Industry News
Crossbar latches take on transistors
US scientists have made nano-scale devices they claim could one day replace current transistor technology. The tiny devices, 'crossbar latches', are made up of a combination of crossed-over platinum wires with steric acid molecules set at their junctions.
[ + ]Supercomputer on a chip
IBM, the Sony Group and Toshiba have disclosed in detail the multi-core architectural design - featuring supercomputer-like floating point performance with observed clock speeds greater than 4 GHz.
[ + ]Associations propose merge
The Chairman of the Australian Information Industry Association (AIIA), John Price, and the President of the Australian Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (AEEMA), Christopher Janssen have announced that the Boards of both organisations had agreed to undertake a feasibility study of a proposal to merge and create a much larger industry grouping comprising the diverse technology-based and industry sectors which underpin Australia's economy.
[ + ]Plant-life inspires cooling system
Cambridge Consultants in Britain has produced its 'evaporative cooler' concept design for cooling the fuel cell-powered notebook computers of the future.
[ + ]All-silicon laser shines out
Scientists at Intel claim to have made the first all-silicon laser. This could lead to the development of silicon chips that can be used in both electronic and photonic applications.
[ + ]Electronics: hot industry in SA
If results of a South Australian survey released recently are anything to go by, South Australia is harbouring an unknown high tech industry in Adelaide’s suburbs.
[ + ]Connectors down
The World Connector Business Index (CBI) dropped in December to 3.191 from 3.423 in November. All regions dropped except China, which is now 3.531 from 3.509 in November. Japan is still below 3.000, but improved slightly to 2.901 in December from 2.895 in November.
[ + ]LCDs that need no clean rooms
Dutch researcher Johan Hoogboom has developed a technique for making LCDs without the need for clean rooms. This technique is simpler and cheaper than current methods and is based on the self-ordering of molecules on a surface.
[ + ]Distribution extended
Richardson Electronics has signed an extended worldwide distribution partnership with Tyco Electronics, including CoEv Magnetics, Transpower Technologies and Raychem Circuit Protection.
[ + ]Computers from a single atom?
What is claimed to be the world's first single-atom-thick fabric has been created by researchers at Manchester University, in Britain, and Chernogolovka, in Russia.
[ + ]By a whisker
Soft-metal whiskers, tiny metallic protrusions that grow like hair from soft metals, are a problem that can cause electronic short circuits leading, in some cases, to the failure of devices such as heart pacemakers, avionic relays and satellites.
[ + ]Optical modulators
The Centre for Integrated Photonics in Ipswich, England has launched a range of electro-absorption modulators fabricated using indium-phosphide.
[ + ]Answer to Australia's trade deficit
Chief executive of the Australian Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers' Association (AEEMA), Angus M Robinson, has called for a major rethink of Australia's industrial development.
[ + ]Tiny radio frequency ID reader developed
What is claimed to be the world's smallest and lowest cost near field radio frequency identification (RFID) reader has been developed by an English specialist company, Innovision Research & Technology.
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