Spectro-X Simultaneously Analyzes Four RF and Microwave Spectrum Capture Files

Posted on May 2, 2013 by

X-COM Systems LLC, a subsidiary of Bird Technologies Group, has introduced Version 4.0 of its Spectro-X RF and microwave signal-analysis software—a comprehensive toolkit designed to search for and analyze signals of interest within long-duration recordings of signal activity. The new version can simultaneously analyze up to four recorded RF and microwave spectrum files with precision file alignment to plus or minus one sample. It includes multidomain correlated markers and features that make the software more versatile and easier to use.

There are many applications for Spectro-X software, including development and analysis of ELINT, SIGINT, ECM, ESM, multichannel communications, and MIMO system performance. The software can also be used for testing radar systems. The software requires no programming skills and can reduce the time required to discover RF anomalies within a complex spectral environment or to evaluate signal characteristics over time.

Spectro-X operates on files of signal activity captured over the air using a COTS signal analyzer and X-COM’s new IQC5000A Series Spectrum Capture and Playback System or on custom spectrum files created in The Mathworks’ MATLAB or other software. It has four discrete search engines (carrier, wireless standard, arbitrary waveform, and pulse) that allow users to zoom in to specific sections of a file in frequency, time, or both, to find signals of interest. Results can be exported in a file format usable by vector signal analysis software for demodulation and detailed analysis. Pulsed waveforms can be characterized by their rise and fall times, pulse width, pulse repetition interval, peak and average power, and carrier frequency.

Multichannel Capabilities

Spectro-X 4.0 now allows up to four different files recorded at different times to be aligned in time in order to make comparisons between them. For example, in a typical “threat and response” scenario on a test range, an aircraft might make four passes through the measurement area, perform the same RF or microwave functions, and be subjected to the same jamming or radar pulses each time. The operator must interpret the data from each pass to determine how the aircraft’s threat protection systems performed. In addition, Spectro-X makes it easier to identify different levels of interference that occurred during each pass. The four files can also be offset in time and compared, placing marker measurements on all four plots. This is helpful when evaluating the performance of a radar system for example, to see if it performs exactly the same way during each scan. READ MORE

The 10 Worst Semiconductor Stocks of 2011

Posted on December 30, 2011 by

If your semiconductor stock showed huge gains in 2010, it probably showed equally huge losses in 2011. That’s because it’s been a miserable year for semiconductor investors, and for last year’s highfliers. The cyclical industry is prone to swings and wild overcorrections in both positive and negative directions. Still, if you’re a long-time veteran of the industry, it’s been far worse: 2011 wasn’t nearly as bad as late 2001, when semiconductor spending dipped more than 40% year-over-year. Nor was it as bad as early 2009, when year-over-year spending sank 30%.

Overall, semiconductor sales are expected to grow 1.3% this year, according to industry association WSTS. That’d mark the first time semiconductor sales surpass $300 billion annually, but it’d also represent a below-average growth rate. More importantly, it’d mean that semiconductor sales are the weakest of any technology subsector. Since technology in general underperformed other sectors this year, that’s a recipe for steep losses.

And the steep losses rained down on the sector after a promising start to the year. The Philadelphia Semiconductor Index — a rough proxy for the industry — is off 11.9% on the year, far worse than the Nasdaq’s 2.4% decline.

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Power semi market to grow 5% in 2012, says IMS

Posted on December 23, 2011 by

The global power semiconductor market will grow by 5.0 percent in 2012 to $32 billion after growing by 3.7 percent in 2011, according to market research firm IMS Research.

IMS (Wellingborough, England) attributes the relatively low growth in 2011 and 2012 to global economic uncertainty and a concommittant reduction in inventory as it is flushed from the supply chain. The market, which grew by 37 percent in 2010 is forecast to return to double-digit growth in 2013.

Power IC market growth was almost 3 percent lower than power discrete growth in 2011, though this trend is set to be reversed in 2012, with slightly higher growth predicted for power ICs. The power module market continued to outperform both power discretes and power ICs, showing sustained high double-digit growth in 2011, which is projected to remain in for the next four years, driven by demand for IGBT modules.

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Worldwide Semiconductor Sales Projected to Top $300 Billion in 2011

Posted on December 5, 2011 by

The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA), representing U.S. leadership in semiconductor manufacturing and design, today announced that the SIA has endorsed the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organization’s Autumn 2011 global semiconductor sales forecast, which has projected semiconductor sales to grow to $302 Billion for 2011, reaching the $300 Billion mark for the first time and representing a 1.3 percent growth rate over the record-breaking year in 2010. Worldwide sales for October 2011 remained essentially flat at $25.7 billion, a 0.1 percent decrease from prior month’s sales of $25.8 billion. All monthly sales numbers represent a three-month moving average.

“The combination of record-breaking sales in 2010 coupled with this year’s forecast topping the $300 Billion mark for the first time is welcome news for both the semiconductor industry and the entire economy,” said Brian Toohey, president, Semiconductor Industry Association. “Despite a challenging global economic environment this year and the natural disasters that have impacted production in Asia, the semiconductor industry has demonstrated impressive resilience. The growing level of semiconductor content embedded across a wide range of consumer, industrial, business and government applications points to continued growth in 2012 and 2013.”

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Posted on November 11, 2011 by

The most recent wave of economic woes and rising consumer pessimism has impacted the global electronics sector to the point where many analysts have cut semiconductor revenue forecasts for 2011. While it can prove to be nearly impossible to predict whether the economy will begin to stabilize or continue to decline, emerging semiconductor companies have positioned themselves to become the primary drivers of what has recently been deemed a tepid industry.

Each year, GSA recognizes the industry’s most respected emerging public semiconductor companies at its Annual Awards Dinner Celebration held in Santa Clara, California. In September, industry peers, suppliers, customers and pundits were asked to cast a vote for the emerging public semiconductor company they most respect in terms of vision, strategy, execution and future opportunity. The following article analyzes the financial status of the top 15 voted emerging companies, including the top three nominees Cavium, NetLogic Microsystems and Silicon Laboratories.

Cavium Inc. (NASDAQ: CAVM), a provider of highly integrated semiconductor products that enable intelligent processing for networking, communications and the digital home, saw Q3’11 revenues consistent with reduced financial outlooks released in September. Though weaker than desired, Syed Ali, president and CEO of Cavium, stated, “We continued to experience high levels of design win activity across multiple product families and we are confident that we are well positioned for the future.” While revenue decreased 5.4% quarter-over-quarter (QoQ), Cavium experienced 22.7% year-over-year (YoY) revenue growth in Q3 and expects revenue to increase between 18% and 20% in Q4 over the prior quarter.

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PV fab capacity expansions finally slow in deference to demand, prices

Posted on November 4, 2011 by

PV module, cell, and wafer manufacturing capacity will slow significantly for the remainder of 2011 and H1 of 2012, according to IMS Research. Manufacturing capacity will increase, only at a slower rate and more from start-ups entering the market than from existing suppliers expanding.

Production capacity has been vigorously added for the last two years; almost 30GW since the start of 2010. This growth is finally slowing in response to sluggish demand in many key regions (Italy, Germany, the UK), and a severe PV module oversupply, IMS Research reports.

Over 50GW of PV module manufacturing capacity will be in place and operating by the end of 2011: over 54% more than at the start of the year. Annual global demand has only grown by 19% to 23 GW. In 2012, capacity will expand by less than 10%, just 6% in H1.

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We’re in a ‘normal downturn’, says Freescale CEO Beyer

Posted on October 31, 2011 by

The semiconductor market is in a downturn driven by falling demand in the US, Asia and Europe, says Rich Beyer, CEO of Freescale Semiconductor.

He believes falling GDPs (gross domestic product) in the economies of the US and European countries is now a major concern for the chip industry.

“Everyone has been worried for the last three to four months,” Beyer, told Electronics Weekly.

“We are in a normal downturn, a demand driven downturn,” said Beyer.

“Looking ahead to the fourth quarter, we expect the weakness in the semiconductor market to continue to negatively impact our business,” said Beyer.