COVER STORY External trace port analyzers make transparent

SPECIAL FEATURES  Tools & Software  Analog & Power

CONTENT

Tools & Software External trace port analyzers make microcontrollers transparent 44 Measurement of pulse immunity of and microcontrollers 48 Medical device software: why is it in critical condition? 51 Analog & Power Isolated ADCs provide cost-effective solutions for AC line monitoring 54 Demonstrating green technology with apples, oranges, lemons, and limes 56 Keeping ahead through higher power density with 40V and 60V 58 Varistors for effective protection of valuable solar installations 60 Product News 62

Cover Photo PLS

3 September 2012 TOOLS & SOFTWARE

External trace port analyzers make microcontrollers transparent

By Heiko Riessland, PLS

Under the name CoreSight, ARM offers a wide range of test functionalities, from simple target access to high-end trace. Infineon has combined some of these in its new industrial XMC4000 family, based on the ARM Cortex-M4 .

 Infineon implemented on-chip debug with their own peripherals to full SoCs. Less (DWT), serve as information sources. The support (OCDS) some years ago for its own well known on the other hand is that under DWT contains a statistic for completed 16-bit and 32-bit architectures. In addition to the name CoreSight, ARM also offers a wide cycles, sleep cycles, the interrupt load, the av- reading and writing main memory while the range of diverse, scalable technologies for de- erage number of and program is running, OCDS enables code break- bugging and testing its processors. The most the number of certain instruction types. The points in flash and data breakpoints. Even the interesting thing about this IP building block counters generate a trace message per overflow. continuous monitoring of a memory location is that since no compelling relationship exists This information can be utilized for optimiza- without specific trace hardware is possible between the core and debug features, every li- tion of the application performance. Further- thanks to a special trigger transfer mechanism. censed semiconductor manufacturer can freely more, the DWT contains logic functions, with For more demanding requirements, the concept choose which functions it implements and the help of which changes to program variables is enhanced with so-called emulation devices. which not. The technologies offered under can be recognized, a trace message generated These are special devices that are only available CoreSight cover a wide range of test function- or the instruction counter cyclically outputted. for debug and test purposes. In addition to alities. These range from simple target access The application software can even generate the production chip, the emulation devices via JTAG with run control and trace with low trace events by description of ITM registers contain on-chip trace memory as well as bandwidth, through to high-end trace with (printf style debugging). However, a complete sophisticated trigger and filter logic. high frequencies and large amounts of data. reconstruction of the program flow is not possible with the characteristics described. With its XMC4000 family (XMC stands for Figure 3 shows a simplified block diagram of cross-market microcontroller), Infineon now the CoreSight components used with the new also offers microcontrollers based on the ARM XMC4000 family. On-chip debug functions, Cortex-M4 processor core for a broad range in accordance with state-of-the-art technology of industrial applications. Besides a large num- nowadays, are provided via a JTAG debug port ber of communication interfaces (such as CAN, (J-DP) with five signal lines or the more recent Ethernet, USB, etc), human machine interface serial wire debug port (SW-DP) interface with (HMI) and powerful peripherals for signal two signal lines. This combination is called generation, control and processing, the new SWJ-DP. Furthermore, with the serial wire XMC4000 industrial microcontrollers also fea- viewer (SWV), trace functionality with low ture a new on-chip debug concept. bandwidth is also available to the developer. The viewer gives out trace information via a It is well-known today that ARM offers a large single pin. On the one hand, the instrumenta- Figure 1. The universal access device 3+ number of licensable controller cores, which, tion trace macrocell (ITM), and on the other (UAD3+) with up to 4 GByte of memory is if required, can be completed by the licensees hand, the data watchpoint and trace unit also suited for demanding trace tasks.

September 2012 4 TOOLS & SOFTWARE

Figure 2. XMC4500 block diagram

Figure 3. CoreSight components in the XMC4500 (simplified block diagram)

This is annoying, because with complex SoCs it formation for instruction execution is only trans- is this reconstruction that helps to effectively mitted if this, especially for program branches test the software, optimize it and find errors and interrupts, is not restorable from the analysis with moderate effort. There is however no cause of the machine code. Furthermore, if possible for panic: this drawback can be tackled very well only offset values to the previous address will be with the embedded trace macrocell (ETM) of transmitted. In addition to the generation of the CoreSight building block. The main purpose trace information by the ETM, logic functions of the ETM is the generation of a data stream of the DWT are also used for controlling the with information about operations of the proces- trace data stream. This means that the generation sor. With the XMC4500, these include the code of trace information can be controlled, dependent trace. Data trace is possible in parallel with the on certain states within the processor. The inte- ITM and DWT units. The data stream, which is grated filter and trigger logic, including address generated by the ETM and outputted via the comparators, data comparators, sequencers and trace port interface unit (TPIU), must be recorded a start/stop logic, is configured accordingly by and analyzed by a debug tool. Since no embedded the debug tool and then allows, for example, the trace buffer (ETB) is implemented in the recording of certain code address ranges or start XMC4500, external trace hardware - such as the and stop of the recording, depending on a certain universal access device 3+ (UAD3+) with up to 4 event sequence. GByte of memory from PLS Programmierbare Logik & Systeme - is required for this recording. How does further processing of the trace data out- Various methods are used to reduce the amount side the microcontroller now take place? With the of data to be recorded. For one thing, address in- previously mentioned UAD3+ from PLS, a con-

5 September 2012 TOOLS & SOFTWARE

Figure 4. XMC4500 evaluation board with debug and trace i nterface Figure 5. Trace data as source for system-level debugging functions connectors nector is provided for this which allows the con- tocol-specific trace add-ons, which provide the system testing. For example, during profiling nection of a trace pod to connect to the results of the trace data decoding and prepara- it is easy to recognize which functions are exe- XMC4500 target. To support the ETM, the tion via a uniform interface for the remaining cuted the most, and where an optimization recorded bit pattern at the trace port in the pod program components. Thus, not only can the may possibly be worthwhile. The execution se- is combined to larger data packets and supple- conventional trace window use the results, but quence shows, for example, if a function is too mented with a timestamp. The collected data are also functions such as the code coverage display seldom executed. The reason for this can be, then stored via PCI Express in the up to 4 GByte in the program window, the graphical profiling among other things, a too-high interrupt load memory of the UAD3+. The connection between analysis or an execution sequence diagram or an unfavourable task prioritization in an the base unit and the pod by means of PCI serve these trace add-ons as data source. operating system. Express not only ensures the required high data throughput, but also enables cable lengths of sev- The trace window shows the recorded data as The example of the UAD3+ makes clear how eral meters to be realized with this solution. machine instructions or data access records important high-performance external trace port supplemented with timestamps with direct analyzers are for optimum utilization of the The data can be subsequently read via Gigabit links to the source code. Filter, sort and search CoreSight embedded trace macrocell (ETM) in Ethernet, FireWire 800 or USB 2.0 with help of functions enable convenient handling, also of complex Cortex-M based SoCs such as the the universal debug engine (UDE) from PLS. large amounts of data. The code coverage XMC4000 microcontroller family. This is because The UDE is a modular software solution, which display allows non-processed or incomplete- the large amounts of data involved can only be enables an efficient processing and practical processed source code lines to be recognized addressed with the help of modular systems, presentation of the trace data, depending on at a glance, while the system debugging func- which besides sufficient memory for the record- the respective application. Processing of the tions - profiling analysis and execution se- ing also offer the developer optimized software trace data takes place in architecture- and pro- quence diagram - support developers during for fast and precise analysis of the data.  Product News

 Wind River introduces quick start up a steady relationship with a huge customer standardized style and code comments, and capability for Simics base in France, including several global players, eliminate errors at the programming level. Wind River has introduced the latest version IAR Systems now proves their commitment to News ID 16077 of Wind River Simics which features a quick the embedded community in France by setting start capability allowing embedded developers up a new legal entity: IAR Systems SARL, still  Renesas: USB 3.0 hub controller to easily and immediately benefit from using located in Courtaboeuf Cedex Southwest of system-on-chip full system simulation when developing, de- Paris, is now the first place to go for customers Renesas Electronics announced the availability bugging, and testing software. Wind River in France. of its SuperSpeed USB (USB 3.0) hub controller Simics now includes Quick Start Platform, News ID 16080 system-on-chip, for use in hubs that enable which provides a synthetic virtual platform connection of multiple devices supporting the coupled with an instruction set simulator for  LDRA: tool suite selected by Esprit Lean USB 3.0 standard, such as PC peripherals and specific architectures. QSP is also bundled to prove IEC 62304 medical compliance digital TVs. USB 3.0 delivers speeds 10 times with BSPs for VxWorks and Linux, including LDRA has been selected by Esprit Lean to faster than the 480 megabits per second of additional BSPs planned for the latest versions prove compliance of medical technology being USB 2.0 speeds. Adoption of USB 3.0 in non- of Wind River Linux. developed to assist in cancer treatment. Esprit PC products, such as digital consumer elec- News ID 15820 Lean chose the LDRA tool suite to provide the tronics, is growing due to factors such as the static analysis and standards verification needed appearance of SSDs, which allow reading and  IAR enforces presence in France with to achieve compliance to IEC 62304. Esprit writing of data at faster speeds than conven- new legal entity Lean wanted a verification tool that not only tional HDDs, and chipsets with a built-in USB IAR Systems has been serving the French mar- implemented coding rule compliance, but also 3.0 host controller. ket with a representative office. Having built enabled the team to boost productivity, adopt News ID 16124

September 2012 6

TOOLS & SOFTWARE

Measurement of pulse immunity of microprocessors and microcontrollers

By Lars Gläser, Langer EMV-Technik

This article describes the measurement set-up used for test procedures to determine immunity against E-fields and H-fields.

Figure 1. Measurement set-up with the DUT in the test adapter

 Comparatively simple measures can be taken may induce voltages in the conductor loops. also GND-flooded to minimize the disturbing to enhance EMC if a circuit is to be used in a Two problems have to be taken into account influence of magnetic fields. Both capacitive well-known environment. But this becomes with regard to safeguarding the module func- and magnetic coupling also have to be consid- more difficult if the module is to be used as tionality: the induced voltage may either be ered on the level. H-field universally as possible in different applications. treated as a logic signal by the integrated coupling causes a magnetic field vortex to Disturbance fields may cause problems, par- circuit input, or it may drive a disturbance penetrate the IC. A disturbance voltage is in- ticularly with high integration levels. The aim current, which causes problems in other parts duced in the IC current loops. The induced of the current test procedure is to develop a of the integrated circuit. All conductor runs voltage may interfere with signals or the supply temperature monitoring system controlled by have been relocated in the printed circuit voltage in the IC and cause faults or drive a a microcontroller which can be used in green- board intermediate layers to prevent this. Crit- disturbance current through the conductor houses, for example. ical signal pins of the controller such as the loop and thus interfere with the integrated cir- reset pin and the sockets which connect the cuit. During E-field coupling, a voltage which The module will be offered without a package printed circuit board to the outside are fitted is present between the IC and field source gen- and should be a genuine all-round device. A with filter elements. erates an electric field depending on the re- number of potential circuit environments thus spective IC-to-field source distance. The electric have to be taken into account. Is the printed The same correlations apply to disturbances field lines end on the metal parts (pad of the circuit board housed in a metal or plastic which enter the module via fields. Magnetic IC pin, bond wire, die) of the IC. They conduct package? Is the circuit ground well connected field vortexes may penetrate the circuit and in- a displacement current into this surface. to the package in the metal version? Is the cir- duce a voltage in the conductor loops, which cuit operated in the vicinity of other metal in turn drives a disturbance current through Since the EMC of the integrated circuit itself conductors such as a top-hat rail, 230V mains the module and causes the aforementioned cannot be influenced, a controller has to be lead, etc? The module has to be protected problems. Interferences are also caused by elec- found with the highest possible immunity for against all possible interference mechanisms tric coupling. Electric fields capacitively couple the application. A number of integrated circuits since its future environment is unknown. into the circuit board line networks, or even with a comparative range of functional features components. The resulting displacement cur- are potential candidates for this application. We will initially consider conducted interfer- rent may cause a voltage drop at a resistor The manufacturer data sheets, however, do ence: disturbances may enter the module via (against Vss or Vdd), which in turn is recog- not reveal the respective immunity parameters. the power supply socket (a switched-mode nised as a logic signal, or induce voltages in A new criterion has thus to be found to power supply unit, for example) or the pe- other parts of the circuit. The bottom of the evaluate the immunity with E and H field cou- ripheral interface (a temperature probe, for printed circuit board that is only populated pling. The aim is to evaluate/compare the po- example). The magnetic fields caused by dis- on one side is provided with a continuous tential integrated circuits in terms of their im- turbance currents flowing through the board GND layer as a counter-measure. The top is munity to disturbances coupled in via fields.

September 2012 8 TOOLS & SOFTWARE

Either one or both coupling mechanisms (H- field/E-field) can cause faults depending on the IC design. An objective immunity evalua- tion thus has to subject the integrated circuits to disturbances via both coupling mechanisms. The chosen approach is shown in the following diagrams.

Separate coupling circuits were designed for both coupling mechanisms. An EFT/burst gen- erator (burst generator according to IEC 61000- 4-4) was used as a disturbance source. This Figure 2. H-field coupling generator was connected to the coupling wave- guide via a 50 ohm high voltage cable for H- field coupling. The wave guide had a 50 ohm input to ensure that the burst reaches the device under test without distortion. An addi- tional measuring shunt monitored the gener- ated disturbance pulses. The wave guide was arranged above the devices under test at the defined angle and distance. This guaranteed Figure 3. Burst H-field source that all ICs were subjected to a comparable disturbance field with an identical EFT/burst generator setting. The pulse shape generated by the waveguide (measured via the shunt) is shown in the following diagram. Apart from the generator setting, the magnetic field angle also had to be taken into account since it is re- lated to the waveguide orientation and has a direct influence on the interference effect achieved. A similar set-up was chosen for E- field coupling.

The EFT/burst generator was connected to a coupling electrode instead of a waveguide. Figure 4. E-field coupling This electrode was arranged at a defined dis- tance above the device under test. The voltage between the coupling electrode and the device under test generated an electric field propor- tional to the burst voltage amplitude. The de- vices under test could thus be subjected sepa- rately to E-field and/or H-field disturbances. The subsequent measurement was expected to show that the individual integrated circuits fail completely or cause faults at different EFT/burst generator voltages, coupling mech- anisms (E-field/H-field) and field angles. Or in other words: the integrated circuit immunity Figure 5. Burst E-field source to E/H-field disturbances differed from manu- facturer to manufacturer and the measured re- sults let the engineer choose a suitable IC for the described application. 80C51 microcon- trollers from three manufacturers were exam- ined as potential candidates for the application in the course of the measurements described below. The integrated circuits were not tested in the application but on customised test adapters to create reproducible conditions and prevent parasitic effects by other parts of the circuit. The following parameters applied for the measurement: identical package pin-out (VQFP44), comparable functionality – all three Figure 6. Device under test and waveguide are 8051-compatible, identical test adapter P1202-4 (packaged with the same filter elements), and

9 September 2012 TOOLS & SOFTWARE

identical test program and/or The adapter. This allowed the engineer to monitor be taken at different field angles under the integrated circuit was tested during operation. and control the IC. The measurement set-up influence of H-field. The integrated circuits The test program was selected so that each shown in the figure also included an oscillo- were subjected to the disturbance for one component in the integrated circuit scope adapter which made it easier to connect minute in each of the test runs. Tables 1 and (timer/UART/watchdog, etc) was used and the the oscilloscope’s scanning heads and did not 2 summarise the results and show at which corresponding test signals on the pins provided affect the measurements. A controlled switched- voltage amplitude, polarity and field angle a information about their functionality. A pin mode power supply unit with an internal cur- reset occurred for the different ICs. was continually toggled (heartbeat signal) and rent limiting function supplied the measure- a static signal sent to the outside in the present ment set-up with power and was intended to Only three field angles were chosen for an example. An oscilloscope was sufficient to protect the IC from destruction in the event initial test of the ICs under the influence of a monitor this test set-up. In addition, the out- of a malfunction. The field sources were con- magnetic field. A second test run with a finer puts were connected to LEDs to receive visual nected to the EFT/burst generator. The 50 resolution can be carried out to pinpoint any feedback about the operating state of the ohm measurement output of the field source functional faults that occur. device under test. The individual operating was connected to the oscilloscope to monitor states of the IC were controlled by a PC via a the injected pulses. The different immunity levels of the integrated test adapter-to-PC connection. circuit become visible straight away. None of the tested integrated circuits was susceptible Manufacturer Polarity Generator voltage at the moment the circuit failed to E-field. Angle 0° Angle 90° Angle 180° A crash could only be invoked in the 80C51 Manufacturer 1 positive 2,040 V No failure No failure IC from Manufacturer 2 at 4 kV while the IC negative No failure No failure 2000 V from Manufacturer 3 carried out a reset at a Manufacturer 2 positive 4,000 V No failure No failure value as low as 1 kV when subjected to mag- negative No failure No failure 4000 V netic field. Since all of the test conditions (test Manufacturer 3 positive 3,600 V No failure 800 V set-up, interconnection, test program, etc) were identical, the differences must be inherent negative 800 V No failure 3,300 V to the integrated circuits themselves. The meas- Table 1. Immunity level determined during H-field coupling urements at a field angle of 180° provided the same results as the measurements at a field angle of 0° with the opposite generator polarity. The test program ran in the following way: The measurement procedure was as follows: The deviations which occurred and are clearly LED_01 (heartbeat) flashed slowly while first of all, the IC program was started. Its visible in the table can be explained by varia- LED_02 came on permanently during the start proper functioning was monitored by the os- tions within the generator. These can be verified of the IC. Depending on its firmware, the IC cilloscope. The field source was placed over on the basis of the pulse shape generated at changed over to another operating mode which the centre of the integrated circuit, starting the oscilloscope’s measurement output. None caused LED_01 (heartbeat) to flash faster and with the H-field source. It was important to of the integrated circuits could be influenced switched LED_02 off should a crash and sub- adjust the field source relative to the device at a field angle of 90°. The heartbeat signal sequent reset occur. Irregularities of the heart- under test when this was subjected to an H- was not influenced during any of the measure- beat signal indicated an internal program se- field. This ensured that the results are com- ments, i.e. the ICs were functional until the quence problem. parable since the interference effect depends reset. In view of these findings it seems rea- sonable to assume that the integrated circuits’ Manufacturer Polarity Generator voltage at the moment the circuit failed power supply was disturbed. The device under test is located in a spacer. The spacer has a de- Manufacturer 1 positive No failure gree scale where the position of the waveguide negative (H-field) and thus the field angle can be read. Manufacturer 2 positive negative The Vcc and Vss pins are on opposite sides of Manufacturer 3 positive the IC package in the present example. A max- negative imum voltage is induced in this loop at a field angle of 0° and/or 180°, leading to an IC Table 2. Immunity level determined during E-field coupling power supply failure and thus a reset. Since no other faults occurred and none of the integrated It comprised the following components: on the field angle. The field angle did not circuits was susceptible to E-field, the generator EFT/burst generator with a maximum genera- have to be adjusted if an E-field was coupled voltage at which the ICs failed when subjected tor voltage of 4.4 kV, base plate for the test in. Field coupling was started at the EFT/burst to H-field was used as a comparison criterion. adapter with an integrated IC-to-PC interface, generator lowest amplitude value and a posi- As a result, the 80C51 from Manufacturer 2 device under test in the test adapter, H-field tive polarity. The severity was then gradually was chosen for the application since it has the source/E-field source with a 3 mm spacer, os- increased up to a maximum generator voltage highest immunity level of the ICs measured. cilloscope and oscilloscope adapter, and power of 4.4 kV or until a fault occurred. The polar- After this EMC assessment the engineers can supply for the PC interface and IC. The IC ity was then switched over and the measure- proceed to the development of the modular was connected to the PC interface via the test ment repeated. Several measurements had to electronic switchgear. 

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September 2012 10

TOOLS & SOFTWARE

Medical device software: why is it in critical condition?

By Bill St. Clair, LDRA

This article examines the characteristics of a typical medical device engineering and determines where gaps in repeatability occur. Such gaps represent financial risks to the device suppliers as well as to the health and safety of patients. Lifecycle traceability is pro- posed as the most effective mitigation of these risks. Figure 1. From concept to customer and back again

 The FDA analysis of 3140 medical device re- the totality of the associated development and them from recurring. To do this, accuracy in calls conducted between 1992 and 1998 reveals maintenance processes. These terms can refer reporting, consistency in analysis and the that 79% of the software-related recalls were to the entire left side of the product life cycle ability to reestablish the context in which the caused by software defects introduced when equation or to some specific task such as software was originally produced are essential. changes were made to the software after its coding. A big difference! This terminology These are the characteristics of a repeatable initial production and distribution. The pri- may also be very misleading if one considers process. The RM activity in the context of a mary cause of the medical devices’ critical the full type and range of activities that are ac- product lifecycle is effectively escalated into a condition can be isolated to a single variable, tually performed in the course of a product system engineering process. The GHTF pro- repeatability. An engineering process with a life cycle. claimed that: as software can be an integral lack of repeatability is no more predictive of part of a medical device, software risk man- results (and success) than an ill-conceived sci- For example, in figure 1, these processes are agement should not be isolated from that of entific experiment. shown to be interrelated if not wholly inte- hardware and from overall medical device risk grated and certainly not distinct activity silos. management. This leads into what I call the When medical device and pharmaceutical com- Moreover, a lot more seems to be going on Toyoto syndrome, in which both the hardware panies consider the burden imposed on them than just what is connoted by the terms devel- and software perform to specification, but by the FDA (as compelled by the US Congress) opment and maintenance. In what is called somehow on the fuzzy edge of the system inte- and international standards organizations, they the Product Realization Process by the 11th gration, system behavior can go askew. Com- are given pause to perhaps reconsider the po- Conference of the Global Harmonization Task plex embedded systems are vulnerable to such tential benefits of introducing products in the Force (GHTF), December, 2007, a full require- anomalies that can only be properly evaluated, inherently risky and increasingly regulated ments engineering (RE) process is indicated. remediated and prevented from recurring in health sector of the economy. In recent years Being a medical product RE process, this not the context of a highly repeatable process. there has been an avalanche of new guidance only includes the formation, specification and on best practices compiled into standards such validation of requirements, it also implicitly A colleague of mine from many years ago pro- as IEC 62304 and certification mandates from entails risk management (RM). Key elements vided comic relief by proclaiming: in the course the FDA. LDRA medical industry customers of risk management include: risk analysis (in- of every project, it seems, the time comes complain that 80 percent of their software de- cluding hazard identification), risk evaluation, when you have to shoot the engineer and ship velopment budget goes into documentation risk control, residual risk control, and post- the . Underlying his caustic wit was the and testing. This is after having automated the market information. sense that complex embedded products, espe- architectural modeling and coding of their cially with the increasing levels of software in- software. The first step in better understanding In order to make this process work, risk man- tegration they manifested, were being fully re- the dimensions of the challenges facing sup- agement and its related requirements should alized during interminable periods of very pliers to the medical industry is to examine be based on the actual events and prevent costly system testing and schedule delays. Some-

11 September 2012 TOOLS & SOFTWARE

There are many other assets produced as a re- sult of complying with objectives, such as: Software risk analysis, low level software re- quirements, software architecture, software im- plementation (Source and Object Code), soft- ware system test cases, and so on.

Objectives are used in similar ways to define process models for critical systems development in technologies such as automotive, nuclear power, avionics, transportation and many oth- ers, as well as medical devices and pharmaco- logical products. Assets and associated artifacts are what constitute compliance substantiation for meeting objectives. And this compliance substantiation becomes the basis for product certification, as well as a repeatable process.

Objectives define the structure of a repeatable process. However, the mechanism by which a project can achieve this repeatability is facili- tated by a properly structured lifecycle trace- ability matrix (LTX).An LTX contains and maintains active links between all product assets and associated validation and verification data, referred to as lifecycle data. The relation- ships among the lifecycle data that constitutes Figure 2. IEC 62304 development process model an LTX are many-to-many, or N-to-N. These relationships (or links) must be continuously monitored to maintain the viability of the LTX. This monitoring generates a notation called a suspect link if a proximate link is altered or removed.

Lifecycle traceability also demands that its links be bidirectional. This means that from any given node in the LTX you can trace back- ward as well as forward. For example, any given function in the source code can be auto- matically linked with its requirement(s) and the validation data, including the risk analysis; the test cases that verified it; the engineers who contributed to its design and implemen- tation can also be identified. Consequently, a by-product of lifecycle traceability is an incisive impact analysis for any given proposed change Figure 3. IEC 62304 maintenance process model to the source code function. how it was being left to the wizardry of a few of each activity depicted in these process mod- An astounding reality in most medical device key people to get the product right and that els is a corresponding set of objectives. An ob- and pharmacological projects is that the LTX the process that went in to producing the jective states what the activities are supposed function (or its equivalent), relies on an Excel product was history. Moreover, once the radio to accomplish. For example, the activity 5.2, spreadsheet or a manual entry database pro- was shipped, the project then transitioned into software requirements analysis, is predicated gram to trace lifecycle data. A few projects maintenance mode and the product was left on an objective such as, Develop High Level may add a requirements management tool to to a team without a usable, repeatable process. Software requirements from allocated System the mix, producing the resulting dilemma of requirements. The resulting activity produces trying to link two information silos. In either A very important pronouncement of IEC an asset, the specification of a high level soft- case, these non-integrated, manual approaches 62304 is that the maintenance process is the ware requirement. This asset must next be val- create the opportunity for key omissions or mirror image of development process. With idated based on a set of Objectives such as: errors, which works against the overall goal of the exception of specific process management Software high-level requirements comply with repeatability. It is important to have a solution tasks, the symmetry is readily apparent in the system requirements, are accurate and consis- to meet the enormous challenges of establishing respective IEC 62304 development and main- tent, are compatible with target computer, are a repeatable process and assuring the integrity tenance process models depicted in figures 2 verifiable, conform to standards, and are trace- of the lifecycle data, as depicted in figure 4 and 3. The organizing and controlling function able to system requirements. which contains a three dimensional solution

September 2012 12 TOOLS & SOFTWARE

Figure 4. Embed-X product diagram domain: Process management, team views, tives. A view can further segment the project and tools. In this example which we use for il- view into a specific user view. This results in lustrative purposes there are three dimensions, only those objectives and associated tasks implemented in an Eclipse framework. This which are assigned to a particular user being allows the project team to structure, implement, visible and accessible in what is called a sub- verify, validate and certify and effectively main- project (or user-specific view). Underlying the tain a safety critical product at a fraction of process management and team view dimensions the cost of a non-repeatable, manually sup- is a software configuration management (SCM) ported project. layer. This layer provides the fully automated storage of all lifecycle data. The stored LTX can The process management dimension is a man- be easily compared (i.e., diff’d) between versions. agement platform for a project. The embedded Also linking the process management and team process management board gives a project a view dimensions is a defect tracking mechanism means of defining a process model that con- that provides a change management system. forms to the dictates of a customer and partic- This system, supplied by a seamless defect ular market. The project manager does not report generator, is augmented by an impact have to immediately identify the process model analysis capability for proposed changes to any to be waterfall, V-Model or even agile or test- baselined LTX. driven development. Instead the project is structured by objectives to produce and main- The third and final dimension, tools, provides tain a product that conforms to customer re- an open API to multiple requirements man- quirements at the least possible cost for the es- agement/engineering tools development and sential level of product quality. verification tools. This API provides both a framework that facilitates connectivity and a The first step in a defining a process includes customizable project level solution. assigning objectives to create a team view. These objectives can be drawn directly from a The problem in developing medical device standard such as IEC 62304 or defined by the software is characterized by a lack of symmetry user (e.g. the project manager). A team view between development and maintenance phases provides a container to organize objectives of a product lifecycle. This compromises the and group users around related objectives and ability of a team to effectively incorporate the tasks that are created to meet these objec- customer feedback, especially from operations tives. The user groupings are based on roles such as product trials, and predict the reliability such as system engineers, software architects, of newly defined and implemented product testers etc. Once all the tasks are created a se- solutions. Moreover, this lack of repeatability quence of these tasks can be defined using a prevents medical device suppliers from realiz- work flow engine. The second dimension, team ing potential profits from product variants views, supports team members who perform and extensions through such innovations as specific tasks which are determined by objec- requirements reuse. 

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13 September 2012

ANALOG & POWER

Isolated ADCs provide cost-effective solutions for AC line monitoring

By Don Alfano, Silicon Labs

AC line monitors police the venerable AC line, preserving it from damaging electrical events. While sophisticated installations need highly precise and expensive line monitoring equipment, there is a large and diverse group of less sophisticated applications that effectively need only an AC monitor analog front end (ACAFE), using a single-chip, isolated smart ADC. Figure 1. ACAFE evaluation board

 AC line monitors measure the real-time it is almost guaranteed that an AC line monitor line signals into a digital format, then crunch quality of power delivered to a given load. is at work keeping a sharp eye on electrons converted data using a local high-speed proces- These devices are diverse in capabilities, meas- being pushed through conductors. sor (figure 2). This approach enables the line urement accuracy and cost with systems rang- monitor to indirectly derive many useful oper- ing from simple, single-phase line fault detec- Selecting an AC line monitor for a given ating parameters by direct calculation. Param- tors to high-precision multiphase systems that application is simple. The first step is for the eters, such as peak and average power output, capture and log frequency, voltage and current developer to generate a target specification power factor angle, harmonic voltage amplitude perturbations, harmonic voltage amplitudes list that satisfies the end application. Beyond and line frequency, are often calculated by ma- and voltage unbalance. this step, the only other considerations are nipulating voltage and current data. meeting galvanic isolation safety standards Several end applications are driving the growth and evaluating the cost of the solution. Sys- The selection of any given AC line monitor by of AC line monitor usage. For example, ever- tem-level AC line monitors offer the advan- the developer is determined by the needs of expanding data processing centers monitor tages of flexibility, small size, high precision, the end application. For example, utility power not only the power expended in data processing high reliability, flexible connectivity and ease- meters, which are at the heart of the billing operation but also power usage in infrastruc- of-use. For single or low-quantity monitoring process, can negatively impact the profit of ture equipment, such as heating and air condi- applications, some users might develop their the service provider or the customer pocket- tioning, lighting, security and communications, own AC line monitor using some combination book if the capabilities of the utility meter are with the goal of managing all aspects of opera- of voltage and current transformers (and pos- less than adequate. For these types of precision tion at peak efficiency. Green energy systems sibly Hall effect current sensors), and connect applications, the line monitor must be designed are also gradually becoming another driver in the outputs to external voltmeters or other for high accuracy and tamper-proof operation, photovoltaic (PV) inverters and other renew- instrumentation. While these approaches may and will most likely use separate ADCs (trig- able energy resources. Even hard-hat workers be both adequate and expedient for monitor- gered simultaneously) to measure voltage and involved in construction and infrastructure ing simple one-off applications, their size current and minimize voltage-current phase projects are attaching AC power monitors to and electromagnetic interference (EMI) often shift error as shown in figure 3A. This line their portable generators to protect expensive make scalability difficult for future expansion. monitor would also use high-precision (e.g. equipment from being damaged by unstable In the end, these approaches cannot compete 24-bit) ADCs to ensure that system noise per- line frequencies, electrical transients and other with the size, accuracy and robust feature set formance is adequate to provide the required abnormalities. Add to these applications the of system-level AC line monitors. effective number of bits (ENOB) for rated long-time use of AC line monitors in medical measurement accuracy. Contrast this require- facilities, research laboratories and industrial Regardless of complexity, most modern AC ment with a different application that only complexes. One thing is certain: if any aspect line monitors use one or more analog-to-digital needs to detect gross line faults and measure of line power is critical to a given application, converters (ADCs) to convert analog power load efficiency. Such a system would be sub-

September 2012 14 ANALOG & POWER

stantially less sophisticated compared to the monitor analog front end (ACAFE) capable of analog input (MUX) and a series utility meter example, and would probably measuring, converting and transmitting data gain amplifier with user-programmable set- use a low-cost, single 10 to 12-bit ADC (figure to external data processing devices. This ACAFE tings of 1x or 0.5x gain. The ADC has an in- 3B). The same is true of line monitors with in- approach is flexible in that any processor ternal reference, but it can also use an external tegrated signal processing. The math overhead having a UART, I2C or SPI port can directly reference if so desired. Other on-chip func- associated with a utility system would mandate command the ACAFE and receive the resulting tions include a control state machine, which a premium microcontroller (MCU) or digital converted data (figure 4). The ACAFE can supervises all transactions between the host signal processor (DSP), whereas the line fault connect to PCs and other computing systems controller and the ACAFE; a UART, I2C or monitor can implement its entire functionality by adding a protocol converter (e.g. I2C to SPI serial port; and a 2.5 kV or 5.0 kV rated within a small state machine or a single, low- USB converter) between the ACAFE and com- galvanic isolator that provides both input/out- cost commodity MCU. While sophisticated puting device. The ACAFE is based on a sin- put safety isolation and voltage level shifting. AC installations require highly precise and ex- gle-chip, isolated smart ADC (in this example, This highly integrated, single-package ACAFE pensive line monitoring equipment, there is a the Si890x family from Silicon Labs) that con- implementation simplifies designs and enables large and diverse group of less sophisticated tains an ADC subsystem with a 10-bit, 500 very good monitoring performance within applications that effectively need only an AC kSps SAR ADC preceded by a three-channel an economical budget.

Figure 2. Top-level AC line monitor

Figure 3. Examples of AC line monitors

Figure 4. AFE-based AC line monitor

Figure 5. Typical ACAFE application circuit

15 September 2012 ANALOG & POWER

The ACAFE can operate in one of two user- of either 2.5 kV or 5 kV. A typical application cir- module makes it safe and easy to evaluate the selectable operating modes. In demand mode, cuit using the Si890x ACAFE is shown in figure ACAFE. This module contains a fully-imple- the external host controller triggers a single 5, where the Si890x operates as a single-phase mented line-side interface with bias supply ADC conversion on demand. This mode is AC line voltage and current monitor. The user and can work with all three versions of the helpful in cases where an ADC conversion provides the line side interface circuit (differential Si890x isolated ADCs – any one of which can must be performed at a specific time due to amplifier and VDDA DC bias using a commodity be manually selected by the user for evaluation. noise or system state. The ACAFE also can op- op amp, LDO and passives). The AC current is The module also contains a host processor erate in burst mode, where ADC conversions measured on ADC input AIN0 while the AC line that can issue ADC conversion commands are performed continuously. The system host voltage is scaled by resistors R17 and R18 and and receive data. The host processor has two processor can from one mode to the level-shifted by the 1.5 V VREF. integrated digital-to-analog converters (DACs) other as needed. that can restore the digitally-formatted signals The AC line current is measured using the dif- back to analog, enabling the user to view the The UART and I2C serial ports operate in the ferential amplifier, U1, connected across the reconstituted analog waveforms on an oscillo- range of 250 kbps, and the SPI port operates at shunt resistor, R1. Data is transferred to the scope. Developers also can reprogram the flash- up to 2.4 Mbps. These ports are isolated by a Sil- external controller or processor via the isolated based host controller to suit their needs using icon Labs CMOS isolator rated at the user choice serial port. The turnkey ACAFE evaluation a Silicon Labs development kit.  Demonstrating green technology with apples, oranges, lemons, and limes By Bill Laumeister, Maxim

This article shows how energy-efficient integrated circuits from Maxim can be used to reduce power in appliances, computers, and set-top boxes.

Figure 1. Lemon batteries running a voltage reference board

 Green initiatives bring home the issue of spect. And the smallest details are critical: for a remote command, button, or timer, it is wasting standby power. Through reducing power efficiency is one measured in microam- consuming standby power. What is the cost of their usage of standby power, U.S. households peres (As), one-millionth of an ampere. For standby power? That 60W bulb can cost $14.65 can save an average of $100 per year. Battery comparison, a 60W incandescent light bulb a month if it runs 24/7. An appliance that life in portable devices is important, but this draws 0.5A. That is 500,000A. draws 1W in standby power can cost $0.25 application note shows that power-saving ap- without doing any practical work. Walk around pliances in our homes are also critical to Why is it necessary to measure so precisely? a typical home and count the appliances, TVs, reduce environmental waste. Maxim is taking Because it is the sum of all currents that count, , stereos, computers, garage-door openers, the lead in energy-efficient integrated circuits. and like any budget, one must reduce every microwave ovens, washing machines, dryers, cost, no matter how small. Obviously in a bat- forced air heaters, and lawn sprinklers. Then Jim Henson’s creation, Kermit the Frog says, tery-powered device, customers are sensitive add the battery chargers. You can easily have „It’s not easy being green.“ We concur that sav- about battery life. Not so obviously, plug-in 20 devices on standby power, and most draw ing energy is difficult, but very necessary. Smart appliances also have a cost associated with more than just 1W. That is the good news. circuit designers and progressive companies just being plugged in. When a device is „off“, The bad news is that a cable TV box can draw are meeting consumer expectations in this re- but displays a power indicator while waiting 80W while in operation and 79W while in

September 2012 16 ANALOG & POWER

line. To demonstrate how little current is used by Maxim ICs, our parts can be powered by batteries made from apples, oranges, lemon, and limes. Figure 1 shows such a circuit. This 3.6V battery is made of 4 lemon cells. Each cell produces 0.9V at approximately 100A. The MAX6029 voltage reference produces a precise 2.5V while drawing a maximum of only 5.5A. Figure 1 graphically demonstrates the tiny current draw of an IC.

The battery voltage is primarily determined by the chemistry between the copper and zinc. Many fruits and vegetables will operate as bat- teries. Apples, oranges, lemons, limes, grapefruit, and potatoes all produce voltages between 0.88V and 0.95V per cell. The colour of the battery really makes no difference, but saying we are getting greener by using limes does make a cute story. It is estimated that 10% of household power consumption is lost to stand- by power.

The Energy Star program, first created by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, estimates that there are 129 million households spending an average of $2200 each per year on electric power. Putting the numbers together, house- holds spend approximately $28.3 billion per year on standby power in the United States. That is a staggering number, considering it just allows us to become coach potatoes. If we Table 1. ICs that can be used to reduce power costs just would get up and turn off a switch, we could save that money. standby (costing $19.53 and $19.30, respec- taken the lead in designing with energy efficiency tively). A satellite DVR box can consume 120W in mind. Table 1 illustrates ICs that can be used All of a sudden, green sounds pretty good while in operation or standby, so just add $29.30 to reduce power costs in household appliances, when we realize our household can save $100 to your monthly subscription rate. This is computers, and set-top boxes. per year. Now that power efficiency is personal, relevant not only as a monthly cost; as a citizen we can redouble our environmental saving be- of Earth, we must be conscious of our environ- Today both designers and consumers have haviour. The Maxim website has live parametric mental impact. As circuit designers, we can choices; we all can influence the future of our tables that allow us to interactively select parts. choose carefully, and thankfully low-energy parts Earth by the little things we do each day. What We can pay attention to power consumption are not necessarily more expensive. In fact, be- does this have to do with apples, oranges, as we select the appropriate part for our circuit. cause newer parts are made with smaller geom- lemon, and limes? And how do these fruits Though a microampere is a tiny amount, when etry IC processes, they tend to be more efficient. demonstrate green technology? For a story to multiplied by the huge number of people in Furthermore, Maxim circuit designers have long attract media attention, it needs a catchy head- the world, it does make a difference.  Product News

 ADI: 300m UTP cable equalizer for  LTC: low VIN capable 5A DC/DC converter  Dialog optimizes power for Freescale analog video distribution generates positive/ negative regulated i.MX 6 dual/quad processors Analog Devices introduced an integrated triple voltage Dialog Semiconductor has announced its sin- differential receiver and adjustable cable equal- Linear Technology announces the LT3959, a gle-chip system ICs are izer with high equalized bandwidth at 300 highly versatile DC/DC converter for boost, being used to optimise the power requirements meters and the lowest power consumption. SEPIC and inverting power supply applica- of tablets, infotainment systems, media hubs Designed for use in high-resolution analog tions. This device operates over an input and other smart devices based on Freescale video distribution systems, the AD8122 pro- voltage range of 2.5V to 40V, has an onboard multicore i.MX 6 series applications processors. vides 60 MHz of equalized bandwidth, with a 6A/40V power switch and achieves efficien- The company’s flagship PMIC is at the heart low 16-mV rms noise and a short settling cies up to 96%, making it well suited for in- of a power management reference board for time of only 70 ns to 1% at the maximum dustrial, automotive, medical and telecom Freescale i.MX 6Dual/Quad applications cable length of 300 meters. applications. processors. News ID 16037 News ID 15976 News ID 16002

17 September 2012 ANALOG & POWER

Keeping ahead through higher power density with 40V and 60V MOSFETs

By Ralf Walter, Infineon

The trend to higher performance and power densities continues. The focus is on either package miniaturization or increasing output currents and hence output power in unchanged package volumes. Another aim is to dispense with through-hole devices. Infineon’s latest MOSFETs with 40V and 60V blocking voltage enable these requirements to be met.

 The OptiMOS3 technology developed by In- reduced by 40% in the new MOSFETs with two values are shown for the 40V and 60V fineon a few years ago has already succeeded 40V blocking voltage, by even over 48% with MOSFETs in figure 2. The significant reduction in significantly reducing the on-state resistance 60V blocking voltage. of all three parameters, i.e. RDS(on), FOM Qg RDS(on) by as much as 60% compared to estab- and FOM Qoss, in the new OptiMOS 40V and lished MOSFET technologies. A significant re- Infineon is now the first semiconductor man- 60V devices can be clearly seen. This becomes duction in the CGS (gate to source) and CGD ufacturer in the world to launch a 40V MOS- particularly clear with the 60V MOSFETs (gate to drain) capacitances has also been FET having a maximum RDS(on) of less than where the total RDS(on), i.e. including the not achieved. This has permitted far faster switching 1mΩ in SuperSO8. In addition, the integration insignificant package resistance, has been al- with substantially reduced switching losses. of a Schottky-like diode results in higher most halved. Infineon offers a broad portfolio Whereas large through-hole devices in TO220 system efficiency and smaller voltage spikes. It (figure 3) in both voltage ranges, enabling the or even TO247 were still needed in many ap- is a monolithically integrated cell structure of- design engineer to easily find an optimal solu- plications before this technology was developed, fering key advantages in a wide load range tion for his application. it often became possible to dispense with a over the normally effective body diode of the complex and costly heat dissipation system. MOSFET. On the one hand, the on-state Why the improvement of all three parameters voltage is significantly lower (at 10A diode is so important is apparent as follows on the Instead, it was possible to use a SMD package, current e.g. 0.45V instead of 0.65V). On the basis of secondary-side rectification in a typical such as D2PAK and SuperSO8 (5x6mm2), with- other, the reverse recovery charge (Qrr) is neg- server power supply. However, the values shown out an additional heat sink, significantly sim- ligibly small, precisely because no body diode can easily be transferred to other applications plifying the thermal management. As a result, has to be recharged. These variants are identi- as well. Using the new Infineon MOSFET gen- an increase in the power density of the switch fied by the last letter “l” (e.g. BSC010N04LSI). eration substantially simplifies thermal man- mode power supplies could be achieved, ac- agement and hence saves cost in practically all companied by a reduction in system costs. While the RDS(on) is one of the most important applications in which 40V or 60V Schottky MOSFET parameters, other values are usually diodes have so far still been used. A typical Hard on the heels of the new 30V silicon tech- of equal importance or sometimes of even server power supply delivers at a 12V output nology which last year revealed great benefits greater importance to the design engineer. Es- between 600W and 2400W at 100% output in the lowest voltage range, work on the devel- sentially they are the switching losses: the load. Secondary-side rectification is effected opment of the new 40V and 60V MOSFETs figure of merit – gate charge (FOM Qg) indi- as standard using synchronous rectifiers, i.e. has now been completed. A direct comparison cates how much charge and hence energy has MOSFETs. Depending on topology and design with OptiMOS3 technology displays not only to be brought to the MOSFET gate for defined of the transformer, 40V, 60V or even 75V/80V a dramatic reduction in the on-state resistance switching, whereas the figure of merit – output MOSFETs are necessary. If one considers the RDS(on), but also a huge improvement in the capacitance (FOM Qoss) is an indication of the distribution of the losses in such a power switching characteristics. The RDS(on) has been energy lost in non-resonant switching. These supply with 50A output current at 12V output

September 2012 18 ANALOG & POWER

tribute about another 30% to the total losses of the synchronous rectification. Hence a large part of the losses occurs not during the con- duction phase of the synchronous rectifier MOSFETs, but only during the few nanosec- onds of the turn-on or turn-off operations. The reason for this is easy to understand: both gate drive power and the output capacitance losses are almost independent of output current, hence have a constant value throughout the load range. In contrast, the conduction losses increase with the square of the current and Figure 1. Improvement of the on-state resistance RDS(on) with the new generation of Infineon are therefore mostly dominant even at medium MOSFETs output currents. The conduction losses could be reduced relatively simply (naturally with far higher cost) by the parallel connection of a further MOSFET. In fact the conduction losses are then halved.

Since, however, now two MOSFETS would have to be driven and together they also have double the output capacitance, there is a clear deterioration of the situation in the lower power range: the dominant losses there are likewise doubled. A decrease of the losses at high output power hence results in an increase of losses in the low load range. In introducing Figure 2. Improvement of the FOM Qg and FOM Qoss parameters important to switching for 40V and 60V blocking voltage with the new OptiMOS technologies the new MOSFETS with 40V and 60V blocking voltage, Infineon provides the possibility of significantly reducing the losses throughout the load range.

A direct comparison of measured curves reveals further benefits of the new MOSFET genera- tions. Even though the results with the current MOSFET generation are already close to opti- mal, deployment of the new technology can significantly improve them further. Not only is the maximum voltage spike considerably lower, the oscillations after the switching oper- ation proper are far smaller and hardly present.

Both the new 40V and 60V technologies offer the design engineer the possibility to signifi- Figure 3. 40V and 60V product portfolio cantly increase the power density. The switching performance has been optimized, enabling a voltage, it is immediately evident that other share at a high output power and hence maxi- lower MOSFET voltage class to be selected in loss mechanisms are dominant in the different mum current. The RDS(on) losses here account many applications with all the benefits in load ranges. The losses in the MOSFET are es- for about 80% of the total losses. But as output terms of RDS(on), cost, power loss etc. A sentially gate drive losses, output capacitance power becomes lower, another power loss 1000W power supply is now possible without losses, and conduction losses / RDS(on) losses). mechanism becomes increasingly dominant: parallel connection of MOSFETS in synchro- Viewed across the entire load range, there is a output capacitance losses. It accounts for more nous rectification. Now a single MOSFET in considerable variation in the percentage of than half the total losses at 20% load. Added SuperSO8 suffices per rectifier branch. The re- the various loss mechanisms in the total losses. to this are the gate drive losses (almost un- sult is an increase in power density accompa- The conduction losses constitute the lion’s changed across the entire range), which con- nied by reduced cost. 

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19 September 2012

w ANALOG & POWER

Varistors for effective protection of valuable solar installations

By David Connett, and Christoph Jehle, Epcos

The reliable protection of valuable photovoltaic installations and their electronics against overvoltages and current surges is gaining in importance. Thermally protected varistors and gas-filled surge arresters are reliable and cost-effective solutions for this purpose.

 Photovoltaic installations are set up in exposed of 100A and thus further limits the overvoltage. As solar inverters belong to a relatively young locations such as roofs, and increasingly also In addition, the energy to be absorbed is dis- sector of technology, no long-term studies in open spaces. This makes them susceptible to tributed across both components, thus reducing have yet been carried out about their aging be- high risks due to overvoltages, which are in- the stress factor. In the variant shown in figure havior and how this affects the protection creased still further by the long leads between 2c, a gas-filled surge arrester is additionally components used in them. However, it is the solar modules and inverters at DC level as connected between the varistors and ground. known from power supplies and other equip- well as the feed lines to the power network at This variant still offers sufficient protection, ment that degradation can occur in semicon- AC level. Figure 1 shows the structure of a typ- especially in the event of failure or stress- ductor based components such as ceramic ical solar inverter. It converts the DC voltage caused aging of one or both varistors. The ar- varistors: This is due to continuously repeated coming from the solar module to an AC voltage rester must be selected so that it does not go low amplitude pulse loads. Such degradation which can then be fed into the power network. over to a continuously conducting state if manifests in a rise of the leakage current. If both varistors should fail. the resulting higher power loss in the compo- As a rule, metal oxide varistors with a rated nent cannot be dissipated by convection, then voltage of 1000 VDC are used for the DC In principle, the power line side offers the in extreme cases continuously increasing heat- input of the solar inverter. Depending on the same circuit options. For grid voltages of up to ing occurs which can lead to a short circuit line voltage to be handled, varistors with a 240VRMS typical in Europe, varistors with and consequent destruction of the varistor. voltage of 300 VRMS, for example, are obvious rated voltages of 300 or 320VRMS should be candidates for the inverter output. In both selected in this case. Basically, these circuits are Various standardization bodies such as UL cases, gas-filled surge arresters may also be largely identical with the input circuits of stan- and IEC have become alert to this safety risk used to provide additional protection. Figure dard power supplies designed for line operation. and insist that future applications assure ther- 2 shows frequently used circuit variants for the DC input of solar inverters. The simplest Parameter/Type version (figure 2a) uses only a single varistor with a rated voltage of 1000 VRMS and a disk Rated voltage [V AC]: 130 to 420; 115 to 1000 (20 mm disk) diameter of 20 mm, for example. In this case Surge current capability [kA]: 6, 10 and 20 the rated DC voltage is 1414 VDC and the clamp voltage 2970V at 100A. The circuit in Response time [ns]: <25 figure 2b operates with two varistors connected in series. They should be designed for 550 Max. energy absorption (2 ms) [J]: 50 to 700 VRMS (745 V DC) to provide the same pro- Operating temperature [°C]: –40 to +85 tection. This variant offers the advantage that the clamp voltage is only 2710V at a current Table 1: Technical data of the EPCOS ETFV series

September 2012 20 ANALOG & POWER

Figure 1. Block diagram of a solar inverter. Figure 2. Circuit variant for overvoltage pro- Left: overvoltage protection (OVP) of the tection. Circuits with one (a), two (b), or two Figure 3. Circuit diagram of the EPCOS solar module and inverter input; right: line- varistors plus an additional gas-filled surge ETFV. The EPCOS ETFV has a monitor out- side overvoltage protection inclusive of EMC arrester (c) offer protection against overvolt- put. The LED signals the intact state of the filtering. ages. varistor. mal monitoring of the varistors as well as tions with an output of more than 50 kW nents is the monitor lead: it extends the contact their disconnection in the event of a fault. must assure overvoltage protection to IEC point between varistor and thermal fuse out However, the recently published IEC 62109-1 61643-11 Category II (coarse protection). To so that it can drive an LED (figure 3). Varistors standard entitled “Safety of power converters allow manufacturers of solar inverters to cost- are voltage-dependent monolithic ceramic re- for use in photovoltaic power systems – Part effectively satisfy the rigorous demands of the sistors. Their behavior is defined by their rated 1: General requirements” does not treat this standards and insurance companies, TDK- voltage and their current capability. set of problems explicitly. Other standards, EPC has developed the ETFV series (Epcos such as the most recent revision of IEC 60950- Thermo- Fuse Varistor). Below the response voltage, the component 1, specify that exclusive use must be made of exhibits very high resistance: only a negligible varistors that satisfy IEC 61051-2-2 as well as These components are built up from a series leakage current in the µA range flows. If the Annex Q (IEC 60950-1). A corresponding fuse circuit comprising a varistor and a thermal applied voltage exceeds the rated voltage of must also be provided for the varistors. The fuse. If the varistor degradation has advanced the component, the varistor becomes conduc- requirements of insurance companies make so far that the higher leakage current leads to tive, allowing the component to withstand the situation even more acute: they insist overheating, the fuse blows and disconnects currents in the range of several amperes, and among other things that photovoltaic installa- the varistor. A special feature of these compo- of several kA for brief periods. 

Product News

 Farnell engages with customers in  Toshiba: I/O expander connects up to  Freescale: QorIQ platform based on development of component catalogues 20 general-purpose I/Os software-aware system architecture Farnell element14 has developed a new online Toshiba Electronics Europe has added the Freescale Semiconductor today introduced the catalogue, named MROCAT, in Beta, to engage TC35896WBG with integrated ESD and EMI centrepiece of its third-generation QorIQ port- customers in finalising the design of what es- protection to its family of miniature, low- folio – the new Layerscape system architecture. sentially will be their very own dynamic cata- power I/O expanders that simplify upgrading This core-agnostic, software-aware framework logue. element14 is launching MROCAT in of resource-constrained designs or adding off- addresses the increasing flexibility and scala- BETA version catalogue to a wide range of its board I/Os. The TC35896WBG connects up bility required by network infrastructure OEMs customers who are focused on Maintenance to 20 general-purpose I/Os (GPIO), 96 key- as they adapt to a profusion of connected de- and Repair products. Accessible from PC, Mac, board lines and three PWM channels to the vices, massive datasets, more stringent security iPad and Android tablet, MROCAT provides a host system via a 2-wire I2C interface and in- needs, real-time service provisioning and fully illustrated catalogue page style browsing terrupt connection. increasingly unpredictable network traffic experience with real-time stock and price in- News ID 15883 patterns. formation and encourages users to build shop- News ID 15785 ping lists, add personal notes and bookmarks.  Atlantik: cellular modem solutions for News ID 15753 embedded market  Mouser launches harsh environments With its GSM / GPRS modules Quectel ad- technology site for engineers  MSC: 1.34 mm thin SIM card reader with dresses typical embedded applications. These Mouser Electronics launches its new technology new extraction technology are characterized by the fact that relatively site on Mouser.com featuring Harsh Environ- An ultra-thin profile of only 1.34 mm, and a small junks of data are transmitted in wider ments. The new site contains technical infor- newly developed pull-ejector mechanism dis- time spans. Looking at the n speeds of GSM mation that aids design engineers’ thought tinguishes the SIM card reader FMS006-8010- and GPRS the transmission of 100 bytes to a process in developing and designing new 0 of Yamaichi Electronics, which is immediately few kBytes is usually done within a few seconds solutions that meet the most stringent, rigorous available from MSC. Such a small installation only. The advantage of these cellular systems operating conditions. While electronic height has conventionally only been possible lies in their worldwide availability and their components are primarily designed for stable, for manual insertion/removal of the card, or almost complete local coverage. Of course, re- controlled environments, the real world often by using an indirect insertion or removal liability plays an important role, therefore dictates extreme conditions. process such as a tray. Quectel’s motto is „Quality in every step“. News ID 16017 News ID 16041 News ID 15815

21 September 2012 PRODUCT NEWS

 Infineon supplies secure chip technology from concept to working design. The collection at the I/O level. With EtherCAT, the controller for U.S. ePassport program is aggressively priced to allow experimentation can update the input and/or output informa- Infineon Technologies announces that the U.S. with state-of-the-art ICs on even the most tion at the time when the data is needed, of- Government Printing Office awarded the com- modest budget. fering performance that previously had been pany a new contract to supply security chip News ID 15846 available only within servo drives with a digital technology embedded in the U.S. electronic signal processor. passport. The passports include a security chip  Microchip: serial SRAMs with News ID 15776 embedded in the back cover. This chip securely 512 Kb/1 Mb and up to 80 Mbps stores the citizen’s credentials according to in- Microchip announces the expansion of its  SYSGO improves ELinOS embedded Linux ternational standards of travel documents. In serial SRAM portfolio with four new devices development environment this new procurement, GPO named Infineon with 5V operation, which is used extensively SYSGO announces the release of ELinOS 5.2, Technologies as a prime contractor. in automotive and industrial applications. its embedded Linux development environment. News ID 16005 These low-cost 512 Kb and 1 Mb SPI devices The new 5.2 release brings important im- maintain the portfolio’s low power consump- provements as well as new features and up to  Telit: one-stop shop for M2M communi- tion and small, 8-pin packages. Speeds of up date components to the long established ELi- cation modules and managed services to 80 Mbps are achieved via the quad-SPI, or nOS product line. The new version includes Telit Solutions announced the estab- SQI, protocol, providing the zero write-cycle more than 230 new or updated packages. lishment of m2mAIR, a new business unit of- times with near instantaneous data movement News ID 16034 fering M2M managed and value-added services needed for offloading graphics, data buffering, including connectivity. The offer covers all data logging, displays, maths, audio, video and  CMX: embedded software for NXP network-related needs including SIM man- other data-intensive functions. CORTEX-M3 and -M4 families agement, remote module management, secu- News ID 15992 CMX Systems offers two RTOSes, two TCP/IP rity, reporting, and monitoring, SIM cards, stacks, five Flash File Systems and USB support rate-plans as well as customer support – all  Microsemi: advanced die packaging for for NXP’s Cortex-M3, Cortex-M4. Note that from a single vendor. implantable medical devices the Cortex-M0 microcontroller families are News ID 15878 Microsemi announced a new die packaging also supported. CMX software is ported for technology has passed an internal qualification many compiler tool chains such as IAR, KEIL  FTDI: USB host IC optimized for Android regime typical for active implantable medical and GNU and many others. platforms devices consisting of thermal and mechanical News ID 15834 Future Technology Devices International’s new stressing to MIL-STD-883 test standards. The USB Full Speed host IC is specifically targeted die packaging technology is targeted at im-  NI releases 2012 Automated Test Outlook at providing Android platforms, such as tablet plantable medical devices such as pacemakers National Instruments released its 2012 Auto- PCs or smartphones, with interconnectivity and cardiac defibrillators. It can also be used mated Test Outlook, which shares findings of to end product systems through the utilization in wearable devices such hearing aids and in- the company’s research into the latest test and of USB technology. Running off a standard telligent patches, as well as nerve stimulators measurement technologies and methodologies. 3.3 V supply and drawing a current of just 25 and drug delivery products. The report details trends affecting numerous mA in full operation at 48 MHz and 128 µA News ID 16050 industries including consumer electronics, au- while in standby mode, the FT311D has the tomotive, semiconductor, aerospace and de- capacity to bridge the USB port to six different  MathWorks offers AUTOSAR 4.0 fense, medical devices and communications. user selectable interface types.. production support with Simulink With insight from the report, engineers and News ID 15968 MathWorks announced that Simulink, Em- managers can take advantage of the latest bedded Coder, and the AUTOSAR Target Pro- strategies and best practices for optimizing  Maxim: security manager with dual duction Package (ATPP) now support AU- any test organization. encryption engines TOSAR 4.0. AUTOSAR support provided by News ID 15833 Maxim Integrated Products announces the Embedded Coder and the ATPP is prequalified MAX36025, a tamper-reactive cryptographic- to ISO 26262 according to TÜV SÜD, as de-  Renesas: CANopen protocol stack for node controller with two hardware Advanced scribed in IEC Certification Kit (for ISO 26262 32-bit RX600 MCU series Encryption Standard engines for easy and and IEC 61508). Now, automotive engineers Renesas Electronics Europe announces the more secure encryption. The MAX36025 is a can use Simulink to develop production AU- availability of a highly efficient CANopen security manager that can be placed at the ac- TOSAR 4.0 applications with Model-Based protocol stack and an engineering tool (CDT cess point/data concentrator in a smart grid Design. – CANopen Design Tool) for Renesas’ 32- network to add security to these crucial points News ID 15847 bit RX600 series. Renesas ported the widely of data aggregation. used and popular CANopen software stack News ID 15947  IntervalZero forms partnership with in cooperation with its business partner EtherCAT specialist acontis port.With the large RAM of up to 128 KB  Maxim: peripheral modules plug into any IntervalZero, whose RTX software transforms and up to 2 MB flash embedded, the RX600 FPGA/CPU expansion port compatible Microsoft Windows into a real-time operating series offers up to three channels of Con- with Pmod standard system, announces a partnership with acontis troller Area Network interfaces, which are Maxim Integrated Products announces a col- and will include the acontis EtherCAT Master fully compliant with the CAN 2.0B and the lection of 15 peripheral modules which plug in a product offering when RTX 2012 releases ISO11898-1 (standard and extended frames) directly into any FPGA/CPU expansion port early next month. EtherCAT (Ethernet for standards, and is therefore well-suited to in- that follows the Digilent Pmod standard. Plug- Control Automation Technology) is an open, dustrial and consumer applications requiring in simplicity and easy software integration high-performance Ethernet-based fieldbus sys- CAN interfaces. allow rapid prototyping and quick migration tem that makes internet technologies available News ID 15843

September 2012 22 PRODUCT NEWS

 Green Hills: optimized tools for Renesas  HCC: Evatronix NAND Flash controller  Enea: Linux base station platform for RH850 MCUs now available with SafeFTL Freescale multi-standard SoC The longtime collaboration between Renesas Evatronix together with HCC Embedded an- Enea announces the Linux Base Station Plat- and Green Hills Software has produced opti- nounce availability of its fail-safe Flash Trans- form targeting multi-standard Radio Access mising compilers that offer tailored optimisa- lation Layer, SafeFTL , optimized specifically Networks, providing an integrated software tion for the RH850 family of MCUs. The for the Evatronix NAND Flash controller IP. foundation bringing an effective use of re- Green Hills Software tools employ thousands The goal is to merge the security provided sources to the system, including core utilization of processor-independent and processor-de- by the fail-safe FTL from HCC with the and performance. The Enea Linux Base Station pendent optimisations, including advanced high-performance NAND Flash controller Platform encompasses the Enea Linux distri- techniques such as an advance dual-issue IP from Evatronix. The result is a fast, secure bution with real-time capabilities and IP trans- pipeline scheduler, inter-procedural optimisa- solution ready for implementation in all port, IPC communication, plus tools and mid- tions, link-time automatic NAND Flash-based SoCs. dleware needed by the 3G and 4G LTE stack optimisation and code factoring. News ID 16045 and use-case specific application parts to im- News ID 15939 plement a high performance base station/small  Wind River introduces Yocto cell product.  AMD extends ARM TrustZone security project–based Embedded Linux platform News ID 15790 technology into -based offerings Wind River has introduced the latest version AMD will integrate a new security solution of Wind River Linux, which was developed  R&S: EMI test receiver reduces testing into its future products to meet the increasing from the Yocto Project open source develop- times need to provide consumers and businesses ment infrastructure and has achieved Yocto Rohde & Schwarz introduces the new ESR with secure access to their content and worry- Project Compatible registration. Wind River EMI test receiver whose broadband architecture free online transactions. Through a strategic Linux helps developers rapidly implement allows standard-compliant EMI measurements technology partnership with ARM, AMD will highly interoperable, platform-independent up to 6000 times faster than other solutions. integrate the established ARM TrustZone tech- Linux projects. Wind River Linux works with Comprehensive diagnostic tools such as spec- nology into future Accelerated Processing Units Yocto Project Compatible board support trogram display, realtime spectrum analysis and via a system-on-a-chip design methodology. packages and software or middleware. IF analysis help developers detect and eliminate News ID 15851 News ID 16071 EMI. The R&S ESR is impressively easy to use thanks to its intuitive touchscreen interface.  Distec: free programmable GUI for touch  Segger and Carnica announce distribution News ID 15993 With ArtistaGUI, Distec introduces a new alliance for Germany human-machine-controller that allows expan- Carnica Technology extends its successful and  COMSOL: conference on Multiphysics sion of simple controls with TFT displays. Pro- long-term cooperation with SEGGER Micro- simulation now accepting abstracts gramming of the GUI (Graphical User Inter- controller and is now also authorized to sell The Program Committee of the 8th annual face) is carried out with a WYSIWYG-Inter- SEGGER products in Germany. The mission of COMSOL Conference announces that it is now face-Designer and the scripting language QT- SEGGER is to significantly reduce the time accepting paper and poster abstracts to be con- Quick. The communication protocol is the ro- effort involved in embedded applications de- sidered for presentation at the conference on bust and in-field proven Modbus-RTU. velopment. SEGGER offers a large range of multiphysics modeling and simulation. More ArtistaGUI is serially connected to the machine compact, flexible and simple to use middleware than 1,800 papers and posters from users of control in place by means of the widely-used components and products, which allow devel- COMSOL Multiphysics software showcasing Modbus-RTU-Protocol and can therefore trans- opment engineers to devote their time to the their modeling and simulation work have been mit instructions and read data for the display. own IP. presented at this annual event since its inception. News ID 15990 News ID 16039 News ID 15913 PRODUCT NEWS

 KW Software: safe runtime system saves  IAR adds extensive functionality to  PRQA: QA•C with enhanced dataflow resources development tools for TI MSP430 capability and increased MISRA SafeOS, the safe IEC 61131 certified runtime IAR Systems has released a new version of its enforcement system according to IEC 61508 up to SIL3 embedded development tool suite for the ultra- PRQA | Programming Research announces an from KW-Software, is now also available for low-power 16-bit MSP430 microcontroller upgrade to QA•C. Version 8.1 is a new release hardware platforms that provide very little family from Texas Instruments, and continues of the analysis tool for C environments that memory space. Manufacturers of small safety to deliver functionality for ease-of-use and incorporates improvements to its deep-flow controls and safety switching devices are subject high performance. IAR Embedded Workbench dataflow analysis technology and increased to high cost pressure. Inexpensive hardware, for MSP430, version 5.50, includes a new text enforcement of the MISRA coding standards. however, often has little memory resources. editor and source browser. The new editor in- QA•C 8.1 builds on the advanced dataflow This restricts the functionality to be realized. troduces user-friendly features such as auto- analysis engine coupled with an industry- SafeOS now supports the special requirements completion, code folding, block selection, block proven Satisfiability Modulo Theories (SMT) for such devices. With current processors, sav- indentation, bracket matching, and zooming. solver that was introduced in QA•C 8.0. ings of up to 80% for RAM and up to 30% for Word/paragraph navigation have also been News ID 15981 ROM are possible. Both channels are processed improved, and parameter hints show the directly from the flash memory. function arguments.  Green Hills supports Xilinx Zynq-7000 News ID 15848 News ID 15838 EPP extensible processing platform Green Hills Software has announced support  ams: reference design provides hardware  LDRA and IAR target IEC 61508 and IEC for the Xilinx Zynq-7000 extensible processing blueprint for battery fuel-gauging 62304 certification of small-footprint platform with its INTEGRITY real-time op- ams has developed a reference design which architectures erating system platforms, high speed JTAG shows how a simple current and voltage meas- LDRA has extended the interface between the and trace-enabled processor probes and its urement circuit can produce state of charge LDRA tool suite and IAR Embedded Work- performance-leading MULTI integrated de- readings for electric scooter batteries. The ref- bench. With support for platforms such as velopment environment. The Xilinx Zynq- erence design uses the AS8510 sensor interface ARM, 8051, AVR, M32C, MSP430 and their 7000 EPP tightly integrates a complete ARM from ams, a two-channel battery sensor inter- evaluation boards, LDRA provides complete dual-core Cortex-A9 MPCore processor- face, together with a simple 8-bit microcon- validation and testing capabilities, ensuring based system with low-power programmable troller, an LDO and an LED driver (driving an that smaller embedded systems based on these logic for system architects and embedded LED bar-graph display). architectures can be certified to the IEC 61508 software developers to extend, customise, News ID 15962 industrial safety, IEC 62304 medical, and optimise, and differentiate their systems, by DO-178C avionics standards despite limited adding peripherals and accelerators into the  Addi-Data: write applications with resources. programmable logic. development mode of intelligent News ID 15813 News ID 15767 Ethernet I/O systems With the development mode of Addi-Data’s  R&S: new options for analyzing IEEE  Mouser now stocking Freescale PX series intelligent MSX-E systems the user can adapt 802.11ac WLAN signals 32-bit power architecture MCUs his measurement and control applications to Rohde & Schwarz equips today’s development Mouser Electronics is stocking new 32-bit his requirements. The programs run directly labs with T&M equipment for tomorrow’s power architecture microcontrollers from on the MSX-E systems, which takes load off WLAN standards: the 20/40/80/160 MHz band- Freescale Semiconductor. Freescale’s PX Series the external PCs and the acquired data can be widths defined in the IEEE 802.11ac standard 32-bit MCUs are system-on-chip devices that freely processed. For example it is possible to based on the proven orthogonal frequency di- are built on Power Architecture technology save algorithms for calculations, to adapt the vision multiplying process. With the 256QAM and contain enhancements that improve the SOAP interfaces to the external hardware or modulation process, up to 8 MIMO data architecture’s fit within embedded applications. to write commands for external hardware. The streams and bandwidths four times higher They include additional instruction support Development mode is activated and adminis- than that of previous standards such as IEEE for DSP while integrating technologies such trated through the website of the Ethernet 802.11n, it supports data rates up to 6.9 Gbit/s. as an enhanced time processor unit, enhanced systems. Wireless video transmissions in HD quality queued analog-to-digital converter, Controller News ID 15871 will soon be a reality. Area Network, and an enhanced modular News ID 15793 input-output system.  GOEPEL: new programming tools for PSoC News ID 16029 3 devices in cooperation with Cypress  TI: get real-time, digital control at your In close cooperation with Cypress, GOEPEL fingertips  HCC: advanced middleware suite for electronic has developed a dedicated VarioTAP Prototyping of digital, real-time control applica- Freescale Kinetis K series MCUs model library for the PSoC 3 programmable tions is now easier and more cost-effective with HCC’s middleware suite brings a whole new System on Chip series. VarioTAP is a universal the new C2000 LaunchPad evaluation kit, based layer of software capability to Freescale’s ad- processor centric emulation technology for on the Piccolo 32-bit TMS320F2802x micro- vanced Kinetis family. Engineers can now programming, test and design validation. The controller, from TI. C2000 LaunchPad is a mod- quickly and easily integrate HCC’s advanced solution enables the onboard programming ular, quick-launch evaluation kit that contains middleware with all Kinetis peripherals and of the PSoC3 devices at system level throughout everything needed – device, emulation and soft- storage media. HCC middleware is designed the entire product life cycle. The user benefits ware – for developers, hobbyists and university to complement most commercial and free are significant increases in programming effi- students to explore the latest real-time control RTOS solutions by providing the kind of per- ciency and savings in additional investments techniques for applications like digital motor formance and range of features that can only for other test and programming equipment. control, lighting and power conversion. be achieved by specialization. News ID 15977 News ID 15970 News ID 15826

September 2012 24 PRODUCT NEWS

 Parasoft extends C/ C++ Embedded  ETAS acquires embedded security system  ST: 32-bit ARM Cortex-M MCUs for testing support for Green Hills house ESCRYPT digital signal control Parasoft and Green Hills Software have an- ETAS has completed the acquisition of ES- STMicroelectronics is now delivering the first nounced that Parasoft C/C++test for C and CRYPT, a system house specializing in em- samples of its new STM32 F3 series of micro- C++ development now supports additional bedded system security technologies and controllers to major OEM customers, enabling Green Hills Software MULTI environments. solutions. ESCRYPT will remain a legally early evaluation of this important new line in The latest release extends C/C++test’s inte- autonomous entity. Future plans for ES- ST’s product family featuring the ARM Cor- grated testing capabilities to embedded soft- CRYPT include, in addition to its successful tex-M core embedded.STM 32 F3 microcon- ware engineers working with Green Hills products and services already established trollers are system-on-chip devices based on MULTI compilers for V800, , and Linux in the market, further expansion of the the Cortex-M4 core with FPU, and are opti- x86 native. service portfolio in the areas of industry mized for efficient handling and processing of News ID 15726 and system solutions. mixed signals in circuits such as three-phase News ID 16068 motor controls, biometrics and industrial sen-  Adeneo Embedded sets up engineering sor outputs or audio filters. and sales office in Germany  Premier Farnell: ARM Cortex-M processor- News ID 15810 Adeneo Embedded announces the creation of based STM32 series development kits a new sales and engineering office in Frankfurt. Premier Farnell extends its relationship with  PRQA: ISO 26262 and IEC 61508 This new operation will be the third full service ARM through the launch of the latest series of certification for QA•C and QA•C++ engineering and sales office of Adeneo Em- ARM Cortex-M3 and Cortex–M4 processor- PRQA announces certification of QA•C 8.0 bedded. With more than 60 engineers world- based STM32F2xx and STM32F4xx Develop- and QA•C++ 3.0 with MISRA Compliance wide, and part of a 600 Employees’ group, ment Kits across its distribution footprint in Modules to the IEC 61508 and ratified version Adeneo Embedded provides a complete OS EMEA, China and the Americas. of ISO 26262 standards. QA•C 8.0 with MISRA- and Software expertise on Windows Embedded, News ID 15745 C:1998 or MISRA-C:2004 Compliance Mod- Android and Linux technologies. ules, and QA•C++ 3.0 with MISRA-C++:2008 News ID 16089  Atego: Virtual Machine and compilation Compliance Module have been certified by technology for SMP systems TÜV SÜD as “fit for purpose” for achieving  CMX: TCP/IP stack for SiLabs 8051 Atego has launched Aonix Perc Ultra SMP compliance with ISO 26262:2011 and IEC devices 6.1, its next-generation embedded Virtual Ma- 61508:2010. CMX Systems offers CMX-MicroNet small chine and compilation technology for Sym- News ID 15917 footprint TCP/IP stack for SiLabs C8051F34x metrical Multi-Processor systems. With this device family and includes support for the release Atego introduces multi-core support CP220x Ethernet controller. CMX-MicroNet for the Java 6 language for the first time in its supports previously offered C8051 device fam- Aonix Perc Ultra SMP product. ilies including the 8051F02x, 8051F12x and News ID 15983 8051F13x. News ID 15729  Rohde & Schwarz takes wireless device precompliance testing into the lab  IAR Systems enhances development Rohde & Schwarz has added three new options tools for ARM for its compact R&S DST200 RF diagnostic The latest version of IAR Embedded Work- chamber: the R&S DST-B160 automated 3D bench for ARM, released by IAR Systems, in- positioner, the R&S DST-B210 cross-polarized troduces several new features, feature enhance- test antenna and the R&S DST-B270 commu- ments, and major optimizations. The enhance- nications antenna. The new options signifi- ments include a new source browser and text cantly speed up precompliance testing of wire- editor, which enable user-friendly functionality less devices, allowing automated test sequences such as auto-completion, code folding, block to be performed on the lab bench so that de- selection, block indentation, bracket matching, velopers no longer require constant access to and zooming. Word/paragraph navigation have large RF test chambers. also been improved. News ID 15748 News ID 15737  Softing: development toolkits V1.01  Dassault unveils new SolidWorks support Historical Access electrical applications Softing releases Version 1.01 of its OPC UA Dassault Systèmes introduced new SolidWorks .NET development toolkits, now supporting Electrical applications including an innovative, Historical Access. Both Client and Server De- system level 2D schematic design tool and a velopment Toolkits support all available His- powerful 3D electrical modeling add-in to torical Access features allowing access to his- SolidWorks design application that are linked torical data (e.g. for calculating average tem- in real time. SolidWorks Electrical applications peratures over a given time). Softings OPC make it easy for engineers and designers to UA .NET Toolkits enable developers to build plan electrical systems and integrate those OPC UA clients and servers for moving data electrical aspects into the overall 3D mechanical and information from the factory floor to the models. enterprise level in .NET for Windows. News ID 15982 News ID 15930

25 September 2012 PRODUCT NEWS

 SiLabs simplifies wireless connectivity to performance ICs required for HF/VHF/UHF, Cyclone IV FPGA. This new USB 3.0 expansion cost-sensitive embedded applications professional radios, wireless data terminals, board enables BeMicro users to prototype a Silicon Laboratories introduced two next-gen- wireless microphones, marine and avionics simpler, uncompressed, cost-effective alternative eration EZRadio wireless ICs designed to sim- radio systems. The CMX973 forms the basis to traditional slower interfaces such as USB 2.0 plify the addition of high-performance wireless of a high-performance RF transceiver system and Gigabit Ethernet. connectivity to cost-sensitive embedded ap- combining a flexible IF/RF quadrature modu- News ID 15775 plications. Adding RF connectivity to embed- lator and quadrature demodulator, in a single ded applications can be a complex, costly and chip.  Toshiba increases ROM and RAM time-consuming process. Silicon Labs’ new News ID 15789 capacities on motor control micros EZRadio products make it easy and cost-ef- Toshiba Electronics Europe has further ex- fective for developers to incorporate bidirec-  Tektronix simplifies serial debug to panded its family of 32-bit ARM Cortex-M3- tional and one-way RF links into their products drive engineering productivity based microcontrollers for motor control ap- without performance trade-offs. Tektronix is stepping up to simplify serial bus plications with the launch of a new device News ID 15926 test complexity. The company has announced featuring the family’s highest levels of on- a broad set of oscilloscope firmware and soft- board memory to date. The TMPM376 will  Atlantik: i.MX28- based compact wired ware upgrades designed to simplify and shorten minimise component count and speed the and wireless core module serial bus debug cycles and enhanced support design of industrial and home appliance mo- Atlantik Elektronik introduces the new Digi for a number of important serial bus standards tion control applications requiring efficient ConnectCard for i.MX28. The compact wired including PCI Express, CAN/LIN, FlexRay, and accurate field oriented control of fans, and wireless core module is based on Freescales MIL-STD-1553B and MOST. pumps and compressors. i.MX28 processor family. The ConnectCard News ID 15859 News ID 15918 for i.MX28 is an ideal embedded platform so- lution for connected applications in medical  Microsemi: advanced motor control  Gleichmann: 10.6-inch WXGA display and healthcare, energy/solar, transportation as algorithms for SmartFusion cSoCs modules with viewing angles of 176 well as industrial/building automation. This Microsemi has announced the availability of degrees module offers easy design integration and new advanced motor control algorithms opti- Gleichmann Electronics now offers two new unique peripheral/interface flexibility in an ex- mized for its SmartFusion customizable sys- 10.6-inch WXGA display modules from NLT tremely compact and cost effective form factor. tem-on-chip, allowing design engineers to re- Technologies. The new display modules feature News ID 16018 alize highly reliable multi-motor control in a ultra-wide viewing angles of 176 degrees hor- single IC and reducing system cost and power. izontally and vertically, a brightness of 300  TI demonstrates ZigBee Light Link The new solution is ideal for safety-critical cd/m2 and a high contrast ratio of 1000:1. standard on the CC2530 ZigBee SoC applications in industrial, avionics, defense News ID 15741 Texas Instruments announced the industry’s and medical markets. first demonstrations of the new ZigBee Light News ID 15857  Atlantik: all-rounder GSM / GPRS module Link standard on the CC2530 ZigBee SoC. with multiple interfaces ZigBee Light Link standardizes wireless net-  Freescale: Kinetis MCU for ZigBee Smart Atlantik introduces Quectel‘s M80 cellular net- worked LED lighting systems making them Energy Version 2.0 work module, a module leaving nothing to be easier to install, manage and operate than pre- Freescale Semiconductor is expanding its desired. With a multitude of interfaces the vious closed proprietary systems. TI’s CC2530 Kinetis MCU portfolio with a wireless solution M80 is a solution for applications in the areas is a certified Golden Unit for ZigBee Light built on the ARM Cortex-M4 processor for of track&trace, meter reading and POS. With Link enabling developers and manufacturers smart energy, smart metering and building very low current draw, high sensitivity and to quickly build and test ZigBee Light Link control applications. Freescale designed the optimization of transmission power it is ideally products for interoperability. Kinetis KW20 wireless MCU family to address suited for battery-driven usage. The M80 offers News ID 15722 the increased processing and memory require- highest efficiency in smallest dimensions of ments associated with future ZigBee Smart only 23 x 25 x 2.6mm. As the data upload  Mouser launches new technology site on Energy 2.0 and Internet Protocol specifications. speed into the internet is in most cases the de- smart grid technology The Kinetis KW20 wireless MCU integrates cisive criteria for the applications even GPRS Mouser Electronics has launched a new tech- an ARM Cortex-M4 processor, a class-leading Class 12 is supported. nology site on Mouser.com covering Smart MC13242 RF transceiver and a robust feature News ID 16081 Grid Technology. The new site is designed to set to provide a reliable, secure, low-power help design engineers find the latest Smart ZigBee platform.  Avnet Embedded: 7” TFT LCD uses Grid advancements, source product informa- News ID 15721 integral LED backlight system tion using block diagram navigation, and Avnet Embedded brings the industrial 7” access the latest technical resources in as few  Cypress: USB 3.0 SuperSpeed interface WVGA TFT panel LG Display LB070WV8- clicks as possible. board for Altera FPGAs SL01 to the market, which offers high reliability News ID 15812 Cypress Semiconductor and Nuvation announce at a competitive price. A product availability the production release of a rapid-prototyping lifetime of a minimum of three to five years  CML Microcircuits: quadrature solution that simplifies streaming video, images and a 450 cd/m² high brightness LED backlight modulator/demodulator RF building block and other data from Altera FPGAs to a host are part of its many features. The 800x480 The CMX973 quadrature modulator/demod- processor at speeds up to 400 Megabytes per color TFT LCD uses an integral LED backlight ulator is the latest RF building block from second. This solution includes a SuperSpeed system with a minimum 30 000 hours to half CML Microcircuits following on from the USB 3.0 device interface board that connects to brightness lifetime and an excellent contrast CMX970 and CMX971. The RF Building Block Arrow Electronics’ BeMicro SDK, the popular ratio of 800:1. range is designed to provide the flexible, high FPGA evaluation platform featuring an Altera News ID 15964

September 2012 26 PRODUCT NEWS

 Display Solution and Evervision  Rigol: digital oscilloscopes with up to 16  ams: driver integrates control of 3 banks announce distribution partnership trigger functions of ‘smart’ indicator LEDs Display Solution announced a new offical dis- Rigol’s new DS2000 series digital oscilloscopes ams has released the AS3661, a new smart tributor agreement with Evervision Electronics make detecting signal and device characteristics LED driver which controls up to nine LEDs to Europe to extend its broad range of professional easier than ever with comprehensive trigger produce sophisticated indicator lighting effects Displays. Evervision is a Taiwanese manufac- functions, advanced hardware based, real time in mobile devices independent of the power- turer of high quality standard and semi-cus- waveform record, replay, search and analysis hungry . The device is tomized industrial TFT displays with a range functions. Rigol’s DS2000 series is the fea- useful for many consumer electronics devices spans from 2.4 to 10.2”. All LCDs comes with ture-rich digital oscilloscope at the bandwidth such as 3G and LTE modems, USB memory LED backlight up to 1.200 cd/m², a wide tem- ranged from 70MHz to 200MHz. The new de- sticks, game controllers and headsets. perature range of up to -30 - 85°C and a long signed analog front end delivers lower noise News ID 16066 product life cycle. floor and wider vertical range (500 uV/div to News ID 15877 10 V/div) with full bandwidth. It’s the best  Fujitsu: 8-bit MCUs with capacitive choice for the customers who want to do the touch sensor and controller functions  Microchip expands parallel Flash memory small signal tests or the large signal tests or Fujitsu Semiconductor Europe announced portfolio both. the addition of new products with capaci- Microchip announces the expansion of its News ID 15766 tive touch sensor and controller function- Multi-Purpose Flash Plus (MPF+) portfolio ality to its “New 8FX” family of high-per- with the introduction of four new compact  Digi-Key announces global distribution formance 8-bit microcontrollers. The new 512K x16 parallel Flash CMOS devices: the agreement with Touch Revolution products from the MB95870, MB95860 SST39VF401C, SST39F402C, SST39LF401C Digi-Key has signed a global distribution agree- and MB95850 series are being offered as and the SST39LF402C. Manufactured with ment with Touch Revolution. Touch Revolution low-cost, low-power microcontroller op- high-performance CMOS SuperFlash technol- designs and manufactures embedded touch tions for controlling the capacitive touch ogy, these low-power, 2.7-3.6V, x16 parallel displays, touch sub-systems, and touch moni- keys and touch panels used in a wide range NOR Flash devices feature a split-gate design tors in multiple sizes for OEM/ODMs and of products sold worldwide, from house- and thick-oxide tunnelling injector for superior system integrators to help them quickly add hold appliances to office equipment and reliability and design simplicity. an advanced touch interface to their products. electronic systems. News ID 16094 News ID 16048 News ID 15808 PRODUCT NEWS

 PMC: radio transceiver chipset for next-  Mouser launches new automotive  Atmel: Cortex-M4 processor-based MCU generation macro basestations application site with 2MB of embedded Flash PMC has announced the UniTRX radio trans- Mouser Electronics launched a new application Atmel announced sampling of the Atmel ceiver chipset for macro basestation designs and technology site focused on Automotive SAM4SD32 2MB embedded Flash Cortex-M4 which replaces up to 14 discrete devices, and Design. The new site helps speed design engi- processor-based MCU. Atmel’s SAM4SD32 of- reduces both board space and power by more neers in finding the latest automotive advance- fers best-in-class low power consumption at than 50 percent for equivalent multi-standard ments, sourcing product information via block 200uA/MHz in active modewhen running at basestation radio designs. It addresses multi- diagram navigation, and pinpointing the latest 120MHz. With 2MB of embedded Flash, the standard macro basestation performance re- technical resources in as few clicks as possible. SAM4SD32 is the ideal device for industrial quirements and simplifies the design of dense The site features new products from manu- and consumer applications requiring increased MIMO (multiple input, multiple output) radio facturers such as Texas Instruments, Freescale, program memory, data storage and low power units, such as active antenna systems. Maxim Integrated Products, ON Semi, OSRAM consumption. News ID 15719 Opto Semiconductors, KEMET, Molex and News ID 15830 Microchip, to name just a few.  Bayer: compact module with STM32 News ID 15916  Atlantik: small quad-band modem has Cortex-M4 MCUand Spartan-6 FPGA upload speeds up to 85.6 kbit/s A.R. Bayer DSP Systeme delivers a compact  TI: increase system protection and Atlantik Elektronik introduces the new and flexible processor module based on ST efficiency in motor control with Piccolo Quectel M95 GSM/GPRS quad-band module Microelectronics’ STM32 Cortex-M4 micro- MCUs – an ideal solution for the M2M market. controller and a Xilinx Spartan-6 FPGA. Besides Piccolo microcontrollers from Texas Instru- The module will be most widely used in ap- the STM32 (STM32F417, 168MHz, 512kBytes ments bring 32-bit real-time control to appli- plications such as track&trace, meter reading Flash, 192kBytes RAM) in a 176-ball CSP and cations typically unable to justify the associated or POS. The cellular modem is optimized in the FPGA (XC6XLS9, LX45 optional) in a cost, such as household appliances, industrial all of its features exactly for this market and 324-ball BGA, the XynergyXS module boasts textile machines and compressors. The C2000 its embedded applications.The M95 allows one 64M x 16 DDR3 RAM attached to one of Piccolo TMS320F2802x microcontrollers offer voice and data communication, offers a com- the FPGA’s memory ports, plus 64MBits of se- significant integrated analog hardware on chip pact form factor of only 9.9 x 23.6 x 2.65mm rial flash for FPGA configuration and bulk while enabling increased power efficiency and and shines with excellent performance data. system protection. characteristics. News ID 15809 News ID 15996 News ID 15915 PRODUCT NEWS

 InnoDisk releases CF-SATA with 50pin consumption. This means customers can nology strengthens Xilinx’s capabilities and SATA interface achieve sub-watt total power consumption for commitment to customers to provide the best InnoDiske releases their Compact Flash Serial battery powered applications like secure soft- Linux solutions possible. ATA (CF-SATA) module with high reliability ware defined military radios, where Artix-7 News ID 16064 and excellent data transfer speeds. An effective devices can offer 35 percent lower power con- replace solution for CF cards, InnoDisk’s CF- sumption compared to competing solutions.  Swissbit: storage solutions for all SATA, has the same mechanical design with News ID 15922 Industrial applications at electronica Compact Flash card and complies with Serial Swissbit will be presenting its industrial DRAM ATA by extracting unusual pins from CF50  Freescale debuts Kinetis L series built and flash storage solutions in all common pin. Hence, Compact Flash card and CF-ATA on ARM Cortex-M0+ processor technologies and formats at electronica. One can share with one CF50pin socket. Freescale Semiconductor is now offering alpha of the highlights will be its brand new X-500 News ID 16118 samples of its Kinetis L series built on the Series Industrial SATA II SSD with up to 512 ARM Cortex-M0+ processor. With the Kinetis GB. The 2.5”-storage solution combines a data  Holtek: ARM Cortex-M3 based 32-bit L series, Freescale provides the ideal opportu- rate of up to 260MB/sec on SATA II and an Flash microcontrollers nity for users of legacy 8- and 16-bit architec- impressive 15.000 IOPS with 4k random ac- Holtek announces the release of new advanced tures to migrate to 32-bit platforms and bring cesses. additions to the 32-bit device range, the additional intelligence to everyday devices News ID 16122 HT32F1755/1765/2755 series. These new 32- without increasing power consumption and bit Flash devices, include features such as a cost or sacrificing space.  Freescale: 28-nm QorIQ AMP series high operating speed of up to 72MHz (90 News ID 15782 deliver high-end features DMIPS), a single power supply with an oper- Freescale Semiconductor is introducing two ating voltage range of 2.7V~3.6V and an in-  Xilinx acquires embedded Linux solutions new QorIQ AMP series processors. The new dustrial temperature range of -40~85. provider PetaLogix 28-nm QorIQ AMP T1042 and T2080 devices News ID 16075 Xilinx announces the acquisition of embedded will bring the same attributes of the QorIQ Linux solutions provider PetaLogix. As Linux AMP series to the entry level and mid range  Xilinx ships low-power Artix-7 FPGAs solutions become must-haves for a growing segments, joining the previously announced Xilinx announces first shipments of its Artix-7 number of embedded applications relying on T4240 product, which is Freescale’s flagship FPGA family. The Artix-7 family pushes per- Xilinx All Programmable technologies, the ad- QorIQ AMP series offering for high end systems. formance limits at the lowest levels of power dition of PetaLogix and their PetaLinux tech- News ID 15770 PRODUCT NEWS

 Toshiba: demonstration system supports  ST: multi-sensor MEMS module with version 1.1 of UFS specification programmable motion-recognition Toshiba Electronics Europe announces a STMicroelectronics announced a miniature demonstration system to support version 1.1 6-axis sensor device with custom motion- of the JEDEC UFS standard. Toshiba’s com- recognition capabilities. ST’s latest iNEMO Editors prehensive UFS ‘ecosystem’ brings together a inertial module enhances user experience and Jürgen Hübner UFS memory device, UFS host controller IP motion-sensing realism in today’s space-con- phone +49(0)8092-2477413 and UFS software drivers. The result is a pro- strained and power-hungry portable consumer fax +49(0)8092-2477429 [email protected] totyping and testing system that will speed up devices and shortcuts the path to wearable UFS designs, enable interoperability and ensure sensor applications in sports, fitness and Wolfgang Patelay smooth integration with host processors. healthcare diagnostics. [email protected] News ID 15742 News ID 15905 Tony Devereux [email protected]  Nuvoton:16-channel speech/melody  Cypress: low-power USB-to-UART bridge synthesizer with embedded 8Mbit OTP controller For Reader Inquiries and Address Changes Nuvoton announced its first 16-channel Cypress Semiconductor introduces the new please contact: speech/melody synthesizer with embedded EZ-USB USB-UART bridge controller, a cost- [email protected] 8Mbit OTP (One Time PROM) solution, effective, low-power solution to convert legacy Sales & Marketing Director W567CP80. It is suitable for the application of UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Trans- Manfred Blumoser instrument toys, ELA, keyboards, infant toys mitter) interfaces to Full-Speed USB 2.0 inter- phone +49(0)8092-2477411 and home appliance with high quality faces. No additional firmware/software devel- fax +49(0)8092-2477429 [email protected] speech/melody playback. W567CP80 is an OTP opment effort is needed to use the new solution, product to cover ROM version bodies of reducing time-to-market and development Claudia Mellein W567Cxxx and W567Jxxx that may dramati- costs for system manufacturers. [email protected] cally reduce the lead time and save mask tooling News ID 15747 Christiane Lockner charge for pilot run or sample evaluation. [email protected] News ID 15861  Microsemi: space solutions on board Mars Rover mission Sales Office - UK and USA, Benelux, Scandinavia  Atmel: serial EEPROM devices with Several of Microsemi’s space products were Blue Sky Communications unique identifiers used in mission critical applications during Malcolm Cameron Atmel introduced two new families of Serial launch and flight of the Curiosity mission, 21 Cliffe Avenue EEPROM products. The AT24MAC series of and continue to support the mission on the Westbrook, Margate, Kent CT9 5DU, UK devices provide pre-programmed Media Access surface of Mars. These applications include: phone +44 (0)77 88-10 84 11 Control (MAC)/Extended Unique Identifier launch systems; avionics; telemetry; navigation, fax +44 (0)80 82-8010 57 node identity addresses, alleviating the need drive control, mission computers; cameras; [email protected] for customers to program their own MAC/EUI and other instruments. addresses and maintain the associated complex Sales Office - Asia News ID 16015 Jean Cheng, [email protected] databases, making it simpler, faster, and less Vivian Hung, [email protected] expensive to develop Internet-connected prod-  Atlantik Elektronik is official Innovative Media Information & Services ucts of all types. representative of DIGI International 7F-3, No. 26, Sec. 2, Ming-Quan East Rd. in Denmark Taipei 104 Taiwan News ID 15869 phone +886 2 2563 1186 Atlantik Elektronik, electronic distributor and  Digi-Key announces global distribution supplier of advanced complete solutions, and Head Office agreement with Luminus Devices DIGI International expand their distribution Digi-Key announces the signing of a global agreement to Denmark. As of July 1st, 2012 distribution agreement with LED manufacturer Atlantik Elektronik started offering the complete Luminus Devices. The quality products from DIGI product line there as well. Driving force ICC Media GmbH Luminus Devices are currently available for for the extended contract is the common Rauwagnerstr. 5 purchase on Digi-Key’s global websites with growth strategy. The proven cooperation in 85560 Ebersberg / Germany information about and inventory of millions Germany is utilized by both companies to ex- Editorial Office UK of products accessible to customers around pand the European market share in a bigger 36a Blackacre Road the globe. territory. Theydon Bois News ID 15973 News ID 15845 Essex, CM16 7LU

Copyright© All rights reserved.  Mouser and IDT sign global distribution  Dassault: “Smart, Safe & Connected Car” No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted partnership industry solution experience in any form or by any means without the prior express written Mouser Electronics announced a new world- Dassault Systèmes launches a new industry permission of ICC Media. Although we make every effort to present up-to- date, accurate wide distribution agreement with Integrated solution experience for the automotive seg- information, boards&solutions will not be responsible for any Device Technology. Mouser’s agreement with ment, “Smart, Safe & Connected Car” - a errors or omissions or for any results obtained from the use of such information. The magazine will not be liable for any loss IDT means customers have faster access to solution that accelerates the development caused by the reliance on information obtained on this site. IDT’s newest cutting-edge and power-efficient of embedded systems while achieving Furthermore, ece does not warrant the accuracy or semiconductor solutions, as well as a trusted ISO26262 safety standards and AUTOSAR completeness of the information, text, graphics in this maga- zine. The opinions expressed in the articles are those of the source for IDT products. compliancy. authors and not necessarily the opinions of the publisher. News ID 16104 News ID 15885

September 2012 30 PRODUCT NEWS

 SiLabs: acquisition of Ember adds  NI: JMAG-RT add-on for NI VeriStand  Nordic: matchbox-sized nRF51 series eval low-power 2.4 GHz wireless mesh real-time test software kit for wireless sensor testing networking technology National Instruments introduced the JMAG- Nordic Semiconductor announces a low cost, Silicon Laboratories has completed the acquisi- RT add-on for NI VeriStand, which gives en- battery-powered evaluation kit for its latest tion of Ember Corporation. This strategic ac- gineers the same fidelity provided by proven nRF51 Series of ULP 2.4GHz integrated circuits quisition brings Silicon Labs the technology JMAG models, but in real-time for HIL testing that supports real-world environmental testing and software expertise required to enable the of electric motors. To reduce spending on of ANT / ANT+, low energy (in- low-power mesh sensor networks being deployed field-testing physical motors, engineers can cluding Bluetooth Smart), and proprietary today in a wide range of residential, commercial use NI VeriStand with the JMAG-RT add-on 2.4GHz ULP wireless sensors and accessories. and industrial applications. Ember is a pioneer in the lab to easily create stimulus profiles and News ID 16123 in the market for 802.15.4 ZigBee solutions. perform data logging and automated HIL test- News ID 15872 ing with real-time electric motor simulation.  LeCroy: multi-lane serial data analysis News ID 15829 products for high-bandwidth  Telit: Mini PCIe adapter offers M2M oscilloscopes connectivity for embedded PCs  TI: multicore DSPs offer increased LeCroy announces the SDAIII-CompleteLinQ, Telit Wireless Solutions introduces a Mini PCI density and improved scalability for a serial data analysis package that simultane- Express card with an embedded M2M module gateways ously performs eye, jitter, vertical noise, and designed for industrial applications. Telit’s With TI’s KeyStone-based TMS320C665x mul- crosstalk analysis on up to four lanes, with HE910-based Mini PCIe adapter card enables ticore DSPs, developers more effectively meet quick and easy lane-to-lane comparisons. With secure 3G cellular data, voice, and video com- the specialized gateway challenges of matching multi-lane analysis, engineers can quickly view munication for embedded PCs in a variety of voice coding techniques, processing tone and eye diagrams on all lanes, or use the multi- commercial and industrial applications, in- signaling messaging, distinguishing facsimile lane capability to analyze a single lane at mul- cluding ATMs, kiosks, digital signage, surveil- from voice, converting legacy circuit switched tiple points using LeCroy differential probes lance, fleet management, and other applications connections to IP and managing and reporting or the VirtualProbe option. benefitting from always-on wireless data con- voice quality. News ID 15936 nection, monitoring, and control. News ID 15998 News ID 15975  Molex: through-hole single row COMPANY PAGE  Cypress: new PSoC power monitoring connectors for wire-to-board and fan control solutions simplify system applications design Molex introduces a new line of through- ADLINK 32 Cypress Semiconductor has released an exten- hole Micro-Lock single row connectors for sion to its PSoC Creator Integrated Design wire-to-board applications in data/com, ARM 9 Environment for the PSoC 3 and PSoC 5 pro- telecommunications, networking equipment grammable system-on-chip families. Known and consumer electronics, including gaming as a “Component Pack,” the update includes devices and LCD and PDP flat panel displays. Car-Ele 28 new functions for Power Monitoring and Fan The Micro-Lock positive-lock 2.00 mm pitch Control. Customers can easily “drag and drop” connectors feature a low mated profile of these functions into existing PSoC devices to 6.00 mm and a ‘crash-free’ design to prevent Enclustra 25 realize new capabilities within their designs. damage to header pins during connector Components are “virtual” chips represented mating. Express Logic 5 by an icon in Cypress’s PSoC Creator software News ID 16004 that are dragged and dropped into a design. News ID 15839  Toshiba and Panasonic cooperate on Holtek 15 highly integrated Bluetooth module  TE: nanominiature connectors for rugged Toshiba Electronics Europe and Panasonic

Advertisers Advertisers Index Infineon 2 environments Industrial Devices Sales have announced that Nanominiature connectors from TE Connec- they are cooperating on a highly integrated tivity combine appealing size and weight with module that will enable users to add Bluetooth Lauterbach 23 desired performance attributes such as high connectivity to devices easily and efficiently. reliability, low contact resistance and wide op- Target applications will include industrial, au- eration temperature range, making them tomation, medical, personal sport and fitness Mesago 29 among the smallest and toughest connectors equipment. The module will combine Toshiba’s available to designers. The connectors offer single chip TC35661 Bluetooth semiconductor Microchip 7 dramatic space and weight savings in applica- device and software stack with Panasonic’s tions where size, weight and reliability are design and manufacturing expertise in module crucial design factors. production. MSC 3 News ID 16035 News ID 16031 SEGGER 13 ore information about each news is available on Mwww.Embedded-Control-Europe.com/ece-magazine Vision 27 You just have to type in the “News ID”. —

31 September 2012