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Bi-directional synchronous buck-boost controllers smooth path for industrial power

Tue, Oct 09, 2018

Two bi-directional four-switch synchronous buck-boost controllers from Renesas are believed to be the industry’s only true bi-directional controllers that sense peak current at both ends and provide cycle-by-cycle current limit in both directions while in buck or boost mode.

The ISL81601 and ISL81401 controllers generate point-of-load (PoL) and voltage rail conversions with peak efficiency up to 99 per cent. The ISL81601 has an input range of 4.5 to 60V and produces a 0.8 to 60V output to support most industrial batteries, namely 12, 24, 36 and 48V.

The ISL81401 is a 4.5 to 40V input and 0.8 to 40V output version, and its unidirectional counterpart is the ISL81401A. The controllers are suitable for DC power back-up and battery-powered medical, industrial and telecommunications systems.

According to Renesas, the ISL81601 and ISL81401’s bidirectional peak current sensing capability eliminates complex external circuitry required for charging and discharging a battery to supply power to the loads. A proprietary algorithm provides smooth mode transitions between buck, boost and buck-boost, while reducing low frequency ripple at Vout, ensuring minimal disturbances during line or load transients. The algorithm also ensures predictable ripple voltage under all conditions. Multi-layer overcurrent protection and a precision control algorithm deliver constant current down to 0.1V at Vout for reliable operation. Designers can expand system power by paralleling an unlimited number of controllers, says Renesas. The ISL81601 and ISL81401 operate two switches at a time to minimise power loss and achieve higher efficiency.

“Our new bidirectional buck-boost controllers eliminate extra sensing circuitry and offer customers a robust feature-set that maintains battery health and superior power utilization,” said Philip Chesley, Vice President of Industrial Analog and Power Business Division, Renesas Electronics Corporation. “Leveraging Renesas’ proprietary modulation scheme and algorithms allows the highly integrated ISL81601, ISL81401 and ISL81401A to achieve the high reliability performance required for battery-powered equipment.”

The ISL81601 and ISL81401/A can be combined with a Renesas RL78 microcontroller (MCU), or other MCUs, to program the voltages, battery charge/discharge function, and on-the-fly bidirectional power flow. Designers can also use the PowerCompass tool to help them quickly identify other power supply parts that match their specific system requirements. Multiple power rails can be set up and designers can perform high-level system analysis and generate custom reference design files in minutes.

All three controllers and evaluation boards are available now. The ISL81601 bidirectional 60V synchronous buck-boost controller is available in a 38-lead HTSSOP package and a 32-lead QFN package. The ISL81401 bi-directional and ISL81401A uni-directional synchronous 40V buck-boost controllers are available in 32-lead QFN packages.

http://www.renesas.com

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Renesas Synergy delivers dev kit to speed LTE IoT connectivity

Wed, Sep 26, 2018

Hardware and software make up the Renesas Synergy AE-Cloud2 kit, which allows embedded developers to quickly evaluate cellular connectivity options and build low power wide area (LPWA) cellular internet of things (IoT) applications.

According to Renesas, the AE-Cloud2 kit, used with the new Synergy Software Package (SSP) version 1.5.0 simplifies connecting IoT sensor devices to enterprise cloud services using 4G/LTE Cat-M1 and Cat-NB1, also called NB-IoT, with backwards compatability to 2G/EGPRS cellular networks. The kit’s functionality is claimed to accelerate prototyping cellular-enabled IoT devices for asset tracking, retail and agriculture monitoring, smart cities/utilities, mobile healthcare, and industrial automation.

Each AE-Cloud2 hardware kit includes a Synergy S5D9 microcontroller baseboard, tri-mode cellular modem with cellular and GPS antennae, Wi-Fi, Ethernet, and a variety of sensors such as lighting, microphone, temperature, humidity, pressure, air quality, geomagnetic, accelerometer, and gyroscope.

For cellular access, developers insert a SIM card with a data plan purchased from a local cellular carrier. The hardware kit’s software allows developers to provision the kit to connect to a 4G/LTE IoT cellular network and their preferred cloud service provider. Users can visualise their sensor data on a customisable, password-protected dashboard.

The AE-Cloud2 hardware kit has passed global RF emissions tests for EMC performance. The kit also complies with global regulatory certifications for FCC, CE, RoHs, WEEE and Japan MIC. The optimised hardware/software saves developers months of design time and resources, says Renesas, as it allows them to create a scalable, energy efficient and secure end-to-end LPWA cellular IoT application that can be used anywhere in the world.

Renesas is demonstrating the AE-Cloud2 kit at Arm TechCon (17 and 18 October, 2018, San Jose Convention Center, booth 727).

The AE-Cloud2 kit is available now from Renesas Electronics’ distributors around the world. The SSP version 1.5.0 can be downloaded, free of charge, from the company website.

http://renesassynergy.com/ae-cloud2

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GNSS firewall secures timing says Microsemi

Tue, Sep 25, 2018

At this week’s ION GNSS+ (Miami, Florida, USA, 24 to 28 September) Microsemi will exhibit the BlueSky GNSS firewall. It enables critical infrastructure providers to harden the security of their operations from GPS threats and deliver a more reliable and secure service, says the Microchip subsidiary.

Signals from global positioning systems (GPS) and other global navigation satellite system (GNSS) constellations can, if disrupted, harm infrastructure such as telecommunications, energy, transportation, emergency services and data centres, explains Microsemi.

The new BlueSky GNSS firewall is a security-hardened system which provides protection against GPS threats such as jamming, spoofing and complete outage. It also supports a range of precision timing technologies, including atomic clocks, to enable continuous operation when GPS may be completely denied for extended periods.

Microsemi has added a BlueSky option to its TimePictra software management suite, for centralised control and visibility of GPS reception across regional, national and global geographic areas.

This second-generation BlueSky GNSS firewall has expanded monitoring and reporting capabilities, and atomic clock technology to provide security-hardened resiliency, including the ability to operate in a GNSS-denied environment for more than 30 days, says Microsemi.

Using the same principles as a firewall used for network security, the BlueSky GNSS firewall, analyses the incoming GPS signal in real time to detect a range of threats before they are able to affect connected GPS receivers and related systems.

The BlueSky GNSS firewall incorporates an optional internal rubidium miniature atomic clock (MAC) enabling continuous output of the GPS signal to the downstream GPS receiver in case of complete loss of live sky GPS reception. Alternatively, Microsemi’s cesium clocks, such as the 5071A or TimeCesium 4400/4500, can be connected to the device, enabling UTC traceable time for more than 30 days.

To ensure the BlueSky GNSS Firewall is equipped to defend against an ever-evolving threat, Microsemi updates and continuously tracks GPS signal manipulation, spoofing threats, jamming attacks, multi-path signal interference, atmospheric activity and many other issues which can create GPS signal anomalies, disruptions and outages. Updates are available through a BlueSky subscription service.

Microsemi’s BlueSky GNSS firewall is available for orders now with delivery beginning in November 2018.

Visit Microsecmi at ION GNSS+, booth 612

http://www.microsemi.com

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Modules help to develop and run IoT applications in one day

Thu, Sep 20, 2018

Help for developers to get IoT applications connected and running in a day, with no software development necessary is provided by Silicon Labs’ Wireless Xpress Modules. They deliver Bluetooth and Wi-Fi connectivity with zero programming, says the company.

Silicon Labs’ Wireless Xpress includes certified Bluetooth 5 Low Energy and Wi-Fi modules, integrated protocol stacks and tools.

On-board wireless stacks are controlled through a high-level Xpress Command application programming interface (API) for set-up and control. Wireless Xpress devices require only modest resources from a host processor, says Silicon Labs, enabling developers to add wireless connectivity to any microcontroller.

By using Bluetooth and Wi-Fi Wireless Xpress, developers can move from product concept to prototyping in a matter of hours instead of weeks,” said Matt Johnson, senior vice president and general manager of IoT products at Silicon Labs. He continues to explain that as Wireless Xpress reduces the design learning curve without compromising Bluetooth or Wi-Fi functionality, developers will spend less time learning how to add wireless connectivity to IoT devices and more time designing innovative products and getting them to market in good time.

Bluetooth and Wi-Fi IoT products based on Wireless Xpress can be remotely managed and updated over the air (OTA) using native device management features. Using Silicon Labs’ Zentri device management service (DMS), end users can install and update firmware, view real-time device health metrics and adjust product settings through mobile apps.

To add Bluetooth or Wi-Fi connectivity to mobile applications, Wireless Xpress includes a mobile app software development kit (SDK) for Android and iOS. The mobile app framework comprises examples and libraries and offers simple communications and OTA APIs to accelerate app development and simplify wireless design for mobile platforms.

Silicon Labs’ Gecko OS is an intuitive IoT operating system to accelerate the development of market-ready connected products. The company says it plans to offer additional Gecko OS-based products and solutions.

http://www.silabs.com

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Bi-directional synchronous buck-boost controllers smooth path for industrial power

Renesas Synergy delivers dev kit to speed LTE IoT connectivity

GNSS firewall secures timing says Microsemi

Modules help to develop and run IoT applications in one day

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