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| The latest information on Electrical &
Electronic Components
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September 4, 2008
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Top Stories
This month's newsletter shows good news for the electrical industry
during this economic downturn. First, North Dakota State University
offers up a stacked processor
unit that doubles computing power and yet reduces size by 75%. Then, a
new electromagnetic brake allows
hospitals unrestricted patient access with a revolutionary type of bed
system. Finally, take a look at low-power AC drive sales and
see why worldwide demand will keep this market in a growth trend for
some time.
This month's featured video shows off a rather innovative arc speaker that,
while not exactly practical, is still cool to look at. Just be sure to
keep your hands away from the electrical arc that creates the sound!
--Kelsey Rubenking
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Case Study Features Two-Chip Stacked
Package
Smaller and faster are two goals in today’s electronics market.
The current spotlight falls on a package from North Dakota State
University that reduces the size of two electronic components by 75%.
What’s the secret? By stacking the processors into a single package,
researchers came up with a more compact size – while doubling the
computing power of the two individual processors. A single package
housing multiple chips stacked vertically one on top of the other could
mean smaller and more efficient devices.
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Electromagnetic Brakes Make Hospital Rooms
Ergonomic
All hospital rooms, particularly those in critical-care areas like
ICUs, need provisions for utilities and accessories. But the current
state of hospital beds requires that at least one end be against the
wall. This positioning commonly restricts access to the head. A new
patient bed system offers better access and the safe delivery of medical
gas, data, and electricity wherever it’s needed. All it takes is a
specialized power supply – and an electromagnetic brake.
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What Recession? AC Drive Sales Still Going
Strong
Despite the troubling economic situation, it appears that at least
one industry can keep it going. The low-power AC drives market continued
a trend of strong growth in 2007, and that’s not all. Emerging
economies in areas like Eastern Europe and Brazil helped to spur the
market over the past year, and despite the United States’ weakened
economy, the external demand for automation products is likely to keep
AC drive producers in business. Over the next five years, it’s also
expected to have an annual growth rate of 8.9%.
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Electrical Arc Plasma Speaker
An innovative (if not exactly convenient) new way to blast your
music shows up in this independent plasma speaker. Sound is amplified
through an electrical arc, using a circuit with no moving parts. It
looks a little risky – but also incredibly unique.
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Electronic Frame Subassembly
The E-frame was designed with the high (and flexible) power and
cooling requirements for VPX (VITA 46/48) systems. However, any 3U or 6U
backplanes can be used including VME/64x, VXS, CompactPCI, and other
backplane architectures.
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Oscilloscope Has 12.1-in. XGA LCD
InfiniiVision 7000 Series oscilloscopes offer bandwidths up to 1 GHz
with a memory waveform update rate of up to 100,000 waveforms/sec. Each
unit has a 12.1-in. XGA LCD that comes in a package that is 7-in. deep
and weighs 14 lb.
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Slotted optical switch
The OPB420 Series slotted infrared optical switch is for noncontact
interruptive object sensing. The switch has an infrared LED and
phototransistor housed in a right-angle plastic package that lets an
opaque object block the light beam from multiple directions, including
the X, Y, and Z axes.
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Ultrathin heaters
A new line of flexible Thermal-Clear heaters have a microthin
wire-heating element sandwiched between opticalgrade polyester sheets
that produce uniform or profiled heat patterns without blocking light.
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Sponsored
by:
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UPCOMING IN-PERSON EVENTS
Design-2-Part Shows are America's longest running and most trusted
events for sourcing custom parts and services.
Ten shows covering the country offer OEMs, engineers and purchasing
personnel the opportunity to meet job shops and
contract manufacturers face-to-face.
UPCOMING WEBCASTS
Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) Gives Designers New Freedom and
Manufacturers a Higher Degree of Quality Control
Sponsored by Morris Technologies
DATE: September 4th, 2008
TIME: 2:00pm ET/11am PT
DMLS is more than a prototyping tool; it’s a viable manufacturing
alternative that can deliver parts in volume with competitive pricing.
Primarily employed for rapid prototyping, DMLS now plays an important
role in manufacturing by delivering parts in volume with competitive
pricing. Applications are wide ranging and include inserts for plastic
injection molding and die casting, as well as direct parts for a variety
of applications and industries including aerospace, automotive, medical,
electronics and many others.
Click here to learn more and register!
An Introduction to Non-contact, High-speed Jet Dispensing
Sponsored by EFD
DATE: September 17th, 2008
TIME: 2:00pm ET/11am PT
As today’s products continue to pack more and more features into
smaller and smaller packages, manufacturers need new ways to apply
adhesives, coatings and other assembly fluids in smaller, more precise
amounts than ever before.
Jet dispensing systems combine high production speed with exceptional
accuracy and process control. They are ideal for dispensing a wide
variety of adhesives and other assembly fluids at speeds up to 150 dots
per second in accurate, consistent volumes as small as 0.002 μl (2
nl).
By using piezoelectric technology to jet fluid onto the substrate, these
non-contact systems eliminate the need for precise height positioning
and time-consuming Z-axis movement, allowing production lines to run at
maximum capacity.
Click here to learn more and register!
ARCHIVED WEBCASTS AVAILABLE FOR FREE VIEWING
Click Here for a list of archived Machine Design
webcasts.
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Minco Flexible Heaters Design Guide
Order a FREE Flexible Heaters Design Guide to learn how flexible heaters
can benefit your design. Also get tips on selecting the right heater for
prototyping. Get your copy today: www.minco.com/heaterguide
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