EEbeat

As far as I’m concerned, soldering is never a joy, no matter how rewarding the end product promises to be. And dealing with through-hole leaded components that are closely spaced together makes the process even more fun. (I hope the sarcasm’s coming through.)

But, a new product called SchmartSolder from prototyping PCB supplier SchmartBoard makes this process really simple. SchmartSolder is basically a pre-made solder loop that fit over component leads.

The designer places the SchmartSolder over the lead and flush to the circuit board, and then gives it a hit of heat from the soldering iron. The solder quickly melts and flows into the hole, producing a neatly soldered component with no cold solder joints or other flaws.  A video showing the use of the product is viewable at http://www.schmartboard.com/index.asp?page=resources_howto.

The suggested retail price on SchmartSolder is $5 for 50 pieces and the product is available on SchmartBoard’s website and through SchmartBoard’s distributors.

The Beijing Olympic Games is finally here and I can’t wait to see how many metals Michael Phelps will win this time around.  I am also looking forwarding to seeing the opening ceremony tomorrow on my neighbors 40’ HD TV set.  But behind this glamorous event that will take place tomorrow in China, there is a lot of technology being used. 

Being an editor that covers electronic technology, I wanted to cover some important products and technologies that will make this event happen.

Power Modules

Infineon Technologies (www.infineon.com) announced that one of its automotive power modules is being used to power energy-saving and environmentally-friendly cars that will be used at the Beijing Olympic Games. Infineon’s HybridPACK1 module will operate in a total of 20 “Jiexun” hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) of the Chinese car manufacturer Chang An, one of the leading Chinese car manufacturers. At the Olympic Games, the Chang An HEVs are applied as taxi for both athletes and public. They are mild hybrid cars with an integrated starter generator that generates energy when braking (“regenerative braking”) and provides additional power for driveaway or overtaking.

By using HybridPACK1 power module applied, Chang An Jiexun HEV cars can speed up to 160 km/h while reducing 20% of petrol consumption compared to those with combustion engine. With this power module, Infineon succeeded to improve HEV electronic control systems in many ways. Infineon reduced the size of HEV electronic control systems by one third to only 20 x 30 cm as well as their weight to approximately 15 kilos. By using up to 30% less semiconductor area to achieve the required power rating, Infineon reduces the cost and complexity of HEV inverter system designs and at the same time improves their energy efficiency by up to 20% compared to existing systems. That means that in comparison to today’s solutions, Infineon HybridPACK1 reduces electrical power losses by one fifth enabling simpler cooling systems. The saved energy can be used for driveaway and takeover.

http://www.infineon.com/cms/en/corporate/press/news/releases/2008/INFAIM200807-077.html

LEDs, Displays

Panasonic (http://panasonic.net/olympic/) is supporting the Olympic Games in the areas of image and sound since it took on sponsorship of the Olympic Games. Two 153 m² ASTROVISION large-screen displays will be featured in the Beijing National Stadium.  One 52m² ASTROVISION and one 28m² ASTROVISION has been installed inside the Beijing National Aquatics Center. In addition a 120.5m² ASTROVISION with horizontal rotation capacity of 270 degrees (makes it possible to send information to both inside and outside) is installed in the Workers’ Stadium, see image:

 

Cree, a leader in LED solid-state lighting components, had announced a while back that its XLamp LEDs will provide the effects lighting for the new Beijing National Aquatics Centre. The Aquatics Centre, commonly known as the Water Cube, will be the home for nearly all of the 2008 Summer Olympics aquatic events.

The Water Cube integrates the geometry of water bubbles into a rectangular, plastic structure. Cree LEDs will illuminate the bubble designs from inside the structure’s translucent walls, allowing the entire building to glow with extraordinary color-changing LED light. For more information, read link http://www.cree.com/press/press_detail.asp?i=1193317731202

OSRAM Opto Semiconductors and Tong Fang joined hands to illuminate the elegant dragon-shaped water fountains in Beijing’s Olympic Park with OSRAM Golden DRAGON LEDs. 

 

 

Tong Fang Co. Ltd. installed its dragon-shaped water fountains, located along the northeast side of the Bird’s Nest and the Water Cube in the Olympic Park, in July of this year. The fountains were outfitted with OSRAM Golden DRAGON with lens and enhanced Thinfilm LED components, providing the “Dragon” with its characteristic golden glow.

 

RFID products

RFID technology by ASK-TongFang, a joint venture between ASK SA(France) and Tsinghua Tongfang, will be used in Olympic e-tickets and Olympic foods in addition to applications of identification systems. It is predicted that the application of RFID in the Olympic Games will become one of the most important impetuses in the large-scale applications in China. (http://www.askthtf.com/en/index.html)

Altera Corporation (www.altera.com) also announced today that Shenzhen Huayu Communications Technology Company Limited has selected MAX^®IIZ CPLDs for use in its new P1200 portable handsets they will be used for ID identification, logistics, and public transportation services for the Beijing Summer Games. Chosen for their ability to quickly and securely implement new features and capabilities while consuming minimal power and board space, Altera’s MAX IIZ CPLDs manage several peripherals in the P1200 handsets, including a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) reader, an Infrared Data Association (IRDA) sensor, a Bluetooth interface, and LED control. The P1200 handsets made their debut during the Hangzhou public transportation system’s bicycle project in May 2008.http://www.altera.com/corporate/news_room/releases/products/nr-max_iiz_huayu.html

Safety

National Instruments (www.ni.com) announced that the China Earthquake Administration (CEA), a leading governmental body managing the country’s earthquake preparedness and disaster mitigation, selected a structural health monitoring (SHM) solution developed by National Instruments Alliance Partner CGM Engineering, Inc., based on the NI LabVIEW graphical system design platform and NI CompactRIO programmable automation controllers.

As shown above structural health monitoring systems monitor the Beijing National Stadium, the main venue for the 2008 Summer Olympics for stability, reliability, and livability. http://digital.ni.com/worldwide/bwcontent.nsf/web/all/60C75CA7E0DF8FBC86257489007A8F90

Multimedia

Linear Acoustic (www.linearacoustic.com) has been selected to provide its UPMAX:neo upmixers featuring DTS technology to NBC during the network’s coverage of the Beijing Olympics.  NBC Olympics is offering all of its Beijing Olympic Games programming in HD with 5.1 sound. When content can’t be broadcast live and is recorded or edited through a system without enough channels for 5.1 sound, the UPMAX:neo will provide the upmixing capability critical to maintaining the 5.1 sound field. http://www.linearacoustic.com/pdf/UPMAX_NBC_Beijing.pdf

Broadcom and Coship Electronics have collaborated in order to deliver the first commercial high definition set-top box solution..  The will provide advanced HD viewing, full 1080p support, improved picture quality, PVR functionality, interactive services (such as video-on-demand and pay-per-view) and a completely new video and audio experience, all in anticipation of the high profile 2008 Beijing Olympics.

The new Broadcom multi-format, high definition set-top box SoC solution, with digital video recording (DVR) capabilities, enables manufacturers to build next generation cable, satellite and IPTV HD set-top boxes that support the Chinese set-top box market. Coship, the leading STB solution provider in China, is currently developing next generation set-top boxes (model numbers N8603 and N8606) that use Broadcom’s new high definition STB SoC solution, and will provide Chinese consumers with unprecedented HD viewing, the latest interactive features and a wide range of video compression standards. The Coship N8603 will also include networked PVR functionality. These advanced capabilities and services will allow the Chinese viewing audience to have more control and flexibility when watching their favorite television shows and for upcoming sporting events during the Summer Olympic Games in August. http://www.broadcom.com/press/release.php?id=1120879

 Qpixel Technology (www.qpixeltech.com), an innovator in video compression silicon and software solutions, recently introduced the Q.replay reference design, a new platform to enable low cost, stand-alone devices for instant replay of live television, just in time for the China Olympics.

By enabling instant replay capability on any television, this new reference design from Qpixel could bring a great deal of excitement to watching this year’s summer sporting events in Beijing. Most cable and satellite receiver boxes and TVs deployed in the market lack replay functionality. Qpixel’s new TV accessory reference design brings this functionality to any STB (set top box) or TV set with composite video interface, without the need for external memory or a costly hard drive. Plus users of this device will have the option of adding a SD flash memory card, which would allow them to permanently store their favorite video clips.

Let the Games begin!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It seems that just about every device coming out these days has GPS, but this one is really cool. The Trackstick II from Trackstick (Burbank, CA) continuously records its own position and can later be download via USB. So, if you go on a trip and get lost (I call it taking the scenic route), you can actually see the exact route you took with Google Earth, Microsoft Live, and other online mapping programs.

Recorded data includes date, time, location, speed, heading, altitude, and the exact length and location of any stops. One of really neat capabilities is the ability to “geotag” images, whereby location data is embedded into photos to show the exact spot that your pictures were taken.  Trackstick II is also compatible with Flickr, Myspace, and other online communities that accept geotagged images.

The device runs on two AAA batteries which can power the device for up to a week.  Visit http://www.trackstick.com/ for more information.

PCB designers and engineers will do battle for the honor being named top designer during the annual PCB Top Gun Hall of Fame contest, a two-day event held in conjunction with the PCB West show. Over the two days, participants are put through a number of stringent tests, including a 100-question multiple-choice exam, personal interviews, and actual board design.

Top scorers will be inducted into the PCB Top Gun Hall of Fame during a breakfast on Wednesday morning, Sept. 17, where they will be awarded a plaque and a coveted Top Gun-style, Avirex leather flight jacket. All contest participants will receive a free three-day technical conference pass for the 17th annual PCB West.

“Top Gun is a great chance to share your skills and talents with peers who understand and respect the challenges that PCB layout offers,” said Randy Holt, the 2008 Top Gun inductee and a senior PCB designer with Optimum Design Associates (Pleasanton, CA.) ”We often lack recognition or gratification for the many difficult layout challenges we overcome, but this contest will not let these great feats go unnoticed! This is an opportunity to see if your PCB layout skills measure up to the expectations of today’s high-speed layout techniques and to find out if you really have what it takes to be a Top Gun PCB elitist.”

When: September 14 – 15, 2008
Where: Santa Clara Marriott, Santa Clara, CA

Entry forms must be submitted by Wednesday, Aug. 20. To complete an entry form or for additional information, visit http://www.pcbwest.com/topgun.

 

Conventional wisdom has it that increasing levels of integration bring benefits in terms of reduced cost, size and increased reliability.  This has certainly been the case in the area of CMOS integration where the advances in technology have enabled complete system-on-chip devices to be created which would have historically required multiple chips.  This integration is based on reductions in transistor size enabling higher levels of functionality to be combined whilst at the same time reducing die size – a true virtuous circle.

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