Applications
Google demonstrates phone that translates text
February 23, 2010 8:21 am | News | CommentsStumped by foreign languages when you're traveling? Google Inc. is working on software that translates text captured by a phone camera. At a demonstration Tuesday at Mobile World Congress, a cell phone trade show in Barcelona, an engineer shot a picture of a German dinner menu with a phone running Google Inc.'s Android software.
New Transceiver is Fully-Reconfigurable
February 23, 2010 8:15 am | News | CommentsThe fully reconfigurable transceiver is compatible with various wireless standards and applications, including the upcoming mobile broadband 3GPP-LTE standard. The trend in wireless communication where terminals give their users ubiquitous access to a multitude of services drives the development of reconfigurable radios in deep-submicron CMOS. This is enhanced with the advent of 3GPP-LTE, a standard that is inherently so flexible that a reconfigurable radio is its most economical implementation. The single-chip reconfigurable transceiver developed by imec, Renesas and M4S provides an answer to this need.
Avandia (rosiglitazone): Ongoing Review of Cardiovascular Safety
February 22, 2010 12:20 pm | by FDA MedWatch | News | CommentsFDA is reviewing data from a large, long-term clinical study on possible risks for cardiovascular outcomes associated with use of rosiglitazone.
AdaCore Releases GNAT Pro 6.3
February 22, 2010 11:38 am | News | CommentsAdaCore, a leading supplier of Ada development tools and support services, today announced the latest major release of its GNAT Pro Ada development environment. GNAT Pro 6.3 is now available on several new platforms including 64-bit Windows, Windows 7, Mac OS X Snow Leopard, VxWorks MILS, and PikeOS (ARINC 653). The product incorporates performance improvements and a variety of enhancements, many based on customer feedback, and it offers the first implementation of new Ada 2012 features. GNAT Pro 6.3 works with a number of complementary tools, sold separately, including the CodePeer automated code review and validation tool.
Imec and Holst Centre achieve breakthrough in battery-less radios
February 22, 2010 11:24 am | News | CommentsAt the International Solid State Circuit Conference, imec and Holst Centre reported a 2.4GHz/915MHz wake-up receiver which consumes only 51µW power.
Bluetooth low energy module employs Nordic µBlue chip
February 22, 2010 11:10 am | News | CommentsUltra low power (ULP) RF specialist Nordic Semiconductor ASA announced that further to the Bluetooth SIG's official adoption of Bluetooth® low energy (as part of the latest Bluetooth Version 4.0 Core Specification), French multi-die system-in-package (SiP) design specialists, Insight SiP, has released the world's first drop-in single mode Bluetooth low energy SiP module.
Verizon FiOS customers to get online access to HBO
February 22, 2010 9:55 am | News | CommentsPremium cable TV channel HBO is offering online viewing of its movies and TV shows to its subscribers through a new Web site. The cable network said Wednesday that it has partnered with Verizon to offer its FiOS video and Internet customers access to the site, starting Thursday. The service will be expanded to include other subscription TV operators.
LED Backlight Costs Falling Faster than Conventional LCD Backlights
February 22, 2010 9:35 am | News | CommentsMost LCD panel and set makers are focusing on development of LED (light emitting diode) backlight units for improved visual performance, thinner form factor, and lower power consumption. The key issue has been reducing cost, in absolute terms and relative to the conventional CCFL (cold cathode fluorescent) backlights. The newly-released DisplaySearch Quarterly LED & CCFL Backlight Cost Report, which is the only report to analyze and forecast the cost structure of CCFL and LED backlight costs, disclosed that the average cost of 40” edge LED backlight unit in Q1’10 is $118, and will fall to $100 by Q4’10 (see Figure 1). Cost reduction is driven by increasing production volumes, which affects LED and material costs, and by improvement in LED luminous intensity, which enables the use of fewer LED chips.
Zigbee Offers More Options
February 22, 2010 9:22 am | News | CommentsThe ZigBee Alliance, a global ecosystem of companies creating wireless solutions for use in energy management, residential, commercial and consumer electronics applications, today announced it is now offering certification for ZigBee platforms designed to operate in the regional sub-1 GHz unlicensed frequencies. The move ensures original equipment manufacturers a source of tested platforms for use in sub-1 GHz applications.
Ear Candles: Risk of Serious Injuries
February 20, 2010 12:20 pm | by FDA MedWatch | News | CommentsConsumers warned not to use ear candles because they can cause serious injuries, even when used according to the manufacturer’s directions.
SMD white LEDs feature two binning versions
February 19, 2010 11:56 am | Product Releases | CommentsVishay Intertechnology released power surface-mount white LEDs in two binning versions. For a wider range of pin compatibility with similar devices, the VLMW321xx LEDs feature three anodes and one cathode, while the VLMW322xx LEDs offer three cathodes and one anode. The devices feature a
Industrial Displays Offer 7-inch Diagonal Screen, LED Backlighting
February 19, 2010 11:49 am | Product Releases | CommentsSharp is unveiling a series totalling five industrial standard 7-inch TFT LCDs in the first half of 2010. The spectrum ranges from the robust screens of the more mechanically resilient Strong2 class with extended temperature range from -30°C to 80°C to a "light" type LQ070Y3DG3A variant, with an operating temperature of -20°C to 50°C which is designed to
High-Brightness SMT Tricolor LEDs Are Water Resistant
February 19, 2010 10:53 am | Product Releases | CommentsAvago Technologies announced it has developed compact high-brightness water-resistant tricolor surface mount light-emitting diodes (LEDs) for use in indoor and outdoor full color signs and displays. The company’s ASMT-YTBO plastic leaded chip carrier (PLCC)-6 Blackbody and ASMT-QTCO industry standard PLCC-4 LEDs have been
HD Color Camera Features Backside Illumination, 1280 x 1024 Resolution
February 19, 2010 10:46 am | Product Releases | CommentsToshiba Teli America launched the model CSDS60CM3 high-definition (HD) color camera for the industrial vision marketplace. Able to achieve exceptional picture quality with smearless imaging, the model CSDS60CM3 can also successfully
LED Light Engines Accelerate Development, Prototyping of SSL Apps
February 19, 2010 10:31 am | Product Releases | CommentsFuture Lighting Solutions announced an exclusive line of light engines designed to accelerate the development, prototyping and delivery of solid state lighting applications as well as reduce fixture development costs. The first light engines in the
New algorithm to improve video game quality
February 19, 2010 10:16 am | News | CommentsMcGuire and Luebke have developed a new method for computerizing lighting and light sources that will allow video game graphics to approach film quality.
Long-Acting Beta-Agonists (LABAs): New Safe Use Requirements
February 19, 2010 8:20 am | by FDA MedWatch | News | CommentsFDA requires risk management plan and class-labeling changes for all LABAs.
Distribution is more than just Providing Parts
February 19, 2010 7:39 am | by Alix Paultre | Articles | CommentsIt isn’t easy to be an engineer these days. You have to be on top of rapidly-developing technology while creating devices and systems with the latest in functionality and integration.
Brainstorm: CES 2010
February 19, 2010 4:39 am | Articles | CommentsThis year’s CES brought forth a number of new and exciting products and technologies for the consumer. As with each year’s show, there were hits and misses with some products primed to become major retail successes while others may never make it to the store shelves.
Officers warned about UAV vulnerabilities in 2004
February 19, 2010 4:12 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsThe revelation that insurgents had hacked US drones came as shocking news. What’s more, they did so using $26 off-the-shelf software (SkyGrabber). Now the Wall Street Journal is reporting that senior officers knew about the security risk five years ago. According to a report in the Journal, senior officers warned in 2004 of the drones’ vulnerabilities.
Air Force taps Space Micro to develop software defined radio for satellites
February 19, 2010 4:06 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsSpace Micro Inc. has been awarded $100,000 by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL) to develop a software-defined radio system for military satellites. The Phase I Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) contract is to develop space communications hardware that is resistant to radiation.
The Power of Collective Intelligence
February 19, 2010 3:47 am | by Alisha Mowbray, Senior VP, innovation marketing, element14 | Blogs | CommentsElectronic design engineers are facing greater pressure than ever before to rapidly create new solutions, and manufacturers are continually developing new technologies to help them to do so.
Providing Enhanced Services and Smarter Solutions
February 19, 2010 3:29 am | by Kurt Colehower, President of Americas Components, Arrow Electronics | Blogs | CommentsLike much of technology, the role of distribution is evolving with market demand. Outsourcing can provide significant advantages, especially in today’s business climate that includes leaner engineering staffs, and new challenges facing management.
Outsourcing the ''final frontier''
February 18, 2010 12:31 pm | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsThe proposed 2011 NASA Budget takes human spaceflight in a bold new direction. Along with scuttling the Constellation Program, and investing in heavy-lift rocket systems, the proposal leans heavily on the private sector. The International Space Station received clemency through at least 2020, and with the Space Shuttle retiring in 2010, the US will need reliable means of orbital transportation.
Military lifts ban on flash media
February 18, 2010 11:24 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsTwo years ago, DOD banned all “flash media” devices in an effort to contain the “Agent.btz” computer virus. In 2009, Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said, “I do not see the thumb drives going back here in the immediate future.” Yet a year later (nearly to the day), the ban has been lifted.
