too much information? has extended its family of stm32l4+ low-power microcontrollers based on the...

I S S U E 1 8 0 4

Application Spotlight on:

Component Focus: Pages 3-12 ROHM’s power regulator supports 48V power distribution with 24:1 input/output voltage ratio

Application Spotlight: Pages 13-17 ST’s motion-sensing firmware provides ready-made applications for MEMS accelerometers and gyros

Board of the Month: 7 Future’s graphics display development platform provides options for sophisticated HMI designs

Technical View: Pages 18-19 How mid-power LEDs are emerging as a robust light source for street lights

F T M T E C H N O L O G Y W A T C HN E W S I N B R I E F

F O L L O W U S N O W – S E A R C H F T M B O A R D C L U B O N

Too much information? How design engineers can streamline evaluation of

the new products displayed at Embedded World

In February, some 1,021 exhibitors displayed their products and services to more than 32,000 visitors from 78 countries at the Embedded World exhibition in Nuremberg, Germany. Such is its popularity that it is now probably the world’s most important exhibition for the embedded engineering community.

John RobinsBusiness Development Manager for Embedded Solutions (Northern Europe), Future Electronics

What struck me as I walked the halls at Embedded World was the breadth and complexity of the product options available to the system developer. Of course the familiar names in microcontrollers and microprocessors, such as STMicroelectronics, Microchip, NXP Semiconductors and Cypress Semiconductor, were well represented. But Embedded World also has whole halls dedicated to other parts of the embedded ecosystem, including displays and imaging, security and safety devices, operating systems, development tool suites and embedded computers.

There was far more technology on view than one engineer could possibly study in a day’s visit. Yet on almost every stand there was some performance enhancement or a valuable new feature that could help a designer to gain a competitive edge when implemented in an end-product design.

So how can designers possibly select the most important and valuable innovations that the embedded community has to offer? Part of the answer is provided by Future Electronics’ Centres of Excellence: as a franchised distribution partner to the world’s top electronics component suppliers, Future Electronics has early access to technology and product introductions that can have a big impact on customers’ designs.

This enables the Centres of Excellence to create rapid development kits which accelerate customers’ implementation of exciting new technology. An example was on show at Embedded World: the Amber display solution. This is an integrated platform which combines a choice of high-performance processing

New peripheral architecture for AVR 8-bit MCUsMicrochip has introduced its Core Independent Peripheral (CIP) architecture, which is already used in its PIC® microcontrollers, into its megaAVR® series of MCUs based on the AVR® core.

The new 8-bit ATmega4809 MCU is the first megaAVR device to feature the CIP architecture. CIP hardware decreases the amount of code required to implement system functions, reducing development effort while providing fast and deterministic responses to system inputs.

Launch of DIP24 DC-DC converter module with 6W ratingMEAN WELL has introduced the SCWN/DCWN06 series of DC-DC converter modules, which are supplied in an encapsulated package with a standard DIP24 footprint. The new 6W modules have a wider operating-temperature range and feature higher I/O isolation levels than MEAN WELL’s earlier SCW05/DCW05 series.

The modules comply with the EN55032 Class A EMI standard without additional filters, and are offered with a three-year warranty.

60GHz modules provide full-duplex wireless connection at 12Gbits/s data rateLattice Semiconductor has announced new Lattice Snap™ modules, based on its SiBEAM® 60GHz wireless technology, which enable manufacturers to easily integrate short-range, high-speed wireless links into their products.

The Snap modules, which offer 12Gbits/s full-duplex bandwidth at low latency, provide a platform for the replacement of USB or other high data-rate connectors. By eliminating the wired connector, the industrial designs of new products can be made thinner and lighter and immune to environmental hazards such as moisture and contamination.

options from NXP, Microchip and ST available as daughter cards, combined with a selection of industrial displays in 4.3" and 7" sizes, with and without a touch-sensing interface, and in various resolution and brightness specifications.

The Amber platform allows the developer to instantly see the effect of different display choices, and make a selection of the best new user-interface technology with confidence that the end product will closely match the appearance of the Amber system. This is an important design decision, because end users generally rate the quality of an entire product based on their interaction with the user interface.

The Amber platform is the Board of the Month, featured on page 17, so readers of FTM can easily request to see it. This FTM’s Application Spotlight section also describes a range of sensor, driver and switch products for user interfaces. For help in evaluating any of them for new product designs, simply email [email protected] or contact your nearest branch of Future Electronics.

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180401 For samples or pricing [email protected]

©Copyright 2018 Future Electronics Ltd. All trademarks contained herein are the property of their respective owners. Applications for product samples, badge boards, demonstration boards, Future Electronics’ boards and other advertised materials from Future Electronics are offered subject to qualification. Images of product packages throughout this publication are for illustration purposes and not necessarily an exact representation of the advertised part.

F T M T E C H N O L O G Y W A T C H

S E E P R E V I O U S I S S U E S O F F T M AT W W W. M Y- F T M . C O M 3

C O M P O N E N T F O C U S

Arm Cortex-M4-based MCUs support superior graphics effects and user interfaces

STMicroelectronics has extended its family of STM32L4+ low-power microcontrollers based on the high-performance Arm® Cortex®-M4 32-bit processor core.

The STM32L4R5xx, STM32L4R7xx and STM32L4R9xx devices, which operate at a core frequency of up to 120MHz, offer sophisticated graphics capabilities and large internal random-access memory provision.

Featuring 640kbytes of embedded SRAM, these MCUs support up to WQVGA standard displays or 400px x 400px round displays with no need for external RAM.

The STM32L4Rxxx devices also enable designers to produce superior graphics effects and fluid user interfaces thanks to the built-in Chrom-ART Accelerator™, a hardware acceleration engine for common graphics functions. The MCUs also include ST’s unique Chrom-GRC™ memory optimisation feature for circular displays.

The new STM32L4+ MCUs offer various interface options for large displays, including embedded MIPI-DSI, TFT LCD and parallel display controllers.

STMICROELECTRONICSThe Arm Cortex-M4 core features a single-precision floating-point unit, which supports all the Arm single-precision data-processing instructions and all the data types. The core also implements a full set of DSP instructions and a memory protection unit, which enhances the application’s security.

As well as the SRAM provision, the MCUs include 2Mbytes of Flash memory and a flexible external memory controller for static memories and two OctoSPI Flash interfaces. The embedded memories feature protection mechanisms including read-out protection, write protection, proprietary code read-out protection and a firewall.

The STM32L4Rxxx family is available in a choice of six packages, which have from 100 to 169 pins.

32L4R9IDISCOVERY: Board’s 1.2" round display includes touch panel

APPLICATIONS• Industrial equipment• Consumer devices• Motor-control systems

FEATURES• Up to 24 capacitive sensing channels• Four I2C interfaces• Three serial peripheral interfaces• Two serial audio interfaces• Camera interface• Two DAC channels • 12-bit ADC operating at up to

5Msamples/s


Apply now at my-boardclub.comFast-track board request code: FTM84A

The 32L4R9IDISCOVERY kit enables users to easily prototype applications that offer high energy efficiency, and provides stunning audio and graphics rendering with direct support for a 1.2" round AMOLED LCD screen.Orderable Part Number: STM32L4R9I-DISCO

USB Type-C controller provides integrated USB Power Delivery functions

The STUSB1602 is a USB Type-C™ controller which implements port management on the host and/or device side, and is suited for a broad range of applications.

The STUSB1602 can handle all USB-C controller functions, including: • attach detection• plug orientation detection• host-to-device connection• connector voltage support• supply voltage configuration It also provides a line driver for USB Power Delivery (PD) Transmit and Receive signals, and

a Biphase Mark Coding (BMC) transceiver, which provides for USB PD negotiation and alternative-mode operation through an external microcontroller.

The STUSB1602 is compliant with the USB Type-C standard revision 1.2 and the USB PD standard revision 2.0. It is compatible with version 3.0 of the USB PD standard.

STMICROELECTRONICS

APPLICATIONS• Smart plugs, wall power adapters and

chargers • Power hubs and docking stations • Gaming devices • Displays • Cameras, camcorders and media players • Any USB Type-C source or sink device

FEATURES• Configurable start-up profiles• Integrated power switch for connector

voltage supply• Support for dead battery operation• I²C interface and interrupt• Integrated supply-voltage monitoring• Accessory mode support



Orderable Part Number: P-NUCLEO-USB002



MCU kit supports graphics displays with a capacitive touchscreen

New power inductors for automotive applications feature high heat and vibration resistance

The STM32F76x series of MCUs from STMicroelectronics, which are based on a 216MHz Arm® Cortex®-M7 core with double-precision floating-point unit and DSP instructions, combines enhanced graphics capabilities with extensive connectivity features.

Panasonic Industry Europe has launched a series of reliable power inductors for automotive and other applications which require tolerance of high temperatures of up to 150°C and resistance to vibrations of up to 30g.

These include:• ST’s Chrom-ART Accelerator™ and a

hardware JPEG accelerator for high-speed graphics rendering

• STemWin professional graphics library and development tools

• An LCD controller supporting up to XGA resolution

• A MIPI® DSI host controller supporting up to 720px resolution at a 30Hz frame rate

Design engineers can readily evaluate these features with the 32F769IDISCOVERY Discovery Kit based on the STM32F769 microcontroller. It offers expansion connectors including an 8-pin socket for Wi-Fi® networking modules.

Benefitting from a shielded construction, the new ETQ-P3M surface-mount inductors are ideal for use in switching power-conversion systems operating at frequencies higher than 2MHz. They help the power-system designer to achieve high efficiency, since they offer both low DC resistance in the winding and low eddy-current losses in the core.

The inductors have a low profile, maximum height is only 3mm, and offer excellent inductance and temperature stability over a broad temperature range.

STMICROELECTRONICS

PANASONIC

APPLICATIONS• End products requiring high-performance

graphics or a sophisticated GUI

FEATURES• USB2.0 Full Speed PHY and controller• USB2.0 Hi-Speed PHY and controller• Three CAN 2.0 interfaces • 10/100 Ethernet media access controller

with IEEE 1588v2 support• HDMI consumer electronics control • Camera interface• Three 12-bit, 2.4Msamples/s ADCs• Two 12-bit DACs• Digital filters for a sigma-delta modulator

APPLICATIONS• Noise filters in drive circuits• DC-DC converters• LED drivers

FEATURES• Low buzz noise• AEC-Q200 qualified• Metal composite core• High bias current

The 32F769IDISCOVERY kit supports Power-over-Ethernet (PoE), and includes a 512Mbit quad-SPI Flash interface. Accessories which enhance flexibility and extend application capabilities include the B-LCDAD-RPI1 15-pin single-row Flexible Printed Circuit (FPC) adapter board providing a Display Serial Interface (DSI). It also includes a B-LCDAD-HDMI1 DSI-to-HDMI adapter, which enhances flexibility by enabling the board to attach a wide variety of displays.

The kit can also be supplied with the B-LCD40-DSI, a 4" WVGA display with a capacitive touchscreen. The B-LCD40-DSI can be ordered separately if needed to upgrade the kit at a later date.

There are two standard parts in the new ETQ-P3M series: the ETQP3M2R2HFP, which has a rated inductance of 2.2µH and DC resistance of 19.5mΩ; and the ETQP3M100HFN, with 10.0µH inductance and resistance of 68.0mΩ.

STM32F76x: High-speed graphics rendering

ETQ-P3M inductor: Package just 3mm high

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Orderable Part Numbers: 32F769IDISCOVERY Daughter Boards:B-LCDAD-RPI1 B-LCDAD-HDMI1 B-LCD40-DSI



High-performance Flashless MCUs offer wide variety of communications options

NXP Semiconductors has introduced the LPC540xx family of Flashless microcontrollers which feature a 180MHz Arm® Cortex®-M4 core, up to 360kbytes of on-board SRAM and integrated security capabilities.

The new LPC540xx MCUs’ power-efficient architecture, built-in HMI functions and flexible communications peripherals make them suitable for use in next-generation IoT devices.

The security functionality in the new MCUs includes an on-chip hardware AES encryption engine, which accelerates the processing involved in assuring data integrity and proof of origin. Encryption operations are supported by the provision of a general-purpose one-time programmable memory for storing security keys as well as user data.

The LPC540xx family offers considerable system design flexibility because of the wealth of communications interfaces that it provides.

NXP SEMICONDUCTORSThese include a quad-SPI Flash interface, two CAN Flexible Data-rate modules and a graphics TFT-LCD controller. In addition, up to 11 FlexComm channels are available: these can be configured in software as a USART, serial peripheral or I2C interface.

The new MCUs are compatible with earlier members of the LPC54000 series, giving designers a migration path to increased processing power and additional peripherals.

LPC540xx: On-board graphics display controller

APPLICATIONS• Building control and automation• Diagnostic equipment• Multi-node/multi-protocol communication

hubs• Human-machine interfaces• Data collectors• Infotainment systems• Navigation equipment• Telematics and fleet management

FEATURES• 100μA/MHz active-mode current• Two ISO 7816 smart card interfaces • USB2.0 Hi-Speed host/device controller

with on-chip high-speed PHY• USB2.0 Full-Speed host/device controller

with on-chip PHY • Ethernet media access controller• 12-channel 12-bit ADC• Temperature sensor



Orderable Part Number: OM40003

New version of TrueSTUDIO IDE optimised for STM32 MCUs

STMicroelectronics has introduced the Atollic® TrueSTUDIO® for STM32 professional development tool, which includes advanced debug and software engineering features that help developers who work with STM32 microcontrollers to increase their efficiency.

TrueSTUDIO for STM32 is a flexible and extensible Integrated Development Environment (IDE) which is based on the Eclipse and GNU open standard tool suites. ST has extended it with professional features for code management and advanced system analysis. This gives a unique insight into the structure and the dynamic behaviour of STM32-based systems.

In particular, TrueSTUDIO provides STM32 developers with a wide selection of system-analysis functions, helping

STMICROELECTRONICSthem to assess design soundness from various perspectives, including static analysis of memory and stack usage. The tool also enables users to visualise the dynamic behaviour of the system as it runs.

Additional features include automatic hard-fault crash analysis, which works out the reasons for a system crash, where it occurred, and under which circumstances.

The release of Atollic TrueSTUDIO for STM32 is a result of ST’s acquisition of Atollic at the end of 2017.

APPLICATIONS• Designs based on STM32

microcontrollers

FEATURES• Project management tools including

project wizards, importers and configuration tools

• Advanced code editing• Navigation, refactoring, styling and

structure visualisation• Highly optimised C/C++ compiler• Assembler, linker and utilities• RTOS-aware debugger • Client for bug- and issue-tracking systems

such as Bugzilla, Trac and Mantis



Efficient and compact new DC-DC converter modules ideal for railway applications

Vicor has released a new generation of DC-DC Converter Module (DCM) parts in its 3623 ChiP packaging style, providing a wide input-voltage range and high power outputs suitable for rail transportation and infrastructure applications.

The DCM is a regulated DC-DC converter module that can operate from an unregulated, wide input range of 43V to 154V to generate an isolated DC output, achieving conversion efficiency of up to 93%.

The new modules, which measure 38.72mm x 22.8mm x 7.21mm, benefit from the thermal and power-density characteristics of

VICOR

APPLICATIONS• Railway rolling stock• Railway infrastructure

FEATURES• Safety Extra Low Voltage (SELV) output• 3,000V DC isolation• Zero-voltage switching topology• Fully operational current limit• Over- and under-voltage, over-current,

short-circuit and thermal protection functions

• M-grade versions support extended temperature range down to -55°C

Vicor’s ChiP packaging technology. They offer flexible thermal management options thanks to their very low thermal impedance on both the top and bottom faces of the package. The new 3623 ChiP modules are ideal in a wide range of DC-DC conversion applications in both freight and commuter railway equipment. Commuter rail systems require mobile office communication capabilities with the infotainment capabilities of home. Freight rail systems require monitoring and control capabilities to assure the safe and timely delivery of all goods onboard. In both cases, the power-conversion circuit must offer reliability and high performance.

The high conversion efficiency of the DCM parts and the low thermal impedance of the 3623 ChiP package help to minimise thermal stress, which helps to prolong service life as well as easing the design of the power circuit’s thermal pathways.

Vicor 3623 ChiP package: Low thermal impedance

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ST introduces mesh networking software for BlueNRG Bluetooth radios

STMicroelectronics has introduced a complete software solution for its range of Bluetooth® Low Energy radio transceivers which enables them to form a mesh network.

STMICROELECTRONICSBy forming a mesh network, Bluetooth Low Energy-enabled devices can communicate in two directions over a far longer range than a simple point-to-point connection can cover.

ST’s BlueNRG-Mesh software solution includes the core functionality required to form a secure communication network, and provides developers with the flexibility needed to build a wide variety of applications. It supports the multi-hop mode of data

transmission, and allows the formation of mesh networks containing as many as 32,767 nodes.

The BlueNRG-Mesh software’s mesh networking implementation is provided as a library. ST also supplies demonstration application source code. The solution is compatible with the ST BlueNRG range of products: • BlueNRG-1• SPBTLE-1S • BlueNRG-2• BlueNRG-MS with the

STM32L152RE

APPLICATIONS• Internet of Things• Wireless sensor networks• Home and building automation

FEATURES• All messages in the network are encrypted• Software development kit for Android™

and iOS operating platforms



ChiP DCM Family of Parts

PackageInput

Voltage Range

NominalInput

Voltage

Output Voltage and Power

3.3V 5V 12V 15V 24V 28V 48V

3623 ChiP 43V-154V 100V 80W 120W 240W 240W 240W 240W 240W

It enables interoperation with smartphones in two modes:• smartphone-to-node communication with

unicast addressing• smartphone-to-node communication with

broadcast addressingIt also enables node-to-node communication.


Orderable Part Numbers: DCD24APxxxT or MDCD28APxxxM

S E E P R E V I O U S I S S U E S O F F T M AT W W W. M Y- F T M . C O M

TVS diode arrays protect DC lines in powered USB interfaces

Single op amp combines high speed with low power

The TSB611 single operational amplifier from STMicroelectronics offers system designers the opportunity to benefit from both high speed and low power consumption.

Littelfuse has introduced a series of TVS diode arrays which provide ESD protection for DC power lines in powered USB interfaces.

Its gain-bandwidth product is 560kHz, while operating current is just 125µA at the maximum 36V supply voltage. It provides a rail-to-rail output.

The TSB611 operates over a wide temperature range from -40°C to 125°C, which makes it suitable for use in industrial and automotive applications.

Featuring a low maximum input-offset voltage of ±1.6mV, the TSB611 provides stable and linear performance over the entire operating-temperature range. Input offset-voltage drift is a maximum 6µV/°C.

The new SP11xx series employs Zener diodes fabricated in a proprietary silicon avalanche technology to protect each I/O pin in the interface. These robust devices offer high surge tolerance. In fact, surge density per square millimeter is higher than that of any other Littelfuse TVS diode array.

The SP11xx parts also benefit from extremely low dynamic resistance across all of the voltage levels at which powered USB interfaces operate, giving a fast response to ESD transients. The diodes can safely absorb repetitive ESD strikes at ±30kV without performance degradation, and safely dissipate 80A of 8/20μs surge current with very low clamping voltages.

STMICROELECTRONICS

LITTELFUSE

Fabricated in ST’s BiCMOS process, the TSB611 combines the advantages of low noise from the bipolar element of the process and low power consumption with high output current from the CMOS element.

Due to its small package size, the TSB611 can be used in applications in which space on the board is limited. Its five-lead SOT23 package has a footprint of 2.9mm x 2.8mm.

The SP11xx series arrays protect fast-charging batteries, such as those used in tablets and smartphones, from the risk of premature failure or temperature-induced damage. They limit the battery’s exposure to the fast transients which can occur when plugging into AC-DC converters, a common source of dirty power. These TVS diodes are also useful for protecting the power-supply lines in USB3.1 Type-C™ interfaces.

SP11xx TVS diodes: Low dynamic resistance

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APPLICATIONS• Switches and buttons• Test equipment and instrumentation• Point-of-sale terminals• Medical equipment• Computer peripherals• Automotive electronics

FEATURES• 40A surge rating in accordance with

IEC 61000-4-4 for a 5/50ns pulse• Low clamping voltage• Low leakage current

APPLICATIONS• Industrial equipment• Power supplies • Automotive systems

FEATURES• Supply-voltage range: 2.7V to 36V• 115dB common-mode rejection ratio• Unity gain stable• Input common-mode voltage includes

ground• 4kV ESD tolerance on the human body

model






New DC-DC regulator IC supplies board-level components directly from 48V power rail

ROHM Semiconductor has introduced a DC-DC regulator IC which can step down the input from a 48V power rail directly to the low voltage required by board-level components, without the need for an intermediate power stage, while operating at a high switching frequency of 2MHz. This enables designers to develop power circuits that use fewer and smaller components, occupy less board space and have a lower bill-of-materials cost.

The BD9V101MUF-LB regulator benefits from the development by ROHM of ultra-high speed Nano Pulse Control® technology. This technology combines advanced techniques for circuit design and layout with new device fabrication processes. With it, ROHM has shortened the on-time in its device’s PWM control scheme to intervals as short as 9ns, enabling the BD9V101MUF-LB to achieve a very wide input:output voltage ratio of 24:1 at high switching frequencies.

The development of Nano Pulse Control technology comes in response to the increasing use of a 48V power distribution bus in mild- and full-hybrid vehicles, as well as in industrial equipment and in telecoms power supplies.

ROHM SEMICONDUCTOR

APPLICATIONS• Industrial equipment• Telecoms equipment• Base transmitter stations• Automotive systems

FEATURES• Input-voltage range: 16V to 60V• Output-voltage range: 0.8V to 5.5V• Output-voltage accuracy: ±2%• 1A maximum output current• Operating-temperature range:

-40°C to 125°C

BD9V101MUF-LB voltage regulator: Very short on-time enables wide input:output ratio


Typical power-system architectures involve an intermediate conversion stage, stepping the 48V bus supply down to 12V with a further conversion to the <5.5V supply required by Electronic Control Units (ECUs) or network processors. By using the BD9V101MUF-LB, this conversion can be performed in a single stage.


Automotive-grade dual inductor saves space in Class-D amplifiers

Vishay Intertechnology’s IHLD series of low-profile, high-current dual inductors includes a device, the IHLD-3232HB-5A, supplied in a 3232 case which helps designers of automotive and commercial Class-D amplifier circuits to save board space.

Supporting a maximum operating temperature of 155°C, the automotive-grade IHLD-3232HB-5A accommodates its two inductors in one 9.75mm x 9.14mm package.

When used in automotive and commercial Class-D amplifier circuits, the dual-inductor package gives better performance than an equivalent design that uses multiple individual inductors.

VISHAY

APPLICATIONS• Class-D amplifier circuits

FEATURES• AEC-Q200 qualified• Frequency range up to 1 MHz • Rated current up to 6.0A• Operating-temperature range:

-55°C to 155°C • High resistance to thermal shock,

moisture, mechanical shock and vibration

It produces low total harmonic distortion, the result of its excellent temperature stability of inductance and linear saturation characteristic. In addition, the dual-inductor configuration reduces coupling effects, thus keeping cross-talk between the inductors to a minimum.

Vishay’s IHLD-3232HB-5A: Two inductors in one small package


The IHLD-3232HB-5A is available with inductance values ranging from 5µH to 33µH, and with DC resistance values from 29.2mΩ to 159.43mΩ. Vishay also supplies the IHLD4032KB-5A dual inductor in an 11.2mm x 11.9mm package, which offers inductance values of 10µH, 15µH, 22µH or 33µH.

Solid tantalum chip capacitors save space in densely-populated board designs

Vishay Intertechnology supplies three series of solid tantalum surface-mount chip capacitors for circuit designs which require small case sizes and a low profile.

Suitable for high-density board layouts, the compact packages of the TMCJ, TMCP and TMCU series of capacitors save PCB space, while their low profiles mean that they are ideal for mounting on mezzanine cards.

The capacitors operate over a temperature range of -55°C to 125°C, with voltage de-rating at temperatures higher than 85°C.

VISHAY

Vishay capacitors: Operation at up to 125°C

APPLICATIONS• Industrial systems• Audio-visual equipment • Power converters

FEATURES• Qualified to EIA-717


Part Number TMCJ TMCP TMCU

Case code J (1608-09) P (2012-12) UA (3216-12)UB (3528-12)

Capacitance values 0.68µF to 22µF 0.1µF to 47µF 0.1µF to 220µF

Tolerance ratings ±20% ±20% ±10%, ±20%

Voltage ratings 2.5V DC to 20V DC 2.5V DC to 25V DC 2.5V DC to 25V DC

Maximum equivalent series resistance values at 25°C and 100kHz 10Ω to 27.5Ω 4.0Ω to 33Ω 1.1Ω to 40Ω

Maximum ripple current values at 100kHz 0.043A to 0.071A 0.044A to 0.126A 0.044A to 0.295A




Compact 160A power connector suitable for DIN rail or panel mounting

Wire-to-board connectors available in vertical and right-angle mounting styles

Hirose’s EF1 series of in-line power connectors are small but provide a 160A maximum current rating for use in demanding industrial applications.

The High Performance Interconnects (HPI) range from TE Connectivity (TE) is a system of wire-to-board connectors available in 1.0mm, 1.5mm, 2.0mm, 2.5mm and 3.96mm centreline pitch versions.

The EF1 series consists of a DIN rail-mount in-line receptacle and plug and a panel-mount in-line receptacle and plug, both of which accept high-power crimp contacts.

The innovative connector design allows the crimped cable to be inserted into the connector housing in a quick and easy one-step operation. The crimp contact can be easily terminated to the cable with a standard JIS C 9711 hand tool.

The snap-in lock provides a positive tactile sensation to confirm correct mating engagement and secure connection.

The HPI connector system offers a choice of vertical and right-angle connector mounting styles, providing designers with the versatility to match the connector to the mechanical requirements of their board design. The products are supplied as a header and crimp-on snap-in connectors.

The HPI connectors feature square-peg technology, which makes them compatible with industry-standard products from other

manufacturers. TE’s HPI products

can be used in applications in which a signal or low power needs to be routed through a device. They accept wire sizes from AWG 24 to AWG 30. The connectors are supplied in various colours to allow for colour coding to ease assembly and installation.

HIROSE

TE CONNECTIVITY

APPLICATIONS• Power controllers• Inverters• Batteries• Medical devices• Base transmitter stations• Robot controllers

FEATURES• One contact position• 1,000V AC-DC voltage rating• Operating-temperature range:

-25°C to 105°C• 30 mating cycles

APPLICATIONS• Business equipment• Industrial machines• Plasma display panels• LCD monitors• Small electronic devices

FEATURES• High performance and high reliability• Cross-use test reports available• Polarised• Positive latching with audible click when

mating

The unique shape of the internal spring contact and contact points ensures the application of the optimum contact force to maintain a highly reliable and stable connection.

The housing features four different mating keying styles to prevent incorrect mating when multiple connectors are used. The connectors are available in red to mark the plus or minus connection.

Hirose EF1: Snap-in lock provides for secure connection

TE’s HPI range: Compatible with other industry-standard products TE, TE Connectivity, and the TE connectivity (logo) are trademarks of the TE Connectivity Ltd. family of companies.

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TE, TE Connectivity, and the TE connectivity (logo) are trademarks of the TE Connectivity Ltd. family of companies.



Undetectable detection switch for anti-tamper and anti-intrusion systems

30A PCB relay saves space in tight board layouts

The Potter & Brumfield T9G series from TE Connectivity (TE) is a 30A PCB-mount power relay.

C&K’s SDS series detection switches may be used in equipment such as a utility meter to provide a signal to a host controller when the housing has been tampered with.

When used as an anti-tamper device, the key advantage of the SDS series switch is its small size: featuring a low-profile package which protrudes just 2mm above board level, it is almost unnoticeable, and may be regarded as an undetectable detection device.

The switch provides 2mm of over-travel, giving flexibility in the mechanical design of the

TE CONNECTIVITY

C&K SWITCHES

The T9G is the smallest relay in its class, featuring a 30% smaller package and occupying a 13% smaller board area while keeping an industry-standard footprint. The relay is available in versions with coil voltage ratings of 5V, 9V, 12V, 15V, 18V, 22V, 24V, 48V and 110V DC. The contact arrangement is either 1 Form A, 1 Form B or 1 Form C.

housing. It features normally open and normally closed circuitry, and can be actuated either from above or from the side.

Reliability is another advantage of the SDS series: it is rated for 100,000 switching cycles.

Custom options are available, including longer actuators and different contact plating materials.

T9G relay: Quick-connect terminations for easy installation

SDS series switch: Low 2mm profile

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APPLICATIONS• Utility meters• Consumer electronic devices• Medical equipment • Telecoms equipment

FEATURES• 75g actuation force • 100mA contact rating at 12V DC• 100mΩ maximum initial contact resistance• 10MΩ minimum insulation resistance • Operating-temperature range:

-40°C to 85°C

APPLICATIONS• Heating, ventilation and air-conditioning

equipment• Appliances• Industrial controls• Energy management

FEATURES• 30A maximum current• 480V AC maximum voltage• UL 508 recognised• UL E214025 recognised • IEC 61810-1 compliant • VDE 40045012 certified




Isolation between the coil and contacts is high: the relay has a 4kV dielectric rating, and 8kV surge rating.

The T9G has both UL and VDE certifications, which means that it can be designed into applications intended for use anywhere in the world. Offering quick-connect terminations, it is user-friendly and easy to install.


DVI receptacles provide cable-to-board connection for high-resolution video signals

Cable assemblies certified for use in DisplayPort connection applications

The Digital Visual Interface (DVI) receptacles from TE Connectivity (TE), which conform to the Digital Display Working Group’s DVI specification, are intended for use in high-resolution video applications.

TE Connectivity (TE) supplies a range of audio/video connectors which conform to the specifications of the DisplayPort standard. The DisplayPort transmission protocol is widely used in consumer and computing equipment which is required to display high-definition content.

The single monitor interface specification helps OEMs to make the transition from analogue to digital video display designs, supports analogue and digital interfaces, and allows the end user to connect a display with DVI connector equipment, regardless of the display technology.

TE’s cable-to-board DVI receptacles support serial digital data transmission for reduced EMI and crosstalk.

TE’s cable assemblies have gained full certification as defined in the DisplayPort specification version 1.1a. They operate by consistently transmitting digital data through one, two or four main link lanes at a reduced rate of 1.62Gbits/s per lane, or at a high data-rate of 2.7Gbits/s per lane. This yields excellent HD quality video in all applications.

TE also supplies cable adapters conforming to the DisplayPort standard for users who require a backward-compatible bridge between DisplayPort and the DVI, HDMI or VGA standards.

TE CONNECTIVITY

TE CONNECTIVITY

APPLICATIONS• Set-top boxes • High-end monitors • Video graphics applications • Workstations • Retail business equipment

FEATURES• Nickel shell plating• 9A contact current rating• Tin contact plating• Operating-temperature range:

-25°C to 85°C• 1.6mm minimum PCB thickness

APPLICATIONS• External display interconnects• Monitors• Panels• Set-top boxes• Projectors• Mobile devices• Personal video recorders• Optical disc players

FEATURES• Small, user-friendly external connector• Supports an embedded clock• Superior EMI shielding• Optional latching feature prevents cables

from detaching

DVI receptacles from TE: Nickel shell plating

DisplayPort cable assemblies: Up to 2.7Gbits/s per lane TE, TE Connectivity, and the TE connectivity (logo) are trademarks of the TE Connectivity Ltd. family of companies.

TE, TE Connectivity, and the TE connectivity (logo) are trademarks of the TE Connectivity Ltd. family of companies.

12



C O M P O N E N T F O C U S A P P L I C A T I O N S P O T L I G H T : H M I


C O M P O N E N T F O C U S A P P L I C A T I O N S P O T L I G H T : H M I


Proximity and ambient light sensor offers design flexibility in gesture applications

Vishay Intertechnology’s VCNL4035X01 is an automotive-grade proximity and ambient light sensor which gives designers a flexible way to implement 2D or 3D gesture-recognition functions.

Featuring Filtron™ technology, the VCNL4035X01 combines photo-detectors for proximity and ambient light, a signal-conditioning IC, a 16-bit ADC and a driver for up to three external IR emitters in a 4.0mm x 2.36mm x 0.75mm surface-mount package.

It can be used to enable various functions: • gesture recognition • presence detection • collision avoidance in toys and robots

The support for external IR emitters for gesture applications gives the designer flexibility to locate the emitters in the optimal position, in contrast to fully integrated gesture sensing modules, in which the emitters are located next to the sensor.

VISHAYThe device includes a programmable interrupt function, which allows both high and low thresholds to be set to reduce overall power consumption. The function can be programmed to trigger both the ambient light and proximity sensor.

The sensor’s Filtron technology provides spectral sensitivity similar to that of the human eye, while offering excellent cancellation of interference from background light sources. The device’s high sensitivity means that the sensor can detect objects as far as 500mm away. This range depends on the choice of external IR emitter.

VCNL4035X01: Good immunity to background light sources

13

APPLICATIONS• Consumer electronics• Display activation • Lighting controls • Industrial equipment

FEATURES• Immune to fluorescent light flicker• Excellent temperature compensation

from -40°C to 105°C • Supply-voltage range: 2.5V to 3.6V• AEC-Q101 qualified• I2C interface


The VCNL4035X01’s ambient light photo-diode has a detection range of 0.004lux to 4.2klux, which means that it can operate in applications with a dark or a transparent lens. Its proximity sensor uses intelligent cancellation to eliminate cross-talk, while a smart persistence scheme ensures fast response time when an object is detected.

Analogue MEMS microphone features high signal-to-noise ratio

The new MP23ABS1 from STMicroelectronics is a low-power microphone which combines a MEMS capacitive sound-sensing element and a sensor interface IC in a compact 3.5mm x 2.7mm x 1mm metal-cap package.

STMICROELECTRONICS

The MP23ABS1, a single-ended analogue bottom-port microphone, offers excellent audio characteristics, including a typical 64dB signal-to-noise ratio. Its acoustic overload point is 130dB. Sensitivity to sound is rated at -38dBV ±1dB at a sound pressure level of 94dB and a frequency of 1kHz.

Because of its omnidirectional sensitivity and high signal-to-noise ratio, the MP23ABS1 is suitable for use in a new generation of smart speakers, which may be used to recognise voice commands and spoken queries in noisy home environments.

The MP23ABS1 operates over an extended temperature range of -40°C to 85°C.

MP23ABS1 microphone: Excellent 64dB signal-to-noise ratio

APPLICATIONS• Wearable devices• Smart speakers• Active noise-cancelling headsets

FEATURES• Single supply-voltage range: 1.52V to 3.6V• Omnidirectional sensitivity• Enhanced RF immunity• Ultra-flat frequency response• Low latency


A P P L I C A T I O N S P O T L I G H T : H M I


Power IC optimised for driving LRA and ERM haptic feedback devices

Complete hardware and software solution speeds development of touch-sensing interfaces

The new PAM8016 from Diodes Inc is a driver IC which has features optimised for driving the Linear Resonance Actuator (LRA) and Eccentric Rotating Mass (ERM) haptic elements that are commonly used to provide tactile feedback such as vibration alerts in portable devices.

NXP Semiconductors offers a complete hardware and software solution which simplifies the implementation of touch-based user interfaces. The solution includes software which works simply and seamlessly with the NXP capacitive touch-sensing hardware IP on the company’s Kinetis E15Z series of microcontrollers.

The PAM8016 is notable for its low latency and high output current capable of driving haptic loads. The efficient, filterless output-drive configuration achieves efficiency of up to 90% when driving an 8Ω load.

DIODES INCORPORATED

NXP SEMICONDUCTORS

Start-up time is just 4ms. The driver operates from a supply-voltage range of 2.8V to 5.5V, compatible with the typical supply rail of a battery-operated device. It supports differential, single-ended or PWM inputs for easy integration with a host microcontroller.

Designers who create touch-sensing interfaces based on the NXP touch solution will benefit from:• robust EMC performance and noise immunity• support for both the self-capacitance and

mutual-capacitance modes of touch sensing. The NXP touch system can be used to create matrix touch pads with up to 36 (6x6) inputs

• effective performance in the presence of liquids such as water, oil and condensation

• high sensitivity for operation through thick overlay materials

Software enablement is provided through an NXP Touch Library based on its MCUXpresso Software Development Kit (SDK). This provides application programming interfaces for high-level touch applications, which means the developer does not need to spend time on low-level hardware configuration. Typical design examples help developers to get started quickly on new projects.

Available as source code, the NXP touch software features touch-detection algorithms, and is ideally suited to RTOS-based applications. It uses a modular architecture with a variety of touch-centric controls, modules, and electrode data objects, enabling the creation of integrated and customisable features.

PAM8016: Optimised driver for motors which provide vibration alerts in consumer devices

FRDM-TOUCH shield: High sensitivity to touch

14

APPLICATIONS• Watches and other wearable devices• Joysticks and mice • Touch-sensing enabled products• Human-machine interfaces

FEATURES• <1µA shut-down current• 5mA quiescent current• 95dB signal-to-noise ratio• -70dB power-supply rejection ratio• Under-voltage lock-out• Short-circuit and thermal protection

functions

APPLICATIONS• Home appliances• 5V motor control • Industrial control systems • Smart lighting • Circuit breakers

FEATURES• Up to 256kbytes of Flash• Up to 32kbytes of SRAM• Two-channel, 12-bit ADC• Two analogue comparators • Real-time clock






The FRDM-KE15Z is a development platform for the KE15Z which is compatible with the FRDM-TOUCH shield. The shield supports both the self-capacitance and mutual-capacitance methods of touch sensing. Orderable Part Numbers: FRDM-KE15Z & FRDM-TOUCH

The PAM8016 requires no external output filter and few other components, and a driver circuit based on the device occupies a small PCB area. This results in lower system cost and a simpler circuit design.




Three-channel IR transmissive sensor provides photo-transistor outputs

Accurate, low-power op amps ideal for use in sensor circuits powered by a lithium coin cell

The TSU111 and TSU112 from STMicroelectronics are operational amplifiers which may be used in circuits supplied by a lithium-ion coin cell battery, or by a regulated voltage in low-power applications.

The TCUT1630X01 is a compact transmissive sensor which includes an infra-red emitter and three photo-transistor detectors, located face-to-face in a surface-mount package.

The op amps draw just 900nA when operating from a supply voltage of 3.3V at 25°C. They work with any supply voltage in the range from 1.5V to 5.5V, fitting the output-voltage profile of standard lithium coin cells.

The TSU11x op amps provide accurate amplification of low-voltage sensor signals: the input-offset voltage is a maximum 150µV at an ambient temperature of 25°C. They also offer 11.5kHz of gain bandwidth.

The tall dome design has a gap of 3mm between the emitter and detector. This provides sufficient room to support a wide variety of position-sensing applications, as well as vertical signal encoding. For instance, the sensor can be used to provide inputs to a position encoder.

STMICROELECTRONICS

VISHAY

The performance of two TSU111 op amps is demonstrated in ST’s P-NUCLEO-IKA02A1, a gas-sensing expansion board for STM32 Nucleo microcontroller development boards.

The TSU111 op amps perform signal conditioning for a choice of electrochemical gas sensors that may be mounted in standard sockets on the expansion board. The expansion board includes a low-current precision analogue temperature sensor, the STLM20, for compensation of gas readings.

The surface-mount TCUT1630X01, which measures 5.5mm x 5.9mm x 7mm, is suitable for use in applications requiring fast switching, since it features a typical rise time of just 9µs and a fall time of 16µs.

Vishay also supplies the TCUT1800X01, a transmissive sensor which includes two infrared emitters and four photo-transistor detectors.

Vishay’s TCUT1630X01: 3mm gap between emitter and detector

15

APPLICATIONS• Sensor signal conditioning• Battery-powered and portable devices

FEATURES• 3.6µVpp noise over 0.1Hz to 10Hz

bandwidth• Rail-to-rail input and output• 10pA input bias current at 25°C• 4kV ESD rating on the human body model

APPLICATIONS• Automotive optical sensors• Accurate position sensor for encoders• Sensor for motion, speed and direction• Sensor for turn-and-push encoding

FEATURES• 0.3mm aperture • 950nm emitter wavelength• Ambient-temperature range:

-40 to 105°C • AEC-Q101 qualified




Orderable Part Number: P-NUCLEO-IKA02A1



New edge-mount switches occupy very small footprint

Panasonic Industry Europe has launched the EVPAT, a new edge-mount Light Touch switch which has a small footprint of just 3.4mm x 1.7mm. The switch’s height on the PCB after installation is just 1.1mm. Because of the edge-mount structure of the EVPAT switch, it can resist the actuation force of the user operating the switch. The rated operating force is 1.6N, and the switch is specified to last for 500,000 switching cycles.

Bounce time in switching operation is a maximum 10ms. The EVPAT switch is able to be used in operating temperatures up to 85°C.

PANASONIC

EVPAT: Lasts for 500,000 switching cycles

16

APPLICATIONS• Wearable devices • Healthcare equipment • Handheld and portable devices

FEATURES• IP67 rating• 0.11mm travel• 20mA current rating• 15V DC voltage rating• 50MΩ insulation resistance



To apply for these free boards go to: www.my-boardclub.com/ftmTerms and conditions apply. Visit www.my-boardclub.com/about_us for details

Library of motion-sensing firmware eases development of sophisticated user interfaces

STMicroelectronics provides a combination of MEMS motion-sensor hardware devices backed by motion-sensing firmware to enable designers of sophisticated graphics-based user interfaces to quickly and easily implement automatic display orientation, fall detection and other functions.

These motion-sensing applications for displays and user interfaces may be implemented with ST MEMS hardware devices such as the LSM6DSL or LIS2MDL. The LSM6DSL is a system-in-package featuring a 3D digital accelerometer and a 3D digital gyroscope for six-axis motion sensing. Drawing just 0.65mA in high-performance mode, it supports low-power always-on motion sensing.

The LIS2MDL is an ultra-low power, three-axis digital magnetic sensor. It has a magnetic field dynamic range of ±50 gauss.

Both these MEMS motion sensors are backed by the X-CUBE-MEMS1 expansion

STMICROELECTRONICSsoftware package for the STM32Cube tool suite. The software runs on STM32 microcontrollers and includes drivers which recognise the sensors and collect motion data from the LSM6DSL or LIS2MDL devices.

The software comes with a sample implementation of the drivers running on the X-NUCLEO-IKS01A1 or X-NUCLEO-IKS01A2 MEMS motion and environmental sensing expansion boards connected to a NUCLEO-F401RE, NUCLEO-L053R8, NUCLEO-L152RE or NUCLEO-L476RG development board.

The software provides advanced motion libraries for a wide variety of motion-sensing functions, together with sample applications available only for the NUCLEO-F401RE and NUCLEO-L476RG boards.

APPLICATIONS• Consumer devices• Industrial equipment

FEATURES• Libraries of motion-sensing applications: • MotionAC: accelerometer calibration • MotionAR: activity recognition • MotionAT: active time • MotionAW: activity recognition for

wrist-worn devices • MotionCP: carrying position • MotionEC: eCompass • MotionFA: fitness activities • MotionFD: fall detection • MotionFX: sensor fusion • MotionGC: gyroscope calibration • MotionGR: gesture recognition • MotionID: intensity detection • MotionMC: magnetometer calibration • MotionPE: pose estimation • MotionPM: pedometer body • MotionPW: pedometer wrist • MotionSD: standing and sitting desk

detection • MotionTL: tilt sensing



The X-NUCLEO-IKS01A1/2 are MEMS motion and environmental sensor expansion boards for the STM32 Nucleo family of microcontroller boards. Orderable Part Numbers (Expansion Boards): X-NUCLEO-IKS01A1 and X-NUCLEO-IKS01A2Development Boards: NUCLEO-F401RE, NUCLEO-L053R8, NUCLEO-L152RE and NUCLEO-L476RG


Reliable optical encoder supplied as complete assembly

The 291 series of optical encoders from CTS, which uses a non-contacting optical encoding technology, provides designers with a wide range of configuration options to give versatility in system design.

These optical encoders, which provide a precise digital output, offer high reliability and a long operating lifetime because of their non-contacting design, which means that

CTS CORPORATION they avoid the mechanical wear and tear and vulnerability to contamination to which traditional encoder devices are prone.

The 291 series encoders are supplied as a complete mechanical assembly in a variety of termination styles and shaft lengths.

The designer can also choose from a wide range of options in parameters including: • resolution• power consumption• operating-temperature range • detents• bushing length• torque• operating voltage and IP rating

291 series: Two options for shaft length

APPLICATIONS• Audio / Video Controls• Medical Equipment• Test Equipment

FEATURES• Operating life: • No detent at 30rpm: 3 million rotations • With detent at 30rpm: 1 million rotations• Optional momentary switch• Optional dual shaft



To apply for these free boards go to: www.my-boardclub.com/ftmTerms and conditions apply. Visit www.my-boardclub.com/about_us for details

Graphics display development platform provides choice of options for sophisticated HMI designs

Future Electronics’ Centre of Excellence has introduced the Amber development platform which demonstrates several processing hardware platforms and various LCD displays for sophisticated but low-cost Human-Machine Interface (HMI) designs. Developers using the Amber development platform can choose one of four microcontrollers from NXP, Microchip and STMicroelectronics, which have integrated graphics controller/accelerator functions.

The Amber development platform is also supplied with a choice of three industrial, long-term supply and high-quality displays from Tianma, in sizes ranging from 4.3" diagonal to 7". The displays are available optionally with Tianma’s Super Fine TFT technology, which gives an extra-wide viewing angle. The displays are also available with or without projective capacitive-sensing touchscreen capability.

Users can quickly develop advanced, smartphone-like display graphics using the TouchGFX software design tool and graphics library, which is fully supported by the Amber development system.

Future Electronics’ Board Club: supporting innovative electronics designEurope’s electronics industry thrives on the application of innovation and creativity, and an essential innovator’s tool in design projects is the development board. The Board Club website is a Future Electronics resource for users of development boards. Here, and only here, Board Club members can gain access to exclusive free development boards and development board offers.If you would like to register for membership, please visit: www.my-boardclub.com/register.php

FUTURE ELECTRONICS

Amber: Demonstrates sophisticated HMI capability

17


THE AMBER DEVELOPMENTPLATFORM IS AVAILABLE FOR

DEMONSTRATION ONLY

APPLICATIONS• Industrial equipment


Part Number Termination Mounting Orientation

Bushing Size Shaft Type

Pulsesper

Revolution

Number of

Detents

291C6022F624AB 6" ribbon cable with connector Vertical 0.312" 0.687"

Long flatted shaft 6 24

291C6022F832AB 6" ribbon cable with connector Vertical 0.312" 0.687"

Long flatted shaft 8 32

291V1022F624AB 0.050" pitch pins Vertical 0.312" 0.687" Long flatted shaft 6 24

291V1022F832AB 0.050" pitch pins Vertical 0.312" 0.687" Long flatted shaft 8 32

291P1024SZ00AAB 0.10" pitch pins Vertical 0.312" 0.875" Long slotted shaft 64 0

291P1022FX24ABB 0.10" pitch pins Vertical 0.312" 0.687" Long flatted shaft 24 24

291P1022FY00ABB 0.10" pitch pins Vertical 0.312" 0.687" Long flatted shaft 32 0

Mid-power LEDs: now a valid low-cost light source for street lights?

LED street-lighting designs are entering a new phase. Lighting equipment manufacturers are attempting to maintain all the benefits of LED street lamps – their long operating lifetime, low power consumption, and pleasing light output with good colour rendering – while at the same time substantially reducing the Bill-of-Materials (BoM) cost of the luminaire.

By Emmanuel GardetteField Application Engineer, Future Electronics (France)

One way to reach this goal appears to be the use of alternative types of LED, replacing today’s high-power LED light sources with cheaper mid-power LEDs. This article describes the technical problems that OEMs face in implementing this change, and the efforts that LED manufacturers are making to support the change.

High-reliability, high-power LEDsHigh-power LEDs are a proven light source in street lights installed in some of the hottest as well as some of the coldest parts of the world. Highly dependable, their construction is robust, featuring materials which are immune to corrosion and which tolerate extreme ambient conditions. Normally supplied with ESD protection integrated in the package, high-power LEDs are today in operation in thousands of installations, casting bright white light in precisely shaped beam patterns.

The robustness of high-power LEDs is a crucial part of their appeal to street-light OEMs, since the luminaire might be exposed both to extreme temperatures and to air polluted by vehicle exhaust fumes, industrial emissions and other airborne contaminants, as shown in Figure 1.

Despite the high unit cost of high-power LEDs, which offer typical price:performance ratios in the 500lm/$ range, street-light OEMs have until now continued to depend on the devices because of their long-term reliability in harsh outdoor conditions. This continued reliance on high-power LEDs, however, could now be about to stop.

Mid-power LEDs: cheaper, less robustThe balance that street-light OEMs previously had to strike was that with a typical value of around 1,000lm/$, mid-power LEDs provided a lower priced alternative to high-power LEDs, but brought with them a higher risk of premature failure.

That is because mid-power LEDs have a less robust construction than high-power LEDs: a plastic case rather than a ceramic substrate, and a silver-plated leadframe. These components are inherently less resistant to chemical contamination and thermal stress than non-corrodible material; and indeed contamination is one of the new risks associated with the introduction of mid-power LEDs in street lights. In the benign and stable conditions in which indoor lights operate, this risk does not arise, and so mid-power LEDs are very widely used in indoor luminaires. The broad adoption of mid-power LEDs has led to the development of a rich ecosystem of compatible components, such as optics, drivers and connectors, supporting the leading manufacturers’ families of mid-power LEDs. This ecosystem, as well as their low unit cost, help to make the mid-power LED an attractive choice for manufacturers of street lights.

Outdoors, however, conventional mid-power LEDs are prone to suffer impairment or failure in ways that manufacturers of indoor lighting are not familiar with: • Contamination (sulphuration) of the silver-plated leadframe, which can

cause a reduction in flux and colour shift due to oxidation of the metal, as shown in Figure 2

• Degradation of the plastic case material due to thermal or mechanical stress

• The wire bonding used in mid-power LEDs can break. This effect depends on the composition and concentration of the corrosive gas.

At a system level, of course, street-light OEMs design their products for a certain Ingress Protection (IP) rating, typically as high as IP68. It might be thought that this gives sufficient protection from contamination. But this is to gamble on the lifetime of the luminaire: • Contamination might reach the LED in the luminaire’s assembly or

maintenance process • Materials used to make the luminaire might contain corrosive gases.

These might be found for instance in the gasket, glue or paint. • Components installed in the luminaire can emit gases in operation

The risk of impairment or failure is clearly worrying for manufacturers of street lights: municipal authorities and other buyers will normally specify extremely long operating lifetimes of 15 years or more, and set tight conditions governing long-term lumen maintenance and, in some cases, colour shift. This means that shifts in CCT, flux reductions or catastrophic failures attributable to contamination could trigger claims against the fixture manufacturer’s warranty.

Fig. 1: Smog over Almaty city, Kazakhstan. LED street lights commonly have to operate in polluted urban air. (Image credit: Igors Jefimovs)

T E C H N I C A L V I E W

F O L L O W U S N O W – S E A R C H F T M B O A R D C L U B O N18

READ THIS ARTICLE TO FIND OUT ABOUT:

• The reasons why street-light manufacturers have used high-power LEDs to date

• The cost advantages and reliability drawbacks of conventional mid-power LEDs

• Enhancements to new mid-power LEDs that make them more suitable for use in street lights


Fig. 2: The effect of sulphur contamination of a silver leadframe. (Image credit: LG Innotek)

Mid-power LEDs: now a valid low-cost light source for street lights?

Fig. 3: The anti-contamination features of the LG Innotek 3030N LEDs produces improved lumen maintenance when exposed to hydrogen sulphide. (Image credit: LG Innotek)



How manufacturers are hardening mid-power LEDsThere is, then, clearly a market need for an alternative to the high-power LED in street lights, one which can both withstand harsh conditions and which is cheaper.

Now LED manufacturers are responding to this need by introducing new families of mid-power LEDs which are hardened for use in street lights. These new devices tend to be produced as two-die packages with a 3030 outline. For example, LG Innotek’s 3030N LEDs have excellent EMC characteristics, and feature silver terminations which are coated to protect them against corrosion, as shown in Figure 3. The 3030N products are valued at approximately 1,000lm/$.

LG is also demonstrating the effectiveness of its design with extended product testing to which standard mid-power LEDs are not subjected. Tested in accordance with the IEC 60068-2-43 and IEC 60068-2-42 standards, the LEDs’ performance is measured when operating in the presence of air contaminated with sulphur.

Nichia is also supporting the demand for exterior mid-power LEDs, and has done numerous studies on the contamination and oxidation risks affecting its LEDs. Nichia now performs accelerated testing in a mix of hydrogen sulphide (H2S) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) at 40°C and a relative humidity of 75%. All its 757 family devices are tested under these conditions for 240 hours to determine the impact of oxidation and to inform lumen maintenance models.

Lumileds has taken a different approach to solving the problem. Its High Robustness (HR), HR30 series of LEDs is described by the company as a bridge between high-power and mid-power LEDs in outdoor and industrial applications. The LEDs feature a gold-plated leadframe and a high-reflectance SMC housing. According to Lumileds, the HR30 devices offer ‘superior corrosion and chemical resistance to all mid-power solutions, including those specially treated for that purpose’. In contrast to high-power LEDs, however, the HR30 devices feature a lower maximum current rating of 240mA. The HR30 devices are valued at between 500lm/$ and 1,000lm/$.

Again, testing in the presence of harsh chemicals demonstrates the robustness of these hardened LEDs. The results shown in Figure 4 are drawn from tests conducted in accordance with the IEC 60068-2-43 Method 4 standard, with

a 15ppm concentration of H2S in the air at a temperature of 45°C and relative humidity of 75%. Lumileds has also introduced tests performed in the presence of dichlorine (Cl2) gas. The gold leadframe performs well in these tests, whereas silver can react with Cl2 to form silver chloride (AgCl).

Ecosystem supporting 3030 formatAs described above, the 3030 format is the favoured package outline supported by manufacturers of mid-power LEDs for street lighting. To help speed adoption of these 3030 packages, optics manufacturers have developed various arrays which are compatible with street lighting specifications for illuminance, uniformity and glare.

The avoidance of glare is made easier by the use of mid-power LEDs: since they emit less light than high-power LEDs, they need a larger Light-Emitting Surface (LES) for any given illuminance value.

Besides reducing the effect of glare, the optic must also produce the precise beam patterns required in street lighting. LEDiL’s approach has been to match the mechanical dimensions of its STRADA family of optics for street lights that use high-power LEDs. Its STRADELLA family accommodates the increased number of points of light in a mid-power design, while still producing a beam pattern suitable to a street light.

Carclo, by contrast, has developed an array specifically for mid-power LEDs. Its 12821 product is for an array of 84 mid-power LEDs, and produces a beam pattern suitable for P and S Class street lighting. Carclo has also characterised its street-light optics when used with LEDs in the 3030 package.

New LED choices for street-light OEMsThere is, then, a new opportunity for manufacturers of street lights to substantially reduce the BoM cost of their products by using a new generation of hardened mid-power LEDs. Equipment designers should, however, bear in mind the optical properties of mid-power LEDs. When producing mid-power LEDs, manufacturers use a cheaper process for phosphor-coating the die than for their high-power LEDs, instead embedding the die in a rectangular bath of phosphor. This means that the phosphor coating is thicker at the sides than at the centre of the die, resulting in inherent non-uniformity of CCT across the beam. By contrast, high-power LEDs have a coating of a uniform thickness over the entire light-emitting surface, producing an almost perfectly uniform CCT across the entire beam.

In very many street-lighting applications, the lumen depreciation attributable to environmental conditions, coupled with any colour shift, will be of negligible concern to specifiers and users. In some high-traffic areas, however, such as city centre pedestrianised streets, specifiers set very strict criteria for quality of light, and here the use of mid-power LEDs might be inappropriate.

It is also worth noting that street-light manufacturers are looking not only to mid-power LEDs but also to Chip-Scale Package (CSP) LEDs as an alternative to high-power LEDs, in their efforts to improve performance

and lifetime and reduce system cost. Certainly the new generation of hardened

mid-power LEDs from Lumileds, LG Innotek and Nichia promises good performance at a much reduced cost compared to high-power LEDs, and looks set to make future street-lighting products more competitive and more attractive to potential buyers.

Fig. 4: Relative colour (CCT) shift in LEDs including the HR30 from Lumileds, tested in air contaminated with H2S. (Image credit: Lumileds)



Start prototyping today with the PSoC 4000S CapSense Prototyping Kit

Featuring: • Arm® Cortex®-M0+ PSoC 4000S MCU• 3 CapSense buttons and a 5-segment

CapSense slider • The world’s easiest-to-use Cypress

BLE module

Touchscreen Proximity sensingMechanical button

replacementTouchpadLiquid-Level

Sensing

Easily and quickly enable your next connected HMI applications with:

Capacitive Sensingfor the IoT

CapSense® is Cypress’ industry-leading solution for touch sensing, implementing the world’s best self and mutual capacitive sensing solutions

in Cypress’ line of low-power, flexible PSoC® MCUs.


Orderable Part Number: CY8CKIT-145-40xx

too much information? has extended its family of stm32l4+ low-power microcontrollers based on the...

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