Controller gives Ethemet address route to $100 distributed systems Filtabyte 22.0 is an Ethernet controller for SlO0 (IEEE 696) bus systems, introduced by Sintrom subsidiary Logic Replacement Technology (LRT) in the U K. The controller is aimed at distributed processing and office automation appli- cations.

The DMA-based device consists of a standard $I00 card containing a Lance controller chip. It caters for CRC generation, Ethernet address recog- nition and backoff generation. During DMA the controller generates 16- bit data and full 24-bit address signals, says LRT.

The Filtabyte 22.0 controller handles serial-to-parallel and parallel-to-serial conversions. While doing so it provides access to a maximum of 128 receive and 128 transmit buffers, framing of packets, encoding and decoding, address recognition, backoff generation,

SlO0 Ethernet controller

retransmission after collision and runt filtering, says the manufacturer.

Filtabyte 22.0 can also be used in an interrupt mode. There are interrupts for packet available, transmission complete, initializa- tion complete, transmitter overrun, missed packet and memory error. (Logic Replacement Technology, 7 Arkwright Road, Reading, Berks RG20LU, UK. Tel: (0734) 751087. Telex: 847395)

Converters containing MOSFETs run at 100 kHz with efficiencies of 'up to 86%' Encapsulated DC/DC converters have been announced by UK- based Amplicon Electronics. The WR and ES series come in the MP package with pinouts conforming to European standards. Designed using MOSFET technology, the converters operate at 100 kHz and can be obtained as single, dual and triple 15 W versions.

The use of MOSFETs allows for near-constant efficiency down to 30% load, claims Amplicon. Efficiencies of 86% are quoted in some instances. In unbalanced operation mode, dual-output models can give up to full power from one output, adds the firm.

The converters have isolated

outputs and six-sided continuous shielding for protection from electro- magnetic or radio-frequency inter- ference. The packages come with either 2.2 in or 2 in input pin spacing. Each weighs 210 g and measures 63.5 mm × 88.9 mm × 22.4 mm.

Typical of the series, says Am plicon, is the WR12S15/ 1000MP. This device is quoted as having an input voltage of 12 V DC, an output of 15 V DC at 1000 mA, and an input current of 30 mA (no load) and 1600mA (full load). (Amplicon Electronics Ltd, Richmond Road, Brighton, East Sussex BN2 3RL, UK. Tel: (0273) 608331. Telex: 877470 AMPCON G)

Packaged LCD panels display on 0.02 m z area LCD panels with a display area of 224mm × 96mm have been incorporated into module form for OEM systems by Hitachi. The LM 225 has a matrix of dots 640 × 200. Hence the module can display a VDU screen of 80 characters by 25 lines.

The 20 row and column driven integrated circuits (ICs) are moun- ted on a printed circuit board in the back of the module. Hitachi recom- mends the use of an HD 61830 controller IC.

The logic currents and the display drive need separate power supplies of 5 V and 12-15 V respectively. (Hitachi Electronic Components (UK) Ltd, Hitec House, 221-225 Station Road, Harrow, Middx HA1 2XL, UK)

68000 macro assembler in source/binary format A 68000 macro assembler for high- speed applications programming has been launched by Root Computers of the UK. The macro- assembler comes in source or binary format for 68000- and 68010-based microcomputer sys- tems running under UniPlus+, Root and Unisoft's implementation of Unix system V for the 68000 family.

The 68000 macro assembler produces object modules compat- ible with the UniPlus+ linker/ loader. These modules relocate without reassembly, says Root. A set of instructions is included to aid the translation of programs written in AS syntax into Motorola syntax.

The assembler translates source programs using Motorola syntax to produce relocatable object code and corresponding symbol tables. It can also handle nested macro definitions, and allows for upper- and lower-case operation codes and c-style character strings. (Root Computers Ltd, Saunderson House, Hayne Street, London EClA 9HH, UK. Tel: 01-726 6501. Telex: 894519)

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