Mentor Blogs

I like simple things. In particular, I like clean and simple ways to solve a problem. For example, user interaction with an embedded system might be something very slick – touch screen LCDs seem to be fitted to everything nowadays. But sometimes a simple LED indicator is enough. I was entertained to read a blog by Ken Wada on embedded.com recently, where he sang the praises of a simple, blinking … Read More

RTOS, watchdog, LED

LED based lighting is now a very hot topic (believe me, in electronic thermal management circles that used to be funny, the first few times). Control of packaged IC junction temperatures will always have a bearing on reliability but for LEDs thermal also effects functional performance in terms of brightness and colour. The hotter they get, the dimmer they appear. A particular contradiction in the context … Read More

LED, Electronics Cooling, TERALED, LEDs, T3ster

Hello everybody, I know it’s about time again, I was a little busy with LEDs lately, had some very interesting visits of customers working with LEDs and was working a webinar for use of LEDs in Automotive. You canegister now for this Automotive LED webinar. But this time it is not about Automotive but about LEDs, I just happened to read an article about Applebee’s plan to switch to LED … Read More

Energy Saving, FloEFD, Consumer LED, going green, LED

It seems that my previous post resonated deeply with everyone – I received a lot of offline comments and my post inspired two of my colleagues (Boris and Andras) to do their own blog posts. This doesn’t shock me because Thanksgiving week is one of the busiest travel periods in the States so everyone is thinking about flying. So I thought we should stay with the subject for one more day and look at it … Read More

T3ster, Thermal, FloEFD, CFD, LED, QA, FloVENT, hybrid engine

I don’t like dark rooms –it’s probably because I’ve lived in California most of my life so I’ve gotten used to having lots of ambient daylight.  My heart sinks when I walk into a room in the middle of the day and it’s darker than a cavern. The guys in the office always know when I’m in the building because I flip the light switches as I walk through the building.  Now let me make this clear… I don’t … Read More

LED, Optimize, CFD, Thermal Design, Physical Prototype

While de-icing my car this morning, I was listening to the radio. The announcer said that we are expecting more snow in London this week. The news sent shivers down my spine but not for the reason you may think. As if the ice on the road and pedestrians jumping in front of moving cars isn’t bad enough, we may have a new problem to deal with: it seems that LED traffic lights may have a problem dealing … Read More

Design Engineer, LED, CFD, Thermal

Have you heard or read that soon there will be no more old fashion light bulbs in EU countries? What would Thomas Edison say if he knew that the biggest invention he made will become extinct in the EU. Would he turn in his grave or would he welcome the change to newer innovative technology that is more energy saving and efficient? I think as an innovative inventor he was he would welcome it since every … Read More

Energy Saving, Light Bulb, LED, Technology Evolution

For some reason, the powers that be have decided to do roadworks on every major road leading out of my area of  London. That means traffic has been diverted to two minor roads. Fair enough as the leaking Victorian water pipes need to be replaced. But what I don’t understand is why they all have to be done at the same time and the same exact section of the A4 that was dug up for the entire length … Read More

LED, Fluid Dynamics, CFD, Thermal Management, Heatsink, Light-Emitting Diode