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Saki Corporation, an innovator in the field of automated optical and X-ray inspection equipment, will be exhibiting for the first time at Smart SMT & PCB Assembly 2023 to be held from 5 to 7 April 2023 in Suwon, Korea. Saki’s latest automated inspection solutions for SMT processes that contribute to the realisation of Smart Factories will be exhibited on Booth #I 102.

Show visitors will be invited to discover the latest 3D-AOI and 3D-AXI inspection solutions including the 3Xi-M110 V3 ultra-high-speed X-ray automated inspection system (AXI) that enables in-line operation, and the award-winning 3Di-LS3 3D automated optical inspection system (AOI) with 8µm resolution that achieves the fastest cycle time in the industry.

Alongside its partners JS TECH and H&J Corporation, the Saki technology team will also present a 2D-AOI benchtop model BF-Sirius. To demonstrate its Full SMT Line, Smart Factory and M2M capabilities, Saki’s QD-Analyzer Software Suite completes the show line-up.

Saki’s booth will allow visitors to experience the company’s latest hard- and software innovations up-close, including：

<3D-AXI> 3Xi-M110 V3

True-Inline Operation with the high-speed 3D-CT X-ray Inspection System

<3D-AOI> 3Di-LS3 (with 8μm resolution camera system)

Revolutionary 3D-AOI for the industry’s fastest, highest-performance inspection and easy on-site upgrades and interchangeability

<3D-AOI> 3Di-LS2 (with 18μm resolution camera system)

High-speed 3D-AOI with a height measurement range of 20mm and an imaging speed of 5,700 mm2/s for improved productivity

<2D-AOI> BF-Sirius 

Benchtop 2D-AOI for L-size substrates

<System Software> QD Analyzer

The SPC software suite offers a data-driven approach to continuous productivity improvement by collecting and statistically analyzing the operating status and inspection results of all equipment in the production line.

“We are very pleased to be exhibiting at Smart SMT & PCB Assembly for the first time and introducing Saki’s latest solutions for SMT processes to our customers in Korea and around the world,” said Mr. Kim Kyu Seob, General Manager of Saki Corporation Korea Representative Office. “Visitors to Saki’s booth will be able to see our latest technology that contributes to the realisation of Smart Factories through in-line automated inspection. We look forward to welcoming show visitors to our booth.”

For more information about Saki visit www.sakicorp.com/en/.

Radio frequency identification (RFID) is a technology commonly used to keep track of goods of all shapes and sizes, but it isn’t without its limitations. Here, Richard Mount, Director of Sales at ASIC design and supply company Swindon Silicon Systems, explains the technology behind RFID and how ASIC integration can elevate it to the next level.

Security is a big issue for all of us. To help deter crime, tracking systems are commonly implemented into valuables such as goods and vehicles to ensure their whereabouts are known and traceable. But these technologies have their limitations. So what are they, and how can we overcome them?

Radio waves

RFID technology, which relies on radio waves to operate, is already commonplace in sectors like retail. RFID tags are comprised of an antenna, an IC chip to digitise the signal, and a paper or plastic substrate. Rather than using barcode stickers, which can be easily damaged and made unreadable, these tags provide a more robust way of identifying objects, without them needing to be within the line of sight.

The radio frequencies at which an RFID tag will operate are dictated by its application. Low frequency tags offer a range of just a few centimetres, ideal for key cards for door access.

High frequency tags operate in the metre range, making them suitable for tracking much larger objects. This can include bulky inventory and goods within a facility, but can be helpful outside buildings too. For premises that have external gates, mounting RFID tags onto vehicles can help to ensure that only authorised vehicles can enter, reducing the need for additional personnel to be on the gate at all times.

There are two main types of RFID tag: active and passive. Passive tags have no internal power source, and instead rely on the scanner to transmit radio waves of just enough energy to activate the chip. This gives them a longer operational lifetime as they aren’t as reliant on a battery, but their low power means they have a much more limited signal range.

There are applications where such a short range isn’t practical, such as vehicles that need access to restricted sites. In these cases, active RFID tags are used. These are battery-operated, which increases their signal range up to around 100 metres.

However, this battery requirement can then be an issue itself, particularly when the internal circuits consume a lot of power. It’s often not viable in these systems to replace the batteries, and so when they reach the end of their lifetime, the tag is usually replaced entirely. But short-lived batteries aren’t cost-effective or sustainable in the long run — so what’s the solution?

The answer is ASICs

The answer lies in Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs). An ASIC is a custom chip designed exactly to a customer’s specification, in order to offer an enhanced and optimised performance. ASIC design focuses on achieving this performance within a smaller footprint, and reduced power consumption. This custom design approach enables investments in areas where it truly counts for each application.

In the case of battery-powered systems such as active RFID, opting for an ASIC can have huge benefits. By removing additional and unneeded functionalities, the power consumption of an ASIC can be designed to be much lower than a standard chip. This can be achieved by optimising performance characteristics and also employing sophisticated power saving techniques.

Such techniques can include putting parts of the ASIC into a dormant state when not required, to conserve power. When the sensor is triggered, it can power up the rest of the circuit, and later put it back to sleep. This functionality extends the battery life greatly, which is key in enabling RFID tags to operate over a lifetime of several years.

And opting for an ASIC over a standard IC chip means that any additional, unrequired functionalities can be removed, thus optimising the performance even further. This optimisation provides the system designer with a leaner solution in terms of required performance and power consumption, with the objective of differentiating the product from the competition.

Sensing technology is already commonplace in many of our security devices, but there’s still room for improvement. Implementing an ASIC can help to ensure the accuracy and reliability of safety systems, protecting homes and businesses well into the future.

The Best of Industry Award 2022 acknowledged innovations in 24 different categories considered groundbreaking in the industry. When it comes to measuring and testing technology, one participant – even though small in size – was able to prevail against all its “big” competitors: the world’s smallest gear type flow meter from KRACHT. No comparable measuring equipment, such as that used on test benches for testing fuel injectors, has been able to measure such low volume flows reliably and reproducibly until now. Low-viscosity media is a particular challenge. KRACHT is an expert medium-sized company for fluid measurement technology and world market leader in the field of flow measurement technology. It has now been recognised for its special micro flow meter, which can determine volume flows very precisely (less than 0.5 ml – that’s just three drops per minute) So for example, this micro-quantity meter can now test fuel injectors four times faster.

The company’s original development objective was to design a gear type flow meter that could reliably measure volume flows of at least 0.5 ml/min, even for media with viscosities of just 1 mm²/s. Experts at KRACHT chose extremely corrosion-resistant stainless steel as the material to achieve this objective, and fundamentally reworked all functionally relevant components: gear geometry and gear design were both optimised using special ball bearings in the highest accuracy class. This was necessary to meet the strict requirements for tightness as well as ensuring the measuring mechanism ran smoothly.

A particularly high-resolution sensor system was required to output the measured values at the targeted minimum flow rates at a sufficiently high frequency. KRACHT worked together with a parameter monitoring partner to develop a sensor element specially tailored to the needs of the gear type flow meter. This means the required frequencies in a compact installation space can be detected, and with completely smooth scanning. The result of this comprehensive redesign is now a gear type flow meter that can determine volume flows of 0.3 ml/min at viscosities from 0.8 mm²/s with high precision, reliability and reproducibility.

Component production and assembly testing the limits of what is possible

KRACHT went right to the limits of what was technically possible when manufacturing and assembling the flow meter. For example, special production machines that are exclusively used for this product were used in the manufacturing process. Component production and assembly are also air-conditioned and closely monitored. It only takes the smallest particles to adversely affect the assembly of high-precision measuring instruments. With this in mind, a sophisticated process for component cleanliness and, in particular, the assembly workstations was also devised. In this way, the manufacturer achieves the highest possible component purity as well as ideal assembly conditions. For example, the process includes a special ultrasonic cleaning system that has been further developed exclusively for the new measuring instrument.

The world’s smallest gear type flow meter is assembled at special workstations in a clean air environment using ultra-fine air filters. Special calibration processes under stable climatic conditions compensate for even the most minimal tolerance fluctuations. Each individual device undergoes a final check and calibration – including creating a digital log – on a high-precision calibration test bench for low flow rates and low viscosities. This is how KRACHT ensures that every model that leaves the factory demonstrably meets the high application requirements.

So, KRACHT’s micro flow meter makes it possible not only to drastically reduce the lower limit for measuring fluids using gear type flow meters. The new device also makes test benches future-proof by enabling injectors to be tested using the latest injection technologies. “Winning the Best of Industry Award confirms to us that our intensive and complex development work has more than paid off and that we can offer an exciting and future-proof product that solves problems instead of creating them,” says Bernd Neidhardt, Chief Strategy Officer at KRACHT.

Farnell now stocks high- performance and reliable MAX25254/MAX25255 dual buck converters with integrated high-side and low-side switches from Analog Devices. The device features 36V input voltage capability and has a maximum output current of 8A per channel.

One of the key features of the MAX25255 is its multiphase capability, which enables multiple converters to work together in an interleaved manner to provide improved conversion efficiency and reduce output ripple. This is especially useful in high-current applications where a single converter cannot handle the power demand.

Additionally, MAX25255 meets Automotive Safety Integrity Level (ASIL B) requirements, making it suitable for safety-critical automotive applications. Other features of the device include programmable switching frequency, soft-start, and over-current protection.

The MAX25254/MAX25255 is available in a compact 23-pin FC2QFN package with dimensions of 4.50mm x 5.75mm, and can be purchased from Farnell in EMEA. Newark in North America and element14 in APAC.

Ageing industrial infrastructure can make it difficult to meet daily challenges for industrial plants and manufacturing companies. Fortunately, there are cost-effective ways to solve these challenges. Here, George Walker, managing director at Novotek UK & Ireland shares ten tips on how to modernise your HMI / SCADA system.

1. Get up to date with SCADA and OS versions and patches

Many industrial companies are still on very old versions of their SCADA software. However, regular updates give you access to the latest features and improve system availability. In addition, you avoid the security concerns that arise when the system is not updated.

This is a foundational step. Before proceeding with modernisation, make sure your SCADA and operating system are up to date with versions and patches. This will enable you to start with the right platform, ready for the next steps.

2. Standardise your SCADA implementation

Define standards for the overall SCADA system, including application, configuration, security, architecture, remote access, and the devices people use. Standardisation will help you reduce errors, lower costs, and increase operational efficiency.

Consistent representation and procedures reduce errors across multiple stakeholders. Teams benefit from a shorter learning curve, faster roll-outs and easier maintenance. Standardisation also helps ensure compliance. Lastly, with tag name conventions, you can leverage OPC UA: Browse OPC UA sources and automatically create your SCADA process database.

3. Develop a disaster recovery plan

A disaster recovery plan can start simple, such as a version plan related to backup and restoration. The next step is to lay out a more long-term roadmap. Here you can consider moving to a redundant and failover system with configurations for minimal disruption.

You can build redundancy at all levels: from SCADA server failover to LAN redundancy and client redundancy. The target is having no data lost. Look at your databases, real-time data, and alarm synchronisation, and make the system seamless for remote users. A disaster recovery plan is more than peace of mind – it’s an essential part of improving availability and reliability.

4. Get a good data management system

Create a plan to collect, store and distribute your data securely. To operate a plant efficiently, you need to have all the correct data at the right time.

For more reliable and consistent information, consider a plant-wide historian like Proficy Historian 2022.

Proficy Historian collects information from different data sources and provides the ability to extend and scale as your systems grow, integrating your data management layer with your CMMS or GIS systems. Modern technologies make information available to stakeholders who aren’t directly connected with the SCADA-system, but need data to make decisions, such as demand and planning.

5. Build effective alarm procedures

A good alarm strategy means less noise, faster reactions, increased productivity and efficiency, and safer operations. With a good alarm strategy, you can move from an alarm to a notification, and guide the right action. Many resources for effective alarm management are available, such as through the International Society of Automation (ISA).

6. Digitalise work processes

Every plant has standard operating procedures in some form, mostly printed manuals. Now, you can move from manuals to integrating work processes into your SCADA system. Using SCADA data, you can start a work process, guide operators through steps, and increase operational consistency. Electronic Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) also capture best practices and accelerate new operator training.

Digitalise your procedures to ensure consistency, repeatability, adherence to standards, and accountability on tasks. You can drive the right actions and help prevent mistakes from happening. Additionally, you can record and track work processes for compliance.

7. Drive organisation-wide connectivity

SCADA connectivity across an entire facility, company or organisation provides a holistic view of performance, fills data gaps and increases collaboration. In addition, centralised information management creates consistency across different factories and facilities. By connecting secure thin clients to hardware, information can be made easily accessible to all levels of the company or organisation.

8. Leverage persona-based visualisation

Give each person the information and capabilities they need, rather than the same SCADA screen for every person. Modern HMI/SCADA allows you to equip your workforce with tailored information, remote monitoring, and control capabilities via various devices. This can be a smartphone, tablet, PC, or a legacy device that supports HTML5. You’ll get the right operational information to the people who need it, saving tremendous staff time while speeding response and compliance.

9. Enable model-based HMI navigation

With modern HMI/SCADA, you can leverage industry standards to map your data model to an equipment model, structuring your data and providing standard context across locations and data sources.

Users can quickly navigate in context form the model. Model-based HMI navigation enables a common user experience regardless of the screen, device, equipment, role, or process.

10. Implement high performance HMI

High Performance HMI are screens designed to improve operator efficiency. With a simple and consistent design, High Performance screens increase situational awareness. Operators and technicians recognise and understand information faster, making it easier to detect alarms and monitor productivity, while decreasing the risk of errors. High Performance HMI is based on the ISA 101 standards.

Novotek will be hosting an event day at the Science and Industry Museum in Manchester on Friday 24 March 2023. To reserve your place at the event, please visit the Eventbrite page.

In many manufacturing applications object detection commonly deploys optical sensors because when compared to other types of sensors, they provide the important benefits of precise, non-contact detection at very short response times across both long and short distances.

Also, compared to other types of sensors they are extremely compact, so require minimal space.

However, there is one crucial drawback with light barriers and photoelectric sensors. This is because they operate on ambient visible light of the same spectral range as artificial light or sunlight, so are susceptible to detection errors. Furthermore, most sensing applications have hugely variable (and uncontrollable) lighting conditions and therefore reliable, error-free object detection using optical sensors, due to all these factors, can be problematic. 

A recently published, free-to-download White Paper from sensing and instrumentation specialists BAUMER considers all the challenges of why ambient light has such a significant influence on the performance of optical sensors and provides some practical solutions.

As a leading expert in the design and technology of high performing sensors and sensor systems for industrial applications, Baumer are well placed to provide valuable information and advice to help engineers select the most effective sensing solutions – hence the publication of this comprehensive white paper.

Topics include; why optical sensors are very prone to ambient light and why this happens, what effect this can have on certain processes, the efforts in trouble-shooting and counter actions, overcoming these challenges, offering solutions and finally conclusions to be drawn.

Most importantly Baumer outlines the features and benefits of their latest range of optical sensors which provide reliable detection in any lighting conditions, including LED and bright sunlight. 

Finally, the innovative Baumer ‘sensor toolbox’ offers the next generation of optical sensors providing users with all the benefits of unrivalled ambient light immunity and hence the ability to eliminate many error sources in production.

The electronic test and measurement specialist is making this offer in recognition of the increasing preference to use fibre optics for mission-critical links in data centres, networks serving campuses over long distances and backbones in and between buildings. This substantial expansion of the fibre optics market has made it more crucial than ever that users choose the correct fibre test and troubleshooting solution for their installation.

Fluke Networks believes those who are not sure about which fibre testing methodology to use – or want to know more about fibre testing best practices in general – will benefit from an appointment with an expert from the company who will provide free consultation as well as possibly deliver a demonstration on how to determine what the best, most reliable and most cost-effective fibre test solution is for their application.

Those partaking in a demo will receive a free FiberLert detector and a cashback offer to use against buying selected Fluke fibre testers between the 1^st March and the 31^st July 2023. A free, downloadable fibre selection guide is available.

Robert Luijten, Technical Expert and Training Manager at Fluke Networks said, “Now that fibre is increasingly preferred in the marketplace for use with innovative technologies that support exploding bandwidth demands, it is essential that network professionals make sure they use the best fibre testing solution. We want to give them the maximum level of support in that process and believe our free advice, demo and testing equipment will go a long way to achieving that goal.”

Performance characteristics

Expert advice will focus on various scenarios, such as ensuring performance characteristics of a fibre installation comply with such industry standards as ISO/IEC 14763-3, TIA-568-C or EN50173. Fluke would recommend an optical loss test using equipment like its CertiFiber Pro set which improves the efficiency of fiber optics certification. Benefits of using this optical loss test set with wizard-guided set-up include being able to test a fibre TX/RX pair at two wavelengths in under 3 seconds, test both cores bi-directionally in under 10 seconds, and eliminate negative loss errors by ensuring the correct reference setting is used. Built on the Versiv platform, the CertiFiber Pro set offers multi-mode dual wavelength and single-mode dual wavelength in the same unit. It also provides merged Tier 1 (basic) and Tier 2 (extended) testing and reporting when paired with Fluke’s OptiFiber Pro optical time domain reflectometer (OTDR).

A combination of fibre end-face inspection and OTDR is ideal for users investigating a fault or sub-optimal performance in a fibre installation, says Fluke. The OptiFiber Pro OTDR family provides multiple wavelengths (850nm, 1300nm, 1310nm, 1490nm, 1550nm and 1625nm) to support LAN, data centres, passive optical networks (PONs), fibre in the loop (FTTx) and outside plant applications. Other features include Intelligent Autotest which senses fibre characteristics and adjusts output for maximum resolution, while EventMap automatically identifies connectors, splices, bends and splitters. Also, a SmartLoop function reduces Tier 2 certification times by enabling a fibre pair to be certified (testing from one end) in no more than 30 seconds.

End-face inspection

Fluke experts stress that checking fibre end faces for cleanliness and condition is critical, regardless of what other testing may be carried out. End-face inspection confirms that every fibre connection is clean and undamaged, ensuring maximum possible performance. Typically, inspection cameras such as Fluke’s FI-3000 FiberInspector Ultra or FiberInspector Pro are able to provide total visibility with live view from a 32-core MPO connector end-face to a single-core end-face. In particular, the Ultra features a multiple autofocus/auto-centring camera for real-time imaging and offers the ability to obtain automated pass/fail results within seconds.

Documentation and Data Consolidation

Depending on the modules that are inserted in the mainframe, a Versiv transforms itself into a copper cable tester (DSX CableAnalyzer), fibre loss/length tester (CertiFiber Pro), an OTDR (OptiFiber Pro) or with a camera into a fibre inspection instrument (FI-3000 FiberInspector Ultra or FiberInspector Pro), all with a common user interface.

This is unique in the industry and results in great productivity enhancements.

Now being able to operate different testers with a common user interface is great but what perhaps is even more important that the measurement data gathered by all these different testers can be easily consolidated in a single PDF report by LinkWare PC and/or the LinkWare Live cloud service.

Fluke’s free fibre testing guide can be downloaded here and a demo booked here.

OKdo, part of RS Group, has announced a global manufacturing and distribution partnership with Useful Sensors. Silicon Valley guru, Pete Warden and CTO Manjunath Kudlur, who were both founding members of Google’s TensorFlow open-source machine learning framework, started the company a year ago to accelerate AI capabilities in sensors.

Sensors are deemed as devices that are used to measure, detect and respond to changes in the environment. There are various types of sensors that serve different purposes. Some of the most effective sensors include temperature, pressure, proximity, humidity, and motion detection.

Useful Sensors’ person sensor technology is an industry-leading, coin-sized module with a camera on the front and a microcontroller on the back that detects people’s faces and outputs data about the subject where they are relative to a device, as well as accurately performs facial recognition.

Applications for this technology include person detection, QR code scanning, gesture and speech recognition.

Pete Warden, CEO and Founder of Useful Sensors said, “We’re excited to be working with OKdo. The company’s deep expertise in building products that solve real problems for their customers is going to improve the solutions we’re creating and help us come up with entirely new ways of helping system builders.”

“On our journey to make the world smarter and more sustainable, OKdo and RS partner with over one million customers. This partnership with Useful Sensors, gives our customers access to low-cost, secure machine learning and AI capabilities,” said Sander Arts, CMO of OKdo. “We are excited that a Silicon Valley entrepreneur like Pete Warden sees the value of OKdo’s manufacturing excellence and global market reach.”

OKdo and Useful Sensors’ partnership is another step in OKdo’s exciting journey to provide world-class products, services and solutions to a global customer base.

Global technology and software leader Emerson will provide advanced automation solutions to help ensure the safety and reliability of New Zealand’s first large-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) power project. Emerson’s renewable power generation expertise will help solar energy company Lodestone Energy quickly and safely complete its two 23-megawatt sites at Kaitaia and Edgecumbe— an important step in supporting New Zealand’s ambitious goals of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050.     

Solar PV – which converts sunlight directly into electrical energy – has become one of the fastest growing renewable energy sources. But efficiently generating and delivering solar PV power requires precise orchestration, integrating a wide variety of third-party systems with automation and control technology to provide operators with intuitive functionality and comprehensive visibility. Emerson’s advanced automation architecture will combine powerful control software and technologies with enterprise data solutions to create an integrated, scalable control solution to maximise output and profitability while simultaneously contributing to grid stability.

“New Zealand’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050 is an ambitious endeavour that will require many renewable power generation sources to be safely and rapidly brought online,” said Peter Apperley, general manager of engineering at Lodestone Energy. “Emerson’s expertise in automation software for power generation and sustainability will help us more quickly build a world-class facility, while also more seamlessly integrating with the national grid to drive successful, efficient operation over the lifecycle of the plant.”

Lodestone will take advantage of Emerson’s Ovation distributed control system and new OCR3000 controller to provide comprehensive control to minimise the impact of variability and intermittency in solar PV power generation. The same technologies will also make it easier for operators to quickly respond to grid frequency events. Ovation enterprise data solutions will provide secure monitoring of solar PV operations from the control room or mobile devices, measuring, monitoring and reporting key performance indicators to increase visibility of plant operations.

“Meeting New Zealand’s renewable energy goals will require power generation companies to rethink the way they operate, democratising data and increasing visibility for everyone across the enterprise,” said Bob Yeager, president of Emerson’s power and water business. “Lodestone’s strategy perfectly aligns with Emerson’s boundless automation vision of an advanced technology stack leveraging integrated, scalable control to provide access to critical data not only across the plant and industrial edge, but also throughout the enterprise.”

Lodestone’s solar PV project requires multiple interfaces to third-party systems, including inverters, high voltage switchboards, weather stations, site security systems and grid authority remote terminal units. Ovation will act as a process orchestration tool to seamlessly connect these devices to provide fast and intuitive visibility for operators. In addition to providing flexibility and visibility of operations, Emerson’s Ovation platform is ideally suited to support compliance with New Zealand’s energy participation code.

Embedded security continues to be a high priority, and architects need vetted, easy-to-use and cost-optimised security solutions that are compliant with industry best practices. To provide architects with comprehensive embedded security solutions, Microchip Technology today announces it has expanded its secure authentication device portfolio with six new products in its CryptoAuthentication and CryptoAutomotive IC families that meet Common Criteria Joint Interpretation Library (JIL) High rated secure key storage and support certified algorithms that comply with the Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS).

This portfolio of secure authentication devices lowers the barrier to entry and enables developers of products for new segments and applications to implement trusted authentication to prevent counterfeiting, improve quality control and safeguard the user experience. As counterfeits become prevalent across many industries, the need to implement embedded trust in many designs is critical.

The devices are supported by the Trust Platform Design Suite, a dedicated software tool used to onboard these ICs with Microchip’s secure key provisioning service. The scalable service enables cryptographic assets to be provisioned for projects of virtually any size, ranging from tens of devices to large-scale deployments across a variety of industries such as consumer and medical disposables, automotive and industrial accessory ecosystems, wireless charging and data centres.

“Designers of cost-sensitive applications that may have had limited or no secure authentication, can now add this critical function using these new additions to our security portfolio,” said Nuri Dagdeviren, corporate vice president of Microchip’s secure computing business unit.

“Microchip remains committed to developing leading-edge, cost-optimised security products that are versatile for a wide range of end applications.”

Microchip added five new products to its existing portfolio of CryptoAuthentication ICs. Those ICs are hardware-based secure storage that is intended to keep secret keys hidden from unauthorised attackers:

• ECC204: ECC-P256 signature and Hash-based Message Authentication Code (HMAC)
• ECC206: Two-pin parasitic power, ECC-P256 signature and HMAC
• SHA104: Client SHA256 MAC
• SHA105: Host SHA256 CheckMAC
• SHA106: Two-pin parasitic power and client SHA256 MAC

The sixth new device is designed for the automotive market. The TA010 with ECC signature and HMAC is an AEC-Q100 Grade 1-qualified CryptoAutomotive IC that enables OEMs to implement secure authentication into their design without requiring costly modifications and to meet security requirements for future generations of their vehicles.

Microchip’s security products are compatible with any microprocessor (MPU) or microcontroller (MCU) and can be used as companion devices to Microchip’s AVR MCUs and Arm core-based MPUs and MCUs. These secure authentication ICs provide customers with a versatile solution that adheres to evolving industry standards and practices.

Development Tools

The new secure authentication ICs are supported by Microchip’s Trust Platform Design Suite,  MPLAB X Integrated Development Environment (IDE), product-specific evaluation boards and CryptoAuthLib library support.

Availability

All products in the new security portfolio are currently sampling or in production. For more information, visit the CryptoAuthentication IC or CryptoAutomotive IC web pages. To purchase these devices, contact a Microchip sales representative, authorised worldwide distributor or Microchip’s Purchasing and Client Services website, www.microchipDIRECT.com.