Sector News

Silicon Labs unveils Amazon Sidewalk optimised SoCs 

Wed, Aug 23, 2023

Two SoCs unveiled by Silicon Labs, the SG23 and SG28, are optimised for Amazon Sidewalk. 

To address the varied technologies and protocols that exist in the IoT today, the Silicon Labs portfolio includes different device families and derivatives for different parts, such as the BG line of Bluetooth SoCs and the ZG line of Z-Wave SoCs, and this latest addition, the SG family of SoCs optimised for Amazon Sidewalk. 

The always-on Amazon Sidewalk network uses Bluetooth LE for device provisioning and nearby device connectivity, sub-GHz FSK for connectivity up to one mile, and a proprietary CSS radio for extreme long range. Most Amazon Sidewalk end-devices will support Bluetooth LE and either FSK or CSS. The SG28 includes two dual-band SoCs with radios for both sub-GHz FSK as well as Bluetooth LE. These dual-band parts help simplify devices and reduce cost by including the two most commonly used radios on Sidewalk end devices in a single package. The SG23 provides security and a robust sub-GHz link budget for long range, end node devices. 

The company has also introduced developer tools as the company continues to work closely with Amazon to provide developers with the hardware, software, and development tools needed to navigate the Amazon Sidewalk development process.

Silicon Labs has worked directly with Amazon to create the Amazon Sidewalk Developer’s Journey, a guide with 12 steps organised in three stages, covering determining if a targeted region has Amazon Sidewalk coverage, device deployment and ongoing support for devices in the field. The guide includes technical documentation, videos, and code samples, with the option to engage a Silicon Labs expert for support. Silicon Labs provides all the tools needed for each step, and by following the Developers Journey, device makers are well-positioned for Amazon Web Services and Amazon Sidewalk certification and approval. 

Silicon Labs develops secure, intelligent wireless technology for a more connected world with an integrated hardware and software platform, intuitive development tools, ecosystem and robust support for building advanced industrial, commercial, home, and life applications. 

http://www.Silabs.com

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EPIC-ADN9 single board computer supports three displays

Tue, Aug 22, 2023

Aaeon has based the EPIC-ADN9 SBC (single board computer) on Intel’s Atom x7000E series processors. The SBC supports quadruple 2.5GbE LAN, three simultaneous displays for flexible graphic applications.

The 4.53 x 6.50 inch (115 x 165mm) SBC has a range of embedded CPUs, including the Intel Core i3-N305, Intel Atom x7425E, Intel Processor N50 and Intel Processor N97. According to Aaeon, this processor selection provides support for Intel UHD Graphics, enhancing the on-board display interface configuration which includes HDMI 1.4, DP 1.2, VGA, and 24/48-bit dual-channel LVDS.

The EPIC-ADN9 also supports up to four RJ-45 ports for Intel I226-V Ethernet running at 2.5GbE (depending on the model). The board is designed to be passively cooled, and additionally has multiple options for image acquisition and high-resolution display, making it suitable for entry level gateway devices and digital signage applications.

As is the case with earlier generations of the EPIC board series, the EPIC-ADN9 supports a wide input range of 9.0 to 24V, making it suitable for industrial deployment. There are two physical serial ports for RS-232 / RS-422 /RS-485, in addition to four internal pin headers that support RS-232. 

Other features are 16-bit general purpose I/O and flexible storage options such as SATA III, full-size mPCIe, mSATA, and M.2 2242 B-Key slots, making the EPIC-ADN9 suitable for smart manufacturing and industrial automation.

The EPIC-ADN9 is now in mass production.

Established in 1992, Aaeon designs and manufactures industrial IoT and AI Edge solutions. The company provides industrial motherboards and systems, rugged tablets, embedded AI edge systems, uCPE network appliances, and LoRaWAN / WWAN solutions. Aaeon works closely with cities and governments to develop and deploy smart city ecosystems.

http://www.aaeon.com

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Rutronik offers MediaTek’s AI-powered SoC, Genio 700

Tue, Aug 22, 2023

Responsive edge processing, AI and connectivity for industrial, smart home, interactive retail and commercial applications can be delivered by MediaTek’s Genio 700 (MT8390) SoC, which is now available from Rutronik following a recent franchise agreement covering Europe and Israel.
The Genio 700 SoC is an efficient, in-chip AI multiprocessor (APU) which provides 4TOPS (Terra operations per second) performance for deep learning, neural network acceleration and also computer vision applications when used with cameras up to 32Mpixel at 30 frames per second (via in-chip ISP and MIPI-CSI interfaces).
Genio 700 has an octa-core CPU with two Arm Cortex-A78 CPUs and six Arm Cortex-A55 CPUs, an Arm Mali-G57 GPU, up to 8Gbyte of quad channel LPDDR4X memory and fast UFS storage. The SoC supports Yocto and Ubuntu Linux, as well as Android.
The Genio 700 is based on TSMC’s advanced N6 (6nm-class) production process, making it “extremely power efficient”; product developers can use fanless enclosures or battery-powered systems, advised Rutronik.
The company added that its level of integration coupled with a small footprint help minimise bill of materials and development costs and accelerate time-to-market.
The Genio-700 platform can be expanding via PCI-Express and USB, and it supports a wide range of connectivity options, including native Gigabit Ethernet with TSN (time sensitive networking) as well as Wi-Fi 6 and 5G module options.
The dual display support of up to 4K at 60 frames per second and Full HD at 60 frames per second enables increases screen real estate while multimedia encoding/decoding engines, including AV1 decoding, make the Genio 700 suitable for interactive advertising, audio and video streaming services, and video conferencing and other personalised video services.
The Genio-700 is Arm SystemReady and carries Arm PSA certification for security.
MediaTek’s Genio series is a scalable line of four devices that bridges the gap between low-power Arm and high performance Intel / AMD processors.
Rutronik Elektronische Bauelemente was founded in 1973 and is still an independent family-owned company, based in Ispringen, Germany. It has more than 80 offices worldwide and logistics centres in Austin (Texas), Shanghai, Singapore, and Hong Kong, for customer support in Europe, Asia, and North America.

http://www.rutronik.com

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500W wireless charging module lightens the ‘abominable’ industrial load

Fri, Aug 18, 2023

A wireless charging module for powering and charging industrial machinery, autonomous mobile robots, automated guided vehicles, light electric vehicles, e-mobility and other power-intensive applications, the Yeti, delivers up to 500W for fast charging. 

Developed by wireless power technology company, Spark Connected, it ruses Infineon Technologies’ Bluetooth Low Energy microcontrollers and power devices. The Yeti 500W integrates Infineon’s dual-core PSoC 63 Bluetooth Low Energy microcontroller for intelligent control, and its CoolGaN products for improved efficiency and reduced EMI. By eliminating the need for physical connectors and cables, the wireless charging system enables seamless and flexible charging, enhancing efficiency, productivity and safety in industrial settings, said Infineon.

The Yeti is claimed to have the industry’s highest efficiency of over 95 per cent. This reduces power losses, but also facilitates thermal management, improving overall performance and durability. 

Misalignment tolerance is over 40mm in all directions which ensures reliable charging even if the orientation is not perfectly accurate, said Infineon. 

The module is widely compatible and can charge all common battery types and voltages. For robust and safe operation, it has over-voltage and over-current protection to prevent damage to the charger and connected equipment. The Yeti 500W is designed for integration into existing industrial systems, enabling companies to expand the charging infrastructure without significant disruption.

Tony Antonacci, senior director applications marketing at Infineon Technologies, said “The Yeti represents a step forward in charging power and integration, enabling industries to improve their operations and move towards an energy-efficient wire-free future.”

The Yeti 500W enables truly autonomous systems, added Ruwanga Dassanayake, COO of Spark Connected. “We are empowering industries to embrace the full potential of wireless charging, enabling truly autonomous systems and revolutionizing the way they operate,” he said.

The Yeti 500W industrial wireless charging module is available for customer sampling in Q3 2023. 

http://www.sparkconnected.com

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