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The popular Demystifying EMC event connects experts in the industry and provides practical demonstrations, networking opportunities and discussions on the latest trends and techniques. The 2023 event will take place in-person, with two dates announced for the UK in Reading and Leeds in April.

Rohde & Schwarz has announced the UK dates and venues for the in-person Demystifying Electro Magnetic Compatibility Global Tour. The two UK events will take place on 25 April in Reading and 27 April in Leeds.

With a mixture of expert presentations, practical demonstrations and lively discussions, the seminars will get to the heart of current EMC issues. EMC expert from Rohde & Schwarz James MacAlonan will be joined on stage by well known industry expert, Lee Hill of Silent Solutions LLC for a day of insightful and educational sessions covering many modern EMC topics and techniques.

The first session with James MacAlonan will be on ‘The Meaning of Time’, where he will dive into how spectrum analysers and receivers make measurements and how the dwell/sweep time affects what we can see from that measurement. The second presentation will take an in-depth look at Fast Fourier Transforms (FFT); how they differ from traditional measurement methods and how can they be implemented with today’s test equipment.

The programme will also feature a two part presentation by Lee Hill, entitled: Getting Good with Ground. Lee will demonstrate and present intuitive ways to understand ground in electrical schematics, PCB layouts, and electronic enclosure installations, focusing on the function and impact of ground on regulatory (EMC) and functional noise problems.

Each event will conclude with a session of questions from the audience.

Event details:

• 25 April 2023

Select Car Leasing Stadium

Reading, RG2 0FL

https://events.rohde-schwarz.com/profile/form/index.cfm?PKformID=0x24131abcd

• 27 April 2023

Weetwood Hall Estate

Leeds, LS16 5PS

https://events.rohde-schwarz.com/profile/form/index.cfm?PKformID=0x24188abcd

For further information and to register for free to attend DEMC 2023, please visit: https://www.rohde-schwarz.com/us/solutions/test-and-measurement/events/demc_254232.html

ABB is proud to announce the launch of its new film series: Unstoppable. This series aims to promote diversity and profile three remarkable female leaders in the mining, pulp and paper, and metals industries.

Unstoppable highlights the inspiring stories of three women who have broken down barriers and made significant contributions to their respective industries. Through this series, ABB aims to raise awareness of the importance of diversity and inclusion; and encourage more women to pursue careers in STEM fields.

The first film in the series features Marjorie Boles, Chief Information Officer at Sappi, a visionary in the pulp and paper industry who has transformed her company with her passion for digitalization.

The second film profiles Tove Thelin Tдckdal, Concentrating Plant Manager at Copperstone Resources, a trailblazer in the mining industry who has dedicated her career to promoting sustainability and innovation in the sector. 

The final film highlights Chithra Sharma, Chief Commercial, Engineering and Projects for Capital Procurement at Tata Steel, a pioneering leader in the metals industry who has pushed boundaries and challenged the status quo to drive growth and competitiveness.

By shining a spotlight on strong female role models in industries where the greatest disparities exist, ABB aims to influence others to come forward and play a part in Unstoppable. The directors of the series hope to make a positive difference and bridge known gender gaps. According to the World Economic Forum, women make up only 22 percent of the global mining workforce, underscoring the urgency to foster diversity and inclusion in this and many other traditionally male-dominated sectors.

“We’re not doing well enough to ensure diversity in our industries and know there are many dynamic career paths open to women,” said Joanne Woo, Global Head of Communications, Process Industries, ABB. “This is why we’re proud to launch the Unstoppable film series, which showcases the incredible achievements of women in industry.”

“The adage holds true: if you can see it, you can be it. Raising the visibility of women in industry is vital in breaking down gender stereotypes and showcasing role models. Through our series we aim to ignite a spark that will encourage others to join the movement towards a more diverse and inclusive workplace.”

“At ABB, we believe that diversity is a key driver of innovation and progress, and we are committed to promoting equal opportunities for all,” said Joachim Braun, President of Process Industries, ABB. “Our target is to double the representation of women in senior management positions at ABB by 2030.”

“Leadership must take responsibility for driving change in diversity and inclusion. It is not only a moral imperative but a business necessity. Leaders must actively work to hire, advance and support women in the workplace, and create a culture that empowers them to succeed.”

“Being unstoppable is not about never facing obstacles, but rather about finding the courage to overcome them. I hope that by sharing my story, I can inspire other women to pursue their dreams and break down barriers in their own industries,” said Marjorie Boles, Chief Information Officer at Sappi and featured leader in the Unstoppable film series. 

“Unstoppable is designed to be more than a film series. It is a call to action to drive greater diversity and inclusion in the workplace and an encouragement to others to follow in the footsteps of these incredible women. ABB invites everyone to join in the conversation and help create a more inclusive and diverse world,” said Joanne Woo.

For more information on ABB and the Unstoppable film series, visit https://campaign.abb.com/unstoppable.

The shareholders of TE Connectivity, a world leader in connectivity and sensors, elected Jean-Pierre Clamadieu, chairman of the board of directors of ENGIE S.A., and former chief executive officer and chairman of the executive committee of Solvay S.A, to TE’s board of directors during the 2023 Annual General Meeting on March 15.

“We are very pleased to have Mr. Clamadieu join as a new director to TE’s board,” said TE Connectivity Chairman Tom Lynch. “He brings a range of valuable expertise to the board. He has held multiple global leadership positions, including as a two-time CEO of global chemicals companies, and has proven himself as an effective leader both in times of financial crisis and in growth. He has held numerous independent director and chairman roles with international companies across the aerospace, financial services, utilities, chemicals and industrial sectors which are relevant to TE Connectivity. Mr. Clamadieu has strong international business experience, making him a valuable asset to provide essential business guidance to the board and the company.”

Mr. Clamadieu is chairman of the board of directors of ENGIE S.A., a French multinational utility company mainly active in the power and gas sectors, where he was first appointed in May 2018 and reelected in April 2022 for 4 years. From 2011 to 2019, Mr. Clamadieu served as chief executive officer and chairman of the executive committee of Solvay S.A., a Belgian multinational chemical company. In 1993, he joined the Rhône-Poulenc group where he held several management positions. Following the creation of Rhodia SA as a spin-off of the chemicals and polymers activities of Rhône-Poulenc, Mr. Clamadieu held a variety of leadership roles in the organisation, including chairman and chief executive officer from 2008 to 2011. In September 2011, Rhodia was acquired by the Solvay Group. Between 1981 and 1993, he held various positions in the French Public Service. Mr. Clamadieu graduated from École Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Paris with an engineering degree. He is chief engineer of the Corps of Mines.

Panasonic Industry, a leading manufacturer of electronic components, has announced the launch of its latest relay, the HE-R, which has undergone enhanced short circuit testing to deliver a reliable and safe solution for customers in the EV charging industry.

The HE-R relay’s rigorous testing includes IEC62955, a 10kA short circuit test. This means that customers can now specify their 22kW wallbox for up to 32A @ 10kA short circuit current, providing a high level of protection for EV charging equipment. 

In addition, the smaller HE-S relay now conforms to the IEC62955 standard for 3kA short circuits. This feature allows customers to use the HE-S series for wallboxes rated at up to 16A, offering greater flexibility in the selection of charging equipment for a wide range of applications.

“With the official VDE extensions of the HE-R and HE-S relays, we are proud to offer our customers an enhanced short circuit testing solution,” said Bernd Jaschinski, Product Manager at Panasonic Industry. “Our customers in the EV charging industry require reliable and safe components, and both HE-R and HE-S relays meet these requirements delivering a high level of protection and flexibility.”

The HE-R and HE-S relays are now available for purchase, and Panasonic Industry is confident that they will be a popular choice for customers in the EV charging industry. With its advanced features and reliable performance, the HE series is set to become a key component in the next generation of EV charging equipment. 

Learn more on Panasonic Industry’s energy-efficient power relays

Contrinex’s rugged, SMART inductive sensors, available from PLUS Automation, can help maintenance engineers implement condition-based monitoring (CBM) in legacy automation systems, adding functionality without significant reprogramming.

The SMART sensor’s ability for on-board decision-making based upon criteria including temperature, operating-cycle count, and its onboard data storage, can switch its binary outputs to trigger alarms or shut-down routines in the PLC, for example.

The Contrinex SMART sensor’s dual-channel capability enables a high-speed binary standard input/output (SIO) output to be triggered by an event-based exception. This addresses the PLC directly by the SIO signal, removing or reducing the need to disturb the legacy PLC code.

The SMART inductive sensor’s multi-channel monitoring circuitry allows users to define multiple customised output thresholds and their high-speed device-to-device communication, can be utilised to pass data between sensors without reference to the PLC. Their shielding and EMC immunity eliminate interference when multiple devices operate in close proximity to each other.

Contrinex’s proven high-performance sensor technology ensures highly reliable fit-and-forget operation with no manual intervention. The local storage of the individual device configurations enables plug-and-play replacement of sensors if they are damaged by external impact for example.

Contrinex’s new Smart phone app and PocketCodr simplify the programming of SMART inductive sensors enabling designers and engineers to quickly unlock new sensing potential.  The graphical user interface, includes ‘Action Widgets’ which enable users to interact directly with the sensors, see real-time parametric changes on live data charts, and store, and retrieve settings.

The PocketCodr not only simplifies the configuration and commissioning of SMART sensors, but it also allows engineers to set up and interrogate any IO-Link-enabled device. For example, we have used it to reconfigure normally-open sensors, into normally-closed sensors, for a customer.

Analog Devices, Inc. is the proud winner of the 2023 “embedded award” in the “Embedded Vision” category. During embedded world 2023 Exhibition and Conference (March 14-16), the company was awarded by an expert jury for its ADTF3175 high-resolution, industrial quality, indirect Time-of-Flight (ToF) module for 3D depth sensing and vision systems. Analog Devices received the award during the award ceremony which took place in Nuremberg on March 14.

The jury was especially impressed that the module advances the accuracy and quality of depth imaging such that autonomous machines can operate more efficiently and at a faster rate through the use of a one megapixel sensor, enabling the ADTF3175 to resolve 3D images with an accuracy of +/-3mm over the full depth range of 20cm up to approximately 4m.

“The goal of the ADTF3175 is to enable easier access to high-performance ToF technology while bringing to bear Analog Devices’ expertise and understanding of the industrial market with respect to technical challenges,” said Peter Hellstroem, Vice President of Sales EMEA at ADI, who accepted the award on behalf of the organisation. “By bringing this module to market, ADI is fostering the acceleration of the next generation of automation solutions. We are delighted to see our technology being recognised by the independent jury of this prestigious award.”

For details regarding ADI’s presence at embedded world, please visit ADI’s embedded world 2023 web page.

The SHSLab is a powerful and comprehensive wavefront measurement solution from Micro-Epsilon. Developed by Optocraft GmbH, a member of the Micro-Epsilon group of companies since 2018, SHSLab Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensors are used for applications such as optics testing, optics alignment and laser beam characterisation. Wavefront sensors are used in production and R&D in optics manufacturing, laser industries, astronomy and space applications, as well as by contact- and intra ocular lens manufacturers, including mobile phone optics, microscope and photographic lenses.

A typical application is for the alignment of optical systems, where wavefront guiding facilitates and speeds up the alignment process significantly. The following application describes the alignment of a collimation lens in front of a light source, and the set up of a Kepler telescope. The discussed principle can be applied to many alignment applications, not just the specific example described below.

Alignment of collimating lens and Kepler telescope

In the test set up, a fibre-coupled LED is used emitting at 625nm. In the first step, the fibre end and the SHSLab Shack-Hartmann wavefront sensor (WFS) are mounted on a rail on an optical table. The WFS detects the spherical wave emitted by the fibre. In this situation, the wavefront curvature radius measured by the WFS is equal to the distance between the fibre end and the micro-lens plane of the WFS. This means it can be used to align the correct axial position of the fibre end.

A collimating lens is placed (focal length ƒ=60mm) in front of the fibre. First, the lens is aligned in the lateral direction by minimising the wavefront tilt α, which is directly related to the lateral misalignment Δx  between the lens and the fibre end: Δx = ƒ ^. tan α. Next, the lens is aligned in the axial direction by minimising the spherical power of the wavefront (resp. wavefront defocus). The spherical power D_sp is directly related to the axial misalignment:

Using a relatively simple centering stage for x-y alignment of the collimating lens, the tilt can be reduced to 0.007mrad. By displacing the lens along the rail in the z-direction, the beam can be collimated and a wavefront curvature radius of R_wf ≥ 110m can be achieved  (the achievable collimation is limited by the mechanical components of the setup, not by WFS measurement precision).

Now a Kepler telescope can be set up, which consists of two lenses with 40mm focal length. The first lens is mounted 40mm in front of the WFS, and the second lens is initially mounted 80mm in front of the first lens. In this roughly pre-aligned state, the wavefront shows a tilt of 0.5mrad and a curvature radius of 0.85m. Aligning the second lens of the Kepler telescope in the lateral and axial directions, again tilt is minimised and spherical power of the wavefront is transmitted through the telescope. In this way, the Kepler telescope can be quickly set up and precisely aligned to an afocal configuration. If tilt and defocus resulting from residual misalignments are subtracted, it is found that the setup consisting of collimating lens and Kepler telescope has a “corrected” wavefront rms of 0.027µm (on 5mm pupil diameter). This corresponds to a Strehl ratio of 0.92, i.e. the setup is well diffraction limited.

Sensitivity of the alignment signal

In the above scenario, where the light emitted by the fibre is collimated by the collimating lens, the sensitivity of the wavefront tilt and refractive power need to be considered. To assess stability, the wavefront data is continuously recorded for 5 minutes, and the standard deviation of the temporal signals are calculated (shown in the graph below):
σ_Tilt = 0.2µrad; σ_D = 0.06mdpt. Using the above noted relations between lateral displacement and tilt, and between axial displacement and curvature radius, these numbers translate into a theoretical sensitivity of the focus position measurement of ca. 12nm in the lateral direction and ca. 220nm in the axial direction (for a focal length of ƒ=60mm of the collimation lens).

Phase plate and spatial filtering

In the second stage of the experiment, a phase plate (optical window with certain surface aberrations) is placed as a test object in the object plane of the telescope. The WFS now detects the aberrations of the collimating lens, the Kepler telescope and of the phase plate.

By recording a reference measurement of the system without the phase plate first, the aberrations of the system (spot reference) can be subtracted to obtain the wavefront that carries only the aberrations of the phase plate.

Many applications make use of spatial filtering methods to reduce wave aberrations. To demonstrate the effect of spatial filtering on the transmitted wavefront, a pinhole with 100µm diameter can be inserted at the Fourier plane of the Kepler telescope, thereby low-pass filtering the wave generated by the phase plate (the pinhole must be aligned in the x-, y- and z-axis by minimising wavefront rms). The effect of this pinhole is small; the corrected wavefront rms decreases from 0.1µm to 0.09µm. So the 100µm pinhole is replaced by a 50µm pinhole. The corrected wavefront rms distinctly decreases to 0.06µm. When replacing the 50µm pinhole with a 30µm pinhole, the corrected wavefront rms decreases further to 0.02µm. The PSF shown below is calculated from the corrected wavefront with an added refractive power representing the effect of the telescope lens with 40mm focal length.

The Optocraft wavefront sensors are distinguished by their high speed, single-shot measurements, excellent unreferenced accuracy, extreme dynamics and broad spectral ranges. They are also able to measure wavefronts with very strong higher order aberrations. They can measure large tilt angles and strongly defocused beams. They offer high intrinsic stability and reliability, powerful, customisable evaluation software and are versatile and flexible in usage. Optocraft’s systems are in operation in many demanding customer applications.

For more information on the SHSLab wavefront sensors from Micro-Epsilon, please visit www.micro-epsilon.co.uk or call the Micro-Epsilon sales department on +44 (0)151 355 6070 or email mailto:info@micro-epsilon.co.uk

To give manufacturers an insight into the latest approaches to surface measurement, industrial metrology specialist The Sempre Group is running an open event at the Advanced Forming Research Centre (AFRC), Glasgow. On March 21, attendees will have the opportunity to see demonstrations of surface metrology equipment, learn how they can be applied in different industries and ask experts questions about individual applications. To register for the event, please visit the Eventbrite page.

The morning session starting at 9:30, visitors will benefit from technology demonstrations and tours of the AFRC, lunch will be provided and ample time for application and industry-specific questions. The technology on show includes both mobile tactile and high accuracy optical equipment, to provide attendees with a full understanding of the different approaches to surface measurement.

Attendees will gain a detailed understanding of the Sensofar optical profiling system, which offers four technologies in one: confocal, interferometry, AI focus variation and spectroscopic reflectometry. The system provides nanoscale non-touch profile metrology and inspection and is ideal for the measurement of roughness, surface finish, flatness and waviness on materials including thing film and wafers. It offers rapid measurement of any surface in consumer electronics, medical devices, advanced manufacturing, batteries, aerospace and automotive.

In addition, visitors will benefit from demonstrations of  Gelsight, a handheld tactile sensor for surface topography measurement. The device offers mobile digital scratch depth inspection, so users can directly perform detailed analyses, including depth profiles and 3D rendering, in seconds and without replication. The elastomeric surface conforms to the surface topography, instantly revealing detailed, micron-level measurements of surface features on contact.

The AFRC is a specialist manufacturing technologies, research and development and metal forming and forging research centre within the National Manufacturing Institute Scotland (NIMS). Its facility is home to some of the world’s most advanced manufacturing technology.

“Newer surface measurement technologies are drastically cutting down the time needed to take measurements,” said Jamie Greatrix, Head of Sales at The Sempre Group. “With these tools, manufacturers can improve quality and productivity at the same time. Sometimes, you have to see it to believe it, and our customers are often blown away by seeing these tools in action.”

“The AFRC is a great location,” added Greatrix. “Hosting the event here gives visitors a great opportunity to see the latest in metal forming and forging, alongside the technology required to measure it to the highest standards.”

The Sempre Group supplies a comprehensive range of measurement and inspection technologies to manufacturers across the UK and Ireland. To sign up for the AFRC surface measurement event, visit the Eventbrite page.

Saki Corporation, an innovator in the field of automated optical and X-ray inspection equipment, will be exhibiting for the first time at Smart SMT & PCB Assembly 2023 to be held from 5 to 7 April 2023 in Suwon, Korea. Saki’s latest automated inspection solutions for SMT processes that contribute to the realisation of Smart Factories will be exhibited on Booth #I 102.

Show visitors will be invited to discover the latest 3D-AOI and 3D-AXI inspection solutions including the 3Xi-M110 V3 ultra-high-speed X-ray automated inspection system (AXI) that enables in-line operation, and the award-winning 3Di-LS3 3D automated optical inspection system (AOI) with 8µm resolution that achieves the fastest cycle time in the industry.

Alongside its partners JS TECH and H&J Corporation, the Saki technology team will also present a 2D-AOI benchtop model BF-Sirius. To demonstrate its Full SMT Line, Smart Factory and M2M capabilities, Saki’s QD-Analyzer Software Suite completes the show line-up.

Saki’s booth will allow visitors to experience the company’s latest hard- and software innovations up-close, including：

<3D-AXI> 3Xi-M110 V3

True-Inline Operation with the high-speed 3D-CT X-ray Inspection System

<3D-AOI> 3Di-LS3 (with 8μm resolution camera system)

Revolutionary 3D-AOI for the industry’s fastest, highest-performance inspection and easy on-site upgrades and interchangeability

<3D-AOI> 3Di-LS2 (with 18μm resolution camera system)

High-speed 3D-AOI with a height measurement range of 20mm and an imaging speed of 5,700 mm2/s for improved productivity

<2D-AOI> BF-Sirius 

Benchtop 2D-AOI for L-size substrates

<System Software> QD Analyzer

The SPC software suite offers a data-driven approach to continuous productivity improvement by collecting and statistically analyzing the operating status and inspection results of all equipment in the production line.

“We are very pleased to be exhibiting at Smart SMT & PCB Assembly for the first time and introducing Saki’s latest solutions for SMT processes to our customers in Korea and around the world,” said Mr. Kim Kyu Seob, General Manager of Saki Corporation Korea Representative Office. “Visitors to Saki’s booth will be able to see our latest technology that contributes to the realisation of Smart Factories through in-line automated inspection. We look forward to welcoming show visitors to our booth.”

For more information about Saki visit www.sakicorp.com/en/.

Radio frequency identification (RFID) is a technology commonly used to keep track of goods of all shapes and sizes, but it isn’t without its limitations. Here, Richard Mount, Director of Sales at ASIC design and supply company Swindon Silicon Systems, explains the technology behind RFID and how ASIC integration can elevate it to the next level.

Security is a big issue for all of us. To help deter crime, tracking systems are commonly implemented into valuables such as goods and vehicles to ensure their whereabouts are known and traceable. But these technologies have their limitations. So what are they, and how can we overcome them?

Radio waves

RFID technology, which relies on radio waves to operate, is already commonplace in sectors like retail. RFID tags are comprised of an antenna, an IC chip to digitise the signal, and a paper or plastic substrate. Rather than using barcode stickers, which can be easily damaged and made unreadable, these tags provide a more robust way of identifying objects, without them needing to be within the line of sight.

The radio frequencies at which an RFID tag will operate are dictated by its application. Low frequency tags offer a range of just a few centimetres, ideal for key cards for door access.

High frequency tags operate in the metre range, making them suitable for tracking much larger objects. This can include bulky inventory and goods within a facility, but can be helpful outside buildings too. For premises that have external gates, mounting RFID tags onto vehicles can help to ensure that only authorised vehicles can enter, reducing the need for additional personnel to be on the gate at all times.

There are two main types of RFID tag: active and passive. Passive tags have no internal power source, and instead rely on the scanner to transmit radio waves of just enough energy to activate the chip. This gives them a longer operational lifetime as they aren’t as reliant on a battery, but their low power means they have a much more limited signal range.

There are applications where such a short range isn’t practical, such as vehicles that need access to restricted sites. In these cases, active RFID tags are used. These are battery-operated, which increases their signal range up to around 100 metres.

However, this battery requirement can then be an issue itself, particularly when the internal circuits consume a lot of power. It’s often not viable in these systems to replace the batteries, and so when they reach the end of their lifetime, the tag is usually replaced entirely. But short-lived batteries aren’t cost-effective or sustainable in the long run — so what’s the solution?

The answer is ASICs

The answer lies in Application Specific Integrated Circuits (ASICs). An ASIC is a custom chip designed exactly to a customer’s specification, in order to offer an enhanced and optimised performance. ASIC design focuses on achieving this performance within a smaller footprint, and reduced power consumption. This custom design approach enables investments in areas where it truly counts for each application.

In the case of battery-powered systems such as active RFID, opting for an ASIC can have huge benefits. By removing additional and unneeded functionalities, the power consumption of an ASIC can be designed to be much lower than a standard chip. This can be achieved by optimising performance characteristics and also employing sophisticated power saving techniques.

Such techniques can include putting parts of the ASIC into a dormant state when not required, to conserve power. When the sensor is triggered, it can power up the rest of the circuit, and later put it back to sleep. This functionality extends the battery life greatly, which is key in enabling RFID tags to operate over a lifetime of several years.

And opting for an ASIC over a standard IC chip means that any additional, unrequired functionalities can be removed, thus optimising the performance even further. This optimisation provides the system designer with a leaner solution in terms of required performance and power consumption, with the objective of differentiating the product from the competition.

Sensing technology is already commonplace in many of our security devices, but there’s still room for improvement. Implementing an ASIC can help to ensure the accuracy and reliability of safety systems, protecting homes and businesses well into the future.