Serving the Electronic Design Community Since 1956
Auld Lang Syne
December 23, 2008 12:06 pm | by Alix Paultre, Editor-in-Chief | Articles | CommentsAs we head into the New Year, looking towards the future, our minds are always drawn to the past. “Auld Lang Syne” means roughly ‘long times past”. Our ruminations on the past vary from individual to individual; one may look back nostalgic, another regretful, and the third satisfied. The most important thing to remember is that the past is past, and we must embrace the future or face the consequences.
Sensor Zone: January 2009
December 23, 2008 11:59 am | by Valerie Rothermel-Nelson, Honeywell Sensing & Control | Articles | CommentsWhen considering a relative humidity sensor for one’s application, the selection process involves a series of choices to meet application requirements and key parameters while, at the same time, insuring that the product selected delivers the lowest total cost solution. Despite the diversity in humidity sensor applications and specifications, the desire
Embedded Systems: Ethernet Modules Act Like SBCs
December 23, 2008 8:45 am | by Jon Titus, Senior Technical Editor | Articles | CommentsManufacturers offer a variety of small modules that let engineers easily add an Ethernet port to a design. They may need only a UART or I2C port in a main system to communicate with and control one of these modules. But if engineers stop there they will miss many other capabilities offered by these modules--actually single-board computers (SBCs).
Boost Converter Supports 5 µA Operating Current
December 23, 2008 7:08 am | Product Releases | CommentsOperating at 5 µA of quiescent current, the TPS61220 2-MHz DC/DC boost converter from TI supports an input voltage of 0.7 V to 5.5 V and an output voltage range of 1.8 V to 5.5 V. The chip maintains 85 percent efficiency at light load, provides output current up to 50 mA at a 5-V output, and discharges the system’s lithium-ion battery
Multicomputer Built on 7447A Processor
December 23, 2008 7:05 am | Product Releases | CommentsBuilt on the PowerPC 7447A processor, the RACE++ Series PowerPC 7448 Multicomputer from Mercury Computer Systems is comprised of a Mercury MCJ6 motherboard and two faster daughtercards that interface directly with the RACE++ switch fabric. The two daughtercards combine two 1.06-GHz MPC7448
Embedded LAN Module Connects to 10/100BaseT LANs
December 23, 2008 6:27 am | Product Releases | CommentsBased on the CO2144 chip, Connect One's Nano LANReach embedded LAN module connects embedded devices to 10/100BaseT LANs via a built-in RJ45 connector. The 2.5-cm × 3.5-cm product offers plug-and-play Serial-to-LAN functionality, enabling transparent bridging of serial data over LAN using a UART while supporting
CPLDs Serve Handheld Designs
December 23, 2008 6:10 am | Product Releases | CommentsBased on ispMACH 4000 CPLD architecture, Lattice Semiconductor’s ispMACH 4064ZE and ispMACH 4128ZE CPLDs (complex programmable logic devices) target high-volume, handheld designs. The 6-mm × 6-mm devices exhibit typ. standby current of 10 µA, a nominal 1.8-V power supply with operation down to 1.6 V, Power Guard dynamic power reduction, and per pin pull-up, pull-down, or bus keeper control; an on-chip user oscillator and
Industry Focus: Planning for End-of-Life in Mil-Aero Markets
December 23, 2008 6:06 am | by George Karalias, Rochester Electronics, LLC | Articles | CommentsAlthough the ramifications of end of life (EOL) announcements have long been an issue for OEMs in the mil/aero marketplace, many still fail to put a workable plan in place to face this reality. As a result of the increase in end-product programs for these industries, long-term support requirements can sometimes extend for decades, leaving customers in a difficult position as they source components for ongoing production, maintenance and repair.
FPGAs Offer More Flexible, Affordable Embedded System Solutions
December 23, 2008 5:51 am | by Stephen Cunha, MEN Micro, Inc. | Articles | CommentsPotential solutions for providing application-specific functionality in embedded systems typically come with trade-offs in terms of cost and time to market. With few projects having the lead-time, budget or high-volume payback potential to tool-up for custom chip or hardware production runs, the best answers often revolve around "modular" solutions.
Digital Voltmeters Perform in Harsh Environments
December 23, 2008 5:46 am | Murata Power Solutions Inc. | Product Releases | CommentsExhibiting readability in daylight via a 3.5-digit red LED display, Murata Power Solutions’ DMU-30ACV and DMU-30DCV Series of panel-mount digital voltmeters operate in inverters and generators, battery chargers, power distribution units, and power supplies in the industrial, test and measurement, alternative energy/back-up power, and marine markets. The 85-VAC to 264-VAC mains or 110-VDC to 300-VDC battery-powered
Programmable Power Supplies Deliver 4,920 W
December 23, 2008 5:28 am | Product Releases | CommentsOperating in for industrial, military and medical instrumentation applications, Emerson Network Power's Intelligent VS (iVS) fully-programmable AC/DC power supplies deliver up to 4,920 W of 12-W/in³ output power. The devices utilize digitally-configurable single- and dual-output power supply modules available in six power ratings from 210 W to 1,500 W. The instruments support 24 different outputs from 2 V to 60 V, and are
Pushbuttons Show Tamper Resistance
December 23, 2008 5:13 am | Product Releases | CommentsHaving combined solder lug and 0.11” quick connect terminations, NKK Switches’ YB2 Series 22-mm pushbutton switches possess tamper resistance in medical equipment and industrial and commercial control panels. The UL94V0-rated devices exhibit a dust-tight and splash-proof panel seal design to protect against low-pressure water jets from all directions and meet IP65 of IEC60529 standards. The cULus-recognized
Semiconductor Highlight: ZigBee Radios and ICs Gain Momentum in Industrial Control Applications
December 23, 2008 4:52 am | by Rich Howell, California Eastern Laboratories | Articles | CommentsRiding an elevator is typically a mundane exercise - you push a button, you wait, you get off at your floor. Few give any thought to the workings outside the metal box you’re riding. But behind the scenes a lot of technical communication takes place between the elevator car, the controller at the top of the elevator shaft, and the call button you’re patiently pushing in the lobby. Today that communication is typically conducted over high-grade RS-485 twisted pair serial cable.
Industrial Cam Latches Come in Different Designs
December 23, 2008 4:45 am | Product Releases | CommentsPerforming in electrical enclosures, transportation equipment, recreational vehicles, office furniture, HVAC, and vending applications, Southco’s E5 Series industrial cam latches offer integrated L-handle, T-handle, and flush wing knob designs. The modular E5 latch format includes multiple interchangeable cams to satisfy grip dimension requirements from 4 mm to 42 mm. The L-handle and T-handle designs present single-hole installation secured by
TCXO Demonstrates Tight Stability
December 23, 2008 4:29 am | Product Releases | CommentsFunctioning over a frequency range from 50 MHz to 120 MHz, Tellurian Technologies’ TT2200 TCXO exhibits an overall frequency stability of ±4.6 ppm and stability of ±0.5 ppm over an operating temperature range from -40°C to 85°C. The 20-mm × 13-mm × 5.7-mm component presents a CMOS output waveform, an input
