Flexible Display Modules Offer New OTP Options

 By Dennis Brestovansky, Aveso Displays

The clunky design and single-use inefficiency of most one-time-password (OTP) fobs and tokens has been the bane of design engineers for years. OTP technology should be embedded in something more utilitarian, efficient, and cost-effective. One solution is the use of flexible display modules that can be embedded in most display card (credit card) applications.

What’s All This Driving One-Handed Stuff, Anyhow?

 By Bob Pease

Any good driver should be able to drive a car with one hand, a lot of the time, and drive with two hands for special occasions. I wondered, how would I do driving one-handed for a large while? My commute is just a total of about 45 miles and a few dozen curves and several corners. Could I drive home one-handed?

Connect Any RS-232 Device To Your LAN

 By Louis E. Frenzel, Communications Editor

Industrial devices still widely use RS-232 serial interfaces because of their robust nature. But making them accessible via your regular Ethernet LAN is tricky at best. The B&B Electronics Vlinx ESP211-232 mini serial server solves this problem. Now, anything with a serial port can be connected to the network.

Signal Analyzers Cover Both Ends Of The (Cost) Spectrum

 By David Maliniak, EDA/Test Editor

Adding to the high and low ends of its spectrum-analyzer family at the same time, Agilent has covered the bases with the launches of its N9000A CXA low-cost analyzers and its N9030A PXA high-end instrument. In both cases, the instruments are consistent in terms of their measurement framework and their ability to enable design teams to grow with them.

2009 Readers' Choice Survey
2009 saw many significant innovations. Now it's time to choose the best of the bunch. Our December 1 Best Electronic Design issue will feature a look at the best Leapfrog technology of the year and name the year's best Idea for Design, both chosen by you, our readers.

What was the best Leapfrog story of the year? Go to this survey for a list of nominees, determined by traffic on www.electronicdesign.com, and select your favorite.

And, what was the best Idea for Design of the year? Go to this survey for the nominees, and choose the best.

Thank you for your input!

Low-Cost Silicon Solar Cell Raises Efficiency Bar

Working together, IMEC’s research centers for photovoltaics and energy company BP Solar have demonstrated an 18% conversion efficiency for silicon solar cells made of BP Solar’s recently developed Mono2 silicon.

Untangling the Challenges of the Connected Car

 By Andy Gryc, QNX Software Systems

Many cars already connect to iPods, cell phones, and other personal electronic devices. In the not-to-distant future, they will also connect to the Internet, other cars, and roadside systems. For automakers and automotive suppliers, this trend toward ubiquitous connectivity presents many opportunities, but also many challenges.