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Murata’s innovative ACDS Platform nominated for Internet of Things Product of the Year
Murata, an industry leading electronics manufacturer, is proud to announce its nomination in the ‘Internet of Things Product of the Year’ category, at the 2023 Electronics Industry Awards for its autonomous cellular development solution (ACDS).
A
CDS is a low-power, wide- area (LPWA) platform designed to mitigate the technical and environmental barriers preventing many
large-scale IoT node deployments. Developed through a unique collaboration between Murata and Nexperia (and in association with Deutsche Telekom), the latest innovations in low-power wireless communication, energy harvesting and SIM technology have been utilized to create a streamlined and cost-effective IoT node solution. First introduced in spring 2022, despite the relatively short availability of ACDS, it has already seen implementation by a variety of OEMs in many differing Internet of Things (IoT) applications.
The barriers preventing IoT deployment
When developing IoT nodes, there are many complex technical challenges that need to be overcome. One of the more prominent concerns is how to power the device effectively, while remaining cost effective and sustainable. At present, many IoT nodes depend on Li-Ion batteries for power. Initially, Li-Ion solutions will provide reliable operation, but as time progresses the available capacity depletes and eventually the battery will need replacing. This inevitable failure places a constant demand on maintenance teams who must fit replacement batteries, as well as the associated operational cost. If access to a node is heavily restricted, it further escalates any workload and maintenance costs.
The reliance on Li-Ion batteries also creates another, arguably more significant concern – the environmental impact of rechargeable batteries. Whether this is the valuable resources needed to create them or the risk of improper disposal, which can lead to toxic substances leaching into the nearby ecosystem, both factors are incredibly problematic. The International
46 June 2023
and achieves an industry-leading average power conversion efficiency figure of ~80 per cent.
Institute for Sustainable Development estimates that less than 5 per cent of Li-Ion batteries are successfully recycled, highlighting the scale of this second issue. The complications surrounding battery based IoT nodes all lead to the one logical conclusion, that an alternate, sustainable approach is needed. One solution is to harvest energy from ambient sources to generate the required electricity. But the problem design engineers face here is that power management ICs (PMICs) deployed in solar systems normally require the support of a large quantity of passive components. This not only expands the required board space but also increases the bill-of-materials (BoM) cost. Furthermore, existing subscriber identity modules (SIMs) used in cellular IoT networks add to the overall system size and create additional plastic waste.
Introducing Murata’s ACDS Platform
Producing an IoT node that meets the latest technical requirements, while being more environmentally friendly and sustainable than existing products is no simple task. But by combining their extensive wireless knowledge with Nexperia and Deutsche Telekom’s innovative solutions, Murata was able to create a truly ground-breaking product.
The ACDS platform consists of three key elements. The first is Murata’s Type 1SC dual-mode module. As one of the world’s smallest and globally certificated Cat.M1/
Components in Electronics
NB-IoT devices, it features highly compact dimensions of 11.4mm x 11.1mm x 1.5mm. With a current requirement of just 1.5μA when in standby mode, the Type 1SC can be powered from ambient sources. Likewise, extended discontinuous reception (eDRX) and power saving mode (PSM) help to reduce overall energy consumption. Embedded directly into the ACDS module is Deutsche Telekom’s nuSIM. Compared to existing solutions, this frees up a significant amount of board space. Additionally, it provides enhanced communication capabilities, speeding up the network attachment process by 35 per cent. This time reduction also helps to reduce the platform’s power consumption. As the SIM is integrated into the node, standard IoT SIM presence detection systems are not needed, increasing the system efficiency. The nuSim remains independent of any operator until a profile is applied. This allows loading of carrier details during initial manufacturing or even as late as node assembly.
Managing the platform’s power is Nexperia’s state-of-the-art NEH2000BY PMIC. This high-performance solution ensures that energy is effectively captured from photo-voltaic (PV) cells, with power inputs as little as 10µW being accepted. Featuring a compact 3mm x 3mm footprint and only a small number of accompanying passive components required (compared to other PMICs), the overall system size is minimized. The PMIC has a 1s maximum power point tracking (MPPT) settling time
The environmental and sustainability benefits achieved by ACDS speak for themselves. Through onboard energy harvesting, it is possible to eradicate the environmental concerns associated with rechargeable batteries. Likewise, the elimination of physical SIMs further helps by removing the plastic carriers and their associated packaging.
Murata’s solution provides tangible benefits that allow IoT nodes to be deployed in a more environmentally conscious manner, while also easing packaging constraints and future maintenance requirements. With ACDS Murata, Nexperia and Deutsche Telekom have created a game-changing platform that is a worthy candidate for the prestigious Electronics Industry Awards’ ‘Internet of Things Product of the Year’. If you would like to support ACDS, please click here to cast your vote – https://www.electronicsindustryawards.
co.uk/vote/
About Murata
Murata is a leading manufacturer of electronic components, modules, and devices. The complete range includes ceramic capacitors, resistors/thermistors, inductors/chokes, timing devices, buzzers, sensors and EMI suppression filters. Whilst the company is known as a global ceramic capacitor manufacturer, it is also a world leader in Bluetooth & WiFi Modules, board-mount DC-DC converters and is a key manufacturer of standard and custom AC-DC power supplies.
Established in 1944, Murata is headquartered in Japan and has European offices in Finland, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and the UK.
www.murata.com
www.cieonline.co.uk.uk
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