Electronics News November 2010 by Prime Creative Media

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n ew s Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Premier Electronics Magazine

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INSIDE

NOVEMBER 10

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Farnell is now element14 You have a vision of a dynamic future. So do we.

Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re changing because your world is changing.

Welcome to element14. Stiffer competition. Tougher jobs. In business, you must evolve to thrive. Welcome to element14, the new face of Farnell. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s more than a name change. It is a symbol of our passion for delivering the best products and the best service. We have invested millions in improving our offering with an additional 10,000 products now in stock. We now offer a range of 85,000 electronic components and maintenance products, more than any other distributor in Australia and New Zealand, tailored to the needs of our customers and available for same day despatch from our Sydney warehouse. 120,000 genuine and relevant products from 3,500+ leading suppliers are available for delivery within 2 days from our Singapore warehouse with no minimum order quantity or value. We've also introduced 24x7 customer support and access to our collaborative global community of experts and engineers. So in a fast changing world, you can rely on us to help you stay ahead. For more information on element14: Australia Phone 1300 542 488 Web au.element14.com New Zealand Phone 0800 35 70 64 Web nz.element14.com

AVAIL ABILIT Y | SPEED | SUPPORT | COMMUNIT Y

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n ew s Australiaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Premier Electronics Magazine

w w w. e l e c t r o n i c s n e w s . c o m . a u INSIDE

NOVEMBER 10

News 6

Cloud future for electronics design Altium to acquire Australian software company whose products are used to design cloudbased solutions. Technology 10

Self-cleaning solar panels Technology utilises thin transparent conducting wires embedded on the panel surfaces through which a pulsed phased voltage is applied. In Focus 12

Electronex 2010 Inaugural electronics design and assembly expo brings the industry together. Feature 18

Inside memory

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Humans as keys A future dominated by electronic security systems beckons as products mature and become more affordable. But is reliance on technology all a big mistake? Page 14

MRAM promises much as a universal memory solution but alternative technologies hang on to their market share. Feature 21

Future Awards showcase the best We profile all the winners of the 6th Annual Future Awards.

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NEWS

n ew s

EDITOR’S MESSAGE

Electronics expo off to right start

Published monthly by Reed Business Information Pty Ltd Tower 2, 475 Victoria Avenue Chatswood NSW 2067 Tel: (02) 9422 2999 Fax: (02) 9422 2977 www.electronicsnews.com.au EDITOR Kevin Gomez Tel: (02) 9422 2976 kevin.gomez@reedbusiness.com.au

Kevin Gomez Editor

EDITORIAL COORDINATOR Isaac Leung Tel: (02) 9422 2956 isaac.leung@reedbusiness.com.au ACCOUNT MANAGER Sarah Bateman Tel: (02) 9422 8994 Fax: (02) 9422 2722 sarah.bateman@reedbusiness.com.au QLD SALES MANAGER Sharon R. Amos PO Box 3136, Bracken Ridge QLD 4017 Tel: (07) 3261 8857 Fax: (07) 3261 8347 sharon.amos@reedbusiness.com.au BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Alex Evans Tel: (02) 9422 2890 Fax: (02) 9422 2722 alex.evans@reedbusiness.com.au PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Jennifer Collinson Tel: (02) 9422 2657 jennifer.collinson@reedbusiness.com.au GRAPHIC DESIGNER Ronnie Lawrence ronald.lawrence@reedbusiness.com.au SUBSCRIPTIONS Customer Service Tel: 1300 360 126. Fax: (02) 9422 2633. customerservice@reedbusiness.com.au Subs: Australia $99 incl GST New Zealand A$109.00 Overseas A$119.00 Printed by GEON 20 Baker Street Banksmeadow NSW 2019 Ph: (02) 8333 6555

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• Test & Measurement • Thermal Management Communications

AT long last the electronics industry in Australia can lay claim to having a trade show of its own The inaugural Electronex electronics design and assembly expo in Sydney in September was a modest affair. There weren’t hordes of visitors rushing down the aisles, but it was quality not quantity. The exhibitors we spoke with were pleased with the quality of enquiries they received. Ric Lee came down from Seoul and set up a stand at Electronex to showcase his company’s capabilities in delivering through-hole assembly as well as SMD, PCB and kit assembly. These are areas his company, Kwang Myung Tech, can offer Australian designers cost effectively while respecting intellectual property and copyright issues. When we caught up with Lee on day two, he seemed satisfied. His experience was similar to that of many of the other 80-plus companies that participated. The real test will be next year when the show moves to Melbourne. Despite broad general support, there were several big name distributors and suppliers missing from Electronex this year. If many of these come on board in the next edition, the event will have legs – and the industry a forum. As we ponder the future of the electronics industry in Australia, it is interesting to see the approach taken by the US in attempting to hold on to its semiconductor manufacturing capabilities. Intel is building two plants, Fab 12 and

Fab 32, to manufacture chips based on 22nanometer process technology. The company is reportedly investing close to $8 billion in the new US plants although it could build a similar facility in Asia for a billion dollars less. The reason behind Intel’s decision is cash not patriotism. The company benefits hugely from a variety of state and federal government sops. Plus, Intel’s fabs in the US operate in so-called foreign trade zones. This gives them up to an 80 percent reduction in state and local property taxes. The official government line is that this concession allows Intel “to compete more fairly with foreign manufacturers”. Intel’s stated reason for its continued investment in the US comes down to productivity and more specifically the people. A senior Intel manager is quoted as saying: “The quality of the workforce that Intel has in place here [the US] gets substantially more productivity out of our equipment and our process than we’re able to realise in some of these other markets.” An interesting economic byproduct: Intel’s new fabs will create 8,000 construction jobs and 1,000 permanent high-tech jobs in the US. Can Australia take the same approach in niche areas? We have qualified people. The industry has the will. Is anyone in Canberra listening?

kevin.gomez@reedbusiness.com.au

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NEWS

ACQUISITION

Cloud future for electronics design LTIUM has announced that it will acquire Morfik Technology, an Australian software company whose products are used to design, engineer and deploy cloud-based solutions. Alan Smith, association director of Altium, says the company aims to help electronics designers expand their role from designing the device electronics to a larger function involving connecting with customers. “The trick is to provide electronics designers with the tools to be able to design products that connect in the cloud, so they can create what we call ‘device eco-systems’,” Smith explained to Electronics News. The acquisition comes after years of Altium using Morfik's technology and development tools as key elements in the development of its own web-based infrastructure for the

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electronics design process. The first part of the move to the cloud will involve the company utilising Morfik technology to deliver its software to users via cloud technology. The second part, with the next release of Altium Designer, will provide subscribing users with a stream of continuous content. Smith stresses the security of moving electronics design to the cloud, especially in terms of data. “The designer files will sit wherever the user chooses to put them.” Ultimately, Smith says Altium wants to provide a “device design technology that has connectivity protocols in it, the infrastructure needed to be able to connect to the Internet, and the tools that allow designers to provide all that without having to become a web development expert.” Smith claims such services and

To the cloud: The acquisition will bring electronics design into the cloud connectivity will enable manufacturers to establish a connection point between users and with users of their electronic products beyond the usual vendor-customer relationship.

This connectivity and new experiences provided by apps will be key to the longevity of electronics devices. ■ www.altium.com

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IN BRIEF

RISING WAFER DEMAND SEMICO Research claims nearly all semiconductor categories are seeing a dramatic increase in wafer demand, putting pressure on fabs and at material suppliers. Semiconductor revenues are growing by 30% in 2010, and wafer demand is up by 21.3%. DRAM wafer demand is expected to grow by 12.2%, while NAND wafer demand will grow by 27.1%. According to Semico, manufacturers of memory products are taking advantage of density and process technology migration to keep wafer demand from growing at even higher rates. A detailed wafer demand forecast can be found in Semico Research's release, titled Wafer Demand Summary and Assumptions Q3'10.

SOLAR OFFENSIVE DURING Solar Power International 2010, Standard Solar CEO Tony Clifford called on the industry to counter the fossil fuel industries. The event was attended by more than 29,000 solar industry professionals. Clifford urged listeners to encourage public officials to replace old coal-fired electric power plants with new solar photovoltaic systems. According to Clifford, solar is now cost-competitive with new coal plants, and utilities should be required to consider a solar option before any new power plants are authorized. He claimed the fossil fuel industries are targeting solar, and it is imperative to fight back.

R&D MANUFACTURER COMMENDED INVETECH, the company behind a 3D bio-printer for human tissue repair and organ replacement, has been commended in the Large Services category at the 2010 Governor of Victoria Export Awards. Invetech exports its technology to more than 15 countries, making up around 97 percent of its turnover. Besides the 3D bio-printer, the firm also developed other products, often involving complex electromechanical devices, robotics, microfluids, optics, and electronic and software engineering.

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RESEARCH

Organic thin-films THE ELECTRONIC Material Research Group at the James Cook University is researching using essential oils to create organic thinfilms for flexible electronics. The Group is led by Dr. Mohan Jacob, and comprises of members drawn from the Engineering, Chemistry, Physics and Medicine faculties. Certain modified plastics can transmit electricity, opening up the potential to develop electronic devices such as organic LEDs, organic thin-film transistors and organic photo detectors via fabrication at relatively low temperatures and using simple techniques like inkjet printing. According to the researchers, these advantages will lead to the use of organic electronic devices in applications that are currently difficult or costly to achieve, like displays and sensor arrays on flexible or curved surfaces. Organic polymer thin-films are also resistant to heat and to aggressive chemicals, and can attain extreme thinness, typically between 200 and 800nm. To create semiconductor membranes, the researchers

Researchers are deriving polymer thin-films from organic oils. designed a “plasma polymerisation” facility to create organic polymer thin-films. Plasma polymerisation is a method for laying down a uniform thin layer of organic materials whose structure can be adjusted by changing a range of deposition parameters. With support from the Rural Industries Research & Development Corporation, the research group is attempting to fabricate high quality plasma polymerised thin-films using

SOLAR

Solar scientists awarded THORSTEN Trupke and Henner Kampwerth, researchers from the School of Photovoltaic and Renewable Energy Engineering, have won UNSW’s Inventor of the Year awards. Thorsten Trupke is a co-inventor of solar cell and wafer inspection systems. These include a high resolution PL imaging tool which spots hidden faults and defects affecting the performance of solar cells and silicon wafers. Thorsten’s system delivers predictive cell and wafer images in less than a second, allowing rapid checking of process and material faults for quality assurance. He and his UNSW colleague, Robert Bardos, established the BT

Imaging spin-off to commercialise several photoluminescence imaging technologies with applications across the PV manufacturing supply chain. BTI is now selling its proprietary technology to leading cell and wafer manufacturers and research institutes around the world for offline cell and wafer characterisation. Kampwerth developed a technique for measuring series-resistance, a key parameter affecting the power yield of a solar cell. His novel technique generates an image that pinpoints cell resistanceflaws within seconds. This techniques was incorporated by BTI into its photoluminescence imaging machines. ■ www.unsw.edu.au

Australian essential oils as natural sources. The researchers tested pinene from pine resin, limonene from citrus peel and tea tree oil. The cheaper pine and citrus oils produced membranes under the most ideal laboratory conditions, although their surface remained too rough. The polymer thin-films derived from tea tree oil, on the other hand, attained the smooth consistency of glass. ■ www.jcu.edu.au

Shortages cause supply chain pileup MARKET research firm iSuppli says electronic component shortages mean manufacturers are facing a pileup in the supply chain. According to the researchers, finished goods were at their lowest level since the fourth quarter of 2008. Inventories are weighed down by an imbalanced ratio of raw materials. The firm says semiconductor companies are citing extended lead times and parts shortages as a major problem. Some lead times are running as much as 100 percent longer than for the same period last year. The shortest lead times are for connectors, whereas rectifiers and small signal discretes have the longest lead times at 20 weeks. ■ www.isuppli.com

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IN BREIF

More efficient red LEDs OSRAM Opto Semiconductors says it has raised the efficiency of its highperformance red LEDs by 30 percent under laboratory conditions. The company claims this improved LED is currently more efficient than any other diode which operates at the same wavelength. Osram optimised the chip platform in order to achieved the efficiency level. It used latest generation of a red 1 mm2 thin-film chip. According to the company, the implications of this development could be very widespread. Red LEDs are used in common applications like in vehicle tail lights and brake lights, and for illuminating buildings and stages. Red LEDs are also used to generate one of the base colours in small projectors, and are used in combination with white LEDs to produce warm white light.

Red LEDs are used in many common applications. The efficiency increase means the units now achieve a higher light output at the same level of power consumption. Fewer diodes and chipscan be used to produce the same

brightness. This also reduces the amount of cooling needed. LED efficiency ratings indicate the amount of light that can be obtained from 1W of electric output. In developing the new chip, Osram engineers improved the material properties and output efficiency of their high-performance thin-film components. The prototype of a red Golden Dragon Plus LED emits at a wavelength of 615nm, and delivers 119 lumens of light per watt at a current of 350 milliamperes. With this high efficiency, waste heat is also reduced, cutting the need for cooling. Osram is currently planning to push the technology into production, and has plans for further optimisations, and application to 590nm yellow and 645nm hyper red LEDs. â&#x2013;

MORE EFFICIENT FREQUENCY INVERTERS Siemens Corporate Technology and Siemens Industry Drive Technologies are studying how silicon carbide can be used to make frequency inverters more efficient and powerful. The MV-SiC research focuses on replacing pure silicon with the semiconductor silicon carbide as a diode material in frequency inverters used with large electric motors. Siemens suggests the new types of diode modules based on silicon carbide will reduce inverter energy losses by as much as 15%. Frequency inverters are used with variable speed electric motors to convert power line frequency. The project was launched in June 2010 and will run until April 2013. It is part of the "Power Electronics for Improved Energy Efficiency" initiative, which is part of the German governmentâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s High-Tech strategy.

www.osram-os.com

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TECHNOLOGY

Self-cleaning solar panels Solar panels of the future could automatically maintain their surfaces to improve efficiency. BOSTON University’s Professor Malay Mazumder has designed selfcleaning technology for keeping solar panels clean. Originally designed for NASA to be used on the Mars and lunar missions, the technology utilises thin transparent conducting wires embedded on the panel surfaces, through which a pulsed phased voltage is applied. According to Professor Mazumder, the efficiency of solar panels can be impacted by dirt and dust on their surface. A dust layer of 4g per square meter decreases solar power output by more than 40 percent. In deserts and relatively arid areas, where solar energy generation has the most potential, dust can be deposited at a quick rate. The professor presented his research on the subject during the American Chemical Society national meeting in Boston. The paper was titled Self-Cleaning Solar Panel with Integrated Electrodynamic Screen, and was co-

Self-cleaning solar panels could lead to increase efficiency.

authored by three of his students, Dylan Jackson, Jeremy Stark, Shana Blumenthal, and fellow ECE Professor, Mark Horenstein. The researcher says the tech-

nology enables solar panels to produce a wave of electrostatic pulses that lift the dirt off the panels and move it away. He said that the process removes over 95 percent of

dust in two minutes. The self-cleaning technology is expected to be available commercially within a year. ■ www.bu.edu

NAND flash memory on 25nm

Advance to 150mm SiC technology

INTEL Corporation and Micron Technology have delivered three-bitper-cell NAND flash memory on 25nanometer process technology. According to the companies, they have produced the industry’s highest capacity, smallest NAND device, and full production will commence by the end of 2010. Intel and Micron say the new 64Gb 3bpc on 25nm memory device offers improved cost efficiencies and higher storage capacity for the competitive USB, flash card and consumer electronics markets. The technology was designed by the IM Flash Technologies NAND flash joint venture. It stores three bits of information per cell, rather than the traditional one bit or two bits. The device is said to be more than

CREE has demonstrated high quality, 150mm silicon carbide substrates with micropipe densities of less than 10/cm2. According to the company, by comparison, its current standard for SiC substrates is 100mm diameter material. The company says this is a major breakthrough in the development and wide scale commercialisation of SiC technology. SiC is a semiconductor material used to produce lighting, power and communication components, including light-emitting diodes, power switching devices and RF power transistors. Cree says by advancing single crystal SiC substrates to 150mm, it can enable cost reduction and increased throughput. ■

20% smaller than the same capacity of Intel and Micron’s 25nm MLC, which is currently the smallest single

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8GB device in production. ■ www.intel.com www.micron.com

www.cree.com

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TECHNOLOGY

Precursors for high-brightness LEDs

Bright idea: The joint venture will utilise both companies’ capabilities. CHEMTURA and UP Chemical created a joint venture which will manufacture and sell high-purity metal organic precursors for highbrightness LEDs. The deal will leverage Chemtura’s capability and technology related to metal organic precursors for polymerization and other specialty applications, together with its backward integration for trimethylaluminum. UP Chemical will bring to the table its capability and experience in

supplying high-purity metal organic precursors for chemical vapour deposition tools installed at semiconductor device manufacturers in South Korea and the Asia Pacific region. The companies say the joint venture expects to start supplying high-purity metal organic precursors to the high brightness LED market by December 2010. ■ www.chemtura.com.au www.upchem.co.kr

Silicon-only memory RICE University scientists have created the first two-terminal memory chips that dispense with carbon, using only silicon. The researchers say this development could lead to massive and robust 3D storage. Jun Yao, a graduate student in Professor James Tour's laboratory, sandwiched a layer of insulating silicon oxide between semiconducting sheets of polycrystalline silicon which served as the top and bottom electrodes. Applying a charge to the electrodes created a conductive pathway by stripping oxygen atoms from the silicon oxide and forming a chain of

nano-sized silicon crystals. Once formed, the chain can be repeatedly broken and reconnected by applying a pulse of varying voltage. This creates a reliable memory "bit". The nanocrystal wires are as small as 5 nanometres wide, far smaller than circuitry in today's computers and electronic devices. The physical process does not require the device to hold a charge to retain the "memory", thus requiring only two terminals, not three. Layers of silicon-oxide memory can also be stacked in 3D arrays for scalability. Read the paper at http://goo.gl/xFmi ■ www.rice.edu www.electronicsnews.com.au NOVEMBER 2010 11

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IN FOCUS

Impressive start The first Electronex Exhibition proved a focal point for an optimistic industry. By Isaac Leung.

he inaugural Electronex electronics design and assembly expo was held from 8 to 9 September 2010 at the Australian Technology Park, Sydney. A dedicated electronics industry trade event, it attracted more than 80 exhibitors and a steady stream of visitors. It was also co-hosted with the Surface Mount 2010 conference. According to Noel Gray, managing director of Australasian Exhibitions & Events, the response to the event was beyond expectations. “We’ve got over 52 stands here and about 90 companies actually represented, because some stands are representing two or three companies,” Gray told Electronics News. “Initially we were hoping to get anywhere over 40 stands and we have certainly exceeded our targets and goals.” “It was always about delivering a specialised event where you can match up the buyers and sellers more closely.” Gray said despite starting on the event without a pre-established database of companies in the electronics industry, the organisers had help from the Surface Mount and Circuit Board Association (SMCBA), which put them in touch with companies in the industry who would be interested in exhibiting. “A lot of companies were very enthusiastic about it. They saw the potential of a dedicated and specialised event.” “Part of the concept of this show is to put on something of a more boutique nature. The exhibitors did not feel compelled to take very large stands to compete with other big stands in the show, getting their costs down a bit.” “I think it has also helped create a focal point which brings the industry together.” Exhibitors agreed. Active Components, an importer and distributor of electronics compo-

STANDING UP: The exhibition featured over 52 stands with around 90 companies represented.

nents, participated at Electronex. According to Grace Choy, having a stand at the show meant the company got to meet the people it wanted to see. “The show attracts the right people for our industry, with more people coming and a lot of quality leads,” Choy said. Agilent Technologies, which provides electronic products for test, measurement and analysis, was also in attendance. It released the new N9342C handheld spectrum analyser at the show, with frequency coverage up to 7GHz and best-in-class displayed average noise level. Agilent also introduced its 32GHz Infiniium 90000 X-Series realtime oscilloscopes . Business development manager

12 NOVEMBER 2010 www.electronicsnews.com.au

Steve Turner noted a very busy first day, with quality visitors asking about the new products. “We’re impressed with the number of people who have come, which was like the shows of old. Ten years ago, we had shows like this, with big attendance,” he said. According to Turner, some visitors flew in for the show after receiving continuous emails about it, testament to the industry exposure garnered by Electronex. Altium was showing its new Altium Designer Release 10 at its stand, and ran some seminars about the technology. According to Ben Burgess, technical support manager, the second session, which was open for all attendees, was packed out, with no more standing room.

“It was always about delivering a specialised event where you can match up the buyers and sellers more closely.” Burgess says the company has declined from doing trade shows in the past because of the costs involved, but decided to get a stand at Electronex after seeing some value in it. Ontrack Technology, a contract manufacturer which provides electronic manufacturing services, was showing off its capabilities at its stand, with a worker soldering a battery and LED to PCB samples to make a working LED torch.

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IN FOCUS

John South, product manager with Emona Instruments, was displaying the Rigol DS6104 oscilloscope, said to be the first product outside of America with its capabilities and specifications, while being substantially cheaper than the alternatives. South noted a greater number of visitors to Electronex than other recent shows. While Emona participates in a number of shows catering to industries other than electronics, South says the event has allowed the company to showcase its electronics equipment. Hawker Richardson launched its MARTIN Rework System Expert 10.6XL at the expo. According to Jim Challenger, national sales manager, the product can replace chips of any size and description. Challenger says he has noticed a lot of confidence returning to the electronics industry, with Electronex getting very good attendance, a good vibe, and plenty of interest. “Electronics has seen a great 2010. It has been a very fast

ANALYSE THIS: Agilent’s new handheld spectrum analyser. recovery for us, especially for Hawker Richardson,” Challenger told Electronics News. National Instruments introduced the latest version of its LabVIEW, a graphical user interface programming software. According to Noel Gray, 80 to 90 percent of visitors to an exhibition hail from the state the show is held in. While the final decision will be based on a tally of visitor numbers and feedback,

Gray says it is likely Electronex will be held in Melbourne at around the same time of the year in 2011, allowing it to take advantage of the city’s large manufacturing base and extensive use of electronics. Future iterations of the event will likely alternate between Melbourne and Sydney on an annual basis. ■ www.electronex.com.au www.smcba.asn.au

Surface Mount 2010 THE SURFACE Mount & Circuit Board Association (SMCBA) held its Surface Mount 2010 Conference over three days at the Australian Technology Park from 7 to 9 September 2010. The event was held in conjunction with the Electronex 2010 exhibition. The 22nd Surface Mount Conference featured international guest speakers and local experts on electronics developments. According to Andrew Pollock, executive officer of the SMCBA, the Surface Mount 2010 Conference is a technical event.

“It is designed to impart knowledge to designers, engineers, production supervisors, quality engineers,” Pollock told Electronics News. Pollock says the conference dealt with current issues. “Lead free in recent years has been a big issue. Boards are also getting faster, and components are getting smaller, requiring more real estate in a much smaller board, so it gets much more difficult to design and manufacture,” he said. Pollock says the association decided to hold the conference

with Electronex for various reasons, including timing. The Surface Mount 2010 Conference had around 140 attendees and Pollock attributes the increased turnout to the cohosting arrangement. Pollock has no doubts about holding the conference with Electronex next year, and has already started seeking feedback from attendees and looking for quality international speakers. ■ Read an extended version of this article: bit.ly/ENMagSMCBA www.smcba.com.au www.electronex.com.au www.electronicsnews.com.au NOVEMBER 2010 13

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COVER STORY

Biometrics: Humans as keys A future dominated by electronic security systems beckons as products mature. But is reliance on technology all a big mistake? Isaac Leung reports. T’s difficult to avoid ascribing biometrics with a sense of futuristic wonder. Biometrics has for years been in the domain of corporations, governments and the military, organisations which many associate with high technology and stringent security. But like the microwave and Velcro, biometrics has trickled down into everyday life. The healthcare sector is increasingly adopting it for drug dispensing, and for identifying patients and users. Biometrics systems are installed in work places to keep track of employees, while consumers see fingerprint readers integrated into portable computers and storage devices. According to a report titled The Future of Biometrics by research consultancy Acuity Market Intelligence, the biometric market will experience sustained expansion through to 2017 with a compound annual growth rate of 19.69 percent. However, biometrics faces its own set of challenges as it finds its place in the mission-critical world of security. Doubts remain regarding its suitability as a drop-in replacement for the key, PIN or password, but perhaps biometrics, despite its unique capabilities, was never meant to be the last word in security.

Behind the biometrics boom The acceleration of the biometrics sector has not gone unnoticed by manufacturers. As recent as August 2010, 3M announced its acquisition of Cogent, which provides finger, palm, face and iris biometric systems to government, law enforcement and commercial clients. In its announcement, 3M cited a US$4 billion global biometric market. DigitalPersona is a global provider of endpoint protection solutions and biometric authentication products for enterprises, government

SCANNED: Lower component costs are driving biometric adoption

agencies and software vendors. Jim Fulton, vice president of marketing, says fingerprinting is seeing mainstream adoption due to a reduction in costs of components. “Swipe-style fingerprint readers in notebooks and phones are rapidly dropping in price and have significantly improved in performance in the past year. This is accelerating adoption and customer awareness,” Fulton says. Developments on the software side are also making the technology more accessible and reliable. “New generations of fingerprint recognition algorithms are now available that enable high-performance verification and identification to be implemented in ever-smaller embedded devices,” Fulton explained. Biometric Innovations is an Australian company which designs,

14 NOVEMBER 2010 www.electronicsnews.com.au

develops, integrates and delivers biometrics-based security solutions for government and commercial communities. The company’s software engineer, Damien Crabtree says biometrics are becoming more attractive options for businesses as costs come down and the technology reaches full maturity. “As with all electronics, the manufacturing costs and components have come down in price, so it’s now at a reasonable level for most businesses to contemplate it as an alternative to the existing technologies,” Crabtree told Electronics News. The continued integration of technologies will also play a big part in the ubiquity of biometrics. While fingerprint readers have been reduced to the size of a small chip, the next step is for touch screens to have integrated fingerprint capabili-

SHORT CUTS Adoption of biometrics for commercial and consumer security is rising as technology matures and costs go down. ■ Biometrics are being implemented as part of integrated systems, not stand-alone security solutions. ■ Questions remain as to whether biometrics is suited as a replacement for authentication keys like PIN or passwords. ■

ties. Camera and software enhancements could also see visual recognition technologies like iris and face integrated into common devices.

Inherent insecurity, or incorrect application? Biometrics differentiates itself from

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COVER STORY

previous security solutions due to its ability to provide positive identification. Successfully leveraging the capabilities of this technology for applications in the consumer, commercial and government sectors will be key for an industry looking to retain its strong growth. Covetek Australasia provides consumers with domestic fingerprint door locks, such as its BioDoor range. It is also introducing security systems based on facial recognition. Marketing director Kevin Mackay claims while biometric technologies for consumers need to be practical, affordable and user-friendly, positive identification is the central advantage offered by these systems. “Smart cards can be given to a friend to access. A password can be passed on. But biometrics is really recognising a person, through their fingerprint or face,” says Mackay. But the biometrics market is not without difficulty. Manufacturers face scepticism from customers regarding the security of their solutions, and worries regarding the privacy of biometric data. Argus Global is an Australian company which specialises in software applications using biometric technologies to provide access control, time and attendance, visitor management and asset management. According to chief executive officer Bruce Lyman, the holy grail for the biometrics solution industry has always been the application of the technology to combat fraud. However, erroneous perceptions regarding the privacy and security of biometrics have prevented manufacturers from attaining that goal. “It’s really about the market not being well-informed about the technology, even though it is already quite mature,” Lyman explained. The popular television series Mythbusters has not made things any easier. In episode 59 of season 4, hosts Jamie and Adam bypassed consumer-grade fingerprint readers

WHO ARE YOU?: Biometrics’ main advantage is positive identification. and locks via various methods, including using a ballistics gel replica of a fingerprint. In September 2010, the US-based National Research Council published a report titled Biometric Recognition: Challenges and Opportunities, arguing biometric systems are “inherently fallible”, calling for additional scientific research and threat assessments. The problem, Lyman says, is not that fingerprint readers are unreliable or easily fooled. After all, it’s seeing wide utilisation of the technology with its corporate, federal and state clients. “The challenge in the consumer sector is that right now it’s being addressed by technologies that don’t meet international standards,” Lyman explains. In more critical applications like homeland security or immigration, he claims, the devices and systems are regulated by and compliant with

“Customers. . .are driven not by the technology but by the applications.” security standards. Lyman expects the consumer market to be challenged as governments develop legislations in response to the burgeoning use of biometrics. But despite the growing attention being paid to biometrics, Lyman sees the technology as a contributor in the overall application, rather than as a complete security system in itself. “In this industry, what is not always understood by the users or the market is the fact that the technology is really irrelevant,” says Lyman, “Our biggest customers. . .are driven not by the technology but by the

applications you can drive out of that the technology.” For example, hospitals tend to buy systems which dispense drugs, but have a strong identifying element. Some of these clients might opt for iris biometrics to reduce the risk of contamination from contact. Lyman says the integration of biometrics into applications and devices is further being driven by the US military, which provides its troops with biometric handheld devices that also embed GPS technologies, cameras, and wireless connectivity. Lyman says more information and algorithms are being stored on these devices, making data protection even more critical. The intensely personal nature of biometric data exacerbates concerns over its security. Lyman says clients sufficiently concerned with data security may instead choose to buck the trend, and utilise “thin” biometric devices which only transmit and receive data to and from a secure network. Any remaining problems with biometrics will no doubt be ironed out with time, as new technological developments emerge, and standards are developed for the technology However, the industry is more interested in the bigger picture, integrating biometrics into existing and new applications, not so much as a standalone one-size-fits-all security technology, but as enhanced solutions to existing and new challenges.

Identity or authentication? These trends seem to indicate that biometrics is not the magic bullet for security. A 2006 article by Steve Riley, senior security strategist at Microsoft, posits that biometrics should only play an identifying role in an application, rather than displacing traditional methods of authentication. The piece, titled It’s Me, and Here’s My Proof: Why Identity and Authentication Must Remain

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PERSONAL SIGNATURE: Identity and authentication should be kept separate. Distinct, separates the concepts of identity and authentication. Identity is a public assertion which in the pre-biometrics age was the equivalent of a user name. Authentication is the secret response, such as a PIN or password. Riley argues biometrics should only provide the identity part of the equation, since people leave their biometric signatures everywhere. While biometric data is certainly harder to replicate than simply typing in a username, it’s not infallible. As Mythbusters found, fingerprints can be easily lifted from surfaces, while faces are readily stored by cameras. According to Riley, biometrics will only be effective when combined with a second, authenticating factor, such as a PIN or a password. Unfortunately, such an approach limits the degree to which biometrics can simplify security. Technologies are emerging, however, which blend protection and convenience by combining biometric identification data with contextspecific data such as location, time, or platform to form a security certificate. Such systems would provide access and authorisation only if all 16 NOVEMBER 2010 www.electronicsnews.com.au

data points line up. Biometrics, while still conjuring futuristic expectations, is here today as a maturing technology, especially in fingerprint. While bringing to the table capabilities like positive identification, biometrics should be seen as an enhancement to security, rather than being a replacement of existing solutions. While it is easy to be distracted by the workings of biometrics, systems-level considerations undertaken by the designers and the competence of users can make or break the underlying security technology. Biometrics is centred around humans – the biological signatures of fingerprints, veins, irises, faces, and voices. And the effectiveness of any security implementation is ultimately dependent on the people designing and constructing the system. Humans are the key to a successful system in both senses of the word. ■ For an extended version of this article, visit bit.ly/ENMagBiometrics www.digitalpersona.com www.biometricinnovations.com www.covetek.com.au www.argus-global.net

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Emerging memory is still to arri MRAM or Magnetoresistive RAM promises much as a ‘universal’ memory solution, but ferromagnetic hard disks, Flash memory much potential why is MRAM failing to live up to the hype? By Electronics News staff. he fast, random access memory used to service modern multicore processors performs well, but when the power is switched off, the digital information stored therein is lost. Yet the ability to retain information without power is critical to the function of virtually any electronics device. That makes non-volatile (NV) memory an essential ingredient for a successful design. Consequently, engineers must compromise, employing at least two, and often three types of memory in their products to ensure seamless performance. That adds cost and complexity. Consumers suffer too; either their electronic devices take ages to stagger into life as the pedestrian NV memory transfers its information to “working” memory, or they run at a glacial pace as the former drip feeds its contents directly to the microcontroller or processor. The memory compromise has endured due to the incredible advances in storage densities, access speeds and plummeting prices of the different memory types. But that longevity still raises an eyebrow when considering there are commercially available alternatives that combine speed and non-volatility. And yet, this emerging alternative memory, despite several years of hype, remains… well, emergent.

Universal memory Today’s market for NV memory is dominated by ferromagnetic hard disk drives (HDD) and Flash memory while the fast memory market is stitched up by Static- and Dynamic-RAM (SRAM and DRAM). NV memory is a technological marvel. Consumers can store hundreds of Gigabytes of digital information for long periods safe in the knowledge that it can be (relatively) rapidly retrieved at any time. In the case of an HDD the digital information is stored by magnetising

SHORT CUTS Engineers are forced to compromise, employing at least two, and often three types of memory in their products to ensure seamless performance ■ Its inventors claim that Magnetoresistive RAM is a “universal” memory alternative ■ Commodity pricing, while great for the consumer, is killing innovation in the memory market and maintaining the status quo ■ Analysts claim that memory is the place in a system where an OEM can differentiate its product and add value – creating an opportunity for emerging memory ■

PROPRIETARY: MRAM makers have opted for a two-stage manufacturing process sourcing standard CMOS wafers then adding their proprietary technology on top. (Courtesy: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company) a ferromagnetic material to represent binary “zeros” and “ones”. Since their introduction by IBM in the late 50s, HDDs have retained their place as the leading choice for large volumes of primary storage due to remarkable and consistent increases in density and read/write speed, while simultaneously becoming cheaper. The major drawbacks of hard disks are power consumption, heat dissipation, fragility and complexity. For its part, Flash memory is a specialised type of electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM) that’s wiped and reprogrammed in large blocks (at least 256 bytes, but sometimes 64 kbytes or larger) unlike typical EEPROM that can be erased and programmed in bytesized chunks. This accelerates the write process while dramatically reducing the cost compared to typical EEPROM (because of a

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simpler manufacturing process). Flash memory requires less power than an HDD and is much more robust. This makes it a good choice for portable (battery-powered) devices that are likely to be subject to shock. The NOR type is slow to erase and write, but does allow random access to any memory location. NAND provides quicker read/write cycles, higher densities and is less expensive. But it lacks a random access capability, limiting its use to a mass secondary storage device. Flash is much more expensive than HDDs on a cost per megabyte basis, and its endurance (the number of times the memory can be overwritten) is lower. Flash also has a much lower storage density than a HDD. But while HDD and Flash are good choices for NV storage, they are far too slow to be used as working memory. Today’s microcontrollers

and processors have a huge appetite for data that can only be properly satiated by SRAM and DRAM. SRAM is faster than DRAM and is used where speed is the prime requirement. DRAM is less expensive per unit area than SRAM but loses its data unless periodically refreshed so has a higher power requirement. However, both types of fast memory lose their data once the

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PLASTIC ENCLOSURES WITHOUT THE NEED FOR TOOLING

rive y

and DRAM stubbornly hang on to their market share. Despite so

power is off. The next time the device starts up, digital information has to be reloaded into the SRAM and DRAM before they can perform useful work. (This is why a PC can take several minutes to boot up.)

FACTS & FIGURES

Memory in a spin

Commodity trading Between them, HDD and Flash have carved up the NV market. NAND Flash is produced in such great volumes that it’s traded virtually as a commodity on the open market. And DRAM and SRAM rule the roost when it comes to fast operations typical of modern computers. Unfortunately, today’s electronics devices operate on compromised memory architecture of NV and fast memory working in unison. It’s complicated, frustrating for consumers at start up and expensive. What’s needed is a “universal” memory that‘s non-volatile, can store large amounts of data and is fast enough to feed the appetite of modern processors. Its inventors claim that Magnetoresistive RAM (MRAM) is that universal memory alternative (although the makers of Ferroelectric RAM (FRAM or FeRAM) and Phase Change Memory (also known as Ovonic Unified Memory (OUM) by its major developer Ovonyx) would argue the case). And yet while MRAM is nonvolatile, fast (see sidebar “Memory in a spin”) and has been commercially available for several years, it has hardly dented in HDD’s, Flash’s, SRAM’s and DRAM’s dominance. A reason why MRAM languishes on the sidelines is that HDD, Flash and DRAM continue to improve in performance, scaling and price. That makes it harder for a new technology to gain a foothold, particularly in a sector where the engineering community is conservative. Another barrier to entry to the memory market is related to the fact that NAND and DRAM are in enormous demand. That’s meant that >

Figure A: MRAM bit cell structure showing the sense path and programming lines. A bit cell isolates the sense path from the write path to reduce parasitics and improve speed. The write cycle consists of a read before write to compare the contents of the bit with the required state. If the contents are different the write cycle is initiated; otherwise the write cycle is skipped. (Courtesy: Everspin) MRAM technology is a spin-off of research in the field of spin electronics or “spintronics”. Spin, the essential quantum property of an electron, is analogous to a magnet. Aligning or polarising these tiny magnets into a uniform pattern allows them to be used as elements of binary code. MRAM doesn’t store data as electric charge on capacitors or transistors, but uses magnetic storage elements. The elements are formed from two ferromagnetic plates, each of which can hold a magnetic field, separated by a thin insulating layer. One of the two plates is a permanent magnet set to a particular polarity, while the other plate can change polarity. A memory device is built from a grid of these “cells”. (See figure A.) MRAM doesn’t need its memory cells to be refreshed, and thus boasts low power consumption (only 1 per cent of the power needed for DRAM).

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large memory manufacturers have bucked the trend of going “fabless” and have invested billions in huge wafer fabs. An emerging memory company just doesn’t have the resources to build its own foundry and consequently has to buy capacity on the open market from companies such as TSMC and SMIC. Some emerging memory companies have circumvented this problem by adopting a two-stage manufacturing process. They source standard CMOS wafers from the big foundries and then add their proprietary technology on top at a separate facility. For example, EverSpin, an MRAM company spun out of Freescale Semiconductor that has been manufacturing product for four years, uses such a two-stage process. The company takes its standard CMOS logic wafers to leased space at Freescale’s fab and, using a machine from the HDD industry, deposits magnetic material and connects the transistors. EverSpin is fortunate in having a close alliance with its former parent, but other MRAM makers are able to start manufacturing relatively cheaply by partnering with a venture partner such as an Integrated Device Manufacturing (IDM) company. In return, the IDM gains a licence for the memory technology.

Hard to compete Perhaps the tallest hurdle for the emerging memory sector is, you guessed it, money. It’s just so damn difficult to make profit from memory. Commodity pricing, while great for the consumer, is killing innovation in the memory market and maintaining the status quo. If the current giants can’t make money what hope has an emergent memory maker? There’s no way to make profit competing in a market that’s losing money and yet MRAM has to be cheaper than current memory to gain market share. The dearth of R&D cash available to established memory giants is preventing them from innovating. While current memory technologies still have a head of steam, that’s not such a big problem, but if the market falters, the big memory companies won’t have alternative technologies to tout. That could be the golden opportunity for the new boys allowing MRAM to finally shake off the “emerging memory” label. ■ Fore more on memory solutions visit bit.ly/ENMagMemory www.everspin.com www.freescale.com www.digikey.com.au www.arrowasia.com

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2010 Future Awards winners The Future Awards acknowledged some of the best design work in the region. By Isaac Leung.

Automotive: Farnell’s Richard Searle (R) hands over winner’s trophy to Robert Priestley of Traffic Innovations.

Keynote: David Snowdon discussed the benefits of the UNSW solar powered car project.

HE awards ceremony for the 6th Annual Electronics News Future Awards (formerly EDN Innovation Awards) took place on 16 September 2010 at L'Aqua, Cockle Bay Wharf in Sydney. This year's awards were arranged into application-specific categories, to highlight the inherent innovation of the Australian electronics industry, and its practical implementation. The 2010 Future Awards sponsors were Element 14, Kontron, Altium, Farnell and National Instruments. Guest speaker David Snowdon spoke about the UNSW solar powered car project and the learning potential that such a practical exercise offered to students.

Automotive Winner: Traffic Innovations for its iStud system

The intelligent Stud (iStud) is a lowcost vehicle detection sensor designed to replace the traditional wired loop technology used at traffic lights. The technology has a magnetic sensor which is used to detect vehicle presence, speed and classification, and this data is transmitted back in real time to a Line Interface Card.

This information can then be used to activate a traffic light controller, or be forwarded to a central monitoring centre for traffic analysis. The judges liked the way iStud addresses the problem of car detection on roads in an innovative low cost way solving a significant problem for traffic authorities. According to Robert Priestley, engineering manager with Traffic Innovations, the award is the culmination of many man-years of research and development effort. “We are using cutting edge technology, and the potential future for replacing existing technology is very large. There are literally millions of intersections around the world that can benefit from our technology, and the increased data awareness that we can provide to traffic control systems,” Priestley told Electronics News. The company will now look forward to global commercialisation of the system, while setting up the distribution and manufacturing of its products in Australia.

digital TOSLINK input of a digital sound processor. Fiberdyne Systems’ senior applications engineer Scott McRobert was encouraged by the award. “It’s a good representation of Australian manufacturing, the fact that the company can develop and manufacture here in Australia and supply the rest of the world,” he said. McRobert says the company is developing many new products internally which it will launch globally in the future, having set up offices in America and Europe.

Communications Winner: Sea Air and Land Communications for its 12-24 MOB Locator Beacon

The 12-24 MOB Locator Beacon is worn by a crew member. In the event of a crew-overboard incident, the beacon will automatically activate upon immersion in water. The locator beacon can transmit an emergency signal for up to 24 hours, so the crew can locate the missing person(s). The judges liked the novel way in which the marine safety device transmitted data with the alarm signal. Highly Commended: LX Innovations for YellowBird ALERT

The emergency alert system warns of natural disasters via the use of AM and FM radio transmissions.

Highly Commended: Fiberdyne Systems for its Digital Pre-Amp

The product allows installers to connect any aftermarket amplifier or processor with a TOSLINK digital input to a range of late-model Audi, Mini, Mercedes, BMW or Porsche vehicles. The DA1000 digital pre-amp plugs into the MOST bus ring in place of the factory amplifier, bypassing the factory amp, steals digital audio of the MOST ring and feeds it directly into the

Digital Home: Simon Blyth (L) of LX Innovations receives the winner’s trophy from Electronics News Editor Kevin Gomez.

Digital Home Winner: LX Innovations for YellowBird ALERT

Simon Blyth, director of LX Innovations said the award was a huge honour for the company. “We very much appreciate the encouragement and it’s very encouraging for the team. It’s a difficult industry and we really appreciate the recognition that this gives us,” Blyth said. Regarding the future for the product, the company is hoping that the device will be deployed nationally, and will keep developing its capabilities. Highly Commended: Portus for its Home Energy Management System

The product monitors and controls the home from any location, either from a mobile telephone or a Web browser. The system provides a realtime view of what is happening at home through the Portus Home wireless camera. The system is integrated with the functionality of a wireless broadband gateway through a Zwave Home Area network, and can be configured to send instant alerts via SMS, email or voicemail on detection of any intrusion. It can also control a lighting or heating system. Rick Turner, co-founder and director of Portus said the award gave the company some recognition. “We are a start up, so we will be looking for venture capitalists to support us, and of course the award will be invaluable in attracting interest in our products,” Turner said. Portus is in a trial with some energy authorities in NSW in the >

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Smart Metering and Smart Grid Program. It hopes to get through those trials and be one of the winning consortiums, which would put the system into production.

Environmental Winner: Fasco for imPower

The imPower is a multi-speed motor pool pump which can reduce running costs, energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Pool owners utilising the technology could save up to $430/year and 2.3 tonnes of carbon dioxide. The pump features significant reduced noise through slowing the motor and pump speeds. The judges particularly liked the imPower’s multi-speed motor,

Environmental: Lindsay Webster (L) of Fasco accepts the winner’s trophy from Farnell’s Richard Searle. which has the ability to reduce running costs, energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Lindsay Webster, regional sales manager of NSW and QLD for Fasco, said the award came as a result of

ten years of design and engineering and a lot of hard work getting the product out to market. “We’ve been out in the market for about two years, and are now looking at the air conditioning side of the business, where a lot of savings can be made in greenhouse gases and this type of energy savings,” Webster said. “For the next step, we will do more versions of the InPower, different variations with remote control and other features.” Highly Commended: Portus for its Home Energy Management System

(See page 21 for description.)

Industrial Electronics

Industrial Electronics: Robert Bosshard (L) of PTronik International receives the winner’s trophy from Kevin Gomez. Winner: PTronik International for pMC Process Controller

The controller continuously monitors dust collector performance and triggers optimised ‘bag pulse’ cleaning via presets or user-defined parameters. The pMC process controller also logs operational data for future analysis/process improvement and provides real-time monitoring and control, locally and remotely, via inbuilt web-enabled software. The judges liked the way the pMC Process Controller minimises operating cost and improves occupational health and safety for workers in dusty industrial environments. For Robert Bosshard, managing director of PTronik International, the award was a way to spotlight the product. “It’s absolutely incredible because we developed a product 22 NOVEMBER 2010 www.electronicsnews.com.au

which we believed in and we want to show it to the world, and this is our opportunity to start showing it,” Bosshard said. The company will be looking to push for the export of the pMC, having already started initiatives in research, marketing and sales for this purpose. Highly Commended: Fluke Australia for the Fluke 233 Remote Display Multimeter

The Fluke 233 is suited for unusual measurement scenarios, such as hard to see and reach places where machines or panels are physically separated from a limit or isolated switch, or in user-prohibited areas such as clean rooms or hazardous areas. The unit is highly flexible as users can remove the display screen before putting the metre in a convenient location without the need to juggle leads and the meter while stretching into a tight spot. Ganesh Ganeshkumar, product manager at Fluke Australia, attributed the achievement to the company taking on feedback from customers and coming up with the idea. He says Fluke Australia will continue to improve on its handheld devices and define quality standards for test and measurement.

Students

Student: Altium’s Alan Smith (R) presents the trophy to winner Duc Hau Huynh of La Trobe University. Winner: Duc Hau Huynh of La Trobe University for Insectabot

The Insectabot is a six-legged walking robot with a total of 12 degrees of freedom. It is capable of two different walking gaits, allowing >

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either fast or stable walking. The robot supports turning and going in a forward and backward motion. The control unit was implemented using the Atmega128L 8-bit RISC micro-controller and the Spartan3-xs200 FPGA. The system is powered from a rechargeable LiPo battery, and interfaces with the computer via an XBee wireless connection, allowing control via a custom GUI created in Visual Basic. The judges noted that Insectabot exhibited significant levels of innovation and uniqueness, while providing a high level of validated functionality. Duc Hau Huynh thanked the staff who supported him in the project. “This award really represents the hard work that I had done in university, and it also represents the strong support from the staff at Electric Engineering Department of La Trobe University.” Highly Commended: Michael Dempsey of La Trobe University for his Assistive Technology for Children with Disabilities

The system provides a cost-effective and reliable means for cerebral palsy sufferers to interact with computers. Consisting of a webcam, PC, USB device and software, it utilises a camera with microphone for blink detection and vocal recognition. The system looks for certain eye

or voice signals, upon which it will perform a left mouse click action on the computer. James Whittington, who oversaw Dempsey’s project at La Trobe University, says the award recognises the effort which students put into working on their projects. Whittington says the project has some possibilities and further work can be done to help persons with deep disabilities communicate with the environment.

Wellness

Wellness: (R) Kontron’s Allan Tomlinson congratulates the winner Dr Roger Edwards of Neural Diagnostics. Winner: Neural Diagnostics for EVestG

The EVestG is an electronic diagnostic screening test and treatment monitoring tools for the big four central nervous system conditions of depression, bipolar, schizophrenia, and dementia.

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The patented technology was invented at Monash University and clinically trialled at the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne. It measures patterns of electrical activity in the brain’s balance system so doctors can fast track the detection of mental illness and monitor effectiveness of treatments. The judges liked how the device provides and affordable diagnostic tool for enhancing the detection of mental illness and monitoring treatment effectiveness. Dr Roger Edwards, CEO of Neural Diagnostics, took the opportunity to credit Brian Lithgow of Monash University for the invention of the tools. “It’s very significant, it’s the first step along the way to getting scientific recognition, industry recognition, professional recognition.” Lithgow says the system represents a paradigm shift in the merging of psychiatry and engineering, particularly the electronics involved in the project. “In the past there has been very little technology applied to psychiatric disorders, and now we’re changing it.” The next step for the technology will involve raising investment capital to grow the company. According to Dr Edwards, it is currently two years away from the marketplace, and in that period the company will aim to get the device miniaturised, and get

regulatory approvals. Highly Commended: Microlec Industries for Intelligym

The product digitises the workout recording process at gyms. It has a simple interface which allows gym members to record weight, repetitions, peak speeds, forces and time under load quickly and easily. The system can be retrofitted onto any brand or type of equipment, and approximates the calories burned during strength training activities. Free weight and cardio activities are recorded into a personal handheld display. Andrew Oudyn, managing director of Microlec Industries says the commendation presented a good opportunity to explain the technology and product, providing publicity for him as a new designer and engineer. Oudyn is looking forward to marketing his product and trying to get into the consumer market as an emerging technology for the fitness industry.

Best of the Best Winner: Traffic Innovations for iStud

According to the judges, they liked how the iStud Vehicle Detector uses innovative technology to replace the traditional inductive loop thus saving cost while improving functionality. Robert Priestley, engineering

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Best of the Best: Matej Krajnc (R) of National Instruments congratulates the overall winner Robert Priestley of Traffic Innovations. manager with Traffic Innovations, says this is just the start. “Hopefully this is just the beginning of some of the awards and some of the other products that we are going to release over the next couple of years. What we’re really about is one common control platform for ITS industry,” said Priestly. “We started off in people detection and classification, but we’ve got also advanced warning systems in the pipeline, integrated with backend database management systems, Web interfaces, control management systems.”

Feedback Richard Searle, head of sales for Farnell, said he and the company were proud to sponsor the awards, given its role in encouraging innovation. “Innovative technologies are a

cornerstone of wealth creation for a company and for a country,” he said. Matej Krajnc, regional managing director for National Instruments agreed, saying, “I think new start-up companies are coming up with some very intuitive and very creative ideas. I personally believe that research and innovation is the key to the country’s success.” Alan Smith, associate director at Altium, says its sponsorship of the Electronics News Future Awards helps encourage people at the start of their careers. “It gives them the mission to shine, it helps them to demonstrate their creativity and their innovation. It’s also important for us as a major player in the Australian electronics sector to build the industry in this country,” Smith told Electronics News. “The quality of the creativity and innovation, in the products in all of the entrants and all of the awards, is extremely high, and it demonstrates that Australia can play on the world market with the same degree of success as everybody else.” ■ www.electronicsnews.com.au/awards www.ni.com www.altium.com au.kontron.com au.farnell.com www.element-14.com

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Solution enables drop-in IC haptics feedback solutions IMMERSION has announced the TouchSense 2500 to power touch feedback effects in touch screen computers. According to Immersion, the TouchSense 2500 enables drop-in IC solutions to drive haptic effects in various portable touch screen computers. This restores the mechanical feel to touch screens. It is capable of providing tactile response to restore a mechanical feel to screens, making interactions more intuitive. The TouchSense 2500 solution supports integrated and advanced UIs and touch gesture-based interactions. It may be integrated to generate a rich palette of effects from simple alerts to sophisticated touch gestures in touch pads, capacitive buttons, touch screens and virtual keyboards. The haptics processor includes product-specific reference designs, and a haptics effects library. It supports both Windows and Android operating systems. Immersion says Toshiba has licensed its TouchSense technology, which will allow it to use it in its products. Immersion +1 408 467 1900 www.immersion.com

Sensor launch a step into DSLR market APTINA has stepped into the DSLR market with the introduction of the MT9H004 16MP APS-C format CMOS imaging sensor. According to the company, the MT9H004 sensor was engineered to enable the high image quality demanded by professional photographers. It offers high sensitivity, low dark current and low readout noise. The sensor is capable of capturing 16MP still images at 10fps. The solution leverages the company's DR-Pix technology, delivering a 5dB increase in signal-tonoise ratio under low-light conditions, while performing in high-light environments, where it can achieve a max SNR of 47dB. The sensor also offers live view video support, with 1080p/30fps highdefinition (HD) video recording. Aptina says its pixel technology allowed it to step into the growing DSLR market, which is estimated by TSR to be 12.5 million in 2013, up from 4 million in 2007, with much of this growth coming from the emerging compact mirrorless segment of the market. Aptina says the new sensor is just the first step in the company's effort to secure a prominent position in the DSLR market. Aptina www.aptina.com

Embedded PC interfaces BECKHOFF has released new interfaces for the Intel Atom processorbased CX5000 embedded PC, enhancing connectivity. The CX5000 Embedded PC series is said to offer a wide range of communication options through integrated I/O and system interfaces. This includes two Gigabit-Ethernet ports, four USB ports, one DVI-D, and a direct I/O interface for Beckhoff Bus Terminals and EtherCAT Terminals. The EtherCAT I/O system allows the integration of countless fieldbus devices via communication terminals that range from PROFINET to IO link. Fieldbus integration is also possible via the CX5000 Embedded PC. Optional master/slave fieldbus and communication interfaces enable flexible integration in subordinate or higher-level systems. The system can be operated within a temperature range between -25 and +60째C. The system can be optionally extended through master or slave fieldbus connections (EtherCAT, PROFIBUS, PROFINET RT, EtherNet/IP, CANopen) or communication interfaces (RS232, RS422/RS485). Beckhoff Automation +49 0 5246 9630 www.beckhoff.com

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NEW PRODUCTS

SPOTLIGHT

Spectrum analyser ROHDE & Schwarz has introduced the R&S FSVR family of signal and real-time spectrum analysers. According to the company, the product is the first instrument to combine the functions of an all-purpose signal and spectrum analyser with a real-time spectrum analyser. In real-time mode, the device detects everything from sporadic events to ultra-short signals. This is said to be useful for developers of RF components for commercial transmission systems, including LTE, WiMAX, WLAN, Bluetooth and RFID. The instrument is said to have a measurement speed up to five times faster than any other analyser on the market. Unlike conventional units, it measures the spectrum around a user-selectable input frequency. The company claims this makes it easier to find the cause of sporadic errors. In the real-time mode, the R&S FSVR seamlessly captures RF signals with a bandwidth of up to 40 MHz, computes up to 250,000 spectra per second and displays the result graphically. When in the persistence mode, the unit outputs a colour-coded display of the probability distribution of occurring frequencies and amplitudes over the length of time selected by the user, providing an impression of the behaviour of signals over time. Rohde & Schwarz 02 8874 5100 www.rohde-schwarz.com.au

Ultracap-based subsystem module CYPRESS Semiconductor's subsidiary AgigA Tech has introduced the PowerGEM module, a battery-free power subsystem that prevents data loss due to power interruption. The PowerGEM power subsystem uses ultracapacitors which provide memory with temporary power in the event of a power loss. According to the developers, the ultracap modules enable system designers to avoid the many drawbacks of battery-backed memory solutions. Conventional memory solutions which are supported by normal batteries can result in increased environmental impact, design complexity, maintenance and condi28 NOVEMBER 2010 www.electronicsnews.com.au

tioning requirements, short operating life, and a high total cost of ownership. Cypress Semiconductor says PowerGEM can be paired with an AGIGARAM memory module, to provide a complete secure and reliable non-volatile memory subsystem for mission critical data back-up. The company says when used as a write cache in enterprise-class applications, the solution provides a performance-boosting building block while guarding against power failures and data loss. The system provides power, and also manages the cycling, charging/discharging, wear-monitoring and other module details to ensure long life and high reliability. AgigA Tech +1 408 943 2600 www.agigatech.com

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NEW PRODUCTS

Email your product news to editor@electronicsnews.com.au

Drive controller customisation encouraged EVA Robotics is taking suggestions for expanding its EvoDrive ST-17 stepper motor controller with more features and form factors. The motor developer is exploring the possibility of putting together application PCBs to replace the default blank PCBs. This will allow it to offer more functions such as wireless communications s or screw terminals in place of the molex connectors. The company is also considering whether to make a frame 11 and frame 23 form factor, or an open frame, generic form factor which does not mount directly to a motor. Extra features include an option of pulse/direction inputs, greater drive input voltage, and more I/O. According to EVA Robotics, it designed the EvoDrive ST-17 for designers, allowing clients to create distributed and unique drive solu-

tions for their applications. The topmost PCB is a blank applications PCB that can be replaced with any custom design. Design aids are available online. A range of connectivity options allows the EvoDrive to be interfaced to a microcontroller (UART, RS232, RS485) as easily as to a PC (RS232, USB). The firmware implementation allows the EvoDrive to be upgraded as new features are released. The unit is compatible with any motor. EVA Robotics www.evarobotics.com

Electrical enclosure cooling system VORTEC, represented in Australia by Knight Pneumatics, has introduced the Vortex A/CTM cooling system for electrical enclosures. According to the company, the UL listed system is an alternative to expensive air conditioners. It requires only a compressed air supply to operate, and installs in a

38mm knockout hole. The maintenance-free units incorporate vortex tube technology to convert filtered compressed air into a low pressure, refrigerated air stream distributed throughout the enclosure. The positive pressure created by this seals out contaminants, and hot air is expelled through a relief valve. The system retains the quiet advantage of air conditioners, with noise levels of 93% less than conventional, vortex type cabinet coolers. An integral thermostat maintains maintain enclosure temperatures within a range of 27° to 32°C, and is suitable for NEMA Type 12, 4 and 4X rated electrical cabinets. Knight Pneumatics 03 9555 4666 www.knightpneumatics.com.au

Embedded boards ADVANTECH has announced a new range of embedded boards based on the Intel Atom E6xx processors. Advantech will offer a range of

products that provide modularity, scalability and flexibility to provide for a diverse set of embedded application requirements. The platforms range from Computer On Modules (COM) and PC/104 CPU modules, to 3.5” Single Board Computers (SBC). The lowpower platforms will serve a range of applications targeted at compact portable devices, hand-held devices, and ultra low power applications. According to the company, the E6xx Atom processors utilise the first architecture by Intel to adopt the open PCI-Express standard to connect to any third party chips, giving developers greater flexibility for adding functionalities. Advantech also provides multi OS support, including Windows 7, XPe, WinCE, QNX, and Linux. A variety of intelligent APIs are bundled with the new boards to facilitate application development. Advantech 03 9797 0100 www.advantech.net.au

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PEOPLE & PLACES

INNOVATION

WHAT’S ON

FPD International 2010 And Green Device 2010 10-12 November 2010 Makuhari Messe, Japan expo.nikkeibp.co.jp/fpdgd/2010/english/ International Conference On Digital Image Computing: Techniques And Applications (DICTA) 1-3 December 2010 Mercure Sydney Hotel dicta2010.conference.nicta.com.au The 10th IEEE International Conference On Data Mining (ICDM20100) 14-17 December 2010 Building 5, University of Technology, Sydney datamining.it.uts.edu.au/icdm10/ 2011 International Conference On Telecom Technology And Applications (ICTTA 2011) 13-14 May 2011 Sydney www.ictta.org Internationaal Conference On Computer Communication And Management (ICCM 2011) 13-14 May 2011 Sydney www.icccm.org

National Manufacturing Week 2011 (NMW2011) 24-27 May 2011 Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre www.nationalmanufacturingweek.com.au CeBIT Australia 2011 31 May - 2 June 2011 Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre www.cebit.com.au IQEC/CLEO Pacific Rim 2011 29 August - 1 September 2011 Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre www.iqec-cleopr2011.com

Capturing the world: Developments like the 120MP CMOS sensor from Canon promise to bring on a future where still photography is a subset of video capture, and where photographs will be spliced or cropped out of ultra-high resolution videos. IN SHORT

ANALYSIS

Ultra capacitor research

Imaging innovation THE TECHNOLOGICAL march of imaging sensors is well and truly alive, as is evident in the research labs of one of the top manufacturers of camera hardware, Canon. August 2010 saw a number of announcements from Canon, starting with an APS-H-sized CMOS sensor with 120 megapixel resolution. Canon found a way of quickly reading the image data accumulated by the sensor by modifying the method used to control the readout circuit timing. The sensor outputs approximately 9.5 frames per second, about on par with the continuous shooting speed of today’s high-end professional-grade DSLR cameras. Canon also integrated full HD video capability into the sensor, using a 60th of its total surface area for 1920 by 1080 pixel videos. Canon previously articulated a Wonder Camera Concept at the World Expo 2010 in Shanghai, in which cameras only capture video in extremely high resolution. Photographic stills are spliced out of the video, and zooming in is simply cropping to part of the frame. A 120 megapixel sensor is the first step toward this vision.

30 NOVEMBER 2010 www.electronicsnews.com.au

A few days later, Canon announced the world’s largest CMOS image sensor, with the chip itself measuring 202 by 205mm. The chip is among the largest which can be produced from a 300mm wafer. Its size allows it to capture images in 100th of the amount of light needed by full-frame professional-grade DSLR cameras. Together with a new circuit design the sensor can shoot 60 fps movies with only 0.3 lux of illumination, equivalent to approximately one-half of the brightness of a moon-lit night. At the 2010 Canon Expo in New York, the sensor was integrated into a concept camera, which shot superhigh definition video, with resolutions four times greater than HD. According to Darren Ryan, general manager of consumer marketing with Canon Australia, the company reinvests close to 10 percent of its global net sales into R&D each year. “Our long-term commitment to developing innovative core technologies will see Canon continue to challenge the boundaries of imaging expression,” said Ryan. www.canon.com

DAIS Analytic has entered into a research agreement with the University of Florida to progress the NanoCap ultra capacitor from materials testing to prototype. Results from the the materials test conducted by GE's Global Research and Development Centre show the company's materials and design exhibit potential to yield a power storage device able to dramatically improve power delivery. The ultra capacitor would be suited for a range of uses, storing energy in consumer electronics, "smart grid" applications, and most forms of transportation. Dais claims its materials have the potential of being configured into an energy storage unit capable of replacing the internal combustion engine. Ultracapacitors can deliver, electronically, an energy density equivalent to that of gasoline. With such an energy storage device, electricity from intermittent electricity generators like solar panels and wind turbines could be stored for use at a later time. www.daisanalytic.com www.ufl.edu

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