Nordic Semiconductor supports Matter 1.0 in nRF Connect SDK 

The latest version of Nordic Semiconductor’s unified software development kit brings support for all features of 1.0 version of Matter over Thread.

The latest version of the nRF Connect SDK (software development kit) brings developers support for the Connectivity Standard Alliance’s standard, which is emerging as an industry changing standard for smart home device interoperability, said the company.

“Nordic has played a major role in the Matter initiative since the very beginning, so we are pleased to introduce the nRF Connect SDK with full Matter over Thread support,” says Krzysztof Loska, a technical product manager with Nordic. “This support is ready for Matter 1.0 adoption and allows developers to get started immediately on Matter over Thread development using Nordic’s nRF52840 and nRF5340 SoCs,” he added.

nRF Connect SDK is a scalable and unified development tool for building products based on Nordic’s nRF52 and nRF53 Series SoCs, the nRF91 Series SiP (system in package and the recently announced nRF7002 Wi-Fi 6 Companion IC. The nRF Connect SDK 2.1.0 includes full Matter over Thread and also adds experimental support for Matter over Wi-Fi for the nRF5340 SoC in combination with the nRF7002 Companion IC.

The company released nRF Connect SDK 2.1.0 before Matter 1.0 was formally adopted and will soon release an nRF Connect SDK 2.1.X to provide bug fixes and small improvements in Matter over Thread. Nordic advised that customers can continue using nRF Connect SDK 2.1.0 to conform to the Matter 1.0 specification following some minor manual updates. Matter over Wi-Fi will be raised from experimental to full support when the nRF7002 enters volume production.

Matter is a connectivity standard that forms a common language to bring together disparate ecosystems and enables smart devices from different makers to work in harmony. 

The standard uses a common application layer and data model that delivers interoperability between devices allowing them to communicate with each other – regardless of the underlying network protocol or ecosystem. It is built on market-proven technologies using Internet Protocol (IP). Matter runs on Wi-Fi, Thread and Ethernet network layers and uses Bluetooth LE for commissioning.

Nordic was awarded a Thread 1.3 certification badge for the nRF Connect SDK earlier this year. Thread 1.3 is a pre-requisite for Matter over Thread and the certification can be inherited by customers for their own products.

https://www.nordicsemi.com/

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GLF Integrated Power offers two versions of AEC-Q100 grade load switch ICs

Two versions of the IQSmart IC load switches are offered by GLF Integrated Power. The AEC-Q100 qualified ICs have a wide temperature range, with one version featuring true reverse current blocking.

The GLF1111Q and GLF1200Q low power load switches are rated for a wide temperature range (-40 to +125 degrees C). The GLF1111Q provides industry-leading, battery-saving leakage current of 2nA, typical, said GLF. 

The GLF1200Q features a true reverse-current blocking, which prevents a backup power source from being discharged when an input node is shorted. The GLF1200Q, therefore, works all of the time regardless of on or off state.

Applications for the GLF1111Q and GLF1200Q include infotainment and cluster display systems, diagnostic systems, passive entry / start systems, customer premise equipment (CPE), face recognition systems and intelligent cockpit and autonomous driving applications. 

Both the GLF1111Q and GLF1200Q IQSmart devices are packaged in a SOT-23-5L and offer easy visual inspection of solder joints. Both ICs also feature integrated slew rate control that limits inrush upon turn on, therefore minimising the effects of voltage droop. 

Each load switch IC supports a wide input voltage range of 1.5 to 5.5V. A single device can therefore be used in a variety of voltage rail applications, helping to simplify inventory management, said GLF. Both ICs are also offered with an optional output discharge switch.

“The GLF1111Q and GLF1200Q address the ever-expanding, evolving range of automotive electronic systems that require a high-performance load switch with a wide-ambient operating temperature range to assure reliable, long-term operations,” explained Eileen Sun, president and CEO at GLF Integrated Power.

GLF integrated Power is a fabless semiconductor company based in Santa Clara, California, USA. It was founded in 2013 in response to the IoT, portable and wearable ‘revolution’. The company supplies efficient, small, silicon power control and protection ICs and has developed IP that enables cost-effective, efficient and differentiated power management solutions.

http://www.glfipower.com

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eFuse ICs protect and control circuits in datacomms and industry

Four ICs have been developed by Littelfuse to protect, sense and control consumer, datacomms and industrial electronics. There are four eFuse Protection ICs available from Littelfuse.

The ICs are designed to provide a wide range of power input (3.3V to 28V) and integrated protection in the form of over-voltage, over-current, short circuit, inrush current, reverse current, and over-temperature protection with real-time diagnostics – all in a single chip.

The LS0504EVT233 is a 5V, 4A IC with over-voltage, over-current protection in an SOT23-3 package. The LS0505EVD22 is a 5V, 5A model with over-voltage and over-current protection in a DFN 2.0 x 2.0mm package. The LS1205ExD33 is an 18V, 5A IC with programmable current limit and output voltage clamp in a DFN 3.0 x 3.0mm package. The fourth model, the LS2406ERQ23 is a 28V, 6A true reverse block, fast role swap IC in a QFN 2.5 x 3.2mm package. 

The ICs can be used in Bluetooth headsets, wearable devices, PCs as well as tablets and notebooks, charging cables, battery-powered and adapter powered devices, networking and datacomms power systems, fan control HDD and SDD storage drives and industrial equipment with 12/24V power I/O.   

The ICs provide an accurate current limiter, with faster response time and more integrated protection features than traditional fuses and PTCs, claimed Littelfuse. They also have design flexibility with adjustable over-voltage threshold, current limiting, and inrush current protection, with true reverse current blocking. The integrated ICs save PCB space and reduce the bill of material cost, while reducing design-in phase and time to market compared to typical discrete solutions, such as a hot-swap controller and MOSFET combination, said the company.

They are also claimed to increase battery life, lower repair costs and extend overall product lifetime.

  “Providing a low power consumption, high accuracy current limiting circuit with quick response time makes them a win-win-win for many portable electronics and datacom applications,” said Bernie Hsieh, assistant product manager of the Protection Semiconductor business team at Littelfuse.

The eFuse Protection ICs are available in tape and reel format in quantities through authorised Littelfuse distributors worldwide. 

 http://www.Littelfuse.com

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Low profile 5G and 4G LTE antennas are slim for limited spaces

Two low profile antennas have a low height of just 1.6mm. This makes the Alcor and Atria suitable for a variety of applications, said Synzen Precision Technology.

The Alcor is a 5G low profile surface mount antenna that is compact but still covers bands from 617 to 6000MHz. It has a small footprint of 40 x 10 x 1.6mm, a minimal clearance of 40.0 x 13.5mm and a fallback to 4G / 3G / 2G.

Atria is even more compact at 30.0 x 7.0 x 1.6mm but still covers bands from 698 to 2690MHz. Minimal clearance is 30.0 x 12.0mm. It also falls back to 3G / 2G. It requires a small clearance area, added the company.  (don’t be fooled by claims of small antennas which often need a much bigger clearance area).

“Many antennas calling themselves low-profile are double the height – around 3.0mm. We’ve been able to halve that without losing any performance. Our elegant design solution is also cost-effective for customers because it doesn’t require any external RF switch circuits,” said Synzen’s technical director, Chris Tomlin. 

Alcor and Atria are suitable for MIMO applications and are designed to work in compact devices with limited space. These antennas are suitable for wearables, health monitoring, smart meters and other slim IoT devices, confirmed Synzen Precision Technology. Left and right corner mount versions are offered.

These latest antennas form part of Synzen’s Galaxy class, which all feature low-profile design.

Synzen Precision Technology is an antenna and module product design company based in Taipei, Taiwan. The company offers advice and support for customers for antenna choices. The company will advise on optimal placement and tuning and offers free testing to characterise the performance. The company can even test and prove a design within a day without charge.

For custom design or additional support for an ongoing project, the company offers free technical support for the lifecycle of a product.

http://www.synzen.com.tw

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