Electronics Automation

A new series of power wirewound resistors with high temperature ceramic shells is available with power ratings up to 60W.
Providing design engineers with a high power flameproof resistive device capable of handling overload conditions, TT electronics IRC Wire and Film Technologies Division has developed a series of power wirewound resistors with high temperature ceramic shells, in power ratings up to 60W. Designated the PW and PWR Series, the resistors are available in both axial and radial lead configurations. According to Keith Chipman, Product Manager at IRC's Wire and Film Technologies Division, the PW and PWR Series resistors are specifically designed for power applications and are excellent at handling overloads.

'The resistors feature high-temperature ceramic shells with inorganic fill materials to create a flameproof construction', said Chipman.

'Additionally, the PW Series can be ordered with TCRs as high as +5500ppm/C, making them ideal to protect circuits from thermal runaway or circuits that require temperature compensation'.

Applications for the PW and PWR Series devices include power electronics circuits as inrush, pulse or protection resistors; voltage dividers, bleeders, current limiters, and load banks.

They are specified in power supplies, motor controllers, white goods and automotive applications.

The PW Series resistors, with power ratings from 2 to 25W in axial lead configurations and 20 to 60W in radial terminal configurations, are available in resistance values ranging from 0.10ohm to 30kohm at standard tolerances of +/-10% or +/-5%.

TCRs range from +300 to +5500ppm/C.

The PWR Series resistors are radial leaded (vertical) devices with power ratings from 3 to 10W, and resistance values ranging from 0.10ohm to 18kohm, with standard tolerances of +/-10 or +/-5%.

The PW/PWR Series resistors are constructed using alloy resistance wire wound on glass-fibre substrates, packaged in high temperature ceramic shells with fireproof inorganic encapsulate material.

PC board standoffs are optional on the PW Series devices.

IRC will also produce devices outside these specifications to meet customer requirements.

Typical pricing for the PW Series resistors ranges from $0.15 to $0.20 in quantities of 10,000.

Farnell InOne has announced a new series of seminars at which its RoHS experts will share information about the impending legislation.
Farnell InOne has announced a new series of seminars at which its RoHS experts will share information about the impending legislation. RoHS guru Gary Nevison will be topping the bill at major events such as NEEDS (National Electrical and Electronic Directives show) at the NEC Birmingham on 16th May, where he'll be running an interactive session on the impact of the legislation. Steven Webb, Company Secretary and General Counsel, will also be speaking in the coming weeks on the legal aspects of RoHS.

The 'School of RoHS', Farnell InOne's free seminar programme, will also continue in the lead up to the RoHS deadline following the huge success of last year's events.

The next session will take place at the Winfrith Technology Centre in Dorchester, on 24th May and will include talks on lead free soldering and a tooling exhibition.

Nevison comments: 'These events are just the latest in a long line of presentations Farnell InOne has undertaken this year, including Electronics Yorkshire's Business Means Compliance conference and an AFDEC, RoHS update conference, where we spoke about due diligence in detail'.

'Farnell InOne is completely dedicated to helping design engineers understand every element they need to know about RoHS'.

'Taking our expertise on the road provides the opportunity for us to help people everywhere with specific queries and concerns'.

Providing medical electronics and hybrid design engineers with an ultraminiature resistor chip that delivers precision and stability over time and temperature fluctuations, TT electronics IRC Advanced Film Division has extended the resistance range of its wire bondable chip resistors to 1Mohm while maintaining the TCR at +/-25ppm/C. Designated the WBC Series, the resistors combine IRC's tantalum nitride thin film technology with silicon substrate processing to produce devices just 20mil square. According to Dr Debasis Roy, Director of IRC Advanced Film Division's Thin Film Business Unit, IRC is the only resistor supplier to develop a 1Mohm precision resistor in such a miniature package with TCRs as low as +/-25ppm/C.

'In addition to a variety of hybrid circuit applications, the 1MW resistance value makes the chip resistors suitable for battery-operated implantable applications in medical electronics such as cardiac pacemakers and defibrillators', he said.

'Our proprietary TaNSil process produces an ultrastable self-passivating tantalum nitride resistance element on silicon that provides exceptional stability, power dissipation and precision for these types of applications'.

'The higher resistance range enables the devices to withstand higher surge conditions'.

The wire bondable chip resistors are available in 0202 and 0303 chip sizes, with optional gold backside metallisation available.

The 0303 two-resistor centre-tapped chips can be used in feedback circuits of amplifiers, where ratio matching, high power and close tracking between two resistors is critical.

The WBC Series wire bondable resistor chips feature a power rating of 250mW at 70C, with a rated operating voltage of 100V.

Resistance range is 10ohm to 1Mohm, with absolute tolerances to +/-0.1% and ratio tolerances (0303 chip) to +/-0.05%.

Absolute TCRs are +/-25ppm/C, with tracking TCRs to +/-2ppm/C.

Operating temperature range is -55 to +150C.

As with all IRC products, devices outside these specifications can be produced to meet specific customer requirements.

Flat chip surface mount solid aluminium electrolytic capacitors can replace multiple tantalum chip devices in designs such as power supplies.
NIC Components has introduced a new range of flat chip surface mount solid aluminium electrolytic capacitors. The NPC series provides a highly competitive, space saving, high-performance solution, in a wide range of applications including replacing multiple tantalum chip devices in designs such as power supplies. The NPC series offers low impedance and low ESR at high frequencies, plus high ripple current ratings at 105C.

Parts are available with rated capacitances between 47 and 330uF and working voltages of 2 to 6.3V DC.

The new range features a fused construction for greater safety and is compatible with EIA (7343) 'D' land patterns.

Overall case dimensions are a compact 7.3 x 4.3mm, with case heights ranging between 1.9 to 2.9mm.

The NPC series is fully RoHS compliant, includes gold termination plating and is compatible with Pb-free reflow soldering processes.

A wide operating temperature range of -55 to +105C makes the NPC series suitable for applications in harsh and difficult environments.

Parts are supplied taped and reeled ready for automated assembly processes.

RS continues to support the engineers of tomorrow by taking pole position at the Formula Student Finals.
RS took a leading role in this year's Formula Student finals at Bruntingthorpe, Leicestershire held between the 5th and 8th July. As well as sponsoring three of the most prestigious awards, RS also became a full partner of IMechE, which organises the event, giving RS an important say in steering the future direction of the competition. Several RS regional sales teams also participated in the event by supporting local universities financially and by the donation of components, as well as offering discounts and support from RS' free technical help-line.

These sales teams include the Leeds Trade Counter which supported the University of Leeds' entrant, which this year won the Sprint Time Trial beating off competition from around the world.

Formula Student is a competition designed to promote excellence in engineering by challenging university students to design, build, develop, market and compete as a team with a small single-seat racing car.

The competition has been so successful that 40 universities from the UK and a similar number of universities from the rest of the world are participating in this year's event.

The competition is supported by the motor racing industry as well as universities, with Ross Brawn, Technical Director of the Ferrari Formula 1 team, the Patron of Formula Student.

Renault F1 director Paul Simmons also took an active part in this year's event by welcoming students and providing support to the event.

Both Audi and Ferrari are active participants and sponsor local universities.

RS continued this theme by inviting James Hewer Design Engineer from 888 Engineering, the race management team for Vauxhall's VX racing team who compete in the British Touring Car Championship, to present the prize for endurance to Oxford Brookes University.

Hewer was himself a Formula Student competitor before starting his highly successful career in the industry.

The other winners of RS sponsored prizes were the University of Leeds who won the prize for the sprint event and the University of Patras from Greece who won the prize for overall Class B winner.

'RS are proud to be associated with this event which is important practical experience for the next generation of motor racing engineers', said Graham Johnson, UK Marketing Manager at RS.

He continues, 'The students get the same first class service that all our regular customers receive, free support, guaranteed stock availability, guaranteed compliance to relevant standards and next day delivery available on over 135,000 components'.

James Hewer commented, 'As well as being technically challenging, Formula Student also teaches many skills not offered by universities, for example teamwork and communication'.

'While university offered the academic skills, this event provided the whole range of practical skills required to gain my dream job as an automotive racing designer, and as such I am delighted to be back here with RS to support this year's competition'.

TDK Corporation has announced that production of the MLG0402 chip coils, the industry's smallest multilayer ceramic chip coils, will begin in July 2006.
TDK Corporation has announced that production of the MLG0402 chip coils, the industry's smallest multilayer ceramic chip coils, will begin in July 2006. The inductors, designed for ultra high frequency, represent a major breakthrough in miniaturization with approximately 70% less volume and 55% less mounting area than the 0603-sized coils currently in widespread use. The components also offer an excellent inductance range, up to a maximum of 12 nH.

The size of the new coils will make possible further miniaturization of the module and narrow pitch mounting of numerous devices including cell phones, DECT handsets, high-frequency modules, Bluetooth devices, W-LANs, and digital television tuners.

The components will also allow the addition of new functions to the high-frequency circuit components of various devices in the mobile communications field.

In conjunction with the rapid miniaturization of mobile communications devices such as cell phones as well as the incorporation of multiple functions, there have been strong demands for chip coils to be made more compact.

In response to these calls, TDK has employed its expertise in material and multilayering technologies to develop the industry's first 0402-sized multilayer ceramic high-frequency chip coils.

As well as its compact size, the chip coils offer excellent inductance values, one of the most important characteristics of components used in high-frequency applications.

The MLG0402 series comprises 14 products with inductances from 1.0 nH to 12 nH, allowing set manufacturers to select the ideal coil according to the specific application.

The MLG0402 chip coils measure 0.4 x 0.2 x 0.2 mm (all dimensions +/- 0.02 mm) with tolerance of +/- 0.3 nH and +/- 5%, operating temperature range -55 to +125 deg, and storage temperature range of -55 to +125C.

The components do not include any lead or lead compounds and are suitable for use with lead-free solder, making them RoHS-compliant, completely lead-free products.

Farnell InOne has issued a warning about old part numbers as 1st July RoHS deadline comes into force, alerting design engineers about the dangers of simply assuming components are compliant.
Farnell InOne has issued a warning about old part numbers as 1st July RoHS deadline comes into force, alerting design engineers about the dangers of simply assuming components are compliant. Using brand new part numbers - such as those issued by Farnell InOne for all its RoHS compliant products - will avoid the problem of uncertainty associated with distributors or manufacturers who aren't changing part numbers. The alternative approach of relying on 'flushing through' stock - is one which Farnell InOne's RoHS Guru, Gary Nevison, explains could leave design engineers unsure of whether they are using compliant or noncompliant products.

Nevison says: 'It's extremely dangerous to simply assume products are RoHS compliant'.

'Because of the continuing demand from the MRO community for noncompliant products, it is not safe to take for granted that the same old products you have always used will now simply be RoHS compliant'.

'This is why Farnell InOne has issued new part numbers for RoHS compliant products, ensuring mistakes can't be made anywhere down the supply chain'.

To help engineers in their quest for compliance, Farnell InOne's BoM (bill of materials) upload service now comes with a guaranteed 48 hour turnaround time, with a dedicated BoM response team just two clicks away, ready to take on the task of updating customer product listings with RoHS compliant alternatives.

Ohmite has launched its smallest SMD wirewound resistor yet with the introduction of the 2010 BB package.
Ohmite has launched its smallest SMD wirewound resistor yet with the introduction of the 2010 BB package. Matching price with size to provide an economical solution to board population, they are available in 20 standard values ranging from 0.01 to 100ohm, all at 1% tolerance and rated at 0.60W, 50V. The BB size is a mere 3.42mm in height.

The 2010 size is available up to 1000ohm and 0.50% tolerance on a special order basis.

As with all Ohmite SMD power resistors, the terminals are flexible J-bends, which relieve stress on the solder joints when exposed to shock, vibration, bending, or thermal mismatch.

The resistors are available on a 5000-piece reel or in smaller quantities for prototyping and all have a UL94V0 coating.

Land grid array capacitors achieve the equivalent high-frequency performance of complex eight-terminal interdigitated capacitors in a simple two terminal device.
Thanks to patented design innovations, land grid array (LGA) capacitors from AVX achieve the equivalent high-frequency performance of complex eight-terminal interdigitated capacitors (IDCs) in a simple two terminal device. Using a new fine copper termination construction process and modified internal design, LGA decoupling capacitors reduce internal inductance by 50% compared with capacitors using more traditional reverse geometry or the multiterminal IDC construction design. A two-terminal LGA capacitor using this process can achieve inductances down to 35pH.

This feature is especially important in semiconductor package-level decoupling applications where capacitors are placed on or very close to the processor die.

LGA capacitors reduce inductance by making the current loop of the mounted device as small as possible.

This is achieved by using vertical electrodes which can be terminated very close to the centre of the finished device.

Using land grid array terminations and designing the via connections underneath the device package will also reduce this current.

The pad requirements of the LGA can enable designers to place an 0204 capacitor into a similar PCB board area of a 0201 traditionally terminated MLCC, thereby significantly increasing the capacitance in the circuit.

There are four package versions in the initial product release, LG12 (0204), LG22 (0306), LG32 (0508) and LGC2 (0805).

The LC32 package offers typical inductances down to under 30pH.

At 4V, the LG12 has capacitance values up to 0.10uF, and the LG22 up to 0.47uF.

LGA capacitors come in thicknesses from 0.5 to 1.5mm

Thick-film-on-ceramic resistor-capacitor chip networks replace up to 16 discrete components using just 50% of the PC board space, with no need for diode protection.
Providing design engineers with an R-C network that replaces up to 16 discrete components using just 50% of the PC board space, TT electronics' BI Technologies SMT Division has developed a series of resistor-capacitor chip networks. Designated the RC Series, the thick-film-on-ceramic chip networks are not susceptible to ESD (electrostatic discharge), and do not require diode protection. According to Jim Rieley, Sales Director for BI Technologies' SMT Division, the chip networks provide real estate savings of 50% versus discrete components.

'Many designs can use one RC network instead of 16 discrete components', explained Rieley, 'and this reduced component count saves on PC board space, pick and place costs, as well as inventory and bill of material costs'.

'In addition, reducing the number of solder joints and traces on the PC board improves overall reliability'.

'The RC networks can be placed close to active devices, thus reducing PC board routing problems and minimising inductance of long traces on the circuit boards', Rieley continued.

The R-C chip networks are ideal for a variety of circuits, including line terminations, and EMI, keypad, ECG input, parallel port, serial port, SCART port, keyboard and mouse, and control and data line filters, in laptop and notebook computers, workstations, multimedia applications, automotive electronics, computer peripherals, cellular phones and set top box applications.

The low profile RC Series is also ideal for PCMCIA applications.

The RC Series devices are available as a single chip in 1206 size, as well as in five different circuit configurations in a ten- terminal 2512 array.

Power ratings for the RC Series are 63mW per resistor (250mW packaging rating).

Resistance range for the networks is 20ohm to 1Mohm, with standard tolerance of +/-20% (10% and 5% tolerances also available).

Capacitor dielectric is X7R with a tolerance of +/-20%.

TCRs are +/-200ppm/C (optional TCRs at +/-100ppm/C are also available).

BI Technologies will also produce devices outside these specifications to meet customer requirements, with comprehensive application engineering and design support available for customers worldwide.

Premier Farnell and STMicroelectronics have concluded an agreement allowing Premier Farnell's subsidiaries to actively promote and sell products from STMicroelectronics via the worldwide web.
Premier Farnell and STMicroelectronics have concluded an agreement allowing Premier Farnell's subsidiaries Farnell InOne in Europe and Newark InOne in the USA to actively promote and sell products from STMicroelectronics, leveraging Premier Farnell's regional presence and reach via the worldwide web. Both companies are excited by the opportunity to use Premier Farnell's renowned logistics platform and ease of order placement, with STMicroelectronics desire to promote the broadest semiconductor capability quickly to designers, and other users. A previously extensive and diverse range of products from STMicroelectronics has been significantly expanded and updated to meet their joint objectives of serving the widest customer base and design needs.

Jack Dauber, STMicroelectronics Distribution Vice President Europe, comments: 'We are pleased to conclude this agreement with Premier Farnell, complementing our efforts to give to our global design community the ability to source STMicroelectronics products quickly and easily'.

Marianne Culver, Group Director, Global Supplier Management, Farnell InOne, adds: 'We're looking forward to working even more closely with STMicroelectronics'.

'By optimising our web-based marketing tools as well as catalogue and paper-based direct marketing tools we are able to give the STMicroelectronics portfolio a truly global reach'.

'The current product offering across each region has been designed specifically to serve the needs of customers in each area'.

'Our web based catalogue allows for quick and easy ordering wherever our customers are based'.

'As soon as new products become available they are the first to know with listings updated online'.

Cathy A Whittaker has joined the executive team at Sager Electronics, the electronic distribution industry's leading privately held, employee-owned company.
Cathy A Whittaker has joined the executive team at Sager Electronics, the electronic distribution industry's leading privately held, employee-owned company. As Vice President for Strategic Sales, Whittaker will be responsible for driving growth of the company's key strategic accounts. 'A significant element of Sager's sales strategy is our focus on growing strategic accounts through a combination of products and services'.

'Cathy is exceptionally skilled at delivering both to this targeted customer base', stated Sager President Frank Flynn.

Flynn continued: 'Cathy's experience managing and growing key North American accounts as well as her ability to drive technologically based supply chain solutions makes her a natural fit to lead our strategic account programme'.

In a career spanning over 25 years in the electronics industry, Whittaker is a recognised leader in the areas of sales, marketing and supply chain management.

Prior to joining Sager Electronics, Whittaker most recently held the roles of Vice President Sales, Regional Accounts and Vice President Digital Supply Chain Solutions for Arrow Electronics.

A compact low-power-consumption 32.768kHz HCMOS surface mount oscillator is designed for keeping track of time and date in multiple applications.
Fox Electronics now offers the F254, a compact, low power consumption 32.768kHz HCMOS surface mount oscillator for keeping track of time and date in multiple applications. Because of its small size and low power consumption, Fox's F254 is ideal for devices such as cellphones, digital watches, MP3 players, stereos, car radios and video and digital cameras, where space is limited. It is also designed for use in applications where keeping track of the date and time is essential, such as postal meters and parking garage ticket dispensers.

The RoHS-compliant F254 measures only 2.5 x 4.0mm, with a profile of 0.9mm.

It requires 1.5uA of input current during full operation and 250nA of power during standby operation.

The new oscillator has an operating temperature range of -40 to +85C; a frequency tolerance of +5 +/-20ppm; and a frequency stability of -120 to +10ppm over a temperature range of -20 to +70C.

Supply voltage for Fox's F254 is 3.3V +/-10%, symmetry is 40/60%, and the termination finish is gold.

Output load is 15pF and reflow soldering temperature is 260C for 10 seconds.

Additional information about the F254's rise time, fall time, start-up time, moisture sensitivity level and storage temperature range is also available.

Pricing for an F254 32.768kHz oscillator is $1.37 in quantities of 12,000.

Standard tape size is 3000 pieces.

The latest tuning fork crystal from Fox measures just 3.2 x 1.5 x 0.9mm, making it the smallest miniature watch crystal available.
Available now from Avnet Time, the latest tuning fork crystal from Fox measures just 3.2 x 1.5 x 0.9mm, making it the smallest miniature watch crystal available. The FX135, which is also less expensive than previous models, is ideal for applications where space is critical, such as in portable and handheld devices. With a frequency of 32.768kHz, the new surface mount device (SMD) is optimised for a standard 12.5pF load capacitance (FX135A), with an optional load capacitance of 9pF available (FX135B).

Frequency tolerance is +/-20ppm at 25C and frequency stability is -0.045ppm/C over the standard operating temperature of -40 to +85C.

Fox Electronics has expanded its global sales channel with the addition of several new authorised agents in Europe and Asia.
Fox Electronics has expanded its global sales channel with the addition of several new authorised agents in Europe and Asia. Under the direction of John Choi, Director of Sales and Marketing for Fox Asia Pacific, the company has entered into distribution agreements with Mornsun Electronics Hong Kong, Richwood Electronics and Transcendent Electronics. Mornsun currently has operations in Hong Kong, Qingdao, Shanghai, Shenzhen and Xiamen, China, whereas Richwood operates its headquarters from Hong Kong with offices in Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen, China.

Transcendent is headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan with its sales and logistics operations in Mainland China.

In addition, Fox EMEA's Director of Sales and Marketing, Kevin McCormack, has assisted in adding Fox authorised agents in Europe.

In the UK and Ireland, Fox has entered into an agreement with Spectrum-InFocus of Oxfordshire, England.

Fox has also added Ellis of Sassuolo, Italy, and Jorgensen and Co of Roskilden, Denmark as authorised agents.

Ellis will represent Fox in the Italian market, whereas Jorgensen and Co will have responsibility for distribution in Denmark and Sweden.

EL Fox, President of Fox Electronics, said: 'With the addition of these new partners, we are broadening our sales channels to further support our ongoing, worldwide growth and to provide better service to our customers'.

'This is increasingly important as we plan to announce the international rollout of a new product line shortly'.

'I am most pleased with our new additions and I congratulate our internal staff for facilitating these global efforts'.

Ronetix has announced the availability of the new firmware for its high-speed low-cost JTAG emulator and Flash programmer for ARM7, ARM9 and XScale based microcontrollers.
Ronetix has announced the availability of the new firmware for its high-speed low-cost JTAG emulator and Flash programmer for ARM7, ARM9 and XScale based microcontrollers. The new firmware makes Peedi the first JTAG emulator that supports Flash programming of Atmel SPI DataFlash AT45DB series connected to Atmel ARM9 MCUs. This unique feature enables the easy use of 8-pin AT45DB DataFlash as a boot device.

Peedi can be used in stand-alone mode to program more that 800 Flash devices as well as AT91SAM7, LPC2000, MAC7100, STR7 and TMS470 families.

Peedi supports native Gnu gdb and provides a very high real download speed up to 1Mbyte/s.

The new firmware provides uClinux awareness which enables debugging of both the kernel and applications.

Lyrtech reports rapid growth in the very competitive Chinese market, particularly in its important business of advanced development platforms for DSP applications.
Lyrtech reports rapid growth in the very competitive Chinese market, particularly in its important business of advanced development platforms for DSP applications. The Asian market now accounts for 11% of total company sales (as per the results of the first quarter of 2006) and this ratio is growing. Severalo important contracts involving Lyrtech's line of advanced development solutions have been secured in China since March 2004 involving DoCoMo Beijing Communications Laboratories, Chengdu Electric Technical, the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, and others.

Technical applications where Lyrtech possesses clear competitive advantages include: advanced wireless communication technologies for infrastructure and consumer devices; multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) technology; global positioning system (GPS) technology; radar technology; and advanced audio processing.

'Lyrtech's advanced model-based design solutions for DSP applications, because of their high quality and innovative design, are very compelling to the Chinese engineering community', says Dr Yingcun Ji, General Manager of HiRain Technologies, Lyrtech's distributor in China.

'We have invested technical resources and important marketing efforts in our three regional offices to support Lyrtech's growth in China'.

'We are committed to their success in China and are looking forward to expanding the range of products and services offered by Lyrtech in this market'.

With more than 47% of its revenues already originating outside Canada (as per the results of the first quarter of 2006), Lyrtech is rapidly becoming a major high technology and high-technology solutions exporter worldwide, further bolstering Quebec's high-technology industry position in strategic markets.

Through its continuous innovation and unwavering focus on DSP and embedded electronics design and manufacturing, its core expertise, Lyrtech is well poised to continue growing through the coming years.

The RTG006 is a complete development system that combines FPGA hardware with a programmable PowerPC, making it ideal for embedded processing and serial connectivity.
The latest system in Hunt Engineering's Ready-to-Go range is a Virtex-4 FX system. The RTG006 is a complete system which combines FPGA hardware with a programmable PowerPC, ideal for embedded processing and serial connectivity. The Virtex-4 FPGA offers twice the performance density while requiring less than half the power consumption of previous generation devices.

RTG006 also has 128Mbyte of DDR SDRAM.

VHDL support for connecting the DDR memory to the embedded PowerPC and the VHDL design at the same time is included in the system package.

The system also comes supplied with an example to use as a quick starting point to write and build embedded PowerPC C code.

RTG006 is ideal for users who want to learn about using FPGA and embedded PowerPC but also for more experienced developers who need a low-cost easy-to-use solution to their hardware requirements.

The system can be used stand-alone or connected to a PC via high-speed USB 2.0 and is supplied complete with USB cable, I/O cables, mains power supply unit plus a CD with all documentation, tutorials, software tools and examples for a price of only GBP 1600.