#8 - CAN-FD Motor Driver, Hall Sensor, Load Switch, and more!

11/08/23 • 9 min

Welcome to show #8 of News Bytes, Elektor's news show looking at what's happening in the electronics and semiconductor industry.

This episode is sponsored by TME. Products for makers and hobbyists are a solid and growing segment of the TME product portfolio. The most popular are Arduino boards, ranging from the iconic UNO Rev3, through to the MKR and NANO series, up to the PORTENTA boards focused on the needs of professional developers. Arduino’s latest addition to the lineup, the UNO Rev 4 Minima & UNO Rev 4 WiFi, can also be ordered directly from the website at https://www.tme.eu

In this episode, Stuart Cording, The Electronics Reporter, looks at:

[00:00] Intro to the show!

[00:38] Motors drivers with support for CAN-FD are now available in the automotive-compliant MOTIX family from Infineon - www.infineon.com/TLE988x and www.infineon.com/TLE989x

[01:43] Magnets are a great way of detecting open doors and liquid levels. Diodes has launched a low-power Hall sensor for just this task - https://www.diodes.com/about/news/press-releases/micropower-push-pull-unipolar-hall-switches-from-diodes-incorporated-save-board-space-in-battery-powered-applications/

[02:46] NACS, the North American Charging Standard, is gaining popularity. Vector announces testing support across a range of their products, including the VH5100A that listens to charger-vehicle communication - https://www.presseagentur.com/vector/detail.php?pr_id=6736&lang=en

[04:22] Rather than use a MOSFET to control power to part of your circuit, why not take a look at the highly integrated NPS4053 from Nexperia for controlling your load - https://www.nexperia.com/products/analog-logic-ics/power-ics/load-switches/series/NPS4053.html

[05:30] Cyber attacks on industrial applications affected as many as 90% of businesses, according to Trend Micro. Moxa is tackling this with their OnCell G4302-LTE4 secure cellular routers - https://www.moxa.com/en/spotlight/industrial-wireless/oncell-g4302-lte4/index

[06:32] Sprung contacts with vertical compression are common for PCBs, but those supporting horizontal movement are few and far between. Harwin changes this with their S 1921/1931/1981/1991 spring contacts - https://www.harwin.com/products/S1991-46R/

[07:33] eCall has been mandatory in the EU since 2015, but relies on 2G and 3G networks that earmarked for decommissioning. As eCall moves to 4G/5G technology, Rohde & Schwarz releases a new test package for their CMX500 one-box signaling tester - https://www.rohde-schwarz.com/products/test-and-measurement/wireless-tester-network-emulator/rs-cmx500-5g-one-box-signaling-tester_63493-601282.html?change_c=true

[08:20] SMA connectors tend to stick directly upwards. Providing an alternative is Cinch Connectivity with their 30° Johnson millimeter wave RF connectors that complement the exisitng 45° angled range - https://www.belfuse.com/news-detail/cinch-connectivity-solutions-extends-rf-connector-line-with-new-mmwave-angled-30-degree-product-family

Please like, subscribe, and share if you've enjoyed this show. And if you have some industry news to share, get in touch with Stuart Cording on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuart-cording/).

Welcome to show #8 of News Bytes, Elektor's news show looking at what's happening in the electronics and semiconductor industry.

In this episode, Stuart Cording, The Electronics Reporter, looks at:

[00:00] Intro to the show!

[00:38] Motors drivers with support for CAN-FD are now available in the automotive-compliant MOTIX family from Infineon - www.infineon.com/TLE988x and www.infineon.com/TLE989x

Please like, subscribe, and share if you've enjoyed this show. And if you have some industry news to share, get in touch with Stuart Cording on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuart-cording/).

Previous Episode

#7 - Automotive Black Box, AI improves assembler, and more!

Welcome to show #7 of News Bytes, Elektor's news show looking at what's happening in the electronics and semiconductor industry.

In this episode, Stuart Cording, The Electronics Reporter, looks at:

[00:00] Intro to the show!

[00:47] Drop low-power MCUs from Ambiq into your wearable health app with the Apollo Four Lite and Apollo Four Blue Lite ultra-low power microcontrollers - https://ambiq.com/apollo4-lite/

[02:04] AI used to play games like Go has been used to improve assembler code - https://www.deepmind.com/blog/alphadev-discovers-faster-sorting-algorithms

[03:03] A new 5 kW power supply is launched by TSK targeting testing of EV batteries of over 600 V - http://www.emea.lambda.tdk.com/genesysplus

[04:53] From mid-2024, vehicles in the EU will need a black box (Event Data Recorder - EDR) to record data pre- and post-crash. To ensure reliable storage, Infineon has launched a new 1 megabit ferroelectric RAM (F-RAM) - https://www.infineon.com/cms/en/about-infineon/press/market-news/2023/INFATV202307-130.html

[06:17] Get reliable connections up to 16 Gbps and supporting up to 0.5 A with the Harwin Archer mezzanine connector series - https://www.harwin.com/connectors-hardware/pcb-connectors/0-50mm-pitch-pcb-connectors/

[07:13] Analog Devices are already offering software-defined, direct RF-sampling, wideband mixed-signal front-ends for future 6G and WiFi 7 development with their Apollo MxFE series - https://www.analog.com/en/product-category/mixed-signal-frontends.html?ADICID=PRLS_EMEA_p872450_Apollo

[08:30] Helping to reduce the size of automated test equipment and replace relays is the Toshiba TLP3476S photorelay - https://toshiba.semicon-storage.com/info/TLP3476S_datasheet_en_20230525.pdf?did=151743&prodName=TLP3476S

[09:43] Tasking announces the launch of their VX-Toolset Version Seven, a powerful Eclipse-based C and C++ compiler certified to ISO 26262 - https://www.tasking.com/products/arm

[10:42] Recognizing the importance of SiC for automotive electronics, Vitesco Technologies and Rohm have announced a long-term supplier partnership, securing parts for applications like their advanced inverters.

Please like, subscribe, and share if you've enjoyed this show. And if you have some industry news to share, get in touch with Stuart Cording on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuart-cording/).

Next Episode

#9 - Inductors on Silicon, Skills for Fabs, Cameras, TPMS, and more!

Welcome to show #9 of News Bytes, Elektor's news show looking at what's happening in the electronics and semiconductor industry.

This episode is sponsored by DownStream. DownStream Technologies’ software helps engineering organizations optimize and automate the PCB Release Process. DownStream’s tools redefine how engineers and PCB designers post-process PCB designs to create and distribute all the deliverables required for a complete PCB assembly release package. Their flagship product - CAM350® - provides verification and optimization before designs are transferred to the fabricator to ensure the successful manufacture of bare PCB boards. Also available is BluePrint-PCB®, which uses its CAD database to quickly produce comprehensive documentation to drive PCB fabrication, assembly, and inspection processes.

More information about DownStream can be found at https://downstreamtech.com

In this episode, Stuart Cording, The Electronics Reporter, looks at:

[00:00] Intro to the show!

[00:46] Silanna Semiconductor has launched a new evaluation board featuring their SZPL 3002A DC-DC converter IC. This intelligent buck converter supports the development of 65-watt multi-port USB-PD and QC fast chargers with its two type C and one type A USB ports. https://powerdensity.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/11519-SZPL3002AA-EVB03-User-Guide.pdf

[02:08] Intel is tackling a shortage of technicians for semiconductor fabs with a new community college course in Ohio. The course includes an introduction to manufacturing, semiconductor technology, and vacuum systems. https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/newsroom/opinion/intel-addresses-semiconductor-workforce-shortage.html

[03:17] Rohm launches a new, tiny proximity sensor that measures just one by two millimeters. The RPR-0720 is perfect for applications that monitor attachment and detachment, such as charging cases for Bluetooth earbuds. https://www.rohm.com/products/optical-sensors/reflective-type-photosensors/rpr-0720-product

[05:21] Nuvoton’s latest series of MCUs target high-efficiency motor control in consumer and industrial applications. The new KM1M4BF uses an Arm Cortex-M4F core operating at up to 120 megahertz and features up to 256 kilobytes of flash and 16 of SRAM. https://www.nuvoton.com/products/microcontrollers/arm-cortex-m4-mcus/km1m4bf-series/?tab=1

[06:35] Onsemi's Hyperlux image sensors, offering a dynamic range of 150 db, can distinguish between a yellow and red stoplight at distance, even when facing a setting sun, a situation where human eyes would likely be blinded. They are now supported with drivers on Nvidia’s DRIVE platform, ensuring this powerful technology combination is easily integrated into this open, scalable AI system. https://www.onsemi.com/solutions/technology/hyperlux

[07:41] Sweden-based IAR, a leader in embedded development software and services, is helping their developers with a collaboration with Edge Impulse, one of the best-known names in embedded AI. https://www.iar.com/news/press-releases/2023/iar-and-edge-impulse-to-provide-iar-customers-worldwide-with-integrated-ai-and-ml-capabilities/

[08:42] Bel Fuse's latest 4 kilowatt liquid-cooled DC-DC converter targets both hybrid and fully electric vehicles. Compared to the previous generation, it supports a wider 450 to 900 volt input range and weighs only 4.5 kilograms. https://www.belfuse.com/product-detail/power-solutions-custom-value-added-solutions-emobility-700dng40-24-down-converter

[09:48] Seco has announced a scalable HMI family of modular displays for applications such as industrial processing equipment, EV charging stations, and digital signage. The new platform builds upon Seco’s existing ARM and x86 technologies with sizes of seven, ten, and fifteen inches. https://edge.seco.com/usa/modular-vision-7-mx93.html

[10:50] X-FAB, an analog and mixed-signal silicon foundry, has announced its new integrated passive device, or XIPD, fabrication capabilities. This allows customers to integrate inductors, capacitors, and resistors onto their designs. https://www.xfab.com/technology/rf#c32260

[12:06] Infineon's XENSIV SP49 integrates a MEMS sensor alongside an ASIC to support TPMS capabilities, including on-tire auto-position sensing, tire inflation assistance, tire blowout detection, and load detection. https://www.infineon.com/cms/en/about-infineon/press/market-news/2023/INFATV202309-149.html

Please like, subscribe, and share if you've enjoyed this show. And if you have some industry news to share, get in touch with Stuart Cording on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/stuart-cording/).