Industrial
Handheld digital microscopes bring versatility, affordability to video inspection
May 23, 2013 3:11 pm | by Jim Norton, Custom Products & Services, Inc., www.custom-products.com | Blogs | CommentsIn recent years, many electronics manufacturers have been adopting the use of video inspection systems utilizing digital cameras to perform many of the visual inspection functions formerly performed with optical microscopes. Digital camera technology has improved to the point where their image quality now rivals
Pressure sensors ensure optimal operations of safety trailers used on remote sites
May 23, 2013 12:31 pm | Product Releases | CommentsAmerican Sensor Technologies (AST) pressure sensors are serving as components in a remote monitoring system that ensures optimal operations of safety trailers used on remote sites as emergency first aid stations. Mining, construction, oil fields and other industrial sites are often located miles away from medical facilities.
Data acquisition module ideal for high-power applications
May 23, 2013 12:17 pm | Product Releases | CommentsICP DAS USA has introduced M-7069D, a Modbus RTU based data acquisition module with 8 LED indicators that can be used to monitor the relay output status. Options are provided that allow power-on and safe digital output values to be configured. 4 kV ESD, 4 kV EFT and 3 kV surge protection are provided to enhance noise protection capabilities in industrial environments.
SPI digital potentiometers operate at 10, 12, 18, 24, 36 volts
May 22, 2013 4:26 pm | Microchip Technology Inc. | Product Releases | CommentsMicrochip Technology Inc. announced two new volatile, SPI digital potentiometers (digipots)—the MCP41HV31 and MCP41HV51 (MCP41HVXX)—its first to operate at 10, 12, 18, 24 and particularly 36 volts, for systems requiring wide signal swing or high power-supply voltages.
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
MOSFETs support a maximum current of 6A
May 22, 2013 11:27 am | Advanced Power Electronics Corp. | Product Releases | CommentsAdvanced Power Electronics Corp. (USA), a leading Taiwanese manufacturer of MOS power semiconductors for DC-DC power conversion applications, has announced a miniature, ultra-low on-resistance 6A dual load switch. Comprising two N-channel MOSFETs with associated control circuitry, the APE8990-3 has an RDS(ON) of 20mΩ and controlled turn on functionality.
Industrial-grade safety disc capacitors offer reliable operation up to 125 degrees celsius
May 22, 2013 10:08 am | Kemet Electronics Corporation | Product Releases | CommentsKEMET Corporation announced the release of the new Radial Through Hole Ceramic Safety Disc Capacitors. KEMET's 900 Series encapsulated radial through-hole ceramic disc capacitors are specifically designed for interference-suppression AC line filtering applications.
What steps are necessary to keep counterfeit components out of the supply chain?
May 21, 2013 3:36 pm | Articles | CommentsWhat steps are necessary to keep counterfeit components out of the supply chain? Are more industry standards needed? Stop having unrealistic pricing expectations. Understand and qualify quality vendors of all kinds. Allocations and obsolescence are part of our industry....
Certifying industrial systems using IEC 61508
May 21, 2013 10:52 am | by Shrikant Satyanarayan, LDRA, Inc., www.ldra.com | Ldra Technology, Inc | Articles | CommentsThe IEC 61508 standard is a risk-based approach for determining the SIL (Safety Integrity Level) of safety instrumented functions. If computer system technology is to be effectively and safely exploited, it is essential that the available guidance on these safety-related aspects is adequate to make correct decisions.
Explosion-proof pressure transducer designed for oil and gas well-site applications
May 20, 2013 1:54 pm | Product Releases | CommentsAmerican Sensor Technologies has released the AST46DS Explosion-Proof Pressure Transducer with Display with pressures from 1 to 20,000 PSI available. The AST46DS is a price-competitive transducer with zero function capability, voltage or 4-20mA output signals, and all 316L stainless steel sensor materials.
Nickel-based energy storage system provides long life in high temperature
May 17, 2013 4:39 pm | Varta Microbattery | Product Releases | CommentsAnnounced today by VARTA Microbatteryis the addition of HVCAP35, a Nickel (Ni) based energy storage system to the V-Cap Series. VARTA Microbattery's new Ni based energy storage system is a hybrid technology that combines the high energy density advantage of batteries, with the high power advantage of supercapacitors.
Module designed for high-speed data aquisition, generation
May 17, 2013 2:35 pm | Product Releases | CommentsTEWS TECHNOLOGIES announced the introduction of the TPMC685, a standard single-width 32 bit PMC module offering up to 128 bit of TTL I/O arranged in 16 x 8 bit ports. Designed for high-speed data acquisition and generation, the TPMC685 is ideal for applications in process control, simulation, test, transportation, and COTS.
MCU family expands to include intelligent analog and core-dependent peripherals
May 16, 2013 3:06 pm | Microchip Technology Inc. | Product Releases | CommentsMicrochip Technology Inc. expanded its 8-bit PIC16F178X enhanced Mid-Range core microcontroller (MCU) family with increased Flash memory densities, intelligent analog and digital peripherals, such as on-chip 12-bit analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), 16-bit
Dealing with counterfeits in the market
May 16, 2013 2:53 pm | by George Karalias, Director of Marketing & Communications, Rochester Electronics | Blogs | CommentsCounterfeiters are adaptable and constantly incorporating solutions that can void the latest countermeasures adopted by the electronics manufacturers and their supply chain. In some cases, the counterfeits are very hard to differentiate from the original component.
What improvements would you like to see from distributors in the next 12 months?
May 16, 2013 2:29 pm | Articles | CommentsWe asked our industry experts and ECN readers to weigh in on our distributors question: What improvements would you like to see from distributors in the next 12 months? Here is what they had to say about the current state of the industry and hot it needs to be improved...
Precision Resistors: From the drawing board to reality
May 16, 2013 2:18 pm | by Yuval Hernik, Director Application Engineering, Vishay Precision Group (VPG), www.vishaypg.com | Articles | CommentsCommercial and military aircraft manufacturers are promoting the replacement of older hydraulic and pneumatic control systems by lighter and more efficient, electrically-driven systems through a trend known as MEA, or More Electric Aircraft.
Hybrid capacitor characteristics, performance, and applications
May 16, 2013 2:15 pm | by David A. Evans, Evans Capacitor Company, www.evanscap.com | Articles | CommentsAn electrolytic capacitor has two electrodes, one with a dielectric, that relies on electrostatic charge storage. A battery has electrodes that store energy faradaically in electrochemical reactions involving the electrodes and electrolyte. A hybrid capacitor is the combination of two electrodes, one that stores charge electrostatically, and the other storing charge faradaically.
Smart electronics reduce energy consumption and improve performance of piezoelectric ultrasonic motors
May 16, 2013 2:10 pm | by David Henderson, co-CEO, New Scale Technologies, Inc., www.newscaletech.com | Articles | CommentsPiezoelectric ultrasonic motors (piezo motors) are a distinct class of rotary and linear actuators requiring unique driving circuits to achieve practical, reliable, precise and efficient operation. A piezo motor uses the ultrasonic vibrations (greater than 20 kHz) of a “stator” structure that is frictionally coupled to a moving slide or rotating shaft. Piezo motors with operating frequencies from 40 to 700 kHz are commercially available.
Simplifying BLDC motor control: A tailored solution delivers precision and efficiency
May 16, 2013 2:04 pm | by Wen Chien, Fairchild Semiconductor www.fairchildsemi.com | Articles | CommentsFrom the small vibrating motors in cell phones to the more complex motors used in household washing machines and air conditioners, motors have become everyday fixtures in the consumer world. The energy consumed by all these motors is significant...
IDC connectors intended for harsh commercial, industrial, and energy applications
May 16, 2013 12:54 pm | Avx Corporation | Product Releases | CommentsAVX Corporation has introduced the latest iteration of its wire-to-board (WTB) insulation displacement contact (IDC) technology. Designed to provide a gas-tight, plated through-hole WTB termination, the new 9177-600 Series is compatible with the rugged power boards used to handle larger wire gauges and more amps per contact....
Waterproof electronic enclosure family adds four new sizes
May 15, 2013 4:05 pm | Polycase | Product Releases | CommentsPolycase’s NEMA 4X rated WA, WC and WP Series of waterproof electronic enclosures has expanded to include four new enclosure sizes. Ranging from 2.28” x 2.52” to 14.12” x 7.84”, the plastic enclosures now host 17 different size options. The WA, WC, and WP Series are UL listed to UL508-4X and meet
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
Controller designed for aerospace, industrial, and laboratory applications
May 14, 2013 10:44 am | Highland Technology | Product Releases | CommentsHighland Technology announces the release of the V120 VME PCI Express Crate Controller for aerospace, industrial, and laboratory application. The V120 is a VME bus master crate controller, usable as a crate slot 0 arbiter or as a secondary controller. Each PCI Express cable driver board, in a PC backplane, can drive one or two V120s over standard, flexible PCI Express cable assemblies....
Universal, digital sensor output driver includes 3.3-V sensor supply
May 13, 2013 3:22 pm | Product Releases | CommentsThe icHaus universal digital output driver iC-DX3/DXC3 enables compact sensors to be equipped with NPN, PNP, push-pull, and IO link-compatible output driver options. From an input voltage of 8 V to 30 V an integrated linear regulator provides the sensor electronics with a stable +3.3 V voltage and 10 mA
Encoders and inclinometers have J1939 interface
May 10, 2013 10:52 am | Fraba / Posital | Product Releases | CommentsPOSITAL announced its inclinometers and absolute rotary encoders are available with J1939 communications interfaces. (The J1939 protocol was developed by the Society of Automotive Engineers for use in heavy vehicles such as trucks, buses, fire trucks and construction machinery. The protocol
