TI unlocks premium motor control with ultra-low-cost real-time MCUs

Texas Instruments has introduced its most affordable C2000 real-time microcontrollers (MCU). The F28E120SC and F28E120SB MCUs deliver 30% faster computing power compared to previous C2000 MCUs for single motor and power factor correction systems, helping transform the performance of home appliances, from washing machines and dishwashers to vacuum cleaners and power tools.

Powered by TI’s proprietary InstaSPIN field-oriented control (FOC) software and advanced algorithms, these new MCUs enable smoother, quieter and more efficient motor performance. Their advanced capabilities – including high-speed sensorless FOC, high-torque zero-speed startup and vibration compensation – deliver precise, responsive motor control for everyday applications.

Today’s consumers demand appliances and power tools that operate as efficiently, smoothly and quietly as possible. Yet, historically, system designers have had to compromise by using MCUs with less computing performance and analog integration to meet cost targets.

The F28E12x series of MCUs helps solve this challenge by delivering the performance needed to enable premium motor-control features at a lower price than competing devices. These MCUs eliminate additional components by integrating TI’s C28x digital signal processor core and industry-leading analog peripherals, including a high-speed analog-to-digital converter and programmable gain amplifier, helping simplify designs and lowering costs.

Moreover, TI’s F28E12x series facilitates fast execution of the sensorless FOC algorithm, enabling motor speeds over 120,000rpm, or 2kHz electrical frequency. The ability to run a motor at high speeds reduces gear transition noise and improves reliability, enabling engineers to design products with smooth, quiet operation. The MCUs can also run a vibration compensation algorithm to achieve up to 60% speed ripple reduction, counteracting the acoustic noise and vibrations caused by an imbalanced load in applications such as washing machines.

https://www.ti.com

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TI unveils the industry’s most sensitive in-plane Hall-effect switch

Texas Instruments has introduced the industry’s most sensitive in-plane Hall-effect switch for position sensing, offering engineers a cost-effective, user-friendly alternative to magnetoresistive sensors. TI’s TMAG5134 Hall-effect switch features an integrated a magnetic concentrator, enabling it to detect magnetic fields as weak as 1mT in applications such as door and window sensors, personal electronics, home appliances, and more. This level of sensitivity allows for the use of smaller magnets, further reducing system-level costs. Additionally, the TMAG5134’s in-plane sensing capability enables it to detect magnetic fields parallel or horizontal to a printed circuit board, giving engineers greater design flexibility.

Engineers seeking high sensitivity levels in low-power, compact position-sensing designs today rely on reed switches or tunnel magnetoresistive (TMR), anisotropic magnetoresistive (AMR) or giant magnetoresistive (GMR) sensors. However, these technologies often come with high costs and manufacturing complexities because they require specialised materials and fabrication techniques. In contrast, Hall-effect technology eliminates the need for specialised manufacturing and enables engineers to significantly reduce design costs and speed time to market.

Historically, designers have not considered Hall-effect switches as viable replacements for TMR, AMR, GMR or reed switches because of their limited sensitivity. The introduction of TI’s TMAG5134 represents a fundamental shift for the position sensing market; engineers can now achieve greater sensitivity than traditional Hall-effect sensors without the additional cost and complexity of magnetoresistive sensors.

“The electronics we interact with in our daily lives, from our laptops to our smart home systems, use sensors to help make decisions based on the world around them,” said Jason Cole, vice president and general manager, Sensing Products at TI. “For decades, TI’s sensing portfolio has enabled engineers to achieve greater accuracy, power efficiency and reliability in their designs. The TMAG5134 Hall-effect switch builds on these years of innovation, delivering a simplified, cost-effective solution that creates new possibilities for design engineers across industries.”

The TMAG5134 Hall-effect switch helps extend battery life in sensing applications by consuming just 0.6µA on average. Its integrated magnetic concentrator technology amplifies the sensor signal, eliminating the need to bias the device with as much current.

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Qualcomm launches mobile processor with fully integrated RFID capabilities

Qualcomm has announced the Qualcomm Dragonwing Q-6690, which is the world’s first enterprise mobile processor with fully integrated UHF RFID capabilities. The processor includes built-in 5G, Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, and ultra-wideband, supporting proximity-aware experiences and global connectivity. Designed to support a wide range of form factors from ruggedised handhelds to retail point-of-sale systems and smart kiosks, the Dragonwing Q-6690 offers OEMs and ODMs a scalable and upgrade-ready platform with software-configurable feature packs that can be upgraded over the air.

“The Dragonwing Q-6690 combines integrated RFID, AI, and next-gen wireless capabilities in a single, scalable platform, designed to accelerate innovation across industries including retail, logistics, and manufacturing,” said Art Miller, vice president and head of retail, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. “We are particularly excited about working with retailers today that need platforms that are not only powerful and connected, but also adaptable to evolving customer expectations, from smarter kiosks and handhelds to real-time inventory analytics and contactless experiences.”

The Dragonwing Q-6690 is the world’s first enterprise mobile processor with fully integrated RFID capabilities, eliminating the need for external RFID reader modules and therefore enabling smaller, more efficient device designs. This integration eases the enablement of security-focused, contactless use cases such as access control, asset tracking, inventory management, and product authentication, ideal for retail, logistics, and industrial applications. For more information on the benefits of embedded RFID, visit OnQ blog.

The Dragonwing Q-6690 introduces software-configurable feature packs that let OEMs choose their offerings depending on the computing demands, multimedia capabilities, camera support, or peripheral configurations they need—with the ability to upgrade over the air without redesigning hardware. This modular approach not only accelerates time to market and reduces certification overhead but also extends product lifecycles by enabling over-the-air upgrades as customer needs evolve.

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New ST  Bluetooth 5.4 / Thread module for smart and IoT applications now at Mouser

Mouser Electronics is now shipping the new ST67W Wi-Fi 6 / Bluetooth 5.4 / Thread module from STMicroelectronics. The ST67W Module simplifies the development of next-generation wireless solutions for smart homes, smart appliances, healthcare, and industrial IoT applications.

The STMicroelectronics ST67W module, available from Mouser, is powered by Qualcomm’s high-performance 1 × 1 2.4GHz Wi‑Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.4 QCC743 microcontroller, with support for Matter protocol over Wi-Fi that operates as a future-proof IoT connectivity transceiver, together with an external STM32 host MCU for running applications.

The ST67W module is ready to integrate with any STM32 MCU with all RF front-end circuitry built-in, including power/low-noise amplifiers, the RF switch, balun, and integrated PCB antenna, with 4Mbyte Flash for code and data storage and a 40MHz crystal. The module’s security features, cryptographic accelerators and services, including secure boot and debug reaching PSA Certified Level 1, make it easy for designers to comply with the upcoming Cyber Resilience Act and RED directives. The STMicroelectronics ST67W module is self-contained, pre-certified, and comes in a 32-lead LGA package ready for board placement. The module is offered with a PCB antenna (version B) or an RF connector for an external antenna (version U).

The STMicroelectronics X-NUCLEO-67W61M1 expansion board, also available from Mouser, is a versatile development tool for the ST67W module. The expansion board can be used with the ARDUINO® Uno V3 and Raspberry Pi boards, and is stackable on ST’s Nucleo-64, Nucleo-144, and Discovery boards.

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