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IP67 Rated Models Added to CUI Devices’ Tactile Switches Line

Posted on 26 May, 2022 by mixos

CUI Devices’ Switches Group today announced the addition of IP67 rated models to its line of tactile switches. Ideal for applications subject to moisture and environmental contaminants, the TS03, TS05, TS08, and TS19 series with their industry-best lead times feature compact footprints as small as 3 x 2 x 0.6 mm as well as lifecycle ratings up to 300,000 cycles.

Housed in surface mount or through-hole packages with gull-wing or long crimped terminations, these IP67 rated tactile switches offer operating forces from 70 up to 260 gf, actuator heights of 0.6, 4.3, 5, 7, 8, or 9.5 mm, and operating temperature ranges from -30 up to 85°C. All models carry SPST circuits, 12 Vdc rated voltages and 50 mA current ratings

The TS03, TS05, TS08, and TS19 series are available immediately with prices starting at $0.15 per unit at 1000 pieces through distribution. Please contact CUI Devices for OEM pricing.

For helpful resources and tools on switches, check out our Resource Library which houses a range of blog posts, videos, and more.

Summary

Product name: IP67 Rated Tactile Switches
Availability: Stock to 5 weeks
Possible users: Electronic devices subject to moisture and contaminants
Primary features: IP67 ratings, packages as small as 3 x 2 mm
Cost: $0.15 per unit at 1000 pieces through distribution

View details for CUI Devices’ IP67 rated tactile switches

LEM to unveiled the world’s first Integrated Current Sensor with Sigma Delta bitstream output

Posted on 26 May, 202226 May, 2022 by mixos

LEM has launched the HMSR DA, the first Integrated current sensor on the market to offer a Sigma Delta bitstream output. The latest model of the HMSR family, the HMSR DA was unveiled at the PCIM Europe 2022 power electronics exhibition in Nuremberg, Germany (10-12 May 2022).

Proof that as a specialist in solutions for measuring electrical parameters LEM is a global leader in current sensors technology, the HMSR DA provides significant benefits when used in applications that are prone to noise, distortion, and interference. LEM’s new product has been designed to provide a solution to industries requiring clean signals and facing significant problems in case of vibrations, electric noise, and electromagnetic noise, for example.

Specific advantages of an integrated current sensor with digital output include superior signal share and reduced noise as well as lower cost and a smaller mechanical footprint. HMSR DA will replace much more complex and costly alternative systems that would traditionally include a shunt resistor, a digital insulator, and a power supply circuit. Having all these features incorporated into a single unit makes the HMSR DA a far more attractive option for applications where space is at a premium and minimal cost is essential.

Main Features

Sigma Digital bitstream output with 10 MHz clocks in or out
High resolution with an effective number of bits (ENOB) 11 to 13 bits
Different output modes: Single-ended CMOS, Differential RS422, LVDS
Fast internal OCD of 2 µs

Typical applications for the digital output current sensor include standalone servo drives, robotics, sewing machines, automated guided vehicles (AGVs), CNC machine tools, and a range of other applications that demand high-resolution output. The new HMSR DA sensor, which offers a resolution of 11 to 13 bits and features a 10 MHz clock, is LEM’s first step toward building a digital integrated current sensor roadmap. The company is already working on the next generation of digital integrated circuit sensors which will offer a resolution of 14 to 16 bits and a clock operating above 20 MHz.

Analog versions of LEM’s HMSR range of high insulated integrated current sensors have been in use for many years and have offered power electronics engineers a host of advantages that the new digital model builds on. These include the availability of a small and compact current sensor, strong immunity to stray fields, reinforced isolation, and a 300 kHz bandwidth. The HMSR family provides a robust, compact, and very accurate solution for measuring DC and AC currents in highly demanding switching power applications for the commercial and industrial sectors.

Because the market-leading technology built into the new HMSR DA digital integrated circuit sensor is the first of its kind, it will enable engineers to look at new ways of formulating their system design. The Sigma Delta bitstream output is not only easy to use but is also highly flexible which means customers can apply filters to adapt the sensor to their specific needs.

more information: https://www.lem.com/en/hmsr-series

Advanced Photonix Red Enhanced Silicon Photodiodes

Posted on 26 May, 202226 May, 2022 by mixos

Advanced Photonix Red Enhanced Silicon Photodiodes offer a variety of features and packages for numerous applications. The SD113-24-21-021 is a RED enhanced Bi-Cell silicon photodiode with a gap of 100µm. It is ideal for accurate nulling, centering, or measuring small positional changes packaged in a hermetic TO-5 metal package. The SD 197-23-21-041 is a red enhanced quad-cell silicon photodiode used for nulling, centering, or measuring small positional changes packaged in a hermetic TO-8 metal package.

The SD 445-14-21-305 is a 10mm x 10mm active area high-performance RED enhanced silicon PIN photodiode packaged in a 2-pin leaded hermetic ceramic package. The PDB-C160SM is a high-quality and reliable plastic encapsulated 7.0mm² RED enhanced silicon photodiode designed for high-speed response time applications. The device is excellent for mounting on PCB and handheld devices in harsh environments. The PDB-C612-2 is a 90mm² RED enhanced solderable die silicon photodiode designed for applications requiring a large active area photodiode with low capacitance and high-speed response time. The device is available with and without flying 165mm long leads. The PDB-C613-2 is an 88mm² RED enhanced solderable die silicon photodiode designed for applications requiring a large active area photodiode with low capacitance and high-speed response time. The device is available with and without flying 159mm long leads.

more information: https://www.advancedphotonix.com

U-Blox announces MAYA-W2 series module to bring Wi-Fi 6 to industrial applications

Posted on 26 May, 202226 May, 2022 by Abhishek Jadhav

Swiss embedded device manufacturer, U-Blox, known for developing wireless communication technologies, has announced the U-Blox MAYA-W2 series module that integrates Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth and IEEE802.15.4 (Thread and Zigbee). As a tri-radio module, the device allows fast track to market supporting Linux, Android and FreeRTOS operating systems. The module incorporates the NPX’s IW612 chipset, which inherently is a tri-radio single-chip solution designed for a broad range of IoT and industrial applications in smart homes, smart devices, and accessories.

The onboard NXP IW612 integrated circuit features a Wi-Fi subsystem powered by NXP’s IEEE802.11ax (generally referred to as Wi-Fi 6) technology to deliver enhanced network efficiency, lower latency and improved range. Along with Wi-Fi 6 is an independent Bluetooth 5.2 system that features Bluetooth profiles such as hands-free, advanced audio distribution profiles for audio streaming. Finally, the IEEE802.15.4 subsystem that supports Thread mesh networks enables real-time data processing when connected to an external processor.

As an NXP Gold Partner, U-Blox is one of the first companies to leverage this innovative solution for their new MAYA-W2 module – which will help expedite the development of high-performance, commercial end-products that require robust, secure, and reliable connectivity, said Tom Eichenberg, Sr. Director of Marketing – Connectivity, at NXP Semiconductors.

The MAYA-W2 module also supports several operation modes– access-point, station, and Wi-Fi direct. The Wi-Fi 6 supports up to 600 Mbit/s data throughput and improved performance in multi-user, multiple-input, and multiple-output (MU-MIMO). The module, as claimed, has been tested to meet high reliability and quality requirements to serve applications in healthcare, electric vehicles, and charging infrastructure.

As mentioned earlier, the MAYA-W2 module supports Bluetooth Low-Energy audio, enabling devices to simultaneously transmit distinct audio streams while receiving multiple audio streams and also broadcast these audio streams to multiple users. With MAYA-W2, developers can seamlessly upgrade Wi-Fi 4 devices to explore the capabilities of Wi-Fi 6 technology. The wide operating temperature range of -40°C to 85°C provides a good environment for industrial automation applications.

MAYA-W2 offers vastly improved Wi-Fi performance, particularly when it comes to handling crowded networks, while also supporting Bluetooth LE 5.2 and Thread. This tri-radio functionality makes it ideal for gateways and bridges in low-power IoT and mesh networks, said Sebastian Schreiber, Product Manager at U-Blox.

If you are interested in trying out the all-new MAYA-W2 module, the manufacturer plans to make the evaluation kits available upon request starting this June 2022. Also, there are several options to choose from!

Box by Fucntionland Provides an Efficient Alternative to Cloud Storage Systems

Posted on 26 May, 2022 by Saumitra Jagdale

The ΒΟΧ is the new cloud storage alternative developed by Functionland. It is the first-ever storage solution that has a blockchain attached. Since Box is a cloud-based storage device it gives us the advantages of cloud-based computing such as real-time collaboration, backup and sync, sharing, and accessing our data from anywhere. This device provides its users with a variety of services like photo storage, personal files, cell phone backups, etc. It is the alternative to the traditional subscription-based cloud services and lets users share and collaborate like in the cloud while providing complete, fully-encrypted privacy for anything that is stored on it.

Rather than paying for monthly cloud services, with a small initial investment, it allows people to save money, and own and control their personal data. Box’s software is entirely open-source, which means that users can pick and choose apps they want to install for free. Additionally, Box also enables its users to earn crypto through its $FULA tokens. Utilizing its blockchain-attached storage system, Box can mine $FULA tokens in the background. When you use Box apps and services, it compensates the people providing the resources on the Fula network including open-source developers, UX designers, content creators, and contributors. This makes it possible to ensure that apps on Box are forever-free, while still repaying their creators for maintenance and upgrades.

Hardware Elements of the Box

With a modular plug-and-play design and standardized dimensions, it contains more than enough power to handle large data transfers and other activities. It is powered by Raspberry Pi 4, which consists of a high-performance 64-bit quad-core processor with up to 8 GB of RAM. It features a dual-band 2.4/5.0 GHz wireless connection including Bluetooth 5.0 and Gigabit LAN Ethernet. Box has multiple, expandable USB 3.0 ports that enable it to act as a docking station. It also allows hardware creators to build additional plug-in towers to extend their functionality.

Utility Features of Box

It provides two kinds of storage capabilities:
Functionland’s Box gives its users two different ways to store their data. The first way is the physical hardware device that is small enough to fit on your desk and store your files. In the event of the Box being broken, lost, or stolen, the user’s data remains secure and available, downloadable and shareable anywhere there’s an internet connection as data is stored across the global Box-user network. For the second way, cloud storage and networking capabilities are made available to the user. Box can connect to other Boxes over a user-owned Fula Network so that the user can maintain backups across multiple Boxes. The data stored will still remain encrypted, quickly accessible, and seamlessly interactable.
Box has expandable storage space
Cloud storage services don’t offer the right amount of storage, either too little or too much (at a higher cost). Box does not have this problem. Box XL initially comes with 1 terabyte of storage and if the user needs more, they can expand their storage by plugging in an external storage device, adding a framework expansion card, or attaching a new storage tower.
It provides full data encryption
One of the most important factors of Box is that it can fully encrypt your files, photos, and other important data. This means that only the user can access the data or can share it, giving the power and control to the user. This encryption feature is especially beneficial for users with sensitive information that requires safe handling.
Box’s apps and services are free forever
It provides free apps and services that the user can install according to their needs. Its photo app, called Fotos, is a polished, free app that provides swift, seamless, easy access and sharing of your photos from anywhere, across any device. Another app Box Files provides file syncing and storage across all your devices. and lastly, Box Password Manager offers hyper-private encryption to guarantee seamless access to your passwords from anywhere, on any device.

To learn more about it, visit the catalog page of Fuctionland.

ANT BBPS: An Efficient and Portable Breadboard Power Supply

Posted on 26 May, 202226 May, 2022 by Saumitra Jagdale

ANT BBPS (breadboard power supply) is an open-source, compact power supply carefully designed to connect to the end of any M102 breadboard. It can be plugged directly into the power connection pins and does not interfere with anything else because of its unique shape. ANT BBPS offers an easy way to control current, a wide range of input voltage, and up to 12 V DC output. With just one button and a potentiometer dial, ANT BBPS is very simple to understand and operate. The potentiometer is used to set the output voltage and the button is used to enable it. The button can also be used to open up the menu.

It has two input connections, a USB connector, and a screw terminal. The USB Type-C connector is hard-wired with pull-downs for 5-volt operation. And we can use an adapter or a power bank to easily power up the breadboard. As for the screw terminal, it allows any other wired connections as the input source, such as AA and 9 V batteries, or even a 7 V wall adapter. Both the input and output voltage are very flexible. A buck-boost circuit design enables an input range from 4.0 to 13 volt DC. The power supply can provide 12 watts from 1.8 to 12 volt DC output. It also supports a current limit with 50 mA increments that can be set digitally. The user can configure settings, adjust the output voltage (in 10 mV increments), and set the current limit using the potentiometer and button.

Technical Specifications of ANT BBPS

Input: 4.0 V DC – 13.0 V DC
Output: 1.8 V DC – 12.0 V DC @ 1000 mA (12 W)
Voltage output: it is set at 10 mV increments
Current limit: Digitally controlled current limit set at 50 mA increments
External input connection
Designed for M102 breadboards

It uses an ATtiny1604 microcontroller to set the output parameters, measure the output current, and display information on an OLED screen. An INA219 high-side current sense amplifier is used to measure the current. The main difference between ANT BBPS and any other breadboard power supply is that ANT has an OLED display that can be used to show the output voltage (V), current (I), and power consumption (P).

Since ANT BBPS would be used during prototyping, it is excellent to see that the supply has built-in protection. For example, when an over-current condition occurs, it displays an error message on the screen and disables the output until the user solves the problem and clears the fault indicator. Additionally, to account for working on either side of the breadboard, ANT BBPS has a feature to flip the orientation of the OLED. All of these benefits make ANT BBPS ideal for prototyping digital and analog circuits.

For more details, check out the crowd supply page of ANT BBPS.

Waveshare launches Arduino-compatible CM4-Duino baseboard for RPi CM4

Posted on 25 May, 202226 May, 2022 by Abhishek Jadhav

Waveshare has unveiled the CM4-Duino, an Arduino-compatible baseboard for the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4. The Compute Module has the same form factor as the Arduino Uno R3 and supports the conventional Arduino’s GPIO header. Hence permitting the use of most Arduino shields and further offering more computing resources that are powered by an Arm Linux platform.

Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 is widely regarded as one of the most used systems-on-module, designed by a UK manufacturer for several IoT and industrial applications. The module incorporates a quad-core Arm Cortex-A72 process with 32 variants available depending on the range of RAM, eMMC flash storage options, and wireless connectivity. Jeff Geerling, a YouTuber and hardware developer, has provided a long list of commercially available baseboards for Compute Module 4.

Specifications of the CM4-Duino Baseboard

Compatibility: All variants of Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 and Arduino Shields
Storage: MicroSD card slot and M.2 key slot for NVMe and SSD flash storage
Interface:
- Camera: 1x MIPI CSI-2
- Video: 1x HDMI
- Wireless communication modules: M.2 M key slot
GPIOs:
USB ports: 1x USB 2.0 Type-A, 1x USB Type-C
HDMI port: Supports 4K at 30fps output
Power: 5V via Type-C USB port
Dimensions: 73.58 x 53.34 mm

All the variants of the Raspberry Pi CM4 are compatible with the CM4-Duino, including those up to 8GB RAM/32GB eMMC with optional Wi-Fi and Bluetooth wireless connectivity. If you happen to have the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 4 Lite version which does not include eMMC flash storage, not to worry, the CM4-Duino baseboard comes with a microSD card slot. The CM4-Duino baseboard is designed with an onboard M.2 slot that can be used to connect various modules, including the ones that support cellular networks like 4G and 5G. The module also has LED indicators for monitoring the operating status of the CM4 module.

There are certain precautions for the use of CM4-Duino baseboard. The manufacturer notes that no external hardware should be plugged in except for USB and HDMI. The USB Type-C port can also be used as a power supply or as a USB interface to burn image. For normal power supply of CM4, no other device should be connected to the baseboard when using a USB Type-C interface to burn the image.

Waveshare’s CM4-Duino baseboard is available for purchase on the official product page for $24.99. The manufacturer has also provided a detailed Wiki page for the hardware to get started.

Muse Lab unveils all-new iCESugar-nano FPGA development board with ICE40LP1k and RISC-V core

Posted on 25 May, 202225 May, 2022 by Abhishek Jadhav

Muse Lab has released a compact iCESugar-nano FPGA development board powered by the Lattice Semiconductor iCE40LP1k and a RISC-V core. This is the latest addition to Muse Lab’s iCESugar long list of open-source FPGA development boards that is compatible and supported by yosys, nextpnr, and icestorm– open-source toolchains.

The iCE40LP is an ultra-low-power and non-volatile FPGA that has five devices with 384 to 7670 Look-Up Tables (LUTs) and 10 to 206 input/output. However, the specific iCE40LP1k has only 1280 LUTs with 3x high current LED drivers and 95 maximum programmable input/output pins. The manufacturer Lattice Semiconductor provides a wide range of design tools, allowing developers to design complex applications on minimalistic iCE40LP devices.

Specifications of iCESugar-nano FPGA Development Board

Circuit: Lattice Semiconductor iCE40LP1k and RISC-V core
FPGA specifications:
- 1280 logic cells
- 64K bit RAM
- 3x high current LED drivers
- 1x PLL
Debugger iCELink
- Drag and drop programming
- CDC serial port to communicate with FPGA
- Provides 12MHz clock for FPGA as an external clock
Peripheral
- Type-C USB for supply power, download and debug
- 2MB SPI-Flash W25Q16
- PMOD connector and two 1×6 pins PMOD connectors
Dimensions: 3.9×1.8 cm

The Nano FPGA development board includes three PMOD connectors that break out all of the FPGA’s available input/output (IO) pins. Furthermore, based on the Arm’s Mbed DAPLink, an iCELink is used for debugging and drag-and-drop programming, thereby making bitstream installation as simple as plugging in a USB flash drive. Also, for direct connections to the FPGA, the board offers a USB CDC serial connector, and the iCELink has an adjustable clock. Development and testing of the board can be done with just one TYPE-C cable.

To get started with the FPGA development board, the manufacturer recommends using a virtual machine, as it is “simple and convenient.” Using FPGA toolchain icestorm and gcc toolchain riscv-gnu-toolchain, you can work on the board, alternatively, there also comes a pre-built toolchain provided by xPack and SiFive.

For Windows setup, the developer can use the msys2 environment to set up the open-source toolchain and it can be downloaded from here. Priced at $19, Muse Lab’s iCESugar nano development board is available to order at the Tindie store. For other relevant information on the board schematics and source code, head to the project’s GitHub repository.

ESP32 Audio Development Board is an audio platform supporting Wi-Fi and Bluetooth

Posted on 25 May, 202225 May, 2022 by Abhishek Jadhav

An electronic hobbyist and a maker, Andriy, has designed an ESP32 Audio Development Board based on the famous LX6 microprocessor, which has been widely used for a variety of edge devices because of its increasing community support. The board allows for a wide range of user interaction as it comes with a rich set of peripherals. The project is expected to go live very soon on the CrowdSupply website, looking for some crowdfunding support.

As the hardware is designed to deliver two-channel amplified audio that can be readily connected to a speaker– there is no need for an external amplifier. A fully-featured touch screen version and a portable tiny version of the ESP32 Audio Development Board will be available.

The audio development board’s built-in integrated Li-Ion battery management attributes to the board’s minimal power consumption, making it an excellent solution for any portable or wearable audio project. Furthermore, it includes a TFT touch screen, an IR receiver, and a header for physical controllers such as a rotary encoder or joystick. Hence proving to be a perfect fit for standalone audio applications with a user interface.

Specifications of the ESP32 Audio development Board

MCU Core: ESP32 dual-core LX6 microprocessor clocked at a frequency of 240MHz
Memory: 8MB RAM
Storage: 16MB flash storage and can be expanded using onboard SD-card slot
Battery: Supports Li-Ion and Li-Po BMS
Audio amplifier: Maxim Integrated MAX98537 with built-in Class-D amplifier
Peripherals:
- Screen: 2.8-inch TFT screen with touch sensor
- Wireless connectivity: Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
- LED: RBG LED and strip header
- Header: JTAG header, Joystick header

Note: Some of the specifications have changed for the mini version.

Due to its small and compact size, the device can easily fit inside any hardware system for space-constrained applications. It can also be used as Wi-Fi or Bluetooth portable speakers, a Wi-Fi radio, and a smart speaker using any preferred platform such as Spotify. The audio development board can even be utilized for talking devices and audio-based wearables that are wirelessly connected.

For more information on the schematics of the board, firmware, and software, kindly check out the GitHub repository. You will be notified of details about the campaign launches and other relevant information by signing up to the CrowdSupply product page. Also, the project’s progress can also be tracked at Hackaday.io.

AAEON Launches BOXER-8640AI and BOXER-8641AI Embedded BOX PCs Powered by New NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin

Posted on 24 May, 2022 by mixos

AAEON wins Best Choice Golden Award at COMPUTEX 2022; announces plans to apply its innovation across vertical markets with the new BOXER-8640AI and BOXER-8641AI, leveraging the power of the NVIDIA Jetson edge AI platform.

Showcasing Taiwan’s ingenuity in the field of AI computing, COMPUTEX 2022 will be held at the Taipei Nangang Exhibition Hall from May 24-27, 2022, where several NVIDIA® Jetson™ ecosystem partners will showcase products based on the NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin™ developer kit, introducing the world to unprecedented computing capabilities for edge AI, AIoT, robotics and more.

As an Elite member of the NVIDIA Partner Network, AAEON always seeks innovative ways to integrate NVIDIA’s newest Jetson SOMs to provide vertical market solutions for its customers. For instance, the AAEON BOXER-8240AI, powered by the NVIDIA Jetson AGX Xavier, was recognized for the Best Choice Golden Award at COMPUTEX TAIPEI 2022.

AAEON is now developing two new additions to its already rich BOXER-8000 embedded BOX PC range, dedicated to integrating the NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin with AAEON’s edge computing design expertise to provide solutions for AI computing at the edge. Powered by Jetson AGX Orin, AAEON’s BOXER-8640AI will provide more sophisticated AI inferencing for vision-based AI applications. Conducive to this aim, the BOXER-8640AI will also be equipped with four RJ-45 slots for PoE, which are paired with two integrated NVIDIA Deep Learning Accelerators to enable accurate and expedited AI inference for use in a number of smart city applications. In addition to its I/O, the BOXER-8640AI features excellent expansion options, with M.2 2280 and M.2 2230 key slots.

Pairing this design with Jetson AGX Orin’s unmatched inferencing and deep learning capabilities, the BOXER-8640AI is particularly compatible with applications relating to public safety and traffic management. It provides customers with everything they need to excel in the smart city vertical market in a compact (210164.259mm) design.

The new BOXER-8641AI is also powered by the NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin module. With an incredibly rich I/O packed into a compact device (18013662.1mm), the BOXER-8641AI is equipped with six USB slots alongside a microSD card slot, and two Gigabit LAN ports. This means the BOXER-8641AI has both the hardware and software capabilities to accommodate any number of AI applications, such as high-end autonomous manufacturing and smart agriculture, given the inclusion of the NVIDIA JetPack™ 5.0 software development kit, which supports the full NVIDIA CUDA® software stack to make application development easier and faster.

A further benefit to AAEON customers is that the Jetson AGX Orin developer kit features the same 699-pin form factor module as previous modules, ensuring compatibility with AAEON carrier boards loaded with existing NVIDIA modules of the same configuration. This allows for smooth migration to upgrade existing edge AI applications.

Both the BOXER-8640AI and BOXER-8641AI are currently under development and are due to be ready for mass production and release in August 2022, joining AAEON’s rapidly growing BOXER-8000 embedded BOX PC range featuring Jetson SOMs. With a track record of providing smart solutions in the spheres of retail, manufacturing, and healthcare; the release of the Jetson AGX Orin will enable AAEON to provide their customers with a greater range of more powerful, sophisticated, high quality solutions than ever before.

Visit the NVIDIA Jetson AGX Orin product page for more information, and make sure to register to attend COMPUTEX TAIPEI 2022 at https://www.computexonline.com.tw/?userlang=en.