Blog
Next-gen smartphones need multisensor devices
There is no doubt that designers of next-generation smartphones will add gyroscopes to their bills of material for enhanced gaming functionality and indoor location-based services. But, most likely, we will start to see, in addition to multi-axis gyroscopes, more multisensor packages that combine accelerometers and a gyroscope. The benefits: speedier design, simplified supply chain... »
Global Wind Day: Five wind facts
The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) has highlighted "Five Wind Facts," a guide to the benefits of wind energy as one effort to market Global Wind Day, June 15. AWEA also plans to announce the winner of its Twitter background photo contest via Facebook and Twitter on Global Wind Day. »
Mobile designs fuel the demand for smaller, cheaper and less power hungry accelerometers
Several top suppliers of three-axis accelerometers -- including Analog Devices, Bosch Sensortec, Freescale, and STMicro -- have beefed up their product portfolios over the past year with some significant enhancements aimed at lower power consumption, higher resolution, and smaller packaging. »
ADI says medical/industrial apps will be the next big thing for MEMS
Analog Devices believes the MEMS motion sensor market is heading into a third wave of adoption in medical and industrial applications, according to the company's presentation at the recent MEMS panel at the 2010 Globalpress Electronics Summit. »
Electronics firms tackle sustainability issues
While it may be in part due to Earth Day this week, many electronics companies -- including AMD, IBM, Motorola and UMC -- are rushing to release their corporate sustainability reports and goals, aimed at driving down both energy consumption and carbon emissions. It also impacts their supply chain. »
IPC updates January standards meetings
IPC's latest blog provides updates on its January standards meetings including the 3-12a Metallic Foil Task Group, D-13 Flexible Circuits Base Materials Subcommittee, D-13b Flexible Circuits Covercoat Materials, 5-33b Soldermask Performance Task Groups and the D-15 Flexible Circuits Test Methods Subcommittee. »
Welcome to Electronics Advocate
Welcome to the launch of Electronics Advocate where we will deliver the latest information about business, distribution, supply chain, design and manufacturing trends. »
Touch user interfaces have made significant advances in the consumer electronics market particularly for mobile phones and notebook computers, opening the door for adoption in other applications including white goods, computer peripherals, medical equipment, and instrumentation. Synaptics made its debut in the home appliance market earlier this year with the launch of the Samsung Hauzen ZERO air conditioner.
Smaller distributors were the only ones to post sales gains in 2009. Interestingly, two of the five distributors that posted growth last year -- Interstate Connecting Components and Sherburn Electronics -- derive 100 percent of their sales from interconnect products. Both of them also target the military/aerospace industry. Here are the top 10 sales leaders by ICs, passives/electromechanical devices, interconnects and computer products as well as sales growth.

NXP offers a low-power IC aimed at MPPT applications using PV cells or fuel cells.
C&K Components offers a series of low-cost, miniature slide switches. The OS Series of RoHS-compliant switches feature a new high-temperature option for lead-free soldering.