Panasonic introduces new Amorton indoor solar cell series

Panasonic’s hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) solar cells, known as Amorton, power indoor and outdoor applications like IoT devices, watches, sensor nodes, asset trackers, or remote controls. Amorton can harvest energy reliably and sustainably even in low light and artificial light environments.

Now Panasonic introduces its latest Amorton solar cell series: Named AMG-1401C and AMG-1701C, the new products benefit from a nearly perfect black-reflective surface and much higher efficiency (+20%). These breakthroughs have been made possible thanks to an optimised production process, which significantly increased the active area compared to the previous generation. The result is a 20% increase in efficiency, making the new AMG-series one of the most efficient indoor amorphous solar cells on the market today. The AMG-1401C and AMG-1701C, which are based on glass substrates, are 1.1mm thin, generate approx. 8uW/cm2 at 200lux per active area.

The external dimensions are only slightly larger than the active area, which means the space and material consumption in the final application can be optimized. The AMG-1401C with external dimensions of 41.4mm x 26.1mm generates a maximum of 77.8uW at 200 lux. The cell voltage is 2.2V, which means it can be combined with many power management ICs available in the market.

 https://industry.panasonic.eu/

 

 

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THine introduces camera kit for NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX/Nano

THine Solutions have announced the new THEIA-CAM 13MP PDAF camera, THSCJ101, for the NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX and Jetson Orin Nano platforms. Along with its pre-optimised ISP firmware and Linux driver, Jetson users are now able to easily integrate advanced imaging capabilities into their systems.

The THSCJ101 kit is a camera reference design kit for embedded camera applications that are using the NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX or the Jetson Orin Nano platform. The THSCJ101 kit is based on THine’s THP7312-P ISP and Sony’s IMX258 13MP CMOS PDAF image sensor.

THine’s optimised ISP firmware provides ultra-quick autofocus using Phase Detection Autofocus (PDAF) technology and best-in-class image quality. The kit hardware includes all items required to interface with Jetson Orin carrier boards with a 22-pin MIPI CSI-2 input connector, including a camera board in an acrylic case and a flat flexible cable.

The Video4Linux2 (V4L2) driver for the THSCJ101 is also available to control various video functions. The performance of each kit is repeatable for use in high volume production due to our production process to characterise the image parameters of each image sensor and to calibrate the image signal processing to compensate for variation from sensor to sensor.
All technical information including the reference circuit schematics, ISP firmware, and V4L2 Driver are available to customers.

Also, for customers that require unique image performance features, THine can provide a GUI based software development tool that customises the ISP firmware and/or the image sensor selection. As a result, the THSCJ101 can accelerate NVIDIA Jetson Orin NX/Nano platform users’ time-to-market without expensive integration cost or additional effort for developing embedded camera systems.

THEIA-CAM is designed for embedded vision systems. Using and optimising THine’s own ISP, THine offers Best-in-Class image quality and high production quality suitable for any project phase from proof of concept to high volume production. THEIA-CAM supports various operating systems including Windows, macOS, Android, and Linux, and various platforms including Raspberry Pi, Jetson Orin, i.MX 8M families, and MediaTek Genio series. THEIA-CAM addresses wide-ranging camera applications including but not limited to AI + IoT devices, AR glasses, barcode reading devices, biometric devices, bodycams, document scanners, machine vision systems, medical scopes, microscopes, surveillance cameras, vision assistance glasses, and webcams. THSCU101, the first Kit in the family, is a 13MP PDAF USB video class (UVC) Camera

https://www.thinesolutions.com

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Advantech launches wireless LoRaWAN sensors

Advantech has announced the launch of its EVA-2000 series, a new line of smart wireless sensors incorporating LoRaWAN technology. This series marks a significant advancement in the field of industrial sensing applications, offering long-range data transmission combined with power efficiency. The EVA-2000 series, comprising of diverse sensor models from temperature and humidity to water leak detection, is designed for the demanding sectors of industrial automation, equipment monitoring, and environmental monitoring.

At the heart of the EVA-2000 series’ functionality lies their ability to efficiently gather and transmit data wirelessly over extended distances through low-power, wide area LoRaWAN technology. This capability is further enhanced by their low power consumption, attributed to their double 3.6v Li-ion batteries, ensuring prolonged battery life. The adherence to LoRaWAN standards not only promises scalability and cost-effectiveness in the deployment of a multitude of devices but also simplifies integration within existing systems. Moreover, each unit in the series uses a built-in embedded antenna in a compact design that facilitates flexible installation across varied environments.

Standout products in this series include the EVA-2210, which is a 3-phase current meter equipped with 3 x 75A clamp-on CT. EVA-2210 is adept at measuring equipment currents up to 75A in diverse applications such as pumps, fan motors, compressors, computers, and servers. Eliminating the need for complex wiring, the EVA-2210 significantly enhances energy management efficiency for distributed devices.

Further enhancing the versatility of the series are the EVA-2310 and EVA-2311 models. The EVA-2310 is a temperature and humidity sensor for monitoring environments in offices, hospitals, classrooms, and warehouses.

The EVA-2311 uses a PT1000 round head heat probe sensor, which extends its utility with a 2m length cable and IP67 rating, making it suitable for extreme temperature detection ranging from -70°C to 200°C.

The EVA-2510 model is a water leakage sensor, which serves as a sensor for use in cooling and water treatment systems, detecting and alerting operators to potential issues before they happen. Such models are indispensable for industrial processes that rely on precise environmental parameter measurements.

All the EVA-2000 series products are seamlessly compatible with the Advantech WISE-6610, industrial LoRaWAN gateway, allowing for easy remote creation, synchronisation of channel settings, and data rate adjustments. Once connected, application settings such as data update cycles and thresholds can be configured via downlink commands from WISE-6610, further streamlining the monitoring and management process.

https://www.advantech.com

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Harwin launches floating connectors to support high-speed automated manufacture and reliability

Harwin has launched a range of board-to-board connectors that address the data and power transfer demands of high-performance applications while accommodating small movements in multiple axes to support high-speed automated assembly and enhance resistance to shock and vibration during operational life.

Offering up to 160 contacts in a symmetrical double row layout, the new Flecto floating connector family is available with three choices of miniature pitches: 0.5mm (.0197”), 0.635mm (.025”) and 0.8mm (0.0315”). By accommodating movement of up to ±0.5 mm in both the X and Y axes, Flecto allows for accurate placement of multiple connectors between the same two PCBs where the sum of misalignments might, otherwise, present challenges for high-speed, high-precision mating.

The positional tolerance flexibility of Flecto connectors also enhances system reliability by maintaining connection integrity during shock and vibration events and reducing the possibility of degradation or failure from ‘fretting’ – a situation that occurs when long-term vibration causes plating to wear from rigid mating pins, exposing the underlying alloy to potential oxidation.

Flecto connectors support board-to-board mating heights as low as 7.2mm and data rates as high as 12Gbit/s. Additional power pins available with the 0.5mm pitch options are rated for currents up to 3A. Vertical and horizontal female connectors allow boards to be connected in parallel or at right angles to each other, while Flecto signal-only connectors feature either location pegs or posts to eliminate movement during solder reflow. On the mixed signal and power connectors, through-board solderable posts are provided for location accuracy and enhanced mechanical strength. A number of the connectors feature shrouded contacts to prevent accidental damage when no mating connector is present, while others offer polarisation within the shroud to ensure uni-directional mating.

Target applications for the new range include factory automation, electric vehicles, LED displays, security cameras, IoT devices, data communications and a wide variety of embedded systems.

https://www.harwin.com/flecto

Written by Annie Shinn

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