Microwave ovens should be equipped with safety controls to prevent children from opening them and being burned by hot foods and drinks, according to a study published today by University of Chicago Medical Center researchers in the October 2008 issue of the Journal Pediatrics.Read more...
To showcase the demand for advanced technologies for the boomer market, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA)® has planned its first annual Silvers Summit Exhibition and Conference to be held at the 2009 International CES®.
"Senior consumers are a booming market segment looking for the latest technologies and innovations that add value to their lives," said Karen Chupka, senior vice president, events and conferences, CEA. "We are thrilled to welcome the Silvers Summit to the 2009 International CES, and look forward to the dynamic conference sessions and exhibits focused on this important consumer group." Read more...
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Thermal Engineering Report: Dissipating Heat in Electronics
Based on hundreds of on-site visits and interviews, this report delves into the common mistakes companies designing consumer and commercial electronics have made and offers recommendations to help your company unlock the power CAE.
ASHRAE is currently accepting public input on more than 35 proposed addenda to standards as well as a proposal to withdraw Standard 52.1.
Addendum to various standards, including 15 (refrigerate safety), 34 (classification of refrigerants), 55 (thermal comfort), 90.1 (energy efficiency), 62.1 (ventilation), 62.2 (residential ventilation), and 135 (BACnet) are open for review, as are seven standards and one guideline. Compete information can be found at www.ashrae.org/publicreviews.Read more...
GE Consumer & Industrial will collaborate with Louisville Gas and Electric Company to help consumers manage their utility bills by enabling them to avoid peak hour energy usage. The program provides the next step in home energy savings for consumers while helping utility companies better manage the demand for energy during peak energy usage times.
''Now that ENERGY STAR® appliances are recognized by 75% of American consumers, the next step is to reshape when energy is being used,'' said Kevin Nolan, Vice President Technology for GE Consumer & Industrial. ''Peak hour energy demand is growing faster than total energy demand. It is imperative that we begin to shift some of the energy load from peak hours to other parts of the day - - helping to avoid the need to build new power plants to meet the demand,'' he explained. Read more...
Bosch, Kenmore Elite, LG, Samsung and Whirlpool Gold rank highest in satisfying customers with major kitchen appliances in their respective segments, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2008 Kitchen Appliances Study.
The study measures customer satisfaction in five segments of kitchen appliances: dishwashers; free-standing ranges; built-in cooktops and wall ovens; freezer-on-top style refrigerators; and side-by-side and French door style refrigerators. Read more...
Home and commercial building owners who install geothermal heating and cooling systems are now eligible for federal tax incentives under the Energy Improvement and Extension Act of 2008, passed by Congress Oct. 3 as part of the economic recovery package.
The Energy Improvement and Extension Act offers a one-time tax credit of 30 percent of the total investment for residential ground loop or ground water geothermal heat pump installations, with a maximum credit of $2,000 for a single residence. The legislation also provides a credit of 10 percent of the total investment, with no maximum credit, for commercial system installations. Read more...
Lennox Industries unveiled SunSource, the industry's first integrated solar-assisted residential heating & cooling system, at the Association of Energy Services Professionals (AESP) 4th Technology Symposium in Long Beach, CA. The system will be available to the public in 2009.
As photovoltaic solar panels become more affordable, solar power becomes a more viable solution to reducing peak residential energy consumption, reducing energy bills and demand on a capacity-constrained energy grid. Solar power provides an alternative resource during the hours when air conditioning drives energy demand higher and peak energy relief is needed most. Using a patent-pending technology developed specifically for use in residential applications, the Lennox SunSource can help reduce peak demand, increase energy efficiency, and maintain homeowner comfort. Learn more...
OCTOBER 2008 ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS
For a comprehensive look at the Octoberissue, click.
In the early days of rapid prototyping, product developers were ecstatic to have quickly produced parts that accurately indicated form and fit. But as compressed development cycles have placed more demands upon design engineers, they in turn demand more from their prototypes. They want RP parts that exhibit greater functionality, more durability, higher accuracy, and improved appearance. The key to meeting those demands is continued innovation in the realm of RP materials, and the companies that create such products have stepped up to the plate and delivered. In the past few years, the industry has witnessed an expanded range of RP materials that bring product designers ever closer to
their ideal - making rapid prototypes that look and perform as well as production parts.Read more ...
Most motors are made of metal and they use permanent magnets, electromagnets, or a combination of both to induce motion. While these magnetic motors are perfectly suitable for the vast number of potential applications there are some applications, particularly in the medical industry, that require motors that are not made of ferrous materials and that do not use magnets. For further information...
The appliance industry has long relied on surface treatment chemistries such as zinc phosphate and electro-coating technologies to properly clean, conversion coat, and paint metal substrates. These surface treatments create and sustain a lasting quality finish and help prevent corrosion to enhance the aesthetics of finished goods and the working life of inner components. Read more...
Since October 2007, all new household appliances have to comply with the IEC60335 norm, which is intended to prevent any dangerous malfunction in case of a fault condition. The 4th edition of the standard has garnered attention from designers of electronic controls for home appliances, and more specifically software developers for such controls, with the introduction of software inspection and the notion of software classes. Depending on the class (A/B/C), a list of MCU components (such as CPU registers or memories) have to be tested at power on and monitored during run-time, similar to what is done in industrial or medical segments for safety critical applications, those
evaluated according to SIL2/SIL3 levels, IEC61508, or UL1998 standards. Want to learn more?
The Series FRM 024 is a medical approved 12W-24W global use switching adaptor that meets CEC Regulations, Efficiency Level IV, and has UL/CSA/CE approvals. It features slide-on, interchangeable, external AC plugs for USA/EU/UK/Australia use, overload/short circuit protection, a universal charger with optional output connectors, and can be wall mounted or used on a desk top. It comes in 8 models, ranging from 90-264 VAC@ 50-60Hz, 0.9-2.5A, 3V-27V, Single Output.Read more.
The B6TS application-ready touch sensing IC family now includes 8-channel and 16-channel LF versions. The ICs measure floating capacitance through most insulating touch panel materials, and are suited for use in applications that must be able to withstand long life, cleaning, and be easily operated by personnel wearing thin polymer surgical or food service gloves. The series integrates detecting and processing functions into a single-chip micro controller that can be quickly programmed. The Workbench model B6TW is an intuitive tool enabling design-to-function verification and can be operated by designers with a basic knowledge of digital circuitry for functions
such as parameter setting, operation monitoring, and capacitance calculation. Find out more.
The LF-G power relay with 1.5mm contact gap is ideal for inverter applications in photovoltaic power generation systems and UPS (Uninterruptible Power Systems). Features include 2.5kV surge breakdown voltage between contacts (EN61810-1 certified) and compliance with European photovoltaic standard VDE0126. The LF-G offers 1 Form A contact arrangement with a high capacity rating of 22A, 250 VAC and low-coil holding voltage with a 280mW equivalent power consumption.
Want to learn more?
The Series 660/680 WOB-L® Piston pumps incorporate a package of features to provide clean air-flow, long life, excellent efficiency, low noise and low vibration. These pumps are suited to a variety of medical and environmental applications, including oxygen concentrators, blood analyzers, dental carts and ozone generators.
Read more.
The Superwool Plus is a high temperature, biosoluble insulation material that retains the advantage of exoneration from any carcinogen classification enjoyed by the company's standard Superwool 607 insulation. It offers up to 30 percent superior insulating value over conventional high temperature insulation, significantly less contaminating particles called "shot," and a higher classification temperature of 2,012 DegF.
Read more.
The variable speed refrigeration compressors utilize a 24 V sensorless brushless DC motor and are designed for use with refrigerant HFC-134a, although other refrigerants are also acceptable. The rotary compressor weighs less than 1.5 lbs., is 2.2 in. in diameter, and 3-in. high. It produces over 300W (1,000 Btu/hr) of cooling at 130 DegF condensing and 45 DegF evaporating temperatures. Its size, weight, and durability makes the compressors useful for air conditioning units, water chillers, and commercial refrigeration systems. Want to learn more?
The new 32-bit TMS320F280xx microcontrollers (MCU), which start at less than $2 in volume, feature architectural advancements and enhanced peripherals in package sizes starting at 38-pins. Real-time control implements advanced algorithms, fast interrupt response times and minimal latency for greater system efficiency and precision. Developed under the name of Piccolo, the F280xx series of MCUs is a programmable, floating-point control law accelerator (CLA) designed to offload complex high speed control algorithms from the main C28x™ CPU. Read more...
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