http://www.teardown.com// This channel covers a range of devices from new or emerging markets such as robotics, consumer health devices, automotive electronics, green technologies, and new display technologies. The Emerging Markets teardown reports are abbreviated teardowns emphasizing the semiconductor content and high-value sub-assemblies and highlight opportunities for system and component manufacturers outside of high-volume consumer electronic markets. Significant discounts are available with the purchase of a Channel License . © 2012, UBM PLC en-us Wed, 22 Sep 2010 16:45:00 -0500 Wed, 22 Sep 2010 16:45:00 -0500 Emerging Markets Channel 60 ]]>Microvision employs substantial proprietary technology in the implementation of the “SHOWWX” LED laser-based pico projector. At a $549.00 retail price, the SHOWWX differentiates itself with 400x848 (WXVGA) resolution, selectable 16:9 and 4:3 Aspect Ratios, and focus-free operation. RGB laser pulses are raster-scanned by a single MEMs-based mirror device to project images of up to 100 inches diagonal, dependent on ambient light conditions. Three-level brightness adjustment is supported, and three projection modes, “Brilliant Colors”, “Standard Colors”, and “Inverted Colors” are available. The manufacturer claims 90-120 minutes projection time from a 3.7V, 1800mAh Li-Ion battery. http://www.teardown.com/AllReports/product.aspx?reportid=1743 Sep 22, 2010 16:45:00 -0500 Report http://www.teardown.com/AllReports/product.aspx?reportid=1743 ]]>On November 20, 2009 San Francisco-based Cloud Engines, Inc released the second generation of their Pogoplug, which allows user to share media content and information over the Internet. Up to 4 USB storage devices, an external hard drive, and/or memory sticks, can be connected to the Pogoplug and accessed from anywhere via the Internet. The unit retails for $129.00 - registration is free on their web site and there are no monthly charges for the service. The Pogoplug is compatible with both PC and Mac operating systems and web browsers. The source code is open to promote user experimentation and development and there are currently Pogoplug apps for the Android and iPhone. http://www.teardown.com/AllReports/product.aspx?reportid=1602 Mar 29, 2010 16:29:00 -0500 Report http://www.teardown.com/AllReports/product.aspx?reportid=1602 ]]>The Bayer Contour USB Blood Glucose Meter is the first “Plug-n-Play” blood glucose meter with integrated monitoring software. Testing with this USB computer-interfaced device takes about five seconds, with only a small sample of blood (about 0.6 uL). The meter stores up to two thousand tests results to enable patients to manage their blood sugar levels and provide their doctor with daily results, including date and time information, for both and after meals. The Contour USB has 2000-test result storage and 500MB of free memory for user data. The Contour can be recharged with an included AC charging adapter or thru an active USB computer port. http://www.portelligent.com/AllReports/product.aspx?reportid=1591 Jan 20, 2010 12:56:00 -0500 Report http://www.portelligent.com/AllReports/product.aspx?reportid=1591 ]]>The 3M-Littmann Model 3200 Electronic Stethoscope is the next generation of technology offered by 3M™ - Littmann. When used with the included Zargis ® StethAssist™ software auscultation of Heart and Lung functions can be monitored and transmitted via Bluetooth® to a computer in real-time with visual interpretation and subsequently shared with peers for analysis or attached to medical records for future review and comparison. With 3M’s improved and patented soft and hard “Snap Tight” eartip materials ambient noise is reduced by a reported 85%. Sounds can be amplified or reduced for clarity with volume control keys located near the display. The Stethoscope uses a single AA battery. There is a Battery Life Indicator on the display which will begin to blink when only a few hours of battery capacity remains. http://www.portelligent.com/AllReports/product.aspx?reportid=1586 Jan 7, 2010 12:36:00 -0500 Report http://www.portelligent.com/AllReports/product.aspx?reportid=1586 ]]>Autonet Mobile’s AS-BUSRTR-03 CDMA-EvDO/WiFi cellular router for vehicular applications provides remote internet access while on the move. Employing a technology Autonet calls “TRU Link” the router monitors such things as signal strength, packet loss, latency, and speeds to detect when a signal needs to be refreshed, or a new tower connection needs to be made, thus eliminating dropped connections. Up to 10 devices can be connected to the router simultaneously and it can be located anywhere in a vehicle. No special software is required. It works with any operating system and is claimed to operate at speeds from 400 to 800Kbps. The release of new apps and services are promised from Autonet without the need for hardware upgrades. A monthly service fee of $29-$59USD is required for 1GB and 5GB data plans respectively along with the $350-$400 hardware purchase price. http://www.portelligent.com/AllReports/product.aspx?reportid=1523 Oct 19, 2009 14:47:00 -0500 Report http://www.portelligent.com/AllReports/product.aspx?reportid=1523 ]]>The Micro Professional Projector (MPro 110) is one of the new ultra small pico projectors to hit the market recently and is a first generation product of its kind from the 3M Company. The pocket-sized projector uses 3M’s proprietary LCoS optical engine and is the first to support computer generated VGA input as well as composite video. The device employs an LED light source and is handheld or used with a tripod, but lacks a speaker. The MPro 110 is ideal for small conferences and works best at projection distances under 50 inches. A focus control is provided, but no brightness adjustment is available. The unit is powered by a 3.7 volt, 1050mAh removable Li-ion battery and comes with an AC charge and video cables. http://www.portelligent.com/AllReports/product.aspx?reportid=1513 Oct 1, 2009 17:16:00 -0500 Report http://www.portelligent.com/AllReports/product.aspx?reportid=1513 ]]>The LiNK FE599GR is a security door lock system allowing for keyless and internet access control using Schlage’s wireless Z-Wave radio technology. The LiNK system includes an exterior keypad lock, an interior keypad lock, and a Z-Wave wireless bridge. Also included with the LiNK FE599GR is the ZDP100 which allows up to two lamps to be controlled wirelessly by the bridge. A $12.99 monthly subscription with Schlage is required to use the internet service, however, there are no cancellation fees and the service can be activated and de-activated on a need-only basis. The FE599GR bridge connects to an existing Ethernet connection within the home and sends wireless radio signals to the light module(s) and lock system(s). This allows the user to monitor access to their home, turn lights on and off, and send commands via the internet using the Z-Wave radio technology to complete the in-home action. The Schlage service will monitor up to 14 codes to see when each was entered and report the current state of the lock system, i.e. lock or unlocked. A subscription is not required to use the keypads on the exterior and interior door handles and is needed only for the internet control and monitor features. http://www.portelligent.com/AllReports/product.aspx?reportid=1524 Sep 25, 2009 13:42:00 -0500 Report http://www.portelligent.com/AllReports/product.aspx?reportid=1524 ]]>Launched by Optoma in December 2008 for $399.99, the PK-101 Pico Pocket Projector is among the world’s smallest and lightest projectors. Capable of being connected to a number of devices, including personal media players, mobile phones, PDAs, digital cameras, and gaming devices, the tiny projector makes viewing videos and images relatively easy. Based on Texas Instruments’ DLP Pico imaging technology, the projector provides a claimed 1000:1 contrast ratio and displays an image size up to 60 inches diagonal, though ambient conditions are of course a key factor in maximum image size. The LED light source with two brightness settings is said to have a life expectancy exceeding 20,000 hours and a brightness of 11 lumens. The PK-101 is powered by a 3.7V/1100mAh Li-ion battery delivering a reported 1.5 hours of use, which necessitates the projector’s additional included battery. Composite Video and Stereo Audio-In (PAL - 576i and NTSC - 480) are the compatible input formats. http://www.portelligent.com/AllReports/product.aspx?reportid=1452 May 26, 2009 16:53:00 -0500 Report http://www.portelligent.com/AllReports/product.aspx?reportid=1452 ]]>Introduced by Verizon Wireless in the US market in January 2009 for $249.99 (with no monthly fee), the Samsung SCS-26UC4 Network Extender is designed to enhance the quality of cellular phone calls inside homes and small offices. Commonly known as a 'femtocell' or home base-station, the SCS-26UC4 is easy to set up, and requires only a broadband Internet connection with a minimum speed of 300kbps and an available Ethernet port on a broadband modem or router. GPS signal acquisition through the built-in antenna helps maintain network timing updates and supply E911 services with an accurate location. Up to three callers can initiate or receive calls through the femtocell at the same time, with a fourth channel reserved for E911 calls. If consumers take to femtocells like the SCS-26UC4 for home and small office use, these products have the potential to further undercut the market position of land lines. http://www.portelligent.com/AllReports/product.aspx?reportid=1390 Mar 18, 2009 12:49:00 -0500 Report http://www.portelligent.com/AllReports/product.aspx?reportid=1390 ]]>The Blackline GPS Snitch is a Wireless Tracking Device aimed at the consumer market for applications such as vehicle security. The Snitch uses GPS to determine its location, direction, and speed, and transmits the information over a GSM/GPRS data connection. The user may view this data on a website, plot a set of coordinates on a map, or receive position updates via text message. The hardware is an integration of off-the-shelf GPS and GSM modules, held together by additional processing and power management circuitry and optimized for indoor and in-vehicle operation. http://www.portelligent.com/AllReports/product.aspx?reportid=1355 Thu 29, Jan 2009 16:28:00 -0500 Report http://www.portelligent.com/AllReports/product.aspx?reportid=1355 ]]>Esquire magazine created a "living cover" in the form of two E Ink panels (and associated control electronics) inserted into a limited-edition run of its 75th anniversary issue. Both the external cover and an interior cover advertisement make use of E Ink's electrophoretic display (EPD) technology to create an eye-catching display which Esquire points to as the future of publishing, albeit with some appropriate qualifiers. http://www.portelligent.com/AllReports/product.aspx?reportid=1273 Mon 6, Oct 2008 17:00:00 -0500 Report http://www.portelligent.com/AllReports/product.aspx?reportid=1273 ]]>The Iqua SUN solar-power Bluetooth headset attempts to finally cut all the cords with wireless headsets by using a built-in solar cell to continuously recharge the internal battery. The Emerging Markets Teardown examines the hardware and power consumption/generation aspects of the design to see how close to the 'forever-cord-free' objective Iqua has come. http://www.portelligent.com/AllReports/product.aspx?reportid=1231 Tue 9, Sep 2008 17:00:00 -0500 Report http://www.portelligent.com/AllReports/product.aspx?reportid=1231 ]]>TRW's wireless tire pressure monitor - rescued from a Toyota truck during a replacement - uses a 315MHz wireless link to communicate tire inflation to central vehicle electronics. With MEMs and a single RF device, the module provides an OEM feature and compliance with Federal mandates for tire monitoring to improve vehicle safety, fuel economy, and tread life. http://www.portelligent.com/AllReports/product.aspx?reportid=1150 Tue 17, Jun 2008 17:00:00 -0500 Report http://www.portelligent.com/AllReports/product.aspx?reportid=1150 ]]>Dave Carey of Portelligent discussed the system design and component set of the Gibson Les Paul 'Robot' Guitar in a "live teardown" event conducted April 15-17, 2008 at TechInsights' Embedded Systems Conference in San Jose. This report captures and expands on the findings presented in the live teardown. Gibson's 'Robot' guitar uses clever design and embedded control technology from Tronical of Germany to deliver a Les Paul electric guitar capable of self-tuning to a standard EADGBE A440 or any number of alternative tuning modes. Along with supplying other helpful tuning automation functions, the Robot design is intended as a graceful retrofit which maintains as much of the standard guitar as possible including unmodified output coil pickups and overall guitar physical/visual characteristics. http://www.portelligent.com/AllReports/product.aspx?reportid=1086 Mon 21, Apr 2008 17:00:00 -0500 Report http://www.portelligent.com/AllReports/product.aspx?reportid=1086 ]]>Myvu Solo iPod Media Viewer http://www.portelligent.com/AllReports/product.aspx?reportid=961 Wed 21, Nov 2007 17:00:00 -0500 Report http://www.portelligent.com/AllReports/product.aspx?reportid=961 Toyota Prius Teardown http://www.portelligent.com/AllReports/product.aspx?reportid=790 Fri 27, Apr 2007 17:00:00 -0500 Report http://www.portelligent.com/AllReports/product.aspx?reportid=790 Given Imaging PillCam http://www.portelligent.com/AllReports/product.aspx?reportid=583 Tue 1, Aug 2006 17:00:00 -0500 Report http://www.portelligent.com/AllReports/product.aspx?reportid=583