Actel (NASDAQ: ACTL) released its new firmware catalog which streamlines the locating and generating of firmware that is compatible with intellectual property (IP) cores used in Actel embedded processor-based, low-power IGLOO^®; ProASIC^®3; or Fusion mixed-signal field-programmable gate array (FPGA) designs.

Altera (NASDAQ: ALTR) started shipping volume production of its 40nm Stratix^® IV GX EP4SGX230 FPGAs. The Stratix IV family offers the highest density and highest performance FPGAs available today, and is used in a variety of end customers’ high-speed backplane and cabling interfaces, chip-to-chip interconnects and protocol-bridging applications.

Bay Microsystems was recognized as a New California 100 Innovative Business by Golden Capital Network and Hamilton Lane. New California 100 businesses are some of the most innovative companies in the state representing California’s commitment to innovation, entrepreneurship and workforce competitiveness.

Broadcom (NASDAQ: BRCM) collaborated with SoftAtHome to develop a solution for hybrid, satellite and Internet protocol (IP) set-top boxes (STBs) accelerating time-to-market for advanced video and TV services. Broadcom and SoftAtHome have partnered to create a customized software interface which leverages Broadcom’s high-performance silicon hardware and is running on a range of Broadcom high-definition (HD) STB solutions, including the BCM7405 and BCM7325.

CEITEC S.A. opened Latin America’s first IC design center. The company will add 60 engineers to its ranks who will design radio-frequency identification (RFID), digital media and wireless communication chips for its fabrication facility now ramping up for production.

Conexant Systems (NASDAQ: CNXT) was ranked 194 in the 2009 InformationWeek 500, an annual listing of the nation’s most innovative users of business technology. Conexant was recognized for its cash management and forecasting system which was deployed in March 2009. The proprietary, patent-pending system has enabled the company to significantly improve cash forecasting visibility and maximize cash flexibility.

WAC Lighting selected Cypress Semiconductor’s (NYSE: CY) EZColor™ high-brightness light-emitting diode (HBLED) controllers to control the LEDs in its new color-changing tape light system. Based on Cypress’ flexible programmable system-on-chip (PSOC), the EZ-Color solution enabled WAC Lighting designers to quickly introduce its energy-efficient INVISILED™ PALETTE system to the display and accent lighting markets.

Dialog Semiconductor (FWB: DLG) and Harman Becker collaborated to develop the DA6001 power management IC as a companion device for the Intel^® Atom™ processor. The DA6001 will be used in the Harman International automotive division’s in-vehicle infotainment command centers, with Dialog having already shipped the first engineering samples to the company.

DSP Group (NASDAQ: DSPG) and Ikanos Communications demonstrated a reference design for a multi-service residential gateway with fully integrated digital enhanced cordless telecommunications (DECT) capabilities. The DECT/Cordless Advanced Technology (CAT)-iq module from DSP Group combined with Ikanos’ Fusiv Vx180 integrated gateway processor is designed to enable network equipment manufacturers to quickly bring to market a platform that supports cordless telephony as part of a residential gateway offering.

Inverto Technologies introduced the latest in its family of Black Unicable Multiswitches utilizing Entropic Communications’ (NASDAQ: ENTR) RF5219 channel stacking switch (CSS) silicon technology. The Inverto Dual Satellite Cascadable Unicable Switch delivers the lowest cost, state-of-the-art, high-performance single-cable solution for multiple satellite and tuner applications.

Exar (NASDAQ: EXAR) entered the digital power market with two PowerXR system-level solutions comprised of highly integrated field-programmable power regulator ICs that change the design mindset for creating power solutions. These two ICs provide programmable digital power at the same cost as analog with many additional power management features.

Fresco Microchip partnered with Entropic Communications to deliver high-performance, low-cost silicon-based hybrid receiver solutions for next-generation televisions by combining the superior performance of Fresco’s FM1150 analog demodulator with Entropic’s EN4020 silicon tuner. Together, Fresco and Entropic will deliver a highly integrated solution that offers significant system cost savings and eliminates the traditional tradeoffs associated with discrete tuner and analog demodulator implementations.

GigOptix (OTCBB: GGOX) announced the availability for sampling of the GX6261, a 40Gbs differential quadrature phase shift keying (DQPSK) modulator driver in surface-mounted technology (SMT) for metro and long-haul optical transponders. Because of its spectral efficiency and tolerance to various dispersion mechanisms over long reaches, DQPSK modulation is slated to become the dominant format as 40G line cards become common in long-haul and metro networks.

With a combination of its touch switch IC design technology and experience, Holtek Semiconductor (TSE: 6202) released its new-generation touch switch series devices, the BS801B, BS802B, BS804B, BS806B and BS808B. This device series allows a touch key number selection from one to eight keys and is able to meet the demands of today’s high-performance/price ratio touch switch products.

Ikanos Communications (NASDAQ: IKAN) introduced its Ikanos Velocity™ family of low-power, full-featured very-high-data-rate digital subscriber line (VDSL) access chipsets. These robust, high-density central office (CO) devices provide up to 100Mbps symmetric bandwidth and operate at sub-1 Watt per port—the lowest power consumption of any A/VDSL device on the market.

Infineon Technologies AG (FSE: IFX) announced that its unique chip-based asymmetric authentication solution has been ported to Intel^® vPro™ technology, providing the basis for IT system administrators, original equipment manufacturer (OEM) tech support and warranty services to improve the integrity of computer systems.

Inphi received Intel^® validation at 1.5V for its low-power LV-GS02 double-data-rate three (DDR3) register on Intel’s current Xeon^® Core i7^® and next-generation platforms. The Inphi LV-GS02 enables enterprise computing platforms to achieve higher memory capacity and bandwidth while using significantly less energy.

Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) unveiled the Atom™ processor CE4100, the newest SOC in a family of media processors designed to bring Internet content and services to digital TVs, digital versatile disc (DVD) players and advanced STBs. The CE4100 processor, formerly codenamed Sodaville, is the first 45nm-manufactured consumer electronics (CE) SOC based on Intel architecture. It supports Internet and broadcast applications on one chip, and has the processing power and audio/video components necessary to run rich media applications such as 3D graphics.

Jennic released a range of integrated modules, based on its JN5148 wireless microcontroller. This new family of wireless modules allows Jennic’s customers to bring their product to market quickly and easily while benefiting from the low-power and high-memory footprint of the JN5148, and without incurring the expense and time of designing an RF board or going through RF regulatory approvals.

The Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) named LSI (NYSE: LSI) to its 2009 Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index. The Carbon Disclosure Leadership Index recognizes companies that have demonstrated a good understanding of how climate change affects their business today and in the future.

MagnaChip Semiconductor unveiled eight types of 600V-level high-voltage metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) products. It is the first time the company has launched 600V MOSFETs for power supply to liquid crystal display (LCD) TVs, LCD monitors and computers.

Marvell’s (NASDAQ: MRVL) 88DE2710 video processor is a featured component of Sony’s BDP-CX7000ES 400-disc Blu-ray disc MegaChanger, thus furthering the integration of Marvell technology into leading CE devices.

Micronas (SWX: MASN) introduced its HAL 1820, the first member of a new family of value-optimized linear Hall sensors. The HAL 1820 is Micronas’ answer to the market demand for an adaptable, robust and cost-effective sensor with low space requirement for detecting the position, the direction of movement or fluid levels, for current measurements and as an alternative to conventional potentiometers.

NextIO’s input/output virtualization (I/OV) solutions now support Intel’s 1G and 10G Ethernet controllers. NextIO’s Express Connect™ products enable controllers to be virtualized and shared across physical servers in a variety of form factors, including blade and rack servers. With NextIO, any I/O can connect to any server, operating system, hypervisor and storage architecture using existing, unmodified applications and off-the-shelf software.

Samsung’s new M1 portable media player is powered by NVIDIA’s (NASDAQ: NVDA) Tegra™ ultra low-power HD mobile processor, providing the device with a brilliant visual experience. The M1 player offers 720p HD video playback on its active matrix organic (AMO) LED display, wireless mobile games in amazing 2D/3D graphics and advanced audio functionality.

NXP Semiconductors and Skymeter signed a memorandum of understanding to combine the two companies’ latest solutions to offer superior road use metering technology for road user charging (RUC) and other automotive-related mobile payment markets. This collaboration will provide the RUC market with Global Positioning System (GPS)-based vehicle positioning unlike anything on the market today.

Octasic entered into a distribution agreement with DIP International. Under the terms of the agreement, DIP will provide localized sales, support for Octasic’s silicon and software voice, video and data solutions for converged carrier, enterprise and end-point communication equipment manufacturers in France.

PLX Technology (NASDAQ: PLXT) completed key design milestones that bring to market diverse Universal Serial Bus (USB) 3.0 (SuperSpeed USB) solutions for a wide variety of applications. This PLX^® development expands on the company’s USB 2.0 expertise and PCI Express^® (PCIe^®) leadership, and will be compliant with the high-performance and interoperability standards of the USB 3.0 specification.

Qualcomm (NASDAQ: QCOM) and Cargo Transporters announced the rollout of Qualcomm’s Mobile Computing Platform 200 Series (MCP200) in Cargo Transporters’ fleet. The deployment builds on Cargo Transporters’ existing MCP100 implementation and now gives the company and its drivers access to Wi-Fi networks and the ability to conduct in-cab video training.

Redpine Signals launched a suite of products addressing smart energy management and the advanced metering infrastructure (AMI). The products include the RS-SE-201 smart energy Wi-Fi communications module, the RS-SE-301 advanced metering gateway system, the RS-SE-401 low-power metering and communications module, the RS-SE-501 secure circuit breaker system and the RS-SE-601 long-range simultaneous dual-band Wi-Fi module.

RMI and 6WIND broadened their existing partnership aimed at enhancing the performance, scalability and ease-of-integration of advanced carrier-class solutions for their mutual customers. As part of this collaboration, 6WIND is expanding availability of its 6WINDGate™ embedded software solutions that will be newly optimized for RMI’s XLR^® and XLS^® multi-core, multi-threaded processors.

Standard Microsystems (SMSC) (NASDAQ: SMSC) launched the LAN88710 Media Independent Interface/Reduced Media Independent Interface (MII/RMII) 10/100 Ethernet transceiver, its second TrueAuto™ Ethernet solution. This device is designed specifically to meet the high reliability standards required by automotive applications such as on-board diagnostics or fast software download interfaces for central gateway and telematics modules, navigation systems, radio head units and connectivity devices.

STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM) introduced MotionBee™, a complete, ready-for-use platform that combines state-of-the-art motion sensing with ZigBee wireless technology in a single, ultra-compact module. Boasting low-power consumption and high level of integration, ST’s MotionBee enables system developers to quickly and cost-effectively build wireless sensor networks for remote motion recognition and tracking in many different application areas, including healthcare, security, industrial control and environmental monitoring.

Telegent Systems was awarded best terrestrial wireless contribution/distribution/transmission solution in the CSI Product Awards 2009. Telegent won the award for its TLG2300 PC TV solution, which is the industry’s first single-chip PC TV receiver able to receive digital and analog free-to-air terrestrial broadcast signals, supporting Digital Video Broadcasting- Terrestrial (DVB-T), National Television System Committee (NTSC), Phase Alternating Line (PAL) and Sequential Color with Memory (SECAM) standards.

Ubidyne was named a Global Cleantech 100 company by Guardian News and Media and Cleantech Group. The Global Cleantech 100 is the first list highlighting the most promising private clean technology companies around the world.

Vimicro International (NASDAQ: VIMC) launched its VC0706, a digital video processing SOC for surveillance cameras. In addition, Vimicro announced its new electronic pan/tilt/zoom (ePTZ) surveillance camera reference design featuring a 5-megapixel CMOS image sensor from Aptina Imaging. Capitalizing on its rich experience in video processing and IC design, Vimicro developed its VC0706 and ePTZ solutions to meet the design needs of the fast-growing surveillance camera market.

Microsoft chose Wolfson Microelectronics’ (LSE: WLF.L) WM8352, a power management device with integrated stereo CODEC, for the next generation of its highly acclaimed portable media player, the Zune HD. The WM8352 is a product from Wolfson’s successful portfolio of power management devices and offers a highly integrated solution delivering superior sound quality and extended battery life to leading-edge portable multimedia devices.

Xelerated AB and Opulan partnered to deliver highly integrated Ethernet passive optical network (EPON) solutions for the Chinese market. Xelerated’s AX family of programmable Ethernet switches, combined with Opulan’s 10G EPON technologies, will provide Chinese network equipment vendors and carriers with the market’s first cost-effective, unified and programmable fiber access solution for multi-dwelling unit (MDU) switches and 10G optical line terminal (OLT) designs.

Xilinx (NASDAQ: XLNX) demonstrated the latest developments in serial connectivity that lower the cost and power of serial digital interfaces (SDIs) and enable the rapid adoption of emerging DisplayPort and Ethernet Audio/Video Bridging (AVB) protocols. At the heart of these innovations is the Xilinx Broadcast Connectivity Targeted Design Platform that simplifies the development of complete broadcast audio and video interface solutions with support for standard definition (SD), HD and 3G-SDI standards in a single programmable device.