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M.2 cards let i.MX users try wireless connectivity options

Fri, Jul 09, 2021

A set of Wi-Fi 5, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth expansion cards which plug into NXP Semiconductors’ i.MX processor evaluation kits allow users to try connectivity options, says u-blox. The cards conform to the M.2 form factor and integrate u-blox modules powered by wireless SoCs from NXP.

The cards use NXP’s integrated 88W8987 and 88Q9098 Wi-Fi 6 + Bluetooth chipsets and easily plug into the M.2 sockets to evaluate i.MX and development kits are claimed to make it significantly easier for developers to explore the many wireless connectivity possibilities enabled by their modules.

u-blox has launched two wireless connectivity cards based on its JODY modules. The cards are built to the M.2 Type 2230 Key E form factor, for which sockets are provided on the latest range of NXP i.MX evaluation boards.

The M2-JODY-W3 card comprises a u-blox JODY-W3 Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.1 module. The module’s NXP 88Q9098 chipset supports IEEE 802.11ax and dual mode Bluetooth 5.1. It runs concurrent dual band Wi-Fi 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz networks using dual MACs, and 2×2 MIMO antenna set-up in each band.

Bluetooth support in the M2-JODY-W3 includes dual-mode Bluetooth 5.1 Classic and LE, as well as the standard’s long-range operation option. The M2-JODY-M3 card supports simultaneous operation of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Its Wi-Fi functionality includes simultaneous access point, station, or Wi-Fi Direct modes.

The M2-JODY-W2 card features a u-blox JODY-W2 Wi-Fi 5 and Bluetooth 5 module, which uses the NXP 88W8987 chipset to support IEEE 802.11ac and Bluetooth/Bluetooth Low Energy 5. The card supports dual-band Wi-Fi to the 802.11a/b/g/n/ac standards.

The card also supports dual-mode Bluetooth 5 operation and is capable of dual port simultaneous operation of Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, and its Wi-Fi functionality also includes simultaneous access point, station, or Wi-Fi direct modes.

The cards can be used as a way of evaluating wireless connectivity options in the context of both NXP i.MX evaluation kits and embedded systems boards built by NXP partners. The cards can be used in industrial automation, vehicle navigation and telematics, in-vehicle infotainment and hands-free audio, remote diagnostics and patient monitoring, security cameras, payment terminals, and other applications requiring high data rates, says u-blox.

The M2-JODY-W3 and M2-JODY-W2 cards can be used with legacy evaluation boards that do not feature an M.2 socket as a convenient microSD-to-M.2 adapter that connects to a standard microSD socket, or a microSD-to-SD adapter for boards with a standard SD socket.

http://www.u-blox.com

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Modular IoT development system reduces development time, says Renesas

Thu, Jul 08, 2021

To ease the prototyping of IoT systems, Renesas has introduced the Quick-Connect IoT system, consisting of standardised boards and interfaces. Designers can quickly connect a range of sensors to microcontroller development boards. The system also delivers core software building blocks that are portable between boards, which greatly reduces coding requirements, says Renesas.

Working with Digilent, Renesas has created a new, expanded I2C Pmod Interface, Type 6A, for wider coverage and added flexibility. Renesas has standardised the Pmod 6A connector from Digilent for new sensor Pmods and microcontroller development kits. This standardisation allows designers to select the optimal combination for any IoT prototype design, says Renesas. Microcontroller boards will have two Pmod connectors, one for a sensor Pmod, and another for a communications module. The Pmods can also be cascaded for even greater flexibility, advises Renesas.

Common software application program interfaces (APIs) and hardware abstraction layer (HAL) code have been redefined for a wide variety of sensors. These are embedded into the Renesas e2 studio integrated development environment (IDE). Now, instead of writing and testing hundreds of lines of driver code, designers only need to graphically select their sensor and write a few lines of code. “We will expand its coverage to support more boards and devices in the future. Additionally, having a standardised hardware connectivity platform allows customers to use compatible Pmods developed by third parties and other suppliers.”

“The new Pmod interface Type 6A . . . conforms to the I2C specifications with an optional interrupt and reset pin plus optional control signals, giving users added flexibility for diverse types of system development,” said Talesa Bleything, director of marketing at Digilent.

Initially, Quick-Connect IoT will include over a dozen new Renesas sensor Pmods and other modular boards, including air quality sensors, flow sensors, bio-sensing, time of flight, temperature and other sensing elements.

Further sensor Pmods are under development that will include a variety of sensors and peripherals. Over 25 microcontroller development boards and kits spanning the RA, RX and RL78 families are compatible with the Pmod Type 6A standard, either directly or through a small interposer board developed by Renesas. RE and RZ development boards will be supported in the near future.

Development kits, sensor and interposer boards can be ordered through Renesas sales and sample channels.

http://www.renesas.com

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Development kit can fast-track IoT application development says TT Electronics

Thu, Jul 08, 2021

TT has collected system on module (SoM), an evaluation board and accessories into the S-2Connect Creo development kit to accelerate R&D for connected applications.

The S-2Connect Creo development kit with LTE Cat M1 / NB-IoT is designed for software developers to reduce R&D risk and fast-track IoT development, says the company.

The S-2Connect Creo SoM is a robust, scalable, and cost-effective embedded SoM, says TT Electronics. It is based on the Linux operating system for building industrial IoT products. It has a powerful processor and cellular connectivity for global coverage, and acts as a communication bridge for true real-time sensing and positioning data. Creo SoM offers multiple industry standard interfaces suitable for a wide range of applications such as automation, asset tracking, mobile healthcare, and broader industrial IoT and is pre-certified for Europe, UK, US, and Canada.

The S-2Connect evaluation board is a tool intended to be used by developers of application code for the S-2Connect Creo SoM. It features interfaces via drive circuits and connectors, interfaces via pin headers, power supply, man-machine interaction, and Raspberry Pi hat interface.

Accessories provided with the kit are USB cable, Ethernet cable, LTE antenna, GNSS antenna, SD card, six jumpers for 2.54 mm headers, and power supply with interchangeable plugs.

The Creo SoM can communicate with any server system via cellular network. It uses LTE/NB-IoT/ CatM, with 2G-fallback for global coverage. An embedded SIM with (extendible) three months’ connectivity subscription is included.

A software development kit is available online.

The S-2Connect development kit is an “end-to-end framework that seamlessly delivers hardware, connectivity, infrastructure, and user experience solutions,” commented Kjell Karlsson, managing director at TT Electronics. It is intended to help users streamline the secure connection of products and systems, he continued. It can also enable data-led business decisions such as predictive and preventative maintenance, carbon footprint reduction, and other efficiency improvements.

TT Electronics provides engineered electronics for performance critical applications, serving healthcare, aerospace, defence, electrification and automation markets. Products designed and manufactured include sensors, power management and connectivity solutions. TT has design and manufacturing facilities in the UK, North America, Sweden, and Asia.

http://www.ttelectronics.com

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Compact battery chargers are dedicated to charging in tight spaces

Wed, Jul 07, 2021

As wearable, medical and smart sensor products use streamlined power management for energy harvesting hardware, e-peas has developed a family of battery charger devices, dedicated to charging. The company’s existing power management ICs (PMICs) offer direct power delivery to the application, as well as the charging of energy storage elements (such as Li-Ion batteries or super capacitors), but the AEM10900, AEM10300 and AEM30300 are fully dedicated to the charging function. This allows them to be used where a simpler implementation can be used and where there are space or cost constraints.

The PMICs achieve zero quiescent current draw from the battery. In other words, if energy harvesting stops for a prolonged period of time, the energy stored into the battery will not be wasted supplying the PMIC.

Working in conjunction with a single-cell photovoltaic panel, the integrated AEM10900 PMIC boost converter is optimised for solar-based energy harvesting implementations. It has a fast maximum power point tracking (MPPT) functionality designed for objects in movement. This allows the device to get the most energy from the ambient illumination available, storing as much as possible. It also has a 250mV cold start capability, which means it can commence with charging the battery even when light intensities are very low. AEM10900 introduces an I²C interface to minimise the pin count and to offer a larger set of potential configurations. The PMIC includes battery thermal protection, a joule counter to let the user know the amount of energy harvested, and a shipping mode in which the battery cannot be charged. The AEM10900 is suitable for wearable consumer products and body-worn medical monitoring equipment.

The AEM10300 and AEM30300 PMICs both have built-in low power DC/DC converters supporting operation over an input voltage range of 100mV to 4.5V. Adaptive energy management permits these devices to automatically switch between boost, buck-boost and buck operational configurations as deemed appropriate. This ensures that optimal energy transfer is always maintained between the respective inputs and the storage element.

The AEM10900, AEM10300 and AEM30300 battery chargers PMICs only require three external components, advises e-peas, for energy harvesting to be added while keeping the bill of materials costs low and taking up very little board space.

Geoffroy Gosset, CEO and co-founder of e-peas said: “Following on from in-depth consultations with our customer base, it became clear that having compact solutions for charging only was going to be of real value.”

The AEM10300 and AEM30300 PMICs are supplied in a 28-pin QFN package format, measuring 4.0 x 4.0mm and the AEM10900 is available in either the 28-pin QFN package or a 16-pin WLCSP (with 2.0 x 2.0mm dimensions).

http://www.e-peas.com

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M.2 cards let i.MX users try wireless connectivity options

Modular IoT development system reduces development time, says Renesas

Development kit can fast-track IoT application development says TT Electronics

Compact battery chargers are dedicated to charging in tight spaces

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