Pre-assembled connectors plug in to automation trends

Mobile machinery in agriculture and construction challenges automation specialists, said binder. The increasing degree of automation, agricultural and construction machinery is becoming a more and more important field of application for advanced sensors and actuators. They are used for inclination, position, or level detection, but also for actuators or valve controls. 

Furthermore, displays, lighting, operating devices, and diagnostics modules have to be connected within the mobile machines, such as tractors and their attachments to combine harvesters and crop choppers to excavators, cranes, or dump trucks. The safe and fast connection of automation components is becoming immensely important, said binder.

Proven technologies, such as Deutsch DT or AMP Superseal, meet automation components and binder provides industrial circular connectors that are ready to connector for the Deutsch DT, AMP Superseal and AMP CPC model series. These, in combination with connectors from the binder portfolio are part of its Plug&Play product selection, together with connectors pre-assembled with cables also available if required. 

Cable switches with wiring options tailored to different applications enable connector systems of different designs to be combined in order to customise connectivity for mobile machines. For customers, this range can reduce the cabling effort and ensure a tamper-proof design, said binder.
Connector types such as the Deutsch DT, and the Superseal and CPC series from the manufacturer AMP have become established in such agricultural applications. The international standard for agricultural technology, ISOBUS according to ISO 11783, also defines certain interfaces in this market sector. 

Integrating advanced sensor/actuator technology with the industry-proven connection technologies is a key challenge for machine engineers.

In order to ease this task for system integrators, binder offers both Deutsch-DT, and AMP Superseal and CPC connectors as part of its Plug&Play portfolio, in addition to its own series. This provides the user with the ability to combine a wide variety of connector types as needed. The products for agricultural and construction machinery meet IP67 protection degree requirements when mated. They are equipped with a process-safe cable overmould to relieve the wires from tension forces. The connectors are suitable for use on moving assemblies, with designs which feature cables suitable for power track chains.

To meet individual designs, tailored to the respective field of application, binder’s Plug&Play portfolio allows various connector systems – in overmoulded form – to be combined to create customised solutions. This already applies to quantities as low as one. Since splitter cables are often in demand in addition to simple patch cables, the range also includes cable switches with a wide variety of wiring options.

The binder Plug&Play portfolio offers the possibility to realise overmoulded Y distributions with ratios of 1:2, 1:4, 1:6 and 2:6. Users can choose the connector types. The variability of connection provides them with a wide range of options. The maximum possible pin counts vary, depending on the distribution ratio, between eight and 18. Cable diameters range from 3.5 to 10mm  and the largest possible wire gauge is either 0.5mm² (1:2) or 1.0mm².

http://www.binder-connector.de

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Aaeon packages four-inch SBC for robotics, automation and healthcare imaging

Aaeon’s Epic series now includes the EPIC-ADS7-PUC. According to the company, it epitomises the best characteristics of its single board computer (SBC) counterparts, for real time computing in a compact chassis for robotics, automation and healthcare imaging.

The EPIC-ADS7-PUC is powered by the 12th Generation Intel Core processor platform with the capacity to support up to 65W CPUs. It is compact, with dimensions of 10.2 x 6.3 x 2.1 inch (260 x 160 x 55mm) and a chassis hosting multiple high-speed interfaces alongside the ancillary features for processing in markets such as robotics, IoT and smart healthcare.

It is equipped with up to eight performance cores and 20 threads with the efficiency of hybrid processor architecture and “substantial” processing power. The company has also added four Gracemont efficient cores to provide a streamlined workload management framework for projects that require a balance of efficiency and strength. 

Two DDR5 4800MHz slots offer high speed system memory and bandwidth speed for up to six USB 3.2 Gen 2, two COM and four LAN ports, which provide connections for peripheral devices such as cameras and sensors. There is also a display interface comprised of one HDMI 2.1 and two DP 1.4a ports for three simultaneous displays. Aaeon said this will make the system a suitable candidate for deployment in healthcare imaging.

Augmenting the utility of the EPIC-ADS7-PUC’s processing capacity and high speed interfaces is support for Intel Time Coordinated Computing (TCC). This feature reduces data transmission latency to ensure the reliable execution of time-sensitive, mission-critical operations such as those required in robotics applications.

It also has a lower height point than other system ranges, continued Aaeon, in order for it to be  easily integrated into existing projects. Its compact form factor and plethora of interfaces are compatible with real time computing.

The EPIC-ADS7-PUC is now in mass production.

Established in 1992, Aaeon designs and manufactures industrial IoT and AI edge solutions. The company provides reliable, high quality computing platforms including industrial motherboards and systems, rugged tablets, embedded AI Edge systems, uCPE network appliances, and LoRaWAN / WWAN solutions. 

Aaeon provides industry-leading experience and knowledge to provide OEM / ODM services worldwide. Aaeon also works closely with cities and governments to develop and deploy smart city ecosystems, offering individual platforms and end-to-end solutions. Aaeon works closely with premier chip designers to deliver stable, reliable platforms, and is recognised as a Titanium member of the Intel Internet of Things Solutions Alliance. 

http://www.aaeon.com

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Rutronik adds Intel’s latest desktop workstation processors

Adding the Intel Xeon W-3400 and W-2400 (code-named Sapphire Rapids) to its processor portfolio, Rutronik Elektronische Bauelemente offers the desktop workstation processors for high-end computing. The Sapphire Rapids processors have new computing architecture, faster cores, and a new embedded multi-die interconnect bridge (EMIB) package.

The Sapphire Rapids processors offer scalability for increased performance with support for DDR5 RDIMM, PCIe Gen 5.0 and Wi-Fi 6E for the increased demands expected with future computing workloads. Developers and data science experts in particular will benefit from the powerful performance, said Rutronik.

The Intel Xeon W-3400 and W-2400 desktop workstation processors are available with up to 24 cores and 64 threads (Xeon W-2400) or 56 cores and 112 threads (Xeon W-3400) on a single chip. They feature a redesigned memory controller and a larger L2 cache as well as the L3 Shared Intel Smart Cache with up to 105Mbyte. The flagship of the series, the Intel Xeon w9-3495X, is the most powerful desktop workstation processor Intel has developed to date. It offers performance improvements of up to 28 per cent single-thread and up to 120 per cent multi-thread compared to the previous generation. In addition, operating frequencies of up to 4.8GHz with the Intel Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0 to handle the challenges posed by constantly increasing computing power.

The processors also have an increased L2 cache and shared L3 Intel Smart Cache (up to 105Mbyte), Intel third generation Deep Learning Boost (AVX-512 support), support for select Intel vPro Enterprise technology, comprehensive overclocking support for unlocked processors – including the industry’s first DDR5 XMP 3.0 RDIMM memory overclocking capabilities, operating frequencies up to 4.8GHz and Intel Turbo Boost Max Technology 3.0.

Target applications are in media and entertainment, particularly for the creation of 3D scenes, video effects, or game development.

They are also suitable for engineering (CAD, CAE, AEC, simulation), where they can be used for product design, architectural design, product development and analysis, and product visualisation. In scientific computing and artificial intelligence development, the Intel Xeon W-3400 and W-2400 processors support data science, scientific computing, or machine learning / deep learning.

http://www.rutronik24.com 

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Buck-boost non-isolated DC/DC converters are rugged for AGVs 

Rugged, non-isolated DC/DC converters with a wide range input and outputs make up the RGC series by TDK-Lambda.

The 300W DC/DC converters have an input voltage of 9.0 to 53V and deliver output voltages that can be adjustable from 9.6 to 48V or 5.0 to 28V with output currents of up to 12.5A. 

The series is designed to be used in harsh environment applications including robotics, AGVs (automated guided vehicles), communications, COTS, industrial and portable battery-powered equipment.

They are supplied in a 1/16th brick form factor, measuring 38.1 x 49.5 x 13mm. The converters are encapsulated to provide a higher resistance to shock and vibration with qualification to MIL-STD-810G. The five-sided aluminium die cast housing with mounting tabs reduces radiated EMI and enables conduction cooling to a cold-plate for fanless operation, added TDK-Lambda.

The RGC models offer two voltage and current combinations to support operation from 12V, 18V, 24V, 36V and 48V batteries and power sources. The buck-boost topology allows the converter to maintain regulation even when the output voltage exceeds the input. When the converter is placed in standby using the remote on/off, the input current can be reduced to 0.25mA to conserve the battery charge. TDK-Lambda pointed out that wide input ranges simplify inventory management because one part number can cover multiple input and output voltages.

With efficiencies of up to 97 per cent, power losses are minimised allowing the products to operate in harsh environments with case temperatures of -40 to +115 degrees C. The basic feature models include an output voltage adjustment pin, negative logic remote on/off, remote sense, input under-voltage, over-current and thermal protection.

All models carry the CE and UKCA mark for the Low Voltage and RoHS Directives and are designed to the IEC/UL/CSA/EN 62368-1 safety standards. 

Evaluation boards are also available for quick and easy testing.

TDK was established in 1935 to commercialise ferrite, a key material in electronic and magnetic products. TDK‘s portfolio features passive components such as ceramic, aluminium electrolytic and film capacitors, as well as magnetics, high-frequency and piezo and protection devices. The product spectrum also includes sensors and sensor systems such as temperature and pressure, magnetic and MEMS sensors. In addition, TDK provides power supplies and energy devices and magnetic heads. The company’s product brands are TDK, Epcos, InvenSense, Micronas, Tronics and TDK-Lambda. 

TDK focuses on demanding markets in automotive, industrial and consumer electronics, and information and communication technology. The company has a network of design and manufacturing locations and sales offices in Asia, Europe, and in North and South America.

TDK-Lambda supplies power conversion products for industrial and medical equipment worldwide and has R&D, manufacturing, sales and service locations in five key geographic regions, namely Japan, EMEA, Americas, China and ASEAN.

https://www.emea.lambda.tdk.com 

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