Applications
The Lead
Mourning the death of Google Reader (and finding a suitable replacement)
March 18, 2013 3:40 pm | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | Comments
Like many of you, I was shocked, dismayed, and several other adjectives upon learning that Google Reader will soon go kaput. As a journalist, I sift through copious amounts of content daily, and it would be no exaggeration to say that Google Reader makes my job exponentially simpler, so I took its demise rather hard.
My wish list for the next iPhone
April 4, 2013 10:32 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | Comments
A new iPhone is imminent! Man the ramparts! Sound the trumpets! A new coronation is upon us! OK...
Technology forces your teen to stop texting and driving
March 19, 2013 12:19 pm | by Kasey Panetta, Associate Editor | Blogs | Comments
Everyone knows texting (or Redditing or Facebooking or Tweeting) while driving is a bad idea,...
Why your car is a better driver than you
February 7, 2013 2:06 pm | by Kasey Panetta, Associate Editor | Blogs | Comments
It came to my attention while working on an article about intelligent systems in cars that...
Nickel-based energy storage system provides long life in high temperature
May 17, 2013 4:39 pm | Varta Microbattery | Product Releases | CommentsAnnounced today by VARTA Microbatteryis the addition of HVCAP35, a Nickel (Ni) based energy storage system to the V-Cap Series. VARTA Microbattery's new Ni based energy storage system is a hybrid technology that combines the high energy density advantage of batteries, with the high power advantage of supercapacitors.
Module designed for high-speed data aquisition, generation
May 17, 2013 2:35 pm | Product Releases | CommentsTEWS TECHNOLOGIES announced the introduction of the TPMC685, a standard single-width 32 bit PMC module offering up to 128 bit of TTL I/O arranged in 16 x 8 bit ports. Designed for high-speed data acquisition and generation, the TPMC685 is ideal for applications in process control, simulation, test, transportation, and COTS.
Security risks found in sensors for heart devices, consumer electronics
May 17, 2013 12:43 pm | by EurekAlert! | News | CommentsThe type of sensors that pick up the rhythm of a beating heart in implanted cardiac defibrillators and pacemakers are vulnerable to tampering, according to a new study conducted in controlled laboratory conditions. Implantable defibrillators monitor the heart for irregular beating and, when necessary, administer an electric shock...
What are the biggest LED challenges, according to engineers
May 17, 2013 10:06 am | by Editor | Blogs | CommentsWith Lightfair in the rearview mirror and being dominated by LEDs, lighting has become an intense debate in the industry. What we want to know is what you think about the future of LEDs. We know our readers have varied opinions and valuable experiences – now here’s a great opportunity to showcase them. Send us an answer to the question below and if we think yours is great...
Converter module designed for 1200 V solar inverters
May 16, 2013 4:32 pm | Product Releases | CommentsVincotech, a leading supplier of module-based solutions for power electronics, has introduced a new compact 3x MNPC converter module in a standard flow 1 housing. Designed for 1200 V solar inverters, the flow3xMNPC 1 provides all the components for three-phase applications.
The future of Google Glass
May 16, 2013 3:49 pm | by Kasey Panetta, Managing Editor | Blogs | CommentsThere has been a lot of talk about Google Glass lately, mostly due to the prototype debut, but one interesting aspect of that public viewing is that developers –outside of GoogleLand—can take a crack at coming up with interesting uses for the technology. By allowing new voices into the conversation, the world is seeing even more possibilities for Google Glass.
Coin cell battery holder rises under 5 mm
May 16, 2013 3:16 pm | Product Releases | CommentsMPD has invented another new CR2032 low profile coin cell battery holder. While other CR2032 holder solutions often rise 8 to 10 mm above the PCB, our new LP2032SM-JJ-GTR rises under 5 mm with an installed CR2032 battery.
MCU family expands to include intelligent analog and core-dependent peripherals
May 16, 2013 3:06 pm | Microchip Technology Inc. | Product Releases | CommentsMicrochip Technology Inc. expanded its 8-bit PIC16F178X enhanced Mid-Range core microcontroller (MCU) family with increased Flash memory densities, intelligent analog and digital peripherals, such as on-chip 12-bit analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), 16-bit
400W AC/DC power supplies certified to EN 60601 3RDedition
May 16, 2013 2:55 pm | MicroPower Direct, LLC | Product Releases | CommentsThe MPU-400M series, available now from MicroPower Direct, is a family of compact 400W AC/DC power supplies that are certified to EN 60601 3RDedition. These power supplies offer a unique combination of high power, safety features, robust performance and compact construction.
Dealing with counterfeits in the market
May 16, 2013 2:53 pm | by George Karalias, Director of Marketing & Communications, Rochester Electronics | Blogs | CommentsCounterfeiters are adaptable and constantly incorporating solutions that can void the latest countermeasures adopted by the electronics manufacturers and their supply chain. In some cases, the counterfeits are very hard to differentiate from the original component.
What improvements would you like to see from distributors in the next 12 months?
May 16, 2013 2:29 pm | Articles | 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 | Articles | 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 | Articles | 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.
Smart electronics reduce energy consumption and improve performance of piezoelectric ultrasonic motors
May 16, 2013 2:10 pm | by David Henderson, co-CEO, New Scale Technologies, Inc., www.newscaletech.com | Articles | CommentsPiezoelectric ultrasonic motors (piezo motors) are a distinct class of rotary and linear actuators requiring unique driving circuits to achieve practical, reliable, precise and efficient operation. A piezo motor uses the ultrasonic vibrations (greater than 20 kHz) of a “stator” structure that is frictionally coupled to a moving slide or rotating shaft. Piezo motors with operating frequencies from 40 to 700 kHz are commercially available.
Simplifying BLDC motor control: A tailored solution delivers precision and efficiency
May 16, 2013 2:04 pm | by Wen Chien, Fairchild Semiconductor www.fairchildsemi.com | Articles | CommentsFrom the small vibrating motors in cell phones to the more complex motors used in household washing machines and air conditioners, motors have become everyday fixtures in the consumer world. The energy consumed by all these motors is significant...
Welcoming grandma into our virtual future
May 16, 2013 1:27 pm | by Joel Hans, Managing Editor, Manufacturing.net | Blogs | CommentsA virtual reality (VR) headset by the name of Oculus Rift made a big splash on Kickstarter, raising a stellar $2.43 million to get development kits into the hands and on the noggins of game developers. And now that the units have started to ship, people in the gaming community are getting treated to video after video of people wearing the goggles and trying to explain just how floored they are....
IDC connectors intended for harsh commercial, industrial, and energy applications
May 16, 2013 12:54 pm | Avx Corporation | Product Releases | CommentsAVX Corporation has introduced the latest iteration of its wire-to-board (WTB) insulation displacement contact (IDC) technology. Designed to provide a gas-tight, plated through-hole WTB termination, the new 9177-600 Series is compatible with the rugged power boards used to handle larger wire gauges and more amps per contact....
Transistor series is presented as highest power for radar and communications systems
May 16, 2013 10:08 am | Product Releases | CommentsM/A-COM Technology Solutions introduced a series of GaN in Plastic packaged power transistors for high-performance civilian and military radar and communications systems. The family scales to peak pulse power levels of 100 W, which is asserted to be the
Space not the final frontier for viewing movies
May 16, 2013 10:01 am | by SETH BORENSTEIN, AP Science Writer | News | CommentsThe crew of the International Space Station is boldly going where no one has gone before - to see the new "Star Trek" film. The three astronauts were offered a sneak peak of "Star Trek Into Darkness" days before it opens Thursday on Earth, seeing it not in 3-D, but Zero-G.
Google's products dig deeper into people's lives
May 16, 2013 9:56 am | by MICHAEL LIEDTKE, AP Technology Writer | News | CommentsIn the latest display of its technological prowess and sweeping ambition, Google is rolling out another wave of products and services that will test how much more people want computers to control their lives and enhance their perceptions of reality.
Experts: Smartphones another avenue for hackers
May 16, 2013 9:38 am | by TONY WINTON, Associated Press | News | CommentsSmartphones are increasingly popular not only with consumers, but also with thieves who see the devices as another way to tap into bank accounts and other sensitive information, experts say. Many consumers simply don't realize how vulnerable their Androids, iPhones and other devices can be. An April study by the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta said threats are proliferating....
Waterproof electronic enclosure family adds four new sizes
May 15, 2013 4:05 pm | Polycase | Product Releases | CommentsPolycase’s NEMA 4X rated WA, WC and WP Series of waterproof electronic enclosures has expanded to include four new enclosure sizes. Ranging from 2.28” x 2.52” to 14.12” x 7.84”, the plastic enclosures now host 17 different size options. The WA, WC, and WP Series are UL listed to UL508-4X and meet
Intelligent sensor hub integrates programmability, precision in a single package
May 15, 2013 3:40 pm | Freescale Semiconductor | Product Releases | CommentsFreescale Semiconductor is introducing a new Xtrinsic intelligent sensor hub that serves as an advanced sensor fusion platform. The Xtrinsic FXLC95000CL sensor hub integrates an on-board accelerometer with capability to manage multiple external sensors. The solution provides
Much ado about nothing: The impact of the medical device excise tax
May 15, 2013 1:32 pm | by Michael Lewis, Writer, Money Crashers Personal Finance | Blogs | CommentsStudents of military strategy learn quickly the advantages of choosing when and where to fight, rather than wasting resources on trivial issues. An impartial observer would wonder about the wisdom of the excessive rhetoric, over-the-top hyperbole, and political posturing surrounding the medical device excess tax.
MOSFETs deliver benchmark on-state resistance for improved system efficiency in heavy load applications
May 15, 2013 12:31 pm | International Rectifier | Product Releases | CommentsInternational Rectifier introduced a family of automotive-qualified COOLiRFET MOSFETs delivering benchmark on-state resistance (Rds(on)) for heavy load applications including electric power steering (EPS), braking systems and other heavy loads on internal combustion engine (ICE) and micro hybrid vehicle platforms.
