Nordic Semiconductor’s PMIC Extends Bluetooth LE Battery Life
Nordic Semiconductor‘s nPM2100 PMIC has been developed to prolong the operating time per battery for primary (non-rechargeable) battery applications by managing energy resources using an ultra-efficient boost regulator and a wide range of energy-saving features. Application examples include wireless mice and keyboards, consumer asset tracking, remote controls, and body-worn medical devices.
The nPM2100 has a boost regulator and unique energy-saving features – including primary-cell fuel gauging – that look to address these power management inefficiencies while also ensuring that all the battery’s stored energy is used before the cell is thrown away. The nPM2100 targets primarily battery applications. Examples of supported batteries are one or two AA/AAA/LRxx batteries (in series), or one 3 V LiMnO2 cell.
“Not all IoT products can rely on rechargeable batteries or energy harvesting to operate. This means that primary batteries aren’t going away any time soon,” says Geir Kjosavik, Product Director – PMICs, at Nordic Semiconductor. “However, by using the nPM2100, designers will be able to access much more of the energy stored in those primary cells, making products last longer between battery changes or allowing the use of smaller batteries for the same battery life – resulting in more compact, lighter, and less expensive products.”
The nPM2100 PMIC features a low current ship mode that enables products to be transported with the battery inserted. This mode supports a 35 nA sleep current with multiple wakeup options, including a patent-pending ‘break-to-wake’ function. It also features an ultra-low power wakeup timer that can run concurrently with ship mode to allow timed wakeups. The timer can be used for a deeper sleep setting than the power-off of a SoC or MCU can provide. The nPM2100’s total current draw in hibernate mode is less than 200 nA.
GIC Introduces Range of RFID Label Machines
GIC, a French designer and distributor of printing and finishing technology, has introduced a range of RFID label production machinery.
The Taginnov range consists of three machines. The Converting Line produces custom RFID labels, which allows for the integration of tags into various substrates and the creation of complex products such as booklets and multilayer labels. The Tag Inspect 250 ensures the quality and security of RFID tags. This multifunctional platform provides control from dimensional verification to the destruction of defective tags. The Taginnov Speed Etiq SE/250 is optimized for maximum productivity and allows for the rapid and precise insertion of RFID labels. Its modular and ergonomic design adapts to various production environments.
Oracle Debuts New AI Agents
Oracle recently debuted its latest artificial intelligence (AI) agents, designed to help supply chain workers across a host of jobs ranging from procurement to sustainability. AI agents are specialized artificial intelligence bots that can take actions on a user’s behalf, either autonomously or with their oversight, across multiple apps.
“Our new AI agents for supply chain management help ease the administrative burden by streamlining workflows and automating routine tasks to enable greater accuracy and efficiency, smarter decision-making, and ultimately, a more agile and responsive supply chain,” Oracle executive vice president of applications development Chris Leone said in a statement.
The idea behind Oracle’s latest offerings, which are available through its Oracle Fusion Cloud Supply Chain and Manufacturing platform, is to help employees deal with everything from product inspections to providing detailed delivery instructions for goods.