Consumer

November 2016
ON Semi to debut scalable design platform for next-gen wearables at CES

Wearable Development Kit (WDK1.0)

ON Semiconductor, driving energy efficient innovations, has utilized its strength and depth in a broad range of semiconductor disciplines - including analog, power management, sensor interface and signal conditioning - to introduce a comprehensive development resource for the wearable electronics sector. The ne
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Date:
11/30/2016
Microchip infotainment tech implemented in new Aston Martin DB11

MOST150 technology has been implemented in the new Aston Martin DB11

Microchip Technology, a leading provider of microcontroller, mixed-signal, analog and Flash-IP solutions, announced that MOST150 technology has been implemented in the new Aston Martin DB11. Aston Martin Lagonda has been utilizing MOST technology for many years and has smoothly migrated from MOST25 to MOST150 te
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Date:
11/30/2016
A digital hybrid energy-storage system

The thermal image of the demonstrator indicates a slight temperature increase for the active components when operating at peak load.

Rutronik has developed a revolutionary new hybrid energy storage system (HESS) in collaboration with the University of Applied Sciences Zwickau (WHZ). The combination of battery and ultracapacitor improves the peak current characteristics of the energy storage system, minimizes battery degradation significantly, an
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Date:
11/30/2016
First wireless battery management system unveiled

Wireless BMS concept car at electronica

Linear Technology, a leading provider of battery stack monitoring ICs for electric and hybrid/electric vehicles, demonstrated the first wireless automotive battery management system (BMS) concept car at the Electronica Show in Munich, Germany. This wireless BMS concept car, developed by Linear’s design partner LIO
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Date:
11/29/2016
NYU Nanoscale breakthrough promises atomic-scale electronics

At just one atom thick, tungsten disulfide allows energy to switch off and on, but it also absorbs and emits light, which could find applications in optoelectronics, sensing, and flexible electronics. The NYU logo shows the monolayer material emitting light

Researchers at the NYU Tandon School of Engineering have pioneered a method for growing an atomic scale electronic material at the highest quality ever reported. In a paper published in Applied Physics Letters, Assistant Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Davood Shahrjerdi and doctoral student Ab
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Date:
11/29/2016
Driverless vehicles require sensors to be able to provide distance readings in relation to a vehicle ahead, behind or to the side to a central controller. Radar, laser, infrared and optical cameras, and ultrasound can all be used to gather data about other vehicles, the surroundings, and the road. Cameras are al
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Date:
11/29/2016
Transportation systems can have input voltage ranges up to 14V (single battery automotive), 28V (dual battery trucks, busses, airplanes), or higher, and require one or more low voltage rails for digital systems. As a result, designs of such systems need to know how they can step down from high input voltages si
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Date:
11/29/2016
Glow-in-the-dark dye could fuel liquid-based batteries

The research team includes Timothy Cook, assistant professor of chemistry, and first author Anjula M. Kosswattaarachchi, a PhD student in chemistry

Could a glow-in-the-dark dye be the next advancement in energy storage technology? UB scientists think so. They have identified a fluorescent dye called BODIPY as an ideal material for stockpiling energy in rechargeable, liquid-based batteries that could one day power cars and homes. BODIPY — short for boron-dip
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Date:
11/29/2016

Electron microscopy image of a conductive graphene/cotton fabric

A new method for producing conductive cotton fabrics using graphene-based inks opens up new possibilities for flexible and wearable electronics, without the use of expensive and toxic processing steps. Wearable, textiles-based electronics present new possibilities for flexible circuits, healthcare and envir
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Date:
11/29/2016
Enabling the car of the future

Maxim’s GMSL SerDes chipsets can be used to connect head-unit video data to rear-seat entertainment consoles.

As the auto industry continues pushing development of autonomous vehicles, cars are increasingly becoming sophisticated electronic systems on wheels. Take the Ford GT—with 10 million lines of code, this car surpasses the code volume of the Boeing 787 Dreamliner by 3 million lines! Designing these systems c
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Date:
11/29/2016
With consumer paranoia about security at an all-time high, does automotive software development need to up its game in the quality stakes? The recent collaboration between automotive manufacturers and internet providers in the creation of the autonomous vehicle has sparked great consumer interest in the development of
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Date:
11/29/2016
Innovation is the driver of progress in industrial automation. From the conception of the programmable logic controller (PLC) in 1968 to the introduction of the collaborative robots we see in industry today, technological developments continuously shape the industrial automation landscape. Internet of Things A buzzwo
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Date:
11/28/2016
GCT’s ultra-low profile vertical Micro USB touts performance

SMT Micro USB vertical receptacle

GCT has pushed the performance of its industry leading range of vertical micro USB connectors by launching the USB3160, a new low profile SMT Micro USB vertical receptacle. The new Vertical Micro USB connector has one of the lowest profiles available in the market at 5.20mm height above PCB, meeting the ev
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Date:
11/28/2016
While it is understandable to wail at the predicted demise of “real” cars at the hands (?) of autonomous vehicles (AV), and all the fun and enjoyment that fossil-fuel clutch-driven performance driving provides, the uproar is directed in interesting directions. There are many reasons to own a vehicle, and dr
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Date:
11/28/2016
The LTM8055 is a buck-boost μModule® regulator with a 5V to 36V input range that can be easily paralleled to extend load current capability. Its 4-switch buck-boost topology features high efficiency while allowing the input voltage to be below, at or above the output—with smooth transitions between regulation mo
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Date:
11/28/2016
Lab4MEMS Project earns European Innovation Award

Lab4MEMS project team wins the 2016 Innovation Award during the European Nanoelectronics Forum

The Electronic Components and Systems for European Leadership (ECSEL) Joint Undertaking announced the Lab4MEMS project as the winner of its 2016 Innovation Award during the European Nanoelectronics Forum, in Rome, Italy. At its launch in January 2014, Lab4MEMS was identified as a Key Enabling Technology Pilot-Lin
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Date:
11/26/2016
Yageo’s CQ series MLCCs now at TTI

CQ series surface mount multilayer ceramic capacitors

Now available in Europe through TTI, a leading specialist distributor of electronic components, are Yageo’s CQ series surface mount multilayer ceramic capacitors (SMD MLCCs), also known as high quality factor capacitors (high-Q capacitors). The devices add copper inner electrodes and firing ceramic materials wi
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Date:
11/24/2016
ROHM's reference boards  evaluate high-voltage fan motor drivers

BM620xFS Series High-Voltage Onboard Fan Motor Drivers

ROHM announced the availability of reference boards designed to evaluate its high voltage fan motor drivers that achieve greater efficiency and simplify inverter configuration in home appliances such as ceiling fans and ACs. Of the total power consumed worldwide, it has been noted that close to 50% is used to dr
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Date:
11/24/2016
'Back to the Future' inspires nanotech-powered clothing

Associate Professor Jayan Thomas

MMarty McFly’s self-lacing Nikes in Back to the Future Part II inspired a UCF scientist who has developed filaments that harvest and store the sun’s energy — and can be woven into textiles. The breakthrough would essentially turn jackets and other clothing into wearable, solar-powered batteries that neve
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Date:
11/21/2016
Microchip’s latest low-power wireless modules now at Mouser

Wireless module from Microchip

Mouser Electronics, a leading New Product Introduction (NPI) distributor with a wide selection of semiconductors and electronic components, is now stocking the MRF24WN0MA and MRF24WN0MB wireless modules from Microchip. The low-power, 2.4 GHz, IEEE 802.11b/g/n-compliant transceiver modules interface with Microchip PIC3
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Date:
11/21/2016
Novel Supercapacitor can be charged by body heat

From left: Dr. Choongho Yu and Ph.D. student, Suk Lae Kim.

Dr. Choongho Yu, Gulf Oil/Thomas A. Dietz Career Development Professor II in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University, and his graduate student group has developed a new concept of electrical energy storage: Thermally Chargeable Solid-state Supercapacitor. This innovative supercapac
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Date:
11/18/2016
ON Semiconductor, driving energy efficient innovations, has announced the expansion of the certification of its Sigfox wireless connectivity based solutions to the North American market at this year’s European Utility Week. This complements the existing certification of the robust, easy-to-use Sigfox products fo
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Date:
11/17/2016
Qualcomm announced that its subsidiary, Qualcomm Technologies, introduced the latest generation of its fast-charging technology with Qualcomm Quick Charge 4. Quick Charge 4 will be available with the next generation Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 processor. Snapdragon 835 is expected to ship in commercial devices in th
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Date:
11/17/2016
Since the mobile era, touch screens have been at the core of our user interface with electronic devices. However, as the technology behind touch interfaces begins to saturate, many players now look beyond touch to the future of user interfaces. Whilst advanced solutions including voice and gesture detection, ri
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Date:
11/16/2016
DELTA Microelectronics, a European leader in ASIC supply chain services, announced that it has partnered with Solution in Silicon to augment UK sales and customer support. Solution in Silicon has a rich experience offering ASIC sales and support services to companies in a wide range of industries including consumer pr
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Date:
11/16/2016
Alex Lidow's predictions for 2017

Alex Lidow

In January of 2016 I made several predictions for the then-nascent year. Predictions were made for new markets such as wireless charging, augmented reality, autonomous vehicles, and advances in medical diagnostics and internet access. Progress in these markets was made on all fronts, sometimes faster and sometimes sl
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Date:
11/15/2016
Mouser now stocks Laird’s BL652 BLE and NFC module

BL652 Bluetooth 4.2 and NFC module

Mouser Electronics, a leading distributor with a wide selection of semiconductors and electronic components, is now stocking the BL652 Bluetooth 4.2 and NFC module from Laird Technologies. This small, powerful, energy-efficient, standalone Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) and Near Field Communication (NFC)-certified mo
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Date:
11/15/2016
Linear's low EMI, isolated RS485 µModule transceiver meets stringent IEC 60601-1

LTM2885 isolated RS485 µModule transceiver

Linear Technology introduced the LTM2885, an isolated RS485 µModule transceiver for guarding against large ground-to-ground differentials. Many industrial, utility, medical, military, and intrinsic safety applications require isolation components with increased voltage and spatial separation for human safety. Th
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Date:
11/15/2016
Samsung Electronics announced an $8 billion deal to buy Harman International Industries, marking a major push into the auto electronics market and the biggest overseas acquisition ever by a South Korean firm. The electronics giant previously shunned big acquisitions, and the latest deal underscores a strategic sh
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Date:
11/14/2016
Siemens is further building its Vision 2020 to shape Digital Industrial Enterprise by expanding its unique portfolio for industrial software. Siemens and Mentor Graphics announced that they have entered into a merger agreement under which Siemens will acquire Mentor for $37.25 per share in cash, which represents an
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Date:
11/14/2016
Too many electronics design engineers don’t think thermal is a priority

Thermal runaway is no laughing matter

New research from the 6SigmaET team at Future Facilities, the leading thermal simulation tool provider, has found that 1 in 5 engineers confirm thermal issues are a common cause of expensive and time-consuming late stage design complications. Despite this, the survey of over 350 professional electronics engineers al
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Date:
11/14/2016
Silicon Labs launches smallest Bluetooth low energy SiP with built-in antenna

BGM12x Blue Gecko module

Silicon Labs has introduced the industry’s smallest Bluetooth low energy system-in-package (SiP) module with a built-in chip antenna, offering a complete, cost-effective connectivity solution with no compromises in performance. Available in a tiny 6.5 mm x 6.5 mm package, the BGM12x Blue Gecko SiP module enables de
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Date:
11/11/2016
Infineon makes fastest machine to complete Rubik's Cube

The Rubik’s Cube was solved in just 637 thousandths of a second

The Rubik’s Cube was solved in just 637 thousandths of a second: At the electronica trade fair, the machine “Sub1 Reloaded” pulled off the feat with the help of microchips from Infineon. The microcontroller AURIX™, one of the world’s most powerful minicomputers, also contributed to the record-breaking ef
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Date:
11/10/2016
Panasonic to show flexible rechargeable battery at electronica

Flexible Lithium-ion battery

At electronica 2016 Panasonic will present innovative, highly flexible Lithium-ion batteries: they can withstand repeated bending with a radius of 25 mm or twisting with a maximum angle of 25 degrees, with no loss of function. The batteries are extremely thin with a height of only 0.55 millimetres, which ma
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Date:
11/07/2016
Laird to showcase embedded wireless systems at electronica

Laird embedded wireless systems

Come learn about Laird's latest products and engage in hands-on demonstrations! BL652 - contains the latest generation silicon with Bluetooth Smart v4.2 capabilities & groundbreaking ultra-low power performance. Sterling-LWB - 2.4 GHz Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Smart Ready Multi-Standard Module provides you
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Date:
11/07/2016
PSDcast - Neil Cannon of EnOcean on energy harvesting in smart devices

Neil Cannon of EnOcean

In this PSDcast,EnOcean's new President for North America, Neil Cannon talks to Alix Paultre of Power Systems Design about using energy harvesting technology to drive intelligent embedded systems. From wearables to smart lighting, the IoT will involve a lot of remote systems that may not have access to ready pow
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Date:
11/05/2016
Self-healing printed electronics empower wearables

Self-healing printed electronics

A team of engineers at the University of California San Diego has developed a magnetic ink that can be used to make self-healing batteries, electrochemical sensors and wearable, textile-based electrical circuits. The key ingredient for the ink is microparticles oriented in a certain configuration by a magn
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Date:
11/04/2016
Fraunhofer to unveil mini OLED for low-power eyewear at electronica

Fraunhofer advanced microdisplay

Data glasses mirror information to the eye without interfering with the wearer‘s vision. However, the battery runs down quickly, because the electronics consume a great amount of electricity while playing back the images. Fraunhofer researchers have developed an energy-saving display that reduces the power co
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Date:
11/04/2016
Infineon's robust Gate driver IC 1EDN touts low power consumption

1EDN EiceDRIVER gate driver ICs

Infineon Technologies introduced the 1EDN EiceDRIVER family of 1-channel low-side gate driver IC is well suited to drive MOSFETs, IGBTs, as well asand GaN power devices. Its pin-out and packages are fully compatible to the industry standard which eases the drop-in replacement for existing designs. Applications wh
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Date:
11/03/2016
PSDcast - Diana Goehringer of TULIPP on next-gen energy-efficient embedded image processing

Diana Goehringer of TULIPP

In this PSDcast, Diana Goehringer of TULIPP talks to Alix Paultre of Power Systems Design about next-gen energy-efficient embedded image processing. TULIPP's focus is to develop a reference platform for vision-based system designers that defines a set of guidelines for the selection of relevant combinations of
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Date:
11/03/2016
Murata's ultra-compact LoRa wireless module now at Avnet Abacus

Murata CMWX1ZZABZ-078

Avnet Abacus, a leading interconnect, passive, electro-mechanical and power distributor announced the availability of a highly compact module that is compliant with the LoRaWAN specification for narrowband wireless connectivity. Measuring only 12.5 x 11.6 x 1.76mm in a metal-shielded LGA package, the low-cost mo
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Date:
11/03/2016
To read the November issue of PSDNA, simply click here
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Date:
11/03/2016
Heilind, a leading distributor of electronic components, announced it has rebranded its German operation and the MPS Group,acquired in April 2015, is now going to market under the Heilind banner as Heilind Electronics, with two divisions, Heilind Electronics and Heilind Electronics Mil/Aero. In the last 18 months Hei
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Date:
11/02/2016
FTDI Chip spins off Bridgetek to address MCU, display spaces

FTDI Chip has established a new company called Bridgetek

In order to better serve the broadening range of markets it has developed products for, FTDI Chip has established a new distinct company - called Bridgetek. Presenting the embedded engineering sector with a well-defined and targeted operation, Bridgetek will drive the further commercialisation of some of th
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Date:
11/02/2016
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