Electro-ramblings: October 2010 Archives

Only Connect: Handy Design Tips #4 - Explosion proof Ethernet

Welcome to another post in a new series - Only Connect - by Nick Locke, of Nicab Ltd, who has over 15 years experience in the electronics manufacturing industry specialising in interconnection cable assembly.

If you are a design engineer for a company that produces products that work in hazardous or industrial environments then you will be pleased to hear about some truly exciting products to hit the market.

The eXLink Ethernet and USB explosion proof connectors from Cooper Crouse-Hinds combine the safety of an explosion-protected connector system with the advantages of having a continuous communications infrastructure between the main, control and process levels of production plants.

Continue reading "Only Connect: Handy Design Tips #4 - Explosion proof Ethernet" »

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Posted by Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 4, 2010 11:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Getting to grips with graphene

The award of this year's Nobel Prize for Physics to two University of Manchester researchers has focused attention on graphene technology. See Getting to know graphene

This is the one atom thick mesh of carbon atoms that shows astonishing electron mobility and may be the eventual route to super-fast electronics - particularly as it is more applicable to planar processing than carbon nanotubes.

To put the Nobel Prize award in context, we have rounded up recent graphene-related stories on Electronics Weekly.

Read the full article >>

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graphene

Posted by Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 6, 2010 10:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Electroon #10 - The Refuse Disposal Officers' Ball

Welcome to the tenth instalment of our series - a look at the Electroon cartoons that graced Electronics Weekly for many years, starting with its very first issue back in September 1960.

[click the thumbnail to see the full image]

This one's very prescient. Space debris, of electronics detritus, must be a thousand times worse by now.

This one is from issue number ten, dated 9 November 1960.

Previous Electroons:

Continue reading "Electroon #10 - The Refuse Disposal Officers' Ball" »

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Electroon

Posted by Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 7, 2010 10:53 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Only Connect: Red toxic sludge points the way (Going Green #3)

Welcome to another post in the series Only Connect. It is written by Nick Locke, of Nicab Ltd, who has over 15 years experience in the electronics manufacturing industry specialising in interconnection cable assembly.

We will have all seen in the news recently the devastating effects of the leak of toxic sludge in Hungary and it occurred to me that this is a very relevant example of why we need to do more to be green.

While we in the UK have some quite strict controls over waste and environmental policy the same is not the case of our manufacturing partners around the word.

Now at this point many of you will be saying to yourselves "that's one of the reasons why we are so much more expensive" because you have the additional costs of trying to be green.

Continue reading "Only Connect: Red toxic sludge points the way (Going Green #3)" »

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Posted by Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 11, 2010 10:18 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Passive-agressive Wi-Fi networks

This one caught my eye over the weekend - communication via wireless networks. No, not 802.11.x, but the network name itself...

The example shown by Technabob is an advert for a house party, visible to neighbours, who can consider themselves invited...

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wireless

Posted by Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 11, 2010 12:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Cortex-M4 Processor and Development tools, at Embedded Live

An important part of Embedded Live is the ARM Connected Community programme.

ARM has added some sponsored sessions that complement the already announced sessions from Freescale and NXP.

Take note, for example, of "Cortex-M4 Processor and Development tools", run by Shyam Sadasivan, Product Manager, and Mark Onions, Director of Marketing, ARM.

Details of the 60-minute seminar (Wednesday 20th October 12.30pm - 1.30pm):

Cortex-M processor-based devices have are becoming the standard choice in the embedded market. The new ARM Cortex-M4 expands this performance to include DSP functionality. This presentation introduces the key features of Cortex-M4 and how they can be used and optimized in real software applications.

Photos: Windows Phone 7 smartphones

There's a new Photo Gallery on the site, and it covers the latest smartphones.

This week Microsoft has unveiled Windows Phone 7, but will it be enough to challenge Apple's high-end dominance, or go up against Android?

Redmond has marshalled a number of initial Windows Phone 7 smartphones: HTC 7 Surround, HTC 7 Mozart, HTC 7 Trophy, HTC 7 Pro, HTC HD7, Samsung Focus, LG Optimus and the Dell Venue Pro. We take a look at the range.

View the latest gallery >>

View all Electronics Weekly Photo Galleries >>

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Posted by Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 14, 2010 1:53 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Only Connect: A Top Ten of connector manufacturers

Welcome to another post in the series Only Connect. It is written by Nick Locke, of Nicab Ltd, who has over 15 years experience in the electronics manufacturing industry specialising in interconnection cable assembly.

Suppliers that had the biggest UK Market share and offer the widest products range and availability backed up with innovation and customer service:

1          Tyco

2          Molex

3          Amphenol

Continue reading "Only Connect: A Top Ten of connector manufacturers" »

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Posted by Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 19, 2010 11:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Embedded Live in pictures - Part I

Here are some pictures from the show today, to give a flavour of the event.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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Embedded Live

Posted by Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 20, 2010 4:25 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Embedded Live Video: Humanoid shark tales

I love this one. Check out this tale of swimming with sharks, from the salty sea dog that is the Embedded Live humanoid! Aka the 'RoboThespian', which is made by Engineered Arts

I just missed filming its "To be, or not to be..." speech, but this makes up for it.

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Posted by Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 20, 2010 4:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Embedded Live in pictures - Part II

Some more pictures from the show today at Earls Court, London.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

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Embedded Live

Posted by Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 20, 2010 5:02 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Embedded Live video: MSC Embedded Technologies overview

Ralf Kapahnke, BizDev Manager of Embedded Computer Technologies, for MSC, gives an overview of the company's embedded technologies, including support for the ARM platform as well as x86 systems, such as Intel's Menlow...

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Posted by Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 20, 2010 6:17 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Embedded Live video: Agilent Technologies overview

Thanks to the team on the Agilent stand at Embedded Live, giving an overview of Agilent's 1000 and 5000 series scopes and Logic Analyzer.

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Agilent

Posted by Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 21, 2010 11:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Embedded Live video: Mouser overview

Another quick video from the show floor. Thanks to Graham Maggs, Mouser's Supplier Marketing Director for Europe, who presents the case for Mouser's way of distribution.

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Posted by Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 21, 2010 11:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Only Connect: A positive mindset for winning government contracts

Welcome to another post in the series Only Connect. It is written by Nick Locke, of Nicab Ltd, who has over 15 years of experience in the electronics manufacturing industry specialising in interconnection cable assembly.

Last week's government spending review was a stark reminder of how deep our financial woes are, and that the days of easy government contracts are over.

Well I'm going to challenge the limiting belief that many people are thinking right now, "there is no work out there" or "MOD contracts will dry up".

Let us look at the hard facts. Even though the government is cutting back there are still many contacts up for the taking. With a MOD £31 billion budget there are still penalty of contracts up for grabs. What's more, there is a significant opportunity for many SMEs to do business with the government.

Continue reading "Only Connect: A positive mindset for winning government contracts" »

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Posted by Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 25, 2010 10:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Photos: CEATEC - Japanese gadget technology

Covering the latest Japanese gadget technology, there's a new photo gallery on the site - Photos: CEATEC - Japanese gadget technology

Following the recent show, check out details of cutting edge electronics from the likes of Tyco, Panasonic, and Fujitsu, including 3D peripheral vision for car drivers, augmented reality glasses, smart energy gateways and e-book readers.

There's even a video of some "social" robot teddy bears (!).

View the latest gallery >>

View all Electronics Weekly Photo Galleries >>

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Posted by Alun Williams - Electronics Weekly.com on October 27, 2010 10:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Electro-ramblings

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October 2010 Archives

October 1, 2010

Top 10 most popular articles on ElectronicsWeekly.com

October 4, 2010

Only Connect: Handy Design Tips #4 - Explosion proof Ethernet

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October 6, 2010

Getting to grips with graphene

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October 7, 2010

Electroon #10 - The Refuse Disposal Officers' Ball

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October 8, 2010

Top 10 most popular articles on ElectronicsWeekly.com

October 11, 2010

Only Connect: Red toxic sludge points the way (Going Green #3)

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Passive-agressive Wi-Fi networks

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October 13, 2010

Cortex-M4 Processor and Development tools, at Embedded Live

October 15, 2010

Top 10 most popular articles on ElectronicsWeekly.com

October 14, 2010

Photos: Windows Phone 7 smartphones

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October 19, 2010

Only Connect: A Top Ten of connector manufacturers

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October 20, 2010

Embedded Live in pictures - Part I

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Embedded Live Video: Humanoid shark tales

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Embedded Live in pictures - Part II

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Embedded Live video: MSC Embedded Technologies overview

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October 21, 2010

Embedded Live video: Agilent Technologies overview

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Embedded Live video: Mouser overview

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October 22, 2010

Top 10 most popular articles on ElectronicsWeekly.com

October 25, 2010

Only Connect: A positive mindset for winning government contracts

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October 27, 2010

Photos: CEATEC - Japanese gadget technology

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October 29, 2010

Top 10 most popular articles on ElectronicsWeekly.com

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