Virginia Panel Corporation has launched the new S6 Low Profile Mass InterConnect system for rack and tabletop testing applications. Uwe Oppermann and Dr Johannes Hesper examine the consequences of new guidelines which establish that users can return waste electrical and electronic equipment to the manufacturers free of charge. In today’s military and aerospace markets, the trend for privatisation and the need to be competitive, protect investment and have long-term support are becoming increasingly important. The boundary-scan test standard (IEEE 1149.1) has come a long way since it was first conceived by the Joint Test Action Group (JTAG) more than a decade ago. The JTAG committee set out to define a simple, low-cost embedded test method that would be particularly useful for dense circuit boards where physical access to device pins and test pads was vanishing. Japanese suppliers have taken a dominant position in the fast-growing market for equipment used for manufacturing organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays, according to a new study from iSuppli Corp. As a developer of cutting edge integrated circuits (ICs), precision is absolutely essential. This includes the performance of the devices and the precise measurement of their performance. Being able to design and produce devices with jitter less than picoseconds is all very well, but if that cannot be accurately measured by the chip maker and by the customer, then there is a problem. Over the past five years, the UK's National Physical Laboratory has been developing an 'internet-enabled metrology' to provide instrument calibration directly to industry. Matthias Meyr looks at a cost effective electromagnetically compatible gasket which meets current fire protection requirements. Today's latest electronic designs are characterised by their converging functionality and the increasing prevalence of seemingly interwoven analogue and digital technology. Lokesh Duraiappah reports. Kyocera's new TCG057QV1AA-G00 is a full colour TFT, QVGA (320x240dots) module featuring 300:1 contrast, 450nit brightness, 8.5year backlight life, lowest in class power consumption, and wide viewing angle. As the electronics industry prepares for the forthcoming implementation of the WEEE Directive, the use of lead-free solders means that a much tighter tolerance is required during the reflow soldering process than in the past. Laser soldering is suitable for applications which demand a strictly defined control of the process. DSP Design is claiming a 'world first' for its new touchscreen, flat panel computer that is powered over an Ethernet CAT5 cable. Nigel Priest looks at the benefits of having both flying probe and automated optical inspection capability in a single platform and why there is a need for such a product. Lead-free legislation is changing the face of today's electronics manufacturing industry, altering the look of printed circuit boards (PCBs), in terms of their physical appearance and the defects that can occur. Vision Engineering's stereo optical inspection systems offers a solution to these new challenges. prev    next