Articles
Big Brother takes the wheel
December 21, 2012 9:57 am | by Meaghan Ziemba, PDD Assistant Editor | CommentsIs placing black boxes in automobiles really an invasion of the driver’s privacy? While I am all for the advancement of automobile safety, I wonder if placing black boxes in a cars is stepping over the privacy boundary? A recent article, “Black Boxes in Cars Raise Privacy Concerns” discussed the placement of event data recorders....
Out with the old, in with the new: Enabling the proliferation of large-area touch devices with transparent conductive materials
December 20, 2012 1:52 pm | by John LeMoncheck, President and CEO of Cambrios Technologies for ECN | CommentsWhat trends and technologies have impacted the industry in 2012 and what does that mean for 2013? The release of Windows 8 is revolutionizing the projected capacitive touch device market, increasing the already capacity constrained demand for large area touch screens.
The challenges of miniaturization
December 20, 2012 1:16 pm | by Bruno Fauvel, Segment Manager, Portescap | Portescap | CommentsWith miniaturization often comes the challenge to produce the same amount of work as in large design, thus creating more power in a smaller envelope. Engineers should look at the different impact of dimension on motor performance criteria (efficiency, power, thermal dissipation, inertia, etc.).
Top 10 must-see posts of 2012
December 19, 2012 3:00 pm | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | CommentsHere’s a rundown of the most read, most popular, most awesome articles on the web from 2012. Take a look at what you missed the first time around or check up on an old favorite to see the conversation in the comments. Keep checking out the Lead at www.ecnmag.com and follow us on Twitter @ecnonline for our most up-to-date articles.
The newest (and most invasive) surveillance technique
December 19, 2012 12:31 pm | by Kasey Panetta, Associate Editor | CommentsBetter watch what you say next time you take the bus; somebody could be listening in. We’re all pretty used to the increasing amount of cameras on public transportation, and a lot can be said in their favor. They provide a safer environment for the driver when dealing with unruly passengers.
Epoxy adhesive films and preforms optimize electronics manufacturing
December 19, 2012 12:10 pm | by Robert Michaels, Master Bond, Inc., www.masterbond.com | CommentsElectronics manufacturers are constantly looking for ways to improve product quality, speed time to market, and reduce production costs. To optimize manufacturing, engineers carefully consider the three major aspects of production: technology, processes, and materials.
Differential signaling best practices
December 19, 2012 11:45 am | by Clark Kinnaird, Industrial Interface Systems Engineer, Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments | CommentsDifferential signaling is used for noise immunity in Ethernet, RS-485, CAN and USB. In ideal cases, all common-mode noise is rejected. In real-world applications, there are several design techniques and component parameters to consider in order to keep the data flowing with high confidence.
Avoid cracked screens: An airbag for your smartphone
December 19, 2012 9:34 am | by Kasey Panetta, Associate Editor | CommentsAs the proud new owner of an iPhone 5, I have but one concern: Can this phone survive my clumsy self? For the past three years, I’ve been the increasingly less proud owner of a Blackberry Bold. It was slow, bulky, people mocked me for having it, and viewing a website was as much fun as going to the DMV, but, man, could that thing take a hit like Floyd Mayweather.
Stabilization systems and frequency response of inertial MEMS
December 18, 2012 10:00 am | by Mark Looney, Analog Devices | CommentsStable platforms are a necessity for achieving the best performance in UAV-mounted surveillance equipment, maritime microwave receivers, vehicle-mounted infrared imaging sensors, and similar instrument systems. Yet these systems must operate through vibration and other undesirable kinds of motion.
Design electronics for cold environments
December 17, 2012 4:14 pm | by Jon Titus, Technical Contributor | CommentsEngineers at Agilent Technologies found a need for a digital multimeter (DMM) technicians and electricians could use in cold environments. "I went to college in Canada where temperatures often got down to below -20°C," said Boon Juan Tan, R&D manager in Agilent's Basic Instruments Division.
Beyond sensor fusion: Making smartphones smarter
December 17, 2012 4:09 pm | by Ian Chen, Executive Vice President, Sensor Platforms, Inc., www.sensorplatforms.com | CommentsSensor fusion is now integrated into most smartphones and tablets, enabling many mobile apps. But consumers want more: they want their mobile devices to be even smarter without having to learn any new interfaces themselves. This article provides an overview of a new class of sensor applications that go beyond sensor fusion....
Significant challenges remain for miniaturization of devices
December 14, 2012 4:20 pm | by AJ Smith, Honeywell Sensing and Control | Honeywell Sensing And Control | CommentsDevice miniaturization is integral to the design and development of a wide range of medical devices, including analytical test equipment, ventilators, and infusion pumps. Making devices smaller and lighter helps conserve valuable real estate in patient rooms, enabling equipment to be placed closer to the patient as well as allowing more space for medical professionals to work.
Augmented reality helps retailers get personal
December 14, 2012 12:16 pm | by Chris Warner, Executive Editor | CommentsWe’ve all been there. You’re shopping at your favorite store, perhaps running an errand for someone else. But in order to make the purchase, you need to know if it’s right for you. The sales associate is busy helping someone else, or they may be missing in action. You just need the details about the product so you can get it right the first time without having to return it later....
Will the Blackberry 10 save RIM?
December 13, 2012 10:55 am | by Kasey Panetta, Associate Editor | CommentsThough Research in Motion (RIM) is banking on the Blackberry 10 release in early 2013 to save the company, Karl Volkman, the Chief Technology Officer of SRV Network, isn’t convinced.“I think it might be too little too late,” Volkman says of the Canadian communications company.
Pressure sensor safety requirements in hazardous environments
December 12, 2012 1:40 pm | by Karmjit S. Sidhu, VP Business Development, American Sensor Technologies, www.astsensors.com | CommentsMany of us associated hazardous environments with the oil and gas industries where it is common to see mandatory safety requirements for “intrinsically safe” and “explosion proof” (flame proof) equipment. Other industries including nuclear power generation, chemicals, sub-sea, mining, dusty and high temperature environments also fall within the hazardous environment category.
