Serving the Electronic Design Community Since 1956
Strong standards for school snacks increase lunches and revenue
May 16, 2013 4:05 pm | by Yale UniversityYale University | News | CommentsSchools that implement strong nutrition standards for snacks sold at school increase student meal participation and school revenue, according to a study by the Yale Rudd Center and the Harvard School of Public Health. The study, published in the American Journal of Public Health, provides support for efforts to implement strong national nutrition standards for all food sold at school while promoting student participation in the National School Lu...
The future of Google Glass
May 16, 2013 3:49 pm | by Kasey Panetta, Managing Editor | Blogs | CommentsThere has been a lot of talk about Google Glass lately, mostly due to the prototype debut, but one interesting aspect of that public viewing is that developers –outside of GoogleLand—can take a crack at coming up with interesting uses for the technology. By allowing new voices into the conversation, the world is seeing even more possibilities for Google Glass.
Best Buy seeks to spark interest in '4K' TVs
May 16, 2013 3:45 pm | by MAE ANDERSON - AP Retail Writer - Associated Press | News | CommentsBest Buy will start offering the high-end Sony 4K Ultra High Definition TV sets in 700 of its U.S. stores on Sunday in an effort to shake up the stagnant TV category. The TVs — which have 8.3 million pixels compared with the 2.1 million pixels on regular high-definition TVs — are purported to...
In a bowl of breakfast cereal, principles of attraction on display
May 16, 2013 3:33 pm | by Yale UniversityYale University | News | CommentsAndong He saw a phenomenon at work in his breakfast bowl that he couldn’t explain. It prompted this question: How does cereal shape influence the way cereals floating in the milk join?...
Coin cell battery holder rises under 5 mm
May 16, 2013 3:16 pm | Memory Protection Devices, Inc. | Product Releases | CommentsMPD has invented another new CR2032 low profile coin cell battery holder. While other CR2032 holder solutions often rise 8 to 10 mm above the PCB, our new LP2032SM-JJ-GTR rises under 5 mm with an installed CR2032 battery.
MCU family expands to include intelligent analog and core-dependent peripherals
May 16, 2013 3:06 pm | Microchip Technology Inc. | Product Releases | CommentsMicrochip Technology Inc. expanded its 8-bit PIC16F178X enhanced Mid-Range core microcontroller (MCU) family with increased Flash memory densities, intelligent analog and digital peripherals, such as on-chip 12-bit analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), 16-bit
400W AC/DC power supplies certified to EN 60601 3RDedition
May 16, 2013 2:55 pm | MicroPower Direct, LLC | Product Releases | CommentsThe MPU-400M series, available now from MicroPower Direct, is a family of compact 400W AC/DC power supplies that are certified to EN 60601 3RDedition. These power supplies offer a unique combination of high power, safety features, robust performance and compact construction.
Dealing with counterfeits in the market
May 16, 2013 2:53 pm | by George Karalias, Director of Marketing & Communications, Rochester Electronics | Blogs | CommentsCounterfeiters are adaptable and constantly incorporating solutions that can void the latest countermeasures adopted by the electronics manufacturers and their supply chain. In some cases, the counterfeits are very hard to differentiate from the original component.
What improvements would you like to see from distributors in the next 12 months?
May 16, 2013 2:29 pm | Articles | CommentsWe asked our industry experts and ECN readers to weigh in on our distributors question: What improvements would you like to see from distributors in the next 12 months? Here is what they had to say about the current state of the industry and hot it needs to be improved...
Precision Resistors: From the drawing board to reality
May 16, 2013 2:18 pm | by Yuval Hernik, Director Application Engineering, Vishay Precision Group (VPG), www.vishaypg.com | Articles | CommentsCommercial and military aircraft manufacturers are promoting the replacement of older hydraulic and pneumatic control systems by lighter and more efficient, electrically-driven systems through a trend known as MEA, or More Electric Aircraft.
Hybrid capacitor characteristics, performance, and applications
May 16, 2013 2:15 pm | by David A. Evans, Evans Capacitor Company, www.evanscap.com | Articles | CommentsAn electrolytic capacitor has two electrodes, one with a dielectric, that relies on electrostatic charge storage. A battery has electrodes that store energy faradaically in electrochemical reactions involving the electrodes and electrolyte. A hybrid capacitor is the combination of two electrodes, one that stores charge electrostatically, and the other storing charge faradaically.
Smart electronics reduce energy consumption and improve performance of piezoelectric ultrasonic motors
May 16, 2013 2:10 pm | by David Henderson, co-CEO, New Scale Technologies, Inc., www.newscaletech.com | Articles | CommentsPiezoelectric ultrasonic motors (piezo motors) are a distinct class of rotary and linear actuators requiring unique driving circuits to achieve practical, reliable, precise and efficient operation. A piezo motor uses the ultrasonic vibrations (greater than 20 kHz) of a “stator” structure that is frictionally coupled to a moving slide or rotating shaft. Piezo motors with operating frequencies from 40 to 700 kHz are commercially available.
Simplifying BLDC motor control: A tailored solution delivers precision and efficiency
May 16, 2013 2:04 pm | by Wen Chien, Fairchild Semiconductor www.fairchildsemi.com | Articles | CommentsFrom the small vibrating motors in cell phones to the more complex motors used in household washing machines and air conditioners, motors have become everyday fixtures in the consumer world. The energy consumed by all these motors is significant...
Welcoming grandma into our virtual future
May 16, 2013 1:27 pm | by Joel Hans, Managing Editor, Manufacturing.net | Blogs | CommentsA virtual reality (VR) headset by the name of Oculus Rift made a big splash on Kickstarter, raising a stellar $2.43 million to get development kits into the hands and on the noggins of game developers. And now that the units have started to ship, people in the gaming community are getting treated to video after video of people wearing the goggles and trying to explain just how floored they are....
IDC connectors intended for harsh commercial, industrial, and energy applications
May 16, 2013 12:54 pm | Avx Corporation | Product Releases | CommentsAVX Corporation has introduced the latest iteration of its wire-to-board (WTB) insulation displacement contact (IDC) technology. Designed to provide a gas-tight, plated through-hole WTB termination, the new 9177-600 Series is compatible with the rugged power boards used to handle larger wire gauges and more amps per contact....
