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Temperature compensated RTC has I2C interface

Thu, Oct 22, 2020

Claimed to offer the world’s best time accuracy across industrial temperature range at low current consumption, the RV-3032-C7 real time clock (RTC) module has been released by Micro Crystal. The compact RTC module has a custom IC and integrated quartz crystal resonator and sets new standards in size, claims the company. It is half the footprint of a uSOP-8 package, with no additional external components required. It is also claimed to offer the best accuracy (±0.26 s/day at -40 to +85 degrees C operating temperature). Low current consumption (160nA timekeeping mode) and power management capabilities are other features.

The RV-3032-C7 is suitable for applications requiring always-on timekeeping functions, as well as compliance to stringent clock accuracy over time, wide temperature range, and long battery life. Typical examples are smart metering and other similar industrial or consumer applications, such as wearables and IoT devices.

Power management features include a wide supply voltage range (1.2 to 5.5V), automatic backup switch, versatile charge pump and programmable trickle charger. The RTC module can be coupled with a small sized, low capacity, rechargeable battery, or a low cost coin cell power unit which will reduce the overall dimensions and the manufacturing cost of the end product while optimising the life of the battery, advises Micro Crystal.

The RV-3032-C7 includes a quartz-based digital temperature controlled crystal oscillator (DTCXO).

“The design team has applied their 40 years’ of frequency control expertise to develop [the module] . . . . Besides all the standard RTC features, it includes multiple extra functions, like data protection through password, and MHz output frequency, now available for the first time in the market in such a tiny device,” said Hans-Rudolf Gottier, CEO of Micro Crystal.

“The RV-3032-C7 RTC will definitely help engineers in developing next generations of smart products,” he continued. “The availability of a programmable high frequency clock output to drive the central MCU, and access to the high-resolution thermometer, used for accurate thermal compensation and allows setting temperature threshold alarms with interrupt function, will support numerous unique and new applications,” he said.

The RV-3032-C7 is hermetically sealed in a compact reflow solderable DFN ceramic package, measuring 3.2 x 1.5 x 0.8mm. It is RoHS/lead-free-compliant and AEC-Q200 qualified.

https://www.microcrystal.com

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MCUs integrate peripherals for sensor-based IoT applications

Wed, Oct 21, 2020

Sensor-based IoT applications use a combination of analogue functionality and digital control capability to meet cost, size, performance and power parameters for efficiency. In response, Microchip has combined analogue peripherals and multi-voltage operation with inter-peripheral connections in its PIC18-Q41 and AVR DB MCU families. In addition to these attributes for increased system integration and reduced signal acquisition times, they offer the convenience and efficiency of operating in a single design environment, says Microchip.

The introduction bring s easy-to-use analogue capability to cost-effective PIC and AVR MCUs, says Greg Robinson, so designers can meet the requirements of large-scale IoT systems,” said Greg Robinson, associate vice president of marketing for Microchip’s 8-bit microcontroller business unit. “With a unified, seamless development tool experience, designers can use these MCUs as a single-chip controller, or as an intelligent analogue signal conditioning component in a larger system,” he explained.

The PIC18-Q41 MCU has a configurable operational amplifier and ADC with computation and DACs for signal conditioning in space-constrained sensing and measuring applications such as IoT end nodes and industrial, medical devices, wearables, automotive and lighting systems. It is also well-suited for IoT and large-scale artificial intelligence (AI) at the edge, including predictive maintenance edge nodes in a smart factory, added Microchip. It is offered in compact 14- and 20-pin packages and can be used with Microchip’s 32-bit MCUs and other controllers that require analogue integration.

For mixed-signal IoT systems which often include multiple power domains, the AVR DB MCU integrates true bi-directional level shifters to reduce cost. Typical use examples are automotive, appliances, HVAC and liquid measurement applications. Microchip has added three configurable op amps, a 12-bit differential ADC, 10-bit DAC, three zero cross detectors and Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs) enabling the AVR DB MCU to be used wherever analogue signal conditioning and processing functions are required.

The PIC18-Q41 and AVR DB MCU families are supported by Microchip’s MPLAB X integrated development environment (IDE), its MPLAB Code Configurator (MCC) and the MPLAB Mindi Analog Simulator. MCC is a free software plug-in that provides a graphical interface to configure peripherals and functions specific to an application.

The AVR DB is additionally supported by Atmel START, Atmel Studio and third-party tools such as IAR and the GCC C compiler.

The PIC18F16Q41 Curiosity Nano evaluation kit (EV26Q64A) and the AVR DB Curiosity Nano evaluation kit (EV35L43A) are also available with programming and debugging capabilities.

http://www.microchip.com

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Image sensor minimises distortion in machine vision and mixed reality applications

Fri, Oct 09, 2020

A combination of a high dynamic range and pixel design means that the AR0234CS CMOS global shutter image sensor by ON Semiconductor delivers image clarity at 120 frames per second.
The 2.3 Mpixel CMOS image sensor, with global shutter technology is designed for a variety of applications including machine vision cameras, augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR) and mixed reality (MR) headsets, autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) and barcode readers.

The AR0234CS captures 1080p video and single frames, up to 120 frames per second. It is claimed to have industry-leading shutter efficiency, to produce crisp and clear images by minimising frame-to-frame distortion in high speed scenes and reducing the motion artefacts that other image sensors experience.

The pixel architecture delivers high dynamic range to support lighting conditions from the darkness of night to bright sunlight. The low noise and improved low light response makes it suitable for applications spanning across consumer, commercial and industrial IoT. The extended operating temperature range makes it deployable in challenging outdoor conditions.

As manufacturers automate production, using vision-based systems, the need for quality image sensing is increasing, explains Gianluca Colli, vice president and general manager, Industrial and Consumer Sensor Division (ICSD) Group at ON Semiconductor. As a result, they are demanding optimum size, performance and power in image sensors, he continued.

The sensor also has programmable regions of interest with on-chip histogram, auto exposure control and 5 x 5 statistics engine, fully integrated strobe illumination control, a flexible row and column skip mode, along with horizontal and vertical mirroring, windowing and pixel binning.

Together with the AP1302 image signal processor (ISP), the AR0234CS delivers a comprehensive camera system that can be designed and developed quickly for fast time-to-market, says ON Semiconductor. System designers can access the DevSuite software to evaluate features and capabilities, configure and tune the sensor, and provide a ready-made output that is usable for further image processing.

The AR0234CS is offered in colour and mono variants, with 0 or 28 degree chief ray angle (CRA).

Samples and development hardware are available now through local ON Semiconductor sales support representatives and authorised distributors.

http://www.onsemi.com

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DAC includes non-volatile memory to simplify handheld designs, says Microchip

Wed, Oct 07, 2020

Microchip claims to have overcome the problems of implementing multi-channel system control or signal outputs using DACs in portable and handheld industrial, communications, consumer or medical systems. To overcome the need for significant processor overhead for device configuration during power-up, the MCP47/48FxBx8 family of octal 12-bit DACs include non volatile memory and an integrated voltage reference (Vref) source so they can be pre-configured for safe and efficient power-up without relying on the system processor.

“Handhelds and other portable systems are expected to deliver more capabilities in smaller, simpler designs,” said Bryan J. Liddiard, vice president of Microchip’s mixed-signal and linear business unit. “We help achieve this goal with the first DACs that eliminate processor overhead during power-up and provide the channel density, low power consumption and integrated features that today’s compact systems need so they can operate over longer periods using smaller, lighter batteries,” he added.

The inclusion of non-volatile memory means that the MCP47/48FxBx8 DACs can store user-customised configuration data even when powered down. At power-up, all eight channels are then configured to the pre-defined state without burdening the system processor with this overhead.

Integrating a Vref source into the DACs reduces overall system size and complexity while providing the control to meet critical timing for safely driving all power outputs. The devices also have both SPI and I2C serial interfaces for a choice of device communication.

Operating voltage range is 1.8V to 5.5V and the DACs’ low minimum operating voltage and its power efficiency are claimed to improve thermal performance and reliability. The DACs also provide power-on/brown-out reset protection and what is claimed to be one of the industry’s fastest settling times at five micro seconds. They also operate in the extended temperature range (i.e. -40 to +125 degrees C) for industrial and automotive applications.

The MCP47/48FxBx8 family of DACs is available for volume orders. The family includes 8-, 10- and 12-bit resolution devices in a 20-lead VQFN 5.0 x 5.0mm package and a 20-lead TSSOP package.

http://www.microchip.com

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Temperature compensated RTC has I2C interface

MCUs integrate peripherals for sensor-based IoT applications

Image sensor minimises distortion in machine vision and mixed reality applications

DAC includes non-volatile memory to simplify handheld designs, says Microchip

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