Home automation lighting via smartphone app

Perth-based technology company Airstream has launched a wireless, smart lighting product, iLight, which allows users to experience more than 16 million colour shades in their homes or offices. iLight can connect with other automated home devices via a smartphone app. Airstream co-founder Mike Temple says what differentiates iLight from existing wireless lighting is its ability to integrate with other systems, including Airstream’s air conditioning system, iZone. “Home automation hasn’t really changed over the past 30 years,” Temple said. “Costs have been prohibitive up to now, stalling demand. Older non-wireless smart lighting systems could cost $20,000 or more to install, whereas our iLight wireless system costs a fraction of that at around $1,000. “iLight can connect with iZone and other systems with the touchscreen interface or via their own separate apps, advancing home automation technology further than ever before. Currently, other home smart lighting systems do not have this level of integration with other devices, limiting their ability to fully automate home functionality.” Airstream recently signed a Memorandum of Understanding with WA builder Blueprint Homes to promote iLight and iZone systems as part of some of their home building packages. Blueprint Homes General Manager Craig Park said the company was excited to introduce cutting edge home automation to its customers. “Home automation is set to accelerate, and we are pleased to offer West Australian homeowners a unique opportunity to be amongst the first to harness this technology through iLight and iZone,” Park said. Airstream co-founder Walter Kimble said the company is an approved partner of IFTTT, an application that allows users to connect apps to work together as a series of user-specific ‘recipes’. More than 200 companies partner with IFTTT, including Apple, Google, Instagram, Facebook and Twitter. “Our engineers are working with IFTTT to develop our user experience in building recipes to conveniently link home systems,” Kimble said. Mr Kimble said Airstream’s vision was to further develop smart home technology, with systems controlled intuitively from one device. In addition to iLight and IZone, Airstream is planning to release more automated home systems next year. “We are working to extend our range, and are currently developing wireless and connected garden reticulation and security systems,” Mr Kimble said. “I see the evolution of home automation as similar to the changes in the taxi industry through apps such as Uber, allowing customers to take control and reduce costs considerably.” iLight systems can be installed using the existing sockets, without needing an electrician. It has the option to add wireless light and motion sensors to the system, as well as responding to fading daylight and people entering and leaving rooms. “As the sun goes down, iLight can automatically increase in brightness, and similarly lights can be dimmed or turned off in unoccupied rooms,” said Kimble. “It’s also been designed to mimic the circadian rhythm, or body clock. This feature can help people maintain more consistent sleep cycles, such as those suffering from jet lag or children that may be affected by extended daylight during summer.”

Future Electronics Introduces RL78/I1D MCUs for Low Power Building Automation and Lighting

Pointe Claire, Canada, March 15, 2015 --(PR.com)-- Future Electronics, a global leading distributor of electronic components, recently introduced the new RL78/I1D MCU Series, targeting power-sensitive and critical applications such as smoke, carbon monoxide, motion, lighting control, and GFCI solutions.

With high integration of analog peripherals, built-in hardware safety features and flexible clocking sources, the RL78/I1D helps to achieve the lowest power and best performance.

Power management options for the RL78/I1D are as follows:

- Operating: 57μA/MHz

- Halt: 0.64mA (RTC + LVD)

- Stop: 220nA (RAM retained)

- Snooze: 700μA (UART), 500μA (ADC mode)

Analog integration for the RL78/I1D:

- A/D: 17 channels, 12-bit, 3.375ms conversion time

- Internal voltage reference and temperature sensor 1.8V operation

- Up to 4 Op-Amps with high-speed and low-power mode

- Window comparators, Op-Amp signal input with ELC connection

The RL78/I1D features fast wake up, 4μsec fast wake up from STOP mode, multiple on-board clock sources, 1-20Mhz HS Crystal input, and 32kHz LS Crystal input.

For more information about Renesas, the RL78/I1D, R5F117GCGFB#30, building automation, lighting, low power, and 16 bit processors, as well as access to the world's largest available-to-sell inventory, visit www.FutureElectronics.com.

About Future Electronics

Future Electronics is a global leader in electronics distribution, ranking 3rd in component sales worldwide, with an impressive reputation for developing efficient, comprehensive global supply chain solutions. Founded in 1968, the company has established itself as one of the most innovative organizations in the industry today, with 5,000 employees in 169 offices in 44 countries around the world. Future Electronics is globally integrated, with one worldwide IT infrastructure providing real-time inventory availability and access, while enabling full integration of its operations, sales and marketing worldwide. Offering the highest level of service, the most advanced engineering capabilities and technical solutions through all stages of the design-production cycle, and the largest available-to-sell inventory in the world, Future's mission is always to Delight the Customer®. For more information, visit www.FutureElectronics.com.

Media Contact

Martin H. Gordon
Director, Corporate Communications
Future Electronics
www.FutureElectronics.com
514-694-7710 (ext. 2236)
Fax: 514-630-2671
martin.gordon@FutureElectronics.com
http://www.pr.com/press-release/610186

51st Design Automation Conference:Atrenta, Cadence and Jasper Sponsor Free Exhibit Floor Passes along with the I LOVE DAC Campaign

LOUISVILLE, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Offering free exhibit floor entry to Design Automation Conference (DAC), Atrenta, Cadence and Jasper Design Automation are sponsoring three-day passes through the sixth annual “I LOVE DAC” campaign. DAC is the premier conference devoted to the design and automation of electronic systems. The conference offers outstanding training, education, exhibits and networking opportunities for designers, researchers, tool developers and vendors. The 51^st DAC will be held at Moscone Center in San Francisco, Calif. from June 1- 5, 2014.

The I LOVE DAC exhibit pass includes free entry to the exhibits on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday (June 2 - 4, 2014), plus entry into the five Keynotes, the DAC Pavilion and networking events each evening from 6:00 – 7:00pm. I LOVE DAC registration is open now through May 15. To register visit: http://dac.com/I_Love_DAC.
"As a proud, founding sponsor of the I LOVE DAC program, Atrenta is happy to help keep DAC open to those with the desire to see, learn and experience the best of the EDA industry," said Piyush Sancheti, vice president of marketing at Atrenta. "It also provides a platform for the EDA industry to interact with the best minds from the semiconductor world."
“DAC is the premier event for electronic design, and Cadence always looks forward to fostering the sense of community amongst customers, partners and technologists,” said Craig Cochran, vice president of corporate marketing at Cadence. “We are very happy to be sponsoring the I LOVE DAC program again, to help give more engineers the opportunity to see, learn and interact.”
"Jasper is excited to once again sponsor the I LOVE DAC program," said Oz Levia, vice president of marketing at Jasper. "DAC is the community gathering ground for our industry and it is important that we foster participation in this event by providing a means for anyone interested in attending DAC."

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20140404005554/en/51st-Design-Automation-Conference-Atrenta-Cadence-Jasper#.Uz-iT6JWHIU

XJTAG exhibits winning combination at Electronics & Automation 2013

8/04/2013

XJTAG, an industry-leading supplier of boundary scan hardware and software solutions, is pleased to announce that it will be exhibiting at Electronics & Automation 2013 (Utrecht), May 28th-30th, alongside its distributor for Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxemburg, Logic Technology.

Visit stand 8C040 to find out how XJTAG can help you get your products to market. XJTAG is also offering the opportunity to enter the ‘crack the safe' competition and win a Raspberry Pi. Remember, every winning combination gets a ‘byte'-sized computer!
The Raspberry Pi perfectly illustrates the issues behind testing electronics today. ‘The Raspberry Pi has a processor that comes in a ball grid array (BGA) package in the centre of the board', observes Simon Payne, XJTAG's CEO. ‘An increasing number of components are now coming in these packages, which are difficult to test using traditional methods because you can't reach any of the connections.' The electronics industry is not blind to these problems, however – a test-access protocol, JTAG boundary scan, is now built into many components so they can be tested during design, development and manufacture. XJTAG – an industry leading supplier of JTAG boundary scan software and hardware solutions - allows engineers to test and programme both JTAG and non-JTAG devices on their boards throughout the product life cycle.
“In today's marketplace, getting it right first time is crucial to reducing overall costs and product lead times”, says André De Ceuninck, XJTAG Product Manager at Logic Technology. “An increasing number of businesses are using XJTAG from very early on in the design stage, saving themselves time and money.”
XJTAG is offering a free trial of its industry-leading boundary scan solution so now is your chance to find out how it can help you. Visit us at stand 8C040 at Electronics & Automation 2013, or contact XJTAG or Logic Technology today to arrange a demonstration - or take a free trial and we will even do the setup on your electronics for free. www.xjtag.com, www.logic.nl.
http://www.cambridgenetwork.co.uk/news/xjtag-exhibits-winning-combination-at-electronics-automation7273/

Electronic Design Automation Software Developers in the US Industry Market Research Report Now Available from IBISWorld

The Electronic Design Automation (EDA) Software Developers industry benefits from strong underlying demand for its services. Over the five years to 2013, revenue is expected to increase at an annualized rate of 11.6% to $2.1 billion. EDA software is essential to the design and development of microchips, which are essential to a multitude of consumer and business applications involving computers and other electronic devices. As microchip technology has continually improved, industry software has been increasingly demanded to research and test new designs and reduce the costs associated with the chip design process, says IBISWorld industry analyst Kevin Boyland. Additionally, as the price of semiconductor and associated electronic components has continuously decreased, microchips have been used in more applications, driving demand for EDA software. As a result, revenue is anticipated to grow 5.9% through 2013. Although the industry rebounded strongly after the recession, the past five years were not without their challenges. For example, a decline in private investment in computers and software following the economic downturn in 2008 led to significant revenue declines as businesses canceled or scaled back their software licenses. At the same time, firms have had to continuously adapt their software packages to keep pace with the rapid rate of technological change associated with microchip design, continues Boyland. One way firms have added new services to their repertoire is by acquiring smaller firms with specialized skill sets. As the industry has consolidated, the number of industry firms has decreased 2.9% per year on average over the five years to 2013. The Electronic Design Automation Software Developers industry exhibits a moderate market share concentration. The top three firms are Synopsys, Cadence and Mentor Graphics. Concentration has increased over the past five years due to constant acquisition activity by the industry's three major players. Major industry acquisitions include Synopsys' 2012 purchases of Magma Design Automation and SpringSoft, and Cadence Design Systems' 2010 purchase of Denali Software. In 2008, Cadence offered to acquire its major competitor Mentor Graphics, but this offer was later withdrawn. Concentration is expected to continue increasing; the three major players will continue acquiring any smaller companies that are able to achieve a significant market share. Over the five years to 2018, revenue is forecast to grow. The industry is anticipated to benefit from increasing microchip applications in consumer appliances and broadband-enabled smartphones and tablets. At the same time, firms will benefit from a greater number of electronics engineers using their product, as more engineers are needed to handle an increasingly complex chip design process. Many firms may move toward offering their services through the internet on a subscription basis to lower costs and improve profitability. For more information, visit IBISWorld’s Electronic Design Automation Software Developers in the US industry report page. Follow IBISWorld on Twitter: https://twitter.com/#!/IBISWorld Friend IBISWorld on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/IBISWorld/121347533189 IBISWorld industry Report Key Topics Industry firms develop electronic design automation (EDA) software, which is used primarily for designing electronic components, such as printed circuit boards and integrated circuits. Industry Performance Executive Summary Key External Drivers Current Performance Industry Outlook Industry Life Cycle Products & Markets Supply Chain Products & Services Major Markets Globalization & Trade Business Locations Competitive Landscape Market Share Concentration Key Success Factors Cost Structure Benchmarks Barriers to Entry Major Companies Operating Conditions Capital Intensity Key Statistics Industry Data Annual Change Key Ratios About IBISWorld Inc. Recognized as the nation’s most trusted independent source of industry and market research, IBISWorld offers a comprehensive database of unique information and analysis on every US industry. With an extensive online portfolio, valued for its depth and scope, the company equips clients with the insight necessary to make better business decisions. Headquartered in Los Angeles, IBISWorld serves a range of business, professional service and government organizations through more than 10 locations worldwide. For more information, visit http://www.ibisworld.com or call 1-800-330-3772. Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/pr/1076620#ixzz2LnXIzyf3

Zonoff Announces Launch of Cutting-Edge Home Automation Technology at 2013 CES in Las Vegas

MALVERN, Pa., Jan. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Zonoff, Inc., today announced the launch of the "Zonoff Distributed Radio Architecture" (ZDRA) which solves a key problem for consumers while also opening new opportunities for consumer electronics OEMs. The new architecture includes hardware reference designs for an ultra low cost wireless radio solution code-named "Sentry" which will be demonstrated by Zonoff at the 2013 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas. "As the first company in the industry to deliver enabling technology that is truly standards agnostic, the release of ZDRA and Sentry is the next logical step for Zonoff," explained Mike Harris , Zonoff's CEO. ZDRA and Sentry facilitate communication back to the home's primary automation controller, which houses the "brain" of the connected home via Zonoff Home Software. "Other companies have traditionally depended upon a dedicated home automation controller box to contain both their control software and the specific radios required for RF standards used in home automation, such as Z-Wave, ZigBee and others. Essentially, we have separated the control software from the radios, enabling the radios to be placed wherever they may be needed in the home, without the need for a wired Ethernet connection. The benefit is that consumers can use their existing WiFi network to add any home automation device in any location," Harris explained. Just as important are the ramifications of ZDRA and Sentry for consumer electronics OEMs because now virtually any "always on" connected CE device – including such things as HDTV, Blu-Ray players, set top boxes, routers, NAS devices, etc. - can add home automation as a value-added feature. With the radios now handled by small, low-cost Sentry devices scattered throughout the home, OEMs can deploy the Zonoff Home Software in either newly shipped CE devices, or add it to existing components in consumer's homes via a software upgrade "push" over the Internet. According to Harris, Zonoff will be once again creating an immersive interactive demo "home" inside their private 2,000 square foot suite at the Las Vegas Hotel to demonstrate the entire spectrum of the Zonoff Platform. Zonoff's demo suite will be located on the 29th floor of the Las Vegas Hilton. CES attendees can request a private demo and briefing by calling 484.466.6331. About Zonoff Zonoff, Inc., creators of the Intuitive Home™, provide a comprehensive software platform to channel partners who, in turn, deliver "Connected Home" products and services to the consumer mass market. Zonoff's modular, cross-technology approach includes Home, Cloud and App Software which can be combined to deliver best-of-breed home automation, remote control, energy management and safety monitoring, ranging from entry level to comprehensive solutions. Zonoff's innovative commerce engine also provides ongoing revenue opportunities as consumer's expand and upgrade their home. Zonoff is a member of both the Z-Wave Alliance and the ZigBee Alliance. For more information, visit www.Zonoff.com. PR Newswire (http://s.tt/1xXNe) http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/zonoff-announces-launch-of-cutting-edge-home-automation-technology-at-2013-ces-in-las-vegas-185643432.html

Is iPad Mini the ‘Perfect Size for Home Automation’?

No big surprise that Apple introduced the iPad Mini, a 7.9-inch display that is pencil-thin at 7.2 millimeters. At 0.68 lbs., it weighs about half as much as its big brother. Other than its smaller form factor, everything else appears to be the same as its 9.7-inch counterpart. Apple SVP of worldwide marketing Phil Schiller would disagree. He said today during Apple’s media event, “This isn’t just a shrunken down iPad.” To the home automation, audio/video and custom electronics industries, however, that’s exactly what it is—just a smaller version of the original. But that might be exactly what our industry needs. It’s small enough and light enough to be held with one hand, making it better than a big iPad for use as a remote control. At $329 for the base 16GB Wi-Fi-only model, the iPad Mini isn’t ridiculously cheap like an Android tablet, but it is in line with a decent universal remote—I mean, if you want to wake up the device to launch a command, and then jump from app to app. Yes, it still has all the flaws of the bigger models when it comes to home control. Clearly, the original iPad stimulated sales of home control systems because it was adored and well understood by the masses, and a cheap alternative to tradition home touchscreens. Does the iPad Mini substantially open up new opportunities? At CEDIA Expo 2012 in September, iPort showed a prototype LaunchPort charging mount for the iPad Mini, complete with a mocked-up Mini. CEO Ari Supran declared, “We want people to hold it and say, ‘Hey, it’s the perfect size for home automation. Then they’ll get a bunch, and then they’ll need a place to put it.” http://www.cepro.com/article/is_ipad_mini_the_perfect_size_for_home_automation/