Paper on IoT published.

This white paper, Assuring Communications Quality of IoT Devices,  from Anritsu discusses, wired and wireless communications, differences in standards and quality requirements.

The Internet of Things (IoT) has been the focus of attention for some time now. It is the foundation for delivering previously unimagined services by connecting “things”, such as automobiles and home electrical devices, to the Internet. There are already a wide variety of IoT devices in use in many fields where the most commonly used configuration transfers data obtained by the IoT device to a server, etc., via the Internet and the server performs various types of data analysis and data processing.


• See also their Video: IoT: Smart Manufacturing.

@AnritsuEMEA  #PAuto #TandM

New standard in miniature connectors.

The new Han® K32/55 from Harting sets new standards in the miniaturisation of rectangular connectors. With a combination of 32 power and 55 signal contacts for use in size 10B housings, this new addition to their Han-Com® product series offers exceptional contact density to save customers both time and money.

The reduced cost and time saving result from the fact that the Han® K32/55 effectively combines two connectors into one by incorporating the crimp contacts of the D series and D-Sub series into a single closed unit, allowing the connection of a maximum of 32 power contacts (10 A/250 V/4 kV/2) and 55 signal contacts (4 A/50 V/0.8 kV/2).
Customers can select from silver or gold contact surfaces and can also use existing crimp contacts and tooling. In addition, the clear numbering of each contact chamber rules out incorrect wiring during assembly.

Depending on the application and the environmental requirements, the use of the size 10B housing enables flexible installation in compatible metal housings including Han® B, Han® M, Han® EMC, Han® HPR and Han-INOX®.

#Harting #PAuto @PeterBushComms 

Transducers enable true RMS measurement.

Knick have defined a completely new class of AC/DC transducers for true RMS values with the announcement of their series P 43000 TRMS AC/DC high voltage transducers. Input values range from 100 mA up to 5 A AC. They are output as standardized analog DC signals (0…20 mA, 4…20 mA, 0…10 V).

A rotary switch on the front facilitates comfortable, calibrated switching between up to 16 customized ranges. Traditional AC/DC transducers are very susceptible to errors due to their poor insulation and are only designed for pure sinewave measurement. The Knick P 43000 TRMS, however, has been developed to also accurately process distorted input signals. The highly accurate true RMS circuit converts signals with a crest factor of up to 5 in the frequency range of 40 Hz to 1000 Hz or 8 Hz to 400 Hz. The VariTrans P 43000 TRMS withstands working voltages up to 3600 V AC/DC and test voltages up to 15 kV. Protective separation of the input, output and power supply provide protection from electric shock up to 1800 V AC/DC according to EN 61140.

Knick's own TransShield technology facilitates an extremely compact, shielded design of the high-voltage transformers, allowing the VariTrans P 43000 TRMS to fit into a very compact, only 45 mm wide housing. Vacuum encapsulation provides maximum long-term protection against aggressive environmental influences, shock and vibration. In addition, VariTrans P 43000 TRMS transducers come with an integrated VariPower broad range power supply for supply voltages from 20...253 V AC/DC, which ensures maximum safety even in regions where auxiliary power is shaky.

Knick VariTrans P 43000 TRMS transducers come with a five-year warranty.

@Knick_Berlin #PAuto @mepaxIntPR 

Silica particles for chromotography.

Nanologica AB  has entered into a service agreement with global contract development and manufacturing organisation (CDMO) Sterling Pharma Solutions for the large-scale production of silica particles.

The partnership is the latest step in the development of a new business venture for Nanologica, which specialises in the development and manufacture of silica for application in drug delivery and chromatography.

Using Nanologica's technology,  Sterling Pharma Solutions will produce the large volumes of NLAB Saga™ chromatography material needed to perform preparative chromatography.

Andreas Bhagwani, CEO of Nanologica said:  "Sterling has 50 years of experience in cGMP manufacturing for the pharmaceutical industry and a very strong process knowledge. This new partnership will allow us to scale production to completely different volumes than what is possible from our own site in Södertälje, Sweden. In practice, this means that our capacity increases from tens of kilograms to tens of tonnes.”

Nanologica announced in February 2018 that it will start manufacturing preparatory chromatography media. Preparative chromatography is used in pharmaceutical manufacturing to "purify" peptides, specifically insulin. Vastly greater amounts of silica are used in preparative chromatography than in analytical chromatography, where Nanologica is active today.

Andreas continued: “We can now engage in detailed negotiations with two potential customers regarding our preparative chromatography offering. The goal is to finalise long-term supply agreements that will provide us with profitability relatively quickly.”

Kevin Cook, CEO of Sterling Pharma Solutions said: “Sterling is delighted to be working with Nanologica on this exciting and innovative opportunity. Sterling has rich experience in the development and scale-up of complex synthesis in a fully cGMP environment. The combination of the Nanolologica expertise and technology, together with Sterling’s manufacturing capabilities, provides the required combination for successful commercialisation.”

@nanologica @sterling_pharma #Pharma @ramarketingpr 

Lifetime of innovation recognised!

Imec, the research and innovation hub in nanoelectronics and digital technologies, today presented its annual Lifetime of Innovation Award to Dr. Irwin Jacobs, Founding Chairman and CEO Emeritus of Qualcomm. The annual industry honor is presented to the individual who has significantly advanced the field of semiconductor technology. The formal presentation will be made at the global Imec Technology Forum (ITF) in May in Belgium.

Dr Irwin M. Jacobs

In making the announcement, Luc Van den hove, president and CEO of imec, said: “Irwin Jacobs’ many technological contributions laid the groundwork for creating the mobile industry and markets that we know today. Under his leadership, Qualcomm developed two-way mobile satellite communications and tracking systems deemed the most advanced in the world. He pioneered spread-spectrum technology and systems using CDMA (code division multiple access), which became a digital standard for cellular phone communications. Together, these technologies opened mobile communications to the global consumer market.”

Irwin Jacobs began his career first as an assistant and then associate professor of electrical engineering at MIT and, later, as professor of computer science and engineering at the University of California in San Diego. While at MIT, he co-authored Principles of Communication Engineering, a textbook still in use. He began his corporate life as a cofounder of Linkabit, which developed satellite encryption devices. In 1985, he co-founded Qualcomm, serving as CEO until 2005 and chairman through 2009. His numerous awards include the National Medal of Technology, the Marconi Prize, and the Carnegie Medal of Philanthropy. His honors include nine honorary degrees including doctor of engineering from the National Tsing Hua University, Taiwan.

Imec initiated the Lifetime of Innovation Award in 2015 at their annual global forum known as ITF (Imec Technology Forum). The award marks milestones that have transformed the semiconductor industry. The first recipient was Dr. Morris Chang, whose foundry model launched the fabless semiconductor industry, spurring creation of new innovative companies. In 2016, Gordon Moore was honored, creator of the famous Moore’s law theory and co-founder of Intel. Dr. Kinam Kim was honored in 2017 for his contributions in memory technologies and his visionary leadership at Samsung.

Luc Van den hove concluded, saying: “Our mission is to create innovation through collaboration. By gathering global technology leaders at the ITF, imec provides an open forum to share issues and trends challenging the semiconductor industry. In this international exchange, imec and participants outline ways to collaborate in bringing innovative solutions to market.”

@imec_int #PAuto 

Solderless connectors.

Intelliconnect (Europe) has introduced a range of cost effective 2.9mm connectors providing solderless attachment to 0.085"(RG405) and 0.141" cables. System designers will find the main advantages of these connectors are faster assembly time, repeatability and performance and they also provide field replaceable connectivity.

Roy Philips, managing Director of Intelliconnect (Europe), comments, “Our new 2.9mm clamp connector series offers our customers an exciting alternative for assembling connectors to 0.085"(RG405) and 0.141" cables with no loss in performance or reliability. Solderless assembly speeds manufacture and facilitates field replacement in the event of wear or damage to the connector.”

Intelliconnect’s newly developed unique clamping technology provides similar I/L and VSWR results to standard soldered connectors. No special tooling is required and cable retention force is similar to soldered versions.

These stainless steel 2.9mm connectors have been designed for applications where reliability, durability, robustness and high frequency performance are very important. Typical applications include civil and military telecommunications, civil and military aeronautics, military equipment, space and measurement systems.

@IntelliConnLtd  #PAuto 

Controlled monitoring and control of transformers.

To address the needs of the energy automation sector and in the context of digitization, Camille Bauer is introducing higher-performance variants of the CENTRAX CU3000 and CU5000. As well as the BASIC version the ADVANCED version is now also available. The CENTRAX is a 2-in-1 device, combining in a single housing a highly precise measurement device for monitoring electrical parameters and the functionality of a programmable logic controller. It supports the CODESYS development environment for developing IEC 61131-3 compliant industrial automation applications.

CENTRAX CU3000 or CU5000 in an example of a
networked application with the CODESYS
development environment

New Modbus Master function
Via the RS-485 and Ethernet interfaces, the CENTRAX can now also retrieve and perform further processing of the measurement data and status information from any Modbus device. Requests are transmitted using either Modbus/TCP or Modbus/RTU. An extensive library of predefined Modbus devices is available for this purpose, making integration of the desired information significantly easier. It also eliminates any definition errors from the requests in advance.

Free useable Modbus mapping
There are up to 1000 registers available for user-defined measurement data mapping and up to 200 for status data (coils). Users can thus make the data from their control application available to higher level systems, such as the SCADA Data Management System, etc. in a universal and extremely flexible way.

Costs and benefits
From a cost/benefit point of view, the advantage of the additional functions of the ADVANCED version is evident. The integration of a highly precise measurement instrument and a soft-PLC in a single housing means that the component cost alone is reduced by 50%. Procurement and logistics-centred processes are optimized at the same time. Furthermore, the functional integration has an immediate positive impact on planning and implementation costs, both financially and time-wise. At a wide range of different levels of digitization, such as local automation (manual retrieval of data when needed), remote monitoring (specific, transmission of a reduced set of data via power line, EDGE GPRS, etc. or remote control (remote monitoring and its control based on broadband transmission via LAN, LTE glass fibre etc.), the CENTRAX, as a local intelligent unit, offers a cost-effective and well as universal solution

Potential applications
Applications for CENTRAX are to be found wherever there is a need to perform precise measurements as well as additional control tasks. For example the retrofit digitization of on-load tap changers, the controlled monitoring and control of transformers for overload protection, control of the effective load of lifts for efficiency optimization, timers for street lighting etc.

• Camille Bauer Metrawatt products are marketed in Ireland by Irish Power and Process

#CamilleBauer #PAuto