Newsletters
Kickstarter of the Week: The bread & butter of engineering
June 11, 2013 9:46 am | Videos | CommentsToday on PD&D's Kickstarter of the Week, we're experimenting with the Crowfie, a user interface panel that makes it easy to test and develop your software code and electronics interfaces. The Crowfie is a user interface panel between you and your microcontroller, electronics, robotics drive systems, and actuators.
Multilayer chip capacitors include a working voltage up to 3kV DC
June 11, 2013 9:30 am | Product Releases | CommentsSyfer Technology has expanded its X8R dielectric range of multilayer chip capacitors (MLCCs). The range has been extended, from a working voltage of 250V DC, up to 3kV DC and will now be available in capacitance values from 270pF to 1.8µF, with tolerances of ±5%, 10% and 20% dependant on C/V value.
Broadband sub-harmonic pumped mixer designed for cost-sensitive applications
June 10, 2013 4:58 pm | M/A-Com Technology Solutions, Inc. | Product Releases | CommentsM/A-COM Technology Solutions introduced a new Broadband Sub-Harmonic Pumped Mixer for cost sensitive applications covering the 14-32 GHz frequency range and IF frequencies from DC-7 GHz. The MAMX-011009 is packaged in an ultra small 1.5x1.2 mm TDFN surface mount, allowing customers an easy, efficient and space-saving broadband solution.
Development board designed to work with a range of key applications
June 10, 2013 4:35 pm | Newark | Product Releases | CommentsNewark element14 today announced the launch of its multi MEMS development board for Xtrinsic sensors, a low-cost enablement solution that allows designers to easily understand and test the latest sensing technologies with a next generation accelerometer, pressure sensor and a magnetometer to measure motion....
The rising demands and requirements of wearable soldier systems
June 10, 2013 4:18 pm | by Wes Morgan, Director, Product Management, Americas at ITT Interconnect Solutions | Articles | CommentsModern soldiers require state-of-the-art innovations, particularly when integrating connectors within advanced Wearable Soldier Systems (WSS). Key requirements for wearable soldier electronics are: increased situational awareness, increased weapons effectiveness, and increased individual agility.
The everyday usefulness of the problem statement
June 10, 2013 1:32 pm | by Alan Nicol, Executive Member, AlanNicolSolutions | Blogs | CommentsLast week, I wrote about how our continuous improvement and process improvement tools and methods can be used any time and discussed the Parameter Diagram or P-diagram as an example. Let’s continue that thread and look at the ubiquitous usefulness of the problem statement.
New option for thermoelectrically cooled electronic enclosures makes washdowns fast and easy
June 10, 2013 1:26 pm | Product Releases | CommentsEIC Solutions has announced the new M74 clean out modification option which facilitates washdown of thermoelectric coolers mounted to electronic enclosures. The M74 option was application-driven arising from suggestions received from customers in food processing, and other process industries requiring frequent rinsing or washing of equipment.
Magnetic-mount LED flood light features 600lbs of grip
June 10, 2013 1:09 pm | Larson Electronics Llc | Product Releases | CommentsLarson Electronics has announced release of a highly versatile pedestal light that has been built to provide maximum versatility in a compact yet powerful work light design. The WAL-M-LED60-120 LED work light features a heavy duty aluminum pedestal base with 600lbs of magnetic mounting grip....
Ethernet media converter transmits data up to 100Km
June 10, 2013 12:56 pm | B & B Electronics | Product Releases | CommentsB&B Electronics Manufacturing Company released its iMcV-Giga FiberLinX-III gigabit intelligent Ethernet media converter. This highly anticipated third generation of the company’s successful FiberLinX family is a 10/100/1000Mbps copper to 1000Mbps fiber device, converting existing copper wiring-based networks to fiber optics.
Is this the connected home’s wave of the future?
June 10, 2013 12:44 pm | by Chris Warner, Executive Editor | Blogs | CommentsHere’s some news that will make couch potatoes everywhere rejoice: Computer scientists at the University of Washington have come up with a sensorless and cameraless way to detect human movements, allowing for gesture control of their electronics and household appliances.
Yes, manufacturing is back in the U.S.
June 10, 2013 10:56 am | by Harry Moser, Contributor | Blogs | CommentsPD&D Executive Editor David Mantey recently published the article “Is It Possible to Bring Manufacturing Back to the U.S.?” The article offers some good insight on the reshoring debate, as well as some common misinterpretation of the subject. Mr. Mantey and his subject Mr. Young acknowledge that reshoring, or not offshoring, has become a viable alternative in the consciousness of the business world.
Display system comes with a controller-only option
June 10, 2013 10:21 am | Product Releases | CommentsParker’s Electromechanical Automation Division announces the release of the next generation of its Parker Factory Display (PFD) visualization system. PFD offers unprecedented flexibility and impact for delivering critical messages to associates on the factory floor.
Source module features -134 dBc/Hz phase noise at 10 KHz offset
June 10, 2013 10:08 am | Crystek Crystal | Product Releases | CommentsCrystek Microwave announces the release of a 2 GHZ RF Source, the CRFS75-2000. Crystek designed the module using proprietary circuitry and SAW (surface acoustic wave) resonator technology to provide ultra-low jitter/phase noise performance with true SineWave output.
Engineering Newswire 41: New suits designed for 'space diving'
June 10, 2013 9:53 am | Videos | CommentsHi-tech inventors at Solar System Express and biotech designers Juxtopia are collaborating on a suit set to release in 2016, which will allow adrenaline junkies to space dive from up to 62 miles above the Earth's surface - at the very edge of space - and safely land using thruster boots instead of a parachute.
The Internet can control your body
June 10, 2013 9:39 am | by Stephanie Carmichael, Contributor | Blogs | CommentsThe Internet really can do anything. Like telekinesis, for instance. It’s got that covered, too. A new open API called BodyRemote uses connected devices like computers and even iPhones to control someone’s body from across the great space of the Internet anywhere in the world. But to do good — promise!
Addressing the data deluge challenge in mobile networks with intelligent content caching
June 7, 2013 3:31 pm | by Seong Hwan Kim, Ph.D., Technical Marketing Manager, LSI | Articles | CommentsThe most recent IDC Predictions 2013: Competing on the 3RD Platform report forecasts the biggest driver of IT growth to once again be mobile devices (smartphones, tablets, e-readers, etc.), generating around 20 percent of all IT purchases....
Fusing resistors feature temperature protection
June 7, 2013 2:16 pm | Koa Speer Electronics, Inc. | Product Releases | CommentsKOA Speer announced its TPR Series temperature protection fusing resistors. The resistors safely interrupt open circuits up to AC250 V voltage and completely isolate the circuit after quickly fusing to the overload. These fusing resistors feature
Right angle Category 5E cable assemblies provide additional EMI protection
June 7, 2013 1:57 pm | L-Com Global Connectivity | Product Releases | CommentsL-com, Inc. has continued releasing new right angle Ethernet cable assembly lines with its new shielded right angle Cat 5e cable assemblies with low-smoke, zero halogen (LSZH) jackets. The new cables are expected to provide additional electro-magnetic interference (EMI) and radio frequency interference
Modules allow an up to 15% reduction in power consumption
June 7, 2013 1:39 pm | Product Releases | CommentsSwissbit announces new members of its INDUSTRIAL family of DDR3 SODIMMs compatible with the JEDEC DDR3L standard running at 1.35V. DDR3L will allow an up to 15% reduction in power consumption over DDR3. With the introduction of 3x and 2x nm DRAM technology, the modules are able to run at lower external supply voltage than the standard 1.50V.
Surface-mount aluminum polymer capacitors include voltage values from 2.0 to 6.3 Vdc
June 7, 2013 1:09 pm | Cornell Dubilier Electronics | Product Releases | CommentsCornell Dubilier Electronics announces its product line expansion of types SPCX and SPSX surface-mount aluminum polymer capacitors. Both series are now available with lower ESR and higher capacitance values, making them among the best performing filter capacitors for board-level power conversion applications.
Trends in online tools key to smart bill-of-material strategies
June 7, 2013 12:46 pm | by Joseph Aguilar, Applications Engineer, Vicor | Articles | CommentsOver the past several years, the growing sophistication in power-converter modules and the loads they’re targeted at has led to significant growth in module-makers’ product lines. So, although application schematics may appear far simpler, selecting the right power-converter module is, in fact, a more complex task than ever.
Putting the brakes on Excel: Why the electronics manufacturing industry must embrace BOM management tools
June 7, 2013 12:34 pm | by Amanda Martin, Silicon Expert Technologies, www.siliconexpert.com | Articles | CommentsThe electronics manufacturing industry has often relied on spreadsheet programs such as Microsoft Excel for the creation and management of its Bills of Materials (BOMs). But the always-fluid, always-changing landscape of the industry has given rise to a new method for managing bills of materials—the BOM management tool.
Control techniques affect motor selection in positioning applications
June 7, 2013 12:06 pm | by Chuck Lewin, Performance Motion Devices | Articles | CommentsMachine designers work hard to stay up to date on the latest electronic and software techniques that squeeze out the maximum possible performance from a given mechanical system. But the electronics are only as good as the motor that they are driving. This article will look at the issues concerning the selection of the right type of motor in positioning control applications.
Energy, cost-efficiency biggest concerns for LEDs, sensors
June 7, 2013 10:53 am | by Editors | Articles | CommentsLEDs are a hot topic in the world of electronic components. Ardent supporters claim LEDs are the future while other designers cite cost and environmental impact as negatives. We turned to our readers for the inside scoop on LEDs and the industry. When asked about the biggest trend impacting specifications for lighting components, readers were torn....
Engineering Update 12: A beer-pouring robot ... finally
June 7, 2013 10:22 am | Videos | CommentsIn this week's headlines: Computer scientists at Cornell are in the process of producing a robot with anticipatory cognitive abilities. They've programmed a PR-2 robot to accomplish typical robotic tasks, as well as the ability to pour you a drink ... and anticipate when you want another.
