Design & Manufacture – Electropages

RS Components – Extension board allows for IoT versatility and a vast range of uses

electropages — Mon, 15 Apr 2019 08:48:25 +0000

SONY’s SPRESENSE is a low-power board computer for the IoT that is furnished with a GPS receiver and supports high-resolution audio codecs. The board is available now from RS Components. The board provides for IoT versatility and can be developed for a wide range of uses, such as a drone using the GPS and a high-performance processor, a smart speaker using high-resolution audio recording and playback as well as the built-in full-digital amplifier, or a low-power time-lapse camera employing the camera interface. The board can make the IoT smarter and more efficient.

The board offers Ultra-low power consumption, and Multiple GNSS systems are supported including
GPS, GLONASS, SBAS, Galileo, and Beidu. The advanced high-resolution audio features 192kHz/24 bit high-resolution audio codec. The board also comprises 192kHz A/D converter, eight channel microphone inputs (for digital microphones), a full digital amplifier with BTL stereo output. The device offers extensive computing power with the Hexa-core ARM Cortex-M4F.

Texas Instruments – Evaluation module for device provides complete power solution

electropages — Tue, 09 Apr 2019 12:26:00 +0000

Texas Instruments TPS65295EVM-079 Evaluation Module promotes an expansive evaluation of the features and performance of the TPS65295. The TPS65295 offers a total power solution for a DDR4 memory system in a compact package. The device satisfies the JEDEC standard for DDR4 power-up and power-down sequence demands.

Some modifications can be performed to the Evaluation Module to test performance at various input and output voltages, current and switching frequency. The device is designed and tested for VIN = 4.5V to 18V and has a junction temperature of 25C for all measurements unless otherwise noted.

The board input voltage range cover 4.5V to 18V; with output voltage: 1.2V VDDQ, 2.5V VPP, 0.6V VTT, and 12A i 17mOhm/6mOhm Rdson FET Converter, in a complete DDR4 power solution. The device is offered in a 3mm x 3mm HotRod QFN package.

Analog Devices – Evaluation boards to evaluate the features of a PLL Synthesizer

electropages — Mon, 08 Apr 2019 09:13:23 +0000

Analog Devices EV-ADF41513 Evaluation Boards are demonstration and prototyping boards utilised to evaluate the features of the ADF41513 PLL Synthesizer. These boards each comprise a premounted ADF41513, a 100MHz reference (crystal oscillator (XO)), a loop filter, and low noise voltage regulators.

The boards are offered in two variants:

The EV-ADF41513SD1Z Evaluation Board needs an external VCO. SMA connectors are offered on the board to connect the charge pump output (VTUNE) to the tuning input of the VCO and the PLL RF input (RFIN) to the VCO output.

The EV-ADF41513SD2Z Evaluation Board comprises an on-board 10GHz to 20GHz HMC733 VCO.

The boards both require the SDP-S Controller Board, which is not supplied with the kit. The SDP-S Controller Board is based on a USB to Serial Engine offering connectivity to a PC via a USB 2.0 high-speed port. The controller board enables software programming of the ADF41513 device.

ZF Switches & Sensors – No battery or wires in Bluetooth Low Energy reference design

electropages — Fri, 05 Apr 2019 08:00:22 +0000

ZF has launched a reference design for an Energy Harvesting Bluetooth Low Energy Switch in partnership with ON Semiconductor. The design combines ZF’s energy harvesting generator with what is claimed to be the industry’s lowest power Bluetooth 5 radio RSL10 SIP from ON Semiconductor and is the perfect solution for the rapidly growing number of applications for BLE communication. The generator, combined with the RSL10 SIP, allows designers to produce bespoke battery-free and wireless control solutions for a broad range of low cost, low-energy applications. The transmitter is intended for evaluation. For integration into an application, the PCB wings can be cut to size.

The reference design runs in Advertising Mode with uni-directional uplink communication and provides various pairing options. The operation can be displayed via a smartphone app (IOS: Bluetooth Smart Scanner and Android: Bluetooth Low Energy Analyser) which shows all received telegrams.

A supporting demo kit based on the reference design for the switch, and ON Semiconductor’s Bluetooth IoT kit is also available.

RS Components – Partnership launches online micro-courses on connectivity and sensor technologies

electropages — Thu, 28 Mar 2019 09:19:10 +0000

RS Components has partnered with TE Connectivity to launch the TE Learning Centre on DesignSpark. The courses will allow designers and engineers to achieve a fast overview of many advanced products, technologies and solutions.

The TE Learning Centre gives easy access to a host of interactive online micro-courses. Created to speed engineers’ knowledge and understanding, the bite-sized sessions last between 5-10 minutes long and offer information on a variety of different technologies and applications, as well as giving several product-specific tutorials. Also, available within each course are additional resources that allow engineers to go much deeper into a subject if required.

The library of micro-courses already available in the centre comprises tutorials on pressure sensors; USB Type-C receptacles; micro-motor connectors; wire markers; straight and right-angle connectors; heat-shrink tubing; and circular hybrid connectors, among many others. The library will be augmented with new courses being added regularly.

Commenting on the launch, Mike Bray, vice president of DesignSpark, said: “We aim to give our audience access to the best new learning and training resources that will help them progress their designs. We’re delighted that TE Connectivity shares that vision and has chosen to work with us on the release of the TE Learning Centre on DesignSpark.”

Mouser – New BLE sensor development kit targeted at IoT applications

electropages — Thu, 28 Mar 2019 09:16:44 +0000

Mouser now stocks the STEVAL-BCN002V1B BlueNRG sensor node development kit from STMicroelectronics. The fully equipped evaluation kit comprises the BlueNRG-Tile multi-sensor board and STEVAL-BCN002V1D programming board for the development of IoT applications.

The kit is built around the BlueNRG-Tile, a coin-sized sensor node based on the BlueNRG-2 SoC with an Arm Cortex-M0 core. Supporting Bluetooth Low Energy 5.0 for remote monitoring and sensing applications, the ultra-low-power SoC is perfect for supply chain management, smart home, smart agriculture, and industrial applications.

The versatile sensor board comprises a comprehensive ultra-low-power sensor portfolio, including gyroscope, accelerometer, magnetometer, pressure, temperature and humidity, MEMS microphone, and ToF sensors. Furthermore, MEMS sensor algorithms enable nine-axis sensor fusion and event detection. The kit adapter board, powered via USB, enables engineers to program and debug the sensor board.

The kit incorporates a comprehensive SDK that includes ready-to-go examples and voice-over-BLE code. These comprehensive resources allow developers to design, debug, and prototype original IoT applications straight out of the box.

Analog Devices – Demo board designed to quickly demonstrate battery charger

electropages — Wed, 27 Mar 2019 10:13:49 +0000

Analog Devices DC2374B Demo Board is intended to quickly and easily demonstrate the LTC4013 Battery Charger. The charger is a 60V Synchronous Buck Multi-Chemistry Battery Charger with a two-stage CC/CV charge cycles, three and four stage lead acid and Li-Ion battery algorithms. The Demo Board is set up to run from a 21.5V to 35V supply or from a solar panel and can charge a six-cell lead-acid battery at 5A.

High power charging is accomplished with optional input and output capacitors as well as large inductor pads, and parallel top and bottom FET pads. Using external resistors and a capacitor, the demo board configures the operating frequency, low battery voltage setting, charge voltage, and timing. The TIMER and two tri-state mode pins set different charging algorithms.
Attachments area

Texas Instruments – Evaluation module to evaluate ultra-low jitter network synchronizer clock

electropages — Mon, 25 Mar 2019 10:41:24 +0000

Texas Instruments LMK05318EVM evaluation module is designed to help evaluate the LMK05318 ultra-low jitter network synchronizer clock. The evaluation module can be used as a flexible, synchronous clock source for rapid evaluation, compliance testing, and system prototyping. The SMA ports provide access to the device’s clock inputs and outputs for interfacing to 50Ohm test equipment. The onboard XO options are included but can be reworked using the various XO/TCXO/OCXO footprint options or else bypassed to use the external SMA input.

The EV offers a USB-based interface to access the I2C/SPI bus and control pins of the LMK05318. The TICS PRO software GUI can be used to program the device’s registers and EEPROM to store custom start-up clock settings.

Analog Devices – Demo board for ultra-low jitter clock synthesisers offer designers clocking solutions

electropages — Fri, 22 Mar 2019 10:13:48 +0000

Analog Devices DC2609A Demo Board is a demonstration and evaluation platform for the LTC6952, an ultralow jitter, 4.5GHz PLL with 11 Outputs and JESD204B Support. By default, the board is powered from two supplies. The 9V to 12V supply input powers the onboard reference and VCO circuitry, along with the LTC6952 5V supply pin. The 4V to 6V supply input powers the device’s 3.3V supply pins. A reduced power option is offered that enables the LTC6952’s output supply pins to connect to an LTC Silent Switcher and the input supply pins to connect to a low noise LDO.

All differential inputs and six of the differential outputs are populated with 0.5″ spaced SMA connectors. These outputs are AC-coupled with 50Ohm transmission lines making them ideal for driving 50Ohm impedance instruments. The other five differential outputs are terminated with 100Ohm.

The LTC6952’s EZSync and SYSREF request functions are made accessible via the board’s SPI interface or the EZS_SRQ SMA/turret connectors. The SMA placement was created for ease of connection for all multi-part synchronisation and SYSREF request modes.

The VTUNE and VCO SMAs can mate directly with the DC2664A VCO rider board. This option provides a quick method to evaluate multiple voltage-controlled oscillators.

A DC2026 USB Serial Controller Bboard is used for SPI communication with the LTC6952, controlled by the supplied LTC6952Wizard software.

RS Components – Development kit is a low-cost hardware platform allowing design and debug

electropages — Tue, 19 Mar 2019 10:49:52 +0000

Available now from RS Components, the CY8CKIT-148 PSoC 4700S Inductive Sensing Evaluation Kit, from Cypress Semiconductor, is a low-cost hardware platform that allows design and debug of the PSoC 4700S MCU. This kit demonstrates buttons and a proximity sensor using the company’s brand new inductive-sensing technology, MagSense. Also, an FPC connector is provided to evaluate various interfaces, such as a rotary encoder.

Featuring the PSoC 4700S MCU, the kit highlights the PSoC 4700S MCU, an Arm Cortex-M0+, up to 32KB Flash and 4KB SRAM, 36 GPIO, seven programmable analog blocks, seven programmable digital blocks, MagSense inductive-sensing, and industry-leading capacitive-sensing with CapSense. PSoC Creator IDE: PSoC Creator is an IDE that allows concurrent hardware and firmware editing, compiling and debugging of PSoC MCUs. Applications are created using schematic capture and over 150 pre-verified, production-ready peripheral Components.