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Kontron announces its new 2.5” single board computer

Mon, Oct 07, 2024

Kontron has announced its new 2.5” Single Board Computer (Pico-ITX SBC) product line with the new 2.5”-SBC-AML/ADN. This board offers a compact and portable computing solution with enhanced processing and graphics performance, faster AI inference capabilities, low power consumption, and low latency. The new SBCs are ideal for critical real-time computing in industrial automation, smart cities, energy, retail, and healthcare applications. Samples will be available to customers in November 2024.

The 2.5”-SBC-ADN and 2.5”-SBC-AML support standard or project-based all variants of low-power Intel Atom x7000E Series, Intel Core i3 N-Series, Intel N-Series (codenamed Alder Lake N) and Intel Atom x7000RE Series (code name Amston Lake) processors. These boards feature integrated Intel UHD Graphics (Gen12), AI acceleration, and real-time computing capabilities. The new Pico-ITX Single Board Computers provide multiple embedded controller features and advanced technology components, delivering nearly double (compared to the previous generations) graphics performance with up to 32 execution units in the iGPU for concurrent AI inference workloads. Combined with the Intel® Deep Learning Boost, the new SBC offer faster AI inference performance.

Despite its compact size of just 100 mm x 72 mm – slightly larger than a credit card – 2.5”-SBC-ADN and 2.5”-SBC-AML deliver impressive graphics and media processing power. They support three 4K displays at 60 fps through an internal eDP interface and two external connectors: DisplayPort and DisplayPort over USB-C.

The 2.5”-SBC-ADN and 2.5”-SBC-AML feature advanced components, including in-band ECC-enabled LPDDR5 soldered SDRAM (4, 8, or 16 GB) with speeds up to 4800 MHz, two 2.5 GbE LAN Intel I226 controllers, and three USB 3.2 Gen 2 connectors (Type A and Type C) at up to 10 Gbps. These components enable ultra-low latency within the system and with peripheral devices. Additionally, some variants support Intel Time Coordinated Computing (TCC) and Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN), providing real-time responsiveness with up to 1 microsecond accuracy over Ethernet.

The soldered eMMC storage (32 GB, 64 GB, or 128 GB), together with mounted LPDDR5, make 2.5”-SBC-ADN and 2.5”-SBC-AML resistant to shock and vibration. 2.5”-SBC-AML is specifically designed for continuous 24/7 operation in harsh environments and high system loads. Both Single Board Computers are available in commercial (0 °C to 60 °C) and industrial (-40 °C to 85 °C) temperature variants to suit different applications.

The 2.5”-SBC-ADN and 2.5”-SBC-AML support a wide input voltage range (DC 9 V to 20 V) for unstable power supplies. Additionally, a discrete TPM 2.0 security chip enhances user authentication, network access, and data protection compared to firmware TPM.

Despite its small footprint, the 2.5”-SBC-ADN and 2.5”-SBC-AML offer robust connectivity and expansion options, including two internal COM ports (two RS232 or two RS232/422/485) and eight digital I/O channels for industrial applications. The boards feature two M.2 expansion slots (Key B and Key E) for Wi-Fi, WWAN (3G, 4G, or 5G), and additional SSD storage, enhancing system reliability and versatility. All these features operate within a low power budget of 6 W to 15 W TDP.

2.5”-SBC-ADN and 2.5”-SBC-AML ensure an extended long-term availability of up to 10 years from the release date, due to embedded key components and is CE, FCC, ICES, UKCA & UR (UL Recognised)

https://www.kontron.com

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ST reveals Page EEPROM two-in-one memory to boost smart-edge performance and efficiency

Wed, Oct 02, 2024

ST’ Page EEPROM combines the power efficiency and durability of an EEPROM with the capacity and speed of a Flash memory, creating a hybrid memory for applications that face extreme size and power constraints.

The new memories address growing demand for storage in embedded applications, needed to support increasingly sophisticated features and run data-hungry edge-AI algorithms. One example is behind-the-ear hearing aids, where Page EEPROM can reduce the bill of materials and help create products that are slimmer and more comfortable to wear.

In addition to wearables, Page EEPROM is ideal for applications such as healthcare devices, asset trackers, e-bikes, as well as other industrial and consumer products. “The intelligent edge has evolved quickly and is profoundly changing demands on embedded memory storage density, performance, and power consumption,” said Philippe Ganivet, STMicroelectronics EEPROM product line manager. “Our new Page EEPROM is the perfect ultra-low-power memory to complement a microcontroller for remote IoT modules that operate on battery power.”

“ST’s Page EEPROM is the perfect non-volatile memory, a true best-of-both worlds solution that enabled us to achieve the ambitious targets we set when creating the latest generation of our flagship product family of GPS trackers, IoT devices, and all other designs where high performance, high reliability, small size, and low power are required,” said Patrick Kusbel, owner of BitFlip Engineering, one of the first customers to use the new memory ICs. “The M95P is up to 50 times faster yet consumes as little as one-tenth the power and delivers five times the reliability — at 500k writes compared to 100k writes — typical of other parts we used before. It’s a game changer.”

ST’s Page EEPROM family offers densities of 8Mbit, 16Mbit, and 32Mbit, greatly increasing storage over standard EEPROM devices. Embedded smart page-management allows byte-level write operations for processes like data logging, while also supporting page/sector/block erase and page-program up to 512 bytes for efficiently handling firmware over the air (OTA) updates. The devices also allow buffer loading, which can program several pages simultaneously to cut the time for loading software in production. The data-read speed of 320 Mbit/s is about 16 times faster than standard EEPROM, while write-cycle endurance of 500,000 cycles is several times higher than conventional serial Flash.

Also featuring a novel peak-current control, Page EEPROM minimizes power supply noise and prolongs the runtime of battery-operated equipment. The write current is below that of many conventional EEPROMs and there is also a deep power-down mode with fast wakeup that reduces the current to below 1µA.

Longevity is assured, with 100-year data retention. The devices are included in ST’s 10-years product longevity program that guarantees long-term product availability.

The X-NUCLEO-PGEEZ1 expansion board and X-CUBE-EEPRMA1 software package are available now, for users to learn how to interact with Page EEPROM and adopt the new devices in application designs. The software includes a demonstration application that shows how to test the memory’s hybrid architecture and quickly build a proof of concept.

The M95P08, M95P16, and M95P32 Page EEPROMs are in production now and available from $0.50 for the 8Mbit M95P08. The X-NUCLEO-PGEEZ1 is ready to order from the eSTore at the budgetary price of $40.00.

https://www.st.com/page-eeprom

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Advantech launches Edge Service Packages to scale up digitalisation on IoT-enabled applications

Tue, Oct 01, 2024

Advantech, has announced Edge Service Packages, including Azure IoT Edge and AWS IoT Greengrass. The growing demand for real-time insights and localised actions in industrial settings is fuelling the adoption of edge computing solutions. Edge-as-a-Service encompasses the integration of hardware, edge software, and corresponding cloud services for efficient edge orchestration. The synergy between Edge and Cloud is pivotal for successful digital transformation. Advantech’s Edge Service Packages are designed to cater to Advantech hardware platforms and third-party software applications, offering enhanced flexibility and user experience. These solutions deliver device control, edge monitoring, and software management services, facilitating the seamless scaling of digitalisation through accelerated deployment and integration.

To align with edge computing trends, Advantech presents the Edge Service Packages, Azure IoT Edge and AWS IoT Greengrass, to enhance the deployment of IoT Edge on edge platforms by adding value and simplifying the process. Leveraging cloud intelligence, they seamlessly integrate edge computing, outlining a roadmap for scalable workloads in hybrid cloud and edge computing. In addition, Advantech offers a wide selection of hardware that is Azure IoT Edge or AWS IoT Greengrass certified. Users can develop custom solutions by selecting preferred hardware and edge service packages according to their targeted cloud service or specifications, helping customers develop IoT-enabled applications in an optimised way.

Azure IoT Edge – Simplifying Connectivity and Development at the Edge
This package helps deploy Azure IoT Edge on premises to break up data silos and consolidate operational data at scale in the Azure Cloud. It encompasses essential Azure IoT Edge services, such as the IoT Hub Device Provisioning Service, connecting physical devices with their corresponding identities in the Microsoft Azure IoT Hub. Another example for the Azure IoT Edge module is OPC UA Publisher. When applied with Advantech’s Edge Manager, this web application can configure and manage the OPC UA server to ensure seamless communication with the OPC UA Publisher Edge module. This tool streamlines the selection of data nodes and facilitates their transmission to the cloud without the need for coding.

AWS IoT Greengrass – Building Intelligent IoT Devices Faster
AWS IoT Greengrass serves as an open-source edge runtime and cloud service, designed for constructing, deploying, and managing device software. It provides pre-built components so end users can easily extend edge device functionality without writing code. The components of AWS IoT Greengrass offer the addition of features and swift connectivity to AWS services or third-party applications at the edge. This package helps end users deploy and configure assets such as Lambda functions, Docker images, or machine learning models for local inference. Furthermore, it enables users to promptly initiate the Greengrass service on edge devices, manage it seamlessly through AWS IoT Greengrass, and efficiently transmit telemetry data to the AWS Cloud.
Advantech EdgeSync 360 – Transforming Industrial Device Management
Nevertheless, Advantech has developed an open cloud-based industrial IoT platform, EdgeSync 360, to revolutionise device and data management across various industrial applications. This suite of software products includes Edgelink for edge connectivity management, DeviceOn for IPC management, and WebAccess for SCADA and HMI visualisation. For cloud service, EdgeHub is a centralised platform that streamlines edge connectivity, device management, and data analysis, distributing intelligence across edge devices. It offers a seamless method to mass deploy and update not only software applications but also Docker containers, firmware, operating systems, and Linux applications in batches from cloud to edge.

https://www.advantech.com.

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Microchip makes it easier to build sophisticated graphical user interfaces

Thu, Sep 19, 2024

Designers are incorporating Graphical User Interfaces, or GUIs, into more electronic devices to enhance the user experience by providing intuitive and visually appealing interactions with today’s modern applications. To support embedded developers with their designs, Microchip has announced the Microchip Graphics Suite (MGS), an easy-to-learn, comprehensive solution that simplifies the process of incorporating GUIs, animations and images into a touchscreen display.
Developing a GUI can be a complex and lengthy process, requiring significant time and resources to debug and integrate code from various tools. MGS is designed to easily integrate with Microchip’s 32-bit microcontrollers (MCUs) and microprocessors (MPUs) and supports multiple development platforms, including MPLAB Harmony v3 and Linux environments. This comprehensive solution to build a GUI interface aims to help designers improve reusability across projects and simplify design complexities.
MGS offers compositional tools, including a simulator for hardware-free prototyping. By leveraging the MPLAB Code Configurator (MCC), the simulator builds the MCC-generated C code in either web or native mode. In web mode, the tool creates an HTML file that can run on most web browsers with simulated touch interactivity. In native mode, the simulator enables debugging of the GUI on Windows desktop computers. These features enable accurate display and functionality demonstrations that are independent of hardware availability.
MGS provides an intuitive WYSIWYG interface with a modern design, enabling users to directly see and manipulate the final output, reducing errors and increasing efficiency. To make GUIs more accessible, MGS is versatile and can support a wide range of devices of varying performance. They can range from resource-constrained devices with significantly lower memory and system performance requirements to high-performance devices supporting tablet-sized touchscreens with high-fidelity video playback.
This solution is optimal for developers who want superior graphical performance without costly hardware upgrades. Additionally, MGS supports a wide range of displays, from monochrome OLEDs to 1080p 16.7M colour TFTs, including MIPI DSI, LVDS, RGB, SPI, and HDMI interfaces, along with touchscreens with 2D/3D gestures.
This comprehensive solution simplifies the integration of a GUI from design phase to implementation across a wide range of applications. MGS is highly compatible with the company’s broad portfolio of PIC32 MCUs, SAM MPUs and maXTouch touchscreen controllers. Additionally, Microchip can provide other key components including memory, power management and connectivity solutions.

Microchip Graphics Suite is supported by various development tools including MPLAB Harmony v3, MPLAB Code Configurator and Microchip’s mainlined Linux Distribution for 32-bit MCUs and MPUs.

Microchip Graphics Suite is complimentary and available now to download.

https://developerhelp.microchip.com

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