Newsletters
Going through smartphone withdrawal
April 25, 2013 9:34 am | by Meaghan Ziemba, Editor, WDD | Blogs | CommentsI recently attended a concert in Madison, WI. I placed my phone in my back pocket to avoid carrying a purse and to have it easily accessible when I wanted to update my status and snap a few photos. Unfortunately, after a visit to the facilities and a horrifying plop, I knew that I was in trouble.
LED drivers promise enhanced dimming performance, color rendering in indoor and outdoor lighting
April 24, 2013 5:15 pm | Texas Instruments | Product Releases | CommentsTexas introduced three new DC/DC LED drivers that simplify white color tuning for high-color rendering and ultra-low dimming in professional-grade indoor and outdoor LED lighting applications. The TPS92660 two-string LED driver and TPS92640/1 synchronous buck controllers address
Oscillator boasts stability 1,000 times more accurate than typical OCXO
April 24, 2013 5:03 pm | IQD Frequency Products, Inc. | Product Releases | CommentsIQD’s latest high performance oscillator, the IQRB-1, offers a stability around a 1,000 times more accurate than a typical Oven Controlled Crystal Oscillator (OCXO). This means it can be used as a free run frequency source in applications such as LTE (Long Term Evolution) systems that require exceptional timing accuracy.
Single board computer simplifies instrument control
April 24, 2013 3:24 pm | Mosaic Industries | Product Releases | CommentsThe PDQ Lite is a low cost single board computer and development board that hosts the Freescale HCS12/9S12 MCU and an embedded RTOS. This GNU C-programmable instrument controller is well suited for data acquisition and control, PWM drive, I2C sensor interfacing, laboratory automation, scientific instruments, SCADA, instrumentation and automation.
VPX processor blade provides up to 8GB DDR3-1333/1600 dual channel ECC memory
April 24, 2013 2:17 pm | Adlink Technology | Product Releases | CommentsADLINK Technology announced its flagship VPX product line, the VPX3000 Series rugged 3U VPX processor blade. The VPX3000 Series is ideal for system integrators who have a need for an advanced VPX board with VPX REDI and OpenVPX compliance in order to deploy high performance military and aerospace applications requiring quick time-to-market.
VCXO delivers small size combined with low jitter
April 24, 2013 1:55 pm | IQD Frequency Products, Inc. | Product Releases | CommentsIQD’s new IQXV-40 series Voltage Controlled Crystal Oscillator (VCXO) launching at Design West 2013 satisfies market demand for smaller package styles and low jitter. Measuring just 3.2 x 2.5mm and housed in a hermetically sealed package with a grounded metal lid for low EMI radiation...
Modular DC electronic load designed for multi-channel DC source testing
April 24, 2013 1:43 pm | B&K Precision Corporation | Product Releases | CommentsB&K Precision announced its new MDL Series, a modular programmable DC electronic load system. The MDL Series comprises six unique modules ranging in power from 200 W to 600 W. Any combination of these modules can be installed for multi-channel operation in the 4-slot MDL Series mainframe....
Intelligent light sensors high sensitivity, flexibility for display and non-display applications
April 24, 2013 12:13 pm | Ams-Taos Usa Inc | Product Releases | Commentsams AG introduced a digital light sensor family that offers low-light sensitivity down to 0.000377 lux. Offering a wide 600M:1 dynamic range up to 88,000 lux (bright sunlight), the company asserts the TSL2591 device family increases design flexibility and offers
Reference design implements highly accurate automotive intelligent battery sensor
April 24, 2013 11:44 am | Product Releases | Commentsams AG released a reference design implementing a complete automotive Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS) based on its highly accurate AS8515 data acquisition front end. The IBS design from ams is suitable for monitoring the state of charge (SOC) and state of health (SOH) of the latest lithium-iron-phosphate automotive batteries as well as conventional AGM (lead-acid) batteries.
Dispensable thermal pads tout desirable performance for LED lamps, luminaires
April 24, 2013 11:41 am | Product Releases | CommentsDow Corning introduced new Dispensable Thermal Pads, which are positioned as providing cost-effective thermal management in LED lighting applications. The new materials are said to enable LED lamp and luminaire manufacturers t
Cloud-based application includes built-in design guidelines
April 24, 2013 10:55 am | Product Releases | CommentsThe Lighting Designer from Luger Research e.U. is a sophisticated cloud-based application platform to design complete LED lighting system solutions in minutes. This integrated design environment combines multiple modules including light sources, secondary optics, power supplies, connectors, heat sinks and boards to develop a system solution.
Automotive vents protect powertrain components from harsh environments
April 24, 2013 10:03 am | W.L. Gore & Associates | Product Releases | CommentsW. L. Gore & Associates has expanded its line of GORE Automotive Vents to include the new Series: AVS 41 (P/N VE2048) venting solution, which is engineered specifically for powertrain components. This new vent improves component reliability by equalizing pressure, preventing contamination from water, dust, dirt, and other automotive fluids....
Please turn out the lights
April 24, 2013 9:18 am | by Krystal Gabert, Editor, Food Manufacturing | Blogs | CommentsWhen I was a child, my brother and I would play a little game, flipping on light switches and counting the minutes until my dad turned them off. He told us that someday we’d pay the electric bill and he’d have the last laugh, watching us pad around turning out lights just like he had.
Modular programmable DC electronic load system comprises six unique modules ranging 200 W to 600 W
April 23, 2013 2:40 pm | B&K Precision Corporation | Product Releases | CommentsB&K Precision today announced its new MDL Series, a modular programmable DC electronic load system. The MDL Series comprises six unique modules ranging in power from 200 W to 600 W.
Reference design provides a critical layer of security for networked devices
April 23, 2013 2:31 pm | Product Releases | CommentsZilog announces the introduction of the ZGATE Security Bridge Reference Design, a joint technology solution utilizing Icon Labs’ Floodgate Technology. Together, Zilog and Icon Labs have produced a microcontroller featuring an embedded firewall that provides a critical layer of security for networked devices.
Design tools give engineers an edge in online printed circuit board design
April 23, 2013 1:56 pm | Product Releases | CommentsAspen Labs and Digi-Key Corporation are giving engineers access to a new set of free, online CAD tools to support Printed Circuit Board (PCB) design and development. PCBWeb is an online CAD application for designing and manufacturing electronics circuit boards, available at no cost.
LED lighting system provides engaging, customized experience
April 23, 2013 12:40 pm | Product Releases | CommentsAcuity Brands, Inc. will unveil a new LED lighting system concept during LIGHTFAIR International 2013, April 23-25, in Philadelphia. Using wall-recessed LED luminaires, the system is a unique combination of indirect ambient illumination and luminous presentations to provide an engaging, visual experience that can be customized for the occupant and the space.
Management techniques: After-action reports
April 23, 2013 8:03 am | by M. Simon, Technical Contributor | Blogs | CommentsCBS News Money Watch has a great post up on how to improve management effectiveness. That includes both self and corporate management. The technique is common in the military but not so common in the corporate world. It is the after action report.
iBeetle: Everything you never wanted in an infotainment system
April 22, 2013 2:59 pm | by Kasey Panetta, Associate Editor | Blogs | CommentsWe’ve talked A LOT about safety and innovation when it comes to infotainment systems in cars. We've talking more regulation, less regulation, new systems and crazy ideas. The discussion revolves primarily around how to integrate electronics
Should engineers be licensed?
April 22, 2013 2:20 pm | by Karl Stephan, Consulting Engineer, Texas State University, San Marcos | Blogs | CommentsNot long after I chose electrical engineering as a major in college, someone asked me if I was planning to take the EIT exam. What was that? It stands for “engineer in training” and it is the customary first step in obtaining a Professional Engineer (PE) license. To the best of my recollection, it didn’t cost that much and I went ahead and took it....
Embedded wireless portfolio adds PIC32 Bluetooth digital audio kit, plus Wi-Fi modules
April 22, 2013 12:07 pm | Microchip Technology Inc. | Product Releases | CommentsMicrochip Technology Inc. expanded its embedded-wireless portfolio to include the PIC32 Bluetooth Audio Development Kit, featuring modules, stacks and CODECs, and XBee footprint-compatible socket modules with integrated stacks. The new Wi-Fi offerings comprise IEEE 802.11b/g Wi-Fi modules with
MYO: Wearable gesture control from Thalmic Labs
April 22, 2013 10:32 am | Videos | CommentsWith a wave of your hand, MYO will transform how you interact with your digital world. The MYO armband lets you use the electrical activity in your muscles to wirelessly control your computer, phone, and other favorite digital technologies.
Development platform for the Kinetis K20 MCU is Arduino compatible
April 22, 2013 9:50 am | Product Releases | CommentsPremier Farnell announced the global availability of Freescale Semiconductor’s newest Freedom Development Platform for evaluating Kinetis K20 MCUs at element14. The new FRDM-K20D50M Development Platform is form-factor compatible with the Arduino R3 pin layout, providing
Fine-pitch soldering
April 22, 2013 9:18 am | by M. Simon, Technical Contributor | Blogs | CommentsI hand-solder. I hand-solder surface-mount devices. So far, my standard practice is to use parts no smaller than 0603s (inch), and for ICs I get them with pitches no smaller than 0.65 mm. This causes problems when I need a component that is too small for me to solder on a board with techniques I have been comfortable with up to now.
Evaluation kit supports very small 5-W GaN MMIC power amplifier
April 20, 2013 2:19 pm | Richardson Rfpd | Product Releases | CommentsRichardson RFPD, Inc. announced the immediate availability and full design support capabilities for a new evaluation kit for a 5W GaN MMIC power amplifier from Nitronex. The NPA1003QA-EVK evaluation kit includes a test fixture tuned for
