Wideband microwave synthesiser has VCO for ‘breakthrough’ performance

Claimed to deliver an industry leading phase noise, the ADF5620 is a wideband fractional-N synthesiser from Analog Devices.

It has an integrated voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) and generates RF outputs from 55MHz to 15GHz and provides the industry’s lowest phase noise performance on a single chip, claims ADI.

The synthesiser is designed for markets as diverse as aerospace and defence, wireless infrastructure, microwave point-to-point links, electronic test and measurement, and satellite terminals.

When compared to alternative solutions that require multiple narrowband GaAs voltage controlled oscillators and phase-locked loops (PLLs), the ADF5610 offers 50 per cent less power dissipation, a smaller footprint and simpler architecture, says ADI, all of which translates into bill of materials cost savings and reduced time to market.

Developed on ADI’s proprietary SiGe BiCMOS process, the ADF5610 enables high modulation bandwidths and low BIT error rates. It features industry leading VCO phase noise (-114dBc/Hz at 100kHz offset and -165dBc/Hz at 100MHz offset both at 10GHz) and low normalised phase noise floor (FOM) of -229dBc/Hz. The integrated PLL function provides fast frequency hopping and lock times (less than 50 micro seconds with appropriate loop filter). The phase detector spurious levels are below -45dBc typical, and the RF output power level is 6dBm.

The ADF5610 wideband fractional-N synthesizer is supported by the ADIsimPLL, ADI’s PLL synthesiser design and simulation tool for assessing phase noise, lock time, jitter and other design considerations. It is also customer programmable through the use of integrated SPI and control software.

The ADF5610 is specified over the -40 to +85 degree C range. It operates from nominal 3.3V analogue and digital power supplies as well as 5V charge pump and VCO supplies, and features 1.8V logic-level compatibility. The synthesiser also contains hardware and software power down modes.

The ADF5610 is in production from next month and supplied in a 7.0 x 7.0mm LFCSP.

http://www.analog.com

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Compact edge AI system supports Nvidia Jetson TX2 module and JetPack 3.2 

An AI embedded system, the eBOX560-900-FL, uses a Nvidia Jetson TX2 module which has a powerful 64-bit ARM A57 processor, a 256 CUDA core with Nvidia Pascal GPU architecture, 8Gbyte of LPDDR4 memory and 802.11ac Wi-Fi with Bluetooth.

The eBOX560-900-FL is suitable for AI computing, machine vision, deep learning and edge computing. The high-efficiency, low-power Nvidia Jetson TX2 module, is provided in a palm-size box, it also supports Nvidia JetPack 3.2 software development kit (SDK) including TensorRT, cuDNN, CUDA Toolkit, VisionWorks, GStreamer, and OpenCV, all built on top of L4T with LTS Linux kernel. The construction is IP40-rated, and has an extended operating temperature range of -10 to +50 degree C and up to 3G vibration endurance.

To meet a variety of AI system requirements, the AI embedded computer has one USB 2.0 port, two Gigabit Ethernet ports, one HDMI 2.0 port and four SMA type antenna connectors.

The fanless embedded system has a 32Gbyte eMMC onboard. It is also equipped with a M.2 SSD PCIe 2.0 x4 socket for extensive storage option. The embedded PC also features a PCI Express Mini Card slot for 3G/4G/LTE/GPRS, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connections.

Mounting options include wall mount and DIN-rail mount. The eBOX560-900-FL has passed the strict certification with CE and FCC Class A.

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Software combines with self-encrypting SSD for industrial protection

Self-encrypting drives (SEDs) is industrial-grade data protection from Innovision. By employing a hardware-based encryption mechanism, located in the controller, the data is “next to uncrackable” says Innovision, and will have no impact on CPU loading.

To simplify implementing these devices, Innodisk has created iOpal, an intuitive software for SED management.

Rather than consumer-based solutions, such as software encryption to protect sensitive data, but these may have severe weaknesses, warns Innodisk. Software encryption is susceptible to cracking and other attempts to reach data, and, in addition, the encryption process will also increase CPU loading.

Innodisk’s SEDs uses 256-bit AES encryption. An internal AES-engine encrypts all data going into the device, meaning that data read directly from the NAND flash will be scrambled and unintelligible.

Implementing and managing the SED can be challenging without the right tools, advises Innodisk. TCG Opal 2.0 is set of specifications for SED management which defines how to create different ranges for different users, allowing for a system where data is shared on a strictly need-to-know basis.

iOpal moulds the detailed specifications of TCG Opal 2.0 into a user-friendly application. It comprises several key features such as data storage management, different user authorisations, and pre-boot authentication. iOpal and Innodisk’s SEDs can be used for mission-critical and heavy-loading environments, such as aerospace and server applications. The software is compatible with select form factors in the 3MG2-P, 3SE2-P, and 3MR2-P SSD series.

Three versions are available, the 3MG2-P is a 2.5-inch SSD, M.2 (S42, S80), mSATA and SATA Slim form factors, with the 3SE2-P is available as a 2.5 or 1.8-inch SSD and the 3MR2-P is available as 2.5-inch SSD.

The SED support Windows 7 and Windows 10, Linux Ubuntu and Linus Fedora.

Innodisk is a service-driven provider of flash memory, DRAM modules and embedded peripheral products for the industrial and enterprise applications. Customers are served across the embedded, aerospace and defence and cloud storage markets.

Innodisk was founded in 2005 and headquartered in Taipei, Taiwan.

http://www.innodisk.com

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LED regulator can be configured in choice of operation modes

A DC/DC µModule regulator from Analog Devices is designed to drive LEDs. The Power by Linear LTM8005 regulator includes a DC/DC controller, power switch, Schottky diode and current sense resistor in a 9.0 x 11.25 x 2.22mm BGA package.

The LTM8005 operates from a 5.0 to 38V input voltage range and can deliver up to 1.6A of regulated current at an output voltage of up to 38V. An external inductor enables the LTM8005 to configure in different operation modes including boost, buck-boost, buck and SEPIC topologies, with a coupled inductor.

The high-reliability H-grade version guarantees operation from –40 to +150 degree C. The wide input voltage range and +150 degree C operation make this µModule LED driver suitable for use in automotive and industrial lighting applications.

The operating frequency is adjustable from 100kHz to 1MHz, while integral spread spectrum frequency modulation improves EMC performance, claims Analog Devices. LED brightness can be controlled by the analogue CTRL pin and by PWM dimming with a range up to 3,000:1. The LTM8005’s safety features include output disconnect short-circuit protection, open LED protection, programmable input current limit, as well as, input and output current reporting.

The E and I grades of the LTM8005 operate from –40 to +125 degree C.

The LTM8005 is in production now.

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