Panasonic has announced its entry into the realm of Wi-Fi 6 technology with the launch of PAN9019 and PAN9019A wireless modules. These modules, built on NXP’s IW611 and IW612 chips respectively, mark a leap forward in wireless connectivity solutions.
The PAN9019 module boasts Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.3 capabilities. Meanwhile, the PAN9019A module extends its functionality further with the addition of 802.15.4 compatibility, enabling seamless integration with Thread and Zigbee protocols. This versatility ensures that these modules cater to a wide array of applications, including EV charging, heat pumps, smart home devices, industrial automation/equipment, and medical equipment.
To further enhance customisation and flexibility, Panasonic Industry provides an approved antenna list featuring three different antenna types. Customers can choose from a selection of antennas offered by leading players in the industry, including TDK, AVX/Kyocera, Taoglas, and 2J.
Moreover, each evaluation kit comes equipped with a FXP830 pre-certified flex PCB antenna from Taoglas, guaranteeing optimal performance out of the box.
Samples and evaluation tools for the PAN9019 and PAN9019A modules are readily available, enabling customers to experience the performance and versatility firsthand.
ICs & Semiconductors
Intel’s RealSenseTM ID access solution now at Rutronik
With Intel’s RealSenseTM ID, Rutronik offers a facial recognition solution based on state-of-the-art image processing technology and AI. It provides highly reliable authentication regardless of factors such as skin colour or lighting conditions. The combination of an active stereo depth sensor and a specialised neural network guarantees an intuitive and secure solution, that continues to optimise itself through constant learning processes and recognises people even if they change over time. Facial recognition has protective mechanisms to prevent unauthorised use. Intel’s solution is therefore predestined for use at access controls, ATMs or kiosks.
The Intel RealSenseTM ID F450 is an embedded facial authentication module based on a closed-loop real-time operating system (RTOS) with neural network algorithms. It integrates the optical components and processing hardware to integrate high-performance, localised facial authentication capabilities into new and existing product types. The Intel RealSenseTM ID F450 Module is ideal for custom designs with an excellent price-performance ratio and tighter integration possibilities in various form factors. The Intel RealSenseTM ID F455 is a ready-to-use peripheral device with the F450 module already integrated, perfect for integration out-of-the-box.
An active depth sensor projects an infrared pattern that enables accurate identification even in poor lighting conditions and authenticates in less than a second. The camera allows interaction from different angles for people between 120 cm and 190 cm at a distance of 55 cm, making it easy to use for children to tall adults. Due to Anti-spoofing the person in front of the camera is recognised with 99.75% certainty. The authentication solution thus protects against attacks using photos, videos or 3D masks.
The various components interlock in such a way that they reliably guarantee security, data protection, reliability and speed. Facial recognition does not store images of faces, but captures facial impressions that are unique to a person’s face – similar to fingerprints – and uses AI software to create a match with a false acceptance rate (FAR) of 1:1,000,000. To protect privacy, however, the facial impressions cannot be reconstructed into a face.
SoM by Variscite brings machine learning to compact, cost-optimised, rugged edge devices
Variscite has announced the newest member of the DART Pin2Pin family for machine learning on edge devices for markets like industrial, IoT, smart devices, and wearables.
At only 55 x 30 millimetres—about half the size of a credit card—the DART-MX93 enables machine learning, even in compact devices. Its energy-flex architecture provides efficient processing; built-in security ensures data and applications are protected.
Similar to the VAR-SOM-MX93 which was already launched by Variscite in 2023, the DART-MX93 is based on the same NXP iMX93 processor with up to 1.7GHz Dual Cortex-A55, and 250MHz Cortex-M33 real-time co-processor, equipped with the Arm neural processing unit Ethos-U65 microNPU. The new SoM includes robust features like 2x CAN bus, 2x GbE, and industrial temperature grade plus a wide range of features and connectivity options: camera inputs, audio in/out, ADC, 2x USB, certified Wi-Fi 6 dual-band 802.11 ax/ac/a/b/g/n with optional 802.15.4, BT/BLE 5.3, and LVDS display outputs.
Variscite offers a broad range of SoMs based on NXP’s i.MX 9 series. The upcoming VAR-SOM-MX91, to be released in parallel with NXP’s iMX91, is ideal for price-sensitive devices. The DART-MX95, powered by NXP i.MX95, was created for powerful edge platforms that demand high performance, high-end graphics, AI/ML capabilities, advanced security and safety functions, and a rich set of high-speed connectivity options.
The DART-MX93 is part of the DART Pin2Pin family that gives Variscite customers a future-proof way to scale their device capabilities with new generations of DART SoMs. This ensures extended longevity for customer products, as well as reduces development time, costs, and risks for future product iterations. From the i.MX8M Mini, through the i.MX8M and iMX8M Plus, to the i.MX 95.
ST reveals automotive-grade inertial modules
ST has introduced the ASM330LHBG1 automotive 3-axis accelerometer and 3-axis gyroscope module with a safety-software library that enables a cost-effective solution for functional-safety applications.
The ASM330LHBG1 is AEC-Q100 Grade-1 qualified for the ambient operating temperature range -40°C to 125°C, allowing use such as next to the engine compartment and in areas exposed to sunlight. The modules deliver high accuracy and reliability for systems such as vehicle navigation, body electronics, in driver support and highly automated driving systems. Typical uses include support for precise positioning in navigation systems, digitally stabilising cameras, lidars, and radars, and in active suspension, door modules, vehicle-to-everything (V2X) applications, adaptive lighting, and motion-activated functions.
Equipped with ST’s machine-learning core (MLC) and programmable finite state machine (FSM), the ASM330LHBG1 can run artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms in the sensor to provide smart functionality at very low power. This IMU is pin-to-pin compatible and shares the same configuration of registers as ST’s automotive IMUs with a lower operating temperature range, permitting a seamless upgrade.
In addition, the modules contain embedded temperature compensation, which ensures stability over wide-ranging operating conditions, and provide a six-channel synchronised output to enhance the accuracy of dead-reckoning algorithms. There are also I²C, MIPI I3C, and SPI serial interfaces, smart programmable interrupts, and a 3KB FIFO that eases managing sensor data to minimise load on the host processor.
The independently tested and certified software adheres to ISO26262 and enables safety-compliant redundancy with two ASM330LHBG1 modules. Fulfilling safety element out of context (SEooC), this combination based on general-purpose hardware supports system certification up to automotive safety integrity level B (ASIL B) . This library provides software for configuring the sensing module, checking for correct operation before starting to acquire data, and handling the acquisition of the data coming from the sensing module. Each of these steps is associated with an error code that provides confirmation if a fault is detected. This solution comprising two identical sensors provides redundancy, checking the data coming from two different sensing sources are consistent.
About Smart Cities
This news story is brought to you by smartcitieselectronics.com, the specialist site dedicated to delivering information about what’s new in the Smart City Electronics industry, with daily news updates, new products and industry news. To stay up-to-date, register to receive our weekly newsletters and keep yourself informed on the latest technology news and new products from around the globe. Simply click this link to register here: Smart Cities Registration
