Claiming to break price-versus-performance barriers for industrial designs, the Blackfin processor family welcomes the BF50x devices with integral ADCs plus flash memory and boasting up to 100% greater performance than comparably priced processors. Easing design chores, the EZ-KIT Lite evaluation platform for the BF50x series provides a cost-effective entry point for processor evaluation. The devices deliver speeds up to 400 MHz and combine industry-standard interfaces with a high-performance signal processing core for developing applications quickly. In addition to the optional dual-SAR, 12-bit ADCs, the processors feature 4 MB of on-board executable flash memory, 11.5 effective number of bits, and a BDTIsimMark2000 score of 498 for the BF504 based on a BDTIsimMark2000 of 2240.The BF50x family includes the BF504 starting at $4.50, the BF504F with integrated flash memory starting at $6.50, and the BF506F with integrated flash memory and ADC starting at $10.60. All prices are based on 10,000 unit quantities. The EZ-KIT Lite evaluation kit for the Blackfin BF50x processors is priced at $199 each. ANALOG DEVICES, INC., Norwood, MA. (800) 426-2564.

MORE INFO: http://www.analog.com/static/imported-files/data_sheets/ADSP-BF504_BF504F_BF506F.pdf

Charted as the smallest, full-featured battery fuel gauge, the bq3060 debuts in a 24-pin TSSOP measuring 7.8 mm x 6.4 mm. Groomed for lithium-based cells, the device turns a battery into a smart battery that measures and maintains a record of available capacity, voltage, current, temperature, and other critical parameters. The chip also provides authentication as well as short-circuit and discharge protection. Other features include advanced compensated end-of-discharge voltage gauging, a low-power consumption mode that reduces current to below 69 µA, SHA-1 authentication, and support for a two-wire SMBus 1.1 interface with a 400-kHz programming option. Price for the bq3060 is $3.55 each/1,000. TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INC., Dallas, TX. (800) 477-8924.

MORE INFO: http://focus.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/bq3060.pdf

The A300RU series 3W dc/dc converters provide an ultra-wide 4:1 input range, offer single and dual outputs, and promise tight regulation and low-noise operation. Twelve models operate from inputs of 9 to 36 Vdc or 18 to 75 Vdc, providing outputs of 3.3, 5, 12, 15, ±12, or ±15 Vdc. Standard features include efficiencies up to 84%, a line/load regulation of ±1%, an input/output isolation of 1.5 kVdc, and compliance with EN55022. Other features include output-power protection and continuous short-circuit protection with auto recovery. MICROPOWER DIRECT, Stoughton, MA. (781) 344-8226.

MORE INFO: http://www.micropowerdirect.com/PDF%20Files/Datasheets/DCDC/A/A300RU-Datasheet.pdf

For users wishing to go green with LED lighting, the company’s dimmable LED power supply is reportedly easy to install and use and it works with many household dimmer switches. The supply provides patented short-circuit and overload protection, making it suitable for commercial, residential, industrial, and institutional apps. Encapsulated with epoxy in a 304 stainless-steel enclosure, it is virtually impervious to dirt, moisture, and corrosive elements and can withstand a direct short in excess of 15 days with no external fusing necessary. The component accepts multiple input voltages including 120V, 240V, and 277V, 50/60 Hz with outputs configurable for 12 or 24 Vdc up to 60W. Pricing is $44 each/100. FOSTER TRANSFORMER, Cincinnati, OH. (800) 963-9799.

MORE INFO: http://www.foster-transformer.com/client_images/catalog19919/pages/files/LEDPowerSupply.pdf

The SVME/DMV-186 6U VME64 single board computer (SBC) employs a Freescale QorIQ P4080 processor with extensive I/O. Suiting a wide range of rugged military applications, the SBC is pin compatible with its predecessors, the SVME-DMV 182, SVME-DMV 183, and SVME-DMV 184. The SVME/DMV-186 provides two PMC/XMC sites, three Gigabit Ethernet ports, options for multifunction RS-232/-422/-485 ports, Serial ATA, TTL, and differential discretes. Other features include debug features, up to 4GB of DDR3 SDRAM with ECC, 512 MB of contiguous direct-mapped flash memory, 8 GB of SATA NAND flash, and a 2eSST-capable VME interface. For more details, contact Jerri-Lynne Charbonneau at CURTISS-WRIGHT CONTROLS EMBEDDED COMPUTING, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. (613) 254-5112.

MORE INFO: http://www.cwcembedded.com/documents/contentdocuments/SVME-DMV-186-fact-sheet.pdf

To ensure the proper torque levels for RF, COAX, and SMA connectors, the company offers an array of torque tools. These include the TB Break-Over wrenches and Hand Torque Screwdrivers. The TB is commonly used with an open-ended spanner while the pre-set torque screwdriver with a crowsfoot spanner head that enables vertical access in places where conventional torque tools cannot be used. Spanners are available to suit standard sizes of all major connector manufacturers. For applications that require a torque tool to be used for round knurled or non-knurled nuts where gripping to tighten might damage the surface, the tools feature a unique wrench with a roller grip head. The head employs soft grip material that promises not to damage plastic caps, connectors, or tubes. Its spring loaded design allows the head to fit snuggly around the cap, tube, or connector. MOUNTZ INC., San Jose, CA. (408) 292-2214.

MORE INFO: http://www.etorque.com/

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