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iWave Systems launches iW-G39RH – The Rugged HMI series designed to withstand extreme and tough operating conditions

Posted on 10 March, 2022 by mixos

Increased interaction between humans and machines has led to an increased requirement for rugged solutions and displays for Industry 4.0, automation, and automotive applications. iWave Systems is excited to launches iW-G39RH: A rugged HMI solution catering to this requirement. Powered by the i.MX 8M Mini application processor from NXP, The HMI solution delivers an unrivaled user experience (UX). The rugged HMI panels are available in 7” and 10.1” variants, and meets protection class IP67 standards making them resistant to dust and water.

Reinforced and equipped with an IP67 rated metal housing, M12 IP67 waterproof connectors on the panel and a brighter screen with sunlight readability: all together make it an ideal choice for applications that require outside installation, or risk exposure to harsh environments and procedures. The rugged HMI finds a fit as a monitor screen or a control panel in mining, agriculture equipment, construction machinery, marine equipment, locomotives, and warehouse machinery.

Key features of iW-G39RH

MX 8M Mini applications processor
7″ & 10.1″ display options
CAN FD, RS485, USB and Ethernet
Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity
Power over Ethernet and backup battery
Reliable high brightness display and multi-touch
Robust IP67 aluminium housing with M12 Connectors
Analog video Input
Linux & Android SDKs with automotive protocol stacks special package

Built to operate at temperatures ranging from -20°C to 65°C, and with a wide input voltage range of 9V-36V together with the provision for PoE, The HMI solution from iWave is built for outdoor installations. This HMI comes with multiple mounting options such as panel mount, VESA mount, and RAM mount, providing flexibility in installations.

Like the Industrial Panel PC from iWave, the rugged HMI supports an extensive range of interfaces such as CAN, COM, LAN and USB. An M.2 expansion slot provisioned for extended storage or cellular connectivity, camera & peripheral slot for plug and play wireless modules & sensors, the HMI Solution can be customized for remote monitoring and diagnostic applications.

“Outdoor operations and hazardous environments pose many challenges for HMI solutions and displays, requiring precision engineering and innovation,” said Sachin MK, Associate Director of HMI Solutions at iWave Systems. “The iW-G39RH Rugged HMI series presents an opportunity to improve systems that do not have a specialized HMI built for them”.

The HMI solutions has option to include special package with various automotive protocol stacks such as J1939, CANopen, UDS, ISO 11992, ISO 11783, and NMEA 2000 communication standards. Integration with the protocol stacks makes the HMI a plug and play solutions for advanced analytics and diagnosis in heavy duty vehicles and construction machinery.

For rapid development of customized applications, iWave HMI solutions support the necessary software drivers and BSPs, integrate the latest Kernel version, and provide comprehensive support on the user interface (UI).

More information on the G39RH Rugged HMI series can be found here.

iWave Systems, a global leader in embedded computing solutions and product engineering, has built unparallel engineering expertise over the years. As an ODM solutions company focused in the industrial, automotive and medical vertical markets, iWave has been enabling customers since 1999.

For further information or inquiries, please contact mktg@iwavesystems.com

Arduino Announces Nicla Vision Board for Computer Vision Applications at Edge

Posted on 9 March, 2022 by Abhishek Jadhav

Today, famous Italian electronic embedded device manufacturer, Arduino launched an ultra-compact dual-core Nicla vision board for computer vision applications deployed at the edge. The minimalistic design gets a 2MP color camera that will aid in image detection, facial recognition, automated optical inspection, vehicle plate reading and many other vision-based applications. Nicla’s series of boards has been a new design range for Arduino, with only Nicla Sense ME in store, now adding a new ready-to-use standalone camera-powered Nicla vision.

Integrated with a powerful STMicroelectronics’ STM32H747AII6 microcontroller featuring a 32-bit Arm Cortex-A7 processor core with double precision FPU and L1 cache at a frequency of up to 480MHz. Along with that, the system-on-chip gets a 32-bit Arm Cortex-M4 core with FPU, an adaptive real-time accelerator for internal flash memory and external memories, clocked a frequency of up to 240MHz. Both the Arm cores are integrated for a purpose– Cortex-M4 serves for optimal performance for real-time applications, while the Cortex-M7 executes high-performance tasks in parallel. It is important to note that the Nicla Vision board has 1MB of RAM, which limits its processing capabilities, irrespective of the number of onboard sensors and rich peripherals.

“Everything from business-savvy predictive maintenance (by detecting and analyzing surface wear, for example) to user-friendly smart kiosks that anyone can explore via intuitive gestures. All true to Nicla’s mission to provide a new range of easy-to-use, cost-effective and accessible tools to advanced users and enthusiasts alike.”

For vision-edge processing implementation, the Nicla Vision board will be shipped with an onboard 6-axis IMU sensor, distance/ time of flight sensor and a microphone in addition to the 2MP color camera. As provided by the SoC, the hardware comes with rich I/O interfaces with 1x I2C bus with ESLOV connector, JTAG, power and GPIO pin headers. More I/Os include 1x serial port, 1x SPI and 2x ADC. When it comes to storing the programs, the hardware will support 2MB flash memory and 16MB QSPI flash.

To power Nicla Vision, you can either use pin headers or a 3.7V Li-Po battery with an integrated battery charger and fuel gauge. This has increased the flexibility for the developers to design remote applications without concern about power consumption. Interestingly, the two cores belong to separate power domains allowing the design for high-power efficiency solutions in combination with the low-power modes available on the STM32 microcontrollers.

“Nicla Vision is compatible with Portenta and MKR components. It fully integrates with OpenMV, supports MicroPython and features WiFi and Bluetooth Low Energy connectivity to complement a wide range of professional and consumer equipment. This means you can easily add ready-to-use sensors such as a camera, microphone, IMU and ToL to your projects.”

Analysis

Even though the camera quality won’t be something you’d want for high-end edge vision projects, provided the small form factor of just 22.86×22.86 mm there is no room for any bigger lens to be integrated. Also, the improved wireless connectivity will provide developers enough room for remote implementations– leveraging Wi-Fi communication. While for small-range deployment, the developers can take advantage of low-energy Bluetooth connectivity and take image processing capabilities to the next level.

For more details on the $115 Nicla Vision, head to the official product page.

CLEAR is Customizable and Programmable ASIC by ChipIgnite

Posted on 8 March, 2022 by Saumitra Jagdale

Efabless has launched a 100% open-source FPGA chip CLEAR, built on Caravel – an open-source ASIC platform provided as a base (SoC) and offering an end-to-end open design, right down to the CPU core. The explanation of the product is simple and quite relatable to the maker’s community – “create your own ASIC.”

The process started in 2020 when eFabless, Google and SkyWater collaborated to offer the Open MPW Shuttle Program. It offered the end-users ability to create custom ICs fast, using pre-verified blocks of EFabless IP. As part of the Open MPW Shuttle Program, EFabLess exposes pre-verified blocks of IP through a web portal for complete ASIC design, with drag-and-drop features.

SkyWater pools design together into real-life ASICs – manufacturing, bonding, and packaging 10 parts of each design, ready for integration by the end-user. Apart from this, Google sponsored additional tooling costs. All this is for open-source designs that can meet the Open MPW Shuttle program’s requirements. It basically enables ASIC customization in the drag-and-drop web environment, with 10 copies produced on an industrial process, free of cost.

The pre-validated IP provided by EFabLess for custom ASIC creation is Caravel. It is a reference design block for the SkyWater process, and massively bootstraps the design process for any new chip. An extension to the Open MPW Shuttle Program is the EFabless chipIgnite Program. Where the Open MPW Shuttle Program required submissions to be properly licensed to open hardware, chipIgnite is open to all for a one-off $9,750 per project.

CLEAR is an enhancement on EFabless chipIgnite platform, itself an expansion of the Open MPW Shuttle Program for producing custom ASIC. It integrates an embedded FPGA macro with Caravel to make it an FPGA ASIC, or simply programmable application-specific IC.

CLEAR - Block diagram — CLEAR – Block Diagram

Features of CLEAR

Some of the features of the CLEAR board include full open-source ASIC featuring an 8×8 CLB embedded FPGA (eFPGA), VexRISCV-based RISC-V processor, 3kB of on-chip RAM(2kB OpenRAM and 1kB DFFRAM), external QSPI flash storage, and peripherals including SPI, UART, counters, timers, a logic analyzer, and 39 software-configurable general-purpose input/output (GPIO) pins.

The idea behind CLEAR is to simplify, standardize and bring down costs of ASIC design.

GroupGets Pre Launch Campaign

Running through the GroupGets group-buying platform the CLEAR campaign includes:

Generate an embedded FPGA macro based on OpenFPGA generator framework
Integrate the eFPGA macro into Caravel
Manufacturing, packaging and mounting the ASIC on its development board
Testing plus the open-source FPGA programming software

GroupGets has started a pre-launch campaign, with pricing of $74.99 plus shipping. 200 boards target. The funding campaign is currently active and scheduled to end on March 28th, 2022.

To know more about the product, please visit the groupgets page.

CUI Devices Launches New Circular Connectors Product Line

Posted on 8 March, 2022 by mixos

CUI Devices’ Interconnect Group today announced the addition of circular connectors to its connectors product portfolio. Available in M12 connector types, CUI Devices’ CDM12 family offers a range of male or female versions with contact position options of 3, 4, 5, 8, and 12 pins. As A-coded devices that support 1 Gbit Ethernet, all M12 connector models carry IP67 ratings to deal with harsh environments found in industrial and factory automation applications.

These panel mount circular connectors feature PC pin, solder terminal, and wire lead terminations, threaded front or rear fastening types, and thread pitches of M12 x 1.0, M16 x 1.5, and PG9. Available voltage ratings include 30, 60, and 250 Vac as well as current ratings of 1.5, 2, and 4 A. These circular connector models further carry an operating temperature range from -25 to 80°C.

Summary

Product name: CDM12 Series
Availability: Stock to 10 weeks
Possible users: Industrial and factory automation applications
Primary features: M12 connectors (A coded – 1 Gbit Ethernet), IP67 ratings
Cost: $8.88 per unit at 450 pieces through distribution

CUI Devices’ CDM12 series are available immediately with prices starting at $8.88 per unit at 450 pieces through distribution. Please contact CUI Devices for OEM pricing.

For helpful resources and tools on connectors, check out our Resource Library that houses a range of blog posts, videos, and more.

FWS-2280: Offering Connectivity to a Variety of Network Structures

Posted on 7 March, 2022 by mixos

AAEON, experts in white box solution and network appliance manufacturing, have once again partnered with flexiWAN, a leading provider of open-source SASE and SD-WAN software. Part of this partnership has prompted the certification of the FWS-2280, allowing customers access to a wider range of deployment options.

Powered by the latest Intel® Atom™ x6000E Processor (formerly Elkhart Lake), the FWS-2280 was designed to give the option of fast, accurate connections across SD-WAN and SASE networks, while also powering an entry-level firewall, making it an excellent companion for SMEs hoping to protect their networks. This solid base also allows the FWS-2280 to run applications such as uCPE; SD-WAN, VPN, SMB, UTM, and Firewall.

The FWS-2280 has rich I/O, providing 3 Mini PCIe slots (compatible-layout with M.2) to enable three wireless modules to be installed at once, which enables the device to concurrently support 4G and 5G. Alternatively, customers have the option to run two Wi-Fi modules at once. Further to this, the FWS-2280 is equipped with 4 RJ45 LAN ports, along with 1 FSP port.

The FWS-2280 even comes with a redundant power source to ensure a reliable connection is maintained, even in the event of a power source loss.

flexiWAN offers the first-ever open-source SD-WAN solution, which enables third-party networking applications to be loaded due to their innovative application framework using tools such as flexiEdge and flexiManage. flexiWAN considers the specific needs of each network, and lowers the cost of ownership by focusing on the specific needs of each network.

Through collaboration on this project, the design and manufacture of the FWS-2280 have had the benefit of AAEON’s expert customized OEM/ODM services alongside flexiWAN’s novel open-source SASE and SD-WAN software, which is truly a winning combination.

For more information about the FWS-2280, please visit our product page: https://www.aaeon.com/tw/p/desktop-network-appliance-atom-x6000e-fws-2280

To learn more about flexiWAN’s unique approach to networking, visit www.flexiwan.com, and follow the company on Twitter and LinkedIn.

onsemi NTHL045N065SC1 Silicon Carbide (SiC) MOSFET

Posted on 7 March, 2022 by mixos

onsemi NTHL045N065SC1 Silicon Carbide (SiC) MOSFET uses a completely new technology that provides superior switching performance and high reliability compared to Silicon. This compact chip-sized MOSFET is designed with low ON resistance and ensures low capacitance and gate charge. The NTHL045N065SC1 MOSFET features high efficiency, faster-operating frequency, increased power density, reduced EMI, and reduced system size. Typical applications include Switching Mode Power Supplies (SMPS), solar inverters, DC-DC converters, UPS, and energy storage.

Features

High speed switching with low capacitance (C_oss=162pF)
Typical R_DS(on)=32m @ V_GS=18V
Typical R_DS(on)=42m @ V_GS=15V
650V Drain-to-Source Voltage (V_DSS)
66A Continuous Drain Current (I_Dmax)
Ultra low gate charge (Q_G(tot)=105nC)
100% avalanche tested
High junction temperature (T_J < 175°C)
Pb-free and RoHS compliant

more information: https://www.onsemi.com/products/discrete-power-modules/silicon-carbide-sic/silicon-carbide-sic-mosfets/nthl045n065sc1

Monolithic Power Systems (MPS) MP6610 55V 3A Half-Bridge Power Drivers

Posted on 7 March, 2022 by mixos

Monolithic Power Systems (MPS) MP6610 55V 3A Half-Bridge Power Drivers offer current measurement and regulation features in a small pin package. The MP6610 features up to 3A of output current across a wide 4V to 55V input voltage range is ideal for driving brushed DC motors, solenoids, and other loads. The device has an internal current-sense circuit that delivers an output voltage proportional to the load current. Additionally, the MP6610 supports cycle-by-cycle current limiting and regulation. All these features do not require the use of a low-ohmic shunt resistor.

The MPS MP6610 55V 3A Half-Bridge Power Drivers incorporates internal diagnostic and protection features, including Open-Load Detection (OLD), Over-Current Protection (OCP), Under-Voltage Lockout (UVLO), and thermal shutdown.

The MP6610 is housed in 8-pin TSOT23-8 and SOIC-8 packages. Due to the small pin spacing, the TSOT23-8 package is only recommended for applications up to 45V unless conformal coating or encapsulation is
used.

Features

Wide 4V to 55V operating input voltage
Up to 3A output current
Internal half-bridge driver
Cycle-by-cycle current limiting and regulation
Low on-resistance:
- 100mΩ High-side MOSFET (HS-FET)
- 120mΩ Low-side MOSFET (LS-FET)
No control power supply required
Simple, versatile logic interfaces
Inputs compatible with 2.5V, 3.3V, and 5V logic
Open-Load Detection (OLD), Over-Current Protection (OCP), Under-Voltage Lockout (UVLO), and thermal shutdown
fault indication output
Thermally enhanced package
Available in TSOT23-8 and SOIC-8 packages

Typical Application

more information: https://www.monolithicpower.com/en/mp6610.html

DC2412-UPSP2 – DC/DC Supply with UPS function is Open Frame 60W / 16-32VDC / 12VDC / 5A / 480F Supercaps

Posted on 7 March, 2022 by mixos

Uninterruptible 12VDC power supply! Powerful DC UPS module with maintenance-free Supercaps and wide-range input 16… 32VDC The robust DC2412-UPSDP2 is a maintenance-free 12VDC emergency power supply in open frame design. To protect against voltage fluctuations, flicker, voltage drops or failures in the supply voltage, the DC UPS modules are equipped with Supercaps as energy storage devices that work on the principle of double-layer capacitors (EDLC).

Supercap DC UPS with wide-range input 16…32 VDC

DC UPS with uninterruptible 12VDC output
Maintenance-free supercaps for energy storage
High cycle stability >500.000
Charge time <60 sec at maximum charge current
Extended temperature range -20…+70°C
Active reverse polarity protection
Power Fail signal via relay, RS232 connection
Reboot Function
3 years warranty

more information: https://www.bicker.de/en/dc2412-upsp2

Siglent SDG7000A 1GHz Advanced Arbitrary Waveform Generator Series

Posted on 7 March, 2022 by mixos

The SiglentSDG7000A Series of 2-channel AWGs offers models in maximum frequencies of 350MHz, 500MHz, and 1GHz, with 5Gsa/s sampling, 14-bit vertical resolution, and a memory depth of 512Mpts. Arbitrary waveforms are generated with sample rates from 0.01Sa/s to 2.5GSa/s, and vector signals at 500MSa/s. A wide variety of test signals can be generated, with the option to add 16 digital channels to the 2 analog channels to provide synchronous mixed signal analysis ability.

Saelig Company, Inc. has introduced Siglent’s SDG7000A series of dual-independent-channel arbitrary waveform generators that feature up to 1GHz bandwidth, 5Gsa/s sampling, 14-bit vertical resolution, and a memory depth of 512Mpts. Arbitrary waveforms are generated with sample rates from 0.01Sa/s to 2.5GSa/s, and vector signals at 500MSa/s. A wide variety of test signals can be generated, including CW, pulse, noise, PRBS patterns, and 16-bit digital bus patterns. The optional digital bus feature can create 16-bit LVTTL or LVDS output with a bit rate of 1ubps to 1Gbps. Combining analog channels with the digital bus can create synchronous mixed-signal outputs for complex test situations.

Pulse waveforms can have a minimum width of 1ns, and a minimum edge of 500ps pulse with low jitter, the rise/fall edge being independently and finely adjustable. The series also supports complex signals such as modulation, lin/log sweep and burst, and dual channel copying/coupling/tracking and superposition. The outputs can be differential or single-ended and the 24Vpp analog output can add a ± 12Vdc offset to provide a maximum output range of ± 24V (48V). This large output swing can eliminate the need for external power amplifiers and extend the range of suitable applications. Phase locking can align the phases of both outputs.

Three models are available in the SDG7000A series: SDG7032A (350MHz), SDG7052A (500MHz), and SDG7102A (1GHz). Optional vector signal generation includes modulation modes such as ASK, PSK, FSK, and QAM, while the accompanying EasyIQ software helps with vector signal creation and editing. All models also include a high-precision Frequency Counter. Instrument control is simplified by the 5” capacitive touchscreen, as well as external mouse and keyboard support and remote webserver operation.

The SDG7000A series supports up to 1024 arbitrary wave segments, each of which can be set with a maximum of 65535 repetitions. When switching between segments, the output seamlessly moves from the last point of the previous segment to the first point of the next segment without generating an idle level, suiting the SDG7000A series for applications with challenging requirements for waveform switching.

The Siglent SDG7000A Series of 2-channel AWGs are available now from Saelig Company, Inc.

Add PlainDAQ Carrier Board to Raspberry Pi Pico for Analog Functionality

Posted on 7 March, 2022 by Abhishek Jadhav

We have already come across tens if not hundreds of Raspberry Pi’s in-house silicon tapeout RP2040 integrated boards. The RP2040 was first seen in Raspberry Pi’s own microcontroller board– RPi Pico that features a dual-core Arm Cortex-M0+ processor with 264KB internal RAM and support for up to 16MB of off-chip flash storage. To add analog functionality to the Raspberry Pi Pico, a Turkish electronics engineer, Alperen Akküncü has pre-launched PlainDAQ, an open-source DAQ module as an external hardware carrier board. For analog carrier modules, precision is one of the most important factors while designing that can change the way developers consider buying the hardware.

A data acquisition unit (DAQ) module is hardware that measures an electrical or physical parameter like the voltage, current, temperature, pressure, or sound. The PlainDAQ has a simple design with a compact form factor without wasting any space on the PCB that consists of four analog input channels multiplex on one side of the Raspberry Pi Pico-compatible female headers. These four channels multiplexed are connected to the Microchip MCP33151-05 ADC featuring a 12-bit resolution and 72dB signal-to-noise ratio while maintaining a sampling rate of 500kS/s.

After contacting the developer, he confirmed that PlainDAQ will utilize MCP33141D-05 or MCP33111D-05 (or equivalent part).

For analog outputs, the carrier board has also integrated another Microchip MCP4716 (or MCP47FEB11 or MCP4911) single-channel, 10-bit DAC with integrated EEPROM and an I2C compatible serial interface. This integrated circuit helps to create analog outputs and waveforms. Additionally, the PlainDAQ generates ±5 V voltages to offer a bipolar power supply which is very uncommon in hardware devices as they are difficult to generate. The DAQ devices include a stable voltage reference with 20 ppm/°C drift.

Before shipping the PlainDAQ, the developer promises to calibrate with DMM7510 high-resolution digital multimeter and also gives the flexibility to be calibrated “with proper equipment with the help of on-board EEPROM for storing calibration data.” In terms of wireless connectivity on the device, the schematic shows the integration of the ESP32-MINI-1 AT-Command module that not only provides a simple UART interface to Raspberry Pico hardware platform but also offers 2.4GHz IEEE802.11b/g/n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth LE 4.2 connectivity.

Implementing the DAQ device in a test use case, Alperen Akküncü gives a detailed project log on USB speed test as the PlainDAQ will be transferring a massive load of data.

“I wanted to test how fast I can transfer data via USB. I used two raspberry pi pico’s one of them doing the debugging and the other is doing the actual work.” The problem statement mentions the transfer of 6MBit/s of data from the Pico hardware platform to the computer. Interestingly, the developer could read up to more than 7Mbits/s. However, the developer also notes that “the speed depends on your setup as and if you use a hub it’s slower.”

If you are interested in the open-source PlainDAQ analog precision carrier board for Raspberry Pi Pico, consider supporting the crowdfunding campaign on CrowdSupply. For live updates, you can sign up on the product page. Also, if you want to contribute to the open-source GitHub repository, you can do so by following this link. The KiCAD project will be available for the open-source community earliest by next week. The developer has provided us with information on the pricing saying, “I can guarantee that it’s going to be in the sub-100$ region and probably very affordable.”

Alperen Akküncü will be releasing some videos to showcase what you can do with PlainDAQ. PlainDAQ has precision ADC and DAC on the same board and coupling all of these with python scripting their lots of uses. Here is a list of videos in the making:

Using PlainDAQ as a multimeter for voltage measurement and sending the measurement to a smartphone via Bluetooth
Waveform capture with PlainDAQ and use it as an oscilloscope. You can sample the signal at 500ksps and generate a waveform with PlainDAQ and send the measurement data to a computer via USB for visualization.
Measuring capacitance and inductance of components using DAC and ADC together. By generating a step signal with DAC and measuring the response with ADC, you can infer inductance or capacitance by measuring the rise time.

We thank Alperen Akküncü for providing us with all the extra information that will be coming soon. Stay tuned for more updates.