The STM32 Primer2 device from STMicroelectronics actually enables product designers prove ideas quickly and independently, by adding rich features to a series of self-contained handheld platforms for embedded systems design. It has a 128x160-pixel color touch screen, joystick/push button, extension connector and preloaded sample applications.

2. Technology integrates motor and controller directly onto PCB

Designed for spectrum analysis, laser adjustment, microscopes and turntables, a technology developed by PCBMotor ApS enables motors to be directly mounted onto a PCB along with the motor controller. This patented technology can achieve a positioning accuracy of 100,000 steps per revolution using a high-resolution sensor.

3. Supercapacitor puts high-intensity LED flash capability in high megapixel camera phones

ON Semiconductor's supercapacitor LED flash driver delivers up to 4.0-A LED flash pulses, far beyond the peak current capability of the battery in high megapixel camera phones and standalone cameras. The CAT3224 supercapacitor LED driver also supports three key functions: precise supercapacitor charging control, management of the current discharge into the LED flash and constant current for LED torch mode.

4. Low-cost DaVinci does H.264 at 1080p

This processor from Texas Instruments (TI) is its first low-cost DaVinci device to support H.264 encoding at 1080p. In addition to the increased encoding power, the DM365 features an image signal processing (ISP) engine with face recognition and other intelligent video processing capabilities. It also includes new peripherals that can drive system cost down by as much as 25 percent.

5. Tiny lasers for microprojectors coming soon

An optimized TO38 package makes this blue laser diode from OSRAM Opto Semiconductors the smallest in its class, the company said, bringing the world one step closer to a vision of tiny projectors that can be integrated into mobile devices such as cell phones and digital cameras.

6. x32-bit 1-Gbit XDR DRAM hits the market

Elpida's memory device features a speed of 7.2GHz, which at the time of its introduction was faster than any GDDR5 memory chip, and provides a data transfer rate of 28.8 Gbytes per second with a single device.

7. Atmel's first Cortex-M3 MCU features high speed USB, firmware protection

Atmel wasn't the first MCU vendor to use the ARM Cortex-M3 processor core, but it aimed to differentiate itself from its competitors by designing its first Cortex-M3 MCU with high-speed USB functionality, firmware protection, a differential input ADC and a 1.62-V core voltage. This device is also built to support high-end communication from high-speed USB, SDIO, MMC and SPI, unlike competitive parts that are targeted at low- and mid-level data rate applications, according to the company.

8. IC overcomes solar cell/battery-chemistry charging conundrum

This power tracking 2A battery charger from Linear Technology maintains solar panel at peak output power while charging various chemistries, using an input voltage regulation loop.

9. Audio amplifier is more efficient than Class D

At normal listening levels, Audium Semiconductor said its audio power amplifier is 20 times more efficient than competing devices, such as Class D amplifiers, without compromising audio quality. The AS1001 operates from a nominal 1.5V power supply and delivers 100W peak power output.

10. Marvell pictures GHz ARM in photo frames

Aimed at consumer and embedded systems, such as Web-connected digital photo frames, the Sheeva ARM core from Marvell Technology Group, reaches GHz levels. Marvell is leveraging the XScale design and designers it acquired from Intel Corp. to deliver a 55nm consumer device with the muscle to run Linux or Windows CE, yet still hit a $100 price tag.