Design News articles from February 2007

Design News archives from February 2007

The Case of the Ruptured Rim.
February 5, 2007... By Kenneth Russell, Professor Emeritus, MIT, Cambridge, MA America moves on many millions of rubber tires, each mated to a metallic rim that makes perhaps a billion rotations over its lifetime. During each rotation, stresses in the rim will...

Hello, My Name Is ...(weblogs of Design News)(Editorial)
February 5, 2007... By John Dodge, Editor-in-Chief For days, I have been devising ways to cleverly introduce myself as the new editor-in-chief of Design News and have come to the not so startling conclusion that a simple "hello, I am the new editor-in-chief...

Best of the Engineering Marketplace.
February 5, 2007... By Design News Staff Aries Electronics' SOWIC-to-DIP Correct-A-Chip(TM) Adapter Design News Staff Upgrades without layout change This RoHS and WEEE-compliant adapter allows upgrades to SOWIC without changing the PBC layout. It...

Fast and Cool.(Sony Corp.' development of Playstation 3)
February 5, 2007... By Charles J. Murray, Senior Technical Editor, Electronics Sony's PlayStation 3 game console combines the speed of a low-end supercomputer with the cooling techniques of a network server Time was, only the biggest products -- cars,...

Design Software"s Search for Compatibility.(Editorial)
February 5, 2007... By Terry Costlow, Contributing Editor Toolmakers focus on improved interoperability There's been plenty of consolidation in the design tool industry during the past couple years, but that hasn't decreased the number of software...

Wire-Free, Cost-Freephone Calls.(Skype, SMC Networks and FON developed a Wi-Fi Phone SMC Wi-Fi Phone WSKP100 )(Brief article)
February 5, 2007... By Terry Costlow, Contributing Editor SMC Wi-Fi Phone WSKP100 (http://rbi.ims.ca/5381-516 ). Skype, SMC Networks and FON have combined their technologies to create a phone that can make Internet calls through a computer. The phone can...

Wireless PC Links Step Up.(Lenovo Group Ltd. launches ThinkPad T60 widescreen notebook computer)(Brief article)
February 5, 2007... By Terry Costlow, Contributing Editor Lenovo's ThinkPad T60 Widescreen Notebook (http://rbi.ims.ca/5381-517 ). Lenovo's laptop supports the IEEE 802.11n draft specification, which has a maximum speed of 540 Mbits/sec. Backward...

UWB, USB Team Up.(Belkin Corp. launches a wireless USB hub)(Brief article)
February 5, 2007... By Terry Costlow Belkin Cable-Free USB Hub (http://rbi.ims.ca/5381-518 ). The Belkin Cable-Free USB Hub lets consumers link USB-compatible hardware to a computer without plugging in wires. It uses Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology,...

Keeping Cool With ZigBee.(Quiet Cool Fans launches an wireless air conditioning system)(Brief article)
February 5, 2007... By Terry Costlow Quiet Cool Fans (http://rbi.ims.ca/5381-519 ). Engineers who think the ZigBee wireless network is cool now have support for that view. Quiet Cool Fans is shipping a whole house ventilation system that gives homeowners...

Wi-Fi Wins In Super Bowl.(BelAir Networks offers WiFi mesh networks)(Brief article)
February 5, 2007... By Terry Costlow BelAir Networks' WiFi Mesh Network (http://rbi.ims.ca/5381-520 ). Most Super Bowl attendees probably won't notice, but Wi-Fi will play a big role in the operation of Miami's Dolphin Stadium. BelAir Networks' municipal...

From the Online E2E Forum.
February 5, 2007... By Design News Staff Recent postings from the engineering community Q: I am looking for a supplier who makes a shaft coupler that will permit enough steady state heat dissipation so that a temperature difference from one side of the...

Project Dragonfish: Joe Takes Rocket Science to New Depths.(Brief article)
February 5, 2007... By Design News Staff Joe Peck has extended the pursuit of realism in model rocketry to the launch environment. Think Poseidon here -- this rocket launches from underwater. Initially, it's sealed watertight from nose to nozzle. Ignition is...

Lear Builds Soy-Based Car Interiors.(Lear Corp.)(Brief article)
February 5, 2007... By Rob Spiegel, Contributing Editor Put your head against your car's comfortable head rest and you may be resting against a pile of soy plants. The tier-one auto supplier, Lear Corp., has developed SoyFoam, a soybean oil-based flexible foam...

Happy Feet Gets Its Eco-Science Wrong.(Hi-Cone)(Editorial)(Brief article)
February 5, 2007... By Rob Spiegel, Contributing Editor Apparently, plastic rings got a bad rap in the animated film Happy Feet . Hi-Cone, a leading beverage packaging company, says "not fair" to the movie's presentation of wildlife endangerment from...

Diesel Mileage Better Than Sticker's Promise.(YourMPG database)(Editorial)(Brief article)
February 5, 2007... By Rob Spiegel, Contributing Editor There's good news for those who buy diesel-powered vehicles -- they apparently deliver more real-world miles per gallon than the numbers posted on their window stickers, according to the Environmental...

Get Your Passport to 21st Century Design.(Engineering design)(Column)
February 5, 2007... By Kevin Craig Fresh ideas on integrating mechanical systems, electronics, control systems and computers in design How can today's engineers be successful when faced with the tough job of integrating electronics, computers and control...

Nintendo Responds to Multiple Gamer Complaints on Game Controller Safety.(Nintendo Company Ltd.)(Editorial)
February 5, 2007... By Dean Takahashi, Contributing Editor Wii's thin, unstable wrist straps replaced by thicker, sturdier versions Nintendo swiftly decided to replace for free the straps on its Wii game controllers. The company faced an ongoing public...

Solution for Medical Test Strip Counterfeiting.(Microchip Technology Inc. develops microcontrollers based test strips for diabetes)
February 5, 2007... By Charles J. Murray, Senior Technical Editor, Electronics Microcontroller-based token could help identify counterfeit strips An electronics manufacturer is proposing the use of Flash-based microcontrollers as a means of authenticating...

Plastic Regulator Simplifies Car Door Assembly.(Faurecia Interior Systems develops thermoplastic door module)
February 5, 2007... By Joseph Ogando, Senior Editor Rear door modules on 2007 Dodge Nitro feature a plastic window regulator that does away with steel rails and other hardware Thermoplastic door modules have, over the years, triggered no small amount of...

Programmable Indexer Solution.(Editorial)
February 5, 2007... By Al Presher, Contributing Editor Direct drive operation and software increases accuracy, reduces noise A new hardware/software bundle for implementing programmable, direct drive operation for mechanical indexers simplifies system...

Seeing In 3D Is Believing.(TDVision Systems launched 3d enabled products at Consumer Electronics Show)
February 5, 2007... By John Dodge, Editor-in-Chief TDVision Systems pushes out suite of new 3D products No better group than engineers understands the value of true 3D visualization. Building virtual products mitigates the time and expense of building the...

Challenges of Going Vista.(conversation with Michael Neal of National Instruments Corp.)(Interview)
February 5, 2007... By Mike Neal, Product Mmanager, National Instruments' Labview NI faces the obstacles of implementing the newest Windows OS How is National Instruments (NI) preparing for the switch to Vista? Microsoft's Vista beta program gave us...

Silicon Simplifies Sensors.(semiconductor sensors from Analog Devices Inc., Dallas Semiconductor Corp., and National Semiconductor Corp.)
February 5, 2007... By Jon Titus, Contributing Editor If you need simple electronic sensors that produce a direct temperature value, look no further than semiconductor sensors. In most cases, you need no involved math to convert a value from one of these...

Suppliers Simplify Search.(automation companies make more user friendly websites)(Editorial)
February 5, 2007... By Joseph Ogando, Senior Editor, Motion Control Websites are going beyond the simple display of online catalogs Suppliers of motion and automation components have always wanted your business, but what are they doing to actually win it?...

Motion Solutions for Packaging.(ELAU AG introduces new intelligent servo module)(Rockwell Automation Inc. introduces hardware/software solution )(Baldor introduces five-axis motion control system )
February 5, 2007... By Al Presher, Contributing Editor Suppliers focus on application-specific software and modular servo modules More than any other single industry, general-purpose motion control is focused on packaging machinery. Servos have...

Roll Handling: A Complex Art.
February 5, 2007... By Ed Sullivan, Contributing Writer Tips for selecting a design partner that has the knowledge, expertise & experience Industrial roll handling is a complex science, requiring equipment designers and installers to not only understand...

Modular Conveyor Systems.
February 5, 2007... By Ed Sullivan, Contributing Writer Manufacturers put the kibosh on talking about material conveying equipment Manufacturers in every field are keeping their processes private, if not secret. After all, most processes are in some ways...

Control Innovations in Packaging.(conversation with Dan Throne of Bosch Rexroth Corp. Electric Drives & Controls Div.)(Interview)
February 5, 2007... By Dan Throne Packaging machinery OEMs focus on performance, reducing system costs What are important issues for OEMs designing control systems for packaging machines? We see OEMs addressing three basic issues: increasing...

Consumer Electronics Show Focuses on Vehicles, Home.(Editorial)
February 26, 2007... By Charles J. Murray, Senior Editor, Electronics Exhibitors emphasize sharing of electronic media Even though it was upstaged for a day by Macworld and the iPhone, the 2007 Consumer Electronics Show was a colossal success, drawing...

The Case of the Autonomous Auto.(Column)
February 26, 2007... By Myron J. Boyajian, President, Engineering Consultants A short time ago, I responded to a reader whose letter referenced one of my previous Calamities columns. This reader described an uncontrolled acceleration incident he had with his...

Flexible Resistor Provides Flow Measurement.(Bend Sensor from Flexpoint Sensor Systems)
February 26, 2007... By Design News Staff Mechanical design is the key to meeting application needs Compared to a potentiometer, a film resistor, whose value changes are based on the amount of deflection, has considerably fewer parts and other desirable...

Take Advantage of the Video World.
February 26, 2007... By John Dodge, Editor-in-Chief Like it or not, the Internet video revolution is upon us. Video comes closer to mimicking real life without being there than the written word or audio alone. Before I explain, I want to offer two words of...

Best of the Engineering Marketplace.
February 26, 2007... By Design News Staff Interface Model 9320 Battery-Powered Indicator Design News Staff TEDS plug-and-play compatible This TEDS plug-and-play-ready instrument is a microprocessor-based device made to be compatible with any full...

These Robots Put Their Best Faces Forward.
February 26, 2007... By Joseph Ogando, Senior Editor, Motion Control David Hanson's humanoid robots can be all smiles, thanks to an intelligent motion control system that brings realistic expressions to their faces David Hanson does something most other...

Parking Systems Grab the Wheel.(Lexus LS 460)
February 26, 2007... By Charles J. Murray, Senior Technical Editor, electronics New sensor-based systems enable vehicles to steer themselves into parking spaces Last fall, when Lexus announced it was marketing a North American vehicle with a self-parking...

Working Under Pressure.
February 26, 2007... By Terry Costlow, Contributing Editor Pelagic Pressure Systems' ATOM 2.0 dive watch works well under pressure, making technical scuba diving safer. It provides wireless air pressure checks on multiple tanks, while also monitoring divers'...

TV Goes Mobile.(Digital TV mobile phones)(Brief article)
February 26, 2007... By Terry Costlow, Contributing Editor Digital TV mobile phones from Samsung Electronics let consumers in Europe, Korea and other regions receive TV and radio channels as well as data services like weather forecasts or traffic and travel...

Maps, Music and Mobility.
February 26, 2007... By Terry Costlow, Contributing Editor Weighing in at 4 oz, the Pocket LOOX N100 Series personal navigation assistant from Fujitsu Siemens Computers is light enough for bikes and walkers, as well as in vehicles. A 300 MHz Samsung processor...

Speed King.
February 26, 2007... By Terry Costlow, Contributing Editor Fast drivers in Europe may be excited by Mio Technology's C250 navigator, which provides the likely locations of speed cameras. In another type of speed, the Tele Atlas map plots routes more quickly...

Big Screen, Low Power.
February 26, 2007... By Terry Costlow, Contributing Editor The Magellan Roadmate 3000T simplifies GPS navigation, offering a 3.5 inch color touch screen and the option of receiving live TrafficKit updates of traffic incidents. It provides voice guidance to...

Driving Hybrid Vehicles.
February 26, 2007... By Terry Costlow, Contributing Editor A joint venture between Johnson Controls and Saft Advanced Power Solutions is developing lithium-ion batteries for hybrids and electric vehicles. General Motors tapped the technology for potential use...

Bob Solved His Chip Problem.
February 26, 2007... By Design News Staff Woodworker Bob Neidorff bought a vacuum to collect the chips and sawdust from his shop equipment, and plumbed it to the vacuum ports on his power tools and to his homemade vacuum hose ports. But then, he had to turn it...

Heavy-Duty diesels getting cleaner in 2007.(Brief article)
February 26, 2007... By Rob Spiegel, Contributing Editor Beginning this year, a new generation of heavy-duty diesel engines for trucks will be 90 percent cleaner than diesel engines of the past. According to the Diesel Technology Forum, industry-wide,...

Total Parts Plus Delivers China RoHS Labeling Solution.(Brief article)
February 26, 2007... By Rob Spiegel, Contributing Editor Total Parts Plus Inc., a provider of obsolete electronic components as well as environmental compliance services, has developed a China RoHS labeling solution. China's labeling requirement is the first...

TexCom Opens Biodiesel Plant.
February 26, 2007... By Rob Spiegel, Contributing Editor The oil industry apparently understands future fuels will be greener. Oil producer TexCom Inc. has broken ground on a major biodiesel production plant near Houston. Since Houston is situated at the center...

Readers Sound Off.(Letter to the editor)
February 26, 2007... By Design News Staff Poor Marketing Killed the EV The demise of the electric car was more a failure of marketing than of technology (DN 01.08.07, "I Killed the Electric Car," http://rbi.ims.ca/5383-503 ). At its state of development...

Microsoft's Robotic moves.
February 26, 2007... By Design News Staff New software from Microsoft promises to simplify the development of robotics' applications Microsoft Corp. has released its Window-based robotics software development kit. Called Microsoft Robotics Studio (MSRS),...

Memory Could Replace Flash, Disk Drives.
February 26, 2007... By Charles J. Murray, Senior Technical Editor, Electronics Applications include cameras, digital music players, laptops A cooperative effort by IBM, Macronix International Co., (http://rbi.ims.ca/5383-527 ) and Qimonda AG...

Hollow Part Design Not Such a Slow Go.(molding hollow parts by rotational molding)
February 26, 2007... By Doug Smock, Contributing Editor, Materials Low-cost process solves insert challenges due to small volume requirements Rotational molding offers lower tooling costs while meeting specifications' requirements from Thermo Fisher...

Aras Embraces Open Source PLM.(Product Lifecycle Management)
February 26, 2007... By Beth Stackpole, contributing editor, hardware/software New platform offers cost-effective solution by leveraging Microsoft.net Aras Corp. (http://rbi.ims.ca/5383-534 ) has big plans for the still emerging PLM space. It's...

Hidden Gems from the Consumer Electronics Show.
February 26, 2007... By Dean Takahashi, Contributing Editor In a vast field of new gizmos and improved contraptions, we look at what gadgets engineers would most appreciate It's always nice to bring home a lot of stuff from conventions, but it's hard to...

Installing Microsoft Vista: It Must Have Been Me.(Editorial)
February 26, 2007... By John Dodge, Editor-in-Chief Get ready for a rocky upgrade over Windows XP Is the job of providing an efficient and reliable PC operating system that is cool and runs every last hardware device and application simply gotten too big?...

Observing Maximum Ratings or How to Avoid Forecasts of Doom.
February 26, 2007... By James Bryant Q. How much safety margin is there in "absolute maximum" ratings? A. None! And integrated circuits (ICs) are not fortune tellers. An IC's absolute maximum rating is the limit of the conditions under which it may be...

Enhancing Productivity.(Donald Gradin)(Interview)
February 26, 2007... By Donald Gradin, Mechanical Engineer, KONE Inc. KONE implements 3D CAD program , galvanizing production Finnish elevator and escalator company KONE started moving from 2D AutoCAD to 3D with Autodesk Inventor version 7 in 2002. The...

FlexRay Silicon Rolls Out.
February 26, 2007... By Charles J. Murray, Senior Technical Editor, Electronics Controllers and transcievers unveiled that work with FlexRay protocol FlexRay, which started out as a time-triggered network protocol for automotive drive-by-wire applications,...

Plastics' Assembly Advances.
February 26, 2007... By Doug Smock, Contributing Editor, Materials Developments in materials and equipment allow improved designs Plastics' fastening isn't always the most glamorous technology discussion, but it can sure stand in the way of innovative...

Panel Computers Get Powerful.(Pentium M processors from Intel Corp.)(Kontron introduces Kontron V Panel Express processor)(Beckhoff Automation introduces CP62xx Panel PC)(Editorial)
February 26, 2007... By Joseph Ogando, Senior Editor, Motion Control Industrial laptops go dual core CPU Industrial panel PC designs continue to follow in the footsteps of laptop computers. At least, it would seem that way, judging from their processors....

About that EV….(electric cars)(Column)
February 26, 2007... By Charles J. Murray, Senior Technical Editor, Electronics You can't always mandate technology into existence Apparently, it has become necessary to clear the air. First, I don't hate the environment. Second, I don't dislike hybrid...