Robotic development platform creator Husarion has launched its next-generation dedicated robot controller CORE2. Available now at the Crowd Supply crowdfunding platform, CORE2 enables the rapid prototyping and development of consumer and service robots. It’s especially suitable for engineers designing commercial appliances and robotics students or hobbyists. Whether the next robotic idea is a tiny rover that penetrates tunnels, a surveillance drone, or a room-sized 3D printer, the CORE2 can serve as the brains behind it.
LT8609S is a 2A (3A Peak), 42V input synchronous step-down switching regulator. The synchronous step-down Silent Switcher 2 Delivers 93% efficiency at 2 MHz with ultralow EMI/EMC emissions. By Graham Prophet @ eedesignnewseurope.com:
The LT8609S design reduces EMI/EMC emissions due to very well controlled switching edges, its internal construction with an integral ground plane and the use of copper pillars in lieu of bond wires. This improved EMI/EMC performance is not sensitive to board layout, simplifying design and reducing risk even when using two-layer PC boards.
Based on the ESP8266 module, “Andres Sabas” unite the best of WiFi and LoRa, Facilitating the development of IoT solutions.
LoRaCatKitty is designed to simplify the development of Internet of Things (IoT) applications using the fabulous (but still underutilized) LoRa Technology. We have based our development on the ESP8266 WiFi module and the LoRa RN2903 or RN2483 microchip module, and we have designed it to allow you can create IoT applications without deep knowledge of technology.
LoRaCatKitty: Build IoT Applications with LoRa in 3 steps! – [Link]
Providing AC power to each device individually is an extra cost especially for organizations when installing IP cameras, VoIP phones or network access switches and routers in the facilities. To help in this way some modern protocols, like USB and Ethernet, provide the power over the same data cable. However, USB is not designed for networking and long distance network applications. Besides that, the 900 mA at 5V in USB 3.0 is suitable for low-power devices like external hard disks but can’t provide enough power for high-power devices like switches and other network instruments. For these reasons, PoE (Power over Ethernet) can be the best choice.
PoE can provide power up to 30W beside data connectivity on any standard CAT-5/5e twisted-pair Ethernet cable, and supports 10Base-T, 100Base-T, 100Base-TX, and 1000Base-T Gigabit Ethernet interfaces.
The LEX Computech 3I390NX Series
As an example of an SCB (Single Computer Board) that provides PoE on its ports is a board called 3I390NX from LEX COMPUTECH which is based on the latest Intel Pentium Processor N4200/ N3350/E3950 Apollo Lake processor family. The Ethernet ports are provided by the Intel Ethernet controller i1211-AT.
3I390NX SCB features are:
Intel Apollo Lake N4200/N3350/E3950 CPU/chipset.
On Board 4GB DDR3L.
Display: HDMI, DP, VGA & eDP.
5 x GbE (4 x PoE) LAN.
2 x Mini PCIe.
6 x USB.
HD Audio.
2 x COM (1 x RS232 / 422 / 485 port (external), 1 x RS232 / 422 / 485 port (internal)).
Hardware digital Input & Output, 8 x DI / 8 x DO.
To know more about this SCB you can preview the full white paper published on IEEE Spectrum, or download it directly from here.
Renesas Electronics Corporation announced the successful development of a new low-power SRAM circuit technology that achieves a record ultra-low power consumption of 13.7 nW/Mbit in standby mode. The prototype SRAM also achieves a high-speed readout time of 1.8 ns during active operation. RenesasElectronics applied its 65nm node silicon on thin buried oxide (SOTB) process to develop this record-creating SRAM prototype.
Renesas Embedded SRAM prototype with SOTB Structure
This new low-power SRAM circuit technology can be embedded in application specific standard products (ASSPs) for Internet of Things (IoT), home electronics, and healthcare applications. The fast growth of IoT is requiring all the devices be connected to a wireless network all the time. Hence, products must consume less power to prolong battery life. With this new technology applied, much longer battery life can be achieved enabling maintenance-free applications.
One essential part of the development of IoT applications is the miniaturization of end products. This can be achieved by lowering battery capacity requirement of ASSPs. As an effort to reduce the power consumption in ASSPs for the IoT, there is a technique in which the application is operated in the standby mode and only goes to the active mode when data processing is required.
Now, the conventional way of saving power is to store all important data to an internal/external non-volatile memory and cut off the power supply to the circuit. If the wait time is long enough, this method is effective. But in most of the cases, the device has to switch between standby mode and active mode very quickly causing data-saving and restarting process extremely inefficient. There are even cases where, inversely, this increases power consumption.
In contrary to above, the new technology by Renesas Electronics uses a method where power consumption in standby mode is reduced a lot enabling switching operation to be performed frequently without leading to increased power consumption. Hence, it’s no more required to save data to non-volatile memory. This improves the efficiency further.
The low-power embedded SRAM which is fabricated using the 65 nm SOTB process, achieves both the low standby mode power consumption and increased operating speed. Such features were difficult to achieve with the continuing progress of the semiconductor process miniaturization. Renesas plans to support both energy harvesting operation and development of maintenance free IoT applications that do not require battery replacement by enabling ASSPs that adopt the embedded SRAM with SOTB structure.
To learn about all the complex technical information which is not covered in the scope of this article, visit the press release page of Renesas Electronics.
Secure and unhackable Internet is a goal of many researchers around the world. This is possible using an invisible quantum physical connections as networking links known as “quantum entanglement“. The main challenge is building large networks that share entangled links with many particles and network nodes, because adding a node will weak the entanglement.
Researchers from Delft and Oxford have successfully found a way to form a strong entangled link. Their solution relays on merging multiple weaker quantum links into one to build a trustworthy quantum network between several quantum nodes.
The research group in known for its effort on implementing quantum entanglement to realize networking links. Now, they are working to pave the way for constructing the first quantum internet. They used photons to reach up to one kilometer macroscopic distance of quantum information link. They also show that this type of link is safe because the entanglement is invisible to intermediate parties, and the information is safe against eavesdropping.
We could now entangle electrons in additional quantum nodes such that we can extend the number of networking links towards a first real quantum network. Scientifically, a whole new world opens up. In five years we will connect four Dutch cities in a rudimentary quantum network.
– Ronald Hanson, The research group leader
This video demonstrates the new method and how it works:
The research paper was published in Science magazine, you can read it for more information.
Graham Prophet @ eedesignnewseurope.com introduces BlueNRG-2, the latest BLE solution from ST. He writes:
Introducing its latest-generation Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) System-on-Chip, ST Microelectronics highlights low power, small size, and high performance to enable widespread deployment of energy-conscious, space-constrained applications with BLE connectivity. The device provides state-of-the-art security and is Bluetooth 5.0-certified
Next-generation Bluetooth Low Energy SoC from ST – [Link]
IGBT based half bridge board has been designed for multiple applications, like induction heater driver, tesla coil driver, DC-DC converters, SMPS etc. High current and high voltage IGBTs are used to serve high power requirements.
IGBT NGTB40N120FL2WG from ON semi and IR2153 from Infineon semiconductor are important parts of the circuit, IR2153 is a gate driver IC including inbuilt oscillator, 40A/1200V IGBT can handle large current. Gate driver circuit works with 15V DC and load supply 60V DC to 400V DC.
High Voltage-Current Half Bridge Driver Using IR2153 & IGBT – [Link]
This is an IGBT based half bridge board that has been designed for multiple applications, like Induction Heater driver, Tesla coil driver, DC-DC converters, SMPS etc. High current and high voltage IGBTs are used to serve high power requirements. Its a general purpose Half-bridge board with inbuilt oscillator and it can be configured with many combinations of components, depending on the application requirements.
IGBT NGTB40N120FL2WG from ON semi and IR2153 from Infineon semiconductor are important parts of the circuit, IR2153 is a gate driver IC including an inbuilt oscillator and 40A/1200V IGBT can handle the large current. The Gate driver circuit works with 15V DC and load supply 60V DC to 400V DC.
The IR2153D(S) is an improved version of the popular IR2155 and IR2151 gate driver ICs, and incorporate a high voltage half-bridge gate driver with a front end oscillator similar to the industry standard CMO 555 timer. The IR2153 provides more functionality and is easier to use than previous ICs. A shutdown feature has been designed into the CT pin so that both gate driver outputs can be disabled using a low voltage control signal. In addition, the gate driver output pulse widths are the same once the rising under-voltage lockout threshold on VCC has been reached, resulting in a more stable profile of frequency vs time at startup. Noise immunity has been improved significantly, both by lowering the peak di/dt of the gate drivers, and by increasing the under-voltage lockout hysteresis to 1V. Finally, special attention has been played to maximizing the latch immunity of the device and providing comprehensive ESD protection on all pins.
Note: Q1, Q2 alternative part no is FGH40T120SMD
Power Supply Considerations
The board has two power options for the input supply, so users can choose the input load power supply as per application requirement:
Load Power Supply 60-400V DC
Logic Supply 15V DC for Gate Driver
In case you want to use 230V AC mains power supply as power input it is advisable to use this power supply board that provides 330V DC after rectifier + filter Capacitor. Then the IGBT board will work with single supply (no logic supply required) by soldering one resistor R2 33K Ohms 5W and replace capacitor C3 with 470uF/25V
If you use another isolated High Voltage DC power supply, then omit R2 and use an external 15Vdc logic supply.
The oscillation frequency is adjustable by onboard trimmer potentiometer and frequency spans approx. 12 KHz to 100 KHz with duty cycle 50%.
Testing
We have tested this board up to 500mA/330V DC without a heatsink, if more power is required you should use a heatsink and a fan.
If you wish to test this board with a Tesla Coil its advisable to use a series lamp of 100W at AC input. This will prevent an overload condition when you test the board.
Note : IR2153 IC has been discontinued and new replacement for this IC is IR2153D. Remove diode D2 1N5819 for this new IC.
Please take appropriate precautions as this project uses lethal voltages! Do not build this board if you are not sure what you are doing!
Notes
Note 1: The circuit is provided with few extra components which may be used as per application requirement other components can be omitted as stated in BOM
Note 2: Frequency span is determined by CT Capacitor (C8) and Trimmer Pot value, refer to the datasheet for the appropriate value for the required frequency span. C8 1Kpf, R5=7k5, and PR1=50K provide frequency span 12 kHz to 100 kHz.
Note 3: Other MOSFETs or IGBT can be used as per your current and voltage requirements
Note 4: This board can also be used as half-bridge using IR2101 and MOSFET with High PWM Pulse and Low PWM Pulse input or IR2104 with a single PWM pulse. Header CN3 provides input Pin1 HIN and Pin2 LIN for that purpose. Omit the following components R5, PR1, C8 to use with IR2101/IR2105.
Note 5: IGBTs require large size heat sink.
Features
Load Supply 60V to 400V DC
Gate Driver Supply 15V DC
Frequency Span 12 KHz to 100 KHz, Other frequency range possible by changing R5, PR1, C8
Duty Cycle Approx. 50%
PR1: Trimmer Potentiometer to set the frequency
CN3: Logic Supply 15V DC
CN1: Supply DC Input
CN2 : L1 Load
Applications
Tesla Coil Driver
Induction Cooker
Induction Heater Driver
DC-DC Converter
DC to AC Converter
Schematic
Tesla Coil Example
Schematic with PSU
Parts List
Connections
Photos
Testing the board with a 100W incandescent lamp as a load and with 60Vdc input between +V and -V. The load is connected betweeen OP and GND.Connecting the 400Vdc power supply board with the IGBT module.
Development boards are assistant tools that help engineers and enthusiasts to become familiarized with hardware development. They simplify the process of controlling and programming hardware, such as microcontrollers and microprocessors.
Electronut Labs, an embedded systems consulting company, had produced its new BLE development board “Bluey” with a set of useful sensors and NFC support.
Bluey is an open source board that features the Nordic nRF52832 SoC which supports BLE and other proprietary wireless protocols. Bluey has built-in sensors that include temperature, humidity, ambient light and accelerometer sensors. Also, it supports NFC and comes with a built-in NFC PCB antenna.
The nRF52832 SoC is a powerful, ultra-low power multiprotocol SoC suited for Bluetooth Low Energy, ANT and 2.4GHz ultra low-power wireless applications. It is built around a 32-bit ARM Cortex™-M4F CPU with 512kB + 64kB RAM.
Bluey Specifications:
Nordic nRF52832 QFAA BLE SoC (512k Flash / 64k RAM)
The sensors on the board require a minimum of 2.7 volts to function properly, and the maximum power is 6 volts. Bluey’s design offers three different ways to power it, all of them have a polarity protection:
Using the 5V micro USB connector (which also gives you the option to print debug messages via UART).
The + / – power supply pins which can take regular 2.54 mm header pins, a JST connector for a 3.7 V LiPo battery, or a 3.5 mm terminal block.
A CR2032 coin cell for low power applications.
You can use Bluey for a wide range of projects. The BLE part is ideal for IoT projects, or if you want to control something with your phone. The nRF52832 SoC has a powerful ARM Cortex-M4F CPU, so you can use this board for general purpose microcontroller projects as well.
Bluey is available for $29 for international customers from Tindie store. Indian customers can purchase it from Instamojo store. There are also discounts for bulk purchases. For more information about the board visit its github repository, where you will find a full guide to start and a bunch of demo projects.
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