Automotive
Soft-switching IGBT serves hybrid and electric vehicle applications
April 12, 2012 1:54 pm | International Rectifier | Product Releases | CommentsInternational Rectifier today announced the introduction of the AUIRGDC0250, an automotive-qualified IGBT optimized for soft switching applications such as Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) heater applications used in electric and hybrid vehicles.
U.S. new car gas mileage up 20 percent since 2007: study
April 10, 2012 2:04 pm | News | CommentsNew cars and trucks sold in the United States are getting an average of 24 miles per gallon of gasoline, the highest ever, researchers at the University of Michigan said on Tuesday. The average fuel economy rating as shown by window stickers on new vehicles bought in March - including pickup trucks, SUVs, minivans and passenger cars - was 24.1 mpg...
36V nano current voltage monitor targets multicell applications
April 9, 2012 1:17 pm | Product Releases | CommentsLinear Technology Corporation introduces the LTC2960, a 2.5V to 36V, two input voltage monitor that draws only 850nA of quiescent current, offering extended battery life in battery-powered applications. The LTC2960 provides two adjustable monitoring inputs...
Hall Effect sensing devices serve automotive applications
April 5, 2012 12:08 pm | Product Releases | CommentsThe MLX92221 and MLX92241 Hall Effect sensors from Melexis are designed to deliver the high levels of performance and robustness needed for the stringent automotive requirements of applications such as seat positioning systems...
Does the battery fuel gauge lie?
April 5, 2012 5:53 am | by Isidor Buchmann, CEO & founder of Cadex Electronics Inc. www.BatteryUniversity.com; answers@cadex.com | Articles | CommentsMeasuring stored energy in an electrochemical device, such as a battery, is complex and state-of-charge (SoC) readings on a fuel gauge provide only a rough estimate.Users often compare battery SoC with the fuel gauge of a vehicle.
Clickable switch provides uniform haptic feedback in touch-sensing HMIs
April 4, 2012 10:48 am | Product Releases | CommentsC&K Components has developed a new component concept for complex automotive human machine interfaces (HMIs). Designated the CLK Series, the energy-free electromechanical device provides consistent, self-guided motion with uniform haptic feedback for automotive touch-sensing HMI applications.
April 2012: Power
April 1, 2012 12:00 am | Digital Editions | CommentsThe April 2012 issue goes into the power application area. Highlights include: “Battery fuel gauge: Factual or Fallacy,” “Are we there yet?”, and “Designing CO2 and alcohol-sensing applications.” Senior Technical Editor Jon Titus shares tips for helping engineers write well, while Executive Editor Chris Warner discusses design considerations for automotive applications.
Design with your eyes on the road
March 21, 2012 6:57 am | by Chris Warner, Executive Editor | Articles | CommentsThe other day, I received a press release from a company that announced plans to apply its technology to the automotive space. The memo cited research from Strategic Analytics which predicts a 10 percent compound annual growth rate in the market for the next five years.
Yazaki North America selects PTC as its software systems solution for electronic instrumentation
March 20, 2012 11:35 am | News | CommentsPTC today announced Yazaki North America, a Tier 1 automotive supplier, has selected PTC as the software systems platform for its electronic instrumentation.
Renesas Electronics leads OE Automotive Semiconductor Vendor Ranking in 2011; Freescale falls to fourth behind STMicroelectronics
March 19, 2012 7:25 am | News | CommentsAccording to the latest analysis by Semicast Research, Renesas Electronics was the leading supplier of semiconductors to the OE automotive sector in 2011, ahead of Infineon Technologies.
Yupiteru Selects u-blox QZSS Technology for Enhanced Radar Detector in Japan
March 12, 2012 7:10 am | News | Commentsu-blox, the Swiss positioning and wireless module and chip company, scored an industry first by providing advanced QZSS satellite positioning technology to Yupiteru, a Japanese manufacturer of telecommunications and car electronics for the Japanese market. Based on u-blox' QZSS-enabled LEA-6H satellite receiver module, the GWR73SD radar detector with
Modular, functionally versatile, and economical TPMS systems
March 9, 2012 5:58 am | by Ivan Zagan, Product Line Manager, Melexis | Articles | CommentsToday, feature-rich automobile electronic systems manage safety and control functions. Airbags, antilock brakes, tire pressure monitoring systems (TPMSes), navigation and infotainment features are governed by burgeoning numbers of microcontrollers (MCUs).
Electric power steering turns the corner
March 7, 2012 10:15 am | by Dave Wilson, Motion Products Evangelist, Texas Instruments | Blogs | CommentsDid you know that your hydraulic steering system wastes more energy than any other system in your car and is third highest in total vehicular energy losses (right behind wind resistance and road resistance)?
Power Connectors Accommodate Lower Amperage Electromechanical Systems
March 2, 2012 10:37 am | Product Releases | CommentsAmphenol Industrial Global Operations expanded its ePower connector series to include the IP67-rated ePower 200 for use in smaller scale electromechanical systems with a 200-A current limit as well as in power converters, motors for hybrid electric vehicles and
Winbond Electronics Enters Automotive Flash Memory Market
March 1, 2012 10:25 am | News | CommentsWinbond Electronics Corp. announced it is bringing its popular SpiFlash Serial Flash memory technology to the rapidly expanding automotive-electronics market.
Renesas Electronics Unveils New-Generation RH850 Microcontroller for Automotive Applications
February 29, 2012 11:42 am | Renesas | Product Releases | CommentsRenesas Electronics introduced the new RH850 family of 32-bit microcontrollers (MCUs) for automotive applications. The RH850 is based on 40 nanometer (nm) MONOS (metal oxide nitride oxide silicon) embedded flash technology...
Melexis to Demonstrate its Automotive Semiconductors at electronica China 2012
February 28, 2012 6:38 am | Product Releases | CommentsThe upcoming electronica China 2012 taking place from March 20-22 at the New International Expo Center in Shanghai will host many suppliers of advanced technology including Melexis. electronica China is the leading trade platform for
Connectors Address Transportation Challenges with IP69K Sealing and Vibration Resistance
February 27, 2012 6:53 am | Product Releases | CommentsITT Interconnect Solutions has developed the APD Series transportation connectors specifically to overcome harsh environments commonly found in heavy transportation applications. Sealed to IP67/IP69K specifications (with
Adjustable output low dropout voltage regulators serve automotive applications
February 23, 2012 5:58 am | On Semiconductor | Product Releases | CommentsON Semiconductor has announced two new low dropout (LDO) voltage regulator ICs. Building on the company’s market-leading power management portfolio for automotive applications, the new devices are ideal for use in audio and infotainment systems...
Hall-effect Rotary Position Sensors Tout a 12M Cycle Product Life
February 21, 2012 12:03 pm | Product Releases | CommentsHoneywell introduced its RTY Series Hall-Effect Rotary Position Sensors that provide a variety of options (e.g., sensing range, pinout, voltage) to allow customers to customize the sensor configuration to meet their specific application needs, especially
20-MHz Buck Regulator Lets Designers Draw Their Own PC Board Inductors
February 21, 2012 5:18 am | Product Releases | CommentsSemtech Corporation launched the first device in a platform of high-frequency switchers. The SC220 is said to be the industry’s first buck regulator that enables designers to draw their own inductors directly on the PC board (PCB). This device offers
IEEE International Electric Vehicle Conference Program Brings Together World Experts To Advance Electric Vehicle Technology
February 17, 2012 5:09 am | News | CommentsAdvancing the adoption of electric vehicles and the power grid infrastructure needed to create more energy-efficient transportation systems will require developing and integrating diverse technologies, as well as adopting policies and standards needed to fully deploy these systems.
Circuits CAN Controller Passes ISO 11898 Conformance Test
February 16, 2012 7:12 am | Holt Integrated Circuits | Product Releases | CommentsHolt Integrated Circuits announced independent validation of its CAN controller family at C&S group in Germany.
Electronic Components for Automotive Convenience Applications
February 16, 2012 5:21 am | News | CommentsTDK-EPC, a group company of TDK Corporation, has published the EPCOS Application Guide 2012 – Electronic Components for Automotive Convenience Applications.
Silicon ESD Devices Are Asserted to Offer the Lowest Capacitance for High-Data-Rate Apps
February 13, 2012 11:25 am | 3M Electronics Solutions Division | Product Releases | CommentsTE Circuit Protection announced a family of eight new single-channel and multi-channel silicon ESD (SESD) protection devices offering what it asserts are the lowest capacitance
