Li-ion Suppliers Try To Find The Right Chemistry With Car Buyers

 By Randy Frank, Contributing Editor

Li-ion technology has seen some significant advances since its introduction nearly two decades ago. But these improvements still require economies of scale before the topology breaks out of its niche and into mainstream automotive applications.

Improved Electronic Birthday Candles Provide Better "Blow Out" Simulation

 By Dhananjay V. Gadre, Mayank Jain, and Nehul Malhotra, Netaji Subhas Institute of Technology

An earlier Idea for Design described LED "candles" that you could blow out just like normal birthday candles. The improved and simpler circuit described here offers more realistic candle behavior and increases the number of candles allowed to 20.

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MLV Family Births Sub-0.5-pF Member

A sub-0.5-pF version of the AntennaGuard SPV series low-capacitance multilayer varistor (MLV) from AVX Corp. minimizes signal distortion, according to the company. Its one-chip topology protects high-speed digital interface, HDMI, analog sensor, Flex Ray, GPS antenna, and RF amplifier circuit apps against electrostatic discharge (ESD).

Power App Enables Real-Time Design Comparisons

The Webench Visualizer, a comparison and selection tool from National Semiconductor that allows users to rapidly select an optimal power system design, creates a graphical snapshot of options across multiple criteria such as power efficiency, footprint, and system bill of materials cost.

UPS Exploits 10-Year, High-Temp Batteries

Able to last four years at 50°C and longer at 25°C, the batteries in the SSG series uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) from Falcon Electric are rated for 10 years of expected life in a temperature-controlled environment up to 25°C. According to the company, the SSG components are the only UPS to carry a 55°C UL listing.

Current-Feedback Amp Quashes Input Noise

Handling a variety of precise signal-conditioning applications, the 1570 differential preamplifier from That Corp. functions as a differential summing preamplifier, differential variable-gain preamplifier, microphone preamplifier, or a moving-coil transducer amplifier.