The need to collect, analyze, and transmit data impacting all aspects of our lives is driving the integration of low-power sensors with microcontrollers and communications circuitry. Applications ranging from health care to environmental, structural, and spectrum monitoring stand to benefit greatly from the amalgam of systems being designed, with some estimates placing at 1000 the number of sensors per person being deployed. Low power will be key for the integrated systems of the future, and the development of such systems will require looking at body-area networking and power estimation tools, while satisfying system-level needs and addressing concerns and requirements from the EDA community.

The Neutralizer AC is a battery operated ionizing blow-off gun that incorporates all the features most requested by end-users from industries that require a large area coverage device. This new offering from NRD utilizes a rechargeable lithium power cell, air induction, and a user replaceable emitter pin.

Interpower Corporation has a variety of international and North American cordsets in-stock, and just a 1 week manufacturing lead-time on non-stock cordsets. Many lengths are in stock, or you can specify your required length. Interpower Corporation offers value-added options including: custom lengths, custom labeling, custom packaging, and more. Order online at www.interpower.com.

Littelfuse PLED Series Open LED Protectors provide a switching electronic shunt path when an LED in an LED array fails as an open circuit, ensuring that the entire array of LEDs will continue to function even if a single LED in the array doesn't.

Need coaxial connectors? We maintain one of the largest inventories of coaxial connectors and adapters in North America. If you're looking for quick delivery, we probably have what you need — and in most cases, we ship same day. Available through the RFConnectors distribution network.

Offering high peak power while allowing system efficiency, a new high power radio frequency (RF) silicon carbide (SiC) transistor aims to support next-generation ultra-high frequency (UHF) radar designs. The device is particularly attractive for use in high-power UHF-band pulsed radars serving in weather and long-range over-the-horizon radar applications in the aerospace and defense sectors.

For long distance transmissions, high frequency transceiver systems are now looking to adopt a new high power gallium nitride (GaN) transistor. The device integrates a crystalline silicon nitride (SiN) metal-insulator-semiconductor (MIS) gate structure to increase gate breakdown voltage. Such a device will be ideal for future millimeter-wave long-distance communication systems with high-speed and high data capacity.

Nanotubes and nanowires have inspired yet another device invention — the piezoelectric potential gated hybrid field-effect transistor. Consisting of an insulator sandwiched between a bottom layer of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and a top crossed layer of zinc oxide (ZnO) piezoelectric fine wire (PFW), the device is ideal for strain sensor, force/pressure monitor, security trigger, and analog-signal touchscreen applications.

Using a carbon nanotube (CNT) as the key element, researchers at ETH Zurich developed a transistor exhibiting no gate hysteresis, making the device ideal for use in micro- and nano-sensor systems. The novel fabrication approach relied on growing a single CNT between two polysilicon tips coated with palladium metal for better contact.

Leader Tech's new FerriShield Ferrite catalog and engineer's reference guide is now available for immediate download. The catalog provides valuable insider tips and performance data for 1,000s of solid and bisected ferrite styles. New color-coded pages help readers quickly find ferrites that are categorized into four frequency-specific formulations.

The TP-107 offers a unique spiral wrap that doubles the mounting surface and strengthens the bond ensuring adhesion for up to 18 lbs of force. Available in bulk or on ANSI/EIA-481 compatible tape-and-reel from Components Corporation, the TP-107 is formed of spring-tempered phosphor bronze with .0001 minimum matte tin plate over .0001 nickel.

Caplugs has hundreds of connector covers in stock available in a wide variety of sizes, styles, and materials, including static dissipative, conductive, non-sloughing, vinyl, and more. Caplugs has been serving the electronics market for more than 60 years and has designed thousands of custom connector covers. Visit www.caplugs.com.

QA Technology integraMate^® hyperboloid contacts features a novel hyperboloid cage offering low mating force, high cycle life, and superior resistance to shock and vibration.

integraMate^® contacts accept mating pins from .4 mm to 1.5 mm, offer multiple mounting features, and flexibility for customization of terminations including: crimp, PCB tail, and solder cup.

Although through-silicon-vias (TSVs) are in late stage development for 3D integrated circuits (3DICs), design and manufacturing issues remian before the third dimension can bear fruit. Mainly driven by design and manufacturing equipment organizations, the introduction of such TSVs will allow connecting graphics memories to graphics processors in mobile systems.

The future of electronics may soon materialize, spurred by the introduction of a flexible organic transistor memory. South Korean university researchers developed the device's structure to mimic flash memory for scaling and design purposes. The optimized memory device also provides improved reliability and stability compared to past organic electronic devices and supports controllable read/write threshold voltage.

Walking 23 km on a single charge, a Cornell University robot beat previous records for non-stop distance walked by an untethered, legged robot on a single battery charge. Dubbed the Ranger robot, it is powered by a lithium ion battery and runs on six computers using several ARM7 processors, with one ARM9 processor supplying its main brain power. Don't forget to check out the YouTube video showing the Ranger robot in action!

As RF MEMS devices steadily replace discrete components in virtually all conventional communication systems, the first components necessary for the construction of a cell phone-on-a-chip are rolling off fab lines at IBM. Casting an entire cell phone onto a single CMOS chip would offer huge savings in size, cost, and power consumption.

The SHE series of Super High Efficiency transformers are specifically designed to reduce power operational costs. By utilizing optimal quality core and conductor materials, SHE transformers achieve superior ratings which address the overall trend to go "green" with cleaner, more efficient use of power.

36th Taipei Int'l Electronics Show (TAITRONICS) will unfold on October 11-14, 2010 in Taiwan, gathering 1000 exhibitors using 2,000 booths to display electronic components, LED, meters and instruments, manufacturing equipment, wires and cables, and other exciting gadgets! Find your nearest TAITRA branch and inquire about our Buyer's Incentive program!

LED Driver provides constant current up to 1A, suitable for solar power street lamp. Compact DIL 14 and DIL 16 package.

•  Wide input range from 7 Vdc to 30 Vdc
•  Output power up to 24 W; max efficiency up to 95%
•  Operation temperature range : -40° C ~ +85° C

A professional RF/Microwave and coaxial connectors manufacturer, such as SMA/SMB/MCX/MMCX etc. The president, Lance, J.H. Wu, is consecrate in this field and has more than 25 years of experience. Adequate experience supports us when developing new products and customized OEM/ODM products. Interested? Please contact C&C with no doubt!

Submit your speaking proposal for GlobalSpec's upcoming 2011 Electronic Components & Product Design online conference and trade show events scheduled for February 16, 2011 or October 26, 2011. Open to GlobalSpec's 5 million registered users, this is an opportunity for you and your company to be viewed by your target audience, competition, and peers as industry thought leaders. Increase brand awareness. Influence key decision-makers. Learn more or submit your proposal today. Deadline for the October 2011 event is Oct 30, 2010.

Despite the current economic woes, electrical engineers (EEs) are doing better than most with salary percentage increases in double digits. The trend of rising EE salaries is primarily due to the fact that the U.S. is not producing enough graduates to replace retirees. Demand is strong for EEs in defense, aerospace equipment, and medical and consumer electronics. Finding engineers with analog, RF, and wireless skills is becoming increasingly difficult.

Feeling thirsty? Now you can ask your trusty robot to fetch a beer over a Web interface. The quick learning PR2 robot can open the refrigerator, scan the contents, recognize the particular beer you asked for, retrieve it, and deliver it to you. Ask nicely and the robot will even open it.

What is the Future of Electronics? (Video)

Can silicon photonics replace copper interconnects for device-to-device and wide-area networking connections? Can the electronic transistors on either end of the fiber optic connections handle higher data rates? When would you expect the technology to go mainstream?