Fanless 4K digital signage player includes remote monitoring

Based on 8th Gen Intel Core U-series processors, a 4K digital signage player, the SI-642-N, has been released by Ibase Technology. It can be used in commercial and retail locations as well as in transportation networks to provide real-time information and advertising relevant to the traveller.

The fanless SI-642-N offers high reliability for 24/7 operation in an industrial grade design. It is integrated with the Ibase iSmart and Observer technologies for remote monitoring, power on/off scheduling, power recovery and low temperature boot functions. The Intel HD Graphics 620 enables the system to simultaneously support two independent displays (one HDMI 2.0 and one active DisplayPort 1.2) with 4K (4096 x 2160) at 60Hz resolution. There are also two independent audio outputs.

The digital signage player’s MBD642 motherboard is populated with dual Gigabit LAN, four USB 3.1, dual channel DDR4 with up to 32Gbyte support and expansion slots including M.2 3042 B-key for 4G/LTE, M.2 2280 M-key for storage and M.2 2240 E-key for customers to install optional capture cards.

The Intel vPro and TPM 2.0 features increase productivity, remote manageability and data security, adds Ibase.

The SI-642-N is currently available in four models with different processor types. All operate on both Windows 10 and Linux Ubuntu operating systems.

Ibase Technology manufactures industrial motherboards, embedded systems, panel PCs, digital signage players and network appliances in the industrial PC and industrial IoT markets.

The Taiwanese company was established in 2000 and offers a range of digital signage system products catering across vertical markets including retail, banking, hospitality and education. Depending on their requirements, customers can choose the models based on performance, number of displays, resolution and ventilation designs. Ibase digital signage players feature advanced remote management that easily refreshes content and increases uptime while lowering costs. Ibase has partnered with leading digital signage platforms including Omnivex, Quividi and Navori. It is an Associate member of the Intel Internet of Things Solution Alliance.

http://www.ibase.com.tw

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Anritsu introduces DC block and cables to scale networking

110GHz components have been added to Anrtisu’s W1 range. The bias tees, DC block and semi- rigid cables are intended to help create test environments to more accurately verify mmWave and optical designs, says the company.

The new components to the W1 (1.0mm) range provide broadband frequency scalability in high-frequency device characterisation and optical networking applications. The new W1 components provides Anritsu with the broadest millimeter wave (mmWave), coaxial component portfolio in the market, claims the company. The components can integrated in test systems for high-speed designs.  Anritsu claims that no other company has a more complete set of 110GHz components for frequency and time domain use.

With operable frequency of DC to 110 GHz, the new components generate metrology-grade quality results with high repeatability, often providing a component where conventional devices do not exist. For example, the W1 coaxial interface allows for a direct connection to the instrument test port, which saves time and simplifies system setup.

The new components can be used as part of a test system consisting of 110GHz vector network analysers (VNAs), oscilloscopes and bit error rate testers (BERTs), as well as for optical transceivers, laser diodes, photodiodes and optical modulators. Development of switches and routers using NRZ and PAM4 modulation schemes with 56Gbits per second and 112Gbits per second data rates and 800G technology are target applications.

Anritsu has been providing communications test and measurement solutions for 120 years, helping customers to develop wireless, optical, microwave/RF and digital solutions for R&D, manufacturing, installation, and maintenance applications, as well as multi-dimensional service assurance solutions for network monitoring and optimisation.

Anritsu also provides precision microwave/RF components, optical devices, and high-speed electrical devices for communication products and systems. The company develops products for 5G, M2M, IoT, as well as other emerging and legacy wireline and wireless communication markets. 

http://www.anritsu.com

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BlueSky GNSS firewall update protects infrastructure

Critical infrastructure systems (e.g. power utilities, financial services, mobile networks and transportation) rely on timing derived from global positioning system (GPS). An update by Microchip Technology to its BlueSky GNSS Firewall software raises the level of resiliency against GPS vulnerabilities for systems.

Microchip’s BlueSky GNSS Firewall software release 2.0 performs real-time analysis to detect jamming and spoofing for protecting reception of the GPS signal and hardening response and recovery to avoid signal disruption. Release 2.0 includes charting and advanced threshold settings of global navigation satellite system (GNSS) elements such as satellites-in-view, carrier-to-noise, position dispersion, phase time deviation and the RF power level to simplify system turn-up and deployment.

Microchip developed improvements as a result of participation in an industry live-sky testing event hosted by the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Science and Technology Directorate. It identified new solutions to prevent signal disruption to develop the Blue Sky GNSS Firewall software release 2.0 to address operators’ evolving requirements.

Updates are essential to defend against rapidly-evolving GNSS disruptions and enable critical infrastructure operators to avoid interruptions of service.

Microchip’s BlueSky GNSS Firewall software release 2.0 is provided as part of a subscription service and is installed on the BlueSky GNSS Firewall device. When connected to Microchip’s TimePictra management software, critical infrastructure operators also can monitor and analyse GNSS signals in cities, across geographic regions, throughout a country and even globally.

Complementary devices and software in Microchip’s suite of GPS systems and services include the TimeProvider 4100 precise timing grandmaster with gateway clock, SyncServer 600/650 timing and frequency instrument, miniature atomic clock (MAC), Time Cesium and 5071A Cesium primary frequency standard.

https://www.microsemi.com

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Bluetooth LE mesh networking accelerates building automation

Based on ON Semiconductor’s low power RSL10 system in package (SiP), the RSL10 Mesh platform allows engineers to implement low power mesh networking, using Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) technology, and move quickly towards full deployment, the company claims. Target applications are smart homes, building automation, industrial IoT, remote environment monitoring, asset tracking and monitoring.

The platform consists of two RSL10 mesh nodes and a Strata Gateway for connectivity to the Strata Developer Studio.

Complementing the RSL10 SiP, an array of sensing and indicator devices has been incorporated into the node hardware, including an ambient light sensor (LV0104CS), temperature sensor (N34TS108), magnetic sensors, LED indicators and a triple-output NCP5623B LED driver (for colour mixing). There is also a built-in battery charger either li-ion or li-poly batteries.

The mesh nodes can be configured to take on different roles and functions. The Strata Gateway allows evaluation processes to be carried out using the intuitive Strata Developer Studio. The cloud-connected software enables provisioning of additional mesh and supports firmware-over-the-air (FOTA) updates.

Virtual workspaces for common mesh networking examples, including a smart office, can be used by developers to access sensor data and trigger settings. The energy- efficient RSL10 radio is supported by an Eclipse-based integrated development environment (IDE), a mobile application for provisioning, configuring and controlling a Bluetooth LE mesh network and a Mesh Networking software package which is compliant with the Bluetooth SIG.

“Operational constraints and ease of implementation still represent major challenges,” said Wiren Perera, head of IoT at ON Semiconductor. “Through this new platform we are helping to dramatically accelerate mesh networking development, so that nodes can be more rapidly deployed which push the performance envelope in terms of range, resiliency and power budget.”

ON Semiconductor offers a portfolio of energy efficient, power management, analogue, sensors, logic, timing, connectivity, discrete, SoC and custom devices for automotive, communications, computing, consumer, industrial, medical, aerospace and defence applications.

The company has a network of manufacturing facilities, sales offices and design centres in key markets throughout North America, Europe and the Asia Pacific regions.

http://www.onsemi.com

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