Electronic Products and Technology August 2012 by Annex Business Media

electronic products and technology -

OPTOELECTRONICS & DISPLAYS

electronic products and technology

AUGUST 2012

AN EP&T SPECIAL REPORT PAGE 12

POWER SOURCES Page 8

ANDY BAUMEN ASSOCIATES

INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION Page 16 CONEC

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e d i t o r i a l electronic products andtechnology technology electronic products and Volume 34 Number 5

August 2012

Stephen Law Editor 416.510.5208 slaw@ept.ca

Sohail Kamal

West Coast Correspondent

Joanna Malivoire

Peter Loney

Account Manager Direct: 866.868.7089 jmalivoire@ept.ca

Publisher 416.510.5207 pdloney@ept.ca

IEEE’s RF, Microwave symposium breaks records in Montreal For the first time in many years, the IEEE’s annual International Microwave Symposium (IMS) stretched its international legs in Canada, as Montreal played host to almost 8,000 attendees at the Palais des Congres this past June. Microwave week represents the world’s largest gathering of radio frequency and microwave professionals, as well as the most important forum for the latest and most advanced research in the area. Celebrating its 60th anniversary IMS served as the centerpiece of week-long technical and social gatherings design to address the interests of many RF and microwave engineers. Aside from some record-breaking heat recorded within Montreal that week, the conference itself broke many records – including 1,200 paper submissions from 49 different countries, as well as 569 exhibitors from 21 nations. Attended mostly by microwave and RF designers, researchers, developers, academics, executives and exhibitor staff, IMS2012 experienced a particularly strong showing from the international community, including a 200% increase in attendees from China. This certainly helped reinforce the event’s theme of ‘Microwaves without Borders.’ The symposium included representation from 57 countries, with the most participants from the United States (46%) and Canada (17%). There were also increases in the number of attendees from multiple European countries, including Germany, France, UK and the Netherlands.

“The collaboration of microwave and RF industry professionals from around the world was astounding,” says Dr. Ke Wu, general chair of IMS2012. “We saw incredible enthusiasm for the technical program, and all of our attendees, from our student competitors, to our workshop leaders, to our exhibitors, contributed to the huge success of the symposium.” Of the total 4,118 symposium registrants, 2,653 registered for the technical program, and 1,465 registered for the exhibits alone. The symposium featured Qualcomm president and COO Steve Mollenkopf as the plenary session speaker and a closing session with Dr. Thomas H. Lee, Stanford University professor and director of the Microsystems Technology Office at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). The Montreal gathering represented only the second time since its inception that IMS has been held outside of the US. The first time was a much smaller symposium held in Ottawa in 1978. “That event now seems to be a distant and forgotten history for many of our younger generation of microwave engineers and researchers,” says Wu. IMS2013 will return to US soil next year, hosted in Seattle June 2-7 in 2013. Be sure to watch the video on IMS2012 Montreal at www.ept.ca website, under the ‘Multimedia’ header. Stephen Law, Editor slaw@ept.ca Follow me on Twitter http://twitter.com/#!/EPTmagazine

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NEWSWATCH N E W S WATCH NEWSWATCH electronic products and technology • august 2012

Software productivity tool assists components buyers

Canadian Circuits upgrades with new AOI system

A brand-new software productivity tool called DistiStock, designed to simplify the process of sourcing and purchasing electronic components has been rolled out by Toronto-based Smart Data Works Ltd. Licensed to the end-user on a subscription basis, DistiStock helps component buyers, purchasing agents, electronics engineers and other electronic purchasing professionals retrieve up-to–the minute information about in-stock, authorized inventory, prices, lead-times, RoHS status, MOQ’s and more. DistiStock retrieves the information from 66 major authorized electronic distributors in a single click. “What sets DistiStock apart is that the information is retrieved in real time. In other words, the information you see represent the real picture at the very moment that the user searches for it, not information stored in a database that at best is last night’s news, or at worst, completely outdated,” says Gunter Richter, a senior developer of DistiStock.

Printed circuit board fabricator Canadian Circuits Inc. of Surrey BC has upgraded its quality capabilities with the recent acquisition of a new automatic optical inspections system (AOI). This purchase of the popular Camtek Orion 828 AOI system broadens the users capabilities to include: point to point distance; pad diameter and line width. “This ensures the user of having the most critical dimension accuracy on the market today,” says Pam Arya, Canadian Circuit’s sales manager. “The key to successfully servicing our customers today is making sure that we can provide them with not only the best but the most reliable printed circuit boards available. To do this with confidence, it is our responsibility to know with an unwavering degree of certainty that our boards are in always within dimensional tolerance.”

WECO appoints GMA to rep in Canada To strengthen its market presence in Canada, Montreal-based WECO Electrical Connectors has signed a sales representative agreement with GMA Inc., Mississauga ON, to represent the firm’s terminal blocks and connectors lines. “Over the past few months we’ve been looking to upgrade our sales organization and feel that GMA will provide us with strong representation and support across Canada,” says Bernard Pinet, general manager of WECO. “Their synergistic lineup of electro-mechanical products fits well with our line of terminal block products and we look forward to opening up new opportunities within these areas.”

Harting adds Digi-Key to disty network Electronic and electrical connectivity manufacturer Harting Inc., Elgin IL, has signed a new global agreement with distribution leader Digi-Key Corp. “Our partnership with Digi-Key, one of the fastest growing providers of electronic components in the world, will make it easier and faster for the engineering community to find and specify just the right Harting solution for their applications,” says Rolf Meyer, president and CEO of Harting Inc. of North America. Digi-Key also recently entered into a global distribution agreement with Anaren to distribute its Integrated Radio (AIR) modules. Anaren is a major innovator of standard products and custom microwave and RF technology and is organized into two operating groups, each one targeting a major industry sector: the Space & Defense Group and the Wireless Group.

New Panel Mount Indicators LED & Flexible Light Pipes

Canadian photonic industry consortium formed The global photonics community convened for Photonics North, the international conference on the application of photonic technology, and celebrated the official launch of the new Canadian Photonic Industry Consortium (CPIC). Following a merger of the Canadian Institute for Photonic Innovations (CIPI) and Canadian Photonic Consortium (CPC), CPIC combines the strengths of these organizations to further increase the competitiveness of Canada’s photonics industry. By connecting photonics companies to new knowledge, investment and end-customers, CPIC aims to accelerate the application and adoption of Canadian photonic technologies across all sectors of the global economy. This promises to help increase the productivity and profitability of these firms, and create new opportunities to exploit the $330-billion global photonics market.

TÜV SÜD Canada expands within Ontario TÜV SÜD Canada, a global testing, inspection and certification services firm has relocated to a new and larger facility in Gormley, Ontario. The move meets the rapid growth and demand for core and expanded services. Some of the services TÜV SÜD Canada provides include and expanded electrical safety testing and CE marking assistance, along with CB scheme certification and global conformity assessment services. The new facility also provides notified body services for EU directives and FDA 510(k) reviews and third-party inspections. Other services include: ISO 13485 certification under the Canadian Medical Device Conformity Assessment system; expanded international compliance management for most global markets; Expanded environmental testing services at the firm’s headquarters in Newmarket ON.

Microart Services expands plant facility Continued growth within its ‘box build’ department has spurred electronic contract manufacturer, Microart Services Inc., Markham ON, to expand its current facility by an additional 10,000-square-feet. The move effectively increases the firm’s testing and box build capacity, bringing its total manufacturing space to 30,000-sq-ft. Microart sales manager Kathy Gemmill, believes it is the natural progression of the firm’s existing customer base to move their box build operations over to the new facility, reaping the “obvious economical rewards.” “We were receiving more and more inquiries into the logistics of taking over our customer’s box builds. Expanding our plant was our answer to that,” Gemmill says. Microarts’ growth will provide for additional capacity in testing, cable assemblies, mechanical assemblies, box build and customized packaging as well. Microart also recently expanded its sales force with the addition of Richard Martin as account manager for Eastern Canada and the USA.

Avnet launches T&M light lab Avnet Electronics Marketing Americas recently unveiled its Americas-based LED LightLab in Chandler AZ, enabling customers to test and measure a wide range of LED (light emitting diode) applications. “The demand for LEDs has reached an explosive growth phase,” says George Kelly, technical specialist and LightLab manager. “LightLab’s capabilities coupled with Avnet’s national team of LED-focused illumination engineers substantially reduces our customers’ design time and provides a means to weigh various design options; ultimately optimizing their end-products’ performance and extending their competitive edge.” The Avnet LightLab is a state-of-the-art, 900-square-foot-facility, equipped with the latest LED metrology suite from Instrument Systems. Designed to measure the key optical, electrical and thermal characteristics of high power LEDs, modules and luminaires, the Avnet LightLab services are offered to qualified Avnet customers. All photometric, radiometric and colormetric testing is conducted in accordance with specifications from the Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage (CIE), the international commission on light.

Henkel Aerospace appoints Hisco as authorized disty

Connectors & Cables Mechanical Hardware Optoelectronics Power Products Printers & Labelling Protection, Suppression & Shielding Switches & Relays Thermal Management Wire Management

AUTHORIZED

DISTRIBUTOR

Hisco Inc., a specialty distribution company serving the aerospace, defense, electronic assembly, renewable energy, medical device and other industrial markets, has been appointed as an authorized distributor for Henkel Aerospace Structural Adhesives and Surface Technologies. “We see Hisco as a sustainable distribution partner,” says Dennis Cardoza, global channel manager for Henkel ATA. “We were impressed with their intentional strategic approach, their sales coverage and their marketing expertise, as well as a proven track record as a valuable partner of other Henkel business units that go back 30-years.” Under this agreement, Hisco will provide Henkel adhesives, sealants and surface treatments specific to the aerospace market. Hisco’s value-add divisions – Precision Converting and Adhesive Materials Group – will also contribute significantly. Precision Converting will do the converting and tolling of dry film products. Adhesive Materials Group will repackage adhesives and sealants.

TTI inks global disty deal with Martek Power/Abbott irwin-ind.com 800.263.3562 Aurora, ON http://ept.hotims.com/40522-2

TTI Inc., distributor of interconnect, passive, electromechanical and discrete components, has signed a global distribution agreement with Cooper Bussmann to distribute the Martek Power/ Abbott military power management product portfolio. TTI has a long history of success to the military segment and is well established as the leading supplier of interconnect, passive, E-Mech and discrete semiconductor components to military customers. Martek Power/Abbott is a world leader in design and manufacture of standard, modified-standard and custom ac-dc power supplies and dc-dc converters to the military sector and offers a superior level of quality.

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products on review

electronic products and technology • august 2012

Dual access wall mounted 19” cabinets are rated NEMA 4/IP66

Die-cast, nickel-plated flange mount integrates connector in harsh conditions

Eclipse Dual Access wall mounted cabinets provide a rigid and strong enclosure for high-density LAN cabling and 19” patch panels as well as for any 19” electronic equipment. Designed for use in both industrial and office environments, the unit consists of three sections: the heavy-duty wall mounting rear and base through which the cables enter the enclosure; the main body and a solid or window lockable front door. The body and the door are independently hinged, with 120° opening to give unrestricted access to both the front and rear of the mounted equipment. All sections are constructed from 14-gauge steel, finished in RAL 7035 light gray. HAMMOND MFG.

CON083 Flange RJ45 IP67 rated connectors join water-resistant series and includes Ethernet I/O ports with special flange-mount. The die-cast, nickel-plated devices allow designers to incorporate popular data ports in applications exposed to harsh environmental conditions. Available in Cat5e or Cat6e configurations, devices provide increased protection from contamination and moisture in addition to mechanical stability, temperature resistance, vibration immunity and EMI/RFI shielding. CONEC http://ept.hotims.com/40522-37

Surface mount housings toughen connector series

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Han-Eco connector series includes new surface mount housings and covers available in four sizes and with one or two cable inlets. The appropriate M32 cable fittings for sizes 6B and 10B and M40 for sizes 16B and 24B are supplied along with the surface mount housings. Product’s covers can be selected with or without an integral seal so they can also be used for both hood and housing applications. Housings are made from fiber-glass reinforced, high-performance plastic which makes them highly resistant to challenging weather and other environmental conditions, yet mechanically robust and lighter and less expensive than comparable metal housings. HARTING

Polycarbonate enclosures house, protect DIN rail mount IEC parts EK series of NEMA 4X polycarbonate enclosures house and protect DIN rail mount IEC components, such as DIN rail mount circuit breakers, timers, switches, meters and other control devices. The CE compliant product provides a shrouded cut-out and tinted transparent hinged door with push release door latches for quick access and visibility. Unit is high in mechanical strength on top of being corrosion and maintenance free. OMEGA

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Quebec Tech Report

Quebec delegation raises flags at Semicon West In an effort to raise the profile of Quebec’s position within the worldwide electronics market, the Quebec Economic Development, Innovation and Exportation Ministry (MDEIE) sponsored the participation of some provincially-based organizations at Semicon West in San Francisco this July. Participating groups, RIE, C2Mi, Nanoquebec, CIMEQ, DigiPlan TEC and Veri-T, each had the opportunity to make many contacts with influential Silicon Valley firms. The opportunity also put them in touch with the Quebec Bureau in Los Angeles, which promotes businesses relations and ventures between Quebec companies and high tech companies on the US Pacific coast. The MiQro Innovation Collaborative Centre (C2MI), Bromont QC, is an international beacon in advanced packaging and microsystems. As a Centre of Excellence, its goal is to allow its members to foster the growth of the microelectronics industry through the accelerated commercialization of market-driven prototypes. More specifically, the C2MI strives to create a global Centre of Excellence for Commercialization and Research (CECR) in 200mm-based micro-electromechanical systems (MEMS) and 3D wafer level packaging (WLP), as well as advanced technologies associated with the assembly and packaging of silicon chips in addition to embedded systems. For more information contact vincent.fortin@c2mi.ca The Quebec Nanotechnology Infrastructure (www.iqn-qni.ca) brings together the nanotechnology expertise found in Quebec’s universities. Its mission is to give optimal access to academic and industrial researchers to over 300M$ in equipment investment, including lithography tools, etchers, deposition systems and metrology equipment. The QNI provides users with a full range of services including training and support, independent use of equipment, contractual services as well as development of major R&D projects. For more information: dolores.martinez@nanoquebec.ca Centre for Innovation in Micro Electronics of Quebec (CIMEQ) is a College Center for technology transfer based in Ste-Thérèse QC, with a mission to support organizations, institutions, companies and especially small and medium sizes companies with innovation and R&D projects. For more information: fverdygoyette@cimeq.qc.ca Quebec’s electronics industry Golf Classic held was held in July in Acton Vale QC, honoring association presidents from the past 10-years. This Fall, the Quebec Electronic Industry Group prepares a preliminary study plan to identify the ‘local X’ market opportunities within the province. To participate in the study, contact Rene Boutin at info@rie.ca Or rene.boutin@veri-t.com La version française de cet article est disponible au www.rie.ca.

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electronic products and technology • august 2012 electronic products and technology • august 2012

Power Sources

Eight considerations for selecting

an isolated dc-dc converter

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By Paul Knauber, field applications engineer, Murata Power Solutions

With so many dc-dc converter options, how do engineers pick the best one for their needs?

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bricks to 1/32nd bricks. Figure 1 shows To make the selection easier, engineers the dimensions for the most common should focus on eight Need key features when > 500 watts? of these (half bricks) down to 1/16th choosing a power brick. Depending on MOST: and gives an indication of the maximum the application,PMI someREPLACES of these considAC-DC JETA power currently available for fully reguerations will have more importance than lated topologies with a 2:1 input range others but eachADVANCE shouldPOWER be reviewedLAMBDA to ALPHA POWER LH RESEARCH of 36-75V. assure the best ARTESYN outcome. LUCENT As shown in Table 1, a best-in-class ATT MAGNETEK BASLER MARTEK 1/32nd brick delivers 30 Watts, while Output power C&D OMEGA half bricks are typically capable of outCHEROKEE POWER-MATE Utilizing COMPUTER cutting edge technology, POWER POWER-ONE put power levels up to 450 Watts. An COMPUTER PRODUCTS POWERTEC example of a 30W, 1/ 32nd brick is shown dc-dc converters are now available COUTANT in six sizes, ranging from QUALIDYNE half in Figure 1. DATA POWER

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The available power from each standard brick size has increased steadily since these products first Figure 1: The ULT series of converters from appeared on the market Murata Power Solutions represents best-in-class power 25-years-ago. 1kW in a density for a 1/32nd brick isolated dc-dc converter half brick will be here in the foreseeable future as technology contion requirements are fully determined. tinues to drive 2-3 percent efficiency This approach also means it is unlikely improvement. Advances in component to encounter space constraints when the technologies and materials (particularly design is complete. for magnetic components) have precipiIt is interesting to note that among tated these improvements. the various brick footprints, only two When choosing the most appropriate of these share the same pin configurapower rating, consider both the duty cycle tion: quarter bricks and eighth bricks. that the load imposes on the converter The key here is that with efficiency and and the broader operating environment, power density regularly increasing with particularly with respect to ambient temeach generation of brick products, tomorperature. Data sheet ratings will normally row’s eighth bricks will provide the same refer to continuous operation at an ambiperformance as today’s quarter bricks, ent temperature of 25C. If full power is but at a lower cost. This reality provides only needed some of the time, a smaller customers with a reasonable prospect dc-dc converter can be used. This will not for future cost reduction without having only cost less but may also operate nearer to make any changes to the supporting its full load rating, at which point it will printed circuit board. Given that power be more efficient. As a rule, it is better to brick product generations typically run in carry out development work using a conan 18-24 month timescale, the timeframe verter with power to spare and then scale for implementing such changes meshes back to a more appropriate power rating well with typical product life cycles. for the final converter when the applicaPACKAGE

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Efficiency

Dc-dc converters are most 1/4 BRICK . . . . . . . 300 . . . . . . . . . 1.45 X 2.30 X 0.40 efficient when 1/8 BRICK . . . . . . 120–240 . . . . . . . . 0.90 X 2.30 X 0.40 operating near their full rated load but 1/16 BRICK . . . . . 66–100 . . . . . . . . 0.90 X 1.30 X 0.40 the larger the differ1/32 BRICK . . . . . . . 30 . . . . . . . . . 0.92 X 0.75 X 0.35 ence between input and output voltage, the less efficient the Table 1: dc-dc converter power density has improved so much that even the tiny 1/32nd brick converter delivers 30W. conversion process. Remember to check the efficiency curve at lower loads and to take into account the operating environment when estimating how much heat must be removed from the equipment. Today’s best-in-class isolated DC-DC converters are achieving efficiencies in the 80 to 97.5% range. Do not underestimate the value of a 1 percent difference in efficiency. If a converter is 91% efficient, rather than 90%, that 1% difference equates to 10% less heat that needs to be removed from the product. Check the 3 3 product data sheet to determine whether the power required is sustainable with natural convection cooling, or if forcedair is required. 1/2 BRICK . . . . . . . 450 . . . . . . . . . 2.40 X 2.30 X 0.40

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1. 20 kw’s tO > 30 kw’s • 2u X 19” raCk MOuntabLE, HOt PLug OPtiOn: 1. 20 kw’s TO > 30 kw’s • 2u X 19” RACK MOUNTABLE, HOT PLUG OPTION: Rack mountable • 365 VAC to 528 VAC • 3P Input • Pluggable option • 99% Power Factor Corrected Rack mountable • 365 VAC to 528 VAC • 3P Input • Pluggable option • 99% Power Factor 92% efficiency at 80% load • Standard liquid inlet temperature is 35° C. • 60° C. is available Corrected • 92% efficiency at 80% load • Standard liquid inlet temperature is 35° C. • 60° C. Ambient temperature at 0° C. to + 50° C. • Special options for smoothing pulse loads • Up to 1700 Amps/system > 89% efficient at 6 Volts • Water Flow 2 GPM • Low Harmonics • Intelligence • Complies with IEC 555 is available • Ambient temperature at 0° C. to + 50° C. • Special options for smoothing pulse 6 VDC to 400 VDC output voltage loads • Up to 1700 Amps/system • > 89% efficient at 6 Volts • Water Flow 2 GPM • Low Harmonics • Intelligence • Complies with IEC 555 • 6 VDC to 400 VDC output voltage 2. PiCturE dEPiCts 2u X 19" PrOduCt - tyPiCaL PiPE COnfiguratiOn:

2. Picture Depicts 2U X 19" Product - Typical Pipe Configuration 3. 8.1 kw’s, raCk MOuntabLE uP tO 24 kw’s in 19" POwEr sHELf 4. 20 kw’s tO > 30 kw’s, 2u X 19" witH ManifOLd 3. 8.1 kW’s, Rack Mountable up to 24 kW’s in 19" Power Shelf 5. CustOM COOLing COnfiguratiOn • MOst ELECtriCaL sPECifiCatiOns saME as OtHEr PrOduCts. 4. 20 kW’s to > 30 kW’s, 2U X 19" with Manifold

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Thermal management

Power rating, power density, efficiency, and the operating environment all affect the thermal management requirements of a system. By adding a fan for forced-air cooling, the system can be made smaller. However, the addition of such electro-mechanical components reduces the predicted Mean Time Between Failures (MTBF) because they wear out. Adding a fan also adds cost, audible noise, and a field maintenance task, so it is better to avoid doing so unless size constraints make it mandatory. Running the system at a higher temperature is always an option continued on page 11

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power sources

electronic products and technology • august 2012

Digital advanced bus converter lowers power consumption

Power supplies enable use in hazardous zones

BMR456 3E Advanced Bus Converter is firm’s second generation of digital ABC products, based upon the FRIDA II platform. Unit delivers fast response time, tightly regulated intermediate bus voltages and high efficiency at any point of operation to reduce power consumption. The fully regulated product is based on a 32-bit ARM microcontroller that embeds FRIDA II firmware. Product is available in two input voltages ranges: 36V to 75V, delivering output power of 420W; and 40V to 60V, delivering output power up to 468W. Output voltage can be adjusted across a range from 4.0V to 13.2V via PMBus commands. ERICSSON POWER MODULES http://ept.hotims.com/40522-39

60W power supplies approved to medical safety standards PM60 Series of medical power supplies provide up to 60W of performance packed design and are approved to the 3rd Edition of UL60601-1 and EN60601-1 medical safety standards. RoHS compliant series accepts a 90-264Vac universal input. Single output models have voltages ranging from 5Vdc to 48Vdc and a variety of dual and triple configurations are available. Unit boasts typical efficiencies of 80-88%, low leakage current, and 4000Vac input-output isolation voltage. PROTEK POWER NORTH AMERICA

Quint dc-dc converter power supplies equipped with Selective Fuse Breaking (SFB) technology addresses new application areas as a result of cUL listed ANSI/ISA approvals. Devices fulfill high standards of electromagnetic compatibility and vibration strength. Product’s low susceptibility to failure leads to use in industrial applications with high demands regarding environmental conditions. With rated output currents of 5 to 20A, devices supply peak currents of 30 up to 120A for 12 milliseconds to magnetically trip circuit breakers. PHOENIX CONTACT http://ept.hotims.com/40522-43

Sealed, side-mount contactor for high current dc or ac switching Gigavac MX56 EPIC sealed contactors is Single Pole Single Throw Normally Open (SPST-NO), rated for continuous duty up to 600 amps and capable of switching 600 amps at 24Vdc, or ac, 100,000 times. Device utilizes firm’s cut throat coil technology – defined as low coil hold power without the noise issues associated with Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) coils. Unit can be used in nearly any harsh environment including under water, as well as at temperatures from –55C to 90C (up to 200°C with special coils). Product is not position sensitive. MILLENNIUM MARKETING http://ept.hotims.com/40522-44

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6 Watt dc-dc power modules come in an SMD package MSGWI06 Series compact 6 watt dc-dc converter comes in an SMD package with a footprint of .87” x .80” x .40”. Product provides remote on-off and an ultra wide 4:1 input. Series is EMC compliant to EN55022 Class A emissions and EN61000 immunity standards. Single and dual outputs are available with efficiency ratings up to 83%. Comprehensive preventative circuitry includes a fully regulated input, operating temperature range of -40C to +80C and overload protection. MINMAX TECHNOLOGY http://ept.hotims.com/40522-41

Power supply drives medical system Globtek Medically-approved 15W power supply serves as the backbone power for a rack-oriented modular infusion-pump system. Unit provides a leakage current of less than 100µA and accepts a voltage from 90 to 264Vac at an input frequency from 47Hz to 63Hz and delivers an out-

put of 12Vdc at 1.25A with no minimum load required to maintain output voltage regulation. The IPX-rated device has an output load regulation of ±5% and a line voltage regulation of ±1% typ. The turnon/turn-off overshoot is 5% max, 1ms typ recovery time for a 25% step load with a hold-up time of 8ms at nominal voltage and full load. ANDY BAUMAN ASSOCIATES http://ept.hotims.com/40522-42

If the TDK insert is missing from this issue, please go to http://ept.hotims.com/40522-8

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power sources

electronic products and technology • august 2012

Battery-powered RFID merges with printed electronics delivering cold chain monitoring 00

RFID tags now embed programmable chips, sensors and thin printed batteries

products on review

By Matt Ream, vice-president of marketing, Blue Spark Technologies Inc.

ne of the biggest challenges in the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries is consistent and accurate cold chain management. Ensuring proper temperature control from point of origin to point of delivery is essential for manufacturers and processors seeking to minimize waste and loss of product quality caused by This sensory RFID tag reference design, coimproper handling and transport of perishable consumables and funded and co-developed by IDS Microchip temperature-sensitive products. The issue is particularly pressing and Blue Spark Technologies, has a built-in today because global supply chains often involve multiple shipmicroprocessor and sensors, and is powered warehouses and distributors, which increase complexity and by GlobTek low-voltage printed batteries. ep&t 7.9.12_Layout 1 7/9/2012 10:43 AMpers, Page 1 the risk of non-compliance at one or more points along the chain.

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Adoption of RFID tags for tracking and tracing product cases and pallets has helped to some extent in tracking and tracing of goods. However, RFID cannot monitor the environmental conditions surrounding these products as they move through distribution. That situation is changing. RFID technology firms are joining forces with pioneers in printed electronics technology to create new solutions that are practical, affordable and easy to integrate into existing RFID track-and-trace supply chain processes.

Printed electronics – prime time ready Thanks to technology breakthroughs, thin-profile printed electronic components that can now be incorporated into RFID-enabled supply chain systems include programmable chips (ICs), sensors, batteries, electro-conductive and color-changing electro-chromic inks. The primary power source used to activate the1/4 functionality page ofadthe embedded electronics is a thin profile, low-voltage carbon-zinc battery. One of the high-value commercial applications track-and-trace solution providers are currently focusing on is time-and-temperature monitoring and data logging systems capable of highly accurate, real-time operation. Such systems can be designed specifically for use with cases, pallets, containers and even individual packages of perishable foods such as meat, fish, frozen, dairy and refrigerated products, and beverages such as wine and beer. They can also be designed to monitor sensitive pharmaceuticals, such as vaccines and biologics, to ensure temperature compliance is maintained across the distribution chain to protect product integrity and efficacy. It’s estimated that roughly 50% of all pharmaceutical products in the next three years will require a temperature controlled environment.

Elements of a smart ‘sensory’ RFID tag One marketplace example of printed electronics technology merging with RFID is a thin, flexible RFID sensory tag reference design jointly funded and created by Blue Spark Technologies and Swiss semiconductor developer, IDS Microchip AG. The RFID tags incorporate smart sensory functionality in addition to a unique ID, which allows verifying the origin of any object (i.e., case, pallet), as well as the environmental conditions to which the object has been exposed. The programmable integrated circuit (IC) or chip incorporates sensor functionality and provides for periodic time stamping and logging of sensor data. The RFID portion of the IC communicates at 860 to 969 MHz and is fully EPC Gen2 compliant. These single-chip sensory tags/data loggers have an integrated temperature sensor, interface for various external sensors, data logging control logic and integrated real-time clock (RTC) to time stamp events.

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At the heart of the RF-enabled time-and-temperature monitoring and data logging system is a thin, flexible carbon-zinc battery. These are typically 1.5 V batteries, but they may be grouped together if additional voltage is needed to activate and sustain system functionality. The batteries are printed on a recyclable plastic (PET) base using carbon, zinc and manganese dioxide materials. The anode material ad: white type re-set in bottom left portion; andbe a laminate of zinc foil or printed zinc, and the cathmay either ode is a manganese dioxide mixed with carbon. After a separator re-set in bottom right portion (address block) is placed atop the printed design, a couple of drops of electrolyte are added and a top layer of PET is used to seal the battery cell. Power generation results from a chemical reaction between the electrolyte liquid and the anode and cathode materials. Although this sounds complicated, the batteries are produced using high-speed roll-to-roll printing, which means they can be prototyped quickly and can scale up to mass-production quickly and economically. Moreover, they are eco-friendly and safely disposable, containing no lithium, mercury or other toxins. Power Supplies & Cords – Wall Adapters with Interchangeable Plug Option – Desk Top to 200W – Open Frame with PFC – DIN Rails to 960W – LED Drivers – Medical Approvals

MEGA Electronics Inc. 4B Jules Lane New Brunswick, NJ 08901 tel 732.249.2656 fax 732.249.7442 www.megaelectronics.com sales@megaelectroncis.com http://ept.hotims.com/40522-9

Cold chain control means less waste This newly developed ability to combine RFID with other printable electronic components has resulted in a breakthrough in cold chain and temperature monitoring technology that can 3 3 help22 make consumable products safer and better, while minimizing waste and costs. The value proposition of these next-generation, battery-powered RFID sensor and data logging systems is quite high because the new solutions are accurate, relatively inexpensive, completely portable, and easier to integrate into the RFID network infrastructure to deliver real-time information as goods are in transit.

For more information on low-voltage printed batteries for use in RF sensor systems from Blue Spark Technologies Inc., go to http://ept.hotims.com/40522-45

http://ept.hotims.com/40522-11

PowerChamp Products PowerChamp Products

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power sources

electronic products and technology • august 2012

Isolated dc-dc converter continued from page 8

but, generally, every 10 degrees Celsius rise in ambient temperature will roughly halve the predicted life of components. Conduction cooling via a thermal base plate is often desirable if the converter is designed for this approach. Figure 2 shows a dc-dc converter with the base plate option.

Base Plates

A thermal base plate is typically used to add an element of conduction cooling to a convectioncooled system, where little or no airflow is present. Some designers chassis-mount the base plate on the dc-dc converter to the equipment enclosure or to a cold plate. Others attach an additional heat sink to the base plate to increase the heat dissipation. A combination of base plate and forced-air cooling may also be used to achieve the highest possible output. Ultimately, the temperature of the converter is the limiting factor with respect to its maximum output power. Of course, today’s dc-dc converters nearly all have integral protection circuits so that they shut down with over-temperature (due to fan failure or other system fault conditions), but it’s not something that’s typically relied upon in day-to-day operation.

Figure 2: The HPQ is a ¼ brick converter with base plate option that can deliver up to 300W (12V, 25A version)

Output voltage trimming

The option of output voltage trimming adds application flexibility to a dc-dc converter. It is often possible to trim output rails by ±10 percent or so, without any change in the available output current. If trimming to a higher voltage, bear in mind the increased power being drawn from the converter may have implications for thermal management.

Isolation

Isolation is not always needed. It adds cost and reduces efficiency, so only choose an isolated converter when necessary. It is most commonly required for compliance with the numerous safety regulations but can also be useful as a way of increasing noise immunity or providing an alternative ground reference. For example, telecom applications are often based on a 48V positive ground input whilst the outputs need to have a negative ground reference. Medical applications are particularly stringent with respect to isolation and

Globtek GTM91110P240 Family of open-frame ac-dc switchmode power supplies provide up to 240W in a 3 x 5-inch footprint. Devices are provided in factory-configured outputs from 12 to 55 V (in 0.1-V increments). Available in Class I or II versions, the 1.75-high power supplies are 85% efficient at full load and include features such as active PFC, a built-in EMI filter, and a 12-V fan output as well as dc-input versions from 130Vdc to 380Vdc. ANDY BAUMEN ASSOCIATES http://ept.hotims.com/40522-47

Load

Input voltage range

If picking dc-dc converters with a wide input voltage range, then it is possible to use the same product in more applications. This provides the advantage of buying higher volumes of each converter at lower prices plus it will lower inventory management costs. Converters with a 2:1 input voltage range were once the standard. Now, products with a 4:1 input range offer much greater application flexibility. For example, some Murata Power Solutions products will operate with input voltages from 9 to 36V or from 18 to 75Vdc. The latter of these ranges finds wide use in equipment intended for deployment in mobile phone base stations, some of which are equipped with +24V power systems, and others with -48V systems. Use of a converter with an input range of 18-75V allows the end product to be agnostic with respect to these two power systems. This option not only reduces product development costs when compared with the alternative of developing two product SKUs (one for 24V operation and another for 48V operation), but it also eliminates the inflexibility of single voltage product inventories. http://ept.hotims.com/40522-12

w w w. e p t . c a

For more information on isolated dc-dc converters from Murata Power Solutions/GMA, go to http://ept.hotims.com/40522-46

Medical open-frame switchers produce up to 240W

It is relatively rare for an application to present the dc-dc brick with a non-reactive, steady state load. Converter efficiency at low load is becoming an ever-more important consideration in the drive to improve energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions. Take data centers as an application example. Power systems might operate at 20% of their maximum load for 80% of the time, the power requirements varying dynamically with data throughput. Converters that are relatively efficient at low load may provide better overall performance than converters with marginally higher maximum efficiency at full load. The dynamic response of the converter may also be important in some applications…i.e. how quickly can it respond to changes in load. This is expressed as the slew rate (di/dt). The amplitude of any load step also has to be taken into account, together with the maximum voltage excursion that the load can handle. External capacitors are often used to provide short-term response, providing recovery time for the converter.

leakage current requirements; these regulations are set out in IEC60601-1. In isolated dc-dc converters, transformers provide the isolation between input and outputs. Understanding the key features of dc-dc converters and the applications best suited for those features will take the guesswork out of choosing the best dc-dc converter.

electronic products and technology • august 2012

Optoelectronics & Displays

Redefining multi-touch technology Canadian firm leads the way with ShadowSense technology By Anthony Gussin, director of marketing Baanto International Ltd., Mississauga ON Baanto ShadowSense technology is an innovative and patented optical position-sensing technology. Applicable to both 2D and 3D applications, the technology was developed by Baanto’s parent company Nytric Ltd.; Baanto was created to commercialize and market ShadowSense-based products.

Unlike other optical technologies that utilize cameras or imaging arrays, ShadowSense is a unique approach that uses high-performance analog sensors to provide unprecedented performance, stability and accuracy. Featuring an efficient sensor architecture coupled with elegant position-detection algorithms, ShadowSense technology overcomes many of the challenges faced by traditional optical designs. Perhaps the best analogy for ShadowSense technology is the sundial. The shadow cast by a sundial instantly and accurately responds to the position of a light source without the use of lenses, with an infinite depth of field and

without the need for any form of exposure control. ShadowSense technology exploits these same characteristics for touch applications, resulting in one of the highest performance, most robust and most cost-effective optical touchscreen solutions available in the market today. What is special about Baanto’s ShadowSense? Well, to answer that we need to first take a look at other touch technologies that have been in existence for some time. These existing approaches all have their own, sometimes significant, drawbacks. The touch detection is bezel-based, thus decoupled from the protective glass used to cover the touch surface

Let’s start with resistive and capacitive touchscreens. With these technologies, the touch sensor is implemented by depositing a very thin layer of opticallytransparent metal, indium tin oxide or ITO, on a sheet of glass. The sensor is then placed over the display and serves to both protect the underlying display and detect touches on the glass surface. These technologies are prone to damage from abrasive or sharp objects in everyday use and, because the ITO layer is not 100% optically clear, reduce the optical quality of the display. Capacitive touch is further limited by requiring ‘bare-finger’ touch, making products like cell phones very userunfriendly during cold winters. The cost of these technologies also increases substantially as the display size increases. While inexpensive in small sizes used for smart phones or tablets, manufacturing larger touchscreens is either extremely expensive or technically impossible. To try to avoid these problems there are numerous implementations of optical touch technologies in use. These solutions generally fall into one of two categories – infra-red or camera based. However these approaches also have their own limitations. Many infra-red systems suffer from problems relating to ambient light and are not suitable for bright or outdoor environments. They are also prone to debris that may accumulate on the display or bezel, which can block one or more of the infrared light sources. Camera-based systems can become overly complex due to their video processing requirements and the algorithms associated with processing millions of bytes of data. These systems require sophisticated digital signal processors that may take up significant CPU cycles on the host machine driving them. In addition, problems related to a camera’s field of view and lensing can cause significant performance constraints and anomalous behavior. Lastly, camera-based systems are plagued by alignment issues, complicating the manufacturing and integration process as well as causing stability issues in the field. One other technology used for touchscreens is Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW).

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optoelectronics & displays

electronic products and technology • august 2012

Making industrial

touch a reality

By Jim Beneke, vice-president, global technical marketing, Avnet Electronics Marketing

Touch screen interfaces are becoming the de facto standard for today’s consumer appliances, phones and entertainment devices. From tablets and smartphones, to refrigerators and auto dashboards, consumers are coming to expect a touch-capable, interactive experience when interfacing with electronic equipment. Much of the interest is the result of a touch technology referred to as projective capacitive touch, or PCAP. Unfortunately, this PCAP driven touch revolution has been lagging in the area of industrial displays. Environmental conditions, ruggedness and lower unit volumes are limiting the availability and adoption of this promising technology in industrial applications. To help accelerate the implementation of industrial touch displays, Avnet Electronics Marketing recently introduced an industrial grade PCAP touch development kit. This article explains the challenges faced in creating an industrial PCAP touch display and the advantages the Avnet kit brings to the industrial design community.

Touch display basics Touch displays have been around for a number of years. Prior to the introduction of Apple’s original iPhone in 2007, the majority of touch displays were based on resistive touch technology, or to a lesser extent, infrared and surface acoustic wave. The iPhone ushered in the adoption of the newer projective capacitive touch technology, making it the must-have option for many designers. No matter what technology is used, the implementation of a touch display requires a complete system-level approach to the design. A typical touch system is made up of the LCD panel, a touch sensor overlay, a touch controller, a backlight controller, the embedded processor and the software drivers and

change in capacitance caused by the presence of a conductor (a finger) as it nears the sensor. A PCAP touch sensor is built by coating indium tin oxide (ITO) onto a glass or plastic film substrate, then etching it with a proprietary pattern of individual sensor structures. The etched pattern depends upon the individual system design and varies by sensor manufacturer. From this process, the PCAP touch sensor is often referred to as the ITO. Tightly coupled with the ITO is the PCAP touch controller. The PCAP controller has the critical function of sensing and measuring the capacitance changes in the ITO and translating this into meaningful user touch information. The controller runs software containing proprietary algorithms that are specially tuned to work with specific ITOs, screen sizes, and glass thicknesses -- a glass overlay is added on top of the ITO as a protective layer for the ITO and LCD panel.

Industrial touch needs Touch Controller

3) Water Rejection and Wet Finger Tracking – By its nature, PCAP sensors are affected by the presence of liquid on the screen - liquid alters the capacitance seen by the sensor. Water rejection is the ability of the screen to reject false touches when liquid is on the screen. Wet finger tracking is the ability to accurately track a finger on the screen in the presence of a liquid. Many industrial applications require both of these, which can add extra cost and complexity to the PCAP design. Most consumer applications don’t have these requirements. 4) Gloved Operation – Some industrial and medical applications require either leather or rubber glove operation. Gloves have no influence on resistive touch solutions, but can significantly influence the capacitance of a finger touch. If you try to use your smartphone or tablet with a leather glove, chances are it will not work.

Glass Overlay

5) Impact Resistance – ITO Most consumer grade PCAP Sensor Touch touch displays use a 1-2 Controller mm thick glass overlay to protect the ITO and LCD Embedded panel. Industrial applica- Processor tions may need to meet LVDS/ Parallel more rigorous drop tests, Video Display such as UL6950, which Adapter LCD Panel Standard Touch ensures no screen breakCard Backlight Display Interface LED age under certain test Backlight Controller conditions. This drives industrial screens to use 4-5 mm thick glass, which FIG. 3: Avnet industrial PCAP touch display kit block diagram. can impact a finger’s ability to influence the sensor capacitance since the finger is at a set of features, the ITO and touch confurther distance from the actual sensor. troller were designed to address the mainPut this all together and the slow stream requirements of typical industrial adoption of industrial grade PCAP touch displays, yet still offer some level of endscreen solutions is no surprise. Yet, the user customization. Through the flexfeatures and benefits PCAP has to offer ibility offered with Cypress’ TrueTouch over resistive and other touch technolotechnology, the PCAP controller has the gies creates a desire and need for a viable ability to auto-tune, thereby supporting option. This was the premise by which glass thicknesses from 0-6 mm, gloved Avnet Electronics Marketing set out to operation, water rejection, wet finger develop a PCAP solution. tracking, and single finger touch. The kits are designed to work outof-the box with the targeted processor PCAP touch display kit (i.MX53 or Zynq), however, customization The Avnet Industrial PCAP Touch of the processor interface is possible Display kit (Figure 2 and Figure 3) offers with a re-spin of the display adapter card a custom developed industrial-grade PCAP included in the kit. Avnet provides all PCB touch controller and ITO sensor with a design files for the adapter card, making protective glass overlay, a 7-inch WVGA any re-spin a straight forward process. (800x480) LCD panel, and a LED backOnce a touch design has been verilight controller. The kit is intended for fied using the display kit, Avnet can development and evaluation purposes, provide developers with a production allowing designers to experiment and ready, customized touch kit in volumes test the touch controller’s performance from hundreds of units to thousands of in an embedded environment. There are units. These custom kits include the user specified glass overlay, ITO sensor, PCAP controller, 7-inch LCD panel (parallel or LVDS), and user customized display adapter card with backlight controller. Industrial grade PCAP touch displays offer many advantages over previous generation touch technology. The kits virtually eliminate the typical NRE, development time, and high volume requirements inherent with most PCAP touch solutions.

PCAP touch displays have obviously proven themselves in the consumer world with the millions of smartphones and tablets being Embedded used daily. This same technology can Processor also offer significant advantages to LVDS/Parallel Video industrial grade display solutions. Most notably is the ruggedness and LCD Panel reliability that PCAP can offer over Backlight Backlight resistive touch. Unlike resistive touch Controller where the sensor itself is exposed to the environment, a PCAP sensor (the FIG. 1: Touch display system block diagram ITO) typically has a glass overlay that protects the sensor. The glass overlay can offer not only protection from operating system. Figure 1 shows a typical liquid, dust and other harsh environmental block diagram for a touch system. factors, but can also act as a safety shield In simple terms, resistive touch screens for the LCD panel against impact. use two flexible sheets coated with a Given the acceptance of PCAP techtranslucent resistive material, separated nology in the consumer world and the by a thin air gap. When a user applies advantages it can bring to industrial pressure to the top layer with a finger or applications, why has it been so slow to stylus, the resistive coatings come into make its way into industrial solutions? contact with each other. Depending on the There is no single answer for this, but coating style, this contact either generrather a combination of factors that presates a matrix-like switch closure or an X-Y ent small roadblocks to its adoption. position location. 1) Cost – There are many factors (screen The concept is straightforward, and a big size, unit volume, ruggedness, etc.) that advantage of resistive touch displays is the drive the overall cost of a touch display, relative low cost of adding the touch sensor so it’s difficult to quantify the overall cost overlay and touch controller. Unfortunately, adder for a PCAP versus a resistive touch for many industrial applications, resistive solution. In general terms, a combined touch solutions have critical shortcomings. PCAP sensor and controller will be more Since the touch overlay needs to be flexible expensive than a resistive sensor and conto detect the pressure applied from a finger troller. Unless there is a need to have the or stylus, it tends to be soft and susceptible feature advantages PCAP offers, resistive to scratches or damage. touch tends to be a lower cost option. Because it is mechanical in nature, it 2) Volume – Due to the custom design can exhibit reliability issues over time due of the ITO sensor and the to repetitive use or misuse. Cleaning the unique algorithm tuning resistive overlay can present problems in of the PCAP controller, the certain medical applications where disindesign costs for each PCAP fectant or harsh chemicals are required. solution can run in the tensFor today’s higher resolution LCD panels, of-thousands of dollars. The the resistive overlays can also degrade the higher volumes of consumer optical clarity of the display. applications allow the amorProjective capacitive touch became tization of these developmain stream with the introduction of ment costs with minimal Apple’s original iPhone. The technolper-unit cost impact. The ogy behind PCAP is well documented lower volumes of industrial and interesting, however it is really applications can make PCAP Figure 2: Avnet Industrial PCAP Touch Display Kit (i.MX53) beyond the scope or need of this article. cost prohibitive. Basically, a PCAP sensor detects the Touch Sensor

two versions of the kit, one targeting the Freescale i.MX53 QuickStart board kit (www.em.avnet.com/imx53), and the other designed for the Xilinx Zynq-7000 EPP ZedBoard platform (www.em.avnet. com/zedboard7touch). The Freescale kit uses a 24-bit parallel RGB data interface between the i.MX53 processor and the LCD panel, while the ZedBoard kit uses an LVDS display channel interface. Both implementations use an I2C connection between the processor and the PCAP touch controller. A display adapter card supports the LED backlight circuit and simplifies the cabling between all the display components. A single custom cable connects the embedded processor board with the display adapter card. Avnet developed the kits with the help of Cypress Semiconductor, ClickTouch and DH Electronics. By pre-defining a given

For more information on industrial touch display technology from Avnet Electronics Marketing Canada, go to http://ept.hotims.com/40522-48

full online product listings at ept.hotims.com

optoelectronics & displays

electronic products and technology • august 2012

Multi-touch technology

touch solution means that touchscreens can now be effectively used in areas that had previously needed prohibitively expensive and specialized solutions. This allows interactive displays to be deployed in environments where rain, fluids, or other contaminants would compromise or even destroy other touch technologies. Looking to larger display formats, ShadowSense can be scaled up to considerable sizes with better performance and more touch points than many of the competitive systems claim to provide.

continued from page 12

SAW touch detection is based on sending acoustic waves across a clear glass panel using a series of transducers and reflectors. The acoustic waves create a baseline pattern, and when an object touches the screen the waves are absorbed, distorting the baseline in a known fashion and allowing the position of a touch event to be determined. With SAW there are no ITO layers to be damaged and no issues with ambient light, but this type of technology is susceptible to corrosion caused by liquids, distortion or damage of the touch surface and surface contamination. One common factor that affects all of the above technologies is their scalability. The cost of implementation typically rises exponentially as size increases; this is the reason why we see certain technologies prevail in certain size ranges. Baanto’s ShadowSense overcomes all of the problem areas identified above and adds some exciting new capabilities that none of the other technologies currently provide. Since ShadowSense operates in the analog domain it provides very high performance; its sensors can operate at up to 10,000 frames per second. There is no need for lenses, so ShadowSense sensors can be configured with a field of view approaching 180°. This allows sensors to be placed almost anywhere along the periphery of the touch area and provides additional visibility of objects within the touch field. All of this dramatically improves touch stability by eliminating ghost points from touch position determination and avoids the need to process optical aberrations that require substantial computational correction. Unlike camera-based systems, no exposure control is required and sensor performance is constant regardless of illumination changes. The sensors are immune to the distance or velocity vector an object may have with respect to the individual sensors and with an infinite depth of field, position detection algorithms are unrelated to the position of an object in a sensor’s field of view. Key benefits of ShadowSense technology are its scalability and low cost. Current designs range from 8” to in excess of 260” without the exponential cost increases associated with other technologies. In fact, regardless of the size of the touch surface, ShadowSense algorithms are processed on a low-cost microcontroller which interfaces directly to a PC via a USB connection, all without the need for special drivers or software. As a bezel-based technology, the touch detection is decoupled from the protective glass used to cover the touch surface. This approach eliminates the coatings, films and glass dependencies characteristic of conventional overlay technologies such as resistive, surface acoustic wave (SAW), surface capacitive and projected capacitive systems. The result is improved optical performance, durability, reliability and environmental stability. Touch can be activated by almost any object; a gloved or ungloved finger, a pen, stylus, credit card or even a regular paint brush can act as input. In fact, ShadowSense can be ‘tuned’ to recognize various events to be a ‘touch’ or not. For example, a finger touching the screen is reported as a touch event, but the tip of a shirt cuff is not. It is even possible to ‘tune out’ rain drops while recognizing the point of a pen as a touch. Additionally, ShadowSense can measure the size of an object touching the screen and use this data to create new and innovative applications ShadowSense technology is so flexible and scalable that it has applications across a very broad range of products like kiosk systems used in diverse applications as

w w w. e p t . c a

With true multi-touch and gesture recognition, ShadowSense enabled screens are ideal for interactive broadcast solutions, interactive control center applications and collaborative presentation scenarios. Beyond the capabilities and flexibility of ShadowSense in the 2D environment, the exact same technology can be transposed into the realm of 3D interaction; but that is a whole new topic of conversation. For more information on ShadowSense multi-touch technology from Baanto International, go to http://ept.hotims.com/40522-49

High contrast VFD display eases readability airline check-in and ATM consoles, or point of sale and ordering systems in stores and restaurants. Using a ShadowSense screen, aircraft entertainment displays would eliminate that annoying resistive overlay that cuts down visibility and makes the system unresponsive, inaccurate and incredibly frustrating to use. The flexibility and low cost of a ShadowSense

Noritake GU128X64E-U100 VFD display module simplifies readability and is intended for applications that have poor readability with LCDs or rapidly changing content. This emissive display is viewable from wide angles, solving readability problems. The response time and refresh rate is also faster than LCDs, eliminating ghost images from the display. Color filter can alter the illumination color and increase the contrast of the display. GMA http://ept.hotims.com/40522-50

We built a scope with the fastest acquisition system ever so you can capture the rarest glitches.

See for yourself www.scope-of-the-art.com Rohde & Schwarz Canada Inc. Toll free: 1-877-438-2880 Email: info.rsc@rohde-schwarz.com

http://ept.hotims.com/40522-15

electronic products and technology • august 2012

Industrial Automation

Choosing the right cutting & stripping machine ... it’s all By Pete Doyon, VP product management, Schleuniger Inc.

compact, easy to mount circuit breaker resists dust and water

www.schurterinc.com/new_cbes

Schurter‘s T9 series resets the industry standard for fuseholder style Circuit Breakers for Equipment - single pole thermal circuit breaker - slim fuseholder style body - fits a variety of panels with 3 different mounting styles

• front mounting snap-in fits 0.8-2mm panel thickness • rear mounting snap-in fits 0.5-3mm panel thickness • rear mounting threaded neck fits 3/8” cut-out. Comes with metal nut or plastic nut to meet China RoHS. Optional IP65 protection cover available.

- rated currents 3-16A - press to reset trip indicator - approved to UL 1077, CSA C22.2, IEC 60934, GB 17701

http://ept.hotims.com/40522-16

about the apps

Choosing a new wire Cutting and Stripping (C&S) machine can be like shopping for a new car. With so many choices, where does one start? A nice, little sports car might be fun to have, but how often will it just sit there because it can’t carry a car load of kids or some odd-sized goods from the local home improvement store? You just might be better off with a midsize SUV that does a pretty good job at doing everything you need it to do.

Pre- and post-processing accessories

Pre- and Post-Processing accessories can transform a basic C&S machine into a fully automatic production line. A prefeeder ensures that wire is fed to the C&S with a constant tension, ensuring the best possible length accuracy. Prefeeders are available in many sizes. Select a prefeeder that can handle the largest, heaviest reel you plan to use, as well as one that can keep up with the speed and acceleration of the C&S machine. Do you need to mark the termination ID’s on the Application range wire ends or print and apply labels for identification? Various wire identification methods can be integrated When choosing a C&S machine, the most important into a C&S line. Hotstamp marking, inkjet marking, consideration is the application range that it must and labeling are common ID methods, just to name a process. Some applications only require a machine few. Inkjet marking is desirable since the wire or cable that can measure, cut to length, and strip one or both can be marked on the fly, whereas it must be stopped ends of a wire or cable. This is considered basic and for hotstamp marking or labeling. A fully integrated can be done using a machine with a cutter head that can only accept one set of blades. inkjet marking system makes it possible to produce a Make a detailed list of the applications that you complete wire list without any operator intervention. would like to process on your new cut and strip If inkjet marking is used in your wire processing machine. List the wire type, outside diameter, overall operation, look for a cutting and stripping machine that lengths, strip lengths, and what applications you need can communicate with and control an inkjet marker. to process now and what new Do you need to make interapplications you might want to mediate windows or rotary inciprocess in the future. sions on the wire or cable? More complex applications If so, you need a cutting and include intermediate window stripping machine with an intestripping and slitting, zipcord, grated rotary stripping head. coaxial cable, and power cord This type of system also makes processing as well as fully autoit possible to measure and cut matic stripping of the outer coaxial cables and perform a 3 jacket and the inner conductors step strip on each end. of multi-conductor cables. What good is a C&S machine Other special applications that can process 5,000 pcs/ include the cutting and strip- Speedy changeovers of wire types is often hr if there is no way to colping of fiber optic cable and necessary lect and organize the wires as stripping / slitting of flat ribthey are produced? Consider a bon cable. These more complex applications require machine that can be interfaced with a wire stacker or a machine that has a cutter head that can accept coiler to maximize the production rate and efficiency multiple blade sets. A typical setup might include a set of the operation. of V blades for cutting in position 1, a set of radius V blades for stripping in position 2, and a set of slitting Wire list management software blades for making intermediate window strips in posiWhat if you want to go really lean and you want to tion 3. The machine can be programmed to automatibe able to produce wires just in time for assembly at cally select one or more of the blade sets, making it the harness board? To be able to produce a batch quanpossible to process these complex applications. tity of 1, you cannot afford to have an operator changOnce the application range is defined, the next ing parameters for every wire. In that case, you want most important consideration in the C&S machine to make sure your wire processing machine can process selection process is the size range. What is the larga wire list. With wire list processing capability, your est wire or cable size you need to process and what is machine will be able to produce each wire in the list, the smallest size. Large copper cables with low strand changing overall lengths, strip lengths, and inkjet text counts need a lot of power for cutting and stripping. strings on the fly without any operator intervention. Large multi-conductor cables require a machine that Some machines can process a wire list using the user can handle large cable diameters (O.D.), but typically interface on the machine, however it is much easier to do not require very high cutting and stripping forces. use a PC or laptop with wire list management software. On the small end of the range, precision is key. If Wire list management software typically has an import you need to cut and strip a 30 AWG wire with a .010” function, allowing you to import jobs directly from center conductor and a .005” insulation wall thickyour ERP or other software systems. ness, there is little margin for error. C&S machines that can handle cables up to 1.0” and greater will Changeover times most likely not have the precision required for wires With Lean manufacturing resulting in more high on the very small end of the range. mix, low volume jobs, you want to minimize changeover times as much as possible. With small batch sizes, changeover times become more important than the maximum production rate that a machine can produce. In many cases, it takes less time to run a job than it does to set it up. Look for machines that offer quick changeover between jobs. Tool-less changeovers of guide tubes, blades, and other mechanical parts help to reduce changeover Wire processing line is illustrated.

continued on page 18

full online product listings at ept.hotims.com

http://ept.hotims.com/40522-17

industrial automation

electronic products and technology • august 2012

Choosing the right cutting & stripping machine

Enhanced shield connectors suited to harsh environments Shielded M12x1 connector meets the modern needs for reliable high speed data, even in harsh environments. For enhanced EMI performance, the body shield has been extended to the surface of the pcb, eliminating any apertures that could cause EMI leakage. 360-degree shielding is achieved with three extra grounding pins, to ensure a low impedance in the ground path and full coverage of the ground traces on the pcb. Devices solve the problems that might occur in the absence of the 360 degree shielding. CONEC http://ept.hotims.com/40522-51

One-piece interfaces meet rugged, high cycle needs SCA Series one piece interfaces provide high performance with increased design flexibility. Rugged products are available with screw mount and other mechanical hold-down options for high shock and vibration applications, as well as optional alignment pins on both top and bottom for precise placement. Product provides spring loaded pins for high cycle test environments and ease of mating and unmating. SAMTEC

http://ept.hotims.com/40522-52

400W ac-dc power supply serves extreme environments POL 400R Series railway quality, ac/dc switch mode power supplies meet relevant sections of EN50155 for electronic equipment used on railway rolling stock. Products comply with EN50121-3-2 and EN55022 Class B conducted and radiated EMI and applicable EN61000 standards, ensuring immunity to electromagnetic noise in the environment and minimum interference with other electronic equipment. 400W units operate from input sources of 115Vac (97 to 132Vac range) or 230Vac (195-264V) and deliver outputs of 12Vdc, 24Vdc, 36Vdc, 48Vdc or 110Vdc. Efficiency is between 80 and 90%, depending on the input/output configuration required. ABSOPULSE ELECTRONICS http://ept.hotims.com/40522-53

continued from page 16

times. More advanced machines require less manual adjustments, further reducing changeover times. Rotary stripping technology can be integrated into a conventional cut and strip machine. Since the rotary stripping head can be programmed to make incisions at any depth into the insulation, this design eliminates the need for changing blades (radius blades, die blades, etc.) when processing different wire or cable sizes. While the production rate is somewhat slower, no blade changeovers are required for processing different wire sizes. If you have small batch sizes and frequent changeovers, you may want to consider a cut and strip machine with rotary stripping technology for your cutting and stripping area.

Other considerations

Product Support hotline, local support, experienced technicians, field service, PM contracts, and readily available spare parts are just as important to consider

as the machine itself. If you are comparing machines from different vendors, make sure to compare services as well. All machines will need service at some point in time, so it’s best to evaluate and compare the available services offered by the different vendors before deciding on which machine to purchase.

Conclusion

Just like you wouldn’t purchase a new car without test driving it first, do yourself a favor and make sure your new cutting and stripping machine will run all of your important applications. It’s best to send your wire and cable samples / specs to the vendor for testing to make sure your new C&S machine will be your daily driver.

For more information on wire cutting and stripping machines from Scheuniger Inc., go to http://ept.hotims.com/40522-54

Automated thermal monitoring systems perform simultaneously A310f and A310pt remote, automated thermal monitoring systems simultaneously perform thermal event monitoring and perimeter security. The pan/tilt unit is suitable for automated fire and catastrophic event prevention that simultaneously provides full thermal perimeter security functionality. System can plug and play into existing CCTV networks and IPTV security networks. A precision pan-tilt mechanism gives operators accurate pointing control while providing fully programmable scan patterns, radar slew-to-cue, and slew-to-alarm functionality. FLIR SYSTEMS CANADA http://ept.hotims.com/40522-55

Enviro-friendly hook-up wire comes in 5,000 and 25,000-foot put-up lengths Alpha Wire EcoWire environmentally friendly hook-up wire available in 5,000-foot (part # 6710) and 25,000-foot (part # 6717) put-up lengths. Product combines increased performance in hook-up wire with minimized environmental impact. Available in all standard colors, product derives its advantage from its modified polyphenylene ether (mPPE) insulation, making it up to 45% smaller and 40% lighter with 10x the abrasion resistance of PVC wire. Product contains no halogens, phthalates, or heavy metals, and meets the RoHS and WEEE requirements. MATERA TECH http://ept.hotims.com/40522-56

Versatile photoelectric sensors provide multiple mounting options

face time

Innovators in Wire Processing Spend some quality face time with the new RotaryStrip 2400!

The new RotaryStrip 2400 is a fully programmable single step rotary wire stripping machine with color touchscreen and provides the highest precision and quality available on the market. Wire sizes from 36 - 10 AWG and jacketed cables up to 0.275” in diameter can be processed without requiring blade changes or any other mechanical adjustments. It can easily strip Teflon, Kapton and Fiberglass insulated wires with optional twisting of the inner strands. High reliability, flexibility, productivity and user-friendliness, make the RotaryStrip 2400 a wise investment for the future. Schleuniger, Inc. Manchester, NH | USA www.schleuniger-na.com/ept (603) 668-8117

To Be Precise.

Pepperl+Fuchs RL(K)61 photoelectric sensors series is versatile, as industrystandard housing provides multiple mounting options and enables the use of open wiring or conduit connections via the ½” NPT base. The one-piece design includes integral timers and is available in cabled or quick-disconnect models. Color-coded labels give a fast, error-free identification of the sensing mode. Offering both dc and ac-dc models that provide firm’s 4-in-1 output or an SPDT relay, product family fits many applications. XTRONICS

Infrared thermometers resist dust, water 62 ax and 62 Max+ Infrared Thermometers are rugged, accurate, and easy-to-use test tools that are dust, water and drop resistant. Product survives 3-meter drops to wood floors. IP54 rated to withstand rain, splashing liquids, dust and dirt, the product is small enough to carry comfortably on a tool belt all day. The digital devices measure with a trigger click and their multi-angle, backlit display make them easy to read. FLUKE

http://ept.hotims.com/40522-57

http://ept.hotims.com/40522-58

Snap-in connectors eliminate drilling, fastening MCS-MIDI 231 and 721 Series connectors provide snap-in Flanges for drill-and fastener-free through-panel mounting. Intended for rectangular cut-outs, flanges eliminate drilling, screws and other components associated with through-panel applications. Providing wire-to-wire and board-to-wire connections, devices accept all conductors AWG 28–12 and carry ratings up to 600V/20A. WAGO http://ept.hotims.com/40522-59

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full online product listings at ept.hotims.com

FlexibilitY. DeSign ChAin SOlUtiOnS FROM AVnet You think about innovation, we think about the rest. Our team of engineers has the right mix of technical skills and application experience to give you the support you need – throughout the design chain. Extensive technical support, FPGA design, and world-class training. That’s what the No. 1 in design support can do to help you focus on what you do best and successfully compete in the global market. Our solutions bend to meet your needs. What can we do for you? www.avnetexpress.com http://ept.hotims.com/40522-19

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electronic products and technology • august 2012

Contract Manufacturing & Electronics Assembly SMTC Corp. upgrades equipment, expands EMS capabilities

White paper details advantages of onshore assembly

As a mid-size provider of end-to-end electronics manufacturing services (EMS) solutions, SMTC Corporation, Markham ON, clearly understands the importance of providing a high level of service to its customers. With the recent additions of some new production equipment, SMTC aims to take those service levels to new heights. Recent introduction of two MYData machines help SMTC deliver maximum flexibility in NPI/prototyping, providing quick change and accelerating time-to-market for its existing and future customers, according to Jamie Allan, regional VP of business development. “Often prototyping projects serve as ‘gateway jobs’ to future bigger production runs,” Allan says. “Our global footprint provides the required capabilities of supporting those large volume productions to our low-cost production facilities in Mexico and China.” The firm also recently added additional testing capabilities, including a Marantz automated optical inspection (AOI) system, among the fastest and most advanced on the market today. SMTC’s objective is to provide a high level of expertise at a very early design stage, as early as the schematic layout, according to Allan. Coupled with the firm’s advanced flying probe and x-ray capabilities, the new equipment provides for an improved customer experience. “The flexibility we provide is essential to customers. Knowing they can engage value engineering early is important,” says engineering manager Brian Morrison. “Customers want their prototypes fast and they want them to work, underscoring the importance of quality.” While the majority of its customers are internationally-based, Morrison says his Canadian customers often come with designs in-hand and seeking the value add engineering services offerings of SMTC’s design team. Many of SMTC’s Canadian customers are driving the latest wireless technology models, while the firm is witnessing significant growth in the industrial sector. “The talent we have in the building is the key to our success,” says Allan, pointing to many of the firm’s long-serving staff. “We are not working harder, but smarter. By investing in tools and software, we can react better, faster, while achieving higher levels of engineering development and value.” As electronic component sizes continue to shrink, SMTC has continued to invest in equipment to address these new challenges including product data management systems, supply chain management systems, and common shop floor control systems.

in support of

SemiGen Inc., an RF/microwave assembly and automated pcb manufacturing house in Manchester NH, released a white paper outlining the advantages for North American OEMs to keeping their electronic assembly production onshore. The paper titled ‘The Advantages of Outsourcing Your RF/Microwave Assembly to an Onshore Contractor,’ can be downloaded at www.semigen.net. The paper states that while outsourcing of manufacturing occurs across a broad spectrum of industries and provides distinct advantages to OEMs, the outsourcing decision for RF/ Microwave (RF/MW) companies involves a unique set of circumstances when compared to conventional digital electronics. For example, RF/MW manufacturing and testing often requires more precisely defined procedures, as well as more precise tools, than digital electronics. Issues covered by the paper, include: 1. The steadily diminishing cost gap between outsourcing to China and at home. 2. The unique nature of RF manufacturing makes it challenging to transfer the complex RF/ MW process to an overseas contract manufacturer with its often-accompanying language difficulties. 3. Outsourcing to a domestic manufacturer greatly reduces travel expenses on the part of the OEM and eliminates the need to ship specific equipment overseas. 4. Onshore outsourcing significantly lowers the risks of losing proprietary information, a danger inherent when dealing with the limited intellectual property protection.

Lista launches upgrades microsite Lista International Corp., Holliston MA, has launched a specialized micro-website focused specifically on electronic assembly solutions The site (http://www.lista-elecassembly.com), lets customers learn about the firm’s customizable work stations and storage solutions for assembling electronic and mechanical parts, including circuit board assembly. This customization allows for maximum efficiency, productivity, space and ergonomics in each workstation. The new site provides added features, photos and product information, simplifying its use in selecting products.

Polymer-based heater pastes cure below 300C Three polymer-based heater pastes cure at temperatures lower than 300C and adhere to a variety of substrates. System consists of a dielectric paste, resistor paste and epoxy-based silver conductor pastes. LTD5301 dielectric paste can be applied in three layers using a 230 mesh screen. Layers can be co-cured, while target thickness is 40µm. TR43.08 resistor paste is recommended for screen printing on 280-325 mesh screen. This low-ohm polymer resistor cures at 200 to 250C peak temperature for 60-minutes and dries in 10-minutes at 150C. LTC3001 epoxy-based silver conductor paste is screen-printable using a 230-325 mesh screen and provides multiple curing times. HERAEUS THICK FILM DIVISION http://ept.hotims.com/40522-60

The 19th Annual

Electronics Industry THANK YOU

to all the participants and sponsors • CSC - Canadian Sygnum Corp. • ebm-papst Canada • Electro Sonic • EP&T • EPTECH Shows • Genius Solutions • GMA • Hammond Manufacturing • JLT & Associates • MicroArt • Panasonic Electric Works • Phoenix Contact • SMTC • Tech-Trek • TTI • Utech Electronics • X-Tronics

GOLF TOURNAMENT Visit EP&T’s Facebook page at http://on.fb.me/Nv6WBx to view photos taken at the event.

With your participation we can help a child reach their impossible DREAM!

June 13, 2013

Tele-Titan modular crimp tool (P/N 12507c) is rugged, compact and fits easily in a pocket, as well as the hand. Product’s straight action termination delivers even pressure on each of the modular plug’s pins ensuring precise termination. Unit’s fit and function consistently meets performance requirements. Device crimps RJ45 (8x8) RJ12 (6x6), RJ11 (6x4), standard style modular plugs – solid or stranded. It also uses true parallel vertical crimp force for precise termination. PLATINUM TOOLS http://ept.hotims.com/40522-61

QR codes serve as safety feature on chemicals QR Codes serve as safety feature on all chemical product packages, provide near-instant access, with web-accessible smart phones and pads, to Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) and technical data sheets. When scanned, users are immediately brought to firm’s mobile website page for that specific product. Once there, MSDS and data sheets can be viewed or e-mailed. This provides immediate and easy access to personal protection recommendations, chemical properties, NFPA and HMIS ratings, and other critical information.. TECHSPRAY http://ept.hotims.com/40522-62

Flexible, optically clear films protect electronics

Mark next year’s date on your calendar ...

Modular crimp tool delivers straight action termination

3M FTB3-50 and FTB3-125 films are flexible and optically clear to protect sensitive electronics from water vapor and oxygen. FTB3 (for flexible, transparent, barrier) film has application in a range of emerging display technologies and provides a combination of durability, flexibility, optical clarity and low weight. Product has a water vapor transfer rate of less than 1x10-3 grams per square meter per day at 20C. 3M OPTICAL SYSTEMS DIVISION http://ept.hotims.com/40522-63

new literature ADHESIVE SOURCEBOOK Loctite Adhesive Sourcebook, Volume 12 is a comprehensive 202-page print and online guide to the complete line of adhesives, sealants, lubricants, coatings and dispensing/curing equipment for industrial manufacturing and maintenance. HENKEL CORP. http://ept.hotims.com/40522-64

SMT STENCILS Webpage outlines core products including leaded and lead-free solder paste, wire solder, bar solder, flux and laser cut SMT Stencils, as well as high precision custom laser cutting services. FCT ASSEMBLY http://ept.hotims.com/40522-65

full online product listings at ept.hotims.com

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COMMUNITY: element14.com WEBSITE: newark.ca PHONE: 1.877.736.4835 (English) 1.800.463.9275 (français) LEARN MORE: newark.ca/together

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Newark_Brands trust_EPT Canada.indd 1

4/10/12 12:42 PM

expressmart / engineering & technical white paper

express

mart

electronic products and technology • august 2012

engineering

ADVERTISERS’ INDEX

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products on review

Programmable wire stripping machine processes difficult projects UniStrip 2550 fully programmable stripping machine provides high precision and flexibility, handling wires ranging in size from 0.03 - 6 mm² (32 - 10 AWG) and jacketed cables up to 5.5mm (0.22”) in diameter. Unit comes standard with V blades, the optimum solution for stripping most wires without having to change blades. SCHLEUNIGER http://ept.hotims.com/40522-66

Mid-range vector network analyzer boosts performance

http://ept.hotims.com/40522-22

Enlarged for proofing purposes only

N523xA PNA-L vector network analyzers provide high performance (up to 50GHz) in a mid-range VNA, along with lower cost and future-proof capabilities. Units are available in five frequency models, three of which start at 300 kHz, with two or four ports available for the 13.5- and 20-GHz models, and two ports available for the 8.5-GHz product. AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES http://ept.hotims.com/40522-67

TDR phone test sets are 62% lighter TS 54 TDR telephone test set is 62% lighter, while improving ergonomics, cost and functionality. Unit passes a 20-foot concrete drop test and includes an industry leading three-year warranty. Product combines the functionality of what were formerly three separate tools into one. FLUKE NETWORKS http://ept.hotims.com/40522-68

Absopulse Electronics Limited . . . . . 8 Agilent Technologies Canada Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . 22, OBC Allied Electronics, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . 7 AP Circuits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Avnet EM (AZ) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19 Barry Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Conec Corp. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Digi-Key Corp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 GAP Wireless . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Globtek, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Hammond Mfg. Co. . . . . . . . . . . . . IBC Irwin Industrial Agencies Limited . . . 4 Mega Electronics Inc. . . . . . . . . . . 10 Mouser Electronics . . . . . . . . . . . . IFC NEWARK . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21 Noritake . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 ODU USA Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Pioneer Magnetics . . . . . . . . . . . 8, 10 Protocase . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13 RF-Links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Rohde & Schwarz . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Schleuniger . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Schurter Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 TDK- Lambda Americas Inc. . . . . . . . 9 (insert), 11

Heavy-duty fuse clip rated at 1500Vac-dc for 10.3 mm diameter CSO fuse clip for 10.3 x 38 mm or 10.3 x 85mm fuses, is suitable for applications with voltages up to 1500 VAC/VDC and currents to 32A. Device’s heavy-duty performance characteristics meet or exceed the present need for increasing photovoltaic system voltages. Product is available in solder and screw/rivet versions. Solder type allows direct mounting on a printed circuit board by means of through-hole technology. SCHURTER http://ept.hotims.com/40522-69

Definite purpose contactors available in many forms Broad line of high quality Definite Purpose Contactors come in many forms with varying capacities and are used primarily to control electric motors, lighting, heating, capacitor banks, and other electrical loads. Devices come in SPST-NO, DPST-NO and 3PST-NO contact arrangements, as well as 30, 40, & 50 FLA current ratings. NTE ELECTRONICS http://ept.hotims.com/40522-70

Vector network analyzer simplifies measurements on frequency converters

http://ept.hotims.com/40522-23

R&S ZNB-K4 software option for firm’s ZNB series of vector network analyzers (VNAs) extends the instruments capability by mixer and frequency converter measurements. Product includes a graphical wizard that simplifies setup and execution even of complex measurements. Using firm’s SMARTer Cal calibration technique, which combines vector-error-corrected calibration with power calibration, provides accurate measurement results. ROHDE & SCHWARZ http://ept.hotims.com/40522-71

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MISSISSAUGA

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