NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023
CANADA’S INFORMATION LEADER FOR ELECTRONIC ENGINEERS AND DESIGNERS
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HUMAN FACTORS
How human factor analysis impacts the design process of wearables p.10
HEALTHY DESIGNS
Protecting portable medical devices in the age of connectedness p.12
EXOSKELETONS
Smart wearable tools deliver ergonomic data insights P.14
TECHING IT EASY
MOLLI Surgical eases medical journey replacing outdated procedures p.8
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INSIDE Cover photo: MOLLI Surgical Photos (this page, from top): MOLLI Surgical; Calibre; Littelfuse; German Bionic
Columns
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COVER STORY
4 EDITORIAL SILICAN takes first steps for our semi biz 6 WEST TECH REPORT Cellula Robotics leads the underwater revolution 7 THINK GREEN SERI rolls out ESG reporting standard
5 NEWSWATCH 18 NEW PRODUCTS 20 SUPPLY SIDE 21 AD INDEX 22 DEV BOARDS Raspberry Pi Pico series
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KEEPING ABREAST OF NEW TECH MOLLI Surgical emerges as med-tech leader with its enhancements in breast cancer surgery THE HUMAN TOUCH How do product designers guarantee that their products will function as intended in the real world CONNECTED HEALTH Portable medical devices must be protected in this age of connectedness
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SMART WEARABLES Ergonomic exoskeletons aim to keep workers safe, support and simplify job tasks
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EDITORIAL
SILICAN takes ‘first Steps’ on semi path The global semiconductor industr y is undergoing a transformation and Canada has the opportunity to assert its presence and play a significant role in this sector. To achieve this ambition, SILICAN, an Ottawa-based alliance of chip industry and post-secondary associations, has unveiled “First Steps for Canada,” a strategic overview that outlines the path forward for Canada’s semiconductor industry. This forward-thinking approach aims to leverage existing strengths, foster innovation and secure the nation’s position on the global semiconductor map. The semiconductor industry is a cornerstone of modern technology, impacting everything from consumer electronics to national security and emerging technologies like AI, electric vehicles, and quantum computing. SILICAN’s vision is clear: to ensure Canada not only remains competitive but also thrives in this industry. By emphasizing innovation, talent development, and strategic investments, the group’s mission has set the stage for a robust national semiconductor policy. SILICAN recognizes that Canada’s existing strengths lie in specific niches within the semiconductor industry, including compound semiconductors, advanced assembly, packaging and testing, and sensor technologies. By focusing on these areas, we can create a unique value proposition that sets us apart in the global marketplace. One of the key objectives outlined in “First Steps” is the expansion of the National Research Council’s Canadian Photonics Fabrication Centre
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(CPFC). This facility could play a pivotal role in the Northeast Microelectronics Corridor, contributing to the growth and innovation of Canada’s semiconductor industry. With the right investments and a governance model oriented towards commercial success, the CPFC could become an invaluable asset, helping to drive sustainable growth in the sector. Scaling up Canadian companies is another critical objective. To become global players in the semiconductor industry, Canadian firms need targeted investments to address capital gaps and deepen capital pools. Collaboration with industry experts and government partners can help formulate specific approaches, ensuring these domestic companies can compete on a global scale. The need for such a strategy has never been more apparent in today’s rapidly evolving market realities.
Strong talent pool
Furthermore, building the talent pool is of paramount importance. By funding talent development programs, creating scholarships, co-ops, and internships, and supporting research in semiconductor fields, Canada can secure the skilled workforce it needs to thrive in this industry. With a focus on forecasting demand and talent requirements, institutions can be better prepared to supply the necessary expertise. SILICAN emphasizes the importance of government-industry collaboration in this endeavor. To achieve success in the semiconductor industry, government programs and agencies must understand the unique dynamics of the field and streamline existing programs to meet the rapidly evolving market realities. A harmonious partnership
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between government and industry is crucial to drive innovation and growth. Benjamin Bergen, president of the Council of Canadian Innovators, highlights the significance of supporting competitive, successful Canadian companies and giving them the tools to scale up and compete globally. The Canadian government should prioritize the semiconductor industry, ensuring that working in this sector is an attractive option for individuals at every stage of the talent spectrum. Government cooperation with industry to forecast future needs and fund talent development will be key in achieving these goals. SILICAN acknowledges the importance of leveraging innovation-driven sectors like photonics and major facilities such as CPFC and C2MI. Strategically building upon past investments positions Canada to lead in emerging industry niches, creating jobs and long-term prosperity. It’s crucial to act decisively, especially in-lightof the American CHIPS Act, which emphasizes the strategic importance of the semiconductor industry. SILICAN has outlined a roadmap for success that emphasizes the pivotal role of highly qualified talent in driving growth. Canada’s leading research-intensive universities, in combination with an ecosystem of over 300 semiconductor companies, are already producing worldclass personnel. By expanding this ecosystem, Canada can lead in next-generation technologies, shaping the global economy for years to come. STEPHEN LAW Editor slaw@ept.ca info@ept.ca
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NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2023 Volume 45, Number 8 READER SERVICE Print and digital subscription inquiries or changes, please contact Angelita Potal Tel: (416) 510-5113 Fax: (416) 510-6875 Email: apotal@annexbusinessmedia.com Mail: 111 Gordon Baker Rd., Suite 400 Toronto, ON M2H 3R1 EDITOR Stephen Law slaw@ept.ca · (416) 510-5208 WEST COAST CORRESPONDENT Sohail Kamal · sohail@nextgear.ca SENIOR PUBLISHER Scott Atkinson satkinson@ept.ca · (416) 510-5207 ACCOUNT MANAGER Joanna Malivoire jmalivoire@ept.ca · direct 866-868-7089 SALES MANAGER Chander Verma cverma@annexbusinessmedia.com cell 437-218-0941 ACCOUNT COORDINATOR Shannon Drumm sdrumm@annexbusinessmedia.com MEDIA DESIGNER Lisa Zambri AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT MANAGER Anita Madden amadden@annexbusinessmedia.com (416) 510-5183 GROUP PUBLISHER Paul Grossinger pgrossinger@annexbusinessmedia.com PRESIDENT/COO Scott Jamieson sjamieson@annesbusinessmedia.com EP&T is published eight times per year by ANNEX BUSINESS MEDIA 111 Gordon Baker Road, Suite 400 Toronto, ON M2H 3R1 Tel (416) 442-5600 Fax (416) 510-5134 annexbusinessmedia.com SUBSCRIPTION RATES Canada – $ 58.50 one year; $94.00 two years USA – $134.00 (CAD) per year International – $183.50 (CAD) per year Single copy – Canada $15 ISSN 0708-4366 (print) ISSN 1923-3701 (digital) PUB. MAIL AGREEMENT NO. 40065710 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: EP&T Circulation Department, 111 Gordon Baker Rd. Suite 400, Toronto, ON M2H 3R1
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NEWSWATCH DISTRIBUTION
Photos (this page, from top): SnapEDA; Arduino;
AVNET, ARDUINO SIGN GLOBAL DISTY DEAL
Avnet and Arduino have entered into a global distribution agreement to strengthen the emerging trend of OEM customers leveraging modular components to accelerate product development. “Design engineers will be able to quickly move from initial prototype and preproduction to high volume designs through Arduino’s opensource software and open hardware design approach,” said Alex Iuorio, senior vice president, Avnet. “Not every customer has the time, resources, or capability to perform a chip-down design, which often is a manual, hands-on process to design, engineer, prototype, source and produce. Using Arduino’s PRO product line offerings and Avnet’s support will greatly reduce time to market.” “We see an engineering mega-trend moving away from chip-down design and a greater reliance on modules like the Arduino PRO boards,” added Arduino CEO Fabio Violante. “Our new global distribution agreement with Avnet will allow even more design engineers to be an early adopter of this trend.” The Arduino PRO line of hardware and software enables businesses to quickly and securely develop and deploy commercial solutions within one familiar development platform, transferring the productivity that makers enjoyed with the Arduino for 15 years into refined tech transforming the business world.
SnapEDA recently introduced SnapMagic Copilot, an artificial intelligence design partner for engineers.
AI
SNAPEDA LAUNCHES AI DESIGN PARTNER
Leading global electronics design search engine, SnapEDA has launched SnapMagic Copilot, an artificial intelligence (AI) design partner that the firm’s CEO says “will change how every engineer designs electronics. “AI is advancing incredibly quickly. We’ve seen copilot technologies provide enormous leverage to software engineers, and it’s time to bring that to hardware engineering. That’s what we’re doing with SnapMagic Copilot,” said company CEO and electrical engineer Natasha Baker. As part of this launch, SnapEDA has rebranded its name to SnapMagic and has raised a new round of funding from world-leading AI and developer tool investors.SnapMagic Copilot pairs state-of-the-art artificial intelligence with its massive proprietary dataset to automate some of the most time-consuming aspects of electronics design. Unique in the market, SnapMagic’s proprietary dataset is critical for automating electronics design and has been honed through years of collaboration with top OEMs and
component suppliers, according to Baker. Further, SnapMagic integrates — rather than replaces — existing pcb design tools. “Every engineer can benefit from its productivity-boosting features, instantly,” Baker enthused.
ANNIVERSARY
PHOENIX CONTACT MARKS 40 YEARS IN CANADA
Global provider of electrical connection technology, automation solutions and networking solutions, Phoenix Contact marked its 40th anniversary in Canada with an open house celebration at the firm’s Canadian headquarters in Milton ON. Since its establishment in 1983, when a small sales office was opened on Matheson Drive in Mississauga, Phoenix Contact has grown exponentially. As the company established its presence in the Canadian market, it opened its official Canadian headquarters in Milton, ON, equipped with training, proof of concept showroom and value-add centre. The firm soon after opened an Eastern Region Technology Center in Quebec, a Western Regional Technology Center in Calgary, and a sales office in B.C.
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WEST TECH REPORT
Cellula Robotics leads the underwater revolution BY SOHAIL KAMAL, WEST COAST CORRESPONDENT minimal human interaction and infrastructure. Being based in BC offers Cellula numerous advantages. “This region is a hub for marine robotics technology, and we’ve benefited immensely from the talent pool here,” says Johnson. Being in close community with other marine robotics firms boosts collaboration and knowledge sharing for this technology. Additionally, BC’s geography provides easy access to test locations for AUVs. But looking ahead into 2024, Johnson anticipates challenges: “Recruiting experienced personnel is a hurdle. Government and commercial procurement processes are slow and inflationary pressures coupled with supply chain issues are constant battles.” Despite these global challenges, Cellula Robotics will leverage its innovative prowess and commitment to excellence to overcome. https://www.cellula.com Sohail Kamal is EP&T’s West Coast correspondent. sohail@nextgear.ca
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Photo: Cellula Robotics
In the heart of BC a technological renaissance is unfolding. Cellula Robotics, a beacon of innovation in the subsea robotics industry, is charting a course for the future, leveraging a unique ecosystem to drive global change in underwater surveyance.West Coast Report connects with Alex Johnson, Cellula’s director of autonomous underwater Cellula aims to redefine subsea security with its autonomous robotics. vehicles (AUV) products, about the firm’s vision and the challeng- autonomous marine robotic exceptional energy density and es in the arctic. solutions. The firm believes lightweight properties, enabling “The worldwide demand its technology and experience the vehicles to outperform comfor subsea robotics is surging,” can redefine subsea security by petitors. The hydrogen fuel cell says Johnson. “Canada needs to deploying autonomous robotics also expands its range, enabling port-to-port missions without invest heavily in this technology, solutions on a large scale. especially for offshore renewable “We see vast opportunities the need for the support of a serenergy, telecoms cable inspec- in both the commercial and vice ship, thus further reducing tion, security and defence.” defence sectors. Our goal is to the total carbon footprint. The Canadian Arctic, with Given Canada’s expansive provide cost-effective solutions territories and sparse population, to challenges in sustainable en- its cold, remoteness and ice, robotics and autonomy offer a ergy and security,” Johnson says. poses significant challenges. “It unique solution to the challenges Cellula sets itself apart through holds strategic importance for the innovative use of hydrogen shipping, resources, sovereignty, on industry and defence. “We’re poised to seize global fuel cell technology, particularly climate change, and defence,” opportunities, especially when in its Solus-XR XLUUV (Ex- Johnson states. Solus-XR is industries or defence sectors tra-Large Unmanned Underwa- designed to operate in GPS decide to invest seriously in these ter Vehicle). Hydrogen fuel cells at communication denied are the most efficient, air-inde- environments, like below the technologies,” he adds. Cellula’s mission is clear: to pendent power source for large ice, autonomously. The design be the world leader in trusted, AUVs. This technology offers ensures it can function with
THINK GREEN
Photo: © Suriyo / Adobe Stock
SERI rolls out ESG reporting standard SERI, a global provider of electronics sustainability, an American National Standards Institute (ANSI) accredited standards developer, and the non-profit organization behind the R2 Sustainable Electronics Reuse and Recycling Standard and Certification program, is moving forward to develop a globally recognized ESG (environmental, social, and governance) reporting standard and certification program for the electronics industry. ESG reporting is a way for the financial industry to measure risks beyond what was traditionally evaluated, looking at the policies and practices of an organization to include a quantitative assessment of environmental, social and governance risks to the business. At present, there is no globally accepted standard for how to report the ESG impacts of electronics.This work is designed to fill that gap. “Today, organizations are working hard to measure all of their direct and indirect carbon impacts for ESG reporting, and when you think about all of the different variables within any business, it gets very complex
very quickly,” said SERI’s executive director, Corey Dehmey. “We realize that the carbon impact stemming from electronics may only represent a relatively small piece of the puzzle, but since nearly every business around the world uses some combination of electronic devices in their daily operations, you can see that an ESG Reporting Standard is an important part of the larger picture.” The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Europe Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) recently finalized initiatives requiring mandatory carbon footprint disclosures and assurance on sustainability impacts to help investors and stakeholders focus on making better purchasing decisions. While there are existing initiatives that work to create general guidelines for reporting across all sectors, there are currently no industry-specific guidelines for the electronics sector, nor is there established third-party oversight to that reporting. “Building an Electronics ESG Reporting Standard that is universally applicable and globally adopted is the first half of the
task,” continued Dehmey. “But reported data is only good as far as it can be trusted. So, the second half of the task is to build in verification to ensure that what is reported is accurate. Beyond that, electronics give a real opportunity to incorporate the social elements of ESG reporting. Think about the positive impacts that can occur when an electronic device is bound for reuse rather than recycling. Though a business’ old electronics may no longer suit their needs, those same devices could make a world of difference to someone who doesn’t have access to new electronics.” The product of SERI’s ESG project will serve as just one small piece in a very complex ESG reporting system for clients and will seek to align all the elements of the electronics value chain to feed into an organization’s ESG report. But as approximately 80% of the carbon impact of electronics is created before a device is unboxed for the first time, this category offers businesses a unique opportunity for carbon reduction as well as increasing social good by helping bridge the digital divide through making better reuse
and recycling choices within the purchasing, usage, and IT asset disposition (ITAD) functions of an organization. The standards development process will be modeled similarly to SERI’s R2 Standard and in accordance with ANSI Essential Requirements, starting with a formal announcement, a call for stakeholders to join a multi-disciplined Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), and then discussions of how best to build a standard that meets the needs of all parties including reporting facilities in the electronics value chain, public corporations, OEMs, the investment community, and regulators. “As a champion of electronics sustainability, we want to work as a convener and bring all the various parts of our industry together and contribute to the larger push for a true global economy,” said Dehmey.
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FEATURE
Molli Surgical eases the medical journey Technology replaces outdated breast cancer procedures BY STEPHEN LAW, EP&T
Molli 2 is an evolution in MOLLI Surgical’s award-winning lesion localization platform technology. Improving on precision, the firm has added new directional feedback into its wand and tablet display.
Toronto-based Molli Surgical is quickly establishing itself as an emerging leader in Canada’s medical electronics sector and abroad by pushing the boundaries of precision breast cancer surger y with its award-winning technologies. This year, the firm launched two new products that make breast cancer surgery more precise for surgeons and better for patients. These devices, MOLLI 2 and MOLLI re.markable, are both paving the way for the next generation of healthcare. The award-winning, wire-free soft tissue localization technology marks the location of a lesion precisely for removal during surgery. “Our mission has been very much about creating technology and to save and improve lives. We do that with a set of brilliant engineering staff in Toronto,” says Ananth Ravi, president and 8
CEO of Molli Surgical. The MOLLI 2 device is easy to use, reliable and precise, delivering enhanced efficiency. MOLLI re.markable is a revolutionary new tool helping physicians accurately mark lesions by allowing radiologists and surgeons to reposition a localization marker with minimal impact or discomfort for patients. If the original placement was suboptimal, the localization marker can be removed without requiring invasive surgery or a large biopsy needle. “When working on medical devices, it is imperative to create safe effective products because our mission is very different from consumer electronics. We are impacting people’s lives, so the risk is that much higher. There’s a level of diligence that we must provide,” Ravi says. “Our products make it easier for surgeons to have more confidence, so that when they are taking out some
ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS & TECHNOLOGY / November/December 2023
tissue - it’s the right tissue and it’s not too much.” MOLLI 2 is an evolution in MOLLI Surgical’s award-winning platform technology that allows surgeons to pinpoint cancerous tissue for faster, more accurate, and potentially improved cosmesis while significantly improving the patient experience. The wire-free technology includes the MOLLI Marker — about the size of a sesame seed — that can be detected using MOLLI 2. The MOLLI Marker is the smallest on the market and precisely marks where lesions are located before breast cancer surgery.The MOLLI Tablet then displays the distance — and now direction — between the tip of MOLLI 2 and the MOLLI Marker in millimeters. MOLLI 2 is easy to use, reliable and precise, delivering improved efficiency and improving patient outcomes. “These devices allow doctors
to create optimal cosmetic results for the patient, but also cut the cancer out. From a health system perspective, we’re also separating radiology where they implant the marker from surgery where they take it out. It allows a lot of process efficiency,” said Ravi, who started off his career as a physicist, responsible for the radiation oncology program at Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto. So as part of that, Ravi gained early exposure and experience building customized treatments and technologies for precision health care and precision radiation. “I’ve always been building things, whether it’d be electrical guidance systems or imaging systems for assisting and improving the patient experience and journey. Other initiatives were more tactical mechanical components – used in mobilization devices or processes,” noted Ravi. “While I was working as a medical physicist in this role for radiation, a surgeon approached me on how to improve the improve the journey for breast cancer patients. We soon started doing work together - trying to make that experience tremendously better - and that’s how Molli was born.” Molli’s commercial launch this year has these products being used in more than 100 institutions, while treating greater than 8,000 patients throughout North America. That success was mostly driven by a diverse and collaborative engineering team and a lot of patience. “A lot of our engineering design function is done in Toronto, and we now have a commercialization arm that is looking for ways to grow globally. We’re very strong in North America and Canada,” Ravi added. Due to the complexity of creating such products, Ravi was faced with assembling a diverse design team - in terms of engineering disciplines. “We actually have quite a variety of specialists from mechanical engineering - to help build the construct and the hardware. EPT.CA
Photo: MOLLI Surgical
MEDICAL ELECTRONICS
Our electrical and electromechanical teams ideally work hand in hand, because there’s a really interesting interplay between the two as you build these devices. Obviously, software and algorithm development are a big part of medical devices, with QA (quality assurance) and regulatory being a big piece,” said Ravi.
Integrate everything
“Our systems engineer must look at the whole picture and integrate everything together to make sure that we are appropriately addressing the clinical needs without adding an over engineering solutions,” he explained. “I think this is the challenge with creating medical devices - making sure that you keep simplifying to the essence. In the end, we’re looking for the simplest, most elegant solution to something - as opposed to just adding a lot of engineering complexity to the tools we create.” Equipped with 60 specialized staff on hand, Molli Surgical has approximately half dedicated to engineering and innovation, with the other 50% of the team focused on commercialization of end-user projects. Our mandate towards breast
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cancer surgery is to continue working to improve the fundamental patient experiences - basically from the time she’s diagnosed to the surgical piece. Patients are obviously dealing with a lot that comes from a diagnosis. So, our goal is to be sure to make the marking of the cancer and the subsequent removal of the cancer, not a traumatic event. Be sure not to leave any physical scar or emotional memory scar of the therapy - that would be the ideal goal. Looking forward, Ravi and his team are seeking to expand this medical technology to other sides of the body and assist in minimally invasive surgery in general. “There are other applications throughout the body for soft tissues that are incredibly useful and pertinent. Right now, we are (medically) cleared to be applied in all soft tissues and we have surgeons already using it in incredibly important ways that help guide surgeries,” Ravi noted. “I’m happy to say that we’re quickly displacing wire technology throughout throughout Canada and elevating the care for people close to home and I’m really proud of that.” http://mollisurgical.com
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WEARABLE ELECTRONICS
FEATURE
Human factors in design: A quick primer BY KEVIN BAILEY, CEO, DESIGN 1ST factors analysis impacts product design generally.
The physical aspect
Let’s start with the physical aspect. This refers, on a basic level, to a product’s ergonomics—its size and shape, its materials, and also (in the case of Calibre) how it feels when it’s strapped to your face. For Calibre, we knew we needed the device to be aesthetically pleasing. It also needed to be lightweight and functional, so people would actually be inclined to wear it. That meant conducting human anthropometrics analysis of facial structures. It meant testing user after user for face fit and taking detailed notes. Straps were rapidly iterated and prototyped for maximum comfort and functionality; airflow dynamics testing was conducted to ensure that Calibre stayed comfortable even at high breathing rates. The final product packs a suite of gas and pressure sensors into a tiny, portable wireless electronic module which—crucially—clips comfortably to the face.
The cognitive aspect
Now we move on to the cognitive aspect.This refers to every bit of mental activity that surrounds the consumer’s purchase, use, maintenance and disposal of your product. It means not only the mental steps a consumer needs to take to properly interact with your product—it also means how taking those steps makes the user feel. Do they find the experience empowering, or frustrating? Can they access your product’s features intuitively and with ease, or do they have to pause and think it through, or give up trying? But the cognitive aspect also
10 ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS & TECHNOLOGY / November/December 2023
Calibre has developed a real-time wearable fitness metabolic performance tracker, in conjuction with Design 1st engineers. encompasses the user’s awareness of what they can actually get out of your product. In Calibre’s case, that meant its ability to provide meaningful, reliable data that can improve everyday health and performance. The “cognitive experience,” here, is more detailed information about your body and your health. In designing Calibre, then, we were hyper-conscious of foregrounding those features and making sure end-users would understand, with minimal effort, how to fully access and interpret them.
NO
Product exists in a vacuum - they are handled by specific people, with specfic needs and skill-sets, in specific environments at specific times.
The social, cultural aspects
The physical and cognitive aspects of a product are arguably the most important, but they comprise only a part of human factors analysis. Social, cultural, and emotional aspects can often be just as significant when it comes to widespread product adoption among a given target audience. The social aspect refers to how others might perceive you in relation to the product. It encompasses the concerns that most of us have, as we go about our day—worries about fitting in, about looking weird, about being judged. Obviously, a wearable electronic facemask will always look out of place on a subway car or a busy street unless a majority of people are wearing them. What mattered to us, though, was that our target customer—someone already inclined to exercise regularly and interested in new technology—would feel socially comfortable wearing it while working EPT.CA
Photo: Calibre
To the consumer, products arrive in the world fully formed. Rarely, if at all, do they think about the series of steps that brings a given product from someone’s imagination to their living room. And if they are thinking about those steps, it almost always means the product designer has done something wrong. That’s because the ideal outcome, for the product designer, is that their end-users never think of them at all. The consumer simply uses their product, happily, without complications or complaints, until it’s lost or broken. Of course, it takes an extraordinary amount of work to produce that degree of satisfaction in the consumer. Even the simplest product needs to be analyzed, tested from every angle, before reaching the consumer’s hands. And as it happens, the philosophy underlying this process has a name, well-known to every product designer: human factors analysis. What is human factors analysis? On a simple level, it’s the way that product designers guarantee that their products will function as intended in the real world. No product exists in a vacuum—they are handled by specific people, with specific needs and skill-sets, in specific environments at specific times. Human factors analysis is a way to account for all of those variables—to ensure that a given product will actually work when it reaches store shelves. Let’s use a concrete example: Calibre, a real-time wearable fitness metabolic performance tracker. Below, we’ll take you step-by-step through the human factors analysis process as it applied to our development of Calibre, along the way hopefully providing a clearer picture of how human
out given they are early adopters. That concern would ultimately guide Calibre’s final form. Then there’s the cultural aspect— fundamentally, this just means being intentional about who your product is targeted towards. No single product can be optimally designed for every market in the world—inevitably, product designers will have to target one or more specific audiences. The task, then, is to make the design more neutral, to minimize cultural or other risks to attract a wider range of target consumers.
decisions for the wearable ensures it becomes a reliable part of the workout routine—something our target consumer couldn’t imagine going without. Future products can then provide diversity of color, style, form and functions to increase product adoption. You can see, then, how human factors analysis guides every step of the product creation process: a product like Calibre developed only by engineering teams without user testing during the early stages of design would look and function very
Emotional factors
Finally, we have emotional factors. Oftentimes, products become a meaningful part of our lives—integral parts of our day-to-day experiences and even our identities. The ability to personalize a product is typically a reliable route to a consumer’s heart, but personalization also tends to be expensive on the production end. With Calibre, of course, the hope is that the initial product human factors
differently. Without the process of human factors analysis, the solution would have wound up less comfortable, or less usable; at a minimum, it would have been less tailored to the needs of our target audience. Only by actual testing and iterating early in the process while making fundamental product definition decisions by working with real people, the kinds of people we hoped to one day sell our product to—could we have made something that stood a chance of succeeding in the real world. You can think of human factors analysis, then, as a collaboration—the customer and designer guiding the engineering, working together to bring forth a product that could never have existed otherwise. Calibre Biometrics develops a fitness tracker that delivers metrics directly to a phone. https://calibrebio.com Design 1st is an Ottawa-based fullservice design and engineering company. https://design1st.com/
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FEATURE
Keeping healthcare designs healthy
Protecting portable medical devices in the age of connectedness BY ROGER BOHANNAN, LITTELFUSE
Connected healthcare – portable medical devices and IoT.
Healthcare has benefitted tremendously from advances in electronic and communication technologies. IoT communications technology and advancements in semiconductor electronics have resulted in compact, lightweight, wearable medical devices connected to the Internet. Personal wearable and connected instruments allow continuous monitoring, greater individual awareness of existing health conditions, automated administration of tests and medication and instant access to medical care personnel. The challenge in developing these products is ensuring high reliability, as they must function on a 24/7 basis. The designer needs help minimizing product size and maximizing battery life efficiency while ensuring robustness from electrical hazards. Wearable health monitors provide activity reminders, data 12
on exercise, and some health parameters. For example, an IoT-based smart wearable device includes critical circuitry where designers can improve ruggedness and reliability with the recommended technologies. The circuitry that benefits from these improvements includes the wireless charger, battery pack, touchscreen display and user interface. The Wireless Charger provides current to charge the battery and gets power from a USB-C source that can generate up to 20Vdc and 5Vac. A failure in the charger can result in substantial overcurrent. An overcurrent protection device, such as a fuse or a polymer positive temperature coefficient (PPTC) resettable fuse, can ensure the necessary overcurrent protection.
ESD damages devices
Electrostatic discharge (ESD) can severely damage devices
ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS & TECHNOLOGY / November/December 2023
unless they have overvoltage protection. Transient voltage suppressor (TVS) diodes can provide overvoltage protection by clamping the transient voltage at a safe level and absorbing the current surge, which can be in the kA range. While multiple components can provide protection, protection ICs combine overcurrent protection, overvoltage protection, overtemperature protection, and other protection modes.
High density connector
USB Type-C is a high-density, multi-pin connector with narrow pin spacing, which can subject the connector to shorts due to dust and dirt, reducing the insulation resistance between pins. Digital temperature indicators protect USB cables from damage due to shorted pins.
Battery pack protection
A Lithium-ion battery pack
powers the health monitor. Current overloads can cause the battery to overheat and fail. A fast-acting PPTC resettable fuse is an excellent option. Types of PPTC fuses can switch to a very high resistance state in a second or less in the event of an overcurrent of two to 10 times the rated hold current. Power dissipation through the PPTC is around 0.5W to minimize power consumption. The fuse is small, (1.5 x 0.8mm), space-saving, surface mount package. The touchscreen display is the user interface to the health monitor’s functional controls and analytics information. ESD, primarily from human contact, can damage the touchscreen’s functionality and make the health monitor inoperative. TVS diodes can help prevent failure due to ESD.Various types of TVS diodes can absorb as much as a 30kV discharge from contact through a user.These components can have low leakage current, typically less than 0.5µA, to minimize the current draw on the battery. TVS diode models, available in small 0201 surface mount packages, can have parallel capacitance as low as 15pF to not impact the integrity of digital signal lines. For safety certification, ensure the TVS diode complies with IEC 61000-4-2 for ESD protection. The User Interface Button allows the user to control the functions of the health monitor. Switches with protection from moisture and long operating life can ensure a reliable health monitor. Look for switches that offer at least IP67 protection from the environment. Employing the recommended components can help protect the health monitor from electrical hazards. It only takes a few components to ensure a robust design for a wearable health monitor.
Protecting a hearing aid
Hearing aids must also be robust and reliable, therefore circuit protection and efficient control should improve product reliability. The Volume Control and EPT.CA
Photo: Littelfuse
MEDICAL ELECTRONICS
Pushbutton should include long-life switches protected from the external environment. Designers have several options for switching styles. Protecting USB interfaces from ESD requires TVS diodes as recommended for the health monitor touchscreen circuit. Use two diode TVS in an anode-to-anode connection for bi-directional protection on the USB data lines. Some TVS diodes have an ultra-small 01005 flipchip package. The main power for the hearing aid comes from the USB Type-C port, which provides the battery charging current. A simplified alternative for the protection of the USB interface is a PPTC resettable fuse, which equips the hearing aid with overcurrent protection. While a PPTC fuse only provides overcurrent protection, it has the benefit of consuming a small amount of pcb space and minimal battery power. Versions of PPTC resettable fuses come in 0402 surface mount enclosures and can have resistances in
Smart health wearable monitor only delivers benefits if it functions reliably.
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WEARABLES
FEATURE
Smart exoskeletons ensure workplace safety German Bionic design provides wearable tools, ergonomic data insights
Q. How does German Bionic’s approach differ from other exoskeleton technologies?
Our approach combines active, AI-powered assistance with full connectivity to support lifting movements and walking. Unlike passive exoskeleton systems where the energy first needs to be provided by the users and stored in order to be ready to be released when needed, our active system gives the wearer extra energy by using the power of batteries and robotics motors to amplify the wearer’s own movements. Data collected by the various integrated sensors allows data-driven insights to be continuously gained and used to keep 14
improving and individualizing the user experience while also providing the foundation for AI-based learning.
Q. How do the smart power suits create safer environments?
The latest generation of exoskeletons – which includes the Apogee for deployment in logistics, construction, manufacturing and other industrial environments, and the Apogee+ designed specifically for use by caregivers – provides users with 66lbs (30 kg) of assistance per lifting movement as well as active walking support. Over the course of a day, it is not unusual for our exoskeletons to have taken several tons of weight off the backs of those working in physically demanding jobs. Incidentally, the figures on the amount of compensated weight and other figures are reported to the user on the screen at the end of each shift, meaning users always remain aware of just how much assistance they are receiving.
Q. What are the key features that make them ‘smart’?
At the heart of our innovations is the groundbreaking cloud-based German Bionic IO platform. The system collects data from our exoskeletons in real time, then intelligently analyzes it, applying machine learning and AI to continuously learn and enhance safety effectiveness with the wearer’s every movement. It enables risks and trends to be identified in real time and also facilitates the pinpointing of process optimizations custom to the working environment, just to name two examples. With the integrated Smart Safety Companion early warning system for ergonomics – which alerts, for example, of instances of poor posture, incorrect lifting and excessive strain – the
ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS & TECHNOLOGY / November/December 2023
German Bionics’ power suits provide mechanical support for lifting and carrying, using a smart assistance system.
platform provides comprehensive monitoring and reporting functions, as well as individualized recommendations for action based on real, relevant data. Our smart system therefore not only makes occupational health and safety measurable, it also makes it visible.
Q. How do you strike a balance between technology assistance and user’s natural movements?
The person wearing our exoskeleton is always in charge, and our technology is designed to merely amplify their natural movements. What sets our tech apart is the advanced, fully-connected system that enables it to learn and adapt to the specific movements of each individual user. This level of personalization is unique to our technology. By continuously gathering and analyzing data, our AI-driven system optimizes the exoskeleton’s performance to align seamlessly with the user’s natural biomechanics. This personalized approach not only enhances user comfort and easy adoption, but also maximizes productivity and safety. EPT.CA
Photo: German Bionic
According to the World Health Organization, musculoskeletal disorders (MSDs) affect around 1.71-billion people globally and are the leading contributor to disability worldwide, with low back pain being the single biggest cause. Repeated heavy lifting is an activity that places considerable strain on the musculoskeletal system, which can lead to the development of MSDs. Enter German Bionic, Europe’s first manufacturer to develop smart exoskeletons that provide wearable tools and ergonomic data insights for workplace safety. For this article, EP&T interviews Armin Schmidt, CEO and founder of German Bionic, a serial entrepreneur in the field of cloud-based products and services. As co-founder and CEO, Schmidt oversees the development of the firm’s smart ‘power suits’ that provide mechanical support for lifting and carrying, and use a smart assistance system to alert users, for example, of instances of incorrect lifting or when they should take a break.
Q. How do the wearable exoskeletons blend comfort and functionality?
Comfort is absolutely crucial for ensuring maximum user take-up of wearable devices. This year’s introduction of our Apogee and Apogee+ models represents the release of our sixth exosuit generation. With each iteration, the user experience has been significantly enhanced. Besides the obvious improvements to the physical design – with lower weight, slimmer form, a new vest and fasteners as well as an ingenious floating back connector, many things that have a big impact on blending comfort and functionality are found in the software and control system and therefore not apparent at first glance. Thanks to being fully connected, we have access to data from hundreds of thousands of hours during which our exoskeletons have been in operation in real work environments. This mass of data matched with AI provides the foundation for continuous improvements and also enables the devices to actually adapt to the individual user.
Q. What steps were taken to ensure industry adoption for this know-how?
While exoskeletons in industrial settings may have been a relatively rare sight just a few years ago, today the word is out. Contributing to this has been the speed at which the products have developed, the level of market education, and, of course, a more competitive price point. German Bionic has been instrumental in every step of this development. Since its origins in a research project more than a decade ago and its establishment as a company in 2017, we have seen the interest in and awareness for the German Bionic solutions increase massively across a diverse range of sectors. In fact, it is also one of the reasons why we recently introduced a model dedicated to the needs of caregivers, the Apogee+. While there still might be a need for more education in certain areas, developments like labor shortages and demographic shifts are also increasingly elevating demand for our exoskeletons.
by the sensors in our Apogee and Apogee+ exosuits is analyzed in real time by the cloudbased platform and can recognize the types of tasks being conducted. And thirdly, the data-based insights gained from new tasks and activities can be exploited to develop new functionalities that can then even be uploaded to the devices OTA.
Q. How do you address data security and privacy concerns?
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Q. Can these products be customized to adapt to specific job function?
Yes, that’s a crucial question and one that we attach tremendous importance to. Besides having different leg and chest pieces in sizes ranging from S-XXL, the German Bionic exoskeletons have one special advantage over other types: As mentioned earlier, our power suits are smart and fully connected. This supports flexibility on several levels. First, it means the device knows who is wearing it and how the individual person lifts – along with his or her general preferences and setting. Second, the data collected
Europe has some of the most stringent regulations in this regard with the adoption of the GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) in 2016 . Our devices are fully GDPR compliant by design. The data collected by the device is not attributable to an individual person, therefore no data security or privacy issues exist. https://germanbionic.com/en
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MEDICAL ELECTRONICS
FEATURE
Safety in medical equipment starts with power input
Power feed
Medical devices can be connected directly to the mains or with a detachable power cord. Such plug connections must meet the requirements of Standard IEC 60320. Depending on the application, it is recommended to include a mechanism to protect against any unintentional removal of the plug from the equipment’s power socket. The most common type of protection against inadvertent disconnection is a cord retaining bracket.
Fuse holders
Permanently installed medical electrical equipment comes with its own fuses. If there is a failure in a piece of equipment, a fuse prevents that unit from tripping the circuit breaker and disconnecting other, sometimes life-critical devices, from the mains. Equipment manufacturers must ensure that energized 16
supply leads are protected by a fuse. A few power distribution networks, however, are not polarized. That means that the power plug can be inserted in such a way that the energized conductor can be on either the plug’s left or right pole. As a result, the equipment fuse could be protecting the neutral conductor, which results in no protection against a short circuit to earth. Therefore, it is recommended that all medical electrical equipment be equipped with a double-pole fuse holder. It must further be ensured that only authorized personnel can remove or replace fuses. The line switch at the power feed has an important function. Just as with fuse holders, it must be ensured that the equipment is completely disconnected from the power network after being turned off. If only one pole in a non-polarized power distribution network is interrupted, the equipment could still be live. Thus, it is preferable to use a switch that disconnects the power feed on two poles.
Power-line filters
The power-line filter is a central protective element. It protects the equipment from external HF interference and reduces the HF interference radiated by the equipment. A power-line filter is often necessary to fulfill the EMC standards for CE declaration of conformity. Because power-line filters can be under constant voltage, they are subject to strict requirements. Y Capacitors produce a leakage current to earth whose value depends on the component’s capacitance and the power-line frequency. This fault current can, if too large, trigger the fault
ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS & TECHNOLOGY / November/December 2023
interrupter whereby the power supply is shut off. Thus, touch leakage current for medical electrical equipment may not exceed 100µA under normal conditions, and for devices with direct patient contact, it even drops down to just 10µA.
Capacitors
The capacitors used in power-line filters must meet strict criteria. They are wired directly between the energized conductors (X capacitors) or between the energized conductors and earth (Y capacitors). Common equipment standards such as IEC 60950 (IT equipment) require that capacitors between a phase conductor and the neutral conductor be at least Class X2, and capacitors between phases/ neutral and the earth conductor be at least Class Y2. For medical electrical equipment without direct patient contact (MOOP), Class Y2 capacitors to earth are sufficient; for equipment with direct patient contact (MOPP), Y1 capacitors are required. (See IEC 60601-1: 8.5.1.) Capacitors store energy corresponding to their value of capacitance. If you pull a power cable out of a power socket, the stored voltage from the X capacitors is still present on the power pins. Increased dielectric strength is required for medical applications. An important safety aspect for achieving high dielectric strength consists of the distances between voltages. The base standard for medical electrical equipment, IEC/ UL 60601-1, specifies air and creepage distances of at least 3mm between energized parts of different polarities and 4mm between energized conductors
and earth. Care is required here because various UL standards allow a smaller separation in these distances than does the IEC standards. A power socket compliant with IEC 60320 fulfills medical requirements, while sockets compliant with UL 498 do not have sufficient air and creepage distances to meet the requirements of IEC. The UL 498 standard for plugs and sockets specifies only a 1.2mm separation between energized parts of different polarities at a rated voltage of 250Vac max. In contrast, for the same components, IEC 60320 requires 3mm as does the base standard for medical electrical equipment. As a safety test, the base standard for medical electrical equipment specifies a high-voltage test of 1.5kVac between L and N, as well as between L/N and earth (PE). To PE, the 1.5kVac corresponds to the values of the filter standard and can be met without any problem. However, a filter between L and N should not be tested with 1.5kVac because its capacitors could be damaged. Therefore, here IEC/UL 60601-1 makes an exception for interference suppression capacitors, which can be removed for a high-voltage test if they have been tested to IEC 60384-14. https://www.schurter.com This article was written by Schurter Inc., a Swiss multinational manufacturer of electrical & electronic components. EPT.CA
Photo: Schurter
It is imperative that medical equipment does not pose any danger to patients or medical staff. A piece of equipment that causes a short circuit or residual current can trigger a protective system upstream and in doing so shut down other, possibly life sustaining, equipment. Thus, it is necessary to pay special attention to how each unit is supplied with power. Connectors and power entry modules used in the equipment are tested to component standards and if in compliance with these standards can generally be used in most equipment without additional testing. This is especially true for medical equipment, where extensive requirements regarding safety are in effect.
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SEALED ANTI-VANDAL PUSHBUTTON SWITCHES OFFER LED OPTIONS
CARLING TECHNOLOGIES AVH-Series sealed anti-vandal pushbutton switches are available with dependent LED illumination, which can be configured in one of two ways. The first is to have the ring-style LED on whenever the specified output is on. The second is to have the LED on whenever the mechanical latching switch is on. Devices are suitable for use in security panels, public transit systems, traffic signals, emergency phones, industrial controls, and marine and outdoor applications. https://www.carlingtech.com/ pushbutton-switches-av-avh-series
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INDUSTRIAL STT-MRAM DELIVERS 4MB CAPACITY
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MODULARIZED DATA ACQUISITION SYSTEM COMES WITH 3 SLOTS
GWINSTEK DAQ-9600 Data Acquisition System is modularized, customizable with flexibility and precise performance. A built-in precision 6 1/2 digital DMM is the core of the unit, while the mainframe can receive up to three optional modules to match datalogging needs by choosing appropriate collection modules that make data-gathering simple, fast and reliable. Five module choices can meet tasks in R&D, product perfor-
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ILLUMINATED PUSHBUTTON SWITCH HAS IP66 RATING
E SWITCH PB66 Series illuminated pushbutton switch with an IP66 rating is easy to operate and protected against dust and strong jets of water. Illuminated and non-illuminated options are available, and it also comes with a laser etched power symbol on the round actuator. https://www.e-switch.com Visit ept.ca for the latest new products, news and industry events. EPT.CA
SUPPLY SIDE AMAZON ENTERS SUPPLY CHAIN ARENA
Global e-commerce giant Amazon has unveiled Supply Chain by Amazon, an endto-end, fully automated set of supply chain services that provide sellers with a complete solution to move products directly from their manufacturers to customers around the world. The new platform enables sellers to benefit from Amazon’s advanced logistics, fulfillment, and transportation capabilities
to keep products in stock, ship faster and more reliably, and significantly lower costs. With Supply Chain by Amazon, the firm will pick up inventory from manufacturing facilities around the world, ship it across
borders, handle customs clearance and ground transportation, store inventory in bulk, manage replenishment across Amazon and other sales channels, and deliver directly to customers. Sellers can now focus on building great products for their customers and growing their business, while Amazon handles the logistics, reduces costs, and improves delivery speed.
SAMTEC OPENS CABLE, CONNECTOR FACILITY
Samtec Inc. recently opened a new manufacturing facility in Royersford PA that will specialize in the production of coaxial cables and RF connectors, serving such industries as aerospace/defense, medical device, datacom, automotive, computer semiconductor, instrumentation, and consumer electronics. The state-of-the-art facility joins more than 40 other global locations. The 24,000-square-foot property is developing next-generation precision RF cable assemblies that deliver improved stability and flexure over time and address common industry concerns of phase length, delay, loss, and shielding effectiveness.
AMD has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Nod.ai, providers of open AI software. The addition of Nod.ai will bring an experienced team that has developed an industry-leading software technology that accelerates the deployment of AI solutions optimized for AMD Instinct data center accelerators, Ryzen AI processors, EPYC processors, Versal SoCs and Radeon GPUs to AMD. The agreement strongly aligns with the AMD AI growth strategy centered on an open software ecosystem that lowers the barriers of entry for customers through developer tools, libraries and models. “The addition of the Nod.ai team accelerates our ability to advance open-source compiler technology and enable portable, high-performance AI solutions across the AMD product portfolio,” said Vamsi Boppana, senior VP, AI group at AMD. “Nod. ai’s technologies are already widely deployed in the cloud, at the edge and across a broad range of end point devices today.” 20 EP&T-THiNK ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS & TECHNOLOGY /1 November/December 2023 BCCR_Micro 1-2isle_11-23rev_p.indd EPT_EMX_NovDec23.indd 1
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EPT.CA
Photo: Amazon; Samtec
AMD TO ACQUIRE OPEN-SOURCE AI SOFTWARE EXPERT NOD.AI
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DEVELOPMENT BOARDS Pico Series Compact Development Platform VENDOR: RASPBERRY PI PICO SERIES COMPACT DEVELOPMENT PLATFORM
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The Raspberry Pi Pico’s compact size and powerful microcontroller lends itself to a wide range of applications, including lighting displays, robotics, wireless sensor networks, and home and industrial automation.
Features
• 40 pin 21mm × 51mm DIP-style 1mm thick pcb with 0.1” through-hole pins and edge castellations • RP2040 microcontroller chip • Dual-core Arm Cortex M0+ processor, flexible clock running up to 133MHz • 264 kB of SRAM and 2MB of on-board flash memory • Micro USB B port for power and data • Low-power sleep and dormant modes • Drag-and-drop programming using mass storage over USB • 26x multi-function GPIO pins • 2x SPI, 2x I2C, 2x UART, 3x 12-bit ADC, and 16x controllable PWM channels • Accurate clock and timer on-chip • 3-pin Arm Serial Wire Debug (SWD) port • Temperature sensor
22 ELECTRONIC PRODUCTS & TECHNOLOGY / November/December 2023
• Accelerated floating-point libraries on-chip • 8x Programmable I/O (PIO) state machines for custom peripheral support • Pico W only • Wireless (802.11n), single-band (2.4GHz) • WPA3 • Soft access point supporting up to four clients
Photo: Raspberry Pi
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