ECN-Electronic Component News articles from January 2009

ECN-Electronic Component News archives from January 2009

Auld Lang Syne.(Editor's View)
January 1, 2009... As we head into the New Year, looking towards the future, our minds are always drawn to the past. "Auld Lang Syne" means roughly "long times past." Our ruminations on the past vary from individual to individual; one may look back nostalgic,...

Oscilloscope platform touts 80-GS/s sample rate, 512-Mp/ch analysis memory.(Leading Off)
January 1, 2009... LeCroy Corporation's 8 Zi Series of WaveMaster digital oscilloscopes, serial data analyzers and disk drive analyzers provide up to 30 GHz of bandwidth, 80 GS/s of sample rate, 512 Mp of analysis and >15-GHz edge triggering. The platform...

Digital HD convergence architecture supports transcoding, encoding, and decoding at up to 4x HD performance.(Leading Off)
January 1, 2009... The Zenverge Entertainment Nexus (ZEN) architecture for digital HD convergence is implemented in a family of single chip Advanced Media ICs and is said to be the first to support transcoding, decoding, and encoding of multiple formats at up to...

Leaded gas-filled two-electrode arrester touted as world's smallest.(Leading Off)
January 1, 2009... Epcos has developed what it asserts is the world's smallest leaded gas-filled two-electrode arrester. With a length of 3.5 mm, this arrester has a diameter of 2.8 mm. The G3 Arrester Series is available with response voltages ranging from 75...

Handheld and benchtop instruments.(PRODUCT TECHNOLOGY REVIEW)
January 1, 2009... Portability, small footprint, light weight and ease-of-use are consistently key attributes engineers look for when selecting test instruments. Of course they must be feature-rich, too. Here are some recent offerings of handheld and bench-top...

Handheld and benchtop instruments.(PRODUCT TECHNOLOGY REVIEW)
January 1, 2009... [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Keithley Instruments Protek Test Keithley's 50-MHz Model Protek Test and 3390 with advanced Measurement's Model 667C ...

Ethernet modules act like SBCs: modules handle much more than communication tasks.(Ethernet Modules)
January 1, 2009... Manufacturers offer a variety of small modules that let engineers easily add an Ethernet port to a design. But, along with 10/100 Ethernet capability, modules also provide general-purpose I/O pins, [I.sup.2]C, SPI, UARTs, CAN, ADCs, PWMs,...

ZigBee radios and ICs gain momentum in industrial control applications: from elevators to industrial control, ZigBee radio offers a simple, low cost alternative to wired networks.(Zigbee)
January 1, 2009... Riding an elevator is typically a mundane exercise--you push a button, you wait, you get off at your floor. Few give any thought to the workings outside the metal box you're riding. But behind the scenes a lot of technical communication takes...

Planning for end-of-life in mil/aero markets.(Aerospace/Military Electronics)
January 1, 2009... Although the ramifications of end of life (EOL) announcements have long been an issue for OEMs in the mil/aero marketplace, many still fail to put a workable plan in place to face this reality. As a result of the increase in end-product...

The PXI bus hits its stride: PXI test systems show good things really do come in small packages.(PXI Update)
January 1, 2009... As you might guess from its name, the PCI eXtensions for Instrumentation bus, or PXI bus, takes advantage of the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) technology developed for personal computers. Just as the original PCI bus lets users add...

Outsourcing battery pack design.(Batteries)
January 1, 2009... Every day, electronics manufacturers face the same challenge: how to create the desired end product with the resources available. But the fact is that many times all the resources are simply not at hand--particularly in terms of design...

Improving battery life in portable electronics.(Batteries)
January 1, 2009... Significant progress has been made to increase the efficiency of a portable device's power operation, specifically the optimization of RF circuit and digital ASIC/support logic power consumption. Designers are currently concentrating on power...

The right diodes reduce power waste.(Street Talk)
January 1, 2009... Standard silicon diodes exhibit a forward voltage drop from 0.50 V to 0.70 V in the forward direction. Schottky silicon diodes exhibit a forward voltage drop from 0.25 V to 0.30 V in the forward direction. Power loss in the diode is roughly...

Considering aftermarket batteries.(DESIGN TALK)
January 1, 2009... As a portable device manufacturer, it is your responsibility to protect your company and customer base from the aftermarket packs, or at least manage the suppliers of aftermarket batteries for your device. There are many options available to...

Thin-printed batteries provide a design alternative.(Batteries)
January 1, 2009... Product design engineers seeking new power source technologies to improve the design, performance, manufacturability and cost of electronic products and systems should consider an exciting new technology--thin, flexible, 1.5-V carbon-zinc...

Module allows two parallel-running operating systems.(BOARDS, MODULES & EMBEDDED SYSTEMS)
January 1, 2009... Including Hypervisor Software 2.0 from Real-Time Systems, congatec AG's conga-QA Qseven embedded PC module lets any two operating systems run in parallel, independently from one another, and with real-time capability. It is based on the Intel...

Evaluation kit ported onto Linux.(BOARDS, MODULES & EMBEDDED SYSTEMS)
January 1, 2009... The Linux release, v2.6.27, from Atmel, is intended for its 400-MHz ARM926EJS-based AT91SAM9G20 embedded microprocessor and other members of the AT91SAM9 family. A Linux distribution based on v2.6.27 is available from Atmel's AT91SAM portal at...

Op amps exhibit low input noise.(INTEGRATED CIRCUITS)
January 1, 2009... National Semiconductor's LMP2021 (single) and LMP2022 (dual) zero-drift operational amplifiers present an input voltage noise of 11 nV/sqrt Hz at a gain of 1,000 V/V. The components use EMI suppression filters, demonstrate an EMI rejection...

Transistors demonstrate low [V.sub.CE(SAT)].(INTEGRATED CIRCUITS)
January 1, 2009... Coming in a SMT SOT-883L TLP leadless package, Central Semiconductor's CET3904E (NPN) and CET3906E (PNP) 40-V general-purpose transistors exhibit [V.sub.CE(SAT)] values of 0.100V (max.) and 0.057 V (typ.) at 10 mA, and 0.2 V (max.) and 0.100 V...

Switcher ICs target constant-voltage converter design.(INTEGRATED CIRCUITS)
January 1, 2009... Targeting applications requiring [+ or -]5 percent voltage accuracy, the LinkSwitch-CV Series of AC/DC switched-mode power conversion ICs simplify the design of CV converters by eliminating all secondary-side CV and control-loop compensation...

LEDs offer wide viewing angle.(OPTOELECTRONICS & DISPLAYS)
January 1, 2009... Avago Technologies' ASMT-QxBB Series 0.5-W SMT LEDs offer a viewing angle of 120[degrees] in automotive and electronic sign applications. The RoHS-compliant components exhibit mid-power intensity brightness with optimum flux performance using...

Four-string SSLD employs [I.sup.2]C interface.(OPTOELECTRONICS & DISPLAYS)
January 1, 2009... Suiting white, RGB, and RGB-plus-amber configurations, Maxim Integrated Products' MAX16826 four-string SSLD uses an [I.sup.2]C interface for programming the output voltage. The 5-mm x 5-mm 32-pin TQFN-packaged component presents a four-channel...

Industrial LCD module lasts 50K hours.(OPTOELECTRONICS & DISPLAYS)
January 1, 2009... Using LED back-lighting technology, Sharp Microelectronics' LQ 150X1LG82 15" industrial LCD module endures for up to 50,000 hours over a temperature range from 0[degrees]C to 60[degrees]C. The transmissive XGA landscape-mode panel offers a...

MultiLEDs target Hi-res video displays.(OPTOELECTRONICS & DISPLAYS)
January 1, 2009... OSRAM Opto Semiconductors announced two MultiLEDs for LED video displays. Featuring a typical luminance of 2,000-cd/[m.sup.2] and a pixel spacing from 5 mm to 7 mm, the LEDs are targeted at high resolution video display applications that...

TVS array withstands 100-A surges.(PASSIVE & DISCRETE COMPONENTS)
January 1, 2009... Protecting sub-micron transceivers against GR-1089-level lightning pulses on high-speed data lines, Semtech's TClamp2502N transient voltage suppressor (TVS) array endures surges of 100 A. The 2.6-mm x 2.6-mm x 0.5-mm SLP-packaged component is...

MLCCs exhibit wide capacitance range.(PASSIVE & DISCRETE COMPONENTS)
January 1, 2009... Offering case sizes from 0402 to 1812, Novacap's X7R and X5R Series MLCCs demonstrate capacitance values ranging from 100 pF to 100 [mu]F in filter applications. The devices have the ability to stack into an array with capacitors, resistors,...

OCXO exhibits low aging.(PASSIVE & DISCRETE COMPONENTS)
January 1, 2009... Vectron International's C4500A1-0115 5-GHz SC-Cut oven-controlled crystal oscillator (OCXO) demonstrates aging of [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Vectron International, 888-328-7661, www.vectron.com

PoE splitter powers heaters or illuminators.(PASSIVE & DISCRETE COMPONENTS)
January 1, 2009... Providing 12 V at 1.75 A for powering heaters or illuminators, the POE21-120F Power-over-Ethernet splitter from Phihong can forward IEEE802.3at/af power and data to video surveillance cameras. The 12-VDC out Gigabit-compatible splitter works...

VCO performs to 4,442 MHz.(PASSIVE & DISCRETE COMPONENTS)
January 1, 2009... Presenting a control voltage range from 0.1 V to 16 V, Crystek's CVCO55CC-4267-4442 VCO operates from 4,267 MHz to 4,442 MHz, with an input voltage of 8 V. The 0.5" x 0.5" SMT oscillator exhibits a typical phase noise of -104 dBc/Hz at an...

SMT aluminum capacitors handle high temperatures.(PASSIVE & DISCRETE COMPONENTS)
January 1, 2009... Using a non-solid, self-healing electrolyte, as well as a heat-resistant pad and molded baseplate, the ECL Series of polarized aluminum electrolytic capacitors from Vishay Intertechnology can operate at temperatures as high as 105[degrees]C....

Three-phase filters fit onto a DIN rail.(PASSIVE & DISCRETE COMPONENTS)
January 1, 2009... Exhibiting plastic housing and a lack of internal resins, Premo EMC's DRTF family of three-phase filters is available to assemble onto a DIN rail. The UL1283-and EN60939-approved devices perform without neutral for currents of 20 A, 30 A, and...

Designer kit contains ESD protection diodes.(PASSIVE & DISCRETE COMPONENTS)
January 1, 2009... Working in high-speed I/O ports and systems requiring 30-kV contact discharge protection when tested to IEC61000 specifications, OnChip Devices' OC-ESD-DK1 ESD protection diode designer kit comes with 12 different ESD protection diode products....

Suppressor delivers filtering and clamping.(PASSIVE & DISCRETE COMPONENTS)
January 1, 2009... Combining stacked capacitors and multilayer varistors, AVX's CapGuard transient voltage suppressor (TVS) demonstrates broadband off-state EMI filtering and bi-directional transient clamping. The component offers energy ratings of 1.2 J and 1.5...

SSXOs require less than 10 mA.(PASSIVE & DISCRETE COMPONENTS)
January 1, 2009... Complying with EMI requirements, Pericom Semiconductor's M-Series spread spectrum crystal oscillators (SSXOs) have a power supply requirement of 800-435-2336, www.pericom.com

Battery clips withstand shock and vibration.(PACKAGING & INTERCONNECTS)
January 1, 2009... Suiting dense PCB placements, Keystone Electronics' "A" and "AA" battery clips exhibit resistance to shock and vibration using a "flow hole" SMT solder tail design. The units are made of 0.012" (0.300-mm) thick, nickel-plated steel, and come...

Boxes integrate EMI/RFI shielding capability.(PACKAGING & INTERCONNECTS)
January 1, 2009... Coming in sizes of 2.13" x 1.97" X 0.62" and 2.13" x 1.97" x 0.75", TEKO Enclosures' RF-PCB boxes are designed for on-board EMI/RFI shielding of components. The enclosures are manufactured in hot tin-plated mild steel with flanged removable...

Cables improve signals over InfiniBand.(PACKAGING & INTERCONNECTS)
January 1, 2009... Intended for InfiniBand, 10 Gigabit Ethernet and 40 Gigabit Ethernet applications, GORE QSFP copper cable assemblies improve signal reliability at speeds over the standard InfiniBand QDR data rate of 10 Gbps/channel. For DDR (5 Gbps), it ranges...

Connectors accommodate 300 contacts.(PACKAGING & INTERCONNECTS)
January 1, 2009... Coming in wall mount receptacle and plug shell styles, ITT Interconnect Solutions' KJA 300 Series MIL-DTL 38999 connectors display the ability to accommodate 300 size 22D contacts in a single package. The devices are appropriate for military...

RS-232-to-USB converters exhibit fast transfer rate.(PACKAGING & INTERCONNECTS)
January 1, 2009... Coming with driver software. Omega Engineering's OM-CONV-USB Series RS-232-to-USB interface converters demonstrate a data transfer rate of >1 Mbps. The product is powered from the USB cable with no external power required, and works by...

Patch cord identifier uses color clips and LED lights.(PACKAGING & INTERCONNECTS)
January 1, 2009... Incorporating two plastic optical fibers built into Cat5, Cat6, and Cat6a patch cords, Mitsubishi International's PatchSee patch cord identifier employs LED light injection. This enables users to identify and secure both ends of a patch cord...

Injection molding technology allows component shaping.(PACKAGING & INTERCONNECTS)
January 1, 2009... Targeting PTC thermistors, Epcos' new injection molding technology enables PTC heating element components to be made in nearly any desired shape, such as tubes, nozzles or rotor blades of ventilators, in addition to round disks, rings, or...

Advanced technology humidity sensors optimize designs, reduce solution costs.(SENSOR ZONE)
January 1, 2009... When considering a relative humidity sensor for one's application, the selection process involves a series of choices to meet application requirements and key parameters while, at the same time, insuring that the product selected delivers the...

Let there not be light!(ON THE LIGHT SIDE)
January 1, 2009... Most of the time, we're concerned about producing light as efficiently as possible. This means converting as much of the source electricity into photons (of the desired wavelengths) as possible, and then herding them in such a way that the...

Advanced technology vehicles.(Brainstorm)
January 1, 2009... Q: How can advanced technology vehicles penetrate the mainstream automotive market? Lynne Mason, Electric Cars for Girls, www.electric-cars-are-for-girls.com I think if we want to introduce ATVs in the mainstream market, we have to...

Efficiency zone.
January 1, 2009... European Union to Phase Out Incandescent Bulbs by 2012. In a move sure to ignite debate on this side of the Atlantic, the European Union approved the phasing out of incandescent bulbs by 2012. Here in the U.S., we're debating which...

Introduction to Fourier Optics.
January 1, 2009... Introduction to Fourier Optics by Joseph W. Goodman. Roberts and Company Publishers; Third Edition, Greenwood Village, CO, 2004. 528 pages. $98.50. ISBN: 0-9747077-2-4. (www.roberts-publishers.com). [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] Along...

Speckle Phenomena in Optics.
January 1, 2009... Speckle Phenomena in Optics by Joseph W. Goodman. Roberts & Company Publishers, Greenwood Village, CO, 2007. 406 pages. $98.50. ISBN: 0-9747077-9-1. (www.roberts-publishers.com). [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] When a line of points occupy...

World's first graphene RF field effect transistors (FETs) demonstrated.(Research EDGE)
January 1, 2009... HRL Laboratories; LLC, announced it has demonstrated what it claims are the world's first graphene RF field effect transistors (FETs) as part of the Carbon Electronics for RF Applications, or CERA program. The milestone is the first in the...

Harnessing light to drive nanomachines.(Research EDGE)
January 1, 2009... A team led by researchers at the Yale School of Engineering & Applied Science are creating devices that run solely on light rather than electronics. Their research shows that the force of light indeed can be harnessed to drive machines--when...