Features

Pickering Electronics, the reed relay company which has pioneered miniaturisation and high performance has announced significant growth as it enters its 55^th year. A sales revenue increase of over 85% in the last two years, Pickering Electronics puts its success down to continuous product innovation.

A reed relay, of course, is only as good as the reed switch itself, and Pickering uses the very best instrumentation-grade switches with appropriate switch blade coatings for the currents and voltages demanded by the application. An innovation still not employed by some competition – was the introduction of SoftCenter technology which protects the reed switch and minimises internal stresses, resulting in an extended life and contact resistance stability.

The use of magnetic shielding, followed last year by the introduction of electrostatic screening in high voltage relays, prevents faulty operation. And of course, miniaturisation, such as the recent 4mm² range, which stack on a tiny 4mm x 4mm pitch whilst still switching up to 1 Amp, 20 Watts. 

Another reason for the company’s success is Pickering’s diversification of its product range. New directions for the company include a strong focus on high voltage reed relays which are suitable for mixed-signal semiconductor testers, high-end cable testers, medical electronics, electric vehicles, solar energy, big physics, and high voltage instrumentation.

Recent releases include Series 67 HV relays with a Form C option, a new 100HV product high voltage relay with high coil resistances, and the increase in rating of the popular Series 104 product family, now up to 4 kV and with optional electrostatic shielding. Series 67 and 68 high voltage relays are now also rated up to 200 W.

There are certain elements that are common to all successful businesses which Pickering naturally shares. Pickering has become a byword for product quality and reliability, and the company counts very many leading names within the Aerospace, EV, Defence, Semiconductor Production and Test & Measurement industries, amongst its worldwide customer base.

Commented Kevin Mallett, Technical Specialist at Pickering Electronics: “Pickering has consistently led the reed relay industry, basing our business on three key pillars, innovation, diversification and technical support. We believe this approach is responsible for our success, not only in recent times, but also across our history which now spans more than half a century.”

Anritsu will be showing advanced solutions supporting the latest 5G standards and network deployments at Mobile World Congress (MWC) 2023 at Barcelona (Hall 5 Stand D41). As a long-term partner in the Telecom Industry for test and analytics solutions, Anritsu is developing innovative new solutions to help accelerate the transformation of new products and services for 5G Industry Verticals.

Anritsu’s stand will demonstrate how its solutions underpin new use cases such as Smart Factories and Autonomous Driving, the metaverse and digital twins, while also providing thought leadership and opportunities to learn about emerging technologies.

Technologies and Measurements for Beyond 5G

3GPP has started work on ‘5G-Advanced’ from Release 18, and industry and academia are already evaluating technologies for 6G. Anritsu is participating in multiple projects and consortia to help define and shape future telecoms technologies and related measurement requirements.

Metaverse user experience over 5G with real world mobility in partnership with InterDigital

Interruption of data during mobility can disrupt immersive user experience applications that rely on low latency network services. 5G New Radio (NR) introduces significant improvements in latency and data interruption, but further improvements can be made by changing radio network and user equipment. Anritsu will showcase the simulation of real network conditions in an ultra-flexible test lab environment, demonstrating smarter 5G UE and network behaviours and a use case that embodies the metaverse’s challenges of uplink bandwidth, latency, and synchronisation.

Test Solution for 5G Enabled Automated Valet Parking in partnership with dSPACE

Anritsu and dSPACE GmbH have developed a test and simulation environment for Automated Valet Parking (AVP).

Based on AVP Type 2, we will show how 5G can be used to send the parking request to the AVP service. The vehicle will then be dropped off by the driver and automatically driven by the AVP system to its intended parking spot. When requested by the vehicle’s owner, it will be retrieved automatically.

This solution features Anritsu MT8000A Radio Communication Test Station and dSPACE VEOS (a PC-based simulation platform), with dSPACE AURELION sensor-realistic simulation providing a 5G network slicing testing environment for Automotive V2X Use Cases.

RIS Measurements with PhaseLync Technology in partnership with Greenerwave

Reconfigurable Intelligent Surfaces (RIS) is an electronic device, composed of many layers with a surface inlaid with a set of patch antennas, called pixels (or unit cells) whose electromagnetic (EM) response could be controlled via a control board. It is proposed in the framework of 5G and Beyond connectivity to steer radio signals between a transmitter and receiver, giving better reception or link quality.
Greenerwave, a French SME founded in 2016, has built the first RIS worldwide using off-the-shelf electronics and PIN diodes. Its know-how in electronically steerable antennas has been widely recognised in many business applications.

However, measuring the magnitude and phase characteristics of high frequency RISs at various distances and conditions is challenging, as no Vector Network Analyzer (VNA) can separate the two ports of the VNA over longer distances. Anritsu’s PhaseLync technology distributed VNA system ME7868A can make these measurements over 100 meters, characterising a RIS surface performance in a real environment.

This partnership between Anritsu and Greenerwave on a challenging problem will open the door for RIS technical specifications in several environments that allows to benchmark the technology against existing solutions.

O-RAN Test Solution for O-RU

Open RAN is driving flexibility and intelligence in mobile network using multi-vendor disaggregated products. The key challenge is to reduce the complexity of testing and to maintain network performance.

Anritsu contributes to build secure mobile network by providing a unique solution for O-RU (O-RAN Radio Unit) testing. The solution improves the test efficiency via test automation and the quality of O-RU by offering test scenarios closer to real network situation. 

Field Test – Network Latency Measurements for UR/LLC

High value services on 5G and future 6G mobile networks will require very low latency. Ultra-Reliable Low Latency Communication (URLLC) is key for applications such as autonomous vehicles, medical, Multiple Access Edge Computing (MEC), and Metaverse technology.

Mobile network operators need to ensure low latency across their network, combined with network synchronisation, ensuring support for critical services.

Anritsu MT1000A Network Master Pro, a portable easy to use test solution with 10GE, 25GE and 100GE interfaces, helps simulate mobile car connectivity. This allows accurate analysis and mapping of the distribution of latency values, throughput, and jitter values and ensures required network performance for URLLC and end-to-end quality of service.  Anritsu will demonstrate the MT1000A test setup, showing a live demo of a real network latency measurements and data mapping.

Complete toolbox for 5G base station field engineers

Anritsu’s Field Master Spectrum Analyzer family offers best-in-class performance for current and future testing needs in a wide range of commercial, private, and government use cases.

Field Master MS2080A, the latest addition to the Field Master Family, integrates all the tools required to install and maintain the radio performance of standalone and non-standalone 5G networks. Field technicians have everything they need in one package – spectrum analysis, 5G and LTE transmitter measurements and cable and antenna line sweep measurements.

Additional tools for spectrum clearing and interference hunting will also be demonstrated at Mobile World Congress.

For regulators validating compliance with national standards and network operators testing the performance of new base stations, MS2080A provides all the measurements needed in a portable light weight instrument with time saving automatic report generation.

Anritsu Service Assurance – Beyond Automated Assurance

Assurance of telecoms networks is moving away from troubleshooting and assessing subscriber and network experience to become an integral part of how future networks must work. Autonomous networks using advanced automation require real-time subscriber-level insights, machine learning, and automation.

Anritsu Service Assurance gives operators real-time insight into subscribers’ experiences, allowing them to fix network issues without delay. As a result, operations teams run more efficiently and with complete visibility across all technologies and services.

For 5G Private Networks for large enterprises, assurance systems allow in-depth insights into device experience or mobility.

Visit the Anritsu Service Assurance stand at MWC to learn about the journey to the autonomous telecom cloud, including demos on automation, anomaly detection, and private networks.

TT Electronics will be exhibiting at MD&M West, booth 3158, 7 to 9 February 2023, at the Anaheim Convention Center. In addition to its core offerings in power, connectivity, and sensor technologies, TT will again feature equipment and sensors that provide novel solutions and increased accuracy for surgical navigation, as illustrated by the Radwave Technologies Electromagnetic (EM) tracking platform. Demonstrations are available on request at TT’s booth.

TT’s EM sensor capabilities, developed at its medical device centre of excellence in the U.S., provide accurate device tip tracking technologies for products covering cardiology/EP, IR, neurology, ENT, ortho, endoscopy, robotic surgery, and a range of other procedural areas. TT’s continued drive to innovate has resulted in the development of its smallest EM sensors yet. These sensors, available in both 5DOF and 6DOF options in either solid core or hollow core configurations, offer reliable and accurate tracking of extremely small medical device instruments featuring miniaturised EM sensor technology.

“TT has long been a trusted partner for medical device and life science technology innovators. Our FDA-registered facilities in strategic locations around the world provide vertical integration and end-to-end solutions, enabling OEMs to accelerate time-to-market with delivery of ground-breaking products,” said Michael Leahan, Chief Operating Officer, TT Electronics. “We look forward to our annual attendance at MD&M West and the opportunity for our medical solution experts to showcase our latest solutions.”

TT will also highlight its wider medical technology solutions at the show, including EM sensor-enabled catheter and complex surgical tool solutions, implantable devices, medical grade power supplies, smart sensors, and passive components.

To learn more about TT’s extensive healthcare capabilities, click here to schedule a private demonstration at MD&M West or visit the TT Electronics team at booth 3158 during the show.

Resolve Optics is a leading supplier of application optimised fixed focus and zoom lenses designed to enable high performance measurements in the ultraviolet (UV) waveband (200-400 nanometres).

To provide inspectors with an effective tool for non-intrusive verification of spent nuclear fuel, a global leader in nuclear safeguards technology asked Resolve Optics to design a wavelength corrected UV Zoom lens to enable its Digital Cerenkov Viewing Device to view a nuclear fuel assembly situated 13 metres away from the lens and through 10 metres of water. Spent nuclear fuel emits a faint UV (Cerenkov) light when gamma rays from fuel assemblies interact with electrons in the cooling pond water.

To meet the challenges of this demanding application – Resolve Optics designed the UV zoom lens to optimally operate from 10 to 55ºC. By incorporating a telescopic focus in the design, the novel lens can image objects from 3m to infinity. Miniature motors on the lens allow accurate remote setting of both zoom and focus functions. A filter slide was also incorporated in the design enabling the lens to be switched between UV (270 to 350 nm) and visible (400 to 700 nm) without the need for refocusing. The lens achieves high image resolution with low distortion throughout the zoom range without refocusing. A lockable C mount ensures the lens cannot come loose during operation.

The Digital Cerenkov Viewing Device equipped with UV Zoom lens provides a highly effective system that captures the Cerenkov image of spent nuclear fuel for analysis and comparison.

For further information on application optimised UV lenses please visit https://www.resolveoptics.com/uv-ir-and-swir-lenses/ or contact Resolve Optics on +44-1494-777100 / sales@resolveoptics.com

The commercialisation of the Low-Earth Orbit (LEO) region is transforming space exploration and satellite communication at roughly 1,200 miles above Earth. For satellites to successfully operate and reach their destination it is essential to select components that can withstand the harsh space environment. Building on its existing radiation-tolerant portfolio, Microchip Technology has announced the introduction of its first commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) rad-tolerant power device with the MIC69303RT 3A Low-Dropout (LDO) Voltage Regulator. The new high-current, low-voltage MIC69303RT is a power management solution targeting LEO and other space applications. The device is available for prototype sampling in both plastic and hermetic ceramic to support the requirements of the mission.

The MIC69303RT is based on proven COTS devices making it easier to conduct preliminary evaluation and early development. Operating from a single low voltage supply of 1.65 to 5.5 volts, the device can supply output voltages as low as 0.5V at high currents, offering high precision and ultra-low dropout voltages of 500 mV under extreme conditions. The MIC69303RT is a companion power source solution for Microchip’s radiation-tolerant space-qualified microcontrollers such as the SAM71Q21RT and PolarFire FPGAs including the RTPF500TLS.

“MIC69303RT is Microchip’s first rad-tolerant power management device with a hermetic ceramic package, latch up immunity and 50 Krad total dose robustness,” said Bob Vampola, vice president of Microchip’s aerospace and defense business unit. “Microchip has over 60 years of space flight heritage in a comprehensive portfolio that allows customers to choose products designed to work together and accelerate their design processes.”

“This COTS rad-tolerant power management solution enables new design possibilities in space applications,” said Keith Pazul, director of marketing for Microchip’s analog power and interface business unit. “Customers can design their space system with confidence by selecting the COTS MIC69303RT space-qualified part to power Microchip space-qualified MCUs and FPGAs.”

Designed for harsh aerospace applications, the MIC69303RT is operational in temperature ranges from -55°C to +125°C. It is offered in 8-pin and 10-pin package configurations with radiation tolerance up to 50 Krad. The low noise of the output is critical to sensitive RF circuits, post regulation of switching power supplies and industrial power applications.

The MIC69303RT device is the newest space-qualified product by Microchip and is manufactured in compliance with the following MIL Class Q or Class V requirements: screening testing, qualification testing and TCI/QCI specifications. The plastic MIC69303RT is compliant with high reliability plastic quality flow derived from AEC-Q100 automotive requirements with specific additional tests necessary for space applications.

Teledyne will showcase their newest products and solutions at SPIE’s Photonics West exhibition taking place 31st January 31 – 2nd February 2023, in San Francisco, California.

Visitors to the Teledyne booth #1527 can expect representation from the businesses within its Imaging group, including Teledyne DALSA, e2v, FLIR, Imaging Sensors, Acton Optics, Judson,  Lumenera, Photometrics, and Princeton Instruments.

New products introduced include:

• Teledyne e2v has released its Hydra3D+, the first high resolution Time-of-Flight (ToF) CMOS image sensor to work in all light conditions without motion artefacts. It incorporates 832 x 600 pixel resolution and is tailored for versatile 3D detection and measurement.
• Teledyne FLIR will present its new Forge 5GigE area scan cameras. Forge cameras deliver the industry’s fastest frame rates with burst mode at speeds up to 10Gb/s and an impressive 500 MB image buffer for managing data transfer. Sensor lineup starts with 5 to 24 MP Sony Pregius S.  See a live demo.
• Teledyne Imaging Sensors will display the closed-cycle Catalina camera, which uses a dual pulse tube cooler to maintain continuous operations at 80K for the MCT sensor, providing a spectral response from 2.0 to 12.3 microns with a frame rate of 1610 Hz and a 128×128 pixel window size. This design provides the ability to manipulate integration times, frame times, and cold filters to meet the most precise testing requirements.
• Teledyne Photometrics will introduce the Retiga E20 high resolution, high pixel count CMOS camera, with ideal spatial sampling for lower magnifications. E20 is back illuminated for great light collection, and is excellent for long exposures due to its very low dark current. It has a compact form factor for easy integration in applications including chemiluminescence imaging, immunofluorescence imaging, high content screening, and low light device inspection.
• Teledyne Princeton Instruments will feature its COSMOS large format, deep-cooled, high performance CMOS camera designed and manufactured entirely within a single source. With proprietary LACera technology, the COSMOS offers greater than 90% quantum efficiency, up to 8k x 8k sensor sizes, and proprietary low noise architecture with up to 18-bit readout and fast frame rate of up to 50 fps full frame.

Additionally, Teledyne’s businesses will provide 10-minute flash talks in a presentation area at the front of the Teledyne booth. Stop by to learn more about hyperspectral imaging, imaging challenges in photonics, new technology and applications for CMOS detectors, requirements for thermal sensitivity, comparisons of 3D sensors, and more. Our product specialists will be available to discuss your specific requirements.

Engineers around the world can now download the latest instalment of Farnell’s popular online magazine e-TechJournal.

Interested readers can obtain a free copy of the digital magazine with a single click to learn how sensor technology advancements are facilitating smart industrial automation to enable rapid Industrial IoT.

To learn more about this, edition 4 of e-TechJournal offers detailed insight into:

•       The Advantages of Rapid Industrial IoT

•       Pressure Sensors: Design Considerations and Technology options

•       The Advantages of Digital Pressure Sensors in Industrial Applications

•       How To Simplify Your Next Thermocouple Design

•       Indoor Air Quality: Changing The Future With Smart Sensor Systems

Cliff Ortmeyer, Global Head of Technical Marketing at Farnell, and Editor of the e-TechJournal, said: “Today, sensors are vital to any modern-day Internet of Things application. They serve as the eyes and ears in an ecosystem of connected devices, gathering critical information about their surroundings that then allows them to make decisions.

“We understand that efficient manufacturing technologies, state-of-the-art automotive, innovative medical products, smart power supply systems, or user-friendly building services would not be conceivable without sensors and in this latest edition of e-TechJournal, our experts take an in-depth look at the essential role that they play.”

Interested readers can download edition 4 for free here and subscribe at all future editions of the e-tech journal.

Spelsberg’s Lifeline range of enclosures help ensure safety for up to 90 minutes in the event of a fire by enabling critical systems to continue operation. Protecting cable junctions, connection boxes, and distribution boards, the Lifeline enclosures allow alarms, lighting, and fire suppression system to operate even under flame and extreme heat. The lightweight, highly durable polycarbonate enclosures enable flexible wall-mount installation and retrofit in buildings and tunnels.

In the event of fire in a building or tunnel, the function of alarms, smoke detectors, and fire suppressant devices is vital. It’s also crucial for some safety systems to continue operation long after a fire has commenced. This includes water booster systems to supply extinguishers, as well as smoke and heat extraction systems, through to evacuation-able fire brigade elevator systems.

To protect the electrical supply to these systems, the enclosures that secure cable junctions, connections, and distribution boards, must provide a barrier to extremes of heat and flame for up to an hour or more. Concrete has traditionally been used as a barrier to encase electrical wiring, but the drawback is a lack of flexibility in installation, and subsequent retrofit.

Alternatively, Spelsberg’s Lifeline system provides up to 90 minutes fire protection in a flexible and highly durable enclosure that can be externally mounted on building or tunnel walls. This enables fast and straightforward installation and retrofit of fire-protected devices and cabling whenever required.

Spelsberg’s fire protection enclosures use heat and fire-resistant materials to achieve electrical functional integrity. Certified between E30, E60, and E90, this guarantees functional integrity of the enclosures for at least 30, 60, or 90 minutes, assisting continued electrical supply to connected devices and are tested in accordance with DIN 4102-12, the European Standard for fire resistance of electric cable systems required to maintain circuit integrity. They also hold certification from VDE, the German electrical standards and testing association.

Constructed from thermoplastic polycarbonate, which is non-conductive during fire or heat exposure, the enclosures also prevent the risk of short circuit. Within the enclosure, high temperature-resistant ceramic terminal block clamps ensure integrity of the housing structure. In the event of fire and the use of sprinkler systems or hoses, the enclosures are protected to IP66 preventing ingress from strong water jets. IK08 rating also means the enclosures provide high resistance to physical impact.

The Lifeline fire protection enclosure range covers cabling requirements including connections and junctions, safeguarded junctions with fuses, communication cables for signal and control systems, as well as heavy duty cable connections for tunnels with the Rapid-Box enclosure. All Spelsberg Lifeline boxes are pre-assembled to save time in installation, with only wall-mounting and wiring required. The cable and junction boxes are simply attached by a pair of pre-fitted lugs that allow 90° rotation and the terminal block can be set in a variety of positions.

“The Lifeline enclosures are designed to meet the stringent EU and UK regulations on fire protection for use in both buildings and tunnels,” says Chris Lloyd, Managing Director, Spelsberg UK. “While the boxes achieve this, providing protection for up to 90 minutes, they are fast and simple to install. The advantage of Lifeline enclosures for building and infrastructure managers, as well as electrical contractors, is that fire-protected connections can be quickly added, as and when required.”

Pickering Electronics, the reed relay company which has pioneered miniaturisation and high performance for over 55 years, now offers optional electrostatic shielding for its 10kV stand-off Series 67/68 SIL/SIP reed relay families. Electrostatic screening protects against noise which can otherwise occur between the coil drive and high voltage circuits. This new screening is in addition to Pickering’s internal mu-metal screen which eliminates magnetic interaction when devices are closely stacked.

Series 67 and 68 high voltage reed relays are constructed using a leadframe in a Single-in-Line format and feature former-less coils which means that they can be housed in a

smaller package than is usual for this type of device, that measures just 58.4 x 12.6 x 14.5mm. Series 67 relays feature PCB connections to switch and coil and provide the highest power switch capability in the Pickering portfolio – up to 200W . Series 68 devices have PCB connections to coil and flying leads to the switch which keeps high voltage away from the PCB. Configurations include:

• 1 Form A SPST up to 10kV stand-off, 7.5kV switching at 50W (max);
• 1 Form A SPST up to 8kV stand-off, 6kV switching at 200W (max);
• 1 Form C SPDT up to 5kV stand-off, 2.5kV switching at 100W (max);
• 5, 12 or 24V coils are available with the option of an internal diode across the coil connections

Commented Kevin Mallett, Technical Specialist at Pickering Electronics: “Pickering continuously looks to improve our product offering. Electrostatic screening adds a new level of protection, ensuring our relay families provide the optimum performance for high voltage applications.”

When a sensing application demands the highest level of performance and reliability in detecting objects and their positioning, the latest photoelectric sensors with IO-Link connectivity is one of the best options. Photoelectric sensors are by design, able to deliver superior performance to size ratio compared to other types of sensors, which is why it’s the second most globally used type of sensing technology.

Photoelectric sensors have the ability to see (and react) to ‘lots of things’ which can occur in the more challenging sensing applications. These ‘variables’ could have a detrimental effect on process system performance, for example, irregularly shaped or reflective objects, poor lighting conditions, variation of mounting angles or the presence of dust or debris .

Sensing and Instrumentation specialists Baumer have a passion for sensor technology and offer one of the widest ranges of sensors, encoders, measuring instruments and components for automated image processing. Their range of photoelectric sensors are designed to provide the highest performance in the most compact design, so are ideal for applications where space is really tight. They also have the ability to perform reliably even when faced with challenging object properties, variable mounting positions or inconsistent lighting conditions. Operators also have the benefit of features such as plug and play integration, resulting in faster design-into systems and therefore quicker integration into production processes.

The range of photoelectric sensors includes a wide choice of models to suit specific application requirements. For example, their OT300 / OT500 sensors for longer range measurement of objects up to 2.6 metres utilise time-of-flight measurement and provide reliable object detection of reflective, glossy or irregularly shaped objects. Also, the standardised IO-Link ensures quick and simple integration and fast parameterisation.

For smaller sensing applications their miniature 0200 sensors are ideal with overall sizes from 8mm and therefore provide an outstanding size performance ratio. They offer extremely high immunity to ambient light, operate with a point and line beam shape and are adjustable via qTeach or IO-Link with LED and laser along with qTarget. A through-beam sensor measures objects up to 6m.

Where the requirement is for a ‘standard’ sensor their 0300 / 0500 option which incorporates a powerful microcontroller is ideal for general process sensing applications. It features 7 sensor principles, 4 light sources along with line or point beam shapes. They are easy to install and operate and incorporate IO-Link so are Industry 4.0 and IoT-ready.

Worldwide, customers trust the know-how of Baumer and acknowledge their reputation for quality, competence and precision and their range of industry-leading photoelectric sensors are a good example of this. 

More at: https://www.baumer.com/gb/en/product-overview/object-detection/photoelectric-sensors/c/279?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=baus-bi-567-photoelectric-sensors-2022

Video Links:  Baumer | Photoelectric sensors get more done! – YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZcphrqx3pA

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4c2d2gq5bo