Featured Product Archive
The inventions and products featured on these pages were chosen either for their
uniqueness in the RF engineering realm, or are simply awesome (or ridiculous) enough
to warrant an appearance.
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 Something
immediately caught my eye about the Subaru Boxer inline 4-cylinder engine that appears
on the inside cover of the November
IEEE Spectrum.
I cannot find the photo on the Web - maybe it is a concept engine. The unique feature
is the chain drive system that uses curved guides / tensioners rather than idler
pulleys (see pic below). I wonder what kind of surface finish and lubrication can
endure
 200,000 miles of sliding friction? Nice.
11-7-2008
 Here is an attachment for your cordless drill that I'll bet you don't
have yet. DPX Systems has
come up with some creative way to demonstrate the utility of their energy adapter
drives. Rube Goldberg comes to mind at first when examining the pickup truck winch,
wheelchair, mini-bike, etc., with cordless drills hanging off of them, but the quality
of the machining suggests otherwise.
10-10-2008
 You have to admire the
Japanese for their dedication to advancing the science of robotics - particularly
in the realm of being human surrogates. Recently in Kitakyushu, this Tmsuk "telepresence
shopper robot" did shopping chores for an infirm elderly woman via commands sent
from an NTT DoCoMo video-capable cell phone.
9-12-2008
 Here's a new statement
for the lab fashion coterie amongst us. This dress has 436 white circuit boards.
Each contains an LED that is operated by a central controller unit, allowing messages
and patterns to be displayed. Solar cells power the dress, so its effectiveness
in dark party environments could be negligible. An RF receiver accommodates remote
control. I assume the dress is Pb-free so eco-warriors will not be compelled to
throw paint on the wearer.
11-14-2008
 Now
there might be a cell phone for hard-line tree huggers whose consciences heretofore
prevented them from owning an awful, e-waste creating device of any sort. The Nokia
'Remade' has a body made of recycled aluminum, plastic and rubber, while the display
has been redesigned to minimize environmental impact. Of course the really evil
earth-destroying parts - ICs, capacitors, solder, etc. - are still in there. 'Remade'
is actually a concept phone and is not commercially available, but will lead to
retail versions in 2009.
10-17-2008
 A word of advice:
Don't keep any information on your mobile device that you wouldn't want used against
you in a court of law. This Universal Forensic Extraction Device "enables police,
intelligence forces, military and anti-terror units to extract mobile phone forensic
evidence, working in the field as well as in the lab."
9-19-2008 Now here is a high tech application that most of us can probably
use. This nifty device uses a "specially shaped pulse" to repair strings of miniature
Christmas lights by correcting malfunctioning shunt connections inside the bulbs.
It actually appears to work. See the video on the website. $20 can save you a lot
of grief. Get a
Light Saver Pro here at Amazon.com
11-21-2008 The "paperless office" concept has been an elusive concept, but it
moves one step closer to reality with the "Quickies" concept developed by MITs Ambient
Intelligence Group. Quickie notes are RFID-enabled Post-it notes that allow their
content to be sent directly to computers, cellphones, or other wireless devices.
This is a mini version of those wireless white boards used in conference rooms.
10-24-2008
 This laptop computer trackpad
by Alps senses your hovering fingers, so contact is not required. Alps says it would
be good for sterile applications or public displays. I have to believe it would
get annoying in everyday use, kind of like when one of the digital signature pads
at the store checkout counter begins tracking the pen before it ever touches the
surface.
9-26-2008
 I have to admit that
I did not know there is a category in the Guinness Book of World Records for cellphone
ruggedness. There is. This JCB 3CX Digger Toughphone is now king of the hill. The
record attempt had to be witnessed by independent judges who would act as testers
and also verify the height form which the phone was dropped. It was still making
calls and sending texts even after the 3.25 meter drop onto concrete.
11-28-2008 So That's Why Apple
Recalled the iPhone 3G's USB Power Adapter. I clicked on the link to read about
the forensic engineering effort. The technical explanation caught me by surprise
and made me laugh out loud. I'll bet you will, too.
10-31-2008 It looks like
an upside-down, high-perf, raised intake manifold - or maybe a set of exhaust headers
- for a big block Chevy engine. It's not. This is the Cooler Master's Hyper Z600
IC heatsink, with 6 heat pipes as standard equipment. It claims to dissipate nearly
90 W without using a fan. Maybe they can build a version for your PA output stage.
Would that be cool or what? (pun intended)
10-3-2008
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