All about Technology

 The ongoing semiconductor shortage has caused widespread disruptions in the electronics industry, but it also presents an opportunity for innovation. The high demand for chips and the resulting price increases have forced OEMs to optimize their designs and incorporate more advanced technology . One major change that has already begun to take place is the integration of semiconductor devices. As engineers look for ways to reduce the number of components in their designs, suppliers are developing systems-in-a-package that pack more capabilities into smaller footprints. This trend is seen in almost every type of device, from sensors to AI processors. For example, companies that develop sensor technology are moving beyond smart sensors and incorporating AI processing into a single sensor package. This level of integration is not just a cost-saving measure, but also a competitive advantage. Another trend that is likely to emerge as a result of the semiconductor shortage is the prolifer...

As 5G technology continues to evolve and expand globally, experts are already looking ahead to the next generation of mobile communications: 6G. While 5G promises faster data rates, lower latencies, and more terminals per unit area, many are still searching for the "killer app" that will make it an essential upgrade for consumers. However, the development of 5G is ongoing. The 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP), an umbrella body for telecom standards development, has already frozen Releases 15 and 16 of the 5G specifications. Release 15 defines the foundational baseband, mobile broadband, and millimeter-wave connectivity technologies used to deliver 5G services, while Release 16 offers improvements to core mobile broadband features, massive MIMO mobility, and millimeter-wave connectivity. It also addresses the need for time-sensitive networking in industrial applications and provides connectivity between vehicles and other entities, referred to as V2X. The next phase ...

Releasing a new product into the market is an exciting and fulfilling experience for any product developer. The process of creating a product, from the initial idea to the final product being manufactured at scale, is filled with bursts of creativity, problem-solving, and the satisfaction of a job well done. However, the complexity of hardware and software development, as well as the constant changes in technology and requirements, can make the process more challenging than it needs to be. Going it alone without a design-centric partner increases the chances of the product development process taking longer, costing more, or becoming bogged down by unnecessary complexity. This can have a significant impact on a business as the company will not generate any revenue until the product is sold. At the same time, rushing through the design process will result in a product that is not reliable or durable. The best way to avoid these traps is to find a design-centric partner. A design-centric...

The Internet of Things (IoT) has the potential to connect trillions of devices, but the cost and complexity of adding sensors and connectivity to traditional "dumb" devices can be prohibitive. This has led to a "long tail" of devices that have yet to be connected to the IoT. However, smart cameras and cloud-based AI platforms may provide a solution to this problem. Sensor fusion is the foundation of using AI in the IoT. It allows for greater insights by using multiple sources of data at once. Most sensors only detect one property and must be deeply integrated into the application. However, image sensors, or cameras, can capture data without being deeply integrated and can be deployed long after the application is in the field. Smart cameras that use AI can monitor, identify, and recognize objects and events, and automatically generate actions. This allows for a non-intrusive form of sensing that is not tied to any single parameter. The RSL10 Smart Shot Camera plat...

 The Internet of Things (IoT) is a rapidly growing field that is revolutionizing the way we interact with the world around us. With the advent of low-power image sensors and short-range wireless connectivity, it has become possible to create new applications that are more powerful, efficient, and cost-effective than ever before. One of the most exciting applications of these new technologies is the use of smart cameras for asset monitoring. Asset monitoring is a process of keeping track of physical assets that have value to an organization. This can include anything from machinery, equipment , and inventory, to buildings, vehicles, and people. In the past, this task has been done manually, but with the advent of smart cameras, it is now possible to automate the process and make it more efficient and cost-effective. Smart cameras are special types of cameras that use image sensors to capture images and then process them using machine vision and artificial intelligence (AI) algorith...

Traffic congestion is a problem that plagues cities around the world, and it seems like no matter how much we expand our road infrastructure, it never keeps up with demand. But what if there was a solution that could not only ease traffic congestion but also make our commutes faster and safer? That solution may be 6G networking . 6G is expected to be rolled out within the next decade and is expected to deliver speeds 100 times faster than 5G, with low latency of about 100 microseconds. This low latency will be crucial for communication between autonomous vehicles and ease traffic congestion. One of the biggest causes of traffic congestion is the constant stopping and starting at intersections due to traffic lights and stop signs. But with 6G networking and self-driving cars, this problem could become a thing of the past. If the city's traffic lights update their status to a central server that the car can access, then the car can speed up or slow down to ensure that the light is al...

 The introduction of 5G technology has brought about a new era of connectivity, with faster download speeds, lower latency, and the ability to support a larger number of devices. However, for 5G to reach its full potential, it needs to be built on a foundation of software-defined radio (SDR). SDR is playing a vital role in the development of 5G, and without it, the promises of 5G might not be achievable at all. SDR is an affordable and efficient approach to receiver design and construction, with many benefits including significant size reduction, analog and digital integration, low power consumption, and the ability to use a single platform to cover multiple product lines. Additionally, SDR allows for reconfiguration via software, even after being placed in service, without requiring any new hardware. Before the advent of SDR, the superheterodyne architecture and its variations were the mainstays of receiver design. This architecture uses frequency mixing to convert a received si...

 5G technology has been the topic of much discussion and debate in recent years, with many experts claiming that millimeter-wave frequencies, a region of the spectrum where no wireless carrier has ventured before, will be key to its success. However, recent articles have claimed that millimeter-wave frequencies will not be viable for 5G due to their short range and the immense cost of deploying enough small base stations to provide coverage. But is millimeter-wave 5G truly "dead"? This article aims to answer that question and provide a deeper understanding of the issue at hand. When the standards for 5G were first released, it was clear that it would rely on millimeter-wave frequencies, which are at least an order of magnitude higher in the electromagnetic spectrum than those currently used for 4G. This would require advanced technologies and a significant investment from wireless carriers, leading to estimates of a potential cost of $65 billion. However, it is important to r...

Energy is a vital aspect of modern life and its sources have evolved over time. While the idea of renewable energy is often associated with the sun, wind, and tides, these sources are actually better understood as inexhaustible. The reason behind this is the laws of physics, which state that energy cannot be created or destroyed but only transformed. This means that using an inexhaustible source of energy is a more sustainable and achievable way of living. However, the challenges associated with using inexhaustible energy sources are many. The technology is not yet mature enough, the efficiency is low, and there are problems with cloud cover and the uncontrollable nature of the wind. Additionally, the cost of inexhaustible energy is a significant barrier to its widespread adoption. The primary issue with inexhaustible energy is storing it until it is needed. The electricity generated from these sources must be used or stored, and current battery technology is not yet advanced enough ...

Artificial intelligence (AI) is making it possible for machines to understand the content of digital images through image recognition. This technology is used to detect objects in still images or video frames, making it a versatile tool for various industries. AI-based image recognition is already being used in everyday life, such as in social media platforms to audibly describe images to visually impaired users, in search engines to identify objects and locations, and in apps to search for products, retailers, and brands. This technology is also being used in the Internet of Things (IoT) to add useful features and increase productivity. AI-based image recognition can be used for tasks such as defect detection, quality checks, alignment, assembly, and welding, and can also be used for monitoring and detection in industries such as oil and gas, retail, agriculture, and manufacturing. In the oil and gas industry, AI-based image recognition is used to analyze rock compositions during t...

Brushless DC (BLDC) motors are becoming increasingly popular in automation applications due to their ability to provide precise control over speed and energy consumption. Unlike traditional brushed DC motors, BLDC motors use electronic commutation to control the flow of current to the stator coils. This allows for more efficient and flexible control of the motor's rotation. One of the key challenges of using BLDC motors is the need for advanced commutation circuitry. In the past, this added cost to the overall system, but today's focus on energy efficiency has made the benefits of electronic commutation more valuable. BLDC motors are commonly available in single-phase and three-phase configurations. A single-phase BLDC motor uses a single stator winding along four arms of the stator to form four magnetic poles. The external rotor contains permanent magnets arranged to form two pole pairs. Current is applied to the stator through transistors in an H-bridge, and when the rotor ...

As technology continues to advance, the line between hardware and software is becoming increasingly blurred. This is particularly true in the realm of embedded development, where integrated development environments for microcontrollers now include in-circuit debug support. This allows for the monitoring of embedded code as it executes on a hardware platform, which could be a development kit or a prototype. However, with the advent of virtual prototyping, the need for physical prototypes is becoming less crucial. Virtual prototyping allows for the simulation of more of a system during development, making it a more viable option as advances in computing performance continue to improve. Tools such as SPICE (Simulation Program with Integrated Circuit Emphasis) are commonly used in hardware simulation and have been adopted by many semiconductor manufacturers as a basis for their own simulation tools. Additionally, many companies now offer standalone simulation tools for specific functio...

 Op amps, or operational amplifiers, are versatile electronic components that have a wide range of applications in signal conditioning and mathematical operations. These devices have been around since the earliest days of analog computing, and have evolved over time to become smaller, cheaper, and more powerful. When choosing an op amp for your design, there are many parameters to consider. Some of the key considerations include gain, input impedance, output impedance, bandwidth, and power consumption. Op amps work by amplifying the difference between their input signals. They have a high gain, which means that even small differences in input voltage can result in a large output voltage. This makes them ideal for applications such as amplifying weak signals, or for performing mathematical operations like addition, subtraction, and multiplication. One of the most popular op amps of all time is the uA741, which was first introduced in 1968. This device is still widely manufactured a...

 As 5G technology continues to evolve and become more widely available, understanding the challenges and capabilities of electromechanical interconnects is crucial for device manufacturers looking to take advantage of the increased speeds and capabilities of the new network . One of the main challenges facing 5G systems is the need for high performance and signal integrity at every point in the network, from the board level to the component level. To meet these demands, the industry is utilizing new techniques such as millimeter wave transmission, smaller and more cells, beamforming, and MIMO antenna technology. The increased antenna density and signal paths in 5G devices also require high-density copper interconnects to support the transfer rates of PAM-4 modulations, which can reach speeds of 56 Gbps and 112 Gbps. To route these high-speed signals, advanced interconnect solutions such as twinaxial cable assemblies and improved edge connectors are necessary to avoid signal integr...

 The 5G network , which is currently being implemented worldwide, makes use of millimeter wavelength frequencies to provide access to several gigahertz of spectrum unavailable at lower frequencies. However, researchers around the world are now exploring frequencies well above 100 GHz and even into the terahertz region. The terahertz region, defined as 100 GHz to 10 THz, offers unique benefits that could revolutionize the way we use wireless technology. One of the key benefits of the terahertz region is its resistance to interference, which means that devices could operate very close to each other without interfering with each other's signals. Additionally, the terahertz region offers inherently high security as the propagation distances are so short. The terahertz region also has the potential to achieve data rates of 1 Tb/s (1 million Mb/s) over a single continuous band of frequencies. This is 1,000 times faster than 5G, which has the potential to revolutionize the way we use wire...

The 5G revolution is well underway, and with it comes a host of new challenges and opportunities for interconnect design. As the demand for more data continues to grow, many experts believe that the trend is moving toward the use of optical interconnects due to their benefits such as EMI resistance and high speeds. However, the cost is always a major factor in design decisions, and copper interconnects remain a vital component in the development of the next generation of cellular networks . Mike Hansen, Global Product Manager at Molex, sheds light on the role of copper interconnects in the 5G landscape. According to Hansen, "The old way was the passive antenna, with coax cables running down to a large baseband unit, where it would be demodulated and converted to fiber for the long backhaul. With 4G, operators started putting the remote radio heads up onto the pole, right below the antennas. That’s when fiber down to the baseband unit started becoming popular. With 5G there are a f...

 When it comes to the success of a new high-tech product or service, the first thing that comes to mind is often the underlying technologies that make the offering unique. However, the journey of a product from design to market is not just about the technology behind it. The supply chain plays a crucial role in determining whether a product will be a success or not. Supply chain management is a tricky business, as it involves dealing with tens or even hundreds of trading partners for various parts and services. These partners are often geographically dispersed and have different levels of business experience, technological sophistication, and financial resources. The risks involved range from a simple human error to global economic volatility and natural disasters. This complexity makes it difficult for organizations that excel in product development and technology innovation to also excel in supply chain management . However, many organizations tend to underestimate the value of ...

 As Avnet celebrates its centennial anniversary, the company takes a moment to reflect on its past and look toward the future. With a mission to stay at the center of the technology value chain, Avnet has been able to adapt and evolve in response to the ever-changing landscape of the electronics industry. Avnet's story began in 1921, when Charles Avnet started buying and selling surplus radio parts on Manhattan's Radio Row. He quickly realized the potential for growth in the industry and expanded his offerings to cater to dealers and manufacturers, as well as the military and aviation industries. Fast forward to 1969, and Avnet was listed on the New York Stock Exchange and had broadened its electronics range to include antennas and even guitars. In the 1970s, Avnet recognized the growing demand for microprocessors and began serving designers and engineers by offering board-level and development systems, peripherals, microcomputers, software, and networking solutions. The compan...

The ongoing chip shortage has caused a major disruption in the electronics industry, with many companies struggling to secure the necessary components for their products. The situation has led to delays and increased costs for businesses and has highlighted the importance of supply chain resiliency. Avnet, a leading global technology solutions provider , is working to help customers navigate the chip shortage and achieve supply chain resiliency. The company offers a wide range of services, from standard fulfillment and inventory management programs to more sophisticated supply-chain-as-a-service models. Dave Paulson, leader of Avnet United and Velocity teams, explains that Avnet's goal is to provide customers with the assurance of supply, the agility to move that supply around the world, and the visibility into the supply chain needed to make informed decisions. "We understand the importance of supply chain execution in today's volatile market and are working closely with...

One of the most critical security goals outlined by PSA Certified is the establishment of a "root of trust" for IoT devices. This root of trust is based on unique identification and is the foundation of device security. A root of trust is essentially a secure foundation that ensures that a device can be trusted to perform its intended function. This is achieved by implementing a set of security measures that ensure the authenticity and integrity of the device. These measures can include hardware-based security, secure boot processes, and secure communication protocols. The establishment of a root of trust is essential for IoT devices because they often have limited resources and are often deployed in environments that are difficult to secure. Without a root of trust, IoT devices are vulnerable to a wide range of attacks, including man-in-the-middle attacks, malware, and other forms of cybercrime. One way to establish a root of trust is through the use of unique identificati...

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is still in its early stages of implementation, but the potential for increased productivity and lower equipment ownership costs is clear. One way for companies to begin exploring the benefits of IIoT is through the implementation of intelligent condition monitoring. Condition monitoring involves continuously assessing the health of equipment and individual components, and using this information to transform traditional maintenance policies. Instead of waiting for faults to occur or replacing parts at pre-determined intervals, predictive maintenance can be used to replace parts only when necessary, reducing equipment downtime and eliminating the need for excessive spare parts inventory. One way to implement condition monitoring is through the use of sensors attached to equipment , which can provide information on motor speed, load torque, voltage, and current, as well as additional data such as vibration and temperature. By combining this data ...

Wireless power transfer (WPT) technology has the potential to revolutionize the way the Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) functions. By eliminating the need for wired power connections, WPT allows for greater flexibility in the placement and operation of connected devices. This, in turn, can lead to more efficient and cost-effective operations in industries such as manufacturing, logistics, and energy. One of the key benefits of WPT is that it allows for more devices to be connected to the IIoT. Traditional wired power connections can be a limiting factor in the number of devices that can be connected to a network. With WPT, the number of connected devices can be significantly increased. This can lead to more data being collected and analyzed, which can provide valuable insights into the operations of a facility or system. Another advantage of WPT is that it can reduce the costs associated with maintaining and repairing connected devices. Without the need for wired power connections...

 Industrial IoT (IIoT) has the potential to revolutionize the way companies operate, but implementing it comes with its own set of challenges. A recent survey by Molex, a leading connectivity solutions provider, found that 99% of engineers designing OEM solutions identified networking challenges as the primary roadblock to IIoT implementation. But there may be a solution to these challenges, and it comes in the form of cellular connections. One of the biggest challenges with IIoT is network security . Every device added to a network represents a potential vulnerability, and IoT devices, in particular, are a concern because they run embedded firmware and are not typically compatible with the security protocols used on company computers. With the machinery on a factory floor connected to the internet, a bad actor with access could shut down operations, damage equipment, or even injure personnel. Securing IoT devices adds a lot to network engineers’ workloads. The second major challe...

Remote testing is revolutionizing the way RF engineers approach mmWave application development. With the increased exploration of low earth orbit space and the rollout of 5G cellular networks , the demand for mmWave technology is on the rise. However, the complexity of RF design is compounded by the use of extremely high frequency (EHF) bands for license-free wireless communication, making experienced RF engineers highly sought after. To address this complexity, Avnet has partnered with Xilinx, Rohde & Schwarz, and MathWorks to create a solution that minimizes complexity and accelerates the design cycle. This solution includes the Xilinx RFSoC Gen 3 kit for mmWave design, a native MATLAB application called the Avnet RFSoC Explorer, and a mmWave test lab provided by Rohde & Schwarz. One of the unique features of this solution is that the test equipment and mmWave board are co-located, remotely, and accessed over a secure LAN connection using the Avnet RFSoC Explorer application....

 5G, or fifth-generation radio networks , is revolutionizing electronic communication with faster speeds, ultra-low latency, and improved power efficiency. 5G combines several low-power strategies to deliver the best overall performance and meet the demands of the green movement. One of the primary challenges of 5G is its frequency range, which includes low-band (sub-6 GHz) and high-band millimeter wave (mmWave, 24 GHz to 100 GHz range). The circuit architecture of 5G must also increase the number of channels across the network while managing system-level power. Compared to 4G systems, 5G systems are hundreds of times faster with 10 times lower latency and can support billions of devices. For example, downloading a high-definition film over 4G would take tens of minutes, but over a 5G interface, the download would take just a few seconds. The latency for 4G systems is in the region of 50 to 200 milliseconds, while 5G reduces latency to as little as 1 millisecond. However, the comb...

Wide bandgap (WBG) semiconductors in silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) materials are becoming increasingly popular in power conversion applications, due to their lower static and dynamic losses compared to traditional silicon MOSFET or IGBT technologies . These materials also have the advantage of higher operating junction temperatures and better thermal conductivity, which can lead to energy savings, cost reductions, and smaller and lighter drive electronics . However, when it comes to motor control applications, the decision to switch to WBG devices is not always clear-cut. IGBTs have been the go-to option for high-power motor control due to their near-constant saturation voltage, which keeps conduction losses low. They also have the advantage of low cost and proven robustness. Si MOSFETs, on the other hand, are often used for low-power motor control applications, with power dissipation during switching edges being much lower than that of IGBTs. They also have the advan...

 The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is a rapidly growing field that brings together operational technology (OT) and information technology (IT) to improve efficiency and productivity in industrial settings. However, with this increased connectivity comes a greater need for data security. The traditional method for maintaining security was to implement an air gap, a physical disconnect between systems with differing security requirements. However, with the advent of the internet and the need to share data across domains, this approach is becoming increasingly obsolete. One solution to this problem is to focus on security at the physical layer of the OSI model. The OSI model is often used in discussions about security and it is divided into seven layers, with the Application Layer at the top and the Physical Layer at the bottom. The Physical Layer is responsible for converting data into electrical, optical, or radio frequency (RF) signals that can be physically transferred ov...

Designing with wide bandgap devices, such as silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN), presents unique challenges for power conversion electronics . While these devices are known for their low-loss properties, they also require careful consideration in areas such as gate drive, avalanche and short-circuit performance, and reverse conduction effects. Gate drive is a critical aspect in the use of SiC and GaN devices, as it is more difficult than with traditional technologies such as IGBTs and MOSFETs. These devices typically have lower gate thresholds and hysteresis, which can reduce substantially at high temperatures. To avoid phantom turn-on, gates often have to be driven with a negative off-state voltage. Additionally, the fast dV/dt of these devices can couple transients into the gate through the drain-gate Miller capacitance, which can be problematic. To mitigate these effects, manufacturers often offer Kelvin connections to the source and added series gate resistance and/or ...

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 The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) is rapidly growing and providing real-time visibility of operations across factory floors and supply chains, resulting in significant gains in efficiency, safety, and uptime. The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of machine-to-machine and human-machine digital interactions to maintain staff safety. According to analysts, the IIoT market is expected to reach $263.4 billion by 2027 and $1.1 trillion by 2028. However, despite the benefits of connecting industrial machines and tools and combining factory data with cloud apps and supply chain systems, there are still barriers to joining IIoT. One of the main challenges is integrating IIoT into existing operational technology and IT systems. To overcome this barrier, companies are turning to Service Oriented Architecture (SOA), microservices, and the Open Platform Communication Unified Architecture (OPC UA) standard for industrial automation communication. SOA allows for software c...