AI sportswatch - The power supply unit for a camera application

Autor: Axel Schütz, Sales Engineer, Traco Electronic GmbH

“The beginnings of all things are small,” Cicero. This quote serves as an apt introduction for the business idea outlined below.

A father wanted to watch his son during soccer training. However, he was very busy with his job, which kept him from personally standing at the edge of the soccer field as often as he wished. The father traveled frequently and therefore spent much of his time in the company car or in hotel rooms. Based on his technical background, he had an idea: Capture the training with a camera.

Two requirements had to be met:

1. The camera had to work without a manual operator.
2. The images must be recorded in real time and transmitted anywhere via a data line.

The camera is mounted at the soccer field’s center line and captures the events on the field at an angle of 180 degrees. Equipped with an algorithm conditioned to “act like a cameraman,” the system captures live images.

The Ruhr region serves an important center for the German soccer scene. It is a soccer-crazed area where some people have entered their denomination as: black-and-yellow or blue-and-white on their income tax card. Here, like nowhere else in Germany, you can find an incomparable number and density of traditional clubs.

The professional clubs’ games in the Leagues 1 to 3 are broadcast by the public television stations (ARD, ZDF), Pay TV (Sky), and Streaming Services (e.g., Dazn). However, most of the lower league games are not televised. Every year, millions of sporting events are held worldwide. Only 1 % of these are broadcast! This is the status quo. And this was the starting point for the business idea by AISportsWatch (www.aisportswatch.com), a start-up from Essen. They developed a fully automated, Artificial Intelligence (AI)-supported camera system with an image quality that meets HD standards. The camera is placed in a weather-proof chassis without movable components. It streams the game play and transmits the images via LTE or Ethernet, among others.

Since it was founded over three years ago, more than 20,000 hours of moving images from approx. 7,000 games have been produced by the provider Soccer Watch TV. Most of these came from amateur sports. By now, this technology has also expanded to include other sports such as equestrian events, basketball, ice hockey, or handball. The images can be followed live and used to generate highlight clips. Of course, they also offer the option to analyze game situations or to specifically focus on individual athletes.

 

Medical power supply units can be an excellent choice even in “non-medical” applications.

The operation of a fully automated camera requires electrical energy. For a reliable supply, an AC/DC switching power supply was selected. It had to meet the following significant parameters:

• A highly stable switching power supply with low residual ripple.

• Compact design (output 30-35 watts)

• Formidable temperature performance (installation in a closed chassis)

• High efficiency

After tests involving switching power supplies by various manufacturers, the developers opted for a power supply unit by TRACO POWER. At first glance, a user's choice for the application would not require a module from the medical sector. However, upon closer and more detailed inspection, performance characteristics of the TPP 40-112A-J actually proved to be an excellent choice for this application

Primarily, the following should be noted: The compact open frame design (50.8 mm x 76.2 mm), 40 watts output, connection via JST plug connector, compliance with the ErP directive (power consumption when idle < 0.15 watts), excellent heat management, output  temperature rating: full power to 80°C and 10 % K above 80°C, low residual ripple > 75 mVp-p, and a product warranty of 5 years.

 

What are the distinguishing features of medical switching power supplies?

Medical switching power supplies contain a reinforced isolation system. This results in increased clearance and creepage distances. The associated mechanical construction has a negative effect on efficiency and power loss. High demands are placed on the power supply design engineer in regard to; high I/O-isolation (4000 VAC), compliance with strict EMC directives, long service life, and high efficiency. In addition, neither the size nor the costs must get out of hand. For the patient’s protection, two independent isolation systems are used in the primary and secondary cycle (2 x MOPP). This results in a leakage current < 75 µA. This type of power supply unit may be installed in applications of the class “BF” or Body Floating where the device comes into direct contact with a patient.

 Link to the models and datasheet of the TPP 40A series

EMC immunity (IEC/EN/ES 60601-1-2, 3rd edition) and radiated (IEC 60601-1-2, 4th edition) conform to the current standards. Risk management requirements are covered by a report in accordance with ISO 14971. Applicable criteria regarding electronic components in accordance with the IPC-A-610 standard, meeting the highest level class 3. The quality standard is reflected by the product warranty of 5 years. The unit is also rated up to an elevation of 5000 meters above sea level.

Without compromise in regard to safety, functionality, service life, and price, with the TPP series (15 to 450 watts) TRACO POWER has succeeded in developing high-quality switching power supplies for medical devices and also carries IEC / EN / ES 60601-1 medical safety approval as well as IEC / EN / UL 62368-1 for ITE and industrial applications.