Smart Cities

NeoCortec P Series NeoMesh wireless module can be integrated to PCBs

Fri, Nov 18, 2022

NeoCortec, manufacturer of bi-directional wireless mesh network modules, has released its P Series of wireless NeoMesh modules. Featuring an RF/IO antenna connection placed under the module on solder pads for quick and easy soldering to any PCB, the company claims the P Series modules allow for a more efficient antenna design as well as more compact design of the sensor or actuator and allow customers to integrate Neocortec’s NeoMesh modules into their own PCB with the antenna also already integrated.

The new NeoMesh modules, NC1000P-8, NC1000P-9 and NC2400P, operate at 868MHz, 915MHz and 2.4GHz respectively and complement the C-Series modules that come with an u.FL connector and are used whenever an external connector is wanted. Cost efficient and easy to integrate, all the modules from NeoCortec suit a broad range of applications based on IoT and Cloud-based sensor networks, including smart home and smart workplace, metering, security, agriculture, transportation, Industry 4.0, medical and food distribution.

NeoMesh from NeoCortec is a protocol enabling node-to-node mesh communication of sensors, without any need for mains-powered devices. All devices can be battery-powered, as can the gateway. To start building the network, simply switch on two nodes. When switched on additional nodes will automatically join the existing network and will start expanding it in a number of devices in range. The NeoCortec communication modules are equipped with radio and NeoMesh and can easily be integrated in a sensor or motor.

NeoCortec is a supplier of ultra-low-power bi-directional wireless mesh network modules. NeoCortec is based in Copenhagen, Denmark.

Visit NeoCortec at electronica 2022, Hall B5, W11

https://neocortec.com

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NXP analogue front-end enables the software-defined factory

Thu, Nov 17, 2022

NXP Semiconductors is aiming the NXP analogue front-end (N-AFE) family at high-precision data acquisition and condition monitoring systems for factory automation. Designed as software-configurable universal analogue input devices, the N-AFE family helps enable the software-defined factory, making it easier for operators to configure a smart factory and adjust settings based on shifting market needs.

Even as factories have become smarter over time, adapting to rapidly shifting market trends has remained a challenge, often requiring large-scale equipment overhauls to reconfigure a factory to meet a new need. The addition of software-configurable components allows factory operators to be more nimble, enabling them to more quickly and easily make changes to the factory floor to address rapidly shifting trends, said NXP.

Software-defined factories are the next evolution of the Industry 4.0, and this software-configurable analogue front-end family will help achieve that milestone, said Jens Hinrichsen, executive vice-president and general manager of advanced analogue at NXP. By combining configurability with enhanced accuracy and precision for improved product quality, as well as advanced diagnostics to identify issues before they occur to reduce downtime, this device enables a new era of the smart factory, he claimed.

Schneider Electric has worked closely with NXP to incorporate the N-AFE family into its industrial solutions. The single-chip N-AFE solution helps to reduce the complexity of hardware design for the company, whose industrial customers benefit from the software configurability delivered by the N-AFE.

“The impact of a software-defined factory, both in terms of productivity and overall costs saved, is immeasurable,” said Ralf Neubert, vice-president, research & development, digital factory, at Schneider Electric. “NXP’s new analogue front-end software configurability and high precision accelerate hardware design improve time to market. The N-AFE family enables flexibility in our designs to allow our customers to quickly respond to market trends, but more importantly, it also helps to reduce unplanned downtime, enabling a more productive factory overall.”

The N-AFE family of devices integrates up to eight universal analogue inputs at a lower system cost for data acquisition systems in factory and process automation. It combines signal chain protection, precision amplification and high-speed data conversion, filters and self-diagnostics to monitor factory conditions, helping to ensure a more consistent and repeatable quality of product. The device also integrates additional advanced diagnostics to reduce factory downtime with predictive maintenance and anomaly detection, while its factory calibration and self-calibration features help reduce test costs, it said.

The addition of the N-AFE analogue front-end family of devices brings new analogue capabilities to NXP’s portfolio targeting industrial applications. Combined with NXP’s MCU and power management portfolios, including devices such as the i.MX RT1180 high-performance crossover MCU and PF5020 and PCA9460 power management ICs (PMICs), the N-AFE devices expand the industrial system solution offering.

https://www.NXP.com

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Single and dual socket servers exploit AMD’s EPCY processors 

Sun, Nov 13, 2022

To expand data centres performance, single and dual socket servers which support the 4th generation AMD EPYC processors have been released by Supermicro. They are intended for cloud, artificial intelligence / machine learning (AI / ML), high performance computing (HPC), hyper-converged infrastructure (HCI) and enterprise applications.

They contain up to 192 cores with up to 12Tbyte DDR5-4800MHz 12-channel memory and up to 160 PCIe lanes.

According to Supermicro, the servers will transform how enterprises analyse massive amounts of data, perform complex simulations, and can lower the total cost of ownership (TCO). They are designed to support the fastest and highest-core AMD EPYC 9004 series processors, each with up to 96 cores and 3Tbyte of memory per CPU. Up to 160 PCIe 5.0 lanes are available in dual processor systems, with eight lanes of PCIe 3.0 or 4.0 for less demanding peripheral connections. All 4th Gen AMD EPYC processors include security features that help keep data secure, whether in use, in-flight, or in-store.

The configurable systems are designed for the highest TDP (thermal design power) CPUs that can be liquid cooled, increase performance per Watt, tailored for a customer’s specific requirements and have a reduced TCO. The GPU servers can be used for AI applications, support Nvidia H100 Tensor Core GPUs and are suitable for metaverse-type applications, said Supermicro.

The portfolio includes the GrandTwin which has multi-node architecture with front and rear I/O. It is designed for maximum density and purpose-built for single-processor performance per node on the latest AMD EPYC 9004 series processors, and contains 12 DIMM slots. The modular design is optimised for applications, with a front I/O option fully accessible from the cold aisle, which simplifies installations and services space-constrained environments.

The company’s CloudDC servers are single-processor systems optimised for I/O flexibility and with 12 DIMM slots for many cloud-focused applications. They offer serviceability with toolless brackets, hot swap drive trays and redundant power supplies for rapid deployment and ease of maintenance in data centres. According to Supermicro, they are designed for cost-effective service delivery in cloud computing, including web hosting, email services, public and private cloud computing and content-delivery networks.

Supermicro Hyper enterprise servers have dual processors and 12-channel 24 DIMMs optimised for supporting the highest TDPs, said the company, offering a range of computing, networking, storage and I/O expansion capabilities.

The company also offers 4U GPU servers which are 4U dual processor systems, supporting up to 10 full height, full length, double-width PCIe GPU cards, including the latest AMD Instinct MI200 Series and Nvidia H100 GPUs. The 4U GPU-optimised systems provide maximum acceleration, flexibility, and balance for AI, deep learning and HPC applications and contain 24 DIMMs, said Supermicro.

There are also 8U universal GPU servers for machine learning and equipped with eight NvidiaA HGX H100 accelerators and dual processors, with 24 DIMMs. They are configurable with dual zone cooling and end-to-end non-blocking bandwidth to the GPU provide high utilisation and low TCO and training cycles.

Supermicro servers with 4th Gen AMD EPYC 9004 series processors through its JumpStart programme. 

http://www.supermicro.com

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Industrial GbE transceivers optimise process automation, says Microchip

Fri, Nov 11, 2022

As developers of industrial automation systems gravitate from proprietary solutions for process synchronisation to standard-based one that offer broader compatibility and reduce design costs, Microchip has developed the LAN8840 and LAN8841 Gigabit Ethernet transceiver devices for critical process synchronisation.

The transceivers meet IEEE 1588v2 standards for Precision Timing Protocol. The LAN8840 and LAN8841 are enabled with Linux drivers and deliver flexible Ethernet speed options including 10BASE-T, 10BASE-Te, 100BASE-TX and 1000BASE-T. 

They can facilitate critical packet prioritisation by providing high speed time stamping that is relayed between components to determine network latencies, accommodate for those latencies, and synchronise time amongst all connected devices. 

This timing is key for process automation applications that require precise control production systems such as robotics, distributed sensors and cooling and mixing systems. The LAN8840 and LAN8841 can withstand extended industrial temperatures ranging from -40 to +105 degrees C. 

To help companies achieve sustainability, the LAN8840 / LAN8841 features wake-on-LAN (WoL) and energy-detect power-down mode. The energy-efficient Ethernet (EEE) mode delivers low power idle and clock stoppage modes for optimal power performance. 

The LAN8840 / LAN8841 are suitable for applications requiring accurate and precise time stamping, such as gas and chemical processing, electrical distribution, and currency trade systems which must be proven to be in sync with the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) for Universal Coordinated Time (UTC) within one millisecond or finer increments. 

The LAN8841 Ethernet Development System (EDS) daughter card is a modular addition to compatible Microchip host boards. When paired with the PCIe networking adapter, it enables evaluation of the LAN8841 through any host supporting the PCIe interface. Linux drivers supporting Precision Timing Protocol (PTP4L) are available for the LAN8841 on Microchip’s GitHub repository. 

The LAN8840 (48 QFN) and LAN8841 (64 WQFN) are now available in high-volume production. 

Microchip Technology serves more than 120,000 customers across the industrial, automotive, consumer, aerospace and defence, communications and computing markets. 

The company is headquartered in Chandler, Arizona, USA.

http://www.microchip.com

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