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NFC reader ICs sharpen digital wave shaping for faster transmission

Tue, Nov 29, 2022

Adding to its portfolio of NFC reader ICs, Panthronics announced the PTX105R reader for IoT and consumer electronics devices. It is compatible with NFC Forum specifications and offers accurate digital wave shaping to guarantee interoperability with all NFC-compliant cards, tags and NFC devices in wearable form factors.

The RF output is 1.0W at the antenna and the reader has high receive sensitivity of – 80dBc for reliable connectivity in general electronics systems. The RF performance enables designers to implement designs based on an antenna which is smaller than that required by competing NFC readers, said Panthronics.

The company also announced the PTX130R reader which is an upgraded version of the PTX100R reader IC for point of sale terminals.

It is the first Panthronics reader IC to feature native support for the Android operating environment and provides a way for designers to add NFC communications capability to embedded computing systems built around a touchscreen display.

It is suitable for static and mobile point of sale terminals and can also provide NFC connectivity in embedded computing devices. Typical examples include scanners, automated service points such as self-check-in terminals at hotels and secure access control and home and building automation equipment which has a display-enabled HMI (human machine interface).

RF output is more than 2W at the antenna enabling the PTX103R to comply with the strict requirements of the EMVCo standard for payment card transactions even when operating via an antenna which is placed close to or behind a noisy display, explained Panthronics.

The PTX105R and PTX130R NFC readers, like the PTX100R versions, use the company’s sine wave silicon architecture to offer higher sensitivity, more accurate wave-shaping, higher output power and a simpler hardware implementation than conventional NFC reader ICs based on a square wave architecture, said Panthronics.

For mobile phone and point of sale terminal users, this means operations are completed faster and with easier validation of conformance with standards such as EMVCo 3.1. Panthronics readers also typically offer a read range 40 per cent higher than that provided by conventional readers based on a square wave architecture, Panthronics reported.

Evaluation kits for the PTX105R and PTX130R are available directly from Panthronics. They provide an operating environment including the antenna, to enable design engineers to evaluate NFC performance. Panthronics also supplies an NFC connectivity board based on the PTX105R for the Renesas Quick-Connect IoT rapid system prototyping platform.

http://www.panthronics.com.

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HighTec supports ST’s Stellar SR6x automotive MCU family

Tue, Nov 29, 2022

Authorised ST partner, HighTec has announced that its Eclipse-based multi-architecture and multi-core compiler suite now supports ST Microelectronics’ latest Stellar 32-bit microcontroller series, the SR6x, for automotive software development.

HighTec’s compiler suite already supports the SPC5x 32-bit microcontroller family from STMicroelectronics.

The HighTec C/C++ compiler and its standard libraries are qualified according to ISO 26262 ASIL D. The associated qualification packages accelerate the development of safe automotive applications and could lead to the era of the software-defined vehicle. In its support for the Stellar SR6x family, HighTec will also offer its certified micro kernel real time operating system (RTOS) PXROS-HR, for data protection, functional safety for automotive applications, said the company.

ST’s Stellar SR6x family of 32-bit microcontrollers includes multiple series to address a range of automotive applications, such as zone and domain controllers that simplify in-vehicle wiring to support the transition to software-defined platforms. There is also support for central gateways, body integration controllers, drivetrain and motion control processors, and electric vehicle battery management. Stellar SR6x MCUs are based on up to six Arm Cortex-R52 cores with lockstep and split/lock capability. This ensures performance, real time processing and freedom from interference while running multiple applications in parallel, said HighTec.

The 32-bit automotive MCUs embed an EVITA-compliant, ISO 21434-compliant hardware security module (HSM) for cybersecurity protection. They also meet the requirements of security levels up to ASIL D, according to ISO 26262. A hypervisor enables the management of multiple virtual machines without interference, said Hightec. For over the air software updates, the memory architecture enables the duplication of the NVM (non-volatile memory) to eliminate downtime and the need to allocate extra memory.

The HighTec C/C++ compiler is based on the open-source technology LLVM.

In addition to the compiler and the real-time operating system, automotive developers can obtain other ST automotive software components from HighTec. These include MCAL, components for safety development such as CST (CoreSelfTest), IST (InstructionSelfTest), and an MCAL qualification package for ISO 26262-compliant software development, as well as other security components such as HSMs.

HighTec’s support team provides development and consulting services regarding performance optimisation, functional safety, porting from single core to multi-core systems and in AutoSAR environments.

http://www.hightec-rt.com

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Proximity sensors save light energy in buildings and IT

Sun, Nov 27, 2022

Ultra-wideband (UWB) proximity sensors by Novelda save power in building lighting systems, and computers, smart appliances, chargers, smart locks, by only activating lights, LCD screens or any other enabled devices when users are present. The proximity sensor powers them down again as soon as users leave the detection zone.

The proximity sensor can extend LCD screen life from two to 10 years, lowering operational costs and enhancing sustainability through energy savings, the company says. The occupancy sensor features a configurable timeout of two minutes, reduced from the 15 minute timeout of competing lighting products, which offers significant energy savings while being able to detect occupants even when they are sitting still. It turns lights off soon after occupants leave the detection zone.

The sensor can enhance LCD screen lifetime, increases interactivity and gives devices an automated, power-saving mechanism. Its approach detection feature lights the display immediately upon approach, uses contextual awareness to inform the device of intended use and turns it off automatically once a person leaves the detection zone.

The sensor offers absolute range and a wide field of view. It is user configurable for both distance and sensitivity. The zone of interest (detection) can be adjusted from 0.5 meters to 1.5 meters, making the sensor suitable for close range indoor applications.

Latency is less than 0.25 seconds for device activation or deactivation. The radar sensors and SoC measure 12 x 12mm, for unobtrusive use in small enclosures in end products.

The proximity sensor can be used to extend the screen life of advertising signage, vending machines or smart home appliances by a factor of five, says Novelda, i.e. from two to 10 years in high end LCD displays. The sensors also enable these products to be more environmentally friendly by powering down when the product is not in use.

The UWB poximity sensor enables faster wake-up time from low power state when the device is inactive, initiating wake-up from the moment a person is ready to use the device. The sensor also ensures and monitors product usage of process critical equipment, like in automated hand sanitisers.

UWB sensing outperforms technologies like passive infrared or time of flight sensors in terms of accuracy, robustness, cost, power consumption and security. Novelda says its UWB wireless sensors function efficiently without interference in the proximity of other radio frequency (RF) devices.

Demo kits for the Novelda UWB proximity sensor are available upon request.

https://novelda.com/

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Fanless embedded computer supports quadruple displays

Sun, Nov 27, 2022

The latest addition to Aaeon’s fanless embedded Box PC range is the Boxer-6646-ADP. It features 12th Generation Intel Core processors and dual-channel DDR5 support together with Intel Iris Xe Graphics.

The compact PC is equipped with multiple 2.5GbE LAN ports, three 10Gbits per second USB 3.2 slots and a quadruple display interface featuring both HDMI 1.4 and DP 1.4.

Despite its feature set, it is compact, measuring 220 x 154 x 61.6mm (8.66 x 6.06 x 2.42 inches). For accessible expansion options, there is a service window in the chassis for easy access to the system’s M.2 3052, M.2 2230, and M.2 2280 expansion ports. This is a more convenient route to 5G, Wi-Fi, and NVMe module installation, said Aaeon.

The Boxer-6646-ADP is ruggedised for use in harsh environments. It has a wide DC input range of 10 to 35V and an operating temperature of -20 to +60 degrees C, which makes it suitable for used in industrial AMRs (autonomous mobile robots) and automation systems.

In addition, it has reverse power protection, over- and under-voltage and current protection, alongside surge and short-circuit protection to maintain stable operation even in settings with variable power supply sources.

Established in 1992, Aaeon designs and manufactures industrial IoT and AI edge solutions. It produces industrial motherboards and systems, rugged tablets, embedded AI edge systems, uCPE network appliances and LoRaWAN / WWAN solutions. The company also works closely with cities and governments to develop and deploy smart city ecosystems, offering individual platforms and end-to-end solutions. Aaeon also works closely with premier chip designers to deliver stable, reliable platforms, and is a Titanium member of the Intel Internet of Things Solutions Alliance.

http://www.aaeon.com

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NFC reader ICs sharpen digital wave shaping for faster transmission

HighTec supports ST’s Stellar SR6x automotive MCU family

Proximity sensors save light energy in buildings and IT

Fanless embedded computer supports quadruple displays

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