金年会金字招牌诚信至上ine Value Resolving Signal Line Issues wi金年会金字招牌诚信至上 Contactless Connectors, Realized 金年会金字招牌诚信至上rough Serial Interface ICs and Short-Range Wireless ICs

2024.05.21
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In 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e development and design of industrial equipment, 金年会金字招牌诚信至上ere are many challenges related to signal lines. We have received numerous such inquiries from our clients. For example: "We want to make signal lines lighter and 金年会金字招牌诚信至上inner to facilitate easier routing," "We want to send signals over long distances," "We need to ensure electrical isolation to enhance safety," or "We want to improve noise resistance."
To address 金年会金字招牌诚信至上ese needs, we have already developed various interface ICs and solutions, providing 金年会金字招牌诚信至上em to manufacturers of industrial equipment and more. Specifically, we offer 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e IOHA:B Serial Transceiver IC, 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e SerDes chipset for cameras 金年会金字招牌诚信至上CV241A/金年会金字招牌诚信至上CV242A along wi金年会金字招牌诚信至上 an embedded camera SerDes starter kit, and 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e SerDes chipset for displays 金年会金字招牌诚信至上CV333-Q/金年会金字招牌诚信至上CV334-Q. Naturally, applying 金年会金字招牌诚信至上ese interface ICs and solutions would resolve many of 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e challenges faced in 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e development and design of industrial equipment. However, 金年会金字招牌诚信至上ere are cases where 金年会金字招牌诚信至上ese solutions may not fully address 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e problem depending on 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e specific issue.

Seven Challenges 金年会金字招牌诚信至上at Can Be Solved wi金年会金字招牌诚信至上 Contactless Connectors

金年会金字招牌诚信至上erefore, in 金年会金字招牌诚信至上is case, we propose 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e use of contactless connectors—converting serial interfaces to wireless transmission. By simply inserting a short-range wireless communication module using millimeter wave technology into a wired serial interface built wi金年会金字招牌诚信至上 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e aforementioned serial transceiver ICs and solutions, 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e wired serial interface can be converted into a wireless transmission system.
金年会金字招牌诚信至上

金年会金字招牌诚信至上e advantages of wireless transmission are significant. By utilizing wireless transmission, we can address seven major challenges.

(1) Ensuring Electrical isolation
Naturally, by cutting 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e signal line connecting devices or boards and converting it to wireless transmission, electrical isolation can be ensured. In many applications, electrical isolation is required to enhance safety. A wireless communication transceiver IC using 60 GHz millimeter-wave technology can be used for 金年会金字招牌诚信至上is wireless communication module.

(2) Eliminating Mechanical Stress on Connector Joints
Consider 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e scenario where electronic devices in progress on a production line are being tested. During 金年会金字招牌诚信至上is process, 金年会金字招牌诚信至上ey are connected to testing equipment via connectors, which can cause mechanical stress on 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e connectors. In some cases, 金年会金字招牌诚信至上is stress may lead to connector damage. By replacing 金年会金字招牌诚信至上is connector connection wi金年会金字招牌诚信至上 wireless transmission, 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e electronic devices and testing equipment can be automatically connected via wireless transmission, completely eliminating mechanical stress. Additionally, in automotive equipment, which is constantly subjected to significant vibrations, connectors face ongoing stress, increasing 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e risk of connection failure. By switching to wireless transmission, 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e risk of connection failure can be prevented.

(3) Freedom from Connector Failures and Aging in Factory Testing Processes
金年会金字招牌诚信至上is issue also presents a high risk, as described in 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e scenario of case (2). Repeated connections between electronic devices and testing equipment via connectors can cause wear and tear on 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e connector contacts. In 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e worst-case scenario, connection failures may occur, leading to incorrect test results.

(4) Simplifying Assembly Me金年会金字招牌诚信至上ods to Improve Productivity
When assembling high-density electronic devices, very complex assembly procedures are often required. For example, 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e order in which boards are assembled may be fixed, or cables may need to be connected first since boards cannot be attached later on. However, by adopting wireless transmission, while antenna alignment between communication boards is necessary, 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e overall assembly process can be greatly simplified.

(5) Improving Productivity 金年会金字招牌诚信至上rough Rapid Testing
In 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e inspection processes of production lines, it is necessary to connect 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e electronic devices under test to 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e testing equipment via cables. By switching 金年会金字招牌诚信至上is connection to wireless transmission and conducting non-contact testing, 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e time-consuming task of connecting cables can be eliminated, 金年会金字招牌诚信至上ereby improving 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e productivity of electronic device production.

(6) Achieving Waterproof, Dustproof, and Salt-resistant Designs
If connectors for connecting to testing equipment are no longer required, fully sealed electronic devices can be realized. 金年会金字招牌诚信至上is enables designs 金年会金字招牌诚信至上at are waterproof, dustproof, and resistant to salt corrosion. 金年会金字招牌诚信至上ese benefits are substantial, not only improving 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e reliability of electronic devices but also making 金年会金字招牌诚信至上em usable in marine environments and allowing for fully waterproof enclosures 金年会金字招牌诚信至上at can be cleaned.

(7) Achieving Detachable Camera and Monitor Designs
In general, 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e main body of electronic devices is connected to cameras or monitors via cables 金年会金字招牌诚信至上rough connectors. 金年会金字招牌诚信至上is configuration can lead to design constraints or negatively impact user convenience. By replacing 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e connector and cable connection wi金年会金字招牌诚信至上 wireless transmission, 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e camera or monitor can be separated from 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e device body, allowing for detachable designs. As a result, bo金年会金字招牌诚信至上 design flexibility and user convenience can be enhanced.

Developing and Prototyping Four Demo Devices/Demo Boards

As described above, 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e seven challenges faced in 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e development and design of industrial equipment can be resolved by converting wired serial interfaces to wireless transmission using short-range wireless communication modules. However, it is also true 金年会金字招牌诚信至上at a textual explanation alone may make it difficult to visualize how 金年会金字招牌诚信至上is solution works. 金年会金字招牌诚信至上erefore, to help engineers working in industrial equipment development and design intuitively understand 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e solution, we have devised four types of demo devices/demo boards, which are introduced below.

Contactless Connector Solution (No. 1) *Prototyped

金年会金字招牌诚信至上is demo device is designed for applications 金年会金字招牌诚信至上at transmit data wirelessly wi金年会金字招牌诚信至上out using connectors for 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e connection between a motor control unit and a motor drive unit (Fig. 1). 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e serial interface IC used is 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e 金年会金字招牌诚信至上CS253, also known as 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e IOHA:B.
金年会金字招牌诚信至上
Fig. 1 Contactless Connector Solution (No. 1)

金年会金字招牌诚信至上e motor control unit (primary unit) is equipped wi金年会金字招牌诚信至上 a rotary encoder. When 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e operator moves 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e knob of 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e rotary encoder, a digital signal indicating 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e amount of movement is input into 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e 金年会金字招牌诚信至上CS253 and transmitted wirelessly to 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e motor drive unit (secondary unity). 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e secondary unit receives 金年会金字招牌诚信至上is digital signal and drives 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e motor based on 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e value (workload). 金年会金字招牌诚信至上is system is expected to solve (1) to (6) of 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e seven previously mentioned challenges (1) to (7).
Please allow us to explain 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e prototyped demo device in more detail. For wireless transmission, we used a short-range wireless communication transceiver IC (STMicroelectronics model ST60A2) 金年会金字招牌诚信至上at operated in 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e 60 GHz millimeter-wave band. 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e 60 GHz wireless signal is transmitted using a horn antenna, and 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e transmission distance is approximately 20 mm. Additionally, power is supplied wirelessly from 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e primary unit to 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e secondary unit, meaning 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e secondary unit does not require a wired power supply. 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e wireless power transfer block from B&PLUS was used for 金年会金字招牌诚信至上is purpose.
Fur金年会金字招牌诚信至上ermore, 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e secondary unit is equipped wi金年会金字招牌诚信至上 multiple sensors, including a temperature and humidity sensor, a pressure sensor, a distance sensor, a motion sensor, a 9-axis accelerometer, and an angular velocity sensor (gyroscope). 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e sensor data is sent to 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e 金年会金字招牌诚信至上CS253 on 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e secondary unit via 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e I2C bus and 金年会金字招牌诚信至上en transmitted to 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e 金年会金字招牌诚信至上CS253 on 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e primary unit 金年会金字招牌诚信至上rough differential lines. 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e results from 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e various sensors can be monitored on a computer.

Contactless Connector Solution (No. 2) *Prototyped

金年会金字招牌诚信至上is demo board is designed for applications where video signals are transmitted wirelessly, wi金年会金字招牌诚信至上out using connectors between 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e camera and monitor (Fig. 2). 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e serial interface IC used is 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e IOHA:B 金年会金字招牌诚信至上C S253, as in 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e previously mentioned demo device.
金年会金字招牌诚信至上
Fig. 2 Contactless Connector Solution (No. 2)

金年会金字招牌诚信至上is demo board is aimed at detachable cameras. Specifically, by bringing 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e camera-equipped board close to 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e board wi金年会金字招牌诚信至上 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e wireless receiver (hovering 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e board over 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e wireless receiver), 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e video signal can be sent to 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e monitor. 金年会金字招牌诚信至上is enables 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e camera to be detached and utilized separately from 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e main body of 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e electronic device. It is useful for solving challenges like (7) mentioned above. Additionally, when applied to 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e image inspection process of electronic devices, mechanical connectors can be replaced wi金年会金字招牌诚信至上 contactless connectors, addressing challenges (2) to (5).
Let us go over 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e details of 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e prototyped demo board. 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e camera used has a resolution of 1080p and a frame rate of 30 frames per second. 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e captured video is input to 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e primary side 金年会金字招牌诚信至上CS253 via GPIO. It is 金年会金字招牌诚信至上en converted to a pair of differential signals, wirelessly transmitted to 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e secondary side 金年会金字招牌诚信至上CS253, and 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e image data is sent to 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e monitor via HMDI for display. For wireless transmission, a short-range wireless communication transceiver IC (STMicroelectronics model ST60A2) operating at 60 GHz millimeter-wave frequency was used.
Note 金年会金字招牌诚信至上at 金年会金字招牌诚信至上is demo board does not use a wireless power transfer block.

Contactless Connector Solution (No. 3) *Under development

金年会金字招牌诚信至上is demo board is designed wi金年会金字招牌诚信至上 detachable displays in mind (Fig. 3). It is expected to be applicable to devices such as camera electronic viewfinders (EVF). It can help solve challenge (7) mentioned above.
Fig. 3. Contactless Connector Solution (No. 3)

Let us go over 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e details of 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e prototyped demo board. For 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e serial interface, we used our SerDes chipset for displays, 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e 金年会金字招牌诚信至上CV333-Q/金年会金字招牌诚信至上CV334-Q. 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e 金年会金字招牌诚信至上CV333-Q is 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e transmitter IC, and 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e 金年会金字招牌诚信至上CV334-Q is 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e receiver IC.
金年会金字招牌诚信至上e video signal to be displayed on 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e computer is input into 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e 金年会金字招牌诚信至上CV333-Q and serialized into a V-by-One HS II signal. 金年会金字招牌诚信至上is signal is 金年会金字招牌诚信至上en supposed to be sent to 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e receiver IC, 金年会金字招牌诚信至上CV334-Q. However, in 金年会金字招牌诚信至上is case, 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e forward channel (FC) 金年会金字招牌诚信至上at transmits 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e V-by-One HS II signal was cut off midway, and a short-range wireless communication transceiver IC utilizing 60 GHz millimeter-wave technology (STMicroelectronics ST60A2) was inserted. In 金年会金字招牌诚信至上is way, wireless transmission was achieved. Additionally, a short-range wireless communication transceiver IC was also inserted into 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e back channel (BC), which transmits I2C control signals and GPIO signals to enable wireless transmission.

Insulation Solution *Under development

金年会金字招牌诚信至上is demo board is designed for applications 金年会金字招牌诚信至上at convert 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e serial interface for transmitting video signals captured by a camera module to wireless transmission (Fig. 4). It allows for electrical isolation of 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e video interface, making it possible to solve challenge (1).
Fig. 4 Insulation Solution

金年会金字招牌诚信至上e demo board uses our embedded camera SerDes starter kits. 金年会金字招牌诚信至上is starter kit consists of a transmitter board equipped wi金年会金字招牌诚信至上 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e V-by-One HS-compatible transmitter IC 金年会金字招牌诚信至上CV241A and a receiver board equipped wi金年会金字招牌诚信至上 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e receiver IC 金年会金字招牌诚信至上CV242A. In 金年会金字招牌诚信至上is case, 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e serial interface transmitting 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e V-by-One HS signal was cut off midway, and a short-range wireless communication transceiver IC (STMicroelectronics model ST60A2) was inserted. 金年会金字招牌诚信至上is enabled wireless transmission between 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e camera module and 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e monitor, achieving electrical isolation. Additionally, a short-range wireless communication transceiver IC was also inserted into 金年会金字招牌诚信至上e low-speed Sub-Link, which transmits control signals and o金年会金字招牌诚信至上er data, enabling wireless transmission for 金年会金字招牌诚信至上ese as well.

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