Vishay launches modular panel potentiometer to provide industry-high rotational torque of 8 Ncm

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. today announced a new modular panel potentiometer that delivers industry-high rotational torque of 8 Ncm — 200 % higher than the closest competing device — for off-road, aeronautics, and industrial applications. Featuring up to seven modules, the Vishay Sfernice P11H is offered in a compact 12.5 mm size with a 6.35 mm shaft diameter.

The high rotational torque of the device released today allows for stability under harsh environmental conditions like temperature changes and high humidity, while permitting the potentiometer to maintain its setting / shaft positioning when exposed to high vibration and shock. The device provides smooth rotational torque over its entire 50,000 cycle lifespan, with a variation of < 20 %.

The P11H will serve as a voltage divider or rheostat for light, radio volume, and air conditioning control in tractors and construction equipment, in addition to industrial tool setting and electric welding, motor speed, and low power control. The device’s cermet element provides better stability than carbon elements for these applications, while its 1,500 VRMS dielectric strength offers greater reliability and robustness.

Operating over a temperature range of -55 °C to +125 °C, the P11H provides standard resistance values of 1 kΩ, 4.7 kΩ, 10 kΩ, 47 kW, and 100 kΩ, with a contact resistance variation of 2 % or 3 Ω, and low TCR of  ± 150 ppm/°C. RoHS-compliant and tested in accordance with CECC 41000 or IEC 60393-1, the potentiometer is available with custom shafts, leads, connectors, and other value-added options.

Samples and production quantities of the P11H are available now, with lead times of 16 weeks. For more information, please visit https://www.vishay.com/product?docid=51087.

Exxelia revolutionary MML ultra-high energy density Film Capacitors save both space and weight

Exxelia, a leading manufacturer of ruggedized passive components and sub-systems dedicated to demanding markets, today introduced Miniature Micro-Layer™ (MML™) capacitors, a breakthrough technology that allows tremendous size and weight reduction thanks to an unrivaled energy density.

MML™ is a revolutionary new technology that provides the highest capacitance per volume in film capacitors available on the market.

Why is it a game changer? Because an unparalleled energy density of 400 J/dm3 allows for a tremendous reduction in size and weight compared to traditional Polypropylene or Polyester dielectrics, together with an increased operating temperature up to 140°C and transient voltage protection.

Besides, MML™ capacitors offer a large flexibility in design, easily allowing low profile configurations.

Features & Benefits

  • Miniaturization of the function : Up to 50% size reduction vs other film technologies ; matching footprint with stacked MLCC
  • Lightweight : 50% lighter vs other film technologies ; 80 to 90% lighter than ceramic
  • No capacitance derating in voltage, stable in temperature (<5% drift through the temperature range)
  • Capacitance from 1μF to 1000μF
  • Voltages from 50V to 1000V
  • Operating Temperature -55°C to +140°C
  • Highly customizable

Several studies have been conducted on actual cases of controls and DC-Links functions for aircraft applications. All have shown about 50% reduction in size and weight compared to other film technologies.

The comparative picture with MLCC is even more flattering, as it demonstrates between 70% to 90% reduction in weight, while showing no capacitance derating with voltage applied and a low drift < 5% through the temperature range. Applications using clusters of stacked MLCCs can now be replaced by a single MML™ unit of similar size, with all of the increased reliability that film dielectric offers.

With such outstanding properties, Exxelia new MML™ capacitors are perfectly suitable for power supplies, DC-links, AC/DC/AC power converters, charge/discharge or power generation functions of commercial/military aircraft, satellite platforms and payloads, launchers, defibrillators, downhole tools and any applications of confined electronics.
Samples are readily available on request.

Disinfecting with ultraviolet light

Würth Elektronik offers UV LEDs with emission wavelength of 275nm. This wavelength kills germs, by destroying the RNA structure of Viruses and Bacteria. Therefore, those type of LEDs are suitable for disinfection in areas where chemical components are not suitable to use. This can be devices for germicide cleaning of different surfaces, or also for air and water disinfection. Because of its compact size, lower driving voltage, short switching time and robustness, they are the preferred choice to the standard UV-C tubes. Würth Elektronik eiSos offers with the UV-C-LEDs one more technical solution for the growing needs of disinfection systems.

“Our LEDs are built to maximize the efficiency output. We can achieve this by better light extraction, due to highly transparent quartz glass. In addition, low thermal resistance ceramic substrate to reduce heating effects in the chip and increase lifetime. Finally, we use gold plating, for better soldering and contact surfaces” says Zhelio Andreev, Product Developer at Würth Elektronik eiSos. “The application areas have bright portfolio, from the medical hygiene, and water and air purification, up to food and surface sterilization. We are looking forward to help our customers in their projects, and offer our technical service and support.”

In addition to innovative disinfection solutions, maintaining a clean and healthy living environment remains paramount. Home cleaning services play a crucial role in ensuring that spaces are not only aesthetically pleasing but also free from harmful pathogens.

Recognizing that every home and business is unique, providers of home cleaning perth services tailor their offerings to meet the specific needs and preferences of each client. This personalized approach guarantees that every corner of your home is addressed with meticulous attention, promoting a safer and more comfortable living space.

Furthermore, these services integrate advanced cleaning technologies and eco-friendly practices to deliver exceptional results. Just as Würth Elektronik’s UV LEDs bring efficiency and precision to disinfection processes, professional home cleaning services employ state-of-the-art equipment and techniques to achieve unparalleled cleanliness.

Another  home cleaning services, such as those provided by Magic Castle Cleaning, are dedicated to enhancing the overall well-being of their clients. Their commitment to quality is evident in their use of high-grade, environmentally responsible products and equipment. This tailored approach not only elevates the cleanliness of your space but also fosters a sense of comfort and well-being, making your home a truly inviting sanctuary.

Whether it’s routine maintenance or deep cleaning, the commitment to quality and customer satisfaction ensures that your home remains a sanctuary of hygiene and order. This dedication to tailored, high-standard cleaning underscores the importance of a clean environment in enhancing overall well-being and peace of mind.

Professional cleaning services are essential in maintaining a pristine and hygienic environment, whether for residential, commercial, or office spaces. These services go beyond surface cleaning, offering comprehensive solutions that address every aspect of cleanliness.

For instance, Ivy Clean stands out by providing tailored cleaning solutions that cater to both residential and commercial needs. Their team of experienced house cleaners is well-equipped to manage any job, regardless of its scale, ensuring that every space is cleaned to the highest standards. By utilizing advanced cleaning technologies and employing eco-friendly practices, they ensure that all spaces are not only visually appealing but also free from harmful pathogens.

As a benefit for the developer, Würth Elektronik eiSos offers the Ray files for all UV-C products. With their help, optical simulations can be done easier, and shorten the development time for the application.

Further information is available in the Application Note ANO008. It describes the basics of UV-C disinfection and the application of UV-C LEDs. In addition, it gives useful tips for working with UV-C light.

Bidirectional Speed Control for DC Motors

This is a very simple bidirectional speed control of a small DC brushed motor. The project is built using power OPAMP TCA0372 which can drive a load up to 1A. Connecting a small DC motor and trimmer pot will control the motor forward/reverse operation along with speed control. A Trimmer potentiometer is provided to set the speed and direction of the motor. The motor is stopped when the potentiometer is in the center, turn the pot clockwise to run the motor in the forwarding direction, turning the pot counterclockwise will run the motor in the reverse direction. Operating power supply 12V DC.

Bidirectional Speed Control for DC Motors – [Link]

$15 Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W is 5x faster than the original Pi Zero

Raspberry Pi founder Eben Upton has announced a $15 Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W board sequel to the $5 Pi Zero board introduced way back in 2015.

Unlike the Raspberry Pi Zero, the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W comes with a much faster Raspberry Pi RP3A0 system-in-package designed with a 64-bit quad-core Cortex A53-based Broadcom BCM2710A1 processor clocked at 1GHz, overclockable to 1.2 GHz, and with 512MB SDRAM (meaning it is even five times as fast as the original Raspberry Pi Zero with one-core and 32-bits). I think this is the biggest improvement made in the board, though there are other enhancements like better wireless RF compliance and upgraded CSI-2 camera connection. The Pi Zero 2 W however, has the same board size, port layout, and mounting points as the Pi Zero, meaning it should still fit all existing cases and accessories made for the Pi zero.

The diminutive Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W also features 2.4 GHz 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.2 LE with PCB antenna, 2x micro USB connections for power and OTG data, 1x mini HDMI port with support for up to 1080 resolution at 30 frames/second, 1x micro SD card slot, and a HAT-compatible 40-pin connector.

Does the board require additional cooling?

Despite the fact that the board has a really small size (65mm x 30mm) and can be overclocked to 1.2 GHz, the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W does not have a problem staying cool. The board performs well without a heatsink except if you are using it possibly for full loads for an extended time, or a higher room temperature of about 35°C and above.

Application and Uses Cases

The Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W will be suitable for different use cases because of the available connectors, smaller memory capacity, and power. It will be of great value if you’re working on some specific tasks or even headless projects, but not as a desktop machine. These include a number of smart home applications and IoT projects such as security cameras and Bluetooth speakers.

Production and Availability

The company hopes to get out about 200,000 boards before the end of the year and an additional 250,000 by June next year. I’m sure the board will be a hit with the maker crowd because of the dramatically boosted power and the more flexible wireless options. The board is already available and sold for $15 on retailers like Adafruit and MicroCenter, but you might have to wait a little more for shipping to start.

Other useful details on the Raspberry Pi Zero 2 W may be found on the product page.

Compact Raspberry Pi 3 Mini Features High Computing Capabilities

Raspberry Pi 3 Mini

Raspberry Pi SBCs are among the most popular development boards on the market today. Raspberry Pi is available in a variety of flavors, including the Raspberry Pi 2, 3, and 4, as well as the Raspberry Pi Zero boards. Initially, the Raspberry Pi 3 Board was housed in the TPCast-VR, a wireless Adapter for HTC Vive and Oculus Rift VR headsets. However, it paved its way into other applications, like FPV drones.

The new “Raspberry Pi 3 Mini” is not officially a Raspberry Pi board. Instead, it’s a customized Raspberry Pi variant with a small footprint akin to the Raspberry Pi Zero and computing capabilities comparable to the Raspberry Pi 3B. For video streaming applications, the Raspberry Pi 3 Mini seems to be the perfect option.

Raspberry Pi 3 Mini Back

The TPCast board is only 2×2 inches (5 x 5cm) in size and does not have the architecture of a standard Raspberry Pi board. The BCM2837 is the Broadcom chip used in the Raspberry Pi 3, and later models of the Raspberry Pi 2. The chip features a quad-core Arm Cortex-A53 processor, which operates at speeds up to 1.2GHz with Videocore IV GPU. Hence, this makes the device about 50% faster than the Raspberry Pi 2.

The board comes with a microSD card slot for memory storage and 1GB RAM of system memory. Moreover, a smaller 28-pin variant replaces the standard 40-pin GPIO header. This is a little bigger than the 26-pin version that came with the first Raspberry Pi.

Pinout Diagram of Raspberry Pi 3 Mini

Pinout of Raspberry Pi 3 Mini

Tom’s Hardware post has brought to our attention that, for power, there is no micro USB port; instead, the GPIO provides 5V and GND. As a result, the VR headset to which it is connected must include voltage regulation. There are no USB ports, HDMI connectors, or wireless interfaces, however, there is a four-pin AV port for composite video and stereo audio. Additionally, the hardware also comes with a CSI connector for Raspberry Pi cameras, and two USB 2.0 interfaces through a J12 header. Users have been utilizing this board with OpenHD open-source platform as a more powerful alternative to Raspberry Pi Zero since the FPV community discovered it.

As first spotted by CNX Software, the Raspberry Pi 3 Mini is available on FatBoyFPV at $24.99. For more information visit the product page. Images and technical specifications have also been taken from the product page.

M5Stack UnitV2 M12 Version with Cameras at $95

M5Stack UnitV2 M12 Version with Cameras

M5Stack has been on the market for a long time designing edge computing and IoT devices. The manufacturer is expanding a range of high-efficiency AI recognition modules to UnitV2. Recently, M5Stack has released the UnitV2 M12 version with a camera that features the Sigmastar SSD202D control core. Specially designed for AI recognition functions, industrial visual recognition classification, and machine vision learning, this hardware comes with a GC2145 1080P colored camera sensor.

At the heart of the module is the SSD202D SoC that features a dual-core cortex-A7 processor running at a clock frequency of 1.2 GHz. It comes with integrated 128MB-DDR3 memory and 512MB NAND flashes with microSD expansion. The key difference between all the existing UnitV2 modules and the M21 version lies in the lens equipment of normal focal length (FOV 85°) and wide-angle focal length (FOV: 150°).

Specifications of M5Stack UnitV2 M21 Version

  • SoC: Sigmastar SSD202D has a dual-core cortex A-7 processor
  • Memory: 128MB-DDR3
  • Storage: 512MB NAND flash
  • Wireless Connectivity: 150 Mbps 2.4GHz IEEE 802.11 b/g/n
  • Camera sensor: 150 Mbps 2.4GHz IEEE 802.11 b/g/n
  • Lens: regular focal length and wide-angle fisheye lens
  • Input power: 5V at 500 mA
  • Peripherals: USB Type-C, UART, TFCard, Button, Microphone, Built-in active cooling fan

M5Stack UnitV2 M12 Version with Cameras Specs

The manufacturer mentions the type of AI function, it is capable of performing and those are QR code, face detection, line tracking, image streaming, classification, color tracking, face recognition, target tracking, shape detection, custom object recognition. With this, it is very obvious that this module is targeting edge computing applications that require faster data processing at the end nodes.

An embedded Linux operating system integrated with rich hardware and software specifications makes it a good choice for AI development right out of the box. According to the operating system used, there are drivers that need to be installed while getting started with the module. Drivers for Windows 10 and macOS are readily available on the M5Stack’s documentation.

For more information on this $95.00 edge computing module, you can consider visiting the official product page.

New SoMs from Rongpin Electronics Features Board-to-Board Connectors and Castellations

The new Rongpin Pro-RK3566/RK3568 boards and RP-RK3566/3568 core boards launched by Rongpin Electronics are definitely amongst the most recent AI accelerator system-on-modules that you will find in the hardware market alongside popular SoMs like Firefly Core-3568J AI Core.

The Pro-RK3566 and the Pro-RK3568 feature four Hiose board-to-board connectors interfaces while the RP-RK3566) and RP-RK3568) core boards feature castellated edges interfaces on all four sides.

Below are the key features and specifications of the modules, though, for some unknown reasons, only the RP-RK3568 model of the RP-RK356x series is on the website at the moment with the specifications you will see later.

Key Specifications for Pro-RK3566 and Pro-RK3568 Boards:

  • Rockchip RK3566/RK3568 quad-core Cortex-A55 processor @ 2.0 GHz + Arm Mali-G52 2EE GPU + (support for OpenGL ES 1.1/2.0/3.2, OpenCL 2.0, Vulkan 1.1, 0.8 TOPS NPU for AI acceleration, 4Kp60 H.265/H.264/VP9 video decoding, and 1080p100 H.265/H.264 video encoding)
  • 2GB DDR4 (4GB optional)
  • 8GB eMMC 5.1 flash (optional 16GB to 128GB)
  • Power
    • Pro-RK3566: 3.3V/2A+
    • Pro-RK3568: 3.3V/3A +
    • RockchipRK809-5 PMIC with charge detection and support for lithium battery
  • 4x Hirose board-to-board connectors with:
    • SATA 3.0
    • Pro-RK3568 adds an extra SATA 2.0
    • 1 x HDMI, 1x 4-lane eDP, LVDS, 1 x 8-lane MIPI DSI
    • Pro-RK3568 adds a 24-bit RGB LCD interface
    • 16-bit DVP interface, 2-lane MIPI CSI @ 8MP
    • 2x I2S (1×8 channels,1 x 2 channels); 2x analogue audio inputs, headphone output, mono speaker (0.6W)
    • 1x Gigabit Ethernet (Pro-RK3566)
    • 2x Gigabit Ethernet (Pro-RK3568)
    • 1x USB 3.0
    • 4x USB 2.0 (1 x OTG inclusive)
    • ExtraUSB 3.0 interface for Pro-RK3568
    • PCIe: Pro-RK3566: 1x PCIe 2.0 interface; Pro-RK3568: 1x PCIe 3.0 (two 3.0) and 1x PCIe 2.0
    • 3x SDIO for WiFi, MicroSD card on carrier board
    • 4-channel analogue inputs (Pro-RK3566)
    • 8-channel analogue inputs (Pro-RK3568)
    • Low-speed I/Os: Pro-RK3566 has 8x UART, 3x SPI, 4x I2C, 16x PWM, 98 GPIOs; Pro-RK3568 has 10x UART, 3x SPI, 4x I2C, 15x PWM, 130 GPIOs
  • 5 years + life span with continuous operation
  • Temperature Range
    • Operating: -25 – 75 °C
    • Storage: -30 – 100 °C
  • Dimensions: 60 mm x 40 mm x 4.2mm

The board supports Ubuntu, Android 11, Linux 4.19 + QT 5.12 images. The Company offers development boards with two different carrier boards – PRO-RK3566-B and PRO-RK3568-B.

RP-RK3568 Core Board Specifications:

  • Rockchip RK3568 quad-core Cortex-A55 processor @ 2.0 GHz + Arm Mali-G52 2EE GPU +  (support for OpenGL ES 1.1/2.0/3.2, OpenCL 2.0, Vulkan 1.1, 0.8 TOPS NPU for AI acceleration, 4Kp60 H.265/H.264/VP9 video decoding, and 1080p100 H.265/H.264 video encoding)
  • 2GB DDR4 (optional 4GB/8GB RAM)
  • 8GB eMMC 5.1 flash (optional 16GB to 128GB)
  • 3.3V/3A + power supply
  • Rockchip RK809-5 PMIC with charge detection and support for lithium battery
  • Castellated edges on all four sides with:
    • 1x SATA 3.0, 1x SATA 2.0
    • 1x HDMI, 1x 4-lane eDP, single-channel LVDS, 1× 4-lane MIPI DSI,1x 24-bit RGB LCD interface
    • 1x 16-bit DVP interface, 1x 2-lane MIPI CSI (8MP)
    • 2x I2S (1x 8 channels, 1x 2 channels); 2x analogue audio inputs, headphone output, mono speaker (0.6W)
    • 2x Gigabit Ethernet
    • 2x USB 3.0, 4x USB 2.0 (1x OTG inclusive)
    • PCIe 2.0
    • 3x SDIO for WiFi, MicroSD card on carrier board
    • 2x analogue inputs
    • 10x UART, 3x SPI, 4x I2C, 15x PWM, 130 GPIOs
  • Temperature Range
    • Operating: -25 ~ 75 °C
    • Storage: -30 ~ 100 °C
  • 5 years + life span with continuous operation
  • Dimensions:  50 mm x 50 mm x 3.2mm

The RP-RK3568 also runs Android 11, Ubuntu and Linux 4.19 + QT 5.12 OS. Rongpin also provides development boards for both RK356x series.

There’s also a metal enclosure for safe and fanless operation. The development boards are available on Taobao at $350.00 for RP-RK3568 and $370.00 for Pro-RK3568.

More information on the boards can be found on the Company’s website.

Invigorate your Inspiration for IoT with LoRa-E5 and FREE Seeed Fusion PCBA Prototypes

BIG NEWS!! To accelerate the development of IoT, Seeed is sponsoring Lora-E5 projects with the Seeed Fusion PCB Assembly Service for all hardware enthusiasts, designers, makers, and engineers around the world!

Explore LoRa-E5 & the Seeed Fusion PCBA Service

STM32WL module LoRa-E5 is the first SoC to combine a LoRa RFIC (SX126X) with an MCU (STM32WLE5JC) embedded on a single module. Designed with low energy but high performance, low cost, and compact applications in mind, the FCC and CE certified LoRa-E5 LoRaWAN® module is ideal for long-distance, ultra-low-power applications such as airport tracking, smart agriculture, smart city, wireless meter reading, sensor networks, wireless communication, and other low-power wide-area IoT scenarios.

Orkhan AmirAslan, a hardware engineer from The Things Network (TTN) recently developed a feather-style breakout board for the LoRa-E5 module, which was manufactured with the Seeed Fusion PCB assembly service, a one-stop-shop for electronics manufacture.

Good ideas need to be discovered, and good projects deserve to be recognized, realized and widely disseminated.

If you have an interesting concept for Lora-E5 and are willing to share it with the community, share it with us and we can help you make it a reality with Seeed Fusion’s one-stop-shop capabilities. Get 2 boards fabricated and assembled completely free with Seeed Fusion’s turnkey PCB Assembly service.

Furthermore, choose all your parts from the PCBA Open Parts Libraries (OPL) and reduce the lead time to as little as 7 working days.

Meanwhile, if you have mass production requirements, we highly recommend taking advantage of the Seeed Fusion PCB Assembly service and get the LoRa-E5 modules for only US$5.90 (40% discount, original price US$9.90).

Take your LoRa-E5 project to the next level!

How to apply:

Each person is limited to two PCBA boards 100% completely FREE for one design, including PCB fabrication, the cost of parts, assembly and shipping. The design must include LoRa-E5.

When preparing the BOM file, just add the Seeed SKU 317990687 or the part number LoRa-E5 to your BOM file. Add the order to the cart then contact our customer support (fusion@seeed.cc) to obtain the corresponding cash coupon for settlement.

By participating in this event, you agree to review your experience with us and allow us to share it and the design with the community on our social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, blog, etc.). The design does not need to be open-sourced and production files will not be shared with the public (unless you want to). We hope your experience will go onto inspire more users to embrace IoT, LoRaWAN® and its capabilities.

Further Cooperation With Seeed

Seeed can assist designers with an established project plan with product development and mass production. Furthermore, we can assist with sales and distribution using our global sales network, and designers can obtain the licensing fees through sales by becoming a senior partner.

We hope to see more Lora-E5 application cases involving smart agriculture, smart logistics management, smart water meter, smart home and smart parking system, etc. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our customer support at fusion@seeed.cc for further consultation. We look forward to hearing from you!

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