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Buck Regulator Achieves High Efficiency
December 4, 2008 6:08 am | Fairchild Semiconductor | Product Releases | CommentsExhibiting an input voltage range from 3 V to 24 V, Fairchild Semiconductor’s FAN2108 8-A TinyBuck DC/DC buck regulator delivers 92% efficiency at 3.3-V output and 87% efficiency at 1.8-V output with 12-V input and 8-A load current, and peak efficiency of 95% at 5-V input and 3.3-V output. The 5-mm × 6-mm MLP-packaged component integrates
802.11a/b/g Module Offers Networking Options
December 4, 2008 5:01 am | Product Releases | CommentsBuilt on the Digi NET+ARM NS9215 processor, Digi International’s ConnectCore Wi-9P 9215 802.11a/b/g embedded core module presents wireless networking and integrated application processing on the 802.11b/g 2.4-GHz band or the 802.11a 5-GHz band. The component has security offerings include WEP, WPA, WPA2/ 802.11i, and on-chip AES acceleration, and suits busy environments and information transmission applications. The product
Wind Turbine Design Reduces Blade Size, Saves Money
December 3, 2008 11:10 am | by by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsBetz’ Law (culled from its namesake, Albert Betz) is a theory for flow machines. From this theory we derive the Betz Limit, that is, “the maximum possible energythat may be derived by means of an infinitely thin rotor from a fluid flowing at a certain speed.” In windmills, this equates to how much electricity can be harvested from the wind energy. Current technology allows turbines to capture a maximum of 59 percent of the energy in wind
COM Express Module Adjusts Fan Speed
December 3, 2008 11:09 am | Product Releases | CommentsRegulating the CPU temperature, Advantech’s SOM-5781 COM Express module uses the SUSI API tool’s “reduce CPU speed” command to prevent a system crash when abnormal status is detected from the CPU fan while issuing an optional alarm message via Ethernet. The component supports the Sempron Socket S1 Series CPU or AMD Turion 64 X2 CPU with
Test System Targets ZigBee Products
December 3, 2008 10:01 am | Product Releases | CommentsCompleting a three-month beta-testing period with three Gold Units, TÜV Rheinland’s Automizer customizable test system performs in products that meet the ZigBee Smart Energy Public Application Profile, such as in-home displays, thermostats, and meters. The product’s software package design eliminates the need to manually perform ZigBee Smart Energy testing in which the tester cuts and pastes together command scripts. Instead, the PC-based offering
Power Supplies Come in 3U Form Factors
December 3, 2008 8:45 am | Murata Power Solutions Inc. | Product Releases | CommentsDelivering continuous full power across a -5ºC to +55ºC operating temperature range, with airflows as low as 250 lfm, 200W & 300W AC/DC and DC/DC power supplies from Murata Power Solutions come in 3U form factors. All three models have efficiency levels in excess of 80%, are hot-swap capable and require no minimum load
RFID IC Monitors Temperature Throughout Shipping Process
December 3, 2008 8:44 am | Product Releases | CommentsEnabling logistics customers to monitor and record temperature and humidity throughout the shipping process, the ZMD41211 temperature logger and Smart Label RFID IC from ZMD AG has a built-in timer function. The temperature logger complies with ISO 15693 RFID technology and can be read and programmed with existing standard compliant systems
MLCCs Exhibit Wide Capacitance Range
December 3, 2008 8:15 am | Product Releases | CommentsOffering case sizes from 0402 to 1812, Novacap’s X7R and X5R Series MLCCs demonstrate capacitance values ranging from 100 pF to 100 µF in filter applications. The devices have the ability to stack into an array with capacitors, resistors, and inductors, screen for optimum reliability in MIL PRF levels (Group A, Group B, Group C tests) in capacitor groups, and
Pushbutton Switches Offer Bi-colored LED Options
December 3, 2008 7:03 am | Product Releases | CommentsComing in SPDT and DPDT, CIT Relay & Switch’s JC Series of latching illuminated pushbutton switches present bi-colored LED combination options in blue, green, red, yellow, and white. The products have an internal snap-action mechanism to provide momentary or latching contacts, tactile detent, and audible feedback. The devices exhibit an electrical rating of 500 mA at 24 VDC, an electrical life of 10,000 cycles, initial contact resistance of
RF Transistors Operate in Wide Frequency Range
December 3, 2008 6:22 am | Product Releases | CommentsFunctioning in radar applications, signal jammers, and wireless communications, TriQuint Semiconductor’s PowerBand family of broadband RF transistors perform in an operational frequency range from 500 MHz to 3 GHz. The devices deliver an output power range from 10 W to 50 W, and demonstrate operating voltages ranging from 12 V to 28 V. The components can be developed using gallium arsenide (GaAs) and
Quarter-Brick DC/DC Converters Accept Wide Input Range
December 3, 2008 5:09 am | Product Releases | CommentsPerforming in battery-operated applications and systems that have to operate with 24-VDC or 48-VDC input, Bravo Electro Components’ CQB100 Series 100-W/30-A quarter-brick DC/DC converters exhibit an input range from 18 VDC to ~75 VDC. The RoHS-compliant devices consist of four single output models offering output voltages of 3.3 VDC, 5 VDC, 12 VDC, 15 VDC, and 24 VDC, and isolation of 1,500 VDC. The fully-encapsulated instruments
Battery Clips Withstand Shock and Vibration
December 3, 2008 4:05 am | Product Releases | CommentsSuiting dense PCB placements, Keystone Electronics’ “A” and “AA” battery clips exhibit resistance to shock and vibration using a “flow hole” SMT solder tail design. The units are made of 0.012” (0.300-mm) thick, nickel-plated steel, and come in bulk (part #53) or on tape and reel (part #53TR) with 125 pieces per 15” reel. A 44-mm wide Polystyrene
Pin Fins Exhibit Large Footprint and Low Profile
December 2, 2008 11:03 am | Product Releases | CommentsCombining forging and reflow manufacturing technologies, Cool Innovations’ hybrid copper/aluminum pin fins provide a cooling alternative for applications requiring heat sinks with footprints from 1.5” × 3” to 8.2” × 8.2” and heights from 0.3” to 1.3”. The devices are composed of forged aluminum pin fin heat sinks that are reflowed onto a copper plate, and weigh
Card Connectors Ensure Robust Contact
December 2, 2008 10:25 am | Product Releases | CommentsAble to support data rates up to 10Gbit/s, blind-mate versions of ERNI Electronics’ MicroSpeed family of mezzanine-card connectors are designed to be used in multiples between two parallel cards without mating issues from negative tolerance stack up. Available in 50 signal contact modules with a 1.0-mm longitudinal and a 1.5-mm transverse pitch, the connectors have integrated guide pins with higher displacement tolerances to stop incorrect, forced connections.
Pressure Sensor Lowers System Contamination Risk
December 2, 2008 9:21 am | Product Releases | CommentsUtilizing Krystal Bond technology, American Sensor Technologies’ AST4900 MEMS-based SS pressure sensor contains no oil-fill, welds, or internal O-rings, which reduces the risk of system contamination in extreme conditions. The 316L stainless steel devices offer ¼” NPT male and ¼” VCR male fittings, and can be scaled with pressure ranges between
