Electronics News April 2013

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ne ws Australia’s Premier Electronics Magazine

www.electronicsnews.com.au INSIDE

Aerial

superiority

Some call it a flop, others say it’s a necessity.

What is the F-35 doing for our industry?

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APRIL 13

News 4

Spinning solar Controversial solar technology to be manufactured in Victoria Technology 7

Self-healing electronics

Circuit capable of selfrepair and optimisation Feature 17

Ultra low power communications The big picture for ULP communications Design Corner 19

Best design practices for FPGAs Getting it right early in development and technologies that help Design Corner 23

Troubleshooting cables, connectors and antennas How to verify and test commonly-damaged components in RF and microwave systems

Post Print Approved PP255003/00319

Product Feature 26

Safe and secure

Design | Communications | Environmental | Industrial | Research | Medical | Consumer

Selecting the right enclosure features to keep your electronics systems safe in tough mining environments

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NEWS

EDITOR’S MESSAGE ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Martin Sinclair martin.sinclair@cirrusmedia.com.au EDITOR Kevin Gomez Tel: (02) 9422 2976 kevin.gomez@cirrusmedia.com.au DEPUTY EDITOR Isaac Leung Tel: (02) 9422 2956 isaac.leung@cirrusmedia.com.au

Electronics can fix manufacturing ills

SOLAR technology continues to garner enormous interest and here at Electronics News, solar-related stories are among the KEY ACCOUNT MANAGER Tim Richards most read on our site.

Tel: (02) 9422 2818 Fax: (02) 9422 2722 Kevin Gomez tim.richards@cirrusmedia.com.au On the flip side, the industry is in Editor QLD SALES MANAGER trouble – in Australia and most other Sharon R. Amos PO Box 3136, Bracken Ridge QLD 4017 parts of the world.

Tel: (07) 3261 8857 Fax: (07) 3261 8347 At the risk of being facetious, this does sharon.amos@cirrusmedia.com.au beg the question: “Has solar had its time PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Tracy Engle in the sun?”

Tel: (02) 9422 2707 tracy.engle@cirrusmedia.com.au Perhaps not, but only time will tell. However, there is one sector that GRAPHIC DESIGNER Louis Santos would appear to be facing its demise in louis.santos@cirrusmedia.com.au Australia. Manufacturing.

SUBSCRIPTIONS Customer Service There are many who think otherwise, Tel: 1300 360 126. Fax: (02) 9422 2633. and I count myself among them. customerservice@reedbusiness.com.au Subs: Australia $99 incl GST Many hope, and some believe, that New Zealand A$109.00 Overseas A$119.00 manufacturing will evolve, as local companies get leaner and more agile to meet market demands.

Be it Detroit, Shenzhen, or Melbourne, Published five times a year every plant’s line manager is desperately Cirrus Media Tower 2, Level 3, 475 Victoria Avenue seeking to increase speed, accuracy Chatswood NSW 2067, Australia and reliability.

Locked Bag 4700 Chatswood Delivery Centre, NSW 2067, Australia To do that, manufacturers need skilled Tel: (02) 9422 2999 Fax: (02) 9422 8657 ABN 80 132 719 861 engineers with an excellent underwww.cirrusmedia.com.au © Copyright Cirrus Media, 2013 standing of sensors, networks, robotics www.electronicsnews.com.au and plenty more.

It is often said that electronics is the heart of manufacturing as it keeps producAverage Net Distribution Period ending Sep 2012 tion lines beating. It may be cheesy, but 6,486 nonetheless, is true.

Look at the enhancements in assembly Printed by Bluestar Print 83 Derby Street, Silverwater, NSW 2128 line speeds and moves to reduce the Ph: (02) 9748 3411 latency of a process.

This is often accomplished by pushing Next Issue more of the decision making down to the slave unit or drive.

• CPUs and MPUs A D _ E N HFACEBOOK.COM/electronicsnews A M A P R _ 1 3 . p d f • Power P a Management g e 2 2 5 / 0 3 / 1 3In, order 4 : to 1 implement 8 : 1 9 Pthis, M AEDT TWITTER.COM/hospitalityed electronics engineers need to design • Component Sourcing hospitalitymagazine.com.au special FPGAs and ASICs which are • ‘Green’ Applications

often unique to a plant and the process.

In Australia, as in the rest of the world, manufacturing is driven by shrinking margins, shorter product lifecycles and fluctuations in demand.

It’s ironic, but the electronics industry itself has been facing this very situation for decades and is well poised to understand and help solve many of the issues facing manufacturers.

The team at Electronics News was fortunate to get a glimpse into the passion and talent that exists in the country at the recent Raspberry Pi event hosted by element14.

The session attracted a decent number of electronics enthusiasts and professionals even though it was held late evening in a hard-to-reach suburb on the outskirts of Western Sydney.

Devices like the Raspberry Pi allow hobbyists to become entrepreneurs and perhaps grow to become manufacturers.

With the advent of additive manufacturing, we are witnessing a shift towards more customised products and smaller production runs.

Gone are the days when all one needed was moulds and an assembly line that spat out products the other end.

Electronics engineers will play a key role in the intelligent, adaptable production lines of the future that call for a variety of high-level skills.

We think it’s time to put electronics – and electronics engineers – back into manufacturing.

Do you agree or disagree? We welcome your feedback, so please talk back. kevin.gomez@cirrusmedia.com.au

tel: 08 8240 2244 Standard and modified diecast aluminium, metal and plastic enclosures

www.hammondmfg.com www.electronicsnews.com.au APRIL 2013 3

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in BriEF

Codan reCord net profit based on Minelab strength ADELAIDE technology company Codan has reported a record net profit after tax of $26.5 million for the six months to 31 December 2012.

For the same period in 2011, the company managed a first-half profit of $9.9 million.

Codan’s hand-held metal detector business Minelab experienced strong growth, helping boost profits.

Codan has announced it will spend $10 million to redevelop its Radio Communications, engineering and corporate head office at Newton in South Australia, with work to start in the 2013-14 financial year.

The Radio Communications and Minetec divisions are facing difficulties in the short term due to delays associated with the awarding of major projects in Africa and Central Asia and a June 2012 divestment of the Satellite Communications business, but Minelab continues to hold the business up.

Codan earlier purchased Daniels Electronics land mobile radio business, and had to write down its head office building assets.

The acquisition of Daniels Electronics will allow the company to diversify beyond High Frequency (HF) products and to position Codan to supply a more comprehensive and complete radio communications solution.

positive user response for ChargeiQ AUSTRALIAN-produced ChargeIQ electric vehicle charger has been tested by real users as part of the Victorian Electric Vehicle Trial.

Developed by Australian technology company DiUS Computing, ChargeIQ was the only electric vehicle charger used in the Victorian Department of Transport’s recent Demand Response Load Control Electric Vehicle Trial.

ChargeIQ is a ZigBee-certified electric vehicle charger which can communicate with smart meters.

Motorists used grid-friendly charging as part of the trial which ran from June to December 2012.

Vehicles were charged in peak, off-peak and emergency charge management times, in order to test if savings can be made.

Users say the ChargeIQ was easy to use, and also saved energy costs.

4 APRIL 2013 www.electronicsnews.com.au

industrial

Strong 2012 for semiconductor industry THE Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) says the global semiconductor industry reached sales of US$291.6 billion, the thirdhighest yearly total ever.

The worldwide semiconductor sales figure is a decrease of 2.7 percent from the record total of US$299.5 billion set in 2011.

Total sales for the year narrowly beat expectations from the World Semiconductor Trade Statistics (WSTS) industry forecast.

Global sales for December 2012 hit US$24.7 billion, a decline of 3 percent from November when sales were US$25.5 billion. Fourth quarter sales of US$74.2 billion were 3.8 percent higher than the total of US$71.5 billion from the fourth quarter of 2011.

This performance was despite substantial macroeconomic challenges, and the semiconductor industry out-performed forecasts.

According to the SIA, recent momentum, led by strength in the Americas, has the industry wellpositioned for a successful 2013.

During 2012, several market segments saw strong demand.

According to SIA, logic was the largest semiconductor category, reaching US$81.7 billion in 2012, a

2012 saw strong performance for the semiconductor industry despite macroeconomic challenges.

3.7 percent increase compared to 2011. The fastest growing market on a yearly basis was optoelectronics, which increased 13.4 percent in 2012 to reach US$26.2 billion for the year.

MOS microprocessors (US$60.2 billion) and memory (US$57 billion) rounded out the top three segments, but both lagged behind 2011 sales totals.

The Americas saw increasing sales by 13.4 percent in December 2012

compared to December 2011. Sales in Asia Pacific during December 2012 increased compared to the same month in 2011 (6.7 percent), while sales in Europe (-5.5 percent) and Japan (-11.2 percent) decreased over the same period.

Total yearly sales in all four regions were lower in 2012 than 2011, with Asia Pacific (-0.6 percent) and the Americas (-1.5 percent) seeing the smallest declines. n www.semiconductors.org

EnvironmEntal

Spinning solar cells to be manufactured in Victoria estate’s growth will stem from the solar industry SIL Global will be manufacturing V3Solar’s and related sectors. spinning conical solar cells at an industrial V3Solar’s Spin Cells have a spinning conical hub in Victoria. design which the developer claims increases The company has bought a 20-acre the effective photovoltaic surface area for site at Thurla Industrial, where it will a given footprint, and the US developer manufacture the solar cells for the says its technology provides improved US-based V3Solar. Construction of power delivery. the plant will start this year.

The V3Solar technology is The ultimate aim is to controversial, with commentators produce the spin solar cells on the Electronics News which will be used in the second stage of a solar generation plant. website claiming it is unworkable.

The SILG plant will have 800,000 Representatives from SIL Global stand spin cell units. by the technology. n SIL Global will be manufacturing V3Solar’s spinning conical solar cells According to Thurla Industrial www.silglobal.com at an industrial hub in Victoria.

Park developers, a large part of the v3solar.com

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NEWS

IN BRIEF

DESIGN

Raspberry Pi event night ELEMENT14 was host to the Raspberry Pi for Beginners event at its Chester Hill premises on the evening of 13 March, attended by 46 members of the OzBerryPi group.

Andrew Stone, organiser and founder of OzBerryPi’s Sydney chapter, was on hand to guide attendees through the start-up and setup of the Raspberry Pi. element14 staff also provided assistance.

After running through the setup, attendees connected a breadboard to the jumpers of the Raspberry Pi, allowing them to control an LED. David Lyon from Clixx.IO was also at the event. He showed Electronics News the various peripherals (battery, GPS, LCDs, docking stations, etc) he had developed for the Raspberry Pi. According to Lyon, he is still in the process of developing and prototyping accessories, A D _ E Nthese SEM APR_ 1 3 . p d with the goal of eventually mass

Apple moves on indoor nAvigAtion

Attendees connected a breadboard to the jumpers of the Raspberry Pi, allowing them to control an LED. producing them in Thailand. element14 also provided snacks, pizza, drinks and a cake modelled after the Raspberry Pi. OzBerryPi f P a g e is 1 an2Australia-based 5 / 0 3 / 1 3 , group of developers, users, tinkerers,

hackers, teachers and students and enthusiasts organised around the Raspberry Pi and open source hardware platforms. n 1 0 : 1 7 : 2 2

www.element14.com AM AEDT www.ozberrypi.org

APPLE has reportedly acquired indoor navigation startup WiFiSLAM for US$20 million, possibly allowing future versions of its devices to provide WiFibased navigation in buildings.

WiFiSLAM’s technology allows location finding using WiFi signals. It is accurate to less than 2.5m.

WiFi-based location capabilities is not new to the handset world: most smartphones can provide rough location data by supplementing cellular tower information with ambient WiFi networks.

Analysts say the next battlefront for navigation is in the area of interiors.

Google, for example, has already sourced the interior floorplans for thousands of buildings, and also allow users to contribute maps of interior public spaces.

Also used by autonomous robots for navigation, WiFiSLAM’s technology is capable of simultaneous location and mapping (SLAM). It is as yet uncertain when the technology will make it into Apple’s devices.

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www.semikron.com www.electronicsnews.com.au APRIL 2013 5

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Structural Monitoring SySteMS MoveS Manufacturing to canada

Solar-powered wireless mesh network for mine site

STRUCTURAL Monitoring Systems’ manufacturing operations will be shifted to Canada, with Anodyne Electronics Manufacturing to take on the duties.

The agreement between Structural CBO Telecommunications has Monitoring Systems and Anodyne designed and deployed a solarElectronics Manufacturing, an aircraft powered Cisco wireless mesh OEM supplier and AS9100C certified network for Barrick Gold’s Cowal manufacturing facility in British mine site.

Columbia, Canada, will see AEM acting Cowal is an open pit operation, as SMS’s key operational division. mined by a fleet of dump trucks, Negotiations for this move have excavators and ancillary equipment. been in progress since June 2012.

Barrick uses the Cat MineStar AEM will now bear exclusive software system from Caterpillar to responsibility for manufacturing, manage mining dispatch operations engineering, calibrating and repairing at Cowal. Barrick operators have all of SMS’s products. including screens in their vehicles that allow prototypes and qualification builds. them to enter information into a This represents a shift in visual, graphical interface. The informanufacturing away from Australia. mation is then transmitted wirelessly Previously, Sefton-based Romar to management in the centralised Engineering had taken on the control room.

The trailers provide network access in situations where there is little manufacturing operations.

However, the mine site was or no network infrastructure.

As part of this agreement, AEM will relying upon several unmanaged The trailers can be moved to CBO Telecommunications own a 10 percent equity stake in SMS, wireless networks, including a legacy supply connectivity where it is designed and deployed a solution and hold two seats on its boars.

900Mhz system which did not have needed regardless of the changing that comprised Cisco Aironet 1524SB SMS’s key technology is its CVM the capability to transmit the data topology and depth of the mine. outdoor mesh access points on structural health monitoring and in real-time. Instead, the mine was The Cisco mesh access points CBO- manufactured solar-powered management system, which provides using manual uploads and two-way were chosen because they provide mobility trailers that can be readily in-situ, real-time monitoring of cracks radio communication. a flexible, highly secure and scalmoved within the mine site. in structures such as bridges.

To effectively use the system, able mesh platform for demanding The trailers provide network CVM is based on measurements Barrick required mobile and wireless outdoor environments. It has been access in situations where there is of differential pressure between network coverage that could provide tested at a pit depth of over 400m little or no network infrastructure fine galleries containing a low connectivity across the mine wherwith no connectivity degradation or and are said to be very economical vacuum alternating with galleries at ever and whenever it was needed, A D _ E NinSaAsimple T F Emanifold.

B _ 1 2 . p d f as P a g e operation 1 3 1progressed / 0 1 / 1 from 2 , 9 when : 2 0 compared AM packet loss. n to fixed or semiatmosphere mining permanent infrastructure solutions. one location to another. www.cbo.net.au

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TechNOLOGY

research

Self-healing electronic chip ENGINEERS at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) have created “self-healing” highfrequency power amplifiers which can recover from damage.

The team at the High-Speed Integrated Circuits laboratory destroyed parts of their newly-made chips with a high-power laser, then observed as the chips automatically developed a work-around in less than a second.

According to the engineers, this could lead to electronic devices capable of repairing and defending themselves on the fly, recovering in microseconds from problems ranging from less-than-ideal battery power to total transistor failure.

The scientists say the laser had, in some cases, destroyed half the amplifier and vapourised many of its transistors, but the circuit was capable of recovering to nearly its ideal performance.

The power amplifier employs a multitude of robust, on-chip sensors

The laser had destroyed half the amplifier and vapourised many of its transistors, but the circuit was capable of recovering to nearly its ideal performance.

that monitor temperature, current, voltage, and power. The information from those sensors feeds into a custommade application-specific integratedcircuit (ASIC) unit on the same chip.

The ASIC monitors the amplifier’s overall performance and adjusts the on-chip actuators as needed. It does not operate based on algorithms but rather finds a way to optimise all the actuators without external intervention. This means the scientists do not need to integrate strategies for every single possible fault.

The scientists also found the amplifiers with the self-healing capability consumed about half as much power as those without, and their overall performance was much more predictable and reproducible.

Self-healing can be used to combat static component variation, long-term aging problems and shortterm variations from environmental condition changes, and catastrophic destruction of parts of the circuits. n www.caltech.edu

One step closer to low-temperature LED process templates. MOCVD is currently the (GaN) films which meet industrial AUSTRALIAN semiconductor industry standard process for the electrical properties. company BluGlass, which specialises production of LEDs. The p-GaN films were made using in Remote Plasma Chemical Vapour AD_ PA CEEL E A PitRhas _ 1 3 . p low d f temperature Pa ge 1 1 1 technology / 0 3 / 1 3 , 9BluGlass : 5 6 : is5now 5 in A aMposition A E DtoT RPCVD Deposition (RPCVD), says commence experiments targeting and grown on top of MOCVD GaN produced p-type gallium nitride

research

improved LED device efficiency using RPCVD grown p-GaN layers, with the ultimate goal being the commercialisation of low temperature RPCVD. n www.bluglass.com.au

www.electronicsnews.com.au APRIL 2013 7

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technOlOGY

industrial

Solder for hot electronics SANDIA National Laboratories in the US say a gold-silver-germanium alloy developed 15 years ago can be used to improve high-temperature electronics used for monitoring and control in oil and geothermal wells.

Paul Vianco, alongside colleagues John J. Stephens (deceased), and F. Michael Hosking (retired), first investigated the gold-silvergermanium alloy about 15 years ago.

It was based on the gold-germanium system, which has traditionally been a die attachment material used in microelectronics packaging.

With the application at that time (a neutron tube) requiring a higher melting temperature, the scientists added silver and adjusted the concentrations to reach a nearuniform melting point for the alloy.

AD later _ Edesign N C O change N A P Rsaw _ 1the 3 material shelved.

carrying alloys as filler metals.

However, Vianco revisited The gold-silver-germanium alloy, the alloy a few years ago, when the researchers found, is suited as a researchers working on projects solder in these extreme applications, with applications inside a downhole providing a good material fitting needed high-temperature resistant into the temperature gap between electronics to monitor well normal solder and brazing materials. conditions in field operations.

It is also lead-free, making it Circuit boards placed downhole compliant with current lead-free in oil and geothermal wells must initiatives and regulations. withstand high temperatures of The researchers found the goldup to 350°C, in addition to high silver-germanium alloy melts at pressure, excessive vibrations and 431°C, but to determine if it is really other extreme conditions. suited for the tough application, Conventionally, most soldering they had to resurrect the data on the materials melt as they approach alloy from the 1990s and re-evaluate those temperatures. While it. This information was compiled in aluminium-based brazing alloys are a paper titled “Ag-Au-Ge Alloys for the next tier up, melting at about High Temperature Geothermal and 600°C, aluminium-based alloys are Oil Well Electronics Applications”. difficult to process for electronics.

The paper won the Best of Thus, companies involved in in the Surface 1high-temperature 2 0 1 3 - 0 3 - electronics 2 6 T 1 0 : 4 1 : 0Proceedings 7 + 1 1 : 0category 0 Mount Technology Association have had to deal with lead-

(SMTA) International 2012 Best Papers conference.

To further test tensile strength of joints using the material, the scientists used it to join a Kovar alloy (iron-nickel-cobalt) and alumina substrate.

The joint was then pulled apart.

At room temperature, it displayed tensile strengths of 111±7 MPa when using a peak reflow temperature (Tp) as low as 455°C. At 300°C, the pull strength dropped to 74±12 MPa, and the researchers determined that solders using the gold-silver-germanium alloy have a service temperature ceiling of at least 350°C. Vianco is now seeking funds to develop the material to a prototype stage for geothermal and oil and gas well tools. n www.sandia.gov

research

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12.03.2013 09:18:29

Cool and small new electron source Scientists at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) and the University of Maryland, College Park, have built a practical, high-efficiency nanostructured electron source.

Electron sources are used to produce microwaves for radar and X-rays for medical imaging. The technology could lead to improvements in these applications.

Traditional thermionic electron sources use an electric current to boil electrons off the surface of a wire filament.

The scientists used a roomtemperature chemical process to make a sample of silicon carbide highly porous, before patterning it into microscopic emitting structures in the shape of pointed rods.

An electric field is applied to produce an electron flow.

Besides being more power efficient, the new field emitters have fast response times compared with thermionic sources, and do not produce heat, making it easier to create arrays of sources for new modes of imaging, and

The new field emitters have fast response times compared with thermionic sources. improved resolution and quality.

They are also reliable: even if the emitter surface wears away during use, the newly exposed material continues to work just as well. n www.nist.gov

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TecHNOlOGY

medical

Bionic hand with touch LATER in 2013, researchers will be transplanting a bionic hand which allows an amputee to feel what they are touching.

The breakthrough was announced at the 2013 Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) in Boston.

Silvestro Micera, Head of the Translational Neural Engineering Laboratory of the Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne (EPFL) said the patient is an anonymous man in his 20s living in Rome.

The new bionic hand has skin sensors, and will be connected to the patient’s median and ulnar nerves via intraneural electrodes.

This interface can create an intimate and natural connection with the nerves, and is also less invasive than other methods.

It also provides fast, intuitive, bidirectional flow of information between the nervous system and the prosthetic, resulting in a more realistic experience and ultimately improved implant function.

The hope is that the bidirectional

data flow between the brain and the implant will allow the patient to control the movements of his hand, and receive signals from the sensors.

By providing real-time sensory feedback, Dr Micera hopes to improve the acceptance rate of prosthetics, providing more effective clinical outcomes.

An earlier, portable model of the AD _ Eallowed N N A TaApatient P R _ 1to3 . p bionic hand move the fingers, clench them, and

hold objects, as well as feel various sensations with two sensory zones.

The latest version has touch sensors on all the fingertips as well as the palm and wrists.

The patient will wear the bionic hand for a month to test adaptability, before work commences on a full model which The researchers hope the bidirectional will be ready to test in 2 years. n data flow between the brain and the df P a g e 1 2 5 / www.epfl.ch 0 3 / 1 3 , 1 0 : 2 0 : 3 2 AM AEDT www.project-time.eu

implant will allow the patient to receive touch signals from the sensors.

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The sensor can inform users, in real time, of the amount of nicotine vapour molecules in the air, and works with both second-hand and third-hand smoke. It is more accurate and cheaper than current tobacco smoke sensors, which provide only an average exposure in a limited area over several days.

The device uses polymer films to reliably measure ambient nicotine vapor molecules and a sensor chip to record the real-time data, pinpointing when and where the exposure occurred and even the number of cigarettes smoked.

The prototype is currently smaller and lighter than a mobile phone, but it will be made even smaller and reusable. n

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www.dartmouth.edu www.electronicsnews.com.au APRIL 2013 9

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FEATURE

CONSUMER

Incoming disruption: NFC Will 2013 be the breakthrough year for NFC technology? An Australian startup thinks so.

N

FC Wireless, based in Albury, NSW, is catering to early adopters and developers of Near Field Communication (NFC) technology, but believes 2013 will be the year of change.

Electronics News talked to Patrick Crooks, strategy and consulting manager at NFC Wireless about the local success story, and the case for NFC adoption.

“From time to time, there’s real disruptive technology that comes along. We believe that NFC is one of those disruptive technologies,” Crooks said.

This belief led to the establishment of NFC Wireless 18 months ago, primarly as a web storefront for NFC technology.

Crooks came from a background of implementing mobile banking in developing countries.

“In all of the large scale projects we have been working on in the last 7 years, we have seen the changes NFC could bring to them.”

“NFC would really change the implementation of mobile banking, as an example,” Crooks said. “And we know it is relevant to ticketing, to hospitality, etc. We realise there are a lot of functions once NFC hit mobile phones.”

When it was first started, NFC Wireless’ aim was to provide a support base for early adopters of NFC. In 2012, most people were buying its products for experimental purposes and development, but the market is rapidly changing.

“In the last four or so months, we’ve seen line of business managers contacting us to ask for equipment for larger projects,” Crooks said.

“We can see a difference, by the week, in terms of how NFC is being adopted in the market.”

Diverse applications The list of potential applications of NFC is growing, be it in healthcare, 10 APRIL 2013 www.electronicsnews.com.au

NFC Wireless expects commercial breakthrough for NFC in 2013. banking, hospitality or marketing.

“We’ve done a lot around tracking of assets, and also tracking of contractors and their interaction with assets,” said Crooks.

NFC, for example, could be useful in a company with a large site and machinery scattered across a large geographic area. The technology could be used to track what contractors are doing with the different machines and parts. Health and safety problems can also be logged against the assets using NFC. “Our focus at the moment is where we can control the handsets,” Crooks explained. “If you take a contract management company, you can make sure each person has an NFC-enabled handset.”

While a lot of asset tracking today is done via RFID, Crooks says NFC has certain advantages, not least of all its accessibility.

“Because it’s not a proprietary technology and is moving into the mass market handsets, the cost of deployment is lower,” Crooks said.

“A normal hand set can read NFC tags. That’s an advantage: you have more developers and a lot more people are NFC-enabled, and it’s much cheaper to buy an NFC enabled handset than a specialist RFID device.”

Powering forward Crooks says NFC is due for a breakthrough in 2013.

“We see the data coming through our web store front, and from the quality of the discussions we have had, we do think that this year is the year it moves from being an experimental technology to a more mainstream technology,” he told Electronics News.

The standards are in place, and

“The main consumer adoption will start happening at the end of this year and early into next year.”

NFC-enabled handset adoption and penetration are picking up, with the only real stumbling block being Apple’s reluctance to implement NFC on its iPhones.

“This year I see NFC becoming a mainstream product in organisations,” Crooks said. “The main consumer adoption will start happening at the end of this year and early into next year, where stuff like mobile marketing, actually delivering tickets to phone handsets etc become more prevalent.” n www.nfcwireless.com.au

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Flying high

High-profile controversy and set-backs have dogged the Joint Strike Fighter program for years. But what’s the core technology, and what is Australia’s role in the development of the F-35 Lightning II? Isaac Leung writes.

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HE Joint Strike Fighter program has had its fair share of problems. Since its commencement in 2001 with the US and eight partner nations, including Australia, the F-35 has experienced well-publicised delays in development and production, concerns over performance, and an upward spiral of unit costs.

In February 2013, the Pentagon grounded the F-35 test fleet after inspections revealed a cracked turbine blade in an engine.

These problems, coupled with austerity measures due to the global economic climate, have added to fears that the US$396 billion 12 APRIL 2013 www.electronicsnews.com.au

program, already seven years behind schedule, will turn out to be a costly white elephant for Australia and other involved nations.

The Greens, for example, has urged the Federal Government to bail out of the program, claiming it is an “expensive money-sink” and “a colossal waste of time and money.”

Nevertheless, Lockheed Martin representatives say the F-35 test and production program is largely on track, and stress the importance of developing and procuring fifthgeneration aircraft with advanced electronics systems to counter increasingly sophisticated antiaircraft developments.

Lockheed Martin, either directly or via subcontractors, is also

engaging a number of Australian manufacturers and electronics companies to supply knowhow, technology and components to the F-35 project.

The bigger picture Presenting an update on the F-35 program in Sydney prior to the Avalon Airshow 2013, Lockheed Martin Aeronautic business development director Dave Scott said the program delivered 30 airplanes in 2012, and expects to complete 36 units in 2013. Australia’s F-35 planes are currently being built, and will be delivered in 2014.

The F-35 fighter plane will be available in three versions: the F-35A is the conventional take off and

landing (CTOL) variant, the F-35B, a short-take off and vertical-landing (STOVL) variant, and the F-35C, a carrier-based (CV) version.

The commonality between these variants will allow them to be built on the same production line, allowing for improved economics of scale.

“There will be a large base of airplanes,” Scott said. “This keeps the cost to buy the airplane down, and also the thru-life cost down, because there will be more players to share the cost of any new upgrades and spare parts.”

According to Lockheed Martin, it plans to build nearly 4000 F-35s, of which 2400 will be bought by the US. 700 planes will be bought by international partners

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in the program, and additional international players will make up the other 800 sales.

While media reports over the years have indicated problems with the progress on the plane, Scott says the flight test program has been on-schedule or ahead of schedule since 2010, although it is uncertain if the February 2013 fleet grounding will derail the program’s schedule.

The test fleet currently consists of 17 airplanes, which are flown from two different test locations.

“This is the move from VCRs to DVDs. You do not want to be left buying the last VCR.” The F-35 has seen over 4000 flights on the airplane, and over 5000 hours in the air.

The battery of tests carried out thus far include aerodynamic testing, high angle of attack tests, in-flight weapons release, night flights, re-fuelling, air-starts, and ground-based arrestment and A high commonality between the F-35 variants will allow them to be built on the same production line. catapult launch tests. test-flown two stealth airplanes, the “There is a fundamental shift A large degree of the need for Australia has been involved J-20 and J-31, which are currently occurring in the capability of new fighter planes is the result of in the program for more than a in prototype stages. The Russians the airplanes, the fighter fleets other regional players buying fifth decade, with Australian pilots have also embarked on their fifththroughout the world, especially in generation airplanes, with current flying classified simulations of the generation plane program with the Asia Pacific,” Scott said. “We can fourth-generation units such as the F-35 to gain an understanding of PAC-FA now in the test program. see it in the actions being taken, in F-15, F-16 and F-18 having to contend the capabilities of the plane, in A Dto _ prepare E N N P them A A Pfor R _flights 1 3 .onp d f with P amore g e sophisticated 1 2 5 / 0aircraft 3 / 1 and 3 , 4 the : 2airplanes 0 : 3 3 being P M purchased.”

AEDT “This is the move from VCRs to order DVDs,” Scott said. “You do not want The Chinese, for example, have surface-to-air missile systems. production units.

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to be left buying the last VCR.” “This is a fundamental shift in capability that is taking place as we move to the next generation of fighter airplanes.”

Fifth generation As military technology advances, a common approach has been to upgrade existing planes with new technologies in order to stave off obsolescence, while keeping up to date with the latest capabilities. Why then, the need to build an entirely new plane?

“You cannot [retrofit] if you want to design a stealthy airplane,” said Scott. “Stealth requires us to make some fundamental changes.”

Stealth allows the planes to get closer to potential threats without being detected, improving the outcomes from the deployment of electronic and/or kinematic attacks.

In order to reduce the plane’s visibility to radar systems, the entire unit must be designed around the purpose, meaning fuel tanks and weapons systems mounted on the wings were the first things to go.

The fuel tanks were moved inside the plane, as were the weapons, with two bays on either side of the fuselage. The design team moved the inlets to the side of the plane so the front of the engine is not visible.

The engine was moved to the back to reduce the reflectance surface.

The edges of the airplane were aligned so that the cant of the tails matches up with that of the fuselage, and concentrates the radar waves into very small controllable zones.

To maximise the smoothness of the plane’s surfaces, the antennae were integrated into the plane body.

The nozzles in the back were also treated to attain 360 degrees of stealth around the airplane.

A key role for electronics Talking to Lockheed Martin’s F-35 test pilot Elliot Clemence, it is obvious that fighter planes have come a long way since the dog-fighting days of World War II, and electronics systems are now a critical part of flight systems in ensuring pilot survivability.

According to Clemence, the F-35 has been undergoing tests of its missions systems.

14 APRIL 2013 www.electronicsnews.com.au

A Lockheed Martin infographic on Australian industry involvement in the F-35 project.

“We have gone very quickly from something that was moderately stable to operate to very stable, as far as radar stability, electrooptical targeting systems stability and electronic warfare stability [are concerned],” said Clemence.

With no fixed heads-up display (HUD) in the canopy, the F-35 integrates a virtual HUD in the helmet. Additionally, the helmet

“Sensor fusion simplifies tasks in the cockpit, allowing the pilot to focus on the tactical picture.” is the focal point of the plane’s distributed aperture system, which provides key information for missile and aircraft detection.

“This system is essentially six electro-optical infrared sensors around the airplane. The data from these sensors are stitched together to give the pilot a 360 degree spherical image of the outside world,” Clemence explained.

Based on the sensor information from the distributed aperture system, a pilot who is deprived of an optical view of the outside world can still virtually see the situation from within the visor, and execute tasks like rejoins, tracking maneuvres, air-to-ground roll-ins, and low level flight approaches.

In addition to the stealth design of the F-35, test pilots say their survivability benefits from two major technologies: sensor fusion, and electronic attack and protection.

Sensor fusion refers to the electronics and computer system on the plane which collates the information from the various sensors located on the plane, combining the data into a coherent common operating picture for the pilot.

If the system detects a missing piece of information, it will task the sensor to obtain the additional data.

This is a marked improvement on fourth-generation fighters, which were upgraded by bolting on new sensors, making it necessary for the pilot to hunt around for the information, then form a coherent picture of the situation from the

data, all while flying the plane or engaging in combat.

“The engineers’ goal was to make the cockpit a manageable workload in a high threat environment,” Clemence explained. “Realistically, you can’t have a low workload in a high threat environment – that’s impossible. But to make it a manageable workload for a single pilot in a high threat environment has been the design since inception.”

“The pilot no longer has to cue his sensors, search for information, or do distracting tasks.”

“That enhances situational awareness, and enhances survivability. Sensor fusion simplifies our tasks in the cockpit, allowing the pilot to focus on the tactical picture.”

Describing the electronic attack/ protection systems, Clemence says success in modern air combat now hinges on first-detection and first-attack advantages, with most detection and attacks occurring well beyond visual range.

“With a good jamming platform, you can blind the other guy,” Clemence explained. “If you have good electronic protection, you can

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prevent him from blinding you, and you can see him first and get your missiles off first. That is extremely important, and where the F35 shines well above the Hornet, Super Hornet and all legacy fighters.”

Australian involvement Being a partner in the program, Australia has received over $300 million worth of supply contracts for various parts of the project.

According to Lockheed Martin, this economic value expected to grow to $5-6 billion as production ramps up over the next three decades, with another $3 billion on top for maintenance and support parts.

Goodrich Australia and Rosebank, for example, are providing actuators for the landing gear and bay doors.

Quickstep is providing centre fuselage composites, and parts of the vertical tails, and Ferra is providing parts of the airframe as well as weapon adapters.

For the electronic systems, Cablex is providing wiring for the ejection seat, while Micreo, a Brisbane-based contractor, is involved in supplying a microwave-frequency switch filter bank for the radar system.

Electronics News talked to Lad Miklos, one of the directors at Yerriyong (NSW)-based Partech

“You cannot [retrofit] if you want to design a stealthy airplane.

Stealth requires us to make some fundamental changes.”

Systems, regarding the company’s work for the F-35.

Partech Systems provided Test Program Sets (TPS) for various components on the F-35, through subcontractor Northrop Grumman.

It provided the test software, hardware interface devices, and associated documentation.

It is now working to upgrade the TPS for use on the production version designs of the F-35.

Test Program Sets are used in conjunction with Automatic Test Equipment systems (ATE) to send stimulus signals to the aircraft’s avionics system, taking 16 APRIL 2013 www.electronicsnews.com.au

Electronics systems are now a critical part of flight systems in ensuring pilot survivability. measurements at appropriate intervals to ensure that the system is functioning according to the required parameters.

In the case of the F-35, the ATE suite used is the Lockheed Martin LM-Star, which hosts the TPS created by Partech Systems.

In the case of faults, the test software analyses the results of the measurements to determine the probable cause of failure, allowing the technician to single out the faulty components for replacement.

Partech’s first project involved working with CSC Australia to develop a TPS for the communications, navigation and identification (CNI) avionics interface controller unit (CAIC) of the F-35.

While CSC Australia focused on developing the environmental stress testing machine for the CAIC module, Partech Systems was responsible for the TPS which would be run on the LM-Star system.

Since the work involves creating a system to run on the ATE, during the six-year development period for the CAIC TPS, Partech Systems had the only LM-Star system in Australia installed at its premises.

“The CNI system consists of 24 cards but [the CAIC] was a massive

card, and employed quite up-to-date technologies, so we had to deal with fibre optics, 1394 Fire Wire, and JTAG to load the software on it, as well as Xilinx FPGAs,” said Miklos.

In 2007, Partech Systems took on its second contract for the F-35, developing a TPS for the F-35’s AIS line replaceable unit (LRU), which consists of six multi-layered PCBs. According to Miklos, the TPS allowed technicians to isolate faults to a single card for replacement.

While the software was a key part of the TPS, Partech Systems was also responsible for the interface hardware, which was manufactured in Australia to American standards.

“We fitted all the cables, and we designed the PCB in Altium, to be manufactured in Melbourne by Precision Circuits (now Precision Electronic Technologies),” Miklos told Electronics News.

“The metalwork, and the required punch holes for connectors and interface, painting and engraving, was done by Air Affairs.”

According to Miklos, since the original work, the company has seen some work with repeat builds of the Test Program Sets. It has also taken over the environmental tester work from CSC Australia. However, the

F-35 has not yielded as much work as he hoped.

While Partech Systems is still a preferred supplier for the F-35, it has yet to see substantial new work from the JSF project since the completion of the two TPSs. For now, Partech Systems’ core business is in supporting TPS for the Australian Navy’s F-18 and Sea Hawk planes.

Conclusion The F-35 development effort has been the subject of high-profile criticism and controversy, beset by delays, budget blow-outs and technical problems.

At its core, however, the JSF’s systems represent a radical advance in air combat technology, with the integration of electronics and information systems providing pilots with unprecedented situational awareness and survivability.

Australian industry, with its focus on specialised high-tech capabilities, is well-poised to supply expertise and parts to the JSF, although it remains to be seen if Australia’s electronics sector will see any substantial work flowing on from the JSF program. n www.lockheedmartin.com.au www.partechsys.com

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Little power leads to big things With new ways of using technology, ultra low power communications will become more dominant than ever. What are some of the issues to look out for? Isaac Leung writes.

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ltra low power (ULP) communications is currently predominantly used in the industrial space. It is found in sensors and devices which run on batteries and energy harvesters, usually for monitoring of infrastructure and facilities.

In many cases, these devices sit dormant until they have gathered the data needed, before turning on briefly to transmit the data.

But as the demand for granular and remote control trickles down into the wider world, ULP communications is set for a boom as the much-touted but littleunderstood “Internet of Things” starts becoming a reality.

The thinking behind the “Internet of Things” is for a burgeoning number of devices, or things (think tens of billions globally) to be connected to the Internet by 2020.

ULP communications will be an enabler of this new paradigm, because while many devices may have access to mains or regularly recharged batteries, many others will not, and will need to operate for years, or for the entire product lifetime, on miniscule batteries, or run on energy harvesting technology.

Remote monitoring and control is a large part of the “Internet of Things”, and for the average home, there may be tens if not hundreds of sensors and switches for doors, lights, climate control and security.

All of these will have to run in a truly wireless manner – and still be

Communications control chips from GreenPeak Technologies.

capable of transmitting and receiving information.

Optimisation strategies Various chip-level design factors affect power consumption, such as the chip manufacturing geometry, the architectural build-up of the chip, and the system level design.

GreenPeak Technologies offers ULP wireless data communication controller chips for smart home applications. According to founder and CEO Cee Links, digital chips are continuing to ramp up in capabilities and thus power consumption, but there is a certain sweet spot for power consumption within the analogue/mixed signal chip market.

Selecting these sweet spots is an essential first step.

Two strategies, which together reduce power usage are: low peak current during communication (transmission or receiving of data); and low leakage during standby mode.

ULP communications operate on the same general principles as ULP MCUs: energy consumption is the product of power used and the time it is used. The goal is to reduce one or both sides of the equation.

“When the chip is working (transmitting or receiving) one tries to minimise the time the chip is really switched on, and ensure only those parts of the chip are powered are really used,” said Links.

The same applies for the chip’s sleep mode: only those parts of the chip which are necessary to wake up the chip should be powered.

Many electronics devices will need to operate for extended periods of time on miniscule battery cells.

Short and sweet Victoria-based Clarinox Technologies has, for the past 11 years, focused on wireless communications for embedded technologies.

According to Clarinox owner Trish Messiter, one of the best ways to reduce the power required for data transmission is to use the maximum available data rate during transmission, resulting in a shorter transfer time and thus conserving energy.

“In addition, if possible, utilise the received signal strength indication (RSSI) to adjust transmit power (i.e. if closer, use a lower transmit power),” Messiter added.

Using compression techniques to reduce the amount of data needing to be transmitted can also help, but should be balanced with the energy consumption associated with processing compression algorithms.

A simpler way of reducing the data transmitted would be to establish protocols.

“Instead of sending temperature in ASCII form, it could potentially take only one quarter of that space if binary data values are sent,” pointed out Messiter.

Similarly, instead of sending

error codes in ASCII verbose form, an index could be used (i.e. send 0 instead of “NO ERROR”, send 1 instead of “VALVE CANNOT BE CLOSED” etc.).”

Avoiding interference While all solid chip design includes measures to minimise the impact of EMI/EMC, ULP communications designs tend to be more sensitive to the effects of interference. If one is trying to minimise energy usage, failed attempts at transmission due to interference have a bigger cost.

Even more challenging is the interference which could occur if there are other signals in the same band, such as WiFi and Bluetooth co-existing on the 2.4GHz band.

Minimising interference and optimising performance requires in-depth knowledge of these transmission technologies.

“When a Wi-Fi-chip and a ZigBeechip are in the same box, one can make sure that every chip waits for its turn to transmit, and avoid interrupting the transmission of the other,” said Links. “For inbound signals there are mechanisms like ‘listen-before talk’ – if there is www.electronicsnews.com.au APRIL 2013 17

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something going on, wait a moment and then listen again to see if the medium is free.”

“To avoid making devices wait for each other too often, different channels can be selected. ZigBee for instance has an agile frequency assignment protocol to reduce the number of collisions.”

Challenging balance

multiple inter-connected variables must be maintained.

“Concentrating on one item in itself may be fairly straightforward, but excelling in one area without sacrificing another area is a very tough challenge,” said Link.

Technology and more advanced design tools could be the answer.

Clarinox, for example, has developed sophisticated tools in house for debugging and optimisation of the software, which in turn gives the ability to adjust and tune the power consumption of their solutions.

With these tools, designers can analyse the information and communication protocols, and monitor the variables millisecond by millisecond to help optimise designs.

Messiter defines “design” as the challenge of developing the optimal compromise between conflicting constraints. This is especially true for ULP communications.

Lowering the operating voltage can reduce power consumption in a straight-forward manner, but also increases delay and reduces clock frequency, possibly resulting in an Unprecedented overall rise in power consumption. connectivity There is also the problem of reducing power use without reducing Continued development of ULP range, and increasing design and A D _ E N M I C A P R _ 1 3 . p d f communications P a g e P a solutions g e 1 will 2 5be/ key 0 3 / chip cost. The balance between in ushering in an era when hundreds

18 APRIL 2013 www.electronicsnews.com.au

A smart home setup enabled by Internet of Things. Credit: GreenPeak Technologies. implications like smart homes, the of devices per household will be Internet of Things, with its increased connected to the Internet. number of nodes and thus improved ULP communications are monitoring and control, has the considered a necessity for the potential to improve healthcare, “Internet of Things”: it will allow allow more efficient agriculture, manufacturers to quickly and easily provide early warnings for disasters, integrate Internet connectivity enhance asset tracking and improve into a wide variety of devices and the energy efficiency of buildings structures, and be assured of their and facilities. n constant availability with minimal user maintenance. www.clarinox.com 1 3 , 4 : 2 2 : 1 2 PM AEDT In addition to the obvious www.greenpeak.com

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Best design practices for high capacity FPGA devices With the latest FPGA technology advancements and release of large-scale FPGA devices, design teams are facing more challenges than ever in producing high quality HDL code. It is increasingly important to ensure the quality of design starting from the very early stages of the design process. Alex Gnusin of Aldec writes.

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VER the last two decades, Field Programmable Gate Arrays (FPGAs) have taken precedence when implementing digital logic designs.

FPGA capability continues to grow, giving users a flexible medium to implement their designs, resulting in increasing market share of FPGA devices.

Altera’s and Xilinx’s most recent devices provide up to 2M logic cells making them comparable to the medium-sized ASIC chips.

Just like in the ASIC world, the quality of the large scale FPGA design becomes increasingly dependent on designers following the best coding and design practices for the most optimal implementation and the glitch free behavior. In this article we will review different types of the design rule checks (DRCs) that should be performed on the FPGA design code. We will also explain how such reviews can be automated by using DRC tools capable of detecting and preventing logical and implementation issues, as well as improving the design code quality and the reuse level.

Design Rule Check Types Design Rule checks are divided by functional groups. RTL coding checks verify code, naming and design files and structure conventions, hierarchical design conventions, strong typing checks and so on. RTL implementation checks verify the synthesis outcome, checks for simulationto-synthesis mismatches, and

Figure 1: Omitting a clause in a control construct causes latch insertion

Figure 2: Latch-like behaviour may exist in a simulation if some process variables are not defined in the process sensitivity list

Figure 3: Combinational loop causing signal oscillation

Figure 4: Grouping to achieve better performance various implementation-related inefficiencies early in the design flow. Other checks verifies proper clock and reset generation and distribution as well as various problems related to CDC (CrossDomain Clocking) issues while transferring data and control signals between asynchronous clock domains. There are FPGA-specific checks to make sure that the

vendor-specific library components are inferred in an efficient and correct way.

RTL Coding Checks Typing Checks In order to maintain code readability and reuse, designers have to follow code, naming, file and structural conventions. Code and naming conventions facilitate design code

reuse and integration. Readable code is always easier to understand and to modify.

Also, it is much easier to verify the correctness of a readable design for verification engineers since they are able to infer low-level design checks and coverage constructs using assertion languages such as SystemVerilog assertions or PSL. For Verilog designs, it is www.electronicsnews.com.au APRIL 2013 19

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important to consider typing checks, as Verilog HDL allows operations on variables with different bit width. This may infer hard-to-find errors during assignments of other operations on signals with different bit widths.

For example, the sum of two signal values may result in a higher result bit width and assigning a result value to the signal with a smaller bit

width may hide important functional errors. In some cases, such errors are difficult to identify during functional verification since they require special combination of input signal values.

Latch Insertion Another common problem is unintentional latches. Latch insertion during logic synthesis is highly undesirable,

Figure 5: Priority-encoded multiplexor

Figure 6: Parallel multiplexing using full case statement

Figure 7: Simulation-to-Synthesis mismatch

Figure 8: Hierarchical partition of combinational logic 20 APRIL 2013 www.electronicsnews.com.au

since only flip-flops have to be used in synchronous designs. In order to prevent latch insertion, there is a need to completely specify all clauses and all outputs for every case and if statement. For complex conditional constructs, this may not be a simple task. Omitting a clause in a control construct causes latch insertion, as shown in Figure 1.

In Figure 1, there is no new value for 2’b11. Simulation will use the previous value of the out signal and a synthesis tool will interpret that as an inferred latch.

Latch-like behavior may exist in a simulation if some process variables are not defined in the process sensitivity list (Figure 2).

In a simulation, the always block only executes when a trigger in the sensitivity list changes. In the case above, change of the “ind” value will not have an influence on the “out” variable. Unlike simulation, synthesis tools ignore the sensitivity list, inferring a 4-input multiplexer.

Once input “ind” is selected, any “ind” input change immediately propagates to the multiplexor output.

Combinational Loops Another commonly hidden problem is the existence of combinational loops in a design. A combinational loop leads to oscillating signals in the design implementation with the period dependent upon the delay of the combinational cells involved in the loop. Consider the example shown in Figure 3.

In order to prevent oscillations and break the combinational loop, a sequential element such as a flip-flop must be placed in the feedback path. Lint tools helpfully notify hardware designers about combinational loops at the early stages of the design development.

During hardware implementation, the logic designer has to consider

various aspects and constraints. In addition to correct functionality, there is a need to fit the design into the timing and area constraints. Lint tools helps identify long combinational paths in an RTL design.

In the example of Figure 4, signal grouping helps designers to improve timing paths for signals a and b.

Priority-encoded Multiplexors During logic synthesis, if-then-elseif statements imply priority-encoded multiplexors. Priority-encoded multiplexers limit design performance, generating long combinational paths for the critical signals, usually defined in the last “else” clause.

Consider the code example provided in Figure 5.

In this example, the if-then-else construct generates a three-stage priority encoder along with decoding logic for the “sel” signal.

This priority encoder slows down critical signals such as c, d, and especially sel, since the latter one passed through decoding logic and then through three multiplexor stages. In order to improve timing for critical signals c and d, we may re-write the “if” construct putting them at the top, while moving other signals to the bottom.

However a better way is to implement this function is with a “case” statement, a case statement implies a parallel mux function (see Figure 6).

Simulation-to-Synthesis Mismatches Synthesis tools ignore some code constructs, causing simulation-tosynthesis mismatches. For example, synthesis tools ignore combinational process sensitivity lists, while simulators execute the process only when sensitivity list signals change their values. Consider the code example in Figure 7.

In this example, the simulator would not respond to any of the

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changes of the “c” input, while synthesis tool implements the code as a 3-input NAND with the output immediately responding to any input change. Lint tools help designers find such and others code deficiencies leading to the pre and post synthesis simulation mismatches.

Implementation-Independent Coding Another benefit of design linting check is to ensure RTL synthesis across FPGA vendors. This is important for IP developers and FPGA designers targeting different hardware architectures.

Figure 9: Internal clock generation

Figure 10: Recommended clock gating scheme

Hierarchical Coding Checks Using hierarchy and proper design structuring leads to easy design readability re-use and debug. It is important to follow hierarchical coding guidelines while grouping the design. Some of the hierarchical guidelines are: 1. Keep distinct logic types, such as control logic, random logic, datapath logic, etc. separate.

This enables synthesis tools to apply optimisations as appropriate for each logic type.

It also facilitates functional verification of control logic, as the module can be easily extracted from the design for the rigorous block-level verification.

2. Consider resource sharing of arithmetic operators, combining them in the same hierarchy level. This may significantly reduce the design area and power consumption.

3. Minimize the amount of block interface ports. This leads to better encapsulation of logic functions within design blocks.

A smaller amount or inter-block routing facilitates block re-use and improves overall system performance, since inter-block nets are usually associated with longer propagation delays.

4. Register all block outputs and avoid block-level combinational paths. This leads to better design timing performance and better logic optimisation.

5. Avoid glue logic within hierarchical blocks.

Figure 11: Recommended reset synchronisation scheme Figure 8 demonstrates some of the guidelines from the above list.

On the left, the combinational path from Reg A to Reg C is divided between three different blocks.

In this case, logic optimisation is limited because hierarchical boundaries between logic B and logic C prevent sharing of common resources. The circuit on the right presents better grouping, where Reg A moved towards logic “A” outputs and logic “B” is combined with logic “C” to drive the register in the same blocks. Register boundary at the output of each module provides a more stable, re-usable, and synthesizable design. In fact, two modules can be synthesised and tested on its own to ensure performance as expected.

Lint tools implement these and other hierarchical design checks to guarantee proper design partitioning for synthesis, timing analysis and functional verification.

Clocks and Resets in Large FPGAs Clocks Clocking schemes have a large effect on the performance and reliability of a synchronous design. FPGA vendors do not recommend using internally generated clocks (other than PLLs) wherever possible because they can cause functional and timing problems in the design.

Figure 12: Metastability effect

Clocks generated with combinational logic can introduce glitches that create functional problems, and the delay inherent in combinational logic can lead to timing problems.

Also, internally generated clocks complicate the synthesis process and static timing analysis.

For internal gating and clock control FPGA vendors provide library components, for e.g.

BUFGCTL and BUFGMUX global clock buffers in Xilinx FPGA devices. Alternatively, internally generated clock sources should be registered to overcome timing and glitches. See Figure 9.

Clock gating is an important technique for applications requiring power reduction. FPGA vendors recommend using a robust clock-gating technique as shown in Figure 10.

Here, the clock is switched on/ off only when the clock signal is active low, making sure there are no glitches during the clock switching.

Resets FPGA devices may be implemented with synchronous or asynchronous resets. Synchronous reset implementation requires more FPGA resources and slows down design performance. Asynchronous resets are the most common form of reset and are easy to implement.

Unlike the synchronous reset, the asynchronous reset is not inserted in

the data path, and does not negatively impact the data arrival times between registers. However, when an asynchronous reset is deasserted and does not pass setup and hold time checks, sequential elements controlled by this reset fall into the metastability state. After the metastability state their values become unknown, leading functional errors in the design.

Synchronised asynchronous resets combine the advantages of synchronous and asynchronous resets. These resets are asynchronously asserted and synchronously deasserted.

Figure 11 shows a method for implementing the synchronised asynchronous reset.

When an asynchronous active-low reset is deasserted, two synchronisation registers go out of reset and a logic “1” value synchronously propagates to the internal reset net.

Linting tools help designers ensure correctness of clock and reset schemes, as well as provide important information about clock and reset distribution trees in the large hierarchical FPGA designs.

Clock-Domain Crossing (CDC) Verification The cross-clock domain signals pose a unique and challenging issue for verification. Traditional functional www.electronicsnews.com.au APRIL 2013 21

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simulation is inadequate to verify clock domain crossings.

It is important to note static timing analysis tools are not able to verify clock domain crossings because of the asynchronous nature or clock domain crossing paths.

Clock domain crossing signals cause metastability problems and functional failures. If the data input to a storage element changes too closely to the clock edge, the element may go into a metastable state and the output cannot be reliably used, as it is shown in Figure 12. Note that different coloured FFs denote different clock domains.

During a signal metastability period, the signal takes a metastable value and cannot be used as a reference for further computations. If the metastable signal does not resolve to a low or high state before it reaches the next design register, it can cause the system to fail. To minimise the failures due to metastability in asynchronous signal transfers, circuit designers typically use a sequence of registers (a synchronisation register chain or synchroniser) in the destination clock domain to resynchronise the signal to the new clock domain (Figure 13).

Races between the rising edge of the receiving clock “clkb” and changes of signal “a” cause nondeterminism for the new value propagation delay. In Figure 13, signal “b2” may take new value either one or two clock cycles later after capturing signal “a” in the receiving domain. This non-determinism causes functional errors if the related control signals cross clock domain boundary.

As it is seen from Figure 14, the non-deterministic delay between signals a1 and a2 after clock domain crossing causes unexpected glitch after signals reconvergence at AND gate.

Lint tools can help designers ensure that a synchronisation register chain exists on all clock domain crossing paths. Lint tools combined with a functional simulation are able to reveal potential functional problems at the CDC boundaries, such as signal reconvergence, divergence, pulse propagation, etc.

22 APRIL 2013 www.electronicsnews.com.au

Figure 13: Preventing metastability effect with synchronisation register chain

Figure 14: Re-convergence problem of related signals after CDC

Place of Lint tools in FPGA Design Flow Lint tools can be used at various stages in the front end of the FPGA designs as seen in Figure 15.

Initial block-level RTL Coding It is well known that the cost of finding and fixing functional and implementation bugs grows if the bugs propagate to the later design stages. Lint tools provide a simple and time-efficient way to clean up designs at the very early stages of code development. During initial code development, designers reveal and fix various types of problems and inefficiencies, as well as guarantee high level of code portability and reuse.

Top-level Design Integration As RTL code grows in size, it becomes more difficult to manage and debug. All design blocks have to be correctly inter-connected; clocks and resets have to be correctly generated and delivered to all synchronous components.

Post-Synthesis (gatelevel) Checks After synthesis, it is important to check for connectivity problems, re-verify the correctness of clock and reset logic, check for empty modules, floating nets and other connectivity problems.

There is a need to verify that all inferred components (such as Altera megacells) are instantiated correctly.

In order to maintain design

Figure 15: Lint checking in Front-End Design Flow stability over the project lifecycle, there is a need to implement Lint regression checks every time the design changes are submitted into the revision control database. Lint tools provide an automated way to run important design checks right before the modified design is baselined, ensuring a high level of code quality throughout the stages of project development.

About Aldec Established in 1984, Aldec Inc. is an industry leader in Electronic Design Verification. Aldec offers a patented technology suite including: RTL Design, RTL Simulators, HardwareAssisted Verification, Design Rule Checking, IP Cores, DO-254 Functional Verification, ASIC Prototyping and Military/Aerospace solutions. n www.aldec.com.au

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How to verify RF and microwave components Appropriate instrumentation and the right measurement techniques will ensure fast, accurate and efficient cable and antenna testing (CAT).

Rolland Zhang of Agilent writes.

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OUGHLY fifty to sixty percent of cellular base station problems are caused by faulty cables, connectors and antennas.

Components may become damaged during installation, operation and maintenance of a telecommunication system or show reduced performance over time.

Damage can also result from the extreme weather conditions to which many outdoor installations are exposed. Even sheltered installations can be problematic, potentially exposing components to mishandling, stress, heat, vibration, and containments that can leak into the system.

Such failures cause poor coverage and unnecessary handovers in the cellular system, making appropriate testing all the more critical.

Cable and antenna measurements are often used to verify and troubleshoot the electrical performance of RF and microwave transmission systems and antennas.

Key to ensuring fast, accurate and efficient cable and antenna testing (CAT) is use of appropriate instrumentation and the right measurement techniques.

CAT basics When verifying and maintaining the operation of RF and microwave transmission systems and antennas, measurements are often made along the coaxial cable connecting a transmitter to its antenna and/or between an antenna and its receiver.

This process, called line sweeping, measures signal attenuation or

insertion loss and return loss as a function of frequency.

Line sweeping is also used to estimate the physical location of a fault or damage along the transmission line using the Distanceto-Fault (DTF) measurement available on many RF and microwave signal analysers.

Testing transmission line performance is not only limited to coaxial cable types. Systems using waveguide and twisted pair cables may also be characterised once the appropriate adapter is installed

Cable and antenna testing is critical to verifying and maintaining the operation of RF and microwave transmission systems and antennas. between the transmission line and the coaxial interface on the analyser.

In addition, antenna measurements, in the form of signal reflection or return loss and Voltage Standing Wave Ratio (VSWR), may be used to verify the performance of an antenna at the installation site. When multiple antennas are required at a site, antenna-toantenna isolation performance may also be verified.

In all cases, a modern handheld microwave analyser configured for cable and antenna testing proves especially effective for making the required measurements (Figure

Figure 1. Agilent’s FieldFox combination microwave analysers’ base function is a cable and antenna analyser and can be configured to include spectrum and network analysis.

1). Its performance, functionality and flexibility make it an extremely useful tool for quickly and accurately characterising the entire transmission system, as well as the performance of individual components in the system.

Tackling cable insertion loss The insertion loss of transmission line or coaxial cable, often measured as a function of the intended operating frequency band, is the amount of energy dissipated in the cable and includes energy lost due to mismatch reflection between the source and load.

Generally, the source (transmitter), transmission line (coaxial

cable) and load (antenna) are all designed for the same characteristic impedance, (Zo), usually 50 or 75 ohms when using coaxial cable. Most modern RF and microwave analysers are configured with 50-ohm test port impedances. When measuring 75-ohm cables and components, a 50- to 75-ohm adapter is required.

It can be costly and difficult to removing transmission line cables to verify their operation and troubleshoot cable failures once they have been installed in a system. With very long cable runs, access to both ends of the cable at the same time is typically impossible, especially when attempting to connect the cable to the test instrumentation.

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techniques for measuring cable insertion loss from one end of the cable are preferred.

Three techniques for measuring cable insertion loss with a modern RF and microwave analyser in CAT mode are: • Two-Port Technique. Here the cable-under-test is connected to two separate ports on the analyser. The analyser injects a test signal into the cable from its RF OUT port. As the signal passes through the cable, a small portion of the energy is absorbed by resistive and dielectric losses in the cable. Discontinuities from cable connectors, cable splices, damage, and other factors reflect a portion of the energy back to the source resulting in an additional increase in measured insertion loss. The remaining signal exiting the cable is then measured by the analyser at the RF IN port. The ratio between input and output signals represents the total insertion loss Figure 2. Shown here is the measured return loss (upper trace) and DTF (lower trace) for an X-band antenna and coaxial feed cable. of the cable usually expressed in decibels (dB). relative signal-to-noise and associated factory-calibrated reflectometer completely reflected from the • One-Port Technique. This measurement accuracy can be for measuring reflected signals at open (or shorted) end, passes method measures cable insertion improved by setting the analyser’s the instrument’s RF OUT port. through the cable a second time, loss from only one end of the output power to high-power mode.

• Power-Meter Technique. With and is measured by the analyser cable-under-test. One end of The displayed noise level can also be this technique, the instrument using the same port. The analyser the cable is attached to the reduced by increasing the number is configured as a power meter then uses this information and analyser, while the other is left of trace averages or decreasing the connected to a USB power sensor. a built-in model for coaxial open or terminated in a short intermediate frequency bandwidth One end of the cable-under-test cable dispersion to report cable (recommended for microwave setting. is connected to the analyser’s RF insertion loss as a function of frequencies). The analyser injects OUT port, while the other end frequency. This technique is a test signal into the cable from A DRF _ EOUT N C port.

O M AThe P Rsignal _ 1 2 . p d f only P a available g e 1 on 1 analysers 2 / 3 / 1 2 , 1 2 : is2 connected 6 P M to the USB power Measuring antenna the return loss and VSWR sensor. The analyser is configured configured with an internal passes through the cable, is to generate a CW signal at the Antennas are specified by their gain RF OUT port. This test signal factor and return loss or VSWR. is transmitted along the cable Antenna gain measurements are and measured by the USB power typically performed in a special test sensor. If the cable ends are facility (e.g., an anechoic chamber). separated by a large distance, Return loss and VSWR are standard the sensor is connected back to measurements reported for most the analyser through a USB cable RF and microwave components and extender. Because this technique systems and can easily be measured does not allow swept-frequency with a modern microwave analyser measurements, manual tuning of in the field or lab. the analyser’s settings is required Once installed in a system, only when changing test frequencies. an antenna’s reflection properties are measured to determine whether When measuring cables with or not it is faulty or damaged. The high insertion loss, the displayed antenna’s return loss and VSWR are measurement trace may exhibit a used to characterise its performance. high level of noise. In this case, the These 1–port measurements are 24 APRIL 2013 www.electronicsnews.com.au

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typically performed over the intended frequency band-of-interest.

A typical antenna with a return loss of 10 dB or higher represents a reasonably well-matched antenna.

A 10-dB return loss is equivalent to having 90% of the incident energy radiated by the antenna and 10% of the energy reflected back to the transmitter. For applications where high efficiency is required (e.g., base station antennas) the return loss may be specified at 15 dB or higher. A 10-dB return loss is approximately equal to a VSWR of 2:1.

While a conversion table can be used to find the relation between values of return loss and VSWR, some modern analysers handle this conversion and can be easily configured to display the measured response as return loss or VSWR. When interfacing the antenna to the analyser, high-quality adapters can be used to improve measurement accuracy and repeatability. The adapter characteristics may be removed from the measured results using the analyser’s calibration feature. The analyser should also be attached as close to the antenna as possible so the insertion loss of the cable does not mask the antenna’s true return loss.

Verifying antenna-toantenna isolation When different wireless systems are co-located to share tower and shelter structures, antennas (either operating within the same system or between different systems) must be spaced far enough apart to maintain an adequate level of isolation.

This prevents creation of intermodulation distortion in the transmit amplifiers and/or noise desensitisation in the receivers.

Systems are typically designed with duplexing and other filters to reject signals from nearby transmitters and other interference, but system performance may require an antenna-to-antenna isolation of 60 dB or more.

It is therefore necessary to sweep the antenna-to-antenna isolation across all frequency bands-ofinterest. This can be done with a 2-port insertion loss measurement in

Figure 3. Shown here is the configuration for measuring the distance-to-fault in a system having two coaxial cables connected to a load; also shown are the specifications for the cables used in this example. which each antenna is attached via a short jumper cable to the analyser.

Locating faults When cable insertion loss is higher than expected or return loss and VSWR is out of specification, finding fault locations along the transmission system becomes essential.

The location is determined using the analyser’s DTF capability, which uses reflection measurements taken from the transmission line to calculate the individual amplitude response of any discontinuities as a function of distance.

Figure 2 shows a dual display of the return loss as a function of frequency and associated DTF measurement from a section of coaxial cable connected to an antenna. When examining the DTF display, high amplitude level signals are located at the points where discontinuities exist along the transmission line and at the load. The location of these high amplitude signals provides an important troubleshooting tool when determining faults in the cabled transmission system.

A typical configuration for

measuring DTF is shown in Figure 3. It is assumed that the load (e.g., the system antenna, a 50-ohm termination or just an open ended cable) is connected to the analyser through two sections of coaxial cables connected via an adapter. Figure 3 also shows a table of important cable specifications as supplied by the manufacturer. The specification for velocity factor (VF) is important to enter into the analyser for the instrument to correctly display the distance to each cable discontinuity.

DTF measurements of transmission systems are primarily concerned with locating the physical position of faults along the line and therefore, precise amplitude measurements of the return loss and VSWR may not be required. Accordingly, most applications only require that the cable’s VF be entered into the analyser’s cable specification table. When the VF of a cable is unknown but the physical distance of the cable is known, it can be estimated using the DTF measurement.

Conclusion Cable and antenna testing is critical to verifying and

maintaining the operation of RF and microwave transmission systems and antennas.

Use of appropriate measurement and calibration techniques, along with a modern RF and microwave signal analyser configured for cable and antenna testing, provides the best means of accurately, quickly and effectively accomplish this goal. Download Agilent’s application note, Techniques for Precise Cable and Antenna Measurements in the Field to learn more.

About the Author Rolland Zhang is the product manager for Agilent Technologies’ FieldFox RF and microwave handheld analysers. Previously, he served as business development manager for Agilent’s Wireless Network Solutions Division.

Rolland has over twenty years of experience in wireless communications, primarily in the areas of infrastructure installation and maintenance, network engineering, optimization, and troubleshooting. n www.agilent.com www.electronicsnews.com.au APRIL 2013 25

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Put it in a box Mines are a big market for the local electronics industry, but a tough environment for technology to operate in. What are some enclosure features to look out for? Isaac Leung writes.

W

ITH the continued opportunities afforded by the mining industry in Australia, many electronics manufacturers are engineering products for use in mines.

But Australian mines are tough environments for electronic products, and a properly built protective enclosure is essential.

Intex specialises in enclosures, connectors and precision accessories for demanding environments. The company custom designs or modifies its hardware from off-the-shelf products for specific applications.

Electronics News talked to Nick Cumming, Director of Engineering at Intex Enclosures, about the enclosure requirements for Australian mines.

Ingress protection The oil and gas industries demand enclosures which are intrinsically safe (Ex enclosures) for hazardous environments. These enclosures control flame paths and arcs to manage the risk of ignition.

For most mines, however, the key demand is for ingress protection (IP rating), and for mechanisms to protect the electronics housed within the enclosure.

“From an electronics point of view, [ingress protection] is about making sure that the enclosure will protect the sensitive equipment put inside from dust and water,” explained Cumming.

Standard enclosures from Intex start at IP66 rating, which means they are waterproof from rain and hosing down, and will keep dust out.

“Given the harsh environment we have in Australia with both water and dust, a lot of electronics and automation companies targeting mine sites are looking for a higher rating than [IP66],” said Cumming.

The answer from Intex is IP68 26 APRIL 2013 www.electronicsnews.com.au

Electronics used in mines need to be properly protected with enclosures. enclosures, which can be safely immersed in water, and allow the electronics inside the survive floods and waves.

“We recently did a project with IP68 enclosures going on the wharfs,” Cumming said. “We had to do stress analysis on wave surges, how it would perform under 10m of seawater for 10 days, etc.”

But while designing a selfcontained enclosure to be water- and dust-proof may seem to be a simple matter, things can get complicated when the electronics systems inside require standard features like cabling for power and data, user interfaces, and screens.

“If we have a box certified to IP66, the moment we drill a hole

in it, we’ll have to deal with that hole, because it is no longer IP66,” Cumming pointed out.

“If we put a hole in there for cable management, we will always use similar material, and similar or greater IP rating. If we cut a hole in the box and put in cables and power, and it’s an IP68 box, we will put an IP68 stainless steel cable gland in there.”

According to Cumming, there have been cases where customers have bought an enclosure, then drilled a hole and installed a cable gland, only to experience dust ingression and leaking.

“It’s generally a lack of knowledge and maybe a subcontractor trying to get the job done quickly,” he said.

“We try to work with the customers and ask them what they are trying to do, the application, the environment, and what they need. If they need two cable entry holes, we put those in with the cable glands, so all they have to do is to feed the wire through and we know it’s going to be safe.”

“It’s the same if we are putting touch screens, connectors, switches or RFID readers, we install that to make sure it’s all nicely sealed, the screens are IP66, and it meets the requirements of the application.”

Materially speaking Enclosures can come in a range of materials, and can vary according to the application. In gold mines,

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for example, there may be a focus on corrosion-resistive materials due to the harsh chemicals used in the extraction process.

While polyglass, aluminium and composites may be used for junction boxes, the mainstay for industry in Australia is 316 stainless steel, prized for its hard-wearing properties, and its ability to stand up to corrosion.

“There are a lot of composites coming out at the moment but realistically nothing beats 316 stainless steel for Australian environments,” said Cumming.

Tailored mechanisms Heat management and cooling is a big issue for electronics used in mines, and various enclosure mechanisms are available to mitigate both heat emitted by the electronics themselves, and from exposure to the sun.

“We do a lot of kiosk and touch screen systems for automation and mines at the moment, for weighing trucks and management,” Cumming explained. “We [also] do a lot of

work with big mining companies that have extremes of temperature.”

After assessing the application and equipment requirements, Intex takes standard commercial-off-theshelf (COTS) enclosures and installs a skin over it with a baffle to create a sun shade, reducing the radiant temperature from the sun.

To further protect the electronics from outside heat, the company installs insulation inside, and puts in filtered fans which vent hot air from the electronics, while preventing dust ingression.

Of course, with a fan system in place, the enclosures cannot reach IP68, but Cummings says IP66 is possible with fan shrouds that protect against dust and water.

“You can still hose it down,” Cumming told Electronics News. “It’s all about controlling where the water and dust goes and keeping it out.”

In some cases, the baffles serve a dual function, providing both a sun shade, and a sloped roof. Sloped roofs are a standard requirement at mines, since they prevent a build-up

of dust, and also allow easy washdown. This is particularly important in coal mines, where a build-up of flammable dust can be a hazard.

Shock and interference Besides heat, dust and water, vibration and electromagnetic interference are also common dangers on mine sites that can drastically shorten the life of electronics.

“EMC (electromagnetic compatibility) is a huge consideration especially when you start to get into communications and data,” said Cummings. “We have special EMC o-rings that we can put into our enclosures, but we also look at it mechanically, as far as wall thickness of our enclosures and what gear we put next to each other to eliminate a lot of that.”

And while many systems on mines are static systems, for electronics on plant equipment or vehicles, shockabsorbent mount systems are a must.

These consist of a cradle or a sub-plate which sits on rubber shock mounts. Electronics manufacturers

may also choose to mount their PCBs on a gear plate inside the enclosure, and shock-mount the plate.

Optimising protection There is no one-size-fits-all solution for electronic enclosures used in mines, and the importance of protecting the equipment should not be under-stated.

“Generally, whatever is going into the enclosure is high-value, and vitally important to [the mines’] infrastructure, so we must protect that very carefully,” said Cumming.

“There’s some smart engineering coming out to solve some of the unique problems we have in Australia mining, and it’s really at the design level.”

By properly assessing the environment, potential issues, and the equipment requirements, companies like Intex can apply design and engineering expertise to their enclosures to ensure optimised protection of high-value equipment on the mine site. n www.intexconnect.com.au

INDUSTRIAL

IP66 mining enclosures

Submersible enclosures

B&R Enclosures’ Pilbara SP is a heavy-duty enclosure, IP66 rated with a 30 degree sloping roof, developed and tested for harsh Australian mining environments.

According to the company, the range of enclosures was designed after consultation with on-site electrical engineers, contractors and designers.

The enclosures are provided in sizes suitable for the most common mining, mineral processing and infrastructure projects, suited for The range of enclosures was designed use in local control stations, mini after consultation with on-site electrical control consoles or motor isolation engineers, contractors and designers. control stations.

Features include pintle hinges, a fully-enclosed three-point locking system, providion on the door for additional mechanical fixings, and the ability to withstand extreme temperatures from -10°C to 60°C. The enclosures are available in 2mm zinc coated steel, 1.5mm 316 stainless steel, and powder-coated 316 stainless steel.

INTEX says its daily work with protecting electronic hardware in the demanding environment around mines led it to launch a range of submersible enclosures.

The enclosures, available in stainless steel 316 or 304, can be supplied with either sloped or flat roofs. They are designed to survive submersion in 5m for 7 days, and can be fitted with INTEX IP68 stainless steel 316 The enclosures, available in stainless steel or 304 cable glands.

316 or 304, can be supplied with either sloped The INTEX SUBSEA or flat roofs. product range is said to be flexible, while reducing the risk of failure for electrical hardware installation.

According to Intex, it works with major technology and infrastructure companies to provide engineered enclosure systems for harsh environments, collaborating with its customers to evaluate the application and offer a suitable protective solution.

B&R Enclosures 07 3714 1000 www.brenclosures.com.au

Intex 1300 800 955 www.intexconnect.com www.electronicsnews.com.au APRIL 2013 27

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Email your product news to editor@electronicsnews.com.au SPOTLIGHT

Standalone AC/DC data logger SOANAR has launched the standalone Lascar EL-USB-ACT data logger product, capable of measuring and storing over 127,000 AC and DC current readings.

Used with either an AC or DC current clamp, the data logger measures DC range from 0 to 1000 amps, and 0 to 723 amps AC. Logging rates are between 1 second and 12 hours.

In the ‘energy monitoring’ mode, this data is converted into power, energy (using a user defined voltage value) and cost (using a user supplied energy unit cost). The millivolt measurement mode allows for direct measurement of voltage, up to 1V DC (700mVAC.).

The user can plug the data logger into a PC’s USB port and use the supplied software to view the downloaded data. This software has provision for a clamp scaling factor (the clamp input-output ratio of amps to millivolts). Stored data can then be graphed, printed and exported to other applications.

The high contrast LCD shows a variety of current, power, energy and cost information. By pressing a button, users can cycle between the most recent, maximum and minimum measurement values.

Soanar 1300 365 551 www.soanar.com

Portable voltmeter

RF signal analyser CLARK & Severn Electronics are introducing Signal Hound’s new realtime RF recording signal analyser and high speed spectrum analyser, the BB60A. The instrument has 20MHz of real-time bandwidth, tunes from 9kHz to 6.0GHz, collects 80MSamples/second, and streams data to PC via USB3.0 at 140MB/sec.

A minimum of Intel i7 quad core processor & native USB 3.0 is required. RAID-O Hard Drive Array for RF signal recording is optional.

The BB60A has a Spurious and Image Rejection range from 9kHz to 2GHz and 2 GHzto 6GHz. The operating temperature is 0°C to 60°C and the Net weight is 0.28 kg.

Clarke & Severn Electronics 02 9482 1944 www.clarke.com.au 28 APRIL 2013 www.electronicsnews.com.au

POWER Parameters has released the new SEW portable voltmeter, suited for laboratories and field work, including aviation applications.

The ST-2001 digital AC and DC voltmeter has a 10,000 count backlit LCD, and 100-division analogue bar-graph arc.

The SEW ST-2001 is highly sensitive having, a minimum resolution of 10 µV on the 100 millivolt range. The instrument has five ranges to 1000 volts DC and 800 volts AC RMS. The unit is suitable for AC measurements to 400 Hz making it suitable for many communication and aviation applications. It has an IP54 housing and is available with an optional protective holster.

Power Parameters 1800 623 350 www.parameters.com.au

Power meters RAPID Tech is now distributing Yokogawa’s fifth generation WT300 digital power meters.

The compact instruments measure the power consumption of electrical equipment, and offer a choice of interfaces.

Key features of the new instruments include a basic accuracy of 0.1% of reading, guaranteed accuracy over the entire measurement range (from 1% to 130% ), a wide measurement range from standby power levels of a few milliamperes up to 40 A currents.

The WT300 series can be integrated into laboratory test benches or automated test set-ups.

USB and GPIB or RS232 are standard, and Ethernet is optional.

The new meters also provide measurement of harmonics up to the 50th order.

Other features of the new instruments include a bandwidth of DC and 0.5 Hz to 100 kHz (up to 20 kHz for 40 A on the WT310HC), plus an auto-range function for measurement and integration.

Software is also available for testing equipment compliance to industry energy-saving standards such as IEC62301 Ed2.0 and IEC62018 for standby mode equipment or for dealing with waveforms having a crest factor of 5 or more.

Rapid Tech 03 9763 3299 www.rapid-tech.com.au

Online interactive catalogue element14 has launched its latest online interactive catalogue for design engineers and electronics enthusiasts in Oceania.

The catalogue is designed to make the buying process easier, with 160,000 electronic components, as well as over 45,000 new products since the previous catalogue.

Accessible from PC and Android tablet, the new interactive catalogue is enhanced with quicker page flips

and enhanced search functionality which allows customers to browse and purchase more quickly.

The online version allows the customer to print a mini catalogue, which can be tailored to an individual or company’s needs.

The catalogue includes dynamic pricing, live chat with the technical team and the option to download product technical data sheets.

Existing features allow easy electronic browsing in the same layout as the paper catalogue which users can view in full page or zoom.

The catalogue includes product categories covering Semiconductors (about 36,000), Optoelectronics, Prototyping and Accessories, Passive Components(55,000), Connectors(20,000), Electromechanical(23,000), Automation, Audio, Office and Electrical; Power, Test and Measurement; Tools and Maintenance. element14 au.element14.com/catalogue

Gateway module ELECOM Electronics Supply is now distributing Wiznet’s WIZ107SR compact Serial-to-Ethernet RS232 gateway module.

The WIZ107SR is a gateway module that converts serial protocol (RS-232) into TCP/IP protocol. It enables remote management and control of a serial device through TCP/IP network.

The device has a compact design with dimensions of 48mm x 30mm x 18mm, and a user-friendly configuration tool program provide a quick and simply internet enable solutions for designer to implement their solutions.

WIZ107SR includes WIZnet’s hardwired TCP/IP chip that embeds the most of TCP/IP protocols such as TCP, UDP, IP, ARP, ICMP, IGMP and Ethernet MAC. 10Mbps and 100Mbps Ethernet are all supported and a standard RJ-45 is mounted on the board of WIZ107SR. The compact serial-to-Ethernet module connects with the serial device directly, allowing quick addition of network function.

Elecom Electronics Supply 03 9790 6259 www.elecomes.com

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Email your product news to editor@electronicsnews.com.au SPOTLIGHT

Coaxial power sensor Embedded module with OS support CONGATEC has announced a Windows Embedded Compact 7 version of the conga-QMX6 Qseven module based on the Freescale i.MX6 ARM Cortex A9 processor.

Windows Embedded Compact 7 (WEC7) is the latest generation of Windows CE operating systems designed for embedded applications. congatec partnered with Adeneo to supply a ready-to-use WEC7 board support package for the conga-QMX6 Qseven module with Freescale’s i.MX6 ARM Cortex A9 processor.

According to the company, it is an end-to-end solution that accelerates embedded development.

The conga-QMX6 is equipped with a 3D-capable HD graphics interface.

Target markets include manufacturers of mobile industrial devices and medical, automotive and industrial automation applications.

The R2013a release also updates 80 other products, including Polyspace embedded software verification products.

MATLAB R2013a highlights include a unit test framework for the MATLAB language, and a DSP System Toolbox providing spectrum analyser and logic analyser scopes and triggering of time scopes.

R2013a highlights for Simulink include the Simulation Performance Advisor, offering masking of linked library blocks, and active variant control via logical expressions, and the SimRF, providing a circuit envelope solver for fast simulation and model load time.

MathWorks 02 8669 4700 www.mathworks.com.au

Time-of-flight proximity sensor

congatec 07 5520 0841 www.congatec.com

ROHDE & Schwarz has released a new coaxial power sensor, the NRP-Z58, the first to measure power in the frequency range from DC to 110GHz. The R&S NRP-Z58 has high measuring speed of over 300 measurements per second in buffered mode. With a range of 55 dB (–35 dBm to 20 dBm), it offers the largest dynamic range (DC to 110 GHz) of any thermal power sensor on the market.

When performing relative measurements such as amplification and reflection measurements, the R&S NRP-Z58 delivers extremely precise measurement results thanks to its high linearity of 0.01 dB. The ball bearing 1.00 mm coaxial plug can be screwed securely onto the jack of the measuring instrument to provide extremely high measurement reproducibility.

Like all thermal power sensors from Rohde & Schwarz, the R&S NRP-Z58 can be connected directly to a PC via a USB interface in order to analyse measurement results.

It can also be used in combination with the R&S NRP2 base unit or with nearly any signal generator, signal and spectrum analyser or network analyser from Rohde & Schwarz.

For users of the R&S ZVA110 network analyser, the power sensor comes equipped with the appropriate 1 mm socket for connecting to the instrument. The power sensor makes it possible to achieve a consistent power calibration up to 110 GHz using a single instrument and without any adapter. Before, this required multiple power sensors and various adapters.

In addition, the power sensor helps users working in development, production and maintenance to determine the average power of CW signals, pulsed signals or even complex digitally modulated signals.

This makes the R&S NRP Z58 especially well-suited for automotive applications at 77 GHz, such as automatic cruise control and collision warnings, as well as for radar systems for industrial and military applications at 94 GHz.

New version for MATLAB and Simulink MATHWORKS has announced the R2013a version of its MATLAB and Simulink product families.

The new release introduces Fixed-Point Designer, which provides data types and tools for developing fixed-point algorithms in MATLAB code, Simulink models, and Stateflow charts.

The Phased Array System Toolbox now supports polarisation for antennas, arrays, and targets, including transmission, propagation, and reception of polarised signals.

Rohde & Schwarz 02 8874 5111 www.rohde-schwarz.com.au

STMICROELECTRONICS has developed a proximity sensor which can reduce the incidence of dropped calls, and opens the way for new user interactions.

The FlightSense VL6180 opticalsensing proximity sensor combines three optical elements in a single compact package.

The sensor calculates the distance between the smartphone and the user by measuring the time the light takes to travel to the nearest object and reflect back to

the sensor, an approach also known as “time-of-flight”.

Unlike conventional proximity sensors which measures the amount of light reflected back from the object, time of flight sensors are not affected by the colour and surface of said object.

STMicroelectronics claims the technology breakthrough brings a major performance enhancement over existing proximity sensors, solving the face hang-up issues of current smartphone and also

enabling new innovative ways for users to interact with their devices.

Within the sensor is an infra-red emitter that sends out light pulses, an ultra-fast light detector that picks up the reflected pulses, and electronic circuitry that accurately measures the time difference between the emission of a pulse and the detection of its reflection.

STMicroelectronics 02 8338 1172 www.st.com >> www.electronicsnews.com.au APRIL 2013 29

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NEW PRODUCTS

Email your product news to editor@electronicsnews.com.au SPOTLIGHT

Locking connectors

CompactPCI processor board with 10 Gigabit Ethernet KONTRON has launched the world’s first 6U CompactPCI Serial Mesh 10 Gigabit Ethernet processor board.

For the first time, a CompactPCI system supports 10 Gigabit Ethernet and PCIe over backplane in addition to the common interfaces such as PICMG 2.16, SATA and HDMI. The Kontron CompactPCI processor board CP6004X-SA is based on the 3rd generation Intel Core i7 processor 3615QE with 2.3 GHz and offers high computing power and performance-per-watt.

Bandwidth-intensive applications benefit from the 6 MB cache and memory of up to 16 GB 1600 MHz DDR3 ECC SO-DIMM. Some applications for the new modular CompactPCI Serial Mesh (based on PICMG 2.20) systems are in high availability telecommunications and data communications systems for carriers and also with government and security companies.

Applications for the board include secure wireless systems, radar and sonar applications, and complex computational algorithms such as imaging processing.

Multiprocessor board configurations have already been fully tested in the chassis so pre-integrated modular CompactPCI system configurations with 10 Gigabit Ethernet and PCIe over backplane can be supplied to OEMs immediately.

The system uses the ZD plus connector, which Kontron claims enhances signal integrity, and is compatible with PICMG 2.20 but has better shielding than the standard connector.

Existing CompactPCI applications can also be equipped with the highspeed CompactPCI boards and systems with minimal effort and cost.

Kontron Australia 02 9457 0047 www.kontron.com.au

Newest test instruments EMONA has released its 2013 Test Instruments Catalogue, featuring 80 pages of electronic and electrical instrumentation.

According to the company, the 2013 Emona Test Instruments Catalogue is an essential and comprehensive equipment reference for engineers, technicians, contractors and teachers.

30 APRIL 2013 www.electronicsnews.com.au

Products included in the catalogue include oscilloscopes, PC-based instruments, data acquisition equipment, logic analysers, multimeters (both benchtop and handheld), function generators, RF test equipment, power supplies, PCB fault locators, as well as other test equipment for biomedical, electrical safety, and installation.

Emona 02 9519 3933 www.emona.com.au

WALCOM has announced the secure IEC LOCK to complement its range of connectors.

The IEC LOCK is ideal for data centres, outside broadcasting, telecommunications, medical, military, maritime and most electrical applications.

The IEC Lock guards against accidental disconnection. They cannot be accidentally pulled or vibrated out of the inlet of computers, servers and most electrical appliances.

The connectors are suitable for use with any standard IEC inlet.

Walcom 02 4362 3477 www.walcom.com.au

Embedded and mobile development suite INTEL has announced Intel System Studio 2013, a new integrated software development suite to speed-up development, testing and optimisation of Intel-based embedded and mobile systems.

The suite, for embedded and mobile intelligent systems which use Intel’s Atom, Core and Xeon processors and SoCs, helps accelerate time-to-market and strengthen system reliability for increasingly complex systems with its advanced debug and error checking capabilities.

The suite also includes tools to tune systems for power efficiency and optimal performance.

Powerful system and application debuggers rapidly isolate and resolve system, SoC-wide and application

defects, while resources like the Intel Math Kernel Library and Intel Integrated Performance Primitives help reduce development time.

As a result, embedded developers can capitalize on new platform capabilities as they hit the market.

The suite includes integrated debuggers and analysers for enhanced code stability.

Code quality is also improved by the support for validating memory and threading integrity during development and validation.

Intel System Studio improves power efficiency and performance through in-depth system- and SoC-wide power analysis that help isolate unexpected sources of powerdraining software.

Intel www.intel.com.au

Radio signal connection via Modbus RTU PHOENIX Contact says the I/O signals from its Radioline systems can now be connected directly to control units via the Modbus RTU protocol using a radio master.

The radio master wirelessly collects I/O signals from up to 250 radio stations and maps these to a centrally located Modbus register.

This means that the entire radio network can be addressed via one single Modbus slave address.

Communication with the control unit is provided via an RS-232 or RS-485 interface.

Remote field stations can be expanded in a modular fashion and individually grouped to facilitate any application scenario.

A range of digital and analogue I/O modules is offered for this; these can process signals up to 230V. The radio communication is handled by Phoenix Contact’s Trusted Wireless 2.0 radio technology.

The entire system can be configured very easily via rotary switches, except for the radio master’s serial parameters, which are set up by the user via the free-ofcharge software.

Phoenix Contact 02 9526 4904 www.phoenixcontact.com.au

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Up close

5minutes with...

Trish Messiter - Owner of Clarinox Technologies Why did you choose this industry?

I love innovation, and this is an industry where the speed of innovation outperforms any other industry. My father was an electronics engineer, and his area was radio technologies. He really loved that area, so I knew the history from his days, and helps me appreciate how things have moved in the industry.

What excites you the most about the local electronics industry?

I’d like to start by saying local is perhaps less relevant these days because everything is moving to be more global.

We get work from overseas, from New Zealand, India, Canada, US, Turkey.

We get the job when the technical requirements are such that the clients’ local suppliers are unable to supply what the customer wants.

The fact is we are good at doing new things, we are good at inventing and innovating, and that gives us some advantages, even if our windows of opportunity are short.

Arbitrary function generator GW-INSTEK, distributed by TekMark in Australia, has launched the AFG-2225, its first basic-level dual-channel arbitrary function generator.

The reasonably-priced instrument provides the same characteristics on both channels to fit dual-signal applications such as differential or IQ signalling.

The major features for both channels include 10Vpp output amplitude; 25MHz frequency bandwidth with 1uHz resolution; built-in waveforms of Sine, Square, Ramp (Triangle) and Noise.

The 1%~99% adjustable duty cycle of Square waveform can be used as pulse signal sources. For the arbitrary waveform, user can edit the 66 built-in waveforms or create a whole new one.

What is the future of the electronics industry in Australia?

That ties in to the future of electronics in the world.

Everybody is talking about the Internet of Things. Already, a 90 odd percent of the chips in the world are used for M2M or embedded devices rather than laptops, PCs and that side of things.

There will be huge numbers of M2M type devices that connect themselves to the Internet, or connect to a hub which connects to the internet.

What can the government do to ensure a healthy electronics industry?

The government can do a lot to create a favourable environment. It’s a bit of a fine line: not too much, not too little.

They should look at what has worked in other places in the world, but also look at our reality and adapt for our culture and market.

A major area of concern is that Australian companies in general don’t get access to the kind of funding and

investment that other places do. That’s a big barrier.

The government doesn’t have to be the investors themselves, but create an environment where private investment is more likely to happen.

I think government getting people on board that understand that B2B market, and setting up policies and programs that recognise B2B, and also assist the market would be a good thing as well.

What opportunities are the Australian electronics industry missing out on?

Electronics companies should identify opportunities by talking to their customers: what are the customers not getting now, and what are some of the gaps in the market.

One area is in debug tools. Sometimes the tools don’t give the engineers the level of visibility that they really need to do their job quickly. That’s an area that we’ve tended to address by building in debug tools into our products. ■ www.clarinox.com

SPOTLIGHT

The AFG-2225 also feature AM/ FM/PM/FSK/SUM Modulation, Sweep, Burst and Frequency Counter, which can be applied to various communication fields.

The unit is equipped with a 3.5-inch colour LCD. USB Host and Device interfaces allow the AFG-2225 to be linked with other devices, such as the GW Instek GDS-series Digital Storage Oscilloscopes (DSOs), allowing waveforms of interest to be captured and reconstructed.

TekMark Australia 02 9911 3888 www.tekmark.net.au

Multiwavelength meter AGILENT Technologies has introduced the Agilent 86122C multiwavelength meter, the newest member of its line of wavelength meters.

According to the company, the product is reliable and durable, equally at home on the manufacturing floor and engineers’ benches, as it is on ships.

After a 15 minute warm-up period, the 86122C attains an absolute wavelength accuracy of ±0.2 ppm and ±0.15 ppm differential accuracy, making it well-suited for optical communication testing.

Its wavelength range of 1270 to 1650 nm covers all fibre-to-the-home, metro and long-haul transmission systems. The meter can measure the spectra of up to 1,000 laser lines at once, which is more than sufficient for fully populated dense-wavelength-division multiplexed systems (DWDM).

Agilent says it is continuously fine-tuning its instruments using statistical data the industry. The company has extended the recommended recalibration period of the 86122C to two years, and doubled the expected lifetime of the built-in reference laser.

The new multiwavelength meter comes with a five-year warranty that covers not only the reference laser, but all opto-mechanical and electronic parts.

Agilent Technologies 03 9560 7133 www.agilent.com

www.electronicsnews.com.au APRIL 2013 31

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