Big companies can be experts at stealing patents from small inventors, especially in the electrical and electronics industries. But small inventors are not without fault, often letting their patents languish for years with little or no effort to develop products. EDN looks at the issue from both sides, and shows how patent trolls joust with corporate interests. Many large semiconductor and related industry corporations are now banding together in cooperative groups to buy up as many patents as possible. These efforts are meant to head off the efforts of patent trolls, non-practicing entities that buy up patents from inventors and then sue operating companies for infringement.

Based on the unique, patented MC Multilam Technology, Multi-Contact offers a wide range of connectors for a large variety of industrial applications, for automatic systems, renewable energies, medical industry, test and measurement equipment, as well as customized solutions for individual requirements. For details, please visit www.multi-contact-usa.com or contact MC USA!

The largest gathering in Asia of coil and transformer manufacturing and repair equipment, components, and materials. Coils, transformers, bobbins, magnet wire, insulation and varnish, terminals, cores, laminations, magnets, and more. CWIEME MUMBAI 2010 — see more in three days than you would see all year!

Power-Cell Battery Products is an ISO 9001 certified manufacturer and distributor of the ZEUS rechargeable sealed lead acid (SLA) batteries. Power-Cell Battery offers a full line of SLA batteries for a variety of applications including emergency lighting, UPS computer back-up, wheelchairs/scooters, security, and more. Contact us today!

Why risk getting your smart grid answers from a "latecomer" to the smart grid scene? Newton-Evans has been studying all aspects of T&D infrastructure and automation markets for decades. We're "wired in" to the Smart Grid! Explore our Smart Grid reports and custom research capabilities today at www.newton-evans.com.

China has surpassed the U.S. and now has the world's largest national grid with 375,000 km of lines 220 kV and above. Power magazine says that China is also rapidly expanding power generation. Its people consume only about 2,500 kWh of power per year, 5x lower than that of the U.S., so there's plenty of room for growth.

According to its CEO, Dow Corning is "one of the only companies in the world able to provide advanced silicon-based solutions throughout the entire solar photovoltaic value chain: cell manufacturing, module assembly and installation." So what does Dow's CEO need to move ahead? You guessed it, corporate welfare from taxpayers, including permanent advanced manufacturing tax credits.

Accurate costing of wiring harness connectors is critical for reducing risk and predicting profitability. This Interconnection World article examines different costing methodologies, looking at the pros and cons of each approach. Recommended is an off-the-shelf automated costing tool, which allows more time for cost studies as the physical design evolves and ensures that the most cost-effective design will emerge.

3G cell phones are here, and 4G is coming. To qualify as 4G, a system must use an IP-based architecture with peak data transmission rates of 100 Mb/s for mobile access and 1Gb/s for fixed location transmission. According to Connector.Supplier.com, the high frequencies and increased transmission data rates at which these systems operate pose significant challenges for the connectors in the handsets.

Custom engineered lead frames that can be manufactured to specification and supplied loose or on reels to simplify termination and assembly operations are available from ETCO Incorporated.

As the power distribution industry converts from glass and ceramic to molded polymer parts, fixtures and components, Advanced Rubber Products is at the forefront of that transition.

Pressure is one of the big four measurements commonly made by sensors in process-control applications — along with flow, level, and temperature. This InTech article gives an in depth look at pressure measurement, starting with the basics and continuing on to common applications. Forgotten the ideal and combined gas laws? This article will set you straight.

What happens after RFID becomes ubiquitous? Present tagging systems are only about 65% accurate. Fully implemented, RFID can allow businesses to track every item from production to sale with near 100% accuracy? RFID Journal says that smart companies will use data delivered from RFID to implement business intelligence solutions that will reduce costs, increase profits, and gain market share.

Will robots soon be able to climb walls like a gecko? University researchers hope so, due in part to their creation of nanoscale and microscale patterned surfaces with adhesion and friction properties similar to that of a gecko footpad. Geckos can move on nearly any surface because their feet are covered by intricate fibrillar structures.

A team of scientists from South Korea and Japan have succeeded in roll-to-roll production of graphene films, growing them by chemical vapor deposition onto flexible copper substrates. As shown in this video, the team also incorporated their graphene electrodes into a fully functional touchscreen panel, where they outperformed standard indium tin oxide electrodes.

The HIFLEX Series is a modular Power System with a power factor corrected (PFC) input. It utilizes a concept of individual standard modules in single, dual, and triple output. With up to 24 customizable outputs in a single unit, this unit can be configured for almost any system.

Pickering Electronics announces the addition of a dry Form C (changeover) reed relay to their established series 109. This increases the scope of the range which already includes 1 Form A, 2 Form A, 1 Form B, and coaxial types in either mu-metal packages or plastic packages with internal mu-metal screens. Learn more.

You've probably read and seen plenty of negative commentary concerning technical training and competencies in the U.S. as compared to the rest of the world. But this Control Design article highlights some real positives, and shows how Atlanta-area students are surging ahead through technical programs starting at the elementary school level. For many, Lego-themed competitions are the entry point.

Dating is often fraught with peril for techies. In this oft hilarious video, an engineer gives some tips to help you navigate your way through the minefield. Best tip is to think about what you're interested in and what you'd like to talk about, and then discuss anything else. Other helpful hints are to avoid socks with sandals, and T-shirts with clever tech-themed slogans. And stay away from restaurants without table service, even though those places may be a favorite haunt of your geek gang.

When Will Renewables Work?

As the price of fossil-fueled generation rises and as the environmental effects multiply, there'll be a point where renewables make economic sense. Will that be 10 years from now? Twenty? What do you think are the critical milestones?