Long reach Ethernet creates holistic building management, says ADI

Long reach Ethernet connectivity is added to controllers, sensors and actuators in smart building networks, using the ADIN2111 10Base-T1L Ethernet device introduced by Analog Devices (ADI).

The ADIN2111 is designed for building automation networks. Digital, connected automation equipment enables holistic building management, said ADI, from heating ventilation and air conditioning to occupancy comfort. 

Adding long reach Ethernet connectivity to controllers, sensors, and actuators delivers building management systems insights for more efficient and sustainable building management, said the company. The ADIN2111 is suitable for use within small, power-constrained edge devices. With a power consumption of 80mW, it provides up to 50 per cent power consumption savings. The 48-lead LFCSP, measuring 7.0 x 7.0mm is claimed to save up to 75 per cent in PCB real estate when compared to discrete implementations.   

It has an SPI (serial peripheral interface) host interface which removes the need for a microcontroller with integrated MAC interface, advised ADI. The advanced packet filtering offloads the burden of priority traffic management from the processor via the 16 MAC addresses look up table, added the company. 

The ADIN2111 is designed for daisy chaining data in line and ring networks using existing deployed single twisted pair cabling infrastructure within buildings. This contributes to a reduction in retrofitting costs, added ADI. 

The device includes enhanced diagnostic features to reduce commissioning, installation and system downtime by troubleshooting problems quickly using the real time information on link quality and fault location. It is compliant to the IEEE 802.3cg standard to enable Ethernet connectivity over 1.7km of cabling, in addition to support for ring redundancy and soft real time protocols like Modbus/TCP, BACnet/IP and KNX. 

The ADIN2111 is in full production now and is available in a 7.0 x 7.0mm package.

Analog Devices offers a suite of analogue and mixed signal, power management, radio frequency (RF) and digital and sensor technologies for customers worldwide operating in the industrial, communications, automotive, and consumer markets. 

http://www.analog.com

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Vector signal generator addresses wideband multi-channel mmWave applications

The M9484C VXG four-channel vector signal generator offers up to 54GHz frequency and up to 5GHz RF bandwidth and low phase noise in a single instrument.

It also has real-time capabilities to support wireless applications and a V3080A vector signal generator frequency extender which expands the frequency range up to 110GHz.

Testing 5G mobile communications, 6G research, satellite communications and radar applications requires signal generation equipment capable of creating millimeter-wave (mmWave) signals at high bandwidths. These applications also adopt multi-antenna techniques, such as spatial diversity, spatial multiplexing and beamforming for multi-antenna test applications such as MIMO and beamforming with precise phase coherence and timing synchronisation.

The M9484C VXG signal generator enables customers to reduce test system setup complexity and achieve accurate and repeatable multi-channel measurements in a single instrument, said Keysight. 

The instrument covers frequency ranges from 9kHz to 54GHz and up to 110 GHz with the frequency extender. 

A fully integrated, calibrated and synchronised signal generator delivers low phase noise and minimises measurement uncertainty, said Keysight and the signal generator overcomes the excessive path loss experienced at mmW frequencies with low error vector magnitude (EVM) and distortion at high output power.

Direct digital synthesis (DDS) technology delivers RF performance which can characterise devices under test (DUTs).

Real-time signal processing and comprehensive signal creation enables complex test scenarios and simplifies test complexity for receiver and performance tests.

The M9484C VXG also supports MIMO real-time fading for all 3GPP 5G new radio (NR) required base station conformance tests with PathWave Signal Generation software.

In addition to streamlining complex receiver test scenarios with eight virtual signal emulation per RF channel, for up to 32 signals, the pre-defined compliance test set ups, auto-configuring signal analysis are designed to simplify the test workflow.

Keysight Technologies delivers design and validation products, software-driven insights and analytics that bring tomorrow’s technology products to market faster across the development lifecycle, in design simulation, prototype validation, automated software testing, manufacturing analysis, and network performance optimisation and visibility in enterprise, service provider and cloud environments. 

Keysight customers operate in the worldwide communications and industrial ecosystems, aerospace and defence, automotive, energy, semiconductor and general electronics markets. 

http://www.keysight.com

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Arm adds virtual devices and launches Cortex-M85 processor

In addition to expanding Arm Virtual Hardware, Arm launches the Arm Cortex-M85 processor, describing it as the high performing and most secure Cortex-M to date.

The Arm Total Solution for Cloud Native Edge Devices is the first designed for Cortex-A and based on Corstone-1000.

(Arm Total Solutions for IoT combines hardware IP, platform software, machine learning (ML) models and tools collated to simplify development and accelerate product design. The Arm Corstone is a pre-integrated, pre-verified IP sub-system.)

According to Arm, this version for cloud native edge devices makes the power and potential of platform OS like Linux available to IoT developers. It allows application-class workloads to be developed for smart wearables, gateways and high-end smart cameras. 

The Corstone-1000 is Arm SystemReady-IR compliant and features a hardware secure enclave that supports PSA Certified for a higher level of security. According to Arm, OEMs can immediately enjoy the benefits of Project Cassini. 

The new Total Solution for Voice Recognition is based on the Corstone-310 sub-system. It is pre-integrated with the new Cortex-M85 and the Arm Ethos-U55 and is Arm’s highest ever performance microcontroller-based design, said the company. Target applications range from smart speakers and thermostats to drones and factory robots. Developers can also take the Corstone-310 and create additional products by combining it with different reference software, advised Arm.

The other announcement is the launch of the Arm Cortex-M85. This is a natural architectural upgrade path to Armv8-M for applications requiring significantly higher performance, said the company. 

It offers a 30 per cent scalar performance uplift, compared to the Cortex-M7 and includes Arm Helium technology to support endpoint ML and DSP workloads, In addition to Arm TrustZone technology, security features include Pointer Authentication and Branch Target Identification (PACBTI). This is a new architectural feature with enhanced software attack threat mitigation to help achieve PSA Certified Level 2. According to Arm, this is a security baseline for IoT deployments.

There are also several new Arm Virtual Hardware virtual devices, including Arm Virtual Hardware for the new Corstone designs as well as seven new Cortex-M processors ranging from Cortex-M0 to Cortex-M33. Arm is also expanding the library with third party hardware from partners including NXP, ST Microelectronics and Raspberry Pi. 

Arm Cortex-M85, Corstone-310 and Corstone-1000 are available for licensing now and can be accessed immediately in the cloud as part of Arm Total Solutions for IoT. 

Arm Virtual Hardware can be accessed at https://avh.arm.com. Third party hardware is available from partners including NXP (iMX8 Arm Cortex Complex), ST Microelectronics (STM32U5 Discovery Kit) and Raspberry Pi (RPi4). 

http://www.arm.com

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GNSS time server meet environmental standards 

In response to the need for secure, precise timing and synchronisation in power plants and sub-stations’ communications networks, Microchip Technology has introduced the GridTime 3000 GNSS time server. The software-configurable server provides redundancy, security and resilience, says the company to ensure networks transmit critical data including operability metrics, network health, fault monitoring, power measurement and usage trends without false tripping and with data timestamping including system faults, power measurements and substation status.

“Surges, adverse weather and cyberattacks targeting critical infrastructure all require resilient timing architectures and technology to mitigate the threats and ensure continuous timing,” said Randy Brudzinski, vice president, Microchip’s frequency and time systems business unit.

The GridTime 3000 system generates time and frequency signals to synchronise analogue and digital communication systems. This resilient timing platform incorporates multiple timing inputs for protection in the event of a signal disruption caused by severe weather, environmental disturbances or signal jamming or spoofing. Three levels of internal holdover options are available including a base voltage-controlled temperature compensated crystal oscillator (VCTCXO) and an optional high-performance oven controlled crystal oscillator (OCXO) or rubidium oscillator option to extend holdover duration and enhance performance.

The time server complies with IEC 61850-3, the environmental component of IEC 61850, the standard that defines communication protocols for power substations. It is also compliant with IEEE 1613-2009, for environmental and testing requirements for power substations. 

A hardware-based cryptographic assurance module uses industry-standard Rivest, Shamir and Adleman (RSA)- and AES-based encryption to protect against unauthorised configuration uploads.

The GridTime 3000 server has a licensed feature model, enabling clients to upgrade system technology as needed. There are 10 1000BASE-T Ethernet (1Gbits per second) ports for high speed synchronisation using precision time protocol (PTP) and network time protocol (NTP).

Microchip’s GridTime 3000 GNSS time server includes an internal web browser management interface, clock management tool (CMT). The CMT provides configuration and management for remote managing and monitoring, together with accessories including a multi-band, multi-constellation GNSS receiver system and cold-swappable power supplies. 

The GridTime 3000 GNSS time server is available now in volume production. 

http://www.microchip.com

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