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MangoPi-Nezha MQ Development Board with C906 RISC-V Core

Posted on 23 February, 2022 by Abhishek Jadhav

In the last decade, RISC-V has seen an exponentially increased adoption from manufacturing, designing a wide range of boards under its ecosystem, offering high performance. A Chinese open-source community working on the real-time operating system (RTOS) has designed a RISC-V-based development kit, MangoPi Nezha MQ featuring popular Allwinner D1s (commonly seen as F133 on the hardware) system-on-chip.

Last year, we saw the Allwinner D1 development board, but due to its increasing SoC cost, the manufacturer had to release a cheaper onboard chip which was later introduced as Allwinner D1s. The new system-on-chip comes with Alibaba/T-Head Xuantie C906 RISC-V core clocked at a frequency of 1GHz with integrated 64MB DDR2 memory.

Specifications of MangoPi-Nezha MQ Developer Kit

SoC: Allwinner D1s with C906 RISC-V processor core @1GHz
Memory: 64MB DDR2
Wireless connectivity: RTL8189-based Wi-Fi
USB Connectivity: USB Type-C support for USB-OTG and USB-HOST
Expansion: 2x 22-pin expansion headers
Storage: MicroSD card slot and solder points for NAND/NOR flash
Display: 15-pin Raspberry Pi DSI FPC, 40-pin RGB FPC, 6-pin capacitive touch FPC
Audio: Onboard microphone
Camera: 24-pin DVP interface
Buttons: BOOT and Reset buttons
Power supply: 5V via USB Type-C
Dimensions: 4×4 cm

When it comes to software support, the MangoPi-Nezha MQ development board runs Tina Linuz, an OpenWrt-based embedded system. To take advantage of the hardware functionalities, the board is combined with the LVGL open-source graphics library. For real-time applications, the manufacturer has also supported xboot and RT-Smart. As a high-performance microkernel operating system fills the gap between traditional real-time operating systems (RTOSs) and Linux., RT-Smart You can consider purchasing the hardware if you are new to the RISC-V hardware ecosystem.

Being an open-source project, schematics and PCB layout files are available on the official GitHub repository. As developers look for community support, the product will soon be available for crowdfunding on CrowdSupply. If you are interested in supporting the mission, consider signing up on the pre-launch product page.

Flexx2 3D Development Kit offers an improved depth-sensing performance

Posted on 23 February, 2022 by Abhishek Jadhav

pmdtechnologies announces its next-generation 3D time-of-flight (ToF) development kit, the flexx2. Thanks to the collaboration of PMD Technologies with the California-based, hardware/software specialist, Emcraft Systems, to deliver better depth-sensing performance with 38,000 3D pixels and a 56×44 degree Field-of-View.

“The flexx2 builds on the success of the now-discontinued “PicoFlexx”,

that already brought pmd’s 3D depth-sensing technology to the hands of thousands of developers worldwide”, said the Vice President of pmdtechnologies Inc., Mitchell Reifel.

“Countless exciting and industry-changing projects are built upon the flexibility and reliability of the 3D Development Kits and make use of the high-quality depth data from Infineon’s IRS2381C REAL3 Time-of-Flight Image Sensor and pmd’s powerful SDK”, he further adds.

For those who are new to the 3D ToF sensor technology, it is widely used in an industrial setup that uses high-power optical pulses to capture depth information for short distances. The distance is measured by illuminating the target object with a modulated light source such as a laser and a sensor that is sensitive to the laser’s wavelength for capturing reflected light. The time delay between the light emitted by the laser and the reflected light detected by the sensor is directly proportional to twice the distance between the camera and the object.

Specifications of Flexx2 Development Kit

Sensor type: Infineon REAL3 3D Image Sensor
Resolution: 224 x 172
Frame rate: Up to 60fps (3D frames)
Field-of-View: 56×44
Range: 0.1 to 4 m
Interface: USB 3.0 Type-C
Accuracy: <= 1% of distance (0.5 to 4 m at 5fps) and <= 2% of distance (0.1 to 1 m at 45fps)
Software: Royale SDK C/C++ based supports Matlab, DotNet, CAPI, OpenCV, OpenNI2, ROS 1+2
Dimension: 72.1×19.2×10.2 mm

The hardware is employed with IRS2381C Infineon REAL3 3D Image Sensor, designed for mobile consumer applications with a high-performance pixel array of 224×172 resolution that is sensitive to 940 nm infrared light. The single-chip design comes with Suppression of Background Illumination (SBI) circuitry in every pixel that offers enhanced performance under all environmental light conditions– from bright sunlight to dim light and shadow.

The shipment for the Flexx2 development kit is expected to begin in February 2022 with a starting price of $399. If you are a returning customer already working on pico flexx or pico monstar, you can get priority access to place an order.

Newt, a low-power open source display powered by an ESP32-S2 module

Posted on 23 February, 2022 by Tope Oluyemi

A campaign was launched on Crowdsupply for Newt, which is a battery-powered, always-on, wall-mountable display that can go online to retrieve weather, calendars, sports scores, to-do lists, quotes. Newt is powered by an ESP32-S2 microcontroller which enables you to program with Arduino, CircuitPython, MicroPython, or ESP-IDF.

About Newt, the company says:

“We consider Newt to be the next step in the evolution of low-power display boards.”

Newt is the ideal tool for makers because its Sharp’s Memory-in-Pixel (MiP) technology avoids the slow refresh times associated with E-Ink displays. Newt operates “untethered,” meaning it can be mounted on places where it will be hard for a power cord to be placed would be like on a wall, refrigerator, mirror, or dry-erase board. It comes with an optional stand, so you can mount it on desks, shelves, and nightstands.

The idea behind Newt was primarily to serve as a multi-function smart device to display weather reports, agendas, and shopping lists right there on your refrigerator. However, users have come up with additional uses like:

Home Applications:

Kitchen timer
Bedside alarm
Habit tracker
Weather station
Sports-score or news-headline display
Daily quotation, vocabulary word, bible verse, etc.

Professional Applications:

Meeting room status (occupied, available, date when last cleaned, etc.)
User-productivity (integration with project-management tools, task lists, etc.)

More Complex Applications

Some of which might require integration with third-party services:

Fitbit stats
Google calendars, to-do lists, or fitness data
Alexa to-do and shopping lists (require the development of Alexa smart skills)
Display of current traffic conditions and arrival-time estimates for work, school, etc.
Movie clips and animations

Newt features a 2.7-inch, 240 x 400-pixel MiP LCD which can deliver high-contrast, high-resolution, and low-latency content with ultra-low power consumption Reflective mode leverages ambient light to eliminate the need for a backlight. It also features a speaker/buzzer with mini class-D amplifier on DAC output A0 which can play tones or lo-fi audio clips. Newt can operate for one to two months between charges thanks to its 500 mAH LiPo battery. It features a USB Type-C connector for programming, power, and charging. Its low-quiescence voltage regulator (TOREX XC6220) is capable of providing an output 1 A of current and operating as low as 8 uA. Additional features include a JST connector for a Lithium-Ion battery, battery-charging circuity (MCP73831), and a low-battery indicator (1uA quiescence current).

Newt is open-source therefore, all design files and libraries are available for review, use, and modification. Each Newt comes with working code with the following features:

Current weather details
Hourly and daily weather forecast
Alarm
Inspirational quotes
Air-quality forecast
Habit Calendar

You only need to follow the Wi-Fi provisioning instructions (no app downloads required) to get started. For more information, visit the campaign page on Crowdsupply.

4D IMAGING RADAR LEADER VAYYAR EXPANDS GLOBAL FOOTPRINT WITH NEW JAPAN OFFICE

Posted on 22 February, 2022 by mixos

Vayyar Imaging, the global leader in 4D imaging radar, is set to open a new office in Tokyo, Japan, as the company intensifies its advanced engagements with leading enterprises. Vayyar Imaging Japan LLC will spearhead the company’s continued expansion in the APAC region, primarily in the senior care and automotive industries.

The newly assembled team is comprised of experts from across the senior care, automotive and semiconductor sectors. The office will specialize in business development, system application and marketing.

Vayyar’s senior care solutions are deployed in facilities and private homes around the world, providing real-time activity monitoring that supports automatic fall detection and a wide range of behavioural insights, enabling person-centred care.

Sensors mounted on walls or ceilings constantly monitor the surroundings, delivering exceptional resolution across an ultra-wide field of view in all conditions, including pitch darkness and even dense steam, making them ideal for use in bathrooms and bedrooms where privacy, as well as safety, is key.

The solution’s multifunctionality allows facilities to reduce the number of single-purpose sensors installed in residents’ rooms, providing rich data that creates a comprehensive view of health and wellbeing.

“Establishing an office in Japan is a vital step in our global expansion, enabling us to deepen our existing relationships with many of the world’s leading healthcare and automotive players and to redefine numerous other verticals,” said Raviv Melamed, Vayyar Co-founder and CEO. “We look forward to continuing our close collaborations with Japanese partners, improving safety using best-in-class imaging radar technology.”

Vayyar’s automotive platform enables cost-effective advanced safety applications across the In-Cabin Monitoring Systems (ICMS), ADAS/ARAS, and AV domains. Built around a high-performance radar-on-chip array of up to 48 transceivers, it delivers exceptional resolution across an ultra-wide field of view in all road conditions, while protecting user privacy.

“We are very proud to be advancing Vayyar’s goal of providing affordable, multifunctional radar-on-chip platforms to Japan’s leading automakers and suppliers and senior care providers, which can leverage our uniquely versatile technology to protect some of society’s most vulnerable people,” Melamed added.

3V to 5V DC Output Step-Up DC-DC Converter using MAX668

Posted on 22 February, 202223 February, 2022 by mixos

The project presented here is a powerful constant-frequency, pulse-width modulating (PWM), current-mode step-up DC-DC switching regulator efficiently producing 5V from input voltages between 3V to 5V. The project can be used in a portable device that works with a battery. The module produces a peak current of up to 1A and an output voltage of 5V DC.

3V to 5V DC Output Step-Up DC-DC Converter using MAX668 – [Link]

Crocus Technology CT450 XtremeSense® TMR Sensors

Posted on 22 February, 2022 by mixos

Crocus Technology CT450 XtremeSense^® TMR Sensors are high bandwidth and low noise integrated contactless current sensors. The CT450 implements patented XtremeSense TMR technology to enable high accuracy current measurements for many consumer, enterprise, and industrial applications.

The Crocus CT450 XtremeSense TMR Sensors support eight field ranges where the CT450 senses and translates the magnetic field into a linear analog output voltage. The CT450 device features a total error output of less than ±1.0% over voltage and temperature.

The CT450 has less than 1.0µs output response time while the current consumption is about 5.0mA. The Sensors are equipped with over-field detection (OFD) circuitry to identify out-of-range fields. Additionally, the CT450 has a fault-bar (FLT) pin should over-field faults occur, then an active LOW digital signal will be activated by the CT450 to alert the microcontroller that a fault condition has occurred.

The CT450 is offered in a very low profile, industry-standard 8-lead TSSOP package that is “green” and RoHS compliant.

Features

Integrated Contactless Current/Field Sensing Ranges:
- 0mT to +8mT
- -8mT to +8mT
- 0mT to +12mT
- -12mT to +12mT
- 0mT to +20mT
- -20mT to +20mT
Linear analog output voltage
Total error output < ±1.0%, -40°C to +125°C
1 MHz Bandwidth
Response time <1.0µs
Reference voltage output for unipolar/bipolar field measurements
VOUT – VREF < 1.0% (Typical)
Low noise performance
- Detects out of range fields
8-Lead TSSOP package

more information: https://crocus-technology.com/products/ct450/

Fixed Input Push-Pull Driver Controller with Highly Symmetrical Power MOSFETs and Under Voltage Protection

Posted on 22 February, 202222 February, 2022 by mixos

MORNSUN has introduced two new drivers SCM1201BTA and SCM1212BTA that feature integrated MOSFETs for the primary side of a push-pull power and can be used in the 1-2W applications with 3.3V and 5V inputs. These new series with wide input voltage range of 2.7-5.5V will not be damaged even under the high input voltage up to 9V within 1s.

These devices contain, two drive systems and two power MOSFETs that are highly symmetrical and reduce the degree of magnetic bias in the push-pull topology. Moreover, these drivers are integrated with three key technologies to improve reliability meet the AEC-Q100 automobile standard to ensure reliability.

Key Features

Push-Pull driver controller
2.7-5.5V wide input voltage
Low conduction resistance 200mΩ
Two built-in power MOSFETs with high symmetry, quasi-complementary driver
Limited MOSFET’s current while turning on the power
Over current protection and short circuit protection
Over temperature protection
Under voltage protection
Increase the dead time under light load
Meet AEC-Q100 automobile standard

Application Diagram

These devices can be widely used in isolated power supply, industrial process control, isolated communication power supply, medical device, telecommunication equipment, etc.

more information: https://www.mornsun-power.com/html/news-detail/product-news/424.html

ams OSRAM TMF8805 – 1D Time-of-Flight sensor with 940nm integrated IR VCSEL

Posted on 22 February, 202222 February, 2022 by mixos

The TMF8805 is a true direct time-of-flight sensor and processing system in a highly integrated modular package. It integrates a 940nm Class 1 eye-safe VCSEL, a high-sensitivity SPAD array, precision time-to-digital converter and a low-power microcontroller sub-system.

The embedded histogram algorithm can detect cover glass and objects behind glass, selecting the object with highest SNR while compensating for dirt and smudges on cover glass. This device is ideally suited to world-facing camera LDAF applications, user presence detection, collision avoidance, object detection and other applications in the range of 2 to 250cm.

Features

20mm to 2500mm distance sensing at 30Hz
Direct ToF technology with high sensitivity SPAD detection
Delivers high SNR, wide dynamic range, and no multi-path reflections
Enables dark and sunlight environment distance measurement within ±5%
Provides best-in-class resolution ranging mode detection sensing
100k lux to 0 lux ambient light immunity
Enables accurate distance measurements
Provides high accuracy, greater distance between cover glass, dynamic cover glass calibration, dirt and smudge removal, and crosstalk compensation
Eye-safety circuitry stops VCSEL driver if VCSEL fault occurs
Optical filters with algorithm support enable high ambient light resilience
Fast Time-to-Digital Converter (TDC) architecture
Sub-nanosecond light pulse
On-chip histogram processing
940nm VCSEL Class 1 Eye Safety
High-performance on-chip sunlight rejection filter and algorithm
2.7V to 3.3V supply voltage
1.8V I²C interface
-30°C to +70°C operating temperature range
8-pin 2.2mm x 3.6mm x 1.0mm OLGA package

Additional features

20 – 2500mm distance sensing @ 30Hz
940nm VCSEL Class 1 Eye Safety
High-performance on-chip sunlight rejection filter and algorithm
Industry’s smallest modular OLGA 2.2 x 3.6 x 1.0 mm package

Block Diagram

more information: https://ams.com/en/tmf8805

3V to 5V DC Output Step-Up DC-DC Converter using MAX668

The MAX668 current-mode PWM controllers operate in a wide range of DC-DC conversion applications, including boost, SEPIC, flyback, and isolated output configurations. Optimum conversion efficiency is maintained over a wide range of loads by employing both PWM operation and Maxim’s proprietary Idle Mode control to minimize operating current at light loads. Other features include shutdown, adjustable internal operating frequency or synchronization to an external clock, soft start, adjustable current limit, and a wide (1.8V to 28V) input range.

Features

Operating Supply 3V to 5V
Output 5V DC @ 500mA (1Amp Peak)
Operating Frequency 500Khz
4 Pin Header Connector for Input and Output
PCB dimensions: 32.70 x 21.27 mm

Connections CN1

Pin 1: 3V to 5V Input
Pin 2: GND
Pin 3: GND
Pin 4: 5V DC Output

Schematic

Parts List

NO.	QNTY.	REF.	DESC.	MANUFACTURER	SUPPLIER	PART NO
1	1	CN1	4 PIN MALE HEADER PITCH 2.54MM	WURTH	DIGIKEY
2	2	C1,C5	0.1uF/50V SMD SIZE 0805	MURATA/YAGEO	DIGIKEY
3	1	C2	100uF/10V	WURTH	DIGIKEY	732-9197-1-ND
4	1	C3	1uF/10V SMD SIZE 0805	MURATA/YAGEO	DIGIKEY
5	1	C4	220uF/10V	WURTH		732-9418-1-ND
6	1	C6	0.22uF/10V SMD SIZE 0805	MURATA/YAGEO	DIGIKEY
7	1	D1	SS34	NEXT GEN	DIGIKEY	3372-SS34TR-ND
8	1	L1	4.7uH	EPCOS/TDK	DIGIKEY	495-1997-2-ND
9	1	R1	DNP			DO NOT INSTALL
10	2	R2,R7	0E SMD SIZE 0805	MURATA/YAGEO	DIGIKEY
11	1	R3	0.025E 1% SMD SIZE 2512	MURATA/YAGEO	DIGIKEY
12	1	R4	75K 1% SMD SIZE 0805	MURATA/YAGEO	DIGIKEY
13	1	R5	100K 5% SMD SIZE 0805	MURATA/YAGEO	DIGIKEY
14	1	R6	24.9K 1% SMD SIZE 0805	MURATA/YAGEO	DIGIKEY
15	1	U1	MAX668	MAXIM	DIGIKEY	MAX668EUB+-ND
16	1	U2	FDS6680 SO8	ON SEMI	RS COMPO.	671-0605

Connections

Gerber View

Photos

Video

MAX668 Datasheet

TDK InvenSense SmartPressure™ Barometric Pressure Sensor

Posted on 21 February, 2022 by mixos

TDK InvenSense SmartPressure™ Barometric Pressure Sensor is a high-accuracy, low power, barometric pressure, and temperature sensor solution. This ICP-20100 module integrates a capacitive pressure sensor for monitoring pressure changes in the range of 30kPa to 110kPa. The sensor also has a DSP module for on-chip calibration with an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), digital filtering, a FIFO, and has I²C, I3C^SM, and SPI interfaces available. The ICP-20100 can be configured to achieve ultra-low noise or ultra-low power performance and is flexible to perform anywhere in-between. TDK InvenSense SmartPressure Barometric Pressure Sensor is available in a closed 2mm x 2mm x 0.8mm 10-pin LGA package with a vent hole. Applications include smartphones and tablets, wearable Sensors, drones and toys, fitness trackers, home and building automation, and weather stations.

Features

Digital-output pressure and temperature sensors, with programmable output – all pressure, all temperature, or pressure and temperature
Programmable noise performance down to 0.5Parms through programmable oversampling ratio (OSR)
96-byte FIFO buffer enables the application processor to read up to 16 pressure-temperature pairs in a burst
Digital filtering for pressure signals
- Finite impulse response (FIR) filter for improved noise performance
- Infinite impulse response (IIR) filter for filtering of pressure glitches
User-programmable interrupt
RoHS and Green compliant

Specifications

Host interface
- 12MHz SPI
- 1MHz I²C
- 12.5MHz I3CSM
2mm x 2mm x 0.8mm 10-pin LGA package
1.8V ±10% or 3.3V ±10% main supply voltage
-40°C to +85°C temperature operating range

Application Diagram

more information: https://invensense.tdk.com/products/smartpressure/icp-20100/