Author Archives: steve bush

AdaCore Gnat Pro for Wind River VxWorks 7

AdaCore Gnat Pro

AdaCore Gnat Pro

AdaCore is supporting the Ada programming language on Wind River’s VxWorks 7 real-time operating system with its Gnat Pro development environment.

“AdaCore engineers worked closely with Wind River on this product, ensuring that it would support both single and multi-core systems” said AdaCore. “Enhancements over previous versions include a completely re-engineered open-source debugger protocol and more seamless integration with Wind River Workbench, and the development environment handles both all-Ada and multi-language applications.”

GNAT Pro for VxWorks 7 offers:

Implementation of all editions of the Ada language standard, including the latest version Ada 2012
Support for VxWorks 7 kernel modules and real-time processes
Support for PowerPC, Intel and ARM instruction sets
Mixed-language support for applications with Ada, C and C++
SMP support
Gnat library
Ada unit testing framework (AUnit)

Founded in 1994, AdaCore supplies software development and verification tools for mission-critical, safety-critical, and security-critical systems.

Molecule opens window on single-electron transistors

An international team has made a transistor from a molecule of phthalocyanine and twelve indium atoms.

An alternative to ‘single electron’ transistors made on fabricated quantum dots – which are sensitive to one electron leaving or joining, but typically have hundreds of electrons – this transistor is simple and physically transparent, and its structure is known exactly.

“The perfection and reproducibility offered by these STM-generated transistors will enable researchers to explore elementary processes involving current flow through single molecules at a fundamental level,” said the US Naval Research Laboratory (NRL). “Understanding and controlling these processes, and the new kinds of behaviour to which they can lead, will be important for integrating molecule-based devices with existing semiconductor technologies.”

NRL worked with Paul-Drude-Institut für Festkörperelektronikthe (PDI), the Freie Universität Berlin (FUB) and NTT Basic Research Laboratories (NTT-BRL), Japan.

+1 charged metal atoms and the molecule were shifted around using a scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) on an indium arsenide (InAs) crystal prepared by molecular beam epitaxy at NTT-BRL.

The atoms are the gates.

“The molecule is only weakly bound to the InAs template. So, when we bring the STM tip very close to the molecule and apply a bias voltage to the tip-sample junction, single electrons can tunnel between template and tip by hopping via nearly unperturbed molecular orbitals, similar to the working principle of a quantum dot gated by an external electrode. In our case, the charged atoms nearby provide the electrostatic gate potential that regulates the electron flow and the charge state of the molecule,” said team leader Dr Stefan Fölsch, a physicist at the PDI.

Depending on its charge state, the molecule adopts different rotational orientations – something predicted by first-principles calculations and confirmed it by imaging. Coupling between charge and orientation has an effect on electron flow across the molecule, manifested by a large conductance gap at low bias voltages.

“This intriguing behaviour goes beyond the established picture of charge transport through a gated quantum dot. Instead, we developed a generic model that accounts for the coupled electronic and orientation dynamics of the molecule,” said Dr Piet Brouwer at FUB.

Findings are published in the 13 July 2015 issue of the journal Nature Physics.

Funding came from the German Research Foundation, Collaborative Research Network 658.

Photo:
STM image of a phthalocyanine single-molecule transistor. The molecule sits in a hexagon of twelve positively-charged indium atoms on an indium arsenide substrate. The atoms act as gates.
Courtesy of US Naval Research Laboratory

Molecule opens window on single-electron transistors

An international team has made a transistor from a molecule of phthalocyanine and twelve indium atoms.

An alternative to ‘single electron’ transistors made on fabricated quantum dots – which are sensitive to one electron leaving or joining, but typically have hundreds of electrons – this transistor is simple and physically transparent, and its structure is known exactly.

“The perfection and reproducibility offered by these STM-generated transistors will enable researchers to explore elementary processes involving current flow through single molecules at a fundamental level,” said the US Naval Research Laboratory (NRL). “Understanding and controlling these processes, and the new kinds of behaviour to which they can lead, will be important for integrating molecule-based devices with existing semiconductor technologies.”

NRL worked with Paul-Drude-Institut für Festkörperelektronikthe (PDI), the Freie Universität Berlin (FUB) and NTT Basic Research Laboratories (NTT-BRL), Japan.

+1 charged metal atoms and the molecule were shifted around using a scanning tunnelling microscope (STM) on an indium arsenide (InAs) crystal prepared by molecular beam epitaxy at NTT-BRL.

The atoms are the gates.

“The molecule is only weakly bound to the InAs template. So, when we bring the STM tip very close to the molecule and apply a bias voltage to the tip-sample junction, single electrons can tunnel between template and tip by hopping via nearly unperturbed molecular orbitals, similar to the working principle of a quantum dot gated by an external electrode. In our case, the charged atoms nearby provide the electrostatic gate potential that regulates the electron flow and the charge state of the molecule,” said team leader Dr Stefan Fölsch, a physicist at the PDI.

Depending on its charge state, the molecule adopts different rotational orientations – something predicted by first-principles calculations and confirmed it by imaging. Coupling between charge and orientation has an effect on electron flow across the molecule, manifested by a large conductance gap at low bias voltages.

“This intriguing behaviour goes beyond the established picture of charge transport through a gated quantum dot. Instead, we developed a generic model that accounts for the coupled electronic and orientation dynamics of the molecule,” said Dr Piet Brouwer at FUB.

Findings are published in the 13 July 2015 issue of the journal Nature Physics.

Funding came from the German Research Foundation, Collaborative Research Network 658.

Photo:
STM image of a phthalocyanine single-molecule transistor. The molecule sits in a hexagon of twelve positively-charged indium atoms on an indium arsenide substrate. The atoms act as gates.
Courtesy of US Naval Research Laboratory

Standard release for lighting LED-driver interface

The Module-Driver Interface Special Interest Group (MD-SIG) has released its specification for a universal electrical interface between LED lighting modules and their power supplies. The standard has the support of Osram, Panasonic, Philips and Tridonic.

Called LEDset1 edition1.0, it is a three wire interface (see diagram): power, ‘Iset’ and a return for both. The specification also allows for separate returns for main and set currents to avoid setting errors due to return voltage drops.

Iset has nothing to do with dimming. It is provided so that the LED module can indicate its maximum working current to the driver. It does this by drawing Imax/1,000 from Iset.

In detail, the PSU is required to hold 5V on Iset, and a resistor in the LED module or separately connected to the PSU (see photo) draws the setting current. The driver then provides 1,000x this current to the LEDs.

The only time any modulation of Iset is allowed is if the LED module is over-heating, when it is permitted to reduce its own supply current by reducing Iset.

LEDset1 works with paralleled LED module providing voltage requirements match, and series configurations providing current requirements match (see diagrams below).

What about dimming?

At this point is is useful to know LED lighting power supplies are also known as ‘drivers’ and ‘electronic control gear’ (ECG) – and occasionally as ‘ballasts’ following fluorescent lighting practice.

“The LEDset1 information interface is not meant to be used for dimming. It is focusing on setting the drive current for nominal 100% operation and enables thermal de-rating,” said MD-SIG. “The reason is that the LED control gear may respond to changes in the setting current at a low rate. Accordingly, the scaled output current may lag the setting current by many seconds.” LEDset1 allows up to 10s for response.

Dimming through a separate interface to the driver is under discussion for a future LEDset specification, as is colour steering.

The official names of the three terminals are: LED+, LEDset and LED-. The optional Iset return is ‘GRNset’.

LED module and driver must be marked accordingly, and recommended wire colours are: red, white, black and black respectively.

Although LEDset1 specifies a universal analogue signalling protocol, it does not cover the matching of driver output voltage and current capability with LED module needs.

A MD-SIG power interface specification is work in progress.

“The power interface specification describes driving capabilities like voltage, current and power ranges of LED control gears and respective LED module operating requirements,” said the SIG. “It simplifies matching and comparing output and input parameters with harmonised terms and definitions.”

Osram has already adopted LEDset edition 1.0 as its own LEDset Gen2 specification. Osram’s first generation LEDset was a similar but incompatible system. The firm is allowing set resistors from 50kΩ to 1kΩ (100mA-5A ILEDmax). Osram’s specification includes NTC and PTC thermistor circuits to implement thermal protection feedback.

What aboug Zhaga

Zhaga Consortium is a separate LED lighting standardisation body, sharing significant members with MD-SIG. Although covering some electrical issues, it mainly concerns itself with mechanical interchangeability – allowing luminaire makers to pick physically-compatible LEDs, lenses, reflectors, connectors and heatsinks from various component makers.

Until recently, Zhaga has not considered the electrical interface between driver and LED module (LLE – LED light engines in Zhaga’s nomenclature) – instead considering LED module and driver as a single, if sometimes distributed, electrical entity.

Recognising industry’s wish to separately mix and match driver and LED module, Zhaga has now introduced Book 13 (Zhaga specifications are called ‘Books’). Book 13 adopts MD-SIG’s electrical scheme alongside mechanical interchangeability requirements developed by Zhaga.

“MD-SIG defines standardised interfaces between LED modules and LED drivers that, when used in combination with specifications created by the Zhaga Consortium, will enable manufacturers of LED luminaires to interchange LED modules and LED drivers made by different manufacturers.” said MD-SIG.

A complete list of MD-SIG members is: BAG, Helvar Osram, Panasonic/Vossloh Schwabe, Philips, TCI, Zumtobel/Tridonic. It is administrativley under the wing of IEEE-ISTO in New Jersey.

Standard release for lighting LED-driver interface

The Module-Driver Interface Special Interest Group (MD-SIG) has released its specification for a universal electrical interface between LED lighting modules and their power supplies. The standard has the support of Osram, Panasonic, Philips and Tridonic.

Called LEDset1 edition1.0, it is a three wire interface (see diagram): power, ‘Iset’ and a return for both. The specification also allows for separate returns for main and set currents to avoid setting errors due to return voltage drops.

Iset has nothing to do with dimming. It is provided so that the LED module can indicate its maximum working current to the driver. It does this by drawing Imax/1,000 from Iset.

In detail, the PSU is required to hold 5V on Iset, and a resistor in the LED module or separately connected to the PSU (see photo) draws the setting current. The driver then provides 1,000x this current to the LEDs.

The only time any modulation of Iset is allowed is if the LED module is over-heating, when it is permitted to reduce its own supply current by reducing Iset.

LEDset1 works with paralleled LED module providing voltage requirements match, and series configurations providing current requirements match (see diagrams below).

What about dimming?

At this point is is useful to know LED lighting power supplies are also known as ‘drivers’ and ‘electronic control gear’ (ECG) – and occasionally as ‘ballasts’ following fluorescent lighting practice.

“The LEDset1 information interface is not meant to be used for dimming. It is focusing on setting the drive current for nominal 100% operation and enables thermal de-rating,” said MD-SIG. “The reason is that the LED control gear may respond to changes in the setting current at a low rate. Accordingly, the scaled output current may lag the setting current by many seconds.” LEDset1 allows up to 10s for response.

Dimming through a separate interface to the driver is under discussion for a future LEDset specification, as is colour steering.

The official names of the three terminals are: LED+, LEDset and LED-. The optional Iset return is ‘GRNset’.

LED module and driver must be marked accordingly, and recommended wire colours are: red, white, black and black respectively.

Although LEDset1 specifies a universal analogue signalling protocol, it does not cover the matching of driver output voltage and current capability with LED module needs.

A MD-SIG power interface specification is work in progress.

“The power interface specification describes driving capabilities like voltage, current and power ranges of LED control gears and respective LED module operating requirements,” said the SIG. “It simplifies matching and comparing output and input parameters with harmonised terms and definitions.”

Osram has already adopted LEDset edition 1.0 as its own LEDset Gen2 specification. Osram’s first generation LEDset was a similar but incompatible system. The firm is allowing set resistors from 50kΩ to 1kΩ (100mA-5A ILEDmax). Osram’s specification includes NTC and PTC thermistor circuits to implement thermal protection feedback.

What aboug Zhaga

Zhaga Consortium is a separate LED lighting standardisation body, sharing significant members with MD-SIG. Although covering some electrical issues, it mainly concerns itself with mechanical interchangeability – allowing luminaire makers to pick physically-compatible LEDs, lenses, reflectors, connectors and heatsinks from various component makers.

Until recently, Zhaga has not considered the electrical interface between driver and LED module (LLE – LED light engines in Zhaga’s nomenclature) – instead considering LED module and driver as a single, if sometimes distributed, electrical entity.

Recognising industry’s wish to separately mix and match driver and LED module, Zhaga has now introduced Book 13 (Zhaga specifications are called ‘Books’). Book 13 adopts MD-SIG’s electrical scheme alongside mechanical interchangeability requirements developed by Zhaga.

“MD-SIG defines standardised interfaces between LED modules and LED drivers that, when used in combination with specifications created by the Zhaga Consortium, will enable manufacturers of LED luminaires to interchange LED modules and LED drivers made by different manufacturers.” said MD-SIG.

A complete list of MD-SIG members is: BAG, Helvar Osram, Panasonic/Vossloh Schwabe, Philips, TCI, Zumtobel/Tridonic. It is administrativley under the wing of IEEE-ISTO in New Jersey.

Two in five British adults affected by data breaches

42% of British adults have had their personal information compromised by an organisation, putting them at risk of identity theft or identity fraud. Of these 64% are concerned that it could happen to them again in the future – so says information services firm Experian, after a survey of 2,000 people.

Despite their concern, many are not aware of information safeguarding actions.

After being told by an organisation that a data breach had occurred making personal information vulnerable, 54% of respondents did not change the password on that account.

“Being affected by a data breach means your details are in the public domain, and could ended up being traded illegally online by fraudsters, or used by the fraudsters themselves to commit identity-related crimes,” said Experian.

35% changed the passwords on other on-line accounts to further protect their identity from the risk of identity theft and fraud, and 83% made no change to their online behaviour having been notified that their personal information had been compromised.

According to Experian, City of London Police judge one in four UK adults – 12 million people – have been the victim of identity crime, losing on average £1,200 each. This force is running ‘Not With My Name’ – a campaign to help the public understand data security.

Not every organisation is held to the same security standard by the public.

According to the survey, only 49% expect social media sites to protect their on-line information, and a third consider they share responsibility with social media providers.

84% believed the Government has sole responsibility of the personal data it holds, 83% for banks, 81% for insurance companies and 80% for utilities.

“Despite a considerable number of people being affected by data breaches and cyber-attacks, it appears that many still don’t understand the importance of protecting their own information on-line,” said Amir Goshtai, managing director or Experian consumer services. “Almost 7 in 10 people think the responsibility to protect their information is the sole responsibility of a service provider – when in reality this is only half the battle. While service providers have an obvious duty to protect the information they hold, we’ll only make progress in the fight against fraudsters if individuals and organisations join forces to protect personal information.”

Experian: your steps to personal ID protection

Passwords
Use strong, unique passwords for on-line accounts and change your passwords every couple of months. Avoid dictionary words – consider using the first letter of each word in a memorable phrase, and add a number.

Because the source of a breach is difficult to identify, change passwords on all accounts immediately if notified any account has been compromised.

Email
If an email seems suspicious, contact the relevant organisation. Don’t give out personal details, don’t confirm personal details. To help prevent phishing emails and other malware threats, keep computer, smartphone and tablet security settings up-to-date.

On the move
Be aware of information on phones, including in emails, that can be accessed without a password.

Use a home screen lock. Remember information you access via public networks and open Wi-Fi hotspots is at risk.

Financial red flags
Changes in a credit report can indicate credit has been applied for under false pretences. Monitor your credit report and bank statement regularly.

Automatically monitor your details
Web tools are available to monitor the web for mentions of your personal information 24/7, sending a notification if it appears somewhere new.

If you think you are a victims of identity theft
report it to Action Fraud – 0300 123 2040 or www.actionfraud.police.uk
contact your bank
check your credit report.

“Experian’s Victims of Fraud service is also available to fraud victims, and has a dedicated team to give expert advice and support tailored to their particular circumstances,” said Experian.

For the survey, ComRes interviewed 2,056 British adults on-line (9-11th January 2015). Data were weighted to be representative of all GB 18+ adults.

French firm wins Lapis Semi Bluetooth antenna design in

Insight SiP of Sophia Antipolis is behind the PCB antenna design in Lapis Semiconductor’s latest Bluetooth module. www.insightsip.com

Called MK71050-03, it uses Lapis’ MK7105 silicon whose tranciever achieves <9mA transmit and receive.

“The internal pattern antenna optimised for the ML7105 was developed in collaboration with Insight SiP,” said Lapis. “The EEPROM, crystal oscillator, and antenna matching circuit required are included and all required performance optimisations are performed at Lapis Semiconductor’s facility.”

The 11x14mm module needs no adjustment and is aimed at companies without wireless expertise that want to add Bluetooth. It is pre-certifiedin Japan, North America and Europe.

There is a USB evaluation kit for development, available from RS Components, Chip One Stop, and Core Staff.

“The necessary documents and sample software can be downloaded online. Also, a smartphone app compatible with the USB evaluation kit is available free of charge that makes it possible to test Bluetooth Smart communication using a smartphone,” said Lapis.

Lapis Bluetooth Insight SiP Applications in health and fitness devices are expected. Enabled profiles include: HRP (heart rate), HTP (health thermometer), BLP (blood pressure), GLP (glucose), BAS (battery service) and DIS (device information).

Parameter	Specifications
Features	Bluetooth SIG Core Spec v4.0 compliant
	Low power consumption wireless communication module
	SiP (System in Package) design
	Bluetooth certified
	Wireless certification acquired for various countries – Radio Law (Japan) – FCC 15.212 modular certification (US) – EN300 328 (Europe)
	EEPROM built in for storing user data (16kbyte max.)
	UART I/F for Bluetooth Host Controller
	SPI (Slave) I/F for Custom Host Controller
	Supports low power clocks (32.768kHz) for intermittent operation
	Built-in regulator
Supply Voltage	1.6 to 3.6V, 3.3V typ.
Consumption	0.7uA (Sleep Mode) 9mA typ. (Transmission) 9mA typ. (Reception)
Package	52pin LGA (10.7mm × 13.6mm × 1.78mm)

Wireless microcontroller with novel Bluetooth LE radio

Renesas has introduced a wireless microcontroller that supports Bluetooth Smart for short-range wireless communication. The radio technology was revealed at the IEEE ISSCC technology conference this year.

The chip is one of the firm’s L78/G1D Group. “Current consumption of the RL78/G1D is among the lowest in the industry [3.5mA receive, 4.3mA 0dBm transmit]. Adaptable RF technology adjusts power consumption during wireless operation to the optimal level to match the communication distance,” said the firm. “When wireless communication takes place at one-second intervals while maintaining a connected state with another wireless device, the BLE functionality can be added with the average current of 10µA.”

According to ISSCC paper 13.4 ‘A 6.3mW BLE transceiver embedded Rx image-rejection filter and Tx harmonic-suppression filter reusing on-chip matching network’, the transmitter uses direct 2-point PLL modulation and the receiver has a ‘sliding IF’ architecture, with an on-chip dc-dc converter to reduce power consumption.

A novel on-chip combined T/R switch / balun / filter (see diagram below) uses a switch in parallel with an LNA series inductor and digitally-controlled capacitors.

The switch is shorted for Tx mode – the input impedance of the LNA is relatively high impedance compared to 50Ω at 2.4GHz, and does not affect the transmit matching – and open for Rx mode .

In Tx mode, the network becomes an output pi-filter, and in Rx mode looks like an LNA input notch filter, with capacitor tuning rejecting image components around 1.46GHz.

The parallel switch arrangement is said to reduce signal loss by ~0.5dB, cutting power amplifier and LNA consumption by 10-15%.

For development there is an evaluation kit, Bluetooth-SIG qualified protocol stack, and PC GUI tool.

RL78/G1D MCUs wil be on show at Bluetooth Europe in London in September.

Renesas Bluetooth RL78/G1D MCU (R5F11AGx) at a glance

32MHz 16-bit CPU
128, 192 or 256kbyte programme flash
8kbyte data flash
12, 16 or 20kbyte RAM
1.6-3.6V
-40 to +85°C
Bluetooth v4.1 single mode master/slave
4.3mA transmit (3V) 0dBm out max
3.5mA receive (3V) -90dBm sensitivity
AES/CCM crypto block
Software protocol stack (wireless updatable)
On-chip 32.768kHz oscillator
Watchdog timer
Real-time clock
10bit ADC (8chan)
1.45V internal ref
UART
I2C
IEC60730 and IEC61508 safety
6x6mm 48pin WQFN
industrial or consumer grade
Samples now
Production October

Digital hydraulics win Royal Academy of Engineering MacRobert Award

Edinburgh-based Artemis has won this year’s MacRobert Award from the Royal Academy of Engineering.

It won it for its Digital Displacement digitally-controlled hydraulic power system for off-shore wind turbines. “The smart modular system has been designed to overcome the significant reliability issues associated with existing turbines,” said the Academy.

“The Artemis system is a massive leap forward for hydraulically powered systems,” said judge Dr Gordon Masterton OBE FREng FRSE. “The team has done for hydraulic engines what James Watt did for steam engines; they have totally transformed the efficiency and range of potential applications. The largest floating wind turbine in the world is to be powered with a Digital Displacement transmission.”

The Duke of Edinburgh presented the prize to Artemis Intelligent Power MD Dr Niall Caldwell, operations director Pierre Joly, chairman Dr Win Rampen FREng, non-executive director Professor Stephen Salter FRSE and chief engineer Dr Uwe Stein. The Duke is the Academy’s Senior Fellow.

The winners receive a gold medal and a £50,000 prize.

Other finalists were:

Cambridge-based Endomag with a breast cancer diagnostic tool that avoids the use of radioactive tracers in determining the spread of cancer through the lymphatic system.

Blackpool-based Victrex, for the development of polymers in ultra-thin sheets for use in smartphone and tablet speakers.

Artemis was spun out of the University of Edinburgh in 1994.

Digital Displacement

Digital Displacement is a hydraulic power transfer system with mechanical valve control replaced with computer-driven valve commutation. It is “analogous to the introduction of common-rail direct fuel-injection in vehicles”, according to Artemis. Most of the refinements for performance are within easily swapped valves, electronics and software instead of within complex mechanisms.”

This also means limitations in component positions are reduced and, according to Artemis, noise reductions because oil-compressibility energy is naturally recovered.

Pumps and motors are inherently variable-displacement – each pump cylinder has an active low-pressure valve and a simple non-return high-pressure valve. In motors the high-pressure valves are also active.

When power is needed, pump and motor cylinders are enabled just-in-time at bottom or top-dead-centre if their contribution is required, otherwise they idle – breathing oil in and out at low-pressure and placing little parasitic burden on the active cylinders.

Artemis is applying the same technology to reduce the fuel consumption of commuter trains and buses. “A regenerative braking energy storage system based on Digital Displacement can be retrofitted to existing diesel commuter trains,” said the Academy. Trials with Ricardo and Bombardier have shown 10% less fuel consumption, less noise and lower exhaust emissions in stations.

With Lothian Buses and Alexander Dennis, Artemis said it has demonstrated fuel savings of up to 27% on urban buses, claiming a two to three year payback for bus operators without subsidies.

Digi-Key supports ARM University Program

A ‘Lab-in-a-Box’ - part of the ARM University Program

A ‘Lab-in-a-Box’ – part of the ARM University Program

Digi-Key Electronics is supporting the ARM University Program by distributing Lab-in-a-Box (LiB).

Launched in February 2014, LiB is a number of kits supporting electronics and computer engineering courses with: ARM-based boards, software licenses, lecture slides, demonstration code, lab manuals and projects.

“Digi-Key is an excellent partner for distributing our education kits to a larger customer base worldwide,” said ARM University Program manager Khaled Benkrid.

The programme provides a variety of teaching materials, hardware platforms, software development tools, IP, and other resources for many academic courses including embedded systems design and programming, SoC design, operating system design, and digital signal processing.

Other initiatives include ‘professor workshops’, online teaching videos, design contest sponsorship and research support.

‘Rapid embedded system design and programming‘ LiB is the first available from Digi-Key, which includes a Cortex-M4 based STMicroelectronics NUCLEO-F401RE microcontroller board. corresponding teaching materials and software tools can be requested from the ARM University Program website.

The ARM University Program’s partners include Cypress, Freescale, Nuvoton, NXP, ST and Silicon Labs/Energy Micro.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vq-qtB1ZKtw

See also: xfdfdf [Mannerisms]