Consumer

March 2015
Rumors broke today, sparked by a Korean business site, that Samsung may be considering making a bid for AMD. It’s not unusual for these kinds of rumors to make the rounds, though it’s been awhile since I heard Samsung’s name floated. Any such acquisition would mark a sea change for the Sunnyvale-based co
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Date:
03/31/2015
In this episode of PSDtv IR+Infineon explains their GaN-based flatscreen power solution for Power Systems Design at APEC 2015. GaN switch performance features low charge and excellent dynamic performance in reverse conduction compared to Silicon FET options, enabling more efficient operation in today´s app
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Date:
03/31/2015
In this episode of PSDtv STMicroelectronics demonstrates their latest Qi-compatible wireless power solution for Power Systems Design at APEC 2015. As a member of the Qi Wireless Power Consortium and the PMA (Power Matters Alliance), ST ensures full compatibility with these leading wireless-charging protocols an
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Date:
03/31/2015
Two notes on Intel's possibly buying Altera

Top 10 semiconductor industry suppliers

According to a report in the Wall Street Journal on Friday, March 27, 2015, Intel is in talks to buy Altera. Intel’s largest purchase comes on the heels of a long series of semiconductor mergers and acquisitions – including NXP and Freescale, Cypress Semiconductor and Spansion, Lattice Semiconductor and Si
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Date:
03/30/2015
In this episode of PSDtv Linear Technology demonstrates their Linduino One Isolated Arduino-Compatible Demonstration Board at APEC 2015 for Power Systems Design. Linduino is Linear Technology’s Arduino compatible system for developing and distributing firmware libraries and example code for Linear Technol
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Date:
03/30/2015
AVX claims highest Q 01005 MLCC available for UHF band applications

CU Series ultralow ESR C0G (NP0) MLCCs

AVX, a leading manufacturer of passive components and interconnect solutions, has introduced the highest Q 01005 MLCC available on today’s market for ultra high frequency (UHF) band applications (300MHz—3GHz). The first part number of the new CU Series ultralow ESR C0G (NP0) MLCCs, the CU10 01005 MLCC, exhibits ty
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Date:
03/27/2015
Texas Instruments announced its MSP432 microcontroller (MCU) platform, presented as the industry’s lowest power 32-bit ARM Cortex-M4F MCUs. These new 48MHz MCUs leverage TI’s ultra-low-power MCU expertise to optimize performance without compromising power, while only consuming 95µA/MHz in active power and 850
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Date:
03/27/2015
NXP Semiconductors announced its new GreenChip power solution, the TEA1916+TEA1995 platform – an innovative and easy-to-design new Resonant LLC solution targeted for desktop PC/AiO, gaming consoles, notebook adapters and large panel TVs. Building on NXP’s success as the market leader in GreenChip power ICs,
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Date:
03/27/2015
Cree, a leading supplier of silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) wafers and devices, is exhibiting at, chairing, and sponsoring this year’s IEEE Wireless and Microwave Technology Conference (WAMICON) — the leading conference for addressing developments in microwave and RF wireless technologies
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Date:
03/27/2015
TE Connectivity’s compact MHP-TAM series provides Li-Ion thermal protection in space-constrained consumer electronics

The MHP-TAM devices

Battery applications designers are tasked with meeting increasingly stringent safety standards for ultra-thin notebooks and other portable consumer electronics powered by high-capacity lithium polymer and prismatic cells. In response, TE Connectivity’s business unit, TE Circuit Protection, introduced the new MH
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Date:
03/27/2015
Linear Technology announced the LT3744, a synchronous step-down DC/DC converter designed to deliver constant current to drive high current LEDs. Its 3.3V to 36V input voltage range makes it ideal for a wide variety of applications, including industrial, DLP projection and architectural lighting. The LT3744 uses two
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Date:
03/27/2015
In this episode of PSDtv Microchip Technologies demnonstrates their latest power management tech for Power Systems Design at APEC 2015. The demonstrations include gesture-driven lighting controls and wired ethernet command protocols and Power over Ethernet (PoE). Microchip Technologies
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Date:
03/24/2015
TI claims first zero standby power PSR solution for high-power AC/DC power supplies

UCC28730 PSR flyback controller with 700-V startup switch and UCC24650 wake-up monitor

Texas Instruments introduced the industry’s first zero standby power controller chipset with the lowest standby power consumption for AC/DC flyback power supplies up to 75 W. Taking power supply efficiency to the next level, the new UCC28730 primary-side regulation (PSR) flyback controller with 700-V star
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Date:
03/23/2015
Semtech, a leading supplier of analog and mixed-signal semiconductors, announced the SC33020H Load Switch platform in a tiny 0.9mm x 0.9mm, 4 bump Chip Scale Package (CSP) with industry leading Ron of just 32mΩ. The SC33020H load switch provides power rail control for up to 2A with reverse current blocking
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Date:
03/23/2015
In this episode of PSDtv Fairchild describes their latest TO leadless packaging and how it improves performance for Power Systems Design at APEC 2015. The combination of superior heat tolerance, greater power density and improved reliability make Fairchild’s ET MOSFET family ideal for DC-to-DC power supplies,
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Date:
03/23/2015
Power supply & demand

Alix Paultre, Editorial Director, PSD

Supply and demand are old concepts that strongly figure into almost every aspect of our lives, and come to bear especially on our electronics. The focus on which of the two aspects of exchange to focus on at any given moment is often determined by factors having nothing to do with facts, and everything to do wi
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Date:
03/23/2015
Qspeed 150V diodes from Power Integrations offer switching speed and softness

Qspeed 150 V diodes

Power Integrations, a leader in high-voltage integrated circuits for energy-efficient power conversion, announced a new family of Qspeed 150 V diodes. The fastest silicon diodes in the world, Qspeed LQA150 series devices also feature excellent softness for low EMI. Based on the company’s Qspeed merged-PIN te
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Date:
03/20/2015
In this episode of PSDtv International Rectifier+Infineon describe their latest enhancement-GaN-based power converter solution at APEC 2015 for Power Systems Design. GaN switch performance features low charge and excellent dynamic performance in reverse conduction compared to Silicon FET options, enabling more
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Date:
03/20/2015
Ideal Power, a developer of a disruptive power conversion technology, has announced a multi-year alliance with LG Chem, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of lithium-ion batteries, to supply Ideal Power’s patented power conversion systems (PCS) alongside LG Chem’s industry-leading battery solutions. Th
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Date:
03/19/2015
Linear's software devkit for SmartMesh IP accelerates development of wireless sensor Industrial IoT

SmartMesh IPTM

Linear Technology’s SmartMesh IPTM wireless sensor networking products now provide the ability to program industrial Internet of Things (IoT) applications directly on the embedded ARM Cortex-M3, running Micrium’s µC/OS-II real-time operating system. Users no longer need a separate processor for sensor interface and
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Date:
03/19/2015
Paper Battery, developer of an innovative supercapacitor-based energy storage and battery enhancement technology, today announced immediate availability of the Fast Charge Developers Kit for its PowerResponder product line. This kit enables product designers’ to incorporate fast charging PowerResponder cells in
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Date:
03/19/2015
In this episode of PSDtv Alex Lidow of Efficient Power Conversion (EPC) explains the various wireless-power demonstrations and other technologies for Power Systems Design at APEC 2015. As wireless power gains popularity, there is a push for operation in the higher frequency ISM bands of 6.78 MHz and 13.56 M
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Date:
03/19/2015
TI launches first 80-V half-bridge GaN FET module

LMG5200 GaN FET power stage

Texas Instruments introduced the industry’s first 80-V, 10-A integrated gallium nitride (GaN) field-effect transistor (FET) power-stage prototype, which consists of a high-frequency driver and two GaN FETs in a half-bridge configuration – all in an easy-to-design quad flat no-leads (QFN) package. The new LMG52
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Date:
03/18/2015
Infineon Technologies announced the expansion of its Gallium Nitride (GaN)-on-Silicon technology and product portfolio at APEC 2015. The company now offers both enhancement mode and cascode configuration GaN-based platforms optimized for high performance applications requiring superior levels of energy efficiency in
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Date:
03/17/2015
Microchip releases Wi-Fi 802.11ac power amplifier module

SST11CP22 5 GHz power amplifier module

Microchip Technology, a leading provider of microcontroller, analog and Flash-IP solutions, announced its new SST11CP22 5 GHz power amplifier module (PAM) for the IEEE 802.11ac ultra high data rate Wi-Fi standard. This PAM delivers 19 dBm linear output power at 1.8% dynamic EVM (Error Vector Magnitude) with MC
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Date:
03/17/2015
Quantum Materials announced it has broken the Stokes shift barrier and is able to produce 'Strong Shift' Quantum Dots to consistent characteristics in high volumes. The Company announced the news on the opening of the second-annual Quantum Dots Forum hosted by Smithers Apex on March 18 at the San Francisc
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Date:
03/17/2015
NXP Semiconductors announced its new GreenChip power solution, the TEA1916+TEA1995 platform – an innovative and easy-to-design new Resonant LLC solution targeted for desktop PC/AiO, gaming consoles, notebook adapters and large panel TVs.   Building on NXP’s success as the market leader in GreenCh
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Date:
03/16/2015
Keysight Technologies announced the availability of its Method of Implementation (MOI) guide for USB 3.1 and USB Type-C Connectors and Cable Assemblies Compliance Testing using the Keysight ENA Series network analyzer’s enhanced time domain analysis option (E5071C-TDR). The MOI is a measurement guide of procedures fo
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Date:
03/16/2015
Efficient Power Conversion announces the publication of a practical engineering handbook designed to provide power system design engineers valuable experiences and points of reference critical to understanding and designing highly efficient wireless power systems using gallium nitride-based transistors. As a su
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Date:
03/16/2015
ON Semiconductor, driving energy efficient innovations, and power conversion specialist Transphorm, building on their previously announced partnership to bring gallium nitride (GaN) based power solutions to market, today announced the introduction of the co-branded NTP8G202N (TPH3202PS) and NTP8G206N (TPH3206PS) 60
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Date:
03/16/2015
element14, an electronic design community with more than 300,000 members, launched an ambitious new design challenge, “Sci Fi Your Pi.” Sponsored by Pi Trading, creator of the Raspberry Pi and an element14 partner, the global initiative challenges engineers and enthusiasts to use the Raspberry Pi 2 to design ap
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Date:
03/16/2015
TI introduces 4-switch buck-boost controller and digital power tool

Digital Power BoosterPack

Texas Instruments announced that it has simplified digital power control design with the new, low-cost Digital Power BoosterPack. The BoosterPack is a plug-in daughter card for the C2000 Piccolo TMS320F28069M LaunchPad development kit that makes it easy to understand digital power development using the real-time co
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Date:
03/16/2015
In this episode of PSDtv Lattice Semiconductor explains the new USB 3.0 tech at embedded world 2015 for Power Systems Design. The USB Type-C is a significant improvement over prior versions of USB, the most appreciated being a reversible connector, two channels of 10 Gbps USB data, flexible alternate modes f
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Date:
03/14/2015
Cypress Semiconductor and Spansion announced that they have closed the merger of the two companies in an all-stock, tax-free transaction valued at approximately $5 billion. In a special meeting earlier today, Cypress shareholders approved the issuance of 2.457 shares of Cypress stock to Spansion shareholders fo
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Date:
03/13/2015
Micrel's 20A IntelliMOS power stage family

The IntelliMOS power stage family

Micrel, an industry leader in high performance linear and power solutions, LAN and timing and communications solutions, announced the MIC4520/MIC4521, an IntelliMOS power stage family capable of delivering up to 20A in a compact 4mm x 6mm TQFN package. The MIC4521 is a two-phase power stage (includes MOSFET dri
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Date:
03/13/2015
Ambiq Micro, a leader in ultra-low power integrated circuits, announced the Apollo family of four 32-bit ARM Cortex-M4F microcontrollers (MCUs). In real-world applications, their energy consumption is typically 5 to 10 times lower than that of MCUs of comparable performance, resulting in far longer battery life in
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Date:
03/11/2015
ON Semiconductor, driving energy efficient innovations, will be showcasing some of its latest advances in power management technology at APEC including a new LLC current-mode power supply for computers and LED TVs, significant developments in GaN, and a sensor-less motor driver controller.   Current-Mode LLC Power Supply One
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Date:
03/11/2015
In this episode of PSDtv ARM goes through their latest Internet of Things infrastructure with several demos from various companies using the mbed OS for Power Systems Design at embedded world 2015. ARM's mbed OS is an operating system for IoT devices and is especially well-suited to run in energy constrained
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Date:
03/11/2015
Linear's latest synchronous buck-boost DC/DC offers dual-input PowerPath control

The LTC3118 dual input synchronous buck-boost DC/DC converter

Linear Technology announced the LTC3118, a dual input, wide voltage range synchronous buck-boost DC/DC converter with an intelligent, integrated low loss PowerPath control. Its unique power switch architecture provides high efficiency operation from either input source to a programmable output voltage above, bel
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Date:
03/10/2015
Fairchild launches 800V SuperFET II MOSFET family

SuperFET II MOSFET

Fairchild, a leading supplier of high-performance power semiconductor solutions, introduced its 800V SuperFET II MOSFET family, featuring broad package offerings and the industry’s lowest on-resistance (Rdson) and output capacitance (Coss). The new family enables designers to improve the efficiency, cost-effectiveness an
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Date:
03/09/2015
ams, a leading provider of high-performance analog ICs and sensors, and STMicroelectronics, a semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications, introduced an NFC system reference design that assures easy, reliable and secure contactless transactions while suiting the sleek fo
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Date:
03/09/2015
After three days, LOPEC, the International Exhibition and Conference for Printed Electronics, saw another increase in attendance and ended on Thursday. It was a complete success: From March 3 to 5, more than 2,300 visitors from 42 countries came to the ICM – Internationales Congress Center München. That corresponds to
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Date:
03/09/2015
On Thursday, March 12, 2015, Forbes Media will host its second annual “Reinventing America: Leading the Next Industrial Revolution Summit,” at the J.W. Marriott in the summit host city of Chicago. This invitation-only event will bring together industry leaders, investors, inventors, entrepreneurs, CEOs and po
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Date:
03/09/2015
Newark element14 launches low-power Freescale Freedom Platform FRDM-KL27Z with USB

Freescale Kinetis KL27/17 Cortex-M0+ based Freedom Platform with USB

Newark element14 has launched the new Freescale Kinetis KL27/17 Cortex-M0+ based Freedom Platform with USB. The board is ideal for evaluating low power Cortex-M0+ based designs that require USB capability. The Kinetis KL series of MCUs is one of the most energy efficient MCUs in its class. The new Kinetis FR
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Date:
03/09/2015
TE's NECTOR M power system offers standard for connecting lighting and power

NECTOR M power system connectors

TE Connectivity, a leader in connectivity, announces its newly-enhanced NECTOR M power system. In addition to meeting IEC 61535 standards, the power system solution is designed to meet the UL 1977 guidelines and just debuted a 5-position splitter that provides power, signal and control connection options for mu
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Date:
03/09/2015
Altera is demonstrating its portfolio of FPGA and power solutions at the Applied Power Electronics Conference, (APEC) being held at the Charlotte Convention Center, in Charlotte, North Carolina, from March 15 to 19. System designers can use field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and SoCs coupled with Altera En
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Date:
03/09/2015
In this episode of PSDtv  Microsemi explains their latest low-power RF tech at embedded world 2015 for Power Systems Design. Their latest low-power RF tech is currently embodied in their latest transceivers. Microsemi's ZL70251 ultra-low-power radio frequency (RF) transceiver provides a wireless link in
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Date:
03/09/2015
Cree's LED arrays slash system costs up to 60%

XLamp CXA2 LED

Cree introduced a new addition to its CXA LED array family, CXA2 LED arrays, delivering up to 33 percent higher efficacy in the same form factors. Utilizing elements of the Cree SC5 Technology Platform, this improvement in lumen density enables better performance and radically reduces system size and cost. The ne
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Date:
03/06/2015
APS releases 170W DC input LED driver with dimming control

DBL-170 LED power supply

Advanced Power Solutions (APS) announces the release of the DBL-170 series of 100~170 Watt DC Input LED Power Supplies with dimming control via fixed resistor or 1~10V PWM. The DBL-170 family LED power supplies feature 4 models offering constant current operation ranging from 280~4200mA and output voltages of 30
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Date:
03/06/2015
At the upcoming International Battery Seminar and Exhibit, ZPower, the first developer of rechargeable, silver-zinc batteries for hearing aids, will present a paper about the company’s recent research to further enhance the electrode utilization and cycle life of its silver-zinc rechargeable button cell batteries. Th
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Date:
03/06/2015
AVX Corporation, a leading manufacturer of passive components and interconnect solutions, is exhibiting at the annual Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exhibition (APEC), which will take place in Charlotte, NC, March 15–19, 2015. Eight of AVX’s top engineers and technical product managers will be on
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Date:
03/06/2015
In this episode of PSDtv Microchip demonstrates their latest self-contained motion control solution for Power Systems Design at embedded world 2015. The MM7150-PICtail combines motion sensors (accelerometer, magnetometer, and gyroscope) with a motion coprocessor with integrated sensor fusion.  The MM7150-
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Date:
03/04/2015
Ametherm announced its product lineup for the Applied Power Electronics Conference and Exposition (APEC) 2015, taking place March 15-19 in Charlotte, North Carolina. In booth 1023, the company will be showcasing a wide range of its leading inrush current limiters for reliable circuit protection and NTC sensing th
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Date:
03/04/2015
Littelfuse introduces new TVS Diode Arrays

SLVU2.8-8 Series 2.8V, 30A TVS Diode Arrays

Littelfuse, a leader in circuit protection, has introduced the SLVU2.8-8 Series 2.8V, 30A TVS Diode Array (SPA Diodes), designed to protect low voltage CMOS devices from damage caused by ESD and lightning-induced transients. When compared to similar market solutions, SLVU2.8-8 Series provides circuit designers wi
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Date:
03/04/2015
Infineon Technologies announced that it supplies the embedded Secure Element (eSE) chip for the new premium smartphones Samsung Galaxy S6 and S6 edge. Infineon’s SLE 97 is a SOLID FLASH-based eSE chip which can safeguard the functionalities of the mobile device as well as transactions where users’ sensitive da
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Date:
03/03/2015
Eaton PowerStor XL60 Series supercapacitors offer long life storage for transportation, lighting, industrial, and grid apps

XL60 Series supercapacitors

Power management company Eaton unveiled the PowerStor XL60 Series supercapacitors with large format, high capacity cells to provide a wide operating range and one of the industry’s highest power densities compared to most products in the market. For kilowatt- and megawatt-size systems, the XL60 series is designed sp
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Date:
03/03/2015
Microchip launches new DAC family

MCP47FEBXX general-purpose DAC

Microchip Technology, a leading provider of microcontroller, mixed-signal, analog and Flash-IP solutions, announced the expansion of its non-volatile Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) product line with the MCP47FEBXX devices. The low-power, single and dual-channel DACs feature 8-, 10- and 12-bit resolution, in
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Date:
03/03/2015
Texas Instruments' 16-bit ADS8339 low-power ADC now at Mouser

Texas Instruments’ ADS8339 Low Power ADCs

Mouser Electronics, anl authorized distributor of the latest semiconductors and electronic components, is now stocking the ADS8339 Low Power ADCs from Texas Instruments. Optimized for low power operation, where power consumption scales directly with speed, the ADS8339 is a miniature, micro-power, 16-bit analog-to-digital co
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Date:
03/03/2015
Linear's high-voltage micropower wake-up timer with pushbutton control offers configurable wake times for power-conscious apps

The LTC2956 wake-up timer

Linear Technology introduced the LTC2956, a wake-up timer with pushbutton control that manages 1.5V to 36V system power. Using microcontrollers or real-time clocks to track timing overcomplicates many designs. Electronic devices used to perform routine tasks, such as monitoring human body temperature, monitoring st
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Date:
03/03/2015
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