Improving on previously published room-temperature large-area photonic crystals (PhCs) Quantum cascade lasers (QCLs), researchers from ETH Zurich have fabricated a device with 5W surface-emitting peak power when driven in pulsed operation. by Julien Happich @ eenewseurope.com
Their paper “Large area photonic crystal quantum cascade laser with 5 W surface-emitting power” published in the Optics Express journal explains how they improved their buried heterostructure and buried grating technique through several design tweaks, notably by optimizing current injection using a grid-like overlay electrode.
The large-area PhC-QCL consists of an array of square pillars (over 500 periods in each in-plane dimension), comprising a 2.6μm-thick active region based on a strain-balanced InGaAs/AlInAs structure. One peculiarity of the design is that the top-view shape of each PhC pillar is a square with a missing corner, which the authors explain, creates an asymmetry that enhances the surface power extraction. The empty space of the PhC layer is filled with InP:Fe building the PhC layer with an index contrast between 3.08 (InP) and 3.35 (InGaAs/AlInAs). After growing an InP:Si cladding layer on top, the laser cavity is defined by wet-etching the cladding layer into 1.5×1.5mm square mesas, with SiNx deposited on the boundaries of the mesa to create absorbing boundaries.
The Nordic Semiconductor nRF9160 Development Kit (DK) is a cost-effective hardware development platform providing all necessary tools for evaluation and development of application firmware based on the nRF9160 SiP (System-in-Package). This supports both LTE standards, M1 and NB-IoT, and is globally compatible. The nRF9160 DK is available from Rutronik UK.
The Development Kit includes a LTE antenna that supports bands in 690-960MHz and 1710-2200MHz. It has a dedicated GPS antenna for the nRF9160 version with built-in GPS, a 2.4GHz antenna can be used with Bluetooth 5, Bluetooth Mesh and IEEE 802.15.4 protocols, like Thread or Zigbee. The nRF52840 SoC (System on Chip) is integrated as board controller and can be used, for example, to build a Bluetooth Low Energy gateway.
Developers have access to all I/O pins and module interfaces via plug connectors, including an Arduino UNO Rev3 interface. The popular SEGGER J-Link OB is integrated for debugging and programming. It also provides a debug out function.
The DK has both a 4FF SIM card slot and a MFF2 SIM footprint. A preloaded SIM card from iBasis with 10MB of data for LTE-M helps to kick-start developments. Furthermore, the nRF9160 DK has four LEDs, two buttons and two switches that are user-programmable.
Additionally, Nordic offers compatible development tools, including the nRF ConnectSDK (Software Development Kit). This extensible framework enables the development of very small applications in highly constrained circumstances and the programming of powerful, richly featured software for advanced applications. The nRF Connect for Cloud is a cloud-based IoT platform for development, test and evaluation of cellular IoT and Bluetooth Low Energy devices. The LTE Link Monitor uses AT commands to monitor the modem/link status and information about the network.
RX651 32-Bit MCUs with up to 2MB Flash/640KB SRAM with Various Security Features. Renesas Electronics has added four new RX651 32-bit microcontrollers to its portfolio, in ultra-small 64-pin (4.5×4.5mm) BGA and 64-pin (10x10mm) LQFP packages. by Julien Happich @ eenewseurope.com
This represents a 59% footprint reduction compared to the 100-pin LGA, and a 49% size reduction versus the 100-pin LQFP, claims the company. The 32-bit MCUs address advanced security needs for endpoint devices employing compact sensor and communication modules in industrial, network control, building automation, and smart metering systems operating at the IoT edge. The RX651 MCUs integrate connectivity, Trusted Secure IP (TSIP), and trusted flash area protection that enable flash firmware updates in the field through secure network communications. The increase in endpoint devices operating at the edge has increased the need for secure over-the-air (OTA) firmware updates. The new RX651 devices support this reprogramming requirement with integrated TSIP, enhanced flash protection, and other technology advancements that offer a more secure and stable solution than other available solutions on the market.
Key Features
RXv2 Core 120 MHz operation (34 CoreMark/mA)
2.7 to 3.6 V operation
A wide package lineup : 64-pin (4.5mm x 4.5mm, BGA) to 176-pin
Equipped with various communication interfaces such as Ethernet,USB, CAN, SD host/slave interface, and quad SPI.
Program Flash up to 2 MB, SRAM up to 640 KB
DualBank function convenient for firmware update *1
HMI
TFT-LCD controller and 2D drawing engine can reduce CPU load at running of LCD display.*1
Security
Equipped with memory protect functions that protect Flash memory from unintended access to flash
Equipped with a trusted secure IP that protects key data from disclosure *1
Equipped with various encryption engines : AES, TRNG, TDES *1, RSA*1, SHA*1
STMicroelectronics, one of the leading semiconductor manufacturers, launched the STM32MP1 microprocessors series back in February 2019 which are based on an HSA (heterogeneous system architecture). The microprocessors are based on an Arm® Cortex®-A7 core running at 650 MHz and Cortex®-M4 at 209 MHz combined with a dedicated 3D graphics processing unit (GPU) and MIPI-DSI display interface and a CAN FD interface.
The STM32MP1 microprocessors series is expected to follow new applications in the computing world targeting use in Industrial control, HMI (Human Machine Interface), Gaming console, Industrial IoT, and many more. Emtrion, the Germany based company is banking on the STM32MP1 microprocessors and they announced an upcoming computer-on-module based on the STM32MP1 back in March this year. The module was called the emSTAMP Argon Module and is tailored for graphics, communications, and industrial IoT applications.
emSTAMP-Argon module with STM32MP157
Fast-forward to today, Emtrion has recently launched the Emtrion emSBC-Argon, a single board computer that is based on the STM32MP1 microprocessor that is packed in the Emtrion’s emSTAMP-Argon module. The emSTAMP-Argon module combines a pair of 650MHz Cortex-A7 cores with a 209MHz Cortex-M4 measuring only 35 x 35 x 4mm. The Emtrion emSBC-Argon SBC integrates the emSTAMP-Argon module using an edge-castellated “stamp hole” interface.
emSBC argon with ST STM32MP1
The emSTAMP-Argon module is available in two variant; STM32MP157A and STM32MP157C models. Both models include a Vivante 3D GPU that supports OpenGL ES 2.0, adds dual FD-CAN support, a WXGA resolution (1280 x 800) at 60fps video. The STM32MP157C goes a step ahead by adding a hardware crypto chip with TRNG, tamper, secure boot, and TrustZone support.
Key features
STM32MP157AAC processor from STMicroelectronics
ARM Dual Cortex-A7 @ 650MHz – 2470 DMIPS
ARM Cortex-M4 @ 200MHz – 250 DMIPS
Co-processor: ARM Neon ™, FPU, and 3D GPU
Operating system: Linux or Android
Virtualization capable (Jailhouse)
up to 512 MB DDR3L SDRAM
8GByte (up to 64 GB) eMMC Flash
Up to 8 MB of QSPI-NOR-Flash
2 x FD-CAN 2.0
Size: 104.5 x 77.5 mm
The emSBC-Argon is capable of virtualization through the open-source Jailhouse Linux-based partitioning hypervisor. Protocols such as PROFINET, EtherCAT, EtherNet/IP are all available and ready to run real-time processes and communication applications. Also, since the Cortex-M4 core is based on the ecosystem of the STM32 MCU, codes for STM32 Cortex-M4 systems are easily reusable on the SBC.
The 104.5 x 77.5mm emSBC argon supports both Android and Linux operating systems. As seen on similar SBCs, the emSBC argon includes a microSD slot, 10/100 Ethernet, USB 2.0 host, SPI, ADC 16bit, PWM, DAC 12bit, I2C, SAI, I/O headers, MIPI-DSI interface, and micro-USB OTG ports. The power supply is provided through the DC barrel jack, and it also includes an RTC-battery-supply holder. Power management features like PowerDown and wake is supported.
No information is available about the board pricing, and you will have to contact customer care about it. More details on the emSBC-Argon are available on the product page and the emSTAMP-Argon module also on the product page.
Physicists from Stanford have created a device they call a “quantum microphone” that is sensitive enough to measure the individual particles of sound called phonons. The scientists say that the new device will allow new types of quantum sensors, transducers, and storage devices for future quantum machines. by Shane McGlaun @ slashgear.com
A phonon is something first proposed by Einstein in 1907 and is the name for a packet of vibrational energy emitted by jittery atoms. The packets manifest as sound or heat depending on their frequencies. Phonons have vibrational energies that are restricted to discrete values.
The energy of mechanical systems can be represented by different “Fock” states as 0, 1, 2, and so on based on the number of phonons it generates. The team at Stanford have created the world’s most sensitive microphone that uses quantum principals to pick up the whispers of atoms. It does this by measuring the Fock state and thus the number of phonons.
Physicists create quantum microphone to count sound particles – [Link]
The Slamtec Mapper has two models with a detection range of 20m and 40m. It can easily map for home scenes or commercial, light industrial scenes. The following picture shows the M1M1 map function with a 134 meters * 111 meters underground parking lot. In the handheld mode, the built-in 9 degrees freedom inertial navigation system of the M1M1 can eliminate the bumps and shake caused by walking and exert super high map construction performance.
SLAMTEC has released the Slamtec Mapper M1M1 ToF laser mapping sensor. It is more than a laser range scanner, the M1M1 features high-quality mapping and real-time localization or navigation function. Which means it can easily map for your home or office. Actually, it supports both indoors and outdoors mapping, supports large working scenarios over 100,000 m². It is a perfect laser scanner for robot localization and navigation, environment surveying and mapping, etc.
The M1M1 can detect up to 20 meters with the 5cm resolution and the re-localization accuracy is less than 0.02m. Such high-performance thanks to the SLAMTEC third-generation SLAM engine. On top of that, SLAMTEC M1M1 is quite easy to use, there is no need for any external dependency, just connect it with your computer via the USB cable, it will work then. What’s more, the M1M1 comes with SLAMTEC full cross-platform SDK and tools for both mobile phones and PC. Get one now and make your own map, it pretty cool!
This offer is for 10% off all orders with RS over the value of £150 or 15% off all orders with RS over the value of £300
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Promotion codes cannot be used on all Raspberry Pi Boards & Bundles, Tektronix and Keysight technologies, Test & Measurement products and 3D printers (3D Brands include ReprapPro, Ultimaker, 3D Systems). 3D printer exclusion extends to Scanners, Software and Filaments from RS, Verbatim and 3D Systems. Red Pitaya products are also excluded from this offer.
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Voyant Photonics has created a lidar system that could be fitted on the head of a pin.
This development is noteworthy because LIDAR is a method by which robots and autonomous vehicles sense the world around them, but the lasers and sensors are usually large and use up a considerable amount of space. LIDAR solutions available today are still, as large as the size of a hand, and the ones available for use in production vehicles are quite larger. A very small lidar unit can be placed in every corner of a car, and many other industries could use it to provide rich data.
The idea behind LIDAR involves a single laser being swept across a scene multiple times per second, its reflection is meticulously calculated to track the distances of objects. But due to the bulky nature of mechanically steered lasers which are slow and prone to failure, companies are attempting new techniques, like flash Lidar (illuminating the whole scene at once), or metamaterials (steering the beam with complex electronic surfaces instead). However, Voyant has pioneered a technique to apply silicon photonics to lidar (silicon photonics, is the manipulation of light on a chip for various purposes).
Voyant’s “optical phased arrays” method alters the phase of the light traveling through the chip. This results in a strong beam of non-visible light that can be played over a wide overlay of the environment at high speed with no moving parts at all.
Voyant co-founder Steven Miller says “This is an enabling technology because it’s so small… We’re talking cubic centimeter volumes. There’s a lot of electronics that can’t accommodate a lidar the size of a softball — think about drones and things that are weight-sensitive, or robotics, where it needs to be on the tip of its arm.”
Phare says “This lab basically invented silicon photonics… We’re all deeply ingrained with the physics and devices-level stuff. So we were able to step back and look at lidar, and see what we needed to fix and make better to make this a reality.”
Voyant’s ingenious approach to moving and emitting light from the chip enables them to create a device that is compact and combines transmitter and receiver in one piece, with a good performance.
Phare says “The silicon photonic architecture we use lets us build a very sensitive receiver on-chip that would be difficult to assemble in traditional optics. So we’re able to fit a high-performance lidar into that tiny package without any additional or exotic components. We think we can achieve specs comparable to lidars out there, but just make them that much smaller.”
The team plans to expand and get the tech out of the lab and into the hands of engineers and developers soon, with the first round of funding available. The specs, dimensions, power requirements and others vary depending on the application and industry. This will enable Voyant to make decisions based on feedback from people in other fields.
Voyant’s $4.3 million funding is raised from Contour Venture Partners, LDV Capital, and DARPA.
Mikroe known for its array of software and hardware tools for developing embedded systems is offering a universal programmer and debugger for ARM processor that allows programming over USB-C or WiFi. The device is called the CODEGRIP FOR ARM.
CODEGRIP for ARM is a universal programmer and debugger that is built for programming different set of microcontroller devices based on the ARM® Cortex®-M architecture. It supports ARM Cortex M0, M3, M4, and M7. Furthermore, it is capable of working with about 1611 MCUs in the market ranging from STM32, Kinetis, TIVA, CEC, and MSP families of the processor and more MCUs will be added in the future. With it’s carefully built and its aesthetic look, CODEGRIP is a debugger/programmer to have and be absolutely proud of.
CODEGRIP for ARM is a fast USB-C and WiFi programmer and hardware debugger. It supports ARM Cortex M0, M3, M4 and M7 based MCUs.
CODEGRIP for ARM provides extra interfacing options as compared to other programmers designed for ARM with the inclusion of wireless programming and the idea of using USB-C. Mikroe has even claimed it is the “World’s First Debugger Over WiFi,” well not sure if that claim is valid or not since we have seen quite some other WiFi hacks for ARM debuggers. The USB-C connector offers better performance and better use cases, compared to the traditional used USB Type A/B connectors. With the Wireless connectivity, you don’t have to be limited by some physical connection, and this will help speed up troubleshoot and development time.
The device is set to be available in two main variants: as a stand-alone device and as an integrated onboard module. Little or no information is provided for the integrated onboard module, and no option to select it during purchase. CODEGRIP can be used with any platform equipped with known JTAG/SWD programming header which can be connected to headers on the CODEGRIP.
Mikroe is also offering a set of different JTAG/SWD programming/debugging header adapters that can be used with various devices to ensure compatibility and is available as an additional purchase option for $9.
CODEGRIP Suite is a powerful software tool
At the core of the device is the CODEGRIP Suite, a powerful software tool built for managing programming tasks and configuring the CODEGRIP device. The suite can work with multiple CODEGRIPs at once and uses a link structure to avoid ambiguity.
CODEGRIP for ARM is available for $199.00, a price that sits with other similar devices in the market. The package contains:
Flat Cable with 10-pin 0.10″ pitch female connectors
Although CODEGRIP is built with WiFi connectivity, you will have to purchase a separate license to use the WiFi feature which is going to set you back by an extra $100.00. This license is only valid for one use; thus, you can’t use it for more than one CODEGRIP device.
More information about CODEGRIP for ARM is available on the product page, and the suite software is available for download for free.
LED Engin LuxiGen™ LZ7 Six-Die LED delivers six colors from a single 7mm2 package. Designed for stage, studio, and special effect lighting, the LuxiGen LZ7 adds PC Phosphor Converted (PC) Amber, Cyan, and PC Lime to the traditional Red, Blue, Green (RGB) LED color set, enabling richer and wider color combinations for more sophisticated color mixing. The compact 3.4mm x 3.4mm Light Emitting Surface (LES) and low-profile design of the surface-mount ceramic package produce an ultra-bright light with narrow beam, as well as high CRI white, all from a single LED emitter.
The LZ7 LED features a patented multi-layer ceramic substrate technology, allowing all six dies to be placed closely together. With an ultra-low thermal resistance of 0.8°C/W, heat is dissipated efficiently from the dies.
The LED Engin LZ7 is offered in a 7mm x 7mm surface-mount ceramic package and pre-mounted on a 7-channel Metal Core Printed Circuit Board (MCPCB).
Features
6-color surface-mount Ceramic LED Package with Integrated Flat Glass Lens
60W max. power dissipation
Red, Green, Blue, PC Amber, Cyan And PC Lime enables richer and wider color combination for more sophisticated color mixing
Compact 3.4mm x 3.4mm Light Emitting Surface (LES) and low-profile package maximize coupling efficiency into secondary optics
Thermal Resistance of 0.8°C/W
Electrically Neutral Thermal Path
JEDEC Level 1 for Moisture Sensitivity Level
7.0mm x 7.0mm Emitter Footprint
Lead (Pb) Free and RoHS Compliant
Specifications
DC Forward Current Per Die (IF(MAX)):
Red: 2500mA
Green: 3000mA
Blue: 3000mA
PC Amber: 1500mA
Cyan: 1000mA
PC Lime: 2500mA
Power Dissipation (Pd): 60W
Luminous Flux @ IF = 1000mA (ΦV):
Red: 95lm
Green: 180lm
Blue: 42lm (1.2W)
PC Amber: 140lm
Cyan: 135lm
PC Lime: 620lm
Viewing Angle: 114°
Note: This product emits Blue light, which can be hazardous depending on total system configuration (including, but not limited to optics, drive current and temperature). Do not stare directly into the beam and observe safety precaution given in IEC 62471 when operating this product.
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