API
Technologies
on the Radar with
Innovative Solutions
Interview with Bel Lazar President & CEO of API Technologies
From FFT to Spectrum Analysis Wi GaN HardSwitching Converters
August 2014
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CONTENTS
TECH ARTICLE
Thread Lines Google’s Nest: G FROM FFT TO A Comparison of Thread & Wi-Fi
David Maliniak Technical Marketing Communication Specialist Teledyne LeCroy
Spectrum Analysis Accepted and used worldwide, the IEEE 802.15.4
PREFERRED FOR LOW POWER basics of fast-Fourier Because of the low power requirement, IEEE o set up an FFT802.15.4 on ahas become THE low-power standard for wireless networking, essentially low-power this post, we’ll take a Wi-Fi for sentroller devices that do not need to transmit scope can do with an much data. Like Wi-Fi, IEEE 802.15.4
uses the worldwide available 2.4GHz band. IEEE
is endorsing the standard technology further
TECH ARTICLE
strengthens the position of 802.15.4 industry-wide, compared to proprietary protocols such as Z-Wave. The other major building block that Thread is
Going from FFT to Spectrum Analysis
tfitted with software 802.15.4 uses 16 smaller channels (compared to WiFi using 3 channels), which provides IEEE e. After all, the object 802.15.4 with the agility to avoid Wi-Fi channels. e-domain waveform This collision avoidance has been implemented
using is IPv6. The IETF developed IPv6 to succeed IPv4, as IPv4 is running out of addresses, in
in the RF4CE standard, a standard that has been
addresses to unspeakably large numbers. With a device penetration expected to be in the tens or hundreds of billions by 2020, it is essential that
ounds kind of like a successfully used for several years in many
newer, modern TV’s and set-top boxes, replacing infrared remote controls.
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standard is the base of ZigBee as well as several other industrial standards like Wireless Hart and ISA-100. Therefore, the fact that Thread
particular in light of the arrival of the smart home and IoT. The Internet Protocol version 6 has increased the number of total possible web
more device addresses are made available.
pe such as Teledyne
Figure 1: Spectrum Analyzer software for the HDO series n optional Spectrum oscilloscopes provides an position intuitive user interface Thread’s endorsement strengthens the of 802.15.4. ields an oscilloscope e interface (figure 1). interfacer that is not up the spectrum analyzer dialog box (figure 2). From there, cy Drive en eased spectrum you can select a source trace from any input channel, math for incr analyzer. forces lope ve en spectrum operation, memory trace, or zoom trace. erters is analyzers,
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Figure 2: A closer look at the Spectrum Analyzer dialog box.
An important option is selection of weighting windows for the FFT. The software provides choices of Von Hann (Hanning), Hamming, Flat Top, and Blackman Harris.
TECH ARTICLE
The peaks-markers tab in the spectrum analyzer dialog box allows finding and labeling of up to 100 er peaks and the setting of up to 20 markers. Peak nent) lay (compo
Wi GaN: eGaN® FETs for Hard-Switching Converters at High Frequency
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nv (a) Top ility to ET’s ab alae table of peaks can be ace you w bypass detection is automatic; key tolets l chip sc po er afer leve s in the w s lie s ic T’ cy sit tio en f and setpo it up ra on the Just as with a radio-frequency (RF) spectrum analyzer, the displayed 3).para aN FE (figure e wer device ly, the eG as the imizes 1, it is o-averagsuch Second urecenter SP) min Ts, such meters main controls are center frequency and span, which serve n in figas e (WLC some eGaN FE gh As show packag inimize es as hi quency ci m re -f en to ci d gh ch shows a history of bandwidth. the the purpose of positioning the FFT trace. The user interface spectrogram display hi Finally, the ne effi Underat eters, su er ing [5]. The eak PA are desig d param series, ly and op te 0 e pp la 00 re ag su rt er of the sampling rate reports the maximum frequency that can be observed, spectral changes tio in natoseparate vi ually display grid. Up to EPC8 fixed ng loss , the av hi 10 itc ec w as -s gh rn connshown s as hi rcent. key hard 256ga ce. in vertically stacked fashion PR ngth. There are other which is one half of the oscilloscope’s sampling rate. spectra te retu aredu 25 pe rate in ctan er than ltage, source as a sepa be low oor pply vo 3). averaged common ate(figure e PA suFFTs and r in ns n th fo im r ca of el we on po t locatio ciency s output e pin-ou d scales. The software offersciethree age effi y versu operating modes: normal, B ially packag ing, aver effi nc ized PC essent e device tual PA ion. optimthe , th rthat rcent— ncep ly fo pe Co st ng at w average, and max hold. Average is useful in reducing signal What’s clear is addition ci 1: er er La 50 lo w loop of Spectrum Analyzer al ver Figure d ET op and redu and po ut pply an d shapes ciency to layo te loop cing fixed su gaan and pasoftware A keysuch tem effi lloscopes, entering noise so you can see more carrier or harmonic detail. Max instrument as bothto n to redu is isthe HDO resultsstininner layer Figure 3: Shown at top right is the Spectrogram display; ized [4]. where additio im ut In in yo s. m 0 PA la lation. Th ird (b) Fir n be oathsimple ncel ca EPC800 of theof s ca n x io ce hold helps with swept frequency measurements and in an easy-to-use interface that makes matter n, at an using er d spectrum analysis shown at tope to left and inanthe spectrum analyzer display is tic flu atio odul inductan pology nt pow magne of oper er. ption, m bridg on ation istask.ving the releva the cost inner lay peaks. iz ns a half- of fir r s st io button, which brings finding rare spurs. a quick a number selected fo er tim ct n w op dire t desig ) layer and (b) by ha also lo posing al layou nt e [10]. plished w in op 3: Optim Top (compone , and siz accom e 3. Figure ents flo (a) ements in figur device. op curr shown series gate lo mance yers, as or la rf nt Pe ue stem itching subseq king sy Hard-Sw lope trac ch al enve dards, su practic ion stan Hz. at ic 0M un 10 to comm s of up ea of ndwidth r is an ar uires ba t manne ance, efficien perform gh his in an hi s Interview with Bel Lazar, President & CEO of API Technologies ample d require one ex earch an vices. In API Technologies is a dominant technology provider of radio ement wer de frequency and microwave solutions, microelectronics, and security improv nt ching po oi -p technologies for critical and high-reliability applications. Their cy rcentage markets span the defense, aerospace, medical, industrial, and efficien to 30 pe nverter communications industries. co on ic ck rsus sil ertz bu ve ah t Ts eg EEWeb spoke with Bel Lazar, President & CEO of API Technologies, an m nific aN FE sig eG about the impact of their active antennas, growth in smart g ch in su us metering for the utility industry, and non-radio frequency products to why hieved as s for the gas and oil industry. Lazar also discussed the role of ssible e reason custom projects and their value. po e Th ar s. ET ency ci effi ts in vemen
COVER APIINTERVIEW Technologies
on theon Radar withRadar with Innovative Solutions API the Innovative Bel Lazar, President & CEO of API Technologies Solutions
Kit
ultiple:
FOMs witching s hard-s similar aN FET’ those of y, the eG er than e 2. It is w lo fig n in ur ficantly ow ni sh sig as re perform ETs, devices ce MOSF aN FET ltage eG esistan vo e e th gh th g that ou tin th no en es that rth s ev three tim MOSFET e two to ar tter than Ts aN FE eG of tings s. OSFET f the M
TECH WATCH
Ts eGaN FE tween rison be r is better). compa g FOM Ts (lowe -switchin e BGA MOSFE 2: Hard nc ta re sis gu Fi -re high on similar
and
Ayla Design Kit with Murata Wi-Fi Connectivity Module
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Wi-Fi le with able to quickly oT).
With Murata Wi-Fi Connectivity Module
3
THREAD Lines Google’s Nest A Comparison of Thread & Wi-Fi By Cees Links, CEO and Founder of GreenPeak Technologies
R
ecently Google’s Nest, along with Samsung, launched Thread, a new networking standard for smart homes and the Internet of things. Similar to Wi-Fi, it remains to be seen if Thread will become as
successful. The potential exists thanks to Thread’s inherent qualities, the big names behind it, and the momentum pushing it forward.
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TECH ARTICLE
5
IEEE 802.15.4 is the little brother of IEEE 802.11, which is known as Wi-Fi. THREAD WHAT? Like Wi-Fi, the new Thread standard combines existing standards: the IEEE 802.15.4 standard for low-power wireless data-communication, the well-known IETF (Internet Engineering Task Force) IPv6 standard, and several smaller building blocks for routing and meshing. IEEE 802.15.4 is often used for industrial applications and is the relatively unknown little brother of IEEE 802.11, which is well known as Wi-Fi. About a decade ago, the IEEE 802.15.4 working group was spun out of IEEE 802.11 with its main objective to build a worldwide, low-power radio networking standard for sentrollers, which are sensors, actuators, or controllers, such as thermostats, light switches, and security sensors. DIFFERENT STANDARDS AND SITUATIONS IEEE 802.11’s primary goal is to successfully achieve higher and higher data rates for video,
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audio, gaming, and other high bandwidthdemanding applications. IEEE 802.11 (WiFi) is for content sharing and distribution. However, supporting these high data rates also requires much power and drains batteries, and therefore the goal for IEEE 802.15.4 became not high data rate, but extended battery life via low-power requirements. Most people are used to the daily chore of recharging the batteries of laptop computers, tablets, and smartphones but would not want to do so for the predicted hundred or so wireless sentrollers that will be in our future smart homes. Instead, it is essential that these devices run on batteries for decades or not even require batteries at all. IEEE 802.15.4-based devices and sentrollers can require 1/10,000th or less power needed to operate Wi-Fi-based, high-bandwidth applications.
TECH ARTICLE
PREFERRED FOR LOW POWER Because of the low power requirement, IEEE 802.15.4 has become THE low-power standard for wireless networking, essentially low-power Wi-Fi for sentroller devices that do not need to transmit much data. Like Wi-Fi, IEEE 802.15.4 uses the worldwide available 2.4GHz band. IEEE 802.15.4 uses 16 smaller channels (compared to WiFi using 3 channels), which provides IEEE 802.15.4 with the agility to avoid Wi-Fi channels. This collision avoidance has been implemented in the RF4CE standard, a standard that has been successfully used for several years in many newer, modern TV’s and set-top boxes, replacing infrared remote controls.
Accepted and used worldwide, the IEEE 802.15.4 standard is the base of ZigBee as well as several other industrial standards like Wireless Hart and ISA-100. Therefore, the fact that Thread is endorsing the standard technology further strengthens the position of 802.15.4 industry-wide, compared to proprietary protocols such as Z-Wave. The other major building block that Thread is using is IPv6. The IETF developed IPv6 to succeed IPv4, as IPv4 is running out of addresses, in particular in light of the arrival of the smart home and IoT. The Internet Protocol version 6 has increased the number of total possible web addresses to unspeakably large numbers. With a device penetration expected to be in the tens or hundreds of billions by 2020, it is essential that more device addresses are made available.
Thread’s endorsement strengthens the position of 802.15.4.
7
Of the seven members of the Thread Group, five are also members of ZigBee.
THREADS AND BEES Therefore, combining IEEE 802.15.4 with IPv6 is a logical step. As expected, Thread is not the first to recognize this issue and propose this course of action, as the ZigBee Alliance had already made a similar step a few years ago. Unfortunately, for a number of reasons, the ZigBee IPv6 plans never really got the needed traction in the market. However, it is interesting to note that of the seven members of the Thread Group, five are also members of the ZigBee Alliance. The support of Google’s Nest may help swing the balance, or maybe the timing will be better now, or maybe the recognition of the emerging juggernaut that is the Internet of things, will finally make a difference.
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The ZigBee Alliance has expressed its willingness to work with Thread, since the ZigBee Alliance is the home organization for several other important network layers as well, such as PRO, RF4CE and Green Power. But for Thread there are also alternative options available. In many ways, by proposing new technology as well as educational and certification activities, Thread can be viewed as a “low-power Wi-Fi” organization, fitting neatly within the structure of the “high power” Wi-Fi Alliance. It is perhaps too early to tell, but with the arrival of the smart home and the IoT, interesting times lie ahead.
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GOING FROM FFT TO Spectrum Analysis
In earlier posts, we looked at the basics of fast-Fourier transforms (FFTs) and how to set up an FFT on a modern digital oscilloscope. In this post, we’ll take a brief look at what that modern scope can do with an FFT, provided that scope is outfitted with software that will let it take full advantage. After all, the object of an FFT is to transform a time-domain waveform into the frequency domain. Sounds kind of like a spectrum analyzer, no? When you take an oscilloscope such as Teledyne LeCroy’s HDO Series and add an optional Spectrum Analyzer software package, it yields an oscilloscope
Figure 1: Spectrum Analyzer software for the HDO series oscilloscopes provides an intuitive user interface
with a spectrum-analyzer-like interface (figure 1). You’re presented with a user interface that is not
up the spectrum analyzer dialog box (figure 2). From there,
unlike that of a stand-alone spectrum analyzer. Provided you’re familiar with spectrum analyzers,
you can select a source trace from any input channel, math operation, memory trace, or zoom trace.
the Spectrum Analyzer interface lets you bypass the intricacies of the FFT itself and set it up on the
Just as with a radio-frequency (RF) spectrum analyzer, the
oscilloscope using familiar parameters such as center frequency, span, and resolution bandwidth. Under the
main controls are center frequency and span, which serve the purpose of positioning the FFT trace. The user interface
hood, the software takes care of the sampling rate
reports the maximum frequency that can be observed,
and time-domain acquisition length. There are other
which is one half of the oscilloscope’s sampling rate.
settings as well, such as normal or averaged FFTs and choices of reference levels and scales.
The software offers three operating modes: normal, average, and max hold. Average is useful in reducing signal
In the case of the HDO oscilloscopes, entering spectrum analyzer mode is a simple matter of
noise so you can see more carrier or harmonic detail. Max
pushing the spectrum analyzer button, which brings
finding rare spurs.
10
hold helps with swept frequency measurements and in
TECH ARTICLE
David Maliniak Technical Marketing Communication Specialist Teledyne LeCroy
Figure 2: A closer look at the Spectrum Analyzer dialog box. An important option is selection of weighting windows for the FFT. The software provides choices of Von Hann (Hanning), Hamming, Flat Top, and Blackman Harris. The peaks-markers tab in the spectrum analyzer dialog box allows finding and labeling of up to 100 peaks and the setting of up to 20 markers. Peak detection is automatic; a table of peaks can be displayed (figure 3). Finally, the spectrogram display shows a history of spectral changes in a separate display grid. Up to 256 spectra are shown in vertically stacked fashion (figure 3). What’s clear is that the addition of Spectrum Analyzer software to an instrument such as the HDO results in an easy-to-use interface that makes spectrum analysis a quick task.
Figure 3: Shown at top right is the Spectrogram display; shown at top left and in the spectrum analyzer display is a number of selected peaks.
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By Alex Lidow, CEO Efficient Power Conversion (EPC)
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TECH ARTICLE
Wi GaN: eGaN FETs for 速
Hard-Switching Converters at High Frequency
The use of gallium nitride (GaN) offers the ability of creating higher performance power switching devices than silicon [1]. Even in its early stages, eGaN FET technology already outperformed the theoretical limits of MOSFETs in the metric of specific on-resistance for a given breakdown voltage [2]. Furthermore, these devices have, from the start, also shown superior figures of merit (FOMs) compared to silicon MOSFETs [3] for both hard- and soft-switching applications. But to improve incircuit efficiency in hard-switching applications requires not only improved device FOMs, but also improvements in printed circuit board layout (PCB) [4] and device package parasitics [5].
In particular, the minimization of both common source inductance (CSI) and power-loop inductance are vital to maximizing the inherent advantage that GaN transistors offer in applications. However, these are not the only important non-GaN device-specific parameters, as will be discussed. In this installment of Wi GaN, we will present hard-switching buck converter results switching at 10 MHz and give a breakdown of the converter losses. We will demonstrate the unmatched high frequency performance capability currently available using eGaN FETs and also highlight the current limitations to pushing to even higher switching frequencies.
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Envelope Tracking as Hard-Switching Frequency Driver One of the main driving forces for increased switching frequency converters is envelope tracking (ET) [6-9]. The key to ET’s ability to improve system efficiency lies in the power amplifier’s (PA) peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) requirements. As shown in figure 1, it is possible to achieve peak PA efficiencies as high as 65 percent with a fixed supply and operating point, but given PAPRs as high as 10, the average efficiency is likely to be lower than 25 percent. Through modulation of the PA supply voltage, i.e. envelope tracking, average efficiency can be improved to over 50 percent—essentially doubling the system efficiency and reducing PA losses by two thirds. In addition to reducing power consumption, modulation of the PA supply voltage also lowers the cost of operation, cooling requirements, and size [10].
Figure 1: Conceptual PA efficiency versus output power for fixed supply and ET operation.
Improving Hard-Switching Performance To achieve a practical envelope tracking system for current communication standards, such as LTE, requires bandwidths of up to 100MHz. Realizing this in an efficient manner is an area of active research and requires high performance, hard-switching power devices. In one example [11], a 20 to 30 percentage-point improvement in multimegahertz buck converter efficiency was achieved using eGaN FETs versus silicon MOSFETs. The reasons as to why such significant improvements in efficiency are possible are multiple: Firstly, the eGaN FET’s hard-switching FOMs [3] are significantly lower than those of similar onresistance MOSFETs, as shown in figure 2. It is worth noting that the eGaN FET devices perform better than MOSFETs even though the voltage ratings of eGaN FETs are two to three times that of the MOSFETs.
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Figure 2: Hard-switching FOM comparison between eGaN FETs and similar high on-resistance BGA MOSFETs (lower is better).
TECH ARTICLE
Secondly, the eGaN FET’s wafer level chip scale package (WLCSP) minimizes device parasitics [5]. The high-frequency eGaN FETs, such as the EPC8000 series, are designed to minimize some key hard-switching loss related parameters, such as a separate gate return connection to virtually eliminate common source inductance. Lastly, the device package pin-out locations and pad shapes allow for optimized PCB layout where both gate loop and power loop inductances can be minimized [4]. A key to layout optimization is magnetic flux cancellation. This is accomplished by having the relevant power and gate loop currents flow in opposing directions on subsequent layers, as shown in figure 3.
(a) Top (component) layer
(b) First inner layer
Figure 3: Optimal layout design for a half-bridge topology using an EPC8000 series device. (a) Top (component) layer and (b) first inner layer.
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Figure 4: Hard-switching buck converter efficiencies possible switching at 10MHz using eGaN FETs.
Benchmark Hard-Switching Efficiency Results Incorporating the above device, package, and PCB layout improvements, it is possible to achieve high conversion efficiencies, even at 10MHz, with a traditional buck converter, as shown in figure 4. To further push frequency capability with eGaN FETs, detailed loss analysis on the 42V to 20V efficiency results was conducted [12]. The loss analysis showed that there is a significant loss component (about 1W) associated with the gate driver used. These additional driver related losses can be broken down into two main components: additional drive capacitance, between the switchnode and ground that adds to the overall eGaN FET output capacitance (COSS) and bootstrap diode reverse-recovery charge related losses (QRR), as shown in figure 5.
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Furthermore, through improvements in gate driver design, it should be possible to minimize these parasitic loss components. The theoretical efficiency improvements using an optimized gate driver and existing eGaN FETs are shown in figure 6. This could realize up to a 50 percent reduction in light-load losses and more than 3 percent efficiency improvement at heavy load. Summary eGaN FETs, with a combination of improved switching figure of merit, low parasitic packaging, and optimized device pin-out to minimize parasitic PCB layout inductance, enable the ability to switch in the tens of megahertz range and at tens of volts. Conclusions based on the analysis of the efficiency results presented show that further efficiency improvement is possible by addressing the limitations within the gate driver, which would result in a further increase in maximum switching frequency capability.
TECH ARTICLE
References [1] M.A. Khan, G. Simin, S.G. Pytel, A. Monti, E. Santi, J.L. Hudgins, “New Developments in Gallium Nitride and the Impact on Power Electronics,” IEEE Power Electronics Specialists Conference, PESC ‘05. pp. 15-26, June 2005. [2] D. Reusch, J.T. Strydom, A. Lidow, “Improving System Performance with eGaN® FETs in DC-DC Applications,” 46th International Symposium on Microelectronics, IMAPS 2013, Oct. 2013. [3] J.T. Strydom, “eGaNTM – Silicon Power Shoot-Out: Part 1 Comparing Figure of Merit (FOM),” Power Electronics Magazine, Sept. 2010. Figure 5: Breakdown of converter loss components taking gate driver parasitics into account. 10 MHz, 42 VIN, 20 VOUT
[4] D. Reusch, J. Strydom, “Understanding the Effect of PCB Layout on Circuit Performance in a High Frequency Gallium Nitride Based Point of Load Converter,” Power Electronics, IEEE Transactions on, vol.29, no.4, pp. 2008-2015, April 2014 [5] D. Reusch, D. Gilham, Y. Su, F.C. Lee, “Gallium Nitride based 3D integrated non-isolated point of load module,” Applied Power Electronics Conference, APEC 2012. pp. 38-45. Feb. 2012. [6] S. Cummins, “Addressing the Battlefield Communications Power Gap,” Microwave Journal, Aug 2009. [7] OpenET alliance, “Introduction to envelope tracking,” http://www.open-et.org/Intro-to-ET-pa-712.php. [8] J. Staudinger, B. Gilsdorf, D. Newman, G. Norris, G. Sadowniczak, R. Sherman, T. Quach, “High efficiency CDMA RF power amplifier using dynamic envelope tracking technique,” IEEE Microwave Symposium Digest., vol. 2, pp. 873-876, June 2000. [9] S. Baker, “Applying Envelope Tracking to High-Efficiency Power Amplifiers for Handset and Infrastructure Transmitters,” Cambridge Wireless Radio SIG, 14 July 2011. [10] J. Hendy, “Transmitter power efficiency,” Broadcast Engineering Magazine, Nov. 2009.
Figure 6: Buck converter efficiency and power loss versus output power showing actual results (dashed lines) and calculated values based on improvements in driver capacitance and bootstrap diode recovery. 10 MHz, 42 VIN, 20 VOUT
[11] D. Cucak, M Vasić, O Garcia, J.A. Oliver, P. Alou, J.A. Cobos, “Application of eGaN FETs for highly efficient Radio Frequency Power Amplifier,” Integrated Power Electronics Systems, CIPS 2012, pp.1-6, March 2012 [12] J. Strydom, D. Reusch, “Design and Evaluation of a 10 MHz Gallium Nitride Based 42 V DC-DC Converter,” Applied Power Electronics Conference, APEC 2014. pp. 1510-1516. Feb. 2014.
eGaN® FET is a registered trademark of Efficient Power Conversion Corporation.
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COVER INTERVIEW
API
Technologies
on the Radar with
Innovative Solutions
Interview with Bel Lazar, President & CEO of API Technologies API Technologies is a dominant technology provider of radio frequency and microwave solutions, microelectronics, and security technologies for critical and high-reliability applications. Their markets span the defense, aerospace, medical, industrial, and communications industries. EEWeb spoke with Bel Lazar, President & CEO of API Technologies, about the impact of their active antennas, growth in smart metering for the utility industry, and non-radio frequency products for the gas and oil industry. Lazar also discussed the role of custom projects and their value.
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What does API Technologies do? What is it best known for? API Technologies designs and manufactures high performance systems, subsystems, modules, and components for technically demanding radio frequency (RF), microwave, millimeter wave, electromagnetic, power, and security applications. Our technology is used by over 3,000 commercial and military customers and in over 300 U.S. and international defense programs. Though, we are probably best known for signals technology—namely our RFmicrowave products. What are some exciting new technologies that API is working on? In our European operation, we developed an active antenna array unit for AESA applications, which is an exciting product for us. We are one of the few merchant companies that are doing these designs. In the U.S., we recently introduced a series of high-powered amplifiers that are
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leading edge in terms of this technology. We have also introduced a set of new products for POL (point of load) for power management in the microelectronics area. What are your active antennas and what problems do they solve? Traditional radar technology is cumbersome and requires the user to physically move the device to get a better signal. Radar has evolved in its own way to a different type of radar called the active electronically scanned array, or AESA. Our solution acts as a significant subsystem that enables the user to leverage RF-microwave technology to better direct the radar for higher accuracy. Our solution is flexible because it is comprised of a variety of different pieces—it has transmit-receive modules that are grouped together. Its flexibility allows the device to be better maintained in the field and a lot more cost-effective to run than its predecessors. Our technology has the potential to transform the AESA radar market.
COVER INTERVIEW
“Our technology has the potential to transform to the AESA radar market.” We use our Quad Transmit Receive Modules (QTRM) as the building block to establish the antenna array. Depending on the customer’s requirements, we can add more QTRMs. This system also incorporates failure safety levels such that if 20 percent of your module is failing, your unit will continue to be operational. It is also swappable, so that you can take what we call a “plank,” which consists of multiple QTRMs, and you can plug in the “plank” and it will automatically calibrate itself. We also have included a water-cooling system around the system to prevent it from overheating. We also do all of the housekeeping of the back-end electronics. The only thing that the customer has to do is provide the antenna calibration. The product is then system-ready to go into any AESA-type application. What are some of the challenges API is facing that need to be addressed in the next few years? Obviously, the spectrum is limited. 35 percent of our revenue is from high-reliability commercial applications. We are trying to expand our presence in wireless communication. We provide the most advanced filters that can separate the signals in applications to allow communication in case of emergency.
“Smart metering has developed beyond having a small collection point to having seamless wireless networks that allow automatic reading.”
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We are also seeing a big emergence in the smart metering industry—automated meter reading for the gas, electricity, and water utilities. Instead of these companies manually going out and reading meters, they are collecting that data wirelessly. Smart metering has developed beyond having a small collection point to having seamless wireless networks where things can be read automatically. We have been enabling technologies like multiplexers and filter products that fit well within their system architecture. When we think about that wireless space, the things we are doing with gallium nitride or GaN amplifiers—which are smaller, lighter, more efficient—allow us to meet the bandwidth performance needed in the wireless market. The oil and gas segment is unique apart from communications. What challenges does API face there? The challenge in this market is that they want something now, and if you are not able get something immediately to them that can operate at extremely high temperatures, than you are out. You need to be able to get designs in quickly that can deliver a product in a very short period of time. By leveraging our experience in high reliability products for other inhospitable environments such as military and space, we are more than capably meeting these demands. For example, in the oil and gas market, you are typically dealing with applications in moist and high temperature environments that are troublesome to electronics. We understand these challenges and as the oil and gas industry looks to move towards more connected and network solutions, they are turning to providers like API to make high reliability electronic solutions for both power management and RFmicrowave electronic solutions.
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“As the oil and gas industry looks to move towards more connected and network solutions, they are turning to providers like API to make high reliability electronic solutions.”
How much of API’s business is custom projects? Three years ago, API’s business consisted of 95 percent custom projects and 5 percent standard products; today we have about 75 percent custom and 25 percent standard. Our goal is to get close to a 60/40 mix in order to drive efficiencies and lower costs. We’ve done much in the last few years in terms of new product introductions so that we now offer standard products. We can go directly to the customer, and give them what they need with reduced design time as compared to custom products. Overall our aim here is to leverage our heritage and innovative technologies and give customers the products they need to optimize their designs and realize successful applications.
Ayla Design Kit T
he Ayla Design Kit features a Murata Wi-Fi connectivity module. By utilizing this module with the embedded Ayla agent, developers are able to connect products to the Ayla cloud service and quickly create applications for the Internet of Things (IoT).
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TECH WATCH
With Murata Wi-Fi Connectivity Module
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Hardware 1 2
3
1
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Ayla Development Board
2
Murata Wi-Fi Module
3
STM32F Discovery Board
TECH WATCH
Specs The Murata type YD certified module equips developers with a precertified, fully integrated 802.11 b/g/n Wi-Fi module based on Broadcom’s BCM43362 chipset and an ST Micro STM32 ARM Cortex-M3 MCU. Wi-Fi and transmission control protocol/Internet protocol (TCP/IP) network stacks, security features, and other network application software are preloaded on the module. The type YD module has universal asynchronous receiver/transmitter (UART), and serial peripheral interface (SPI). In addition, it can be used as a simple serial-to-Wi-Fi connectivity solution in any application using those interfaces. The Murata module with Ayla’s embedded agent enables connection to Ayla’s platform, an end-to-end connectivity solution for IoT applications with the ability to remotely monitor performance and diagnostic information and as well as deploy firmware upgrades from computers and mobile devices. Prototyping with the kit can be done with the on-board STM32F discovery development board, or by connecting your microcontroller (MCU) to the SPI or UART headers.
Watch Video To watch a video overview and demonstration on use of the Ayla Design Kit, click the image below:
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