RS EDP & ARM mbed make proof of concept supersonic

1. e YOUR ELECTRONICS MAGAZINE ISSUE 2
13
Just Add
Wireless!
16
A bright future for
renewable energy
06
RS EDP & ARM
mbed make proof of
concept supersonic
rswww.com/electronics

2. lOGUE
06 4
nA
P
E
2
D
nD
A
PRECISIOn
ARM, MBED A
Y
ERG
En
16 REnEWABl
The world of electronic design is under increasing pressure to E
offer competition kicking products in ever decreasing timescales.
Short-cuts and inside information are essential to stay ahead of
the game. That’s why we strive to make RS your first choice for
electronic components and solutions by continually introducing
new technologies and partnerships to support designs from
concept to prototype and production.
InSIDE eTech
Our aim is to make the RS Components website the place where you start and finish
your design. That’s the thinking behind a very significant upgrade to our online presence 04 iSAY
which started with our new Electronics Centre initially launched across the UK and 05 RS nEWSlInES
Europe in October. It’s also why we’re extending our universal Embedded Development
Platform, EDP to support ARM’s new mbed virtual design environment, and driving
, 06 ARM, MBED AnD EDP
through a host of improvements great and small to help you get your design off the 10 PRODUCT nEWS
CAD screen and into production more quickly and easily. The article on page 6
provides an overview of EDP and the start of more things to come.
13 JUST ADD WIRElESS!
16 REnEWABlE EnERGY
In this edition, we’ve also put the spotlight 18 OlED DISPlAY TECHnOlOGY
on energy saving products, with technical
articles looking at solar power as well as low 20 ATTEnTIOn! 32-BIT ARCHITECTURE
Terms and conditions: Terms and power comms, processor, connector and 22 FPGA FlAGSHIP DEVICES
conditions of sale set out in the current display technologies.
RS Catalogue. This issue is valid from
March 2010 to May 2010.
24 THE JOY OF PRECISIOn AnAlOGUE
We’ve received lots of positive feedback about our 26 DESIGn TIPS
Published by: RS Components
first edition of eTech and want to hear more from
Limited. Registered office:
Birchington Road, Weldon, Corby, you. eTech is written by you as well as for you so,
30 ESSEnTIAlS
Northamptonshire NN17 9RS.
Registered No. 1002091. RS if you’ve got a great idea for a technical article or 32 THE POWER BEHInD THE TEST SYSTEM
would like to offer an opinion in iSay (pg 4), drop
35
Components Ltd 2010.
RS are trademarks of RS GRAPHICAl DISPlAY IS A WInnER
Components Limited. An me an email at etech@rs-components.com or
Electrocomponents Company. visit www.rs-components.com/etech. 36 THE SCIEnCE OF OnlInE SECURITY
39 COnnECTORS FOR
REnEWABlE EnERGY
40 lUnCH BREAK
42 InDUSTRY nEWS
Glenn Jarrett
Head of Electronics Marketing
GLO_0106_0210 eTech - ISSUE 2 03

3. iSAY RS
ADRIAN RAWLINSON,
MANAGING DIRECTOR OF
nEWSlInES
MARL INTERNATIONAL, TALKS:
Over 4,000 more Tyco Electronics lines Save energy
“
with the new
More than 18,000 parts now available through RS online
Candelas, watts
Amongst the introductions, are over 270 hermaphroditic and poke-in connectors. The
more Universal MATE-N-LOK connectors,
giving design engineers increased choice
poke-in connectors are low profile, surface
mount (SMT) two-position connectors ideally
RS light Energy
in selecting the right connector for new
industry, HVAC and lighting applications.
suited for LED strings and lighting controls.
The hermaphroditic blade and receptacle
Saver tool
Easy to use calculator shows
and
Over 240 AMPMODU micro-interconnect connectors are new SMT connectors
your savings from using
”
products have also been added, which are available in 2, 4 and 6 positions, intended for
lumens
designed for cable-to-board, cable-to-cable use with in-line board-to-board LED lighting greener lighting
and board-to-board applications along with applications.
140 additional PIDG crimp terminals,
and over 300 additional relays. To search the full Tyco Electronics range
available from RS, visit rswww.com/te
Also introduced are 85 connectors from the
Tyco Electronics LED printed circuit board
(PCB) mount lighting connectors, including
If you walk into a car showroom now and a salesman tries to convince you that his
flash sports car was outstanding because it uses lots of fuel, you’d think he was daft.
Yet that’s still more or less what we do in the lighting industry. By and large, customers Molex introduce 2,300 new lines
and manufacturers correlate the light output of a lamp to the power it uses.
RS has now doubled your choice of Molex products Now available across all European
websites, the Lamp Energy Calculator
Highlights from the new range with over 250 new additions to this has been developed to help RS
additions include the introduction of family, giving customers multiple pitch customers increase their ability
The story more or
less worked
when there was one lighting
the mix: halogen and LED,
and things start to get silly,
especially as LED lighting in
on the point at which you
measure the power used.
Incandescent lights are driven
candle, but few buyers other
than lighting specialists
understand them.
the C-Grid® / Sl system into the RS
offer. The C-Grid dual-row board-to-
options and allowing thousands of
configurations. The RS range of FFC
to deliver energy efficient lighting
solutions for buildings. The calculator
board system combines with the Sl connectors, designed for use in signal allows users to select their current
technology, incandescent, particular is seeing very rapid direct from a mains supply, (Stackable linear), a modular single- and data applications requiring flat lighting solutions, setting features such
which saw very little change progress. A 6W LED today can fluorescent lights are driven Everyone is concerned about row wire-to-wire and board-to-board flex cable, has doubled in size with as lamp type, wattage and temperature
in efficiency year on year. It produce twice as much light through an inverter and the energy used by lighting system. Together, these products offer more than 150 new products added. output. Using these criteria, it will then
wasn’t too much of a stretch as its equivalent a year ago. LEDs need a rectified supply, systems, but a sensible debate the largest number of variations and Further additions include increased identify potential alternatives from the
to accommodate a second LEDs also have very different normally low voltage. about which form of lighting cabling configurations in the industry. Mini-Fit Jr and Micro-fit 3.0 ranges. RS energy efficient lighting range, and
– Cold Cathode Florescent characteristics than other does the best job in a specified The popular Molex KK series, You can see the full Molex range calculate the savings to be gained from
Lamp - and fluorescent forms of light, as they give I don’t know whether to be set of circumstances is being developed to meet the challenges of and supporting technical information running and replacement costs, as well
tubes are commonly sold a directional, as opposed to, amused or to despair at the constrained by the lack of modularisation has been increased at rswww.com/molex as reduced energy usage costs.
as being ‘equivalent to’ spherical output. idea that measures such as a standardised method of
an incandescent bulb of candela, lumens and mean measuring light output and First launched in the UK in May
a specified power. Throw The apparent efficiency of a spherical candle power are power consumption across 2009, the calculator has been used
another two technologies into lighting system also depends based on the output of a the US, Europe and Asia.
1,400 more relays and switches from by thousands of RS customers to
help save energy and reduce costs.
Omron now available from stock Combined with energy efficient
product ranges including heating and
RS now has the largest stocked range of Omron electronic components plumbing, test and measurement,
insulation, IT and renewable energy,
RS has been working Alex Grout, European relays, switches, and RS offers a complete solution
with Omron Electronic Distribution Manager for connectors are available for energy efficient design and
Components to develop a Omron Components said online from RS”. maintenance of buildings.
complete offer for design “RS has spent a great effort
engineers to use, with a and huge investment in To learn more about As energy efficiency continues to
dedicated Omron web our partnership. With the the Omron Electronics be a dominant industry trend for
portals, plus implementation expansion of the weblinks, range available from RS, Electronic Design Engineers, go to
of buy-it-now web referral dedicated Omron portals including all the new rswww.com/energyRSource and
links from the Omron and range developments, introductions, go to find out how RS can help ensure that
website to RS and expansion specifiers of our products www.omron-rs.eu. the design environment is as energy
If you’ve got a strong opinion and would like the opportunity to of the Omron product range can be confident that the efficient as the latest application
get on your soapbox, write it up in around 300 words and email available from RS. widest range of Omron designs being worked on.
it to etech@rs-components.com
04 eTech - ISSUE 2 eTech - ISSUE 2 05

4. RS EDP & ARM
mbed make proof of
concept supersonic
The RS generic Embedded Development Platform (EDP)
now supports mbed, the new online development tool
for rapid prototyping with ARM microcontrollers.
As part of its roadmap for
EDP going forward, RS is
establishing a close partnership with
the need for a large initial investment
in a suitable compiler, for example.
Even the developer’s workspace is
rapid proof-of-concept work can take
advantage of this online approach to
reduce design-start costs and quickly
ARM aimed at allowing developers maintained online, giving engineers acquire knowledge and code. In
to take full advantage of ARM’s the freedom to login from anywhere addition, customers will also be able
web-based mbed embedded without needing to ensure access to to use the baseboard with the latest
development concept. project documentation stored locally. Cortex-M0 microcontrollers targeting
In addition, mbed development ultra low-power applications, when
RS has added mbed processor is independent of the developer’s these become available.
modules supporting the ARM7 chosen platform – whether PC,
and Cortex®-M3 architectures to Linux or Mac. EDP Explained
its range of available modules for Embedded design projects typically
EDP This gives EDP users access
. Developers can also access the aim to have a proof-of-concept
to the industry’s first online platform mbed online library of functions. ready early in the project lifecycle.
for fast, low-risk prototyping This provides an API-driven approach This requires some basic hardware,
of ARM based microcontroller to coding, and pre-written drivers which is usually obtained by
systems. are also available saving developers purchasing an evaluation board from
learning microcontroller hardware the processor vendor or from a third-
The EDP and mbed concepts are details. Each peripheral also has the party developer. However, hardware
ideally matched. ARM’s mbed benefit of a turnkey “Hello World” modifications may be required, and
module containing the microcontroller example to quickly verify correct the project must usually absorb
has a 40-pin DIP form factor designed functionality. RS is taking a leading the full purchase price. Such kits
to allow the microcontroller I/Os to be role in further development of mbed are rarely re-usable in subsequent
connected to a solderless prototype by working with ARM to provide projects, either because the
board or a through-hole printed circuit resources dedicated to writing right features are not provided
board (PCB). The module connects production-ready drivers. This will or the technology may have
to the EDP baseboard via an adaptor quickly increase accessibility for been superseded.
board that, together with the 40-pin developers to high-quality functions
mbed module, makes up the EDP optimised for the ARM Cortex A more cost-effective approach is to
mbed Command Module. With embedded processor family. work using a modular development
the module connected, programs platform that can also be reconfigured
are downloaded by dragging and Another benefit of mbed throughout the longer term to meet
dropping the program binary in the development is access to a large requirements for initial hardware in
same way as using a Flash USB drive. online community of developers future projects. The EDP fulfils this
sharing code and resources through concept. It provides a baseboard
Perhaps the most powerful aspect mechanisms such as the mbed into which are plugged processor
of mbed-based development is its Cookbook online repository, wiki modules and special-function
fundamentally online nature. Many and the mbed forums. modules as required by each project.
of the programming resources and This provides a trusted platform,
project-management functions Developers combining the EDP suitable for long-term use,
developers need to call on are mbed Command Module with EDP
maintained in “the cloud” removing
, application modules to complete Continued page 08 >
06 eTech - ISSUE 2 eTech - ISSUE 2 07

5. wireless development. Users can
High Reliability
also build their own modules, if
required, by referring to the EDPCON
bus specification.
A key challenge facing embedded-
systems developers is to build
drivers for each of the functions to
be implemented. The time taken
to write and debug a driver, at the
proof-of-concept stage, can delay
the project; particularly if the driver
will not work. Later in the project, it
may be necessary to develop certain
drivers further to achieve the full
connectors of 140 and 100 pins functionality and robustness.
each, called EDPCON1 and
EDPCON2 respectively. The EDP EDP solves both of these challenges
motherboard also solves issues by including all necessary drivers for
such as inter-module and inter-EDP each function. Moreover, the drivers
system communications, using are written from the outset to be
available interconnects such as production ready. Hence, developers
I2C and CAN. can progress their projects without
debugging drivers at the initial
< Continued from page 07 Plug-in Command Modules hardware stage or refining the drivers
This architecture allows a wide for production later in the project.
which will not only save purchasing variety of processor modules, based
numerous development kits but on various microcontrollers, to be EDP Hits the Open Roadmap
will also save the time to make built by mapping the device I/O pins By introducing EDP RS has delivered
,
any adaptations. onto the EDPCON1 and EDPCON2 a solution that enables today’s
connectors. The microcontroller design engineers to meet the
then appears to be a virtual CPU increasingly acute cost and time-
Configurable Baseboard to another I/O device fitted on the to-market demands on embedded
The EDP baseboard, or bus, such as a digital or analogue systems design. As a common
motherboard, is an Extended peripheral module. It is possible platform, the EDP reduces design
Eurocard size (220 x 100
mm) board that provides four
identical “stations” for the plug
to map almost any microcontroller
to this format. The first Command
Modules to be introduced for EDP
and construction times from weeks
to days. Project cost savings are
achieved by removing the need
when you need it most
in modules. The motherboard have supported the Infineon XC167 , to purchase and adapt to multiple
allows microcontrollers and I/O STMicroelectronics STR9, and manufacturer-specific development Datamate, the 2mm pitch cable to cable,
devices to communicate through the Microchip Plug-in Module for kits. Ultimately, EDP sets developers
a standardised interface similar to microcontrollers and dsPIC devices free to try more new ideas and cable to board and board to board connector
PC/104 or STE buses. However, (PIC-PIM) spanning 8-bit, 16-bit and push boundaries to create more family from Harwin, is designed to perform
whereas PC/104 and STE tend 32-bit families. successful, highly differentiated
to support only power-line, data, products. A new, two-station EDP in harsh operating conditions, surviving
address and control signals, Plug-in Functional Modules baseboard will be introduced in the
the EDP interface supports Of course, since the EDP is near future, to further reduce the extremes of shock, vibration & temperature
microcontroller applications by also conceived to provide a configurable cost of building initial embedded-
catering for specialist pin functions platform for proof-of-concept work, systems hardware.
– yet the cost per contact is that of an
relevant to typical 8, 16 and 32-bit its success is also dependent industrial, commercial device.
microcontrollers. There are three on providing a diverse range of
I2C channels, two CAN channels, peripheral functions that are also in RS is also inviting participation
an SPI port, and various signal- EDPCON-compatible modules. The in the EDP developer
measurement and signal-generation first modules to be developed as community from academic
peripherals. There are also groups part of the EDP programme include institutions. Universities
of pins to support interrupts in analogue and digital I/O modules, a interested in gaining access to
response to external events, communications module, and two development kits for research making the right connection
groups of pins able to create motor-control modules. and teaching can contact us at
pulsetrains, others dedicated etech@rs-components.com
to motor control, I2S, memory The EDP modular concept lends itself
cards and many other common to the development of an increasing
microcontroller IO types. Advanced range of application modules going
interfaces such as SD/MMC are forward. RS is actively pursuing
also supported. development of new modules;
recent announcements include a
All of these signals are contained new SD Card module and plans To see more on the EDP
within two 0.8mm dual-row for modules to enable EDP-based go to rswww.com/edp
08 eTech - ISSUE 2 rswww.com/harwin

6. PRODUCT PRODUCT
nEWS nEWS
TEKTROnIX  CURREnT MEASUREMEnT FCI - FFC & FPC
High sensitivity current probes for accurate power COnnECTORS
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for flex circuit FFC/FPC TDK-lAMBDA - 300W MEDICAl
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provide industry-leading measurement sensitivity to a minimum connectors continue to bring you
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currents and frequency components. When connected to you need for your application. FCI were the first to introduce controlled 300-watt power supplies designed specifically
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measurements and calculations are made simple and easy. Products include flex connectors for LIF (low insertion force) and isolation of 1500VAC, the EFE300M meets the rigorous
Additional measurement power is available with add-on ZIF (zero insertion force), top and bottom contact options, vertical international safety standards of IEC 60601-1 for medical
software such as the TDSPWR2 power measurements package. and right angle orientations, surface mount and through hole equipment. Designed with space limitations in mind, the
RS Online search term: Current Probes, Tektronix terminations in contact spacing options down to 0.3mm. 3 x 6” footprint, 1.6” height is ideal and the low profile
RS Online search term: FCI FFC connectors allow maximum airflow for optimised cooling
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lECROY - WAVEACE SERIES instrumentation, routers and security networks.
OSCIllOSCOPES RS Online search term: tdk-lambda efe300*
Oscilloscopes offering a powerful combination of TEXAS InSTRUMEnTS
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n Our WaveAce oscilloscope series simplifies your work and COnVERTER CREE - XlAMP MC-E SERIES lEDS
shortens the time taken to find and debug problems. The lighting class, high lumen multichip lED’s.
60V step down DC/DC
WaveAce™ combines long memory, a colour display, extensive converters, for light load
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time. With both 2 and 4 channel models, bandwidths from enabling the lighting industry with efficient,
40 MHz to 300 MHz, sample rates up to 2 GS/s and waveform n The TPS54160 from Texas environmentally friendly lED light. MC-E
memory up to 9 kpts/Ch (18 kpts interleaved) the WaveAce Instruments is a step down X-lAMP lEDs can reduce lED
exceeds all expectations of a small affordable oscilloscope. regulator with an Integrated system complexity and
RS Online search term: lecroy Waveace digital Switch. The input voltage size by combining 4 lED
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Compared to discrete
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CAPACITAnCE and is from the 0.5A to 10A Atmel Development boards.
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METER
™
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FAIRCHIlD MOTIOn-SMART RS Online search term: n The new Arduino Duemilanove
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A Capacitance Meter in a maximum output of 430
POWER MODUlES (SPM™) the palm of your hand.
TPS54160 is an ATmega328 starter board
lumens bringing high performance and quality
Integrated 3 Phase Motor Drive Solutions which contains everything needed to
of light to a wide range of applications, including
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Capacitance Meter now It has 14 digital input/output pins
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n The Motion-SPM in DIP packaging offers a high allows random checks (6 can be used as PWM outputs),
lighting and emergency vehicle lighting.
performance simplified solution for commercial across the production 6 analog inputs, a 16 MHz
RS Online search term: MCE4WT
and industrial inverter motor designs, Each SPM floor and performance crystal oscillator, a USB connection,
integrates six IGBTs, six diodes, three HVICs, one checking at your a power jack, an ICSP header
LVIC and a thermistor in a single compact module inspection or sorting stations. With a wide measurement range and a reset button. The platform is
(60mm * 31mm). Compared to discrete IGBT and many features, the U1701A puts a new level of convenience open-source, implements the
solutions, the integrated into capacitance meters. It has up to 25 sets of high/low limits to Processing/Wiring language and
SPM requires less than store and choose from in compare mode. The U1701A also lets you provides a free IDE; simply connect it
half the board space, while breeze through capacitor sorting without the need to set and reset to a computer with a USB cable or APTInA 10MEGAPIXEl COlOUR IMAGE SEnSOR
providing low voltage control the standard reference for different capacitors under test. Handy power it with an AC-to-DC adapter A High-Speed, low-Power Sensor for Camera Designs.
and a high voltage output functions, include tolerance and relative modes, Hold, Min/Max/ or battery to get started.
stage rated at 10A-75A Average recordings and PC data logging. RS Online search term: n The MT9J003 is a 1/2.3-Inch CMOS Digital Image Sensor, built with Micron’s
at 220Vac. This compact, RS Online search term: Agilent capacitance Duemilanove exclusive DigitalClarity® technology, this sensor features exceptionally low noise
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transfer from the IGBTs. With very low power consumption and variable functions such as gain, frame
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10 eTech - ISSUE 2 See more online - Over 5,000 new products are added at rswww.com/electronics every month eTech - ISSUE 2
1 11

7. Lowest RDS(on) in TO-247 Package *
Just add
N-Channel MOSFETs With performance improvement of up to 50%
over competing devices, the new TO-247
BVDSS RDS(on) ID@ 25˚C Qg typ MOSFETs from International Rectifier can
Part Number
WIRElESS!
(V) (mΩ) (A) (nC) help extend battery life in motor applications,
improve efficiency in solar inverter systems,
IRFP4004PBF 40 1.7 195** 220
and deliver the wattage required for high power
IRFP4368PBF 75 1.85 195** 380 Class D audio systems.
IRFP4468PBF 100 2.6 195** 360 Applications
• High Power Synchronous Rectification
IRFP4568PBF 150 5.9 171 151
• Active O’Ring
IRFP4668PBF 200 9.7 130 161 • High Power DC Motors Trends in consumer electronics often
IRFP4768PBF 250 17 93 180 • DC to AC Inverters create a climate of expectation in
• High Power Class D the wider electronics market, and so
* Based on data compiled October 2008 it is with wireless communications. It
** Package limited Features
would be really hard to buy a laptop
• 40V to 250V in TO-247AC Package
without WiFi and all but the simplest
• Industrial grade, MSL1
mobile phones now come with
• RoHS compliant
Bluetooth as standard. Since the pieces
OICE of electronics that most customers
Your FIRST CHnce
for Perfo rma use most often now have wireless
connections, there is an increasing
expectation that all the rest of their
personal gadgets and professional
tools will offer no less.
For more information visit us at rswww.com/IR THE POWER MANAGEMENT LEADER
Continued page 14 >
12 TITlE nOVEMBER 2009 eTech - ISSUE 2 13

8. “ Modules are a highly competitive market, and
prices are coming down all the time. Many use
Chip-on-Board technology, so that the complete
module ends up coming in as small as - or
sometimes smaller than - the packaged IC.
John Fairall
Director, RF Solutions
”
< Continued from page 13 products based on all of the major standards, help the developer, they are best avoided need to do is squirt data in and RF comes out,
” Energy Harvesting for high volume designs, where the team
and his advice is that developers shouldn’t by development teams without RF design according to Fairall. A particularly neat idea is to harvest energy has access to the appropriate expertise. In
The task of adding wireless
communications to a system
may appear daunting, with the RS website
necessarily adopt any of them. “The major
benefit of choosing an independent standard
is that it offers access to a wider market. For
experience. “RF design is full of pitfalls, and
unexpected things like the density of the
fibreglass mounting board can be a real issue, ”
Proprietary solutions
A wide range of low-power applications just
from the surrounding environment to power
a wireless link, eliminating the need to use
a batter altogether. This makes the system
most cases, modules offer the shortest time
to market and the lowest design risk, usually
with no or very little penalty in terms of size,
listing support for no less than eight different a system where you control both ends, all says Fairall. “ reference design simplifies the
A need simple point-to-point or networked entirely maintenance-free and reduces costs power consumption and bill of materials cost.
standards, as well as several proprietary four of the major standards will burden you development for a suitably qualified specialist. communications, that can be run from a by eliminating the need for wires of any form. Truthfully,the latest modules make it easy to
alternatives. Which of these multiple with features and performance that you don’t Those choosing this path should either lean on battery. Such applications include alarm and EnOcean GmbH develops and manufactures incorporate a wireless link into almost any
alternatives is the best for any given project, need, and will probably be more costly than a the supplier for enough application support to security products and home automation. Using such self-powered wireless sensors, which electronics product at low cost and with little
and what are the implementation challenges? proprietary solution, he says.
” troubleshoot their design, or expect to hire in a proprietary solution leaves the developer harvest heat or light from the environment, design effort.
a consultant to advise on its completion. This
” in complete control of the whole system, or the energy used for example to depress a
The candidates He continues, “However, if your product requirement probably makes the discrete path eliminating the commercial and technical switch to generate enough electricity to allow
For the purposes of this discussion, we’re needs to communicate with a laptop or to uneconomic for products with volumes of less downsides of allowing customers to introduce the transmission of a short pulse of control data.
going to assume that the requirement is for surf the web through an access point, then than 10,000 pieces per annum. third-party products into the mix. Their self-powered wireless switches consume
wireless communications with a range of wireless LAN is a great idea. If it needs to Texas Instruments SimpliciTITM network about 50 µWs for a complete command which
10-100m, with the capability to penetrate solid connect to a mobile phone, Bluetooth would In truth, though, with the outstanding module protocol is one example of the low-power RF takes less than one millisecond, and has a range
objects. For short range line-of-sight data or be an excellent choice. Similarly, ZigBee is solutions currently emerging, there is little need protocols available for simple, small RF of 300 meters in the open. If this sounds too
remote control applications, there is a range of building critical mass in home automation, to brew your own. Fairall continues, “Modules networks (less than 100 nodes). Designed good to be true, take a look at the Trial Pack
solutions based on infra-red that can be readily sensor networks and remote metering, and are a highly competitive market, and prices are for easy implementation with minimal offered by RS (stock number is 189-065).
accessed. Longer range connections normally RFID is widely used in logistics. If these are coming down all the time. Many use Chip-on- microcontroller resource requirements it
require the use of the cellular infrastructure, your target markets, and interoperability would Board technology, so that the complete module runs out-of-the-box on TI’s low-power Conclusion
which is a whole subject in its own right. be attractive to your customers, then that ends up coming in as small as or sometimes microcontrollers and RF transceivers. Despite For a great many customers looking for a
On this basis, the main alternatives are should drive the decision. ” smaller than the packaged IC. ” the modest resources required, SimpliciTI simple point to point or point to multipoint link,
WiFi, Bluetooth, ZigBee, RFID or proprietary network protocol supports peer-to-peer a proprietary protocol offers the simplest and
solutions. According to John Fairall, Director Implementation Modules can be highly configurable, with communication, the option to use an access lowest cost solution. The major standards, WiFi, For the latest information on
of the company RF Solutions, the main All of these technologies are offered as parameters including frequency selectable by point to store and forward messages and range Bluetooth, ZigBee and RFID are only needed if wireless technology available
parameters to consider are power, physical discrete components or modules. Although the customer. Some offer standard RS-232 extenders to extend the range of the network the market demands them. Either way, it is only from RS, visit the Electronics Centre
size, range and data rate. RF Solutions offers vendors usually offer reference designs to interfaces. “With the smart versions, all you to four hops. worth considering discrete implementations at rswww.com/electronics
14 eTech - ISSUE 2 eTech - ISSUE 2 15

9. A bright future for
IGBT IGBT
renewable
High-side
Q1 Q2 IGBTs
DC supply AC-out
(Solar Inverter, L1 C1
battery) C2
energy
L2
AC-out
IGBT IGBT
Q3 Q4
Low-side
IGBTs
The potential for photovoltaic solar
energy is high but requires careful
design consideration in order to
Fig.1 The solar-power inverter taps high voltage IGBTs in
attain maximum efficiency. a full-bridge topology
Conservation in general
is now
high on the global agenda and as part of the
due to the removal of a single point of failure
outweighs the higher unit price over the
system’s lifetime.
(typically 50 or 60Hz). This effectively means
that, during the positive half-cycle, Q1 is pulse-
width modulated at 20kHz while Q4 remains
overall drive for efficiency, the momentum on (Q2 and Q4 are off) and, similarly for the
behind alternative forms of renewable energy Both centralised and distributed topologies negative half-cycle, Q2 is modulated and Q3
is growing. One of the most viable and buoyant have their merits but both share the need remains on (Q1 and Q4 are off). Clearly, the
technologies is solar power derived from for efficient inverter technology. Without an characteristics of the high-side and low-side
photovoltaic cells. There are now numerous efficient inverter, any gains made through IGBTs differ based on this architecture, so it is
examples of how PV energy can be employed; improving the system’s performance could important to choose devices from a supplier
from portable phone chargers, to arrays of be in vain. However, the requirements of who understands these requirements.
solar roof panels generating enough energy to the inverter(s) used will differ based on the
supply a home or small business. topology and it is here that the technology International Rectifier’s (IR) portfolio of IGBTs
within the inverter plays a key role. and MOSFETs provides for this scenario,
The latter is the subject of much interest at as Figure 1 shows. For the high-side IGBTs,
the moment, as efficient installations are The input voltages to the inverter will depend switching time is crucial and so selecting a fast
capable of supplying surplus energy back into on the topology chosen and, in turn, the switching IGBT can minimise switching losses.
the power grid under the right circumstances, efficiency of the inverter will depend on its A new range of IGBTs launched recently
thereby providing not only a form of renewable design based on those system requirements. by IR, the 600V Trench IGBTs, have been
energy for the owner, but also a modest return It is well established that insulated-gate bipolar optimised for high-side switching at 20kHz
on investment. However, along with much transistors, or IGBTs, offer advantages for this and target inverters used in uninterruptable
interest there is also much debate, as the type of inverter design. These devices present power supplies (UPS) and solar panel inverters.
deployment of PV technology is susceptible the best of field effect transistor (FET) and In fact, using these devices can deliver up to
to losses at various stages in the power chain. bipolar junction transistor (BJT) technologies in 30% efficiency gains in these applications.
To combat this, manufacturers throughout the a single device; allowing them to be controlled
supply chain are becoming polarised over the by a voltage, as with a MOSFET, but offer the The low-side devices need not be optimised
best system architecture to implement. higher current-passing capabilities of BJTs. for switching speed in the same way and in
As a result, their use in power delivery has this application the recommended devices
The power generated by solar panel arrays is increased rapidly and while there is now a would be standard speed IGBTs, constructed
a direct current and so using PV technology wide range of IGBTs to choose from, it is clear from a planar process as opposed to the
to supply an AC voltage at mains power levels that one size does not fit all applications. This is trench devices used for the high-side. These
requires a DC-AC inverter. A debate rages illustrated not only by the differences between devices have been optimised for low speeds
over how best to implement the inverter inverters within a centralised or distributed and low conduction losses and therefore
technology: Centralised or distributed? topology, but the optimised selection of the represent the most efficient solution.
IGBTs within those inverters.
With a distributed approach (which is gaining The use of PV solar panels is increasing rapidly,
favour over the more traditional centralised To create the AC waveform, the DC input yet the technology offers a great deal of
topology) a dedicated inverter is positioned from a solar cell or battery passes through a scope in terms of efficiency improvements.
close to each solar panel’s output. The main full-bridge inverter, as shown in Figure 1. This Developing more efficient inverters is a critical
benefit of this approach is that no individual requires four high-voltage IGBTs; Q1 and Q2 stage in the advancement of PV technology, as
cell’s performance can negatively impact (referred to as ‘high-side’), and Q3 and Q4 well as other forms of renewable energy.
the overall system’s performance – a major (referred to as ‘low-side’) transistors.
criticism of the centralised approach. While
the duplication of inverters does carry a higher One technique to create the AC sine wave
cost, advocates of the distributed approach is to pulse-width modulate the high-side For more on IR’s portfolio of IGBTs
argue that the increased efficiency coupled transistors, at 20kHz, and commutate the low- and MOSFETs for PV technology,
with the improvement in system reliability side IGBTs at the desired power grid frequency go to rswww.com/ir
16 eTech - ISSUE 2 eTech - ISSUE 2 17

10. In our increasingly portable world,
reducing power consumption, weight and
cost conflicts with the need to provide a
sophisticated user interface on even the COnnECT  COnFIGURE 
simplest measurement or test system. The
mobile phone industry is a wonderful proving
COnTROl YOUR SERIAl DEVICES
ground for new technologies that can Serial data is still used for many industrial and Features
reconcile these conflicting requirements, and machine control tasks, but with demands
for greater control and remote access the
• RS422 Full duplex. RS485 4 wire full duplex
or 2 wire half duplex with Autogating,
OlED display technology is the latest idea growth in Ethernet usage continues apace. automatic control of data direction
that was pioneered in this market and is now Brainboxes have the solution with a simple • Support for 5,6,7 or 8 data bits for
,
to install Ethernet to serial converter which maximum system compatibility
being offered to the general display user. allows RS-232 or RS-485 based control • Support XON/XOFF software flow control
systems to transmit data via a local Ethernet and parity bits
network and even further. • Ethernet port is auto-sensing 10/100Mbit
with normal or crossover operation
The ES-357 Ethernet to Serial device server • Power input range from 5-30Vdc making
OlED –
provides access to one RS232 and one it suitable for all applications
RS422/485 serial port via any Ethernet • Compact dimensions - 90x62x25mm
network. With support for data transfer baud (not including mounting ears or connectors)
rates up to 230,400, coupled with software
support for multiple network protocols For datasheets and to see the full
including DHCP TCP IP and HTTP it delivers
, , range of serial data solutions for
uncompromising performance. Brainboxes available visit rswww.com
the backlight-free
and search for ‘668-5506’.
display option
METCAl MX-5000 SOlDERInG SYSTEMS
OlED explained active matrix OLED display is The new MX-5000 Series Soldering and More power. With nearly double the
OLED is an emissive typically 50µs versus 25ms of Rework System is the next generation of power of its predecessor, the MX-5000 MX-5041 PRECISIOn TWEEZERS,
technology, each pixel emitting LCD, meaning full motion-video the trusted Metcal Soldering Systems that time to recovery increases production SOlDERInG AnD REWORK SYSTEM
its own light – so when it is is smoother and greyscale will enable you to increase productivity rates and throughput. Combines both the Metcal Advanced™ Hand-
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consumes virtually no power. applications with these new features: Improved ergonomics. A new Metcal users get maximum application flexibility for
Unlike backlit LCD displays lower cost Advanced™ Hand-piece for soldering and soldering and reworking the widest range of
therefore, OLEDs produce a OLED manufacturing capacity rework is carefully designed to decrease surface mount components.
true black, and their contrast globally is limited, and the operator fatigue and enhance the operator RS Part number: 675-0701
ratio is much higher, typically displays are manufactured in manual dexterity.
10,000:1 compared with 400:1 much lower volumes than LCDs Despite its higher price and other issues such as shorter MX-5051 SOlDERInG, DESOlDERInG
for an LCD display. They are at the moment. Accordingly, lifetimes, OLED adoption is growing rapidly. iSupply forecasts Greater process control. SmartHeat® AnD REWORK SYSTEM
also brighter, partly because OLED displays are currently an eight-fold increase in take-up between 2009 and 2015 and Technology in every MX-5000 means that For unmatched rework versatility, the MX-
they don’t require the polarizers sold at a premium to LCD LG has announced a 15” TV using OLED instead of TFT LCD. soldering and rework are always performed 5051 addresses through-hole desoldering,
which filter out up to half the products. The manufacturing Designers can keep abreast of this new technology and evaluate at safe, controlled temperatures. general soldering, and SMD rework
light from the backlight with an process is in fact simpler it in their own project with the expanding RS range of displays applications. The system incorporates the
LCD display. though, so eventually, they are from the world’s leading OLED manufacturers including 4D MX-5010 SOlDERInG Metcal Advanced Hand-piece and the Metcal
expected to be much lower in Systems, Bolymin, CMEL, Powertip and Univision. AnD REWORK SYSTEM DS1 Desoldering Hand-piece.
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than LCD. OLED not only display technologies. One RS now offers displays, both active and passive matrix, Hand-piece, this system is highly effective
achieves increased brightness variant, Polymer-OLED can spanning a range of sizes (0.79” to 7.6”) and resolutions for soldering applications including: lead-free,
and contrast, but offers a much be printed onto almost any (64x48 to 800x480). high mass components or boards, thermally
wider viewing angle - up to 170 substrate with inkjet printer sensitive components requiring low operating
degrees up/down and left/right, technology, meaning ultra-thin temperature, high volume production
compared to 150 degrees on displays become achievable, soldering and touch-up soldering operations.
all but the most advanced TFT with the potential for roll-up See the latest displays and evaluation kits online RS Part number: 675-0691
LCDs. The response time of an displays in the future. at rswww.com/electronics
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