Simple USB Geiger Counter

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Sylvain submitted his latest project: a geiger counter with a USB interface. Thanks for sharing your nice project!

 source : http://electronicfr.com/index.php/Microcontrollers-programming/How-monitor-radioactivity-with-a-PC.html

Audium chip outputs 100 watts of audio from 1.5 volts

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Audium Semiconductor has launched an audio power amplifier IC which, at normal listening levels, is 20 times more efficient than competing devices, such as Class D amplifiers, without compromising audio quality. The AS1001 operates from a nominal 1.5 V power supply and delivers 100 W peak power output. The amplifier is so efficient that battery-powered amplified loudspeakers can run for up to 10 months on a set of four ‘C’ batteries, playing for three hours per day.

The amplifier also enables the development of smaller, cooler, mains-powered audio equipment, with fewer heat sinks. Applications include totally wireless speakers, home theatre surround sound speakers and battery-powered travel speakers. Future Audium ICs will support MP3 docking stations and USB powered speakers.

The AS1001 architecture uses patented techniques to minimise both fixed power losses and output-dependant variable power losses. The modulation scheme uses low switching rates to minimise switching losses. Power rail switching means that the amplifier operates efficiently from a low voltage rail most of the time, with a DC-DC boost converter driving higher voltage transistors on extreme audio peaks.

source : http://www.elektor.com