Optoelectronics & Displays
What are the biggest LED challenges, according to engineers
May 17, 2013 10:06 am | by Editor | Blogs | CommentsWith Lightfair in the rearview mirror and being dominated by LEDs, lighting has become an intense debate in the industry. What we want to know is what you think about the future of LEDs. We know our readers have varied opinions and valuable experiences – now here’s a great opportunity to showcase them. Send us an answer to the question below and if we think yours is great...
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
Digital multimeter features ultra-competitive price
May 14, 2013 4:15 pm | Product Releases | CommentsRigol Technologies introduces the DM3058E digital multimeter, designed with 5 ½ digits resolution and dual-display at an industry-leading price of $449. As the first 5 ½ digit digital DMM in the industry to be LXI certified, the DM3058E can also enable system integration, fitting the needs of high-precision, multifunction and automatic measurement applications.
PCAP LCDS ideal for rugged industrial-strength applications
May 14, 2013 2:55 pm | Product Releases | CommentsSharp Microelectronics of the Americas (SMA) announced the addition of multi-touch PCAP (Projective Capacitive Touch) displays to its all-LED backlit TFT LCD line up. The two new panels are 7.0-inch and 10.4-inch diagonal, with additional sizes expected in the future, including a 4.3-inch (diagonal).
Mid-power LEDs achieve up to 140 lm/W efficacy
May 9, 2013 11:51 am | Philips Lumileds | Product Releases | CommentsPhilips Lumileds introduced the LUXEON 3535 2D, which combines two LED chips in a package to enable reduction in LED count and cost of designing retrofit lamps, consumer downlights and diffuse industrial lamps. Its efficacy of 140 lm/W is achieved for cool white light at 4000K and minimum 80 CRI. The new
Connectors satisfy solid state lighting fixture applications
May 8, 2013 12:13 pm | Hirose Electric Usa | Product Releases | CommentsHirose Electric has developed a complete series of wire-to-board, board-to-board joint, and in-line connectors to satisfy solid state lighting fixture applications. Providing space savings, high cable pull force, and a secure connection upon installation, the DF Series connectors
Photo interrupter intended for optical switches, digital cameras, and printers
May 7, 2013 4:28 pm | Everlight Americas, Inc. | Product Releases | CommentsEverlight Electronics has introduced the latest member of its ITR series of photo interrupters for use in optical switches, digital cameras and printers, the ultra small outline slotted type ITR1205ST11A/TR. A slotted type opto interrupter detects an object when it enters the gap of the slotted switch....
LED light designed to run 11 hours on a single charge
May 7, 2013 3:58 pm | Larson Electronics Llc | Product Releases | CommentsLarson Electronics Magnalight made public the EPL-RPS-1MLED rechargeable, explosion proof LED light cart. Designed to run 11 hours on a single charge, the Class 1 and Class 2 Division 1 LED light can illuminate a work area of more than 5000 feet.
LED produces 10,000 lumens of bright white light
May 7, 2013 10:40 am | Larson Electronics Llc | Product Releases | CommentsMagnalight.com by Larson Electronics has announced the addition of the EPL-BS-161M-100 explosion proof LED light with aluminum base stand to its line of explosion proof LED lighting equipment. Producing 10,000 lumens of bright white light...
LED panel mount indicators designed for harsh environments
May 7, 2013 9:50 am | Product Releases | CommentsVCC has developed a new series of ruggedized panel mount indicators designed for use in a variety of harsh environments. Featuring built-in LEDs, which are visible both in direct sunlight and at wide angles, VCC’s 22mm CNX 722 Series TuffLED indicators are resistant to shock, vibration, and moisture....
Dual-color lasers could lead to cheap and efficient LED lighting
May 3, 2013 9:18 am | by Eurekalert! | News | CommentsA new semiconductor device capable of emitting two distinct colours has been created by a group of researchers in the US, potentially opening up the possibility of using light emitting diodes (LEDs) universally for cheap and efficient lighting.
The most technologically-advanced toilet in the world
May 3, 2013 9:02 am | by Kasey Panetta, Managing Editor | Blogs | CommentsThough people often refer to the toilet as “the throne,” the euphemism has never been taken quite this literally before. Kohler, the family-owned bath and kitchen company and inventor of all around fancy bathroom fixtures, has really gone all out with their newest creation, Numi.
Tele-what? YouTube touts itself not as a TV alternative, but a new-generation video platform
May 2, 2013 9:35 am | by JAKE COYLE AP Entertainment Writer | News | CommentsYouTube vs. TV? YouTube says the battle - if there ever was one - is over. In a flashy presentation to advertisers Wednesday night, Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt declined to forecast that Internet video will displace television watching. Instead he declared: "That's already happened."
Police and politicians push for more surveillance cameras after Boston bombings
May 2, 2013 9:33 am | by TAMI ABDOLLAH Associated Press | News | CommentsPolice and politicians across the U.S. are pointing to the example of surveillance video that was used to help identify the Boston Marathon bombing suspects as a reason to get more electronic eyes on their streets. From Los Angeles to Philadelphia, efforts include trying to gain police access to cameras used to monitor traffic,
10 MUST READ posts from April
May 1, 2013 2:44 pm | by Kasey Panetta, Managing Editor | Blogs | CommentsHere’s a rundown of the most read, most popular, most awesome articles on the web. Take a look at what you missed the first time around or check up on an old favorite to see the conversation in the comments. Keep checking out the Lead at www.ecnmag.com and follow us on Twitter @ecnonline for our most up-to-date articles.
Cutting the fat: The case for a microcontroller-less capacitive touch screen controller
May 1, 2013 12:13 pm | by Eric Siegel, Touch Screen Control Business Development Manager, Texas Instruments | Texas Instruments | Articles | CommentsTouchscreens are everywhere! While the means by which they detect a touch has evolved over the years, more recently you might say they have revolved as old technologies are reopened and rechristened anew. (I’m looking at you, optical touch.) Touchscreens are finding their way into our homes and our everyday consumer devices.
Single-stage LED driver promises highest levels of dimmer compatibility
May 1, 2013 11:55 am | Cirrus Logic -- Apex Precision Power | Product Releases | CommentsCirrus Logic, Inc. has introduced a first family of single-stage LED drivers, the CS1615/16, targeting the incandescent lamp replacement market. Through patented technology, the CS1615/16 consistently outperforms competing single-stage LED drivers in dimmer compatibility while offering
Varistors offer higher surge current ratings in smaller disc sizespplications
April 30, 2013 5:05 pm | Littelfuse, Inc. | Product Releases | CommentsLittelfuse has introduced the LV UltraMOV Series of low voltage, high surge current, radial leaded varistors. They provide an ideal circuit protection solution for lower DC voltage applications by offering higher surge ratings than ever before available in such small disc sizes.
A tale of two lamps
April 30, 2013 4:19 pm | by Karl Stephan, Consulting Engineer, Texas State University, San Marcos | Blogs | CommentsA few months ago, my wife bought a lamp at an office-supply place to light up the table where my father-in-law plays dominoes with us. He’s 87 and his eyesight isn’t what it used to be, so having lots of light in the right place is important. The ceiling light doesn’t quite do the job.
Energy-saving smartphone sensor registers the ambient brightness
April 30, 2013 10:57 am | Osram Opto Semiconductors | Product Releases | CommentsOsram Opto Semiconductors has expanded its portfolio of proximity and ambient light sensors with a new, extremely powerful version with low power consumption. The compact SFH 7776 digital sensor registers the ambient brightness – even behind dark smartphone covers....
LED fixture features 10,000 lumen output while drawing only 150 watts
April 29, 2013 4:59 pm | Larson Electronics Llc | Product Releases | CommentsLarson Electronics has announced the release of an explosion proof LED area light designed to provide durable and reliable illumination with versatile mounting capabilities. The HBLP-1MLED-TRN Trunnion Mount Light Fixture features 10,000 lumen output while drawing only 150 watts....
ECN's exclusive interview with Digikey on LEDs and the state of the marketplace
April 29, 2013 4:16 pm | by Robbie Paul, Lighting Sales Director, Digikey | Articles | CommentsSolid state lighting is continuing its solid growth across a range of industries and applications. ECN recently spoke to Robbie Paul, Lighting Sales Director at Digikey to discuss the solid state lighting market and the latest LED trends.
A look back at Lightfair 2013
April 26, 2013 4:54 pm | by Chris Warner, Executive Editor | Articles | CommentsCold weather has been hanging on well into April here in the northeast. But if you were in Philadelphia this week, you would be forgiven for walking around wearing sunglasses – especially indoors at the Pennsylvania Convention Center – a sure sign that Lightfair is in town.
Driving RGB LEDs for interior lighting applications
April 25, 2013 1:42 pm | by Wim Van de Maele, ASSP Marketing Manager at ON Semiconductor | Articles | CommentsRGB LEDs are becoming increasingly popular for applications inside vehicles. For reasons of style and personalisation, as well as driver comfort and safety, they present an exciting opportunity for interior designers at major car makers. As multiple light points are required inside the vehicle in order to achieve the implementation of an effective solution....
With wave of the hand, researchers create touch-based interfaces
April 25, 2013 11:34 am | by EurekAlert! | News | CommentsResearchers previously have shown that a depth camera system, such as Kinect, can be combined with a projector to turn almost any surface into a touchscreen. But now researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have demonstrated how these touch-based interfaces can be created almost at will, with the wave of a hand.
