IoT Archives - Page 332 of 453 - SmartCitiesElectronics.com

Collaboration bring ‘ready made’ IoT edge gateways for retail and industry

Mon, Aug 03, 2020

In a collaboration to bring hardware and software for IoT edge gateway devices together, Beechwoods Software and GigaPic believe they provide a complete solution for retail and industrial applications.

The IoT Edge software is based on Beechwoods’ Edge Optimised Software (EOS) which is a supported edge computing platform which includes a pre-packaged Linux distribution, integrated edge analytics, dashboard application software and a setup configuration console. There is also support for leading cloud service providers like Amazon IoT Core, Azure IoT Hub, Google IoT Core and IBM Watson IoT for hybrid cloud use case scenarios.

The EOS software has been validated on GigaPic’s industrial motherboard which is powered by AMD Ryzen Embedded V1000 and R1000 Series processors. The processor provide the performance and capabilities required to securely manage data processing, aggregation and analytics at the edge as well as headroom for future proofing, assures GigaPic.

According to Michael Daulerio, Beechwoods’ vice president, marketing and business development: “We’re pleased to join forces with GigaPic to provide a product-ready IoT edge solution based on AMD Ryzen Embedded Processor technology.”

GigaPic is an independent spin-off from GigaByte. It was established in 2018. It has an award-winning Taiwan-based manufacturing facility, synchronising with its R&D department to deliver high quality and reliable products. The company says it aims to offer not only high-quality computing platforms but also world-class service and support.

Beechwoods Software provides software development services and solutions for businesses and OEMs developing embedded and resource-constrained products. Its team provides services across multiple domains: embedded software development, engineering, integration and stack hardening, IoT platform solutions, integration and interoperability, video processing, rendering, and transport, set top box (STB) development lifecycle (inception to customer deployment) and mobile application development (iOS, Android). It also contributes to open source projects and organisations (OCF, RDK, LF Edge).

http://www.gigaipc.com

> Read More

MEMS oscillator improves phase noise, halves space needs

Thu, Jul 30, 2020

Anticipating optical and data communications for outdoor 5G deployment, SiTime introduces the SiT9501 differential MEMS oscillator. It is based on SiTime’s third generation MEMS technology.

The SiT9501 oscillator is intended for use in 100 to 800G optical modules. It is supplied in a 2.0 x 1.6mm package to achieve up to 50 per cent space savings, although other industry standard packages. The device’s smaller size allows customers to integrate more features and reduce development time, adds SiTime.

SiTime claims the SiT9501 differential oscillator offers the lowest jitter in the presence of environmental stressors, and the smallest size.

It operates over popular networking frequencies from 25 to 644.53125MHz with

70 femtoseconds of RMS phase jitter. It has a wide operating temperature range of -40 to +105 degrees C.

There are on-chip voltage regulators to filter power-supply noise, to enhance power integrity for module designs, says SiTime, together with FlexSwing driver which reduces power consumption by 30 per cent. It also integrates source-bias LVPECL resistors.

The SiT9501 can be used for high-performance applications, such as data centre switches, telecomms routers, edge servers, artificial intelligence (AI) or graphics cards and storage controllers in addition to optical modules for outdoor 5G deployment.

According to Rajesh Vashist, CEO of SiTime, this third generation MEMS delivers up to seven times better phase noise at half the power. “The SiT9501 is the first of many products to use this technology. . . In space-constrained applications, such as optical modules, the SiT9501 delivers an unmatched combination of higher performance and smaller size,” he said.

Outdoor 5G infrastructure is subject to environmental stressors such as high-temperature, vibration and airflow that can degrade throughput. Increased data rates and potential environmental stressors, contribute to shrink timing margins which requires lower jitter oscillators to ensure the same quality of service.

In optical modules, a third of the PCB area is consumed by the optical sub-assembly, leaving little room for data processing electronics. This also makes a small form factor, a critical factor in oscillator selection.

The SiT9501 oscillator is sampling now. Production quantities are planned to be available in Q1 2021.

https://www.sitime.com

> Read More

Speech synthesis IC promises superior audio playback for ADAS and AVAS

Mon, Jul 27, 2020

Automotive speech synthesis ICs in the ML2253x series are optimised for audible notifications and sound effects in advanced driver assistance system (ADAS) and acoustic vehicle alerting system (AVAS).

The ML2253x speech synthesis ICs can reduce overall system costs and simplify hardware and software design, says Rohm.

The IC uses the HQ-ADPCM compression method, claimed to provide superior audio playback with reduced memory usage for storing audio data.

The integrated sound continuity detection re-digitises the analogue speaker output signal and compares it with the playback data stored in the internal or external memory. The main microcontroller receives a feedback in case the data is exceeding a pre-defined value e.g. in case of skipping.

The IC has detection functions built in, including short-circuit, high temperature, and command transfer error detection, improving reliability in automotive applications, says Rohm.

The memory content can be updated through the main microcontroller, once connected to a communication network, such as the IoT.

Lapis Semiconductor offers the SDCK3 development tool that allows users to create voice data as well as prepare, write, and listen to ROM data stored in the speech synthesis IC. Combining SDCK3 with an optional reference board enables both hardware and software to be evaluated.

Rohm Semiconductor develops and manufactures a large product range from the low power microcontroller, power management, standard ICs, SiC diodes, MOSFETs and modules, power transistors and diodes, LEDs to passives components such as resistors, tantalum capacitors and LED display units.

Production is at manufacturing plants in Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and China.

Lapis Semiconductor (former OKI Semiconductor), SiCrystal GmbH and Kionix are companies of the Rohm Semiconductor Group.

Rohm Semiconductor Europe has its head office near Dusseldorf on Germany, serving Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA).

http://www.rohm.com/eu

> Read More

Farnell supports makers and students with pi-top [4] computer

Mon, Jul 27, 2020

Suitable for traditional classrooms and homes to libraries, after school clubs and maker spaces, the pi-top [4] programmable computer has been introduced by Farnell.

The distributor is now shipping the programmable computing device to support digital making, coding and practical projects for educators and students, as well as makers and inventors. It can be used by students to develop key skills including coding and circuit design, as well as increasingly in-demand soft skills such as communication, critical thinking and problem-solving, says Farnell.

Every pi-top [4] computer is supplied with a Foundation Kit within a metal ‘bento box’ containing 14 components such as programmable sensors, buttons and LEDs. Users can get started right away and learn the basics of coding and physical computing, and progress through guided lesson plans in advanced coding, robotics, cybersecurity and artificial intelligence (AI). The modular design and internal battery make the pi-top [4] suitable for learning environments outside the home or classroom, for example, the sports field or playground.

The software learning environment is designed by educators. Farnell says pi-top [4] is the only platform to be endorsed by the OCR (Oxford Cambridge and RSA Review board) national examination awarding body for use in the computer science curriculum in the UK. Support materials include step-by-step ‘how to’ guides that help students write code to control different electronic components such as lights and sensors. There are also project based learning exaples in the software suite, which is bundled on the 8Gbyte SD card.

The pi-top [4] is powered by the 1.5GHz quad core Raspberry Pi 4 processor with 4Gbyte of RAM. Communication is via USB 3.0, Gigabit Ethernet, dual 4K HDMI output, 40 general purpose I/O (GPIO) pins and a 128 x 64 mini screen.

The pi-top [4] can be connected to any monitor or other device including Windows, Apple and Chromebook computers and third-party products such as Arduino and micro:bit. Raspberry Pi GPIO connectivity is included as standard.

The computer is hardware compatible with Lego and Meccano and students can # access thousands of free projects and resources that utilise the Raspberry Pi HAT architecture.

The pi-top [4] also supports a variety of educational software and apps including Scratch 3, Sonic Pi and Mu-Python code editor for beginner programmers as well as Chromium web browser and Google Suite, Photo Editor, mtPaint/ ImageMagic, VLC Media Player and Minecraft Raspberry Pi edition.

The pi-top [4] computer and Foundation Kit is available for fast delivery from Farnell in EMEA, element14 in APAC and Newark in North America.

http://www.farnell.com

> Read More

Collaboration bring ‘ready made’ IoT edge gateways for retail and industry

MEMS oscillator improves phase noise, halves space needs

Speech synthesis IC promises superior audio playback for ADAS and AVAS

Farnell supports makers and students with pi-top [4] computer

About Smart Cities