Global Distribution Agreement with Vitesse Semiconductor

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 Vitesse Semiconductor Corporation today announced the signing of a global distribution agreement.

Vitesse is an industry-leading provider of advanced semiconductor solutions for Carrier and Enterprise networks worldwide. Vitesse ICs address high-speed communication needs by providing a broad portfolio of Ethernet transceivers, switches and MACs, transport processing products, as well as signal integrity, physical media devices and physical layer devices. More than 50 Vitesse products are now stocked by Digi-Key and are available for immediate ordering from its global websites. These products will be featured in future Digi-Key print and online catalogs and are designated with a Digi-Key icon on the Vitesse website.

Dave Doherty, Digi-Key vice president, semiconductor product, said, “We are certain Vitesse’s next-generation network solutions will be of significant interest and appeal to the design engineers who rely on Digi-Key for the newest and most innovative products. Digi-Key is very pleased to partner with Vitesse Semiconductor and add its products to our portfolio.”

“As Vitesse’s extensive portfolio of semiconductor solutions continues to grow so does our need for outstanding distribution partners,” said Tony Conoscenti, vice president of product marketing for Vitesse. “It is with pleasure that we are joining forces with Digi-Key to offer our solutions to a broader customer base, while making their selection and use easier for design engineers and our customers worldwide.”

» Contact Details for Digi-Key Corporation

Sealed detection, waterproof tactile and new DIP switches added

TTI, Inc., the global distributor of passive, interconnect, relay & switch and discrete components, has annonced several additions to its available range of switches from its Supplier Partner, Omron, including a new compact, sealed detection switch featuring a self-cleaning slide contact, a new waterproof tactile switch and an extended range of DIP switches.

The new Omron D2QW detection switch features a sliding contact mechanism that can wipe foreign bodies and contamination such as silicone out of the switch area to ensure reliable operation. The sliding mechanism also offers silent operation. This remarkably compact and rugged product is sealed to IP67 standard, and features twin contacts to further enhance the reliability of the switch. The D2QW has a travel of 3.7mm, plus an additional 2.2mm of over travel, simplifying system design. The rated life of these switches is 500,000 operations at 14V DC, 10mA, or 200,000 operations at 30V DC, 100mA. It has a footprint of 13.3 x 9.2mm and a height of 9.3mm above the M3 mounting.

Also new is the waterproof B3SL tactile switch, a compact, high quality device featuring IP64 sealing and a rubber plunger that gives high quality tactile feel to the operator. Ideal for consumer white goods and computer peripherals, these switches are just 6.2mm square and 5.1mm high. The B3SL is suitable for wave soldering.

Omron has extended its range of DIP switches with a new family of piano type components, in surface mount and through hole form. The devices are ideal for telecommunications applications, set-top boxes and industrial systems alike. Based on an industry standard 2.54mm pitch, Omron’s new DIP switches feature a self cleaning structure with gold twin contacts for maximum reliability. Both the surface mount (A6SR) and through hole (A6TR) formats are offered in 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 pole configurations, with a choice of two operating lever lengths. The new piano style complements the existing Omron range of slide DIP switches, offered with 1-10 poles, again with gold plated contacts and a self cleaning mechanism. Omron also offers rotary (A6R, A6A and A6V) DIP switches. All Omron DIP switches conform to RoHS regulations, and are supplied on sticks for automatic placement. The slide switches are available in washable form with a seal tape.

Comments John Sandy, TTI’s European Director Supplier Marketing, Switches: “Omron’s commitment to switch research and development is impressive, and is allied to a strong technical support resource in Europe. Omron’s European Switch Engineering Centre offers a full customisation service on these new devices and other Omron detection switches.“ Staffed by a specialist engineering team drawn from Omron’s Japanese switch factories as well as the European market, the Centre works with mid to high volume customers, undertaking modifications ranging from the development of an alternative lever, to redesign of the case, terminals or wiring harness.

» Contact Details for TTI Inc.

Relay catalogues are specific to type and include easy selection guide for purchasers

Available from specialist distributor Switchtec, the 2009 Hongfa relay catalogues showcase the complete range of relays from this high quality manufacturer. Literally packed with information, the catalogues are a great help for designers, specifiers and buyers who need to quickly and easily access information about any relay in the vast Hongfa range.

The A4, full colour catalogues are very useful to people working in a wide range of industries and sectors including PCB manufacturers and suppliers, distributors, wholesalers, OEMs, manufacturers, panel builders, and the automotive and aerospace industries.

The five catalogues each cover a specific range of Hongfa relay products namely, general purpose, solid state, automotive, hermetically sealed and relay sockets.

The 376 page general purpose relay catalogue includes the sub-miniature 1A, HF23 relay up to the large 200A HFE6 latching relays. New to the 09 catalogue are the HF115FP with its built in LED and test button, the HF13F now being available in a 3-pole version, the plug-in HF157F relay and the HFE12, 120A latching relay.

The solid state relay catalogue Includes the miniature HFS2 MOS relay up to the large 3 Phase HFS24 SSR and is 88 pages long. New to the 09 catalogue are the HFS32 plug in SSRs and the HFS28 dual AC output relay, together with all of Hongfa’s SSR accessories.

The automotive relay catalogue is 122 pages long and includes PCB and plug in relays, from the popular HFV4 30/40A plug in relay to the miniature twin relay HFKD with two relays in one housing. New to the 09 catalogue are the HFV9, with its extended temperature range of 125degC and the automotive relay modules, available as flasher control, wiper control and delay relays.

The 134 page hermetically sealed relay catalogue includes Hongfa’s TO-5 and half crystal can hermetically sealed relays. New to the 09 catalogue is the Hongfa cube, half cube, 2/5 cube and 1/5 cube relays.
The relay sockets catalogue includes the 6mm wide 41F series socket and the popular 8, 11 and 14 pin plug in relay sockets. New for the 2009 catalogue is the inclusion of the 118F PCB socket for the HF118 power relay. This catalogue is 70 pages long.

Simple to use, the catalogue has a photo of each relay listed. It also shows each relay’s dimensional layout and its footprint. Full technical information is provided including ratings, configuration, voltage, pitch options, and other technical details.

An easy to use selection guide is positioned at the front of each catalogue. Each product listing also has a typical application section that shows suggested applications for each style of relay.

» Contact Details for Switchtec Ltd

Farnell and Omron launch exclusive one-touch web referral programme

Farnell, the leading multi-channel, high service distributor supporting millions of engineers and purchasing professionals across Europe, has entered into an exclusive web referral programme with Omron Electronic Components Europe. The programme will see customers, having made their product selection on the Omron website, be directed via one click to Farnell’s industry-leading site to purchase their products.

The exclusive pan-European arrangement gives customers access to fast and easy ordering of over 1000 Omron switch and relay products currently stocked by Farnell. All products are supported by the company’s service guarantee of next day delivery across Europe with no minimum order sizes or hidden shipping charges.

Omron chose Farnell for the implementation of the web referral programme due to Farnell’s ability to demonstrate a multi channel sales approach and continued customer growth. The programme follows on from the signing of a new distribution agreement between the two companies and the presentation of a special Distributor Award to Farnell by Omron at Electronica 2008 in Munich.

Commenting on the launch of the web referral programme, Claire Doyle, European Director of Supplier Management, Farnell, said: “This is an important initiative for Farnell and Omron that truly differentiates us from our competition and adds strength to our customer proposition. By being directed to the Farnell website with just one-click, time pressured design engineers can quickly order the products they have viewed and selected on the Omron site. Our relationship with Omron goes from strength-to-strength with a new agreement in place, constant development of our already strong profile with exciting new technologies and now an exclusive pan-European web referral programme.”

Alex Grout, European Distribution Manager, Omron Components said: “This new engagement with Farnell enhances the whole experience of visiting omroncomponents.com. Specifiers of our switching and sensing products can be confident that not only the latest relays, switches, connectors and sensors will be available online from Omron, but the site provides the functionality to acquire samples directly via our site, backed up by the service levels that customers have come to expect from Farnell.”

Through its multi-channel approach, Farnell provides its customers with a fast, efficient and easy-to-use source for over 480,000 products, plus new functionality to search over 352,000 technical datasheets. Further customer value is added through a range of online services such as real-time stock availability, the company’s innovative i-Buy eProcurement solution, plus global legislation advice and live technical chat.

» Contact details for Farnell

New filter terminal pins from Aerco

Available in the UK from Aerco is a new filter version of the popular thread-mounted, feed-through PCB terminals from Wearnes Cambion that will find many applications in professional electronic equipment including signal and passenger information systems in the rail industry.

Supplied in Pi or T formats, these new filter terminals are offered with a wide choice of capacitance values, tolerances and EMC suppression to extremely tight tolerances and will prove ideal for use in telecommunications, military, automotive and the oil and gas, computing and food industries.

RoHS compliant and with a working voltage of 500V DC, the filters are supplied with a mounting hardware kit consisting of an unassembled lock washer and hex nut.

» Contact Details for Aerco Limited

Mouser Electronics and Honeywell Sensing and Control Expand Distribution Agreement to Include Europe

Mouser Electronics, Inc., today announced it has expanded its current franchise agreement with Honeywell Sensing and Control to distribute products in Europe. Honeywell Sensing and Control is well known globally for its engineering expertise and for its massive, innovative lines of high quality products that include all types of switches and sensors.

The European distribution of Honeywell Sensing and Control’s products is in keeping with Mouser’s international expansion strategy. Mouser currently has three European Customer Service Centres (Germany, Israel, and England) with plans for additional centres in 2009. Mouser also hosts websites in local currencies and languages to assist design engineers, regardless of their European location.

Glenn Smith, Mouser President and CEO, remarks, “Honeywell Sensing and Control’s decision to add Mouser to its European distribution network is very good news. This fits well into our overall strategy of being the source most preferred by design engineers worldwide. Mouser has had very good success in Europe and with great suppliers like Honeywell supporting us, we offer electronic design engineers a great line up of products in-stock for same day-shipping, that enable our customer’s new product designs. We welcome the prestigious Honeywell Sensing and Control product to our European linecard.”

“We are pleased to extend Mouser’s engagement with Honeywell. Their focus on rapid product introductions and their reach into the electronic design segment is very impressive,” said Bradd Schneider, Vice President of Global Sales, Sensing and Control, Honeywell International.

» Contact details for Mouser Electronics, Inc.

New safety switches from Aerco reduces wiring and installation time

Now available in the UK from Aerco is the Honeywell MICRO SWITCH™ GKME series of dual connection safety switches. An extension of the GKM series, these new switches include two pre-assembled connectors that allow daisy-chain connections to be made from switch to switch and this can reduce wiring time up to fifty percent in some installations.

The GKME is designed to provide maximum machine safety and the removal of any switch indicates that a door is open and breaks the electrical safety chain. The design also simplifies both planned and unplanned maintenance because modules can be easily removed and replaced.

Potential applications include packaging and assembly equipment and textile and printing machinery.

» Contact Details for Aerco Limited

Portfolio of electromechanical devices ideal for designers and maintainers of process control systems

Arrow Electronics has assembled a comprehensive portfolio of electromechanical components designed to meet the needs of designers and maintainers of process-control equipment. The range includes the latest relays and circuit breaker technologies from industry-leading manufacturers Omron and Tyco.

Among the technologies that Arrow now has in stock is the Tyco PT series of miniature change-over relays that provide switching performance of up to 3000VA in a form factor that is just 29mm high. Available with AC or DC coils, devices in this range comprise the PT2, PT3 and PT5 with two, three and four poles respectively. Respective AC breaking capacities and current ratings are 3000VA, 2500VA and 1500VA and 12A, 10A and 6A.

Also available from Arrow, the new Omron G6RL combines an industry standard footprint with a low profile of just 12.3mm. Capable of switching 10A at 250VAC and 5A @24DC, the relay is offered in both SPDT and SPST-NO contact configurations. Maximum switching capacity is rated at 2500VA(NO).

To further enhance support for process control equipment, Arrow stocks the full range of P&B circuit breakers from Tyco Electronics. Designed to meet the UL criteria for secondary breakers, the P&B range includes thermal and magnetic types offering one to four poles and current ratings up to 50A.

Among the latest Tyco thermal circuit breakers are the W54 and W57 push-to-reset models. These breakers cannot be manually tripped and feature an extended push button for visual trip indication. Specifications include a 1000A interrupt capacity in accordance with UL 1077, resettable overload capacity of ten times rated current, and a reset time of 60 seconds.

» Contact details for Arrow Electronics

Massive range of pushbuttons immediately available

Specialist electronics distributor Live Electronics is introducing a broad range of pushbutton switches from Otto Engineering. Available in a massive choice of styles across 19 ranges with a wide choice of body, button and termination configurations to cover a huge range of applications, the switches are designed for use in the most rugged of situations and sealed to IP68.

A unique contact design ensures reliable operation at low (10mA) or maximum (20A) current ratings, with many products specified for a mechanical life of 1 million operations. Hall-effect versions are available which extends operational life to 10 million. Momentary or alternate-action switching products are available. LED illumination, Mil-Spec and vandal-resistant versions are included in the range.

Claire Childs, Live Electronics MD commented: “Otto’s in-house design team and vertically integrated manufacturing facilities enable customised variants to be produced with ease. Applications include mil-aero, marine, off-road vehicles, agricultural, medical and many industrial uses where precision switching within a robust package is required.”

» Contact details for Live Electronics

Arrow’s range of illuminated and programmable switches suit broadcast and audio visual systems

Arrow has announced the availability of a broad range of switches ideally suited to the requirements of audio visual and broadcast equipment. The range of illuminated switches from manufacturers such as NKK (Nikkai) Switches and C&K Components provide a variety of colour options, while programmable devices offer the flexibility to display application-specific text or even moving images.

Among the NKK switches available from Arrow is the HB2 series of subminiature pushbutton devices offering full-face illumination with a choice of red/green or red/yellow bicolour LEDs and the UB and UB2 series of low-profile pushbuttons. The UB series features bright and superbright LEDs and has a body height of just 10mm, while the UB2 series offers a wide selection of illumination effects with single and bicolour, one- or six-element LEDs.

The C&K Components family of illuminated switches from Arrow incorporates the 8020 and 8060 series of momentary pushbuttons, the K5V and K5AT series of tactile devices, and a variety of key switches from the K6, K12 and Digitast ranges. Arrow also offers the C&K ELUM, a right angle latching pushbutton with central LED illumination and a low PCB mounting height.

For enhanced flexibility in broadcast systems, Arrow stocks the NKK SmartSwitch family of software-controlled pushbutton switches. Featuring integrated OLED and LCD displays, these switches can be programmed to display a wide variety of text and moving images.

» Contact details for Arrow Electronics