Blogs
A Cautionary Tale about Wi-Fi Direct
November 22, 2010 5:35 am | by by Eric Broockman, Alereon (www.alereon.com) | Blogs | CommentsWi-Fi Direct is a mechanism to add a soft access point in one device so that two different products can form a direct point to point secure wireless connection. Supposedly it will be easy to set up and relatively fast.
Interview with Pat Scott of STI Electronics
November 16, 2010 6:13 am | Blogs | CommentsSince 1982, STI Electronics, Inc. (STI) has been the premier full-service organization for training, consulting, laboratory analysis, prototyping and small- to medium-volume PCB assembly in the electronics industry. STI also produces a complete line of solder training kits and training support products.
A look forward from electronica
November 16, 2010 5:53 am | Articles | CommentsWith electronica now receding in our collective rearview mirrors, we can look forward along the road we are travelling into the future and think about what we saw at the event that will help us along the way. Trade shows can be a great way to discover where we are and where we are heading.
What is 4G?
November 15, 2010 11:13 am | by Rupert Baines, Picochip (www.picochip.com) | Blogs | CommentsThere is a bit of debate on 4G (or "faux G" as Dan Jones of Light Reading nicely put it).
Air Force wants tougher, ''more survivable'' drones
November 8, 2010 4:27 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsThe U.S. military wants its next-generation RPVs to be more survivable in “contested airspace.” At a breakfast with reporters in DC, Lt. Gen. Philip Breedlove (the Air Force’s chief of operations, plans and requirements) noted the MQ-9 Reaper’s shortcomings, and stressed the need for tougher, more durable RPVs.
XMOS Introduces Real-Time Platform for Energy-Efficient Motor Control
November 4, 2010 5:00 am | Product Releases | CommentsXMOS today unveiled a new motor control platform, enabling developers to deliver innovative and highly efficient motor control designs. The XMOS motor control platform is comprised of...
A PV Technician on Your Roof Day and Night
November 3, 2010 6:03 am | by Philip Pieters, PhD, business development director Energy, imec. (www.imec.be) | Blogs | Comments“A chain is no stronger than its weakest link,” the saying says. And that also applies to solar panels today. One bad working cell can bring down the panels electricity production significantly. The reason is that the solar cells are connected in series, making a malfunctioning cell a huge resistive link in the chain.
Should We Manage Cellphone Access in Certain Cases?
November 2, 2010 5:39 am | by Terry Bittner, ITT Defense (www.defense.itt.com) | Blogs | CommentsCell phones afford us the convenience of being connected whenever we want, wherever we want. Despite affording us constant connectivity, there remain places where cell phone usage is inappropriate.
Looking back on the year that was
November 1, 2010 8:57 am | Articles | CommentsConsidering the tumult in the last several years, from disruptive technologies to political discord to financial meltdown and market re-adjustments, it’s kind of hard to say that 2010 was notable. Yet there are many things that mark this year that will make it a memorable one.
Lockheed Martin showcases incredible “HULC”
November 1, 2010 5:46 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsAt the recent Association of the U.S. Army conference in D.C., Lockheed Martin showcased its Human Universal Load Carrier (HULC), the defense giant’s answer to Raytheon’s XOS-2 exoskeleton (the “Real Iron Man Suit”). That’s right: it’s HULC vs. Iron Man.
Tinker's Toolbox - Year in Review
October 28, 2010 12:43 pm | Podcasts | CommentsThe latest episode of the ECN discussion webcast “Tinker’s Toolbox” is a look back at the previous year. In it, our panel guests discuss the news, tech, politics, trends, and products from 2010 and about the things, events, and issues we felt were important. Right-click to download the podcast
The Disruptive Changes in Wireless Infrastructure
October 25, 2010 5:58 am | Blogs | CommentsAccording to a report published by Informa today there are now more femtocells than macrocells in America.
Renesas Electronics Confirms Electromagnetic Immunity of the RX600 Microcontroller Family
October 22, 2010 5:45 am | Renesas | Product Releases | CommentsLanger EMV and Renesas Electronics today announced that the RX600 microcontroller (MCU) family is the most robust MCU Langer EMV has ever tested against environmental noise. Langer EMV confirmed the outstanding electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) performance of the Renesas Electronics RX62T MCU.
Microprocessors Offer Highest-performing Single-core ARM Cortex-A8, Extreme System Integration
October 19, 2010 11:02 am | Product Releases | CommentsTexas Instruments expanded its portfolio of Sitara ARM microprocessors (MPUs) with new AM389x Sitara MPUs that offer the industry’s highest-performing, single-core ARM Cortex-A8 with performance at up to 1.5 GHz. These MPUs also integrate peripherals that make them suitable for single-board computers, gateways, routers
Canada gets cold feet over F-35
October 19, 2010 9:53 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsA report released by the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives calls Canada’s planned procurement of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter “fundamentally flawed.” According to the CCPA, “Canada does not need the F-35, either for North American/domestic roles or for expeditionary roles.”
Just around the corner
October 19, 2010 7:56 am | by Alix Paultre, Editor-in-Chief | Articles | CommentsI recently saw a very exciting-sounding news item on nuclear fusion research from The National Institute for Fusion Science (NIFS) on their new Large Helical Device (LHD), a variation on the Tokamak that is also the largest superconductor in the world.
Energy 109: Thermoelectrics
October 14, 2010 6:07 am | by Prof. Ken Johnson | Blogs | CommentsSeveral readers of these episodes disagreed with my approach of using a ‘worst case’ example of a private residence solar cell electrical power generation system as the sole source of power (ENERGY 108: SOLAR CELLS II)...
Tinker’s Toolbox - Standards and Regulations Redux
October 7, 2010 6:10 am | Podcasts | CommentsThis month's Tinker's Toolbox podcast revisits our discussion on standards and regulations and their impact on the design engineer. Topics include: when standards may or may not be needed, the role of industry and government in creating them, time and cost issues...
Plasma Benefits from LED and 3D LCD Pricing
September 29, 2010 9:02 am | by Yoonsung Chung, Director, FPD Material & Technology Analysis, DisplaySearch | Blogs | CommentsEven though LCD pricing has dropped over the past few months, PDP pricing was stable in August—a trend that remained consistent for all sizes. LCD pricing was fairly strong until the middle of Q2’10, but in June, it started to fall due to slower demand in China, huge inventories in the pipelines, and unstable European economic conditions.
Raytheon unveils wearable exoskeleton suit
September 28, 2010 12:20 pm | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsCoinciding with the release of Iron Man 2 on Blu-Ray/DVD, Raytheon unveiled a real-life wearable robotic suit. The second-generation exoskeleton (XOS 2) purportedly is lighter, faster and stronger than its predecessor, yet it uses 50 percent less power. Before one conjures Sci-Fi fantasies of space marines, it’s worth pointing out what the XOS 2 is not—it isn’t a futuristic robotic battle suit.
Managing Diabetes with Wireless Connectivity
September 27, 2010 6:32 am | by Alf Helge Omre, Nordic Semiconductor (www.nordicsemi.com) | Blogs | CommentsEquipping a blood glucose meter with a wireless connection offers several advantages in the management of diabetes.
Legislation Could Repeal Incandescent Ban
September 24, 2010 6:54 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsIncandescents may be given a stay of execution. Last week, U.S. Reps. Joe Barton (R-Texas), Michael Burgess (R-Texas), and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn) introduced legislation designed to repeal the incandescent light bulb ban.
MCU features embedded Ferroelectric Random Access Memory
September 21, 2010 9:36 am | Product Releases | CommentsFujitsu Semiconductor America, Inc. (FSA) today introduced a new single-chip 8-bit MCU featuring embedded Ferroelectric Random Access Memory (FRAM) for a variety of general-purpose applications, including consumer electronics products, healthcare, and industrial systems.
Core Chip Features Transmit and Receive Modes of Operations
September 21, 2010 5:19 am | Product Releases | CommentsM/A-COM Tech Asia introduced today an 8.5 to 11 GHz gallium arsenide (GaAs) monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC) core chip, which consists of integrated transmit/receive switches, an LNA, a 6-bit phase shifter, a 5-bit attenuator and a driver amplifier
Microcontrollers intended for Smart-Metering Applications
September 20, 2010 7:57 am | Microchip Technology Inc. | Product Releases | CommentsMicrochip Technology Inc. today announced the 8-bit PIC18F87J72 microcontroller (MCU) family for single-phase, multi-function smart-metering and energy-monitoring applications. Featuring a dual-channel, high-performance 16-/24-bit Analog Front End (AFE)...
