Applications
Video games and the military: Engaging the “tech generation”
March 9, 2010 9:10 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsFor good or ill, the military is often indistinguishable from a large corporation. While “employees” must conform to the company’s modus operandi, the company must engage its employees on their terms. In this day and age, that means technology. Thus, the military increasingly relies on video games and computers to recruit and train its “employees.”
Enhancement-Mode Power Transistors use GaN Technology
March 9, 2010 5:50 am | Product Releases | CommentsEfficient Power Conversion Corporation (EPC) today introduced a family of enhancement mode power transistors based on Gallium Nitride on Silicon technology.
Battery Holders Suit CR1632, BR1632 or DL1632 Sizes
March 8, 2010 10:23 am | Product Releases | CommentsMPD is introducing P/N’s BV-1632 & BV-1632-G, two lithium vertical battery holders for CR1632, BR1632 or DL1632 size batteries. The BV-1632 and BV-1632-G are particularly suitable for single board computers (SBCs) with tight space constraints. They are designed to
Cardiac Science Automated External Defibrillators (Powerheart, Cardiovive, CardioLife, NK, Responder models): Class I Recall
March 8, 2010 10:20 am | by FDA MedWatch | News | CommentsUPDATED 03/08/2010: Recall classified as Class I, expanded list of affected models. Originally posted 02/09/2010
Oscilloscopes Tout Big Display, Hardware-Accelerated Search
March 8, 2010 10:14 am | Agilent Technologies | Product Releases | CommentsAgilent Technologies added 14 models to its InfiniiVision 7000 Series mixed-signal and digital-storage oscilloscope portfolio. These scopes offer bandwidths from 100 MHz up to 1 GHz. In addition to
Scientists wowed by Mars orbiter performance
March 5, 2010 9:42 am | News | CommentsScientists are impressed with the flood of data beamed back by NASA's most advanced Mars orbiter. The space agency said Wednesday the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has sent back 100 terabits of information since 2006. That's equal to about 3 million songs in MP3 format.
Toyota secretive on 'black box' data
March 5, 2010 9:40 am | News | CommentsToyota has for years blocked access to data stored in devices similar to airline "black boxes" that could explain crashes blamed on sudden unintended acceleration, according to an Associated Press review of lawsuits nationwide and interviews with auto crash experts.
Five-Watt DC-DC Converters Provide Wide 2:1 Input Range
March 5, 2010 9:26 am | Product Releases | CommentsMicroPower Direct’s LF500RW Series of SMT 5 W DC/DC converters provides a wide 2:1 input range, tight line/load regulation, output power/overload protection and low noise operation. Twenty-one models operate from wide 2:1 inputs of
Thomas Medical Products, Inc., Transseptal Sheath Introducer Kits: Class I Recall
March 5, 2010 8:21 am | by FDA MedWatch | News | CommentsSheath tip may break off and separate during heart procedures, causing a blockage that could lead to permanent injury and/or death.
Aluminum Electrolytic Capacitor Family Extends Temperature Ratings
March 5, 2010 7:02 am | Product Releases | CommentsNIC Components has expanded its NSPE family of high performance hybrid construction aluminum electrolytic capacitors to include extended temperature +135°C and 80 VDC and 100 VDC ratings. The NSPE products feature
Compact Enclosures Suit a Wide Range of Applications
March 5, 2010 6:42 am | Product Releases | CommentsElma Electronic Inc. offers a family of modular enclosures in a compact size. The MiniBox 34 serves a wide range of applications including medical, communications, industrial, test and measurement, military/aerospace, and other markets. Its construction allows
Metrology and Laboratory Resistors Feature High Accuracy
March 5, 2010 6:20 am | Product Releases | CommentsVishay Intertechnology announced a series of metrology and laboratory ultra-high-precision Bulk Metal Z-Foil resistors built using Z1-Foil technology that features
Non-Captive Programmable Linear Actuator Accommodates Variety of Screw Pitches
March 5, 2010 6:07 am | Product Releases | CommentsHaydon Kerk Motion Solutions introduced the Haydon RoHS compliant IDEA non-captive programmable linear actuator. In addition to full programmability through an easy-to-use graphic user interface, the non-captive actuator configuration is capable of
MCUs Feature Less Than 50 µA-MHz Active Current
March 5, 2010 5:30 am | Microchip Technology Inc. | Product Releases | CommentsMicrochip Technology Inc unveiled several new 8-bit PIC microcontrollers (MCUs) that are asserted to set the industry benchmark for low-power microcontrollers and peripheral integration. These MCUs feature active currents of
Secure Interconnects Are Designed for Defense Forces
March 4, 2010 12:48 pm | Product Releases | CommentsFischer Connectors announced secure interconnect solutions designed for Defense Forces: Fischer UltiMate Military Connectors Line. First within this line, the new Fischer LandForce Series offers compact, rugged, lightweight circular connectors for an improved protection of
SIM-Micro SD Socket Combo Suits High Vibration Environments
March 4, 2010 12:25 pm | Product Releases | CommentsGlobal Connector Technology’s MES3055 hinged connector allows full retention of both the SIM and uSD cards in handheld and mobile applications. The connector also allows engineers to design more reliably for dust-laden or damp environments because
Simplify Power Designs with an Innovative MOSFET Package
March 4, 2010 10:32 am | by Hawk Lee, Jingen Qian & Kim Norton, Vishay | Articles | CommentsA major challenge facing power engineers today is how to overcome a reduction in board space for the power circuitry in commercial electronic products. A quick walk through any electronics retail store will reveal that personal computers have become smaller and even miniaturized which is a trend for many other types of electronic devices.
Discrete Components Optimize Medical Equipment Performance and Reliability
March 4, 2010 10:16 am | by Steve Wade, VP of Sales and Marketing, TT electronics | Articles | CommentsMedical electronics applications require components that are smaller, more robust, and highly versatile, particularly as medical equipment becomes increasingly portable. Because medical systems often use discrete electronic components in their circuit designs, passive components are critical to optimizing performance and reliability.
MOSFETs Provide Efficient Operation for Battery-powered “Green” Products
March 4, 2010 9:33 am | by Kevin Turchin, FAE Manager, ROHM Semiconductor | Articles | CommentsPortable products increasingly rely on a single 3.7V Li-Ion battery for the energy source. For these and other low-voltage applications, lower gate voltage power MOSFETs improve the efficiency for extended battery life and reduce the heat dissipation involved in switching the loads. In addition, they simplify the design of numerous control functions by allowing direct control / drive.
Coping with the Smart Grid
March 4, 2010 7:39 am | Articles | CommentsThis year at APEC I moderated a rap session on dealing with the Smart Grid. It had a standing-room-only crowd, and demonstrated how much interest exists on both the technical and political issues involved.
Design Smart - Design Safe - Design Fast
March 4, 2010 7:27 am | by Hans Wiedemann, Manager - Product Marketing, Vincotech | Articles | CommentsWith GPS rapidly becoming an increasingly vital part of our business and private lives, the market for these devices has seen a strong and steady business growth. Apart from traditional GPS applications, such as navigation and car breakdown emergency systems, GPS functionality has expanded well into the industrial and business markets.
Non-contact Safety Switches Are Fully Sealed, Encapsulated
March 4, 2010 7:06 am | Product Releases | CommentsTapeswitch is expanding is product line with Mechan Controls, a British designer and manufacturer of machine guard safety systems whose non-contact safety switches ranges from simple, low cost magnetic safety versions through fully electronic safety systems with the option of
Efficient Material Handling in Automotive Manufacturing Applications
March 4, 2010 7:05 am | by Todd Belt, Systems Sales Manager, Pepperl+Fuchs | Articles | CommentsPick and place robotics has been a common sight in the automotive industry for some time. It is capable of auto racking, bin picking, positioning parts for assembly, and other repetitive tasks that help automate production sequences and reduce costs.
Partial Networking: In-Vehicle Networks Can Reduce Costs and CO2 Emissions
March 4, 2010 6:40 am | by Holger Huber, System Marketing Manager In-Vehicle-Networking, NXP Semiconductors | Articles | CommentsIn the past, electronic control units (ECUs) in automotive applications were connected by individual signal wires. However, today, close to 100% of the ECUs are connected by bus systems such as LIN, CAN and FlexRay. This yields significant advantages, including improved data availability, straightforward wiring and standardized interfaces.
Power Resistors Deliver 20 W to 600 W with Low Inductance
March 4, 2010 6:26 am | Product Releases | CommentsTT electronics IRC’s MHP Series power resistors feature power ratings from 20 W to 600 W in industry standard TO-220, TO-247 and SOT-227 transistor-style packages. The resistors provide
