Збирач потоків

According to Infineon, the AIROC ACW741x family of tri-radio SoCs features the first 20-MHz Wi-Fi 7 device designed for IoT applications. The device also integrates Bluetooth LE 6.0 with channel sounding, IEEE 802.15.4 Thread connectivity, and support for the Matter ecosystem—all in a compact QFN package.

Wi-Fi 7’s support for 20-MHz channel widths represents a meaningful expansion beyond conventional high-speed applications, especially for IoT devices. This enables lower power consumption, smaller form factors, and more reliable connectivity across a wider range of devices.

“With the recent extension of Wi-Fi Certified 7 capabilities to 20 MHz-only devices, Wi-Fi Alliance will deliver the benefits of Wi-Fi 7 for new device categories, enabling the next wave of IoT innovation across smart home, industrial, and healthcare settings,” said Kevin Robinson, CEO, Wi-Fi Alliance. The introduction of 20-MHz Wi-Fi 7 IoT solutions, such as those being introduced by Infineon, will unlock widespread Wi-Fi 7 adoption across the IoT market.”

The ACW741x supports Wi-Fi 7 multi-link operation (MLO), which enhances link reliability through adaptive band switching to reduce congestion and interference. By maintaining concurrent connections across 2.4-GHz, 5-GHz, and 6-GHz bands, Wi-Fi 7 multi-link for IoT provides a more consistent, always-connected experience for devices such as security cameras, video doorbells, alarm systems, medical equipment, and HVAC systems.

Integrated wireless sensing capabilities give smart IoT devices greater contextual awareness and allow them to share intelligence with other devices on the same network. Compared with other IoT Wi-Fi products, the ACW741x delivers up to 15× lower standby power consumption, extending battery life.

The ACW741x family is sampling now, along with hardware and software development kits.

ACW741x product page 

Infineon Technologies 

The post SoC unlocks 20-MHz Wi-Fi 7 for smart IoT appeared first on EDN.

The Keysight AI Software Integrity Builder enables rigorous validation and lifecycle maintenance of AI-enabled systems to ensure trustworthiness. As AI development grows in complexity, the software delivers transparent, adaptable, and data-driven assurance tailored for safety-critical applications, including automotive systems.

The decision-making behavior of AI models, especially deep neural networks, is difficult to interpret, complicating the identification of dataset limitations and model failure modes. Regulatory frameworks, including ISO/PAS 8800 for automotive AI and the EU AI Act, require demonstrable explainability and validation without defining clear implementation methods.

AI Software Integrity Builder delivers a unified, lifecycle-based framework that provides regulatory evidence and supports continuous AI model improvement. Unlike fragmented toolchains, it integrates dataset analysis, model validation, real-world inference testing, and continuous monitoring. This enables validation of both learned behavior and operational performance for high-risk applications such as autonomous driving.

To learn more about the Keysight AI Software Integrity Builder (AX1000A) and request a quote, visit the product page linked below.

AX1000A product page

Keysight Technologies  

The post Software proves AI behavior in high-risk systems appeared first on EDN.

Two transmissive sensors from Vishay—the single-channel VT171P and dual-channel VT172U—feature a dome height that is 42% greater than that of previous-generation industrial devices. Housed in a 5.5×4×5.7 mm surface-mount package, the sensors increase mechanical design flexibility and provide additional vertical headroom for large code wheels in turn-and-push configurations.

The VT171P integrates an infrared emitter and phototransistor detector for motion and speed sensing, while the VT172U adds a second phototransistor to also enable direction detection. Both sensors operate at a wavelength of 950 nm and deliver a typical output current of 1.5 mA, with typical rise and fall times of 14 µs and 21 µs, respectively. They feature a 3-mm gap width and 0.3-mm apertures.

With a moisture sensitivity level (MSL) of 1, the VT171P and VT172U offer unlimited floor life. The sensors are suited for latches, simple encoders, and switches in industrial, consumer, telecommunication, and healthcare applications.

Samples and production quantities are available now, with lead times of 10 weeks.

VT171P product page 

VT172U product page 

Vishay Intertechnology 

The post Transmissive sensors increase vertical headroom appeared first on EDN.

Well ain't AI getting good. I'm in this project deeper than my own knowledge could've taken me. I'm working on a non running dirt bike I just bought with no spark. Chat GPT helped me go through the entire electrical system until we zeroed in on the ECU by eliminating everything else, and found the exact transistor that went bad. The ignition coil driver, (on the right with the little purple mark on it.) At logic level, it looks like it's still working. It still switches, but it's rated for 15A continuous and its only able to sink enough current to barely illuminate an LED. That's not gonna drive an ignition coil. So I'm gonna try to replace it with a better one and see if I can find out why it failed, to hopefully prevent it happening again. I've done similar jobs on guitar amps before, but never a computer. I don't know if you can tell, but you're not supposed to be able to work on these things. It's been a bit of a lesson in archeology, unearthing this thing. Fortunately the potting compound is quite soft and tears/slices pretty easily, and, though it took a few hours, I've been able to remove it easily enough with a knife and my thumbnails. Fun little project. If I can manage to fix it for the $2.50 of a new transistor, and maybe a couple resistors, awesome. If not, well it's technically scrap in it's current state, anyway, and definitely worth a shot at potentially saving the $800-$1000 for a replacement ECU for this bike 😵 submitted by /u/KINGBYNG [link] [comments]

📊 Щорічне опитування студентів та аспірантів щодо якості освіти та окремих сторін функціонування університету kpi чт, 01/08/2026 - 21:42

Благодійний фонд підтримки Збройних Сил України "Київський політехнік" kpi чт, 01/08/2026 - 21:20

submitted by /u/Electro-nut [link] [comments]

Marktech Optoelectronics Inc of Latham, NY, USA and its device manufacturing partner Optrans Corp of Kawasaki-Shi, Japan are introducing new transfer-molded photodiode and LED packaging capabilities, which are currently under development and scheduled for first customer availability in second-quarter 2026. The next-generation photonics packages offer improved reliability, optical beam control, enhanced environmental robustness, and reduced stray-light interference while supporting both conventional LED emitters and advanced point-source resonant-cavity light-emitting diode (RCLED) and quantum well light-emitting diode (QWLED) architectures...

Needed a tool so made a tool I got tired of searching for circuit board pattern graphics to use on website/social posts, as this pattern when designing anything embedded related is used quite often. AI generated looked bad for me, so I made a tool to generate one, featuring shapes, text and gradient fills If you need any pattern or just to play: https://hacod-tech.github.io/Circuit-Board-Pattern-Generator/ submitted by /u/SashirF [link] [comments]

submitted by /u/TheActionReplay [link] [comments]

This engineer could have just stuck with the Gateway 2000-branded, Altec Lansing-designed powered speaker set long plugged into his laptop’s headphone jack. But where’s the fun in that?

Having editorially teased my recent home office audio system upgrade several times now, beginning back in mid-August and repeatedly accompanied by promises to share full details “soon”, I figured I’d better get to writing “now” before I ended up with a reader riot on my hands. Let’s start with the “stack” to the right of my laptop, a photo of which I’ve shared before:

The unbalanced (i.e., single-ended) setup

At the bottom is a Schiit Modi Multibit 1 DAC, my teardown of which was published just last month:

Above it is Schiit’s first-generation Loki Mini four-band equalizer (versus the second-generation Loki Mini+ successor shown below, which looks identical from the outside save for altered verbiage on the back panel sticker). I decided to include it versus relying solely on software EQ since I intended to use the setup to listen to more than just computer-based audio sources.

Above it is a passive (unpowered) switch, the Schiit Sys, that enables me to select between two inputs prior to routing the audio to the Rekkr power amplifier set connected to the speakers:

And at the very top is a Schiit Vali 2++ (PDF) tube-based headphone amplifier, identical to the Vali 2+ precursor (introduced in 2000 and shown below) save for a supply constraint-compelled transition to a different tube family:

And the rack? It’s a stacked combo of two (to give me the necessary number of shelves) Topping Acrylic Racks, available both directly from the China-based manufacturer (mind the tariffs!) and from retailers such as Apos in the United States. A little pricey ($39 each), but it makes me smile every time I look at it, which is priceless…or at least that’s how I rationalized the purchase!

Audio sources and interconnects

As you’ve likely already noticed, this setup uses mainstream unbalanced (i.e., single-ended) RCA cabling. To detail the inter-device connections, let’s start with the device at the end of the chain, the Sys switch. I didn’t initially include it in the stack but then realized I didn’t want to have to turn on the Vali 2++ each time I wanted to listen to music over the speakers (whenever the headphone jack isn’t in use, the Vali 2++ passes input audio directly through to its back panel outputs), given that tubes have limited operating life and replacements are challenging at best to source. As such, while one Sys input set comes from the Vali 2++, the other is directly sourced from the analog “headphone jack” audio output built into my docking station, which is tethered to the laptop (an Intel-based 2020 13” Apple MacBook Pro) over a Thunderbolt 3 connection:

Headphone outputs have passably comparable power specs to the line-level outputs that would normally connect to the Sys switch inputs (and from there to an audio power amplifier’s inputs), with two key qualifiers:

• They’re intended to drive comparatively low-impedance headphones, not high-impedance audio inputs, and
• Given that they integrate a modest audio amplifier circuit, you need to be restrained in your use of the volume setting controlling that audio amplifier to avoid overdriving whatever non-headphone input set they’re connected to in this alternative case.

The only other downside is that since the Sys is at the end of the chain, audio sourced from the docking station’s headphone jack also bypasses the Loki Mini’s hardware EQ facilities, although since it’s always computer-originated in this particular situation, software-based tone controls such those built into Rogue Amoeba’s SoundSource utility for Macs or the open-source Equalizer EPO for Windows systems can provide a passable substitute.

Speaking of EQ, and working backwards in the chain, the Vali 2++ audio inputs are connected to the Loki Mini equalizer outputs, and the Loki Mini inputs are connected to the Modi Multibit 1 DAC outputs. And what of the DAC’s inputs? There are three available possibilities, one of which (optical S/PDIF) is currently unused.

It’s a shame that Apple phased out integrated optical S/PDIF output facilities after 2016; otherwise, I’d use them to tether the DAC to the 2018 Intel-based Apple Mac mini to the right of this stack. Unsurprisingly to you, likely, the USB input is also connected to the laptop, again via the Thunderbolt 3 docking station intermediary (albeit digitally this time). And what about the DAC’s coaxial (RCA) digital input? I’ll save that for part two next time.

The balanced alternative

Now, let’s look to the left of the laptop:

You’ve actually already seen one of the three members of this particular stack a couple of times before, albeit in a dustier and generally more disorganized fashion:

It’s now tidied up with an even pricier ($219) multi-shelf (and aluminum-based this time) rack, the Topping SR2 (here again are manufacturer and retail-partner links):

As before, the headphone amplifier is still the Drop + THX AAA 789:

But I’ve subsequently swapped out Topping’s D10 Balanced DAC:

for a Drop + Grace Design Standard DAC Balanced to assemble a Drop-branded duo:

The Topping D10 Balanced DAC is back in storage for now; I plan to eventually pair it with a S.M.S.L. SO200 THX AAA-888 Balanced Headphone Amplifier (yes, it really is slanted in shape):

And yes, I realize how abundantly blessed I am to have access to all this audio tech toy excess!

As you’ve likely already ascertained from the images (and if not that, the “Balanced” portion of the second product’s name), this particular setup instead leverages balanced interconnect, both XLR- and TRS-implemented. As such, I couldn’t merge another Schiit Loki Mini or Mini+ equalizer into the mix. Instead, I went with the balanced, six-band Schiit Lokius bigger sibling:

The Lokius EQ sits between the DAC and the headphone amplifier. The DAC’s USB input can connect to one of several nearby computers. On the one hand, this is convenient because the DAC is self-powered by that same USB connection. On the other, I’ve noticed that it sometimes picks up audible albeit low-level interference from the USB outputs of my Microsoft Surface Pro 7+ laptop (that said, no such similar issues exist with my Apple M2 Pro Mac Studio).

And what of the DAC’s optical S/PDIF input? Again, you’ll need to wait until next time for the reveal. Finally, in this case, the headphone amplifier doesn’t have pass-through outputs for direct connection to a stereo power amplifier (or, in this case, monoblock pair), so I’m instead (again, sparingly) leveraging its unbalanced headphone output.

The rest of the story

So far, we’ve covered the two stacks’ details. But what does each’s remaining S/PDIF DAC input connect to? And to what do they connect on the output end, and how? Stay tuned for part 2 to come next for the answers to these questions, along with other coverage topics. And until then, please share your so-far thoughts with your fellow readers and me in the comments!

—Brian Dipert is the Principal at Sierra Media and a former technical editor at EDN Magazine, where he still regularly contributes as a freelancer.

Related Content

• Class D: Audio amplifier ascendancy
• A holiday shopping guide for engineers: 2025 edition
• The Schiit Modi Multibit: A little wiggling ensures this DAC won’t quit
• Audio amplifiers: How much power (and at what tradeoffs) is really required?

The post Sonic excellence: Music (and other audio sources) in the office, part 1 appeared first on EDN.

Fluentgrid Ltd., a leading provider of utility digitalisation platforms and advanced grid management solutions, announced its joining the Wirepas ecosystem and completing full integration of its Head-End System (HES) with the Wirepas Certified platform.

This milestone allows utilities and AMI service providers to seamlessly deploy Wirepas-based networks using Fluentgrid’s proven HES, enabling scalable, multi-vendor smart electricity metering rollouts with assured data reliability and secure, standards-aligned performance. Fluentgrid has already initiated its first pilots on the integrated platform, with early results confirming strong interoperability and field readiness. The integration reinforces both companies’ commitment to supporting India’s RDSS program by ensuring solutions that directly address the needs of utilities and the realities of large-scale deployment.

“Fluentgrid has always been committed to providing utilities with open, flexible and future-
proof digital infrastructure,” said Vipresh Gannamani, Director, Fluentgrid. “By integrating our Head-End System with the Wirepas Certified platform, we are expanding the choice and
interoperability available to our customers. This collaboration ensures that utilities can adopt large-scale mesh deployments with confidence, supported by a robust, field-tested ecosystem, aligned with the national goal of enabling the RDSS vision.”

Wirepas CEO Teppo Hemiä commented:
“Fluentgrid’s integration brings tremendous value to the Wirepas ecosystem in India. A strong and interoperable Head-End System is essential for the scale the market demands. Their completed integration and ongoing pilots are proof of real progress towards open, multi-vendor smart metering architectures, and fully in line with our focus on supporting utilities and helping India achieve the ambitions of the RDSS program.”

The combined capabilities of Fluentgrid’s HES and the Wirepas Certified platform provide
utilities, AMISPs and system integrators with an ultra-resilient, infinitely scalable solution that accelerates deployment timelines while maintaining full transparency and interoperability across the value chain.

The post Fluentgrid Completes Wirepas Certified HES Integration, Joining The Growing Ecosystem For Smart Electricity Metering appeared first on ELE Times.

At Photonics West 2026 in San Francisco, CA, USA, the Ferdinand-Braun-Institut, Leibniz-Institut für Höchstfrequenztechnik (FBH) of Berlin, Germany is delivering 20 scientific presentations at the conferences (17–22 January) and exhibiting at the trade fair (20–22 January)...

Cadence, a global leader in electronic system design, celebrated 20 years in Pune as a core research and development hub. This milestone marks two decades of sustained investment and innovation in the region. Established in 2006 by Tensilica, now part of Cadence, this anniversary marks the company’s early belief in Pune’s technology and engineering ecosystem during a period when few multinational technology companies operated there.

Starting with a five-member team, Cadence now employs over 300 employees in Pune and continues to scale its talent base. The Pune centre is a key part of the Silicon Solutions Group. Teams here develop highly complex digital signal processing (DSP) IP, AI accelerators, DDR, and mixed-signal IP for leading semiconductor and electronics companies worldwide. These technologies enable critical applications across consumer electronics, data centres, and automotive markets.

“As we celebrate 20 years in Pune, we take pride in the world-class IP teams here, who collaborate with our global teams to deliver products used by customers worldwide,” said Boyd Phelps, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Silicon Solutions Group at Cadence. “The continued growth of our Pune site emphasises Cadence’s confidence in the region’s talent and our ongoing commitment to investing in people, capabilities, and infrastructure across India.”

As it enters its third decade in Pune, the company remains dedicated to advancing cutting-edge silicon IP and nurturing local talent. Cadence actively partners with MeitY, AICTE, IITs, and over 400 universities to build a strong chip-design talent pipeline. It also supports startups through initiatives like Chips to Startup (C2S). Through advanced EDA tools and India-led innovations in AI-driven and chiplet-based design, Cadence is helping advance India’s semiconductor mission while accelerating global innovation.

The post Cadence Reinforces Long-Term R&D Commitment, Celebrating 20 years in Pune appeared first on ELE Times.

Anritsu and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland have demonstrated a major advance in D-band wireless communications by validating a beam-steering transmit array antenna system using advanced test equipment. The achievement confirms the feasibility of stable, high-capacity wireless links for next-generation backhaul, industrial, defence and future 6G networks.

Using Anritsu’s precision test equipment and VTT’s steerable transmitarray antenna, the teams achieved high-speed wireless links across the 110–170 GHz D-band. Link performance and beam-steering behaviour were assessed under realistic over-the-air (OTA) conditions using wideband modulated signals up to 8 GHz bandwidth. This system-level characterisation, from signal generation to OTA performance, confirmed multi-gigabit data rates in the tens-of-Gbps range, including 20 Gbps over 1 m and reliable operation up to 7 m, setting a new benchmark for D-band connectivity.

The demonstration features a lightweight, scalable transmitarray antenna developed by VTT, incorporating advanced phase-shifting elements and vector-modulator MMICs. Its electronically steerable design provides rapid, precise beam control without mechanical movement, maintaining signal strength under changing conditions. Supported by Anritsu’s state-of-the-art test equipment, the results reflect a proven, instrumentation-grade measurement approach that ensures reliability and scalability for future deployments.

“Anritsu is proud to collaborate with VTT to advance the practical use of D-band wireless technology. Together, we have validated performance levels that bring high-frequency wireless links closer to real-world deployment,” said Jonathan Borrill, CTO, Test & Measurement, Anritsu.

“This milestone shows how strategic partnerships turn deep tech into a competitive advantage. By combining VTT’s steerable transmitarray expertise with Anritsu’s precise instrumentation‑grade validation, we shorten adoption cycles and scale D‑band from the lab to live networks — creating growth opportunities across critical infrastructure, manufacturing, defence, 6G and beyond,” said Tauno Vähä‑Heikkilä, Director, Strategic Partnerships, VTT.

Anritsu and VTT will now engage with industry partners to evaluate use cases and prepare the technology for upcoming field trials and deployments, marking a landmark step toward realising the potential of D-band wireless for next-generation networks.

The post Breakthrough in D-band Wireless: Anritsu and VTT Demonstrate World-Leading Transmit array-Based High-Speed Connectivity appeared first on ELE Times.

Phlux Technology — which was spun off from the University of Sheffield in 2020 and designs and manufactures 1550nm avalanche photodiode (APD) infrared (IR) sensors — is showcasing its Aura family of Noiseless InGaAs APDs in booth 5528 at SPIE Photonics West 2026 in San Francisco, CA, USA (20-22 January)...

💥 Запрошуємо до публічного обговорення проєкту Положення про механізми заохочення викривачів kpi ср, 01/07/2026 - 22:33

To pioneer semiconductor manufacturing in space, Aegis Aerospace Inc of Webster, TX, USA (which provides technical services and turn-key solutions to government and commercial space & defense customers) has partnered with United Semiconductors LLC (USLLC, which since 2005 has been supplying the US defense sector and national laboratories with critical substrates from its production facility in Los Alamitos, CA, USA)...

In electronic product design, the smallest components often have the biggest impact on system reliability. Tactile switches—used in control panels, wearables, medical devices, instrumentation, and industrial automation—are a prime example. These compact electromechanical devices must deliver a precise tactile response, stable contact resistance, and long service life despite millions of actuations and a wide range of operating conditions.

For design engineers, one of the most critical choices influencing tactile switch reliability is contact plating. Among available materials, gold plating offers unmatched advantages in conductivity, corrosion resistance, and mechanical stability. While its cost is higher than silver plating—and tin when used for terminal finishes—gold’s performance characteristics make it indispensable for mission-critical applications in which failure is not an option.

Understanding the role of plating in switch performance

The function of a tactile switch relies on momentary metal-to-metal contact closure. Over-repeated actuation, environmental exposure and mechanical wear can increase contact resistance or even lead to intermittent operation. Plating serves as a barrier layer, protecting the base metal (often copper, brass, or stainless steel) from corrosion and wear while also influencing the switch’s electrical behavior.

Different plating materials exhibit markedly different behaviors:

• Tin (used only for terminal plating) offers low cost and good solderability but oxidizes quickly, raising contact resistance in low-current circuits.
• Silver provides excellent conductivity, but it tarnishes in the presence of sulfur or humidity, forming insulating silver sulfide films.
• Gold, though softer and more expensive, is chemically inert and does not oxidize or tarnish. It maintains stable, low contact resistance even under micro-ampere currents where other metals fail.

This property is crucial for tactile switches used in low-level signal applications, such as microcontroller input circuits, communication modules, or medical sensors, in which switching currents may be in the microamp to milliamp range. At such levels, even a thin oxide film can impede electron flow, creating unreliable or noisy signals.

The science behind gold’s stability

Gold’s chemical stability stems from its electronic configuration: Its filled d-orbitals make it resistant to oxidation and most chemical reactions. Its noble nature prevents formation of insulating oxides or sulfides, meaning the surface remains metallic and conductive throughout the switch’s service life.

From a materials engineering standpoint, plating thickness and uniformity are key. Gold layers used in tactile switches typically range from 0.1 to 1.0 µm, depending on required durability and environmental conditions. Thicker plating layers provide greater wear resistance but increase cost. Engineers should verify that the plating process, often electrolytic or autocatalytic, ensures full coverage on complex contact geometries to avoid thin spots that could expose the base metal.

Many switch manufacturers, such as C&K Switches, use gold-over-nickel systems. The nickel layer acts as a diffusion barrier, preventing copper migration into the gold and preserving long-term contact integrity. Without this barrier, copper atoms could diffuse to the surface over time, leading to porosity and surface discoloration that undermine conductivity.

When to specify gold plating Selecting the right contact material for your tactile switch can make or break long-term reliability. Gold plating isn’t always necessary, but in the right applications, it’s indispensable. Low-level or signal circuits: When switching currents fall below 100 mA, even thin oxide films can prevent reliable conduction. Gold’s inert surface ensures clean, consistent contact resistance for microcontroller inputs, logic circuits, sensors, and communication interfaces. Mission-critical reliability: If system uptime or safety compliance is essential—such as in medical devices, aerospace, defense, or industrial safety systems—gold-plated switches prevent oxidation-related failures that could disrupt operations or endanger users. Harsh or uncontrolled environments: Designs exposed to moisture, sterilization cycles, or outdoor weathering benefit from gold’s corrosion resistance. Examples include surgical tools, outdoor telecom nodes, and HVAC or factory automation controls. Long lifecycle or high actuation counts: Gold plating resists fretting corrosion and wear, maintaining stable performance through hundreds of thousands to millions of actuations, critical in applications such as automotive HMI controls or consumer appliances with frequent use. Signal integrity and noise sensitivity: In instrumentation, medical sensing, and precision measurement, gold’s smooth, oxide-free surface minimizes contact noise and bounce, ensuring clean signal transitions and reducing the need for debouncing circuitry. Mixed-metal interfaces: Avoid combining gold with tin or silver on mating surfaces—galvanic reactions can accelerate corrosion. When other components use gold contacts, matching them with gold-plated tactile switches maintains uniform conductivity and compatibility. Choose gold-plated tactile switches when reliability, environmental resistance, or low-current signal integrity outweighs incremental cost. In these cases, gold is not a luxury; it’s engineering insurance.

Reliability in harsh and low-signal environments

Gold plating’s reliability benefits become evident under extreme environmental or electrical conditions.

Medical devices and sterilization environments

Surgical and diagnostic instruments often undergo repeated steam autoclaving or chemical sterilization cycles. Moisture and elevated temperatures accelerate corrosion in conventional materials. Gold’s nonreactive surface resists degradation, ensuring consistent actuation force and electrical performance across hundreds of sterilization cycles. This reliability directly impacts patient safety and device regulatory compliance.

Outdoor telecommunications and IoT

Field-mounted communication hardware—base stations, gateways, or outdoor routers—encounters moisture, pollution, and temperature fluctuations. In such applications, tin or silver plating can oxidize within months, leading to noisy signals or switch failure. Gold-plated tactile switches preserve contact integrity, maintaining low and stable resistance even after prolonged environmental exposure.

Industrial automation and control

Industrial environments expose components to dust, vibration, and cleaning solvents. Gold’s smooth, ductile surface resists micro-pitting and fretting corrosion, while its low coefficient of friction contributes to predictable mechanical wear. As a result, switches maintain consistent tactile feedback over millions of actuations, a vital factor in HMI panels in which operator confidence depends on feel and repeatability.

Aerospace, defense, and safety-critical systems

In avionics and safety systems, even transient failures are unacceptable. Gold’s resistance to oxidation and its stable performance across −40°C to 125°C enable designers to meet MIL-spec and IPC reliability standards. The material’s immunity to metal whisker formation, common in tin coatings, eliminates one of the most insidious causes of short-circuits in mission-critical electronics.

Automation and robotics equipment benefit from gold-plated tactile switches that deliver long electrical life and immunity to oxidation in high-cycle production environments. (Source: Shutterstock) Tackling common mechanical and electrical issues Contact bounce reduction

Mechanical contacts inherently produce bounce, a rapid, undesired make-or-break sequence that occurs as the metal contacts settle. Bounce introduces signal noise and may require software or hardware debouncing. Gold’s micro-smooth surface reduces surface asperities, shortening bounce duration and producing cleaner signal transitions. This improves response time and may simplify firmware filtering or eliminate RC snubber circuits.

Metal whisker mitigation

Tin and zinc surfaces can spontaneously grow metallic whiskers under stress, causing shorts or leakage currents. Gold plating’s crystalline structure is stable and does not support whisker growth, a key reliability advantage in fine-pitch or high-density electronics.

Thermal and mechanical stability

Gold has a low coefficient of thermal expansion mismatch with typical nickel underplates, minimizing stress during thermal cycling. It does not harden or crack under high temperatures, allowing switches to function consistently from cold-storage conditions (−55°C) to high-heat appliance environments (>125°C surface temperature).

Electrical characteristics: low-level signal switching

Many engineers underestimate how contact material impacts performance in low-current circuits. When switching below approximately 100 mA, oxide film resistance dominates contact behavior. Non-noble metals can form surface barriers that block electron tunneling, leading to contact resistance in the tens or hundreds of ohms. Gold’s stable surface keeps contact resistance in the 10- to 50-mΩ range throughout the product’s life.

Additionally, gold’s low and stable contact resistance minimizes contact noise, which can be especially important in digital logic and analog sensing circuits. For instance, in a patient monitoring device using microvolt-level signals, a transient resistance increase of just a few ohms can cause erroneous readings or false triggers. Gold plating ensures clean signal transmission even at the lowest currents.

Balancing cost and performance

It’s true that gold plating adds material and process costs. However, lifecycle analysis often reveals a compelling return on investment. In applications in which switch replacement or failure results in downtime, service calls, or warranty claims, the incremental cost of gold plating is negligible compared with the total system value.

Manufacturers help designers manage cost by offering hybrid switch portfolios. For example, C&K’s KMR, KSC, and KSR tactile switch families include both silver-plated and gold-plated versions. This allows designers to standardize on a footprint while selecting the appropriate contact material for each function: gold for logic-level or safety-critical inputs, silver for higher-current or less demanding tasks.

KSC2 Series tactile switches, available with gold-plated contacts, combine long electrical life and stable actuation in compact footprints for HVAC, security, and home automation applications. (Source: C&K Switches) Design considerations and best practices

When specifying gold-plated tactile switches, engineers should evaluate both electrical and environmental parameters to ensure the plating delivers full value:

• Current rating and load type: Gold excels in “dry circuit” switching below 100 mA. For higher currents (>200 mA), arcing can erode gold surfaces; mixed or dual plating (gold plus silver) may be more appropriate.
• Environmental sealing: Use sealed switch constructions (IP67 or higher) when exposure to fluids or contaminants is expected. This complements gold plating and extends operating life.
• Plating thickness: For harsh environments or long lifecycles (>1 million actuations), specify a thicker gold layer (≥0.5 µm). Thinner flash layers (0.1 µm) are adequate for indoor or low-stress use.
• Base metal compatibility: Always ensure the plating stack includes a nickel diffusion barrier to prevent copper migration.
• Mating surface design: Gold-to-gold contacts perform best. Avoid mixing gold with tin on the mating side, which can cause galvanic corrosion.
• Actuation force and feel: Gold’s lubricity affects tactile response slightly; designers should verify that chosen switches maintain the desired haptic feel across temperature and wear cycles.

By integrating these considerations early in the design process, engineers can prevent many reliability issues that otherwise surface late in validation or field deployment.

Lifecycle testing and qualification standards

High-reliability applications frequently require validation under standards such as:

• IEC 60512 (electromechanical component testing)
• MIL-DTL-83731F (for aerospace-grade switches)
• AEC-Q200 (automotive passive component qualification)

Gold-plated tactile switches often exceed these standards, maintaining consistent contact resistance after 105 to 106 mechanical actuations, temperature cycling, humidity exposure, and vibration. Some miniature switch series, such as the C&K KSC2 and KSC4 families, can endure as many as 5 million actuations, highlighting how material selection plays a critical role in overall system durability.

Practical benefits: From design efficiency to end-user experience

For engineers, specifying gold-plated tactile switches yields several tangible advantages:

• Reduced maintenance: Longer life and fewer field failures minimize warranty and service costs.
• Simplified circuit design: Low and stable contact resistance can eliminate the need for additional filtering or conditioning circuits.
• Enhanced system reliability: Predictable behavior across temperature, humidity, and lifecycle improves compliance with functional-safety standards such as ISO 26262 or IEC 60601.
• Improved user experience: Consistent tactile feel and reliable operation translate to higher perceived quality and brand reputation.

For the end user, these benefits manifest as confidence—buttons that always respond, equipment that lasts, and interfaces that feel precise even after years of use.

Designing for a connected, reliable future

As electronic systems become smarter, smaller, and more interconnected, tolerance for failure continues to shrink. A single faulty switch can disable a medical device, interrupt a network node, or halt an industrial process. Choosing gold-plated tactile switches is therefore not simply a materials decision; it’s a reliability strategy.

Gold’s unique combination of chemical inertness, electrical stability, and mechanical durability ensures consistent performance across millions of cycles and the harshest conditions. For design engineers striving to deliver long-lived, premium-quality products, gold plating provides both a technical safeguard and a competitive edge.

In the end, reliability begins at the contact surface—and when that surface is gold, the connection is built to last.

About the author

Michaela Schnelle is a senior associate product manager at Littelfuse, based in Bremen, Germany, covering the C&K tactile switches portfolio. She joined Littelfuse 16 years ago and works with customers and distributors worldwide to support design activities and new product introductions. She focuses on product positioning, training, and collaboration to help customers bring reliable designs to market.

The post Why gold-plated tactile switches matter for reliability appeared first on EDN.

Wi-Fi 7 enters 2026 with a crucial announcement made at the CES 2026 in Las Vegas, Nevada. The Wi-Fi Alliance is introducing the 20-MHz device category for Wi-Fi 7, aimed at addressing the needs of the broader Internet of Things (IoT) ecosystem. Add Wi-Fi 7’s multi-link IoT capability to this, and you have a more consistent, always‑connected experience for applications such as security cameras, video doorbells, alarm systems, medical devices, and HVAC systems.

The 802.11be standard, widely known as Wi-Fi 7, was drafted in 2024, and the formal standard followed in 2025. From Wi-Fi 1 to Wi-Fi 5, the focus was on increasing the connection’s data rate. But then the industry realized that a mere increase in speed wasn’t beneficial.

“The challenge shifted to managing traffic on the network as more devices were coming onto the network,” said Sivaram Trikutam, senior VP of wireless products at Infineon Technologies. “So, the focus in Wi-Fi 6 shifted toward increasing the efficiency of the network.”

The industry then took Wi-Fi 7 to the next level in terms of efficiency over the past two years, especially with the emergence of high-performance applications. The challenge shifted to how multiple devices on the network could share spectrum efficiently so they could all achieve a useful data rate.

The quest to support multiple devices, at the heart of Wi-Fi 7 design, eventually led to the Wi-Fi Alliance’s announcement that even a 20 MHz IoT device can now be certified as a Wi-Fi 7 device. The Wi-Fi 7 certification program, expanded to include 20-MHz IoT devices, could have a profound impact on this wireless technology’s future.

Figure 1 Wi-Fi 7 in access points and routers is expected to overtake Wi-Fi 6/6E in 2028. Source: Infineon

20-MHz IoT in Wi-Fi 7’s fold

Unlike notebooks and smartphones, 20-MHz devices don’t require a high data rate. IoT applications like door locks, thermostats, security cameras, and robotic vacuum cleaners need to be connected, but they don’t require gigabit data rates; they typically need 15 Mbps. What they demand is high-quality, reliable connectivity, as these devices sit at difficult locations from a wireless perspective.

At CES 2026, Infineon unveiled what it calls the industry’s first 20-MHz Wi-Fi 7 device for IoT applications. ACW741x, part of Infineon’s AIROC family of multi-protocol wireless chips, integrates a tri-radio encompassing Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth LE 6.0 with channel sounding, and IEEE 802.15.4 Thread with Matter ecosystem support in a single device.

Figure 2 ACW741x integrates radios for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth LE 6.0, and IEEE 802.15.4 Thread in a single chip. Source: Infineon

The ACW741x tri-radio chip also integrates wireless sensing capabilities, adding contextual awareness to IoT devices and facilitating home automation and personalization applications. Here, Wi-Fi Channel State Information (CSI) based on the 802.11bf standard enables enhanced Wi-Fi sensing with intelligence sharing between same-network devices. Next, channel sounding delivers accurate, secure, and low-power ranging with centimeter-level accuracy.

ACW741x is optimized for a 20-MHz design to support battery-operated applications such as security cameras, door locks, and thermostats that require ultra-low Wi-Fi-connected standby power. It bolsters link reliability with adaptive band switching to mitigate congestion and interference.

Adaptive band switching without disconnecting from the network opens the door to Wi-Fi 7 multi-link for IoT devices while maintaining concurrent links across 2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz frequency bands. ACW741x supports Wi-Fi 7 multi-link for IoT, enhancing robustness in congested environments.

Multi-link for IoT devices

Wi-Fi operates in three bands—2.4 GHz, 5 GHz, and 6 GHz—and when a device connects to an access point, it must choose a band. Once connected, it cannot change it, even if that band gets congested. That will change in Wi-Fi 7, which connects virtually to all three bands with a single RF chain at no extra system cost.

Wi-Fi 7 operates in the best frequency band, enhancing robustness in congestion in home networks and interference across neighboring networks. “Multi-link for IoT allows establishing connections at all bands, and a device can dynamically select which band to use at a given point via active band switching without disconnecting from the networking,” said Trikutam. “And you can move from one band to another by disconnecting and reconnecting within 7 to 10 seconds.”

That’s crucial because the number of connected devices in a home is growing rapidly, from 10 to 15 devices after pandemic to more than 50 devices in 2025 in a U.S. and European home. Add this to the introduction of 20-MHz IoT devices in Wi-Fi 7’s fold, and you have a rosy picture for this wireless technology’s future.

Figure 3 Multi-link for IoT enables wireless connections across all three frequency bands. Source: Infineon

According to the Wi-Fi Alliance, shipments of access points supporting the standard rose from 26.3 million in 2024 to a projected 66.5 million in 2025. And ABI Research projects that the transition to Wi-Fi 7 will accelerate further in 2026, with a forecast annual shipment number of Wi-Fi 7 access points at 117.9 million.

Related Content

• Broadcom delivers Wi-Fi 8 chips for AI
• CES 2026: Wi-Fi 8 silicon on the horizon with an AI touch
• Exploring the superior capabilities of Wi-Fi 7 over Wi-Fi 6
• Chipsets brings Wi-Fi 7 to a broad range of wireless applications
• Europe Focuses on 6GHz Regulation, While Wi-Fi 7 Looms Beyond

The post CES 2026: Multi-link, 20-MHz IoT boost Wi-Fi 7 prospects appeared first on EDN.