Newark has announced that it now stocks NI’s LabVIEW+ Suite, a software bundle comprised of LabVIEW plus, TestStand, DIAdem, and FlexLogger™, purpose-built tools for measurement, analysis, and test designed to enable engineers to build better automated test systems, faster.

LabVIEW has been NI’s benchmark software program for 30 years, embraced by multiple generations of engineers as their go-to problem solving tool by virtue of its ability to accelerate development with graphical programming. This makes building a user interface as easy as drag and drop, coupled with the ability to connect to any instrument.

The LabVIEW+ Suite incorporates NI’s acclaimed TestStand, which accelerates system development and deployment for engineers in validation and production; DIAdem application software designed to process, visualize, and streamline root-cause determination and FlexLogger, the no-code data acquisition software engineers use to plan and implement system testing criteria faster and more efficiently.

The new LabVIEW+ Suite now available from Newark can save purchasers up to 60% by purchasing the bundle rather than the individual software applications as standalone tools.

Newark Vice President, Global Product & Supplier Management, Lee Turner, said, “LabVIEW has long been a powerful development tool for engineers. The LabVIEW+ Suite uses the power of LabVIEW with additional software tools for engineers to quickly design and validate products. The significant savings by purchasing the LabVIEW+ Suite instead of buying each tool ad-hoc is an attractive option.

“The LabVIEW+ Suite can help development engineers make faster decisions, prototype more efficiently, and validate their work with greater ease. With its ability to deliver a wealth of usable data, this suite is a valuable asset for any engineer looking to streamline their workflow."

The LabVIEW+ Suite can be ordered online from Farnell in EMEA, element14 in APAC and Newark in North America.

Farnell, an Avnet Company and global distributor of electronic components, products and solutions, is now stocking the full range of ams OSRAM’s OSLON® UV 3636 UV-C LEDs available for fast delivery. Design engineers can access a greater range of market leading UV-C LEDs solutions from ams OSRAM to support a range of purification and disinfection applications such as point-of-use water treatment, automotive interior disinfection, air purification, general disinfection of high touch surfaces, medical environments, home goods and other consumer applications. UV-C LEDs are proven to effectively inactive the SARS-CoV-2 virus.

The OSLON® UV 3636 LED product range emits UV-C radiation and is available in three different power ratings of 4.7mW, 13.5mW, 42mW, enabling designers to select the LED best suited to their application. Each UV-C LED is compact, flexible and harnesses the cleaning properties of UV-C light allowing innovators to make the world cleaner, greener and healthier at the flick of switch. Featuring a robust design, the OSLON® UV-C LED family combines both low and mid-power with a reliable and efficient radiation output.

ams OSRAM’s OSLON® UV 3636 LED product range, now available for fast delivery from Farnell, includes: 
• The SU CULCN1.VC provides radiant flux typically of 13.5mW and a radiant efficiency of 2.4 percent. 
• The SU CULBN1.VC provides a typical radiant flux output of 4.7mW and radiant efficiency of 2.6 per cent. 
• The SU CULDN1.VC is the most powerful in the range providing radiant flux of typically 42 mW and radiant efficiency of 2.1 percent.

Lee Turner, Global Head of Semiconductors and SBC at Farnell said: “Farnell is pleased to offer our customers an extended range of the latest new-to-market UV-C LEDs from ams OSRAM for their designs. ams OSRAM has a long-established reputation for manufacturing innovative optical solutions, offering the highest standards in quality and reliability. Our customers rely on having access to high-quality UV-C components to keep pace with this fast-growing market. The range of optical solutions from ams OSRAM enables our customers to improve quality of life in terms of health, safety and convenience, while reducing impact on the environment.”

The ams OSRAM Group, including the listed companies ams AG as parent company and OSRAM Licht AG, is a global leader in optical solutions. With over 110 years of combined history, ams Osram’s core is defined by imagination, deep engineering expertise and the ability to provide global industrial capacity in sensor and light technologies. By adding intelligence to light, the company enables customers in the consumer, automotive, healthcare and industrial sectors to maintain competitive edge and drive innovation. ams OSRAM works to create technology for breakthrough applications, which is reflected in more than 15,000 granted and applied for patents.

Farnell offers an extensive range of products in its comprehensive semiconductor portfolio to support design engineers. Customers also have free access to online resources, datasheets, application notes, videos, webinars and 24/5 technical support.

Customers can now buy the full range of ams OSRAM’s OSLON® UV 3636 UV-C LEDs with fast delivery from Farnell in EMEA, element14 in APAC and Newark in North America.

Farnell, an Avnet Company and global distributor of electronic components, products and solutions, has strengthened its portfolio of Power Integrations products to include the InnoSwitch3 IC family, featuring PowiGaN technology. This new product offering increases the number of GaN-based solutions available from Farnell to support design engineers developing new products that require greater energy efficiency.

Power Integrations’ PowiGaN technology reduces switching losses, enabling chargers, adapters and open frame power supplies to be more efficient, smaller and lighter than conventional silicon alternatives. PowiGaN-based ICs achieve up to 95 percent efficiency across the full load range and up to 100 W in enclosed adapter implementations without requiring a heatsink. Common applications include:

• Auxiliary, standby and bias power supplies for appliances and white goods
• Computers and consumer products
• Utility meters
• Smart grid
• Industrial power supplies

The InnoSwitch3 product family features EcoSmart™ energy efficiency, ensuring devices can easily meet global energy efficiency regulations. All products in the portfolio incorporate multiple protection features including line overvoltage and undervoltage protection, output overvoltage and over-current limiting, and over-temperature shutdown. InnoSwitch3 products now available from Farnell include:

• The InnoSwitch3-EP family dramatically simplifies the design and manufacture of flyback power converters, particularly those requiring high efficiency and/or compact size. It combines primary and secondary controllers and safety-rated feedback into a single IC. Devices are available with standard and peak power delivery options, and commonly used auto-restart protection behaviours.

• The InnoSwitch3-Pro family enables the development of fully programmable, highly efficient power supplies in compact enclosures. The universal I²C interface aids dynamic control of output voltage and current, along with many configurable features. Telemetry provides reporting of programmed features and fault modes. InnoSwitch3-Pro ICs are ideal for AC-DC power supply applications where fine output voltage and current adjustment are necessary.

• The InnoSwitch3-CP family incorporates a high-voltage primary-side switch, primary and secondary controllers, and safety-rated feedback into a single IC. These devices offer a constant power profile and support the common combinations of latching and auto-restart behaviours required by applications such as quick charge and USB PD designs. The devices are available with and without cable-drop compensation.

InnoSwitch3 ICs, including EP, Pro and CP, are also available without PowiGaN technology, combining primary, secondary and feedback circuits in a single surface-mounted off-line flyback switcher IC.

Lee Turner, Global Head of Semiconductors and Single Board Computing, at Farnell said: “We are pleased to expand our range of innovative solutions from Power Integrations to include the InnoSwitch3, featuring PowiGaN technology. The company’s range of highly integrated chips have the potential to eliminate millions of electronic components from AC-DC power supplies, gate drivers and LED lights while improving the efficiency of end-products. InnoSwitch3 ICs enable our customers to design products that can achieve efficient transmission and consumption of power in applications ranging from milliwatts to megawatts.”

Power Integrations is a leading innovator in semiconductor technologies for high-voltage power conversion. The company’s integrated circuits enable compact, energy-efficient AC-DC power supplies for a vast range of electronic products including smartphones, appliances, smart home and business automation, smart utility meters, LED lighting and numerous industrial and Internet of Things (IoT) applications. Customers can also benefit from PI Expert™ Online, an automated power supply design software suite which supports both silicon MOSFET and PowiGaN-based devices. The web-based programme speeds up the design process by enabling the selection of the best components and generating the full schematic, magnetics and BOM from basic parametric inputs.

Farnell offers an extensive range of products in its comprehensive semiconductor portfolio to support design engineers. Customers also have free access to online resources, datasheets, application notes, videos, webinars and 24/5 technical support.

The portfolio of Power Integrations’ InnoSwitch3 products featuring PowiGaN technology is now available from Farnell in EMEA, element14 in APAC and Newark in North America.

InnoSwitch, PowiGaN, EcoSmart and PI Expert are trademarks or registered trademarks of Power Integrations.

Farnell, an Avnet Company and global distributor of electric components products and solutions, has expanded its portfolio of Nordic Semiconductor products to include the industry’s most compact power management solution, the nPM1100 Power Management IC (PMIC) and evaluation kit. Nordic’s first power management product is now available to buy at Farnell. Typical applications for the nPM1100 include wearable electronics, remote controls, personal medical devices and smart home sensors.

The Nordic Semiconductor nPM1100 can be used as a generic PMIC for any application using rechargeable Li-ion/Li-Po batteries. Its compact form factor, with PCB space requirements as low as 23 mm², makes it ideal for advanced wearables, connected medical devices and other space constrained applications. The nPM1100 requires no configuration software to operate as all settings are pin configurable.

Nordic Semiconductor is a fabless semiconductor company, innovator and market-leader specialising in wireless technology that powers the IoT. The nPM1100 marks Nordic’s commitment to establishing a line of PMIC products and offers Farnell customers even more ways to conserve energy in their applications. The device can charge small batteries while providing efficient power management in applications where physical space is a limited.

Nordic Semiconductor nPM1100 products now at Farnell include:

• nPM1100-CAAA, ultra-small form factor dedicated power management IC (PMIC) with a highly efficient dual-mode configurable buck regulator and integrated battery charger. It is designed as a complementary component to Nordic’s System-on-Chips (SoCs) to ensure reliable power delivery and stable operation, whilst maximising battery life through high efficiency and ultra-low quiescent currents. Other features include overvoltage protection, ultra-low current ship mode and -40°C to 85°C operating temperature range.

• nPM1100 Evaluation Kit requires no software to operate and is performance optimised for the PMIC with electrical connectors and physical interfaces for operation. It features switches for all selectable settings, buttons to enter and exit ship mode and connectors for batteries, USB and headers for all pins on the PMIC. Provides functional testing without the need for creating custom hardware. The kit may be used with other Nordic Development Kits such as the nRF5340-DK or to test the PMIC’s functionality with non-Nordic products. The kit also includes indicator LEDs for charge and error indication.

Nordic Semiconductor’s reputation is built on cutting-edge technology and development tools that shield designers from the complexity of RF design. Pioneers in ultra-low power wireless the company’s award-winning Bluetooth LE solutions have made it the market leader, and are complemented by ANT+, Bluetooth mesh, Thread, and Zigbee products. Nordic’s latest technology, NB-IoT and LTE-M leverages cellular infrastructure to extend the IoT.

Lee Turner, Global Head of Semiconductors and Single Board Computing, Farnell said: “Farnell partners with the world’s leading innovators in new product development and manufacturing to ensure cutting-edge power management technology is available to our global customer base, and we are pleased to expand our PMIC range with the latest products from Nordic Semiconductor. The new-to-market nPM1100 is an ideal solution to help our customers reduce energy consumption in their designs. The ability to charge small batteries and extend battery life while providing efficient power management within small, space constrained applications, such as wearables and connected medical devices, is now of critical importance.”

Farnell offers an extensive range of products in its comprehensive semiconductor portfolio to support design engineers. Customers also have free access to online resources, datasheets, application notes, videos, webinars and 24/5 technical support.

Customers can now buy the Nordic Semiconductor nPM1100 PMIC and evaluation kit on fast delivery from Farnell in EMEA, Newark in North America, and element14 in APAC.

Farnell, Avnet Company and global distributor of electronic components, products and solutions, has signed a global distribution agreement with InkSmith to enhance its educational product range and drive cross curriculum learning.

The Climate Action Kit’s project-based learning experiences are designed to teach students how to apply technology to solve real world problems through the lens of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). Every project provides a unique hands-on opportunity for cross-curricular learning, with students encouraged to work collaboratively in groups or independently, in the classroom or remotely. Early to senior level students will develop coding and design skills through a variety of experiential learning challenges to design and prototype solutions using the BBC micro:bit. 

Now Made in Canada, InkSmith’s Climate Action Kit helps students take on climate change issues through challenge based learning. The kit introduces students to a variety of climate issues pertaining to SDG15: Life on Land. The projects allows students to explore topics such as deforestation and fertilization run-offs while challenging them to design their own solutions, such as automated tree planters or automated watering systems for vertical or indoor farming. Each of the following curriculum-aligned projects promote critical thinking and problem-solving while learning about environmental issues associated with advanced agriculture, deforestation, carbon farming, insect farming, and plants and pollinators.

The Climate Action Kit, now available from Farnell, includes: 

• All motors, sensors and accessories required to tackle a number of different Climate Action projects
• Teaching resources and curriculum for five project-based lessons (Deforestation, Plants and Pollinators, Insect Farming, Carbon Farming and Advanced Agriculture) 
• COVID ready online curriculum course packs designed by InkSmith’s inhouse education experts to be compatible with remote, in-class, and hybrid learning environments.
• One Climate Action Breakout Board to connect a BBC micro:bit
• An accompanying Teacher’s Guide with easy to follow instructions 

The Climate Action Kit requires the use of a BBC micro:bit which is available separately.

Lee Turner, Global Head of Semiconductors and SBC at Farnell, says: “The Climate Action Kit is the ultimate tool for modern educators wanting to stimulate inquiry-based learning and inspire students to solve real world problems using technology. Technology is our greatest asset to ensure our young leaders of tomorrow have the skills and capability to overcome major global issues such as poverty, climate change and societal justice. Farnell’s market leading distribution network will dramatically expand the global reach of InkSmith's immersive, hands-on learning experiences and ensure educators can provide creative cross curriculum learning opportunities to students at every level.” 

Jeremy Hedges, CEO and Founder at InkSmith, says: “Our global distribution partnership with Farnell means that educators around the world will have access to our Climate Action Kit and the valuable digital, critical thinking and design thinking learning opportunities that it enables. It’s important to us that while we empower the next generation of makers, coders, and problem solvers that we do so as equitably as possible - regardless of socioeconomic and now geographic limitations. The UN Global Goals are a key driver behind why we do what we do, and this partnership helps further that mission”.

Farnell has worked with multiple educational organisations and governments to support strategic rollouts of STEM learning solutions into the classroom, and stocks a broad range of education devices that can be supplied in classes, schools and multiple-school quantities. Farnell can also offer support with provision and bundling of equipment for bespoke large-scale programmes similar to the Super:bit programme in Norway.

InkSmith’s Climate Action Kit is available from Farnell in EMEA and element14 in APAC.

Farnell, an Avnet Company and global distributor of electronic components, products and solutions, has today announced the availability of the first product built on Raspberry Pi-designed silicon: Raspberry Pi Pico. This new product brings Raspberry Pi’s signature values of high performance, low cost, and ease of use to the microcontroller market, in a game-changing $4 development kit. Farnell customers will be able to purchase the Raspberry Pi Pico from the Farnell website from Monday 25 January.

Raspberry Pi Pico is built around the brand-new Raspberry Pi RP2040 microcontroller, delivering a flexible, highly affordable development platform that can also be directly deployed into end products, reducing time-to-market. RP2040 offers high performance for integer workloads, a large on-chip memory, and a wide range of I/O options, making it a flexible solution for a wide range of microcontroller applications.

Professional design engineers who are already comfortable working with Raspberry Pi will easily adopt the Raspberry Pi Pico and appreciate its ease of use and affordability.

Key features include:

• Memory: 264kB of on-chip SRAM; 2MB of on-board QSPI Flash.
• Interfacing and mechanicals: 26 GPIO pins, of which 3 can be used as analogue inputs. 0.1” through-hole pads with castellated edges for SMT assembly.
• Power: On-board power supply to generate 3.3V for RP2040 and external circuitry. Wide input voltage range, from 1.8V to 5.5V, giving designers the flexibility to select their preferred power source.
• Developer tools: Simple drag and drop programming via micro-USB. 3-pin Serial Wire Debug (SWD) for interactive debugging. Comprehensive C SDK, mature MicroPython port, and extensive examples and documentation.

At the heart of the Raspberry Pi Pico is RP2040, a Raspberry Pi-designed microcontroller. It features two ARM Cortex-M0+ cores clocked at 133 MHz; 264 kB of on-chip SRAM; 30 multifunction GPIO pins; dedicated hardware for commonly used peripherals alongside a programmable I/O subsystem for extended peripheral support; a four-channel ADC with internal temperature sensor; and built-in USB 1.1 with host and device support.

Lee Turner, Global Head of Semiconductors and SBC at Farnell, said: “Since the launch of the first Raspberry Pi in 2012, this market-leading brand has become synonymous with ease of use and value for money. Raspberry Pi Pico is the newest and smallest addition to the Raspberry Pi family, bringing with it the potential to transform the microcontroller market in the same way that the original Raspberry Pi board did for single board computing. At just $4, Pico provides incredible flexibility and opportunity for design engineers. We are delighted to be at the beginning of another exciting journey with our partners at Raspberry Pi.”

James Adams, Chief Operating Officer, Raspberry Pi Trading, said: “This is the start of an exciting new era for Raspberry Pi. With Raspberry Pi Pico, and RP2040, we have been able to draw on insights drawn from a decade of using other vendors’ microcontrollers, and to create an innovative silicon platform for our customers. People have used Raspberry Pi to create a broader spread of projects and products than we could have imagined a decade ago; we’re sure the same will be true of Raspberry Pi Pico.”

Farnell is the largest manufacturer and distributor of the Raspberry Pi and has sold more than 15 million units to date. Farnell stocks the complete range of Raspberry Pi single board computers enabling customers to build a wide range of devices for home, professional, education or commercial use. Customers can also benefit from 24/5 technical support alongside free access to valuable online resources on the Farnell website, and engineering and maker community, element14.

The Raspberry Pi Pico is available for USD $4.00 from Farnell in EMEA, Newark in North America and element14 in Asia Pacific, from Monday, 25 January. To find out more about the Raspberry Pi Pico, visit https://www.element14.com/community/docs/DOC-96021/

Farnell, an Avnet Company and global distributor of electronic components, products and solutions, has signed a global franchise with XinaBox to broaden its market leading range of educational devices and kits. The XinaBox range provides a low-cost entry into the Internet of Things (IoT), Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and automation and helps educators combine Science Technology Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) learning with the experience of physical computing for students from a young age. Although targeted at education, XinaBox also provides solutions to easily scale beta testing for prototyping new applications.

XinaBox is widely used in secondary schools and colleges across the world due to its ease of use, and suitability for first-time users right through to more advanced secondary students and makers. The XinaBox kits include a selection of xChips, designed to fast track a user’s understanding of the IoT. Specialist knowledge of soldering or hardware components is not required as xChips are simply clipped together without wires, soldering or breadboards, meaning experiments can be setup quickly.

The range of over 80 modular hardware xChips includes cores/CPUs, sensors, power, communication, output and storage. Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and LoRaWAN cores have been designed to make it easy to connect projects to the IoT, and other components such as the BBC micro:bit and Raspberry Pi can be easily integrated to supercharge projects. xChips can operate with pre-compiled code or can be programmed from scratch using leading platforms such as MakeCode, Arduino and Python.

The range of XinaBox kits now available from Farnell include:

• XK01 STEM Starter Kit: Suitable for secondary school classrooms, the XK01 STEM Starter Kit enables students to build a simple project and connect to an IoT platform, using the quick start guide. The kit features a Wi-Fi Core, xChip (ESP8266) and includes sensors for temperature, humidity, and pressure, UV index, a mini-OLED display, a spacer chip and connectors. The starter kit can be used to collect and investigate the relationship between data sets such as temperature and atmospheric pressure, temperature and light, temperature and humidity, and visible light and ultraviolet light.
• XK05 micro:bit IoT Kit: An ideal entry-level product, the XK05 IoT kit for micro:bit is designed to introduce young people to IoT technology. The kit enables the analysis of large data sets in the classroom with no previous experience required. Users can learn how to connect the micro:bit to the cloud and build a smart IoT device with the coding extension, MakeCode.

Professional users and makers can also use XinaBox to progress their ideas to prototypes much faster, rapidly improving time to market whilst reducing cost of prototyping and facilitating scaled beta testing:

• XK12 IoT Starter Kit: Powered by Zerynth, the XK12 IoT Starter Kit combines modular electronics with an ecosystem of software tools in Python. The kit contains everything required to build a smart IoT edge device that collects environmental data. An actuator can also be attached to create automation projects such as automated electric gates, garage doors or fans.

Lee Turner, Global Head of Semiconductors and SBC at Farnell, said: “Easy to use tools are key to supporting teachers as they help students develop the computational thinking and complex problem-solving skills needed for a career in a digital economy. XinaBox provides schools and colleges with accessible tools to introduce STEM and IoT while providing inspiration for hands-on learning in the classroom, enabling students to learn about new technologies in a highly creative and collaborative way. For more advanced students, and even professional engineers, XinaBox provides new options to scale beta testing and reduce time to market through its simple, modular, non-solder structure.”

Farnell has worked with multiple educational organisations and governments to support strategic rollouts of STEM learning solutions into the classroom, and stocks a broad range of education devices that can be supplied in classes, schools and multiple-school quantities. Farnell can also offer support with provision and bundling of equipment for bespoke large-scale programmes similar to the Super:bit programme in Norway.

The complete XinaBox range is available from Farnell in EMEA, Newark in North America and element14 in APAC.

Farnell, an Avnet Company and global distributor of electronic components, products and solutions, has today announced a new global franchise with Industrial Shields. Industrial Shields is the leading developer and manufacturer of industrial automation devices (PLCs and Panel PCs) based on open source hardware from Raspberry Pi and Arduino. The use of open source hardware provides many benefits to design engineers, including the opportunity to bring industrial products to market at a lower cost and in less time than designing with proprietary processor boards.

The new partnership strengthens Farnell’s industrial automation and control portfolio by providing more options to customers developing monitoring, control or automation solutions based on single board computers (SBCs). The addition of this new range of PLCs, Panel PCs and the Open Mote B ultra-low-power communications board for the Internet of Things (IoT) will enable customers to revolutionise the way that control systems are designed. As a leading global manufacturer and supplier of SBCs, Farnell is championing the use of SBCs in industrial automation systems with customers and the element14 Community.

Automation continues to grow in all domestic and industrial sectors including home and factory automation, large buildings and smart cities. Industrial Shields’ feature rich, competitively priced products provide the high performance required for monitoring and control systems used in factories, production lines, machines, buildings and agriculture. The use of open source hardware removes any lock-in associated with proprietary PLCs, giving customers much more control and ownership of the design. Many designers are already familiar with the programming environment of Raspberry Pi and Arduino, which offers easy access to powerful tools and information about the design and operation of the products. Developers of industrial automation solutions also have the option to integrate a greater range of electronic components into their designs, reducing the cost of end products.

Farnell now stocks Industrial Shields’ full product range, including automation devices, including:

• The Touchberry Pi 10.1 Panel PC, based on the Raspberry Pi 4B, features a resistive multi-touch screen in two dimensions of a 10.1" aluminum case or a 7" plastic case. The Panel PC runs multiple operating systems including Raspbian, Linux or Android and can achieve a wide voltage range of 12 to 24Vdc and up to 12x GPIO. Ethernet and Wi-Fi connectivity are enabled via USB, I2C, SPI and UART. This product is ideal for applications which monitor and control production lines, machines or installations.

• The ARDBOX PLC product family is based on the Arduino Leonardo board and features 20 I/O ports which support digital and analog signals (with PWM output). An optional relay output is also available for AC control. Up to 127 modules can be connected via I2C, enabling up to 7100 I/Os. Other features include a real-time clock and µSD memory support. The ARDBOX PLC product family offers a broad range of communication options including USB, Full/Half Duplex RS485, RS232, I2C and Modbus, making it an ideal product for industrial control systems used in factories, manufacturing, and mining operations.

• The M-DUINO PLC family are Ethernet-enabled PLCs that can support any industrial control system requiring analog and digital I/Os. Relay outputs for AC control are also available. The M-DUINO family offers PLCs ranging from 17 I/Os in total to a 59 I/Os with up to 36 inputs or 31 outputs. Like the ARDBOX PLC family, the M-DUINO range can connect up to 127 modules via I2C, enabling a maximum of 7100 I/Os and feature a real-time clock and µSD memory support. Communication is offered by USB, Full/Half Duplex RS485, RS232, I2C and Modbus.

Lee Turner, Global Head of Semiconductors and SBC at Farnell said: “This new global franchise with Industrial Shields increases our range of PLCs and Panel PCs giving our customers greater choice of low cost and flexible devices to support their automation needs. The innovative use of open source hardware will create designs that speed time to market, reduce costs, and put the customer in control. This is a key addition to our automation range, bringing the benefits of industrial automation closer to our customers than ever before.”

Albert Prieto, CEO of Industrial Shields, commented: “The collaboration with Farnell gives us the opportunity to continue growing. Thanks to this agreement, we are consolidating our position as the leading manufacturer of open source-based systems for industrial automation, and strengthening our company's international presence. In addition, the fact that a prestigious group such as Farnell is committed to Industrial Shields products gives our customers the peace of mind of using safe, quality systems.”

Industrial Shields is pioneering the use of PLCs and Panel PCs to enable widespread adoption of industrial automation technology. The extensive product range is suitable for system integrators and engineering companies providing turnkey automation products through to universities, professional design engineers, hobbyists and makers seeking a low cost and flexible solution.

Farnell’s customers now have access to a greater range of market leading automation and control products with 24/5 technical support. This includes free online resources, data sheets, application notes, videos, and webinars on Farnell’s website.

The full Industrial Shields product range is available from Farnell in EMEA, Newark in North America and element14 in APAC.

Farnell, an Avnet Company and the exclusive manufacturing partner of the Micro:bit Educational Foundation, is celebrating the manufacture of 5 million BBC micro:bit devices since its launch in 2016. The micro:bit has been adopted by multiple educational organisations around the world to support STEM learning through formal programmes, helping the Foundation reach an estimated 25 million children in more than 60 countries who have learnt digital creativity and computing skills. The micro:bit has been adopted by educational organisations around the world to support Science, Technology, Education and Mathematics (STEM) learning programmes.

Today, the Micro:bit Educational Foundation, announced a new micro:bit offering greater memory capacity, a faster processor and, for the first time, “out of the box” sound and touch functionality. More information is available from micro:bit.org. The new micro:bit will be available to order from Farnell in November.

Farnell has worked with multiple educational organisations and governments to support strategic rollouts of STEM learning solutions into the classroom, and stocks a broad range of education devices that can be supplied in class, school and multiple-school quantities. Farnell can also offer support with provision and bundling of equipment for bespoke large-scale programmes similar to the Super:bit programme in Norway.

Lee Turner, Global Head of Semiconductors and SBC at Farnell said: “Farnell is proud to be the Micro:bit Educational Foundation’s exclusive manufacturer and we are delighted to join our partners in celebrating the manufacture of 5 million micro:bit and their announcement of an updated micro:bit today.”

Farnell also provides a range of resources to assist educators and parents supporting children with STEM. The element14 Community’s STEM Academy provides a wealth of content and support for those looking to get started with the micro:bit. This dedicated online hub is designed for people who want to explore learning concepts and classroom-based design projects within the electronics and digital space. The element14 Community’s ‘The Learning Circuit’ series features a number of instructional videos which take viewers through different ways to learn and explore with micro:bit. These short videos teach users how to apply micro:bit to their designs and offer instruction and advice on bringing projects to life. The Micro:bit Educational Foundation also offer a range of resources on micro:bit.org.

To find out more about the BBC micro:bit visit farnell.com/bbc-microbit or join the conversation on the element14 Community.

Farnell, the Development Distributor, has enhanced its semiconductor portfolio with a new range of compact, highly energy efficient power, motion control, and sensor solutions by Monolithic Power Systems (MPS). Since the company was established in 1997, MPS has patented many ground-breaking technologies, including its most notable achievement of integrating an entire power system onto a single chip, which continues to drive their highly integrated systems today. Its mission is simple: to provide green, practical, and compact solutions that help to reduce total energy consumption.

MPS is the fastest growing power semiconductor company, specialising in the manufacture of small, energy efficient and easy-to-use power modules. The modules are commonly used in systems to support industrial applications, telecom infrastructures, cloud computing, automotive and consumer applications. Design engineers will benefit from MPS’ specialised single-package power modules which integrate a maximum number of components, including the inductor, to provide an entire power system in one device. Integrating all components into a single package accelerates the design process and provides greater flexibility for customers to focus on configuring a device’s attributes.

MPS power modules to be stocked by Farnell, include:

• The MPM3695-25 is an industry-leading scalable and fully integrated power module with a PMBus interface. It can deliver up to 250A peak and 200A of continuous current and a low voltage output down to 0.5V. Ideal for telecom and networking systems, it provides up to 60 percent higher power density compared to discrete point-of-load (POL) solutions and offers a core rail supply for many devices. With a small QFN-59 package and a wide input/output voltage range, the MPM3695-25 power module is also suitable for use in industrial equipment, serves and computing as well as FPGAs/ASIC artificial intelligence and data mining.

• The MPM3822C is an ultra-small and ultra-low noise step-down power module in a QFN-18 package with an integrated inductor, suitable for space-limited applications, storage and portable products. Providing up to 2A of continuous output current from a 2.75V to 6V input voltage range, the MPM3822C offers excellent load and line regulation with low EMI. Other key features include short-circuit protection, cycle-by-cycle over-current protection as well as Enable (EN) and Power Good (PG) for power sequencing.

• The MPM3811 is a monolithic, step-down, switch-mode converter with built-in, internal power MOSFETs and an inductor. The MPM3811 achieves 1A of continuous output current from a 2.3V to 5.5V input voltage with excellent load and line regulation. The MPM3811 is ideal for a wide range of applications, including high-performance DSPs, wireless power, portable and mobile devices, and other low-power systems.

Lee Turner, Global Head of Semiconductors and SBC for Farnell says: “MPS is a true innovator in the semiconductor market, and this new agreement allows us to deliver the highest quality power solutions to customers in industrial, telecom, cloud, automotive and consumer applications whilst further bolstering Farnell’s global power portfolio. This state-of-the-art range further demonstrates our continued commitment to provide our customers with the most innovative power solutions that can accelerate the design process and can help bring products to market faster. Many of our design-oriented customers enjoy having the flexibility to use high quality, integrated solutions when designing applications so they can focus on other critical hardware or software components.”

Farnell offers an extensive range of products in its comprehensive semiconductor portfolio to support design engineers. Customers also have free access to online resources, data sheets, application notes, videos and webinars on Farnell’s website and 24/5 technical support.

The MPS range of power semiconductor solutions are available for fast shipping from Farnell in EMEA, element14 in APAC and Newark in North America.

Newark, the Development Distributor, is the leading manufacturer and distributor of the Raspberry Pi single-board computer (SBC), which it has sold to electronic design engineers, educators, hobbyists and makers since its launch in 2012. Newark’s sales alone, which are supported by its holistic offering including a diverse ecosystem of accessories and support through its element14 Community, have now reached the remarkable total of 15 million devices worldwide

Raspberry Pi’s most recent launch, the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B computer, has driven a significant increase in sales. This new board is the most powerful Raspberry Pi to date: three times faster than the previous model with a range of memory options and improved interfacing and connectivity to extend capabilities for all users. Raspberry Pi 4 can be used as a high-performance embedded platform, or as a full-featured desktop computer.

Newark stocks all Raspberry Pi models, alongside its diverse ecosystem of accessories, which supports users as they build devices for home, education or commercial applications. Newark has championed Raspberry Pi through its element14 Community, creating a forum for its 650,000 members to access informative and educational threads, be inspired by fellow members’ ideas, and get involved in Raspberry Pi-based design challenges.

Newark also supports customers as they bring products to market with its maker-to-market service, programmes for startups, 24/7 technical support and an exclusive agreement with Raspberry Pi (Trading) for the customisation of Raspberry Pi products. Customers supported by Newark include French startup Airnodes, who developed a smart mirror which can now be seen in hotels across France, and Futurehome, based in Norway who developed an app-based home automation system using a Raspberry Pi-based platform customised by Newark.

Key facts about Newark and Raspberry Pi:

• Newark is the largest global manufacturer and distributor of Raspberry Pi and has sold 15 million Raspberry Pi boards sold to date.
• Insight from Newark’s Raspberry Pi User survey shows just how varied the use of the SBC is; 33% of respondents use Raspberry Pi for personal projects, 33% for proof-of-concept and prototyping, and the final third of respondents use Raspberry Pi in informal or formal education. The combination of price, performance and ease of use make the Raspberry Pi the SBC of choice for many. Newark’s research also highlighted the increasing use of Raspberry Pi products by professional engineers in IoT, industrial automation and control applications.
• Newark’s parent company, Avnet, is using its experience and expertise to develop devices such as the Avnet Smartedge Industrial IoT Gateway, powered by Raspberry Pi, to help customers scale their prototypes and bring products to market.

Lee Turner, Global Head of Semiconductors and Single Board Computers for Newark says: “Newark is Raspberry Pi’s leading global distribution partner, selling 15 million devices since launch in 2012. This is a major milestone for Newark as well as the Raspberry Pi Foundation and we are delighted to have shared the journey with them so far. The new Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Computer is a gamechanger, providing customers with a faster, more powerful and more feature-rich single board computer than ever before. The power of the Raspberry Pi 4, Newark’s extensive distribution network, and the strength of Newark’s parent company, Avnet, in developing devices such as the Avnet Smartedge Industrial IoT Gateway, powered by Raspberry Pi, can only pave the way for more great things from this little board.”

Eben Upton, CEO of Raspberry Pi (Trading), says: “We have been working with Newark since 2012 to put Raspberry Pi products in the hands of hobbyists, educators and professional design engineers all over the world. In 2015, we announced an exclusive agreement to provide customized variants of our products to Newark’s engineering customer base, and in June this year we launched Raspberry Pi 4 Model B together, bringing PC-equivalent performance to the sub-$50 price bracket. We are extremely excited that Newark have crossed the 15-million-unit mark; we look forward to shipping many more units together, and continuing to change lives all over the world.”

Raspberry Pi computers and accessories are available from Farnell in EMEA, Newark in North America and element14 in APAC.

Newark, the Development Distributor, announces the availability of Infineon’s MERUS™ range of Class D audio amplifier solutions, which use pioneering multilevel switching technology to increase audio performance and reduce power loss during operation. Infineon’s enhanced design and production standards deliver extreme reliability and stability for the entire product lifetime. The new range offers improved power efficiency, decreased size, weight, electromagnetic interference and lower overall cost than traditional solutions on the market.

Electronics engineers can use MERUS™ Class D audio solutions in a range of applications such as battery-operated speakers, wireless and docking speakers, soundbars, multiroom systems and home theatre systems. The MERUS™ portfolio includes fully integrated monolithic audio amplifier ICs, multi-chip audio amplifier modules (MCMs), as well as discrete audio amplifier driver IC and power MOSFET solutions, scalable to meet the most stringent and demanding application needs.

The products now available from Newark include:

• The MA12040P (for 4-18V supply voltage range) and the MA12070P (for 4-26V supply voltage range), suitable for battery operated speakers, wireless and docking speakers, soundbars and multiroom/home theatre systems, both feature an embedded digital power management scheme with an algorithm that dynamically adjusts switching frequency and modulation to optimise power loss and EMI across the output power range. Integrated digital-to-analogue converters enable digital I2S audio stream input. The amplifiers support sample rates from 44.1 kHz to 192 kHz and offer protection against DC, short circuits, over-temperature and under-voltage situations. Flexible “power mode profiles” allow the user to utilise the multilevel switching technique for very low power loss or very high audio performance. Also available, for Analog input, are the complementary MA12040 and MA12070.
• The EVAL_AUDIO_MA12070P easy to use audio evaluation kit contains all the elements needed to evaluate the highly power-efficient MERUS™ digital input multilevel class D amplifier 2×80W (MA12070P). The IC is specifically targeted for high-performance filter-less and heatsink-free audio applications and suitable for applications such as voice controlled audio and professional audio where it is essential to maximize dynamic range and audio performance while minimizing power dissipation and power loss.

Lee Turner, Global Head of Semiconductors and Single Board Computing, at Newark said, “Infineon is known for its pioneering solutions for audio application requirements delivered through patented architectures, proprietary algorithms, advanced manufacturing technologies, and extensive verification and testing. The MERUS™ amplifier solutions, now shipping from Newark, provide customers with an unprecedented sound experience, designed to maximise power efficiency while providing best-in-class audio performance in optimal-fit form factors suitable for design engineers developing products for both, home or professional use.”

“With recent technological innovations, such as multilevel class D amplifiers, which are designed specifically for superior audio quality and power efficient amplification of music signals, designers are enabled more than ever to create better products for their customers. We are delighted by Newark's support in raising awareness and distribution of our future-proof MERUS™ audio-amplifier ICs,“ noted Jens Tybo Jensen, Head of Class D Audio, at Infineon Technologies.

Infineon’s MERUS™ range of Class D audio amplifier solutions are available from Farnell in EMEA, Newark in North America and element14 in APAC.

Farnell, the Development Distributor, has strengthened its product organisation with appointments into two key roles on its Leadership Team. Lee Turner has been appointed as Global Head of Semiconductors & Single Board Computers and Simon Meadmore appointed as Global Head of IP&E (Inter-connect, Passives and Electro-mechanical). Both Lee and Simon will report to Chris Breslin, President of Farnell’s global businesses. Farnell operates as Newark in North America and element14 in APAC.

Lee joined Farnell in 2016 as Global Head of Operations – Sales, Marketing & Technical. As Global Head of Semiconductors & SBC, Lee is responsible for ensuring that customers and manufacturers continue to view Farnell as their global distributor of choice and the provider of cutting edge Semiconductor and SBC technologies. Lee has 25 years’ experience in the electronics industry and has held prior leadership roles in supplier development, product marketing and sales.

Simon has been with Farnell for 15 years and moves to the role of Global Head of IP&E having previously led  Farnell’s Semiconductor & SBC product segment. In his new role, Simon is responsible for leading the global product and supplier strategy for this important category. Simon has extensive experience in supplier facing roles at Farnell and previously at Pace Micro Technology. He is a member of the Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply (CIPS).

Lee joined Farnell in 2016 and runs the Global Semiconductor and Single Board Computer product segment with responsibility for supplier and product strategy. Lee’s primary responsibility is ensuring that Farnell's global businesses continues to be viewed by customers and manufacturers as the distributor of choice and the provider of the most up-to-date and cutting edge Semiconductor and SBC technologies. As one of Farnell’s global leaders, Lee is also responsible for enabling suppliers and customers to access the endless benefits of working within the Avnet ecosystem. Lee was previously Head of Global Operations – Sales, Marketing & Technical for Farnell.

Before joining Farnell, Lee spent 21 years at Future Electronics, holding Director's posts in Supplier Development, Product Marketing and Sales.

Location: UK

Languages: English

To arrange an interview please contact our PR agency.

Newark, the Development Distributor, is now shipping a range of Time-of-Flight (ToF) sensors designed to meet the changing needs of design engineers and address demand for 3D information and extended range created by new use cases. Today’s ToF devices support applications such as gesture sensing, distance measurement, robotics, industrial automation and process control, enabling practical solutions such as monitoring the position of an object in production as it is transported through a plant on a conveyor belt.

Devices from leading suppliers, available for next day delivery from Newark, increase distance capabilities irrespective of colour and surface of the item tracked, maximise use potential within both indoor and outdoor environments and satisfy high-speed, small size and low power demands, driven by Industrial IoT application needs.

Time of Flight sensing products available from Newark include:

• New to Newark, the ISL29501 ToF IC from Renesas is designed for detecting objects at distances up to 2m providing a cost effective and efficient solution for distance measurement. The ISL29501 is an innovative time of flight signal processing IC that provides a complete object detection and distance measurement solution when combined with an external emitter (LED or laser) and photodiode. Its one-of-a-kind functionality, including ultra-small size, low power consumption and superior performance, makes it ideal for use with connected devices in Internet of Things (IoT) applications, as well as for consumer mobile devices, home automation and the emerging commercial drone market.

• The VL53L1X ToF Nucleo pack from ST Microelectronics is a complete evaluation kit allowing anyone to learn, evaluate and develop their application using the VL53L1X ToF, the latest product based on ST's patented FlightSense™ technology. The VL53L1X is the fastest miniature ToF sensor on the market with accuracy ranging up to 4m and fast-ranging frequency up to 50 Hz. This ground-breaking technology allows absolute long-distance to be measured independently of target reflectance as instead of estimating the distance by measuring the amount of light reflected back from an object the VL53L1X precisely measures the time the light takes to travel to the nearest object and reflect back to the sensor.

• The newly launched AFBR-S50MV85G evaluation kit, from Broadcom, comprises an NXP FRDM-KL46Z evaluation board and the AFBR-S50MV85G adapter board delivering out-of-the-box connectivity between the sensor and a microcontroller board without the need for soldering. Suitable for indoor and outdoor use and optimised for distances of up to 10m, this sensor has been developed with a special focus on industrial sensing and gesture sensing applications that require high speed, small size and very low power consumption, such as human machine interfaces, robotics, and augmented reality.

Lee Turner, Global Head of Semiconductors and SBC at Newark said: “Newark's strong supplier relationships with ST and Broadcom, and now including new addition Renesas, give access to the latest technologies in Time-of-Flight sensing options. For design engineers seeking the right devices for their application, our technical support team are available 24/5 to help identify the most suitable device for their application, no matter how complex the design or requirement of the application.”

View the full range of Time of Flight devices by visiting Farnell in EMEA, Newark in North America and element14 in APAC.

Premier Farnell, the Development Distributor, has further expanded its range of semiconductor products by adding the Osram Opto Semiconductor product portfolio to its global offering. The products which include, amongst others, LEDs, infrared emitters, photodiodes and optical sensors, provide experienced engineers with more products to compare and choose from when looking for high-performance solutions.

Osram Opto Semiconductors has more than 40 years’ experience developing cutting-edge products in the fields of illumination, visualisation and sensor technology. The Osram range extends Premier Farnell’s line card to provide customers with products to support applications in markets such as Automotive, Mobile, Smart Grid, Metering, Industrial, Office and Building Automation, Energy Management and Network Infrastructure.

Key products to be stocked include:

• The OSLON Black family of infrared LED: Now with dedicated automotive versions that include the 850nm version intended for exterior applications such as night vision, pedestrian protection, pre-field recognition and lane detection. The new 940nm version is targeted at interior automotive applications such as driver monitoring, seat occupancy detection and gesture recognition. With different wavelengths and lenses, these products cover a wide range of customer requirements, and can be operated at up to 5A in pulse mode.
• The SFH 2200 family of photodiodes: This new generation of devices is much smaller than predecessors. They feature a new package concept that allows them to be soldered without any damage for up to one year after initial contact with air, compared to only three days for typical standard products. The new package complies with the strict demands of the automotive industry and is approved up to an operating temperature of 125°C. The SFH 2200 devices meet the requirements for AEC-Q101-C qualification and are ideally suited for use in rain sensors.
• The TOPLED E1608 family of low-power LEDs: This family combines a smaller package with exceptional versatility to meet an extremely wide range of customer requirements. They are particularly suited to the automotive sector for applications such as displays, ambient lighting and backlighting of switches and instruments.
• SFH 4776 broadband infrared LEDs: These devices are suitable for use in new application sectors opened up by the adoption of near-infrared spectroscopy techniques for measuring parameters such as the water, fat, sugar and protein content of food and pharmaceutical products.
• The SYNIOS® P2720 platform: Consisting of 15 different LED products with different chip sizes, power ratings and colours which can be configured flexibly within a single footprint to suit different applications. The platforms’ ease of scalability and freedom of design are combined with high thermal reliability and high brightness, delivering new opportunities and cost advantages for automotive manufacturers and light designers.

“The addition of the Osram Opto Semiconductors’ range of products further increases the breadth of our semiconductor product offering.” says Lee Turner, Global Head of Semiconductors and Single Board Computing at Premier Farnell: “Osram is a key player in the opto-electronics semiconductor market and this new relationship provides Design Engineer customers with access to cutting-edge technology to build into their designs, helping them achieve a competitive edge on their competition.”

The Osram Opto Semiconductor products are now available from Farnell in EMEA, Newark in North America and element14 in APAC.