ICs & Semiconductors Archives - Page 201 of 231

Maxim’s GMSL SerDes technology extends video transmission in vehicles

Tue, Jul 09, 2019

For video transmissions in vehicles, Maxim Integrated’s gigabit multimedia serial link (GMSL) serialiser and deserialiser (SerDes) technology is used by MediaTek in its Autus in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) platform.

MediaTek’s AUTUS I20 (MT2712) is a high-performance, hexa-core infotainment system and has a flexible interface to support multiple displays. It links drivers to their vehicles to improve the driving experience, passenger safety, connectivity and entertainment, providing information and content from the car’s sensors and multimedia sources.

Maxim’s advanced GMSL SerDes technology delivers robust video distribution for these surround-view applications, says the company. One MAX9286 automotive deserialiser and four MAX96705 serialisers provide synchronised video streams from four cameras via 15 meters of shielded twisted-pair (STP) or coaxial cable.

To support data transmission for auto sensors, entertainment content and navigation, designers required a higher-speed, higher-voltage memory technology. This was achieved using Maxim’s MAX20010 high-current, 6.0A buck converter with dynamic voltage scaling, reports Maxim. It enabled MediaTek to migrate to a higher voltage memory.

Maxim’s GMSL SerDes technology extends data transmission distance from 12 to 15 metres with the MAX9286, and also provides surround-view application support with a single chip via frame synchronisation on four input channels enabling higher system performance by offloading the SoC. Support for MIPI-CSI-2 output enables seamless interoperability with MediaTek’s SoC and spread-spectrum features reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI) to improve safety and performance.

The GMSL SerDes technology provides data integrity over 15 meters.

With dynamic voltage scaling (DVS), Maxim’s MAX20010 high-current buck converter allows Autus I20 designers to upgrade to fast, higher voltage 4Gbyte LPDDR4/DDR4 memory, for sufficient power to support multiple video-rich applications across in-car displays. Maxim’s buck converter also provides skip mode to save power consumption when the MediaTek IVI is running at light load.

Maxim Integrated develops analogue and mixed-signal products and technologies to make systems smaller and smarter, with enhanced security and increased energy efficiency. The company powers design innovation for customers in automotive, industrial, healthcare, mobile consumer, and cloud data centre markets.

http://www.maximintegrated.com

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Capacitive touch controllers increase SNR for EMI qualification

Fri, Jun 28, 2019

Three maXTouch touchscreen controllers have been introduced by Microchip, together with optimisation services which address the EMI and EMC challenges of automotive touchscreens.

The MXT1067TD, MXT1189TD and MXT1665TDTD family of touch controllers have a differential mutual signal acquisition method that significantly increases the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), explains Microchip. This allows the use of very thick glass or plastic cover lenses and multi-finger thick gloved touch support up to the equivalent of 4.5mm polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA).

The touchscreen controllers are cost-optimised for nine- to 13-inch automotive touchscreens and are complemented by the recently introduced MXT449TD, MXT641TD, MXT2113TD and MXT2912TD devices supporting up to 20-inch touchscreens. Each addresses aspects of functional safety features and is designed in accordance with the Automotive SPICE Level 3 capability and ISO 26262 automotive safety integrity level (ASIL) B requirements.

The latest and existing controllers in the TD family have a waveform shaping capability to optimise the performance of the touch controller’s radiated emissions through an EMI optimisation tool. Developers can enter user-defined RF limits and tune the shape of the transmitted burst waveform used for the touch-sensing acquisition.

Waveform shaping is achieved through firmware parameters derived from the tool and helps designers to position the fundamental burst frequency to work together with other in-vehicle applications, such as the remote keyless entry system. The parameters are added to the maXTouch configuration file, which customises the touch controller performance to the customer design.

This process can save the designer many hours, or even weeks, of expensive EMC test chamber time, explains Microchip, by eliminating experimentation with different configuration settings to achieve the desired EMI/EMC performance.

Target applications for the touchscreen controllers are centre stack displays and navigation systems; they are also suitable for industrial automation and manufacturing stations.

An evaluation kit is available for each of the parts: ATEVK-MXT1067TDAT-A (I2C), ATEVK-MXT1189TDAT-A (I2C), ATEVK-MXT1189TDAT-C (SPI), ATEVK-MXT1665TDAT-A (I2C) and ATEVK-MXT1665TDAT-C (SPI). Each kit includes a PCB with the maXTouch touchscreen controller, a touch sensor on a clear glass lens, the flat printed circuit (FPC) to connect to the sensor and a bridge PCB to connect the kit to the host computer via USB, as well as cables, software and documentation. All parts are compatible with maXTouch Studio, a full software development environment to support the evaluation of maXTouch touchscreen controllers.

The maXTouch EMI optimisation service will be made available as part of the system support provided by one of Microchip’s worldwide application design centres.

The MXT1067TD, MXT1189TD and MXT1665TD devices are available now in sampling and volume quantities in TQFP128 (MXT1067TD only) and LQFP144 packages.

http://www.microchip.com

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NFC tag allows seamless mobile connectivity

Thu, Jun 27, 2019

Infineon Technologies claims to have introduced the world’s first certified NFC Type 4B tag. It is claimed to be the first product worldwide certified by the NFC Forum that supports the contactless Type B protocol.

Near field communication (NFC) allows wireless communication between two electronic devices within a distance of approximately 4 cm. NFC tags use this technology to exchange data and to enable contactless payments using smart cards or mobile handsets. NFC tags provide smartphones with reliable data exchange and reference tags for interoperability testing with all types of internationally standardised NFC protocols. This latest NFC reference tag is based on SECORA Pay security, which has been approved under the NFC Forum Certification Program. This confirms their compliance with the Type 4A Tag and the Type 4B Tag.

NFC tags have been generally limited to use cases where security is not deemed to be critical – such as sharing URLs or exchanging business cards. However, they can also be combined with security critical payment applications. Users can activate services via NFC connectivity without having to open an app, and thus instantly connect their mobile handset to, for example, smart devices like wearables or access shared services such as pavement scooters with intuitive connectivity for everyday digital transactions.

The NFC reference tags are based on Infineon’s SPA1.1 module and are pre-loaded with NFC data exchange format (NDEF) files so developers can test a wide variety of smartphones for compliance with ISO/IEC 14443 Type A and Type B.

The Type A and Type B NFC tags are available in pairs.

http://www.infineon.com

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Powerline communication dev tools evaluate G3-PLC chipset

Thu, Jun 27, 2019

A plug-and-play powerline communication (PLC) development toolset from STMicroelectronics provides all the hardware and software components needed to build and run a PLC application. It is designed to accelerate the development of turnkey powerline networks.

It lets developers connect smart devices using the ST8500/STLD1 chipset, used in utility-class smart-meter projects, on ST’s EVALKITST8500-1 evaluation kit for the ST8500 PLC modem system-on-chip and STLD1 dual line driver.

The hardware, software and documentation tools include the certified protocol stacks for G3-PLC communication in all frequency bands up to 500kHz (CENELEC-A, CENELEC-B and FCC bands certified), a 6LowPAN adaptation layer for IPv6 that enables scalable networking, and single modem protocol engine and real-time engine firmware images for both PAN co-ordinator and device nodes.

There is also support for self-adaptive and mesh networking, allowing use in electrically noisy environments. For cyber security, there is an AES cryptography engine with up to a 256-bit key.

The toolset provides an open-source firmware framework based on the STM32 general purpose companion microcontroller for the chipset, ready for users to create and integrate application firmware.

Application examples for the STM32 include remote control of indicator LEDs, real-time clock (RTC) configuration, and ping and string data transfers between nodes. The application firmware example implements a UDP/IPv6 protocol on top of the 6LowPAN adaptation layer of the G3-PLC communication layers running on the ST8500.

The toolset also includes ST’s STSW-SGKITGUI SmartGrid LabTool, a PC-based graphical user interface (GUI) to allow users to configure and control the EVALKITST8500-1 hardware, run application commands, and apply firmware upgrades. Supporting documentation is also provided, including the STM32 Firmware User Manual and G3-PLC host interface driver application note.

According to STMicroelectronics, developers can use the toolset for smart home, smart building, smart city, smart infrastructure, and smart energy applications.

The toolset is available now and free to qualified potential customers.

http://www.st.com

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Maxim’s GMSL SerDes technology extends video transmission in vehicles

Capacitive touch controllers increase SNR for EMI qualification

NFC tag allows seamless mobile connectivity

Powerline communication dev tools evaluate G3-PLC chipset

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