IoT

Modules help to develop and run IoT applications in one day

Thu, Sep 20, 2018

Help for developers to get IoT applications connected and running in a day, with no software development necessary is provided by Silicon Labs’ Wireless Xpress Modules. They deliver Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity with zero programming, says the company.

Silicon Labs’ Wireless Xpress includes certified Bluetooth 5 Low Energy and Wi-Fi modules, integrated protocol stacks and tools.

On-board wireless stacks are controlled through a high-level Xpress Command application programming interface (API) for set-up and control. Wireless Xpress devices require only modest resources from a host processor, says Silicon Labs, enabling developers to add wireless connectivity to any microcontroller.

By using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Wireless Xpress, developers can move from product concept to prototyping in a matter of hours instead of weeks,” said Matt Johnson, senior vice president and general manager of IoT products at Silicon Labs. He continues to explain that as Wireless Xpress reduces the design learning curve without compromising Bluetooth or Wi-Fi functionality, developers will spend less time learning how to add wireless connectivity to IoT devices and more time designing innovative products and getting them to market in good time.

Bluetooth and Wi-Fi IoT products based on Wireless Xpress can be remotely managed and updated over the air (OTA) using native device management features. Using Silicon Labs’ Zentri device management service (DMS), end users can install and update firmware, view real-time device health metrics and adjust product settings through mobile apps.

To add Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity to mobile applications, Wireless Xpress includes a mobile app software development kit (SDK) for Android and iOS. The mobile app framework comprises examples and libraries and offers simple communications and OTA APIs to accelerate app development and simplify wireless design for mobile platforms.

Silicon Labs’ Gecko OS is an intuitive IoT operating system to accelerate the development of market-ready connected products. The company says it plans to offer additional Gecko OS-based products and solutions.

http://www.silabs.com

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H-bridge motor driver IC meets demand for low voltage, high current drive

Wed, Sep 12, 2018

For DC brushed motors and stepping motors, the TC78H651FNG is a dual H-bridge driver IC announced by Toshiba Electronics Europe.

The TC78H651FNG delivers performance at a low voltage (down to 1.8V) and high current (up to 1.6A) for equipment powered by dry-cell batteries. It is suitable for motor applications such as cameras and compact printers using 3.7V lithium-ion batteries, toys and home appliances, smart meters, and electronic locks using two 1.5V dry batteries, and devices using 5V USB power supplies.

IoT advances and wireless technologies are driving demand for applications that can be remotely controlled by smartphones and tablets, in turn stimulating demand for battery-powered motor control, argues Toshiba. Existing H-bridge driver ICs use bipolar technology which is stable at low voltage. However, the associated high levels of current consumption shorten battery life and increase losses leading to reduced motor torque.

The TC78H651FNG uses Toshiba’s DMOS process that is suitable for low voltage drives to reduce losses and current consumption, ICC is around 0.6mA in operating mode and virtually zero when in standby mode, claims Toshiba. This achieves a longer battery life and stable low voltage operation. The reduced on resistance of 0.22 Ohm for the high and low sides combined reduces IC losses and improves torque in the motor, even when powered at 1.8V.

The device is housed in a 5.0 x 6.4mm, 0.65mm pitch TSSOP16 package and supports forward, reverse and stop rotation modes. Inbuilt error detection functions for over-current protection, thermal shutdown and under-voltage lockout all contribute to ensuring a safe system.

http://toshiba.semicon-storage.com

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Q-Free and Silicon Labs develop sensor to find a parking spot

Thu, Sep 06, 2018

Q-Free and Silicon Labs have collaborated on a new outdoor parking IoT sensor that helps drivers find vacant parking places in towns. The companies have created Q-Free’s ParQSense smart parking sensor, which uses the Silicon Labs’ EZR32WG Wonder Gecko wireless microcontroller for control and sub-GHz connectivity. The sensor was deployed as a pilot this year in the UK, Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and North America, and will be released for commercial use this month.

Q-Free has focused its resources on developing ways to reduce traffic flows. It provides a range of transportation technologies including electronic tolling, vehicle counters, surveillance technologies and parking management solutions. The ParQSense smart parking sensor is one of the company’s first sensor products to support outdoor parking needs. According to an INRIX study, 20 per cent of traffic in urban areas can be attributed to drivers searching for parking spots.

“To develop an IoT sensor solution for outdoor parking that would succeed in today’s market, we had to deliver a combination of low-power, long-range wireless connectivity and high performance,” said Brage Blekken, a project manager in Q-Free’s R&D department. “Silicon Labs helped us overcome this challenge by providing best-in-class wireless technology capable of transmitting data over long distances in the sub-GHz band,” he added.

Many existing outdoor parking sensors on the market had accuracy limitations, and struggled with wireless capabilities and interference from cellular networks commonly associated with urban environments, reports Q-Free.

The Q-Free ParQSense option uses dual radar and magnetic field technology to sense with 99+ per cent accuracy whether a vehicle is present in a parking space. The application transmits data to centralised base stations over long distances using narrowband sub-GHz wireless connectivity.

Q-Free supplies intelligent transportation systems comprising tolling, parking, info-mobility, traffic management and C -ITS/connected vehicle solutions. It was founded in 1984 and headquartered in Trondheim, Norway, the company has over 400 employees, offices in 18 countries.

Silicon Labs provides silicon and software for the internet of things (IoT), internet infrastructure, industrial automation, consumer and automotive markets.

http://www.silabs.com

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Three-axis accelerometer senses health of structures

Tue, Sep 04, 2018

A three-axis accelerometer, the M-A352, has been developed by Epson to monitor the health of structures. It was developed in response to the need to monitor ageing infrastructure in towns and cities, and reduce the cost of infrastructure maintenance, monitoring, and renewal.

The M-A352 provides the necessary noise performance of one microG/√Hz or better. Epson also says that its durability and manufacturability ensure stable supply and cost competitiveness. The accelerometer can be used for applications where high-accuracy measurements were formerly difficult to take, notes Epson.

Features include high shock resistance of 1,200G which is four times that of Epson’s existing product, the M-A351. The M-A352 also has a dynamic range of 27 bits and uses noise-resistance direct digital conversion technology.

A low-jitter external trigger function enables high-accuracy time synchronisation in multi-node measurement.

The accelerometer can be used in structure health monitoring (e.g. buildings, roadway structures, bridges, tunnels, and steel towers), earthquake detection, environmental vibration measurement, industrial equipment monitoring, unmanned vehicles (e.g. terrestrial vehicles, undersea probes), and the measurement of the vibration and path of industrial equipment and vehicles.

Epson is scheduled to give a technical presentation and demonstration of the M-352 at 2018 DGON Inertial Sensors and Systems (ISS), in Braunschweig, Germany ( 11 to 12 September).

The M-A352 will be in volume production for spring 2019, says Epson. Samples will begin shipping at the end of 2018.

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http://www.epson-electronics.de

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