March 2011

The March 2011 edition covers Power & Autotronics and Networking & Databuses, as well as Telecommunications, Manufacturing & Automation.

Power & Autotronics presents four articles: The first of these, by Dr Thomas Dittrich at Tadiran Batteries, considers long term battery life (spanning more than twenty years) for metering applications, achieved by Tadiran's improved lithium battery material balance. The second article unveils a DC solar system using Current Automation's MultiPlus inverter/charger. This system intelligently switches grid mains on and off according to battery storage charge to optimise battery life and minimise grid usage. Then, an integrated CAN transceiver microcontroller solution is unveiled in an article from information supplied by NXP Semiconductors, before a short article on how Radiometrix's modules are integrated into Durham University's solar car.

In Networking & Databuses, an article by Gavin Chait at UCT discusses submarine cables and ‘the world's exposed nervous system. This feature also contains Part 1 of an article submitted by Samtec, titled ‘Novel transmission line for 40 GHz applications'.

The first article in Telecommunications, Manufacturing & Automation, from information supplied by AWR Corporation, shows how LTE amplifier performance may be optimised using the company's visual system simulator. Then, Clint Cronje at Imago Communications indicates how videoconferencing offers a way out of traffic jams. Also in this feature, Ralf Wohlschläger at Panasonic Electric Works Europe explains Panasonic's ‘Green Automation, clean products and eco-ideas'. Finally, an interesting article by Paul Rako at EDN clarifies that ‘who invented something, depends on your definition of something'.

Enjoy

Pierre van Rhyn, Pr Sci Nat,
MSc (Eng)(UP), COC6 (Radio) (SA PMG)