The ease and simplicity of satellite navigation or Sat Nav devices have made them a welcome car accessories these days. The devices have made the stressful car journey to an unknown location a joyous occasion. These devices are equipped with features like turn-by-turn voice directions, highlighted points of interest (like ATMs, hotels, hospitals) which have made them a much sought after personal travel assistant.

The Sat Nav systems provide you autonomous geo-spatial positioning with global coverage. The satellite navigation receivers combine signals from multiple satellites and reduce errors by using techniques such as Kalman filtering to combine the constantly changing data into a single estimate for position, velocity and time. The Sat Nav systems, also known as Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) allow small electronic receivers to determine their location within a few meters using time signals transmitted by satellites. Based on their generations, the GNSS has been classified as GNSS -1 and GNSS -2.

Transit was the first satellite navigation system developed by the US military in 1960s. Satellite navigation is regarded as a force multiplier now-a-days. The system's ability to reduce unintended casualties is of particular advantage in wars where public relations are an important aspect of warfare. The satellite navigation was originally intended for military use but has found applications in civilian use of late. Currently, the United States' NAVSTAR Global Positioning System (GPS) is the only fully operational GNSS.

The Sat Nav systems have been put to a wide variety of use like navigation through hand-held devices fitted in cars, search and rescue operations, surveying and geophysical sciences. Several popular brands like Garmin, TomTom, Road Angel and Navman have launched their newest sat Nav devices with easy to use menus, safety camera locations and large touch screens. The systems have been developed so that they can be operated straight out the box and straight into the car.

Alice Erin is an Expert Author. He has written good quality articles on Mobile Phone

Have a look at Cordless Phones

Sat Nav Devices

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alice_Erin

Most expensive Yacht owners spare no expense in flotation devices. Ship owners, US Coast Guard and the United States Navy have invested thousands if not millions in flotation and drowning prevention devices. There are companies, which specialize in just making and selling nifty flotation devices. One Canadian company Waterkite, whose technical team are self proclaimed marketing geniuses believe that such flotation devices are the only way to go. But let’s face it face it flotation devices can only be thrown 50 yards at maximum and you have a man over board and traveling away from them at 20-35 knots, it is not even going to get close.

I therefore propose a small “puffy” UAV or unmanned aerial vehicle, which can be hand launched to the potential drowning victim. This device would look like an exaggerated model airplane, which needs a diet or looks like it belongs in a cartoon of some type. This device would not be any more complicated than a GPS with a dial on it and a push button to start the battery which runs the propeller, point and shoot. Ever turn on an Alpha Numeric Pager; add a dial and throw it, it is that simple.

UAVs in the future will have many more military applications than are being used today and the lists of commercial uses and killer aps is growing. Here are some other UAV uses or potential application.

http://worldthinktank.net/wttbbs/index.php?s=c0f56a3fb1530e29f7e9bab6a3779b76&showforum=23

http://worldthinktank.net/wttbbs/index.php?s=c0f56a3fb1530e29f7e9bab6a3779b76&showforum=236

To bring this particular FFD Flying Floating Device application to the general understanding of the public and what the future of UAVs can mean, you may wish to take a look at this article to see just how useful something like this could be:

http://ezinearticles.com/?id=80489

Some may criticize and a few have for introducing future technologies in this way, but to them we must say; why don't you read Caleb Carr, Ben Bova, Arthur C Clark, Tom Clancy, Michael Creighton who write about possible futures which should be looked at. If folks think we should not write such articles for the masses, then they should never go see a Sci Fi movie or future action drama? People want to be entertained and it is a good way to teach them, because they often do not think about how these technological advances can help people, they look at research and development spending for military as wasteful. Yet we know that people are dying and drown every day; last week 2000 deaths from the Flood from Hurricane Stan remnants in Guatemala and remember the flooding from the levee breaches in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina?

Getting a flotation device to a drowning victim is about the best thing you can do and the faster the better, therefore a flying flotation device makes sense. Often rescuers hesitate and do not make good use of their tools or the latest technologies and are complete afraid. Often they are so busy trying to be safe that it takes them 15-minutes to get locked and loaded and ready for the rescue. This is a known fact of real men, who are forced to use procedure rescue techniques that take 10-minutes to complete. Some say this is a sorry excuse for a human being who is suppose to be a tough guy, that is many people’s take on it as they watch the firemen slowly put on their safety gear or police pull over and put on their vests in the middle of a back robbery going down, before rolling to the scene? What about the people who are going to be shot while they are getting ready? Serve and protect, just turned into, protect yourself forget about the public. This is such a common occurrence by so rarely addressed. If humans cannot get it done, use robots and technology and lets save some taxpayers some money in all these training of first responders for such things as sexual harassment at FEMA. We can build these FFDs or Flying Flotation Device units for under $1,000 on economies of scale.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow

What started out as a military application has evolved into a very popular technology for use by almost everyone. GPS has become indispensable as an aid to navigation. It provides a precise time reference used in many applications such as earthquake studies and synchronization of telecommunications networks. You can find GPS devices in rental cars, cell phones and even wristwatches. They are used for driving, hiking, boating and other kinds of recreational activities. Anyone involved in rescue, sales, firefighting and many other occupations find GPS devices invaluable. Some include built in maps that can be updated with software to fit the geographical location. They can be mounted in a vehicle or small hand held that will fit in your pocket.

GPS Tracking

GPS tracking will tell you the location of a person, vehicle or any thing else using the Global Positioning System. Some devices have built in tracking and can transmit the data to a central location via cellular GPRS, satellite modem technology or radio waves. Fleet managers use GPS technology to keep track of their vehicles and keep the fleet running more efficiently.

How GPS Devices Work

A GPS device receives data from a network of 24 orbiting geosynchronous satellites surrounding the earth. This network insures that there will always be three satellites within range of the receiver that is built into the device. The device has the computing power to calculate both latitude and longitude and display your position within a few feet. I tried an experiment with my On Star system while my car was sitting our garage. It told me my house number location, which I thought was impressive.

Technology

The first experimental satellite was launched in 1978. There have rapid advancements in both military and civilian applications. This technology keeps on improving each year and has made it possible for parents to pinpoint their children's location around the clock, using cell phones, the Internet and the GPS satellite technology. It helps drivers get to their location in less time saving fuel as a bonus. Golfers are using it to find the distance for the next shot. It keeps hunters and boaters from getting lost and could easily save a life. As the technology improves and the prices are less we will find many more uses for this technology.

Conclusion

Some of the more common manufacturers for GPS devices include Magellan, Garmin, Tom Tom, Navman, Cobra and Lowrance and I am sure there are a host of others who are working on improvements. The prices are expected to remain steady for 2008, but the improvements will always be right around the corner. Prices on these devices can vary between $50 and $10,000 for some marine units. So it pays to investigate before making your first purchase.

To see one of the largest locations for GPS Devices and accessories click here. http://seetechinfo.com/html/gps_devices.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Merlin_AvenellWhat started out as a military application has evolved into a very popular technology for use by almost everyone. GPS has become indispensable as an aid to navigation. It provides a precise time reference used in many applications such as earthquake studies and synchronization of telecommunications networks. You can find GPS devices in rental cars, cell phones and even wristwatches. They are used for driving, hiking, boating and other kinds of recreational activities. Anyone involved in rescue, sales, firefighting and many other occupations find GPS devices invaluable. Some include built in maps that can be updated with software to fit the geographical location. They can be mounted in a vehicle or small hand held that will fit in your pocket.

GPS Tracking

GPS tracking will tell you the location of a person, vehicle or any thing else using the Global Positioning System. Some devices have built in tracking and can transmit the data to a central location via cellular GPRS, satellite modem technology or radio waves. Fleet managers use GPS technology to keep track of their vehicles and keep the fleet running more efficiently.

How GPS Devices Work

A GPS device receives data from a network of 24 orbiting geosynchronous satellites surrounding the earth. This network insures that there will always be three satellites within range of the receiver that is built into the device. The device has the computing power to calculate both latitude and longitude and display your position within a few feet. I tried an experiment with my On Star system while my car was sitting our garage. It told me my house number location, which I thought was impressive.

Technology

The first experimental satellite was launched in 1978. There have rapid advancements in both military and civilian applications. This technology keeps on improving each year and has made it possible for parents to pinpoint their children's location around the clock, using cell phones, the Internet and the GPS satellite technology. It helps drivers get to their location in less time saving fuel as a bonus. Golfers are using it to find the distance for the next shot. It keeps hunters and boaters from getting lost and could easily save a life. As the technology improves and the prices are less we will find many more uses for this technology.

Conclusion

Some of the more common manufacturers for GPS devices include Magellan, Garmin, Tom Tom, Navman, Cobra and Lowrance and I am sure there are a host of others who are working on improvements. The prices are expected to remain steady for 2008, but the improvements will always be right around the corner. Prices on these devices can vary between $50 and $10,000 for some marine units. So it pays to investigate before making your first purchase.

To see one of the largest locations for GPS Devices and accessories click here. http://seetechinfo.com/html/gps_devices.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Merlin_Avenell

So often online we find ourselves in a debate perhaps in an email correspondence or in an online forum or Blog. As the debate rages on, the other parties will try to pull a fast one and use some statement which is quite absurd, but relatively hard to prove. Eventually if you call them on their comments they merely accuse you of being something evil. And whether you are or are not you could not prove it either way.

You cannot prove you didn't kick your dog, even if you do not or have never had a dog, you cannot prove that either. So the debates just spiral and spin out of control all the while the other party pretends to take the moral and logical high-ground? But are they really using logic or did they merely take a course in rhetoric in the past?

My favorite logic fallacy is when someone starts giving me statistics to prove a point which have nothing to do with the question and are relatively meaningless. The one I think is funny is the statistics that the average person has one boob - statistically correct, but about the most worthless information in the universe.

Still, the reason people use such rhetoric and fallacies in logic in debate or in online forums is because of the average intelligence of the readers, in other words as bad as some of these fallacies in logic are, they often work and that is the scary thought. Folks need to be smarter than this and understand what is going on when they see it.

"Lance Winslow" - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is a guest writer for Our Spokane Magazine in Spokane, Washington

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lance_Winslow

Millions of people probably think they need some kind of back pain relief device to help them beat their pain. The truth is, the only device you need is one that allows for mild inversion.

When properly used in concert with extension exercises you can successfully and totally eliminate 100% of the pain with this single back pain relief device.

Your back doesn't care whether or not you went out and bought a $500 inversion table or a $15 sheet of plywood at Home Depot. It doesn't matter if it is a perfectly balanced technical marvel or propped up on a cinder block.

For convenience, you might care. But for healing purposes, your back doesn't care what kind of inversion you do or what kind of back pain relief device you use.

What is important is that you use the device you buy or make correctly. You must do the extension correctly, and you must invert correctly.

Let your body and mother nature become you back pain relief device. Learn how to do extension exercises, and why you are doing them. Learn the truth about inversion so you don't hurt yourself like I did.

You can use any mechanical creation you choose. But you body is the only back pain relief device that conforms to natural healing. It will function as a self healing device once you provide it the environment it needs to heal. You do this by extension and mild inversion, adding flexion as the pain dissipates.

Each exercise or inversion treatment is like a chiropractor visit, without the bill.

Let me show you how be your own chiropractor.

http://www.cureyourownbackpain.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Daniel_Wade

Drinkin Songs and Other Logic is the latest release from Contemporary Country Sensation Clint Black, and I can only think of one word to describe it… AWESOME!

I wish it weren’t the case but, it’s not everyday that I get a CD from an artist that I can just pop in and comfortably listen to from beginning to end. There is usually a song or two that I just can’t force myself to get through. Not at all the case with Drinkin Songs and Other Logic. Every track is enjoyable and was pretty easy for me to listen to from start to finish.

One of the refreshingly nice things about this CD is the way all of the participating artists seem to be really enjoying themselves. Combine that with the overall presentation and you’ve got one of Clint Black’s most impressive releases ever.

Overall Drinkin Songs and Other Logic is an outstanding release. Quite possibly Clint Black's best to date. Really spectacular from beginning to end. If you're even mildly into Contemporary Country music you'll enjoy this album.

While the entire album is really very good some of my favorites are track 1 - Drinkin' Songs & Other Logic, track 3 - Code Of The West, and track 9 - I Don't Wanna Tell You

My Bonus Pick, and the one that got Sore [...as in "Stuck On REpeat"] is track 10 - Back Home In Heaven. Great track!

Drinkin Songs and Other Logic Release Notes:

Clint Black originally released Drinkin Songs and Other Logic on October 4, 2005 on the Equity Music Group label.

CD Track List Follows:

1. Drinkin' Songs & Other Logic

2. Heartaches

3. Code Of The West

4. Rainbow In The Rain

5. Undercover Cowboy

6. Go It Alone

7. Too Much Rock

8. Big One, A

9. I Don't Wanna Tell You

10. Back Home In Heaven

11. Thinkin' Of You

12. Longnecks & Rednecks

Personnel include: Clint Black (vocals, various instruments); Hayden Nicholas (guitar); Jeff Peterson (steel guitar, dobro); Dick Gay (drums).

Audio conferencing

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Clyde_Lee_Dennis

HILLSBORO, ORE.--Lattice Semiconductor will today triple the size of its complex programmable logic device (CPLD) portfolio with the launch of the 2000 series and 3000 series of ispLSI/pLSI families aimed at PLD market volume leaders Altera and Xilinx.

The new 2000 series includes a high-density device that Lattice claims is the industry's fastest high density CPLD--the 154Mhz, 5.5-nanosecond ispLSI/pLSI 2032-150-and the 3000 series offers what Lattice is touting as the industry's largest [E.sup.2]CMOS CPLD to-date--the 11,000-gate ispLSI/pLSI 3256.However, the first member of the 2000 family to ship, the 32-macrocell ispLSI/pLSI 2032, is currently available in 80-, 110-, 135- and 150MHz versions. In addition, 64-, 96-and 128 macrocell members of the family are slated to be introduced by mid-year.

A successor to the 1000 CPLD family, the 3000 family extends from 2,000 to 8,000 gates. The initial ispLSI/pLSI 3256 offering contains 256 programmable generic logic blocks (GLBs) and is available in 50- and 70ns speed grades, with system operating frequencies of 77Mhz and 57Mhz and logic delays (Tpd) of 15ns and 20ns, respectively. An 8,000-gate device, the 192-macrocell ispLSI/pLSI 3192, is scheduled to be available next quarter, and a 14,000-gate CPLD, the 320-macrocell 3320, is expected to be in production in the second half of this year.

In the three product families: series 1000, 2000 and 3000, there will be a total of 20 device options.
The company also revealed initial customers for the new ispLSI/pLSI 2000 and 3000 families, including Fibermux for selected versions of the devices in its network hubs; Qualcomm for integration of the devices into its next generation wireless telephone systems; and Coreco for video capture boards.

Stan Kopec, Lattice's director of marketing, commented in an interview with Electronic News that "This new generation of CPLDs has highdensity PLDs that match today's higher performance processors--a milestone for Lattice." He said although high-density PLDs account for only 22 percent of the company's business, "Lattice's business will continue to transition to the high-density market and, two years from now, high density products will probably be a majority of our business. Low density will continue to grow as well--our objective is to have a full spectrum of devices."

Mr. Kopec also revealed that Lattice is nearing release of its first product implemented on 0.5-micron process. "Half-micron will be our next technology--we will move to 0.5-micron this year, within the next six months hopefully." Although the company advanced $42 million to its manufacturing partner, Seiko Epson, last year to help Seiko convert its sub-micron fab about 200 miles north of Tokyo in Sakata, Japan (EN, May 23, 1994), Lattice has no plans currently to add to that investment. "We don't foresee any incremental investment in Seiko Epson this year."

In addition to 384 registers and 128 universal I/O pins, the ispLSI/pLSI 3256 CPLDs also have five dedicated clock input pins, and proprietary technology features, including Lattice's Output Routing Pool (ORP) to enable OEMS to maintain pinouts, and Global Routing Pool (GRP) to provide inter-connectivity between all device elements. Dedicated Boundary Scan registers and test control logic compliant to the IEEE 1149.1 standard is also a standard feature of the 3256. Device outputs have independent

programmable output slew rate control which provides adjustable signal switching speed on each pin in order to minimize overall electro-magnetic interference (EMI) and system noise.

In addition, the ispLSI 3256 can be programmed or reprogrammed on the system printed circuit board due to the 5-Volt In-System Programmable (ISP) technology. Lattice counts among its customers Northern Telecom Ltd., which cites the company's ISP technology as a factor in its decision to partner with the company. "Northern Telecom is currently pursuing isp on our designs due to our recognition of the cost advantages that may be obtained by removing handling steps from the manufacturing flow," said John Chiang, senior component engineer, Northern Telecom.

Besides ISP, the cost savings enabled by reduced part counts was cited by another Lattice customer, NEC America. "NEC America appreciates the benefits that ispLSI offers to manufacturing, such as reduced part types and flexible inventory," stated Brian Reilly, senior hardware development engineer.

The 2000 series, meanwhile, offers a lower gate count (1,000- to 6,000) but higher number of I/Os (up to 128) than the existing 1000 and new 3000 families. Spearheading the family is the 154Mhz, 5.5ns ISPLSI/pLSI 2032-150 which offers input signal set-up time (Tsu) of 3ns and clock-to-output time (Tco) of 4.5ns. By delivering this set of specs, the company said, the ispLSI and pLSI 2032 provide a performance match with microprocessors operating at speeds up to 75Mhz.

"The most significant aspect of this second generation of the ispLSI and pLSI 2032 devices is how we optimized the timing for operation with fast microprocessors such as the Pentium," Mr. Kopec said. "We studied the processor bus requirements and minimized setup time to 3ns to allow fast address strobing and decoding."

WALTHAM, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 5, 1998--Lexra, a leading developer of microprocessors for embedded applications, announced today the first 32-bit R3000-class/a RISC processor core available in a Programmable Logic Device (PLD).

The LX-4080P is a fixed configuration of Lexra's high performance LX-4080 RISC core, and occupies less than 50% of the Altera Flex(R) 10K 200E.

Today's PLDs are used either as prototyping vehicles for complex ASICs, or as quicker time-to-market alternatives to ASICs in low to medium volume systems. With Lexra's LX-4080P and Altera's Flex 10KE device, designers finally have a RISC core for both applications. "The LX-4080P represents a major market expansion for Lexra," stated Charlie Cheng, President and CEO of Lexra, Inc. "It gives customers the only MIPS R3000-class RISC core that can be prototyped in PLD before ASIC production, and the only mainstream 32-bit RISC core to run in a PLD, at full system speed of 33 MHz."

The MIPS architecture represents the RISC processor of choice for embedded applications. According to Microprocessor Report, there were more than 45 million units shipped in 1997. The LX-4080 executes all MIPS-I instructions except for unaligned loads and stores, which are software emulated for price and performance reasons. This enables LX-4080 and LX-4080P customers to leverage the vast pool of existing embedded software development tools. "The LX-4080P will allow PLD users to implement a 32-bit, RISC processor core directly in programmable logic for both prototyping and production use," said Stephen Lautzenhiser, AMPP program manager at Altera. "We expect this breakthrough development to open the door to embedded applications in need of a MIPS R3000-class processor but requiring the low risk, ease of use and fast time-to-market associated with PLDs."

Market Impact

-- Prototyping ASICs. Because ASIC vendors do not make processor

cores available in PLD form, designers cannot prototype ASICs

that include embedded processors. Now, with the LX-4080P,

applications such as set-top boxes and cable modems can use

PLD-based prototypes for software development, field-testing and

trade show demonstrations, prior to volume production.

-- RISC-based PLD systems. The FLEX 10K 200E makes over 200,000

useable gates available on a PLD. This makes it feasible to build

RISC-based embedded applications on PLDs. For small to medium

volume production of up to 10,000 systems, PLDs offer tremendous

savings in non-recurring engineering costs (NRE). PLDs also allow

field upgradeability for new protocol standards. Applications

include networking and data communication products, as well as

the emerging reconfigureable computing devices.

Product Overview

The LX-4080P includes 1 KB of I-cache, 1 KB of D-cache, a 4-deep write buffer, a Co-processor Interface and Lexra's unique Custom Engine Interface (CEI), which allows customers to add proprietary instructions. This capability provides a quick way to implement the protocol for communication applications performing data-parallel operations on an incoming stream.

The LX-4080P is delivered as a highly optimized "hard macro" for the FLEX 10KE architecture. It includes the LX-4080P core database for use with Altera's Max+Plus II design kit, a simulation model, a comprehensive test environment with regression test suite and full user documentation. Lexra will also offer a LX-4080P version of its Evaluation System Board, consisting of a printed circuit board with LX-4080P implemented in an Altera Flex 10K 200E PLD and the Lexra software development kit.

Roadmap

Future versions of the LX-4080P for Altera's new Raphael(TM) device family are expected to occupy even less area and run as fast as 66 MHz. For LX-4080P customers requiring an ASIC solution for volume production, Altera's MPLD program offers a fast, low-risk way to transition from a PLD to an ASIC, while preserving functionality and timing characteristics.

Pricing and Availability

The LX-4080P will be available in November 1998, with license fees starting at $49,000 per project. The LX-4080P Evaluation System Board (ESB), which includes the LX-4080P, is priced at $10,000.

Note to Editors: MIPS, MIPS16, MIPS ABI, MIPSIV, MIPSSV, R3000, R4000 and other MIPS common law marks are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of MIPS Technologies, Inc. Lexra, Inc. is not associated with MIPS Technologies, Inc. in any way.

HILLSBORO, ORE.--Lattice Semiconductor will today triple the size of its complex programmable logic device (CPLD) portfolio with the launch of the 2000 series and 3000 series of ispLSI/pLSI families aimed at PLD market volume leaders Altera and Xilinx.

The new 2000 series includes a high-density device that Lattice claims is the industry's fastest high density CPLD--the 154Mhz, 5.5-nanosecond ispLSI/pLSI 2032-150-and the 3000 series offers what Lattice is touting as the industry's largest [E.sup.2]CMOS CPLD to-date--the 11,000-gate ispLSI/pLSI 3256.However, the first member of the 2000 family to ship, the 32-macrocell ispLSI/pLSI 2032, is currently available in 80-, 110-, 135- and 150MHz versions. In addition, 64-, 96-and 128 macrocell members of the family are slated to be introduced by mid-year.

A successor to the 1000 CPLD family, the 3000 family extends from 2,000 to 8,000 gates. The initial ispLSI/pLSI 3256 offering contains 256 programmable generic logic blocks (GLBs) and is available in 50- and 70ns speed grades, with system operating frequencies of 77Mhz and 57Mhz and logic delays (Tpd) of 15ns and 20ns, respectively. An 8,000-gate device, the 192-macrocell ispLSI/pLSI 3192, is scheduled to be available next quarter, and a 14,000-gate CPLD, the 320-macrocell 3320, is expected to be in production in the second half of this year.

In the three product families: series 1000, 2000 and 3000, there will be a total of 20 device options.The company also revealed initial customers for the new ispLSI/pLSI 2000 and 3000 families, including Fibermux for selected versions of the devices in its network hubs; Qualcomm for integration of the devices into its next generation wireless telephone systems; and Coreco for video capture boards.

Stan Kopec, Lattice's director of marketing, commented in an interview with Electronic News that "This new generation of CPLDs has highdensity PLDs that match today's higher performance processors--a milestone for Lattice." He said although high-density PLDs account for only 22 percent of the company's business, "Lattice's business will continue to transition to the high-density market and, two years from now, high density products will probably be a majority of our business. Low density will continue to grow as well--our objective is to have a full spectrum of devices."

Mr. Kopec also revealed that Lattice is nearing release of its first product implemented on 0.5-micron process. "Half-micron will be our next technology--we will move to 0.5-micron this year, within the next six months hopefully." Although the company advanced $42 million to its manufacturing partner, Seiko Epson, last year to help Seiko convert its sub-micron fab about 200 miles north of Tokyo in Sakata, Japan (EN, May 23, 1994), Lattice has no plans currently to add to that investment. "We don't foresee any incremental investment in Seiko Epson this year."

In addition to 384 registers and 128 universal I/O pins, the ispLSI/pLSI 3256 CPLDs also have five dedicated clock input pins, and proprietary technology features, including Lattice's Output Routing Pool (ORP) to enable OEMS to maintain pinouts, and Global Routing Pool (GRP) to provide inter-connectivity between all device elements. Dedicated Boundary Scan registers and test control logic compliant to the IEEE 1149.1 standard is also a standard feature of the 3256. Device outputs have independent

programmable output slew rate control which provides adjustable signal switching speed on each pin in order to minimize overall electro-magnetic interference (EMI) and system noise.

In addition, the ispLSI 3256 can be programmed or reprogrammed on the system printed circuit board due to the 5-Volt In-System Programmable (ISP) technology. Lattice counts among its customers Northern Telecom Ltd., which cites the company's ISP technology as a factor in its decision to partner with the company. "Northern Telecom is currently pursuing isp on our designs due to our recognition of the cost advantages that may be obtained by removing handling steps from the manufacturing flow," said John Chiang, senior component engineer, Northern Telecom.

Besides ISP, the cost savings enabled by reduced part counts was cited by another Lattice customer, NEC America. "NEC America appreciates the benefits that ispLSI offers to manufacturing, such as reduced part types and flexible inventory," stated Brian Reilly, senior hardware development engineer.

The 2000 series, meanwhile, offers a lower gate count (1,000- to 6,000) but higher number of I/Os (up to 128) than the existing 1000 and new 3000 families. Spearheading the family is the 154Mhz, 5.5ns ISPLSI/pLSI 2032-150 which offers input signal set-up time (Tsu) of 3ns and clock-to-output time (Tco) of 4.5ns. By delivering this set of specs, the company said, the ispLSI and pLSI 2032 provide a performance match with microprocessors operating at speeds up to 75Mhz.

"The most significant aspect of this second generation of the ispLSI and pLSI 2032 devices is how we optimized the timing for operation with fast microprocessors such as the Pentium," Mr. Kopec said. "We studied the processor bus requirements and minimized setup time to 3ns to allow fast address strobing and decoding."