SM141K04L – 4-Cell Monocrystalline Solar Cell for Handheld Applications

The SM141K04L from Anysolar is a Monocrystalline Solar Cell that consists of 4 cells. It provides an output voltage of 2.23 V and an output current of 55.1 mA. This solar cell is manufactured using monocrystalline Silicon technology and has a cell efficiency of 25%, thereby allowing it to operate even under low-light conditions while offering an increased battery life and run time in a small footprint. It exhibits a very good photonic response over a wide range of wavelengths, making it suitable for both indoor and outdoor environments. This solar cell’s design allows it to connect flexibly in series and/or parallel to fulfill the custom-specific application’s power requirements. It is available in a panel-mount package that measures 29.00 x 23.00 x 1.8 mm and is ideal for charging various battery-powered and handheld consumer products such as mobile phones, PDAs, MP3-Players, toys, RFID tags, and camera applications.

more information: https://www.anysolar.biz & https://www.digikey.gr/en/supplier-centers/anysolar

XENSIV BGT60LTR11AIP Radar Shield2Go

Infineon’s super-low-power 60 GHz Doppler radar sensor includes antennas-in-package (AIP)

Infineon’s Radar Shield2Go can be used independently as a plug-in radar sensor (e.g., with Arduino form factor boards or another microcontroller) to detect motion and direction of motion by using only two GPIOs (TD and PD) in autonomous mode (default). The board comes with two potentiometers and switches, making it easy to adjust the four QS signals of the radar mechanically. The switches can be used to switch between autonomous and SPI modes.

The Shield2Go comes with castellated holes to ensure several connection styles. The Shield2Go family is recommended for use with Infineon’s XMC™ maker board series (e.g., XMC1100 Boot Kit, XMC1400 Arduino, XMC 2Go, and XMC4700 Relax Kit) or Arduino boards (e.g., Rev3 and MKR1000).

The BGT60LTR11AIP Shield2Go demonstrates the features of the BGT60LTR11AIP MMIC and gives the user a plug-and-play radar solution.

  • Easy motion and direction of motion detection of an object with only two GPIOs
  • Programmable in Arduino IDE and PlatformIO IDE (VSCode extension)
  • Configurable detection range from 0.5 m to 7 m
  • LEDs that blink when presence or movement direction is detected
  • Potentiometers and switches to adjust the settings of the radar (QS)
  • Super-small (48.8 mm x 23.9 mm) board design with Infineon’s Shield2Go format
  • 60 GHz transceiver BGT60LTR11AIP MMIC with one transmitter and one receiver unit

more information: https://www.infineon.com/cms/en/product/sensor/radar-sensors/radar-sensors-for-iot/60ghz-radar/bgt60ltr11aip/

Nordic Semiconductor releases three new power management ICs

Applications that will significantly benefit from the use of the new nPM1100s include wearables, gaming mice, and highly popular battery charging cases for in-ear headphones

Nordic Semiconductor today announces that it is adding three new product variants to its nPM1100 power management IC product range. Until now, the range has only been available in an ultra-compact 2.1 x 2.1 mm chip-scale package (CSP) form factor.

The first new variant comes in a more mainstream 4 x 4 mm QFN component package. CSPs are an absolute requirement for products defined by extreme size constraints. However, when this is not a factor, QFNs allow for easier and cheaper manufacturing as well as simplified design, development, and verification. QFNs also offer greater thermal and vibration robustness compared to CSPs.

The second and third new nPM1100 variants support higher maximum (termination) battery charging voltages (VTERM) that are required to fully charge certain types of lithium-ion cells commonly used in portable wireless products. These variants will also be offered in either a CSP or QFN package

The product’s ultra-high power management efficiency and ease-of-use bring tremendous value to battery-powered applications where space constraints are not so strict

Geir Kjosavik, Nordic Semiconductor

Termination voltage is the maximum voltage a battery should reach during charging. It is used by the battery charger circuit to switch from constant current charging to constant voltage charging and is ultimately used to determine when a battery is fully charged, and so when to stop charging.

All Nordic nPM1100 variants require no configuration software to operate as all settings are pin configurable.

“Chip-scale packages are amazing in their miniaturization,” comments Geir Kjosavik, Product Director PMIC at Nordic Semiconductor. “In its smallest CSP configuration, the nPM1100 solution only takes up 23mm2 of board space including passive components.

“However, the product’s ultra-high power management efficiency and ease-of-use bring tremendous value to battery-powered applications where space constraints are not so strict, and so the use of a QFN package is often preferable.”

“In addition, the previous nPM1100’s maximum termination voltage was below that of some increasingly popular lithium-ion batteries used in wearable products. The new nPM1100 variants with higher termination voltage will now maximize the application range and power optimization potential of Nordic’s power management ICs to all portable electronics products.”

All new nPM1100 product variants are in volume production and available to order now. A new version of the existing evaluation kit (nPM1100 EK) for evaluating the higher termination voltage will be available end of Q1 (nPM1100 EKHV).

Analyze Logic Signals with SP1000G Series Logic Analyzer

SP1000G series logic analyzers and arbitrary pattern generators, with a timing resolution of 1ns (1GSPS), can analyze logic signals and protocols in great detail. External reference clocking (IN and OUT), trigger input and output, and a threshold and output voltage level that can be adjusted making the SP1000G series a very powerful piece of lab equipment. SP1000G comes in three different versions with either 18, 36, or 54 channels. The SP1000G series was made so that each channel could be set up as an input, a push-pull output, or an open drain output.

SP1000G series overview

There are three different logic analyzers in the SP1000G Series: the SP1018G, the SP1036G, and the SP1054G. They have between 18 and 54 channels. All SP1000G series logic analyzer devices provide equivalent features (like Sampling rate, trigger capabilities, and pattern generation).

SP1018G

 SP1018G 18 Channels Logic Analyzer pattern generator

  • It has 18 channels for logic.
  • Input, pushpull and open-drain configuratble channels are avaible.
  • It can work in both timing mode and state mode up to 250MHz.
  • Pattern generator that can be used on any number of channels.
  • It has 18 channels and a sampling rate of 1 GHz.
  • It works with voltages from 0.9 V to 5 V.
  • It has 4 GB of buffer memory built in.
  • There is a USB-3 interface for streaming.

SP1036G


SP1018G 18 Channels Logic Analyzer pattern generator

  • It has everything the SP1018G has.
  • The logic board has 36 logic channels.
  • It has 8 GB of buffer memory built in.
  • One GSPS with 36 channels is included.
  • It gives you a training session with just you.

SP1054G


SP1018G 54 Channels Logic Analyzer pattern generator

  • It has everything the SP1018G has.
  • 54 logic channels are included.
  • It has 12 GB of buffer memory built in.
  • It had one GSPS with 54 channels.
  • It gives you a training session with just you.
  • It meets the standards for the SP1000G Family.

Specifications for the SP1000G Family

It has a capture rate of 1 GSPS (adjustable down to 4 MSPS). It provides the highest possible sample rate when all channels are being utilized (no compromise between sampling rate and a number of channels). The Schmitt trigger input stages have thresholds that can be adjusted (each group of 9 channels can have a different input threshold), and additionally embedded buffer memory of about 4 Gb, 8 Gb or 12 Gb, depending on model, is present with super-speed connectivity using USB 3.

Samples compression (only events consume memory and USB bandwidth) is made possible. It comes with different trigger options like edge, pulse width, pattern, protocol and a sophisticated trigger pattern that can combine up to 18 channels from the same group can occur for example, Ports A & B or ports B & C. Furthermore, two separate trigger engines that can work in conjunction with one another to produce cascading trigger sequences is also made possible. It can generate a pattern at a rate of 250 MSPS pattern (maximum output frequency is 125MHz) and as one clock output that runs continuously for each set of 9 channels and one external sampling clock input (state mode), up to 250MHz, each group of 9 channels.

It provides protection against overvoltage on all of the inputs and outputs. On SMA ports, precise trigger-In and trigger-Out signals are available. Both the clock-in and clock-out rates for SMA ports are set to 10MHz. Active probe sets that are state of the art are able to provide precise timing measurement with very little capacitive loading. Thresholds that can be adjusted with a resolution of 1 mV for each active probe set (1 different threshold for each nine channels group) is made possible.

Signals collected by logic analyzers in the SP1000G series can be compressed and streamed to a computer running Windows, Linux, or Mac over USB 3. The maximum amount of data that can be transferred over a USB connection is typically a few hundred megabytes per second. However this limit can change from system to system. To get beyond the constraints imposed by USB, SP1000G logic analyzers come equipped with up to 12 GB of inbuilt DDR-3 memory. This memory buffers the collected samples.

It has strong options for triggers, which are listed below.

  • Edge trigger.
  • Change the logic on one or more channels.
  • Triggers are based on a series of timed logic signals.
  • Trigger when a protocol word or event happens (like serial word or I2C address acknowledgment)
  • External trigger input.
  • Trigger output.
  • Two-stage trigger (Ex: Edge trigger, then, Trigger on I2C address).

Applications

SP1000G series logic analyzers and pattern generators are perfect for demanding applications that need to capture logic signals with a maximum time resolution of 1 ns on all channels. In fact, the SP1000G series lets you use the most channels possible without having to lower the sampling frequency (for example, SP1018 can capture signals on all 18 channels with 1ns resolution). The most common uses are:

  • It can be used for automatic or manual evaluation of semiconductors.
  • Helps in validation and testing of electronic circuits.
  • Used for scientific research purpose.
  • Fixing bugs in embedded systems.
  • Aids in analysis of serial protocols, such as I2C, SPI, UART, or 1-Wire (non exhaustive list)
  • Used for ADC diagnostic.

Benefits

It can record very long sequences of logic signals as a “live stream.” It can also build and generate logic patterns on the fly with the help of an easy-to-use scripting language that is based on JavaScript. Logic circuits can be tested automatically with this software.

Its software lets you look at decoded signals in different ways, like as packets or as detailed bits and bytes. The decoded signals are shown as a waveform, which makes it easier to analyse them (e.g., plot accelerometer data as a curve).

It also has a flexible multi-stage trigger system that lets it target very specific events. The device’s performance does not depend on the speed of the USB connection (Thanks to embedded memory).

Software works on Windows, macOS, and Linux, and it’s free, easy to use, and intuitive. Trigger IN and OUT ports let you sync samples you’ve taken with other lab instruments.

The world’s first 5G NR light modem RF system ”Snapdragon X35 5G Modem”

The Snapdragon X35 5G Modem-RF System debuts the first 5G NR light Modem RF system in the world, showcasing a simplified and optimized architecture along with system enhancements to broaden the 5G ecosystem and power the 5G connected intelligent edge. Snapdragon X35 introduces 5G for mid-tier use cases like smartwatches, AR glasses, entry-level broadband, and more with the world’s first release 17 NR-Light modem. Snapdragon X35 combines power efficiency, advanced performance, and a small footprint to help OEMs build compact 5G devices.

Snapdragon X35 lets compact 5G devices work longer and from more places thanks to its battery efficiency, 5G coverage, and location accuracy. In a fast-changing world, increased uplink speeds with low latency provide real-time experiences. Snapdragon X35 powers new 5G use cases while integrating with existing devices and networks. This optimized design and rapid scaling of 5G services speed up and future-proofs the migration from LTE CAT 4+ devices to a unified 5G network.

In particular, the Snapdragon X35 supports 5G NR-Light, also known as RedCap, which is referred to as “a new class of 5G” and offers link rates of up to 220 Mbps. It “fills the gap in between high-speed mobile broadband devices and extremely low-bandwidth NB-IoT devices.”

Specifications

  • It is NR Sub-6 SA, LTE Cat4, and Multi-Mode.
  • Also, it supports 20MHz bandwidth, 1RX/2RX, 1TX, Half-Duplex FDD (HD-FDD), global support for VoNR and VoLTE, and support for dual-frequency GNSS (L1+L5).
  • Qualcomm QET5100 Envelope Tracking, Qualcomm Smart Transmit Technology, Qualcomm 5G PowerSave Gen 4, and Qualcomm 5G Ultra-Low Latency Suite are all examples of advanced technologies.
  • It supports both the idle mode and the connected mode.
  • It can work with both 5G and 4G networks already in place.
  • It helps with the aggregation of uplink slots.
  • 5G NR-Light, FDD, SA (standalone), TDD, sub-6 GHz, HD-FDD, and LTE are the cellular technologies that are used.
  • It has one transmit antenna and one receive antenna.
  • 64 QAM is the peak upload QAM.
  • Cellular Modem-RF Details: Bandwidth of 20 MHz (sub-6 GHz)
  • Services for calling through VoLTE and VoNR
  • The top download speed is 220 Mbps, and the top upload speed is 100 Mbps. The top download QAM is 256 QAM.
  • Location: GNSS Frequency Support, Dual (L1/L5)

You must be a part of a verified company, create a Qualcomm ID, or sign in to your existing account in order to learn more about the Snapdragon X35 and X32 5G NR-Light modems. With customer sampling of the Snapdragon X35 and X32 scheduled to start in H1 2023 and commercial devices anticipated by H1 2024, they do have some additional information about availability. The press release and the product page both contain a few more details.

Introducing the Upgraded KiCad 7.0!

Version 7.0.0 of the KiCad project has just been made available. The KiCad development team released KiCad 7.0.0 on February 12th, Sunday. Nevertheless, KiCad 7 is a solid upgrade while being less substantial than the previous one. With a number of exciting new features and enhancements to already existing features, KiCad 7 is a significant upgrade over KiCad 6. Version 7 of the KiCad project is available now. According to the KiCad stable release policy, KiCad 6. x will no longer be supported, and over the course of the following year, bug-fix releases of KiCad 7. x will be made as they work on KiCad 8.

KiCad

An open-source, cross-platform electrical design automation (EDA) tool is called KiCad. An “eCAD” tool is another name for a tool that focuses on electronic design. A schematic editor and PCB designer are at the heart of the system. In addition to them, the suite also includes calculators, an interface for SPICE simulations, and editors for symbols and footprints. The first plugin management was added to KiCad in version 6, and now automatic updates are available in KiCad 7.

The significant enhancements that each major (and even minor!) release offers are one of the reasons which favor it over competing EDA software. Version 5 substantially enhanced usability, for instance, and Version 6 significantly expanded the feature set. Shorter release cycles are one improvement that the KiCad development team has accepted, as evidenced by the comparatively quick cycle time from 6 to 7.

Despite being only a year old, KiCad 7 is a significant update; in that time, developers have added more than 6000 commits, fixed over 1200 reported bugs, and added a number of new features. Almost 200 different contributors made numerous smaller improvements and fixes. There is a fairly long list of new features in the KiCad blog, many of which are briefly highlighted in this post.

A look at KiCad 7’s new features:

  • PCB Changes:

The “Properties Panel” in PCB comes first. When clicking on footprints or other components, it makes attributes like location or visibility easily accessible. Also, you can make immediate changes to them without using the “Edit” window. While that is wonderful on its own, the more useful feature is the ability to update several elements’ related settings at once if you choose multiple elements. You can quickly relocate certain line segments to another layer, for instance. Unfortunately, the equivalent feature is not available in the Schematic editor (yet?).

A less embarrassing auto-completion feature is another adjustment. Then, you can have the section auto-complete as you create a trace. It’s known as “Attempt to Complete” in KiCad. Press the “F” hotkey while sketching a track! When you are standing immediately in front of an IC’s pin or pad, this time-saving feature is amazing. A different option is to click on a footprint and press “Shift-F,” in which case KiCad will try to route all signals between the pins if there are numerous of them.

  • Dragged in an Orthogonal Direction: The Schematic Editor supports dragging symbols with their attached wires in versions 6.0 and earlier, leading to wires being laid out in a chaotic fashion. When you drag in an orthogonal direction, all of the wires will grow and shift so that they make neat right angles.
  • Schematic, PCB, and worksheet editors now have custom font support, so any system font can be used.

  • Both the schematic editor and the PCB editor now support text boxes.

  • Sentry Crash Reporting Data collection: Sentry is a platform for application events, crash dumps, and analytics. Sentry data collection can be turned on or off in KiCad preferences. Sentry will only keep one raw crash dump per report so that it can be analyzed. Data in Sentry is kept for up to 90 days, after which it is thrown away.

Actions in the Schematic and PCB editors can be scripted using a command-line tool called “kicad-cli.” Compared to the previously necessary custom Python scripts, these modifications ought to make automation more simple.

  • 3Dconnexion SpaceMouse with its schematic, symbol library, PCB, footprint, and 3D viewer editors. 3D mice let you move around 3D and 2D canvases in a unique way that some users find more ergonomic or intuitive than traditional mice. This may please 3Dconnexion SpaceMouse users in KiCad.

 

  • Plugin and Content Manager (PCM) now checks for available updates to installed packages automatically and notifies the user if an updated version is available. Content. Whenever KiCad is started, a background check is performed on the plugins, and their current status is shown:

  • Drag and Drop: The addition of drag and drop handles to various KiCad components.
  • macOS Apple Silicon support: KiCad builds and packages correctly as native Apple silicon processors (M1, M2, etc.).
  • Command Line Interface: Since many of the KiCad editor’s outputs can now be scripted, a new, standalone kicad binary has been implemented.
  • Authoring Tools for Schematics and Symbols: To complement the existing shapes, the schematic and symbol editors now offer support for simple rectangle and circle primitives.

 

  • Symbol Editor Pin Table Enhancements.
  • Off-Grid ERC Warnings: An additional ERC verification to alert users of an incompatible grid when placing symbols.
  • Angled Wires, 45 Degrees: To facilitate the creation of clean diagrams, this update provides a wired mode for a 45-degree start and end.
  • Do No Populate Support.
  • Simulation Model Editor.
  • Collections of Databases: ODBC support has been added to all three of KiCad’s primary platforms, allowing for the integration of external databases.
  • Dynamic field columns in symbol chooser.
  • Hyperlinks on Schematics: Text objects with hyperlinks become clickable.
  • PDF Enhancements: It is now possible to add useful information to a PDF viewer’s bookmarks section, which is also referred to as the Table of Contents.

  • Embedded Symbol Information.

  • Board and Footprint Editors.
  • Ignored DRC Tests Tab.
  • Mechanical Clearance Rules.
  • Custom Rule Severities.
  • Pad to Zone Rules.
  • Radial Dimensions.
  • Inverse Text Objects in PCB.
  • Automatic Zone Filling.
  • PCB Layout Tool Enhancements.
  • Properties Panel.
  • Improved Footprint Spread and Pack & Move Footprint Tool.

The official announcement contains a detailed list of all the changes, along with screenshots and/or animation. Windows, macOS, a number of Linux distributions (including Ubuntu, Debian, Arch Linux, Fedora, etc.), Raspberry Pi OS, and FreeBSD all support installing KiCad 7.0.0.

According to the KiCad stable release policy, KiCad 6. x will no longer be supported, and over the course of the following year, bug-fix releases of KiCad 7. x will be made as they work on KiCad 8. To download the new version, go to the KiCad download page (note that some packages may still be in the process of being released at the time this announcement is published).

Reviewing 2 IoT modules based on Raspberry Pi CM modules by Sfera Labs

Two small Internet of Things modules from Sfera Labs that work with different Raspberry Pi computer modules have just been released. Based on the Raspberry Pi Compute Module, the Strato Pi CM Duo and the Strato Pi CM  are incredibly powerful and small industrial servers that can be used in commercial and industrial configurations where reliability and service continuity are essential requirements. It complies with the RoHS directive for hazardous substances, the low voltage and EMC CE directives, as well as the harmonized standards for electromagnetic compatibility, electrical safety, and emission. Additionally, it complies with all relevant FCC regulations and IC standards.

The brand-new Strato Pi CM gadgets feature an RJ45 LAN port, two SD card slots, an RS-485 interface with surge protection, and up to 32GB of eMMC storage with Raspberry Pi OS Lite already preloaded. The RPi CM 3+ Lite and 3+ with 8GB/16GB/32GB eMMC Flash storage are compatible with the Strato Pi CM Duo. Even though this model also supports the RPi CM 4S with 8GB/16GB/32GB eMMC Flash, the Strato Pi CM v3 has a very similar design. Only the Strato Pi CM Duo has dual SD card slots, which are situated close to the Ethernet connector, which is another distinction between these two new modules, as shown in the figure below.

SD Card slots

Strato Pi CM Duo Block diagram

Electrostatic discharge protection and an optoisolator are both present in the RS-485 interface shown below. The baud rate for this interface is reportedly set to 115200 by default, according to the Quick Reference manual, which can be accessed here.

Strato Pi CM Duo RS-485 interface

A GPIO-controlled LED, a programmable push button, and a few status LEDs are among the additional features on the Strato Pi CM modules. Both modules are compliant with CE, FCC, IC, and the following electromagnetic immunity standards: EN 61000-4-2 (ESD), EN 61000-4-3 (Radiated RF Field), EN 61000-4-4 (Burst/fast transient), EN 61000-4-5 (Surge), EN 61000-4-6 (Conducted), and EN 61000-4-8 (Power frequency magnetic field).

RS-485 ethernet interface

The Strato Pi firmware installation instructions are available in a GitHub repository provided by Sfera Labs.

The following list of specifications is part of the Strato Pi CM v3:

  • There are 2x SD Card Slots and up to 32GB of eMMC Flash storage available (Duo version only).
  • There is connectivity through a 10/100M Ethernet port.
  • It has 2x USB 2.0. (type-A).
  • Interfaces for input and output operate using RS-485 (Half-Duplex).
  • Other features include WDT and RTC with a backup battery (CR1220 or BR1220).
  • The security feature includes a secure element chip (Microchip ATECC608).
  • Power is provided by a terminal block with a 9–28 V DC fuse rated at 1.1 A resettable fuse.
  • Additionally, it offers protection from electrostatic discharge up to a human body model of ±15 kV and an ±8 kV contact discharge.
  • Furthermore, there are up to ±500 V/2 Ω 1.2/50 μs surge protection and 600 W peak pulse power capability at 10/1000 s waveform.
  • Operating temperatures for the CM1, CM3, and CM3+,4S range from 0°C to 50°C and 0°C to 60°C, respectively.
  • It weighs 160 g and has a DIN rail length of 2M.

Without any RPi Computer Modules, the Strato Pi CM Duo costs €206.00. The cost varies depending on the CM model chosen on SferaLabs.com, from €255.00 to €294.00. The Strato Pi CM v3 is similarly priced at €178.00. Furthermore, it was noted in the press release that Mouser.com sells these products.

Compact ESP32-S3 SoC board with Cat-M & NB-IoT Support by LILYGO

A compact embedded board from LILYGO with Wi-Fi/BL5.0 and the SIM7080G module for CAT-M and NB-IoT connectivity has been launched recently. The SIM7080G is an SMT-type Multi-Band CAT-M and NB-IoT module. It is easy to add on to because it has many interfaces, such as UART, GPIO, PCM, SPI, I2C, etc. The module gives the customer’s application a lot of freedom and makes it easy to integrate. It was made for applications that need to send and receive data with low latency and low throughput in a variety of radio propagation conditions.

The SIM7080G module is great for M2M applications like metering, asset tracking, remote monitoring, E-health, etc., because it has a unique mix of performance, security, and flexibility. Additionally, the board is based on the ESP32-S3 SoC. An SD card slot, a SIM card slot, camera support, a 18650 battery holder, and a connector for solar input are just a few of the adaptable peripherals that the T-SIM7080G provides. The ESP32-S3 module is present in the T-SIM7080G, just as it was in the T-TWR Walkie Talkie module that was released last month. Xtensa 32-bit LX7 dual-core (up to 240MHz); 16 MB Flash; 8 MB PSRAM; 2.4GHz Wi-Fi/BLE 5.0; these are the specifications for the ESP32-S3 board.

The board has up to 24 GPIOs, 13 ADC pins, 10 Touch pins, 2 UARTs, and 2 SPIs, according to the pinout image below. The solar power connector appears to support 4.4 V to 6.0 V.

LILYGO T-SIM7080G pinout

T-Touch Bar

The board has four buttons, one each for Power, Reset, Boot, and SIM-BOOT. The Micro USB port can be used to update the SIM8070G. This link will take you to the device’s GitHub repository.

LILYGO T-Touch Bar peripherals

Similar features were also made available on another development board from LILYGO that is based on the ESP32-S3 MCU. The T-Touch Bar, in this instance, integrates two 0.99″ LCDs (160 x 160 RGB), a magnetic round USB connector, a 16-pin connector, and a circuit for charging and discharging batteries. Refer to the GitHub repository found here for more information on the T-Touch Bar.

T-Touch Bar Accessories

Pre-orders for the T-SIM7080G-S3 development board cost $44.01 on AliExpress. The T-TouchBar ESP32-S3 is also available for pre-order for $39.25.

T-SIM7080G accessories

 

Electronic Shelf Label (ESL) Support is available in Bluetooth 5.4

The Bluetooth 5.4 Core Specification, which includes features like PAwR and EAD created for Electronic Shelf Label (ESL) systems, has just been adopted by the Bluetooth Special Interest Group (SIG). A new wireless standard for the ESL market was announced by Bluetooth technology. ESL systems have, up until now, relied on exclusive wireless communication protocols, which could be a barrier to widespread adoption. Leaders in the ESL industry collaborated with the Bluetooth SIG to develop a scalable, ultra-low power, highly secure ESL wireless standard based on Bluetooth technology in order to address this issue.

Following the adoption of the Bluetooth 5.3 Core Specification in August 2021 with a number of improvements, Bluetooth 5.4 is now available with features that seem to be most appealing for large-scale Bluetooth networks that support bi-directional communication with thousands of end nodes from a single access point, as would be the case for ESL or Shelf Sensor systems.

Bluetooth 5.4 has gotten four new features. Firstly, Periodic Advertising with Responses (PAwR) is a new Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) logical transport that allows energy-efficient, two-way communication between up to 32,640 devices in a large-scale one-to-many topology. Groups can also be given devices that only let them listen to the transmissions of their own group. In this part of the specification, there is also a definition of an ESL profile.

Secondly, Encrypted Advertising Data (EAD), a new feature, gives advertising packets a standard way to send data securely over the air. The main benefit is that it makes it possible to encrypt data that is shared through periodic ads and responses. Thirdly, LE GATT Security Levels Characteristic has been included. Which a new GATT characteristic called LE GATT Security Levels lets devices show the security mode and level needed for all their GATT features to work.

Finally, the Advertising Coding Selection feature allows the host to choose between two long-range coding options (S=2 or S=8) that can be used with LE extended advertising. The FEC (Forward Error Correction) S parameter controls how much data is made to fix errors and how far Bluetooth can reach. S=8 increases the range by a factor of around four compared to the range achieved with the LE 1M PHY, but it lowers the protocol data rate to 125 kbps. S=2 increases the range by around 2, but it lowers the protocol data rate to 500 kbps.

The good news is that Bluetooth 5.4 support does not appear to require new hardware, only new firmware, according to Silicon Labs, who state that their BG22 and BG24 microcontrollers can be used for Bluetooth 5.4 devices, while the BG21 family would be integrated into access points.

On the Bluetooth website, you can access the Bluetooth 5.4 Core Specification. Still, given that it’s over 3000 pages long, you might prefer to read the technical overview for more information on the new features.

Both a blog post and a press release contain additional details.

Texas Instruments LP2985A Low-Dropout (LDO) Voltage Regulator

Texas Instruments LP2985A Low-Dropout (LDO) Voltage Regulators are fixed-output, wide-input, low-noise, low-dropout voltage regulators supporting an input voltage range from 2.5V to 16V and up to 150mA of load current. The LP2985A supports an output range of 1.2V to 5.0V (LP2985-xxyyzM3). Additionally, the LP2985A (LP2985-xxyyzM3) has a 1% output accuracy across the load and temperature that can meet the needs of low-voltage microcontrollers (MCUs) and processors.

Low output noise of 30µVRMS (with 10nF bypass capacitors) and wide bandwidth PSRR performance of greater than 70dB at 1kHz and 40dB at 1MHz help attenuate the switching frequency of an upstream DC/DC converter and minimize post regulator filtering. The internal soft-start time and current limit protection reduce inrush current during start-up, thus minimizing input capacitance. Standard protection features, such as overcurrent and overtemperature protection, are included.

The Texas Instruments LP2985A comes in a 5-pin 2.9mm × 1.6mm SOT-23 (DBV) package.

Features

  • 2.5V to 16V VIN range (LP2985-xxyyzM3)
  • 1.2V to 5.0V (fixed, 100mV steps) VOUT range (LP2985-xxyyzM3)
  • VOUT accuracy
    • ±1% for A-grade (LP2652-xxyyz)
    • ±1.5% for standard-grade (LP2652-xxyyz)
    • ±0.5% for LP2985-xxyyzM3
  • ±1% output accuracy over load and temperature for new chip
  • Up to 150mA output current
  • 71µA at ILOAD = 0mA low IQ (LP2985-xxyyzM3)
  • 750µA at ILOAD = 150mA low IQ (LP2985-xxyyzM3)
  • Shutdown current
    • 0.01µA (Typ.) for LP2652-xxyyz
    • 1.12µA (Typ.) for LP2985-xxyyzM3
  • 30µVRMS low noise with 10nF bypass capacitor
  • Output current limiting and thermal protection
  • Stable with 2.2µF ceramic capacitors
  • High PSRR (70dB at 1kHz, 40dB at 1MHz)
  • –40°C to +125°C operating junction temperature
  • 5-pin SOT-23 (DBV) package

Block Diagram

 

more information: https://www.ti.com/product/LP2985A

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