The most popular tools for repairing or upgrading common electronic devices. All tools are fully demagnetized to protect your computer’s hard drive or magnetic media from damage and each tool is conveniently stored in a custom designed case. PRODUCT FEATURES: For the do-it-yourself enthusiast; Tackles minor electronic maintenance jobs with ease; High quality craftsmanship.

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Freescale Semiconductor has introduced an addition to its popular ZigBee® wireless sensing triple-axis reference (ZSTAR) demonstration tool collection. The newest offering features the MMA7660FC triple-axis accelerometer, which enhances user interfaces with intelligent features for mobile phones, small appliances and gaming. The accelerometer has built-in intelligence for consumer applications with orientation, shake and tap detection. It also includes smart power management features such as auto-wake and auto-sleep to help extend battery life.

The advanced RD3965MMA7660FC ZSTAR3 reference design provides designers with two small, portable demo boards, a sensor transceiver board and a USB receiver board for demonstrating and evaluating a wide range of accelerometer-based applications with low-power wireless connectivity. A USB stick connects via the computer’s USB port for communications, using Freescale’s USB 2.0 full-speed 8-bit MC68HC908JW32 microcontroller (MCU).

Wireless communication is enabled by Freescale’s MC13213, a ZigBee–ready 2.4GHz low-power transceiver that also contains an 8-bit MCU as a system-in-package that reduces board space requirements.

The MC13213 ZigBee platform is an IEEE 802.15.4 standard compliant on-chip transceiver/modem that is capable of 16 selectable channels. For more information, visit www.freescale.com/zigbee.

ZSTAR3 reference platform features

MMA7660FC triple-axis ±1.5g digital accelerometer with extremely low power
0.4 micro amps in Off Mode
2 micro amps in Standby Mode
47 micro amps at one sample per second
Auto-wake/sleep feature for low power consumption
Tilt orientation detection for portrait/landscape capability
Gesture detection including shake detection and tap detection
2.4GHz MC13213 wireless transceiver with 8-bit MCU system-in-package
8-bit USB 2.0 full-speed MC68HC908JW32 MCU
Two small, portable demo boards:
Sensor transceiver board powered by a coin-sized CR2032 3V battery
USB receiver board
RF protocol supports up to 16 sensor boards per one USB receiver
RF network star topology
Sensor data rate at 30, 60 or 120 Hz
Typical wireless range is 20 meters
Software support for easy development

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Infineon Technologies AG (FSE: IFX / OTCQX: IFNNY) is extending its portfolio of energy efficient lighting ICs with a new family of low cost linear LED drivers. The new BCR320 and BCR420 product families address the burgeoning market for energy-saving and environmentally friendly light-emitting diode (LED) lighting solutions. Specifically designed for driving 0.5W LEDs with a typical current of 150mA to 200mA, these LED drivers feature a negative thermal coefficient contributing to a long lifetime of LEDs and a digital interface for a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal for dimming.

With the recent introduction of higher efficiency 0.5W LEDs this class of products is expected to be adopted in a wider range of applications. However, currently available resistor solutions for biasing LED current have significant disadvantages such as inhomogeneous light output and reduced lifetime of LEDs. Alternatively, switch mode drivers do not meet the required price point for 0.5W LED applications, and drive up the number of parts and the complexity of driver circuit.

The new BCR320 and BCR420 LED drivers are tailored to address these deficiencies for 0.5W LED applications, providing a very low cost and simple solution with a small form factor.

With both devices, the usage of inductors, capacitors and free-wheeling diode can be avoided resulting in cost savings and a very small PCB space requirement. The elimination of electrolytic capacitors can also contribute to the extended lifetime of the LED system.

Technical details on LED driver families BCR320 and BCR420: Benchmark in price-performance ratio

The BCR320 products are designed for a peak output current of up to 300mA. For continuous operation a maximum nominal current of 250mA is recommended. While this device has an internal breakdown voltage of typically 20V, it can be operated at supply voltages of 24V or higher since the driver is operated in series with the LEDs.

The BCR320 is targeted at general lighting, architectural and mood lighting applications. Another fast growing segment is shop lighting where 0.5W LEDs are preferred in order to spread the light and avoid glare. BCR320 devices have a negative thermal coefficient, which means that in case of temperature increase the current is lowered with a slope of 0.2% / K. The BCR320U and BCR321U versions are available in a very small SC-74 package (2.9mm x 2.5mm x 1.1mm) with 1W power dissipation. The BCR320P and BCR321P types will be offered in a SOT-223 package (6.5mm x 7.0mm x 1.6mm) providing a higher power dissipation of 2W. The BCR321U and BCR321P versions both offer a logic level input for dimming.

The BCR420 products have a higher internal breakdown voltage and a lower output current than the BCR320 devices. The internal breakdown voltage is typically 50V and the nominal output current is 150mA. The BCR420 LED drivers are intended for use in similar applications as mentioned above for a maximum drive current of 150mA. In addition, qualification for use in automotive applications, based on AECQ 101 certification, is ongoing. BCR420 and BCR421 products are available in SC-74 package. The BCR421 is the dimmable version with a microcontroller interface.

Availability and pricing

Volume production of the BCR320U and BCR420U LED drivers has started. Volume production for the BCR320P and BCR321P is expected in the first quarter of 2010. In quantities of a few thousand units, pricing for the BCR320 and BCR420 ranges between approximately Euro 0.18 and Euro 0.23 (USD $0.25 and USD $0.32) per unit.

Infineon offers a comprehensive range of LED driver solutions characterized by robustness and cost-effectiveness, meeting the evolving and expanding requirements of lighting applications. Further information on Infineon’s LED Driver ICs is available at www.infineon.com/leddriver