Every electronics enthusiast will have one or more multimeters. But have you ever considered purchasing a bench multimeter instead of a hand-held one? These usually offer many more features and a better display. The Siglent SDM3045X is a 4½-digit bench multimeter with a basic accuracy of 0.02% and many interface options. Here follows our impression after having tested it for a few months.
This is the ‘smallest’ bench multimeter from Siglent, out of a series of three, but apart from a fewer number of digits and a lower basic accuracy, this SDM3045X still offers the same feature set that the more expensive versions also offer. If this amount of accuracy is sufficient for you, then this model will give you the best price/performance ratio.
This is a high accuracy current sensor project build using ACS37002 IC from Allegro, which is a fully integrated Hall-effect current sensor with 0.85mOhms integrated conductor. A fast overcurrent alert output, programmable gain settings and analog linear voltage outputs are key features of this project. The sensor has optimized accuracy for current ranges +/-33A to +/-66 A and the analog voltage output is linear for the current of this range. The operating voltage of the project is 5V DC. The output voltage of this sensor is centered at VCC/2 =2.5V. Output sensitivity depends on the jumper settings, please refer to the table below for sensitivity/Gain configuration. CN2 6-pin header connector provided for power input and outputs. D1 is the power LED. Overcurrent alert is set to a minimum but it can be set as per user requirement by changing resistor divider R4 and R5, more information provided below.
High Accuracy Current Sensor with 400Khz Bandwidth using ACS37002 – [Link]
The project shown here is a cheap 60W LED dimmer for 12V LEDs/12V LED strips. The circuit is based on the very popular, versatile, and low-cost 555 timer IC, NE555 IC generates a PWM signal and IRF540 MOSFET works as output driver for the LEDs. In this circuit the 555 IC used in an astable multivibrator configuration to generate the PWM, by controlling the charging and discharging of the timing of capacitor C3, using D2, D3 and PR1. Potentiometer R7 is provided to control the intensity of LED connected to connector CN2, Connector CN1 provided to power the project with 12V DC. D1 is power indicator LED. Large thermal area provided as heatsink to cool down the MOSFET. The circuit can drive a load up to 36W (12V X 3Amps) in normal room temperature, and a load up to 5A requires forced air cooling for MOSFET Q1. D1 power LED, CN1 Power supply input, CN2 LED connections. R7 Potentiometer to control the intensity of LED.
Note 1: Circuit is built as an LED dimmer but it also can be used as a filament lamp dimmer, heater controller, of course, the load has to be withing voltage and current limit capacity of the circuit.
Note 2: Use Resistor R1, R4, R6 0 Ohms to drive 12 LEDs, if LED doesn’t have current control series resistor, choose R1, R4, R6 value as per LED current control.
Note 3: Project has 2 options for PWM adjust, PR1 Trimmer or R7 Potentiometer, for 16mm R7 potentiometer >>>use jumper J1, J2 and R7, for Trimmer Omit >> J1, J2, and R7
Note 4: It is advisable to use C5 Electrolytic Capacitor 1000uF-16V or 470uF/16V for Higher Load up to 5A
There are many Mini Circular Saws available in the market, and it might be confusing getting one appropriate for you. I recently stumbled upon one of such saws, a 110V/220V Electric Mini Circular Saw. The circular saw is suitable for making straight cuts in wood, wood-like material, aluminum, plastic, and steel that has not undergone heat treatment. However, this saw should not be used to cut materials containing asbestos. This saw is designed for household use and should only be used for such purposes.
The mini circular saw has a portable design, easy to carry, store, and features good portability and easy operation. It features a comfortable rubbery handle, which is very durable, and the rubber handle is easy to hold and operate. The mini circular saw is equipped with three cutting blades, and these 3 blades are for different materials, helping you to meet your different requirements. It is easy to operate thanks to the rear motor separating the saw at the center of gravity to suit your hand when in use. The mini circular saw is equipped with an adjustable cutting depth bar to adjust the depth, the maximum depth is 12mmm. One of the benefits of the mini circular saw is that it is lightweight, well-balanced, and a good alternative to bulkier circular saws to perform precise cuts in tight areas that larger options just can’t accomplish. The mini circular saw features air vents for heat dissipation, which help to keep the saw cool and prolong the life of the saw.
Specifications:
Material – Metal
Color – Black + Red
Vacuum Hose Length – About 1.68m
No-load Speed – 8200rpm
Plug Type – US Plug 110V, EU Plug 220V
Sawing Depth – About 0-12mm
The lightweight electric-powered mini saw utilizes a flat, round blade to cut a variety of materials- generally metal, plastic, wood, and even stone (with a diamond cutting edge). The mini circular saw is ideal for one-handed use. The manufacturer utilizes ergonomic handles with on/off triggers the switch and metal/plastic guards to ensure the saw-operator doesn’t accidentally come in contact with the spinning blade. The circular saw also features height, depth & bevel adjustments for enhanced precision. For wood-cuts, the circular saw blades are designed to produce cross-cuts, rip-cuts, or a combination of the two. The vacuum port of the mini circular saw as an added feature is helpful because it minimizes the mess when working indoors. The noise and vibration levels were calculated in accordance with standard EN 60745. The total vibration values (sum of vectors in three directions) were determined in accordance with standard EN 60745.
Notes:
Please allow 1-3 cm error due to manual measurement.
Everyone has different screens, so item color displayed in photos may be showing slightly different from the real object. Please take the real one as standard.
Package List:
1 x Mini Electric Saw
1 x Vacuum Tube
2 x Hex Wrench
1 x Wood Saw Cutting Blade
1 x Marble Blade
1 x High-Speed Steel Cutting Blade
The mini circular saw is available on Banggood for $79.99.
1BitSquared has launched on Crowdsupply it’s Glasgow Interface Explorer. The board is said to be designed for hardware designers, reverse engineers, digital archivists, electronics hobbyists, and anyone else who wants to communicate with a wide selection of digital devices with minimum hassle. The board is designed to be attached to the majority of devices without additional active or passive components, and it enables extensive protection from unexpected conditions and operator error. There have been other boards for hardware hackers and engineers recently, like the Ollieand Tigard USB debug boards. Glasgow is the latest of these sets of boards. The Glasgow hardware offers support for many digital interfaces thanks to its reconfigurable logic. Instead of offering just a small selection of standard hardware supported interfaces, it uses an FPGA to adapt — on the fly — to the task at hand without compromising performance or reliability, even for unusual, custom, or obsolete interfaces.
The Glasgow software features a set of building blocks designed to eliminate system complexity. Each of these protocols is placed into a self-contained applet that can be used directly from the command line or integrated into a more complex system. The Glasgow software is easy to use, it does not require any programming knowledge, although you can do much more with it if you know a bit of Python. Glasgow can function as a USB-to-serial adapter, and unlike traditional serial adapters, it can auto-detect the target voltage and “mirror” it. It goes further by auto-detecting the baud rate of the target and follow it on the fly. Glasgow can also directly interface to inverted signal UART interfaces, which would conventionally require additional debugging components, like buffer transistors. Glasgow also features built-in support for InfluxDB. This enables any applet that reads out sensors to directly log the data and you can visualize them in Grafanawith with very minimal effort.
Talking about the versatility of the Glasgow, they say:
“Today there are a lot of different LED display technologies available. Like “intelligent” RGB LEDs with built in PWM controllers, for example WS2812 or APA102. There are LED matrix display panels with myriad of shift register based interfaces like HUB75, HUB75e, HUB8, HUB12 and many more. All of them use fairly nonstandard protocols. From timing-driven one-wire interfaces, through fairly normal SPI interfaces to multichannel parallel shift register interfaces. Typical protocol adapters only provide a specific subset of hardware supported interfaces. Everything beyond that has to be implemented with so called bit-banging. Bit-banging means that the processor or the PC has to control I/O step from software, in some cases even through USB. This is cumbersome if not impossible due to the timing constraint and USB speed. In the case of Glasgow, that can be easily reconfigured. It is possible to experiment and prototype with these devices quickly and with minimal hassle. Just a few lines of nMigen and Python and you are ready to go.”
The company also designed a beautiful CNC-milled aluminum case to keep the Glasgow safe from damage. However, it’s available as an option. You can find more information about Glasgow Interface Explorer on Crowd Supply, and you can pledge $139 to get the latest RevC revision of the board as well as a full set of flywire, sync, and USB-C cables. Available also is an optional CNC-milled and anodized aluminum case that selling for $50. Shipping will be free to the US, and the shipping fee will depend on weight and destination for other countries. Shipping is scheduled for May 31, 2021.
Athletes have started relying on fitness trackers to monitor their daily exercise and to improve their performance. After a series of developments in smart trackers for athletes, Bosch has now released its new self-learning AI smart sensor–BHI260AP specially designed for fitness tracking, navigation, machine learning analytics, and orientation estimation.
“The self-learning AI sensor will change how users interact with their fitness devices from a mere one-way approach to an interactive way of training”, says Dr. Stefan Finkbeiner, CEO at Bosch Sensortec. “This new sensor combines Bosch Sensortec’s long-term experience in smart motion sensors with its strong competence in innovative software development.”
The company uses the term “One piece of software – four features” indicating that it is a self-learning sensor that can be personalized and features auto-tracking with enhanced ability. Auto-track is the automatic tracking of fitness activities without user intervention. This comes with self-learning AI software that is provided with more than fifteen pre-learned fitness activities.
The AI sensor is based around Synopsys’s popular ultra-low-power DesignWare ARC EM4 processors with ARCv2 16/32-bit instruction set clocked up to 3.6 CoreMark/MHz. The EM4 processor supports the floating-point unit and comes along with the memory protection unit. BHI260AP has an integrated 16-bit 3-axis accelerometer and gyroscope sensors.
The manufacturer offers a wide range of software support for self-learning AI sensors. This means that the manufacturer of a wearable device can easily load the required software onto the sensor for those targeted applications or specific use cases including orientation tracking, position tracking (PDR), and swimming.
“Since the BHI260AP is a fully programmable sensor, manufacturers can build their own customized software to be embedded in the BHI260AP or upload customized solutions depending on the users’ context. To protect these customized solutions from unauthorized use, the smart programmable sensor offers a digital signature.”
To make development easier for AI-based wearable solutions, the manufacturer provides an application board along with a BHI260AP shuttle board that can be connected over Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) to smartphones.
The BHI260AP self-learning AI sensor is available via Bosch Sensortec’s distributors along with the software packages that are available for download on the Bosch Sensortec website.
Vecow Co., Ltd., a team of global embedded experts, announced a new product portfolio for Embedded Vision Camera with an Industrial-grade 3D Vision Camera, DVC-1000. It is powered by Intel® RealSense™ technology to deliver intuitive, natural interaction and immersion with advanced stereo image sensing technologies for vision-based applications. Vecow DVC-1000 features an IP67-rated enclosure, fanless design and supports 0°C to 40°C operating temperature to allow industrial application deployments in harsh environments. Featuring depth resolution up to 720P, frame rate up to 60fps, along with a global shutter sensor, Vecow DVC-1000 is a well fit solution for Robot Vision, Autonomous Mobile Robot, Object Dimensioning and Intelligent Surveillance applications.
Vecow DVC-1000 is an industrial-grade 3D vision camera and is based on a global shutter sensor. Therefore, it is perfectly used for capturing images of objects, with a working distance of up to 10M at a rapid movement sequence. The product is powered by an Arm-based processor and is capable of supporting edge computing at the edge.
This compact camera measures 112.6mm x 106.6mm x 43.0mm. The small footprint design makes it ideally suited for space constrained applications like robot vision and AMR. Moreover, DVC-1000 offers the flexible choice of either 12V DC-in or electric power through PoE via a single cable. By doing so, the system helps simplify solution deployment and system installation. Moreover, DVC-1000 is compatible with Intel® RealSense™ SDK 2.0 for users to deploy depth applications with less effort.
“Vecow DVC-1000 is designed for both indoor and outdoor environments and allows for faster, simple and accurate object recognition,”said Kev Wang, Applied Software Product Manager of Vecow. “Aimed at industrial applications, the DVC-1000 comes in a rugged enclosure with an IP67 rating. More importantly, it supports M12 power connector and a waterproof PoE cable, enhancing not only longer length connectivity compared to USB cable but also system reliability.”
“We are thrilled to introduce the product portfolio for the Industrial-grade 3D Vision Camera to our partners and for those who are involved in vision-based applications,” said Joseph Huang, Sales Manager, Sales & Marketing Division at Vecow. “By integrating Vecow embedded systems, DVC-1000 delivers an easy-to-use and flexible solution that can be used for vision applications deployments such as Robot Vision, AMR and intelligent surveillance with less effort and fast-time-to market.”
Powered by Intel® RealSense™ and designed with rugged IP67 protection for 3D images, Vecow DVC-1000 is a flexible and suitable solution for Robot Vision, Autonomous Mobile Robot, Object Dimensioning and Intelligent Surveillance.
To learn more about Vecow Embedded Vision Camera, please visit the DVC-1000 product page or www.vecow.com for more details.
In autonomous vehicles, it is advanced technology that takes the wheel, allowing passengers to sit back and enjoy the ride. Yet such systems have to meet stringent safety standards. For example, an autonomous vehicle must be able to recognize obstacles and other hazards – and apply the brakes in an emergency. Such a vehicle could be equipped with a new microscanner mirror from the Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems IPMS. This performs a 3D scan of the vehicle surroundings to a range of over 200 meters. When integrated within a LiDAR system, it can obviate the need for human vision and thereby make a key contribution to the safety of autonomous driving.
Today’s vehicles already feature a variety of advanced driver-assistance systems. In coming years, it will become compulsory to install emergency systems such as evasive steering support in new vehicles, thus paving the way for the advent of autonomous driving. Yet even in coming vehicle generations, humans will still be expected to keep an eye on their surroundings and react in dangerous situations. This could well change, however, with the introduction of LiDAR (light detection and ranging) systems, which measure the distance between the vehicle and other objects. Such systems are able to scan the surrounding area for potential hazards and thereby replace the human eye. As such, they mark a decisive step on the way towards safe autonomous driving.
A team of researchers at Fraunhofer IPMS in Dresden has now developed a new type of microscanner mirror, which forms a key element of LiDAR systems that are capable of 3D digital vision. This component is used to steer the laser that generates a 3D scan of the surrounding area. AEye, a specialist for LiDAR systems in autonomous vehicles, is already using the microscanner mirror in its 4Sight LiDAR sensor. “With our technology platform, we’re able to meet design specifications for new microscanners suitable for use with LiDAR,” explains Dr. Jan Grahmann, research associate at Fraunhofer IPMS. “LiDAR systems are able to scan the surrounding area in three dimensions and therefore detect pedestrians, cyclists or other vehicles. Our MEMS mirror splits the laser beam in two dimensions and focuses the light on the object that is being measured. By measuring the time of flight of the reflected light, it is also possible to determine the distance to the object as a third dimension.”
In detail, the process is as follows: light from a laser diode or other laser source is directed at a microscanner mirror installed in the transmitter of the LiDAR system. The mirror scans the surrounding area in two dimensions. To determine the third dimension, the light reflected from the object is captured by a LiDAR sensor. Here, the following applies: the more light captured by the sensor, the more accurately the distance to the object can be determined. This is a task performed by an evaluation algorithm. The distance to each scanned position in the vehicle surroundings generates a 3D point cloud that represents the LiDAR field of vision.
When integrated in a LiDAR sensor, the MEMS mirror from Fraunhofer IPMS will equip vehicles with 3D vision of their surroundings.
Robust, proof against material fatigue, resistant to temperature and shock
The MEMS scanner is made of monocrystalline silicon, a material with several advantages: it is not only robust and proof against material fatigue but it has a high temperature and shock resistance. The silicon has a reflective coating that intensifies the reflection of the light. Thanks to positioning technology integrated in the chip, it is possible to continuously track where the mirror steers the laser beam and which position is being measured. This in turn enables correction to the point of operation. In the vehicle, the LiDAR sensor is generally mounted behind the rear-view mirror, from where it directly scans the surrounding area though the windshield. This system can be used to perform a 3D scan in the infrared range, thereby supplementing the vision of the driver or passengers.
“Our MEMS mirrors are typically up to 5 millimeters in size,” says Grahmann. “For spe-cialized applications, larger mirrors are an option; but with increasing size, you lose the benefits of MEMS. Alongside the microscanner mirrors, we also supply the requisite packaging and the drive electronics. All components can be designed to customer specifications, thereby guaranteeing that they can be integrated in different LiDAR systems. We also develop, for example, MEMS scanners for head-mounted displays and industrial robots.”
The microscanner mirrors from Fraunhofer IPMS function, for example, at wavelengths typical for LiDAR applications – 905 to 1,550 nanometers. The size of aperture has a major impact on operating range. With the smart LiDAR sensors from AEye, operating ranges of over 200 meters are possible. AEye has successfully completed testing of the MEMS scanners from Fraunhofer IPMS, which are used in its LiDAR system.
“At present, advanced driver-assistance systems featuring LiDAR technology are still about providing greater comfort and enhanced safety. There are five levels of autono-mous driving, each of which involves a different degree of driver invention. Now, there’s still some way to go before fully autonomous driving becomes a reality, but our technology will help advance this process,” says Grahmann.
The next step will be to produce the microscanner mirrors in larger volumes and to prepare the technology for mass production.
The act of processing the communication protocol stack on a 10 GbE system taxes modern FPGAs that cater to high-speed network applications. Engineers who’re designing the solutions around 10 GbE got a helping hand from the introduction of the XilinxZynq UltraScale+ MPSoC. This device family features many Quad A53 Core options, Dual R5 Core options, and GPU support. In addition, this device features Programmable Logic Cells (192K to 1153K LEs) with High-Speed transceivers (16.3 Gbps) in a single chip and rated for the industrial temperature range needed for deployed applications.
10 Gigabit Ethernet Support on iWave’s Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC SOM – [Link]
Nanotechnology company NTS Innovations says it has achieved a major milestone in its development of a graphene energy harvesting (GEH) clean energy source that can operate in any environment.
GEH is the act of harvesting energy at the nanoscale level from the naturally occurring oscillations in graphene. Freestanding graphene converts ambient energy into mechanical energy in the form of ripple fluctuations, much like waves on the ocean, says the company. Now, in partnership with the University of Arkansas, the company says it has completed the development of its energy harvesting circuit on a silicon wafer.
“GEH is a nanoscale device on a semiconductor wafer,” says Preston Carter, Chief Technology Officer at NTS Innovations. “The technology itself varies slightly with temperature but is otherwise robust in all environments. GEH can generate power in outer space and aerospace environments, GEH will work anywhere on Earth, and will continue to work deep in the ocean. The only environmental limitations to GEH will be the packaging used to contain it.”
With the development of an energy harvesting circuit complete, the company says it is now moving on to prototypes and optimization for commercial applications. GEH chips are made with common semiconductor manufacturing techniques, making them cost-effective, scalable, and easy to mass produce. The first generation GEH chip is targeted for 10 mW (milliwatts) with a chip size of 12 x 12 x 3 mm.
The first generation GEH chip, says the company, will enable sensors and small electronics to become self-powered, without the need to recharge or replace batteries. Future releases of the GEH chip will increase in power density, holding promise for applications ranging from cell phones, tablets, appliances, and cars.
“We are very excited to introduce this game-changing technology,” says said Don Meyer, Founder and CEO of NTS Innovations. “An enormous amount of work has gone into the development of Graphene Energy Harvesting. We are extremely thankful for the NTS Innovations team taking this from its discovery to a proven concept, and now chip production. This ‘World Changing Technology’ can bring power to every corner of the globe. Something as simple as a small light can change lives.”
The technology will be packaged in a commercial chip and available for purchase through a global network of electronics distributors in 2021.
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