August 2011 Archives

Market research has shown just how important the market for hybrid electric and pure electric vehicles can be for analogue chip suppliers.

The supply of MEMS (microelectromechanical system) sensors to the automotive sector is set to become a big opportunity for suppliers, according to the new IHS iSuppli Automotive MEMS Market Tracker.

SensDev UG of Germany has appointed Broadband Technology 2000 to market its MEMS pressure sensors in the UK and Ireland.

Business confidence amongst UK manufacturers is holding up, according to a survey by the CBI.

"Manufacturing order books are holding up, and expectations for output growth are above their historical average, although they are less strong than earlier this year,"
said Richard Woolhouse, CBI Head of Fiscal Policy.

LeCroy has signed a distribution agreement with Mouser Electronics.

The tablet market is seen as the major opportunity for chip firms over the next five years or so. 

With wireless packages with operators and new usage models through cloud computing and mobile applications see as the key, market watcher In-Stat forecasts a growth trend which will push tablet shipments toward 250 million units in 2017.

Growing demand from the electric and hybrid automobile market will mean that the market for lithium-ion rechargeable battery technology  will grow by 350% from 2010 to 2020, according to an IHS iSuppli Rechargeable Batteries Special Report. 

The market analyst predicts that global lithium-ion battery revenue will expand to $53.7bn in 2020, up from $11.8bn in 2010.

RS Components has teamed up with design tool firm Accelerated Designs for the introduction of a series of component libraries providing schematic symbols and PCB design footprints for chips from STMicroelectronics and Microchip Technology.

There is an interesting perspective on Google's takeover of Motorola Mobility by Andrew Burke CEO of Amino Technology on his blog.

"Imagine the scene, you are in the Garden of Eden-net, being tempted by an enormous Search Serpent to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil in exchange for great wisdom," writes Burke.

"Do you side with the serpent, become all knowing but be condemned to a lifetime of servitude or stay pure and battle through using only your own knowledge and capabilities?

"Such is the biblical dilemma facing Motorola's customers...."

Andrew Burke's Hardcore IPTV Blog

EBV Elektronik has signed a European franchise for Aptina, a spin-off from Micron, which supplies CMOS imagers.

Europe's semiconductor sales indicator went up 0.3% in June; this followed a decline of 0.2% in May, according to economic research firm e-forecasting.com.

Digi-Key sees energy harvesting as one of its fastest growing product areas and the distributor has added a tech-zone on its website focusing on this area of sustainable energy.

ZigBee wireless technology could be the winner as the introduction of utility smart meters takes-off in the next five years. 

Sales worldwide of smart meters could top $12bn by 2016, according to a market forecast from In-Stat.

2001 Electronic Components has signed the LED driver franchise Lumotech Holland BV.

BMW unveiled on July 29 two electric concept cars, the i3 compact electric car (with optional range extender) and the i8 plug-in hybrid sports coupe.

They will launch in 2013 and 2014, respectively.

Arrow Electronics and Zenaro Lighting have signed a European distribution agreement for the supplier's LED lighting and lighting systems, power supplies and light engines.

Amplicon has signed a distribution agreement with Pico Technology to supply its PC-based and USB oscilloscopes and data loggers.

These are not good times for the solar energy market, but there are signs that pressure is easing and the market may turn a corner later this year.

Despite a very weak start to the year, IMS Research has upped its full year photovoltaic (PV) capacity forecast by more than 1GW.

Shipments of small- and medium-sized display panels (from 1in to 9in) fell for the second straight month in May as demand decreased from mobile phones, according to figures from IHS iSuppli.