Archive for September 2011

Webkit-based UI for TV devices

Netflix’s Webkit-based UI for TV devices article says that Netflix uses WebKit, JavaScript, HTML5, and CSS3 to build user interfaces that are delivered to millions of game consoles, Blu-ray players, Internet-connected TVs, and devices. Matt McCarthy and Kim Trott, device UI engineering managers at Netflix, have just published 50 presentation slides from their recent talk

Commonly used AC voltage levels

AC voltage levels: 0.316V The most common nominal level for consumer audio equipment is -10 dBV, 0.316 volts root mean square (VRMS). 0.7746V The reference voltage for the decibel unloaded (0 dBu) is the voltage required to produce 1 mW of power across a 600 ohms load (approximately 0.7746 VRMS) 1V  The reference voltage for

Electrolytic capacitor life

As we all know, a good LED could last very long up to 50,000 hours with with a good heat sink. But how is the LED driver electronics life? For common LED drivers there is at least one component is very weak. It’s the electrolytic capacitor. High Bay LED Lighting Driver Heat Dissipation Temperature Test

Stupid Robots

Ever worry that robots are getting a little too smart? Thankfully, some people are dedicated to keeping our metal friends dumb. Bacarobo, the Stupid Robot Championship, is a showcase for just such robots. The contest originated in Japan (running in 2007 and 2008) before moving to Hungary in 2010. The competition has three main rules: