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Avnet Abacus Articles
The fundamentals of switched mode power supplies
Switched mode power supplies are ubiquitous but often poorly understood. To optimise their use in systems requires an understanding of how the various types and how they operate
Motion detection using pyro-electric and passive infrared
In our increasingly connected world, there are a rising number of applications that benefit from the ability to detect people or objects, including building energy management (BEM) systems that control the environment in homes, offices, factories and other buildings. By Martin Keenan, Technical Director, Avnet Abacus
EuMW 2019: Avnet Abacus parades power and connectivity
Avnet Abacus will focus on two main product areas — power and connectivity at European Microwave Week in Paris (September 30-October 3). In dedicated power and connectivity sections, product specialists will be available to discuss design needs and give technical advice.
Safety requirements in medical power supplies
There are specific existing and new requirements for medical safety. Philip Lechner, Avnet Abacus looks at what’s needed for a particular application
Product demo focuses on live parcel tracking service
Avnet Abacus will participate at this year’s electronica in Munich (November 13-16) as part of a consolidated Avnet EMEA presence. Avnet Abacus is one of four major business units that will each host a dedicated area of the stand, demonstrating the capabilities and support provided by the Avnet ecosystem.
No battery required: Tactile switch uses energy harvesting
The SPGA series from ALPS, a tactile switch that needs no battery or accumulator thanks to energy harvesting techniques is available from distributor Avnet Abacus. Based on magnetic induction technology, the modules measure just 17.5 x 23 x 17.9 and supply 170 µJ with every touch.
Van Parijs succeeds Ward at helm of Avnet Abacus
Nigel Ward has retired from the role of President, Avnet Abacus and will be replaced by another industry veteran Rudy Van Parijs. Ward leaves after a successful 30-year career with Avnet. Van Parijs joined EBV Elektronik, an Avnet company, in 1991, as a field application engineer.
Avnet Abacus honoured with Senten Manten Gold award by TDK
It has been announced that Avnet Abacus, an interconnect, passive, electro-mechanical and power distributors and a regional business unit of Avnet, is the recipient of TDK Corporation’s 2017 European Senten Manten Gold award.
RFID evolution enables smarter tracking
Did you know the origins of RFID technology can be traced to WWII? However, RFID as a technology only started to gain any recognition in product surveillance tags during the 1960s. Since then, RFID’s popularity has shown no signs of dimming. Used in any situation that requires contactless and non-line-of-sight identification of an individual object, RFID systems are now found at the heart of most supply chains.
Making a connection: a summary of RF connector trends
In a cost-effective way, Radio Frequency (RF) connectors seek to transfer data across multi-megahertz radio frequencies with minimal data loss from reflection and dispersion. Situated at the end of every cable with the job of transferring data to the next PCB or system, RF connectors operate like a gateway to the device-under-design; select the right one and the data being transferred passes without the least delay, select the wrong one and ...
eCall automotive telematics become mandatory in the EU
Legislation on eCall (emergency call) functionality is one of the major factors driving advanced vehicle connectivity today. An eCall subsystem will automatically call the emergency services in the event of an accident or crash. The system will be mandatory for all cars and vans sold in the EU from April 2018. Guest piece written by Alan Jermyn, Avnet Abacus.
Materials science techniques enable optimisation of antenna designs
A change in approach to antenna design and specification is well underway. Previously a somewhat overlooked element of the end design, the physical and power consumption characteristics are often so tight for the latest portable designs, that antenna design demands contemplation earlier in the design cycle. Guest piece written by Martin Keenan, Technical Director, Avnet Abacus.
Selecting the right Li-ion battery for a consumer robot design
Fuelled by the growing popularity of hybrid and full electric vehicles, plus an ever-buoyant consumer electronics industry, Li-ion has become the battery technology of choice for electronic devices on the move. With high storage capacities, high efficiency and longer lifecycles than many of their rechargeable counterparts, the Li-ion market is booming and the choice for electronic designers has multiplied. Guest piece written by Tim Parker,...
A quick guide to choosing a pressure sensor
When considering what type of pressure sensor is best suited for your industrial application, it may be an overwhelming experience looking at the sheer number of different choices available. Here’s a quick breakdown of the different pressure sensor technologies available and key pressure sensor attributes that should help you decide. Guest blog by Martin Keenan, Technical Director, Avnet Abacus.
Circuit protection is vital for long lifetimes in LED lighting
LEDs are widely perceived as the perfect solution for lighting applications because, in theory, they last forever. What’s less frequently spoken about is the inconvenient truth: the circuit protection measures specified can make or break the design.
Meeting requirements for mission critical stock power supplies
The regulatory requirements surrounding mission-critical and non-mission critical rolling stock power supplies are paramount to application safety, but ready made solutions are available to meet these complex standards.
Sensor fusion: the future of intelligent devices
Sensor fusion is an intriguing idea: if data from more than one sensor can be combined in the right way, the combined data can be more accurate, more reliable or simply provide a better understanding of the context in which the data was gathered. It is perfectly possible to combine data from two or more (or in fact, lots of) sensors to produce extremely rich, context aware data that eliminates the limitations in range or accuracy of the indi...
RF and wireless modules join distributor portfolio
Avnet Abacus is extending its distribution agreement with Panasonic to include RF and wireless module based products and technologies which cover all the latest communication protocols with ready-to-use modules for Bluetooth, Bluetooth Low Energy and Wi-Fi. The focus is to help companies shorten their development cycle and gain faster time-to-market.
Keeping the noise down: Converter and inverter output filtering
Most modern power conversion topologies use switched-mode techniques for highest efficiency and smallest size and cost. Inevitably, switching noise is produced and output filters are required to minimise EMI and provide reliable operation of the power converter and load. This article looks at the effects of noise and some of the filtering techniques that can be used.
Selecting DC-link capacitors in power converters
In applications from the simplest cell-phone charger to grid-tied inverters operating at hundreds of kW, power conversion schemes are used which incorporate an intermediate stage where energy is processed at DC. A ‘DC-link’ capacitor is fitted at this point to provide a low impedance path for high frequency switching currents and to provide energy storage.