Keithley Seminar Discusses Solar-Cell Measurement

Keithley Instruments will broadcast a free web-based seminar titled ‘Photovoltaic Measurements: Testing the Electrical Properties of Today’s Solar Cells’ on 10 December at 15:00 CET. During the 45min seminar, Keithley’s Chris Armstrong will give an overview of the electrical measurements of photovoltaic development, from basic research to early production. He will be exploring the physical measurements made, as well as the theory and cell properties that can be inferred from the results.

The webinar is aimed at researchers, engineers and materials scientists who are developing solar/photovoltaic applications and need a better understanding of solar-cell test methods. It will encompass capacitance-voltage characterisation and current-voltage characterisation, including DC and pulse techniques, as well as common measurements of a cell’s efficiency. Attendants will have the opportunity to question the presenter during an interactive QandA session.

Malvern Analysis System Characterises Glass Beads

Mo-Sci is using the Morphologi G3 image analysis system from Malvern Instruments to characterise glass beads used in blood-typing cards. Ted Day, Mo-Sci president, said: ‘The novel dry-powder dispersion system integrated into Malvern’s Morphologi G3 reduces the particle-to-particle contact numbers to within manageable levels, prior to any measurements being made.

‘Because sample preparation is almost automatic, this system offers enormous advantage by reducing sample-preparation times and increasing measurement repeatability. All Mo-Sci projects require the characterisation of material compositions by size, shape and general morphology. Day added: ‘During the development of the unique glass beads used in blood typing cards, it could take three operators four days to look at the beads in a single card.

‘We make a very large number of beads each day and need to regularly measure a statistically relevant number of samples. ‘The Morphologi G3 can accurately measure all the beads on a card in around 15min and that includes setting up the sample. ‘The measurements themselves take only a few minutes and produce enormous amounts of information.

Analysers Ideal For Online Food Waste Monitoring

Metrohm has announced that it is able to provide a range of analysers for monitoring cations and anions, as well as COD, BOD and TOC analysers. All instruments can be provided in stainless-steel cabinets, making them suitable for use within the process area as well as in waste-treatment plants.

Results can be sent to a PCS system via 4-20mA outputs, giving immediate control and negating the waiting time for results from laboratories.

Easic Enhances Etools Software

Easic Corporation has announced the immediate availability of its Etools 8.0 software suite for implementing 45nm Nextreme-2 designs. The Etools 8.0 tool suite delivers a robust ASIC-grade design flow with the simplicity, ease of design and a cost point that is normally associated with FPGA design tools. By focusing on ease of use and low cost of entry, Easic is now enabling designers to make a seamless transition to adopting Nextreme-2 devices as a lower cost and lower power alternative to FPGAs and a lower NRE alternative to traditional ASICs.

The Etools 8.0 software suite includes a number of new capabilities that simplify the transition path for designers looking to adopt the advantages of Nextreme-2 devices. These include a user-friendly GUI-based design environment (Design Navigator); IP wizards that facilitate easier integration of IP blocks; a tool that enables power estimation based on the RTL; and a floor planning tool for making optimal macro placements. Designers have the option of performing synthesis using Magma Talus RTL or Synopsys DC tools.

Unlike traditional standard cell ASIC flows, the Etools 8.0 flow enables designers to focus their efforts on achieving their desired functionality and timing and not on arduous complex deep submicron ASIC tasks such as power mesh design, signal integrity, test insertion, DFM (design for manufacture) and clock insertion. As a result, designers are able to rapidly progress from their initial RTL to a netlist-level handoff to Easic. Nextreme-2’s single-via-based configuration technology enables Easic engineers to tape out and deliver prototypes in six to eight weeks.

Tyco Expands Polyswitch Device Range

Tyco Electronics has announced the addition of an industry-standard 0603 device to its line of surface-mount Polyswitch devices. The FemtoSMDC016F device consumes less than half the board space of prior-generation devices and helps protect sensitive electronics from damage caused by over-current and over-temperature events. The device’s fast time to trip and resettable functionality can help manufacturers reduce warranty costs and improve reliability of portable electronics such as: mobile phones, MP3 players, PDAs, digital cameras, portable computers, Flash drives, USB thumb drives, LCDs and computer peripherals.

The Polyswitch FemtoSMDC016F device provides a smaller footprint than other surface-mount devices – measuring 1.6mm x 0.8mm x 0.5mm. This offers flexibility in space-constrained applications. Rated at 9V, the device provides a hold current of 0.16A, a maximum fault current rating of 40A and a maximum resistance of 4.2ohm. The FemtoSMDC device’s low power dissipation and fast time to trip (0.10s at +25C and 1A) make it a logical solution for high-density board designs. The FemtoSMDC016F device is terminated with nickel-tin finish and is compatible with high-volume assembly processes. The EIA-compliant device is halogen free, RoHS compliant and UL and CSA certified. Production quantities are now available in tape and reel packages.

Watlow has brought out the Profibus DP (Decentralized Peripherals) with EZ-Zone PM and EZ-Zone RM integrated temperature controllers. Profibus is a standard for fieldbus communication in automation technology. Watlow’s Profibus DP offering with EZ-Zone PM and EZ-Zone RM integrated controllers simplifies plant design, eliminates hard wiring and requires less hardware, leading to faster commissioning and lower costs.

It supports better diagnostics, speeding up commissioning and helping achieve better productivity and higher product quality through the delivery of better and more timely data to operations and management staff. Watlow’s EZ-Zone Profibus DP features status LED and data rates up to 12Mbps. Features that differentiate Watlow’s offering from other industry products are cyclic read/writes up to 135 data points (244 bytes) as well as acyclic read/write capabilities.

Also included is a generic station description (GSD) file editor for creating customised data-exchange packets, support for both DP-Version 0 and DP-Version 1 functionalities, 16 or 32bit formatting and independent temperature units in Celsius or Fahrenheit.

Kistler has developed a range of low-pressure sensors for foam injection-moulding, where the cavity pressure can be as low as 40 bar, a tenth of the pressure when moulding solid materials. Using Highsens technology, the low-pressure sensors are four times more sensitive than standard pressure sensors, making them ideal for cavity-pressure monitoring when moulding foam materials.

They are available in three diameters, 2.5, four and 6mm, each providing reliable resolution of the pressure profile down to 40 bar. All types are compatible with existing wiring and electronic equipment.

3Dconnexion has announced its range of 3D mice, including the Spacepilot Pro flagship 3D mouse, is now supported by Dassault Systemes’ Catia Version 6 2010 virtual design solution. 3Dconnexion’s 3D mice help engineers working in Catia V6R2010 to more efficiently interact with and collaborate on designs. In addition to the increased control and navigation benefits inherent in 3Dconnexion 3D mice, the Spacepilot Pro 3D mouse also complements the collaborative engineering and improved efficiency focus of Catia V6R2010, with features designed to help engineers save time and reduce interruptions in their design workflows.

Its Quickview Navigation keys offer designers easy access to 32 standard views, allowing Catia users and workgroups to instantly view a design from any angle for improved error detection and design review and verification, while its full-colour LCD Workflow Assistant lists function-key assignments and delivers at-a-glance access to important information. For added productivity, 3Dconnexion’s 3D mice and new Spacepilot Pro are also pre-configured with the most commonly used commands for Catia.

Design engineers also have the flexibility to further customise the programmable buttons to suit their personal workflow needs using Catia’s built-in button-mapping editor. In addition, 3Dconnexion’s 3D mice allow engineers to navigate and control their designs more naturally and intuitively when working with the new direct modelling and visualisation enhancements featured in Dassault Systemes’ V6R2010. With less time spent toggling views and commands within Catia, users are left with more time for the creative elements of a design.

Dassault Systemes has announced that HydroChina Chengdu Engineering has implemented its PLM solutions for investigation, design and collaborative management of hydropower plants. CHIDI has been able to leverage Dassault’s 3D capabilities to provide more lifelike insights into online modelling and designs. The company decided to implement a PLM solution to improve its design quality and overall project management proficiency.

The CATIA solution has ensured precise communication and accurate information exchange across multiple functions and sites. In order to drive greater collaboration with suppliers as well as strategic procurement and project management, CHIDI has also deployed Dassault’s ENOVIA collaborative business process platform. In addition, CHIDI is using 3DVIA Composer to produce 3D documentation for publications, ensuring effective communication with proprietors and construction units.

CMOS Switch Operates With Hi-Speed USB

Toshiba Electronics Europe (TEE) has introduced a miniature, low-power CMOS switch IC for use in USB 2.0 (Hi-Speed USB) applications. The TC7USB221 is a USB 2.0 dual single pole double throw (SPDT) bus switch with low ON resistance and low pin capacitance, making it suitable for Hi-Speed USB operation with data rates up to 480Mbps. A typical application for the IC would be a multiplexer/demultiplexer function between two USB controllers. The switch operates within a voltage range of 2.3V and 3.6V, has a typical ON resistance of 6.5ohm and a low typical switch on capacitance of 7pF.

This results in a typical 3dB bandwidth of 720MHz and 820MHz for the TSSOP and WLCSP package, respectively. A maximum quiescent current of 2uA (at 3.6V) helps designers to reduce system power consumption. Switching between different ports is achieved via a select pin, while an output enable (OE) pin can be used to isolate a USB controller and devices. Designed to minimise board space, the TC7USB221 is available in two package options.

The miniature WCSP10 package measures 1.6mm x 1.2mm x 0.67mm, while the TSSOP14 alternative has dimensions of 4.4mm x 5.4mm x 1.2mm. OE and I/O pins are equipped with power-down protection. In addition, every pin is equipped with ESD protection according to machine model and human body model of at least 200V and 2,000V, respectively.