Serving the Electronic Design Community Since 1956
Backlight Light Guides Enable LCD Zone Control
February 25, 2009 4:54 am | Product Releases | CommentsBuilt to be user-addressable, Microlens-based LED backlight assemblies from Global Lighting Technologies can control each LED’s color and intensity to enable independent management of the brightness and the color of individual zones within the backlight. This feature can be used to achieve color fading, pulsing, or steady state illumination, and can be utilized in a wide array of consumer electronics displays
Touchscreens Rated for up to 35 Million Activations
February 25, 2009 4:38 am | Product Releases | CommentsFour- and five-Wire resistive touch screens from The Bergquist Company (available at Digi-Key) are rated for up to 35 million activations. The 4-wire screens are rated for 10 million single point activations, while the 5-wire is rated to 35 million. The 5-wire utilizes glass for both X- and Y-axis measurements
Current Sense Resistors Operate at up to 4 Watts
February 25, 2009 4:30 am | Product Releases | CommentsFeaturing a flameproof surface mount design, the OARS-3 Series open-air current sense resistors from TT electronics IRC operate to power ratings of up to 4 watts. The resistors feature a resistance range from 2mW to 15mW, with tolerance to ±1% or ±5%. Inductance values are less than 10 nanohenries, with operating temperatures ranging from
Enclosures Enable Access to Aboveground Terminations
February 24, 2009 9:34 am | Product Releases | CommentsDesigned to provide aboveground housing for sectionalizing, tapping, or terminating underground distribution systems, Hoffman’s Utility Junction (UJ) sectionalizing enclosures have a self-engaging wind stop that holds the cover in the open position for access to aboveground terminations. The single- or 3-phase devices include
400-W Power Module Demonstrates Active PFC
February 24, 2009 8:03 am | Product Releases | CommentsTargeting military, aerospace, and industrial applications, Martek Power’s MW400S 400-W AC/DC power module includes active AC PFC and a built-in EMI filter. The 6.5” × 8” × 1” converter accommodates a universal single phase input from 90 VAC to 265 VAC at from 47 Hz to 440 Hz. Line harmonics meet MIL-STD-1399 for
Training Library Aids Electronic Designers
February 24, 2009 7:50 am | Product Releases | CommentsIntended to help designers get up to speed on the latest technologies and solutions, Newark introduces a library of TechCast product training modules that helps designers select which key solutions to include, and then either collaborates with its suppliers to develop the content or produces original material itself, based on application notes and datasheets.
Pressure Transducer Exhibits Digital Temperature Compensation
February 24, 2009 7:46 am | Product Releases | CommentsTouting static accuracy of ±0.25% FS at 21ºC, Ashcroft’s T2 pressure transducer demonstrates digital temperature compensation to ensure a Total Error Band of >±1% between -20ºC and 85ºC. The device can be configured from a list of process connections, output signals, and electrical termination options. The instrument is available in
Converter Cables Offer Serial Interface Support
February 24, 2009 7:27 am | Product Releases | CommentsUsing FTDI’s FT232RQ USB-to-asynchronous serial interface IC, FTDI’s USB-RS485-WE and USB-RS422-WE converter cables utilize a RS-485 and RS-422 transceiver, respectively. The far end of the 1.8-m cables are wire ended, and the complete USB protocol is managed within the FT232RQ. Royalty-free device drivers for
Low-Power FPGAs Offer Cost-Effectiveness
February 24, 2009 6:43 am | Product Releases | CommentsPresented as having the lowest (up to half) power consumption and price of any SERDES-capable FPGA device, the LatticeECP3 family is also presumed to be the only 65-nm mid-range products of their type. Features include multi-protocol 3.2G SERDES with XAUI jitter compliance, DDR3 memory interfaces, DSP capability, on-chip memory and up to 149K LUTS.
Apple Announces Safari 4
February 24, 2009 6:35 am | Product Releases | CommentsApple today announced the public beta of Safari 4 for Mac and Windows PCs. The Nitro engine in Safari 4 runs JavaScript 4.2 times faster than Safari 3. Innovative new features that make browsing more intuitive and enjoyable include Top Sites, for a stunning visual preview of frequently visited pages; Full History Search, to search through titles, web addresses and the complete text of recently viewed pages; Cover Flow, to flip through
Pictures from the 2009 Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition
February 24, 2009 6:11 am | Murata Power Solutions Inc. | Product Releases | CommentsHeld this year in Washington, DC, this year's APEC was very well attended, especially considering the economy. According to the event organizers, the attendance was down from 2008, but up from 2007, about 2,000 people. Here are some photo highlights from the exhibit floor.
Design Tool Checks MISRA-C:2004
February 24, 2009 5:41 am | Iar Systems Software | Product Releases | CommentsProviding support for ARM’s Cortex Microcontroller Software Interface Standard (CMSIS), IAR Systems’ IAR Embedded Workbench Version 5.30 for ARM supports source code compliance checking to the MISRA-C:2004 standard. The software introduces new debug capabilities for ARM Cortex-M3 processors that is said to be previously available only in dedicated devices and debug probes. A Data Log window logs accesses to up to
Integrated Power Stages Are Smallest Available
February 24, 2009 5:15 am | Product Releases | CommentsTargeting servers, storage equipment, and routers, Primarion’s PX4650 and PX4640 integrated power stages (iPSs) are presented as being the smallest available, measuring 4 mm × 6 mm. The 20-lead QFN-packaged chips combine low-RDS(ON) N-channel MOSFETs for high- and low-side FETs with high- and low-side MOSFET drivers. The RoHS-compliant units support an average output current of up to 50 A in
Fan Trays Operate at High Current
February 23, 2009 11:48 am | Product Releases | CommentsA variety of standard and custom fan trays from Orion Fans operate from 12 VDC to 48 VDC and 115 VAC to 230 VAC. The trays are available in 3-, 6- and 9-fan trays as well as custom configurations. Each fan may be equipped to adjust its speed in direct relation to the ambient air temperature between 55 percent and 100 percent of full speed
Capacitors Deliver up to 3,000 Farads
February 23, 2009 9:37 am | Product Releases | CommentsAvailable in cylindrical or rectangular cases, a family of WIMA double-layer Supercaps from TAW Electronics are available with capacitances up to 3,000 Farads. Configured in models addressing the operating voltage required by the application, the maintenance-free devices can handle more than 500,000 charge/discharge cycles
