Serving the Electronic Design Community Since 1956
Brainstorm-Skills
May 27, 2008 6:15 am | Articles | CommentsAmerican EE students need exposure to new technologies and design techniques that did not exist 10 to 15 years ago, but are also under fire for not having a solid grasp of basic science and math skills. How do you feel the issue can be addressed to create engineers able to deal with competition and design pressures in the new disruptive engineering environment?
SPDT Relay Handles High Currents
May 27, 2008 5:57 am | Product Releases | CommentsUsing stronger contacts and internal improvements on the armature, Hasco’s HAT 900 series relays are rated for 30 A on the N.O. side and 30 amps on the N.C. Presented as highest rated relay in this pin configuration for AC, relays are available with ratings such as 12, 24, 48, 110, 120, 220, 240 and 277 VAC. (DC coils are also available.)
Optical Process Reproduces Complex Surfaces
May 27, 2008 5:19 am | Product Releases | CommentsProviding a means for engineers to create high-performance optics at volume quantities, a novel replication process transfers the profile of a precision optical surface from a master, creating an exact duplicate on a variety of substrates. The process can produce a wide range of both ruled and holographic diffraction gratings, reflective and transmission holographic optical elements, and dual wavelength gratings, as well plano and conic sections. Diffraction gratings are produced in sizes up to 110mm x 110mm with groove densities from 40 g/mm to 3600 g/mm, with available wavelengths from
Lighting Controller Manages Multiple Illumination Technologies
May 23, 2008 8:00 am | Product Releases | CommentsCombining solid-state electronics with on-site, remote, and aggregate Web-based controls, the IEPC Vari-Ballast Control provides dynamic real time lighting/energy control for HID, Incandescent, Fluorescent, CCFL, and LED lighting, enabling remote mixed-system whole-building lighting control indoors and out. The device includes a user-modifiable program which monitors lumen depreciation, light output
Mini 6-W Switchmode Transformers Target Mil/Aero Applications
May 23, 2008 7:09 am | Product Releases | CommentsDesigned and built to meet the ruggedized requirements of MIL-PRF-27 for high-reliability aerospace and military systems, Beta Transformer's EE12.7 switchmode transformer can deliver 6 W at 100 kHz. Measuring 0.215” × 0.55” × 0.66”, the device is also available with custom electrical specifications.
Fault Detector Senses Rolling Element Bearing Impacts and Offers Early Warning
May 23, 2008 6:58 am | Product Releases | CommentsThe IMI Sensors division of PCB Piezotronics (PCB) released the patented Model 682A05 Bearing Fault Detector, which senses impacts within rolling element bearings caused by bearing faults. This type of detection provides early warning of typical bearing faults such as cracked races, spalling, brinelling, fatigue failure, looseness, and
PC/104 Connectors Suit Embedded PC Applications
May 23, 2008 6:10 am | Product Releases | CommentsAvailable with features such as a press-fit tail option to enable solder-free attachment, a PC/104-compatible range of bus connectors from Harwin for embedded PC applications come in stack-through and non stack-through versions. Configurations available include a 32 × 32 way part supporting 8-bit systems and
Dual Channel Delay Line IC Features 5 ps/Step Signal Delays, Runs At 3.2 Gpbs
May 23, 2008 5:45 am | Product Releases | CommentsMicrel launched the dual channel SY89297U delay line IC. The second generation device can be serially programmed to provide 5 ns of delay per channel while running up to 3.2 Gbps/1.6 GHz. The delay is very linear and monotonic, providing precise delay for high-speed applications. The device includes
UPC Software Controls All Areas of AC Power Source Tests
May 22, 2008 10:35 am | Product Releases | CommentsPacific Power Source announced Version 1.3 of its UPC Studio Software. This tool gains desirable control of UPC-equipped AC Power Sources, and this version incorporates a new and unique Test Manager feature. Test Manager helps the user create and run test sequences and test plans. Test sequences consist of
Molded 0805-size Tantalum Caps Offer Low ESR
May 22, 2008 9:50 am | Product Releases | CommentsIntended for applications in cell phones, digital cameras, MP3 players, and other portable devices, the TR8 series of molded MicroTan tantalum chip capacitors from Vishay Intertechnology provide an ESR value of 0.8O (at 100kHz and 47µF) in the 0805 case size and 1.5O in 0603. RoHS-compliant and halogen-free, the parts have Pb-free, L-shape facedown terminations and
USB Optically Isolated Input and Solid State Relay Output Module Each Switch Up to 2A
May 22, 2008 8:38 am | Product Releases | CommentsACCES I/O Products added the Model USB-IDIO-16 to its line of USB/104 I/O modules. The unit features 16 individually optically isolated inputs and 16 fully protected solid state FET outputs capable of switching up to 2A each. The USB-IDIO-16 is fully compatible with both USB 1.1 and USB 2.0 ports and offers
SMT LEDs Deliver up to 1,900 mcd for LCD Backlights
May 22, 2008 7:19 am | Product Releases | CommentsAvailable in versions providing a light output of up to 1,900 mcd, a family of SMT LEDs from JKL Components are intended for use in BLUs (backlight units) for liquid crystal displays. Providing a 120° viewing angle, the side-mounted white LEDs include the ZSM-S2808-W, a 2.8 × 1.2 × 0.8-mm emitter with a luminous intensity (at 20 mA) of 1,400 mcd max, and the ZSM-S3806-W
ESMexpress Module Performs in Low Power, High Processing in Rugged Embedded Applications
May 21, 2008 11:03 am | Product Releases | CommentsMEN Micro offers the ESMexpress-based XM50 that is presented as providing COMs-style cost and time saving benefits for rugged, mobile and mission-critical embedded systems. ESMexpress is currently in the process of ANSI-VITA standardization (ANSI-VITA 59, RSE Rugged System-On-Module Express). With the PowerQUICC III MPC8548 processor operating at
DAC Provides 16-bit Linearity
May 21, 2008 8:32 am | Product Releases | CommentsOffering six software-programmable output ranges, the LTC2755-16 quad 16-bit current output digital-to-analog converter (DAC) from Linear Technology provides 16-bit linearity (±1LSB (max) INL and DNL) over the industrial temperature range without any adjustment. Each DAC output can be individually programmed through a parallel interface or can be pin-strapped for operation within a single range.
