 No,
it is definitely not a Rube Goldberg attempt at a coffee machine. The Roasting Plant Javabot™ is "a blend of
deft mechanics and computer technology that orchestrates your coffee from raw bean to custom cup." Look for
them in the finer cafes and executive break rooms.
5-19-2008
 A
Petri dish of intestinal worms? Nope, it's a set of Ka-band coaxial transmission lines. Micromachining has
opened a whole new realm of possibilities - from surgery to electronics to mechanics. Microfabrica has built a
business around it. A 6-port 60 GHz coupler for an RN2 beam former, a 55 GHz bandpass filter, wafer probes,
and inertial sensors are among their accomplishments.
4-15-2008
 Smart
Goggles, invented by University of Tokyo professor Kuniyoshi, uses a microprocessor controlled learning
process that will snap a photo of anything in its field of view and then prompt the user to speak the name of
it. Later, if a similar object is spied by Smart Goggles, it displays the name of the object on a small LCD.
3-20-2008 |
 Dutch
researchers at the Technical University of Delft have developed what they say is the world's first
solar-powered speedboat. With a hull made from black carbon fiber, it sports 150 square feet of solar cells to
power it at up to 35 mph.
5-29-2008
 A
while back, I posted an RF Cafe Intro video on YouTube. The folks at video production company
SavvyPaper picked it up and really put a professional
shine on it, then sent it to me for an opinion. I was amazed. View it and judge for yourself.
SavvyPaper's main focus is professionally produced
Video Resumes, something I have been trying to promote.
They handle company promotions and other unique subjects as well. This is a totally new paradigm for job
hunting.
4-24-2008
 Need a 20 GHz
oscilloscope probe? Tektronix will sell you their P7520 TriMode™ Measurement Switching Probe - the world's
fastest o-scope probe - for a mere $16,900. To measure 20 GHz, you need to solder the tip to the PCB.
3-28-2008 |
 Introducing
the Vilcus Plug Dactyloadapter! According to its maker, Art Lebedev, "Dactyloadapter was developed specially
for people who enjoy closing electrical circuits with their own fingers." This device could be a huge tool for
getting common-sense-challenged types out of the gene poll.
Disclaimer: RF
Cafe does not endorse this product.
6-6-2008
 Here
is a unique way to promote your company at events - Flogos!
That stands for "floating logos." Flogos are synthesized from proprietary surfactant (soap) based foam
formulations and lighter than air gases such as helium.
5-1-2008
 The
Modu cell phone module gives any device designed to accept it the capability of being a full-fledged phone.
The host "jacket" can be a PDA, a notebook computer, a gaming device, a calculator, a car stereo, an alarm
clock, or even - go figure - a phone.
4-4-2008 |
 Here
is a bona fide working radar speed gun for less than $30. Toy company Mattel makes this for their Hot Wheels
cars, but it works for a lot of other objects. It operates at 10.525 GHz and has a digital LED screen that
shows speed in miles per hour or kilometers per hour.
6-13-2008
 Kikusui
does not provide an estimate of how long it will take their
PLZ6000R 6kW
Regenerative DC Electronic Load to pay for itself, but the concept uniqueness alone makes worthy of
further investigation.
Regular electronic loads consume load power by having semiconductor devices
convert it into heat. By contrast, PLZ6000R converts load power into reusable electric power, rather than
converting it into heat as is typically done, and feeds this power to the AC line.
5-9-2008
 Check
this out. RFMD has just announced their RF2051/2/3 line of ICs that integrates a low noise LO signal of
between 300 MHz to 2400 MHz with built-in wideband RF mixers that operate from 100 MHz up to 2500 MHz. The
fractional-N synthesizer sports a 1.5 Hz frequency step size. I can remember 15 years ago using a synthesizer
with similar specs that were in metal cases the size of my hand - not including the mixer!
4-10-2008 |
