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We’re from the government, we’re here to help you
August 27, 2008 11:22 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Articles | CommentsOn June 2, 2008, the Environmental Protection Agency (last seen as the supervillains in “The Simpsons” movie) released a “technical amendment,” version 4.2, to the Energy Star residential light fixture specification. Remember when Nintendo introduced the ubiquitous “Seal of Quality?” The great crash of 1983 was caused by a number of factors, not the least of which was lousy software...
PROFIBUS Analyzer Integrates Oscilloscope
August 27, 2008 10:34 am | Product Releases | CommentsTranslating PROFIBUS to USB and vice versa, Grid Connect’s ProfiTrace 2 PROFIBUS analyzer incorporates a digital oscilloscope to capture bus signals running at 12 Mbps, display them using the Bit Interpretation Engine, indicate a problem’s distance, and the option to show one device’s signals. The DP-V0/DP-V1 class 1 and 2 master uses the Live List statistics matrix to list all available devices and information including retry messages
Design Talk: The Shrinking Design Cycle
August 27, 2008 9:39 am | Articles | CommentsThe recent cries over shoddy manufacturing performance have put electronic product designers in a tough spot – and frankly, left them baffled. Time after time, their design concepts that had the makings of a sure bet evolved into a product with deficiencies reported from thousands of customers – leaving many unanswered questions.
Encoder/Decoder Shapes RS-232 Data Signals
August 27, 2008 9:12 am | Product Releases | CommentsSupporting data ranges from 1.20 kb/s to 115.20 kb/s, Vishay Intertechnology’s TOIM5232 encoder/decoder presents proper pulse shaping of RS-232 data signals for serial infrared (SIR) IrDA transceivers. The device shortens RS-232 output signals to IrDA-compatible electrical pulses to drive an infrared transmitter in transmit mode, and
Rotary Actuators Offer 15 Arc-Seconds Accuracy
August 27, 2008 8:01 am | Product Releases | CommentsIntegrating a cross-roller bearing structure, Oriental Motor’s DG 200 Series hollow rotary actuators shows a repetitive position accuracy of 15 arc-seconds and a total backlash of 2 arc-minutes. With a frame size of 7.87” (200 mm) and an internal hollow diameter of 3.94” (100 mm), the RoHS-compliant components develop
Analyzer Tests Electro-Optical Components
August 27, 2008 6:24 am | Agilent Technologies | Product Releases | CommentsHaving single or dual wavelength options at 1,310 nm or 1,550 nm, Agilent Technologies’ N4374B lightwave component analyzer (LCA) offers traceable electro-optical S-parameter testing for transmitters and receivers in CATV and Radio over Fiber applications. The device exhibits internationally-specified relative and
Cover Story: High-Performance Motion Control
August 27, 2008 5:31 am | Articles | CommentsNetworks Take High Performance Motion Control to the Next Level Networks simplify software development, axis coordination, code updates, and system characteristics.
Evaluation Platform Enables Prototyping
August 26, 2008 10:36 am | Product Releases | CommentsAllowing DSP or processor aggregation, Tundra Semiconductor’s Tsi620 multi-standard RapidIO switch evaluation platform enables prototyping using Texas Instruments’ TMS320TCI6487 multi-core 3 GHz DSP with extendable cluster and an Altera Stratix III FPGA. The component offers communication with PCI-enabled microprocessors through a PMC connector, hardware bridging and leverage over XGMII. The platform includes
Brainstorm: Designing New Technology
August 26, 2008 10:01 am | Articles | CommentsWhat are the most important factors to consider when developing a new product?
Power Supplies Use Voltage-Versus-Current Output
August 26, 2008 7:52 am | Product Releases | CommentsPhoenix Contact’s STEP Series of general-purpose power supplies utilize a voltage versus current characteristic output suitable for starting lamp loads or capacitive loads. The devices offer a DIN rail clip for mounting onto a rail or in a panel. The supplies are appropriate for small load applications in the building automation industry. Some models include
Gearmotors Perform at ½ Horsepower
August 26, 2008 6:54 am | Product Releases | CommentsDesigned as Von Weise drop-in replacements, Bison Gear & Engineering’s VWDIR line of fractional horsepower gearmotors deliver from 1/30 to ½ horsepower in commercial and industrial light applications. The parallel shaft and right angle devices offer output torques from 12 in./lbs to 800 in./lbs in over 75 models. DC models
HCMOS Oscillators Offer Low Stabilities
August 26, 2008 5:50 am | Product Releases | CommentsPerforming at 2.5 V, Fox Electronics’ F540 Series HCMOS oscillators exhibit stabilities of 15 ppm (F547), 10 ppm (F549) and 8 ppm (F54S) with phase noise of -140 dBc/Hz at 10 kHz offset and a jitter period of 3 ps rms. The 5 mm × 3.2 mm RoHS-compliant components presents an input current of 7 mA, output current of 4 mA and
Networking Switches Support Gigabit PoE
August 25, 2008 10:31 am | Product Releases | CommentsTargeting the small- and medium-sized business (SMB) market, ADTRAN’s NetVanta 1234 PoE, NetVanta 1238 PoE and NetVanta 1534 PoE networking switches support Gigabit PoE while offering LLDP/LLDP MED, cable diagnostics and
The Mathworks Kicks Off EcoCAR Competition
August 25, 2008 9:19 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsOn August 14th, 2008, The Mathworks held the kick-off to “EcoCAR,” a collegiate advanced technology vehicle competition (ATVC). EcoCAR’s subtitle (“The NeXt Challenge”) says it all- this is the spiritual successor to “Challenge X,” a similarly-themed ATVC contest that, last year, ended with Mississippi State University taking home the gold. In speaking with personnel from the DOE, The Mathworks, and GM (all event sponsors), I concluded that the biggest obstacle to ATV’s greater viability is a lack of young, qualified engineers.
RF Connector System Operates Continuously at 250°C
August 25, 2008 9:15 am | Product Releases | CommentsLasting for a lifespan of 25 years, ITT Interconnect Solutions’ SMA-Hi Temp RF connector system, consisting of a coaxial RF connector and 12 RF cable assemblies, uses a cable assembly with a silicone dioxide dielectric suitable for continuous operation at 250°C. The semi-rigid cable assemblies offer phase-matching to ±2° at 3 GHz and an option to be
