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Built on Polygon Supernets, this partnership will allow New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) to enable blockchain based tracking and recording of land mutation to enhance efficiency and security

Airchains, a Web3 middleware SaaS platform announced partnership with West Bengal’s New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) to transform the land ownership and mutation system by employing blockchain. This initiative will reshape the landscape of land mutation by introducing 500,000 Non-Fungible Tokens (NFTs) deployed on Polygon Supernets. Revolutionizing the land mutation process across 27,000 acres, this will replace traditional bureaucracy with a transparent, efficient, and secure digital system. The blockchain model also facilitates fractional property ownership, opening up to 10 lakh new mutation opportunities. This innovation is poised to redefine real estate transactions, increasing accessibility while significantly reducing fraud.

This land mutation record will stimulate a highly secure digital environment with unique NFTs serving as land ownership proofs for all properties under the jurisdiction of NKDA as well as enabling lifetime tracking of concerned ownership. This solution will allow easy transfer of ownership rights for landowners by transferring the corresponding NFTs, thereby eliminating complex paperwork. It will enable digitization of proof of records as distinct NFTs, updation of NFT records in cases of transfer, recovery of records in case of loss, and will prevent evasion of mutation charges. Acquiring physical copies of these NFTs include a printout in a card format possible via any printer. The digital certificates would further contain QR codes that will allow quick and easy access after authentication.

“New Town Kolkata stands as an extraordinary project, where every land detail is exclusively managed by HIDCO, acting on behalf of the state government. This distinctive arrangement provides us with a remarkable advantage in the land market, supported by a decade’s worth of meticulously documented records. Our aim is to revolutionize the real estate sector by introducing transparency akin to the financial system, ensuring effortless transactions for the masses.

Through our partnership with Airchains, we can transform our exceptional advantage into a tangible force in the land market. Our objective is to streamline the process of buying and selling land, eliminating the inherent challenges associated with such transactions. To accomplish this, we have identified NFTs as the perfect solution, as they enable the physical tokenization of properties, simplifying the entire procedure.” Debashish Sen, IAS (NKDA Chairman)

This landmark movement towards adopting and leveraging blockchain technology in government processes demonstrates the State Government authority’s commitment to being transparent, efficient, and open to new innovations that can streamline governance while improving the life of their citizens. Traditionally, the land mutation sector is full of bureautic red tape, heavy paperwork, manual verifications, loss of documentation, potential human errors, and more. Furthermore, there are several challenges pertaining to fraudulent and unethical practices involving forgery, tampering of records, unauthorized access, evasion of tax payments, illegal transfer, etc. Therefore, utilizing the multifaceted features of distributed ledger technology has been a truly significant milestone towards augmenting the land mutation industry immensely.

“We are glad to be a part of the blockchain revolution that is steadily penetrating and disrupting a plethora of traditional sectors. The land mutation NFT model presents a real-world solution that is easily adaptable, scalable, and can seamlessly streamline an extensively complex process. With the features of immutability, transparency, easy access, and accurate tracking, this system could revolutionize the land ownership industry and can become a prime example of blockchain technology’s potential in the real world.” Ankur Rakhi Sinha, Co-founder and CEO, Airchains

“Empowering grassroots adoption of web3 technology marks a remarkable milestone for the Indian web3 sector. Our primary focus has always been on achieving widespread mainstream adoption. By collaborating with Airchains and the New Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA), we seize the opportunity to demonstrate the profound potential of blockchain technology in revolutionizing archaic systems of today.“ Sandeep Nailwal,  Co-founder, Polygon.

According to a report by NASSCOM, Web3 investments in India have totalled over  $1.3 Bn since 2020. With mass adoption and robust regulations,  Web3 business growth can add $1.1 Tn to India’s GDP by 2032. Airchains, with its easy plug and play model is enabling this ease of adoption of Web3 for large use cases across different aspects of sectors. With over 50,000 active users worldwide, the platform has processed 1.1 million transactions and received 2.1 million API requests to date. It has deployed 50,000+ smart contracts through its APIs and SDKs. The user base has experienced a remarkable growth rate of 150% over the last two quarters, highlighting the increasing demand and acceptance of the platform.

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Enables faster monetization of enterprise 5G solutions for operators, network equipment vendors, and ISVs

Persistent Systems, a global Digital Engineering provider, recently inaugurated a state-of-the-art 5G Lab to provide a testing and development environment for network functions and product development activities for operators and network equipment vendors, as well as for Communications, Media, and IoT independent software vendors (ISVs). The Lab encourages interoperability and quick deployment to achieve faster monetization of 5G solutions. It will provide a setup to test end-to-end industry use cases in multi-cloud orchestration, Open RAN, MEC, and more.

The 5G Lab in Pune, India, was inaugurated by Matt Price, Vice President of Engineering, Provider Mobility at Cisco Systems. The Lab will allow developers to conduct operator trials and integration tests. In addition, the Lab environment provides resources for quickly validating and improving interoperability and system-generated tests for pre-operator testing.

The Lab’s primary focus is to facilitate the development of products and services that can take advantage of 5G’s capabilities. It includes testing and demonstrating the ability of 5G applications to operate in a network environment that provides high-speed connectivity, low latency, and high reliability. The Lab provides a platform for 5G application providers to showcase their products and services, as well as demonstrate how 5G can enhance user experience and drive business growth.

According to a report by Juniper Research, over 80% of global operator-billed revenue is expected to be attributable to 5G connections by 2027. The report also projected that the number of 5G connections will grow to reach 3.2 billion by 2026, up from 310 million in 2020. The report further suggests that 5G network deployments will accelerate in the coming years, with more countries and service providers launching 5G networks to meet the growing demand for high-speed and low-latency services.

Persistent’s 5G Lab will unite flagship network OEMs, ISVs, and a team of experts from Persistent’s ecosystem to enable and support application providers with market-leading open-source solutions in a multi-vendor 5G test environment. The Lab supports the latest 5G-powered scenarios, including network slice management for private 5G, AI-powered closed loop autonomous network management, full stack observability, and industrial IoT. This initiative by Persistent and Cisco will enable key partners to showcase their 5G solutions and the impact of 5G on the industry.

Kuljesh Puri, Senior Vice President & General Manager – Communications, Media & Technology, Persistent:

“The primary objective of Persistent’s 5G Lab is to enable Telecom clients to achieve faster time-to-market for their 5G solutions. The cutting-edge 5G Lab will empower operators as well as network and device OEMs by providing top-tier open-source solutions that offer a multi-vendor 5G test environment. We look forward to our partnership with Cisco to drive this initiative forward.”

Matt Price, Vice President – Engineering, Provider Mobility, Cisco Systems:

“The global rollout of 5G is progressing rapidly, with the need for mMTC and uRLLC support for IoT use cases. As the demand for private 5G increases and IoT use cases become more advanced, there is a need for more innovative IoT solutions to be developed. This is where Persistent’s 5G Lab comes in, providing an end-to-end ecosystem for 5G & IoT engineering, testing, and deployment.”

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The global mobile wallet market is forecasted to expand at a stupendous CAGR of 22% from 2023 to 2033, according to the latest data provided by Fact.MR, is a provider of market research and competitive intelligence. As such, global demand for mobile wallets is estimated to reach a market value of US$ 1965 billion by the end of 2033. Increasing adoption of intelligent devices and growing penetration of the Internet are key factors projected to bolster the demand for mobile wallets.

Increasing government initiatives for the development of smart cities across various countries are predicted to drive the demand for mobile wallets for online payments. The emergence of numerous e-Commerce platforms along with rapid urbanization is also expected to contribute to market opportunities owing to the increasing adoption of mobile payments.

A mobile wallet is also a virtual wallet that can be operated easily through a smartphone to augment cost-effectiveness and operational efficiency by reducing processing fees. Easy payments are ensured by these wallets with the security of users’ data. Mobile wallets can easily complete different transactions, including money transfers, travel/movie bookings, bill payments, and mobile recharge.

For instance,

• PayPal expanded its services in numerous countries while providing facilities to customers to link their mobile wallets to their respective bank accounts and easily carry a balance.

Key Takeaways from Market Study

• The global mobile wallet market stands at a valuation of US$ 269 billion in 2023.
• Worldwide demand for mobile wallets is estimated to surge at a CAGR of 22% from 2023 to 2033.
• The global industry is forecasted to reach US$ 1965 billion by the end of 2033.
• Asia Pacific held around 30% share of the global market in the year 2022.
• Sales of proximity mobile wallets are predicted to rise at a high-value CAGR of 25% from 2023 to 2033.
• The retail & e-Commerce segment held 31% of the global revenue share in 2022.

“Different benefits of mobile wallets, including simple to load money, easy accessibility, convenience in operation, and quick fund transfer, are projected to bolster their demand over the decade,” says a Fact.MR analyst.

Cashback Services by Mobile Wallet Companies

Mobile wallet companies offer customers various provocations through cashback and discounts to attract them. Amazon Pay offers cashback to trade activities conducted through this platform. These kinds of encouragements and offers are estimated to fast breed the requirements for mobile wallets.

Banking and other payment application players are pushed by the government to encourage cashless payments through mobile wallets at merchant channels. These initiatives by the government to promote cashless and digital programs are expected to improve cybersecurity globally, stimulating the adoption of different mobile wallets.

Growing Concerns about Data Breach and Data Security

Recently, there has been a noticeable increase in incidences related to data breaches and security. Information or data are stolen from a system without any knowledge of the respective user. Thus, these types of cases are anticipated to adversely impact demand for mobile payments around the world.

Winning Strategy

Industry players are involved in mergers, acquisitions, etc., to offer more effective services and expand their footprints globally.

For instance,

PayPal Holdings, Inc., in September 2021, announced its acquisition of Paidy. The motive of this acquisition is to increase the capabilities, distribution, and relevance of PayPal in the Japanese domestic payments market. Paidy would continue to maintain its support, operate its business, and brand an extensive variety of mobile wallets.

The post Increasing Digitalization and Cashless Payments Trend Stimulating Demand for Mobile Wallets: Fact.MR Report appeared first on ELE Times.

Easy contact with the right contact person on service side

From now on, NORD DRIVESYSTEMS equips its products with QR codes. This offers numerous advantages to the customers such as direct access to their respective country organisation’s customer service.

This is service: Customers reach the right contact persons of their country organisation. The contact persons speak the customers’ mother tongue. When contacted via the system, the individually used drive solution is directly displayed on the contact persons’ monitors and they can provide competent support. In case of contact by telephone, customers must provide the serial number of their drive component.

To provide its customers with such an easy access to the service department, NORD DRIVESYSTEMS now equips its products with QR codes. “Scanning this code with your mobile forwards you to the ‘Digital services’ selection menu”, explains Jörg Niermann, Head of Marketing. Apart from direct access to the service department, customers have further options.

Navigate to documentation

Using the serial number of their drive component, they can navigate to its documentation and to a list of potential spare parts. Customers can also contact their responsible sales department or directly jump to the myNORD customer portal. The drive component’s serial number will always be pre-set and all subsequent information is linked to it.

Start with effect from the LogiMAT trade show

NORD DRIVESYSTEMS will start the QR code system with effect from the LogiMAT trade show by the end of April. Drive components with QR codes will be supplied from then on and offer the abovementioned advantages. “At the same time, we are working on further services. For example, we intend to inform our customers of digital updates for their frequency inverters via ‘Digital services’”, says Niermann.

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Every January my household, like many, undertakes the packing away of yuletide wreaths, trees, ornaments, and other holiday paraphernalia. One of the least fun of these chores is fixing strings of series-connected miniature incandescent lamps in which a filament has opened up, the internal filament-bypass device has failed to work, and a whole array of 50 or 100 lights has consequently winked out. This of course leaves the open-circuit-culprit visually indistinguishable from its innocent unpowered siblings. There aren’t many activities as well-calculated to dampen any lingering holiday cheer, and promote its Grinchy opposite, as having to do several of these frustrating haystack/needle searches.

Wow the engineering world with your unique design: Design Ideas Submission Guide

The festive failed filament finder (FFFF) design idea seeks to ease the annual pain by speedily sniffing out defective bulbs (and/or their sockets and wiring) by capacitively sensing the electric fields they produce. See Figure 1.

Figure 1 Failed filament finder circuit that capacitively senses the electric fields defective filament bulbs produce.

To understand how the FFFF works, consider a string of bulbs with an open-circuited filament as depicted. Intact filaments on either side of the burned-out bulb complete continuous circuits from the AC plug all the way around to opposite ends of the broken filament. The AC voltage differential between wires leading to any intact bulb is zero, because current flow through the broken string is zero. But the differential between the connections to the defective bulb will be the full 120 Vrms. The presence of 120 VAC on a wire produces large electrostatic fields that are easily detected through air and plastic insulation. The high-impedance CMOS inputs of “XOR” U1 can do just that.

Resistors R1 and R2, in addition to delivering operating power to the circuit, effectively suspend U1 midway between the AC supply rails. Thus, equal-amplitude (170 Vp-p) but opposite-phase voltage differentials will exist between U1 and both AC rails. R4 and C1 reference U1 pin 2 to AC “hot”, while R3 and the “Test” electrode are used to capacitively probe the voltages present in the wires of the bulb string. U1 then performs as a phase-sensitive detector of those AC voltages.

Suppose the FFFF Test electrode is held close to point A. Because A is continuous with the “neutral” rail, the signals at U1’s inputs will have opposing phases. One input will be high (logic one) whenever the other is low (logic zero). This causes XOR U1 to hold pin 3 high, so the three noninverting buffer elements do likewise to their output pins, and D2 glows. If the probe is moved to points B or C, the same phase relationship will persist and D2 will still glow. But if the probe is brought near D, the sensed phase will reverse because the circuit break lies between D and the neutral rail.

Consequently, “hot” phase voltage is induced in the probe. Pin 3 will therefore go low, extinguishing D2, lighting D1, thus pointing the fickle finger of fate at the offending filament. The defective lamp can then be “merrily” replaced.

In actual use, when the bad-bulb search is commenced, the initial phase relationship will be arbitrary, so either D1 or D2 may glow. In either case, it’s the sudden change in which LED is lit as the probe is moved along the string that indicates when the broken filament has been found.

A word about voltage detector pens.

An alternative method for fixing defective decorative light strings (several instructional YouTube videos exist that promote it) involves non-contact voltage detector “pens” to find where in the string AC voltage is present, where it is not, and use this information to infer the location of a bad bulb. In the videos this method seems to work well. However, in said videos the string being tested is invariably conveniently stretched out on a countertop with the wires separated and easily identified as to where they fall in the connection sequence from plug to bulb to bulb. This allows an amplitude-sensitive voltage probe to be selectively brought near a chosen wire without undue interference from other wires.

Unfortunately, many real life light string repair scenarios involve strings permanently installed into decorations like trees and wreaths. This prevents free access and the following of interconnections, making testing more difficult and indications from an amplitude-sensitive probe ambiguous. This largely defeats the utility of such probes in this context. Cue the Grinch!

The phase-sensitive detection method utilized by the FFFF, by contrast, is much less vulnerable to confusion from, and works in spite of, these complications.

Stephen Woodward’s relationship with EDN’s DI column goes back quite a long way. In all, a total of 64 submissions have been accepted since his first contribution was published in 1974.

 Related Content

• CMOS flip-flop used “off label” implements precision capacitance sensor
• Preventing deformed light-bulb filaments
• Hot resistance versus cold resistance
• Incandescent lamps and service life

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Cadmium telluride (CdTe) thin-film photovoltaic (PV) module maker First Solar Inc of Tempe, AZ, USA says that Capital Power Corp of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada – which builds, owns and operates 29 utility-scale generation facilities across North America including renewables and thermal – has secured its first order for about 1GWDC of thin-film solar modules. For delivery between 2026 and 2028, the Series 6 Plus modules will support Capital Power’s growing development portfolio...

AAEON’s latest Mini-ITX offering comes with superior power, expandability, and flexibility in deployment.

AAEON, a leading producer of industrial motherboards, has released the MIX-Q670D1, a low-profile, expandable Mini-ITX motherboard supporting both 12th and 13th Generation Intel Core processors.

Despite its low 18.3mm vertical profile, the MIX-Q670D1 is compatible with 21 CPUs across the 12th and 13th Generation Intel Core lines, and can support CPUs up to 65W. Powered by a 12V DC input, the MIX-Q670D1 offers a considerably higher maximum single-core frequency of 5.2 GHz when compared to the 3.0 GHz provided by previous DC-powered Mini-ITX boards.

Due to its low profile, AAEON have stated the MIX-Q670D1 would be suitable for applications that require a solution that can fit into tight spaces while still retaining a diverse set of interfaces compatible with the integration of cameras, sensors, and other peripheral devices. To this end, the MIX-Q670D1 is equipped with a minimalist physical port layout consisting of four USB 3.2 Gen 2 and two GbE LAN ports, alongside audio line-out.

Keeping the board slim while maintaining advanced functionality, the MIX-Q670D1 is equipped with an extensive set of internal connectors, including two pin headers for four USB 2.0, two COM port box headers, and an AAFP header for high-definition audio. With this configuration, the MIX-Q670D1 can take advantage of peripheral devices according to application needs, without taking up physical port space.

The MIX-Q670D1 offers five display interfaces, coming primarily from vertical onboard ports in the form of two HDMI 2.0 and two DP 1.2 ports each capable of 4K resolution at 60Hz. However, the board also contains an internal 40-pin LVDs/eDP connector which AAEON have retained to make the board suited to deployment in slimline panel PC solutions. With this layout, the MIX-Q670D1 offers up to four simultaneous 4K displays which can be configured across its five display options to suit application requirements.

A variety of expansion options are available thanks to the MIX-Q670D1’s M.2 2232 E-Key and M.2 3042/52 B-Key slots, which provide AI and 5G module support. AAEON believes this combination of wireless connectivity, AI support, and high processing power ensure the board can bring edge AI computing capabilities to a range of deployment settings.

For storage, the MIX-Q670D1 is equipped with an M.2 2280 M-Key slot and dual SATA III with Intel® VMD support for the installation of performance-boosted NVMe and PCIe modules.

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Renesas Electronics Corp of Tokyo, Japan has executed a wafer supply agreement and $2bn deposit to secure a 10-year supply commitment of silicon carbide bare and epitaxial wafers from Wolfspeed Inc of Durham, NC, USA, which makes silicon carbide materials as well as silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN) power-switching & RF semiconductor devices. The supply deal will pave the way for Renesas to scale production of silicon carbide power semiconductors starting in 2025. The signing ceremony was held at Renesas’ headquarters in Tokyo between Renesas’ president & CEO Hidetoshi Shibata and Wolfspeed’s president & CEO Gregg Lowe...

Crescent Lighting, India’s leading vertically integrated LED lighting manufacturing company, with its product line of lighting solutions for residential, commercial, industrial, architectural, indoor, and outdoor spaces have exclusively got the patent for two of their innovations, the RAW LED Street Light and newly launched RAW LED Flood Light. The CRS70 – RAW – LED Street Light DESIGN NO – 378535-001 is revolutionizing the way Street Lights are used for various applications and the CRF90 – RAW – LED Flood Light DESIGN NO – 378310-001 is a cutting-edge lighting solution designed to provide exceptional brightness, energy efficiency, and durability.

Crescent Lighting is a pioneer in the lighting industry, dedicated to revolutionizing the way we illuminate our world. Their RAW LED Street Light- CRS70 and RAW LED Flood Light- CRF90 use advanced LED technology to showcase their commitment to innovation and excellence in the lighting industry. The RAW LED Flood Light is a best-seller and a proud Make in India creation, setting new standards for superior performance. With cutting-edge technology, this flood light ensures not only exceptional brightness but also long-lasting durability and reliability. It is built to withstand the test of time and provide a consistent, high-quality lighting experience.

The RAW LED Street Light- CRS70 is the first of its kind in India and utilizes PC (polycarbonate) material to deliver exceptional performance. It sets a new standard in energy efficiency and longevity, paving the way for a brighter and more sustainable future.

Crescent Lighting’s RAW LED Flood Light- CRF90 and RAW LED Street Light are two products that demonstrate their commitment to innovation and high-quality materials. The RAW LED Flood Light- CRF90 features PC material and a polycarbonate anti-corrosive cradle, while the RAW LED Street Light features a Polycarbonate fixture with an IP65 rating. The RAW LED Street Light is a reliable and energy-efficient solution for illuminating streets and public spaces, enhancing safety and visibility for pedestrians and vehicles alike. It has sold over 1 million units nationwide. Both the RAW LED Flood Light and the RAW LED Street Light exemplify Crescent Lighting’s dedication to delivering innovative and reliable lighting solutions that meet the diverse needs of its customers.

Crescent lighting’s products are well-known for their exceptional energy economic performance, with up to 80% energy savings without compromising lighting performance. The company’s products have a long-life span, lasting up to 50,000 hours based on LM80 certification, and are environmentally friendly, including no UV/IR, mercury, or other dangerous elements. They are simple to install, need little maintenance, and have a better lumen effectiveness, producing 10% more lumens than competing brands. Speaking on the new innovation, Mr. Ankur Mehta, Founder and Chairman, Crescent Lighting said, “As the market leader in lighting solutions, we are proud to introduce our exclusive ‘Make in India’ innovation, the CRF90 – RAW – LED Flood Light and the CRS70 – LED Street Light. These cutting-edge products, manufactured locally, combines unparalleled brightness, energy efficiency, and durability. With its natural and uniform illumination, the RAW LED Flood Light and the RAW Street Light provide a lighting experience that is truly exceptional. We are excited to offer this groundbreaking solution, setting new standards in outdoor lighting and empowering our customers to achieve their lighting goals with efficiency, sustainability, and support for local manufacturing.”

Crescent Lighting is known for its diverse product range, which includes LED panel lights, junction box lights, COB spotlights, LED office lights, bulkheads, floodlights, streetlights, highway lights, ceiling lights, picture and mirror lights, spotlights, track lights, wall lights, foot lights, SMD strip and rope lights, lighting accessories, high-quality drivers and SMPS, and smart lights. In addition to being well-made of premium, non-yellowing, and non-brittle polycarbonate material for a longer lifespan, Crescent Lighting’s products are also beautifully designed. The company produces long-lasting goods using cutting-edge LED technology, effective heat dissipation systems, and reduced light depreciation than competitors.  They are made to fit Indian climatic conditions and have stronger safety standards than other brands.

The company’s products have been utilized in a variety of industries, including infrastructure, manufacturing, retail, hospitality, healthcare, and education. Crescent Lighting is well-positioned to become India’s premier LED lighting company due to its emphasis on innovation, quality, and customer happiness. The company’s commitment to offering efficient lighting solutions for various applications, together with its knowledge and experience, makes it the go-to choose for consumers who seek the finest lighting solutions.

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Infineon Technologies AG and the Austrian product compliance company Kontrol are entering into a strategic partnership to make the future of mobility as both legally compliant and safe as possible. In the field of autonomous driving, legal requirements, standards, norms, and court rulings still pose major challenges for all market players. For authorities and vehicle registration services, the challenge is to find a safe and cost-efficient approach to autonomous driving licensing in public transport, typically in the form of laws and technologies.

Kontrol translates and digitalizes complex legal regulations and relevant road traffic standards and regulations into machine-readable language. The company’s KoPilot technology checks whether the integrated driver assistance functions are performing in accordance with the law. The concept of Infineon’s AURIX microcontroller family with its compatibility and scalability in terms of the processor core, package, safety, and peripherals enables a simple upgrade path. This allows Infineon and Kontrol to provide necessary regulatory updates for their customers at any time, thus ensuring road safety in line with current standards. Together, the two companies can safely integrate the digital driver’s license for autonomous vehicles into intelligent driver assistance systems.

“The software technology from our ecosystem partner Kontrol implemented on the dependable AURIX microcontroller architecture is a step forward to enhance the trust in autonomous driving technology by a deterministic, algorithm-based solution which is able to offer legal based, regulatory boundary conditions for vehicles on the road,” said Lars Wemme, Vice President ADAS, Chassis & EE-Architecture at Infineon.

“We are very pleased to have a strong partner at our side who trusts in our technology and believes in the future of autonomous driving,” said Andreas Lauringer, CEO and co-founder of Kontrol. “With Infineon as the world’s leading expert in automotive semiconductors, together we can make tomorrow’s mobility safer.”

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Rohde & Schwarz has partnered with MediaTek to verify the first NTN NB-IoT protocol conformance test cases according to 3GPP 36.523-1 on MediaTek’s NTN IoT capable MT6825 chipset. This achievement sets the course for NTN device conformity approval – a significant step in bringing next-generation IoT devices based on non-terrestrial networks (NTN) to the market and enabling ubiquitous connectivity on land, at sea, and in the air.

With the successful validation of the industry’s first protocol conformance test cases for 3GPP Rel. 17 NTN NB-IoT, Rohde & Schwarz and MediaTek accelerate adoption of non-terrestrial network-based IoT use cases spanning multiple sectors such as smartphone, consumer, automotive, agriculture, maritime, logistics, and mining. The release and development of these test cases is a major stepping stone for future device certification mandated by industry committees such as GCF and PTCRB.

This first release of NTN NB-IoT protocol test cases is based on 3GPP RAN#5 specifications delivered by ETSI task force MCC160. In detail, the test cases verify the changes of MAC, RLC, and NAS layers, focusing on the device’s ability to transmit GNSS data efficiently, manage multiple TACs, utilize Rel. 17 extended treordering, deliver accurate NAS reject causes and responses, handle HARQ within the NTN context under varying DRX configurations, and accurately interpret timing advance from SIB31 contents.

Rohde & Schwarz has extended its market-leading NB-IoT solution with 3GPP Release 17 NTN features to provide the ecosystem with R&D, production, and conformance testing functions. The protocol conformance test cases were developed using the R&S CMW500 radio communication tester, which allows engineers to assess their NTN NB-IoT devices under realistic conditions, establishing a real-time, comprehensive connection with the simulated satellite network and testing the relevant signaling and RF scenarios in line with the 3GPP Release 17 specification. The test solution emulates geosynchronous orbit (GSO) and geostationary orbit (GEO) as well as low earth orbit (LEO) constellations. It helps engineers to verify NTN device challenges like time and frequency synchronization due to prolonged delay and Doppler effect, low Signal-to-Interference-plus-Noise Ratio (SINR), power saving mechanisms, satellite ephemerides, and GNSS acquisition, to name just a few of the core features.

Over the past year, Rohde & Schwarz has collaborated with leading chipset vendors and developed extensive test cases for R&D validation of NTN NB-IoT Rel. 17 features.

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The Finance Ministry of India announces a huge reduction in GST for electronics items on the sixth anniversary of the GST implementation on 1st July.

The Union Finance Ministry recently made an announcement regarding a reduction in Goods and Services Tax (GST) on the purchase of electronic items. This decision aims to provide relief to customers and make these purchases more affordable. On the 6th anniversary of the implementation of GST, the government released a list of items that will have reduced GST rates.

Previously, customers had to pay a GST of 31.3 percent on electronic items such as TVs up to 27 inches, refrigerators, washing machines, geysers, fans, coolers, and electrical appliances like mixers, juicers, and vacuum cleaners. However, the new list lowers the GST rates on these items to 18 percent.

Furthermore, the GST rate on mobile phones has been reduced from 31.3 percent to 12 percent. Consequently, mobile phone companies will also decrease the prices of their products.

The implementation of GST laws by the central government on July 1, 2017, was a significant milestone in streamlining India’s tax system. It replaced the complex network of taxes with a simplified framework consisting of distinct tax slabs of 5 percent, 12 percent, 18 percent, and 28 percent for goods and services.

In other news, the gross goods and services tax (GST) revenue collection in India for the month of June reached Rs 1,61,497 crore, showing a 12 percent increase compared to the revenue collected in the same month last year, according to the Ministry of Finance. The gross GST revenue collected in June 2023 includes CGST of Rs 31,013 crore, SGST of Rs 38,292 crore, IGST of Rs 80,292 crore (including Rs 39,035 crore collected on import of goods), and cess of Rs 11,900 crore (including Rs 1,028 crore collected on import of goods). The government has settled Rs 36,224 crore to CGST and Rs 30,269 crore to SGST from IGST. After the regular settlement, the total revenue for the Centre and the States in June 2023 is Rs 67,237 crore for CGST and Rs 68,561 crore for SGST.

This marks the fourth time that gross GST collection has crossed the Rs 1.60 lakh crore mark. The average monthly gross GST collection for the first quarter of FY22, FY23, and FY24 is reported as Rs 1.10 lakh crore, Rs 1.51 lakh crore, and Rs 1.69 lakh crore, respectively.

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Silicon Carbide technology is widely used in semiconductor material which are easy to fabricate and provides good general electrical and mechanical properties. However, it can also be used to create advanced microprocessors but in simple diodes. By using silicon carbide subtracts in semiconductor fabs, STMicroelectronics has signed a multi-year supply agreement with ZF for Silicon Carbide devices.

STMicroelectronics is a leading global semiconductor company that is serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications. The company creates innovative technologies that bring an important contribution to Silicon Carbide devices. 

To talk about more on Silicon Carbide devices coming up with the collaboration of ZF and STMicroelectronics, Sakshi Jain, Sr. Sub Editor-ELE Times had an opportunity to interact with Gianfranco Di Marco, Marketing Communication Manager – Power Transistor Sub-Group, STMicroelectronics- Excerpts. 

ELE Times: Enumerate the terms and details of the deal between technology group ZF and STMicroelectronics for the purchase of silicon carbide devices from ST.

Gianfranco Di Marco: STMicroelectronics and ZF have signed a significant, multi-year, supply agreement for ST to supply ZF in the order of tens of millions of silicon carbide (SiC) devices from 2025. These devices will be third-generation ST 1200V SiC MOSFETs in the STPAK package.

(STPAK is a high-creepage package by ST that allows mounting on heatsinks through a silver sintering process. It enables higher power delivery, easier scaling, and better long-term reliability).

ELE Times: How important is the deal for STMicroelectronics with ZF signing a multi-year-supply-agreement for silicon carbide devices?

Gianfranco Di Marco: ST pioneered the first automotive grade SiC MOSFETs in 2016, and today we lead the market with an estimated market share above 50% and more than 5 million passenger cars implementing ST SiC devices. In addition to enabling greater range in e-mobility applications, ST third generation SiC technology is driving increased efficiency, performance, and reliability in sustainable energy applications like solar inverters and energy storage, as well as in industrial motor drives and power supplies. The key to success in electric vehicle technology is greater scalability and modularity with increased efficiency, peak power, and affordability. Our STPAK equipped with our silicon carbide technologies deliver these benefits and we are proud to work with ZF, a leading automotive supplier for electrification, to help them differentiate and optimize the performance of their inverters.

ELE Times: List the technology and technical specifications of silicon carbide technology and devices to be integrated in ZF’s new modular inverter architecture.

Gianfranco Di Marco: In ST, ZF found a supplier with the necessary manufacturing capabilities and capacities to produce exceptionally high-quality silicon carbide devices in the required quantities thanks to our investments in building a fully integrated supply chain complemented by long-term wafer-supply agreements. ZF will integrate the modules from STMicroelectronics into its new modular inverter architecture, which will commence series production from 2025. With these devices, ZF will be able to interconnect a varying number of ST modules in their inverters according performance requirements, without changing the intrinsic design of the inverter.

ELE Times: Mention ST’s capability and USP of manufacturing silicon carbide and packaging of the chips. Also mention about the manufacturing facilities.

Gianfranco Di Marco: ST high-volume STPOWER SiC products are manufactured in front-end fabs in Italy and Singapore, with back-end fabs in Morocco and China. Our SiC ecosystem also includes substrate research, development, and manufacturing in Italy and Sweden. In October, ST announced the expansion of our wide-bandgap manufacturing capacity with a new integrated SiC substrate manufacturing facility in Catania (Italy). The new facility is the first of its kind in Europe and is integral to our objective of achieving 40% internal substrate sourcing by 2024. ST is working on industrializing 200mm substrates, leveraging both engineering in Norrköping (Sweden) and the 200mm production line for SiC devices in Catania (Italy). ST is also cooperating with a technology partner, Soitec [Bernin (France)], to ensure a second qualified source of 200mm SmartSiC substrates, in addition to ensuring a robust internal supply. The collaboration with Soitec and their SmartSiC technology aims to advance SiC substrate technology and develop significant performance improvements that ST can deploy in high volume manufacturing. A final supply agreement will be subject to the qualification phase of the technology by ST and Soitec.

ELE Times: How do you list the benefits of using silicon carbide technologies across automotive and industrial sectors?

Gianfranco Di Marco: Power devices based on silicon carbide offer higher voltage and frequency capabilities than conventional silicon devices, allowing greater system efficiency, faster switching, lower losses, and better thermal management. In final applications, these advantages translate into smaller and lighter power designs featuring higher power density. SiC-based power devices can operate at up to 200°C junction temperature (limited only by the package), which reduces cooling requirements and allows more compact, more reliable, and more robust solutions. Existing designs can incorporate the performance and efficiency benefits of SiC devices without major changes, allowing fast development turnaround while keeping the BOM to a minimum.

SiC for automotive sector. SiC power devices find application in critical power systems inside electric vehicles, including traction inverters, on-board chargers, and in DC-DC conversion stages. They also provide significant efficiency gains in charging stations. SiC devices offer the following advantages over silicon for automotive and eMobility applications in general:

• 6-10% greater driving range in an average electric vehicle
• 150 to 200 kg less weight in an average electric vehicle
• Double the energy from charging stations.
• Longer battery lifetime

SiC for industrial sector. SiC devices benefit industrial motors, robots, and various other factory automation systems, as well as power supplies for servers and solar energy conversion systems. For industrial contexts, SiC devices can deliver the following advantages:

• Major power loss reduction, even up to 50%
• Ability to run at up to five times greater frequencies.
• Significant system size and weight reduction, as high as 50%
• Total cost of ownership reduction, as high as 20%

The post STMicroelectronics – ZF multi-year supply agreement for SiC technology will help drive increased efficiency, performance, and reliability in sustainable energy applications appeared first on ELE Times.

Onsemi, in partnership with Unikie and CoreHW, has released an application note on an end-to-end positioning system for precise, low-power asset tracking.

Understanding PCB material parameters such as relative permittivity and loss tangent allows us to discuss some important considerations for choosing the right material when designing a high-speed/high-frequency application.

Asia-Pacific is a leading and significant market in the thermocouple industry. With schemes like “Make in India” becoming a reality, India has taken center stage in the electronic industry. We are witnessing a rampant expansion of manufacturing units in the country, following the heavy influx of investments from both local and global players. 

Top 10 Thermocouple Companies in India

We have curated a list of the top 10 thermocouple companies in India that are highly trusted and reliable.

Precision Mass

Precision Mass Products Private Limited founded in 1967, is a leading manufacturer of highly robust pressure and temperature measurement instruments in India. They also represent the pioneers in pressure and temperature measurements – Ashcroft in India. Precision has a solid client base with companies like – Bharat Petroleum, Emerson, NTPC, Toshiba, BHEL, etc. Their comprehensive product line includes- Pressure Gauge, Differential Pressure Gauge, Diaphragm Seals, Pressure Transmitters, Temperature Gauges, Thermocouple, and related accessories. Precision offers two types of thermocouples-

• TCH H and S Type Thermocouples

Accuracy – Class 1 & Class 2

Ranges – 200 up to 1200 degrees Celsius, -325 up to 2200-degree Fahrenheit

Accessories – Thermowell, head-mounted transmitters, etc.

• TCW Thermocouples

Accuracy – Class 1 & Class 2

Ranges – 200 up to 1200 degrees Celsius, -325 up to 2200-degree Fahrenheit

Accessories – Thermowell, Weld-Ped, Connectors, etc. 

Nutronics India

Nutronics was established in 1991 and is among the top 5 temperature controller manufacturing companies in India. Nutronics is considered to be the most trusted and reliable company in its domain. Their range of products is highly robust and precise and consists of – digital temperature controllers, thermocouple accessories and components, digital temperature indicators, process control instruments, on-off/cyclic timers, etc.

Tempsens Instruments Private Limited

Tempsens Instruments is part of Pyrotech Group and was established in 1976. Tempsens deals in the following thermal and cable products-

• Contact Temperature Sensors and Accessories – thermocouples, resistance temperature detectors, thermowell, gauges, temperature calibrators
• Infrared Temperature Sensors – Pyrometers, thermal imager, human body temperature measurement
• Heating Solutions – process heaters, component heaters, furnace heaters, laboratory heaters, industrial furnaces, lab furnaces
• Wires and Cables

Tempsens provides services of calibration and consultancy and works across industries like – glass, cement, steel, petrochemical, and pharmaceuticals. 

General Instruments

A leading engineering solution provider for pressure, temperature, level, and flow instruments, General has been a pioneer in instrumentation since 1966. General provides process-oriented engineering product solutions and is serving petrochemicals, refineries, fertilizers, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, cement, power and energy, and other process industries. General also exports its products in the regions- South East Asia, the Middle East, Africa, Australia, Europe, and the USA. Let us look at the wide-ranging products-

•  Pressure – Pressure Gauges, Pressure Switches
•  Temperature – Temperature Gauges, Temperature Switches, Thermowells
•  Level – Level Gauges, Level Switches, Level Transmitter
•  Flow- Flow Nozzles, Venturi Tubes, Averaging Pilot Tube
•  Instrumentation Valves – Needle Valves, Monoflange Valves, Ball Valves, etc.

SRI Electronics

Based in Bangalore, SRI Electronics is an ISO – 9001:2015 (Quality Management System) and Udyam Registration-certified company. They deal in a wide range of electronic instrumentation and automation products. They have a tight supply network across India ruling the major industrial hubs – Bangalore, Chennai, Mumbai, Pune, Coimbatore, Tirupur, Hyderabad, Surat, Ahmedabad, Kolkata, New Delhi etc. SRI is among the top players in the thermocouple market and supplies its products to major textile mills, fabric industries, industrial automation firms, electronic product manufacturers, and automobile industries. Let us also look at SRI’s product portfolio-

•  Inductive Type Proximity Sensors
•  Connective Type Sensors
•  Supply Relay Unit
•  Optical Sensors
•  RPM Indicator
•  Digital Timer
•  DC Drive
•  Digital Tachometer

Aavad Instrument

With 13+ years in, 2100+ clients, 12+ exporting countries, and 15M+ successful installations, Aavad Instrument has done some ground-breaking work in the field of instrumentation and electronic products manufacturing. Looking at its clientele – Maruti Suzuki, Sintex, Torrent Pharma, Piramal Glass, Kohler, Gail (India) Ltd., Indian Oil, BHEL, Aditya Birla, Adani, Malabar Cements Ltd, are some of the prominent ones. Aavad has major supplies in these industries – chemical, food and dairy, pharmaceuticals, cement, glass, power plant, automobile, textile, ceramic, metal/steel, engineering, plastic and rubber, oil, gas, petroleum, fertilizers, and agriculture. Let us look at Aavad’s popular product portfolio-

•  Electromagnetic Flow Meter
•  Ceramic Tube Thermocouple
•  Thermowell
•  Pressure Gauge
•  Temperature Gauge
•  Head Type RTD Sensor
•  Head Type Thermocouple

Ajmer Thermotech Pvt. Ltd.  

Ajmer Thermotech is among the pioneers in temperature sensing instruments like – thermocouples, RTD, thermowell, temperature indicators, and temperature controllers. They are among the leading suppliers to the following industries- iron and steel, ceramic plants, glass, power looms, laboratories, cement, heat treatment, thermal powerplants, foundries, refractory, fertilizers, Petrochemicals, etc. Their range of thermocouples has extensive application in pharma incinerators, heat treatment, marine, rolling mills, thermal power plants, stove domes, foundries, and automobiles.  

Quantum Instruments and Solutions

Established in 2007, Quantum is a prominent manufacturer, supplier, and exporter of digital controllers and electronic instruments. Their export business is spread across Australia, North Europe, the Middle East, South America, and South East Asia. They are known for their high-caliber products with dimensional accuracy. Quantum’s extensive range of products includes – temperature instruments, automation products, thermocouple and RTD instruments, pressure instruments, programmable logic controllers, thermocouple and instrumentation cables, and calibrators. Let us look at the range of thermocouple and RTD instruments provided by Quantum – 

• High-temperature thermocouple sensors
• Indoor and outdoor RTD temperature probes
• Spring-loaded thermocouple probes
• Thermocouple sensors and assemblies
• Mineral insulated thermocouple
• Industrial thermocouple sensors
• Thermocouple for molten aluminum applications

Radix Electrosystems

Radix was established in 1980 and is a premium manufacturer of process control instrumentation products like- PIDs, controllers, T & DP products, FLP products, transmitters, isolators, thermocouples, RTDs, validation ports, level products, control panels, pressure and temperature gauges, door interlock systems, wireless products, etc. They deal with 2000+ customers across industries like- pharmaceuticals, chemicals, food and dairy, steel, automotive, tire, etc. They are specialists in signal conditioning and signal isolation and have also implemented Building Management Systems and SCADA in many major pharma companies. Radix’s clients include- Dr. Reddy’s, JSW Steel, BHUSHAN, Electrolux, Siemens, BHEL, Pfizer, TATA, Sun Pharma, P&G, Mother Dairy, etc. 

Thermo Electric Company India Private Limited

Established in 1941, Thermo Electric is leading the Indian thermocouple market with 80+ years of expertise in temperature measurement solutions. They provide highly trusted services in calibration, testing, engineering, and site services. Their temperature solutions include- immersion, industrial solutions, thermocouples, RTDs, wafer sensors, surface mounts, etc. Thermo’s extensive client base includes- Siemens, Apple, Applied Materials, B&W, Ford, Honeywell, Equister, Boeing, etc. 

The post Top 10 Thermocouple Companies in India appeared first on ELE Times.

What we today call the golden mean was known in antiquity. It is a specific ratio of lengths between two line segments. Ancient architects often used this ratio to achieve visually pleasing esthetic effects.

Please see this Wikipedia article on the golden mean. 

Even today, graphic presentations with width to height ratios made equal or nearly equal to the golden mean can lead to less stressful user viewing. For example, the 16:9 aspect ratio of the modern television screen is a ratio of 1.777…which as we shall see below is fairly close to the golden mean value.

With reference to two line segments called “a” and “b”, derivation of the golden mean goes along the following lines as shown in Figure 1. (Yes, that was a pun.)

Figure 1 Derivation of the golden mean with reference to two line segments called “a” and “b”. Source: John Dunn

Now take a look at the Wikipedia article on Fibonacci.

Fibonacci, was born in Pisa c.1170 and died in Pisa c.1240-50, was an Italian mathematician who introduced a mathematical concept we today call the Fibonacci series that goes like this (Figure 2):

Figure 2 The Fibonacci series is an infininite series beginning with the numbers 0 and 1 where each number is the sum of the two preceding numbers. Source: John Dunn

The increasing numbers in the Fibonacci series increase by the same algorithm as the segment lengths increase as shown in the golden mean derivation.

Since the square root of five is an irrational number, the golden mean is also an irrational number. Since the numbers in the Fibonacci series are all integers, the ratios of each number to the number immediately before can never exactly equal the golden mean, but as those numbers get larger and larger with greater quantities of significant digits with which to find their division ratios, those ratios do converge on the golden mean.  

It is a tribute to Fibonacci himself that he is honored and his work is still remembered after eight centuries.

John Dunn is an electronics consultant, and a graduate of The Polytechnic Institute of Brooklyn (BSEE) and of New York University (MSEE).

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The post Fibonacci and the golden mean appeared first on EDN.

NexGen Power Systems Inc of Santa Clara, CA, USA – which was founded in 2017 to design and manufacture proprietary power conversion devices using patented Vertical GaN (gallium nitride) technologies – says that its collaborative project with General Motors had been awarded funding by the US Department of Energy (DoE) for the development of electric drive systems using its Vertical GaN semiconductors. The joint development project aims to enhance the efficiency, performance and overall sustainability of electric vehicles and intends to focus on power electronics design, motor integration, thermal management and system-level optimization for electric drive systems...

Gallium nitride (GaN) power IC and silicon carbide (SiC) technology firm Navitas Semiconductor of Torrance, CA, USA and Plexim GmbH of Zurich, Switzerland, which provides design and testing tools for the power conversion industry, have partnered to release GeneSiC G3 SiC MOSFET and Gen 5 MPS diode PLECS thermal loss models for highly accurate simulations of complete power electronics systems...

AXT Inc of Fremont, CA, USA – which makes gallium arsenide (GaAs), indium phosphide (InP) and germanium (Ge) substrates and raw materials – has addressed the potential impact of the announcement of China’s new export control regulations on gallium- and germanium-related materials, which take effect on 1 August...