Router connects industrial applications to public 5G networks

Believed to be the first industrial 5G router, the Scalance MUM856-1is available from Siemens. It connects local industrial applications to public 5G, 4G (LTE), and 3G (UMTS) mobile wireless networks and can be used to remotely monitor and service plants, machines, control elements, and other industrial devices via a public 5G network providing high data rates.

As well as industry, the router can be integrated into private 5G networks. The Scalance MUM856-1 supports mobile robots in manufacturing, autonomous vehicles in logistics or augmented reality applications for service technicians, says Siemens. The robust housing is sealed to IP64, ensuring the router can be used outside the control cabinet, for example under harsh conditions in production or in outdoor facilities in the water industry.

To ensure the powerful connection of Ethernet-based sub-networks and automation devices, the Scalance MUM856-1 supports Release 15 of the 5G standard. It offers high bandwidths of up to 1,000Mbits per second for the downlink and up to 500Mbits per second for the uplink providing high data rates for data-intensive applications such as the remote implementation of firmware updates. There is also IPv6 support for modern communication networks.

Security functions monitor data traffic and protect against unauthorised access. For example, there is an integrated firewall as well as authentication of communication devices and encryption of data transmission via VPN. If there is no available 5G network, the device switches automatically to 4G or 3G networks.

The first release version of the router has an EU radio licence, with versions with other licences being prepared.

The Sinema Remote Connect management platform for VPN connections allows user to access remote plants or machines easily and securely, even if they are integrated in other networks, says Siemens. The software also offers easy management and auto-configuration of routers.

In addition to connectivity to public networks, Scalance MUM856-1 also supports integration into private local 5G campus networks.

http://www.siemens.com

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Multi-port, multi-Gbit PoE injector simplifies Wi-Fi 6 access

Wi-Fi 6 and small cell devices can now be installed easily and cost-effectively, wherever they are needed, using the family of multi-port, multi-Gbit injectors offered by Microchip Technology.

Organisations can only deploy today’s Wi-Fi 6 access points (APs) and 5G small cell access nodes where AC power is available, or if the switch can deliver both power and data to them as required. Microchip believes the injectors or midspans are the first multi-port power over Ethernet (PoE) power sourcing equipment (PSE) midspan to enable any multi-Gbit switch to support the high power needs and data rates, with no network configuration or downtime necessary.

The family of multi-port, multi-Gbit PoE PSE injectors can be used to install Wi-Fi 6 devices and small cell equipment. “Patented technology . . . solves the challenge of powering these devices while also supporting their 10Gbit per second data rates,” said Iris Shuker, director of Microchip’s PoE business unit. “This greatly simplifies deployment of Wi-Fi 6 APs while enabling service providers, for the first time, to quickly and inexpensively install 5G picocells and femtocells wherever they are needed, which is rarely near an AC outlet,” she added.

MultiGbit PoE-enabled switches with sufficient power for Wi-Fi 6 devices and small cell equipment are expensive and not widely adopted, says Microchip. A more cost-effective way to inject power into the network for these high-speed devices is to install a Microchip multi-port, multi-Gbit midspans between them and any standard multi-Gbit switch. The family consists of six-, 12- and 24-port configuration midspans. Each midspan supports Wi-Fi 6 devices’ IEEE 802.11ax data rates and delivers up to 60W of output power per port in compliance with the IEEE’s 802.3bt PoE and 10GBASE-T specifications. The PD-9506-10GC, PD-9512-10GC and PD-9524-10GC midspans can be securely monitored and controlled remotely using Microchip’s web-based PowerView Pro platform.

The midspans are available now as part of Microchip’s PoE portfolio. It consists of indoor and outdoor PoE solutions including both multi-port 1Gbit products and single-port multi-Gbit options. Microchip is the only supplier of PoE powered device (PD) ICs, PoE PSE ICs, PoE systems (injectors/midspans and switches) and test equipment. The PoE system portfolio enables delivery of up to 90W of flexible and reliable power over the Ethernet network to WLAN access points, network cameras, IP telephones, IP cameras and other IP-based devices.

http://www.microchip.com

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EPC adds 80 and 200V models to eGaN FET family

Two additions to the eGaN FET family by EPC address the needs of e-mobility, delivery and logistic robots and drone markets which require compact brushless DC (BLDC) motor drives and cost-effective, high-resolution time of flight (ToF).

The EPC2065 is an 80V, 3.6mOhm, 221A pulsed eGaN FET in a 7.1mm2 chip scale package. The size and efficiency reduce overall power system size and weight, says EPC to make it particularly suitable for 32 to 48V BLDC motor drive applications for e-mobility ebikes and escooters, service, delivery, logistic robots and drones.

In all of these applications, miniaturisation is key and the driver is integrated with the motor in the pursuit of this. The ability to operate with significantly shorter dead times results in less noise and less EMI. eGaN FET is capable of high frequency operation to achieve what is claimed to be the highest density for high frequency DC/DC converters for computing and industrial applications and for synchronous rectification.

The second addition to the family is the EPC2054. This is a 200V, 3.6mOhm, eGaN FET in a tiny 1.69mm2 chip scale package. It can deliver 32A pulsed current, despite its small size, with very fast on-off transition times and super small capacitance and inductances. These characteristics make it suitable for industrial lidar / ToF applications.

The low resistance, low switching losses, no reverse recovery charge, fast switching, high frequency capability, and the tiny footprint make the EPC2054 a cost effective and high density FET for a range of applications including high frequency DC/DC, synchronous rectification, wireless power, class D audio, automation, solar and optical.

Alex Lidow, EPC’s co-founder and CEO believes that power system designers will be able to take advantage of these latest eGaN FETs and utilize the high performance, thermally efficient small devices to replace power MOSFETs in a wide variety of applications including emobility, robotics and drones.

The eGaN FETs and related development and reference design boards are available now from Digi-Key.

http://www.epc-co.com

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NFC transceiver open up accessory ID, says STMicroelectronics

Accessory identification for a wide range of applications including power tools and personal healthcare devices can be cost-effectively implemented with the ST25R3918 multi-purpose NFC transceiver. Developed by STMicroelectronics it supports passive peer-to-peer functionality and NFC card-emulation mode as well as NFC reader operation.

According to STMicroelectronics, it delivers most of the functionality of the company’s ST25R3916 NFC reader at a competitive price. The ST25R3918 ST25R3918 interacts seamlessly with ST25 tags and its close relationship to the ST25R3916 simplifies hardware design and certification.

The transceiver supports NFC-A and NFC-F card emulation and can be used as an NFC-A/B (ISO 14443A/B) card reader up to high bit rates, and as an NFC-V (ISO 15693) reader up to 53kbits per second. It can also be used as an ISO 18092 passive initiator and target.

The card emulation mode allows support for the newest features available on mobile phones, ST adds. Phones can interact with applications that use the ST25R3918, including using a simple tap to start apps on the phone. Device programming and simple NFC data exchange format (NDEF) data transfers are also permitted. In addition, users can leverage special stream and transparent modes of the analogue front end (AFE) and framing system to implement other custom protocols in card-reader and card emulation modes.

Combined with the reader mode, the ST25R3918 allows scanning for nearby tags for tasks such as replaceable detection and parameter setting, or simply reading an access card. The user can interact with the mobile phone while collecting data on customer behaviour and accessories used, which adds an additional stream of information for product development.

The ST25R3918 transceiver has high sensitivity and ST’s Noise Suppression Receiver (NSR) technology for extended read range. It can be operated with output power around 0.5W in noisy and harsh environments. The ST25R3918 also includes a low-power card-detection mode to scan for the presence of a card by measuring the amplitude or phase of the antenna signal. A low power RC oscillator and wake-up timer automatically reactivates the ST25R3918 after a selected time period to check for the presence of a tag.

Other features include support for dynamic power output (DPO), which automatically controls the field strength to meet the required limits. There is also active wave shaping (AWS) to smooth the waveform for better signal integrity.

The ST25R3918 operates from a wide power-supply voltage range of 2.6 to 5.5V between -40 and +85 degrees C, and 2.4 to 5.5V in the temperature range from -20 to +85 degrees C, with a peripheral I/O voltage range of 1.65 to 5.5V.

The ST25R3918 is available now

https://www.st.com

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