Smart Cities

Antenna meets radio traffic increase for mission-critical networks. 

Wed, Jul 20, 2022

Radio traffic continues to grow and so does the requirement for a broader range of frequencies, observed Huber+Suhner. The company has developed the LTE700 antenna, claimed to enable reliable communication for private and mission critical networks.

The LTE700 antenna operates between a range of 698 to 960MHz and is able to empower private networks across a number of verticals, from private business operations such as water metering and smart grids, to emergency services’ communications traditionally found in the lower frequency bands. 

The antenna features integrated remote electrical tilt (RET) which enables operators to remotely adjust the antenna’s angle between 0 and 10 degrees, eliminating the need for manual adjustments, reducing downtime and maintenance costs.

The LTE700 replaces the existing narrow band antenna in the 790 to 960MHZ range.

Swiss company Huber+Suhner develops and produces components and system solutions for electrical and optical connectivity. The company serves the three main markets industry, communication and transportation with applications from the three technologies of radio frequency, fibre optics and low frequency. 

Huber+Suhner products are designed for reliable and long service lives – even under the most demanding conditions, said the company. 

There is a network of subsidiaries and representatives in over 80 countries.

https://www.hubersuhner.com

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STMicroelectronics offers two reference designs to simplify motor drive designs

Tue, Jul 19, 2022

Two reference designs from STMicroelectronics have been developed to simplify building complete industrial or home appliance motor drives for compressors with its STSPIN32 motor control system in package (SiP). 

Each integrates the motor controller with a three-phase inverter to power the motor, and an offline converter and auxiliary circuitry. A production-ready PCB design and motor-control firmware are also included.

The STEVAL-CTM011V1 targets general industrial compressors up to 250W and the STEVAL-CTM012V1 meets the stringent eco-design regulations for use in home appliances. 

The two reference designs combine with a host system to start driving a motor and allow customers to fine tune settings for optimal performance. Both ensure average efficiency greater than 96.5 per cent, said ST.

Each is based on ST’s STSPIN32F0601Q motor-control SiP which contains an STM32F031 Arm Cortex-M0 microcontroller to customise the motor control to specific end application needs and a rugged 600V three-phase gate driver for the inverter. The firmware provided includes high-efficiency sensorless field oriented control (FOC). The SiP is a compact and thermally efficient quad flat no-lead (QFN) device that meets high creepage requirements for safety and reliability.

The offline AC/DC converter is a VIPER122 analogue converter that integrates control logic with an 800V avalanche rugged power section. Frequency jittering prevents interference with other equipment, while inherently low power consumption and support for burst-mode operation at light load help comply with energy-saving regulations.

The inverter stage of the 250W STEVAL-CTM011V1 reference design for industrial and general-purpose applications comprises six rugged STGD5H60DF insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs). They are engineered to maximise efficiency at high switching frequencies, allowing smaller capacitive and magnetic components. The low package thermal resistance is claimed to enhance reliability while tight parameter distribution assists safe paralleling in high power applications.

For home appliances, the STEVAL-CTM012V1 reference design contains six STPOWER STD8N60DM2 600V N-channel MDmesh DM2 power MOSFETs. These are suitable for high-efficiency converters, including zero voltage switching (ZVS) phase -shift converters, and combine high speed, low loss switching performance and low on state losses.

The production-ready circuit-board design saves significant development time, advised ST, because it avoids complex layout and signal routing challenges. The compact 112 x 75mm board outline helps meet industrial and consumer-appliance form factors.

Both reference designs are available now and the STSPIN32, VIPER122, IGBTs, and MOSFETs are in production now. 

http://www.st.com

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Multi-layer chip antennas expand Würth Elektronik portfolio

Mon, Jul 11, 2022

Multi-layer chip antennas have been added to the range available from Würth Elektronik, contributing to the miniaturisation of radio applications. 

Measuring just 40 x 6.0 x 5.0mm, the WE-MCA antenna (7488918022) covers the 700 to 960MHz and 1710 to 2690MHz frequency ranges. The form factor and slender profile mean the antenna offers an “excellent size-to-performance ratio”, said Würth.

WE-MCA is suited for applications such as GSM 900, WLAN / WiFi, Bluetooth, GPS / GNSS, ZigBee, and mobile communication (4G / LTE). Würth Elektronik offers products for the development of radio applications, including a variety of radio modules and EMC products for high frequency applications, in particular compact IoT and smart building applications. The chip antennas are robust, with an operating temperature range from -40 to +85 degrees C.

To help customers with the layout of miniaturised radio applications and the selection of suitable inductors and capacitors, Würth Elektronik offers antenna matching and characterisation support for its range of multi-layer chip antennas.

The WE-MCA chip antennas are supplied packaged in reels for surface mount assembly, with no restrictions regarding the number of items. Free-of-charge samples are available on request.

Würth Elektronik eiSos Group is a manufacturer of electronic and electromechanical components for the electronics industry. Würth Elektronik eiSos is one of the largest European manufacturers of passive components and is active in 50 countries. Production sites in Europe, Asia and North America supply a growing number of customers worldwide.

The product range includes EMC components, inductors, transformers, RF components, varistors, capacitors, resistors, quartz crystals, oscillators, power modules, wireless power transfer, LEDs, sensors, connectors, power supply elements, switches, push-buttons, connection technology, fuse holders and solutions for wireless data transmission.

Würth Elektronik is part of the Würth Group, specialising in assembly and fastening technology. 

http://www.we-online.com

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Low power multi-GNSS module has built-in antenna

Fri, Jul 08, 2022

Low power global navigation satellite system (GNSS) technology can be integrated into end devices using the SAM-M10Q antenna module, said u-blox.

The antenna module is claimed to have best-in-class low-power positioning. It features an integrated antenna and is intended to integrate u-blox M10 GNSS technology into devices used for industrial tracking and telematics, automation and monitoring or small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), for example. 

The low power u-blox M10 GNSS positioning engine in the module offers maximum position availability with concurrent reception of all four GNSS constellations (GPS, GLONASS, Galileo and BeiDou), said u-blox, for higher positioning accuracy and a faster position fix, even in weak signal environments such as urban canyons. 

The module’s integrated wide-band antenna, SAW filter and low noise amplifier (LNA) architecture deliver out-of-band jamming immunity. This is particularly helpful for asset tracking and telematic devices located near a cellular modem, advised u-box. 

No external components or radio frequency (RF) expertise are required for use with the SAM-M10Q, claimed u-blox. It is pin-to-pin compatible with the company’s previous antenna module (the SAM-M8Q).

The SAM-M10Q is a surface mount device, suitable for automated manufacturing processes. It measures 15.5 x 15.5 x 6.3mm.

Engineering samples of the SAM-M10Q antenna module will be available in August 2022. 

u‑blox specialises in positioning and wireless communication in automotive, industrial, and consumer markets. Its services and products let people, vehicles, and machines determine their precise position and communicate wirelessly over cellular and short range networks. The company offers chips, modules, and secure data services and connectivity used by customers to develop innovative and reliable solutions for the IoT. 

The company’s headquarters are in Thalwil, Switzerland and u-blox has offices in Europe, Asia, and the USA. 

http://www.u-blox.com 

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