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Anritsu launches PCIe option for Gen5 testing

Tue, Dec 10, 2019

To support the Gen5 Base Specification stressed receiver test, Anritsu has released a PCI Express )PCIe) test solution which uses its MP1900A signal quality Analyzer-R series, which offers automation software for base specification calibration and bit error rate (BER) measurement software supporting the SKP filter. Customers can use it to configure a measurement environment for early-stage development of Gen5 IP and devices, to accelerate the introduction of PCI Express 5.0.

The MP1900A offers all the pattern generation, error detection, jitter generation and noise generation functions required for PCI Express tests in a single unit. Gen1 to Gen5 transmission speeds can be supported by upgrading the equipment via software, for cost-efficient PCI Express testing.

Technologies, such as IoT and artificial intelligence (AI), are expected to see rapid growth as commercial rollout of 5G services make high speed transmission of the required large volumes of data feasible.

Data centers supporting these technologies require increasingly faster processing and greater data handling capacity. This means that data-centre transmission equipment, servers, and storage devices need internal interfaces able to support faster, higher-capacity data transmissions. Base Specification 5.0 of the next PCIe Gen5 standard has been completed and increases data transfer speeds to 32GTerabytes per second. It is evident that equipment needs to be developed to support this standard, said Anritsu.

This release allows Anritsu to support Gen5 Rx tests for IP and inspection of devices in the early stages of standardisation and development, offering all-in-one Gen1 to Gen5 measurement support. Expansion of measurement functions to meet new emerging standards and trends will also help customers design inspection times.

The signal quality Analyzer-R MP1900A series is a multi-channel BER tester meeting the design and verification requirements for high-speed bus interfaces, such as PCI Express 4.0/5.0, USB3.2/4 and Thunderbolt, as well as next-generation network interfaces such as 200G/400G/800G Ethernet. The MP1900A series incorporates a built-in pulse pattern generator for generating high-quality waveforms with what are claimed to be best-of-class levels (e.g. intrinsic jitter of 115 fs rms) and a high-input-sensitivity error detector, as well as a high-accuracy jitter generation source (SJ, RJ, SSC, BUJ), CM-I/DM-I/white noise source, link training function and support for LTSSM analysis.

These features make it suitable for compliance tests, margin tests and troubleshooting. The signal quality Analyzer-R MP1900A series also supports PAM4 evaluation of PAM4 devices, including optical modules and NICs, used by 200G/400G/800G Ethernet in data centres.

http://www.anritsu.com

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Okdo adds Nvidia Jetson Nano to AI development suite

Mon, Dec 09, 2019

OKdo, part of Electrocomponents has added the Nvidia Jetson Nano developer kit to its offering. The Jetson Nano Developer Kit has support for desktop Linux and is compatible with many peripherals and accessories as well as ready-to-use projects and tutorials to help makers get started. According to the distributor, the Jetson platform brings artificial intelligence (AI) applications within the reach of makers, inventors, designers and engineers.

The Jetson Nano is an AI development kit is built on the same architecture and software that powers the world’s fastest supercomputers. It also features Nvidia’s JetPack software development kit, which is built on Cuda-X and is a complete AI software stack with accelerated libraries for deep learning, computer vision, computer graphics and multimedia processing to support the Jetson Nano.

The compact yet powerful Jetson Nano platform delivers 472Gflops of computing performance, consuming as little as 5W, making it suitable for object detection, video search, face recognition and heat mapping. It supports high-resolution sensors, can process multiple sensors in parallel and has modern neural networks on each sensor stream. It complements many popular AI frameworks, for developers to integrate into products.

OKdo is focused solely on single board computing (SBC) and internet of things (IoT). Richard Curtin, global senior vice president of technology at OKdo, explained: “Inspiring people to create the next big thing is close to our hearts and we are hugely excited to announce this collaboration with Nvidia to make AI more accessible for engineers globally.”

The Jetson Nano Developer Kit can be used for developing AI-powered robots, drones, intelligent video analytics enabled-devices, AI IoT devices and other autonomous machines.

A key component of OKdo’s customer promise is building an accessible range around software, hardware, services and solutions.

The Jetson Nano Development Kit is available now from OKdo. The company claims to be the first to be focused on meeting the rapidly evolving needs of SBC and IoT customers, from makers and entrepreneurs to industrial designers, educators and resellers.

http://www.OKdo.com

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Prototyping board simplifies IoT end point development

Fri, Dec 06, 2019

For rapid product development, Renesas has introduced the RL78/G14 Fast Prototyping Board. This inexpensive, function-rich board is designed to enable rapid product development for IoT endpoint equipment. Quicker development prototyping and lower costs allows users to respond to rapid changes in technology and market needs, and reduces the time to market window for new products, says the company. Renesas also introduced the RL78/G1D BLE Module Expansion Board, which users can combine with the new prototyping board to easily add Bluetooth Low Energy wireless communication functions.

The new prototyping board is based on the RL78/G14 microcontroller, which provides the richest set of functions in the low-power RL78 family. It is suitable for motor control in portable equipment and IoT sensors as well as a wide range of IoT endpoint equipment, such as home appliances, industrial equipment, building automation and healthcare equipment.

Previously, the RL78/G14 starter kit and target boards required an external emulator. There were additional costs associated with high performance versions. The RL78/G14 Fast Prototyping Board is priced to be affordable, says Renesas and has an on-board emulator circuit with the same functions as the E2 Emulator (E2 Lite), so the user does not have to purchase additional debugging tools. The board provides access to all of the RL78/G14 signal pins and includes Arduino and Pmod interfaces for easy functional expansion.

By combining a Semtech SX1261 or SX1262 LoRa transceiver with this prototyping board, it is possible to prototype for IoT sensor devices using wireless communication based on LoRa with extended period battery drive, advised Renesas. The company also provides circuit diagrams, parts lists and user manuals necessary to jump-start development, in addition to sample code and application notes related to these products.

The RL78/G14 is the most powerful microcontroller in the RL78 family, achieving a numerical processing performance of 51.2DMIPS at 32MHz. It includes up to 512kbyte of flash memory and up to 48kbyte of RAM. It provides functions such as timers and 8-bit DACs. In particular, it achieves the industry’s lowest levels of current drain, 66 microA/MHZ, when the CPU is operating and 240nA in standby mode. This microcontroller is optimal for battery-powered portable equipment and IoT sensor terminals, as well as a wide range of IoT endpoint equipment.

Both boards are available now.

http://www.renesas.com

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EERAM retains data despite a power loss

Tue, Dec 03, 2019

Microchip has introduced a family of serial peripheral interface (SPI) EERAM devices that it says offers system designers up to 25 per cent cost savings over the current serial non-volatile RAM (NVRAM) alternatives.

Serial EERAM is a standalone serial SRAM that includes shadow non-volatile back-up. The SPI EERAM family introduces four SPI densities to Microchip’s EERAM portfolio, ranging from 64kbit up to 1Mbit.

They can be used for applications that require repetitive task data-logging and which must be able to automatically restore content if power is disrupted during processing. Target applications range from smart meters to manufacturing lines.

Current low-density (64kbit to 1Mbit) NVRAMs used for these data logs are typically the highest price-per-bit memory in the resulting end products, notes Microchip.

The EERAM standalone non-volatile RAM uses the same SPI and I2C protocols as serial SRAM, enabling devices to retain SRAM content during power loss without using an external battery. All non-volatile parts are invisible to the user. When the device detects power going away, it automatically transfers the SRAM data to non-volatile storage, moving it back to the SRAM once power returns.

In manufacturing lines, for example, stations handle up to millions of tasks over their lifetimes and lost data during a task can require overhauling or discarding items. EERAMs automatically store SRAM content in these settings, allowing the manufacturing line to resume where the task was disrupted.

The primary reason EERAM is available at a lower price point is the use of standard CMOS and flash processes. As the highest volume and most widely used processes and can offer the best reliability and lowest cost in the industry, explains Microchip.

Alternatives such as ferroelectric RAM (FRAM) use a specialty process, which results in higher costs and unstable long-term supply, argues Microchip.

This EERAM family comes with Microchip’s customer-driven obsolescence practice, which helps ensure availability to customers for as long as needed.

The 48L640 (64kbit SPI), 48L256 (256kbit SPI), 48L512 (512kbit SPI) and 48LM01 (1Mbit SPI) devices are available in eight-pin SOIC, SOIJ and DFN packages in volume production.

http://www.microchip.com

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Anritsu launches PCIe option for Gen5 testing

Okdo adds Nvidia Jetson Nano to AI development suite

Prototyping board simplifies IoT end point development

EERAM retains data despite a power loss

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