Samsung to invest $116bn in logic

Samsung plans to invest $116 billion in logic chips between now and 2030 creating 15,000 new jobs. $63 billion will go to domestic R&D and $52 billion will be spent on production facilities. A focus will be on foundry where it is second to TSMC with a market share of 19% compared to TSMC’s 48%. ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/samsung-invest-116bn-logic-2019-04/

Chip component gets heat out of tight spots without leaking electrons

TT Electronics has introduced a surface-mount component designed exclusively to get heat out of tight spots. Looking much like a chip resistor or capacitor, TJC series ‘thermal jumper chips’ are made of solid aluminium nitride for good thermal conductivity with low electrical leakage and low capacitance. “Aluminium nitride has nearly five times the thermal conductivity ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/products/passives/chip-component-gets-heat-tight-spots-without-leaking-electrons-2019-04/

Hitachi adds to robot portfolio

Hitachi is to buy  JR Automation Technologies of Michigan which builds production lines and logistics systems using industrial robots. In March, Hitachi bought KEC Corporation (KEC), a Japanese robotic system integrator. The acquisition of JR Automation will allow Hitachi to f expand its Lumada Solution business. Lumada is Hitachi’s advanced digital solutions, services, and technologies ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/hitachi-adds-robot-portfolio-2019-04/

ST finds Q1 market soft

ST had Q1  revenues of $2.08 billion, down 6.7% y-o-y; gross proffit of $818 million down 7.9% y-o-y; gross margin of 39.4% down 50 basis points y-o-y; operating margin of 10.2% and net income of $178 million Operating income decreased 21.6% to $211 million, compared to $269 million in the year-ago quarter. The operating margin ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/uncategorised/st-finds-soft-q1-market-2019-04/

Digital security experts hunt for vulnerabilities on new trains

Rolling stock maker Bombardier Transportation has appointed Ricardo and Roke Manor Research to study the digital security risk profile of Aventra, its latest train type, soon to go into service with Crossrail, Transport for London and on various UK over-land services. Ricardo brings knowledge of rail operations, rolling stock design, systems engineering and passenger interaction, while ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/information-technology/digital-security-experts-hunt-vulnerabilities-new-trains-2019-04/

Interview: SamacSys CEO on component modelling, EDA and engineering frustrations

We talk to Alex MacDougall, founder and CEO of SamacSys, about EDA tools and component libraries.

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/design/eda-and-ip/interview-samacsys-ceo-component-modelling-eda-engineering-frustrations-2019-04/

Analog Bits has PCIe design kits

Analog Bits has front-end design kits for a complete PCIe clocking subsystem, which integrates the oscillator, PCIe class 100MHz reference clock generator with built-in Spread Spectrum Clock Generation (SSCG) and HCSL clock output buffer all into one macro. The Analog Bits clock PHY lowers Bill of Materials cost and saves power pins by sharing with ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/588006-2019-04/

Google drone delivery commercial service gets FAA certification

Thanks Wing Aviation, Google’s drone unit, has got certification from the US Federal Aviation Administration to deliver goods by drone in the State of  Virginia. Wing says it will start a service delivering goods from businesses to homes later this year. “This is an important step forward for the safe testing and integration of drones ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/google-drone-delivery-project-gets-faa-certification-2019-04/

Tesla designs the best chip in the world

Tesla has designed the best chip in the world. What’s more it did it the first time it ever tried to design a chip. “How could it be that Tesla, who has never designed a chip before, would design the best chip in the world?” asked Elon Musk (pictured) at an analyst meeting earlier this ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/tesla-designs-best-chip-world-2019-04/

250 designs for TSMC 7nm on Synopsys EDA

Synopsys says its DesignWare Logic Library, Embedded Memory, Interface and Analogue IP on TSMC’s 7nm)l process technology has achieved more than 250 design wins. Nearly 30 semiconductor companies have selected Synopsys’ portfolio to deliver their chips, says Synopsys. By achieving broad adoption of its DesignWare IP with multiple customer silicon successes, Synopsys enables designers to reduce risk ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/250-designs-tsmc-7nm-synopsys-eda-2019-04/

Top Ten Foundries

Thanks to TrendForce for this one – the top ten foundries:

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/mannerisms/ten-best/top-ten-foundries-5-2019-04/

Multilayer varistors target the smart home

Surface-mount, multilayer varistors from TDK Epcos are now available from TTI. The CeraDiode and CTVS multilayer varistors (MLVs) are designed for smart home applications and security devices. According to the company, the MLVs’ surge current ratings are comparable to those of disk varistors, making them suitable for use as alternatives to transient voltage suppression (TVS) diodes, yet with ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/products/multilayer-varistors-target-smart-home-2019-04/

IoT wireless MCUs major on security for Bluetooth, Zigbee and Thread

Silicon Labs has added a second generation of wireless Gecko processors, with baked in security hardware. Called Wireless Gecko platform, Series 2, the products are based around Arm’s Cortex-M33, in 80MHz form, that includes TrustZone virtualisation hardware to separate secure and non-secure software. “Series 2 improves multiple design elements, including wireless performance, software reuse, RF communication reliability ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/products/micros/587964-2019-04/

Voila! Digi-Key adds wireless connectivity

Developers and makers can take an existing microcontroller application that does not have wireless connectivity and, using just two GPIO pins, add it without modifying the original firmware, via IoTize‘s TapNLink products for Bluetooth and near field communications (NFC) products. The French start up company has signed a distribution agreement with Digi-Key to resell the wireless ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/market-sectors/industrial-electronics/voila-digi-key-adds-wireless-connectivity-2019-04/

ST combines accelerometer and accurate thermometer

ST has combined a 3-axis MEMS accelerometer and a temperature sensor on a single die Called LIS2DTW12, the sensor is aimed at space-constrained and battery-constrained applications as shipping trackers, wearables, and IoT endpoints. Temperature accuracy is 0.8°C, according to the firm’s product announcement, although its helpful application page adds a caveat: “….a typical accuracy of ±0.8°C between ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/products/sensors-products/st-combines-accelerometer-accurate-thermometer-2019-04/

The Brainwash App

The crack-down on the West Coast tech giants from regulators in the EU and elsewhere is missing a trick. Here’s how China whips in its population so they gain proper benefit from the Internet. The government TV service has launched an app called: “Study the Powerful Country”. Chinese citizens use the app to show how ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/mannerisms/bullshit/584018-2019-04/

More accessible FPGA boards

For those keen to use an FPGA to do something, but only with easy-to-use and affordable hardware, there is the Arduino MKR Vidor 4000 – combining an Intel/Altera MAX10 FPGA with a Arm Cortex-M0+ (in a SAMD21) and a U-blox Nina W102-00B Wi-Fi module. And now I know there are also board from TinyFPGA in the ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/engineer-in-wonderland/accessible-fpga-boards-2019-04/

Get Mannerisms, Gadget Master, the Daily and the Weekly, in newsletter form

Let our content come straight to you! Easily digestible newsletter emails straight to your inbox.

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/electro-ramblings/site-update/get-mannerisms-gadget-master-daily-weekly-newsletter-form-2019-04/

China Arm-based server chip company to close

China’s attempt to make Arm-based server processors is being closed down. Huaxintong Semiconductor is a three year-old jv between Qualcomm and the Guizhou Province of China. Huaxintong was set up to pursue Arm-based server chips. Qualcomm owned 45% of the jv and Guizhou province 55%. According to The Information, Qualcomm and Guizhou had invested $570 ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/arm-based-server-chip-company-close-2019-04/

Amphenol to launch quick-turn configuration tool

Amphenol is to launch an online quick-turn cable configuration tool called QuickBuild RF. QuickBuild RF will allow customers to configure cable assemblies from a wide assortment of radio frequency (RF) connectors and standard cables at any length, delivered in less than one week with no minimum order quantity. QuickBuild RF will use  Amphenol RF connectors. ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/uncategorised/amphenol-launch-quick-turn-configuration-tool-assemblt-2019-04/

Server shipments to grow 3.9%

Server shipment growth will be 3.9% this year, says DRAMeXchange. Although enterprise servers are still the largest shipment group, servers for datacentres have grown from 35% of the total market in 2018 to 40% now.   US suppliers accounted for over 30% of the market. China’s top cloud service providers will drop by about 15% YoY ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/uncategorised/587357-2019-04/

NAND ASP to stabilise in Q3

NAND ASPs are expected to stabilise in Q3, says DRAMeXchange, after a year of falling prices last year and two quarters of decline in 2019. Samsung started cutting prices in Q1 to clear out inventory and the other vendors had to follow suit, says DRAMeXchange. While Samsung is expected to continue to cut prices in ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/nand-asp-stabilise-q3-2019-04/

Winkfield Satellite Tracking Site Installs Equipment

Thanks EDr. J. A. SAXTON, Deputy Director of the Radio Research Station, DSIR, introducing the Winkfield satellite tracking pha equipment last week, said that it is a joint venture by the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration and the Department of Scientific and Industrial Research. so, 58 years ago, started a story in Electronics Weekly’s ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/mannerisms/memory-lane/winkfield-satellite-tracking-site-installs-equipment-2019-04/

Huawei Q1 up 39%

Huawei’s Q1 revenues were up 39% at $26.81 billion for a net profit of ‘around’  8%. Huawei says it has signed 40 contracts with telcos to supply 5G equipment and has shipped 75,000 base stations. By the end of the month it expects to have shipped 100,000. Q1 network equipment sales rose 15%.  Q1 consumer ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/huawei-q1-39-2019-04/

On Semi buys GloFo East Fishkill fab.

ON Semiconductor has bought  GloFo’s East Fishkill 300mm fab for $430 million, of which $100 million has been paid at signing of the definitive agreement, and $330 million will be paid at the end of 2022, after which ON Semiconductor will gain full operational control of the fab, and the site’s employees will transition to ON ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/semi-buys-glofo-east-fishkill-fab-2019-04/

Foxconn Wisconsin deal to be re-negotiated

The planned $10 billion 20 million square foot Foxconn investment in Wisconsin is once again in question with Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers saying he wants to re-negotiate the contract. The reason is that the amount of jobs the scheme is now expected to to create is less than the 13,000 originally envisaged. The State’s previous ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/foxconn-wisconsin-deal-re-negotiated-2019-04/

Data repeater extends links for PCIe 4.0, as well as 3.0, 2.0 and 1.0

For long data cables, Diodes has introduced aPCIe 4.0 compliant equalising repeater for use between 2.5Gbit/s and 16Gbit/s. Called PI3EQX16904GL, and branded a ReDriver by the firm, the device supports four 100Ω differential current mode logic (CML) data I/Os, providing programmable linear equalisation, output swing, and gain to reduce inter-symbol interference over a variety of physical ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/products/analogue-linear-mixed-signal-ics/data-repeater-extends-links-pcie-4-0-well-3-0-2-0-1-0-2019-04/

Fable: The Prophet

72 years ago a statistician arrived in a war-torn, defeated country to help with the reconstruction effort. The statistician had original ideas about how statistical quality control could deliver manufacturing excellence. In his own country, the statistician’s ideas had received short shrift. However, in this devastated country, which was anxious to rebuild and restore prosperity, ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/mannerisms/fable/fable-the-prophet-2019-04/

Deep learning spots fusion reactor problems before they happen

Artificial intelligence is really doing stuff – for example, a company who I can’t mention, tried it alongside normal methods to flesh-out corner cases in a complex sensor product, and it got a better answer quicker. Now the US Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory (PPPL) has used deep learning to forecast sudden disruptions that can halt ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/engineer-in-wonderland/deep-learning-spots-fusion-reactor-problems-happen-2019-04/

An unintended consequence of self-driving cars?

The benefits of self-driving cars are likely to prompt vehicle owners to drive more, and that extra distance could partially or completely offset the potential energy-saving benefits that automation may provide, according to a University of Michigan study. “Much higher energy efficiency targets are required for self-driving cars” It considers the expectation that self-driving cars ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/research-news/unintended-consequence-self-driving-cars-2019-04/

4x2mm chips senses ambient light and proximity

Vishay has announced VCNL4040, a combined optical proximity detector and ambient light sensor, that includes infra-red LED, two photodetectors, signal processing and a 16bit ADC in a 4 x 2 x 1.1mm package. “The three-in-one sensor features an interrupt function and supports an I²C bus communications interface, which simplifies window and sensor placement, According to ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/products/sensors-products/4x2mm-chips-senses-ambient-light-proximity-2019-04/

Robotic dogs pull truck

Boston Dynamics has demo-ed  a pack of its robotic dogs  pulling a truck.   Boston Dynamics say that the dogs, called Spot, are being made on a production line and could be sold in the market this year. Boston Dynamics didn’t say how much Spot might cost. Spot is just under three feet tall and ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/robotic-dogs-pull-truck-2019-04/

Murata launches noise filter ferrite beads

Murata is shipping its BLM18DN_SH series of noise filter ferrite beads. The devices are specifically designed for automotive networks using Power over Coaxial (PoC) with high impedance, high frequencies and supporting large currents, up to 1400 mA. As vehicles become more complex and sophisticated and especially as a result of increased image sensing, data communication ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/murata-launches-noise-filter-ferrite-beads-2019-04/

Mouser signs ODU

Mouser has  signed a global distribution agreement with connector specialist ODU. The ODU product line includes the ODU MINI-SNAP, ODU MEDI-SNAP, and ODU MINI-MED connector series. The ODU MINI-SNAP K Series and ODU MINI-SNAP L Seriesare push-pull circular connectors keyed by pin and groove. Both series offer 5,000+ mating cycle durability and are available in a wide variety of sizes, ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/mouser-signs-odu-2019-04/

Superiority Complex

Ten years ago Silicon Valley execs had to put Atlas Shrugged on their lists of favourite books, now they have to put Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind. There are similarities. Atlas is about a group of very superior people who live in a valley. Sapiens is about mankind’s success deriving from its ability to ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/mannerisms/delusions/582879-2019-04/

1.2kV Si rectifiers close on SiC

Vishay has introduced FRED Pt Gen 5 1,200V hyper-fast and ultra-fast rectifiers rated at 30A and 60A for hard-switched and soft-switched (resonant) designs “offering the best conduction and switching loss trade-off for devices in their class”, according to the firm. Matched to operate with mosfets of fast IGBTs, the diodes are optimised for PFC and ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/products/power-supplies/1-2kv-si-rectifiers-close-sic-2019-04/

Tact switch is small for IoT

C&K has announced a sub-miniature J-lead surface-mount tact switch aimed at home automation and IoT devices. Called PTS815, it is 2.5mm thick, with a 4.2 x 3.2mm footprint while retaining a relatively large actuation surface (3 x 2.2mm oval). For compatibility with production processes, the actuation surface is hard and flat. “With PCB space at ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/products/emech-enclosures/tact-switch-small-iot-2019-04/

Is EHT Zurich’s genetically engineered ‘biological dual-core processor’ actually a pair of gates?

My ears pricked up when I heard of a “biosynthetic dual-core cell computer“, also described as a “dual-core CPU“, that has been made using genetic engineering at Swiss university ETH Zurich. That is the language the university and team are using, however after scanning through the PNAS paper that describes the work: ‘A CRISPR/Cas9-based central processing unit to ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/engineer-in-wonderland/eht-zurichs-genetically-engineered-biological-dual-core-processor-actually-pair-gates-2019-04/

The Instruments Of Enslavement

It’s a funny thing, or maybe it’s not so funny, that as technology advances the predictions of George Orwell get fulfilled one after another. Now it’s revealed that Amazon has people listening into the household conversations of people who have bought the Alexa digital assistants. A  few years it was revealed that a technology had ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/mannerisms/dilemmas/the-instruments-of-enslavement-2019-04/

Intel pulls out of 5G smartphone modems.

Intel says it will no longer pursue 5G modems for smartphones following the peace deal between Qualcomm and Apple. Intel will assess the opportunities for 4G and 5G modems in PCs, IoT and other data-centric devices and will invest in its 5G network infrastructure business. “In the smartphone modem business it has become apparent that ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/intel-pulls-5g-smartphone-modems-2019-04/

Huawei expects double digit telecoms growth in 2019

Huawei chairman Ken Hu (pictured)  says that the company’s telecom business will see double digit growth this year despite the political attacks on it led by the USA. Demand is strong in China, Europe, South America, Middle East and Africa, says the company. “We’ve seen an overall optimism and acceleration in the industry regarding 5G ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/huawei-expects-double-digit-growth-2019-2019-04/

Samsung says 5nm ready for prototyping

Samsung says its 5nm FinFET EUV process technology is complete  and ready to run customer samples. Compared to 7nm,  the 5nm process is claimed to be 25% denser with either 20% lower power consumption or 10% higher performance. All  7nm IP can be used on 5nm, says Samsung. Samsung Foundry says it has been providing ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/samsung-says-5nm-ready-prototyping-2019-04/

Intel buys Omnitek

Intel is to buy Omnitek, the 20 year-old Basingstoke designer of intelligent video and vision systems  on FPGAs and SoCs.  It also designs and manufactures a suite of video test & measurement equipment. The price is not disclosed. Omnitek’s 40 employees will join Intel’s programmable solutions group based around its $16.7 billion Altera business which ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/intel-buys-omnitek-2019-04/

Mouser signs Futaba

Mouser has signed a global distribution agreement with Futaba Corporation.  Mouser now stocks a range of Futaba’s display modules, including vacuum fluorescent, organic light-emitting OLEDs and LCDs.  Futuba AH Series modules offer a complete display solution in a slim design. The modules are available in vacuum fluorescent display (VFD) or film compensated Super Twisted Nematic ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/mouser-signs-futaba-2019-04/

Top Ten Filers For European Patents

Thanks to the European Patent Office for this one – the top ten patent filers this year:

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/mannerisms/ten-best/top-ten-filers-european-patents-2019-04/

Qualcomm and Apple bury the hatchet

Apple and Qualcomm have agreed to drop all litigation between the two companies worldwide and enter a six-year licensing agreement and a multiyear supply agreement. Apple will pay an unspecified amount to Qualcomm. The announcement came in the second day of  a court case in San Diego expected to last for weeks. Qualcomm’s shares jumped ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/qualcomm-apple-bury-hatchet-2019-04/

LEGO Education preps Spike Prime for secondary schools

There are a lot of key words in this one: LEGO Education SPIKE Prime, a system to encourage younger ones to get more involved with STEM subjects, or STEAM as LEGO puts it.

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/gadget-master/education/lego-education-preps-spike-prime-secondary-schools-2019-04/

Vigortronix signs Anglia for UK and Ireland

UK manufacturer, Vigortronix has signed a distribution agreement with Anglia, for the UK and Ireland. Vigortronix manufactures transformers and power supplies; its AC-DC converters, power transformers, toroidal transformers, pulse transformers and wound component lines will be added to the distributor’s linecard. The signing adds specialist products, explains David Pearson, technical director at Anglia. “[The signing] ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/products/power-supplies/vigortronix-signs-anglia-uk-ireland-2019-04/

Hifideluxe: Rohm’s super-Fi DAC

At Hifideluxe in Munich next month, Rohm will be pre-viewing an audio DAC claimed to have a 131.6dB signal-to-noise ratio. Called BD34301EKV it is a 32bit, two channel ΣΔ converter with -115dB THD+N, taking inputs as 2.8 / 5.6 / 11.2 / 22.4MHz DSD or 32kHz to 768kHz PCM (pulse-code modulation) – DSD is direct ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/products/analog/hifideluxe-rohms-super-fi-dac-2019-04/

US Gives Up On Having A Decent 5G Network

The Americans have just given up on their best chance of getting a 5G network. President Trump has officially given up on his proposal that Uncle Sam would build the network and lease it to network  operators. “In the United States our approach is private-sector driven and private-sector led,” said Trump at the weekend, “the ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/mannerisms/telecoms/582849-2019-04/

TÜV SÜD supports industry 4.0 with UK IoT cellular test service

Technical service provider, TÜV SÜD, has launched its IoT cellular testing service. The service will be accommodated within the existing facility, claimed to be the only laboratory in the UK to offer a dedicated Narrowband-IoT (NB-IoT) test and certification service. Explaining the rationale for the service, TÜV SÜD explained that NB-IoT enables multiple machines, devices ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/certification-and-test/tuv-sud-supports-industry-4-0-uk-iot-cellular-test-service-2019-04/

Kyocera and Vicor create ‘power-on-package’ for AI processors

Kyocera and Vicor will develop power-on-package (PoP) technology for high-performance and artificial intelligence (AI) processors. Kyocera will integrate processor power and data delivery with organic packages, module substrates and motherboard designs – using its design technology, simulation tools and manufacturing experience to route I/O, high-speed memory and high-current power. Vicor will provide current multipliers ready ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/manufacturing/kyocera-vicor-create-power-package-ai-processors-2019-04/

EPSRC funds UK Robotics Week to 2022

The UK’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) is to fund UK Robotics Week through to 2022, with a grant to its organiser Robotics and Autonomous Systems (RAS) Network (UK-RAS Network). “The UK Robotics Week is a prime example of how those working in the field are demonstrating what the future will bring and encouraging ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/epsrc-funds-uk-robotics-week-2022-2019-04/

Gadget in Extremis: World’s largest plane Stratolaunch launches

Launched from the Mojave Air and Space Port in California, Stratolaunch - aka the world’s largest plane - landed successfully two and half hours later. It reached a maximum speed of 189 mph and altitudes up to 17,000 feet.

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/gadget-master/gadget-in-extremis/gadget-extremis-worlds-largest-plane-stratolaunch-launches-2019-04/

Small triple display embedded PC boards support AMD Ryzen embedded R

Sapphire of Hong Kong has announced Mini-ITX and ‘5×5’ PC motherboards for AMD Ryzen Embedded R1000 processors with Radeon Vega 3 Graphics – where 5×5 (see photo) is actually 5.8 x 5.5inch or ~150x140mm. They are suited for applications requiring a high speed communications front-end like a mini-server or high resolution display products such as ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/products/bus-systems-sbcs/triple-display-embedded-pc-boards-support-amd-ryzen-embedded-r-2019-04/

Terry Gou to run for President

Terry Gou, founder and chairman of Foxconn (pictured with President Tsai) may challenge Taiwan president Tsai Ing-wen for the country’s presidency in the January 2020 presidential elections, reports Bloomberg. President Tsai is rather anti mainland China and, if he runs, Gou says will seek the nomination of the more pro-China Kuomintang (KMT) party which is ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/terry-gou-run-president-2019-04/

TSMC to make HiSilicon mobile processor in volume on EUV 7nm process in Q2

During this current quarter, TSMC will  move the HiSilicon Kirin 985 processor into volume production on an EUV-based version of its 7nm process called N7+, says Taiwan’s Commercial Times as reported by Digitimes. Also in Q2, TSMC will have a 7nm EUV-based process called N7 Pro running in volume producing Apple’s latest processor, the A13. ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/tsmc-make-hisilicon-mobile-processor-volume-euv-7nm-process-2019-04/

Q4 EDA sales down 3.1% y-o-y

Q4 EDA revenues fell 3.1% y-o-y  to $2570.1 million, compared to $2652 million in Q4 2017. “While CAE and PCB & MCM categories reported an increase, the EDA industry overall reported reduced revenues in Q4, partly due to accounting and reporting changes by IP providers. The decrease is also in comparison to a particularly strong ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/583464-2019-04/

Arm invests in Ampere

Arm has invested in a new funding round for Arm-based server processor specialist Ampere Computing. Ampere’s technology derives from the Arm-based server processors  of Applied Circuit Corp (AMCC) which was taken over by MACOM in 2016. In October 2017, MACOM sold the computing business of AMCC, including the IP for AMCC’s X-Gene Arm-based processors, to ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/arm-invests-ampere-2019-04/

Blue Streak Cuts Costs

The use of  standard commercial equipment for the  control of rocket and missile engine testing at the Ministry of  Aviation’s  base, Spadeadam, Cumberland, has proved cheaper than developing special electronic circuitry. So, 59 years ago starteda story in Electronics Weekly’s inaugural issue of  September 7th 1960. The story continued: Instruments for measuring thrust, vibration, pressure, ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/mannerisms/memory-lane/blue-streak-cuts-costs-2019-04/

100mA opto-triacs for 120, 240 and 380Vac

Vishay has introduced DIP-6 and SMD-6 opto-triacs rated at 800V 100mA for home appliances and industrial equipment. Applications include controlling small loads and triggering large triacs – in solid-state relays, for example. They come two forms: VOT8025A with zero-voltage crossing circuit (ZCC) for EMI reduction without the need for external snubber networks. VOT8125A without ZCC  for ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/products/power-supplies/100ma-opto-triacs-120-240-380vac-2019-04/

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Ensure you receive the latest and greatest Gadget Master news, hot and fresh, straight into your inbox!

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/gadget-master/general/sign-up-for-the-newsletter-2-2019-04/

Tool simplifies configuration in machine learning IMUs

STMicroelectronics aims to ease the configuration of the finite state machine (FSM) and machine learning (ML) logic that exists in some of its inertial measurement units (IMUs). “The FSM logic lets users run gesture and motion-recognition algorithms directly in the sensor for always-on convenience and low power consumption,” explained the firm. “The ML core implements ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/products/software-products/tool-simplifies-configuration-machine-learning-imus-2019-04/

Stack Overflow survey highlights Rust, Python and DevOps

Stack Overflow publishes its latest developer survey, taking in the views of 90,000 coders. What questions did they cover? (Twenty-seven per-cent of all respondents identify Android as a platform they target.)

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/eyes-on-android/programming/stack-overflow-survey-highlights-rust-python-and-devops-2019-04/

UK made: vented sensor enclosures

UK manufacturer BCL Enclosures, has introduced enclosures for sensors – designed to keep the air flowing around temperature, gas and humidity probes as well as thermostats. Manufactured from ABS, and called the BCS Series, there are different models. Three measure 80 x 80 x 21mm and are made in ABS HB. BCS30W is a white sensor ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/products/emech-enclosures/uk-made-vented-sensor-enclosures-2019-04/

MEPs

Well if these European elections go ahead, who will you vote for? Nige, with his new Brexit party, looks like getting 10% of the vote, beating both the Lib Dems and UKIP,  according to a poll by Open Europe, but the big turnout is for Labour. It seems Labour voters Have a clearer view on politics ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/mannerisms/dilemmas/581760-2019-04/

US stalls China institutions’ US tech purchases

The US government has produced a list of foreign companies for which US companies need new licences if they want to continue trading with them. Until they get the new licences, US companies have to stop trading with companies on the list. There are 44 Chinese companies and R&D institutions on the list including the ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/us-stalls-china-institutions-us-tech-purchases-2019-04/

Under-utilised fab capacity in China

With a number of companies building 300 mm fabs in China just as the market downturn hits, there is an expectation that there will be a lot of unused fab capacity in the country, reports Digitimes. Among those with new 300mm fabs are SMIC, Hua Hong, Tsinghua Unigroup (Nanjin, Chengdu), Chongqing Alpha and Omega Semiconductor, ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/utilused-fab-capacity-china-2019-04/

Deep eutectic solvents could solve li-ion recycling problem

Researchers from Rice University have found a new way to recycle lithium-ion batteries. As the consumption of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) for the transportation and consumer electronic sectors continues to grow, so does the pile of battery waste, with no successful recycling model, as exists for the lead–acid battery. The Rice researchers have exhibited a method ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/deep-eutectic-solvents-solve-li-ion-recycling-problem-2019-04/

Ed Hatches A Windies Wheeze

It seemed safe to return home now that the madness is postponed till October, Ed confides to his diary, and I’ve picked up a wheeze or three during my Caribbean idyll. This new nicey-nicey approach to the EU – no to No Deal etc etc – has encouraged various Caribbean government ministers to drop hints ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/mannerisms/ed-the-serial-ceo/582872-2019-04/

Satellite team promotes women’s STEM – the Kyrgyz space program

I must have been walking around with my eyes shut to miss the Kyrgyz space program (BBC and TED noticed it) – an all-female attempt in Kyrgyzstan to get a micro-sat into orbit. Why all-female? According to its Patreon page: We are running a school of satellite-building for girls from Kyrgyzstan…  ….because we are tired ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/design/satellite-team-promotes-womens-stem-kyrgyz-space-program-2019-04/

Grove On Breakfast

The late, great Andy Grove knew about making breakfast – he worked in a fast food diner while at college. So how do you make a breakfast of coffee, hot buttered toast and a three minute soft-boiled egg? In his book High Output Management, Grove depicted the process graphically: “The first thing we must do ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/mannerisms/yarns/568486-2019-04/

DevBoard Watch: Google’s Coral platform for local AI includes Raspberry Pi

This one could be of interest if you're looking to prototype AI devices using machine learning. Google has announced it's Coral platform, involving a Coral devboard, Coral USB accelerator and Coral camera module.

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/gadget-master/raspberry-pi-gadget-master/devboard-watch-googles-coral-platform-for-local-ai-includes-raspberry-pi-2019-04/

In case of emergency, grab a solar suitcase

A solar-powered suitcase has won the 2019 Edison Award for Social Innovation. The Solar Suitcase was originally developed by the We Care Solar project and this third reiteration was enhanced by Arrow. In many developing nations, mothers and babies are put at risk in delivery rooms due to either lack of electricity or sudden power ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/market-sectors/medical-electronics/case-emergency-grab-solar-suitcase-2019-04/

If the last time you saw slot car racing it was Scalextric

My mind is slightly boggled, as I just saw a video of the European slot car racing finals, and I haven’t even got to the end formulating questions, let alone getting any answers. The question list starts: What motors are they running? How do they stick down at that speed? How do the operators have ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/engineer-in-wonderland/last-time-saw-slot-car-racing-scalextric-2019-04/

Most Read articles – micro-LED displays, O-S-D, TSMC

What are the most popular topics covered? A look at a book by Bill Davidow, the size of the Chinese semiconductor industry, the O-S-D product sector, Osram exploring micro-LED displays and TSMC announcing delivery of its 5nm design infrastructure.

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/uncategorised/most-read-articles-micro-led-displays-o-s-d-tsmc-2019-04/

Get Mannerisms, Gadget Master, the Daily and the Weekly, in newsletter form

Let our content come straight to you! Easily digestible newsletter emails straight to your inbox.

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/electro-ramblings/site-update/get-mannerisms-gadget-master-daily-weekly-newsletter-form-2019-04/

Semi revenues hit $475bn

Semiconductor industry revenues were $474.6 billion in 2018, says Gartner, representing a 12.5% increase from 2017. 2018 growth was weaker than 2017’s 21.9% due to memory growth slowing to 24.9% versus 2017 growth of 61.8%. “Despite slowing growth, the memory market was still the largest semiconductor market, accounting for 34.3% of revenue,” says Gartner’s Andrew Norwood, “this ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/semi-revenues-hit-475bn-2019-04/

Chip manufacturing equipment sales reach all-time high.

2018 sales of manufacturing equipment were up 14%  to an all-time high of $64.5 billion in 2018, from $56.62 billion in 2017, says SEMI. For the second consecutive year, Korea claimed the largest market for new semiconductor equipment with $17.71 billion in sales, followed by China, rising to become the second largest equipment market for ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/chip-manufacturing-equipment-sales-reach-time-high-2019-04/

Sharp reveals folding phone

The fifth folding phone to see the light of day after Royole, Samsung, Huawei and Motorola comes from Foxconn subsidiary Sharp. The phone has a 6.18” 1440 x 3040 AMzoLED which, says Sharp, is capable of enduring 300k folds without degradation. Even Sharp calls it a prototype so presumably it’s a long way from the ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/sharp-reveals-folding-phone-2019-04/

Uber Under

The sorry state of Lyft’s finances did not stop it having a successful IPO last week (successful for Lyft though not for IPO buyers) so the even sorrier state of Uber’s financials may not drastically affect Uber’s imminent IPO. IPO documents filed with the SEC by Uber show that Uber lost $3 billion on its ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/mannerisms/dilemmas/581005-2019-04/

Plasmonic hydrogen sensor rebuffs poisoning by other gasses

The world’s fastest hydrogen sensor, is being claimed by Chalmers University in Sweden, which can detect 0.1% hydrogen in air in less than a second. It consists of millions of palladium-gold alloy nano-particles – a material which is known for its sponge-like ability to absorb large amounts of hydrogen. The plasmon phenomenon then causes the sensor ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/research-news/plasmonic-hydrogen-sensor-rebuffs-poisoning-gasses-2019-04/

Fable: The Square Wafer

There was once a company which made a square wafer. The wafer wasn’t designed to be diced into chips, it was a complete logic system for a computer made using ECL. The wafer was 2.5 inches to a side and its package contained 1200 pins. The company raised $230 million from investors including some of ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/mannerisms/fable/fable-square-wafer-2019-04/

Gadget in Extremis: EHT radio telescope captures first picture of Black hole

I think this counts as one for our Gadget in Extremis category: a radio telescope the size of earth. Yes, the one capable of taking pictures of a Black Hole.

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/gadget-master/gadget-in-extremis/gadget-extremis-eht-radio-telescope-captures-first-picture-black-hole-2019-04/

Frontier puts DAB, FM and streaming on one chip

Frontier has introduced a chip for internet, DAB, DAB+ and FM audio reception. Called Chorus 4, it will also be available built into the Venice X module, which is a “customisable turn-key system which enables brands and manufacturers to build smart radios quickly and cost-effectively”, claimed the firm. “By combining internet, DAB, DAB+ and FM ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/products/rf-microwave-optoelectronics/frontier-puts-dab-fm-streaming-one-chip-2019-04/

Machine learning and passive RFID tags can identify human behaviour in the home

Passive RFID tags attached to inanimate objects in the home can have reveal much about the activities of occupying humans, according to the University of Michigan. The system, dubbed IDAct, uses ‘long-range’ (a few metres) 900MHz passive UHF tags and a single antenna in the ceiling of each room. Tags were attached to household items ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/research-news/machine-learning-rfid-tags-help-monitor-vulnerable-people-home-2019-04/

Panasonic and Tesla delay expansion of US EV battery plant; suspend plans for Shanghai plant

Panasonic is to stop investing in its jv Gigafactory with Tesla which makes EV batteries in the Nevada desert, and has suspended plans for another jv with Tesla to build a  battery and EV plant in Shanghai, reports The Nikkei. The companies had planned to increase capacity by 50% to 54GWh by 2020, up from 35GWh today with Panasonic intending, ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/uncategorised/panasonic-tesla-delay-expansion-us-ev-battery-plant-suspend-plans-shanghai-plant-2019-04/

Interesting periodic table

It is the international year of the periodic table, and I have been made aware of a periodic table which uses colour to indicate relative plenty or scarcity on and in Earth. It apparently puts into perspective the indium shortage, which come from contflict regions, and other sobering facts for the electronics industry. Sadly, I ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/engineer-in-wonderland/interesting-periodic-table-2019-04/

FlexLogix introduces inference engine

FlexLogix has announced inference-optimized nnMAX clusters to develop the InferX X1 edge inference co-processor for incorporation in SoCs as IP, and in chip form, in Q3. InferX X1 chip claims to delivery high throughput in edge applications with a single DRAM, resulting in higher throughput/watt. Its performance advantage is claimed to be strong at low batch ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/flexlogix-introduces-inference-engine-2019-04/

Japan to spend $14bn on 5G over five years

Japan’s wireless network operators Docomo, Softbank, KDDI and Rakuten are to spend $14.4 billion on installing 5G networks over the next five years. The newcomer,  Rakuten, plans to spend $1.75 billion; Softbank plans to spend $1.&86 billion; KDDI plans to spend $4.2 billion and Docomo plans to spend $7.2 billion. The plans were approved yesterday ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/japan-spend-14bn-5g-five-years-2019-04/

Mouser Formula-E team hits Rome

The Mouser-sponsored Formula E team returns to Rome on April 13 to battle it out on the seventh leg of the 2018–19 ABB FIA Formula E Championship racing season.  Mouser is sponsoring the GEOX DRAGON Formula E team throughout the 2018–19 ABB FIA Formula E Championship season in collaboration with TTI, Molex and AVX. This is ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/mouser-formula-e-team-hits-rome-2019-04/

ON enables battery-less sensor comms via BLE

ON Semiconductor has introduced an RSL10 Multi-Sensor Platform powered solely with a solar cell. This complete solution supports the development of IoT sensors using continuous solar energy harvesting to gather and communicate data through BLE without the need for batteries or other forms of non-renewable energy. The  combination of ultra-low-power wireless communications, small form-factor solar cell and ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/enables-battery-less-sensor-communications-via-ble-2019-04/

The 20 Most Visited Web-Sites

Well here’s a thing – the 20 most popular web-sites on the planet.

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/mannerisms/markets/20most-visited-web-sites-2019-04/

Sony No.1 in O-S-D

Sony is by far the largest vendor in the O-S-D (Optoelectronics, Sensors/Actuators, and Discretes) product sector because of its sensor sales, reports IC Insights. Companies selling optoelectronics currently dominate the ranking of the top-10 O-S-D suppliers.     Figure 1 shows that nine of the top-10 companies sell optoelectronics, while six offer sensor/actuator semiconductors, and ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/sony-no-1-o-s-d-2019-04/

Welcome the official Raspberry Pi keyboard and mouse

We're not talking just any input devices, these are from the Raspberry Pi team - the official Raspberry Pi keyboard and mouse.

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/gadget-master/raspberry-pi-gadget-master/welcome-official-raspberry-pi-keyboard-mouse-2019-04/

Why Does China Want To Ban Bitcoin Mining?

Interesting that China takes a dim view of bitcoin mining. After all, China is the world’s biggest bitcoin miner with about half the world’s bitcoin mining operations based there –  including the biggest miner and maker of mining gear – Bitmain. China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said on Monday it was seeking public ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/mannerisms/dilemmas/579665-2019-04/

Asic service offers RISC-V for IoT and AI

Taiwan asic design house Faraday Technology is offering RISC-V processor IP for chips aimed at AI and IoT. “This solution encompasses system-level design services, such as RISC-V core IP integration, SoC design verification, as well as a reference design kit consisting of RTOS and peripherals drivers,” said the firm, adding that it has already enabled mass ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/design/eda-and-ip/asic-service-offers-risc-v-iot-ai-2019-04/

ULEMCo to launch hydfrogen-powered 50kW generator

ULEMCo, which is pioneering the adoption of ultra-low emission hydrogen fuel in the UK, has announced plans to launch a zero emission 50 kW (KVA) generator later this year. The zero emission genset is targeted for use in urban areas, where the impact of harmful emissions from non-road mobile machinery (NRMM) is increasingly being understood. ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/uncategorised/ulemco-to-launch-hydfrogen-powered-50kw-generator-2019-04/

Osram joins German micro-LED display project

LED maker Osram Opto has joined a German project to explore the principles of high-resolution displays using arrays of micro LEDs (μLEDs). Osram will work alongside ASM Amicra and Fraunhofer IISB in the SmartVIZ project, which has funding from the Bavarian state ministry for regional development. Their potentially high luminance (light output per unit area) could put μLEDs ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/products/displays-2/osram-joins-german-micro-led-display-project-2019-04/

Farnell launches Connector e-Guide

Premier Farnell has launched the Connector e-Guide: an online reference tool showcasing connectors from more than 30 of the industry’s most trusted brands. The e-Guide allows engineers to easily review and select relevant interconnect products from Premier Farnell’s connector catalogue by sight or by part number. The e-Guide uses large visuals to clearly display and categorise ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/farnell-launches-connector-e-guide-2019-04/

Programmable 12-channel LED driver

With patented features to prevent distracting artefacts in “color-chasing” or “deep breathing” LED animation effects, the STMicroelectronicsLED1202 12-channel LED driver enables smoother and more natural interactions with smart-home devices, wearable electronics, and small appliances. The LED1202 can store eight programmable patterns and sequences and operate independently of the main controller, enabling the host system to ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/programmable-12-channel-led-driver-2019-04/

China 2018 chip sales worth $97bn.

The China semiconductor industry had sales of $97.3 billion  last year, says China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). The China IC industry had a CAGR 20.3% 2018-8,  said Ren Aiguang, who heads upthe IC office in MITT, told XinhuaNet. Revenue from IC design and manufacturing increased last year while sales from IC packaging ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/china-chip-sales-worth-97bn-2019-04/

MagnaChip ties up with ELAN Micro

MagnaChip Semiconductor, the Korean mixed signal specialist, is collaborating with ELAN Microelectronics to expand the capabilities of OLED displays. The partnership seeks to build upon the Recent market penetration of OLED displays in smartphones, mobile devices, tablets and automotive applications. OLED technology enables screens to display rich and highly saturated colors while emitting low power ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/579700-2019-04/

Top Ten (less 2) Most Valuable Brands

Thanks to onbuy.com for this one – the world’s eight most valuable brands: Amazon Apple Google  Microsoft Samsung Facebook Huawei Webchat  

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/mannerisms/ten-best/top-ten-less-2-valuable-brands-2019-04/

Mars Helicopter completes test simulations for Red Planet

Yes, fly me to the moon, but what about a helicopter to Mars? Believe it or not, Nasa engineers have been testing a small-scale Mars Helicopter that is due to be launched in two years’ time.

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/gadget-master/space/mars-helicopter-completes-test-simulations-for-red-planet-2019-04/

Waterproof 3.5mm jack sockets

CUI has introduced a series of 3.5mm waterproof audio jack connectors rated to IP67. They come in surface mount, mid mount SMT, and through hole styles, with right-angle orientation and four conductors (sleeve, ring 1, ring 2, tip). There are various sorts, with profiles as low as 5.3mm, typically with elastomer rings that seal against ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/products/connectors/waterproof-3-5mm-jack-sockets-2019-04/

Automating the design and printing of soft robots

Soft robots can be be designed to move in predictable ways, and then 3D printed, according to Purdue University, which has created customisable soft robot structure, and an algorithm to do the customisation. The specific form of moving structure is a 3D elastomeric lattice, deformed by tension in tendons running through it – pulled by ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/research-news/automating-design-printing-soft-robots-2019-04/

Good Old Yanks

One of the most wonderful things about America for all who visit regularly is the growth of access to decent beer. That old sinking feeling when the barman told you he had Bud, Coors, Miller, Michelob – cold, fizzy, indistinguishable and tasteless – is long gone. The US Brewers Association says craft beer now represents 13.2% of  the ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/mannerisms/beer/good-old-yanks-2-2019-04/

Solartron Develops Transdeptor

The “Transdeptor”, a remote reading fluid depth gauge developed by Solartron’s Transducer Division, provides a reliable method of transmitting depth measurements over considerable distances. So, 58 years ago, started a story in Electronics Weekly’s edition of January 25th 1961. The story continues: The pressure sensing element, a type NT4-980 Solartron pressure transducer, consists of a ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/mannerisms/memory-lane/solartron-develops-transdeptor-2019-04/

MIT moots hybrid lorries without diesel engines

Researchers at MIT are proposing plug-in hybrid vehicles for long-distance heavy transport. The truck would be primarily powered by batteries, but a non-diesel spark-ignition engine would extend range to that of today’s vehicles, according to MIT, avoiding the 10 to 15 tonnes of batteries required in an all-electric truck. The engine would be ‘flex-fuel’, able ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/research-news/mit-moots-hybrid-lorries-without-diesel-engines-2019-04/

TTI steers towards automotive antennae from AVX

Low profile SMT automotive antennae for infotainment, telematics, e-call, onboard diagnosis, tracking, navigation and vehicle to everything (V2X) communication in vehicles from Ethertronics, an AVX company, are now available from TTI. The low profile antennae support worldwide frequency bands and are designed to occupy minimal PCB real estate to meet the space constraints of vehicle ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/products/rf-microwave-optoelectronics/tti-steers-towards-automotive-antennae-avx-2019-04/

Dual 16bit 4Msample/s ADCs in 3x3mm

Analog Devices has released a couple of dual high-resolution SAR (successive-approximation register) ADCs operating at up to 4Msample/s, both packaged in 3 x 3mm 16pin LFCSP. 16bit AD7380 14bit AD7381 Dual simultaneous-sampling is available, and the firm is promoting them for motor control, sonar, power quality and data acquisition applications. “The conversion process and data ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/products/analogue-linear-mixed-signal-ics/dual-16bit-4msample-s-adcs-3x3mm-2019-04/

Comment: On autonomous driving and seizing the tech transfer opportunity

The development of autonomous vehicles provides opportunities for innovative electronics businesses

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/design/eda-and-ip/comment-autonomous-driving-seizing-tech-transfer-opportunity-2019-04/

TSMC releases 5nm design infrastructure

TSMC has announced delivery of the complete version of its 5nm design infrastructure within the Open Innovation Platform (OIP). The release enables 5nm SoC designs in next-generation advanced mobile and high-performance computing (HPC) applications, targeting high-growth 5G and artificial intelligence markets. Leading Electronic Design Automation (EDA) and IP vendors collaborated with TSMC to develop and ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/tsmc-releases-5nm-design-infrastructure-2019-04/

Imec n-PERT solar cells reach 23.2% conversion efficiency

Imec’s n-PERT (Passivated Emitter and Rear Totally diffused) solar cells developed with Jolywood, a Chinese manufacturer of n-type bifacial solar cells and modules, have reached a certified front-side conversion efficiency of 23.2%. With cost-efficient processing and a clear path to higher efficiencies, this makes these n-PERT cells a serious contender to p-PERC technology. “Compared to ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/imec-n-pert-solar-cells-reach-23-2-conversion-efficiency-2019-04/

Lords welcome Internet White Paper

The House of Lords welcomes the White Paper on Internet regulation published yesterday by the Home Office and the Department of Culture Media and Sport. “I welcome the Government’s White Paper and its recognition of the need to establish regulation to protect users from online harms using a statutory duty of care,” says Lord Gilbert ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/lords-welcome-internet-white-paper-2019-04/

AMD launches 12nm 2nd gen Ryzen Pro

AMD has announced 2nd Gen AMD Ryzen PRO mobile processors with Radeon Vega Graphics and AMD Athlon PRO mobile processors with Radeon Vega Graphics. Providing commercial notebook users with power-efficient performance, state-of-the-art security features, and commercial-grade reliability and manageability, these new processors enable global PC manufacturers to create a wide range of business systems, from premium ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/amd-launches-12nm-2nd-gen-ryzen-pro-2019-04/

Chip combines secure hash algorithm and PUF to protect IoT, industrial and medical

Maxim’s DS2477 secure co-processor is intended to protect industrial, medical and IoT applications with authentication and physical security. “It is a secure I2C co-processor with built-in 1-Wire master that combines FIPS202-compliant secure hash algorithm [SHA-3] challenge and response authentication with Maxim’s ChipDNA feature to provide protection against security attacks,” said Mouser, which is stocking the part. ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/products/digital-integrated-circuits/chip-combines-secure-hash-algorithm-puf-protect-iot-industrial-medical-2019-04/

R&S C-V2X tester wins GCF approval

Rohde & Schwarz’ cellular vehicle-to-everything (C-V2X) protocol conformance testing package has been approved to the Global Certification Forum’s (GCF’s) specification. The approval is based on using the CMW500 wide-band radio communication tester and SMBV100A vector signal generator. “The GCF is an industry-recognised organisation trusted by cellular network providers to certify the conformance of cellular handsets,” said ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/products/test-measurement-products/rs-c-v2x-tester-wins-gcf-approval-2019-04/

Royal Flush

Here’s a magnificent way to flush the loo. It is in the old 17th century pump house in Rye, now converted into a cosy boozer called The Waterworks. The pump house was built on a well which had been visited by Queen Elizabeth 1st in 1573.  It was reported that, though QE1 stopped by the ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/mannerisms/genius/royal-flush-2019-04/

750W RF power transistor for 915MHz

Ampleon has announced a high-750W RF power transistor offering 72.5% at 915MHz, built on the firm’s Gen9HV 50V process. Called BLF0910H9LS750P, it operates from 902 to 928MHz making it suitable, according to the Ampleon, for industrial, scientific, and medical systems, as well as professional cooking. It’s input is pre-matched, and the device is rugged enough to withstand a ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/products/rf-microwave-optoelectronics/750w-rf-power-transistor-915mhz-2019-04/

ADI presses US and EU to break down non-tariff trade barriers.

ADI has urged the US Department of Commerce (DoC) and the EU to break down non-tariff barriers to trade in technology components and systems. Regulations such as the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) or the US’s International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) inhibited the export trade in technology components and systems, argues ADI. ADI would like ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/news/business/adi-presses-us-eu-break-non-tariff-trade-barriers-2019-04/

Little spill from narrow architectural and retail optic

Ledil emphasises “sharp cut-off and minimised spill light providing high contrast between highlighted objects and their surroundings, ideal for non-glare retail lighting”, for its Carmen-90 narrow-beam (nominally ~10°) optic for CoBs with light emission diameters up to 14.5mm. It is 90mm in diameter, and includes an attached mechanical interface (so no enveloping holder) to mate with combined CoB ...

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/led-luminaries/little-spill-narrow-architectural-retail-optic-2019-04/

Only Connect: Category 7 RJ45 outdoor industrial GigE capable cables

Welcome to another post in the series by Nick Locke of Nicab Ltd. This one considers Category 7 metal RJ45 outdoor industrial GigE capable cable assemblies.

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from Electronics Weekly https://www.electronicsweekly.com/blogs/electro-ramblings/industry-comment/only-connect-category-7-rj45-outdoor-industrial-gige-capable-cables-2019-04/