The battery has the inherent problem of not being able to communicate with the user. Neither weight, colour, nor size provides an indication of the battery's state-of-charge and state-of-health. The user is at the mercy of the battery

The trend to produce printed circuit boards (PCBs) using surface mounting technology (SMT) is becoming increasingly prevalent. One requirement for this technology is the provision of the majority of components built in a suitable way

ETA's 1410 is a single pole press-to-reset thermal circuit breaker with fast overload switching performance (R-type TO CBE to EN 60934). It is available with a single hole threadneck, PCB or integral mounting with a choice of designs. Its miniaturised construction minimises PCB real estate.

BOC's fibre optics solutions group has patented a helium recovery system capable of capturing and recycling more than 85% of the helium used in optical fibre production

By creating superconducting nanowires using carbon nanotube molecules, researchers at the University of Illinois are investigating just how small a wire can become and remain a superconductor

HAL - the thinking, talking computer that ran the spaceship in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey - was a brilliant concept but it now pales into insignificance compared to what is just around the computational corner

Electrical energy from non-rechargeable (primary) batteries is very expensive, and many organisations are switching to rechargeable (secondary) batteries. This article examines the advantages, limitations and economics of primary and secondary batteries

In the active-matrix liquid-crystal displays (AMLCDs)now typically found in laptop computers and an increasing number of monitors, each pixel is driven by an amorphous-silicon transistor that is fabricated directly onto the glass

There are probably hundreds of variations of capacitance sensors in use today, as any quick patent or literature search will quickly reveal

There's probably not a service engineer on the planet that wouldn't agree that intermittent electrical faults are the most difficult to trace. Although these may seem like random disasters, invariably they have a sound physical cause

"Smaller means faster and more efficient" is the maxim of the electronics industry as it strives towards the greater miniaturisation. Conventional fabrication methods are reaching their limits, with the production of components around 100 nm in size

In today's dynamic telecoms environment the equipment loads on a DC power system and battery may be regularly increased through its life

Following tests, an electronic fare-management system is set to revolutionise public transport. With the EasyRide program, a special chipcard is all you need to travel from one end of the line to another

Business needs to adopt a more holistic approach to security instead of relying on quick-fix patches to combat network attacks according to Top Layer Networks, Australia and New Zealand manager, David Britt. While patches may be an time saving necessity, they do not solve the underlying issues associated with network security in the same way as preventative measures, “there needs to be a much stronger emphasis on planned security measures, with an increasing focus on preventative infrastructure rather than ‘prescription-style’ cures,†Britt said.

As semiconductor devices shrink in size and become more complex, it has become necessary for fabricators (fabs) to use more parameters to monitor and control production processes