Newsletters
Security in Wireless Networks
April 20, 2010 5:06 am | by Joe Tillison, Technology Director, Wireless Sensor Networks, Avnet Electronics Marketing | Articles | CommentsIn March the Associated Press ran a story about security vulnerabilities in smart meters based on the research of InGuardians, Inc. The article highlighted the Achilles heel of any secure wireless system; the inadequate safeguarding of the security keys themselves.
Energy 103 - Our Major Source
April 20, 2010 5:06 am | by by Prof. Ken Johnson, Ret. | Blogs | CommentsThere is no doubt the primary source of the Earth’s energy has been and continues to be the Sun (officially called Sol).
Microchip Reference Implementation for Google PowerMeter
April 19, 2010 5:33 am | Videos | CommentsThis is a live demonstration of device activation, data transmission and Web viewing for Google PowerMeter using Microchips reference implementation.
OCXO Touts Low Power Consumption, Space Savings
April 16, 2010 11:13 am | Product Releases | CommentsValpey Fisher Corporation added the VFOV600 to its OCXO product line. The oscillator uses AT-Cut crystal technology to provide desirable performance. At 600 milliwatts the VFOV600 consumes
Battery Holder Includes Wall-PCB-Chassis Mounting Option
April 16, 2010 10:42 am | Product Releases | CommentsMemory Protection Devices introduced part number BK-6089 for holding 6 AA batteries. The units offer 9 V output with 6 AA alkaline batteries in series and 7.2 V with rechargeable batteries. The sliding cover has one large snap locking tab on the front and two small tabs at the rear. Allowing for
Content Adaptive LCD Backlight Control
April 16, 2010 10:11 am | by Ananth Sankar, VP of Technology, Moxair | Articles | CommentsLCD displays are widely used in cell phones, personal media players, internet tablet PCs, laptops, and large-screen TV sets. These displays account for a major part of the power consumed by these devices. For example, a mobile phone screen may consume upwards of 40% of the system power, while in a large-screen TV, the display may consume 70% or more of the system power.
Advances in Touch Controller Technology
April 16, 2010 8:53 am | by Ian Crosby, Sales and Marketing Director, Zytronic | Articles | CommentsThe touchscreen is rapidly becoming the user interface technology of choice in applications ranging from retail, industrial and automotive, to medical, digital signage and gaming. Their growing popularity has been fuelled in part by the phenomenal success of the iPhone and its highly user-friendly, all touchscreen controls...
Key Benefits of Next-Gen UV-LED Tech
April 16, 2010 8:33 am | by Richard Halliday, Director of Sales and Marketing, Lumex | Articles | CommentsDespite the potential hazards of ultraviolet light, the UV spectrum is proving to have many beneficial effects in a multitude of areas, offering a wide range of advantages to a diverse number of applications.
800-W AC-to-DC Converter Drives Amps in IFF Systems
April 16, 2010 8:26 am | Product Releases | CommentsBC Systems introduced the BC-751, an 800 W AC/DC converter with eight outputs to provide power for solid-state RF amplifiers in airborne Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) applications. The converter accepts a three-phase 155 VAC, 400 Hz input with a power factor of
Step Motor Drives Engineered for Machine Builders
April 16, 2010 8:14 am | Product Releases | CommentsApplied Motion Products introduces the STR, a drive engineered for machine builders. The STR step motor drives, available in 4 amp and 8 amp versions, are DC input drives requiring a step and direction control signal. They feature Anti-resonance, Microstep Emulation and Idle Current Reduction.
Servo Drives Support OEM Applications
April 16, 2010 8:09 am | Product Releases | CommentsSV Servo Drives present a servo controller in a compact cost effective package. This DC input drive is loaded with features and options to make it a great choice for many OEM applications. SV drives can be controlled via an analog signal or step and direction inputs.
Rugged Power Converter For Subsea Environments
April 16, 2010 7:00 am | Product Releases | CommentsSchaefer, Inc., a manufacturer of robust and reliable power supplies, announces a new power converter which is ideal for subsea mineral exploration or other deep sea applications. This subsea power converter showcases Schaefer’s technical and engineering capabilities, providing solutions for unique and demanding applications in harsh or remote locations.
FCC's National Broadband Plan - Are the Goals Achievable?
April 16, 2010 6:18 am | by Nancy Maas, Editor-in-Chief, WDD | Blogs | CommentsThe FCC recently unveiled its National Broadband Plan outlining specific recommendations to ensure that every American and business has access to affordable mobile broadband.
Low-Cost Single-Chip Embedded Digital Video Recorder Solution for Video Surveillance
April 15, 2010 12:49 pm | by Anshuman Saxena, Senior Technical Lead Engineer, Texas Instruments, (anshuman@ti.com) | Articles | CommentsDigital video recorders (DVRs) take the analog video input from closed circuit televisions (CCTVs), digitize the input using video decoders and then compress this digital data before storing it on a local storage media like hard disk. The critical advantage that DVRs give over tape-based predecessors is that one can process the recorded data much better and perform event search, time search and more to play back specific content.
VPT Adds New Modules to DC-DC Power Converter Series
April 15, 2010 11:17 am | Product Releases | CommentsVPT, Inc. announced that several new modules are available for the DVFL, DVTR, and DVHF Series DC-DC power converter product lines. The new output voltages on these modules satisfy the reliability requirements and varying output voltage needs of the newest avionics and military electronics.
ASI’s New Heavy-Duty Connectors
April 15, 2010 11:10 am | Product Releases | CommentsAutomation Systems Interconnect just released a new line of heavy-duty connectors. These cost effective industrial connectors are comprised of a cable hoods with top or side entry, panel or surface mount housing, male and female inserts (with or without contacts).
AC-to-DC Converter Drives Amplifiers in IFF Systems
April 15, 2010 11:05 am | Product Releases | CommentsBC Systems introduced the BC-751, an 800 W AC-to-DC converter with eight outputs that is designed to provide power for solid-state RF amplifiers in airborne Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) applications. The BC-751 accepts a three-phase 155 VAC, 400 Hz input with a power factor of at least 0.88 and maximum inrush current of less than 13 A, and has overall efficiency of 77%.
Miniature Panel Mount Keylock Switches Suit Medium Security Apps
April 15, 2010 10:58 am | Product Releases | CommentsNKK Switches announced the availability of the SK Series of miniature panel mount keylock switches. Offered in either a two- or three-tumbler configuration, SK Series switches are appropriate for designs requiring
Review: Mobile Browsers Challenge Safari’s Dominance
April 15, 2010 10:41 am | by Jason Lomberg, Technical Editor | Blogs | CommentsFor years, Apple rejected iPhone apps for “duplicate functionality.” Thus, well-reviewed apps like MailWrangler (which duplicated the iPhone’s built-in mail app) and Podcaster (which duplicated iTunes’ podcast functionality) were forthwith denied. Surprisingly, Apple recently approved a slew of browser apps.
FPGA-based 6U SBC Offers Triple Redundancy
April 15, 2010 9:08 am | Product Releases | CommentsMEN Micro offers a 6U FPGA-based, triple-redundant D602 cPCI SBC that uses a lock-step architecture to make the board appropriate for highly mission-critical applications. The lock-step architecture provides a redundant computing system that
Embedded RISC Computer Touts Compact, Rugged Package
April 15, 2010 7:30 am | Product Releases | CommentsSealevel’s Relio R9 is an application-ready platform for embedded applications requiring small size, wide operating temperature range, and flexible I/O connectivity. The I/O features of the Relio R9 are said to extend
Kits for Kids
April 15, 2010 7:10 am | by Jon Titus, Senior Technical Editor | Articles | CommentsAs a teenager, I built many "computer" circuits with relays and switches. As I recall, a flip-flop took two 2PDT relays and a binary adder took two 4PDT relays in my brute-force logic circuit. Kids today can get started exploring computers more easily.
Analog Front-End Design for ECG Systems using Delta-Sigma ADCs
April 15, 2010 6:45 am | by Karthik Soundarapandian & Mark Berarducci, Texas Instruments | Articles | CommentsElectrocardiogram (ECG) system analog front-end (AFE) devices are typically designed with discrete off-the-shelf components from various semiconductor vendors. The primary components of a traditional discrete ECG AFE include instrumentation amplifiers, operational amplifiers that implement active filters, and analog-to-digital converters (ADCs).
Data Acquisition and Display Station Is Optimized for Pharmaceutical Apps
April 15, 2010 6:43 am | Product Releases | CommentsYokogawa’s DXAdvanced R4 has been added to the company’s DAQSTATION family data acquisition and display stations. Standard high capacity memory and a new option for stringent pharmaceutical applications are new features. The Advanced Security option delivers
.050” SMT Sockets and Headers Suit Low Profile IO Apps
April 15, 2010 6:37 am | Product Releases | CommentsMill-Max offers a choice between .050” (1.270 mm) and .100” (2.540 mm) grid horizontal Z-Bend sockets and receptacles. For low profile IO applications, these SMT SIP socket and header strips are assembled parallel to their board surface. They are appropriate for
