Applications
Energy, cost-efficiency biggest concerns for LEDs, sensors
June 7, 2013 10:53 am | by Editors | Articles | CommentsLEDs are a hot topic in the world of electronic components. Ardent supporters claim LEDs are the future while other designers cite cost and environmental impact as negatives. We turned to our readers for the inside scoop on LEDs and the industry. When asked about the biggest trend impacting specifications for lighting components, readers were torn....
Engineering Update 12: A beer-pouring robot ... finally
June 7, 2013 10:22 am | Videos | CommentsIn this week's headlines: Computer scientists at Cornell are in the process of producing a robot with anticipatory cognitive abilities. They've programmed a PR-2 robot to accomplish typical robotic tasks, as well as the ability to pour you a drink ... and anticipate when you want another.
Wi-Fi signals enable gesture recognition throughout entire home
June 6, 2013 3:03 pm | by University of Washington | News | CommentsForget to turn off the lights before leaving the apartment? No problem. Just raise your hand, finger-swipe the air, and your lights will power down. Want to change the song playing on your music system in the other room? Move your hand to the right and flip through the songs.
Israel leads global drone exports as demand grows
June 6, 2013 11:46 am | by TIA GOLDENBERG, Associated Press | News | CommentsIn an expansive hangar in central Israel, workers toil on one of the world's most contentious aircraft, fitting dozens of drones with advanced sensors, cameras and lasers before they are shipped to militaries worldwide to perform highly sensitive tasks. Whereas drones are often criticized elsewhere for being morally and legally objectionable...
Long-awaited keyboard BlackBerrys hit US stores
June 6, 2013 11:38 am | by ROB GILLIES, Associated Press | News | CommentsModern BlackBerrys with physical keyboards are now available in the U.S., months after the touch-screen versions went on sale. T-Mobile USA began selling the BlackBerry Q10 on Wednesday. It has Research In Motion Ltd.'s new BlackBerry 10 operating system, which addresses shortcomings that allowed...
Microsoft to add Outlook to Windows RT tablets
June 6, 2013 11:38 am | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsMicrosoft will add its popular Outlook email program to more tablets running on a lightweight version of its Windows operating system as part of a free software update this year. The Outlook 2013 app will be given to owners of Microsoft's Surface tablet and similar devices running Windows RT.
DHS: A hunch is enough for searching your laptop
June 6, 2013 11:33 am | by ANNE FLAHERTY, Associated Press | News | CommentsU.S. border agents should continue to be allowed to search a traveler's laptop, cellphone or other electronic device and keep copies of any data on them based on no more than a hunch, according to an internal Homeland Security Department study.
Casinos ban gamblers from using Google Glass
June 6, 2013 11:32 am | by WAYNE PARRY, Associated Press | News | CommentsU.S. casinos are forbidding gamblers from wearing Google Glass, the tiny eyeglasses-mounted device capable of shooting photos, filming video and surfing the Internet. Regulators say the gadgets could be used to cheat at card games. The New Jersey Division of Gaming Enforcement issued a directive on Monday...
Report: US collecting huge number of phone records
June 6, 2013 11:22 am | by JULIE PACE, AP White House Correspondent | News | CommentsThe government has been secretly collecting the telephone records of millions of U.S. customers of Verizon under a top secret court order, according to a document disclosed by a British newspaper. The Obama administration defended the National Security Agency's need to collect telephone records of U.S. citizens, but critics said it was a huge over-reach.
Ultrasonic sensors target difficult applications
June 5, 2013 4:08 pm | Balluff Inc. | Product Releases | CommentsBalluff’s new ultrasonic sensors are suited for distance measurement or position detection of granules, fluids and powders. They measure fill levels, heights and sag without making contact as well as count and monitor the presence of objects. They are asserted to be
Variable-gain amplifier provides best-in-class linearity and high output power
June 5, 2013 3:33 pm | M/A-Com Technology Solutions, Inc. | Product Releases | CommentsM/A-COM Technology Solutions introduced at the ANGACOM 2013 Exhibition and Congress a highly linear, two-stage differential amplifier for DOCSIS3.1 reverse path infrastructure applications. The MAAM-011122 is an integrated two stage differential variable gain amplifier designed specifically for CATV head-end....
Touchscreen device/open-source expansion board offers high degree of customization
June 5, 2013 11:29 am | Product Releases | CommentsGumstix announced the Alto35, an expansion board built entirely with Gumstix’ Geppetto custom design platform. The Alto35 replaces Gumstix’ Palo35 Overo-series expansion board, offering all of the same off-the-shelf features and the added benefit of customizability via Geppetto.
Double-layer capacitors offer up to 10 times the discharge current of ultracapacitors presently offered by the company
June 5, 2013 11:12 am | Cornell Dubilier Electronics | Product Releases | CommentsCornell Dubilier Electronics announces the release of type EDLR long-life electric double layer capacitors. The EDLR series provides more than double the life and up to 10 times the discharge current of ultracapacitors presently offered by the company.
Cloud computing rains billion-dollar deals
June 5, 2013 11:05 am | by MICHAEL LIEDTKE, AP Technology Writer | News | CommentsA decade ago, the mere idea of cloud computing was a difficult concept to explain, let alone sell. Today, the technology is spurring a high-stakes scramble to buy some of the early leaders in the cloud-computing movement. The latest examples of the trend emerged Tuesday as two major technology companies announced acquisitions...
Microsoft unveils operating system update
June 5, 2013 11:03 am | News | CommentsSoftware giant Microsoft has unveiled the updated version of its touch-enabled Windows 8 operating system at the world's second largest computer show in Taipei. Tami Reller, chief financial and marketing officer of the company's Windows Division, said that Windows 8.1 would be available on both PCs and tablets later this year.
Compact datalogger includes wireless connectivity based on GSM/GPRS module
June 5, 2013 10:34 am | Telit Wireless Solutions | Product Releases | CommentsTelit Wireless Solutions and Danlaw Incorporated announced that Danlaw’s DL750 includes Telit’s ultra-compact GSM/GPRS cellular module, the GE865-QUAD. The product is a self-contained consumer installable data collection device. Danlaw and Telit who cooperated in a number of products before, are
Sensor node enables wireless energy monitoring via any web-connected device
June 5, 2013 9:49 am | Microstrain, Inc. | Product Releases | CommentsLORD MicroStrain Sensing Systems introduced Watt-Link, a wireless sensor node positioned to streamline discrete industrial power installations and provide remote energy monitoring and reporting via any web-connected device. Applications include energy management, building automation,
USB2 controller hubs are programmable
June 4, 2013 4:27 pm | Microchip Technology Inc. | Product Releases | CommentsMicrochip Technology Inc. announced seven new UCH2 ICs across three families that are said to be the the first to provide programmability, enabling the developers of PCs and mobile devices to configure their designs without external memory. These UCH2s support both
LNAs tout very low noise figure for consumer, military and industrial apps
June 4, 2013 12:08 pm | Skyworks Solutions, Inc. | Product Releases | CommentsSkyworks Solutions, Inc. announced a portfolio of low noise amplifiers (LNAs) that provide a desirable noise figure, a critical component to boosting weak incoming signals for today’s 4G wireless infrastructure as well as diverse broad market systems including GPS, broadband, military and satellite
Top 10 must-read posts from May
June 4, 2013 12:04 pm | by Kasey Panetta, Managing Editor | Blogs | CommentsHere’s a rundown of the most read, most popular, most awesome articles on the web. 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....
Device integrates MOSFET and diode in one package
June 4, 2013 11:33 am | Fairchild Semiconductor | Product Releases | CommentsFairchild Semiconductor introduced a family of 100 V BoostPak devices that combines a MOSFET and diode in one package to replace discrete solutions currently used in LED TV/monitor backlight, LED lighting and DC/DC converter applications. By integrating the MOSFET and diode into a single package,
LED upgrade kit delivers quick retrofit to LED lighting
June 4, 2013 11:09 am | Product Releases | CommentsCree introduced a 102 lumen-per-watt linear LED upgrade kit to replace fluorescent lamps. The upgrade kit is designed to fit into existing T8/T12 linear fluorescent fixtures – allowing end users to easily upgrade to LED. The new UR Series LED upgrade kit covers both two-feet and four-feet lengths in various lamp configurations. According to the company, he UR Series installs faster than
LDO offers 25 µVRMS noise, programmable Current limit and diagnostic information
June 4, 2013 10:14 am | Linear Technology Corporation | Product Releases | CommentsLinear Technology Corporation announced the LT3055, a high voltage, low noise, low dropout voltage linear regulator offering precision, programmable current limit and diagnostic capability. The device delivers up to 500 mA output current with a 350-mV dropout voltage at full load. It features
Rare stellar alignment offers opportunity to hunt for planets
June 4, 2013 9:11 am | by Eurekalert! | News | CommentsNASA's Hubble Space Telescope will have two opportunities in the next few years to hunt for Earth-sized planets around the red dwarf Proxima Centauri. The opportunities will occur in October 2014 and February 2016 when Proxima Centauri, the star nearest to our sun, passes in front of two other stars. Astronomers plotted Proxima Centauri's precise path in the heavens and predicted the two close encounters using data from Hubble.
Stanford scientists create novel silicon electrodes that improve lithium-ion batteries
June 4, 2013 9:08 am | News | CommentsStanford University scientists have dramatically improved the performance of lithium-ion batteries by creating novel electrodes made of silicon and conducting polymer hydrogel, a spongy material similar to that used in contact lenses and other household products.
