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Signet High-Capacity Thumb-drive, Your Libre Personal Information Security Multi-tool

Posted on 3 October, 20193 October, 2019 by Tope Oluyemi

Signet HC is a secure USB drive built with open-hardware and free open-source software. It is an encrypted flash drive, a two-factor authentication (2FA) device and a hardware password and personal information manager, making it a portable solution to a variety of data security problems.

Signet HC is physically secured, it requires a user taking physical action (press a button on the device) to enable sensitive commands to be executed, the button flashes blue when any sensitive command is sent to the device. Physical security blocks malicious software from executing commands on the device. Signet HC’s encrypted data is password protected and can be unlocked through its cross-platform client application (available on Windows, macOS, GNU/Linux, and Android). The client software is stored on the device in a read-only partition, enabling the user to use it without downloading software.

Signet HC’s Two-factor authentication requires a secure device present in order to log in to a website or complete a key transaction. Two-factor authentication also compensates for weak or compromised passwords. Signet HC implements the FIDO U2F and FIDO2 two-factor authentication protocols utilized by a number of popular websites. Once Signet HC has been paired with a compatible website, a users can complete their login or transaction by pressing the device button when its light flashes. Signet HC can also be configured to disable two-factor authentication features until the device is unlocked. This provides additional security for the device.

Signet HC can contain several types of storage volumes in its embedded 32 GB flash memory, with each suited to different purposes. They include :

Read-only volumes,
Read-only volumes, One-time-use volumes,
Physically-secured volumes, and
Unencrypted volumes.

Signet HC implements password management features. This is done by storing a password database in an encrypted format inside its microcontroller’s internal flash memory. Once the device is unlocked you can view the data directly in the client and copy to the clipboard. The client supports browser plugins for Firefox and Chrome that can fill in data such as login and password information on text forms. The client can also forward the data to the device’s USB keyboard interface to type data directly into another application.

Signet HC’s function is not limited to storing information about account passwords. It also has a flexible database structure that enables a user to create new data types and to add fields to individual entries for notes and associated data. This enables you to safely store any data you wish to keep off the cloud.

Signet HC can be configured to regularly back up your data when connected to your primary computer. It can be backed up to either your computer’s hard disk or a designated removable media device. The Signet client can then read the backups when you provide the master password, offering users immediate access to their data and the option to upload the data to a replacement device, if you misplace your former device.

Signet HC enables the creation of multiple profiles, each with its own unlock password. Each profile can be configured to display only some database entries or storage volumes stored on the device. This enables a user to create different profiles with different settings to prevent sensitive information from being seen by others.

The source code and CAD files for Signet HC will be released before the devices are delivered. The software will be released under the GPLv3 license and the hardware specifications under the CERN Open Hardware License v1.2.

Hardware Features

Microcontroller: STM32F733 Cortex M7 @ 216 MHz
USB interface: 2.0 High-speed
Dimensions: 52 mm x 19 mm x 8.5 mm (longer than original Signet, but thinner)
Mass storage capacity: 32 GB
Mass storage medium: eMMC chip
Circuit design license: CERN OHL v1.2
Enclosure: Injection molded ABS plastic with snap-together design
Database Capacity: 384 KB – enough space for thousands of entries
Database Storage Type: On-chip flash memory
GPIO: Three GPIO pins, or one UART port and one GPIO
Firmware code size: 128 KB
Maximum unencrypted transfer speed: 35 MB/s
Maximum encrypted transfer speed: 15 MB/s
Physical interface: illuminated tactile switch

Software Features

Compatibility: Windows, Linux, MacOS, Android
Client software license: GPLv3
Firmware software license: GPLv3
Encryption Method: AES-128 or AES-256 with cipher block chaining (CBC)
Encryption Key Derivation: SCrypt hash function with per-device randomized salt
Two-factor authentication protocols: FIDO U2F and FIDO2
Volume encryption
One-time use volumes: Created to transfer files; deleted automatically after use
Physically secured volumes: Copying files to OS requires a Signet button press
Password and personal information manager: Can be accessed by the client and/or browser plugin
Cryptographic features: File signing, file signature verification, file, and email encryption, SSH-authentication, etc
Client software on a read-only volume
Compatible with the original Signet device

Visit the crowdfunding page for more information on the Signet HC, and/or to pledge $80 for the 32GB USB drive. The Github page is accessible, but currently only contains resources for the first Signet USB security key and PCB files. The firmware is not ready to be released yet but will be published before the devices are shipped.

MEMS thermopile vacuum sensors effective from 1 millitorr to 1 atm

Posted on 2 October, 2019 by mixos

The PVC3000 series of MEMS thermopile vacuum sensors from Posifa Technologies deliver a wide effective range from 1 millitorr (0.13 Pa) to 1 atm (760 torr, or 101 kPa) to eliminate the need for additional sensing technology and to lower overall solution costs.

The upper effective range of traditional Pirani vacuum sensors is capped at around 30 torr. To measure vacuum above this value, an additional piezoresistive or capacitive pressure sensor is required. With their wide effective range, the PVC3000 vacuum sensors released today can measure vacuum to 1 atm without the need for an additional pressure sensor, allowing designers to replace two components with one in vacuum gauges for HVAC and industrial applications. Using a differential measurement setup (one sensor for reference and one for vacuum measurement), the PVC3000 series allows for automatic internal temperature compensation and eliminates other environmental factors that can cause sensors to drift. The result is excellent repeatability and long-term stability.

Available in TO5 (PVC3001) or TO46 (PVC3004) metal cans, the devices offer fast response times under 2ms typical and operate over a -25 to +85°C temperature range.

Posifa Technologies – www.posifatech.com

Neural computing kit combines Atomic Pi SBC with Intel’s NCS2

Posted on 2 October, 20192 October, 2019 by Emmanuel Odunlade

Following the success of their last product; the Atomic Pi SBC which sold for only $34 and sold out multiple times, Team IoT, has returned with another successful Kickstarter project for a Neural Computing Development Kit that combines the Intel Cherry Trail-based Atomic Pi SBC with a 2GB RAM and 16GB eMMC, with Intel’s Neural Compute Stick 2 AI accelerator (NCS2).

The kit which comes with Ubuntu and intel’s OpenVINO preloaded on the Atomic Pi SBC to save users some startup time, also ships with an unnamed machine vision camera, a small breakout board, cables, and a 5V 5A power supply, making the kit all users need to develop AI-based solutions, out of the box, especially with the fact that the preloadedOpenVINO deep learning toolkit already comes with patches and code samples with pre-downloaded and pre-optimized models.

The Atomic Pi SBC around which the kit is based is an impressive SBC especially considering the $33 price which makes it surprisingly cheap for an Intel processor-based SBC. While there have been several reports about few issues around the board in the past, most of those issues seemingly stemmed from users loading a Windows 10 on the board instead of Linux, and this makes good guessing ground for the reasons behind the board being preloaded with Ubuntu (on a lighter note).

The embarrassing situations aside, the Atomic Pi is a rugged SBC, built around the Intel Atom x5-Z8350 Cherry Trail generation SoC, with 4x 14nm-fabricated cores clocked at 1.91GHz, which might be considered a “sell-off” product by many as Intel made a lot of them for an x86 smartphone wave that never hit and is the same SoC was used on Aaeon’s original, $99 UP board and DFRobot’s original $119 LattePanda SBC. The Pi maintains a 130 x 100 x 50mm form factor with a high profile that is a result of the huge heat sink slapped on top of the board. It is equipped with a gigabit Ethernet Port, WiFi-ac, Bluetooth 4.0, USB 2.0, micro-USB 3.0 OTG, and an HD-only HDMI port with audio output. It also comes with a useful debug interface and a 9-axis IMU which might come in handy for certain projects.

Apart from the Atomic Pi, the other key element in the Kit is the intel Neural Compute stick 2 for which Intel is assisting the team with support. The compute stick 2 which was released on December 2018 is an impressive upgrade to the Stick 1. it features the latest, 1TOP (trillion operations per second) Myriad X VPU which offers up to 10-times the performance of the Myriad 2 VPU and according to Intel, is designed “for applications requiring multiple neural networks running simultaneously”. The 72.5 x 27 x 14mm form factor NCS2 typically pairs with intel’s OpenVINO toolkit, offloading video processing for deep learning and freeing up the CPU for other tasks. It is connected to the Atomic Pi via the onboard USB 3.0 port.

Starting at $99 (for early bird), the team is set to begin shipping the complete kit by late October/November.

More information on price, Kit specifications, and shipping timelines can be found on the project’s Kickstarter page.

UDOO X86 II SBC Combines Intel Braswell SoC with Microchip ATMega32U4 “Arduino” MCU

Posted on 2 October, 20192 October, 2019 by Emmanuel Odunlade

SECO, the company behind the brilliant UDOO X86, recently announced the release of another version of the board which is being called the UDOO X86 II SBC. While the UDOO x86 development board which was introduced in a crowdfunding campaign has grown in leaps and bounds with several accessories developed for it, It is falling into the same continuity predicament with several boards running an Intel Curie based processors due to the announcement by Intel to discontinue the production of the processors.

The Intel Currie processors were part of intel’s big bet on the x86 Smartphone wave which din’t quite pay off and it being discontinued by Intel meant the end to production for the UDOO x86. To mitigate this and give users continued access to the incredible power and performance provided by the UDOO x86 boards, SECO decided to branch off into another version of the board, offering the same features but replacing the Intel Curie module with the Atmega32u4 microcontroller which is the same Microcontroller on the Arduino Leonardo.

According to SECA which referred to it as “the most powerful x86 maker board ever”, the UDOO x86 11 SBC combines Quad Core 64-bit new-generation x86 processors made and designed for the PC domain by Intel® with the Atmega2u4 microcontroller to deliver a board that can run all the software available for the PC world, from gaming and video streaming, to graphical editors and professional development platforms, while also giving users access to all the pecs of the Arduino™ Leonardo world, including the ability to build projects using the Leonardo compatible sketches, libraries and the official Arduino™ Leonardo IDE.

The new board’s line up comprises of two models;

The UDOO X86 11 Ultra
The UDOO X86 11 Advanced Plus

The difference between the two boards is in the SOC that was used on them and the features defined by it. The UDOO X86 11 Ultra runs on the Intel Pentium N3710 quad-core Braswell processor with up to 2.56 GHz speed, 8 GB DDR3L(dual channel), and an Intel HD Graphics 405 up to 700 MHz; 14nm process, 6W TDP. The Advanced Plus model, on the other hand, runs on an Intel Celeron N3160 quad-core Braswell processor with up to 2.24 GHz speed, 4 GB DDR3L (dual channel), and the Intel HD Graphics 400 up to 640 MHz; 14nm process, 6W TDP.

On the ATmega32U4 side, the boards feature the standard, Arduino Leonardo compatible pinouts with up to 12 analog input pins and 23 Digital I/Os which include 7 pwm enabled pins along with’ 1x UART, 1x I2C, and 1x SPI ports with the communication between the Braswell SOC and the ATmega32U4 Microcontroller done over an internal USB interface, just the same way Arduino Leonardo boards are connected to external PCs.

A summary of the features of the board is provided below.

SoC
UDOO X86 II Ultra – Intel Pentium N3710 quad-core Braswell processor @ up to 2.56 GHz, Intel HD Graphics 405 up to 700 MHz; 14nm process, 6W TDP
UDOO X86 II Advanced Plus – Intel Celeron N3160 quad-core Braswell processor @ up to 2.24 GHz, Intel HD Graphics 400 up to 640 MHz; 14nm process, 6W TDP
System Memory
Ultra – 8 GB DDR3L dual-channel (soldered)
Advanced Plus – 4 GB DDR3L dual-channel (soldered)
32GB eMMC flash, standard SATA connector, M.2 Key B SSD slot, MicroSD card slot
1x HDMI 1.4 port up to 4K @ 30 Hz, 2x miniDP++ connectors
Microphone + Headphone combo connector, speaker internal header, S/PDIF output
Supports H.265/HEVC, H264, MPEG2, MVC, VC-1, WMV9, JPEG, VP8 Video Decoding
Supports H.264, MVC, JPEG
Gigabit Ethernet, M.2 Key E slot for optional Wireless modules
USB 3.0 type-A sockets (x3)
UART ports (x2)
LPC, 2x I2C, GPIOs
Touch Screen Management signals on expansion connector
Up to 20 extended GPIOs, multiplexed with other interfaces
MCU – Microchip ATmega32U4 8-bit AVR MCU @ 16 MHz with 2.5 KB SRAM, 32 KB flash, and 1 KB EEPROM
Arduino Leonardo-Compatible and compatible with most Arduino Shields 5V compliant.
Up to 23x digital I/O including; 7x PWM, 1x UART, 1xI2C, and 1xSPI
12x analog Inputs
IR interface
Onboard RTC with Battery
12V/3A via power barrel jack for Power Supply.

Both models of the board can run any of Windows 10, 8.1, 7, Android x86 and any Linux distribution for x86 64-bit. Both models of the board are now available for sale on UDOO shop with the Ultra going for as much as $267 and the advanced plus at $164.

More information on the boards can be found on the product page on UDOO Shop and on the Product Documentation page.

Intelligent mmWave sensor antenna-on-package evaluation module

Posted on 2 October, 2019 by mixos

The IWR6843 antenna-on-package (AoP) evaluation module (EVM) is an easy-to-use mmWave sensor EVM with integrated, short-range, wide field-of-view (FoV) AoP technology, which enables direct connectivity to the mmWave sensors carrier card platform (MMWAVEICBOOST) and allows for stand-alone use.

IWR6843AOPEVM enables access to point-cloud data through a USB interface and raw analog-to-digital converter (ADC) data through a 60-pin high-speed connector.

This kit is supported by standard mmWave tools and software, including mmWave studio (MMWAVE-STUDIO) and the mmWave software development kit (MMWAVE-SDK). IWR6843AOPEVM with MMWAVEICBOOST can interface with the TI MCU LaunchPad ecosystem.

Features

60-GHz to 64-GHz mmWave sensor
Integrated on-package 4RX/3TX antenna with 130º azimuth FoV and 130º elevation FoV
Supports 60-pin high-speed interface for host-controlling interface
Stand-alone mode for form-factor deployment and testing
Single USB cable for power and data

A 5-V 2.5-A supply brick with a 2.1-mm barrel plug (center positive), which is required for operation with MMWAVEICBOOST, is not included. TI recommends purchasing an external power supply that complies with applicable regional safety standards. This is not required for stand-alone operation.

To learn more, click here.

Compact AMD Ryzen™ SBC Featuring Four Independent 4K Displays

Posted on 2 October, 2019 by mixos

IBASE Technology Inc. (TPEx: 8050), a world leading provider of industrial computers and embedded computing solutions, releases the IB918 3.5-inch Disk-Size SBC based on the AMD Ryzen™ Embedded V1000/R1000 SoC. The IB918 allows system designers to create feature rich systems targeting panel PC, kiosk, POS, medical display and industrial applications.

Generating stunning 4K Ultra High-Definition resolution for sharper images provided by the integrated Vega GPU, IB918 can drive up to four independent displays via two HDMI (2.0a), a 24-bit dual channel LVDS and an eDP graphics output. It has two SO-DIMM sockets supporting fast data transfers with up to 32GB DDR4-2400 memory and ECC for data integrity. Flexible I/O connectivity and expansion ports come in the form of one USB 2.0, four USB 3.1, one SATA III, four COM, a 12V~24V DC input and two M.2 sockets (M/E Key).

The compact IB918 board comes with low power consumption AMD Ryzen™ APUs, namely the 64-bit quad-core V1605B (IB918F-1605) and the dual-core V1202B (IB918F-1202), R1606G (IB918F-1606G) and R1505G (IB918F-1505G). The models are equipped with an advanced TPM 2.0 chip, a high level of hardware-based security that enables cryptographic operations for access control and authentication to prevent phishing attacks and authorization value guesses on devices. Measuring 102 x 147mm, the SBC provides an optimal fan and heatsink cooling solution and supports an operating temperature range of 0°C to 60°C. The board supports both Windows 10 and Linux Ubuntu operating systems.

IB918 FEATURES:

AMD Ryzen™ Embedded V1000/R1000 SoC
2x DDR4 SO-DIMM, Max. 32GB
2x PCI-E Gigabit LAN
2x HDMI, 1x eDP, 1x 24-bit LVDS dual-channel
1x USB 2.0, 4x USB 3.1, 1x SATA III, 4x COM
2x M.2 sockets (M/E key)

The IB918 is available now at an undisclosed price. More information may be found in Ibase’s IB918 announcement and product page.

STMicroelectronics BlueNRG-M0 Bluetooth module

Posted on 1 October, 2019 by mixos

The BlueNRG-M0 is a very low power network processor module for Bluetooth® low energy v4.2.

The BlueNRG-M0 is an easy to use Bluetooth® low energy master/slave network processor module, compliant with Bluetooth v4.2. The BlueNRG-M0 module supports multiple roles simultaneously, and can act at the same time as Bluetooth low energy sensor and hub device.

The entire Bluetooth low energy stack and protocols are embedded into BlueNRG-M0 module. The external host application processor, where the application resides, is connected to the BlueNRG-M0 module through a standard SPI interface.

The BlueNRG-M0 module provides a complete RF platform in a tiny form factor. Radio, antenna, high frequency and LPO oscillators are integrated to offer a certified solution to optimize the time-to-market of the final applications.

The BlueNRG-M0 can be powered directly with a standard 3 V coin cell battery, a pair of AAA batteries or any power source from 1.7 to 3.6 V.

Key features

Bluetooth v4.2 compliant
- Supports master and slave modes
- Multiple roles supported simultaneously
Embedded Bluetooth low energy protocol stack
- GAP, GATT, SM, L2CAP, LL, RFPHY
Bluetooth low energy profiles provided separately
Embedded ST BlueNRG-MS network processor
- Up to +8 dBm available output power
- Down to -88 dBm Rx sensitivity
- Up to 96 dB link budget with excellent link reliability
Host interface
- SPI, IRQ, and RESET
- On-field stack upgrading available via SPI
AES security co-processor
Certification
- CE qualified
- FCC, IC modular approval certified
- TYPE qualified
- BQE qualified
On-board chip antenna
Operating supply voltage: from 1.7 to 3.6 V
Operating temperature range: -40 °C to 85 °C

more information: www.st.com

Laptop Bench Power Supply with FAN controller

Posted on 1 October, 20191 October, 2019 by mixos

Zak Kemble build another great project. This time it’s a bench power supply with a laptop brick input. The power supply needed sufficient cooling so he added a small Fan and a controller a the edge of the board. He writes:

Many years ago (September 2009) I made a simple bench power supply using an LT1083 7.5A linear regulator with adjustable output voltage designed to be used with a 19.5V 3.42A laptop power supply. It still works fine after years of abuse, but my choice of output power connectors was poor (3 pin headers, the sort used for PC fans), it’s made on strip board and cooling was sometimes a problem, so time for an upgrade!

Laptop Bench Power Supply with FAN controller – [Link]

How to Design a Lithium Battery Pack

Posted on 1 October, 20191 October, 2019 by mixos

Adam Bender writes:

Designing a custom lithium battery pack is a fun way to learn about electricity and engineering. Lithium batteries can be used for countless applications including electric bikes, scooters, vehicles, backup power suppliers, off the grid solutions, and much more.

How Lithium Battery Cells Work
Basic Electricity Fundamentals
How Many Cells to Put in a Battery Pack
How to Join Cells Together 5. BMS, Charging, and Circuit Diagram

How to Design a Lithium Battery Pack – [Part1] [Part2]

Tesmo – The Invisible & Portable Adhesive Laptop Stand quick review

Posted on 30 September, 20196 October, 2019 by mixos

Tesmo Kickstand weighs only 17g yet able to hold up to 17.6lbs, and the reusable design gives you the mobile convenience than ever.

Tesmo Kickstand is a great little accessory for your laptop, but not limited. It can easily be used on tablets and mobile phones as well. It’s a lightweight and foldable stand that help you use your laptop in an easy and convenient way by adjusting it’s positioning.

With only 0.6 oz(17g), Tesmo Kickstand is the world’s smallest invisible laptop stand. Tesmo Kickstand is strong and durable that can hold up to 17.6lbs of weight. Attaching and removing are both incredibly easy, and it won’t leave any residue on the surface, making it easily the world’ best invisible Laptop Stand.

Thanks to Tesmo Kickstand’s special glue, it’s not only durable and strong, you can also detach and leave no residue on the surface, and re-attach Tesmo Kickstand with the same strong effectiveness.

Usage Video

The Tesmo Kickstand is live on Kickstarter, already funded and has 9 days to go. Pledges start from 15 USD for 1 pair of Tesmo.

CORRECTION 6/10/2019: The pads of Tesmo should be folded to the rear of laptop as shown on the image below to achieve maximum stability. Video shows this the wrong way.