Efficient POL converters from Nu Horizons can drive 1000µF capacitive loads

The OKY-T/3-W5 and -T/5-W5 series from Murata Power Solutions are now available from Nu Horizons. These DOSA compatible non-isolated point of load (POL) converters offer efficiency up to 94.5% and are able to drive loads with high capacitance (up to 1000µF), making this series suitable for powering applications with tight output load regulation requirements such as the latest generation of FPGAs and DSPs. Application areas include powering CPUs, datacom/telecom systems, distributed bus architectures, programmable logic and mixed voltage systems.

The OKY-T/3-W5 and -T/5-W5 series feature wide input voltage range of 2.4 to 5.5VDC with a choice of 3A (T/3 series) or 5A (T/5 series) output currents. Output voltage is user programmable between 0.75 and 3.63V. The modules have exceptional thermal derating performance and provide under-voltage lockout, output short-circuit protection, plus over-current and over-temperature protection. Compact overall dimensions of 20.8 x 11.9 x 6.2mm allows the OKY-T/3 and -T/5 series to be used in space constrained applications.

Operating temperature range is -40°C to +85°C. 3, 5, 10 and 16 A output, 12Vin versions are also available as part of the Okami range from Murata Power Solutions.

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Atmel microcontrollers from Nu Horizons eliminate excess power consumption in cost-constrained applications

Available from Nu Horizons Electronics, the two latest additions to Atmel’s tinyAVR family of microcontrollers are the ATtiny48 and ATtiny88. The new 32-pin devices are pin compatible with Atmel’s ATmega48 and -88 parts and offer feature optimised alternatives for cost-constrained applications.

The new microcontrollers use most of the features of Atmel’s picoPower technology to eliminate excess power consumption. They include brown-out detection circuitry that can be turned off during sleep modes, a power reduction register that powers down individual peripherals, and digital input disable registers that remove leakage current on ADC input pins.

ATtiny48 and -88 are suitable for a wide range of applications in consumer, communications and industrial electronics where the application code is moderate, but many I/O pins are needed. Low power capability also makes the new devices suitable for battery-powered or power constrained systems. Target applications include: white goods, remote access systems, HVAC, mobile phones, battery chargers, industrial control, health care, wireless equipment and peripherals.

The ATtiny48 features 4kBytes of in-system self-programmable Flash, and the ATtiny88, 8kBytes. Both parts include a 64 byte in-system programmable EEPROM, internal temperature sensor, 10-bit ADC and a byte-oriented I2C interface for 400kHz I2C communication.

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Nu Horizons Electronics opens new Distribution Centre to support expansion in Europe

Nu Horizons Electronics has opened a new distribution centre in Coventry, UK, which is more than six times the size of its previous facility. The distribution centre will provide the additional stocking capability needed to support the expansion of the global distributor throughout Europe. Nu Horizons Electronics Corp is one of the top five, publicly quoted, distributors of semiconductors throughout the world.

The new distribution centre was formally commissioned in August and will fulfil orders from all of Nu Horizons’ Eastern European offices. The distributor has recently opened two bases in Eastern Europe to cover Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary and Romania, in addition to its offices in Coventry, UK and Munich, Germany. Orders from the Nordic region will continue to ship from the company’s wholly-owned subsidiary C-88 AS, based in Hørsholm, Denmark.

“Recent phases of our expansion in Europe have placed continued demands on our local logistics network,” comments Dave Aberg, Operations Manager EMEA, Nu Horizons. “This new, larger facility in Coventry has more than six times the capacity of the former, is temperature and humidity controlled and contains double the number of available picking stations. In addition, Nu Horizons has expanded its logistics staff to meet the growing demand. The new distribution centre complements our other regional logistics centres in the US, Singapore, Hong Kong and Mexico and will ensure that the further expansion of Nu Horizons’ business in Europe remains well-supported.”

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