Articles
Resolve signal integrity issues in cloud computing platforms
May 29, 2013 4:10 pm | by Bill Weir, Pericom, www.pericom.com | CommentsWhile the cloud promises to reduce enterprise network infrastructure and operating costs, the remote execution of applications makes factors such as latency, performance, and reliability critical considerations in the design and deployment of cloud computing platforms. A key factor determining server performance, cloud or not, is maintaining a bit error rate (BER) on the order of 1.E-12 for the overall system.
Challenges facing widespread implementation of multi-touch technology
May 29, 2013 10:21 am | by Ian Crosby, Zytronic, www.zytronic.co.uk | CommentsTouchscreen-based interactivity has rapidly progressed from being a desired feature to an almost mandatory requirement for displays utilized in all manner of equipment. Vending machines, home appliances, vehicle control consoles, and industrial instruments increasingly feature a touchscreen.
The low-down on solid-state lighting
May 29, 2013 8:59 am | by Editors | Digi-Key | CommentsSolid-state lighting is continuing its solid growth across a range of industries and applications. ECN recently spoke to Robbie Paul, Lighting Sales Director at Digikey to discuss the solid state lighting market and the latest LED trends. The number of players in the LED market has grown so much over the years it has become crowded and very competitive.
State of the display market
May 28, 2013 4:04 pm | by Editors | CommentsWe rely heavily on display technologies to interface with our appliances, personal communications devices, our cars, and industrial equipment. We’re also demanding more from displays such as smaller size, higher resolution, interactivity, and even the ability to bend.
Companies can’t help the government help itself to your private electronic communications – for now
May 28, 2013 2:08 pm | by Chris Warner, Executive Editor | CommentsIf nothing else, those television commercials for Microsoft’s privacy campaign really make me stand back and wonder. Usually I ask myself why the company suddenly embraces user privacy. Do they really think that Bing is going to make a measureable dent in Google’s search dominance, or do they have some kind internal or external data that suggests Americans are at least little concerned about online privacy?
A smarter way to toughen up military high-tech
May 28, 2013 12:58 pm | by Bruno Chaigneau, Application Engineer, Parker Chomerics | CommentsProcuring military equipment has become an extremely difficult task. Not only is there constant pressure to reduce expenditure, but performance requirements are increasingly hard to define as armed forces face growing and unpredictable threats such as civilian groups and militias using improvised weapons and ad hoc methods.
What steps are necessary to keep counterfeit components out of the supply chain?
May 21, 2013 3:36 pm | CommentsWhat steps are necessary to keep counterfeit components out of the supply chain? Are more industry standards needed? Stop having unrealistic pricing expectations. Understand and qualify quality vendors of all kinds. Allocations and obsolescence are part of our industry....
Opening the door to smart battery design
May 21, 2013 12:02 pm | by Robert Rozario, Application Engineering Manager, Infineon Technologies | CommentsThe worldwide transition to ever smarter mobile devices, including phones or connected tablets, has obliterated the line that once existed between phones and computing devices. Today’s multitasking devices enable work, finance, entertainment and social interaction on the go like never before.
Evolution of light sensor integration
May 21, 2013 10:59 am | by Darrell Benke, Sr. Marketing Manager, Opto Sensors and Lighting, ams AG | CommentsLight sensing technology, in the form of photodiodes and phototransistors, was invented around the 1950s. Since the inception of the first optosensors, the devices have gradually found their place in commercial and industrial applications, but their adoption was limited due to the size, cost and overall performance.
Certifying industrial systems using IEC 61508
May 21, 2013 10:52 am | by Shrikant Satyanarayan, LDRA, Inc., www.ldra.com | Ldra Technology, Inc | CommentsThe IEC 61508 standard is a risk-based approach for determining the SIL (Safety Integrity Level) of safety instrumented functions. If computer system technology is to be effectively and safely exploited, it is essential that the available guidance on these safety-related aspects is adequate to make correct decisions.
Designing for heat
May 21, 2013 9:53 am | by M. Simon, Technical Contributor | CommentsI want to start off with a look at the four methods of cooling: conduction, convection, radiation, and pumping. What? They don't teach the four methods of cooling in physics class? Only the first three? The fourth method is a combination of the first three with the addition of pumps.
Wireless networks balance military’s defense-in-depth, custom requirements
May 20, 2013 4:44 pm | by Chris Warner, Executive Editor | Ultra Electronics Ems Development Corp. | CommentsWireless and wired technologies have advanced to the point where automated control systems are routinely networked together. Information can be shared and tasks performed across long distances, via the Internet, linking systems in large industrial spaces, or across remote or rugged areas. Networked control systems (NCS) offer many benefits such as far greater efficiency than manual controls....
What improvements would you like to see from distributors in the next 12 months?
May 16, 2013 2:29 pm | CommentsWe asked our industry experts and ECN readers to weigh in on our distributors question: What improvements would you like to see from distributors in the next 12 months? Here is what they had to say about the current state of the industry and hot it needs to be improved...
Precision Resistors: From the drawing board to reality
May 16, 2013 2:18 pm | by Yuval Hernik, Director Application Engineering, Vishay Precision Group (VPG), www.vishaypg.com | CommentsCommercial and military aircraft manufacturers are promoting the replacement of older hydraulic and pneumatic control systems by lighter and more efficient, electrically-driven systems through a trend known as MEA, or More Electric Aircraft.
Hybrid capacitor characteristics, performance, and applications
May 16, 2013 2:15 pm | by David A. Evans, Evans Capacitor Company, www.evanscap.com | CommentsAn electrolytic capacitor has two electrodes, one with a dielectric, that relies on electrostatic charge storage. A battery has electrodes that store energy faradaically in electrochemical reactions involving the electrodes and electrolyte. A hybrid capacitor is the combination of two electrodes, one that stores charge electrostatically, and the other storing charge faradaically.
