New Thermal Insert Is Versatile Platform
Warner Instruments has introduced the new TB-3 CCD Thermal Insert, a versatile platform for cell culture and tissue work on the NanoScanZ stage from Prior Scientific.
This insert is optimized for 35 mm cell culture dishes and the Warner RC-40 Quick Change Imaging Chambers.
An integral water jacket removes excess heat from the internal Peltier device and allows for precise temperature control of media (5˚C to 50˚C) when used with Warner’s low noise CL-100 Temperature Controller and heat exchanger (TCM-1 Thermal Cooling Module).
Magnetic stainless steel along the perimeter of the TB-3 CCD platform allows for the use of magnetic suction and perfusion tube holders.
New Thermal-Eye X-50 Makes Thermal Imaging Technology Affordable for Law Enforcement
Thermal imaging technology, once considered too expensive for most law enforcement budgets, is now within reach as L-3 Communications has provided a clearer path to obtaining this technology by pricing its new Thermal-Eye X-50 camera at less than $5,000. This powerful, compact thermal imager sees the heat emitted from objects, making it more difficult for pursued subjects to hide between vehicles or stay elusive in the deep woods.
“The Thermal-Eye X-50’s $4,995 price tag has never been seen before on a camera with the capabilities that we’ve put into the X-50,” Richard Darlow, president of L-3 Communications Infrared Products, said. “The fact that L-3 is able to make this technology more affordable and as a result more available – particularly to groups who are often working to ensure everyone’s safety – is a tremendous achievement.”
In addition to being more affordable, the Thermal-Eye X-50 weighs only 13 ounces and stows easily in a pocket. Unlike traditional night vision technology, the X-50 is not affected by the bright lights (which cause a “blooming” effect on night vision), glare or shadows. The X-50 can detect human activity from more than 300 meters away in total darkness. These characteristics make it ideal for helping users survey an entire scene safely without exposing the location of law enforcement officers or crime scene investigators.
Simple to operate, the X-50 can be used to great effect in fugitive pursuit, search and rescue, disturbed-surface assessment, target location, force protection and routine patrols. The camera offers variable display brightness and has a rugged design that will withstand a 6-foot drop onto concrete or underwater submersion up to 9 feet. Developed with advanced amorphous silicon microbolometer technology, the X-50 can operate for two hours using only two commercially available AA batteries.
New 20-Channel Profiler Is Data-Rich and Saves Time
ECD has introduced a new thermal profiling system. Using only four “nano-connectors,” a design developed by and unique to ECD, the MEGAM.O.L.E. 20 Profiler offers a full 20 channels. At only 7.2 mm, MEGAM.O.L.E. 20 provides a thinner and more advanced configuration than currently available, and has the capacity for more than 25 runs before downloading data. This thin and narrow shape is especially beneficial when faced with significant physical constraints of nitrogen curtains and when profiling smaller boards such as cell phones.
Even with its ability to present complex data, the MEGAM.O.L.E. 20 provides ease of programming with three workflow wizards for set-up and M.O.L.E.-Readiness Indicators to avoid wasted runs. A clear “Go” or “No-Go” feature known as the “OK Button” signals the operator whether all elements of the run are within pre-programmed parameters. This all but eliminates the extra step of finding and questioning an engineer before release of critical runs.
Fully PC compatible and graphically intuitive, the MEGAM.O.L.E. 20’s new MAP software targets ramp, soak, time above liquidous and peak segments of the run and provides a single-page color-coded data summary, with further details available at the click of the mouse. It also runs with ECD’s existing SuperM.O.L.E. Gold Profiler, eliminating need to replace hardware for those users satisfied with six channels.
Southwall's Heat Mirror Insulating Glass Achieves Insulation Value of R-20/U-0.05
Southwall Technologies, Inc., the worldwide innovator of high performance, energy-saving films and glass products, has announced the ability of Heat Mirror insulating glass to insulate against heat loss at R-20/U-0.05 insulation value.
R-20 Heat Mirror insulating glass consists of three heat reflective coated films mounted inside an insulating glass unit between two pieces of low-e coated glass. This super insulating glass construction creates four heat-impeding gas-filled cavities and achieves R-20 performance when used in conjunction with a thermally insulated fiberglass frame. Heat Mirror R-20 is a product of Alpen Energy Systems, a leading Southwall customer licensed to fabricate Heat Mirror insulating glass.
Heat Mirror is a technologically advanced low emissivity and solar reflective film that can be mounted inside an insulating glass unit in a variety of configurations (one, two or three coated films, uncoated or low-e coated glass) to provide energy conservation performance ranging from R-6 to R-20 to meet the unique requirements of commercial and residential new construction and renovation projects.
Heat Mirror insulating glass, as well as other innovative glass technologies currently under development, is driving the US Department of Energy to revise the glass performance standards of its Energy Star program that rates the energy efficiency of appliances and building components.
austriamicrosystems’ New 20V Step-Down DC-DC Regulator Offers up to 96 Percent Efficiency
austriamicrosystems, a leading global designer and manufacturer of analog ICs for communications, industrial, medical and automotive applications, has expanded its DC-DC converter portfolio with the AS1341, a hysteretic high efficiency 20 V step-down regulator in a small 3 by 3 mm TDFN 8-pin package, suited to increase battery life in applications like notebooks and handheld systems.
The AS1341 DC-DC regulator delivers 600 mA at 5 V from a 12 V input and can provide adjustable output voltages in the range of 1.25 V to VIN or fixed 5 V. The device operates from an input voltage of between 4.5 and 20 V and offers a high efficiency rate of up to 96 percent. Additionally, an integrated 100 percent duty-cycle mode improves efficiency in low dropout conditions.
“Especially in applications where the main power supply is at levels of 12 V or higher DC-DC converters such as the AS1341 are strongly recommended to generate low supply voltages down to 1.25 V,” said Walter Moshammer, marketing director Standard Linear at austriamicrosystems. “Due to the AS1341’s high efficiency rate of up to 96 percent, heat dissipation is extremely low, when compared to linear regulators, which means no expensive cooling plates or fans are required. The high efficiency rate provided by AS1341 also helps portable devices to extend the time between battery replacement or recharge cycles.”
The AS1341 DC-DC converter allows the use of tiny low profile inductors and small capacitors. Its built-in current limit function can be set to 0.7 or 1.4 A switching current for optimizing the converter to the used inductor and load. The AS1341’s low quiescent current of 12 µA improves light load efficiency and conserves battery life. During shutdown the current draw is reduced to only 0.8 µA.
The AS1341 DC-DC converter is available now in a 3 by 3 mm TDFN 8-pin package and is specified for the industrial temperature range of -40°C to +85°C. |
