Automotive
MLCC Series Includes High Temperature, High Capacitance Versions
April 21, 2010 5:25 am | Avx Corporation | Product Releases | CommentsAVX Corporation has expanded its offering of multilayer ceramic capacitors to provide high capacitance values at temperatures of up to 150ºC. Designated the X8L Series, the high temperature MLCC range has
LED Driver Addresses Medium LCD Display Backlighting
April 2, 2010 6:54 am | Product Releases | CommentsAllegro MicroSystems, Inc. introduced a new high power LED driver with output disconnect for backlighting medium LCD displays. This driver targets in-dash navigation systems, automotive infotainment, and back-up camera displays.
Liquid Level Sensors Suit Automotive, Control, and Industrial Apps
April 2, 2010 6:07 am | Product Releases | CommentsHermetic Switch announced its PRX+1660 Series sensors for liquid level monitoring in appliance, automotive, control, household, industrial, municipal, petrochemical, power generation, processing, and recreational markets. These sensors can
Concept Electric Car Uses Exotic Materials
April 2, 2010 5:51 am | News | CommentsCapable of 60 km/hour and a cruising range of 100 km, a very lightweight electric concept car uses proprietary materials and technologies including carbon fiber composites, polycarbonate resins and bio-derived polyester.
Army goes “green” with electric vehicles
March 23, 2010 8:17 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsFort Sam Houston received 20 Neighborhood Electric Vehicles (NEVs) in January as part of a larger plan to replace petroleum-based DoD vehicles with more “energy-efficient” transportation. The Army plans on replacing up to 28,000 gas-powered ground support vehicles with electric vehicles at more than 155 Army installations worldwide.
General Motors Augmented Reality Windshield
March 23, 2010 4:19 am | Videos | CommentsGeneral Motors has developed a working next-generation heads-up display that turns an ordinary windshield into an augmented reality information dashboard.
Texan accused of disabling 100 cars over Internet
March 18, 2010 9:11 am | News | CommentsA man fired from a Texas auto dealership used an Internet service to remotely disable ignitions and set off car horns of more than 100 vehicles sold at his old workplace, police said Wednesday. Austin police arrested Omar Ramos-Lopez, 20, on Wednesday, charging him with felony breach of computer security.
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.
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
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.
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
Y-Flash to Improve Memory Size
March 4, 2010 5:35 am | Product Releases | CommentsTowerJazz announced its patented Y-Flash technology, not available from any other foundry in the industry, which is designed to give customers flexibility on memory size, allowing optimization of performance/cost for any given application.
Companies Improve Power Conversion for Electric and Hybrid Cars
March 3, 2010 8:17 am | News | CommentsMitra Energy & Infrastructure SA, provider of high reliability managed energy solutions and Cissoid SA, leader in high-temperature semiconductor solutions, have entered an agreement to cooperate on the design of high-efficiency, high-temperature, turnkey energy conversion solutions for the electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles (EV & P-HEV).
Mini PLCC-2 LEDs Presented as Brightest for Automotive, Industrial Lighting
March 3, 2010 7:13 am | Product Releases | CommentsAvago Technologies announced what it asserts are the industry’s brightness miniature PLCC-2 surface mount (SMT) light emitting diodes (LEDs) for use in interior automotive and industrial applications. The ASMT-TxBM LED Series features
Telematic Antenna Testing
March 2, 2010 8:35 am | Articles | CommentsToday’s automobiles have a wide variety of RF systems with antennas on them for Sirius and XM radio, collision avoidance radars, the Global Positioning System (GPS) and other systems. Conventional test facilities can only perform terrestrial directed pattern measurements of the antenna on the automobile.
Microtune Amplifier Deployed in BYD Autos
March 2, 2010 8:30 am | News | CommentsMicrotune, Inc today announced that its multi-standard automotive antenna amplifier, the MT119 is being deployed in the automobiles of BYD Co., Ltd. (www.byd.com) of Shenzhen, China. The MT1119 is currently used in BYD’s fuel-based sedans and all-electric vehicles. It is planned for rollout in BYD’s most popular-selling compact models by March and in all BYD models by year end.
Rochester Electronics reconstructs discontinued semiconductor devices
March 1, 2010 9:48 am | News | CommentsRochester Electronics, the world's largest authorized manufacturer of discontinued semiconductors, provides authorized reverse-engineering services to re-create, manufacture and distribute pin-for-pin replacement parts with matched cycle for cycle timing for aftermarket semiconductor devices. Through its unique Rochester Semiconductor Replication Process, customers can avoid system re-qualification steps as the Rochester-designed and manufactured parts deliver the same specifications and performance characteristics as the original products. Rochester engineers deconstruct and electrically analyze the critically needed semiconductor device, re-design the part using scope and scanning electron microscope (SEM) images, and re-engineer it onto a matched mature foundry process to replicate the original components.
IMAPS Gives Details of MicroTech Conference
February 23, 2010 9:10 am | News | CommentsThe International Microelectronics And Packaging Society is pleased to announce details of the forthcoming MicroTech-2010 Conference featuring “Disruptive Technologies” APM featuring “Advanced Polymer, Organic & Inorganic Materials” being held at the well known Cambridge University Møller Centre. The location is ideally placed near many of the forward thrusting new and established companies as well as at a great historic city.
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
GPS Module Presented as Enabling Rapid Navigation for Long Periods
February 5, 2010 1:26 pm | Product Releases | CommentsVincotech has launched modules based on the latest SiRFstarIV technology. The A2100 GPS receiver module is built around the new GSD4e chip with sophisticated firmware. The special SiRFawareTM technology is said to allow the module to be in a state of readiness at all times thereby enabling
Prius problems put spotlight on car electronics
February 5, 2010 7:31 am | News | CommentsYour most expensive piece of electronics probably is not your flat panel TV or your computer. More likely, it's your car, which can pack 50 microprocessors to control everything from the fuel mix to the rearview mirrors.
Electromechanical modules: More than just the switch
February 4, 2010 10:36 am | by David Webber, Director of Product Development, C&K Components | Articles | CommentsToday, switch manufacturers are no longer developing just the switch. Original equipment manufacturers are frequently requesting that switch manufacturers develop the complete module, which may include an electro-mechanical switch or sensor, complementary electronics, a source of illumination, and a means of connection.
USB Connects Car Makers to the Consumer
February 4, 2010 6:16 am | by Henry Muyshondt, SMSC | Articles | CommentsUSB is the interface of choice for many of today’s consumer electronics products. Everything from cameras, to telephones and media players, as well as portable navigation devices use USB. Even devices with wireless interfaces, such as a Bluetooth phones, need to be connected to charge their batteries. USB provides the perfect interface: it is in widespread use and has a very well defined connector that makes it easy for both carmakers and device makers to use.
