Serving the Electronic Design Community Since 1956
Printed Flexible Solar Cells Provide Embedded Renewable Power
May 12, 2008 6:43 am | Blogs | CommentsWith the cost of energy approaching the insane, new and improved methods of creating better and more easily deployable solar power cells are very welcome. This advance in manufacture by Konarka Technologies promises to deliver cheaper power cells in large quantities. I hope they can commercialize the technology to the point we can use solar as a tricke-charge backup in every powered application exposed to the sun.
Mini 3-Channel Optical Encoder Integrates Codewheel
May 12, 2008 5:47 am | Product Releases | CommentsDesigned for stepper and servo motors with shaft sizes from 2 to 5 mm in packaging machines and other industrial and factory automation applications, the AEDx-8xxx encoder series of three-channel optical incremental encoders includes a codewheel, LED light source, and detector IC.
Thin-Film Chip Resistor Array Offers High Stability
May 9, 2008 1:05 pm | Product Releases | CommentsOptimized to meet new automotive industry requirements for temperature and humidity, the Vishay Beyschlag ACAS 0612 AT resistor array offers defined tolerance matching down to 0.1% (equivalent to ±0.05%) and TCR tracking down to 10 ppm/K (equivalent to ±5ppm/K), making it well-suited for
RGB-LED Development Board Includes Wireless Remote
May 9, 2008 9:30 am | Product Releases | CommentsAddressing the high level of interest in solid-state lighting, TPS62260LED LED develoipment board from Texas Inatruments enables lighting designers to develop and evaluate a variable-color RGB-LED lighting system using an RF lighting control for management of lighting intensity and color. The board combines three OSRAM high-brightness LEDs (red, green and blue) with an MSP430F2131 microcontroller
N-channel MOSFETs Tout Low On-state Resistance and High Switching Capability
May 9, 2008 8:34 am | International Rectifier | Product Releases | CommentsInternational Rectifier expanded its portfolio of 60V, 75V and 100V MOSFETs for switch mode power supplies (SMPS), uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) and industrial applications such as power tools, forklifts and other high power DC drives. These new N-channel MOSFETs feature
Micropower Hall-effect Switch Conserves Board Space
May 9, 2008 8:13 am | Product Releases | CommentsAllegro MicroSystems introduced an ultra sensitive, Hall-effect switch with latched digital outputs and omnipolar magnetic actuation. It features operation at low supply currents and voltages, making it appropriate for battery operated electronics. The low operating supply voltage, 1.65V to 3.5V, and unique
ADCs Extend Operation in Power-Sensitive Applications
May 9, 2008 7:13 am | Product Releases | CommentsTargeting battery-powered applications such as remote sensors, the LTC2451 and LTC2452 from Linear Technology are a pair of 16-bit delta sigma ADCs have a 0.5µA (max) shutdown current to extend system operating life. For example, the devices dissipate just 40 µW from a 3-V supply when sampling once per second. With a dynamic input current of less than 50 nA, the 3 x 2-mm 8-pin DFN-packaged devices
PCIe Edgecard Connectors Feature 1.00 mm Contact Centers
May 8, 2008 8:20 am | Product Releases | CommentsSullins Connector Solutions expanded its 1.00 mm edgecard connector offering to include a full series of PCI Express (PCIe) parts. Designed to conform to PCI-SIG specifications, the devices enable user upgrades and bandwidth support to implement PCIe technology for desktop PCs and server systems. Featuring
Stainless Steel D-Subminiature Connectors Offer Reliability and Corrosion Resistance
May 8, 2008 8:03 am | Product Releases | CommentsITT Interconnect Solutions has developed a corrosion resistant variation of its D-subminiature connectors. The stainless steel D-sub shells meet stringent requirements for corrosion resistance under MIL-Spec "P" grade stainless steel, while also meeting JEDEC standards for RoHS compliance. The shells are
USB Null Modem Cable Eases Connectivity Between PCs
May 8, 2008 7:43 am | 3M Electronics Solutions Division | Product Releases | CommentsFuture Technology Devices International Limited (FTDI) announced availability of its USB NMC-2.5m USB to USB Null modem cable. Using an approach that was established using legacy RS-232 serial COM ports when the PC industry was in its infancy, the USB NMC-2.5m offers a
SRM-SPM Power Modules Drive 2-Phase Switched-Reluctance Motors
May 7, 2008 9:09 am | Fairchild Semiconductor | Product Releases | CommentsPresented as the first devices of their type, the FCAS20DN60BB and FCAS30DN60BB SRM-SPM power modules from Fairchild can drive two-phase switched-reluctance motors (SRM) in small motor applications such as vacuum cleaners.
Handheld, 1g Shaker Performs On-site Troubleshooting, Sensor Calibration and Performance Verification
May 7, 2008 9:02 am | Product Releases | CommentsThe IMI Sensors division of PCB Piezotronics (PCB) has released the Model 699A02 portable, lightweight, battery powered industrial handheld shaker. It is designed to verify accelerometer and vibration system performance, as well as confirm the operation of interconnecting cables, switching devices and monitoring systems. The unit operates at 159.2 Hz and delivers a controlled, 1g rms or 1g peak acceleration to
Compact, Rugged Computer Boasts 100 GFLOPS Processing Power
May 7, 2008 8:41 am | Product Releases | CommentsMercury Computer Systems unveiled its PowerBlock 50 embedded computer for small platforms in the 6 lb. to 10 lb. range. Suited for real-time image, sensor, and signal processing and ruggedized for harsh environments, it is fully integrated and programmable, with liquid cooling. The system’s modular architecture allows for flexible configurations of multiple processors, providing
Fast-Switching Thyristors Provide Enhanced dv/dt Performance
May 7, 2008 8:09 am | Product Releases | CommentsLittelfuse introduced the EV Series Enhanced Version Teccor brand Thyristors. They feature a minimum rated blocking voltage (Vdrm/Vrrm) of up to 800V, a maximum turn-on time (tq) as low as 25 µs, and a minimum rated static dv/dt of up to 75 V/µs. The high blocking voltage and dv/dt immunity are suited to designers creating circuits for
High Frequency, High Voltage Vertical FETs
May 5, 2008 1:56 pm | Product Releases | CommentsHVVi Semiconductors introduced its High Frequency, High Voltage Vertical Field Effect Transistor (HVVFET) architecture with products designed to operate from 24V to 48V and which feature low thermal resistance and high ruggedness. According to the company, the gain, efficiency and power density characteristics offer an opportunity to
