Appliance Design - September 2007 - (Page 13) NEWS WATCH ment to develop their respective acousticbased technologies. Sensitive Object owns patented technology called ReverSys, which works on the principle that touching an object at a particular spot generates a vibration with an acoustic signature that is unique to that spot. Tyco Electronics owns patented technology based on the characterization of sound in surfaces called Acoustic Pulse Recognition (APR) and has applied this technology to launch a new touch capability in its line of Elo TouchSystems touch screens, monitors, and computers. This technology is based on the physical principle of recording the unique characteristics of a sound generated by a touch on a surface and comparing that to a pre-measured value. horseshoe shapes were then connected to create a wave-like pattern. To further increase the elasticity, the researchers found that splitting the wire conductor track into four thinner (15-micrometer-wide) tracks greatly minimized the induced stress. Currently the group is developing technology toward the incorporation of the elastic interconnections into full electronic circuits. NEW PLANT OK’D. Fisher & Paykel Appliances of New Zealand has received approval to build a plant in Thailand to produce electrical appliances and parts. The project, worth about 1.6 billion baht, is scheduled to begin commercial production in the middle of next year. The factory will produce washing machines, hair dryers, motors and electronic parts, as well as other metal and plastic parts for electrical appliances. Movement Solutions For Your Imagination STANDBY STAND DOWN. On July 1, new regulations became effective in California mandating that external power supplies sold in the state must draw only 1/2-watt of energy. Previously, such power supplies could draw as much as 5 watts of energy. External power supplies are used to power laptop computers, cellular telephones, printers, scanners, personal digital assistants, and digital cameras. According to the California Energy Commission, which approved the regulation in December 2004, the average California household has 10 or more external power supplies, which when combined add 10 percent to 15 percent to monthly electric bills. This, coupled with other standby losses (i.e. televisions, garage door openers), may cost consumers as much as $75 annually in wasted electricity, says the CEC. STRETCHABLE CIRCUITS. Researchers from Belgium have designed and fabricated elastic interconnections that can stretch to more than twice their original length. The scientists constructed an 3cm elastic connector by embedding 4mm gold wires in a elastic silicone film and coating the wires with a 2-micrometer-thick nickel layer for soldering wires to the ends. The group patterned the gold wires onto a substrate in a horseshoeshaped form, which reduced stress and maintained initial electric resistance. The LINAK designs and manufactures premium low voltage electric linear actuator systems that are safe, dependable and strong. As a specialist and worldwide leader in actuator technology, LINAK has been the driving force in improving people’s quality of life and working environment. Because of the versatile functionality of the technology, the number of applications where LINAK® actuators can be used increases from day to day only your imagination sets the limits. Providing high-quality movement solutions is our specialty, improving life is our mission. For a complete product range, visit our website: www.linak.com. Visit our booth at the Design Engineering Show: #4219 during National Manufacturing week. For more Information Enter 103 www.applianceDESIGN.com AD09074Lin.indd 1 applianceDESIGN September 2007 13 8/10/07 9:32:49 AM LN N E A R A C T U A T O R T E C H N O L O G Y I http://www.linak.com http://www.linak.com http://www.appliancedesign.com
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