Design News articles from October 2006

Design News archives from October 2006

Going linear at IMTS.
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff Manufacturing Technology Show featured linear motion developments The International Manufacturing Technology Show, held last month in Chicago, puts the latest and greatest machine tools on display. But the show was...

Honing In On Ball Screw Performance.
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff Ball screws continue to turn up in challenging machine tool applications. Sunnen Products Co., for one, has adopted Bosch Rexroth ball screws for precision honing machines. These machines traditionally used either...

Tiny Linear Motors.
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff A truly tiny linear motor from THK America Inc. made its debut at the show. These new motors come in 3-, 5- and 7-mm axial pitches. All three sizes feature a ceramic body that serves both as the housing and as the...

Ball Screw Improvements Promised.
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff The good news is that Steinmeyer Inc. has come up with a breakthrough ball screw design that promises to eliminate reversing error, reduce friction and improve stiffness. The bad news is the company is not saying a...

The Case of the Sulfurous Sewer.(criticism on television program)
October 9, 2006... By Kenneth Russell, Professor Emeritus, MIT, Cambridge, MA I love the old honeymooners TV series. Jackie Gleason's bus driver and Art Carney's dedicated sewer worker were the perfect pair. Carney often waxed poetic about the wonders of...

Good Timing for the CAN Bus.
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff How to endow CAN with even more deterministic and dependable characteristics When car makers first started exploring drive-by-wire systems, the identified shortcomings of available vehicle protocols led to a search...

Low-Power, portable altimeter.(advancement of microcontrollers)
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff A highly integrated MCU reduces parts' count and increases battery life A low-cost, light-weight altimeter has been a target application of absolute pressure silicon sensors for more than 40 years. As the sensor...

Best of the Engineering Marketplace.
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff Swiss Power 16A Dust and WaterResistant Outlet Design News Staff Made for dusty, wet environments The 16A outlet is made for equipment rated up to 16A with service at 250V ac. It is SEV, Electrosuisse...

Slamming the Brakes on Highway Fatalities.(automotive safety)
October 9, 2006... By Charles J. Murray, Senior Technical Editor Whether automakers use roadside intelligence or on-board sensing, the ultimate safety goal is the same: Eliminate accidents For more than a decade, automotive safety has been synonymous with...

Ethicon Reduces Cost of Medical Device by 63%. Here's How.
October 9, 2006... By Joseph Ogando, Senior Editor Fewer parts, new joining techniques and smarter part design add up to big cost savings. With all their regulatory and technical requirements, medical devices don't always lend themselves to aggressive...

Stabilize Stills.
October 9, 2006... By Randy Frank Pentax K100D Digital SLR (http://rbi.ims.ca/4936-517 ). To take full advantage of the increasing capability of high-resolution image sensors in cameras such as the K100D, PENTAX engineers developed Shake Reduction. The...

'Weight' A Minute.
October 9, 2006... By Randy Frank Ricardo Beverly Hills Solutions Luggage (http://rbi.ims.ca/4936-518 ). With many airlines reducing the maximum weight per bag to 50 lb maximum, it is easy to overpack. The Solutions Collection has a built-in digital...

Flash.
October 9, 2006... By Randy Frank Get Into the Game Randy Frank Nintendo Wii (http://rbi.ims.ca/4936-519 ). Interactive games go to the next level using wireless controls that respond to the players' body motion. Using Ninetendo's Wii...

Get Into the Game.
October 9, 2006... By Randy Frank Nintendo Wii (http://rbi.ims.ca/4936-519 ). Interactive games go to the next level using wireless controls that respond to the players' body motion. Using Ninetendo's Wii controller, players can run, jump, spin, slide,...

Record Killer Data.
October 9, 2006... By Randy Frank Lascar Electronics' EL-USB-CO carbon monoxide data logger (http://rbi.ims.ca/4936-521 ). Intended for industrial applications, this portable data logger measures and stores up to 32,510 Carbon Monoxide (CO) readings. The...

Pet Locator: Fido, Call Home.
October 9, 2006... By Randy Frank PetsMobility PetsCell (http://rbi.ims.ca/4936-523 ). Developed specifically for pets, this voice-enabled cell phone allows the owner to call and talk to his/her best friend. The waterproof 5 x 2.5 x 9.4 cm unit easily...

Case #91: Dick Worked the Graveyard Shift.
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff When the local church needed storm effects for a skit, sound man Dick Neubert found the thunder on the Internet and added "lightning" with a photoflash strobe. He used an uncommitted output from the mixing board to...

Wear That Old Refrigerator as Jewelry.(use of discarded appliances in jewelry making)(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff A jewelry maker in Petaluma, CA is taking discarded appliances, such as refrigerators and dishwashers, and making pendants, wristbands and earrings. Tarma Designs uses recycled stainless steel to create a collection of...

Demonstration Lab for Fuel Cells Launched in Vancouver.(new laboratory)(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff Those seeking zero-emmision generators can now see them demonstrated in a laboratory setting. Power Air Corp. of Livermore, CA and the National Research Council Institute for Fuel Cell Innovation (NCR-IFCI) have...

Maxwell Technologies partners with Alcoa.(Maxwell Technologies Inc and Alcoa AFL Automotive collaborate to make commercial vehicles)(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff Big-rig truck drivers will soon get a big nix on their habit of running their engines all night long to power their in-cab conveniences such as heating, cooling and entertainment. Without running the engine, their...

Readers Sound Off.
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff Be responsible for your own safety I agree that the injuries suffered by those who make a mistake with a saw are indeed terrible, but on the other side, I also believe that I alone am responsible for my safety (DN...

Management vs. Luck.
October 9, 2006... By Terry Costlow Data management gains importance as design complexity soars When Donald Gradin is designing escalator and elevator replacements being installed in 58 countries at sites as large as O'Hare airport, he's always concerned...

Single-Chip Fingerprint IC.(Fujitsu Microelectronics America Inc.)(Phoenix Technologies Ltd.)
October 9, 2006... By Charles J. Murray Offers USB interface without requiring a comparison chip Fujitsu Microelectronics America Inc. and Phoenix Technologies Ltd. have teamed up to create a single-chip, USB-based fingerprint sensor IC for notebook...

Larger Pipe Sizes Increase Flow Rating.(Universal Flow Monitors Inc.)(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... By Randy Frank New diameters on flowmeters allow maximum measurements up to 600 gpm For higher flow measurements, Universal Flow Monitors Inc. added 3-inch and 4-inch pipe sizes to its family of CoolPoint vortex shedding flowmeters....

The Smart Way to Reclaim Plastics.(GE Plastics)
October 9, 2006... By Joseph Ogando New enviromentally friendly materials incorporate post-consumer plastics as a feedstock, not regrind GE Plastics' pledge to develop environmentally friendly materials is starting to bear fruit. The company developed...

Watch Is on Queen Mary 2.(use of online condition monitoring system developed by SKF Condition Monitoring Inc.)
October 9, 2006... By Al Presher Condition monitoring system uses satellite communications The world's largest passenger vessel, the Queen Mary 2, utilizes an online condition monitoring system, including remote monitoring via satellite, to keep all...

Software Handles 2D-3D Translations.
October 9, 2006... By Terry Costlow Autodesk prepares rollout of new tools that aim to end data sharing confusion Though many engineering groups migrated to 3D years ago, 2D technology is still used by many teams. When they need to share files, it's...

Byte-Size Approach Leads to the Right-Size Solution.
October 9, 2006... By Lucio Di Jasio, Application segments managerMicrochip technology Inc. Old methodologies for embedded applications no longer apply Be prepared to upgrade your design skills while developing small embedded networking applications. If...

IC Makers Roll Out New Power Management Device.(Analog Devices teams with Intel Corp. to create a new bus interface called the System Serial Transport.)(Texas Instruments' new digital signal controller the TMS320F28044.)(Freescale's Power Management and User Interface chip.)
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff Packs more functionality into chips Efficiency: Whether it's for base stations, data centers, servers or cell phones, designers search for devices that will parcel out power as efficiently as possible. Using such...

Happy Birthday, Delrin.(Delrin 327 UV acetal addresses automotive interior requirements.)(New lubricated Delrin acetal grades, 100 TL and 500 MP.)(DuPont has introduced low-emission Delrin acetal grades.)
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff Now 50 years old, DuPont's acetal polymer has gotten a makeover Delrin acetal turns 50 this year, but the material still has plenty of life in it. DuPont, Delrin's maker, recently introduced enhancements that...

I/O Expands into Motion.(Opto 22)
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff Devices add capabilities for controlling stepper, servo and dc motors I/O products are expanding their capabilities in motion control. The trend is a natural extension of I/O solutions that have, over the past...

Stay Well-Grounded.(tips on safe electricity grounding)
October 9, 2006... By Jon Titus, Contributing Writer Ask real-estate agents about key property attributes and you'll hear, "Location, location, location." Ask engineers about key needs of a measurement system, and they should say, "Ground, ground, ground."...

Will Ford's Shareholders Allow Mulally to Succeed?
October 9, 2006... By Karen Auguston Field, Chief Editor Alan Mulally, former president and CEO of Boeing Commercial Airplanes, may not seem like the most obvious choice to head up Ford Motor Co. Cars, after all, are normally supposed to keep their wheels on...

Try Meeting on the Web.
October 9, 2006... By Joseph Ogando, Senior Editor Why travel when you can attend a web conference? Traveling nowadays is a real bummer. Packed planes, long delays and carry-on limitations can make every travel day a bad day. But the real problem with...

Analog takes the lead in digital revolution.
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff No slowdown in sight for analog technology The digital revolution that's occurred over the past several years has relied heavily on advances in analog technology. Whenever new digital technologies emerge, the...

Communications are Reaching into Homes, Cars.(STMicroelectronics's half duplex Binary-FSK transceiver ST7540.)(Austria Microsystems International GmbH AS8221 high-speed transceiver.)(Freescale Semiconductor introduces single-wire CAN transceivers. )
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff Transceivers trim price, size Communications is becoming a necessity in all types of products, so there's a strong push to increase speeds and trim costs. That's especially true in the home and cars, where...

Linear Regulators Keep Shrinking.(Micrel Inc.'s dual ultra-low dropout voltage linear regulators.)(Linear regulator from National Semiconductor Corp.)(Linear Technology Corp.'s synchronous buck regulator.)
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff More features, less space The engineers who design linear regulator are doing their part to help portable products continue shrinking. Packages continue to get smaller while performance specs get better. These...

Connectors/Cables.
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff Connecting within and externally to the system Connectors and cables reflect the design intent of the system. Consequently, when a system is classified as rugged, small or designed for automotive or industrial...

Unique Requirements Met.(LEMO's N Series Connectors.)(Bomar Interconnect Products Inc. high-definition BNC connectors.)(Molex Inc.'s Circular MT Cable Assemblies.)
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff Call these connectors what you will, they fulfill a critical need Connectors reflect the variety of requirements of numerous products. As a result, suppliers make application-specific or custom products frequently...

Cost-Driven Needs a Priority.(Delphi Connection System's press-fit over-sized compliant pins.)(Tyco Electronics MCON 1.2 contacts.)(VE Technology Co.'s hermetic molded epoxy wire seals.)
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff Innovative designs meet tough automotive requirements A Pareto analysis of the top three automotive priorities frequently identifies cost, then cost and, finally, cost. While cost is a driving force in automotive...

Adapting to Application Requirements.(Tyco Electronics' RAYCHEM brand QUADLITE cable.)(Coleman Cable Inc. offers a complete solution package including power, control and signal cable designs.)(Factory automation custom cable designs from Tyco Electronics.)
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff Solving specific problems requires special design considerations All Ethernet cables are not all created equal. Different material and design techniques are used to handle gas vapors versus cables designed for...

Connectors at Work.(EPIC Modular Ethernet and Profibus water-tight, electrically-shielded connectors from Lapp USA.)(Molex Inc.'s rectangular I/O connector Mini-HMC (Heavy Duty Modular).)(M8 male and female connectors from ERNI.)
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff Special connector/cable designs withstand the daily rigors of a factory environment Factory automation products require special consideration to survive an environment with constant usage and rough operator...

Connecting System Power.(Molex Inc. has developed a high-current Bus Bar Connector.)(Lapp USA EPIC LS1 circular power connectors.)(FCI Electronics has developed the Power Card-Edge series.)
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff These connectors handle amps and hundreds of volts In addition to the increased amount of data communicated in the newest products, power transfer requires increasingly efficient and reliable connectors and cables...

Making a Tight Connection.(Molex Incorporated's DisplayPort System.)(AirBorn's N-series Vertical Surface Mount connectors.)(Tyco Electronics' Slim I/O cable connector.)
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff More than portable products require small connectors Squeezing more technology into a limited space requires space-conscious design for all components -- including the connectors. Similar to other connectors, small...

A High-Fiber (Optic) Diet.(Tyco's PRO BEAM Mini connector.)(Molex's Universal Electro Magnetic Interference Adapter.)(LEMO's 3K93C hybrid media converter. )
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff Cables, connectors and connector systems target high-speed data The need to handle increasing amounts of data at increasingly higher speeds has system engineers turning more and more frequently to fiber optic...

Distributions compete on engineering services.
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff New support helps speed to market Electronic component distributors are developing a wide range of new services to support design engineers. While price competition is always a factor, distributors are also...

Distributors Enhance Support Options.(Avnet recently opened the Design Resource Center.)(Arrow Electronics Inc.'s services in collaborative forecasting and replenishment.)(Digi-Key Corp. has enhanced its engineering support for customers.)
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff Design services extend to engineering community Many distributors have added design engineering support over the years. Large distributors such as Arrow Electronics Inc. in Melville, NY and Avnet Inc. in Phoenix,...

Distributors Further Enhance Internet Support.(Newark InOne's Web-based service.)(Digi-Key Corp. has posted product training seminars on its website.)(Mouser Electronics Inc. adds more information and services to its Web catalogs. )
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff Online data is allways available Distributors are beefing up their Web-based services. The effort comes in direct response to their customers' recent preference for obtaining information over the Internet....

Editor's Letter.(Editorial)
October 9, 2006... By Charles J. Murray Even amid the worst business conditions, the electronics industry's technology juggernaut rolls on. Early in this decade, for example, the telecom industry spiraled downward into an extraordinary slump, wiping out some...

Electromechanical.
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff Technology advances and faces challenges Completing most systems requires a variety of electromechanical products including switches, relays, motors, protection, cooling technologies and more. These...

Cool It.(ebm-papst's maintenance-free AquaCube heat pump system.)(MicroPelt's micro peltier cooler module.)(TECA Corp. uses solid-state materials in thermoelectric products.)
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff New cooling techniques offer unique solutions to remove heat With electronic circuits operating at higher speeds and handling increasing amounts of data and power, cooling has become an even more important system...

Motors Make it Move.(Lin Engineering's NEMA 17 Super Torque series motors.)(Nippon Pulse Motor Co.'s linear-type stepper motors.)(Haydon Switch & Instrument's new Z26000 captive linear actuators.)
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff Requirements for more motion and higher performance drive new designs To design motion systems with improved performance, engineers have the traditional option to go with bigger motors to get more power or torque....

Protection Inside the Box.(Raychem Circuit Protection's 2Pro device.)(Littelfuse Inc.'s SL1411A series.)(Phoenix Contact's D-UFB-PB.)
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff Localized protection techniques move outside the electromechanical realm The ultimate circuit protection is normally an electromechanical circuit breaker. However, electronic techniques continue to provide...

Adapting to Applications.(Panasonic Electric Works 300A EV dc high-voltage relay.)(Hasco's HAT 900 series relay.)(Fujitsu Components America, Inc PCB-mount, FTR-G1 automotive relay.)
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff Reduced size relays address system design constraints With the constant pressure for smaller end products or more functions inside an existing form factor, system engineers look for space relief in every component....

Safe-Operation Savvy.(IDEC's XA and XW switches.)(Tyco Electronics's tamper switch.)(Omron's new high-temperature unsealed switch.)
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff Switch designs address safety aspect of machines and appliances Operators and users expect designs to be safe, and have increasing expectations for safety. For system engineers to provide this safety, they need...

Technology Inside: Understanding the Process.(Chicago White Metal Casting Inc. enclosure solutions.)(Rapp Plastics's production processes for injection-molded housing.)
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff The enclosure usually conveys the design intent of the end product Frequently called a black box, electronic systems comprised of electronic components and subassemblies eventually require an enclosure. In some...

The End Game.
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff A final word on memory technologies and displays With a limited number of pages, this Electronics Trend Watch could never have addressed all the important trends and certainly could not cover all the critical...

Have it Your Way.
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff Since 2004, consumer electronics has been thedriver of the latest semiconductor technologies displacing corporate electronics for this title. Global consumers of electronic products seem to have two overriding...

Passives don"t stray from their evolutionary path.(Vishay Worldwide Strategic Sales)(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff Integration expands the need for a diversity of components Prognosticators have foretold many trends for passive components over the past several years. But the one constant is that these often ignored parts follow...

Workhorses Continue to Evolve.(Maxwell Technologies Inc.'s Boostcap 2.5V ultracapacitors.)(Solid tantalum chip capacitors from Vishay Intertechnology Inc.)(RF capacitors from AVX Corp.)
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff Capacitors shrink while boosting performance, broaden capabilities Capacitors, one of the unsung workhorses of the electronics industry, continue to broaden their capabilities. High-capacity versions are beginning...

Bonding Yields Better Parts.(Bergquist Co introduces Sil-Pad 1100ST Soft Tack family )(Advanced Thermal Solutions Inc introduces MaxiFlow heat sinks)(MH&W International introduces KoolBond thermally conductive interface)
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff Materials improve reliability, help cool chips Bonding materials and heat sinks play a crucial role in the ongoing efforts to improve manufacturing efficiency. The tapes that keep chips in place during...

LEDs Continue to Shed More Light.
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff High output opens new applications Lighting technology has undergone nothing less than a revolutionary change over the past several years as LEDs pushed brightness levels and power efficiency to new heights. Design...

Passives Move in Many Directions.(ultracapacitors)
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff Size, power, heat specifications all improve The advances in resistor technology extend in many directions, following the varied requirements of the many diverse industries that use these critical components. Sizes...

Software Provides Speedy Development Tools.
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff RTOS vendors focus on time-to-market The complexity of today's multimedia products is increasing at a rate nearly as rapidly as the shrinking timeframes for product development. Real-time operating system suppliers...

Toolmakers Focus on Ease-of-Use.
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff Design tools simplify data sharing There are often many design tools used to develop full systems, but linking files made with these disparate tools can be problematic. Software providers are taking different tacks...

USB Links Instruments to Many Technologies.(universal serial bus)
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff Fast link provides ease-of-use The test and measurement world was an early adopter of PC technology, leveraging the computers for storage and processing power. That's continuing as manufacturers embrace USB...

Embedded processors address peripheral issue.(Brief article)
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff Smaller line widths spur more integration, address peripheral issue The trend toward multi-core devices is well underway in PCs, but in embedded systems, there's more focus on augmenting single-core devices with an...

DSPs Continue Their Forward March.(digital signal processors)
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff Blackfin modules boost flash capacity Design News Staff Meeting the stringent demands of the automotive market, Analog Devices Inc. is extending its Blackfin DSP family with processors that are combined with...

Microcontrollers Focus on Ease-of-Use.
October 9, 2006... By Design News Staff Throughout the electronics industry, the push to develop more complex systems in shorter timeframes is forcing semiconductor companies to devise techniques that make it simpler to complete control systems. "Our...

Changing for the better.(changes in control equipment industry)
October 23, 2006... By Design News Staff Material Handling and Logistic Conference addresses supply change Motor Drives in Material Handling Many of the changes users want to see in motor drives involve ease of use. According to Steve Wirtz, senior...

The Case of the Aggrieved Gudgeon.(workplace accident at a paper mill)
October 23, 2006... By Myron J. Boyajian, President, Engineering Consultants At a paper recycling plant, waste paper was cooked to a watery oatmeal consistency and processed with pressure and heat to produce paper products. One product, paperboard, was wound...

Single Connector Serves Servo Motor.(Brief article)
October 23, 2006... By Design News Staff Design consolidates two cables into one connector Two separate cables, one for power and one for feedback signals, and two connectors have been the accepted norm for servo motor connections. As servo motors have...

Solenoid Valve and Cylinder Deliver Kick.(usage of pneumatics for recoil with a rifle)(Brief article)
October 23, 2006... By Design News Staff Training rifles that react like the real thing provide a more realistic experience Getting a training weapon with a harmless red laser to have the same recoil action when the trigger is pulled as the actual assault...

New Segway Steering System.(after recalling Personal Transporters Segway L.L.C introduces LeanSteer system )
October 23, 2006... By Design News Staff Mechanical components and extensions to a real-time balancing control system give riders a more intuitive way to steer their Segways This past summer was a tough one for Segway Inc. In mid-September, the company...

Case 102: Dick Had a Cameo Role in <EMPHASIS TYPE="ITALIC">Scream 2</EMPHASIS>.
October 23, 2006... By Design News Staff Give the little witches and warlocks a real trick when they come clamoring for treats on Halloween with this doorbell-activated soundtrack. All that's required to build this spooky sound generator is a moderate hack of...

Best of the Engineering Marketplace.(Measurement Specialties Inc introduces M5100 Pressure Sensor )(Astrodyne introduces ASDH Series 5-10-Watt Open Frame Isolated DC/DC Converters )(Fairchild Semiconductor International Inc introduces FIN224AC Analog Signal Device )
October 23, 2006... By Design News Staff Measurement Specialties M5100 Pressure Sensor Design News Staff Lasts through 10 million pressure cycles Built for HVAC controllers, refrigeration systems, automotive test stands, gas compressors,...

MCU Kits Motor On.(Product/service evaluation)
October 23, 2006... By Jon Titus, Contributing Writer We tested some popular microcontroller (MCU) development kits to find out how well they work. Here's how they stack up. You'll find microcontroller development kits come in many sizes and with a...

These Toy Engineers Don't Play Around.(toy companies apply advanced technology even for promotional toys)
October 23, 2006... By Joseph Ogando Make a list of the world's leading toy makers, and names like Mattel and Hasbro will likely rise to the top. Creata, the biggest toy maker you've never heard of, should be high up on that list too. As a supplier of...

High-Performance Computing Going Mainstream.(Editorial)
October 23, 2006... By Charles J. Murray, Senior Technical Editor Microsoft Windows could be the environment for many huge computing problems High-performance computing - once the province of oil companies and defense think tanks - is moving down to join...

Motor Control Platform Cleans Up.(improvements by integration in washing machine technology)
October 23, 2006... By Randy Frank, Contributing Editor Start with electricity, add water and save on both The washing machine and dryer combination are among the larger consumers of energy in a typical home. In addition to energy, the washing machine...

DIGITAL PHOTO ALBUM.(Digital Foci Picture Porter Elite )(Brief article)
October 23, 2006... By Randy Frank Digital Foci Picture Porter Elite ( http://rbi.ims.ca/4938-511 ). In addition to either 40 or 80 GBytes of memory for storing and viewing digital photos and video in a 5.3 x 3.1 x 1.1-inch package, this photo album also...

2 CIGAR LIGHTER- POWERED MP3 PLAYER.(Roadmaster USA introduces cigar lighter powered mp3 player)(Brief article)
October 23, 2006... By Randy Frank Roadmaster USA VRFM8BLNMP3 WMA Wireless FM Transmitter (http://rbi.ims.ca/4938-511 ). Simply plugging this MP3 player into a car's cigar lighter socket and tuning to an unused FM radio channel, allows access to all the music...

4 WIRELESS WATER, MOISTURE SENSOR.(Winland Electronics introduces Waterbug Integrated Sensor WB-100)(Brief article)
October 23, 2006... By Randy Frank Winland Electronics Waterbug Integrated Sensor WB-100 (http://rbi.ims.ca/4938-513 ). This battery power device does not play MP3 tunes, but it does have an audible alarm output. The alarm sounds when a film of water...

3 PORTABLE CONNECTIVITY.(Blackberry introduces Blackberry 8700c Wireless Handheld)(Brief article)
October 23, 2006... By Randy Frank Research In Motion Blackberry 8700c Wireless Handheld (http://rbi.ims.ca/4938-512 ). E-mail, phone, Web browsing, text messaging and even a 35-key QWERTY keyboard are part of the Blackberry mystique. Intelligent light...