Actel (NASDAQ: ACTL) released its free Mixed-Signal Power Manager (MPM). A reference design and graphical user interface (GUI) tool included in the recently announced Fusion Advanced Development Kit, MPM enables designers to control and reduce power at the system level, offering fully-verified, timing-closed, proven-in-hardware power supervision and management capabilities. This latest offering highlights the significant integration benefits of Actel's Fusion device, the industry's first mixed-signal field-programmable gate array (FPGA).

Bringing its acclaimed 45nm technology to new high-volume processor designs, Advanced Micro Devices (NYSE: AMD) released two new dual-core desktop processors. Building on 10 years of AMD Athlon™ processor innovation, the new 45nm AMD Athlon™ II X2 250 processor gives mainstream consumers exceptional performance, efficiency and value.

Alereon demonstrated an Apple iPhone/iPod peripheral reference design based on its new worldwide, low-power 90nm-LP AL5301 chip built at Samsung's 12-inch wafer fabrication facility in Korea.

Analog Devices (NYSE: ADI) introduced the industry's smallest four-channel digital isolators. Housed in a small 5mm × 6mm quarter-size small outline package (QSOP), ADI's ADuM744x digital isolators can isolate four channels of data and power while reducing board space up to 70 percent and cutting costs by 20 percent.

Broadcom (NASDAQ: BRCM) will introduce a new family of gigabit passive optical network (GPON) integrated access device (IAD) semiconductors to telecommunications providers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in China this year. The Broadcom BCM6800 family of GPON gateway processors is designed to enable more cost-effective optical network terminals (ONTs) or optical network units (ONUs) used in conjunction with service provider networks.

BroadLogic Network Technologies released the TeraQAM BL85000, the industry's first ultra-dense quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) chip for systems that transport video, voice and data signals. It enables cable operators to respond efficiently and cost effectively to the growing consumer demand for “any content, anytime” viewing by delivering more narrowcast and unicast services.

California Micro Devices NASDAQ: CAMD) introduced the CM1624, an application-specific micro Secure Digital (microSD) interface protection filter for mobile and computing devices. The popular microSD Flash memory card is increasingly used in portable devices to allow users to store or use data across different devices.

The Emergent Network Technology Testbed group at the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Ames Research Center is utilizing cPacket's cTap intelligent network taps for wirespeed monitoring of NASA links up to 10 gigabits per second. cTaps provide the group with real-time situational awareness of network behavior and traffic, as well as a wide variety of troubleshooting and analysis capabilities not previously available at these data rates.

Dialog Semiconductor (FWB: DLG) and TridonicAtco established a joint development center for next-generation, energy-efficient lighting technology. The move intensifies the longstanding successful collaboration between the two companies in the development of ICs, such as the recently launched TridonicAtco XITEC™ chip family.

DSP Group (NASDAQ: DSPG) released its new Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications/Cordless Advanced Technology-Internet and Quality (DECT/CAT-iq) module. A low-cost, small form factor connectivity platform, the DECT/CAT-iq module delivers superior coverage and wideband audio (high-definition (HD) voice).

Enpirion released two feature-rich voltage mode synchronous buck direct current-direct current (DC-DC) converters, the 6A EN5364 and 9A EN5394. These low-power switch-mode converters are complete power systems-on-chip (SOCs), achieving up to 93 percent efficiency and integrating the inductor, power switches, gate drive, controller and loop compensation all in tiny 8mm x 11mm x 1.85mm packages.

Entropic Communications' (NASDAQ: ENTR) RF4400 Advanced Television Systems Committee (ATSC) silicon tuner has been selected by EchoStar Technologies for its HD over-the-air (OTA) module for select HD set-top boxes. The RF4400 is an advanced silicon tuner that provides high performance in a small form factor.

Exar (NASDAQ: EXAR) introduced the industry's fastest full-speed Universal Serial Bus (USB) universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART) with up to 12Mbps serial data rate. The series is composed of three devices and compliant to the USB 2.0 specification. The XR21V1410/V1412/V1414 have differentiated features which include the smallest packaging options and optimized software drivers, and support large first in, first out (FIFO) sizes delivering flexible and proven design options to system architects.

Fresco Microchip added FM1050, a worldwide legacy audio/video demodulator for cable and terrestrial broadcast television reception to its line of breakthrough solutions. The new FM1050 provides optimum flexibility with universal support for National Television System Committee (NTSC), Phase Alternating Line (PAL) and Sequential Color with Memory (SECAM) analog broadcast standards. The new demodulator addresses the strong demand for analog-only television in Asia, including China and India, as well as many parts of Eastern Europe.

Leveraging its high-speed serial interface and digital systems expertise, Gennum's (TSX: GND) Snowbush intellectual property (IP) group has developed the industry's first available integrated PCI Express^® (PCIe) 3.0 physical layer (PHY) and controller IP solution. The new PCIe^® 3.0 cores can be licensed immediately by SOC and system companies, enabling early deployment of PCIe 3.0 in systems requiring the 8.0GT/s performance of this new Peripheral Component Interconnect-Special Interest Group (PCI-SIG) standard.

One of Himax Technologies' (NASDAQ: HIMX) liquid-crystal-on-silicon (LCOS) microdisplays, HX7027, received the 2009 Outstanding Photonics Product Award by the Photonics Industry and Technology Development Association (PIDA). The HX7027 is a color-filter LCOS microdisplay with video graphics array (VGA) resolution (640x480) developed by Himax Display.

IBM (NYSE: IBM) introduced new systems software for managing virtualized servers, designed to help clients plan, build and maintain data centers while reducing costs. IBM is also helping clients protect their long-term investments in Power Systems™ by announcing an upgraded path to its next-generation servers that will include POWER7 microprocessors.

Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) is moving to a more advanced 34nm manufacturing process for its leading NAND Flash-based solid state drive (SSD) products, which are an alternative to a computer's hard drive. The move to 34nm will help lower prices of the SSDs by up to 60 percent for PC and laptop makers and consumers who buy them due to the reduced die size and advanced engineering design.

Jennic released a demonstration platform that successfully harvests thermal, solar, radio frequency (RF) and vibrational energy to power wireless sensor networks based on the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 802.15.4 standard such as ZigBee PRO and 6LoWPAN. The platform demonstrates how wireless sensor networks based on the IEEE802.15.4 standard can eliminate the potential maintenance overheads of conventional battery power by harvesting energy from sustainable sources.

Key ASIC now offers IBM's semiconductor technology to its customers. As a part of the relationship with IBM, Key ASIC will sell IBM-produced wafers, which contain design content and services from Key ASIC, to its customers.

L-3 Communications, Infrared Products launched its much-anticipated Thermal-Eye^® Renegade-320 thermal imaging system, the ideal multi-use tool for force protection, border patrol officers, law enforcement professionals, special weapons and tactics (SWAT) units, and special operations forces. The Thermal-Eye^® Renegade-320 is designed for the operator that needs a single thermal imaging device that can multi-task as a handheld, a tripod-mounted surveillance system and a thermal weapon sight.

LSI (NYSE: LSI) released real-time, on-demand multimedia transcoding software for the award-winning family of LSITM StarPro^® multicore media processors that enables flexible, cost-effective solutions for any-to-any video communications and real-time collaboration through next-generation media gateways.

MagnaChip Semiconductor released two new light-emitting diode (LED) driver models for constant current-based portable applications, the MAP1040 and MAP1042. In the wake of its first launch of LED drivers for portable applications, MagnaChip plans to reinforce its presence in the power semiconductor market by further expanding to the LED driver markets for notebooks and TVs down the road. The newly launched models can drive up to four LEDs for displays on portable applications with only one LED driver, and MAP1042 has a stronger power control function with a dual low-dropout regulator (LDO) built in than the other model.

Micronas (SWX: MASN) launched the new HAL 36xy family with its HAL 3625 Hall-effect sensor based on Micronas' 3D-Hall technology and equipped with vertical Hall elements. This technology allows rotation angles from 0° to 360° to be detected directly with minimum measuring efforts.

Microsemi (NASDAQ: MSCC) introduced a new line of standard rectifier diode power modules with 21 standard dual-diode modules and six three-phase bridge rectifier diode power modules for industrial, uninterruptible power supply (UPS), switched-mode power supply (SMPS) and motor drive applications. The new standard rectifier diode modules are rated at 1600 volts with a low forward voltage rating.

NEC Electronics (TSE: 6723) successfully developed new architecture that provides both miniaturization and high accuracy to analog circuits, including analog-to-digital (AD) and digital-to-analog (DA) converters. To achieve miniaturization and high accuracy in analog circuits, NEC Electronics' new architecture possesses a folding technique and a built-in self-calibrating feature that can realize high-accuracy processing of the analog signals.

ON Semiconductor (NASDAQ: ONNN) introduced the NCP5680 supercapacitor-optimized LED flash driver, which is capable of delivering up to 10 amperes for photo flash and video light in ultra-slim camera phones and compact digital cameras.

PLX Technology (NASDAQ: PLXT) sampled four of its newest high-performance PCIe switches that target the server, enterprise storage, control plane and high-end gaming markets. These devices include the highest PCIe switch lane counts in the industry at 96 and 80 lanes.

Powervation released the PV3002, the company's inaugural product and the industry's first Auto-control™ digital power conversion IC. The new chip is aimed at electronic systems used in computing, netcomms and storage applications where it brings fully automatic adaptive control to DC-DC conversion for the first time.

Qualcomm (NASDAQ: QCOM) introduced the WCN1312™, a single-chip, high-performance, 802.11n-compliant wireless local area networking (WLAN) solution for handsets and mobile devices. This highly integrated device supports data rates of up to 72Mbps, which is significantly higher than previous 802.11a, b and g Wi-Fi solutions, for a better user experience when downloading data, watching streaming video or surfing the Internet.

Redpine Signals and Ascom Wireless Solutions partnered to create next-generation voice-over-Wi-Fi (VoWiFi) phones with 802.11n wireless connectivity. The new VoWiFi phone designs are built upon Ascom's long experience of offering state-of-the-art purpose-built handsets, wireless voice and message transmission systems, and customized alarm and positioning applications.

RF Micro Devices (NASDAQ: RFMD) entered into a cooperative agreement with the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) to develop a commercially viable and high volume-capable compound semiconductor-based process for high-performance photovoltaic (PV) cells.

SanDisk (NASDAQ: SNDK) introduced the fastest 32GB Secure Digital High Capacity (SDHC™) card on the market. The 32GB SanDisk Extreme^® SDHC™ card at up to 30MB/s read and write speeds combines industry-leading performance with massive storage capacity, helping digital photography enthusiasts utilize the advanced features of today's digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras.

Skyworks Solutions (NASDAQ: SWKS) partnered with several of the energy industry's top solution providers to meet the growing worldwide demand for smart water, gas and electric meter readers. These strategic partnerships enable Skyworks to develop and ramp low-cost solutions for remote meter reading applications and smart grid technologies.

Standard Microsystems (NASDAQ: SMSC) released the OS85650 input/output (I/O) companion chip for MOST^® intelligent network interface controllers (INICs). With its multiple interfaces, powerful routing engine and the Digital Transmission Content Protection (DTCP) co-processor, the OS85650 can be used for various audio and video applications such as head units, rear seat entertainment, amplifiers, TV tuners and video displays.

Summit Microelectronics introduced two more members of its third-generation programmable battery charger IC family. The SMB136 and SMB137B employ CurrentPath technology, providing dual input source (USB or AC/DC) with arbitration, dual output for system and battery, and system operation with a dead or missing battery.

Teradici launched a comprehensive new partner program for value-added resellers (VARs), system integrators (SIs) and OEMs who want to deliver superior remote computing and virtual desktop solutions to their customers. The new PC-over-IP^® (PCoIP) partner program provides VARs, SIs and OEMs with everything they need to sell and deploy PCoIP-based solutions, including product education, marketing collateral, competitive information, sales leads, product discounts, and both marketing and technical assistance.

Teranetics showcased Arista Networks' high-density, auto-negotiating 1/10GBASE-T 7100T switches. The Arista 7100T switches, featuring both 48- and 24-port models, take advantage of the Teranetics TN2022 dual-port PHY to deliver the highest port density possible in an Ethernet system, 48 ports in a one rack unit form factor.

Eurocomposant will sell a selection of VIA Technologies' (TSEC: 2388) comprehensive range of innovative products, including VIA's unique range of highly integrated processors, chipsets and companion chips, as well as a variety of ultra-compact form factor boards and application-specific systems.

Vitesse Semiconductor (OTC: VTSS.PK) expanded its next-generation fiber-to-the-home (FTTx) technology ecosystem with the addition of three industry-leading companies—ZTE, the Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute (ETRI) and CyOptics. Brought together to accelerate the deployment of next-generation 10G passive optical network (PON) systems, Vitesse's industry-leading effort will accelerate innovation, supply key components and enhance service delivery.

Wolfson Microelectronics (LSE: WLF.L) released the WM8994, the second device in a new family of highly integrated, ultra low-power audio hub coder/decoders (CODECs) for smart phones and other feature-rich portable audio applications. The WM8994 takes the highly flexible signal routing and processing of previous Wolfson audio hubs to a whole new level with the addition of an innovative, new HexCore™ digital baseband interface, giving great audio performance at a lower system BOM cost than even the most integrated single-package, cellular-based architectures.

Zilog (NASDAQ: ZILG) released a new enhanced low-voltage serial communications controller (SCC) for a variety of computing applications requiring increased performance and lower power consumption. The Zilog Z8523L enhanced SCC builds on Zilog's popular and original discrete SCC, providing a low-power solution that reduces the voltage from 5 volts to 3.3 volts. The enhanced SCC also features performance improvements that allow applications, including computer peripherals, networking equipment and routers, to experience faster data rates and increased processor bandwidth.