Appliance Technology News

If your company is developing products to comply with DOE's new Energy Star® requirements, Underwriters Laboratories is offering a complementary webinar series, podcast, and micro Web site to help you navigate the certification process. As of January 1, 2011, any product seeking participation in the Energy Star program must have its energy performance evaluated by a certification body prior to product labeling. It must also undergo post-market verification testing to ensure continued compliance. Webinar topics include not only the new EPA requirements, but also challenges and best practices in qualification and compliance, plus the verification process for both new and existing products.

Blow molded parts are used in nearly every new appliance. Our design staff has extensive knowledge of appliance specifications and performance needs and we work with you to provide better performance and lower costs. Learn more about Custom-Pak, Inc.

Compact and lightweight, Liquiport is easy to move to wherever you need a liquid pump. Self-priming, it can run dry continuously, is maintenance-free and can also pump air or gases. Liquiport's front-mounted controls provide fine adjustment of flow needed for liquid transfer, dispensing, or filling tasks. From KNF Neuberger, Inc.

Featuring a USB antenna that plugs into your laptop and a small receiver that plugs into your HDTV, Veebeam wirelessly streams content at 150 Mb/s. Here, content includes digital photos, online movies, home videos, Web sites, and more. The receiver incorporates an advanced HD decoding IC that runs embedded digital media software. Two versions deliver either full 1080p resolution (HDMI port) or 480i with Dolby digital audio.

If you find this subject interesting, subscribe to the GlobalSpec e-Newsletter,DirectU2 The world of Wireless Technology.

Using the "world's smallest" waterproof MP3 player at 0.4 x 1.25 x .75 in., you don't have to give up listening to your favorite music when you're swimming, surfing, or imbibing in your favorite water sport. Just clip the tiny waterproof device to your goggles, elsewhere, or use the supplied armband, and you're good to go. Just make sure your silicone eartips are properly sealed.

Joint replacement surgery requires accurately sculpting a patient's bones to ensure a secure fit. Enter the surgical Acrobot. Designed to monitor the position of the bone via tracking arms, this robot tracks the tip of the rotating burr that removes material as necessary. If a surgeon tries to remove bone from the wrong location, the burr is kept from doing so.

If you find this subject interesting, subscribe to the GlobalSpec e-Newsletter, DirectU2 The world of Medical Equipment Design.

To help the visually impaired navigate, the blinput system features a smartphone worn around the neck with its camera facing out, plus headphones delivering 3D audio. Users navigate menu options by moving a hand up and down in front of the smartphone's camera, while a pinch of the fingers selects a function — all confirmed by audio through the headphones (video demo).

Ensure accurate liquid level and temperature sensing in appliance applications. Madison's comprehensive line includes temperature sensors for ovens, freezers and refrigerators, as well as level switches for fryers, drink dispensing machines, coffee makers, ice makers, and more. Visit our Web site, including e-catalog, e-store, and e-configurator, at www.madisonco.com.

PanJit's offers the broadest range of customization solutions to meet your next project specifications. Our NRE fees are the lowest in the industry. Combined with our short design cycles and customization offerings, we can meet project requirements in a timely basis. Review customization items for touchscreens.

More powerful PCs will be as much as 69% faster in some benchmark tests, thanks to a new generation of Intel chips with 1.16 billion transistors each. In particular, the new Core processors handle images and videos significantly faster. For instance, a 4-min.-long high definition video can be converted to iPod format in a mere 16 sec. This jump in performance also makes it possible to replace gaming PCs with laptops.

Manufacturer iRobot listened to customers to design a smaller robotic floor washer with a 6.5 in. diameter and just 3.5 in. high. Able to navigate tighter spaces, the Scooba 230 scrubs with clean solution and stores dirty water without mixing the two. Featuring scrubbing brushes, a squeegee, and a vacuum, this latest floor-bot can neutralize 97% of common household bacteria (video).

A new lithium-ion ultracapacitor allows power tools to charge in mere minutes. The hybrid energy-storage device can be recharged rapidly over 20,000 times, vs hundreds of cycles for a battery alone. The hybrid system stores twice the energy of typical ultracapacitors, which only perform for 1/15 the time of a normal battery. This makes the concept viable for weekend users who want fast charging for periodic use.

Removing weeds from flowerbeds, lawns, and gardens just became a lot easier thanks to the Weed Spinner (video). This handy tool consists of a 30 in. rod that features metal blades at its tip. To get rid of weeds permanently, you just slip the device into your typical cordless (or corded electric) drill and spin weeds out by their roots.

Cantherm stocks the complete range of RoHS Compliant DFS 15 amp 250 V thermal cutoffs from 66 C to 240 C. The DFS is designed for the thermal protection of appliances and other devices and are UL, cUL, and VDE approved. Learn more...

The LS03 Series is a line of compact liquid level sensors for tank fluid monitoring in household appliance, automotive, industrial, and control technology applications. Three new versions have been introduced into the market to meet the wider demands of our customer's more specialized application needs. From Meder Electronic, Inc.

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Developed by Vgo Communications, this telepresence robot allows employees to interact with co-workers — hear, see, talk, and move around an office — without actually being there in person. At 1.2 m (4 ft) tall, the self-propelled robot precludes the hassles of real world travel to distant workplaces (video). Orbitz and Palomar Health are two companies who have already put the $5,000 Vgo robot to work.

Using this Bluetooth video device, you can't possibly miss another important moment in your life. Just hit a button on the ear piece, and the Looxcie (pronounced "look see") streams 480p video of your last 30 seconds to an Android device or iPhone. The receiving device also functions as the video camera's viewfinder and provides Internet connectivity.

Do Mobile Electronic Devices Really Interfere with Aircraft Communications?

For all air travelers' peace of mind, this issue should be resolved. What do you think?