) 563-9111 Houston, Texas 77002 John J. Uphues Solarex 601 Jefferson Street, Dresser Tower 17131 659-8381 Loe Angeles, Calif. 9001* Robert J. Rielly Cells/Panels/ 3200 Wilshire Blvd., South Tower (213) 487-1160 Minneapolis, Minn. 55435: Robert M. Denmead Systems 4015 W. 65th St. [312] 751-3738 New York, N.Y. 10020 Engineering 1221 Avenue of the Americas John Gallie [2121 997-3616 Matthew T. Reseska [2121 997-3617 Largest and most experienced manufacturers of Philadelphia, Pa. 19102 Matthew T. Reseska Three Parkway world's most efficient silicon cells, panels and arrays for all mW [212] 997-3617 Pittsburgh, Pa. 15222 Matthew T. Reseska to KW applications. Pioneering systems and design experience 4 Gateway Center 1212] 997-3617 ranging from solar powered calculators and watches to weather Rochester, N.Y. 14534: William J. Boyle Powder Mill Office Park, 1163 Pittsford-Mendon Rd., stations, telemetry, radio/television repeaters, navigation aids and Pittsford, N.Y. 14534 [716] 248-5620 cathodic protection — in use from the polar caps to equatorial deserts. Ban Francisco, Calif. 94111: Don Farris Dean Genge, 425 Battery Street, 1415] 362-4600 Paris: Patrick Mouillard Lowest life cycle cost 17 Rue-Georges Bizet, 75116 Pans, France Solarex advanced technology and total manufacturing ca- Tel 720-73-01 United Kingdom S Scandinavia: Simon Smith pability produces the largest, most efficient and economical solar 34 Dover Street, London W1 Tel: 01-493-1451 cells in use today, integrates them into solar panels and assem- Scandinavia: Andrew Karnig and Assoc. Kungsholmsgatan 10 bles these building blocks (the 112 27 Stockholm, Sweden Tel: 08 51 68 70 Telex: 179 51 Unipan els®) into larger solar-elec- Milan: Ferruccio Silvera 1 via Baracchini. Italy ttic generators. Solarex is equip- Phone 86-90-656 Brussels: ped to develop and custom de- 23 Chaussee de Wavre Brussels 1040, Belgium sign any type of solar electric cell, Tel: 513-73-95 Frankfurt/Main: Fritz Krusebecker panel or system you may need. Liebigstrasse 27c, Germany Phone 72 01 81 And a computer aided analysis Tokyo: Akio Saijo. McGraw-Hill Publications Overseas Corporation, Ism technique permits predicting per- Kasumigaseki Building 2-5. 3-chome, Kasumigaseki, Chiyoda-Ku, Tokyo, Japan formance of proposed Solar electric generator systems. [581] 9811 Business Department Thomas M. Egan Free Information Available Production Director [212] 997-3140 Without obligation Solarex will send you concise data sheets and descriptive Carol Gallagher Production Manager brochures for any of the following areas: E Solar Cells; E Solar Panels; [212] 997-2045 E Hi-Density Panels; El Solar Arrays; E Generator Systems; Batty Preis Production Manager Domestic E Repeaters; E Telemetry; E "Building Blocks". Write to Ed Roberton, [212] 997-2908 IPD-Dept. 100R indicating the ones you wish. Thomas Kazich Production Manager Related Products [212] 997-2044 Marloannie Moissnar, Production Assistant (212) 997-2843 e SOLAREX Frances Venom Reader Service Manager Corporation [212] 997-6057 111 Industrial Prod. Div -Dept. 100R Electronics Buyers' Guide 1335 Piccard Drive. Rockville. Maryland 20850 H.T. Howland, General Manager 301-948-0202 TWX: 710-828-9709 Cable: Solares [2121 997-6642 Regina Here, Directory Manager SOLAREX S.A. SOLAREX PTY.. LTD. SOLAREX [212] 997-2544 Thomas Kexich, Production Manager Cite Quest C 33 Bellona Avenue France Photon 1212] 997-2044 CH 1196 Gland. Switzerland Regents Park 2143. NSW Boulevard Mambo Marieanne Meleener, Production Assistant Telephone 22 64 21 72 Telex 28603 Australia 16004 Angouleme Cedex France [212] 997-2843 Cable Solarexstviss Telephone 645 :il:il or 645 3113 Telephone (45) 62 41 11 Frances Vallone, Reader Service Manager Telex AA27338 Telex 790244 LROYGRI F [212] 997-6057 "IN CANADA. LENBROOK INDUSTRIES LIMITED. TORONTO. ONTARIO" Classified and Employment Advertising Frank Eberle, Manager 162 Circle 162 on reader service card [212] 997-2557 Mary Ellen Kearns. Sales Manager (212) 997-3306 Complete entire card. All inquiries from outside the U.S. that cannot reach Electronics before the Please print or type. Electronics expiration date noted on the Reader Circle the number on the Reader Service postcard must be mailed Service postcard that corresponds directly to the manufacturer. The Reader Service to the number at the bottom of the manufacturer assumes all respon- advertisement, new product item, or sibilities for responding to inquiries. For additional information new literature in which you are on products advertised, interested. Subscriptions & Renewals new products or new literature, To aid the manufacturer in filling your Fill in the subscription card adjoining use these business reply cards. request, please answer the three this card. Electronics will bill you at questions. the address indicated on the card. r zas age es eer 3eie rue toe se se me se rem sr see err se =--. mei sel —Um Electronics August 2, 1979 This reader service card expires November 2, 1979 NAME TITLE PHONE ( COMPANY

STREET ADDRESS (Company 0 or home 0 check one) CITY STATE ZIP

Was This Magazine Personally Addressed to You', 0 Yes 0 No Industry classification (check one): 5Source of Inquiry—DOMESTIC a D Computer & Related Equipment e D Test & Measuring Equipment j ID Independent R&D Organizations b D Communications Equipment & Systems f D Consumer Products k0 Government c 0 Navigation, Guidance or Control Systems g 0 Industrial Controls & Equipment 1 d D Aerospace, Underseas Ground Support h 0 Components & Subassemblies Your design function (check each letter that applies): Your principal job responsibility (check one) X D Ido electronic design or development engineering work. t El Management y CI I supervise electronic design or development engineering work. v D Engineering z D I set standards for, or evaluate electronic components, systems and materials. Estimate number of employees at this location: 1.0 under 20 2. D 20-99 3.0 100-999 4. D over 1000 1 16 31 46 61 76 91 106 121 136 151 166 181 196 211 226 241 256 271 348 363 378 393 408 423 438 453 468 483 498 703 718 2 17 32 47 62 77 92 107 122 137 152 167 182 197 212 227 242 257 272 349 364 379 394 409 424 439 454 469 484 499 704 719 3 18 33 48 63 78 93 108 123 138 153 168 183 198 213 228 243 258 273 350 365 380 395 410 425 440 455 470 485 500 705 720 4 19 34 49 64 79 94 109 124 139 154 169 184 199 214 229 244 259 274 351 366 381 396 411 426 441 456 471 486 501 706 900 5 20 35 50 65 80 95 110 125 140 155 170 185 200 215 230 245 260 275 352 367 382 397 412 427 442 457 472 487 502 707 901 6 21 36 51 66 81 96 111 126 141 156 171 186 201 216 231 246 261 338 353 368 383 398 413 428 443 458 473 488 503 708 902 7 22 37 52 67 82 97 112 127 142 157 172 187 202 217 232 247 262 339 354 369 384 399 414 429 444 459 474 489 504 709 951 8 23 38 53 68 83 98 113 128 143 158 173 188 203 218 233 248 263 340 355 370 385 400 415 430 445 460 475 490 505 710 952 9 24 39 54 69 84 99 114 129 144 159 174 189 204 219 234 249 264 341 356 371 386 401 416 431 446 461 476 491 506 711 953 10 25 40 55 70 85 100 115 130 145 160 175 190 205 220 235 250 265 342 357 372 387 402 417 432 447 462 477 492 507 712 954 11 26 41 56 71 86 101 116 131 146 161 176 191 206 221 236 251 266 343 358 373 388 403 418 433 448 463 478 493 508 713 956 12 27 42 57 72 87 102 117 132 147 162 177 192 207 222 237 252 267 344 359 374 389 404 419 434 449 464 479 494 509 714 957 13 28 43 58 73 88 103 118 133 148 163 178 193 208 223 238 253 268 345 360 375 390 405 420 435 450 465 480 495 510 715 958 14 29 44 59 74 89 104 119 134 149 164 179 194 209 224 239 254 269 346 361 376 391 406 421 436 451 466 481 496 701 716 959 15 30 45 60 75 -90 105 120 135 150 165 180 195 210 225 240 255 270 347 362 377 392 407 422 437 452 467 482 497 702 717 960

Electronics August 2, 1979 This reader service card expires November 2, 1979

NAME TITLE PHONE ( COMPANY

STREET ADDRESS (Company 0 or home 0 check one) CITY STATE ZIP

Was This Magazme Personally Addressed to You', 0 yes ONO Industry classification (check one): 5Source of Inquiry—DOMESTIC a D Computer & Related Equipment e D Test & Measuring Equipment j D Independent R&D Organizations b 0 Communications Equipment & Systems f D Consumer Products k 9 Government c 0 Navigation, Guidance or Control Systems g D Industrial Controls & Equipment d 0 Aerospace, Underseas Ground Support h 0 Components & Subassemblies Your design function (check each letter that applies): Your principal job responsibility (check one) x D I do electronic design or development engineering work. t O Management y CI I supervise electronic design or development engineering work. V E] Engineering z 0 Iset standards for, or evaluate electronic components, systems and materials. Estimate number of emp loyees (at this location): 1.0 under 20 2. D 20-99 3. 0 100-999 4.0 over 1000 1 16 31 46 61 76 91 106 121 136 151 166 181 196 211 226 241 256 271 348 363 378 393 408 423 438 453 468 483 498 703 718 2 17 32 47 62 77 92 107 122 137 152 167 182 197 212 227 242 257 272 349 364 379 394 409 424 439 454 469 484 499 704 719 3 18 33 48 63 78 93 108 123 138 153 168 183 198 213 228 243 258 273 350 365 380 395 410 425 440 455 470 485 500 705 720 4 19 34 49 64 79 94 109 124 139 154 169 184 199 214 229 244 259 274 351 366 381 396 411 426 441 456 471 486 501 706 900 5 20 35 50 65 80 95 110 125 140 155 170 185 200 215 230 245 260 275 352 367 382 397 412 427 442 457 472 487 502 707 901 6 21 36 51 66 81 96 111 126 141 156 171 186 201 216 231 246 261 338 353 368 383 398 413 428 443 458 473 488 503 708 902 7 22 37 52 67 82 97 112 127 142 157 172 187 202 217 232 247 262 339 354 369 384 399 414 429 444 459 474 489 504 709 951 8 23 38 53 68 83 98 113 128 143 158 173 188 203 218 233 248 263 340 355 370 385 400 415 430 445 460 475 490 505 710 952 9 24 39 54 69 84 99 114 129 144 159 174 189 204 219 234 249 264 341 356 371 386 401 416 431 446 461 476 491 506 711 953 10 25 40 55 70 85 100 115 130 145 160 175 190 205 220 235 250 265 342 357 372 387 402 417 432 447 462 477 492 507 712 954 11 26 41 56 71 86 101 116 131 146 161 176 191 206 221 236 251 266 343 358 373 388 403 418 433 448 463 478 493 508 713 956 12 27 42 57 72 87 102 117 132 147 162 177 192 207 222 237 252 267 344 359 374 389 404 419 434 449 464 479 494 509 714 957 13 28 43 58 73 88 103 118 133 148 163 178 193 208 223 238 253 268 345 360 375 390 405 420 435 450 465 480 495 510 715 958 u 14 29 44 59 74 89 104 119 134 149 164 179 194 209 224 239 254 269 346 361 376 391 406 421 436 451 466 481 496 701 716 959 If the cards below have already been used, Electronics you may obtain the needed information by writing directly to the manufacturer, Reader Service or by sending your name and address, plus the Reader Service number and issue date, to Electronics Reader Service Department,

P.O. Box No. 2530, Clinton, Iowa 52734.

BIM IMM IIMM INN BNB Mil MIMI IBM MM IMO 1

Affix Postage Here

Electronics P.O. Box No. 2530 Clinton, Iowa 52735

Affix Postage Here

Electronics P.O. Box No. 2530 Clinton, Iowa 52735 Our 3-terminal switching regulator gets OEMs over the toughest hurdle.

Introducing Boschert's new 12A submodule. It gives you the jump on building switching power supplies in-house. Manufacturing your own switching power supply can be abig money saver. But designing it can be risky and time-consuming. Today Boschert solves the most difficult problem of building your own hybrid switching power supplies with our new low cost 3-terminal switching regulator. It gives you aperfectly matched set of magnetics, logic and power circuits to 12 amps — all on asingle 4" x5" board. The 3T switching regulator is bound to save you design time and production cost. It will get your systems to market sooner — without the risk. For designers working with microprocessor systems or battery backups, this regulator is ideal. (See specs left) If needed, DC voltage can be distributed to various 3T submodules throughout asystem to eliminate voltage drop problems. And since hybrid power supplies have built-in isolation and low leakage, the 3T regulator is perfect for medical equipment, too. At Boschert, we've been building off-line switching power supplies 9 for nearly adecade. Over 100,000 of our multiple output power systems are now in operation. For any power requirement between 25-400 watts, at any volume

level between 1and 1000 amonth, representative. Or write Boschert, Boschert sticks with you. Today Inc., 384 Santa Trinita Avenue, Boschert also sticks with OEMs Sunnyvale, CA 94086. Or call (408) who want to produce their own. 732-2440. For more information on how our new 3T Switching SWITCH INC, Regulator takes the guesswork POWER SUPPLIF<-•• out of hybrid switching power Mahe supplies, contact your local Boschert Circle 901 for information SILICON OPTO CHIPS from Clair«

PHOTOTRANSISTOR PHOTOVOLTAIC PHOTODARLINGTON CHIPS DIODE CHIPS CHIPS

Now you can make your own hybrids, arrays, solid-state relays and special sensors.

The Clairex line of voltaic mode. The photo- packaged in glass vials silicon photodetector transistors are each filled with Freon. chips consists of four available in two sensitivi- Call 914-664-6602 or photodiodes, five photo- ty ranges. All chips from write Clairex transistors and one Clairex have gold back- 560 South Third Avenue, photodarlington tran- ing to facilitate ohmic Mount Vernon, ' sistor. The diodes are in- bonding and are 100% New York 10550. tended for use in the tested before being CLAIREX ELECTRONICS A Division of Clairex Corporation

Circle 902 on reader service card