LONDON, UK: From a Tandy TR-S80 to an iMac, punch cards to terabyte hard drives, or super-8 movie projectors to Blue-ray DVD players, the evolution of electronic technology is undeniable, unstoppable and awe-inspiring.
In an effort to underscore the impact of technology advancements on our daily lives, element14, a collaborative engineering community and electronics store for design engineers and electronics enthusiasts, today kicked-off a community-driven art installation with artist Ben Innes to construct an exploded electronic device mobile that depicts the monumental progression in electronic technology.
Innes, a Minneapolis-based artist and photographer, is best known for his hanging mobiles made of deconstructed electronics that reveal the interactions taking place among the various components of a device. The concept for the installation commissioned by element14 is to showcase the juxtaposition of two analogous pieces of modern and legacy technology. The entire artistic process – from conception to production to installation – will be captured documentary-style and shared on the element14 community.
The subject matter of Innes’ piece will be determined by the element14 community, where engineers and enthusiasts will have the opportunity to vote on the past and present technologies to be deconstructed. In addition to documenting the artistic process, the project will also provide in-depth technical insight from professional design engineers on what makes the parts work together, how the technology has evolved from when it was originally introduced, as well as viewpoints on future innovations.
“The goal of this project is to observe and celebrate the evolution of electronic technology – from where it started to where we are heading tomorrow,” said Alisha Mowbray, senior vice president of marketing, element14. “We are delighted to be working with Ben on this unique endeavor as it parallels element14’s ongoing efforts to support the exchange of ideas among electronics professionals and underscores our appreciation of design engineering as an art form in itself.”
Voting for the conceptual stage of the project begins March 3 and ends March 18 online at element14. Participating element14 community members will be entered for the chance to win a signed photograph of Innes’ final piece, which is scheduled for unveiling at Maker Faire Bay Area 2011 near San Francisco in May. After the completion of the project, the piece will be donated. element14 is also exhibiting at Maker Faire UK in Newcastle on 12-13 March 2011, where visitors will have a chance to enter a competition to win a Stellaris Robotic Evaluation Board.
Friday, March 4, 2011
Thursday, March 3, 2011
AnalogicTech launches small, quiet, serial, step-up LED backlight drivers for handheld devices
SANTA CLARA, USA: Advanced Analogic Technologies Inc. (AnalogicTech), an analog semiconductor company focused on powering innovative solutions in consumer, industrial, and communications markets, has introduced the AAT14XX family of 31 mA step-up single-channel light-emitting diode (LED) drivers capable of driving up to 10 LEDs in a single string.
The drivers’ small size and quiet operation make them ideal LED backlight solutions for single cell Lithium-ion battery-based equipment, including mobile and smart phones, MP3 players, portable media players (PMPs) and portable navigation device-type applications with larger screens.
The AAT14XX family enables larger displays, allows higher efficiencies and offers filtered pulse-width modulation (PWM) dimming to eliminate interference with the radios in cell phones and other handheld devices. With a 1.15 x 1.55 mm wafer-level chip scale package (WLCSP) size, the devices require only 0.7 cm2 of space on a printed circuit board, making them one of the smallest solutions available.
“The requirements and features for optimal backlight power management are constantly evolving in tandem with the growth of the LED market,” said Roger Smullen, Director, Strategic Marketing at AnalogicTech. “The AAT14XX family brings to market one of the smallest solutions for serial LED drivers, strengthening our portfolio for handheld devices. These new products add new capabilities to our comprehensive LED offerings, which are rapidly encompassing a broad range of end products ranging from handheld devices to tablets to televisions.”
LED brightness is controlled in one of three ways: 32 dimming steps using the S2CwireTM interface and filtered or direct PWM control. PWM dimming frequency of 100 KHz eliminates audible noise and is compatible with content adaptive brightness control (CABC) to further reduce backlight power consumption by up to 50 percent.
The major source of power drain in portable systems with displays is the backlight in a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen. The AAT14XX family addresses this with three dimming controls, and an integrated precision, high voltage current sink that provides maximum flexibility in adjusting LED current from 10 to 31 mA regardless of the number of series LEDs. This approach achieves a high efficiency of 88 percent, significantly more than that offered by traditional LED drivers that use a ballast resistor.
The family consists of four parts: the AAT1410 drives up to 4 series LEDs at 31mA, the AAT1401 up to 6, the AAT1402 up to 8 and the AAT1403 up to 10. The devices support a voltage input range of 2.7 to 5.5 V, include over-temperature protection, programmable over-voltage protection, open LED protection and automatic recovery when the fault conditions are removed. The AAT14XX family is available in a 10-pin WLCSP package that is 80 percent smaller than a SOT23 package and 55 percent smaller than a 2 x 2 QFN package. The devices are rated over the -40 degree C to +85 degree C temperature range.
The AAT1401 is priced at $0.36 @10K units. For others, contact AnalogicTech or its distributors. The 14xx family is currently shipping.
The drivers’ small size and quiet operation make them ideal LED backlight solutions for single cell Lithium-ion battery-based equipment, including mobile and smart phones, MP3 players, portable media players (PMPs) and portable navigation device-type applications with larger screens.
The AAT14XX family enables larger displays, allows higher efficiencies and offers filtered pulse-width modulation (PWM) dimming to eliminate interference with the radios in cell phones and other handheld devices. With a 1.15 x 1.55 mm wafer-level chip scale package (WLCSP) size, the devices require only 0.7 cm2 of space on a printed circuit board, making them one of the smallest solutions available.
“The requirements and features for optimal backlight power management are constantly evolving in tandem with the growth of the LED market,” said Roger Smullen, Director, Strategic Marketing at AnalogicTech. “The AAT14XX family brings to market one of the smallest solutions for serial LED drivers, strengthening our portfolio for handheld devices. These new products add new capabilities to our comprehensive LED offerings, which are rapidly encompassing a broad range of end products ranging from handheld devices to tablets to televisions.”
LED brightness is controlled in one of three ways: 32 dimming steps using the S2CwireTM interface and filtered or direct PWM control. PWM dimming frequency of 100 KHz eliminates audible noise and is compatible with content adaptive brightness control (CABC) to further reduce backlight power consumption by up to 50 percent.
The major source of power drain in portable systems with displays is the backlight in a liquid crystal display (LCD) screen. The AAT14XX family addresses this with three dimming controls, and an integrated precision, high voltage current sink that provides maximum flexibility in adjusting LED current from 10 to 31 mA regardless of the number of series LEDs. This approach achieves a high efficiency of 88 percent, significantly more than that offered by traditional LED drivers that use a ballast resistor.
The family consists of four parts: the AAT1410 drives up to 4 series LEDs at 31mA, the AAT1401 up to 6, the AAT1402 up to 8 and the AAT1403 up to 10. The devices support a voltage input range of 2.7 to 5.5 V, include over-temperature protection, programmable over-voltage protection, open LED protection and automatic recovery when the fault conditions are removed. The AAT14XX family is available in a 10-pin WLCSP package that is 80 percent smaller than a SOT23 package and 55 percent smaller than a 2 x 2 QFN package. The devices are rated over the -40 degree C to +85 degree C temperature range.
The AAT1401 is priced at $0.36 @10K units. For others, contact AnalogicTech or its distributors. The 14xx family is currently shipping.
element14 offers electronics industry free legislation guidance on RoHS recast directive
LONDON, UK: element14, a collaborative global electronics community from Premier Farnell plc, is providing additional resources and guidance on its comprehensive legislation page to help manufacturers and design engineers to better understand the recent changes made in the Restriction of the use of certain Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive.
An informative free RoHS eBook, which addresses the recent recast changes and live chat with global legislative expert Gary Nevison, are available to demystify and expedite compliance.
While RoHS was put into effect by the European Union (EU) on July 1, 2006, it impacts any electronics manufacturer who is conducting global business. The original directive restricted six substances in the manufacturing of certain categories of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), including IT equipment. The recast, agreed in September 2010, will eventually include category 11, which will include all EEE not captured in categories 1 to 10, unless specifically excluded. The recast also outlines the dates when medical devices and monitoring and control instruments (along with additional exemptions) will fall within scope.
A seasoned product and legislation expert at global electronics distributor Premier Farnell for more than 30 years, Nevison has spoken extensively at legislation and environmental seminars around the world, serves on the Electronic Component Supply Network, and writes popular legislation blogs and articles for major electronics industry publications.
“Current legislation such as RoHS can be complex and often difficult to understand, but scarce information about legislation can cause even greater frustration,” said Gary Nevison, head of legislation and environmental affairs, element14. “The interactive legislation community page, in tandem with element14’s collaborative community of electronic engineers, underscores our commitment to providing as much data and resources possible in one easily accessible location to give engineers and other electronics professionals, the tools they need to succeed.”
The most comprehensive legislation site serving the electronics industry, element14 offers guidance on EU RoHS, China RoHS, Korea RoHS, REACH, ErP, WEEE, the Battery Directive plus state and provincial environmental laws in the US and Canada. Attracting more than 500 visitors per day, the legislation community page is a premier source of information and serves as a portal to connect with industry professionals.
An informative free RoHS eBook, which addresses the recent recast changes and live chat with global legislative expert Gary Nevison, are available to demystify and expedite compliance.
While RoHS was put into effect by the European Union (EU) on July 1, 2006, it impacts any electronics manufacturer who is conducting global business. The original directive restricted six substances in the manufacturing of certain categories of electrical and electronic equipment (EEE), including IT equipment. The recast, agreed in September 2010, will eventually include category 11, which will include all EEE not captured in categories 1 to 10, unless specifically excluded. The recast also outlines the dates when medical devices and monitoring and control instruments (along with additional exemptions) will fall within scope.
A seasoned product and legislation expert at global electronics distributor Premier Farnell for more than 30 years, Nevison has spoken extensively at legislation and environmental seminars around the world, serves on the Electronic Component Supply Network, and writes popular legislation blogs and articles for major electronics industry publications.
“Current legislation such as RoHS can be complex and often difficult to understand, but scarce information about legislation can cause even greater frustration,” said Gary Nevison, head of legislation and environmental affairs, element14. “The interactive legislation community page, in tandem with element14’s collaborative community of electronic engineers, underscores our commitment to providing as much data and resources possible in one easily accessible location to give engineers and other electronics professionals, the tools they need to succeed.”
The most comprehensive legislation site serving the electronics industry, element14 offers guidance on EU RoHS, China RoHS, Korea RoHS, REACH, ErP, WEEE, the Battery Directive plus state and provincial environmental laws in the US and Canada. Attracting more than 500 visitors per day, the legislation community page is a premier source of information and serves as a portal to connect with industry professionals.
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Avago mini-SFP+ optical transceivers increase port density for storage and Ethernet equipment
OFC/NFOEC 2011; SAN JOSE, USA & SINGAPORE: Avago Technologies, a leading supplier of analog interface components for communications, industrial and consumer applications, today announced two new fiber-optic transceivers that enable increased port density in Ethernet and storage equipment.
The new mini-SFP+ (mSFP) AFBR-54D7APZ transceiver addresses 8-Gbps Fibre Channel for storage applications and the AFBR-703SNZ transceiver targets next-generation 10-Gbps Ethernet equipment designs. Both pluggable modules increase port density by 30 percent over industry-standard SFP+ transceivers, while delivering the same data-transmission performance.
The mSFP transceivers incorporate Avago 850-nm Vertical-Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) and PIN detector technology, which insures the AFBR-54D7APZ module is compliant with 8.5/4.25/2.125 GBd Fibre Channel specifications and the AFBR-703SNZ module complies with IEEE 802.3ae 10GBASE-SR standards. The devices use the SFP+ electrical connector and I2C interface, and are compliant with the Small Form Pluggable (SFP) Multi Source Agreement (MSA) electrical specifications for duplex transceivers.
The mSFP modules are designed for low power consumption with typical dissipation of 0.6W. Avago will demonstrate the mSFP transceivers, in addition to other high-speed optical fiber solutions, at the 2011 Optical Fiber Conference in booth number 2001 at the Los Angeles Convention Center from March 8-10.
“Avago is committed to innovating and partnering with customers to expand our leadership position in 8- and 10-Gbps SFP+ transceivers,” said Victor Krutul, director of marketing for the Fiber Optics Products Division at Avago. “These new mSFP modules enable our customers to develop more efficient storage and Ethernet equipment with higher port density, and we are getting positive feedback from our lead customers.”
Avago recently exhibited a high-density DCX Backbone modular switch from Brocade that leverages the mSFP technology for 64 ports in a switching blade that could only house 48 SFP+ ports.
Avago has teamed with multiple cage and cable suppliers to provide complete 8-Gbps Fibre Channel and 10-Gbps Ethernet mSFP solutions. Avago optical transceivers offer unparalleled reliability, with not a single VCSEL failure in the millions of 8-Gbps and 10-Gbps modules the company has shipped to date.
The new mini-SFP+ (mSFP) AFBR-54D7APZ transceiver addresses 8-Gbps Fibre Channel for storage applications and the AFBR-703SNZ transceiver targets next-generation 10-Gbps Ethernet equipment designs. Both pluggable modules increase port density by 30 percent over industry-standard SFP+ transceivers, while delivering the same data-transmission performance.
The mSFP transceivers incorporate Avago 850-nm Vertical-Cavity Surface Emitting Laser (VCSEL) and PIN detector technology, which insures the AFBR-54D7APZ module is compliant with 8.5/4.25/2.125 GBd Fibre Channel specifications and the AFBR-703SNZ module complies with IEEE 802.3ae 10GBASE-SR standards. The devices use the SFP+ electrical connector and I2C interface, and are compliant with the Small Form Pluggable (SFP) Multi Source Agreement (MSA) electrical specifications for duplex transceivers.
The mSFP modules are designed for low power consumption with typical dissipation of 0.6W. Avago will demonstrate the mSFP transceivers, in addition to other high-speed optical fiber solutions, at the 2011 Optical Fiber Conference in booth number 2001 at the Los Angeles Convention Center from March 8-10.
“Avago is committed to innovating and partnering with customers to expand our leadership position in 8- and 10-Gbps SFP+ transceivers,” said Victor Krutul, director of marketing for the Fiber Optics Products Division at Avago. “These new mSFP modules enable our customers to develop more efficient storage and Ethernet equipment with higher port density, and we are getting positive feedback from our lead customers.”
Avago recently exhibited a high-density DCX Backbone modular switch from Brocade that leverages the mSFP technology for 64 ports in a switching blade that could only house 48 SFP+ ports.
Avago has teamed with multiple cage and cable suppliers to provide complete 8-Gbps Fibre Channel and 10-Gbps Ethernet mSFP solutions. Avago optical transceivers offer unparalleled reliability, with not a single VCSEL failure in the millions of 8-Gbps and 10-Gbps modules the company has shipped to date.
Digi-Key offers over 2,000,000 products online
THIEF RIVER FALLS, USA: Electronic components distributor Digi-Key Corp. announced that the company’s product offering has increased to more than 2,000,000 part numbers.
“Having a vast breadth of product is one of the reasons Digi-Key stands out among distributor competition. While other companies offer electronic component quantities in the hundreds of thousands, Digi-Key offers millions. We have reached a great milestone by gaining the ability to offer our customers the greatest selection of product choices from more than 470 trusted suppliers,” said Mark Larson, president and COO of Digi-Key Corporation.
All products may be ordered on Digi-Key’s global websites and products in stock will be featured in future print and online catalogs.
Digi-Key’s online presence has become more prevalent in the last two years. According to a recent survey conducted by Beacon Technology Partners LLC, digikey.com was rated number one for product search engine, the best in ease of navigation, and topped the competition for overall value of content. Digi-Key currently hosts 81 different websites, each tailored to a specific country, and ships to 170 different nations around the world.
Featured on Digi-Key’s global websites are user-friendly utilities such as the Bill-of-Materials manager, for quick and easy price comparisons and purchasing; the sort-by-price option to help customers find the best product for their budget; and Digi-Key TechZones, which aid design engineers in their production process and inform purchasers of the newest technologies in the electronic component industry.
“Having the most substantial product line in this industry creates value only if our customers have access to the fastest and most effective means of purchasing these products,” said Larson. “As the world continues to rely on the Internet for purchasing needs, Digi-Key can guarantee that the same customer service will apply online as it does over the phone. Our web chat, Twitter, and Facebook presence ensures this.”
“Having a vast breadth of product is one of the reasons Digi-Key stands out among distributor competition. While other companies offer electronic component quantities in the hundreds of thousands, Digi-Key offers millions. We have reached a great milestone by gaining the ability to offer our customers the greatest selection of product choices from more than 470 trusted suppliers,” said Mark Larson, president and COO of Digi-Key Corporation.
All products may be ordered on Digi-Key’s global websites and products in stock will be featured in future print and online catalogs.
Digi-Key’s online presence has become more prevalent in the last two years. According to a recent survey conducted by Beacon Technology Partners LLC, digikey.com was rated number one for product search engine, the best in ease of navigation, and topped the competition for overall value of content. Digi-Key currently hosts 81 different websites, each tailored to a specific country, and ships to 170 different nations around the world.
Featured on Digi-Key’s global websites are user-friendly utilities such as the Bill-of-Materials manager, for quick and easy price comparisons and purchasing; the sort-by-price option to help customers find the best product for their budget; and Digi-Key TechZones, which aid design engineers in their production process and inform purchasers of the newest technologies in the electronic component industry.
“Having the most substantial product line in this industry creates value only if our customers have access to the fastest and most effective means of purchasing these products,” said Larson. “As the world continues to rely on the Internet for purchasing needs, Digi-Key can guarantee that the same customer service will apply online as it does over the phone. Our web chat, Twitter, and Facebook presence ensures this.”
Avnet adds resistor manufacturer, Stackpole Electronics to Americas line card
PHOENIX, USA: Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas, a business region of Avnet Inc. (NYSE: AVT), has added Stackpole Electronics Inc.’s complete line of resistors to its Americas line card. Stackpole’s entire product line of thick and thin film surface mount resistors, axial leaded and wire-wound resistors, current sense resistors, varistors, inductors, and various power resistors is now available from Avnet Electronics Marketing throughout the Americas and on www.avnetexpress.com.
“Avnet's commitment to providing services that cover the full process of manufacturing has made it successful in every major market segment in our industry,” said Brian McCabe, director of North American sales for Stackpole Electronics, Inc. McCabe adds, “Stackpole is anxious to incorporate its wide product offering, commitment to quality and short lead-times with the full service capabilities that Avnet offers its customers.”
“Stackpole has built a solid reputation for producing components that cannot only meet, but exceed our customers’ resistance needs,” said Steve Boysen, senior vice president, director of interconnect, passive and electromechanical (IP&E) strategic sales, Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas. “Adding Stackpole to our Americas offering strengthens the breadth of options we can provide to our customers and helps to accelerate their designs to market.”
Stackpole offers one of the broadest resistive product lines in the industry. Not only does it cover all major technologies of commodity resistors, but also offers a wide variety of less common resistors. For example, Stackpole offers a wide range of wire-wound resistors, including a custom-built, wire-wound fuse. Stackpole’s wire-wound products also include a rugged, edge-wound tubular wire-wound (EWT/SWT) resistor series and a surface mount wire-wound (SM) resistor series featuring high temperature molded encapsulation, flex termination for absorbing thermal expansion.
Stackpole is also committed to providing solutions for design and application issues in today’s world. The RNCP series offers a low cost solution that eliminates the risk of sulfur contamination and the RNCS series provides an alternative to tantalum nitride resistors that are used in harsh, humid environments.
“Avnet's commitment to providing services that cover the full process of manufacturing has made it successful in every major market segment in our industry,” said Brian McCabe, director of North American sales for Stackpole Electronics, Inc. McCabe adds, “Stackpole is anxious to incorporate its wide product offering, commitment to quality and short lead-times with the full service capabilities that Avnet offers its customers.”
“Stackpole has built a solid reputation for producing components that cannot only meet, but exceed our customers’ resistance needs,” said Steve Boysen, senior vice president, director of interconnect, passive and electromechanical (IP&E) strategic sales, Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas. “Adding Stackpole to our Americas offering strengthens the breadth of options we can provide to our customers and helps to accelerate their designs to market.”
Stackpole offers one of the broadest resistive product lines in the industry. Not only does it cover all major technologies of commodity resistors, but also offers a wide variety of less common resistors. For example, Stackpole offers a wide range of wire-wound resistors, including a custom-built, wire-wound fuse. Stackpole’s wire-wound products also include a rugged, edge-wound tubular wire-wound (EWT/SWT) resistor series and a surface mount wire-wound (SM) resistor series featuring high temperature molded encapsulation, flex termination for absorbing thermal expansion.
Stackpole is also committed to providing solutions for design and application issues in today’s world. The RNCP series offers a low cost solution that eliminates the risk of sulfur contamination and the RNCS series provides an alternative to tantalum nitride resistors that are used in harsh, humid environments.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
Molex announces multi-drop sealed connector and cable system
LISLE, USA: Molex Inc. announced the availability of the Multi-Drop Sealed Connector and Cable System, a sealed, modular, cable connector system for the transfer of both power and data/signal in a multi-drop configuration.
Using cable-pierce technology to deliver a rugged, free-form, pluggable connector string, the Multi-Drop Sealed Connector and Cable System is fully sealed to IP66 and IP67 ratings. It can also be customized to meet any requirements for internal and external data/signal and power applications, providing customers with greater flexibility when designing their applications.
“Molex’s Multi-Drop Sealed Connector and Cable System’s string layout, customized mating interface and modular design can be configured to meet customer-specific applications,” said Desmond Ryan, product manager, Molex. “The system is suitable for many lighting and power applications, security systems and sensors in environments such as office buildings, road infrastructure, car parking lots, public transportation, city centers and other public places.”
The system is comprised of multiple connector modules made up of three sections, including top and base housings, which are terminated to a multi-core flat cable, and a custom pluggable connector with an interfacial seal. Retention studs on the top and base housings align the cable module during termination to provide constant compression of the connector on the cable and add strain-relief. Connections can be made on stranded cores of wire of 1.50mm (16 AWG) or greater.
The single termination process allows for quick and easy field termination and is suitable for applications up to approximately 3.0A. Having 50-cycle durability, the pluggable connector can be mated/unmated during installation and for re-use, repair or replacement. With weather-proof and UV-protected housings, gel matte and connector interfacial seals, the assembled system is fully sealed and suitable for use in all weather conditions.
Using cable-pierce technology to deliver a rugged, free-form, pluggable connector string, the Multi-Drop Sealed Connector and Cable System is fully sealed to IP66 and IP67 ratings. It can also be customized to meet any requirements for internal and external data/signal and power applications, providing customers with greater flexibility when designing their applications.
“Molex’s Multi-Drop Sealed Connector and Cable System’s string layout, customized mating interface and modular design can be configured to meet customer-specific applications,” said Desmond Ryan, product manager, Molex. “The system is suitable for many lighting and power applications, security systems and sensors in environments such as office buildings, road infrastructure, car parking lots, public transportation, city centers and other public places.”
The system is comprised of multiple connector modules made up of three sections, including top and base housings, which are terminated to a multi-core flat cable, and a custom pluggable connector with an interfacial seal. Retention studs on the top and base housings align the cable module during termination to provide constant compression of the connector on the cable and add strain-relief. Connections can be made on stranded cores of wire of 1.50mm (16 AWG) or greater.
The single termination process allows for quick and easy field termination and is suitable for applications up to approximately 3.0A. Having 50-cycle durability, the pluggable connector can be mated/unmated during installation and for re-use, repair or replacement. With weather-proof and UV-protected housings, gel matte and connector interfacial seals, the assembled system is fully sealed and suitable for use in all weather conditions.
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