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Power

Q&A: James R. Biard, GaAs Infrared LED Inventor

James “Bob” Biard, born 1931, is an American electrical engineer who holds 72 U.S. patents, including the GaAs infrared LEDs, the optical isolator, the Schottky transistor, and...
Tiny LED lamp Using LiFi technology LED bulbs send data into visible light instead of the radio waves used by traditional wireless technology like WiFi Image courtesy of Gina Haubge Flickr
Wireless

Li-Fi Leaves the Laboratory

With the visible spectrum largely untapped, a few startup companies are taking new Li-Fi products out of laboratories and putting them into computers, smartphones, and even IoT...
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Optical

Why Does Accuracy Matter So Much with an Ambient Light Sensor?

The ability of an ambient light sensor to closely match a photopic response is key to maximizing human-machine interaction, extending the life of an electronics system, and improving...
Because smartphones hold a large amount of personal information manufacturers are investing in stronger security measures such as fingerprint scans and iris scanning authentication Image courtesy of Fujitsu Limited
News

Iris Scanner Unlocks Smartphones Using Infrared Light

Fujitsu recently revealed a smartphone that uses an infrared light-emitting diode to support iris scanning authentication.
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Test & Measurement

Bicolor LED Indicates Voltage Readings Via Visual Pulses

Using a simple PIC microcontroller and small program, a bicolor (red/green) LED can be controlled and directed to indicate measured voltage from 0 to 5 V using a simple pulsed...
The algorithm in this microcontroller design this design drives an LED matrix and provides digitalvoltagereadout and barlike dot displays showing dots for a graphical output if the input value is changing and switching automatically to displaying a numeric value when the input voltage is stable
Ideas for Design

Microcontroller Displays Voltage Measurements in Graphical and Digital Formats via Single LED Matrix

The algorithm in this microcontroller design drives an LED matrix and provides digital-voltage-readout and bar-like dot displays, showing dots for a graphical output if the input...
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Power

Next-Gen 18-W LED Power Supplies Shrink To Fit Space-Constrained Apps

According to Green Watt Power, a division of Calex Mfg. Co., its 18-W GLCA series of constant-current LED power supplies offer a more compact solution over the company’s standard...
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LEDs

20-W Supply Fits Triac/ELV Dimmer-Compatible LED Drivers

Green Watt Power’s 20-W GLCT series of constant-current dimmable LED power supplies offer a compact solution for Triac/ELV dimmer-compatible LED driver applications.
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Power

Gallery: What's Hot on Day 2 at PCIM 2014

PCIM (Power Conversion Intelligent Motion) is Europe's leading meeting-point for specialists in power electronics and its applications in intelligent motion, renewable energy ...