Prevent your battery from charging non-essential loads with BatteryProtect.
BatteryProtect is one of those smaller but much sought after products, one that is shipped in the many thousands. The latest version now has Victron ‘Smart’ tech. No more fiddling with wires to program, as the new Smart BatteryProtect uses VictronConnect over Bluetooth to simplify and reduce setup time. Smart BatteryProtect is used to disconnect a battery from non-essential loads before it is completely discharged (which would damage the battery) or before it has insufficient power left to crank an engine for example.
Product Range
Voltage and current ratings to suit the majority of applications:
12-24V 65A
12-24V 100A
12-24V 220A
48V 100A
Connection Diagram
Key features
Easy programming/setup using VictronConnect.
Often used in lithium systems due to low standby current in comparison to a relay.
Lithium system remotely controllable disconnect switch.
Ideal for vehicles, solar installations, boats and motorhomes.
Solid state switching for ignition proof safety and longevity.
The Calypso Wi-Fi Module is offered in 19 × 27.5 × 4 mm dimensions and can be operated in -40 to +85°C temperature range. It supports IPv4, IPv6 and common network applications like SNTP, DHCP, MQTT, mDNS, and HTTP(S). The module features AT command interface that enables easy expansion of an embedded system. It comes with an on board antenna and tin-plated edges that allow module to be manually soldered for prototyping.
Würth Elektronik eiSos offers the Calypso Wi-Fi module – a compact, fully integrated wireless module for embedded systems in industrial applications. The module is Wi-Fi certified which ensures industry-agreed standards for interoperability, security, and a range of application specific protocols.
The module, based on the IEEE-802.11-b/g/n standard, has its own antenna on board, but, thanks to “smart antenna selection”, can be optionally operated with an external antenna. The tin-plated edges enable the module to be manually soldered for quick prototyping, as well as AOI in series production. Calypso comes with an integrated TCP/IP stack and supports IPv4, IPv6 and common network applications, such as SNTP, DHCP, MQTT, mDNS, and HTTP(S). As an alternative to the standard firmware, the customer can select their own firmware, which is uploaded during manufacturing – thus obtaining a customized wireless solution for immediate use.
Calypso WiFi module dimensions
The AT command interface enables quick and easy expansion of an embedded system to incorporate a Wi-Fi interface. In order to adequately address security issues in industrial Internet-of-Things applications, Würth Elektronik eiSos equipped the Wi-Fi module with six simultaneous secure sockets, secure boot, secure storage and secure OTA firmware updates. The module, with dimensions of just 19 × 27.5 × 4 mm, is designed for operating temperatures of -40 to +85°C and has a low power operating mode for battery operated devices. Calypso is pre-certified to save the user development time and costs. Wi-Fi module is available from stock. Samples and evaluation boards can be requested at short notice.
Introduction Video
Specifications
Fully featured standalone Wi-Fi module
IEEE 802.11 b/g/n, 2.4 GHz
Small form factor: 19 x 27,5 x 4 mm
Industrial temperature range: -40 °C – +85°C
Sleep current <10 μA
Extreme highspeed UART up to 3 Mbps
Output power +18 dBm peak (1DSSS)
Sensitivity -92 dBm (1DSSS, 8% PER)
Smart antenna configuration (2-in-1 Module)
Low power operation to support battery operated applications
On board TCP/IP protocol stack supporting IPv4 and IPv6
16 simultaneous transport layers sockets including up to 6 secure (SSL/TLS) sockets
Sensirion, the worldwide leading manufacturer of high-quality flow and environmental sensors, is launching a new evaluation kit. With the EK-F3x-CAP, expiratory and proximal sensors of the SFM3xxx platform can be tested quickly and easily. The evaluation kit works with both the disposable and reusable variants of the flow sensors.
The EK-F3x-CAP evaluation kit offers a simple and cost-effective way to test sensors of the SFM3xxx platform. The set consists of a USB cable which connects to the corresponding flow meters. Using the software available online, the sensors can be quickly tested under real-life conditions. There is no need to program a microprocessor as the evaluation kit can be directly connected to a PC. The software shows the measurement data directly on the user’s computer screen. Furthermore, the data can be exported into an Excel spreadsheet which can then easily be saved and further processed.
The Sensirion SFM3xxx platform includes sensors for inspiratory, expiratory and proximal flow measurement, as well as gas mixing in ventilation and anesthesia applications. With the platform, the sensor manufacturer offers its customers the right sensor for all flow measurements and underscores its worldwide expertise in the field of medical ventilation. The reusable “AW” versions are autoclavable and washable, and therefore well-suited for expiratory flow measurement. The disposable “D” versions are a safe and cost-effective alternative to reprocessing.
Like all sensors from Sensirion, the outstanding performance of the SFM3xxx sensors is based on the patented CMOSens® Technology. This enables integration of the sensor and evaluation circuit on a single CMOS silicon chip. The result is an ultra-precision system that offers long-term stability for sophisticated and cost-sensitive applications. The technology is also highly resistant to environmental effects, which is why Sensirion’s flow sensors are perfect for use as sterilizable sensors.
Visit Sensirion between February 5 and 7, 2019 in Anaheim at the MD&M West fair, stand 1556, and learn more about the new evaluation kit EK-F3x-CAP.
Laser technology from Osram transforms smartphones into beamers.
Green lasers for projector applications need to have not only outstanding beam characteristics but also a high optical performance in order to deliver sharp and bright images. Although a projector also needs red and blue lasers, green is the crucial color in RGB solutions – and also the color that poses the greatest challenges in production. PLT3 520D continues Osram’s success story with green lasers. At 140 mW it achieves an unprecedented high pulse output for direct green laser diodes. In addition, the efficiency of the laser has been increased to a typical value of 8%. Thanks to these improvements, it is now possible to turn a smartphone into a small cinema projector. The small display of the device can be enlarged several times over.
In addition to playing smartphone videos on a flat surface, RGB laser projection can be used, for example, for large-scale projection of holiday memories.
Up to now, RGB laser projections for smartphones, based on a red, green and blue laser, often had brightness problems. The reason was the often insufficient brightness of the green laser. Green light has a special importance in RGB applications because the human eye is most sensitive in the green spectral range. The brighter the green laser shines on a surface, the brighter and stronger the projected image appears to the viewer. With its PLT3 520D now offering 140 mW at 300 mA in pulsed mode (50% duty cycle), Osram has achieved unprecedented performance for a green single-mode laser. So far, the limit for these components was 80 mW. A further advantage of the diode is its compact and space-saving TO38 metal housing with a diameter of only 3.8 mm. The laser diode with a wavelength of 520 nm has been specially developed for laser projection applications that use a MEMS scanner as the image encoder.
“Thanks to OSRAM’s long tradition and expertise in the laser sector, we have succeeded in driving forward developments in this key technology,” explained Pedro Muñoz, Marketing Manager at Osram Opto Semiconductors. “Based on our quality promise, users can be confident that this technology will open up additional functions on smartphones in the medium term.”
The AFG31000 Arbitrary Function Generator from Tektronix is designed for the demanding performance expectations throughout the product realisation process. The instrument incorporates a 9-inch capacitive touch display and a shallow menu tree that make locating and changing settings quicker, whilst also making browsing easier.
The AFG31000 series sports a 9-inch capacitive touchscreen that allows users to zoom in on areas of a waveform in unprecedented detail. All related settings and parameters can be viewed on a single screen via a shallow menu tree. An intuitive user interface allows users to tap or swipe to browse, locate, select and edit settings, cutting the time required to learn and operate the AFG.
The AFG31000 series debuts a new patented feature known as InstaView, designed to eliminate impedance mismatch problems. Conventional AFGs assume they are driving a 50Ω impedance, but few devices under test (DUTs) actually have that impedance, leading to inconsistencies between the waveform set on the AFG and the signal at the DUT.
InstaView addresses this problem by monitoring the waveform at the DUT on the AFG, allowing waveform verification without the need for additional cables or instruments. The waveform display responds to changes in frequency, amplitude, waveform shape and DUT impedance in real time. Alongside conventional AFG operating modes, the AFG31000 series provides an ‘Advanced’ mode that allows programmable waveform sequencing.
In Advanced mode, the AFGs up to 128 Mpts of waveform memory can be segmented into up to 256 entries. Users can drag and drop long waveforms, or multiple waveforms, within the sequencer and define how they are output. For engineers requiring long non-repeating waveforms, or multiple waveforms with complex timing, the AFG31000 series offers a significantly more affordable alternative to expensive arbitrary waveform generators (AWGs).
Key settings are visible at a glance, and are easy to adjust using touch, numeric keypad, or rotary controls
Another new feature built into the AFG31000 series is the ArbBuilder tool, which lets users create and edit arbitrary waveforms directly on the AFG, using templates and an equation editor, rather than having to create them on a PC and transfer them over.
Key performance specifications
1 or 2 channel models
Output amplitude range 1 mVP-P to 10 VP-P into 50 Ω loads
Basic (AFG) mode:
25 MHz, 50 MHz, 100 MHz, 150 MHz, or 250 MHz sine waveforms
250 MSa/s, 1 GSa/s or 2 GSa/s sample rates
14-bit vertical resolution
Built-in waveforms include sine, square, ramp, pulse, noise, and other frequently used waveforms
Sweep, Burst, and Modulation modes (AM, FM, PM, FSK, and PWM)
Advanced (Sequence) mode:
Continuous mode (optional Sequence, Triggered and Gated modes)
16 Mpts arbitrary waveform memory on each channel (128 Mpts optional)
Up to 256 steps in sequence mode with loop, jump and wait events
Variable sampling clock 1 µSa/s to 2 GSa/s
Key features
Patented InstaView™ technology enables engineers to see the actual waveform at the Device Under Test (DUT) in real time, without the need of an oscilloscope and probe, eliminating the uncertainty caused by mismatched impedance
Sequencing option adds the ability to program long, complex waveforms with up to 256 steps
The 9-inch capacitive touch screen works like a smart phone and has short-cuts to frequently used settings
Built-in ArbBuilder lets you create and edit arbitrary waveforms on the instrument, eliminating the need to connect to a PC
Outputs are protected from over voltage and current to minimize potential instrument damage
Compatible with TekBench™ software to help students set up, control, and analyze test results in the lab
Alternatively, waveforms captured by an oscilloscope can be saved as .csv files and loaded directly into the AFG using ArbBuilder.
The new Tektronix AFG31000 series Arbitrary Benerators start from €1,930. More information: www.tek.com
The GYPRO® high performance MEMSgyroscopes product line has been specifically designed for applications that are more demanding than automotive, while not requiring ‘tactical grade’ FOG (Fiber Optic Gyros) or DTG (Dynamically Tuned Gyros). GYPRO® offers high bias stability, low noise and low latency. The closed-loop gyroscopes product family is well suited to precision navigation and stabilization applications.
We are delighted to have our high performance MEMS gyros now part of Premier Farnell’s portfolio of inertial sensing solutions. Partnering with such a key distributor will strengthen the exposure of our standard inertial products as well as our recognized expertise in this field”, said Vincent Gaff, Tronics’ Director Marketing and Business Development.
This move will further structure our supply chain at global level thanks to Premier Farnell’s reliable and responsive distribution capabilities, and will open up new opportunities for worldwide customers eager to integrate our current and future generation of high performance standard inertial products into their targeted applications.
Tronics high performance MEMS inertial sensors are ideally suited for system manufacturers with strong requirements for high bias stability and high-performance inertial sensors. Key applications include precision navigation, motion tracking and control, and optical stabilisation. Tronics’ comprehensive sensor portfolio brings a tailored solution to support system manufacturer’s transition to MEMS products, with huge benefits in terms of size, weight, power and price, without compromising on performance and reliability.
The Tronics’ GYPRO® series combines several key benefits on a single chip, and features bias instability of only 0.8̊ per hour and ultra-low noise (Angular Random Walk) of only 0.14° per √h. The standard GYPRO2300 product features a data rate of 200 Hz with RMS Noise [1-100Hz] of 0.02°/s; the GYPRO2300LD offers a data rate of 1700 Hz at 2ms latency tailored for motion tracking and stabilisation. The GYPRO3300 boasts improved tolerance to harsh environments (vibration rectification coefficient of 0.5°/h/g²) and a latency of 1ms due to improved integrated circuitry, tailored for precision navigation and stabilisation.
The built-in closed-loop electronics brings several key advantages, including superior linearity, increased signal to noise ratio and improved behaviour in harsh vibration, shock and temperature environments.
Tronics standard products are manufactured at the company’s Crolles facility near Grenoble, France, and calibrated over a broad temperature range, allowing for high-accuracy digital output.
Just like Arduino, ESP32 has been one of the boards that have found love among hackers and makers around the world. Unlike general Arduino boards, ESP32 offers much more at a fraction of the cost and most importantly are usually compatible with Arduino based code.
Recently we have seen the rising of ESP32 in the areas of Artificial Intelligence especially those focused on Computer Vision (Mostly around Face Detection and Recognition) such as the camera boards ESP32-CAM and the upcoming ESP-EYE board from Espressif Systems. The ESP EYE as mentioned before is an AI development board based on the ESP32 and capable of some vision and voice capabilities.
One significant note about the ESP CAM and the ESP EYE is the lack of any display medium aside from the use of LEDs or using an external interface like the computer or mobile phone, in this regard is where the TTGO T-Camera board comes in. The TTGO T-Camera hopes to solve the supposed visualization problem, by integrating a 128 x 64 OLED display which can be used to display your detection, sensor, recognition, and other kinds of data. Of course, don’t expect to be able to view face image on the OLED display!
TTGO T-Camera ESP32 Camera Board With OLED
The TTGO T-Camera is basically a combination of the ESP CAM, the ESP EYE, and an OLED display. It doesn’t end there, and it also includes a BME280 environmental sensor for sensing temperature, humidity, and pressure. Also, you got a PIR sensor for motion sensing and an optional fisheye lens for the camera.
Application of the TTGO T-Camera is limited by the user, and some potential application will be using the inbuilt PIR sensor of the device to detect motion in a doorway, room or somewhere and only capture the image when someone is present. Face detection and recognition can be done for possible access control or in case of security, hook the device to the internet and upload the image of the potential intruder to an online server. Basically, think about all the features of the ESP32 CAM and some features of the ESP EYE boards.
TTGO T-Camera Pin Layouts
TTGO T-Camera board specifications:
ESP32-WROVER-B Wireless Module
SoC – ESP32 dual core Tensilica LX6 processor
Memory – 8MB PSRAM
Storage – 4MB SPI flash
Connectivity – 2.4 GHz 802.11n WiFI 5, Bluetooth 4.2 LE
Camera – 2MP OV2640 camera with a normal or fisheye lens
LCR Pro1 from LCRresearch.com integrates a pair of tweezers like probes and a LCR meter into a single compact, lightweight, battery powered device. It is an all-in-one portable device that provides a simple and efficient solution for not only measuring SMD components, but also making in-circuit debugging.
LCR Pro1 delivers high accuracy once found only in high-end desktop LCR meters. It provides basic accuracy 0.1% for resistance and 0.2% for capacitance and inductance with 5-digit resolution. Each device is fully calibrated during production and shipped with NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) traceable calibration certificate.
The test frequencies can be selected from 100Hz to 100kHz. 100kHz is ideal for measuring small inductance under 1uH. The test voltage can be selected from 0.2Vrms to 1.0Vrms. 1.0Vrms allows precision measurements of ceramic capacitors with high dielectric constant (K), such as X5R type. 0.2Vrms is specially designed for in-circuit debugging because it is low enough to prevent the silicon chips from being active during measurement.
Features
Easy operation – one hand use, full set of shortcuts
Fully auto/manual selection
High accuracy – R: 0.1%, L: 0.2%, C: 0.2%
5 test frequencies – 100Hz, 120Hz, 1kHz, 10kHz, 100kHz
3 test voltages – 0.2Vrms, 0.5Vrms, 1.0Vrms
Wide measurement range – R: 20mΩ to 10MΩ, C: 0.1pF to 10mF, L: 10nH to 1H
Small size – 151 x 19 x 15mm
Large OLED display – 0.96″, 128 x 64 resolution
Ultra precise gold plated tips
Rechargeable LiPO battery with USB charging
PC remote control for data logging and programming
Multiple functions – R, L, C, Z, ESR, DCR, D, Q, θ, diode, sorting, recording and continuity
LCR Pro1 comes with a 0.96″ OLED display, doubling the size of its predecessor’s 0.91″ display. The pixels are doubled as well from 12832 to 12864. Larger font and more information can be displayed for you to read the results and navigate the menu more conveniently.
Overview Video
LCR Pro1 is an ideal device for many applications including components verification and sorting, production lines, laboratory and service center, in-field repair and more.
LCR Pro1 is available for purchase online from various distributors for $299.
A guide to building robots with the Raspberry Pi microcomputer.
Learn Robotics with Raspberry Pi ($24.95, 200 pp., January 2019) brings beginners into robotics by focusing its robot-building projects around a $35 credit card-size Raspberry Pi microcomputer.
The book’s 19 year-old author, Matt Timmons-Brown, is also the creator of the world’s most popular Raspberry Pi YouTube channel (over 5 million views). He shows readers how to program their own complex robot from scratch while introducing them to computer science basics, electronics, and Python programming. Readers build a sophisticated two-wheeled robot that they customize, adding the ability to follow lines, see the world through sensors, and avoid obstacles. Detailed chapters on electronics basics help inexperienced makers quickly gain their footing in the robotics world.
Learn Robotics with Raspberry Pi provides a gentle introduction to this exciting field, building up from the simplest input and output examples to a robot which incorporates wireless control. —Eben Upton, Founder of the Raspberry Pi Foundation
Readers also learn how to:
Build and manipulate electronics components like lights, sensors, and motors
Design and assemble a robot frame with motors, a breadboard, and wiring
Control their robot’s movements using the Python programming language
Implement obstacle detection sensors so the robot avoids hazards
Make their robot stand out from the crowd with speakers and lights effects
Allow their robot to see the environment with computer vision
This guide to robotics promises to take readers from inexperienced makers to robot builders in a fun and affordable way. Now available in fine bookstores everywhere.
Matt Timmons-Brown is the creator of the world’s most-popular Raspberry Pi YouTube channel. His channel, The Raspberry Pi Guy hosts Raspberry Pi tutorials, videos, and other educational materials and is directly supported by ARM and the Raspberry Pi Foundation. Timmons-Brown is currently a student in Computer Science and Electronics at the University of Edinburgh.
The STM32G0 is ST’s newest series of mainstream microcontrollers (MCU) for cost-oriented consumer and industrial applications. [via]
This new generation offers an Arm® Cortex®-M0+ core at 64 MHz as well as a Securable Memory Area, more RAM and Flash, numerous I/Os, and more hardware modules, such as a USB-C controller, to simplify significantly the overall PCB design.
The new STM32G0 Series is not simply another Cortex-M0+ microcontroller. It sets a new definition of what an efficient microcontroller must offer. This is all about being optimized, in each and every detail, to offer the best value for your money and allow you to achieve your goals with the minimum BOM cost and the maximum flexibility for upgrades.
We named our new series STM32G0 because it builds on the foundations of the STM32F0. However, instead of using its 180 nm process node, it relies on a 90 nm node similar to the STM32L4. Using this new lithographic method enabled us to benefit from some of the ultra-low-power capabilities of the L4, while also integrating more components and optimizing the architecture to push the performance and features of the F0 to an entirely new level.
The STM32G0x0 Value line is highly competitive in traditional 8-bit and 16-bit markets and embeds an accurate internal clock allowing further cost saving. It eliminates the need to manage different architectures and the associated development overhead.
The STM32G0x1 line provides upgraded features in analog and is IoT ready with upgraded security functions. It offers a wide range of memory sizes, voltage, and packages, bringing flexibility to cost-sensitive applications.