Electronics for You

contents ELECTRONICS FOR YOU PLUS | AUGUST 2015 | VOL. 04 NO. 04 | ISSN-2454-4426

TECH FOCUS

BUYERS’ GUIDE

32

60

Would You Like Some ‘Smarts’ in Your Home?

DO-IT-YOURSELF

EDITORIAL : Editorial Secretary CORRESPONDEN CE Phone: 011-26810601; E-mail: [email protected] (Technical queries: [email protected]) SUBSCRI PTIONS & : Phone: 011-26810601 or 02 or 03 MISSIN G ISSUES E-mail: [email protected] BACK ISSUES, BOOKS, CDs, PCBs etc.

: Kits‘n’Spares, New Delhi Phone: 011-26371661, 26371662 E-mail: [email protected]

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MUMBAI

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BENGALURU


CHENNAI

: Ph: 044-42994363 E-mail: [email protected]

HYDERABA D

: Ph: 040�67172633 E-mail: [email protected]

KOLKATA


PUNE

: Ph: 08800295610, 09870682995 E-mail: [email protected]

GUJARAT:


CHINA

: Power Pioneer Group Inc. Ph: (86 755) 83729797, (86) 13923802595 E-mail: [email protected]

JAPAN

: Tandem Inc., Ph: 81-3-3541-4166 E-mail: [email protected]

SINGAPO RE

: Publicitas Singapore Pte Ltd Ph: +65-6836 2272 E-mail: [email protected]

TAIWAN

: J.K. Media, Ph: 886-2-87726780 ext. 10 E-mail: [email protected]

UNITED STATES

: E & Tech Media Ph: +1 860 536 6677 E-mail: [email protected]

Capabilities to Human Vision

Video 22 Video The Future of High Resolution Focus 26 Tech Would You You Feel at Home

• Basic Guide to Radio-Controlled Boat Modelling ....................................................97 • Arduino Based Audio VU Meter........................ 100 • AVR Based Programmable Object Counter...... 102 • Device for Maintaining Car Car Batteries ................105 • Door-Opening Alarm Using Hall Sensor ........... 107 • Solar-Powered Kennel Kennel Light ........................... ..108 • Motion Detector Using NE555 Timer Timer ................ 110 • Design and Analysis Analysis of A Single-Stage Single-Stage Transistor Amplifier Using C++ .........................112 • Controlling a Stepper Motor Using a Rotary Encoder......................... ...........115 • Simulation of 7-Segment 7-Segment Display Using LabVIEW ......................... ........................117

in a Smarthome?

Innovation 40 More Power to Your Phone With XS Powercard

& Measurement 44 Test Developments in Mixed-Signal Oscilloscopes Accelerate Embedded Design Development

50 Chips FPGAs for The Internet of Things Embedded 54 Engineers Need Tools That

EFY Plus DVD ............................II FreeRTOS: A Real-Time Operating System ............................ G’MIC: A Pleasant Image-Processing Framework ................IV .................................. VII Meep for Electromagnetic Simulations Simulations .................................

Solve More Than Just Immediate Hardware Problems

68 Mobiles Operating Systems for Mobiles

Plus DVD 84 EFY This Month’s DVD Contents

Interview

79

in India 90 Make Market Survey: An Outlook for

Surveillance and Access Control: “What is finally happening is adaptive streaming of surveillance video”

the PCB Industry in 2015-16: The Indian Perspective

— Kaushal Kadakia, product manager, video surveillance solutions, Matrix ComSec

82

eStyle

Power System Design: “Whiteboard... would give them time to work on multiple projects” — Phil Davies, global marketing and sales vice president, Vicor Corp.

NEXT ISSUE

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• Medical Electronics

AUGUST 2015 | ELECTRONICS FOR YOU PLUS

•

121

DIY: Eight Things You Did Not Know You Could Do with an iPhone Camera

122

Buyers’ Guide: How to Buy the Best DSLR Camera

Aerospace & Defence Electronics

: Ramesh Chopra

ADVERTISEMENTS NEW DELHI : Ph: 011-26810601 or 02 or 03 �HEAD OFFICE � E-mail: [email protected]

Latest MCU Development Boards Make Prototyping Easier

Futuristic 20 Bionic Lenses Adding

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Printed, published and owned by Ramesh Chopra. Printed at International Print-o-Pack Ltd, C-4 to C-11, Hosiery Complex, Phase-II Extension, NOIDA-201305, Gautam Budh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, on the first day of each month and published from D-87/1, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase-1, New Delhi 110020. Copyright 2015. All rights reserved throughout the world. Reproduction of any material from this magazine in any manner without the written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, no responsibility whatsoever is taken for any loss due to publishing errors. Articles that cannot be used are returned to the authors if accompanied by a self-addressed and sufficiently stamped envelope. But no responsibility is taken for any loss or delay in returning the material. EFY will not be responsible for any wrong claims made by an advertiser. Disputes, if any, will be settled in a New Delhi court only.

Regulars 06 Feedback 08 Q&A 10 Useful Websites 14 Tech News 86 Make in India: Industry News 94 New Products 119 First Look 125 Business Pages Ads 141 Electronics Mart Ads 146 Product Categories Index + Attractions During 2015 147 Advertisers’ Index WWW.EFYMAG.COM

contents ELECTRONICS FOR YOU PLUS | AUGUST 2015 | VOL. 04 NO. 04 | ISSN-2454-4426

TECH FOCUS

BUYERS’ GUIDE

32

60


DO-IT-YOURSELF

EDITORIAL : Editorial Secretary CORRESPONDEN CE Phone: 011-26810601; E-mail: [email protected] (Technical queries: [email protected]) SUBSCRI PTIONS & : Phone: 011-26810601 or 02 or 03 MISSIN G ISSUES E-mail: [email protected] BACK ISSUES, BOOKS, CDs, PCBs etc.

: Kits‘n’Spares, New Delhi Phone: 011-26371661, 26371662 E-mail: [email protected]

EXCLUSIVE NEWSSTAND DISTRIB UTOR

: IBH Books & Magazines Distributors Ltd Unit No.10, Bezzola Complex , Opp. Suman Nagar, Sion Trombay Road, Chembur, Mumbai 400 071 Phone: 022-40497401/02

MUMBAI


BENGALURU


CHENNAI


HYDERABA D

: Ph: 040�67172633 E-mail: [email protected]

KOLKATA


PUNE

: Ph: 08800295610, 09870682995 E-mail: [email protected]

GUJARAT:


CHINA

: Power Pioneer Group Inc. Ph: (86 755) 83729797, (86) 13923802595 E-mail: [email protected]

JAPAN

: Tandem Inc., Ph: 81-3-3541-4166 E-mail: [email protected]

SINGAPO RE

: Publicitas Singapore Pte Ltd Ph: +65-6836 2272 E-mail: [email protected]

TAIWAN

: J.K. Media, Ph: 886-2-87726780 ext. 10 E-mail: [email protected]

UNITED STATES

: E & Tech Media Ph: +1 860 536 6677 E-mail: [email protected]

Capabilities to Human Vision

Video 22 Video The Future of High Resolution Focus 26 Tech Would You You Feel at Home

• Basic Guide to Radio-Controlled Boat Modelling ....................................................97 • Arduino Based Audio VU Meter........................ 100 • AVR Based Programmable Object Counter...... 102 • Device for Maintaining Car Car Batteries ................105 • Door-Opening Alarm Using Hall Sensor ........... 107 • Solar-Powered Kennel Kennel Light ........................... ..108 • Motion Detector Using NE555 Timer Timer ................ 110 • Design and Analysis Analysis of A Single-Stage Single-Stage Transistor Amplifier Using C++ .........................112 • Controlling a Stepper Motor Using a Rotary Encoder......................... ...........115 • Simulation of 7-Segment 7-Segment Display Using LabVIEW ......................... ........................117

in a Smarthome?

Innovation 40 More Power to Your Phone With XS Powercard

& Measurement 44 Test Developments in Mixed-Signal Oscilloscopes Accelerate Embedded Design Development

50 Chips FPGAs for The Internet of Things Embedded 54 Engineers Need Tools That

EFY Plus DVD ............................II FreeRTOS: A Real-Time Operating System ............................ G’MIC: A Pleasant Image-Processing Framework ................IV .................................. VII Meep for Electromagnetic Simulations Simulations .................................

Solve More Than Just Immediate Hardware Problems

68 Mobiles Operating Systems for Mobiles

Plus DVD 84 EFY This Month’s DVD Contents

Interview

79

in India 90 Make Market Survey: An Outlook for

Surveillance and Access Control: “What is finally happening is adaptive streaming of surveillance video”

the PCB Industry in 2015-16: The Indian Perspective

— Kaushal Kadakia, product manager, video surveillance solutions, Matrix ComSec

82

eStyle

Power System Design: “Whiteboard... would give them time to work on multiple projects” — Phil Davies, global marketing and sales vice president, Vicor Corp.

NEXT ISSUE

4

• Medical Electronics


•

121

DIY: Eight Things You Did Not Know You Could Do with an iPhone Camera

122

Buyers’ Guide: How to Buy the Best DSLR Camera


: Ramesh Chopra

ADVERTISEMENTS NEW DELHI : Ph: 011-26810601 or 02 or 03 �HEAD OFFICE � E-mail: [email protected]

Latest MCU Development Boards Make Prototyping Easier

Futuristic 20 Bionic Lenses Adding

EDITOR

• Soldering/ Desoldering Stations

SUBSCRIPTION RATES Period Newstand Price Year ( ` )

Two One

2400 1200

You Pay ( ` )

Digital ( ` )

1800 960

750 280

Overseas Digital Print

US$ 15 US$ 5

— US$ 120

Please send payments only in favour of EFY Enterprises Pvt Ltd Valid till August 31, 2015, only

Printed, published and owned by Ramesh Chopra. Printed at International Print-o-Pack Ltd, C-4 to C-11, Hosiery Complex, Phase-II Extension, NOIDA-201305, Gautam Budh Nagar, Uttar Pradesh, on the first day of each month and published from D-87/1, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase-1, New Delhi 110020. Copyright 2015. All rights reserved throughout the world. Reproduction of any material from this magazine in any manner without the written permission of the publisher is prohibited. Although every effort is made to ensure accuracy, no responsibility whatsoever is taken for any loss due to publishing errors. Articles that cannot be used are returned to the authors if accompanied by a self-addressed and sufficiently stamped envelope. But no responsibility is taken for any loss or delay in returning the material. EFY will not be responsible for any wrong claims made by an advertiser. Disputes, if any, will be settled in a New Delhi court only.

Regulars 06 Feedback 08 Q&A 10 Useful Websites 14 Tech News 86 Make in India: Industry News 94 New Products 119 First Look 125 Business Pages Ads 141 Electronics Mart Ads 146 Product Categories Index + Attractions During 2015 147 Advertisers’ Index WWW.EFYMAG.COM

FEEDBACK

Barcode for EFY Article I am an engineer by profession and keep myself updated on new technologies, circuits, components and much more by reading EFY magazines. However, when I need some actual information, I cannot remember the issue. I am sure many readers are facing this problem. I would like to suggest a possible solution for this problem. A 2D barcode could be provided for each article and a barcode scanner could be added to EFY app. Then, readers could simply scan the barcode of the article they want to save using the app and add it to a folder on their phone. Abhimanyu G. Through email EFY: EFY: Thanks for the feedback and suggestion! We We will discuss this with our technical and management teams for feasibility and implementation.

Things You Wanted to Know Please provide the source codes of ‘Remote Control for Controlling the Direction of a DC Motor’ project given under Things You Wanted to Know section of June issue. i ssue. M. Hyder Hossain, proprietor, Sonolite Display, Display, Kolkata

Errata In ‘Solar Emergency Lamp’ published in June issue, please note the following corrections: 1. In parts list, C3 should be read as 470nF, ceramic disk. 2. The sentence ‘15V AC connected across connector CON2’ under Circuit and Working should be read as ‘12V AC connected across connector CON2.’ 3. On page 81, in the second column, the sentence ‘IC CA4130 is high’ should be read as ‘IC CA3140 is high.’ 4. In the PCB layout, Fig.4, IRF2 should be read as IRF840, instead of IRF530. 6

AUGUST 2015 | ELECTRONICS FOR YOU

From Facebook: EFY’s Electronics Design Community Please include projects for third-year diploma students. Suraj Shitre EFY: We have many projects available for students on electronicsforu.com under Circuits. Complete kits (including components, PCBs, circuit diagrams and descriptions) of some projects are available with our associates Kits‘n’Spares. Please visit their website kitsnspares.com for details. Electronics Projects Projects Volume books (Vol. 21 and Vol. 22) for  Hi, I am from Vietnam. I have Electronics the years 2000 and and 2001, 2001, respectively respectively.. May I know know if you have have the latest latest series, series, particularly from 2002 onwards? Duy Anh EFY: Yes, we have Electronics Projects Vol. 23 through Vol. 26 available in digital format. You could get these from online stores such as pothi.com, rockstand.in, getscoop.com, amazon.com and others.

‘Spot An Error’ Award Winners In Table II of ‘GPS Master-Slave Clocks with RF Link’ DIY circuit published in June issue, for character p, dp value is printed as 0, which is wrong. It should be 1. Gopiraja  In circuit given on page 8, under Q&A of June issue, connections for switches S1 and S2 connecting to the ground line are wrong. Enable pin 9 should not be used if output pins 11 and 14 of L293D are not used. Vijay Kakul  In ‘Radio Frequency Detector’ circuit in June issue, in the first paragraph, it is wrongly mentioned as UV meter instead of VU meter. A UV (ultraviolet) meter is used to measure UV light levels. Here, we have to use volume unit (VU) meter to measure the RF signal level. Arunjo Maliekkal

The complete source codes including the hex codes for both transmitter and receiver units have been included in the DVD of this month’s EFY issue.

EF Y:

From Twitter: EFY Group@EFYIndia Kerala to be the first Indian state to have Electronics@School Electronics@School Ajay Kumar @drajaykumar_ias @drajaykumar_ias 

EFY magazine has put electronics in schools for decades! Sankhya Technologies @teraptor

RF Detector In ‘Radio Frequency Detector’ circuit published in June issue, how can I use it to detect a radio frequency (RF) signal? I do not have an RF meter. Ruban Ponniah Through email The author D. Mohan Kumar replies:

The circuit uses a VU meter (such as the one used in old tape recorders) to measure the intensity of RF in a room. A sensitive milliampere meter

can also be used. Brightness of the LED also gives an indication of the presence of an RF signal.

Electromagnetic Relay This is regarding my circuit ‘AC 230V Electromagnetic Relay’ published in June issue. I found that the overall circuit efficacy could be improved by interchanging zener diode ZD1 (12V, (12V, 1W) and rectifier diode D2 (1N4007). T.K. Hareendran The author WWW.EFYMAG.COM

Q&A

Things You Wanted to Know! does Q1.What would like

mAh mean? I to know how many hours will Mircomax A120, which features a battery of 2000mAh, work for before it drains out? How can I calculate hours of working on the basis of mAh? Ismail Taibani on email The capacity of a battery is rated as amp-hour current (expressed as Ah). This is the amount of power, in amps, a battery can deliver over a specific period of time. If a battery has a rating of five amp-hours, it can provide up to 5A continuously for one hour, or 1A for five hours. The current rating of a battery is as important as its voltage rating. It specifies the maximum current that could be drawn at the rated voltage. Ah is a large unit, therefore for capacity of a smaller battery, mAh is used. mAh means milliamp-hours. As milliamp is 1/1000th of an amp, 1000mAh can deliver 1000 milliamps for one hour, or 1-amp-hour. 2000mAh means it can deliver 2 amps for an hour. The drain current of the battery depends on mobile as the load. If the mobile consumes maximum load current of 200mA, it will work up to 2000mAh/200mA=10 hours.

A1.

do some mobile phone Q2.Why batteries have four terminals and others have only three? What are the functions of third and fourth terminal pins? Manash Jyoti Chetia, North Guwahati, Assam Nearly all mobile phone batteries have three terminals and sometimes four terminals. Battery pin descriptions are given below: GND or negative terminal. A ref-

A2.

8


erence point for measuring the other voltage or returning point for electric current. It is the same as a negative battery terminal. BAT+ or positive terminal. A positive terminal is also known as a positive battery terminal. Both positive and negative terminals are duly-marked on a battery. Battery temperature (BTemp). This terminal is used for sensing. Batteries are charged by applying controlled current through the charging circuit. While charging a battery, some chemical and electric energy is converted into heat, so a battery tends to overheat while getting charged. Overheating and overcharging may damage the battery permanently, shorten its life or lead to explosion. Thus, we need to control the heating of the battery during charging. BTemp terminal of the battery is used to sense the temperature of the battery, and accordingly, the charging circuit of the mobile phone changes the voltage levels of the output. This change in voltage by the charger circuit controls the charging current to the battery. The battery-charging circuit continuously senses this terminal, thus temperature of the battery while charging, and accordingly, varies the current or the charging rate. Battery site indicator or battery system indicator (BSI). There are some mobile phones that have shorter BSI pins. This is because when a battery is removed and the phone is switched on, the BSI circuit interrupts first, which tells the processor to shut down all communication to prevent damage. The battery block contains BSI resistors for battery identification. BSI fixed resistor value indicates the chemistry and default capacity of a battery. Temperature and capacity information is needed for charge control (charging current and voltage). It is connected to the resistor to GND. The phone measures the resistance of BSI-GND connectors and determines what kind of battery is in the phone.

For example, Nokia NiMH batteries have BMC-2 640mAH 3.3kΩ, BMC-3 900mAH 5.6kΩ. have two questions. First, Q3.Iwhat is the difference between ARM processor and ARM Cortex? What is Arduino Uno R3 processor? Prof. Pamarthi Kanakaraja Usha Rama College of Engineering & Technology (Andhra Pradesh) ARM and ARM Cortex. These are both processor cores on which microcontrollers (MCUs) are made. ARM Cortex-M3 is an implementation of ARM7v architecture. A number of manufacturers are producing MCUs based on Cortex-M3 and ARM7 cores. ARM Holdings licenses the design to manufacturers that produce their own implementation. While ARM7 implements both ARM and Thumb instruction sets, Cortex-M3 supports only Thumb-2 instruction set. Cortex-M3 is aimed at the deeply embedded market. It is designed to be low-cost and low-power and provides good performance for the cost and power, particularly suited to automotive and wireless communication applications. The other ARM core is ARM7TDMI (and ARM7TDMIS). MCUs based on this core are, in many ways, the workhorse of the embedded world. Ardu in o Un o R3 proc es so r. This is a MCU board based on ATmega328. It has 14 digital input/ output pins (of which six can be used as pulse-width modulation outputs), six analogue inputs, 16MHz ceramic resonator, USB connection, power jack, ICSP header and a reset button. It contains everything that is needed to support the MCU; simply connect it to a computer with a USB cable, or power it with an AC-to-DC adaptor or battery, to get started.

A3.

Answers compiled by EFY joint director (training), Col. N.C. Pande (Retd). Letters and questions for publication may be addresse d to Editor, Electronics For You, D-87/1, Okhla Industrial Area, Phase 1, New Delhi 110020 (e-mail: [email protected]) and should include name and address of the sender

WWW.EFYMAG.COM

USEFUL WEBSITES

Do-It-Yourself Trying out different experiments has always been fun and satisfying for a hobbyist. This month we have listed out some websites that could help you try your hands on different do-it-yourself (DIY) projects NIRAJ SAHAY

doityourself.com doityourself.com, founded in 1995, is an independent home improvement and repair website. It is divided into three sections: How-Tos, Forums and Did It Myself. Did It Myself section has projects on various topics. The website also includes a section called Electrical & Electronics. You may access this site freely and use it for non-commercial purposes, subject to terms and conditions. Today, doityourself.com averages over five million unique visitors per month.

www.doityourself.com/did-it-myself/electrical-and-electronics

fixya.com This site has a solution for nearly everything. In 2005, many product manufacturers were neglecting post-purchase customer support. Frustrated by the lack of practical post-purchase information, entrepreneur Yaniv Bensadon set out to build a community resource capable of providing relevant and up-to-date data for troubleshooting. Today, fixya continues to empower individuals to repair and improve upon their already-purchased possessions. From fixing cars to cameras and iPhones, fixyans are part of a DIY revolution that helps empower techies, tinkerers and hobbyists across the globe. www.fixya.com

diy-electronic-projects.com This website has a good collection of DIY projects on electronics. diy-electronic-projects.com has more than 300 projects, which are sorted in several categories, to try your hands on.

www.diy-electronic-projects.com

fastrepairguide.com This is the place where you can find online computer and electronics repair guides. The site provides repair and troubleshooting information for devices ranging from LCD monitors and computer motherboards to inverters and printers. It also provides links to electronics projects and components’ datasheets. fastrepairguide.com has about 13,215 users in its online community and is one of the most popular websites in the city of Ipoh, Malaysia, according to alexa.com, with maximum search queries related to LCD and plasma TV repair. www.fastrepairguide.com

electronics-diy.com The site allows you to contribute DIY electronics projects. It has many projects spread across different sections, namely, Electronic Store, Electronic Blog, Electronic Schematics and Tutorials. The last section contains tutorials on PIC microcontrollers, EAGLE printed circuit boards (PCBs) and on how to make PCBs, among others. Overall, it is a great place for a hobbyist to learn and contribute.

electronics-diy.com/index.php

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TECH NEWS

TECHNOLOGY AT YOUR SERVICE Chinese university unveils mind-controlled car

A

mind-controlled car that would do away with the use of steering wheel or accelerator has been unveiled in China. It has been developed by a research

Mind-controlled car by Nankai University in Tianjin (Image courtesy: www.hufngtonpost.co.uk)

team from Nankai University in Tianjin in collaboration with Chinese car maker Great Wall Motor. The car is controlled via a headset with 16 sensors that send impulses from the user’s brain to the car’s processing system. Sensors capture brain signals and the recognition system analyses these, translates these into driving instructions and sends these to the car.

Plant-inspired solar cells revolutionise energy storage

A

technology developed by scientists at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), could store solar energy for up to several weeks. Most current residential rooftop solar panels can store energy from the sun for only a few microseconds at a time. The new design is inspired by the way plants generate energy through photosynthesis. The two components include a polymer donor and a nano-scale fullerene acceptor. The polymer donor absorbs sunlight and passes electrons to the fullerene acceptor. The process generates electrical energy. UCLA technology arranges the elements neatly like small bundles of uncooked spaghetti with precisely placed meatballs. Some meatballs are designed to sit inside the spaghetti bundles, but others are forced to stay on the outside. Meatballs inside the structure take electrons from the polymers and toss these to the outside, which can effectively keep electrons away from the polymer for weeks. The materials self-assemble just by being placed in close proximity. 14


Technology by University of California, Los Angeles, could allow storage of solar energy up to several weeks (Image courtesy: http://newsroom.ucla.edu)

Memcomputer mimics human brain

A

s the need for computing grows, researchers are faced with the problem of creating more computing power from existing electronics. Enter memcomputers. Dr Massimiliano Di Ventra, computer scientist at University of California, and his team, is developing a memcomputer, which is a special computer that derives inspiration from human brain. Basic computers store data in one location and process it at some other (central processing unit, or CPU). The data travels to and fro between these locations for every computing cycle. Memcomputers would take only a few seconds to solve complex mathematical problems that the current generation of supercomputers takes decades to solve. Di Ventra explains this with an example. The human brain consumes about 20W to perform about 1016 operations per second. A supercomputer, on the other hand, would need 10 million times more power to do so. Memcomputers would be able to do this with the help of memprocessors, which function like transistors, and are the basic building blocks of modern electronics. But with additional function, these will also store charge, which would allow these to store and process data simultaneously, just like the human brain.

Software to detect eye diseases

S

martphones can detect heart rate and blood-oxygen content. Soon, these would be able to detect common health-related issues. Researchers at Medical and SurgiWWW.EFYMAG.COM

TECH NEWS cal Center for Retina (MSCR), along with biomedical engineers from ITESM, Mexico, have developed special software for smartphones that can detect eye diseases like diabetic macular edema. The software relies on the camera of a smartphone to perform tests that could detect any abnormality in the thickness of retina. Dr Juan Carlos Altamirano Vallejo, medical director at MSCR, says that the technology will not replace the specialist but will help detect the disease early so that it could be treated. The software will help general physicians who may not have in-depth knowledge of ophthalmology for detection of eye diseases, so they could refer the patients to specialists.

Flexible electronics now a reality

I

magine that you could stretch or fold your smartphone, laptop or television like a piece of paper and carry it around in your pocket! Researchers from North Carolina State University, the USA, were able to create a transparent, flexible conductor that may make completely flexible electronics a reality. Inspired by the flexible design of a spring, researchers first created a 3D polymer mould on a silicon surface. They then coated the mould (shaped like a series of identical, evenly-spaced rectangles) with a layer of aluminium-doped zinc oxide, which served as the conducting material. After that, an elastic polymer was applied to the zinc oxide. Researchers then removed the silicon and the mould, and what they obtained was a transparent material with series of symmetrical, zinc-oxide ridges on an elastic surface. The resultant material was transparent because both zinc oxide and the polymer are transparent. Ridges of zinc oxide allow the structure to expand and contract, making it stretchable.

Kirigami stretchable batteries for flexible electronics

A

rizona State University and China’s Jinan University have teamed up to create what could become

An ASU research team has used a variation of origami, called kirigami, as a design template for batteries that can be stretched to more than 150 per cent of their original size and still maintain full functionality (Image courtesy: fullcircle.asu.edu)

16


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TECH NEWS the first flexible batteries inside wearable electronics. The secret to these batteries is a traditional Japanese fold-and-cut practice of kirigami (which derives from origami). Kirigami is a compound word made of two words, kiru (to cut) and kami (paper). The Japanese practice involves making small slits or paper crease cuts and folding the paper remnants to create some form of design. In this case, the ASU team, led by ASU mechanical and aerospace engineering associate professor Hanqing Jiang, created cut-and-twist patterns in the creases of Reynolds Wrap aluminium foil, coated the foil with electrode-laden, conductive material and then replaced the 300mAh battery inside Samsung’s Gear 2 smartwatch with the coated kirigami-cut aluminium foil.

Material with magnetoresistance for better electronics

R

esearchers in Germany have found a material that could be used to build smaller and faster electronics. Known as niobium-phosphide, the material’s elec-

Niobium-phosphide for building smaller and faster electronics (Image courtesy: www.sciencealert.com)

tronic resistance increases dramatically when exposed to a magnetic field. The property called giant magnetoresistance is crucial to achieving large storage capacities that we have come to enjoy in our hard drives. The material has an incredible magnetoresistance because its electrons are superfast, with a top speed of around 300km/s. In a magnetic field, this makes them vulnerable to a phenomenon known as Lorentz force, which causes an increasing percentage of electrons to flow in the wrong direction as the magnetic field becomes stronger. Because of this force, extremely large magnetoresistance of 250 per cent was observed at room temperature. In comparison, materials that are currently used in hard drives usually exhibit magnetoresistance of between 40 per cent and 110 per cent at room temperature. WWW.EFYMAG.COM

ELECTRONICS FOR YOU | AUGUST 2015

17

TECH NEWS

Now, print electronic circuits

R

esearchers from University of Tokyo have created a mechanism that puts electronics on apparels with a new type of conductive ink. The ink will allow printing of electronic circuits for a wide range of biomedical

Quantum dots, a type of nanocrystals discovered in early 1980s, are made by combining metals such as lead or cadmium with other elements including sulphur, selenium or arsenic. By controlling the ratio of these materials, temperature and reaction time, scientists can generate a nearly unlimited number of dots with differences in an electronic property known as bandgap, which determines the wavelengths of light that each dot will absorb. The spectrometer deploys hundreds of quantum dot materials that each filter a specific set of wavelengths of light. Quantum-dot filters are printed into a thin film and placed on top of a photodetector such as the chargecoupled devices (CCDs) found in smartphone cameras.

Robot that can be controlled by thoughts and brain signals

Electronics on apparels with a new conductive ink (Image courtesy: www.sciencedaily.com)

sensors directly on the textile. This means that a shirt would also function as a heart rate monitor. So far the ink could only be printed directly on clothes to function as electronic circuits. Prof. Takao Someya and his team at Graduate School of Engineering, Tokyo, have succeeded in producing an ink that is elastic and can conduct electricity. It can be printed on textile in just one step. The team used flakes of silver, organic solvents, fluorine rubber and fluorine surfactant in the ink to achieve desirable properties. The end result is the ink that can stretch to 2.5 times its original length.

Spectrometer that fits inside smartphones

S

cientists at MIT have created a spectrometer that could enable the devices to diagnose diseases, especially skin conditions, or detect environmental pollutants. Spectrometers measure the properties of light and are widely used in physical, chemical and biological research. These new spectrometers can fit inside a smartphone camera, using tiny semiconductor nanoparticles called quantum dots.

R

esearchers at Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (EPFL), Switzerland, have developed a robot that can be controlled with thoughts and brain signals. It can perform various tasks, too. The team, headed by Prof. Jose del R. Millain, particularly had disabled people in mind while working on the concept to give them a sense of independence. Nine disabled and ten healthy people in Italy, Germany and Switzerland took part in the task of piloting a robot with their thoughts. For several weeks, each subject put on an electrode-studded hat capable of analysing his brain signals. They then instructed the robot to move, transmitting their instructions in realtime via the Internet from their home country. By virtue of a video camera, screen and wheels, the robot, located in an EPFL laboratory in Switzerland, was able to film as it moved while displaying the face of the remote pilot via Skype. In the second part of the tests, disabled people with residual mobility were asked to pilot the robot with movements they were still capable of doing.

Samsung screen shows the road ahead

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The quantum dot spectrometer can be printed onto a smartphone camera (Image courtesy: www.wired.co.uk)

arge vehicles are often too hard to pass on a narrow two-lane road. Samsung has come up with a clever solution to this problem. Argentinean arm of the South Korean tech giant has launched what it calls a Safety Truck, a semi truck with a wireless camera mounted on the front, displaying the road ahead on a screen tacked on to the back of the truck. The move is a part of an effort to reduce head-on collisions while passing. The front-mounted camera broadcasts its signal to four monitors on the back of the truck to give drivers behind the truck a good view ahead. In addition to making passing safer, Samsung says that this would let drivers see any obstacles on the road ahead, preventing the need for sudden emergency braking.

Check efytimes.com for more news, daily 18


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FUTURISTIC

Bionic Lenses Adding Capabilities to Human Vision ionic means utilising electrical and mechanical devices for assisting human beings. A bionic lens is a transmissive, optical, micro-electrical device constructed on a polymer-type material. The lens resembles a regular contact lens. Researchers at University of Washington have created a prototype of such a lens. It has been tested on a rabbit for 20 minutes and no signs of any irregular behaviour by the rabbit were observed. Babak Parvez, one of the inventors, says, “When we look through the lens, a display is generated, which is superimposed on the world outside.” Although the device can have a number of applications, construction of this device involves a very high level of expertise in nanotechnology. This is because, typically, a lens’ thickness is about 250µm, which limits the choice of materials to be used and also imposes various regulatory restrictions, as electronics components operate on radio frequencies (RFs) that may be internal or external to the device. This also imposes the risk of heating effects of radiation on the eye. Another problem associated with the lens is selection of battery source. Although nanotechnology enables us to use micro-electronic methods, this does not relate to batteries. Battery sizes have been the most limiting factor in deciding the size of electronics devices. Therefore researchers have used the concept of a wireless battery. They used a wireless source to power the lens with the help of antennae embedded on the lens.

B Vishnu Gautam is a regular contributor to EFY magazine

Fig. 1: Prototype of the lens on a rabbit’s eye (Courtesy: University of Washington)

Fig. 2: Prototype of the bionic lens (later version) (Courtesy: University of Washington)

Manufacturing and structure While designing the lens, the researchers faced three challenges. First, they had to maintain the mechanical strength of the lens so that it would not easily break and damage the eye. For this, they used special organic polymer material as base. The polymer also worked as a substrate for the electronics network.

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Second, they had to ensure that the lens was bio-compatible. Last, circuits had to be embedded to be 250µm thick, so that the lenses would be comfortable to wear. The basic structure of the device comprises: Sensor readout and display control unit . The initial experiment used one blue LED, as with blue LEDs all colours can be generated. They used a micro-led structure to display the image (floating text and a single-pixel display). Fresnel lens. As the image formed by the LED cannot align with the focal distance of the eye to form an image on the retina, a Fresnel lens was used. This lens has different reflection, diffraction and focal length properties, thus altering the overall focal length, creating an image on the retina. Antenna structure. Dimensions of the antenna were so tiny that its efficiency was very low. This antenna was used to collect the RF energy projected by the wireless battery. Integrated circuit (IC). A special RF-IC was used to convert the collected energy into voltage and to store it for image generation. Interconnection network. Voltage-efficient interconnections were laid down that were electromagnetic compatible with the rest of the electronics in the lens.

Applications The practical applications of such lenses can be infinite. This technology comes under brain-computer interface category that could revolutionise the way humans interact with computers. Such devices find application in the following areas: 1. Faster object recognition in daily life 2. Monitor live health status of individuals 3. Provide new dimensions to surf the Internet (virtual displays) when coupled with brain interfaces 4. Provide an entirely different gaming experience (virtual players)  WWW.EFYMAG.COM

VIDEO

The Future of High Resolution oday’s viewers watch a variety of different video content on a number of devices. With the proliferation of mobile devices, we continue to push boundaries of how we view content, specifically in video quality. In fact, the recent introduction of 4K tablet computers and an iMac computer with a 5K retina display is an indication of interest in high-resolution images, even in smaller-screen environments. With the introduction of these higher-resolution formats for a variety of devices, are we at the point or will we ever get to a place where our vision deems all these extra pixels unnecessary?

T Tom Coughlin is senior IEEE member

Picture perfect: The case for pixels All of the heavy-hitting technology companies have one thing in common when releasing new devices—resolution, which is a focal point as one of the selling features. And why should it not be? One of

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the main attractions of laptops and mobile devices is for entertainment purposes, such as watching shows or movies on Netflix. As a result, video streaming has become a standard activity for consumers. For example, within the last couple of years, the concept of TV Everywhere has exploded. This has caused service providers to upgrade network capabilities to offer the best possible viewing experience for their customers. High-definition viewing is no longer a benefit but a standard for consumers. Higher-resolution content may be useful in smaller screens where a user may expand the viewed content to see smaller features. Thus, high-resolution content can lead to new games and other entertainment experiences where small features may be important. This feature is also valuable for amateur and professional video makers and for who may need to make modifications to images close to the pixel level.

/ s a i c i t o n / s t s o p / t e n . a g n i r a t . w w w : y s e t r u o c e g a m I


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VIDEO

4K and 8K: Is it pixel overload 4K technology is steadily making its way into our entertainment channels, but it is not the limit for highresolution videos. There is work going on to develop the infrastructure for 8K×4K videos, particularly by NHK in Japan. These 8K videos will have about 4x as many pixels as 4K videos, since pixel dimensions are roughly doubled in each dimension. In addition, as the resolution increases, the frame rate of the captured (and displayed video) should go up to avoid certain video artifacts. Thus, the total size of an 8K video movie could be 100x larger than today’s HD (about 2K×1K video). As a result, this will impact storage-capacity sizes of future consumer devices. This is already becoming evident with the launch of iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus smartphones, which offer up to 128 gigabytes of storage. We will see this in other products also as the demand for space continues to rise. 8K video demonstrations with large-screen displays at trade shows provide amazing details that are lost or blurred in lower-resolution videos. Today, 8K videos are experimental and very expensive but there are 8K video projects now, with more being planned. Japanese developers plan to start 8K TV broadcasts by the start of the next decade. In another four to five years, 8K×4K displays may be the next big thing, like 4K displays are today.

Putting it together: What the future holds But, what is the limit of video resolution that we could want? Well, what this higher resolution is all about is creating a more immersive user experience. Ultimately, we want an all-encompassing display that is hard to distinguish from reality itself; what we want is a holodeck (for all you Star Trek fans). A totally immersive artificial reality will require at least 8K video content, and possibly 16K×8K video resolution. This video content would be projected in an area rather than a surface. Essentially, the viewer will be surrounded by images, creating a very great sense of being there. This immersive content would be captured by multiple synchronised cameras surrounding a field-of-view or generated by 3D-rendering equipment and then projected in a free-floating format. The technology required to make such immersive experiences is likely more than ten years away, and when it is ready consumers will want to have it. As a result of these continuous technological advancements and video format qualities, I do not believe the current concept of TV and the use of single displays for experiencing content will remain for long. A single fixed display can only hold so much resolution. Therefore new and innovative devices will need to be created until we reach the point of commercialising free-floating holographic display technology.  24


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TECH FOCUS

Would You Feel at Home in a Smarthome?

Mitsubishi Electric’s smarthome concept

ike smartphones, smarthomes will also simply creep into your life. When you buy appliances a few years down the line, you will find that they do not make these dumb any more. When buying a doorbell, you will be faced with a choice of surveillance kits. To paint your house, you will find electronics dissolved in the paint, to maintain the temperature. To renovate your house, you will find that doors and windows are no longer simple wooden structures but electronically-reinforced super-smart security personnel. In short, you will no longer find devices that you have to operate, but will end up with a house full of devices that talk to each other, manage themselves and, ultimately, keep you safe and comfortable, too. The phenomenon has already started setting in with assorted products like smart thermostats, smart power sockets, energymanagement systems, connected home monitors, automatic garden sprinklers, connected slow cookers, drones that check

L Janani Gopalakrishnan Vikram is a technically- qualied freelance writer, editor and hands-on mom based in Chennai

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who is at the door and more. While another of this month’s stories (page 32) deals with the smarthome framework, popular products and components, here we look at some futuristic research, products and applications.

Not just smarthomes, but a smart neighbourhood, too In March this year, Google was granted a patent for ‘Security Scoring in a SmartSensored Home,’ which mainly deals with communication and collaboration between sensors embedded in a smarthome. Some of the applications detailed in the patent are really interesting. You know what best you can do with today’s alarm clocks. In the future, a smarter alternative could automatically judge how long it takes you to get ready for work and wake you up accordingly. It would wake you up earlier if it observed traffic on your route or when you have set up a meeting for earlier than usual. Or, it might let you WWW.EFYMAG.COM

TECH FOCUS Kephart of Yuneec suggested that drones for home surveillance were a practical but unexplored area. Drones are stealthy; these can hover about and can be controlled by smartphones. Today’s drones are capable of continuously streaming audio and video, too. So why cannot a combination of drones and software be used to watch a house? This could be an interesting twist to future smarthomes.

Wearables that turn into authenticators MIT’s heart rate and breathing monitor at work

sleep a little longer if you arrived late from office the previous night and do not have a meeting till noon that day. Another interesting scenario detailed in the patent is that of multiple homes connected together to form a smart neighbourhood that will have improved security, cooperation for energy management, the ability to alert one another in case of events like fire and accidents and so on.

This door has no handle or lock to break Mitsubishi Electric’s model smarthome in Tokyo shows off some wonderful futuristic technologies, starting right from the door handle. When you arrive at the house, all you can see in front of you is a snazzy metallic sheet with a small peephole. There is no handle or lock visible on the door. But as soon as the biometric camera (yes, what you thought was a peephole) has scanned you and recognises you as an authorised inhabitant, a door handle pops out of the sheet. As soon as you touch the handle to pull, it quickly and unobtrusively checks your temperature and heart rate to ensure you are okay. If there are any updates for you, you will get those right away—it will tell you if your parcel has arrived or your child is yet to return from school and so on. You can also check the wherea28


bouts of other family members and when they are expected home (as the door syncs to their schedules, too). If that sounds too futuristic, let us step into the kitchen. But before you do that, your vital statistics and that of your family members have already reached your fridge. Based on the stock inside the fridge and depending on the health parameters collected by the door handle and other connected devices being used by the rest of your family, this smartdevice gives you suggestions on what to cook. Once you decide on the menu, step-by-step cooking instructions and estimated preparation times are displayed on the kitchen countertop. The countertop has movable, ultra-thin induction heaters that can slide from end-to-end, as well as outlet-free, non-contact power for blenders, steamers and other kitchen appliances. According to news reports, the company has no immediate plans to launch these devices. It wants to take time to design the products carefully so that these can gel with users’ lives, to help without overwhelming them.

A drone to guard your house This year’s CES saw interesting drones being demonstrated by companies like Yuneec, Hexo+ and Hobbico. In a post-event interview, Ryan

In a Wired article, Kevin Foreman, director of product vision at Vectorform, explains that, wearables will play a significant role in the future smarthome. These would be like your key to the smarthome. Nymi, for example, is a wristband that continuously monitors your heartbeat and uses it as your signature to authenticate you to several other systems. It eliminates the overhead of having to manually identify yourself to other systems and devices using passwords or fingerprints. Plus, your heartbeat is inimitable, so it is a very secure technique, too. Over time, Nymi could also be improved to track the user’s body temperature to adjust air-conditioning, accordingly.

Smarthome tech for a healthy heart While many people think of smarthomes only from the perspective of energy management, comfort and entertainment, among other things, there are some for whom a smarthome could be a life-support system. Here is where MIT’s new wireless sensing technology, Vital-Radio, can be of help. The device, when built into the walls of a home, can monitor the occupants’ heart rate and breathing without requiring them to wear even a single sensor. According to the results published in a research paper, the technology boasts a median accuracy of WWW.EFYMAG.COM

TECH FOCUS 99 per cent from up to eight metres away. The system as a whole can track more than one occupant, at all times, whichever room he or she might be in, whether sitting, sleeping or moving. Researchers came up with this device based on the fact that wireless signals are impacted by even the smallest motion in the environment, even something as mild as our chest heaving during inhalation or exhalation and vibrations caused on our skin when the heart beats. The monitor first identifies the person’s presence, focuses on him or her and then measures the heart rate and breathing pattern by transmitting a low-power wireless signal and measuring the time it takes for the signal to be reflected back to the device. The patterns are then analysed by the device. The key benefit of this device is that it is totally non-intrusive. You do not need to wear anything at all. So the device can constantly watch the occupants of a house and, over time, apps can be used to study patterns, identify increase in stress levels, abnormal health conditions and so on. Now, that sounds even more useful than energy saving, right?

Love them abundantly, but watch only silently A real-life story covered by Heather Kelly in CNN’s Tomorrow Transformed shows how two daughters used a highly-customisable, do-it-yourself (DIY) home automation system from SmartThings to unobtrusively keep an eye on their 77-year-old mom, Mary Lou, who was in the middle stages of Alzheimer’s. When Lou leaves home at an odd hour, a silent sensor on her front door alerts her daughters on their respective phones. Sensors on her keychains help find out if she leaves her condo premises, while some in the kitchen keep an eye on her eating habits. More sensors in the bedroom track when she sleeps, how she sleeps and when she wakes up, while flood sensors in the laundry room and smoke sensors in the kitchen assure her daughters that Lou is safe. The sensors are connected to a local wireless hub and together with a smartapp, these help Lou’s daughters give her the satisfaction of living independently and safely in her own home, while they remain assured of her safety. There are other companies like Lively, BeClose and GrandCare that offer connected accessories such as beds, toilets, pillbox sensors and blood-pressure-, weight- and glucose-monitoring devices. Most of these work silently without invading senior citizens’ privacy, which is most important to let them live with dignity.

Tech gives the gift of independence Not just senior citizens, there are also many youngsters with disabilities who are beginning to use technology to WWW.EFYMAG.COM


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TECH FOCUS

Look, what you are in for... You would surely have read of smartappliances, smar t thermostats, smart lighting systems and so on. But do you know that smart, autonomous gadgets are available for many more purposes such as the following?  To water plants, depending on soil moisture, weather reports, etc  To take orders and mix cocktails  To monitor the condition of water in pools and autonomously initiate cleaning and refilling operations  To automatically start cooking food as soon as you leave office

help them live independently. In the case of Eric Pebbles, an active college professor, who also suffers from spastic cerebral palsy due to oxygen deprivation at birth, a smarthome is a boon. He roped in smart technology provider Smart Solutions to build an independent living space for him. After assessing his requirements, they came up with a detailed plan for the house, which included automated doors, lights, thermostats, shades and security cameras, which could be controlled through an app on his smartphone. This enabled Pebbles to control these equipment from anywhere in the house. Smartlogic built into the system executes commands based on the situation without being explicitly given each instruction. When Eric is ready to go out, a one-touch command executes multiple tasks like unlocking and opening the door, switching off the air-conditioner and lights, opening the garage door and closing all these after he leaves. In a Web report, Pebbles said, “You do not know how good it feels to be able to open my own front door and enjoy the view. Thanks to technology, I can.” The best part is that all this magic has been worked into a normal apartment and not a specially-constructed one, so it is something anybody can try and implement for themselves.

Avoiding bugs It is evident that as smarthome technologies gain momentum, these will serve a mixed purpose of convenience, comfort and necessity. In the 30


case of such critical applications, say, where a person’s parameters or whereabouts are monitored for healthcare reasons, it is also important that the system should work without faults. Understandably, researchers around the world are attempting to identify and overcome bugs in smart technologies. In one such research published by Juan Ye and team at School of Computer Science, University of St Andrews, Scotland, they observe that abnormal sensor events hamper the correct identification of critical (and potentially life-threatening) situations, and that existing learning, estimation and time based approaches are inaccurate and inflexible when applied to multiple people sharing a living space. They also point out that sensor anomaly, which might be caused by people accidentally moving or dislodging sensors, can be even more problematic than broken sensors. This is because dislodged sensors could report values that are within a reasonable range but not accurate, so it would be difficult to find out that these are malfunctioning. Addressing this is, according to the team, more difficult than straightforward damage of sensors. To solve this problem, the researchers have developed CLEAN, a knowledge-driven technique to detect anomalies in event-driven binary sensors. According to the authors, “CLEAN combines knowledge and statistical models by using well-defined knowledge as part of a clustering based outlier-detection technique.”

The system does not rely on any training data or annotated data and is therefore not affected by any change in the occupants’ routine activities. A flexible and dynamic mechanism is used to configure and adjust thresholds at runtime, which reduce the engineering effort. It can work with any number of sensors and users, and can be scaled up, too. The concept has been tested using several third-party real-world datasets with different sensor deployments, user profiles, etc, and has been found to be effective. Hopefully, we will see this and other research findings deployed in future smarthomes.

Smart, no doubt, but should be used smartly, too The first reaction to these products and projects is amazement, followed by a sense of satisfaction, albeit peppered with a little fear. It is good to know that smarthome technologies enable people with disabilities to live on their own terms. It is comforting that these technologies let mothers be at peace at their workplaces, while getting constant updates about the whereabouts and safety of their kids. It is also nice that these technologies free up some of people’s time and mindshare. Fortunately, these also save them a bundle by reducing energy consumption. But, at what cost? When you find a free hour, you should listen to this National Public Radio debate on whether smart technology is making us dumb. It is available on www. npr.org/2015/05/20/407956931/ debate-is-smart-technology-makingus-dumb

Hard to believe, but it could be true that too much of technology could reduce our ability to think and make decisions for ourselves. It is a boon for those who really need it, but others must exercise their discretion. You cannot have too much of a chocolate cake just because it is delectable.  WWW.EFYMAG.COM

TECH FOCUS


Dilin Anand is a senior assistant editor at EFY

(TNT). It is not every day that you can watch your house get attacked by terrorists, as you relax in a warm bubble bath in your temperature-controlled bathtub, while catching up on the action unravelling outside. A display in the panic bathroom lets you watch security footage and control your house from a bathtub using a waterproof remote. There are 24 audio zones and 16 cameras spread across the house that can be used to single-handedly run things like awesome parties, while making sure nothing gets out of hand. The house also comes with a temperaturecontrolled cellar for storing red wines and a special humidor for cigars. To prevent your teenager from consuming the wine, the cellar comes with biometric access points. The cellar can also be programmed to send across a text to you if someone tries to get in. There is also a ballroom with a dance floor that almost magically lowers itself into a swimming pool with just the press of a button. But, how do we build something at least close to this?

Connection 1: The living room and the bedroom

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n automated stacking car lift packs your car into a garage, while you proceed to enter Kensington House at 16 South End, London W8. It has more than a couple of floors and, so, comes with its very own lift to take you up. Touchpanels give you control of the ` 25 million worth of electronics in the house connected via 30 kilometres of wiring and controlled by a computer server rack that by itself costs approximately ` 6 million. For the kind of clients who would look for a place like this, there are special panic rooms inside the house protected by bomb-proof doors that can withstand the blast of 10 kilograms of trinitrotoluene

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Crestron is introducing the next version of their DigitalMedia AV distribution technology with the new DM 3.0 standard that was introduced at InfoComm in Orlando, the USA, in June 2015. This means, you can create a movie experience through your living space without worrying about connectivity problems. Just like Kensington House, you can have wireless touchscreens placed around your house to directly control various automations in it. You can connect these devices using standard technologies like Wi-Fi and Z-wave or go for specialised technology like Smartlabs’ Insteon technology that uses power lines and radio frequency (RF) or Crestron’s Extended Range (ER) RF technologies. Often, there are equipment vendors who force you onto specific communication technologies but the above seem to be among the most popular. WWW.EFYMAG.COM

TECH FOCUS Control4 Simple Device Discovery Protocol (SDDP) is a bit of software built into products to ensure seamless integration between the 50+ supporting manufacturers and partners. With SDDP, the system automatically finds and adds SDDPenabled devices, thus making it far easier to add new elements of automation to your home. Dimmers. It is the first thing that comes to mind when we talk about lighting. Controlling the brightness of your LED bulb is pretty simple and there are many low-cost drivers that can do it. But if you are really in it for quality, drivers like EcySystem LED driver from Lutron lets you continuously dim the brightness without any unsightly step-like dimming. Moreover, the driver lets you select from two types of dimming, namely, constant current reduction (CCR) or pulse width modulation (PWM). Hue lighting system from Philips is a high-tech light bulb that lets you control colour, timing and brightness through a phone. You can go so far as to get it to simulate a sunrise in the morning. Of course, just controlling the dimmer on an LED is not worthy of the home automation title. That is where light-management systems come into play. Quantum Total Light Management System blends LED drivers, digital ballasts, motorised window shades and other lighting controls within one system. Other systems like Lutron’s EnergiSavr Node Solutions lets a smart system control light and save energy by controlling third-party ballasts, drivers, wired and wireless occupan-

Designed in India THE-BUTTON. We are working on an interesting futuristic device that would be a small Wi-Fi based device called THE-BUTTON. It is a single-button-assignable action device that can be fitted in the house on prominent/specific places and would do the job when pressed. For example, if it is placed near a washing machine, it could be used to order a new batch of washing powder when you see that it is getting over. The same could be used as a distress-signal generator (to call for support), if placed near the main door or in the den. —T. Anand, managing director, Knewron Home automation smart plug (HASP). We have come up with HASP, a device that lets you transform your gadgets to achieve home automation. Paired with Bluetooth, an Android application is used to enter data to HASP, which is then monitored by an inbuilt timer-controlled electronic switch that switches the device on or off according to the instruction given by the user via Android user interface. —Edwin Andrews, co-founder, SPATEZ

cy sensors, daylight sensors and wall stations to efficiently manage light. A motor controller like QS Motor Module can also be used to control natural lighting through AC blinds, shades and louvers. Onset HOBO occupancy and lightdata loggers provide time-stamped occupancy and on/off light data. These can be used free of charge on qualifying projects. This should provide project managers and contractors with a competitive advantage and make the case for adding lighting controls to a project based on actual occupancy data.

Connection 2: The kitchen and the garden Firms like Grahams Hi-Fi have been setting up lighting systems that connect with Web interfaces, time locks and even integrate with smoke detectors. So, if your beef steak just went from medium-rare to on-fire, the lighting system will show you the quickest way out of the room without

I automated my apartment and it kind of creeped me out “A few weeks after I gave my apartment a home automation makeover, I found myself in a strictly 21st-century pickle. I was naked and shivering, stranded post-shower in my bathroom, trying to plot a route past a motion-activated camera to the freshly-laundered towels I had left by the bed. The camera was only meant to shoot pictures of trespassers, but the trigger that shuts off the system when I am home is my smartphone and I had allowed the battery to run down. From technology’s point of view, I was an intruder in my own apar tment.” —An excerpt from an article by Alexis SobelFitts at www.popularmechanics.com

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you getting suffocated, while the fire-control system takes care of the charred meat. Systems from Honeywell will also have real people monitoring data from your home so that they can act in time in case of fire, a carbonmonoxide-related event or some other emergency. Smart appliances. There is probably nothing cooler than Brewie, the world’s first fully-automated home brewery. The system takes of everything from milling and mashing to adding hops and storing craft beer in kegs. It even lets you know when the brew is done as well as when it is ready for you to drink the brew or share it with your friends. It even cleans up after itself. You can control your environment by using devices like Honeywell Lyric thermostat that let you adjust the temperature and control energy usage through the Internet or your smartphone. While Nest thermostat needs no specific mention, there are some new ones like iT500 by SALUS Controls for the European market and Ecobee 3. For all those not-so-smart devices that you already have, you can use Incipio’s series of smartplugs to give you complete smartphone control over these. You can use its fancy proximity-detection feature to turn on the PlayStation when you get WWW.EFYMAG.COM

TECH FOCUS

The Internet of things and the household of the future

close to it. That way, you can always escape by bending the rules if your significant other has imposed martial law forbidding you from switching on the PlayStation. Voice commands. In places like the kitchen, you probably have your hands full with dough or raw meat, and a touchscreen would not be the best way to interact with your home. In such cases, voice-command-recognition devices can come to your rescue. While some require a gesture to activate a command, others are smart enough to listen to the sounds in the kitchen and figure out when you are speaking to your mother and when you are speaking to the computer controlling your house. Crestron TST-602 comes with a touchscreen and tactile push-buttons. Alternatively, Honeywell has their Tuxedo Touch system that works as a hands-free home-control system. Arm it by saying, “Hello Tuxedo,” and it will let you do a variety of things like 36


controlling lighting, heating, television and locks, among others.

Connection 3: Physically accessing your home Physical access to your home has to do with main doors, windows, garage doors and other access points to gain entry into your house. The new smart Control4 Garage Door package gives you a system where mere motion of your garage door can activate specific routines. For example, imagine coming home from work. As the garage door lifts, and before you have even parked your car, a sensor communicates with Control4 system, which begins

prepping your house for your arrival—select lights go on, thermostats kick up the heat, coffee starts brewing, Brewie gets ready to make some craft beer and your favourite music plays through the living room speakers. You can now lock/unlock doors using your smart device, without making your door look like a robot that came out of the series Doctor Who. Bladwin wirelessly-controlled access-control systems give you remote control over your locks (along with manual key access) and include locks that can work together with systems like Crestron Connected to create a system that can understand other events and connect these together. As an example, if you lock your door on the way out, the system will begin switching off the lights, lowering the shades, adjusting the air-conditioning system and activating the burglar alarm. Schlage Sense lock system is another alternative that is also designed to play nice with Apple’s HomeKit. Sensors like glass-break detectors are able to listen for the sound of breaking glass to guard against intruders. While it is also possible to use window sensors, these only work if the thief opens the window like a normal person. If he is of the aggressive variety, then you would need a glass-break detector to catch the sound and let the house know that there is an intruder in the house. If you are really tech-savvy, you could even try programming in some Home Alone style action. Some popular glass-break detectors are Bosch DS1108i, Honeywell Flexguard FG-730 and Reliance THP213. Devices like MyQ are a mix of a simple Wi-Fi hub and a door sensor

A device that learns about and adapts to you Canary absorbs and analyses what is happening at home to keep you safer and connected. Its algorithm based motion detection learns over time to send you smarter notifications. When Canary senses anything out of the ordinary, you receive a notification with recorded HD video of the event, as well as the option to watch live. The longer you have it, the more effective it becomes.

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TECH FOCUS that can be rigged to control a garage door using the existing locking or motor-driving mechanism. It also notifies the owner when the door opens. Another interesting automateddoor lock system is August Smart Lock that works with the deadlock already on the door.

Connection 4: Monitoring your home virtually One much talked about solution here is Eve home monitoring system by Elgato. It offers a huge set of sensors that let you measure weather, water, energy, smoke and other elements, and provide statistics of how these have been varying. It can also be connected to systems like HomeKit. Merging home automation with wearable technology. With devices like Apple Watch and smartpendants arriving on the scene, you do not need to dig through your pockets for a smartphone or take your laptop out

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Smarthome solutions by tech giants Apple’s HAP Kit. Apple with its HomeKit framework has made a strategic move to enter the smarthome market. The large installed base of its smartphones and tablets with the powerful voice assistant, Siri, provides a platform for a basic, easy-to-use plug-and-play-type smarthome solution. Google Nest Lab Solution. Nest thermostats automatically create a heating or cooling schedule based on the daily routines of residents. Initially, residents are required to set the target room temperature by turning Nest thermostat wheel several times a day. Once these settings are stored, the thermostat is capable of building a temperature schedule and profile. Nest thermostats are Internet-connected and get updated through the Internet. Nest acquired streaming video camera maker Dropcam and integrated its products with Dropcam’s surveillance capabilities. Samsung SmartThings. Samsung is another vendor that has created a set of SmartThings automation devices, which can be used in smarthomes. Samsung mobile phones can control all these devices. In addition to this, Samsung supports IFTTT, a Web based service that allows users to create a chain of conditional statements. Its expanded form is ‘If This Then That,’ conveying what it actually stands for. —S.A. Srinivasa Moorthy, director, D4X Technologies Pvt Ltd

to connect or monitor your home. Two-way communication between your wearable device and your home allows you to not only monitor your home but also control it. Firms like Creston have started to bring out apps that run on your

watch that let you turn on lights, adjust the air-conditioner, stream music or open the garage door using your watch. Using Symbol Intensive Master Programming Language (SIMPL), other developers can support their own devices through Crestron app.


37

TECH FOCUS Sensing the environment. Environmental sensors are ideal for detection of floods, leaks and extreme heat. Air Quality Egg is an environmental sensor kit that gathers highresolution readings of NO2 and CO concentrations. Another technology is one that is developed by University of California Riverside and is called electronic nose. It is a multi-sensor device that can detect small amounts of hazardous airborne chemicals like pesticides, combustion emissions, gas leaks and chemical warfare agents. Designers see the device being used in three different platforms, namely, handheld devices, wearable devices and smartphones. Withings Home device is equipped with an HD camera that has up to 1080p, 135-degree wide angle, as well as night vision and general motion detection via a motion sensor, two microphones and air-quality tracking. The device also has a sound sensor and an environment sensor that can measure temperature, humidity and detect levels of harmful chemicals. Tempo by Blue Maestro is a lightweight device designed to track environmental conditions in a number of personal and commercial situations. Utilising either HomeKit or a Bluetooth connection via a dedicated app, Tempo allows you to track humidity, barometric pressure, temperature and other metrics for a wide range of environments, from your pet’s habitat to your humidor or wine cellar, just like at Kensington House.

Connection ∞: Your home

is aware of you Companies like Control4 have built some really impressive software for home automation. Even Cisco has teamed up with Control4 and the company was also the lead investor in a recent round of private funding for Control4. Control4 software is believed to be like an operating system (OS) for connected devices in a home and includes consumer electronics, home 38


What next-gen technologies drive their smart features Low -powe r RF technol ogies. Zigbee, WPAN are examples of technologies that are being used for wireless interaction between the user’s smartphone/laptop and the various devices/gadgets present inside the house. Connectivity protocols. The world is moving from IPv4 to IPv6 as the insatiable demand for Internet-connected smart devices can be easily accommodated via IPv6. IPv6 also adds enhancements for security, multimedia traffic management and simplified network configuration. Low-power application processors/microcontrolle rs. For performing complex computations and a convenient user interface, low-power application processors/ embedded processors acts as the main engine. Gesture control. A user can initiate various actions like turning on the television, lights, fans or air-conditioners using just hand movements. Int egrat ion of energy man agement into home gat eways. Once energy consumption details are calculated and shared, the home gateway can detect and suggest various options through which the user can reduce the overall energy consumption and billing. High-definition video capturing/encoding/streaming. High-resolution surveillance video is captured, encoded and transmitted over the Internet without lag/latency. Smartphone integration. Smart software technology has to be integrated into smartphones to interact with various devices/gadgets present in the smarthome. There are already various standards introduced by big players such as Apple, Google and other home automation vendors in this area. —Ravindra B.S., senior project manager, Mistral Solutions

What is up in India with respect to smarthomes With an increase in smartphone and tablet usage, smart technologies are becoming easier to use and a re becoming more affordable and prevalent. Additionally, the government’s recent initiative on building smartcities, the core of which is formed by the Internet of Things, has provided a boost to the establishment of home automation systems. According to Allied Market Research, the home automation market globally is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 29.5 per cent from 2013 to 2020, with Asia Pacific as the fastest growing market with nearly 38 per cent CAGR. —Manjul Trehan, director sales - India, Lutron GL Sales & Services Pvt Ltd

appliances, lighting and thermostats. You could connect it with modern motion sensors like the ones from Honeywell to make your system aware enough to be able to differentiate between a cat and a cat burglar. This means no more false alarms when your dog jumps on the sofa. Apple’s HomeKit, Google’s Nest Lab Solution and Samsung’s Smarthings have a lot of potential in simplifying the current state of home automation. HomeKit is like any other OS for your house that any manufacturer can support through its devices. It can leverage the existing Apple ecosystem like Macs, iOS devices, Apple TV and Siri to make the process of control and monitoring that much easier.

HomeKit is also believed to work with non-HomeKit devices that use competing protocols and standards like ZigBee or Z-wave. Newer updates have allowed systems to be able to do their magic without any input from you. These can track your fitness band (like Jawbone UP series band) and use the information from it to control your home. It can detect that you have fallen asleep by the lowered pulse rate and then activate the alarms in your home, turn down the lights to save power, lock all doors and set the alarm to wake you up the next morning. You can also tell Siri to do stuff for you, and it will understand what exactly you mean when you say, “Brew me a latte, please!”  WWW.EFYMAG.COM

INNOVATION

More Power to Your Phone With XS Powercard ith smartphones getting smarter, their battery consumption is also increasing. Normally, a person has to charge a phone at least twice daily. But this becomes a headache when travelling, as the user may not find charging points everywhere, or have the time to wait till the phone is completely charged. That is why power banks got introduced, to charge the device on-the-go. However, many power banks available in the market today are bulky. Would it not be great to have a power bank that is portable, stylish and has some cool additional features, too? To address this, Xyra, an Indian start-up, has come up with a new product called XS Powercard— a fashionable credit-card-sized gadget that easily fits into a wallet/purse, has built-in cables and detachable flash storage, and can transfer or synchronise data between the phone and a computer. It comes with variable charging speeds and priority charging, too. Most of us do not leave the house without our phone and wallet. The proposition of the developers is ‘Do not forget your wallet and you will not forget your battery pack.’

W Anagha P. is a technical correspondent at EFY

Packed with features This power bank, combined with storage and syncing functions, offers variable charging rates, three colours of light emitting diodes (LEDs) to indicate different charging states, three modes of charging (charge the phone, charge itself, and charge both), two types of connectors, a fortified universal serial bus (USB), autonomous phone detection and 2200mAh battery. XS powercard has the following circuit blocks: DC-to-DC converter, 40


logic circuit, lithium-ion battery recharging circuit, charge-rate modulation circuit and USB enumeration circuit. It runs on a built-in non-replaceable 2200mAh lithium-polymer battery, encapsulated in two plastic halves that are ultrasonically welded together with other electronics in the circuitry. The battery lasts for over 500 cycles and has 150 days standby time until discharge.

Miniaturising the product XS Powercard is 82.5x63.0x6.3mm in size and weighs just about 65gm. The body is made of ten per cent glass-filled polycarbonate, has smooth matte finish and comes in white and black colour variants. Strategic casing design. It has an ergonomic and lightweight design that fits into a wallet, effectively using the existing space above the credit cards in it. That is, you can place the gadget in the topmost credit card slot with other credit cards stacked below it, and it adds only 6.3mm thickness to the wallet. Cables are placed strategically to avoid tangling and measure up to 30.5cm (1foot) when extended to their full length. Moreover, it allows the user to talk or text on the phone even while charging. Elimi nating switches. The smart power-management feature automatically and instantly detects and starts charging the phone when connected to the card. This eliminates the need for an on/off switch. PCB size and space management. It was mainly critical thinking, intricate design choices and immaculate space management that allowed fitting everything into the small size, according to the team. The team also spent a lot of time trying to miniaturise the printed circuit board (PCB) to the smallest size. WWW.EFYMAG.COM

INNOVATION

Charging smartly XS Powercard combines multiple features that make charging easier and hassle-free for users. Single-port smartcharging. The single-port charging allows users to simultaneously connect XS Powercard to the phone and USB port of a computer, laptop or adaptor. The team made it smart by introducing priority charging, which means that, when the gadget is connected to both phone and USB port, power is first directed to the phone, allowing it to charge. Once the phone is fullycharged, the gadget redirects power to charge itself. So you do not have to separately charge the two. This is ideal for those who charge their phones every night, as they can wake up to find both the devices charged. Following is how it was implemented: Current drawn by the phone was measured and calibrated to understand when it is completely-charged. Then, this system was hardwired into the device. The same could have been achieved with software as well but the team decided to take the hardware route as it was cheaper. Variable charging rates. The device has a mechanical toggle switch that lets you select between two modes of charging. In standard mode, the phone is charged efficiently with 0.55A current. In other words, all of Powercard’s power is utilised to charge the phone. In fast-charging mode, the phone is charged faster but less efficiently with 1A current. Battery of the phone lasts for two hours when charged in

Fun fact Team Xyra comprises young and ambitious friends and recent college graduates, Armaan Gandhi, Arzan Irani and Sahej Sethi. During the first year of the company’s establishment, the three partners were never in the same country for more than a week. This was all achieved while being thousands of kilometres apart. “Where there is a will, there is a way,” they say.

42


Different Battery Banks Available in the Market Features

XS Powercard

LithiumCard

mophie powerstation reserve

JUMP Cable

Battery (mAh) Size (mm) Fits in wallet Data storage Variable charging speed Priority charging Price (US$)

2200 82.5x63x6.3 Yes Yes Yes Yes 34-45

1200 85.6x54x5.5 Yes No No No 35-100

700 77x37.9x13 No No No Not specified 39.95

800 5x5x1.3 No No No Yes 30-40

fast mode and for three hours when charged in standard mode. These numbers may vary with capacity of the battery, number of apps installed on the phone and usage of the phone. The variable charging rate was obtained by altering the feedback loop of the integrated circuit (IC) used in the circuitry. Power management and device protection. How many times have you plugged in your phone to a power bank but forgotten to turn it on? With smart power management, you do not need to remember to turn on and off the card each time, as it automatically detects the phone and starts or stops charging. It also has inbuilt circuitry to protect the phone as well as its own battery from over-charge. This is achieved with charge-termination functionality of the IC used on the board, allowing the turning off of charge once the device is completelycharged.

Connectors and flash drive There are two models of XS Powercard depending on the type of phone connector offered: lightning (for iOS devices) and micro-USB (for most

Some information Device : XS Powercard Brand : Xyra Models : Connector: Micro-USB/lightning Data storage: 8GB/16GB/32GB Colour: Black and white Pricing : ` 2999 for the base model Website : www.helloxyra.com Contact : [email protected]

Android, Blackberry and Window based devices). Then, there is a USB connector that allows you to connect the power card to the power source. This connector is reinforced with low-profile metal tips, making it ideal for robust, daily usage. The rate at which XS Powercard charges itself depends on the type of power source it is connected to—whether USB 2.0 or USB 3.0 (of a laptop or computer) or AC wall socket (using a standard USB adaptor). You could also choose between 8GB, 16GB and 32GB of removable storage. This flash drive can be detached from the card and plugged into any standard USB port, enabling easy data storage and transfer.

Similar products in market Developers claim that this is the only product in the Indian market that clubs a power bank, cables, datastorage device, and data transfer and sync options on a single device that fits inside the credit-card slot of a wallet. Compared to other portable chargers like LithiumCard, mophie powerstation reserve and JUMP Cable, XS Powercard has more battery capacity (2200mAh), multiple charging rates (fast and standard) and even a data-storage device. Moreover, all the important features of XS Powercard such as smart power management, single-port smart charging and priority charging, three coloured LEDs and three modes of working are not available in any other device in the market.  WWW.EFYMAG.COM

TEST & MEASUREMENT

Developments in Mixed-Signal Oscilloscopes Accelerate Embedded Design Development ngineers, especially those working on embedded designs, bank on mixedsignal oscilloscopes (MSOs) right from the prototype stage to product testing. Embedded system designers debug their designs with analogue- and digital-channel capabilities in these oscilloscopes, which also provide a variety of triggering options. Let us take a look at the new capabilities added in these MSOs.

E Abhishek A. Mutha is a senior technical correspondent at EFY

Faster, wider, higher, deeper: four buzzwords in MSOs

Some mixed-signal oscilloscopes available in the market

44

As embedded designs continue to grow speedily in numbers, manufacturers are continuously evolving their MSOs accordingly. With new applications emerging in the Internet of Things (IoT), wireless and various semiconductor technologies, MSOs are playing an important tool for debugging.


Today’s oscilloscopes come with faster sampling rates, wider channel selection, higher resolutions and deep memory. For instance, HDO8000 series introduced by Teledyne LeCroy has eight analogue input channels with 12-bit resolution. This allows engineers to view clean and crisp signals in greater detail, post debugging using digital channels. Often signals are lost in noise. But with high resolution, engineers can be sure of clearly seeing such signals, thereby improving the overall debug and analysis process. RTO and RTE series of digital-storage oscilloscopes (DSOs) from Rohde & Schwarz, which also have the option of mixed-signal, provide high-resolution capabilities with their monolithic analogue-todigital (A/D) converters that make acquisitions up to 16-bit resolution possible.

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TEST & MEASUREMENT

Some Mixed-Signal Oscilloscopes in the Market Manufacturer

Model/type

Bitscope

BS05, PC based

Features • • •

CWAV Inc.

USBee QX, PC based

• • • •

Keysight Technologies

InfiniiVision 3000T X-Series, benchtop

Oscium

iMSO-204L, m obile/tablet based

•

• •

Rigol

MSO1000 series/ MSO2000 series/ MSO4000 series, benchtops

Siglent

SDS2000 series, benchtop

•

Tektronix

MSO4000B series, benchtop

•

Teledyne LeCroy

HDO8000 series, benchtop

Yokogawa

DLM4000 series, benchtop

•

• •

•

• •

Price

20MHz bandwidth, two analogue and six digital channels Compatible with Windows, Linux, Mac OS X and Raspberry Pi Decodes Serial, SPI, I2C and CAN

` 14,131*

First-of-its-kind USB 3.0/Wi-Fi MSO an d protocol analyser Captures up to 32 days of traces 600MHz with 24 digital channels and fou r analogue channels Includes popular serial protocols such as RS232/UARTs, SPI, I2C, CAN, SDIO, Async, 1-Wire and I2S

US$ 2495

21.6cm (8.5-inch) capacitive touch screen, waveform update rate up to 1M wfm/s, six-in-one integration that includes an oscilloscope, optional digital channels, hardware serial protocol decode and triggering, built-in arbitrary waveform generator, DVM and an 8-digit counter and totaliser

Base price ranging between ` 340,278 and ` 1,080,832

MSO designed specifically for iPhones, iPads, iPods Two analogue and four digital channels, 50MS/s sample rate, 5MHz bandwidth, 200ns/div-10s/div

` 38,000**

Starts from

70MHz-500MHz models with 16 digital channels and two or four analogue, up to 4GSa/s sampling, up to 140Mpts record length, serial triggering and decode, inbuilt 2-channels 25MHz arbitrary function generator, 6-bit counter

Starts from US$ 835/US$ 1239/ US$ 3217

Up to 300MHz bandwidth, 2GSa/s sampling rate, built-in 25MHz function/arbitrary waveform generator and a variety of serial protocol trigger and decode functions

Ranging between US$ 805 and US$ 2558

Up to 1GHz bandwidth and 5G S/s sample rate, digital phosphor display and up to four analogue and 16 digital channels

` 1,020,000

Ranging between and ` 1,570,000

8-channel available in 350MHz, 500MHz and 1GHz bandwidths HD4096 technology and ERES (enhanced resolution) filtering

Starts from US$ 23,850

Available in both 350MHz and 500MHz models; 2.5GSa/sec DLM4000 features eight analogue input channels Features Flex MSO High-resolution 30.7cm (12.1-inch) LCD display

N/A

*As listed on element14.com **As notified by the Indian distributor

Engineers are always on the look out for more analogue channels in a scope. Eight analogue channels provide great flexibility to an engineer working on complex embedded designs. Although, more analogue channels on an MSO makes the device more expensive. Apart from Teledyne LeCroy’s HDO8000 series of MSOs, another test and measurement (T&M) vendor, Yokogawa, provides eight analogue channels in its DLM4000 series of MSOs. Such MSOs, with a wide selection of channels, are ideal for professionals debugging high-power power electronics, automotive electronics and complex embedded as well as mechatronic designs. A unique ability of DLM400 series is that the eighth analogue channel comes with Flex MSO, a feature that converts it to an 46


8-bit logic analyser with the push of a button. With more analogue channels and higher resolutions, deep record lengths is an equally important feature. T&M vendors are offering MSOs with deep memory typically ranging from 150Mpts per channel to 250Mpts per channel. The sampling rate for MSOs usually range from 1.5GSa/s to 4Gsa/s.

CAN FD-enabled MSOs Most of the known MSO vendors are steadily incorporating support for controller area network with flexible data rate (CAN FD) data frames by providing an additional trigger capability for better analysis of traffic in the CAN FD network. After Teledyne LeCroy, Keysight and Rohde & Schwarz, Yokogawa

has integrated support for CAN FD in their DLM2000 and DLM4000 series of MSOs. Evolution of more complex and advanced vehicular control systems has a proportional effect on the amount of traffic inside the CAN network. Therefore it is important for MSOs to have the ability to provide engineers with dedicated triggers and functionalities to boost the analysis and debugging process. Apart from triggers and search functions for CAN FD, it is important for the MSO to have high memory depth as it makes it easier for the designer to handle extended data frames. Some other oscilloscopes that support CAN FD are Infinii Vision 3000T X-series and 4000T X-series from Keysight Technologies, Teledyne WWW.EFYMAG.COM

TEST & MEASUREMENT

Common requirements from MSO users Upgradability for bandwidths is not usually asked for, although additional digital channels requirement is an upgrade that is often requested. An interesting, highly-demanded feature is a full-fledged arbitrary function/waveform generator. In this era of mixed-signal designs, it is becoming very important for an MSO to have an integrated signal source. Karl Chen, product marketing manager, Rigol Technologies Inc., says, “Inbuilt arbitrary waveform generation, or Arb, is another significant advancement. Crowded work benches and limited budgets are driving users to demand more functionality in one instrument.” For example, he adds, “An education lab can readily build an automatic frequency-response test system. Likewise, a time-synchronous circuit could use the Arb to simulate pulses for time-correlation. The possibilities are limitless.” LeCroy’s CAN FD TDM oscilloscopes, and RTE and RTO oscilloscopes from Rohde & Schwarz.

MSOs powered with PAM-4 analysis capability Many known oscilloscope manufacturers have recently introduced pulse amplitude modulation (PAM-4) analysis capability in their range of MSOs. Mobile computing applications are requiring everincreasing Internet speeds as well as improved Internet infrastructure. To enable this, very-high-speed connectivity among server systems is absolutely necessary. Non-return-to-zero (NRZ) encoding is mostly used for modulation in conventional communication methods. Industry experts feel NRZ will not function in a 56Gbit/s environment. Hence, one solution for this problem is to change the technique from NRZ to PAM. This would allow engineers to significantly expand the amount of data these can transmit across high-speed digital communication links. Many industry standards bodies are actively promoting PAM-4 technology. PAM-4 signalling helps engineers to address design and measurement challenges swiftly and achieve faster time-to-market. Vendors usually provide an additional software tool that can be combined with particular models of MSOs to activate PAM-4 analysis capability. Recently, Keysight introduced Keysight N8827A PAM4 analysis software (for V- and Z-series oscilloscopes) and N8827B PAM-4 analysis software (for S-series oscilloscopes), which engineers can use to perform a complete analysis of electrical PAM-4 signals. Teledyne LeCroy too released a set of tools for similar analysis and they claim to be the only manufacturer who offer a software that compares jitter, eye and noise measurements on up to four lanes, simultaneously.

Serial-bus triggering trickling down to low-end MSOs Another trend in MSOs is that serial-bus triggering and decoding is moving down to low-end MSOs. Earlier, only WWW.EFYMAG.COM


47

TEST & MEASUREMENT

Who is buying MSOs in India Embedded designers are the key users of MSOs. These applications span across several segments, from communications, semiconductors, computing, aerospace defence, industrial electronics, consumer electronics and automotive industries. Educational institutes also find MSOs of great value as these help students visualise the intricacies of digital designs. Several reference boards and instruction aids, commonly used in college labs, deploy serial busses on these. Serial bus triggering and decoding helps students learn and understand the internals of embedded designs. —Karl Chen, product manager, Rigol Technologies Inc.

Creative use case of a mixed-signal scope for a specific application Matthew Navarro is a deployed US Navy sailor aboard USS Gridley, a guidedmissile destroyer. But being an electronics wizard aboard a ship has inherent challenges. Navarro said, “We regularly have to run around the ship and perform repairs on installed equipment. The only oscilloscope we have for functional checking and measurement is a 20.4kg (45-pound) benchtop unit and we are out of luck if there is no electrical socket.” He was able to replace what he accurately termed a ‘behemoth of a scope’ with Oscium’s iPad oscilloscope, which weighs only 0.085kg (3 ounces). The iPad oscilloscope attaches to the charging port of the iPad. And, it does not have a battery; it uses power from the tablet so there is no need for an outlet. With the small size and no need for charging, this sailor is agile enough to address all repair issues on the ship, regardless of where it is located. —Bryan Lee, president, Oscium

high-end MSOs had the capability of serial triggering, but it is slowly trickling down to basic MSOs offering 70MHz and 100MHz bandwidths. “Designers of embedded systems operating at 20MHz and lower are addressing several applications including the IoT and wearable devices,” says Karl Chen, product manager, Rigol Technologies Inc. He adds, “This makes MSOs very affordable and provides great value, especially for designers working on a plethora of small- and mid-level embedded designs.” For instance, MSO1000Z series from Rigol and SDS2000 series from Siglent provide serial triggering functions at an affordable price. See Table for pricing and other details.

Interesting developments in portable, pocket-sized MSOs USB based tools used with PCs or laptops. When engineers look for flexibility, portability and ease of measurement, universal serial bus (USB) oscilloscopes prove to be a practical option. USB MSOs are mostly used by 48


engineers and technicians working in service, testing, equipment repair and manufacturing. Some MSOs are connected via USB, Ethernet or even RS232 and are widely used for a variety of applications starting from research and development (R&D) to embedded designs and educational purposes. An MSO integrated with a protocol analyser enabled with USB 3.0 and Wi-Fi capabilities was recently introduced; a first of its kind in the PC based test instrument group. USBee QX comes with a bandwidth of 600MHz and a combination of four analogue and 24 digital channels. One unique feature is that it can record 32 days of traces and display protocols as it has a buffer memory of 896 Msamples. An added benefit is that this device includes all popular serial protocols that usually need to be paid for separately in the case of benchtop MSOs. Another option for hackers, hobbyists, students and engineers is a tool nearly the size of a Snickers chocolate bar. This device from BitScope comes with 20MHz bandwidth, which is apt for small- and,

probably some, medium-level embedded applications. Completely user programmable, BitScope Micro also features two analogue channels and six digital channels. It also behaves as an 8-channel logic analyser, arbitrary waveform, a clock generator and spectrum analyser. In addition to Windows, Mac and Linux, it is also compatible with Raspberry Pi including its latest versions, Model A+ and Model B/B+. Tool specifically for Apple phones and tablets. An answer to test-bench tools with mobile and touchscreen advantage is Oscium’s iMSO-204L, a plug-and-play solution. Although specifically designed only for Apple devices, such solutions have become a viable alternative if engineers prefer to switch over to touch interface from traditional knobs. These transform iPads or iPhones into a variety of test equipment tools like spectrum analysers, power meters, logic analysers and oscilloscopes. These are ultra-portable and small enough to fit in a pocket. Bryan Lee, president, Oscium, says, “It is powered by the host device with less than 100mA of current (less than what it takes to power a small LED light), so there is very little impact to the battery life, eliminating the need for an external power source.” He adds, “The software is very easy-to-use. It can be downloaded from Apple App Store and viewed in demo mode without access to hardware. After hardware is connected, field engineers can monitor, store, and email results while on-the-go.” He also claims that no other oscilloscope offers a solution quite like this unique system. Quite recently, three software updates were made. As a result, users can now make advanced measurements between cursors, observe signal clips indicated by a colour change and can trigger in rolling mode. Lee notes, “Not every user will be impacted by these changes but it demonstrates that we are continually investing in the tool and listening to our users.”  WWW.EFYMAG.COM

CHIPS

FPGAs for The Internet of Things illions of devices are expected to be connected wirelessly by 2020. In this emerging era of connected devices, machines need not only be secure but also need to be secure at device, design and system levels. The Internet of Things (IoT) requires diverse technology and specialised skill areas such as specialised hardware and sensor development, along with sophisticated real-time embedded firmware, cloud applications and Big Data analytics for massive real-time data into usable information, delivery of data to human-scale and human-usable platforms, particularly sophisticated smartphone apps. The IoT is revealing an important need in technology, that is, programmable hardware and I/O. The IoT will soon be driven by fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA)-like devices, because these devices can interface with the outside world very easily and provide lowest power, lowest latency and best determinism. The IoT would interface with temperature, pressure, position, acceleration, analogue-to-digital converters (ADCs), digital-to-analogue converters (DACs), current and voltage, among others. Arduino and Raspberry Pi could also be used. An FPGA can be considered a programmable special-purpose processor

as it can handle signals at its input pins, process these and drive signals on its output pins. The above system is very deterministic. An FPGA can interact with memory and storage devices through serialiser/deserialiser interfaces (SERDES), which also allow for Ethernet, serial or Bluetooth communication. An FPGA can, for example, take an HTTP request packet received from a wireless Ethernet component, decode its request, fetch information from memory and return the requested result back through the Ethernet device. The FPGA could be coupled with an ARM processor to leverage higher-level software functions such as Web servers or security packages, if higher level of processing is required. The key consideration is the programmable aspect of an FPGA. In a typical development cycle, a supplier development kit is employed to configure the FPGA, while a printed circuit board (PCB) is developed with specific sensor/communication/display components, as required.

B V.P. Sampath is an active member of IEEE and Institution of Engineers India. He is a regular contributor to national newspapers, IEEE-MAS section and has published international papers on VLSI and networks

Fig. 1: The IoT comprises at least three layers, each with its own medium and protocols

The IoT challenges The IoT challenges include security, privacy, unauthorised access, malicious control and denial of service. A hardware-first approach with respect to security and implementation of necessary functionality on the systems on chip (SoC) level is vital for

Data Centre

Data Centre

Internet

Access Point

Access

LTE etc Wireless Hub

50


LTE etc Hub

Hub

Hub

Capillary Network Short-Range RF

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CHIPS fully securing devices and platforms such as FPGAs, wearables, smartphones, tablets and other intelligent appliances. In practice, the hardware-based platform offers a single user interface (UI) across factory locations, realtime visibility into operations and remote, cloud based feature activation. IoT devices also have long life spans, yet manufacturers are likely to stop developing and rolling out patches for a product once it reaches obsolescence. For these reasons, IoT devices should leverage hardware based security and isolation mechanisms that offer robust protection against various forms of attack. The outside layer of this network comprises physical devices that touch, or almost touch, the real world, such as sensors (optical, thermal, mechanical and others) that measure the physical states of houses, machines or people. There are some complete control systems such as thermostats, smartappliances or drone helicopters. The presence of these complex devices introduces an encounter with the IoT in the form of sensors and actuators, or complete systems. Consider the thermostat at home. When we add an interface to it so that a mobile app can read the temperature, check for failures and change the set-point, it works automatically. This approach wants to, whenever possible, move control onto the Internet, and ideally onto a computing cloud and scatter tiny, inexpensive sensors everywhere. Here, we eliminate the thermostat altogether and, instead, put temperature sensors around the house, inside and out. And while we are at it, we pull the controller boards out of the furnace and air-conditioner, connect their inputs and outputs to the Internet as well, so a cloud application can directly read their states and control their sub-systems. In general, these wireless interfaces match the characteristics such as low power and the ability to sleep at 52


Hub

Hub

OR

Gas Furance Thermostat

Controller

Sensors Around

Board

House

Valve

Ignitor

Fan

Sensors

In Furnace

Fig. 2: Two different concepts of the IoT: connect to existing intelligent controllers (left) or connect directly to individual sensors and actuators (right) (Source: Altera)

very low quiescent current, long periods of sleep and short bursts of activity. But the interfaces bring with them baggage, too. These are mutuallyincompatible, have a short range and use simplified, non-Internet protocol (IP) packet formats. These characteristics necessitate a new kind of device to intermediate between the capillary network and the next layer of the IoT, that is, a local IoT concentrator. The concentrator serves as a hub for short-range radio frequency (RF) links in its immediate vicinity, manages the link interfaces and exchanges data with these. Because these concentrators are unlikely to have any direct connection to an Internet-access router, these will generally use Wi-Fi or Long Term Evolution (LTE) as a backhaul network, which then becomes the second layer of the IoT. It is the job of the hub, then, to perform routine work of a network bridge as well as packing and unpacking, shaping traffic and translating between headers used in short-range RF packets and headers necessary for backhaul networks.

Future trends In future, we can expect vehicles with an increasing amount of autonomous capabilities to navigate roads and highways, and interact with each other, their owners and the IoT. Intelligent cars and smartgrids are just the beginning of a changing ecosystem, where devices, systems and platforms that were previously disconnected will become online.

Ultimately, integration of various IoT devices and platforms will lead to the proliferation of smartcities across the globe, riding on the new digital infrastructure enabled by ubiquitous connectivity and the ever-increasing bandwidth. Thus, it is important to realise that, just because a system is embedded, it does not mean it is secure or will remain so, indefinitely. Therefore security must be perceived as hardware rather than software patches, with chip makers routinely forced to contend with a wide range of potentially serious threats including data breaches, counterfeit components and intellectual property (IP) theft. Apart from ensuring fundamental chip security during manufacturing, embedding the right security intellectual property (IP) core into an SoC can help manufacturers design devices, platforms and systems that remain secure throughout their respective lifecycles. Hardware-enabled examples include device provisioning, subscription management, secure payments, authorisation and return merchandise authorisation (RMA)/test support. Embedded SoC security can provide a critical root of trust, managing sensitive keys for secure boot, service authentication and key management. The SoC security core can regulate debug modes to thwart reverse engineering, while providing chip authentication to prevent counterfeiting. SoC based security can also manage one-time programming of on-chip resources.  WWW.EFYMAG.COM

EMBEDDED

Engineers Need Tools That Solve More Than Just Immediate Hardware Problems

C Anagha P. is a technical correspondent at EFY

Dilin Anand is a senior assistant editor at EFY

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hanging trends have brought us to the age where development tools like electronic design automation (EDA) solve more than just immediate hardware problems. Electronic products have become more sophisticated, so developing their underlying hardware and software and integrating these two sides together has also become more complex. This article takes a look at the trends observed in software development tools for electronics engineers.

Software-eclipsing hardware Jaswinder Ahuja, corporate vice president and managing director, Cadence India, explained in an interview with EFY that, from the electronic system level (ESL) design perspective, high-level abstraction of software is eclipsing hardware as the main driver of system development cost, schedule and risk. “Early software development, hardware verification, hardware or software integration and integrated system validation have now become primary challenges, increasing development costs, project schedules and risks. As software applications have become the primary product differentiator, systems and semiconductor


companies must provide not only silicon but also complete hardware or software systems ready for apps deployment.” It is not just apps development, though. An interesting trend observed in the product design flow is how it is increasingly becoming a multi-disciplinary approach. Sreekanth Tammana, country manager for India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, Altium Europe GmbH, explained this to us a few months back. He said, “You need mechanical engineering for the modern printed circuit board’s (PCB’s) physical design and hardware engineers who build the system. If it is an intelligent or a smart device, you get embedded engineering and software engineering involved. Then, there is cloud systems engineering to connect these devices to the cloud and to develop front-end interfaces to manage devices and grab data out of these. Cloud systems engineering is an important discipline due to the popularity of machine-to-machine (M2M) and Internet of Things (IoT) designs.” How does cloud systems engineering help you? Let us say that you are designing a temperature-control system. You have memory, a microprocessor and you might WWW.EFYMAG.COM

EMBEDDED

Some Software Tools Updated in the Last One Year Category

Name

Licence

Description

Analogue simulator

AIM-Spice 5.9

Free

Automatic Integrated Circuit Modeling Spice (AIM-Spice) uses SPICE format for describing analogue circuits and has point-and-click type controls

cali

VariCAD 2015-2.0

Licensed Tools for 3D modelling and 2D drawingcum-editing, and support for geometrical constraints; tools for shells, pipelines, sheet metal unbending and crash tests, and assembly support

Data logger and analyser

CAPture VDAS (CAPture Data Logger)

Licensed Acquires, displays, logs physical parameters from connected sensors; can also store and analyse data

Electronic CAD

LASI 7.0.88

Free

LAyout System for Individuals (LASI), originally intended for integrated circuits, can be used for ICs, MEMS, other technologies, discrete devices, schematics and project documentation drawings

Latest features • • •

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Supports BSIM4v8.0 Supports ND TFET model version 1.6 Versions for Android and iOS released Graphic based on OpenGL 4.0 or 4.3, making rendering 2.5x to 10x faster File opening and creation of graphic data is approximately 2x faster New version automatically turns on anti-aliasing, making 3D images look significantly better

Edulib cell library and basic tutorial have been revised to include Top.gds and Opamp.gds file examples of GDS conversion Even byte strings are required by GDS format Imager tutorial now contains Spice CIR file Imager_a_l1.cir compiled from cell Imager_a_l1 by LasiCkt utility Maximum text size has been increased by a factor of 10

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Electronics design Altium Designer 15 environment

Licensed Integrated environment that includes tools for schematic capture, PCB design, FPGA design, embedded software development and manufacturing file support

xSignals to accurately plan and route high-speed designs Solder mask-expansion enhancements by which top and bottom layers can be configured individually Separate 2D- and 3D-view orientations Supports collaboration between electrical and mechanical computer-aided design (ECAD and MCAD) domains with incremental design exchange (IDX) format

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Embedded design Kactus2 2.8.0

Free

Metadata based sof tware for sketching, packing, integrating and generating both hardware and software for embedded products at several hierarchy levels

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FPGA CAD

HDL

RapidSmith 0.5.2

MyHDL 0.8.1

IC design

Symica FE / Symica Toolkit 2.3.0

Free

Free

Dual

Easy-to-use platform to work on modern Xilinx FPGAs. Offers a compact and fast device database with several APIs to enable different functions for Xilinx devices Python based hardware description and verification language. Designs can be converted to Verilog or VHDL automatically and implemented using a standard tool flow Integrates schematic editor, SPICE simula tor, waveform viewer and analyser and other additional features, such as library manager, symbol editor, hierarchy editor and input and output translators; paid version includes support for mixed-signal designs and unlimited number of devices, threads and Verilog-A model parameters

PCB design

ZenitPCB 1.8.1

Free

Easy-to-use program that lets you quickly create professional-quality PCBs

Programming language and numerical computing environment

Octave 4.0

Free

Free and close alternative to MATLAB for writing numerical solution of linear and nonlinear problems, and performing other numerical experiments

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Feature to import parameters from included files Editors for IP-XACT elements remapState and memoryRemap Support for expressions in memory map elements Support for parameter references in generated header files Feature to save new versions of design configurations and designs Support for module parameters to hierarchical views Preliminary support for Artix 7 and Zynq devices Preliminary support for the inout pin type found in Zynq device/XDL files Elegant modelling of wrap-around behaviour with modular bit-vector types A new decorator for error-free reset behaviour coding Adds conversion of top-level class methods Creates different netlists for different tools like SPICE, LVS and others Probing currents for complex transistor models represented as sub-circuits Shares project among multiple designers

Equipped with graphical user interface (GUI) along with traditional command line interface (CLI) Support for classdef object-oriented programming Better compatibility with MATLAB WWW.EFYMAG.COM

EMBEDDED Category

Name

Licence

Description

SCADA

IndigoSCADA

Free

Small-footprint SCADA system entirely developed in C and C++ with multiple OS support and multiple front end protocol drivers

SCADA

S.E.E.R.2 1.5.4

Free

Latest features

•

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•

Schematic editor, mixed signal simulator and power consump tion estimator

SLED 2.4.0, SMASH 6.4.0 and SCROOGE 3.4.0

Signal processing GNU Radio 3.7.5

Licensed Hierarchical schematic editor SLED, mixedsignal simulator SMASH and extension SCROOGE for power consumption analysis

Free

C language based software development toolkit consisting of signal-processing blocks for creating software-defined radios and other signal-processing systems

•

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Simulator

DoCircuits

Dual

Online virtual electronics lab with which you can prototype and test designs

Simulator

Archimides 2.0.1

Free

For design, simulation and behaviour prediction of sub-micron and mesoscopic semiconductor devices, based on the ensemble Monte Carlo method

Simulator

Ltspice IV (formerly SwitcherCAD)

Free

SPICE tool to virtually model, simulate and analyse electronic circuits, particularly switching regulators

want to add Internet connectivity to it. In the first stage, you can place the collected data on the cloud, and in the second stage, you would need an application running locally on the device to control the temperature and set up a Web interface to it. Then, you would need to set up locations for the device, a smartphone, for example, to control the system. The designer needs infrastructure to set up a server or a portal or a platform, where the mobile phone is connecting to and syncing with the cloud.

More tools in the sky Another interesting trend in the software tools arena is the growing number and increasing popularity of Web based development tools for embedded systems. Jason Guo, senior technical staff WWW.EFYMAG.COM

Moved to phpsysinfo version 3, supporting modern Windows 7 or Server 2008 and up Ability to give touch panel instances a friendly name, rather than only go by their machine name (panel name) for user display Added ON_OFF_IND_TOGGLE_INVERSE and ON_OFF_ IND_INVERSE to the touchpanel

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Added snap-to-grid, hiding of port names (optional) and saving of console output to GNU Radio Companion (creates flowgraphs), and newly-created or saved GRC files will have version information embedded into these Two separate graphics systems for producing display output, based on wxWidgets and QT windowing system, have reached feature parity with each other New digital television component that incorporates receiver code Available on Windows 8.1 devices (tablets, ultrabooks and the like) Fixes a small problem related to Automake vulnerabilities

Supports Mac OS X 10.7+ platforms Multi-threaded solvers that utilise multi-core processors New SPARSE matrix solvers that deploy self-authoring code

India in the picture The software development tools sector in Indian electronics industry is growing fast, mainly because of the good number of established independent design houses and the present start-up wave here. It is interesting to see that there are a few software development tools coming up from India too. Experiment in your virtual lab. Sakshat Virtual Labs, an initiative by Ministry of Human Resource and Development (MHRD), is one of the many interesting projects that came up from India. It is a set of free virtual lab software developed by 12 different educational institutes including the IITs and is undergoing continuous developments. These let you model physical phenomena with equations and simulate these to predict and understand the approximate result of the experiment in real. These also let you remotely trigger an experiment in a real lab and get results through a computer interface. Going online. Bengaluru based Sparsha Learning Technologies Pvt Ltd has come up with DoCircuits, a website that provides users with a virtual electronics lab that allows prototyping and testing of electronics circuits, storing these on the cloud and accessing these from anywhere securely.

member of Fairchild Semiconductor, recently said in an interaction with EFY that some advanced electronic design and simulation tools are now available online to enable systemlevel design of switching mode power

supply (SMPS). Cloud based development tools reduce the hassle of setting up software, resolve space issues in the user’s computer and avoid frequent upgrades of the tool. These also alELECTRONICS FOR YOU | AUGUST 2015

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EMBEDDED

Development tools and EDA—similarities and differences A software development tool for embedded systems is an application or tool that is used in the design flow for designing, simulating, debugging, compiling, optimising and supporting these systems. EDA tools are a category of such development tools. These include a schematic editor and simulator, signal integrity software and PCB design, layout and simulation. These, along with chip design, cross-compilation systems, in-circuit tools, debuggers, supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) and others, constitute software development tools that support embedded designs.

low sharing of files between users from around different parts of the world. Of course, a Web based system also comes with issues like the need for continuous high-speed Internet, security and increased uptime. Fairchild’s Power Supply WebDesigner (PSW), Texas Instruments’ WEBENCH and the open source project Simulations for Performance Assessments that Report on Knowledge and Skills (SPARKS) are some of the online design and simulation tools currently available. Altera and Mentor Graphics are collaborating to provide virtual platforms that contain simulation models of ARM processor sub-systems in Altera’s systems on chip (SoC) fieldprogrammable gate array (FPGA) families. This makes embedded software development easier while reducing the need for expensive hardware by enabling large development teams to perform development and testing in a virtual environment based on the chip.

Interconnected tools Tools now encompass the entire system design flow. This means that something like wire harness tools now have the capability of being connected to their PCB tools, which are then combined and used for designing systems and even systems of systems. Tools like the one Guo mentioned earlier in the article are also typically driven by knowledge based automation for every decision-making point of a design flow. This makes it possible for even novices and amateurs in the design field to complete a design quickly. 58


Engineers also want to know how they can do collision checking and can ensure that all ports fit perfectly on the circuit board, and soon. This is why it became important to integrate the mechanical world into EDA tools. If the tool has support for Incremental Design Exchange format (IDX) files, it would help in the integration of design files from EDA tools to mechanical design tools like SolidWorks. The benefit here is that IDX allows incremental changes to the design file, in addition to making the file sizes smaller.

Tools for the IoT Every other engineer we meet is into designing some product or the other for the IoT. So we thought it would be a good idea to have one section focusing entirely on the software tools available for those working on IoT products. If you are trying to build M2M applications like remote monitoring or fleet management, M2MLabs Mainspring is a good framework that you could check out. Written in Java, it is an open source framework that allows flexible modelling of devices, their parts and characteristics. For instance, a temperature sensor can have a set of attributes related to indoor and outdoor data that it sends. All data is time-stamped and sent according to a REST Web service. When new data is received, it triggers execution of Groovy scripts (programming language for Java platform) to perform boundary checking of data, interpolation or threshold supervision. Data is stored on scalablenoSQL database. DeviceHive and the IoT toolkit

are other frameworks that you could try out, too. Node-RED is a tool for wiring together hardware devices and online services through different flows. It works with popular boards like Raspberry Pi (or Raspi), BeagleBone Black and Arduino. Flows could be created by adding an inject node and a debug node and then wiring the two together through a simple dragand-drop GUI. You can then deploy the nodes. If you want to apply some function to each message from the inject node to the debug node, you can add a function node in between these—it is that simple! Intel XDK IoT edition is a software tool that also uses Javascript to define the behaviour of an IoT device. It allows you to design a companion app I/O for the IoT device and control it from another smart device. Wyliodrin is a tool that Intel recommends. It can be used to create IoT projects using just your browser. Being a cloud based tool, it saves everything automatically, works in most browsers and is compatible with most popular boards. It allows boards to talk to each other, and enables mobile devices and Web services to talk to the board. There are also neutral home automation software like OpenHAB that allow smart devices in your home to talk to each other. Being vendorneutral, it allows users to easily add new features to their devices. To top these off, there are middleware like IoTSyS and OpenIoT that ease the process of communicating data to and from devices.

Time to open up a new tool We hope you have fun exploring these tools. EFY Plus subscribers would have had the chance to get most of these tools from the DVD accompanying their copy of the magazine over the last year. You can also check out in-depth reviews on development tools at www.electronicsforu.com/newelectronics/efydvd . Have fun!  WWW.EFYMAG.COM

BUYERS’ GUIDE

Latest MCU Development Boards Make Prototyping Easier “

E

Abhishek A. Mutha is a senior technical correspondent at EFY

mbedded design prototyping has never been so easy before,” exclaims Darshan Virupaksha, systems engineer, Altiux Innovations, and co-organiser, IoTBLR. He says, “Makers and do-it-yourself (DIY) enthusiasts have a plethora of options to suit their needs. Today, the ecosystem offers easy access to development boards and the most important feature is software support.” The prototyping scenario has indeed seen an escalation and one of the biggest factors is the range of microcontroller (MCU) development boards out there in market. From low-cost, entry-level boards to powerful, application-specific ones, we try to help you buy the right board by focusing on different categories, new features, general selection criteria and boards that have been in the spotlight.

General, application- and industrial-specific boards Some MCU development boards

60

Quite a few development boards in the market today are general MCU-specific, such as


STM32 discovery kits, MSP430 from Texas Instruments (TI) or Xplained boards from Atmel, and these are available from semiconductor manufacturers themselves, informs T. Anand, managing director, Knewron. Local companies design some of the economically available boards. Anand says, “In both cases, MCU development boards come in two flavours; one is the MCU evaluation board, where the focus is on evaluating MCU capabilities.” “Second category is application- or feature-specific, where the board is designed for the purpose of evaluating certain features of the MCU and is usually focussed on some application area,” he adds. Broadly, there are three different categories that today’s MCU boards fall under. Generic multi-purpose boards. Today, every MCU manufacturer like Microchip, NXP, Cypress, TI and Atmel provides an evaluation kit compatible with their MCUs. Kanishka Shah, co-founder of Entesla, says, “International third-party development board

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BUYERS’ GUIDE manufacturers like Arduino, Sparkfun, Adafruit, Seeedstudio and Mikroelectronika are popular among students, hobbyists and professionals for the quick prototyping tools they offer.” Shah adds, “Development boards for MCUs based on AVR, PIC, 8051 and ARM7 architectures are very popular among students and beginners as these are easily available in the local market. These come with a varying set of onboard peripherals to suit a wide range of applications for every budget.” These can be used for rapid prototyping and smaller proof-of-concept (POC) development. “Boards such as Arduino, MangoPi, chipKIT, mbed, MSP430 Launchpads and STM32 discovery kits, to name a few, fall under this category,” notes Syed Anwaarullah, founder, PotentialLabs. He adds, “MCU development platforms such as Arduino come with a host of free and open source libraries that help in building rapid prototypes very easily with the help of add-on shields and expansion boards.” Application-specific development boards. Anwaarullah informs that, such boards are for dedicated tasks mostly used by companies or engineers building specific products in areas such as home/industrial automation, automotive applications and more. He says, “These development kits allow to rapidly test the functionality of the MCU as per requirements before moving on to fabricating custom printed circuit boards (PCBs).” Such boards are usually costly in comparison to generic development boards, but offer more features and a dedicated development tool chain. Platforms like Raspberry Pi (or Raspi), BeagleBone and mbed have very high processing power running into GHz and random access memory (RAM) that expends in GBs, remarks Neha Mehta, founder, Hacktronics India. She says, “These boards run custom Linux variants and encapsulate all complexities of the external hardware into friendly programming languages like Python, for instance.” 62


Why is Arduino a hot favourite in entry-level MCU boards “Popularity of an MCU development kit is primarily driven by the ease of the development environment. Arduino revolution has shown the way it has to be and has inspired many to take up embedded prototyping.” —Darshan Virupaksha, systems engineer, Altiux Innovations, and co-organiser, IoTBLR

“It is because of the ease of programming Arduino that gets even non-programmers such as design students and hobbyists to tinker with MCUs without knowing advanced MCU C/C++ or assembly languages.” —Syed Anwaarullah, founder, PotentialLabs

“Arduino and its variants are perfect for beginning with programming embedded electronics. Used mostly by students and in open source projects, these are available with almost every major retailer in India. Benefits of these boards are cost, availability and libraries support. Almost all major sensors have libraries written for Arduino.” —Neha Mehta, founder, Hacktronics India

In du st ry- re ad y de vel op men t boards. Advanced processing power boards based on ARM7 or ARM9 architecture are used for industrial applications. “These include Cubietruck boards and dual-core or quadcore processors-powered Allwinner boards, which are mostly used for media processing in applications like smart televisions, media centres and digital video recorders (DVRs).” Such boards can be used directly in real-time applications. Anwaarullah says, “For instance, Arduino Micro or Pro Mini are compact enough to be embedded inside products directly and can also be programmed on-the-go as requirements change.”

Features in the spotlight Different MCUs have varying features and the entire development board is usually based on the supported features of the MCU. Thushar V.P., technical director, Rhydo Technologies (P) Ltd, says, “Nowadays, many development boards such as Raspi or BeagleBone support an onboard operating system (OS). Though a great feature, these boards tend to be more expensive than the ones without an onboard OS.” Primarily, one does look at MCU boards for their processing and memory capabilities, but nowadays most of these offer decent RAM and flash capabilities, remarks Virupaksha. He says, “This makes interface [like serial peripheral interface (SPI) and Inter-IC (I2C)] and out-of-box

support offered more valuable.” He adds, “Many chips now also support a universal serial bus (USB) natively and sometimes USB host as well.” Features such as availability of embedded wireless modules, dedicated functionality such as encryption and data logging, over-the-air (OTA) programming and mobile/ cloud synchronisation are some new features to look out for, observes Anwaarullah. ARM, with its mbed initiative, has helped programmers to have a variety of mbed-enabled boards using MCU chips from most of the ARM licencees like NXP, STMicroelectronics and Freescale, among others, notes Virupaksha. “A rich variety of features in terms of input/output (I/O) peripherals, low-power modes and hardware accelerator for digital signal processing (DSP) plus securitycoupled software support make the development process a joyful ride with the latest development boards.” Another addition to this exciting lot is Java-/Java script-enabled boards. Virupaksha adds, “Knowledge of Embedded C is no more a limitation. Traditional Java programmers can now code on MCUs. Java source code is compiled using cross compilers and programmed on to the target device.” Other higher level languages like .net are supported too. Espruino development kit can be programmed using Java scripts and Netduino using .net. Kits featuring graphic liquid crysWWW.EFYMAG.COM

BUYERS’ GUIDE

General criteria to consider before buying an MCU board for prototyping Serviceability. It is important for the boards to be repairable

when something goes wrong. Packaging of the MCU needs to be considered too. It is important to examine if the MCU is a throughhole part-mounted in a socket or a surface-mounted one. If it is surface-mounted, it is important to know if it can be replaced when the need arises. Pedagogy. The educational value and cognitive loading effects of the board must be taken into account. Big and fancy development boards may offer tremendous number of features and look really cool, but if these features impact a user’s understanding of the core technology, then these may be detrimental to the cause. Reliability. One of the main goals of a development board is to ensure an operational development board for each and every experiment. Any time spent attempting to fix the development board can take away a lot of critical and important time. Programming support/options. Newer MCUs allow in-circuit programming while these are located in the system. Options may include an external programmer or through a self-program mechanism. Short-term and long-term consideration should be taken in account. If the development board is utilised for other activities, these should be considered when deciding how the board will be programmed. Processor support (single or multiple). If one is working on multiple controller families or different part numbers, this factor becomes critical, as having a separate development board for each controller may not be feasible all the time. A proper decision can save money in the short term as well as help in efficiently developing products or projects in the long run. Operating voltage. Many controllers these days support multivoltage operation and circuits could have multiple sections operating at different voltages such as 1.8V, 3.3V, 5V, 12V or so on. Therefore development tools must support multi-voltages along with level converters, wherever needed. Cost. It is an important factor. Irrespective of the value an MCU board provides to the user, the cost should be at par. Design control. There is nothing more frustrating than selecting an appropriate development board only to have the manufacturer make a change that ultimately forces a new development board to be selected. It is therefore necessary to have some type of design control over the development board that is ultimately chosen. Power supply. Users would not want to buy another power supply just to suit a certain type of development board. There tal displays (LCDs), thin-film transistor (TFT) displays and communication ports with onboard transceivers are popular among users. “Many users also look for onboard sensors, which may be as simple as the ones for sensing the X-Y-Z coordinate and as complicated as the ones that perform medical applications like pulse oximetry,” notes Nishant Bhaskar, embedded processing application engineer, Texas Instruments India. He adds, “In case of power electronics based systems, customers not only look for the extent to which the power stage has been designed but 64


are a multitude of options for supplying power to a development board including benchtop supplies, wall warts, batteries or via USB connections. As long as the development board provides some kind of support on power supply management (whether the board has a rectifier, switched mode power supply (SMPS) or whole power supply on the board), its value is retained. Debugging capabilities. Depending upon the kind of work to be done on a development board, Joint Test Action Group (JTAG), single-wire debug or any other functionality is necessary so as to enable users do easy debugging and faster development. System clock options. This gives the board multiple clock options such as an internal resistor-capacitor (RC) oscillator and/or an external crystal to be installed, which can make or break some of the developments. This is not very critical when compared to all other factors, though. Serial port/USB connectivity. For many years, RS232 serial port connections between development boards and computers have been a norm. However, laptops with RS232 ports are almost impossible to find nowadays. Recent trends have led to USB serial ports as the primary connection between boards. These may be with native USB support or in the form of serial-to-USB converters. Either way, this option is critical to development. Additionally, one may want more than one communication port (COM). One of the ports can be used in project development, while the other can be used for debugging and other purposes. Therefore dual- or multiple-connectivity options are ideal to have. Form factor. While development boards are ultimately used for development purposes, their form factor is critical. A board, which is much bigger in size and difficult to move around may not be preferred, while a small-sized handy board, which can be taken anywhere in a pocket or a small box could help engineers develop things any time. Readiness for final integration. Buyers also need to look for embeddable boards, such that if they finalise a solution and time-tomarket is short, development boards could be directly integrated into the solution. In many cases, development boards become a per fect fit for the final product. In such cases, designing another board may not be warranted (except when parameters like outline of board, form factor, etc are different). This becomes a very important factor since it has high potential to save not only time but also redesign and manufacturing costs. Courtesy: T. Anand, managing director, Knewron

also the configurability on offer, if users want to tweak it.” Another very important feature in present-day development boards from companies like STMicroelectronics and TI is onboard debugging, informs Virupaksha. He says, “Apart from beginners, most users require this feature. In fact, it is a boon for developers, as they need not invest in a debugger, which costs approximately ` 8000.” Even with all these new features, Thushar feels, basic I/O pins, universal synchronous asynchronous receiver transmitters (USARTs), serial

peripheral interface (SPI), I2C, twowire serial interface (TWI), timers, compare/capture/pulse width modulation (CCP), analogue-to-digital converters (ADCs) and digital-to-analogue converters (DACs) constitute basic features of an MCU, which should always be accounted for as far as a development board is concerned. With increased focus on smartphone based connected applications, consumers also prefer to work with wireless MCU kits [specifically in the Wi-Fi/Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE)/ Bluetooth domain], which have some kind of Android or iOS app to interact WWW.EFYMAG.COM

BUYERS’ GUIDE with, informs Bhaskar. He says, “Some customers also prefer to have access to the source files of these graphical user interfaces (GUIs)/apps as reference for their own development.”

For developing IoT applications The rapid growth of Internet of Things (IoT) applications requires devices to be connected to the Web. Niraj Jha, CEO and MD, Fab.to.Lab, says, “Most people would like to have an Ethernet port or a Wi-Fi module built into the board.” The biggest feature to consider for developing IoT-related products is inbuilt connectivity. Mehta says, “It is important to consider the kind of connectivity options supported by the MCU like BLE4.0, 2.4GHz wireless technology and others.” Another important feature is the ease of programming while using the board. Programming becomes much easier if the board can run Linux or Android. “For smaller processors, I would choose a processor architecture that is well-supported and has tons of documentation available online,” states Mehta. She adds, “Companies like STMicroelectronics and TI provide their own software development kits (SDKs), which wrap all internal hardware-level details for that particular MCU and make it easier to upgrade to a newer processor based on the same architecture.” Additional onboard features like flash-to-store program, lithium battery charger and SD card support are good to have. “Last, power consumption and different sleep modes are essential. It is important to consider environmental factors such as adaptability of the board in remote locations running on solar power, or if it can survive on a small battery during unavailability of power for long durations.” Since the IoT is the talk of the town, Jha feels, some users might also want specific features like a display, motor/servo control for Internetconnected robotics applications or WWW.EFYMAG.COM

Pricing trends “Entry-level boards with prices starting from ` 800 are usually packaged with a limited set of onboard peripherals featuring 8-bit MCUs. Intermediate development boards range from ` 1500 to ` 5000 comprising 8-bit, 16-bit and 32-bit MCUs. There are full-featured development kits available for ` 5000 onwards featuring popular MCUs with a plethora of onboard peripherals and the ability to expand to new technologies using add-on modules.” —Kanishka Shah, co-founder, Entesla

“As pricing can range from a few hundreds to over ` 20,000, it is always good to do a thorough research before investing money in any of these development boards as you could stumble upon boards with similar specifications with a much lower price tag. However, some of these boards might be Chinese-made, which might compromise on quality and reliability. So, it is always a tough bargain between pricing, features and reliability.” —Thushar V.P., technical director, Rhydo Technologies Pvt Ltd

“Owing to the great demand for development boards and the increasing interest among the developer community, boards have seen a steep price decline over the past few years. Many sub-standard and cheap clones of these boards have also surfaced, which I would never recommend as these are usually unstable and fail over time.” —Syed Anwaarullah, founder, PotentialLabs

“Indian buyers are price-conscious and thus pricing seems to be at par for many boards available in the market. However, the trend is changing fast. Highly capable boards are being priced on value based outcomes rather than just bill of materials (BOM) costs and many buyers are appreciative of that.” —T. Anand, managing director, Knewron

“Pricing is a matter of concern for most developers today. Most mbed development boards cost ` 3000 or more and a majority of these need to be imported. Hopefully, prices will reduce in the future. Cheaper open source hardware is on the cards from many hardware communities. In fact, we at IoTBLR are exploring options on collaborative efforts towards designing some low-cost, open source MCU development kits for the Indian community. The variants will support mbed and Arduino integrated development environments (IDEs).” —Darshan Virupaksha, systems engineer, Altiux Innovations, and co-organiser, IoTBLR

“Pricing today starts from as low as the US$ 9 full-featured, ultra-powerful, cloud-ready OAK boards to Java-ready, wirelessly-programmable US$ 70 Tessel boards.” —Niraj Jha, CEO and MD, Fab.to.Lab

“TI development kits may be priced anywhere from as low as US$ 9 to as high as US$ 1000. Price point is something that is dictated solely by the kind of features the users are looking for in their development kits. In general, evaluation kits as launchpads tend to be of lower cost than full-blown development kits.” —Nishant Bhaskar, embedded processing application engineer, Texas Instruments India

sometimes a combination of a relay built into an IoT-ready board for home automation applications. He says, “Boards specifically made for home automation sometimes have other niche features like mesh networking built in. Other IoT boards may have features like secured cloud connectivity built-in into its software as well.”

New technologies, prospects ARM Cortex-M architecture based MCUs seem to be the future, feels Virupaksha. He says, “Getting used to ARM MCU architecture will be an added advantage for any career prospect.” He adds, “Also, mbed today has revolutionised the development environment by making it an online

compiler. You just need a computer and an mbed board to get started.” As such no new revolutionary technology has emerged in the last few years, but according to Moore’s Law, the speed is always increasing, notes Mehta. She says, “Intel has launched many new development boards like Galileo and Edison, which take the leverage of Intel’s powerful and trusted platform.” Mehta adds, “Most technologies used are old like Wi-Fi but are packaged into newer processors and at highly reduced costs like the ESP8266 chip, which can act as a Wi-Fi solution with an integrated MCU. Older chips like AR9331 are packaged as easy-to-use modules like Onion ELECTRONICS FOR YOU | AUGUST 2015

65

BUYERS’ GUIDE Omega and Domino MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS STORY Pi boards, which cost around US$ 10, have integrated Wi-Fi stacks and can run embedded Linux.” With an increasing Darshan Kanishka Shah, Neha Mehta, Niraj Jha, Nishant Bhaskar, Syed T. Anand, Thushar V.P., Virupaksha, co-founder, founder, CEO and MD, embedded processing Anwaarullah, managing director, technical director, requirement for ultra systems engineer, Entesla Hacktronics Fab.to.Lab application engineer, founder, Knewron Rhydo India Texas Instruments PotentialLabs Technologies low power and data re- Altiux Innovations, and co-organiser, India Pvt Ltd liability, Bhaskar feels, IoTBLR ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM) is slowly beshipping by 2016, will create endless looking to add Wi-Fi based connectiving seen as a viable replacement for possibilities. ity to their embedded applications. flash. FRAM offers a huge number of MediaTek LinkIt ONE development Bhaskar says, “CC3200 has been an award-winning chipset, receiving read/write cycles, with lesser read/ platform is one among the best, feels several accolades in 2014 such as write times and much lower power Virupaksha. He says, “It enables you consumption as opposed to flash. He to design and prototype wearables Electronics Products Product of the says, “These kinds of devices are useand IoT devices, using hardware and Year, Zinnov Innovation Award and Electronic Design Best Communication ful in particular for applications that application programming interfaces have very stringent requirements on (API) that are similar to those offered Product of the Year.” power consumption.” for Arduino boards.” He adds, “It is a Arduino Zero definitely provides a He adds, “TI also features a whole power pack in terms of its features as huge boost to the community and prohost of development kits, both genit offers Bluetooth, GSM and GPS on a vides a powerful MCU with Arduino eral-purpose as well as application- single platform and, most importantly, IDE support, which makes it merrier specific, based on our FRAM MCUs in a very small form factor.” to implement some complex projects, for users to evaluate.” Raspi recently sold two million informs Virupaksha. He says, “Many crowd-funded boards using Nordic Developers should also look for boards and is a very good board for development boards integrated with learning basic computer programming Semiconductor’s nRF51822 have onboard features for different wireless and interfacing with hardware. Mehta helped many BLE developers to demonstrate use cases with mobile phones technologies like Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, says, “Apart from Raspi, we are seeing Global System for Mobile communihigh traction for Wi-Fi boards with and other IoT applications.” cation (GSM), General Packet Radio ESP8266 or AR9331 chipsets.” Keeping in mind the requirements Service (GRPS), ZigBee and near field “mbed has been making quite of building scalable IoT applications, communication (NFC) with a low- some noise with its Cortex M0 and Anwaarullah says, “Our team has power MCU and display, opines Shah. Cortex M3 based NXP MCU develop- built an Arduino-compatible Wi-Fi IoT development board called Refflion He says, “The ability to interface ment boards supporting cloud based for building end-to-end IoT solutions different low-power technology sen- firmware development,” says Shah. through cloud gateway and mobile sors like accelerometers, gyroscopes, He adds, “Launchpad series by TI applications.” Made in India, Refflion global positioning systems (GPSes), is quite popular among developers temperature and humidity sensors usworking on low-power battery-oper- can also be used by educational organisations and universities to introduce ing add-ons should be made available ated devices based on MSP430.” onboard in future.” BLE sensor tag based on CC2541 students to build connected robotics, has garnered a lot of attention ever wearables and other IoT solutions. He Boards in the spotlight and since it was released. It has won EE says, “Refflion will soon be launched some upcoming ones Times/EDN Ace award for the best internationally on crowd funding, and development kit and was also an- backers would be able to get the board A new US$ 9 board called Chip has and shields at a special price.” recently received more than US$ 2 nounced as the first Bluetooth Smart Knewron’s Quickly is an IoT-ready million in online crowd-funding, in- accessory to support Android (July development board, which has all the forms Anwaarullah. He says, “This 2013). Bhaskar says, “This design is a power-packed board that comes kit, while being extremely low-cost essentials required to develop IoT-related products. Anand says, “Alpha verwith onboard Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and an (about US$ 25), has been extremely popular with users over the years for sion of the board is already available for ARM processor. At such a low price, IoT based solution development.” sampling, and beta version is coming building powerful connected devices Similarly, CC3200 Launchpad has out in July. This was also featured in and scalable solutions becomes a been of great interest among users EFY Expo 2015 held at New Delhi.”  lot easier.” This board, which starts 66


WWW.EFYMAG.COM

MOBILES

Operating Systems for Mobiles A Akul Sabharwal is an electronics and communication engineer. He is currently working with Simmtronics Semiconductors Ltd

n operating system (OS) is a collection of programs that control the application software that users run and provide a link between the hardware and software currently running on the computer. The OS is also responsible for management and control of all resources such as memory, hard drive and monitor that are shared among the different application programs that may be running simultaneously. A mobile OS is an OS for devices such as smartphones, tablets, PDAs and other mobile devices.

iOS iOS (originally iPhone OS) is a mobile OS developed by Apple Inc. and distributed exclusively for Apple hardware. It was unveiled with the iPhone at Macworld Con-

User

ference & Expo on January 9, 2007, and released in June of that year.

Architecture The iOS software development kit (SDK) contains the tools and interfaces needed to develop, install, run and test native apps that appear on an iOS device’s Home screen. Native apps are built using iOS system frameworks and Objective-C language and run directly on iOS. Unlike Web apps, native apps are installed physically on a device and are therefore always available to the user, even when the device is in Airplane mode. These reside next to other system apps, and both the app and any user data is synced to the user’s computer through iTunes. At the highest level, iOS acts as an intermediary between the underlying hardware and the apps you create. Apps do not talk to the underlying hardware directly. Instead, these communicate with the hardware through a set of well-defined system interfaces. These interfaces make it easy to write apps that work consistently on devices having different hardware capabilities. The implementation of iOS technologies can be viewed as a set of layers, which are shown in Fig. 3. Lower layers contain fundamental services and technologies. Higher-level layers build upon the lower layers and provide more sophisticated services and technologies. Cocoa Touch layer. This layer contains key frameworks for building iOS apps.

Application

Operating System

Hardware

Fig. 1: Interconnection between user, application, OS and hardware

68

Fig. 2: iOS 8 Home screen


Fig. 3: Layers of iOS architecture WWW.EFYMAG.COM

MOBILES These frameworks define the appearance of an app. These also provide the basic app infrastructure and support for key technologies such as multitasking, touch based input, push notifications and many highlevel system services. High-level features available in Cocoa Touch layer are App extensions, Handoff, AirDrop, TextKit, UIKit Dynamics, Multitasking, Auto Layout, User Interface (UI) State Preservation, Apple Push Notification Service, Local Notifications and Gesture Recognisers, among others. Described next are the frameworks of Cocoa Touch layer and the services these offer: Address Book UI framework. Address Book UI framework (AddressBookUI.framework) is an Objective-C programming interface that you use to display standard system interfaces for creating new contacts and for editing and selecting existing contacts. This framework simplifies the work needed to display contact information in the app and also makes sure that the app uses the same interfaces as other apps, thus ensuring consistency across the platform. EventKit UI framework. EventKit UI framework (EventKitUI.framework) provides view controllers for presenting standard system interfaces for viewing and editing calendarrelated events. GameKit framework. GameKit framework (GameKit.framework) implements support for Game Centre, which lets users share their gamerelated information online. iAd framework. iAd framework (iAd.framework) lets you deliver banner based advertisements from your app. Advertisements are incorporated into standard views that you integrate into your UI and present when required. MapKit framework. MapKit framework (MapKit.framework) provides a scrollable map that you can incorporate into your app’s UI. Beyond just displaying a map, you can use the framework interfaces to customise 70


Coca Touch

Map Kit

High-Level Features

iAd

Media Core Services Core OS

• Push Notifications • Storyboard • Local Notifications • Printing • Gesture Recognition • File Sharing

Game Kit

Events (Touch) View Controllers

UIKit

Fig. 4: Cocoa Touch layer

Cocoa Touch Media

Core Audio

Core Animation

AirPlay Quartz (2D)

Core Services Core OS

Video Playback JPEG, PNG, TIFF

Audio Recording Audio Mixing OpenAL PDF

Fig. 5: Media layer

the map’s content and appearance. In addition to displaying maps, MapKit framework integrates with Maps app and Apple’s map servers to facilitate directions. Message UI framework. Message UI framework (MessageUI.framework) provides support for composing emails or SMS messages from your app. The composition support consists of a view-controller interface that you present in your app. Notification Centre framework. Notification Centre framework (NotificationCenter.framework) provides support for creating widgets that display information in Notification Centre. Pus hK it fr am ew or k. PushKit framework (PushKit.framework) provides registration support for voiceover Internet protocol (VoIP) apps. This framework replaces the previous application program interfaces (APIs) for registering VoIP apps. Instead of keeping a persistent connection open, and thus draining the device’s battery, an app can use this framework

to receive push notifications when there is an incoming call. Twitter framework. Twitter framework (Twitter.framework) has been replaced by Social framework, which supports a UI for generating tweets and support for creating URLs to access Twitter service. UIKit framework. UIKit framework (UIKit.framework) provides crucial infrastructure for implementing graphical, event-driven apps in iOS. Media layer. Media layer contains graphics, audio and video technologies you use to implement multimedia experiences in your apps. Technologies in this layer make it easy for you to build apps that look and sound great. iOS graphics technologies offer a wide range of support, working seamlessly with UIKit view architecture to make it easy to deliver content. High-level features available in Media layer are UIKit graphics, Core Graphics framework, Core Animation, Core Image, OpenGL ES and WWW.EFYMAG.COM

MOBILES

Cocoa Touch

Threading File Access

Media Preferences

Core Services

Core OS

Collections • NSArray • NSDictionary • NSSet

High-Level Features • ARC (Automatic Reference Counting) • iCloud • GCD (Grand Central Dispatch) • In-App Purchase • SQLite

Networking Address Book

Fig. 6: Core Services layer

GLKit, Metal, TextKit and Core Text, Image I/O and Photos Library. AirPlay. AirPlay lets your app stream audio and video content to Apple TV and stream audio content to third-party AirPlay speakers and receivers. AirPlay support is built into numerous frameworks including UIKit framework, Media Player framework, AV Foundation framework and the Core Audio family of frameworks. So, in most cases, you do not need to do anything special to support it. Any content you play using these frameworks is automatically made eligible for AirPlay distribution. When the user chooses to play your content using AirPlay, it is routed automatically by the system. Core Services layer. Core Services layer contains fundamental system services for apps. Key among these services are Core Foundation and Foundation frameworks, which define the basic types that all apps use. This layer also contains individual technologies to support features such as Location, iCloud, social media and networking. High-level features available in this layer are Peer-to-Peer Services, iCloud Storage, Block Objects, Data Protection, File-Sharing Support, Grand Central Dispatch, In-App Purchase, SQLite and XML Support. Described below are the frameworks of Core Services layer and the services these offer: Accounts framework. Accounts framework (Accounts.framework) provides a single sign-on model for certain user accounts. Single sign72


on improves the user experience by eliminating the need to prompt the user separately for multiple accounts. Addres s Book framework. Address Book framework (AddressBook. framework) provides programmatic access to a user’s contacts database. Ad Support framework. Ad Support framework (AdSupport.framework) provides access to an identifier that apps can use for advertising purposes. CFNetwork framework. CFNetwork framework (CFNetwork.framework) is a set of high-performance C based interfaces that use objectoriented abstractions for working with network protocols. CloudKit framework. CloudKit (CloudKit.framework) provides a conduit for moving data between your app and iCloud. Core Data framework. Core Data framework (CoreData.framework) is a technology for managing the data model of Model-View-Controller app. Core Foundation framework. Core Foundation framework (CoreFoundation.framework) is a set of C based interfaces that provide basic data management and service features for iOS apps. Core Location framework. Core Location framework (CoreLocation. framework) provides location and heading information to apps. Core Media framework. Core Media framework (CoreMedia.framework) provides low-level media types used by AV Foundation framework. Core Motion framework. Core Motion framework (CoreMotion.

framework) provides a single set of interfaces for accessing all motion based data available on a device. Core Telephony framework. Core Telephony framework (CoreTelephony.framework) provides interfaces for interacting with phone based information on devices that have a mobile radio. EventKit fra mework. EventKit framework (EventKit.framework) provides an interface for accessing calendar events on a user’s device. HealthKit framework. HealthKit (HealthKit.framework) is a new framework for managing a user’s health-related information. HomeKi t framework. HomeKit (HomeKit.framework) is a new framework for communicating with, and controlling, connected devices in a user’s home. JavaScript Core framework. JavaScript Core framework (JavaScriptCore.framework) provides ObjectiveC wrapper classes for many standard JavaScript objects. Mobile Core Services framework. Mobile Core Services framework (MobileCoreServices.framework) defines low-level types used in uniform-type identifiers (UTIs). Multipeer Connectivity framework. Multipeer Connectivity framework (MultipeerConnectivity.framework) supports discovery of nearby devices and direct communication with those devices without requiring Internet connectivity. NewsstandKit framework. Publishers who want to deliver their magazine and newspaper content through Newsstand can create their own iOS apps using NewsstandKit framework (NewsstandKit.framework), which lets you initiate background downloads of new magazine and newspaper issues. PassKit framework. PassKit framework (PassKit.framework) provides Objective-C interfaces you need, to integrate support for these items into your apps. Quick Look framework. Quick Look framework (QuickLook.frameWWW.EFYMAG.COM

MOBILES work) provides a direct interface for previewing contents of files that your app does not support directly. Safari Services framework. Safari Services framework (SafariServices. framework) provides support for programmatically adding URLs to the user’s Safari reading list. Social framework. Social framework (Social.framework) provides a simple interface for accessing the user’s social media accounts. StoreKit framework. StoreKit framework (StoreKit.framework) provides support for purchasing content and services from within your iOS apps, a feature known as In-App Purchase. System Configuration framework. System Configuration framework (SystemConfiguration.framework) provides reachability interfaces, which you can use to determine the network configuration of a device. WebKit framework. WebKit framework (WebKit.framework) lets you display HTML content in your app. Core OS layer. Core OS layer contains low-level features that most other technologies are built upon. Even if you do not use these technologies directly in your apps, these are most likely being used by other frameworks. And in situations where you need to explicitly deal with security or communicating with an external hardware accessory, you do so using the frameworks in this layer. Accelerate framework. Accelerate framework (Accelerate.framework) contains interfaces for performing digital signal processing (DSP), linear algebra and image-processing calculations. Core Bluetooth framework. Core Bluetooth framework (CoreBluetooth. framework) allows developers to interact specifically with Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) accessories. External Accessory framework. External Accessory framework (ExternalAccessory.framework) provides support for communicating with hardware accessories attached to an 74


Cocoa Touch Security FW

Media

Accelerate FW

External Accessory FW System

Core Services

Core OS

• • • • • • •

Threading (POSIX threads) Networking (BSD sockets) File-system access S tandard I/O Bonjour and DNS services Locale Information Memory allocation

Fig. 7: Core OS layer

iOS based device. Generic Security Services framework. Generic Security Services framework (GSS.framework) provides a standard set of security-related services to iOS apps. Local Authentication framework. Local Authentication framework (LocalAuthentication.framework) lets you use Touch ID to authenticate a user. Network Extension framework. Network Extension framework (NetworkExtension.framework) provides support for configuring and controlling Virtual Private Network (VPN) tunnels. Security framework. In addition to its built-in security features, iOS also provides an explicit Security framework (Security.framework) that you can use to guarantee the security of the data your app manages. System. The system level encompasses the kernel environment, drivers and low-level UNIX interfaces of the OS.

64-bit support for iOS iOS was initially designed to support binary files on devices using a 32-bit architecture. In iOS 7, however, support was introduced for compiling, linking and debugging binaries on a 64-bit architecture. All system libraries and frameworks are 64-bit ready, meaning that these can be used in both 32-bit and 64-bit apps. When compiled for 64-bit runtime, apps may run faster because of the availability of extra processor resources in 64-bit mode.

Fig. 8: Android 5.0 Home screen

Android Android is a mobile OS based on Linux kernel and currently developed by Google. With a UI based on direct manipulation, Android is designed primarily for touchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet computers, with specialised UIs for televisions (Android TV), cars (Android Auto) and wrist watches (Android Wear). Android Inc. was founded in Palo Alto, California, the USA, in October 2003. Architecture. Android is architected in the form of a software stack comprising applications, an OS, runtime environment, middleware, serWWW.EFYMAG.COM

MOBILES

Comparing the Different Operating Systems Features

iOS

Android

Firefox OS

Company

Apple Inc.

Open handset alliance/Google

OS family

Darwin

Supported CPU architecture

Blackberry OS

Ubuntu Touch

Mozilla foundation Microsoft

Blackberry Ltd

Cannonical Ltd

Linux

Linux

Windows NT 8+

QNX

Linux

ARM and ARM64

ARM, x86 MIPS and 64-bit variants of all three

ARM and x86

ARM

ARM

ARM and x86

Programming language

C, C++, Objective C and Swift

C, C++ and Java

HTML5, CSS, JavaScript and C++

.NET C#, VB.NET, Silverlight, native C/C++, WinRTP (XMLA) and DirectX

C, C++, Native SDK and HTML5/ Javascript/CSS

C, C++ and QML

Package manager

iTunes

APK

Firefox OS packaged apps

Zune software

Blackberry link

Click packages and dpkg

Remote device location Yes tracking

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

-

Remote device locking and/or data wipe

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

-

Accessibility features

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

-

On-device encryption

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

-

Sync to cloud encryption

Yes

Yes

-

Yes

Yes

-

Desktop-sync

Yes

No

No

Yes

Yes

-

Major available browsers

Safari and Chrome

Chrome and Firefox Firefox

IE and Opera Mini

-

-

Official application store App Store

Google Play

Firefox Marketplace

Windows Phone Store

Blackberry World

Ubuntu Store

Printer support

Yes(AirPrint)

Yes; over cloud print

-

Third-party software

Yes

-

Multitasking

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Bluetooth keyboard

Yes

Yes

-

No

Yes

-

VPN

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Yes

-

vices and libraries. This architecture can, perhaps, best be represented visually as in Fig. 9. Each layer of the stack and the corresponding elements within each layer are tightly integrated and carefully tuned to provide an optimal application development and execution environment for mobile devices. Linux Kernel. The basic layer is Linux Kernel. The whole Android OS is built on top of Linux Kernel with some further architectural changes. Linux Kernel interacts with the hardware and contains all essential hardware drivers. It also acts as an abstraction layer between the hardware and other software layers. The kernel provides pre-emptive multitasking, low-level core system services such as memory, process 76


Windows Phone

and power management, in addition to providing a network stack and device drivers for hardware such as the device display, Wi-Fi and audio. Libraries. The next layer is Android’s native libraries. It is this layer that enables the device to handle different types of data. These libraries are written in C or C++ language and are specific to a particular hardware. Some of the important native libraries include the following: Surface Manager. It is used for compositing window manager with off-screen buffering. Off-screen buffering means that the apps cannot directly be drawn into the screen, instead drawings go to the off-screen buffer. There, it is combined with other drawings and form the final

screen that the user will see. This offscreen buffer is the reason behind the transparency of windows. Media framework. Media framework provides different media codecs allowing the recording and playback of different media formats. SQLite. SQLite is the database engine used in Android for data-storage purposes. WebKit. It is the browser engine used to display HTML content. OpenGL. This is used to render 2D or 3D graphics content to the screen. Android Runtime. Android Runtime consists of Dalvik virtual machine and Core Java libraries. Dalvik virtual machine. It is a type of JVM used in Android devices to run apps, and is optimised for low WWW.EFYMAG.COM

MOBILES

Applications Applications Framework Activity Manager

Window Manager

Content Providers

View System

Notification System

Package Manager

Telephony Manager

Resource Manager

Location Manager

XMP P Service

Libraries

Android Runtime Core Libraries

Surface Manager

Media Framework

SQ Lite

Open GL/ES

FreeType

Webkit

SGL

SSL

Libc

Dalvik Vitual Machine

Linux Kernel Display Driver

Camera Driver

Bluetooth Driver

Rash Memory Driver

Binder (IPC) Driver

USB Driver

Keypad Driver

Wifi Driver

Audio Driver

Power Management

Fig. 9: Android software stack

processing power and low memory environments. Unlike JVM, Dalvik virtual machine (VM) does not run .class files, instead it runs .dex files. Dex files are built from .class file at the time of compilation and provide higher efficiency in low-resource environments. Dalvik VM (DVM) allows multiple instances of virtual machines to be created simultaneously, providing security, isolation, memory management and threading support. ART. Google has introduced a new virtual machine known as ART, which is short for Android Runtime, in their newer releases of Android. In 5.0, DVM is completely replaced by ART. ART has many advantages over DVM such as Ahead of Time (AOT) compilation and improved garbage collection, which boost the performance of apps significantly. WWW.EFYMAG.COM

Core Java libraries. These are different from Java SE and Java ME libraries. However, these libraries provide most functionalities defined in Java SE libraries. Application framework. These are the blocks that our applications directly interact with. These programs manage the basic functions of phone like resource management and voice-call management. Important blocks of Application framework are: Activity manager. Manages the activity life cycle of applications Content providers. Manages data sharing between applications Telephony manager. Manages all voice calls. We use telephony manager if we want to access voice calls in our application Location manager. Manages location using GPS or a mobile tower ELECTRONICS FOR YOU | AUGUST 2015

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MOBILES

Fig. 12: Blackberry OS 7.1 Home s creen

phones as the replacement successor to Windows Mobile. Windows Phone features a new UI derived from Metro design language. Unlike Windows Mobile, it is primarily aimed at the consumer market rather than the enterprise market.

Blackberry OS BlackBerry OS is a proprietary mobile OS developed by BlackBerry Ltd for its BlackBerry line of smartphones. The OS provides multitasking and supports specialised input devices that have been adopted by BlackBerry Ltd for use in its handhelds, particularly the trackwheel, trackball and, most recently, trackpad and touchscreen.

Fig. 10: Firefox OS Home screen

Ubuntu Touch Fig. 13: Ubuntu Touch Home screen

Firefox OS

Fig. 11: Windows Phone 8 Home screen

Resource manager. Manages various types of resources we use in our application Applications. Applications form the top layer in Android architecture. Several standard applications come pre-installed with every device such as SMS client app, Dialer, Web browser and Contacts Manager. 78


Firefox OS is a Linux kernel based open source OS for smartphones and tablet computers; it is set to be used on smart TVs. It is being developed by Mozilla, the non-profit organisation best known for Firefox Web browser. Firefox OS is designed to provide a complete, community based alternative system for mobile devices, using open standards and approaches such as HTML5 applications, JavaScript— a robust privilege model, open Web APIs to communicate directly with mobile phone hardware and application marketplace.

Windows Phone Windows is a family of mobile OSes developed by Microsoft for smart-

Ubuntu Touch, also known as Ubuntu Phone, is a mobile version of Ubuntu OS developed by Canonical UK Ltd and Ubuntu Community. It is designed primarily for touchscreen mobile devices such as smartphones and tablet computers. Ubuntu Touch was released to manufacturers on September 16, 2014. Aquaris E4.5, the world’s first Ubuntu based smartphone, went on sale in Europe on February 9, 2015.

Future prospects With changing trends in the chipset industry, OS developers are not far behind. Software packages and applications are being developed to meet the demands of users and also to incorporate hardware additions like touch sensor, look-away to pause, etc. We might be seeing facial-recognition or retina-scanner software packages in the future.  WWW.EFYMAG.COM

INTERVIEW Surveillance and Access Control:

What is finally happening is adaptive streaming of surveillance video Wireless connectivity and real-time communication have given video surveillance and access-control systems an intelligent edge. Let us take a look at what is cutting-edge in security systems. Kaushal Kadakia, product manager, video surveillance solutions, Matrix ComSec, speaks with Dilin Anand from EFY KAUSHAL KADAKIA PRODUCT MANAGER, VIDEO SURVEILLANCE SOLUTIONS, MATRIX COMSEC

Q. What are the biggest challenges faced while designing security systems in India? A. When designing for bigger companies, one problem that is faced is that the infrastructure is unable to handle all cameras together. Infrastructure optimisation is one way to solve this. Scalability of cameras has increased from having just a few cameras to over 100,000 cameras. Challenges faced here are with respect to the lack of centralised control, which is magnified by the lack of a wide bandwidth. Rising infrastructure management expenses by security customers is another problem area. Q. What was the biggest critical challenge solved by your R&D team recently? A. One understated, yet critical, challenge was with delivering content in real-time. Security has to be real-time, as passive communication does not let you prevent theft but only investigate it. In the past, thieves would take the surveillance device with them, leaving no evidence behind. Now, if an event takes place under the eye of a modern surveillance system, it will identify the intrusion event, send out an SMS and an email with a snapshot of the intrusion in real-time. Q. What has changed in video surveillance technology? A. Previously, these systems were designed as closed systems with a recording device and cameras connected to it, leaving the user with just a recording apparatus. So if someone using such a system was robbed, he or she would have to manually go through all data in the recording apparatus to figure out what had happened. To solve this problem, there is now a thing called an investigaWWW.EFYMAG.COM

tion module, which can monitor specific objects of interest and alert the user about the movement of a particular object.

Q. Please give an example of how this works? A. Let us take the example of a jewellery showroom. On the counter is a piece of jewellery that goes missing. Now, instead of going through the entire piece of data and trying to figure out who stole it, what the owner can do is simply select a particular area. Any time the jewellery moves out of that area, a popup comes right up, allowing the investigator to start the work from that point onwards. Q. For the Indian market, the biggest challenge is band width. How have your engineers tried to solve this issue? A. For this problem, we divided a single image into multiple images coming from a single camera. This means selecting part of an image as an area of high importance, which gets processed in full high-definition (HD); surrounding areas are processed with a little lower resolution as these are areas of lower importance. For example, if there is one camera in a room, that room is not considered important. But if someone enters the room, he or she is of higher importance and would be recorded with maximum clarity; lower interest areas could now be recorded with missed frames or lower pixels. What is finally happening is adaptive streaming of surveillance video. Q. What is happening in access control? A. This is definitely an area where innovation is happening. Most people used to think that access control simply meant that there is a lock on the door that could be biometric or smartcard based, and which does not stop people from going inside. However, it has now become smarter to the point of understanding what situations should allow a person or a group to enter the area. Q. Could you give an example of this? A. One simple example is the CEO scan. Until and unless the CEO has entered the cabin, no one else will be able to enter the secure area. Once he or she has entered, anyone with the required credentials and access to the door may enter. Some parameters currently used are a combination of time periods, pre-determined area or people of interest.  ELECTRONICS FOR YOU | AUGUST 2015

79

INTERVIEW

Power System Design:

Whiteboard... would give them time to work on multiple projects Power system design advancements have provided power engineers with many tools and technologies. Let us take a look at what some of these are. Phil Davies, global marketing and sales VP, Vicor Corp., speaks with Atul Goel and Dilin Anand from EFY Q. What is meant by power component methodology? A. It is for almost all power control and regulation engineers. Any engineering work being done on AC-DC or DCAC at any power level can be considered to be a part of it, including front-end power systems developing voltage to be used as a hub from 48V (or, 28V in military) to the point of low voltages. The methodology aims to make it simple, scalable, repeatable, deliver faster time-to-market and for a design manager to get more productivity out of his design engineers. Q. How do power regulation components help engineers? A. These components typically switch at a very high frequency, which enables reduction in the size of magnetics and all types of passives that go within it. Having a lot of intellectual property in planar magnetics gives engineers the ability to put cores of transformers and inductors inside the packages. In our case, this, coupled with proprietary conversion and regulation engines, and the fact that we have our own silicon team, allows us to design control integrated circuits (ICs) ourselves. We leverage this with our packaging technology to build the densest and most efficient power conversion and regulation modules. Q. Please elaborate on these engines? A. A basic cornerstone of these engines is the sine amplitude converter, which is similar to a resonant converter. When we use this in bus converter modules and voltage multipliers, there is no energy storage. You can pulse very high current through here, with very fast transient response. The ZVS zero-voltage switching topology engine allows switching at very high frequencies, but when switched on or in transition, it is done at zero voltage and, in some cases, zero current, which minimises switching losses and body recovery all through the diodes in the power metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors and other devices. Q. What technological improvements have helped these components in the past few years? A. Improvements over the years have been with respect to switching at higher frequencies, as well as with integrated core planar magnetics technology. Earlier, these chips were manufactured single-sided, but are now being manufactured double-sided. This lets designers ensure that heat is drawn out of the component from both sides of the package. By extracting the heat faster, they 82


PHIL DAVIES GLOBAL MARKETING AND SALES VICE PRESIDENT, VICOR CORP.

get better watts per cubic centimetre or watts per square inch, which further reduces the density of the product. Moulding material, PCBs and silicon integration are other areas we focus on. We now integrate more, moving from Bipolar to BiCMOS to Bipolar-CMOS-DMOS technology.

Q. Has the design process of a power system changed? A. Many a time, a company develops a new electronics system and then goes to the engineer with the requirements. They are often considered right at a later stage and end up designing their own power converters over and over. Q. Could they not re-use a design? A. It is very difficult to leverage one design from one platform to the next. Our methodology suggests using power modules from front-end to the point of load and use these to rapidly design a power system instead of starting from scratch. This allows engineers to increase productivity with respect to engineering time, enabling them to work on more designs. This way they can leverage the same components again on the next system design. Q. How is designing power systems being made easier? A. Whiteboard is a tool that lets you sit with your colleagues to architect a power system without being in the same geographical area. It supports dragging and dropping components like a front-end AC power supply, specifying the input and output voltage or building an entire system out of different chips and building blocks. Then it shows the efficiency of the system and the actual mechanical picture of the system, so that you can understand the density and sizes of different components. Then, if you want to do a simulation of the design, you can do that by looking at transient response, output ripple or change-switching frequencies. Q. Could these design tools help non-experts? A. Yes, they will be able to quickly build designs by using the whiteboard to simulate the solution. They can then use the evaluation boards to test it very quickly. Q. How do engineers handle constant simplification of the design process? A. Some engineers might feel this could replace their skills, but at the same time, some might feel that this would give them time to work on multiple projects, faster.  WWW.EFYMAG.COM

EFY PLUS DVD

This Month’s DVD Contents This month’s DVD contains various emulators, simulators and a selection of utilities that aid the electronics design and simulation process SNEHA AMBASTHA

FreeRTOS FreeRTOS is a real-time operating system (RTOS) that can run even on a small microcontroller (MCU), though is not limited to it. In special cases, as in MCUs, full implementation of an RTOS is not possible because of the size of the MCU and the nature of the end application it is attached to. FreeRTOS fulfils the requirement for such components in any application.

Bochs IA-32 This is an open source emulator for Intel x86 machines, particularly IA-32. It can emulate a number of processors like 386, 486, Pentium or Pentium Pro and even AMD64 (with or without streaming single instruction, multiple data (SIMD) extensions (SSE), SSE2, 3DNow and MMX) using the common input/output (I/O) and customised basic input/output system (BIOS).

Flowcode Flowcode is a GUI software that allows a user to quickly and easily develop complex electronic and electromechanical systems. The graphical programming tool allows even those with little experience to develop complex electronic systems in minutes. It supports testing and debugging of user code, simulation in 3D, component creation, Arduino programming in addition to supporting a large number of PIC, dsPIC, ARM and AVR devices. It is available in student, educational and professional versions as single/ten users/50 users and campus licences.

Meep Meep, or MEEP, which is officially called MIT electromagnetic equation propagation, is a free finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulation software developed for the modelling of 84


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electromagnetic systems. It is also a freeware developed by MIT, distributed under GNU GPL licence. Meep can simulate in any of the coordinates (cylindrical, 1D, 2D and 3D) and work portably on any Unix-like OS.

CircuitLogix CircuitLogix allows you to convert your PC into an electronics laboratory, which would give you access to thousands of interconnected components and devices. This tool not only enables you to design the schematic and simulate it in one program but also gives a fast simulation experience. You can test your electronic circuit designs in all possible scenarios that may arise without worrying about the parts getting damaged.

eSketch PRO eSketch Pro is an electronic sketching tool that captures schematic and simulates analogue circuits. It has been specially created for circuits that contain inductors, capacitors, op-amps and resistors. This tool can change the layout, component tolerance, component values and can identify the gain bandwidth in an op-amp.

CIDER CIDER is a combination of the latest version of SPICE3 (version 3F.2) and DSIM, which is a C based device simulator. This combination gives it an

ability to simulate both mixed-level circuits and devices. This mixedlevel simulation capability makes CIDER a good choice to test circuit performance and to identify the technical parameters used there with utmost accuracy.

idealCiruit

idealCircuit is a free simulator for analogue circuits with true or ideal components. This ideal components compatibility makes evaluation and testing of designs quick, providing a detailed analysis of the output. It supports Windows 7 OS and has the same algorithm as NL5 circuit simulator. It has a very simple interface with fewer models and components.

Code::Blocks Code::Blocks is an open source integrated development environment (IDE) for developing C/C++ projects (DirectX, console applications, OpenGL, GTK+ and QT). Its layout environment resembles that of Eclipse and thus can be referred to as its mini version. It has a consistent look, feel and operation across all platforms and is compatible with Linux, Mac and Windows. You can enhance its functionalities by either installing plugins or creating codes.

G’MIC GREYC’s Magic for Image Computing (G’MIC) is an open source, fullfeatured framework for processing images. It provides different user interfaces (UIs) for converting, filtering, manipulating and visualising generic datasheets for images to different signal levels. The interfaces include command line interface gmic, plug-in gmic_gimp, Web service G’MIC, Qt based interface ZArt, a portable C++ image-processing library.  The author is a technical correspondent at EFY WWW.EFYMAG.COM

EFY PLUS DVD

FreeRTOS: A Real-Time Operating System SNEHA AMBASTHA

mbedded systems have realtime requirements that need to be fulfilled in a given amount of time. This requirement is fulfilled by the real-time operating system (RTOS). In this article we try to understand FreeRTOS. Let us see how this is different from any other RTOS. FreeRTOS is a part of RTOS that can run even on a small microcontroller (MCU) though is not limited to it. In special cases, like in MCUs, full implementation of an RTOS is not possible because of the size of the MCU and the nature of the end application it is attached to. So FreeRTOS fulfils the requirements for such components in any application. If you are using an OS on an embedded system, you will have to be very specific about the tasks you want to be done with that embedded system. The OS should be efficient enough to support all those applications, and FreeRTOS allows this.

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do we not use Windows or Linux OS on an embedded kit like Galileo or Raspberry Pi, or in an embedded component like an MCU? To understand this, we have to understand both OS and FreeRTOS in detail. An OS is nothing but a computer

program with the ability to support basic functions of a computer and provide basic services to the applications running on that computer. For example, if you are using Microsoft Office (application that helps you do your file-management work online),

Fig. 1: FreeRTOS shell command using Qemu

OS vs FreeRTOS If FreeRTOS is also an OS, why do we not use it on our computers just like Windows and Linux? Also, why

Quick review Version: 8.2.1 Licence: Open source Applications: Embedded systems Key features: • Small size of code • Independent of third-party source codes

Competing RTOSes • ChiBIOS • NuttX

• RTEMS • uCOS Fig. 2: FreeRTOS and Eclipse views for ARM

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ELECTRONICS FOR YOU PLUS | AUGUST 2015

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EFY PLUS DVD

Fig. 3: FreeRTOS with Trace v2.3

Fig. 4: Debugging in FreeRTOS

all files related to Microsoft Office will work in an environment that your OS will provide. This is how an II


OS works in general. FreeRTOS is the same but with real-time execution ability.

When you talk about Windows or Linux, these OSes have a larger size and cannot be used with an MCU that is just a few microns in size. But with a size of only 4kB, FreeRTOS allows small components like MCUs to have add-on components for functionalities such as networking stacks and command-console interface. The most important thing in any OS is its scheduler, which decides the time of execution of any application or program. Like, in the case of Windows on a desktop, the main work of a scheduler is to ensure that the desktop does not stop responding to its users, whereas in the case of Unix based multi-user OS, a scheduler ensures that each user gets the required amount of processing time. In FreeRTOS, the scheduler follows a prescribed execution pattern, where each task is assigned a priority for execution. WWW.EFYMAG.COM

EFY PLUS DVD

Open source, yet proprietary FreeRTOS has been developed in such a way that it forms the core of the software. Although RTOS kernel is open source, application codes that use this kernel still remain proprietary and are closed source. It has both free and commercial support forums that are actively run by engineers and engineering companies all over the Internet. Although many open source electronics software end up costing a lot, FreeRTOS is available free of cost on the Internet for download, deployment and experimentation. In the case of open source software, the source code gets fragmented with the availability of any new version, whereas FreeRTOS follows a very controlled release procedure where all its official ports are updated simultaneously. Many free tools do not have any life; these are either trial versions that last only 30 days or are student versions with limited usage, while FreeRTOS is a forever software that comes at no cost at all. A commercially-licensed version of FreeRTOS is also available with Real Time Engineers Ltd.

Features it supports In order to understand the benefits of using FreeRTOS it is very important to understand its features in detail from the system’s memory that it occupies to the different architectures that it supports. But when you speak about memory, it is important to talk about both random access memory (RAM) and read only memory (ROM). The size of RAM that FreeRTOS occupies depends on the application it is being used for. When used with IAR STR71X ARM7 port with four priorities, the scheduler in FreeRTOS uses 236 bytes, the queues created use 76 bytes plus the storage area of the queue and the total tasks created use 64 bytes (four characters for each task created multiplied by the total number of tasks, that is, four) plus the stack size of each task. On the contrary, the ROM usage WWW.EFYMAG.COM

Using FreeRTOS with an MCU FreeRTOS easily runs on MCUs with different brands and different architectures, but you will find slight variations in the steps for each. Although www.freertos.org lists procedures for working with FreeRTOS on many different MCUs that officially suppor t FreeRTOS, described below are the steps for using it on Atmel ATSAMD20 with Atmel Studio. ATSAMD20 is an MCU by Atmel with ARM Cortex-M0+ architecture. Atmel Studio integrated development environment (IDE) uses the visual studio framework and FreeRTOS plugin to work with SAMD20 Xplained Pro that contains ATSAMD20 MCU. 1. Open the following file in Atmenl Studio IDE: FreeRTOS/Demo/CORTEX_M0+_Atmel_ SAMD20_Xplained/RTOSDemo.atsln 2. Locate definition mainCREATE_SIMPLE_BLINKY_DEMO_ONLY at the top of main.c 3. Set mainCREATE_SIMPLE_BLINKY_DEMO_ONLY to 1 to create the simple blinky demo, or to 0 to create the comprehensive demo that also includes the command line interpreter. 4. Select Rebuild RTOSDemo from Atmel Studio Build menu (or press F7) to build the demo project. 5. Connect a USB cable between the USB port on SAMD20 Xplained Pro board and the host computer you are using for this operation. 6. In order to program the flash memory of the MCU you are using, select Start Debugging and Break from Atmel Studio Debug menu and start the debugging session.

by FreeRTOS depends on the compiler, architecture and RTOS kernel configuration, which alone requires about 5kB to 10kB of ROM. It follows a fixed coding standard that determines that no nondefined task gets executed during an interrupt or in a critical situation.

Users say... If you go online and look up FreeRTOS, you will realise that majority of Fig. 5: FreeRTOS with STM32F4 MCU using Linux platform people appreciate both its features and developers, Real Time between a general OS and a realEngineers Ltd. time one, and to use it with different Taking an example from source- MCUs easily. forge.net , almost 95 per cent of users Additionally, you will also find seem to have experienced that it is some beginners who are studying lightweight and that its architecture FreeRTOS through different documakes it an independent OS for emments available online and are using bedded systems. They also acknowlit with various MCUs. edge the fact that this OS supports all Some engineers at electronics. types of platforms and does not crash stackexchange.com have compared even when being used by beginners FreeRTOS with other RTOSes to try for the first time. and prove its popularity over others On the other hand, if you visit by pointing out the high number of www.edaboard.com, you will find downloads of it and its extremely tiny beginners who wish to learn and unfootprint of about 4kB.  derstand FreeRTOS and other RTOSes only to understand the difference The author is a technical correspondent at EFY ELECTRONICS FOR YOU PLUS | AUGUST 2015

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G’MIC: A Pleasant Image-Processing Framework thing for everyone in it. As a beginner, one can easily use this tool for n the last issue of EFY Plus, we functions like mirroring, rotating, discussed CImg library for image sharpening, resizing, creating animaprocessing. Let us now take a look tions using various warps and deforat GREYC’s Magic for Image Computmations. An expert can use this tool ing (G’MIC) tool, which is based on to work with videos, for processing the latest developments of CImg. webcam videos in real-time, to have G’MIC is a pleasant yet powerful multi-dimensional plots, for creating image-processing framework that 3D models and logos, and so on. Macomes with an extensive package of nipulations and interactions on the top-quality effects and predefined image can be done either grouped or filters. The latest release of the softfocused on specific items. Simplicity. A simple instruction, ware version 1.6.5.0 is included in this month’s DVD of EFY Plus. The gmic pic1.jpg pic2.jpg pic3.jpg, alsoftware is distributed under CEA lows the user to view three pictures CNRS INRIA Logiciel Libre (CeCILL) in a sequence. licence, which is a French GPL-comConversion of an image from one patible licence. format to another is possible by yet another single-line instruction, gmic Why G’MIC ThisPicture.png Output.jpg. Even though the purpose of G’MIC A simple command, gmic image. is to facilitate experts, there is somejpg -old_photo, allows the user to create an old-photo effect for an image. Flexibility. The tool gives the user the freedom to choose from a range of image-processing options. For example, for blurring an image, the user is given an option to select filFig. 1: Colour transformation using interactive colour curves ter type, border setting, JAI SACHITH PAUL

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various blur types (angular, radial, linear and selective), direction (x/ xy/xyz/y/z) and more. Ext ensible. The software allows the user to have a customised library of commands that could be understood by the interpreter. Thus, an expert user can customise the library in order to adapt to his or her requirements. Portability. Developers of this software had portability as one of their major design considerations. G’MIC runs well on different platforms such as Windows, Unix and Mac. Use of OpenMP specifications takes advantage of multiple cores for speeding up the computation of image-processing operations while parallel-processing.

Motivation behind the development As mentioned earlier, the same team who developed CImg library developed G’MIC framework. There were some observations that led to the development of the new framework. For working on CImg, basic knowledge of C++ is necessary. We cannot expect people like doctors, who are interested in image processing, to have literacy on the programming language. Some recurring basic operations

Software overview

Fig. 2: Comic colourisation by placing coloured keypoints and running Colorization algorithm for interpolating the colours (Image courtesy: David Revoy website)

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Name of the tool: G’MIC (GREYC’s Magic for Image Computing) Application: Image processing Main developer: David Tschumperlé, GREYC Lab, Caen France Main coding languages: C and C++ Licence: CECILL-2.0 (GPL-compactible) Latest release: Version 1.6.5.0

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EFY PLUS DVD are done on most of the image data, such as instance visualisation, frequency analysis or noise reduction. On the other hand, there are some specific operations like masking Fourier transform to eliminate some frequency noise on certain images. It is not always practical to have a C++ code for every minor task. The user, who may use a particular piece of code, probably just once in his lifetime, should not be spending time in editing and compiling it. This might not be economical.

User interfaces For datasets varying from singledimensional scalar signals to multidimensional multi-spectral volumetric images, various user interfaces (UIs) present in this toolkit provide mechanisms for conversion, manipulation, filtering and visualisation of images. Command-line interface. G’MIC language is a powerful script language for image-processing pipelines. The command line interface (CLI), gmic, allows users to access features of the framework from within a shell. In the absence of a dedicated graphical interface, CLI is the most powerful interface that allows users to work on sequences of float-valued 3D volumetric images having arbitrary channels, without limits other than the available memory. By default, loading and saving of image sequences is done using OpenCV. Users can enter demo mode, displaying all capabilities of the tool by invoking gmic on the command line without any other arguments. Gmic_gimp plugin. GIMP is a very popular image retouching and editing software. gmic_gimp plugin renders the capabilities of G’MIC to GIMP. More than 400 filters including film emulation, frames, layers, light and shadows, patterns and rendering are available with the tool. ZArt Interface. ZArt interface was initially developed as a demonWWW.EFYMAG.COM

G’MIC relies on an interactive colour curves filter that includes CMY, CMYK, HSI, HSL, HSV, Lab, Lch and YCbCr. This can be done using the new command line instruction -x_color_curves. Fig. 3: G’MIC Colorization algorithm for colourisation of an old black-and-white photograph Plugin users, who use Colors / Curves [interactive] filter can serve their favourite colour curve and use it repeatedly. Fig. 4: An implementation of G’MIC colour-transfer algorithm Comics colourisation. Even using a computer, the activity of comic colourisation is a tedious task. The new G’MIC command -x_colorize and corresponding Black & White / Colorize [interactive] filter in G’MIC plugin helps the user to do the colourisation job easily. The user simply has Fig. 5: Decomposition of foreground and background of an image to put some keypoints stration platform, where a user can here and there within different process images from a webcam. Now image regions. G’MIC provides a this interface is capable of importing minimal interface for doing. By any kind of image files. Most filters analysing contours and colour-point from GIMP plugin have now been interpolation, the algorithm comes shifted to ZArt interface. up with a probable colourisation. Black-and-white picture colouriG’MIC online. Image-processing algorithms from a Web browser can sation. With a small change in the be directly applied on the images above algorithm, G’MIC provides a with the help of this Web service. new tool to colourise old black-andBesides this, there is a thread-safe white photographs. Even for blackC++ library, libgmic, to be linked to and-white picture colourisation, the third-party applications. This multiuser could effectively use Black & threaded library implements the White / Colorize [interactive] filter. entire G’MIC core image-processing Colour transferring. In the colroutines and structures. our-transferring algorithm, colour of the source image is replaced by New features in G’MIC the colour schemes of a reference image, so as to get a better colour Let us take a look at some of the ambience for the original image. latest features introduced in the software. This is achieved with the help of Colors/Transfer colors [advanced] For colour processing. Interactive colour curves filter. plugin. Foreg ro un d/ ba ck gr ou nd ex Instead of going for conventional traction algorithm. In the photo red-green-blue (RGB) colour space, ELECTRONICS FOR YOU PLUS | AUGUST 2015

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EFY PLUS DVD retouching process, it is important to separate the foreground and background of an image. A speedy, userguided segmentation algorithm is developed in G’MIC, which is accessible through -x_segment command (using CLI interface) and Contours / Extract foreground [interactive] plugin filter. Artistic filters. A wide range of artistic filters help users to play on the images. A couple of recently incorporated artistic filters in G’MIC are Engrave effect and Delaunay triangulation.

Open source projects that use G’MIC Earlier in the article, we discussed gmic_gimp plugin. Let us now look at some of the other open source projects that makes use of G’MIC features. Krita is an open source digital painting and illustration application. A lot of filters of G’MIC including

that makes use of the videoprocessing application from G’MIC framework.

The gimmick on images G’MIC framework has been actively under development by David Tschumperlé and the IMAGE team at GREYC Labs, since 2008. The scripting language understands about 1000 different commands, allconfigurable, for a libgmic liFig. 6: Use of artistic Engrave lter for photo-to-comic conversion brary file that takes a little less than 5MB. These cover a wide the one to colourise comics work range of image-processing applicadirectly in Krita. tions including motion estimation Photoflow is a full non-destructive and image manipulation. photo-retouching program. It proPeople around the world make vides a complete workflow from RAW use of G’MIC either directly or image development to printing. Many through other open source software applications of the G’MIC filters that make use of the features of this including noise reduction were suctool.  cessfully incorporated in Photoflow. EKD is a postproduction processThe author is an electronics enthusiast from ing software for videos and images Kerala

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Dedicated Section on LEDs & LED Lighting In Conversation with Industry Experts Product Focus New Product Launches Upcoming Market Trends

• Government Guidelines & Policies

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EFY PLUS DVD

Meep for Electromagnetic Simulations JAI SACHITH PAUL

Software overview

his article focuses on the MIT electromagnetic equation propagation (Meep) software developed at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) for modelling electromagnetic (EM) systems. The implementation is based on finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method. The latest release of this open source software released under GNU general public licence, version 1.3, is included in this month’s EFY Plus.

Name of the software: Meep Licence: GNU GPL Software type: Electromagnetic simulation package Major contributors to the software: David Roundy, Mihai Ibanescu, Peter Bermel, Steven G. Johnson and Ardavan F. Oskooi Programming language: C++ System requirements: Any computer with Unix-like system and C++ compiler; optionally exploits additional free software packages like GNU Guile, libctl interface library, HDF5, MPI message-passing interface and Harminv filter-diagonalisation For more information: ab-initio.mit.edu/meep

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FDTD simulation In the FDTD numeric analysis technique, time and space are divided into a regular grid and the time evolution of Maxwell’s equations is simulated. Of course, there are many numeric tools for computational electromagnetism. Some of these like Finite Element Methods (FEMs) are more sophisticated and guarantee greater accuracy. Boundary Element Method represents interfaces instead of volume. Each technique has its own advantages and disadvantages. Generic in nature. The full timedependent Maxwell’s equations can be directly applied for nearly arbitrary materials including anisotropic, dispersive, time varying and non-linear. The algorithm helps in realistic simulation and propagation of an EM wave through these complex structures. Also, the software is capable of testing a wide range of boundary conditions. For researchers working in computational electromagnetism, new interactions of modern physical processes are easily possible with the help of an FDTD algorithm. An experienced user can simulate the population of excited atoms for lasing using this technique. Distributed computing. The design of Meep facilitates distributed computing. The algorithm used in this software can be easily parallelised for WWW.EFYMAG.COM

implementation. This results in duplication of effort and wastage of time and money. There were a few FDTD implementations available to the public when the research group at MIT started working on Meep. But the features were limited and were Fig. 1: Meep plot showing the eld in a dielectric wave-guide excited not capable enough by a point source at a given frequency. Input le in Scheme Language is shown at the foreground to meet their requirements. Massive downloads and citations of this package rerunning on clusters or supercomputaffirm the demand for such a software ers. Distributed memory parallelism package. could be achieved on any system that supports Message Passing InterfacTime-domain simulation: ing (MPI) standard. This simulation Major applications package is portable to any Unix-like system. With a free Unix-compatiIn a time-domain simulation, Maxbility environment like Cygwin, it well’s equations are evolved over time should be possible to install Meep in in a finite computational region. The Windows too. result of this numerical experiment is helpful to compute many useful quanThe motivation behind tities like the ones mentioned below: There are plenty of commercial softBy taking Fourier transform of the ware packages based on FDTD algoresponse to a short pulse, transmission rithm. For any kind of improved sciand reflection-scattering parameters entific research in this area, access to over a wide spectrum could be easily the source code is essential. Licensfound out. ing constraints should be relaxed in Frequencies, decay rates and field order to speed porting to new clusters patterns of the harmonic modes of a and supercomputers. Therefore most system could be easily extracted from research groups working on photonthe analysis of the system to a short ics and computational electromagnetpulse. ics end up having their own FDTD Field patterns like Green’s function ELECTRONICS FOR YOU PLUS | AUGUST 2015

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Some interesting features

Python Meep

Simulation is possible in single, di and tri dimensions as well as in cylindrical coordinates  Effective exploitation of symmetries including odd/even mirror symmetries and 90°/180° rotations allow reduction of computation size  Field output provided in Hierarchical Data Format (HDF5) is supported by many visualisation tools  Complete scriptability provided through Scheme scripting front-end or a callable C++ library or python binding  Field analysis including frequency extraction, near- to far-field transformation, flux spectra, etc is fully programmable

The default scripting language for Meep software is Scheme. Python Meep is a wrapper around C++ core of Meep, allowing researchers to script Meep simulations using Python. Not only does it make the work of researchers easier, it also allows them to integrate Meep with other packages available in the Python ecosystem.

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be effectively used for computation of far-field. FDTD++. This is yet another actively-developed, fullyfeatured open source FDTD implementation. It provides flexible geometrical modelling capabilities with support for computer aided deFig. 2: Plot showing the relative error in scattered power from a small semi-circular bump in a dielectric waveguide excited by a point-dipole signs, meshes and source in the waveguide, as a function of the computational resolution. algorithmic specificaThe geometry and eld of the waveguide is shown in the inset tions. GSVIT. This open source FDTD for an arbitrary source such as a continuous wave input. package is very helpful for scientific Many other quantities could be researches in nano technology and easily computed with the help of nano-scale optics. The tool supports these results. Various computations the use of NVIDIA CUDA environment-compatible graphics cards. The could be added either sequentially or latest version of the package comes in parallel with the help of the scriptalong with a graphical interface, able interface. XSvit, for parameter files set up and Other competing software visualisation purposes. B-CALM. B-CALM, or Belgium Let us now take a look at some other FDTD implementations available as California Light Machine, is an FDTD open source. simulation tool that makes use of Angora. Main features of this free Compute Unified Device Architecture FDTD implementation include an (CUDA) for fast computing on graphMPI library for full parallelisability, ics card. build and install mechanism for GNU/ Dedicated EM simulation Linux operating system being automatic, support for planar multi-layered tool without a GI spaces, flexible and user-friendly conThere is a basic Unix philosophy that figuration with the help of text based reads, ‘Write programs that do one configuration files and numerical thing and do it well’ and Meep softoptical-imaging simulation. ware does exactly that. Developers visualise Meep as a dedicated tool for OpenEMS. OpenEMS FDTD implementation comes with an extenEM simulations, incorporating other sive MATLAB/Octave interface. The functionalities by combining with othsoftware also has a graphical interer programs using standard interfaces. face (GI) called CSXCAD. It can also Some users might find using the VIII


tool a bit difficult without a dedicated GI. “Setting up a realistic simulation is usually a challenging scientific task on its own and with Meep, one also needs to write a working code. That said, I believe that the minimalistic interface of Meep and the fundamental simplicity of the FDTD algorithm provide a very useful complement to more elaborate software packages,” points out Filip Dominec in his blog titled ‘MEEP - my notes on FDTD simulation.’ Developers have valid reasons to opt against a GI. Graphical simulations are used while setting up a single simulation. But this tool is not intended to have a single simulation. Simulations are to be done for a class of related problems and optimising the results and looking at the same geometry under a sequence of different stimuli. When it comes to a series of related simulations, a graphical computer aided design (CAD) style interface would not be optimal. Second, developers do not want to write a mediocre CAD program. In the paper titled ‘MEEP: A flexible free software package for electromagnetic simulations by the FDTD method,’ they write, “If we wanted to use a CAD program, we would use a professional quality one, export the design to a standard interchange format and write a conversion program to turn this format into what Meep expects.” Therefore developers have finally come up with a tool that provides interactions using a low-level C++ interface, standard high-level scripting language called Scheme implemented by an external GNU Guile library and Python Meep.  The author is an electronics enthusiast from Kerala

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INDUSTRY NEWS Tax structure, lack of incentives impact electronics manufacturing

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onsumer Electronics and Appliances Manufacturers Association (CEAMA) has released a statement that the inverted duty structure and lack of incentives are impacting the manufacturing of consumer electronics. According to reports, in a letter to Ministry of Commerce and Industry, CEAMA has said that the tax structure on imports of parts and components to manufacture a product attracts huge customs and excise duties. This inverted duty structure impacts the domestic industry adversely as manufacturers have to pay a higher price for raw materials because of the duty, while importers are able to bring in the finished product by paying lower duty, which therefore costs less. Currently, India is importing electronic goods worth US$ 100 billion a year and the import bill is likely to cross US$ 400 billion by 2020.

Hero Group enters electronics

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ndian motorcycle and scooter manufacturer, Hero Group, has entered the electronics sector. The Delhi based two-wheeler manufacturer has launched a new company, Hero Electronix. To take this further, Hero will acquire a majority stake in Mybox, which is a multi-operator manufacturer of set-top boxes in the country. Mybox is known for the set-top boxes it makes for various DTH operators in India. As Mybox is a known player in the cable and DTH broadcast system, Hero will get a strong foothold in the electronics ecosystem.

SoftBank to invest US$ 20 billion in Indian solar projects

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apanese multinational telecommunications and Internet giant, SoftBank Corp., is partnering with India’s Bharti Enterprises and Taiwan based 86


In Focus Management changes at LG India South Korean electronics company LG has appointed Kim Ki-Wan to head its Indian operations. Soon Kwon will take over as global head for information display business, while former global head of marketing MY Kim replaces Kwon as managing director.

Ashraf ElArman named managing director of Xerox India Xerox has announced the appointment of Ashraf ElArman as MD of its Indian unit. In this role, he will be responsible for new business development, driving growth and achieving business objectives for Xerox India.

Rupa Santosh to head Nokia Networks’ Technology Center Nokia has appointment Rupa Santosh as the head of Nokia Networks’ Technology Centre in Bengaluru. The tech centre

electronics contract manufacturing company Foxconn. SoftBank will invest about US$ 20 billion in solar projects in India. As India is looking to boost its renewable energy sector, SoftBank seeks business expansion in the same sector. SoftBank will initially invest US$ 10 billion in India. The three companies are committed to generating a minimum of 20GW of energy. Foxconn will provide support in solar equipment manufacturing for the projects. The companies are also looking at manufacturing equipment in India. Major changes have been observed in the Indian solar industry. The rapidly-falling cost of solar power, which is expected to reach parity with conventional energy by 2017, has ignited interest in its potential in India.

Sony to tap rural TV market with small-screen units

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lectronics major Sony aims to tap non-metro/rural markets with its small-screen television panels along

is currently the leading research and development (R&D) site for Nokia Networks globally.

Amit Pradhan joins Vodafone as Chief Technology Security Officer Vodafone India, India’s second-largest telecom operator, has appointed Amit Pradhan as chief technology security ofcer of the company. Prior to Vodafone India, Pradhan served Cipla for almost three years as group chief information security ofcer.

Sistema Shyam TeleServices announces two appointments Sistema Shyam TeleServices (SSTL), which provides telecom services under MTS brand, has announced two senior leadership appointments. Bijender Yadav has been named chief technology ofcer and Ashok Singh has been named chief operating ofcer of Kolkata and West Bengal circles.

with strengthening its sales network in these areas. The company, which launched an affordable range of television panels last year in order to tap tier II, III and IV markets, has expanded its sales network to over 10,000 distributors to cash in on the opportunities.

Eon Electric gets ` 510 million order for LEDs in UP, Rajasthan

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ED lights manufacturer Eon Electric has won ` 510 million worth of contracts to supply LED streetlights in Aligarh in Uttar Pradesh and Jodhpur in Rajasthan. With government’s emphasis on conserving energy by replacing conventional lights by LED lights, the demand for LED streetlights in India is expected to reach ` 3950 billion by 2020. Accordingly, EON has expanded its portfolio from conventional/ CFL lights to a range of LED bulbs and LED streetlights. The company will install 60,000 LED streetlights in Jodhpur and WWW.EFYMAG.COM

MAKE IN INDIA

Calendar of Forthcoming Electronics Fairs/Exhibitions/Seminars/Events

13,000 in Aligarh. These streetlights will be installed with a centrally controlled system, which will continuously monitor and report satisfactory performance and energy conservation of the streetlights.

Name, Date and Venue

Topics

Contact address for details

Make in India Bright Prospects of LED Manufacturing August 14, 2015 PHD House, New Delhi

How LED technology in future can become the primary source of power in India

PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry Phone: +91-11-26863801-4 Website: www.phdcci.in

BFSI Innovation & Technology Summit August 20, 2015 Mumbai

Explores key aspects, issues related to the BFSI sector, their practices and applications as business drivers for innovation and growth

Exito Media Concepts Pvt Ltd Phone: 080-42015540 Email: [email protected] Website: www.bfsiitsummit.com

Bharti to partner with electronics manufacturer

8th Edition IPCA Electronics Expo India 2015 August 20-22, 2015 Pragati Maidan, New Delhi

A platform to source latest electronic components, equipment and services. The exhibition demonstrates the latest trends in the industry

IPCA Electronics Expo India 2015 Website: www.ipca-expo.com

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Digital India 2015 Indian Mobile Applications & Gadgets Expo August 20-22, 2015 Pragati Maidan, New Delhi

Topics include infrastructure as utility to every citizen, mobile phone and banking, sharable private space on public cloud, and safe and secure cyber-space

Indian Mobile Applications & Gadgets Expo (IMAGE) Phone: +91-9818623337 Email: [email protected] Website: www.imageindia.org

Shunde Expo August 20-22, 2015-07-16 Shunde Exhibition Centre, China

Focuses on showcasing quality appliances, accessories and technology and providing the best trading platform for exhibitors and trade visitors in China and Asia

Koelnmesse Co. Ltd Phone: +86-20-8755 2468-12 Website: www.shundeexpo.com

6th World Renewable Energy Technology Congress - 2015 August 21-23, 2015 Manekshaw Centre, New Delhi

An international platform for promoting the global renewal energy industry

6th World Renewable Energy Technology Congress - 2015 Website: www.wretc.in

AUTOMATION 2015 August 24-27, 2015 Hall No.1 & 5, NSE–Mumbai, Mumbai

Catering to industrial automation, robotics, drives and controls, logistics, hydraulics and pneumatics, and building automation

IED Communications Ltd Phone: 022-22079567, 22073370 Email: [email protected] Website: www.iedcommunications.com/ index.php

Embedded Systems Technology Forum September 2-4, 2015-05-14 NIMHANS Convention Centre, Bengaluru

A conference and exhibition that caters to the requirement of the electronics engineering community in India

dmg events Email: [email protected] Website: www.estf.in

IFA Berlin September 4-9, 2015 Berlin, Germany

World’s leading trade show for consumer electronics and home appliances

Messe Berlin GmbH, Messedamm 22 Phone: +49-30-3038-2217 Email: [email protected] Website: b2b.ifa-berlin.com

electronica India productronica India September 9-11, 2015 Pragati Maidan, New Delhi

Fair for electronic components, systems, applications and entire value chain in electronics production, besides communication platform for the electronics industry

MMI India Pvt Ltd Phone: 9967558496 Email: [email protected] Website: www.electronica-productronicaindia.com

IT ASIA 2015 September 25-27, 2015 Hitex, Hyderabad, Telangana

An India international exhibition and conference on electronics and ICT industry

Aakar Exhibition Pvt Ltd Email: [email protected] Website: www.itasia.in

Safety & Security Asia 2015 Singapore September 29 – October 1, 2015 Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

One of the largest international safety and security technology and equipment exhibition

Conference & Exhibition Management Services Pte Ltd Phone: +65 62788666 Website: safetysecurityasia.com.sg

Taitronics 2015 October 6-9, 2015 TWTC Nangang Exhibition Hall No.1, Nangang District, Taipei, Taiwan (R.O.C.)

Electronic components and parts, meters and instruments, LED lighting and applications, power supplies, industrial process and automation, smart living and consumer electronics, broadband products and cloud

TAITRONICS 2015 (41st Taipei International Electronics Show) Website: www.taitronics.tw

Gizworld Wearable Tech and IoT SF conference October 27, 2015 Santa Clara Convention Centre, Santa Clara, California, the USA

Over 20 dynamic TED-style keynotes, 50 fast-track start-up pitches, product demos and unique networking opportunities

Gizworld Wearable Tech and IoT SF Website: gizworldconf.com/san-francisco

CeBIT India October 29-31, 2015 BIEC, Bengaluru

A digital marketplace to understand what new technology can do for a business

Hannover Milano Fairs India Pvt Ltd Phone: +91-22-66875527 Website: www.cebit-india.com

OSI Days 2015 November 19-20, 2015 Nimhans Convention & Exhibition Centre, Bengaluru

Open source conference that aims to nurture and promote the open source ecosystem in Asia

EFY Enterprises Pvt Ltd Phone: 011-26810601/2/3 Email: [email protected] Website: www.osidays.com

LED Expo 2015 December 3-5, 2015 Pragati Maidan, New Delhi

Country’s No. 1 exhibition on LED lighting products and technologies

Messe Frankfurt Trade Fairs India Pvt Ltd Phone: 022-61445900 Website: www.theledexpo.com

Energy Storage India December 8-9, 2015 India Habitat Centre, New Delhi

International conference and exhibition on energy storage and microgrids in India

Customised Energy Solutions Website: www.esiexpo.in

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ndian telecom conglomerate, Bharti Enterprises, is planning to start manufacturing set-top boxes, for which it is looking at partnering with an electronics manufacturer in the country. According to reports, Bharti is planning to make set-top boxes in Pune, in partnership with an electronics manufacturing company, in line with its commitment to support ‘Make in India’ initiative. The process of cable digitisation across India is underway in a phased manner, which is fuelling the demand for set-top boxes. The government has mandated that cable TV transmission has to be done through digital addressable systems only, as consumers can access a larger number of TV channels compared to only 60 to 70 channels that can be accessed through analogue cable transmission. As per industry estimates, the cable digitisation programme has created a huge demand for set-top boxes, which is likely to reach 75 million units by 2016-17.

Micromax to increase production of TV panels

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onsumer electronics company, Micromax, has plans to capture 15 per cent market share in the TV panel segment by 2016 and is planning to set up a new unit to ramp up production of budget-range models by investing up to ` 5 billion. At present Micromax, which had forayed into TV panel segment in 2012, has an eight per cent share of the total market. The company uses 50 per cent local components for its TV units and the rest are imported. ELECTRONICS FOR YOU | AUGUST 2015

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Calendar of Forthcoming Electronics Fairs/Exhibitions/Seminars/Events Name, Date and Venue

Topics

Contact address for details

WIN India December 9-11, 2015 Pragati Maidan, New Delhi

From hydraulics and pneumatics to electromechanical transmission, automation components to process and factory automation systems, among others

Hannover Milano Fairs India Pvt Ltd Phone: 9167522998 Email: [email protected] Website: www.win-india.com

India Electronics Week January 11-13, 2016 Bengaluru

An Indian exhibition for the global electronics industry showcasing concurrently fve events: Electronics For You Expo, Electronics Rocks, T&M India, LED Asia and IoT Show

EFY Enterprises Pvt Ltd Phone: +91-11-40596605 Email: [email protected]

WEARABLE EXPO January 13-15, 2016 Tokyo Big Sight, Tokyo

Wearable device and technology expo

WEARABLE EXPO Show Management Reed Exhibitions Japan Ltd Website: www.wearable-expo.jp/en

ELECRAMA 2016 February 13-17, 2016 BIEC, Bengaluru

Serves the business needs of utilities, government, EPC consultants, contractors, electrical equipment manufacturers and generation companies

ELECRAMA 2016 Email: [email protected]

Look up under ‘Events’ section in www.electronicsforu.com for a comprehensive list Since this information is subject to change, all those interested are advised to ascertain the details from the organisers before making any commitment.

Snippets PM launches flexible electronics centre at IIT Kanpur

them more time to design innovative and differentiated features.

A exible electronic centre worth ` 1330 million is being set up at IIT Kanpur. This is a rst-of-its-kind facility across IITs, aimed at pioneering new exible electronics domain. Department of Electronics and Information Technology (DeitY), government of India, is assisting IIT Kanpur in this project.

Cisco launches IoT system for enterprises and smartcities

Renesas Electronics to deliver IoT platform Renesas has announced Renesas Synergy Platform, a new, easy-to-use, qualied platform designed to accelerate time-to-market, reduce total cost of ownership and remove many obstacles that engineers face as they develop products for the growing IoT and industrial markets. The platform uses an innovative approach to new product design that lets embedded systems engineers start product development at API level, giving

Celkon rolls out manufacturing unit in Telangana

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yderabad based mobile phone company, Celkon, has announced the launch of its first manufacturing unit in Telangana. Until now, its mobiles and tablet PCs were assembled in Taiwan and China. According to reports, the unit has the capacity to manufacture 200,000 phones per month, and this will be increased to 500,000 phones per month in the next quarter. Also, about 60 per cent of the phones 88


Tech giant Cisco has introduced Internet of Things (IoT) system, under which it has launched 15 products. This system encompasses all parts of the infrastructure that go into IoT deployment, which include communications gear, computing elements, security and management software.

Synopsys to increase footprint in India Synopsys India, a part of the electronic design automation (EDA) conglomerate Synopsys Inc., is planning to collaborate with small semiconductor design companies in order to expand its footprint in India. Besides partnering with local players, the company will continue to collaborate with tech giants such as Intel, Qualcomm, Texas Instruments, Brocade and Freescale for EDA and software capabilities.

manufactured at this plant will be feature phones and the remaining 40 per cent will be smartphones.

Foxconn to set up 12 manufacturing units in Sri City

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oxconn, the largest contract manufacturer of phones/gadgets and hardware globally, has zeroed in on Sri City in Andhra Pradesh to set up a manufacturing facility. The Taiwanese giant is planning to set up several units in the country

Check efytimes.com for more news, daily

involving significant investments. Foxconn CEO has indicated plans to set up ten to twelve manufacturing units and possibly create one million jobs by 2020. Initial focus will be on Gujarat and Maharashtra, besides Andhra Pradesh. Foxconn is also looking to set up data centres and invest in start-ups. Chinese mobile phone companies like Xiaomi and Gionee are among those that have outlined plans for manufacturing in India and they are expected to team up with Foxconn.

Crompton Greaves, SOGO to sell kitchen appliances in India

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rompton Greaves has signed a long-term alliance pact with Spanish European consumer appliances company SOGO to sell kitchen appliances in India. SOGO is engaged in the marketing and worldwide sales of kitchen and home appliances and personal care products. It will provide market intelligence and access to its international design houses to develop unique products for the Indian consumer. Through this alliance, Crompton will leverage SOGO’s robust costeffective supply chain to introduce the new range of products through its well-established distribution network with a target of reaching 9000 premium retail counters. The high volume procurement projected will enable both companies to achieve higher competitiveness.

Japan’s Komamura keen to make lenses, cameras in India

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apan’s Komamura Corp. is looking to make lenses and cameras in India and would explore the possibility of setting up operations in Andhra Pradesh in this regard. The company is also exploring the possibility of exporting its equipment to other parts of the world from Andhra Pradesh. Komamura operates in the optics space and manufactures view/technical cameras, pro-digital photo equipment and pro-broadcasting equipment. WWW.EFYMAG.COM

MAKE IN INDIA

MARKET SURVEY:

An Outlook for the PCB Industry in 2015-16: The Indian Perspective rinted circuit boards (PCBs) are the backbone of the electronics industry. These are deployed in almost all electronic products, ranging from consumer electronics such as personal computers, tablets, smartphones and gaming consoles to industrial electronics and also high-end commercial products including strategic electronics and medical electronics. Considering the importance of the PCB industry in the electronics manufacturing ecosystem, July 2014 issue of Electronics For You published an article titled ‘PCB Industry in India: Marching Ahead,’ discussing how the Indian PCB industry was moving ahead despite unfavourable government policies and increased imports that competed with local products. However, given that the electronics industry ecosystem has evolved significantly in the last one year with respect to government policies, investment climate and consumer demand, we decided to take a fresh peek into the Indian PCB industry to understand how the industry has been shaping up. This time, however, rather than going only by facts and figures available in different reports, we tried to bring to you perspectives from industry thought leaders on the PCB industry’s prospects.

P Sudeshna Das is senior executive editor at EFY

Signs of growth The Indian electronics industry is projected to touch US$ 400 billion by 2020. This, in turn, is expected to fuel a high demand for PCBs. “The Indian PCB industry is showing signs of growth at last. I can confidently say that one of the primary reasons would be Make in India initiative. There are other reasons as well, such as policy changes by the government 90


combined with incentive schemes, which have created a very encouraging environment for the growth of this industry,” opines Anil Kumar Muniswamy, managing director, SLN Technologies, while discussing the growthfriendly changes that took place in the PCB industry in the past year. In 2014, majority of growth in the PCB market was driven by the consumer electronics segment followed by requirement from strategic and medical electronics segments. In the near future, telecommunications, consumer electronics and industrial electronics will continue to driver growth. In these sectors, miniaturisation of semiconductor devices and demand for enhanced functionality in electronic products would drive the demand for more complex PCBs with high layer volume. “The huge push by the government for electronics manufacturing along with Make in India focus and the push from the defence sector will drive the growth of PCB industry in the country in the near future,” opines Abhay B. Doshi, managing director, Fine-Line Circuits Ltd. According to Doshi, PCB manufacturers in India mostly fall under the following segments: 1. Large-volume manufacturers (mostly double-sided PCB manufacturers and a few who produce a good amount of multi-layer PCBs) 2. Small-volume manufacturers (both double-sided PCB manufacturers and a few who produce multi-layer PCBs) 3. Small-volume fast-delivery manufacturers (both double-sided PCB manufacturers and a few who produce multi-layer PCBs) 4. Small-volume complex-design manufacturers (who produce all types of special/ complex PCBs) Doshi specifically expects the growth in the second, third and fourth type of manufacturers, and explains that, automotive, WWW.EFYMAG.COM

MAKE IN INDIA telecom, solar and LED continue to be demand-generating areas and the core growth continues from the industrial automation and instrumentation segments. Further, advances in technology such as high-density interconnection (HDI) technology would enable more interconnection functions per unit area, which has the potential of having a high growth impact on the market for advanced-level applications. For example, according to Muniswamy, availability of the Internet to remote areas, changing lifestyles with increased purchasing power of the middle class and rapid growth of the ecommerce industry is expected to generate demand for PCBs required for mobile and portable devices, cloud computing servers and networking devices. “Mobile computing, cloud computing and the Internet of Things (IoT) are the latest fads in the electronics industry, and we are seeing the emergence of local brands in mobile computing, which includes smartphones, tablets and laptops, among others. Policy changes are forcing local brands to start manufacturing in India, and this should help the local PCB manufacturing ecosystem and create millions of jobs,” he adds. “In recent years, consumer demand and regulatory concern for low carbon emission, energy saving and environmental protection has attracted greater attention towards LED lighting. LED manufacturing segment in the country is poised to grow at a very high rate. This, in turn, has the potential to open up a huge demand potential for PCBs,” says Rajoo Goel, secretary general, ELCINA. According to Anuraag Dhoot, managing director, Epitome Components, presently, the best bet for Indian PCB manufacturers is in the area of supplies to energy meters, UPS systems and automotive electronics. These are the growing areas that have good potential for growth and expansion for PCB manufacturers. WWW.EFYMAG.COM

Fig. 1: Demand-supply gap in Indian PCB industry (Source: IPCA)

Steps to promote indigenous ecosystem for PCBs Imposing high import tariff; nil duty on raw material imports  Interest subsidies/low interest loans; quicker reimbursement of CENVAT  Provision of export subsidies  Elimination of inverted duty structure  Imposing anti-dump duty/safeguard duty Source: An IESA - Frost & Sullivan report 

“Given that the automotive industry in India is growing steadily and every car needs two to 15 PCBs depending on features and functionality requirements, demand for PCBs from this segment is bound to grow,” opines Paresh Vasani, managing director, Circuit Systems India Ltd. In addition, the recent thrust on indigenisation of strategic electronics manufacturing will likely fuel the demand for high-grade multi-layer PCBs.

Demand-supply gap Currently, most domestic PCB consumption in the country is served through imports. This does not bode well for the economic health of the industry in the long term. “Currently, almost 80 per cent to 85 per cent of the country’s PCB requirements are met through imports. To boost electronics manufacturing in the country, it is important to have adequate PCB manufacturing capacities that meet the need of the industry at competitive prices, thereby preventing excessive dependence on imports,” says Goel. According to an IPCA report, there is a gap of around US$ 950 million (Fig. 1) between the demand and supply of PCBs in the Indian market. This huge demand-supply gap provides enough opportunity for

Market drivers  Automotive

electronics  Consumer electronics  Industrial electronics  Light emitting diodes (LEDs)  Strategic electronics  Telecommunications

new manufacturing plants to come up in India.

Areas of concern Doshi expresses his concerns about the time lag between announcement and implementation of government initiatives due to slow translation. It is a big challenge for achieving expected growth through those initiativesrelated demand that would drive consumption and investment. Muniswamy points out the main hindrances for starting PCB manufacturing in the country. These are high capital cost, non-availability of a good percentage of raw materials and world-class manufacturing equipment. He also mentions that, typically in countries like Taiwan, China, Korea and Japan, PCB companies are located close to EMS or OEM companies and form a good ecosystem. In India, manufacturing itself is very small and is spread across the country from ELECTRONICS FOR YOU | AUGUST 2015

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Fig. 2: Indian PCB market at a glance

Obstacles for growth Inefficient supply chain for raw materials resulting in high inventory storage costs  Unfair level playing due to the high cost of finance with respect to other countries  Inverted tax structure  Logistics inefficiencies and infrastructural bottlenecks resulting in greater turnaround time and costs  Conflict of interest among various sectors within the electronics industry, from components to finished products 

Some leading PCB Manufacturers in India               

AT&S India Pvt Ltd Ascent Circuits Pvt Ltd BLG Electronics Ltd CIPSA-TEC India Pvt Ltd Circuits Systems India Ltd/PCB Power Epitome Components Ltd Fine-Line Circuits Ltd Garg Electronics Pvt Ltd Genus Electrotech Ltd Hi-Q Electronics Pvt Ltd Meena Circuits Pvt Ltd Micropack Ltd Shogini Technoarts Pvt Ltd Sulakshana Circuits Ltd Vintek Circuits (India) Pvt Ltd

New Delhi to Chennai and Gujarat to West Bengal. Because of this, inland transportation costs are more than importing costs from China. Satish Athavale, managing director, Shogini Technoarts, highlights that, “Presently, output of the Indian PCB industry is less than one per cent of the total global capacity. This is due to unavailability of the latest technology and high capital requirement for capacity expansion.” Capital investment cost goes up due to the very high cost of finance in the country for capital investment, as well as 92


for working capital. Goel explains that, the very low capital-output ratio in the PCB industry entails need for huge investment and high interest cost. Thus, profitability is an issue that is impacted by the fact that manufacturers are not able to invest in new equipment, most of which is imported. He also mentioned that availability of skilled manpower is also a challenge as the industry is small and does not support an ecosystem for organised skilldevelopment infrastructure. Infrastructural challenges such as availability of clean and uninterrupted power, water, developed industrial parks and lack of raw material were some of the hindrances to the growth of the PCB industry in the past. According to Muniswamy, “Though things are improving, raw material supply chain is still an issue in the country as most raw materials are still being imported.” Non-availability of critical raw materials increases inventory cost and non-availability of modern manufacturing equipment increases the overall cost of acquisition and maintenance. Vasani says, “There is no domestic supply chain for the raw materials required in the PCB industry. In view of

huge dependence on imports, manufacturers have to keep over three months of inventory, which adds to the cost.” Doshi feels that the large import content of raw materials in a strong dollar situation will significantly impact margins and hinder growth. These factors contribute towards increasing the price point of the product, which makes these less competitive as compared to their Chinese competitors. Dhoot mentions that, the relevance of manufacturing equipment used today is for a maximum of four years, after which these tend to become redundant. Vasani also mentioned the need for huge investments associated with the creation and maintenance of effluent treatment facilities as one of the major challenges for this industry. In this regards, Athavale emphasised the need for support from the government and felt that this could enable India to avail the opportunity that has been created by the shutting down of PCB manufacturing in European Union (EU) due to stringent pollution-control concerns. While discussing the capability limitations of the Indian PCB industry, Dhoot says, “India does not manufacture PCBs for most high-growth project segments such as mobile handsets, laptops or set-top boxes. We are only able to manufacture PCBs for consumer electronics such as televisions and power electronics products such as UPSes and inverters. Even LCD/LED televisions require high-tech PCBs with a specification of 5mil x 5mil boards. This often results in high rejection of Indian PCBs in this segment due to lack of an inadequately upgraded projection process in the country.” Most Indian PCB companies in the past catered to a small local market consisting primarily of public sector companies and therefore never felt the need for continual improvement. To grow in today’s competitive environment, however, PCB companies must focus on top-notch quality that could be sold in any market across the globe. Developing a global market for WWW.EFYMAG.COM

MAKE IN INDIA products will reduce reliance on local demand. “Most companies have quality standards such as ISO and LCSO in place but these certifications do not have much impact on the actual product quality. I think it is high time for Indian companies to focus on Japanese quality quality standards standards and follow follow those like cult,” cu lt,” opines Muniswamy. On the same lines, Doshi mentions that IPC standards are and will be the core standards to follow. He says, “More and more customers are now demanding higher level of quality standards, parameters and systems prevalent in the automotive (TS), aerospace (AS) and medical (ISO 13485) arena.”

Growing inorganically Almost all senior thought leaders who shared their insights for this survey believe in the possibility of inorganic growth in this segment, which could either be in the form of mergers and acquisitions (M&As) or through joint ventures (JVs). For example, Muniswamy states, “I strongly believe in M&As as these help companies to grow inorganically in a short span of time. Entrepreneurs often fail to grow beyond a point due to lack of vision and leadership. They develop strong resistance to change. Most early starters restrict themselves to the domestic market, thereby limiting their exposure, unlike Chinese firms that conquer world markets. There are still many PCB companies that are running businesses like a lifestyle and these are good cases for M&As. These companies need to let capable people run the company and original founders should sit back and enjoy the success.” However, Doshi opines, “Globally, most PCB industries that have survived the Chinese onslaught and those in China also are mostly ownermanaged. The need for a huge skill set (technological, managerial and financial) required in a professional who can successfully grow the company is largely absent in India.” He WWW.EFYMAG.COM

MAJOR CONTRIBUTORS TO THIS REPORT

Abhay B. Doshi, managing director, Fine-Line Circuits Ltd

Anil Kumar Muniswamy, managing director, SLN Technologies

Anuraag Dhoot, chief executive officer, Epitome Components

Paresh Vasani, managing director, Circuit Systems India Ltd/PCB Power

Rajoo Goel, secretary general, ELCINA

Satish Athavale, managing director, Shogini Technoarts

Favourable conditions     

Special incentive schemes such as MSIPS from DeitY Electronics manufacturing clusters being set up by associations such as ELCINA Special PCB manufacturing cluster by Madhya Pradesh government in Gwalior Special schemes announced by Orissa government for the manufacturing sector Special electronics manufacturing clusters being set up in Andhra Pradesh

adds, “Given the relatively small sizes of most companies in the PCB industry, although theoretically logical, a change may end up costing the current opportunity of growth on hand.” Since most PCB manufacturers in the country are incapable of investments required for producing high-tech products for devices like set-top boxes and mobile handsets in required volume, any kind of partnership with foreign companies could help Indian companies manufacture high-tech PCBs by leveraging technology transfer.

India advantages In the last few months, campaigns like Make in India and Digital India have attracted huge FDI inflows to the country from across the globe. This has created more opportunities for outsourcing work by companies such as Foxconn. Exponential growth of the mobile phone market is fueling the growth of electronics manufacturing units, and the day is not far when a large company would set up a manufacturing facility for HDI boards for the mobile phone industry. “For the first time in decades, venture capital (VC) funds are available with as low as six per cent to eight per cent interest rates. Some companies are looking for JVs with foreign companies to bring cutting-

edge technology to India. There are at least half a dozen companies in the pipeline for establishing greenfield PCB projects in India, which include two JVs. Therefore right now is the best time for investment in the PCB industry in India,” says Muniswamy.

Looking forward Despite limitations like capital intensive, low investment-to-sales ratio, logistics and infrastructural issues, the Indian PCB industry should be able to witness sustainable growth if the government can provide a level playing field for the industry. As Vasani rightly comments, “We do not need nurturing or subsidy. Instead, the government should be a catalyst for growth. Take the case of the Indian automotive industry for example; the government discourages automotive import with high duty structures and complicated registration process, compelling automotive companies to manufacture in India, resulting in a proper manufacturing ecosystem. The government should create a similar environment for PCBs and other electronic components as well.” Given that there is huge domestic demand for electronic products, it will help not just the PCB industry but the entire electronic ecosystem to achieve long-term sustainable growth in-line with Make in India.  ELECTRONICS FOR YOU | AUGUST 2015

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Automotive high-side drivers VND7050AJ12 and VND7140AJ12 drivers have minimum supply voltage of 3.2V to keep essential equipment such as dashboard instruments oper94


Compatible with Fluke TiX560 and TiX520 infrared (IR) cameras, the 25 micron macro lens enables technicians to distinguish thermal variations across distances smaller than a human hair, hair, making it ideal for applications in electronics/PCB electronics/PCB board research and development or anything requiring near-microscopicnear-microscopiclevel IR resolution. Fluke Corp. Website: www.fluke.com/india

CMOS image sensor The AR0136AT optical format CMOS digital image sensor with 1280x960 resolution and 3.75 micron BSI pixels supports linear and high dynamic range (HDR) modes on a single chip HDR solution, with a 120dB dynamic range in HDR mode. It has an output pixel rate of

74.25MP/second (maximum), which results in a frame rate of 45 frames per second (fps) at 960 pixels resolution and 60fps at 720 pixels resolution. ON Semiconductor Website: www.onsemi.com

Ferroelectric RAM MB85RS1MT, an 8-pin wafer-level chip scale package (WL-CSP), occupies only 23 per cent of the mounted surface area of the existing 8-pin small-outline package (SOP) and is roughly one-fifth as thick. WL-CSP ferroelectric RAM (FRAM) is ideal for wearable devices. Fujitsu Semiconduct Semiconductor or Ltd Website: www.fujitsu.com

TVS diodes Littelfuse has introduced six new series of high-reliability TVS diodes that are up-screened for use in aerospace applications. The 5KP/15KPA/30KPAHR and 5KP/15KPA/30KPA-HRA series TVS diodes are designed specifically to protect sensitive electronic equipment from voltage transients induced by lightning surges and other transient voltage events. Littelfuse Inc. Inc. Website: www.littelfuse.com

Circuit breaker SCHURTER’s circuit breaker, the T12MSM, is a unique combination of a reliable circuit breaker and a robust metal switch. It offers a variety of design options including an assortment of colours for ring or point illumination, as well as options for standard or custom inscription. SCHURTER Electronics (India) Pvt Ltd Website: www.SCHURTER.co.in

Industrial Ethernet communication ICs Renesas has announced the launch of the R-IN32M4-CL2 industrial Ethernet communication application-specific standard product (ASSP) with integrated gigabit PHY to support the increasing network and factory productivity needs of Industry 4.0. R-IN32M4-CL2 extends the family of R-IN32M3 platform that incorporates hardware accelerators supporting real-time operating system (RTOS) WWW.EFYMAG.COM

MAKE IN INDIA performance as well as Ethernet packet handling. Renesas Electronics Corp. Website: www.renesas.com

Power-factor correction ICs Power Integrations has announced its HiperPFSTM-3 family of power factor correction ICs, which offer high power factor and high efficiency across the entire load range. Targeting applications with continuous power demands up to 405W for universal input and 900W for high-line, the ICs feature efficiency levels of better than 95 per cent from ten per cent load to full load and consume less than 60mW under no-load conditions. Power Integrations Integrations Inc. Website: www.power.com

Chip capacitors SMEC Electronics has launched tantalum chip capacitors for use in automotive, military, portable consumer, medical, PCB and other applications. Some features are: 1. Surge tested for maximum robustness 2. Precision moulded case with flat surfaces for vacuum pick up 3. Laser marking and bold videcon-readable polarity stripe compliant terminations 4. Glue pad on underside for bonding to circuit board prior to soldering 5. Encapsulant material satisfies UL94 VO flammability classification 6. MSL (moisture sensitivity level) per IPC/Jdec J-STD-020B is level 1 SMEC Electronics (I) Pvt Ltd Website: www.smec-inc.com

TEST & MEASUREMENT

Spectrum analyser This new product combines the function of three separate test equipment, namely, oscilloscope, spectrum analyzer, power meter or logic anaWWW.EFYMAG.COM

lyser, into one, enabling frequency, power and timing measurements in one setup. It is an extremely powerful tool for protocol verification and troubleshooting wireless devices. Oscium Websites: www.oscium.com, www.mobioscope.com

Clamp meter EX840 CAT IV clamp meter comes with the following features: 1. Built-in non-contact IR thermometer with laser pointer 2. True RMS current and voltage measurements 3. Peak hold captures inrush currents and transients 4. Multimeter functions include AC/DC voltage, resistance, capacitance, frequency, diode and continuity 5. 43mm (1.7-inch) jaw opening for conductors up to 750MCM or two 500MCM 6. 4000-count backlit display FLIR Systems Website: www.flir.in

Radio communication analyzer MT8821C MT8821C is a successor to MT8820C and enables up to four carriers with MIMO to be generated in a one-box solution, while retaining code and radio frequency compatibility with MT8820C. This backwards compatibility enables the joint test solution to immediately support all commonly used communication standards such as LTE FDD and TDD including LTE-Advanced, W-CDMA (HSPA, HSPA+), CDMA (EV-DO), TD-SCDMA and GSM (GPRS/EDGE). Anritsu India Pvt Ltd Ltd Website: www.anritsu.com

Temperature Temperature sensor The PTS series of platinum SMD flat-chip temperature sensors are designed to provide accurate and stable temperature sensing for automotive, space and industrial electronics. The

devices combine enhanced thermal cycling performance with higher operating temperatures up to +175°C. The sensors offer resistance values of 100Ω and 500Ω in the 0805 size and 100Ω, 500Ω and 1kΩ in the 1206 size; F0.3 and F0.6 tolerance classes; and a near-linear temperature characteristic of +3850ppm/°K. +3850ppm/°K. Vishay Intertechnology Inc. Website: www.vishay.com

Digital oscilloscope Key features of this product are: Time analysis. High sensitivity of 1mV/div to detect signals that would otherwise be lost in the noise

Frequency Frequency analysis. analysis. Reliable fault detection with integrated FFT and spectrum analysis with spectrogram Logic analysis. 20Msample with 5Gsample/s for detailed analysis of digital signals Protocol analysis. Simple triggering and decoding of serial buses Di D i g i ta l v ol t m et e r/ f re qu e n cy counter . Key signal parameters at a glance Rohde & Schwarz Schwarz Website: www.rohde-schwarz.com

Digital blood pressure monitor The device is an easy-to-use monitor with fuzzy logic inflation and controlled deflation. It features a large LCD display with easy-to-read inprogress results and measures systolic and diastolic blood pressure and pulse rates simultaneously, and detects and alerts the user to irregular heartbeat. Paramount Paramount Surgimed Surgimed Ltd Website: www.paramountsurgimedltd.com

POWER SUPPL SUPPLY Y

UPS unit Aplab’s military-grade uninterruptible power supply (UPS) units are ELECTRONICS FOR YOU | AUGUST 2015

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MAKE IN INDIA designed for extreme environmental and demanding electrical conditions of military applications. These accept

of these lights is that these exhibit an added advantage of turning the colour from white to 256 different shades of RGB LED light using smart technology.

a wide range of input voltage and frequency values while delivering a well-conditioned AC output to the load. Aplab Ltd Website: www.aplab.com

Switch-mode power supplies The (M)WLP350 series is an evolution of the EOS brand of high-technology power solutions, which is designed to operate with single-phase (3-wire) universal input with 0.95 or better power factor at a rated continuous output power of up to 350W. The products have convection cooled ratings of up to 200W, typical efficiency levels of 93 per cent and no-load power consumption levels of 0.5W maximum at 230V AC input levels.

Jugnu is a 5W table-top mood light that comes in the shape of a UFO. It is powered by two AAA batteries and emits soft light to enhance the mood. ENRG Website: www.enrg.in

CoB LEDs LUXEON chip on board (CoB) Core Range of LEDs (generation 2) delivers an average of ten per cent higher efficacy and ten per cent higher flux

MISCELLANEOUS

PLC modem SoC ZENO/MAX79356 ultra-low-power powerline communications (PLC) modem system on a chip (SoC) reduces footprint by up to three times and improves time-to-market. Some key advantages are: Versatile. Software configurability supports today’s PLC standards and will adjust for future standards Low power . Uses 80 per cent less power when listening for PLC communications (55mW versus 300mW); active transmission power consumption is 70mW Maxim Integrated Products Inc. Website: www.maximintegrated.com

PLC trainers ABVOLT has announced the expansion of its range of PLC trainers for training applications using different

EOS Power India Pvt Ltd Website: www.eospower.com

Electric rickshaw battery INPHYNYT E-Tour electric rikshaw batteries are made of highly-purelead-antimonial alloy with thick grid design that reinforces the strength of a grid structure and reduces corrosion at the same time. Highly-fortified grid structure, use of special binders in pasting, improvised use of worldclass separators, copper rings in assembly and dual poles reduces the downtime. INPHYNYT Accumulators India Pvt Ltd Website: www.inphynyt.com

LEDs

LED lights ENRG has launched two new ambient mood lights, ENRG Prism and ENRG Jugnu. The unique feature 96


with a lower voltage and the same footprint as the first-generation LEDs. The LEDs are offered in multiple lumen packages from less than 1000 lumens for MR16 and PAR lamps, up to 7600 lumens for 100W CDM replacements. LUMINEDS Website: www.lumileds.com

RCOB LED drivers The new RCOB LED driver series from RECOM have specifically been developed to meet the requirements of CoB LEDs. The driver series includes 11 models with output voltages between 25V DC and 44V DC and constant output currents of 350mA to 1050mA, thus offering a suitable driver for virtually any application. RECOM Electronic Website: www.recomasia.com

makes of industrial PLC’s as required with different digital/analogue input/ output configurations. Abvolt Technologies Inc. Website: www.abvoltindia.com

3D printer Dreamer 3D printer is bundled with easy-to-use printing software. It is suitable for people with little to no 3D printing experience. Dreamer has a built-in temperature control system to meet temperature control needs of different materials. It can print complex supporting structures and has a printing accuracy of 0.1mm and build size of 230x150x140mm. It weighs only 11kg and has a stable structure. 3Dcreatr Website: www.3dcreatr.com WWW.EFYMAG.COM

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Basic Guide to Radio-Controlled Boat Modelling hether you crave action or relaxation, you will relish radio-controlled (RC) boating because there is nothing quite as comforting as gliding your own RC boat across a pond. If you enjoy building and racing RC boats but do not know where to start, read on for an avalanche of helpful hints.

W T.K. Hareendran is an electronics hobbyist, freelance technical writer and circuit designer

The basics Easy-to-use boat kits are widely available for the craftsman who wants building satisfaction. Most of the kits may be 90 per cent pre-built and may include an electric motor/engine, radio, radio gear, batteries and other required accessories. Boat kits with a single motor and battery (brushless electric motor and a rechargeable Ni-MH/lithium-polymer battery) are the norm. However, twinmotored boat kits are also available. Take note, the standard running time of a single-motor boat is around three to six minutes only. Fig. 1: A mini RC boat

The drive system of a typical RC boat is very simple. An electric motor near the front of the boat is connected to a shaft that runs towards the back of the boat and out through the bottom of the hull. This shaft is contained within a tube, called stuffing tube, which is filled with grease. The grease in the stuffing tube provides lubrication and also prevents water from entering the hull. At the end of the shaft is the propeller. Steering is accomplished via a completely submerged rudder placed just behind the propeller. A shaft on the rudder protrudes into the hull, where a small servo actuates it in either direction. The radio receiver and electronic speed control (ESC) for the motor are usually enclosed in a single waterproof casing. Emerging from this casing are the radio antenna, rudder servo cable, battery wires and power on/off switch. The built-in battery pack (Ni-MH or lithium-polymer) with at least 1100mAh capacity provides a nominal DC supply voltage of 7.2V (1.2Vx6 Ni-MH or 2C lithium-polymer).

The electronics

Fig. 2: Layout of the basic components of the RC boat

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RC boats provide a totally different experience than flying a plane or driving a car on many different levels. Do-it-yourself (DIY) kits of ready-to-run/ready-to-float (RTR/RTF) boats have made it easier for just about anyone to get into RC boat modelling easily and quickly. RC boat kits are more popular than ever and for many great reasons. From the fit and finish to the outstanding performance, the quality of today’s DIY kits are better than ever. However, besides the aesthetics of the RC boat, there are other considerations to think about such as the power system, drive system, radio system, battery, charger and a lot more. Power system. A major part in the power system of an RC boat is the brushed or brushless electric motor. While the brushed ELECTRONICS FOR YOU | AUGUST 2015

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DO-IT-YOURSELF motor system is slightly slower and less expensive but still provides plentiful power and runtimes, the brushless motor system offers more power, requires less maintenance and is more efficient. Drive system. In the drive system, usually the electric motor transfers its power to the propeller via some sort of drive shaft. The drive shaft has some sort of tube (stuffing tube) that helps it to exit the hull and establish a rigid connection with the propeller mount.

Fig. 3: Near-nished DIY kit of the RC boat without the top shell and water-tight covers

Radio system. The radio system is a combination of the radio frequency (RF) transmitter and receiver. Now, the good old 27MHz (and 75MHz) radio systems have, for the most part, been replaced with 2.4GHz radio systems. 2.4GHz radio systems are less prone to interference from other radio sources and free from undesired frequency conflicts. Battery. An RC electric boat would need a suitable onboard battery pack. There are several things to consider when purchasing a battery pack, and one of the important things to consider is the type of battery. Ni-MH batteries are less expensive and provide solid performance. Ni-MH packs have a sharper discharge curve, which means, the speed and performance difference between the start and end of a run tends to be greater. Lithium-polymer batteries are lighter in weight than Ni-MH packs

Fig. 4: Brushed electric motor, propeller shaft and servo

and have a flatter discharge curve, which means, the performance from start to end is more consistent. Further, lithium-polymer batteries are free from inherent performance degradation problems that Ni-MH packs have. First consideration with a lithium-polymer battery pack is the C rating, which refers to the amperagedischarge capability of a particular battery. A higher-rating battery pack can handle more load without any issue. Battery charger. From the battery pack for handheld starters to the receiver pack, having a good battery charger can make it easier to run the boat. Although timer chargers and peak detection chargers are available for RC boats, the latter is recommended for better results. A timer charger will save you money but a peak-detection charger, also known as peak charger, costs a little more and features advanced charging algorithms to ensure that the battery pack is brought to a complete charge safely. ESC . Many of the latest RC boat model kits include a programmable ESC. The programming feature allows alteration of the cutoff voltage of the ESC to protect the battery pack from over-discharging. The enhanced option to programme the ESC through the use of an ESC programming module (EPM) will also make it possible to activate braking, set cutoff preferences and choose throttle curves.

DIY tips

Fig. 5: Propeller, battery pack and electronic speed control (ESC)

98


These days it is easy to buy DIY kits for RC boats from many online vendors. Independent spare parts for these boats are also available at affordable rates. If you want to drive a boat but you do not have access to a wide area of open water, a mini boat kit is an option. It is smaller than other boats but features similar handling and performance characteristics of its larger counterparts. These mini boat DIY kits require very little preparation time to get on the water and provide an inexpensive WWW.EFYMAG.COM

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Fig. 6: Radio transmitter, radio receiver box and battery charger

Fig. 7:

DIY kit for an

RC boat model

Fig. 8: Water-cooling technique

way for someone to get their hands wet in the world of RC boat modelling. Whether it is a minor kit or a major one, there should be a small plastic bag that includes a basic assortment tool kit, in addition to the boat kit. The tool kit comes in most popular sizes used in RC world, and you will realise its value the first time you use it. Water cooling. Water-cooling technique is widely used to keep the motor and ESC running relatively cool. The components are wrapped with coils of aluminium tubing, and the coils are connected with flexible tubing to a water pickup at the bottom of the hull. As the boat moves forwards, WWW.EFYMAG.COM

water is forced into the pickup and through the coils to provide conductive cooling of components. Fig. 8 shows the inside view of a brushless DC motor (BLDC) based RC boat with an effective water cooling system. Before you run your finished boat for the first time, you should lubricate the main propeller shaft with plenty of marine grease. This not only helps seal the flex shaft tube better, preventing water from seeping into the hull, but also reduces friction. If the canopy is not sealed properly, water may seep in to the hull. So, remember to seal off the area between the canopy and the hull itself using flexible clear tape or a similar high-quality adhesive tape. Similarly, ESCs and radio receivers used in boats are highly water-resistant. However, extra steps to better seal off the electronics will help these live longer down the water. Finally, use fresh batteries in the radio transmitter and a fully-charged battery pack in the boat. RC boat modelling is a great hobby. Through this basic guide you can make sure your RC boat is set up properly to maximise fun and minimise down time. Well, just roll up your sleeves and prepare your boat for the water. Get ready to make some good waves! Warning! Since RC boats are not designed as flotation devices, retrieval of a stalled RC boat is not an easy task. Never attempt to swim after a stalled RC boat. Do not get in the water for any reason to retrieve your boat. Always use a personal flotation device (PFD) for retrieval.  ELECTRONICS FOR YOU | AUGUST 2015

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Arduino Based Audio VU Meter

S H P P RA KA SA N D E E

MADHURAM MISHRA

resented here is an Arduino based audio volume unit (VU) meter that uses a liquid crystal display (LCD). A VU meter or standard volume indicator (SVI) is a device that displays a representation of signal level in audio equipment. In this project, the intensity of left-channel and right-channel audio signals provided as input to Arduino UNO board is displayed as bars on the 16x2 LCD. In this circuit, analogue input pins of Arduino UNO board are used for measurement of audio-signal levels. Audio-signal inputs are provided at analogue input pins A2 and A4 of Arduino UNO board. These can be in the form of voice coming from a microphone through an amplifier or as direct output from a music player. Audio signals at pins A2 and A4 are processed by ATmega328 microcontroller (MCU) on Arduino UNO board and, after comparing the signals, calculations are done. Finally, corresponding values are provided by ATmega328 to a 16x2 LCD for displaying audio intensity bars.

P

Circuit and working The Arduino based audio VU meter, as shown in Fig. 1, is built around Arduino UNO board, 16x2 LCD and 10-kilo-ohm potentiometer (or potmeter). Arduino UNO board. Arduino UNO is an open source electronics prototyping platform based on flexible, easy-to-use hardware and software. Arduino UNO board is based on ATmega328 MCU. It has 14 digital input/output (I/O) pins of which six can be used as pulse width modulated (PWM) outputs, six analogue in100 AUGUST 2015 | ELECTRONICS FOR YOU

Arduino Uno board D c W N c o S / N G V V R R E

4 5 6 7 D D D D

16×2 LCD Audio L Audio R Ground from 3.5mm Jack

Potmeter (10k)

Fig. 1: Arduino based audio VU meter

puts, 16MHz ceramic resonator, USB connection, power jack, reset button and an ICSP header. It contains everything needed to support the MCU; simply connect it to a computer using a USB cable, or power it with an AC-to-DC adaptor or a battery to get started. Pins 11 and 12 of Arduino UNO board are connected to pins EN and RS of the LCD, while pins 2 through 5 are connected to data pins D7, D6, D5 and D4 of the 16x2 LCD. LCD 16x2. LCD JHD162A is a display module with a 4-bit interface, which is used here to display the bars corresponding to the applied input signal level. Only four data pins of the LCD module are being used in this circuit. A potmeter of 10-kiloohm is used to control the contrast of the LCD screen display. Analogue audio signals (leftchannel and right-channel) are provided at analogue input pins A4 and A2 of Arduino UNO board. The signals are processed by ATmega328 MCU on Arduino UNO board and, after performing some comparisons,

data is sent to the LCD screen to display the corresponding signal level bars. Height of the bars will change as per voltage of the audio-input signal at pins A2 and A4 of Arduino UNO board as shown in Fig. 2. L is displayed on the LCD for left channel and, similarly, R is displayed for right channel. Connections of pins A2 and A4 of Arduino UNO board must be done carefully so that proper channel audio input is provided to the circuit. To display bars on the LCD screen, custom characters are created for the 16x2 LCD, which is explained in the programming section. The potmeter is used for controlling the contrast of the display and, so, can be varied as per requirement.

Software program The program for this circuit performs the following functions: 1. Initialising the circuit and LCD 2. Displaying the welcome message on the LCD 3. Generating custom characters 4. Performing various compariWWW.EFYMAG.COM

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Fig. 2: Left and right bars displayed on the LCD

EFY Note The source code of this project is included in this month’s EFY DVD and is also available for free download at source .efymag.com

sons with input signal voltage at analogue input pins 5. Displaying bars and changing their respective heights on the LCD according to the input signals The program uses special characters for bar-height display on both rows of the LCD using arrays p3, p4, p5, p6 and p7, and arrays L[8] and R[8] for displaying letters L and R on the 16x2 LCD’s starting columns of both rows, respectively. Similarly, array K[8] is used for displaying special characters at the end of both rows, and LEEG[8] is used to display special characters for bar shapes. LiquidCrystal lcd(12, 11, 5, 4, 3, 2) function is used for LCD configuration. void setup()function is used to configure the pins of ATmega328 MCU on Arduino UNO board. Serial.begin(9600) function is used to configure for serial communication with Arduino board at a baud rate of 9600. lcd.begin(16, 2) function is used WWW.EFYMAG.COM

to indicate the size of the LCD. lcd.createChar(1, p3) function is used to define custom characters for further calling in the program by number only. lcd.print(“VU METER”) function is used to display the VU meter as a welcome message. void loop() function is used to perform the task for infinite time. analogRead(inputPin) function is used for reading the analogue-input value. Simple calculations are performed to get the values for displaying the bar heights as per audio-input signals.

Construction and testing A USB A-B cable is used to upload the compiled sketch (software) from the PC to the MCU through Arduino IDE. The operation is as follows: 1. Power on Arduino UNO board using a USB A-B cable. As soon as you power on the LCD, it displays VU meter on the first row and bars on the second row of the LCD. 2. 10k potmeter VR1 can be used to adjust the contrast of the LCD. 3. If we connect the input from a music player to analogue input pins A2 and A4 of Arduino board through two wires, we can easily see the changes in the bars and letters L and R on both rows of the LCD, simultaneously, as shown in Fig. 2.  Madhuram Mishra is BE in electronics and communication from TRUBA Institute of Engineering & Information Technology, Bhopal. His interests include designing circuits and working with Arduino boards ELECTRONICS FOR YOU | AUGUST 2015

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AVR Based Programmable Object Counter particular area or into a tray or container in manufacturing industries, the number of tablets filled in a bottle or a wrapper in the pharmaceutical industry and counting and limiting the number of people entering elevators or halls, among others.

ASHUTOSH M. BHATT

O

bject counters are used for applications like counting the number of visitors at super markets and other public places, the number of objects passing through a

H E P S I N G A MA R D E

The project presented here demonstrates the working of an object counter suitable for industrial applications for counting up to 9999 objects. It is an AVR microcontroller (MCU) based full-featured programmable counter. Its prototype on breadboard is shown in Fig. 1. In manufacturing industries, before the final product is ready, the product passes through a number of different stages of the manufacturing process. Normally, the operator enters the number of objects to be counted from the monitoring con-

Test Points

Fig. 1: Prototype on breadboard

PZ1

CON2 FOR MOTOR

CON1 FOR 230V AC IN

LED1

R1 470E

T2 PN2222A

R3 470E LED2

CON2

S1 RESET

PB0

PA0

2

PB1

3

PB2

4

15

RS

R/W EN

8

D0

D1

9

10

D2

11

D3

Low when object is detected

D4

12 D5

K

3 4

PB3

PA3

37

5

PB4

36 35 34 33 32 29 28 27 26

14

PD0

15

PD1

16

PD2

17

PD3

18

PD4

PC3

25

R8

PC2 PC1 PC0

24 23 22

10K

GND

31

8

PB7

D7

VO Vss

RST

19

PD5

20

PD6

21

PD7

11

GND

2 3 1

TP0

39

PB6

D6

START

38

PB5

14

ENTER

PA2

7

13

S5

S4

S3 DOWN

PA1

6

VDD

A/VEE

LCD1 16x2 16

TP3

2

R4 470E

R11 100E 7

12V when S6 is closed

40

R7 10K

C3 0.1u

6

TP2

PA4 PA5 PA6 PA7 IC1 AREF ATMEGA16 PC7 PC6 PC5 PC4

9

5

5V

1

1

5

D1 1N4007

4

TP1

AVcc

Vcc

R2 470E

N/O

0V (GND)

30

10

1C/O

N/C

TP0

S2 UP

T1 PN2222A

RL1

Details

TP1

LED2 = STOP

LED1 =

Test point

XTAL2

XTAL1

12

13

VR1 10K CONT.

C4 22p

XTAL1 8MHz C5 22p

RNW1 R10 10K

TP3

10K GND

R5 470E

T3 PN2222A

IRRX1

IRTX1

R9 220E

S6 POWER ON/OFF 1

IC2

3

7805 JACK1 12V

TP2

R6 470E

2

C1 10u,25V

C2 0.1u

LED3 POWER

Fig. 2: Circuit diagram of the AVR based programmable object counter

102 AUGUST 2015 | ELECTRONICS FOR YOU

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Semiconductors: IC1 - ATmega16, 8-bit MCU IC2 - 7805, 5V regulator LED1 - 5mm green LED LED2, LED3 - 5mm red LED T1-T3 - PN2222A npn transistor D1 - 1N4007 rectifer diode IRTX1 - IR transmitter (LED) IRRX1 - IR receiver (photodiode) LCD1 - 16×2 alphanumeric display Resistors (all 1/4-watt, ±5% carbon): R1-R6 - 470-ohm R7, R8, R10 - 10-kilo-ohm R9 - 220-ohm R11 - 100-ohm RNW1 - 10-kilo-ohm resistor network VR1 - 10-kilo-ohm preset Capacitors: C1 - 10μF, 25V electrolytic C2, C3 - 0.1μF ceramic disk C4, C5 - 22pF ceramic disk Miscellaneous: XTAL1 - 8MHz crystal oscillator S1-S5 - Tactile switch S6 - On/off switch CON1, CON2 - 2-pin connector terminal PZ1 - DC piezo buzzer RL1 - 12V, 1C/O relay JACK1 - 12V DC jack - 12V DC power supply

sole, followed by pressing Start. The products moving on a conveyor belt are counted by the programmable object counter. The conveyor belt automatically stops when the number of counts entered by the operator is reached. Main features of this programmable object counter are simple user interface (UI) using only four pushbuttons, an LCD display for the UI, LEDs for simple visual indications, a buzzer for audio indication, counting of objects from 0 to 9999 and user-selectable counting up or counting down options.

Circuit and working ATmega16 AVR MCU (IC1) is the heart of the programmable object counter whose circuit is shown in Fig. 2. A voltage regulator 7805 (IC2) is used to provide 5V regulated voltage to drive the circuit including the MCU and LCD display. Four pushbutton switches or tactile switches (S2 through S5) are used to set the number to be counted and the up/down count, with a 16x2 LCD to display count values and WWW.EFYMAG.COM

Fig. 3: Actual-size PCB layout of the object counter

other settings. An object-sensor circuit consists of an infrared (IR) LED (acting as the transmitter) and a photodiode (acting as the receiver) placed 7cm apart, facing each other. The IR beam from the transmitter falls continuously on the receiver. Whenever the IR beam is interrupted, that is, when an object comes in between IRTX1 and IRRX1, a count is registered. In this way, the pair of IR transmitter (IRTX1) and IR receiver (IRRX1) continuously monitors the objects. The motor to control the conveyor belt is connected across relay RL1. Transistor T2 is the relay driver connected to port pin PB3 of ATmega16 (IC1). Port pin PB0 of IC1 drives the DC buzzer through transistor T1. Green LED1 and red LED2 are connected to pins PB1 and PB2 to indicate countprogress and count-stop, respectively. An 8MHz crystal is connected to crystal input pins of IC1 to provide an internal clock for the operation. IRTX1 and IRRX1 are given 5V supply through current-limiting resistors R9 and R8, respectively. Photodiode IRRX1 is connected in reverse mode through R8. It is also connected to the base of transistor

T3 through R5. The collector of T3 is connected to port pin PA7 of IC1. The IR beam interruption by the object is reflected at the collector of transistor T3. The interruption is monitored by the program in the microcontroller (IC1). When the desired count is reached, the relay is switched off and hence, the motor pulling the conveyor belt stops.

Software program Circuit operation is done using the software program loaded into the internal memory of the AVR MCU. The program implements all required functionalities including handling user inputs through pushbuttons, displaying messages on the LCD, switching on and switching off the load connected through the relay and visual/audio indications. The program is written in C language. AVR studio software tool is used to compile the program.

Construction and testing An actual-size, single-side PCB layout of the circuit is shown in Fig. 3 and its component layout in Fig. 4. After soldering the components properly, a 12V DC adaptor is connected to the ELECTRONICS FOR YOU | AUGUST 2015

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Fig. 4: Component layout of the PCB

circuit through JACK1 to provide the power supply. LED3 glows to indicate that the power has been connected. 230V AC mains is connected to CON1 and the motor is connected to CON2. The operation of the circuit is as explained below: 1. When the circuit is switched on, the LCD shows the message as ‘set object count.’ Vary VR1 to control the contrast of the LCD if the message is not visible. (Initially, LEDs, buzzer and relay would be switched off.) 2. The user can set the desired count by incrementing or decrementing it by pressing Up/Down (S2/S3), respectively. 3. After the count is set, the user has to press Enter (S4). On pressing Enter, the LCD shows the message as ‘count is set to xxxx’ for two seconds and then next message is displayed as ‘count up or down?’ By default, count up is selected. 4. To change the counting direction, press Down (S3) for count down or Up (S2) for count up, followed by pressing Enter. After two seconds, the LCD shows next message as ‘press start.’ 5. When Start (S5) is pressed, the LCD shows the counting process. Then, as objects pass across the sen104 AUGUST 2015 | ELECTRONICS FOR YOU


sor pair, the count is incremented or decremented while LED (LED1) is on to indicate that counting is in progress. A beep sound is produced through buzzer (PZ1) for every count. The relay (RL1) is energised and so the motor is on, pulling the conveyor belt till the selected number of objects is reached. 6. When the desired number of objects have been counted, the counting process stops. Green LED turns off and red LED (LED2) turns on to indicate that the counting process is over. The relay (RL1) is switched off to turn off the motor. 7. To repeat the process, reset the counter by pressing Reset (S1). For hardware debugging, ensure various voltages are as given in the test points table.  Ashutosh M. Bhatt is M.Tech in embedded systems. Currently, he is a lecturer of electronics and radio engineering at government polytechnic, Jamnagar, Gujarat

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Device for Maintaining Car Batteries PETRE TZV. PETROV

hen we do not drive our cars for extended periods of time, the abandoned rechargeable batteries become fully discharged. Sometimes, these get damaged, too. Batteries have self-discharging rates that depend on their type and capacity, and may vary from a few milliamperes to tens of milliamperes. Also, the electrical installations in a car have leakage currents that may discharge the battery. If we compensate the discharging current, the battery will remain always charged. This can reduce the probability of the battery getting discharged or damaged. In any case, it is good to read

W

the datasheet of the manufacturer in order to know how to maintain the battery.

Circuit and working Fig. 1 shows the simple device that can maintain two 12V rechargeable batteries. The mains power supply is applied to connector CON1 and is reduced by transformer X1 to 21V AC, 200mA. The bridge rectifier comprising diodes D1 through D4 rectifies the AC voltage. The device has two identical channels. Each channel has an individual low-cost linear regulator 7805 (IC1 and IC2). Minimum output current for the battery is set by resistors R2 and R5 at around 10mA. Maximum output current can have two

X1 = 230V AC PRIMARY TO 21V AC, 200mA SECONDARY TRANSFORMER

IC1 7805

1

3

R2 510E 0.5W 1

F1

2

2

0.25A

C3 0.33u

R4 51E 2W

C1 100n 630V

D1 1N4002

S2

R3 110E 2W

C4 1u 35V

D2 1N4002

values (around 50mA and 100mA). When switches S2 and S3 are at position 1, the output current is around 50mA. When switches S2 and S3 are at position 2, the output current is around 100mA. Maximum output voltage is limited to around 15.5V with LED1, ZD1 and ZD2 for the first channel and LED2, ZD3 and ZD4 for the second channel. Raising the current to around 100mA should not damage LED1 and LED2. Diodes D5 and D6 prevent the discharge of batteries BATT.1 and BATT.2 when the mains power supply is not present. Nevertheless, if the mains power supply is not present for a long time, disconnect the batteries from the device. Mount regulators IC1 and IC2 on small individual heat-sinks with therTP1 mal resistance below D5 30°C/W. The device 1N4002 will start working immediately if the circuit is wired propLED1 erly. Verify the maxiZD1 BATT.1 6.8V mum output voltage and maximum outZD2 put current with a 6.8V multimeter.

S1A

Construction and testing

TP2 CON1 FOR 230V AC 50Hz, INPUT

X1

D3 1N4002

D4 1N4002 1

IC2 7805 2

3

R5 510E 0.5W 1

S3

S1B R1 100E 2W

2 LED2

C5 0.33u

Fig. 1: Circuit of the simple device maintaining two 12V rechargeable batteries WWW.EFYMAG.COM

ZD3 6.8V BATT.2 C6 1u 35V

GND

D6 1N4002

R6 110E 2W

R7 51E 2W C2 2200u 40V

I T DA S B I S WA J

ZD4 6.8V

An actual-size, single-side PCB for the power supply is shown in Fig. 2 and its component layout in Fig. 3. Enclose the PCB in a suitable small box in such a way that outputs can be easily taken from the front panel. The ground pin of each 7805 IC is connected to metal-


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Fig. 2: Actual-size PCB of the power s upply

Fig. 3: Component layout of the PCB PARTS LIST

Semiconductors: IC1, IC2 - 7805, 5V voltage regulator D1-D6 ZD1-ZD4

- 1N4002 rectier diode - 6.8V zener diode

LED1, LED2 Resistors: R1 R2, R5 R3, R6 R4, R7 Capacitors: C1 C2

- 5mm LED -

100-ohm, 2W 510-ohm, 0.5W 110-ohm, 2W 51-ohm, 2W

- 100nF, 630V polyster - 2200µF, 40V electrolytic

C3, C5

- 0.33µF ceramic disk

C4, C6 Miscellaneous: CON1 S1 (S1A, S1B) S2, S3 X1

- 1µF, 35V electrolytic -

F1

200mA secondar transformer - 0.25A fuse with holder

2-pin connector DPDT switch SPDT switch 230V AC primary to 21V,

BATT.1, BATT.2 - 12V battery


lic part of the package and, Test point Details consequently, the metallic part TP1 15.5V of at least one of TP2 15.5V the ICs should be isolated from the common heatsink. Panel-mount AC input, switches, fuse, output connector and battery, as per requirement. 

Test Points

Petre Tzv. Petrov was a researcher and assistant professor in Technical University of Soa, Bulgaria, and expert-lecturer in OFPPT (Casablance), Kingdom of Morocco. Now, he is working as an electronics engineer in the private sector in Bulgaria WWW.EFYMAG.COM

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Door-Opening Alarm Using Hall Sensor (IC1), pnp transistor BC557 (T1), npn transistor BC547 (T2) and a few other his simple door-opening alarm components. uses a hall sensor to produce Hall sensor MH183 is a magnetsound when someone opens operated solid-state sensor. When the the door. The circuit can be installed magnet is brought near the sensor, its at a workshop, office or home for output goes low. This low output is security purposes. The 3-terminal amplified by pnp transistor T1. npn hall sensor is easily available in the transistor T2 inverts the operation. market. When T1 conducts, T2 does not conduct, and vice-versa. Circuit and working The magnet should be fitted on The circuit diagram of the doormoving part of the door and the opening alarm is shown in Fig. 1. It sensor at the door frame. When the is built around hall sensor MH183 door is closed, the magnet comes close to the sensor and the R4 alarm is off. 470E R1 R3 But when door 150E D1 100K 1N4148 is opened, the LED1 + PZ1 alarm makes a CON1 5V R2 sound. _ 1K IC1 3 The buzz1 MH183 er can be reT1 T2 BC557 2 BC547 placed with C1 0.01u a 5V relay to control a PZ1 = PIEZO BUZZER GND mains alarm. Fig. 1: Circuit diagram of the door-opening alarm When the

I V E D I S.C. D W

PRADEEP G.

T

Fig. 2: Actual-size PCB of the door-opening alarm

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PARTS LIST

Semiconductors: IC1 - MH183 hall sensor T1 - BC557 pnp transistor T2 - BC547 npn transistor LED1 - 5mm LED D1 - 1N4148 signal diode Resistors (all 1/4-watt, ±5% carbon): R1 - 150-ohm R2 - 1-kilo-ohm R3 - 100-kilo-ohm R4 - 470-ohm Capacitor: C1 - 0.01µF ceramic disk Miscellaneous: CON1 - 2-pin connector terminal PZ1 - Piezo buzzer - 5V regulated power supply

door is closed, neither the buzzer sounds nor LED1 glows. But when the door is opened, the buzzer sounds and LED1 glows, too.

Construction and testing An actual-size, single-side PCB for the door-opening alarm circuit is shown in Fig. 2 and its component layout in Fig. 3. Enclose the PCB in a suitable small box and install it at a suitable place. Fit the magnet on a moving part of the door and sensor MH183 on the door-frame opposite to it. Use 5V regulated power supply for the circuit.  Pradeep G. is B.Sc. (Physics) and a regular contributor to international magazines. He is also a small-business owner making school/college projects in south India


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Solar-Powered Kennel Light T.K. HAREENDRAN

is built around DC-to-DC converter MC34063A (IC1), six 5mm bright white LEDs (LED1 through LED6), three Schottky SR206 diodes (D1 through D3) and a few other components. The backup battery pack (BATT.1) of this circuit is a series of two 1.2V/500mAh Ni-MH cells. When sunlight is available, this battery pack is charged by the 6V/100mA solar panel connected across CON1 through the 47-ohm (R1) charging current-limiting resistor. MC34063A IC is configured as a DC-DC boost converter to drive the LEDs (LED1-LED6) using 3V DC supply provided by the battery pack. The 47-ohm resistor R2 limits the operating current of the string of LEDs to a safe value. When the solar panel is working,

ere is the circuit of a solarpowered kennel light. The solar cell panel included gives a voltage that fits the voltage demands of the rechargeable battery cells for back up. The rechargeable cells are charged by solar panel during daytime and these provide power supply for the kennel light at night. The central part of this compact design is a popular 8-pin DC-DC converter chip MC34063A, which is a monolithic control circuit that contains the primary functions required for DC-to-DC converters. The chip (available in a PDIP-8 package) has an internal temperature-compensated reference, a comparator, controlled duty-cycle oscillator with an active current-limit circuit, driver and highcurrent output switch. Here, MC34063A IC is configured to drive a bunch of series-connected ultra-bright white light emitting diodes (LEDs) at a constant current rate. When sufficient sunlight is available, the solar panel Fig. 1: Author’s prototype charges the rechargeable cells directly, and the solar 1 panel voltage is sampled 2 3 L1 D3 by the front-end circuitry S1 150uH SR206 R1 SPDT to disable the LED driver 47E circuit. BATT.1 When the voltage of 1 SWC D1 DC 1.2V X 2V SR206 the solar panel drops due 2 SWE SEN to low sunlight, the LED IC1 MC34063A driver circuit is enabled 3 TC Vcc R5 automatically to keep the C1 100E 4 LEDs turned on. Fig. 1 GND COM II CON1 0.001u VR1 6V,100E shows the author’s proto10K SOLAR type. PANEL

H

Circuit and working

I V E D I S.C. D W

R4 0.22E

8

R3 220E

7

C2 10u 35V

6

5

TP1

D2

R2

SR206

47E

The circuit diagram of GND LED1 − LED6 = BRIGHT WHITE LED the sun-powered kennel light is shown in Fig. 2. It Fig. 2: Circuit diagram of the solar-powered kennel light 108 AUGUST 2015 | ELECTRONICS FOR YOU

all LEDs (LED1 through LED6) are turned off. However, when the solar panel is switched off, all LED lights are turned on. SPDT switch S1 is used to switch on or switch off the LEDs.

Construction and testing An actual-size, single-side PCB for the solar-powered kennel light is shown in Fig. 3 and its component layout in Fig. 4. Enclose the PCB in a small box in such a way that you can install it at a suitable place. The 10k potmeter VR1 is used to sample the DC voltage output from the solar panel. If the solar panel gives enough output during daytime, a fraction of this voltage is fed to pin 5 of IC1 via SR206 diode (D2) to disable IC1. An initial (one-time) setup is required to fine-tune this automatic switching option, which is described below: Connect a fullycharged 2.4V Ni-MH battery pack to the circuit. Remove the solar panel and switch on TP2 switch S1. Ensure that LEDs (LED1 through LED1 LED6) are lit. Set the potmeter (VR1) at its LED2 mechanical centre position. Apply 6V DC LED3 supply to the solar LED4 panel input (CON1) from your lab’s power LED5 supply. Slowly turn the potmeter and stop LED6 it when the LED lights go off. Remove your lab power supply, reTP0 connect the solar panel. Verify the test point table voltages to ensure WWW.EFYMAG.COM

DO-IT-YOURSELF PARTS LIST

Semiconductors: IC1 - MC34063A DC to DC converter LED1-LED6 - 5mm LED bright white LED D1-D3 - SR206 Schottky diode Resistors (all 1/4-watt, ±5% carbon): R1, R2 - 47-ohm R3 - 220-ohm R4 - 0.22-ohm R5 - 100-ohm VR1 - 10-kilo-ohm potmeter Capacitors: C1 - 0.001µF ceramic disk C2 - 10µF, 35V electrolytic Miscellaneous: S1 - SPDT switch L1 - 150uH inductor CON1 - 2-pin connector terminal BATT.1 - 1.2V×two small Ni-MH cells - 6V, 100mA solar panel

Test Points Test point

Details

TP0

0V (GND)

Across TP0 and TP1

Around 1.0V

Across TP1 and TP2

Around 18V

Across TP0 and TP2

Around 19V

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Fig. 3: Actual-size PCB of the kennel light


proper working before using the circuit. Even though the datasheet indicates that working voltage of MC34063A is in 3V to 40V range, the IC will start working from 2.4V onwards, but with somewhat lesser efficiency. For good performance, you must use a 3V (or around 3.6V) battery pack in place of the normal 2.4V type.

Potmeter VR1 is used for automation. If you do not like the automatic switching option, remove components R5, VR1 and D2 from the PCB circuit. 

T.K. Hareendran is an electronics hobbyist, a freelance technical writer and circuit designer


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Motion Detector Using NE555 Timer in Fig. 1. It is built around 230V AC primary to 9V, 300mA secondary transformer X1, bridge rectifier DB107 (BR1), 6V voltage regulator 7806 (IC1), timer NE555 (IC2) and a few other components. The 230V AC mains is stepped down to 9V, 300mA through stepdown transformer X1. Secondary output of X1 goes to bridge rectifier BR1. Capacitor C1 filters the ripples and the rectified output is given to regulator 7806 (IC1). IC1 provides 6V regulated DC output to operate the circuit. LED1 is used as a power-on indicator. IC2 is configured in monostable mode. Time period of IC2 is based on resistor R4 and capacitor C3, which is

KUMAR ABHISEKH

his circuit is based on a passive infrared (PIR) sensor, which automatically switches on a device when someone comes close to it. It can be used for detection of theft or an unauthorised person entering a restricted area or building. It can also turn on lights when someone approaches the area where it is installed. Applications of this circuit include security systems, corridor lights and bathroom lights, among others.

T

Circuit and working The circuit diagram of the motion detector using NE555 timer is shown

G H E E P S I N A MA R D

around ten minutes in this case. By changing resistor R4 and capacitor C3 you can change the time period of IC2. Output pin 3 of IC2 is connected to the base of relay driver transistor T2. Contacts of relay RL1 are connected to the load, which could be a CFL or a bulb connected across CON2. The PIR sensor is a pyroelectric device developed for detection of hu-

Test Points Test point

Details

TP0

0V (GND)

TP1

6V

TP2

Normally high and becomes low when motion is detected

X1 = 230V AC TO 9V, 300mA SECONDARY TRANSFORMER

L

1

230V AC 50Hz

2

~

+

3

3

7806 R1

BR1 DB107

~

PARTS LIST

IC1

1

2

C1

_ 4

C2

220u

0.1u

25V

680E LED1 POWER

N X1

R2 10K

TP1

R4 560K

TP2

7

Vcc R3 1K

6

OUT

2

BC547

FOR PIR

SENSOR TP0

GND

DIS

IC2

TH

C3 1000u 16V

1

Fig. 1: Circuit diagram of the motion detector


TRI

GND

RL1 6V, 1C/O N/O

RESET 4

Vcc

O/P

CV

N/C

8

NE555

T1 GND CON1

D1 1N4007

3

5

R5 1K

CON2 FOR LOAD T2 BC547

C4 0.01u

CON3 230V AC

N

L

Semiconductors: IC1 - 7806, 6V voltage regulator IC2 - NE555 timer BR1 - DB107 bridge rectifer LED1 - 5mm LED D1 - 1N4007 rectifer diode T1, T2 - BC547 npn transistor Resistors (all 1/4-watt, ±5% carbon): R1 - 680-ohm R2 - 10-kilo-ohm R3, R5 - 1-kilo-ohm R4 - 560-kilo-ohm Capacitors: C1 - 220µF, 25V electrolytic C2 - 0.1µF ceramic disk C3 - 1000µF, 16V electrolytic C4 - 0.01µF ceramic disk Miscellaneous: CON1 - 3-pin connector CON2-CON4 - 2-pin connector terminal X1 - 230V AC primary to 9V, 300mA secondary transformer RL1 - 6V, 1C/O relay Load - 40W, 230V AC bulb - PIR sensor

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DO-IT-YOURSELF In brief, when someone comes in front of the PIR module, its output triggers IC2 to turn on the load. Thereafter it is disabled automatically.

Construction and testing

Fig. 2: Actual-size PCB of the motion detector

man body infrared radiations. It has a single output that goes high when a valid motion is detected. That is, the load is switched on whenever the PIR module senses a body in motion nearby. Under normal conditions, transistor T1 is cut off and collector output is high around 6V. When motion is

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sensed, output pin (OUT) of the sensor becomes high, making transistor T1 to conduct for a few seconds, and voltage at its collector goes low momentarily. This low signal triggers IC2. Output pin 3 of IC2 goes high for around ten minutes, energising relay RL1 through transistor T2, turning on the load for ten minutes.

An actual-size, single-side PCB for the motion detector using NE555 timer is shown in Fig. 2 and its component layout in Fig. 3. Enclose the PCB in a box and install it at a suitable location. Connect the PIR module across CON1. Connect transformer X1 to 230V AC mains. Verify various test point voltages as given in the table to ensure proper working before using the circuit.  Kumar Abhisekh is a third-year student of B.Tech (electronics and communication) at SETGOI, Institute of Engineering & Industrial Technology, West Bengal


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Design and Analysis of A Single-Stage Transistor Amplifier Using C++ H EO SA N I T

DR R.V. DHEKALE

o design a transistor based audio amplifier, many formulae are required to calculate the various parameters such as values of resistors, coupling capacitor, bypass capacitor, power consumption, current flowing through different components and others. A good amount of time is required to calculate such parameters even with a regular calculator. Using C++ program, all the parameters can be calculated in a fraction of a second. To design an electronic circuit like a power supply, an amplifier, oscillator or operational amplifier, certain formulae are required so that correct values of components are obtained for the intended application. Some circuits require only one formula, while others may require two or more. The single-stage transistor audio amplifier presented here requires a total of 19 formulae to obtain the values of components and analyse the circuit.

T

Single-stage transistor amplifier The single-stage transistor amplifier consists of a single npn transistor T1 (BC547), four resistors R1, R2, Rc and Re, two coupling capacitors C1 and C2, one bypass capacitor Ce connected across emitter resistor Re as shown in Fig. 1. +Vcc is the supply voltage, Vi the input signal and Vo the output signal. I1, I2, Ic and Ie, as shown in the figure, are DC currents. Resistors R1, R2 and Re are used to provide proper voltages to base b, emitter e and collector c of T1, so that base112 AUGUST 2015 | ELECTRONICS FOR YOU

emitter junction is forward-biased and base-collector junction is reversebiased. Collector resistor Rc is used as the load that provides output voltage Vo. Bypass capacitor Ce is used to bypass the AC audio-frequency signal towards the ground so that constant

Ve = 0.1 Vcc If voltage across the collector and emitter is Vce = 0.5Vcc, the remaining voltage of 0.4Vcc appears across the collector resistance. Therefore collector resist+Vcc ance in kiloRc Vc R1 V1 ohms is given by: Ic C2 Rc = 4 x Re I1 where Re is the T1 c emitter resistBC547 C1 Ib ance. Vce b Base current e Vo Vbe in milliamperes I2 Ie is given by: Vi Ib = Ic / b where Ic is the R2 Ce V2 Ve Re collector current and b is the curGND rent gain of the Fig. 1: Circuit diagram of the single-stage transistor amplier transistor. (It is normally represented by β or h-parameter hFE). DC emitter voltage Ve is mainained to prevent negative feedback in the Therefore emitter current in milamplifier. Coupling capacitors C1 and liamperes is given by: C2 are used to block the DC signal Ie = Ic +Ib and pass the AC signal. Emitter resistance of the transistor in kilo-ohms is given by: Design guidelines Re = Ve/Ie Applying 10:1 rule of the firm In order to bias the transistor properly voltage divider, second base resistwith voltage-divider bias method, opance in kilo-ohms is given by: erating point Q should be at the centre R2 =0.1 x b x Re of the DC load line (not shown here), The base voltage or voltage across where Vce= Vcc/2 and collector curR2 in volts is given by: rent Ic is as per the data sheet of the transistor. With no AC input signal, V2 = Ve + Vbe stable operating Q is maintained by where Vbe is the voltage across the using the one-tenth rule, which makes base and emitter. emitter voltage one-tenth of the supFor the silicon transistor, Vbe = ply voltage, Vcc. Therefore emitter 0.7 volts. In this case, the silicon transistor is considered. Voltage voltage in volts is given by: WWW.EFYMAG.COM

DO-IT-YOURSELF EFY Note The source code of this project is included in this month’s EFY DVD and is also available for free download at source .efymag.com Fig. 2: Input parameters for the example entered by user

across first base resistance R1 in volts is given by: V1 = Vcc – V2 Therefore first base resistance in kilo-ohms is given by: R1 = (V1/V2) x R2 Power consumed by the circuit in milliwatts is given by: P = Ic x Vcc Collector voltage of the transistor in volts is given by: Vc = Ic x Rc Voltage across the collector and emitter of the transistor in volts is given by: Vce = Vcc –(Vc + Ve) Current flowing through resistor R1 in milliamperes is given by: I1 = V1 / R1 Current flowing through resistor R2 in milliamperes is given by: I2 = V2 / R2 Power dissipated across resistor R1 in milliwatts is given by: PR1 = I1 x I1 x R1 Power dissipated across resistor R2 in milliwatts is given by: PR2 = I2 x I2 x R2 Power dissipated across collector resistor Rc in milliwatts is given by: PRc = Ic x Ic x Rc Power dissipated across emitter resistor Re in milliwatts is given by: PRe = Ie x Ie x Re Coupling capacitors C1 and C2 and bypass capacitor Ce in microfarads is given by: C = C1 = C2 = Ce = (1000000) / ( 2 x 3.14 x f x Xc)


Fig. 3: Screenshot of an example program output

where f is the minimum frequency in hertz to be amplified by the transistor amplifier and Xc is the reactance of capacitors C1, C2 and Ce. Reactances of these three capacitors are considered to be the same, which is 1000 ohms.

Software program All 19 formulae mentioned above are programmed using C++ language. The circuit has been tested using Turbo C++ version 3 and Visual C++ IDE on Windows 7. After running the program, it prompts you to enter the values of DC supply voltage Vcc, bias collector current of transistor Ic, current gain of transistor b and minimum frequency f to be amplified by the transistor amplifier.

For example, enter Vcc = 9, Ic = 2, b = 200 and f = 20 as shown in Fig. 2. Next, hit Enter. Within a fraction of a second, all 19 parameters for the transistor amplifier are calculated and displayed on the monitor as shown in Fig. 3. It is found that, to calculate the above 19 parameters, around 12 minutes are required. Therefore in order to save time, such a program can be quite useful for a circuit designer. 

Dr R.V. Dhekale is c urrently working as associate professor and head of department (Physics) at Kisan Veer Mahavidhyalaya, Maharashtra. He is a life member of Indian Association of Physics Teachers

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Controlling a Stepper Motor Using a Rotary Encoder

A T H U R IA N I D H I K

is the common lead, while blue wires are the two points, namely A and B.

SOMNATH BERA

resented here is a project to control a stepper motor using an incremental rotary encoder. It consists of a Raspberry Pi (Raspi) board, 5-pin rotary encoder, 5V stepper motor and an L293D motor driver. Author’s prototype is shown in Fig. 1. A rotary encoder, also called a shaft encoder, is an electromechanical device that converts the angular position or motion of a shaft or an axle to analogue or digital code. There are two main types: absolute and incremental (relative). Output of the absolute encoder indicates the current position of the shaft, making it an angle transducer. Output of the incremental encoder provides information about the motion of the shaft, which is further processed elsewhere into information such as speed, distance and position. Rotary encoders are used in various applications that require precise but unlimited shaft rotation, including industrial controls, robotics, special-purpose photographic lenses, computer input devices (such as optomechanical mice and trackballs), controlled stress rheometers and rotating radar platforms.

P

Raspberry Pi in action Here is the solution based on Raspi using a rotary encoder to drive a stepper motor. The rotary encoder is an easy, efficient and inexpensive device for creating directional rotation in digital format. A typical rotary encoder has three or more leads, wherein the common lead goes to ground. By following which lead goes to WWW.EFYMAG.COM

Circuit and working Circuit connection of the rotary encoder is shown in Fig. 3. The encoder is connected to physical pins 12 and 15, while the central (common) pin goes to ground

Fig. 1: Author’s prototype

Fig. 2: A 5-pin rotary encoder

ground through the common lead, a direction of rotation is established and a counter is incremented at the same time. Each movement of the rotary encoder is read by the program and fed to the stepper motor for making the same amount of stepped movement. This principle can be employed to control feeding of the heavy motor control such as in a paddle feeder. The same technique can be employed for aligning a telescope’s focus mechanism, direction of a dish antenna to re-adjust satellite drifting, mast of a crane for placing it on the load and much more. A 5-pin rotary encoder is shown in Fig. 2. Only three wires have been used for the project. The orange wire

pin 6 of Raspi. The uni-polar stepper motor is connected to pins 16, 18, 24 and 26 (GPIO pins 23, 24, 8 and 7), and the common pin is connected to +5V of Raspi. L293D is a quadruple half-H motor driver. The motor-enabled pin 1 and pin 9 are connected to positive supply pin 2 of Raspi. ULN2003, the Darlington array IC, may also be used for this project in place of L293D. The actual direction control is done by running rotary-servo.php program in Raspi. The initial set up of rotary-servo. php program is given below for reference: setup(7, “out”); $g[1]->setup(8,”out”); $g[2]->setup(23,”out”); $g[3]->setup(24,”out”);

This program requires wiringpi. php library, which is available for ELECTRONICS FOR YOU | AUGUST 2015

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STEPPER MOTOR A + ROTOR B

TP0 TP1 GND +5V SD CARD

POWER

3.3V GPIO2 GPIO3 GPIO4 GND GPIO17 GPIO27 GPIO22 3.3V GPIO10 GPIO9 GPIO11 GND

C 1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

+

D

5V 5V GND GPIO14 GPIO15 GPIO18 GND

3

GPIO23

6

14

11

OUT4

OUT3

GPIO24 GND

OUT1

GPIO25

4

GPIO8

5

GPIO7

12 HDMI

13

RASPBERRY PI

IN4

GND

IC1

IN3

GND

L293D

IN2

GND

IN1

EN2

MODEL−B

OUT2

GND

9

EN1 1

VCC1 16

VCC2 8

REVISION 2 ETHERNET

15 10 7

A

2

C B ROTARY ENCODER

USB

Fig. 3: Circuit connection of the rotary encoder with Raspi


download at github.com/WiringPi/ WiringPi-PHP

First, install php5-dev before installing WiringPi as given below: sudo apt-get install php5-dev

Now use git to install wiringpi.php

$ sudo ./install.sh $ cp wiringpi.php /var/www/

WiringPi is installed on Raspi and also copied to /var/www directory. But to get it inside PHP, load it in wiringpi.ini file. Open wiringpi.ini file in /etc/ php5/conf.d/ and write the following lines on it: $sudo nano /etc/php5/conf.d/wiringpi.ini extension=wiringpi.so

Rotate the shaft of the rotary encoder in clockwise and counterclockwise directions. You would see the stepper motor rotate in clockwise and counter-clockwise directions, respectively. 

Save the file and restart apache. /etc/init.d/apache2 restart

WiringPi-PHP.git

$ git submodule update -init

Run the following command to check whether WiringPi module has been loaded:

$ sudo ./build.sh

php -m | grep wiringpi


$ sudo php –f rotary-servo.php

wiringpi.pinmaptype=PINS

$ git clone https://github.com/WiringPi/

$ cd WiringPi-PHP

After installing WiringPi for PHP, run rotary-server.php code, the main program of this project, by issuing following command:

Somnath Bera is an avid user of open source software. Professionally, he is a thermal power expert and works as additional general manager at NTPC Ltd

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DO-IT-YOURSELF

Simulation of 7-Segment Display Using LabVIEW

EO SA N I T H

JANANI RAJARAMAN

TABLE I

Truth Table for the Hexadecimal Display

A

digital decoder IC is a device that converts one digital format into another, and one of the most commonly-used device for doing this is the binary-coded decimal (BCD) to 7-segment display decoder. The 7-segment light emitting diode (LED) provides a convenient way of displaying information or digital data in the form of numbers, letters and alphanumeric characters. Typically, 7-segment displays consist of seven same coloured LEDs (called segments) within a single display package. In order to display the correct character or number, the correct combination of LED segments has to be illuminated. This LabVIEW program demonstrates the illumination of each segment by displaying hex values (0000 through FFFF) in decimal form from 0 through 9 and A through F. The standard 7-segment LED display has eight input connections, one for each LED segment and one that acts as a common terminal or connection for all internal display segments. Some displays also have an additional input pin for displaying a decimal point.

Types of digital display There are two important types of 7-segment LED displays, namely, namely, common cathode and common anode. Common cathode display (CCD). In this display, all cathode connections of the LEDs are joined together to a low logic or ground or 0. The individual segment is illuminated by the application of high logic or +Vcc or 1 to the individual anode terminal. The CCD is shown in Fig. 1. Common anode display (CAD). WWW.EFYMAG.COM

Individual segments

Fig. 1: Common cathode display

Fig. 2: Common anode display

In a CAD, all anode connections of the LEDs are joined together to a high logic or +Vcc and individual segments are illuminated by connecting individual cathode terminals to low logic or ground. The CAD is shown in Fig. 2.

Display

a

b

c

d

e

f

g

1

1

1

1

1

1

0

0

0

1

1

0

0

0

0

1

1

1

0

1

1

0

1

2

1

1

1

1

0

0

1

3

0

1

1

0

0

1

1

4

1

0

1

1

0

1

1

5

1

0

1

1

1

1

1

6

1

1

1

0

0

0

0

7

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

8

1

1

1

1

0

1

1

9

1

1

1

0

1

1

1

A

0

0

1

1

1

1

1

b

1

0

0

1

1

1

0

C

0

1

1

1

1

0

1

d

1

1

0

1

1

1

1

e

1

0

0

0

1

1

1

F

Truth table for display The segment that should be illuminated is given as 1, which means high, as input. Decimal values from zero to nine are obtained for corresponding binary inputs as shown in Table I. Also, hexadecimal outputs such as A, b, C, d, e and F have been shown. Certain characters appear in lowercase because B looks similar to 8 and D looks similar to 0 on an LED display. Boolean expression for each segment is shown in Table II.

LabVIEW program Following are the steps required to design a 7-segment LED hexadecimal display using NI LabVIEW: 1. Open LabVIEW and press ctrl+n followed by ctrl+t to open Front Panel and Block Diagram windows.

TABLE II

Boolean Expression Segment Expression

a

ABD+ABC+BD+AC+AD+BC

b

A(C⊕D)+A(C⊕D)+BC+BD

c

BC+BD+CD+AB+AB

d

BCD+BCD+ACD+BCD+AC+ABD

e

BD+CD+AB+AC

f

ABC+CD+BD+AC+AB

g

ABD+BCD+BC+AC+AB

2. On Front Panel, from Menu, select View →Control →Modern → Boolean→Round LED; drag and drop it on Front Panel and label as A (Input A). Similarly, select three more inputs and name these B, C and D, respectively. Arrange these as shown in Fig. 3. 3. Select View→Control→Modern →Boolean→Square LED; drag and ELECTRONICS FOR YOU | AUGUST 2015

117

DO-IT-YOURSELF

BINARY INPUTS

A

B

C

D Segment ‘a’ Segment ‘f’

BINARY INPUTS

A

B

C

Segment ‘b’

D Segment ‘a’ Segment ‘f’

Segment ‘g’ Segment ‘e’

Segment ‘b’

Segment ‘c’

Segment ‘g’ Segment ‘e’

Segment ‘d’

Segment ‘c’ BINARY INPUTS

A

B

C

D Segment ‘a’

Segment ‘d’ Segment ‘f’

Fig. 3: Front Panel of LabVIEW

Segment ‘b’

Segment ‘g’

EFY Note Segment ‘e’

The source code of this project is included in this month’s EFY DVD and is also available for free down.efymag.com load at source .efymag.com

Segment ‘c’

Segment ‘d’

Fig. 5: Decimal/hexadecimal display for 0 and F

drop it on Front Panel and arrange in the form of an actual 7-segment LED display and name each as individual segment a, b, c, d, e, f and g, respectively, as shown in Fig. 3. 4. Go to Block Diagram workspace (Fig. 4). From Menu, select Programming →Boolean→NOT gate; drag and drop it on the workspace for each input as shown in Fig. 4. 5. From Menu, select Programming→ Numeric→Compound Arithmetic; drag and drop it on the workspace. Right-click on Compound Arithmetic, select Change Mode and choose logic gate (OR or AND) operation, as needed. Compound Arithme-

Fig. 4: Block diagram of LabVIEW for the display

tic is used to carry out logical and arithmetic operations for more than two inputs. 6. Similarly, select suitable logic gates for the corresponding Boolean expression for each segment as given in Table II. 7. Connect each output of the Boolean expression to each of the indicator (segment) as shown in Fig. 4.

THE COMPLETE M AGAZINE ON OPEN SOURCE

8. Return to Front Panel. Save VI and press Run Continuously to check the operation of 7-segment display giving different binary inputs and also check outputs from 0 to f.

Checking the output Fig. 5 shows the result of a 7-segment LED (decimal and hexadecimal) display for 0 and F. 

Janani Rajaraman is working as assistant professor in the department of electronics and instrumentation engineering, SCSVMV University, Kanchipuram, Tamil Nadu

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eSTYLE: FIRST LOOK

LG launches G4 smartphone Featuring a great visual experience experience

T

his smartphone from LG features Android 5.1 Lollipop, 4G LTE connectivity, Qualcomm Snapdragon 808 processor with 1.8GHz 64-bit hexa-core CPU, 13.97cm (5.5-inch) Quantum quad-HD IPS display, 16MP rear camera with F1.8 aperture and OIS 2.0, 8MP front camera, dual SIM with dual standby, 3GB RAM, Gorilla Glass 3, capacitive touchscreen type and much more. The smartphone has a 3000mAh lithium-ion battery, 32GB internal memory (expandable up to 2TB), 100GB cloud storage (on Google Drive), sensors like proximity, ambient light, accelerometer, digital compass and gyroscope and USB OTG connectivity, among others.

Intex launches full-HD LED TV A colourful companion companion for everyone

T

he 53.3cm (21-inch) LED TV (LED-2111 FHD) from Intex features a native resolution of 1920x1080 pixels, DLED LED type, smart power saving, built-in stereo speaker (to produce balanced stereo sound over a wide area) and digital noise reduction. It eliminates lag, ensures faster response time and better viewing experience without straining the eyes. It uses Eye Safe-T Matrix Technology, a path-breaking innovation that blends the uniqueness of technology and glass subtracts. The technology incorporates Advanced Plane Switching (that helps correct pixel orientation on the LCD screen, deliver a wider viewing angle, great colour fidelity with least colour shift and save energy), Copper Bus Line Technology (that enhances

Price: ` 9990

colour quality for the video, graphics and everyday applications and uses lower-resistance material for faster and brighter transmission of signal), Over Driving Circuit (that eliminates blur and facilitates a faster full-white to black transition) and Column Spacer Technology (that gives the screen improved picture quality free of ripples and ensures improved contrast ratio).

Price: ` 51,500

Zebronics unveils Iron Head headphones For long-wearing comfort

I

ron Head headphones deliver astounding sonic depth, creating a virtual world through simulated 3D surround sound. These headphones feature easily-adjustable, padded headbands with extra cushioning on the ear pieces for long gaming and movie sessions. The directional boom microphone filters out background noises, delivering clear voice signals for all users. The control pod is solidly-built with easy-to-use buttons for volume up, volume down, mute and mic mute. The headphones also come with a long-lasting sleeved cable measuring three metres, USB interface and built-in audio processor.

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Price: ` 2199


119

eSTYLE: FIRST LOOK

GizMo ByTes Google launches News Lab The search giant has announced Google News Lab, a website for journalists. With an aim to help them to create their own stories, the Lab provides various tools along with tutorials to teach them how to use online tools like Google Alerts, Google News and Google Trends. By using news outlets like First Dr aft, YouTube, Newswire and WITNESS Media Lab, Google News Lab also motivates eyewitness citizen journalism.

Splendo PC stick from iBall, Microsoft For a complete Windows PC experience

i

Ball Splendo is a compact device that can fit neatly into a pocket. It is powered by Intel Atom quadcore processor, runs Windows 8.1 and features 2GB RAM with 32GB inbuilt memory. When connected to a television, through the HDMI male plug, it can turn the television into a personal computer (PC), complete with features like HD graphics, multichannel digital audio, micro SDXC slot, normal USB port, micro-USB port, Wi-Fi and inbuilt Bluetooth 4.0.

The device features a fan-less design. The fully-functional PC setup can be used for tasks like checking emails and document editing. Because of its small size, it is portable and can be carried along while travelling as a replacement to the laptop. It can also be used for entertainment purposes, surfing the Internet, browsing photos and playing games.

Price: ` 8999

Truecaller introduces Truemessenger Swedish firm Truecaller has introduced a new app called Truemessenger for verifying senders of SMSes. Just like Truecaller app, data is obtained from the contact list of users of the application, which enables them to identify spam SMSes.

Microsoft launches Ofce for Android Microsoft has brought its popular Microsoft Office software to Android devices. This would allow users to work on documents using Word, Excel and PowerPoint while on the go.

HomeLane launches Kaleido VR headset HomeLane, a Bengaluru based startup, which deals with interior designing, modular kitchen manufacturing and 3D modelling, has launched a new virtual reality (VR) based device called Kaleido, powered by Google Cardboard. Kaleido can be worn to watch different finishes, flooring options, accessories and appliances, in different combinations, making it simpler for users to make an informed decision.


LED light from Xiaomi For people on the go

T

he wireless, pocket-sized Mi LED light from Xiaomi can be used on the desk, by the bed or on the go. It features diffused lighting that is easy on the eyes. The LED light is portable, features a flexible body and is powered by a standard USB port, which means it can be plugged into any USB charger, a computer’s USB port or power bank with a USB port. The LED light comes in two

colour variants, namely, white and light blue. Price: ` 199

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eSTYLE: DIY

Eight Things You Did Not Know You Could Do with an iPhone Camera iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus models

WWW.EFYTIMES.COM

A

pple fans love iPhone and its camera, which has come to become the first choice for professional photographers, too. You can take tons of photos with your iPhone, any time. The best part is, unlike a professional camera, the iPhone is incredibly handy. In this WWW.EFYMAG.COM

article, we have listed eight things you may not know you could do with iPhone’s camera. All the features mentioned below are available on iPhone 6 and its Plus variant. But most of these are also available on its previous models starting with iPhone 4, as checked at EFY. Grid. Grid helps you align your photos in perfect order. You can turn

on grid by going to Settings → Photos → Camera → Grid. Earbuds. Did you know that you can take pictures using your Apple’s earphones? The volume button on the earbuds’ cord can be used to click the photo and even record video. It acts like a camera-shutter button. Volume button. Users often complain about the physical camera button on the phone. iPhone’s volume button acts as a shutter button. You can press volume Up/Down button to take a photo. Focus and brightness. iPhone offers the tap-to-focus option. You can simply tap on the screen to focus and slide your finger up and down on the slider to adjust the brightness of a shot. This editing tool makes this camera work like almost a professional point-and-shoot camera. Lock exposure. You can pre-define exposure very easily in iPhone. All you need to do is simply press and hold on the screen to lock exposure settings. Once you lock these settings, you need not adjust it again. Burst mode. Taking burst pictures is made easier with iPhone. Press and hold Shutter button to enable Burst Mode. Burst Mode on iPhone can take ten photos per second. Auto HDR. Auto HDR is an interesting feature on the iPhone. HDR mode takes three photos at different exposures and combines the best aspects of each. You can turn on this feature by launching the camera and tapping HDR. Timer. You can set the self timer to camera shutter by tapping on Clock icon while taking pictures. This feature comes in very handy while clicking family photos.  ELECTRONICS FOR YOU | AUGUST 2015

121

eSTYLE: BUYERS’ GUIDE

How to Buy the Best DSLR Camera igital single lens reflex (DSLR) cameras are increasingly gaining popularity these days. These cameras are now within the reach of an average photographer as manufacturers are coming out with affordable, user-friendly models. This is good news for photography enthusiasts as the price of DSLR cameras is falling rapidly. The best camera is not always the most expensive one. Every individual has different needs; an amateur would require a different camera than a professional photographer, who would need extensive features. DSLR cameras usually offer advanced features that experienced shooters need, which include a wide range of lenses, flashes and other accessories. As companies keep introducing advanced technologies in their DSLRs, entry-level models are getting more affordable. However, powerful, dependable professional models are still quite popular. While photography enthusiasts look for the best combination of performance and versatility, casual photographers generally consider a camera to be just a tool. If the picture quality is good, the camera is easy to use and affordable, they are happy. But, users must not confuse DSLRs with compact system cameras that are infiltrat-

D Sushma Rani is a content-developer-cum- sub-editor at EFY

ing camera shops these days. These look like point-and-shoot cameras but have interchangeable lenses. In this article, we list some key features that could help a photographer find the right DSLR camera based on his or her preference and need. Features are the most important to consider before buying an electronic device. For using the camera in different situations, you must consider the lenses that match the DSLR you are considering before finalising the camera.

Comfort level and size Most DSLRs are similar in size but sometimes the styling of the handgrip, position of controls and other ergonomic features can differ drastically. If the camera is too big or too small for you to hold comfortably, or if the controls are not laid out in a way that are not convenient for use, chances are you would not enjoy photography as much as you expected to.

Battery life You must look at the battery life of the camera as there are several types of batteries available. Battery life and cost are often unrelated; some inexpensive cameras have a great

SOME DSLR CAMERAS AVAILABLE IN INDIA

Price Features worth looking at

•

•

• • •

•

Nikon D3300

Canon EOS 70D

Canon Rebel T6s

Sony Alpha 77 M2

Pentax 645Z

` 36,095

` 65,131

` 74,000

` 99,700

` 585,500

Shoots sharp 24.3MP images and smooth 1080p videos at 60 frames per second (fps) 7.6cm (3-inch), 921k pixel LCD and 18mm-50mm f3.55.6 kit lens Optical viewfinder 5fps burst mode Shutter speed of 30 to 1/4000 seconds Nikon DX (APS-C) CMOS sensor

•

•

•

•

20.2MP CMOS (APS-C) sensor, 14-bit A/D conversion DIGIC 5+ image processor for exceptional image quality and processing speed 19-point all cross-type AF system (including a high-precision f/2.8 dual cross-type AF centre point) Viewfinder with superimposed LCD display

•

•

•

•

24.2MP CMOS (APS-C) sensor, ISO 100-12800 (expandable to H: 25600) EOS full-HD movie mode helps capture brilliant results in MP4 format High-speed continuous shooting upto 5.0fps allows you to capture fast action 19-point all cross-type AF system allows superb autofocus performance

• • • •

• • • • •

Aperture of f/3.5 - f/5.6 24.3MP camera USB support 7.6cm (3-inch) TFT LCD screen Exmor CMOS sensor Full-HD recording Focal length of 18mm-135mm Built-in flash Shooting speed of 12fps

• • •

• • • • •

51.4 MP CMOS sensor ISO 204.800 8.1cm (3.2-inch) tiltable LCD monitor 43.8mm x 32.8mm sensor 27-point auto-focus Prime III processing 3fps maximum drive rate ISO 100–204, 800 sensitivity

The prices mentioned here are from various e-commerce portals and are subject to change.


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eSTYLE: BUYERS’ GUIDE battery life, whereas some expensive ones use up a charge quickly. Some examples of the available batteries are high-capacity disposable CRV3s, proprietary rechargeable batteries, non-rechargeable alkaline batteries and rechargeable nickel metal hydride (NiMH). Batteries such as alkaline batteries might get drained pretty quickly, which could turn out to be quite expensive.

Viewfinders A DSLR camera features an optical viewfinder which displays the exact image that the camera lens is capturing. But, it is worth mentioning that not all are created equal. DSLRs come with three basic types of viewfinders, namely, optical viewfinder, electronic viewfinder and an LCD screen with a live view. You need to make sure that the camera’s viewfinder is bright, you are able to see edge-to-edge and that the focusing screen is clear. You also need to pay attention to magnification and coverage numbers for pentaprism finders, as these give you an idea of the actual size of the finder and how much of the captured image can be viewed.

Megapixels Talking about the role played by megapixels in a camera, you should know that a high megapixel count does not necessarily mean better image quality. Though, high megapixels give you more flexibility when cropping or making enlargements. But, a higher megapixel count produces larger files, which, in turn, take up more space. Many DSLR cameras today exceed 13MP, which enables creative zooming in and cropping of images. A 5MP image is enough to make a sharp 20.3cm-by-25.4cm (8-inch-by-10-inch) print and an 8MP image is enough to make a sharp 27.9cm-by-35.6cm (11-inch-by-14-inch) print.

Sensors An image sensor detects and conveys the information that constitutes an WWW.EFYMAG.COM

image. It does so by converting the variable attenuation of light waves into electrical signals, the small bursts of current that convey the information. Cameras with larger sensors and better lenses normally take better shots, regardless of the megapixel count. Bigger sensors normally create better images, as do higher-quality lenses. Therefore it is important to check the size of the sensor of the camera you are planning to buy. Although it is also available on some point-and-shoot cameras, sensor stabilisation is more commonly used in DSLRs. With sensor stabilisation, gyroscopes located in the camera body, rather than the lenses, detect shake and then move the image sensor to counteract motion.

Flash It is important to know the type of flash the chosen DSLR camera has and how much control it gives over flash settings. DLSRs usually have inbuilt flash; some have a hot-shoe mount or a bracket that lets you attach an external flash to the camera, while some have both. If a camera has a mount but no flash, check to see if an external flash is included as part of the kit or whether you would need to buy it separately. The inbuilt flash can be extremely handy to have, but it would not be of as high quality as an external flash. For casual photography, the inbuilt flash could be useful, but for professional use, a hot-shoe mount would work better. Another point to be considered is quick access to different flash modes. Make sure the camera you buy gives you quick access to different flash modes, including On (forces the flash to fire even if the camera detects enough light, which can be useful for back-lighting situations), Off (prevents your flash from firing even in low-light situations) and Slow-Sync (also referred to as night-time mode).  ELECTRONICS FOR YOU | AUGUST 2015

123

PRODUCT CATEGORIES INDEX

ADVERTISERS’ PRODUCT CATEGORY INDEX Products

Page No.

Products

Page No.

Universal Electronic Agencies ..........................1 36

Automation & Robotics Eita Technologies ............................................. 143

Products

Page No.

Products

Page No.

HK Wentworth (India) Pvt Ltd ............................. 51

Electronics Relays (India) Pvt Ltd ..................... 126

Progressive Engineers ..................................... 135

PIC GmbH ......................................................... 21

HARI HI Ohm Electronics ................................. 130

Components (Including Active & Passive)

Indus Robotics & Automation Research

Cirkit Electro Components P Ltd ...................... 128

Optics & Optoelectronics

Telecom Products

Pvt Ltd .......................................................... 130

Digi-Key Corporation ........................................... 3

Binay Opto Electronics Pvt Ltd .......................... 16

Visha World ...................................................... 131

Logic Power ...................................................... 136

Element14 India Pvt Ltd ....................................... 1

Buljin Elemec Pvt Ltd ........................................ 141

Microchip Technology Inc. ................................. 49

Hirose Electric Singapore Pte Ltd ...................... 15

GSR Infocom Pvt. Ltd. ...................................... 143

Nuvoton Technology Corp. ................................ 41

LWI Electronics Inc. ........................................... 23

Rockforest ........................................................ 144

ROHM Semiconductor ....................................... 85

MobiOscope Technology Solutions .................. 126

SECO srl ............................................................ 69

Mouser Electronics (Hong Kong) Ltd ................... 7

PCBs, Assemblies & Sub Assemblies

Anritsu India Pvt Ltd .......................................... 19

Shavison Electronics Pvt. Ltd. .......................... 123

Murata Electronics India Pvt Ltd ........................ 75

Circuit Systems India Ltd ................................. 109

Crown Electronic Systems................................ 141

ST Microelectronics Marketing Pvt. Ltd ............. 71

Numato Systems Pvt Ltd .................................. 126

Fine Line Circuit Limited ................................... 129

Cyronics Instruments Pvt. Ltd. ........................... 77

Toradex Systems (India) Private Limited .......... ..11

Perfect Radios .................................................. 142

Indus Robotics & Automation Research Pvt Ltd130

Dinteck.............................................................. 143

Toshiba India Pvt. Ltd .................... .................... 55

Premier Controls............................................... 137

M & D Enterprises ............................................ 143

Renesas Electronics India Pvt. Ltd ......... 59, 80, 81

Salasar Inc........................................................ 142

S.M Semiconductors .......................................... 25

Arham Electronics & Electricals

SMD Electro Components ................................ 132

Plugs, Sockets & Connectors

(Nimra Products) .......................................... 143

Stead Electronics (India) Pvt. Ltd. .................... 134

Hirose Electric Singapore Pte Ltd ......................1 5

BB Battery India Co. Pvt Ltd ............................... 79

Virginia Panel Corporation ................................. 39

Jai Mata Electronics ......................................... 141

Elnova Ltd......................................................... 143

EDA Tools (Including Designing &

Reseller and Distributors

Etekniks Technologies ...................................... 141

Drafting Aids)

Digi-Key Corporation ........................................... 3

Good Will Instrument Co. Ltd ........................... 148

MathWorks ........................................................ 67

Element14 India Pvt Ltd. .............. ....................... 1

Gurukirpa Electronics ....................................... 141

Technics ............................................................. 61

LWI Electronics Inc. ........................................... 23

FLIR Systems .................................................... 43 Keysight Technologies India Pvt Ltd .......................................................... 2, 5

Digital Promoters (I) Pvt Ltd ............................. 141

NI Systems (India) Pvt Ltd ............................... 149 Rishabh Instruments Pvt Ltd ........................... 101 SIGLENT Technologies Co. Ltd .........................113 Tangent Test Technologies ................................ 45

Mouser Electronics (Hong Kong) Ltd ................... 7

Kandhari Photo Electronics P Ltd ..................... 142

Educational Training Kits

MathWorks ......................................................... 67

Advance Technologies ...................................... 143

Sensors & Transducers

National Controlling & Equipments ................... 144

Excel Technologies........................................... 135

PIC GmbH ......................................................... 21

Nehatronix ........................................................ 142

Future Chip Technologies ................................. 141

Visha World ...................................................... 131

Nippon India ..................................................... 135

Mepits infotech Private Limited ........................ 107

Precimec Products ........................................... 132

Visha World ...................................................... 131

Proxima Asia Inc. .............................................. 134

Indicators & Monitors) Advance Tech Services Pvt. Ltd ......................... 31

Batteries & Power Supplies

Inphynyt Accumulators India Pvt. Ltd ............... 125

Test & Measurement Equipment (Including

Tektronix India Pvt Ltd ...................................... 150 Trade Shows and Events CII GUARDIAN International Ltd ........................ 27 Electromation India 2016 ................................... 89 IED Communications Ltd .................................. 129 MMI India Pvt. Ltd. ............................................. 63 NI Systems (India) Pvt Ltd ................................ 149

Services

Training and Certifcation Institutes

Pulraj Electronics Pvt Ltd.................................. 137

CADD Centre Training Services Private Limited .............................................. 127

PSI Enterprises................................................. 142

Industrial & Ma nufacturing Equipment

Pye Electro Systems ........................................ 142

Hybrid Metals Pvt Ltd ....................................... 132

Sakthi Accumulators Private Ltd ....................... 142

Inde Enterprises .......................................... 35, 53

Solar Products

Transformers

SM Electronic Technologies Pvt. Ltd ..................25

Max Technology & Co. ....................................... 33

MathWorks ......................................................... 67

EGSTON Electronics India Pvt. Ltd. ................. 128

Mitramax Energy Private Limited........................ 73

GT Magnetics Pvt. Ltd. ..................................... 130

Precimec Products ........................................... 132

Jai Mata Electronics ......................................... 141

Srishti Electronics ............................................. 143 Materials (Including Chemicals &

Technics ............................................................. 61

Cabinets, Enclosures & Accessories

Consumables)

S K Metal Works............................................... 141

DD Enterprises ................................................. 143

Switches & Relays

Wires & Cables

Shrey Plastic Moulders ..................................... 142

DELTA Magnets Ltd ........................................... 47

CII GUARDIAN International Ltd ....................... 27

Sagar Switch Gear ........................................... 133

EFY Magazine Attractions During 2015 MONTH

TECHNOLOGY FOCUS

MARKET SURVEYS

BUYER’S GUIDE FOR ELECTRONICS LABS

January

IoT & Big Data

LED Lighting

Programmable Power Supplies

February

3D Printing

Coil Wound Components

Handheld T&M Equipment for Field Engineers

March

Wearables (Smart Humans)

SMT Manufacturing Equipment

Digital Multimeters

April

3G, 4G & Beyond: Latest in Telecom

Industrial Inverters & UPSes for Corporate

FPGA Based Development Boards

May

Virtual Electronics (on Web)

Telecom & Electronics

3D Printers (Under ` 100,000)

June

Printed and Flexible Electronics

Educational & Training Products

Wi-Fi & RF Modules

July

Smartcars

Automotive Electronics

Budget-Friendly Oscilloscopes

August

Smarthomes

PCB Industry in India: Suppliers & Manufacturers

Development Boards (Microcontroller based)

September

Medical Electronics


Soldering/Desoldering Stations

October

Robotics & Automation (Smart Machines)

Solar Electronics

Latest Tools to Manage ESD for Your LAB

November

Renewable Energy

Industrial Automation

Desktop PCB Manufacturing Equipment

December

Smart Lighting

LCD Display Components

Programmable Power Source


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