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ELECTRONICSTALK
The Independent Weekly Product Information Guide
for Electronics Design, Development and Manufacturing Engineers
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ISSN 1475-2913 - Free subscription
Last week's delivered circulation: ver 23,000
Published every Tuesday from the UK.
Issue 206: 08 March 2005
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21640 product announcements and technical articles on our
website http://www.electronicstalk.com/ - all fully searchable
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In this issue:
* Editor's Message
* Other industry news
* Our Top new products selection
[1] MEMS microgenerators promise self-powered radio
[2] Contoured cases are made to house LCD modules
[3] Capacitance and impedance convert to digital
[4] Novel cooler pacifies processors quietly
[5] Modules switch serial comms to fibre
[6] X-ray fluorescence checks RoHS compliance
[7] Single-mode lasers need no isolation
[8] Top accuracy claims for PXI-based DMM
[9] PFC controllers cover a wide range
[10] Novel architecture cuts cost of nonvolatile FPGAs
* New technical articles and case studies
* Other featured product news
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Laurence Marchini, Editor, writes:
There have been many attempts over the years to create so-called
"perpetual motion". Indeed, only last week an engineer friend was
regaling me with his own theory involving a wheel of air-filled
balloons in a tank of water.
However, although this was a relatively elegant theory, like so many
others it suffers from one fundamental flaw: even assuming the machine
could be constructed to be 99.99% percent efficient (which is close
enough to "perpetual" for me), as soon as you put such machines under
any kind of load they soon run out of steam.
No doubt a true hard-core engineer would say that this was merely a
question of scale. However, I can't say that I'd be too impressed with
a device the size of the London Eye if all it could power was a 100W
lamp.
So how more elegant is it to harness "free" power from the
environment? As one who has always been fascinated with using anything
that nature throws at us - like wind and wave power - I was fascinated
to read today's story from Innos and Perpetuum describing a project to
create self-contained wireless devices powered by MEMS
(micro-electromechanical systems) based generators that could
"harvest" kinetic energy from any form of vibration.
This is certainly not the first attempt to produce such a device.
University research labs in the 1980s and 1990s were full of failed
attempts to generate meaningful amounts of power from piezoelectric
materials.
What makes this new initiative all the more intriguing is the
involvement of Innos, which will apply silicon MEMS techniques to the
problem. And not only does micromachined silicon have the potential to
exploit even the smallest vibrations to a great extent, it also offers
the ultimate prospect of integrating the microgenerators on the chips
they are designed to power - thereby reducing losses to a minimum.
The full story from Innos can be found on the Electronicstalk website
at http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/iod/iod109.html and further
details about Perpetuum can be found at http://www.perpetuum.co.uk/
I hope you find this issue of our weekly newsletter useful. In
addition to the new products, news and ideas featured here, there are
hundreds more on our website and dozens more being added daily, so do
take a look if you can.
Alternatively, the full stories behind all the summaries and headlines
in this newsletter can be retrieved by email alone: see details below.
In the meantime, if you have any suggestions as to how we might make
the site or the newsletter better, email me directly.
Best wishes
Laurence Marchini, Editor
mailto:ne[-email removed-]nicstalk.com
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This week's industry news
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NEW NAME IN DESIGN-FOR-TEST MARKET
(DeFacTo Technologies, 07 Mar 2005)
DeFacTo Technologies aims to leverage patent-pending DFT technology,
develop products and services for the worldwide electronics market and
become the leading provider of DFT tools.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/def/def100.html
or send a blank email to mailto:def1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
SUBSIDIARY AIMS TO EXPLOIT RAPID GROWTH IN CHINA
(MIPS Technologies, 03 Mar 2005)
MIPS Technologies has marked its entry into the China market with the
establishment of a local subsidiary, MIPS Technologies (Shanghai).
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/mip/mip264.html
or send a blank email to mailto:mip2[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
NEW SUBSIDIARY HAS DESIGNS ON BASEBAND LSIS
(Renesas Technology Europe, 07 Mar 2005)
Renesas Technology Corp has set up a new design company in Rennes,
France, to strengthen its development capabilities on system platforms
for 3G mobile phones.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ren/ren184.html
or send a blank email to mailto:ren1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
CE-ATA FORMAT RACES TOWARDS STANDARDISATION
(Intel Corporation, 07 Mar 2005)
Just six months after CE-ATA was launched, a final 1.0 specification
has been published for the storage interface for next-generation
handhelds and portable consumer electronics devices.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/iel/iel139.html
or send a blank email to mailto:iel1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
KINGSTON BURSTS THROUGH $2 BILLION TURNOVER
(Kingston Technology, 08 Mar 2005)
Kingston Technology has revealed that its total 2004 revenue increased
by 38%, year over year, to $2.45 billion, marking the highest revenue
figure the company has achieved since its founding in 1987.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/kin/kin122.html
or send a blank email to mailto:kin1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
LEAD-FREE CONVERSIONS CONTINUE
(BLT Circuit Services, 04 Mar 2005)
BLT Circuit Services has completed its 17th lead free wave soldering
conversion using its nonpatented lead free alloy LFB227/S.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/blt/blt102.html
or send a blank email to mailto:blt1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
STUDY TO AID UK SEMICONDUCTOR MANUFACTURING
(National Microelectronics Institute, 07 Mar 2005)
The NMI has begun a benchmarking study for its semiconductor
manufacturing members in the specialist areas of production equipment
engineering, purchasing, human resources, training and development.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/nai/nai102.html
or send a blank email to mailto:nai1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
RECORD REVENUES AGAIN FOR FINISAR
(Finisar Corp, 08 Mar 2005)
Finisar Corp has reported its financial results for its third fiscal
quarter ended 31st January 2005.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/fni/fni133.html
or send a blank email to mailto:fni1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
ARGENTINA REVISES CERTIFICATION SCHEME
(TUV International UK - Rheinland Group, 08 Mar 2005)
A new regulation passed by the Argentinian authorities on 7th January
2005 introduces significant changes to the current certification
scheme.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tvi/tvi128.html
or send a blank email to mailto:tvi1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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OUR TOP NEW PRODUCT SELECTION
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[1] MEMS MICROGENERATORS PROMISE SELF-POWERED RADIO
(Innos, 08 Mar 2005)
Innos is working with Perpetuum to develop a silicon-embedded
self-powered wireless device. The concept is to harvest kinetic energy
from vibrations in the environment, which is then converted by
microgenerators into usable electrical energy to power sensors,
microprocessors and transmitters. The biggest roadblock to wireless
comms is power - either a battery or a connection is required.
Batteries, however efficient, need to be recharged or replaced.
Smaller than a matchbox, the device developed by Perpetuum is a small
electromechanical system consisting of an arrangement of magnets on a
vibrating beam.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/iod/iod109.html
or send a blank email to mailto:iod1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[2] CONTOURED CASES ARE MADE TO HOUSE LCD MODULES
(OKW Enclosures, 07 Mar 2005)
Following customer demand, OKW has extended its advanced Ergo-Case
range with new display versions. These new models have removable
display panels which have been designed for easier mounting of LCD
modules. The display panels are moulded in either solid case coloured
ABS or in transparent polycarbonate (UL94HB). The Ergo-Cases have a
special contoured design which enhances the tactile and visual quality
of the electronics.
Request free details from the supplier:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/okw/148/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/okw/okw148.html
or send a blank email to mailto:okw1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[3] CAPACITANCE AND IMPEDANCE CONVERT TO DIGITAL
(Analog Devices, 08 Mar 2005)
Analog Devices has developed the world's first high-precision, fully
integrated convertors that address the complex and difficult signal
processing challenges of direct capacitance-to-digital and
impedance-to-digital conversion. Combining advanced signal processing
techniques with high levels of integration, ADI's
capacitance-to-digital convertor (CDC) and impedance-to-digital
convertor (IDC) devices attain a level of precision previously only
possible with conventional analogue voltage-to-digital convertors
aided by a significant number of discrete components.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/anc/anc286.html
or send a blank email to mailto:anc2[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[4] NOVEL COOLER PACIFIES PROCESSORS QUIETLY
(Nexus Technology , 04 Mar 2005)
Nexus has released its thermal management solution for the latest
Intel Socket T LGA 775 processors. The Nexus PHT-7750 is a
sophisticated new cooler that takes the company's SkiveTek technology
to the next level. A SkiveTek element is bent around a copper core,
creating a radial design with super fine fin detail and optimal
airflow. The 99.5%-pure copper cooler design has an extreme high
conductivity rate and does not require a high pressure airflow to
achieve optimal performance.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/neu/neu100.html
or send a blank email to mailto:neu1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[5] MODULES SWITCH SERIAL COMMS TO FIBRE
(Phoenix Contact, 07 Mar 2005)
Phoenix Contact's new PSI-MOS fibre-optic transmission system enables
simple and modular networking for all common serial interfaces using
fibre-optic cables. These interfaces include RS232, RS422, Interbus,
Profibus, Modbus, DeviceNet and CANopen and many other company
specific RS485 systems. The PSI-MOS products can be used for
stand-alone operation or modular designs using multichannel optical
star couplers.
Request free details from the supplier:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/pni/145/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/pni/pni145.html
or send a blank email to mailto:pni1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[6] X-RAY FLUORESCENCE CHECKS ROHS COMPLIANCE
(Soldertec Global, 04 Mar 2005)
Soldertec Global has completed the installation of a new state of the
art XDAL X-ray fluorescence spectrometer supplied by Fischer
Instrumentation GB, and is now offering the electronics industry a
screening service for components, boards, cables, screws, housings and
electronic assemblies to help them comply with the Restriction of
Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive. The equipment will add to the
capabilities of Soldertec Global, which provides a full range of
technical, marketing, and information services to the global
electronics sector.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/soe/soe103.html
or send a blank email to mailto:soe1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[7] SINGLE-MODE LASERS NEED NO ISOLATION
(Eblana Photonics, 07 Mar 2005)
Eblana Photonics has developed a breakthrough series of low priced
uncooled single-mode laser products designed for mass market
applications. This product series exploits Eblana's NFI (nullified
feedback influence) technology to eliminate the need for optical
isolators when single-mode lasers are employed in optical
communications. NFI technology is a laser chip based approach which is
an integrated extension to its existing PGB (photon bandgap) laser
technology platform.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ebl/ebl100.html
or send a blank email to mailto:ebl1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[8] TOP ACCURACY CLAIMS FOR PXI-BASED DMM
(National Instruments, 04 Mar 2005)
Engineers can now accurately measure from picoamps to kilovolts with
the new National Instruments PXI-4071 FlexDMM - a multifunction device
that features a 7.5-digit (26bit) digital multimeter and an
1.8Msample/s isolated digitiser. The NI PXI-4071 FlexDMM offers fast,
accurate voltage measurements from +/-10nV to +/-1000V and resistance
measurements from 10uohm to 5Gohm. It also uses a solid-state current
shunt configuration that offers eight DC ranges from 1uA to 3A and six
AC RMS ranges from 100uA to 3A.
Request free details from the supplier:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/naa/189/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/naa/naa189.html
or send a blank email to mailto:naa1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[9] PFC CONTROLLERS COVER A WIDE RANGE
(ON Semiconductor, 08 Mar 2005)
Continuing to provide power supply manufacturers with innovative ways
to reduce both standby and active power consumption, ON Semiconductor
has released two new power factor correction (PFC) controllers
designed for use in power supplies with input levels from 75W to
several kilowatts. The new NCP1653 and NCP1601 controllers are ideal
for power factor correction in power supplies found in televisions,
flat-screen monitors, PC desktop and notebook adapter SMPS, offline
battery chargers and white goods such as refrigerators, washers and
dryers.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/onw/onw177.html
or send a blank email to mailto:onw1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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[10] NOVEL ARCHITECTURE CUTS COST OF NONVOLATILE FPGAS
(Lattice Semiconductor UK, 03 Mar 2005)
The new LatticeXP devices combine a low-cost FPGA architecture with
nonvolatile, infinitely reconfigurable ispXP (expanded
programmability) technology. The LatticeXP devices deliver the
benefits of instant-on operation, excellent security and a single-chip
implementation and provide cost-effective alternatives to SRAM-based
FPGAs and their associated boot memories. Through advanced 130nm Flash
silicon technology, an optimised architecture and proprietary circuit
design, die sizes of the new LatticeXP devices have been reduced over
80% compared with the previous generation of Lattice nonvolatile
FPGAs.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/lat/lat159.html
or send a blank email to mailto:lat1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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New Technical Articles and Case Studies
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MODULAR APPROACH CUTS THE COST OF RECOGNITION
(Texas Instruments, 02 Mar 2005)
Shimon Systems has developed a novel DSP-based fingerprint recognition
module that authenticates users by capturing, converting, storing and
matching fingerprint images.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/tex/tex774.html
or send a blank email to mailto:tex7[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
TOOLBOX SPEEDS MATHEMATICAL OPTIMISATION
(Adept Scientific, 04 Mar 2005)
The Global Optimisation Toolbox extends the power of Maple 9.5,
enabling a wide range of professionals to obtain the mathematically
optimised solution to complex modelling problems.
Request free details from the supplier on Maple Gobal Optimisation
Toolbox:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/ade/164/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ade/ade164.html
or send a blank email to mailto:ade1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
CABINETS KEEP COMPONENTS FRESH AND READY TO SOLDER
(Contax, 04 Mar 2005)
One of the UK's leading contract electronics manufacturers recently
purchased three McDry cabinets of varying sizes from production
automation specialist, Contax.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/cnt/cnt130.html
or send a blank email to mailto:cnt1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
ADAPTER HELPS KEEP TACTICAL DATA UP TO DATE
(Performance Technologies, 02 Mar 2005)
Redstone Arsenal is using communications hardware and software from
Performance Technologies in a time-sensitive database application
designed for the US military.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/pfo/pfo141.html
or send a blank email to mailto:pfo1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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Other featured new product news
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POWERTRAIN DOUBLES DC/DC CONVERTOR DENSITY
(Philips Semiconductors, 08 Mar 2005)
The Philips Intelligent Power 212-12M is billed as the industry's most
advanced integrated powertrain that combines two power MOSFET switches
and a driver IC into a single 8 x 8mm QFN package.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/phi/phi310.html
or send a blank email to mailto:phi3[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
FRUGAL 32BIT CORES FOR COST-SENSITIVE CONSUMER KIT
(Imagination Technologies, 08 Mar 2005)
The MTX family of low-power 32bit microcontroller IP cores is designed
for use in cost-sensitive consumer electronics applications including
mobile TV, home networking and intelligent toys.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/iag/iag131.html
or send a blank email to mailto:iag1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
BACKPLANE CONNECTORS EVOLVE FROM BASESTATIONS
(In2Connect, 08 Mar 2005)
The hm 2.0-6 is an addon to the normal range of hard metric 2mm
backplane connectors available to meet the requirements of the
specification IEC61076-4-101.
Request free details from the supplier on Hm 2.0-6:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/ion/111/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/ion/ion111.html
or send a blank email to mailto:ion1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
DUAL TV DECODER EXPLOITS PCI EXPRESS BANDWIDTH
(Philips Semiconductors, 04 Mar 2005)
Philips has released the industry's first integrated PCI Express dual
global video and stereo decoder for digital home PC desktops and
notebooks.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/phi/phi309.html
or send a blank email to mailto:phi3[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
MAINBOARDS BEGIN THE EPIC FOR WORDSWORTH
(Wordsworth Technology, 08 Mar 2005)
Wordsworth Technology has released two new mainboards - the Nano-7270
and Nano-7240 - based on the new EPIC form factor.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/wor/wor144.html
or send a blank email to mailto:wor1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
CONTROLLER CHIP SWITCHES PERIPHERALS TO USB 2.0
(PLX Technology Europe, 04 Mar 2005)
PLX Technology has developed the industry's first PCI-to-USB
peripheral controller optimised for converting PCI-based designs to
Hi-Speed USB 2.0 products.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/plx/plx114.html
or send a blank email to mailto:plx1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
FLEXIBLE FLUX KEEPS IT CLEAN
(Henkel Technologies, 03 Mar 2005)
A new no-clean resin-free halide-free sustained activity flux provides
maximum process window, boasts good through-hole penetration and
reduces costs.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/hen/hen118.html
or send a blank email to mailto:hen1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
FUEL-CELL-POWERED UPS UP FOR AWARD
(MGE UPS Systems, 03 Mar 2005)
The Pulsar EX RT fuel-cell powered online uninterruptible power supply
has been selected as a finalist in the power category for the EE Times
ACE Awards Ultimate Products of the Year.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/mge/mge106.html
or send a blank email to mailto:mge1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
PLATFORM OPTIMISED FOR NETWORK APPLIANCES
(Axiomtek, 03 Mar 2005)
To meet the critical demand for hardware platforms that are able to
handle today's bandwidth demands, Axiomtek has released an extreme
networking appliance hardware platform solution.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/axi/axi108.html
or send a blank email to mailto:axi1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
ACQUISITION CARDS GAIN HARDWARE OR OPTION
(Spectrum Systementwicklung Microelectronic, 03 Mar 2005)
MI and MC series acquisition cards from Spectrum now offer
hardware-based OR connection to accelerate complex triggering
applications.
Request free details from the supplier on MI and MC series:
http://www.electronicstalk.com/rdx/da/sct/103/4
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/sct/sct103.html
or send a blank email to mailto:sct1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
SAFETY TESTER PUTS HARNESSES ON TRIAL
(Clare Instruments, 04 Mar 2005)
The latest addition to the Clare range of electrical safety testers is
a set of specialist cable and wiring harness testers.
* Read more: http://www.electronicstalk.com/news/cei/cei105.html
or send a blank email to mailto:cei1[-email removed-]lectronicstalk.com
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