Latest News

Digital pixel readout IC works with existing technology

Fri, Oct 07, 2022

Able to work with existing detector and optics technology, the Calcium high dynamic range digital pixel readout IC is available from Senseeker Engineering in an industry standard format and available for commercial use.

The 20 micron, 640 x 512mm Calcium RP0033 DPROIC (digital pixel readout IC) has a dynamic range above 120dB and a frame rate of up to 700 frames per second. 

It can be used with existing detector and optics technology, said Senseeker. Customers can accelerate development of high dynamic range, infrared focal plane arrays (FPAs) by hybridising available off-the-shelf detectors with this advanced commercial readout, explained the company.

The Calcium RP0033 has dual gain modes and programmable well capacities of over 40 Me- and 400 Me-, each with low read noise of 50 and 330 electrons at 80K, respectively. The chip is controlled through Senseeker’s SenSPI serial peripheral interface to facilitate communications. It can operate in both integrate-then-read and integrate-while-read modes and has programmable windows to observe and track targets at thousands of frames per second. 

“This chip is designed to make extremely advanced digital pixel technology accessible to everyone,” said Senseeker’s president, Kenton Veeder. Developers can attach a detector and drop the IC behind existing optics or in a Senseeker sensor test unit to begin imaging with single-digit mK NETD.

Senseeker’s Calcium architecture is stitchable up to a 4k x 4k array size. This allows the proven base design to be electronically stitched together in blocks of 512 x 512 rows and columns to grow a family of DPROICs from small to very large formats.  Larger format Calcium DPROICs are already in development, with a 2k x 1k unit coming soon.

The Calcium RP0033 is in production now and is supported by an electronics evaluation kit also available from Senseeker. 

The Calcium DPROIC is already being used by QmagiQ to develop SLS FPAs for the next generation of infrared imaging, revealed Mani Sundaram, president and CEO at QmagiQ.

https://www.senseeker.com

> Read More

Six external magnetic mount antennas serve 5G, ISM and LPWA applications

Thu, Oct 06, 2022

Linx Technologies has introduced six external magnetic-mount antennas serving 5G cellular, ISM (industrial, scientific and medical) and low power wide area (LPWA) applications.

Two models, the ANT-2.4-MMG1-SMA and ANT-2.4-MMG2-SMA are designed for Wi-Fi / WLAN and 2.4 GHz ISM band applications such as Bluetooth and Zigbee. 

Two others, the ANT-5GW-MMG1-SMA and ANT-5GW-MMG2-SMA antennas are designed for 5G New Radio, LTE and cellular IoT (LTE-M, NB-IoT) applications. 

The final pair, the ANT-8/9-MMG1-SMA and ANT-8/9-MMG2-SMA antennas are designed for use in 868 and 915MHz bands for low power wide area (LPWA) applications such as LoRaWAN and Wi-Fi HaLow, as well as ISM and remote control applications.

All six antennas provide ground plane independent dipole antenna options which mount to ferrous metallic surfaces via an integrated magnetic base. The antennas terminate in an SMA plug (male pin) connector on a one, two or three metre length of RG-174/U coaxial cable.

The magnetic mount antennas enable users to expand the reach of their systems by mounting the antenna away from the radio, commented Rick Stuby, Linx Technologies’ vice president of product management. The small size makes them inconspicuous and easy to manage, he added.

The magnetic mount antennas are available now via Linx Technologies’ distributor and manufacturer representative networks.

Linx Technologies strives to minimise the risk, delays, and technical challenges for design engineers to make products wireless and connect them to the IoT. 

Linx manufactures wireless components including antennas, RF connectors and cables, RF modules and remote controls. The company is part of TE Connectivity, a sensor and connectivity provider whose products are proven in the harshest environments, enable advancements in transportation, industrial applications, medical technology, energy, data communications and the home, said the company.

https://www.linxtechnologies.com

> Read More

5Mpixel image sensor is sensitive for professional security cameras

Thu, Oct 06, 2022

The OS05B is a 5Mpixel CMOS image sensor has a 2.0 micron pixel in a 1/2.78 inch optical format that has high sensitivity and dynamic range for professional and high end security cameras, said Omnivision.

The OS05B CMOS image sensor can also be used in industrial and factory surveillance systems, webcams and high-end baby monitors. It is based on the PureCel Plus technology and features Omnivision’s Nyxel near-infrared (NIR) technology for crisp, clear images in low light conditions.

According to Cheney Zhang, senior marketing manager at Omnvision, the OS05B, is available as an upgrade to the OS05A image sensor, introduced five years ago. It is claimed to have the best NIR QE and low-light performance in a 5Mpixel, small package size. “The OS05B is ideal for professional security cameras, for example in industrial and factory applications, where it is important to capture clear video at night while also maintaining low power,” he added.

Signal to noise ratio has been improved by 32 per cent, compared with the OS05A, and NIR QE at 940nm is improved by 24 per cent. The OS05B also has selective conversion gain which increases sensitivity and reduces the readout noise level for optimum SNR under low-light conditions. Low conversion gain also achieves a higher full well capacity in bright conditions. It captures high resolution video at 60 frames per second with two-exposure staggered HDR. The OS05B supports MIPI and LVDS interfaces. 

Samples of the OS05B are available in Q4 2022, and it will be in mass production in Q1 2023. 

Omnivision is a global fabless semiconductor organisation that develops advanced digital imaging, analogue and touch and display solutions for multiple applications and industries, including mobile phones, security and surveillance, automotive, computing, medical and emerging applications. 

http://www.ovt.com 

> Read More

eFuse ICs protect and control circuits in datacomms and industry

Thu, Oct 06, 2022

Four ICs have been developed by Littelfuse to protect, sense and control consumer, datacomms and industrial electronics. There are four eFuse Protection ICs available from Littelfuse.

The ICs are designed to provide a wide range of power input (3.3V to 28V) and integrated protection in the form of over-voltage, over-current, short circuit, inrush current, reverse current, and over-temperature protection with real-time diagnostics – all in a single chip.

The LS0504EVT233 is a 5V, 4A IC with over-voltage, over-current protection in an SOT23-3 package. The LS0505EVD22 is a 5V, 5A model with over-voltage and over-current protection in a DFN 2.0 x 2.0mm package. The LS1205ExD33 is an 18V, 5A IC with programmable current limit and output voltage clamp in a DFN 3.0 x 3.0mm package. The fourth model, the LS2406ERQ23 is a 28V, 6A true reverse block, fast role swap IC in a QFN 2.5 x 3.2mm package. 

The ICs can be used in Bluetooth headsets, wearable devices, PCs as well as tablets and notebooks, charging cables, battery-powered and adapter powered devices, networking and datacomms power systems, fan control HDD and SDD storage drives and industrial equipment with 12/24V power I/O.   

The ICs provide an accurate current limiter, with faster response time and more integrated protection features than traditional fuses and PTCs, claimed Littelfuse. They also have design flexibility with adjustable over-voltage threshold, current limiting, and inrush current protection, with true reverse current blocking. The integrated ICs save PCB space and reduce the bill of material cost, while reducing design-in phase and time to market compared to typical discrete solutions, such as a hot-swap controller and MOSFET combination, said the company.

They are also claimed to increase battery life, lower repair costs and extend overall product lifetime.

  “Providing a low power consumption, high accuracy current limiting circuit with quick response time makes them a win-win-win for many portable electronics and datacom applications,” said Bernie Hsieh, assistant product manager of the Protection Semiconductor business team at Littelfuse.

The eFuse Protection ICs are available in tape and reel format in quantities through authorised Littelfuse distributors worldwide. 

 http://www.Littelfuse.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