Conformity Magazine - November 2007 - (Page 64)

NewsBreaks According to the ESDA, technical papers can address any one of a number of possible topics, including: component level ESD, system level ESD, ESD factory level and materials technology; electrostatic considerations, magnetic recording heads and ultra sensitive devices; and ESD standardscomponents, systems and factory. Submitted paper proposals must include a 50-word abstract and a four page (maximum) summary of the proposed papers. The deadline for submission of abstracts and paper summaries is Friday, January 11, 2008. The deadline for the final submission of completed papers is Friday, June 6, 2008. A copy of the call for papers for the Symposium is available from the ESDA’s web site at www.esda.org. phones operating on GPRS frequencies. “Critical care equipment is vulnerable to electromagnetic interference by newgeneration wireless telecommunication technologies with median distances of about 3 centimeters,” according to the study. The researchers recommend that mobile phones should not be brought closer than one meter to hospital beds and equipment. retailers nationwide. The adaptors were sold with the network hard disk drives for between $300 and $400. Vehicle Navigation System Batteries: Clarion Corporation of America of Cypress, CA has announced the recall of about 1500 additional units of its N.I.C.E.-brand vehicle navigation and entertainment systems. According to the company, the lithium-ion batteries in these units can melt or overheat, posing burn and fire hazards to consumers. Clarion has received 15 reports of the units melting or overheating, but no reports of injuries. The recalled systems were sold through audio and mobile electronics stores nationwide from May 2006 through August 2007 for a suggested retail price of $800. Weather Radios: Oregon Scientific of Tualatin, OR has recalled about 66,000 of its Oregon Scientific-brand weather radios manufactured in China. The company says that the radios could fail to receive National Weather Service alert signals in certain areas of the country, and that such failures could put consumer life and property at risk. Oregon Scientific has not received any reports of radio failures, but has initiated the recall to prevent the risk of future incidents or injuries. The recalled weather radios were sold in retail stores nationwide, and through on-line retailers and mail order catalogs, from December 2005 through June 2007 for between $30 and $150. Emergency Tool Kits: Finally, B&F Systems of Dallas, TX is recalling about 43,000 emergency tool kits manufactured in China. According to the company, booster cables in the recalled kits can have undersized wiring and inadequate connections, posing a fire and shock hazard to consumers. B&F has not received any reports of problems with the booster cables included in the emergency tool kits, but has initiated the recall to prevent the risk of future incidents or injuries. The recalled emergency tool kits were sold at flea markets and through various Internet sites nationwide from June 2003 through May 2007 for between $5 and $45. CPSC Actions in the News In conjunction with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the following manufacturers have issued voluntary recalls for certain consumer electrical and electronic products. Here are the details: Notebook Computer Batteries: Toshiba America Information Systems of Irvine, CA has recalled about 1400 rechargeable notebook computer batteries manufactured by Sony Energy Devices. The company says that the lithium-ion batteries can overheat, posing a fire hazard to consumers. Toshiba notes that it has received three reports outside of the United States of notebook batteries overheating, but no reports of injuries. The recalled lithium-ion batteries were sold with, or separately from, several models of Toshiba notebook computer laptops through authorized electronics dealers nationwide from January through April 2006. AC Adaptors for Network Hard Drives: I-O Data Device USA of San Jose, CA is recalling about 740 AC adaptors sold with the company’s network hard disk drives. I-O says that the AC adaptors can overheat or melt, posing a burn hazard to consumers. The company has received three reports of the adaptors overheating and deforming or melting, but no reports of injuries. The AC adaptors were sold from December 2004 through February 2007 through the company’s web site, as well as through distributors and select Mobile Phone Use in Hospitals May Be Dangerous Reuters reports that researchers at the University of Amsterdam have found that electromagnetic interference from a new generation of mobile phones may increase the risk of hospital equipment failures. According to the study, which was published in Critical Care, an online open access journal, researchers recorded nearly 50 incidents of electromagnetic interference from the use of mobile phones in hospitals, and categorized three-quarters of those incidents as significant or hazardous. Malfunctions resulting from electromagnetic interference could include ventilators that are switched off, incorrect pulsing in external pacemakers, and complete stops with no alarms in syringe pumps. The research team reportedly tested 61 different medical devices, and found that most of the interference incidents occurred in connection with the use of 64 Conformity noVEmBEr 2007 http://www.esda.org

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Conformity - November 2007 Contents Editor’s Note Commission Sets Date, Terms for 700 MHz Auction FCC Reaffirms Roaming Obligations Commission Moves to Improve USF Management FCC Proposes Fines for Violations of E911 Handset Requirements Commission Levies $1 Million Plus Fines for Unsolicited Fax Advertisements GR-3150 - Lithium Battery Certification Levels Based on Criteria for General Product, Safety, and Performance, Part 2 ESD Open Forum Machinery Field Evaluation for the United States Validation, Verification, and Immunity Testing Techniques for EMC for Functional Safety Thermal/EMC Simulation Addresses New Mechanical Design Challenges Product Safety Equipment Buyer’s Guide FCC Releases Report on Telephone Numbering Resource Utilization Canada Still Has PCS Spectrum to Assign Updated Standards List for the EU’s Medical Devices Directive Updated Standards List for EU Directive on Active Implantable Medical Devices Call for Papers for the 2008 EOS/ESD Symposium Announced Mobile Phone Use in Hospitals May Be Dangerous CPSC Actions in the News IEC Standards Update UL Standards Update Telcordia Standards Update From Our “You Can’t Make This Stuff Up” Department Product Reviews Looking Back: Items from Past Issues of Conformity Upcoming Events Advertisers

Conformity Magazine - November 2007

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