27 July 2022 FEATURING: • ElectronicsManufacturing Services & Equipment • Embedded ProgrammingTools &Techniques • Spotlight: Hobbyists &DIY Introducing our new high speed lines Fast turnaround! Accurate placements!
Dataweek, 27 July 2022 www.dataweek.co.za 1 TELECOMMUNICATIONS, WIRELESS, IoT, RF & MICROWAVE FEATURE 27 July 2022 Vol. 45 No. 6 News................................................................................. 3 Systems, components, design.......................... 8 General ............................................................................ 30 Hot chips......................................................................31 Open [re]sources ....................................................... 32 QuickFind index .................................................... IBC contents on the cover features regulars Electronics manufacturing services & equipment ........................................................................14 See how software can beat the bill-of-materials blues, why the concept of design for manufacturing saves time and money, and read the latest on high-tech machines used in the manufacture of printed circuit boards. Spotlight: Hobbyists & DIY...........................................26 Weather the new wave of load shedding by constructing your own uninterruptible power supply to keep your network and communications up and running. 27 July 2022 FEATURING: • ElectronicsManufacturing Services & Equipment • Embedded ProgrammingTools &Techniques • Spotlight: Hobbyists &DIY Introducing our new high speed lines Fast turnaround! Accurate placements! Microtronix Manufacturing was formed in 1993 by owner/CEO Michael Goodyer and over the last 25+ years Microtronix group has become a major player in the SMT industry in South Africa specialising in PC board assembly and turnkey manufacturing for the mining, military, automotive, communications, solar power, security, media and various other commercial industries. For more information contact Microtronix Manufacturing, +27 11 792 5322, [email protected], www.microtronix.co.za
Dataweek, 27 July 2022 www.dataweek.co.za 2 NEWS Disclaimer While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information contained herein, the publisher and its agents cannot be held responsible for any errors contained, or any loss incurred as a result. Articles published do not necessarily reflect the views of the publishers. The editor reserves the right to alter or cut copy. Articles submitted are deemed to have been cleared for publication. Advertisements, inserts and company contact details are printed as provided by the advertiser. Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd cannot be held responsible for the accuracy or veracity of supplied material. Published by: Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd, 1st Floor Stabilitas, 265 Kent Avenue, Randburg Tel: +27 11 543 5800 [email protected] Gauteng Tracy Wolter, Tel: +27 11 543 5800, [email protected] KwaZulu-Natal Jane van der Spuy, Tel: +27 83 234 5412, [email protected] Western Cape Contact Durban or Jhb numbers for details Advertising: Print and Online Sales Manager: Malckey Tehini [email protected] Editor: Peter Howells, B.Tech (Electronic Engineering), [email protected] Subscription services For address changes, subscriptions, renewal status or missing issues call +27 11 543 5800 or [email protected] or WRITE TO: Technews Publishing (Pty) Ltd, Box 385, Pinegowrie 2123 Subscribe online: www.technews.co.za All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, adapted, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of Technews Publishing (PTY) Ltd. Reg No. 2005/034598/07 ISSN 0256-8934 VOLUME 45 NO 6 27 JULY 2022 From the editor’s desk Peter Do we have the power? On a recent trip to Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape I was reminded, quite rudely and abruptly to be honest, of the load shedding that has plagued South Africa for the last few years. Living in KZN, we have been exempted from load shedding for the past two months after the devastation caused by the abnormal weather conditions (or are they becoming more normal?) and huge amount of flooding that occurred. This was a reprieve to allow us the uninterrupted time to rebuild our infrastructure that took a beating during the ensuing storms. In the Eastern Cape I no longer had the ‘luxury’ of no load shedding and the power went off and back on again at slightly irregular intervals compared to the clockwork of the KZN schedule – turn-off time was anywhere between 5 and 15 minutes past the hour with turn on time between 1 hour 55 minutes and 2 hours 5 minutes later. This seemingly tardy switch-off time caused quite a fair amount of happiness and relief, only to be dashed a fewminutes later when it did in fact turn off. As I sit in my home office and figuratively put pen to paper, I recalled a recent article I read regarding the stage 6 load shedding currently being experienced, and the fact that it is costing the South African economy by wiping over R4 billion from the GDP per day, according to chief economist at Alex Forbes, Isaah Mhlanga. In fact, load shedding increased by a whopping 38% in 2021. This is a frightening statistic and one that South Africans can ill afford. But what can we do about it? I personally believe that much can be done to alleviate the problem, but it will take a Herculean effort on not only the government’s part but on individual and corporate entities as well. The National Planning Commission recently released a report that calls for emergency efforts to be implemented to help deal with the energy crisis we are facing. They believe that 10 GW of additional power could be brought online within 2 years if certain key obstacles are removed. And what were these points you may ask? To summarise, most of the key obstacles mentioned in the report deal with government regulations and red tape that are holding back IPPs from aiding Eskom in power generation: remove the 100 MW ceiling, scrap the NERSA regulation process, streamline the environmental and water use approval process, etc. Many other influential people and groups have called for the same thing. Dr Dirk Hermann is another who has also called for the large-scale introduction of small power producers to help resolve the country’s power crisis. But again, this cannot and will not happen until certain arbitrary regulations mentioned above are removed. To circumvent the crisis many South Africans have made the decision to generate their own partial or full source of power at home using a variety of methods, the more common of which are solar PV cells, solar heating, and wind generation. While this is commendable, it really is not an option for the vast majority of people who firstly cannot afford such a system, and secondly, do not have the expertise to manage an off-grid or grid-tied system. A cheaper option at home or in an office environment is to use smaller backup systems on equipment that is vital to maintaining productivity. Using a UPS for your computers, networking equipment and communication devices, or using battery backup smart lighting which remains on during the few hours of load shedding, can be implemented. An article in the DIY and Hobbyists section of this month’s issue describes in detail how to build your own DC UPS for your home network. The cost is minimal, especially if you have a spare large-capacity battery available (old car battery anyone?) and a system like this could theoretically keep your network and mobile phone chargers running for hours during a power failure. I am once again reminded of the necessity of having a decent UPS connected to my sensitive networking equipment as I sit here and hear the fan of my UPS kicking in. It is not caused by load shedding but rather, as I glance at the UPS control panel, I see that once again, the incoming supply from the national grid has dropped below 208 V AC, forcing the UPS to kick in and supply clean power to my office equipment. It seems that many people have solutions (partial ones at least) to our crisis. It is high time we were allowed to put them into practice.
Dataweek, 27 July 2022 www.dataweek.co.za 3 NEWS ELECTRONICS NEWS DIGEST EVENTS The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) has announced global semiconductor industry sales were $51,8 billion in the month of May 2022, an increase of 18,0% over the May 2021 total of $43,9 billion and 1,8% more than the April 2022 total of $50,9 billion. “Global demand for semiconductors remained high in May, with year-to-year sales increasing strongly across all major regional markets and product categories,” said John Neuffer, SIA president and CEO. “Continuing high demand for semiconductors will necessitate more chip research, design, and manufacturing in the years ahead.” Sales were up compared to April 2021 in the Americas (36,9%), Japan (19,8%), Europe (16,1%), Asia Pacific/All Other (15,8%), and China (9,1%). Month-to-month sales increased in Japan (3,9%), the Americas (2,9%), China (1,7%), and Asia Pacific/All Other (1,1%), but fell slightly in Europe (-0,7%). The next generation advanced batteries market in the US is estimated at $72,9 million in the year 2021. The country currently accounts for a 33,96% share in the global market. China, the world’s second largest economy, is forecast to reach an estimated market size of $367,6 million in the year 2026 trailing a CAGR of 71,8% through the analysis period. Among the other noteworthy geographic markets are Japan and Canada, each forecast to grow at 50,7% and 57,4% respectively over the analysis period. Within Europe, Germany is forecast to grow at approximately 57% CAGR while the rest of the European market will reach $571,3 million by the close of the analysis period. Companies The ebm-papst Group achieved record sales and closed the 2021/22 financial year with sales of €2,288 billion. In a difficult market environment, characterised by COVID-19, global political uncertainties and material bottlenecks, the company realised a 9,9% increase. Compared to the previous year which saw sales of €2,082 billion, this represents an increase of €206 million. During this period the number of employees grew by 283 to a total of 14778 worldwide. Avnet Abacus, a regional business unit of Avnet, announced it is the exclusive winner of TDK’s European distribution gold award in the international volume distribution category. Avnet Abacus is now an authorised TDK distributor throughout Europe and offers TDK’s broad range of passive electronic components, including multilayer ceramic capacitors as well as aluminium electrolytic and film capacitors, ferrites and inductors, high-frequency components and modules, piezo and protection devices and sensors. Altron Arrow recently signed a new distribution agreement with Fibocom, a provider of IoT wireless communication modules and solutions, advancing its commitment to providing bestpractice solutions for the IoT industry. The distribution partnership with Altron Arrow expands Fibocom’s footprint in the Africa market, allowing it to offer class-leading wireless modules as well as one-stop service to the verticals. The strategic addition of the Fibocom products to Altron Arrow’s extensive range further enhances their cellular connectivity offerings, making the benefits of innovation more accessible to all. Samsung Electronics has announced that it has started initial production of its 3 nm process applying Gate-All-Around (GAA) transistor technology. The GAA technology promises a 45% lower power usage, 23% improved performance and 16% smaller surface area compared to its 5 nm technology. Samsung’s proprietary technology utilises nanosheets with wider channels, which allow higher performance and greater energy efficiency compared to GAA technologies using nanowires with narrower channels. Utilising the 3 nm GAA technology, Samsung will be able to adjust the channel width of the nanosheet in order to optimise power usage and performance to meet various customer needs. Ericsson, French aerospace company Thales, and wireless technology innovator Qualcomm Technologies are planning to take 5G out of this world and across a network of Earth-orbiting satellites. After having each conducted detailed research, which included multiple studies and simulations, the parties plan to enter testing and validation of 5G non-terrestrial networks (5G NTN). The result could effectively mean that future 5G enabled devices could use 5G connectivity anywhere on Earth and provide complete global coverage for wideband data services and would potentially be a game-changer for personal and automotive communication in remote areas. IFA Berlin 2-6 September Berlin, Germany This event aims to present the latest products and innovations in the commercial electronics industry. It will offer a comprehensive overview of the international market and is a meeting place for key retailers, buyers and experts alike. This year, in addition to the regular congress, there will be a live stream of various sessions. Register at https://b2b.ifa-berlin.com/en/ Electra Mining Africa 5-9 September Johannesburg Expo Centre, South Africa Electra Mining Africa is a showcase of new technologies, cutting-edge products and ground-breaking machinery and equipment across the mining, industrial, electrical, automation and power engineering industries. It is specifically designed to bring together equipment producers, traders, service and product suppliers and consumers. Register at https://www.electramining.co.za/ CIOE 2022 China International Optoelectronic Expo 7-9 September Shenzhen World Exhibition and Convention Centre CIOE 2022 is the world’s largest optoelectronic event, show-casing up-todate technologies and solutions for optoelectronic applications. It enables industry players to source optoelectronic products, network with suppliers, and gain insights into the latest market trends. Register at https://www.cioe.cn/en/
Dataweek, 27 July 2022 www.dataweek.co.za 4 NEWS Despite economic troubles brewing this year, total microprocessor sales are expected to maintain their double-digit percentage growth in 2022, rising nearly 12% to a record-high $114.8 billion, thanks to higher average selling prices, according to IC Insights’ updated second-quarter semiconductor forecast. Total MPU sales grew 13% in 2021 and climbed 16% in 2020, when the COVID-19 virus health crisis impacted the global economy but at the same time drove up microprocessor demand because of the need for more personal computers, smartphones, and internet connections during the pandemic. IC Insights’ 2Q update to the 2022 McClean Report service shows total MPU shipments rising just 3% this year, which will lift unit volume to an all-time high of nearly 2,5 million processors following increases of 6% in 2021 and 5% in 2020. MPU revenues in 2022 are expected to get a boost from an 8% increase in average selling prices after prices grew 7% last year and 10% in 2020, states the report. The ranking of the top five microprocessor suppliers (Intel, Apple, Qualcomm, AMD and MediaTek) was unchanged in 2021 compared to 2020, with their combined revenue values of MPUs shipped last year rising 15% to $88,3 billion. The combined 2021 market share of these five largest microprocessor suppliers reached 86% of the world’s total $102,7 billion MPU sales last year compared to 85,0% in 2020 and 82,1% in 2016. While the combined market share of the top five suppliers has steadily increased in the past 10 years, the revenue gap between long-time MPU leader Intel and the rest of the four largest companies in the ranking continues to narrow. It is estimated that Intel’s 2021 microprocessor revenues grew just 3% to $52,3 billion, which was 50,9% of the total MPU market last year, compared to a 55,7% share in 2020 and 58,4% in 2016. Rival x86-processor supplier AMD saw its MPU sales surge 56% to $9,2 billion in 2021, grabbing revenue away from Intel and moving up its total microprocessor market share to 8,9% last year compared to 6,5% in 2020 and 3,3% in 2016 prior to the company’s dramatic turnaround in CPUs for PCs and server computers in the past five years. The next five largest MPU suppliers, in 6th to 10th places in IC Insights’ ranking (Nvidia, Samsung, UNISOC, HiSilicon, and NXP), slipped slightly to collectively hold a 4,3% share of the 2021 total (or $4,4 billion) versus 5,0% in 2020. For more information visit www.icinsights.com Top five MPU suppliers strengthen market dominance The 5G-CARMEN project is a 5G-enabled 600 km stretch of roadway that links Bologna, Italy with Munich, Germany and traverses three countries. The objective of the project was to leverage on the most recent 5G advances to provide a multi-tenant platform that can support the automotive sector. The outcome is to deliver a safer, greener and more intelligent transportation system with the goal of enabling self-driving cars. The project, a collaboration between TIM, Magenta and Deutsche Telekom and technology partners Nokia, Qualcomm, NEC and INWIT deployed 5G connectivity together with an edge computing infrastructure. An autonomous driving pilot that connected low latency, autonomous and assisted driving functions using the 5G mobile network was demonstrated. 5G-CARMEN project creates 600 km corridor Continued opposite
Dataweek, 27 July 2022 www.dataweek.co.za 5 NEWS with Greg Barron, Actum Group director Clearing the Static The human body is the primary source of electrostatic charge generation. In order to control and reduce static charge build-up and prevent electrostatic discharges (ESD) at an electronic equipment facility, we use grounding systems to ensure that all components are at the same electrical potential. ESD wrist straps help to disperse static electricity generated from a person safely to ground. They are the most reliable method of grounding a person within the ESD Protected Area. According to European standards, every employee or operator within the ESD Protected Area needs to wear a wrist strap while seated. An ESD wrist strap set consists of a conductive wrist band and grounding cord that will effectively drain static charge away from the body so that it cannot discharge onto the object being worked on. Types of Wrist Straps Operators can opt for single-wire, dual-wire or disposable wrist straps, based on the application and requirement. Quality straps are manufactured from anti-allergenic materials, and designed with safety in mind. Specific types include: • Adjustable elastic band: made from wideknitted anti-stretch material. • Thermoplastic wrist straps: lightweight, adjustable zipper-style design. • Metal wrist straps: adjustable or fixed; very reliable and durable. • Coil cords: available in black PVC and blue/yellow polyurethane. To ensure your wrist strap is functioning optimally, daily testing should be conducted, and the results logged. As a standard, wrist straps need to maintain less than 100 V on the human body. Actum Group is a specialised importer and distributor of industrial and electronic products in South and Southern Africa. For more information contact Actum Group on +27 11 608 3001 or email [email protected]. ESD wrist straps Up to now it has been expensive to work with. VUV with wavelengths between 100 and 200 nm is strongly absorbed by the oxygen in air, and therefore, the application of VUV requires a vacuum chamber or other specialised environment. Conventionally, very bulky and expensive systems with rare nonlinear crystals are used for generating and focusing VUV light. Almost all types of glass used to make conventional lenses are unsuitable for VUV due to their strong absorption in this region, and the few VUV-transmittable materials currently used for lenses are extremely thin and fragile. To address these limitations, researchers at the City University of Hong Kong (CityU) have developed and fabricated a meta-lens consisting of many 150 nm triangle-shaped zinc oxide nano-antenna. “We have developed a meta-lens with New meta-lens revolutionises vacuum UV optics intricate nanostructures on zinc oxide thin film capable of focusing VUV light. This meta-lens provides a compact method for nonlinear VUV generation and focusing of the generated light,” said Professor Tsai. The new VUV meta-lens in a 45 µm diameter can convert UV light with 394 nm wavelength into VUV light with 197 nm wavelength and focuses the VUV light on a small spot less than 2 microns in diameter. Tests at Rice University demonstrated a focused light spot from the lens with an enhanced power density of 21 times. “Our VUV meta-lens is compact, lightweight, effective, and can be mass produced [in a] semiconductor electronics fabrication process. This novel and disruptive meta-device could revolutionise the conventional VUV optics technology and its market,” Professor Tsai said. Tests were not only conducted in each country, but also across the borders from Italy to Austria and then from Austria into Germany. This was to test not only the roaming capabilities but also the ability to provide handover on the 5G network. Two Stellantis vehicles demonstrated the ability to perform cooperative lane manoeuvres and lane changes using connected, assisted and automated driving along the corridor and at the two border crossings. Cooperative manoeuvres are enabled by an extended perception of the vehicle, sharing speed and position of the vehicle itself and of the other vehicles, that are monitored by the on-board sensors. Data sharing between the surrounding vehicles took place via the 5G cellular network as well as direct communication when vehicles were in range of each other. The results of this pilot project show that autonomous driving technology together with monitoring and communication via a 5G network is available and could be implemented in the near future in areas where 5G infrastructure is available. Vacuum ultra-violet (VUV) is used in semiconductor manufacturing, photochemistry and materials science. The focused VUV light source is needed for nanolithography, material processing, advanced manufacturing, and other industrial areas. Continued from previous page
Dataweek, 27 July 2022 www.dataweek.co.za 6 NEWS Actum Group is fanatically focused on quality and proudly represents only the very best international and local company and brands. Actum Group has been proudly built through partnerships, collaborations, and acquisitions of leading world-class companies like Actum Electronics, Dowson & Dobson Industrial, Peter Jones Electronic Equipment, Altico Static Control Solutions, Banding & Identification Solutions Africa and COMIR Industrial. The very best of those teams now all work together and continue to bring you the world’s leading quality products. Actum Group was founded 18 years ago when entrepreneurs Greg Barron and Kevin Klaff decided to acquire the Actum Electronics business. The original business was founded in 1968 and grew over decades into a supplier of quality electronic components. Actum Electronics is now a leading distributor of quality electronic components, interconnect technology, EMI shielding and electronic packaging products in Southern Africa. Some of the leading interconnect brands distributed by Actum Group are: ERNI Connectivity ERNI is a leading global manufacturer and worldwide supplier of a broad line of Actum Group leads in the interconnect industry interconnects for a variety of industries. ERNI develops and manufactures high-quality connector solutions, cable housings and enclosures and cable assemblies for a broad spectrum of applications. Actum Electronics has been the exclusive partner to ERNI for over 40 years and continues to support the product through technical expertise and stockholding. Rosenberger Rosenberger is one of the leading manufacturers of high-frequency coaxial connectors in the world. Its product ranges include RF coaxial connectors, RF automotive connectors, testing and measurement solutions, high-speed data systems, fibre optics, cables and cable assemblies and RF cable connections for mobile radio stations. Actum Electronics has been a local distributor for Rosenberger since 1975. Laird Performance Materials Laird solves design issues through products such as EMI shielding, suppression or absorber materials, thermal interface materials, precision metals, and integrated, multi-functional solutions. Laird Performance Materials serves automotive, aerospace, medical, computing, data infrastructure, telecom, test and measurement, Actum Group is a specialist importer and distributor of industrial and electronic products in Southern Africa. The world of Actum Group touches everything from agriculture and telecoms, to pharmaceutical and construction, to mining, oil and gas. wearable devices, and gaming markets. Around the world, Laird protects billions of electronic devices from harmful heat, electromagnetic interference, or both, as well as adding to the structural integrity of those devices. KVG Crystals and Oscillators KVG is a German manufacturer of crystals and crystal products since 1946. KVG’s crystal products cover a variety of applications, such as telecommunication nets, mobile systems, and electronic measuring technology. These applications demand high precision, longevity, and reliable system availability. Products and partners include crystals, crystal oscillators, crystal filters, Taitien Electronics and Accubeat. Actum Group believes that honesty and integrity are more important than ever when doing business on our developing continent. It knows that in a harsh economic climate and hard world, a company that cares, and has decades of experience, is a company that’s strong. Actum Group invests in relationships and want to make a real difference. Why choose anyone else? For more information contact Actum Electronics on +27 11 608 3001, [email protected], www.actum.co.za Yamaha demonstrated the power of robot teamwork Yamaha Motor Robotics FA Section demonstrated industrial robots working together autonomously to raise productivity and reduce waste at Automatica 2022, held recently in Munich. At its booth, Yamaha demonstrated SCARA and cartesian robots cooperating to accelerate adhesive deposition and bonding. Visitors to the stand saw how coordination between multiple robots can cut process cycle time to increase output with consistent quality. A display featuring the LCMR200 linear conveyor module illustrated flexible workpiece transport with accurate, programmable positioning. Teamed with a cartesian robot, the demonstration showed how the LCMR200’s precision helps to simplify system design as well as increase throughput and efficiency. In addition, Yamaha’s Robonity single-axis robots combine slim dimensions with high rigidity and a low centre of gravity to enable stable and space-saving solutions for transport, feeding, and general process automation. The associated EP-01 controller and software tools simplify robot selection, simulation, and programming, and provide real-time performance monitoring. The Robonity line-up also contains motorless actuators that give extra flexibility to customise system capabilities and cost. Visitors were also able to see the affordable and high-performing YK-XE SCARA robots, which are available with arm length from 400 to 710 mm and up to 10 kg load capacity. By lowering the cost of entry to advanced, flexible automation, the YK-XE series enables both large and small businesses to become more productive and competitive. For more information contact Truth Electronic Manufacturing, +27 31 822 8555, [email protected], www.truthelectronics.co.za
Specialist Supplier of Industrial & Electronic Products TheWorld of Actum Group +27 11 608 3001 | www.actum.co.za | [email protected]
Dataweek, 27 July 2022 www.dataweek.co.za 8 REGULAR SYSTEMS, COMPONENTS, DESIGN Automotive motion sensor with embedded ML core The ASM330LHHX is a system-in-package by STMicroelectronics featuring a 3-axis digital accelerometer and a 3-axis digital gyroscope with an extended temperature range up to 105°C/ The SiP has been designed to address automotive non-safety applications. ST’s family of MEMS sensor modules leverages the robust and mature manufacturing processes already used for the production of micromachined accelerometers and gyroscopes to serve both the automotive and consumer markets. The ASM330LHHX is AEC-Q100 compliant and industrialised through a dedicated MEMS production flow to meet automotive reliability standards. All the parts are fully tested with respect to temperature to ensure the highest quality level. The sensing elements are manufactured using ST’s proprietary micromachining processes, while the IC interfaces are developed using CMOS technology that allows the design Low-PIM cable assembly application considerations Coaxial cables are arguably the most common RF/microwave physical interconnect technology. Outside of waveguides and planar interconnect, coaxial cable assemblies are one of the few proven methods of reliably connecting RF/microwave/ millimetre-wave networks. Given the diverse range of applications for coaxial cable assemblies, these cables are not one-size-fits-all. There are a variety of different coaxial cable and coaxial connector designs to meet virtually all application requirements. This article focuses on three main types, low-PIM, lowloss, and phase-stable coaxial cable assemblies. Low-PIM (passive intermodulation distortion) coaxial cable assemblies are an assembly of low-PIM coaxial connectors and low-PIM coaxial cables. Low-PIM is an indicator that a connector and/or cable has passed PIM testing standards and when perturbed by PIM testing signals, have resulted in a PIM reading that is below acceptable thresholds. As excessive PIM can interfere with the quality of communication signals and is directly caused by the passive components in the system, it is often desirable to have lowPIM components available when needed. For communications systems that may suffer from a high PIM reading, one of the methods to reduce the PIM reading is to replace existing coaxial cable assemblies with low-PIM coaxial cable assemblies. Low-loss coaxial cable assemblies are similar to low-PIM cable assemblies, but instead are specifically designed and tested to ensure that the insertion loss through the coaxial cable is below a certain threshold. Insertion loss is the amount of electromagnetic (EM) energy lost when sending signals from one end of the coaxial cable assembly to the other. In some applications, such as with high-sensitivity receivers, it is desirable to have minimal loss from the antenna to the low-noise amplifier, as any added loss can negatively impact signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). Phase-stable test cables are coaxial cable assemblies specifically designed to provide a stable phase response during flexing or bending. This is crucial as during the calibration process of a VNA the phase of the calibration signals to calibration standards is a crucial component in ensuring a quality calibration. If the phase response of the coaxial cable changes during flexing or bending, then the calibration can become invalid and the VNA measurements can have substantial error. Hence, for VNA test setups that require flexible cable, phase-stable cable, often just called VNA test cables, are essential components for precision measurements. For more information contact Andrew Hutton, RF Design, +27 21 555 8400, [email protected], www.rfdesign.co.za New series of high-power pure sine wave inverters The NTS/NTU-2200/3200 series inverters by Meanwell are newly released AC/DC inverters to complement the TS series of inverters already available, with one major upgrade. The new inverters have the ability to not only use lead acid batteries but can now use lithium-based batteries as the DC power source. The two new models have a power rating of 2200/3200 W respectively with a peak output of 4400/6400 W. The series has a pure sine wave output of 220/230/240 V AC with a total harmonic distortion of less than 3%. DC input to the inverters is in the range of 10 to 16,5 V, 20 to 33 V or 40 to 66 V, allowing different configurations of batteries to be used. The NTU series has AC bypass backup built in allowing it to act as a true UPS with automatic changeover should AC power fail. Both models have an efficiency of 89 to 93% and an increased temperature rating of -25 to 70°C over the previous NT series. Remote on/off control is provided for both the NTS and NTU models. Input protection includes reverse polarity, under-voltage, over-voltage and low-voltage disconnection, while protection on the AC output includes short-circuit, overload and over-temperature. The inverters are protected against moisture, dust and dirt. These new models are suitable for use in home and office applications, car, yacht or other remote applications without an AC power grid or mobile AC power supply. Used as a UPS they can power security equipment, TV sets, computer equipment, audio equipment, lighting, mobile medical carts and many other home or industrial applications. For more information contact Current Automation, +27 11 462 4253, [email protected], www.rectifier.co.za of a dedicated circuit which is trimmed to better match the characteristics of the sensing element. The ASM330LHHX has a full-scale acceleration range of ±2/±4/±8/±16 g and a wide angular rate range of ±125/±250/±500/ ±1000/±2000/±4000 dps that enables its usage in a broad range of automotive applications. The device supports dual operating modes: either high-performance mode or low-power mode. All the design aspects of the ASM330LHHX have been optimised to reach superior output stability, extremely low noise, and full data synchronisation to the benefit of sensor-assisted applications like dead reckoning and sensor fusion. For more information contact Altron Arrow, +27 11 923 9600, [email protected], www.altronarrow.com
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Dataweek, 27 July 2022 www.dataweek.co.za 10 REGULAR SYSTEMS, COMPONENTS, DESIGN Panasonic releases its updated touch-sensitive knob Panasonic, in conjunction with Microchip, has launched an update to its existing Magic Knob, a capacitive knob ready for standard touch sensors for use in controlling automotive information displays. As the size of interactive displays increases many automotive and industrial touch HMI designers are looking to merge the benefits of a mechanical rotary encoder input with the flexibility of these modern multi-touch displays. Panasonic has released its solution to this, a rotary knob combining intelligent capacitive and mechanical operation as well as providing haptic feedback. Microchip developed the maXTouch Knob on Display (KoD) controller as the first automotive-grade touchscreen controller family to natively support the detection and reporting of capacitive rotary encoders, as well as mechanical switches on top of a touch panel. This controller is at the core of Panasonic’s Magic Knob technology. The KoD technology eliminates the need for custom touch sensor patterns, providing designers with the ability to easily implement a different knob count, shape and position to accommodate a variety of end user products. The customised configurations are adjustable without changing the embedded firmware of the maXTouch KoD touch controller, leading to a faster and more flexible development cycle. The maXTouch KoD controller allows designers to keep the comfort of a rotary encoder input device but combine it with a modern and innovative interior design using smart surfaces and multi-touch displays. An added benefit designers can expect to experience is the ease of building a sealed human machine interface (HMI) module, which is increasingly popular for in-home appliance and industrial applications. Using a knob on a display will also increase safety for the end user by removing the need to look at the display to make an adjustment while driving. “Modern user interfaces commonly use multi-touch displays, removing mechanical keys for cutting-edge designs. Yet, functions like temperature control or audio volume adjustment remain best controlled though a rotary encoder,” said Clayton Pillion, vice president of the human machine interface business unit at Microchip Technology. “The new maXTouch KoD Antenova has announced the GNSSNOVA M20071, a brand new GNSS receiver module, with power consumption reduced five-fold to enable smaller tracker designs, and trackers that run for five times longer. The M20071 module is for small tracking devices that operate from Li-ion batteries, where a lower power requirement is a clear advantage. These are typically small mobile trackers, pet trackers, personal fitness devices, and location trackers for bikes and e-scooters. GNSS receiver module to extend runtime by 500% The M20071 is able to track four satellite constellations (GPS, Galileo, GLONASS and BeiDou) simultaneously which improves positional accuracy particularly in dense urban environments. Based on the latest generation chip from Mediatek, it draws 17 mW when receiving GPS signal only, and 21 mW when simultaneously receiving a signal from all four constellations. The GNSSNOVA M20071 measures 9,0 x 9,0 x 1,8 mm. Pairing this with one of Antenova’s compact SMD antennas makes a compact RF solution and a way to realise slimmed down tracker designs. Antenova offers several GNSS antennas to enable a compact RF product to be designed, specifically the low-profile Sinica chip antenna and the Bentoni FPC antenna. “Designers using M20071 and our low- profile GNSS antennas can specify much smaller designs than with the usual patch antennas,” says Michael Castle, product marketing manager at Antenova. Standard GNSS modules typically draw 90 to 100 mW of power, so Antenova’s reduction in power consumption to 17 mW provides a significant increase in operational time. Designers can either build a product to run up to five times longer or specify a smaller battery to save space in the design. The GNSSNOVA M20071 module contains an integrated surface acoustic wave (SAW) filter and low noise amplifier (LNA), and a TCXO and RTC to improve performance and speed up the Time to First Fix (TTFF). The M20071 also includes EASY (embedded assist system) which speeds up TTFF. This system generates synthetic ephemeris data rather than downloading it from the satellite, thus reducing power consumption. The warm start-time using EASY is around two seconds compared to 25 seconds without EASY. For applications that wake up periodically to get a position, EASY further reduces total power consumption, extending the battery life. To further speed up the TTFF the M20071 also includes EPO, an assisted-GNSS that receives assistance data from a website. For more information contact iCorp Technologies, +27 11 781 2029, [email protected], www.icorptechnologies.co.za technology offers the benefits of both worlds by providing the support of a capacitive rotary encoder with a turnkey touch controller family and a comprehensive suite of dedicated tools for a fast implementation.” The newly developed MPMK (Microchip Panasonic magic knob) allows placement of the knob anywhere on the touch panel. In addition to the rotating operation, it also comes with a vertical ring push function. Both functions can be customised to provide haptic feedback, offering the customers an ideal click feeling sensation. This haptic fine-tuning can be successfully engineered due to a profound mechanical design know-how, based on the long-term development of mechanical encoders. Use of the Magic Knob is good news in terms of user friendliness and production efficiency. The knob even works for any kind of non-display application – as long as there is a capacitive sensor behind the respective flat or glass panel, the MPMK can be operated the same way. For more information contact Altron Arrow, +27 11 923 9600, [email protected], www.altronarrow.com
Dataweek, 27 July 2022 www.dataweek.co.za 11 REGULAR SYSTEMS, COMPONENTS, DESIGN STMicroelectronics has developed a new class of serial EEPROM, a 32-Mbit page-erasable memory. Serial page EEPROM combines ST’s patented e-STM 40 nm non-volatile memory (NVM) cell technology with a new smart page architecture which brings together the benefits of high memory density with byte flexibility and high endurance for data logging applications. This simplified memory integration offers simplified software development and high reliability. The devices are suitable for implementing non-volatile memory in system designs for applications such as industrial IoT, wearables, healthcare and medical devices, smart meters and 5G modules. For more information contact Altron Arrow, +27 11 923 9600, [email protected], www.altronarrow.com ST develops new serial EEPROM class SolidRun has announced the first system-onmodule (SoM) solution based on the RZ/G2 family of SoCs from Renesas. These new SoMs are uniquely engineered and positioned as an ideal foundation for AI-enhanced human-machineinterface (HMI) applications, industrial and building automation, video surveillance and IoT solutions. “We developed our RZ/G2 family of generalpurpose microprocessors to serve a variety of entry-level HMI products, while giving much thought to lowering systems costs and maximising performance and overall capabilities,” said Frank Urbe, senior manager, SST EMEA at Renesas Electronics Europe. “These compact SoMs are sure to help customers quickly take advantage of the many unique benefits of our powerful and cost-effective MPUs and will shave months of development time off roadmaps.” SolidRun releases a SoM solution based on a Renesas SoC These SoMs take advantage of the RZ/G2LC MPU’s powerful 64-bit Cortex-A55 processor cores, that can deliver 20% greater processing power over conventional Cortex-A53 cores running at the same frequency. With an integrated ArmMali-G31 3D GPU, these SoMs also offer excellent image processing capabilities without tasking the CPU. The embedded GPU also adds value for its advanced AI inference execution processing capabilities, which clock in at nearly six times faster than what is possible with Cortex-A53 processor-equipped devices. Designed with small form factor devices like video doorbells and powered IP cameras in mind, this new SoMmaintains a tiny footprint measuring just 47 x 30 mm. This SoM also offers pin-to-pin compatibility with SolidRun’s NXPi. MX8 Mini SoM, offering customers options when specifying hardware for their intended applications. Because it is pin-to-pin compatible with the i.MX8Mini SoM, customers can pair the new RZ/G2 SoMwith the feature-rich Hummingboard Pulse carrier board for expedited prototyping and product development. For more information contact EBV Electrolink, +27 21 402 1940, [email protected], www.ebv.com
Dataweek, 27 July 2022 www.dataweek.co.za 12 REGULAR SYSTEMS, COMPONENTS, DESIGN Infineon’s MOTIX IMD700A and IMD701A are the latest fully programmable motor controllers which integrate the XMC1404 microcontroller with the MOTIX 6EDL7141 three-phase gate driver IC. This combined package enables the development of next-generation battery-operated products using brushless DC (BLDC) or permanent magnet synchronous (PMSM) motors. The XMC1404 ARM Cortex-M0 based microcontroller incorporates dedicated features to improve motor drives control. A hardware math co-processor clocked at 96 MHz enhances calculations including division and trigonometric functions commonly used in field-oriented control of PMSM. Additionally, XMC1404 inherits most of the high-end peripherals found in the XMC4000 family including PWM timers, position interface and serial communication modules including CAN. The integrated three-phase gate driver (6EDL7141) is also designed for maximum flexibility. With configurable gate drive sink and Fully programmable motor controllers Espressif Systems has announced the release of ESP32-C5, a highly integrated MCU with 2,4 and 5 GHz dual-band Wi-Fi 6, as well as Bluetooth 5 low-energy (LE) connectivity. ESP32-C5 sports a dual-band Wi-Fi 6 (802.11ax) radio, along with the 802.11b/g/n standard for backward compatibility. The Wi-Fi 6 support is optimised for IoT devices, as the SoC supports a 20 MHz bandwidth for the 802.11ax mode, and a 20/40 MHz bandwidth for the 802.11b/g/n mode. ESP32-C5 has a 32-bit, RISC-V, single-core processor which can run at a clock-speed up to 240 MHz. It has 400 KB SRAM, 384 KB of ROM and more than 20 programmable GPIOs, while supporting all the commonly used peripheral interfaces. Also included is an SDIO 2.0 slave interface. The support for the 5 GHz band provides customers with a more stable and lowlatency wireless connectivity in cases where less traffic and lower interference are needed for critical applications. It gives end-users the option of assigning different IoT devices to different networks, according to how critical the application is. The 5 GHz band also supports hosts of high-throughput applications, such as live-streaming devices, Wi-Fi dongles and IP cameras. Integrating dual-band connectivity into their devices provides customers with maximum flexibility, while future-proofing their products. An important feature of the 802.11ax standard is the Target Wake Time (TWT), which allows devices to sleep for an extended time-period, with assistance from an 802.11ax-capable Wi-Fi access point. This feature makes possible the use of ESP32-C5 in battery-operated devices that can last for years, while remaining permanently connected. ESP32-C5 is supported on Espressif ’s open-source ESP-IDF, which already powers millions of devices in the field. This ensures the availability of a robust SDK and tools, as well as an easy application migration path for developers. For more information contact Gerrie van Heerden, iCorp Technologies, +27 11 781 2029, [email protected], www.icorptechnologies.co.za New Espressif MCU embeds Wi-Fi 6 Short body USB-A with no compromise on performance To meet increasing demand for compact designs, GCT has launched the USB1125, a short body style USB-A connector with a minimal PCB footprint of just 13 mm2. USB-A is a versatile option for a wide range of applications and the all new USB1125 connector from GCT is 25% smaller than full-size equivalents. Despite a shell depth of just 10 mm there is no compromise on performance. Mini-Circuits announced the expansion of their lineup of connectorised high-frequency amplifiers to provide support even deeper into the e-band range. The ZVA series is a family of coaxial wideband and flat-gain amplifiers operating from 35 to 95 GHz. This series has expanded with four new models covering the following frequency ranges: • ZVA-50953X+ covering 45 to 95 GHz. • ZVA-71863HP+ covering 71 to 86 GHz. • ZVA-71863LNX+ LNA covering 71 to 86 GHz. • ZVA-35703+ covering 35 to 71 GHz. Wideband amplifiers operating from 35 to 95 GHz source currents up to 1,5 A, it can drive a wide range of MOSFETs effectively to minimise losses and increase efficiency. Besides the microcontroller and gate driver, a precision power supply as well as current shunt amplifiers are also included in the integrated package. Target applications for these newmotor controllers include professional cordless power tools, electric gardening products, e-bikes and automated guided vehicles. For more information contact Altron Arrow, +27 11 923 9600, [email protected], www.altronarrow.com The connector is rated to 5000 mating cycles whilst the operating standard is typically 1500 cycles for USB-A connectors. The component has a current rating of 1,5 A and can operate in a temperature range of -30 to 85°C. “The tried and tested USB-A connector is just as popular today as when it was launched over 20 years ago,” comments Paul Hulatt, GCT product manager. “Given how long USB-A has been in the market, we continue to innovate with distinctive features for this original USB form factor. In addition to the USB1125 with a shorter body length, we also have ultrahigh mating cycle variants such as the USB1086, providing engineers with greater flexibility when it comes to USB connectivity options.” For more information contact Electrocomp, +27 11 458 9000, [email protected], www.electrocomp.co.za These models have a typical gain of between 17 and 37 dB and all four models operate over a positive supply range of 10 to 15 V. Internal DC/DC conversion circuitry maintains constant efficiency over the full input voltage range. The ZVA-series are well suited for automotive radar sensing, 5G FR2 millimetre wave communications, aerospace/defence solutions and test and measurement applications. For more information contact Conical Technologies, +27 66 231 1900, [email protected], www.conical.co.za
Dataweek, 27 July 2022 www.dataweek.co.za 13 REGULAR SYSTEMS, COMPONENTS, DESIGN ERSONALITY PROFILE P Shilpa Mehta Shilpa believes that they are fortunate to live in a time where one can innovate and produce locally but still be a part of the global industry. “What really excites me is the focus on localisation and the push for new innovations in engineering that supports and bolsters the local manufacturing industry.” “ ” Shilpa Mehta, co-owner at Production Logix and President of the Entrepreneur’s Organisation, grew up in Durban in an entrepreneurial family. Upon leaving school, she entered the University of Cape Town where she studied Business Science and Finance, finally ending up with a degree in chartered accounting. Said Shilpa, “I never really imagined I’d end up in the electronics industry. But, in hindsight, I realise that I lacked real passion for the world of auditing and banking – I really wanted to create something and see something come to life frombeginning to end but didn’t quite knowwhere or how this would happen!” After graduating Shilpa served articles at KPMG on a mixed bag of industries ranging from manufacturing, to banking and even some NGOS. Although auditing was never her passion, she was exposed to many businesses which operated with slick internal control, operating systems and processes, which helped drive her vision at Production Logix. After her stint at KPMG, she joined Investec where she worked in structured finance. This role taught her the benefits of using one’s balance sheet as a negotiating tool when applying for funding, which has placed her in good stead in a capital-intensive business where keeping up with technology changes is critical to success. Upon leaving Investec she joined UniPrint as a Commercial Manager which saw her needing to have a keen understanding of manufacturing and production lifecycles from conception to completion. It was here that she gained invaluable knowledge of how the end result is a combination of production processes and teamwork. Shilpa states, “The role required that we keep our customers happy while balancing quality, price and delivery in a fast-paced competitive industry.” A joint venture Coming from an entrepreneurial family as well as a manufacturing background, made her want to manage her own company. Through her business networks she was made aware that ProLogix was up for sale and, although it seemed like a great leap of faith for someone of her background, she, together with her brother Ushir who is her business partner in the venture, felt that it was an exciting opportunity in what is a growing global industry. Says Shilpa, “It was a real learning curve and six years later, there is still so much to learn!”. As a B2B company, Production Logix specialises in PCB assembly, through-hole assembly prototyping and harnessing. “The wonderful thing about what we do is that we tap into a wide range of industries frommetering, telematics, lighting, to IoT. We are AS9100 Military and Space Accredited, so we are very strong on military and defence applications,” she states. Weathering the storm Shilpa goes on to comment, “Covid was a serious blow to the manufacturing industry at large – evenmore so to us because it’s virtually impossible to run our plant remotely, but we believe that one of our strengths is our ability to remain agile and so, throughmeticulous planning, we were able to push through the worst of the pandemic.” She elaborates, “As a result of Covid, there are global supply chain challenges, and I don’t think any industry is immune to this. I do, however, believe that tough times are what force innovation and action! In order to mitigate the disruption caused by supply chain issues, we’ve focussed on what we can control and have sharpened up processes in-house. What this means is that we have increased our procurement capacity by having more specialised hands-on-deck, as well as expanding our supply chain network with new suppliers, all the while keeping our customers apprised of developments with transparent feedback and continuous communication.” Although not peculiar to the electronics manufacturing industry, she is excited by the seemingly limitless prospect of AI, which, coupled with IoT, has the ability to enhance every aspect in our lives. Being involved with the manufacturing of electronic components which help to ‘house’ AI gives her a sense of pride. “I think that the global pandemic has forced a quantum leap when it comes to innovation – necessity has pushed us to innovate like never before while also seeking simple and sustainable solutions. The next few years will also see the industry focussing on smarter designs which translate into products, parts and components which are easier to procure and can go to market quicker,” she says. “Our vision is to be a worldclass manufacturing facility which is at ease with competing in the global market but remains very much locally focused.” Parting with advice When asked about any advice to prospective youngsters wanting to come into the industry, she mentions that although the electronic engineering field is very broad, she believes a good start would be a suitable qualification in electronic engineering or something similar. Aside from one’s qualification she feels that there is a certain type of personality best suited to this industry. “Manufacturing is detail-oriented, so one needs to naturally possess good attention to detail. Furthermore, we work with large volumes of components and ensuring the data is correct is one of the cornerstones,” she states. “Manufacturing is about processes – what you do at your point of departure affects the end result so the incumbent should be process-driven, structured in their approach and also procedurally strict on themselves and others. Although a seemingly elusive quality, one needs to be innovative.” And innovation is a great part of the company culture at ProLogix where better solutions to ageold problems are constantly being sought. She concludes, “One needs to be a natural innovator who is open to collaboration, sharing ideas and is bold enough to experiment with new things.” On a personal note On a personal level, Shilpa loves the outdoors and, being a Durbanite, enjoys hiking, running and swimming. She thrives on meeting new people and has been fortunate to have been involved with various organisations which has allowed her to do so. In her spare time she also loves reading and thinking about new products and innovations and how they may benefit the unique needs South Africa has. Shilpa concludes, “I spend a lot of my free time reading and researching new innovations in our industry and more specifically, how electronics can enhance people’s lives in so many ways, be it a drone delivering life-saving medicines to remote rural villages or researching ad hoc personal interests such as what is the best coffee machine, camera or wearable.”
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