PCI Express board provides two optically isolated serial ports
May 23, 2013 3:40 pm | Sealevel Systems, Inc. | Product Releases | CommentsSealevel’s 7203e PCI Express serial interface provides two optically isolated serial ports, each individually configurable for RS-232, RS-422, or RS-485. Each serial port utilizes a high-performance UART with 128-byte Tx/Rx FIFOs that enables data rates to 460.8K bps for reliable high-speed communications in data intensive applications.
The future of food: NASA's printed pizza
May 22, 2013 1:50 pm | by Kasey Panetta, Managing Editor | Blogs | CommentsIn the great world of 3D printing, nothing is more fascinating to me than the idea of printed food. There has been some rumblings about printed meat, but it’s been mostly outliers in the industry. However, NASA just made it a little more legitimate with by offering a $125,000 grant to Systems and Materials Research Corp to develop a 3D printed version of an American (and worldwide) favorite: Pizza.
Power transistors present desirable on-state resistance for low-energy, space-efficient designs
May 22, 2013 11:35 am | Stmicroelectronics | Product Releases | CommentsSTMicroelectronics has introduced a generation of energy-efficient power devices that are positioned as reducing the environmental impact of equipment such as telecom or computing systems, solar inverters, industrial automation and automotive applications. STripFET VII DeepGATE MOSFETs are asserted to
Computational tool translates complex data into simplified 2-dimensional images
May 20, 2013 11:52 am | by EurekAlert! | News | CommentsResearchers at Columbia University and Stanford University have developed a computational method that enables scientists to visualize and interpret "high-dimensional" data produced by single-cell measurement technologies such as mass cytometry.
Review: Toshiba brings high-res screen to Windows
May 20, 2013 11:04 am | by PETER SVENSSON, AP Technology Writer | News | CommentsLast year, Apple added a visually stunning option to its MacBooks: screens with ultra-high resolution. These "Retina" displays reveal four times as much detail as any Windows laptop screen ... until now. Toshiba just released a new laptop line with a Retina-level display.
Fanless mini PC ideal for space-challenged applications
May 20, 2013 11:01 am | Stealth Computer Corporation | Product Releases | CommentsStealth.com has released a new powerful fanless small form factor PC model LPC-480FS. The LPC-480FS is a highly reliable, fanless, energy efficient, rugged mini PC designed for a large variety of demanding applications. Stealth's LPC-480FS is a powerful diminutive computer that operates without noisy cooling fans which could draw in dirt and dust potentially causing catastrophic failures.
This is what a 1950s robot looks like
May 20, 2013 10:11 am | by Kasey Panetta, Managing Editor | Blogs | CommentsIt’s pretty crazy when you think about how far technology has come in the past five years, let alone the past 50 years. Recently, we talked about different humanoid robots, including DARPA’s PETMAN and the Alphadog Proto, a humanoid robot used to test protective clothing and a 4-legged battlefield companion, respectively.
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.
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
Embedded vision system allows remote switching of PoE status
May 15, 2013 10:57 am | Adlink Technology Inc. | Product Releases | CommentsADLINK Technology announced the release of its new EOS-1220 GigE Vision-compliant embedded vision system, featuring 3rd generation Intel Core i7 quad-core processors, four independent PoE (power over Ethernet) ports, full compatibility with GigE Vision cameras and support for smart PoE APIs, allowing remote switching of PoE status.
SMT advanced bus converter promises to save board space
May 13, 2013 2:34 pm | Ericsson Power Modules | Product Releases | CommentsEricsson introduced a new surface-mounted version of its second generation of digital Advanced Bus Converter (ABC) products, called the BMR456-SI. This high-efficiency, digitally controlled DC/DC converter is compliant to full surface-mount manufacturing processes, and
Kit helps developers gain fast entry into the world of embedded ARM processors
May 10, 2013 11:25 am | Kontron | Product Releases | CommentsKontron announced the ready-to-use SMARC Starterkit. The kit offers developers fast entry into the world of embedded ARM processors, which is now highly scalable owing to SMARC Computer-on-Modules. The kit comes in a sturdy transport case, has all the cables already connected and is
VITA 66.1 optical MT backplane interconnect system promises simplified VPX-architecture
May 6, 2013 12:32 pm | Molex Incorporated | Product Releases | CommentsMolex launched the VITA 66.1 ruggedized optical MT backplane interconnect solution for high-density aerospace, defense and commercial embedded system applications. Fully compliant with the ANSI-ratified 66.1 specification, the compact VITA 66.1 optical MT backplane solution is
Super-Junction MOSFETs add dedicated control input for increased switching efficiency
May 6, 2013 10:58 am | Stmicroelectronics | Product Releases | CommentsSTMicroelectronics introduced the first MDmesh V Super-Junction MOSFET featuring a new package technology that increases the efficiency of power circuitry in equipment such as white goods, televisions, PCs, telecom, and server switched-mode power supplies. The new TO247-4 4-lead package
App lets amputees skip office visit, take programming bionic limbs into their own hands
May 3, 2013 2:06 pm | by KATHY MATHESON Associated Press | News | CommentsDouble-amputee Jason Koger used to fly hundreds of miles to visit a clinician when he wanted to adjust the grips on his bionic hands. Now, he's got an app. Koger came to Philadelphia this week to demonstrate the i-limb ultra revolution, a prosthetic developed by the British firm Touch Bionics.
More than a game: Exploring new digital frontiers
May 3, 2013 2:03 pm | by Eurekalert! | News | CommentsA groundbreaking new initiative led by the University of York, with partners at Cass Business School, part of City University London and Durham University Business School, aims to unlock the potential for scientific and social benefits in digital games.
Robotic insects make first controlled flight
May 3, 2013 9:21 am | News | CommentsIn the very early hours of the morning, in a Harvard robotics laboratory last summer, an insect took flight. Half the size of a paperclip, weighing less than a tenth of a gram, it leapt a few inches, hovered for a moment on fragile, flapping wings, and then sped along a preset route through the air.
Bonding with your virtual self may alter your actual perceptions
May 2, 2013 2:28 pm | by Eurekalert! | News | CommentsWhen people create and modify their virtual reality avatars, the hardships faced by their alter egos can influence how they perceive virtual environments, according to researchers.A group of students who saw that a backpack was attached to an avatar that they had created overestimated the heights of virtual hills...
Tele-what? YouTube touts itself not as a TV alternative, but a new-generation video platform
May 2, 2013 9:35 am | by JAKE COYLE AP Entertainment Writer | News | CommentsYouTube vs. TV? YouTube says the battle - if there ever was one - is over. In a flashy presentation to advertisers Wednesday night, Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt declined to forecast that Internet video will displace television watching. Instead he declared: "That's already happened."
French industry minister denies country closed to foreign investment after vetoing Yahoo deal
May 2, 2013 9:31 am | by GREG KELLER Associated Press | News | CommentsThe French government has defended its veto over Yahoo Inc.'s attempted takeover of video sharing website Dailymotion, even as the move draws jeers for discouraging much needed foreign investment. Yahoo this week abandoned plans to take a 75 percent stake in Dailymotion, a deal sought by the managements of both companies, after the government blocked it.
Roboteq backs Raspberry PI-based Robot Navigation Computer project on Kickstarter
May 1, 2013 2:53 pm | Roboteq, Inc | Product Releases | CommentsRoboteq is collaborating on a kickstarter project named RIO (for Raspberry IO) and aimed at creating an intelligent I/O card that stacks over the $35 Raspberry PI Linux Single Board computer. The RIO card includes a rich set of I/O and connectivity features.
10 MUST READ posts from April
May 1, 2013 2:44 pm | by Kasey Panetta, Managing Editor | Blogs | CommentsHere’s a rundown of the most read, most popular, most awesome articles on the web. Take a look at what you missed the first time around or check up on an old favorite to see the conversation in the comments. Keep checking out the Lead at www.ecnmag.com and follow us on Twitter @ecnonline for our most up-to-date articles.
Smart protocol converter translates avionics messages in real-time
May 1, 2013 11:47 am | Product Releases | CommentsData Device Corporation (DDC) introduced the AceXtreme Bridge Device to translate avionics messages in real-time between MIL-STD-1553, ARINC 429, and Ethernet in any direction, without a host computer. With an onboard Intel Atom processor, two Ethernet channels, two
Carnegie Mellon develops zooming technique for entering text into smartwatches
May 1, 2013 11:07 am | by EurekAlert! | News | CommentsTechnology blogs have been abuzz that smartwatches may soon be on their way from companies such as Apple, Google, Samsung and Microsoft. But as capable as these ultra-small computers may be, how will users enter an address, a name, or a search term into them?
Slim, 2.5-inch, 5-mm hard drives and solid state hybrid drives tout solid state hybrid drive technology
April 30, 2013 5:26 pm | Western Digital | Product Releases | CommentsWD, a Western Digital company is shipping what it asserts are the world's first ultra-slim 2.5-inch, 5 mm hard drives and solid state hybrid drives (SSHD), which are designed for integration into the slimmest devices and space-constrained computing environments. With 500 GB of storage capacity and


