wireless design & development - may-june 2013
TRANSCRIPT
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VOLUME 21 | NUMBER 3 wirelessdesignmag.com MAY | JUNE 2013
IN THIS ISSUE
» Protection Against the Elements
» Evolving Embedded Wireless Systems
» A Growing Need for Reliable,Secure Data Communications
» Power Consumption Drives
RF Amplifier Development
S E N S O R S • T I M I N G D E V I C E S • A M P L I F I E R S • N F C
NATALIA PROJECTTHE
Protecting human rights activists
who are at risk, wirelessly
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More New Products
More New Technologies More Added Every Day
The Newest Products for Your Newest Designs®
mouser.com
Authorized distributor of semiconductors
and electronic components for design engineers.
Mouser and Mouser Electronics are registered trademarks of Mouser Electronics, Inc. Other products, logos, and company names mentioned herein, may be trademarks of their respective owners.
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We Still Make ‘em…
Like They Used To®
Some classic designs
are timeless… Lansdale Semiconductor still manufactures some of the most popular… and timeless commercial wireless,telecommunications, military and aerospace integrated circuits (ICs) classic designs.
As a global pioneer in IC products life cycle management, Lansdalemanufactures over 3,000 classic design ICs in the original package, exactlyas they were created and produced by AMD, Farchild, Freescale Semiconductor, Harris, Intel, Motorola, National,
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Our exclusive life cycle management program assures you of a dependable, continuous, cost effective, and highquality source of classic designed ICs today… and tomorrow!
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INDUSTRY TRENDS
16 Power Consumption Drives RFAmplifier DevelopmentWDD readers identify the key obstacles and
prominent security issues for RF amplifiers.
ENCLOSURES
20 Protection Against the ElementsGORE Protective Vents provide a barrier from dust,
dirt, and water ingress.
MACHINE-TO-MACHINE
22 M2M: A Growing Need for Reliable,Secure Data CommunicationsM2M data communication technologies offer a variety of
benefits, underscoring why a number of businesses and
consumers are deploying them.
FRAM-BASED MCUS
30 Evolving Embedded Wireless Systemswith FRAM-Based MCUsTexas Instruments and element14 explore the unique features
FRAM offers embedded wireless network applications.
»
»
»
6
Up Front
8 Top Shelf
PRODUCT SHOWCASES
10 Test & Measurement
28 Wireless Sensors
32 Oscillators
32
Converters
COLUMNS
12 What Makes ItTick & Talk
26 No StringsAttached
36 Blog On
38 Brainstorm
FEATURES DEPARTMENTS
COVER STORY
14 The Natalia ProjectThe Civil Rights Defenders organization has introduced a wireless assault system
that protects human rights activists who are at risk.
INSIDE » MAY» JUN 2013» www.wirelessdesignmag.com
SENSORS • TIMING DEVICES • AMPLIFIERS• NFC
p. 10
p. 12
WIRELESS DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT®
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UP FRONT » BY MEAGHAN ZIEMBA » EDITOR
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REPRINTS: Nicole Goodermuth717-505-9701 x155
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VICE PRESIDENT/HUMAN RESOURCES, Susanne Foulds
EDITORIAL ADVISORY BOARD
MIKE CIVIELLO, Broadcom
FRANK DITORE, Agilent EEsof
DAVID DONOVAN, Bitwave Semiconductor, Inc.
ERIC HAKANSON, Anritsu
DAVID HALL, National Instruments JERRY KOLBE , Murata Electronics
GIAMPAOLO MARINO, Intersil Corporation
MARK VITELLARO, Richardson Electronics
JIM NORLI NG, JR., Freescale Semiconductor
JUSTIN PANZE R, Rohde & Schwarz, Inc.
KEVIN WALSH, RF Micro Devices
Irecently attended a concert in Madison, WI. I placed my phone in my back pocket
to avoid carrying a purse and to have it easily accessible when I wanted to update
my status and snap a few photos. Unfortunately, after a visit to the facilities and a
horrifying plop, I knew that I was in trouble.
I grabbed the phone as quickly as I could, and prematurely boasted of its super water-
proof design on Facebook before the seepage finally reached the circuits and permanently froze the screen with an image reminiscent of Hal9000 from 2001: A Space Odyssey .
I never thought losing my smartphone to the porcelain god would give me with-
drawals, but after speaking with the phone carrier, and receiving a brief lecture on
why not to charge your phone after it’s been submerged in toilet water, I
started to shake when I was informed that it would take about a week for
me to get a new phone and had no option for a loaner.
Anxiety kicked in on day two and I became very curt with everyone. Day
three I couldn’t concentrate on simple tasks, and I was quite fidgety by
the time day four rolled around. It amazed me how reliant I was on my
phone — from keeping track of my shopping lists and appointments, to
helping me get up in the morning. It even took me awhile to realize that
my paper map wasn’t going to tell me where to go… I actually had to read
the thing (a life skill everyone should have).
I felt lost and disconnected as I aimlessly roamed the streets and observed every-
one else absorbed in their sleek, mobile devices. Maybe that’s a bit of an exaggera-
tion, but it was hard. While I do appreciate how quickly everything and everyone
comes together through the advanced wireless technologies that are available, my no-
phone experience made me ask: Are we addicts?
Putting down a phone shouldn’t be comparable to quitting smoking. Would I have
had the same conniption when it first plopped in the toilet if my phone didn’t con-
tain my entire life on it? No. I wouldn’t have even stuck my hand in the water to save
it from drowning in a public bathroom toilet.
While wireless technologies continue to advance and communicating in different
environments becomes easier, in some cases it’s okay to just put down the phone and
unplug from the grid. It’s hard at first, but you’ll be surprised at what you’ve been
missing when you finally look up from the screen.
Smartphone Shakes
ADVERTISERS' INDEX
Agilent Technologies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
AR-RF/Microwave Instrumentation . . . . . . . . . 9
Boonton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27Components Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
CTS Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17, 33
Eclipse Microwave . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Fox Electronics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Freescale Semiconductor Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
IMS 2013 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Keystone Electronics Corp . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Krytar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Lansdale Semiconductor Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3Leader Tech. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
Memory Protection Devices Inc. . . . . . . . . 13, 26
Micro Lambda Wireless. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Microstrain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Mouser Electronics, Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1, 2
National Instruments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Nordic Semiconductor ASA. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Omniyig, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
Rigol Technologies, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35Rogers Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Saelig Co Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16, 21
Stanford Research Systems Inc . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Tadiran Electronic Industries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Temwell Corporation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Wireless Telecom Group, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Putting down
a phone
shouldn’t be
comparableto quitting
smoking.
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®
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8 MAY »JUN 2013»wirelessdesignmag.com
TOP SHELF » EDITOR'S CHOICE - MTTS PREVIEW
Cut Crystal TechnologyCTS Electronic Components (Elkhart, IN) has
announced the Model 148 oven controlledcrystal oscillator, which uses the unique SC cut
crystal technology to reduce power consumption
down to 0.23 W at +25°C. Features include:
Applicability in airborne and ground mobile,
wireless communications, broadband access,
•
Real-Time Spectrum Analysis
Agilent Technologies (Santa Clara, CA) is of-fering real-time spectrum analysis as an upgrad-
able option for new and existing PXA signal
analyzers. Features include:
Signal detection with 100% probability of
intercept with durations as short as 3.57 µs.
A frequency-mask trigger that identifies and
records suspect signals.
Lowest noise floor, which enables improved
probability of intercept.Scan wide spans of spectrum with 160 MHz real-
time bandwidth up to 50 GHz frequency range.
89600 VSA software that analyzes complex
signals.
www.agilent.com
•
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»
GaN-BasedAmplifier
Comtech Xicom Technology (Santa Clara,CA) has introduced an efficient GaN-based
amplifier for X-band MILSATCOM service. The
Model XTSLIN-100X-B1 features:
100 W of WGS linear power.
A compact, rugged 32-lbs. package.
A 6.8” x 10.5” x 17” footprint.
An integrated BUC, output isolator, and
harmonic filter.
www.xicomtech.com
•
•
•
•
»
test and measurement, WLAN/WiMax/Wi-Fi,
and portable equipment.
Durability up to 500 G of mechanical shock. A TO-8 vacuum package.
DIL-8 compatibility.
Up to 10 ppb from 0° to +70°C.
A phase noise as low as -166 dBc/Hz floor @
10 MHz.
Frequencies from 8 to 100 MHz.
www.ctscorp.com
••
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»
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rf/microwave instrumentation
Other ar divisions: modular rf U receiver systems U ar europe
USA 215-723-8181. For an applications engineer, call 800-933-8181.
*O&VSPQFDBMMBS6OJUFE,JOHEPNtBS'SBODFtBS(NC)tBS#FOFMVY
Copyright © 2013 AR. The orange stripe on AR products is Reg. U.S. Pat. & TM. Off.
www.arworld.us
ISO 9001:2008
Certified
/PXZPVDBOGJOBMMZQVSDIBTFUIFBNQMJGJFSQSPEVDUTZPVOFFEUPGVMGJMMZPVSXJEFCBOE&.$BOE
wireless applications in one amplifier. AR’s new amplifiers offer 15 to 50 watt Class A linear power versions
PWFSBOJOTUBOUBOFPVT#8GSPNUP()[XJUIWFSZMPXIBSNPOJDEJTUPSUJPOGPSZPVSEFNBOEJOHSFRVJSFNFOUT5IFTFVOJUTDBOCFESJWFOXJUIBTMJUUMFBTN8BOEQSPWJEFFYDFMMFOUGMBUOFTTBDSPTTUIF
PQFSBUJOHGSFRVFODZCBOEJOBEEJUJPOUPFYDFMMFOUOPJTFGJHVSF *GZPVMJLFUIFDPOWFOJFODFPGBSFNPUFJOUFSGBDFZPVMMCFHMBEUPLOPXUIBUJUDPNFTTUBOEBSEwith AR’s 1 o()[BNQMJGJFST0VSDPNQFUJUPSTDIBSHFFYUSB"OEEPOUGPSHFUUIBUBMM"3QSPEVDUT
BSFCBDLFECZBXPSMEXJEFTVQQPSUOFUXPSLUIBUTTFDPOEUPOPOF
If you don’t require a complete amplifier instrument,we can also supply our solid state 15 watt Class A and 25 watt
$MBTT"#NPEVMBSIZCSJEQPXFSBNQMJGJFSTPWFSUIFTBNFGSFRVFODZSBOHF
5IFTFIJHIHBJOVOJUTXPVMEBMTPCFTVJUBCMFGPS&8BQQMJDBUJPOT
To learn more, visit us at www.arworld.us or for technical support call 800-933-8181.www.arworld.us /1-6GHz
Come See Us at IMS 2013Pike Place Market, Seattle, Washington, June 4-6, Booth 1144
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Synchronous Hipot Test FunctionChroma Systems Solutions (Foothill Ranch, CA) has
announced the new 19020 Series Multichannel Hipot
tester. A new architecture enables it to measure Hipot
leakage current of all channels at the same time and con-duct tests on a maximum of 100 DUTs simultaneously,
increasing regulatory test efficiency and productivity.
Features include:
A synchronous Hipot test function that allows 1 single
unit to perform 10-channels sync output and measure-
ments at the same time.
A high-voltage discharge of up to 14 kV.
An I/O interface, which reports test results individually
and collectively simultaneously.
Memory recall for easy implementation in automatedenvironments.
Flashover detection and open/short check.
www.chromausa.com
•
•
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»
Handheld, Time Domain Reflectometer Megger (Norristown, PA) offers a handheld, time
domain reflectometer featuring:
A 2 ns pulse width that eliminates dead zones. An accuracy < 3’ from the point of connection.
Applicability in CATV/cellular, power, and telephony.
Auto set-up that determines the impedance of the cable
under test, sets the instrument accordingly, and selects
the optimum gain and pulse width chosen by the opera-
tor.
Dual cursors for pinpointing faults.
A unique trace ‘hold’ component used for comparison
between cables.
4 output impedances of 25, 50, 75, and 100 Ω.
A large, high-resolution backlit display.
A velocity factor between 0.20 and 0.99.
An IP54 rating.
www.megger.com
••
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»
Single-Box RF Test Capability Anritsu (Richardson, TX) has announced the Advanced
Carrier Aggregation (CA) Measurement Software for its
MT8820C RF Tester, enabling analysis of mobile devices
that incorporate the new ultra-fast technology evolution.
The new option features:
A multi-format of 2, 3, and 4 G/LTE.
Wireless device calibration.
RF parametric and functional testing, including call
processing or no-call based testing.
Support for LTE (FDD and TDD), W-CDMA/HSPA toDC-HSDPA, CDMA2K to single and multi-carrier 1xEV-
DO rel.A, GSM/(E)-GPRS, and TD-SCDMA/HSPA.
PPM technology.
www.anritsu.com
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»
Advanced, Economical Spectrum AnalyzerSaelig (Fairport, NY) has introduced the GA4063 Spectrum Analyzer,
an advanced, high-specification instrument for evaluating signals from
9 kHz to 3 GHz.
The GA4063 features:
An easy-to-use keypad and
soft-key layout.
A large 8.5” (800 x 480)
full-color widescreen TFT
LCD display.
A bandwidth resolution
from 1 Hz to 3 MHz in a
1/3/10 sequence.
A max input signal capa-
bility of +30 dBm.
A phase noise of -95 dBc/
Hz (offset 10 kHz).
A displayed average noise levelspecification of -130 dBm.
A footprint of 16”(W) x 8”(H) x 7”(D).
www.saelig.com
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»
Customizable Dashboards Averna (Canada) has released the 6.2 version of its
ProligentTest and Quality Management software, featuring:
A personalized environment that
incorporates new and
improved reports.
A landing page for quick
user help.
Customizable dashboards for
user-based report summaries.
Powerful report-sharing tools.
www.averna.com
•
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»
PRODUCT SHOWCASE » TEST & MEASUREMENT
10 MAY »JUN 2013 » wirelessdesignmag.com
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Elusive signals can hide,
but not for long.
Learn more: Measuring Agile Signals and
Dynamic Signal Environments app note
www.agilent.com/find/elusive-signals
Understand what’s happening in the most
signal-rich environments or systems. Detect
transients or interference, even small
signals in the presence of large ones. And
achieve the best probability of intercepting
signals – all with the real-time PXA signal
analyzer. Go after the most elusive signal
and know you’ve got it.
Real-Time Spectrum Ana yz
Industry-best POI: > 3.57μs
160 MHz BW across 50 GHz frequency range
Up to 75 dB of spurious-free dynamic range
License-key upgrade to Agilent N9030A
PXA signal analyzer
© Agilent Technologies, Inc. 2013 u.s. 1-800-829-4444 canada: 1-877-894-4414
WHAT MAKES IT TICK TALK?
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2.1, and FM capability. A Super AMOLED
is attached to the front glass, with a digi-
tizer that is a PET layer between the glass
and the display. Only the front glass panel
is curved, the rest of the components are
flat, just as any other phone on the market.
There’s also a small PCB on the back of
the display with an Atmel MXT224 touch-
screen controller on it.
A lot of the phone’s components aremodular, making them simpler to replace,
but more expensive as replacement parts.
The front panel is attached with an adhe-
sive instead of screws, so it’s harder to take
off than on the iPhone. If the front panel
glass gets shattered, the SAMOLED has to
be replaced as well because they’re fused
together.
Much like the Samsung Galaxy S, the
Nexus S features both a rear and front-fac-
ing camera that share the same connector
on the motherboard, and they can both
be removed as a singular unit. The front-facing VGA camera provides a resolution
of 640 x 480 pixels, while an EM-Tech
EME1511AFRC integrates the earpiece
speaker, loudspeaker for speakerphone and
media use, and a sensor bank.
The motherboard features:
Skyworks SKY77529 Tx Front-End
Module for dual-band GSM/GPRS/
EDGE.
SanDisk SDIN4C2 16 GB MLC NAND
flash.
Samsung KB100D00WM-A453 memory
package and S5PC110A01 1 GHz Cortex
A8 Hummingbird Processor.
Infineon 8824 XG616 X-Gold baseband
processor.
Wolfson Microelectronics WM8994
ultra-low power audio codec.
Hidden underneath an EMI cover isthe Broadcom Wi-Fi chip, which is a low-
power package with 802.11n, Bluetooth
•
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12 MAY »JUN 2013 » wirelessdesignmag.com
WHAT MAKES IT TICK & TALK?
www.ifixit.com
The Nexus S is a variation of the
Samsung Galaxy S, sporting more
or less the same hardware specifica-
tions as its brethren. Notable changes
to the Nexus S include NFC (Near Field
Communication) support and a Super
AMOLED Contour Display. Additional fea-
tures include:
1 GHz ARM Cortex-A8 Hummingbird
Multimedia Applications Processor
based on the ARMv7 architecture.
16 GB internal storage capacity.
512 MB total RAM.
5 MP rear-facing camera, and a VGA
(640 x 480) front-facing camera.
Android 2.3 (Gingerbread).
It’s not just an optical illusion – the
Nexus S is the first smartphone to featurea contour display, meaning the display
glass is slightly curved to be more comfort-
able for users. The back cover comes right
off providing a glimpse of the battery and
the NFC module on the back cover can be
peeled off with a plastic opening tool.
The 3.7 V, 5.55 W-hours lithium ion
cell is easy to remove, and provides up to
6.7 hours of talk time on a 3G network.
It is rated at 1,500 mAh, which is slightly
higher than the 1,400 mAh rating of the
Nexus One battery.
The design of the motherboard is
unique, because its inner perimeter enclos-
es the battery. We’ve seen oddly-shaped
PCBs before, but rarely do they have giant
holes in the middle of them. A plastic
opening tool helps separate the
SIM card reader from the rest of the motherboard.
The Nexus S is unlocked
right out of the box and
can be used with a Quad-
band (850, 900, 1,800, 1,900)
GSM carrier, and is Tri-band
HSPA (900, 2,100,
1,700) compatible,
and it does not
support the 850
and 1,900 MHz
HSPA frequency
bands required
for 3G mobile data.
•
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The Nexus S SmartphoneGoogle, in partnership with Samsung, has released its second official phone: The Nexus S.
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COVER STORY EMERGENCY TRACKING
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Meaghan Ziemba, Editor, WDD
»Project in the spring of 2013, which is a wire-less assault alarm system for human rightsdefenders. “We decided to name the project after Natalia Estemirova since she symbolizesthe important and courageous work that many human rights defenders in the North Caucasusregion continue to do,” explains Öholm.
OBSERVE, REACT, ENGAGE
The Natalia Project is based off of three
principles: observe, react, and engage. Those who sign up for the Natalia Project receivenotifications of distress signals sent by human rights defenders wearing a bracelet via their social networks. When an alarm istriggered it alerts local partners and the head-quarters of the Civil Rights Defenders, provid-ing the exact time and location of the assault.
Volunteers are able to get involved andreact once the signal reaches their social net- works. Depending on the situation, different suggestions for taking action will be present-ed by the Civil Rights Defenders. What makes
Back in 2009, human rights activ-ist, Natalia Estemirova, was foundmurdered as she was working on“extremely sensitive” cases of human
rights abuses in Chechnya during armedconflicts in the republic and the NorthCaucasus region.
Before her death, Estemirova documented
and reported on human rights violations; suchas forced disappearances, extrajudicial killings,and torture. “Unfortunately, [her] murder isnot the only example of how human rightsdefenders in Russia are being silenced,” saysPeter Öholm, Program Officer of the CivilRights Defenders – an independent expert organization in Stockholm that aims to defendpeople’s civil and political rights.
After Estemirova’s death, the Civil Rights
Defenders wondered what they could doas an organization to protect human rightsactivists at risk. Assaults were taking place
without anyone knowing about them, making it impossible to protect and help the victims. There was a need to enable victims to sendout distress signals when they were attacked.
Civil Rights Defenders launched the Natalia
The Natalia Pr ject
COVER STORY » EMERGENCY TRACKING
14 MAY »JUNE 2013 » wirelessdesignmag.com
The Civil Rights Defenders organization has introduced a wireless
assault system that protects human rights activists who are at risk.
EMERGENCY TRACKING » COVER STORY
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the Natalia Project unique isit enables the distress signal toreach everyone simultaneously,increasing the chance to save lives.
A LIFELINE BRACELET
The Natalia bracelet is made from poly-carbonate, rubber, and steel. It has to be
made durable in order to survive the violenceand brutality of an assault. Its purpose isto serve as a lifeline for the human rightsactivists that wear it. Distress signals aresent from the bracelet via Global Systemfor Communications (GSM) and GlobalPositioning System (GPS) chip + antennas.“GSM is used for communicating alarms andpositions using Short Message Service (SMS)and data via General Packet Radio Service
(GPRS),” says Öholm. “GSM triangulation [isused] as a back-up when GPS does not work?
The bracelet also contains an alarm trigger
advance, and prepare actions accordingly.”GSM was chosen to help keep the brace-
let activated in any location at any time.However, without mobile coverage thebracelet won’t work.
A WORLDWIDE CONNECTION
The Natalia Project helps create a world- wide connection by integrating a mobileapp, PFO Shield, which can be down-loaded for free on iTunes and Google Play.“Together with our technology partner, PFO Technologies, we are developing a new ver-sion of the app that will be released this year. The new app will enable more functionality for our users in the field,” says Öholm.
Anyone interested in the Natalia Project can sign up and participate in the messageexchanges, but Öholm emphasizes how theCivil Rights Defenders would like all peoplesigning up to be willing to take action if analarm is triggered by signing petitions, send-ing emails, and sharing information about thehuman rights defender who is under attack.
“If attackers know that people around the
world are following human rights activists,the likeliness of them attacking will decrease.Even though the project is not a completesecurity solution or guarantee for any humanrights defender, it is a very important comple-ment for many situations where it willincrease the security and safety,” says Öholm.
The knowledge that the world could knowabout such incidents is very powerful and it will contribute to a reduced level of threats.
The Natalia Project will also contribute to anincreased knowledge on some of the regionsand countries where human rights activists work, and shed some light on the serious violations that occur within them. WDD
EMERGENCY TRACKING » COVER STORY
MAY »JUN 2013 » wirelessdesignmag.com 15
sensor and a patented alarm activation andlocking mechanism. The sensor activates thealarm if the bracelet is removed by force. A human rights defender can also trigger analarm manually, which causes the bracelet tolock itself on their arm.
Once a distress signal is activated, a signalis sent via GPRS to the servers in Stockholm, where Civil Rights Defenders verify the alarm,and then decide what information should
be shared and posted on different platformssuch as Twitter and Facebook. “The verifica-tion of an alarm is crucial from a security per-spective,” says Öholm. “The police will not benotified by default since in many cases, themost serious threats towards human rightsactivists, comes from the government agen-cies and law enforcement.”
PROTOCOLS & SPECIFICATIONS
Due to the different environments andcharacteristics of each situation that activ-ists are involved in, each bracelet comesequipped with an individual protocol for security.
“Each bearer of the alarm is unique inthe sense that they all work in different environments and the possible threats look different,” explains Öholm. “In some cases,
the most appropriate action might be to callthe local chief of police, but in other casesthis could be counter-productive. Our task is to try to determine as many possible sce-narios and relevant factors for each bearer in
Above: GPS and GSM technology work together to inform the
world exactly when and where a person is attacked. Above
right: The bracelet has been developed to make sure it works
with ease – even in the most demanding situations
INDUSTRY TRENDS » RF AMPLIFIERS
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The survey results make sense since output power varies with fre-
quency in any amplifier. The degree to which it varies allows certain
flexibility in specifying outputs, therefore determining the extent of
the amplifier’s intended use.
CHALLENGES WITH INTEGRATING RF AMPLIFIERS
Designers are faced with various challenges when integrating RF
amplifiers into wireless infrastructures. New and innovative tech-
niques and materials are needed to reduce cost, while at the same
time maintain the performance.
Fifty percent WDD readers agreed that power consumption was a
huge challenged that they faced during the design process of amplifi-
ers. Others stated the following:
Bandwidth constraints: 39 percent.Cost controls & signal strength: 31 percent.
Parameter variations: 26 percent.
Area layout/environmental factors: 22 percent.
A small percentage cited that EMI/EMC and MTBF (Mean Time
Between Failure) were their major challenges that they faced during
the design process, but as the amount of bandwidth continues to
become limited, it’s apparent why power consumption, cost controls,
and signal strength are at the top.
DESIGN OBSTACLES
WDD readers identified the usual challenges associated with
design when asked about the primary design obstacles for RF ampli-
fiers. Energy efficiency and sustainability (46 percent) led the way
with cost (33 percent) not trailing too far behind. Time-to-Market
••
•
•
Meaghan Ziemba, Editor, WDD»
Power Consumption Drives RFAmplifier DevelopmentWDD readers identify the key obstacles and prominent security issues for RF amplifiers.
INDUSTRY TRENDS » RF AMPLIFIERS
The demand for wire-
less technologies con-
tinues to increase at
rapid speeds, making
RF power amplifiers a crucial
component in wireless infrastruc-
ture equipment. Feedback from
Wireless Design and Development's
(WDD) readers suggests how power
consumption, energy efficiency, and
sustainability are important drivers inbase station design for RF amplifiers.
PERFORMANCE
When it comes to implementing RF amplifiers into Machine-to-
Machine (M2M) technologies, most respondents agreed that operat-
ing frequency (36 percent) was the primary performance specifica-
tion to consider. Other respondents offered the following insight:
24 percent believed output power was important to consider.
16 percent cited gain flatness.
10 percent identified design gain.
7 percent thought supply voltage was important.
7 percent suggested noise.
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16 MAY »JUNE 2013 » wirelessdesignmag.com
Photo Credits: MILMEGA, TriQuint,
and EMpower.
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INDUSTRY TRENDS »RF AMPLIFIERS
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18 MAY »JUN 2013 » wirelessdesignmag.com
(14 percent) was the third primary obstacle
with security (4 percent) identified as the least
concerning obstacle.
SECURITY
Although security wasn’t identified as
a prominent design challenge, WDD
readers did site some security issues
with RF amplifiers. Some of their indi-
vidual responses included:
Hacking.
Signal interference.
Reliability and robustness.Signal leakage.
Bandwidth limitations when incorporating
security algorithms.
Encryption.
TRENDS
While efficiency, physical size, linearity, and reliability are among the
key principle concerns for RF amplifier design, 39 percent of WDD’s read-
ers stated that power consumption will play the most significant role in
the future development of RF amplifiers. Others responded as follows:
•
•
••
•
•
Wireless communication standards: 21
percent.
Data transfer speeds: 19 percent.
New network protocols: 9 percent.
Security: 7 percent.
Network size: 3 percent.
Other WDD readers provided idividual respons-
es concerning future developments, which are as
follows:
“Wireless standards largely determine the proto-
cols, power consumption, and network speeds.” “So many electrical/electronic gadgets are being
continuously developed, and all require power.”
“Battery efficiency and longer battery life will be para-
mount.”
“With power being at the premium and many components
competing for power, there are trade-offs between the power to the
amplifier, versus other functions.”
“Security in terms of SNR, meaning the signal gets through, and in
terms of interference rejection (i.e., preventing signal corruption,
counterfeiting, etc.).” WDD
•
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INDUSTRY TRENDS »RF AMPLIFIERS
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The FS730/1 10 MHz distribution ampli⇒er uses an
input limiter design, which removes amplitude
modulation from the signal, provides ⇒xed amplitude
outputs and blocks input noise. Virtually any 10 MHz
waveform with a duty cycle near 50% may be used as
an input.
Select LNAs are various LNA package configurations. Photo Credit: Skyworks.
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TECHNOLOGY FEATURE » ENCLOSURES
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During its initial year of installation in a part of the Asia-Pacific
region where storms, high winds and dramatic changes in
temperature are common, this ruggedized wireless router was
found to have water leaking into the enclosure, causing corro-sion and performance issues with the electronic components
inside. Photo Credit: Gore Demand for wireless communications
has created an increase in telecom-
munications equipment, as well as a
need for advanced, high-quality infra-
structure to help prevent product failure,
especially in hash environments.
Outdoor telecommunication devices
experience severe weather and daily temper-
ature fluctuations, causing strong pressure
differentials inside the equipment, which
can stress and damage housing seals, allow-ing leaks to occur. These leaks can result in
equipment failure and costly repairs, making
it crucial for telecommunications equip-
ment to survive environmental exposure and
maintain operational integrity.
PROTECTIVE VENTING
All electronics enclosures used outdoors for
telecom infrastructure, such as base stations,
small cells, and wireless routers, are subject to
temperature fluctuations, wind, precipitation,
and solar radiation, which can compromise
device performance. W.L. Gore & Associates
(Gore) offers a portfolio of protective venting
products that equalize pressure in telecom-munications equipment.
“Each of our protective vents consists of a
polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane,
which allows the exchange of air while block-
Meaghan Ziemba, Editor, WDD»
Protection Against the ElementsGORE Protective Vents provide a barrier from dust, dirt, and water ingress while still allowing telecommunications equipment to breathe within changing environmental conditions.
ENCLOSURES» TECHNOLOGY FEATURE
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TELECOMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURE
The migration of networks to 4G technolo-
gies marks the most challenging and expensive
upgrade in the telecommunication industry.
The increased use of small cell technology
means that telecommunication infrastructure
and its electronics are becoming more sophis-
ticated and complex. Components are being
installed everywhere from telephone poles andbuilding eaves in metropolitan areas to remote
towers in the countryside.
“This is an exciting time for our outdoor
telecommunication venting products,” says
Zambotti. “Due to these trends, the physi-
cal amount of waterproof enclosures that
are going to be deployed in the next three
years wil l continue to grow at exponent ial
rates. Our focus over the past couple of
years, and our c urrent focus, remains on
helping manufacturers meet these market
demands for reliable protection of telecom-
munication devices.” WDD
ing out liquid, dust, and dirt,” explains Jason
Zambotti, product specialist for Gore.
LONG-TERM RELIABILITY
A key contributor to a prolonged life
and performance in wireless applications is
maintaining equalized pressure. “Many engi-
neers believe that a completely sealed out-
door enclosure with rugged gaskets and seals
is the ideal solution for ensuring long-term
reliability,” explains Zambotti. “The problem
with well-sealed enclosures is an open-air
volume inside, which expands or contractsbased on the change in temperature, creating
stress on the housing’s seals.”
With a vent solution that includes a hole
in the outdoor enclosure, pressure is equal-
ized, water intrusion is prevented, and dirt
and dust contaminants are kept out, helping
to maintain the integrity of the enclosure for
a long time.
Zambotti explains how Gore prefers to col-
laborate with customers early in the design
phase so they can help create the optimum
venting solution that is guaranteed to provide
long-term reliability. “We [like] to collaborate
with our customers to understand the environ-
ment in which the device will be used. This
includes the temperature cycles the device will
experience, the outdoor environmental condi-
tions the device will be subjected to, and the
internal volume of the enclosure.”
Understanding the physical design of the
outdoor enclosure also helps determine a par-
ticular vent type, size, and integration option,
which the customer can test in their applica-
tion, ensuring optimum life and performance.
This GORE Protective Vent was selected to maintain equalized
pressure inside the router’s enclosure without creating a path
for water and other contaminants to enter. Photo Credit: Gore
TECHNOLOGY FEATURE » MACHINE-TO-MACHINE
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Ashish Sharma, CMO of FreeWave
Technologies
»
The first Machine-to-Machine (M2M)
applications can be traced back to
World War II, and the ability to have
machines “talk” to each other (via data
communication networks) is essential for
monitoring and controlling assets within
homes, businesses, and even critical nationalinfrastructure projects of today.
As the automation of manual processes
through M2M data communication technol-
ogies continues to grow in both popularity
and necessity, decision makers will have an
opportunity to select from a variety of tech-
nical options available to the marketplace.
BENEFITS
M2M data communication technologies
offer a variety of potential benefits, under-
scoring why an increasing number of busi-
nesses and consumers are either currently
deploying them, or anticipate using them in
the future. The benefits gained from M2M
data communication technologies vary based
on the application served, but in general, the
overall benefits that can be achieved throughthese solutions include:
Leveraging resources in a valuable way.
Mitigating or responding to issues via
enhanced monitoring capabilities.
Achieving greater efficiencies and, there-
fore, enhancing productivity.
Increasing data consumption and support-
•
•
•
•
ing analysis key operational factors.
Diminishing the impact on the environ-
ment via monitoring/control across large
geographic regions.
Aiding the development of increased
safety and security measures.
Securing greater adherence to regulatory
and compliance factors.
Improving product quality and organiza-
tional innovation. While it is important to highlight the
general benefits of integrating M2M data
communications, an individual or business
can’t realize them unless the solutions are
integrated into their existing systems or net-
works. Decision makers need to review the
following factors that will help them define
which type of M2M data communication
technology is more appropriate for their individual situations:
Reliability.
Throughput.
Security.
Flexibility/compatibility.
Ease of installation.
Cost.
Businesses must also consider the specific
data communication technology that serves
M2M applications when looking at theabove success factors:
Unlicensed spectrum wireless data radio
technology.
Licensed spectrum wireless data radio
technology.
Cellular technology.
Satellite technology.
Wired technology or Ethernet.
Traditional Wi-Fi or off-the-shelf wirelessnetworking technology.
ZigBee.
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
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•
M2M: A Growing Need for Reliable,Secure Data Communications As the automation of manual processes through M2M data communication technologiescontinues to grow, decision makers will have an opportunity to select from a variety of technical options available to the marketplace.
22 MAY »JUN 2013 » wirelessdesignmag.com
Remote monitoring application with wireless data commu-
nications. Photo Credit: FreeWave Technologies
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TECHNOLOGY FEATURE » MACHINE-TO-MACHINE
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Industrial M2M application leveraging everything from sen-
sors to communication technology. Photo Credit: FreeWaveTechnologies
24 MAY »JUN 2013 » wirelessdesignmag.com
CHOOSING THE RIGHT TECHNOLOGY
Each of the above technologies has positive
and negative attributes, but end users must
realize that certain technologies are more effec-
tive than others in particular applications.
Users should analyze the communication
requirements for each M2M application by the
characteristics of the technology that are most
relevant for operational success; for example,
users would benefit from employing a more
cost-effective technology if there aren’t any
mandatory requirements for high security levels
or operational reliability, such as a home or
mobile Internet connection.
It would make sense to invest in a proven,
reliable, and secure technology if the applica-
tion supported a critical societal function, such
as managing an emergency shut-off valve in a
public utility application.
Most of M2M data communication tech-
nologies discussed in this article are wireless
solutions. Interestingly, over the past several
years, especially with the emergence of M2M
technology, wireless communication has beenperceived to have security concerns, lack high
throughput, and cause serious reliability issues.
While these negative connotations may be true
for some technologies, there are many proven
wireless solutions that have operated reliably in
mission-critical situations and in the harshest
environments.
It’s important for decision makers to review
all of the available technologies and analyze
what is needed to drive their own operational
success. According to independent research
firms, there are going to be hundreds of bil-
lions of wireless M2M connections worldwide
in the forthcoming years.* Therefore, it is very
likely that a wireless solution will be the data
communication technology of choice.
In addition, people and companies will
continue to have a large appetite for data and
knowledge, and therefore will demand moreof it at a faster rate. This idea, in conjunction
with increasing security standards and lower-
ing the power consumption required to run
wireless communication devices, will continue
to be key drivers of demand and innovation.
Therefore, more sophisticated ways of operat-
ing machines – specifically with M2M data
communications – will continue to emerge in
the wireless world. WDD
*Ryberg, Tobias. “The Global Wireless M2M
Market” Berg Insights’ M2M Research Series
2010 (http://www.berginsight.com/ReportPDF/
ProductSheet/bi-globalm2m4-ps.pdf)
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Glasses Free 3DEric Sorensen, Coordinator of
Multimedia Development
In this episode of ECN’s Engineering Update,
Jeff and Melissa talk about mobile 3D
technology that doesn’t require the glasses.
Called the EyeFly, this new screen protector from Nanovue gives
mobile devices a glasses-free 3D display. Made out of a thin, trans-
parent film, the nano-engineered EyeFly is essentially a piece of plastic film with thousands of finite lenses on the surface that use
nano-imprinting technology.
Watch the full video at http://bit.ly/ZAdVOc.
»
»
26 MAY »JUN 2013 » wirelessdesignmag.com
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Video Updates, News Exclusives and More…Highlighting the latest wireless technology, components, and design issues.
Glasses that Read to the BlindLaboratory Equipment, Florida
International University
A unique pair of eyeglasses, developed by
a Florida International University student
team, could revolutionize the lives of the
blind, enabling them to walk into a library or a store, pick up any
book or a can of soup and read it. The Eyetalk concept, initially con-
ceived for a student competition in social entrepreneurship, has beenhailed by venture investors as a potentially breakthrough product that
could make a difference for disabled people worldwide. By using a
pair of eyeglasses and lightweight components, Eyetalk will allow a
blind user to access printed material while walking around a store or
library.
Watch the full video at http://bit.ly/Z8DDJy.
»
»Numi, the King of ToiletsEric Sorensen, Coordinator of
Multimedia Development
In this episode of WDD’s HotSpot , Meaghan
talks about the feature-packed toilet, Numi.
Fit for a king, this porcelain throne, designed by Kohler, features a
Bluetooth receiver that allows users to directly stream their music
from a smartphone. It also has an SD card and slot for users to
create playlists or program personalized greetings... Because who
wouldn’t want to be greeted by their toilet before they sit down?
The toilet also comes with a touchscreen remote, a magnetic dock-
ing station, auxiliary controls, and Numi flush technology, which
delivers unprecedented water savings and power.
Watch the full video at http://bit.ly/15V0BId.
»
»
Txtng is killing language. JK John McWhorter, Ted Talk
Does texting mean the death of good writ-
ing skills? John McWhorter posits that there’s
much more to texting than it seems. Linguist
John McWhorter thinks about language in
relation to race, politics, and our shared cultural history. In recent
work, he’s been urging grammarians to think of email and text messag-
es not as the scourge of the English language but as “fingered speech,”
a new form between writing and talking. These digital missives, despite
their “shaggy construction,” represent an exciting new form of commu-
nication in which “lol” and “hey” are particles, and written thoughts
can be shared at the speed of talking.
Watch the full video at http://bit.ly/1044q6p
»
»
BodyCom TechnologyMicrochip Technology
Microchip Technology has announced
its BodyCom technology, which provides
designers with the world’s first framework
for using the human body as a secure
communication channel. Compared to existing wireless methods,
BodyCom technology provides lower energy consumption, while
further increasing security via bidirectional authentication.
Watch the full video at http://bit.ly/10ZoEoo.
»
»
Engineering Newswire 36:Electric Car Charge TimeCut in Half
Eric Sorensen, Coordinator of
Multimedia Development
In this episode of Engineering Newswire, David Mantey talks about
a really fast, electrifying motorcycle; Chris Fox discusses bendablesmartphones that look more as if they should be in the movie The
Matrix; and Meaghan Ziemba talks about cutting recharge times for
electric vehicles in half, and a screw propelled snowboard for the
less adrenaline inclined.
Watch the full video at http://bit.ly/15coJ9y
»
»
Missing a Pulse Can Be Deadly.
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Missing a Pulse Can Be Deadly.
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PRODUCT SHOWCASE » WIRELESS SENSORS
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28 MAY »JUN 2013 » wirelessdesignmag.com
Call 800.449.3878 or visit us online at www.microstrain.com
Wireless Simplicity
Hardwired ReliabilityLORD’s End-to-End LXRS® Wireless Sensing Systemt -PTTMFTTXJSFMFTTDPNNVOJDBUJPO
t &YUFOEFESBOHFSBEJPMJOLUPLN
t $POUJOVPVTCVSTUBOEIZCSJETBNQMJOHNPEFT
t 5JNFTZODISPOJ[FEUPNJDSPTFDPOET
t 4FOTPS$MPVEFOBCMFESFNPUFNPOJUPSJOH
20
30
40
10
0
mm
Low Power ConsumptionOsram Opto
Semiconductors
(Sunnyvale, CA) has
expanded its portfo-
lio of proximity and
ambient light sensors
with a new, powerful
version with low power
consumption. The compact SFH 7776 digi-
tal sensor registers the ambient brightnessand prevents unintentional responses from
the touchscreen during telephone calls. This
makes it easier for smartphone designers to
control the backlighting and touch functions
of displays. Features include:
An infrared LED (IRED) and 2 detectors to
perform 2 different functions.
A working range of up to 16 cm.
A height of 1.35 mm.
www.osram-os.com
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Wider Detection AngleCarlo Gavazzi (Buffalo Grove,
IL) has announced the
latest addition to
PA18 Series photo-
electric sensors in a
M18 housing. ThePA18CAD WS Series
features:
A wider detection angle and
shorter blind zone.
A sensing distance of up to 400 mm.
A detection angle of ± 16°.
A blind zone of 0 mm @ 400 mm sensing
distance.
A power supply of 10 to 30 VDC.
Up to 100 mA DC load current.
A detecting frequency up to 500 imp/sec.
Yellow and green LED indication for power,
signal, output, and safe detection.
www.gavazzionline.com
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Autonoumous 3G SensorsLibelium (Spain) has released a new generation
of autonomous 3G sensors equipped with video
cameras that enable the development of new
security, surveillance, and military applications
on Waspmote, the wireless sensor network plat-
form for the Internet of Things. Features include:
A 3G-communication module that uses high-
speed W-CDMA and HSPA mobile networks.
•
A speed rate of 5.5 Mbps.
22 high-power infrared LEDs that allow night
vision mode.
Internal GPS that combines standard NMEA
frames with mobile cell ID triangulation. A Waspmote node that uses HTTPS and FTPS
(secure mode) Web server transmission to
ensure max privacy.
An internal SD card holder that is useable to
32 GB.
www.libelium.com
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40The battery is
7/29/2019 Wireless Design & Development - May-June 2013
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TECHNOLOGY FEATURE » FRAM-BASED MCUS
7/29/2019 Wireless Design & Development - May-June 2013
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Jacob Borgeson, Texas Instruments, and
David Adams, Newark element14
»
Embedded wireless networks are one
of the fastest growing applications,
outpacing the overall semiconductor
industry, due to the rapid uptake of
embedded wireless communication in the
form of smartphones and portable medical
devices. Embedded wireless networks are
also found in automobiles, enabling smarter
safety features, better engine performancemanagement, and as networked infotain-
ment devices. Future innovation and growth
of embedded wireless networks will come
from smart buildings, smart grids, and the
Internet-of-Things.
Despite the current growth, the full
potential of embedded wireless systems has
not yet been realized as some fundamental
design problems remain unsolved. Thesechallenges are due to limitations in battery
solutions, varying memory requirements,
wireless security, and reliability. A recent revolutionary change in memory
technology, highlighted by the release of
embedded Ferroelectric Random Access
Memory (FRAM), offers developers the best
option to tackle these design obstacles. The
embedded wireless network application
employs distributed rather than centralized
processing — a technical evolution central to
reducing power consumption.
WHAT IS FRAM?
FRAM, like DRAM (Dynamic Random
Access Memory), allows random access to
each individual bit — for both read and
write — and offers considerable advantages
over other standalone memory devices.
Unlike EEPROM or Flash memory, FRAM
does not require a charge pump, special
sequence to write data, or a higher program-ming voltage. FRAM is non-volatile, there-
fore data is not lost when
power is removed, offering
more flexibility. All of this
combines to decrease power
consumption by 250 times
per bit when compared to
other types of Flash, without
wearing out.
Though stand-aloneFRAM has been available
in the market, its adoption
has been limited to general
usage in memory storage
devices. The recent coupling
of FRAM with MCUs has
allowed memory to gradu-
ate to the next generation of
broad applications. Throughintegrated MCUs, full real-
ization and utilization of the
unique memory features in
FRAM (universal memory,
low-power access, flexibility, high endurance,
and reliability) have been missing till now.
BENEFITS OF EMBEDDED FRAM
Ultra-low-power read/write with increased
throughput.
True unified memory – configurable as
Flash or RAM.
Industry-leading read/write speeds.
Virtually unlimited write endurance –1015
cycles.
Inherently robust and radiation-resistant.
FREEDOM TO DESIGN
Wireless communication is characterized
by the design freedom it offers in terms of
radio parameters, network specifications,
and various other protocol-specific require-
ments. Memory allocation can impact the
ability to support multiple standards within
the same product when one designs to thespecific needs of different wireless applica-
tions.
For protocols that are standardized and
regulated by governing bodies, as is the
case for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or Near Field
Communication (NFC), the implementa-
tions for the same protocol could vary in
memory requirements depending on the fea-
tures present on the chosen MCU platform.
Program space and data space require-ments can make a specific MCU unusable in
wireless networking applications. Using tra-
ditional flash-memory-based MCUs means
that the development effort is limited to a
few device and memory configurations. The
choice of MCU is often restricted due to the
program and data space requirements of the
desired network protocol. These limitations
can often force the designer into a moreexpensive device, just to get more on-chip
RAM or Flash memory. Such an approach is
not robust against any major code change
that changes memory allocation.
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Evolving Embedded Wireless Systemswith FRAM-Based MCUs Texas Instruments and Newark element14 explore the design challenges and unique featuresFRAM offers as a memory alternative for embedded wireless network applications.
30 MAY »JUN 2013 » wirelessdesignmag.com
Integrate FRAM within existing wireless networks for increased per formance and ultra-low power
consumption. Photo Credit: Texas Instruments
FRAM-BASED MCUS » TECHNOLOGY FEATURE
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FRAM can function both as storage for
program space and RAM for the data space
requirements, providing greater flexibil-
ity and easier memory allocation to suit the application’s requirements. Multiple
networking protocols that were adversely
affected by memory allocation can now be
implemented in the same device, and this
device can be the most cost effective variant.
This is of particular interest when looking
at the smart grid or smart appliances that
will interact within smart buildings in the
near-future, and that will need to operate inmany different embedded wireless environ-
ments.
BETTER SMART BUILDINGS & GRIDS
The idea behind the smart grid is to use
wireless technology to track electricity use
and provide this information to both users
and utility companies with an eye toward
more efficient delivery and consumption. As
the digitally-enhanced smart grid expands,demand for the ability to wirelessly move
data between smart appliances and interfac-
es at very low power will inevitably grow.
The open-nature of wireless communica-
tion makes it vulnerable to security threats.
A key design challenge is ensuring that the
smart grid notes are secure and resilient
against attacks. For this to be possible, it is
essential that designers and utilities respondin real-time with bug fixes done over the
network. Features such as secure-write,
high endurance, and ultra-low power con-
sumption make FRAM an ideal choice for
enabling security patches and advanced fea-
tures for smart grids.
FRAM also valuable reduces the system’s
complexity and bill of materials; for
instance, many of today’s designs include a
separate non-volatile memory (either FRAMor EEPROM), which can be implemented
inside an integrated MCU with FRAM
(like the MSP430FR57xx series from Texas
Instruments), and with lower overall system
power consumption.
A lot of inherent physical features of
FRAM make it favorable for secure applica-
tions. With high-write endurance, encryption
operations can take place for the foreseeablelife of the product without memory write
failures occurring. The low-power and fast
writes make it difficult to hook up a probe
to a chip and sense any of the data, and
impossible to open up the chip to read each
molecule of FRAM to decode the memory
contents. A smart building would be more
secure, both from physical hacking, as wellas attempts at wireless access to the system
data.
With a lower power memory, these
designs can be self-contained and sealed
MAY »JUN 2013 » wirelessdesignmag.com 31
for the life of the product. A wide variety of
nodes would either need no maintenance or
a very simple replacement of the entire node
— instead of a more tedious battery replace-ment. This helps reduce the overall lifetime
cost of a smart building system, while also
making it more robust to different environ-
mental conditions. WDD
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PRODUCT SHOWCASE » OSCILLATORS
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32 MAY »JUN 2013 » wirelessdesignmag.com
• Lower cost than you're paying now (much lower...call for a quote!)
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Electrical TuningZ-Communications (Poway, CA) has introduced the
DRO Series of high-performance oscillators, which meet
the demands of up/down converter systems that require
a ultra-low phase noise LO solution. The series uses
high-Q dielectric resonators and is available in 8 to 12
GHz. Additional features include:
An electrical tuning option that operates @ 10 GHz
and provides ±3 MHz of frequency control.
A control range from 0 to 12 VDC that provides ultra-
fine tuning precision.
A 5 VDC power bias that draws 20 mA.
A surface mount package that measures 0.91” x 0.91” x
0.40”.
A metal enclosure that measures 1.25” x 1.25” x 0.85”.
A 0±3 dBm of output power into a 50 Ω load. An operating temperature range from 40° to 85°C.
www.zcomm.com
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Reduced Height Profile OptionNEL Frequency Controls (Burlington, WI) has announced a new height profile option for
its ultra-low phase noise OCXO at 100 MHz. The O-CIH-X Series is now available with a 0.4’’
height profile in addition to the 0.5” original model. Additional features include:
A close-in phase noise of -105 and -178 dBc/Hz.
An SC-cut crystal and a frequency range from 80 to 120 MHz.
Stabilities from ±50 ppb with temperatures of -40° to 75° C.
A Sine wave of +17 dBm output.
Availability in 5 and 12 V versions.
www.nelfc.com
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Frequency VS Temperature Performance
RFMW (San Jose, CA) has provided design support for a new Double Oven CrystalControlled Oscillator from Bliley Technologies (San Jose, CA), developed for critical
applications were exceptional frequency vs. temperature performance is required. The
N6B series features:
A stability rating @ ±0.4 ppb.
An operating temperature range from -20° to +70°C.
2 variations: N6B-ABA-D1A-10M and N6B-ABA-D1B-10M.
A sine wave output of +5 dBm (typ.) into 50 Ω.
A +5 VDC supply.
A phase noise @ 10 KHz.
An offset of -150 dBc/Hz.
www.rfmw.com
www.bliley.com
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ADVERTISEMENT
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PRODUCT SHOWCASE » CONVERTERS
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34 MAY »JUN 2013 » wirelessdesignmag.com
150 W Isolated DC-DCConverterMurata (Mansfield, MA) has
announced its PAQ series of 150
W isolated DC-DC converters.
Packaged as an industry standard,
open-frame, quarter brick module
with through-hole mounting, the
converter features:
A 2:1 input range of 36 to 75
VDC.
A nominal 48 VDC input.
A single 29.8 VDC nominal out-put, which can be trimmed from
23.83 (-20%) to 32.78 (+10%)
VDC.
Up to 92.5% efficiency.
Up to 5 A of output current from
the fully regulated output.
An optional baseplate for use in conduction-cooled designs.
Output over-voltage, over-current protection, input under voltage, and over temperature shutdown.
A remote on/off control option that offers negative or positive logic input.
Input/output isolation, which is provided by 2,250 VDC basic insulation.
Applicability in telecommunications infrastructures, CATV systems, satellite communications, RF test,
and MRI imaging equipment.
www.murata-ps.com
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Under-Voltage Lockout XP Power (Sunnyvale, CA) has announced the
JCA10 series of single- and dual-output 10 W
metal cased DC-DC converters that feature:
Availability in 2, 3, 4, 6, and 10 W models.
A packaging that measures 1" x 0.8" x 0.4".
A 2:1 input range.
4 nominal input voltages of 5, 12, 24, and 48
VDC.
Inputs of 4.5 to 9.0 VDC, 9 to 18 VDC, 18 to
36 VDC, or 36 to 75 VDC.
Under-voltage lockout. An output isolation rating of 1,500 VDC.
An operating temperature range from -40° to
+100°C.
www.xppower.com
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DIN-Rail Mount Boost Converter WAGO’s (Germantown, WI) 2.5 A DC-DC Boost
Converter supports “disconnected” mobile and
remote I/O applications by enabling a 12 V battery
to drive 24 V controls. The DIN-rail mount DC-DC
Boost Converter withstands high-vibrations and
constant on/off cycles. Additional features include:
An operating temperature range from -40° to
+70°C.
A input range of 8 to 16 VDC.
A prominent heat sink to help maintain proper control panel temperatures.
A power-on LED.
Fused output, short circuit protection.
www.wago.us
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It's time to rethink EMC
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Now get a Spectrum Analyzerat oscilloscope prices
It's time to rethink your lab setup - because
until now there's never been a spectrum
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Analyzer covers a frequency range of 9kHz to 1.5 GHz and features a compact
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it ideal for benchtop or field apps in RF
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Measure smaller signals with our digital
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Before your next compliance test,check out the DSA815... save one tripto the compliance lab and it pays for itself!
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» wirelessdesignmag.com
Ultra-High Speed GaN Switch Arkansas Power Electronics (Fayetteville, AR)
and GaN Systems (Canada) have announced
the test results for a gallium nitride power
switch-based DC-DC boost converter. The con-
verter :
Achieves a 1 MHz switching capability.
Demonstrates more than 98.5% efficiency @5 kW output power.
Demonstrates turn-on and turn-off transi-
tions of only 8.25 and 3.72 ns.
www.apei.net
www.gansystems.com
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Ultra-Low Quiescent SupplyCurrent
Advanced Power
Electronics (San
Jose, CA) has
announced the
APE2902, a high-
efficiency, VFM
step-up DC-DC
converter for small, low-input voltage or bat-
tery powered systems with ultra-low quiescent
supply current. Devices can operate from apositive input voltage between the start-up
voltage and VOUT, and convert it to a higher
output voltage. Features include:
An adjustable voltage in 0.1 V steps.
An output voltage range from 2.5 to 5 V with
an accuracy of ±5%.
A quiescent supply current of 22 µA.
A high switching frequency.
A limited, internal peak inductor current.
A max shutdown current that is lower than
1 µA.
An output current up to 100 mA.
www.a-powerusa.com
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BLOG ON
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36 MAY »JUN 2013 » wirelessdesignmag.com
Wire Less, Write More… A sampling of online blogs written by our industry's own design engineers and business leaders.
The Feminine Pad (A Tablet forWomen)
Melissa Fassbender, Associate Editor, PD&D
The ePad was released in October of last year
but received a marketing push this Valentine’s Day,
because well, what’s more romantic than receiving
a tablet that helps you lose weight, cook, and track your periods.
Now, it is very likely that these are the apps that a woman would
want on their tablet (I myself have a calorie tracker… that I never
use) but the issue lies in the fact that the Femme Tablet is telling
women that these are the things they should be concerned about,
and it is assuming that women are not capable of using a “regular”
tablet. Heck, my 84 year old grandfather owns an iPad and he has
trouble using his television at times, but his iPad did not come pre-loaded with an AARP app.
Read the full article at http://bit.ly/YnkB3r
»
»
Looking Forward on Ethernet’s40th Anniversary
John D’Ambrosia, Chairman and Board of Directors, Ethernet Alliance Chief Ethernet
Evangelist, CTO Office, Dell
Ethernet this year is celebrating its 40th anniversary, and anni-
versaries are typically the time to celebrate the past. But with so
much innovation and development percolating across the global
Ethernet ecosystem, there is little time for the technology’s vast
array of stakeholders to look back on its successes. Ethernet’s ongo-
ing expansion is the almost singular focus. Many new projects are
underway across the Ethernet ecosystem, including development
of a host of new access projects, new 100 Gb/s solutions, and new
automotive and industrial applications.
Read the full article at http://bit.ly/12X8oB6
»
»
Stores are Tracking Your Every MoveKasey Panetta, Editor, ECN
When you walk into a store, you basically expect
that you’re going to be recorded on a security video
and surreptitiously watched by sales associates lest
you decide to steal anything. But did you ever stop
to think what information the store is gleaning from your cell?
Nomi, a small startup company, is providing stores with a piece of
code that can be installed to allow wireless routers to pull “non-
invasive information” from shopper’s cell phones. The informa-
tion is supposed to be non-personal and anonymous, but it still
seems a tad shady.
Read the full article at http://bit.ly/18r4Nfn
»
»
How to Avoid the Cost andSecurity Pitfalls of M2M
Dan Rudich, Senior Vice President, Tangoe
Over the last few years, there has been and explo-
sive growth in the adoption of Machine-to-Machine(M2M) technology — the technology that enables automated
wired or wireless communication between mechanical or electronic
devices. Predictions state there will be more than 850 million M2M
connections by 2016. The rapid increase in M2M is creating new
opportunities and providing a huge return on investment across
various industries; for example, many vending machine manufactur-
ers deploy M2M functionality in their vending services to monitor
when the machines need to be restocked, or to report daily sales
and consumer demand statistics. In the automotive industry, M2M
solutions are integrated into cars to alert the driver when mainte-
nance is required. In healthcare, M2M devices can improve patient
care and reduce hospitals’ costs through remote monitoring.
Read the full article at http://bit.ly/104heK6
»
»
Taking the B.S. Out of Bill Shock Martin Morgan, Marketing Manager, Openet
It seems that everywhere you look, there’s astory of a wireless subscriber opening up his or her
monthly mobile bill and seeing numbers that would
make most people’s jaws drop. This is the case of bill
shock, the unwanted (but not uncommon) trend that continues to
plague the mobile data-driven world. In addition to regular text and
video messaging and video and music streaming, web browsing and
app downloading has risen to mammoth proportions. Consumers’
increased appetite for data signals the need for wireless usage moni-
toring services to help them stay in-line with their data allowance,
and to help operators avoid inflicting a bad case of bill shock onunsuspecting customers.
Read the full article at http://bit.ly/15agzid
»
»
The Earth is Eating PeopleDavid Mantey, Executive Editor, WDD
I’m not sure if it was the first photos of the “freak
geological incident” to surface, or news of the golfer
who plummeted deep into an 18-foot cavern that has
made it impossible for me to make it through a full
night without living through vivid nightmares in which a sinkhole
opens up beneath me and the earth pulls me into oblivion. Until
now, my lone fear has been kept at bay by avoiding open graves,spelunking, and ice forts – I have to apologize to my niece, I simply
didn’t trust the structural integrity of the Mantey Ice Mountain in
the cul-de-sac.
Read the full article at http://bit.ly/13Ndvnd
»
»
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BRAINSTORM » TIMING DEVICES
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the entire family.
The LTC6957 can be used to convert any
signal type to a logic level signal, includ-
ing the buffering and distributing of the
commonly used 10 MHz reference source.
The device has a proprietary, selectable,
input stage bandwidth-limiting feature,
which improves the additive phase noisefor slow slewing signals by up to 3 to 4dB.
Choosing the appropriate input stage filter
setting for a given input signal’s slew rate,
increases the slew rate of the input signal
while limiting the broadband noise. This
keeps a lid on the total jitter at the output
of the LTC6957, which is crucial in numer-
ous applications where the reference signal
is of limited amplitude or slew rate.
38 MAY »JUN 2013 » wirelessdesignmag.com
noise from the recovered clock and provide
a jitter-free signal that can be used for the
retiming process. Jitter attenuators made
specifically for this application provide
over 80 dBc of jitter suppression, while
generating an output signal with less than
50 fs of jitter.
Harsh Operating Environments: Thereare some applications where electronic
systems are required to operate effectively
while being subjected to mechanical shock
and vibration. Oscillators are now con-
structed using assembly techniques that
minimize the mechanical coupling to the
sensitive elements providing a G-sensitivity
QA
&
Walter Oliwa, Senior VPResearch & Design, CTSElectronic Components
Any device or system
that requires a clock or tim-
ing device to function will
improve its performance as the quality of
the timing device improves. Parameters
that define the quality of a timing device
include: phase noise, jitter, temperature
stability, aging, PSRR, power dissipation,
G-sensitivity, as well as other
parameters that are sensitive to a
particular application.
Some of the functionalities
that timing devices are helping to
improve include: Lower Bit Error Rates: Telecom
systems are using clock oscillators
with jitter as low as 25 fs to pro-
vide the reference clock for their
integrated chip sets. The lower jitter
improves the transmission quality,
and reduces the power required to
process the same amount of data.
Longer Battery Life: Portable instrumen-
tation, radios, and other remotely located
equipment require a stable timing refer-
ence. This level of performance requires
the use of an OCXO in order to meet the
desired stability and phase noise. OCXOs
packaged in small TO-8 assembly offer
temperature stability ranging from 10 to
20 ppb, while dissipating only 120 mW of
power. Reducing the power consumption
allows the size, weight, and ultimately thecost of the equipment to be reduced.
Higher Bandwidth Optical Networks:
The bandwidth requirements of our com-
munication systems continue to increase.
Data must be received and re-transmitted
constantly throughout the network; the
timing requirements are complex. To main-
tain synchronization it is required to use
the clock signal associated with the incom-
ing data stream as the reference frequency.
In order for the clock signal to function
properly, a “Clock cleaner”, or jitter attenu-
ator, is required to effectively filter the
»
Neil Floodgate, VicePresident, IQD FrequencyProducts
Although the phenom-
enon of Quartz as an accu-
rate frequency source has
been known since the late 19th Century,
it was not until the advent of the second-
world war that its use became prolific. At
that time, the use of vacuum tubes was the
methodology driving the quartz and pro-
duced stabilities of 50 ppm.
Subsequently, analogue mobile com-
munications started to make an impact,
which led to the development of oscillators
with stabilities of sub 10 ppm. These were
achieved by Temperature Compensated
Crystal Oscillators (TCXO’s) and OvenControlled Crystal Oscillators (OCXO’s).
Today’s oscillators are able to meet the
requirements of the digital age where virtu-
ally everyone has a smartphone in their
pocket. An example of how far the industry
has developed is IQD’s CFPT-77series of 2.5
x 2.0 mm TCXVCO, which achieves a stabil-
ity of 0.5 ppm over an operating tempera-
ture range from -30° to +85°C.
IQD’s IQOV-150 series OCXO delivers fre-
quencies up to 1 GHz with a phase noise per-
formance at -140 dBc/Hz at 100 kHz offset,
with temperature stabilities down to 2 ppb.
»
Alison Steer, ProductMarketing Manager, MixedSignal Products, LinearTechnology
In clock distribution
circuits, it is important to
maintain the quality of the clock signal,
which is represented as either a jitter or
phase-noise measurement. Phase noise is
a frequency domain error, while jitter is a
time domain error. In a sampling system,
close-in phase noise will affect the spec-
tral purity of the signal, while broadband
noise will degrade the SNR. It’s important
to notice whether clock jitter is specified
as integrated jitter or as broadband jitter,
which can provide a better figure of merit
when comparing jitter specifications. The
measurement is also dependent on the sig-
nal frequency. The LTC6957 is a DC to 300 MHz dual
output buffer/driver/logic translator, ideal
for converting sine waves into low-phase
noise, logic level signals in applications
such as Gigabit wireless, gyroscopes, test
and measurement, radio and satellite com-
munications, medical imaging, military,
and GPS. The LTC6957 converts any DC
to 300 MHz reference frequency into dual
LVPECL, LVDS, or CMOS outputs with low
additive jitter of 45 fSRMS over the 12 kHz
to 20 MHz integration bandwidth, and less
than 200 fSRMS broadband total jitter for
»
What are some functionalities that time device
technologies are helping to improve?
Reducing the
power consump-
tion allows the
size, weight, and
ultimately the cost
of the equipment
to be reduced.
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