Adlink accelerates AI access for industry’s IoT

Adlink Edge IoT software enables industrial customers to access AI and drive real time decision making at the edge, says the company, adding that this optimises operational efficiency

Adlink Edge can quickly and securely connect, stream and control operational data – regardless of what industrial equipment, systems, databases or cloud platforms are already used, says the company. Lawrence Ross, general manager of Software & Solutions at Adlink explained: “Using that data our end-to-end industrial IoT solution enables rapid, real time intelligent decision-making empowered by AI, analytics tools and machine learning . . .  partners and customers can quickly find and use the data . . . whether their objectives are optimising efficiency, predictive maintenance or identifying new business models.”

Target applications are automating warehouse logistics with smart scanning, enabling predictive maintenance, optimising efficiency with machine condition monitoring, machine vision and machine learning, enabling automation and reducing time to market, reducing downtime and optimising efficiency and enabling smart remote monitoring.

No programming is necessary, so Adlink can quickly connect previously unconnected operational equipment, sensors and devices. By tapping into native communication protocols, data can be captured and streamed at the edge. From the edge, this data can then be streamed securely between devices – databases and to the cloud, enabling analysis and easy visualisation to inform decisions and optimise operations in real time.

Adlink Edge is deployed via the company’s innovative Digital Experiments methodology which can include hardware, software and support elements for easy integration with any existing IT and OT system.

Users are also able to benefit from IoT expertise within Adlink’s ecosystem which includes AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google, Thingworx, IBM Watson, FogHorn, Intel and SAS.

Adlink Edge is built upon the Adlink Data River which simplifies complex data network programming and enables data to flow freely, but securely, to and from any cloud analytic platform database and between devices, databases and the cloud.

The Adlink Data River is trusted within the military and aerospace industries to deliver mission critical data securely in real time, Adlink notes.

ADLINK Edge™ also includes the Adlink Marketplace containing apps which are connectors enabling third party services to translate between devices and applications, or devices and peer devices.  Also integrated is the Adlink Profile Builder tool which helps users configure and deploy all the apps to communicate with end-points, devices or applications into the platform deployed across a customer’s ecosystem.

https://www.adlinktech.com

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Position sensor is robust for use in robotics and military projects

Claimed to offer more robust performance than existing absolute encoders and better resolution and accuracy than traditional Hall effect sensors for industrial robotics and other demanding applications, the RAMK060 is a rotational absolute magnetic kit encoder from Vishay Intertechnology.

The high precision position sensor uses contactless technology to achieve above 13-bit accuracy, 19-bit resolution, and above 16-bit repeatability, reports Vishay, while maintaining robustness against external magnetic fields, moisture, airborne pollution, vibration, mechanical shock, and changes in temperature. It also has a useful electrical angle of 360 degrees and operates over a temperature range of -40 to +85 degrees C. Higher maximum temperature models are available on request.

According to Vishay, it is suitable for space-constrained applications, due to the rotor and stator kit design, the off-axis design (for hollow shaft mounting), the slim profile of around 6.5mm and weighing less than 55g.

The RAMK060 has an outside diameter of 60mm and inner diameter of 25mm. Several multi-turn variants are available, including connection to a backup battery when system power is off. SPI, SSI, or Biss-C output signals are available.

The RAMK060 is self-calibrating, to compensate for mechanical misalignment

Vishay’s patented design is particularly suited for applications that demand precise and repetitive motion such as arm joints for industrial robots and collaborative robots, steering wheels for automated guided vehicles; and machine tools used in printing, textile manufacturing, and milling.

Samples and production quantities of the RAMK060 are available now, with a lead time of 16 weeks for larger orders.

http://www.vishay.com

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Efficient NFC programming method for LED drivers

For fast implementation of near field communication (NFC) programming for LED drivers, Infineon Technologies has developed the NFC-PWM series NLM0011 and NLM0010.

The devices are NFC wireless-configuration ICs with configurable PWM output, primarily designed for LED applications. They enable NFC programming implementation by using a PWM signal directly to control the analogue driver IC.

Both devices have two operation modes, passive and active. In the passive mode, the LED driver module is not powered, and the PWM-related parameters can be configured wirelessly via the NFC interface. In the active mode, as soon as the V CC voltage supply is powered, a PWM output is generated according to the stored parameters. With an external R/C filter, the PWM signal is converted to the desired DC voltage to control the current output of an LED driver.

An integrated constant lumen output (CLO) function compensates the luminous flux drop (ageing effect) of the LED module by automatically adjusting the LED current to the ageing characteristics of the LEDs. With an integrated operation-time counter and stored LED degradation curve in the CLO table, NLM0011 automatically adjusts the PWM duty cycle to compensate for the LED degradation.

Fitting seamlessly to the mainstream analogue driver ICs, there is no need for firmware development input and, says the company, it   adopted into existing designs to replace the “plug-in resistor” current configuration concept. Non-volatile memory including unique identification data and 20 bytes free memory for user data is also featured in the devices.

The NLM0011 and NLM0010 can be ordered now in a SOT23-5 package.

NFC programming is an emerging technology designed to replace the “plug-in resistor” current setting method via contactless NFC interface. Besides improving the operational efficiency by enabling automatic programming in the manufacturing line, it can create significant flexibility in the value chain. With this it reduces the LED driver variants, simplifies the selection of LED modules, and allows end-of-line configuration.

http://www.infineon.com/nfc-pwm

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Buck-boost converter improves portable device efficiency

With a low quiescent current (IQ) in its class of 6-microA and a high peak efficiency of 96 per cent, designers can now maximise a portable device’s battery life with the MAX77827 buck-boost converter from Maxim Integrated Products.

This 1.5A high-efficiency, compact converter allows 1.8V to 5.5V input and 2.3V to 5.3V output, while providing the system stability needed to minimise abrupt or unexpected shutdowns.

During mode transition when VOUT is set to 3.3V with a 15 microsecond rise/fall time, the ripple is less than 1 per cent of the output voltage, says the company. Fast load transient response provides stable system voltage from transient loads pulling down the system voltage. In extreme harsh conditions of going from 0A to 1A load in 15 microseconds, MAX77827 undershoot is controlled to six per cent of the output voltage where the undershoot of the competitive solution is 12 per cent with a longer recovery time.

The MAX77827 addresses the power requirements of low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) applications, asset tracking devices and a variety of Internet of Things applications.

This converter is a suitable solution to support applications with low power requirements because, regardless of the battery voltage variations, it can automatically transition between buck and boost modes to provide a consistent output power supply.

This converter supports space-constrained designs as its WLP measures 2.04mm x 1.64mm and it is less than 15mm² total solution size. It features a single external resistor to set the output voltage to provide additional savings to an external component and board space.

“High adoption of lithium ion batteries in smart consumer electronics is driving the increasing demand for this market, which is projected to reach $106,493 million by 2024,” said Rishab Sharma, analyst for P&S Intelligence. “Complementary technologies that help prolong battery life and stability can only contribute to their continued growth.”

“For any system design where battery life is critical, there is no better solution than the MAX77827,” said Eric Pittana, director for Mobile Power Solutions at Maxim Integrated. “With the lowest quiescent current and highest efficiency, designers can truly optimize their solutions and maximize their system performance. Specifically, for applications such as GPS asset tracking devices with single-use discharge, prolonging battery life is essential.”

http://www.maximintegrated.com

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