Temperature compensated RTC has I2C interface

Claimed to offer the world’s best time accuracy across industrial temperature range at low current consumption, the RV-3032-C7 real time clock (RTC) module has been released by Micro Crystal. The compact RTC module has a custom IC and integrated quartz crystal resonator and sets new standards in size, claims the company. It is half the footprint of a uSOP-8 package, with no additional external components required. It is also claimed to offer the best accuracy (±0.26 s/day at -40 to +85 degrees C operating temperature). Low current consumption (160nA timekeeping mode) and power management capabilities are other features.

The RV-3032-C7 is suitable for applications requiring always-on timekeeping functions, as well as compliance to stringent clock accuracy over time, wide temperature range, and long battery life. Typical examples are smart metering and other similar industrial or consumer applications, such as wearables and IoT devices.

Power management features include a wide supply voltage range (1.2 to 5.5V), automatic backup switch, versatile charge pump and programmable trickle charger. The RTC module can be coupled with a small sized, low capacity, rechargeable battery, or a low cost coin cell power unit which will reduce the overall dimensions and the manufacturing cost of the end product while optimising the life of the battery, advises Micro Crystal.

The RV-3032-C7 includes a quartz-based digital temperature controlled crystal oscillator (DTCXO).

“The design team has applied their 40 years’ of frequency control expertise to develop [the module] . . . . Besides all the standard RTC features, it includes multiple extra functions, like data protection through password, and MHz output frequency, now available for the first time in the market in such a tiny device,” said Hans-Rudolf Gottier, CEO of Micro Crystal.

“The RV-3032-C7 RTC will definitely help engineers in developing next generations of smart products,” he continued. “The availability of a programmable high frequency clock output to drive the central MCU, and access to the high-resolution thermometer, used for accurate thermal compensation and allows setting temperature threshold alarms with interrupt function, will support numerous unique and new applications,” he said.

The RV-3032-C7 is hermetically sealed in a compact reflow solderable DFN ceramic package, measuring 3.2 x 1.5 x 0.8mm. It is RoHS/lead-free-compliant and AEC-Q200 qualified.

https://www.microcrystal.com

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MCUs integrate peripherals for sensor-based IoT applications

Sensor-based IoT applications use a combination of analogue functionality and digital control capability to meet cost, size, performance and power parameters for efficiency. In response, Microchip has combined analogue peripherals and multi-voltage operation with inter-peripheral connections in its PIC18-Q41 and AVR DB MCU families. In addition to these attributes for increased system integration and reduced signal acquisition times, they offer the convenience and efficiency of operating in a single design environment, says Microchip.

The introduction bring s easy-to-use analogue capability to cost-effective PIC and AVR MCUs, says Greg Robinson,  so designers can meet the requirements of large-scale IoT systems,” said Greg Robinson, associate vice president of marketing for Microchip’s 8-bit microcontroller business unit. “With a unified, seamless development tool experience, designers can use these MCUs as a single-chip controller, or as an intelligent analogue signal conditioning component in a larger system,” he explained.

The PIC18-Q41 MCU has a configurable operational amplifier and ADC with computation and DACs for signal conditioning in space-constrained sensing and measuring applications such as IoT end nodes and industrial, medical devices, wearables, automotive and lighting systems. It is also well-suited for IoT and large-scale artificial intelligence (AI) at the edge, including predictive maintenance edge nodes in a smart factory, added Microchip. It is offered in compact 14- and 20-pin packages and can be used with Microchip’s 32-bit MCUs and other controllers that require analogue integration.

For mixed-signal IoT systems which often include multiple power domains, the AVR DB MCU integrates true bi-directional level shifters to reduce cost. Typical use examples are automotive, appliances, HVAC and liquid measurement applications. Microchip has added three configurable op amps, a 12-bit differential ADC, 10-bit DAC, three zero cross detectors and Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs) enabling the AVR DB MCU to be used wherever analogue signal conditioning and processing functions are required.

The PIC18-Q41 and AVR DB MCU families are supported by Microchip’s MPLAB X integrated development environment (IDE), its MPLAB Code Configurator (MCC) and the MPLAB Mindi Analog Simulator. MCC is a free software plug-in that provides a graphical interface to configure peripherals and functions specific to an application.

The AVR DB is additionally supported by Atmel START, Atmel Studio and third-party tools such as IAR and the GCC C compiler.

The PIC18F16Q41 Curiosity Nano evaluation kit (EV26Q64A) and the AVR DB Curiosity Nano evaluation kit (EV35L43A) are also available with programming and debugging capabilities.

http://www.microchip.com

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UWB ICs enable emerging use cases for the IoT

Secure ultra-wideband (UWB) technology ICs have been added to NXP’s portfolio. The Trimension SR040 and SR150 ICs deliver “relative position” with a very high level of accuracy, says NXP to enable new IoT use cases such as smart locks and real-time location system (RTLS) tags.

“To accelerate the adoption of UWB and create meaningful new experiences, smart edge devices need to gain spatial awareness, whether it’s a smartphone, car, or different IoT device form factor,” said Rafael Sotomayor executive vice president of BL Connectivity & Security with NXP. “Imagine the possibilities of moving through daily life with fewer barriers as devices anticipate our actions,” he proposed.

UWB technology enables doors to lock and unlock in response to the owner’s presence; cars can be shared with a simple touch of a screen or accessed hands free; smart home automation systems follow their owners intuitively and efficiently from one room to another. Another advantage is that people spend less time searching because misplaced items can be tracked instantly.

A fine-ranging capability will also enable new location-based services and device-to-device IoT applications in consumer products and industrial applications.

The Trimension SR150 adds angle-of-arrival (AoA) technology to increase precision. It is suitable for UWB in larger infrastructures, such as access control installations, indoor localisation set ups, and payment schemes, as well as consumer electronics. For example, several SR150 IC devices can be placed in a room as UWB anchors to help localise people and objects as they move.

The Trimension SR040 is optimised for low power operation, and is intended for use in battery-operated IoT devices, including UWB trackers and tags. It can be integrated with Bluetooth Low Energy or other connectivity controllers in one device.

NXP also offers Trimension OL23D0, an open, customer programmable UWB controller for IoT applications.

Trimension SR150 and SR040 ICs are available in modules and development kits supplied by selected NXP partners.

http://www.nxp.com

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Modem and tracker reference design accelerate IoT development

The LoRa Basics Modem-E software modem and LoRa Edge Tracker reference design lower development costs and eliminate design complexity for IoT applications, claims Semtech.

Both are designed for its LoRa Edge platform. LoRa Basics Modem-E is a software modem which complies with the LoRaWAN protocol for the LoRa Edge platform that runs inside the LoRa Edge transceiver.

LoRa Basics Modem-E is part of the LoRa Basics library of software tools and accelerators while the LoRa Edge Tracker reference design incorporates LoRa Edge hardware with the LoRa Basics Modem-E software modem in an industrial sensor design. The integrated LoRa Cloud services provide a ready-to-deploy reference solution for asset tracking, says Semtech.

“LoRa Basics Modem-E significantly simplifies the development of long range, low power IoT solutions. Leveraging the strengths of the LoRaWAN protocol, LoRa Basics Modem-E runs inside the LoRa Edge transceiver and by abstracting complexity allows IoT solution developers to focus efforts on developing value added solutions for their customers with less focus on connectivity development,” said Sree Durbha, director of LoRa product line management in Semtech’s Wireless and Sensing Products group.

The LoRa Edge Tracker reference design supports the rapid evaluation of LoRa Edge-based asset tracking applications, Durbha continued. It provides a blueprint for commercial asset tracking products and services, reducing time to market in a a variety of markets, including transportation, logistics and supply chain, cities and building infrastructure, home and communities, healthcare, agriculture, food services, he added.

LoRa Basics Modem-E embedded software will be tested and maintained by Semtech (along with the latest versions of the LoRaWAN protocol). It supports AES-128 bit encryption and enables the secure connection of sensors to any LoRaWAN -compliant gateway.

According to Semtech, because it is fully certified and production-ready, the LoRa Basics Modem-E fast tracks the LoRa Alliance certification process, to accelerate time-to-market. LoRa Basics Modem-E also has application programming interfaces (APIs) to integrate with Semtech’s LoRa cloud geolocation and LoRa cloud device and application services, including GNSS almanac updates, designed to further simplify development.

The LoRa Edge Tracker reference design has been developed in collaboration with Actility and Tago.IO, and includes LoRa cloud Geolocation capabilities and Tago.IO’s cloud-based dashboards and analytics. Actility will also provide a complete tracking kit including the LoRa Edge Tracker reference design and a pre-provisioned gateway operating on the LoRaWAN protocol to enable customers to quickly evaluate a complete end-to-end IoT tracking system.

http://www.semtech.com

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