This new report identifies emerging electrical, mechanical and economic attributes of connectors anticipated by the electronic system design community as well as provide examples of new products connector suppliers have released or are developing in order to address these emerging needs. The report is focused on three industry segments that are experiencing the most rapid and dramatic changes, and represent some of the most fertile markets for innovation in connector technology (Computers, Telecom and Automotive). Statistics are presented showing historical and forecast connector shipments for the years 2005, 2006, 2007 …

HONG KONG, Sept. 30 /PRNewswire-Asia/ — TC Interconnect Holdings Limited (SEHK Code: 0515) (”TC Interconnect”/ the “Group”), one of the top 10 Printed Circuit Board (PCB) manufacturers in Hong Kong and China, today announces that the Group is having a partnership with LED lighting technology proprietary developer and operator, Orient Opto — Semiconductors Corp. (”Dongfang”), to engage with the design and manufacture of Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting as well as operation and management of energy saving projects such as LED road lamp via business model of Energy Management Contract (EMC) …

When VCRs and digital clocks first started showing up in homes during the 1980s, they soon became the first visible symptom of a larger problem. People began to realize how many power surges they experienced in their homes. Their fancy new clock and VCR would be fine one minute, and then start flashing 12:00 after a surge. That would require you to re-set it, time after time, until most of us just got used to seeing that flashing 12:00.
Today, power surges are still the norm, but now with all the …

The North American printed circuit board book-to-bill ratio was 1.07 in August, as both shipments and new orders increased, according to trade association IPC.
Compared to the previous month, board shipments in August 2009 increased 4.5% and bookings went up 13.1% compared to July. However, board shipments in August decreased 26.5% from August 2008 and orders booked decreased 11.7% from August 2008. Year-to-date date, board shipments were down 27% and bookings were down 25.7%.
The increase in the book-to-bill ratio was a sign of recovery in the printed circuit board industry, according …

The US Environmental Protection Agency is recommending that owners of older buildings, including schools, test brittle, aging masonry and window caulking for high levels of chemicals believed to cause cancer.
The recommendation is targeted at thousands of buildings constructed or renovated between 1950 and 1978, when polychlorinated biphenyls, widely known as PCBs, were banned. Several Massachusetts schools and colleges have recently found high levels of PCBs in caulking.
The federal agency said the danger to schoolchildren is unknown, but added that “we’re concerned about the potential risks associated with exposure to these …

CALGARY – The Alberta government doesn’t plan to alter a controversial bill designed to hasten power line projects despite a growing campaign to quash the proposed legislation.
Political debate of the bill, introduced in June, is expected to ramp up when the legislature resumes late next month.
All three opposition parties are calling on the Conservatives to scrap proposed rule changes that would grant the government authority to decide when additional electrical transmission lines are required. Under existing rules, the need for these massive energy projects– whose multibillion-dollar construction costs are ultimately …

It’s time to break the decade-old impasse over whether to run a new power transmission line in downtown Cape Coral underground – and over who pays how much.
The line is needed to reduce the system’s vulnerability to power outages and to increase the system’s capacity, especially when growth resumes. There’s wide agreement on that, and on practically nothing else.
This has been a very frustrating issue. The line is needed, underground would at least look better and might be less of a hindrance to downtown redevelopment. The costs at issue amount, …

YESTech’s system line up at this year’s Productronica will be the biggest ever; it will include the YTV BX, which offers AOI benchtop PCB inspection with exceptional defect coverage. Using 5 megapixel colour imaging technology, the YTV BX inspects solder joints and verifies correct part assembly to improve quality and increase throughput. The four side viewing cameras
add inspection capabilities usually found only on in-line systems. For in-line inspection, visitors can see the YTV FX which, with top down and side viewing cameras, offers high speed PCB inspection capability, all in …

Hong Kong, Sept 28, 2009 – (ACN Newswire) – TC Interconnect Holdings Limited (SEHK Code: 0515) (”TC Interconnect” / the “Group”), one of the top 10 Printed Circuit Board (PCB) manufacturers in Hong Kong and China, today announces that the Group is having a partnership with LED lighting technology proprietary developer and operator Orient Opto – Semiconductors Corp. (”Dongfang”) to engage the design and manufacture of Light Emitting Diode (LED) lighting as well as operation and management of energy saving projects such as LED road lamp via business model of Energy …

Hello and welcome back to our series on automotive tools and how to guides for the new weekend warrior auto mechanic. This isn’t meant for the professional, but rather the average Joe who is looking to get his hands a little dirty on the weekends. In the past, we have covered a lot of tools but in today’s article I’m going to cover how to check your spark plug wires for cracking in the insulation. The spark plug wire carries the electrical charge from the ignition coil down to the …