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October 2009 Archives

October 5, 2009

Electronics Weekly Photo Galleries goes live

quantasol test solar cell.jpgEnigma detail.jpgair computer - xnor gate - detail.jpgcern icon-velo-2008-001.gifIt's been something we have wanted to do for a while, but our picture gallery system is finally ready.

Taking a visual angle on stories or interesting subjects, the galleries complement our more traditional text-based articles.

View the full index of Photo Stories

Currently, we have five stories loaded:

* Photos: QuantaSol's record-breaking solar cell

* Photos: Electron-free microprocessor runs on air

Continue reading "Electronics Weekly Photo Galleries goes live" »

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Posted by Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 5, 2009 8:28 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

October 6, 2009

Q5 Interview - David Bell, Intersil

DBell-10-08.JPGThe latest Q5 interview is now online, with the CEO of Intersil.

David Bell talks to Electronics Weekly about the analogue business, energy efficiency, reference designs, disruptive technologies, ambient lighting and proximity sensing...

The five questions this week are:

1. Can you describe a key architecture development, which is having an impact on the analogue business?

2. How is the global trend towards greater energy efficiency affecting the semiconductor business in general?

Continue reading "Q5 Interview - David Bell, Intersil" »

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Posted by Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 6, 2009 10:31 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

October 7, 2009

New York opens municipal data for mobile apps

NYC the sky line.jpg
One for the Digital Life category - New York City is opening up its municipal data for mobile and Web apps, and running a competition to encourage take up.

"Contestants will have access to more than 170 data sets supplied by over 30 city agencies, including weekly traffic updates, schedules of citywide events, property sales, restaurant inspections and mappable data around school and voting districts," reports the New York Times.

Continue reading "New York opens municipal data for mobile apps" »

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Posted by Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 7, 2009 11:03 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

October 9, 2009

Weird & Wireless: Why don't wireless transmissions go on forever?

saturn.jpgWelcome again to the wonderful but sometimes weird world of wireless comms, written by Joel Young, CTO of Digi International

If there's nothing in the way, why don't wireless transmissions appear to go on forever?

For those of you that are already experts in physics and engineering, you will most likely find this blog a bit elementary for you.

Nonetheless, I'm writing it because I routinely get asked questions similar to this one on a daily basis. Many see a bit of contradiction. For example, the stars in the sky are clearly very far away and millions of light-years and the visible and non-visible radiation still seems to make it all the way to us on earth, yet it seems that some radios die out quickly even when there aren't any obstacles in the path.

So the short answer is that all of these waves, unless they run into something and get absorbed or scattered will theoretically go on forever at the speed of light.

Continue reading "Weird & Wireless: Why don't wireless transmissions go on forever?" »

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Posted by Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 9, 2009 11:24 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

October 12, 2009

Digital Life: SD cards go Wi-Fi

Eye-fi wireless sd card jpg.jpgI'm going to post to the Digital Life category more often - there is so much to flag and share.

Take this one I saw at the weekend: Wi-Fi enabled SDHC cards.

This one pulled me up short. I didn't quite get the point, but they are for sharing photos from your digital camera.

The company behind the wireless memory cards, Eye-Fi, declares they "make saving and sharing memories effortless by allowing users to wirelessly upload photos and videos to their computer and the web".

Continue reading "Digital Life: SD cards go Wi-Fi" »

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Posted by Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 12, 2009 10:57 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Photos: Intel IDF Fall 2009 Technologies

IDF 2009 Fall - Light Peak Detail small.jpgCheck out the latest addition to our new Photo Gallery Index: Intel IDF Fall 2009 Technologies

It covers key technologies highlighted at the recent IDF in San Francisco: 22nm chips, Core i7, Light Peak, Tangent Bay...

It is a retrospective, obviously, as the event happened a fortnight ago now, but it is an interesting one for the record. Unfortunately we didn't have the gallery-system ready in time, but nevermind.

See Photos: Intel IDF Fall 2009 Technologies

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Posted by Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 12, 2009 12:20 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

October 13, 2009

What Was The Best Logic Series?

There's a new poll on Mannerisms, make sure you have your say and vote!

David Manners, our Components Editor, writes:
What is the best logic series ever produced? In terms of technological advance, in terms of money-earning capacity, in terms of its effect on end-product design and in terms of its effect on the evolution of semiconductor logic. So what do you think was the best series of logic ICs ever made?


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Posted by Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 13, 2009 11:29 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Digital Life: The buzz about Harvard's robotic bees

robo bee illustration.jpgAnother one for the Digital Life category. This one caught my yesterday evening - Harvard researchers receiving a $10 million grant to create a swarm of flying robotic bees, inevitably dubbed RoboBees.

Thanks to Network World, which reports that the initiative is intended to lead to tiny smart sensors, low-power breakthroughs, better understanding of the bee world.

It writes: 

Continue reading "Digital Life: The buzz about Harvard's robotic bees" »

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Posted by Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 13, 2009 11:00 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

October 14, 2009

Photo Story - ZigBee networks track people

3 - An individual radio 168 x 128.jpgJust to flag a site-update - another Photo Story has been added to our index. They are already proving popular, and the latest addition features the work of the College of Engineering, The University of Utah.

It centres around a project involving a network of ZigBee transceivers used to track the movement of people. As the text for the first photo states:

Continue reading "Photo Story - ZigBee networks track people" »

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Posted by Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 14, 2009 1:19 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Digital Life: Energy-saving Thermeleon roof tiles

Thermeleon tiles.jpgIt was Harvard yesterday - with RoboBees - and today's entry involves MIT.

Saw this one on Engadget, and it describes energy-saving roof panels that change colour depending on the ambient temperature.

The technology is dubbed Thermeleon and when the temperature is cold the tiles will be black to better absorb heat, and when the temperature is high they will be white, to better reflect the light and save on cooling costs.

Continue reading "Digital Life: Energy-saving Thermeleon roof tiles" »

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Posted by Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 14, 2009 1:06 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

October 29, 2009

Vote for Product Innovation of the Year - Elektras 2009

elektra 09 promo close up.jpgLike the article says - Vote for your choice of Product Innovation of the Year, the readers' choice award in the Elektras.

For the 2009 Elektras, there is just one award category - sponsored by Avnet - that is open to public vote. So, out of the five contenders, who do you believe would be the most deserving winner?

Continue reading "Vote for Product Innovation of the Year - Elektras 2009" »

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Posted by Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 29, 2009 9:01 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

October 15, 2009

An Engineer in Wonderland - Jewel of an engine

 

An Engineer in Wonderland has a new home. You can find this particular entry here. If you wish to leave a comment, please do that on the new blog.

 

 

smallest inline engine.jpgSent in by a reader, there is a marvelous internal combustion engine to be seen over on TechEBlog.

http://www.techeblog.com/index.php/tech-gadget/mechanic-builds-smallest-inline-4-engine-ever

Claimed to be the smallest in-line four yet, it sounds delightful.

'Alice'

Respond below, or to alice@electronicsweekly.

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Posted by Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 15, 2009 4:21 PM | | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

October 16, 2009

Weird & Wireless: Signals getting weaker in free space

Mars orbiter.jpgWelcome again to the wonderful but sometimes weird world of wireless comms, written by Joel Young, CTO of Digi International

I get the inverse square law, but how does frequency factor into the mix when it comes to a signal getting weaker in free space?

In a previous blog we discussed the impact of the inverse square law on an isotropic transmitter. As such we came up with the observed power per unit area was related to the inverse-square of the distance from the transmitter, commensurate with the surface area of a sphere, or 1 / 4πr2, where r is the distance.

The problem here is that we are told that lower frequency (or longer wavelength) signals "go farther" in free space than higher frequency (or shorter wavelength) signals. This inverse square law says nothing about wavelength or frequency.

So what gives?

Continue reading "Weird & Wireless: Signals getting weaker in free space" »

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Posted by Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 16, 2009 11:35 AM | | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Photo Story - Oscilloscopes - Objects of desire

LeCroy WaveSurfer 104Xs-A x 100.JPG
Just to flag another site-update - a new Photo Story has been added to our index. The latest addition features a quick roundup - in no particular order - of the lastest eye-catching oscilloscopes that would grace any lab!

Check out these models: the Agilent 9000, the LeCroy WaveSurfer 104Xs-A, the National Instruments USB 5132, the PicoScope 5000, the Tektronix 70000 and the Yokogawa DLM6000.

Continue reading "Photo Story - Oscilloscopes - Objects of desire" »

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Posted by Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 16, 2009 2:29 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

October 19, 2009

Photo Story: Magnetic monopole flow measured

EMU instrument at ISIS x 168.jpg
Just to flag a site-update - another Photo Story has been added to our index. The latest addition features the work of the London Centre for Nanotechnology (LCN) and the Science and Technology Facility Council's, ISIS Neutron and Muon Source at the Rutherford Appleton Laboratory in Oxfordshire.

Take a look at the place and the machines and people involved in measuring the magnetic monopole flow. As we reported last week, UK scientists have directly measured magnetic charge moving in a solid, and proved that the movement exactly parallels the flow of electric charge in ionic solutions.

Continue reading "Photo Story: Magnetic monopole flow measured" »

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Posted by Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 19, 2009 1:49 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

October 20, 2009

An Engineer in Wonderland - Neat tiny scope

 

An Engineer in Wonderland has a new home. You can find this particular entry here. If you wish to leave a comment, please do that on the new blog.

 

 

Sometimes it is hard to get control of that I want, I want, I want feeling.

And I had such a struggle when the CEO of drum-less drum kit company MidiSticks pointed me at this gorgeous miniature digital scope - for about £50.

Scope3.jpg

Continue reading "An Engineer in Wonderland - Neat tiny scope" »

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Posted by Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 20, 2009 3:36 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

October 21, 2009

Weird & Wireless: RF "Line of Sight"

RF Line of Sight.jpgWelcome again to the wonderful but sometimes weird world of wireless comms, written by Joel Young, CTO of Digi International

What does "Line of Sight" really mean in the RF world?

When discussing wireless solutions, invariably the first question asked is something like, "What kind of range will I get?" or "How far away can the radios be placed?"

Rather than give the proverbial "It depends" answer, I've noticed that those of us talking about wireless solutions tend to give the theoretical maximum distance followed by the phrase "line of sight."

Continue reading "Weird & Wireless: RF "Line of Sight"" »

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Posted by Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 21, 2009 8:10 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

October 23, 2009

Digital Life: Intel processes humour

A bit of fun for a Friday, courtesy of Intel, no less. Check out a couple of humorous videos, taken from a from a series.

First up, Our Jokes Aren't Like Your Jokes



Continue reading "Digital Life: Intel processes humour" »

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Posted by Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 23, 2009 9:05 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Photo Story - Electronic waste in Ghana

ewaste in Ghana
Just to flag another site-update - a new Photo Story has been added to our index. The latest addition, courtesy of Greenpeace, is a pictorial look at the impact of dumped electronic waste in the Third World (Ghana, in this case).

The first slide reads: "Do you know what happens to your old telly once it conks out and you chuck it away? Well, it can get dumped onto developing countries in Asia and Africa as 'second hand goods' where unprotected workers (often kids) dismantle computers and TVs in search of metals that can be sold."

Continue reading "Photo Story - Electronic waste in Ghana" »

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Posted by Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 23, 2009 4:42 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

October 26, 2009

The shifting sands of the semiconductor industry

The shifting sands of the semiconductor industry
Don't miss the latest opinion piece from Warren Savage, on the semiconductor industry in general, and EDA and IP in particular - Warren Savage On: The Shifting Sands of Semiconductor

He considers how the downside to Moore's Law - "it is increasingly difficult to put to use all those new transistors that are given to us every 18 months" - is forcing different parts of the industry to refine their goals.

He begins:

Continue reading "The shifting sands of the semiconductor industry" »

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Posted by Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 26, 2009 11:35 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

October 27, 2009

Q5 Interview - Richard Barry, Wittenstein

Richard Barry WittensteinHIS.jpg
The latest Q5 interview is now online, with the head of innovation at Wittenstein High Integrity Systems.

Richard Barry, creator of FreeRTOS.org, talks to Electronics Weekly about important trends in the embedded market, the challenges faced by developers, and the industries creating the most innovative designs...

The five questions this week are:

1. Describe in two sentences what Wittenstein HIS does in the UK market.

2. What important trends do you see happening within the embedded market?

Continue reading "Q5 Interview - Richard Barry, Wittenstein" »

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Posted by Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 27, 2009 9:57 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

October 28, 2009

Photo Story - The EFM32G MCU

2 EFM32_GeckoDevKit 100.jpg
A new Photo Story has been added to our index - a more detailed look at the recently announced Energy Micro MCUs, the EFM32G family.

The company claims the ARM Cortex M3-based EFM32G range are the most energy efficient MPUs available.

Take a detailed look in our photo story

In 'run mode', current consumption is under 180µA/MHz while executing real code from flash; stand-by consumption is typically 900nA with real-time clock, power-on reset, and brown-out detector running, and RAM data and CPU state retained; and in deepest sleep, quiescent is less than 20nA, states CEO Geir Forre.

Continue reading "Photo Story - The EFM32G MCU" »

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Posted by Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 28, 2009 10:48 AM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Digital Life: NASA releasing an iPhone App

NASA iPhone app.jpgWith the Ares 1-X rocket launch currently the centre of our attention, this item also caught my eye, for the Digital Life category: NASA releasing an iPhone App.

Thanks to Coated.com for this one. It writes:
NASA has recently released an Apple iPhone App to let all its fans stay in touch with anything and everything related to NASA and its missions. Just look for the "NASA app for the iPhone" in the App Store, and you'll instantly have NASA countdown clocks, images of the day, online videos, Twitter feeds, and other out-of-this-world goodies right at your fingertips.

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Posted by Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 28, 2009 3:57 PM | | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

October 30, 2009

Weird & Wireless: What happens when an RF hits an obstacle?

Welcome again to the wonderful but sometimes weird world of wireless comms, written by Joel Young, CTO of Digi International.

Let's get beyond line of sight. What's the definition of an obstacle and what happens when an RF hits one?

In previous blogs we discussed the concept of free space loss as it relates to spherical expansion from an isotropic transmitter, a.k.a. an inverse square law. We also covered the frequency dependency of propagation in free space as defined by the aperture of an isotropic receiver.

Most recently, we introduced a piece of wisdom from Augustin Fresnel which provides the basis for what is commonly referred to as "line of sight." Unfortunately all of these concepts present us with a set of rather big problems, because they are all based on "IDEAL" situations.

Continue reading "Weird & Wireless: What happens when an RF hits an obstacle?" »

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Posted by Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 30, 2009 10:25 AM | | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Digital Life: The Karmic Koala and Ubuntu 9.10 Linux

ubuntu-910-music-videos.jpg
We've heard a lot about Windows 7, but yesterday saw the arrival of Ubuntu 9.10, the latest version of Canonical's popular desktop Linux.

As an Ubuntu user myself, I am happy to use Digital Life to flag the new arrival.

What's in the new version? According to the press release:

Continue reading "Digital Life: The Karmic Koala and Ubuntu 9.10 Linux" »

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Posted by Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 30, 2009 12:43 PM | | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

About October 2009

This page contains all entries posted to Electro-ramblings in October 2009. They are listed from oldest to newest.

September 2009 is the previous archive.

November 2009 is the next archive.

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