RDS adds SBC based on AMD Ryzen Embedded V2000 processors

Designed and developed for industrial data processing, the de next-V2K8 is the latest single board computer (SBC) from Aaeon which has been added to the Review Display Systems (RDS) portfolio.

The compact, high-performance computing system has onboard processing power provided by AMD Ryzen Embedded V2000 Series processors.

The compact SBC has a footprint of 86 x 55mm. It can be used where data processing needs to be performed close to the source, for example in industrial applications, such as manufacturing automation, robotics systems and transportation.

The AMD-based de next-V2K8 provides two options using AMD Ryzen Embedded V2000 processors with integrated Radeon graphics, either the six-core V2516, and the eight-core V2718. The V2516 has a base frequency of 2.1GHz and a turbo frequency of 3.95GHz, while the V2718 operates at 1.7GHz and in bursts at 4.15GHz. Both processors support hyperthreading and have a thermal design power (TDP) range of 10 to 25W.

The de next-V2K8 supports up to 16Gbyte onboard LPDDR4x 3200 memory and has extensive I/O and expansion options, said RDS. It is designed to enable a high-speed data communications platform with two RJ45 ethernet ports, two USB 3.2 Gen2 and four USB 2.0 slots, together with support for two simultaneous display interfaces with HDMI 1.4b at 1080p resolution, an embedded DisplayPort (eDP) supporting 4K resolution, and a +12v DC power jack.

Aaeon’s de next-V2K8 single board computer is available now from Review Display Systems.

Established in 1982, RDS is experienced in supporting and supplying display and embedded hardware solutions. It represents global manufacturers and supports a comprehensive range of display technologies, touch screen and embedded computing solutions. 

Review Display Systems engages and develops partnerships with customers in a wide range of industry sectors including industrial control and instrumentation, medical devices, facilities management, marine, aerospace, point-of-information, and process control. 

The company is committed to environmental responsibility and quality and is accredited to the latest internationally recognised quality standards including ISO14001, ISO9001-2015 and ISO13485:2016 for the design and manufacture of medical devices. 

http://www.review-displays.co.uk

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NFC reader ICs sharpen digital wave shaping for faster transmission

Adding to its portfolio of NFC reader ICs, Panthronics announced the PTX105R reader for IoT and consumer electronics devices. It is compatible with NFC Forum specifications and offers accurate digital wave shaping to guarantee interoperability with all NFC-compliant cards, tags and NFC devices in wearable form factors.

The RF output is 1.0W at the antenna and the reader has high receive sensitivity of – 80dBc for reliable connectivity in general electronics systems. The RF performance enables designers to implement designs based on an antenna which is smaller than that required by competing NFC readers, said Panthronics.

The company also announced the PTX130R reader which is an upgraded version of the PTX100R reader IC for point of sale terminals.

It is the first Panthronics reader IC to feature native support for the Android operating environment and provides a way for designers to add NFC communications capability to embedded computing systems built around a touchscreen display.

It is suitable for static and mobile point of sale terminals and can also provide NFC connectivity in embedded computing devices. Typical examples include scanners, automated service points such as self-check-in terminals at hotels and secure access control and home and building automation equipment which has a display-enabled HMI (human machine interface).

RF output is more than 2W at the antenna enabling the PTX103R to comply with the strict requirements of the EMVCo standard for payment card transactions even when operating via an antenna which is placed close to or behind a noisy display, explained Panthronics.

The PTX105R and PTX130R NFC readers, like the PTX100R versions, use the company’s sine wave silicon architecture to offer higher sensitivity, more accurate wave-shaping, higher output power and a simpler hardware implementation than conventional NFC reader ICs based on a square wave architecture, said Panthronics.

For mobile phone and point of sale terminal users, this means operations are completed faster and with easier validation of conformance with standards such as EMVCo 3.1. Panthronics readers also typically offer a read range 40 per cent higher than that provided by conventional readers based on a square wave architecture, Panthronics reported.

Evaluation kits for the PTX105R and PTX130R are available directly from Panthronics. They provide an operating environment including the antenna, to enable design engineers to evaluate NFC performance. Panthronics also supplies an NFC connectivity board based on the PTX105R for the Renesas Quick-Connect IoT rapid system prototyping platform. 

http://www.panthronics.com. 

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HighTec supports ST’s Stellar SR6x automotive MCU family  

Authorised ST partner, HighTec has announced that its Eclipse-based multi-architecture and multi-core compiler suite now supports ST Microelectronics’ latest Stellar 32-bit microcontroller series, the SR6x, for automotive software development.

HighTec’s compiler suite already supports the SPC5x 32-bit microcontroller family from STMicroelectronics.

The HighTec C/C++ compiler and its standard libraries are qualified according to ISO 26262 ASIL D. The associated qualification packages accelerate the development of safe automotive applications and could lead to the era of the software-defined vehicle. In its support for the Stellar SR6x family, HighTec will also offer its certified micro kernel real time operating system (RTOS) PXROS-HR, for data protection, functional safety for automotive applications, said the company.

ST’s Stellar SR6x family of 32-bit microcontrollers includes multiple series to address a range of automotive applications, such as zone and domain controllers that simplify in-vehicle wiring to support the transition to software-defined platforms. There is also support for central gateways, body integration controllers, drivetrain and motion control processors, and electric vehicle battery management. Stellar SR6x MCUs are based on up to six Arm Cortex-R52 cores with lockstep and split/lock capability. This ensures performance, real time processing and freedom from interference while running multiple applications in parallel, said HighTec.

The 32-bit automotive MCUs embed an EVITA-compliant, ISO 21434-compliant hardware security module (HSM) for cybersecurity protection. They also meet the requirements of security levels up to ASIL D, according to ISO 26262. A hypervisor enables the management of multiple virtual machines without interference, said Hightec. For over the air software updates, the memory architecture enables the duplication of the NVM (non-volatile memory) to eliminate downtime and the need to allocate extra memory.

The HighTec C/C++ compiler is based on the open-source technology LLVM.

In addition to the compiler and the real-time operating system, automotive developers can obtain other ST automotive software components from HighTec. These include MCAL, components for safety development such as CST (CoreSelfTest), IST (InstructionSelfTest), and an MCAL qualification package for ISO 26262-compliant software development, as well as other security components such as HSMs.

HighTec’s support team provides development and consulting services regarding performance optimisation, functional safety, porting from single core to multi-core systems and in AutoSAR environments.

http://www.hightec-rt.com

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Proximity sensors save light energy in buildings and IT

Ultra-wideband (UWB) proximity sensors by Novelda save power in building lighting systems, and computers, smart appliances, chargers, smart locks, by only activating lights, LCD screens or any other enabled devices when users are present. The proximity sensor powers them down again as soon as users leave the detection zone.

The proximity sensor can extend LCD screen life from two to 10 years, lowering operational costs and enhancing sustainability through energy savings, the company says. The occupancy sensor features a configurable timeout of two minutes, reduced from the 15 minute timeout of competing lighting products, which offers significant energy savings while being able to detect occupants even when they are sitting still. It turns lights off soon after occupants leave the detection zone.

The sensor can enhance LCD screen lifetime, increases interactivity and gives devices an automated, power-saving mechanism. Its approach detection feature lights the display immediately upon approach, uses contextual awareness to inform the device of intended use and turns it off automatically once a person leaves the detection zone.

The sensor offers absolute range and a wide field of view. It is user configurable for both distance and sensitivity. The zone of interest (detection) can be adjusted from 0.5 meters to 1.5 meters, making the sensor suitable for close range indoor applications. 

Latency is less than 0.25 seconds for device activation or deactivation. The radar sensors and SoC measure 12 x 12mm, for unobtrusive use in small enclosures in end products.

The proximity sensor can be used to extend the screen life of advertising signage, vending machines or smart home appliances by a factor of five, says Novelda, i.e. from two to 10 years in high end LCD displays. The sensors also enable these products to be more environmentally friendly by powering down when the product is not in use. 

The UWB poximity sensor enables faster wake-up time from low power state when the device is inactive, initiating wake-up from the moment a person is ready to use the device. The sensor also ensures and monitors product usage of process critical equipment, like in automated hand sanitisers.

UWB sensing outperforms technologies like passive infrared or time of flight sensors in terms of accuracy, robustness, cost, power consumption and security. Novelda says its UWB wireless sensors function efficiently without interference in the proximity of other radio frequency (RF) devices. 

Demo kits for the Novelda UWB proximity sensor are available upon request. 

https://novelda.com/

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