COVER STORY


Data exchange in industrial environments brings specific challenges


In the industrial world eliminating cables and connectors provides convenience and flexibility as well as eliminating potential poor connections due to cable breakage, contact corrosion and other issues. However, industrial users are often concerned about electromagnetic interference (EMI), eavesdropping, and data errors, over wireless connections. As a result they are seeking solutions outside the 'normal' communication protocols. Ariel Lasry, chief engineer, solution marketing at Toshiba Electronics Europe, tells us more


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TransferJet: from ‘Touch and Go’ to ‘Touch and Get’


erhaps inspired by the ‘Touch and Go’ convenience of NFC, TransferJet is a high-speed, proximity-based wireless


standard that can overcome the EMI, security and reliability issues associated with other RF communication technologies. It enables high-speed, close-proximity, point-to-point connections for convenient ‘Touch and Get’ file transactions.


The TransferJet Consortium was set up in 2008 and there are currently five promoter members (including Toshiba) and 21 adopter members. The consortium is responsible for developing the TransferJet specifications and compliance tools, as well as promoting the concept and usage of the standard. The promoter members participate in the development of the technical and compliance specifications as well as the overall management and operation of


the consortium while the adopter members are licensed to use the TransferJet technical specifications and guidelines to create and market compliant products. TransferJet was standardised in 2012 as ISO/IEC 17568, and operates in the 4.48GHz frequency band with a bandwidth of 560MHz and an effective data throughput of 375Mbps, allowing large files to be transferred in a few seconds.


Pairing takes only 0.1ms, with immediate high-speed data transfer offering significant speed advantages over NFC and Bluetooth. Replacing the antenna with a 'coupler' maximises near-field signal strength, ensures a sharp drop- off outside the desired signal range, and suppresses far-field components. TransferJet is around 10 times faster


than Wi-Fi (IEEE 802.11g), about 100 times faster than Bluetooth (Classic), and 1000 times faster than NFC. Short transmission distances permit very low RF power of -70dBm/MHz, ensuring compliance with worldwide Low-Power Radio (LPR) regulations and ensure battery-friendly operation.


Figure 2: TransferJet will simplify data connection to moving mechanisms


TransferJet offers significant advantages in industrial applications


In industrial applications, physical connections can have significant disadvantages not least due to the harsh environment that can corrode connectors, unless expensive sealed connectors are specified. Often connections have to be made to moving parts requiring sophisticated harnesses that may be expensive one-offs when used on specialist machines. The movement may cause shock or vibration to connectors that can cause temporary contact interruption, requiring large and expensive rugged connectors to be used.


In some industrial applications, the equipment that will provide data may be behind a barrier (e.g. in a clean room) and sealing the physical connection can be complex and expensive. TransferJet can address these challenges as it does not require connectors and also inherently offers other advantages, including galvanic isolation.


Figure 1: TransferJet touch points allow easy communication with equipment 8 September 2017 Components in Electronics


TransferJet deployment A valid method of deploying TransferJet- based solutions in industrial environments is to build applications that leverage existing consumer implementations such as integration into widely available smartphones or tablets. External solutions could be developed as 'dongles' that plug into these mobile devices allowing TransferJet exchanges to be initiated when the operator touches a mobile device against machinery, or a specified point on equipment.


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