Automotive

Series of EPCOS z-axis transponder coils for passive entry, passive start (PEPS) car access systems have been presented by TDK Corporation. With their dimensions of just 7.7x7.4x2.65mm the components are extremely compact and feature a very low insertion height. The B82451L*E402 series comprises seven transponder coils covering an inductance range from 1.0-10.0mH.

The TPD3S716-Q1, from Texas Instruments, is a single-chip solution for short-to-battery, short-circuit and ESD protection with an adjustable current-limit for the USB connector’s VBUS and data lines in automotive applications. The integrated data switches provide best-in-class bandwidth for minimal signal degradation while simultaneously providing 18V short-to-battery protection.

A series of 300W high performance and ruggedised DC/DC converters, featuring ultra-wide 4:1 input voltage ranges and EN 50155 approval for railway applications, has been announced by Power Sources Unlimited. The shock and vibration resistant TEQ 300WIR series is available in single output voltages of 12, 24, 28 and 48VDC. Its chassis mount design is suited for industrial applications where PCB mounting is not possible.

Stockholm’s public transport system, Storstockholms Lokaltrafik (SL), has seen a 25% reduction in crime and a 60% decrease in theft following the deployment of a comprehensive surveillance network. Axis Communications, the global leader in network video, through the addition of almost 4,000 network security cameras, has helped improve the safety and security of staff and commuters throughout the network.

Networks of tiny wireless sensors could not only improve safety at railway crossings but would also be much less costly to install and maintain, drawing their electrical power from track vibration. These are among the findings of a UK Government-funded project carried out by rail experts at the University of Huddersfield.

Researchers from EPFL have developed a type of glass that offers excellent energy efficiency and lets mobile telephone signals through. And by teaming up with Swiss manufacturers, they have produced innovative windows. Railway company BLS is about to install them on some of its trains in order to improve energy efficiency.

ARBOR Technology has announced that Eurotunnel has selected ARBOR’s FPC-7701 fanless box PC for both its manned and fully automated toll booths which require reliable ruggedised embedded computing systems to maximise check-in efficiency. Processes such as number plate recognition, barrier control and ticket printing are controlled through this PC interface.

Safety Integrity Level 4 (SIL4) certification for the Artesyn Embedded Computing ControlSafe Platform (CSP) with ControlSafe Computer (CSC) and ControlSafe Software, is one of the first embedded computing systems to use Commercial Off-The-Shelf (COTS) components to create a fail-safe and fault-tolerant computing platform.

  A series of automotive grade NTC thermistors using a highly reliable multilayer/monolithic structure for use in harsh automotive, transportation and heavy equipment applications has been released by Panasonic Automotive and Industrial Systems Europe. 

The availability of anti-sulfuration chip resistors have been announced by ROHM, they are optimised for applications exposed to sulfur-rich environments such as communication infrastructure, automotive systems and industrial equipment. Sulfur particles are generally present in the air in various forms due to sulfur and automotive exhaust gases.