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Product Shopper New Product Info

(1)
FDK CORP
Point of load DC/DC converters deliver up to 10A

eeProductCenter's Ismini Scouras says: "FDK Corp. beefed up its Senpai Series of non-isolated point of load (POL) DC/DC converters with devices that operate from a 2.4V to 5.5V DC input bus."

Readers Say:

"Nice product."
"They are too expensive for what they do."
"Great technical information."
"We use lower power converters at much lower price points."
"These converters sound perfect for small to medium size mobile electronics that require significant amounts of power. I really like the fact that it is rated to industrial temp range with little loss of power."

USABILITY RANK: 1

(2)
ENDICOTT RESEARCH GROUP
Drivers target high-brightness LEDs

eeProductCenter's Gina Roos says: "Endicott Research Group (ERG) has launched its Smart Force family of LED driver solutions for powering high-brightness LEDs (HB LEDs) used in a wide range of LCD backlighting applications."

Readers Say:

"Bright!"

USABILITY RANK: 2

(3)
ADVANCED ANALOGIC TECHNOLOGIES
Boost converter/limiter simplifies the USB connection for single-cell portables

eeProductCenter's Vince Biancomano says: "Advanced Analogic Technologies' AAT1275 power management IC combines a regulated, 5-volt, 500-mA boost converter and a current-limiting load switch to simplify the development of host USB ports in portable systems powered from a single-cell lithium-ion battery."

Readers Say:

"It seems to have some potential in electronics, especially the consumer aspect."

USABILITY RANK: 3

(4)
LINEAR TECHNOLOGY
Cost-effective 3-channel LED ballaster features 3000:1 dimming

eeProductCenter's Vince Biancomano says: "Linear Technology touts its LT3003 as a cost-effective three-string LED ballaster with a current-matching accuracy of 3 percent and 3000:1 dimming capability."

Readers Say:

"Decent price points.."
"I'm most likely to use these in my home. CF lamps can't be used in many places because they aren't dimmable. This looks like the basis of dimmable LED home illumination."

USABILITY RANK: 6

(5)
NEC DISPLAY SOLUTIONS
Solar battery package powers LCD desktop monitors

eeProductCenter's Vince Biancomano says: "NEC Display Solutions says it's the first display company to offer a solar-powered system for all of its flat panel LCD display monitors."

Readers Say:

"Ridiculously large, it would block my entire window, if I had a window."
"Definitely changing the Carbon footprint."
"This is a good start to conserve energy, I feel the price is a bit high. One use for this system: power a DSL modem (on 24/7)and have an auto-switching mode from house power to solar cell, this would be a big cost saving."

USABILITY RANK: 5

(6)
ALLEGRO
Dual full-bridge IC drives two DC motors

eeProductCenter's Vince Biancomano says: "Allegro's A3995 DMOS full-bridge PWM motor driver, for the office automation and industrial markets, provides up to 2.4 amps per output for independently driving two DC motors."

USABILITY RANK: 7

(7)
FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR
MOSFET enables high-frequency switching in VRM power supplies

eeProductCenter's Emily Gleason says: "Fairchild Semiconductor introduced the FDMF8700, the first model in a suite of FET Plus Driver Multi-chip Modules for use in high-current synchronous buck applications supporting Intel's DrMOS Vcore DC-DC converter standard."

USABILITY RANK: 10

(8)
ROHM
H-bridge drivers target DC brush motors

eeProductCenter's Gina Roos says: "A H-bridge driver series from ROHM Co. Ltd. [the BD6221] incorporates a new VREF variable system for high-efficiency operation of brush-commutated motors with low-power consumption and without changing the input voltage level."

Readers Say:

"Design improvements, better reliability & lower costs going to brushless DC motors - curious as to why they target DC motors with brushes?"

USABILITY RANK: 8

(9)
MICREL
Tiny power management IC offers three output voltages

eeProductCenter's Ismini Scouras says: "Micrel Inc.'s MIC2810 is a highly efficient, flexible power management IC that provides three output voltages and a power-on reset in a tiny 3mm x 3mm MLF-16 package."

USABILITY RANK: 9

(10)
PHIHONG
5-watt USB adapter plugs into any power socket

eeProductCenter's Vince Biancomano says: "Phihong's PSB05R 5-watt USB adapter, for peripherals and portable equipment, includes four interchangeable clip adapter plugs for virtually any power outlet around the world."

Readers Say:

"Its about time!"

USABILITY RANK: 4

In case you were wondering, here's how Ultimate Products works: Our editors select up to 10 of the most significant products posted at www.eeProductCenter.com during the calendar quarter. Then, using an electronic balloting process, we submit the products with the accompanying editorial reviews to selected, qualified readers. Those readers score the products by technical significance and
USABILITY on a scale of 1 through 5, with 5 being the highest score. The product ranked No. 1 in each category was judged as most technically significant for that category. Relative
USABILITY rankings and selected reader comments are also reported. More than 1,000 of you helped to choose these products. As always, we are grateful for your enthusiastic participation.

Patrick Mannion
Editor-in-Chief, Techonline Network and eeProductcenter.com
pmannion@cmp.com