What are the topics covered? There’s a brushless dc motor power tool power circuit, BMW putting the case for hydrogen-powered cars, Imec research into High-NA EUV lithography, China restricting exports of gallium and germanium, and a home-brewed, Raspberry Pi-based mini computer…
5. Power tool eval board from ST and Wurth
Würth Elektronik and STMicroelectronics are demonstrating a brushless dc motor power tool power circuit developed between them. The demo is based on the STDES-PTOOL3A evaluation board. “The Gerber files, bill of materials, schematics and all other reference materials are downloadable from ST.com without charge,” according to Wurth. From ST comes the STM32G4 (Cortex-M4) MCU, STDRIVE101 gate driver and six STL220N6F7 mosfets amongst others, then Wirth contributed its LHMI power inductor and CBF ferrite EMI suppression bead.
4. BMW punt for hydrogen cars
As doubts arise about the viability of the 2030 cut-off date in the UK for the sale of new ICE cars, BMW is making a punt for hydrogen cars. “If the UK government wants to decarbonise, then get a hydrogen strategy, decarbonise the commercial vehicle sector and roll it out to passenger vehicles,” says Jürgen Guldner, BMW’s manager of hydrogen technology. BMW has built nearly 100 hydrogen-powered iX5 cars and will market a commercial version before 2030.
3. Imec and ASML deepen collaboration on High-NA EUV
Imec and ASML are to intensify their collaboration in the next phase of developing a High-NA EUV lithography pilot line at imec. The pilot line is intended to help the industries using semiconductor technologies to understand the opportunities that advanced semiconductor technology can bring and have access to a prototyping platform that will support their innovations. The collaboration between imec, ASML and other partners will enable the exploration of novel semiconductor applications, the potential development of sustainable, and more.
2. China restricts export of Ga and Ge
China is to restrict exports of gallium and germanium and their chemical compounds from August 1st. Exporters will need to apply for licences from China’s Ministry of Commerce providing details of the buyers. China produces 94% of the world’s gallium according to last year’s report from the UK Critical Minerals Intelligence Centre. Other gallium producers are Japan, Korea, Russia and Ukraine.
1. Welcome Chonky Pocket, the Raspberry Pi mini computer [Gadget Master]
Check out this smart little personal computer… the Raspberry Pi based Chonky Pocket, which punches above its weight. It’s based on the powerful Raspberry Pi 4, to be precise, and includes a 5-inch HDMI touchscreen with built-in speakers, plus its own blocky keycaps. The Gadget Master in question, Dan, describes it thus, on the Raspberry Pi website: “An almost pocket-sized portable computer! I wanted a pocket-sized computer… This is not quite it. It fits in the cargo pocket of one pair of my shorts, but I’m not going to walk around with it like that.”
