At the close of two-score years in print, we look back…heck, we can all look back at every issue* that ever rolled off the presses, just as they appeared at the time—including Volume 1, Number 1 (1967)—thanks to scanning and the miracle of PDF. Moreover, a more portable physical embodiment of the totality of Analog Dialogue’s 40-year substance through

2006, a CD version, will soon be available, replacing the four bulging binders that are currently needed to contain the paper-and-ink version.

When it arrives, we will recommend the CD to our fans, to history lovers and reference librarians and their clientele everywhere, as a private refuge from the crowded, noisy, crime-ridden, sometimes dangerous highways and byways of the Internet.

Dan Sheingold [dan.sheingold@analog.com]

NEW WEB FEATURES FOR 2007

As our screens got bigger and our eyes get weaker, we chose to stop catering to the small-screen crowd at the expense of the overwhelming percentage of readers who are using screen resolutions of 1024 × 768 or higher. Please let us know if you like the new on-line format†—or think we should revert to the original. We also added a new feature, the Back Burner,

which is sure to become one of your favorite spots. It will include teasers, design and test tips, tutorials, and other information of interest to designers. Please let us know of any topics that you would like to have covered in future issues.

IN THIS ISSUE

Mechanical buttons, switches, and jog wheels have long been used as interfaces between users and machines, but their many drawbacks have led designers to look for more reliable solutions. Capacitive sensors, which can be used in place of buttons, can also add versatility. Available ICs can measure the capacitance of up to 14 sensors, compensate for environmental changes, and provide a digital output.

The picture quality available from cell phone cameras is constantly improving. Autofocus is standard in many high-resolution cameras, and optical zoom, shutter control, and image stabilization are becoming common. These features require the lens to move rapidly. Lens drivers power the motors that move the lens in response to digital signals.

New isolation capabilities—including integrated, isolated power and truly bidirectional isolation channels—are greatly simplifying the design of isolated systems. Fueled by a shift from LED-based optocouplers to chip-scale microtransformer technology that is compatible with standard CMOS processes, they fit more functionality into a single package.

As always, your comments are welcome.

Scott Wayne [scott.wayne@analog.com]

*See http://www.analog.com/library/analogDialogue/archives.html

†Take a look at http://www.analog.com/analogdialogue