Each week, the editor of Planet Analog finds items of interest and features them in two small text boxes, entitled “Also of Interest” and “Elementals”. Each cites items from publications outside the Planet Analog and EETimes portfolios. The first box highlights a few items of general interest to the engineer, while the second highlights some basic and tutorial electronic-engineering material.

Consider them as “online-only” extras (Note: there are also links to previous weeks' editions, at the bottom):

Also of Interest:

• An adaptive-optics phase-correction mechanism combined with a specially designed filter can prevent catastrophic damage to critical optical components in a high-intensity laser system:
  “ADAPTIVE OPTICS: Optical fuse protects intracavity laser components,”
  Laser Focus World , March 2008
• Surgical robot able to operate in the 1.5 to 3-Tesla fields of magnetic-resonance imaging (MRI) machines:
  “World’s First Nonmagnetic Robot Arm,”
  Machine Desgn , April 24, 2008
• New formulations are a major tool for engineers who want to cut vehicle weight and improve safety:
  “Adhesives start assembly revolution,”
  Design News , May 12, 2008
• This high-precision clock is designed for navigation and radio science applications:
  “Compact, Highly Stable Ion Atomic Clock,”
  NASA Tech Briefs , May 2008

Elementals:

• Monitor resistance in a noisy or hostile environment:
  “Circuit Transfers Resistance Value Through Isolation Barrier,”
  Electronic Design , May 8, 2008
• Automobile accessories and control electronics benefit from power-management schemes to prevent dead batteries and gas guzzling:
  “Automobile electronics seek to plug power leaks,”
  EDN , June 26, 2008
• Judicious component layout plays a large role in immunizing test and control systems against electrical interference:
  “Top tips on squelching electrical noise,”
  Machine Design , June 19, 2008

Previous Editions:

• July 14, 2008
• July 7, 2008
• June 30, 2008
• June 23, 2008
• June 16, 2008
• June 9, 2008
• June 2, 2008