New products roundup: EM, passives, and RF

Here is this week’s roundup of new products, including a range of electromechanical (EM) and passive devices. Listed in alphabetical order by company name, new products include antennas, EMC filters, flash memory, inductors, signal relays, slide switches, power switches, and sensors. In other news, we cover acquisitions, strategic alliances, and VC investments.

C&K slide switches. Click for a larger image. (Source: C&K)

C&K, now a part of Littelfuse Inc., has added a gold-plating option, in addition to the silver plating, to several slide switch product families. These include the miniature AYZ Series, sub-miniature JS Series, and sub-miniature surface-mount PCM Series slide switches. The gold plating offers a decreased risk of electrical short circuits due to the age of plating with dendrite growth caused by silver migration and are suited for low-level ratings or dry circuits. The slide switches can be used in high or ultra-low current applications. These switches can be used in a range of applications from home fire alarm systems to industrial power management systems.

Cosel AEA800F series power supplies. Click for a larger image. (Source: Cosel)

Cosel Co., Ltd. has extended its AEA series of power supplies for industrial and medical applications with the 800-W model. The AEA800F series of 800-W free-air convection cooling power supplies can deliver 300% peak power for a period of up to 3,000 milliseconds. Designed for applications requiring a high level of safety, the AEA800F is certified according to the EN62477-1 (OVC III) standard for industrial applications and is approved in accordance with ANSI/AAMI ES60601-1, and EN60601-1 3rd Edition for medical applications. The AEA800F is suitable for Body Floating (BF) applications and complies with 2MOPP (IN/OUT) and 1MOPP (OUT/FG) safety requirement. Key specs include an input-to-output isolation of 4,000 VAC, input-to-ground (FG) of 2,000 VAC, output-to-ground (FG) of 1,500 VAC, and an input voltage range of 85 to 264 VAC. Three output voltages are available: 24 V, 36 V and 48 V with respective current ratings of 34 A (peak 72.5), 22.7 A (peak 48.4A), and 17 A (peak 36.3A). Output voltage can be adjusted using a built-in potentiometer. The power supply can be connected in parallel up to six units.

CUI Devices signal relays. Click for a larger image. (Source: CUI Devices)

CUI Devices’ Relays Group has unveiled its first line of signal relays. These low-signal relays offer max switching currents of 2 A or 3 A in SPDT (1 Form C) or DPDT (2 Form C) contact forms, targeting low-level current switching in industrial applications, security devices, and test and measurement equipment. Key features include contact ratings of 120/125 Vac or 24/30 Vdc at 1 A, AuAg overlay contact material, and max switching voltages of 120/125/220 Vac or 24/30/60 Vdc. They are housed in packages as small as 10.2 × 7.4 × 10 mm with carrying coil power ratings from 150 to 450 mW and coil voltages from 3 to 24 V. The signal relays are available immediately with prices starting at $0.84 per unit at 100 pieces through distribution.  Contact CUI Devices for OEM pricing. Lead time is from stock to eight weeks.

Dewesoft DewesoftX DAQ software. Click for a larger image. (Source: Dewesoft)

Dewesoft has released a major upgrade to its DewesoftX DAQ software. This new version is a free upgrade, adding several new capabilities. These include giving test engineers the ability to run a second instance of the software and open a data file that is being written, which is important during long-duration testing; a new dedicated visual control for the Orbit analysis module, a customizable status toolbar, and an upgraded GPU-accelerated power module with a 15 MS/s sampling rate. The upgrade also delivers a new graphical engine for smoother graphics and optimized performance along with several new features, including the ability to change the thickness of data lines on graphs, which improves the look and legibility of measured data. Click here for more information about DewesoftX 2022.3 and to upgrade the software.

Kioxia e-MMC flash memory. Click for a larger image. (Source: Kioxia)

Kioxia America, Inc. has started to sample the latest generation of its JEDEC e-MMC Ver. 5.1-compliant embedded flash memory products for consumer applications. The new products are available in capacities of 64 and 128 gigabytes (GB) and integrate the company’s BiCS FLASH 3D flash memory and a controller in a single package. The new generation of BiCS FLASH 3D flash memory-based e-MMC offers an improved architecture that reduces internal write amplification and achieves more stable sequential write performance, pre-programmed user data with higher reliability, a reduced idle to auto-sleep time (by 100× compared to the existing generation) to extend battery life, and faster performance by accessing multiple dies inside the device. It supports the JEDEC eMMC 5.1 standard with the fastest interface speed (HS400). Kioxia’s lineup of e-MMC and UFS solutions offers a wide range of densities from 4 GB-1 TB. General availability is expected in October.

L-Com SRWQ series sensor. Click for a larger image. (Source: L-Com)

L-com, an Infinite Electronics brand, has expanded its line of sensors for IoT applications. The new IoT sensors offer pinpoint accuracy in measuring pressure, temperature, humidity, dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, pH, chlorine, and turbidity. These include pressure and temperature sensors that feature a micro-fused silicon strain gauge, a leak-free elastomer structure, integrated temperature compensation, independent pressure and temperature outputs, and resistance to shock, overload, and vibration. Applications include industrial process and control, automated detection, hydraulic and full-motion control, pumping stations and water treatment systems. The company also added more than two dozen new temperature sensors. Some feature a sensitive platinum resistance element inside a 316L stainless steel probe, a laser-welded housing that is compatible with both gas and liquids, and infrared sensors. The temperature and humidity sensors include a duct-mount model for air stream measurements, and two wall-mount sensors with a RS-485/Modbus RTU output. The new SRWQ series offers five new sensors for gauging dissolved oxygen, electrical conductivity, pH, residual chlorine, and turbidity. The IoT sensors are in-stock and available for immediate shipment.

NXP NCJ37x secure element. Click for a larger image. (Source: NXP Semiconductors)

NXP Semiconductors has introduced its first automotive-qualified secure element (SE) with NFC and wired interfaces for smart fobs in keyless entry and other security-critical applications. The NCJ37x secure element is a secure microcontroller with advanced cryptographic accelerators and physical built-in electrical attack resistance for a variety of security-critical automotive applications such as smart access key fobs, Qi 1.3 authentication or car-to-cloud communication. The device supports the protocols from the Car Connectivity Consortium (CCC) and its passive NFC ISO 14443-4 interface. It also meets the needs of next-generation smart fobs combining ultra-wideband (UWB), Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE), and passive near field communication (NFC) technologies. Other features include the Java Card Operating System (JCOP), Trust Provisioning service, and secure over-the-air updatability. The NXP NCJ37x Secure Element works with NXP’s NCJ38x car-side secure element and corresponding secure applets. “The passive, or powered-by-the-field, NFC interface is convenient as a backup if the fob battery is drained,” said NXP, and “with 600 kb of secure flash it provides sufficient memory to allow a multi-service approach considering several active security domains and apps on the device.”

Omnivision OG0TB BSI GS image sensor. Click for a larger image. (Source: Omnivision)

Omnivision has claimed the industry’s first and only three-layer stacked BSI global shutter (GS) image sensor and the smallest image sensor for eye and face tracking in AR/VR/MR and metaverse consumer devices. The OG0TB BSI GS image sensor features a package size of 1.64 × 1.64 mm, a 2.2-µm pixel in a 1/14.46-inch optical format (OF), and a 400 × 400 resolution. The CMOS image sensor also offers ultra-low-power consumption, making it suited for the smallest and lightest battery-powered wearables, such as eye goggles and glasses. The image sensor consumes less than 7.2 mW at 30 frames per second (fps). It features the company’s Nyxel technology for high quantum efficiency (QE) at the 940-nm NIR wavelength for sharp images of moving objects and the PureCel Plus-S stacked-die technology. It supports several interfaces including MIPI with multi-drop, CPHY, and SPI. The OG0TB GS image sensor will be available for sampling in Q3 2022 and in mass production in the 2H 2023.

RangeAnt MAX antenna. Click for a larger image. (Source: RangeAnt)

RangeAnt, a specialist in wideband antennas for embedded applications, has announced its MAX family of multi-protocol 700-MHz to 3000-MHz antennas. These antennas are designed primarily for cellular, IoT, and GNSS application with a free-space efficiency of between 80 and 90%, and a VSWR below 2:1 across the operating bands. The high efficiency provides greater range for the available transmitter power and improved receiver performance, or where reducing energy consumption is a priority, such as in IoT applications, lower transmitter power can be used for a given link range, said RangeAnt. The MAX antennas are suitable for use with Bluetooth, Zigbee, Sub-GHz, LPWAN (LoRa, Sigfox, Weightless), Wi-Fi, and cellular (2G, 3G, 4G/LTE and NB-IoT) wireless protocols, and GPS/GNSS reception for global markets. The antennas don’t require a separate ground plane, delivering greater design flexibility, without compromising reliability or signal quality, said the company. The omnidirectional antennas function as a monopole up to 1,600 MHz and a dipole above this frequency. They are designed for a 50-ohm match in free space but when packaged in a wireless module or system, maintaining optimum efficiency may require additional matching components, according to the company. The antenna board includes pads for installing surface-mount matching components, if needed, and guidance is available on suitable matching networks and matching services for specific applications. The antennas are now available from stock at Digi-Key Electronics.

Schurter FMAB NEO single-phase EMC filter. Click for a larger image. (Source: Schurter)

Schurter has developed its  FMAB NEO single-phase EMC filter series for Protection Class II applications. The double-insulated Class II series meets the more stringent requirements for critical medical systems and at-home medical care devices according to IEC 60601-1-11 & 12. These requirements include increased insulation safety testing, lower leakage current, and higher attenuation performance of electro-magnetic interferences, particularly symmetrical attenuation. The term Protection Class II is also referred to as protective insulation according to IEC 61140, which is defined as protection by doubling or reinforcing insulation of live parts, said Schurter. The new FMAB NEO for Class II meets all these requirements with reinforced insulation inside of the filter and large plastic collars around the terminals. They are rated 1-20 A at 250 VAC according to IEC and 125/250 VAC according to UL. In addition, the filters are hi-pot tested with 4 kVAC between L or N against the metal housing for a dielectric strength of >5.6 kVDC, according to the requirements of IEC 60601-1. Leakage current ratings of 5 µA are available. Other applications include industrial equipment, laboratories, telecom apparatus, audio/video, and office equipment. Pricing starts at $9.16 each in quantities of 500.

STMicroelectronics IPS1025HF high-side power switch. Click for a larger image. (Source: STMicroelectronics)

STMicroelectronics has released a fast-starting load switch for safety systems. The IPS1025HF high-side power switch is designed for safety systems that require minimal power-on delay time. The IPS1025HF responds to turn-on and turn-off signals in less than 60 µs even considering the Vcc power-on and off, said ST. This enables protective systems to ensure a specified safety-integrity level (SIL). The device features a wide input-voltage range from 8.65 V to 60 V and can tolerate up to 65 V on the input pin. Applications include power control for programmable logic controllers (PLCs), vending machines, factory-automation I/O peripherals, and computer numerical control (CNC) machines. The IPS1025HF offers two programmable current-limit settings that allow the user to program a higher current limitation value at power switch activation for greater flexibility for driving loads such as bulb lamps, motors, and capacitive loads that need high initial peak current. The output stage is a N-channel power MOSFET with a typical Rds(on) of 12.5 mOhm at ambient temperature and the MOSFET is internally limited at 2.5 A minimum output current with a single-pulse avalanche energy up to 14J, which boosts reliability for handling inductive loads. The switch includes protection against undervoltage, overvoltage, overload, short circuit, ground disconnection, and Vcc disconnection as well as an integrated active clamp for fast demagnetization. On-chip diagnostics include individual signaling of output overload and junction overtemperature and there is an extra thermal sensor to detect excessive case temperature. The device is designed to meet IEC 61000-4-2 ESD, IEC 61000-4-4, and IEC 61000-4-5 specifications for ESD, fast-transient, and surge immunity. The IPS1025HF, available in both PowerSSO-24 and QFN48L packages, is priced from $3.51 in quantities of 1000. ST also provides the X-NUCLEO-OUT15A1 expansion board, a demonstration firmware pack (STSW-OUT15F4), and an industrial-automation system design GUI (STSW-IFAPGUI).

Vishay IHSR-6767GZ-5A inductor. Click for a larger image. (Source: Vishay Intertechnology)

Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. has launched its first AEC-Q200-qualified IHSR high-temperature inductor with current ratings up to 155 A in the 6767 case size (19 × 17.1 × 7.0 mm). These inductors are used for multi-phase, high-current power supplies and input/output filters in automotive under the hood and ADAS applications. The Vishay Dale IHSR-6767GZ-5A offers a 50% reduction in DCR over typical power inductors and a smaller size than similar ferrite-based solutions, said Vishay. It is optimized for energy storage in DC/DC converters up to 5 MHz and high-current filtering applications. With its high operating temperature up to 155°C, the device is also suited for filtering and DC/DC conversion in ADAS and LiDAR microprocessors, 12 V /48 V vacuumless braking systems, OBCs, and brushless DC electric motors up to 140 A. “For these applications, the IHSR-6767GZ-5A’s low typical DCR of 0.24 mΩ and inductance of 0.22 µH allow for higher current density than competing technologies, with no hard saturation and more stable inductance and saturation over the entire operating temperature range,” said Vishay. Samples and production quantities are available now, with lead times of 16 weeks. Pricing for U.S. delivery is $2.75 each in 200-piece quantities.

Other new products covered this week include the following:

SiLC extends vision sensor range to 1 km

Nordic unveils its first Wi-Fi chip

PI adds high-current automotive switcher IC

Power supply converters deliver higher power

High-power fuse targets EV/HEV applications

Skyworks releases timing solutions for 5G

Voltage detector delivers high accuracy

In other component news, Renesas Electronics Corp. has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Steradian Semiconductors Private Limited, a fabless semiconductor company based in Bengaluru, India. The acquisition is expected to expand the company’s reach in the radar market, bolstering its automotive and industrial sensing portfolios. Steradian provides 4D imaging radar solutions. In an all-cash transaction, the acquisition is expected to close by the end of 2022.

Startup Somalytics Inc. has received seed funding of $1.9 million to launch mass production of its miniature paper sensors. Claimed as the smallest nano-based capacitive sensor, these carbon-nanotube paper composite (CPC) capacitive sensors establish a new sensor category, said the company, and “feel” human presence at greater distances. The new eye, gesture, touch, and fluid monitoring sensor technology is expected to transform several market applications such as eye tracking, consumer electronics, wellness monitoring, safety applications, the internet of things, health and wellness, and transportation. The funding was led by investment firm IP Group Inc. with support from WRF Capital. IP Group provided the initial investment for Somalytics to spinout the company from CoMotion, the University of Washington’s collaborative innovation hub. The company expects to begin mass production of the CPC capacitive sensors before the end of the year at its new headquarters and manufacturing facility in Redmond, Washington.

Imperas Software Ltd. has entered into a strategic alliance with Intel to support the Intel Pathfinder for RISC-V. Imperas has designed an integrated reference model and simulator as a fixed platform kit to support the growing ecosystem of RISC V. Models are now included as a fixed virtual platform as part of the Intel Pathfinder for RISC-V Professional Edition. The Imperas simulator with proprietary just-in-time code-morphing simulation technology can be integrated in other standard EDA environments such as SystemC, SystemVerilog, and simulation/emulation tools from Cadence, Siemens EDA, and Synopsys plus the cloud-based offering from Metrics Technologies. Imperas RISC-V reference models for many commercial RISC V processor cores are also available via approved EDA distribution partners.

element14, an Avnet Community, has opened submissions for a chance to win PiMassive, a larger-than-life replica Raspberry Pi, which can be displayed as wall art. PiMassive, measuring 20 × 32 inches and weighing 13.9 lbs., was created by Wesley Gardner for the element14 PiCasso Design Challenge, and was completed in 2019 after 440 hours of 3D printing, CNC work, and painting. Submissions can be made in the comment section of the PiMassive Contest Site. Element14 also has launched the Sensor Fusion competition as part of its Summer of Sensors program. Participants will receive a free hardware evaluation kit by AMD-Xilinx to experiment with sensor fusion. Visit here for more details