New Technology Handles Higher Currents and Voltages, Improves Resistance Stability and Allows Bourns to Introduce One of the Smallest Lines of Polymer PTC Resettable Fuses

Bourns, Inc., a leading manufacturer and supplier of electronic components, announced that the company has developed freeXpansion(TM), a new technology added to the company’s entire line of Multifuse(R) surface mount polymer positive temperature coefficient (PTC) resettable fuses. This new technology increases the performance of the fuse with the ability to handle higher currents and voltages, improves its resistance stability and allows for a smaller footprint. Due to its new freeXpansion technology, Bourns is able to introduce one of the smallest families of PTCs on the market with a size of 0603, designated the Bourns MF-FSMF Series. Bourns’ Multifuse surface mount devices manufactured using the freeXpansion process is designed to meet next-generation electronics smaller size and high current requirements. Multifuse devices are an optimal overcurrent circuit protection solution for broad range of equipment including products with USB 2.0, USB 3.0 and HDMI ports and in consumer electronics and automotive electronics applications.

Polymer PTC resettable fuses expand when an overcurrent event occurs and contracts when they reset. The freeXpansion technology allows the device to freely expand and contract without mechanical restrictions for more stable performance, extended product life and to be manufactured in a smaller size.

“Bourns Multifuse products with freeXpansion offer distinct competitive advantages for our customers enabling reliable circuit protection across a broader range of applications,” said Brian Ahearne, technical marketing manager for Bourns’ Multifuse products. “As more and more electronic products become portable with design space constraints, Bourns Multifuse devices match application requirements for a smaller package and the ability to handle higher currents and voltages helping our OEM customers protect their valuable circuits from overcurrent conditions.”

Bourns Multifuse devices act as critical circuit protection components by limiting dangerous current surges, such as short circuits in electrical equipment. These devices provide secure protection as they react to an over-current event by changing from a very low resistive state to a very high resistive state. This is also referred to as the positive temperature coefficient effect or PTC effect. Once the overcurrent surge has passed, the Multifuse device automatically resets to its low resistive state and allows the equipment to resume operation.

Pricing and Availability

Bourns’ line of surface mount Multifuse devices with new freeXpansion technology is available now. For complete model numbers and sizes, go to Bourns’ site at http://www.bourns.com/multifuse. As a pricing reference, devices with freeXpansion are priced from $0.25-$0.35 in 6,000 piece quantities.


Obtains USB-IF Certification and Meets TSMC9000 Standards in 40nm

MIPS Technologies, Inc., a leading provider of industry-standard architectures, processors and analog IP for digital consumer, home networking, wireless, communications and business applications, announced that its 40nm USB 2.0 High-Speed PHY IP achieved certification from the USB Implementers Forum (USB-IF) and met TSMC’s TSMC9000 standards in its 40nm LP process. MIPS Technologies has among the world’s highest number of USB IP certifications across numerous foundries and technology nodes, with the majority in TSMC processes.

A wide range of next-generation consumer electronic products require compact area and minimal power consumption, so integrated USB solutions must also meet these criteria. With areas below 0.6mm(2) and power consumption below 80mW, MIPS Technologies’ USB 2.0 High-Speed PHY IP is an extremely compact and low-power solution. Advanced programmability allows developers to fine-tune their system’s analog parameters, maximizing performance results in silicon. By leveraging PHY IP that is certified compliant with the full USB 2.0 specification, customers are assured of interoperability with other USB 2.0 devices.

“SoC developers are moving to advanced technology nodes to reduce costs for many high-volume mobile and consumer devices, and they need a high-quality, reliable and interoperable USB solution,” said Celio Albuquerque, director of Physical Connectivity Solutions, Analog Business Group, MIPS Technologies. “Following our recent announcement of the industry’s first 40nm USB PHY IP and first USB-certified 1.8v 45nm USB PHY IP, we are pleased to announce these new milestones. As a TSMC partner, we are committed to offering early access to proven IP in the most advanced nodes, helping customers get to market quickly at the lowest cost and fastest time to integration.”

“We work closely with our IP partners such as MIPS Technologies to make high-quality USB PHY IP available for advanced processes,” said ST Juang, senior director of Design Infrastructure Marketing at TSMC. “MIPS Technologies’ USB 2.0 PHY product met our TSMC9000 standards at the 40nm node. With the combination of MIPS’ 40nm certified USB PHY and TSMC technology, customers have access to a robust, low-power solution for their next-generation products.”

MIPS Technologies offers the broadest USB IP portfolio in the market, with silicon-proven and certified solutions in all major foundries and processes–including half nodes–backed by deep USB expertise and professional engineering support. MIPS Technologies has more than 90 USB PHY IP customers worldwide with more than 200 USB 2.0 PHY instantiations, more than 30 USB 2.0 certified products in mass-production, and more than 200 million high-speed USB chips produced to-date. MIPS Technologies was first in the market to offer a choice of 2.5v and 1.8v transistors for USB PHYs.

Source: MIPS Technologies, Inc.


Offers Enterprises and Individuals Strong Security that Follows Shared Information No Matter Where it Goes

There is a growing awareness that sensitive information is at risk when it is shared with a third party such as a consultant, service provider or outsourcer. A recent survey published by the Ponemon Institute (2008 Annual Study: Cost of a Data Breach, U.S.) showed that the percent of data breaches attributed to third parties has grown to 44 percent (up from 21 percent in 2005). To address the problem of secure data exchange, Egress Software Technologies announced today the availability of Switch, an innovative new data protection solution for both individuals and enterprises.

Delivered in a Software-as-a-Service (SaaS) model, Egress Switch allows organizations to wrap controls around the information they share and ensures that data is not carelessly handled by its intended recipient, even after it has left the data owner’s physical presence. Unlike other encryption or rights management products, Egress Switch is easy to use, operates on any data or media type, and has no complex infrastructure. Egress Switch encrypts shared information, allows access to only authorized recipients, enables security parameters to be set or changed in real-time and offers an audit trail of successful or failed access attempts.

“For City and Hackney Teaching Primary Care Trust, we needed a simple, easy-to-use solution to ensure that all forms of information shared with our General Practitioners, health partners and other agencies will remain secure when it has left our hands,” said Tim Wilson, Head of ICT at City and Hackney Teaching Primary Care Trust. “We selected Egress Switch because it addresses secure data exchange in a very unique way that is not available from other suppliers today – encrypting the information on any type of media, maintaining full control over data during and after its exchange, and streamlining the workflow of sharing. The Switch solution addresses encryption requirements placed on the Trust by the Department of Health and gives us peace of mind that we’re taking every precaution necessary to keep sensitive personal identifiable information safe from exposure.”

Egress Switch allows an information owner to package their sensitive information using strong AES 256-bit encryption on any type of media such as a CD/DVD, USB stick or file. Once packaged, the secured information can be sent to a recipient either electronically through email, web, FTP, or physically through regular mail or in-person. The owner can then set or change security policies independent of the package through a service in the cloud. Security policies can include authorizing recipients and limiting recipient access. These changes can be made in real time, even after the information is sent or shared. This allows a user to “pull information back” if it needs to be recalled.

“Even though controlling your own data sounds simple, most organizations still struggle with this issue and turn to data protection offerings such as encryption and data leak prevention to help them keep their information secure,” said Bob Egner, U.S. President of Egress Software Technologies. “While those tools are important, they offer no guarantees about who is accessing data once it has left a user’s hands. We believe that our Switch solution addresses a major gap in today’s data protection offerings, allowing any organization or individual that needs to share information externally to do so safely and affordably by using this simple tool.”

Egress Switch also offers a complete view of when the information recipient has opened or used the shared information, as well as unauthorized access attempts, providing an audit trail. The owner can then easily track activity of their shared information through logs arranged by package or recipient.

“Individuals and organizations that share information must consider the ramifications if their data ends up in the wrong hands,” said Richard Stiennon, chief analyst and founder of security research firm IT-Harvest. “If there is a need to stay in control, even after the information has been shared, a simple and affordable secure data exchange solution makes a lot of sense as part of a comprehensive data protection strategy.”

Egress Switch is available immediately with a special introductory offer of free use for the first 30 days. It currently supports the most widely used operating systems, Microsoft Windows Vista and XP. Pricing for individual users starts with a pay-as-you-go model or a monthly subscription at $9.49 per month, while annual subscriptions for businesses begin at $34.00 per year. For more information on Egress Switch or to sign up for the special introductory offer, please visit www.egress.com.

Source: Egress Software Technologies


LaCie Introduces Three Keys for Handy Portable Storage

  • Sturdy metal key design; fits on a key ring
  • Ultra-mobile and lightweight
  • Hot-pluggable with cross-platform compatibility
  • Fast and reliable transfer rates – USB 2.0

LaCie announced three new ways to carry digital content – LaCie itsaKey, iamaKey and PassKey USB key drives, design by 5.5 Designers. The inventive, compact key-shaped design conveniently fits in a pocket or on a key ring. The itsaKey and iamaKey store up to 8 gigabytes of flash memory. Alternatively, the PassKey has a built-in microSD card reader, which allows you to use your memory cards as stylish and handy USB keys.

Resilient to the rigorous treatment that often befalls common keys, the three USB keys are built with sturdy metal, making their surfaces tough and dependable. Additionally, the Gold SIP connector on the iamaKey is both water- and scratch- resistant, making it one of the thinnest and most durable flash drive choices on the market.

“Following the popularity and usefulness of flash memory today, LaCie has merged the ubiquitous USB interface with a very mobile and convenient form factor, a key that you always carry with you,” said Luc Pierart, Business Unit Manager of Peripherals & Accessories. “The LaCie Key products bring an ease-of-use to our customers, making it easy to access, store, and share large amounts of content on-the-go. After all, it’s a Key.”

Supported by the Hi-Speed USB 2.0 interface, the LaCie iamaKey, itsaKey and PassKey can be used with both PC and Mac. Hi-Speed USB not only offers universal compatibility and cross-platform convenience, but features a hot-pluggable connection and outstanding high speed transfer rates of up to 30 MB/s for key drives. The PassKey ensures users can quickly and effectively bring new life to an old microSD card, saving time, money and resources. In addition, the PassKey is versatile; you can easily change the capacity by swapping the microSD card (or micro SDHC).

As products of the 5.5 Designers firm, LaCie Keys provide users a convenient way to store and take their data with them wherever they go.

Availability
The LaCie Keys are available now, starting at $9.99. LaCie products are available through the LaCie Online Store or LaCie resellers. For more information, visit www.lacie.com.


Hammacher Schlemmer Introduces the Driving Activity Reporter

Continuing its 161-year history of offering the best, the only, and the unexpected, Hammacher Schlemmer introduces the Driving Activity Reporter, a covert device that attaches to a car and provides a detailed report of places, routes, and speeds traveled.

“The Driving Activity Reporter allows parents to monitor where a young driver has taken the car and his or her driving habits,” explained Hammacher Schlemmer’s General Manager, Fred Berns.

About the size of a pack of gum and equipped with a neodymium magnet, the Driving Activity Reporter allows clandestine storage in a glove compartment, underneath a seat, or against any metal surface on the interior or exterior of the automobile. The Driving Activity Reporter’s integrated 16 channel GPS receiver collects transmissions from 24 Department of Defense satellites to track the movements of the car in which it is hidden.

The device has built-in flash memory that holds up to 100 hours of driving activity and, once removed from the car, it plugs into your computer’s USB port and downloads the collected data. Included software uses animated digital street mapping, graphs, and text to show you the date, time, and location of every stop, the duration of each sojourn, and how long it took to reach the destinations.

The data can also be examined using Google Earth, a free Internet application with precise satellite pictures of Earth. These virtual maps use color-coded lines to trace the automobile’s route, display the maximum speeds reached during the excursion, and show how long the car traveled above the speed limit, allowing you to easily determine instances of speeding and if the driver’s story is consistent with the car’s actual journey.

The Driving Activity Reporter has a water-resistant frame and can be used in temperatures between -15 degrees F and 185 degrees F. It enters a “sleep” mode when the car is stationary for more than two minutes, the included AAA batteries provide up to three weeks of power, and if the power runs out before you retrieve the device, all data will be stored safely on the integrated memory.

For more information, please visit www.hammacher.com





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