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Green tags encourage green RFID products

Thu, Oct 03, 2019

Smartrac Technology Group introduces the Eagle Green tags, the latest in the company’s green tag program. The compact inlays and tags are targeted at retail-optimised applications.

Eagle Green uses plastic-free, fully recyclable paper as the substrate, foregoes adhesives as much as possible, and comes with a laser-cut aluminium antenna that allows the complete recycling of aluminium residues, resulting in a significant carbon footprint reduction. All products within the green tag programme aim to address businesses that recognise the importance of a greatly reduce environmental impact across all applications and markets.

The tags are among the smallest retail-orientated inlays with global performance available on the market. Both have passed Auburn University’s ARC categories A, B, C, D, F, G, I, K, M, Q, W2 and W5, and are available in dry and paper-tag delivery formats with a compact size of 44 x 28 mm / 1.7 x 1.1 in, which helps in the conversion for end-application usage.

Equipped with an NXP UCODE 8 IC, which shares memory size and typical IC features with NXP’s UCODE 7 IC, a self-adjust feature helps maximises product performance in challenging environments, offers improved read and write sensitivity and a fast encoding speed.

The chip has an integrated brand identifier function to prove product authenticity and a memory safeguard system to protect business data.

These tags benefit from Smartrac’s platform and data management capabilities to record and manage a complete set of unique transponder data, for example UID no, order no, batch no, or yield, at production level in a controlled and secure way. The company’s product digitisation solutions enable full traceability of delivered RFID products.

“Our new Eagle green tags not only demonstrate that Smartrac’s green tag programme is gaining momentum: it also reinforces our resolve to provide the market’s most versatile, most advanced, innovative and sustainable RFID products designed and certified for a broad range of applications,” said Hal Hikita, senior vice-president, product management at Smartrac.

https://www.smartrac-group.com

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Endurance S components join streetlight connectors

Thu, Oct 03, 2019

TE Connectivity is expanding its Lumawise Endurance S Zhaga Book Streetlight connector offering with Endurance S components that have expanded electrical ratings up to 250VAC/5A, as well as alternate key combinations for protected mating.

Products in the Endurance S ecosystem include a receptacle connector as well as several base and dome combinations to house sense and control modules, protecting them in harsh environments. The IP66-rated receptacle assembly, base and dome combinations with a silicone elastomer gasket provide a sealed electrical interface and robust packaging solution.

The compact design, which is UV-resistant and suitable for outdoor use, can be mounted facing upward, downward or sideways. Individual components are said by TE Connectivity to be easy to assemble, with secure low-torque push-and-twist locking, and keying features on base and receptacle. A keying feature for non-Zhaga-specified applications is now available.

The receptacle assembly passes DC power to the mated module and provides a DALI 2.0 or derivative two-wire bus connection for communication and data transfer. The receptacle accepts 16-20 AWG solid and 18-20 AWG stranded tin-dipped wire.

Connector bases in PBT are available with diameters of 40 and 80 mm, with matching domes in clear or smoke grey polycarbonate. Larger bases have an optional vent to provide pressure optimisation inside the sealed control module and to reduce condensation through vapour diffusion. An optional skirt closes the gap between control module and lighting fixture, enhancing aesthetics and further protecting the unit against water, dust and insects.

The original connectors enable Zhaga-D4i certification for luminaires, which helps make them future-ready, and will be able to host the latest generation of nodes that fulfil the Zhaga-D4i requirements.

“We expect the Endurance S connector system to find use in numerous applications, including street and area lighting; commercial/municipal outdoor lighting; outdoor luminaires for parking lots, wall packs, walkways; city management systems; and in motion sensor modules,” says product manager Jeroen Iedema.

http://www.te.com

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CrossLinkPlus FPGAs speed and enhance video bridging

Wed, Oct 02, 2019

Lattice Semiconductor has introduced the CrossLinkPlus FPGA family for MIPI D-PHY based embedded vision systems. The new devices are low power FPGAs featuring integrated flash memory, a hardened MIPI D-PHY and high-speed I/Os for instant-on panel display performance, and flexible on-device programming capabilities.

Developers want to enhance the user experience by adding multiple image sensors and/or displays to embedded vision systems, while also meeting system cost and power budgets.

Key features of the CrossLinkPlus family of FPGAs include on-device reprogrammable flash memory to enable instant-on (< 10 ms), hardened, pre-verified MIPI D-PHY interface supporting speeds up to 6 Gbps per port and broad support for high-speed I/O interfaces such as LVDS, SLVS and subLVDS.

Power consumption can be as low as 300 microwatt (standby) or 5 microwatt (operating).

Lattice also provides ready-to-use IPs and reference designs to accelerate implementation of enhanced sensor and display bridging, aggregation, and splitting functionality, a common requirement for industrial, automotive, computing, and consumer applications. There is a comprehensive IP library, including MIPI CSI-2, MIPI DSI, OpenLDI transmitters and receivers. These IPs are compatible with other Lattice FPGAs for easy design portability.

This new series is fully compatible with the Lattice Diamond design software tool flow, from synthesis and design capture through implementation, verification, and programming.

CrossLinkPlus uses its on-chip flash to support instant-on (minimising visual artifacts that detract from the user experience) and flexible device reprogramming in the field.

“The use of MIPI D-PHY in applications ranging from industrial control equipment displays to AI security cameras is booming as OEMs look to capitalize on the economies of scale driven by the MIPI ecosystem,” said Peiju Chiang, product marketing manager, Lattice Semiconductor.

“Lattice’s new CrossLinkPlus FPGAs combine the flexible programmability and speedy parallel processing of FPGAs with vision-specific hardware, software, pre-verified IPs and reference designs. This lets OEMs devote more time to building innovative applications and less time enabling standard functions that don’t offer any competitive differentiation.”

http://www.latticesemi.com

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Sensor module boost to light curtain applications

Wed, Oct 02, 2019

A series of infrared (IR) sensor modules in five compact package types from Vishay have entered the market.

Featuring a fast 300 microsecond reaction time, Vishay Semiconductors TSSP9xxx AGC 0 devices deliver long range presence and proximity sensing up to 2m, and a range up to 30m for light curtain and perimeter guard applications.

The fixed-gain sensors provide higher interference strength without spurious signals and an output pulse width closer to the optical burst length, claims the company. They offer an almost constant detection threshold over their -25 degrees C to +85 degrees C temperature range and can detect a valid IR signal up to a higher DC illuminance level.

The TSSP9xxx AGC 0 suits fast proximity applications (~15 ms) by using a burst pattern with variable intensity. The devices are suitable for sensing the distance to objects for toys, drones, robots, and vicinity switches. They may also be used as reflective sensors for hand dryers, towel or soap dispensers, water taps, toilets, vending machine fall detection, and security and pet gates.

To simplify designs in these applications, TSSP9xxx series devices feature a PIN photodiode and sensor IC in compact Minimold (TSSP930..), Mold (TSSP940..), Heimdall (TSSP950..), Panhead (TSSP960..), and Minicast (TSSP980..) packages.

The modules operate at a supply voltage range from 2.0V to 3.6V, feature a low supply current of 0.8mA, and offer carrier frequencies of 38 kHz and 56 kHz. The sensors are designed to receive IR pulses from an emitter with a peak wavelength of 940 nm.

The devices are insensitive to supply voltage and ripple noise and provide shielding against EMI, while an IR filter suppresses visible light.

The series is RoHS-compliant and halogen-free.

Samples and production quantities of the new sensors are available now, with lead times of four weeks.

Vishay Intertechnology is a leading manufacturers of discrete semiconductors (diodes, MOSFETs, and infrared optoelectronics) and passive electronic components (resistors, inductors, and capacitors).

https://www.vishay.com

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