Tag Archives: micro-controller

Different types of IOT hardware

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IOT Introduction

IOT stands for Internet of things. IOT is network which connects small devices such as door bell , parking sensor and many more to the internet.  This enables easy transfer and control of data between devices. There are certain factors which helped in the growth of IOT

  1. Availability of low power and cost microcontroller/processor devices.
  2. Development of low power radio’s
  3. Availability of development boards having microcontroller/processors with components such as radio’s, sensors which are sold with industry specific application program.
  4. Growth of big data and cloud computing.

Let us consider a interesting IOT use case of NEST. It is a intelligent thermostat found in Homes and connected to the cloud. NEST IOT device

NEST IOT device [Link]

 

Here is how the NEST device typically operates:

IOT architectureBoard HardwareBoard softwareConnectivityCloudGUI
HardwareSensor DataMicrocontroller/ProcessorRadioIOT GatewayMobile/PC/Server
Task1
Monitor TemperatureRead sensor Data from temperature sensorTransfer data to the cloud using RF protocols to communicate with gatewayStore dataDisplay data
Send data to the cloud through the radioCheck data across the AI engine to understand the optimal temperature settings to keep. Generate custom reports
Display temperature data on the Display. Check data across the AI engine to understand the optimal temperature settings to keep. Generate custom reports
Task2
Temperature controlChange the room temperature of the AC/heater
Task3
ShutdownGenerate shutdown alerts. Send alerts on the GUI.

Type of IOT Hardware

From the table above we can observe that two type of hardware boards are needed:

  1. IOT modules/sensor Boards: These PCB boards typically have sensors, low power consuming micro controllers , radio’s , actuators, displays etc. They are typically powered through battery or make be connected to supply outlet. One of the most innovative IOT modules i admire is available at link with a video of its use case
  2. IOT gateways: A gateway acts as a bridge between the IOT modules/sensor PCB boards and the cloud. Typical gateway boards would need to connect to multiple IOT sensor PCB boards while parsing the information and passing it to the cloud. Security of the data and the gateway is must to prevent misuse. The hardware typically contains:
    1. Processor core running above 600Mhz core frequency. Having security engines to encrypt the data is a must. Must support the following interfaces
      1. DDR3/DDr4 Memories
      2. Ethernet connectivity ports such as RGMII/SGMII
      3. Radio modules
      4. Memories for firmware storage.
      5. Other peripherals as per the use case.

Challenges and Questions

To start creating different type of IOT hardware a designer should explore the following:

  1. Are there any inexpensive starter kits available which contains all the devices and controller that he needs for the IOT sensor/gateway ?
  2. What is the board power consumption, radio ranges, software stacks available?
  3. Is the final board form factor the same as required in your application?
  4. Can i reduce the cost of these starter kits if used in production?

and many more. More the number of questions you ask at the initial stage more it would define the product maturity.

Using the starter kits for testing may or may not work based on his needs being met with these boards. For instance look at the variety of IOT sensors available in the market and a quick survey would show that none of the starter kits can have plugin boards/shields with these sensor parts mounted on it.  Production with these starter kits is not recommended due to cost and large form factor even through the hardware churn may be less.

How can circuit tree help?

There are numerous articles which states that designing hardware is hard. Not at Circuit Tree it is very easy for us and it is a couple of minutes job for us.

Typically in a board design cycle a engineer would iterate through the long human controlled steps to generate designs in months. At circuit tree we do things differently wherein a AI engine designs the hardware for you based on your bespoke requirements.

We have thousands of low power micro controllers, processors along with peripherals all in the perfect mix to help you generate a quick IOT hardware of any type.

Some of the sensor components and radio components in circuit tree library are listed below:

Device namemanufacturerType
lis2hh12ST Microelectronicsaccelerometer
mma8451qNXP semiconductoraccelerometer
mpu9250TDK InvenSenseaccelerometer
adt7461Analog Devicestemperature
hdc1080Texas Instrumentshumidity+temperature
l3g4200dST microelectronicsgryoscope+temperature
mpl3115a2NXP semiconductorpressure+temperature
si7006Silicon Labshumidity+temperature
si7034Silicon Labshumidity+temperature
si7051Silicon Labstemperature
tmp75bNXP semiconductortemperature
bmc150Bosch Sensorteccompass
mag3110NXP semiconductorcompass
bmc280Bosch Sensortecpressure
bmc250Bosch Sensortecgryoscope
tmd27711AMSambient_light
m41t65ST Microelectronicsrtc
pcf85063tpNXP semiconductorrtc
tsc2046Texas Instrumentstouch_controller
a2200Maestro Wireless SolutionsGPS
M10382AntenovaGPS
Circuit Tree identifierOrdering Part numberManufacturerType
cc3200CC3200MODR1M2AMOBTTexas Instrumentwifi module
esp8266ESP8266-12EAi Thinkerwifi module
sn800088-00153-02Muratawifi module
mbh7blz02MBH7BLZ02-109004FujitsuBluetooth
mr110caATBTLC1000-MR110CAAtmel/MicrochipBluetooth
spbtle_rfSPBTLE-RFST MicroelectronicsBluetooth
pn7120_moduleOM5577NXP semiconductorNFC
a2500r24aA2500R24A00GMAnaren2.4 Ghz radio
rfm75RFM75-SHopeRF2.4 Ghz radio
etrx3587ETRX3587TelegesisZigbee
xbee_s2cXB24CZ7UIS-004Digi InternationalZigbee

 

In the world of endless possibilities and number of hardware combinations circuit tree makes hardware development easy.

IOT PCB Hardware

IOT PCB Hardware

Using the circuit tree requirements editor a IOT sensor/gateway PCB board can be easily created.

To get started on your PCB hardware idea design implementation head to the app. If you have come across innovative implementation of IOT hardware or need any custom development write to us at info@circuit-tree.com.

 

Circuit-Tree Hardware Compiler Detailed Feature List

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At Circuit Tree we have number of embedded board components and features which allow you to build a custom PCB quickly and reliably.  Circuit Tree has 1000’s of controller/processor along with number of peripheral devices.

List of Peripheral Interfaces which can be used for your PCB Design

Interfaces supported by the hardware compiler:

  1. DDR3/DDR3L memory library

    1. Supports 8 Bit/16 Bit memories for a bus size of 8 bit to 64 wide bit.
    2. Added VTT termination support
    3. Support for multiple memory manufacturers.
    4. Additional features select options from the hardware compiler:
      1. Memories selected based on datarate, cas latency, single/dual die option.
      2. Hardware compiler is Intelligent to route DQS and Data group connection to various memory type based on the 8 Bit/16bit memories and the bus connection needed
      3. Route the ddr3 Bus Connections to any connector to provide capability to add plug in card.

  2. Parallel Memory library:

    1. Asynchronous Nor [16 Bit] -Various memory sizes
    2. Synchronous Nor [16 Bit] -Various memory sizes
    3. Nand Flash 8 bit -Various memory sizes
    4. Async Sram 16 Bit -Various memory sizes
    5. Additional features select options from the hardware compiler:
      1. Control memory selection based on the memory density and manufacturer
      2. Bus connections can be routed to a connector to provide capability to add plug in card.

  3. Serial Memory Library:

    1. QSPI, SPI,I2c -Various memory sizes and manufacturers
    2. Additional features the hardware compiler:
      1. Select Based on memory density, manufacturer
      2. Select addresses needed for each i2c device
      3. Bus connections can be routed to a connector to provide capability to add plug in card.

  4. Ethernet Library:

    1. Wide number of transceivers supported for:
      1. Sgmii,GMII, Rgmii,RMII and MII
      2. Additional features select options from the hardware compiler:
        1. Auto selection of transceivers and option to change the transceiver to
          one of the transceivers from menu option. Auto routing for MDC/MDIO
          signals for all the transceivers.
        2. Ethernet transceivers connections are routed to the integrated magnetics.
        3. Option to change management bus address, features and functions of the
          selected transceivers.
        4. Bus connections can be routed to a connector to provide capability to add plug in card.

  5. USB Library:

    1. ULPI Transceivers
    2. USB2.0 and USB3.0 differential from processor/micro-controllers
      1. Option to select USB Host, device, OTG mode.
      2. ESD protection diodes are added by default.
      3. Power fault protection circuitry
      4. Multiple peripheral support.
    3. Additional features select options from the hardware compiler:
      1. Select USB Host, device, OTG mode (Connectors, USB power
        switch, configurations and connections are done automatically by circuit-tree).
      2. Select multiple ULPI transceivers.
      3. Bus connections can be routed to a connector to provide capability to add plug in card.

  6. Display library:

    1. Graphics LCD
    2. OLED LCD
    3. TFT LCD
    4. HDMI differential signals
    5. LVDS connection using display Bus
    6. HDMI output Using display bus
    7. DVI output using display bus
    8. Additional features select options from the hardware compiler:
      1. Option to select Component configuration
      2. Bus connections can be routed to a connector to provide capability to add plug in card.

  7. Wireless Library:

    1. WIFI modules
    2. Bluetooth module
    3. NFC module
    4. Radio 2.4Ghz module
    5. Zigbee module
    6. GPS module
    7. Additional features select options from the hardware compiler:
      1. Component configuration

  8. Sensor Library:

    1. Temperature
    2. Accelerometer
    3. Humidity
    4. Compass
    5. Pressure
    6. Gyroscope
    7. RTC
    8. Additional features select options from the hardware compiler:
      1. Component selection from various vendors

  9. UART library

    1. RS232  transceivers of various vendors
    2. Additional features select options from the hardware compiler:
      1. Option to route the signals to DB9 or a 2×5 header
      2. Option to route any custom connector.

  10. Jtag Library:

    1. ARM Jtag 2×10 header
    2. ARM Jtag 2×5 header
    3. ARM SWI 2×5 header
    4. ARM SWI 2×10 header
    5. Additional features select options from the hardware compiler:
      1. Option to route the Jtag signals to any custom connector.

  11. PCIe library:

    1. Mini PCIe slot
    2. PCie x1, x4 and x8
    3. Additional features select options from the hardware compiler:
      1. Option to route the PCIe signals to any custom connector.

  12. SATA library:

    1. Sata connector without power from the board.
    2. Additional features select options from the hardware compiler:
      1. Option to route the SATA signals to any custom connector.

  13. SD library:

    1. SDHC connector
    2. or choose Emmc Memory
    3. Additional features select options from the hardware compiler:
      1. Option to route the sd signals to any custom connector.

  14. Audio library:

    1. Audio transceivers from various vendors
    2. Additional features select options from the hardware compiler:
      1. Option to select audio transceivers
      2. Option to select part features such as number of Microphones ,speaker etc
      3. Option to route the audio signals to any custom connector.

  15. CAN library:

    1. CAN transceivers
    2. Additional features select options from the hardware compiler:
      1. Option to select CAN transceiver
      2. Option to select features for a transceiver
      3. Select DB9 or a different connector to have the CAN signals routed to be connected to another CAN device.
      4. Option to route the CAN signals to any custom connector.

  16. Camera Library:

    1. Library contains Camera PCB Module and sensor.
    2. Additional features select options from the hardware compiler:
      1. Option to select Camera part from different manufacturer
      2. Option to select features for a camera pcb module.
      3. Option to route the camera signals to any custom connector.

  17. GPIO/ADC/DAC Library:

    1. Get the number of GPIO’s, ADC’s DAC’s needed for an application. The hardware compiler would select pins from processor/micro-controller to be added to a header for connection.

  18. Button/LED Library

    1. various leds are added on the board as per function needs of the board.

There is a lot of other finer details which we support. If you have additional questions then visit faq section or feel free to write back with your questions at info@circuit-tree.com

To start testing these features today visit our hardware compiler site.

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Checkout the hackaday page.