IRVINE, USA: Microsemi Corp., a leading manufacturer of high performance analog/mixed signal integrated circuits and high reliability semiconductors, announced the first in a new family of cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) backlight inverter controller products that feature advanced mega-contrast dimming technology that significantly improves display quality and performance for 26- to 37-inch LCD TVs.
Microsemi's new LX6523A CCFL inverter controller is the first to embed its patented PureBLACK mega-contrast dimming technology, developed by Dr. Xiaoping Jin, inventor of Microsemi's widely adopted Jin Balancer that dynamically adjusts lamp voltages to match multi-lamp currents to tight tolerances.
PureBLACK technology delivers superior black levels and dynamic contrast performance by building upon the Jin Balancer's ability to ensure lamp striking with very small duty cycles.
Microsemi plans to include its advanced mega-dimming capability in future controllers for 40-inch-and-larger displays that use the latest High Voltage LCD Integrated Power Supply (HV-LIPS) topology.
"We've taken another important step in CCFL backlight innovation with PureBLACK technology," said Tom Kapucija, director of marketing at Microsemi's Analog Mixed Signal Group. "It will enable high-end image quality across all display sizes and price points, demonstrating Microsemi's continuing commitment to extending performance/price capabilities while improving the consumer's visual experience," he said.
Microsemi's expanding family of backlighting, sensor and color-management system solutions drive both conventional and emerging high-efficiency LED backlight solutions in a wide variety of TV, notebook computer, automotive and other display platforms and applications.
The LX6523A controller features soft-start capability, fault indication, and flexible configuration support for push-pull, full-bridge or half-bridge drive topologies for ultra-low-cost displays solutions.
It provides all key functions needed for LCD TV/monitor displays in a simplified controller that also provides reliable lamp striking, comprehensive brightness control modes, and support for 24V inverter topologies in existing backlight applications. The LX6523A controller also features tighter lamp current accuracy as compared to competitive solutions.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Avago expands LNA family with high-gain GPS LNA
SAN JOSE, USA & SINGAPORE: Avago Technologies announced the latest edition to its family of low noise amplifiers (LNAs) with a new high-gain LNA with variable current and shutdown functions for use in GPS, unlicensed Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) bands, and WiMax applications.
Avago’s compact MGA-231T6 offers a very low noise figure combined with high linearity to help significantly improve the sensitivity of GPS receivers. This LNA targets designers of mobile handsets with GPS functions, recreational and navigation GPS receivers, and antennas.
Housed in a compact 2.0 mm by 1.3 mm by 0.4 mm package, Avago’s MGA-231T6 only requires 4 to 5 external matching components to help reduce the amount of printed circuit board space and the number of components needed in the design. As a result, designers will be able to develop next-generation GPS applications that are more compact with more features and functions to satisfy the growing needs of consumers.
The MGA-231T6 LNA uses Avago’s proprietary GaAs Enhancement-mode pHEMT process to achieve high gain with a very low noise figure. In addition, the noise figure distribution is tightly controlled, and a CMOS-compatible shutdown pin which is included for turning the LNA on or off or for current adjustment.
The low noise figure and high gain, coupled with low current consumption make the MGA-231T6 suitable for use in critical low-power GPS applications or during low battery situations.
Avago’s compact MGA-231T6 offers a very low noise figure combined with high linearity to help significantly improve the sensitivity of GPS receivers. This LNA targets designers of mobile handsets with GPS functions, recreational and navigation GPS receivers, and antennas.
Housed in a compact 2.0 mm by 1.3 mm by 0.4 mm package, Avago’s MGA-231T6 only requires 4 to 5 external matching components to help reduce the amount of printed circuit board space and the number of components needed in the design. As a result, designers will be able to develop next-generation GPS applications that are more compact with more features and functions to satisfy the growing needs of consumers.
The MGA-231T6 LNA uses Avago’s proprietary GaAs Enhancement-mode pHEMT process to achieve high gain with a very low noise figure. In addition, the noise figure distribution is tightly controlled, and a CMOS-compatible shutdown pin which is included for turning the LNA on or off or for current adjustment.
The low noise figure and high gain, coupled with low current consumption make the MGA-231T6 suitable for use in critical low-power GPS applications or during low battery situations.
Neah Power methanol-powered fuel cell passes 1,000 Hours of continuous operation
BOTHELL, USA: Neah Power Systems Inc., the company developing fuel cell-based renewable energy solutions for the military and consumer use, announced that its methanol-powered fuel cell has been generating power for over 1,000 hours continuously, further validating Neah's porous silicon architecture as a viable platform to meet military and consumer power needs.
"We are very satisfied thus far with the performance of our unique technology," said Chris D'Couto, Neah President and CEO. "It continues to run and, at this point, even we don't know its limits." In October, Neah had previously announced that it had surpassed 500 hours of operation.
"We are very satisfied thus far with the performance of our unique technology," said Chris D'Couto, Neah President and CEO. "It continues to run and, at this point, even we don't know its limits." In October, Neah had previously announced that it had surpassed 500 hours of operation.
Monday, November 2, 2009
APC launches energy efficient back-UPS RS 550VA
UK: APC by Schneider Electric has launched its Back-UPS RS 550VA line-interactive uninterruptible power supply (UPS) that contributes to eliminate wasted energy. This model offers energy efficient charging, shutting off power to computer peripherals when the computer is in sleep mode or hibernating and three battery backup outlets with automatic voltage regulation (AVR).
The APC Back-UPS RS 550VA offers high performance protection for business, office and home computer systems as well as abundant battery backup power, allowing users to work through medium length and extended power outages. It also safeguards equipment from damaging surges and spikes that travel along utility, phone and network lines.
“An offering of this type is becoming increasingly important to businesses and consumers today as they become more and more energy conscious and are attempting to reduce the electricity consumption of their IT products,” said Paul Tyrer, VP UK & Ireland at APC by Schneider Electric.”
“Another distinguishing feature of the Back-UPS RS is its three battery backup outlets with automatic voltage regulation (AVR),” said Paul Tyrer. “AVR instantly adjusts both low and high voltages to safe levels, so users can work indefinitely during brownouts and overvoltage situations, saving the battery for power outages when it is needed most.”
The Back-UPS RS 550VA also has a power saving AVR bypass capability. This is an ultra efficient electrical design that consumes less power during normal operations and automatically bypasses the transformer until needed, saving even more power.
Not only does APC’s PowerChute Edition shutdown software automatically power down a computer system in the event of an extended power outage, but the Back-UPS RS 550VA includes additional features such as audible alarms, LED status indicators, user replaceable batteries, pushbutton circuit breakers and plentiful outlets (including transformer-block spaced outlets) making it the ideal unit to protect a business' productivity or home applications from the constant threat of power problems and lost data.
The unit’s successful second generation LCD Display allows users to use the buttons to toggle through a variety of information regarding the UPS and the utility conditions. In addition, the Mute Button performs two functions: pressing and holding it down disables all audible alarms (until the button is pressed again); while pressing and immediately releasing it silences the audible alarm for that specific alarm event only.
The APC Back-UPS RS 550VA offers high performance protection for business, office and home computer systems as well as abundant battery backup power, allowing users to work through medium length and extended power outages. It also safeguards equipment from damaging surges and spikes that travel along utility, phone and network lines.
“An offering of this type is becoming increasingly important to businesses and consumers today as they become more and more energy conscious and are attempting to reduce the electricity consumption of their IT products,” said Paul Tyrer, VP UK & Ireland at APC by Schneider Electric.”
“Another distinguishing feature of the Back-UPS RS is its three battery backup outlets with automatic voltage regulation (AVR),” said Paul Tyrer. “AVR instantly adjusts both low and high voltages to safe levels, so users can work indefinitely during brownouts and overvoltage situations, saving the battery for power outages when it is needed most.”
The Back-UPS RS 550VA also has a power saving AVR bypass capability. This is an ultra efficient electrical design that consumes less power during normal operations and automatically bypasses the transformer until needed, saving even more power.
Not only does APC’s PowerChute Edition shutdown software automatically power down a computer system in the event of an extended power outage, but the Back-UPS RS 550VA includes additional features such as audible alarms, LED status indicators, user replaceable batteries, pushbutton circuit breakers and plentiful outlets (including transformer-block spaced outlets) making it the ideal unit to protect a business' productivity or home applications from the constant threat of power problems and lost data.
The unit’s successful second generation LCD Display allows users to use the buttons to toggle through a variety of information regarding the UPS and the utility conditions. In addition, the Mute Button performs two functions: pressing and holding it down disables all audible alarms (until the button is pressed again); while pressing and immediately releasing it silences the audible alarm for that specific alarm event only.
Update on China RoHS
This article has been provided by Farnell's Gary Nevison.
UK: Back in March 2007 phase one of the so called “China RoHS” Directive was implemented, on time.
This declaration period required labelling and information on up to 1800 Electronic Information Products. Pollution (recycling) symbols were required to indicate the level of toxic substances in a product.
Where below permitted levels a green symbol would typically be used and orange where restricted substances were present above the permitted levels broadly outlined within the EU RoHS Directive, that had entered into force in July 2006.
Other unique information would also be required including an environmentally friendly use period advising how many years a product could be safely used before hazardous substances were likely to leak into the environment, and a disclosure table outlining which toxic substances were present in a product and, to aid recycling, where the were located.
Phase two which, via a China RoHS “catalogue” would restrict actual products was to follow at the end of 2007. Little were we to know that it would take a further two years to publish the first draft catalogue as it slipped from the end of 2007 to mid and then the end of 2008, then on to mid 2009.
Finally, on 9 October, the first draft was published allowing for a one month consultation period. The restrictions will come into force ten months after the adoption of the legislation.
As anticipated the first draft only provided for a token number of products and these were principally telephones and printers. The list of products will be updated periodically.
The restricted substances are the same as EU RoHS, excluding deca-BDE, as are the maximum permitted concentration levels of homogeneous material, although China RoHS specifically refers to coatings and very small components.
Ten of the EU RoHS exemptions are permitted for “mobile handsets” and the same 10 for “telephones” under the proposals within the first draft of the China RoHS “Catalogue”.
Using the EU numbers they are: 5, 6 (split in to 3 covering steel, aluminium and copper alloy) 7a, 7c, 13, 14, 15 and 23.
The same 10 are permitted for computer printers with the addition of numbers 3 and 20.
Testing may prove a bottleneck as all equipment exported to China for sale in China will require analysis and the China Compulsory Certificate (CCC) and the testing can only be carried out, in China, via authorised Chinese labs. This begs the question will 10 months allow sufficient time?
The approved Chinese labs, and the standards they will use, are yet to be announced.
There will be insufficient time to modify product designs to comply so clearly it has been assumed that telephones and printers made by Chinese manufacturers will already meet these substance restriction obligations as the directive also covers products manufactured, and sold in, China.
UK: Back in March 2007 phase one of the so called “China RoHS” Directive was implemented, on time.
This declaration period required labelling and information on up to 1800 Electronic Information Products. Pollution (recycling) symbols were required to indicate the level of toxic substances in a product.
Where below permitted levels a green symbol would typically be used and orange where restricted substances were present above the permitted levels broadly outlined within the EU RoHS Directive, that had entered into force in July 2006.
Other unique information would also be required including an environmentally friendly use period advising how many years a product could be safely used before hazardous substances were likely to leak into the environment, and a disclosure table outlining which toxic substances were present in a product and, to aid recycling, where the were located.
Phase two which, via a China RoHS “catalogue” would restrict actual products was to follow at the end of 2007. Little were we to know that it would take a further two years to publish the first draft catalogue as it slipped from the end of 2007 to mid and then the end of 2008, then on to mid 2009.
Finally, on 9 October, the first draft was published allowing for a one month consultation period. The restrictions will come into force ten months after the adoption of the legislation.
As anticipated the first draft only provided for a token number of products and these were principally telephones and printers. The list of products will be updated periodically.
The restricted substances are the same as EU RoHS, excluding deca-BDE, as are the maximum permitted concentration levels of homogeneous material, although China RoHS specifically refers to coatings and very small components.
Ten of the EU RoHS exemptions are permitted for “mobile handsets” and the same 10 for “telephones” under the proposals within the first draft of the China RoHS “Catalogue”.
Using the EU numbers they are: 5, 6 (split in to 3 covering steel, aluminium and copper alloy) 7a, 7c, 13, 14, 15 and 23.
The same 10 are permitted for computer printers with the addition of numbers 3 and 20.
Testing may prove a bottleneck as all equipment exported to China for sale in China will require analysis and the China Compulsory Certificate (CCC) and the testing can only be carried out, in China, via authorised Chinese labs. This begs the question will 10 months allow sufficient time?
The approved Chinese labs, and the standards they will use, are yet to be announced.
There will be insufficient time to modify product designs to comply so clearly it has been assumed that telephones and printers made by Chinese manufacturers will already meet these substance restriction obligations as the directive also covers products manufactured, and sold in, China.
Roos Instruments intros Cassini for microwave power amp IC and module testing
SANTA CLARA, USA: Roos Instruments Inc.(RI) has introduced a new configuration of the Cassini ATE platform optimized for production and engineering test of microwave power amplifier (PA) ICs and modules.
The new Cassini PA provides a complete test solution with best in class specifications and test time in a compact, cost effective package. With prices starting less than $300k and test times up to 10x faster than benchtop solutions, Cassini PA provides the fastest low cost solution for production and engineering labs alike.
The standard Cassini PA provides full S-parameter, P1dB, EVM, ACPR, and ACLR test coverage. The system is built on RI's industry leading 20GHz microwave platform including the 20 GHz test set and receiver currently used in hundreds of testers around the world.
"PA test involves some especially challenging tests," commented Mark Roos CEO and Chief Engineer at RI, "It's critical that the tester provide a synchronous, pulsed high current source with single microsecond rise and fall time and no overshoots. We were able to leverage that technology from our existing product line by adding it to our basic power TIM on the Cassini.
"We were also able to take advantage of our industry leading TOI (third order intercept) to provide measurement of harmonic content up to 12 GHz very close to the theoretical noise limit. This makes Cassini extremely well suited for testing GaAs devices as well," he continued.
The new Cassini PA provides a complete test solution with best in class specifications and test time in a compact, cost effective package. With prices starting less than $300k and test times up to 10x faster than benchtop solutions, Cassini PA provides the fastest low cost solution for production and engineering labs alike.
The standard Cassini PA provides full S-parameter, P1dB, EVM, ACPR, and ACLR test coverage. The system is built on RI's industry leading 20GHz microwave platform including the 20 GHz test set and receiver currently used in hundreds of testers around the world.
"PA test involves some especially challenging tests," commented Mark Roos CEO and Chief Engineer at RI, "It's critical that the tester provide a synchronous, pulsed high current source with single microsecond rise and fall time and no overshoots. We were able to leverage that technology from our existing product line by adding it to our basic power TIM on the Cassini.
"We were also able to take advantage of our industry leading TOI (third order intercept) to provide measurement of harmonic content up to 12 GHz very close to the theoretical noise limit. This makes Cassini extremely well suited for testing GaAs devices as well," he continued.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Key strategies for OLED lighting growth
GLEN ALLEN, USA: The OLED lighting market will demonstrate exponential growth for the first few years of its product cycle, followed by a period of fast growth driven by environmental regulations, before leveling off and reaching about $9.7 billion in 2016, according to a Webinar presented recently by NanoMarkets, LC, Virginia-based industry analyst firm.
In this webinar, NanoMarkets discussed the current state of the OLED lighting industry, how and when OLED lighting will succeed in the marketplace, and key factors shaping this over the next eight years.
OLED lighting emerges
Just a few years ago, OLED lighting was considered a tag-along to the OLED display industry, and thus relied on the investment and R&D aimed at producing OLED displays. As NanoMarkets discusses in its 2009 report, An Opportunity Analysis for OLED Lighting: 2009-2016, things have changed--this is the first year that NanoMarkets sees OLED lighting as a separate industry, one with its own rules and opportunities.
Driving this shift is the fact that the opportunities for OLED displays have not proved as great as OLED advocates had once hoped, and lighting seems to present opportunities that are both simpler technically than displays and where the entrenched technologies (light bulbs, fluorescent tubes) sometimes seem easier to push aside than the entrenched technology in displays, LCD.
The anticipated entry market for OLED lighting has also changed. Previously, many believed that OLED lighting would make its debut in novelty products; today, NanoMarkets sees OLED lighting entering into more sophisticated markets--backlighting and general illumination.
NanoMarkets has divided the backlighting sector into two markets, the low-end and the high-end. The low-end market is really the replacement of EL products, as well as backlighting LCDs that don't currently use backlighting, but could benefit if the price was right (i.e., kitchen appliances).
The high-end market includes backlighting for laptops, PDAs, and cell phones. For OLEDs to infiltrate these applications, they will need improved brightness. According to NanoMarkets, however, this is doable and should be available within the next few years.
To quantify this opportunity, NanoMarkets expects the market for OLED backlighting to reach about $2.1 billion in 2016. The largest portion, 45 percent, of this market will come from backlighting for computers, with televisions representing 20 percent, or about $420 million.
After capturing the low-end backlighting market, OLED lighting will make inroads into the general illumination market, first in designer products where the benefits are clearly defined. One of the challenges to replacing the household bulb with OLED lighting technology is cost and how cost is defined. In other words, OLEDs will never be able to compete with incandescents or CFLs on store cost alone.
Instead, total cost of ownership will take into account the lifetime of the bulb as well as the cost of electricity to run it. Because this is not the way consumers currently think about costs when buying bulbs in, say, Home Depot, OLEDs will begin their life in general illumination in designer type products (where cost is not as much of an issue), and custom lighting for large buildings (where the customer will likely consider total cost of ownership).
NanoMarkets expects revenues for OLED lighting used for general illumination applications to reach about $3.1 billion in 2016. Between 2013 and 2016, these revenues will effectively decrease and increase and then decrease again. This is because fewer bulbs will be bought simply because OLEDs are longer lasting than other bulbs. As a result, NanoMarkets expects the addressable market to fall to about 10 billion units by the end of the forecast period (from essentially zero in 2009).
In summary, NanoMarkets sees OLED lighting as an exciting and growing opportunity for OLED materials producers. The two largest opportunities will be in backlighting and general illumination.
While general illumination will not be the first market that OLED lighting penetrates, it represents the largest one; in this market, OLEDs will not be up against incandescents (because they are being phased out in most regions of the world), or CFLs (as they have many drawbacks and merely represent the only alternative to incandescents right now), but instead HB-LEDs. NanoMarkets expects the lighting competition to eventually revolve around solid-state lighting technologies.
In this webinar, NanoMarkets discussed the current state of the OLED lighting industry, how and when OLED lighting will succeed in the marketplace, and key factors shaping this over the next eight years.
OLED lighting emerges
Just a few years ago, OLED lighting was considered a tag-along to the OLED display industry, and thus relied on the investment and R&D aimed at producing OLED displays. As NanoMarkets discusses in its 2009 report, An Opportunity Analysis for OLED Lighting: 2009-2016, things have changed--this is the first year that NanoMarkets sees OLED lighting as a separate industry, one with its own rules and opportunities.
Driving this shift is the fact that the opportunities for OLED displays have not proved as great as OLED advocates had once hoped, and lighting seems to present opportunities that are both simpler technically than displays and where the entrenched technologies (light bulbs, fluorescent tubes) sometimes seem easier to push aside than the entrenched technology in displays, LCD.
The anticipated entry market for OLED lighting has also changed. Previously, many believed that OLED lighting would make its debut in novelty products; today, NanoMarkets sees OLED lighting entering into more sophisticated markets--backlighting and general illumination.
NanoMarkets has divided the backlighting sector into two markets, the low-end and the high-end. The low-end market is really the replacement of EL products, as well as backlighting LCDs that don't currently use backlighting, but could benefit if the price was right (i.e., kitchen appliances).
The high-end market includes backlighting for laptops, PDAs, and cell phones. For OLEDs to infiltrate these applications, they will need improved brightness. According to NanoMarkets, however, this is doable and should be available within the next few years.
To quantify this opportunity, NanoMarkets expects the market for OLED backlighting to reach about $2.1 billion in 2016. The largest portion, 45 percent, of this market will come from backlighting for computers, with televisions representing 20 percent, or about $420 million.
After capturing the low-end backlighting market, OLED lighting will make inroads into the general illumination market, first in designer products where the benefits are clearly defined. One of the challenges to replacing the household bulb with OLED lighting technology is cost and how cost is defined. In other words, OLEDs will never be able to compete with incandescents or CFLs on store cost alone.
Instead, total cost of ownership will take into account the lifetime of the bulb as well as the cost of electricity to run it. Because this is not the way consumers currently think about costs when buying bulbs in, say, Home Depot, OLEDs will begin their life in general illumination in designer type products (where cost is not as much of an issue), and custom lighting for large buildings (where the customer will likely consider total cost of ownership).
NanoMarkets expects revenues for OLED lighting used for general illumination applications to reach about $3.1 billion in 2016. Between 2013 and 2016, these revenues will effectively decrease and increase and then decrease again. This is because fewer bulbs will be bought simply because OLEDs are longer lasting than other bulbs. As a result, NanoMarkets expects the addressable market to fall to about 10 billion units by the end of the forecast period (from essentially zero in 2009).
In summary, NanoMarkets sees OLED lighting as an exciting and growing opportunity for OLED materials producers. The two largest opportunities will be in backlighting and general illumination.
While general illumination will not be the first market that OLED lighting penetrates, it represents the largest one; in this market, OLEDs will not be up against incandescents (because they are being phased out in most regions of the world), or CFLs (as they have many drawbacks and merely represent the only alternative to incandescents right now), but instead HB-LEDs. NanoMarkets expects the lighting competition to eventually revolve around solid-state lighting technologies.
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