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R-Car development kit assembles tools for deep learning in vehicle design

Wed, Sep 22, 2021

Software development and validation for smart camera and automated driving applications in passenger, commercial and off-road vehicles can be accelerated using the R-Car software development kit, says Renesas Electronics. The single, multi-OS software platform is easy for customers to access, learn, use, and install, claims the company.

Deep learning is being used by vehicle manufacturers to enable smart camera applications and automated driving systems. Most however are built on consumer or server applications, which do not operate under the same stringent constraints for functional safety, real-time responsiveness, and low power consumption.

Optimised for use with Renesas’ R-Car V3H and R-Car V3M SoCs, the R-Car SDK is built for rule-based automotive computer vision and AI-based functions. The simulation platform offers both AI and conventional hardware accelerators for accurate simulations in real time. Renesas has already confirmed that it will continue to strengthen this virtual platform. A full suite of development PC-based tools is delivered for both Windows and Linux as well as multiple libraries, including support for deep learning, computer vision, video codecs, and 3D graphics. The SDK supports Linux, multiple ASIL-D-compliant operating systems (e.g., QNX, eMCOS, and Integrity) in a single package.

A version of the e² studio is available for the R-Car V series, focusing on the creation of real-time computer vision applications for ADAS and automated driving. The open-source Eclipse-based development environment includes a full set of debug features and an e² studio GUI (graphics user interface) that allows users to customise and integrate third-party tools. It also supports bus monitoring and debug functionalities for image processing and deep learning subsystems.

Software samples, popular CNN networks, a workshop, and application notes are included for a quick start for development. The SDK is also suitable for benchmarking Renesas products and to select the most appropriate SoC for a target application.

The automatic installer ensures all the software libraries and the development environment can be launched quickly on a development workstation. Applications developed and designed on a PC can be seamlessly ported to embedded development hardware. Renesas’ R-Car partner ecosystem – the R-Car Consortium – will have access to the R-Car SDK.

The R-Car SDK is available now.

https://www.renesas.com

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Wireless power receiver is engineered for charge sharing

Wed, Sep 22, 2021

Faster wireless charging and flexible charge sharing can enhance the use of portable and mobile devices for use in the home, office, industry, healthcare and in-car applications. The STWLC98 integrated wireless power receiver can be combined with the STWBC2-HP transmitter for a transmit-receive system capable of delivering

STMicroelectronics says that the STWLC98 can fully charge high-end smartphones, which contain high-capacity batteries, in just under 30 minutes. It can also be used for fast and convenient contactless charging, freeing the user from the restrictions of cables, sockets, and restrictive connections and allowing the designer to simplify enclosure designs, reduce cost and complexity and implement slimline styles, says the company.

The STWLC98 integrated wireless power receiver complies with the Qi EPP 1.3 wireless charging standard, commonly used in the smartphone industry. It has a 32-bit Arm Cortex-M3 core which supports built-in protection and its embedded OS simplifies Qi 1.3 certification.

The STWBC2-HP transmitter IC can work with ST’s STSAFE-A110 secure element to store official Qi certificates and provides authentication using cryptography. Support for the ST Super Charge (STSC) protocol enables fast charging up to the maximum power-transfer rate of 70W.

The STWLC98 features ST’s proprietary Adaptive Rectifier Configuration (ARC) mode that enhances the ping-up and power transfer spatial freedom of the system in both horizontal and vertical directions without any change in hardware or coil optimisation. Enabling ARC mode, which transforms the whole surface of the transmitter as usable charging area, increases the ping-up distance by up to 50 per cent in all directions, says ST.

The STWLC98 works directly with the STWBC2-HP, which contains a USB-PD interface, digital buck/boost DC/DC converter, full-bridge inverter, three half-bridge drivers, and voltage, current, and phase sensors. Controlled by a Cortex-M0+ core, the STWBC2-HP executes a patented fast PID (proportional integral derivative) controller loop and also supports the STSC protocol.

The 70W wireless charging chipset can be deployed in smartphones, tablets, laptops, power banks, True Wireless Stereo (TWS) devices, Bluetooth speakers, and AR / VR headsets. Designers can also extend fast and convenient wireless charging to medical equipment like monitors and medicine pumps, as well as cordless power tools, mobile robots, drones, and e-bikes. The chipset is also suited in-cabin charging solutions and wireless charging of various modules on-board a vehicle.

Built-in power management means the STWLC98 has an energy-saving low power standby mode and total end-to-end charging system efficiency which can exceed 90 per cent to meet stringent eco-design targets. The power charger chip features dedicated hardware and advanced algorithms that were developed to address challenges in ASK and FSK communication during high power delivery.

Safety features include foreign object detection (FOD), which leverages high-accuracy current-sense IP, Q-factor detection, and robust communication between transmitter and receiver

The STWLC98 can also operate in high-efficiency transmitter mode to allow high power charge sharing between devices. Coupled with the STWLC98’s embedded Q-factor detection – believed to be the first in a receiver device, it ensures safe operation in transmitter mode.

The PC-based graphical tool, ST Wireless Power Studio, is available for free download.

The STWLC98 is available now in a 4.3 x 3.9mm 90-bump, 0.4mm pitch WLCSP and the STWBC2-HP is available in an 8.0 x 8.0mm VFQFPN, 68-pin, 0.4mm pitch package.

http://www.st.com

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Configurable digital gate driver complements Microchip’s SiC MOSFET range

Tue, Sep 21, 2021

SiC 4digital gate driver technology announced by Microchip provides multiple levels of control and protection in electric transportation power systems. The AgileSwitch 2ASC-12A2HP 1200V dual-channel digital gate driver reduces switching losses says Microchip, and accelerates time to market.

Designers of SiC-based power conversion equipment can use the production-qualified and configurable dual-channel digital gate driver with Augmented Switching technology. It provides multiple levels of control and a higher level of protection for SiC MOSFET-based power systems. The AgileSwitch gate driver includes the ability to dampen drain source voltage (Vds) overshoots by up to 80 per cent, claims Microchip and it can reduce switching losses by as much as 50 per cent. The 2ASC-12A2HP digital gate driver can source / sink up to 10A of peak current and includes an isolated DC/DC converter with low capacitance isolation barrier for pulse width modulation signals and fault feedback.

The 2ASC-12A2HP gate driver is compatible with the company’s latest release of the Intelligent Configuration Tool (ICT). This interface allows users to configure gate driver parameters including the gate switching profiles, system critical monitors and controller interface settings to tailor a gate driver to specific applications without having to change hardware, thus accelerating development time from evaluation through production and providing the ability to change control parameters during the design process. The ICT is provided as a free-of-charge download and can save designers approximately three to six months of development time on new designs, claims Microchip.

“The societal trend toward electrification of all vehicles including buses, trains, trams and agriculture transportation hinges on innovative power electronic solutions to get more productivity from less energy,” says Leon Gross, vice president of Microchip’s discrete product business unit. “When combined with our silicon carbide [SiC] power devices, this gate driver technology enables engineers to achieve new levels of power density in transportation systems and industrial applications,” he explained.

In addition to commercial vehicles, the driver can be used in the charging infrastructure, energy storage systems, solar inverters and aircraft flight actuators. It is compatible with the company’s portfolio of SiC power devices and modules and is interoperable with other manufacturers’ SiC products.

The AgileSwitch 2ASC-12A2HP digital gate driver is supported by the ICT including starter settings for many commercially-available SiC switches. The gate driver also is supported by a family of module adapter boards to help designers connect to several different footprints, as well as the company’s Augmented Switching accelerated development kits (ASDAK) that include gate drivers, module adapter boards, a programming kit and the ICT software for SiC MOSFET modules.

The AgileSwitch 2ASC-12A2HP digital gate driver is available now for volume production.

http://www.microchip.com

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ST expands STM32WB’s development tools and software

Mon, Sep 20, 2021

Firmware and tools for the STM32WB wireless microcontrollers have been added by STMicroelectronics. The wireless microcontrollers can be incorporated in economic, power-efficient wireless equipment for smart buildings, smart industrial systems and smart infrastructure.

The integrated STM32WB contains a 2.4GHz radio and Arm Cortex-M4 and Cortex-M0+ microcontroller on the same chip, which eliminates RF circuit design challenges which can impede a design project. A small number of external components are needed, such as an antenna, to complete the hardware design, says ST. The microcontroller includes a 12-bit ADC, digital interfaces and a crystal-less USB 2.0 full speed interface in selected models. It supports Bluetooth Low Energy 5.2, Zigbee, OpenThread and proprietary protocols, including combinations of protocols with concurrent modes.

Development tools and software in the STM32Cube ecosystem is supported by third party developer resources.

The STM32WB ecosystem provides all the necessary embedded software bricks and tools to get users started easily with their applications. The STM32CubeWB microcontroller package has examples and a set of peripheral drivers, together with radio stacks including Bluetooth 5.2, Zigbee 3.0, OpenThread v1.1 and 802.15.4 MAC for proprietary protocols, as well as example implementations of several concurrency models (static and/or dynamic) for these stacks.

Software tools like STM32CubeMX and STM32CubeIDE offer direct support of the radio stacks in their GUI (graphical user interface) for easy access and configuration. Users can select and configure profiles and clusters for popular standards and access ready-to-use examples.

Extra controls for the power estimation tool contained in the STM32CubeMX configurator help calculate the RF-subsystem contribution to overall power consumption budget. Users can set up various scenarios to assess battery runtime.

Another introduction is the STM32CubeMonitor-RF evaluation tool. Supporting Bluetooth Low Energy and generic 802.15.4 radio technologies, STM32CubeMonitor-RF performs transmission / reception tests and RF measurements. It also assists writing test scripts and testing protocol and command sequences. The latest version introduces a sniffer capability for 802.15.4 protocols to develop products for mesh networks.

All tools and radio protocol stacks within the STM32CubeWB wireless ecosystem are appropriately certified and provided free of charge, along with documentation detailing the accompanying Bluetooth 5.2 and 802.15.4 certification items.

Evaluation boards for STM32WB wireless microcontrollers are the P- NUCLEO-WB55 pack with Nucleo-64 board and USB dongle, NUCLEO-WB55RG and NUCLEO-WB15CC Nucleo-64 boards, and STM32WB5MM-DK Discovery kit.

http://www.st.com

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R-Car development kit assembles tools for deep learning in vehicle design

Wireless power receiver is engineered for charge sharing

Configurable digital gate driver complements Microchip’s SiC MOSFET range

ST expands STM32WB’s development tools and software

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