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Laser driver IC family is optimised for AR

Wed, Mar 24, 2021

Augmented reality (AR), robotics, drones, 3D sensing, gaming and autonomous vehicles uses time of flight (ToF) lidar systems. Efficient Power Conversion (EPC) latest GaN IC is the EPC21603 laser driver which has been added to the eToF laser driver IC family.

The GaN IC laser driver integrates a 40V, 10A FET with a gate driver and low-voltage differential signalling (LVDS) logic level input in a single chip for time-of-flight lidar systems.

The EPC21603 laser driver is controlled using LVDS logic and is capable of very high frequencies exceeding 100MHz and super short pulses (less than two nanoseconds) to modulate laser driving currents up to 10A. The bus is rated at 30V. The EPC21603 is a single-chip driver plus eGaN FET. Based on EPC’s proprietary GaN IC technology, it is delivered in a chip-scale BGA form factor that measures just 1.5 x 1.0mm. The LVDS logic control allows the eToF laser driver IC to be controlled from an FPGA for applications where noise immunity is critical, such as AR, pointed out EPC.

Among the benefits of integrated devices packaged in a single chip are ease of design, ease of layout and assembly as well as space savings and increased efficiency, while costs are reduced, advised EPC.

The EPC21603 and the previously announced EPC21601 make up EPC’s family of GaN ICs. Commenting on the potential for the GaN ICs in ToF lidar systems, Alex Lidow, CEO, and co-founder of EPC, said: “This new family of GaN integrated circuits will continue to expand to higher currents, higher voltages, as well as furthering integration of additional control and logic features on a single chip.”

The EPC9156 development board features the EPC21603 eToF laser driver IC. It is primarily intended to drive laser diodes with short, high current pulses.

The EPC21603 eToF laser drive IC and the accompanying EPC9156 development board are available now for immediate delivery from Digi-Key.

http://www.epc-co.com

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SyncServer time server uses BlueSky to protect GPS

Tue, Mar 23, 2021

BlueSky technology has been integrated into Microchip’s SyncServer S600 series time server to defend against GPS jamming and spoofing.

Mission-critical networks and essential enterprise infrastructure maintains reliable operation by continuously receiving accurate timing information from network time servers. These servers however can be vulnerable to cybersecurity threats such as global positioning system (GPS) jamming and spoofing.

Microchip addresses this by integrating BlueSky technology signal-anomaly detection software into SyncServer S600 series network time server and instruments.

The company believes it is the first to fully integrate GPS jamming and spoofing detection and protection, in combination with local radio frequency (RF) data logging and analysis, inside a time server. The SyncServer S600 series Stratum 1 instrument, with BlueSky intelligent jamming and spoofing detectors, continuously monitor local GPS constellation health and examine GPS and local RF signal integrity to assure validity.

If an anomaly is detected, an alarm is sent. If necessary, the SyncServer instrument can be shifted to alternative time sources or an internal oscillator to protect ongoing timing outputs while ensuring only minimal, predictable timing degradation to vital network and business operations. Typical applications range from banking and stock trading to electric utilities and aerospace and defence.

The SyncServer BlueSky technology provides continuous detection and protection against GPS jamming and spoofing. It includes a comprehensive suite of logging, charting and measuring tools to characterise local GPS satellite signals as well as local RF events over time. This can help enable correlating, troubleshooting, identifying and correcting local anomalies, some of which may be related to consumer electronics, or nearby RF signal broadcasts.

Microchip also offers the option of the SyncServer v4.1 software release with features found in Microchip’s proven BlueSky GNSS Firewall solution for third-party GPS receivers and critical infrastructure.

Microchip Technology provides smart, connected and secure embedded control solutions. It also provides development tools and comprehensive product portfolio enable customers to create optimal designs which reduce risk while lowering total system cost and time to market. The company has over 120,000 customers across the industrial, automotive, consumer, aerospace and defence, communications and computing markets.

The company is headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, USA. In addition to its product portfolio, Microchip offers technical support.

http://www.microchip.com

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DC/DC inverting converters shrink automation form factor and energy budget

Tue, Mar 23, 2021

Two integrated synchronous DC/DC converters, the MAX17577 and MAX17578, halve component count and reduce energy loss for industrial automation and signal conditioning applications.

The MAX17577 and MAX17578 integrated level-shifters reduce board space requirements by 72 per cent, reduce energy loss by 35 per cent and improve voltage transient protection, says Maxim Integrated. They are also claimed to have the industry’s widest input voltage range of 4.5 to 60V.

“By integrating level shifters, the MAX17577 and MAX17578 reduces design size and component count dramatically for baseband solutions and IoT devices,” said John Woodward, business management director, Industrial Power product line at Maxim Integrated. “These efficient negative voltage regulators reduce system temperature rise and support the industry’s widest input voltage range to provide robust protection against unpredictable voltage transients.”

The small, high-efficiency synchronous inverting DC/DC step-down converters are Maxim’s first 60V inverting DC/DC converters with integrated level shifters. As a result, they save board space, halving component count, and use 35 per cent less energy than the closest competing solutions, says the company. Both ICs reduce size, heat, and cost, while simplifying the design of negative output voltage rails needed for analogue signals in intelligent IoT devices used in factory automation, building automation and communications systems.

The MAX17577 and MAX17578 integrate level shifting circuitry to reduce component count, and therefore cost, while reducing component area to 60 mm². These reductions address the need for network edge devices to incorporate artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities without increases in size or heat generation, explained Maxim. These synchronous inverting converters protect against input voltage transients with what is believed to be the industry’s widest input voltage range (4.5 to 60V), thus increasing system robustness in harsh environments.

The MAX17577 and MAX17578 generate less heat by dissipating 35 per cent less power than competitive solutions. This improves system reliability and provides developers with up to six percentage points more efficiency.

The MAX17577 and MAX17578 are available now, together with the MAX17577EVKIT# and MAX17578EVKIT# evaluation kits.

http://www.maximintegrated.com

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Thermoelectric coolers operate in high temperatures for ADAS

Mon, Mar 22, 2021

High-temperature autonomous systems require active cooling to ensure proper, long life performance. Laird Thermal Systems has designed thermoelectric coolers specifically to operate in high temperature environments such as advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and other autonomous systems applications.

Active cooling is required to ensure the reliable operation of the imaging sensors, cameras and lasers used in ADAS and autonomous vehicles. The reason for this is that most of these optical devices, including CMOS sensors and laser diodes, are heat-sensitive and rely on high resolution images for proper operation.

“ADAS systems cannot operate without the continuous capture of high-resolution images. In autonomous vehicle applications, for example, as many as 12 imaging sensors are operating simultaneously to create a 360 degree view around the vehicle, so failure is not an option,” said Andrew Dereka, product director at Laird Thermal Systems.

Image quality can quickly deteriorate as the device temperatures rise above 60 degrees C, advises Laird. In ADAS applications, where temperatures can reach +85 degrees C, passive cooling of laser and CMOS sensor using thermal greases and heat sinks can lead to premature system failure, threatening road safety.

Using thermolectrics for active cooling pumps heat away from sensitive electronics while the surrounding environment remains hot. Laird Thermal Systems’ HiTemp ETX series of thermoelectric coolers are specifically designed to operate in high-temperature environments.

The solid state heat pump devices do not have moving parts, fluids or gasses. Utilising the Peltier effect, thermoelectric coolers offer an efficient cooling system for a wide range of optical sensors used in ADAS, collision avoidance and other autonomous system technologies. The HiTemp ETX series thermoelectric coolers have a cooling capacity from 7.0 to 322W to effectively cool components in temperatures up to +120 degrees C. While standard thermoelectric materials can reach temperature differentials up to 78 degrees C with Th of 50 degrees C, the HiTemp ETX thermoelectric cooler creates a maximum temperature differential of 83 degrees C, reports Laird.

Serving applications with tight geometrical space constraints, the HiTemp ETX thermoelectric coolers have a compact footprint. The thermoelectric coolers can be integrated directly into the laser or CMOS sensor assembly to provide more effective spot cooling. A heat sink or other heat exchanger rapidly dissipates heat away from sensitive components. The HiTemp ETX thermoelectric cooler’s design also prevents thermal shorting and protect sensors from moisture intrusion and outgassing.

The HiTemp ETX series includes more than 50 models with a variety of heat pumping capacities, sizes and voltage inputs.

https://www.lairdthermal.com

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Laser driver IC family is optimised for AR

SyncServer time server uses BlueSky to protect GPS

DC/DC inverting converters shrink automation form factor and energy budget

Thermoelectric coolers operate in high temperatures for ADAS

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