Design News articles from June 2007

Design News archives from June 2007

Top Blog Posts.(internet blogs)
June 4, 2007... By Design News Staff Recent posts on the latest engineering technology trends designnews.com/blogs I Cut My Electric Bill in Half I am derivingA enormousA satisfaction from cutting my electric bill in halfA from an...

The Case of the Smashed Sissy Bar.
June 4, 2007... By Kenneth Russell, Professor Emeritus, MIT, Cambridge, MA The 1987 Olds 88 rammed into the back of a tractor trailer stopped at a traffic light. The driver reported seeing a long line of traffic behind him, then being struck from behind...

Resistive Interface Challenges Capacitance Switches.(Brief article)
June 4, 2007... By Randy Frank, contributing editor Lower cost technique suits many applications Portable products such as iPods, MP3 players and universal remote controls use capacitive touch switch technology to easily navigate large menus. A...

Pressure Sensor Provides Performance and Packaging.
June 4, 2007... By Randy Frank, contributing editor Small size and flexibility are key Packaging provides a major design differentiator for products that otherwise meet the same technical specifications. Of course, if the specs are better, the...

Will Boeing's 787 Dreamliner Improve the Flying Experience?
June 4, 2007... By John Dodge, Editor-in-Chief While we extol the technical advances and human-friendly environment in Boeing's forthcoming 787 Dreamliner (http://rbi.ims.ca/5393-500 ) over 18 pages in this issue, there's still the sobering reality of...

Best of the Engineering Marketplace.
June 4, 2007... By Design News Staff Reciprocating Machinery Protector from IMI Sensors Design News Staff Works for continuous vibration monitoring, protection of reciprocating compressors The IMI Sensors division of PCB Piezotronics...

Designing Around the Clock, and the World.(Interview)
June 4, 2007... By John Dodge, Editor-In-Chief Part II of our interview with Boeing Chief 787 Project Engineer Tom Cogan with DN Editor-in-Chief John Dodge focuses on how the company organized to design and make Dreamliner components using partners from...

787 Dreamliner.(Brief article)
June 4, 2007... By John Dodge, Editor-In-Chief Our smorgasbord of 787 Dreamliner stories shows how Boeing is revolutionizing not only large passenger jets, but the way complex machinery is conceived, designed and built. Indeed, our stories focus on the...

787: A Collection of Technologies.(dialogue with Tom Cogan )(Interview)
June 4, 2007... By John Dodge, Editor-In-Chief Part I of DN Editor-in-Chief John Dodge's interview with 787 Dreamliner Chief Project Engineer Tom Cogan zeroes in on the myriad technologies in Boeing's newest airplane. DN: Our materials expert Doug...

A Smoother Operator.
June 4, 2007... By Charles J. Murray, Senior Technical Editor, Electronics 787 Dreamliner's gust suppression system senses pressure differences before inertial motion begins Just thinking about it is enough to make you queasy: A commercial airliner...

A 'More Electric' 787 Fuels Engine Evolution.
June 4, 2007... By Joseph Ogando, Senior Editor, Motion Control On the 787, Boeing eliminated bleed air and relied heavily on electric starter generators. Both changes triggered engine design improvements Jet engines for commercial airliners tend to...

The Dreamliner: A Materials Revolution.
June 4, 2007... By Doug Smock, Contributing Editor, Materials and Fastening Extensive use of plastic composites in the Boeing 787 Dreamliner reduces weight, allows new concepts in design, extends airplane life and allows for higher cabin pressurization ...

Boeing's Brave New World of Product Development.(Company overview)
June 4, 2007... By Beth Stackpole, Contributing Editor, Hardware/Software The Global Collaboration Environment lets 787 partners design, build and test components and manufacturing processes for the aircraft digitally, prior to physical production ...

Heart Analysis Made Easy.(Lechnologies Research Inc.)(Brief article)
June 4, 2007... By Terry Costlow, contributing editor Home health care is making dramatic strides. Lechnologies Research Inc. offers an AfibAlert atrial fibrillation monitor that lets patients with heart issues quickly and easily decide whether they need...

Bringing Team Play to Computer Games.(ZAPiT Games Inc.)(Brief article)
June 4, 2007... By Terry Costlow, contributing editor The ZAPiT Game Wave brings back the interactivity that often disappears when people gather to play computer games. The DVD-based game console uses up to six wireless remote controls, letting several...

Chip Suppliers, Automakers Team Up.
June 4, 2007... By Terry Costlow, contributing editor Electronic controls are becoming the products differentiating autos and improving everything from safety to creature comforts. Hyundai Motor Co. acknowledged this in a big way when it committed to parts...

Rid Homes of CD Clutter.(compact disc)(Brief article)
June 4, 2007... By Terry Costlow, contributing editor The digital music revolution is transforming home stereos. Denon's D-F103 CD/HDD Mini System manages digital audio files from portable devices, CD players and the Internet. It stores as many as 10,000...

DSPs Help Rule the Waves.(digital signal processors)(Brief article)
June 4, 2007... By Terry Costlow, contributing editor Raytheon, the main mission systems equipment integrator for the U.S. Navy's DDG 1000 Zumwalt Class Destroyer program, is using Texas Instruments' TMS320C6455 digital signal processors in that ship's...

Case #103: The French Fryin' Legion's New Secret Weapon.(Brief article)
June 4, 2007... By Design News Staff This project is definitely not small potatoes - three barrels loaded with spuds and charged with propane! Two PIC microcontrollers handle the User Interface, Azimuth and Elevation Aiming and Fire Control functions....

Roush Debuts Propane-Powered F-150.(Roush Industries Inc.)(Brief article)
June 4, 2007... By Rob Spiegel, contributing editor The engineering firm of Roush Industries Inc. has developed a propane- powered F-150 Ford pickup truck using an advanced liquid propane injection system. The Roush F-150 is designed and manufactured to...

Chevron Corp., Weyerhaeuser to Create Biofuels Alliance.(Brief article)
June 4, 2007... By Rob Spiegel, contributing editor Chevron Corp. and Weyerhaeuser Co. will work together to commercialize the production of biofuels from cellulose-based sources. The companies plan to research and develop technology that can transform...

Nissan, NEC Team to Mass Produce Lithium Batteries.(NEC Corp.)(Nissan Motor Company Ltd.)(Brief article)
June 4, 2007... By Rob Spiegel, contributing editor Nissan Motor Co. and NEC Corp. have created the Automotive Energy Supply (AESC) Corp. to focus on developing lithium-ion batteries for wide-scale automotive use by 2009. The two companies will invest more...

Readers Sound Off.(readers' opinion)(Discussion)
June 4, 2007... By Design News Staff We're Guilty I live in California where we have more registered vehicles than registered drivers. I believe the movie ('An Inconvenient Truth' http://rbi.ims.ca/5393-516 ) and your article (DN 4.30.07...

Changing the Culture for Mechatronics.(dialogue with Eric Berg of Procter & Gamble Co.)(Interview)
June 4, 2007... By Kevin Craig Fresh ideas on integrating mechanical systems, electronics, control systems and software in design In 'Who Says Elephants Can't Dance?' former IBM CEO Lou Gerstner recalls, when it came to turning Big Blue around,...

Asian Vehicles Dominate Ratings.(Survey)
June 4, 2007... By Charles J. Murray, senior technical editor, electronics Fifty-five of the 59 most reliable vehicles are from Japan Asian automakers again dominated a recently released vehicle reliability study (http://rbi.ims.ca/5393-543 ), grabbing...

SAE Dummies Get Smart.(Society of Automotive Engineers)
June 4, 2007... By Charles J. Murray, senior technical editor, electronics Sensors enable better measurement of chest, head forces Automotive manufacturers at the recent SAE World Congress (http://rbi.ims.ca/5393-547 ) rolled out new technologies that...

New Eli Lilly & Co. Insulin Device Sets Record.
June 4, 2007... By Doug Smock, contributing editor, materials and fastening A 27-component insulin pen for children was brought to market in just eight months after doctors made a personal request to the COO Eli Lilly & Co. (http://rbi.ims.ca/5393-553...

Smart Robotic Autosampler Speeds Up.
June 4, 2007... By Joseph Ogando, senior editor, motion control Parker Hannifin's Smart Syringe autosampler boosts throughput by decoupling motion and microfluidics The goal of achieving a high throughput is familiar enough in manufacturing settings,...

Agile PLM Gets Business Intelligent Smarts.(product lifecycle management)(Agile Software Corp.)
June 4, 2007... By Beth Stackpole, contributing editor, hardware/software Upgrade includes out-of-the-box decision support capabilities to improve decision making around product development Agile Software Corp. (http://rbi.ims.ca/5393-558 ) bolstered...

From Modeling to Mechatronics.
June 4, 2007... By Lawrence D. Maloney, contributing editor 3D CAD was just the beginning of the software revolution at Japan's giant Dainippon Screen Mfg. Product lifecycles for high-tech electronic imaging equipment have shrunk drastically....

Instrumentation 2.0.
June 4, 2007... By Eric Starkloff, National Instruments Software-based approach is gaining momentum Test instruments haven't kept pace with the rapid changes that have occurred in devices being tested. There have been advances in instrumentation in...

Rarely Asked Questions.(proper maintenance of power amplifiers)
June 4, 2007... By John Ardizzoni, contributing writer Should you butcher your circuit or your test gear? Capable engineers should be prepared to question, and modify, anything, not just their own designs. Q. While probing a new high-speed amplifier...

The Challenge of Shrinking Semiconductor Structures.
June 4, 2007... By Randy Frank, Contributing Editor Motion control improvements provide part of the solution Materials and equipment play a key role to make 'smaller, faster and higher performance' a continuing reality in the semiconductor industry....

A Fresh Approach to Robot Control.(robotic control for semiconductor wafer handling)
June 4, 2007... By Greg Eldrodt, Contributing Writer For wafer-handling applications, a new control scheme breaks down the proprietary barriers that can hurt productivity in semiconductor manufacturing Proprietary systems have traditionally dominated...

Strength in Numbers.
June 4, 2007... By Randy Frank, Contributing Editor Semiconductor manufacturers gang up to take on processing challenges With the cost of a leading-edge wafer manufacturing facility, or fab, estimated at as much as $5 billion in 2007, many...

Control Systems Improve Semiconductor Manufacturing.(Performance Motion Devices Inc. introduce ION Digital Drive)(Aerotech Inc. introduces Air-Bearing Rotary Stage Series)(Wittenstein Motion Control Inc. introduces TPM+ rotary actuator )
June 4, 2007... By Randy Frank, Contributing Editor Process control relies on motion and more Even the most basic CMOS process has dozens of manufacturing steps requiring precise systems and subsystems. Motion control is fundamental to almost every...

Improving Analog Circuits.
June 4, 2007... By Hae-Seung Lee, professor, MIT Microsystems Technology Labs Laboratory Inc. A Solution To Heavy Analog Circuit Power Consumption Why is there a need for a new class of analog circuits? There may be drawbacks down the road, but we...

Suppliers Roll Out Smaller Three-Axis Accelerometers.(Analog Devices Inc. introduces ADXL330 accelerometer)(STMicroelectronics NV introduces LIS302DL low-power sensors)(Freescale Semiconductor Israel Ltd. introduces MMA series of sensors)
June 4, 2007... By Charles J. Murray, senior technical editor, electronics Product manufacturers are calling for smaller sensors in several applications The popularity of video games - such as Sony's PlayStation 3 and Nintendo's Wii - have thrust...

New Fasteners Feature Plastics.
June 4, 2007... By Doug Smock, contributing editor, materials and fastening Nylon and ABS are increasingly used due to their moldability, cost and ease Emphasis with new fasteners is on cost effectiveness and ease of use. Plastics are increasingly...

Stepper Resurgence.(stepper motors from Danaher Motion Inc.)(B&R Industrial Automation introduces stepper motor control)(Beckhoff Automation introduces stepper motors and stepper i/o terminals )
June 4, 2007... By Joseph Ogando, senior editor, motion control New motors & control options models make steppers more attractive Stepper motors, while still commonplace, have seen their popularity erode a bit over the past few years as servo motors...

What's a TDC, Anyway?(time-to-digital converter)(Agilent Technologies Inc. introduces NI PXI-6602 Counter/Timer instrument card)
June 4, 2007... By Jon Titus, Contributing Editor When engineers think of an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), they usually need to measure a voltage or current. But, you may need to measure another analog quantity: time. You can use a counter/timer...

Flexing Fluidic Muscles.(hydraulic control equipment from Festo Corp.)
June 4, 2007... By Joseph Ogando, Senior Editor, Motion Control Festo shows off alternative actuator technology Festo usually likes to have some fun with its exhibit at the Hannover Fair (http://rbi.ims.ca/5393-511 ). This year was no exception. The...