TriLite demos world’s smallest projection display powered by Infineon’s 2D MEMS mirror

TriLite is proud to present Trixel® 3, the world’s smallest Laser Beam Scanner at SPIE Photonics West from January 23-25 in San Francisco, California, USA.

Trixel® 3 is TriLite’s first Laser Beam Scanner Light Engine based on Infineon’s 2D MEMS mirror and is targeting Augmented Reality (AR) glasses.

Together, TriLite and Infineon enable the smallest projector system. The tiny module is the key component for AR smart glasses that offers comfortable all-day wear. With no relay optics required, the overall module size is shrunk to a volume of less than 1cm3 with an ultra-lightweight of 1.5g.

Peter Weigand, CEO at Trilite, said:

“We’re proud to present the first laser beam scanner demonstrator powered by Infineon’s unique 2D MEMS mirror. This is the first step in the collaboration between TriLite and Infineon focusing on a light engine with the very smallest form factor. We are very proud where we stand today and very excited about where our technology roadmaps are going to bring us soon.”

Infineon brings decades of experience in MEMS device design and manufacturing into the augmented reality market with its 2D MEMS mirror. Starting from state-of-the-art MEMS technologies, Infineon brings innovative and differentiating features which makes its MEMS mirrors best-in-class.

The powerful TriLite Calibration Module (TCM) software simplifies system integration, by providing real-time correction of lens errors, distortions, and color shifts (true tone).

Trixel® 3 will be demonstrated at TriLite’s private suite during the SPIE 2022 event.

more information: www.trilite-tech.com

Micro Core Starter Kit – Seek Thermal’s Micro Core starter kit is designed for small form factor

Seek Thermal’s starter kits include a thermal imaging camera and access to the Seek Developer Portal with SDKs, APIs, and other valuable documentation. Micro Core is a high-performance thermal sensor in a market-leading size footprint. Designed for small form factor, low power, and lightweight applications, the Micro Core delivers high-end thermal capabilities, accuracy, and performance.

Features

  • Shutterless design for uninterrupted imaging: automatic shutterless correction increases reliability by eliminating a moving mechanical part and delivers uninterrupted thermal imaging
  • 200 x 150 thermal sensor resolution: 30,000 temperature pixels for excellent image clarity and sensitivity
  • 12-micron pixels: more resolution and temperature data packed into a physically tiny array enables small form factor applications and lower cost
  • Small size, big performance: an unmatched combination of performance, size, and price
  • Easy-to-use development tools: get access to SDKs, APIs, support documentation, and other valuable tools to ensure a user’s project is a success
  • Dual-gain smart pixels: each pixel automatically adjusts gain states to maximize resolution contrast when viewing hot and cold objects in the same scene

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

Sensirion SEK-SEN5x Evaluation Kit measures tiny particles

Sensirion’s SEN5x environmental node is an all-in-one sensor solution for the accurate measurement of particulate matter, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), oxidizing gases (NOx), as well as humidity and temperature. Thanks to proprietary algorithms, the module enables straightforward integration into customer applications. This allows device manufacturers to save valuable project time as well as personnel resources and to focus on their core competencies. End customers receive reliable air quality measurement data based on the SEN5x and benefit from improved air quality to increase health and comfort.

Benefits

  • Less R&D, BOM, and assembly costs thanks to an all-in-one sensor solution; only one environmental node instead of various sensor components required
  • Algorithms integrated: temperature compensation, VOC/NOx index calculation, and humidity compensation
  • Fast hardware design: optimized and tested flow channel geometry and design-in examples
  • Dust-protection and long lifetime: sheath-flow technology and high-quality components (including SHT4x and SGP40)

Features

  • Humidity sensing: RH accuracy ±4.5%
  • Temperature sensing: T accuracy ±0.45°C
  • Particulate matter sensing:
    • Mass concentration precision for PM1 and PM2.5: ±5 µg/m³ and 5% m.v.
    • Mass concentration precision for PM4 and PM10: ±25 µg/m³
  • VOC sensing: <±15 VOC index points or % VOC index m.v. (the larger)
  • Oxidizing gas sensing: <±15 NOx index points or % NOx index m.v. (the larger)

more information: https://sensirion.com

LTC7067 Dual High-Side MOSFET Gate Driver

Analog Devices Inc. LTC7067 Dual High-Side MOSFET Gate Driver integrates two ground-referenced, low voltage digital signal inputs to drive two N-channel high-side power MOSFETs with supply voltages up to 140V. Both drivers provide excellent noise and transient immunity. The two drivers are symmetric and independent of each other, allowing complementary or non-complementary switching.

The internal MOSFET drivers of the LTC7067 feature a powerful 0.8Ω pull-down and 1.5Ω pull-up. This feature allows the use of large gate capacitance high voltage MOSFETs. Additional features include UVLO, TTL/ CMOS compatible inputs, and a fault indicator.

The Analog Devices Inc. LTC7067 Dual High-Side MOSFET Gate Driver is available in a thermally enhanced 12-lead MSOP package and is AEC-Q100 qualified for automotive applications.

Features

  • AEC-Q100 qualified for automotive applications
  • Unique symmetric floating gate driver architecture
  • High noise immunity with ±10V ground difference tolerance
  • 140V maximum input voltage independent of IC supply voltage VCC
  • 5V to 14V VCC operating voltage
  • 4V to 14V gate driver voltage
  • 0.8Ω pull-down, 1.5Ω pull-up for fast turn-on/off
  • TTL/CMOS compatible input
  • VCC UVLO/OVLO and floating supplies UVLO
  • Drives dual N-channel MOSFETs
  • Open-drain fault indicator (VCC UVLO/OVLO, Gate driver UVLO and thermal shutdown)
  • -40°C to 150°C operating junction temperature range
  • Thermally enhanced MSOP-12 package with an exposed pad

Application Circuit

more information: https://www.analog.com/en/products/ltc7067.html

Sensirion LPG10-1000 Digital Planar Liquid Flow Sensor

Sensirion LPG10-1000 Digital Planar Liquid Flow Sensor provides high performance and speed in measuring liquid flow in a planar microfluidic glass substrate with down-mount fluidic ports for highly compact integration into any fluidic manifold system. Measuring 10mm x 10mm x 2.35mm3, the LPG10-1000 is ideal for high-volume applications with strict space limitations. Microfluidics chips and digital microsensor chips are combined to measure liquid flow inside a planar glass substrate. The digital microsensor chip provides full signal processing functionality for a fully calibrated, temperature compensated, linearized digital output.

The LPG10-1000 is a smart sensor solution offering flow rates from the low microliter per minute to 1ml/min. Glass, the wetted material, ensures optimum compatibility with biological and pharmaceutical processes. Due to the small thermal mass, response times below 30ms can be reached. The Sensirion LPG10-1000 Digital Planar Liquid Flow Sensor also offers real-time detection of failures such as clogging, air bubbles, or leaks.

Features

  • Ultra-small 10mm x 10mm x 2.35mm size
  • Excellent repeatability
  • Completely calibrated, digital linearized output signal
  • Excellent media compatibility and chemical resistance
  • Media isolated sensing principle – no direct sensor contact with the fluid
  • Bio-compatible and consists of inert materials
  • Digital I2C interface

Specifications

  • 1000µl minimum full-scale flow rate
  • 1500µl minimum sensor output limit
  • Response time
    • 40ms for flow detection
    • 120ms for power-up
  • Temperature ranges
    • +5°C to +50°C operating
    • -40°C to +60°C storage
  • 0 to 95% humidity, non-condensing
  • 3bar (43psi) recommended maximum operating pressure
  • 7bar (101psi) burst pressure
  • Digital sampling time
    • 74ms at 16-bit
    • 1ms at 9-bit
  • 3.3VDC to 3.6VDC operating voltage range
  • <6mA typical operating current
  • Borosilicate glass internal substrate channel material
  • Downmount fluidic connection
  • 0.1mbar pressure drop at the full-scale flow rate
  • ~11.7µl total internal volume
  • ~0.32g total mass
  • ~0.9mm x 0.9mm cross-section flow channel

Development Tools

Sensirion LPG10-1000 Evaluation Kit

Evaluation kit for testing the LPG10-1000 Digital Planar Liquid Flow Sensors.

Sensirion LPG10-1000 Evaluation Kit includes one LPG10-1000 sensor, preassembled in a fluidic manifold (PMMA), featuring ¼-28 flat bottom fluidic fittings. The fluidic seal between sensor and manifold is ensured using two O-Rings (FKM). The included connector cap secures the sensor to the manifold and features a 4-pin Molex connector. The included Molex adapter cable, USB cable, and software allow for easy evaluation using a PC.

Kit Contents

  • 1x LPG10-1000 sensor, preassembled in a fluidic manifold (PMMA), featuring ¼-28 flat bottom fluidic fittings
  • 2x O-Rings (FKM)
  • Connector cap with a 4-pin Molex connector
  • Molex adapter cable
  • USB-cable
  • Software

More information:

Dev Board Micro – A microcontroller board with a camera, mic, and Coral Edge TPU

The Dev Board Micro board combines a camera, microphone and Coral Edge TPU with an NXP i.MX microcontroller

Google is launching an edge AI board in the same form factor as a Raspberry Pi Nano for its Coral AI processor and NCP’s i.MX microcontroller for the first time.

The Coral Dev Board Micro is a microcontroller board with a built-in camera, microphone, and Coral Edge TPU, allowing developers to quickly prototype and deploy low-power embedded systems with on-device ML inferencing.

Development is focussed on the NXP i.MX RT1176 microcontroller with ARM Cortex-M7 and Cortex-M4 cores for low-power machine learning inferencing of TensorFlow and TensorFLowLite using the Coral accelerator chip that provides 4 TOPS of 8bit performance at 2W.

The board has 512 Mbit of SRAM and 1Gbit of flash with a 324 x 324 pixel colour camera and PDM mono microphone. There are two 12-pin GPIO headers and two 100-pin board-to-board connectors as well as a USB Type-C (USB 2.0) interface.

Accessories include a Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Module Board and an Ethernet/Power-Over-Ethernet Board

more information: https://coral.ai/products/dev-board-micro

New connectivity solutions featuring high-density miniaturization power up data transmission in reduced-scale electronics

The Swiss-headquartered Fischer Connectors Group continues to push the boundaries of high-density miniaturization in connectivity. Its ultra-miniature, rugged series of connectors, cable assemblies and electronic solutions has been extended to help engineers add more functionality and meet high-speed data acquisition and transmission requirements in applications with extreme limitations in space, even in harsh operating environments.

The flagship product line Fischer MiniMax™ Series, which already includes one of the smallest and densest connectors in the world, now includes three connectors and their associated cables with new options in pin layout, body size and data speed:

  • New pin-layout configuration: 7 contacts (4x signal, 3x power) in Ø 10 mm receptacle (Fischer Connectors reference ‘size 06’) with a configuration offering up to 22 AWG and a choice of three locking mechanisms (quick-release, push-pull, screw), as a perfect alternative for designing even smaller equipment for the Nett Warrior connectivity ecosystem and for other rugged applications
  • New body size: Ø 14.0 mm (size 10) with 12 signal and power contacts offering USB 3.2 Gen 2 (10 Gbit/s, 1 m) and high power up to 8A, suited for high-speed intercom boxes and next-generation hubs
  • New ultra-high density: 30 contacts (24x signal, 6x power) in Ø 14.0 mm (size 10), supporting multi-protocol data transmission (such as HDMI, USB, Ethernet) and extending the popular high-density layout offering for instrumentation applications, unmanned systems, and sensor and IoT interconnections.

Increased density and optimized packaging factors for design flexibility

The increased density and optimized packaging factor offered by the MiniMax series apply to a varied array of lightweight and compact solutions, from various connector configurations, through cable assemblies with straight, right-angle or 60° overmolding, to electronic solutions including hubs, flash drives and flex PCB circuits tailored to the size, weight and power (SWaP) requirements of entire electronic systems and ecosystems.

This provides OEM engineers with more flexibility in terms of design when it comes to choosing from different connectivity solutions in line with specific system-level and field-application engineering requirements, harsh operating environments, as well as cost-efficiency criteria.

Smaller connectivity yields big advantages in terms of design integration. For example, the 12 mm diameter receptacle (size 08) with up to 24 power and signal contacts represents up to a 45% space saving compared to standard receptacles with a similar number of contacts. The external dimensions of electronic devices are affected by the growing demand for sensors and mobile (or wearable) electronics as well as for autonomous robotics and vehicles. This implies ever-lighter components. With up to 75% weight saving, the Fischer MiniMax™ Series achieves both size and weight reduction, maximizing performances while minimizing the integration burden.

One of the smallest and densest connectors in the world is a Fischer MiniMax™ connector. The connector in size 06 includes up to 12 power and signal contacts in a footprint of just 10 mm. This represents a density factor of 0.83, a unique technological feature for a connector with standard 0.5 mm contacts. The density factor is equal to the receptacle diameter divided by the number of contacts available in that receptacle size.

When ruggedized for durable life cycles, lightweight and ultra-miniature solutions further increase flexibility and facilitates design integration for demanding applications. The main reliability features of the Fischer MiniMax™ Series are 5,000 mating cycles, 360° EMC shielding, IP68 sealing -20m/24h, gas tightness to 10-6 mbar l/s, high corrosion resistance, operating temperatures from -40 °C to +135 °C, blind mating, three secure locking mechanisms (quick-release, push-pull, screw), and cable assemblies with straight or angled bend relief overmolding.

Two use cases: Robust, high-density miniaturization applied

Lidar (laser imaging detection and ranging) for Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs). YellowScan, based in southern France, designs lightweight UAV-lidar mapping solutions for surveying operations such as a survey of ruins, topographic studies of road and rail corridors, and an airborne survey of the Amazon in French Guyana that maps both canopy and terrain to study the impacts of climate change. The key connectivity requirements for lidar systems such as the YellowScan’s Mapper using three Fischer MiniMax™ connectors are: space and weight, rugged material, vibration resistance, dust and rain proofing with high IP sealing, large pin count and EMI shielding.

YellowScan’s Mapper uses three Fischer Minimax™ connectors: 4 pins for the external power port; 24 pins (RJ45 and Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter, UART) for the LiveStation port; and 19 pins (USB and General Purpose Input/Output, GPIO) for the optional camera port

Strain gauge sensors. To ensure that machines and systems in robotics, medical technology or the automotive industry are operated safely and precisely, the forces and torques need to be monitored constantly. One proven methodology for obtaining reliable results is strain gauge technology. Since the sensors are very small, connectivity also has to be suitably minimized, and data transmission must remain stable even when there are high vibrations. The engineers of ME-Meßsysteme based in Germany have chosen the compact and robust Fischer MiniMax™ Series to meet these requirements in data transmission and vibration resistance.

The 6-axis force sensors of ME-Meßsysteme use the powerful, robust MP11 connectors in the Fischer MiniMax™ Series.

More info:

www.fischerconnectors.com

Aufero Laser 2 – The fastest laser engraver ever, is it actually made for novices?

We are in an era of Personalization. Customized Gifts, daily necessities, small DIY projects, and even clothing accessories are in high demand for personalization. This is one of the reasons why laser engraving machines have become increasingly popular in the past years. However, some of the key obstructions to the beginner user, are the price and complexity of the machines.

ORTUR, which has been at the forefront of the laser engraving industry, has experienced through customer support most of the issues described above.

This barrier to entry on price and know-how is exactly the problem Aufero Laser 2 Product line is trying to mitigate.

In order to serve more novice users, ORTUR released its entry-level engraving machine sub-brand Aufero and its first model for beginners—— Aufero Laser 1 several months ago. Soon after, Aufero brought its upgraded Aufero Laser 2, which is also positioned for entry to the intermediary users, allowing a bigger work area but maintaining a simple and stable platform. All the Ortur Know-How, at a friendly price, starting at only $269.

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The most complete introductory guide in the industry, even someone never used can get started easily

After getting the machine, novices may be confused and will have countless questions: how to install with a lot of parts and brief manuals? Where to download the engraving software? How to engrave different materials? How to set parameters? And so many other questions… Don’t worry, Aufero has The most complete introductory guide in the industry, which can help you “from beginner to master”.

First of all, Aufero Laser 2 is equipped with a 71-page manual covering 10 languages. Every step, component, and operation is detailed in the form of color pictures. Just follow the tutorial step by step and only cost 20 minutes to finish installing independently, which is very convenient. If you feel that the manual is also trouble, Aufero has also released detailed installation videos, and it is easier to follow the video to install.

It’s not easy to be so detailed, because Aufero constantly listens to users and quickly updates and optimizes the product. After the release of Aufero Laser 1, its plug-and-play feature was widely praised, but some users reported that its manual was too brief and inconvenient to install and use. Only three months after the release of the first generation, Aufero has made the manual to the most detailed level in the industry in its second-generation product, so that all novices can easily get started.

From that can see its attention to the user’s voice and the products.

At the same time, as a multi-functional laser engraving machine that can engrave a variety of materials, Aufero also provides videos about engraving tutorials for various materials, which is very intimate.

Before you start engraving, you may still not know how to set the parameters of engraving, especially you are still inexperienced in how to set different pictures. Then the parameters of the 50 pictures provided by Aufero are very useful. You can directly refer to this parameter for setting at first. Of course, if you don’t know what pictures to use to test the machine, Aufero also provides some materials for testing, all aspects have been considered for you.

If you still don’t know how to use it, you can follow those solutions:

  1. Please find all the documents you need at: https://ortur.tech/auferolaser2/ or https://we.tl/t-qYcLLMpSVn
  2. For support inquiries, please use Ortur’s Ticketing System at: https://ortur.tech/support
  3. Please join the Facebook Communities to get and give: https://www.facebook.com/groups/orturusergroup/ and https://www.facebook.com/groups/291604525730905
  4. Assembly Video in YouTube of Aufero Official: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5g531FhcsljOSrK72Lwm8Q

The fastest engraving speed ever, stable, efficient, and easy to use

Although Aufero Laser 2 is a model for beginners, it is not as low-profile as many entry-level models, but instead brings excellent hardware and software configuration, making it have super fast engraving speed: the ordinary engraving speed is 10000mm/min, which has reached the high-end level of the industry, which is not enough. Its maximum engraving speed even reached 15000mm/min, which directly refreshed the industry record and became the fastest laser engraving machine at present!

To have such amazing results is naturally inseparable from the luxurious configuration of its software and hardware. Aufero Laser 2 uses ORTUR’s newest ninth-generation motherboard. Compared with the previous generation motherboard, the speed is increased by 10%, its movement is smoother and more delicate, and its engraving precision is higher. With the current industry’s most advanced ORTUR 1.8 firmware version, the stable FreerTOS system and the faster ESP32 chip naturally bring the engraving speed that breaks through the industry.

At the same time, the engraving area of Aufero Laser 2 has also been upgraded to 390x390mm, which is larger than two 15-inch large-screen laptops put together, which means that you can engrave larger materials, such as whole logs, clothing, and so on, which has wider applicability. In addition, Aufero Laser 2 also uses an X-axis structure with a low center of gravity, which can ensure the accuracy of engraving at extremely high engraving speed, and its XY-axis scale is also convenient for placing engraved objects.

Powerful performance, don’t need to worry about compatibility and install drivers to support mainstream Win 10 and Mac systems. And even Aufero will release its dedicated APP to further simplify the operation. In March, Aufero will also launch a new version of the OOC2.0 offline control screen, which can operate the engraving machine normally without a computer. It can be said to be a fast and easy-to-use benchmark.

Compatible with a variety of laser modules, multiple functions can be easily expanded

Modularity is an essential function of high-end engraving machines. It is not only convenient for novices to install the machine, but also expands more functions later. Aufero Laser 2 naturally also supports modular customization. For example, its laser module can be freely matched with ORTUR’s LU2-2, LU2-4-SF, LU2-4-LF, LU2-10 (10W) to cope with multiple complex scenes.

  • Option 1-LU2-2 Laser Module ($329.99 – $269.99):
  1. Fixed focus laser module, smaller luminous cavity, smaller focal spot.
  2. LU2-2 Laser Module is more suitable for engraving high-precision patterns, but the speed is not very fast, and it is not very suitable for cutting.

This laser plug featured high-precision patterns and is suitable for materials with low hardness. You can use it to engrave your favorite patterns on the phone case, engrave unique texts on bread/steak, engrave photos with wood instead of paper photos, easily complete “decoupage” paintings with paper, and make leather such as wallets, belts, etc. Print your own unique logo on the product, etc., and you can use your creativity at will.

  • Option 2-LU2-4-SF ($429.99 – $369.99):

  1. Short focus, smaller focal spot, and high laser energy density.
  2. While having a good cutting ability, it is more suitable for engraving materials with higher hardness, such as stainless steel, and the speed is also faster.

This laser module has a good cutting ability, but better engraving performance, suitable for materials with higher hardness, such as glass, stone, ceramic, stainless steel, and so on. For example, you can engrave a commemorative pattern on the transparent glass to make beautiful artwork for your friends; you can also engrave a personalized image on a small slab stone, which is also a beautiful decoration at home; If you are a shop owner, you can also engrave the logo of your own shop on small pieces of ceramics and give them to your patrons; you can even engrave your own business card information on the stainless steel sheet, making it the most unique durable stainless steel business card.

  • Option 3-LU2-4-LF ($429.99 – $369.99):

  1. Telephoto. Longer Depth of Field.
  2. It has a good engraving effect and is more suitable for cutting thicker boards.
  3. There is air assist, so it is not easy to have black edges, but you need to bring your own air compressor

While this laser module has a good engraving effect, the cutting effect is more perfect. You can use some beautiful wooden boards with your own personal design to cut them into artworks of different shapes; of course, in addition to wooden boards, it also supports various materials such as leather and black acrylic, it can also Cut these materials into the shape you want and engrave your design.

  • Option 4-LU2-10(10W)

LU2-10

It is important to mention that this laser module has a power of 10W, which is the highest in the industry. So it is also equipped with a dual-fan cooling system. The powerful power makes it not only can be capable of general engraving work but also can easily cut materials such as 10mm pine board. At the same time of strong power, the focus is also controlled very small (about 0.135*0.08mm), which is also capable of high-precision work.

All in all, the Aufero Laser 2 can adapt to most of your demands, you can only use your creativity and let it do with other things.

In addition, Aufero Laser 2 also supports the third-generation digital laser modules of the LU3 series, which can be modularized to expand more functions, such as the aforementioned OOC2.0 offline control panel (24V version), OE2.0 detachable protection Covers, flame detectors, emergency stop switches, etc., which are very expandable.

A four-layer safety protection system to protect the safety of novice throughout the process

For beginners, safety is also a very important part. So Aufero Laser 2 has designed a 4-fold safety protection system.

First, the Active Position Protection. When the laser engraving machine is moved horizontally/vertically, it will automatically stop the work of the laser head to protect the user. This anti-collision technology ORTUR was developed as early as 2019. Compared with the anti-collision technology that other brands just released this year, it is obviously more mature and perfect.

Second, the new function Laser Beam Safety Watchdog has been added. When there is a bug in the machine, or there is a poor USB connection between the machine and the computer, in order to prevent the laser module from going out of control and causing fire hazards, the laser watchdog will be activated to stop the laser module from outputting laser light.

Third, set the Exposure Duration Detection and Limitation. If you go to pour a coffee or answer a phone call in the middle of debugging the laser power, if the machine is not instructed within 30 seconds, the machine will automatically stop working to prevent any possible safety hazards.

Fourth, it has a Safe Power Control System. When the engraving machine is turned off, the mainboard will cut off the current output to the laser module to avoid any hidden dangers that may occur. Imagine that when you are finished using it, you don’t need to manually unplug it. After the machine is turned off, the power supply will automatically stop, and the laser will stop working. So, if you are an inexperienced novice, nuanced security protection design may bring you more security.

In a word, whether you are a novice who is the first time to buy an engraving machine or an experienced engraver, Aufero’s complete safety protection can buy and use with confidence.

Summary: Master-level powerful performance, the best choice for the novice.

Looking at it entirely, you will find that Aufero Laser 2 not only provides the most novice-friendly experience in the entire industry but also is different from other products that it’s for novices but in fact shrinking and reducing, Aufero Laser 2 brings this product comes with top software and hardware and extremely outstanding performance. Combined with its starting price of just $269, it definitely has high-cost performance. For beginners looking to buy a laser engraver, the Aufero Laser 2 is a perfect choice.

In fact, as a leader in the laser engraving machine industry, ORTUR has always represented the industry’s top technology and excellent products. So it becomes the first brand recommended by LaserGRBL.

However, compared to the high-end market and products it is good at, products like Aufero Laser 2 that have both excellent performance and friendly novice experience may have greater significance: let more people use laser engraving machines and transform more ideas into extraordinary works.

Just like these meaningful stories from ORTUR users: “A coffee shop owner used an ORTUR laser engraver to create personalized advertisements and became famous among customers in big cities; a French wine estate owner used an ORTUR laser Engraved with memories that belong to each barrel of wine; a Hollywood filmmaker used an ORTUR laser engraver to customize a unique electric guitar memorabilia for his behind-the-scenes team; there’s even an Italian gentleman in a restaurant use The steak with the words ‘Marry Me’  proposed successfully to his girlfriend.” It is no doubt that more ordinary users will also use Aufero Laser 2 to create more outstanding works and beautiful stories…

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Meet the Coin-Sized GPS Cat Tracker – the Katzen Tracker

Cats are adorable creatures but with a knack for wandering and getting lost every now and then, so much that a common desire among owners is usually to have a reliable way to track them. While a host of adaptable tracking solutions exist, German Engineer, Gerhard Peter felt this is worth a bespoke solution and recently shared the progress he has made with the device, which he’s calling the KatzenTracker; German for Cat Tracker.

While this started off as a personal DIY project for Peter, it has grown into a global product with a huge following and a growing pre-order list as a testament. Fitted into a coin-sized, circular, 30mm. multilayer PCB, the Kazen tracker is based on the EMB-LR1276S 868 / 915 MHz wireless module which features the ultra-low-power, LoRa enabled, 32-bit Cortex SAM R34 microcontroller and comes pre-configured for communication over LoRaWAN, allowing users to easily connect to individual gateways or networks like TTN.

With the EMB-LR1276S taking as little space as possible, the Katzen tracker fits the remarkably small-sized ORG1410 GPS from Origin GPS on the device to acquire location data. To get information on the cat’s movement/activity, the Kazentracker also features the 2mm² miniature low-power, BMA400 tri-axial accelerometer from Bosch.

In addition to the miniature sensors, the device comes with a reset switch, an ultra-low-power 3.3V regulator, and an installed 100 mAH (150 mAH nominal) LiPo battery with a protection circuit and charging controlled by the TI BQ21040 charge controller. For notification purposes, the device features a piezo speaker, Broadcom RGB LEDs, and an electronic ink (e – ink) display, all of which provide feedback to the pet owner via alarms and indication/display of information such as the power status among others.

Key Features and Specifications of the Katzen tracker

  • SoC: Embit LR11276S SoC with integrated LoRa®/LoRaWAN® being compliant with the latest LoRaWAN® specs, along with an integrated crypto unit to protect communication
  • MCU: SAM-R34
  • Power Supply:
    • 5V charging voltage via USB-3
    • Installed 150mAH nominal LiPo Battery
  • GPS: ORG1410 GPS module
  • Accelerometer: Bosh BMA400 tri-axial accelerometer
  • Wireless: LoRa antenna module, external LoRa antenna
  • Misc: Reset switch, piezo speaker

The Katzentracker project is not open source, but useful information about its development and other general details can be found on the project’s Wiki and Twitter pages.

As of the time of this writing, the Cat tracker is not yet available for sale, but Peter has provided a pre-order page for those interested in the device, and manufacturing and delivery are expected to start soon.

PineNote Developer Edition Linux-based Notepad Computer Device at $399

PineNote Developer Edition Tablet

Recently, we covered PinePhone Pro Explorer Edition Linux-based Smartphone built around the Rockchip RK3399S highly integrated with 4GB LPDDR4 RAM and 128GB eMMC flash storage. Pine64 has captured the embedded system news due to the availability of the PinePhone Keyboard case and PineNote Developer Edition. This article primarily focuses on the PineNote Linux-based notepad computer device that is a combination of notebook, tablet, and e-ink panel powered by the Rockchip RK3566 system-on-chip.

As mentioned above, the tablet features RK3566 that comes with a 64-bit quad-core Arm Cortex-A55 processor core clocked at a frequency of 1.8GHz. Moreover, the SoC comes with an embedded Mali G52 2EE GPU, 4GB LPDDR4 RAM, and 128GB eMMC flash storage. These specifications are optimized for it to be one of the fastest Linux-based e-readers on the market. However, the tablet’s internal memory might seem less for multitasking and high-end games.

Specifications of PineNote Developer Edition Tablet

  • System: Rockchip RK3566 featuring 64-bit quad-core Arm Cortex-A55 processor core
  • GPU: Mali G52 2EE
  • Storage: 128GB eMMC flash memory
  • Memory: 4GB LPDDR4 RAM
  • Display:
    • Size: 10.3-inches
    • Resolution: 1404×1872 pixel resolution
    • Touch-type: Capacitive multi-touch panel
  • Wireless connectivity: 2.4/5GHz 802.11a/b/g/n/ac and Bluetooth: 5.0
  • Audio system: Built-in stereo speakers and 4x DMIC interface
  • Battery: 4000mAH LiPo battery
  • Charging: Charging: USB Type-C, DC 5V – 3A
  • Operating system: Not yet ready
  • Dimension: 191.1×232.5×7.4 mm
  • Weight: 438g

PineNote Developer Edition Tablet Interface

At size 10.3-inch, the notebook provides a 1404 x 1872 px resolution with 227 dots per inch and 16 grayscale levels. The capacitive multi-touch panel gives an enhanced user experience with support for the EMR pen digitizer. When it comes to wireless connectivity, the hardware doesn’t stay behind market leaders by supporting IEEE802.11a/b/g/n/ac Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0.

For the audio system, the PineNote Developer Edition offers built-in stereo speakers and a DMIC interface for multiple microphones. When it comes to the battery life of the device, the hardware incorporates a 4000mAh LiPo battery, which can be charged using a DC 5V @3A through a USB Type-C connector.

Important note: As the name says, the PineNote Developer Edition tablet is supposedly only available to developers at this time as the PineNote software is still in the making. Even when the device is officially sold on the store at $399, the tablet is only ready for experienced developers and there is no default OS for the PineNote.

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