Consumer

February 2018
High-Performance Buck Converter Evaluation Board Enables Higher Switching Speeds
OTTAWA, Ontario, Canada – GaN Systems announced the availability of its 5MHz buck converter evaluation board (GS61008P-EVBHF) using GaN Systems’ 100V E-Mode GaN transistor and pSemi’s PE29101 integrated high-speed driver. The outputs of the pSemi driver can provide switching transition speeds in the sub na
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Date:
02/27/2018
Over the past few years, Silicon Carbide (SiC) devices have seen a substantial rise in popularity. This has been fueled by an increased focus on saving energy, reducing the size of devices, and improving the long term reliability of the final products. Traditional silicon-based devices are reaching the physical an
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Date:
02/27/2018
Charging Ahead to Higher Energy Batteries

Image (a) is a cross-sectional SEM image of the Li5La3Nb2O12 crystal layer and image (b) shows computationally simulated trajectories of the Li, La, Nb, and O framework atoms obtained for Σ3 (2-1-1) = (1-21) at a temperature of 1300 K.

Researchers have developed a new way to improve lithium ion battery efficiency. Through the growth of a cubic crystal layer, the scientists have created a thin and dense connecting layer between the electrodes of the battery. Professor Nobuyuki Zettsu from the Center for Energy and Environmental Science in the Department of Materials C
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Date:
02/26/2018
Orion Fans Expands AC Motorized Impellers Family & Adds New DC Motorized Impeller Line
DALLAS, TX -- Orion Fans has expanded its AC motorized impeller product offering with 14 new IP55-rated models and has added a new line of 24V and 48V DC motorized impellers with 13 models. The AC motorized impellers provide high airflow for a wide range of harsh and demanding applications. The DC motorized impe
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Date:
02/22/2018
60-Page Catalog Features Utility Management, Leak Detection, Submetering, Thermostat Control, and Reporting Solutions for Multi-Family Facilities
Bensalem, PA— H2O Degree announces a new 60-page catalog, “Utility Management Solutions for Multi-Family Facilities,” that simplifies the application and specification process for everyone involved – from building owners and managers to engineers and maintenance staff. Now available for download on the co
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Date:
02/22/2018
World's First Solar Fuels Reactor for Night Passes Test

CONTISOL was tested at Cologne, Germany using simulated 'suns', rather than an actual solar field, and the storage and heat exchanger was also simulated, because the reactor itself is the innovation being tested

International solar thermal energy researchers have successfully tested CONTISOL, a solar reactor that runs on air, able to make any solar fuel like hydrogen and to run day or night - because it uses concentrated solar power (CSP) which can include thermal energy storage. The promise of solar fuels is that w
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Date:
02/21/2018
HARTING Technology Group strengthens its commitment in Mexico
The HARTING Technology Group intends to further expand its market position in North and Central America over the coming years. The comments were made by Jon DeSouza, President and CEO of HARTING Americas, in front of a group of journalists in Silao. Since 2016, HARTING has been producing overmolded cables and wiring
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Date:
02/21/2018
ROHM develops sensor IC for high-speed heart rate measurement for determining blood pessure, stress and vascular age
ROHM is offering an optical heart rate sensor for smart bands and watches, which, thanks to its high-speed 1024 Hz sampling, can be used for measuring blood pressure, stress and vascular age. The BH1792GLC is the second pulse wave sensor to be developed by ROHM. It is notable for its high detection accuracy an
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Date:
02/21/2018
Selecting Components based on Measurement Data
Würth Elektronik eiSos has expanded the capabilities of its REDEXPERT free simulation software by adding more search modules for additional applications. From now on, LEDs, varistors and PFC coils can also be selected in a practice-oriented way on the basis of the measurement data stored in the system. The tool
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Date:
02/21/2018
Renesas Electronics Unveils New Renesas Synergy™ Website and Solutions Gallery for IoT Developers
Renesas Electronics Corporation announced the newly updated Renesas Synergy™ Platform website and Solutions Gallery that place the power of the Synergy ecosystem – from software to hardware – into the developers’ hands. The site refresh makes it easier for Renesas Synergy users to take advantage of the e
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Date:
02/21/2018
Mouser Now Stocking Microchip PIC18 K83 MCUs with CAN and Core Independent Peripherals for Improved Response Time
Mouser Electronics is now stocking PIC18 K83 microcontrollers from Microchip Technology. The new 8-bit microcontrollers combine a Controller Area Network (CAN) bus with an extensive array of Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs) to improve response time to critical system events. The CIPs handle tasks without cod
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Date:
02/21/2018
Better sound for smart home applications: Infineon acquires Merus Audio
Infineon Technologies today announced the acquisition of Merus Audio. The Copenhagen-based start-up was founded in 2010 by Hans Hasselby-Andersen and Mikkel Hoyerby. Merus Audio creates energy-efficient integrated audio amplifier solutions. They maximize audio performance and battery playback time for smart home and bat
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Date:
02/21/2018
Rohde & Schwarz collaborates with Gemalto to minimize multi-region drive testing for LTE-Advanced wireless modules
Rohde & Schwarz is collaborating with wireless module vendor Gemalto to overcome the problem of extensive real network drive tests in different countries. The solution is to automatically reproduce field-recorded network configurations of Gemalto Cinterion modules on an R&S CMW500 mobile radio tester. Manufa
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Date:
02/21/2018
FCT’s broad product portfolio now in stock at TTI, Inc.
FCT's broad product portfolio including a range of connectors, contacts, hoods, tools and more is available in Europe through TTI, Inc. A Molex company, FCT’s products also encompasses customised solutions meeting individual needs and providing design flexibility. FCT’s product range comprises of steel, brass (non-
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Date:
02/21/2018
Computers aid Discovery of new, Inexpensive Material to Make LEDs With High-Color Quality
A team led by engineers at the University of California San Diego has used data mining and computational tools to discover a new phosphor material for white LEDs that is inexpensive and easy to make. Researchers built prototype white LED light bulbs using the new phosphor. The prototypes exhibited better color qu
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Date:
02/20/2018
Electric Eel-Inspired Device Reaches 110 Volts

Electric Eel-Inspired Device Reaches 110 Volts: This photo depicts the printed, high voltage implementation of the artificial electric organ. A 3-D bioprinter was used to deposit arrays of gel precursor droplets onto plastic substrates, which were then cured with a UV light to convert them into solid gels. Alternating high-salinity and low-salinity gels (red and blue gels, respectively) were printed onto one substrate, and alternating cation-selective and anion-selective gels (green and yellow gels, respectively) were printed onto a second substrate. When overlaid, these gels connect to form a conductive pathway of 612 tetrameric gel cells that can be used to generate up to 110 volts.

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In an effort to create a power source for future implantable technologies, a team led by Michael Mayer from the University of Fribourg, along with researchers from the University of Michigan and UC San Diego, developed an electric eel-inspired device that produced 110 volts from gels filled wi
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Date:
02/19/2018
The global LED lighting market is undergoing a drastic change, propelled by the exponential urban expansion expected over the coming years, and the drive towards increased energy efficiency. In fact, the global LED lighting market is expected to surpass $100 Billion by the end of 2024, according to new data fr
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Date:
02/19/2018
Smart yet Frugal: Energy-Saving, Next-Generation Lighting

Figure 1. The FL7740 and FL7760 are a complete dimmable solution for modern LED lighting

Lighting is important to us – a fact borne out by an estimate from the US Energy Information Administration that we use the same amount of energy to light our homes (129 Billion kWh – 9% of total consumption) as the total amount we use to wash and dry our clothes, use our computers and cook. However, much of t
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Date:
02/19/2018
The Future of MicroLED Displays Using Next-Generation Technologies

Figure 1. Brightness in Daylight

MicroLEDs (micro-light-emitting diodes) are an emerging display technology that, as the name implies, use very small LEDs for pixels. Much the same as any other current display technology, it combines red, green and blue sub-pixels to reproduce a colour. Although there are currently no microLED displays in mass pr
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Date:
02/19/2018
Horticulture Lighting Drives Plant Growth

Figure 1. Horticulture Facility

The market for light-emitting diodes (LEDs) has been experiencing continuous growth for several years. The reasons for this include, for instance, the low costs of the LEDs, whose energy efficiency and capabilities, brightness, and color scheme can be adapted individually to the respective requirements. In addition, dr
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Date:
02/19/2018
Manufacturers Start to see Logistics as key to Productivity and Customer Satisfaction
One theme that I’ve seen cropping up quite regularly from manufacturers recently is a bigger emphasis on logistics. Logistics may not initially seem a likely way to increase efficiency on the factory floor, but to manufacturers who have pruned and tweaked processes elsewhere, concentrating on logistics may be
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Date:
02/19/2018
Energy Labeling Protocols for External Power Supplies Will Keep Getting Tougher and Reaching Further

Figure 1. Authorities worldwide have adopted EPS energy-labeling protocols, and introduced stricter targets with each subsequent revision.

Recent delays in the introduction of mandatory energy-performance standards should not be interpreted as a slackening in the pace of regulatory change. Energy-performance standards for high-tech products can become more effective in helping protect the planet by being more broadly adopted worldwide and by se
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Date:
02/16/2018
Taking Stock of the Incandescent Light Bulb
So how’s that incandescent ban treating you? Six years in, questions abound regarding the ban’s necessity, its effectiveness, and whether a ban exists in the first place. Back in 2007, President Bush signed the Energy Independence and Security Act (EISA) which, among other things, set maximum wattage requ
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Date:
02/14/2018
Innovations in Lighting and Illumination
Innovation in electronics in lighting has greatly increased the efficiency of the process of converting electrical energy into light.  Energy savings have been increased further by increased knowledge of the effects of light intensity and wavelengths on plants, animals and humans.   Not only has el
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Date:
02/14/2018
Now at Mouser: STMicroelectronics’s STWLC33 Inductive Power Receiver Delivers 15W Qi and AirFuel Wireless Charging
Mouser Electronic is now stocking the STWLC33 inductive wireless power receiver from STMicroelectronics (ST). One of ST’s Wireless Power Transfer solutions, the STWLC33 is an integrated, multi-mode wireless power-receiver solution optimized for portable high-speed chargeable applications up to 15W. The dual-mode
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Date:
02/14/2018
HANNOVER MESSE 2018: HARTING relies on “partnering”
The HARTING Technology Group will once again be showcasing numerous new products and solutions at the HANNOVER MESSE (23 to 27 April 2018). This year, HARTING (Hall 11 / Stand C13) will highlight the importance of Integrated Industry partnerships by way of a few examples. HARTING will emphasis this year's HANNOV
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Date:
02/14/2018
CORNING, N.Y. - Corning Incorporated announced that its Environmental Technologies business recently received the Cummins' new product development award for providing strong technical support, excellent product performance, and on-time product supply with no delays for its emissions-control solutions. The bie
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Date:
02/12/2018
New Lithium Collection Method Could Boost Global Supply
With continual technological advancements in mobile devices and electric cars, the global demand for lithium has quickly outpaced the rate at which it can be mined or recycled, but a University of Texas at Austin professor and his research team may have a solution. Benny Freeman, professor in the McKetta D
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Date:
02/09/2018
SEGGER breaks ground on new corporate headquarters
SEGGER announced its further expansion. Just last week, SEGGER broke ground on a new 2,200 square meter office in Monheim, Germany, only ten minutes from Düsseldorf. This is only one week after announcing its new location in the heart of Silicon Valley, and one year after completing construction of its new of
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Date:
02/07/2018
Now at Mouser: TDK’s Ultra-Thin PiezoHapt Actuator Provides Fast Haptic Feedback for Wearables and More
Mouser Electronics is now stocking the PiezoHapt ultra-thin actuator from TDK. Expanding TDK’s portfolio of haptic devices, including the PowerHap actuator, the PiezoHapt is one of the world's thinnest haptic components on the market today. With a thickness of only 0.35 mm and a very short response time of ju
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Date:
02/07/2018
Toshiba Electronics Europe has today announced a new USB-based Bluetooth development platform based around their innovative and advanced TC35678 BT 4.2 single-chip Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) controller. The BMSKUSBBT1760A(P) USB board reduces development time and cost as it provides all that is needed to develo
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Date:
02/07/2018
Renesas Electronics Unveils Industry-Leading Fully Encapsulated Dual 30A and Single 33A Digital Power Modules
Renesas Electronics announced two new fully encapsulated digital DC/DC PMBus power modules that deliver the highest power density and efficiency in their class. The dual ISL8274M operates from a 5V or 12V power rail, provides two 30A outputs and up to 95.5% peak efficiency in a compact 18mm x 23mm2 footprint. T
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Date:
02/07/2018
LED Drivers Feature High Efficiency and Very Low Standby Power
SAN JOSE, Calif. – Power Integrations announced the LYTSwitch-6 family of safety-isolated LED-driver ICs for smart lighting applications. The new ICs deliver flicker-free output up to 65 W, and feature up to 94% efficiency and as little as 15 mW standby power, with configuration options for two-stage or single-stage PF
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Date:
02/07/2018
MILPITAS, Calif. — Worldwide silicon wafer area shipments in 2017 increased by 10 percent against 2016 shipments, while worldwide silicon revenues rose by 21 percent over 2016 levels, reported the SEMI Silicon Manufacturers Group (SMG) in its year-end analysis of the silicon wafer industry. Silicon wafer are
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Date:
02/06/2018
Is Hydrogen the Fuel of the Future?

As the race to find energy sources to replace our dwindling fossil fuel supplies continues apace, hydrogen is likely to play a crucial role in the future.

As the race to find energy sources to replace our dwindling fossil fuel supplies continues apace, hydrogen is likely to play a crucial role in the future. Japan has already announced its intention to become the world's first "hydrogen society" - aiming to open 35 hydrogen fuelling stations by 2020. W
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Date:
02/06/2018
Integrated Power Phototriac With 600 V/μs dv/dt Reduces Costs and Saves Space
MALVERN, Pa. — Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. introduced a new 1 A integrated power phototriac designed to directly drive medium AC loads. Featuring high dv/dt to 600 V/μs, the Vishay Semiconductors VO2223B delivers high robustness and noise isolation for home appliances and industrial equipment. The device anno
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Date:
02/01/2018
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