GERMANY: RS Components (RS) can now deliver the Raspberry Pi camera module. A prototype of this module was first demonstrated at the booth of RS at Electronica in Munich last November.
The Raspberry Pi camera module only costs $ 25 and includes a CMOS image sensor from OmniVision. The individual pixels of the backside illumination sensor are only 1.4 microns in size and enable taking pictures with 5 megapixels and video recording at a resolution of 720p at 60 frames and 1080p at 30 frames per second.
The camera module is the Raspberry Pi connected to the camera port and uses the CSI standards for data transmission and I2C for control. The user can use this to perform video recordings in high definition (HD) with highly efficient H264 video compression.
"During the last months we have put a lot of work in the refinement and tuning of the Raspberry Pi camera module," said Gordon Hollingworth , head of Software of Raspberry Pi "We are very pleased that we can present to the public the camera board now. It is very small, weighs only a few ounces, has an impressive resolution and provides a very inexpensive way to create photos and use them for development and documentation. test units we have sent, will include in medical laboratories Universities used, and we have some stunning images of aircraft and equipment from projects seen for face recognition, which were made with the camera module. "
"The prototype of the camera module came in November with great interest, and the finished product was much anticipated," said Glenn Jarrett, head of Global Product Marketing of RS. "We are pleased that we can now begin to ship the modules to our customers. The team of the Raspberry Pi Foundation deserves great praise, that they have the hardware refined with full commitment and quickly brought to series production. Now we can support our customers The eagerly await this product, supply from stock. "
The Raspberry Pi camera module from now on RS Components and ordered online via the Raspberry Pi Store. Notes on the integration of the camera module in your development and application tips, visit http://www.designspark.com/raspberrypi within the RS DesignSpark online design community. The contained herein Raspberry Pi Design Centre contains useful information and guidance, including on the Raspberry Pi update on the current operating system (OS) via SD card.
Monday, May 20, 2013
Friday, May 17, 2013
Toshiba starts power transformer production at new factory in Brazil
JAPAN: Toshiba Corp. announced that Toshiba Infrastructure South America Ltd (TIC-SA), a Brazilian Toshiba Group company, has started production of power transformers in a plant built in Betim, Minas Gerais state.
Many South American countries are upgrading their social infrastructure and planning to promote development of smart grids. This is particularly true in Brazil, host to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil and the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Under its Growth Acceleration Program, the Brazilian government plans to invest in the areas of logistics, energy and social development. Against this background of economic and population growth, demand for electricity in South America is expected to rise and the market for power transformer is forecast to expand from about US$210.0 billion in 2012 to US$250.0 billion in 2015.
TIC-SA currently undertakes manufacture and sale of power transformers at its plant in Contagem, Minas Gerais. That facility has an annual capacity equivalent to amount 15GVA, and its output goes to the Brazilian market and the Americas. Construction of the new plant to meet growing demand began in May 2011, some 25km west of Contagem city. The site is 146,000m2 and the building has a floor area of 22,710m2. The investment in plant and equipment to this point is approximately 6 billion yen.
TIC-SA has put in place a production framework covering both plants. The Contagem site will produce small-capacity transformers, while the Betim site will manufacture medium- to large-capacity transformers. This expanded production base will support TIC-SA in proactively promoting its social infrastructure businesses throughout the region.
Many South American countries are upgrading their social infrastructure and planning to promote development of smart grids. This is particularly true in Brazil, host to the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil and the 2016 Summer Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.
Under its Growth Acceleration Program, the Brazilian government plans to invest in the areas of logistics, energy and social development. Against this background of economic and population growth, demand for electricity in South America is expected to rise and the market for power transformer is forecast to expand from about US$210.0 billion in 2012 to US$250.0 billion in 2015.
TIC-SA currently undertakes manufacture and sale of power transformers at its plant in Contagem, Minas Gerais. That facility has an annual capacity equivalent to amount 15GVA, and its output goes to the Brazilian market and the Americas. Construction of the new plant to meet growing demand began in May 2011, some 25km west of Contagem city. The site is 146,000m2 and the building has a floor area of 22,710m2. The investment in plant and equipment to this point is approximately 6 billion yen.
TIC-SA has put in place a production framework covering both plants. The Contagem site will produce small-capacity transformers, while the Betim site will manufacture medium- to large-capacity transformers. This expanded production base will support TIC-SA in proactively promoting its social infrastructure businesses throughout the region.
Xcel Energy testing GE LED street lighting in Minnesota
USA: GE’s new Evolve LED Scalable Cobrahead lighting fixtures have been installed by Xcel Energy in the city of West St. Paul, Minn., as part of a utility-initiated implementation of LED street lights.
Xcel Energy will monitor performance of the new lights for two years and use the data to develop an LED program for each of the eight states in its service area. The utility maintains approximately 500,000 Xcel Energy and customer-owned street lights.
Xcel Energy has changed 530 high-pressure sodium (100-, 150- and 250-watt) fixtures in West St. Paul to GE’s LED street lights. Data collected during the testing will help the utility decide what sort of LED lighting products provide the most benefit to customers, how to price LED rate options, how much maintenance is required and how frequently it should be performed.
In the meantime, West St. Paul will continue to pay its current street light service rate. Xcel Energy funded the $200,000 installation, completed in early 2013.
Xcel Energy will monitor performance of the new lights for two years and use the data to develop an LED program for each of the eight states in its service area. The utility maintains approximately 500,000 Xcel Energy and customer-owned street lights.
Xcel Energy has changed 530 high-pressure sodium (100-, 150- and 250-watt) fixtures in West St. Paul to GE’s LED street lights. Data collected during the testing will help the utility decide what sort of LED lighting products provide the most benefit to customers, how to price LED rate options, how much maintenance is required and how frequently it should be performed.
In the meantime, West St. Paul will continue to pay its current street light service rate. Xcel Energy funded the $200,000 installation, completed in early 2013.
element14 launches Raspberry Pi eye
UK: The eagerly anticipated Raspberry Pi camera board is making its debut with element14 in Asia Pacific enabling pictures and video to be taken with the Raspberry Pi which can be used for security and VoIP projects as well as image and video capture.
One of a strong pipeline of exclusive Raspberry Pi accessories to be launched this year, the camera board, which retails at $25 is available through Newark element14 and MCM in North America, Farnell element14 in Europe, CPC in the UK and Ireland and element14 in Asia Pacific.
The Camera board is a custom designed add-on for the Raspberry Pi which attaches to one of the small sockets on the board’s upper surface. This interface uses the dedicated CSi interface, designed especially for interfacing to cameras. The camera board itself is tiny, at around 25mm x 20mm x 9mm.
Key features of the camera board:
* 5 megapixel native resolution sensor - capable of 2592 x 1944 pixel static images.
* Supports 1080p30, 720p60 and 640x480p60/90 video.
* The camera is supported in the latest version of Raspbian - Raspberry Pi's preferred operating system.
One of a strong pipeline of exclusive Raspberry Pi accessories to be launched this year, the camera board, which retails at $25 is available through Newark element14 and MCM in North America, Farnell element14 in Europe, CPC in the UK and Ireland and element14 in Asia Pacific.
The Camera board is a custom designed add-on for the Raspberry Pi which attaches to one of the small sockets on the board’s upper surface. This interface uses the dedicated CSi interface, designed especially for interfacing to cameras. The camera board itself is tiny, at around 25mm x 20mm x 9mm.
Key features of the camera board:
* 5 megapixel native resolution sensor - capable of 2592 x 1944 pixel static images.
* Supports 1080p30, 720p60 and 640x480p60/90 video.
* The camera is supported in the latest version of Raspbian - Raspberry Pi's preferred operating system.
Thursday, May 16, 2013
Leading touch screen manufacturers utilize Orbotech laser direct imaging systems
ISRAEL: Orbotech Ltd announced that its LDI-150 laser direct imaging tool is now being utilized by five of the world’s leading touch screen makers for production of One Glass Solution (OGS) touch screen modules.
Richard Klapholz, corporate executive VP for Electronics Business at Orbotech said: “Orbotech’s direct imaging footprint exists in almost every smart device, reflecting the growing utilization of the company's direct imaging solution in the manufacture of key components within the electronics industry supply chain. This is particularly the case for advanced applications requiring accurate patterning in high volume.
“Since entering the touch screen industry, we have seen a strong acceleration in the adoption rate of Orbotech laser direct imaging. Manufacturers are increasingly leveraging its value as an enabling tool to address the challenges they face in the mass production of highly complex electronic components which, in turn, is being driven by the improved demand for sophisticated personal communications and entertainment devices.”
Orbotech’s field-proven solutions for touch screen applications include laser direct imaging, automated optical inspection (AOI) and automated optical repair (AOR).
Richard Klapholz, corporate executive VP for Electronics Business at Orbotech said: “Orbotech’s direct imaging footprint exists in almost every smart device, reflecting the growing utilization of the company's direct imaging solution in the manufacture of key components within the electronics industry supply chain. This is particularly the case for advanced applications requiring accurate patterning in high volume.
“Since entering the touch screen industry, we have seen a strong acceleration in the adoption rate of Orbotech laser direct imaging. Manufacturers are increasingly leveraging its value as an enabling tool to address the challenges they face in the mass production of highly complex electronic components which, in turn, is being driven by the improved demand for sophisticated personal communications and entertainment devices.”
Orbotech’s field-proven solutions for touch screen applications include laser direct imaging, automated optical inspection (AOI) and automated optical repair (AOR).
VPG’s Bulk Metal foil ultra-high-precision COTS resistors in high demand
USA: Vishay Precision Group Inc. announced that its Vishay Foil Resistors brand (VFR) Bulk Metal foil commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) resistors are increasingly in demand to meet the needs for high reliability and long-term stability in control and monitoring applications.
Including the surface-mount VSMP Series (0603-2512), hermetically sealed oil-filled VHP100, and leaded Z Series, VFR’s comprehensive portfolio offers a variety of resistor configurations, case sizes, and ultra-high-precision specifications for optimized performance. All are based on proven foil resistor technologies with a 50-year track record of delivering ultra-precision performance while continuing to evolve and improve to serve the needs of the market.
“Many monitoring and control applications utilize a 4 mA to 20 mA closed-loop circuit, consisting of a DC power supply to power the loop, a sensor/transducer/transmitter that inserts the sensor-related current, and a meter or control device at the other end of the loop. Generally, analog sensors with just microvolt-level outputs continuously detect changes in any significant stage in the process,” said Yuval Hernik, senior director of application engineering for VFR.
“The sense resistors used in these circuits, typically 250 Ω, are critical for system operation and must offer high stability and reliability. Since voltage across the resistor is fed directly to the meter, any error could indicate that the sensor is reading a non-existent condition. The process control correction made on this reading would then cause the system to operate at less than optimal conditions and reduce its efficiency, which could result in increased operating costs, environmental pollution, hazardous spills, associated fines, and poor product quality.
"Prudent designers consider all of the possible problems that could affect the performance and reliability of their monitoring and control circuits, and select the sense resistor that best protects the performance of their equipment. And with the menaces of early obsolescence and counterfeiting ever more evident in the electronics industry, buyers are more closely than ever scrutinizing not just devices but their manufacturers as well to avoid problems down the road.”
VFR’s Bulk Metal Foil resistors for control and monitoring applications provide the high reliability and long-term stability required for 4 mA to 20 mA circuits. The surface-mount VSMP Series and through-hole Z Series devices offer ultra-low TCR of ±0.05 ppm/°C typical (0°C to +60°C) and ±0.2 ppm/°C typical (-55°C to +125°C, +25°C ref.), while the secondary standard VHP100 resistor offers an essentially zero TCR and is available with tight tolerances down to ±0.005 percent (50 ppm).
The devices feature exceptional load-life stability of ±0.005 percent at 70°C for 2,000 hours at rated power and ±0.01% at 70°C for 10,000 hours. The resistors are virtually immune to extraordinary incidents such as radiation exposure and withstand ESD spikes to at least 25 kV.
Including the surface-mount VSMP Series (0603-2512), hermetically sealed oil-filled VHP100, and leaded Z Series, VFR’s comprehensive portfolio offers a variety of resistor configurations, case sizes, and ultra-high-precision specifications for optimized performance. All are based on proven foil resistor technologies with a 50-year track record of delivering ultra-precision performance while continuing to evolve and improve to serve the needs of the market.
“Many monitoring and control applications utilize a 4 mA to 20 mA closed-loop circuit, consisting of a DC power supply to power the loop, a sensor/transducer/transmitter that inserts the sensor-related current, and a meter or control device at the other end of the loop. Generally, analog sensors with just microvolt-level outputs continuously detect changes in any significant stage in the process,” said Yuval Hernik, senior director of application engineering for VFR.
“The sense resistors used in these circuits, typically 250 Ω, are critical for system operation and must offer high stability and reliability. Since voltage across the resistor is fed directly to the meter, any error could indicate that the sensor is reading a non-existent condition. The process control correction made on this reading would then cause the system to operate at less than optimal conditions and reduce its efficiency, which could result in increased operating costs, environmental pollution, hazardous spills, associated fines, and poor product quality.
"Prudent designers consider all of the possible problems that could affect the performance and reliability of their monitoring and control circuits, and select the sense resistor that best protects the performance of their equipment. And with the menaces of early obsolescence and counterfeiting ever more evident in the electronics industry, buyers are more closely than ever scrutinizing not just devices but their manufacturers as well to avoid problems down the road.”
VFR’s Bulk Metal Foil resistors for control and monitoring applications provide the high reliability and long-term stability required for 4 mA to 20 mA circuits. The surface-mount VSMP Series and through-hole Z Series devices offer ultra-low TCR of ±0.05 ppm/°C typical (0°C to +60°C) and ±0.2 ppm/°C typical (-55°C to +125°C, +25°C ref.), while the secondary standard VHP100 resistor offers an essentially zero TCR and is available with tight tolerances down to ±0.005 percent (50 ppm).
The devices feature exceptional load-life stability of ±0.005 percent at 70°C for 2,000 hours at rated power and ±0.01% at 70°C for 10,000 hours. The resistors are virtually immune to extraordinary incidents such as radiation exposure and withstand ESD spikes to at least 25 kV.
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
QD Vision announces breakthrough QLED efficiency results
USA: QD Vision Inc., manufacturer of Color IQ optical components for LCD applications, announced breakthrough results on next generation quantum dot light emitting devices (QLEDs), which are currently in advanced development stage.
QLEDs are a quantum dot-based light emitting technology, which in the future will be used in applications such as electronic displays and solid-state lighting.
QD Vision’s latest QLED performance results are currently published in the 21 April 2013 issue of Nature Photonics. In the article, QD Vision reports achieving 18 percent External Quantum Efficiency (EQE), which puts QLEDs near the fundamental efficiency limit of the technology.
These results are two times higher efficiency than previously reported state-of-the-art efficiency of a QLED device. QD Vision’s current and luminous power efficiency are better than the best evaporated OLED result of the same color coordinate, and significantly better than what solution-processed OLEDs have thus far achieved.
QLEDs are a quantum dot-based light emitting technology, which in the future will be used in applications such as electronic displays and solid-state lighting.
QD Vision’s latest QLED performance results are currently published in the 21 April 2013 issue of Nature Photonics. In the article, QD Vision reports achieving 18 percent External Quantum Efficiency (EQE), which puts QLEDs near the fundamental efficiency limit of the technology.
These results are two times higher efficiency than previously reported state-of-the-art efficiency of a QLED device. QD Vision’s current and luminous power efficiency are better than the best evaporated OLED result of the same color coordinate, and significantly better than what solution-processed OLEDs have thus far achieved.
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