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Today in Science History -
 Once World War II and the Korean War were
through consuming a large percentage of the world's material and labor resources, technology
focus shifted largely toward inventing and manufacturing consumer goods. It was a period
similar to the Roaring Twenties, after World War I where innovation and high employment
fueled good times for a lot of the population. Creature comforts like indoor plumbing,
refrigerators, electric toasters and can openers, radio, affordable automobiles, were
appearing in the majority of homes. Unfortunately, not all countries enjoyed the upturn
during those eras, usually because of continued war and/or oppressive Communist / Socialist
/ Marxist regimes.
Israel did not formally become a country again until 1948, having been ruled ...
 Since 2003, Bittele Electronics has consistently
provided low-volume, electronic contract manufacturing (ECM) and turnkey PCB assembly
services. It specializes in board level turnkey
PCB assembly
for design engineers needing low volume or prototype multi-layer printed circuit boards.
Free Passive Components: Bittele Electronics is taking
one further step in its commitment of offering the best service to clients of its PCB
assembly business. Bittele is now offering common passive components to its clients FREE
of Charge ...
 "The physical structure of
liquid metal is altered by incorporating a conductive nano- or micro-nickel
filler. Liquid metal printing is integral to the flexible electronics field. Additive
manufacturing enables fast fabrication of intricate designs and circuitry. The field
features a range of products including electrically conductive textiles; bendable displays;
sensors for torque, pressure, and other types of strain; wearable sensor suits, such
as those used in the development of video games; antennae; and biomedical sensors. Soft
robots, flexible computer screens, and other stretchable electronic devices also can
be created ..."
 "Discovery may herald high-performance computer
hard disks where lack of friction enables greater data storage. It has long been known
that layered solid materials, particularly graphite, can act as lubricants. A joint project
between Tel Aviv and Tsinghua Universities has now found that the interface between graphite
and a two-dimensional material, hexagonal boron nitride, exhibits a property known as
superlubricity where friction between two surfaces virtually disappears
altogether. 'Superlubricity is a highly intriguing physical phenomenon, a state of practically
zero or ultra-low friction between two contacting surfaces,' said Prof Oded Hod ..."
   Windfreak Technologies designs, manufactures,
tests and sells high value USB powered and controlled radio frequency products such as
RF signal generators, RF synthesizers, RF power detectors, mixers, up/downconverters.
Worldwide customers include Europe, Australia, and Asia. Please contact Windfreak today
to learn how they might help you with your current project
...
 pSemi Corporation (formerly Peregrine Semiconductor),
introduces the world’s first monolithic, silicon-on-insulator (SOI) Wi-Fi front-end module
(FEM)—the PE561221. Ideal for Wi-Fi home gateways, routers and set-top boxes,
this high-performance module uses a smart bias circuit to deliver a high linearity signal
and excellent long-packet error vector magnitude (EVM) performance. The PE561221 combines
the intelligent integration capabilities of pSemi's SOI technology and Murata’s expertise
in Wi-Fi connectivity solutions and advanced packaging. This 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi FEM integrates
a low-noise amplifier (LNA), a power amplifier (PA) and two RF switches ...
 Maybe at one time I knew this, but the claim by
Fairchild Semiconductor in this 1965 Electronics magazine advertisement took
me by surprise. They claim to have invented the
dual-inline-package (DIP) format. According to Wikipedia, a trio of chaps - Don Forbes,
Rex Rice and Bryant Rogers - all Fairchild engineers, developed the DIP package in 1964,
a year prior to the ad. Previously, a round can designated TO# (Transistor Outline) with
# (number) leads around the perimeter was used for integrated circuits, but as the I/O
pin count increased, that form factor became unwieldy. An extensive search for a patent
on the DIP, assigned to Fairchild and/or the three inventors, did not turn up anything ...
 "Researchers in the U.S. have developed a way to
manipulate and mix droplets of fluids by having them surf on
acoustic
waves in oil. The group, from Duke University in North Carolina, claims that the
technology could form the basis of a reusable and programmable biomedical chip for applications
ranging from diagnostics to laboratory-based research. So-called lab-on-a-chip systems
have played an increasingly important role in the biomedical and pharmaceutical sectors,
but because these devices rely on solid surfaces their application has been hindered
by problems related to surface absorption ..."
 Color television was a big hit with homeowners
and was adopted fairly rapidly in the 1960s even considering the relatively high cost
and low number of network color broadcasts in the beginning years. The enthusiasm underwent
a severe reduction when word got out that large doses of
x−rays
were streaming out of the front of the CRT for sets that did not take precautions to
prevent it (which was the majority of sets initially). The major cause was extremely
high voltages applied between the electron gun and phosphorescent raster grid - in the
neighborhood of 35 kV or more - when the high voltage regulator circuit malfunctioned.
Note that even when everything was working properly ...
 Pasternack, a leading provider of RF, microwave
and millimeter wave products, has unveiled a new line of
SPDT high-power PIN diode RF switches that offer desirable performance for transmit
and receive signal routing applications. Typical applications can involve use in radar
systems, EW applications, base station infrastructure, repeaters, military/microwave
radios, public safety/land mobile radios, UHF/VHF radios, and test and measurement applications.
Pasternack's new line of SPDT high-power PIN diode switches consists of 7 different models
that offer excellent power handling and isolation with broadband performance and fast
switching speed. Ideal for transmit and receive applications, these solid state PIN diode
switches ...
 Believe it or not, there was a time when the Internet
did not exist and getting quality information could be difficult. Offices, cubicles,
laboratories, company technical libraries, even hallways, were piled high with reference
books, magazines, component books, applications notes, datasheets, white papers, and
every other form of information that might be useful.
Watkins-Johnson Tech-Notes were particularly notable for their practical
design and application content. Thanks to Mr. Larry Jugler for providing these three
new Watkins-Johnson Tech-Notes for adding to my collection of PDF files:
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Competitive Receiver Technologies
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RF Signal Processing Before the Receiver
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Software Design of Microprocessor-Controlled Receivers
 This news tidbit appeared in a 1953 issue of
Radio-Electronics along with an editorial by Hugo Gernsback titled "Transistor
Transition." RCA had just developed its first
fully solid state - except for the cathode ray tube (CRT) - television. Note that
at the time the CRT was still often referred to as a kinescope. In fact, the word "kinescope"
was coined and trademarked by RCA, so they had a vested interest in perpetuating its
usage. Jerry Herzog, shown in the photo, was one of the engineers responsible for the
design and construction of the television ...
  SF Circuits' specialty is in the complex, advanced
technology of
PCB fabrication and assembly, producing high quality multi-layered
PCBs from elaborate layouts. With them, you receive unparalleled technical expertise
at competitive prices as well as the most progressive solutions available. Their customers
request PCB production that is outside the capabilities of normal circuit board providers.
Please take a moment to visit San Francisco Circuits today ...
 "ABI Research estimates the smart home segment
could potentially be worth in the region of $11.2B by 2022, but the diversification question
still remains for the telcos. The smart home is a concept which has been on the horizon
for some time, we've been debating the merits of talking fridges for years, but until
recently it has perhaps been little more than a gimmick. The advantages of the expensive
upgrades were limited, and in all honesty, there seem like little point in connecting
your toilet to the internet. That said, during the last 12-18 months applications and
services have started to appear to make the prospect genuinely..."
  Alliance Test sells
used / refurbished test equipment,
we offer short- and long-term rentals. They also offer repair, maintenance and calibration.
Prices discounted up to 80% off list price. Agilent/HP, Tektronix, Anritsu, Fluke, R&S
and other major brands. A global organization with ability to source hard to find equipment
through our network of suppliers. Please visit Allied Test Equipment today to see how
they can help your project ...
 Hugo Gernsback was well-known not just for his
technical prowess, but for an uncanny ability to predict future developments in electronics,
transportation, and production methods. Barely three years had passed since Messrs. Bardeen,
Shockley, and Brattain, announced their invention of the transistor when this editorial
titled, "Transistor
Transition" appeared in Radio-Electronics magazine. Gernsback mentions the
concept of "appliqued circuits" (i.e., printed circuits) and "roll-up display" transistor
picture tubes (i.e., flexible displays), and "pocket radios" that can be held up to the
ear. Production prices for transistors at the time were about $8 apiece, which is the
inflation-adjusted equivalent of $76 in 2018. At that price point, who could blame the
pro-tube, never-transistor crowd from denying the possibility of transistors ever replacing
tubes ...
 Please welcome
Rohde & Schwarz as RF Cafe's newest Banner Advertiser in a 160x600−px
slot! R&S has been a long-time supporter. Dr. Lothar Rohde and Dr. Hermann
Schwarz founded the company Munich, Germany, in 1933. Per a Wikipedia entry, R&S
received a electronics equipment depot maintenance contract in 1945 from the U.S. Army,
which might be their first presence here in the U.S., providing serious competition to
Hewlett Packard. I found this
Rohde &
Schwarz ad in a 1965 issue of Electronics magazine. Rohde & Schwarz
is now a premier player in the communications test equipment realm. Lab benches and production
test stations have taken on a noticeably blue hue thanks to all the R&S equipment
in use ...
Author:
Kirt
Blattenberger
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