Sector News

PoE chipset exploits IEEE 802.3bt specificiation

Thu, Apr 04, 2019

Reliable and space-efficient powered devices (PDs) can be built to take advantage of the latest IEEE 802.3bt Power-over-Ethernet (PoE) specification, says STMicroelectonics, on the introduction of the PM8804 and PM8805.

The PM8804 and PM8805 provide the PoE-converter circuitry for PDs up to class-eight, which defines a usable power budget of 71W. According to STMicroelectronics, the chipset saves space, enhances reliability, and cuts time to market for 5G small cells, WLAN access points, switches, and routers. The PoE chipset also targets smart-building and smart office applications such as IP cameras, access-control systems, display panels, lighting, curtain or shutter controllers, video-call systems, IP phones, and tabletop consoles.

The PM8804 implements a PWM controller for a 48V isolated flyback or forward converter, including dual low-side gate drivers for high-efficiency forward active-clamp topologies. The operating frequency is selectable up to 1MHz, allowing the use of small external filter and decoupling components for high power density. The PM8804 is a high-voltage start-up regulator with 20mA output capability to help save on board space and bill of materials.

The PM8805 companion chip contains two active bridges, a charge pump for driving high-side MOSFETs, a hot-swap FET, and the IEEE 802.3bt compliant interface. Integrating the active bridges saves the real estate otherwise occupied by eight discrete MOSFETs and their driving circuitry, explains STMicroelectronics. The PM8805 generates a power-good signal for enabling the PM8804 and other circuitry such as an LED driver, and supports maintain power signature (MPS) current control that allows the PD to enter power-saving standby without being disconnected.

Both devices are in production now. The PM8804 is packaged as a 3.0 x 3.0mm, 0.5mm-pitch VFQFPN-16. The PM8805 in 8.0 x 8.0mm thermally enhanced VFQFPN-43 featuring exposed pads.

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http://www.st.com

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Compact industrial motherboard supports three displays

Thu, Apr 04, 2019

Measuring 116.8 x 111.8mm, the AIMB-U117 is a palm-sized industrial motherboard, equipped with Intel Atom E39XX  processors, three independent displays, onboard eMMC storage and extensive I/O capabilities.

Advantech has released the motherboard which supports a wide range of DC power inputs from 12 to 24V. Compliant with flexible thermal solutions designed by Advantech engineers, the AIMB-U117 supports extended operating temperatures from -20 to +70 degrees C for rigorous reliability and performance under intense conditions. Small in size, the AIMB-U117 targets multiple applications, digital signage, passenger information systems, automation, robot AGV, robotics, and vending.

The AIMB-U117 integrates an Intel Generation 9 graphics engine for improved throughput, media acceleration, and 4k2k display resolution. Display interfaces include DisplayPort1.2, HDMI1.4, and eDP (or LVDS). It supports three simultaneous, independent display outputs to deliver DirectX 12.0, OpenGL 4.4 and OpenCL 2.0 graphics and media performance. The 4096 x 2160 resolution output means the AIMB-U117 is suitable for digital signage applications requiring a slim-sized solution with high resolution graphics and up to three independent display outputs.

The AIMB-U117 offers dual GbE LAN ports, four USB 3.0, one SATAIII and two COM (RS-232, RS-422 or 485) ports. For expansion, the motherboard supports one M.2 (E key) and one full-sized MiniPCIe (colay mSATA) for modular add-on card installation. The AIMB-U117 also supports, optional, onboard eMMC storage. The optional standard protocol interfaces include one MDB and one ccTalk for vending applications. There is also one CANBus suitable for automation applications.

The AIMB-U117 is designed for wide-ranging DC power source input (12 to 24V) and features a lockable DC jack to ensure power cables remain securely connected in high vibration environments. The AIMB-U117 can be used in automation applications and/or semi-outdoor public environments where passenger information systems, signage walls, and vending machines are located such as airports or train stations.

http://www.advantech.eu

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10V GaN FETs are enhanced for DC/DC conversion

Thu, Apr 04, 2019

A fourth eGaN FET joins the range available from Efficient Power Conversion (EPC). The 100V, 3.8 mOhm EPC2053 eGaN FET, joins the EPC2045, EPC2052, and EPC2051. EPC says that its 100V family of GaN transistors are more efficient, smaller, and lower cost for high performance 48V DC/DC conversion.

The EPC2045 (7 mOhm, 100V), EPC2052 (13.5 mOhm, 100V) and EPC2051 (25 mOhm, 100V) FETs are suitable for a range of power levels and price points to meet the increasing demands of 48V server, 48V automotive, and 54V data centre applications. Other applications for the 100V family include single-stage 48V to load open rack server architectures, USB-C, precision motor drives, LED lighting, and lidar, says EPC.

Performance advantages gained from GaN in 48V IN conversion can be exploited in artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and advanced high-performance motor drives. Automotive systems are also moving from 12V distribution systems to 48V systems to support the emergence of autonomous vehicles with lidar, radar, camera, and ultrasonic sensors. “Our new family of 100V products demonstrate that in all 48V topologies, the highest efficiency and lowest cost is achieved with GaN FETs and ICs,” said Alex Lidow, co-founder and CEO at EPC.

In all the topologies with 48 VIN, the highest efficiency is obtained using GaN devices due to their lower capacitance and smaller size, claims EPC. Recent price drops in GaN power transistors mean that cost comparison with equivalent silicon-based converters favours the use of GaN devices, according to the company.

Achieving as high as 97 per cent efficiency, the 100V eGaN FETs can be evaluated using two new reference designs and five demonstration boards available from EPC.

The EPC9138 demonstration board is a 400kHz switching frequency, 48V IN, 15A output current, buck converter featuring the 100V EPC2053. The EPC9141 demonstration board is a 400kHz switching frequency, 48V IN, 10A output current, buck converter featuring the 100V EPC2045.

Standard half-bridge development boards are also available to support in-circuit performance evaluation of each of the 100V family devices. The EPC9093 supports the EPC2053, the EPC9078 and EPC9205 support the EPC2045, the EPC9092 supports the EPC2052 and the EPC9091 supports the EPC2051.

http://www.epc-co.com

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FPGA provides customised solutions for data0centric business

Wed, Apr 03, 2019

FPGAs that will provide customised solutions for data-centric challenges in embedded, network and data centre sectors have been released by Intel. The Agilex FPGAs deliver customised connectivity and acceleration and performance and power improvements for diverse workloads, says Dan McNamara, Intel senior vice president, Programmable Solutions Group.

The Agilex FPGA is believed to be the first FPGA to support Compute Express Link, a cache and memory coherent interconnect to future Intel Xeon Scalable processors. The FPGA’s second generation HyperFlex architecture provides up to 40 per cent higher performance, or up to 40 per cent lower total power compared with Intel Stratix 10 FPGAs, notes Intel.

It is also believed to be the only FPGA supporting hardened BFLOAT16 and up to 40TFLOPS of DSP performance (FP16) and it has Gen 5 PCIe for higher bandwidth that PCIe Gen 4.

The Agilex FPGA supports data transfer rates of up to 112Gbits per second and has advanced memory support with DDR5, HBM and Intel Optane DC persistent memory support.

The Agilex FPGA fabric is built on Intel’s 10nm process with heterogeneous 3D SiP technology. This provides the capability to integrate analogue, memory, custom computing, custom I/O, and Intel eASIC device tiles into a single package with the FPGA fabric. Intel delivers a custom logic continuum with reusable IPs through a migration path from FPGA to structured ASIC. One application program interface (API) provides a software-friendly heterogeneous programming environment, enabling software developers to access acceleration via the use of FPGAs, maintains Intel.

The FPGAs have been developed to support customers in aggregating and processing increasing amounts of data traffic for emerging, data driven industries like edge computing, networking and the cloud. Intel Agilex FPGAs can be used in edge analytics for low-latency processing, virtualised network functions to improve performance, or data centre acceleration for greater efficiency, says Intel. They are built to deliver customised solutions for applications from the edge to the cloud.

The Agilex FPGAs have the flexibility to meet the hardware system challenges presented by advances in artificial intelligence (AI) analytics at the edge, network and the cloud, explains Intel.

http://www.intel.com

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