End of 2022, what next?

This year was slow. I mean, not dead-slow, but slower than I expected in late February. I can feel the down-tempo even in the portfolios of renowned semiconductor manufacturers. Instead of a single step forward, they've made two steps, but the first was backward. So, the progress is rather virtual.

The following text contains the best I have found in the recent month. Enjoy the reading, or scroll the text down while scanning the pictures. Why not? Time is the most precious element even.

Hardware

MCP3564 WEIGHT SCALE DEMO

The MCP3564 Weight Scale Demo is based on the MCP3564 24-bit Delta-Sigma Analog-to-Digital Converter (ADC) and the PIC24FJ256GB410 microcontroller. The design of the weight scale uses techniques to improve the measurements' precision and accuracy and minimise power consumption.

The MCP3564 Weight Scale Demo has a dedicated graphical user interface (GUI) which can be used for detailed measurement analysis, auto or manual calibration and for changing ADC settings via USB connection to the board.

IO-Link Handbook

Maxim integrated company created a very comprehensive IO-Link Handbook, which is free of use without any registration. I appreciate such an activity. A short snippet from the book introduction follows:

As PLCs evolve into new Industry 4.0 smart factories, special attention must be considered to achieve smarter, faster, and lower power solutions.

At the heart of this revolution is an exciting new technology called IO-Link, which enables flexible manufacturing to improve factory throughput and operational efficiency. This exciting new technology enables traditional sensors to become intelligent sensors.?

Non-Isolated DC-DC converter module PicoBK?

The MYR series PicoBK? is a thin and small-size DCDC convertor that integrates an inductor and control IC. Modularization reduces the number of external parts. Reduce solution size/height.

Industry’s first PFC + hybrid flyback combo IC

The XDP? digital power XDPS2221 is a highly integrated device combining both PFC boost and hybrid flyback (HFB) (asymmetrical half-bridge as from literature) conversion features. The high level of integration allows for seamless operation as well as optimal control of the two conversion stages, delivering class-leading performance.

This innovative controller enables high power density designs and high system efficiency meeting international regulatory standards on power efficiency (such as EU CoC Version 5 Tier 2 and DoE Level VI) as well as an effective control of the wide output voltage for the latest USB-PD extended power range (EPR) standard V3.1. It is very well suited to drive GaN-based devices, such as Infineon’s CoolGaN? switches.

Hardware Design Templates

Square Art-case type A

?? I added a new product today; this time, it's a natural beauty.

The announcement of the new piece to the?#hardwaretemplates?is here. The brand-new Hardware Design Template supports a beautiful OKW enclosure from the Art-case family. This housing says "touch me "because its silk finish is so smooth.

The size of the enclosure is 110x110 mm, and the inner room is spacious enough that it can easily accommodate the following devices:

? an IoT device with Wifi, BLE or similar connectivity

? a battery-powered sensor Node or a Smart Home Central node

? an HMI device with a keyboard or display built-in

? a completely different device designed by YOU!

#nowastedesign, just verified and proven Hardware Design Templates.

?? KiCAD tips

?????? Drill/Place file origin in KiCAD

There can be a discussion around this point. After a while, when learning how to use FreeCAD for KiCAD STEP model customisation, I found the Drill/Place file origin needed to be set.

The default Drill/Place file origin location is the top left corner of the PCB drawing sheet.

To make the work with the exported 3D model easier, the Drill/Place file origin needs to be set. I recommend the bottom left corner of the PCB. The centre of the board otherwise.

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