Electronics Journal | 04 - November 2021

04 - Electronics Journal - NOVEMBER 2021

electronics journal

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FISCHER CONNECTORS SHOWCASES NEW SOLDIER CONNECTIVITY AS KEY DESIGN ENABLER

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SIMPLIFY NEURAL NETWORK TRAINING WITH VISIONPRO DEEP LEARNING’S GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE

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CAPACITIVE SILICONE FORCE SENSOR SXTSC BY SATECO MAKES GRIPPING SAFE AND DEXTEROUS

THE VIEWBOARD 52 SERIES INTERACTIVE DISPLAY WITH AN INTEGRATED MULTIMEDIA SOUND BAR

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IN THIS ISSUE…

4 ViewSonic Launches the ViewBoard 52 Series Interactive Display with an Integrated Multimedia Sound Bar

6 Moxa’s New All-in-one Industrial Secure Router for Safeguarding Industrial Applications

8 Fischer Connectors Showcases New Soldier Connectivity as Key Design Enabler to Address the Revolution in Military Affairs

10 New telecentric measurement system delivers breakthrough accuracy across multiple applications

12 ViewSonic Introduces ColorPro VP56 Series of Pantone Validated Monitors for Unmatched Colour Accuracy

14 Electronics manufacturers share excess inventory: Perzeptron creates free component marketplace

16 Simplify neural network training with VisionPro Deep Learning’s graphical user interface and intuitive programming environment

18 Emerson Marks 75 Years of Innovation in Precision Cleaning and Welding Technologies

19 Cognex VisionPro Software Breaks Down Barriers Between Deep Learning and Traditional Vision

20 The highest level of physical protection for POS terminals with the help of 3D-MID 22 GlobalmatiX Telematics Solution for xTCU Telematics Interface – the New Dimension for the Fleet Management of the Future

25 Capacitive silicone force sensor SXTSC by Sateco makes gripping safe and dexterous

26 From cad to control DFI Celebrates 40th Anniversary with Continuing IoT Innovation with one software

28 Monitoring the charging stations of the e-bus fleet of the city of Jena 31 DFI’s Revenue Ranks Third in Taiwan’s Industrial Computers for The First Half of 2021

32 More safety in harsh environments

electronics journal

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VIEW SONIC

VIEWSONIC LAUNCHES THE VIEWBOARD 52 SERIES INTERACTIVE DISPLAY WITH AN INTEGRATED MULTIMEDIA SOUND BAR ViewSonic Corp., a leading global provider of visual solutions, launches its ViewBoard 52 series with advanced audio capabilities .

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ith a user-centric design in mind, the ViewBoard 52 Series improves the classroom and learning experience. A highlight of its exterior design is the unique Multimedia Sound Bar, which delivers superior audio to the classroom. It comes with USB-C front facing inputs for easy connection to BYOD devices, and places functional keys and I/O ports in a direct line of sight. Along with its new user interface, teachers can access frequently used features within a control area, eliminating the need to move back and forth.

“ViewSonic’s rate of growth in the interactive display market has been astounding and staying ahead of the curve. From 2017 to 2020, ViewSonic’s growth rate was up to 16 times above the industry average,” said Monica Sun, Director of the Presentation Group at ViewSonic. “The growth reflects ViewSonic’s dedication in meeting the needs of education applications. The ViewBoard 52 series is a new design, incorporating user-friendly functionalities, together with our myViewBoard visual learning platform, aiming to create more engaging learning and meeting spaces.”

New Exterior Design with Innovative Multimedia Sound Bar The ViewBoard 52 series features superior sound integration with a brandnew innovative exterior design with enhanced management tools and control systems. Its front-facing Multimedia Sound Bar not only integrates speakers and microphones, but also features easyto-access USB-C, HDMI, and USB Touch Ports.

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The soundbar features two 15W frontfacing speakers and a 15W subwoofer that fills the room with solid, rich, and crisp sound. The built-in 8 microphone array with audio detection and noise cancellation capabilities ensures in-class or remote lessons are broadcasted with excellent sound fidelity, helping teachers deliver better teaching results.

Combined with its uncluttered layout, the integrated soundbar places everything teachers need right at their fingertips. It is equipped with USB-C one-cable solution, which makes transferring data, video or audio, and powering devices effortless. It includes a selection of shortcut keys that allow teachers to disable touch functions that are not in use and freeze the display screen for independent use on personal devices during presentations.

User-friendly Interface Along with Rich Management Tools The ViewBoard 52 series facilitates an enhanced user interface and offers rich management tools. A control area,

VIEW SONIC

designed for a large screen, centralizes all applications and tools within easy reach and allows the teachers to define their frequently used functions. The interface also features well-placed Side Tool Bars on both edges of the screen for easy call-up of shortcut menus. With a long press on the screen, teachers can initiate the On-Screen Display (OSD) menu.

This intuitive design places everything users frequently use within easy reach, providing an exceptional user experience.

Along with myViewBoard, a visual learning platform which provides a comprehensive suite of applications, the ViewBoard 52 series delivers advanced communication, collaboration, and engagement. ViewBoard Cast delivers the efficiency and productivity of group collaborations. Students can easily share screens from their BYOD devices through myViewBoard Display, a browser-based wireless presentation tool, without downloading any Apps. Another highlight, myViewBoard Manager, offers efficient remote management of multiple displays.

Increased Eye-Comfort with an Enhanced Flicker-Reduction Display The ViewBoard 52 series comes in 65”, 75”, and 86”, delivering unparalleled usability and controllability. It operates on Android 9.0 and is compatible with Windows, Mac, Chrome, and Linux

with full-touch input functionality for all connected BYOD devices. What’s more, the series reduces eye strain with an enhanced flicker-reduction display solution, blue light reduction, and antiglare coating. https://www.viewsonic.com/uk

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MOXA

MOXA’S NEW ALL-IN-ONE INDUSTRIAL SECURE ROUTER FOR SAFEGUARDING INDUSTRIAL APPLICATIONS Moxa Inc., a leader in industrial communications and networking with a focus on securing industrial networks, has introduced the new EDR-G9010 Series.

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hese industry-certified all-inone firewall/NAT/VPN/switch/ routers act as a robust first line of defense for industrial networks in diverse applications such as smart manufacturing and critical infrastructure.

Moxa’s EDR-G9010 Series industrial secure routers offer 10-port GbE performance and defense-in-depth security capabilities to fulfill the needs of bandwidth-hungry applications that require field-proven reliability and multilayered security.

With more and more cybersecurity incidents occurring in operational technology (OT) systems, enhancing industrial network security becomes a key priority for business owners and chief security officers. However, in OT environments, network requirements are not just concerned with security, but also focus on keeping operations functioning smoothly.

“With the launch of the new EDR-G9010 Series, Moxa brings a tailor-made network security solution for OT environments”, says Kevin Huang, Product Manager at Moxa Networking. “We recommend our customers to use the EDR-G9010 Series industrial secure routers to segment their networks as a first line of defense and prevent threats from propagating to the rest of the network. Furthermore, users can leverage its advanced OT Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) technology, firewall, NAT, and VPN features to achieve multilayered security. Last but not least, the 10-port Gigabit performance, faster boot time, and Layer 2/Layer 3 redundancy help ensure the availability of industrial networks. The EDR-G9010 Series combines all these powerful functions into a single compact, rugged, industrycertified industrial secure router. Overall, the EDR-G9010 series will be Moxa’s future proof secure routing platform,

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with additional capabilities being added over time.”

The EDR-G9010 Series industrial secure routers offer: Advanced Network Protection with Network Segmentation and Advanced DPI Within one field site, the EDR-G9010 Series industrial secure routers can help build a security boundary by segmenting OT and IT networks and feature advanced DPI technology to give users more granular control over network traffic by filtering industrial protocols* based on the requirements of the application. Moxa will continuously extend the DPI protocol coverage. Starting with Modbus TCP/ UDP and DNP3 Moxa will add specifically power market related protocols in 2022.

When remote connections across multiple sites are needed, the EDR-G9010 Series’ embedded IPsec VPN ensures safe industrial network communication channels when accessing the private network from the public Internet.

Future-proof platform for OT Intrusion Prevention The superb computing power of the EDR-G9010 platform enables it to run an Intrusion Prevention Module, which will safely block ransomware, malware, viruses and other cybersecurity threats in OT networks. This signature-based scanning technology will move traffic filtering and asset visibility in OT networks to an unprecedented level.

This module is licensed on demand and will be available by mid of 2022.

Better Performance with High Bandwidth and Faster Boot Times With the number of connected devices constantly growing, the EDR-G9010 Series is capable of achieving high throughput while providing robust security, perfect for bandwidth-hungry applications. Meanwhile, the faster boot time helps reduce system downtime during regular maintenance or in the event of an emergency recovery situation.

MOXA

More Versatility The EDR-G9010 Series caters to the needs of different networks, whether it is the need for a firewall, network address translation (NAT), remote VPN communications, switching, or routing.

These secure routers are also certified for IEC 61850-3/IEEE 1613, NEMA TS2, ATEX Zone 2, and Class I Division 2. The accessible and versatile all-in-one design makes these devices ideal for securing industrial applications such as in power substations, intelligent transportation systems, oil and gas, and smart manufacturing.

IEC-62443 hardened Secure routers play a pyramidal role in security architecture and need to be security hardened. Hence EDR-G9010 hardware and software has been developed with Moxa’s IEC-62443-41 certified process and is ready to meet the IEC-62443-4-2 requirements up to Security Level 2.

EDR-G9010 Series 10-port Gigabit Industrial Secure Router Highlights • All-in-one firewall/NAT/VPN/switch/ router • 8-port TX GbE and 2-port SFP GbE • Comprehensive redundancy mechanisms, including Turbo Ring and VRRP • Wide -40 to 75°C operating temperature (-T model) • Advanced Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) for Modbus TCP/UDP and DNP3 traffic and 104 and MMS (available in Q1, 2022).

• Certified for IEC 61850-3, NEMA TS2, ATEX Zone 2, Class I Division 2, EN 501214, DNV, IEC-62443-4-2 SL 2 (available in Q4 2022).

To enhance network security visibility, the EDR-G9010 Series is also compatible with Moxa’s MXview network management software. With MXview, users can e.g., visualize the achieved security level of IEC-62443 ready Moxa devices, perform regular configurations backups, and have an at-a-glance overview of the network’s performance.

With the launch of the EDR-G9010 Series industrial secure routers, Moxa has expanded its secure network infrastructure portfolio to cover a broader range of industrial applications and introduced more granular control over industrial networks to fulfill its ongoing commitment to protect the connectivity of industrial environments.

For more information about the EDR-G9010 Series, please visit the product page or watch the video. https://youtu.be/X0u2fRswgnk https://www.moxa.com/en/products/ industrial-network-infrastructure/ secure-routers/secure-routers/edrg9010-series For Moxa’s industrial network security solution, please visit https://www.moxa.com/en/spotlight/ portfolio/industrial-network-security/ index.htm

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FISCHER CONNECTORS

FISCHER CONNECTORS SHOWCASES NEW SOLDIER CONNECTIVITY AS KEY DESIGN ENABLER TO ADDRESS THE REVOLUTION IN MILITARY AFFAIRS “The new revolution is driven by a confluence of three digital technologies: ubiquitous full-spectrum sensing, 5G networks, and artificial intelligence” – Fischer Connectors in “The Connectivity Challenge” (Trend Paper).

World-premiere preview image of Fischer Connectors’ nextgeneration hub

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Army Transformation is facing a revolution in military affairs, and Fischer Connectors is transforming products and services to address the Army’s needs,” said Jonathan Brossard, CEO of the Switzerland-based Fischer Connectors Group at the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) Annual Meeting & Exposition in Washington, D.C. “Soldier connectivity is the key enabler for improving command and control.

Along with our Army partners, Fischer Connectors is focused on applying emerging technology to optimize soldier connectivity”.

Fischer Connectors’ latest soldier connectivity solutions include a nextgeneration wearable tactical hub, and the Fischer UltiMate™ and Fischer MiniMax™

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FISCHER CONNECTORS

Fischer MiniMax™ Series

connectors designed to meet the Army’s Nett Warrior standards.

The next-generation hub is the heart of the individual soldier’s wearable connectivity solution, integrating the power and data flows from multiple digital devices – sights, radios, displays and batteries – in a lightweight ergonomic component. To connect all the soldier’s wearable electronics, Fischer Connectors enhances its widely-used UltiMate and MiniMax connector designs to meet the technical requirements of integrated dismounted leader situational awareness (SA) systems such as the U.S. Army’s Nett Warrior.

“Land forces face a new revolution in military affairs based on three digital technologies: ubiquitous sensors, 5G

networks and artificial intelligence,” said Jack Midgley, Fischer Connectors Group’s Global Defense Market Leader.

“Fischer Connectors has developed new connectivity solutions to help land force commanders tackle this revolution. Highspeed, high volume data transmission, improved power management and wearability are essential for commanders to exploit new sensors, networks and AI applications. Fischer Connectors has met these challenges with Swiss-engineered solutions meeting tough Army standards.”

Fischer Connectors showcases new soldier connectivity solutions at Booth #8249 (Halls DE) at AUSA, with hands-on product demonstrations.

described the new revolution in military affairs in the Trend Paper entitled “The Connectivity Challenge – A New Revolution in Military Affairs”, published at AUSA as a world premiere.

More info: • Trend Paper “The Connectivity Challenge – A New Revolution in Military Affairs” (PDF) • Brochure “Defense & Security Connectivity Solutions” (PDF) • Defense connectivity solutions • Fischer UltiMate™ 80 (PDF) • Fischer UltiMate™ Series • Fischer MiniMax™ Series

Fischer Connectors’ experts in soldier modernization connectivity have 04 - Electronics Journal - NOVEMBER 2021

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KEYENCE

NEW TELECENTRIC MEASUREMENT SYSTEM DELIVERS BREAKTHROUGH ACCURACY ACROSS MULTIPLE APPLICATIONS Keyence has introduced a new range of inline telecentric measurement system which employ highly advanced silhouette-based analysis for guaranteed accuracy.

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KEYENCE

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esigned specifically to measure parts rapidly and consistently as they pass through the system, the TM-X5000 line-up boasts an exposure time of just 25 μs – 40 times faster than conventional models, allowing accurate measurement of high-speed targets by eliminating blur from the image.

It provides a versatile solution for a broad spectrum of industrial measurement applications, offering geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T); outer diameter and profile measurement; abnormality detection; and runout and positioning.

The specially designed telecentric optics greatly improve measurement repeatability by increasing uniformity throughout the field of view.

Compared with conventional telecentric optical systems, the TM-X5000 Series offers around 100 times greater telecentricity – just 0.0001°, ensuring confidence in results even for misaligned targets.

The dual telecentric silhouette-based system provides exceptional stability while the large ±15 mm depth of field, based on telecentric lenses in both the transmitter and receiver, provides clear, sharp edges and stable measurement results, even where the target position may vary.

Users can select from two installation methods – with or without the included base. A handy optical alignment function enables rapid, simple installation, while the user interface features a wide variety of measurement tools, enabling intuitive configuration of settings.

The range consists of three models to cater for a wide variety of requirements: the compact, ultra-high accuracy TMX5006; the standard TM-X5040 model; and the TM-X5065 fore wide field applications.

Richard De Courcy, Product Specialist, Keyence UK Vision and Measurement, explained: “Accurate measurement of parts is vital to guaranteeing quality and consistency, and for identifying any possible production issues at the earliest possible opportunity. Our new portfolio harnesses the power of state-of-the-art silhouette-based technology to deliver exceptional accuracy alongside ease of set-up and use, ensuring consistent, reliable measurement of a wide range

of parts. This will bring peace of mind to manufacturers seeking to reassure their customer of the quality and consistency of their offering.”

For further information and to arrange a demonstration, visit www.keyence.co.uk/tmxrelease

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VIEWSONIC

VIEWSONIC INTRODUCES COLORPRO VP56 SERIES OF PANTONE VALIDATED MONITORS FOR UNMATCHED COLOUR ACCURACY Tap into Limitless Creativity with USB-C, Lifelike Colours, and Versatile Working Modes.

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iewSonic Corp., a leading global provider of visual solutions, introduces the ColorProVP56 series of monitors which are designed for creators. To assist all creators in visualising and realising their ideas, the VP56 series features a wide range of instantly applicable working modes, delivering true-to-life Pantone Validated colours and efficient USB-C 3.2 connectivity. Models include VP2756, VP3456, and VP3256, featuring 2K QHD and 4K UHD frameless IPS panels.

“We believe the launch of the brand-new, all-purpose, ColorPro VP56 series will help promote a wider spectrum of professional visual imaging,” said Oscar Lin, Head of the Monitor Business Unit at ViewSonic. “We aim to empower everyone’s creativity, regardless of profession, in turning digital dreams into reality. Feature-rich, userfriendly, these entry-luxury professional monitors deliver out-of-box colour accuracy and impeccable visual clarity can accommodate all needs.”

User-Friendly Editing Features for Immediate Use A wide range of applicable working modes make image and video editing easier. The built-in Landscape and Portrait Mode optimises the details and sharpness of images, which is perfect for photo editing. Users can also leverage the CAD/ CAM Mode that provides extraordinary image contrast to accentuate the lines and details of 3D, engineering, or technical illustrations. Video Editing Mode strengthens contrast, making videos stunningly vivid.

For a seamless graphic editing workflow, its Auto Pivot function allows for users to toggle between full-sized portrait and landscape photos with no more than a simple rotation of the monitor; vDisplay Manager also provides split-screen functionalities for simultaneous viewing and editing.

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VIEWSONIC

Pantone Validation for Vivid Colours The VP56 series plays an indispensable role in delivering true colour accuracy. It is validated by Pantone for international colour standards and covers a 100% sRGB wide colour gamut for producing lifelike images. The series comes with convenient factory-calibrated colour accuracy that delivers stunning colour reproduction, which is nearly indistinguishable from the colour seen by the naked eye.

USB-C 3.2 for Easy Connection Equipped with USB-C 3.2 connectivity, HDMI 1.4, and DisplayPort, the VP56 series effortlessly connects peripherals.

It not only provides 60W highspeed charging, but also transfers data, video, and audio through its one-cable solution, allowing users to pair up with other devices easily.

Blue Light Filter for Hours of Eye Comfort For everyday use, the VP56 series is equipped with Blue Light Filter Mode and Flicker-Free eye care technology that helps reduce eye strain over an extended period of viewing. Its full range of swivel, tilt and height adjustments also enable users to find the most comfortable monitor positioning for long hours of working. https://www.viewsonic.com/eu 04 - Electronics Journal - NOVEMBER 2021

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PERZEPTRON

ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURERS SHARE EXCESS INVENTORY: PERZEPTRON CREATES FREE COMPONENT MARKETPLACE “Now is the time for the electronics industry to stick together,” say Andreas Koch and Markus Renner, managing directors of the consulting firm Perzeptron. With MiG Stock-DB, they have developed a free platform where electronics manufacturers can offer excess stock and components they no longer need. A+B Electronic, Eckelmann and Phytec, as well as other electronics companies, have already pledged their support and uploaded components for sale. Perzeptron is now calling on other companies to participate.

The MiG platform offers an automatic availability check which shows immediately which components represent a risk to production schedules and how they can be procured from an alternate source.

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he purchasing departments of electronics manufacturers are faced with a procurement situation constrained by allocation and supply bottlenecks. Precious time, effort and money are lost due to the difficulty of procuring components, not to mention the customer dissatisfaction caused by late deliveries. At the same time, companies have a sizeable amount of capital tied up in excess inventory that they have accumulated due to large packaging units, production order cancellations, or for other reasons. Perzeptron’s MiG StockDB addresses both these challenges: Surplus component stock is entered in the database and offered for sale. Using the availability check feature of the MiG - Materials Management in Balance software, the parts inventory can be displayed, and direct contact can be made with the supplier.

PERZEPTRON

Pinpointing critical components, and selecting an alternate source with a single click MiG is a docking solution for existing ERP systems that uses dashboards for purchasing, production planning, sales and management to provide a companywide, transparent overview of customer and production orders, the purchasing situation and work in process. Since version 4.00, it offers a fully automated availability check for components. Users can see at a glance which components represent a risk to the production schedule of a manufacturing order. With a single mouse click, they can identify where an alternate source for the critical component is available, including the price and quantity. In addition to authenticated, direct connections to broadline electronic component distributors, it also directly linkes to catalogue distributors such as DigiKey, Farnell and Mouser. MiG also provides access to anonymous Internet search results, for example from Octopart. And now, components from the MiG Stock-DB are also displayed.

3-month free trial period for ERP addon The latest updated version of MiG Materials Management in Balance will be rolled out to existing customers in the coming weeks. Companies that wish to sell their excess inventories and who do not yet have a MiG license can, on request, receive a free 3-month test installation of the intelligent ERP tool with a connection to their ERP system. This will allow them to also benefit from the availability check and other functions of the software. MiG is easy to install, poses no risks, and both administrators and decision makers can start using it immediately.

Registration and component upload in just a few steps Using the MiG Stock-DB online portal, registering and transmitting the component data is done in only a few steps: Once the account has been activated, a template is available for download, which can be used to prepare the component data in the form of an Excel list for entry in the database. Uploading is then also done through the website.

By registering the vendors, Perzeptron ensures that no agents or brokers use the tool. “We are making MiG Stock-

DB available free of charge to promote solidarity in the electronics industry, something that is needed more than ever right now. We want to avoid unfair price markups, which happens worldwide, because certain dealers are exploiting the component shortage and the pressure on electronics manufacturers,” say Andreas Koch and Markus Renner, voicing agreement. That’s why they also ask all participating companies to apply moderate pricing to cover their costs and only small, reasonable margins. https://perzeptron.de/en

Markus Renner

Andreas Koch 04 - Electronics Journal - NOVEMBER 2021

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COGNEX

SIMPLIFY NEURAL NETWORK TRAINING WITH VISIONPRO DEEP LEARNING’S GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE AND INTUITIVE PROGRAMMING ENVIRONMENT With VisionPro® Deep Learning, Cognex offers a deep learningbased image analysis software specifically designed for factory automation.

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or tasks in industrial image processing that can be solved by formulating rules, traditional machine vision systems are usually the right choice. However, these systems often reach their limits when the objects to be inspected introduce variability and cannot be easily autmated using rules-based programming. This problem occurs in the inspection of food, in the evaluation of soldered or welded seams, and in many other applications. For use cases like these, machine vision systems based on deep learning technologies have established themselves as an innovative solution in recent years.

Until now, the application of deep learning methods required extensive knowledge of the technology. VisionPro Deep Learning from Cognex significantly reduces this entry barrier through a graphical user interface that simplifies the training of the neural network for users.

Intuitive graphical training VisionPro Deep Learning tools are trained with images, unlike traditional image processing methods which are programmed with rules-based algorithms. VisionPro Deep Learning’s intuitive graphical user interface provides a simple environment for controlling and developing applications and significantly reduces the effort required to collect images, train the neural network, and test it on different sets of images.

Users can choose from four image analysis tools in VisionPro Deep Learning.

They are optimized for vision inspections in factory automation applications and therefore only require a small number of images for rapid training. Blue Locate, Red Analyze, Green Classify and Blue Read tools solve applications that are too complex for traditional rule-based image processing approaches.

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Identification with Blue Locate The Blue Locate tool is ideal for tasks where parts with different appearances need to be detected or counted. With its robust design, Blue Locate successfully identifies features on confusing backgrounds, low-contrast parts, and even parts that bend, change shape, or are poorly lit. Even with variations in perspective, orientation, brightness, gloss or color, Blue Locate reliably locates parts learned from sample images. For these reasons, Blue Locate is suitable for use in automated assembly verification, among other tasks.

Detect defection with Red Analyze When the smallest defects must be found, despite different backgrounds and surface textures of parts, the Red Analyze defect detection and segmentation tool is the right choice. By training examples of good and bad parts, it is able to tolerate normal deviations in terms of appearance, while accurately detecting defects, impurities and other flaws.

Red Analyze can also be used to segment variable areas in an image. Examples

include welds, glued or painted areas, and background features that are dynamically hidden from the image to facilitate other inspections.

Classification with Green Classify VisionPro’s Deep Learning tool, Green Classify, is a robust classifier that can distinguish different classes of objects, identify defect types, and classify good and bad parts. Trained with a set of labeled images, Green Classify identifies objects based on their common features such as color, texture, material, packaging, and defect type, and divides them into classes. In doing so, the tool tolerates natural variations within the same class and effectively distinguishes acceptable variants from different classes. Green Classify handles even complex classification tasks very quickly and does not require complicated and time-consuming programming.

Optical Character Recognition with Blue Read Reading and recognizing fonts and codes is one of the most common tasks of

COGNEX

image processing systems. Deformed, skewed or poorly etched characters can pose a real challenge, which can be easily mastered by using the Blue Read tool. The tool uses a pre-trained deep-learning font library and deciphers difficult characters on this basis.

The user-friendly GUI eliminates the need for complex programming and drastically reduces development time: users only need to define the target area, set the character size, and mark the characters in the images. In just a few steps, the robust tool can be trained to read applicationspecific plain text that cannot be decoded by conventional OCR tools. Plus, training can be completed without any image processing or deep learning knowledge.

In addition, the optical debug function detects misread characters, which can then be easily corrected.

Deep learning and rules-based vision: the best of both worlds One major benefit of VisionPro Deep Learning is the unique ability to combine the available tools. This allows complex problems to be broken down into smaller individual steps to simplify project optimization and reduce the number of training images required. Another special feature of the new software environment is that developers can easily select the best tool for the given task by combining it with VisionPro’s rule-based vision libraries. Projects can be created in the

Even with varying backgrounds or surface textures, the Red Analyze tool finds the smallest defects. In the example above, the tool detects seam problems in textiles.

The Green Classify tool is a robust classifier that distinguishes different object types, identifies error types, and inspects and classifies images.

The Blue Read tool reliably deciphers and recognizes even deformed, skewed or poorly etched fonts and codes.

VisionPro Deep Learning development environment and then exported to a VisionPro project. In this way, VisionPro and VisionPro Deep Learning offer the possibility to combine the best of both worlds. https://www.cognex.com/

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EMERSON INDUSTRIAL AUTOMATION

EMERSON MARKS 75 YEARS OF INNOVATION IN PRECISION CLEANING AND WELDING TECHNOLOGIES Branson combines breadth of technologies and a problem-solving approach to deliver advanced solutions to automotive, medical, electronics industries worldwide.

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Continuing the Commitment Given this depth of technical resources, Emerson application engineers are able to utilize a process-neutral approach to help manufacturers evaluate, select, implement, and optimize the right joining solution, regardless of the application or complexity.

merson (NYSE: EMR) celebrates the 75th anniversary of its Branson™ brand, a name that has become synonymous with ultrasonic technologies for plastics and metal welding, and precision cleaning. The Branson portfolio has led the industry with expanded offerings beyond ultrasonics, developing nine other material joining technologies including laser, vibration and infrared welding.

Emerson marked the anniversary at its new $49 million global headquarters for welding and precision cleaning technologies that opened in January.

The new facility bolsters Emerson’s continued innovation in advanced design, engineering and joining technologies that support such complex and fast-growing industries as medical devices, existing and new bio-based plastics packaging, electric cars and next-generation batteries.

“We are extremely proud of our history and how we revolutionized the use of ultrasonics in so many remarkable ways,” said Vernon Murray, president of Emerson’s assembly technologies business. “Our goal has always been to deliver proven performance, unequaled expertise, and the broadest technology portfolio for material joining and precision cleaning applications. We look forward to continuing our stewardship in the field as we make advancements that benefit everyone.”

The Branson brand traces its history to Norman G. Branson, a research engineer

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who founded a company in Danbury, Connecticut, in 1946 to harness the power of high-frequency ultrasonic energy for cleaning and degreasing applications as well as nondestructive testing and gauging. But it was ultrasonic welding — developed in 1963 at Branson Sonics and Materials, which was acquired by Emerson Electric Co. (Emerson) in 1984 — that represented the real breakthrough for the company and for manufacturing. It set in motion a monumental change in the way plastics, and later metals, were joined.

Since its beginning, Branson has been driven by the spirit of innovation, and today ultrasonics is just one of many cleaning and joining technologies offered

by Emerson’s Branson portfolio. Other welding methods include spin and vibration welding, staking and swaging, and a new patent-pending “dynamic mode” of ultrasonic welding that can automatically adjust itself to part-to-part variabilities and unique materials. “Clean welding” approaches, such as Contoured Laser Technology, Clean Vibration Technology and Contoured Infrared Technology, are being adopted with ever greater frequency.

This high level of customer support is enhanced by the technological capabilities available at the new 146,000-squarefoot Branson headquarters. The facility includes an expanded research and development lab, increased manufacturing space, a dedicated training workspace for seminars, and training classes, technical services and other resources.

The 75th anniversary represents a milestone that Emerson will recognize throughout the next several months as the company continues its path of inventiveness, delivering advanced Branson products to solve critical industry challenges.

For more information about Emerson’s welding, assembly and cleaning solutions, visit: https://www.emerson.com/enus/automation/welding-assemblycleaning

COGNEX

COGNEX VISIONPRO SOFTWARE BREAKS DOWN BARRIERS BETWEEN DEEP LEARNING AND TRADITIONAL VISION Two major new releases deliver advanced vision tools and tighter deep learning integration in a high-performance platform.

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ognex Corporation announces VisionPro® 10.0 and VisionPro Deep Learning 2.0, two new releases in its VisionPro line of vision software.

VisionPro 10.0 is a major update of the company’s industry-leading PC-based platform that delivers faster application performance and simpler application setup. VisionPro Deep Learning 2.0 is designed to integrate tightly with VisionPro 10.0, enabling customers to combine deep learning and traditional vision tools in the same application.

The new releases also introduce advanced vision tools for precision gauging and inspection applications. SmartLine is the industry’s first hybrid smart tool.

It combines deep learning enhanced line finding for complex scenes with precise positional data from traditional vision algorithms. The new VisionPro Deep Learning high detail segmenter is designed for demanding medical and

electronics applications that require precise measurement of scratches, contamination and other defects.

“As deep learning gains a foothold in the factory, we are seeing that many applications require more than just traditional vision or deep learning alone they need both for the best solution,” said Joerg Kuechen, Sr. Vice President of Vision Products. “The new VisionPro makes it easier for users to leverage the full range of powerful Cognex vision technology to address new and increasingly complex vision challenges.” https://www.cognex.com

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HARTING

THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF PHYSICAL PROTECTION FOR POS TERMINALS WITH THE HELP OF 3D-MID Point-of-sale terminals (POS) are not sufficiently protected against physical attacks. Attackers can access sensitive data (such as credit card number and PIN codes) using probes or minidrills. An additional security element in the security caps of the terminals can reliably prevent such attacks.

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HARTING

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ccording to a survey by the Bitkom digital association, cyber attacks have caused damages of 102.9 billion euros throughout 70 percent of companies in Germany in recent years.

According to the survey, the scope and quality of the attacks have increased dramatically. “The recreational hackers of the past have evolved into well-equipped and technologically savvy cyber gangs,” Bitkom reports. POS terminals count among the targets. Sensitive data such as credit card numbers and PIN codes are temporarily stored on POS terminals to prevent data loss in the event that the payment process is interrupted. This data can be read by attackers if they gain access to the hardware using probes or mini-drills. An additional security element can be used which reliably prevents data loss.

3D-MID security caps increase the safety classification Electrical paths (traces) on the inside of the protective cap provide a very reliable additional security mechanism that protects against physical attacks.

These traces form a closed circuit. They are so close together that it is practically impossible for an attacker to gain access.

Any attempt to attack would either damage a trace and break the circuit or short out two traces. This causes the POS terminal to shut down immediately, resulting in the loss of cached data and rendering the device unusable.

The electrical traces are applied directly to the plastic parts of the security caps using the 3D-MID process. HARTING is the largest supplier of 3D-MID components (Mechatronic Integrated Devices) outside of Asia and offers all steps in the 3D-MID process under one roof. The injection-moulded circuit carriers replace conventional solutions that use a plastic carrier and printed circuit board. They do this by integrating the function of both parts into one MID. This reduces weight, reduces the number of components and lowers production costs, while at the same time improving security. This 3D-MID solution is particularly useful for POS terminals to improve security standards and to defend against hacker attacks.

Very small trace gaps improve security T h a n k s t o H ARTIN G ’s 3 D - M I D technological edge, customers benefit from compliance with the strictest PCI-DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard) requirements. This solution differs from other suppliers of safety enclosures in that it has smaller trace widths. The closer the distances between the individual traces, the more difficult it is to manipulate the circuit from the outside. While most suppliers today can implement trace widths and spacings of around 300 to 500 µm, Harting offers 70 to 150 µm.

Lower costs thanks to automated production HARTING’s 3D-MID solutions are more secure. Moreover, thanks to the extensive automation of the entire supply chain, they are also more cost-effective than solutions from many other suppliers.

All production steps are carried out at HARTING’s own factory. This speeds up the process, increases the production yield and saves transportation costs.

Even for products that are technologically less demanding, HARTING has been able to prevail over competitors from Asia.

H ARTIN G i s t h e o n l y 3 D - M I D manufacturer in the world that has a laser system with three fine-focus optics of 50 μm. The fine-focus laser can achieve even smaller trace spacing of only 70 to 80 µm.

This enables many traces to be created on the same component so that a higher packing density can be achieved.

3D-MID technology also allows for improved versatility in the shaping by creating flexible geometric contours in injection moulding and processing them with a laser for the electrical traces. Thus, rounded edges, elevations and transitions can also be produced. https://www.harting.com

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SOFTING AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONICS

GLOBALMATIX TELEMATICS SOLUTION FOR XTCU TELEMATICS INTERFACE – THE NEW DIMENSION FOR THE FLEET MANAGEMENT OF THE FUTURE Shared mobility is one of the major trends of future mobility, particularly in urban regions. Large fleet operators, such as rental car and car sharing companies, also see enormous growth potential in this area. With around 255,000 rental and car sharing vehicles in Germany, “Car to Cloud to Company” will be a critical technology when it comes to efficient and inexpensive fleet deployment.

T

his is why GlobalmatiX AG, a subsidiary of Softing AG, Munich/ Haar, has developed an innovative telematics solution, which, with the help of artificial intelligence, offers the greatest amount of available data and transfer security on the market.

Alongside standards such as location information and journey approval via app, the outstanding range of services includes continuous technical diagnosis of the entire vehicle, early detection of impending defects, as well as the detection of minor damage and – with the help of artificial intelligence – the

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reporting thereof in a damage report including a calculation of the cost of the damage. Thanks to individual data acquisition and reporting tailored to the needs of every particular fleet operator.

Detecting Minor Damage Up to 90% of all minor accidents are not discovered when rental cars are returned as the car bumper has sprung back into its original state and position. This is problematic as this area can be subject to quite considerable damage. The xTCU interface detects this damage and, using the software developed by GlobalmatiX

SOFTING AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONICS

partner Spearhead AG, Zurich, provides an individual damage report based on the vehicle model incl. an estimate of the costs of the damage within seconds.

Millions of pieces of historic and recent accident and assessor data from the Stuttgart-based expert organization DEKRA SE provide the basis for this.

Cees van Dijk, CEO of Spearhead AG, Zurich: “GlobalmatiX, with its highly sensitive telematics box, is the first company to be able to deliver the extensive volume of data we need for digital accident analysis to our cloud system in real time.”

The xTCU Gateway is a 4G/LTE/5G CAN data logger and GPS telematics interface specially developed for Car to Cloud to Company use cases. It is smaller than a smartphone and can be installed in any vehicle in just a few minutes, thus enabling the acquisition of OBD data or diagnostic data from the ECUs. The telematics box certified according to CE, eMark and RED in the EU enables access to a wide range of vehicle data in rich quality – regardless of the vehicle brand. With it, GlobalmatiX offers a previously unreached level of security against unauthorized access by third parties with its innovative encryption technology and proprietary 4G/LTE/5G wireless network. In other

words, GlobalmatiX xTCU can acquire and analyze virtually all data measured by the vehicle’s ECUs, supplemented by stateof-the-art GPS tracking, and transmit the information to the vehicle operator “over the air” almost in real time. With the help of artificial intelligence in the Big Data Cloud, a qualified analysis of vehicle data, events and changes to the ideal state is now possible for the first time and can be sent to the vehicle management system – in as detailed a form as the fleet operator desires.

The benefits for rental car and car sharing companies are: • d igital recording, classification and processing of the damage, • d igitalization of the damage report (previously several days were required, now in real time), • correct assignment of the damage to the party responsible and transparent, fair settlement of recovery costs, • m illions of euros saved (depending on the size of the fleet) with clear, unambiguous identification of the party responsible, • savings from assessor costs that are not necessary.

The GlobalmatiX telematics solution thus offers a reliable basis for the stationless and contactless use of rental and car

sharing vehicles. The detailed recording of the current condition of a particular vehicle before it is next rented out saves the otherwise necessary inspection at a station, and thus additional personnel costs, without jeopardizing the level of quality that customers expect today. At the same time, this helps reduce the idle time of rental cars.

The companies see great potential for cost savings in the future, particularly in contactless lessor-lessee management, while at the same time improving customer service. The xTCU telematics interface is the key to achieving these goals.

Successful Premiere with Enterprise/ Switzerland: Millions to be Saved Enterprise in Switzerland was the first rental car company to carry out an extensive test run with GlobalmatiX; in June 2021, they concluded a long-term contract on the use of the telematics interface. After an evaluation of the results, the outcome is convincing in several areas: “Our major digital challenge is detecting and settling minor damage,” says Marco Venturini, CEO of Enterprise Switzerland. “Previous solutions based on expert opinions were simply too late, too time-consuming and too expensive.

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SOFTING AUTOMOTIVE ELECTRONICS

conjunction with the MSS Holding AG software customized to suit rental car management, is a great help in settling these cases of minor damage and at the same time implementing vehicle diagnostics for all our brands.”

If you take a look at the statistics, you will see that a rental car has four incidences of minor damage a year on average, with repairs totaling around EUR 6,000.

In comparison, the costs for the xTCU Gateway, the installation and the annual telematics costs constitute only around one tenth of the repair costs not chargeable by the company. In the case of the fleet sizes of rental and car sharing companies, this represents millions in saved costs every year.

To make these services possible, GlobalmatiX has not only engaged in a partnership with Spearhead AG, Zurich, for the diagnosis and assessment of minor damage. A further partner is MSS Holding AG, Zurich, a comprehensive mobility provider, as well as the licensees Enterprise, National and Alamo in Switzerland. This is where an extensive “Digital Connected Car” concept was 04 - Electronics Journal - NOVEMBER 2021

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developed as a management platform for vehicle fleets.

the vehicle allows us to put rental on the road.”

There are currently four telematics applications in use which are of great significance for lessors and operators of passenger car and van fleets: remote vehicle diagnostics and predictive maintenance, accident detection and automatic claims handling, complete résumé file (CarCV) for vehicles and keyless door opening for rental vehicles.

Alois Widmann, CEO GlobalmatiX: “We have developed a smart telematics box to be used for several brands in large fleets. It is not only easy and quick to install, but also records diagnostic signals at extremely high sampling rates and combines them with telematics data.

From everywhere in the world, the data acquired is transferred to and analyzed in the Big Data Cloud of our partner Spearhead in real time via mobile radio.

The fleet manager can act immediately on the basis of these results. This innovative telematics solution with just one box makes sure that the ongoing total costs for large fleets are significantly reduced.”

Andreas Buhl, President of MSS Holding AG: “The multi-brand capability, the modular and tailor-made applications for all vehicles over the xTCU interface, the high data resolution as well as the extent of applications over only one box were decisive in our awarding the contract to GlobalmatiX. By using the GlobalmatiX telematics solution, we have established the basis for digitizing our Connected Car concept. This will enable us to simplify complex return processes in a customerfriendly way and make them more costeffective. Creating a résumé increases the resale value of our vehicles and facilitates marketing before the vehicle is returned. Furthermore, keyless access to

https://automotive.softing.com/index. html

SATECO

CAPACITIVE SILICONE FORCE SENSOR SXTSC BY SATECO MAKES GRIPPING SAFE AND DEXTEROUS The human hand exhibits a dexterity yet unmatched by technology. Force sensors can close this gap by offering feedback on the grip force, thus avoiding damage to delicate and fragile objects such as food and human body. The elastomer sensor works according to the capacitive operating principle and can continuously measure both touch and compressive force. It is soft and flexible, can be shaped three-dimensionally, and is suitable for various applications in agriculture, food, electronics, surgery and generally in cobots and prostethics.

B

oth the sensor’s footprint and dimensions can be freely designed.

As a result, it can be customized to curved surfaces and integrated seamlessly between the body structure and a soft surface. This enables an ergonomic design of robotic grippers, prostheses and exoskeletons and both on small and large surfaces. Used on the surface of a body structure the material feels similar to a human skin and offers a life-like soft and comfortable humanmachine interaction.

The sensor combines two measurement functions in one component. It can detect the approximation of a body part at a short distance and precisely measure its exerted force as well. This keeps the combination compact and enables predictive operating and measurement systems.

Thanks to its elastomer material, the SXTSC sensor is robust, shock and impact-resistant, and it also enables high durability, even in rough environments at high (+85°C) and low temperatures (-40°C).

Silicone is gentle on the skin. Optional texturing of the surface can make it even more comfortable to wear. Silicone is chemical and temperature-resistant with regard to food.

The material’s flexibility makes it particularly compliant to soft and fragile object, helping in e.g. automated harvesting, packing and labelling of fruits and vegetable.

Samples including evaluation electronics are available in a starter kit and enable a quick and uncomplicated start into the new technology. https://www.satecogroup.com/ 04 - Electronics Journal - NOVEMBER 2021

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DFI

FROM CAD TO CONTROL DFI CELEBRATES 40TH ANNIVERSARY WITH CONTINUING IOT INNOVATION WITH ONE SOFTWARE In the past forty years, technology has greatly changed the way we live and do business. Especially in the latter half of that period, the Internet and the Internet of Smart Things have completely changed the appearance of global industries.

Steven Tsai - President of DFI

I

n 40 years, DFI has undergone a series of growth and evolution, transforming from a purely electronic components supplier to a global leading provider of diverse Industrial PC (IPC) solutions.

longevity. DFI also serves a wide range of segments and applications, including factory automation, healthcare, gaming, transportation, smart energy, missioncritical, and intelligent retail.

Starting with consumer IT products in the 1980s, DFI engaged in a transitional journey into the IT future. Early product lines gave way to the changing market circumstances and led to the innovative and renowned LANParty products of the 1990s, which set the stage for DFI’s shift into more sophisticated industrial computing technologies in 2004. This decisive strategy change has led DFI to further rapid growth and significant financial success.

DFI marked the 40th anniversary with a focus on three main aspects, and with a future focus on the Intelligent Edge, DFI will leverage these advantages:

Desire for Innovation In today’s world, the boundary between hardware and services is blurred. Both must be combined to create a competitive and meaningful offer. DFI is a provider of industrial solutions that help customers optimize their equipment to ensure maximum productivity, durability, and 04 - Electronics Journal - NOVEMBER 2021

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Miniaturized Edge AI Edge applications in the upcoming IoT era are becoming more common and complex, especially the ones with a smaller size. DFI has developed miniaturizing technology for decades and helped countless manufacturers to make edge applications lighter and smarter with their small computers. The famous case was the popular Raspberry Pi-sized GHF51 that was the first tiny board built with AMD Embedded Ryzen Processor and successfully downsized the facial recognition, traffic surveillance, and cold chain tracking equipment for their clients.

In the future, the focus will be on even

DFI

more innovative computers with smaller footprints to refresh the industry.

Extended Durability In addition to making Edge AI devices smarter and smaller, DFI strictly follows the international standards for antivibration, temperature endurance, and voltage fluctuation tolerance to maximally ensure the product longevity.

In regards to the operating temperature, DFI supports wider-ranges of nonstandard temperatures, from basically -5° to 65° degrees to even -50° to 85° degrees. On the high-performance models whose operating temperature is restricted to 0~60°C by the CPU, proven innovation, like attaching the heater to the motherboard, can also be seen in order to support booting and operating at -30°C. Under a defined ambient temperature, all parts of the computers must pass the testing so as to fully ensure the safety and durability of the product.

Synergy with Qisda/BenQ Group Since joining the Qisda/BenQ Group in 2017, DFI’s technology, supply chain management, and manufacturing productivity has been enhanced to a new level. By leveraging diversified resources within the Qisda/BenQ Group, DFI’s product portfolio expands to advanced services such as LCD in-house integration, PCB & system assembly, a measurement lab, and enclosure capabilities. These value-added services enable DFI to provide a range of benefits, from flexible small volume and high variety, to large scale and cost-efficient production. Moreover, it offers additional comprehensive solutions including factory automation, digital healthcare, smart energy, and IoT-related applications for future business development.

Besides those three main foci, DFI, in order to accommodate the diversity

of IPC requirements, has continuously strengthened and extended its capabilities. In one example of this, DFI set up a dedicated FPGA R&D team to complement the limited and costly IC choices for the special functions required by clients in industrial PCs. Also, on the way to developing 5G end-to-end solutions, DFI obtained 100% support from its sister companies specializing in 5G infrastructure in the Qisda/BenQ Group to build a solid and comprehensive 5G ecosystem.

Synergies for Growth In July of 2021, DFI will move to the Qisda manufacturing complex in Taoyuan, Taiwan to maximize the advantages of joining the Qisda/BenQ Group. The integration of the production line with Qisda manufacturing system will not only improve DFI’s manufacturing capacity, but also further its development of digital manufacturing capabilities.

The ’smartization’ of factories has been the imminent goal following the arrival of Industry 4.0. DFI has been actively building a more robustly informatized framework with enhancements such as barcode management, automated warehouses, part traceability, and big data collection and application.

“After 40 years of continuous development and evolution, DFI is embarking on an exciting new chapter,” said Steven Tsai, President of DFI. “We look forward and with great anticipation to the further expansion and development of DFI as a key player in the IPC sector by leveraging the synergies of being part of the Qisda/BenQ Group. In doing so, we will continue to cultivate key application markets and welcome partners from various application industries to join us in creating even more new business opportunities together.”

Tsai also mentioned that “At the same time, DFI is dealing effectively with the impact of ongoing trade conflicts, COVID-19, global supply chain restructuring, and other factors. To do that, DFI will continue its technology innovation and expand its presence in the IPC sector.”

Moving Forward In addition to the continuing work in the field of smart factories, DFI is also actively collaborating with world-class medical manufacturers and local smart transportation system integrators as well. Meanwhile, becoming a member of the Taiwan Electric Vehicle MIH Alliance also helps DFI to provide more complete in-vehicle application solutions.

Additionally, learning from the pandemic, DFI has also adopted a more flexible and decentralized management model in response to the drastic change and uncertainty in the future. This strategy strengthened its digital transformation and core competencies to help global customers meet market demands with innovative IPC solutions.

In the future, DFI’s action plans aim at the twin objectives: collaborating with more partners from diverse backgrounds and serving a larger group of clients.

DFI believes that it succeeds when its partners and clients succeed. This honor motivates DFI to help more industries with its expertise and experience in progressing automation and reach more peaks together in the next ten years. https://www.dfi.com/anniversary40

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ARC INFORMATIQUE

MONITORING THE CHARGING STATIONS OF THE E-BUS FLEET OF THE CITY OF JENA The charging infrastructure always in view.

H

ow Jena’s public transport system monitors its charging columns for the e-bus fleet and uses advanced diagnostic features to increase availability and optimize maintenance activities.

In the city of Jena, electromobility has been present in the form of a tramway in service for 120 years. Supplemented by a fleet of diesel-powered buses, an efficient public transport system has been created over time. Last year saw the introduction of e-mobility in the operation of city buses as well. Three first vehicles started regular service in 2020 to contribute to CO2 savings (53,000kg per bus and year), but also to reduce particulate matter and noise emissions in the urban area.

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The attractiveness of public transport is essentially promoted and maintained by smooth and punctual operation. In this context, operations of tramways in particular require a reliable and uninterrupted power supply, which is the responsibility of the power supply department at Jenaer Nahverkehr, operator of the city’s public transport.

Nevertheless, malfunctions of the system technology can occur in rare cases. In order to minimize the effects of malfunctions on the operational process as well as on the passengers, it is necessary to keep downtimes as low as possible. This is supported by a reliable control and telecontrol system implemented on the basis of the PcVue SCADA software.

ARC INFORMATIQUE

For many years, Actemium Germany’s Automation Frankfurt business unit has been the partner of Jena’s public transport system for the implementation and further development of the control and telecontrol technology for the power supply, but also for the monitoring of signaling and safety systems.

Maintenance of the newly introduced charging infrastructure for the electric buses fell under the responsibility of the Power Supply department, and the desire arose to integrate the chargers into the control system. Actemium Automation Frankfurt was commissioned to do this.

The primary goal of this expansion is remote monitoring of the charging infrastructure by the power supply department so that any faults that occur can be detected and eliminated as quickly as possible. And to do so while reducing travel times for service personnel as much as possible, especially in a city that, due to its topography and its location within the Saale Valley, has a high traffic density on a small number of routes.

With the existing control system, the possibility of processing the data for visualization, archiving and data exchange with external systems via various industrial communication protocols, as well as remote alarming, is already provided as standard.

OCPP- Driver for communication with charging stations Typically, the open standard protocol OCPP (Open Charge Point Protocol) is used for monitoring e-charging stations, which ensures the interoperability of products from different manufacturers.

With its latest PcVue version, the manufacturer ARC Informatique provides a communication driver for the OCPP protocol that supports the current protocol versions 1.6-J and 2.0.1 as well as the security profiles 1 and 2. The software also overcomes a typical OCPP problem, which is that a charging station can only communicate with one Charging Station Management System (CSMS).

Using a proxy function, the charger’s OCPP messages can also be passed on to third-party systems. This represents a typical feature of the open PcVue system,

which inherently has a wide range of data exchange options.

Integrated operating functionality A newly added entry point into the user interface that is seamlessly integrated with the existing system, is a map display that shows the charging stations distributed throughout the city area as symbol markers. The newly added part of the visualization benefits from a very short learning curve for users who have been familiar with the existing functions and operating philosophy of the control system for years, and which is also reflected in the charging station monitoring area.

Data analysis and monitoring The central function of the implementation by Actemium is alarm and log data management, which allows precise fault analysis in live operation as well as in the evaluation of historical data.

The alarm system enables the on-call service to diagnose the fault in advance via the secure remote access of the public utility company and then to rectify it or initiate appropriate measures.

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ARC INFORMATIQUE

In addition, the traffic control center benefits from the connection to the charging infrastructure. The dispatcher workstation there shows the whereabouts of a bus at the corresponding charging points in real time and points out faults that affect operation. This means that adjustments can be made quickly in vehicle deployment planning to avoid cancellations or delays in the route schedule. Afterwards, the maintenance personnel can determine the actual cause.

Alarms of particularly high priority are sent as remote messages to the mobile terminals of the on-call service.

The users of the system can monitor active charging processes via a trend data display, whereby all measured values, such as currents, voltages and power values of a transaction, can be visually compared. Likewise, already completed charging processes can be called up from the transaction history and viewed in retrospect, as well as compared with each other. The respective vehicle is identified and its current state of charge is documented.

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The transaction history is exported at the push of a button or automatically and stored as a weekly and monthly report.

Of particular interest is the respective energy consumption per vehicle and charging process, but also the number of incorrect transactions.

The implemented user interface of the system further enables: • An access management system for charging stations • Lock or unlock charging stations for use • Remotely activate or cancel charging processes • Store and retrieve charging stationspecific documents Practical benefits proven after just a few weeks Christian Zeh, a testing and maintenance engineer at Jena’s public transportation system, is enthusiastic about the solution: “By integrating the monitoring and control system for e-charging stations, all operating states are now visible in the control system, which opens up immediate intervention options for us.

The charging infrastructure is thus fully integrated into the operational workflows of the power supply department. The

usefulness of the system was proven after just a few weeks in daily operation, especially with regard to controlling temperature fluctuations in the charging stations.”

With the implementation of the charging infrastructure in its control and telecontrol system, the power supply team is thus well prepared for the already planned increase in the electric bus fleet and the associated expansion of the charging infrastructure. www.pcvuesolutions.com

DFI

DFI’S REVENUE RANKS THIRD IN TAIWAN’S INDUSTRIAL COMPUTERS FOR THE FIRST HALF OF 2021 Industrial computers have always been an industry in which Taiwanese manufacturers enjoy an advantage; with a total annual revenue of nearly 8 billion U.S. dollars

A

ccording to a research report released by TrendForce in July, in the first half of 2021, DFI, specializing in smart manufacturing, smart healthcare, and intelligent transportation systems/ infrastructures, ranked third with a revenue of NT$5.28 billion (equivalent to 186.7 million U.S. dollars). DFI also have an 25.2% YoY increase, only behind Ennoconn (the parent company of the S&T Group and Kontron) and Advantech.

TrendForce is a global leader in providing in-depth market intelligence and professional consultation services for clients across a diverse range of industries, including the famous DRAMeXchange, and is the worldleading semiconductor researcher. With a worldwide membership base of more than 500,000 subscribers, TrendForce has built strong relations with clients engaging in major and newly emerged technology fields.

DFI joined the Qisda Group in 2017. In 2019, DFI acquired AEWIN to expand into cyber security business, and Ace Pillar to expand diversified & comprehensive solutions.

Leveraging the strengths of the group’s affiliations, DFI has already taken its supply chain management and manufacturing productivity to a whole new level. DFI’s embedded computing capabilities and solutions have since extended and found its niche in smart applications and automation across industries globally

now that it has received merits from the group’s resources.

“Regardless of revenue ranking, we have been on the journey towards motherboard and embedded computers manufacturing for more than 40 years. The achievements are always an incentives for us to pursue excellence.” said Steven Tsai, President of DFI. Founded in 1981, DFI is a global leading provider of high-performance computing technology across multiple embedded industries. With its innovative design and premium quality management system, DFI’s industrial-grade solutions enable customers to optimize their equipment and ensure high reliability, long-term life cycle, and 24/7 durability in a breadth of markets including factory automation, medical, gaming, transportation, smart energy, mission-critical, and intelligent retail. https://www.dfi.com

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LEUZE

MORE SAFETY IN HARSH ENVIRONMENTS 3D safety systems are a good option for reliably monitoring danger zones. They present a safe alternative, even in harsh environments where e.g. sparks, dirt and dust occur. They are therefore also a solution for applications where previously optical sensors were unable to provide a reliable answer.

The LBK safety radar system enables reliable 3D area monitoring in hash environments.

3D system with radar technology For over 50 years, Leuze as a high tech company and pioneer in the field of optical sensors has repeatedly set new technological milestones and standards on the market. Particularly in the area of safety technology, Leuze’s optical safety components, services and solutions can be used for a wide variety of different applications. With the LBK safety radar system, Leuze has now added a new, innovative sensor system to its product range. This system implements an operating principle new to safety technology. As a result, it is also able to provide a solution for applications that previously could not be solved reliably using optical sensors. Even in harsh environments where e.g. sparks, dirt and dust occur. The LBK safeguards danger zones close to machinery and systems using radar technology.

Detection of objects using radar waves The LBK system operates in a frequency range of 24 GHz. This means that the electromagnetic waves are much shorter

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than sound or light waves. Unlike light, the radar waves can penetrate non metallic objects. The compact sensors with their integrated antennas emit electromagnetic waves. These waves are reflected off objects. The sensors receive these reflections and then evaluate them.

The electromagnetic waves of the LBK radar system are completely harmless to personnel.

New applications solved using LBK Utilizing the properties of the radar frequency electromagnetic waves in sensors provides a solution for applications where optical sensors have so far proven unreliable. Even non metallic objects such as dust, welding sparks or chips are penetrated without the sensor being influenced. As a result, the LBK system is particularly suitable for applications in harsh environments. For example in wood or plastic processing.

Such applications typically produce a large quantity of particles that are then suspended in the air. However, these particles do not prevent the LBK from

LEUZE performing its task of reliably detecting and protecting persons. Even if radar waves penetrate the particles, the latter still reflect a small proportion of the waves.

As the quantity of radar waves reflected by a person is significantly different to that reflected by wood chips or moisture, the LBK can detect whether the reflection comes from a person or from non metallic particles. In other words, particles in the air are not detected whereas a person is.

The LBK therefore switches off reliably when a person is located in the danger zone. The LBK sensor emits its radar waves in three dimensional space so that not only the surface area but also the volume of this space is monitored. This allows the LBK to detect persons who enter a hazardous area or who are located in this area, regardless of whether they are standing, kneeling or lying.

Detecting human movements The LBK 3D radar system not only operates in a wavelength range new to safety technology. It also uses FMCW, an operating principle which is also new to safety technology. FMCW stands for Frequency Modulated Continuous Wave. Here, the transmission frequency changes within a defined bandwidth.

Starting at a fundamental frequency, it increases continuously up to a maximum frequency and then returns to the

fundamental frequency again. If a person reflects this signal, it reaches the receiver with a time delay. Subtraction of the reception signal from the transmission signal produces a difference frequency.

If the distance between the LBK sensor and the person remains constant, the difference frequency also retains its value. However, if the person moves, the time delay between the transmitted and received signal changes, and therefore also the difference frequency. The faster the person moves, the greater the change in difference frequency will be. In this way, the LBK sensor is able to determine the speed at which the person is moving.

the machine. As a result, the LBK system interrupts the operating process only if somebody is actually located inside the danger zone. For example, completely static, motionless material containers can be left inside the protected area without them leading to interruption of the operating process. In this way, the LBK system prevents unnecessary downtimes and thereby increases the availability and cost effectiveness of the system. On the other hand, it ensures that the machine only starts to run again when all persons have left the danger zone, and therefore contributes to reliable personnel protection.

Precise determination of movements This method is also referred to as radar Doppler. It allows movements to be determined with a very high degree of accuracy. The LBK sensor therefore detects not only a moving person, but also a person who is currently standing still, even if the movement is extremely slight.

Even if a person is standing still, they are never absolutely motionless – there is always some movement, e.g. from their pulse or heartbeat, etc. The LBK sensor utilizes this to reliably distinguish a person in a danger zone from a static object, e.g. a pallet or material container. The slight movements of a person are sufficient to generate a reliable switch off signal for

Flexible in use, easy to install In addition to use in harsh environments, the LBK safety radar system is used primarily for preventing unwanted restarts and for monitoring hidden areas.

Users can adapt it to their individual requirements. The system consists of a controller to which up to 6 radar sensors can be connected. The positioning of the sensors, the adjustable operating range and the selectable opening angle allow flexible adaptation of the monitored area to the danger zone. This also allows areas on steps or pedestals to be monitored reliably. The user can define the system parameters using the easy to operate configuration software. Certified safety experts from Leuze are available to assist with configuration and commissioning if required. https://www.leuze.com/en/GB

LBK reliably differentiates between static and dynamic objects.

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