The week's top stories from Electronicstalk
While Europe may still lead the way in terms of legislation to mandate responsible disposal of waste electrical and electronic equipment, it is always gratifying to see initiatives elsewhere in the world that aim to recycle the valuable scrap that can be gained from discarded equipment. So hats off this week to the US Postal Service for its stunningly elegant Mail Back programme, which is set to make recycling of small consumer devices as simple as posting a letter.
The scheme, which is run in conjunction with recycler Clover Technologies Group, begins this week in ten trial areas ranging from Washington DC to Los Angeles and San Diego. And if successful, the programme could be rolled out nationally within the year.
Key to the likely success of Mail Back is the sheer simplicity and convenience of the scheme. The public will be encouraged to post off their surplus electronic devices, from PDAs and cellphones to printer cartridges and iPods. Around 1500 post offices in the trial areas will stock special freepost envelopes, with no limit on how many each member of the public can take.
It is, of course, Clover Technologies that is paying the postage, in return for the recycling rights. And the company promises that if the electronic item or cartridge cannot be refurbished and resold, its component parts are reused to refurbish other items, or the parts are broken down further and the materials are recycled. But the initiative originates within the US Postal Service, which awarded the contract to Clover ahead of nine other bidders.
This is certainly a scheme worthy of copying around the world. Post offices in many countries have been active in the recycling of printer cartridges in collaboration with Planet Ark. Extending such activities to other portable electronic devices is a natural progression, and there will be no shortage of recyclers willing to participate.
The real trick is getting the public to take part, and the key to this is making it as easy to recycle as it is to throw away. Mail Back appears to have an excellent chance of achieving this aim.
Top Products featured this issue
[1] POWER DEVICES DON LOW-PROFILE PACKAGES
(Power Integrations, 12 Mar 2008)
Power Integrations now offers its TopSwitch-HX series of AC/DC power conversion ICs in the new eSIP-7C eco-single-inline package. This package exhibits the same low thermal impedance as the traditional TO-220, yet stands less than 10mm above the PCB - half the height of the 45-year-old package design. eSIP-based designs reduce the overall height of the power supply in support of increasing market demand for slimmer electronic products such as LCD monitors, flat screen TVs and set-top boxes. As with all Power Integrations products, the heatsink attached to the eSIP package is at source potential and therefore electrically quiet without use of an insulating pad, greatly reducing system EMI and assembly cost.
> Quick link to request free details direct from the supplier:
[2] RESISTORS MAXIMISE ENERGY CONVERSION EFFICIENCY
(TTI Europe, 13 Mar 2008)
New and improved Vishay Power Metal Strip Resistors are now available from TTI. Built on proprietary processing techniques, devices in this series feature extremely low resistance values down to 0.001ohm and low thermal EMF of less than 3uV/C. The low ohmic values maximise energy conversion efficiency and minimise power consumption, and the low thermal EMF minimises sensing errors. WSL resistors are available in 0603, 0805, 1205, 2010, 2512 and 2816 cases with power ratings from 0.1 to 2W; WSR devices are available in 4527 packages with ratings of 2, 3 or 5W.
> Quick link to request free details direct from the supplier:
[3] FILTER PROTECTS SENSITIVE ELECTRONICS
(ITT Interconnect Solutions, 13 Mar 2008)
TT Interconnect Solutions is ramping up its production capacity in response to market demands for its new Chip on Flex (CoF) filter technology, which virtually eliminates all stress from thermal shock and vibration while providing superior protection to sensitive electronics in a new lighter weight package. In MIL-DTL-38999 configurations, the CoF connectors have passed MIL-DTL-38999 series III testing for thermal shock, random vibration, humidity and high altitude. The filter connectors are suitable for high-reliability military, aerospace and industrial applications, including integrated avionics, radio and navigation systems, fire control devices, electronic counter measures, satellite communications and data transmitters.
> Quick link to request free details direct from the supplier:
[4] LASER SENSORS PROVIDE HIGH SPEED MOTION DETECTION
(Avago Technologies, 13 Mar 2008)
Avago Technologies has two new high-precision small-form-factor laser navigation sensors for corded and cordless PC mice. Based on Avago's LaserStream technology, these new navigation sensors come complete with several lens options. The ADNS-7530/7550 navigation sensors will also enable mouse designers to develop mice that are easy to use and provide precise tracking on a broad range of surfaces. With the new ADNS-7530/7550 sensors, Avago has taken yet another step to reduce the size limitation barrier that mouse designers have been faced with over the years. These laser navigation sensors provide high speed motion detection - up to 30in/s and 8g, an on-chip oscillator and integrated vertical cavity surface emitting laser (VCSEL) to minimise the number of components required for the design.
> Quick link to request free details direct from the supplier:
[5] POWER SUPPLIES HANDLE 1450W PEAKS
(Lambda, 14 Mar 2008)
Lambda has added digitally controlled modules to its NV-Power family of configurable AC/DC power supplies enabling increased power output of up to 1450W peak rating for 10 seconds. The new modules enable Lambda to satisfy the increasing demand for 1U high configurable power solutions above 1000W in broadcast, instrumentation and medical markets and other applications, such as ATE, automation, routers and servers and security networks. The digitally controlled modules incorporate an integrated magnetics transformer that allows for small size and increased efficiency. The digital control allows customisation based on the application's requirements (such as modified current limit or start-up characteristics). Input to output isolation meets the 4kV AC reinforced requirement for medical use.
> Quick link to request free details direct from the supplier:
[6] SMALL TEST CHAMBER CUTS RESEARCH COSTS
(Rohde and Schwarz, 17 Mar 2008)
The new R and S R-Line test chamber from Rohde and Schwarz, combined with the R and S TS8996 test system, delivers an EMI/EMS test performance and accuracy for wireless devices that is comparable to that of systems 10 times larger. The system can replace a complete anechoic chamber for the critical frequency range of 800MHz to 18GHz. It is as effective up to 40GHz. The R and S R-Line fits into any lab and will significantly reduce infrastructure investments for manufacturers and test houses. The Rohde and Schwarz solution meets all S-VSWR validation requirements defined in the CISPR16-1-4:2007 standard.
> Quick link to request free details direct from the supplier:
[7] RESISTORS PROMISE POWERFUL PERFORMANCE
(Rapid Electronics, 13 Mar 2008)
Arcol is one of the leading names in resistor technology, and Rapid Electronics can supply an extensive range of the manufacturer's carbon composition and aluminium clad wirewound resistors. These devices are designed to meet the demands of high voltage power in automotive, medical and lighting applications. Leading the range is Arcol's new RCC series of carbon composition resistors, providing very high pulse capability and low inductance. Available in 0.25 and 0.5W power dissipations, the RCC is a solid axial lead carbon slug resistor offering resistance values between 2.2 and 910kohm. They may be small but their carbon composition ensures a powerful performance.
> Quick link to request free details direct from the supplier:
[8] STEP-DOWN DC/DC CONTROLLER IS MOST FRUGAL
(Linear Technology Corp, 14 Mar 2008)
The LTC3834/-1 is a synchronous step-down DC/DC controller, claimed by Linear Technology to exhibit the industry's lowest quiescent current. Drawing only 30uA in sleep mode, the LTC3834/-1 is ideal for preserving battery energy in "always-on" automotive systems or battery-powered devices where the system remains semi-active, or when a car's engine is off. When in shutdown mode, the LTC3834/-1 draws a mere 4uA. This controller is the latest addition to Linear Technology's lineup of over 20 ultralow-quiescent-current DC/DC switching regulator controllers for step-down, step-up, buck-boost, SEPIC and inverter topologies. The input supply range of the LTC3834/-1 at 4 to 36V is wide enough to protect against high input voltage transients and it continues to operate during automotive cold crank. It can provide an output voltage from 0.8 to 10V, making it ideal for the higher voltage supplies typically required for audio systems, satellite receivers, analogue tuners and CD/DVD players.
> Quick link to request free details direct from the supplier:
[9] FPGA FAMILY PROMISES MORE FOR LESS
(Actel Europe, 18 Mar 2008)
Broadening its extensive portfolio of low-power programmable solutions for power-conscious designs, Actel Corp has introduced Igloo Plus, a new family of low-power field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) with the industry's best power-, area-, logic- and feature-per-I/O ratios in a programmable device. The new 5uW I/O-optimised Igloo Plus family also offers up to 64% more I/Os than the company's award-winning Igloo family and supports independent Schmitt trigger inputs, hot swapping and Flash-Freeze bus hold. The low-power consumption and I/O optimisation of the Igloo Plus family makes it ideal for portable electronics in consumer, industrial, communications, medical and test applications, particularly those employing I/O-intensive memory bus manipulation, general-purpose I/O expansion, sequencing, interface translation, storage and human interface touchscreen and keypad technology.
[10] LOW-VOLTAGE OSCILLATORS MAKE MAJOR SAVINGS
(Fox Electronics, 18 Mar 2008)
Fox Electronics now offers its XpressO LVPECL and LVDS oscillators with 2.5V operation, offering devices that that require as much as 50% less current than traditional 3.3V models. The new oscillators enable operation at the same voltage as the silicon chips to which they are providing timing, resulting in less current and heat generation. The FXO-PC72 and FXO-LC72 oscillators employ noise reducing DSM technology and low noise architecture, offering significantly low levels of jitter and phase noise. This series is ideal for a variety of applications including Sonet, Ethernet, storage area network, broadband access, microprocessors/DSP/FPGA, industrial controllers, test and measurement equipment, Fibre Channel and portable applications requiring low power usage. The LVPECL and LVDS oscillators feature application specific integrated circuits (ASICs) for accurate performance, decreased cost and increased flexibility.
This week's industry news
WORK BEGINS TO MERGE AMIS OPERATIONS
(ON Semiconductor, 18 Mar 2008)
Acquisition brings together ON Semiconductor's leading standard products, operational excellence and manufacturing infrastructure with AMIS's substantial custom product portfolio.
PERFECT SCORE FOR ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM
(Zetex, 18 Mar 2008)
Zero-zero outcome is real confirmation of Zetex' long-standing commitment and responsible attitude towards the impact of its activities, products and services on the environment.
INFINEON ACQUISITION TO BOOST DISK-DRIVE IC RANGE
(LSI Europe, 14 Mar 2008)
Assets and intellectual property from the Infineon HDD business include product designs, related software, inventory and test equipment.
MANUFACTURER RECEIVES AEROSPACE ACCREDITATION
(TT electronic manufacturing services (TTems), 18 Mar 2008)
AS9100 certifies that TTems has the controls, business management processes and quality procedures to support the manufacture of electronic systems that are integral to the safety of aircraft.
OLED MODULE PRODUCES MORE LIGHT FOR LONGER
(Osram Opto Semiconductors, 18 Mar 2008)
Osram reports record values of efficiency and lifetime while maintaining the brightness of warm white organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs).
JAPANESE LAB TO CALL ON EUROPEAN EXPERTISE
(7 layers, 14 Mar 2008)
The 7 layers laboratories in Japan will be fully equipped with modern test equipment for cellular technologies.
SEMINAR EXPLAINS HIGH SPEED SERIAL COMPLIANCE
(Tektronix, 17 Mar 2008)
Seminar will explore the route to compliance for the latest high speed serial standards and will introduce an automated compliance test solution for SATA Gen2.
PACKAGING CONFERENCE FOCUSES ON LED LIGHTING
(Intertech-Pira, 18 Mar 2008)
Event will appeal to all those involved in the manufacture, research, design and end use of high-brightness LEDs.
CADENCE ACQUIRES CHIP ESTIMATE
(Cadence Design Systems, 13 Mar 2008)
Chip Estimate customers will benefit significantly from the synergies and opportunities created by the combination of the companies.
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