OCTOBER 20249SIEMENS LAUNCHES CLOUD SYSTEM TO REVOLUTIONIZE RAIL SIGNALINGTOSHIBA ELECTRONICS LATEST SWITCHES A GAME-CHANGER FOR PCB EFFICIENCYSiemens Mobility, a German multinational, has launched Signaling X, a new cloud-based signalling system for mainline and metro rail systems. This innovation builds on Siemens' "X" portfolio, designed to digitise the end-to-end signalling ecosystem in response to the anticipated doubling of passenger capacity by 2050. Michael Peter, CEO of Siemens Mobility, highlighted that Signaling X integrates various signalling systems into a single cloud platform, offering open interfaces for further functionalities.The new system aims to enhance rail capacity, operations, and maintenance by allowing network signalling to be controlled from a single Signaling Data Centre. It manages both safety-critical and non-safety-critical applications using standardized APIs, and integrates with Train Planning Systems (TPS) for diagnostic and optimization purposes. The platform will operate within a cybersecure environment, built on Siemens' Distributed Smart Safe System (DS3), which has been successfully implemented in Austria, Spain, and Finland.Andre Rodenbeck, CEO of Rail Infrastructure at Siemens Mobility, noted that Signaling X centralizes rail infrastructure data from long-distance, intercity, and urban traffic into one hardware-independent cloud centre. This will significantly improve operational efficiency, reducing installation costs, consolidating operating locations, and streamlining maintenance activities. Customers can expect better flexibility, georedundancy, and overall operational improvements with this new suite of technologies. Toshiba Electronics Europe has introduced two new high-performance switches, the TDS4A212MX 2:1 multiplexer (Mux) and the TDS4B212MX 1:2 demultiplexer (De-Mux), designed for high-speed differential signaling of up to 32Gbps. These devices are compact and support a range of modern connectivity standards, including PCIe 5.0, USB4 Ver.2, Thunderbolt 4, and DisplayPort 2.0, making them ideal for applications in PCs, server equipment, and mobile devices.Both switches feature a -3dB bandwidth (differential) of 26.2GHz or 27.5GHz (typical), with a maximum DC current of 150µA in active mode, ensuring high signal integrity. Toshiba's proprietary silicon-on-insulator complementary metal oxide semiconductor (SOI-CMOS) front-end process technology, named TaRFSOI, enables these advanced performance levels.The differential signal operating range of these devices is 0 to 2.0V for common-mode voltage and 0 to 1.8Vpp for differential voltage swing, supporting a broad spectrum of differential interface standards. To reduce power consumption, they offer a standby mode that lowers current consumption to 10µA or less. Additionally, the devices are capable of operating in ambient temperatures ranging from -40ºC to +85ºC.These switches are housed in a compact XQFN16 package (2.4mm x 1.6mm with a 0.4mm profile), catering to engineers seeking PCB real-estate miniaturization. The TDS4B212MX has an optimized pinout for high-frequency performance, while the TDS4A212MX is designed to simplify circuit board layout.In addition to these new devices for USB4, PCIe Gen 4, and Thunderbolt 4, Toshiba has expanded its offerings through Farnell, including switches for USB 2.0, PCIe Gen1, and general-purpose Input/Output (GPIO), as well as level shifting devices for I²C interfaces, providing engineers with a wide array of design options. TOPSTORIES
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