Monday 15 April 2024

Tough Ethernet switches.

IT technicians are being helped by Moxa to build faster, more resilient networks in the harshest industrial environments with its ToughNet TN-5300A Series of unmanaged Ethernet switches.

Designed to extend IoT connectivity into rolling stock, factory robotics, mining and marine applications, ToughNet TN-5300A switches are hardened to withstand exposure to dust, moisture and other damaging elements. All six models in the TN-5300A Series comply with mandatory test items of the EN 50155 standard including stringent requirements for temperature, power input, surge protection, ESD and vibration, qualifying the switches for deployment on passenger and freight trains.

Available with 5 or 8 Fast Ethernet ports, ToughNet TN-5300A Series switches delivers advanced capabilities similar to other Moxa unmanaged switches yet in an IP54-rated die-cast metal housing. Key to their reliability is the use of push-pull M12 connectors that ensure exceptionally tight, strong connections and the most dependable resistance against external disturbances like shock and vibration. They also support an extended operating temperature range of -40 to 70°C, plus feature an isolated power input range of 24 to 110 VDC, with overload, reverse polarity, and inrush current protection to achieve stable performance in noisy industrial environments.

To reduce infrastructure costs, the ToughNet TN-5308A Series features several models with up to 8 IEEE 802.3af/at PoE ports to power cameras, sensors, Access Points, VoIP phones and other network PDs (Power Devices). Classified as Power Source Equipment (PSE), the TN-5308A PoE model, for instance, supplies up to 30 watts of power per port for a total PoE budget of 50.2 Watts. PoE is critically important on modern trains requiring a high-speed, reliable communication backbone in support of on-board video surveillance, NVRs, Passenger Information Systems, and Wi-Fi access, as well as the demands of multiple trackside and train-to-ground applications.

These Ethernet switches are economic solutions to a variety of industrial applications. Along with EN 50155, the switches meet NEMA TS2 requirements for traffic control systems and are E-Mark compliant with the regulations, laws and directives for vehicles in the European Union.


@Moxa_Europe @OConnellPR #PAuto #Ethernet

Board re-elected.

The members of the nonprofit CiA (CAN in Automation) international users’ and manufacturers’ association have re-elected the Board of Directors: 
 
Magnus Hell from Infineon as Technical Director (left),
Christian Schlegel from CHS Consulting as Business Director (center), and
Holger Zeltwanger as Managing Director (right).

In addition the regular CiA General Assembly appointed Bosch, Emotas, ESD, Kvaser, Microcontrol, and Murata as Technical Committee members. The elected Business Committee members are Emotas, ESD, Microcontol, Murata, and Vector.

CiA, established in 1992, has 755 members worldwide. The nonprofit association develops the CAN (Controller Area Network) ecosystem originally intended as in-vehicle network (IVN). Nowadays, the serial network is applied in different industry domains.

There are three data link layer versions internationally standardized: CAN CC (classic), CAN FD (flexible data-rate), and CAN XL (extended data-field length).

Recently, the ISO 11898-2 standard (CAN physical media attachment) has been released. It specifies all CAN transceivers: CAN HS (high speed), CAN FD, CAN SIC (signal improvement capability), and CAN SIC XL optionally with low-power mode and selective wake-up capability. The ISO 11898-1 standard (data link layer and physical coding sublayer) has passed successfully the final ballot and will be released, soon.

“With a data field of 1 byte to 2048 byte and a bit rate of up to 20 Mbit/s, CAN XL addresses new applications as IVN in road vehicles and as embedded (backbone) network in other industry domains,” explained Holger Zeltwanger. “CiA members develop the CAN XL ecosystem, which includes CANsec, a cybersecurity solution implementable in hardware.”


• See also "Bus technical manager" (11/3/2024)

@CANopen #PAuto #Communcations

New high-power industrial ATX PSU series.

Highly efficient, robust and powerful power supply for high-performance computer systems.

Three models of Bicker's new Delta GPS series are now available from stock. These exceptionally powerful ATX power supplies impress with their combination of high energy efficiency with 80PLUS® certification and the robustness of an industrial PC power supply. With powerful 12V outputs, they are perfect for high-performance computer systems and graphics-intensive applications. Thanks to high-quality components, they ensure long-term availability in 24/7 continuous operation. The GPS series is extremely versatile and covers a wide range of applications, including industrial PCs, image processing, gaming, and AI applications. The powerful ATX power supplies are ideal for workstations in mechanical engineering, software development, architecture, audio production, video editing, and 3D modeling.

The GPS series consists of three models with 850W, 1000W and 1300W. The particularly energy-efficient power supply design achieves efficiencies of up to 92%, thus obtaining 80PLUS® Platinum or Gold certifications. A minimum load of 0A on all output voltages and particularly powerful +12V rails ensure the safe and reliable power supply of current motherboards with the latest processor generations, making the GPS series the perfect solution for ongoing applications and future projects.

The outstanding reliability of the new PSU series is the result of using first-class components of the highest quality. The precisely regulated AC/DC switching power supplies not only feature a modular plug-in cable harness but also offer a variety of ATX outputs to power motherboards, expansion cards, and peripherals. For worldwide use, the Delta GPS series features a wide-range input of 90-264 VAC with active PFC as well as international certifications.

The GPS series at a glance.
• High-performance industrial ATX power supplies 800W / 1000W / 1300W
• Efficiency of up to 92%
• 80PLUS® Platinum/Gold certification
• Strong +12V outputs for the latest motherboard generation
• Designed for 24/7 continuous operation
• No minimum load required
• AC wide-range input with active PFC
• Current Harmonic class D
• Extensive protection functions OVP, OCP, OTP, SCP
• Quiet fan for a pleasant working environment
• High flexibility through modular cable harness
• AC cable (EU) included
• International certifications (including EN/UL62368-1)
• Optimal price-performance ratio
• 5+ years long-term availability
• 3 years warranty
• Available from stock
Delta GPS-1300CBA | 1300W | 80PLUS® Platinum.
The most powerful model in the series offers 1300W and four +12V outputs (each 50A max), providing enormous reserves for high-performance systems with the latest processor generation, such as in the fields of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and image processing (Vision, Inspection, Imaging). With a particularly high efficiency of up to 92%, the Delta GPS-1300CBA achieves 80PLUS® Platinum certification. The switching power supply features an extensive and modular plug-in cable harness. The AC cable (EU) is included.

Delta GPS-1000EBA | 1000W | 80PLUS® Gold.
With 1000W and a strong +12V output (83.33A max), the high-performance PC power supply supplies particularly performant and fully equipped industrial motherboards with corresponding expansion cards for graphics-intensive applications. With a high efficiency of up to 90%, the Delta GPS-1000EBA achieves 80PLUS® Gold certification. The robustly constructed switching power supply features an extensive and modular plug-in cable harness. The AC cable (EU) is included.

Delta GPS-850LBA | 850W | 80PLUS® Gold.
The high-performance PC power supply with 850W and a strong +12V output (70.84A max) reliably supplies fully equipped industrial motherboards of the latest generation for compute-intensive applications. With a high efficiency of up to 90%, the Delta GPS-850LBA also achieves 80PLUS® Gold certification. The high-quality switching power supply features an extensive and modular plug-in cable harness. The AC cable (EU) is included.


@bicker_de @PresseBox #PAuto  #PSU

Friday 12 April 2024

Simulating MIMO connections.

Anritsu Corporation has introduced a newly developed Butler Matrix 4x4 (0.6 GHz to 7.125 GHz) MA8114A to expand its Butler Matrix module lineup of simulating MIMO connections.

The MA8114A is a Butler Matrix transmission path with 4 input and 4 output ports and supports the 6 GHz band (5.925 GHz to 7.125 GHz), which is not supported by the existing Azimuth STACSIM-WB-(Static Channel Simulator) (ACC-339) used for evaluating 4x4 MIMO throughput of LTE/5G base stations and Wi-Fi devices. The MA8114A helps users to build a stable 5G/W-Fi evaluation environment, and efficiently test throughput.

Development Background.
LTE/5G Base station and Wi-Fi device vendors use the Over The Air test environment to evaluate the maximum throughput with 4x4 MIMO for their products. This entails measuring the Tx/Rx radio performance of wireless devices using an anechoic or OTA chamber which is designed to block external radio waves. Because the transmission environment varies depending on the distance to the User Equipment (UE), a drawback of this approach is its low reproducibility of measurement results. While reproducibility can be improved by connecting the two devices using an RF cable, a simple coupler cannot simulate the MIMO transmission environment. The MA8114A solves this issue, ensuring highly reproducible measurements.

The upper-limit frequency for NR FR1 has been extended beginning with 3GPP Release 17, and the 6 GHz band has been added to Wi-Fi 6E/7. The MA8114A supports a frequency range up to 7.125 GHz in preparation for countries launching services on new frequency bands.

The product lineup of the Butler Matrix module also includes the Butler Matrix 8x8 (0.6 GHz to 7.125 GHz) MA8118A with 8 input and 8 output ports, which supports a frequency range up to 7.125 GHz as well. The MA8118A can be used not only for 8x8 MIMO throughput evaluation but also to enable efficient testing of devices having multiple RF ports.


@Anritsu @AnritsuEMEA @NapierPR #Power #PAuto

Industrial PCs with powerful performance and reliability.

Compact Industrial Computer Equipped with AI Acceleration Module

Compact and fan-less industrial PCs have been announced by DFI. Their EC70A-ADP is designed with rich I/O and wide temperature support, enabling diverse deployment for AMRs and AGVs. EC700-ADN, equipped with the Hailo-8 module, offers advanced AI computing capabilities for industrial automation applications.

According to a recent market research report by Emergen Research, the global embedded systems market size is expected to reach USD 169.4 billion by 2032. This growth is primarily driven by the increasing adoption of AIoT devices and automation technologies across various sectors, including manufacturing, healthcare, and logistics.

As businesses continue to prioritize efficiency and data-driven decision-making, DFI's Box PCs arrive amidst this burgeoning trend in embedded computing.

The DFI EC70A-ADP stands out as an ultra-compact, fan-less industrial computer powered by the 12th Gen Intel® Core™ Alder Lake-P Processor. It boasts a sleek and silent design suitable for space-constrained or noise-sensitive environments. With 8GB of onboard memory and an additional SO-DIMM DDR4 slot, the EC70A-ADP offers flexible memory options. Its dual display support allows for enhanced visualization, while compatibility with 5G-NR modules ensures future-proof connectivity. The EC70A-ADP also delivers unparalleled robustness and reliability with a wide operating temperature of –20°C to 60°C, making it ideal for deployment in AGVs, AMRs, or material logistics systems.

DFI’s EC700-ADN is also tailored for space and noise sensitive environments by combining robust performance with a slim form factor. However, what sets the EC700-ADN apart is its compatibility with the Hailo-8 module, offering unparalleled AI computing capabilities. Its advanced analytics algorithms are capable of processing high-resolution and high-frame rate videos, resulting in superior accuracy in detecting small and fast-moving objects. Moreover, it significantly reduces false alerts and generates comprehensive metadata, thereby enhancing operational efficiency.

Its built-in OOB functionality facilitates remote diagnostics and system reboots for malfunctioning systems, even when the device is turned-off or the OS has crashed. This enables remote troubleshooting and streamlines issue resolution for optimized operations optimization. Featuring LPDDR5 & eMMC support, and up to Quad Display Support via VGA/HDMI/USB-C, the EC700-ADN emerges as the top choice for AIoT, factory automation, and robotics applications.


@DFI_Embedded @mepaxIntPR #PAuto #IIoT

General manager in autonomous mobile solutions.

Johan Lundblad has been appointed as General Manager at Kollmorgen, Autonomous Mobile Solutions division.

Johan Lundblad
Johan has over 25 years of experience in various executive leadership roles. Since 2018, he has served as Global Sales and Marketing Director, leading the growth journey of the Autonomous Mobile Solutions division with a customer-centric and collaborative approach. We are confident that Johan is a trusted leader with a passion for our products and business model, that will serve him well in his new role.

“I am excited to take on the role of General Manager of the Kollmorgen Autonomous Mobile Solutions division. Having worked close to our partners in all regions of the world I am confident I will offer the continuity needed to ensure strong relationships for continued success. I am proud of our company, our skilled teams and our industry leading NDC Solutions offering,” says Johan Lundblad.

The management team extended its sincerest gratitude to Tobias Byfeldt for his leadership, passion, and dedication over the past 13 years.

“I am very proud of what we have accomplished as a company over the past 13 years I have had with the company. With Johan taking over the leadership we ensure that we will continue to execute our strategy. Our strive to lead and develop the market will remain untouched and as always with customer focus and dedication to provide the best Autonomous Mobile Solutions there is,” says Tobias Byfeldt.


@AboutKollmorgen @mepaxIntPR #AGV #Pauto

25th anniversary in test and measurement.

Partnership celebrated with an award ceremony.

Fluke Corporation recently hosted an award ceremony celebrating the 25th anniversary of its Premium partnership with CalPlus GmbH.

Flavio Romano, Senior Director of EMEA Sales, Fluke Corporation said: “The success of our partnership is owed to CalPlus’ unwavering commitment to customer-centricity and excellence in customer service, innovation and technical expertise. CalPlus’ profound product understanding enables them to provide comprehensive training and unmatched support, expediting the discovery of optimal solutions. Their proactive innovation ensures they lead in meeting evolving customer needs. Together, our shared vision for growth in the German market has forged a strategic alliance marked by mutual trust and a relentless pursuit of excellence.”

Upgrade and save 20% for a limited time.
Fluke Calibration is offering European customers the opportunity to upgrade and save 20% on the 55X0A Series of High-Performance Multi-Product Calibrators. For a limited time, customers can trade in their existing precision calibrator regardless of the manufacturer and upgrade to the latest technology. Featuring three advanced models, the 5560A, 5550A and 5540A provide the most compre-hensive electrical workload coverage with the highest accuracy, an intuitive designed front panel, MET/CAL com patibility and much more. 
This limited time offer ends on 28 June 2024.

A leading German specialist distributor for test and measurement equipment and the leading supplier of calibrators for electrical quantities and temperature, CalPlus was formed in 1999 by former employees of Fluke. Today, the company serves customers in all areas of the German economy, including colleges, universities, research institutes and authorities, and is headquartered in Berlin.

The success of the longstanding, historical partnership between the two companies is down to the extensive technical knowledge that the CalPlus sales team has of Fluke Corporation’s products. CalPlus is also the exclusive German distributor for Fluke Calibration’s electrical and temperature calibration portfolio.

In 2022, this expertise enabled CalPlus to secure the largest single order for Fluke Calibration of $6.7 million – $4.5 million on hardware and $2.2 million on Premium Care plans – with a semiconductor and component test systems manufacturer. The accuracy, reliability and stability of Fluke Calibrations’ products are of critical importance to calibration and primary laboratories in Germany.

Jürgen Mau, Managing Director of CalPlus says long-term customer and supplier partnerships are at the heart of CalPlus’ corporate philosophy. “Having Fluke as a Premium partner for 25 years has enabled us to make substantial inroads into the electrical and temperature calibration market in Germany. Over the years, we have also expanded our in-stock range of Fluke’s industrial and networking portfolios to reflect the considerable growth in the renewable energy sector, including solar and wind power as well as electric vehicles. These rapidly evolving markets demand reliable testing and calibration solutions of the highest quality. Fluke is a true innovator in these sectors and enables us to deliver complete solutions to our customers.”


@FlukeCorp @NapierPR #TandM #PAuto #Germany