Rutronik introduces the TMF8829 Time-of-Flight sensors from ams OSRAM

With the TMF8829 from ams OSRAM, Rutronik expands its portfolio with a powerful dToF sensor that sets new standards with a measurement range of up to 11 meters and a wide 80° diagonal field of view (4:3). The compact optical module combines an integrated VCSEL emitter, SPAD array, and on-chip signal processing to deliver performance for modern 3D sensing applications such robotics, depth mapping, or smartphones LDAF (Laser Autofocus).

The TMF8829 supports multiple resolution modes – 8×8, 16×16, 32×32, and 48×32 – enabling flexible and high-accuracy environmental sensing. A combination of SPAD optics and a multi-lens array widens the Field of Illumination (FoI) for reliable coverage of larger scenes. Robust histogram and peak detection processing ensures accurate measurements even with contaminated or partially obstructed covers. The sensor can detect multiple objects along a single line of sight and provides distance values with a fine resolution of 0.25 mm.

For maximum system compatibility, the optical module features an I²C interface and for high-speed data output I3C and SPI interfaces are provided. Raw data including all algorithmic results and histograms can be streamed to the host system, making the sensor ideal for AI-supported processing. With flexible I/O supply options (1.2 V / 1.8 V / 3.0 V), the TMF8829 can be easily integrated into various platform architectures. The sensor operates reliably across a temperature range from –40 °C to +85 °C.

Key benefits at a glance:
Measurement range up to 11 m
Multiple depth resolutions: 8×8 / 16×16 / 32×32 / 48×32
80° diagonal field of view (4:3)
Integrated VCSEL light source
Distance resolution: 0.25 mm
Multi-object detection along the line of sight
Communication interfaces: I3C (I²C-compatible) and SPI
Module size: 5.7 mm × 2.9 mm × 1.5 mm
Operating temperature: −40 °C to +85 °C

Application examples:
Robotics: Obstacle detection, mapping, cliff detection
People counting
Advanced gesture recognition
SLAM (Simultaneous Localization and Mapping)
LDAF – Laser autofocus for smartphones
Bokeh effects in camera systems

www.rutronik24.com

> Read More

DigiKey launches 2025 DigiWish holiday giveaway for global engineering community

The annual DigiWish contest returns Dec. 1-24, giving engineers, makers and tech enthusiasts a chance to win daily prizes and a $500 DigiKey shopping spree

DigiKey has kicked off its 17th annual DigiWish Giveaway, which runs Dec. 1-24, 2025. The popular holiday giveaway offers entrants a chance to win DigiKey product prizes throughout the holiday season.

DigiKey’s DigiWish Giveaway is live through Dec. 24, 2025, with chances to win 24 daily prizes valued up to $100, plus a grand prize of a $500 DigiKey shopping spree.

To enter, participants must fill out the form on DigiKey’s website, selecting their “wish” for one in-stock DigiKey product valued up to $100 USD. One lucky name will be drawn from the list of eligible candidates each day of the contest, with 24 winners in total. All participants will also be entered in a grand prize drawing for a $500 DigiKey shopping spree.

“DigiKey is delighted to kick off our DigiWish Giveaway once again to bring an extra bit of cheer to our social followers this holiday season,” said Brooks Vigen, senior director of global strategic marketing for DigiKey. “We are pleased to help engineers, students and makers get a little boost for their projects as we close out 2025.”

CONTEST RULES
• No purchase is necessary to enter the DigiWish Giveaway
• The promotion is void where restricted or prohibited by law
• Entrants are reminded that DigiKey cannot grant wishes for export-restricted products in their respective countries

digikey.com

> Read More

Microchip has announced two digital power monitors that consume half the power

Battery-operated devices and energy-restricted applications must track and monitor power consumption without wasting power in the process. To solve this challenge, Microchip has announced two digital power monitors that consume half the power of comparable solutions based on typical operating conditions at 1024 samples per second. The PAC1711 and PAC1811 power monitors achieve this efficiency milestone while also providing real-time system alerts for out-of-limit power events and a patent-pending step-alert function for identifying variations in long-running averages.

The 42V, 12-bit single-channel PAC1711 and 16-bit PAC1811 monitors are housed in 8- and 10-pin Very Thin Dual Flat, No-Lead (VDFN) packages, respectively, that are pin- and footprint-compatible with the popular Small Outline Transistor (SOT23)-8 package. This compatibility simplifies second-sourcing for developers, while streamlining upgrades and integration into existing systems.

“Until now, portable devices and a variety of energy-constrained applications have needed to burn a significant amount of valuable power to measure how much they are consuming,” said Keith Pazul, vice president of Microchip’s mixed-signal linear business unit. “Unlike many existing solutions, Microchip’s power monitors function as independent ‘watchdog’ peripherals, eliminating the need for the MCU to handle power monitoring tasks. These monitors allow the MCU or host processor to remain dormant until a significant power event occurs such as needing an LCD screen to power on.”

The PAC1711 and PAC1811 power monitors’ step-alert capability keeps a running average of voltage and current values. If there is a significant, user-defined variation, it will notify the MCU to act on it. The devices keep a rolling average, and any new sample can trigger an alert. A slow-sample pin option is available, which can delay the power usage sampling to every eight seconds and further conserve power.

An accumulator register in the power monitor can be used to manage logistical items, track system battery ageing or time to recharge, and provide the short-term historical data for long-term power usage that the MCU can be programmed to act on. Both current monitor integrated circuits sense bus voltages from 0 to 42 volts and can communicate over an I2C interface. They are well-suited for first- or second-source options in computing, networking, AI/ML and E-Mobility applications.

Development Tools
The evaluation board is a Click board compatible with the MikroElektronika’s mikroBUS standard for host motherboard sockets. The Click board is used to evaluate the features and performance of the devices. Additionally, a Linux driver can be found on the product pages, providing the basic functionality and access to commonly used registers for making power measurements. Microchip also provides a generic C library for the PAC1711 and PAC1811 which includes examples of how they can be used with different MCUs from Microchip.

microchip.com

> Read More

Tria Technologies brings Qualcomm Dragonwing IQ-6 series to market

Tria Technologies has introduced the TRIA SM2S-IQ615 and TRIA OSM-LF-IQ-615 modules, marking commercial availability of computer-on-module (COM) worldwide featuring a Qualcomm Dragonwing IQ-615 processor. The modules provide AI-ready industrial-grade performance and robust peripheral support within a power-efficient and developer-friendly design, enabling developers and engineers to push the boundaries in edge AI.

Both the SM2S-IQ615 SMARC (Smart Mobility ARChitecture) module and TRIA OSM-LF-IQ615 (Open Standard Module) feature the Dragonwing IQ-615 Processor and integrate Qualcomm Kryo Gen 4 CPU with a 64-bit Octa-Core processor and a powerful Qualcomm Adreno 612 GPU, bringing performance and energy efficiency to Linux-based edge applications. The Qualcomm Hexagon V66 DSP with Dual Hexagon Vector, enables developers to create more capable, cost-effective, and energy-efficient machine learning (ML) applications.

“We are proud to deliver the industry’s module-based access to the Dragonwing IQ-6 Series,” said Markus Mahl, Senior Product Manager at Tria Technologies. “Our collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies ensures Tria customers are first in line to take advantage of the very latest advancements in edge-AI processing capabilities.”

Developers can now begin projects with the Dragonwing IQ6 Series in earnest, from developing and optimising software for the Dragonwing IQ-615 or AI model tuning, to conducting real-world performance testing, benchmarking, and validation. Both modules feature Yocto Linux BSP as standard, with Ubuntu Linux OS support also available on request.

“Dragonwing processors are designed to provide high-performance, low-power edge computing and on-device AI, enabling industries to achieve new heights of innovation and efficiency,” said Christian Bauer, Product Marketing Manager at Tria Technologies. “Combined with our proven design expertise, the embedded compute boards are enabling rapid development and deployment across a wide range of industries. Both the TRIA SM2S-IQ615 and TRIA OSM-LF-IQ615 are designed for ease of use and offering both SMARC and OSM form factors helps accelerate product development cycles, providing scalability and flexibility that reduces costs and simplifies design with a wide range of interface options.”

“Tria Technologies’ latest portfolio expansion with the SM2S-IQ615 and OSM-LF-IQ615 modules marks a significant milestone in our joint commitment to advancing edge AI”, said Douglas Benitez, Senior Director, Business Development at Qualcomm Europe, Inc. “By bringing the powerful edge computing capabilities of the Dragonwing IQ-6 Series to market, Tria Technologies is enabling customers to accelerate industrial innovation – powering next-generation industrial gateways, machine vision solutions, HMIs, controllers and more.”

Developers can also benefit from advanced security features including Secure boot, secure debug, TrustZone and Qualcomm® Trusted Execution Environment and hardware supported KeyStore. Additionally, both modules provide fast and low power LPDDR4 memory technology, combined with up to 256GB eMMC Flash memory.
An extensive set of interfaces for embedded applications are available, such as Dual Gigabit Ethernet, PCI Express Gen. 2, USB 2.0/3.1, DP v1.4, MIPI-DSI, LVDS, and up to 3x MIPI CSI-2 for connecting cameras. This makes it ideal for embedded vision, machine learning, and multimedia applications.

Both modules are available with development kits and board support packages to accelerate integration and prototyping.

The SM2S-IQ615 module is compliant with the SMARC 2.2 standard, allowing easy integration with SMARC baseboards, and the OSM-LF-IQ615 module is compliant with the OSM 1.2 standard (OSM-SL).

SMARC is one of the best and most future-proof standards for small form factor embedded designs, ideal for products that require compact embedded computing without compromising on processing capability.

OSMs are designed to provide the smallest possible form factor with a focus on versatility. For a growing number of IoT applications, this standard helps to combine the advantages of modular embedded computing with the increasing demands on cost, space, and interfaces.

tria-technologies.com

> Read More

About Smart Cities

This news story is brought to you by smartcitieselectronics.com, the specialist site dedicated to delivering information about what’s new in the Smart City Electronics industry, with daily news updates, new products and industry news. To stay up-to-date, register to receive our weekly newsletters and keep yourself informed on the latest technology news and new products from around the globe. Simply click this link to register here: Smart Cities Registration