Cissoid Unveils Vesuvio Buck Converters

Cissoid has launched its Vesuvio technology, which implements buck (step-down) DC-DC converters operating with high efficiency from -55C to +225C. Based on Cissoid’s two-chip set Magma-Hyperion and power transistors, the Vesuvio technology includes a reference design and a demonstration board. Vesuvio can step input voltages from 6V to 30V down to an output voltage adjustable from 1.2V up to 90 per cent of the input.

Vesuvio buck converters demonstrate efficiencies in excess of 90 per cent above 200C. When configured as synchronous DC-DC converter, it operates in continuous current mode (CCM) at a constant frequency, making ripple filtering easier for demanding sensor applications. Vesuvio technology uses the soft-start capability of Magma PWM controller to enable a smooth start-up.

The input voltage feed forward compensation makes it very robust to input voltage transient variations and provides a DC line regulation better than +/-1.5mV/V. The demonstration board is adjusted to a 5V output and is able to deliver up to 10W at 225C. The board is rated to 175C but can be tested higher for short periods of time. It is ideally shaped for test purposes with thermo-streamers.

Besides this example, Vesuvio technology can be used to build DC-DC buck converters with output voltages up to 27V delivering up to 50W. The reference design and its bill of material can be mapped onto high-temperature substrates and assembled in high reliability modules. Vesuvio technology is available for licensing and includes the reference design and its schematic, a demonstration board, data sheet and application note, as well as the bill of material.

Tensilica Announces Customisable Processor

Tensilica has introduced the Xtensa 8 customisable processor, the eighth generation of its low-power dataplane processor cores (DPUs). With power dissipation starting at just 12uW/MHz, the Xtensa 8 processor core starts at a size of just 15,000 gates and consumes less than 0.05mm2 in 40nm process technology. Designers using an Xtensa 8 DPU can select from an expanded library of pre-verified configuration options to get the exact functionality they need.

Enhancements in this new generation processor include pairs of 32-bit GPIO (general purpose input/outputs) and 32-bit Queue interfaces for direct connection to RTL (register transfer level) blocks, and a low-area, double-precision floating-point accelerator. As the Xtensa 8 processor core can be customised, designers have a wide range of choices available to meet area, power and performance requirements. Full synthesis scripts are provided for all major EDA vendors allowing designers to target their favourite libraries and processes.

A typical small configuration consumes 17uW/MHz of power while occupying 0.046mm2 in TSMC 40LP process technology. That same configuration, synthesised for maximum performance in the same process technology, can run up to 540MHz and still only consumes 25uW/MHz of power with an area of 0.074mm2. The Xtensa 8 processor core can be customised with configuration check-box options that provide control and data input/output capabilities that entirely bypass the main system bus. This allows direct connectivity to blocks of RTL in the SOC, providing fine-grained, low-latency control of those hardware blocks.

These connections also allow Xtensa 8 DPUs to stream data to RTL blocks at much higher speeds to improve system performance. The 32-bit GPIO (general-purpose input output) interface provides 32-bit input and 32-bit output control and status information exchange, which is naturally accessed directly as registers from the processor’s regular instruction set. This interface is suitable for peripheral control and monitoring.

The 32-bit input and 32-bit output Queue interfaces operate like FIFO (first in, first out) interfaces, providing a high-bandwidth and low latency mechanism for streaming data to and from other blocks in the system or other Xtensa processors. To the programmer’s viewpoint, input and output queue data is register based for simple and quick access – there is no need to load or store the data before and after any computation.

Tensilica added a lightweight, double-precision floating-point acceleration (FPA) option. It is small in area, consumes less than 7K gates and helps speed up applications that require high-precision, low-bandwidth data operations, such as in motor control or GPS software stacks. This acceleration option is provided in addition to the existing single precision FPU (floating point unit) option.

Tensilica also added enhanced SOC infrastructure choices, including AMBA AHB-Lite and AXI bridges with asynchronous or synchronous clocks and synchronous/asynchronous reset capabilities. Tensilica’s Xtensa processor cores are completely backwards compatible, meaning that code written for the first-generation Xtensa processors will still run on the Xtensa 8 processor. This allows designers to quickly migrate to new versions in order to take advantage of the power savings, performance improvements and additional functionality.

Aimtec Introduces 30W AC/DC Converters

Aimtec has expanded its AC/DC product line from 5W and 15W to include 30W converters that offer the same combination of medical EN60601-1-2 safety certification at industrial prices. The AMExx30-MAZ(30W) series are available in five package types (encapsulated, open-frame screw terminal, enclosed screw terminal, open-frame connector and enclosed connector) and are designed with universal inputs of 90-260V AC, 47-440Hz or 120-370V DC for integration into a multitude of applications.

The AMExx30-MAZ series provides a combination of high I/O isolation of 4,000V AC (leakage current 150uA) within an industrial operating temperature range of -40C to +85C. Highly regulated, protected, isolated single- and dual-output ranges of 3.3-24V DC with ripple and noise as low as 50mV p-p and load regulation of +/-0.5 per cent (no minimum load required) make the AMExx30-MAZ series suitable for a wide range of applications.

These power supplies have passed the environmental shock and vibration tests in accordance to the parameters for passenger, commercial and industrial transportation applications. The high-grade galvanic isolation between input and output, in conjunction with internal circuit protections allow these power supplies to be configured for reverse polarity on the output and can be wired in series to create higher output voltages.

The 4,000V AC isolation protects the application from higher surges on the AC line voltage than standard power supply with just 3,000V AC. All Aimtec AC/DC converters meet the exacting safety standards of EN60601-1-2, EN55011 class B, IEC/EN 61000-3-2, -3-2 and IEC 61000-4-2, -4-1, -4-5, -4-6, -4-8, -4-11, for integration in a wide range of controlled, non-life-support medical and dental devices, instruments and equipment applications.

Excelsys Offers Power Modules For LED Lighting

Excelsys Technologies has announced it has a wide range of products available for industrial and architectural LED lighting applications. The constant current output LXC series and the LXV constant voltage series offer up to 300W of output power in compact, rugged IP67 enclosures. The LX series of LED power supplies offer up to 95 per cent efficiency, MTBF figures in excess of one million hours and an IP67 rating, making them suitable for harsh outdoor/indoor applications.

The constant current output LXC series is available with either 30W or 50W output power with efficiencies up to 88 per cent. Both models have universal input over the range 90-305V AC and an operating temperature range of -30C to +70C. The LXC series is protected against over voltage and short circuit and meets EN55015 level B for conducted and radiated emissions. Output currents available include 350mA, 450mA, 700mA, 1,000mA, 1,400mA, 2,100mA, 2,500mA and 3,000mA.

The LXV series of constant voltage LED power supplies is comprised of five models with output powers of 75W, 100W, 150W, 200W and 300W, with no minimum load and up to 95 per cent efficiency. All feature over-current, over-voltage, short-circuit and over-temperature protection and are rated to IP67. These models have an input voltage range of 90-305V AC.

All models meet EN55015 level B for conducted and radiated emissions as well as EN61000-4-5. A wide range of output voltages are available to suit specific LED requirements, these include 12, 24, 36, 42, 48, 54, 81 and 105V DC. All Excelsys LED power supplies carry full safety approvals to UL1310, EN61347-2-13 and are CE marked and RoHS compliant.

Excelsys will be increasing the range of both its constant voltage and constant power LED power supplies throughout 2009 and 2010 to provide high-quality, high-efficiency, IP67 power solutions for manufacturers of street lighting and architectural lighting installations. Typical applications for the LXC and LXV power supplies include outdoor applications such as street lighting, tunnel lighting, sign applications and architectural lighting solutions, as well as electrical brown and white goods.

Devlin Launches Industrial Keyboard

Devlin Electronics has announced the KFM-096 industrial keyboard, designed to be compact, suitable for use in confined and harsh working areas. Designed specifically for rugged industrial, factory and process control applications, the KFM-096 features a reduced footprint of 345 x 170 x 45mm, achieved without removing the function keys or number pad from the keyboard.

Also included are VESA mounting points, allowing the keyboard to be secured onto wall or equipment brackets. The KFM-096 meets IP65 and NEMA 4 certifications and is sealed against liquid and dust. The keyboard is suitable for use in a temperature range of 0 to 50C, and can be stored in temperatures from -20 to 60C. Foreign language and custom legend variants are available.

Dynaload XBLs Test Transient Load Conditions

The Dynaload division of TDI Power has developed a line of electronic loads that offers cutting-edge functionality at a competitive price. The Dynaload XBL series features 800, 2000, 4000 and 6000W models with a range of voltage inputs and sophisticated computer programming via GPIB, Ethernet or RS232. These units also feature an integrated web page for local system operation and control.

Individual models are available for specialised low-voltage high-current applications. High-voltage models up to 1000V are also available. Pulse rates of up to 3.5kHz with minimum pulse widths of 150us and high-speed programmable slew rates enable pulse shaping, making the XBL ideal for transient load condition testing. The XBL series is a reliable, precision controlled, high-speed load that has been developed to meet the needs of fuel-cell testing and dynamic testing for military and avionics DC supplies.

All models include easy configuration of master/slave parallel capabilities to extend the range of operation. Higher-power models incorporate variable-speed forced air cooling to ensure a quiet environment. Dynaload products are available exclusively in the UK from TTi Instrument Distribution.

Phihong Publishes Short-Form Catalog

The Phihong Technology Power Solutions catalogue lists the company’s products and provides information about the many global energy-efficiency regulations it aims to comply with. The catalogue features standard EISA and Energy Star EPS Version 2.0-compliant desktop, wall-mount, and interchangeable AC plug adapters; open-frame switch-mode power supplies for information technology and medical applications; LED drivers; IEEE802.3af and IEEE802.3at-compliant single- and multi-port PoE midspans and splitters; and Phihong’s new Ultra and Mega PoE midspans, which provide between 60 and 95W of power per port.

The catalogue also provides application information, complete with product suggestions and spec charts, for a number of OEM solutions, including lighting, personal electronics, network power and IP security, home entertainment and battery chargers. The global energy-efficiency regulations that Phihong strives to both comply with and exceed include the US Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 (EISA) and Energy Star EPS Version 2.0, as well as standards from Canada, the EU, Australia/New Zealand and Korea. The catalogue contains a comprehensive listing of the many safety agencies that Phihong works with.

Robust JC3000 Joystick Provides Finger-Tip Control

Penny and Giles has brought out the robust finger-tip JC3000 joystick controller, which is suitable for applications such as radio remote controls and general off-highway vehicle applications. The joystick comes with a range of user-defined features, enabling OEMs to integrate it with safe and reliable control systems.

The JC3000 joystick controller has been designed for applications requiring fingertip control, where strength and reliability are important. It is made mostly of cast metal components, providing a long operational life. It can be specified as a dual or single-axis controller and features optional mechanical detents in both axes, allowing operators to easily determine the angular position of the joystick lever.

The JC3000 is available with up to five switched outputs per half axis, or with an analogue potentiometer output with switched centre or directional signals. With the switched option, the outputs relate to the mechanical detents on the joystick and the switches activate sequentially as the joystick lever is operated from centre to the end stop in all directions.

The joystick is simple to adapt into OEM systems, having been designed to easily fit inside enclosures and control panels. It offers IP66 protection above the mounting flange for protection against the ingress of dust and liquids. The joystick lever can accommodate a choice of many different handle types, allowing the controller to be tailored further. If customer-specific handle shapes or designs are preferred, a ‘no handle’ version can be selected with either a plain or threaded operating rod as a means of interfacing with the joystick.

Clearpad 3000 Sensor Eases Touchscreen Integration

Synaptics has introduced the multi-touch Clearpad 3000 and the Clearpad 1000 Series capacitive touch sensors. The 3000 Series features Synaptics’ design-in services, which make it easier for OEMs and ODMs of mass-market mobile handsets and other handheld devices to integrate high-resolution capacitive touchscreens with advanced multi-finger gesture capability into their products. Synaptics has also introduced the Series 1000 capacitive touch sensor, a low-cost solution with single-finger and limited two-finger gestures.

These new devices allow OEMs to select from a range of touch and gesture capabilities, from single-finger touch with simple gestures to multi-finger touch with complex gestures. With its ability to distinguish up to 10 simultaneous finger touches and complex multi-finger gestures (such as pinch and rotate) with fine accuracy and low latency, the Clearpad 3000 Series sensors are ready for the next generation of 3D graphical user interfaces on a broad array of handheld consumer electronics devices. The Clearpad 3000 Series is based on new Synaptics technology that features 48 sensing channels and advanced power management, allowing for larger screen sizes up to 8in (203.2mm) diagonally, with more accurate sensing and low power consumption.

The Clearpad 3000 Series is engineered to be nearly borderless with best-in-class edge performance and high noise immunity. It offers a thin, low-profile design that enables OEMs to create sleeker, more compact and stylish product solutions, optimising industrial design while using any industry-standard LCD display. Clearpad 3000 Series touch sensors feature an accuracy of +/-1mm, are only 0.300mm thick and offer full multi-finger tracking. Clearpad 3000 Series solutions offer low power consumption with 5mA in full active mode, 150uA nominal, and 12uA in deep-sleep mode for extended battery life.

Synaptics also offers its customers PC-based pre-production and production test support hardware and software optimised for speed and full coverage of sensor manufacturing defects, including software limits to optimise yield. The Clearpad 3000 Series is supported by Synaptics’ solution stack and engineering services from its worldwide customer design centres to address the multi-dimensional engineering challenges customers face when creating and implementing advanced human interfaces. The solution stack delivers a broad range of services in the engineering disciplines and integrates these key capabilities to help OEMs create reliable, highly intuitive human interfaces.

R Series Rio Boards Provide Benefits Of FPGA

National Instruments has announced four R Series multifunction Rio boards for PCI Express. These boards give engineers and scientists the benefits of field-programmable gate array (FPGA) technology in a widely adopted form factor. The boards combine a Xilinx Virtex-5 FPGA, eight analogue inputs, eight analogue outputs and 96 digital I/O lines on a single board.

Using the NI Labview FPGA Module, engineers and scientists can program the onboard FPGA to create custom measurement hardware for custom data acquisition, high-speed control, digital communications protocols, sensor simulation, hardware-in-the-loop and signal-processing applications. Engineers and scientists can achieve 16-bit analogue input sampling rates up to 200kS/s per channel with the NI PCIe-7841R and NI PCIe-7842R and sampling rates up to 750kS/s per channel with the NI PCIe-7851R and NI PCIe-7852R.

Because they are based on the PCI Express bus, the new R Series boards take advantage of dedicated bandwidth per device for reliable, high-speed data streaming. The boards also offer DMA channels for streaming data to and from the FPGA at more than 100 MB/s per device without significantly impacting processor resources. John Hanks, vice-president of industrial and embedded product lines at National Instruments, said: ‘The new NI R Series hardware based on Labview FPGA gives developers an easy way to take advantage of the latest parallel, inline computing and data-streaming capabilities for demanding measurement and control applications.’ In addition to the PC-based benefits, the new R Series boards give engineers and scientists the high-speed processing power provided by FPGAs.

The boards are equipped with either a Virtex-5 LX30 or Virtex-5 LX50 FPGA, both of which offer increased performance with more efficient logic resource use and faster logic execution rates. R Series boards with Virtex-5 FPGAs also deliver twice the processing power of previous generation Virtex-II-equipped R Series boards at the same price. Engineers and scientists with limited or no hardware-design experience can easily program the FPGA on R Series boards using the Labview FPGA Module, which abstracts the VHDL code used to configure the FPGA.

Labview also provides pre-built function blocks and other code-optimisation techniques to speed up application development. For engineers and scientists that program in C, the recently released NI C Interface to Labview FPGA makes it possible for them to integrate new or existing C applications with NI FPGA hardware programmed with the Labview FPGA Module. With integrated FPGA technology, R Series multifunction Rio boards can be configured to meet numerous application needs such as custom data-acquisition, sensor simulation and high-performance control.

With the wide availability and decreasing costs of standard desktop PCs, engineers, scientists and OEMs can combine a PC and a new PCI Express R Series board to create powerful, cost-optimised custom hardware systems, including a high-speed control system with eight 750kHz proportional integral derivative (PID) loops running in parallel, a custom digital protocol interface for communicating with or characterising a device under test, or a sensor simulation system for hardware-in-the-loop testing.