ApplianceDESIGN

GG Digital Leave-In Meat Thermometer, No.1158800 by Oxo International Inc., New York.

2010-06-06T00:31:00.002+07:00

This thermometer incorporates timer and target temperature/taste alarm functions and has two main components: the display, which is used on the countertop; and the probe, which is inserted into the meat to provide a constant read as the meat cooks.
www.oxo.com

DC31 Handheld Vacuum by Dyson, Chicago.

2010-06-06T00:09:00.002+07:00

At three pounds, this hand-held vacuum is lightweight and easy to maneuver, and has 38 airwatts—offering a 10-minute run time. For even more power, the vacuum can run at 65 airwatts for a full six minutes. The DC31 Root Cyclone technology is designed to maintain suction power and includes a fade-free lithium ion battery.

Respironics Children’s Medical Ventures BiliChek Noninvasive Bilirubin Assessment Tool by Philips Healthcare, Andover, Mass., and design firm Daedal

2010-06-05T23:52:00.002+07:00

This handheld medical device uses microspectroscopy, an optical technology, to measure jaundice or yellow discoloration in newborns caused by bilirubin, which is a metabolic chemical that is a serious health threat in elevated amounts. Nurses can screen babies and achieve a reading within seconds, without drawing blood

Protect your kitchen as typical damage with SAFERA

2010-06-05T23:05:00.002+07:00

SAFERA-security technology, the hood prevents the typical damage to the Kitchen Stove by ensuring the safe use and alerting beginning with water leaks in the kitchen. In Addition, it directs Stove Ventilation indoor keeping water clean for you.

SAFERA has three main functions namely:

1. More than safety Stove

To stop the incidents, cutting off electricity to the Stove and, if Necessary, turn off the Stove fire outbreaks. In Addition, range cooker hoods located in the HoB child lock prevents unsupervised use.

2. Prevents water damage
Prevents water leaks damage alerting beginning with water leaks in the kitchen. Optional.

3. Ensure clean indoor water
Improve the office indoor water quality by controlling the Stove Ventilation on / off according to your cooking. Optional.

Benefits can be obtained if using SAFERA:

1. You live in a careless
You do not have to worry Did you miss your Stove top, what do you do if grease fire or surprise kääntääkö child or a dog on top of the Stove Pls note you are there.

2. You live independently and safety
The whole family to cook just like before, but safety - even if there are problems with memory or everyday life pushes on.

3. Protect your property
Effective deterrent for one easy to install and elegant solution, the typical damage to the kitchen.

4. You save energy and get a cleaner indoor water
Hood manages the grease fumes are removed from the kitchen, but the warm water does not unnecessarily removed from the apartment.

5. Save insurance premiums
Fennia Offers Home Furnishings, insurance reduction from 15%.

LG Electronics Steam Dishwasher (model LDF9932) by LG Electronics, Englewood Cliffs, N.J.

2010-06-05T22:14:00.003+07:00

Steam Cleaning Allows for thorough cleaning of baked on foods while using less water than other power scrub methods. Also allows for enhanced cleaning performance when cleaning fine china and stemware items on delicate cycle. The gentle power of steam!

LoDecibel™ Quiet Operation Ultra Quiet at only 45dB with built in disposer, this dishwasher is among the quietest in the industry.

Fully Integrated Controls The controls are integrated on the top of the door allowing for a sleek and sophisticated outward appearance. The SmoothTouch™ controls are activated with a light touch of your finger tips, and are a pleasure to use.

SignaLight™ LED Cycle Indicator Lights The LDF9932ST SteamDishwasher™ showcases four LED lights signifying the status of the wash process – the first three blue lights reveal the wash, rinse, and dry portions of the cycle, the green light indicates that the dishes are clean

Tallest Tub with Maximum Capacity

16 place setting capacity
3rd rack for utensils that provides ample storage for hard to clean, hard to place items, resulting in more practical capacity
Holds up to 10" dishes and stemware on the upper rack and up to 14" dishes, pots, and pans on the lower rack
The Design-A-Rack™ System and DuraGlide™ Upper Rack allow for removable and adjustable tines, and an upper rack that is easily adjusted and maneuvered for maximum loading flexibility

Dual Intensity™ Wash Cycle This setting enables you to fully customize the wash cycle intensity for the upper and lower racks independently – all in the same load.

SenseClean™ Wash System The turbidity of the water is automatically measured during the first rinse. The water and cycle time are adjusted based on the need for more or less cleaning. This not only provides excellent cleaning, but water and energy efficiency as well.

Additional Features:

Stainless Steel Extra Large Tub
Hybrid Condensing Drying System
Built-In Food Disposer

Specifications:

CAPACITY
- Total Place Settings 16
- Design-A-Rack™ System:
  - Adjustable Upper Rack One-Touch 2" height
  - Maximum Height of Upper Rack Holds up to 10" dishes and stemware
  - Maximum Height of Lower Rack Holds up to 14" dishes and stemware
  - Folding Tines 2 Rows on Top Rack /2 Rows on Bottom Rack
  - Removable Tines 2 in Bottom Rack
  - Stemware Holder
  - Cup Rack
  - Cutlery Baskets 3 detachable baskets with covers
PERFORMANCE
- 7 Wash Cycles SteamDelicate™, Power Scrub, Normal, Quick Wash, SteamFresh™, Rinse Only, Soak
- Options 7 (including Steam)
- Sanitary Rinse 161°F
- Extra Rinse
- Dual Intensity™ Wash Cycle Strong/Medium/Soft
- Half Load Cleaning Upper or Lower Rack
- Delay Start Up to 24 hours
- Child Lock
- SenseClean™ Wash System
- Adjustable Spray Intensity
- Spray Arms 3 (top, middle, bottom)
- Multi-Level Water Direction Multi-level (5) direct feed, Top Nozzle (Down), Upper Nozzle (Up/Down), Lower Nozzle (Up/Down)
- Food Disposer Stainless Steel Blade
- Detergent and Rinse-Aid Dispenser
- Rinse-Aid Refill Indicator
- Drying System Hybrid Condensing
- End of Cycle Indicator
- Self-Cleaning Filter
- Water Heater
- Overflow Detector
- 120°F Inlet Water Capability
- Slim Direct Motor™
- Premium LoDecibel™ Quiet Operation 45dB
- Tub Insulation Metal Cabinet, Damping Sheet, Sound Absorbing
- Material (felt). Base: Damping Sheet
- Door Insulation Damping Sheet
- Nylon Coated Racks and Tines with Rounded Tips
- Balanced Door
STYLE AND DESIGN
- Available Colors Stainless Steel (ST)
- Handle Exterior Matching Commercial Stainless Steel Handle
- Integrated Electronic Controls Fully Integrated, SmoothTouch
- Time Remaining Indicator
- Adjustable Third Rack 2 Tray
- Tub Material Stainless Steel
- Filter Mesh insert with plastic
ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY FEATURES
- Energy Star
ELECTRICAL
- Ratings/Requirements UL Listed, 120 V/60 Hz, 15 Amps

Approximate Dimensions:

Overall:
- Width: 23 7/8"
- Height: 33 7/8"
- Depth: 25"
Clearances:
- Width: 24"
- Height: 34"
- Depth: 25"

Approximate Weight:

Unit: 124 lbs.
Shipping: 144 lbs

Warranty Information:

Manufacturers Warranty (authorized online retailer):
- 1 Year Labor
- 2 Year Parts
- 5 Year Limited on Control Board and Rack parts
- Lifetime on the Stainless Steel Tub or Liner

Element LED Light

2010-06-05T21:17:00.005+07:00

The future of LED technology. The future of task lighting. a motto for this product. study of a lamp that delivers MCX LED Technology, the Element Offers new LED task light leves of performance, efficiency and sustainability in a task lighting solution.

other than minimal environmental impact, the Elements also designed compact and elegant

Specifications

19 mounting options, including panel mounts for systems furniture
Universal power supply and interchangeable plug options for worldwide compatibility on a single SKU
Neutral white 3500 K light temperature
Maximum reach of 28 inches
Maximum height of 28 inches
Working height of 18 inches to fit easily under storage bins
135° front-to-back head tilt
90° side-to-side head rotation
360° swivel from base
Finish options: White with Silver Accents or All Silver
UL/cUL/CE and worldwide certification
RoHS compliant
Pending Energy Star approval
Constructed primarily of recycled aluminum
Up to 81% recycled and 99% recyclable content
May contribute to a number of LEED-CI, -NC and -EB credits
10-year warranty

The 2010 Routan And Its 4.0 Engine

2010-06-05T21:02:00.003+07:00

All new in 2009, the Volkswagen Routan minivan has no powertrain changes for 2010. The Routan is a restyled version of the Dodge Caravan and Chrysler Town & Country, and shares their Chrysler-designed V6 engines.

S and SE models are powered by a 3.8-liter V6. Known as the EGH, it is a 12-valve pushrod engine, with a cast-iron block and aluminum heads. This engine was introduced in 1991, although it has been progressively updated since then. In 2006, Chrysler retuned it for stronger mid-range torque, at the cost of some top-end horsepower. In the Routan, the 3.8-liter engine is rated at 197 horsepower and 230 lb-ft of torque.

Standard on SEL and SEL Premium models is a 4.0-liter V6. This SOHC engine, known as the EGQ, is the latest iteration of a Chrysler engine family that dates back to 1993. It shares some basic architecture with the EGH engine, but it has an aluminum block with iron cylinder liners, four valves per cylinder, and belt-driven overhead camshafts. The 4.0-liter version first appeared in 2007, sporting various minor refinements intended to reduce noise and vibration. The version in the Routan is rated at 251 horsepower and 259 lb-ft of torque.

The 3.8-liter V6 has adequate power, but only the 4.0-liter engine can rival the muscle of the 250-horsepower Honda Odyssey or the 265-horsepower Toyota Sienna. Naturally, the Routan's performance is very similar to a Dodge Caravan or Chrysler Town & Country with the same engine. Neither Chrysler engine is as smooth or refined as its Honda and Toyota rivals, but engine noise is well subdued.

EPA fuel economy ratings are actually better for the 4.0-liter engine, an estimated 17/25 city/highway, compared to 16/23 for the 3.8-liter. However, the 3.8-liter engine burns regular gasoline, while Volkswagen recommends mid-grade fuel for the 4.0-liter.

How To Maximize Your New Hd Tv

2010-06-05T19:30:00.000+07:00

As technology continues to advance, the prices for some of these at one time very expensive and exclusive technologies begins to drop significantly in price. This has happened with any type of new technology. In fact the smart consumer usually lives without the brand new top of the line technology until this super new and modern item is out performed by some other newer model which devalues the previous and makes it a more economic buy. Well this seems to be the current case for the one time mind shattering HD TV's. Over the last two and half years, HD televisions have captivated audiences of all different shows and programs with their amazing sound, visual clarity and quality. Instead of having to squint or sit closer to the television in order to watch the hockey puck during the game, viewers could finally continue to sit comfortably in their love seat sofa, and still follow the game. Nature lovers were also amazed when specially designed nature programs such as Planet Earth came out and changed the way people were able to see the distinct details in the natural world.

Well today the prices for such technology aren't too high for the average consumer and for this reason it is sure to become more common not just in sports bars to see more television screens in households with high definition capabilities. While this is good news for the average American citizen, just having an HD TV doesn't mean you will see every program in HD. Most shows still are filmed for the standard television. For this reason there exists a second step for the average consumer looking to maximize their home entertainment experience with an HD television.

The second step in really be able to take advantage of a HD television is a good television service provider with channels for the HD enthusiast. Cable television may be a decent choice but when it comes to maximizing your use of high definition quality cable often times fulfills the basic requirements. Instead it is recommend to go with a more diverse range of HD programming offered through a satellite tv provider. With satellite television will get the most out of their HD TV experience with the highest quality picture. With satellite tv the viewer will not only get great sports in HD but news, nature programs, and movies as well.

With satellite tv movies can become full theater screenings. Most satellite tv providers offer 1080p HD which has the same breathtaking visual quality as Blu-Ray. Satellite tv also has adapted to some of the newest 3D TV. Beginning in June of 2010, satellite tv will offer up to three distinct 3D channels. The next step will be to get a new 3D HD TV screen. The final element which satellite television offers is high quality Dolby Digital 5.1 Surround Sound to connect mind soothing sounds and music with the visual quality offered on screen. For the viewer to become fully immersed in their home entertainment system a plan with satellite television is sure to turn their new HD television set into an entertainment experience.

BRAVIA LCD TV BRAVIA ™ - NX Series

2010-06-03T21:12:00.001+07:00

In the year 2010, Sony launched its latest Bravia LCD TV BRAVIA ™ - NX Series with a new monolithic design that can change the whole atmosphere of a living room with an elegant presence.

each new BRAVIA models made with caution in order to attract the attention of the beholder.with sweet lines, high quality finishing and red bezel design for visual performance menabjubkan. with BRAVIA, we will feel the spirit, see perbudaannya, birinovasi touch the future and your senses.

LED EDGE
Bravia made by using EDGE technology in the LED backlight so much thinner and lighter when compared with conventional television direct-type backlight system. typically used for small and medium computer monitors, Soni has adapted a new type of backlighting for LCD TVs. The result is a more efficient process of light transmission and low power consumption with no compromise to picture quality.

Bravia Internet Video
with vravia internet video, making this TV truly an all-in-one entertainment center that allows you to access your favorite Web sites on your video. such as YouTube, Style.com, BlipTV, singing Fool, and many other sites.

Wireless Lan (Wi-fi)
with integrated Wi-Fi model makes it easy to connect to the internet. This feature allows you to use the Internet BRAVIA TV and widgets without any additional cable and you get freedom from the hassle of messy cables.

Bravia Internet widgets
Colors Live ™
Supported by the image processor using a special algorithm developed by Sony, Colors Live ™ can reproduce colors very clearly on the screen. With four user-adjustable settings available, you can choose how you want your picture becomes clear. Is it the bright blue sky or a bright red roses, all of them stand out more with Color ™ Live!

Full HD 1080
Do not miss a thing with Full HD quality! From the smallest detail for bright colors, everything looks more clear and more people live to be truly immersive experience.

Plus, with so many choices of HD sources - from broadcast HD, Blu-ray Disc ™ players, HD Handycam ® camcorder, digital HD camera Cyber-shot, for your PLAYSTATION ® 3 - easier to enjoy the picture quality than before!

BRAVIA Engine 3
LCD television, the main factor to determine the image quality is the processing engine.BRAVIA Engine 3 ™ is a high-definition video processor that reproduces images with higher contrast, superior color and amazing clarity.

Best of all, you can enjoy high quality images regardless of whether the source in SD (Standard Definition) or HD (High Definition).

MPEG Noise Reduction
BRAVIA television has a brilliant MPEG Noise Reduction (NR) feature that will eliminate the two-point noise such as subtitles and noise around the block which is usually found in fast moving scenes. Effective for SD, HD, and even upconverted images, MPEG NR guarantees sharper and more beautiful each and every time.

BRAVIA Sync
BRAVIA Sync allows you to connect all devices together for one-push simple startup / shutdown process. In addition, you also can operate the device is only using the BRAVIA remote control. With BRAVIA Sync, it's all about comfort because entertainment should not be working hard!

Charming Console Table

2010-06-03T01:47:00.002+07:00

Furniture wood sofa table or console table was known as until today still remains popular and is not a big change from time to time. These make great additions to any room in the house. sofa table is basically a large coffee table that can be shaped semi-circle or rectangle. These tables are usually placed on a wall or behind a sofa. they are used for purposes as decorative.

There are many different designs for a sofa table. but the most common and most popular is a rectangular shape and then followed by a half circle. semi-circular tables are usually more impressed by the elegant and luxurious than a square table. form of tables that you'll use depends on the style of your home. so important to have a survey of the territory and force the house to get a table and correct fit.

Molex Mini-Fit 4.2 mm pitch connectors are among those being adapted to meet the requirements of IEC 60335-1.

2010-06-02T21:06:00.002+07:00

Since successfully addressing the well publicized issues created by the RoHS and WEEE directives on the restriction of hazardous substances, the connector industry is now facing a new challenge -— Glow Wire. Although the IEC 60335-1 standard is primarily relevant in Europe, North American companies need to comply in order to service their global customers.

IEC 60335-1 was quietly put together in 1998, although its effects have only really become apparent since mid-2006. In the past, the emphasis was on the ability of electrical appliances and components to self-extinguish in accordance with the Underwriter Laboratories (UL) standard in the event of a naked flame. However, damage is now increasingly being caused by devices self-igniting when components malfunction — damage that may occur in particular when appliances are left unattended.

Because IEC 60335-1 describes the “Safety of Household and Similar Electrical Appliances,” it is primarily about protecting end users and has also been adopted as a basic standard by well-known consumer protection organizations, such as the CE mark. Even the CCC mark, established in China, refers to IEC 60335-1.

Looking at the history of the standard, one can understand why there is now some urgency to its adoption. The standard’s origins go back to 1991, but led to lengthy discussions and objections. In fact, it was not passed until 2005. Consequently, during this time, appliance manufacturers were effectively excused from complying with the standard. Now, however, the uncertainty no longer exists, and appliances must conform to the standard and the resulting test procedure, which was defined under IEC 695-2-1.

With regard to connectors and wiring, the standard requires that insulation materials (connector housings, conductor insulation and printed circuit boards) in all circuits carrying more than 0.2 A be able to resist ignition in the event of glow-wire overload. A distinction is made between attended and unattended appliances.

Pull up a Chair

2010-06-01T05:03:00.003+07:00

Just like Goldilocks of fairy-tale fame, the new V&A exhibition'Sit Down: seating for Kids' questions what it is that makes a successful seat. the event, whoch opened in February at the V&A Museum of Childhood, spans four centuries, and features a variety of examples of seating built for children.

As part of the exhibition, which runs until 5th september 2010, MA funiture design students from Bucks New University are displaying propotypes form their latest project, Seating for schools. their task was to create a seat suitable for children, for use in schools. with practical help form furniture company ercol they reaserched the existing range of school chairs before developing their own ideas with sketches and computer-generated designs.

2010-06-01T04:47:00.003+07:00

Tommy Williams, a former student of De montford University studying Product and furniture Design, s part of the new product. design team at floorcare brand Vax feels that his previous experiance working at the company in 2008 during a summer placement played an important part in his success, and encourages all young design students to seek industrial placements. Vital skills can be learnt and valuable experiences can be won the 2009 EDF Energy Ideal Home Show for his /Micro Kitchen' design. Williams, who works agained giving the competitive edge at university and beyond. he claims that "working at vax gave me a great head start in the world of design." he is now working on a project at Vax to develop a new version of the lightweight multi cyclonic vacuum cleaner called the Mach Air Reach, which is soon to launch.

Robotic Vacuum Concept

2010-06-01T04:41:00.003+07:00

The All-In-One Robot Cleaner designed by Metaphase is a concetp stick vacuum that carries a "passenger" robot. If you want to use the stick vacuum yourself, go ahead. If you've rather have the robot do the cleaning, you've got that option, too! A circular robot, similar looking to a Roomba, slides down off the stick vacuum and does its thing.

The robotic cleaner charges itself after docking with the main stick body. Each piece has its own motor so they can even be used at the same time.

A sensor at the base of the robot allows it to detect dust, dirt, etc. An infrared sensor keeps it from running into objects and a suction motor reduces noise.

Most Major Appliances Shipped Strong in March

2010-06-01T04:26:00.001+07:00

The U.S. appliance industry showed healthy increases in March factory unit shipments in most of the appliance categories tracked by the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers.

Shipments in the AHAM 6 category of appliances (washers, dryers, dishwashers, refrigerators, freezers, ranges, and ovens) were up 9.3% in March 2010. 4,015,300 units shipped, compared to 3,675,000 units shipped in March 2009. For the year-to-date, 9,054,900 appliances have shipped in the AHAM 6 category, up 5.5% from the 8,573,500 appliances shipped in the same time period in 2009.

Cooking appliances had another strong month in March with the ongoing exception of microwave ovens.
• Electric cooking (ranges, ovens, and cooktops) were up 7.1% in Mar. 2010 (450,800 units shipped) over Mar. 2009 (421,000 units shipped). Electric cooking is up 5.4% year-to-date.
• Gas cooking shipments (ranges, ovens, and cooktops) were up 14.6% in Mar. 2010 (278,900 units) over Mar. 2009 (243,300 units). Gas cooking is up 9.1% year-to-date.
• Microwave oven shipments were down 15.8% in Mar. 2010 (880,500 units) from Mar. 2009 (1,046,100 units). Microwaves are down 12.0% year-to-date.

Home laundry was up overall 2.1% in Mar. 2010 compared to Mar. 2009:
• Mar. 2010 washer shipments were up 2.0% to 882,300 units. Washers are just barely down year-to-date at 0.1%.
• Dryer shipments were up 2.1% in Mar. 2010 compared to Mar. 2009. Dryers are up 3.4% year-to-date.

The Kitchen Clean-Up category had a strong month thanks to big growth in built-in dishwasher shipments. Dishwashers were up 21.5% in Mar. 2010 (640,500 units) compared to Mar. 2009 (527,100 units).
• Built-in dishwasher shipments were up 21.9% in Mar. 2010 (633,200 units) compared to Mar. 2009 (519,500 units).
• Portable dishwashers were down 4.5% in Mar. 2010 to 7,300 units.
• Disposers fell 6.7% in Mar. 2010 (456,300 units shipped) compared to Mar. 2009 (489,100 units shipped). Disposers are down 1.1% year-to-date.
• Trash compactors turned in surprisingly strong growth in March, up 19.5% compared to Mar. 2009. Compactors remain down 9.8% year-to-date.

In the Food Preservation category 1,104,200 units were shipped in Mar. 2010, up 13.9% from 969,600 in Mar. 2009. The category is up 8.8% year-to-date.
• Refrigerators shipped 901,300 in Mar. 2010, up 16.2% from 775,500 in Mar. 2009. Refrigerators are up 12.1% year-to-date.
• Freezer shipments were 4.5% in Mar. 2010 (202,900 units) compared to Mar. 2009 (194,000 units). Freezers are, however, down 4.0% year-to-date.

In AHAM's Home Comfort category:
• Room air-conditioners shipments were down 21.4% in Mar. 2010 (1,069,000 units shipped) compared to Mar. 2009 (1,360,500 units shipped). Room air shipments are down 32.1% year-to-date.
• Dehumidifier shipments – which were down 56.6% in February – eked out 0.4% growth in Mar. 2010 at 255,900 units compared to Mar. 2009's 255,000 units. Dehumidifiers remain down 15.3% year-to-date.

AEG-Electrolux Microwave Relies on Low-Warpage Polymer

2010-05-31T23:50:00.002+07:00

AEG-Electrolux relies on a special low-warpage grade of liquid crystalline polymer (LCP) to play a critical role in its combination ovens. Vectra liquid crystalline polymer (LCP) from Ticona Engineering Polymers provides heat resistance to an easy-to-clean interior door panel that covers a key metal component which, in turn, keeps microwaves inside the oven.

Vectra E440i is both heat resistant and transparent to microwaves and the material is used in an interior door panel where temperatures can reach up to 250°C. The injection molded panel permits electromagnetic energy to pass through to a hidden wave trap that prevents dangerous microwaves from escaping through the space between the metal frame of the door and the frame of the cooking space.

The material is also used because it offers stiffness and strength, scratch-resistance, and ease of cleaning.

The low-warpage LCP also offers easy and cost-effective thin-wall injection molding technology advantages due to excellent flowability. The 175-gram door interior panel is molded with a sprue of just 4 grams.

Tactile Pressure-Indicating Sensor Films

2010-05-31T23:39:00.002+07:00

The Pressurex Zero is the newest addition to a firm’s tactile pressure-indicating sensor films. It characterizes tactile contact surface pressure down to an extremely low 7.2 psi. The easy-to-use flexible film is placed between contacting or mating surfaces to instantly and accurately map and measure pressure magnitude and distribution. Variations in contact surface pressure are immediately visible by the impression made on the film. The sensitivity of the film’s coating shows precisely how surfaces deform and engage under stress. The spatial resolution of the film is fine enough to expose minute surface defects and other imperfections. The range for Pressurex Zero is 7.2–28 psi. Sensor Products Inc., www.sensorprod.com

Web Exclusive: LCD Displays Withstand Extreme Temperatures

2010-05-31T23:33:00.003+07:00

Optoelectronics specialist Lumex (Palatine, IL, U.S.; www.lumex.com) recently launched the InfoVue High/Low Temp series of custom, high-duty LCD displays for applications that perform in extreme heat or extreme cold. Whereas existing LCD technology performs in the –20° to 70°C temperature range, Lumex says, the InfoVue High/Low Temp displays provide consistent high-quality performance from –40° to 85°C.

“Previously LCDs that operated in extreme cold or extreme heat required bulky built-in heaters and coolers in order to ensure performance,” says Yasoob Ahmed, display technology manager. “The special liquid crystal used in the InfoVue High/Low Temp series eliminates the need for coolers and allows us to use low-power heaters.“ In addition, Ahmed says, custom InfoVue LCD displays can provide a 50% savings in technology costs and 80% energy savings when compared with alternative technologies such as vacuum fluorescents.

InfoVue LCD displays provide full graphic capability and daylight visibility. When combined with LED backlighting technology, a wide range of color options is available. Users can either opt for a monochromatic screen with any color of LED backlight, or select negative image option with mono colored pixels and a black background.

The displays can be produced in sizes ranging from 8 × 1 character displays to 320 × 240-pixel graphic displays.

An onboard LCD controller makes a new MCU series an affordable and flexible solution for design engineers

2010-05-31T23:27:00.003+07:00

The latest addition to the R8C family of microcontrollers (MCUs), the R8C/Lx series from Renesas Technology America Inc. (San Jose, CA, U.S.; www.renesas.com) offers engineers a built-in LCD controller and is capable of driving up to 416 LCD segments. According to the company, these features, along with other integrated features such as power-on-reset and on-chip oscillators, create a single-chip solution that reduces bill of material costs and design complexity.

“Electronics in a typical home appliance have to perform three main functions: system control, user interface, and safety/monitoring,” explains Nelson Quintana, product manager, system LSI business unit. “The R8C/Lx MCU integrates functional blocks to handle all three tasks.”

The MCU’s peripheral functions such as A/D, D/A, timers, and serial interfaces can be used in system control. Similarly, specialized hardware features such as detection of oscillator failure, an independent watchdog timer, and protection of system registers provide a self-testing mechanism to achieve a high level of safety and reliability. For the user interface, the MCU can control the most common input devices such as key matrices or knobs, and it can drive an LCD glass to enhance the operation of the appliance.

Quintana says that compared with other design options, an MCU with a built-in LCD controller provides more design flexibility. “Products incorporating an LCD can be typically designed using standard I/Os from any MCUs. This approach, however, has many limitations in the type and/or size of LCD glass that can be controlled, and the design can be complex since it is a software-based approach,” he explains.

A second approach is to use an LCD module that has a dedicated controller, also known as chip-on-glass. “Although this may be the easiest way to add an LCD to a product, it is definitely not the lowest-cost solution because of the addition of an extra chip,” Quintana says. “An MCU with a built-in LCD controller such as the R8C/Lx series provides greater flexibility, because the hardware can be configured for various options, thus reducing the software complexity and eliminating the cost of external components.”

Further adding to the device’s flexibility is the integrated data transfer controller (DTC). “The DTC unit can be configured to move data from any location in memory to any peripherals or vice versa,” Quintana explains. “In addition, the unit can be set to start transfers immediately after an interrupt trigger or with software control.”

In a motor control application for a washing machine, which requires the MCU to continuously monitor motor sensors through multiple A/D inputs, Quintana says the DTC can be configured to automatically transfer the A/D conversion results from the A/D registers to RAM for calculation purposes. “By doing so, the CPU will not be interrupted; hence, reducing the interrupt handling overhead,” he says.

Based on a 16-bit CPU core, the new device also integrates data flash memory with a background operation function that allows the CPU to execute instructions while data are being written to or erased from the data flash. It supports an extended voltage range of 1.8 to 5.5 V to give system designers options for configuring their power supplies, while potentially reducing system cost by eliminating unnecessary components. In addition, high-speed on-chip oscillators eliminate the need for an external resonator by proving precise clock signals at 40, 36.864, or 32 MHz.

In addition to an integrated data transfer controller, data flash, and an onboard 416-pixel LCD controller, the R8C/Lx MCU features hardware for self-testing to facilitate industry standards for safety.

Digital Multitasking: Motor control and sensor processing handled by a single chip.

2010-05-31T22:57:00.000+07:00

Appliance technology has evolved significantly over the years, and two trends are merging to fuel the next round of appliance evolution — digital motor control and digital sensor processing. Digital Signal Controllers (DSCs) are at the confluence of these trends, and enable digital sensor processing, digital motor control and power factor correction to be implemented on a single chip.

DSCs have hardware accommodation for efficient DSP processing on-chip. While many advanced sensorless algorithms do not require DSP, most benefit from on-chip DSP resources. For example, the highly efficient Field-Oriented Motor Control (FOC) algorithm benefits from a single-cycle MAC, accumulator saturation and other features common to DSPs and DSCs, but not typically found on MCUs.

While the real world is analog, digital techniques have progressively augmented traditional analog design implementations. At the point where the balance is tipped, where the digital approach cannot be effectively matched with analog wizardry, digital control and processing become mainstream tools in the designer’s tool bag.

Digital motor control

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Fig. 1. Resource utilization for an advanced sensorless FOC algorithm on a 28-pin, 128 KB Flash DSC.

The ongoing trend toward electronic control is driving the venerable commutator out of its DC motor shell, as evidenced by the migration from Brushed to Brushless DC (BLDC) motors. Another disruptive shift was the replacement of Hall Effect sensors with resistor dividers to measure EMF feedback, through the main phase connections, to determine rotor position and velocity.

Now, advanced algorithms such as FOC are considered highly desirable, due to the resulting excellent torque response, improved motor efficiency and lower audible noise obtained through sinusoidal drives. The FOC algorithm asymptotically decouples the rotor torque and rotor flux, making the speed linearly related to torque current. This permits, for example, an induction motor to possess the same behavior of a separately excited DC motor.

All of these motor transformations have one thing in common: they are enabled by progressively more sophisticated electronic control, coupled with an economically viable control solution. The primary impediments delaying these dramatic shifts have been the availability of cost-effective control, and the time needed to understand and refine the technology.

Many underpinnings of those impediments have been removed with modern DSCs, which offer cost-optimized and application-optimized performance coupled with robust applications support. Regulatory add-ons, such as active power factor correction, exacerbate the control workload and accelerate acceptance of the digital solution. As DSCs continue to add capability and performance while prices continue to decrease, new possibilities for product development emerge. This can be illustrated with the example of the merging of digital motor control with digital sensor processing onto one DSC.

Digital sensor processing

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Fig. 2. Sensor signal plus noise in the time domain.

Today, a sensor signal within a typical motor-driven appliance is filtered, level shifted, amplified and fed to the Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) of an embedded controller. The performance of the embedded application depends on accurate information coming from the sensor. Sensors can degrade with use, which may accelerate product failure. Analog-filter and gain characteristics can change over time, temperature and manufacturing variations.

Digital sensor processing can be employed to provide advanced compensation for a variety of sensor conditions, including sensor degradation, performance reductions in age-sensitive or temperature-sensitive components, failure prediction, substituting a less expensive sensor without performance loss, or improving sensor accuracy. Since DSCs are increasingly being used for motor control, they provide an opportunity to utilize excess resources to also handle digital sensor processing tasks. Fig. 1 illustrates the resource utilization for an advanced sensorless FOC algorithm on a 28-pin 128 KB Flash, the dsPIC33F128MC202 DSC. (Note: dsPIC is a registered trademark of Microchip Technology.)

There is richness to sensor data in the frequency domain that is not apparent in the time domain. Sensors are often remote from signal conditioning circuitry, and their signals are subject to environmentally induced noise. A low signal-to-noise ratio can adversely affect the performance of the end application.

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Fig. 3. Sensor signal plus noise in the frequency domain.

Take, for example, the thermocouple, which is a common sensor used for measuring temperature. Thermocouples are 2-wire sensing elements that use the Seebeck effect to measure the temperature at the junction of the two wires. The Seebeck effect creates a small voltage across the junction of two dissimilar metals that correlates to the temperature at the junction. Because of low signal amplitude and low current drive, thermocouple signals are highly susceptible to power-line contamination. For slowly moving temperatures, a low pass filter may satisfactorily reject power-line noise.

Digital filters are preferable for filter characteristics requiring adaptation (such as sharp rejection of a 50 Hz signal versus a 60 Hz signal), sharp cutoff frequencies or stability over time, temperature and production variation. For complex filters, the traditional analog filtering approach requires more components, is subject to drift over temperature and aging, and requires component swap-out for filter characteristic changes.

The thermocouple example can be extrapolated to any other sensor with induced noise that degrades application performance. For sensor applications with higher rates of change, the power-line noise may fall within the spectra of the sensor signal. This may best be filtered using a notch digital filter. Fig. 2 indicates a time-domain representation of a signal buried in noise. Fig. 3 illustrates how the desired signal becomes easily discernable in the frequency domain.

Another illustrative example can be found in a different class of sensor processing; one where sensor accuracy or reliability is desirable, but economically challenging. In such cases, two approaches can be taken. One is to use a lower-cost sensor and augment the lost reliability with digital sensor processing. The other is to combine sensor functions to eliminate a sensor. Alternately, it may be possible to do both. Turbidity detection can be used as a platform to illustrate plausible concepts.

Turbidity sensing

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Fig. 4. DSCs can optimally handle sensor processing and motor control, and may replace the user-interface MCU, depending on architectural preference.

Turbidity detection can be used to detect the level of particulates in dish or laundry water, to determine that the load is clean enough to terminate a wash cycle early. This helps to avoid additional tub fills, which saves machine energy and time. Industrial-grade turbidimeters, used at water treatment plants to assess water quality in the treatment cycle, are very precise and rugged, but are too expensive for appliance use.

Appliance turbidity sensors employ optical techniques, where a beam of light is passed through the liquid being tested. Two optical detectors — one positioned head-on to the light source, the other at an angle of 90 Deg to the light source — measure the transmitted and scattered light photons, respectively. The greater the concentration of suspended particles in the water, the less light gets through and the more it is scattered. The turbidity of the water is determined by analyzing the ratio of the scattered light signal, divided by the transmitted light signal.

Most dishwashers have removed the detector collecting scattered light information to save cost, which has resulted in reduced sensitivity. On the other hand, while this technique measures occlusion to a degree that is satisfactory for dishwasher applications, it may not be sensitive enough for clothes washer applications where the change in turbidity is relatively small. The frequency-domain analysis of transmitted light would not only provide the strength of the collected signal, but also spectral information that may yield sufficient information to enhance sensitivity for washing machines.

By implementing frequency-domain analysis of turbidity information on a DSC, dishwashers may be able to optimize detergent use and reduce rinse cycles by administering proper concentrations of detergent for local water conditions. Digital sensor processing may also be able to distinguish between particulates, normal turbulence, and the presence of detergent by examining frequency domain characteristics. This may permit the detector to have dual uses: both detergent detection and normal turbidity measurement.

An expensive element of turbidity detection is the material through which the liquid passes. Lower-cost material can succumb to abrasion following long-term exposure to particulates in the water flow. This causes reflected light that reduces the sensitivity of measurement. Digital sensor processing may permit lower-priced materials to be employed, by using digital techniques to improve signal selectivity — thus extending sensor life.

Practical considerations

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Table 1. Disruptive technology shifts in DC motor control

Appliance engineers do not need to be steeped in DSP technology to take advantage of frequency-domain techniques. Low-cost tools can recommend digital filter types and generate coefficients based on the desired filter parameters. In fact, free, optimized DSP libraries and tools that are available today permit the examination of sensor signals in the frequency domain. DSCs are well-adapted implementation vehicles for this frequency-domain processing, since they have specialized hardware and addressing modes optimized for DSP. Additionally, DSCs incorporate hardware specialized for motor control and power-drive applications, so both sensor processing and motor control can be accomplished with a single chip. Training and vendor support can also accelerate time to market.

The use of DSCs to perform both digital motor control and digital sensor processing presents appliance designers with new opportunities to

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