Components & Connectors

20A models added to 1/16th brick footprint DC-DC buck converter series from TDK

Tue, Aug 13, 2024

TDK has announced an expansion to the TDK-Lambda i7A series of non-isolated buck (step-down) DC-DC converters with the industry-standard 1/16th brick pinout. 20A output models with a 500W maximum rating are now available, offering a trimmable 3.3 – 32V* output capability and operation from 28V up to 60V input. An adjustable over-current limit is also available as an option, reducing stress on the converter or load when exposed to excessive overcurrent conditions and facilitating fine-tuning based on actual system requirements.

The 20A i7A models can be used to derive additional high-power outputs at a lower cost and higher efficiency than isolated DC-DC converters. These very compact products are suited for use in mobile robotics, drones, medical, industrial, test and measurement, communications, computing, and portable battery-powered equipment.

Efficiencies of up to 96% dramatically minimise internal losses and allow the 20A i7A models to operate in ambient temperatures of -40°C up to +125°C, even with low airflow conditions. The i7A’s design provides low output ripple and excellent response to dynamic loads. Minimal external components are required, compared to discrete solutions, saving cost and printed circuit board space.

Like the i7A 33A, 45A and 60A versions, the 20A offers a choice of three mechanical configurations, measuring just 34mm wide and 36.8mm in length. The 11.5mm high open-frame model is suitable for applications requiring a low profile and weighs just 25g. The baseplate version can be conduction-cooled to a cold plate and is 12.7mm high. Models with an integral heatsink, which are for convection or forced air cooling, are 24.9mm high.

The i7A standard features include output voltage adjustment, positive remote sense, negative logic remote on-off, input under-voltage, over-current and over-temperature protection. Evaluation boards are available for simplified qualification.

All models have safety certification to the IEC/UL/CSA/EN 62368-1 standards, with CE and UKCA marking to the Low Voltage and RoHS Directives.

https://product.tdk.com

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ROHM develops the industry’s smallest CMOS Op Amp for smartphones and IoT devices

Fri, Aug 02, 2024

ROHM has developed an ultra-compact 1.8V – 5V, rail-to-rail CMOS operational amplifier (op amp) – the TLR377GYZ. It is optimised for amplifying signals from sensors such as temperature, pressure, flow rate, used in smartphones, small IoT devices, and similar applications.

The size of smartphones and IoT devices continues to decrease – requiring smaller components. To accurately amplify small signals as needed in high precision sensing, op amps must improve low input offset voltage and noise performance while continuing to shrink the form factor.

The TLR377GYZ succeeds in balancing miniaturisation with high accuracy (which has been difficult to achieve with conventional op amps) by further evolving proprietary circuit design, process, and packaging technologies cultivated over many years.

Op amps’ input offset voltage and noise generation degrade amplification accuracy and can be suppressed by increasing the size of the built-in transistors – but at the expense of miniaturisation. In response, ROHM developed proprietary circuits which achieve a maximum offset voltage as low as 1mV without increasing the size of the transistors. In addition, proprietary process technology greatly reduces flicker noise, while ultra-low noise is achieved with an input equivalent noise voltage density of 12nV/√Hz by optimising the resistive components at the element level. Furthermore, the new product adopts a WLCSP (Wafer Level Chip Scale Package) with a ball pitch of just 0.3mm utilising original packaging technology. This reduces size by approximately 69% compared to conventional products and 46% over existing compact products.

https://www.rohm.com/

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New Arduino PRO industrial kits exclusively available from Farnell and Avnet

Fri, Jul 26, 2024

A brand new range of industrial application kits from Arduino, is available exclusively from Farnell and Avnet. These Arduino PRO industrial kits are crafted to cater to the needs of professionals and enthusiasts.

The kits offer a wealth of tools, including advanced microcontrollers, sensors, and actuators, designed to unlock creativity and innovation in designing and implementing complex electronic systems. From smart cities to industrial automation.

Focusing on performance, reliability, and scalability, Arduino’s pro application kits are essential tools for engineers, researchers, and professionals in industrial automation, IoT (Internet of Things), robotics, and prototyping. These kits, with their robust hardware and user-friendly development environment, are perfect for those aiming to drive innovation in their projects.

The Arduino zero-touch programming experience enables effortless deployment and remote management of projects. Over-the-air firmware updates and a secure on-board element ensure applications remain up-to-date and secure.

The new Arduino PRO application kits will be available from Farnell in EMEA, Newark in North America and element14 in APAC. The kits are also available from Avnet globally.

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PAN-MaX from Panasonic simplifies Matter enablement for smart home devices

Tue, Jul 16, 2024

Panasonic is now offering PAN-MaX, a multi-tier Matter Certificate Service designed for device manufacturers selling in the smart home market, to simplify Matter enablement for smart home devices.
The Matter standard from the Connectivity Standards Alliance (CSA) is a major industry-led effort to address the highly fragmented market of connected smart homes. It aims to solve the challenge of interoperability, which is considered the biggest impediment for device manufacturers selling to a multi-vendor smart home customer. Matter establishes interoperability on top of familiar standard wireless communication technologies like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth Low Energy, and Thread, allowing devices from different vendors to interact and understand each other using a common language. Additionally, the notion of IoT device security comes pre-baked into the standard itself, fundamentally addressing the problem of unauthentic fake product copies that currently plagues the industry. This is why big and small players alike in the smart home industry see the Matter technology as the bedrock for the consolidation of the smart home market.
In the above context, Panasonic Industry offers Matter enablement through its portfolio of wireless modules to provide the necessary wireless interfaces (BLE, Thread, and Wi-Fi) mandated by the Matter standard on PCB, as well as PAN-MaX, a digital trust solution for Matter products aimed at simplifying the production-related challenges faced by smart home device manufacturers.
PAN-MaX closes the loop for device manufacturers by providing all the necessary capabilities required for making a Matter product. Device manufacturers can achieve hassle-free Matter deployment with manufacturer-specific versions of Panasonic wireless modules. In doing so, Panasonic takes charge of implementing the digital trust solution, injecting Device Attestation Certificates (DACs) issued from a Panasonic managed PKI infrastructure into compatible Panasonic wireless modules, which are signed against a root certificate issued to a CSA-approved Product Attestation Authority. Device manufacturers can further leverage Panasonic’s European production facilities by pre-programming business logic and other customer/product-specific information during wireless module production in Panasonic’s factory.
Acknowledging that one size doesn’t fit all, the PAN-MaX service can be tailored to suit individual customer and project requirements. Available with different service level tiers: Silver, Gold, or Diamond, device manufacturers can choose from multiple price points, underlining Panasonic’s effort to promote Matter and make it accessible to customers of all project types and volumes. Panasonic simplifies an otherwise complicated multi-vendor setup, such that device manufacturers or their EMS partners don’t have to plan for additional production-related investments for a Matter project, and avoid all risks of escalating hidden costs.

https://industry.panasonic.eu/pan-max

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