| Title of Reference Design | Backlight and Smart Lighting Control |
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| Key Attraction | The reference design features an optical light sensor and a proximity sensor to detect ambient light intensity and human presence respectively. Based on the above factors, the design adjusts the brightness of a light that is most comfortable for the human eyes. ADI’s solution can simultaneously transmit data and power beyond 1km. |
| Highlights | The reference design features an optical light sensor which detects the intensity of light in the surrounding environment. The design also has a proximity sensor which detects human presense and adjusts the brightness of a light or a display that is most comfortable for the human eyes. A simple algorithm included in the reference design package determines the ideal backlight brightness when the backlight is activated. Proximity wake-up is enabled by Texas Instruments’ capacitive-to-digital converter. A capacitive sensor located around the edge of the board provides a 360-degree sensing field around the board. The reference design enables more comfortable viewing experience and higher energy saving for the customers. |
| Application | The module can control the light of a room or the backlight of a display. |
| OEM Brand | Texas Instruments |
| URL | Click Here |
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| Title of Reference Design | Remote Controlled BLDC Fan |
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| Key Attraction | This reference design is of a remote-controlled brushless DC (BLDC) motor driver for ceiling fan application. The BLDC fan offers higher efficiency and silent operation compared to a conventional fan. |
| Highlights | The reference design is for a brushless DC (BLDC) ceiling fan which can be controlled using most off-the-shelf IR remotes. It has an efficiency of over 85% and consumes a low power of 30-40 watts, which is less than half the power consumed by existing fans. The reference design can work over a wide range of input voltage ranging from 90V AC to 265V AC. Unlike the existing induction motors used in conventional fans, the BLDC motors do not have brushes, so they last longer. Furthermore, this reference design with BLDC motors provides a higher torque/power-to-weight ratio and runs efficiently and silently compared to brushed DC motors. The reference design employs a 24V three-phase motor driver to drive motors with sinusoidal current and sensorless control. The reference design also features a value-line processor that enables remote control by decoding infrared signals. The included firmware allows easy integration with standard infrared remotes based on the NEC transmission protocol, thus allowing the users to use most off-shelf remotes to control the fan. |
| Application | The reference design is suitable for use in residential and commercial purposes. |
| OEM Brand | Texas Instruments |
| URL | Click Here |
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| Title of Reference Design | Wi-Fi Based Remote Control for Lighting and Other Appliances |
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| Key Attraction | This reference design is for a universal remote control that can be used to switch on/off any appliance or light from your mobile device. It can help you automate your house. |
| Highlights | The reference design from Microchip lets you connect and program smart devices, smart appliances, and smart gadgets in your home. It employs a Curiosity PIC32MZ EF 2.0 development board featuring a 32-bit PIC32MZ EF microcontroller. The reference design can also be used to control the red/green/blue (RGB) LED lights from the smartphone or a PC. The reference design requires a WINC1500 Xplained Pro Extension Board plugged into the Curiosity board’s XPRO connector to enable and configure Wi-Fi connectivity. A web page hosted by the Curiosity board provides the interface to control any appliance or change the colour of the onboard RGB LED. |
| Application | The reference design is suitable for use in residential and commercial purposes. |
| OEM Brand | Microchip |
| URL | Click Here |
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| Title of Reference Design | PowerPoint Presenter |
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| Key Attraction | This reference design of a low-powered PowerPoint presenter enables users to control slides by exchanging data with a PC through Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication. It has an operational range of up to 30 metres. |
| Highlights | This reference design from Renesas is a PowerPoint (PPT) presenter solution that enables the user to easily change the page by pressing a page-down key or page-up key on the PPT presenter when showing a PPT file. The presenter allows the user to wirelessly control and present the slides without any human intervention with the computer. The remote connects with the computer or multimedia projector via Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE). The reference design is based on the RL78/G1D module and works on a 3V CR2032 lithium battery and has a low power consumption of 2.6 mA in RF low power consumption mode. It has a working range of up to 30 metres and is compatible with both Windows and Android platforms. |
| Application | The reference design can be used for presenting slides during meetings and presentations. |
| OEM Brand | Renesas |
| URL | Click Here |
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| Title of Reference Design | Infrared Human Sensor |
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| Key Attraction | This reference design is for a low-cost human presence detector. The design can help you automate lighting, doors, and appliances to work automatically when someone walks in or walks out. |
| Highlights | This reference design from Renesas is a low-cost infrared human sensor that is based on the reflective infrared induction principle. The energy-saving design requires few components to construct, making it inexpensive and ideal for lighting entrances, porches, stairs, and bathrooms. The reference design can also be incorporated with the automatic doors, fans, and other appliances to automate them. The design uses an RL78/G10 microcontroller (MCU), which is a 10-pin LSSOP general-purpose MCU. When people come close, the bulb lights up, and when they leave, the bulb switches off automatically. This design can work with a 220V AC supply and has a low power consumption. It is capable of relaying an output of up to 3A/250V AC and has a fast response time. |
| Application | The reference design can be used in residential or commercial buildings, industrial setups, and even in public places to detect human presence. |
| OEM Brand | Renesas |
| URL | Click Here |
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The author, Sharad Bhowmick, works as a Technology Journalist at EFY. He is passionate about power electronics and energy storage technologies. He wants to help achieve the goal of a carbon neutral world.
