25 October 2023 FEATURING: • Electronics Manufacturing Services & Equipment • Power & Energy • Embedded Programming Tools & Techniques • Test & Measurement, Analysis, Calibration & Compliance 40 Years of bringing industries together 1983 Established, Interconnect Solutions 2004 Value Added Service department (VAD) Connector Assembly • D38999 Series III • 26482 Series II 2007 Fibre Laboratory & Services 2017 Harting Value Added Service Department 2021 Design & Development 2023 Cable Assembly Division 20... Globalisation
Dataweek, 25 October 2023 www.dataweek.co.za 1 TELECOMMUNICATIONS, WIRELESS, IoT, RF & MICROWAVE FEATURE 25 October 2023 Vol. 46 No. 9 News................................................................................. 3 Systems, components, design..........................8 General ............................................................................29 Hot chips......................................................................31 Open [re]sources .......................................................32 QuickFind index ....................................................IBC contents on the cover features regulars Electronics Manufacturing Services & Equipment .......................................................................14 A range of new manufacturing and safety equipment, and technical information on PCB thermal management and wave soldering. Embedded Programming Tools & Techniques.........................................................................20 Why skimping on cost is not the right solution when it comes to programming providers. Power & Energy...................................................................22 A range of power components and products, a technical paper on how to simplify a USB-C PD design, and new battery technology that looks promising. Test & Measurement, Analysis, Calibration & Compliance.............................................27 How to sense colours and contrast, monitoring air quality, and using Doppler shift to sense motion. 25 October 2023 FEATURING: • Electronics Manufacturing Services & Equipment • Power & Energy • Embedded Programming Tools & Techniques • Test & Measurement, Analysis, Calibration & Compliance 40 Years of bringing industries together 1983 Established, Interconnect Solutions 2004 Value Added Service department (VAD) Connector Assembly • D38999 Series III • 26482 Series II 2007 Fibre Laboratory & Services 2017 Harting Value Added Service Department 2021 Design & Development 2023 Cable Assembly Division 20... Globalisation Hiconnex offers a first-class and personalised service to the military, aerospace and high-specification industries from a dedicated sales team. The company boasts an extensive range of products, and has grown over the past 40 years to become the biggest supplier in the Mil-Aero-Space market. For more information contact Hiconnex, +27 12 661 6779, [email protected], www.hiconnex.co.za
Dataweek, 25 October 2023 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 Wild Fig Business Park, Block B, Unit 21, 1494 Cranberry Street, Honeydew 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 46 NO 9 25 OCTOBER 2023 From the editor’s desk Subscribe online: www.technews.co.za Peter As I sit here this month and ponder the few weeks that have passed, I wonder where the time has gone. Maybe as one gets older, time seems to be compressed more and more. Or maybe the old brains simply cannot cope with multitasking like we used to in our youth, making it seem like there is not enough time to accomplish everything we want to. It seemed like just the other day I was sitting glued to the exhilarating rugby matches that were being televised during the Rugby World Cup 2019. It was amazing to see how the country could get behind a team. Ultimately, the power that this rugby team wielded in terms of bringing together people from all walks of life was astounding. Very few people were spared from the upliftment in spirits that were the result of winning the most sought-after trophy in rugby. And here we are again. I, along with millions of other South Africans worldwide, witnessed a sporting spectacle worthy of champions when we triumphed over an excellent French team by a solitary point. More than winning, however, the team showed us how to behave. After the final whistle, players from both sides embraced each other in a show of camaraderie. They had done battle on the field, and although one team had to emerge victorious, both teams could hold their heads up high. Players consoled each other in a gesture of mutual respect, and quite frankly, rugby is the only team sport I can think of where that happens. Normal people can take a leaf straight out of rugby’s playbook. Get out onto the field, play hard, ‘donder’ each other if you have to, but afterwards, shake a hand, give a hug and have a drink together as a sign of respect for each other. It’s as if they genuinely care about each other! And wouldn’t it be wonderful if everyone behaved like this. Where people looked out for each other instead of the dog-eat-dog world that we often find ourselves in. My mind then moved back to the game that was played earlier on the same day. Just into the second half of that game, the lights went out. I, and many others watching, immediately cast our thoughts to the scourge of loadshedding. We, as South Africans, have become almost nonchalant about these forced power failures that have been thrust upon us. Most now take the power cuts in their stride and have learnt to live with them. This time, however, it had a Small miracles will hopefully lead to bigger ones direct impact on my viewing pleasure, which conjured up a lot of pent-up feelings. It wasn’t loadshedding, but merely a brief power failure in the area. A few minutes later it was back on, and the rugby thankfully continued uninterrupted. Many people have installed inverter-based backup solutions to get them through these power failures. They allow the use of renewable energy sources like solar and turbines. That part is easy. What is still an expensive problem is the storage required for these systems to be able to deliver the required amount of energy. Presently, Li-ion storage is the gold standard. Recently, however, a report on a new solid-state battery technology crossed my desk. Exhibiting better properties than traditional Li-ion batteries, the technology promises greater safety and stability. The number of charge cycles is also greatly improved, with the current test system racking up more than 12 500 charge cycles. The technology is destined for residential and industrial use. Read about it on page 26. I am excited about this project. It promises to solve the biggest problem with storage currently, which is its longevity. Let’s hope that something comes out of it.
Dataweek, 25 October 2023 www.dataweek.co.za 3 NEWS ELECTRONICS NEWS DIGEST EVENTS Continued on page 4 Electronics Digest Financial • The market share of OLED automotive panels continues to grow, and could reach 10% by 2026, according to a prediction by TrendForce. The company has shown that the overall demand for automotive display panels is gradually stabilising, and is beginning to show an upward trend. They predict that the supply of automotive panels will maintain growth for 2023, and that the annual total supply will surpass 240 million units by 2026. • Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) announced its net revenue for September 2023: on a consolidated basis, revenue was approximately NT$180,43 billion, a decrease of 4,4% compared to August 2023, and a decrease of 13,4% from the same period 2022. Combined revenue from January through to September 2023 totalled NT$1536,21 billion, a decrease of 6,2% compared to this period in 2022. • According to TrendForce, the universal price of DRAM and NAND Flash is set to rise in the last quarter of this year. DDR5 prices have already seen a surge in the third quarter, fuelled by the release of new CPU models. Inventory of server DDR5 modules has increased from 20% in Q2 to almost 35%. Samsung’s production cutbacks of DDR4 wafers have also had an influence on the accelerated DDR5 output and demand. • The South African Environmental Ministry has given French company TotalEnergies the green light to proceed with plans to drill for oil and gas off the West Coast of SA. This was after Environment Minister Barbara Creecy rejected an appeal from 18 NGOs and individuals to have the drilling banned. The NGOs can apply to have the decision reviewed within 180 days. • With a nearly fourfold increase in rooftop solar installations in the past year in South Africa, Eskom is feeling the pinch, with reduced revenue being generated. Although the energy company’s user base has not shrunk, it is moving towards the middle- and lower-income which has decreased its total revenue for the past financial year. In a response to a parliamentary committee, public enterprises minister, Pravin Gordhan, said that Eskom’s sales were down 2,3% largely due to the 4,5 GW of energy that was installed privately during the year. • NXP has announced that its board of directors has approved the payment of an interim dividend of $1,014 per ordinary share for the third quarter of 2023. The interim dividend was paid in cash in October 2023 to shareholders of record. The actions are based on the continued and significant strength of the NXP capital structure, and the board’s confidence in the company’s ability to drive long-term growth and strong cash flow. Companies • Indium Corporation has acquired SAFI-Tech, a metal microcapsule technology innovator specialising in supercooling technology. The acquisition expands Indium’s product portfolio after the two companies collaborated on a supercooled BiSn solder paste using SAFI-Tech’s solder platform. This patented technology platform allows molten metal to remain liquid far below its freezing point by encapsulating it in a smooth shell, known as supercooling. Using this platform, industry-standard alloys such as SAC305 can be soldered at below typical low-temperature solder specifications. • Infineon Technologies has announced that it has acquired the Zurich-based startup 3db Access, a pioneer in secured low-power Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology, and already a preferred IP provider for major automotive brands. The acquisition further strengthens Infineon’s portfolio for secured smart access, precise localisation, and enhanced sensing. Infineon now adds UWB to its connectivity range including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth/Bluetooth Low Energy and NFC solutions. • Intel has announced its intent to operate its Programmable Solutions Group (PSG) as a standalone business. This decision will position PSG to compete in the FPGA market more effectively. Standalone operations for PSG are expected to begin on 1 January 2024, with Sandra Rivera assuming leadership of the company as CEO. She will, however, continue to lead Intel’s Data Center and AI Group (DCAI) until a new leader for that group can be found. • NXP has received awards from three automotive partners. DENSO and Hyundai Motor Group honoured the company for its outstanding efforts in ensuring supply capacity, productronika 14-17 November 2023 Munich, Germany Co-located with SEMICON in Munich, productronica showcases the entire spectrum of technologies and solutions for the electronics manufacturing industry, reflecting the rapid pace of technological development in all areas of the industry. The show presents the technologies and solutions for electronics production, and provides in-depth insights into the latest trends in practice-oriented forums and live demonstrations. Register at https://productronica.com/en Enlit Europe 28-30 November 2023 Paris, France Enlit is on a journey to connect industries, inspire action, and help continents evolve into one decarbonised and digitalised energy system towards full energy transition. Enlit Europe is a constantly growing end-to-end forum that addresses every aspect of the energy agenda. This next in-person gathering will bring together 15 000 attendees and 700 international exhibitors. With over 500 speakers, attendees will get to know start-ups and entrepreneurs working on energy solutions, and get to meet leaders in the energy field. Register at www.enlit-europe.com NEPCON Japan 24-26 January 2024 Tokyo, Japan NEPCON Japan is Asia’s leading electronics tech show, with manufacturers and companies coming together to showcase innovations in SMT, technologies for ICs and sensors packaging, electronic components, PCBs and other fine process technologies. Experts from a wide range of fields will be on hand to answer questions related to electronics manufacturing. Running concurrently with NEPCOn will be Automotive World 2024, Factory Innovation Week 2024, The Wearable Expo, and the SMART LOGISTICS Expo. Register at www.nepconjapan.jp/hub/en-gb.html
Dataweek, 25 October 2023 www.dataweek.co.za 4 NEWS ELECTRONICS NEWS DIGEST Continued from page 3 The Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) has announced global semiconductor industry sales totalled $44,0 billion during the month of August 2023, an increase of 1,9% compared to Global semiconductor sales increase month-to-month continuity and excellent customer service, and BMW Group presented an innovation award for its digital car key solution. • Mouser has increased its holdings of the latest innovations from Nexperia, a high-volume manufacturer of discretes, logic and MOSFET devices. A winner of Nexperia’s 2022 E-Tailer of the year award, Mouser has expanded its offering to more than 13 000 parts. Nexperia’s portfolio, offered by Mouser, includes diodes, bipolar transistors, electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection devices, MOSFETs, GaN FETs and analogue and logic ICs that meet stringent automotive industry standards. • WebAfrica has agreed to purchase Mweb, one of South Africa’s oldest ISPs, from Dimension Data. The deal is signed, and the parties are now awaiting the approval of the Competition Commission. If approved, the buyout will double the size of the company, adding more than 300 Mweb employees to its already 350-strong workforce. If the deal is approved, Mweb will continue to operate independently. • Indium Corporation recently received the Electronics Maker’s prestigious Best of Industry Award 2023 for Best Soldering Product of the Year. The award was received for Indium’s InFORMS reinforced solder preforms in recognition of their ability to provide strength and consistent bondline thickness in power electronics packaging applications. InFORMS can be manufactured in a wide variety of shapes, including rectangles and discs, and in custom shapes to suit specific application requirements. • Both Microsoft and Apple have released significant updates to their operating systems at the end of September. Apple’s macOS, named Sonoma, includes the following new features: widgets on the desktop; the ability to train the OS to read in your own voice; game mode; new video conferencing features; and new web app features in Safari that will allow users to turn websites into apps and park them in the dock. • The biggest change included in the Windows 11 2023 Update is the introduction of Windows Copilot which utilises the same technology behind OpenAI’s ChatGPT, in which Microsoft has a vested interest. This will make generative AI a part of the OS, effectively replacing Cortana as the assistant. Among the huge list of changes to note to the OS are a new file explorer with redesigned interface, and a new cloud backup tool to allow easier reinstallations of the OS, while retaining files and settings. the July 2023 total of $43,2 billion, but 6,8% less than last year’s total of $47,2 billion. Monthly sales are compiled by the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) organisation and represent a three-month moving average. SIA represents 99% of the U.S. semiconductor industry by revenue and nearly two-thirds of non-U.S. chip firms. “Global semiconductor sales ticked up on a month-to-month basis for the sixth consecutive month in August, demonstrating a slow-and-steady increase in market demand during the middle of the year,” said John Neuffer, SIA president and CEO. “Global sales were down again in August compared to last year, but the year-to-year decrease was smaller than at any point since October 2022, providing optimism for continued momentum in the months ahead.” Regionally, month-to-month sales increased in the Americas (4,6%), China (2,0%), and Asia Pacific/All Other (1,2%), but decreased slightly in Japan (-0,4%) and Europe (-1,1%). Year-to-year sales were up in Europe (3,5%) and the Americas (0,3%), but down in Japan (-2,9%), Asia Pacific/All Other (-11,3%), and China (-12,6%). For more information visit https://semiconductors.org • Mouser is now offering design engineers, pro makers, and hobbyists around the world the latest products from Raspberry Pi. Sourced directly from Raspberry Pi, the entire catalogue of SBCs, embedded devices, and peripherals is available from Mouser, with full traceability/authenticity from the manufacturer. Raspberry Pi products offered by Mouser include the RP2040 microcontroller, Pico, Pico H, and Pico W, Compute Module 4 and Camera Module 3. • The global war for tech talent is hotting up. Namibia is the latest African country to offer a remote work visa, just behind Cape Verde, Mauritius and Seychelles, in the hopes of attracting professionals to live and work from the country. This move will be a big boost to the economies of those countries, with local residents working remotely while enjoying a better lifestyle with a lower cost of living. Technologies • VTT recently launched Finland’s second quantum computer – a 20-qubit superconductive device. Finland announced its efforts in quantum computing development back in November 2020,with a total budget of €20,7 million from the government to develop a 50-qubit quantum computer by 2024. In the coming years, the development will continue as the Finnish government has announced a total budget of €70 million to scale up the quantum computer towards 300 qubits. • A new study has determined that 55% of workers do not trust generative-AI for work purposes. Since chatGPT’s launch last November, the number of searches for artificial intelligence online has risen by 1700% and the chatbot has attracted over 100 million users worldwide. However, these uses seem largely to have been personal or research based. When surveyed, over half of workers stated that they do not trust working with another business who uses ChatGPT when dealing with customers. • GlobalFoundries and Microchip have announced Microchip’s 28 nm SuperFlash embedded flash memory solution has begun production. Widely deployed in non-volatile memory (NVM) solutions, the technology is optimised for microcontrollers, smart cards and IoT chips. The Silicon Storage Technology (SST) subsidiary announced that the SST ESF3 third-generation embedded SuperFlash NVM will use the lowest cost 28 nm solution. The highly competitive ESF3 has a bit cell size of less than 0,05 micron squared. The technology exhibits a sub-25 nanosecond read time, 10 microsecond program time, and four millisecond erase time.
Dataweek, 25 October 2023 www.dataweek.co.za 5 NEWS with Greg Barron, Actum Group director Clearing the Static For more information contact Actum on +27 11 608 3001 or email [email protected]. Actum is a specialised importer and distributor of industrial and electronic products in southern Africa. Microtronix recently hosted a tour of its facilities led by its CEO, Michael Goodyer, for esteemed policymakers from various countries including South Africa. The delegates included representatives from the Trade & Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS), an independent non-profit research institution, and the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition. “Our state-of-the-art world-class factory showcased cutting-edge technology and innovative processes that set new industry standards,” said Goodyer. “We take immense pride in our commitment to quality production and sustainable practices.” “The tour was informative and well-organised,” said Saul Levin, executive director of TIPS. “The insights gained during the tour complemented the lectures perfectly, offering real-world context and relevance to the topics discussed.” For more information contact Microtronix Manufacturing, +27 11 792 5322, [email protected], www.microtronix.co.za Microtronix Manufacturing factory tour Three award winners were selected recently at Panasonic Industry’s European Distribution Conference 2023. These awards are presented once a year and are based on structured KPIs. They not only honour excellent sales performance, but also create an opportunity to meet, strengthen ties, and mutually refine business strategies. Two awards were won by Avnet Abacus where it was named ‘Distributor of the Year 2023’ and ‘Demand Creation Distributor of the Year 2023’. TME took the trophy n the category ‘High Service Distributor of the Year 2023’. “Panasonic Industry has been, and continues to be, a key strategic partner for Avnet Abacus,” comments Rudy Van Parijs, president EMEA at Avnet Abacus. “These awards are a recognition of the dedication of all our staff across the EMEA region.” For more information contact Avnet Abacus, [email protected], www.avnet.com/wps/portal/abacus Panasonic presents its distribution awards for 2023 The primary objective of electrostatic discharge (ESD) protective packaging is to prevent ESD incidents within the packaging and facilitate the dissipation of charges from the outer surface. Actum offers a comprehensive range of ESD protective packaging solutions designed to eliminate charge generation and provide static protection. This type of packaging is indispensable when transporting ESD-sensitive items outside of controlled ESD-safe environments. Actum’s protective packaging includes a wide selection of dissipative ESD bags, zip-top bags, foil bags, foam materials, sheeting and boxes. Additionally, antistatic bubble wrap bags tailored for safeguarding small electronic components and PCBs can also be provided. Anti-static protective packaging is crucial for several reasons: 1. Preventing electrostatic discharge damage: The primary purpose of ESD protective packaging is to safeguard electronic components and sensitive devices from ESD events. Electrostatic discharge can cause irreparable damage to electronic components by introducing sudden, high-voltage electrical charges, which can disrupt or destroy delicate circuitry. 2. Preserving product reliability: ESD damage may not always be immediately apparent, but can lead to latent failures in electronic components. This means that a damaged component may initially appear to function correctly but fail prematurely, potentially causing product recalls, warranty issues, and customer dissatisfaction. ESD protective packaging helps maintain product reliability and longevity. 3. Ensuring data integrity: In electronic devices like hard drives and memory chips, ESD can corrupt or erase data. ESD protective packaging is essential for maintaining data integrity during storage and transportation. 4. Cost savings: Protecting electronic components with ESD packaging can save significant costs associated with replacing damaged components, reworking products, or dealing with warranty claims and customer returns. 5. Maintaining production efficiency: In manufacturing and assembly processes, ESD events can lead to production disruptions, rework, and increased scrap rates. ESD protective packaging helps maintain production efficiency. 6. Mitigating safety risks: ESD events can also pose safety risks to personnel working with sensitive electronics. Protecting components with ESD packaging reduces the risk of accidental electrical discharges that could harm workers or damage equipment. 7. Environmental considerations: ESD protective packaging helps minimise electronic waste. Without proper protection, damaged components may need to be discarded, contributing to environmental concerns. In summary, ESD protective packaging plays a critical role in maintaining the integrity, reliability, and safety of electronic components and devices. It is an essential part of ESD control measures employed in various industries to ensure that sensitive electronic equipment functions as intended and remains free from damage caused by electrostatic discharge. ESD protective packaging iCorp Technologies has welcomed Ms Quatraine Domoney to it team. Domoney has been appointed in the role of National Technical and Sales Manager (TSM), based in the company’s Johannesburg head office. Domoney has extensive expertise with more than 18 years of experience in the South African electronics market, seven of which have been directly involved in the supply chain and distribution. She also has two years’ experience in the aviation industry, which was gained working abroad in North America. Domoney currently holds a bachelor’s degree in electronic engineering, and comes with a wealth of knowledge and business acumen to aid iCorp’s growth and reach in its competing vertical market sectors. As part of her key portfolio, she will be tasked with growing and maintaining both the existing and new business in the Gauteng region, and establish new IoT technologies via supply chain acquisitions. For more information contact iCorp Technologies, +27 11 781 2029, [email protected], www.icorptechnologies.co.za New appointment to the Icorp team
Dataweek, 25 October 2023 www.dataweek.co.za 6 NEWS EBV Elektronik was named ‘Semiconductor Distributor of the Year 2022’ by its long-time supplier partner Vishay Intertechnology. Vishay manufactures one of the world’s largest portfolios of discrete semiconductors and passive electronic components that are essential to innovative designs in the automotive, industrial, computing, consumer, telecommunications, military, aerospace, and medical markets. “EBV is an important and highly valued partner, and this award reflects EBV’s strong cooperation and commitment to Vishay,” said Stefan Fischer, senior vice president sales and marketing Europe, at Vishay. “EBV is a welldeserved recipient of the 2022 semiconductor award, investing in world-class design-in capability, and contributing towards our overall Vishay honours EBV with distributor award Mouser Electronics has announced a global distribution agreement with MediaTek, a company that develops innovative systems-on-chip for mobile devices, home entertainment, connectivity and IoT products. “This global agreement with MediaTek continues our commitment to providing the latest in highly integrated semiconductors,” said Andy Kerr, vice president of supplier management at Mouser. “Design engineers will have easy access to MediaTek’s world-class SoCs, Mouser signs global agreement with MediaTek Pan-African telco and network services provider, Paratus Group has announced that it has entered an agreement as a distributor for Starlink’s high-speed internet services across the African continent. This agreement will allow Paratus to provide Starlink to its customers across Africa, as operating licences are awarded to Starlink in those countries. Initially, and with immediate effect, Starlink will be available from Paratus in Mozambique, Kenya, Rwanda and Nigeria before being rolled out to more countries. Starlink provides high speed, broadband internet using a constellation of low-Earth-orbit (LEO) satellites and a simple, scalable hardware platform that can be easily distributed across locations around the world. Unbounded by local infrastructure, and designed to support multiple paths back to the internet, Starlink provides reliable service to ensure businesses may always keep operating. Paratus signs deal with Starlink Scientists Moungi Bawendi (MIT), Louis Brus (Columbia University) and Alexei Ekimov (Nanocrystals Technology Inc) won the 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their discovery of clusters of atoms known as quantum dots, now used to create colour in flat screens, light emitting diode (LED) lamps, and devices that help surgeons see blood vessels in tumours. The award by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences said the scientists had ‘added colour to nanotechnology’ and that their findings held great potential in many fields. Nanotechnology is a mushrooming field today with many fields Nobel prize for work on quantum dots that add colour to LEDs growth during the last year. We look forward to future celebrations of growth together in the coming years.” “We are thrilled and honoured to receive this prestigious distribution award from Vishay,” said William Caruso, president of EBV Elektronik. “This recognition underscores our commitment to excellence and our dedication to providing top-quality solutions to our customers. Vishay’s partnership has been instrumental in our success, and we look forward to continuing to deliver Vishay’s products and exceptional service to the market.” For more information contact EBV Electrolink, +27 21 402 1940, [email protected], www.ebv.com backed by Mouser’s unsurpassed customer service and best-in-class logistics.” “With Mouser Electronics as a global channel partner, MediaTek can better support our customers and enhance our worldwide distribution network,” said CK Wang, MediaTek vice president and general manager, Internet of Things. “By capitalising on Mouser’s excellent supply-chain services and support, we can expand our global presence and get our products into the hands of design engineers even quicker.” Mouser now offers MediaTek’s Genio portfolio of power-efficient, high-performing IoT SoC and smart modules. MediaTek Genio is a complete platform stack for the IoT with powerful and ultra-efficient chipsets, open platform SDKs and a developer portal with comprehensive resources and tools. This all-in-one platform makes it easy to develop consumer, enterprise and industrial smart applications at the premium, mid-range and entry levels. For more information visit www.mouser.com having to deal with miniaturisation caused by the march towards low SWaP designs. In a statement, the academy remarked: “Researchers believe that in the future [the technology] could contribute to flexible electronics, tiny sensors, thinner solar cells and encrypted quantum communication.” Inaugurated in 1901, the prize awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences is worth $1 million. For more information visit https://www.nobelprize.org Starlink currently provides services to tens of thousands of business locations and serves customers in a multitude of capacities, including primary enterprise connectivity, replacement of 4G and VSAT, backup, and emergency services. Across its network, Starlink maintains greater than 99,5% up-time across all customers, where up-time is measured without mitigating factors, such as weather and wire-cut outages. Paratus will be able to provide its customers with both fixed, mobility and maritime services with immediate effect, and will provide 24/7/365 enterprise support. For more information visit www.paratus.africa
Dataweek, 25 October 2023 www.dataweek.co.za 7 NEWS Paul Eveleigh People seek mutual respect more than any other trait. ERSONALITY PROFILE P “ ” Paul Eveleigh, group general manager at Hiconnex, was born in the UK but grew up in South Africa, matriculating from Springs Boys High School. With an interest in technology, his initial career path choice was to obtain a qualification in Process Control Engineering. However, in his early twenties, a decision to change paths into a sales and marketing direction was taken, with Paul ultimately obtaining a bachelor’s degree in business and marketing management. The strong background in technology, combined with his commercial qualifications and experience, has benefitted his personal career growth. Early career After graduating, Paul rose through various positions from an initial technical role to sales and marketing functions, export business development, and sales management to his current position of general manager. Being well travelled to over 40 countries, the overriding lesson he learned is that people seek mutual respect more than any other trait, and this is exactly how he conducts business. After more than 20 years in the sector, Paul has realised that for a business to succeed during the market ups and downs requires it to be diverse in its offerings. This can allow a company to pull through during a particular sector’s downturn, while focussing on building service levels and retaining loyal customers. Business principles During his various roles in his career, Paul always looked for opportunities to grow in both his business and personal capacity, and this is what Hiconnex offers. Before joining Hiconnex, he worked for various competitor companies, and always held a healthy respect for the way in which the company conducted business. Hiconnex, however, offers him the chance to share in growing the company into new markets. With a strong and experienced team behind him, he can put into practice what he has learned during his career, and ultimately grow the company towards its strategic objectives. Says Paul: “Hiconnex is fortunate to be participating in new markets such as space, unmanned systems, alternative energy, and IoT. These sectors offer new and exciting growth opportunities for a company with Hiconnex’s product depth.” He goes on to explain that the increased ability to use technology to reach new customers and collaborate on international projects has provided Hiconnex with a completely new set of customers. “Operating internationally has been part of my life for 25 years, only now I don’t always have to get on an aeroplane to have a face-to-face discussion,” he continues. “While being in the same room as our customers and suppliers remains the best way to build relationships, the COVID pandemic showed us that we can interact in different and creative ways.” He believes that South Africa has a unique set of obstacles, the main one being the lack of government initiatives to drive an industry that already contains a high level of thought leaders. The development of industry sectors should be through government-driven initiatives. He offers the following example: “Consider the amount of commercial aerospace contract manufacturers in Morocco – driven by government policy to build a significant contract manufacturing base now fully utilised by key commercial aerospace manufacturers. The SA can-do attitude is hard to match anywhere in the world and we should be telling our story to a larger audience.” Advice for the younger generation When asked about advice for the younger generation, he remarks that while qualifications are vital, so too is the knowledge gained from working experience. He believes that business and financial aspects need to be concentrated on as these are often the driving factor towards project success. When not at work, he can be found relaxing at home with his wife and active teenage twins, or on the road eating up the kilometres on his bicycle. PERSONALITY PROFILE
Dataweek, 25 October 2023 www.dataweek.co.za 8 REGULAR SYSTEMS, COMPONENTS, DESIGN Designing systems for the intelligent edge has never been more difficult. Market windows are shrinking, the costs and risks of new designs are rising, thermal constraints and reliability are twin priorities and the need for cradle-to-grave security continues to grow. Satisfying these simultaneous demands requires immediate knowledge of special technology and vertical-market expertise. But designers can hit the ground running. Microchip Technology has added nine new technology- and application-specific solution stacks to its growing collection of mid-range FPGA and SoC support. The stacks span the industrial edge, smart embedded vision and edge communications. “We’re making it much easier to create industry-leading industrial and communications designs,” said Shakeel Peera, vice president of strategy for Microchip’s FPGA business unit. “And our intelligent edge focus is getting significant traction with leading system designers because they get the full benefit of PolarFire FPGA’s unequalled power efficiency, security and reliability.” “Size, weight and power are extremely important considerations in designing a thermal imaging system,” said Federic Aubrun, CCO of Xenics, a pioneer in infrared imaging, with best-in-class products for short-, mid- and FPGAs speed up intelligent edge designs Quectel Wireless Solutions has introduced the EM060K-EA LTE-Advanced Cat 6 module, offered for the EMEA markets. The module, which is available in the M.2 form factor, measures 30 x 42 x 2,3 mm. It is powered by the Snapdragon X12 LTE modem from Qualcomm Technologies and adopts 3GPP Release 12 technology, which supports a theoretical peak date rate of 300 Mbps downlink and 50 Mbps uplink. The EM060K-EA can operate in extended temperature ranges from -25 to 75°C, has a dedicated EMEA SKU, and features power-saving technology to ensure maximised deployment uptime. Offering LTE-A, UMTS and HSPA+ coverage, the EM060K series has been designed for the global market and covers nearly all tier-one carriers worldwide. The modules include an optional built-in embedded SIM (eSIM), and feature dual SIM single standby (DSSS). The module is also compatible with Quectel’s EM12 series of Cat 12 modules, its EM160R-GL Cat 16 module and its RM500Q series of 5G modules, to facilitate customers’ migrations between different modules. The EM060K is embedded with a multi-constellation, high-sensitivity GNSS receiver to enable positioning. This capability simplifies product design and provides adopters with faster, more accurate and more reliable positioning capabilities for applications that require this capability. Quectel has specifically tailored the EM060K-EA series for a range of primary applications, encompassing industrial routers, home gateways, set-top boxes, industrial and consumer laptops, and digital signage. For more information contact Quectel Wireless Solutions, +27 82 653 7458, [email protected], www.quectel.com LTE-Advanced Cat 6 module Telit Cinterion’s new SE868K5-SF completes the SE868K5 11 x 11 mm family of GNSS devices. The module supports all major constellations in the L1 band, including GPS, GLONASS, Galileo, BeiDou, and QZSS. It also Low-power GNSS module long-wave IR imagers, cores and cameras. “Microchip SmartFusion and PolarFire FPGAs provide the best balance between small form factor, power efficiency and processing resources within an extremely low power budget in our current and next-generation products.” Unlike alternatives that offer baseline support for overly broad application categories, PolarFire FPGA intelligent edge solution stacks are highly tailored to specific technologies and vertical-market requirements and include detailed intellectual property (IP), reference designs, development kits with sample designs, application notes, demo guides and more. Microchip’s PolarFire family offers twice the power efficiency of FPGAs in its category, with the highest reliability and military-grade security. These FPGAs are the first RISC-V SoC FPGAs shipping in production volumes. PolarFire SoC devices create new configurable processing capabilities, and they are playing an integral role as computer workloads move to the power-sensitive intelligent edge. For more information contact ASIC Design Services, +27 11 315 8316, [email protected], www.asic.co.za supports satellite-based augmentation systems (SBAS) ranging, and offers a scalable design from single- (-SF) to dual-frequency (-D). Support for Assisted GNSS (A-GNSS) with self- and server-generated orbit predictions enables fast-fix acquisition. It further reduces the consumption during the power-consuming phase of position fix calculation. The SE868K5-SF variant takes this one step further by offering excellent power consumption of only 24 mW in GPS-only mode, while maintaining optimal performance. In addition, the multiple low power and usage modes available, for example, normal, fitness, drone, etc., provide flexibility to adapt to various applications and use cases. The SE868K5 family is based on last-generation 12 nm semiconductor technology for long-term availability. Ideal applications for the module include wearables, health and fitness monitors, PERS (personal emergency response systems), telematics, person, pet and asset trackers, and drones. For more information contact Altron Arrow, +27 11 923 9600, [email protected], www.altronarrow.com
SYSTEMS, COMPONENTS, DESIGN www.dataweek.co.za SOUTH AFRICA Networks (Pty) Ltd On-Demand IoT SIM Links Field Networks is a lobal I T G o Connectivity olution rovider and a arket S P M Leader in SIM Technology. Our IoT SIM cards connect your device anywhere in the orld at an affordable price. W 58 Wakis Avenue, Strijdom Park, Randburg 2195 steve.kelly | www.links�eld.net @links�eld.net +27 11 791 1033 Key Bene�tes & Advantages : GSMA-Certi�ed eSIM platform Unique platform management tools SIM, RSP, Order Management Data usage and SIM activation statistics SMS service Global Connectivity Data pooling across your SIMs Customised data bundles No monthly management fees With the step-function increase in data collected and transmitted from cloud-connected edge nodes, Improved Inter Integrated Circuit (I3C) is rapidly becoming a more sustainable solution for interfacing sensors with a high data rate, and will help expand capabilities in next-generation devices. Leading the way in I3C integration, Microchip Technology has released its PIC18-Q20 family of microcontrollers, the industry’s first low pin count MCUs with up to two I3C peripherals and Multi-Voltage I/O (MVIO). Compared to I2C, I3C offers higher communication rates and lower power consumption, all while maintaining backward compatibility with legacy systems. With I3C functionality, flexible peripherals and the ability to operate on three independent voltage domains, PIC18-Q20 MCUs are well suited to be used in conjunction with a primary MCU in a larger overall system. This family of MCUs can perform tasks such as processing sensor data, handling low latency interrupts and system status reporting that the main MCU cannot perform as efficiently. While the CPU runs at a different voltage domain, the I3C peripheral operates from 1,0 to 3,6 V. Available in 14- and 20-pin packages as small as 3 x 3 mm, the PIC18-Q20 MCUs are a compact solution for real-time control, touch sensing and connectivity applications. They are ideal for a wide range of applications including automotive, industrial control, computing, IoT and medical. For more information contact Avnet Silica, [email protected], www.avnet.com/wps/portal/silica Low pin count MCU with I3C support Nisshinbo’s integrated analogue front ends (AFE) combine programmable gain low-noise precision op-amps, signal conditioning circuitry and ADCs in a single chip. No matter the sensor application, these chips provide the perfect interface between the sensor and the microcontroller. The NJU9103 AFE from Nisshinbo is a small-sized front end measuring only 4 x 4 mm. The IC’s ΔΣ ADC has 16-bit resolution and has up to 512 x signal amplification from the programmable gain amplifier (PGA). The internal digital-to-analogue converter calibration is available to correct for any sensor offset and gain drift. Four differential or seven single-ended inputs can be sampled by the NJU9103 with a conversion rate of 6500 samples per second. Typical applications for this AFE include flow meters, pressure sensors, gas sensors, and thermostats. For more information contact Electrocomp, +27 11 458 9000, [email protected], www.electrocomp.co.za Analogue front end for sensor measurements
Dataweek, 25 October 2023 www.dataweek.co.za 10 REGULAR SYSTEMS, COMPONENTS, DESIGN The Raspberry Pi Foundation has just announced the new Raspberry Pi 5 SBC, available from the end of October 2023. The R-Pi 5 comes with new features and is over twice as fast as its predecessor, the R-Pi 4, thanks to an upgrade to the main processor. Changes over the older model include: • 2,4 GHz quad-core 64-bit Arm Cortex-A76 CPU. • VideoCore VII GPU, supporting OpenGL ES 3.1, Vulkan 1.2. • Dual 4Kp60 HDMI display output. • 4Kp60 HEVC decoder. • Dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi. • High-speed microSD card interface with SDR104 mode support. • Gigabit Ethernet, with PoE+ support. • 2 × 4-lane MIPI camera/display transceivers. • PCIe 2.0 x1 interface for fast peripherals. • Real-time clock. • Power button. • A different port layout. Features that have not been changed include: • Dual-band 802.11ac Wi-Fi. • Bluetooth 5.0 / Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). • 2 × USB 3.0 ports, supporting simultaneous 5 Gbps operation. • 2 × USB 2.0 ports. • Raspberry Pi standard 40-pin GPIO header. Raspberry Pi 5 announced The module receives signals simultaneously from multiple constellations including GPS, Galileo, Glonass, and BeiDou, providing down to 1,5 m positional accuracy. The Teseo-VIC3D module brings the proven accuracy and robustness of the TeseoIII chip to the reach of all designers with the embedded firmware and complete evaluation environment. Within its 16,0 x 12,2 mm package size, the module offers superior accuracy across the full temperature range of -40 to 85°C, thanks to the on-board temperature-compensated crystal oscillator (TCXO). The system has a dedicated real-time clock (RTC) oscillator for a reduced Time to First Fix (TTFF). Through the embedded flash, the Teseo-VIC3D offers many extra features such as seven days autonomous and real-time assisted GNSS. The module supports both FW configurability and FW upgrades. For more information contact Altron Arrow, +27 11 923 9600, [email protected], www.altronarrow.com Dead-reckoning GNSS module Quectel Wireless Solutions has announced that extensive testing by Finite State, a major cybersecurity consultancy, shows that Quectel’s products exceed industry standards and best practices in multiple security measures. Quectel engaged Finite State, a third-party expert security firm focused on managing software supply chain risk for the enterprise, to rigorously test Quectel’s IoT modules to demonstrate Quectel’s commitment to transparent, verifiable product security. The first progress report released to Quectel concludes that its modules’ security IoT module receives high security score The upgraded Arm Cortex-A76 CPU has four 2,4 GHz cores, effectively improving the performance by 2,5 times. This will come in handy when driving the two 4K display outputs at 60 Hz. Also included are dual four-lane MIPI transceivers, each capable of connecting to either two cameras, two displays, or one of each. A welcome addition to the R-Pi form factor is the PCIe 2.0 interface. This will allow the addition of a raft of high-speed peripherals that can utilise the interface. At launch, a HAT connecting to the PCIe bus will be available, which will support NVMe SSDs with the M.2 format. Another new feature is the real-time clock. A battery connector has been provided on the board to allow the clock to keep time when power is removed. This will allow applications to keep time in the absence of a network connection. Finally, a power button has been included on the side of the SBC. Users will no longer have to connect/disconnect the power supply to boot up or shut down the computer. The OS has also been given an upgrade to support the new features present in the R-Pi 5. For more information contact RS South Africa, +27 11 691 9300, [email protected], www.rs-online.co.za score, as reflected in Finite State’s risk profiling, started strong when testing began earlier this year and got stronger rapidly as Quectel implemented Finite State’s recommendations. The score improved across the modules tested from an average of 62 to 24 with the highest possible score being 10. The report underlines that this is a significant improvement in Quectel’s security posture with both the initial and current scores far exceeding the industry average score of 98. “Quectel has embraced security and transparency holistically, in a way that we rarely see from other organisations,” said Matt Wyckhouse, CEO of Finite State. “They have built upon their existing security testing processes by integrating even deeper testing into their first- and third-party code, and they’ve responded to findings in their development process faster than others in their industry,” he concluded. For more information contact Quectel Wireless Solutions, +27 82 653 7458, [email protected], www.quectel.com STMicroelectronics’ Teseo-VIC3D module is an easy-to-use dead-reckoning global navigation satellite system (GNSS) standalone module, embedding TeseoIII single-die standalone positioning receiver IC.
Most powerful Arm® Cortex®-M33 MCU Scalable security to address every need Optimized cost/ performance trade-off Introducing the STM32H5 MCU series for high performance designs IF ONLY an MCU could give me more design freedom and speed up my time to market...
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