Fingerprint recognition technology has been used by Cypress Semiconductor and AuthenTec to introduce a reference design for adding biometric security to external hard disk drives (HDDs).

Electronics industry giants, National Instruments and Texas Instruments are collaborating with Spectrum Digital in the development of the TI C55X Power Optimisation DSP Starter Kit (DSK), a DSP design tool to offer designers incorporated test and measurement functionality.

Euro-engineer Keith Armstrong will be returning to Australia and New Zealand in March-April 2006 to present a series of EMC courses to industry and the public, sponsored by EMC Technologies. He will be presenting an up-to-date series of EMC and compliance courses.

Non RoHS and WEEE compliant Australian companies that sell into the European Union or have customers who sell into the EU face product bans, fines, penalties and retroactive fees. These financial consequences could prove devastating to small and medium sized enterprises.

As we look towards 2006, now would seem a good time to look at what may come up for the industry during the next year and beyond. I have asked some leading players in the electronics field to crystal ball gaze and predict what they see as the problems and the future. This is a selection of some of their views.

Fluke has acquired LEM Instruments, a division of LEM Group, a European manufacturer of test and measurement equipment including analysers and systems for power quality applications, earth/ground testers, insulation testers, low-resistance ohmmeters, clamp meters and clamp-on power meters. LEM also supplies current probes to the automotive market.

At the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) taskgroup meeting in Hawaii recently, there was an agreement over the next high speed Wi-Fi standard, 802.11n.

Power Parameters has been appointed Australian distributor for the full range of Socomec-Sicon UPS systems.

The Verification Methodology Manual (VMM) for SystemVerilog has been endorsed by the Semiconductor Technology Academic Research Centre (STARC) and major electronics companies in Japan as a reference to develop advanced verification environments based on the IEEE standard SystemVerilog language.

Cutter Electronics will distribute Cree XLamp power LEDs in Australia and New Zealand.

Hitachi Data Systems has introduced its global customer and partner education initiative at the Storage Networking Industry Association (SNIA) 2006 Winter Symposium.

Richardson Electronics has reached an agreement with Mimix Broadband for exclusive global distribution rights to Mimix's range of GaAs semiconductor products from DC to 50 GHz.

Kingston Technology's manufacturing subsidiary, Kingston Technology Electronics Co Ltd, has opened its new China manufacturing facility.

The Australian Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association (AEEMA) has called for industry support for urgent engagement in action agenda-led exporting initiatives, following the release of deteriorating trade figures.

Intel has re-opened a high-volume semiconductor manufacturing facility in Chandler, Arizona, converting it to a 300 mm, 65 nm process factory.