Articles
This app could save your teen driver’s life
September 25, 2012 9:26 am | by Kasey Panetta, Associate Editor | CommentsWe’ve all seen it. You’re driving down the road and see someone driving erratically only to find that person is messing with the radio, yelling at their reprobate children, shaving, eating, or applying makeup. Distracted driving has taken on an entirely new meaning with the advent of texting.
Tips for selecting and designing a membrane switch
September 24, 2012 12:45 pm | CommentsMembrane switches are known for standing up to tough environmental conditions. Flexible and durable, the membrane switch can be customized with embossing, backlighting, sealing, and electrostatic discharge (ESD) shielding. Membrane switches can be made with either tactile or non-tactile feedback and they can be integrated with LEDs and other components.
Intelligent systems add brainpower to everyday electronics
September 21, 2012 9:56 am | by Fernando Mujica, Director of System Architectures Lab of the Systems and Applications R&D Center, Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) | CommentsWhat is an intelligent system? It’s any system that can input information, analyze it, and intelligently make decisions or take actions as a result. Intelligent systems have been emerging for decades, but they are on the brink of an intelligence explosion that will revolutionize the way we interact with machines, making our world smarter, safer and more fun.
Emergence of thinking networks
September 20, 2012 4:53 pm | by Mike Fahrion, director of product management, B&B Electronics | CommentsWhen examining Flame, the most sophisticated malware that has appeared to date, investigators discovered an interesting feature: Flame can steal and transmit data from computers that have no Internet connections. Flame does it by using unsuspecting humans for bi-directional data transport.
The demanding requirements of harsh environment switch designs
September 19, 2012 1:33 pm | by Owen Camden, Business Development Manager, C&K Components | CommentsElectromechanical components are not all created equal. A primary concern for design engineers when specifying electromechanical components in industrial applications is ensuring the products are rugged and robust enough to withstand harsh industrial environments.
Electronic locks: Intelligent access enhances datacenter security
September 19, 2012 1:22 pm | by Steve Spatig, General Manager, Electronic Access Solutions, Southco | CommentsThe information stored within datacenters has become the foundation on which many organizations today conduct daily business and operations, and in many cases, is considered to be their most valuable asset. From the facility down to the cabinet level, security is a key concern of datacenter engineers.
Putting technology adoption on a faster curve
September 18, 2012 2:22 pm | by Jeff Jussel, Sr. Technology Director, Newark element14 | CommentsKeeping up with the pace of changing technology is a challenge for even the most experienced embedded system developer. As new processor architectures, silicon chips and their peripherals come to the market, what is the quickest way for engineers to evaluate and successfully adopt technology to their next design?
Electronica 2012 and the PCB Marketplace
September 18, 2012 11:28 am | by Electronica | CommentsIn close cooperation with the ZVEI (Electrical and Electronics Manufacturers’ Association), the PCB Marketplace communications platform is being initiated at electronica for the first time. Following its successful launch at productronica 2011, now the forum as well as a networking
Embedded platforms featured at Electronica 2012
September 18, 2012 11:22 am | by Electronica | CommentsAt the embedded platforms conference from November 14 – 15, semiconductor and tool manufacturers as well as service-providers will present concrete solutions and services for developing embedded platforms. The conference will cover a wide range of topics, from embedded design
Audio-signal processing without code headaches
September 18, 2012 11:18 am | by Jon Titus, Technical Contributor | CommentsGraphical approaches to processing audio information lets designers concentrate on how their products sound rather than on DSP and programming chores. It seems few people lack an audio device, which can include an MP3 player and small sound bar up to a custom HiFi sound system in a home theatre.
The lighting game is changing before our eyes
September 18, 2012 9:05 am | by Ted Konnerth, Founder, President and CEO, Egret Consulting Group | CommentsA secret lingers behind most lighting fixtures made since WWII. Don’t tell anyone, but lighting manufacturers don’t actually make ‘lighting’ equipment. For years, fixtures have fallen into the same classifications. When it comes to fixture types, there’s the 2X2, 2X4, troffer, downlight, strip, wrap, wallpack, Type 2, Type 5, spot, flood, can and so on.
Incandescent ban evokes nanny state
September 18, 2012 8:50 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | CommentsI've never thought of incandescents as dangerous contraband, but beginning September 30th, the Edison light bulb will be analogous with moonshine liquor and mind-altering drugs. Absent legislative action (which caused this mess in first place), this quintessential lighting technology faces mandatory retirement.
The sensor that could save (plant) lives
September 17, 2012 9:33 am | by Kasey Panetta, Associate Editor | CommentsTechnology can be a bit of a smoke and mirrors field. Sometimes, the technology is useless, sometimes it’s stupid and sometimes, the price point exceeds the usefulness. For example, Koubachi’s Wi-Fi plant sensor, falls into the category of useful (ish) but way too expensive to justify buying.
Roundtable: What advice would you give to a newly minted design engineer?
September 14, 2012 9:38 am | Comments"What advice would you give to a newly minted design engineer?" Industry experts and ECN readers dish out their best advice for new design engineers. A ton of great advice flooded our inbox: Find a mentor, be a mentor, learn from your own mistakes, but also from other engineers.
Design safe endoscopes and medical imaging devices with high-speed digital isolators
September 14, 2012 9:32 am | by Zhang Bin, Application Development Manager, Avago Technologies, and Harold Tisbe, Application Engineer, Avago Technologies | CommentsIn medical imaging devices, large quantities of video imaging data need to be transferred from image sensor to image processor while maintaining high levels of electrical isolation so the sensor won’t shock the patient. The high-speed digital data transmission channels between the sensor and image processor require high-levels of isolation while transferring data at up to 100Mbaud for real-time displays.
