Sector News

Citizen radio is used for backhaul of LoRaWAN gateway traffic

Tue, Aug 15, 2023

Industrial IoT gateway company AMIT Wireless, and IoT connectivity company, Actility, have partnered to facilitate deployment of CBRS (Citizens Broadband Radio Service) IoT use cases for backhauling LoRaWAN gateway traffic.

CBRS was launched in the USA in 2020 by the FCC as a dynamic sharing system in the 3550 to 3700MHz band. Also known as the innovation band, this frequency band will allow for the expansion of coverage and capacity of operators’ LTE services as well as the implementation of new mobile uses (e.g., 5G and IoT). The band is currently also used by the US Navy, the Department of Defence and satellite communication service providers.

AMIT and Actility have agreed co-operation and mutual promotion of the AMIT Wireless CBRS products as a backhaul for LoRaWAN gateways using Actility’s ThingPark IoT platform, opening up a range of use cases to allow the deployment of private cellular network in CBRS bands.

One of the main challenges for IIoT LoRaWAN deployments in rural or remote areas is backhaul connectivity. Private cellular networks are privately owned, customisable cellular networks comprised of various components such as radio hardware and network orchestration software. These networks can significantly enhance connectivity and address the limitations of traditional Wi-Fi networks in industrial IoT deployments in remote areas. Public cellular networks, in contrast, provide limited control over service quality and risk data security, explained Actility. The solution, said AMIT and Actility is for the AMIT Wireless CBRS LTE devices to carry the backhaul traffic of LoRaWAN gateways.

The FCC’s decision to allocate more spectrum for business use, enterprises can now construct and operate their own private LTE or 5G networks, tailored to their needs, said Actility.

The Actility ThingPark Market presents a trial kit to demonstrate the capabilities of private LTE CBRS networks. The kit is characterised by the ability to enable roaming over CBRS and public networks using a single ThingPark global SIM card, as a result of global agreements with public network operators.

This kit illustrates a typical CBRS use case, providing backhaul for LoRaWAN gateways in rural or industrial networks, which traditionally rely on public SIMs, Ethernet or satellite connectivity. The kit can also be used to explore other CBRS use cases. Combined with AMIT Wireless CBRS gateways, it extends more possibilities by cellular connections and is also claimed to make users’ deployment easy, secure and reliable.

http://www.actility.com

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Dev kit for LTE IoT eliminates certification process

Mon, Aug 14, 2023

The Digi XBee 3 Global GNSS LTE CAT 1 development kit can help engineers accelerate time to market and quickly integrate LTE cellular into devices and applications, eliminating the FCC and carrier end device certification process.
The kit is available from Mouser Electronics and includes the Digi XBee 3 Global LTE Cat 1 embedded modem and is pre-loaded with three months of pre-activiated cellular data service. The modem provides the flexibility to switch between multiple frequencies and wireless protocols as needed. These pre-certified Global LTE Cat 1 modules are suitable for moderate bandwidth (typically less than 25Mbyte per month) and low cost IoT applications, advised the company.
Pairing Digi Remote Manager with the XBee 3 Global LTE Cat 1 modem allows users to configure and control the modem from a central platform. The built-in Digi TrustFence security, identity, and data privacy features use multiple control layers to protect against new and evolving cyber threats.
Onboard templates can prototype cellular integration while the full suite of standard Digi XBee API frames and AT commands, MicroPython, and Digi XCTU allows users to seamlessly transition to this embedded modem with only minor software adjustments, said Mouser. Standard XBee API frames and AT commands, MicroPython, and  XCTU simplify setup, configuration, testing and adding or changing functionality.

https://www.mouser.com

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VCSEL-based reflective optical sensor saves space

Fri, Aug 11, 2023

The VCNT2030 reflective optical sensor by Vishay Semiconductors, is offered in a compact surface mount package measuring just 1.85 x 1.2 x 0.6mm.
The sensor is suitable for industrial, computer, consumer, and mobility applications. They save space, compared to previous generation sensor and deliver a higher current transfer ratio (CTR), increased sensing distance and lower power consumption, said the company.
The Vishay Semiconductors VCNT2030 features a VCSEL (vertical cavity surface emitting laser) and a silicon phototransistor in the miniature package. It is compact in construction with the emitting light source and detector arranged in the same plane. It also offers excellent internal crosstalk suppression due to the VCSEL’s narrow ±17 degree emission angle, which also enables improved proximity performance behind cover glass. The VCNT2030’s analogue output signal at the phototransistor is dependent on the amount of light emitted by the VCSEL and reflected off an object in the sensor’s field of view. The device offers a sensing distance of 15mm, which is three times higher than the closest competing device on the market, claimed Vishay.
The compact footprint saves at least 40 per cent of PCB space compared to previous generation devices, said Vishay. As a result, the sensor saves space in optical switching applications in industrial infrastructure, home and building controls, notebook and desktop computers, home appliances, consumer electronics and metering applications. It can also be used in optical encoding for motor control in e-bikes, golf carts, tractors, and harvesters, as well as detecting paper presence in printers and scanners. In these applications the low 8mA driving current of the device’s VCSEL is sufficient to achieve the same performance as solutions using 20mA infrared emitters, which lowers power consumption.
The sensor offers a detection range of 0.3 to 6.0mm, an emitter wavelength of 940nm and a typical output current of 2.5mA, which represents a typical CTR of 31 per cent under test conditions. This value is more than 100 per cent higher than previous generation solutions and the closest competing sensor, said Vishay.
The VCNT2030 features a Moisture Sensitivity Level (MSL) of 3 for reflow soldering according to J-STD-020. It is RoHS-compliant and halogen-free.
Samples and production quantities of the VCNT2030 are available now, with lead times of eight to 16 weeks.

http://www.Vishay.com

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Farnell provides access to two versions of Ardunio Uno R4

Fri, Aug 11, 2023

Two new Arduino Uno R4 boards are now available from Farnell, in an expansion of the Uno family portfolio. 

The Uno R4 Minima and Uno R4 Wi-Fi are suitable for use by beginners and experienced developers. They introduce a 32-bit architecture with new capabilities for makers, explained Farnell.

The Uno R4 is powered by Renesas RA4M1 32-bit Cortex-M4 processor running at 48MHz, providing a three fold performance increase over the Uno R3.

These enhancements are fully backward-compatible, however, and do not compromise working with existing shields and accessories, said Farnell. The SRAM has been upgraded from 2kbyte to 32kbyte and flash memory is 256kbyte, compared to 32kbyte, in order to support more complex projects. There is also a 12-bit analogue DAC, an on board op amp, a USB-C port and maximum power supply voltage of 24V with an enhanced thermal design. Other features include a CAN bus and an SPI port, enabling users to reduce wiring and perform parallel tasks by connecting multiple shields. There is also an HID device to emulate a mouse or keyboard

The Uno R4 Minima provides powerful and affordable technology for designers who want the power and speed the Renesas processor can bring but do not have any need for additional features. Onboard SWD pins provide a simple way to connect third-party debugging probes for system operation.

The Uno R4 Wi-Fi features an Espressif ESP32-S3-mini co-processor and offers Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity, providing robust internet accessibility for IoT projects.

The Uno R4 Wi-Fi additionally includes low energy Bluetooth / Wi-Fi, a fully addressable 12×8 LED matrix, a Qwic 12C connector for external I2C connectivity, a real time clock with support for a buffer battery and runtime errors diagnostics.

Arduino is an open-source electronics platform based on easy-to-use hardware and software which has built up a worldwide community of makers, including students, hobbyists, artists, programmers, and professionals, contributing accessible knowledge that can greatly help novices and experts alike.

The new Arduino Uno R4 boards is available from Farnell in EMEA, Newark in North America and element14 in APAC.

https://uk.farnell.com/

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