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Incremental Conductor Simplifies Circuits
March 31, 2009 8:37 pm | Product Releases | CommentsAddressing the need for components to perform tasks in a circuit, the IVC from the A.F. Creative Lab provides gain or resistance in a circuit based on its deployment configuration. When deployed in a loop or loops, the conductor increases the strength of whatever is travelling down it, signal or power, with the number of loops determining the amount of gain. When configured into line clusters (knots), the conductor performs resistance and step-down functions based on the number of clusters integrated into the line
Biomechanical ATV Boasts Extremely High Range
March 31, 2009 7:27 pm | Blogs | CommentsAdvanced technology vehicles have yet to gain a foothold in the mainstream auto industry. Hybrids boast a fuel economy upwards of 40 mpg, but are too pricey for your average consumer. Similarly, “clean diesel” sports high MPG ratings, but diesel is prohibitively expensive. The more exotic ATV’s (air-cars, biodiesel, solar) are aesthetically morose. Pure electric vehicles (PEVs) lack the necessary infrastructure to support them. Welcko’s Mogwai Electric Vehicle (or MEV) is the first ATV with potential mainstream viability
Energy Harvesting Module Provides 100 µAh
March 31, 2009 10:21 am | Product Releases | CommentsUsing two EnerChip CBC050 solid state energy chips, the EnerChip EH CBC5300 Energy Harvesting Module from Cymbet provides 100 µAh of power. The EnerChip EH is designed to provide energy conversion, energy storage, and power management in a single package. Other features include: 24-pin DIP package, and greater than 5,000 recharge cycles
DC/DC Controller Operates from -55°C to 125°C
March 31, 2009 10:18 am | Product Releases | CommentsThe LTC3780 synchronous buck-boost switching regulator DC/DC controller from Linear Technology operates over an operating junction temperature range of -55°C to 125°C. The controller operates using a single inductor and can deliver output power up to 150 W. With 4-switch synchronous rectification
Digitizers Provide Data Acquisition for Test, Measurement Applications
March 30, 2009 1:02 pm | Agilent Technologies | Product Releases | CommentsTwo-channel, high-speed 8-bit PCI digitizers from Agilent provide measurement data for small to mid-sized test and measurement applications. The digitizers are designed for use in high-energy physics, nuclear physics, astrophysics, medical imaging and commercial ultrasonic testing, 3-phase power testing, automated test equipment
Antenna Switch Supports Multi-band Transceiver Platforms
March 30, 2009 12:58 pm | Product Releases | CommentsDeveloped to support multi-band mobilecomm transceiver platforms, the UPG2193T6E Single Pole Eight Throw (SP8T) GaAs MMIC antenna switch from NEC provides switching between five GSM and three W-CDMA pins. The antenna also features an onboard SPI controller. Other features include
OR’ing Controller Chip Ensures Cooler Running
March 30, 2009 12:48 pm | Product Releases | CommentsDiodes Incorporated introduced its ZXGD3102 active OR’ing controller chip that enables shared power system designers to replace heat-dissipating blocking diodes with high-efficiency MOSFETs. This is said to ensure cooler running, lower maintenance and higher reliability in up-time-critical telecom, server and mainframe applications. The ZXGD3102 is specifically
DC-AC Inverter Offers Alarm Signal Output
March 30, 2009 12:25 pm | Product Releases | CommentsTaiyo Yuden's LS6Q-1612A-RH — low-profile DC-to-AC inverter is intended for driving cold-cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFL) in Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) back-lighting applications. Designed specifically for use with 12-17” industrial-grade LCD panels, the LS6Q-1612A-RH provides dual LCD panel capability. It features
Proposal Could Ban the Sale of Plasma TVs in California
March 30, 2009 12:23 pm | by by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsThe California Energy Commission (CEC) is moving ahead with a proposal that could make Plasma TVs legally obsolete. Based on the 2008 Report, “Draft Efficiency Standards for Television” (which drew heavily from Pacific Gas and Electric Company findings), the proposal would set a cap on the maximum active mode power usage (watts). This would effectively ban the sale of Plasma, DLP, rear projector, and certain LCD TV’s in California
Audio Subsystems Feature Low Power for Handhelds
March 30, 2009 12:06 pm | Product Releases | CommentsNational Semiconductor has extended its family of low-power Boomer Class D audio subsystems with two devices that are said to simplify portable product design. The LM49352 mixed-signal audio subsystem and LM49151 analog subsystem are targeted at smart phones, full-featured phones, portable gaming devices and portable GPS devices. The LM49352 integrates
DSCs Bring Digital Power to Mainstream Applications
March 30, 2009 5:18 am | Microchip Technology Inc. | Product Releases | CommentsMicrochip Technology announced the first seven next-generation 16-bit dsPIC Digital Signal Controllers (DSCs) for common, multi-loop Switch-Mode Power Supplies (SMPSs) and other power-conversion applications. The new dsPIC33F “GS” series digital-power DSCs enable digital control loops with four to eight high-speed, 1 ns resolution pulse-width-modulators (PWMs) and one or two 10-bit, on-chip ADCs, providing
True-rms AC Ammeters Are Completely Self-Contained
March 28, 2009 9:25 am | Murata Power Solutions Inc. | Product Releases | CommentsMurata Power Solutions has introduced a series of digital AC ammeters with alarm for the measurement and display of complex, true-rms, non-sinusoidal AC currents. The DATEL ACA-20RM-ALM AC Ammeters are completely self-contained and include a built-in current transformer. The integral alarm is triggered when the user-settable over current value is exceeded. The red LED display
Feedthrough Plates Minimize Potential Downtime
March 28, 2009 8:52 am | Product Releases | CommentsDouglas Electrical Components' (DECo) Portplate systems, which combine fully assembled, pre-tested multiple feedthroughs on a single plate are said to minimize the amount of potential downtime due to system leaks, which would usually result in high costs and delays, associated with troubleshooting. These plates can
Comments are Enabled Again
March 27, 2009 12:14 pm | Product Releases | CommentsECN recently underwent a site upgrade which affected the comment function. The function has been re-enabled, and ECN apologizes for any inconvenience this may have caused you.- The Editors
First Look at the Stunning Tesla Model S
March 27, 2009 7:48 am | Product Releases | CommentsTesla Motors' Model S is a stunningly beautiful car that that builds upon the cachet of the Roadster and proves the company is serious about pushing electric vehicles into the mainstream. Company CEO Elon Musk compared the luxury and practicality of his car to the BMW 5 series and Mercedes Benz CLS sedans and said history will place it alongside the Ford Model T.
