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2.4 GHz Modules: Proteus-III and Thyone-I

Posted on 10 July, 2020 by mixos

Würth Elektronik’s 2.4 GHz modules feature six configurable I/O pins and a small 8 mm x 12 mm size

Würth Elektronik offers the Bluetooth^® Low Energy 5.1 module Proteus-III and the proprietary version Thyone-I. The modules measure only 8 mm x 12 mm x 2 mm, feature an integrated antenna, encryption technology, six configurable I/O pins, and are based on the Nordic Semiconductor nRF52840 chipset. They can be used for IoT and M2M applications; for example, to build radio-based maintenance interfaces and sensor networks. The WE-ProWare firmware, which has been industry proven over many years, makes the modules extremely versatile.

The Proteus-III module is a radio sub module/device for wireless communication between devices such as control systems, remote controls, sensors, and more. With regards to Bluetooth LE 5.1, it offers a fast and secure data transmission of data packages between two or more parties (point-to-point topology). A serial interface (UART) is available for communication with the host system. The Proteus-III uses the Bluetooth LE standard to provide general data transmission between several devices. The standard itself offers a wide range of configurations and possibilities to suit and optimize sophisticated customer applications. To fulfill the needs and specifications of such applications a tailored firmware can be developed based on the Proteus-III hardware. This includes the connection and communication to custom sensors, custom Bluetooth LE profiles, timing configurations, security configuration, and power consumption optimizations. Even with its small dimensions of 8 mm x 12 mm, the Proteus-III provides a strongly miniaturized integrated PCB antenna. It is possible to connect an external antenna if high radio ranges are of interest.

Proteus-III features:

Bluetooth Low Energy 5.1 standard with 2 Mbit PHY and coded PHY (long-range)
Nordic nRF52840
Includes DIS (device information service)
Payload size up to 964 Bytes
Nano-sim size
Serial data transmission (smart serial profile)
Six configurable digital I/O pins (local and remote)
Up to 8 dBm output power
Smart antenna configuration (2-in-1 module)
Peripheral only mode (transparent)
High throughput mode
Scan and connect in long-range mode

Thyone-I features:

Range up to 750 m
Smart antenna configuration (2-in-1 module)
Nano-sim size
Broadcast, multicast and 4 Byte addressing (Unicast)
End-to-end payload throughput up to 400 kbit/s
Integrated radio profiles for 125 kbit/s, 500 kbit/s, 1000 kbit/s, and 2000 kbit/s, gross
CE, FCC, IC, ARIB
Six configurable digital I/O pins (local and remote)
MESH networking capable
Encryption (AES128)
Transparent mode: serial-to-radio

The Thyone-I module is a radio sub-module for wireless communication between devices such as control systems, remote controls, sensor nodes, and more. Operating in the globally available 2.4 GHz license-free band, Thyone-I offers a robust and secure data transmission in point-to-point as well as mesh configurations. The Thyone-I is preloaded with the WE-ProWare radio stack which ensures high flexibility without compromising the reliability. Interfacing with the host system via serial UART, the module allows easy configuration and control of the radio using a simple command interface. To ensure ease-of-use for cable replacement applications, the module also offers a transparent mode to function as a serial-to-radio adapter. Small dimensions comparable to a nano-sim card (8 mm x 12 mm) including an on-board PCB antenna make Thyone-I ideal for small form-factor design.

Resources

AutoSteri: Small and Compact Automatic UV Sterilization System from David Bershadsky

Posted on 10 July, 2020 by Emmanuel Odunlade

The probability of having microorganisms survive on a surface or item subjected to treatment is very low; decontaminating an object or material makes it safe to handle. While there are many techniques capable of effectively disinfecting surfaces, not many can be used independently without personnel, thus making the whole process of monitoring and cleaning tiresome.

The new AutoSteri from maker David Bershadsky was designed to handle and take the stress of sterilization off you. The AutoSteri simply detects the presence of a person in a particular place and disinfects the area after the person leaves the place. Such an interesting and highly useful you would agree, particularly during this time of the Covid-19 pandemic where regard to hygiene and sterilization cannot be over-emphasized. The AutoSteri can be used to sterilize almost everything, hallways, offices, elevators, delivery packages, and many more.

Some of the key components to be used for this project include :

A breadboard-friendly Arduino Nano R3 board
1x generic PIR motion sensor
A high power UV LED
1x 100 Ohms resistor
One general-purpose NPN transistor, which could be replaced with a motor driver or relay.
Breadboard or custom PCB
Jumper wires and
Through-hole 5.5 mm power jack
Software Apps: Supports Arduino IDE

The PIR sensor is used to detect the person’s presence and the UVc LED, in turn, cleans the area for about 15 minutes when the person is gone. Depending on how powerful the LED you are using is, and how much light is being emitted, the AutoSteri can cover a maximum range of about 10 m and conveniently detect anyone within that space.

Speaking about the electronics build of the AutoSteri, David explained that the system can either be built with a PCB or without any.

“With the PCB the build will be exactly the same but simply solder all of your components on board in their indicated locations. For the PCB one needs to use an Arduino NANO, 1-4x 3535 SMD LED, or connect to the 2 pins for other LEDs, an NPN transistor that can handle the current of your led, a generic PIR sensor, and a through-hole 5.5 mm power jack”.

More on the AutoSteri system including schematics, PCB design, and documentation can be found on the project’s tutorial page.

QuickFeather: Fully open source development board for the EOS S3 MCU with eFPGA

Posted on 10 July, 202029 October, 2021 by Emmanuel Odunlade

Use the Power of Open Source to Tackle Your Tiny Machine Learning Applications

QuickLogic, the first programmable logic company to embrace all-open-source development tools has partnered with Antmicro to create a multi-core essential evaluation tool for machine learning and IoT applications, called QuickFeather development board.

The QuickFeather development board is a small form factor system for the EOS S3 Arm Cortex M4F MCU and embedded FPGA with an onboard microphone, pressure sensor, and accelerometer. One beautiful thing about this development board is that it is everything open-source!. The board itself is open hardware, designed in an open-source Kicad platform, and built around open source embedded OS, Zephyr RTOS and FreeRTOS with open FPGA tools. It’s rich combination of on-board sensors, low-power MCU and programmable logic in a feather form factor, also make it a perfect open-source hardware platform for developing tiny Machine Learning applications with Google TensorFlow Lite and SensilML’s software. Hobbyists and enthusiasts would also find the board good for ALL kinds of general-purpose MCU applications.

Technical Features and specifications include:

Arm Cortex ® M4F microcontroller unit running @ 80 MHz and up to 512 SRAM
Embedded FPGA – 64 Kb RAM and 2400 logic cells
16 Mbit SPI NOR flash memory
58.4 mm x 22.9 mm footprint
2.54 mm breadboard compatible pitch headers.
33 GPIO (20 of which are feather-defined)
I2C, I2S, SPI, UART
RGB LED, User buttons and Hardware Reset buttons
USB data signals tied to the embedded FPGA programmable logic
Communication protocol via USB/UART
SWD programming connector
Infineon DSP310 pressure sensor
Infineon IM69D130 digital PDM microphone
mCube MC3635 accelerometer
3.3V USB micro Type-B and standard Li-Po JST connectors,
On-board charging circuitry
Can be powered from USB or LiPo battery, and
Supports real-time operating system – Zephyr RTOS and FreeRTOS

The QuickFeather development board is programmed using QuickLogic’s USB-enabled TinyFPGA bootloader, an equally open-source IP for programming FPGAs. A video guide on how to install the TinyFPGA bootloader as well as hardware design files, user guide and documentation can be found on Crowd Supply or on QuickLogic’s product’s page.

More on order details, paying and shipping can also be found in their guide page. The board is expected to start shipping at the end of July, 2020. Hopefully, the COVID-19 pandemic will not cause any delay in the delivery timeline.

New Silent Switcher Offers 95% Efficiency at 2 MHz

Posted on 9 July, 2020 by mixos

Compact, ultralow-emission, high-speed synchronous monolithic stepdown regulators ideal for noise-sensitive and space-critical applications

July 8, 2020 – Geneva, Ill.: Richardson RFPD, Inc., an Arrow Electronics company, announced today the availability and full design support capabilities for the Power by Linear Silent Switchers from Analog Devices, Inc.

ADI’s Silent Switchers offer high efficiency at high switching frequencies while maintaining ultralow EMI emissions. These regulators bring new levels of performance for synchronous stepdown DC/DC converters.

Maximum input voltages ranging from 8 V to 65 V make them ideal for applications that require from 1 A up to 15 A of output current, including automotive, industrial and communications systems applications.

The Silent Switcher family uses special design and packaging techniques to offer 95% efficiency at 2 MHz while easily passing the CISPR 25 Class 5 Peak EMI limits.

LT8650S is a dual-channel, 4 A, 42 V, synchronous stepdown silent switcher 2 with a 6.2 μA quiescent current
Maximum input voltages ranging from 8 V to 65 V
Ideal for applications that require from 1 A up to 15 A of output current, including automotive, industrial and communications systems applications

Silent Switcher 2 adds internal bypass capacitors and an integrated substrate to further improve EMI that is not sensitive to PCB layout, simplifying designs and reducing performance risks even when using two-layer PC boards. The featured LT8650S is a dual-channel, 4 A, 42 V, synchronous stepdown Silent Switcher 2 with a 6.2 μA quiescent current.

To find more information, or to purchase these products today online, visit the Featured ADI Silent Switchers webpage. The devices are also available by calling 1-800-737-6937 (within North America), or find a local sales engineer (worldwide) at Local Sales Support. To learn about additional products from Analog Devices, visit the Analog Devices storefront webpage.

CutiePi Tablet For Your Raspberry Pi Project On The Go

Posted on 9 July, 20209 July, 2020 by Tope Oluyemi

CutiePi is an ultra-portable Raspberry Pi creation kit, in a tablet form factor. It is a tablet that helps you “liberate your Pi project from the desk, and start creating wherever an idea strikes you.” The Taiwanese startup CutiePi, announced details about the 8-inch, Raspberry Pi Compute Module-based CutiePi tablet last year August. They have gone live on Kickstarter and they are almost meeting their $35K goal. At just 12mm thin, CutiePi is probably “the thinnest Pi tablet in the world.” The battery level reading and power management features enable you to carry or recharge it like any other gadgets, and with the touchscreen and battery built-in features, there’s no need to connect a keyboard, monitor or power supply to set up your Pi. About CutiePi the company says :

“We firmly believe people should have control over the technology they use. For that reason, everything about CutiePi, and we absolutely mean EVERYTHING, from the hardware design, firmware, enclosure, all the way to the user interface, is open source.”

This means you can create your own flavor of the CutiePi tablet using the designs. Or build on it to make your next portable project.

The core of the CutiePi is a custom PCB, the CutiePi board. This CM3/CM3+ compatible carrier board comes with features for portable use and is a proud OSHWA-certified open-source hardware. The CutiePi features the Raspberry Pi Compute Module 3+, which has the same quad -A53 Broadcom BCM2837B0 SoC found on the Raspberry Pi 3B+. The absence of a PMIC, does not enable the 0.2GHz boost to 1.4GHz available on the SBCs, however they have some similarities like the 400MHz VideoCore IV GPU. There is a carrier board by CutiePi that enables a PMIC, and features a STM32 MCU. The CutiePi has similar features to the $25 “Lite” version of the CM3+. It enables 1GB LPDDR2 RAM. There is no flash memory however, it is equipped with circuitry for connecting to a microSD slot, which acts as the major storage connector on the CutiePi. The single USB 2.0 host port can serve as an auxiliary connector for storage.

At 213 x 134 x 12mm in footprint, the tablet has an 8-inch, 1280 x 800, IPS screen with 5-point multi-touch capability. This makes it lighter than conventional tablets, and easy to carry around. The tablet is equipped with 5000mAh battery that charges via a USB Type-C port and has a battery life of up to five hours when set to 50 percent brightness, and with Wifi connection. The tablet is further equipped with a micro-HDMI port, 6x GPIO pins, 802.11b/g/n with Bluetooth 4.0, and a handle that also serves as a stand. It also features a 5-megapixel camera, a gyroscope, a 2W speaker, and a sleep/wake button. It provides everything you need on the go: from typing a command in terminal, connecting to a WiFi hotspot, to logging into webpages. For OS support, they say:

“Other than built-in apps and UI designed for the touch screen, we plan to support Raspberry Pi OS desktop and apps via XWayland.”

The CutiePi is available on Kickstarter, and funding ends by Aug 14. The $169 and $179 early bird package is no longer available, but you can get the overslept bird for $189 before the price is increased to $199. Retail price goes for $229. Available also is a $89 package that offers two of the tablet’s carrier boards without the Raspberry Pi CM3+ modules. Shipping should start in Q4 2020. “Shipping fees will be calculated and charged after the campaign. You can confirm the actual costs, including shipping, using Kickstarter’s ”Manage your pledge” function, before finalizing your orders.”

You can find more information may be found on the Kickstarter page and CutiePi website.

nRF52805 Bluetooth 5.2 SoC features a WLSCP, enhanced for small two layer PCB models

Posted on 9 July, 20209 July, 2020 by Tope Oluyemi

Nordic Semiconductor has announced the nRF52805, which is a microcontroller from the NRF52 series of microcontrollers. Measuring at just 2.48 x 2.46mm, the nRF52805 is the smallest of all the nRF52 series. Despite its small size, the nRF52805 System-on-Chip (SoC) top up the industry-leading Nrf52 Series with an SoC in a WLCSP enhanced for small two layer PCB designs, ideal for cost-constrained utility. The nRF52805 is the perfect alternative for applications such as beacons, disposable medical devices, sensors, styluses and presenters.

The nRF52805 features an Arm® Cortex® – M4 processor, clocked at 64 MHz, equipped with a 192 KB Flash and 24KB RAM, and incorporates wide variety of analog and digital interfaces such as a 2-channel 12 bit ADC, SPI, UART and TWI. The Nrf52805 which is a Bluetooth 5.2 SoC enables Bluetooth Low Energy and 2.4 GHz proprietary protocols. It enables Bluetooth high-throughput of 2 Mbps, transmitting info faster and even more efficient, and Bluetooth channel selection algorithm #2(CSA#2), improving coexistence ad reducing interference. The radio has up to 4 decibel-milliwatts TX power and -97 dBm sensitivity (1 Mbps Bluetooth LE).

Specifications:

64 MHz Arm Cortex-M4
192 KB Flas + 24 KB RAM
Bluetooth Low Energy
- Bluetooth 5.2
- High-throughput 2 Mbps
- Channel selection algothrithm #2
2.4 GHz proprietary protocol support support
Ultra-low-power 2.4 GHz multiprotocol radio
- +4 dBm TX power
- -97 dBm RX sensitivity
- 7 mAin TX (4 dBm)
- 4.6 mA in TX ( 0 dBm)
- 4.6 Ma in RX (1 Mbps)
- Integrated balun with single-ended output
SPI, TW, UART
2-channel 12-bit ADC
Integradted DC/DC regulator
0.3 µA in System OFF
1.1 µA in system ON with 24 KB RAM retained and RTC running
Optimized for small two-layer PCB designs
- 2.48 x 2.46 mm WLSCP package
- Significantly lower cost than four-layer PCB designs
- Only 10 external passive components
- 9.5×8.8 mm reference layout design is accessible giving access to all 10 GPIOs

About the Nrf52805 size, Nordic Semiconductor says:

“The nRF52805 is available in our smallest package, a 2.48×2.46 mm WLCSP, optimized for two-layer PCB designs. This supports designs that are small and very cheap, qualities that are originally a design trade-off, since those small designs originally require four layer PCBs, which have significantly higher cost. We provide a 9.5×8.8 mm reference layout design with all ten GPIOs available, requiring only 10 external passive components (inc. two crystal load capacitors).”

The Nrf52805 is compatible with SoftDevice S112, and will also be supported by SoftDevice S113. S112 & S113 are memory-optimized Peripheral only Bluetooth Low Energy protocol stacks supporting up to 4 connections as a Peripheral at the same time with a Broadcaster.

Nordic Semiconductor has provided a guide on how to use nRF52805 with nRF5 SDK, and you can find it here. Nordic Semiconductor recommends you use nRF52 DK development kit, since it emulates the nRF52805, and it can be used as a starting point for development before moving over to a custom board. More information about the Nrf52805 can be found on Nordic Semiconductor’s website.

Neon Pixels Matrix Display Clock

Posted on 8 July, 20208 July, 2020 by mixos

Pierre @pierremuth.wordpress.com shares his latest project with us. It’s a neon lamp dot matrix clock based on INS-1 tubes. He writes:

As a big enthusiast of glowing neon, I had to do something with the INS-1 (ИНC-1) tubes. Disclaimer: this project is inefficient in many aspects, fortunately plenty of time was available during the 2020 lock-down.

Fortunately, these single dot tubes are still easy to find in large quantities and rather cheap. Made by Gazotron, it seems they buildup a large stock at that time. The INS-1 has the advantage to be small and produce a nice dot due to the lens-style front. Plus its striking voltage is maximum 100V, lower than regular Nixies.

At first I imagined 5×7 dot character modules, such as the TIL305, but bigger. While playing and trying to make a tiny and simple 5V to 100V step-up power supply, I realized how simple it can be. Here we just need to reach the striking voltage and only 0.5mA. As there is yet non-uniformity in brightness between tubes, no strong voltage accuracy is needed. Without the signal generator, it is a diode and a coil, shorted to ground with a transistor at high frequency.

Then comes the idea to mimic the popular serial cascading LEDs, such as the WS2812 or SK6812, the so called Adafruit ‘NeoPixel’.

Neon Pixels Matrix Display Clock – [Link]

FLIR Systems Announces Modified Thermal Cameras Specified for Elevated Skin Temperature Screening

Posted on 8 July, 2020 by mixos

FLIR Systems, Inc. announced modified thermal cameras for fast and safe non-contact elevated skin temperature* screening. The FLIR EST™ thermal screening solutions provide frontline screening at building entries and in high traffic areas to improve safety and help curb the spread of COVID-19. The FLIR Axxx-EST, FLIR T5xx-EST, and FLIR Exx-EST series cameras are designed to simplify the screening process, reducing the burden on screening operators and adhering to recommended social distancing guidelines.

“The new FLIR EST thermal solutions represent nearly two decades of experience designing and manufacturing thermal measurement solutions for skin temperature screening,” said Jim Cannon, President and CEO at FLIR. “These cameras are our easiest cameras to set up and operate to date for skin temperature screening, requiring limited training to begin screening people more quickly and accurately.”

FLIR Screen-EST Mode

The new EST cameras also introduce an enhanced, on-camera FLIR Screen-EST mode, which increases throughput by 25 percent compared to the previous version. To further improve accuracy, the updated Screen-EST mode automatically generates a sample baseline temperature average and compares individuals’ skin temperature against that baseline, reducing measurement uncertainty from natural body temperature fluctuations and environmental effects. This mode can sound or display an alarm when the camera detects an elevated temperature above a set threshold. If the screening mode detects an individual with elevated skin temperature, they should then be evaluated using a medical device such as a thermometer. In addition, the new EST cameras are compatible with the new FLIR Screen-EST desktop software announced earlier in June.

more information: www.flir.com

Clock Oscillator in mini package – Clock in a Can

Posted on 8 July, 20208 July, 2020 by Emmanuel Odunlade

Most microcontroller implementation these days, use the traditional capacitor + crystal approach to generate their clock, this approach sometimes, however, lead to problems, especially when used in prototyping situations with a breadboard, jumper wires, etc., all of which have an (unknown) inherent capacitance that could lead to the clean 8 or 16MHz signal we desire, becoming noisy. A (now regarded as old school) approach to eliminating this is to use a full-can or half-can oscillator which usually comprises the crystal and other elements of the oscillator circuits. However, with advances in microcontroller technologies relegating the need for these oscillators, manufacturers are discontinuing legacy product lines and it’s becoming harder and harder to find through-hole versions of the full/half can packages. To give the OG’s another option, Schlae recently developed a breadboard friendly PCB version of the full-can and half-can oscillator package called ClockInACan.

According to Schlae, the ClockInACan is a small circuit board that comes in the form factor of the full-can and half-can oscillators and performs the same exact function as the oscillators.

Some features of the oscillators include:

Wide +2V to +5.5V power supply range
Logic-level enable pin with internal pullup
CMOS-compatible output
Selectable divide ratio of 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, and 1/32
Crystal footprint fits through-hole and many surface mount crystals
Pins are breadboard compatible, and also fit in DIP sockets

The oscillators are super easy to use, and all you have to do is provide your own crystal of the desired frequency or a multiple of the desired frequency, and set the three solder jumpers to select the divide ratio.

To make the project easy to replicate, it is designed with readily available components. The basic bill of materials is provided in the table below and all components can be found on Mouser by searching with the Mouser Part Number.

Q	Designator	Description	Mouser Part Number
1	U1	Oscillator IC	513-NJU6311RB2-TE1
1	C1	0.1uF capacitor	603-CC603KRX7R9BB104
0	C2, C3	Optional load caps
0	R1, R2, R3	Divider jumpers
1	R4	0 ohm solder jumper
1	Y1	Crystal
4	J1, J7, J8, J14	PCB pins	575-0542000150000

The project is entirely open source and all the documents including schematics and PCB fab files for both the full-can and half-can oscillators are provided on the project’s Github page.

Dual USB Host/Hub Output with Constant Current Limit/Protection

Posted on 8 July, 2020 by mixos

This project has 2 outputs that enable us to power up 2 USB devices simultaneously from an input supply of 12-30V DC. The idea of this project is to have safe power for USB powered devices. The circuit is designed to simplify USB port power delivery based on self-powering 2 port USB HOST/HUB. IC provides two constant current outputs each of 1.1Amp 5V DC, and when any of USB port is overload/short circuit, the fault flag goes from high to low, and the outputs are in constant current mode. The project can be used as a dual-port USB charger in cars or trucks.

Dual USB Host/Hub Output with Constant Current Limit/Protection – [Link]