» If there is one product category that showcases technology advances each issue, this is it.
This time around, optical technologies for display and sensing are asserting themselves. But also, there are new things happening in
capacitor and resistive technologies.
(1) LUMILEDS Flash LEDs tout small size and brightness eeProductCenter's Gina Roos says: "Offering the light output required by high-resolution CMOS camera modules, the new Luxeon Flash LXCL-PWF1 delivers 40 lumens at 1 ampere (A), and the LXCL-PWF2 LED provides 80 lumens at 1 A, which is about 12 times brighter than conventional LEDs that produce approximately 6 to 7 lumens. " Readers say: » "Allows the user to get close to the die, enabling the use of custom optics for highest performance"
» "A concept that will help turn cell phones into real digital cameras. Also like the idea of turning the mobile phone into a light source."
» "Hmmm, if these come in arrays..."
» "A spectacular device, BUT, I find the 168 hours of life to be almost worthless, unless you expect your device to have a lifespan of only 2 years. If you were to use these with a dog leash light and you took a 20 minute walk daily, it would fail before the end of the 2nd year. For flash life, I think it is great, but for use as a flashlight the lifespan needs a factor of 10 increase. Otherwise, sign me up! Also, could they manufacture a standard T1-3/4 sized device with much longer life? "
» "Still need more pure color saturation to be truly effective for pro photography use."
» "I like the multiple uses for these LEDs"
» "80 lumens with such a small profile/footprint is encouraging for the entire solid state lighting industry."
USABILITY RANK: 1
(2) SHARP MICROELECTRONICS Tiny display optimized for video on handheld devices eeProductCenter's Gina Roos says: "Sharp has developed a new 2.2-inch QCIF+ Advanced-TFT LCD (AD-TFT LCD) module that is capable of displaying full-motion video and images on a standard cell-phone size display. " Readers say: » "Don't like the resolution, although power is low, with LED backlight. Good project starter for wearable computing."
» "300mW is the key attribute here. Very valuable power range."
» "Sounds fairly interesting and will likely advance mobile phones to the next level."
» "The reference design kit sounds very complete and would make possible the prototyping of a wide range of devices."
» "Need to integrate touchscreen functions for new ADA and industry motion standards coming out next year."
» "Is it big enough?"
» "I will be interested in future end-user products that are developed and how the display quality might utilized for my companies applications."
» "Like to know production volume pricing"
USABILITY RANK: 2
(3) AGILENT TECHNOLOGIES Digital optocouplers boast breakthrough features eeProductCenter's Gina Roos says: "Designed for a variety of consumer, computing, communications and industrial applications, Agilent Technologies Inc. bolsters its isolation products portfolio with the introduction of the industry's first line of 3.3-volt (V), 15 Mbaud, multi-channel and bi-directional digital optocouplers. " Readers say: » "Would recommend"
» "Seems to be a great breakthrough. It is always better when you can use one item for more than one purpose."
» "If only I had these on a project two years ago..."
» "I like the wide voltage range for operation."
» "The future, but pricey."
» "I think the optocoupler will be useful in many optical applications in the near future."
USABILITY RANK: 4
(4) AVX Smallest tantalum chip cap fits portable devices eeProductCenter's Gina Roos says: "The 0402 TACMicrochip series offers the highest volumetric efficiency currently available, delivering up to 10 microfarads (ìF) in an 0402 case size. " Readers say: » "Would recomend"
» "Often driven to smallest value in smallest component available."
» "Useful for compact designing of circuitry where land space is critical. Tantalums are always known to be larger in size for their efficiency."
» "Difficult to procure and no standard library model available for schematic instantian"
USABILITY RANK: 3
(5) LINEAR TECHNOLOGY Resistor-set silicon oscillator generates clock signals up to 170 MHz eeProductCenter's Gina Roos says: "Linear Technology's new silicon oscillator,the LTC6905 resistor-set oscillator, can generate clock signals from 17 MHz to 170 MHz using the SOT-23 device and one resistor. The output frequency is determined by the resistor, allowing generation of any frequency value over the entire range. " Readers say: » "I would like to know if this device is sonet compliant"
USABILITY RANK: 5
(6) ON SEMICONDUCTOR ON Semiconductor delivers industry's first 250-V silicon Schottky eeProductCenter's Gina Roos says: "Driving the Schottky voltage barrier above 200 volts (V), ON Semiconductor has set a new milestone with the introduction of the industry's first 250-V silicon Schottky rectifier for plasma/LCD television, power supply, consumer and automotive applications." Readers say: » "TI had a process for 480V Schottky diodes integrated with Bipolar and MOS, in the same IC, in 1979."
USABILITY RANK: 8
(7) MICRO OSCILLATOR All-silicon clock oscillator touts performance, integration benefits eeProductCenter's Gina Roos says: "Based on standard CMOS IC technology, this new device may be the first all-silicon oscillator to offer a frequency in the kHz range. But the key benefit of the technology may be its ability to be integrated into other silicon ICs" Readers say: » "32.768kHz crystals DO NOT cost .40 each as referenced. The cost is UNDER .06 each for through hole, and in the .18-.28 range, depending on volume, for SMT 32.768kHz crystals. This negates the claim that this device will save in production costs....INTEGRATION should be the main focus of this article......the COST references are very misleading and incorrect."
» ".01% is not 00 ppm!"
» "Need to bring technology to watch market. Can this be combined into existing LED's?"
USABILITY RANK: 6
(8) STACKPOLE ELECTRONICS Stackpole adapts new technology process to resistor divider networks eeProductCenter's Gina Roos says: "Stackpole Electronics says its new HVD series of leaded high-voltage resistor divider networks, based on its proprietary fine film deposition process, are superior to any thickfilm resistor network technology that exists today, and touts several advantages over thin-film technology." Readers say: » "This deposition method will surely be used in more circuit construction applications as the process improves."
» "The high voltage divider is very precise."
» "We have been looking for something between thin and thick film processes for several years now for controlling MEMS. We need good precision at an 'ok' price."
USABILITY RANK: 7
(9) CALIFORNIA MICRO DEVICES EMI filter arrays with ESD protection tailored for LCD and camera interfaces eeProductCenter's Gina Roos says: "The CM1406, a four-channel EMI filter with ESD protection in a small form factor 8-lead TDFN package, is suitable for LCD and camera interfaces in clamshell wireless handsets. The CM1407, with 50% lower capacitance than the CM1406, supports higher resolution displays and imagers. " Readers say: » "Curious enough to look more into the specs."
» "Good for small market, needs to provide larger spike ESD protection."
» "Very niche. Thick film competitor products will dominate the market."
USABILITY RANK: 9
(10) VISHAY Z-based Bulk Metal foil tech boosts resistor performance eeProductCenter's Gina Roos says: "The VSMP1206 high-precision, surface-mount, Bulk Metal Z-foil resistor is the industry's first such device to combine a high power rating of 300 mW, load life stability of 0.01%, and a low nominal temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR) of ±0.5 ppm/°C in an industry-standard, surface-mount package.
" Readers say: USABILITY RANK: 10
