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Technologic Systems newest single board computer, the TS-7180, enters in to Engineering Sampling

Posted on 4 January, 2019 by mixos

Technologic Systems announced their latest Single Board Computer, the TS-7180, has entered in to their engineering sampling program (see below for details). The TS-7180 is developed for any industrial application, but is especially suited for industrial control automation and remote monitoring management applications such as unmanned control room, industrial automation, automatic asset management and asset tracking.

Powered by i.MX6 UltraLite Processor

The TS-7180 features the NXP i.MX 6 UltraLite processor. The i.MX 6UltraLite is a high performance, ultra efficient processor family featuring Freescale’s advanced implementation of the single ARM Cortex®-A7 core. The NXP i.MX 6UL processors offer scalable performance and multimedia support, along with low power consumption.

The TS-7180 comes standard with 512MB of RAM, with configurations in the family that go up to 1 GB of RAM. For on board data storage there is 4GB eMMC MLC flash that is configurable as 2GB pSLC mode for additional system integrity. A microSD socket is available for additional storage, or removable media requirements.

Onboard Integrity

For added system integrity the TS-7180 comes standard with Cypress 16kbit FRAM (FM25L16B). FRAM is a nonvolatile memory employing an advanced ferroelectric process that reads and writes like a RAM, and retains data like EEPROMs. It provides reliable data retention while eliminating the complexities, overhead, and system level reliability problems caused by EEPROM and other nonvolatile memories. Unlike serial EEPROMs, the FM25L16B performs write operations at bus speed. No write delays are incurred. Data is written to the memory array immediately after each byte has been transferred to the device. Also, the TS-7180 ships with TS-SILO which will provide up to 30 seconds of reserve power in the event of a power failure. This precious extra time gives the board time to gracefully power down and ensures file system integrity in the onboard Flash or SD Card.

Data Acquisition and Control

The TS-7180 has an impressive suite of Data Acquisition and Control options allowing you to focus on analyzing and interpreting data. There are 7x Digital Input/Output ports that can sink up to 500mA, or withstand up to 30V at the input. The TS-7180 offers 4x channels of ADC, accessible via Linux kernel, that do not require any sort of programming to use. Pulse width modulation (PWM) has been included for a wide variety of applications, ranging from measurement and communications to power control and conversion. The TS-7180 provides three independent 16-bit wide quadrature counters, via the FPGA, and are accessed through I2C. The quadrature and edge-counter inputs provide access to a tachometer.

Interfaces and Connectivity

The TS-7180 has a host of standard industrial interfaces to ensure it will fit into any industrial application. The TS-7180 has a WiFi (802.11 b/g/n) and Bluetooth (4.0BLE) onboard radios standard. Cellular connectivity is also available with either NimbeLink or MultiTech modems via the cellular sockets. Digi’s many XBee radios are also supported. There are two 10/100 Ethernet ports, a RS-485 port, 4 COM ports (3x RS-232, 1 TTL UART) as well as a SPI, I2C and CAN Bus. USB Host, Device (Serial Console) and OTG (via daughter card header) are available. A user programmable button is also standard.

Almost all available interfaces are brought out through 40 industrial grade screw terminals, including four removable terminal blocks for UARTs, CAN, ADC, and other general purpose IO.

Additional Features

The TS-7180 packs more than just connectivity and memory features onboard. A Quadrature counter, Tachometer, and Nine-Axis MEMs motion tracking device containing a gyroscope, accelerometer and compass as well as a GPS receiver are optional on-board features for asset management, fleet management and other applications which would require sensing motion or vibration in the environment. A temperature sensor and real-time clocked (battery backed) are also onboard.

Power over Ethernet is supported, via a daughter card and the TS-7180 has an operating voltage supply of 8 VDC to 30 VDC. Applications with strict low power requirements will appreciate the work that’s been done to reduce power consumption to less than 2 watts in typical conditions and a 9 mW sleep mode. The TS-7180 operates in a broad industrial temperature range of -40°C to 85° C for use in the harshest of environments.

A comprehensive manual is available on our Technologic Systems Wiki for more information and specifications.

About Engineering Sample Program

The Technologic Systems Engineering Sampling program enables our customers to have early access to our latest innovations, accelerates their time to market, and provides a channel for our customers to request technical support and design improvements directly to our engineering team. Contact the sales team to request to join the program, or send in your order and the sales team will reach out to you and walk you thru the program requirements. The program typically lasts for 6 to 12 months before the product enters in to production. The product may require board spins or other engineering changes during sampling program before becoming a production unit, but Technologic Systems will contact you directly about these continuous development and software release activities and will help you thru any transitions.

www.embeddedARM.com

Soli technology – Google’s and Infineon’s radar-based hand motion sensor.

Posted on 4 January, 20194 January, 2019 by mixos

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) allows approval for Google’s radar-based hand motion sensor. By Wisse Hettinga [via]

Soli sensor technology works by emitting electromagnetic waves in a broad beam. Objects within the beam scatter this energy, reflecting some portion back towards the radar antenna. Properties of the reflected signal, such as energy, time delay, and frequency shift capture rich information about the object’s characteristics and dynamics, including size, shape, orientation, material, distance, and velocity. Soli tracks and recognises dynamic gestures expressed by fine motions of the fingers and hand. In order to accomplish this with a single chip sensor, we developed a novel radar sensing paradigm with tailored hardware, software, and algorithms.

Unlike traditional radar sensors, Soli does not require large bandwidth and high spatial resolution; in fact, Soli’s spatial resolution is coarser than the scale of most fine finger gestures. Instead, our fundamental sensing principles rely on motion resolution by extracting subtle changes in the received signal over time. By processing these temporal signal variations, Soli can distinguish complex finger movements and deforming hand shapes within its field. Currently there is no other product on the market with comparable precision and detection range. The use of 60 GHz allows for a resolution of 20 mm. With additional algorithms, the solution operates with sub-mm resolution.

The approval allows Google to develop new touch-less technologies at higher power levels than currently approved. The technology, jointly developed by Infineon and Google Atap (Advanced Technology and Projects Group) allows touch-less gesture control.

More information:

T3PS Series Power Supplies from Teledyne LeCroy

Posted on 4 January, 201917 January, 2019 by mixos

Teledyne Test Tools new T3PS3000 is a Linear Programmable DC Power Supply with a 4.3 inch TFT LCD display. It has three isolated outputs: two adjustable channels and one selectable channel from 2.5V, 3.3V, and 5V with output short and overload protection for each channel. Support for series and parallel operation of the two main channels extends its flexibility beyond the standard specification. The T3PS3000 features include programmability via USB or LAN, a graphical display of power waveforms, and the high resolution numeric display of voltage and current. Typical users are Education, Production, and Design and Development.

Features:

3 Independent isolated outputs – 32V/3.2Ax2, 2.5V/3.3V/5V3.2Ax1, total 220W
High Resolution, High Precision Output – 5 digits Voltage, 4 digits Current Display, Minimum
Resolution: 1mV/1mA
3 output modes: Series, Parallel and Independent.
4.3 inch color TFT-LCD 480×272 display.
Graphical display interface with waveform display function.
Intelligent temperature controlled cooling fan.

High Resolution and High Precision Output

The T3PS3000 has a resolution of 1mV/1mA which provides excellent setting and read back accuracy. This ensures accurate output even with very with small changes in voltage or current

Series/ Parallel/ Independent Mode Function

Series and parallel function allows two channels to be combined into one output which provides more power output capability thereby extending the application range. Power to each of three channels can be turned on or off independently.

Save/ Recall Setting Parameters

The T3PS3000 programmable power supply can save or recall up to five groups of parameter settings internally.

You can find more information on: https://teledynelecroy.com

Price of the T3PS3000 is ~593€.

The All-in-one DOOGEE S90 Modular Rugged Phone will be Debuted at Crowdfunding Platform

Posted on 4 January, 20194 January, 2019 by mixos

If statistics are anything to go by, then the smartphone market is predicted to go on a downfall. This might be attributed to the fact that most smartphones nowadays look almost similar to each other, break easily and they are not getting even smarter. The question is, will consumers ever get a more reliable smartphone? Well, worry no more. In comes the DOOGEE S90 (https://s90.doogee.cc) modular rugged phone to the rescue, with a impressive design concept of an all-in-one phone with limitless possibility. This new product is the latest generation of DOOGEE S series rugged phone. The Chinese manufacturer has been known to produce quality rugged phones before, and now they have not disappointed with the modular S90, which is said that will be debuted on crowdfunding platform.

All-in-one Modular Rugged Phone

The DOOGEE S90 comes with four modules which give an all-in-one alternative to buying separate gadgets. Its modular design is by far the most impressive one in today’s market. It is easy to mix, match and swap its modules by magnet, and they work instantly when slid into the slot on the S90 back cover with a snap. The following are the four modules of the DOOGEE S90.

1. Night Vision Camera Module

Night vision camera is really an excellent gift for a shutterbug to discover the beauty at night. Able to illuminate even pitch-black scenes, this night vision camera module makes it possible for enthusiasts to take clear and bright captions through extreme darkness with its’ 12 times light sensitive telephoto lens, f/1.8 big aperture, 131°super wide-angle and IR correction capabilities. That’s also most useful to snap pictures at dark caves, weak light areas or back light areas. With the night vision camera module, users will not leave out any beautiful scenery in dark.

2. 5000mAh Power Module

Working as a power bank, the enormous battery module gives users 2 days extra power which comes in handy when your phone’s battery is drained and is removable anytime in a second. With a high density, long battery life and advanced international safety levels, the 5000mAh power module turns the 5050mAh S90 into a 10,050mAh phone but with lighter weight than an integrated phone, keeping you connected at all times.

3. Powerful Digital Walkie-talkie Module

Based on the Digital Mobile Radio (DMR) standard, the S90 walkie-talkie module provides clear and real-time digital speech quality that more than substitutes the common walkie-talkies normally used. Similar to DOOGEE S80 digital intercom phone, its frequency ranges from 400-480MHz, with the super high sensitivity of -120dBm and a wide communication distance between 6-10km. Unlike most conventional walkie-talkies, the S90 digital walkie-talkie supports both private and group calls. If you happen to be in a noisy area, the DOOGEE S90 comes with very efficient stereo speaker that give a high-quality sound boost. And it is compatible with other walkie-talkies in the market. If you happen to be in a group hike and by bad luck, you get lost, you know which phone to turn to immediately.

4. Professional Game Module

The DOOGEE S70 has been well known as an interesting game rugged phone this year. All work and no play makes all of us dull. That’s true, and it’s good that DOOGEE recognizes this again in the S90. With its’ powerful Helio P60 octa-core CPU and Mali G72 MP3 800MHz GPU, the DOOGEE S90 plays all the bulky and intense android games at faster frames and with no glitches at all given its decent 6GB RAM memory. Everything feels smooth when you game on this device with the modular gamepad that you can slot into the phone. Just like the S70, the S90 gamepad, connected via Bluetooth, is built for professional mobile gaming with responsive buttons and a firm comfortable grip. With a 6.18-inch screen and 1080×2246 resolution, the S90 delivers you accurate colors, super wide vision and is also glove friendly to give you an immersive gaming experience.

With one DOOGEE S90 modular rugged phone, users can own a professional camera, a rugged walkie-talkie and even a game console at the same time. This model exactly creates a new handset epoch with ever-changing phone styles and features. Until now, you may be able to understand the concept that DOOGEE put out: with one S90 modular phone, enjoy endless possibility of life! DOOGEE is gradually growing up into an industry leader of producing rugged phones. Let’s expect the crowdfunding sale together. It will officially launch in the middle of January 2019.

For more information, you can find it here: https://s90.doogee.cc

Whitepaper: Heightening the Security of IoT Networks

Posted on 4 January, 20194 January, 2019 by mixos

The Internet of Things (IoT) will see connectivity applied on a far bigger scale than anything we have seen before. With the prospect of tens of billions of connected nodes being deployed to serve a vast and increasingly diverse variety of critical functions, one of the biggest challenges that engineers face will be protecting the huge quantities of sensitive data that will be transmitted. IoT is in danger of being a victim of its own success — the more pervasive it becomes, and the greater the number of nodes it comprises, the larger the attack surface it will present to potential hackers. The following article outlines some of the advanced hardware and key strategic approaches that will help to keep IoT implementations secure in an increasingly hostile application landscape, while also adhering to exacting cost and power consumption constraints.

Simply complete the form to download it now.

via oemsecrets.com

Alchitry – FPGA development boards for hobbyists

Posted on 3 January, 20193 January, 2019 by mixos

Digital design refers to creating digital circuits. Digital circuits are in basically everything today and range from something as simple as a circuit that turns an LED on when a button is pressed to the complex processor in the device you are reading this on. Traditionally, these circuits are built by making ASICs (Application Specific Integrated Circuits) out of silicon wafers. This process is incredibly expensive and complex.

FPGAs, or Field Programmable Gate Arrays, are a way to create digital circuits without these barriers. FPGAs are part of a class of devices known as programmable hardware. This means that you can design a digital circuit and program the FPGA to become that circuit. You can reconfigure the FPGA as many times as you want allowing you to create circuit after circuit without having to physically change a thing!

This time around, there are two FPGA boards! These are the Alchity Au (gold) and the Alchitry Cu (copper).

Specifications

Artix 7 XC7A35T-1C – 33,280 logic cells (approx. 4x the capacity of the Mojo)
256MB DDR3 RAM
102 IO pins (3.3V logic level, 20 of then can be switched to 1.8V for LVDS)
9 differential analog inputs (1 dedicated, 8 mixed with digital IO)
USB C to configure and power the board
8 general purpose LEDs
1 button (typically used as a reset)
100 MHz on-board clock (can be multiplied internally by the FPGA)
Powered with 5V through USB C port, 0.1″ holes, or headers
USB to serial interface for data transfer (up to 12Mbaud)
Dimensions of 65mm x 45mm

The Alchitry Au is the workhorse of the two boards. It features an Artix 7 FPGA which means no more dealing with Xilinx’s antiquated ISE tool. This board also has 256MB of DDR3 RAM while still having 102 IO pins available for your projects!

iCE40-HX8K FPGA – 7680 logic elements (approx. 0.8x the capacity of the Mojo)
79 IO pins (3.3V logic level)
USB C to configure and power the board
8 general purpose LEDs
1 button (typically used as a reset)
100 MHz on-board clock (can be multiplied internally by the FPGA)
Powered with 5V through USB C port, 0.1″ holes, or headers
USB to serial interface for data transfer (up to 12Mbaud)
Dimensions of 65mm x 45mm

The Cu board is the lighter version of the two but offers something completely unique. The Cu uses a Lattice iCE40 HX FPGA that is supported by the open source tool chain Project IceStorm. The Mojo IDE will be transformed into Alchitry Labs to support the new boards. Alchitry Labs will be open source meaning that the Alchitry Cu can be developed for using entirely open source tools!

The project is already funded from 412 backers on www.kickstarter.com

ZOTAC ZBox Pico PI225-GK is a Mini PC about the size of a 2.5″ SSD

Posted on 3 January, 20194 January, 2019 by Ayo Ayibiowu

One thing I love about the computer industry is that the records are meant to be shattered. You can never wear the crown for long period, it is like Game Of Thrones, but unlike this, you never last on that throne and in the Mini PC Industry, thrones are meant to be shaken. A few times last year, we talked about the Mi Mini PC Project, a powerful mini computer with focus on it’s size. The Mi Mini PC despite its small size could still stand toe to toe with some modern laptops, and the team behind it went on securing over a million dollars in crowdfunding on Indiegogo. Zotac ZBox Pico PI225 is a similar mini PC but it is way smaller than the Mi Mini Pc project.

The Zotac ZBox Pico PI225-GK mini PC is a computer with a super small form factor; the computer is about the size and thickness of a standard 2.5″ solid state drive (SSD). The Zotac Pico measures just about 95.4 x 63 x 8 mm and comes pre-installed with Microsoft’s latest Windows 10 operating system.

At the core of the Zotac ZBox, Pico PI225-GK is the Intel Gemini Lake processor, and it is accompanied with a 4GB of RAM and an inbuilt 32GB of internal storage. Unlike the Mi Mini PC which is not really a direct competitor to the Zotac ZBox, the Zotac doesn’t have any built-in display screen and comes with limited ports. Nevertheless, it is still capable of driving a 4K display.

The Zotac Pico PI225 comes with Bluetooth 5 connectivity, 5G WiFi (802.11ac using an internal antenna), 2x USB 3.0 Type-C ports and a universal power adapter with interchangeable tips. The Pico features a silent performance (zero noise) and an ultra-compact design

Zotac Pico Pi225-GK (ZBOX-PI225-GK-W2B) specifications include :

SoC – Intel Celeron N4000 dual-core “Gemini Lake” processor @ 1.1 / 2.6 GHz with 12 EU Intel UHD Graphics 600 (6W TDP)
System Memory – 4 GB LPDDR4
Storage – 32 GB eMMC flash, micro SDXC slot
USB – 2x USB 3.0 type C connectors with data and DisplayPort Alternate mode support
Connectivity – 802.11ac WiFi 5, and Bluetooth 5
Misc – Power button, power LED
Power – 1x micro USB port
Dimensions – 95.4 x 63 x 8 mm

The new Zotac ZBox Pico PI225-GK mini PC is now available to purchase at $230 and comes with ton of accessories like a USB Type-C to HDMI adapter, recovery USB drive and many more. More information about the Zotac ZBox is available on the product page.

Beetle ESP32 Microcontroller

Posted on 2 January, 20192 January, 2019 by mixos

Is FireBeetle-ESP32 too big for your projects? Why not try our newly launched Beetle-ESP32. This Beetle-ESP32 Microcontroller of 1.38”×1.34”small size is a simplified version of FireBeetle-ESP32 and specially designed for electronic engineering fans and DIY lovers. It is equipped with 4 analog ports, 4 digital ports, UART and I2C interfaces, which would be a perfect replacement of FireBeetle-ESP32. This microcontroller enables users to directly burn programs via the on-board USB interface. Meanwhile, Bluetooth and WIFI are integrated in the microcontroller for supporting more applications. With this Beetle-ESP32, you can easily build up your dreaming project.

FEATURES

A small size of 35mm×34mm
Enable users to directly download and debug programs through Micro USB, free from programmer.
Large-scale I/O ports with gold plating, easy to screw wire on it or to sew the board on the clothes with wires, no need to solder.
A group of gold plating power interfaces of honeycomb type, convenient to use.
Integrate WIFI and Bluetooth

SPECIFICATION

USB Supply Voltage: 5.0V
VIN Supply Voltage: DC 3.5-6.5V
Processor: Tensilica LX6 dual-core processor (One for high speed connection; one for independent programing)
Frequency: 240MHz
SRAM: 520KB
Flash: 16Mbit
Wi-Fi Standard: FCC/CE/TELEC/KCC
Wi-Fi Protocol: 802.11 b/g/n/d/e/i/k/r（802.11n, high speed can reach to 150 Mbps), converge A-MPDU and A-MSDU, supporting 0.4us protecting interval.
Frequency Range: 2.4~2.5GHz
Bluetooth Protocol: comply with BR/EDR/BLE standard of Bluetooth v4.2.
On-chip Clock: 40MHz crystal and 32.768 KHz crystal
Digital Interface: D2, D3, D4, D7
Analog Interface: A0, A1, A2, A3
I2C: 1
Serial Port: 1
Dimension: 35×34mm/1.38×1.34″

DOCUMENTS

Industry’s Smallest Contactless Current Sensor Featuring Minimum Power Loss

Posted on 2 January, 20192 January, 2019 by mixos

Ultra-compact high reliability design eliminates heat generation, improving safety and energy savings in industrial equipment

ROHM has recently announced the availability of the industry’s smallest contactless current sensor, the BM14270MUV-LB. It achieves minimum power loss (no heat generation) in an ultra-compact size, making it ideal for industrial equipment and consumer devices that detect operating conditions via current, including battery-driven drones, solar power systems, and servers in data centers requiring high power.

In recent years, the growing awareness of energy conservation and safety worldwide together with environmental regulations require safety countermeasures and power visualization in high power applications such as servers in data centers and solar power systems. This results in an increased demand for current sensors. However, conventional current sensors using Hall elements typically feature large current consumption and low sensitivity, making it necessary to draw current within the sensor itself. As such until now there were no current sensors on the market that provided high reliability and low loss in a compact form factor (3.5mm square).

ROHM developed a current sensor utilizing a high sensitivity low current MI element that allows for completely contactless current detection. The BM14270MUV-LB was developed by combining ROHM’s industry-leading semiconductor production and sensor control technologies with Aichi Steel’s MI (Magneto-Impedance) element. The result is a contactless current sensor that eliminates the need to draw current within the sensor to measure it. The sensor itself consumes very low current (0.07mA – 100x smaller than conventional products) and comes in the industry’s smallest size (3.5mm square). In addition, a disturbance magnetic field cancellation function is included to protect against noise, making shielding unnecessary. Digital output from the built-in A/D converter reduces MCU load, facilitating current monitoring. These features allow users to easily detect the current of virtually any application with high reliability, from compact battery-driven devices to high power industrial equipment.

Going forward, ROHM will continue to contribute to increase comfort and safety of the society by developing high-performance, high reliability sensors demanded by the IoT and industrial equipment markets.

Samples will be available from January 2019, with OEM quantities available from April 2019.

http://www.rohm.com/eu

NVE Introduces Smart GMR Magnetometer

Posted on 2 January, 20192 January, 2019 by mixos

NVE Corporation announced the new SM124-10E Smart Magnetometer. The new sensor combines a Giant Magnetoresistance (GMR) sensor element with elegant digital signal processing. The versatile product can be used for current or proximity measurements.

In-Plane Sensitivity

Unlike awkward, old-fashioned Hall-effect sensors, GMR is sensitive in-plane for optimal current sensing and easy mechanical interfaces.

A Slick, Elegant Data Structure

All data and parameters are input and output as single bytes (eight bits). This provides better than 1% precision while eliminating the need to concatenate upper and lower bytes.

No Communications Overhead

Data are always valid, so there is no need to wait for data during an I2C read, and there are no set-up commands or error handling required.

Factory Calibrated

The sensor is factory calibrated for sensitivity, offset, linearity, and temperature compensation. Users can also calibrate the output for a particular system.

Amazing Features

Key SM124-10E features include:

Can detect magnets more than 50 mm away
I2C and digital threshold outputs
7-bit output resolution
In-plane sensitivity – more usable than Hall effect sensors
Programmable offset and gain compensation
Calibrated internal temperature sensor
Internal temperature compensation
Optional magnet temperature compensation
2.2 to 3.6 V supply
Ultraminiature 2.5 × 2.5 × 0.8 mm TDFN package
Evaluation Kit

AG952-07E Smart Magnetometer Evaluation Kit.

The simple AG952-07 Evaluation Kit has everything needed to calibrate, test, and evaluate SM124-10E Smart Magnetometers.

The kit includes:

A 1-inch by 1.625-inch (25 mm by 41 mm) USB-powered evaluation board with:an SM124-10E GMR Smart Magnetometer
a microcontroller connected to the sensor via I2C
a regulated 3.3 volt supply to power the SM124-10E
a current-carrying trace under the sensor for evaluating as a current sensor
A small ceramic magnet for evaluating as a proximity sensor
USB cable to connect the Evaluation Board to a computer
Windows user interface software

Easy Programming

A self-contained programming module with easy-to-use thumbwheel switches and a socket will be available soon to program the sensors’ switching thresholds without need of a computer or microcontroller.

Part of a Family

The SM124 is NVE’s second Smart Magnetometer model. The SM324 tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) smart magnetometer was introduced in August. Billed as the world’s first TMR smart magnetometer, the SM324 boasts extremely high accuracy. The SM124 has a simpler interface and is higher speed.

Available Now

SM124-10E Smart Magnetometers are priced at $1.46 each in 1000-piece quantities. AG952-07E Smart Magnetometer Evaluation Kits are priced at only $95.00 each. Sensors and kits are in stock for immediate delivery.