ECN-Electronic Component News articles from December 2008

ECN-Electronic Component News archives from December 2008

Holiday wishes.(Editor's View)
December 1, 2008... As Halloween blurs into the great amorphous mass that is the combined orgy of Thanksgiving eating and Christmas Holiday shopping, we take the time to look at some of the things we'd like to see in our holiday gift baskets. Beyond the obligatory...

Energy-harvesting single-chip RF transceiver suits building automation applications.(Leading Off)
December 1, 2008... EnOcean and SensorDynamics announced the availability of EnOcean's first energy-harvesting wireless sensor IC. The jointly-developed EO3000I ASIC has been specifically designed and built for EnOcean's Dolphin system architecture, capable of...

Zero-drift amplifiers with noise-shaping technology offer low input voltage noise.(Leading Off)
December 1, 2008... Two new zero-drift operational amplifiers (op amps) from National Semiconductor offer low input voltage noise (11 nV/sqrt Hz at a gain of 1,000 V/V) and high DC accuracy for sensor interface applications operating at low frequencies and low...

DC/DC Converter presented as world's smallest.(Leading Off)
December 1, 2008... The new RNM series from RECOM is said to be the smallest isolated DC/DC converter on the market. This fully-specified 2,000-VDC isolated converter fits into an 8.30-mm by 8.30-mm by 6.80-mm (approx. 0.33" by 0.33" by 0.27") case size, and the...

Motor/motion control ICs.(PRODUCT TECHNOLOGY REVIEW)
December 1, 2008... ECN presents these recently introduced motor control ICs along with schematic and data sheet info. You'll find more motor control ICs in the online Product Technology Review at ww.ecnmag.com/uploadedFiles/Ecn/Articles/EC8DPTR_web.pdf. ...

C and C++ tools reduce code errors; Tools find problems before you compile code.(C/C++ Tools)
December 1, 2008... Programmers now have many tools that help reduce or eliminate problems. Unfortunately, they might not know these tools exist. "In 1998, the U.K.'s Motor Industry Software Reliability Association (MISRA) published their standard for the C...

Leadless packages empower your design: riding the wave of successive IC process miniaturizations, packaging is enabling product performances that were once unobtainable.(SEMICONDUCTOR HIGHLIGHT Diodes)
December 1, 2008... The benefits of leadless packaging can be appreciated without the need to consider the complex multi-row BGAs. A simple three-pin discrete device such as a MOSFET is an ideal vehicle to highlight the benefits that leadless packaging can bring...

Eliminating medical device RF interference; How manufacturers are attempting to solve the problem of wireless interference in medical devices.(Medical Electronics)
December 1, 2008... Medical professionals and patients rely on the accuracy of medical devices as they pursue the correct course of action for a given illness. However, wireless RF interference can taint the devices' accuracy or lead to misdiagnoses. There are...

PCB routers cut time and copper: a computer-controlled router can produce prototype PCBs in almost no time.(Prototyping Kits & Tools)
December 1, 2008... At 3:00 p.m. on a Friday afternoon, you devise a new design for a low-noise amplifier you've worked on for months. You want to try the circuit right away, but a quick-turn printed-circuit board (PCB) house cannot deliver boards until next week....

10 Things you need to know about embedded systems security but didn't know to ask.(DESIGN TALK)
December 1, 2008... When security becomes a design requirement, engineers must consider much more than just cryptography and virus protection. Below are some key questions engineers must ask themselves to make their systems secure. Be sure to see the December 15...

CPU board features accelerated SDRAM.(BOARDS MODULES & EMBEDDED SYSTEMS)
December 1, 2008... With a clock rate of 733-MHz, and accelerated DDR SDRAM (266 MHz, + 33 percent), the PowerPC-based Rugged Conduction-Cooled CP3210 from Kontron is an updated version of the company's PowerEngineC7. The CP3210 incorporates a thermal sensor for...

Starter kit supports MCU development.(BOARDS MODULES & EMBEDDED SYSTEMS)
December 1, 2008... IAR System's IAR KickStart Kit for STMicroelectronics' STM32F103ZE MCU includes a development board fitted with the MCU, a KickStart edition of IAR Embedded Workbench for ARM, evaluation editions of IAR PowerPac for ARM and IAR visualSTATE, and...

SBC incorporates legacy I/0 interfaces.(BOARDS MODULES & EMBEDDED SYSTEMS)
December 1, 2008... Targeting 386 or 486 PC/104 users, Adlink Technology's CoreModule 430 SBC combines legacy I/O interfaces with on-board video, DDR2 RAM, USB 2.0, and 10/100 Ethernet. On-board I/O consists of a UDMA port, Compact Flash socket, four serial ports...

Board support package supports Linux.(BOARDS MODULES & EMBEDDED SYSTEMS)
December 1, 2008... Targeting the AMD Geode LX-based Cougar and Python SBCs, VersaLogic's DEV-CD-L6 quick-start board support package (BSP) uses the Debian Linux 4.0 (etch/stable) product running Linux kernel 2.6.25-5. The bootable LiveCD installs and supports...

Servo motor controller uses CANopen.(ELECTROMECHANICAL/MECHANICAL DEVICES)
December 1, 2008... Configuring for peer-to-peer master or slave, QuickSilver Controls' QCI-D2-IG-J1 OEM servo motor controller uses CANopen to share I/O, and registers with other CANopen-enabled SilverDust controllers or third-party CANopen devices. The component...

Rocker switches receive UL and VDE approvals.(ELECTROMECHANICAL/MECHANICAL DEVICES)
December 1, 2008... Available in single- and double-pole versions, Phaseda LLC's RL3-6 Series oval rocker switches achieve UL, cUL, and VDE approvals, as well as RoHS compliance. They exhibit UL ratings at 16-A and 0.33 hp at 125-VAC for high power and motor...

Tact switches endure 300K cycles.(ELECTROMECHANICAL/MECHANICAL DEVICES)
December 1, 2008... Demonstrating an operating current of 1[micro]A at 1.8 VDC, C&K Components' 4.6-mm x 2.8-mm KMR Series tact switches last for a lifespan of up to 300,000 cycles in mobile applications. The KMR 2 devices display a height of 1.9-mm and an...

SoC reduces IC count in amplification circuits.(INTEGRATED CIRCUITS)
December 1, 2008... Using multibit Delta-Sigma audio converter technology, the CS47048 audio SoC from Cirrus Logic can reduce the number of ICs required to implement an automotive amplifier by as many as 10. Featuring a four-channel ADC and a 32-bit audio DSP, the...

Interfaces enable high-definition recording.(INTEGRATED CIRCUITS)
December 1, 2008... Operating on the 1394 (Firewire) link layer and integrated physical layer, Texas Instruments' TSB43EC42 and TSB43EA42 encrypted interfaces enable tru-2 way set top boxes and digital TVs to record in high definition. The...

Controller ICs target capacitive touch applications.(INTEGRATED CIRCUITS)
December 1, 2008... Adding to the Pure Touch family, Leadis Technology's LDS6003, LDS6005, LDS6023, LDS6025, and LDS6028 touch controller ICs perform in mobile and non-mobile capacitive touch applications. The 0.8-mm thick components operate at 1.8-V with power...

SoC combines Wi-Fi, active RTLS, and wireless sensing.(INTEGRATED CIRCUITS)
December 1, 2008... Featuring a processor running a TCP/IP stack, G2 Microsystems' G2C547 IEEE 802.11b/g SoC offers Wi-Fi Internet connectivity, active RTLS, and wireless sensing capabilities. The 72-pin QFN-packaged component operates in a thin-client...

AMOLED module delivers 16M colors.(OPTOELECTRONICS & DISPLAYS)
December 1, 2008... Using a 24-bit parallel RGB interface, OSD Displays' OSD0430WQLCT 4.3" diagonal WVGA active matrix organic LED (AMOLED) module supports up to 16 million colors. The 102.40-mm x 65.60-mm x 1.60-mm device exhibits typical luminance of 200...

LCD modules display high contrast.(OPTOELECTRONICS & DISPLAYS)
December 1, 2008... Targeting industrial applications, Sharp Microelectronics' LQ043T3DG01 and LQ043T3DG02 4.3" landscape mode VGA LCD modules show a contrast ratio of 900:1. The 480 x 272 pixel displays exhibit a horizontal viewing angle of 160[degrees], a...

LED bulb shines in PAR16 fixtures.(OPTOELECTRONICS & DISPLAYS)
December 1, 2008... Consisting of three 1-W LEDs, LEDtronics' PAR16 LED spotlight bulb acts as a direct drop-in replacement in standard E26 Edison-base PAR16 fixtures. The 3000K warm white-colored device produces up to 120-lm of vivid light while consuming 3.3-W...

APD receivers incorporate thermoelectric cooler.(OPTOELECTRONICS & DISPLAYS)
December 1, 2008... Performing in military laser radar and optical communications, and commercial telecommunications applications, Voxtel's VDHAX line of hermetically packaged avalanche photodiode (APD) receivers use Nextreme's OptoCooler UPF4 thermoelectric...

Cable assemblies transmit 10 Gbps.(PACKAGING & INTERCONNECTS)
December 1, 2008... Targeting the high-performance computing (HPC), enterprise networking, and network storage markets, W.L. Gore & Associates' GORE SPF + copper cable assemblies deliver 10-Gbps data at distances up to 25-m. The SFF-84310- and RoHS-compliant...

Circular connectors suit industrial Apps.(PACKAGING & INTERCONNECTS)
December 1, 2008... Performing in rough conditions, Amphenol-Tuchel Electronics' eco|mate Series circular connectors target industrial applications. The grasping range of the screw locking parts show dirt resistance for a simple connection release. The cable...

IDCs accept small wires.(Packaging & Interconnects)
December 1, 2008... Designed to accept 26-AWG to 28-AWG stranded or solid wires, AVX's 9176 and 9177 Series wire-to-board insulation displacement connectors (IDCs) hold 18-AWG to 24-AWG and 14-AWG to 20-AWG wires, respectively. The two-and three-position devices...

Bayonet connectors target military and industrial systems.(PACKAGING & INTERCONNECTS)
December 1, 2008... Meeting the requirements of VG52934, the CA Bayonet Series connectors from ITT are intended for use in applications such as military vehicles, mining equipment, railway projects, and industrial automation. Having a positive bayonet locking...

Frequency inverter employs internal disconnect switch.(POWER SOURCES)
December 1, 2008... Removing power to facilitate service and maintenance, Lenze-AC Tech's SMVector NEMA 4X-enclosed frequency inverter utilizes an internal disconnect switch. The device presents a run/stop digital input, three programmable digital inputs (four for...

Power supply creates three independent voltage rails.(POWER SOURCES)
December 1, 2008... Coming in a chip form factor, Integral Wave Technologies' P3131-S 3-output power supply creates three independent voltage rails exhibiting output voltages from 0.7-V to 3.6-V in 4-mV steps at maximum currents of 6-A, 3-A, and 3-A. The 13.6-mm x...

Switching regulators exhibit high efficiency.(POWER SOURCES)
December 1, 2008... Operating at an ambient temperature of up to 60 [degrees] C without a heat sink or forced cooling, Tracopower's TSR-1 Series 1 A switching regulators operate at a full load efficiency of up to 96 percent. The nine models offer input voltages...

Circuit protectors reset remotely.(POWER SOURCES)
December 1, 2008... Isolating circuit failures for design, control, and systems integration applications, Weidmuller's ESX10-T Series circuit protectors demonstrate remote reset capabilities that operate using an electronic signal. The instruments combine...

Fuses exhibit 5 second overload opening characteristic.(POWER SOURCES)
December 1, 2008... Adding to the Nano2 family, Littelfuse's 458 Series 1206-size SMT fuses demonstrate an overload opening characteristic of 5 seconds max at 250 percent of ampere rating. The RoHS-compliant devices offer current ratings from 1-A to 10-A, an...

DC/DC converters supply 20 W.(POWER SOURCES)
December 1, 2008... International Rectifier's HTA Series DC/DC converters deliver up to 20-W of regulated output power from -35 [degrees]C to 185 [degrees] C. The devices offer an input voltage range from 150-V to 250-V, single and dual output configurations,...

Actuator delivers high continuous force.(SENSORS)
December 1, 2008... Presenting a desirable force versus position curve characteristic, BEI Kimco Magnetics' Voice Coil cylindrical actuator shows a continuous force range from 1-N to 5-N. The instrument demonstrates stroke lengths from 0-mm to 1.27-mm,...

Image sensor delivers low-light performance.(SENSORS)
December 1, 2008... Incorporating 1.4-micron OmniBSI pixel technology and a TrueFocus ISP, OmniVision Technologies' OV5462 5 megapixel SoC CMOS image sensor supplies >500 mV/Lux-sec. and extended depth of field (EDoF). The component performs backside illumination,...

Level control sensors enhance power measurements.(SENSORS)
December 1, 2008... Coming fully calibrated, Rohde & Schwarz's R&S NRP-Z28 and R&S NRP-Z98 one-box level control sensors are designed to enhance the performance of power measurements. The instruments exhibit a VSWR of [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Rohde &...

BGS sensors exhibit automatic crosstalk protection.(SENSORS)
December 1, 2008... Delivering a sensing range of up to 350-mm, Pepperl + Fuchs' ML7 background suppression (BGS) sensors present automatic crosstalk protection, enabling multiple sensors to be mounted side-by-side. The 31-mm x 11-mm x 23-mm devices use LED...

Optical sensors aid oil drilling.(ON THE LIGHT SIDE)
December 1, 2008... If you're not familiar with the modern oil industry, you might think that drilling for oil still resembles the scene in the movie "Giant", where James Dean's character hits a classic Texas gusher. The truth is that it's much harder than that to...

Demo Platform Introduces MCU Family and Tools.
December 1, 2008... Renesas SubAtomic Particle Demonstration Platform (R8C Tiny MCU), YR8CSPB, Renesas Technology America. US$79. www.america.renesas.com/SPB. The small round SubAtomic Particle Boards (SPBs) from Renesas provide a tour of MCU hardware and...

Kit Provides USB Host and I/O Capabilities.
December 1, 2008... FTDI Vinculum V-Eval Kit, V-Eval-1, FTDI Chip. US$70, www.ftdichip.com. This kit serves to help developers use the Vinculum brand of FTDI's USB host-controller ICs when they need to put a USB port in a device but don't want or need to...

Holiday wish list: as the holidays approach, what product or technology is on your wish list?(Brainstorm)
December 1, 2008... Keith Curtis, Microchip Technology, www.microchip.com I would love to get a pair of small, VGA glasses for my laptop that actually works as advertised. One of my fondest dreams is to be sitting on an airplane, flying over the Atlantic,...

Celebrating the year's best products.(Editor's View)
December 15, 2008... All around, 2008 has been a very trying year. Each day seemed to bring a new round of bad news, whether it was the real estate bubble bursting, stock markets plummeting, or the "big three" automakers petitioning congress for a bailout similar...

Optically isolated sigma-delta modulator measures motor phase currents in power inverter applications.(Leading Off)
December 15, 2008... Avago Technologies announced an optically isolated sigma-delta modulator using an external ciock to provide direct measurement of motor phase currents in power inverters. Based on an advanced low-power CMOS process, the ACPL-796J uses an...

Capacitive touch architecture supports up to 56 touch zones with a single 15-channel IC.(Leading Off)
December 15, 2008... Leadis Technology's Tap Touch technology supports up to 56 independent touch zones with a single 15-channel integrated circuit, enabling the integration of large numbers of capacitive touch buttons while keeping system cost and power...

3-D interconnection cube enables precise electrode-array positioning.(Leading Off)
December 15, 2008... 3-D interconnection ceramic chip carriers from Microcertec S. A.S. are touted as smart and reliable Solutions for packaging chips and ICs. They enable designers to reduce the size and weight of the packaging while guaranteeing precision in...

Module aids in TV tuner architecture conversion.(BOARDS, MODULES & EMBEDDED SYSTEMS)
December 15, 2008... Exceeding ATSC, OpenCable, DVBT/C/H, DMB-TH, and ISDB-T standards, Xceive Corporation's SN5000A SiliconNOW tuner module helps bridge the gap between CAN tuner architecture and silicon-based TV tuner architecture. The component offers...

Embedded networking module lets users roam with reliability.(BOARDS, MODULES & EMBEDDED SYSTEMS)
December 15, 2008... Lantronix' MatchPort b/g Pro 802.11 b/g secure embedded networking module offers users reliability and mobility. Features include IEEE 802.11i compliant radio with AES-CCMP (Advanced Encryption Standard-Counter Mode with Cipher Block Chaining...

Thin, 2.5-inch MLC-based SSD with SATA II presented as 2.4x faster than an HDD.(BOARDS, MODULES & EMBEDDED SYSTEMS)
December 15, 2008... Samsung Electronics has developed what it claims is the world's fastest, 2.5-inch, 256-GB multi-level cell (MLC) based solid state drive (SSD) using a SATA II interface. The 256-GB SSD is also said to be the thinnest drive with the largest...

Eight-GB Mini-registered DIMM.(BOARDS, MODULES & EMBEDDED SYSTEMS)
December 15, 2008... SMART Modular Technologies expanded its DDR2 family to include what is said to be the industry's first 8-GB PC2-5300 244-pin Mini-registered DIMM (RDIMM) designed using CoolFlex and dual die package (DDP) technologies. The new Mini-RDIMM is...

Prototyping platform gives students hands-on experience.(BOARDS, MODULES & EMBEDDED SYSTEMS)
December 15, 2008... Based on Lab VIEW graphical system design software, the Elvis II design and prototyping platform allows educators to provide hands-on, project-based learning with USB plug-and-play instruments and complete integration with Multisim 10.1...

Tunable tactile switches enable additional "sound effects" in applications.(ELECTROMECHANICAL/MECHANICAL TOP FIVE)
December 15, 2008... C&K Components has developed a series of sound tunable tactile switches, designated the KSC ST Series. The design of the switch enables the sound intensity to be 100 percent controlled, with the ability to match the sound level of applications...

Input module combines five-way rocker and scrollwheel functionality with two analog cursor control modes.(ELECTROMECHANICAL/MECHANICAL)
December 15, 2008... Avago Technologies announced a thin, ultra-compact input device product that combines a navigation pad module with a motion sense and interface integrated circuit (IC) to provide mouse-like pointing in a variety of mobile devices. With a low...

Cooling device marries fan to "open fin" heat sink.(ELECTROMECHANICAL/MECHANICAL)
December 15, 2008... Jaro Thermal's 52-mm x 52-mm x 12-mm Neon fan/heat sink combination is presented as offering both high performance and low profile. The Neon Series synergistically marries fan to 'open fin' heat sink, and dissipates .275 W/[degrees]C. This...

OLED Smart switches feature high resolution, programmability.(ELECTROMECHANICAL/MECHANICAL)
December 15, 2008... NKK Switches announced the availability of its OLED SmartSwitch and SmartDisplay high resolution programmable switches. These switches offer high contrast, 180-degree viewing angles, full colors, lower power consumption, fast response times,...

Servo drives supply 7 A.(ELECTROMECHANICAL/MECHANICAL)
December 15, 2008... Measuring 5" x 3" x 1.75", Applied Motion Products' SV Series servo drives deliver up to 7-A rms continuous or 14-A rms peak output current from a 24-VDC to 80-VDC power supply. The devices provide eight digital inputs, four digit outputs, two...

Thirty-two bit MCU family includes Integrated Development Environment.(INTEGRATED CIRCUITS)
December 15, 2008... Microchip Technology's PIC32 family of 32-bit microcontrollers (MCUs) adds performance and memory while maintaining pin, peripheral, and software compatibility with the company's 16-bit MCU/DSC families, and it is fully supported by the MPLAB...

High density 40-nm FPGAs and HardCopy ASICs offer transceiver options.(INTEGRATED CIRCUITS)
December 15, 2008... Altera's Stratix IV 40-nm FPGAs and HardCopy ASICs feature transceiver options, and provide up to 680-K logic elements (LEs). The HardCopy IV ASIC family offers equivalent densities as the Stratix IV devices and features up to 13.3 million...

High-stability oscillator can replace crystal oscillators.(INTEGRATED CIRCUITS)
December 15, 2008... Silicon Laboratories introduced a 100 percent CMOS oscillator for consumer applications. By completely eliminating the quartz resonator that must be cut and tuned for each crystal oscillator (XO) frequency, the Si500 helps enable extremely...

Power modules drive two-phase switched-reluctance motors.(INTEGRATED CIRCUITS)
December 15, 2008... Fairchild introduced what is said to be the first SRM-SPM power modules for driving two-phase switched-reluctance motors (SRM) in small motor applications. The small motor industry is migrating from single-phase to two-phase SRM motors due to...

Quad-SPI serial flash memory.(INTEGRATED CIRCUITS)
December 15, 2008... Winbond Electronics announced what is said to be the industry's first Serial Flash memory with Quad-SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface). The W25Q16 16-Mb SpiFlash Memory is the first in a family of high-performance memories ranging from 8 Mb to...

LED-based light guides presented as thinnest.(OPTOELECTRONICS & DISPLAYS)
December 15, 2008... Global Lighting Technologies (GLT) has introduced LED-based high-brightness backlights that offer thinness down to 0.4 mm or less for LCDs in an array of consumer electronics products, as well as the keypads/keyboards used in mobile phones and...

High-current SSLD provides adjustable over-voltage protection for single or dual LEDs in handheld devices.(OPTOELECTRONICS & DISPLAYS)
December 15, 2008... National Semiconductor introduced a high-current SSLD that enables dual LED operation for the camera flash function in portable multimedia devices. The LM3553 fixed-frequency, step-up DC/DC converter with two regulated current sinks drives...

SMT LEDs present sub-millimeter profile.(OPTOELECTRONICS & DISPLAYS)
December 15, 2008... Provided in a CLCC-6 FlatPackage configuration, Vishay's VLMW621 family of warm-white SMT LEDs is presented as having the lowest profile (0.9-mm high) of its type. The ceramic-encased InGan devices are available with luminous intensities from...

LED driver enables dimming.(OPTOELECTRONICS & DISPLAYS)
December 15, 2008... LEDtronics' DC/DC Dimmer supports 5-V to 40-V DC applications up to 2 A or 24 W. Since LEDs draw less current than traditional incandescent bulbs, one had to buy a special high-end electronic dimmer to control the desired light levels for their...

E-paper modules target next-generation devices.(OPTOELECTRONICS & DISPLAYS)
December 15, 2008... E Ink announced general availability of its next-generation segmented display cells (SDC). The products are simple digit, icon, and alpha-numeric displays, offering desirable readability in a paper-thin form factor that uses minimal battery...

Active Latch is intermateable with other existing elements in modular systems.(PACKAGING & INTERCONNECTS)
December 15, 2008... FCI introduced the Minitek CTW Active Latch, a low profile housing mateable with other elements in the modular system. The Minitek Active Latch is designed for use in harsh and high vibration environments, and is appropriate for industrial or...

Connector withstands 1,000 cycles of thermal shock and vibration testing.(PACKAGING & INTERCONNECTS)
December 15, 2008... ITT Electronic Components' Chip on Flex (CoF) filter connector technology has been tested to 1,000 cycles of thermal shock from -55[degrees]C to 125[degrees]C per MIL-STD-1344. Compared to the ceramic planar array block capacitor used in...

USB to Synchronous cable enables IP data communications for tactical radios.(PACKAGING & INTERCONNECTS)
December 15, 2008... Sealevel Systems' ACC-188 USB Synchronous Interface Adapter enables tactical radios currently used by the U.S. Armed Forces to interface to PCs and transmit IP based data, According to the company, the adapter allows warfighters to quickly...

BeO insulator sets thermal conductivity benchmark.(PACKAGING & INTERCONNECTS)
December 15, 2008... The BW3250 beryllium oxide (BeO) insulator from Brush Ceramic Products delivers a thermal conductivity of greater than 325 W/mK at room temperature, an increase of over 15 percent from the 285 W/mK that was previously achievable. Providing...

Clamp filters for electromagnetic noise countermeasures in automotive applications.(PASSIVE & DISCRETE COMPONENTS)
December 15, 2008... TDK Corporation announced the development and mass production of its ZCAT08V-BK and ZCAT12V-BK automotive clamp filters for use as a countermeasure against the effects of electromagnetic noise on the cables that link the various onboard...

Patch antenna receives/transmits two different frequency bands in a single element.(PASSIVE & DISCRETE COMPONENTS)
December 15, 2008... Spectrum Control designed a single element patch antenna that can receive and/or transmit two frequency bands in one 45 mm package, offering a space and cost savings compared to using two, single frequency patch antennas. These patch antennas...

High frequency, high voltage vertical FETs.(PASSIVE & DISCRETE COMPONENTS)
December 15, 2008... HVVi Semiconductors introduced its High Frequency, High Voltage Vertical Field Effect Transistor (HVVFET) architecture. According to the company, its low thermal resistance and high ruggedness increase reliability and improve MTBF while the...

Waterproof medium gain antenna.(PASSIVE & DISCRETE COMPONENTS)
December 15, 2008... The Buccaneer from Bulgin Components is a waterproof medium gain antenna for the 2.4-GHz to 2.5-GHz frequency band. Integrating the antenna with its waterproof connector can reduce the total number of connectors in the RF chain, reducing...

SiC MESFETs surpass silicon, GaAs devices.(PASSIVE & DISCRETE COMPONENTS)
December 15, 2008... Cree, Inc. unveiled its 48-V silicon carbide (SiC) RF MESFETs that are optimized for applications such as wideband MIl/Aero and defense communications, Class A and A/B amplifiers, and wireless broadband applications. Properties include high...

Power management IC maximizes energy performance in multi-kilowatt systems.(POWER SOURCES)
December 15, 2008... Texas Instruments introduced a single-chip, interleaved power factor correction (PFC) control circuit for multi-kilowatt communications, server and industrial systems. In line-operated systems with power levels from 75 W to 1 kW and above, the...

Isolated 2-W single output DC/DC converter offers 89 percent typical efficiency.(POWER SOURCES)
December 15, 2008... The NMK Series of isolated 2-W single output DC/DC converters from Murata Power Solutions comes in a small footprint, pin compatible, industry standard SIP package that allows easy drop-in replacement of other devices. The series also provides...

Fifty-volt LDMOS power transistors serve L-Band radar applications.(POWER SOURCES)
December 15, 2008... Freescale introduced a 50-V LDMOS RF power transistor line for L-Band radar applications. The MRF6V14300H final stage device produces pulsed RF output power of 330 W at frequencies between 1,200 MHz and 1,400 MHz and offers desirable...

Power management ICs integrate high-fidelity audio Codec.(POWER SOURCES)
December 15, 2008... Wolfson Microelectronics' WM8350 AudioPlus Power Management IC features an integrated high fidelity audio Codec and power management subsystem for high performance audio, extended battery life, and reduced system cost for portable audio and...

Converter delivers high fewer density.(POWER SOURCES)
December 15, 2008... Delivering a power density of over 76 W/[in.sup.2], Enpirion's EN5395QI 9 A DC/DC converter that features integrated-inductor technology and a high switching frequency. The technology enables the PwrSoC (power supply on a chip) to attain noise...

Touch sensing device enables button and slider replacement in any system.(TOP FOUR)
December 15, 2008... Cypress Semiconductor introduced the CapSense Express capacitive touch sensing device for button and slider replacement. The device enables designers to implement up to 10 buttons and/or sliders in as little as five minutes--with no coding. The...

CMOS and adjustable resistor-based application-specific analog signal conditioning chip.(TOP FOUR)
December 15, 2008... Microbridge Technologies introduced the MBSTC-02 CMOS device active analog circuit which incorporates the company's passive, Rejustor polysilicon adjustable resistor technology. The signal conditioning chip allows sensor calibration and...

Non-contact thermometer sensor offers narrow field of view.(SENSORS)
December 15, 2008... Melexis introduced the MLX90614xAC with narrow 35[degrees] field of view (FOV), allowing design engineers to measure smaller objects or increase the sensor-object distance with this thermometer. The 35[degrees] FOV is obtained by adding a...