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July 17
- World’s First Comparator Free Chip For Memory Sorting
➀ Researchers developed the world's first comparator-free memory sorting chip using memristor-based PIM architecture and Tree Node Skipping algorithm;
➁ The system achieved 7.7× speed improvement and 160.4× energy efficiency compared to ASIC solutions, enabling real-time applications;
➂ Demonstrated versatility in path planning and AI acceleration, paving the way for next-gen edge computing and intelligent hardware.
July 16
April 1
- Small, Fast, And Powerful Car Module
➀ LG Innotek has launched an Automotive Application Processor Module (AP Module) aimed at the global automotive semiconductor market, marking its entry into automotive semiconductor components.
➁ The module integrates vehicle electronic systems, such as Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) and digital cockpits, offering a compact design that improves system efficiency and control performance.
➂ LG Innotek plans to enhance the module's thermal management and is promoting it globally, with mass production expected in the second half of the year.
March 31
- Wi-Fi Sensing: Smart Tracking With No Wearables, No Cameras, And No Privacy Worries!
➀ Wi-Fi Sensing利用现有无线信号（如Wi-Fi）进行室内活动和位置跟踪，无需安装摄像头或可穿戴设备，解决了隐私问题。
➁ 通过分析通道状态信息(CSI)，该技术能够检测运动、识别活动并实现定位，其性能依赖于深度学习模型，但模型参数量大导致部署困难。
➂ 文章介绍了通过量化和剪枝技术压缩模型的方法，成功将模型部署到边缘设备（如Raspberry Pi 4），显著提升了推理速度。
- High-Precision Panel-Level Packaging System
➀ Toray Engineering Co., Ltd. has developed the UC5000, a high-precision semiconductor packaging system for panel-level packaging (PLP), which is gaining popularity, especially for AI server applications.
➁ The UC5000 achieves chip packaging accuracy of ±0.8μm using thermal compression bonding (TCB) on large panels, supporting both silicon wafers and glass substrates.
➂ Key features include advanced TCB technology, high-accuracy packaging, and warp-correction transfer technology, addressing challenges such as warping and material expansion in glass panel processing.
- Power-Saving Microcontrollers For IoT
➀ STMicroelectronics has introduced the STM32U3 microcontrollers with advanced power-saving features for IoT devices, enabling long-term operation with minimal maintenance and power usage.
➁ The STM32U3 series enhances IoT security with hardware protection, including secure storage of secret keys and factory-loaded attestation credentials.
➂ Key features include AI-driven voltage scaling, very low power consumption, high-performance peripherals, and support for operating in extreme temperature ranges.
- System-On-Module For Edge AI Computing
➀ Lantronix has launched the Open-Q 8550CS System-on-Module (SOM), built on the Qualcomm Dragonwing QCS8550 processor, offering low-power on-device AI and ML capabilities.
➁ The SOM is designed for demanding AI/ML applications in extreme Edge computing environments, supporting advanced video processing, AI inference, and Edge AI gateway integration.
➂ Key features include low power consumption with a 4nm process, dual eNPU for AI acceleration, and support for high-speed connectivity and multiple display interfaces.
- New System and Software For Testing Networks
➀ Keysight Technologies has introduced the Interconnect Test System (ITS) and the Interconnect and Network Performance Tester 1600GE (INPT-1600GE), a hardware traffic emulator designed to run ITS. This solution validates AI infrastructure and network components from 200GE to 1600GE.
➁ The new system addresses limitations of previous manual processes, offering automation and improved data management for network interconnect performance testing.
➂ The ITS software combined with the INPT-1600GE offers key benefits including support for high-power optical receivers, various interface configurations, and reliability testing across different speeds.
- DNA To Build 3D Electronic Devices
➀ Researchers at Columbia University have successfully used DNA to create 3D electronic devices with nanoscale precision, which could significantly enhance computing power by transitioning from 2D to 3D architectures.
➁ This bottom-up approach, based on DNA origami, allows for self-assembly of DNA strands into precise nanostructures, offering a more efficient alternative to traditional top-down etching methods.
➂ The integration of electrodes and semiconductor materials like silicon oxide and tin oxide onto DNA-assembled structures demonstrates their potential application in future microchips, potentially revolutionizing semiconductor manufacturing.
March 28
- Smallest Spy Video Streaming Camera
➀ A compact Wi-Fi-based camera project using IndusBoard Coin V2 and OV2640 camera module was introduced. It is capable of live video streaming and is suitable for home security, baby monitoring, and discreet surveillance applications.
➁ The project utilizes the Wi-Fi capabilities of IndusBoard Coin V2 to host a web server for streaming real-time video. The OV2640 camera captures images and transmits them in multiple pixel formats.
➂ The camera operates in AP mode, creating its own Wi-Fi network for portability and independence from existing networks. The Bill of Materials and circuit details are provided along with source code for implementation.
- RF CW Signal Generator Reference Design
➀ The article discusses a 9.8-GHz wideband, low phase noise, continuous wave (CW) RF signal generator reference design by Texas Instruments (TI). The design uses a programmable clock generator to reduce spurs and optimize system complexity.
➁ Key components include the LMX2592 PLL, LMK61E2 programmable reference clock, and LP38798-ADJ linear regulator. The design can be controlled via a PC or microcontroller.
➂ The reference design is suitable for applications like test and measurement, wireless communications, military and aerospace, radar detection, and microwave backhaul. It offers excellent phase noise performance and low in-band spurious levels.
- Nuclear Batteries That Last For Decades
➀ Researchers are developing nuclear batteries that could last for decades or even millennia without recharging, offering a promising alternative to lithium-ion batteries.
➁ The technology uses carbon-14, a radioactive isotope of carbon, which emits beta particles that can be safely shielded with thin materials.
➂ By enhancing the energy conversion efficiency through a titanium dioxide-based semiconductor sensitized with a ruthenium-based dye, the researchers achieved a significant increase in efficiency from 0.48% to 2.86%.
- Optoelectronics Silicon For AI Interconnect
➀ Alphawave Semi推出了针对高速互连半导体市场的最新光电子解决方案，预计到2028年市场规模将超过40亿美元。
➁ 新产品包括支持PAM4和Coherent-lite调制的数字信号处理器（DSP），以实现AI驱动的高速数据中心数据传输。
➂ 该解决方案利用了Alphawave的WidEye DSP架构和EyeQ高级诊断技术，并提供800G和1.6T的互连能力。
- DC-DC Converters For Efficient Power Delivery
➀ Vicor推出了一款新型48V至12V非隔离式DC-DC转换器，支持从10V到12.5V可调输出，适用于高功率需求（750W至2kW），具有5kW/in³的峰值功率密度。
➁ 这些模块通过提高效率、减少重量和简化设计，帮助实现从传统12V系统向48V系统的过渡。
➂ 该技术适用于高功率计算、汽车等领域，同时兼容现有12V架构，提供灵活且可扩展的解决方案。
- Industry’s First Functionally Isolated Modulators
➀ Texas Instruments (TI) has launched the industry's first functionally isolated modulators designed to enhance motor control in compact robotics.
➁ These modulators improve precision and resolution, with 12 to 14 effective number of bits (ENOB) for accurate current and voltage sensing, housed in a small leadless package.
➂ Suitable for various industries including automotive, medical, and aerospace, these modulators enable more precise and reliable operations in smaller form factors.
- Anti-Jamming Antenna For Safe Navigation
➀ Inertial Labs, a VIAVI Solutions Inc. company, has launched the M-AJ-QUATRO, an advanced anti-jamming antenna system designed to ensure Assured Positioning, Navigation, and Timing (A-PNT) in GPS/GNSS-challenged environments. This system supports military and commercial aviation applications.
➁ The M-AJ-QUATRO features adaptive digital nulling with over 34dB+ interference suppression (export-free version) and over 45dB+ suppression (export-controlled version), along with dual FPGA-based encryption and anti-spoofing technology to secure signal integrity.
➂ The antenna supports GPS, GLONASS, GALILEO, BEIDOU, and QZSS, ensuring reliable global coverage across L1, L2, and L5 GNSS bands, and is built to meet MIL-STD-810G and MIL-STD-461F standards.
March 27
- Reference Design For Transmitting SPI Signals Via LVDS
➀ This article discusses a reference design for extending SPI communication range using LVDS interface, which improves signal quality, reduces EMI, and maintains robustness against noise.
➁ The design utilizes TI's TIDA-060017 reference design, featuring LVDS driver and receiver modules, to transmit SPI signals over longer distances.
➂ The solution offers advantages such as enhanced speed, lower power consumption, and compatibility with a variety of industrial and medical applications.
- Powerful MCUs For Smart, Multi-Use AI
➀ Synaptics has introduced the SR-Series adaptive microcontrollers (MCUs) to expand its Astra AI-Native platform for Edge AI applications, offering three performance tiers: performance (100 GOPS), efficiency, and ultra-low-power always-on (AON) processing.
➁ These MCUs feature an Arm Cortex-M55 core combined with an Arm Ethos-U55 neural processing unit (NPU), along with multiple camera interfaces, secure memory, and accelerators, targeting applications such as battery-powered security cameras, sensors, and smart appliances.
➂ The SR-Series supports the Astra Machina Micro development kit and an open-source SDK, enabling developers to create context-aware cognitive IoT devices with adaptive vision, audio, and voice processing capabilities.
- Enhancing MIS With Tactile Sensing Technology
➀ Researchers at NYU Abu Dhabi have developed an innovative 'off-the-jaw' sensing system that integrates force and angle sensors into laparoscopic handles to provide real-time feedback on gripping forces, tissue thickness, and stiffness.
➁ This system enhances the safety and precision of minimally invasive surgery (MIS) by restoring tactile feedback, which is crucial for differentiating tissues and applying appropriate force.
➂ The technology has potential applications beyond laparoscopic surgery, including telemedicine, endoscopy, and robotic-assisted surgery, with early trials showing a 30% improvement in surgical task efficiency.
- Thermal Printhead For A4-Sized Mobile Printers
➀ ROHM has introduced the KA2008-B07N70A thermal printhead, designed for 2-cell Li-ion battery operation at 7.2V, suitable for A4-sized printers with a width of 210mm.
➁ Key features include optimized heating elements, reduced energy consumption by ~66% compared to 12V drive, and support for print speeds up to 100 mm/s.
➂ The thermal printhead addresses challenges in A4-sized mobile printers such as larger battery capacity needs and variations in heat distribution, ensuring high-quality prints and flexible integration options for manufacturers.
- AI Studio Improves SoC Designer Productivity By 10X
➀ Cadence has launched Conformal AI Studio, an advanced AI tool designed to tackle the challenges of increasing SoC design complexity.
➁ Key features include distributed Boolean logic equivalence checking, automated functional ECO generation, and low-power static signoff tools.
➂ Early adopters like MediaTek have reported significant improvements in productivity, including 83% smaller ECO patches and over 100X faster power-state-table analysis, demonstrating its potential for applications in AI infrastructure, hyperscalers, and mobile devices.
- Security Bug in ESP Chips! What is it? How to Handle it?
➀ A hidden feature in ESP32 microcontrollers, widely used in IoT devices, poses potential security risks including device spoofing, data theft, and malware installation.
➁ This vulnerability stems from the undocumented commands in the Bluetooth Host Controller Interface (HCI) protocol, which could allow attackers to bypass standard security checks and compromise critical systems.
➂ Recommendations to mitigate risks include auditing firmware, disabling unused Bluetooth services, ensuring secure firmware updates, and implementing strong authentication mechanisms.
March 26
- Modular Zone Controller Reference Design
➀ NXP Semiconductors推出的模块化区域控制器参考设计简化了下一代电动汽车（E/E架构）的开发，支持组件评估、优化物料清单（BOM）并加快上市时间。
➁ 该设计提供系统级性能指标，包括功耗、唤醒时间、延迟和整体性能，有助于快速评估和加速市场进入。
➂ 设计基于最新的半导体创新，集成了成本效益优化的芯片组，并且硬件可根据独特需求定制，符合汽车级设计和生产质量标准。
- Advanced Oscilloscopes For 1.6T Optical Transceiver Testing
➀ Keysight Technologies has introduced two oscilloscopes designed for testing 1.6T optical transceivers: a single optical channel DCA-M and a dual optical channel DCA-M Sampling Oscilloscope. These instruments are engineered for high optical measurement sensitivity and integrated clock recovery.
➁ The oscilloscopes feature ultra-low optical channel noise and minimal intrinsic jitter, ensuring accurate high-data-rate analysis with jitter below 90 fs. They simplify test setup and compliance assurance while optimizing production efficiency.
➂ Keysight's advanced oscilloscopes support high-speed optical signal analysis and are expected to accelerate AI-driven data center innovations by providing precise measurements for 1.6T transceivers.
- Shape-Changing OLED Panel That Works As A Speaker
➀ Researchers from POSTECH have developed the world's first smartphone-sized OLED panel that can change shape and function as a speaker without mechanical parts, offering new possibilities for smartphones, cars, and wearables.
➁ The technology integrates an ultra-thin piezoelectric polymer actuator with a flexible OLED panel, enabling both shape transformation and sound production through electrical signals, eliminating the need for mechanical hinges or external speaker modules.
➂ The innovation demonstrates stable shape transformations and clear sound production on a smartphone-sized OLED panel, paving the way for next-generation smart displays with integrated audio capabilities.
- 3D-Printed Robots That Walk Without Electronics
➀ Researchers at UC San Diego's Bioinspired Robotics Lab have developed 3D-printed robots capable of walking without electronics, powered by compressed gas.
➁ These robots are designed to operate in extreme environments like high radiation zones, disaster areas, and space missions, showcasing continuous operation for three days when connected to a gas supply.
➂ The robots feature a monolithic design printed in one piece using flexible materials, with future plans to integrate gas storage and biodegradable components for enhanced functionality.
- Automotive Power-Over-Coax Inductors
➀ TDK has expanded its ADL3225VF series of wire-wound inductors for automotive power-over-coax (PoC) applications, supporting up to 1600 mA. These inductors are designed to simplify traditional automotive camera setups by using a single coaxial cable for both power and data transmission, reducing cabling and improving fuel efficiency.
➁ The new series reduces the mounting area by about 45% compared to the conventional ADL3225VM-2R2M while increasing the rated current by approximately 20%. This improvement is achieved through proprietary materials and structural design enhancements.
➂ Key features include compatibility with high currents, ensuring high impedance over a wide frequency range, and suitability for high-temperature environments, with an operating range of -55°C to +155°C.
March 25
- Reference Design For Drone Electronic Speed Controllers
➀ The article discusses a reference design for drone electronic speed controllers (ESCs), focusing on the STEVAL-ESC001V1 by ST Microelectronics, designed specifically for entry-level commercial drones.
➁ The design supports three-phase brushless (BLDC) and permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSM), with a peak current handling capacity of up to 30A, powered by 6S LiPo batteries or similar DC sources.
➂ Key features include an advanced sensorless field-oriented control (FOC) algorithm, support for motor parameter optimization via the ST Motor Profiler, and integrated safety features like overcurrent and overvoltage protection, making it suitable for small UAVs and RC vehicles.
- Artificial Nerve With Transistors For Brain-Machine Links
➀ Researchers from Xi’an Jiaotong University and Technical University of Munich have developed a high-frequency artificial nerve using homogeneously integrated organic electrochemical transistors.
➁ This nerve-inspired device improves ion and electron transport, mimicking human nerve behavior for quick signal responses and long-term charge retention.
➂ The artificial nerve, when tested in mice with impaired neural functions, showed biocompatibility and successfully simulated conditioned nerve reflexes, suggesting potential applications in prosthetics, brain-computer interfaces, and more.