Op-Ed
For Immediate Release
Oulu, Finland: 30th August 2018
Can Start-Up Device Makers Tap Into IoT?
They can with simulation aided design solutions saysTatu Karvinen, Managing Director of Finnish Insight Engineering firm Convergentia
According to all technology forecasters, tens of billions of devices will be connected through wireless networks globally in the not too distant future. Digitalization has ignited a proliferation of connected devices in all sectors of life and business and this will translate into growing revenues for device makers.
In the past, only a handful of established device makers were able to create blockbuster gadgets for world markets. But that’s changing. With the advent on IoT, hundreds of small start-ups are trying to cash-in and mimic the big manufacturers and bring new devices to global markets at a fraction of the price. Crowdfunding platforms such as Kickstarter are flooded by these projects.
But, competition is tough and making a connected consumer product
for global distribution is not easy. So, how can device makers speed up time to
market without jeopardizing the quality and user-experience of their products?
Designing a connected product requires specialist expertise in antenna,
EMC, mechanics and thermal design, and calls for time-consuming prototyping and
testing. Let’s delve deeper.
Antenna: Nowadays, many devices feature metal casings,
which is a very challenging operating environment for an antenna. Antennas are
found in increasingly smaller devices and in devices held near or inside human
body. Hearing aids, smart watches sensors, smart rings are typical examples.
The small size of the device and the proximity of the human body put special
high demands on the concept of an antenna. Antennas require high efficiency and
design for high-frequency 5G devices is really challenging. Propagation, range and
carrying capabilities at high frequency are lower and that poses a profound
demand on manufacturers. In antenna design, requirements vary by country and
region and compliance with official requirements requires special expertise in
design.
EMC: the operating environment for smart devices is
becoming more demanding as the volume (quantities) is growing. Devices should
not interfere with signals from other devices or interfere with others. Such
reliability is particularly important in health and military environments, but also
in standard mobile devices for the consumer. A touch screen often causes
interference with the receiver.
Designing effective EMC solutions has traditionally been hit and miss and
rely on hope that it will somehow work. Through simulations, the design process
can be undertaken in a precise and controlled way. Typically, a device maker
understands its EMC design needs only after the build phase when the problem is
detected. With simulations and lab measurements, the problem can be analyzed
early and accurately.
Thermal: more and more power is required from devices,
leading to more powerful batteries and processors. LED displays tend to heat up
especially in handheld devices, and this often causes problems with user safety
and comfort. There is also a set of specifications for the warming of the
equipment that manufacturers have to conform to in order to get a product on
the market. Of course, it is far more effective to design a device according to
a specification from the beginning than to hope that an already made design
conforms to a specification.
Simulations can be used to find at an early stage what solution will
work and what will not. In most cases, simulations are applied for corrections
to the existing design to match the specification. Also, the power consumption
of 5G base stations is really high, which also requires accurate thermal design
to prevent cooling problems.
Mechanics: Equipment transported can carry more than before,
meaning they have to endure a wide variety of applications in environments. For
example, the wearable sector's growth is reflected in this trend. Various
devices must withstand body moisture, under water use and other challenging
conditions. For example, simulation of drop, vibration and seal tests can be
used to avoid large and costly prototype cycles that are often needed to make
durable products. Assembly simulations such be used to avoid assembly problems.
Abstracts
Start-up equipment manufacturers often take a reverse approach to device
design. It’s not unusual for them to take a cheap Chinese bulk antenna only to
discover after extensive and costly prototype rounds and testing that it does
not work at all.
This “instant” engineering approach often proves more expensive than if
the antenna was custom designed to fit the device right from the start. The
same can be said for every other design area. Early phase engineering should be
taken into account first in the product development process. It will save both
time and money. Simulations and virtual prototypes can also be used to
effectively compare different concepts such as component changes.
Convergentia is showcasing its
simulation aided design solutions at the Mobile World Congress Americas in
Los Angeles in September 12-14th at the Finland
Pavilion (Stand 1360). Other telecom, video, cybersecurity and IoT
companies showcasing at the Finland Pavilion are Bcaster, Cloudstreet, Creanord, Exomi, F-Secure, Kaitotek, Sitowise and Tosibox.
Finland
Pavilion is organized and funded by Business Finland’s Connectivity
from Finland business acceleration program. Business
Finland is fully-owned by the Finnish Government.
Ends
About the Author Tatu Karvinen is Managing Director of insight engineering
firm Convergentia. Before founding Convergentia, he worked for Nokia in
various engineering positions. Karvinen holds a degree of Master of Science from
the University of Oulu.
About Convergentia Convergentia provides simulation-aided design solutions to
products where high quality, low cost, or predictable time-to-market are of
great importance. Company’s experienced and internationally recognized antenna,
EMC, mechanics, and thermal design teams can cover the most critical parts of a
large variety of products. Numerous customers worldwide in a wide range of
industries have already benefited from the virtual prototyping services of
Convergentia’s “virtual build factory”, the first of its kind in the world.
About Business Finland
Business Finland
is the Finnish innovation funding, trade, investment, and travel promotion
organization, headquartered in Helsinki. Business Finland is fully owned by the
Finnish Government. Business Finland employs 600 experts in 40 offices globally
and in 20 regional offices around Finland. Business Finland is part of the Team
Finland network. www.businessfinland.com
Ends
For further information, executive interview and images, contact:
Tatu Karvinen
Managing Director,Convergentia
+358 40 535 4193
tatu.karvinen@convergentia.com
Hugh Paterson
CEO Whoosh PR
Landline +33 (0)986 077819, Mobile +44
(0)77681, 75452
Email hugh.paterson@whooshpr.com