In the News
December 15, 2011 - PowerPulse.net: Micro Power Electronics Announces Merger
Micro Power Electronics, Inc., a specialist in portable power solutions for mission-critical equipment, announced that Electrochem Solutions, Inc. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire a 100 percent interest in Micro Power from Weston Presidio. Electrochem is a subsidiary of Greatbatch, Inc. The transaction is expected to close during December.
December 14, 2011 - Military & Aerospace Electronics: Micro Power Electronics Announces Merger
Micro Power Electronics, Inc., the global leader in portable power solutions for mission-critical equipment, today announced that Electrochem Solutions, Inc. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire a 100 percent interest in Micro Power from Weston Presidio. Electrochem is a subsidiary of Greatbatch, Inc
December 12, 2011 - ECN: Deadline For 3rd Edition Of EN 60601-1 Looms
IEC 60601-1 applies to all electrical and electronic medical devices and its accessories. The 3rd edition is in the process of being adopted by global regulatory authorities. But on a national level, regulatory affectivity dates are not harmonized across global jurisdictions. Parallel use of 2nd and 3rd edition is expected through 2012. Compliance with the standard is not required with products deployed in the field, but applies to new products going through regulatory approvals, as well as existing products that are currently compliant with the 2nd edition. In the EU, compliance with 3rd edition will be required to qualify for the CE mark.
December 13, 2011 - Oregonian: Micro Power Electronics Of Beaverton Acquired In $60 Million Deal
Beaverton-based Micro Power Electronics has a new owner under a $60 million deal announced Tuesday. New York-based Electrochem Solutions Inc. acquired the custom battery supplier from Weston Presidio, a private equity firm with offices in Boston and San Francisco, according to a news release.
December 13, 2011 - Portland Business Journal: Beaverton's Micro Power Acquired By Greatbatch
Beaverton battery pack manufacturer Micro Power Electronics Inc. .. on Tuesday said it has been acquired by a division of Clarence, N.Y.-based Greatbatch Inc. Terms of the deal weren’t disclosed, but Micro Power CEO Mike DuBose said the company’s 275 workers in Beaverton are expected to stay in place.
December 13, 2011 - NW Innovation: Micro Power Electronics Acquired By Electrochem
Beaverton, Oregon-based Micro Power Electronics, a developer of power supplies for the portable equipment market, said Tuesday that it has signed a definitive agreement to be acquired by Electrochem Solutions, Inc
December 13, 2011 - MDT: Micro Power Electronics Announces Merger
Micro Power Electronics, Inc., the global leader in portable power solutions for mission-critical equipment, today announced that Electrochem Solutions, Inc. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire a 100 percent interest in Micro Power from Weston Presidio. Electrochem is a subsidiary of Greatbatch, Inc.
December 13, 2011 - Wireless Design & Development: Micro Power Electronics Announces Merger
Micro Power Electronics, Inc., the global leader in portable power solutions for mission-critical equipment, today announced that Electrochem Solutions, Inc. has signed a definitive agreement to acquire a 100 percent interest in Micro Power from Weston Presidio. Electrochem is a subsidiary of Greatbatch, Inc.
December 1, 2011 - EDN: Battery-Charge Control: Dedicated ICs Or Microcontrollers?
Battery-charger-control designers face a fundamental choice: to use a part from the rich selection of dedicated charge-control ICs available from many vendors or to use a programmable microcontroller. Because battery-charge control is a slow process, you can use inexpensive microcontrollers with embedded ADCs, signal conditioning, and PWM modules to directly control the charger’s power-conversion circuits. You can also use a microcontroller for charger-to-battery- management-system communication and interaction, such as in a smart charger; flexible user interfaces, such as those in charge-status displays; battery-conditioning control; and other flexible features. However, microcontroller circuits and firmware are normally more expensive to design and test and often cost more to produce than chargers employing dedicated charge-control ICs.
October 11, 2011 - Design News: Digital Radiography Adopts Lithium Polymer Batteries
New digital radiography detectors are using lithium polymer batteries for power, making them one of the first medical devices to adopt the technology universally. Modern digital radiography equipment uses conventional X-ray equipment and procedures to capture patient radiology images digitally on cassette-sized, wireless digital radiography detectors, which then transmit the images directly to the digital radiography system's capture consoles. Typical detectors are 14 inches by 17 inches and only half an inch thick. These small dimensions require exceptionally thin batteries. Many digital radiography detectors require the entire battery to be less than 5mm thick. That's the reason digital radiography detectors are adopting lithium polymer batteries.
