Mouser Electronics Launches Second Competition in its "Mouser 500 Engineering Challenge"

DALLAS and FORT WORTH, Texas, June 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Mouser Electronics, Inc., regarded as a top design engineering resource and global distributor for semiconductors and electronic components, today announced its second design challenge as part of its Mouser 500 Engineering Challenge Competition.  "We're looking for the industry's top engineers to help Mouser and KV Racing Technology identify innovative solutions to some of its most intriguing race-related engineering challenges," said Larry Johannes, Mouser's Vice President of Strategic Marketing.

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Over the course of the summer, the Mouser 500 Engineering Challenge will pose three unique challenges to participants in its search for the best solutions. Participants will be asked to develop an innovative solution to each challenge, describe it in paragraph form and submit it for consideration through the Mouser 500 Engineering Challenge website at www.mouser.com/500challenge.  Ten solutions deemed to be the best from each challenge will be reviewed by the Mouser/KV Racing Technology Team, and the finalist whose solution is judged to be the best in each challenge will win an Apple iPad 3. All three First Prize iPad winners will be entered to win the Grand Prize of an autographed Tony Kanaan racing helmet.

"The technology behind this sport is critical to the success of every race car driver and an aspect many fans do not often get to see," said Johannes. "But we know there are many fans who understand and revel in the fact that there is much more that goes on behind the scenes and under the carbon fibre than what can be seen on the racetrack. We were amazed with the talent and creativity of the submissions seen in the first challenge and we welcome new approaches and even more imaginative themes as our fans find solutions to this challenge and our last challenge in August."

Each challenge of the four-month competition will focus on a different aspect of racing technology and the first challenge just ended on June 15th. The second challenge, which runs now through July 31st, invites participants to find a better way to determine the level in the refueling tank. Currently, there is a Gill level sensor (12V DC supply, 0-5V DC output and RS422 serial feed) in the tank to track fuel volume during race testing. The challenge is to come up with a solution that includes a local and rugged digital read out for fuel volume to be used during actual IndyCar races that can also wirelessly transmit real-time fuel levels to a laptop in the pit. All electronics will be external to the tank in an environmentally sealed enclosure. General racing parameters include the practice of using sealed connectors, externally braided wire, and environmentally sealed boxes that conform to IP67/68. Full information on all of the challenges, details on how to participate, and complete contest rules can be found at www.mouser.com/500challenge.

The Mouser 500 Challenge contest is part of Mouser's successful racing program. The company first set its sights on an IndyCar sponsorship last year as an innovative way to connect with the industry's top engineers, and as a high-tech platform to showcase its valued supplier partnerships. Joining Mouser as co-sponsors for the 2012 Izod® IndyCar Series are TTI, Inc, Murata, Molex, TE Connectivity, Phoenix Contact, Littelfuse, KEMET, Ohmite, Hammond, Harwin, ebm-papst, Omron, BIVAR, Fluke, and Amphenol.

After a record-breaking 2011 debut, Mouser has teamed up with IndyCar Champion Tony Kanaan and KV Racing for 2012. The 37-year-old drove to an outstanding third-place finish in the 2012 Indianapolis 500 where he and the No. 11 MOUSER ELECTRONICS/GEICO/KV Racing Technology Chevrolet/Firestone IndyCar captured a coveted podium position. Even more recently, Kanaan placed 2nd at the Milwaukee IndyFest. For the latest updates on Mouser's IndyCar news and Tony Kanaan, visit http://www.mouser.com/indy/.

With its broad product line and unsurpassed customer service, Mouser caters to design engineers and buyers by delivering What's Next in advanced technologies. Mouser offers customers 19 global support locations and stocks the world's widest selection of the latest semiconductors and electronic components for the newest design projects. Mouser Electronics' website is updated daily and searches more than 8.9 million products to locate over 3 million orderable part numbers available for easy online purchase.  Mouser.com also houses an industry-first interactive catalog, data sheets, supplier-specific reference designs, application notes, technical design information, and engineering tools.

About Mouser Electronics
Mouser Electronics, a subsidiary of TTI, Inc., is part of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway family of companies. Mouser is an award-winning, authorized semiconductor and electronic component distributor, focused on the rapid introduction of new products and technologies to electronic design engineers and buyers. Mouser.com features more than 3 million products online from more than 450 manufacturers. Mouser publishes multiple catalogs per year providing designers with up-to-date data on the components now available for the next generation of electronic devices.  Mouser ships globally to over 375,000 customers in 170 countries from its 492,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility south of Dallas, Texas.  For more information, visit http://www.mouser.com.

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SOURCE Mouser Electronics, Inc.