Sector News

Mouser Electronics signs global distribution agreement with Telink Semiconductor

Thu, Jul 15, 2021

Low power radio frequency and mixed signal chips for the IoT from Telink Semiconductor are now available from Mouser Electronics, following the signing of a global distribution agreement.

Mouser will add Telink’s range of SoCs, starter kits and multi-protocol IoT products to its portfolio. Among the highlights of the range are the Telink TLSR827x series of low power, concurrent, multi-protocol IoT devices operating at the ISM 2.4GHz band. The devices support Bluetooth Low Energy 5.1, Bluetooth SIG Mesh, Zigbee, HomeKit, RF4CE, and 2.4GHz proprietary protocols. They are built on a 32-bit RISC-based microcontroller capable of running up to 48MHz and feature up to 32 general-purpose inputs/outputs (GPIOs), including a 14-bit ADC, I²C, SPI, I²S, and stereo audio output.

There is also the TLSR8278 audio RCU (remote control unit) starter kit features a button function and voice command function support and is therefore suitable for RF and IR remote control applications. The starter kit has 27 valid buttons and two-colour indicating LEDs. It also offers Google voice service.

Mouser also offer the TLSR825x series multi-protocol single-chip devices suitable for IoT and human interface device (HID) applications. The low power, concurrent devices support Bluetooth Low Energy 5.0 and up to eight antennae for indoor positioning in addition to standard Bluetooth 5.0 features. Designers can use the TLSR825X devices in a wide range of applications, including wearable devices, wireless toys, advanced remote controls, smart lighting, and smart home products.

Telink’s Kite Mesh Starter Kit is based on the TLSR8258 and features multiple PCBAs to implement Bluetooth Mesh applications. It is suitable for home automation and smart lighting, and includes multiple USB dongles for emulating gateways or mesh nodes, as well as a remote control PCBA to emulate remote controllers or wall switches. The mesh starter kit is supported by a range of PC tools and a software development kit to support rapid development of mesh applications.

https://www.mouser.com

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Analog Devices introduces first in iCoupler digital isolator family

Wed, Jul 14, 2021

The first in a series of iCoupler digital isolators by Analog Devices offers a total bandwidth of 10Gigabits per second. The ADN4624 digital isolator provides four channels at 2.5Gbits per second, allowing data to transfer seamlessly in the electrical domain. It enables new system architectures in digital health, instrumentation and smart industry, says Analog Devices.

The ADN4624 digital isolator streamlines design and integrates isolation for safety or data integrity. At 5.7kV rms isolation and 100 kV/microcsecond CMTI, the compact digital isolator meets medical standards and isolates high fidelity video and imaging links, precision analogue front ends and serial interconnects as an alternative to specialised fibre devices.

According to Analog Devices, the ADN4624 offers simplified connectivity, robust isolation and data integrity in harsh environments. The iCoupler digital isolator provides up to 10Gbits per second bandwidth in a single device. It allows for direct isolation of high-speed serial LVDS or CML at full speed and eliminates the complexity of deserialisation, adds Analog Devices. The ADN4624 enables precision timing with ultra-low jitter to deliver full ADC performance and resolution including precision ADC sampling clocks. Precision timing is less than one picosecond rms random jitter and less than 16 picoseconds skew.

The ADN4624 is available now in a 28-lead SOIC.

http://www.analog.com

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Renesas enables HD video over SD cables for automotive cameras

Wed, Jul 14, 2021

Automotive manufacturers can deliver high definition (HD) video over low cost cables and connector that currently support standard definition video, by using the Automotive HD Link (AHL) from Renesas.

The RAA279971 AHL encoder and RAA279972 decoder use a modulated analogue signal to transmit the video, for transmission rates 10 times less than required to transmit HD signals digitally. The lower transmission rate means that traditional twisted pair cables and standard connectors and existing analogue video cables and connectors can be used.

Digital links such as SerDes require heavily shielded cables and high end connectors that cost significantly more than those for AHL. Additionally they may need to be replaced in five to seven years. They are also difficult to route because of a limited bending radius.

AHL is robust against noise and has a bi-directional control channel that operates independently of the video data, says Renesas. It can initialise, program and monitor the camera module. The camera can be controlled simultaneously over the same pair of wires (UTP) during video transmission to reduce the cost of installation. In comparison to a digital link in a rear view camera application, a digital link will degrade due to a failure in the cable harness or connector assembly, as weak signals can cause macroblocks to appear, hiding large portions of the viewing area. Using the same cable under the same conditions for comparison, the AHL will present a slight change in video colour or contrast, but all pixels will appear on the screen. The resulting image will accurately identify an object or person behind the vehicle.

According to Renesas, the AHL system allows automotive manufacturers to deliver advance safety systems in all vehicles, including economy models and not just luxury ones.

AHL supports resolutions from VGA up to 720p/60 or 1080p/30 enabling it to implement non-standard vertical resolutions.

There are also MIPI-CSI2, BT656, and DVP inputs and outputs to provide a flexible interface to support old and new image sensors.

The RAA279971 AHL encoder and RAA279972 decoder are available today. Renesas also offers the RTKA279971DA2000BU AHL encoder and the RTKA279972DA1000BU AHL decoder evaluation boards.

http://www.renesas.com

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Dual-output automotive navigation unit has sensor-based spoofing detection

Wed, Jul 14, 2021

The NEO-M9L navigation modules and M9140-KA-DR chip have been introduced by u-blox. They are built on the company’s M9 GNSS platform and use dead reckoning techniques to provide accurate position data when satellite signals are compromised or unavailable, says u-blox.

The NEO-M9L-20A and NEO-M9L-01A modules, and the M9140-KA-DR chip are specially designed for first-mount automotive designs. The modules and the chip are all automotive grade, with the NEO-M9L-01A offering an extended operational temperature range up to 105 degrees C, making it suitable for integration on the roof, behind the windscreen, or the hot conditions inside electronics control units (ECUs). Applications include integrated navigation systems, for example in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) and head units, integrated telematics control units (TCU), and vehicle to everything (V2X).

The modules include six-axis inertial measurement units (IMUs) which deliver low-latency 100Hz raw data output. The modules offer a low-latency 50Hz position update rate, for use in real-time applications. The automotive dead reckoning (ADR) output  combines the GNSS fix with IMU data for accurate positioning output. Additional GNSS-only output enables seamless integration into third-party applications. The receiver also supports wake-on-motion, which enables smart features such as theft protection and power-efficient designs, explains u-blox.

The modules offer sensor-based spoofing detection for advanced security and robustness. The chip offers protection against possible GNSS signal spoofing, which can cause navigation systems to report faulty position data or time.

“Availability and trustworthiness of position output are increased by using concurrent reception of four GNSS constellations,” says Aravinthan Athmanathan, product manager, product centre positioning at u-blox.

All the module variants comply with AEC-Q104, the latest standard for ensuring the reliability of modules used in automotive applications. Engineering samples and the evaluation kits will be available by the end of September 2021.

u‑blox specialises in positioning and wireless communication in automotive, industrial, and consumer markets. The company has a broad portfolio of chips, modules, and secure data services and connectivity. It has headquarters in Thalwil, Switzerland.

http://www.ublox.com

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