Avalue is launching the 1st 1.8 inch embedded SBCs EZX-EHLP
Mouser Electronics Expands Line Card with 35+ New Manufacturer Brands
RTI Touchpanel With Built-in Processor Simplifies Single-Room Commercial Installations
Just Add Power Products and Pricing Now Integrated into Jetbuilt
Advanced Semiconductor Packaging Paves Way to Data-Centric Future, Says IDTechEx
Mouser Electronics New Product Insider:Over 20,000 New Parts Added in Second Quarter of 2022
KDPOF Designs First Optical 1000BASE-RH SFP Module
Razer Acquires Interhaptics: Revealing the Trend of Haptic Technologies Reports IDTechEx
Avalue debuts lightweight expansion power bank EPB-1001 for embedded panel PCs Unlimited power, unrestricted mobility
Mouser Electronics Offers 41,000+ Parts from Littelfuse
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Digital Smell: IDTechEx Discusses the Sensor Opportunity Under Our Noses
Consumer technology can imitate many human senses: cameras to see, microphones to hear, and touch-sensitive screens to feel, but what about scent? Imagine a world where we not only upload pictures of our latest recipes, beauty products, and coffees - but also share their smell. The opportunities for digital smell could be vast, but what are they, and what gas sensor technology will enable it? Image showing the e-nose concept. Source: IDTechEx - Electronic noses imitate our natural senses The latest gas sensor technology is designed to digitize smell by imitating the human nose and brain. Our noses are full of receptors that respond to gas mixtures, and over time our brain learns to recognize a given smell. In the same way, we are not born able to distinguish roses from lilies, electronic noses also require a period of training. So-called ‘e-noses’ combine arrays of gas sensors with machine learning algorithms that can identify patterns in response to a specific smell. The capabilities of miniaturized sensors and machine learning software have been growing and have now reached a level of commercial readiness to create a digital smell industry. - Both good and bad food and drink smells have value Food and drink are obvious sources of smells we care about and a key-use case for e-noses. For example, the source of an aroma profile, or differences in smell between similar foods, is poorly understood. E-noses offer a solution to better understand what makes our favorite dishes so tempting. On the other hand, measuring gases given off by food as it deteriorates or becomes contaminated offers a way to maintain food quality and ensure safety. It could even help tackle food waste issues, with smell data offering an alternative to ‘best before’ dates. At an industrial level, ensuring product consistency and quality control could also utilize smell sensors more broadly, which could threaten the existing supply chain of lab-bench equipment used in this area. Commercial devices suitable for integration into smart-home goods and factories are just now emerging to monitor food and drink. Some manufacturers are beginning to add gas sensors into white goods, and others will need to follow to compete in the smart home market going forward. - The air demand for air quality sensors also impacts e-noses Beyond quantifying smell, many new e-nose technologies are targeting more sensitive and selective measurements of air quality than existing gas sensors. It is these capabilities that have seen them begin to be adopted into smoke detectors, including alarms in the home and sensors distributed outside for wildfire monitoring. There is growing interest in air quality and its impacts on our health, particularly long exposure to low concentrations will also create demand for e-noses. The success of this use-case in the smart city and home sectors will arguably rely on effective marketing by OEMs, with this being a major barrier to mass-market adoption in the medium term. - Opportunities and challenges for e-noses The use of arrays in e-noses creates an opportunity for multiple types of gas sensor technology. The data from well-known sensors such as metal-oxide, electrochemical and infra-red, photoacoustic, and others can all be used by software looking to quantify gas mixtures. At the same time, advanced materials can form ultra-miniaturized sensors with the potential for integration into smartphones and wearables. Some challenges for e-nose technology remain. For example, the use of lower-cost and poor sensitivity commoditized sensors and higher-value software places a significant burden on training the artificial intelligence required. However, the inherently higher-performance hardware for e-noses, such as printed carbon nanotubes, are not yet manufacturable at scale and are still seeking a ‘killer app’ and high-volume orders. Furthermore, to date, the infrastructure to train e-noses and share the data is limited. Whilst images have been simplified into an RGB format, there is not yet an equivalent for smell. This challenge has been identified by some, such as Aryballe, but before the digital smell industry can reach its full potential, there needs to be more standardization. - Outlook and Market Forecasts The digitization of smell would be an exciting addition to the sensing capabilities of consumer electronics. The technology has historically had a reputation for being over-hyped, but off-the-shelf devices represent the real process made by the sector. This has largely been driven by innovations in the fundamental gas sensor technology required, in parallel with the maturity of machine learning software. The latest IDTechEx report, “Gas Sensors 2022-2032: Technology, Opportunities, Players, and Forecasts”, compares and benchmarks over 15 different gas sensor technologies which could be used within e-nose systems as well as many other applications such as air quality, automotive, and safety. IDTechEx has been covering the broad topic of sensor technology since 2008, with a portfolio including wearable, printed, and image sensors. This dedicated gas sensor report evaluates the performance of multiple technologies in detail – comparing their key characteristics and compatibility to different application areas. It includes multiple company profiles from interviews with both major manufacturers and start-ups specializing in a range of different technologies. For more information on this report, please visit www.IDTechEx.com/GasSens or for the full portfolio of research available from IDTechEx Research, please visit www.IDTechEx.com/research
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Avalue Debuts 3.5-inch SBC ECM-TGUC
Avalue Technology Inc. (TAIEX: 3479-TW), a global industrial PC solution provider and an associate member of the Intel® Internet of Things Solutions Alliance. Avalue has launched embedded single-board computer ECM-TGUC with 11th Generation Intel® CoreTM SoC to achieve optimal performance with the lowest power consumption. Especially designed for smart IoT, ECM-TGUC is the most cost-effective solution with a wide range of applications. Not only can it help system developers in the fields of industrial automation, transportation, retail, and healthcare, and achieve smart IoT innovations, ECM-TGUC also combines AI accelerator to process complex computation and high workload applications with precision. - Compact and space-saving with ultra-low power consumption and high performance Avalue’s latest release – the 3.5-inch motherboard ECM-TGUC is thin and lightweight, and measures only 14.6 x 10.1cm, effectively saving space. Featuring 11th Generation Intel® CoreTM processor (codename Tiger Lake), and low-power-consumption platform with third-generation 10nm process, its single thread performance increases by 23% while its multi-thread performance increases by 19% as compared to 8th Generation Whisky Lake-U. It also supports low-latency time-critical applications and executes multiple workloads on a single platform. Balancing performance and response, ECM-TGUC’s ultra-low-power-consumption design not only continues on to improve smart terminal devices’ lifespan and function innovation, its low-power-consumption and high-speed processing also allow the ports of multiple devices to communicate synchronously, enabling it to meet the needs of the IoT market, AI, industrial automation, and deep learning. - Highly flexible external expansion slots, dual network connection 3.5-inch embedded single-board computer ECM-TGUC has a set of built-in SO-DIMM memory slots to support up to 32GB Non-ECC DDR4 memory, equipped with three sets of M.2 (Key-E+B+M) expansion slot, supports wireless modules and 4G/LTE/5G communication modules, and uses NvME card to achieve high-speed huge-volume transmission. Fully integrating into the field of IoT, ECM-TGUC is equipped with a diverse array of I/O interfaces, up to eight sets of USB port (3 x USB 3.2 Gen.2 and 5 x USB 2.0), six sets of com port (1 x RS-232/422/485 and 5 x RS232) and a SATA III connector. Furthermore, ECM-TGUC has both 2.5GbE and 1GbE Ethernet ports to allow fast synchronization of edge devices with the use of high-bandwidth and stable network connection, achieving seamless coordination in industrial automation. Supporting 1 x 2CH LVDS and 2 x DP++ displays, it ensures virtually no delay or dropped frames, making it ideal for graphics-intensive applications, multimedia center, industrial control system and many embedded applications. - Excellent thermal solution, blueprint for entire product line As opposed to the conventional practice of placing all the processor, chipset and slots in the front of the single board computer, which can cause crowding and generates massive waste heat, potentially decreasing performance of system operation and causing data damage, Avalue ECM-TGUC’s processor and chipset are mounted on the underside of the motherboard, helping to lower temperature and freeing up more space on the motherboard for flexible integration. Avalue also offers optional CPU thermal solution. Copper skived fin heat sink quickly absorbs heat energy released during CPU operation and completely transfers and disperses the heat through the fins. Easy to install and secured with screws, it provides high performance thermal solution for limited spaces. ECM-TGUC supports Windows 10 and Linux operating systems, and operates within a standard temperature range of 0°C~60°C. Beginning with its first-generation TGU board, which will be integrated into its Box PC and Panel PC product line for the field of industrial automation, Avalue plans to develop a series of high-performance, low-energy-consuming embedded industrial solution to satisfy requirements in the embedded market, including industrial automation, machine vision, self-service platform, digital signage and medical imaging, and smart IoT applications. Visit www.avalue.com.tw for more information on Avalue products, or contact sales@avalue.com.tw to talk to our sales team.
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The Biggest Opportunities for the Future of Haptics, IDTechEx Reports
Over the last decade, the market revenue for haptics has experienced rapid growth with a ~2.6-fold increase. The biggest change in that time was in 2015 when Apple first launched their custom linear resonant actuator (LRA), Taptic Engine, within their flagship products. Since then, the market focus has no longer been providing simple rumbling and vibration but instead has shifted to high-definition tactile feedback giving a wide range of sensations. This market change, followed by an increasing number of end-product providers, drove the rapid growth between 2015 and 2017. The market trends then lay dormant until 2020 and 2021, when another mile-stone product, the Sony DualSense controller, was launched. This new product, and the sales of many haptics-relevant devices, surged due to COVID lockdowns, which led to the second wave of quick increase in the market revenue. IDTechEx has released its latest report on haptics, projecting that the industry’s annual revenue will grow to over US$5 billion by 2027 and will continue to increase through to 2033. The new report, “Haptics 2023-2033: Technologies, Markets, and Players”, includes historic data and market forecasts from 2010-2033. This data has been developed through IDTechEx’s extensive experience in the haptics industry and supported by their in-depth research into other relevant markets. Tactile haptics has grown rapidly since 2015 at the expense of vibration alerts. Source: IDTechEx – “Haptics 2023-2033: Technologies, Markets, and Players”. *2022 Forecast value. Although IDTechEx is optimistic about the long-term market, the revenue growth is forecast to slow in the next few years. This will be caused by the commoditization of the current incumbent technologies, LRAs, and eccentric rotating mass (ERM) motors, and the saturation of relevant device sales. Hence, the market players are now planning for how the industry can continue to grow regardless of these factors. One key route is by driving toward more advanced and high-value haptic technologies. The new research from IDTechEx covers the significant emerging options in the market, from other electromagnetic actuators (e.g. voice coil motors) to other technologies such as piezoelectric actuators (ceramic, composite, and polymer based), shape memory alloys, microfluidics, electrostatic systems, and more. The report offers a thorough technological assessment and benchmarking, examining the commercial potential of the emerging technologies in the future market. Another strategy for accelerating the market growth is to focus on the sectors where haptics have not been ubiquitously adopted or where there could be more significant use cases for haptics. In its new report, “Haptics 2023-2033: Technologies, Markets, and Players”, IDTechEx address this consideration by providing abundant case studies in different categories. Themes such as contactless haptics, button haptics, display/surface haptics, and kinaesthetic haptics each have their dedicated chapters, as each exhibit separate trends within the broader ecosystem. Furthermore, the report looks into different industries, across smartphones, wearables, gaming, AR, VR & MR, automotive, and more related products, discovering the emerging trends for haptics in these fields. Some examples of the opportunities identified by IDTechEx sit in VR/AR/MR and automotive industries, and are showing great market potential in the next decade. For more information on this report, please visit www.IDTechEx.com/Haptics or for the full portfolio of research available from IDTechEx Research please visit www.IDTechEx.com/research.
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Nuvoton presents the latest products and solutions aiming at Embedded World 2022 in Germany
Nuvoton Technology Corporation, a leading microcontroller platform provider, will be the direct exhibitor at Embedded World 2022 in Nuremberg, Germany, from June 21st to June 23rd. Nuvoton will present solutions incorporating the latest microcontrollers and microprocessors based on Arm® Cortex®-M0/M23/M4/A35 and Arm9 cores. In Embedded World 2022, Nuvoton will demonstrate solutions for industrial control, IoT security, human-machine interface, and automotive applications. Those up-to-date solutions are based on Nuvoton NuMicro® series microcontrollers and microprocessors, including but not limited to the MA35D1 IIoT Gateway MPU, M2354 IoT Security MCU, M254/256/258 Low Power Touch Key/LCD MCU, M453 Industrial Control MCU, and M0A23 automotive MCU series. - Industrial Control on IIoT Gateway, BMS, and Cold Chain The NuMicro MA35D1, one of the significant launches in 2022, is a heterogeneous multi-core microprocessor based on dual 64-bit Arm Cortex-A35 cores and one Arm Cortex-M4 real-time core. The high-performance cores, advanced isolated security engine, multiple high-speed connectivity, and rich peripheral make MA35D1 an excellent choice for industrial control. Besides the new Cortex-A35 microprocessor, Nuvoton provides different products for more industrial control solutions. In Embedded World 2022, Nuvoton showcases another two solutions based on NuMicro M254/256/258 series for cold chain data logger and the M453 series with battery monitoring IC for the Battery Management System (BMS). The cold chain data logger is powered by the NuMicro M254/256/258 series with the Cortex-M23 core. The cold chain data logger could be realized with features of low power, touch key, LCD driver, and full-speed USB. With the PDF file generated function provided, it can automatically create a can-not-be-altered PDF data log file for the asset tracking. Another highlighted solution is the battery management system (BMS), which incorporates the NuMicro M453 CAN series based on Cortex-M4 core and the high-accuracy battery monitoring IC KA49517A/522A to provide the battery management solution for the energy storage, eBike, and other battery applications. - IoT Security MCU applied on the media streaming DRM IoT security has been one of the main issues in the IoT trend. And Nuvoton debuts the brand new NuMicro M2354 IoT security microcontroller series to inherit the security features of the NuMicro M2351 series that have been Arm PSA Certified™ Level 1, Level 2, and PSA Functional API certified. The M2354 series endows the microcontrollers used network-connected devices with the physical level (chip-level) security protection function. The smart sound box utilizes the TrustZone architecture to secure legal access to media streaming. In addition, the M2354 series supports DTS Play-Fi® technology on a wireless speaker with Google Cast service authentication. - Human-Machine Interface (HMI) Nuvoton presents three HMI solutions. All of them are powered by the brand-new MA35D1 microprocessor. For better user experience in graphics HMI, the MA35D1 builds in an LCD interface up to 1080P resolution. It also incorporates a 2D graphics engine, JPEG decoder, and H.264 decoder to enhance graphics and video decoding performance and provide high-efficiency GUIs drawing in the high-resolution display. These HMI solutions show various features of MA35D1. In addition to the LCD, 2D graphics, and video decoders for the HMI display, there are other Gigabit Ethernet, CAN FD, UART, I2S, SD, and USB host/client connectivity interfaces providing high-speed connectivity and connected to other communication devices. - Automotive MCU on the Automotive Data Logger The NuMicro M0A23 microcontroller realizes the automotive data logger. The M0A23 features up to 125℃ operating temperature and AEC-Q100 Grade 1 certification. In addition, it supports CAN Bus to log On-Board Diagnostics-II (OBD-II) data, including vehicle speed, engine RPM, engine coolant temperature, MAF air flowrate, throttle position from the engine control unit (ECU) simulator, etc. Besides the NuMicro microcontrollers/microprocessors-based solutions, Nuvoton provides a comprehensive development platform, NuTools, to assist our customers in achieving rapid development, high-capacity mass production, and easy upgrade. Nuvoton builds a development platform including evaluation boards, debuggers/programmers, software tools, embedded software (BSPs and example codes), IDES, and drivers. In Embedded World 2022, Nuvoton Technology demonstrates the versatility of microcontrollers and microprocessors. Solutions cover industrial control, IoT security, human-machine interface, and automotive applications. We look forward to seeing you at Embedded World 2022 in Germany. Visit Us Exhibition Centre Nuremberg, Germany June 21st to June 23rd, 2022 Booth number: 4A-637
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Avalue ARTEMIS real-time positioning and tracking system solve the problem of cart management in textile mills
Avalue Technology Inc. (TAIEX: 3479-TW), a global industrial PC solution provider and an associate member of the Intel® Internet of Things Solutions Alliance. A long-awaited rebound is finally in sight for the Taiwan textile industry since the COVID-19 pandemic started. According to the Taiwan Textile Research Institute’s forecast, orders are expected to increase by at least 10% in 2022. For textile factories, increase in production capacity is vital to meet the surge in orders. With the Industry 4.0 digital transformation sweeping the world, upgrading to smart factory not only helps to boost production capacity for Taiwan textile manufacturers but it is also the only way to ensure their competitiveness in the global arena. - Helping Taiwan textile manufacturers boost global competitiveness Taiwan Textile Research Institute (TTRI)’s Yunlin Branch, which is currently collaborating with Avalue Technology, is a demonstration factory and an innovation nurturing and product development site for central and southern Taiwan. It is committed to helping local textile manufacturers boost their competitiveness globally by “selecting key technologies for R&D” and “bolstering innovative and forward-looking R&D”. In a traditional textile factory environment, much time, effort and money have always been spent on personnel and asset control. After the introduction and actual operation of Avalue ARTEMIS real-time positioning and tracking system at TTRI’s Yunlin Branch, TTRI found that ARTEMIS can clearly help Taiwan textile manufacturers solve their perpetual problem. - The bottleneck at traditional textile factories According to Lin Jian-min, director at TTRI, one of the persistent problems facing Taiwan textile manufacturers is the difficulty in managing carts. In a textile dyeing factory, which can occupy over 10,000 square meters, there could be thousands of carts moving around. It is highly time- and labor-consuming to manually handle such a complex operating environment. The time needed for an operator to find a specific cart is approximately 20 minutes, and is dependent on the operator’s experience and mental state at that point in time. According to statistics, a textile dyeing factory could lose up to 3-5% of its textile, which amounts to tens of millions of dollars, each year as a result. Thus, textile manufacturers have a pressing need to reduce such operating losses. - Real-time positioning helps operators locate carts quickly Avalue ARTEMIS real-time positioning and tracking system solves the problem of managing carts in textile factories. By pairing positioning tags with carts, and setting by positioning base stations within the site, operators can get a bird’s eye view of the entire factory. With the position and information of each cart indicated clearly on the screen, anyone can easily and rapidly find specific carts, allowing operators to have more time to handle higher value work. Actual on-site testing shows that operators take an average of three seconds to find a cart using ARTEMIS, which is an immense improvement in overall operating efficiency when compared to the 20 minutes average time needed manually. Consequently, availability and production capacity have also increased, making this an epic progress. The resulting effect also includes over 90% decrease in fabrics lost from being left on the carts for too long. - Using big data technologies to optimize workflow Besides real-time cart position checking, ARTEMIS real-time positioning system also records every route taken by the carts. Analysis of the big data is then used to optimize cart routes, keeping the entire operating process highly efficient. Moreover, if a cart idles for too long at a particular position, the system will notify the administrator via app or email. The administrator can then handle the situation immediately to ensure the smoothness of the entire operating process. The MiniMES dyeing and finishing Data Integration Automation System of the Textile research Institute, integrates the on-site factory conditions and the central control of the dyeing machine, and has dyeing machine process records for big data analysis and MES process parameters to prevent human error. Through the full automation of dyeing and finishing operations, machine data collection, report evaluation, etc. to calculate the actual cost and monitor each step, automation reduces human intervention and improves on-site production efficiency. If you want to achieve smart manufacturing, the key is the analysis of big data, and the two technologies of Avalue Technology and Textile Research Institute can use big data to collect and analyze data and continuously improve the operation process, which can be applied to textile manufacturing operations. In the process, traditional dyeing and finishing factories can achieve "optimization of personnel and asset management" and "full automation of dyeing and finishing operations", helping traditional textile factories to truly upgrade to smart factories. - First step to becoming smart textile factories ARTEMIS real-time positioning and tracking system effectively lowers labor cost, optimizes operating process and reduces unnecessary expenses, enabling factories to achieve smart manufacturing and industrial automation, and showing the world Taiwan’s industrial strength. Visit www.avalue.com.tw for more information on Avalue products, or contact sales@avalue.com.tw to talk to our sales team.
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Mouser Electronics Examines Importance of Designing for Security in Third Empowering Innovation Together Episode
Mouser Electronics Inc., the industry’s leading New Product Introduction (NPI) distributor with the widest selection of semiconductors and electronic components™, launched the latest chapter of its award-winning Empowering Innovation Together™ program. In this episode, Mouser explores the importance of incorporating security into every stage of the design process, starting with architecture selection and component choice. The third installment features a wide variety of content, including a new Then, Now and Next video, blog, article, infographic and a new episode of The Tech Between Us podcast. This newest topic in the 2022 Empowering Innovation Together program offers a timely look at the increasingly critical role of designing with security in mind, including available hardware features and the latest software tools and techniques, as well as stand-alone security products. “Connected devices continue to be high-risk targets for security threats. Whether in connected vehicles, smart homes or wearables, engineers are increasingly implementing security from the ground up in their designs,” says Glenn Smith, President and CEO of Mouser Electronics. “With this latest EIT episode, we shine a light on some of the latest security practices to help engineers as they safeguard their designs.” In a new episode of the Tech Between Us podcast, Alan Grau, Vice President of Sales & Business Development for PQShield, joins Mouser’s Director of Technical Content, Raymond Yin, for a conversation about security trends such as authentication for embedded systems, securing wireless links for data transmission and the products and tools available to engineers for secure environment design. “As the technologies behind our connected devices become more advanced, so do efforts to thwart the robust systems securing those devices,” says Grau. “I’m excited to speak with Raymond about the next generation of security practices, including post-quantum cryptography, and hope that our conversation gives designers a jumping-off point for designing with security in mind.” The third installment will also feature two articles focused on the IoT trusted zone and the key to embedded security, as well as an infographic highlighting security’s critical role in connected vehicles. The Designing for Security installment is sponsored by Mouser’s valued manufacturer partners Analog Devices, Infineon Technologies, Microchip Technology, NXP Semiconductors, STMicroelectronics and Xilinx. Upcoming topics in the 2022 EIT program will explore driver monitor systems, private 5G networks and autonomous mobile robots. The program will spotlight timely product developments and discover the technical developments needed to stay timely with innovation in the marketplace.
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Pozyx and ART4L team up to deliver highly accurate AR-based operator location guidance & vision picking solution
Pozyx, an industry-leading provider of RTLS (real-time location systems), and ART4L, a key player for connected operator guidance, have joined forces to supply a new AR-based operator location guidance and vision picking solution. The system is based on a combination of Pozyx’s UWB-based (ultra-wideband) RTLS (real-time location system) and ART4L’s Smartpick offering and results in one of the most powerful and most accurate vision picking applications available today. It unites accurate positioning with augmented reality technologies to provide precise picking instructions and deliver a flawless picking operation. It pinpoints the optimal route and helps order pickers to get their job done efficiently. The use of real-time location data adjusts the route to steer clear of moving obstacles like forklifts or temporary aisle blockers like stocking pallets. Piet van Remortel, Partner & CEO of ART4L stated, “Our Smartpick system based on the Pozyx RTLS will optimize pick routes and therefore reduce travel time and picking errors, and boost warehouse worker performance. Smartpick also enables dynamic routing to avoid congestion in high-traffic environments and prevent collisions. It will re-organize tasks and routes to increase the overall warehouse safety and performance. The Smartpick user interface is intuitive and easy to understand and learn and comes with universally recognizable visual instructions in the AR glasses or handheld device. This reduces the required training to a minimum resulting in reduced worker fatigue, a low-stress environment, and eventually better employee retention.” Samuel Van de Velde, Founder & CEO of Pozyx stated, “Believe it or not, manual logistics processes still dominate in many warehouses. Our combined offering for automated warehouse picking is a great example of how we bring increased efficiency to the floor. The system results in increased picking speed and worker productivity, overall warehouse efficiency gain, and enhanced operator safety. We are proud to be able to make the difference in a highly competitive market with great operational complexity.” To learn more on the combined Pozyx/ART4L solution in action, please view https://www.pozyx.io/case-studies/logistics-warehousing The combined solution from ART4L and Pozyx is live in Fabriek Logistiek, the Belgian test and demo center which is fully equipped with state-of-the art warehouse and logistics technologies.
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Nuvoton NuMaker-HMI-N9H30 evaluation board has been certified by LVGL
Nuvoton NuMicro® HMI platform supports multiple graphics libraries, such as LVGL, emWin, and Qt, and includes a versatile NuMaker-HMI-N9H30 evaluation board (EVB) which has passed the LVGL board’s certification. The certified board can support LVGL’s rich widgets and features, such as animation, anti-aliasing, transparent, smooth sliding, and multiple layer alpha blending. It helps users build up dynamic GUI effects easily and provides another option in GUI development. The LVGL is an open-source, lightweight graphics library. Nuvoton NuMicro HMI platform’s microcontrollers (MCU) and microprocessors (MPU) provide sufficient hardware resources to unleash LVGL’s dynamic effects, bringing better user experiences to the embedded GUI. The NuMicro HMI platform provides complete GUI solutions, including low-power, security, high-performance Arm® Cortex®-M0, Cortex-M23, and Cortex-M4 MCUs and the large DDR SRAM Arm9 MPU to fulfill the industrial control and smart device requirements. In addition, it provides rich development resources and a complete ecosystem, including Non-OS, RTOS, Linux OS, the mainstream IDE, such as Keil, IAR, and Eclipse, the programmer and debugger tools, and the popular graphics libraries of LVGL, emWin, and Qt, to reduce development time and costs. The LVGL-certified board, NuMaker-HMI-N9H30 EVB, is based on the NuMicro N9H30 series microprocessor (MPU). With ARM926EJ-S core, the N9H30 series can operate up to 300 MHz and meet industrial-grade requirements at the operating temperature from -40°C to 85°C. The N9H30 series is stacked with a large DDR SDRAM up to 64 MB and equipped with a 2D graphics accelerator and a JPEG decoder to facilitate HMI applications. The NuMaker-HMI-N9H30 EVB provides rich peripherals and interfaces, including a 7” 800x480 TFT-LCD, two sets of 10/100 Ethernet, 1 set of USB 2.0 high-speed host, one set of USB 2.0 high-speed device, one set of CAN 2.0B, two sets of RS-232, one set of RS-485, seven sets of UART, and external Flash supporting the Micro-SD/TF card, 32 MB SPI-NOR and the 128 MB NAND. Furthermore, the mic-input and headphone out are provided. Nuvoton NuMicro HMI platform information https://www.nuvoton.com/products/gui-solution/gui-platform/ NuMaker-HMI-N9H30 demonstration https://www.nuvoton.com/products/gui-solution/gui-platform/numaker-hmi-n9h30/index.html Purchase information NuMaker-HMI-N9H30 - Nuvoton Direct https://direct.nuvoton.com/en/numaker-hmi-n9h30
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At InfoComm: New 4K and 8K HDMI Active Optical Cables
Celebrating its 40th year as the premier industry-trusted connectivity supplier, Covid Inc. today announced it will showcase its family of plenum and non-plenum 4K and 8K HDMI Active Optical Cables (AOC) in booth W1847 at InfoComm 2022, June 8-10 in Las Vegas. "The future is no less than UHD with momentum building toward 8K," said Norm Carson, President at Covid, Inc. "We're supporting integrators on projects with the cable assemblies to support ultra-high-definition 4K and 8K signals over long distances. Along with up to 8K UHD video signal transfer, these cables provide the highest quality and value for commercial installations." The 4K HDMI AOC cable transmits UHD resolutions up to 2160p @ 60Hz (4K - 18G). They support multichannel audio, Dolby TrueHD, and DTS-HD Master Audio and are EDID, CEC, and HDCP compliant. The 4K plenum cables are available for a variety of lengths up to 300 feet. Models are available with a unique detachable connector that pulls easily through tight spaces or conduits, and snaps back into place once the cable is installed. For 8K installations, the company offers a plenum HDMI AOC that supports resolutions up to 7680p @ 120Hz (8K - 48G) at distances up to 100 feet. More information about Covid Inc. is available at covid.com
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Crocus Delivers the Future of High Precision, High Current Contactless Isolated Current Sense
Crocus Technology Inc., the leading supplier of disruptive TMR (Tunnel Magneto-Resistance) XtremeSense® sensors, today announced the CT45x family of contactless isolated current sensors to enable high precision and high current measurements in a more simplified solution. Unlike existing solutions, the CT45x allows manufacturers to eliminate costly shields, concentrators or cores. The CT452 and CT453 offers contactless 0.7% accuracy, 1 MHz bandwidth, and better than -50 dB immunity to external magnetic fields without additional mechanical components. This combination of performance and accuracy enables customers to reduce their overall product size and weight which enables them to replace large and costly current sense modules with a small and simple solution. As current requirements have been increasing so have the challenges of accurately measuring high currents, typically >200 A and often up to 2,000 A. Shunt resistors with isolated amplifiers are broadly used but present an issue with I2R losses and tend to be large and costly. Existing magnetic based solutions like Hall Effect and AMR are less accurate and have high temperature drift. The CT45x products are based on XtremeSense TMR technology that delivers the future with a high signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) contactless approach which can scale with the system requirements, high bandwidth and fast response time, common-model field rejection, combined with high accuracy measurements over temperature. In addition, many applications now require very accurate current measurements in the milliamp range up to the 1,000 A range or more. Often this type of solution involves multiple current sensors to achieve the desired system performance with many design compromises and complexities. Using Crocus’ XtremeSense TMR current sensors allows for a no-compromise and simple solution using a single CT45x sensor which provides a large dynamic range and a high SNR. For example, the CT45x is able to measure down to 500 mA resolution and up to 1,800 A while maintaining better than 0.7% accuracy. The CT45x offers groundbreaking noise performance, as low as 0.55 mVRMS, to enable applications to sense small current levels and small changes or variations in current through a busbar. This performance is almost 10 times better than existing Hall Effect solutions. This results in a SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) as high as 77 dB for the CT45x measurement which allows the system to process higher resolution data with higher accuracy. “With the introduction of the CT45x family of contactless current sense products, we now have a complete portfolio of products for our customers from small currents to larger currents,” states Zack Deiri, President and CEO of Crocus Technology. “This product based on Crocus’ cutting-edge TMR technology is the most exciting for us as the benefits of our XtremeSense TMR are addressing the needs of higher current applications that can’t be met with existing solutions without compromises. Crocus is excited to be addressing new high current markets such as BMS, Inverters, DC/DC Converter and many others.” Product features and performance: CT450 & CT452 (5 V version) & CT453 (3.3 V version) Isolated Contactless Current Sensor Capable of measuring currents from 5 mA to >2,000 A Total output error ±0.7% Full-Scale 300 ns response time, 1 MHz bandwidth Available in six different configured field ranges Protection capability with Over Field Detection (OFD) Integrated Common Mode Field Rejection (CMFR) with >90% immunity (CT452/3) Uniform magnetic field sensing (CT450) Targeting applications in EV Chargers, Battery Management Systems (BMS), DC/DC Converters, 48-V system, Bidirectional Charging and AC/DC Inverters. The CT450 is available in TSSOP-8 package. The CT452/3 are available in TSSOP-16 package For more information, please visit the product webpage.
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IDTechEx Discusses the Effect Walmart’s RFID Mandate Will Have On RFID Adoption in Retail
The big news in the RFID industry at the start of 2022 was Walmart's announcement — the world’s leading retailer revealed plans to expand RFID use from retail apparel to other retail departments. The retailer requested that its suppliers for the departments listed above place Gen 2 UHF RFID tags, which has a frequency of 902-928 megahertz, on all items delivered to Walmart. (1) Home departments – Kitchen & Dining, Home Décor, Bath & Shower, Bedding, Furniture & Luggage, Closet & Organization (2) Entertainment departments – Toys, Electronics, Wireless (3) Hardlines departments – Sporting Goods, Automotive tires, and batteries According to Walmart, UHF RFID tags were adopted in its retail apparel sector in 2020, and inventory management has improved dramatically since then, resulting in a better in-store shopping experience for customers, additional online and in-store pickup opportunities, and improved sales potential. This is considered the primary motivator for Walmart to expand RFID deployment to other categories. The use of UHF RFID proliferated initially in retail in the apparel and footwear segments. Last year, more than 70% of UHF RFID tags are utilized in that two segments combined, according to IDTechEx, a market research firm that has been monitoring RFID for more than 20 years. “UHF RFID business in retail apparel and footwear tagging is still by far the largest UHF RFID market by tag volume as well as market value, and it will remain so for the next ten years since the payback is well-proven. We see retailers are rolling out in a cookie-cutter approach.” Stated IDTechEx CEO, Raghu Das. “As UHF RFID has shown to be very effective in the retail apparel and footwear tagging market, many leading players we spoke to are now looking at transferring this success to other business sectors.” Now, Walmart's announcement may potentially accelerate the UHF RFID adoption process in other retail segments, inevitably driving other retailers to follow suit. Despite RFID's bright future in retail, one issue that must be addressed is that the UHF reader network is nowhere near ubiquitous because it is mostly employed by businesses rather than consumers. UHF readers are becoming lower cost and ultimately may be integrated into consumer smartphones, as NFC often is. UHF reader smartphones are available now but mainly at price points where they are used in the industry, and they are not targeted at consumers. IDTechEx believes that as reader infrastructure becomes more widely available, RFID adoption will further accelerate in both retail for apparel&footwear and for other retail segments This includes moving beyond inventory management offering benefits such as customer engagement and advertising, which can be realized to justify the additional cost of RFID added to products. IDTechEx has studied the RFID market for more than 20 years. The latest version of the RFID market research report, “RFID Forecasts, Players and Opportunities 2022-2032”, provides a comprehensive overview covering passive RFID (for UHF, HF, and LF frequencies), battery-assisted passive, active RFID, and chipless RFID technologies, players, and markets. This report presents an unbiased analysis of primary data gathered through our interviews with key players throughout the value as well as secondary data from all available sources, and it builds on our expertise in the RFID industry. This report gives extensive forecasts and depth that no other source can match.
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BeBop Sensors Introduces First RoboSkin for Human-Like Sensing of Objects to Any Robot Part
BeBop Sensors, Inc. www.bebopsensors.com, the world leader in smart fabric sensor technologies, announced today the BeBop Sensors RoboSkin line of skin-like coverings for tactile awareness for humanoid robots and prosthetics. A true nervous system for robots at less than 1mm thick, RoboSkin is the only technology that fits all robotic body parts: limbs, fingers, feet, head, and torso, to make robots “feel” better. RoboSkin’s advanced fabric-based sensor skin can be shaped to any surface allowing quick tailoring to fit any robot, with spatial resolution and sensitivity that exceeds human abilities for a true partnership between humans and their robot helpers. The Missing Component to Make Robots More Human – the Sense of Touch Advances in robotics, such as vision and listening, are missing a key element -- the sense of touch, essential for practical human/robot interaction. As robots are quickly becoming part of our world, they need to interact and learn by sense of touch and feel. Flexible, reliable, and highly proprietary, BeBop Sensors’ RoboSkin provides this essential touch factor, with technology based on BeBop’s fabric sensors, with millions of sensors in daily use throughout the world and over 30 U.S. and international patents. Humanoid Robots -- a World Designed with and for Humans The Census Bureau predicts that for the first time ever, there will be more Americans over the age of 65 than under 18, with Japan having the oldest population with 30% over 65. In addition, “The Great Resignation” shows no sign of slowing down, with record numbers of people leaving the work force. Human-like robots are stepping up to this urgent need, augmenting humans in the workplace, hospitals, and homes; with roles in healthcare, as domestic help, in manufacturing, distribution, biohazards, and even in entertainment and companionship roles. A human shape ensures a robot should be able to perform any human task; to fit through any door and use every human tool. Robots do not need to have the environment made around their needs -- robots can do jobs humans want to avoid. Founder Keith McMillen said, “I have been working with roboticists refining our RoboSkin for 10 years. We are pleased we can make this important contribution to the worldwide effort to bring humanoid robots into our lives to help people live longer, healthier, and more enjoyable lives.” RoboSkin is available immediately for a variety of applications in robotics and prosthetics, including biohazard, digital health, IoT, VR/AR, automotive, law enforcement, testing, and more. For more information, see the video: https://youtu.be/BWBUhcbEE50 / website: www.bebopsensors.com BeBop Sensors BeBop uses smart fabrics to create elegant sensor solutions for OEMs. Where things or people interact, BeBop Sensors comprehends force, location, size, weight, shape and presence across any size, resolution and geometry. BeBop technology is robust and proven with millions of sensors in daily use. Based in Berkeley, California, BeBop Sensors makes things knowable for product designers and visionaries. For more information and demonstrations, see the BeBop Sensors website www.bebopsensors.com. About Keith McMillen, Founder & CTO, BeBop Sensors BeBop Sensors’ Founder & CTO, Keith McMillen started and sold two companies in his 40+ years innovating in the sensor and audio market. Zeta Music revolutionized stringed instruments and was sold to Gibson Guitars in 1992. Octiv, started in 2000, received funding from 3i and Intel Capital and was sold to Plantronics (NYSE:PLT) in 2005. McMillen is the inventor on numerous patents, has released hundreds of profitable products and published dozens of scholarly papers; as well as winning a Guthman Award in 2010. He received a BS in Acoustics from University of Illinois at Urbana.
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Find What You Need with Ease with Mouser’s Online Services and Tools and Help Center
Mouser Electronics, Inc., the industry’s leading New Product Introduction (NPI) distributor with the widest selection of semiconductors and electronic components™, offers a wealth of customer-focused online tools to simplify and optimize the selection and purchasing process. Helping customers to easily browse, select, and purchase products, Mouser’s Services and Tools page and Help Center give customers the ability to view and track orders, request technical support and data sheets, and place orders via API or EDI, among many other features. “Mouser’s commitment to a best-in-class customer experience extends beyond our wide product selection to include comprehensive online customer service resources,” said Mark Burr-Lonnon, Mouser’s Senior Vice President of Global Service & EMEA and APAC Business. “Our Help Center and Services and Tools page make it even easier for our customers to find and order the parts they need for their next design project.” Choosing the right components for designs can be complicated and time-consuming, often involving multiple purchases and detailed part lists. Mouser’s Services and Tools page provides valuable resources for design and engineering, as well as for quoting and purchasing. The Services and Tools page offers efficient, time-saving solutions, including FORTE the Intelligent BOM Tool®, order automation resources, and an extensive ECAD design library. Mouser customers can access the Services and Tools page by visiting https://www.mouser.com/servicesandtools/ or by clicking Services & Tools in the top navigation bar of any page on mouser.com. Mouser’s redesigned Help Center offers a single destination for convenient customer support resources and answers to frequently asked questions. The searchable Help Center provides customers with the information they need to create a My Mouser account for simplified ordering, in addition to quick links for finding a specific part or requesting a quote. Customers can find the Help Center at https://www.mouser.com/help/ or by clicking Help in the top navigation bar of any page on mouser.com
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Mouser Electronics New Product Insider: Almost 10,000 New Parts Added in First Quarter of 2022
As an authorized distributor, Mouser Electronics, Inc. is focused on the rapid introduction of new products and technologies, giving customers an edge and helping speed time to market from design chain to supply chain™. Over 1,200 semiconductor and electronic component manufacturer brands count on Mouser to help them introduce their products into the global marketplace. Mouser's customers can expect 100% certified, genuine products that are fully traceable from each manufacturer. Last quarter, Mouser launched more than 9,502 part numbers ready for shipment, including over 4,000 in March alone. Some of the products introduced by Mouser from January through March include: ams OSRAM TMF8820, TMF8821, & TMF8828 Multizone ToF Sensors : The TMF8820, TMF8821, and TMF8828 high-performance direct-time-of-flight (dToF) sensors achieve a 5-meter detection range, while the devices’ multi-lens array significantly widens the field of illumination. TE Connectivity Cat6A Industrial Mini I/O Connectors : TE's Cat6A Industrial Mini I/O connectors deliver a compact wire-to-wire and wire-to-board solution for reliable serial, bus, and Ethernet connections in industrial applications such as robotics, machinery, and more. Bourns SRP1038WA & SRP1265WA Shielded Power Inductors : Bourns SRP1038WA and SRP1265WA shielded power inductors are AEC-Q200 compliant, supporting high operating temperatures of up +165°C and harsh vibration operating environments. Cree LED CLQ6B 4-in-1 RGBW SMD LEDs : Cree CLQ6B devices are high-performance, four-color SMT LEDs with a wide viewing angle and high brightness, ideal for signage applications. To see more of the New Product Insider highlights, go to https://www.mouser.com/newproductinsider
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Evaluating the Sustainability of 3D Electronics, Discussed by IDTechEx
As electronics being increasingly ubiquitous, there is a clear trend toward greater integration. Rather than simply making space for a rigid 2D circuit board (PCB) within the product, electronic functionality will be either mounted conformally onto surfaces or incorporated within the structural materials. These emerging manufacturing methodologies can collectively be termed ‘3D electronics’. They offer greater design freedom, with opportunities for imaginative form factors to provide differentiation in consumer devices. However, this integration of electronic with structural functionality presents questions regarding sustainability. - Combating recycling difficulties Ease of recycling is generally the greatest sustainability concern for 3D electronics. Mounting electronic components, such as conductive traces, surface mount devices, micro-controllers, and sensors, within or on the surface of the main structural material makes separating out the different materials for recycling more challenging. In contrast, conventional manufacturing methods mean that the electronics can be removed and then the remaining plastic recycled. Despite this apparent difficulty, 3D/integrated electronics does offer some benefits to recyclability. The main benefit is the much-reduced material mix, which facilitates separation and sorting. 3D electronics means that components with electronic functionality can be constructed using just four different materials: for example, an LED lightbulb can be made from structural plastic, conductive ink, conductive adhesive, and the LEDs themselves. This is a substantial simplification relative to the conventionally manufactured alternative which generally incorporates a PCB. An additional benefit of integrating electronics within 3D structures is that recycling instructions can be embedded within the product by incorporating an RFID tag. When scanned on disposal, disassembly instructions, such as the precise location of surface mount components, can be obtained along with the material composition. - Environmental benefits of 3D electronics When assessing the sustainability of competing manufacturing methodologies, it is important to consider their environmental impact across the entire life cycle, and to also consider secondary consequences. It’s here that 3D electronics brings substantial sustainability benefits, primarily because integrating electronic and structural functionality enables a much more compact form factor as there is no need to incorporate a rigid PCB. This smaller factor brings two main benefits: fewer materials are used, and the device is much lighter. As such, less energy is used to manufacture the materials, and shipping the device (and its constituent parts) is more efficient. Furthermore, if the 3D electronics part is used in an electric vehicle or aircraft then the reduced weight will enable further energy savings. Given these benefits, complete life cycle analysis (LCA) generally shows a significant sustainability benefit for 3D electronics. While concerns around material separation are valid, this disadvantage is more than made up for by the reduced size, weight, and material mix. Furthermore, recycling technologies such as depolymerization that facilitate material separation are likely to become more widely utilized over time, resolving the main sustainability challenge. - A comprehensive overview Extensive insight into 3D electronics, including a more detailed assessment of the sustainability challenges and benefits, can be found in the recent IDTechEx report “3D Electronics/Additive Electronics 2022-2032”. This assesses the competing technologies that will enable PCBs to be replaced with integrated electronics, saving space, weight and reducing manufacturing complexity. It covers electronic functionality to 3D surfaces, in-mold electronics (IME), and fully 3D printed electronics. The report includes over 30 detailed company profiles based on interviews with major players across the different technologies. We also develop 10-year market forecasts for each technology and application sector, delineated by both revenue and area. We forecast the gradual decline of LDS and growth in extruded paste for consumer electronic antennas, and increased use of extrusion and aerosol, especially for automotive applications. The most substantial growth is predicted for IME, which we predict will be widely adopted in car interiors and the control panels of white goods. To find out more, please visit www.IDTechEx.com/3DElec. Sample pages are available to download for all IDTechEx reports.
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IDTechEx Discusses How the Biosensor Market Has Tripled in Just Two Years
IDTechEx have recently released “Biosensors for Point-of-Care Diagnostics 2022-2032: Technology, Opportunities, Players and Forecasts”, a market research report that evaluates the technologies and trends of point-of-care testing (POCT) devices within the medical diagnostics industry. This report covers the key technologies for point of care testing, including innovations in bioreceptors, transducers, and assay formats. IDTechEx examines how improvements in bioreceptor and transducer components are enabling testing at the point-of-care. Never before has point-of-care testing been so crucial to healthcare systems. In the last 2 years, COVID-19 has caused the point-of-care biosensors industry to expand by over 200%. This report explains the drivers causing the shift from conventional laboratory-based diagnostics toward point-of-care diagnostics performed directly at hospitals, clinics, offices, and at home. The IDTechEx report also analyzes the profound impact of COVID-19 on the market landscape and discusses how this will shape the future of point-of-care testing. - Bioreceptors and Transducers Biosensor-based POCT devices are composed of component technologies: bioreceptors which detect the marker of disease, and transducers which convert this event into a readable or measurable signal. “Biosensors for Point-of-Care Diagnostics 2022-2032: Technology, Opportunities, Players and Forecasts” examines biological receptors including enzymes, antibodies/antigens, and nucleic acids, and their applications within point-of-care are discussed. A key development over the past decade, which has been accelerated by the pandemic, is the move of molecular diagnostics to the point of care. In the report, IDTechEx examines the central role of PCR as the gold standard of testing, and how companies are developing technologies to bring PCR and other nucleic acid amplification techniques closer to the point-of-care. The report also assesses the state of CRISPR and aptamer technologies and whether these are suitable technologies for point-of-care biosensing. The report examines point-of-care technologies for the transduction of biological signals and segments transducers by optical (color and fluorescence) and electrochemical (amperometry and conductance) technologies, comparing these different approaches. It discusses the important differentiating theme of bioreceptor labeling. The report assesses the emerging application of graphene and carbon nanotubes for electrochemical transduction and the state of the technology. - POCT Formats Due to the emergence of the pandemic, there has been rapid growth in the unit sales of lateral flow assays and integrated cartridges in the last two years. The IDTechEx report discusses what these formats are, and how they are suited to test for COVID-19 and other diseases. The report considers the format design of a biosensor to suit the test’s overall process chain, and the importance of sample handling within this chain. It covers how different formats resolve the challenges around different process chains using methods such as microfluidics and centrifugation. For each format type, the report includes analysis of the manufacturing process and evaluation of key manufacturing and materials choices. - Market Outlook The global market for biosensors at point-of-care is forecast to reach $29.5 billion by 2032, with a CAGR of 4.8% since the pre-pandemic market. This will be mostly driven by the diabetes monitoring market. The new IDTechEx report, “Biosensors for Point-of-Care Diagnostics 2022-2032: Technology, Opportunities, Players and Forecasts”, includes granular, 10-year (2022 – 2032) forecasts of the sales revenue of segmented markets by applications such as COVID-19, diabetes, infectious diseases, cardiovascular diseases, pregnancy and fertility, fitness, and cancer. The forecasts discuss why diabetes is expected to become the largest application of biosensors in 2032, amongst other key trends. Forecasts are also segmented by formats of lateral flow assays, integrated cartridges, electrochemical test strips, and continuous glucose monitors. IDTechEx also forecasts the market segments by unit volumes. All assumptions and data points are clearly explained in the report and data spreadsheet. Please visit www.IDTechEx.com/Biosensors for more information.
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Hyperspectral Imaging Enables Improved Machine Vision, Discussed by IDTechEx
Machine vision is increasingly important for many applications, such as object classification. However, relying on conventional RGB imaging is sometimes insufficient – the input images are just too similar, regardless of algorithmic sophistication. Hyperspectral imaging adds the extra dimension of wavelength to conventional images, providing a much richer data set. Rather than expressing an image using red, green, and blue (RGB) values at each pixel location, hyperspectral cameras instead record a complete spectrum at each point to create a 3D data set, sometimes referred to as a hyperspectral data cube. The additional spectral dimension facilitates supervised learning algorithms that can characterize visually indistinguishable objects – capabilities that are highly desirable across multiple application sectors. Combining hyperspectral imaging with sensors capable of detecting light beyond 1000 nm enables even more information to be obtained, further enhancing the ability to distinguish different materials. - Agricultural surveying Insight into plant and soil health can be gained through hyperspectral imaging. Different bands or parts of spectrum are sensitive to various inputs (water, nitrogen, and so on), enabling issues such as nitrogen and water deficiency to be identified and rectified at an early stage. For agricultural surveying hyperspectral cameras are frequently mounted on unmanned ariel vehicles (UAVs, i.e., drones) to create spatial and temporal maps of the farms. Machine vision algorithms convert the hyperspectral data into nitrogen, water, and chlorophyll levels, crop and weed density, yield estimates and so. This information, coupled with GPS-enabled machinery, enables farmers to take site-specific action. - Industrial inspection In-line inspection, in which a line-scan hyperspectral camera records items passing beneath it on a conveyor belt, is a common installation approach. The camera speed can be adjusted and synchronized with the speed of the production line, ensuring that inspection covers 100% of the items in real-time. The processed data output, such as a sorting result, can be integrated into existing machine vision systems analogously to incumbent line-scan techniques. Specific inspection related applications include identifying foreign objects, sorting objects for recycling, distinguishing rock types, and even determining the thickness of thin films from optical interference patterns. One of the challenges facing industrial deployment of hyperspectral imaging is that converting the extremely data rich hyperspectral data cube (top right graphic) into tangible insights can be tricky, requiring specialist data analysis/machine learning skills. To address this, manufacturers are increasingly incorporating machine vision algorithms within the package they offer, so that the system outputs coordinates of classified objects rather than raw hyperspectral data cubes. - Consumer applications Perhaps unexpectedly, hyperspectral imaging can also be used in the consumer space for analyzing skin health. More specifically, the spatial distribution of different skin features (water, haemoglobin, etc) can be mapped due to their characteristic reflection spectrum. The technology can thus be used in skin-care clinics and even cosmetics counters to gain a better understanding of which products would be best suited to a particular customer. Ultimately, the hyperspectral cameras may end up in smartphones to enable bespoke cosmetics and skin-care products to be ordered from home. - A comprehensive overview The IDTechEx report, “Emerging Image Sensor Technologies 2021-2031: Applications and Markets”, outlines the current status and future applications for a wide range of emerging image sensor technologies. This includes hyperspectral imaging outlined here, but also emerging technologies for short-wave infra-red (SWIR) imaging that are likely to replace InGaAs, hybrid quantum dot or organic semiconductor on silicon sensors, thin film photodetectors, flexible x-ray detectors and more. Also included are highly granular 10-year market forecasts by revenue and volume (split by technology and application), along with multiple application case studies and technological/commercial readiness assessments. The report also includes multiple company profiles based on interviews with early-stage and established companies. Further details and downloadable sample pages can be found at www.IDTechEx.com/ImageSensor
