Newsletters
Low-profile, surface-mount power inductors suit high-frequency switching applications
April 12, 2013 12:47 pm | Murata Power Solutions Inc. | Product Releases | CommentsMurata announced the Murata Power Solutions 3000A and 3000B series of low-profile power inductors for use in noise reduction circuits of high-frequency and high-current switching power supplies, DC-DC converters, and voltage regulator modules.
Development kit includes connectors for Arduino-compatible shields and Digilent PMOD daughter cards
April 12, 2013 12:12 pm | Cypress | Product Releases | CommentsPremier Farnell and Cypress Semiconductor announced today that customers can now pre-order the new PSoC 4 Pioneer Development Kit from element14. The powerful new kit costs only $25, and lets designers discover the capabilities of the new PSoC 4 programmable system-on-chip architecture....
Iran invents “time machine,” beats Doc Brown to the punch
April 12, 2013 10:23 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsFrom the same folks who brought you the flying clown car comes this: An Iranian scientist claims to have invented a time machine. No, really. I cannot make this stuff up. Ali Razeghi registered "The Aryayek Time Traveling Machine" with the state-run Center for Strategic Inventions. He claims it can "predict five to eight years of the future life of any individual, with 98 percent accuracy"....
Ionizing gun designed for safe, effective contaminant removal for industrial applications
April 12, 2013 10:04 am | Product Releases | CommentsNRD is pleased to announce the launch of the new Clean Room Ionizing Gun, model P-2021-5942. Designed, assembled and packaged for use in a wide variety of clean room applications, the Clean Room Ionizing Gun utilizes NRD’s proprietary Alpha Ionizing technology, providing safe, durable and highly effective static and contaminant removal.
The nanny state should loosen its grip on cell phones
April 11, 2013 3:24 pm | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsWe’ve written a lot on ECN about automotive safety and its intersection with cutting-edge technology. Texting, Facebooking, and web surfing pose an existential concern for distracted drivers (not to mention pilots, train conductors, and boat captains), but the nanny state has really overreached on this one: A California court recently found a motorist guilty of distracted driving for checking a map on his iPhone.
Engineering Update #8: Glasses-free 3D and a near replacement for Knight Rider
April 11, 2013 10:04 am | Videos | CommentsA new screen protector from Nanovue, called the EyeFly, gives mobile devices a glasses-free 3D display. Made out of a thin, transparent film, the nano-engineered EyeFly is essentially a piece of plastic film with thousands of finite lenses on the surface that use nano-imprinting technology.
Who’s the fool? – Profound discoveries or elaborate pranks
April 11, 2013 9:44 am | by Chris Fox, Associate Editor, PD&D | Blogs | CommentsWe all know the old adage that surrounds the first day of April. We’ve all taken part in or fallen victim to an April Fools prank at some point. In the contemporary realm, April Fools has taken on an entirely different persona. April 1 used to be a day where the bully in school could yell out the hallmark and get away with tripping you in the hallway (kind of)....
Power analyzer enables precise current measurements on real-world signals
April 10, 2013 5:01 pm | Product Releases | CommentsTektronix announced its new precision multi-phase Power Analyzer. Featuring the industry’s first Spiral Shunt design (patent application submitted), the Tektronix PA4000 Power Analyzer gives power electronics engineers stable, precise current measurements even on highly distorted power waveforms common in many applications.
Ultrasonic sensors designed for gasflow measurement
April 10, 2013 4:38 pm | Morgan Electro Ceramics | Product Releases | CommentsMorgan Technical Ceramics (MTC) announces its new line of ultrasonic sensors for gasflow measurement, ideal for integrating into acoustic anemometry systems and SMART metering systems for measuring natural gas usage, as well as air-coupled level measurement of liquids and solids.
Processor blade delivers telecom-grade performance with optimum cost efficiency
April 10, 2013 3:17 pm | Adlink Technology | Product Releases | CommentsADLINK Technology rolls out the newest member of its AdvancedTCA blade family, the aTCA-9300. The aTCA-9300 delivers high performance, high-throughput connectivity, versatile and rich I/O, reliability at a cost-effective price, and is suitable for high-end applications such as network monitoring or media streaming.
Cellular router includes 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi connectivity technology
April 10, 2013 2:45 pm | B & B Electronics | Product Releases | CommentsB&B Electronics announces that it has added 802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi connectivity technology to its rugged SPECTRE 3G cellular router. Called the SPECTRE3G-W, this new wireless cellular router is a single box solution that provides local machine-to-machine (M2M) network connectivity via its built-in Wi-Fi Hotspot, Ethernet 10/100 and I/O ports....
Transformers meet UL5085 Class 2/3 requirements
April 10, 2013 2:28 pm | Triad Magnetics | Product Releases | CommentsWith its advanced flexible split pack, improved split bobbin design, Class F 155°C insulation system and TUV approval for world-wide use, the next-generation –C2 Models F and FS PC Mount Split Pack Transformers from Triad Magnetics set a new industry standard in this product category.
Power modules deliver a 500W output from an 85VAC to 264VAC input
April 10, 2013 10:45 am | Product Releases | CommentsPowerstax introduces the FAC series of baseplate-cooled power modules with a ultra-slim ½U height form factor. Featuring power factor correction, these compact (2.2cm x 17.5cm x 18.0cm) units can deliver a 500W output from an 85VAC to 264VAC input.
Tool provides CCM and buck LED driver designs in under a minute
April 10, 2013 10:31 am | Fairchild Semiconductor | Product Releases | CommentsFairchild Semiconductor’s Power Supply WebDesigner design and simulation tool provides complete designs in under a minute and includes complete continuous conduction mode (CCM), non-isolated active PFC buck and buck LED driver designs. From user-specified design inputs, the
HotSpot Episode 7: The future of Apple's iPhone
April 10, 2013 9:23 am | Videos | CommentsA new release by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office might just provide a glimpse of the future of Apple's popular iPhone handset. The product detailed in the patent, features a flexible AMOLED display "rolled up" and placed inside a conical transparent enclosure.
Tactile switch rated to 10 million life cycles
April 9, 2013 5:07 pm | E-Switch | Product Releases | CommentsE-Switch announces a new long life sealed tactile switch, the TL6200. The TL6200 series tact switch offers a long operating life of 10 million cycles and is rated to IP67 standards. This tact switch comes in both SMT (gullwing) and thru hole termination options, and offers multiple actuator lengths.
LED backlight delivers 8,640 lumens
April 9, 2013 4:48 pm | Larson Electronics Llc | Product Releases | CommentsLarson Electronics Magnalight announced the addition of a magnetically mounted LED back light for commercial and industrial applications. The WAL-M-3X48LED-120 features three positional LED light heads, delivering 8,640 lumens, anchored by a stout aluminum frame and 600 pounds of magnetic grip.
Round LEDs provide efficient match for circular optical systems and narrow beam projectors
April 9, 2013 4:39 pm | Mouser Electronics, Luminus Devices, Inc. | Product Releases | CommentsMouser Electronics announced it is stocking the world’s first round LED, the CBT-140 Big Chip Round LEDs from Luminus Devices. This new round emitting aperture provides the most efficient match for circular optical systems and narrow beam projectors.
Navy Laser Weapon System (LaWS) video
April 9, 2013 3:46 pm | Videos | CommentsNavy Laser Weapon System (LaWS) PR Video describes the history and capabilities of their new shipboard laser. It's a bit cheesy and a bit '80s (not that that's a bad thing), but it's very informative. Successful test events at China Lake and San Nicholas Island.
Star Wars on the high seas: Navy plans to deploy shipboard laser by 2014
April 9, 2013 3:35 pm | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsSome bad news for Sci-Fi fans: The Navy’s new shipboard laser system, Laser Weapon System (LaWS), won't shoot spiffy beams of light of the sort used to kill stormtroopers, Cylons, and Klingons. But it will fire a focused infrared laser that can down drones, disable small boats, and — in the future — engage missiles and enemy jets.
The creepiest robot yet
April 9, 2013 2:28 pm | by Kasey Panetta, Managing Editor | Blogs | CommentsThere is an interesting inverse phenomenon involved in creating humanoid robots: The more lifelike they are, the creepier they become. It’s not something that makes complete sense if you think about it. Theoretically, as robots become more human-like, they should begin to blend more into society and become less weird.
IP68 connector capable of 22 amps at 600 volts
April 9, 2013 11:44 am | Anderson Power Products | Product Releases | CommentsAnderson Power Products introduces the 3 Position Mini PL connector. This compact, environmentally sealed (IP68) connector is capable of 22 amps at 600 volts (UL). The 3 Position Mini PL connector features a manual release latch to prevent accidental un-mating and is touch safe on both sides....
Linear rail includes integrated IDEA drive
April 9, 2013 11:35 am | Haydon Kerk Motion Solutions | Product Releases | CommentsHaydon Kerk Motion Solutions has introduced the latest addition to its new BGS (Ball Guide Screw) linear rail product line. The BGS06 linear rail with the integrated IDEA Drive is a versatile system utilizing the popular size 17 single stack or double stack stepper motor linear actuator with an integrated and fully programmable stepper motor controller.
LCD, LED, Plasma, OLED TVs as fast as possible
April 9, 2013 8:56 am | Videos | CommentsLCD, LED, Plasma, OLED - These terms get uses by sales people at your local TV store, but do you REALLY understand what they mean? Learn the basics in under 3 minutes! Linus Sebastian of Techquickie gives a good primer on these common display technologies.
Programmable device includes 32-Gbps transceiver capabilities, an industry first
April 8, 2013 4:23 pm | Altera | Product Releases | CommentsAltera Corporation announced the company achieved another significant milestone in transceiver technology by demonstrating the industry’s first programmable device with 32-Gbps transceiver capabilities. The demonstration uses a 20 nm device based on TSMC’s 20SoC process technology.
