Sector News

Toshiba announces 256Gbyte microSD UHS-I card

Sun, Sep 03, 2017

The latest M203 microSD card available from Toshiba Electronics Europe offers premium features for mainstream users, including a 256Gbyte memory.   

The microSD UHS-I card has a read speed of up to R100Mbyte per second, claimed to be the highest speed rate reached in this entry level category in the Toshiba memory card portfolio. The microSD M203 card is shockproof, water resistant and x-ray proof, based on Toshiba Memory Corporation’s test results. The IPX7 standard involves the product being submerged in static tap water at room temperature to a depth of one metre, left for 30minutes and still being able to function when taken out of the water. Toshiba also reports that the card can function after carrying out the gravity fall from a height of five meters.

Available in memory capacities from 16 to 256Gbyte, it is targeted at the mainstream customer with a cost-effective entry-level design in the UHS-I category, explains Toshiba. The microSD M203 offers mobile users faster transfer speed and the ability to add 256Gbyte of memory to smartphones, allowing users to download more apps and carry large amount of contents on their devices without concern about storage limitations. The ability to combine greater capacity is due to Toshiba 3D Flash Memory (BiCS FLASH) architecture, says the company.

The ultra-high-speed (UHS) microSD M203 can be obtained in three different blister-pack versions with an adapter for mobile phone, camera or PC use as well as a version without an adapter for phone use only. The shock- and waterproof card will also be offered as a mobile bundle, including the card and a mobile phone either with or without an adapter.

The microSD M203 will make its European debut at the IFA exhibition in Berlin running from 1-6 September 2017.Visit Toshiba in Hall 17, Stand 104.

Card shipments to distributors and retailers will commence in January 2018.

 

http://www.toshiba.semicon-storage.com

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RF front-end from Skyworks supports ZigBee, Thread, and Bluetooth protocols

Sun, Sep 03, 2017

Skyworks has introduced the SKY66403-11, a 2.4GHz integrated RF front-end module (FEM) designed to support ZigBee, Thread and next-generation Bluetooth wireless protocols (including Bluetooth low energy).

The SKY66403-11 is designed for ease of use and maximum flexibility for internet of things (IoT) applications, says Skyworks, particularly within the connected home, wearable devices and products and the machine to machine (M2M) markets. It is also suitable for coin cell battery devices, security and environmental sensors, wireless audio platforms, in-home appliances, smart thermostats and lighting systems.

The front-end module features an integrated power amplifier with up to +21dBm output power and operates over a wide supply voltage range, from 1.8 to 3.6V. It also includes low noise amplifier (LNA) and antenna diversity switching for all modes. It is supplied by Skyworks in a compact, multichip module 22-pin package, that measures 3.5 x 3.0 x 1.0mm.

The SKY66403-11 extends range up to four times when compared to standalone system on chip (SoC) solutions, according to Skyworks.

Skyworks Solutions provides analogue semiconductors for use within the automotive, broadband, cellular infrastructure, connected home, industrial, medical, military, smartphone, tablet and wearable markets. Skyworks has engineering, marketing, operations, sales and support facilities located throughout Asia, Europe and North America.

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http://www.skyworksinc.com

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LTE-connected luminaires create narrowband IoT-based smart street lighting

Sun, Sep 03, 2017

LTE connected luminaires bring smart control to new and existing street lighting systems, says u-blox, citing the Flashnet lighting control system. The Swiss u-blox and Romanian Flashnet announced the SARA-N2 series of narrowband, internet of things (NB-IoT) LTE Cat NB1 modules that enable inteliLight, the world’s first NB-IoT connected smart street lighting control system claims Flashnet.

A pilot project is deployed on the OTE (Telekom) network in Patras, Greece.

There are hundreds of inteliLight projects deployed worldwide, continues Flashnet. The smart street lighting remote management uses a range of communication protocols. It ensures that the right amount of light is provided where and when needed, to improve resources management and sustainability.

Flashnet partnered with u‑blox on the development of its FRE‑220‑NB range of NB‑IoT-compatible luminaire controllers.

The family of controllers can be embedded into most luminaire designs and enable the individual remote control (on/off, dimming) of LED street lights with electronic ballasts up to 400W. The smart control extends to monitoring a range of electrical parameters, the ability for over the air (OTA) updates and support for autonomous operation.

The NB‑IoT protocol targets IoT applications that have low bandwidth requirements, making it suitable, says u-blox, for smart lighting. As part of the LTE family of standards, NB‑IoT can be supported within existing LTE infrastructure, offering carrier-grade reliability, security, reach and stability. u‑blox’s SARA‑N2 series was the world’s first NB‑IoT module, it combines low power consumption with an extended temperature range in a small land grid array (LGA) form factor. 

Lorand Mozes, CEO at Flashnet says: “We believe the industry is ready to adopt NB‑IoT and, thanks to our work with u-blox, we are the first supplier able to offer a robust and fully featured product line-up. By selecting the SARA‑N2 modules from u‑blox we have been able to bring our FRE‑220NB range of NB‑IoT connected luminaires to market in a very short period of time”. 

u‑blox produces wireless and positioning modules and chips for the automotive, industrial and consumer markets. They are used in vehicles and machines to locate the exact position and allow people and equipment to communicate wirelessly over cellular and short range networks. The company’s headquarters are in Thalwil, Switzerland, and the company has offices in Europe, Asia, and the USA.

http://www.u-blox.com

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Antenova introduces low profile GNSS antenna for smart cities

Thu, Aug 31, 2017

Introducing a patented design for metal surfaces, the Robusta antenna, part number SR4G031 is designed for tracking applications and smart cities, says Antenova.

The antenna operates in the 1559 to 1609MHz bands and is designed for tracking metal objects and smart city applications.

The antenna design of the Reflector family answers the challenge of operating on a metal surface or housing, says Antenova. The antennae use a patented technology where there are two layers, one electrically isolated from the other, so as to provide RF shielding to the second layer. This allows the antenna to radiate effectively in the direction pointing away from the base material.

The latest introduction, the Robusta antenna has a low profile, so it can be mounted onto a metal object. It is able to operate directly on a metal surface, even when covered with a label. It can be used on bicycles, motor cycles, vehicles, containers or other property that needs to be tracked and located accurately.

The Robusta antenna can also be used for smart lighting and smart meters in smart city applications, where it can be fixed to metal fittings.

The antenna is manufactured from rigid FR4 material and measures 23 x 16 x 1.7mm high, and comes with 100 or 150mm cable and IPEX MHF connector and an adhesive pad for fixing to a device.

Like Antenova’s other antennae, this antenna is designed for easy integration and the company is working to help its customers integrate antennae into their designs faster and more easily. As well as antenna samples and evaluation boards, there are a number of resources to help with this at the company’s website.

Antenova develops and supplies high performing integrated antennae and RF solutions for wireless communication, consumer electronic and wireless M2M devices.

Its range of standard antennae and RF modules are suitable for GSM, CDMA, 3G, 4G, LTE, NB-IoT, GPS, GNSS, WiFi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, LP-WAN, LoRa, Sigfox, Weightless-P and ISM, for M2M and IoT applications.

Antenova provides design advice and technical support, including custom antenna design, engineering, integration and test services to ensure the best possible performing antenna solutions for customer devices.

http://www.antenova-m2m.com

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