ICs & Semiconductors

Renesas launches controller and GaN FET driver for satellites

Tue, Apr 23, 2019

For DC/DC power supplies in small satellites (smallsats) and launch vehicles, Renesas Electronics offers the ISL71043M and ISL71040M, believed to be the first plastic packaged, radiation-tolerant PWM controller and GaN FET driver for small satellite mega constellations in low earth orbit (LEO).

The ISL71043M single-ended current mode PWM controller and the ISL71040M is a low-side GaN FET driver for isolated flyback and half-bridge power stages, and motor control driver circuits in satellite buses and payloads. They meet the need of private ‘new space’ companies launching smallsats to form large constellations operating in multiple LEO planes. Smallsat mega-constellations provide global broadband internet links, as well as high-resolution earth observation imaging for sea, air, and land asset tracking.

The ISL71043M PWM controller provides fast signal propagation and output switching in a small 4.0 x 5.0mm SOIC plastic package, reducing PCB area up to three times compared to competing ceramic packages. The ISL71043’s 5.5mA max supply current reduces power loss by more than a factor of three. The adjustable operating frequency (up to 1 MHz) enables higher efficiency and the use of smaller passive filter components.

The ISL71043M and ISL71040M are characterisation-tested at a total ionising doze (TID) of up to 30krads(Si), and for single event effects (SEE) at a linear energy transfer (LET) of 43MeV•cm2/mg. Both devices operate over an extended temperature range of -55 to +125 degrees C.

The ISL71040M low-side GaN FET driver safely drives Renesas’ rad-hard GaN FETs in isolated topologies and boost type configurations. It operates with a supply voltage between 4.5 and 13.2V, a gate drive voltage (VDRV) of 4.5V, and it includes both inverting and non-inverting inputs. The device’s split outputs adjust the turn-on and turn-off speeds, and its high current source and sink capability enables high frequency operation. The ISL71040M ensures reliable operation when driving GaN FETs by precisely controlling the gate driver voltage to +three to five per cent over temperature and radiation. It also includes floating protection circuitry to eliminate unintentional switching.

The ISL71043M PWM controller and ISL71040M GaN FET driver can be combined with the ISL73024SEH 200V GaN FET or ISL73023SEH 100V GaN FET, and ISL71610M passive-input digital isolator to create a variety of power stage configurations.

http://www.renesas.com

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LED driver sheds light on animation effects

Wed, Apr 10, 2019

Smooth animation effects in wearable electronics and appliances – where the light fades in and fades or dims in increments (known as colour chasing or deep breathing) – can be achieved using STMicroelectronics LED1202 12-channel LED driver. The programmable 12-channel RGB-LED driver is designed to enhance lighting effects and animation for smart devices around the home and wearable electronics.

The LED1202 can store eight programmable patterns and sequences and operate independently of the main controller. This enables the host system to save power while sophisticated lighting effects run continuously.  The driver’s 12-bit internal PWM dimming enables precision control of programmed sequences. The main controller can set 8-bit values for analogue dimming via the driver’s I2C interface. According to STMicroelectronics, minimal external components are required to complete the driver circuit.

The single LED1202’s 12 output channels enable it to drive four RGB LEDs at up to 20mA per channel. A synchronisation feature allows up to eight LED1202 drivers to be connected to control larger LED arrays. There is also low-current channel matching, within two per cent (typical) at 2.5mA, to enhance colour consistency. Phase shifting between channels minimises current ripple and prevents excessive peak demand, adds STMicroelectronics. There are also built-in safety features, such as open-LED detection, over-temperature protection, and a fault-flag pin.

The LED1202JR is available now in a 1.71 x 2.16mm WLCSP-20 flip-chip. The LED1202QTR is available in a 3.0 x 3.0mm VFQFPN-20.

There is also the STEVAL-LLL007V1 evaluation kit to support development of new products and lighting sequences.

http://www.st.com

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PoE chipset exploits IEEE 802.3bt specificiation

Thu, Apr 04, 2019

Reliable and space-efficient powered devices (PDs) can be built to take advantage of the latest IEEE 802.3bt Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) specification, says STMicroelectonics, on the introduction of the PM8804 and PM8805.

The PM8804 and PM8805 provide the PoE-converter circuitry for PDs up to class-eight, which defines a usable power budget of 71W. According to STMicroelectronics, the chipset saves space, enhances reliability, and cuts time to market for 5G small cells, WLAN access points, switches, and routers. The PoE chipset also targets smart-building and smart office applications such as IP cameras, access-control systems, display panels, lighting, curtain or shutter controllers, video-call systems, IP phones, and tabletop consoles.

The PM8804 implements a PWM controller for a 48V isolated flyback or forward converter, including dual low-side gate drivers for high-efficiency forward active-clamp topologies. The operating frequency is selectable up to 1MHz, allowing the use of small external filter and decoupling components for high power density. The PM8804 is a high-voltage start-up regulator with 20mA output capability to help save on board space and bill of materials.

The PM8805 companion chip contains two active bridges, a charge pump for driving high-side MOSFETs, a hot-swap FET, and the IEEE 802.3bt compliant interface. Integrating the active bridges saves the real estate otherwise occupied by eight discrete MOSFETs and their driving circuitry, explains STMicroelectronics. The PM8805 generates a power-good signal for enabling the PM8804 and other circuitry such as an LED driver, and supports maintain power signature (MPS) current control that allows the PD to enter power-saving standby without being disconnected.

Both devices are in production now. The PM8804 is packaged as a 3.0 x 3.0mm, 0.5mm-pitch VFQFPN-16. The PM8805 in 8.0 x 8.0mm thermally enhanced VFQFPN-43 featuring exposed pads.

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http://www.st.com

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FPGA provides customised solutions for data0centric business

Wed, Apr 03, 2019

FPGAs that will provide customised solutions for data-centric challenges in embedded, network and data centre sectors have been released by Intel. The Agilex FPGAs deliver customised connectivity and acceleration and performance and power improvements for diverse workloads, says Dan McNamara, Intel senior vice president, Programmable Solutions Group.

The Agilex FPGA is believed to be the first FPGA to support Compute Express Link, a cache and memory coherent interconnect to future Intel Xeon Scalable processors. The FPGA’s second generation HyperFlex architecture provides up to 40 per cent higher performance, or up to 40 per cent lower total power compared with Intel Stratix 10 FPGAs, notes Intel.

It is also believed to be the only FPGA supporting hardened BFLOAT16 and up to 40TFLOPS of DSP performance (FP16) and it has Gen 5 PCIe for higher bandwidth that PCIe Gen 4.

The Agilex FPGA supports data transfer rates of up to 112Gbits per second and has advanced memory support with DDR5, HBM and Intel Optane DC persistent memory support.

The Agilex FPGA fabric is built on Intel’s 10nm process with heterogeneous 3D SiP technology. This provides the capability to integrate analogue, memory, custom computing, custom I/O, and Intel eASIC device tiles into a single package with the FPGA fabric. Intel delivers a custom logic continuum with reusable IPs through a migration path from FPGA to structured ASIC. One application program interface (API) provides a software-friendly heterogeneous programming environment, enabling software developers to access acceleration via the use of FPGAs, maintains Intel.

The FPGAs have been developed to support customers in aggregating and processing increasing amounts of data traffic for emerging, data driven industries like edge computing, networking and the cloud. Intel Agilex FPGAs can be used in edge analytics for low-latency processing, virtualised network functions to improve performance, or data centre acceleration for greater efficiency, says Intel. They are built to deliver customised solutions for applications from the edge to the cloud.

The Agilex FPGAs have the flexibility to meet the hardware system challenges presented by advances in artificial intelligence (AI) analytics at the edge, network and the cloud, explains Intel.

http://www.intel.com

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