Farnell, an Avnet Company and global distributor of electronic components, products and solutions, is seeking to bring a feel-good factor to customers this summer with the launch of its Escape Game challenge. Customers across Europe have the chance to test their skills and get creative by taking on a series of challenges to ‘escape to better days’. Participants can also win exciting prizes and access a wide range of products at discounted prices.

To take part in the challenge, participants must register online and start by completing weekly tasks. Players will earn or lose points depending on how successful they are at each task. Updates will be shared via email to highlight each participant’s progress and to alert on tips to help players increase their scores.

At the end of the competition, players with the highest scores will be rewarded with great prizes including an Apple Watch, Bose BLE Speaker, 3D printer, 3D pen, E-vouchers and more.

Participants will also have the opportunity to access exclusive discounts on Multicomp Pro and other popular brands, including:

• Up to 18% off brand new to market Rohde & Schwarz NGU401 source measure units.
• Up to 50% discount on Microchip development kits.
• Reduced prices on more than 4,000 products from Farnell’s interconnect range.
• Buy one get one free on FLUKE products (when spending over €200).

Malgorzata Szemel, Senior Marketing Manager EMEA, at Farnell, said: “We understand how tough this past year has been and we wanted to provide some enjoyment with our new summer challenge. Customers can play our fun online games, with the opportunity to win great prizes and access exclusive discounts on selected products from some of the world’s leading manufacturers. Our seasonal challenges have become more popular every year, and this summer in particular we wanted to help our customers have fun, win prizes and access the products they need at even lower prices.”

Farnell’s Escape Game competition is now open, to find out more and enter online visit games.Farnell.com.

The Oscilloscope Days 2021 webinar series will combine practical and theoretical learning principals to help electronics engineers overcome real-world application challenges and understand the methodology required for electronic design and test. The webinars are designed to enable participants to sharpen their knowledge of the fundamentals and extensive test features found in modern digital oscilloscopes.

The schedule for the webinars is:

Day 1 – Tuesday, 18^th May 2021

Two 90-minute sessions at 08:00am and 12:30pm BST

The first of the Oscilloscope Days 2021 will be split into two sessions. Session one covers the basics of how to choose a measurement setup. Participants will learn how to estimate the required bandwidth of their equipment and how to select the right instrument for specific applications. The operation of VNA, an oscilloscope, SPA and EMI receiver will also be covered. The second webinar will focus on the analysis of power integrity and DC/DC converters. Some of the key topics covered in this session include the importance of power integrity, the impact of switching semiconductors on a DUT and how to test a DUT’s power conversion and distribution parts. Day 1 will conclude with a look at the requirements of using high differential probes and filtering for digital transmission systems.

Day 2 – Wednesday 19^th May 2021

Two 90-minute sessions at 08:00am and 12:30pm BST

On Day 2, Rohde & Schwarz experts will dive deeper into how to achieve signal integrity and Bus analysis using oscilloscopes. Attendees will gain understanding of the influence a transmission line, filters and protection circuits can have on signal integrity while learning how to practically apply eye diagrams, protocol decode and USB trigger and decode. The second session will cover how to debug EMC from a device, including what instruments and accessories can be used for EMC debugging and how to qualify EMC during the development cycle using an oscilloscope.

Participants can register online now for the free Oscilloscope Days 2021 webinar series, hosted by Rohde & Schwarz in partnership with Farnell, in English, German or French.

Rohde & Schwarz is a leading supplier of solutions in the fields of test and measurement, broadcast and media, aerospace, defence, security, networks and cybersecurity. The technology group's innovative communications, information and security products help industry and government customers ensure a safer and connected world.

Farnell offers a full range of products to support electronic design and test and available for delivery from stock, with no minimum order value and an educational discount programme. Customers have free access to online resources, data sheets, applications notes, videos and webinars with excellent customer and technical support available 24/5 in local language.

Farnell stocks a broad range of Rohde & Schwarz products including oscilloscopes, RF test equipment, signal generators and more.

Farnell, an Avnet Company and global distributor of electronic components, products and solutions, is offering exclusive discounts to customers across Europe on a range of products from well-known brands including Tektronix, Omega, Omron, Rohde & Schwarz, Keysight, AMETEK and many more. Customers purchasing product bundles can also receive up to 50% off until 30 April 2021. The products included in the exclusive promotion will include components from Farnell’s passive, electromechanical, connector, development board, test, tool and production supply ranges, including:

• VIRALERT 3 Human Body Temperature Screening System from AMETEK Land: This system uses thermal and visual cameras to provide temperature measurement and facial recognition whilst socially distanced. VIRALERT 3 scans a subject in approximately two seconds to enable seamless monitoring at a facility entrance, minimising delays and queues. This screening system from AMETEK Land is now available to Farnell customers with up to 25% off.

• Advanced Power Applications Saver Bundle from Tektronix: This bundle of market leading test equipment from Tektronix is available exclusively to Farnell customers and includes an MDO34 Oscilloscope, Probes, 2231A-30-3 Power Supply, DMM6500 Digital Multimeter and KickStart Software. The Advanced Power Applications bundle represents a 20% saving compared to purchasing the products individually.

• PM5000 Series Power Meters from Schneider Electric: A popular product from the PowerLogic range offering power quality analysis up to the 15^th harmonic and flush-mounting. Farnell customers can purchase power meters in the PM5000 range with an exclusive 10% discount.

• Solder Wire from Multicomp Pro: Specially formulated to complement no clean wave and reflow soldering processes, Multicomp Pro's lead-free 1.2mm diameter soldering wire is available exclusively from Farnell with a limited time 30% discount.

For more information and the full range of discounts available, visit Farnell’s spring offers page here.

Farnell, an Avnet Company and global distributor of electronic components, products and solutions, will be attending Embedded World DIGITAL 2021, taking place from 1^st – 5^th March. During the 5 day event, Farnell will showcase new and exclusive insights into the Internet of Things market from its third annual IoT Survey. Attendees will also be able to meet with local sales teams and attend two digital sessions, hosted by the company, both of which are free to attend.

Digital sessions include:

• IoT and Edge Computing – Trends, Challenges and Solutions Implementation: In this 30 minute session, in-house technical experts will deep-dive into IoT with a sneak peek at results from Farnell’s third annual IoT Survey, before they are shared more broadly later in March. Insights will include how designers are implementing IoT in their own designs, the challenges they face, market trends and much more. Following this briefing, attendees will be introduced to the latest Industrial SBC products for adoption in their designs. This session is due to take place on Wednesday 3^rd March at 2.30pm.
• LPDDR4 Trends and Tech with LPDDR5: Farnell will also host a 20 minute session in partnership with Micron Technologies about the LPDDR4 latest trends and fundamentals of memory selection as well as a brief overview of, and comparison to, LPDDR5. This session will be hosted by Todd Legler, Senior Application Engineer at Micron.

Attendees can also browse Farnell’s virtual stand will include Raspberry Pi’s newest launches: Compute Module 4 and Raspberry Pi Pico and latest technologies from existing and new-to-Farnell brands ranging from small form factor, high performance development boards and kits to low power solutions for embedded design.

Susanne Ertl, Director of Sales, DACH and Eastern Europe, Farnell, says: “We are delighted to be returning once again to Embedded World, albeit in this virtual capacity. Embedded World is a major event in the electronics calendar and provides an important opportunity for customers, suppliers and distributors to discuss the latest technologies upon which tomorrow’s products will be built. We have invested significantly in inventory over the last 18 months and can offer customers access to our largest ever range of components and solutions for IoT, AI and Industrial SBC. Our local German sales and technical teams are looking forward to meeting with customers virtually to discuss how working with Farnell can equip them with the latest and most advanced technologies, preparing them for success.”

To download a free virtual ticket, visit our dedicated Embedded World page. For more information on Embedded World DIGITAL 2021 visit www.embedded-world.de.

Farnell, an Avnet Company and global distributor of electronic components, products and solutions, has enhanced its service to customers in South Africa through a new partnership with sister company EBV Elektronik, an Avnet Company. Embedded system designers and engineers in South Africa can now access Farnell’s global online catalogue of more than 950,000 products direct from their local EBV sales contact. Local sales and technical support is offered by a team of representatives from both companies to simplify product selection and ordering processes.

Farnell’s product offering spans more than 2,000 leading suppliers and manufacturers including Micron, Panasonic, Raspberry Pi, TE Connectivity, Schneider Electric and Tektronix, with over 900 new products brought to market each week. Since July 2019, Farnell has added over 30 new suppliers, increased inventory by 25 per cent and added $150 million worth of stock. Global logistics operations have also been enhanced with investment in a new distribution centre in the United Kingdom which enables shipping to South Africa in three days.

Rob Rospedzihowski, President Sales EMEA, Farnell says: “This new partnership with EBV enables more customers than ever to access our market leading product offering, from semiconductors to single board computing, and test and measurement. We are already receiving very positive feedback from customers in South Africa on how the greatly increased product range available to them is better supporting their business needs.”

Farnell has also enhanced its website to offer customers multicurrency options. Customers can access Farnell’s entire global range online, including:

• A market-leading portfolio of over 120,000 semiconductor lines from top suppliers such as Xilinx, Micron, STMicroelectronics and Microchip.
• Significantly enhanced range of Interconnect, Passives and Electro-mechanical products to support industrial automation and Industrial IoT projects alongside addition of new suppliers such as Yageo and KOA.
• SBC for industrial, hobbyist and educational use from over 100 brands including Raspberry Pi, Arduino, Beagleboard and BBC micro:bit.
• Farnell has also invested $4 million in test and measurement with more than 4,000 products added.

Fast quotes for customised or not-in-stock products are now also available for South African customers. The content-rich website features a suite of industry-first online tools including Connector e-Guide and Soldering Tip Selector to help design engineers identify critical components much faster. Farnell’s IoT Hub and Embedded Hub also host an extensive range of free online resources, data sheets, application notes, videos, webinars and technical articles on Artificial Intelligence and the Internet of Things.

Farnell’s full global online catalogue is available from export.farnell.com. Customers can also contact their local Farnell or EBV representative for support.

Farnell, a global multi-channel distributor of electronic components, and an Avnet company, has been named Gold High Service Distributor of the Year by TDK. The award reflects Farnell’s outstanding performance in key areas such as business development, inventory management and operations, delivered globally through Farnell’s European business.

TDK’s awards are based on the annual Senten Manten distributor performance evaluation programme, where Farnell was awarded the top score of 740 points out of 1000, across the categories.

Chris Breslin, President at Farnell, said: “We greatly appreciate this recognition from TDK. The award is testament to the hard work and dedication of Farnell staff across the globe to ensure we deliver the highest quality service for both our supplier partners and our customers. We look forward to continued success for both our companies.”

Dietmar Jaeger, General Manager of Global Sales Distribution at TDK added: “I am particularly pleased to see Farnell performing best in Europe under these severe conditions. I want to congratulate the whole team from Farnell for their excellent performance, promoting our products to the engineering world during the last year.”

The award was presented to Susi Ertl, Director of Sales and Commercial Centre, DACH, at Farnell.

Farnell has held a strong relationship with TDK for over 15 years focusing on delivering value for Farnell’s global customers and TDK.

In celebration of the International Day of Women in Engineering, 2020, a group of Farnell women leaders from across the globe joined a discussion about their experiences and journeys within the electronics industry, covering topics such as gender diversity in the workplace and the role of mentors. Looking over their careers, they identified the highlights and the challenges that came along with them.

Conversations highlighted the continued under-representation of women in the electronics industry. Many have seen a change in attitude over the course of their careers, but remembered times when being a woman in the industry meant constantly being subjected to stereotypes: “Throughout my career, there are times when I have been stereotyped as chief note-taker, found myself at social events mostly chatting about sport and feeling like an outsider. I was once told to stop being emotional whilst expressing myself during a debate over an issue”, said Sarah Fawcett, Global Program Manager, Single Board Computers.

A 2019 study entitled ‘Women in the Workplace’ by McKinsey and Company aimed to help companies improve diversity in the workplace. It stated that despite progress at senior levels, under-representation of women continues, and that a “broken rung” at the step to manager is a problem many women face on their journey to becoming leaders. Niki Taylor, Supplier Account Manager, IP&E Group, Newark, said: “There remains too few women at a decision-making level in this industry, and while we have a full pipeline of women leaders, it does level off before we see them enter into VP positions and higher. I think some of that has to do with a fear of giving up a work-life balance after going to the next level, and a lack of opportunity.” 

Increased gender balance and the diversity that comes with it brings a more effective range of skills to the table. Carrie Rubin, Senior Product Manager, US explains that this is “diversity of ideas”. Jade Gallagher, Senior Supplier Account Manager, IP&E adds: “There are so many studies out there proving how beneficial this is to business, to the economy. For me it’s innovation in problem solving. Having a gender equal team – let me widen to equal team – can highlight our differences in approaching a matter to adapt a more blended way forward, solving an issue in a manner you may not have originally thought.” But this also requires gender equality – Dianne Kibbey, Global Head of Community & Social Media, explained: “It means equal access to opportunities regardless of gender. This would include equal pay, equal participation and equal chances for decision making.” Technical Support Engineer, India, Priyanka Samal added: “Gender equality should be there as it’s a necessary foundation for a peaceful, prosperous and sustainable world. Everyone should be given equal value in every field.”

The discussion indicated that the electronics industry needs to consider diverse points of view across all aspects of the business to improve performance. Carrie Rubin said this is already happening in some areas, and she is seeing the benefit: “I feel very respected as a woman, and strides are being taken to increase women’s presence and prominence in the industry with groups like Women in Electronics.” Sarah Fawcett agreed: “There are some fantastic women leaders in this industry. I feel that we are changing it from the inside and creating better opportunities for the each cohort of women who join. Farnell has been really supportive, providing opportunities for me to keep stretching myself and keep moving forward.” Jade Gallagher also noted, “The more inclusive we are, removing barriers and judgement, the more we can create a better world. Our world view is greater than the small bubble that we’re comfortable with.”

It was clear that those in the discussion felt diversity is good for business and that industries across the globe are recognizing the importance of viewing their challenges through a woman’s lens. Diversity introduces a more rounded set of skills in the boardroom, and then at every level within the organization and greater diversity leads to more diverse and equitable decision making. Farnell’s group felt that women leaders are increasing their influence despite the continued gender gap.  Global Senior Supplier Account Manager, UK, Vicky Hough dived into her own experience at Farnell: “In my role, I often have to meet and present to predominately male rooms. It can be an intimidating environment if you are only one of a few, or indeed the only woman there. However, the majority of my experience is that individuals are respectful and doing my job well is the only factor.”

One key challenge that was highlighted in the conversations was the conflicting demands of parenthood and career. Madeleine Alvarado, Regional Sales Manager, Australia & New Zealand, commented on how challenges have changed at different stages of her career: “When I first started out, it was the perception that I was not technically as capable as men. I don’t think that perception really persists anymore. Another challenge is being a mother – it is not easy to work part-time in this industry, to accommodate parenting obligations.”

Achieving work-life balance can be easier said than done, but Senior Global Supplier Account Manager, Semiconductor, Ibtissame Krumm, remained optimistic: “Yes, you can have a career and a family just like a man does. Just be efficient and focus. It may be challenging and uncomfortable at times but it is all possible and Farnell is the right company to support that!”

Family was a topic which resonated across the group.  Noelle Tiong, Account Development Specialist, Sales, Malaysia explained her experience and that of many other women around her: “Career development is mostly for men, as the perception for women remains to focus more on family and children.” And while the world was in degrees of lockdown during the COVID-19 pandemic the challenge of being a working mother was particularly pertinent for the group . Holly Smart, Global Head of PR and External communications, said: “I find myself comparing myself to those parents who aren’t working and are able to support their children’s education, and those workers who don’t have children and are focused on work. It’s a constant challenge – but one that I’ve gotten used to! Being a mum, and doing my job are both full time commitments.”

Nevertheless, the feeling from the group was that meeting your expectations at work and home brings immense satisfaction, and builds a deep-rooted confidence in oneself. Sarah Fawcett, is particularly proud of her achievements, especially one which followed soon after returning from maternity leave. “I delivered a £2M project and secured a promotion within nine months of coming back from maternity leave with my second child.”  Flexibility is also a favourable factor in improving the quality of job experience for women in tech, as Carrie Rubin explained: “Farnell has been a great company to work for. I appreciate the flexibility and work/life balance, and it’s clear that the leadership really appreciates its people, especially given the current environment.” 

The topic of family also resonated strongly in a different way. Shirley Shi, Beijing Branch Manager, Sales and Sharmaine Cho, Senior Marketing Executive, Singapore, spoke of Farnell being an ‘extended family’. Sharmaine emphasized the tremendous impact the people of Farnell have had on her career: “Fortunately, I have met great colleagues over my last four years, and each and every one of them has helped me to learn on the job. Everyone that I’ve worked with has been helpful, kind and understanding, and that’s really what makes my Farnell journey enjoyable.”  

The women also unanimously agreed upon the role of mentorship in moving their careers forward, advising young women to seek out industry mentors who can help them to realise their true potential. Ibtissame Krumm shared how a mentor helped her to gain the respect of her peers, encouraging her to be factual about the work she produced, and acknowledge her achievements in front of others. Shilpi Gupta, Product Operations Manager, India, added: “Mentors definitely help us realise our true potential, they are the guiding force behind us. However I also truly believe that until we propel ourselves to challenges, nobody can actually help us. When we garner the strength to confront challenges and difficulties it strengthens our will, confidence and ability to conquer future impediments and obstacles.” 

Groups such as the RISE Women’s Forum run by Farnell’s parent company, Avnet, aim to empower women, increase inclusion in the organization, and reduce unconscious bias by raising awareness with employees. Niki Taylor is a member of the Newark chapter of RISE and said groups like these play an important role in giving life to gender-related topics and issues, as well as supporting women: “Working with the women in the industry through groups like RISE at Newark and Avnet, as well as the industry-wide Women in Electronics has been a career highlight.”

The group also shared what they enjoyed most about their jobs, explaining that a career in engineering and electronics can be rewarding and fulfilling. Shilpi Gupta, Product Operations Manager, India, explained that “the opportunity to work on diverse projects is what excites me the most”, stating that while her efforts benefit the company, she also gets to hone her skills and evolve professionally. Speaking about the fact that she has the opportunity to learn about new technology before anyone else does, Niki Taylor, shared: “I love getting a preview on what’s coming next in technology and seeing that come to life with our suppliers and our customers.  It’s great to get a front row seat to the ever-changing ways technology influences our lives.”  Jade Gallagher added:  “I love the pace of the industry. One moment you could be working on a launch that’s taken months of meticulous planning, the next you could be working with customers to support a bespoke design that they need urgently. Variety and innovation.”  Ibtissame Krumm s explained what she felt the electronics industry has to offer her as an aspiring leader: “We are at the forefront of developing new technologies like IoT, wireless charging, healthcare, robotics, consumables and transportation, and these things are changing the world around us.”

Looking to the future for talented women who aspire to join engineering, electronics and STEM industries in general, the advice from the Farnell women was to keep sharpening their skill sets. They should stand their ground in the workplace, and find the right mentor at an early stage of their career. But most of all, as explained by Jade Gallagher: “Believe in yourself. Things are changing and you will bring that change for generations to come.”

To mark International Women in Engineering Day 2020, Farnell, a global multi-channel distributor of electronic components and an Avnet company, talked to women across its global operations to celebrate their achievements within the industry and discuss key topics such as gender diversity in the workplace. 14 women leaders working within Farnell joined the discussion from different parts of the world. The aim of the collaboration was to bring forward their shared experiences, journeys and challenges to help aspiring women who want to pursue science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) within their career.

Conversations highlighted steps taken to increase women’s presence and prominence in the industry and progress made, but nevertheless, the group concluded that women still continue to remain underrepresented. The women discussed these changing scenarios, how to make strides to close the gender gap and how to fuel the next generation of female innovators. During the discussion, the group shared some tips for the budding women engineers who aspire to work in the electronics industry.

Here are few tips shared by them:

• Gain as much knowledge as you can about new developments, new technology and industry changes - it is imperative to understand the core of the business to make a difference in what we do.
• Believe in yourself - women sometimes underestimate themselves and therefore hold back on taking up new challenges that can help them achieve their maximum potential. The goal should be to continue learning and evolve personally and professionally.
• Get comfortable with feeling uncomfortable - many times, you may find yourself in situations where you think you can’t do something, but the truth is that you really can. It’s okay to feel uncomfortable and try things you’ve never done before, because it might turn out that you excel at it.
• Don’t be held back by stereotypes - if it’s something you’re passionate about, stick to that path even if there are challenges. It’s a matter of time, effort, and attitude.
• Get a mentor who can act as a guiding force in your career and help you realise your true potential. Mentors can come in various forms – one could help you understand your own strengths and weaknesses and another mentor could help you build a network within the organisation.

Chris Breslin, President at Farnell, said: “Diversity helps create more robust and flexible workplaces and it’s important that more women have the opportunity to innovate. Overlooking women in the workforce is a loss of talent. We must always strive to lift each other up and promote equality and respect everywhere.”

The discussion also provided insights to help improve diversity and increase female representation in the industry, such as giving girls enough role models to encourage them to join STEM. To find out more about Farnell’s female panel and read their full conversation, please visit the news blog. 

Farnell, the Development Distributor, today announced the launch of a new variant of the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B computer with 8GB of on-board memory, offering double the capacity of the existing high-end model. The additional memory improves the performance of data-intensive applications, making the 8GB version an attractive solution for general desktop computer users, hobbyists and makers, and professional developers alike.

Offering the perfect balance of processing, storage and cost, the new 8GB board is ideal for applications which require real-time processing of large amounts of data with minimal latency, such as edge gateways, machine vision and facial recognition. For imaging applications, its functionality can be further enhanced by the addition of the recently released Raspberry Pi 12MP High Quality Camera with interchangeable lenses, ideal for both professional computer vision applications and photography enthusiasts.

Desktop PC users will appreciate having the greater capacity of the 8GB board to support web browsing, ultra-high-definition video streaming, cloud gaming, and image processing without time delay or latency.

Raspberry Pi’s market-proven hardware speeds up development and prototyping of complex applications, greatly reducing costs for professionals and start-ups. Developers can now focus less on hardware and spend more time focusing on value-added software elements.

The 8GB Raspberry Pi 4 Model B computer retains the key performance and connectivity features customers expect including:

• Efficiency: The 28nm BCM2711 system-on-chip delivers a significant increase in energy efficiency over previous models.
• Processor: A quad-core ARM Cortex-A72 64-bit processor clocked at 1.5GHz enable the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B computer to run up to three times faster than its predecessor.
• Video and Sound: Two micro HDMI ports support dual-display output at resolutions up to 4K.
• Connectivity:
  • Two SuperSpeed USB 3.0 ports, enabling faster transfer rates to mass-storage devices (up to 5 Gbps).
  • True Gigabit Ethernet connectivity delivering network data rates of up to 1Gbps.
  • Dual-band wireless networking at 2.4GHz and 5GHz, delivering real-world data rates in excess of 100 Mbps. Modular compliance certification allows the board to be designed into end products with significantly reduced compliance testing, improving both cost and time to market.
• Memory: 2GB, 4GB and now 8GB LPDDR4 memory options.

Other key features include:

• Multimedia: H.265 decode (4kp60), H.264 decode (1080p60) and H.264 encode (1080p30); OpenGL ES 3.0 graphics; hardware image sensor pipeline.
• GPIO: User definable GPIO on standard 40-pin header with full backward compatibility and additional multiplexed UART, I2C and SPI peripherals.
• SD card support: Micro SD card slot for loading operating system and data storage.
• Power over Ethernet: PoE support using separate HAT accessory.

Sarah Fawcett, Global Programme Manager for Single Board Computers at Farnell said: “The Raspberry Pi is the highest selling single board computer of all time and has been well received by our customers around the globe. The additional memory and faster data processing capability of the 8GB Raspberry Pi 4 Model B computer provides design-oriented customers with an easy-to-use hardware solution that can scale up or down to support the memory requirements of a wide range of applications. The enhanced memory option, coupled with a broad range of add-on accessories, makes the Raspberry Pi one of the most flexible and cost-effective single board computers for consumer, education, professional and commercial use.”

Eben Upton, Raspberry Pi Trading Chief Executive, said: "We're delighted to be working with Farnell to bring the new 8GB Raspberry Pi 4 to market. This is a product that we've been looking forward to releasing since the launch of Raspberry Pi 4 in June 2019, and now, enabled by our close relationship with our memory partners at Micron, it has finally become a reality. This product, and our forthcoming 64-bit Debian-based operating system will open up a wide range of new high-end applications for the Raspberry Pi platform."

Farnell is the largest manufacturer and distributor of the Raspberry Pi and has sold more than 15 million units to date.

Farnell stocks all versions of the Raspberry Pi single board computer, alongside a diverse ecosystem of accessories that enable users to build devices for home, professional, education or commercial use. Accessories include a case, power supplies, micro HDMI cables and the new-to-market Raspberry Pi High Quality Camera. Customers can benefit from 24/5 technical support, alongside free access to valuable online resources on the Farnell website, and engineering and maker community, element14.

The new 8GB version of the Raspberry Pi Model B Computer is available from Farnell in EMEA, element14 in APAC and Newark in North America.

Farnell, the Development Distributor, has added the new PicoScope 6000E series of USB oscilloscopes from Pico Technology to its portfolio. The new generation PicoScope 6000E series is an ideal measurement and analysis solution for design and test engineers, Original Equipment Manufacturers, Contract Electronics Manufacturers working with high-performance embedded systems, and researchers and scientists working on multi-channel high-performance experiments in physics labs, particle accelerators and similar facilities.

As a market leading developer of PC oscilloscopes, Pico provides innovative and cost-effective alternatives to traditional test equipment and data acquisition products. Pico’s regular and free software updates future-proof products by continuously improving performance and extending operational life.

The new PicoScope 6000E series delivers:

• Eight analog input channels with 8-bit resolution and up to 5GS/s sampling rate.
• Ultra-Deep Memory waveform capturing memories of 4 giga samples (up to 2 giga samples per channel), many times larger than competing oscilloscopes and enabling the capture of long-duration waveforms at maximum sampling speed.
• Mixed-Signal Oscilloscope (MSO) option adding 8 or 16 500MHz digital channels when optional 8-bit TA369 MSO pods are fitted, allowing digital and analogue signals to be viewed together. Digital signals can be displayed individually, as a bus or as decoded serial protocols.
• 21 serial protocol decoders included as standard allowing serial data to be decoded simultaneously on all analogue and digital channels. This enables up to 24 channels of data, including decoding multiple SPI, I²C, CAN bus, LIN bus and FlexRay signals, to be done at the same time.
• SuperSpeed USB 3.0 interface and hardware acceleration ensures that the display is smooth and responsive even with long data captures.

The PicoScope 6000E series consists of two models: the PicoScope 6804E and the PicoScope 6824E that also offers FlexRes. This specification reduces the sampling rate to enable high-resolution 10-bit or 12-bit resolution for audio and other analogue applications, in addition to standard fast (5 GS/s) 8-bit sampling mode. The PicoScope series also offers informative display and advanced waveform analysis, increasing user productivity when conducting signal processing, high-speed communications, process control, avionics, power electronics, mechatronics and automotive design.

James McGregor, Global Head of Test and Tools for Farnell says: “We are delighted to introduce this exciting new range of affordable USB oscilloscopes from Pico Technology. Our range of Pico products give customers access to innovative PC-based test equipment that offers a modern and cost-effective alternative to the traditional benchtop products. We are committed to delivering the latest technologies for our customers and this range of cutting-edge scopes is an excellent addition to an already broad test and measurement portfolio.”

The PicoScope 6000E extends Farnell’s oscilloscope offering. Customers can also access to 24/5 hands-on technical support from Farnell’s in-house test experts, along with access to free online resources including datasheets, webinars and videos. Farnell offers discounts on test products to all educational institutions.

All models in the PicoScope 6000E series by Pico Technology are available from Farnell in EMEA and element14 in APAC.

Farnell, the Development Distributor, announces the addition of Sorensen, the premier DC programmable power supply brand from Ametek, to its extensive range of power supplies.

Sorensen is the leader in the design and manufacture of precision, programmable power supplies for research and design, test and measurement, process control, power bus simulation and power conditioning applications across a wide array of industrial segments. Its portfolio comprises of benchtop, modular and rack-mounted industrial power subsystems, including DC programmable, DC linear, DC benchtop and DC modular power supplies. Each offers outputs from 30W to 150kW, output voltages range from 5V to 1,000V and output currents from 1A to 8,000A.

Key products in the Sorensen range, now available from Farnell, include:

• The DLM600 375–600W half rack programmable DC power supply series: this series provides a highly stable, continuously variable output voltage and current for a broad range of applications. Features include remote control, analogue programming, LXI Compliant Ethernet LAN / RS-232C, IEEE-488.2 / RS-232C.

• The DCS 1–3kW general purpose power supply series: the DCS series uses unique packaging techniques to achieve continuous full output power. The highly reliable power platform can be controlled remotely with high programming resolution. Other features include an Ethernet interface, constant voltage and current mode, remote sensing, analog control and monitoring.

• The XG 1500-1700W 1U programmable DC power supply series: offers industry-leading power density for test, production, lab, OEM and quality assurance applications. The XG series features Standard Digital and Isolated analog interfaces, universal AC input with power factor correction, built-in sequencing, programmable fold-back protection delay and “Green” Sleep Mode.

James McGregor, Global Head of Test and Tools at Farnell said: “We are very pleased to add Sorensen to our power supply portfolio, further strengthening our already leading range in this sector. Sorensen is renowned for their comprehensive range, from benchtop and modular power supplies to rack-mounted industrial power subsystems, and we are delighted to be the only high service distributor in EMEA to be selling their great range. We continue to expand our product and service offering, with leading brands such as Sorensen, to ensure our customers are fully supported with all their design, test and production needs."

The Sorensen range extends Farnell’s market-leading power supply portfolio. Farnell’s broad product range and holistic support services ensure customers can fulfil all of their test and measurement requirements. Customers can also benefit from 24/5 technical support and direct access to test and measurement specialists as part of Farnell’s commitment to support engineers at every level.

Sorensen programmable power supplies are available from Farnell in EMEA and element14 in APAC.

Farnell, the Development Distributor, has introduced new inventory measures and online services to support the healthcare industry and meet record customer demand for personal protection and hygiene products during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.

Farnell is restocking a wide range of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and hygiene products every week to meet the needs of customers. The move is in response to a 125 percent increase in searches for PPE and other essential products on Farnell’s e-commerce site since an international public health emergency was declared on 30^th January.

PPE and hygiene products maximise cleanliness, reduce the risk of bacteria build-up and can help protect people from carrying or transferring infectious bacteria. These beneficial products are highly sought-after for health and medical use, however demand soared after the general public took increased precautionary action to help prevent the spread of the virus.

A wide range of protective, hygiene, cleaning, test and measurement, and office products are available for fast delivery from Farnell, including:

• The non-contact IR200 InfraRed forehead thermometer from EXTECH Instruments: designed to quickly and safely detect elevated body temperature. Raised body temperature is a key symptom of the COVID-19 virus and while this IR thermometer is not a substitute for clinical temperature monitoring equipment, it is ideal for use at home or in the workplace for quick and safe measurements.

• Hand Sanitiser from AF International: one of the top selling products in Farnell’s range. Supplied in a 500ml pump-bottle, it contains vitamin E and more than 60 percent alcohol content. This cleaning gel is ideal for use at home or office workstations to reduce the risk of spreading bacteria.

• Safety First Aid Group’s HypaClean foam hand sanitiser: another of Farnell’s leading hygiene products, ideal for reducing skin irritation and effective against bacteria and viruses. The 500ml foam hand sanitiser pump bottle is alcohol free and suitable for use by people of all ages, including children. Independently proven to be effective against a wide range of microorganisms, the HypaClean hand gel sanitiser is also available in a travel-sized 50ml bottle for use on the go.

James McGregor, Global Head of Test and Tools at Farnell said: “Farnell remains open for business and offers a wide range of products to support customers seeking personal protective equipment and hygiene products which are critical in the fight against COVID-19. Our customers can rest assured that even though demand for these products is currently at an all-time high we remain committed to weekly restocking of inventory and delivering products to customers when they need them. Farnell is proud to work alongside its suppliers and partners in the healthcare industry to ensure output of PPE is maximised and delivered on time to where it is needed most in a time of global crisis.”

At this time, when global demand for facemasks and respirators is at unprecedented levels, it is more difficult to maintain stock of approved N95 respirators or equivalent as stock is incredibly limited. Farnell supports the decision of suppliers such as 3M to redirect their global inventory directly to the healthcare industry, ensuring that these essential items get to where they are most needed.

In addition to fast delivery and regular restocking of inventory, Farnell offers a range of online services to enable customers to back order essential items and register their interest to receive a notification when a specific product is back in stock. Customers also have free access to online data sheets, application notes and more.

The full range of products for PPE and hygiene needs are available from Farnell in EMEA.

Mathew Thorpe, Regional Sales Director for the UK, Ireland and Benelux for Farnell commented: “Demand for components for medical devices has surged. If you consider the amount of ventilators that are needed globally, demand outstrips the supply that any one distributor will have in stock. Our product and sales teams are working very closely with suppliers to access additional stock to fulfil orders and support our customers as they produce medical equipment at scale.”

Examples of projects that Farnell has supported include:

• In the UK, Farnell continues to work with a government-backed coalition of businesses including major household names who are repurposing their production capabilities to design, prototype and manufacture new ventilators and those increasing production of existing ventilators such as the paraPAC plus™ .

• In Italy, Farnell has supported one of the biggest companies as they produce the first 1,000 pieces of a new open-source pulmonary mechanical ventilator called “Milano Ventilatore Meccanico” leveraging Raspberry Pi and Multicomp products as part of an international research project.

• In the Netherlands, Farnell is supporting customers participating in Project Open Air, a global volunteer movement of projects and people working together to provide equipment, supplies and services needed by hospitals. Essential products include ventilators, respiratory masks, and home monitors to measure the temperature, heart rate and oxygen in the blood at home to monitor patients at risk.

Farnell has also supported customers with components for COVID-19 testing kits, non-contact viral temperature monitoring instruments as well as PPE for paramedics, power cords and power solutions for hospitals.

To further support health care workers facing a shortage of protective gear and equipment needed to care for critically ill COVID-19 patients, Farnell has identified groups and individuals who are using 3D printers to create visors and ear protectors for health workers and parts for field respirators, and donated more than $50,000 worth of 3D printing equipment and consumables to support their efforts.

Across Europe, Farnell continues to support multiple volunteer groups through donations of 3D printers and filament, including a pop-up manufacturing plant in element14 community member’s home where printers are working around the clock to support the needs of hospitals across the UK; a new manufacturing hub launched specifically to support the UK’s first Nightingale field hospital; and organisations in Poland and Spain providing visors and parts for field respirators. Similarly, in Chicago—where Farnell’s North American business is based—Farnell has donated printers and filament to De Paul University, which is responding to local demand for PPE.

Farnell, the Development Distributor, announces the launch of the new Raspberry Pi High Quality Camera, complete with a 12-megapixel ultra-definition-resolution camera and interchangeable lenses. The Raspberry Pi High Quality Camera is the first-of-its-kind to hit the market and is ideal for professional and consumer applications which require the highest levels of visual fidelity and integration with specialist optics.

The revolutionary Raspberry Pi High Quality Camera can effectively capture still images and video footage. It is compatible with all models of Raspberry Pi boards from the Raspberry Pi 1 Model B onwards and can be used as a desktop camera. The Raspberry Pi High Quality Camera is suitable for a wide range of professional applications including machine vision, robotics, industrial and agriculture. It is also ideal for home and professional security systems which operate in low ambient light conditions. The camera can be programmed to collect data to support facial and number plate recognition and parking space monitoring.

Professional designers will find the new camera and interchangeable lens combinations simple to integrate into monitoring and quality control systems while educators, makers and consumers will relish in the camera’s capability and functionality to take Raspberry Pi projects to new horizons. The ultra-definition camera extracts more information from the lens to create higher quality, content rich images that could not be achieved by the existing Raspberry Pi Camera Module v2.

The complete Raspberry Pi High Quality Camera package consists of three individual products, all available for fast delivery from Farnell, including:

• The Raspberry Pi High Quality Camera offers a high resolution of 12.3 megapixels and approximately 50 percent greater sensitivity than its predecessor for improved low-light performance. The camera features a circuit board with Sony IMX477 sensor, an FPC cable for connection to a Raspberry Pi computer, a milled aluminum lens mount with integrated tripod mount and focus adjustment ring, and a C- to CS- lens mount adapter. Other lens form factors can be accommodated using third-party lens adapters.

• Two state-of-the-art interchangeable lenses, featuring a - 6mm wide angle lens and a - 16mm telephoto lens, can be integrated with the Raspberry Pi High Quality Camera’s C- and CS-mount form factors. Users will no longer be limited by fixed lens autofocus cameras, as each interchangeable lens dramatically improves the camera’s core functionality as a result of manual focus options including wide and narrow angles and telephoto zoom to identify objects.

Sarah Fawcett, Global Program Manager – SBC, at Farnell said: “The potential of the Raspberry Pi Camera for professional and consumer applications is limitless. It enables all kinds of image processing where customers need to gather more refined information to enhance multimedia and visual products. The new ultra-high-resolution camera with state-of-the-art interchangeable lenses is a valuable addition to Farnell’s Raspberry Pi portfolio. Our customers enjoy having the flexibility to review the widest range of Raspberry Pi products from a single source, with fast delivery options and 24/5 technical support.”

Farnell is the largest manufacturer and distributor of the Raspberry Pi, and has championed its use with both professional design engineers and makers through the element14 Community since its launch. Farnell stocks all versions of the Raspberry Pi single board computer and provides a diverse ecosystem of accessories that enable users to build devices for home, professional, education or commercial use. Customers can benefit from 24/5 technical support, alongside free access to valuable online resources.

The 12-megapixel ultra-definition resolution Raspberry Pi High Quality Camera with interchangeable lenses is available from Farnell in EMEA, element14 in APAC and Newark in North America.

Farnell, the Development Distributor, has added the new entry level TBS2000B Digital Storage Oscilloscope from Tektronix to its test and measurement portfolio. Electronics designers, test engineers and educators will benefit from its easy-to-use controls, automated measurements and large 9” display. The TBS2000B offers exceptional performance and advanced debugging at an affordable price. Customers can also benefit from a special new product promotion of up to 15% off whilst stocks last.

The new Tektronix TBS2000B digital storage oscilloscope is built on the legendary performance and value of the earlier TBS2000 model, providing higher performance and greater ease of use at an affordable price. The TBS2000B series is a complete drop-in replacement for TBS2000 series oscilloscopes, with the same form factor and programmable interface. Notable features include:

• A 9-inch WVGA display with a 5-million-point record length and 2GS/s sample rate which enables users to capture and display significantly more signal, speeding up debug and design validation.
• 32 automated measurements and on-waveform cursor readouts with search and mark features that enable easy identification of events that occur in the acquired waveform.
• TekVPI™, Tektronix’s proprietary probe support interface, enabling wide application coverage using the latest active differential and current probes with automatic scaling and units. This is the industry’s only entry-level instrument featuring TekVPI™. The TBS2000B also supports traditional passive BNC probes.
• Range of connectivity options including Wi-Fi support (via USB Wi-Fi dongle), 2 USB host ports, and 100-BaseT Ethernet for easy sharing of measurements and collaboration.

James McGregor, Global Head of Test & Tools at Farnell said, “The Tektronix TBS2000B series offers a major upgrade on one of the most popular products in the Farnell test and measurement range and is suitable for a range of applications including IoT, automotive, defence, power and education. Users of the earlier TBS2000 will easily transition to this new product and benefit from using brand new, cutting edge technology. Intuitive control via the 9-inch display and automated measurements will increase productivity and speed up design and test processes.”

Farnell offers its customers unrivalled 24/5 technical support with dedicated test and measurement specialists on-hand and extensive online resources such as Farnell’s exclusive online probe selector tool. Customers can also access hundreds of the latest new products and popular best-sellers from market-leading supplier partners, such as Tektronix, available for same day despatch. In addition to the special launch promotion of up to 15% off whilst stocks last, Farnell is currently featuring a number of Spring Offers including up to 30% off a wide range of other test and measurement products.

The Tektronix TBS2000B Digital Storage Oscilloscope is available from Farnell in EMEA, element14 in APAC and Newark in North America.

Hackster.io, an Avnet community, is joining forces with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and 12 leading technology companies to support the world’s developing countries in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. Launching today, the COVID-19 Detect and Protect Challenge is calling on engineers to design low-cost and easily deployable software, hardware and services that will support the detection and prevention of COVID-19 in some of the world’s most vulnerable areas.

“Through this challenge, our community at Hackster, the UNDP and Avnet’s technology partners are coming together to provide innovative solutions to get lifesaving technology to some of the world’s most vulnerable areas,” said Bill Amelio, CEO, Avnet. “We are proud to partner with the UNDP to activate local technology ecosystems to develop, shape and implement open-source solutions that can help detect and protect against COVID-19 around the world. It’s truly a global collaboration, with a longer-term and positive multiplier effect.”

The COVID-19 Detect and Protect Challenge aims to realize ten economical and easy-to-produce hardware solutions to strengthen detection and prevention efforts in developing countries, minimizing the strain on healthcare systems by helping to flatten the curve. Projects will be curated by Hackster and the UNDP, which will also work with each creator to deploy their projects to the frontlines where it is needed most.

“We’re turning to our network of developers and partners to share their ideas and designs with those who need them the most,” said Adam Benzion, co-founder, Hackster.io. “Through this challenge, we hope to bring forward some truly unique solutions that could make a real impact on the global fight against COVID-19.”

Avnet will provide support to accelerate the winners’ time to market by offering business consultation and access to engineering, design and manufacturing resources. Leveraging the power of Avnet’s extensive technology ecosystem, Hackster garnered further support from partners including Amazon Web Services, Arduino, Arm, Edge Impulse, Google, Microsoft, Nordic Semiconductor, Nvidia, NXP, Soracom and The Things Industries, each of whom will provide sponsorship, prizes and hardware and/or design support for a selection of project submissions.

Entries will be accepted and evaluated on a rolling basis through Summer of 2020. The UNDP will select the top ten inventions, whose creators will receive global recognition and monetary awards for their contribution to society and humankind.

Interested creators can go to https://www.covid19detectprotect.org/ to sign up and gather more information.

About Avnet

Avnet is a global technology solutions provider with an extensive ecosystem delivering design, product, marketing and supply chain expertise for customers at every stage of the product lifecycle. We transform ideas into intelligent solutions, reducing the time, cost and complexities of bringing products to market. For nearly a century, Avnet has helped its customers and suppliers around the world realize the transformative possibilities of technology. Learn more about Avnet at www.avnet.com and its Hackster community at www.Hackster.io (AVT) (CorpNws).

About UNDP

UNDP partners with people at all levels of society to help build nations that can withstand crisis, and drive and sustain the kind of growth that improves the quality of life for everyone. On the ground in nearly 170 countries and territories, we offer global perspective and local insight to help empower lives and build resilient nations.www.undp.org

Farnell, the Development Distributor, has added Rohde & Schwarz’s NGP800 Series of power supplies to its portfolio. The new generation NGP800 Series is made up of five 2- and 4-channel models operating at either 400W or 800W, suited for both bench-top and automated test systems. Design and Test Engineers will benefit from a market leading performance in connectivity, safety, functionality and flexibility.

Rohde & Schwarz is known for flexible products offering long-term durability, uncompromising quality, environmental compatibility and an eco-footprint. The new NGP800 series of power supplies have a 5” high-resolution touch display that makes synchronising outputs, performing waveform tests and logging data for in-depth analysis easy. All models come with a 3-year warranty as standard and users benefit from features such as:

• Full flexibility: Models feature two or four outputs that can be connected in parallel or series to increase output current or voltage. Each output is capable of independent operation, with a synchronised on/off function, ensuring correct application of system power.

• Full safety: Overcurrent protection (OCP), overvoltage protection (OVP), overpower protection (OPP) and thermal overload shutdown functions protect the load. Maximum output current, voltage and power can be set separately for each channel.

• Full functionality: Output ramp function (EasyRamp), output delay and Arbitrary function (QuickArb) emulate a variety of power supplies, including instable devices. Other features include simultaneous logging of voltage and current on all outputs, with data available as a .CSV file for reports and documentation, and remote sensing to improve voltage regulation.

• Full connectivity: The standard USB and LAN interfaces enable the NGP800 to be controlled remotely in ATE systems or production lines. Further connectivity can be enabled through the optional GPIB interface, digital trigger I/O, analogue input and wireless LAN.

James McGregor, Global Head of Test & Tools at Farnell said: “We are delighted to introduce this new series of next-generation power supplies from Rohde & Schwarz. This exciting new product range further demonstrates our continued commitment to bring-to-market the very best in T&M equipment, supporting our customers for all their test needs. Our partnership with Rohde & Schwarz gives our customers access to a large range of test and measurement instruments, combining the innovative expertise of Rohde & Schwarz with Farnell’s leading global distribution network and support services.”

Farnell offers an extensive range of products to support electronic design, manufacture and test 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.

All models of the Rohde & Schwarz NGP800 Series are available from Farnell in EMEA, element14 in APAC and Newark in North America.

element14.com, an Avnet community, has announced the winners of its annual Community Awards for their 2019 Year in Review. The top innovators and designers are celebrated in multiple categories: Member of the Year, Design Challenge Project of the Year, Project14 Decider, Founder and Influencer of the Year, Project14 Project of the Year, Favorite Road Test Product of the Year, New RoadTester of the Year, and element14 Presents Video of the Year.

“It is so rewarding for us to take the time to reflect on the incredible achievements of our community over the past year,” said Dianne Kibbey, Global Head of Community and Social Media for element14. “Our global community continues to blow us away with their innovative, original designs and their collaborative spirit. We’re looking forward to seeing what they all come up with in 2020 and into the future.”

The winners of the element14 2019 Community Awards are:

• Member of the Year – Shabaz Yousaf – An integral member of the element14 Community, Shabaz always shares his designs, encourages and assists other community members with their designs, and contributes to many community discussions. His numerous contributions to the element14 Community in 2019 include building a world-band radio receiver, creating a handheld electronic game, building an LCR meter as well as a logic analyzer and protocol tester.

• Design Challenge Project of the Year – Art-a-Tronic by Enrico Miglino – Enrico was the winner of the PiCasso Design Challenge with his entry, Art-A-Tronic, an interactive art installation in Gent, Belgium. Enrico’s art exhibit included an augmented mannequin that is able to host Raspberry Pi computer vision, has binaural hearing and turns to face you, as well as an MQTT connection to the "Borg Communication Nexus," an aptly named Cube featuring an MQTT Server. Aside from the articulating mannequin, the Communication Cube talks with a Raspberry Pi Smart Mirror and a cage full of Arduino controlled Bird Automata.

• Project14 Decider, Founder and Influencer of the Year – Project14 is an ongoing series by the community, for the community, where members submit ideas and vote on future design challenges and creative projects. The Decider of the Year, DAB, is one of the often-unsung heroes of Project14 who volunteer for the monumental task of deciding who will win the numerous competitions. Douglas Wong, Founder of the Year, helped to come up with ideas for the greatest number of element14 competitions in 2019. And Dubbie, Influencer of the Year, was the most active member in Project14, completing the most projects, blog posts, videos and theme ideas for competitions.

• Project14 Project of the Year – 5000W Dual Drive Electric Car by Deo Lee – Deo Lee modified and upgraded a 50W BMW i8 electric child’s car, which originally could barely move when he sat on it, to a fast and furious 5000W dual drive electric car which can reach top speeds of 60km per hour. Noted as one of the most unique Project14 submissions ever, it is a testament to the ingenuity the program has brought out of the skilled and knowledgeable community members.

• Favorite RoadTest Product of the Year – 3 Series MDO Mixed Domain Oscilloscope – This impressive piece of test equipment from Tektronix received a whopping 113 applicants for RoadTest reviews. It has many remarkable features, including a high-definition display in a compact package, built-in spectrum analyzer option for RF analysis, a wide range of available serial bus decode and trigger options, and more.

• New RoadTester of the Year – Gary Yohe – Gary joined the element14 Community in 2018, and completed his first RoadTest in 2019. A recently retired test engineer, he now does part-time consulting and has been leading the Roanoke Robotics and Makers Club for several years. He also frequently teaches classes at the local library. When working on his detailed RoadTest reviews, he often asks questions to dive deeper into a product’s capabilities and helps other members get involved in the program.

• element14 Presents Video of the Year – Raspberry Pi 4 Experimental Resin 3D Printer – Small resin-based 3D printers may be on the rise, but these printers are notorious for not being able to scale up to handle larger projects. This video followed the idea to circumvent these technical limitations with a groundbreaking giant 4K Resin 3D printer. Utilizing 2 Raspberry Pis (a Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Computer & Raspberry Pi 3 Model B+,) this project proves that FEP foil can be replaced with a specialized liquid, making the LCD-masking technique viable for large format 3D printers.

The annual community awards are one of the many ways that element14 celebrates the success of its community of makers, designers and engineers as they harness the power of electronics design to make a positive impact on their communities and the world.

To learn more about the 2019 Community Awards, visit the element14 Community.

Farnell, the Development Distributor, supports customers in the manufacturing and supply processes with its comprehensive range of products designed to protect electronic components from the damage caused by Electrostatic Discharge (ESD).

ESD can damage electronic components and products during manufacture, storage, shipping and installation. Often this damage cannot be detected by quality control inspections, test or burn-in and it can impact product quality and reliability. All customers within the supply chain, including Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), Contract Electronic Manufacturers (CEMs), electronic and bench engineers, warehouses storing ESD sensitive devices and buyers of semiconductors and development kits, should take steps to prevent damage from ESD events throughout the manufacturing and supply cycle.

Farnell helps customers prevent all forms of ESD damage with an extensive catalogue featuring more than 2,000 products from leading suppliers such as SCS, DESCO, Multicomp Pro and more, all available for same day despatch. For engineers and manufacturers looking to protect against ESD build-up, top products have been compiled by Farnell’s in-house technical experts to offer customers a greatly simplified product selection process, whatever their ESD need.

Top products from Farnell’s extensive high-quality range include:

Antistatic Bags – Zip-Top Resealable Bag from Multicomp Pro

An essential product for any manufacturer or engineer seeking to insulate sensitive electronic components from the damage of ESD. These bags are designed with a static dissipative coating to prevent static build-up on the bag’s surface and protect the product inside.

Toe/Heel Grounders – Elastic Heel Grounder from SCS

For workers on the move, these elastic grounders feature a re-positionable 2-layer sole and 18-inch conductive ribbon providing a continuous path-to-ground to remove electrostatic charge from the body. This product is cost-effective and suitable for high volume use.

Dissipative Mats – 2-Layer Rubber Mat from Multicomp Pro

ESD preventive mats are designed to disperse electricity through the anti-static materials of which they are made, slowing the flow of ESD across the surface of the mat and neutralising it. With two layers of rubber protection, customers can be sure they are safe from ESD damage whilst handling electronic components during manufacturing or supply.

Earth Bonding – 1Mohm Resistor Plug from DESCO

An essential to provide a common ground point for ESD workstations, Earth Bonding plugs connect only to the earth. The live and neutral pins are replaced with insulated plastic pins, removing the threat of damage caused by a present static charge.

Ionisation – Desktop Ioniser from SIMCO-ION

Key to ESD protection and used to increase the conductivity of air. This increases the rate at which any static charge present in the vicinity is neutralised. SIMCO-ION’s lightweight, compact and quiet ioniser is unobtrusive and features an integrated heater for a warm air flow option.

James McGregor, Global Head of Test and Tools for Farnell says: “ESD causes invisible damage to electronic products, reducing their working life and causing expensive equipment failures and downtime. Farnell offers a very wide range of ESD protection products to support engineers, electronic designers and manufacturers with over 2,000 items in stock and available for same day despatch. These top products, recommended by our technical team, gives customers a head start in identifying must-have items from leading suppliers to prevent build-up of ESD and the subsequent damage it causes.”

Farnell offers customers 24/5 technical support from its dedicated team of in-house test and measurement specialists and provides free access to online resources, data sheets, application notes, videos and webinars.

Farnell’s ESD Protection Range including storage solutions, antistatic wrist straps and safety signs and labels is available from Farnell in EMEA and element14 in APAC.

Farnell, the Development Distributor, has launched its exclusive Raspberry Pi 4 Starter Kit. Featuring the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B computer and a range of Farnell’s own brand Multicomp Pro products, the new Starter Kit provides an out of the box experience for first-time users and customers looking to reduce new product development times.

Available for same day shipping, the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Starter Kit includes all the hardware required to get started in one box, along with a quick start guide, and offers savings and convenience compared to purchasing individual items. The kit includes:

• 4GB Raspberry Pi 4 Model B computer, the most powerful Raspberry Pi model ever made
• Power supply
• 16GB Class 10 microSD card, preloaded with NOOBs
• 2 x micro HDMI cables for dual display
• Choice of black or white case

The Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Computer offers significant enhancements in processor speed, multimedia performance, memory and connectivity that will make it attractive to general desktop computer users, hobbyists and makers, and professional developers working with compute-intensive embedded applications, such as computer vision and Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Key features of the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B Computer include:

• Broadcom BCM2711 Quad-core A72 64-bit SoC
• 4GB LPDDR4 SDRAM memory
• Bluetooth 5.0, WLAN 2.4GHz/5.0GHz and Gigabit Ethernet connectivity.
• 2 x USB 3.0 ports and 2 x USB 2.0 ports
• 40-pin GPIO Header connection
• Dual micro HDMI ports (up to 4Kp60 UHD supported)
• H.265 decode (4kp60)H.264 decode (1080p60)
• MIPI DSI display port, CSI camera port and 4 pole stereo output and composite video port
• microSD card slot for loading operating system and data storage
• PoE enabled (PoE HAT required, sold separately)
• 5V3A USB-C power supply required

Cliff Ortmeyer, Global Head of Technical Marketing for Farnell says: “The new exclusive Raspberry Pi 4 Starter Kit offers an easier than ever way to get started with Raspberry Pi 4 and eliminates the need to purchase everything separately. The Raspberry Pi 4 Model B computer is a faster, more powerful and more feature-rich single board computer than previous models and addresses the needs of the growing market for Raspberry Pi. The new starter kit includes accessories from our Multicomp Pro brand providing both value and quality. From makers and consumers looking for a desktop computer to professional design engineers, this kit ensures all customers are able to get started with the most advanced Raspberry Pi to date.”

Customers can visit the element14 community to find how to get started with the Raspberry Pi 4 Model B through a user-friendly getting started guide, along with other useful resources.

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

Farnell, the Development Distributor, has enhanced its comprehensive range of Keysight test and measurement products to include the market-leading 4000 and 6000 X-Series oscilloscopes, N6700 Series power supplies, 3458A digital multimeter, 34980A data acquisition units and E4980AL LCR Meters.

Electronic design and test engineers can access Farnell’s full range of Keysight products which now includes over 800 products available for same day despatch and fast delivery in Europe. All products are backed by Keysight’s standard three-year warranty. The extended range of performance test and measurement instrumentation ensures Farnell customers have the tools to make fast and accurate measurements. Providing unrivalled versatility and upgradability, Keysight products offer flexible connectivity and automated testing using its intuitive BenchVue software.

The extended range of Keysight products now available from Farnell includes:

• The 3458A Digital Multimeter is the fastest, most flexible and most accurate multimeter ever offered by Keysight. It saves users time and money due to unprecedented test system throughput and accuracy, measurement flexibility, and low cost of ownership. The 3458A Digital Multimeter shatters longstanding performance barriers of speed and accuracy, with capabilities of up to 100,000 readings/sec as well as offering users 0.6ppm for 24 hours in DC volts and 2.2ppm in ohms. This market-leading multimeter ensures customers are equipped with a high-speed, high-accuracy product on the production test floor, in research and development (R&D), and in the calibration lab.

• N6700 Series Power Supplies represent an entirely new instrument category for R&D engineers, providing unrivalled productivity gains when sourcing and measuring DC voltage and current into a device under test (DUT). Development engineers can now gain insights into the DUT’s power consumption in minutes without writing a single line of code. Control is via an easy-to-use interface, with all sourcing and measuring functions available from the front panel.

• The 4000 X-Series oscilloscopes are engineered for next-generation performance, delivering waveform update rates 20 times faster than the competition to display high signal detail. An industry-leading 12.1-inch capacitive touch screen with innovative hardware-based zone touch triggering provides a highly intuitive interface for faster measurements. Maximum investment protection is assured with the fully upgradable 5-instruments-in-1.

• The 6000 X-Series oscilloscopes maximise performance to set a new standard for portable scopes. Designed for the most demanding engineers who want bandwidth, visualization power and the flexibility that comes with integrated capabilities and a familiar Keysight embedded operating system user interface for an affordable price.

• The 34980A Data Acquisition units are easy to set up and use, helping designers lower the cost of test and accelerate test-system integration and development. The units can handle system switching up to 26.5 GHz, provide basic measurements and system control. Digital multimeter measurements, counter/totaliser functionality, digital input/output with pattern capabilities, and analogue outputs with basic waveforms are all provided in one low-cost, compact box.

• E4980AL LCR meters provide the best combination of accuracy, speed and versatility for a wide range of component measurements. Providing fast measurement speed and outstanding performance at low and high impedance ranges, the E4980AL LCR meters offer comprehensive system connectivity. It is the ultimate tool for general R&D and manufacturing test of components and materials.

James McGregor, Global Head of Test and Tools for Farnell says: “Farnell continues to offer the latest, most advanced products from market leaders such as Keysight to ensure designers and test engineers can make accurate and repeatable measurements safely and confidently. The expansion of Farnell’s already extensive Keysight range demonstrates our continued commitment to support the engineering community at every level with quality, affordable products to meet their needs.”

Free technical support is available to customers 24/5 from Farnell’s in-house test and measurement specialists as well as access to online resources, data sheets, application notes, videos and webinars.

Farnell’s full range of Keysight products, including oscilloscopes, digital multimeters and power supplies, are available from Farnell.

Farnell, the Development Distributor, today announced the availability of the TGR2050 series of next generation Radio Frequency (RF) signal generators from Aim-TTi. Electronic design and test engineers will benefit from the small footprint and lightweight design of the new-to-market TGR2050 Series, offering the best price/performance ratio in its class. These RF signal generators build upon Aim-TTi’s reputation for manufacturing high-quality and reliable products and are now available for same day despatch from Farnell.

The TGR2050 series includes TGR2051 and TGR2053 RF signal generators which provide exceptional performance with high signal purity, high frequency accuracy and stability, a large signal amplitude range, low phase noise and fast amplitude and/or frequency sweeps. Extensive and flexible analogue and digital modulation capabilities make these signal generators ideal for research and development, test and service work.

Both models also offer improved functionality with intuitive touch screen operation. Advanced remote-control connectivity accommodates sophisticated new automated systems and compatibility with Aim-TTi's previous RF instruments, ensuring simple integration with existing systems.

Key features of the TGR2050 Series RF signal generators include:

• High frequency accuracy and stability, high signal purity with excellent phase noise, output power levels of -127dBm to +13dBm, and flexible analogue and digital modulation capabilities.
• A sweep function enabling signals of varying frequency and/or amplitude to test a full range of input conditions quickly and efficiently. Sweeps can be set to run in either direction, with linear or logarithmic spacing. Alternatively, list mode (accessible within the instrument or from remote interfaces) can be used to analyse the response at set frequencies and amplitude.
• A TGR-U01 option adding an extensive range of digital modulations: FSK, GFSK, MSK, GMSK, HMSK, 3FSK, 4FSK, PSK, ASK and OOK. Built in NRZ patterns include Square wave, 7, 9, 11 and 15-bit PRBS. Digital modulation capabilities also include advanced filtering. External digital modulation signals can be applied to the carrier waveform via the MOD in/out on the rear panel.

James McGregor, Global Head of Test and Tools for Farnell says: “The new TGR2050 Series of RF signal generators from Aim-TTi is an excellent addition to Farnell’s market-leading Test range. This series delivers exceptional performance at a class-leading price point. In 2019, Farnell invested over £4 million in the Test category and as we begin 2020 we remain committed to further increasing the breadth of our portfolio, to ensure electronic design professionals have access to the latest and most advanced test and measurement technologies.”

Customers also benefit from Farnell’s in-house test and measurement specialists who provide 24/5 technical support as well as access to free online resources, data sheets, application notes, videos and webinars.

Aim-TTi is a leading producer of innovative and cost-effective function generators, precision and RF instruments, including the PowerFlex, Multi-range and Precision Power Supplies.

The Aim-TTi TGR250 Series RF signal generators are available from Farnell in EMEA, Newark in North America and element14 in APAC.

Avnet, which includes Farnell, has made the difficult decision to withdraw from Embedded World 2020 in Nuremberg, Germany. We are disappointed to miss the opportunity to connect with our partners, customers and the media at such an important event in the electronics industry, but believe this to be the right decision at this time.

As a global company, we have been carefully monitoring the outbreak of the coronavirus. This decision is in line with other actions we have taken to protect the health and safety of our employees worldwide. We look forward to returning to Embedded World in 2021.

Farnell, the Development Distributor, will be presenting its wide range of solutions for intelligent Internet of Things (IoT) and Industrial IoT (IIoT) devices and systems at Embedded World 2020. Taking centre stage at the exhibition will be Farnell’s investment in next-generation technologies for Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning, connectivity, sensing and power management.

Farnell is exhibiting in Hall 3A-221 as part of Avnet City alongside Avnet Abacus, Avnet Silica and EBV Elektronik. The 689m² Avnet stand integrates and builds on the expertise of the individual business units and provides a comprehensive product lifecycle ecosystem that can help embedded customers wherever they are in their product lifecycle – from concept and design, to prototyping and mass production, right through to end-of-life management.

Visitors to the stand will be able to explore first-hand how Farnell can help design engineers develop products and fast-track solutions that are ready for tomorrow, and future proofed for the years beyond. The Farnell “Development Kit Vending Machine” is back by popular demand, providing visitors with the chance to win one of 1,000 development kits and SBCs from leading suppliers including Nordic Semiconductor, NXP, Cypress, Microchip, Infineon, Raspberry Pi, Particle and Maxim. For a chance to win, visitors must pre-register for Embedded World with Farnell at embedded.farnell.com and bring their unique code to collect their prize at the Farnell stand. Farnell also offers free tickets for customers attending Embedded World, which can also be ordered at embedded.farnell.com.

Farnell will host a broad range of innovative demonstrations for intelligent IoT and IIoT devices and systems, featuring new and exclusive-to-Farnell products, including:

IoT and IIoT: Connectivity, Sensing and Power Management

• The Avnet Azure Sphere Starter Kit with Microsoft Azure hardware security and cloud solution for IoT applications.
• STMicroelectronics’ new multi-sensor predictive maintenance solution with IO-Link for Industrial IoT.
• Nordic Semiconductor’s low power BLE 5.0 to long-range LTE connectivity bridge solution for a wide range of IoT applications.

AI and Machine Learning

• New Arduino Portenta H7: powerful enough to run AI state machines and ready for industrial applications.
• Raspberry Pi 4: enabling AI in design applications from facial recognition to ‘virtual assistant’.
• BeagleBone AI: for machine vision applications such as quality management or security solutions.
• Avnet SmartEdge Industrial IoT Gateway: a complete smart fleet management system with IoTConnect cloud platform.

Rob Rospedzihowski, President, Sales, EMEA, Farnell says: “Embedded World is a key event in the global electronics calendar and we are looking forward to meeting with customers to discuss how working with Farnell can ensure their new products utilise the most advanced technologies to be ready for tomorrow. We have made significant investments in our inventory to give customers unrestricted access to our largest range of components and solutions for IoT. All products are available to ship the same day from our warehouses in the United Kingdom and mainland Europe.”

For visitors requiring specific advice, a team of professional Farnell technicians will be on hand to answer questions, advise on product solutions and explain why working with Farnell, as part of the Avnet ecosystem, can enhance the new product development process through the combination of technical support and fast delivery, significantly increasing speed to market in a highly competitive and rapidly evolving space.

To find out more about Farnell at Embedded World, schedule a meeting with a Farnell representative, or register for a free exhibition pass and prize code for the Farnell “Development Kit Vending Machine”, visit embedded.farnell.com.

element14, an Avnet community, is teaming up with Cypress Semiconductor and Amazon Web Services to help build a better future with IoT. The “Connected Cloud” design challenge aims to foster the community’s creativity by applying innovative IoT solutions to anything in their world that needs improving, from monitoring traffic conditions, to creating information hubs for their communities, or monitoring flood waters. The latest design challenge from element14 encourages its members to learn new IoT development skills, elevate their designs, and think outside the box to solve everyday problems.

“Learning and advancing skills in IoT is one of the most frequent requests we get from our global community members,” said Dianne Kibbey, Global Head of Community and Social Media for the element14 Community. “We’re thrilled to partner with Cypress Semiconductor and Amazon Web Services to offer our community members the opportunity to expand their IoT design knowledge using some of the best IoT tools available, all while working on a specific challenge in their world.”

The sky is the limit for what participants can design in this challenge. Sample applications could include:

• Product Monitoring System
• Hospital Information Displays
• Building-Wide Reminder Systems
• Electric Vehicle Charge Monitoring
• Meeting Room Monitoring System
• Interactive Help Systems
• Crowd Counters

Although the “Cloud connect” Design Challenge is open to everyone, element14 Community members can apply to receive one of 20 free PSoC 6 Kits. Challengers can choose a Cypress PSoC 6 WiFi-BT Pioneer Kit (CY8CKIT-062-WIFI-BT) or PSoC 6 WiFi-BT Prototyping Kit (CY8CPROTO-062-4343W) to build their projects. The Pioneer Kit enables designers to evaluate and develop their applications using the PSoC 6 MCU, Cypress’ ultra-low-power PSoC specifically for IoT products and wearables that offers higher flexibility, in-field design tuning, and faster time-to-market. Amazon Web Services will also be providing $25 Cloud Credit per sponsored challenger for their AWS IoT Platform.

All participants are required to post at least 10 blogs about their design process and interface with Amazon Web Services incorporating photos, videos and code samples. Those who complete 10 blog posts and submit a featured project that meets the requirements will receive a Multicomp Pro Multimeter Set. One first prize winner will receive a Desktop 3D Printer and the new, unannounced PSoC6 Kit. One runner up will receive a HTC VIVE Pro Virtual Reality System and the new, unannounced, PSoc6 Kit.

Applications for the free Cypress Kit open on 27^th January and close on 24^th February. The design challenge deadline is 11^th May 2020. Winners will be announced in June 2020.

To learn more about the “Cloud Connect” Design Challenge, please visit www.element14.com/connectedcloud.

Onecall, the dedicated education business from Farnell and CPC, has been awarded a new two-year contract, with the option to extend for a further year, by North Western Universities Purchasing Consortium Ltd. (NWUPC). The contract award confirms the Approved Supplier Status for Onecall to supply Test and Measurement (T&M) equipment, tools and fixings and electronic components, including development boards and kits, to universities and associated parties in the United Kingdom.

NWUPC provides a structure to allow higher education institutions to secure the best value for money when procuring a wide range of goods and services.

The contract commenced on 1^st January 2020 to align with the new academic term. All products will be supplied through Onecall which offers educational establishments the largest range of products, extensive supplier support and technical expertise. A comprehensive discount structure is also available on all products covered by the new contract as Onecall continues its commitment to support educational institutions and the young engineers they teach.

Onecall is the first-choice electronics supplier for universities and educational establishments, providing multi-channel support including in person, over the phone and online, as well as value-added services such as a wide range of e-Procurement Solutions including I Buy, Punch-Out, e-Catalogues and Bill of Material (BOM) Uploads.

Onecall provides education establishments with:

• Access to the Farnell and CPC global portfolio of 950,000+ products, including market-leading Single-Board Computers such as Raspberry Pi, of which Farnell is the leading global supplier, and micro:bit, which is manufactured and distributed exclusively by Farnell, as well as other leading SBC brands such as Arduino, BeagleBoard and Particle.
• Support of the combined membership of more than a million engineers and makers on Avnet communities: element14 Community and Hackster.
• Price support for educational projects and laboratory refits which include dedicated support from technical experts.
• Best-in-class T&M technology solutions and brands with a dedicated T&M specialist and multi-vendor solutions as part of to the wider commitment from Farnell to provide a truly holistic, all-inclusive T&M offering which supports engineers at every level.

Mathew Thorpe, Regional Sales Director, UK/Ireland and Benelux for Farnell says: “We are delighted to be awarded the new framework agreement and chosen yet again by NWUPC as an approved supplier for education. The substantial investment made by Farnell over the last 18 months has enabled us to offer customers our best ever range of products, introduce key new suppliers such as Renesas, as well as improve the distribution service with a new $60m warehouse in Leeds. We can now offer Onecall customers even greater choice when equipping labs and updating equipment, supporting the engineers of tomorrow by giving them first-hand experience of market-leading products and enabling them to be productive and successful when entering the workforce.”

For more information about Farnell and CPC’s dedicated education services, please visit Onecall.

Farnell, the Development Distributor, has expanded its strong linecard with an increased range of XP Power products available for same day despatch, perfect for design engineers working on a range of applications, particularly those in the industrial and medical sectors.

XP Power is a leading provider of power solutions including AC-DC power supplies, DC-DC converters and High Voltage DC-DC converters. Farnell now stocks over 4,500 power products including power supplies and EMC/RFI suppression products, with unrivalled technical and customer support.

XP Power products include medically approved power solutions for use in patient vicinity applications and in laboratory environments. Major features include class II approvals for homecare devices, highly efficient convection–cooled designs for low-noise patient-area devices and defibrillator-proof DC-DC converters for applied part applications. For industrial power systems, XP products are found in factory automation, automated test equipment, industrial control, test and measurement, instrumentation, hazardous environments, transportation and defence.

XP Power products deliver high performance and reliability combined with the latest safety standards at competitive prices. Recent additions to the XP power supply range stocked by Farnell include;

• High voltage DC-DC converters: XP Power’s High Voltage DC-DC convertors are ideal for applications requiring minimal size and weight, provide stable, low noise output voltages between 100V and 10kV and feature output voltage and current programming. Applications include avalanche photodiodes, capacitor charging, electrophoresis, photomultiplier tubes, piezo devices, mass spectrometry and sustaining ion pumps.

• FCS family: The FCS Family are high reliability, low cost, 40W and 60W AC-DC power supplies providing convection-cooled output power over the full 90V to 264VAC input voltage range. The FCS40 and FCS60 series are designed to facilitate equipment design meeting the latest environmental legislation. Fully approved for medical, ITE and household applications these versatile power supplies can be used in a wide range of applications.

• DSR series: A highly reliable, ultra-thin, low cost, high efficiency DIN-Rail power supply, rated at 75W, 120W and 240W and available with 12, 24 and 48V outputs. These versatile products provide a 150% peak load capability to support start up for electro-mechanical loads the also features volt free relay contacts that facilitate remote monitoring for DC OK. The DSR series can be connected in parallel for higher power requirements or be configured to provide N+1 redundancy in critical applications.

Simon Meadmore, Global Head of IP&E, Farnell says: “XP Power is a key supplier for Farnell and is known for its innovation in power supplies, often being the first to set new footprint and efficiency standards and boast products such as the world’s smallest 40W AC-DC power supply and some of the most efficient products in the market.

“An effective power management subsystem can improve the reliability, performance, and time to market of new designs. XP Power products stocked by Farnell can deliver a fully integrated, high efficiency and cost-effective power solution to all of our customers.”

New XP Power products are available at Farnell in EMEA, Newark in North America and element14 in APAC.

Farnell, 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. Farnell’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.

Farnell stocks all Raspberry Pi models, alongside its diverse ecosystem of accessories, which supports users as they build devices for home, education or commercial applications. Farnell 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.

Farnell 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 Farnell 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 Farnell.

Key facts about Farnell and Raspberry Pi:

• Farnell is the largest global manufacturer and distributor of Raspberry Pi and has sold 15 million Raspberry Pi boards sold to date.
• Insight from Farnell’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. Farnell’s research also highlighted the increasing use of Raspberry Pi products by professional engineers in IoT, industrial automation and control applications.
• Farnell’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 Farnell says: “Farnell is Raspberry Pi’s leading global distribution partner, selling 15 million devices since launch in 2012. This is a major milestone for Farnell 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, Farnell’s extensive distribution network, and the strength of Farnell’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 Farnell 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 Farnell’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 Farnell 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.

Farnell, the Development Distributor, is now shipping the new BeagleBone® AI single board computer. Designed to provide a fast track solution for embedded machine learning, the BeagleBone® AI facilitates everyday automation for industrial, commercial and home applications including computer vision and image processing.

BeagleBone® AI makes it easy to explore how artificial intelligence can be used in everyday life and developers can be up and running in five minutes. Specifically designed for AI projects, the new board features a neural engine which processes complex algorithms at a hardware level. BeagleBone builds on users’ familiarity with earlier versions as this new model possesses the same form factor as other BeagleBone® SBCs.

As AI becomes more pervasive and integrated, there is a growing need for more design expertise and experience. Farnell is enabling engineers, developers and firms to unlock the power of AI and overcome the obstacles of complexity, cost, computing power and skills gap through support services such as the element14 Community and a product offering that ensures low-cost, high-power designs for engineers wanting to embark on AI design. As well as this, tools such as Farnell’s online AI configurator assist designers to select the best-fit board for their project, any required accessories and useful relevant resources such as webinars.

The BeagleBone® AI is built on the proven BeagleBoard.org® open source Linux approach, filling the gap between small SBCs and more powerful industrial computers. The device comessupplied with a heat sink and antenna and doesn’t need an additional microSD card. The BeagleBone® AI features include:

• BeagleBone Black mechanical and header compatibility;
• USB-C connectors for power and superspeed dual-role controller;
• USB-A host;
• Gigabit Ethernet;
• 2.4/5GHz WiFi;
• Bluetooth microHDMI connector;
• 16-bit LCD interfaces;
• Comprehensive connectivity and out-of-box functionality.

Hari Kalyanaraman, Global Head of Single Board Computers for Farnell says: “Artificial intelligence is making the connected world more intelligent and the BeagleBone® AI offers developers a host of new design options on a simple-to-use platform. Recent research has suggested that global business value derived from AI will reach $3.9 trillion by 2022 and Farnell’s AI offering places us and our customers firmly at the centre of this new industrial revolution.”

BeagleBone® AI and accessories are available from Farnell in EMEA, Newark in North America and element14 in APAC.

Farnell, the Development Distributor, has further enhanced its discount scheme for educational and research establishments, helping them maintain and improve their labs whilst managing their budgets. Up to 30% discounts are available from a growing supplier range which includes Tektronix, Keithley, Keysight Technologies, Fluke, Fluke Networks, Flir Systems, Aim TTi, Rohde & Schwarz, BK Precision, Sefram, Klein Tools, Pace and Weller.

Teaching facilities need to have the most up-to-date equipment to provide high-quality education and to enable students to progress seamlessly into the worlds of work and research. The discounts offered by Farnell can help provide this equipment to attract new students and support existing ones, even as educational and research establishments face budget pressures.

Free access to online resources, data sheets, applications notes, videos and webinars are available to all customers on Farnell’s website. Virtual and live demonstrations are available on many of the products, and orders under the educational scheme are available for same day despatch.

The Farnell educational discount scheme includes the following bestselling products which have been developed for education:

• Keithley 2450 Source Meter/Unit, 2400 Series: This 20W current and voltage source can simultaneously measure current, voltage and resistance with high speed and accuracy and offers a smart alternative to separate power supplies and DMMs. It can operate as a sensitive, electronic load to discharge a battery and execute test scripts to monitor battery drain and other test sequences.

• Keysight EDUX1002A - Digital Oscilloscope: The InfiniiVision 1000X-series 50MHz, 2+1 channel oscilloscope provides 50 MHz, one GSPS, 100 kpts, and seven ns data capture. This EDU model is especially good for students and beginners as it has been specifically engineered to provide quality, industry-proven technology and has educator resources included as standard.

• Tektronix TBS1072B-EDU Digital Oscilloscope: This 70Mhz 2 channel oscilloscope is specifically designed to meet the needs of today’s schools and universities, and includes an innovative new Courseware system, a 7-inch WVGA TFT colour display, up to 2GS/s sampling rate and dual channel frequency counters. With a 5 year standard warranty included, the TBS1072B-EDU is the industry’s best-value entry level oscilloscope for educational activities.

• Weller WE1010 Soldering Station Education Kit 230V: This kit includes everything required for successful soldering including power unit, WEP70 solder iron, PH70 safety rest, shear cutter and more. The WE1010 Soldering Station Kit 230V is designed with students in mind; the kit offers improved safety features as well as ergonomic handle and toolless tip change on the solder iron, and users benefit further from features such as standby mode and auto setback to save energy as well as password protection to preserve settings.

Many of the supplier discounts for education are available only from Farnell, which offers a wide range of suppliers and the most comprehensive range of discounts. In addition to the test equipment and tools covered by the programme, customers can buy test leads, test probes, test connectors and access local support from Farnell’s customer service centres which provide 24/5 technical support and calibration services.

James McGregor, Global Head of Test and Tools for Farnell says: “We hope that our education discount programme can support education establishments at a time when budgets are tighter than ever. This programme provides significant discounts on outstanding products all year round and will ensure labs are equipped with the most up to date equipment even on the tightest budgets.”

The Farnell educational discount scheme is available online from Farnell in EMEA.

Farnell, the Development Distributor, the exclusive manufacturer and distributor of the BBC micro:bit, is working with governments, re-sellers and strategic partnerships to support product-led educational initiatives globally. Programmes supported by Farnell aim to create fun and interactive learning environments for students to develop an understanding of electronics at a young age, and build a pathway into a range of engineering and technology-driven careers.

The micro:bit has experienced significant success since its launch through a programme led by the BBC in the UK in 2016. Since this date, Farnell has shipped over 2.5m micro:bit boards globally, supporting programmes as far flung as Denmark, Canada and Singapore. Sales of this popular coding device almost doubled in the last 12 months, over the previous period, with more than half of sales supporting broad educational programmes.

The latest programme to be supported by Farnell is being rolled out in Norway. Entitled “super:bit”, this project is a collaboration between the national science centres, the organisation “Teach kids code” and national broadcaster NRK, in Norway. The national rollout provides a classroom kit of technology to each of the 2,400 secondary schools in Norway, over two years, starting in September 2019. The kits have an interactive smart city theme and pupils will learn how to use the micro:bit through applications such as planning traffic flow around green spaces by using sensors to control traffic lights. The kits, shipped by Farnell, include micro:bits, robots, and other electronic and non-electronic components.

Lee Turner, Global Head of Semiconductors and Single Board Computers at Farnell says, “We are committed to educating and inspiring future generations of engineers by making it easier to introduce children to the world of electronics in schools and code clubs. Programmes such as ‘super:bit’ in Norway enable teachers to teach basic electronics and computational thinking with easy access to products and educational resources. Farnell, as the exclusive manufacturer and distributor of the micro:bit, and global electronics distributor, is uniquely able to support programmes such as this.”

Gareth Stockdale CEO, Micro:bit Educational Foundation added, “Our mission to help children and teachers to take their first steps with technology and broaden participation with digital creativity continues to grow with large scale programmes in over 30 countries. We continue to work with Farnell to ensure that the BBC micro:bit is available all around the world and that these large projects are facilitated.”

To further support the rollout of micro:bit as a tool for STEM education in schools, Farnell is the sponsor for the very first annual gathering of the global micro:bit community of educators and partners on 4^th and 5^th October in Manchester. micro:bit Live 2019 aims to develop the micro:bit Educational Foundation's mission to inspire every child to create their best digital future and is an opportunity for all those involved in educational initiatives and partnerships, from government level to resellers and electronics engineers to share their experiences, tips and best practices to help achieve this mission.

micro:bit products, accessories and a range of free-to-download educational resources and lesson plans  are available online from Farnell in EMEA, Newark in North America and element14 in APAC.

Farnell, the Development Distributor, is now stocking Kitronik products; an exciting range of accessories for micro:bit, Arduino and Raspberry Pi, perfect for educators, students, makers and hobbyists.

Kitronik products encourage imagination and creativity when used in conjunction with the latest generation of open-source programmable computer boards. The kits and accessories enable interaction between programming and hardware, making them ideal for developing computational thinking skills in younger students. This new partnership with Kitronik enhances Farnell’s range of products for education and builds upon its position as the exclusive manufacturer and distributor of the BBC micro:bit, the largest manufacturer and distributor of Raspberry Pi boards and major stockist of Arduino boards.

Kitronik products can be used to support STEM education in classrooms and after school clubs and seek to engage and inspire students of all abilities to further their knowledge of electronics, coding and design. Farnell stocks everything required to get started in physical computing for both education establishments and independent coding clubs.

Kitronik products and accessories for the micro:bit in stock at Farnell include:

• The Inventors Kit  provides an introduction to programming and hardware interaction and contains everything required to carry out ten experiments with the micro:bit, using LEDs, motors, light sensors and capacitors. The kit includes an easy to follow tutorial book and no programming experience or soldering is required. Circuits can be completed in minutes.

• The MOVE mini buggy kit provides a fun introduction to robotics making a two-wheeled robot that is suitable for autonomous operation. It is perfect for remote control projects via Bluetooth applications or control using a second micro:bit. Five RGB individually addressable Zip™ LEDs are included which can be used as indicators, and a pen can be attached to the robot to draw shapes. Kitronik’s custom code blocks for the Servo:Lite motors are available to make the task of coding as quick and painless as possible.

• The Kitronik: GAME ZIP 64 is the ultimate retro gaming accessory for the BBC micro:bit. It has been designed to be an all in one hand-held gaming platform, which includes a built-in, 64 (8x8) individually addressable full colour Zip™ LED screen. It features on-board sound, four directional buttons, two fire buttons, haptic feedback, and breakout points so that shoulder buttons or I2C devices can be added. All of these features are fully programmable and breakout points are available to allow for the use of larger LED screens.

Courtney Kennedy, Technology Solutions Marketing Manager at Farnell says “The addition of Kitronik further broadens our existing wide range of open-source educational and STEM products. The Kitronik range provides educators with new and creative ways to inspire students to get involved in physical computing, providing easy access to devices that enable them to promote the development of key skills such as computational thinking.”

Farnell’s support for the development of the next generation of electronics engineers includes free resources, including lesson plans, project ideas and more, available on the Farnell website. Farnell has a broad range of products within its product range that promote learning about physical computing, an important way for children to develop computational thinking and team working skills.

The Kitronik products and accessories for micro:bit, Arduino and Raspberry Pi are available from Farnell in EMEA, Newark in North America and element14 in APAC.

Farnell, the Development Distributor, has launched a new limited time offer to help cost-constrained design engineers, research establishments, manufacturing and educational facilities to acquire high precision test and measurement equipment, manufactured by market leader Rohde & Schwarz, for up to 50 percent below unit price.

Rohde & Schwarz system bundles, available as part of the discount offer, include oscilloscopes, power supplies, power analysers and spectrum analysers. Add-ons and upgrades, usually available at additional cost, are included within the price to future proof the purchase and reduce the need to buy additional components should testing requirements change.

Fully upgraded bundles from the Rohde & Schwarz value range available from Farnell include:

• The RTB2K-COM4 Bundle includes a Rohde & Schwarz RTB2004, 4-channel digital oscilloscope upgraded to 300 MHz bandwidth, with a 10.1" high resolution 1280 x 800 pixel capacitive touchscreen TFT display; the R&S®RTB-B1 option which turns the R&S®RTB2000 into an intuitive-to-use MSO with 16 additional digital channels; the R&S®RTB-PK -K1, -K2, -K3, -K15, -B6 application package and passive probe. The bundle comes in at 42 percent lower than the fully loaded/standard unit price.

• The NGL-COM2A Bench Power Supply is perfect for challenging applications supporting the development of power amplifiers and MMICs. Its short recovery time allows for fast load changes that occur, for example, when mobile communications devices switch from sleep mode to transmit mode. The NGL-COM2A Bench Power Supply is available with an 11 percent discount on standard unit price.

• The FPC-COM2 Spectrum Analyser is the only device of its kind on the market that provides the value of three of the most commonly used instruments on a Radio Frequency (RF) engineer's workbench in a single package and is ideal for IoT device development. Buying a single multi-function also reduces calibration costs. The FPC1500 spectrum analyser is being offered with a 41 percent discount on standard unit price.

• The HMC8015COM is a user configurable, dual channel power analyser and the first compact tester for AC/DC load and standby current characterisation that enables measurements without additional tools, such as a computer or remote infrastructure. In addition to a numerical and graphical display with 26 key parameters, the instrument delivers performance and compliance protocols in line with IEC62301, EN50564 and EN61000-3-2. It graphically displays harmonic analysis up to the 50^th harmonic on the logarithmic scale and simultaneously displays up to 10-user configurable measurands with a refresh rate of 10 measurements per second. The HMC8015COM sets new standards when it comes to documentation and is available at up to 32 percent discount on standard unit price.

James McGregor, Global Head of Test, Tools and Production Supplies at Farnell said: “Rohde & Schwarz is a leading provider of high-quality test equipment and power supplies which we can now offer to Farnell customers at exceptional prices – in some cases, with guaranteed savings of up to 50 percent. This offer provides customers looking to purchase high quality entry-level and professional-standard Rohde & Schwarz complete solution product packages with exceptional value – as well as the benefit of receiving fully upgraded product models at no additional cost – future proofing their investment.”

The Rohde & Schwarz Product Bundles are available at discounted rates until 31^st December 2019 from Farnell in EMEA, Newark in North America and element14 in APAC.

Farnell, the Development Distributor, announces the launch of its new soldering tip selector. The easy-to-use soldering tip selector helps customers choose the right tip for over 100 different soldering systems and stations, from 1,500 tips in stock all available from Farnell for next day delivery.

Soldering efficiency depends on the soldering station used, the soldering irons and tips, as well as the soldering techniques. Ensuring that you have the right tip to take on your soldering project is as important as ensuring your chosen device has the correct wattage and temperature controls to handle the type of task you plan to undertake and the level of use you anticipate.

With the soldering tip selector, customers simply need to choose their device name to quickly identify tips which are compatible with their soldering equipment, meaning that they no longer have to work through the many manufacturers and options to find the tip they require. The soldering tip selector aims to reduce the time required to find and buy the correct soldering tip and avoid the possibility of ordering the wrong part.

James McGregor, Global Head of Test and Tools at Farnell said: “It can be a challenging task to figure out which tip goes with which system. Farnell’s new soldering tip selector helps you choose the right and best tip for any iron to complete your perfect soldering system. We have made it very simple for our customers to find the tips they require from the very wide range we offer, reducing the time they need to spend searching for replacement parts and minimising the possibility of incorrect ordering.”

Farnell stocks a broad range of soldering solutions from leading manufactures such as Weller, Metcal and Pace, including:

• Weller WT2M 2-Channel Soldering Station: Packing 150W of power and maximum versatility, the WT2M 2-channel soldering station is the latest addition to Weller’s high-performance WT Line, offering a best-in-class portfolio, backwards compatibility with existing soldering tools and a comprehensive range of accessories.

• Metcal CV-5210: Metcal soldering stations have led the way with SmartHeat® technology for 35 years. The CV-5210 with SmartHeat senses the thermal load and instantly delivers Power on Demand directly to the joint. The embedded, self-regulating heater delivers the right amount of power based on the requirements of the solder joint. This provides a fast, safe and repeatable process with no calibration required. Backwards compatible with the MX series, the CVC-5210 features a 2.8” colour touchscreen with bold graphics, communications, Integrated Net Power Meter and power graph. It stores and records cartridge attributes, provides traceability information, and protects the power supply from non-conforming cartridges.

• The Pace WJS 100 Series features all the advanced process control technology now expected from PACE but now with nearly twice the maximum power output to make easy work of the most challenging, high-thermal-mass or high-volume soldering applications. Featuring PACE’s Exclusive IntelliHeat™ Control Technology it is fully programmable with a digital processor, LED display and keypad. Having nearly twice the maximum power output increases productivity at safer, lower temperatures, even on the heaviest loads and offers lower Cost of Ownership.

To use Farnell’s soldering tip selector visit Farnell in EMEA, element14 in APAC and Newark in North America.

Farnell, the Development Distributor, has added 12,000 new Schneider Electric products to its already extensive portfolio and can now offer designers, systems integrators, panel builders and maintenance, repair and operations (MRO) engineers a single source for all of their industrial automation products.

This gives customers access to Farnell’s biggest ever range of Schneider products and reinforces its commitment to supporting the industrial automation industry. With more than 50,000 products in stock from 600 world leading brands Farnell is now the first-choice supplier for all industrial automation products.

Schneider Electric is a long-established market leading manufacturer of industrial automation and control solutions for multiple markets including energy and infrastructure, industrial processes, building automation, manufacturing automation and control solutions suitable for all industrial, infrastructure and building sectors. Farnell’s stock includes sensors, drives and motors, switches and relays, circuit breakers, wall boxes, enclosures and racking and much more.

Recent industrial automation innovations available from Farnell include:

• OsiSense XM Sensors – the 500-mbar electronic pressure transmitter from the Telemecanique XMLP series designed for use with air, gas, fresh water and hydraulic oil in industrial applications such as machine tools, moulding presses, stamping presses, lifting gear, HVAC, and other pneumatic or hydraulic systems.

• Safety Light Curtains Preventa XUSL - provides protection to help ensure the safety of personnel operating hazardous machinery while enabling partial or full access into the hazardous zone during machine loading/unloading and for adjustment or maintenance operations.

• Preventa Safety Modules - XPS Series - safety modules for most common safety applications, suitable for emergency stop, switch, sensing mat/edges or safety light curtain monitoring, offering protection to both operator and machine.

• Telemecanique cloud connected sensor - the XIOT limit switch range enables machine monitoring by mobile phone or tablet via the rapidly growing LPWAN (low power wide area network) technology, operated by Sigfox.

Industrial automation is one of the fastest-growing global industry sectors combining the advantages of Industry 4.0 models with advanced data analytics. AI and IIoT technologies can introduce speed and precision to the wide range of industrial operations, enhancing productivity and reliability. Farnell provides a range of Industrial Automation and Control resources on its website including support materials from leading manufacturers.

Schneider Electric products and other industrial automation products are available from Farnell in EMEA.

Celebrating its 10^th anniversary this summer, element14 was the first online community launched specifically for engineers and is one of the longest running networks of its kind in the electronics industry. A discussion-based community, element14 connects engineers across the globe to solve each other’s technical and design challenges. Members also have unique opportunities to road test new products and access the Design Center, a comprehensive resource that brings together the latest development tools, technical information from suppliers, community discussions, webinars, online courses, live support and regular hands-on design challenges to experience new technologies.

“During the past 10 years, we’ve cultivated a lasting, active and valuable community for engineers and entrepreneurs,” said Dianne Kibbey, Global Head of Community and Social Media for element14. “Today, with more than 650,000 members, element14 is thriving in an environment where statistics show that only 1 in 10 communities make it beyond their first three years. We’ve grown the community by staying focused on our members, and collaborating with them to provide the resources and programs they need to increase their knowledge of new technology and bring their projects to life.”

Recently, Avnet announced it is giving away 20,000 free Azure Sphere starter kits to help developers create highly secure, end-to-end IoT solutions. The initiative is part of Avnet’s ongoing partnership with Microsoft’s Azure Sphere Ecosystem and supported by design challenges on both element14 and Hackster.io, with prizes valued at $70,000 USD including:

• element14 members who get their Azure kit online and send data for 15 consecutive days before August 30, 2019, get the chance to win one of 50 $200 USD gift cards.

• The element14 ‘Sensing the World’ design challenge gives members freedom to develop an IoT device that demonstrates the vast potential of Azure Sphere. Participants have the opportunity to win 3 Grand Prize bundles of Microsoft gear worth $3,500 USD each, and 10 runner-up bundles worth $1,500 USD each. The bundle can include Surface laptops or tablets, Xbox gaming systems, HoloLens VR gear, and more. Within their challenge design, participants can utilize their choice of peripherals, complementing the on-board connectivity, sensors and expansion possibilities, as well as choose their own application. Submitted projects will be judged on ingenuity and how well they achieve their stated purpose. For more information go to https://www.element14.com/community/docs/DOC-92683/l/sensing-the-world-challenge

Dianne added; “element14 members have the opportunity to win some incredible prizes, and we are looking forward to seeing the breadth and creativity that we have learned to expect from them as they develop IOT based applications connecting the Avnet Azure Sphere kit to the cloud. Whether you get involved, or follow our member’s blogs as they develop their projects – this is going to be an amazing summer.”

The “Sensing the World challenge” closes for entries on September 30, 2019. To find out more about the Avnet Microsoft Azure giveaway, element14 community and Hackster.io challenges visit https://secureeverything.avnet.com/

Premier Farnell, The Development Distributor, is now shipping a unique range of anti-vibration aluminium electrolytic capacitors from Panasonic, a worldwide leader in capacitor products. Panasonic’s range of anti-vibration capacitors are ideal for use in DC/DC Converters and AC/DC converters in a wide variety of transportation and harsh-environment applications such as industrial, power supply and robotics, due to their small size, reliability and strong, dependable soldering connectability.

The growing demand for eco-friendly cars, energy efficiency and the need to comply with environmental regulation has led to greater numbers of ECUs being employed within car design. Alongside this, demand for high-precision control, a higher degree of freedom in component layout and reduction in number of cables has also led to the adoption of an integrated configuration of mechanical and electrical in-vehicle components, with ECUs positioned in the engine rather than the engineer compartment. This trend has created the need for ECUs in a smaller size, combined with better resistance to vibration.

Panasonic anti-vibration products respond to this growing demand. The capacitors are AEC-Q200 compliant for automotive applications and are smaller than traditional capacitors from just 6.3mm in diameter, whilst withstanding vibration acceleration of 30G. Adoption of Panasonic’s anti-vibration capacitors removes the need for anti-vibration reinforcement as part of the board mounting process, allowing customers to streamline their production processes. Also, auxiliary terminals on the 6.3mm capacitor are positioned on the sides of the capacitor to ease visual confirmation of auxiliary terminal soldering, ensure stable soldering properties, and enhance the ECUs overall vibration resistance.

Key features/benefits include:

• Anti-Vibration withstanding up to 30Gs
• Surface Mount Technology
• Available in 6.3mm to 18mm diameters
• Long Life, High Performance
• AEC-Q200 Compliant
• RoHS and REACH Compliant

Dave Jones, Senior Product Manager for Premier Farnell said: “As the Development Distributor, Premier Farnell has developed strong relationships with a broad range of manufacturers to provide access to the latest technologies to ease the design process. Panasonic’s range of anti-vibration capacitors handle vibration so the physical hardware or enclosure doesn’t have to be altered or manipulated, providing a simpler solution for combating vibration in electronic devices.”

Panasonic range of Anti-vibration capacitors are available from same day shipping at Farnell in EMEA and element14 in APAC.

Premier Farnell, 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 Premier Farnell, 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 Premier Farnell include:

• New to Premier Farnell, 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 Premier Farnell said: “Premier Farnell'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 expanded its product offering in the embedded systems field with the addition of the Renesas Electronics range to its product portfolio. Engineers can now access Premier Farnell’s widest range of analogue and embedded products, all in stock and available for same day dispatch, and delivery next day in many parts of Europe.

Renesas is a leading provider of embedded solutions with advanced microcontroller (MCU), analogue, mixed-signal, power, and system-on chip (SoC) solutions for markets such as automotive, industrial, cloud computing and IoT – from smart factory to smart infrastructure. Premier Farnell will stock over 1,500 products from Renesas.

Core Renesas products now stocked by Premier Farnell include:

• Renesas Synergy™ MCUs - Synergy MCUs integrate multiple series of software and pin-compatible ARM^®-based 32-bit MCUs that share a common set of Renesas peripherals to deliver the design scalability, power consumption, code-reusability, and performance needs for the embedded market.

• ISL9241 USB-C™ Combo Buck-Boost Battery Charger - The ISL9241 enables engineers to optimise mobile computing system performance and is ideal for products with USB-C power delivery functionality. It supports both narrow voltage direct charging (NVDC) and hybrid power buck-boost (HPBB) charging, and switches between the modes using firmware control.

• RAA210xxxx Digital Power Modules - The simple digital power modules eliminate power-supply design complexity. The RAA210825 for instance, is a pin-strap configurable 25 A step-down PMBus-compliant DC/DC power supply module that integrates a digital PWM controller, synchronous MOSFETs, power inductor, and passive components.

Premier Farnell will also offer a wide range of complementary support devices including precision analogue, power management and mixed-signal interface products from Renesas; and continue to supply industry leading RF, high performance timing, memory interface, real-time interconnect, optical interconnect, wireless power, and sensor solutions from IDT, a wholly owned subsidiary of Renesas Electronics. This winning combination of brands provides a unique and comprehensive range to customers developing their next generation Industrial IoT, Infrastructure and Automotive applications.

“The addition of Renesas to our product portfolio means that customers can now access a wider than ever range of analogue and embedded products, all with a high level of service and support that they have come to rely upon. We aim to support our customers at every stage of their journey from the initial design concept through to large-scale production,” says Chris Breslin, President of Farnell global businesses. “By increasing the breadth of our product portfolio with products from Renesas, we believe that customers no longer need to go anywhere else for their embedded solutions.

Premier Farnell is part of Avnet, a global technology solutions company, and customers also benefit from the Avnet eco-system of support meaning that they no longer need to identify, review and take on board a new partner at every phase of their product production. Instead, they can have one partner throughout their product development cycle, saving them time and money.

The new Renesas range is now available from Farnell in Europe, Newark in North America and element14 in APAC.

Farnell, the Development Distributor, celebrated the countless women engineers who drive innovation by hosting a ‘Women in Engineering’ event at its offices in Leeds, on Thursday 20 June. 55 students, suppliers and Farnell staff attended this inaugural event to hear guest speakers, network and take part in interactive workshops.

A student from the University of Leeds said of the event “It was such an amazing event. It was very inspirational and encouraging to hear other women in technology within the Leeds community. I am very glad that I came.”

Louise Perry, Global HR Director, Farnell added “We’re proud to work with talented female engineers across our organisation and partners supporting this event, each bringing her own unique skills, interests and backgrounds. These women show strong leadership; they help keep their respective companies at the forefront of engineering, innovation and technology and inspire others to grow in their careers.”

Two of Farnell’s inspiring women in engineering who spoke at the event are:

Andreea Teodorescu, Global Senior Commercial Marketing Manager – Andreea has engineering in her DNA. Both parents and grandparents were engineers, including a pioneering grandmother who was one of the first women in Romania to graduate from her University. Inspired by her family, Andreea pursued a degree in Material Sciences, including a postgraduate scholarship in Biomedical Engineering from the University of Patras, Greece. After relocating to the UK, Andreea took a job as a Marketing Assistant at Premier Farnell. Ten years later, she is now a Global Senior Commercial Marketing Manager. When recently asked about her career, Andreea described it succinctly:  "I love it. I get to meet people from all over the industry, many of whom I've been working with for many, many years. I meet people in semiconductors, in passives, in measurement; every day it's someone different and I get to learn something new and stay ahead of trends."

Courtney Kennedy, Technology Solutions Marketing Manager – Courtney manages marketing programs for new product launches including development kits, single board computers and software, as well as carrying out company-wide technical training. She enjoys sharing her technical knowledge and inspiring passion in others, while helping to introduce them to the world of electronics and technical environments. Courtney holds an electronics and computer engineering degree and has significant experience in working in product design and development. Courtney has worked with firmware and software development as well as cutting edge technology in motor design and control, linking robotics and mechatronics with human anatomy. “Engineering has opened doors in regards to my career. Being technically minded and having a background in electronics has allowed me to venture into a number of different fields and continually add to a skill set that is becoming increasingly well-rounded.”

To learn more about Farnell’s Women in Engineering day, and download interviews with inspirational women in engineering, please click here.

Farnell the Development Distributor, has launched its summer competition on 1^st July enabling customers to win a range of prizes including vouchers, an Amazon Kindle Paperwhite 4 32GB IPX20 and a Xiaomi electric scooter. The competition runs until 28th July and is available in 16 countries in Europe.

Each week will feature a quick and easy online quiz so participants can test their logic and skill against the clock. Each game will only take a few minutes to complete, and participants can play as many times as they want to achieve the best results possible. All games and a league table of participants will be available at extra.farnell.com.

For those customers who are looking for great offers Farnell has also arranged a series of exclusive special offers from leading manufacturers including Raspberry Pi. Customers can access discount codes at extra.farnell.com.

Commenting on the launch of the summer competition, Alana Bacon, Head of Marketing for UK/IE, Southern Europe & Benelux at Farnell, said: “Farnell ships 80,000 orders in Europe every week from its warehouses in the UK and Belgium, getting products to customers next day across Europe to support their design journeys. As a gentle diversion for the quieter summer months when many people are either on holiday or winding down in anticipation, we thought we would offer our customers the chance to take a break, play a game or two, and enjoy the opportunity to win some great prizes.”

Find out more about the Farnell Summer Competition by visiting: extra.farnell.com

Farnell, the Development Distributor, will be presenting a range of its latest technologies at Amper 2019, Brno, Czech Republic, at the Brno Exhibition Centre from 19-22 March, Hall F, Stand 2.02.

Visitors to the stand can view a range of new and popular products for design engineers and a wide range of technologies from leading suppliers such as Rohde & Schwartz, Tektronix, Molex, TE Connectivity, Omron and Pico Technology including soldering solutions, oscilloscopes, multimeters, power suppliers and more.

Recently launched products displayed on stand include:

• Avnet SmartEdge Agile: Learn how AI at the edge can help you to deploy predictive maintenance in an industrial environment, with real-time monitoring and analysis to predict useful run-time and prevent failures and downtime.
• Avnet Ultra 96: Learn how this machine learning platform, based on Xilinx Zynq UltaScale+ programmable logic device and accelerated engine, significantly accelerates Road Sign Recognition through Accelerated Image Classification via a Binary Neural Network for autonomous transport applications.
• HanHaa Symbisa: Learn how the Symbisa sensing kit combined with a GSM modem and secure global communication network allows development of a truly plug-and-play global mobile sensing solution that displays data directly into an Excel worksheet.

Technical experts will be on stand to advise customers how they can accelerate their time to market by utilising the latest technologies, insights and support from Farnell. Visitors will also be able to discuss the benefits of accessing the unique ecosystem of support provided by Farnell as part of the Avnet organisation – from its maker to market service and full design and manufacturing support, to scaling for volume production.

Aneta Grabowska-Horvath, Acting Head of Sales for Eastern Europe said: “At Amper 2019, Farnell will be displaying new, exclusive and market leading technologies that will help start-ups and established businesses bring their products to market faster than ever before. We have invested significantly in inventory over the last eighteen months and Farnell customers can now access our largest range of technologies, all ready to ship same day from our warehouses in the UK and mainland Europe. We look forward to meeting with customers on stand to discuss how working with Farnell could help them achieve their goals.”

Customers can book a meeting with Farnell Account Managers and Suppliers through the interactive calendar, enabling them to plan their visit to the Farnell stand. Learn more about Farnell at Amper 2019, book a meeting with one of the team and generate your free Amper ticket here. You can also access Farnell’s Amper website in Slovakian.

Farnell element14 and Newark element14 have announced changes to their brands, effective from 1^st March 2019. As we bring the businesses closer together, for the benefit of customers, Farnell element14 changes its name to Farnell, An Avnet Company and Newark element14 changes its name to Newark, An Avnet Company. Customers have known the businesses as Farnell and Newark since they were established in the 1930s, and this change of name recognises its strong relationship with its customers and its role as a key element of the Avnet eco-system. By bringing the businesses together with the Avnet brand we want to show that working with Farnell and Newark is also working with Avnet, and demonstrate the value that we can add as one company.

Farnell and Newark became part of Avnet when parent company Premier Farnell was acquired in 2016. Brands within Avnet’s overall ecosystem are now being brought together to provide a simple and cohesive proposition for both customers and suppliers. Through a number of strategic acquisitions, Avnet has grown its capabilities to enable product makers, both large and small, manage the entire product lifecycle – from idea to global distribution – more successfully than ever before. Avnet now has the capabilities to support every stage of the product lifecycle and is the first distributor to offer true end-to-end solutions in-house that take an idea from prototype through to mass production.

Customers no longer have to identify, review and onboard a new partner at every phase of their product production and by working with Farnell in Europe or Newark in North America, and Avnet together, can have one partner throughout their product development cycle. This saves customer time and money, and provides support through the complex phases of product development.

Farnell and Newark were first established in the 1930s as AC Farnell Limited and Newark Electronics, and joined together in 1996, to become Premier Farnell. The combined business was one of the first distribution companies to offer eprocurement capabilities to customers and first to launch an online community, element14, for engineers, which now brings together over 600,000 like-minded members to create new and exciting electronics designs, and then share their process so others can learn from them. The businesses were rebranded Farnell element14 and Newark element14 in 2008 and became part of the Avnet business in 2016 following the acquisition of parent company Premier Farnell.

Since early days in the 1930s, both businesses had a simple mission to help customers get the parts they need, when they need them. Today, this mission remains true with hundreds of thousands of customers relying on the business to get them the parts they need every year.

Premier Farnell, the Development Distributor, has published new research on the Internet of Things which confirms that hardware platforms have become an essential part of the early stage design process, enabling engineers to test their designs quickly and cost-effectively; and rapidly deliver proof of concept.

Survey result clearly shows design engineers using a range of hardware platforms to accelerate development pace and shorten time to the market. Results show 50% of developers use single board computers such as the Raspberry Pi or BeagleBone Black as they provide ready-to-use embedded development platforms for building end-products. Other developers advised that they used their own design platforms (27%) or development platforms provided by the silicon vendors (19%).

Respondents to the survey, undertaken by Premier Farnell in late 2018, also advised that they prefer to design a complete solution for edge-to-cloud-security themselves (58%), rather than relying on third-party providers. Security continues to be top on the list of developer considerations (52%). Developers understand the critical importance of choosing an IoT platform that efficiently, securely, and economically supports their IoT applications, rather than relying on external parties which can sometimes cost more to run and maintain.

Cliff Ortmeyer, Global Head of Solutions Development for Premier Farnell said: “Opportunities within the Internet of Things have grown as developers gain greater access to hardware and software solutions that allow them to bring products to market quickly. Premier Farnell provides access to an extensive range of development tools for IoT, and works with innovative providers to bring the latest for AI and security, including the SmartEdge Agile, adding intelligence at the edge with zero-code, to the Zymbit ZYMKEY 4i security module for plug-in security in connected devices.”

The need for common standards and policies was also highlighted as key to accelerating the benefits of IoT. Interoperability (certified standards), connectivity standards, open standards and common privacy policies were all high on the list of developer wishes.

Research also suggested that opportunities within the Internet of Things will continue to grow. Key application areas expected to grow in the next five years include home automation, industrial automation & control and Artificial intelligence. The greatest perceived opportunity for benefits is seen in professional and industrial applications, with operational applications, including opportunities to collate data across entire operations to optimising workplace resources, reducing costs and driving business profitability.

The research was conducted between September and November 2018 with 1042 respondents across Europe, Americas and APAC. Full results of the survey, with additional insights on programming language use, communication method type, hardware components, cloud service providers and sensor technology are available to view at https://uk.farnell.com/global-iot-survey-2018.

Adesto Technologies (NASDAQ: IOTS), a leading provider of innovative application-specific semiconductors for the IoT era, and Premier Farnell, the Development Distributor, have signed a new distribution agreement. The franchise provides OEM customers with access to Adesto’s complete portfolio of feature-rich, ultra-low power non-volatile memory (NVM) products, with support provided through Premier Farnell’s sales, technical and product management resources.

Adesto’s memories are optimized for IoT applications across industrial, consumer, medical and communications markets. The company’s portfolio of innovative memories includes DataFlash for data-logging applications, Fusion Flash for battery-operated devices, EcoXiP for enhanced system performance in execute-in-place applications, and the Moneta family for energy harvesting and extreme low-power systems. Collectively, Adesto’s portfolio of memory technologies offers designers a wide variety of solutions for low-energy storage.

“As the Development Distributor, we seek to provide our customers with access to the latest innovative devices,” said Simon Meadmore, global head of semiconductors at Premier Farnell. “By adding Adesto to our growing list of global franchised suppliers, Premier Farnell is providing customers developing products for the Internet of Things with access to a wide range of high-quality NVM devices for their ultra-low power products, broadening their design options as they bring their products to market.”

“Through Premier Farnell we will further accelerate deployment of Adesto’s memory products, expanding our online presence and global footprint,” said Jim Monteverde, senior director of global distribution, Adesto. “Premier Farnell’s mass market approach with its deep reach into the maker community and academia make this a unique opportunity for continued growth.”

Premier Farnell is part of Avnet, with whom Adesto signed an expanded distribution agreement earlier this year. Avnet now distributes Adesto memory products across all regions worldwide. With the addition of this franchise, Premier Farnell and Avnet can support customers using Adesto devices from concept and design through to high-volume production.

Adesto’s memory products are available through Farnell element14 in Europe, Newark element14 in North America and element14 in Asia Pacific.

Premier Farnell, the Development Distributor, has added further new content to its IoT Hub. The IoT hub, available in English, French, German and Polish, contains a variety of IoT news items and feature stories, case studies, products, and interviews, as well as technical articles exploring the possibilities of IoT applications.

New content added to the hub includes:

• Design Choices for Bluetooth Low Energy – in Bluetooth’s fifth major release it is now possible to tune wireless communication to the precise needs of an application. The article covers the factors to consider when designing BLE into the end equipment from RF Antenna Options and prototcol support to API considerations.

• Wearable technology: what exactly is it, and why is it so popular discusses the latest innovations in the wearables market from intelligent clothing and smart jewellery to smart tattoos before looking at design approaches currently available to systems developers

• What’s going on in the Internet of Things? looks at four key areas of the Internet of Things ecosphere – sensors, power management, security and connectivity, reporting on some of the latest and most exciting developments in each, before discussing the relationship between IoT and Artificial Intelligence (AI) and how the use of Cloud technology can help facilitate future and more ambitious IoT projects.

In addition to the above articles, visitors to the IoT hub can read guest features from Murata Europe, Correctly selected connectivity is essential to an effective Internet of Things, and ARM, Extending the battery-life of an IoT BLE device. Murata Europe looks at how key communication technologies have evolved to meet the complex, and sometimes challenging needs of the IoT as well as revealing a hardware solution that will significantly ease the design task. ARM takes a close look at the L-Tek FF1502, a Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) based sensor tag which operates as a broadcaster or beacon; the article explains how to optimize the battery lifetime of an application running on the beacon by using the ULINKplus debug adapter that enables high-precision power analysis together with Arm® Keil® MDK.

To read these and other articles visit http://uk.farnell.com/internet-of-things

Premier Farnell, the Development Distributor, announce a change in leadership as Graham McBeth retires from his position as President of Premier Farnell. Parent company, Avnet, introduced Chris Breslin, currently senior vice president for global products at Premier Farnell as McBeth’s replacement at its Investor Day event in New York City held on Thursday 14^th June. Breslin will report to Pete Bartolotta, chief transformation officer at Avnet, as he leads the Premier Farnell business and continues to drive synergies with the Avnet organisation.

McBeth took the helm at Premier Farnell when the business was acquired by Avnet in 2016 and has delivered double-digit growth and profitability under his leadership.

Pete Bartolotta, Chief Transformation Officer for Avnet, said of Graham McBeth’s retirement: “Graham’s ability to lead an organization and get the very best out of his team shows, as the business results speak for themselves. Graham—thank you for the contributions you have made during your time at Avnet.”

Bartolotta added, on Chris Breslin’s appointment “As Avnet and Premier Farnell continue to deliver on Avnet’s end-to-end ecosystem strategy, the strength of our senior leadership team remains one of our greatest assets, as evident by Chris’ appointment to lead Premier Farnell. He brings the experience, knowledge of the business and leadership style that will help Premier Farnell continue to grow.”

Breslin joined Premier Farnell in July of 2014 as chief product officer, and during his tenure, globalized Premier Farnell’s asset and product organization and greatly improved the company’s customer proposition by adding several dozen new suppliers.

Prior to Premier Farnell, Breslin spent five years as the chief operating officer for Crescent Electric Supply Company, one of the largest electrical wholesalers in North America. He was responsible for the company’s $1B P&L, and grew their operating profit significantly in a span of three years. Breslin has more than 14 years in the industry in various management positions.

Breslin will assume the new position immediately and McBeth will stay with Premier Farnell until the end of July, allowing time for a thorough handover between the leaders.

Avnet remain committed to protecting the Premier Farnell brand and sales model which continues to deliver value for shareholders and customers. Premier Farnell operates as Farnell element14 in EMEA, Newark element14 in North America and element14 in Asia Pacific.

element14.com, the community for engineers, has launched “Design for a Cause,” its latest challenge featuring the Arduino MKR1000 development board as the key building block in assistive technology for individuals living with physical or mental impairments. Design for a Cause underscores the commitment of Premier Farnell, the Development Distributor, to make the world a better place through innovative technology projects.

As part of this, element14 is launching a Design for Cause initiative on the community site to provide a creative and supportive space for makers looking to build projects with a purpose. From an engineer looking to upgrade a friend’s wheelchair, to designers creating malaria-hunting robots or even an accessible games controller, designers and engineers can leverage the element14 community for support in bringing their projects to life.

For the Design for a Cause challenge, element14 community members’ projects are tasked with making daily tasks easier for individuals living with physical or mental difficulties. Challengers are encouraged to post their code and methods as Open-Source to help inspire others to build the same or similar designs on their own.

“Our element14 community is passionate about helping others, and with Design for a Cause, we’re proud to be able to give them the space they need to develop new technologies to improve the day-to-day lives of others,” said Dianne Kibbey, Global Head of Community and Social Media for Premier Farnell. “We’re excited to see how our makers leverage the Arduino MKR1000 development board to approach this challenge and create meaningful IoT projects that help individuals who need it most.”

Participants are provided with profiles of three individuals with physical or mental limitations including vision impairment, arthritis and loss of muscle function, who would benefit from assistance with everyday tasks. Challenge participants may choose to develop assistive technology for one of these three personas, or they can create a product to assist someone they know. Sample applications for the challenge could include:

• Open-Source Electric Wheelchair Conversion kit
• Smart Prosthetics
• Sense Replacement System
• Safer cooking options for people with sight impairments
• Mobility Aids
• Dexterity Aids
• Help with household appliances
• Proximity Detecting Canes
• Communication devices

Makers and engineers can apply to participate in the Design for a Cause challenge starting May 23 through June 13. On June 22, up to 20 challengers will be chosen to build their projects using the Arduino MKR1000. Those challengers will have 11 weeks to build their projects, and develop 10 blog posts sharing their progress with the element14 community. Entries will be judged by a panel of judges from Arduino and the element14 community on originality, innovation and technical merit.

The first place winner in the Design for a Cause design challenge will receive $900 to their favorite charity, a FLUKE 279 FC/IFLEX Digital Multimeter and a Tinkerkit Braccio Robotic Arm DIY Kit. The Runner up will receive $500 to their favorite charity, a Tenma 72-8474 Oscilloscope and Microduino Quadcopter w/Joypad. Design for a Cause finishers will receive a mystery prize.

To learn more about the Design for a Cause design challenge, please visit: www.element14.com/community/community/design-challenges/designforacause

Premier Farnell has added the 6½ digit Keithley DMM6500 to its range.  A modern Bench/System digital multimeter, the DMM6500 is ideally suited for design engineers and production test engineers, delivering more measurement functionality, best-in-class measurement insight and a price that will not break the budget.

The DMM6500 is equipped with all the measurement functions you would expect in a bench multimeter, eliminating the need to buy additional measurement capabilities. It has 15 measurement functions including capacitance, temperature (RTD, thermistor and thermocouple), diode test with variable current sources, and up to 1 MS/sec digitizing. The digitizing function can be used for voltage or current and is especially useful in capturing transient anomalies or to help profile power events such as the operating states of today’s battery operated devices. Current and voltage can be digitized with a programmable 1 MS/sec 16-bit digitizer, making it possible to acquire waveforms without the need for a separate instrument.

The most recognizable feature of the DMM6500 is the large 5-inch capacitive touch display that makes it easy to observe, interact with and explore measurements with “pinch and zoom” simplicity. Beyond its display technology, the DMM6500 superior analogue measurement performance delivers 25 PPM basic DCV accuracy for one year and 30 PPM for two years, allowing users to extend calibration cycles.

Key benefits include:

• More measurement functions and wider measurement ranges (including 10 µA to 10 A and 1 mΩ to 100 MΩ) with more sensitivity to maximize the utility of the DMM and to enable measurements on new, low power components and products
• 1Msample/s digitizing to capture complex waveforms and transients
• A 5 inch (12.7cm) multi-touch capacitive touchscreen display with readily accessible swipe screens and minimized menu depth and to enable fast, in-depth data analysis. Graphing, pinch and zoom, cursors, and statistics enable design engineers to get greater insight into measurement trends and waveform characteristics
• Fastest integrating measurements to reduce test time in automated systems
• Test script processing (TSP) to reduce time-consuming communications with a PC and to customize measurements for specific applications
• Optional scan cards to expand the number of measurements that can be taken with a single DMM
• Emulation of the Keithley 2000 DMM to permit upgrading hardware while avoiding the need to write new test code
• Large internal memory - store up to 7 million readings, additional USB host port for storing readings, instrument configurations and screen images
• 2-year specifications to reduce the cost of ownership
• 3-year warranty

The Keithley DMM6500 is available from Farnell element14 in Europe, Newark element14 in North America and element14 in APAC.

Presented by Jason Kridner, the co-founder and board member at BeagleBoard.org Foundation and the element14 team, the series provides community members with a grounding in the fundamentals of BeagleBone^® and will show how to have fun with BeagleBone^® boards.

The series includes the following episodes:

• Introduction to BeagleBone®
• BeagleBone^® for Linux Users
• BeagleBone^® for Embedded Developers
• BeagleBone^® for Web Developers
• BeagleBone^® Blue for Robotics
• BeagleBone^® in the Classroom

The first episode, “An introduction to Beaglebone” is now available, with further episodes available every two weeks. All episodes will be available “on demand” after launch.

Dianne Kibbey, Global Head of Community and Social Media for Premier Farnell and element14 said: “BeagleBone^® drives huge interest from our community members, supported by a vast library of projects and learning materials. This new webinar series will help element14 community members get the very most out of their boards, from getting started and embedding a board within an application, to robotics.”

Visit https://www.element14.com/community/docs/DOC-89480/l/beaglebone-6-part-webinar-series for more details, and to enroll for the webinar.

BeagleBone^® boards and accessories are available to buy from Farnell element14 in Europe, Newark element14 in North America and element14 in Asia Pacific.

Premier Farnell, the Development Distributor, is supporting customers of the Xilinx® Zynq® UltraScale+™ MPSoC family with the launch of two Texas Instruments reference designs to ease the development of power solutions for customers developing innovative applications using these devices.

Each reference design, which provides customers with an easy way to prototype their designs before fully understanding their power needs, is a scalable power supply designed to provide power to the Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+ family of FPGA-based MPSoC devices. The designs receive power from a standard DC power supply and provide power to all rails of the Xilinx chipset and DDR memory through a well-defined Samtec socket-terminal strip connection.

The Integrated Power Supply Reference Design for Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+ZU2CG−ZU5EV MPSoCs is scalable to support ZU2CG-ZU3EG devices. In addition, the Integrated Power Supply Reference Design for Xilinx Artix®-7 and Spartan®-7 FPGAs, and Zynq®-7000 SoCs is further scalable to support the most basic Spartan-7 FPGA device, a more complex Artix-7 FPGA with multigigabit transceivers, and up to the Zynq-7000 SoC with a dual-core Arm® Cortex®-A9 processor.

As the two reference designs share the same concept and prototype PCB, customers can use the same power design across the Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+ family and the Xilinx cost-optimized portfolio. Power solutions for devices of this type typically require custom power-management ICs or use many discrete power regulators to provide power to FPGA platforms. The new solution results in a scalable design which features a configurable PMIC and individually selected discrete components.

The solution size is optimized for each assembly variant, with power building blocks selected depending on the Xilinx product. In early prototyping, the Texas Instruments reference designs can be used for power-on scenarios. For the final design, the power solution can be implemented as the smallest solution size.

The result is an elegant and scalable solution which enables designers using both the Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+ family and the Xilinx cost-optimised products (Artix-7, Spartan-7, and Zynq-7000) to create a reusable power platform. A typical application example would be a power solution for customers designing an industrial robot using a ZU+ as the central computer and multiple Spartan-7s for motor control of the axis. This solution powers both chipsets.

Simon Meadmore, Global Head of semiconductors and SBC at Premier Farnell said; “As the Development Distributor, Premier Farnell seek to provide customers with ways to speed up their design processes, saving time and money as they get their products to market. These new reference designs from Texas Instruments give customers a way to prototype their designs even before they understand their full power needs – and can be tailored to work across all Xilinx solutions from the Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+ family to Xilinx’s cost-optimised portfolio. We are able to bring these to our customers due to the strong relationships we have built with the world’s leading manufacturers and suppliers – bringing together the best solutions available to deliver real benefits for our customers”.

To find out more about the PMIC reference designs from Texas Instruments, visit uk.farnell.com/fpga-power. To browse more TI power solutions for Xilinx FPGAs, visit ti.com/powerfpga.