Rohm offers the industry’s smallest terahertz wave oscillation and detection devices

Rohm has begun offering samples of the industry’s smallest terahertz (THz) wave oscillation and detection devices utilising semiconductor elements known as Resonant Tunneling Diodes (RTDs). Terahertz waves are anticipated to be applied to non-destructive testing, imaging, and sensing in the medical and healthcare sectors, as well as potentially future ultra-fast communication technologies. Providing these devices contributes to the advancement of terahertz wave applications.

Rohm has developed a 0.5mm × 0.5mm RTD chip for terahertz wave generation and detection, capable of oscillating and detecting terahertz waves at a frequency of 320GHz (typ.) with an output power ranging from 10 to 20µW. Rohm will begin offering samples of this RTD element mounted in a PLCC package (4.0mm × 4.3mm) commonly used for LEDs. With an extremely compact size, typically one-thousandth of that of conventional oscillators, this innovation enables easy development of terahertz wave applications, even in space-constrained environments.

By positioning the antenna surfaces of the oscillation and detection devices facing each other 10mm apart, a dynamic range of 40dB (typ.) can be achieved. Both oscillator and detector maintain a drive power consumption of 10mW (typ.), while their ability to oscillate and detect terahertz waves at room temperature eliminates the need for cooling equipment required with some conventional methods. These compact, power-saving devices are almost unaffected by the operating environment, enabling use in a wide range of applications.

Rohm offers samples of terahertz wave oscillation and detection devices less than one-tenth the price of conventional devices. Rohm also provides evaluation kits that include an evaluation board and other components, allowing users to easily integrate the devices into a research and development environment. The sale of sample products and evaluation kits requires the prior signing of a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with Rohm.

Occupying the frequency region between radio waves and light, terahertz waves exhibit a variety of distinctive characteristics, including excellent permeability similar to radio waves, straight-line propagation akin to laser beams, and unique absorption properties for materials such as polymers. As such, they are expected to be utilised for non-destructive testing, imaging of humans and materials without the use of dangerous radiation, high-speed communication as an alternative to conventional wireless transmission, and high-resolution radar sensing. However, conventional methods often require large equipment sizes and high implementation costs, often ranging from about tens of thousands to hundreds of thousands of dollars, making it challenging for private companies to actively pursue research or commercialise in the field of practical terahertz applications.

Since the late 2000s, Rohm has engaged in joint research with numerous universities and research institutes, such as the Institute of Science Tokyo and Osaka University. The key aim: developing terahertz wave oscillation and detection devices using RTD technology. Rohm is also involved in several consortia, including national projects (government R&D initiatives) sponsored by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (MIC), the National Institute of Information and Communications Technology (NICT), and the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), as well as the XG Mobile Promotion Forum and the Terahertz System Application Promotion Council.

In addition to various support contents, Rohm also offers evaluation kits that include devices and evaluation boards.

By combining measurement tools like Analog Discovery 3 from Digilent with a computer and software, users can easily operate terahertz wave oscillation and detection devices. Miniaturising both the device and evaluation board makes it possible to create a research and development environment even in limited spaces, such as a desktop.

https://www.rohm.com

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Gasless DC power relays provide safe and effective high voltage interruption at up to 200 A

Omron has added two new variants to its extensive DC power relay portfolio. The G9EK-1-UTU and G9EK-1-E provide compact yet high-capacity gasless interruption for large currents and high voltages of 500 VDC or more. The relays’ make them ideal for applications such as fast DC EV chargers, batteries, and PV inverters.

High short-circuit performance is essential for applications such as batteries that carry large currents. In many cases contactors are used, however these are often large in size, taking up valuable space within an application design. The G9EK-1-UTU DC power relay achieves 500 VDC at 120 A, while the G9EK-1-E achieves 500 VDC at 200 A, and both are capable of withstanding large currents of up to 5,000 A during abnormal conditions. Each relay has the same dimensions of 64.2 mm (H) x 86 mm (W) x 47.7 mm (L). The devices’ design requires no arc space, ensuring safe operation while permitting smaller application designs. Each relay achieves bi-directional performance and has high maximum interruption current which is 500A for G9KE-1-UTU, and 1000A for G9EK-E as emergency shutdown of applications. Two units in series can safely interrupt a total of 1,000VDC, allowing greater resistance to short-circuit currents, while enhancing application performance.

The relays are optimised for use in mobility applications, with high vibration and shock resistance, and can withstand an impact of up to 100 G and continue to operate. The products are tested to reach a minimum mechanical switching endurance of 200,000 operations. A proprietary gasless design cools arcs without the need for any special parts or materials in the manufacturing process, which has helped to significantly reduce the devices’ carbon footprint compared to other equivalent competitor products, while eliminating the possibility of gas leakage.

https://www.omron.com

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Rohm develops a 1kW class high power infrared laser diode

Rohm has developed a high output laser diode – RLD8BQAB3 – for use in ADAS (Advanced Driver Assistance Systems) equipped with LiDAR for distance measurement and spatial recognition. Rohm will initially start supplying samples targeting consumer and industrial applications such as drones, robot vacuum cleaners, AGVs (Automated Guided Vehicles), and service robots.

LiDAR is seeing growing adoption in recent years across a variety of applications that require automation such as automotive ADAS, AGVs, drones, and robot vacuums, facilitating precise distance measurement and spatial recognition. To detect information at greater distances with more accuracy, there is a need for laser diodes that serve as light sources to achieve high kW-level output while allowing multiple light sources to emit light at close intervals.

Rohm has established proprietary patented technology that achieves the narrow emission width of lasers, enhancing the long-distance, high accuracy LiDAR, beginning with the commercialisation of the 25W output RLD90QZW5 in 2019 and high-power 120W RLD90QZW8 in 2023. Building on these successes they have developed a new 125W 8ch (1kW class) array-type product that meets the demand for a high output, high performance laser diode.

The RLD8BQAB3 is an ultra-compact surface mount high-output 125W × 8ch infrared laser diode for LiDAR applications that utilise 3D ToF systems to carry out distance measurement and spatial recognition. The optimised design features 8 emission areas (each 300µm wide) per element, installed on a submount affixed to a high heat dissipation substrate.

The package’s emitting surface incorporates a clear glass cap – an industry first for a surface mount laser diode – eliminating the risk of light scattering caused by scratches during dicing that tends to occur with resin-encapsulated products, ensuring high beam quality. Each emission area is wired with a common cathode, enabling the selection of the irradiation method based on application needs – ranging from individual emission that increases the number of light-emitting points to industry-leading* simultaneous emission at ultra-high outputs of 1kW class.

The new product retains the key features of Rohm’s conventional laser diodes, including uniform emission intensity across the emission width along with a low wavelength temperature dependence of 0.1nm/°C (vs 0.26 to 0.28nm/°C for standard products). On top, the array configuration narrows the regions of reduced emission intensity between channels, while the bandpass filter minimises the effects of ambient light noise from the sun and other sources, contributing to long-distance detection and high-definition LiDAR.

https://www.rohm.com

 

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Nexperia enhances Energy Harvesting portfolio with innovative PMIC reducing BOM cost

Nexperia is expanding its energy harvesting portfolio with the NEH71x0 power management IC (PMIC) family. This advanced PMIC line combines performance, cost-efficiency, and versatility, setting a new standard in sustainable design for low power applications. These devices eliminate the need for an external inductor, reducing circuit board space and bill-of-materials (BOM) cost. It is available in a compact 4 mm x 4 mm QFN28 package. Applications include remote controls, key fobs, smart tags, asset trackers, occupancy sensors, environmental monitors, wearables, keyboards, tire pressure monitors, and any number of Internet of Things (IoT) applications.

These new PMICs represent a complete power management solution for energy harvesting: enabling engineers to extend battery life, recharge batteries or supercapacitors, and even eliminate batteries in certain designs, thanks to its cold start feature. With the NEH71x0 (NEH7100BU, NEH7110BU) PMICs, designers can choose from multiple ambient power sources such as light, kinetic/piezo or a temperature gradient. With an input power range from 15μW to 100mW, these high-performance energy harvesting ICs can convert energy with an efficiency of up to 95%. These devices include an on-chip maximum power point tracking (MPPT) adaptive algorithm to optimise the energy harvested, which adapts every 0.5 second, making the PMIC extremely responsive to changing environmental conditions.

The NEH71x0 family integrates a range of power management features to protect batteries and storage elements, including over-voltage protection, low-voltage detection, and over-current protection. The addition of a low dropout (LDO) regulator and USB charging further reduces the BOM cost and simplifies the design process. For greater functionality, the NEH710BU variant includes I2C programmability and measurement readings, giving engineers additional flexibility and control in their designs.

NEH71x0 complements NEH2000, Nexperia’s first energy harvesting power management IC – a compact, low-BOM converter – by adding more advanced energy harvesting features and a new set of power management features, marking the next step in a growing roadmap of innovative inductor-less energy harvesting products.

https://www.nexperia.com/energyharvesting

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