OCTOBER 2020 80.00
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POWER DELIVERY NETWORKS AT A CROSSROADS
INDIA NEXT BIG ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURING HUB A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR LIGHTING
ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERIES - THE LEADERS ARE READY
SEI SAUR ENERGY INTERNATIONAL
Publishing Group
LEADERS FORM THE NEW REALM OF CONTACTLESS TECHNOLOGIES
Editorial Dear Readers! Innovation in the field of technology requires hard work, courage, facing challenges and taking risk. Innovating is never easier and those who choose to innovate are real heroes! For their undoubting toil, Innovators truly deserve a mention in the shape of appreciation and award. The day that acknowledges the journey of hard work and dedication is the Annual BETA Award Ceremony! It will be celebrated with due pomp and show this year on 30th of October. The BIS EXCELLENCE & TECHNOVATION AWARDS will recognise outstanding contributions and innovation from India’s top Technovators. With an aim to acknowledge and appreciate the exceptional accomplishments in the industry, the BIS EXCELLENCE & TECHNOVATION AWARDS is all set to honour the leaders, innovators and organizations for its unparalleled innovations and market-strategies which make them the best in the business. This prestigious award will bring together the country’s leading personalities and organisations in the Technology sector, industry personalities and business leaders who continuously up the ante, helping the community achieve new milestones and empower the industry to take their businesses to the next level. On behalf of the BIS Infotech team and our esteemed sponsors I would like to take this opportunity to invite you to witness true innovations in different segments and the huge amount of wisdom shared by veterans of the Industry. Look forward to hosting you on 30th October 2020 at 4PM. Happy Reading!
ManasNandi
MANAS NANDI EDITOR manas@bisinfotech.com CONSULTANT EDITOR NILOY BANERJEE niloy@bisinfotech.com
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SUB EDITOR NITISHA DUBEY nitisha@bisinfotech.com
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Impulse Past and Embed Future of Tech With BISinfotech! BISinfotech is honored to receive the prestigious award from Media Infoline. The award is a recognition showcasing excellence and achievements in our beat. Delivering impartial, unparalleled information and blending it to the millions of our readers and industry-leaders who has made BISinfotech stand out of their competitors. Our aptness to deliver news, views, interviews and promptness to propel the complete Tech Industry in the right direction has made us the TOP 10 B2B MEDIA-HOUSE in 2020. Being the first magazine and web portal with Motto ‘Converging Technology of Future’ has driven the complete Tech B2B segment. BISinfotech has been influencing, introspecting and innovating the gamut of technology with an intuitive and holistic approach may it be (Online, Print, Targeted EDMs, Social Media Expertise, Contests and Awards).
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Contents 14 BIG PICTURE
AVNET BELIEVES THAT EACH SMART FACTORY SOLUTION HAS TO BE BESPOKE
20 LEDS
PROTECTION MATERIALS FOR INCREASED PERFORMANCE AND RELIABILITY OF LED SYSTEMS
36
VICOR POWER DELIVERY NETWORKS AT A CROSSROADS
48
AUTOMOTIVE
MODELLING POWERTRAIN FOR MODERN VEHICLES
44
LED FEATURE A BRIGHT FUTURE FOR LIGHTING
Sambit Sengupta
Associate Director – Solution Sales, Avnet Asia
14
Jade Bridges Technical Manager Electrolube
20
32
FUTURE GLANCE HOW AUTONOMOUS UNDERWATER VEHICLES (AUVS) PROTECT OCEANS
34
IIOT FEATURE WHAT’S NEXT FOR IIOT DEVICE CONNECTIVITY?
42
EMBEDDED SECURITY CLOUD SERVICES PROVIDE A PATH TO EMBEDDED SECURITY
54
TECHNOVATORS WEARABLE THE NEW MAINSTREAM IN HEALTHCARE SECTOR
Craig Morrow
Global Marketing Manager, Littelfuse, Inc.
28
Manvendra Chandola CEO, Riversong India
54
08
COVER STORY LEADERS FORM THE NEW REALM OF CONTACTLESS TECHNOLOGIES
24
LEAD STORY ELECTRIC VEHICLE BATTERIES THE LEADERS ARE READY!
16
IOT EXCLUSIVE THE EASIER WAY OF MAKING YOUR IOT DATA MORE EFFECTIVE
•Vol - 02 / 010
50 EXPERT-COLUMN
06
HOW INDIA IS BECOMING THE NEXT BIG ELECTRONICS MAN UFACTURING HUB
46
OP-ED GREEN ENERGY ADOPTION IN INDIA – MANUFACTURES SHOULD MAKE THE PV & EV EQUIPMENT MORE AFFORDABLE !
VIJAY KUMAR SACHDEVA MD & CEO, LAXMI REMOTE (INDIA) PVT LTD (LRIPL)
28 WHITE PAPER
PROTECTING INTELLIGENT OUTLETS IN SMART HOMES
50
Manoj Kodakkatery
Manager Business Development, OMRON Electronic & Mechanical Components Business Division, India
40
46
IOT FEATURE CONNECTIVITY CHIPSET OR MODULE FOR IOT SYSTEM: SOLVING THE DILEMMA
OCTOBER 2020
Leaders Form the New Realm of Contactless Technologies
COVER STORY
In today’s time convenience, reliability, social safety and security is key. Alongside 2020 has reignited a new norm in the society of getting things done remotely. In this scenario alike in every aspect of human evolution, technology is felicitous. Regardless of applications and industries, the demand for contactless technologies is significantly booming. Another considerable reason for the growth of contactless technologies has been the recent global pandemic situation. New digital expertise is becoming invariably eminent to keep people from spreading Covid-19 through personal contact. For people randomly entering into a café, or supposedly going on for shopping or maybe just taking a public transport the growing emergence of contactless technologies is ubiquitous. Though, one might hardly know the enablers and the people behind the show who are helping people to seamlessly adapt the new norm. Congregating the innovators of contactless technologies and fuelling innovation in this segment, Guruprasad Vyasa | Country Head |Infineon India Connected Secure Systems Division, Prabhuraj Patil | Regional Sales Director | PACS, South Asia | HID Global, Praveen Ganapathy | Sr. Member Technical Staff, Sales & Applications | Texas Instruments India and Sanjay Gupta, Vice President & India Country Manager, NXP untangles the core aspects of Contactless technologies through this article.
Praveen Ganapathy Sr. Member Technical Staff, Sales & Applications, Texas Instruments India
Guruprasad Vyasa
Country Head, Infineon India Connected Secure Systems Division
What’s Driving Contactless Technologies?
Stating on three factors, Praveen points out on the growth of contactless technologies across the world:
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a. Gesture-based interfaces in the automotive sector that increase convenience b. Hygiene – as seen especially in healthcare sectors and more broadly in every walk of life, even more so with the pandemic c. And lastly, security, with regards to retail and access control for homes & businesses.
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Whereas, Guruprasad citing on the ongoing pandemic states, The world of COVID-19 and after is a new one, with irrevocable impact on the way we go about our daily lives. At this time of global concern for people’s health, a fast emerging trend can be seen in smart buildings where business or public institutions are looking for touchless or biometric access solutions or automated lighting solutions based on radar technologies that help to avoid touching doorknobs or light switches. There is also a growing requirement for contactless payment options
Sanjay Gupta
Vice President & India Country Manager, NXP
Prabhuraj Patil
Regional Sales Director, PACS, South Asia, HID Global
in all kinds of electronic devices like smartphones or smart watches. COVID-19 has made aware many people of the need for contactless functionality in their everyday activities. This boosts the familiarization with contactless technologies among people and creates demand in this segment. We have seen the emergence of contactless society post Covid19, which is supporting the way we want to interact, ensuring minimal human intervention stated Sanjay. The main factor driving the growth of contactless technologies is the fear of contracting the virus by the masses. Contactless technologies aim to assist in social distancing and maintaining hygiene practices. For instance, the greatest disruption has been caused by way of adopting digital channels for payments such as UPI and e-wallets. And this trend where people are opting to go for contactless payments is not just because of the greater convenience that many of the first-time digital payment users have experienced but is due to increased awareness of hygiene factors adds Sanjay.
OCTOBER 2020
Importance of Security and Interoperability
From smart cars to smart factories, the Internet of Things (IoT) is transforming every aspect of modern life states Guruprasad. Deployment of smart, connected devices that also enable contactless payments across sectors delivers many benefits but also brings a very real threat of cyberattacks that can harm innocent users. Guruprasad believes building trust in and between connected IoT devices is the first step in a holistic strategy. • Security must be understood as a number one priority and be integrated from the beginning. Connected touchless devices need strong, tamper-resistant protection. This degree of protection cannot be provided by software alone – it needs hardware-based security. The complexity of cyber- systems are increasing continuously due to increasing connectivity and the inception of new technologies like artificial intelligence and quantum computers • The world of connected devices is a highly-fragmented, diverse one. For example, the type of cyber security required for a connected car varies from that of an automated factory (also known as “industry 4.0”) to a powerful computer on four tyres. Today a modern vehicle may generate 25 GByte each hour. For autonomous vehicles it could increase up to 1TByte per hour. Some data are confidential and some data can be linked to a person. Cybersecurity, safety and privacy therefore receive a high priority. • Technologies and methodologies of cyberattacks are also continually changing. • There is no ‘one size fits all’ approach, nor a security reference design that can be described as ‘the’ IoT security solution; the IoT markets are highly fragmented and come with their specific requirements. • However, demand for security is increasingly seen – yet the market needs trusted, reliable and easy to integrate solutions as often IoT device manufacturers are no security experts.
On the other hand, Praveen notes, Contactless payment ensures the user is in possession of the payment device. For example, credit and debit cards pass hands that can make the authorisation process a security risk, as it is performed in the presence of another. On the other hand, keyless electronic locks for home and vehicle access provide added security as there is no possibility of key duplication. Moreover, use of biometrics like face recognition provides added security, convenience, safety and hygiene. Such features are critical and can help secure valuable assets, prevent unauthorised access to facilities, and ensure payments are received by the right beneficiary. Talking about the benefits of the robust environment of interoperability in payment systems, Praveen said, All participants in the payment ecosystem. End users (including consumers, merchants, governments, and other types of enterprises), find it easier to make and accept payments. Providers to these end users (including banks, networks, processors, and other service providers), gain revenue from payments in interoperable systems that may not be otherwise achievable with closed loop (or non-interoperable) systems. Interoperability in payment systems can also produce cost efficiencies and enable superior risk management. Sharing NXP’s expertise, Sanjay noted, We at NXP are committed to the cause of providing solutions that are more secure and reliable. For example, our recently developed MIFARE DESFire EV3 integrated circuits are being used in the ecosystem that provides advanced security and seamless integration of mobile services for a new era of security and connectivity. With an extensive set of security features, MIFARE provides more ways to protect data and help ensure privacy. The IC hardware and software are certified with Common Criteria EAL 5+, and the circuit supports a broad choice of open crypto algorithms. Additionally, a card generated MAC helps to securely authenticate transactions, and a new Transaction Timer feature helps mitigate man-in-the-middle attacks so it’s harder for an attacker to interfere with the transaction. Also, its new Secure Unique NFC (SUN) messaging feature offers a more secure method for maintaining data confidentiality and integrity. As there are more IoT devices than human beings in the world and technologies keep on evolving, we design chips to ensure that services function across products forms factors and geographies without a glitch.
COVER STORY
Prabhuraj foresee another area that will gain more prominence will be the access control domain, where identity technology and biometrics technologies powered by machine-learningbased decisions will increase in popularity. These will be more intuitive and friction-free for users encompassing mobile IDs, and new wireless location-service technologies like UWB.
Prabhuraj elaborates, Integrated different modules to get accurate interoperability in security is very crucial, especially in the current times, but this is also one of the biggest challenges in the sector. Institutions like schools, universities and hospitals need interoperable security systems to be able to handle the massive infrastructure while allowing for faster and easy access. Sharing a snippet on HID’s offerings, Prabhuraj cites, With our line of HID Signo products we are ensuring this. Our Signo Readers set a new industry benchmark for the most highly adaptable, interoperable and secure approach to electronic access control. These readers provide a simple and effective solution to secure access control, thanks to a multi-layered security model that ensures data authenticity and privacy.
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Prabhuraj paraphrases that with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the demand for contactless technologies is at an all-time high worldwide owing to safety and security concerns. Contactless Reader powered by physical access solutions and products have been gaining a lot of popularity across home security, institutions and commercial spaces. The market size was valued at USD 6.92 billion in 2019 and is estimated to grow at a (CAGR) of 20.3% from 2020 to 2027. Demand in these spaces will continue to boost the growth of contactless technology for the next few years globally. The use of mobile credentials have become prevalent and popular owing to its ease of use and accessibility. For starters, the phone is almost always carried by the user. When the phone is lost, the user will be able to realize a lot sooner and take action immediately, as opposed to traditional cards and keyfobs.
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OCTOBER 2020
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COVER STORY
Challenges and Scopes
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Expressing disquiet about innovation in this sector, Sanjay noted, The rise of contactless technologies such as digital payments, smart devices ecosystem, automation, etc was already prevalent in the market even before the outbreak of the COVID-19. The only thing that has changed within the few months is the pace of the adoption of the technology along with further innovation in the contactless ecosystem. While acceptance was never a challenge with the technology, infrastructure and availability of resources at large still remains one of the top challenges among the contactless technology. Although technology has evolved from the concept stage, there is still a long way for it be to completely available for everyone. Stating on the challenges and scoped, given the current scenario, Prabhuraj said, Physical access market have certainly changed. Along with the need for interoperability and ease of access the demand for contact less technologies will witness a big growth. One of the biggest challenges that organizations face today is the need for contact tracing, physical distancing procedures and improved hygiene to ensure a safe workplace. Real-time location services technology is playing a key role in automating how organizations monitor people’s proximity to others and measure localized density in real-time. It is also dramatically simplifying contact tracing by enabling detailed and automated record-keeping of where an employee has been in a building, with whom they interacted, and if they have been complying with disinfecting requirements such as the usage of hand sanitation stations etc. So, we have to develop a solution that physically does not require the readers to be in contact with any parts of the body. Elaborating on HID’s survey, Prabhuraj mentioned, According the 2020 State of Physical Access Report, the use of mobileaccess through the use of smartphone and wearables is the top trend shaping the access-control industry now and will do so in the near future. This trend will be amplified in the new normal as we start to look beyond the COVID-19 Pandemic. The COVID-19’s contagion has also increased attention towards mobile-access solutions that allow contactless verification of identity. The adoption of these technologies, therefore, will only continue to climb drastically. Close to 25 percent of organizations globally have either fully or partially deployed with others citing strong interest and demand increase in their current and planned migration usage to mobile-access technologies. Guruprasad believes the pandemic opens up completely new application possibilities, and the first ones are already being tested. The airline Etihad, for example, together with its Australian technology partner Elenium, has just presented a device to detect travelers with coronavirus. The device is designed to filter out infected passengers at the airport before they receive their boarding passes or hand in their baggage. The entire system is touch-free, with users controlling it with their words. Many new fields of application will be added, from automatic machines to robots. Sharing a vital example on the upcoming opportunities in
the public spaces, Guruprasad states, After all, who wants to press the keyboard or screen of a ticket machine in the future? And on the buttons in the elevator or even on the light switch in the stairwell?
Contactless at the airport!
Underlining the biggest challenge in the development of these solutions, Praveen said, Complying with necessary certifications and interoperability requirements. From a market perspective, contactless payments, access, and gesture-based systems have huge growth potential. We are at the early stages of deployment and acceptance of these technologies. The current pandemic environment along with the continuous digitization of systems will only accelerate the growth further.
Leading Innovation From Front
While Praveen stating about TI’s expertise cited, We have an extensive range of technologies enabling contactless access, payments and gesture-based interfaces. The most recent technology that enables contactless gesture-based interface is the mmwave radar-based sensors like the IWR6843, which was incubated at Kilby labs. Its unique aspect is that it works through intervening glass or other intervening non-concrete structures. One of the older technologies that we have been supporting is the NFC readers or transponders based on TRF7970A and other variants. BLE and Wi-Fi based door locks are also an emerging segment. TI’s CC2640R2L(BLE) and CC3235S(Wi-Fi) offer high security AES encryption accelerators in addition to ultra-low power standby or active power consumption. It also comes along with the standard BLE5.x-based security features for BLE and WPA3 + FIPS 140-2 security compliances required for Wi-Fi. TI also offers TOF sensors like the OPT8320 for gesture based contactless interfacing. When it comes to camera-based platforms that support facial and/ or iris recognition, or gesture recognition, in a highly secure, temper-proof environment, TI’s processors like the AM4382 and the TDA4VM can be considered. These processors offer high levels of performance for video processing with hardware accelerators for deep learning. Lastly, TI’s DLP technology enables structured lighting-based 3D facial recognition for high security access. Prabhuraj foresee India’s security market holds abundant new opportunities. We are constantly innovating to create more connected and seamless building experiences for users by removing integration barriers between access control systems and smart building applications, services and IoT use cases. With our latest access control solutions, we can generate valuable insights by using machine learning analytics to improve security, personalize the user experience and make better business decisions. At HID, we have always been committed to provide safe security across the world. We are focusing on expanding more powerful and convenient security solutions to the high-end market and into various verticals based on mobile and cloud systems,. HID Global currently supports 60% of the world’s government ID programs, with 124 ID card programs implemented, 118 issuance solutions deployed and
OCTOBER 2020
In addition to this, Sanjay said, We at NXP are leveraging the wireless technology in multiple use cases in the contactless ecosystem such as Indoor Navigation, Smart Homes, Factory Automation, Asset-Tracking, Logistics and connected vehicles among many more. Some other use cases of UWB are - Smart Car Access, Secure Wireless Payments (considered securer than NFC), Smart Retail & Asset Tracking (through smart UWB tags), Wearable Health Sensors along with tracking and monitoring of objects and people for smart surveillance. Another focused area where NXP is leveraging its contactless technology is the transit systems. Transport corporations such as DMRC in Delhi, Kolkata and Bangalore metro etc are maximizing the use of smart cards to implement a contactless ticketing system. In fact, we at NXP are enabling over 90% of transport ticketing implementations in India through our NFC compliant Mifare technology platform added Sanjay. Guruprasad elaborates, Infineon Technologies has been at the forefront of creating new business avenues in these unprecedented times. With the chips of the German-based company, countless devices can be controlled by voice command or with gestures. Exactly 1.44 square millimeters in size is a silicon microphone with which Infineon enables voice control. Such electronic components can already be found in multiple versions in every smartphone, in wireless headphones or in smart speakers.. However, in the future it may not even need voice control. The radar chips from Infineon also record gestures. This means that the alarm clock on a cell phone can be switched off without even touching it.. Infineon is also working on various use cases internally and together with partners to work on demonstrators and solutions which can be implemented by businesses for post COVID-19
Expertise in Contactless Technologies INFINEON
Infineon has been part of the definition and evolvement of contactless technology from the beginning. Say for instance, more than 47 percent of payment cards worldwide have an Infineon chip inside, with our market share in contactless payment cards being even higher. To continuously advance contactless technologies, we have a contactless competence centre with a dedicated laboratory based in Graz, Austria. This team does not only constantly review the contactless infrastructure worldwide to provide maximum interoperability with Infineon’s contactless chips. They also make the chips more and more efficient and help customers to configure and tune them in the right way, so that they can even be used with smaller, special antennas or with special materials like metal cards. As for our products, Infineon’s SECORATM Pay solutions combine state-of-the-art chip technology with the operating software, latest payment applets including off-the-shelf system approvals and reference designs. They are easy-to integrate and turn everything, from a smart card to a fashion accessory, into a contactless payment device for safe and seamless payment, transit & access transactions following open industry standards. The underlying contactless technology for the cards and readers is specified in the ISO/IEC 14443 standards and are using a 13.56MHz frequency. This wireless technology is designed to operate securely over very short distances (proximity) to enable a wide range of applications. On top of this, the technology is also compliant with the Near-Field Communication standard, or NFC. Those specifications created by NFC Forum allow its devices to use different communication protocols. As a result, NFC Forum Devices are able to communicate with various readers, cards and other devices hence providing a maximum of interoperability.
COVER STORY
Elaborating on NXP’s latest launches and technologies, Sanjay cited, Recently, NXP’s UWB chip was integrated into the flagship device of Samsung – Galaxy Note 20 Ultra, embarking the first-ever UWB-enabled android device leveraging a variety of applications and services for smartphones. The integration of NXPs UWB chip smart devices will pave the way in a world of digital opportunities such as sharing files wirelessly at a much faster speed than those of its predecessors. Moreover, the superior location tracking capabilities of UWB will enable the phone to position the user even in a crowded area with numerous signals and obstacles such as walls or others, (also called as SmartThings Find feature). UWB-enabled smartphones will provide an automated and intuitive connection experience between multiple smart devices in the future, ensuring a completely hands-free interaction with IoT devices such as security doors and connected cars. The Digital key services to unlock smart locks on doors and cars equipped with UWB technology, without using a separate key is another salient feature of this smart technology.
workplaces. Here are some of the use cases which would find their applications in various industries incl. manufacturing plants, IT workspaces, hospitality etc. • Entrance/exit counter: counts the number of people entering and exiting a certain premises for crowd management without violating personal rights • Smart lighting: eliminates manual switching on/off of lights using motion and presence detection • Health monitoring: contactless health monitors that capture cardiac-respiratory vital signs
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40 system integration projects. With our strong product portfolio and innovation, we are confident to create a connected and secure contactless environment for customers.
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OCTOBER 2020
Besides security and contactless transaction quality, Infineon is also innovating in chip packaging: its inductive coupling solution called Coil-on-Module avoids a fragile connection between the chip module and the antenna and makes payment cards more resistant to inoperability due to frequent bending, environmental influences and aging.
COVER STORY
Infineon’s XENSIV™ sensor family was developed to meet today’s sensing challenges in automotive, industrial and consumer applications. Building on the company’s in-depth system understanding, it is the broadest portfolio of sensor types on the market, giving customers the widest selection of ready-to-use solutions offering fast time-to-market. In the current pandemic situation, where businesses are scouting for solutions to go touchless and to implement social distancing norms, Infineon’s smart sensors including Silicon Microphone and Radar ICs can play a vital role. High performance MEMS microphones from Infineon can be used to add voice user interface to virtually any application in order to go touchless and most intuitive. A few examples are building automation, ticketing kiosks, vending machines, banking terminals etc. The microphones are designed for applications where low self-noise (high SNR), wide dynamic range, low distortions and a high acoustic overload point are required. On the other hand, Radar ICs based on 24 GHz and 60 GHz frequency bands, can be employed for numerous use cases ranging from simple motion and presence detection to vital sensing (heart/breath rate) and human machine interfaces via gestures. Presence detection through radar furthermore allows personal data security. The radar can see that there is a person, it doesn’t detect who it is. Overall, we are committed to enable consumers a secured and convenient touchless experience: Whether it is a refrigerator, elevator or merchant payment, Infineon supports trends and developments towards a contactless living. HID GLOBAL
NXP
The fear of contracting virus by the masses further propelled innovation in areas of contactless societies, autonomous state of cars, automation in industrial and IoT, wireless connectivity, etc. NXP having its expertise and leadership in the above discussed areas has constantly leveraged technology to build solutions that could revolutionize the connected ecosystem. We at NXP have utilized tech such as UWB and NFC to further fuel innovation across sectors. For instance,last year, NXP collaborated with BMW and Continental, to enable a global standard for handsfree smart access with precise, secure and real-time localization capabilities based on Ultra-Wideband chip, which can transform smartphones into digital and secure car keys. There are many new potential applications in automotive beyond smartphone access. This includes smartphone valet parking, where cars can be sent to park autonomously via a smartphone application; electric vehicle charging, for autonomous positioning of the vehicle on the charger; drive through payment, using localization for secure on the go payment; and using the car as a key, where it can seamlessly access a garage door and parking. Thereby, extending the initial capabilities of smartphone from mere a calling device to a wide range of digital possibilities. Going forward, the contactless technologies can further be used to make on-the-go payments at toll booths instantaneously while also enabling remote valet parking. In fact, they are also helping the supply chains and smart cities ecosystem, in delivering products remotely via Robotaxis and unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) to distant places while effectively minimizing the chances of contracting the virus. Our vision is to extend the technology’s capabilities to demonstrate secure and convenient hands-free experiences to users in the field of smart access to cars and buildings, contactless payments, smart home automation triggered by the presence, smart retail and item tracking.
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TEXAS INSTRUMENTS
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HID Global has over 3 decades of expertise in the security space and over the course of this period we have introduced a number of solutions. We introduced contactless access control cards 30 years ago when it was still a relatively new concept and today our offerings are among the most trusted in the world. Apart from the contactless access control cards, we are also seeing an increase in demand for solutions that use mobile phones for access control.
TI has been developing differentiated solutions for contactless payments, access and gesture-based systems for over 2 decades. We constantly work towards driving a better and more secure future for all.
OCTOBER 2020
Sambit Sengupta
Associate Director – Solution Sales, Avnet Asia
BIG PICTURE
Avnet Believes That Each Smart Factory Solution Has To Be Bespoke What is a Smart factory, what it takes to build a Smart Factory, Why Companies are opting for Smart Factories? Finding answers for the pondering answers, Niloy from BISinfotech gets alongside for an extensive exchange of words with Sambit Sengupta, Associate Director – Solution Sales, Avnet Asia. Sambit defines the potential of Smart Factories solutions in India as enormous. From security to Avnet’s expertise and leadership in this nascent yet bullish sector, Sambit underlines the de facto future of Smart Factories. Edited Nub Below.
According to you, what is a perfect Smart factory (implementation, technology barriers, and cost) and how promising is this sector? Impact of Industrial Robotics is assessing, executing A smart factory is all about increasing efficiency in different operations while providing productivity and efficiency?
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functional areas of the existing factory. In working closely with our customers, we understand from them that despite multiple technology advancements (both in-house or collaborative work with vendors), some pain points remain at the execution level. They include: 1. Legacy industrial control systems that are prone to cyber threats when connected online 2. Lack of real-time data and disparate data systems 3. Keeping abreast of regulations and managing compliance 4. Balancing maintenance with throughput
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not see a return on investment (ROI), and ROI is determined not just by costs. Many times, we think that smart factory implementation will reduce cost, which is the eventual outcome, but if the business outcome is tallied with increased efficiency or throughput, then ROI becomes visible. All factories need to be smarter and the digital innovators of each company are working on KPIs which needs very agile implementation. A typical smart factory implementation does not concentrate on cost saving by eliminating jobs but eliminates the pain points, improves efficiency exponentially and that makes the business profitable.
Smart factory implementation requires on-the-go access with cloud-based system, optimized efficiency and most importantly a seamless integration of different sensors and edge devices, on-premises data gateways and finally, data ingestion into the cloud. After which, there is a huge amount of analytics required. This is a promising sector with growth prospects as there is ongoing innovation. Furthermore, with the advancement in smart sensors and cloud technologies, companies will enjoy more intelligent services at a cheaper cost. But often, the analytics portion is done as an afterthought and becomes a major technology barrier. The cost escalates if stakeholders do
Industrial robotics has been around since the early 1960s and has been used in welding, machine tending, and assembling in factories. The automation needs of smart factories have accelerated the growth of industrial robots from being standalone robots to collaborative and mobile robots. More integration of AI has made these industrial robots as efficient value adder in factory lines. Mobile robots or AGVs (Automatic guided vehicles) are becoming commonplace in modern factories in handling intralogistics.
Avnet for long has been a partner-first company. Given this sector, where solution providers to play the lead role, how Avnet can help to make Smart Factory a reality for customers?
Avnet works with system integrators as an end to end consulting partner to implement smart factory solutions. It is always a ‘partner first’ play for us. Partners appreciate the fact that Avnet has nearly 100 years of supply chain management expertise and in-house capability to integrate various devices to the cloud (device-to-cloud or D2C), as well as provide sophisticated and customized dashboards (cloud-to-device or C2D). We can also help our partners implement various AI and machine learning models which we have developed in
OCTOBER 2020
Omnipresence of IIOT underlines new challenges putting Cyber-security into the hot-spot. Critical security challenges faced by customers, common pitfalls in IIoT security implementation and any best practices? Through strategic collaborations with partners, Avnet provides an end to end security implementation. The main challenge in implementing security in a connected world is to think ahead and remain one step ahead than attackers. We like to take a security approach from a “device up” manner. IIoT devices are often the sitting duck for side-channel and malware attacks. At every step of the implementation, we have to check where the probable attacks can happen- at the device level, at gateways, at data ingestion to cloud level. Avnet can deliver a complete hardware, software, cloud and middleware solution that delivers insights tailored to the customer’s specific needs.
How do you witness the holistic growth of Smart Factories in India comparing to other APAC countries?
The potential for smart factory solutions being deployed in India is enormous. Some of the APAC countries such as China, Singapore, Malaysia, and Thailand have invested in smart factory solutions much earlier than Indian factories. Many core industries in India have already deployed smart factory solutions. Sectors like pharma, large manufacturing in India have different digital initiatives going on and we have a large number of talented engineers who can speed up the deployments. These deployments are world-class and have a great scope of scaling up further.
earners. The OEMs will look up to semiconductor players to provide them not only with reliable semiconductors/ chips but also the software support. These software has to be specific for the targeted IIoT applications. Avnet plays a major role in providing these SaaS solutions where our customers or partners can simply customise them for their specific needs.
The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on Smart factories segment, as it already enabling more contactless and biometric solutions, preventive and remote maintenance vital?
Factories globally were not fully prepared for the sudden pandemic. However, solutions were quickly deployed for contactless applications, such as face recognition and temperature sensor-based solutions. Many smart factories already have preventive and remote maintenance solutions. As we speak, we see a spurt of real-time location systems (RTLS) and remote-predictive maintenance solutions.
How has been Avnet helping, assisting and strategizing to tap this nascent market?
Avnet has developed a strong ecosystem to support our partners. We are focusing on business outcomes that matter to our partners and their end customers. Through our suite of advisory services and innovative workshops, we help the factory management identify the important KPIs that need to be tackled. In most cases, the defined improvement areas are in machine downtime, predictive analysis, machine idle time, the turnaround time of machines and equipment, overall equipment effectiveness (OEE) and backend integration with an internal ticketing system to monitor actual performance. Avnet’s Smart Factory solution helps companies keep track of production on the factory floor and measure production performance. By leveraging our IoTConnect platform, we generate insights for customers by collating and analyzing data across machines to make processes faster and more efficient.
BIG PICTURE
the past few years. A robust IIoT platform which is open to be white-labelled helps partners scale up a working proof of concept (POC) and deploy it in weeks. Our deep relationships with various sensor manufacturers assure customers of quality devices. We offer many options for our partners to choose from during the POC stage. Partners can onboard their sensor devices in our Partner Program’s DevLab as test-drive and can be risk-free during actual deployment. Furthermore, customers can tap into the Avnet ecosystem — from design to production to supply chain and logistics — throughout the lifecycle of their solution.
What trends will foster Smart Factories and pivotal future of semiconductors designing and supply chain?
Semiconductor designing and supply chain have to recognize the software requirements of various use cases. Every use case needs to be customized. The future of supply chain will be in securing the supply chain and providing a lot of programming services.
All semiconductor players have varying degrees of efficient supply chains and highest standards of safety and reliability. The main challenges for end customers (OEMs making endpoint devices) of semiconductors are time to market, making them dependent on the reference designs and off-the-shelf solutions including software support. Semiconductor players need to be mindful about OEM’s varied use cases, especially in new product management and efficiency improvement. Based on various market research - 32-bit MCU, a discrete application processor, image sensors, IIoT sensors, wireless connectivity and MPUs with inbuilt security is going to be the highest revenue
Avnet believes that each smart factory solution has to be bespoke. We have deployment experience in a wide variety of use cases. For example, Avnet supported a large pharmaceutical company to set up smart factory automation by leveraging our ecosystem and IoTConnect platform. We deployed centralized remote management, predictive analytics, real-time telemetry and analytics along with performance anomaly diagnosis for the customer’s production lines that span across many countries. We tailor the solutions along with our partners with a goal of making our partners and factories profitable.
•Vol - 02 / 10
The IIOT paradigm has certainly made the market competitive, where ensuring efficient supply chain, integration and improving transparency, safety and reliability are critically important. What challenges, scopes wherein keeping the point of relevance do it Lastly, Avnet’s solutions and portfolio complementing incur for semiconductor players? this sector?
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IOT EXCLUSIVE
OCTOBER 2020
The easier way of making your IoT data more effective
Mark Patrick
•Vol - 02 / 10
Mouser Electronics
16
With the ongoing and massive deployment of smart sensors, the IoT is hitting its stride. Data on this scale is enabling entirely new business insights, that can translate to increased profit margins or new business opportunities for manufacturers and suppliers.
cost of maintenance also comes down, so it's not surprising that manufacturers who are now embracing the IoT want to adopt preventative maintenance to achieve the best possible return on their investment, in terms of reduced downtime and lower maintenance bills.
Those manufacturers already using sensor data in new ways will appreciate the value of capturing information about their business. As an example, industrial plants can now use sensor data to support predictive maintenance models that lower their downtime and increase their productivity. This succinctly describes the attraction of the Industrial IoT (IIoT).
This is just one example of how operational data can improve efficiency. It can also be applied to the supply chain, for example, in a manufacturing facility that has multiple complex stages pipelined together. Even the cost of a marginal delay between processes can threaten profitability; this is another example of how actionable data can deliver higher profitability.
In simple terms, predictive maintenance uses data captured by sensors to infer what may happen in the future, thereby equipping operators with the information they need to execute any steps appropriate to avoid the worst. In adopting this approach, maintenance can be planned, and take place at an earlier stage, avoiding unnecessary downtime caused by complete failure. When we repair, rather than replace, the
The data needed to support these initiatives can come from anywhere and almost any process. The key here is linking all that data together in a way that makes sense and becomes actionable. For example, by monitoring the output of a chemical processing plant it might become clear that the presence of a certain chemical, gas, or other by-product has risen unexpectedly. This could indicate many things, including
OCTOBER 2020
As the number of sensors increases and the relationships between them becomes more complex, analysing the relevance of the data they produce also becomes more complex. This is typically where cloud-based analysis steps in, where high-performance processing resources and access to data analysis algorithms can quickly relieve that burden and deliver valuable insights responsively. Before the current resurgence in artificial intelligence, its fundamental building blocks were already being used, often in the form of Decision Engines. Many of those engines are based on an algorithm that dates back to the 70s and was developed by Dr. Charles Forgy; the Rete Algorithm. Its success is probably most notable in business systems, where data has always been plentiful, but now it is being applied to the IoT.
The analysis provided by the Rete algorithm approach means it isn't limited by the number of sensors used in a system. This scalability allows it to easily handle as much as 500,000 messages per second on the default service level, with the option to reserve more server resources if greater capacity is needed. The key to this performance is the tree-like structure of the algorithm, which uses pattern matching to deliver results. The decisions generated are not subject to the latency inherent with an 'If‌ Then‌' approach to parsing conditions. It this innovative approach that gives the algorithm its performance.
With its feet firmly in the camp of inference engines, the algorithm infers, rather reiterates, conditions based on the data presented. Without delving too deeply into the mechanics, it uses a rules-based approach to decision making, which makes it fast and extremely scalable. When applied to data coming from the IIoT, this approach would allow many tens of thousands of data points to be evaluated in real-time and, effectively, concurrently, without consuming huge amounts of processing resources. This is the approach taken by UrsaLeo, a cloud platform provider offering analysis of IIoT data. Its solution is based on technology developed using the principles of the Rete algorithm. Through a user-friendly online interface, the rules used by the algorithm can be created by the user, based on their application. This can include alerts, sent when something unexpected happens, or, conversely, when an expected event doesn't happen. Alerts can also be scheduled, sending data regularly at a frequency appropriate to the user's needs. Assets being monitored do not need to be static; moving assets can also be monitored and, in this case, geofencing can be applied. This would send an alert when an asset moves inside or outside a defined geographical space; such as a forklift truck being used in an area where it isn't supposed to be. Sensor status can also be tracked, meaning that if a sensor continuously sends the same data, which may indicate a fault, an engineer can be informed and deployed to address the issue.
IOT EXCLUSIVE
Making sense of all the data now available is becoming something of a hurdle; one that manufacturers won't have encountered before the IIoT. If the number of sensors is small, then managing the data is relatively simple. A single sensor on a piece of machinery monitoring something like the amount of power being used isn't going to require too much management. However, if more sensors are added to monitor other aspects, such as vibration, temperature, or humidity, the data soon increases.
With the data analysis in place, attention now turns to the data acquisition. Here, UrsaLeo has chosen to work closely with Silicon Labs and leverage the power of the Raspberry Pi ecosystem. It does this by combining a Raspberry Pi 3B+ running the Yocto distribution of Linux (which comes ready loaded with this version of the Pi board) with the Thunderboard Sense 2 evaluation and development module from Silicon Labs. This tiny board features seven individual sensors, some of which perform multiple functions, including a 6-axis motion sensor, air, and pressure sensors, temperature, and humidity sensing, and proximity-based on the Hall effect. The Thunderboard Sense 2 is based on a wireless Gecko microcontroller, which provides wireless connectivity to the Raspberry Pi providing the role of an internet gateway, to send all of the sensor data to the cloud-based service providing the analysis.
Figure 1: UrsaLeo IoT hardware - comprising a Thunderboard 2 module and Raspberry Pi 3B+. Bringing cloud services and optimized hardware platforms together makes it easier for manufacturers to start accessing the full power of the IoT. With highly capable boards like the Thunderboard Sensor 2, along with the power of the Raspberry Pi, it becomes much simpler to put technology to work for you. Every vertical sector could benefit from these innovative solutions, with barely any upfront cost. Generating actionable data has never been more accessible.
•Vol - 02 / 10
the introduction of a contaminant at an earlier stage, reduced efficiency in a later stage, or an imminent failure somewhere else in the process.
17
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OCTOBER 2020
Protection Materials for Increased Performance & Reliability of LED Systems salt water and in all cases, it will be in a salt mist environment for the majority of its operating life. Conditions with high salt can cause corrosion on PCBs and thus dramatically reduce performance much faster than general conditions of varying humidity. Typically, conformal coatings and encapsulation resins are used to offer a high level of protection in each of these environments.
Jade Bridges
Technical Manager Electrolube
LEDS
Correct product selection is imperative to ensure LED performance and lifetime. Jade Bridges, Electrolube’s Global Technical Support Manager, highlights the use of LEDs in various environments and introduce how to specify appropriate protection under such conditions. LED applications are becoming increasingly more diverse; design requirements, location or the function of the product are all elements that prove the challenges that face LED designers are continually evolving. LEDs, like most electronic devices will perform well until external influences start to deteriorate performance. Such influences can include the electrostatic attraction of dust, humid or corrosive environments, chemical or gaseous contamination, as well as many other possibilities. It is therefore extremely important that the end use environment is considered in detail to ensure the correct products can be chosen.
•Vol - 02 / 10
The LED lighting market is expected to grow into a $70 billion industry by 2020, taking a 70% market share in just 5 years (Forbes). This growth is attributed to the advantages LEDs offer over traditional lighting forms in terms of adaptability, lifetime and efficiency. It is therefore easy to understand why LED lighting is being used in a vast array of applications including domestic lamps, industrial lighting for factories, lighting for marine environments, architectural lighting and designs, to name just a few.
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Comparing the environmental conditions in a standard architectural lighting application with that of a marine environment can help us to understand the potential causes of LED deterioration. In an architectural lighting application, it is possible that the LED itself is covered due to the design of the unit, or that the orientation of the LED is such that it is only likely to be exposed to general changes in ambient temperature and humidity. In a marine environment, it is possible that an LED light may be splashed or immersed in
Conformal coatings are thin lacquers which conform to the contours of a PCB, allowing good protection without adding any significant weight or volume to the board. They are typically applied at 25-75 microns and are easy to apply by spraying or dipping techniques. For protecting over the top of LEDs, it is crucial that the coating used has good clarity and that it remains clear throughout the lifetime of the product in the desired environment, i.e. the coating may be required to have good UV stability if the product is outdoors. Thus, the best type of conformal coatings are based on acrylic chemistry, offering both the clarity and colour stability combined with excellent humidity and salt mist protection.
Graph 1 – Comparison of conformal coating performance in a salt mist environment
Typically, acrylic conformal coatings are solvent-based products, where the solvent used is a carrier fluid to allow a thin film of resin to be deposited on the substrate. The solvents used are classified as VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds); as this solvent is only present on the LED for a few minutes during the application stage, it is not considered a long term issue for most systems. In some cases, LED manufacturers do have specific requirements regarding the use of products containing VOCs, as well as other specific chemicals, and these will be listed in the LED literature. In general, a chemical compatibility check will assist in confirming if a solvent-based
OCTOBER 2020
Image 1 – Typical Colour Temperature Bands for LEDs
As well as considering the effect of the coating applied on the LED, it is also important to understand the effect on colour temperature. Colour temperature shift has been an ongoing issue when considering the type of protection media to use and it is understood that no matter what material is placed directly over the LED, it will cause an interaction that leads to a colour temperature shift. This shift is typically from a warm temperature to a cooler temperature and will vary between different LED types and colour temperature bands. In addition, it will also differ depending on the protection material applied. This is another area where acrylic conformal coatings, such as Electrolube’s AFA, offer advantages over other chemistry and product types. In Graph 2, the results of colour temperature shift of a ‘warm’ light LED are provided. Different thicknesses and cure mechanisms have been utilised in order to highlight the possible changes in colour temperature. The red lines indicate the boundaries of the particular type of LED used; i.e. the colour temperature could be anywhere between these lines when the LED is purchased.
level of protection in humid and salt mist environments, as shown above, however they do not provide the highest level of protection in environments with frequent immersion in water, chemical splashes and also corrosive gas environments. It is in such situations that we advise the consideration of an encapsulation resin to offer the increased level of protection. Encapsulation resins are also available in a number of different chemistry types, including epoxy, polyurethane and silicone options. Typically epoxy resins offer tougher protection in terms of mechanical influences but they do not offer the flexibility of the other chemistries, which can lead to problems during thermal cycling, for example. In addition, standard epoxy systems do not offer the clarity and colour stability of other systems. Silicone resins do offer excellent clarity and also perform well in temperature extremes, whereas polyurethane resins offer a combination of good flexibility, clarity and a high level of protection in harsh environments. Graph 3 shows the difference in clarity of the three resin chemistry types by examining the colour differences of the resins after 1000 hours UV exposure, thus highlighting the stability of each resin in outdoor conditions. It is evident that the silicone and polyurethane resin outperform the standard epoxy system in this case.
LEDS
conformal coating is suitable for use with the desired LED; conformal coating manufacturers such as Electrolube can assist with such testing.
Graph 2 – Colour Temperature Shift Example – Electrolube AFA
The thin and thick coatings referred to above represent the typical minimum and maximum thickness that conformal coatings are applied, i.e. 25 and 75 microns. By applying such a thin film, the colour temperature shift is minimised and in turn is manageable within the same boundaries given by the LED manufacturer (as indicated by the red lines on the graph). In an ideal world, conformal coatings would be applied to all LED applications due to their ease of application, minimal effect on volume and weight of the unit, versatility in use and finally, their effect on colour temperature shift. As we all know, it is often not possible to have one solution for all applications, however. Conformal coatings offer an excellent
Comparing the performance of various products in harsh environments can also highlight preferential product choice based on the end-use conditions. For example, Graph 4 illustrates the effect of corrosive gas environments on an acrylic conformal coating, a polyurethane resin and a silicone resin by examining the % reduction in luminous flux of the LED after exposure to a mixed gas environment. These results clearly illustrate the importance of choosing the correct product for the environment. Although the conformal coating does not deteriorate in terms of its surface insulation resistance in a corrosive gas environment, it is not an adequate protection for LEDs as it allows the gas to pass through the thin coating and penetrate the LED, thus degrading its performance over time. A similar effect is also seen with the silicone resin, however in this case, despite the protection layer being considerably thicker (2mm vs. 50 microns) the gas is still able to pass through the resin and affect the LED. When you compare the result
•Vol - 02 / 10
Graph 3 – Comparison of standard resin chemistries after 1000 hours exposure to UV light
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OCTOBER 2020
of the silicone resin to the polyurethane material it is evident that there is a difference in performance exhibited by these two chemistry types as the silicone resin is permeable to the gas whereas the polyurethane resin at the same thickness, is not. In such cases, an optically clear polyurethane resin, such as Electrolube UR5634, would be the most suitable protection media to prevent the corrosive gases from adversely affecting the LED.
important to return back to the subject of colour temperature shift, however. Earlier in this article we discussed the minimal effect on colour temperature exhibited by thin film conformal coatings. When comparing the thicknesses of conformal coating to encapsulation resins it is evident that part of the increased level of protection that resins offer is due to the ability to apply a much thicker layer. Resins can be applied at 1-2mm or at much greater depths, however this depth will also have an effect on the level of colour temperature shift observed. Graph 5 below shows the typical colour temperature shift of LEDs covered with different thicknesses of polyurethane resin. It is clear that the thickness directly correlates to the degree of colour temperature shift, thus highlighting another important consideration when choosing suitable protection media. We do know that colour temperature shift will occur but the important consideration is the repeatability of the shift for the LED used. If the shift is consistent, the change can be accounted for by re-considering the original LED colour temperature band, for example.
LEDS
Graph 4 – Change in luminous flux after exposure to mixed corrosive gas
Polyurethane resins have been highlighted as suitable resins for the protection of LEDs in a number of different environments, In addition, they can also be adapted to offer additional benefits, such as pigmented systems used for covering the PCB up to, but not over, the LED. Such resins are used for protection of the PCB, offering an aesthetically pleasing finish whilst adding to the performance of the luminaire by reflecting the light off the PCB and increasing light output. There are also specialist resins that can be used to diffuse the light from the LED. Resins such as Electrolube UR5635 can offer two solutions in one; protection from the surrounding environment and diffusion of light, potentially eliminating the need for diffuser covers and caps.
•Vol - 02 / 10
Image 2 – L to R: Comparison of diffusing (UR5635) and clear (UR5634) polyurethane resins
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Encapsulation resins clearly offer a high level of protection in a range of environments and can be tailored to suit application requirements either by choice of chemistry type or by adaption of the formulation of a particular resin. It is
Graph 5 – Effect of resin thickness on colour temperature shift
This article has discussed the various considerations required when choosing protection for an LED system. Evaluating the environment is essential to successfully specifying a product, both in terms of end-use performance and suitability for production processes. Conformal coatings offer the best combination of ease of application and incorporation into the design, with an excellent level of protection in humid and salt mist environments. They also exhibit the lowest effect on colour temperature due to the low thickness applied. When conditions become more challenging, the switch to encapsulation resins is advised. In this case, the choice between chemistry types will be dictated by the end-use conditions and particular environmental influences. In addition, the thickness of resin applied should be considered to ensure sufficient protection is achieved whilst minimising the effect on colour temperature shift where possible. By ensuring efficient heat dissipation and protection from external environments, the efficiency and lifetime of LED systems can be increased. LED systems can now also be used in a wider range of environments and by offering LED designers support through considered material development, Electrolube are continually providing support for this ever evolving industry.
OCTOBER 2020
IoT Applications That Are Reshaping Agriculture Technology
- AERIS COMMUNICATIONS
2. Real-Time Asset Monitoring With assets distributed over several acres of land, travel, labour, and time; expenses can be cut by diminishing crossproperty excursions to investigate fluid, fuel, feed tanks, ponds, and comparable resources. IoT monitoring technology does precisely that, permitting farmers to continuously track resource usage rates and improve delivery truck schedules to have the perfect measure of fuel, water, or feed available consistently. Preventative maintenance is a strong suit of IoT technology. It is accomplished by equipping machineries, such as mining pumps, generators, and wind machines, with embedded IoT sensors. The technology alerts farmers in real-time when potential failures arise, eliminating the requirement for indepth, hands-on diagnosis. Preventative maintenance for agricultural machinery can minimize unexpected costs and machine downtime due to progressive damages caused by overlooked issues leading to machine failure.
IOT
Following are five areas of innovation in farming technology that demonstrate how IoT is reshaping the agricultural landscape 1. Environment and Micro-Climate Tracking IoT is transforming traditional semi-automated weather stations into wireless units that give core climate framework information and give exact micro-climate data. These weather monitoring units alert farmers through an application on their phone or data center when acute risks, such as damaging frosts and heat waves, arise in areas local to their farms.
4. Cattle Tracking Perhaps one of the most interesting IoT applications for agriculture is cattle tracking. Cattle movement can be tracked with network-connected collars and knowing their exact locations can prevent cattle loss or theft. Fertility tracking can ensure that each cow’s small window of fertility time can be accounted for to optimize breeding opportunities. Furthermore, eating patterns and health-related activities can be monitored with a leg- or neck-mounted sensor to identify and monitor health issues efficiently.
5. Driverless Machines Machine automation is not a new concept, as agriculturalists consistently have found ways to automate their equipment through IoT powered driverless machines bring automation to the next level. First, there is a slice in the costs required to pay laborers to man farm machines like tractors, seed drills, cultivators, and tillers, though the benefits of driverless machines do not stop with labour reductions. Driverless machines become far more compact and lightweight when AC units, seating, and the entire cab sections are removed. Less power is required to run the smaller machines. Many farming equipment pieces started as compact devices that one person could quickly handle in their inception. To cut back on labour costs and time, these machines were engineered to become bigger to execute several iterations of a repetitive task in one fell swoop, like a tractor that can till five rows at once. In cases such as this, however, failure in one large machine results in significant downtime. Returning to larger quantities of smaller, unmanned units addresses both concerns by providing the positive impact of minimizing laborers and reducing the massive loss of production time due to outages in larger machines. Furthermore, machines, like seeding units, are superior when smaller less weight means fewer soil compaction issues that cause yield reductions.
•Vol - 02 / 10
IoT innovations for small agricultural operations can significantly increase profit margins by minimizing the need for manual labour with automation, expediting machinery commands with remote and real-time monitoring, and allowing farmers to utilize resources more efficiently with preventative maintenance and environmental prediction. Mass embracement of these technology advancements in agriculture will allow small land holding farmers to manage more acreage, provide higher potential for profit, and higher yields on the upfront investments.
3. Remote Equipment Controls Like monitoring assets, remote equipment can be controlled from centralized data centers, and even smartphones and wireless devices, to reduce travel time and costs. Remote power throttling can minimize electricity usage on equipment like generators, wind machines, pumps and valves located throughout the property. Equipment can be powered on or off at any time of the day from anywhere to expedite work cycles. Remote monitoring technology can also optimize refuelling schedules by measuring the exact run times for a given quantity of fuel and preventing pump issues from dry running. Technology can also help prevent expensive equipment theft with location tracking of each valuable asset, especially immobilising movable equipment such as tractors in case of a theft.
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OCTOBER 2020
Electric Vehicle Batteries
LEAD STORY
The Leaders Are Ready!
Ratul Borah
Founder & CEO- Elecnovo
Deepak MV CEO & Co-Founder-Etrio
Sameer Mahapatra VP and Country Sales Head-India & SAARC- Aeris Communications
Automotive industry is growing drastically from last few years. Every year we see launches of updated cars and other vehicles. Before, where customers used to drive a normal manual car, now everyone wants to have automatic and foresees an autonomous car. Now, the time has come where we all need to move forward and promote electric vehicle, which is going to help not only economy, but also improve atmosphere and reduce the pollution. Government is planning to convert all normal vehicles into electric vehicle by 2030. In order to promote the use of electric vehicle, government has recently announced $4.6 billion in incentives for battery makers. According to a news website, think-tank has suggested $4.6 billion by 2030 for companies manufacturing advanced batteries, starting with cash and infrastructure incentives of Rs 900 crore ($122 million) in the next financial year which would then be ratcheted up annually. So, that was an example, but if you see, there are several updates for EV manufacturers which have come as a big perk. There are many companies in EV sector, which is doing their part to convert customer’s imagination into reality. While pointing out such developments and upcoming plans, Nitisha from BISinfotech talked with Sameer Mahapatra, VP and Country Sales Head-India & SAARC- Aeris Communications, Puneet Jain, Co-founder and COO- Grinntech, Swapnil Jain, Co-Founder and CTO- Ather Energy, Deepak MV, CEO & Co-founder-Etrio, Ratul Borah, Founder & CEO- Elecnovo and Srinivas Reddy, Managing Director, EVERVE Motors.
•Vol - 02 / 10
Indian Market
24
Although, electric vehicle battery has huge market but specifically if we talk about Indian market so, GMI Research forecasts says that the India Electric Vehicle Battery Market is estimated to touch USD 963 million by the end of 2026, growing at a CAGR of 25.3% during 2019-2026. Focusing on the same topic, Ratul shares that the Indian market has a huge potential for EV batteries. Reliable and cost effective
batteries are important for success of electric vehicles in India. “The two and three-wheelers in this electric vehicle space is already been observed and the government’s ambition of 30% EV adoption by 2030 will be led by these two segments. Delhi is home to the largest electric commercial vehicle fleet, whereas Maharashtra has the highest number of electric passenger cars”, says Sameer.
Swapnil Jain Co-Founder and CTO- Ather Energy
Deepak agrees with Mahapatra, he says that India is at a critical juncture right now with rapid transformation in the infrastructure to support EVs. In turn the EV battery market is also at an important stage where change in EV policies will work as a catalyst in sales. It is estimated that if the policies are encouraged in nature then the worth of the EV battery market would be something around 300 billion dollar by 2030 in India. As there are a lot of discussions about self-reliance India, we are expecting to get more and more products to get manufactured here only. Swapnil supporting this initiative and said, the government desires to boost lithium-ion batteries’ local manufacturing by battery chemistry associated with FAME incentives and increments on import services. The dependency on China and Taiwan is high for these cells. Whereas, Srinivas also agree with Swapnil, he says the industry is still evolving. He sees the steady growth in the segment that is only going to improve with time. Grinntech Co- Founder Puneet while emphasizing the Indian market says that the EV vehicle market is very small at present in India. This year it is expected to be around 1.54 Lacs electric
Puneet Jain Co-Founder and COO- Grinntech
two wheelers majority of which runs on Lithium-ion, and 90,000 odd electric three wheelers (e-Rickshaw) majority of which runs on Lead-acid battery. But this market is expected to grow steadily between 6-8% per annum.
Importance of EV Batteries
Battery is a most important part of electric vehicles. An electric vehicle uses battery as a power source, in place of the internal combustion engine which used in the gasolinepowered vehicles. This was the basic definition for the readers but, if we talk about our speaker’s point of view, so they can define it in a quite broader manner. Sameer defines battery as the heart and nervous system of the EV. The Indian automotive industry is warming up to the concept of e-mobility. According to industry reports, by 2030, electrification could lead to electric vehicles, including EV battery, plug-in hybrid electric vehicles holding a considerable share of the global automobile sector. Based on the NITI Aayog report, India could save 64% of energy demand for road transport and 37% of carbon emissions by 2030 by pursuing a shared, electric, and connected mobility future.
•Vol - 02 / 10
Srinivas Reddy Managing Director, EVERVE Motors
LEAD STORY
OCTOBER 2020
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OCTOBER 2020
Whereas Ratul says that the battery is a critical component in Electric Vehicles. Battery capacity is important in regard to number of kilometres per charge. It contributes a significant cost to total cost of the vehicles. An EV without a battery is nothing but a paperweight, emphasizes Srinivas. On the other hand, Swapnil says, the performance of the EV is closely related to the design of the battery pack that powers the vehicle’s engine and must be able to provide enough current for the motor over an extended time. Puneet has shared vast knowledge about batteries and its importance. He says, battery operated electric vehicles have three major parts, battery, motor and controller. All these replaced the entire engine in the ICE vehicles. Electric vehicles have generally 24 moving parts and 11 wearing parts. Out of the three major components mentioned above, the battery is the most important component as it acts as storage of energy. Lithium ion is the most popular battery type used in cars with different chemistries over the time.
LEAD STORY
Government Decision On Pre-Fitted Batteries
The Indian government has recently allowed the registration of electric vehicles without pre-fitted batteries. The reason of this announcement was to make the upfront cost of the electrical 2 wheeler (2W) and 3 wheelers (3W) to be lower than ICE 2 and 3W. The battery could be provided separately by the OEM or the energy service provider. This announcement has opened the door for big business and opportunities. While supporting this initiative, Ratul says that this step will reduce the total cost to own an electric vehicle and it would also encourage the buyer to buy an electric vehicle. More purchase of electric vehicles would create a very good momentum for the electric vehicle industry. Srinivas feels it’s as an important decision, which will promote the EV adaptation and it will create a competitive ecosystem thereby bringing the cost of batteries further down. It will also promote leasing batteries instead of purchasing it along with the vehicle.
•Vol - 02 / 10
Puneet has the same view like Reddy, he says, this move is going to create opportunities as people would look at electric vehicle options, as the initial acquisition cost of e-vehicles without batteries will be lower so as the total cost of ownership (TCO). Swappable battery stations are going to boost the opportunities for new business and manufacturers of battery packs can surely benefit from this change in government notification. Battery’s prices were a big challenge for consumers and this initiative has come as a big perk for everyone.
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The present situation is 40% of the costs of EVs are of their batteries. This initiative will result in a rapid decrease in the costing of EVs in India and in turn the companies can focus on developing new cost efficient models, says Deepak.
Sameer while explaining the loopholes of this decision says the objective of the government to bring down the entry cost is not fulfilled through this move. Unbundling in fact has more challenges for the end customers as the initial warranty is now split for the consumer a) for the EV and b) for the battery. He has to chase two suppliers in the eventuality of a breakdown. Moreover, the cost to the end consumer remains the same, the only silver lining is that he has more choices for the battery in the open market. But given the lack of bulk buying benefits which the vehicle OEM can get, the cost there could also get compromised.
Future Scope in EV Batteries
As there are numerous developments we are seeing in technology, so EV has also made its mark in the industry. Lots of research companies have clarified that upcoming time will see advance battery features and availability of multifunctional batteries. The future for EV batteries is very large and ever expanding. Under the Make In India programme, the manufacturing of e-vehicles and their associated components is expected to increase the share of manufacturing in India’s GDP to 25% by 2022. On the economic front, large-scale adoption of electric vehicles is projected to help save $60 billion on oil imports by 2030, says Sameer. Srinivas is quite optimistic about the future of EV batteries as he says that there are many companies coming forward in assembling battery packs today and that is a good sign. We need such ventures to come forward to fuel the need of the market. Indian transport system is quite proactive in making EV system more powerful, but there are some loopholes also which manufacturers and consumers facing every day. Swapnil says that, India needs to support the investment in battery assembly and manufacturing and disincentives importing battery packs. Fiscal support for the R&D and commercial production of batteries and research into cell technology will help pave the way for an indigenous industry. He also mentioned, Batteries have a limited life for electric vehicles. In their second life, these still have multiple uses like energy storage. Ather is working with partners to run pilots on projects that would give a new lease of life to batteries. Deepak doesn’t feel or see any challenges as such in the EV batteries. He only wants to see change the mindset of end consumers as the companies will now have to convince them to buy additional batteries apart from the cost of vehicles and this will take a lot of time. Ratul says, there is a huge opportunity for batteries in electric vehicles. Making the batteries cost effective is a challenge. Providing longer life of the battery is also a challenge.
OCTOBER 2020
Upcoming projects: ► Shikra > e-rickshaw battery would be ready by December 2020. ► Robin-72 >72V e-2-wheeler battery should hit the market by January 2021. ► Variants of Robin (Robin-60 and Robin-48) will come on stream during early 2021. ► Two wheeler starter battery pintail is readily available. ► Its commercial vehicle battery Falcon should hit the market by December 2020 Ather Energy:- Ather Energy upcoming project is the launch and delivery of the Ather 450X across 11 markets – Bengaluru, Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi, Kozhikode, Coimbatore, Pune, Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Ahmedabad and Kolkata. Elecnovo: - Elecnovo is focusing on motor and controls for high power electric vehicles. Everve Motors: - Couple of projects going on and will be announced in 2021. Aeris Communications:- Aeris is working on various POC’s with battery OEM’s and EV OEM’s alike on developing a connected battery-vehicle program. Amongst its range of products, asset tracking for batteries is a popular offering where customers are keen to not only track the location of the battery but also monitor the state of charge and health of batteries. It helps safeguard against battery theft and alerts users against battery vandalism. Another large space the company is working on the battery swapping industry, the entire battery swap concept relies heavily on IoT backbone and we provide exactly that. Etrio:- The company’s new three wheeler will be launched in October 2020 under the brand name Touro and shall have two variants Touro Mini and Max across both cargo and passenger segments. The cargo variant is undergoing pilots with leading e-commerce and logistics players and has already been booked for around 500 units. Stepping into the electric bicycle segment, Etrio will also introduce the Ashva e-cycle for cargo segment and iSwitch for personal segment in the coming months.
Future of EV
There are numerous steps which have taken by our Indian government to get all-electric vehicles on the roads by 2030. Although, the growth is on hold due to pandemic, but upcoming season will be a great boost for electric vehicles. This step will cut down the pollution as well as dependency on oil. If we check the data, there are only 3,400 electric
cars were sold in the world’s second-most populous nation during the last business year, compared to sales of 1.7 million conventional passenger cars. According to a study, done by Castrol, India would consider buying an electric vehicle by 2022, but most of them also believe that it won't be until 2025 that the majority of new cars purchased are electric. Expectations are quite high for manufacturers and automotive industry, now the time has come where we need to wait watch. In other countries, consumers are ready to pay any amount for EVs but in India it is hard to find. As per the report, on an average consumer in India said they would consider purchasing an EV by 2022. This is two years earlier than the global average of 2024. However, two thirds (67 per cent) of consumers in India said they are adopting a "wait and see" approach. Over 40 per cent of fleet managers said they are waiting for competitors to make the switch before they do. So, India will take time for moving towards electric vehicles. For promoting faster adoption of EVs, Delhi government has recently announced subsidies on buying electric vehicle, which will directly transfer to buyer’s account is going to start soon. As part of its ambitious EV policy, the government would provide subsidies of up to Rs 30,000 two-wheelers and up to Rs 1.5 lakh for cars. Every state in India are taking some steps for EVs adoption. Recently, Tamil Nadu government has submitted an action plan to the National Green Tribunal (NGT), detailing the measures it plans to take up for a smooth transition to electricpowered vehicles. As per the plan which was submitted to the NGT by Principal Secretary and Transport Commissioner TS Jawahar, the government plans to give 100 per cent tax exemption and waive off permit fees for all electric vehicles (EV) attached to educational institutions till December 2022. Not only that, Tamil Nadu state is planning to attract Rs 50,000-crore investment under the favourable EV Policy 2019 and in the next decade all autos, taxis and app-based transport aggregators in the six major cities will be converted to EVs. Besides, around 1,000 EV buses will be introduced every year and private operators will be encouraged to shift to electric-powered buses.
LEAD STORY
Grinntech:- Grinntech is setting up a new manufacturing unit in Ambattur, Chennai spread over an area of 25,000 sq feet covering all departments like R&D, manufacturing lines, prototyping and testing, administration and back end processes.
Government has also announced the installation of EV chargers at 69,000 gas/petrol stations across India. The considered cities are Delhi, Kolkata, Bhopal, Chennai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Vadodara. So, these kinds of announcement and developments can become a game changer in India. As we all know that there are huge pollution problem and the main reason is vehicles. If India adopts electric vehicles and it get successful so we can see huge business opportunities also. Now, after electronic equipment, EV will also be charged at home.
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UPCOMING PROJECTS
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WHITE PAPER
OCTOBER 2020
Craig Morrow
Global Marketing Manager, Littelfuse, Inc.
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Protecting Intelligent Outlets in Smart Homes
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Due to innovations in wireless and internet technologies, common, non-intelligent devices have been converted into smart devices. These advances are resulting in “smart homes” that help their owners leverage the powerful Internet of Things (IoT). The entry of IoT technology into our homes is helping create countless smart home products that provide convenience, security, lighting control, entertainment, and environmental control. This trend isn’t just occurring in our homes; it is also in the workplace, as well as public and industrial buildings.
Traditional, non-intelligent devices such as light dimmers and power outlets must be intelligent and are becoming widely adopted in the latest home and building designs, enabling the widespread adoption of these IoT advances. For example, the smart power outlet market is growing at a compound annual growth rate of around 25%1, and the market is estimated to reach 45M units/year in 2024. The smart light dimmer market is forecasted to be growing at over 15%2 and is estimated to reach 15M units/year by 2024.
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An intelligent device has electronic circuitry that enables control, system coordination, and real-time status feedback. Smart devices can be programmed by voice, manual, or electronic control. An IoT intelligent device can be accessed and programmed remotely through a wireless communication protocol such as WIFI, cellular, or Bluetooth. Your laptop computer, tablet, smartphone, or virtual assistant can easily communicate with these intelligent devices.
Importance of designing for safety and reliability
Designers need to ensure that these new smart devices are safe and reliable as consumers expect high reliability without risk of service interruption. Thus, the devices require overvoltage protection and overcurrent protection to maintain operation even when subjected to a wide range of environmental hazards such as lightning surge, induced power surge, electrostatic discharge, and electrical fast transients. This article informs design engineers about the types of components to use and where in the circuit architecture they should be applied.
Design considerations for smart devices connected to the power lines
Intelligent outlets are connected to incoming AC power lines and will need to meet agency standards and reliability expectations. Typically, a fuse is used for overcurrent protection. The fuse will interrupt if a current exceeding its rating occurs over a defined period. When selecting a fuse, consider normal operating current, application voltage, ambient temperature, overload current conditions, maximum fault current, resistance, and agency approval. A lightning strike can create an induced power surge on the power line creating an overvoltage transient which can cause failure. For protection, the designer typically selects metal oxide varistors (MOVs) and/or transient voltage suppression diodes (TVS). MOVs and TVS are both designed to absorb transient current surges. TVS diodes have a faster response time of under a picosecond, and MOVs can absorb more energy depending on the specific component selected. The right component choice depends on the exact system layout and other components in the system. Operating voltage, clamping voltage, surge requirements, and component costs need to be considered. Primary fuse parameters: • Current rating • Maximum operating voltage • Interrupting current rating • Series resistance
Primary TVS Diode parameters • Reverse standoff voltage • Peak pulse power dissipation • Breakdown voltage
Protecting wireless communications circuits from ESD
The wireless communication circuitry for intelligent outlets is exposed to the external environment. including human touch and should have protection, primarily, from electrostatic discharge (ESD). Choosing the best ESD suppression technology depends on the threat level, system architecture, and form factor. ESD suppression components protect both the wireless chipsets and the digital circuitry behind the wireless interface. TVS diode arrays and polymer ESD suppressors are two solutions. TVS diode arrays have the advantages of the lowest possible clamping voltage and minimum package size. Both components have low leakage current and low capacitance of under 1 pF. A typical TVS diode used for this application will withstand +/12 kV ESD in accordance with the IEC 61000-4-2 standard. Both TVS diode arrays and polymer ESD suppressors have small footprints and consume a small amount of valuable pc board space. Of most importance, these devices, depending on the component selected, can withstand up to 30 kV from direct contact and up to 30 kV transmission through the air in compliance with IEC61000-4-2. The polymer ESD devices respond to ESD voltages in under a nanosecond while the TVS diodes respond in under a picosecond. If size is a major concern, the polymer ESD devices have a maximum footprint (length of pads) of 3 mm while the TVS diodes can have a maximum footprint of 9 mm.
WHITE PAPER
What makes an intelligent device “smart”?
Primary MOV parameters: • Maximum transient energy absorbed • Maximum peak surge current • Maximum continuous operating voltage • Clamp voltage • Operating temperature range
Primary polymer ESD parameters • Standoff Voltage • Clamp voltage • Trigger voltage • Capacitance • Leakage current
Protection and control for smart light dimmers and smart power outlets
Both smart light dimmers and smart power outlets obtain power from the power line; thus, they require power line protection. Both devices have wireless communication interfaces as well which require protection from ESD. ESD protection is also needed to protect circuitry from a manually-controlled switch and other contact points during production and installation. The typical options for overcurrent protection, overvoltage protection, and power control are shown in Figure 1.
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Other devices such as ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs)/ arc-fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs) and USB outlets are becoming more intelligent. The market for GFCI/AFCI devices is roughly estimated to have a growth rate of around 5%, while the USB market is estimated to be growing at a rate of 10%. Protecting all these devices with overvoltage and overcurrent protection is essential for long term reliability and safety.
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OCTOBER 2020
Figure 1. Recommended protection and control components for smart light dimmers and smart power outlets.
Figure 2. Block diagram of a smart light dimmer. The safety and control component options recommended for the circuit blocks are shown in the list adjacent to the block diagram.
The Figures 2 block diagram illustrates a smart light dimmer and the Figure 3 block diagram shows a smart outlet. The recommended protection and control component options are shown in the adjacent list.
WHITE PAPER
Power control considerations for smart light dimmers and power outlets
Schottky rectifiers are recommended for smart outlets for the rectification in the switching power supply that power the DC circuitry. Why? Schottky rectifiers have a low forward voltage and the low forward voltage improves power conversion efficiency. Additionally, Schottky diodes have fast switching speeds that enable switching power supplies to operate at high frequencies resulting in additional improved efficiency. In dimmers, the TRIAC is used to control the percentage of the AC waveform that is output to the light. For low, load current, light sources such as LEDs, TRIACs can have a holding current as low as 6 mA. Another option to control the light source is a MOSFET. MOSFETS have fast switching times and low onresistance to minimize power loss and improve efficiency of the power transfer from input to output. A gate driver controls the MOSFET and ensures efficient turn-on and turn-off of the MOSFET. Primary Schottky diode parameters • Forward voltage • Forward current • Reverse voltage • Reverse Recovery Time Primary TRIAC parameters • On-state current • Voltage rating • Holding current • On-state current rate of rise
Figure 3. Smart outlet block diagram showing where protection and control components are required. The table lists the recommended component options.
Ensure protection and control for GFCIs, AFCIs, and USB outlets
The original intelligent devices for the home are the GFCI and AFCI. The GFCI senses when the load current delivered on the hot line does not return on the neutral line. If the current imbalance exceeds a pre-determined trip level, the GFCI removes power from the outlet to prevent an electric shock hazard. The AFCI detects an arc condition and removes power from the outlet to prevent a fire. Power outlets with USB charging have become more common in residential and public locations. These outlets may have USB charging combined with historical power outlets or multiple USB chargers in a single device. GFCI, AFCI, and USB chargers need protection from transients. Figure 4 shows the recommended protection and control components needed for GFCIs, AFCIs, and USB charging outlets.
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Primary MOSFET parameters • Drain-Source current • On resistance • Switching time
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Primary MOSFET gate driver parameters • Input voltage • Output current
Figure 4. Recommended protection and control components for GFCIs, AFCIs, and USB charging outlets.
OCTOBER 2020
The block diagram for the GFCI and AFCI is shown in Figure 5. The protection components are similar for smart light dimmers and smart outlets. The recommended power control component is an SCR. The SCR activates the relay that disconnects the AC main incoming power to the output when a current imbalance is detected. Also, SCRs are available in a variety of through-hole and surface mount packages. They also will come with isolation voltages as high as 2500 Vrms. Primary SCR parameters • On-state current • Blocking voltage • Forward drop • Gate current trigger level
Table 1. National and International Standards and Compliances
Figure 5. Block diagram of a GFCI or an AFCI. The adjacent table lists the recommended protection and control component options.
The far-reaching growth in IoT technologies and intelligent products is making today’s homes a more connected and enjoyable place to live. New intelligent devices are providing homeowners with more convenience, security, environmental control, and entertainment. Largely available on the market today, intelligent outlets are part of this trend. Designers need to consider overvoltage, overcurrent, and ESD protection to enhance safety while increasing device reliability. Designers can make their work easier if they are aware of the safety requirements for the device they are developing. Knowledge of the components that protect and efficiently control the device will ensure a safe and robust design. The protection components for overcurrent, overvoltage, and ESD suppression need to be UL- or IEC-recognized components; and, using them will reduce the standards compliance review time and certification.
WHITE PAPER
Conclusion
For more information on Littelfuse circuit protection solutions, reference the following helpful guides:
Knowledge of the applicable industry safety standards helps save development time
Meeting the UL and IEC standards is required for intelligent devices used in homes since all of them operate on line power. The applicable specific standard depends on the geographic location where the device will be used. Missing requirements specified by these standards can increase product development time and add costs if a certifying body fails to approve your product. See Table 1 for a list of the applicable national and international standards for these products.
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Figure 6. Block diagram of a USB outlet. The recommended protection and control component options are shown in the adjacent list.
• Fuseology Selection Guide: Fuse Characteristics, Terms, and Consideration Factors • Circuit Protection Products Selection Guide • Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Suppression Design Guide Or contact Littelfuse at www.littelfuse.com for design assistance from application specialists.
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FUTURE GLANCE
How Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) Protect Oceans
- IEEE Experts
Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) play a valuable role in the maintenance and observance of our oceans, seas, rivers and lakes to ensure safety to our most valuable natural resources, as well as provide assistance to the divers who perform important tasks within the depths of our largest bodies of water. India is looking to expand research and development work on underwater vehicles and intends to develop long-endurance AUVs for commercial and defence applications in the near future. While there is significant growth in the sector, not many people are aware about the functionalities of AUVs and what their advantages are.
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IEEE Senior Members Roberto Petroccia, Fausto Ferreira and Gabriele Ferri, who are also members of the IEEE Oceanic Engineering Society (OES), gave their insights on AUVs. They currently work at the NATO Science and Technology Organization Centre for Maritime Research and Experimentation in La Spezia, Italy.
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“AUVs can work for a long time without getting tired and at depths impossible for a diver,” Ferri said. “Divers can operate typically up to 60 meters, requiring use of special gases and tools when operating at higher depths. Additionally, the time
they can spend at such a high depth is quite limited. However, the sea bottom goes much deeper (up to 11,000 meters) and many installations are below the operating depth of divers, such as oil rigs or communications pipelines.” Essentially, vehicles and sensors are capable of covering and collecting data in larger areas, at greater depths and at quicker speeds than human divers and researchers. Plus, the deployment of a swarm of long-range and long endurance AUVs are capable of collecting environmental measurements without impacting marine life, says Ferreira. “These systems of new generation can increase the spatial and temporal scale of the monitoring and can provide the persistence and synopticity (measurements at different locations at the same time),” says Petroccia. “This is crucial for understanding the state of the sea and for tracking ongoing phenomena, such as an oil spill or an algal bloom.” This important type of research is only possible through the use of AUVs because surface ships and oceanographic observatories can only collect measurements in a single point. To further their sustainability efforts through passive data collection, technologists who create AUVs often draw their creative designs from nature itself. “Many designs mimic
When we think of autonomous technology, the first thing that comes to mind is often a vehicle found on the highway. While some of the technologies are similar to a car, AUVs must have a complex system because of the hostile environment the robot must endure in the water. “Global navigation satellite system (GNSS) is not available [underwater]”, says Ferreira. “This makes underwater robot self-localization challenging and still an open issue in the research community. Doppler velocity logs can measure the speed of the robot with respect to the seafloor, but only when the robot is not navigating too high from the bottom.” Another difference of an AUV from an autonomous car is that a gasoline or diesel engine cannot be submerged underwater because of the lack of oxygen. Ferri explains that this challenge has actually pushed technologists to turn to cleaner propulsion technologies, “such as fuel cells that increase their endurance with respect to typical lithium batteries.” Technologists also face the challenge of efficient communication and sensing underwater. Their reliable solution is to utilize the acoustics underwater. “Acoustic communications enables us to exchange data over long distances (up to tens of kilometers) but with a low data rate (typically few hundreds
FUTURE GLANCE
How does an autonomous underwater vehicle work?
of bits per second or up to few kilobits per seconds) and long propagation delays,” says Petroccia. “This is very different with respect to what is experienced in terrestrial wireless radio networks, requiring to design novel communications solutions and networking protocols. This dictates that AUVs need to become more and more autonomous to accomplish their missions, since a direct and reliable link with a pilot cannot be guaranteed.”
AUVs are keeping our oceans clean and spill-free
The gas and oil industry is beginning to tap into the technology and advantages of AUV monitoring, inspection, maintenance and even intervention in reducing chemical and oil spills in our oceans. “Several solutions have been proposed to allow AUVs following in an autonomous way along pipelines on the seabed, thus inspecting the thickness and status of the pipes, and detecting possible leakage of oil and gas,” says Ferri. “Additionally, there is a growing interest in deploying resident subsea systems which are capable of inspecting, maintaining and repairing the required equipment.” AUVs and marine robots are also capable of helping during the oil clean-up process as well. “Oil tends to submerge with the passing of time,” says Ferreira. “AUVs can follow the plume, study the phenomena and localize the leak source. For instance, one expedition characterized subsurface oil plumes extending from the Deepwater Horizon (the massive accident that happened in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010) using novel technology and the latest in biogeochemical techniques.”
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marine life, such as jellyfish or fish, to optimize the efficiency of navigation taking inspiration by nature,” says Petroccia. “Other shapes, such as octopus have become a source of inspiration to support manipulators that are able to work without damaging the marine ecosystem, such as when working in the coralline reefs or when monitoring clams.”
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IIOT FEATURE
OCTOBER 2020
What’s Next for IIoT Device Connectivity? - MOXA The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) has not only blurred the lines between OT and IT disciplines, but also led to the increasing prevalence of large-scale and highly distributed applications where field devices are dispersed over a wide area and need to communicate directly with remote servers. This means that where your data is going to and from, how you manage all your different devices, and how you keep your data safe matter even more than before. In this article, we provide three expert tips you should keep in mind for selecting device connectivity solutions that can meet the demanding requirements of large-scale and highly distributed IIoT applications in our connected world.
need to collect data from many different sites. Just imagine all the wellheads in a typical oil-drilling application that could be spread out over a massive desert. All the data from each wellhead not only needs to be collected and constantly monitored and controlled from afar, but also needs to be sent somewhere to process all the digital bits of information into human-readable insights. You could deploy an edge computer at each field site to collect, locally preprocess, and transmit your data to a remote server for more advanced analysis. However, some applications may only need to enable connectivity and be able to sufficiently process their data on a cloud server.
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Using connectivity devices at each IIoT field site to transmit your OT data to a remote server could save you time, effort, and costs. That is because many distributed applications, such as oil drilling, only require collecting relatively small amounts of data from each field site, so the costs and programming effort associated with deploying edge computers at multiple locations may not be justified. Instead, connectivity devices can usually do the trick and be more costeffective and efficient too.
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Know Where Your Data Goes
Large-scale and highly distributed IIoT applications
You’ll also want to consider the type of remote server you’re working with. For private servers, MQTT is one of most commonly used protocols to bridge the data between OT and IT systems. As for public cloud servers—such as Microsoft Azure, Amazon
OCTOBER 2020
Web Services (AWS), or Google Cloud—each service provider has its own methods and protocols for collecting data. Before you choose your connectivity devices, you should know (or decide) whether your applications use private or public servers, and then find the connectivity devices that support related protocols or SDKs to save you time and money in the development stage.
The diversity of end devices in industrial field sites, distributed architectures, and legacy systems increases the security risk of your IIoT applications because most of these devices are not designed with cybersecurity in mind. As a result, it is essential to select connectivity solutions with built-in security features to place in front of your end devices. But with so many connectivity solutions on the market to fulfill the communication demands of different edge devices, how can you ensure your field data is well protected? Enter the IEC 62443 standard, a set of global security guidelines that list specific security requirements for device manufacturers to follow to ensure the device you choose meets the latest cybersecurity standards.
When you finally get all your field devices with multiple communication interfaces connected, another big question arises. How do you manage dozens or hundreds of different kinds of connectivity devices? During your daily operations, you need to monitor your connectivity devices to keep them up-to-date with the latest firmware and minimize unauthorized access and potential intrusions by updating device logon credentials for every user. Such tasks might not be an issue when there are only a few devices and one type of connectivity device. However, it can be a huge burden if dozens of different kinds of connectivity devices are used in your IIoT application. Having a software tool or utility that can help you manage large amounts of different kinds of connectivity devices can make daily operation much easier. With the lines between the IT and OT worlds becoming increasingly blurry in the IIoT era, management tools need to be flexible enough to serve users from both domains. Besides mass device management capabilities, the connectivity device you choose should have both a GUI for OT users and CLI for IT users to optimize IIoT system maintenance.
Identify and control who can log on to devices Increase password complexity to enhance access control Verify authorized devices before the devices gain access to the network and communicate with other devices Encrypt confidential serial interface data on the network to ensure data integrity Encrypt configuration data to increase confidentiality Select device vendors that respond quickly to and fix reported vulnerabilities Keep the above three tips in mind so that enabling device connectivity for your IIoT applications can be easier, more secure, and more efficient. To help you get started, Moxa has developed a series of device connectivity solutions—including serial device servers, protocol gateways, and remote I/O devices—that are capable of connecting your field data to private or public servers securely and efficiently. If you are interested in learning more about industrial connectivity.
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Stay on Top of Device Management
When you choose a connectivity device, use the following checklist to make sure the devices support sufficient security features and allow you to define and control user access to your IIoT applications.
IIOT FEATURE
As Always, Cybersecurity Matters
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OCTOBER 2020
Power Delivery Networks at a Crossroads
Henryk Dabrowski
Vicor Corporation
Power levels are rising across many industries, and many users are now considering moving their PDN away from 12V to try to ease those challenges
Figure 2a. Vicor PDN 3 Phase 12V
VICOR
Figure 1. Vicor’s Highest Systems Performance
Every electronic piece of equipment or system has a power delivery network (PDN) made up of cables, bus bars, connectors, circuit board copper power planes and AC to DC and DC to DC converters and regulators. Governing the performance of a PDN is its overall architecture, such as the use of AC or DC voltage distribution, specific voltage and current levels and when and how many times the network needs voltage conversion and regulation.
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Many PDNs have been standardized in specific industries over many years, such as 270V and 28V in the Defense and Aerospace industry, the negative 48V used in communications infrastructure applications and the 12V PDN used in automobiles which then became a standard in computer servers and industrial applications. As a result, billion dollar industries were built around standard PDNs.
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As industries transition to new PDNs such as 48V, 400V and 800V, there are many opportunities to substantially improve performance with non-traditional power delivery architectures and technologies. Advanced systems in enterprise and highperformance computing, communications and network infrastructure, autonomous vehicles and numerous transportation applications are just a few of the highgrowth industries clamoring for more power. These systems with their everincreasing number of loads, and load power, pose complex design challenges for achieving high performance when the PDN is based on 12 volts. Incorporating higher voltages has challenges and there are good reasons to resist change due to the long successful history and use of 12V and the massive supply chain ecosystem that has been built over decades.
Figure 2b. Vicor PDN 24V
The emergence of 48V
The telecommunications industry has been using a 48V PDN for decades. 48V was the best option because: 1. It is safety extra low voltage (SELV). SELV means it carries a low risk of dangerous electrical shock. 2. Small gauge wire could carry the current that had to run long distances with minimized voltage drops 3. An “always on” requirement drove the industry to utilize large lead-acid rechargeable 12V battery banks connected in series to deliver 48V. As communications networking infrastructure grew in complexity with the advent of the internet, laptops and mobile phones, the 48V PDN infrastructure had to power the many new and complex loads consisting of arrays of network processors, memory and control system loads. This posed a challenge because the bulk of the available technologies were centered on 12V capabilities with semiconductor converters and regulator components optimized for this operating voltage. To solve this 48V to 12V problem, an architecture called IBA (Intermediate Bus Architecture) was deployed and quickly became the de-facto standard in communications and network infrastructure applications. Intermediate bus converters (IBC’s) which are isolated, non- regulated fixed ratio (1/4) converters were developed by several companies and built on an open
OCTOBER 2020
Isolation was not a safety requirement for the SELV IBA because positive battery terminals were tied to ground to stop galvanic corrosion, resulting in a negative 48V voltage. By using an isolated fixed-ratio bus converter as a DC-DC transformer, a –ve 48V input could then be used to deliver a +12V output for the downstream pointof- load (PoL) regulators. By using an isolated fixed ratio bus converter as a DC to DC transformer, a –ve 48V input can be used to deliver a +12V output for the downstream point of load (PoL) regulators. Advanced applications such as artificial intelligence (AI) in data centers are driving the move from 12V to 48V PDNs and away from IBA to new architectures. The significant rise in processor and associated server rack power levels has simply exceeded what 12V and IBA can deliver. For the automotive market, the need to meet legislation and new standards that required a reduction of CO2 emissions in vehicles was a catalyst to explore vehicle electrification. This has resulted in the emergence of 48V batteries to support new mild-hybrid powertrain, safety and entertainment system designs.
New higher voltage PDNs
With the advent of higher system power requirements, PDNs based on 380V and 48V are more complex as many industries are still trying to retain legacy 12V PDN infrastructure at the point of load. Additional PDN challenges come in the form of new high-voltage bulk power sources such as 800V batteries in pure electric (EV) and high-performance vehicles. In these new systems and applications power delivery can be broken down into three basic segments: 1. Bulk power conversion to 48V. 2. Intermediate bus power delivery at 48V and then conversion and sometimes regulation to 12V. 3. Point-of-load (PoL) power delivery with conversion and regulation from 12V and 48V.
Bulk power delivery
The opportunities for innovating bulk power conversion to an
As power levels continue to rise, the challenges on a bulk power system design get increasingly more complex. Managing the size and weight of the bulk power converter and cooling it due to higher power losses are the primary areas of focus in the majority of applications. If size and weight is not an issue then very high efficiency can be achieved and thermal management can be achieved with fan cooling.
Figure 4. HV to 48V
However, most applications are demanding higher power density. Power systems engineers should consider the benefits of using power modules for designing and building these large converters, rather than ground up discrete based designs. Power modules in conjunction with innovative architectures, topologies, control systems and packaging, offer new ways of improving bulk PDN performance. If the bulk power source is AC or high voltage DC then isolation is required. An isolation stage adds power loss in any converter, but regulation may not be necessary if the intermediate bus PDN contains regulation for the PoL stage (i.e. 48V to 12V). The two considerations for this approach are 1. Input range of the power source, (the fixed-ratio converter will reflect this input voltage to the output based on its turns ratio or K factor, just like a transformer) and the input voltage range of the downstream converters/regulators. 2. In the case of a three-phase AC power source, does the system need PFC (power factor correction).
VICOR
Figure 3. Vicor PDN Minus 48V
intermediate 48V PDN, lie in the following areas: 1. Achieving higher power density 2. Deploying a modular approach to achieve redundancy and scalability 3. Enabling advanced cooling techniques with thermally adept planar packaging 4. Using high efficiency fixed-ratio converters and leaving regulation to the downstream components
Figure 5. 48V to 12V Isolation
Data centers and exascale computing commonly require maximum processing power in a confined space, so they benefit greatly from high density component and advanced cooling techniques. In some cases, full immersion cooling is
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frame package that met DOSA and POLA pin out standards to enable multisourcing.
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being implemented where the entire server is placed in a bath of fluorinert. Alternatively, other high performance computing applications are developing cooling techniques with heat pipe and cold plate technologies. In these applications a lowprofile planar package is required for the power conversion and regulation stages of the bulk power system.
VICOR
Figure 6. DC-DC Conversion and Regulation
Innovating Intermediate bus and Point-of-Load power delivery The opportunities for innovating 48V intermediate bus PDNs lie in the following areas: 1. Utilizing non-isolated, fixed-ratio bus converters for 48V to 12V conversion 2. Deploying high power-density regulated power module converters 3. Incorporating a higher performing architecture than IBA: Factorized Power Architecture (FPA) Moving from a 12V intermediate bus PDN to a 48V PDN presents challenges but also offers advantages. Maximizing the 48V power delivery as close as physically possible to the PoL regulators will reduce cable, connector and PCB copper power plane, size, weight and cost. PoL space constraints are often problematic, so the converter needs to have a high power density and efficiency. A non-isolated fixed-ratio bus converter is the best option as long as the PoL regulators can handle the voltage variation on their input which is determined by the voltage input range to the bus converter divided by
the turns ratio or K factor (VIN / K = VOUT)If the bulk power converter is designed with reasonable regulation tolerances, then this design approach is both feasible and advantageous. For designs where the bulk power converter or bulk power source (such as a 48V battery) has a wide output voltage range, then regulated DC –DC converters may be required depending on the PoL regulator input voltage specification. Adding regulation to the 48V to 12V stage reduces the efficiency of the converter by 2% to 4% depending on its topology. To really advance the PDN design, with significantly improved performance and high current density at the PoL, a new architecture to consider is the Vicor Factorized Power Architecture or FPA. With FPA a new type of converter called a current multiplier, which is capable of direct 48V-to-load voltage conversion with high efficiency and density, is placed very close to the load. In high-current applications this is very advantageous as it reduces the PDN impedance between the converter to the load which can be a source of very high power losses and also impact di/dt transient performance. Because the current multiplier is a fixed-ratio converter, an upstream regulation stage is needed to complete the FPA design. To maximize efficiency and density while minimizing power losses, the regulator module operates with both input and output voltages set to 48V, with the current multiplier K factor chosen to provide the required output voltage for the load. As power levels rise across many industries, moving to a higher voltage PDN can ease the challenge but also add complexity. Power systems engineers should evaluate new topologies and architectures from new suppliers that can deliver appreciable system performance benefits. Progress, advancement and innovation invariably require new thinking, new ideas and new approaches. As your business requirements change, be open to possibilities. Exploring and researching alternatives can be rewarding in many ways.
OCTOBER 2020
Vishal GOYAL
IOT FEATURE
Group Manager Technical Marketing South Asia and India STMicroelectronics
Connectivity Chipset or Module for IoT System: Solving the Dilemma Introduction
According to Stastita (1), by 2025 IoT devices are expected to number more than 75 billion, far outnumbering the UN’s forecast of 8.1 billion people on earth by that year (2). IoT is probably one of the biggest drivers for technology companies. Probably the most important feature of an IoT device is that it is connected. Wireless connected devices have a RF radio, antennae and associated circuit to convert electrical signals in electromagnetic waves and vice versa. Designers have two option to implement this circuit – a) Using RF chipset and design associated RF section and b) Use a module with RF chipset and associated RF section already mounted. In this article we will compare both the approach and help designers to take informed decision.
RF section using chipset and module
Implementation of RF section using chipset approach consists of RF IC, Antennae, Balun and Filters, matching networks, crystals and other passive elements. Below is the reference schematic of the implementation using STMicroelectronics BlueNRG BLE SoCs
Implementation using Module approach is much simpler. The same circuit as in figure1 can also be implemented using readily available module. Below is the pin-out and internal block diagram of BlueNRG-M2SA module from STMicroelectronics. The module is implemented using BlueNRG-2 SoC and associated circuit.
Figure 2: BlueNRG-M2SA pinout and internal blocks
Comparison between chipset and module approach
There are three main aspects to be considered while selecting a right approach - a) Time to Market, b) Certification and c) Cost. We will review each of these aspects to arrive at logical understanding.
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Time to Market
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Figure 1 : BlueNRG-2 reference schematic
Some steps to design RF section using chipset are as follows i) Designing schematic and layout ii) Developing PCB from PCB maker iii) Mounting PCB iv) Fine tuning values of passives for optimized performance v) Ordering all the components of the module and manufacturing it vi) RF tests and certifications
OCTOBER 2020
Modules are designed for fast time to market. Adding connectivity using modules does not require any prior RF expertise. Wireless connectivity is easy like a modular drop-in add-on as the designers get a readily available RF section, the implementation using modules is very quick. So, designers can bring their product into market very quickly. This is particularly very important for prototyping and low volume production.
Certification
Virtually any electronic device undergoes general emission testing. Besides devices which have RF sections are also treated as intentional radiators. So, they require an additional certification to ensure they do not emit power more than allowed, or disturb other devices or frequency bands. There is no global certification, and every country or region have their own standards. Often the standards are similar, but they still require an application and associated processes. Besides, most of the RF technologies such as BLE, Wi-Fi or GPRS comply to a standard defined by those specific organizations. So, they go under those certifications also. Let us understand certification aspect using devices under consideration – BlueNRG SoCs and BlueNRG-M2SA module from STMicroelectronics. A Bluetooth Low Energy enabled device need to be certified by Bluetooth SIG – a governing body of Bluetooth to use Bluetooth Logo. They also need to get RF certification from different Countries and Regions. Certification defined by some of the countries and regions are FCC (US), RED (Europe), WPC (India), IC (Canada), SRCC (China) and Type (Japan). As modules are already tested and certified as radiated device, designs implemented using module not require further radiated device certification and will be treated as yet another electronic device. Belo w is the comparison of cost using chipset and module.
Cost
Some of the elements of cost are already discussed in this article. In general cost of - Cost of circuit design - Cost of designers, supply chain and production - Cost of certification - Cost of opportunity In general, these costs are justified if volume of production is above 100-150Kpcs per year, or the product form factor does not allow a dedicated module to be incorporated.
Module offering from STMicroelectronics
STMicroelectronics is a leading semiconductor company and wire wide range of low power RF devices and modules. Some of the RF chipsets and associated modules offer by STMicroelectronics are in below table
A very important aspect to be considered is that all the chipsets and modules mentioned above comes with 10 years of longevity commitment. It means that if a company utilizes these components in their design then STMicroelectronics will continue to supply those components for 10 years from the launch of the products, or offers pin2pin replacements.
IOT FEATURE
Designing a RF section with chipset consume almost three-six months. It also requires multiple resources such as RF designers, supply chain and multiple service partners such as PCB makers and EMS companies. This approach is suitable for a very high volume production, but is not desirable for prototyping and low volume production.
Conclusion
Chipset approach should be adopted if the end device form factor cannot adjust module or production volume is very large to justify cost of design, production and certification. Modules should be preferred if company want to focus on its core competencies and avoid hassles of RF design. Modules are also preferred for prototyping and low volume production. STMicroelectronics is a leader in Low Power RF technologies and provide wide range of chipsets and Modules for wide range of usage scenarios as discussed in this article.
Process of certification is time taking, tedious and costly. If the volume of production is large the cost can be amortized by economy of scale but not efficiently by small scale production.
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1) https://www.statista.com/statistics/471264/iot-number-of-connecteddevices-worldwide/ 2) https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/06/13/unworld-population-81-billion-2025/2420989/
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•Vol - 02 / 10
EMBEDDED SECURITY
OCTOBER 2020
42
Cloud Services Provide a Path to Embedded Security
Cliff Ortmeyer
Global Head of Technical Marketing, element14
Internet connectivity provides the means to add huge value to embedded systems, yet that same connectivity can be a threat to the integrity of devices and the IoT applications that are being built using them. By using smart design techniques, it is possible to turn this situation around. With the right foundations, internet-connected embedded and IoT devices can leverage online services to provide long-term security and protect the network, even if individual nodes are, at some point, compromised. Achieving the required level of security is complex but solutions are now appearing that provide a package of measures and facilities that address the different threats: an example is Microsoft’s Azure Sphere and its embedded Pluton security subsystem.
Once the device has been rebooted so that it can execute that new image, the hacker then has complete control over the system and access to secrets and other valuable data.
Hardware essentials for IoT Security
The simplest mechanism for an integrity check is some form of checksum. However, this does not check the boot image for origin. A counterfeit boot image could still potentially pass the integrity check if the hacker knows how to construct one based on a manufacturer ID or similar shared code thought to be secret. Users can achieve a much more effective integrity check: one that combines manufacturer IDs with the device’s own by ensuring that code loaded into flash for use in the next boot is signed with a hash generated using a unique ID stored locally. To protect against attacks that might be used to find this ID, the device would also need to have a hardware root of trust.
A fundamental requirement of IoT device security is one of system integrity. The device must be protected against unauthorized modification and intrusion. Hackers are resourceful and will exploit any weaknesses they can identify to try to compromise a system. Layered security is a means by which OEMs can reduce their vulnerability to successful attempts to compromise part of a system. For example, the buffer overflow is a commonly exploited mechanism used to penetrate a system and works by taking advantage of the layout of data in memory. Oversized network packets can lead to code provided by the hacker being stored outside the memory allocated to network buffers and then be inadvertently executed by the target system. From the hacker’s perspective this provides a point at which they can upload a new executable image.
A secure-boot mechanism provides the means to close this and other attacks down by ensuring that only the executables provided by an authorised party are able to run. A basic requirement for implementing a secure-boot mechanism is an area of non-volatile memory that is treated as read-only after manufacture - this contains bootloader code that forces the processor to check the boot image loaded into the system for integrity. If it fails the integrity check, the device will not boot until it is provided with a boot image that is valid.
Hardware root of trust
The hardware root of trust is a protected area for running
OCTOBER 2020
Any device can generate private keys and store them internally. The next issue is determining whether the keys are valid when the device first appears in the network. Azure Sphere achieves this by generating matching public keys: one for attestation and one for user-defined secure services. These public keys are provided at manufacturing to Microsoft for use by its Azure cloud service. Also stored in the device are digital certificates generated using PKI mechanisms that are used to check messages purporting to come from Azure servers. When an Azure Sphere device connects to the cloud, it verifies the identity of the server by checking messages against the Azure-created certificate it stores in secure memory. At this point, the device needs to authenticate itself to the server, a task achieved using a remote-attestation protocol. In the Azure Sphere system, it is not just the device that is identified but the code it runs. This is performed by creating a session key based on the cryptographic hashes of the code sequences found during the secure-boot process. These values are signed with a private key for attestation generated by the onboard cryptoprocessor. As the Azure service can generate a corresponding public key based on the device’s public key that it holds in its database, it can verify the devices identity that it has booted using authorised firmware.
Security for communication
The availability of a cloud service to authenticate devices has other benefits: under the Azure Sphere, for example, when a device is found to be authentic and running the correct software it is provided with a certificate that, when used in conjunction with its own stored credentials, can be presented to other online services and devices to prove identity. The certificate is valid for roughly a day, which limits the potential for attacks and the device will be forced to demonstrate its health on a regular basis if it wants to maintain a connection to IoT services. This is a level of protection that standalone cannot experience because, if they are compromised by a physical attack, they cannot be fixed without a manual maintenance check.
In the case of Azure Sphere, two core private keys are generated by the Pluton subsystem on the device itself during manufacture and cannot even be directly read by software afterwards. All messages derived from the private keys are created by the cryptoprocessor within the Pluton subsystem.
If the device does not pass the secure boot process, the client device cannot obtain a certificate that will let it perform as a valid, authenticated system and it will be cut off from the IoT and unable to function in a manner that is useful to the hacker. Furthermore, failure to authenticate provides a means to rectify the situation and the device may be allowed to connect to the Azure services in order to download and install an authentic and up-to-date boot image. This provides an additional level of protection against attacks that exploit weaknesses in older versions of the authentic firmware. Though support for internet connectivity is now practically a requirement for many embedded systems designers, the threat that poses can be controlled. Through platforms such as Azure Sphere, internet connectivity provides a more robust solution than would be possible with unconnected devices.
Attestation is the mechanism by which software or remote devices can prove their identity or authenticity. Typically, this attestation is handled with the help of protocols based on public-key infrastructure (PKI) mechanisms. Under PKI, messages are encrypted using public keys, which can be distributed freely without compromising the protocol as only the corresponding private key can decrypt the message. Such private keys are those that will be stored in the hardware root of trust’s secure memory and are typically loaded during manufacture. When the device wants to establish communications or prove its identity, it will use protocols to generate certificates and signatures using one or more of those private keys. The signing and certification protocols combine random values, ideally created with the help of a TRNG, with the private key to create values such as session keys, which are used once for short periods before being discarded to avoid the possibility of hackers intercepting messages and recreating them in socalled replay attacks. Once created, PKI protocols ensure a private key need never be accessed outside the secure area.
EMBEDDED SECURITY
With a hardware root of trust in place, a device has the potential to not only secure itself and any data it sends, but demonstrate that it is a legitimate device sending credible data to other nodes on the internet, whether they are other IoT devices or servers in the cloud. This, in turn, helps improve security as devices can refuse to engage with any networkconnected that do not have acceptable credentials. This reduces the potential for buffer-overflow and similar attacks to get through in the first place. Pluton also enforces security within the system to control the action of peripheral devices that may themselves be compromised. Firewalls within the processor prevent unauthorized accesses to sensitive functions and attempts to take over a system using, for example, counterfeit peripherals.
This overcomes a key weakness in many systems where the private keys are generated externally and programmed into the device which opens up the possibility of interception.
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security-sensitive operations which would provide protection against physical tampering and remote attacks. To provide such protection, the root of trust implements a secure processor that has sole access to on-chip code and data memory. Encryption keys and other secure data are stored in these areas and the root of trust is configured to never allow access to these elements from outside. The secure processor is often supported by a cryptographic processor to speed up those operations and a true random number generator (TRNG), which is used to generate software and systems running outside the root of trust to determine whether they should have access to system resources. An example of a hardware root of trust is the Pluton security subsystem implemented as a core part of the Azure Sphere Module that is available through element14.
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OCTOBER 2020
A bright future for lighting
Ali Husain
Corporate Marketing & Strategy, ON Semiconductor
Let there be (electric) light! But who was the bright spark responsible?
There are many competing claims to be the inventor of electric light, with multiple developments in the mid-19th century paving the way for the world to get that little bit brighter.
LED FEATURE
We may not be able to pinpoint the exact Eureka! moment of invention, but what we do know is that, in 1879, Thomas Edison patented the first commercially-successful electric light bulb, with a carbonized bamboo filament . Apart from minor improvements in filament materials, including a shift from carbon to tungsten in the early 20th century, we’ve basically used Edison’s age old technology ever since, until recently. Incandescent light bulbs quickly became ubiquitous, offering low cost and high quality light. But over the last decade or two, there’s been a fundamental shift in lighting technology, with LEDs replacing traditional incandescent lights in most residential and commercial installations.
Figure 1: Can we use a visually-attractive stock image of lighting, such as this one from https://www.onsemi.com/pub/ Collateral/BRD8034-D.PDF ?
LEDs take over
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LED lights have been around since the 1960s, but it’s only the invention of the blue LED in the 1990s that enabled white LED light bulbs to be created. Since then, they have become the dominant technology in many markets, as its price has steadily dropped to compete with traditional light bulbs.
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In worldwide residential sales, LEDs have also overtaken fluorescent lamps, reaching a 40% market share by 2018 . Today, an LED light bulb might retail for something like US$2 to US$5 in many countries, with even lower prices in some regions. For example, in India, the government has successfully driven the adoption of LED lighting through tax and tariff reductions for local manufacturers.
LEDs offer multiple advantages over incandescent bulbs: they last much longer, generate less heat, and use less power, thus reducing lifetime costs, and their lower electricity consumption makes them greener. LEDs also use less power than most fluorescent lamps, and have the advantage of reaching full brightness immediately when switched on.
Going green
Lighting accounts for a significant amount of global electricity consumption, which is estimated at around 15% by the European Commission . In the USA, lighting in the residential and industrial/commercial sectors uses 7% of the total energy (not just electricity) that is consumed . With the climate crisis upon us, we need to reduce the power consumption of lighting – and substantial cuts are needed to enable countries signed up to the Paris Agreement meet their greenhouse gas reduction targets. LEDs can help make this happen: residential LED lights typically offer efficiencies of more than 90 lumens of light for each Watt of power they consume (lm/W), while vendors claim figures of 200 lm/W or more for some new models . For comparison, a traditional light bulb might achieve something like 15 lm/W, a halogen light 25 lm/W, and an ‘energy saving’ fluorescent bulb typically around 55-60 lm/W. For businesses, the light source of choice has often been fluorescent lighting, which is relatively efficient at around 100 lm/W. But the quality of light it produces is harsh, and the warmer light produced by LEDs is typically preferred by most people – a win/win when the newer LEDs offer the same amount of light for half the electricity used by a fluorescent tube. Lower power consumption also creates new opportunities to make electric light possible where it wasn’t previously available – and specifically, to power lights from solar energy where there is no mains electricity grid. For example, 130 million solar-based lights were deployed between 2010-17, mainly in Africa and Asia. With clean, safe lighting available after sunset, this can dramatically improve people’s quality of life, and their children’s ability to study at home. Government regulations have accelerated the move to LEDs in some areas. For example, in the EU there are minimum efficiency standards for LED lights, and other less efficient lamps are no longer permitted to be sold.
Driving efficiencies
For residential and commercial lighting, we need to power
OCTOBER 2020
our LEDs from the high-voltage alternating current (AC) mains supply. But LEDs need a much lower voltage, and direct current (DC). To convert AC to DC at the correct voltage, we need appropriate drivers and other power management devices – these inevitably introduce some inefficiency, which we obviously want to minimize. Depending on the current and color, the forward voltage of the LED might vary from less than 2 V, up to 4.5 V. Companies such as ON Semiconductor have been enablers of LED adoption, by using their expertise in power management to develop the required devices to drive LEDs, reliably and efficiently.
Figure 3: LED bypass shunt minimizes impact of failed LEDs (source: https://www.onsemi.com/pub/Collateral/BRD8034-D.PDF)
‘Smart’ or ‘connected’ lighting is another growing trend, not least because it provides an opportunity for LED light vendors to differentiate their products, and to increase margins. More importantly, it enables further power savings, beyond just using LEDs, through automation and user control – for example, to automatically adjust lighting conditions during specific times of the day, such as turning office lights off at the weekend. Light fixtures can be controlled using powerline networking, such as the industry-standard KNX® network, or wireless technologies, such as Zigbee® technology and Bluetooth® technology. As well as the fall in prices of LEDs themselves, these networking products have dramatically decreased in cost over recent years, so that smart LED light bulbs are becoming increasingly affordable for residential use.
Figure 2: NCL30082 internal circuit architecture [source: https://www.onsemi.com/pub/Collateral/NCL30082-D.PDF]
As well as the LED drivers, lighting applications need other components to create a full system. This includes sensors, for example to detect the ambient light level so the LED brightness can be automatically adjusted, or to turn a light on when the presence of a person is detected in an office. Another component required in some applications is an LED bypass shunt, such as the NUD4700 from ON Semiconductor. This ensures that if one LED fails, the shunt allows current to flow around the failed LED, so the remainder of the LED string remains lit.
LED FEATURE
Looking ahead: lighting gets smarter
Connected lighting has now become the area of highest potential growth in the smart homes and buildings sectors. As more consumers start to add smart home technology to their houses, including voice-controlled assistants such as Amazon® Alexa®voice-controlled assistant, the smart lighting market is likely to grow rapidly over the next few years. LEDs can be dimmed and their color varied, enabling new developments in home lighting that responds to ambient light, time of day, or even the output of a TV. The Connected Lighting Platform by ON Semiconductor is a modular kit that allows an engineer to test various LED power solutions paired with Bluetooth technology, Zigbee technology or other wireless technologies. While LED technology has come a long way, further reductions in power consumption are expected over the next few years, and economies of scale will continue to drive prices down. Vendors, such as ON Semiconductor, are continually striving to improve the efficiency and capabilities of the electronics needed for LED lighting, across residential, commercial and automotive applications. Whatever they’re used for, innovation in LED lights means that the future is bright.
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For example, the NCL30082 from ON Semiconductor® is an LED driver designed for use with AC input power. It includes a PWM current mode controller that provides high efficiency, and a novel control method reduces the number of external components required. The driver also supports dimming of the LED. An input bridge rectifier and a superjunction MOSFET, also available from ON Semiconductor, complete the power conversion circuit to drive the LED.
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OP-ED
OCTOBER 2020
46
GREEN ENERGY
Manoj Kodakkatery
Manager Business Development, OMRON Electronic & Mechanical Components Business Division, India
Adoption in India – manufacturers should make the PV & EV equipment more affordable ! With the rising demand of energy (expected to reach 15,820 TWh by 2040)*, renewable resources are set to play a very important and vital role for India’s economic and overall development. Reports** indicate that the share of renewable energy is expected to account for 55 per cent of the total installed power capacity by 2030 with a capacity of around 500 GW. Talking about renewables, it’s imperative to mention solar energy. India is recognized as the third largest market for solar. The country aims for installing 100 GW of solar capacity by 2022. Solar Energy is envisioned to play a significant role in industrial segments especially the energy-intensive industries which require large amount of electricity to run heavy equipment and enable heating & cooling systems. If replaced with a solar energy source, these industrial activities have a huge potential for significant cost saving as well as the ecological burden in the long run. Looking at the sector’s evolution and its adoption in the industrial sector, it seems there is a considerable progress over the last few years. However, there is a long way to go owing to macro and micro level challenges. Absence of a steady stream of investments is one of the macro challenges to help flourish the sector in the desired manner. As of now,
the sector has not been able to attract a significant FDI and so it’s more dependent on domestic investments. And the domestic manufacturing ecosystem is yet to become strong and lessen its dependence on imports for capacity addition. At the micro level, one of the most notable challenges is cost effectiveness. This quest towards cost effectiveness, is a collated impact of all the stages involved in the supply chain, however, looking at it closely, it arises right from the product level. The whole design of the product impacts the cost effectiveness significantly. It is essential to gain effective cost competitiveness in order to make the whole proposition compete well and be at par with other energy generation technologies. One of the most difficult challenges faced by the renewable energy equipment makers (read PV & EV) is to deal with heat emission and heat dissipation. This leads to not only higher costs but also fire hazards, frequent maintenance, reduced warranty and even total system failures. Being one of the leading players in the electronic components segment in the country, OMRON has recently unveiled an advanced portfolio of Relays exclusively for the energy sector. The relays, targeting at the PV & EV industry equipment makers, bring in immense value in minimizing the cost of the solution which in turn plays a great role in increasing its adoption
OCTOBER 2020
amongst the users. The low contact resistance and optimized design of these relays provide big difference in heat emission and heat dissipation optimization. The relays not only reduce the heat dissipation but also helps in downsizing and making the product (like PV and EV charging) compact delivering a further significant reduction to the overall cost. Here is a quick glimpse of the solutions : Green energy is the future for a country like India which has one of the fastest rates of electricity consumption in the world owing to the population and economic development rate.
Our energy supply has been facing lot of difficulties to keep up the pace with demand and there are energy shortages almost everywhere in the country. The traditional sources of energy are limited. There are significant environment concerns. Since energy richness, economic growth, population and pollution – all are interlinked, we believe the equipment makers could surely do their bit by incorporating such technologically advanced components in their solutions. This will go a long way in enhancing the adoption of green energy which is the need of the hour. Source – IBEF.org
OMRON RELAY G7EB for PCBs
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Reach Us : advt@bisinfotech.com T : +91- 11- 46504585
OCTOBER 2020
•Vol - 02 / 10
AUTOMOTIVE
Modelling powertrain for modern vehicles
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The automotive industry is poised to go through a mega transformation. More than 50% of the consumers are considering buying an EV during their next purchase. Environmental awareness, stringent regulatory norms, and recent development in technologies are reshaping tomorrow's vehicles. Automotive OEMs are forced to re-engineer the conventional powertrain. In the last few years, the industry has seen GDI, turbocharged gasoline, downsizing, auto-start stop, Fuel cells and various versions of hybrid to entirely full electric drivetrains. Globally, several countries have announced a targeted end date for ICE. However, through the transition period in the next decade, ICE will remain the dominant technology with 60 to 80% share of mild hybrid. Every change is making powertrain designs efficient, smart, sophisticated, and require a large amount of design and testing efforts. These changes are very disruptive and any delay or failure can cost significant market share and tarnish the reputation. Let us take a deep look at the complex nature of the modern powertrain designs. Be it ICE, hybrid or electric, every powertrain has several systems and sub systems. An ICE has engine fuel system, air handling system, lubrication system, thermal management system, and transmission systems. In addition Figure: Hybrid engine to this, you need to fit in the battery system and the electric control system for a HEV. For robust and optimal powertrain performance, OME must ensure a fine design and integration of these complex systems, sub systems and components. This is where
Tushar Jadhav Senior Application Engineer, Ansys
Jayesh Mutyal Lead Technology Specialist, Ansys
engineering simulations are playing key roles today. Right from ICE analysis & designing it to solving high fidelity chemical kinetics, complex fuel models and fluid structural interactions, Ansys has a comprehensive software suite covering all the aspects of it. The Chemkin pro tool from Ansys can simulate underlying detailed chemistry, which is very critical for costeffective design of systems with reduced pollutant emissions or undesired byproducts. The feature called reaction path analyzer provides a clear view of dominant reaction paths, facilitating mechanism development and reduction. It can also efficiently predict soot emission and provide flamelet tables for CFD models. In summary, Ansys Chemkin-pro is one of the favorite tools to optimize the fuel effect, efficiency, knocking and emission.
Figure : IC engie analysis & visualization of reaction design
For electric and hybrid vehicles, thermal analysis of the battery system is immensely critical. It is not only linked to safety but is also of paramount importance to the peak power and battery life. On the other hand, weight reduction or increasing energy storage capacity, fast charging are ongoing quests. Volkswagen engineers were able achieve
OCTOBER 2020
the same using Ansys’ six step Multiphysics simulation approach and beat the Pikes Peak World Record.
coupling capabilities for modelling joints and crash simulation, a high degree of accuracy can be obtained.
Turbo charger plays significant role in boosting the power output and reducing the emission while keeping smaller engine size. It is desired to have high accuracy reliable CFD solver to predict the physics for hundreds of designs and at different operating conditions. Apart from fluid dynamics, structural integrity is essential for the life cycle and reliability prediction. Ansys software suite is proven and most dependable tool for turbomachinery. Apart with pumps, the other important moving components of powertrain system are gearbox and motors. Any small misalignment in these components will not only dwindle the life expectancy, but also affects the comfort and performance. Many times, the Noise Vibration and Harshness (NHV) analysis is of the focus. Simulation tools like Ansys Maxwell, Ansys Mechanical, Ansys Fluent and Ansys Motion can be seamlessly coupled to get best in class physics solution with detailed insights. It is now possible to achieve high quality NHV postprocessing. For example, NVH assessment with Signal duration extension, Psychoacoustic analysis, Sound design and Characterization. A safer vehicle is of prime importance. In electric and hybrid vehicles, the size of battery pack, casing and its position in the car is a very important factor to ascertain safety rating in a crash test and also to minimize the risk of battery fire. Ansys has both explicit and implicit structural solvers strengthened by detailed material Figure: NVH for powertrain, models and a comprehensive gearbox, motor and cooling battery modelling technology. fans Using it, experts from automotive OEMs are accurately carrying simulation for mechanical abuse, crash, crush, and nail penetration tests. Also, by using Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI)
Figure: System level simulation for electric vehicle powertrain
According to a survey done by Aberdeen Group, automotive executives believe that the use of engineering simulation improves the time to market by 17%, cost-effectiveness by 22%, and product quality by 17%. Engineering simulations was never so important as it is today, especially so in the era of technology disruption. Ansys, with a broad portfolio of physics solvers and vast experience of addressing complex engineering challenges, is the right simulation partner to ride this disruption wave and deliver your product promise.
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Figure: Ansys six step multiphysics simulation approach for battery
Integration of these components in a powertrain system and their interaction after integration once again needs to be verified. Modelling this system level integration requires an accurate component level modelling to obtain their reduced order models (ROM) for 3D physics. Figure: Cooling and Static and Dynamic ROMs are Lubrication crucial technologies to achieve accuracy, speed and therefore to generate system models. Ansys has capabilities to generate ROMs for Batteries, BMS, Motor and most of the components associated with electric or hybrid vehicles. These multiple ROMs, when combined, helps us to analysis the system level performance. Ansys Twin Builder provides a virtual platform to host all these ROMs, validate and deploy compete system simulation. Also, some OEMs are now developing a digital twin model to manage the vehicle performance after it has been deployed. With Ansys Twin Builder engineers can use systems simulations at every step of the vehicle development cycle.
AUTOMOTIVE
The gear box modelling of lubrication and heat transfer with high-fidelity is an important aspect for predicting fatigues-life, NVH and losses. Therefore, to predict oil flow patterns and churning losses, a good accuracy flow and thermal solver is needed. Ansys Fluent has wide-ranging multiphase models which used with flow solver to perform such high-fidelity simulation at affordable computational cost
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How India is becoming the next big Electronics Manufacturing Hub
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With three per cent share of global electronic production, India may seem to be on the first lap of the marathon to become the global electronics manufacturing hub, but it is steadily gaining pace. Powered by the third largest pool of scientist and technicians, the Indian electronic segment was projected to reach an estimated $400 billion by 2025.
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However, the road ahead is not without challenges. The manufacturing sector in India is recovering from a massive contraction of 40% in the first quarter of FY 2020-2021 due to COVID crisis. Consequently, it is but natural to expect the electronics manufacturing segment to share similar fate. Furthermore, Indian policy is also under tremendous duress owing to geostrategic and International affairs, especially with our neighboring country and India’s biggest competitor China. Like many other major economies, India has been dependent
on imports from China, which enjoys 28% of global manufacturing output. For instance the value of electronics components used in smartphones and televisions sourced from China is estimated to be as high as 75%. However, with changing world dynamics and the VIJAY KUMAR SACHDEVA MD & CEO, LAXMI REMOTE massive push from the (INDIA) PVT LTD (LRIPL) Indian government to create Atmanirbhar Bharat, the country is looking at the big
opportunity to be a global electronics manufacturing hub. As per the Government of India, the electronics manufacturing is set to grow with a rate of 30 per cent for the next 5 years, bringing in Rs 11.5 lakh crores worth production during this period. The industry is also expecting to project a growth in exports of electronic products by 40 to 50 per cent annually over the next five years.
Consequently, India has over 700 million internet users which is projected to grow to over 974 million by 2025. This has been largely made possible due to the penetration of mobile technologies, with 73 per cent India’s total web traffic come from mobile phones. With 5G around the corner, along with speed and network accessibility, the industry expects a high surge of relevant electronic devices.
Despite tackling the public health crisis, the Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India missions complement each other and are designed to set the direction for India’s growth. By boosting Make in India, the industry will be expanding our capabilities for manufacturing at a global scale.
It has already been highlighted that India is home to the third largest pool of electronic scientist, engineers, and technicians, which benefits the industry as manufacturing electronics need low-level specialized skillset, unlike high-end machinery. However, to really become a manufacturing giant, India needs to develop capabilities in all forms of production as well as invest heavily on research and innovation.
A number of incentive schemes like Modified Incentive Special Package Scheme (M-SIPS) and Electronic Development Fund (EDF), which covers risk to both industry and academia for R&D of new electronics technology, have been launched by the government. Furthermore, the Government has introduced three schemes worth Rs 48,000 Cr such as Production Linked Incentive (PLI) Scheme, Scheme for Promotion of Manufacturing of Electronic Components and Semiconductors (SPECS) and Modified Electronics Manufacturing Clusters (EMC 2.0) Scheme at work which are expected to reap rich dividends in the years to come. PLI scheme introduced in April 2020 aims to boost domestic manufacturing in mobile phone manufacturing and specified electronic components by attracting large investments in the segment. Launched with PLI, SPECS will provide financial incentive of 25% on capital expenditure for an identified list of electronic goods which include products, such as electronic components, semiconductor/ display fabrication units, ATMP units, specialized sub-assemblies, and so on. EMC 2.0 will help the industry by strengthening the linkages between domestic and international market by bolstering supply chain responsiveness, consolidation of suppliers, decreased time-to-market, lower logistics costs, and so on. These policies are also in sync with the vision of Digital India, and will boost the manufacturing of low-technology goods domestically. The Digital India Program is not only to ushering in a digital revolution within India, integrating the country and democratising technology for the masses, it is also creating one of the biggest untapped market reachable for digital technologies.
Along with the aggressive measures by the government in its support to the industry, there are winds of change blowing in geopolitics. Major world economies are alarmed by the aggressive stance of the present manufacturer of the world in more matters than one. They are also realising the mistake of putting most of their eggs in one basket. At this point, countries like Japan and USA are looking at India as the strongest alternatives. In fact the fourth largest investor in India, Japan has gone ahead to the extent of financially supporting its companies to shift their base from China to other countries including India. This is the biggest opportunity for India to ramp up its capabilities and unleash its potential by being the global manufacturing destination. However, these positive trends have to be matched by initiating domain skilling at a large scale; ensuring better physical, water, and power infrastructure; creating conducive business environment and allowing competition to flourish. Till 2019, the manufacturing industry was growing at a CAGR of 5 per cent, contributing about 14% to India’s GDP. It is recognized as one of the most crucial sector to generate mass scale employment, create demand, and contribute to national wealth. For India, the sector is most suited to become the single largest factor for economic revival and growth in the time to come.
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Supporting the ambition to be a global electronics manufacturing hub are various government schemes. The Indian Government just last year proposed the National Policy on Electronics, formulated by the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, which not only aims to make India the centre of Electronics System Design and Manufacturing but also aims to achieve a turnover of US$400 billion in the next five years.
EXPERT-COLUMN
OCTOBER 2020
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OCTOBER 2020
Keysight Assigns Satish Dhanasekaran as COO Anritsu Awarded by the United States Patent and Trademark Office
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T&M
Anritsu has been awarded a patent on its eoMind technology by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. The eoMind Patent acknowledges the unique approach and innovation in the core technology within eoMind to automatically identify issues in real-time within a telecom network. Using this approach Network Operators can automatically detect issues in real-time on the network, identify the affected customers and the underlying root causes. "eoMind takes you closer than ever to the subscriber's experience. When subscribers have a problem, they feel pain and the network tells you about that pain" said Ralf Iding, CEO of Anritsu Service Assurance. "The signature of customer pain is in the patterns of network anomalies. You need to be able to listen for and detect those anomalies. 5G brings additional complexity and Operators have to adapt. Operators need to work smarter and to leverage machine learning to automate their operations so they can proactively address subscriber pain. Zero-touch Operations addresses the subscriber pain early, in realtime, before it can affect more subscribers and delivers many benefits and cost savings. With eoMind, we see improved Customer Experience and retention, a reduction in calls to customer care and more efficient use of Operational resources." "Five years ago, we realized that the volume of data on telecom networks and the complexity of that data meant real-time subscriber issues were not being addressed," said Davide Motta, Head of Product Management at Anritsu Service Assurance and co-author of the Patent. "A new approach was needed that takes advantage of streaming analytics and machine learning to deliver insights to Operators at the moment that their subscribers have an issue. eoMind is listening to subscribers and looks for patterns and anomalies in the real-time data to detect issues earlier.
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Keysight Technologies has appointed Satish Dhanasekaran as chief operating officer (COO), effective immediately. Dhanasekaran has been president of Keysight’s largest business, the Communications Solutions Group, since 2017. “Satish is a strategic and driven executive with a track record of enabling customer success and driving high performance,” said Nersesian. “His background makes him uniquely qualified to lead the critical functions that make up the Keysight COO organization and drive further value creation for all of our stakeholders.” Keysight also announced that Jay Alexander, chief technology officer (CTO), has chosen to retire in late 2021. Until his retirement, he will support the success of Dhanasekaran in his new role and help determine the go-forward leadership of the critical teams within the CTO organization. “Jay has given so much to the company over the last 34 years and made countless contributions to our technology leadership and the success of our customers,” said Nersesian. “Personally, it’s been a joy and privilege to work with someone as talented, intelligent, and caring as Jay. I know he will be greatly missed across the company when he retires.”
Cooper General Selects Rohde & Schwarz’s CMX500 and CMW500 R&S CMX500 and R&S CMW500 from Rohde & Schwarz have been chosen by Cooper General to support 4G/LTE and 5G device repair and refurbishment. Cooper General selected the R&S CMX500 and R&S CMW500 to offer turnkey 5G device testing to its customers. The test platforms offer continuity with established testing methodologies and toolsets to guarantee an easy transition from LTE to 5G. The R&S CMX500 was designed to meet all of the diverse testing needs of 5G with a single solution, including sub 6 GHz (FR1) and mmWave (FR2) frequency bands. The R&S CMW500 wideband radio communication tester is the industry standard for cellular (LTE, C-IoT, 3G, 2G) and connectivity (WLAN, Bluetooth®) testing. When used together, the R&S CMX500 and R&S CMW500 test platforms provide complete coverage of all major commercial wireless technologies, thus streamlining the transition from 4G/LTE to 5G. Cooper General is taking advantage of these capabilities to cover the latest 5G RF test requirements combined with existing test plans. Carlos L. Laffitte, VP of Business Development at Cooper General Global Services, said: “As the industry continues to shift to 5G, 4G/LTE will not be replaced or forgotten. These technologies will coexist for many years, and the combination of the R&S CMX500 and R&S CMW500 wideband radio communication testers solidifies our testing needs by enabling us to service both 4G/LTE and 5G devices.
OCTOBER 2020
VIAVI Introduces VPN Management Solution
Tektronix has shared the availability of the new 6 Series B Mixed Signal Oscilloscope (MSO) which extends the performance threshold of the Tektronix Mainstream Oscilloscopes Portfolio to 10 GHz and 50 GS/sec. Developed to meet the demand for highspeed data movement and processing in embedded designs, the enhanced 6 Series B MSO offers leading signal fidelity with 12-bit ADCs and extremely low noise, 10 GHz bandwidth and up to 8 FlexChannel inputs, enabling users to confidently analyze and debug today's embedded systems while enjoying exceptional ease of use. Alongside the 6 Series B MSO, Tektronix is also introducing the new TDP7710 TriMode Probe, which extends the line of TriMode probes to match the advancements of the new oscilloscope. "At Tektronix, we are dedicated to providing high-performing test and measurement equipment that meets the growing industry need for a precise balance of speed and accuracy," says Chris Witt, vice president and general manager at Tektronix. "Embedded designs are growing more sophisticated by incorporating additional sensors that generate increasing amounts of data. This instrument addresses the new requirements of testing these systems to advance video, motion and 3D sensing technologies." The new 6 Series B MSO goes beyond the expected, allowing top manufacturers to bring cutting-edge and higher performance products to industrial, medical, consumer and computer markets. Beautifully designed, this instrument is poised for higher-speed embedded designs, demanding mixed-signal design troubleshooting and accelerating serial bus speeds. The 6 Series B MSO is also highly-effective for diverse applications in semiconductors, power integrity, automotive, defense, aerospace, research and beyond.
Yokogawa Develops OpreX™ Managed Service Yokogawa Electric Corporation has developed the OpreX™ Managed Service, which supports the remote monitoring and maintenance of plant equipment. By identifying and correcting issues with plant equipment and devices before they can break down, this service can prevent unexpected plant shutdowns. It can be accessed and utilized in a variety of ways, depending on customer requirements. The service is being offered as part of the OpreX Sustainable Maintenance family lineup, and will be launched in all regions other than Japan on September 28. The OpreX Managed Service is provided on top of a software platform that is able to ascertain the soundness not only of operational technology (OT) such as distributed control systems and field devices, but also a wide range of IT assets including network devices, meaning that it can be used in both predictive maintenance and incident management. Using this platform, Yokogawa can remotely monitor and identify the causes of any problems in this equipment for their customers. Leveraging the OT, IT, and plant maintenance know-how that Yokogawa has developed over the years by closely working with our customers in many different industries, Yokogawa is able to help customers reduce the frequency of unexpected plant shutdowns, streamline the operation of production equipment, and decrease maintenance workload.
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Tektronix Presents Industry's First 10 GHz Oscilloscope
Enterprises around the globe adopting remote work as the new normal, Viavi Solutions have introduced a suite of products to support the delivery of VPN services throughout the lifecycle, from validation, to pre-deployment testing, monitoring, assurance, and troubleshooting. According to the Neustar International Security Council, 64% of companies experienced disruptions to network security business practices due to the sudden shift to a work from a home model and 78% of corporate VPNs have experienced some connectivity issues. The VIAVI State of the Network Study of IT professionals found that VPN oversubscription was one of the top challenges of managing remote user traffic growth, with remote end-user experience being the highest the ranked requirement for operational visibility. Issues such as the inability to access VPN at peak times, poor conference call quality, and slow application response times have caused significant challenges. Enterprises are inspecting their existing platforms and services, and in some cases selecting new ones that are more suited to the scale and growth of the user base. The VIAVI VPN Management Solution supports every phase of the VPN lifecycle. VPN Validation Testing: The VIAVI Tera VM virtualized application emulation environment emulates and measures leading VPN vendor clients at scale to evaluate performance under operational conditions.
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TECHNOVATORS
OCTOBER 2020
Wearable the New Mainstream in Healthcare Sector
TECHNOVATORS
IoT has made tremendous changes in our day to day life. If we see today’s smart devices, it has number of facilities from calculating your foot step to providing your health report and even it can count your heart beat also. There are a lot of companies, which make smart devices and Riversong Technology is one of them. It provides state of the art Smart Devices, designed for fitness trainer, young adventurers and music lovers across the world, with more than 10 year's electronic product development experience, Riversong is ready to walk with you in this Smart new world, with cutting edge technology, housed in attractive bodies. Riversong devices are the perfect lifestyle partners that one would love to flaunt. During an interaction with Manvendra Chandola, CEO, Riversong India shares the value and future of smart devices.
Q
: Please elaborate on your company and its offerings? Riversong is a subsidiary of leading mobile phone developer - IMG Technology Group. Started in 2015, Riversong has grown and marked its presence globally in countries and regions like the United States, Middle-East, India, South Africa, Shanghai, and Hong Kong. Driven by systematic operation and constant innovation, the company has developed a creative product portfolio ranging from basic smart gadgets to AI innovation. Our products are enjoyed in more than 30 countries, serving over one-fifth of the world’s population. We commenced our operations in India in December 2017 and the product categories include smart wearables like fitness bands, smartwatches, kid’s watches, smartphones, smart home appliances, power banks, speakers, earphones, and other exciting products.
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CEO, Riversong India
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: What different do you offer to your clients which other companies don't? We offer consumers a premium design and build quality at an affordable price point. We have a dedicated R&D team which has helped us in understanding the market and the consumer requirement, and we are always trying to up our game by providing our customers with the best products and experience. Our wearable devices are sleek and feature-rich with sensors that monitor the user’s heart rate, blood pressure, and blood-oxygen-levels. Our wearables also come with a sleep monitor, as well as a multisports mode which tracks fitness data as per the sport or activity that the users are engaged in. With built-in functionality for receiving calls and messages, as well as sweat + water resistance, our products are perfect for fitness enthusiasts and people who are always on-the-go. When it comes to audio devices and accessories, we focus on minimalism and functionality, providing users with premium devices that offer fuller and richer sound quality.
Q
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Manvendra Chandola
: How is the demand for electronics wearables nowadays? The demand for wearable devices have been growing at a steady pace recently, due to the mobility and ease of use that they offer. A wristwatch is a classic timeless accessory and most people wear one. If a watch is ‘smart’ and offers additional functionality, then it’s a cherry on top. The growing trend of smartwatches is mainly due to the convenience that they offer, like being able to receive calls and respond to text messages and emails right from your wrist. Also, when a lot of important information is accessible on a Smartwatch, such as alerts, music playback controls and fitness data, it gives people less of a reason to pull out their smartphones every now and then and minimises distractions.
dedulcnI toN egamI Owing to the pandemic and the closure of gyms across the country because of it, fitness bands and trackers have seen a rise in demand. They assist users with keeping their health and fitness in check, and since most people have been working out at home these days, fitness accessories have witnessed a rise in demand amongst health-conscious consumers.
Q
: How was the year 2019 for your company and what will be your future marketing plans? 2019 proved to be a fantastic year for us as a brand as we had started to establish a strong presence in the Go-To-Market, and received an extremely positive response from both our channel partners and consumers. Our products like Rhythm M Wireless Bluetooth Headphones, Motive Smartwatch and Wave S Fitness Band were very well received in the market. Presently, we are working on a new range of products and are extremely excited to unveil new surprises to customers.
OCTOBER 2020
Q
: Strategies ahead and plans to encompass across the market? We are planning on expanding our product portfolio and are soon launching a new line of premium products for the home audio segment.
Q
: Trends shaping wearable business? Smartwatches and fitness bands are designed to generally make our lives easy – going and to monitor our health activity, allowing us to make better lifestyle choices. In today’s time, an increasing number of people are becoming health conscious and are investing in activity trackers, and the trend is likely to grow in the coming days.
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TECHNOVATORS
In the very near future, we are likely to see wearable technology becoming mainstream in the healthcare sector. Activity trackers would be used to track and monitor the vitals and other health metrics of patients and would allow patients to alert their doctors in case of any problems. Smart glasses with AR (Augmented Reality) and VR (Virtual Reality) capabilities are also likely to become a trend in the near future.
: Please share your expertise? Our expertise is in understanding the market trends and the needs of the consumer. We are constantly looking forward to enriching people’s music experience by providing them with innovative and high-quality audio products.
: How are the demands of your products during the lockdown? It was an extremely challenging time for us as we had to reevaluate our business strategies and daily operations. Since offline stores were closed, we shifted our focus toward e-commerce and online marketing. Understanding the requirement of the consumers in the time of need, we launched our line of healthcare products which included masks, thermometers and PPE kits. During the lockdown, people were more focused on their health and fitness than ever, and as a result, there was a surge in the demand for fitness trackers and wireless Bluetooth headphones and earphones. Post the lockdown, we have resumed operations with full force and are working round the clock to provide our patrons with the best audio products.
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OCTOBER 2020
MediaTek Announces Numerous Decisions
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Updates
Michael Boll to Join Infineon as the Head of Public Policy
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Infineon Technologies has appointed Michael Boll as the Head of Public Policy, effective January 2021. Boll, an experienced political consultant, is currently director at EUTOP International GmbH and a member of the local management team in Berlin. As the successor to Alfred Hoffmann, who has held the position since 1999, in his new role Michael Boll will report to Bernd Hops, Head of Communications and Public Policy, and will have global responsibility for political communications. “Michael Boll is taking on a challenging task and assuming a central role at Infineon. As a long-standing consultant to our company, in the past he has already set new trends to emphasize Infineon’s special relevance to the economy and society. He is very familiar with our public policy area. I very much look forward to working with him and wish him good luck and success in his new position,” said Bernd Hops, Head of Communications and Public Policy at Infineon. “I would also like to thank Alfred Hoffmann for his tireless commitment to sustainably enhancing our company’s governmental relations.
While promoting ‘Make in India’ and ‘AtmaNirbhar Bharat’, Mediatek has organized MediaTek Technology Diaries Knowledge Forum, where it focused on Indian smart devices ecosystem and boosting 5G capabilities to make great technology available and accessible to everyone. MediaTek also announced its collaboration with VVDN Technologies to offer a new range of MediaTek AIoT solutions for home and office use. As a part of the partnership, smart devices powered by MediaTek will be rolled out in India in the fourth quarter of 2020. MediaTek and VVDN will be working closely to design, develop, and manufacture innovative and new-age AIoT solutions, including camera solutions, home automation solutions, and Voice Assistant Devices / smart speakers. According to Anku Jain, Managing Director, MediaTek India, “MediaTek leads the market in chipset technology for Smart Phones, Smart TVs, Voice Assistant Devices (VADs), Android tablets, feature phones and more.
Microchip Technology Collaborates with Cartesiam Microchip Technology has collaborated with Cartesiam, Edge Impulse and Motion Gestures to simplify ML implementation at the edge using the company’s ARM Cortex based 32-bit micro-controllers and microprocessors in its MPLAB X Integrated Development Environment (IDE). Bringing the interface to these partners’ software and solutions into its design environment uniquely positions Microchip to support customers through all phases of their AI/ML projects including data gathering, training the models and inference implementation. Cartesiam is a software publisher specializing in artificial intelligence development tools for microcontrollers. NanoEdge AI Studio, Cartesiam’s patented development environment, allows embedded developers, without any prior knowledge of AI, to rapidly develop specialized machine learning libraries for microcontrollers. Devices leveraging Cartesiam's technology are already in production at hundreds of sites throughout the World.
Infineon Participates at ID.3 Tour for Electro-mobility
Infineon is a partner of the ID.3 Tour across Germany, a marathon drive in Volkswagen’s new electric model. The tour started this September in Oberstdorf and is scheduled to end in early December on the island Sylt. On the way, it will stop at all German fast-charging points with a charging capacity of more than 60 kilowatts. The Infineon sites in Warstein and Dresden are also part of the route. In the car are Mannheim's long distance record holder Rainer Zietlow and his co-driver Dominic Brüner. "Demand for electro-mobility is rapidly gaining momentum in Germany," said Stephan Zizala, Vice President and General Manager Automotive High Power at Infineon, who is responsible for the business with power semiconductors for electric cars. "As a partner of the tour across the automotive stronghold Germany, we want to show how important leading technologies are for electro-mobility to be successful. Electric driving is already very attractive today, and Infineon is helping to increase range and further reduce charging times."
OCTOBER 2020
Red Lion’s FlexEdge Integrates Crimson 3.2 software
In order to reshape the semiconductor industry, Softbank Corp has announced the sale of ARM to Nvidia Corp $40 billion. Nvidia has to pay $21.5 billion in stock and $12 billion in cash for the U.K.-based chip designer, including a $2 billion payment at signing. SoftBank may receive an additional $5 billion in cash or stock if Arm’s performance meets certain targets, the companies said Sunday in a statement. An additional $1.5 billion will be paid to Arm employees in Nvidia stock. Arm is the most popular chip designer in the world and its SoC chips are licensed in virtually every modern smartphone. In addition its code and chip layouts power a diverse set of appliances and products spanning from home appliances to supercomputers. Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang shared that they are joining arms with Arm to create the leading computing company for the age of AI. He said, AI is the most powerful technology force of our time. Learning from data, AI supercomputers can write software no human can. Amazingly, AI software can perceive its environment, infer the best plan, and act intelligently. This new form of software will expand computing to every corner of the globe.
Vicor Signs Partnership Agreement with Arrow Electronics Vicor Corporation has expanded its Europe, Middle East and Africa relationship with Arrow Electronics, by signing a global distribution agreement. “We are looking forward to working closely with Arrow to offer highly differentiated modular power solutions to their extensive customer base,” said Rich Begen, vice president of Vicor global distribution and channel strategy. “This agreement comes at a time when many of our customers are asking for smaller and more efficient solutions for their power-delivery networks that are changing to meet everincreasing system power demands,” said David West, senior vice president of global marketing and engineering at Arrow. The global franchise agreement is effective on September 15, 2020.
Dragonfly Pictures Introduces a New Class of Multi-rotor Drones
Dragonfly Pictures has created a new class of drone, the hover-in-place tethered drone. Contrary to batterypowered multi-rotor drones that require battery changes every 20 minutes, tethered drones receive their power through an electrical cord connected to a base station. This empowers them to stay aloft for hours, even days. DPI’s tethered multi-rotor drones are designed to track and follow mobile host platforms including ships, boats, trucks and other unmanned surface/ground vehicles. “Using Vicor power modules we have been able to lower the weight of all the components onboard the drone to increase altitude and airspeed while carrying the required mission payload,” said Joe Pawelczyk, Vice President of Operations at DPI. “Nobody else has the power density of Vicor, so we can achieve top levels of maneuverability, performance and hover control with their components.
•Vol - 02 / 10
Softbank Sales ARM to Nvidia Corp
Red Lion’s FlexEdge Intelligent Edge Automation Platform has now added the scalability of Linux® with the power of Crimson 3.2 software into one user-friendly operating system. This fusion enables a single FlexEdge controller to provide advanced networking, security, and automation. By integrating information technology and operational technology, FlexEdge helps customers reduce costs, improve data security, and increase productivity. Powered by Crimson 3.2 software, the FlexEdge platform provides customers with maximum flexibility to easily modify controller functionality as application needs change. From advanced networking to automation, one controller does it all. Customers can enable additional functionality through field-unlockable software upgrades that eliminate the need to purchase or add more equipment, saving both money and unnecessary downtime.
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OCTOBER 2020
Digi-Key, Machinechat Partners
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Kart
Arrow Collaborates with Platysens
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Arrow Electronics has collaborated with Hong Kongbased technology startup Platysens to accelerate the commercialization of smart and connected sports devices. Powered by sensing and IoT technologies, smart sports gadgets can bridge the physical and digital world by collecting a wealth of information about performance metrics and providing real-time actionable insights for sports enthusiasts, athletes, and trainers to strive for continuous improvement. The global sports technology market is expected to grow at CAGR 20.4% by 2027, according to a recent research. Founded by sports enthusiasts in 2014, Platysens is a startup focused on sports sensors and analysis. Benefited from the free engineering consultative services available at Arrow's Open Lab located in Hong Kong Science Park, Platysens is able to rapidly combine algorithm, IoT, and sensing technology to accelerate its new smart product development schedule. With the engineering support and consultative service provided by Arrow engineers at its Open Lab, Platysens put together a working prototype for its new product SEAL, which is expected to be launched by end of the year.
Digi-Key Electronics has partnered with Machinechat to deliver the industry’s most affordable and easy-touse IoT data management solution to accelerate IoT development and deployments. Machinechat’s JEDI One is an all-in-one software application for IoT developers and solution architects to provision IoT data collection, visualization, monitoring and local storage capabilities in minutes. Under terms of the partnership, Digi-Key will be the exclusive distributor of Machinechat’s JEDI One. "We are excited to partner with Machinechat, an emerging leader in delivering easyto-use and innovative IoT data management solutions," said Robbie Paul, director of IoT business development for Digi-Key. "The majority of today’s IoT projects are stalled or delayed due to the costs and complexity in developing custom software applications for each project, with as much as 50% or more of the cost to develop a prototype for developing custom software to process, store and present IoT data.
Nexperia Power GaN FETS Now Available at element14 element14 has shared the availability of Nexperia’s innovative Power Gallium Nitride (GaN) FET range. GaN FET products deliver improved density and efficient power usage in a small form factor, enabling the development of efficient systems at a lower cost, and providing the potential to transform power performance in electric vehicles, 5G communications, IoT and more. This innovative range provides real solutions to design engineers as increased legislation, and the growing need to reduce Co2 emissions, drive a shift to more efficient power conversion and increased electrification. GaN technology overcomes many of the limitations of existing technologies, such as silicon based IGBTs and SiC, to deliver direct and indirect performance benefits to a whole range of power conversion applications. Within electric vehicles, GaN technology directly reduces power losses that can impact the range of a vehicle.
Future Electronics’ Real-Time Global Access Available
Future Electronics has offered a realtime availability and access to their inventory across the globe. Future Electronics is a uniquely-positioned company in the electronic components sector to continuously invest and grow their inventory selection across all technologies. With three modern and highly-automated Distribution Centers strategically located in the Americas, EMEA and APAC, orders can be placed online through an intuitive online Bill of Materials tool or simply by browsing the company’s extensive online part selection. Future Electronics operates on one fullyintegrated global IT platform. Whether purchasing online or offline with the support of Future Electronics sales teams, products can be sourced from their worldwide inventory, allowing its customer base to manufacturer anywhere in the world with confidence and with quality service anywhere.
OCTOBER 2020
New Yorker Electronics Adds New ECS Series
Mouser Electronics is now offering the Sentrius MG100 Gateway from Laird Connectivity. Based on a Laird Connectivity Pinnacle 100 cellular modem, the MG100 Gateway combines long-range Bluetooth 5 and LTE-M/NB-IoT connectivity in a small-formfactor IoT micro-gateway. The Laird Connectivity Sentrius MG100 Gateway, available from Mouser Electronics, captures data from Bluetooth 5-enabled sensors and transmits to the cloud through a global low-power cellular data (LTE-M/NB-IoT) connection. The gateway is based on a Laird Connectivity Pinnacle 100 cellular modem, which integrates a Nordic Semiconductor nRF52840 system-on-chip (SoC) with its Arm Cortex-M4F core to provide full Bluetooth 5 communication capabilities. The Laird Connectivity modem also provides LTE-M/ NB-IoT connectivity via an integrated Sierra Wireless HL7800 and, for hostless design simplicity, enables application development directly on the microcontroller using Zephyr real-time operating system (RTOS). The MG100 Gateway includes regulatory approvals for FCC, ISED, and CE and cellular approvals PTCRB, GCF, and AT&T to date, with additional carrier certifications to come.
Analog Devices' Product Available at Rochester Rochester has over 250 million Analog Devices product available and recently received more than 5 million Analog Devices. Analog Devices specializes in the design and manufacturing of analog, mixed signal, and DSP integrated circuits to help solve the toughest engineering challenges and create unmatched technologies and solutions to solve our customers’ problems in instrumentation, automation, communications, healthcare, automotive and numerous other industries. Rochester Electronics has partnered with Analog Devices for over two decades and continues to offer an extensive portfolio of product and solutions. • Over 250 million Analog Devices product in stock • Over 5 million Analog Devices parts recently received • Ongoing licensed manufacturing of select EOL Analog Devices product A comprehensive Analog Devices portfolio of product and solutions is available at Rochester Electronics and includes ADC & DAC, DSPs, Op Amps, Switches &; Multiplexers, Power Management and much more.
TTI Stocks AVX TransGuard Varistor with EMI/RFI Filtering
TTI has stocked the AVX TransGuard® automotive series multilayer varistors (MLV). The VCAS and VGAS series provide a wide range of highly reliable overvoltage protection devices which are AEC-Q200 qualified, surface mount, and provides EMI/RFI attenuation in the off-state. TransGuard® MLVs are zinc oxide (ZnO) based ceramic semiconductor devices and have the added advantage of greater current and energy handling capabilities with very fast turn-on times. The AVX VGAS series parts are glass encapsulated and provide the same high reliability as traditional VCAS series parts. The glass encapsulation provides enhanced resistance against harsh environment or process such as acids, salts, chlorite flux. Both series are available in case sizes from 0402 to 3220, working voltage from 3.3 to 85Vdc, energy rating up to 13J, and load dump rating up to 25J. Operating temperature range is -55°C to +125°C with no derating.
•Vol - 02 / 10
Mouser Now Stocking Sentrius MG100 Gateway
New Yorker Electronics has reported the arrival of ECE's new ECS Series of Industrial Emergency Stop Switches. Likewise accessible in mushroom tops and LEDs, these minimized switches are intended for simple establishment and evacuation. These switches are constructed with a detachable contact block for easy replacement and improving work efficiency. The safety design of the slide locking holder is not only for easy installation and removal but also for the prevention of any inappropriate installations of the contact blocks. They are used in industrial control panels, automation equipment, medical equipment, burglary and fire alarms and other vital applications. The new emergency switches have a push-lock turn reset function and are IP65 waterproof type. They are designed to resist liquids and oils for use in a variety of work environments. The short contact unit will be a space saver.
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OCTOBER 2020
Analog Devices Offers first wBMS for EV Production
Analog Devices has offered the industry’s first wireless battery management system (wBMS) for automotive manufacturers to increase flexibility to scale their electric vehicle fleets into volume production across a wide range of vehicle classes. Features: • First wireless battery management system available Applications: for production electric vehicles. Electric vehicles • It will debut on General Motors’ production vehicles powered by Ultium batteries. • The implementation of ADI’s wBMS eliminates the traditional wired harness, saving up to 90% of the wiring and up to 15% of the volume in the battery pack.
Availability: Available Now
Vishay’s Automotive Grade DC-Link Film Capacitors
New Launch
Vishay Intertechnology has presented a new series of Automotive Grade DC-Link metallized polypropylene film capacitors optimized for high humidity environments.
Features: • First series of AEC-Q200 qualified DC-Link film capacitors to withstand temperature humidity bias (THB) testing — 85 °C, 85 % relative humidity for 1000 hours at rated voltage — without alteration of its electrical characteristics.
Applications: Power converters for solar farms; auxiliary power supplies in wind energy generators; industrial power supplies and motor drives; welding equipment; and UPS.
Availability: Samples of the MKP1848H DCLink series are available now. Production are available with a lead time of 20 weeks.
ST Two Devices for Space Applications STMicroelectronics has announced the launch of first two logic devices in a new high-speed, radiation-hardened family that brings 150MHz+ performance to space applications.
Features: • Designed with ST’s proprietary 130nm CMOS technology .
Applications: Space
Availability: Available Now
ROHM Avails BM1ZxxxFJ IC Series
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ROHM has recently announced the availability of BM1ZxxxFJ, integrated zero cross detection IC series, optimized for home appliances such as vacuum cleaners, washing machines, and air conditioners.
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Features: • First integrated zero cross detection solution for power supplies in the home appliance sector. • The integrated zero cross detection IC provides designers a turn-key zero cross detector.
Applications: Smart appliances and IoT applications
Availability: Available Now
OCTOBER 2020
Infineon Unveils New 650V CoolMOS CFD7 Infineon Technologies has launched the new 650V CoolMOS CFD7. The 650 V CoolMOS CFD7 product families are best suited for resonant topologies in soft-switching applications like telecom, server, solar and off-board EV-charging.
Features: • The 650 V devices succeeds the CoolMOS CFD2. • The added 650 V products match LLC and zero-voltage-switching phase-shift full-bridge topologies in which they are delivering numerous advantages compared to previous generations.
Applications: Telecom, server, solar and off-board EV-charging
Availability: Available Now
Maxim New Sensors for Highest Accuracy Maxim has recently been introduced its two new sensors- MAX31889 and MAX31825 , so now cold-chain pharma and other temperature-sensing applications can achieve high accuracy and robust system operation. Applications: Cold-chain pharma and other temperaturesensing applications
Availability: Available Now
New Launch
Features: Unmatched combination of accuracy and power consumption. Replacing expensive resistance temperature detectors (RTDs) in precise temperature- sensitive applications. The MAX31825 digital temperature sensor enables up to 64 devices per bus
Power Integrations’ LYT6078C for Smart Lighting Power Integrations has announced a new member of the LYT Switch-6 family of safety-isolated LED drivers for smart lighting applications – the LYT6078C.
Features: • This new LYT Switch-6IC uses Power Integrations’ PowiGa gallium nitride (GaN) technology. • Deliver efficiency and performance benefits.
Applications: Smart Lighting
Availability: Available Now
TDK Corporation’s Two New Capacitors
Features: • Wide capacitance range from 3 x 5 μF to 3 x 400 μF • Nominal voltages up to 1000 VRMS • Long service life of 100,000 hours
Applications: • Input and output filters of highperformance converters • Renewable energy systems • Traction applications
Availability: Available Now
•Vol - 02 / 10
TDK Corporation has announced the launch of two new series of EPCOS power capacitors for AC filtering in three-phase delta connection applications.
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OCTOBER 2020
Hitachi Commences Testing of 5G Enabled IoT Solutions
Hitachi’s 5G network has been installed at its Silicon Valley Research Center, part of the Research & Development Division of Hitachi America, Ltd. (Hitachi America) in partnership with Ericsson. The network will leverage 5G and Hitachi’s platform technology to accelerate the development and demonstrate the value of digital transformation across industries. “Ericsson has been working with Hitachi and its ecosystem partners to identify use cases for co-development of industry vertical 5G-enabled IoT solutions to meet product pipeline demands as 5G adoption accelerates,” said Erik Josefsson, Head of Advanced Industries, Ericsson. “This new dedicated 5G network is another proof point in our collaboration moving forward.” “Hitachi’s Silicon Valley Research Center will serve as critical proving grounds for currently emerging technologies relating to collaborative robotic systems,” says Sonia Chernova, Associate Professor in the Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines at Georgia Tech. “Adaptive automation requires access to high quality, multi-modal data from a wide range of sensors. Hitachi’s 5G capabilities are poised to revolutionize how such data is collected, aggregated, and analyzed at scale in real-time, helping to make the next generation of advanced robotic systems possible.”
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Telecom
Orange and Schneider Electric conduct first Industrial 5G trials
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Schneider Electric and Orange have presented the first deployment of indoor 5G in the industrial sector in France on experimental frequencies as part of a trial. Operating since March, this first co-innovation project in the Le Vaudreuil factory aims to use 5G in a modern industrial environment to build reliable, scalable and sustainable connectivity solutions for future industrial needs. “5G is a breakthrough technology for businesses that will bring numerous industrial applications, such as predictive maintenance, real-time video processing, augmented reality and telepresence. These use cases are powerful and competitive levers that will enable the full potential of Industry 4.0. To make the most of this new mobile network, operators, industrial players, public authorities and companies will have to work together. At Orange, we believe in a co-construction approach. Our co-innovation with Schneider Electric for the factory of the future is an example of this: We are poised to support our industrial partners in their digitalization and in the development of solutions that meet their needs.” said Stéphane Richard, Chairman and CEO, Orange. “The health, economic and climatic challenges make digitization more important than ever for companies. The pilot conducted with Orange at Le Vaudreuil in a Schneider Electric industrial showcase validates many 5G use cases: augmented reality, remote everywhere, real-time access to dat."
Telefónica with Ericsson to Start 5G Services in Spain With the support of Ericsson, Telefonica to launch its 5G services in Spain. It will be using Ericsson’s midband 5G TDD (3.5GHz) and Ericsson Spectrum Sharing on 4G/5G FDD (1800- 2100MHz) frequencies. Telefónica with Ericsson field professionals, who have been working to ensure that 5G base station sites across the network will be fully operational when Telefónica makes the service available for its subscribers. Thousands of Ericsson sites are expected to be activated before the end of 2020. Telefonica is targeting 5G coverage for 75 percent of the population by the end of the year. Ericsson is providing new radio equipment and software upgrades to 5G-ready Ericsson radios in Telefónica’s network. With Ericsson Radio System products already deployed in parts of Telefónica’s network, fast, flexible, and cost-efficient 5G activation are made easier. Joaquín Mata, CTO, Telefónica Spain, says: “The launch of our 5G network constitutes a leap forward towards the hyper-connectivity that will change the future of Spain. We are very pleased with the collaboration with Ericsson to build one of the best 5G networks in Europe.” Arun Bansal, President of Ericsson Europe and Latin America, says: “With our leading technology, Telefónica will offer its customers 5G faster and support them to reach 75 percent coverage of the population by the end of the year. With our swift 5G roll-out, Spain is ready for the next digital revolution and Ericsson is proud to be powering it together with Telefónica.
WHAT IF WE COULD STOP DISEASES BEFORE THEY COULDN’T BE STOPPED? The key to beating more illnesses is earlier detection, and ADI’s precision sensing technology is powering new, ultra-fast disease testing, bringing us one step closer to a healthier future for all. Analog Devices. Where what if becomes what is. See What If: analog.com/WhatIf