Latest News Archives - Page 523 of 576 - SmartCitiesElectronics.com

2G cellular module offers upgrade path to 3G, LTE or LPWA

Mon, Jul 30, 2018

A quad-band GSM/GPRS cellular module, the u‑blox SARA-G450, has optimised power consumption for IoT applications, says u-blox.

The SARA-G450 2G cellular module for machine to machine (M2M) applications, such as utility metering and tracking systems is in the established SARA form factor. The module lets product developers migrate their products to 3G, LTE, or LPWA technology to meet a broad range of environmental and technological requirements.

2G cellular technology offers reliable performance for mobile applications and broad geographical coverage. It has been the technology of choice for machine type connectivity such as fleet management, metering and tracking. While some regions are currently phasing out their 2G network infrastructure, 2G continues to be a viable and popular option for M2M solutions in regions still lacking NB-IoT and LTE Cat M1 networks or where coverage is ‘spotty’. The SARA-G450 targets cost and space-sensitive applications in these markets, says u-blox.

It is pin-compatible with the entire u-blox cellular range, enabling designers to use a single platform and PCB design for designs intended for a variety of air interface technologies, including 2G, 3G, LPWA (LTE Cat M1 and NB1), and high speed LTE. According to u-blox, this also means that product developers can anticipate future upgrades of their applications to move to LTE Cat M1 and NB1 connectivity as soon as they become available in their target markets.

SARA-G450 is a standard grade quad-band GSM/GPRS module that is power-optimised for IoT applications. It can combine with a variety of best-in-class u‑blox GNSS or Bluetooth modules for solutions that integrate positioning, short range and cellular communication. An embedded internet suite facilitates the development of a range of M2M devices.

u‑blox provides positioning and wireless communication technologies for the automotive, industrial, and consumer markets, to allow people, vehicles, and machines determine their precise position and communicate wirelessly over cellular and short range networks. The company portfolio includes chips, modules, and a growing ecosystem of product supporting data services.

http://www.u-blox.com

> Read More

Advantech claims five-port switch is smallest available

Thu, Jul 26, 2018

Believed to be the smallest Ethernet switch, the Advantech EKI-2525LI is a five-port Ethernet switch, which is just 80mm high.

The supplier of industrial communications devices offers the EKI-2525LI Ethernet switch for applications where space is a critical issue for users.

The EKI-2525LI is an unmanaged five-port Ethernet switch in a small enclosure which fits in the palm of a hand. The compact form factor makes it suitable for use in environments with limited space, such as electronic control panels, cabinets, and high density industrial plants.

Compact devices such as PLCs typically have a height of only 100mm. Conventional Ethernet switches however, are usually taller than this, resulting in a waste of space, points out Advantech. The EKI-2525LI overcomes this and can be fitted into a rack-mount cabinet to maximise space utilisation and provide a simple and immediate upgrade for industrial IoT (IIoT) applications.

The EKI-2525I can be fitted into any already-wired electronic cabinets, racks or shelves where extra connectivity and communication services are requires but where space is limited. The EKI-25251 is therefore a means to provide key infrastructure upgrades.

In additionally the EKI-2525LI can serve as an embedded device in any working equipment, such as kiosk, automated guided vehicles (AGVs), and CNC machines, ensuring smooth data transmission between embedded devices and promoting seamless information communication, advocates Advantech.

The EKI-2525LI five-port Ethernet switch is now available to order.

This news story is brought to you by softei.com, the specialist site dedicated to delivering information about what’s new in the electronics industry, with daily news updates, new products and industry news.

To stay up-to-date, register to receive our weekly newsletters and keep informed of the latest technology news and new products from around the globe. Simply click this link to register here: softei.com

Readers can also register to receive the monthly newsletter from our sister site, weartechdesign.com. This is the only website dedicated to developers of wearable electronic products. Simply click this link to register: weartechdesign.com

We have a Fitbit to give away on both Softei.com and Weartechdesign.com! Register today to enter the competition to win a Fitbit at softei.com or weartechdesign.com.

http://www.advantech.com

> Read More

PMICs monitor deep learning SoCs

Wed, Jul 25, 2018

Two power management ICs (PMICs) from Maxim Integrated provide power management for deep-learning SoCs, FPGAs and multimedia application processors. The MAX77714 and MAX77752 can help mobile systems designers to maximise performance per watt while increasing system efficiency, says the company.

The MAX77714 and MAX77752 address a spectrum of applications ranging from augmented reality/virtual reality (AR/VR), gaming, solid-state drives (SSDs), security and industrial internet of things (IIoT) to handheld devices such as cameras and home automation hubs. They have been developed with architecture that consumes 40 per cent less power than standard solutions, claims Maxim, to extend battery life and to provide a compact form factor.

The move towards higher performance application processors is increasing computational power in consumer electronics and mobile devices, which is at odds with user expectations that battery-operated, always-on electronics run cool and for long periods of time. Designers are faced with the challenge of reducing board space and component cost, while delivering high efficiency, high horsepower and flexible power sequencing.

The MAX77714 PMIC enables multi-core processor-based systems to operate at maximum performance with greater than 90 per cent efficiency at 3.6V in, 1.1V out. The 70-bump, 4.1 x 3.25 x 0.7mm WLP enables thinner, smaller devices and extends battery life up to 40 per cent compared to standaone solutions, claims Maxim. In addition, it reduces design cycle time, component count, and bill of material (BoM) costs compared to discrete solutions by integrating 13 regulators, including nine low-dropout linear regulators, real-time clock (RTC), back-up battery charger, watchdog timer, flexible power sequencing and eight general purpose input/outputs (GPIOs), adds the company.

The MAX77752 is a multi-channel PMIC designed for applications with multiple power rails and hot-plugging capabilities. It improves efficiency up to 90 per cent at 3.6Vin, 1.8V out for longer battery life and includes a flexible power sequencer (FPS) to allow hardware- or software-controlled power up. It reduces design cycle time, component count and BoM costs by integrating three buck regulators (with high-accuracy brown-out comparators), one low-dropout linear regulator, two dedicated load switch controllers, one in-rush current limiter, two external regulators to enable outputs, voltage monitor for back-up power control and a dedicated digital output resource for logic control. The MAX77752 comes in a compact 40-pin, 5.0 x 5.0 x 0.8mm, 0.4mm-pitch TQFN package.

http://www.maximintegrated.com

> Read More

MEN adds BC51M box PC for mobile communications

Mon, Jul 23, 2018

MEN adds the BC51M box PC to its modular family range. The fanless and maintenance-free device is used in graphics and memory-intensive applications in trains, buses or commercial vehicles. It offers a choice of communications interfaces and is scalable, adds the company.

The BC51M is based on the Intel Atom E3900 series processors, optionally with two or four cores, up to 1.6GHz. With 8Gbyte DDR3 SDRAM, a rear accessible SD card, an integrated eMMC memory and an optional SATA HDD/SSD, the BC51M box PC has sufficient storage capacity for entertainment servers or video surveillance systems.

The BC51M was designed for mobile use in trains, buses or commercial vehicles and manages wireless on-board functions such as internet on board, positioning via GNSS, entertainment or predictive maintenance. The box PC supports up to two DisplayPort interfaces with a maximum resolution of 4K, as well as two Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) interfaces, one USB 2.0, one HD audio and two variable connections for serial I/O, CAN bus, MVB or IBIS.

Two PCI Express Mini Card slots and two micro-SIM slots provide flexibility in implementing mobile service standards up to 4G LTE or WLAN.

The system is designed for fanless operation at temperatures from -40 to +85 degree C. The integrated 30W/24V DC power supply means the box PC complies with the railway standard EN 50155 and ISO 7637-2 for road vehicles.

MEN Mikro Elektronik was founded in 1982. The company has approximately 300 employees worldwide manufacturing embedded COTS boards and devices used in extreme environmental conditions found in mobile, industrial and safety-critical applications.

For individual requirements, starting with development through design-in and beyond, MEN provides its customers with advice and support as well as with system design, configuration and environmental qualification in accordance with industry standards.

The company’s core competencies encompass x86 and RISC processor architectures, development rules for safe applications, analogue I/O design, FPGA technology and Windows, Linux and real-time operating systems (RTOS). Additional expertise includes RAMS and obsolescence management as well as the development of computing hardware for operation in harsh and extreme environmental conditions.

http://www.men.de

> Read More

2G cellular module offers upgrade path to 3G, LTE or LPWA

Advantech claims five-port switch is smallest available

PMICs monitor deep learning SoCs

MEN adds BC51M box PC for mobile communications

About Smart Cities