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Nextreme Strives to Increase Efficiency of Heat-to-Power Conversion
June 30, 2008 10:47 am | Blogs | CommentsWith soaring energy costs, all sectors are feeling the crunch, including the thermoelectrics industry. But Nextreme Thermal Solutions has a plan to stem the tide. One potential solution is to convert a system’s thermal energy byproduct into a functional resource. Using a grant from the North Carolina Green Business Fund, Nextreme plans to optimize their thin-film growth process with the goal of doubling the power output of a single device from 250mW to 500mW.
Reference Design Creates SFP Optical Modules
June 30, 2008 9:58 am | Product Releases | CommentsIncorporating the recently PHY1040 laser transceiver and limiting amplifier IC and an off-the shelf 8-bit microcontroller with embedded flash, a hardware and software reference design from Phyworks can create Small Form-factor Pluggable 125 Mbps to 1.25 Gbps optical modules with digital configuration and monitoring capability. The system architecture allows users to configure the PHY1040 in software to meet specific optics and network requirements and
Embedded Systems: Two Routes Lead to Software Defined Radio
June 30, 2008 6:35 am | Articles | CommentsA bit of C code that runs on a microprocessor does not create a software-defined radio (SDR). Most SDRs use a traditional signal-sampling technique, followed by much software massaging of data. But semiconductor companies can now put more of the analog signal-handling elements on a chip. This column provides an update on both techniques.
Power MOSFETs Offer High Current Density
June 28, 2008 4:34 am | International Rectifier | Product Releases | CommentsWith a footprint 40% smaller than a standard SO-8 and a height of 0.7 mm, a family of 30-V DirectFET MOSFETs enable a smaller footprint and higher power density in synchronous buck converter designs. The IRF6724M, IRF6725M, IRF6726M, and IRF6727M have a common MT and MX footprint as previous generation devices
Online Database Provides LED Ray Data
June 27, 2008 9:32 am | Osram Opto Semiconductors | Product Releases | CommentsIncluding information such as emission patterns, the coordinates of the emission point, as well as the direction, intensity, and wavelength, an online database at www.osram-os.com/ray-files from OSRAM Opto Semiconductors provides ray data files for its entire LED portfolio. Engineers can immediately view and download all the ray data and a custom CAD model for board design
IC Eliminates Data Control Cables
June 27, 2008 9:17 am | Product Releases | CommentsRidding the need of data control cables, Intersil Corporation’s ISL34340 SERDES IC transports 27 bits of video data and bi-directional I2C into a single LVDS cable measuring up to 10 meters long. The 64-lead EPTQFP-packaged device has a DC balanced 8b/10b code and video flow that allows 24 RGB bits and three video control bits into a single LVDS pair. The IC includes embedded termination
Brainstorm: Environmental Design
June 27, 2008 7:54 am | Articles | CommentsWhat is the balance, for the engineer, between an environmentally efficient vehicle in operation, and the other aspects of manufacturing, material, and their environmental cost and impact?
Enclosures Offer DIN-Rail or Cabinet Mounting
June 27, 2008 7:34 am | Product Releases | CommentsOKW Electronics’ CAMDEN DIN-Rail enclosures are designed for snap-in mounting on DIN EN 50/022/035/045 (TS 35/32/15) rails or direct cabinet mounting. The devices are appropriate for applications including automation, building and safety, sensors, relays, and signal distributors. The enclosures can be used as a subrack for interfaces, electronics modules, amplifiers, or transformers. The cases offer different connection options for commercial components, such as terminals, PCB plug headers, or front connectors
Mini POL Regulator Saves Board Space
June 27, 2008 6:31 am | Product Releases | CommentsWith a package footprint of 15 mm² and a height of 2.8 mm, the LTM4616 DC/DC µModule from Linear Technology includes all the support components needed for a single or dual point-of-load (POL) regulator: inductors, capacitors, DC/DC controller, compensation circuitry, and power switches.
IC Targets DDR Cache-Memory Backup
June 26, 2008 10:09 am | Product Releases | CommentsTargeting DDR cache-memory backups, Maxim Integrated Products’ DS2731 power-management IC (PMIC) integrates a single-cell Li+ charger with FETs at a rate up to 1.5 A from a 12-V supply to eliminate over 15 discrete components in existing solutions. The device uses an internal comparator with a power-steering system to switch from system to battery power when the auxiliary supply falls below
PoE Splitter Supports Wimax, Multi-Radio Access Points
June 26, 2008 7:46 am | Phihong | Product Releases | CommentsDelivering up to 45 W, POE45-120 Series of power-over-ethernet (PoE) splitters from Phihong divide the power and data and converts the PoE source to a regulated DC power source for Wimax, multi-radio access points, thin-client, and other network devices. The Gigabit-compatible modules mount adjacent to the Ethernet device
Relays Handle 4000 Vrms
June 26, 2008 5:17 am | Product Releases | CommentsDelivering up to 4000 Vrms of contact, CIT Relay & Switch’s J115F1 Series high dielectric-optioned relays have a minimum contact-to-contact strength of 1500 Vrms in SPST N.O., SPST N.C., or SPDT contact arrangements. The AgSnO2 or AgSnO2In2O3 devices provide voltage options from 3 to 100 VDC and
Power Supplies Drive Outdoor LEDs
June 25, 2008 11:39 am | Product Releases | CommentsMeasuring 4.84” x 6.54” x 2.22” in IP65-rated aluminum-enclosed housing, DongAh Elecomm’s LED-240 Series 240-W switching power supplies are designed for outdoor LED lighting and sign applications. Meeting NEC Class II safety requirements, the units have four 60-W 12-VDC outputs rated at 5 A each. The UL1310/1585-approved devices offer a universal input ranging from 90 to 264 VAC with a frequency range from 47 to 63 Hz and over 85% efficiency. The EN6100-3-2-compliant supplies
MOSFET Driver Provides 200 V
June 25, 2008 9:45 am | Product Releases | CommentsProviding a bridge supply voltage of up to 200 V, Supertex’s MD7120 full-bridge power MOSFET driver has an output voltage range from 12 V to 200 V with ±5 ns dead time matching and rise or fall times of less than 30 ns with a typical 1 nF load. The N-channel device drives over 100 W output with over 90% efficiency from normal logic level inputs by directly coupled internal level translators. The internal core of the RoHS-compliant driver consists of over-temperature, under-voltage and current
Resistor is Rated to 550 kO
June 25, 2008 5:47 am | Product Releases | CommentsHaving a resistance range from 0.01 O to 550 kO, Vishay Intertechnology’s D2TO35 35-W thick film power resistor has a thermal resistance of 4.28°C/W junction-to-case at 25°C. The tinned-copper connections for the device support soldering temperatures at +270°C and are specified for operation in a temperature range from -55°C to +175°C. The RoHS-compliant resistor features a standard temperature coefficient of
