National Instruments Takes Over!

National Instruments sent out the following terse press release today:

National Instruments Acquires IOtech
National Instruments today announced that it has acquired the operating assets of IOtech, Inc., a provider of PC-based data acquisition and instrumentation products. Terms of the acquisition were not disclosed.

This news, of course, gives users one less reason to buy data acquisition . . . → Read More: National Instruments Takes Over!

ALGOR Adds Features

ALGOR V18, features expanded capabilities for linear static stress analysis (optimized for 64-bit operating systems), Mechanical Event Simulation (new Arruda-Boyce and Blatz-Ko hyperelastic material models and Mooney-Rivlin, Ogden, Arruda-Boyce, Blatz-Ko and Hyperfoam finite-strain viscoelastic material models) and fluid flow analysis (automatic modeling of the fluid medium and a new segregate steady solver for faster runtimes). New . . . → Read More: ALGOR Adds Features

SAE and ZVEI to Develop Auto IC Standard

The Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE International) and ZVEI–the German Electrical and Electronic Manufacturers’ Association–recently agreed to jointly develop a new qualification standard for semiconductors.

When finalized, the “Robustness Validation” standard should help users discover the physical limits of semiconductors used in automotive applications and will form the basis of risk analysis. In addition to determining . . . → Read More: SAE and ZVEI to Develop Auto IC Standard

Automotive Semiconductor Demand to Grow at More Than Double Vehicle Production Rate

A new study, “Automotive Semiconductor Demand Forecast 2003 – 2012,” indicates that the market for automotive grade semiconductors in 2005 will reach $16.3 billion, a year-on-year growth of 7.2 percent. The study predicts that planned enhancements to vehicle performance, features and safety will drive automotive semiconductor revenues to $25.7 billion by 2012, ensuring steady growth to . . . → Read More: Automotive Semiconductor Demand to Grow at More Than Double Vehicle Production Rate

Guide Explains Wireless Terms

Keithley Instruments, Cleveland, OH, has just published a guide to understanding the vocabulary of the wireless industry. “Speaking RF: Wireless Communication Terminology” is a 32-page guide that defines a variety of technical terms and decodes the many acronyms in the RF and wireless industry.

Several useful tables are featured in the guide, including a quick Watts vs. . . . → Read More: Guide Explains Wireless Terms