Author Archives: steve bush

UK quantum computing start up gets first round funding

Grupo Arcano has invested in Cambridge Quantum Computing (CQCL). Although undisclosed, the amount has been reported to be $50m by Tech City News.

Established in early 2013 CQCL was founded to create tools and algorithms for the commercialisation of quantum computers. It has an operating system called ‘ t|ket> ‘ and is focusing on field including: cryptography, financial services,  medicine, biotech, and big data.

Grupo Arcano has invested in Cambridge Quantum Computing (CQCL)

Grupo Arcano has invested in Cambridge Quantum Computing (CQCL)

“After just over two years of being self-funded, the technology investing company Grupo Arcano invested in and has become an important shareholder of CQCL. The amount of the investment and the percentage ownership owned by Grupo Arcano is confidential and is not disclosed,” said CQCL.

“The funding allows CQCL to accelerate and build on its position as the world’s leading independent Quantum Computing company with a focus on developing a Quantum Operating System including a platform for developing a quantum processor, and on related algorithms and software.”

CQCL has posted some technical information about quantum computing.

 

steve bush

Microwave pioneer gets Frank Whittle Medal

British microwave engineer Professor Peter Clarricoats is to receive the Sir Frank Whittle Medal, one of the Royal Academy of Engineering’s highest accolades.

Clarricoats, CBE FREng FRS, gets the Whittle Medal for influential achievements spanning more than half a century.

According to the Academy, these achievements include:

  • Research with Sir Charles Kao optical fibre technology – Kao got a Nobel prize for inventing optical fibres.
  • Influential work on the high-performance microwave antennas for satellite communications.
  • The first person in the UK to explore the behaviour of ferrites. “His book Microwave Ferrites became an essential text for those developing microwave radar and communications systems,” said the academy.
  • First to use computers to design microwave waveguide junctions (University of Leeds).
  • Establishment of the journal Electronic Letters.
  • A theory that confirmed the correct choice of physical attributes in optical fibre (Queen Mary University of London).
  • Microwave antennas for communication and radar systems. “Most ground station reflectors, radio astronomy reflectors and satellite antennas now use corrugated horns of the type first investigated by Professor Clarricoats in the 1970s and ’80s,” said the Academy.
  • Industrial and government appointments with institutions including the Ministry of Defence and the European Space Agency.

Any wisdom to pass on?

“My message to academics is to get involved with industry,” said Clarricoats, “Since I joined the academic world from industry in 1959, I have been able to start research groups at Queens University Belfast, the University of Leeds and finally at Queen Mary University of London where I have spent the last 47 years. In all three I was greatly helped by outstanding colleagues and from the outset was fortunate to have support from industry, government and the European Space Agency. We had great success in solving many of the problems they posed, often with innovative ideas.”

Academy President Professor Dame Ann Dowling will present the award to at the Academy’s AGM in London on 21 September.

steve bush

Buck converter draws only 180nA

Industry’s highest ultra-light-load power conversion efficiency, is Analog Devices’ claim for its latest buck converter – no load quiescent current through the ADP5301 is an impressive 180nA.

ADI ADP5301 buck converter

ADI ADP5301 buck converter

Depending on input and load, this can mean >90% efficiency across 5µA to 50mA output.

It also offers a novel way to select between multiple internally-set fixed output voltages (see table above) – Resistor Rvid is read at start-up and this value is used to select one of 16 internal voltage-setting feedback dividers. This keeps the super high (50Mohm, and therefore low-power) dividers on-die and safely away from humidity and dirt. There are actually two factory set voltage ranges: 1.2-3.6V (default), or 0.8-5.0V – see the data sheet for more.

Other factory options are: output discharge function disabled(default)/enabled and 350μs (default)/1.28ms soft-start.

Intended for IoT applications, input range is 2.15 to 6.5V, and once it is working this can drop to 2.0V.

Switching is at 2MHz, with external clock synchronisation from 1.2 to 2.5MHz.

The high efficiency and low quiescent figures above come from operating in hysteresis mode. For higher outputs (500mA), and less noise, at the expense of higher operating current, there is a selectable PWM mode.

There are actually four devices – the 5301, 00, 02 and 03 covering two options: 9ball WLCSP (<3.1mm²) or 10lead LFCSP, and Vout OK Flag or Vin OK flag.

“The buck regulator is designed to deliver maximum power for a longer period of time than previously achievable and is ideally suited for IoT applications, including wireless sensor networks and wearable devices such as fitness bands and smartwatches,” said ADI.

 

steve bush

Microchip goes big on hardware-based security

Microchip PIC24F GB4 - Microchip goes big on hardware based security

Microchip PIC24F GB4 – Microchip goes big on hardware based security

Microchip has included a hardware crypto engine with both OTP and RAM options for secure key storage in its PIC24F ‘GB4‘ family, which also has up to 256kbyte flash and direct drive for 512 LCD segments.

Dual-partition live update flash allows the devices to hold two independent software applications, and permits the simultaneous programming of one partition while executing application code from the other.

“These features make the GB4 family ideal for industrial, computer, medical, fitness and portable applications that require secure data transfer and storage,” said the firm.

The crypto engine and random number generator run without the CPU – CIPs (core independent peripherals) in Microchip;s favoured three letter acronym form. AES, DES and 3DES are supported by the crypto engine.

One-time-programmable crypto-key storage it included to prevent keys being over-written, and key RAM erases keys if power is lost – to allow the real-time clock to keep running when primary power is removed, a Vbat pin can be used.

There are with (PIC24FJxxxGB4xx) and without (GA4xx) USB options, and 64, 100 and 121pin packages are available.

Tools including the PIC24FJ256GB410 plug-in module (MA240038) for Microchip’s the Explorer 16 Development Board.

Microchip PIC24F GB4Cryptographic engine:

  • Performs NIST standard encryption/decryption without CPU intervention
  • AES cipher support for 128, 192 and 256bit keys
  • DES/3DES cipher support, with up to three unique keys for 3DES
  • Supports ECB, CBC, OFB, CTR and CFB128 modes
  • Programmatically secure OTP array for key storage
  • True random number generation
  • Battery-backed ram key storage

The cores run up to 16MIPS at 32MHz. There is an 8MHz internal Oscillator and a 96MHz PLL option. Clock switching is on-the-fly for trading off power and speed.

Consumption is 180uA/MHz running and 60nA typical in deep sleep. Typically, the watchdog timer adds 650nA at 2V and that real-time clock needs 650nA at 32kHz and 2V.

steve bush

Microchip goes big on hardware-based security

Microchip PIC24F GB4Microchip has included a hardware crypto engine with both OTP and RAM options for secure key storage in its PIC24F ‘GB4‘ family, which also has up to 256kbyte flash and direct drive for 512 LCD segments.

Dual-partition live update flash allows the devices to hold two independent software applications, and permits the simultaneous programming of one partition while executing application code from the other.

“These features make the GB4 family ideal for industrial, computer, medical, fitness and portable applications that require secure data transfer and storage,” said the firm.

The crypto engine and random number generator run without the CPU – CIPs (core independent peripherals) in Microchip;s favoured three letter acronym form. AES, DES and 3DES are supported by the crypto engine.

One-time-programmable crypto-key storage it included to prevent keys being over-written, and key RAM erases keys if power is lost – to allow the real-time clock to keep running when primary power is removed, a Vbat pin can be used.

There are with (PIC24FJxxxGB4xx) and without (GA4xx) USB options, and 64, 100 and 121pin packages are available.

Tools including the PIC24FJ256GB410 plug-in module (MA240038) for Microchip’s the Explorer 16 Development Board.

Microchip PIC24F GB4Cryptographic engine:

  • Performs NIST standard encryption/decryption without CPU intervention
  • AES cipher support for 128, 192 and 256bit keys
  • DES/3DES cipher support, with up to three unique keys for 3DES
  • Supports ECB, CBC, OFB, CTR and CFB128 modes
  • Programmatically secure OTP array for key storage
  • True random number generation
  • Battery-backed ram key storage

The cores run up to 16MIPS at 32MHz. There is an 8MHz internal Oscillator and a 96MHz PLL option. Clock switching is on-the-fly for trading off power and speed.

Consumption is 180uA/MHz running and 60nA typical in deep sleep. Typically, the watchdog timer adds 650nA at 2V and that real-time clock needs 650nA at 32kHz and 2V.

steve bush

Intersil protects and controls Li-ion batteries for scooters

Intersil has announced a battery pack monitor/protector for 3-8 cell Li-ion cells - ISL94203

Intersil has announced a battery pack monitor/protector for 3-8 cell Li-ion cells – ISL94203

Intersil has announced a battery pack monitor/protector for 3-8 cell Li-ion cells, which also works with other battery chemistries.

Inteded for medium-power applications – mobility scooters, wheelchairs, e-bikes, hand tools, and vacuum cleaners; ISL94203 includes cell-by-cell control of external mosfet-resistor pairs for active cell balancing, as well as pack protection against short circuit and cell voltage shorts.

Unusual features include an open wire check to ensure the IC is securely connected to the battery pack, and a protection feature that blows a polyfuse to render the battery pack inoperable in the event of a catastrophic failure. And it can withstand battery pack hot plugging.

It operates with a microcontroller, or stand-alone with an internal state machine that has five pre-programmed cell handling stages to extend battery operating life.

Power rail switching is on the positive side, using n-fets and a charge pump, to allow customers to ground reference the battery.

Suitable for Li-ion CoO2, Li-ion Mn2O4, Li-ion phosphate and more.

There is an evaluation kit, ISL94203EVKIT1Z (see below), which includes a device board, an interface board with USB to I2C interface, and a software GUI for stand-alone or microcontroller operation.

steve bush

Intersil protects and controls Li-ion batteries for scooters

Intersil has announced a battery pack monitor/protector for 3-8 cell Li-ion cells - ISL94203

Intersil has announced a battery pack monitor/protector for 3-8 cell Li-ion cells – ISL94203

Intersil has announced a battery pack monitor/protector for 3-8 cell Li-ion cells, which also works with other battery chemistries.

Inteded for medium-power applications – mobility scooters, wheelchairs, e-bikes, hand tools, and vacuum cleaners; ISL94203 includes cell-by-cell control of external mosfet-resistor pairs for active cell balancing, as well as pack protection against short circuit and cell voltage shorts.

Unusual features include an open wire check to ensure the IC is securely connected to the battery pack, and a protection feature that blows a polyfuse to render the battery pack inoperable in the event of a catastrophic failure. And it can withstand battery pack hot plugging.

It operates with a microcontroller, or stand-alone with an internal state machine that has five pre-programmed cell handling stages to extend battery operating life.

Power rail switching is on the positive side, using n-fets and a charge pump, to allow customers to ground reference the battery.

Suitable for Li-ion CoO2, Li-ion Mn2O4, Li-ion phosphate and more.

There is an evaluation kit, ISL94203EVKIT1Z (see below), which includes a device board, an interface board with USB to I2C interface, and a software GUI for stand-alone or microcontroller operation.

steve bush

Taller tough die cast boxes from Hammond

Taller tough die cast Stomp Box boxes from Hammond

Taller tough die cast Stomp Box boxes from Hammond

Hammond has added taller versions of its 1590 ‘Stomp Box’ range of tough die cast metal equipment boxes with coloured finishes.

The range is designed for guitar effect foot pedals, and the latest one is 119 x 94 x 42mm, 12mm taller, than the traditional version with the same footprint to accommodate break-before-make switches that stop conducted interference when operated.

“All are rugged, easy to machine enclosures, well able to cope with the demanding on-stage environment in which they will be used. All types are finished in a smooth gloss polyester powder paint, which does not chip after machining and provides a good surface for labels and silk screening,” said Hammond.

Different coloured and shaped boxes allow quick identification.

Colours are:

  • Cobalt blue (RAL 5013)
  • Green (RAL 6024)
  • Light grey (RAL 7035)
  • Orange (RAL 2009)
  • Purple (RAL 4008)
  • Red (RAL 3011)
  • Yellow (RAL 1021)
  • and custom.

Shapes are:

  • Rectangular (five sizes including the new taller version)
  • Trapezoidal (wide and narrow)
  • Octagonal (one size)

To maintain RFI integrity, the painted finish is only applied to the external surfaces.

A lap joint seals the units to IP54, and an optional sealing gasket kit can be added to rectangular versions to raise this to IP65.

Other options include factory machining or factory silk screening on any model. AutoCAD and PDF dimensioned drawings can be downloaded assist with the design of modifications.

Use for preset effects such as distortion, wah-wah, delay, chorus and phaser is expected.

steve bush

Taller tough die cast boxes from Hammond

Taller tough die cast Stomp Box boxes from Hammond

Taller tough die cast Stomp Box boxes from Hammond

Hammond has added taller versions of its 1590 ‘Stomp Box’ range of tough die cast metal equipment boxes with coloured finishes.

The range is designed for guitar effect foot pedals, and the latest one is 119 x 94 x 42mm, 12mm taller, than the traditional version with the same footprint to accommodate break-before-make switches that stop conducted interference when operated.

“All are rugged, easy to machine enclosures, well able to cope with the demanding on-stage environment in which they will be used. All types are finished in a smooth gloss polyester powder paint, which does not chip after machining and provides a good surface for labels and silk screening,” said Hammond.

Different coloured and shaped boxes allow quick identification.

Colours are:

  • Cobalt blue (RAL 5013)
  • Green (RAL 6024)
  • Light grey (RAL 7035)
  • Orange (RAL 2009)
  • Purple (RAL 4008)
  • Red (RAL 3011)
  • Yellow (RAL 1021)
  • and custom.

Shapes are:

  • Rectangular (five sizes including the new taller version)
  • Trapezoidal (wide and narrow)
  • Octagonal (one size)

To maintain RFI integrity, the painted finish is only applied to the external surfaces.

A lap joint seals the units to IP54, and an optional sealing gasket kit can be added to rectangular versions to raise this to IP65.

Other options include factory machining or factory silk screening on any model. AutoCAD and PDF dimensioned drawings can be downloaded assist with the design of modifications.

Use for preset effects such as distortion, wah-wah, delay, chorus and phaser is expected.

steve bush

Cypress claims lowest power harvester ever

Cypress has introduced what it claims is the lowest power energy harvesting power management IC (PMIC), usable with solar cells down to 10x10mm.

Cypress energy harvester wireless sensor node Aimed at wireless sensor nodes, and called S6AE101A, it will start when 1.2uW is available and continue to function on as little as 250nA. According to the firm, 1.2μW is available at 65 lux from a 10 x 10mm solar cell.

The linear chip mediates between a solar cell, an optional non-rechargeable battery, a load and two storage capacitors (one for the load and one for internal circuits), and is built into the firm’s EZ-BLE PRoC wireless sensor node module, which also includes a Bluetooth LE radio.

The module (pictured) squeezes a lot under a 10 x 10mm PV cell: ARM Cortex-M0, Bluetooth radio, two crystals, chip antenna, metal shield and passive components.

“The most compelling wireless sensor nodes that will drive IoT growth are self-powered, can be deployed anywhere for more than 10 years, and require minimal deployment and maintenance costs,” said Kiyoe Nagaya, v-p of Cypress analogue business. “Our energy harvesting PMIC and smart module enable developers to create solar-powered wireless sensor nodes for battery-less IoT devices.”

S6AE101A came though the firm’s Spansion subsidiary, and is sampling now. It is the first of a family with at least two other chips: S6EA102A and S6EA103A, both of which add a second power gating switch for a second output at the expense of 30nA more quiescent current. Both also include a 400nA Iq linear regulator. The …103A also has two more timers and a 20nA comparator.

The second power gated output has its own storage capacitor, and a more sophisticated version of the …101A controller block implements various operating modes using the hardware resources.

Cypress offers a Solar-Powered IoT Device Kit that contains a baseboard with a solar module and a Bluetooth Low Energy-USB bridge.

PMIC software support comes through a web tool called Easy DesignSim.

Cypress S6AE101AS6AE101A at a glance

  • Min solar cell size 1cm2 ( ~100 lux min)
  • Solar cell input 2.0-5.5 V
  • Battery input 2.0-5.5 V
  • Output voltage 1.1-5.2 V
  • Quiescent 250 nA
  • Start-up 1.2 μW
  • Six power gating switches
  • Over-voltage protection
  • 3x3mm 10pin SON

 

steve bush