BNP Media, Troy, Mich., has launched Clear Seas Research, a separate entity designed to deliver superior business-to-business market research. Clear Seas Research competes in multiple business-to-business industries, and distinguishes itself from other research companies with its captive audience, industry expertise and clear insight providing strong research results. With custom and syndicated research, intended for the same companies that compete in BNP Media’s industries, Clear Seas Research’s products help customers succeed in business and improve their financial results.

“Clear Seas Research forms a more solid foundation for us to provide our customers with superior solutions and insight. Our extensive experience and knowledge in our industries together with our highly sought after circulation files make us a natural fit for advanced market research capabilities,” said Mitch Henderson, Co-CEO of BNP Media.   Read more ...

Movie Studio Approves Download Technology (1/08)

Hollywood studios have approved a new technology and licensing arrangement that should remove a major obstacle consumers now face with burning movies they buy digitally over the Internet onto a DVD that will play everywhere.

Sonic Solutions Inc. has introduced the Qflix system for adding a standard digital lock to DVDs burned in a computer or a retail kiosk.

The lock, known as "content scrambling system," or CSS, is backed by the studios, TV networks and other content creators and comes standard on prerecorded DVDs today. All DVD players come equipped with a key that fits the lock and allows for playback. Read more ...

Safety Experts Ill-Equipped
to Handle Nanotech at Work (1/02)

A strategic plan and more resources for risk research are needed now in order to ensure safe nano-workplaces today and in the future. That is the conclusion of Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies Chief Science Advisor Andrew Maynard in the article, "Nanotechnology and Safety" appearing in Cleanroom Technology magazine’s December 2006/January 2007 issue.

Last year, nanotechnology was incorporated into $30 billion in manufactured goods -- a number predicted to grow to $2.6 trillion in annual manufactured goods by 2014. Already, there are almost 400 manufacturer-identified nanotechnology-based consumer products on the market -- ranging from computer chips to automobile parts and from clothing to cosmetics and dietary supplements. By 2015, the National Science Foundation estimates that the nanotechnology sector will employ more than 2 million workers. But little is known about potential risks in many areas of nanotechnology -- including worker exposures. Funding for risk-focused research is a small fraction of what is being spent on nanotechnology commercial applications. Read more ...

Motor Controller Technology Improves Efficiency
in A/C Systems (1/02)

Raser Technologies, Provo, Utah, an energy technology company that develops and licenses advanced electric motor, controller and related technologies, announced performance test results of its Symetron FlexMod controller technology designed for reducing costs and improving efficiencies in a wide variety of variable speed industrial applications including heating ventilation and air conditioning systems (HVAC). The testing was part of a study conducted by Advanced Energy on behalf of the Department of Energy and the State Technology Advancement Cooperative (STAC).

Record high temperatures in the summer of 2006 triggered massive blackouts in New York, St. Louis and many other cities. One solution sought by the Department of Energy is improving the efficiency of HVAC systems that use electric motors. Read more ...

DOE Denies Separate Washer Standard for California (1/02)

ZILOG

The Z8 Encore MC (FMC16100 Series) is an 8-bit MCU that offers vector control capabilit y, an innovation that significantly lowers the bill of materials (BOM) costs for appliance manufacturers, and reduces both energy consumption and water usage in appliances such as dishwashers and washing machines. The vector control required by advanced appliances enables precise, highly responsive speed control during changes in the load and optimizes motor efficiency during transitional operations. The unit combines a fast CPU (up to 10 MIPS), fast Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) and integrated op-amp, and optimized C Compiler, all of which can provide the equivalent of DSP functionality in vector control, but in a cost-effective 8-bit MCU package.

STMicroelectronics

The super-integrated STR750F family, general-purpose ARM7 Flash 32-bit microcontrollers support full-spec operation at both 3.3V and 5V. The new family delivers 54 MIPS (at 60MHz) performance while providing low power modes making it ideal for battery-operated applications. New features include a backup clock that starts operating if the main clock fails; a fast startup capability that allows the device to begin executing code in only 55µs; an Automatic Wake Up (AWU) capability and three 16-bit timers and a PWM timer that includes 3-phase motor control features. The enhanced security make the new devices particularly suitable for alarm system control panels, motor control, data loggers, modem, printers/scanners, vending machines, and other embedded applications.

   JANUARY 2007 ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS

SHIELDING & EMI/RFI

Shocking Notion

Wintertime is prime time for electrostatic discharge (ESD) activity, at least in the Northern states of the U.S. Colder temperatures mean lower humidity, resulting in an increased number of ESD ev ents. These incidents are especially troublesome to modern electronics, causing functional upset and damage. There are a number of problems associated with ESD, but, fortunately, also some solutions.

ESD as an EMI Problem. Before exploring specifics, it’s important to note that, since even small amounts of ESD can damage modern electronic components, most electronics manufacturers have extensive ESD programs in place. These include ionizers, conductive materials (floors, tables, etc.) and wrist straps. The goal in manufacturing is to prevent even a single discharge. Read more ... 

SHIELDING & EMI/RFI

Interference Insights

A large percentage of electronic products fail to meet their target EMC requirements the first time they are tested. There are a number of possible reasons for that failure rate, but also things de signers and manufacturers can do to improve the success rate and, therefore, time to market.

During the last several years, Intertek has observed that initial EMC test failure rates for electronic products have decreased gradually. Improved success may be the result of growing awareness of EMC design considerations, use of EMC software, reduced circuit dimensions, or all of these factors. Nevertheless, Intertek continues to see EMC test failure rates around 50 percent. Read more ...

MOTORS

Medical Motion

When designing a medical pump that is meant to administer the correct dose of medication to a body at the right time, precision, reliability and repeatability top the list of musts. If it’s a stepping motor application, the motor rotates the exact number of steps. It must make the lead screw drive the syringes in exactly the right amount. And, it must do it every time at the right time and at the right amount.

Whether designing a medical pump, medical imager or other product, motor choices vary. In some applications, a single criterion such as torque, speed, power efficiency, long life, or cost may supersede the others. In others, competing factors may require different capabilities to be used in conjunction. In this world of highly specialized, critical equipment, the unique needs of application determines the appropriate motor. Read more ...

ELECTRONICS

Remote Monitoring

On their weekend off, a group of coworkers went to a gaming arcade to unwind. They w ere prepared to feed cash into a kiosk that dispensed gaming credits. Unfortunately, the machine refused to take their money. It was broken and did not have an “out-of-order” sign posted on it.

As a result, after some frustrating time wasted attempting to interface with the faulty machine, the group waited in line at an alternative kiosk that was dispensing gaming credits. Fed up with the wait, some of them left the arcade without spending a single credit. The machine down time translated into a small, but genuine, loss of revenue to the gaming organization. Multiplying that one experience by all the inoperative, revenue-generating machines everywhere, adds up to a significant chunk of lost revenue.  Read more ...