Innovations abound at electronica 2010 in Munich

Innovations abound at electronica 2010 in Munich

The 16 buildings that will hold the electronica Trade Fair in Munich this November will each be packed with interesting new technologies and products so bring your walking shoes. Here are just a few notes about the exhibits:

The Fraunhofer Institute for Manufacturing Engineering and Automation (Germany; www.ipa.fraunhofer.de) will show a new intelligent control system for active prostheses. The key to this innovation is that the voluntary signal is determined in real time and the prosthesis can thus respond and execute the wearer’s wish. The prosthetic limb incorporates an array of sensors to measure all activity signals from the leg muscles. (Booth A2.221)

Freescale Semiconductor (USA; www.freescale.com) has participated in the development of a titanium prosthetic leg that, using a robot, simulates the functionality of the real lower leg. The new prosthesis was designed by the American biophysicist Hugh Herr, a professor at MIT and himself a leg amputee following a climbing accident in 1982. In 2011 the company iWalk will be going into volume production with the prosthetic lower leg “PowerFoot One.” (Booth A6.107)

Kingbright (Germany; /www.kingbright-europe.com) has developed the industry’s first 0603 dome lens LED package HELIOS SMD LEDs (KPTD-1608 series). The compact (1.6 x 0.8 x 0.95 mm) SMD package with 0.70mm dome lens provides focused beams with a viewing angle of 60°, with a typical luminous intensity up to 3000 mcd @ 20 mA. Available in blue, green, orange, red, and yellow, the IR reflow solderable devices operates at -40° to 85°C. (Booth A5.275)

Excelsys Technologies (Cork, Ireland; www.excelsys.com) will be showcasing the latest additions to its high-efficiency LED driver power supplies with dimming control, covering 25 to 300 W with efficiencies of up to 95%, and a waterproof IP67 rating. The company will also show additions to its medical EN60601-1-approved power supplies. (Booth B2.414)

Deutronic Elektronik (Germany; http://deutronic.com) will be presenting a dc/dc converter for hybrid and electric vehicles. Meeting current EU safety guidelines, the converter is short-circuit and open-circuit proof and has protection against overheating. The vibration-proof, moisture-resistant design has a working temperature of 40° to 75°C. (Booth B2.105)

French power specialist GAIA Converter (France; www.gaia-converter.com) will be demonstrating a complete modular power architecture range of dc/dc converters and EMI filters for aerospace and military applications. (Booth B2.324)

Gresham Power Conversion (U.K.; www.greshampower.com) plans to show the cPCI-6U-600 Compact PCI power supplies providing up to 600 W. This device meets the demand for increased power from the 6U cPCI footprint. (Booth B2.349)

Power-One will share booth space with its distributor Trenew Electronic AG (Switzerland; www.trenew.ch) and will be giving visitors the first chance to see a new family of modular units providing up to 1500 W from a 40-mm-high unit. The LPM615 provides an industry-leading 15-W/in.3 power density and accepts up to six output modules at 2 to 54 Vdc. (Booth B2.505)

Powerstax (U.K.; www.powerstaxplc.com) will be unveiling its TVS1000 rugged up-converter which provides COTS & MOTS power from vehicle alternators and or batteries for mobile communications and jamming systems. It offers up to 1,000 Wdc. (Booth B2.456)

RRC Power Solutions (Germany; www.rrc-ps.de) will present a solution for supplying mobile devices with wireless power via induction with applications planned within consumer and medical areas. This solution is especially safe, owing to the absence of open electrical contacts and it opens up possibilities for wireless data transmission during charging. (Booth B2.413)

Jim Harrison

For more on electronica, the 24th International Trade Fair, at the New Munich Trade Fair, Munich, Germany, from November 9 to 12, 2010, visit www.electronica.de/en.