12 minute read
Harsha Jagadish
to the usage of cryptographic keys versus mainstreaming secure embedded systems across a fragmented mass market. Microchip addresses that logistical challenge with the Trust Platform for the CryptoAuthentication™ family of secure elements. It offers a suite of software and hardware development tools, but more specifically it combines our secure elements with our in-house secure key provisioning service. Our service “loads” the secret keys within our semiconductor supply chain factories and removes the exposure of keys from contract manufacturers or any third party that might be exposed to them. This improves that “air gap” we are looking for between cryptographic keys, firmware and people.
3. Mention about advanced semiconductor solutions within IOT application from Microchip
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Microchip Technology’s AVR-IoT, PIC-IoT WG and WA development boards have overcome the main obstacles that have, till now, limited the possibilities to accelerate prototyping and innovation in the IoT environment. With Wi-Fi connectivity, security and cloud connectivity, the AVR-IoT and PIC-IoT boards are a perfect starting point when connecting a variety of applications—ranging from wireless sensor nodes to intelligent lighting systems—to the cloud for remote command or control. With the combination of a powerful, yet simple, AVR® or PIC® MCU, a CryptoAuthentication™ secure element and a fully certified Wi-Fi network controller module, these plug-and-play boards make it easy to connect embedded applications to the Google Cloud IoT Core or AWS IoT Core. The Click™ connector makes them ideal for sensor prototyping, using existing Click modules or by adding the sensor type required to solve the engineering challenge at hand. When using Microchip’s boards, the main connectivity and security obstacles are eliminated. Now developers can quickly design and evaluate new IIoT 4.0 concepts on a small scale in collaboration with industrial partners. This enables rapid learning and fast iterations, quickly and easily turning ideas and concepts into solutions.
Rapid IIoT 4.0 prototyping optimizes a customer’s cost and efficiency greatly, with the potential to create a novel breakthrough in the way the industrial industry operates. For design houses to be successful in driving the IIoT 4.0 innovation, it is important to partner with the right developers. Cloud and cloud processing require skilled software and web developers. And as data goes from small to big, data analysts and AI experts will also be required.
IIoT providers and industrial companies that do not adopt rapid prototyping to develop advanced automation and monitoring solutions are likely to struggle in today’s competitive marketplace. Very few companies have the skills, time and money to create the secure Wi-Fi solutions required to accelerate prototyping and IIoT 4.0 innovation. Therefore, adopting the building blocks, like Microchip’s AVR-IoT and PIC-IoT development boards, and harnessing the knowhow offered by the right developers, can greatly benefit those companies looking to excel in the industrial market.
4. After this pandemic, contactless & smart devices are driving the way forward. Semiconductor’s growing role and Microchip’s expertise and focus into this nascent sector?
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic that has impacted individuals and businesses across the world, we now need new solutions that will help us resume our daily lives and work, while also ensuring safety through the reduction of physical contact. Enabling contactless designs, Microchip Technology offers products and solutions, such as smart and low power microcontrollers, wireless connectivity, wireless power, gesture control and touch solutions, that function even when wearing protective gear. Our low power PIC®, AVR® and SAM microcontrollers with ultralow power performance enable contactless designs powered by the energy from the low power RFID. For applications requiring higher power, we offer wireless power solutions that range from 15W up to 400W. Our patented gesture control solution - GestIC® technology - is the world’s first electrical near–field (E-field) 3D gesture controllers. They enable user gesture detection and motion tracking as an alternative for almost all contact-based controls where the interaction can be as simple and intuitive as a wave of the hand. Our state-of-the-art metal over cap touch solution enables reliable designs that can work in any environment, even with protective gear such as gloves. Offering a range of wireless connectivity solutions, we enable our customers to design any applications that can establish connectivity remotely, implementing almost any contactless application use case.
5. Security is a major concern in IoT devices, how does Microchip ensure it in its solutions?
Security is a major component in an IoT application. It should be a part of every IoT solution – especially for ensuring system identity and when transferring data. Standards and regulations already request designers to not have malice parts that swipe data or gain access into a network. Microchip offers both integrated and standalone security solutions, like devices with advanced security features as well as our standalone ECC608 secure element device. In addition to silicon, Microchip also offers software example and provisioning services to allow customers an easy, smooth security implementation into their embedded systems. Provisioning (secure programming of the keys, secrets and immutable public data) is a key element for a secure system. It ensures the end product manufacturer that the product is secure from day one of manufacturing.
Mornsun Power Solutions for Intelligent Power Management in HEV/EV Applications
When the average consumer thinks of intelligent transportation, they might envision self-driving vehicles dodging obstacles and choosing efficient traffic routes. While that certainly is part of intelligent transportation, there are other critical systems and modules involved that are just as vital but far less recognized. One of the most important systems within automotive applications involves intelligent power management found in HEV (hybrid electric vehicles) and EV (electric vehicles). According to Bloomberg, 57% of all passenger vehicle sales will be electric by 2040 -- making the development and implementation of efficient, compact, reliable power management systems extremely important. In short, power supply solutions are critical for the future of the HEV/EV industry.
Intelligent Power Management
An effective battery management system (BMS) in any HEV/EV application involves circuits that are responsible for monitoring both the charging and discharging of batteries, as well as communication with other vehicular systems. In addition to supplying power to HEV/EV systems, other responsibilities of a BMS are: ● Monitoring the state of the battery (e.g., state of function, state of charge, state of capacity) ● Keeping the battery from trying to operate outside of its safety envelope ● Calculating secondary data related to the monitoring and control of the battery ● Communicating both primary and secondary battery data with other systems ● Providing control of the battery based on primary and secondary data ● Balancing the battery system (e.g., keeping the voltages levels the same or preventing batteries from overcharging)
Simply put, the BMS ensures the reliability, longevity, and protection of the battery supply for HEV/EV. In terms of intelligent transportation, the BMS performs a vital function — if it fails, not only is the vehicle in danger, but so are its passengers and those nearby.
The power supply for an HEV/EV vehicle is heavily dependent on the intelligent charging device which must integrate seamlessly with the BMS. In addition, the power supply must provide current to systems that are safety-critical, such as the electronic accelerator, tire pressure detecting system, control and driving system, and the CAN communication system. Operation of the car itself is heavily dependent on the ECS (engine control system), ignition system, motor voltage monitoring system, and the car meter panel.
Modules
When designing the circuitry for the various systems involved in the power supply and intelligent BMS for an HEV/EV, engineering considerations include: ● An operating temperature range in accordance with automotive applications ● Compatibility with standard current and voltage requirements ● High isolation voltage ● Protections against potential problems such as short circuits ● Reliability ● High efficiency ● AEC-Q100 approved ● IATF16949 compliant In addition, engineers are typically looking for compact designs that are compatible with standard pin-outs.
DC-DC Converters
DC-DC converters are among the many circuitry components involved in a standard BMS for an EV/HEV. Mornsun offers a series of DC-DC converters that are ideal for intelligent automotive applications, including those involving the BMS. Mornsun’s line of AEC-Q100 approved DC-DC converters has an operating temperature range on the order of -40OCto 105OC and is designed to withstand the harsh conditions of automotive applications. The DC-DC converter CF0505XT1WR3 modules shown in the block diagram below are fully IATF16949 compliant and provide continuous self-recovery short-circuit protection. They have a 3500VDC isolation voltage and operate at an average efficiency of 82%. These DC-DC converters are compact with an internal SMD design and an
Figure 1. Key modules in an HEV/EV vehicle
international standard pin-out.
Figure 2. Block diagram of a BMS
Other automotive applications for these converters include motor vehicle communication system controllers, engine control systems, ignition systems, motor voltage monitoring, and automobile tire pressure detection system — all critical aspects of intelligent transportation involving EV/HEV.
As the shift to new energy continues and the need for intelligent transportation in the automotive industry grows, Mornsun is regularly looking for ways to upgrade their designs, providing you with up-to-date converter solutions. Mornsun’s comprehensive power solutions for automotive applications are reliable and compliant with key international industry standards to ensure you have the proper converters for your BMS. Included in our line of products are AC-DC converters (including some models specifically for charging points), DCDC converters, industrial buses, and SiC/GaN driver power supply all well-adapted for use in intelligent transportation. With comprehensive power product line and advanced application solutions, MORNSUN enables you to meet various power requirements and overcome all HEV/EV applications and EV charging design challenges.
IoT and Semiconductor Industry in 2020
Unlike previous years, in 2020, healthcare was a major sector which was dominant in using and opting IoT technology. Semiconductor industry tapped this opportunity and innovated given the demand of the market. Sambit Sengupta, Associate Director – Solution Sales, Avnet Asia believes the semiconductor industry with its full ecosystem has risen to the occasion to bring out more efficient products. Sambit in this op-ed piece underlines the trends, challenges, and the market scenario on how the semiconductor market is maturing tapping the potential of IoT.
Impact of IoT on Semiconductor Industry
IoT as a business driver is a big boon and growth engine for the semiconductor industry. One aspect of the growth factor is the increasing demands of IoT endpoint devices. As more and more devices are getting connected, more use cases are getting realized and the demand for endpoint devices will similarly increase. The semiconductor industry with its full ecosystem has risen to the occasion to bring out more efficient products. The demand from OEMs and ODMs for smarter sensors, more efficient devices are driving the semiconductor industry in whole to innovate. Innovators have been using wireless sensor nodes in designs or use cases for quite some time. However, the impact that the semiconductor industry is seeing is how to solve innovative problems, how to efficiently deploy more IoT endpoint devices and how to provide best in class solutions.
Security and Expertise Ensuring Security-Front Offerings
OEMs and ODMs are very conscious of time to market of their products. The monetization of any new idea is typically the primary goal. While doing this, the devices that are at endpoint for security from hardware up is sometimes neglected. When the actual security breaches happen, the OEM is at risk of losing its entire brand value. Designers are already conscious of the step that needs to be taken to secure the IoT endpoint devices and protect them from malicious malware as well as side-channel attacks. They have to budget for the security in the device itself and also think one step ahead of potential hackers. So it is important for them to design the device while keeping in mind the use case. For example, if the use case demands that the deployed IoT device needs to be in the field and requires periodic features update through over the air, then they have to secure the OS as well as ensure that there is no breach during data ingestion in the cloud. In this case, it is not only the hardware which has to be hack-proof but the software as well.
Challenges For Designing IoT Devices And Best Practices For Designers
The main challenge that designers face today is that very early on the design cycle, they are forced to think about the price. Sambit Sengupta This practice seems Associate Director – Solution Sales, to be prevalent in Avnet Asia many cultures where value for money is prioritized over a quality solution. While economic price point will always be important to ensure business profits, designers should think from a use case point of view and optimum security. The optimum security of devices should be one notch higher than what is required. Designers also have to think about the right semiconductor partner based on technology considerations and not just economic considerations. This is why it is recommended to work with a trusted partner like Avnet that can provide expertise, network and resources gets ‘budgeted’ or becomes an after-thought. The priority
to advise and mitigate the security implications of the IoT device’s design and implementation. Designers should also concentrate on unbiased benchmarking and researching their choices in open communities like hackster.io or element14.
Drivers and Trends in IoT Technology For Semiconductor Industry Multiple choices in outdoor connectivity are the real driver in IoT technology. Whether it is LoRaWAN, Sigfox or NB-IoT in low-power wide-area network (LPWAN) or Wifi/ wifi6 - the emerging standards thereof is helping to create a large ecosystem of IoT devices. On the other hand, lifestyle changes are hastening growth. A simple example, an increasing footprint of eCommerce is making asset tracking a big use case. The question from a typical eCommerce business will be: how to have multiple stock-keeping unit (SKU) of asset trackers, operating in both indoors or outdoors be maintained in a single platform. To solve this unique problem there can be multiple options from the semiconductor industry but here a huge ecosystem will play a role in a successful deployment. Not only a fail-proof, malware proof connected device is required but the semiconductor vendor has to work with alliances – who will provide the software that will reside in the device and also with a cloud service provider. Avnet
