Data logger makes a splash in harsh transport conditions

A waterproof version of Aspion’s data logger has been added to the family. The G-Log 2 Waterproof is for use in shock and climate monitoring and is designed for harsh transport conditions but also monitors unpackaged goods.

It records shock events traceably on all three axes in milliseconds. It also logs climate data such as temperature and relative humidity. The robust design includes protection class IP 65/67 making it suitable for transporting unpackaged capital goods in harsh working environments, said Aspion. It can also be used to monitor machinery and equipment as well as energy technology.

Data loggers are indispensable in the event of an incident. To claim for damage to high-value goods in transit, load data must be provided in a comprehensible, transparent, and assignable manner to the insuance company. The G-Log 2 Waterproof can reduce costs for damage in transit for industrial companies, said Aspion, and significantly improve process quality checks. The data looger is claimed to be the only one available that offers shock/vibration testing in accordance with transport standard IEC 60721-3-2. For this, the shock sensor compares vibrations and shocks occurring during transport with the selected class and standard. This allows companies to reliably test transport conditions inexpensively and without expert knowledge.

Aspion’s software-based service G-Log Premium expands the scope of performance of the shock data loggers. Recorded data is transferred directly in real time during readout via a secure cloud storage hosted in Germany and made available across locations. All G-Log 2 data loggers can also be optionally commissioned via the app – regardless of location and worldwide. Users simultaneously access high transparency and maximum process reliability, said Aspion. The service extension is particularly suitable for companies with distributed structures, such as multiple sites or globally located business partners.

The G-Log 2 Waterproof is now available from the manufacturer as well as sales partners.

https://www.aspion.de/en/

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Dual output Hall-effect sensors save space while detecting speed and direction

For high voltage, automotive and industrial applications, the AH39xxQ series of Hall-effect sensors provide speed and directional data, said Diodes.

The high-voltage, dual output, automotive-compliant sensors provide accurate speed and directional data or two independent outputs. They are designed for industrial and automotive applications such as detecting rotational and linear speed/direction and determining the angular position of a rotating shaft.

They operate over a wide supply voltage range of 2.7 to 27V to meet automotive battery requirements.  They also have a 40V absolute maximum rating, enabling them to safely handle 40V load dumps. 

There is also -18V of reverse voltage protection to guard against incorrect battery connections. 

For added robustness, the ESD (electrostatic discharge) protection exceeds the automotive norms of 5kV human body model (HBM) and 2kV charge device model (CDM).

Three BOP/BRP (operating/release) options are offered, with typical values of 10/-10, 25/-25 and 75/-75 Gauss and the narrow operating window ensures accurate and reliable switching points, confirmed Diodes. 

Dual-channel operation means these sensors can replace two latch switches, reducing both PCB space and overall component costs. Combining chopper-stabilised amplifiers with an advanced Hall plate design mitigates switch point drift, ensuring accurate measurements over a broad temperature range. 

The self-diagnostic features make the AH39xxQ sensors suitable for ISO 26262-compliant systems. There is also a safe operating mode which is entered if an error, such as over-temperature or under-voltage lockout, is detected.

The AH39xxQ series Hall-effect sensors from Diodes are AEC-Q100 Grade 0 qualified, manufactured in IATF 16949 certified facilities, and support PPAP (production part approval process) documentation. 

They are supplied in TSOT25 packages. 

Diodes supplies semiconductor products to the world’s leading companies in the automotive, industrial, computing, consumer electronics, and communications markets. Its product portfolio consists of discrete, analogue and mixed-signal products and packaging technology.

The company has worldwide operations of 32 sites, including engineering, testing, manufacturing.

http://www.diodes.com

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TheiaCel technology is basis for automotive image sensor for flicker-free cameras

At this week’s AutoSens Brussels (19 to 21 September) Omnivision has unveiled a small, low power consumption image sensor which uses TheiaCel technology. The OX08D10 is an automotive image sensor for LED-flicker-free exterior cameras, said the company.
The 8Mpixel OX08D10 CMOS image sensor with TheiaCel technology is claimed to enhance automotive safety with enhanced resolution and image quality in exterior cameras for advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and autonomous driving (AD).
The OX08D10 features low light performance and low power consumption in a compact size that is 50 per cent smaller than other exterior cabin sensors in its class, said Omnivision. It is the first image sensor to feature the company’s new 2.1 micron TheiaCel technology. This technology combines lateral overflow integration capacitors (LOFIC) and Omnivision’s DCG high dynamic range (HDR) technology to eliminate LED flicker regardless of lighting conditions, said Omnivision. The technology enables the OX08D10 to achieve HDR image capture at up to 200 meters, to balance SNR1 and dynamic range and which is optimal for automotive exterior camera applications, said Omnivision.
According to Paul Wu, Omnivision’s automotive product marketing manager, the  OX08D10 image sensor is a single device that combines features including low-light performance, LED flicker mitigation (LFM), small size and low power, eliminating OEMs to meet performance/design compromises to address LED flicker.
TheiaCel technology is also introduced at AutoSens. “TheiaCel brings a new era to single-exposure HDR . . . . that yields dramatic improvements in image quality,” Wu added.
Anas Chalak, technology and market analyst, imaging at Yole Intelligence, part of Yole Group, said LFM, HDR and high resolution are prerequisites in modern automotive image sensors to achieve higher autonomy vehicles and that Omnivision’s TheiaCel DCG + LOFIC solution fulfill these criteria, aligning with the trend of implementing more exterior cameras per car in the upcoming years.
Flicker from LED traffic lights poses a serious challenge for imaging solutions, preventing ADAS and AD systems from correctly detecting lighted traffic signs.  The 2.1 micron single pixel TheiaCel technology delivers high LFM without sacrificing image quality, said Omnivision. TheiaCel leverages next-generation LOFIC capabilities together with the company’s proprietary HDR technology (patented DCG and split-diode technology), which captures extremely high contrast scenes for optimum content and image quality. Omnivision claimed that the TheiaCel DCG + LOFIC achieves a wider dynamic range than earlier single-exposure HDR architectures.
LFM dynamic range is 3.3 times higher and total dynamic range is nearly three times higher than the company’s non-LOFIC-based predecessor. It features upgraded cybersecurity to comply with the newest MIPI CSE version 2.0 standards, which adds functional safety to automotive image sensor data streams. The TheiaCel device also uses Omnivision’s a-CSP package technology for a small form factor.
Samples are available now, and the OX08D10 will be in mass production in the second half of 2024.

http://www.ovt.com

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CATR test chamber can characterise active antenna arrays for satcomms

Active antenna arrays with beamforming capabilities are a key technology for establishing links between satellite terminals and end devices on the ground. At European Microwave Week (EuMW) 2023 in Berlin, Rohde & Schwarz and IMST will showcase a test chamber for over-the-air (OTA) measurements of electrically large beamforming antenna arrays for satellite communications (satcomms) applications.

The ATS1800C CATR (compact antenna test range) -based test chamber can be used for characterising active antenna arrays for satcomms applications.

New satellite constellations in low Earth orbit (LEO), medium Earth orbit (MEO) or geostationary orbit (GEO) allow uninterrupted connectivity on land at sea and in the air which will enable new services such as global tracking, the IoT, remote sensing or non-terrestrial networks (NTN).

Rohde & Schwarz has partnered with IMST for a demonstration of satcomms terminal testing at EuMW 2023. Testing the performance of satellite terminal systems and components with appropriate signals under realistic OTA conditions is crucial. Satcom infrastructure size, form factor, weight and performance are all challenging for SATCOM terminal manufacturers. The ATS1800C is designed to characterise an IMST Santana IV antenna array module. It has a CATR reflector that creates a large quiet zone for much higher measurement certainty relative to other solutions, said Rohde & Schwarz. 

The ZNA vector network analyser can test and characterise devices under test. The R&S AMS32 software measures technical parameters such as magnitude and phase of far field and near field distributions, as well as metrics such as error vector magnitude (EVM) to characterise the digitally-modulated transceiver performance.

The Santana IV module (FKZ 50RK1925) is a smart antenna terminal designed by IMST. It is equipped with electronically controlled antenna beam steering that allows the beam shape and pointing direction to be electronically adjusted without any moving mechanical parts. The TX antenna array has 64 elements that support dual linear or circular polarisation. The array was designed for an operating frequency range from 29.5 to 30GHz, which can be used for applications such satcom on the move. The single 64-element module can be used as a base module for larger arrays.

Visitors can see the active antenna array testing at the Rohde & Schwarz stand H105 of Messe Berlin Hub27 at EuMW 2023 (19 to 21 September).

http://www.rohde-schwarz.com 

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