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Customizable SMARC module runs Linux on i.MX8M Mini or Nano

Posted on 14 May, 2019 by mixos

Avnet Integrated Presents Scalable, Cost-Efficient SMARC 2.0 Module Family with i.MX 8M Mini Processors from NXP

Avnet Integrated presents a new, cost-efficient MSC SM2S-IMX8MINI SMARC 2.0™ module, which is based on i.MX 8M Mini processors from NXP™. The multicore ARM® Cortex-A53 processors are built using NXP’s 14nm FinFET process technology, providing high compute performance at very low power consumption. With the standardized MSC SM2S-IMX8MINI compact SMARC 2.0™ module family and the appropriate starter kit, the new processor technology is easily and quickly available for innovative customer applications. The extremely versatile module family may be used in any general purpose industrial, IoT, building automation and media streaming application.

The MSC SM2S-IMX8MINI SMARC 2.0 module features high scalability and can be equipped with different single-, dual- or quad-core processor types. The flexibility of the new module family is comparable to the scalability of the i.MX 6 predecessor products. However, these modules offer significantly higher compute performance due to 64-bit support and fast LPDDR4 memory. The SM2S-IMX8MINI modules are designed not only for the new Mini processors, but also for the future pin-compatible Nano processors from NXP.

The new Computer-On-Modules (COMs), based on NXP’s powerful i.MX 8 processor family ‒ consisting of the i.MX 8, i.MX 8M and i.MX 8M Mini variants ‒ are suitable for embedded applications that requirethe highest degree of performance combined with high energy efficiency. Avnet Integrated will offer the complete i.MX 8 processor family on the persistent and future-proof SMARC 2.0™ and Qseven™ module form factors and further strengthen its leading position as a manufacturer of innovative embedded modules. In addition to providing hardware manufactured in Germany, extensive development tools such as starter kits and board support packages as well as personalized services including design-in support and carrier design review are offered.

MSC SM2S-IMX8MINI

The MSC SM2S-IMX8MINI module features NXP’s i.MX 8M Mini processors that are based on latest 14nm FinFET technology to allow high computing and graphics performance at very low power consumption combined with a high degree of functional integration.

MSC SM2S-IMX8MINI offers single-, dual- or quad-core ARM Cortex-A53 processors in combination with the ARM Cortex-M4 real-time processor and GC NanoUltra multimedia 2D/3D GPU. It provides fast LPDDR4 memory, up to 64GB eMMC Flash memory, Gigabit Ethernet, PCI Express, USB 2.0, an on-board Wireless Module as well as an extensive set of interfaces for embedded applications.

The module is compliant with the new SMARC™ 2.0 standard, allowing easy integration with SMARC baseboards. For evaluation and design-in of the SM2S-IMX8MINI module, MSC provides a development platform and a starter kit. Support for Linux is available (Android support on request).

Highlights

Single, Dual or Quad core ARM Cortex-A53 Applications Processor up to 1.8GHz
ARM Cortex-M4 Real Time Processor at 400MHz
Vivante GC NanoUltra 2D/3D Graphics Processor
1080p60 H.265 decode, 1080p60 H.264 encode (VPU not available on ”Mini Lite“)
Up to 4GB LPDDR4 SDRAM
Up to 64GB eMMC Flash
Dual-channel LVDS / Dual MIPI-DSI x4 (optional)
MIPI CSI-2 Camera Interface
PCI Express x1 Gen. 2
4x USB 2.0 Host interface
1x USB 2.0 Host/Device interface
Up to 2x Gigabit Ethernet
Wireless Module (optional)
Micro SD Card Socket (optional)
MMC/SD/SDIO interface
2x CAN interface (optional)
2x I2S Audio Interface
UART, SPI, I2C
SMARC 2.0 Compliant

No pricing or availability information was provided for the MSC SM2S-IMX8MINI. More information may be found in Avnet’s announcement and product page.

Khadas VIM3 Amlogic S922X Board to Support M.2 NVMe SSD, WiFi 5, and Bluetooth 5 Connectivity

Posted on 14 May, 201914 May, 2019 by mixos

The VIM3 SBC is the latest iteration of the popular Khadas VIM series, that will be equipped with the new Amlogic S922X SoC. It is designed with the same form-factor as our popular VIM2 and VIM1, with up to 4GB of LPDDR4/4X RAM and 32GB of EMMC storage; this makes it compatible with existing accessories.

3 models of VIM3 are planned for release, however specifications for only the first model are available at this time. They will announce the exact launch date, and information about the other models in email updates.

Khadas VIM3 preliminary specifications:

SoC – Amlogic S922X hexa-core processor with 4x Arm Cortex-A73 and 2x Cortex A53 cores, Arm Mali-G52 MP4 GPU, built-in Cortex-M4 core for “always-on” processing
MCU – STMicro STM8S003 with Programmable EEPROM for power management, customizations, and boot media configuration
System Memory & StorageVIM3 Basic – 2GB LPDDR4/4X RAM, 16GB eMMC 5.1 flash
VIM3 Pro – 4GB LPDDR4/4X RAM, 32GB eMMC 5.1 flash
Common – 16MB SPI flash, microSD card slot supporting up to UHS-I SDR104, support for M.2 2280 NVMe SSD (see Expansion section)
Video Output & Display InterfaceHDMI2.1 transmitter with 3D, Dynamic HDR, CEC, and HDCP 2.2 support
4-lane MIPI-DSI interface up to 1920 x 1080
10-pin 0.5mm Pitch FPC Connector for touch panel
Video4K UHD H.265 75fps 10-bit video decoder & low latency 1080p H.265 / H.264 60fps decoder
Supports multi-video decoding up to 4Kx2K@60fps + 1x1080P@60fps
Dolby Vision and HDR10, HDR10+, HLG, and PRIME HDR video processing
ConnectivityGigabit Ethernet with WoL support
802.11a/b/g/n/ac WiFI 5, 2X2 MIMO with RSDB and Bluetooth 5.0 via Ampak AP6398S module
USB – 2x USB 3.0 ports, 1x USB 2.0 OTG port with USB PD support
Sensor – KXTJ3-1057 3-axis digital accelerometer
ExpansionM.2 Socket with single lane PCIe 2.0, USB 2.0, I2S, I2C, ADC, 100M Ethernet PHY interface, GPIO, MCU_PA2
40-pins 2.54mm pitch header exposing:CPU signals – USB, I2C, I2S, SPDIF, UART, PWM, ADC
MCU signals – SWIM, NRST, PA1
Misc – 2x IR receivers, RTC & battery header, 4-pin cooling fan header with PWM speed control, 3x LED’s, power, Func and reset buttons, XPWR pads for an external power button
Power Supply – 5V to 20V via USB-C port or pogo pads
Dimensions – 82.0 x 58.0 x 11.5 mm (4x M2 mounting holes)
Weight – Around 30 grams
Certifications – CE, RoHS

Khadas VIM3 comes with some extra features compared to ODROID-N2 including built-in eMMC storage (instead of external flash), an M.2 socket supporting NVMe SSD, built-in WiFi and Bluetooth, a MIPI-DSI connector, and a few other features like an accelerometer and larger SPI flash. VIM3 is also quite smaller compared to ODROID-N2.

Khadas VIM3 is coming soon, and pricing has not been announced yet. More details may be found in the “launch page“

LabRecon: Drag & Drop Software and Hardware IoT Platform

Posted on 14 May, 201914 May, 2019 by mixos

LabRecon allows one to build rich graphical interfaces for “remote” IoT (Internet of Things) or “local” measurement and control applications. A drag-and-drop panel builder and graphical “Wiring” programming environment allows one to easily build an interface and create the operating logic for any project. This operating logic can be further expanded using the “code link” interface to text based languages such as Python, Java, C#, Visual Basic, etc. A USB connected “Breadboard Experimentor” circuit board or LabRecon chip provides the measurement and control link.

One powerful feature is the “Measurement Wizard”, wherein one can choose from a built-in database of over 500 commercially available sensors to automatically configure sensor configurations. The wizard will further present circuits with component values for voltage and current measurements.

The “Breadboard Experimentor” includes an on-board LabRecon chip, which provides many I/O options including 8 12-bit analog, frequency and digital inputs. Outputs comprise PWM, servo, frequency and stepper motor signals. Pins can also be configured to support 24-bit ADCs, 12 or 16-bit DACs and port expanders.

The LabRecon Breadboard Experimentor allows LabRecon to interface to the real world. The device can be configured to realize various combinations of the following:

8 Analog Inputs (12-bit, 0 to 5V)
1 Count/Frequency Input
1 Quadrature/Frequency Input Pair
7 Digital On/Off Inputs/Outputs
4 PWM Outputs
4 Servo Outputs
Outputs for 2 Stepper Motors
I2C interfaces for 24bit ADCs, 12/16bit DACs, port expanders

LabRecon also comprises a server to allow access of the GUI that one builds by computers or mobile devices. Furthermore, emails and text messages can be sent periodically or upon events. The server also includes a MQTT broker to allow MQTT clients to share data with the software.

The project will launch on kickstarter and needs your feedback now. The campaign is going live on May 15th and will last 45 days.

GW16126 Mini-PCIe Modem and Bluetooth Radio

Posted on 14 May, 201914 May, 2019 by mixos

Mini-PCIe LTE Cat M1 Cellular Modem & BLE Radio.

The GW16126 is a Mini-PCIe Radio card that provides cost-effective, low power cellular connectivity and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) for Internet of Things (IoT) networks. The GW16126 features a u- blox SARA-R410M LTE Cat M1 modem for low bandwidth cellular connectivity to the cloud. A nano- SIM socket is included with a Hologram IoT starter SIM. The GW16126 also features u-blox NINA- B301 Bluetooth 5 Low Energy radio used for communicating with and reading BLE sensors. Both the cellular modem and BLE radio have dedciated separate u.Fl antenna connectors for connection to an external antenna. This radio card operates in any standard Mini-PCIe socket that includes a USB 2.0 interface. This radio card enables a Gateworks SBC as a remote IoT Cellular Gateway with the ability to communicate with BLE sensors.

Features

U-blox SARA-R410M-52 LTE/CATM1 Cellular Modem
- Offers low cost, low bandwidth LTE CATM1 cloud connection
- Up to 375 kb/s upload and 300 kb/s download
- Operates with most North America Cellular carriers
- Other regions available with alternate module upon request
- Supports LTE Bands 2,4,5,12,13
- Utilizes standard Linux drivers
- Firmware update Over AT commands (FOAT) support
nano-SIM socket
- Hologram starter SIM included
- Low cost multi-carrier SIM
- Free 1MB/month starter plan included
- More info: www.hologram.io

u-blox NINA-B301 Open CPU Bluetooth 5.0 Low Energy Radio
- Ideal for reading BLE IoT Sensors
- Features Nordic Semiconductor nRF52840 chipset
- Pre-loaded Zephyr RTOS with Bluetooth HCI UART Host Interface
- Utilizes standard Linux HCI drivers
- Band support: 2.4GHz, 40 channels
- RX Sensitivity: -94dBm standard mode, -100dBm long range
- BLE Rates: 125kbps, 500kbps, 1Mbps, 2Mbps
Separate u.Fl antenna connectors for CATM1 and Bluetooth modules
Mini-PCIe (USB Channel) Compatible with Gateworks SBCs
3.3V Operating Voltage from Mini-PCIe Connector
1W@25C Typical Operating Power
-40C to +85C Operating Temperature
1 Year Warranty

Block Diagram

more information and support material can be found here: trac.gateworks.com

Micro R2D2 – Nanotechnology Picture of the Month Gallery

Posted on 14 May, 201914 May, 2019 by mixos

This is the 2018, February submitted for the nanotechnology image of the month.

A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away…. *star wars theme* …. WAIT! In fact, the story unfolds right here and right now in the CMi with R2D2 battling armies of stormtroopers inside the SEM Merlin chamber. This 3D replica was printed with the Nanoscribe professional photonic GT using two-photon absorption mechanism, in galvoscanning mode. The model is 250 micrometers tall and was written in about 3 hours. Next scientific project: Millenium Falcon J !

Julien Dorsaz, CMi

New Air Velocity Sensors for Data Center Thermal Management

Posted on 13 May, 2019 by mixos

Posifa Technologies today announced its new PAV1000 series of air velocity sensors for data center thermal management and HVAC applications such as filter monitoring . Measuring air velocity at 7 m/s (PAV1005V) and 15 m/s (PAV1015V), the devices offer extremely fast response times of 125 ms typical in a compact, robust package.

The PAV1000 series was designed as an economical, high-performance air velocity sensor for thermal management and filter monitoring in even the most space-constrained locations, such as rack enclosures with air cooling in data centers . Unlike thermistor-based solutions, the Posifa MEMS sensor core is minimally affected by ambient temperature changes and provides instant real-time feedback on proper air flow at critical locations .

Air velocity data perfect ly complement s temperature information to provide the best insight into thermal efficiency. By i dentifying areas that require unusually high air flow to maintain stable temperatures , layouts can be modified to reduce cooling demands f or increased energy savings. In HVAC applications , air velocity measurements can be used to determine when filter s need to be replace d. This ensures hardware is adequately protected during heavy use , while allowing customers with light usage requirements to benefit from extended change intervals.

The devices feature Posifa’s third-generation thermal flow die, which uses a pair of thermopiles to detect changes in temperature gradient caused by mass flow. The result is excellent repeatability of 1 % FS and accuracy of 5 % FS. The solid-state thermal isolation structure on the sensor die eliminates the need for a surface cavity or fragile membrane used in competing technologies, making the sensor resistant to clogging and pressure shock.

The PAV1000 series offers an output voltage range from 0 VDC to 4.5 VDC, supply voltage from 5 VDC to 5.5 VDC, and supply current of 20 mA. The devices operate over a -25 ° C to +85 ° C temperature range.

Samples and production quantities of the PAV1000 series air velocity sensors are available now. Further information is available at https://posifatech.com/air-velocity-sensors/ .

Banana Pi BPI-M4 SBC Features Realtek Quadcore Soc

Posted on 13 May, 20191 August, 2019 by Rik

This year SinoVoip revealed Banana Pi BPI-M4 – a mid-range SBC that runs Android 8.1 or Linux on a quad -A53 Realtek RTD1395 SoC featuring HDMI, M.2, WiFi/BT, 40-pin GPIO, PoE support, and 5x USB ports. SinoVoip is well-known for its Allwinner SoC based single board computers and the Banana Pi line of product. But this BPI-M4 SBC sports a quad-core, Cortex-A53 based Realtek RTD1395. Their earlier BPI-W2 router board was also powered by a Realtek quadcore SoC.

The Banana Pi BPI-M4 is said to have a Raspberry Pi layout, despite being a bit larger in both dimensions with a footprint of 92 x 60mm. Unlike the RPi SBCs, there’s an option for 2GB in addition to 1GB RAM, and it’s DDR4. You also get 8GB to 64GB eMMC and a microSD slot. The clock rate of RTD1395 SoC is not listed but the Cortex-A53 foundation and Mali 470 MP4 GPU would make it more powerful than the BPI-M2 series of boards like BPI-M2 Berry, BPI-M2 Magic, and BPI-M2 Zero. The 1.8GHz octa-core BPI-M3, with PowerVR SGX544MP1 GPU, might outperform it though this is not confirmed yet.

The Ethernet speed of BPI-M4 is 10/100Mbps, and there’s a Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) connector that supports the official Raspberry Pi PoE HAT. The YouTube video below shows the SBC booting Android 8.1.1 via PoE power. SinoVoip also states it will run full Linux with a new Realtek SoC, which may take a while. The Banana Pi BPI-M4’s HDMI port is limited to 1080p. This SBC also lacks the support for H.265. There are 4x USB host ports on BPI-M4. You also get a USB Type-C port that offers another power alternative. The board ships with WiFi-ac and BT 4.2. A cellular modem can also be attached using the M.2 E-Key slot. This 5V board has power and boot buttons.

The key specifications are:

Processor:
- Realtek RTD1395 (4x Cortex-A53)
- ARM Mali-470 MP4 GPU
Memory/Storage:
- RAM — 1GB or 2GB DDR4 RAM
- 8GB eMMC expandable to up to 64GB
- MicroSD slot for up to 256GB
Wireless:
- 802.11b/g/n/ac WiFi with Bluetooth 4.2 (RTL8821 module)
- antenna connector
- M.2 (see farther below)
Networking:
- 10/100 Ethernet port
- PoE connector for RPi PoE HAT
Media I/O:
- HDMI port with support for 1080p and multi-channel audio
- 3.5mm audio jack
Other I/O:
- 4x USB 2.0 host ports
- USB 2.0 Type-C port
- Debug UART
Expansion:
- 40-pin, RPi 3-compatible expansion header with 28x GPIO, UART, I2C, power, SPI (or PWM), etc.
- M.2 E-key (PCIe 2.0 and USB 2.0)
Other features:
- 2x LEDs
- reset, power, install, UBoot buttons
- boot select switch
Power: 5V/2A DC jack (or USB Type-C or PoE)
Weight: 48 g
Dimensions: 92 x 60mm
Operating system:
- Android 8 1 1
- Linux

Pricing for the Banana Pi BPI-M4 is not yet available on the official product page.

(update 14/06/2019)

The Banana Pi BPI-M4 is available on AliExpress for $38 (plus $5.26 to the U.S.) with 1GB RAM and 8GB eMMC. More information may be found on the BPI-M4 AliExpress page and the wiki.

Newport GW6200 Networking Single Board Computer

Posted on 13 May, 2019 by mixos

High Performance Single Board Computer for Networking with 2x Mini-PCIe Sockets, 2x Gigabit Ethernet Ports, and USB 2.0/3.0

The GW6200 is a member of Gateworks 6th generation Newport family of single board computers targeted for a wide range of indoor and outdoor networking applications. The single board computer features the Cavium OcteonTX™ Dual Core ARMv8 SoC processor operating at 800MHz, 1GByte of DDR4 DRAM, and 8GBytes of eMMC System Flash. Two Mini-PCIe expansion sockets support a combination of 802.11abgn/ac wireless radios, LTE/4G/3G CDMA/GSM cellular modems, mSATA drives and other PCI Express peripherals. Additional peripherals include two Gigabit Ethernet ports and two USB 2.0/3.0 ports. The Gateworks System Controller provides embedded features such as real time clock, voltage and temperature monitor, fan control and monitor, serial EEPROM, and advanced power management with programmable board shut-down and wake-up for remote sensor applications. A wide-range DC input power supply provides up to 10W to the Mini-PCIe sockets for supporting the latest high-power radios and up to 10W to the USB 2.0/3.0 jacks for powering external devices. Power is applied through 2-pin connector or an Ethernet jack with either 802.3at or Passive Power over Ethernet. Both OpenWrt and Ubuntu Linux Board Support Packages are supported.

Features

Cavium OcteonTXTM Dual Core ARMv8 800MHz SoC Processor
1GByte DDR4 SDRAM Memory and 8GBytes eMMC Flash Memory Standard
Micro-SD™ Flash Expansion Socket
Two High-Power Mini-PCIe Sockets
Socket 1: PCIe or USB3.0, USB2.0, SIM Socket
Socket 2: PCIe or mSATA, USB2.0
Two Gigabit Ethernet Ports
Two USB 2.0/3.0 Ports up to 5Gbps Super Speed
Two RS232 or One RS232/422/485 Serial Port
Digital I/O, SPI, and I2C Expansion
Real Time Clock with Battery Backup
Voltage and Temperature Monitor
Serial Configuration EEPROM
Programmable Watchdog Timer
Programmable Fan Controller with Tachometer Support
Programmable Shut-Down and Wake-Up
Tamper Switch Support
Optional Ublox ZOE-MQ8 GNSS GPS Receiver with PPS Support
Optional Microchip MCP25625 2.0B CAN Bus Controller
2-Pin Connector Input Voltage Range 8 to 60V
Ethernet Port Passive PoE Input Voltage Range 10 to 60V
Ethernet Port 802.3at PoE Input Voltage Range 37 to 57V
Input Voltage Reverse and Transient Protection
Typical Operating Power 5W@25C
-40C to +85C Operating Temperature
Form Factor Compatible with GW5200 Ventana Media SBC
OpenWrt and Ubuntu Board Support Packages
1 Year Warranty

Block Diagram

more information and support material can be found on Gateworks Newport Family Support page and product page.

USB to -5V Negative Voltage DC-DC switching Converter

Posted on 13 May, 201911 May, 2019 by mixos

Now days USB power source is very common and available in many devices and power banks. This DC-DC converter provide -5V negative voltage from +5V USB power source. This converter can be used in a wide range of industrial automation control equipment, sensors, isolated operational amplifiers and test & measurement equipment that require bipolar supply voltages.

The Max735 is CMOS, inverting switch-mode regulator with internal power MOSFETs. It operates from 4V to 6.2V input supply, and provides 5V 200mA load current. The MAX735 employ a high-performance current mode pulse- width modulation scheme to provide tight output-voltage regulation and low sub harmonic noise. The fixed frequency oscillator is factory trimmed to 160Khz, allowing for easy noise filtering.

USB to -5V Negative Voltage DC-DC switching Converter – [Link]