Infineon announces advanced MEMS-based ultrasound transducer

Infineon has made significant progress in developing the technology for capacitive micromechanical ultrasonic transducers (CMUT). The technology enables the company to manufacture the first integrated one-chip solution for MEMS-based ultrasonic transducer that offers a smaller footprint, improved performance, and higher functionality. Such integration makes the new device ideal for developing new ultrasonic applications and improving existing applications in consumer electronics, the automotive industry, and medical technology.

Unlike conventional piezoelectric bulk materials, which rely on the deformation of the material itself, CMUT transmit and detect ultrasonic waves via the deflection of a micro-machined, semiconductor diaphragm. This principle, along with their compact size, low-power consumption, and high performance, enable the devices to enhance various ultrasound applications. Compared to a discrete solution, Infineon’s monolithic integration of MEMS and ASIC reduces the noise floor by 20 times and improve the absolute signal by 1000 times compared to conventional piezoelectric ceramics of a similar size. Leveraging its expertise in semiconductor design and manufacturing, Infineon can apply its advanced technology across a wide range of industries, from consumer electronics to medical devices.

Infineon’s CMUT technology enables solid-state touch buttons under any solid material, such as glass and even metal, without deforming the surface. This allows a more durable and reliable alternative to conventional mechanical buttons to be implemented, reducing the risk of wear and tear, and increasing the overall lifespan of devices. Compared to capacitive touch buttons, which can be affected by environmental factors such as humidity and temperature, CMUT-based touch buttons offer full water compatibility as well as high EMC robustness. Since the technology reduces the size of the buttons, they can be integrated into various devices, from smartphones to industrial control panels. Examples include touch buttons below the metal frame of a mobile phone or replacing car door handles for a neat design.

Several home appliance devices can profit from Infineon’s CMUT as soon as they require liquid level sensing. CMUT offer several advantages, including continuous fill level measurement, low power consumption, and easy, non-invasive mounting below the bottom of the tank. The latter is important to measure, e.g., chemicals in washing machines or dish washers, where contact electrodes are at risk to corrode.

The CMUT technology can also be used to develop innovative medical devices that utilise ultrasound technology, such as wearable devices for vital signs monitoring, health tracking, and non-invasive medical diagnostics. Leveraging CMUT technology, the devices provide continuous monitoring and feedback rather than a single measurement, which can detect potential health issues earlier and improve patient outcome. With their compact size and low-power requirements, they are ideal for wearable and point-of-care applications.

https://www.infineon.com/

> Read More

Industrial-grade fanless IoT Edge computer with USB Type-C PD 60W support

IBASE has revealed its latest fanless IoT edge computing solution, the ACS200-210. Powered by Intel Core i3-N305 and Intel Atom x7000E/N-series processors (formerly Alder Lake-N and Amston Lake-N), the ACS200-210 is engineered to operate reliably in harsh environments, with an extended temperature range of -30°C to 60°C, making it an ideal choice for critical IoT edge deployments.

The industrial-grade ACS200-210 includes USB Type-C PD 60W support, enabling high-power peripherals or large, high-brightness monitors via a single USB-C cable connection. It supports up to 16GB of DDR5-4800 memory, dual 2.5G Ethernet ports, and an array of versatile COM ports (RS232/422/485), with optional configurations for up to 6 COM ports (with Pin 9 selectable power: 5V/12V).

This system also includes four digital inputs (DI) and four digital outputs (DO) for additional control functions, along with six USB ports (two USB 3.2 and four USB 2.0). Expansion capabilities are further enhanced with three M.2 sockets that support Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, 4G/5G communication, and a Nano SIM slot for seamless connectivity. The ACS200-210 is equipped with TPM 2.0 hardware security and a wide-range DC power input (9V~36V). Additionally, a wire remote power switch offers convenient system control for industrial environments.

For installation flexibility, the ACS200-210 supports VESA (75×75, 100×100), wall-mount, and DIN-Rail configurations, enabling it to adapt to various deployment scenarios. The system also features HDMI video output and dual LAN interfaces, making it an excellent fit for IoT edge, smart factory operations, and other industrial applications.

https://www.ibase.com.tw

> Read More

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

> Read More

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

> Read More

About Smart Cities

This news story is brought to you by smartcitieselectronics.com, the specialist site dedicated to delivering information about what’s new in the Smart City Electronics industry, with daily news updates, new products and industry news. To stay up-to-date, register to receive our weekly newsletters and keep yourself informed on the latest technology news and new products from around the globe. Simply click this link to register here: Smart Cities Registration