22 November 2023 FEATURING: • Telecommunications, Wireless, IoT, RF & Microwave • Embedded Computing, AI & ML • Interconnect, Passive & Electromechanical • Products of the Year 2023 MAX78000 a microcontroller built to execute AI inferences while spending only microjoules of energy The Dream of Edge AI
• AOI; X-ray • Component counters • Component storage • Conveyors • Device programming • Dot dispensing and conformal coating • ESD consumables • In-circuit testers • Jet printers • Low pressure injection moulding • PCB washing machines • Pick-and-place machines • Reflow ovens; vapour phase ovens • Rework and soldering stations • Selective wave soldering; wave soldering • Solder wire and solder paste • SPI • Stencil printers +27 11 869 0049 | [email protected] | www.mykaytronics.co.za The ultimate choice for a fast moving generation! MyKay Tronics We efficiently supply and support a total turnkey solution to the South African electronics market Supply Efficiency Support
Dataweek, 22 November 2023 www.dataweek.co.za 1 TELECOMMUNICATIONS, WIRELESS, IoT, RF & MICROWAVE FEATURE 22 November 2023 Vol. 46 No. 10 News................................................................................. 3 Systems, components, design..........................6 General ............................................................................29 Hot chips......................................................................31 Open [re]sources .......................................................32 QuickFind index ....................................................IBC contents on the cover features regulars Telecommunications, Wireless, IoT, RF & Microwave ........................................................12 Various new components and equipment in the wireless space, an enhancement to the Matter protocol, IoT device protection, and new techniques on preventing GNSS spoofing. Embedded Computing, AI & ML..............................20 The latest controllers and computing platforms used in Edge AI applications. Interconnect, Passive & Electromechanical.......23 A range of components and connectors, using optical transmission for maximum signal density, and components for high speed SPE applications. Products of the Year 2023.............................................26 22 November 2023 FEATURING: • Telecommunications, Wireless, IoT, RF & Microwave • Embedded Computing, AI & ML • Interconnect, Passive & Electromechanical • Products of the Year 2023 MAX78000 a microcontroller built to execute AI inferences while spending only microjoules of energy The Dream of Edge AI Altron Arrow now offers the MAX78000, a new breed of AI microcontroller built to enable neural networks to execute at ultra-low power and live at the edge of the IoT. The hardware-based convolutional neural network accelerator enables even battery-powered applications to execute AI inferences. For more information contact Altron Arrow, +27 11 923 9600, [email protected], www.altronarrow.com
Dataweek, 22 November 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 10 22 NOVEMBER 2023 From the editor’s desk Subscribe online: www.technews.co.za Peter As I sit in front of my computer and ponder the year that is swiftly coming to a close, I again marvel at everything that has happened. It has definitely been a busy year. There have been plenty of announcements in the tech space, flooding my inbox, especially when it comes to artificial intelligence and machine learning. No matter who you speak to, they will have heard something about AI and the effects it will have on our everyday life. And they all have their own opinions too. Many of them, however, are not based on any sort of scientific fact. One opinion piece that did cross my desk this month was an article on training of AI models. Many people do not realise that AI is trained on human-generated information. This mostly comes from information that already exists on the internet in some form: articles that have been written, responses to questions, shopping habits, browsing history; pretty much anything is fair game for use in the training of AI models. But there is a finite amount of non-repetitive information that exists. Let me clarify what I mean by this. Much of the enormous amount of information created each day is a copy of data/information that already exists. People reposting text, images and other multimedia, copying of other data from one platform to another; all this counts towards the total amount of information created. Yes, there is still a massive amount of information available for training, but AI models are becoming more and more powerful, and are able to be trained on larger volumes of data. This year, even though the total amount of data generated globally was in the order of 120 zettabytes, much of this cannot be used for training models. ChatGPT was trained on 570 gigabytes of data, which amounted to around 300 million words. The more data used to train these AI models, the more accurate the models’ responses will become. And this is where the concern starts to kick in for AI researchers; the volume of datasets needed to train AI models is growing much more rapidly than the growth of online data stocks. If the current training trend continues, in a paper published in 2022 it was predicted that we will run out of high-quality data before 2026. If models then turn to the remaining low-quality data, this will also be exhausted, sometime between 2030 and 2050. Intelligence is needed to train AI But do we really want to train our models on low-quality data? We all know the bad decisions that can be made when only poor-quality data is available. After all, the internet is full of examples of ‘average’ people doing stupid things based on lack of insight or forethought. Do we really want our artificial intelligences to be only as smart as the average person? One hope is that newer AI models will have a lower data overhead, that is, to be able to be trained suitably well using less data than their predecessors. I believe this would be similar to how many people get to conclusions nowadays – they are able to make quite reasonable decisions even when they do not know everything about a subject. The one overriding thing I have taken away from all this talk about AI during this year is that we are certainly all living in an interesting and exciting era, even if it can be quite concerning at times. To all our readers I would like to take this opportunity to wish you all a joyous and restful season. May your new year be filled with new goals, new achievements and above all, happiness.
Dataweek, 22 November 2023 www.dataweek.co.za 3 NEWS ELECTRONICS NEWS DIGEST EVENTS Continued on page 4 Financial • Taiwanese chipmaker TSMS posted a 25% fall in the third quarter net profit, beating expectations and saying that the semiconductor industry is poised for recovery. For the year ahead, the company is predicting healthy growth and a drop in industry inventory levels. Demand for personal computers and smartphones, two of TSMC’s main drivers, is expected to lead the recovery, with AI growth also increasing demand for its advanced chips and advanced packaging. • Mycronic has released its interim report for the January to September 2023 period, noting a net sales increase of 3%, and an order intake increase of 14%. Earnings per share for this period were $5,03. A third quarter net sales increase of 5% helped the overall 2023 period to date, but the outlook does not look strong, with the order intake for Q3 decreasing by 9%. The increase in net sales was largely driven by Mycronic’s Pattern Generators. September saw the delivery of the first Prexision system equipped with a solid-state laser, which reduces laser energy consumption by up to 99% compared with a gas laser – traditionally the gas laser accounts for most of the energy consumed by a mask writer. • A new report by TrendForce states that inflation has impacted demand for consumer electronics, causing DRAM module makers’ revenues to fall 4,6%. Global DRAM sales in 2022 reached only $17,3 billion, a 4,6% YoY decline. Kingston maintained its dominant market share of 78%. Raxamel, ranked second, was the only supplier to experience an increase, with an impressive growth of 90%. • Global SSD shipments are down 14,7% YoY, to 114 million units in 2022. The top three SSD shipment leaders were Kingston, ADATA, and Lexar, with Kingston and ADATA maintaining solid growth in market share during 2021. Lexar’s growth can be attributed to its aggressive push for revenue in anticipation of the company trading publicly. Although a smaller player, Netac was another company that maintained its competitive edge in the SSD market. • In a recent press release, TrendForce says that new sanctions will cause a large slump in China’s demand for high-end AI servers, down to a mere 3-4% in 2023. In the ongoing chip war between the US and China, the Department of Commerce has issued another update to its export control regulations. The update is targeting sectors like the semiconductor manufacturing equipment and HPC (primarily AI) chips. The inclusion of the NXT:1980Di into the list of controlled items is a significant change. The current ban expands control SEMICON Japan 2023 13-15 December 2023 Tokyo Big Sight, Japan SEMICON Japan electronics manufacturing exhibition covers manufacturing technology, equipment and materials in the semiconductor industry, and SMART applications such as automobiles and IoT devices. The Advanced Packaging and Chiplet Summit (APCS) will also be held concurrently, where top players in the semiconductor packaging and substrate mounting fields will gather. Register at https://www.semiconjapan.org/en CES 2024 9-12 January 2024 Las Vegas, USA The Consumer Electronics Show is not only a showcase, but also a proving ground for the latest breakthrough technologies and innovations in tech. The show hosts companies including manufacturers, developers and suppliers of consumer technology hardware, content, and delivery systems. With over 35 product categories on display by more than 3500 exhibitors, CES 2024 promises to deliver technology insight to all 130 000+ attendees. Register at https://www.ces.tech IPC APEX EXPO 2024 9-11 April 2024 IPC APEX EXPO 2024 is one of the industry’s largest events in North America, featuring a world-class trade show, cutting-edge technical conference, professional development courses taught by industry experts, and non-stop networking. The Electronic Circuits World Convention, an international symposium on global PCB demand and manufacturing processes, will be hosted concurrently. Register at https://www.ipcapexexpo.org embedded world 2024 9-11 April 2024 Nuremberg, Germany The embedded world Exhibition & Conference provides a global platform for the embedded community, including leading experts, key players and industry associations. It offers insight into the world of embedded systems, from components and modules to operating systems, hardware and software design, M2M communication, and services related to complex system design. Register at https://www.embedded-world.de/en over the A800, H800 and L40S series of AI chips, which will see a decrease in appetite for NVIDIA’s high-end AI servers. • The start of Q4 2023 has seen a significant rise in the price of NAND Flash, with an anticipated hike of between 8 and 13%. This increase is largely due to stringent production controls implemented by suppliers. The continuation of this rise remains to be seen, as it hinges on the suppliers consistently reducing output and the resurgence of demand for enterprise SSDs within the server market. • According to latest research by Berg Insight, rapid growth for the cold chain tracking solutions market is on the horizon. Shipments of remote tracking systems with cellular or satellite communications capabilities for refrigerated cargo carrying units reached 725 000 units worldwide in 2022. Growing at a CAGR of 9,8%, this number is expected to reach 1,2 million units by 2027. Annual device shipments in this category will grow from 5,9 million units in 2022 to 22,5 million units in 2027. Companies • A network connectivity solution, Wirepas Click, has become the 1500th member of MIKROE’s fast-growing development board range. Wirepas Click enables engineers to implement the Wirepas Mesh wireless connectivity stack. The platform provides large scalability with the technology, therefore, ideal for extensive IoT networks. This new addition to the Click range makes the perfect solution for developing long-life battery driven IoT networks, supply chains, asset tracking, and other smart applications. • Infineon has announced that it has acquired GaN Systems, an Ottawa-based company with a broad portfolio of gallium nitride-based power conversion solutions and leading-edge knowledge in the field. GaN is rapidly becoming a key material for power semiconductors and is set to play an important role in applications like mobile charging, data centre power supplies, residential solar inverters, and onboard chargers for EVs. The acquisition will further reinforce Infineon’s position as a global leader in power systems. • Dimension Data is undergoing a name change next year to reflect the company’s buyout by the Japanese ICT business NTT Group. The name change to NTT Data will take effect on 1 April 2024, with current CEO, Alan Turnley-Jones, continuing to lead the company in Africa and the Middle East. The company was acquired by NTT in 2010 in a R24,4 billion cash deal and merged with NTT Communications and NTT Security. The combined business will be an Electronics News Digest
Dataweek, 22 November 2023 www.dataweek.co.za 4 NEWS ELECTRONICS NEWS DIGEST Continued from page 3 The new entity, Phahama Bosco, will offer a spectrum of PCB solutions. For over 67 years, Bosco has been a leading player in electronics manufacturing. Specialising in locally-manufactured PCBs, it Phahama and Bosco partnership deal $18 billion revenue IT services company, the fifth largest in this category worldwide. • Mouser Electronics has partnered with Siemens on a distribution agreement for their industrial automation solutions. Siemens’ operations encompass factory automation and digitalisation in the process and manufacturing industries, intelligent infrastructure for buildings and distributed energy systems, rail transport solutions, and health technology and digital healthcare services. Mouser will be stocking parts from Siemens in a variety of product categories, including networking devices, human-machine interface (HMI) solutions, circuit protection and power supplies. • South African systems integrator, BCX, has announced its recent achievement of the ‘Most Valuable Partner’ award at the Alibaba Cloud Middle East & Africa Partner gala event. The criteria for this award were based on BCX’s achievements in the field of cloud computing, including its commitment to promoting Alibaba Cloud solutions and products. • The Global Semiconductor Alliance (GSA) has announced that Dr Rick Tsai is the 2023 recipient of the Dr Morris Change Exemplary Leadership Award. Dr Tsai is currently CEO and vice chairman of MediaTek, and oversees worldwide businesses, product strategies, caters to a wide range of clients and provides solutions covering single- and double-sided boards and aluminium base PCBs. PSD is a 100% black-owned and women-controlled electronic contract manufacturer, specialising in PCB population. With a proven track record, it enjoys an excellent relationship with customers, and past collaborations with Bosco. Bosco, as a historically family-owned business, has recognised the importance of transformation. The partnership will see Bosco becoming a black-owned and women-controlled electronic supplier, with diverse offerings. The new relationship will be a marriage of the two entities, focused on mutual skills transfer and growth opportunities for all parties, with the expertise and experience built up over generations seamlessly integrated into the new company. Phahama Bosco has realised the need for vast technology upgrades and, through this collaboration, aims to enhance and diversify its local manufacturing by adding multilayer PCBs to its repertoire, whilst still delivering excellent customer service, competitive pricing, and flexibility, without compromising on the high quality that its customers have come to rely on. For more information contact Phahama Bosco, +27 11 452 1413, [email protected] A new partnership between Phahama Systems Development (PSD) and Bosco Printed Circuits (Bosco) aims to enhance their customers’ experience while maintaining the high service and quality that they are known for. technology, engineering, R&D, manufacturing operations, and information technology. • Private equity firm, RMB Corvest, in partnership with BEE Investment vehicle Shalamuka Capital, has acquired a minority stake in Switch Telecom, a Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) telecommunications service provider. Switch Telecom designs, develops, customises and maintains fixed line voice services using VoIP technology for residential, corporate and wholesale clients, mainly in South Africa. • TDK will develop tunnel magnetoresistance (TMR) dies for LEM, who will incorporate these TMR dies into their integrated current sensors (ICS), a critical component used in rapidly expanding electrification applications like onboard chargers in EVs. This collaboration will further position TDK’s TMR technology to succeed in the automotive and industrial markets, two sectors in which LEM brings deep expertise, especially in booming segments such as energy storage, motor drives, and solar inverters. • In a bid to focus on their systems integration business, Bosch is looking for a buyer for its Building Technologies division which includes the video, access and intrusion, and communication units. Their fire-alarm systems unit, however, is to be kept because of its importance for systems integration, and will be merged with the integrator business. Technologies • NVIDIA Corporation has started using Arm Holdings Plc technology to develop chips to rival Intel’s ubiquitous CPUs used in most personal computers. NVIDIA’s AI accelerator chips already dominate the AI market, and they will now use their expertise to make CPUs that will run Microsoft’s OS without modifications. This comes after the failed attempt by Microsoft to recode their OS to run on ARM-based processors. The news caused Intel shares to drop over 3% overnight when the news broke. • Researchers at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) have built a superconducting camera containing 400 000 pixels, 400 times more than any other similar device. Superconducting cameras allow scientists to capture very weak light signals, and having more pixels will open many new applications in science and biomedical research. The NIST camera is made up of grids of ultrathin electrical wires, cooled to near absolute zero, in which current moves with no resistance until a wire is struck by a photon. In these superconducting-nanowire cameras, the energy imparted by even a single photon can be detected because it shuts down the superconductivity at a particular location (pixel) on the grid. Combining all the locations and intensities of all the photons makes up an image. From left to right: Ntsika Twala, Business Development Director, James Verheul, Operational Director, Hosia Matlou, Director.
Dataweek, 22 November 2023 www.dataweek.co.za 5 NEWS 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. STMicroelectronics has reported US GAAP financial results for the third quarter ended 30 September 2023. The report stated net revenues of $4,43 billion, gross margin of 47,6%, operating margin of 28,0%, and net income of $1,09 billion, or $1,16 diluted earnings per share. The company’s YTD net revenues were $13 billion, with a gross margin of 48,7%, and an operating margin of 27,6% amounting to a net income of $3,14 billion. Business outlook at the mid-point looks healthy with Q4 2023 net revenues of $4,3 billion and gross margin of 46%. Jean-Marc Chery, ST president and CEO, commented: “Q3 net revenues of $4,43 billion ST reports third quarter results Yamaha Robotics displayed the latest-generation 1 STOP SMART SOLUTION at Productronica 2023, bringing together the complete set of new YR series printers, surface-mounters and inspection machines. The new YRM20DL dual-lane mounter premiered on the booth, and a full area was dedicated to Yamaha software solutions. A factory automation demonstration was also performed, which presented flexible robots for mechanical assembly. The latest YR series surface-mount machines from Yamaha deliver increased accuracy and stability, and enable fully automated changeovers for unprecedented speed and efficiency. In the new YRP10 premium printer, automation permits immediate stencil change for sustained high throughput and consistent solder-paste condition. The YRM20 mounter Yamaha at Productronica 2023 Silicon Labs recently released its Q3 2023 financial results, ending 30 September, which reported a solid revenue in the challenging electronics IoT market. Total revenue for the period was $204 million, being made up by Industrial and Commercial of $121 million, and Home and Life of $83 million. GAAP gross margin was reported as 58,4%. R&D expenses amounted to $79 million and SG&A expenses came in at $28 million. The operating income as a percentage of revenue was 6%, with diluted earnings per share of $0,32. “The Silicon Labs team executed well in the third quarter, driving revenue and EPS that exceeded the mid-point of our guidance,” said SI’s third quarter results The significance of cleaning in ESD control In order to prevent electrostatic discharge (ESD) damage to electronic assemblies and components, it is imperative that they are produced, handled, packaged, and stored within an ESD-protected environment. It is also essential that these ESD-protected workplace areas and equipment (tables, floors, work mats, trays, tools, machine elements) are cleaned with specialised antistatic cleaners. As a key component in any static control cleaning programme, products should be non-toxic, non-flammable, and non-staining. Antistatic topicals offer user-friendly solutions that effectively reduce static electricity. Actum offers a range of ACL Staticide products known for their ability to dissipate static charges to zero faster than any other antistatic topicals available in the market. ACL Staticide, as specialists in ESD product cleaning, has gained international recognition for innovation, quality, and reliability. It is vital to give special attention to the cleaning of ESD floors. Neglecting the cleaning and maintenance of antistatic floors can jeopardise their ESD properties, potentially resulting in expensive replacements for both the damaged electronics and the floor itself. To ensure the long-term optimal performance of an ESD floor, regular cleaning with a dedicated ESD floor cleaner is essential. with Greg Barron, Actum Group director came in above the midpoint of our business outlook range, and Q3 gross margin of 47,6% was slightly above guidance. Q3 net revenues increased 2,5% year-over-year. As expected, the revenue performance was driven mainly by continued growth in Automotive, partially offset by lower revenues in Personal Electronics.” He continued: “The midpoint of this outlook translates into full year 2023 revenues of about $17,3 billion, representing 7,3% year-over-year growth and a gross margin of about 48,1%.” For more information visit www.st.com. permits non-stop cart and feeder changes, combined with high placement speed and a choice of flexible heads to maximise throughput. The YRi-V 3D AOI system with high-resolution vision, high-speed graphics processing, and AI to boost component recognition, eases programming, cuts cycle time, and raises inspection accuracy. The YRM20DL dual-lane mounter will be on display for the first time in Europe. With equal board-size adjustment range and support for all automated features on each lane, the YRM20DL enables owners to increase throughput, flexibility, and efficiency at the same time. For more information contact Truth Electronic Manufacturing, +27 31 822 8555, [email protected], www.truthelectronics.co.za Matt Johnson, president and CEO at Silicon Labs. “The current demand environment remains quite weak as we navigate this cyclical inventory correction, and end market visibility continues to be challenging. That said, we are pleased with our record design win performance in the quarter and continued advancements in our industry-leading platform. We believe this positions us well for growth and higher earnings power when the market recovers.” The company forecasts the fourth quarter revenue to be between $70 and $100 million. For more information visit www.silabs.com
Dataweek, 22 November 2023 www.dataweek.co.za 6 REGULAR SYSTEMS, COMPONENTS, DESIGN Save space and improve efficiency with a 4-switch buck-boost controller By Xu Zhang, power design manager, Analog Devices, www.analog.com. Figure 1. Ground-referenced current sensing in 4-switch buck-boost converters. Figure 2. Switching node referred current sensing in 4-switch buck-boost converters. The 4-switch buck-boost converter is popular and well-known for generating a regulated output voltage above, below, or equal to the input voltage. It also disconnects the input/output (I/O) during extreme fault conditions, such as the input short circuit or the output short circuit conditions. Together with overcurrent and overvoltage protections, 4-switch buck-boost converters are widely used in battery-powered devices, automotive systems, and general-purpose industrial applications. New technology: DCR inductor current sensing While prior 4-switch buck-boost controllers use external current-sensing resistors for current sensing, the LTC7878 is the first 4-switch buck-boost controller designed using inductor DCR for inductor current sensing. Implemented with a novel peak current mode control scheme, it has a built-in cycle-by-cycle peak current limit, whether the regulator is in buck, boost, or buck-boost operation. From a wide 5 to 70 V input voltage range, the output can be regulated from 1 to 70 V with ±1% accuracy. By not requiring current-sensing resistors, the new buck-boost converter eliminates power loss and shrinks solution size. At the same time, it lowers the system cost by eliminating expensive high-power current-sensing resistors. Inductor DCR current sensing also provides continuous inductor current information, which enables unified peak current mode control and easy parallel operation in multiphase multi-IC configurations. Inductor current sensing in 4-switch buck-boost converters Many 4-switch buck-boost controllers require two or more current-sensing resistors to sense the I/O current and the inductor current for closed-loop operation. Analog Devices has unique buck-boost controllers that require only one current-sensing resistor to sense the current used in the current-mode control loop. Figure 1 shows a ground-referenced current-sensing method used in many traditional products. It is simple and easily implemented inside the IC. However, it can only sense the inductor current when Switch B or Switch C is turned on; this is the inductor valley current in the buck region or the peak current in the boost region, respectively. PCB layout options will be limited because the two MOSFETs (B and C) are both connected to the current-sensing resistor and must be placed close to each other. Figure 2 shows a switching node referred current-sensing method used in some other buck-boost controllers. The current-sensing resistor is placed in series with the inductor, allowing it to sense the inductor current continuously. However, the voltage on the sensing resistor at the switching node swings up and down between the input voltage and ground when switches A and B are turning on/off. This requires the current-sensing circuit to have a very high common-mode rejection ratio (CMRR) to minimise the common-mode noise. Compared with tens of volts of common-mode voltage, the sensed inductor current signal is in the range of only 50 mV to 100 mV – a signal that could be easily distorted during power stage switching. To circumvent the noise, the current comparators are disconnected, and their inputs are turned off, as shown in Figure 2. Brief blanking times omit brief periods of inductor current information, even though the sensed signal is continuous. Figure 3 shows the inductor DCR current-sensing method used in the LTC7878. By matching the time constant of the RC sensing network with the inductance and the DCR (L/DCR = Rs × Cs), the inductor current is converted to a voltage signal on the sensing network (Cs) and the gain is the DCR of the inductor. The current comparator is built under the BST1/SW1 circuit, which swings together with the VIN-GND switching node during operation. Due to the same common-mode voltage on the current comparator and the switching node, the current comparator inputs do not need to disconnect from the DCR sensing signal when SW1 switches. In this way, the inductor current is cycle-by-cycle regulated and limited continuously. Compared with the switching node referred current sensing, only a single comparator under BST1/SW1 is needed. Furthermore, an option to support different DCR values and cover various inductors is provided. For inductors with small DCR, the ISNSD pin may be set to amplify the signal and improve the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) four times larger than the conventional DCR sensing scheme. The high SNR design significantly improves system reliability and provides stable switching operation across different duty cycles. Figure . Inductor DCR current sensing in 4-switch buck-boost converters. Continued on page 8 FEATURE ARTICLE
EGT: The Cost-Effective, High-Performance Solution for Linux GUI Development Ensemble Graphics Toolkit (EGT) is an open-source graphics software framework that enables the creation of modern and responsive Graphical User Interfaces (GUIs) for embedded applications running Linux. Free of any licensing or royalty fees, EGT is a complete application-level graphics solution fully integrated into Microchip mainline Linux distribution. EGT helps developers create high-performing graphics with: • Lower power, lower cost MPUs • Smaller memory footprint • Boot times less than 2.5 seconds • Lower Bill of Materials (BOM) cost • Quicker time to market EGT provides efficient and cost-effective GUI development for a variety of applications, including those in the consumer, automotive, industrial, and medical industries. EGT is the best choice for creating highperforming Linux graphics with lower overall system cost with a similar look and feel to costly 3rd party GUI development tools. microchip.com/egt The Microchip name and logo and the Microchip logo are registered trademarks of Microchip Technology Incorporated in the U.S.A. and other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their registered owners. © 2023 Microchip Technology Inc. All rights reserved. MEC2516A-UK-07-23
Dataweek, 22 November 2023 www.dataweek.co.za 8 NEWS Polyphase parallel operation Inductor DCR current sensing together with continuous inductor current information allow a unified peak current mode control scheme to be implemented in the LTC7878. This scheme enables the polyphase operation, just as with many peak current mode buck or boost DC-to-DC controllers. Just by sharing all the ITH pins and daisy chaining all the CLKOUT pins, multiple LTC7878 devices can be paralleled together to supply more current to the load. The load current is distributed evenly among all the channels, and the current sharing between inductors ensures thermal balance and high efficiency. The unique cycle-by-cycle inductor current sharing reduces the overcurrent stress on the inductors during startup and load transients, improving system reliability. More features The switching frequency can be programmed between 100 and 600 kHz or synchronised to an external clock. The integrated 7 V NMOS gate drivers can drive either logic level or nonlogic level MOSFETs. Other features include a smart external VCC bias pin, a PGOOD indicator pin, and selectable discontinuous conduction mode/continuous conduction mode (DCM/CCM) operation with different current limit settings. The LTC7878 can be used for inputs up to 70 V and for outputs programmable from 1 to 70 V. Conclusion The LTC7878 is a high performance 4-switch buck-boost controller with inductor DCR current sensing. It uses peak current mode control in buck, boost, or buck-boost regions, and always provides cycle-by-cycle peak current limits and protections. By using inductor DCR current sensing, the solution provides high efficiency, while lowering component cost. To maximise the power, multiple parts can easily work in parallel in a polyphase architecture. For more information contact Altron Arrow, +27 11 923 9600, [email protected], www.altronarrow.com Continued from page 6 Any fluctuation in the power supply circuits will cause a surge, which could affect the back-end devices. In conventional circuits, the surge is differential mode (DM) ±2 kV/common mode (CM) ±4 kV. However, in complex environments, surge interference may be far higher. The FC-LxxWx series, a filter module applied at the input of the power supplies, has a strong immunity to surge voltages of DM up to 4 kV and CM up to 6 kV. These EMC filters, based on the second-order filtering scheme, mitigate performance to CM/DM interference up to 60 dB, which can effectively suppress interference, and improve the conduction level of the LM series power supply products. For more information contact Vepac Electronics, +27 11 454 8053, [email protected], www.vepac.co.za EMC filter for enclosed power supply series In many power supply designs and applications, the main power circuits often have high EMC interference. To increase their anti-interference capability, MORNSUN has released the FC-LxxWx series of EMC filters as a supplement to meet the design requirement of AC/DC enclosed power supplies, especially for LM/LMF series products. SYSTEMS, COMPONENTS, DESIGN
Dataweek, 22 November 2023 www.dataweek.co.za 9 NEWS SKEG was founded in 2005 in Cape Town by Pierre Becker, the current CEO, together with a group of fabricators and engineers who were all former colleagues at an international company that manufactured and distributed portable electrical and electronic products. The industrial design sector was flourishing in the early 2000s and Becker and his colleagues saw the opportunity to service the industry with prototyping, technical and engineering services. Originally starting out with a staff complement of six members consisting of a strong technical team, SKEG now has 26 permanent employees over various disciplines including designers, engineers, fabricants, model makers and business strategists. The company’s expertise is rooted in their extensive experience across multiple industries, bolstered by a diverse team of passionate engineers, technicians, and seasoned business professionals. SKEG operates at the forefront of DeepTech product innovation and development. The company operates through delivering vital services, these being product development, innovation capital, and manufacturing and operations. The company has experience across multiple industries, including health, smart cities, FMCG, automotive, industrial automation, agritech, science, and marine. With a track record spanning 18 years, its portfolio boasts over 3000 projects. SKEG believes in delivering their packaged and line-item services through a partnership SKEG: transforming ideas into reality model. There are four collaboration frameworks through which the company’s services are delivered, namely end-to-end product development, design to scale, venture building, and consultative innovation. The company has realised through many different product development stories and experiences, partnerships, and potential partnerships that the only way to service the innovation industry is to truly become part of the narrative of each client, not just from a service provider perspective but to literally walk alongside the client who has the vision to have an impact and create value through innovation. Its value offering to innovators or clients is therefore to be their consistent partner from ideation to creating value. SKEG’s first premises were in Alternator Park in Cape Town and, five years later, the company made the move to its current location in the same area. The company’s intention is to shortly establish a SKEG campus, a place where DeepTech startups have access to laboratories where they can work actively on their innovative ideas and products. This campus will become a hub for interaction between different start-ups and sharing of ideas – a place where inventors, innovators and entrepreneurs can collaborate. These start-ups would also then gain access to SKEG’s staff expertise, and, if they possess the required skills and training, to the manufacturing facilities on offer. Another move is in the pipeline to bigger premises which will be able to accommodate a larger campus. Over the years, SKEG has undergone a shift in focus from being an ‘at arms’ length’ services company to a partnership programme where clients are supported. Starting out as a service provider for the industrial and technical design industry, SKEG pivoted from delivering services to the design world, to a fully-fledged end-to-end product development company. Besides the manufacturing and operations services on offer, SKEG also offers start-ups and SMEs who have a unique product idea support in the form of partnership models where the company may become a co-investor. SKEG is built upon the traditional values of integrity, trust and ethical behaviour. The company has two core values: to look after its projects and to look after its ‘SKEGgers’ as its employees are affectionately called. The company understands that it will not flourish without total buy in from its employees. As an innovation engine that aids in the end-to-end development of bringing clients’ ideas and products to market, SKEG adds value to its partners. In the long term, the company strives to discover intellectual property in the DeepTech space, and then develop that technology into fit-for-market products. SKEG’s slogan is “Let’s Make It” – a call to action and its belief in fruitful partnerships where they can take on the role of guides, navigators, and advisors. For more information contact SKEG at +27 21 551 1441, [email protected] or visit www.skeg.com Let’s Make It – a call to action and a belief in fruitful partnerships. COMPANY PROFILE
Dataweek, 22 November 2023 www.dataweek.co.za 10 REGULAR SYSTEMS, COMPONENTS, DESIGN Analog Devices’ LTM8080 is an ultra-low noise dual output DC/DC µModule regulator. Operating from up to 40 V at the input, the LTM8080’s front-end is a high-efficiency synchronous Silent Switcher step-down regulator followed by two separate low noise, low dropout (LDO) regulators. To further suppress switching noise, the LTM8080’s packaging integrates an EMI barrier wall or shield. The result is exceptional low noise values of less than 1 µVRMS (10 Hz to 100 kHz), and 80 dB PSRR (100 kHz). Ultra-low noise, ultra-high PSRR µModule regulator The STM32H573I-DK Discovery kit from STMicroelectronics is a complete demonstration and development platform for the STM32H573IIK3Q microcontroller, featuring an Arm Cortex‑M33 core with Arm TrustZone. The full range of hardware features available on the board include an RGB interface LCD with touch panel, USART, USB Type-C FS (Source/Sink), Ethernet, microSD, Octo‑SPI flash memory, SAI audio codec stereo with audio jack input/output, and MEMS digital microphone, which help users to interface with the STM32H5 MCU peripherals and to develop their applications. Several connectors such as ARDUINO Uno V3, Pmod, and STMod+ are also available on the board to provide an easy way to connect extension shields or daughterboards for specific applications. The STM32H573I-DK Discovery kit integrates an STLINK-V3EC embedded in-circuit debugger and programmer for the STM32 microcontroller, with a USB Virtual COM port bridge. The board also comes with the STM32CubeH5 Expansion Package, which gathers in one single package all the generic embedded software components required to develop an application on STM32H5 microcontrollers, and provides several examples and applications for easy understanding. For more information contact Altron Arrow, +27 11 923 9600, [email protected], www.altronarrow.com Build the next generation IoT device MPLAB PICkit 5 The unit is powered via a USB type-C cable or, with the unique programmer-to-go function, can also be powered by the target board and program a default image simply with a press of the hidden button beneath the unit’s logo. Users can also connect via Bluetooth using the MPLAB mobile app, browse the micro SDTM card installed in the tool for a different image, and start programming the target board right from the app. The PICkit 5contains a 32-bit MCU running at 300 MHz running a RTOS. It contains an eight-pin SIL programming connector and can program devices using either MPLAB X IDE or MPLAB IPE. This versatile programming companion allows prototyping and debugging of a design solution, whether in the laboratory or in the field. For more information contact ASIC Design Services, +27 11 315 8316, [email protected], www.asic.co.za Microchip Technology’s MPLAB PICkit 5 in-circuit debugger/programmer enables quick prototyping and portable, production-ready programming for all Microchip components, including PIC, dsPIC, AVR, and SAM (Arm) devices. In conjunction with the MPLAB X integrated development environment (IDE), this kit provides a powerful, easy-to-use graphical user interface (GUI) for debugging and programming. The MPLAB PICkit 5 can also be used as a standalone debugger/programmer with the MPLAB Programmer-To-Go mobile app via a Bluetooth connection. The MPLAB PICkit 5 supports various interfaces such as four-wire JTAG or serial wire debug (SWD) with streaming UART virtual comm port (VCP). The module, combined with the debugger adaptor board (AC102015), can use standard connectors for JTAG, SWD, ICSP, and AVR protocols. Compared to discrete solutions without an EMI shield, the LTM8080 reduces output ripple voltage by up to 70% for a simplified and quiet design. The LTM8080 is specifically designed to power digital loads that are susceptible to switching regulator noise such as data converters, RF transmitters, FPGA I/O and clock, operational amplifiers, transceivers, and medical scanners. For more information contact Altron Arrow, +27 11 923 9600, [email protected], www.altronarrow.com
JOHANNESBURG +27 (0) 11 923 9600 | DURBAN +27 (0) 31 279 1660 | CAPE TOWN +27 (0) 21 555 1884 ENTERPRISE COMPUTING SOLUTIONS ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS SEMICONDUCTORS FREQUENCY PASSIVES CONNECTORS & ELECTRO-MECHANICAL WIRELESS & MODULES LIGHTING & OPTICS POWER SUPPLIES DISPLAYS BATTERIES & SOLAR
Dataweek, 22 November 2023 www.dataweek.co.za 12 TELECOMMUNICATIONS, WIRELESS, IoT, RF & MICROWAVE FEATURE The Infineon wireless infrastructure driver amplifiers can be used as pre-drivers or drivers in RF applications, from massive MIMO 5G base stations to small cells and access points. The tiny amplifiers sit typically between transceiver IC and power amplifier (PA), but can also be used as power amplifier for low-power applications. The driver amplifiers boast high linearity and an excellent wide-band gain flatness for optimum linearisation results of the driven PA. Driver amplifiers for wireless infrastructure The AM1142 from Atlanta Micro is a wideband, cascadable amplifier operating in the 20 MHz to 18 GHz frequency range. The device exhibits exceptional linearity and power handling capabilities across its bandwidth, while maintaining moderate gain and noise figure. With internal 50 Ω matching, and packaged in a 3 mm QFN, the AM1142 represents a compact total PCB footprint. High-frequency cascadable amplifier This update introduces new device types and expands the reach of Matter into new markets, while also bringing other improvements that enhance interoperability and user experience. This release expands device types to include white goods, fans, robot vacuums, and air quality control. The new Matter device types include: • Washing machines. • Refrigerators. • Dishwashers. • Room air conditioners. • Robotic vacuum cleaners. • Air quality sensors. • Air purifiers. • Smoke/CO alarms. • Fan control. Some of these devices are not addressed by existing protocols to date. However, many tend to be Wi-Fi-enabled, but often have limited ecosystem support and require proprietary app control. With support in Matter 1.2, manufacturers can simplify the user experience – including commissioning – while enabling integration into key smart home ecosystems. In addition to the new device types, Matter 1.2 adds new features that improve the user experience for commissioning to better describe the product or its elements. For example, a door lock could be described in a Matter Controller’s UI as having a chrome finish, to help the user identify which one they are interacting with. Matter 1.2 adds new capabilities Wi-Fi 6 is playing an increasingly important role in IoT devices, with a focus on not only increasing bandwidth, but also supporting larger networks. Wi-Fi 6 also focusses on battery-based devices that may not require high bandwidth, but need long battery life, as an increasing number of wireless IoT devices are battery operated. With Wi-Fi being ubiquitous, and with its latest versions and security offerings, the combination of Matter over Wi-Fi provides tangible benefits to users by ensuring that they will have a more seamless experience across various product types and applications. Soon, developers will be able to use Silicon Labs’ latest IoT-optimised Wi-Fi offering, the The Matter protocol was designed to unify smart home devices by leveraging existing IP technologies, like Wi-Fi and Thread, to establish a new open standard. Matter 1.2, released by the Connectivity Standards Alliance, marks the second round of updates to the Matter protocol since its initial release in fall of 2022. The high driving capability and the high gain allow a minimum number of components in the TX line-up, typically requiring only the pre-driver between transceiver IC and power amplifier. In addition, the differential input of the pre-driver saves the balun and converts the differential signal to single-ended, without additional losses. The BGA7P320 is a 3,3 to 4,2 GHz mid-band driver amplifier that can be used as pre-driver or driver in RF applications from MIMO 5G base stations to small cells and access points. The SiGe based amplifier offers best RF performance and a high OP1dB: 27,8 dBm. This driver amplifier boasts high linearity and an excellent wide-band gain flatness of less than 0,5 dB for optimum linearisation results of the driven PA. For more information contact EBV Electrolink, +27 21 402 1940, [email protected], www.ebv.com The amplifier is supplied with a voltage up to 5,5 V and has a -40 to 85°C operating temperature range, with 17 dB of gain and 2,4 dB noise figure. For more information contact RFiber Solutions, +27 12 667 5212, [email protected], www.rfibersolutions.com SiWx917, which combines the latest Wi-Fi 6 protocol with Bluetooth LE networking and Matter, along with ultra-low power capabilities to achieve longest battery life, best-in-class security, and AI/ML accelerators in a single SoC. This will enable developers to design Matter products that can support a multitude of applications across various market segments, whether it be smart home, commercial, smart cities, industrial or health. For more information contact NuVision Electronics, +27 11 608 0144, [email protected], www.nuvisionelec.com
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 ease of use ease of connectivity �exibility with security Saelig Company has introduced the Aaronia IsoLOG 3D Mobile PRO three-axis testing antennas for RF measurements up to 8 GHz. The 3D Mobile PRO is an extremely light and small isotropic antenna, compatible with any spectrum analyser, for making X/Y/Z-axis RF measurements, or in chop-mode, to make rotating measurements around an X/Y/Z axis, for frequencies up to 8 GHz. The antenna offers a plug and play solution for 3D measurements in fast time frames. Lightweight, at only 350 g, and compact (31,75 x 7 x 7 cm), the IsoLOG3D Mobile PRO is a versatile, portable RF measurement tool. The antenna requires no software installation, no power connection, and no changes to hardware. It can be connected to any analyser or oscilloscope via its N (male or female) connector. The IsoLOG 3D Mobile PRO is available in three different versions: 9 kHz to 3 GHz (9030 PRO), 9 kHz to 6 GHz (9060 PRO), and 9 kHz to 8 GHz (9080 PRO). Each antenna includes an internal, rechargeable battery offering an operating time of approximately six hours, but it may also be powered from an external DC source. Switchable integrated low-noise single or dual pre-amplifiers, with a gain of 15 dB each @ 2 GHz, allow the measurement of very weak signals, while in bypass mode, the antenna can take accurate measurements in high field strength situations. The antenna is controlled either via USB, or by manual selection. The antenna’s built-in and adjustable ‘chopper’ function uses glitch-free RF switches to provide an automatic endless antenna rotation with a switching duration of up to 50 kHz. This transforms the IsoLOG 3D Mobile PRO into a fully functional 3D antenna without the need for any USB software control. For more information contact Vepac Electronics, +27 11 454 8053, [email protected], www.vepac.co.za Antenna for RF measurements up to 8 GHz TELECOMMUNICATIONS, WIRELESS, IoT, RF & MICROWAVE www.dataweek.co.za The FCTS series of low-noise frequency translators from Synergy Microwave Corporation are very useful for improving system noise floor in higher frequency phase locked clock regeneration applications. These ICs are the perfect solution to translate a low-frequency master reference clock or reference oscillator to a higher frequency to improve phase noise, reduce power consumption, and simplify circuit complexity. This device is a much simpler and overall better solution than direct frequency multipliers. Standard models are available with a 10 or 100 MHz input, but they can also be made available for other supportable, non-standard input frequencies. The typical phase noise at 1 KHz offset is -115 dBc/Hz. These surface-mount devices with a 24 x 24 mm footprint are available with a fixed frequency output starting at 800 MHz, going up to 2 GHz. For more information contact RFiber Solutions, +27 12 667 5212, [email protected], www.rfibersolutions.com Ultra-low noise phase locked frequency translators
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