ICs & Semiconductors

Zero-drift op amp provides EMI filtering

Wed, Jan 16, 2019

Meeting the needs of precision measurement in industrial control and factory automation, the MCP6V51 zero-drift operational amplifier (op amp) provides precision measurement and minimises the influence of high-frequency interference, claims Microchip. The MCP6V51 offers a wide operating range and on-chip EMI filters.

The so-called smart factory has led to an increase in the number of sensors that need to be monitored and the MCP6V51 amplifier is designed to provide accurate, stable data from a variety of sensors. Its self-correcting zero-drift architecture enables high DC precision, claims Microchip, providing a maximum offset of ±15 microV and only ±36 nanoV per degree C of maximum offset drift. The MCP6V51 supports a wide operating voltage range – from 4.5 to 45V, suitable for factory automation, process control and building automation applications.

The increasing numbers of wireless sensors and wireless capabilities raises high frequency interference within sensitive analogue measurement as a critical consideration. The additional on-chip EMI filtering within the MCP6V51 provides protection from these unwanted and unpredictable interference sources. This allows designers to provide improved performance while more easily managing an increasingly difficult environment.

Programmable logic controllers and distributed control systems used within industrial automation run on a variety of voltage rails, such as 12, 24 or 36V. The support for a wide range of supply voltages includes overhead to account for supply transients by supporting an operating range up to 45V.

An evaluation board is also available. The eight-pin SOIC/MSOP/TSSOP/DIP evaluation board (Part # SOIC8EV) is a blank PCB that allows each device pin to be connected to a pull-up resistor, a pull-down resistor, an in-line resistor, and a loading capacitor. The PCB pads allow through-hole or surface-mount connectors to be installed to ease connection to the board. Additional passive component footprints are on the board, to allow simple circuits to be implemented.

The MCP6V51 is available today for sampling and volume production in both eight-lead MSOPs and five-lead SOT-23 packages.

http://www.microchip.com

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Analog Devices and Momenta partner for HD maps in autonomous vehicles

Fri, Jan 11, 2019

High definition (HD) maps are a critical element of autonomous driving and must deliver accurate, real-time information to help safely guide the vehicle to its destination. Announcing a collaboration with Momenta, an autonomous driving technology company based in China, Analog Devices will develop HD maps in autonomous vehicles. Analog Devices’ inertial measurement units (IMUs) will be used to improve the mapping system and technology upgrades in Momenta’s L3 freeway ramp-to-ramp and L4 full autonomy driving mapping software.

Under poor weather conditions, or when a GPS signal is lost, an IMU delivers mapping output. Analog Devices’ IMUs will enhance Momenta’s mapping software to meet the demanding accuracy requirements of HD maps. Analog Devices points out that its IMUs exceed the value/performance ratio of higher cost alternative sensors based on fibre optic gyro or laser gyro technologies.

Momenta’s vision-based semantic HD maps are crowdsourced, highly accurate and frequently updated. They provide map update and localisation services. Momenta is also able to leverage modules mounted on taxis, trucks and buses to create a

Momenta’s team includes experts on computer vision and deep learning, including one of the authors of Faster R-CNN and ResNet, the influential deep learning network.

Analog Devices has more than 30 years of experience in MEMS inertial sensor design. Its MEMS IMUs have been applied in the avionics and smart agriculture sectors, which have similar requirements to those for autonomous driving. Analog Devices’ MEMS IMUs are capable of maintaining critical specifications such as bias, sensitivity, and cross-axis sensitivity under all conditions, including time variation, shock, vibration, and temperature conditions.

http://www.analog.com

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Low-noise LDO regulator powers automotives and smart automation

Fri, Dec 07, 2018

For always-on automotive modules and noise-sensitive loads, the LDO40L 400mA low-dropout (LDO) linear regulator delivers quiet and efficient power, says STMicroelectronics.

The AEC-Q100 qualified LDO40L has 45 microA quiescent current and reduces the demand on vehicle batteries to run loads such as body and interior functions that are active when the ignition is off. The LDO40L can be disabled to achieve a very-low shutdown current of only one microA.

The internal circuity operates from an input voltage as low as 3.5V and combines with the extremely low dropout voltage of 36mV at 100mA load, or 140mV at full load. The LDO40L maintains power to the load as the input dips during cold cranking.

The LDO40L powers automotive body-control modules, instruments and clusters, and LED lighting, and ensures stable DC for industrial controls and building- or home-automation applications. Output noise is just 20 microV, power-supply rejection ratio (PSRR) 70dB at 1kHz, and protection features including current limit and thermal shutdown are built-in.

There is a choice of fixed 3.0, 3.3, 5.0 or 8.5V output voltage, regulated within ± three per cent including line, load and temperature variation. Only two capacitors are needed to complete the application circuit. An adjustable-output version is also available, which allows designers to set an output voltage down to 2.5V minimum using an external resistor divider.

All versions are housed in a 3.0 x 3.0mm DFN6 package with wettable flanks, which is smaller than the DPAK outline of typical competing devices yet maintains high thermal performance and excellent reliability in relation to heatsink size.

http://www.st.com

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Omnipolar Hall-effect sensors are stable over a wide operating range

Mon, Dec 03, 2018

Digital Hall-effect sensors from Diodes combine what the company describes as maket-leading stable operating and release points (Bop and Brp) with low power operation. The AH1911 and AH1912 sensors are both available in the industry standard SC59 package.

The AH1911 sensors will respond to either polarity of magnetic field, explains the company, and have a ‘hibernating clock’ system to reduce average current consumption to 1.6 microA at 3V supply.

The wide operating voltage range of 1.6 to 5.5V enables the parts to be used with a variety of system voltages. Operating and release points for the magnetic switch are tightly controlled over temperature and supply voltage due to a stabilising technique, delivering accurate and repeatable performance. Flux density switching points are typically ±60 Gauss (6mT) to operate and ±45 Gauss (4.5mT) to release.

Both the AH1911 and AH1921 are suitable for battery-powered devices where its low power consumption and wider operating voltage range promote extended battery life. Typical applications include medical and consumer products, tamper detection for e-meters, smoke detectors, IoT devices and general level/proximity detection.

The AH1911 and AH1921 feature push-pull and open-drain outputs, respectively. Both are specified to operate over the -40 to +85 degrees C temperature range and have a high ESD rating of 6kV (human body model).

This news story is brought to you by softei.com, the specialist site dedicated to delivering information about what’s new in the electronics industry, with daily news updates, new products and industry news.

http://www.diodes.com

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