Energy Micro, the energy friendly microcontroller company, today announced the appointment of Omniscient Electronics as an approved distributor in India. The agreement sees Omniscient providing local support for Energy’s complete family of EFM32 Gecko low power MCUs, based on the ARM® Cortex(TM) M3 processor core.

Specialised in semiconductor component distribution, Omniscient integrate technical sales, design services and supply chain solutions for semiconductor manufacturers, OEMs and EMS service providers on a local, regional basis. The company is headquartered in Bangalore and has branches in Chennai, Delhi, Mumbai and Secunderabad.

Mr.T.V.Deshikan, Director at Omniscient Electronics said, “Our mission statement, ‘Growth through leadership, innovation, quality and commitment,’ aligns perfectly with the Energy Micro ethos. The technology leadership position Energy Micro has taken on ultra low power MCUs, and the speed with which it is extending its product line, makes them an exciting business partner to work with.”

Bryan Hung, VP Sales APAC, Energy Micro said, “There is no doubting the important role India is taking, and will take in the future, in the global electronics industry and its important for us to find a distributor partner with the right mix of geographic reach and technical competence to support the broadest possible range of energy sensitive applications. We look forward to working with Omniscient.”

Energy Micro’s EFM32 Gecko microcontroller family consumes a fraction of the energy required by other 8, 16 and 32-bit microcontroller solutions. The energy friendly EFM32 Gecko microcontroller is in full production, and details of the software and pin-compatible Tiny Gecko and Giant Gecko products have also been announced. The Gecko microcontrollers are supported by the energyAware tool suite and a large community of suppliers providing IDE/compilers, debug systems, development kits and real time operating systems.

Farnell is the first European high service distributor to stock the new STMicroelectronic STM32VL discovery Evaluation Board. The STM32 Discovery Kit is a new hardware development platform from STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), a world leader in microcontrollers, which is supported by either free or very-low-cost downloadable development tools from major third-party vendors like Atollic, IAR and Keil.

As an ultra-low-cost and convenient starter platform, the STM32VLDiscovery Kit is particularly suited to the STM32 Value Line microcontrollers. The USB-powered board is straightforward to set up and use by plugging into a PC. It is populated with a 24MHz, 64-pin STM32F100RBT6B Value Line device featuring a 128Kbyte Flash plus multiple timers, analog peripherals, and industry-standard serial interfaces. The included ST-LINK in-circuit debugger allows work to start without further costs. Extension connectors provided on the board enable easy connection to other boards or devices for deeper testing of the microcontroller peripherals. In addition, 15 ready-to-run applications are available at www.st.com/stm32-discovery to help developers evaluate microcontroller features.

Through its industry-leading websites featuring tools such as Live Chat, and easily accessible data sheets, Farnell is able to support its electronics design engineering customers with information and ideas to help them select the most appropriate components and devices for their new designs. The company’s element14 online engineering community provides a unique additional resource with compiler links, datasheets and product guides. Further information about the Discovery Kit range can be found at the STMicroelectronics community on element14.

Farnell’s Director of Supplier & Product Management, Mike Buffham said: “Being the first distributor to stock ST Micro’s discovery board underlines how Farnell is a technology leader and the preferred high service multi-channel distributor in the electronics sector. By working with us, design engineers across the globe can be confident that they are getting access to the very latest technology from industry-leading suppliers for their new designs.”

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Farnell, the leading multi-channel distributor of electronic and industrial components, has announced that it has been selected as a distributor for Helieon Sustainable Light Modules from a partnership formed by Molex and Bridgelux. The announcement strengthens Farnell’s already significant solid state lighting portfolio and underlines its focus and technical expertise in what is an important and rapid growth market sector.

The Helieon lighting system is the first plug-and-play, sustainable solid state lighting module to integrate high efficiency precision lighting with an easy-to-use socketed solution. The new, highly cost-effective products, help accelerate innovation and encourage the mass adoption of solid state lighting in preference to established, poor efficiency approaches by simplifying the process of designing, building, replacing and upgrading luminaires.

Under the new agreement, Farnell will offer a comprehensive range of Helieon products that are carefully tailored to match the light output levels of traditional light sources. Modules are available with output specifications ranging from 500 to 1,500 lumens and with a choice of narrow, medium and wide flood beam spread options. By visiting the element14 website, designers can also quickly and easily identify and order a range of complimentary products including electronic drives, heat sinks and optics to support the design of new solid state lighting systems and luminaires.

“The Premier Farnell new product introduction process is a proven vehicle to launch Molex products including the new Helieon Light Module,” said Fred Bell, Vice President, Global Distribution, Molex. “Our long-term partnership with Premier Farnell continues to deliver outstanding service and support to Molex customers worldwide.”

“We have been proud to partner with Premier Farnell for nearly two years, since the initial launch of our LED Array product line,” said David Barnby, Bridgelux vice president of worldwide sales. “Now with the addition of the Helieon LED module to their global distribution channel we look forward to better serving our solid state lighting customers.”

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Rutronik Elektronische Bauelemente GmbH has provided global support for its customers for some time. It includes the entire range of electronic components and logistics solutions, as well as technical, logistical, and commercial support. The newly founded “Global Key Account Management” department is responsible for central global customer services.

Using its pan-European organisational structure as a base, Rutronik has taken the next step and is supplying its full portfolio of products and services throughout the world. Outside Europe the broadliner currently has a branch office in Mexico and maintains several hubs which are used to supply customers throughout the world. Over one hundred customers have already opted for the distributor’s global support. “The crucial factor for our global commitment is the network,” said Thomas Rudel, CEO of Rutronik, as he explained the strategy. “It means that we can offer the same service to our customers worldwide, by offering a cross-border, consistent delivery and advice service.”

“Global Key Account Management”
Rutronik has set up a Global Key Account Management department to look after its global customers. Headed by Ernst Gengenbach, the department provides a central contact to globally operating customers. Gengenbach possesses the expertise and authority to negotiate at director level and to enter into contracts. Contracts are implemented locally at the sites. Here too, customers have a permanent contact to provide them with local support. To ensure consistent processes, all Rutronik branch offices are interlinked organisationally and via the IT system. With its globally uniform IT system and universal organisational structure, Rutronik is in a position to react quickly in every location to customers’ requirements and, if appropriate, to set up new branch offices. As a broadliner, Rutronik also has many years of experience in handling large quantities and therefore possesses the relevant process controls, organisational structure and logistics concepts. “This principle makes it easy for us to extend our offer geographically. With this step we have responded to our customers’ requirements; even when they are expanding or relocating their production facilities into Asia, America or Russia, or are opening new sites, they want to have the service they are used to,” explained Thomas Rudel. “In this development we are consistently following our strategic objectives, which are: to grow faster than the market and to improve our quality. We are endeavouring to achieve organic growth aligned to our customers’ needs and the requirements of the markets concerned.”

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Electronic components distributor Digi-Key Corporation, today announced it has stock on Carol® Helix/Hi-Temp® Category 5e cable from General Cable.

This cable is available for purchase on Digi-Key‘s global and will be featured in future print and online catalogs.

Used in structured cabling for computer networks such as Ethernet and ATM, this Category 5e cable is third party verified for guaranteed performance. Additionally, each cable features a TRU-Mark® print legend with footage markings from 1000 feet to 0 feet.

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Premier Farnell plc, in line with the company’s focus on Electronic Design Engineers (EDE), driving business to the web and growth in emerging markets, announces a global franchise distribution agreement with Future Technology Devices International (FTDI), a leading specialist in the design and supply of silicon and solutions for Universal Serial Bus (USB) connectivity.

Premier Farnell customers will now have global access to FTDI Chip’s expansive portfolio of USB ICs and connectivity products including converters for legacy RS232, RS422 and RS485-based applications and technologies that enable USB connectivity within embedded designs. Most products will be offered from stock. In this agreement FTDI will extend their marketing support to Premier Farnell and collaborate on new product information via element14, Premier Farnell’s innovative information portal and online community exclusively created for electronic design engineers to globally collaborate, share and access new information to support them in their design work.

Through Premier Farnell’s global distribution network and element14, FTDI products can be ordered in bulk and are available for next-day delivery. Local language websites and regional offices ensure that Premier Farnell’s customers receive excellent sales and technical support on all its product lines.

FTDI designs and supplies complete silicon, hardware, and software solutions for enabling USB connectivity within customer products. The company’s silicon solutions include their industry leading range of USB converter ICs, providing flexible connectivity to a wide range of devices and applications. More recently, FTDI have expanded their portfolio with the Vinculum II USB Host / Slave controllers designed to provide USB Host level functions and capabilities within embedded applications. FTDI’s mission is to provide designers with complete low-risk, ready-to-use USB connectivity within their products while providing benefits of reduced development cost and faster time to market.

“This global distribution agreement with FTDI is an integral part of our business strategy to enhance the Premier Farnell value proposition by continually developing and growing our already extensive line card of leading technology suppliers to satisfy the evolving requirements of our customers worldwide,” said David Shen, Group Senior Vice President and Global Head of EDE and Technical Marketing of Premier Farnell. “We are excited by the opportunity this new distribution agreement with FTDI affords us to attract new design engineering customers worldwide”.

“FTDI offers solutions that significantly simplify and speed both the migration of legacy designs to USB and the integration of USB into new applications,” said Fred Dart, CEO of FTDI Chip “We offer the easiest route to USB migration by combining USB Serial and USB FIFO silicon solutions with our ready-to-go royalty free USB drivers and our “total” solution offers customers reduced development and debug costs with a quick time to market. Through our new global agreement with Premier Farnell we will be able to support and service the worldwide design community with the technology to address legacy peripherals to UBS for the next generation of innovative technology applications.”

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Now available in the UK from Aerco is a range of LED night vision compatible indicators from Oxley that is designed for use in all defence and aerospace applications that use NVG/NVIS systems.

MIL-STD-3009 compliant and offering true sunlight readability, the indicators are modular in construction allowing a wide range of colour and feature options to be incorporated into different lamp styles. Highly rugged, they are packaged in a metal body with a glass lens to withstand harsh working environments and they are panel-sealed to IP68.

Ideal as a direct replacement for incandescent lamps, the use of LED technology ensures minimal heat dissipation and high reliability offering a complete ‘fit and forget solution’ in applications such as military aircraft and vehicles, ground base stations, surface ships, submarines and air and ground radio equipment.

The indicators have a mounting size from 5mm with a low profile and are fitted with flying lead terminations to provide ease of assembly. They operate from non-voltage and voltage from 5VDC/AC to 28VDC/AC and the operating and storage temperature range is -40ºC to +100ºC. Optional EMI shielded versions are available.

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Electronic components distributor Digi-Key Corporation, recognized by design engineers as having the industry’s broadest selection of electronic components available for immediate shipment, and austriamicrosystems, a leading designer of standard and customized high-performance analog ICs, today announced the two companies have entered into an agreement in which Digi-Key will distribute austriamicrosystems products to customers worldwide.

Products from austriamicrosystems are now available for purchase on Digi-Key’s global websites and will be featured in future print and online catalogs.

“We are very pleased to announce this distribution agreement with austriamicrosystems with its strong product offerings in high performance analog, particularly in sensors, power management, and magnetic encoder technologies,” said Dave Doherty, Digi-Key’s vice president of semiconductor product. “austriamicrosystems has strong European brand awareness that we are excited to expand to engineers globally.”

“We are excited to be partnering with Digi-Key, the clear leader in online engineering solutions and service,” said Heribert Hochrinner, global channel manager for austriamicrosystems. “Our advanced analog technology, combined with Digi-Key’s unique portfolio and capabilities, will bring new choices to design engineers worldwide.”

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Farnell, the leading multi-channel distributor, has announced a new exclusive distribution agreement with Würth Elektronik. Under the agreement, Farnell becomes the sole stockist of 45 new connector products from Würth’s innovative and market leading Power Elements family. The exclusivity agreement runs until the end of November 2010.

Farnell currently stocks 1,000 passive and 250 connector products from Würth Elektronik. A dedicated page on the element14 online engineering community website has been set-up where engineers can quickly gather detailed information about the new Power Elements connectors, view related items and discuss their requirements with other engineers.

Combining high current capability of up to 10A per pin with a rugged design, Power Elements products provide an ideal solution for wire-to-board power connections in a wide range of applications including emerging renewable energy technologies such as wind and solar. The connectors are manufactured by Würth Elektronik’s Electronic Interconnect & Electromechanical Solutions business headquartered in Lyon, France.

“We are proud to announce this exclusive distribution agreement with Farnell for our Power Elements products,” said Lars Fahrbach, Distribution Manager, Würth Elektronik eiSos GmbH & Co KG. “Over recent years, this connector series has proven to be the first choice in many markets and is used all over the globe with the rapidly growing renewable energy sector now providing a new and exciting market for the products. A broad range offering different sizes and configurations allows our customers to select a standard rather than custom product with all the advantages that brings.”

Emma Woodford, European Supplier Account Manager, Farnell, commented: “Würth Elektronik is one of our most valued partners and by agreeing exclusivity on new Power Elements products the strength of the relationship is underlined. We look forward to supporting our engineering customers with these new products over the coming months, helping them to get their new designs to market more quickly and with a competitive edge.”

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Mouser Electronics, Inc., known for its rapid introduction of the newest electronic components and technologies, today announced it is the first distributor to announce stock on the Infineon ISOFACE™ 8-Channel Isolated High-Side Driver.

The Infineon ISOFACE™ Coreless Transformer 8-Channel Isolated High-Side Driver family of devices are fully protected multi-channel high-side power switches providing galvanic isolation for digital output interfaces. The ISOFACE ISO1H8xxG isolated 8-channel high-side driver is intended for driving any kind of resistive, inductive, or capacitive load, addressing the exact requirements in industrial automation systems, such as Programmable Logic Controllers, Distributed Control Systems, and Industrial PCs. With complete system integration of the digital interface, coreless transformer, and power stage, these Infineon ICs can be directly connected between the microcontroller and independent power loads. Also, fully protected high-side switches with diagnostic output for over temperature make the ISOFACE an extremely rugged device.

Mike Scott, Mouser Vice President of Active Products, says, “Our customer base expects Mouser to stock the newest semiconductor products so they have immediate availability for their next-generation designs. This new ISOFACE Driver family from Infineon is another example of why designers rely on Mouser for new product information and availability.”

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