Features
Designing a smart TV remote using a 2.4GHz RF radio
January 15, 2013 10:13 am | by RamaSai Krishna Vakkantula, Cypress | Cypress | Articles | CommentsToday’s television manufacturers are designing televisions that are smart and have the ability to connect to the Internet so that users can browse web content and socialize. Usually these smart TVs are mounted on the wall and all other entertainment equipment islocated behind the closed doors of an entertainment center.
Are we running out of wind?
January 15, 2013 8:53 am | by M. Simon, Technical Contributor | Blogs | CommentsThe first mate gave me a heads-up about about the state of wind energy locally. Gamesa USA is pulling out of a proposed wind farm development in Ogle County, Illinois. saukvalley.com reports....
Why dual-mode Bluetooth makes sense
January 4, 2013 10:23 am | by Dana Myers, channel marketing manager, Wireless Connectivity Solutions, Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments | Articles | CommentsTraditionally, Bluetooth has been associated with hands-free calling and peripheral applications requiring short-range wireless connectivity. After the introduction of the Bluetooth v4.0specification in 2010, which standardized Bluetooth low energy operation, a large amount of the industry buzz has been on Bluetooth low energy applications....
Would you like to contribute to our Brainstorm section?
January 2, 2013 4:50 pm | by Kasey Panetta, Associate Editor | Blogs | CommentsWe here at ECN love to hear what you have to say, so for our February issue we’re opening up the Brainstorm discussion to our faithful readers. We want to hear your thoughts about consumer electronics and the future of technology. Typically, the Brainstorm is an editorial section consisting of short commentary....
Out with the old, in with the new: Enabling the proliferation of large-area touch devices with transparent conductive materials
December 20, 2012 1:52 pm | by John LeMoncheck, President and CEO of Cambrios Technologies for ECN | Articles | CommentsWhat trends and technologies have impacted the industry in 2012 and what does that mean for 2013? The release of Windows 8 is revolutionizing the projected capacitive touch device market, increasing the already capacity constrained demand for large area touch screens.
The challenges of miniaturization
December 20, 2012 1:16 pm | by Bruno Fauvel, Segment Manager, Portescap | Portescap | Articles | CommentsWith miniaturization often comes the challenge to produce the same amount of work as in large design, thus creating more power in a smaller envelope. Engineers should look at the different impact of dimension on motor performance criteria (efficiency, power, thermal dissipation, inertia, etc.).
Stepper designed for energy-efficient, environmentally conscious devices
December 18, 2012 10:39 am | Product Releases | CommentsCanon U.S.A. recently launched sales of the new FPA-3030i5+ i-line stepper. The FPA-3030i5+ is designed to provide a long-term manufacturing solution for manufacturers of energy-efficient, environmentally conscious devices including Light-Emitting Diodes (LEDs),MicroElectroMechanical Systems (MEMS) and power semiconductors.
Design electronics for cold environments
December 17, 2012 4:14 pm | by Jon Titus, Technical Contributor | Articles | CommentsEngineers at Agilent Technologies found a need for a digital multimeter (DMM) technicians and electricians could use in cold environments. "I went to college in Canada where temperatures often got down to below -20°C," said Boon Juan Tan, R&D manager in Agilent's Basic Instruments Division.
Significant challenges remain for miniaturization of devices
December 14, 2012 4:20 pm | by AJ Smith, Honeywell Sensing and Control | Honeywell Sensing And Control | Articles | CommentsDevice miniaturization is integral to the design and development of a wide range of medical devices, including analytical test equipment, ventilators, and infusion pumps. Making devices smaller and lighter helps conserve valuable real estate in patient rooms, enabling equipment to be placed closer to the patient as well as allowing more space for medical professionals to work.
Augmented reality helps retailers get personal
December 14, 2012 12:16 pm | by Chris Warner, Executive Editor | Articles | CommentsWe’ve all been there. You’re shopping at your favorite store, perhaps running an errand for someone else. But in order to make the purchase, you need to know if it’s right for you. The sales associate is busy helping someone else, or they may be missing in action. You just need the details about the product so you can get it right the first time without having to return it later....
MCU tools help estimate and minimize power use
December 12, 2012 9:58 am | by Jon Titus, Technical Contributor | Silicon Laboratories Inc. | Articles | CommentsJosh Norem, an application engineer at Silicon Laboratories, gave me a demonstration of the company's Power Estimator tool available within the larger, free AppBuilder software. The Power Estimator tool now covers the SIM3L1XX Device, although Silicon Labs plans to add sleep-mode power conditions and other MCUs soon.
Laser-structured, high-performance polymers are ideal combination for miniaturization
December 6, 2012 4:15 pm | by Anthony Verrocchi, Technical Marketing Engineer, Ticona Engineering Polymers | Articles | CommentsAs the requirements for medical devices become more demanding, accessing new technologies and materials to miniaturize components is essential. Miniaturization of medical devices is dependent upon the reliability of their assembled components, which is crucial for proper functioning devices.
Retailers employ crony capitalism in push for online sales tax
December 5, 2012 5:11 pm | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Articles | CommentsThe Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA) has written a letter to Congress urging them to pass the Marketplace Fairness Act by the end of the year. This "e-fairness legislation" would allegedly "close the decades-old loophole enjoyed by online-only retailers" and "restore free market principles."
LCD TVs get dimmer to lower backlight costs
December 3, 2012 1:59 pm | by Jimmy Kim, NPD DisplaySearch | Articles | CommentsHistorically, TVs have had brightness higher than 400 nits, as they are often placed in the center of a large, bright, room and viewed from large distances and viewing angles. In some cases, however it is placed in sunlight, close to a window. On the other hand, display brightness of less than 300 nits is typically sufficient for an IT device....
Roundtable: Predictions for 2013
November 29, 2012 3:20 pm | Articles | CommentsExperts in the industry weight in on the question: What trends and technologies have impacted the industry in 2012 and what does that mean for 2013? In their responses the industry experts talk about LEDs, chips and what will be coming up in the next year.
Highly-integrated front end module intended for smart metering/smart energy and ISM band applications
November 26, 2012 11:40 am | Product Releases | CommentsRF Micro Devices announced the availability of the RFFM6903 front end module (FEM). RFMD's highly-integrated RFFM6903 FEM meets or exceeds the system requirements for AMI/AMR smart meter applications operating in the 868MHz–960MHz frequency band.
7 things I am thankful for...
November 20, 2012 3:21 pm | by Kasey Panetta, Associate Editor | Articles | CommentsWhen I was little, at some point during the Thanksgiving season we would write down things we were thankful for. It was usually at school, written on a turkey that I’d made by outlining my hand, and it was usually things like candy, puppies, family, food, and probably whatever else was in my direct line of sight while I was writing.
Top 5 free apps for the holiday season
November 20, 2012 9:22 am | by Kasey Panetta, Associate Editor | Articles | CommentsBack in the dog days of summer, we offered up a list of the 6 must-have apps for a stress-free summer. It was all about keeping kids distracted, watching your spending, and utilizing apps that got you to the relaxation phase faster.Now we’ve entered a season that can feel entirely the opposite of relaxing: holiday season
This watch could save your kid’s life
November 19, 2012 11:35 am | by Kasey Panetta, Associate Editor | Articles | CommentsIf you’ve ever felt that heart-in-throat, hyperventilating, out-of-body feeling of not being able to find your kid in a park or after school, only to have her reappear after a few seconds of mind-numbing panic, you can understand why someone would want to invent a Lojack for children.
In defense of the Tesla Model S
November 19, 2012 9:10 am | by Kasey Panetta, Associate Editor | Articles | CommentsWhen Motor Trend announced an electric car was their pick for Car of the Year, something tells me you could have heard a pin drop in the car world. An electric car? They must have rigged the vote.Well, my friends, I hate to break it to you, but Consumer Reports just agreed with Motor Trend,
Greatest advertising technique of all time (Hint: Involves urinals)
November 15, 2012 4:18 pm | by Kasey Panetta, Associate Editor | Articles | CommentsHere at ECN, we often talk about alternative energy options. Sometimes it’s solar power, other times wind power, and occasionally we dabble in the world of electric cars. But there is one energy option we’ve been sorely remiss in covering: pee-power.
Roundtable: What must designers of portable devices do to deal with power and performance demands?
November 12, 2012 11:57 am | Articles | CommentsExperts in the power industry weight in on the question: What must designers of portable devices do to keep pace with increased power and performance demands? In their responses the industry experts talk about the future of portable devices and the design changes necessary to power them.
Do you have what it takes to be a Roundtable expert?
November 8, 2012 11:11 am | Articles | CommentsIn October, we asked you for your words of wisdom for a brand-new design engineer and boy, did you guys have advice in spades. The responses we received were so good in fact, we’ve decided to open up our December Roundtable to our faithful readers in hopes that you can offer more words of wisdom.
Do ultracapacitors make wind energy a sustainable option?
November 5, 2012 12:27 pm | by Kasey Panetta, Associate Editor | Articles | CommentsThe idea of using wind to create energy isn’t exactly new. The first examples can be traced back to 200 B.C. in Persia – a creation of Heron of Alexandria. That particular device simply harnessed the wind to power a machine, so a case could be made that the first real windmills were built a little bit later, in the 7th century in Sistan, modern day Iran.
PTS, Inc. to develop "Green Energy Park"
November 2, 2012 12:47 pm | by The Associated Press | News | CommentsPts Inc. is pleased to announce signing Memorandum of Understanding with Green Renewable Technology, Inc. to be part of the effort to clean and protect the environment and produce low cost renewable energy. United Waste and GRT look to generate electricity through various clean technologies.
