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July 21
- Ed The Blackmailer
➀ Ed proposes a plan to address migration by creating a public register exposing governance failures and corruption in migrants' home countries;
➁ The initiative aims to pressure elites by shaming them globally, while anticipating bribes to suppress damaging information;
➂ Ed envisions leveraging the registry for personal profit through blackmail, positioning himself as a 'blackmailer supreme'.
July 18
- Modular programmable power supply tests PV inverters
➀ Action Power launched Helion, a modular AC/DC power supply and load system designed for testing photovoltaic micro-inverters;
➁ The system supports up to six configurable modules, enabling flexible simulation of solar panel inputs and grid-side conditions;
➂ Complies with UL1741SA and IEEE1547 standards, offers multiple communication interfaces, and is developed by a Xi’an-based company with 29 years of experience.
- Synopsys finalises Ansys acquisition
➀ Synopsys finalized its $35 billion acquisition of Ansys, integrating Ansys' predictive simulation tools with its AI-driven design solutions to address growing systemic complexity in electronics design;
➀ The merger aims to deliver holistic "silicon to systems" innovation, with the first integrated multiphysics EDA capabilities planned for H1 2026, targeting sectors like automotive through advanced testing/virtualization tools;
➂ Ansys executives Ajei Gopal and Ravi Vijayaraghavan joined Synopsys' board immediately following the deal, which received conditional approval from Chinese regulators.
- Microchip and Delta team up for SiC power supply design
➀ Microchip Technology and Delta Electronics announced a collaboration to design silicon carbide (SiC)-based power supplies;
➁ SiC's wide-bandgap properties enable smaller, more efficient power solutions for high-voltage and high-power applications;
➂ Microchip emphasized SiC's growing importance, with its VP noting the material's role in advancing power supply performance.
- Varda Space raises $187m to make medicines in space
➀ Varda Space Industries raised $187 million in Series C funding, bringing total funding to $329 million, to advance microgravity-enabled pharmaceutical manufacturing in space;
➁ The company focuses on crystallizing biologics like monoclonal antibodies (a $210 billion market) using orbital labs and reusable W-Series spacecraft, while expanding its lab infrastructure;
➂ Varda also operates a hypersonic testbed for government partners, leveraging reentry capsules at Mach 25 to advance thermal materials and navigation technologies.
July 17
- ADI eases AI-at-the-edge for Cortex-M4
➀ Analog Devices (ADI) collaborates with Antmicro to enable AI-at-the-edge deployment on its Cortex-M4 microcontrollers (MAX78002 and MAX32690) using the Kenning ML library and a Visual Studio Code plug-in;
➁ The "AutoML for Embedded" tool integrates with ADI’s CodeFusion Studio IDE, offering automatic model selection, optimization, and simulation via Renode and Zephyr RTOS;
➂ Applications include anomaly detection, image classification, predictive maintenance, and real-time action recognition, with models deployable on hardware or digital twins.
- Fable: A Profitable Idea
➀ A chip introduced in 1985 pioneered a new semiconductor category;
➁ Invented by a Zilog engineer through moonlighting at LSI Logic, leading to a startup's founding;
➂ The product's market surged to $12 billion, and the company was acquired for $50 billion—the largest semiconductor acquisition at the time.
- Astute tackles supply chain with Winslow Adaptics signing
➀ Astute Group partners with UK-based Winslow Adaptics to tackle supply chain disruptions and long-term obsolescence in electronics;
➁ Winslow Adaptics provides custom adapters, interposers, and legacy system solutions for sectors like defense, aerospace, and automotive;
➂ The collaboration enhances access to engineering expertise, offering alternatives for obsolete components in high-reliability industries.
- Lloyd succeeds Balakrishnan as CEO of Power Integrations
➀ Jennifer Lloyd, former Analog Devices executive, will replace Balu Balakrishnan as CEO of Power Integrations after his 23-year tenure;
➁ Lloyd highlighted the company's potential in automotive, data centers, renewable energy, and grid modernization, leveraging its high-voltage semiconductor expertise;
➂ Balakrishnan will transition to executive chairman for six months and remain on the board, praising Lloyd's product innovation and technical leadership.
- What caught your eye? (Synopsys, AI datacentres, Sodium-ion battery, Deep Space)
➀ Synopsys' $35 billion acquisition of Ansys gains conditional approval from China’s regulator, advancing the major semiconductor industry deal;
➁ The interface IP market experiences rapid growth driven by AI datacenter demands, highlighting technology trends in high-performance computing;
➂ European Space Agency establishes its first optical communication link with a deep-space spacecraft (NASA’s Psyche), achieving a milestone in space communication technology.
- TSMC Q2 profit up 60% y-o-y
➀ TSMC's Q2 2025 profit surged 60.7% YoY to $12.8 billion, with revenue rising 44.4% YoY and 17.8% QoQ to $30 billion;
➁ Gross margin reached 58.6%, while 3nm/5nm/7nm technologies contributed 74% of total wafer revenue, dominated by 3nm (24%) and 5nm (36%) nodes;
➂ Advanced nodes (7nm and below) maintained strong adoption, reflecting TSMC's leadership in cutting-edge semiconductor manufacturing.
- ASML expects 15% increase in sales this year; uncertain about 2026
➀ ASML reported Q2 2025 net sales of €7.7B, a gross margin of 53.7%, and net income of €2.3B, exceeding guidance expectations;
➁ The company highlighted progress in EUV lithography, including the first shipment of the TWINSCAN EXE:5200B system and strong DRAM-driven litho intensity;
➂ While forecasting a 15% sales increase for 2025, ASML expressed uncertainty about 2026 due to macroeconomic and geopolitical challenges, despite strong AI customer demand.
- MV Sycamore trials Q-CTRL quantum sensing
➀ Q-CTRL collaborated with Australian Defence on quantum-assured navigation trials aboard MV Sycamore, deploying a dual gravimeter to enable GPS-free positioning through Earth's gravity variations;
➁ The sensor operated autonomously for 144 hours with minimal power (180W), overcoming ship vibrations via software-ruggedization, setting a SWaP efficiency record;
➂ These trials address critical GPS denial vulnerabilities in defense and maritime safety, with quantum sensing poised to transform navigation in contested environments.
- TVS diodes claim to cut clamping voltage by up to 15%
➀ Littelfuse launched 5.0SMDJ-FB TVS diode series with foldback technology, reducing clamping voltage by up to 15% to protect sensitive DC power lines;
➁ Designed for data centers, AI servers, and industrial systems, it maintains power stability while handling 5000W peak pulse power;
➂ Features drop-in compatibility with legacy models and supports PoE, ICT equipment, and next-gen DC/DC converters.
July 16
- A solid step forward for sodium-ion batteries
➀ Researchers at Tokyo University of Science discovered copper doping effectively eliminates stacking faults in β-NaMnO2, addressing capacity degradation in sodium-ion batteries;
➁ Doping with 12% copper achieved negligible stacking faults and zero capacity loss over 150 charge cycles, demonstrating unprecedented stability;
➂ The study enabled deeper analysis of the material’s ion-insertion mechanics, confirming manganese oxides as a viable foundation for durable Na-ion battery development.
- Microsoft Salaries
➀ Microsoft's salary ranges for various roles in Q1 2025, based on 5,400 job applications, reveal competitive pay tiers;
➁ Top-paying positions include Software Engineers (up to $284k), Data Science ($274.5k max), and Cloud Network Engineering roles;
➂ Microsoft declined to comment on the leaked data, which spans roles from Electrical Engineering to Financial Analysis.
- RANsemi launches baseband board to accelerate O-RAN development
➀ RANsemi launched the RNS805-RU-BB baseband board to simplify 5G/4G Open RAN Radio Unit (O-RU) development, supporting Split 7.2 architectures and all 5G FR1 bands from 600 MHz to 6 GHz;
➁ The board integrates RANsemi's O-RU SoC with Texas Instruments' AFE7769D RF transceiver, offering flexible deployment for multi-band scenarios and addressing power amplifier linearization challenges through digital predistortion;
➂ It provides a complete software suite for 5G/LTE radio units, supports eCPRI fronthaul, and is available for testing and commercial use to accelerate real-world O-RAN integration.
- New architecture for AI datacentres proposed
➀ Panmnesia proposes a CXL-over-Xlink datacenter architecture combining GPU-optimized interconnects with CXL memory sharing, achieving 5.3x faster AI training and 6x lower inference latency versus PCIe/RDMA systems;
➁ Key enhancements include independent compute/memory scaling, dynamic resource pooling, hierarchical memory integration (HBM+CXL), and cascading CXL 3.1 switches for scalable low-latency fabrics;
➂ The architecture reduces communication overhead through accelerator-optimized links (sub-100ns latency) and enables petabyte-scale memory access for AI workloads, addressing bottlenecks in traditional GPU clusters.
- Arm licenses Siemens Veloce verification software for Neoverse
➀ Arm licenses Siemens' Veloce verification software to enhance its Neoverse Compute Subsystems;
➁ Veloce system offers modular, datacenter-compatible configurations and scalable emulation from 40 million to 40 billion gates;
➂ Veloce PCIe composite device technology integrates ACS, PCIe, and NVMe for streamlined IP verification and debugging.
- Off-the-Shelf Diffractive HOLO/OR Diffusers and Beamsplitters
➀ Edmund Optics offers off-the-shelf HOLO/OR Diffractive Diffusers and Beamsplitters for high-power laser systems, enabling precise beam shaping with high damage thresholds and uniform intensity distribution;
➁ The diffusers are optimal for applications like laser welding and medical treatment, while beamsplitters create uniform spot arrays for 3D sensing and industrial processes, supporting Nd:YAG and CO₂ wavelengths;
➂ With a Marketplace of 34,000+ products and Advanced Manufacturing division, Edmund Optics provides both ready-to-ship components and custom optical solutions, serving industries such as semiconductors, biomedical, and R&D.
July 15
- Licensing Nvidia GPU Designs
➀ Intel's x86 architecture and Arm's licensing model shaped industry dynamics, with Arm preventing monopoly exploitation by allowing open access to its designs;
➁ NVIDIA's CEO Jensen Huang advocates for U.S. tech standards (e.g., GPUs) to dominate globally, leveraging U.S. policy support to resume GPU sales to China and the UAE;
➂ Critics argue NVIDIA's approach is self-serving, contrasting with Arm's inclusive model, as the company resists licensing its GPU designs to maintain control over standards.
- JS Foundry files for bankruptcy
➀ Japanese foundry JS Foundry filed for bankruptcy due to failed SiC technology partnerships and financial struggles, with revenues plunging from $68 million (2023) to $17.6 million (2024) and debts of $110 million;
➁ The state-backed company, operating a 41-year-old Niigata fab, faced market pressures from slow EV sales and intense Chinese competition, mirroring challenges seen in Wolfspeed's bankruptcy and Renesas' halted SiC production plans;
➂ JS Foundry's collapse highlights ongoing turbulence in the power semiconductor sector, exacerbated by shifting demand and geopolitical manufacturing dynamics.
- EU VC deals drop for fourth year in a row
➀ European VC deals declined for the fourth consecutive year, with H1 2025 seeing a 6.2% drop in value and 3.7% fewer deals;
➁ AI-related startups were a rare bright spot, accounting for over a third of all VC investment, with €10.1 billion deployed in H1;
➂ Exit activity and fundraising remained sluggish due to US tariff policy volatility, resulting in limited dry powder and suppressed market recovery prospects.
- Q2 smartphone sales up 1%
➀ Q2 smartphone sales rose 1% YoY to 295.2 million units, amid challenges like economic uncertainty, inflation, and geopolitical factors;
➁ Samsung led with 19.7% market share (7.9% growth), driven by new Galaxy models, while Apple and Xiaomi saw modest gains;
➂ Low-end Android segment declined due to price sensitivity, dragging down overall market expansion.
- ASD-Eurospace sizes European space industry
➀ ASD-Eurospace’s 2025 report reveals a 3.3% growth in European space industry revenues (€8.8B) and 4% employment increase (66K jobs), alongside a surge in startups;
➁ Despite growth, productivity and profits are declining, with sector overcapacity risks and low commercial demand (relies heavily on institutional funding);
➂ Government funding dominates space segments (human spaceflight, Earth observation) while civil communications lead commercial areas, but ‘New Space’ potential remains unfulfilled.
- NEW: Silicon Transistors
➀ The article highlights a 1960 Electronics Weekly advertisement celebrating the emergence of silicon transistors;
➁ It marks the 65th anniversary of this milestone in semiconductor technology development;
➂ The content reflects on historical advancements through the blog's "Memory Lane" series.
- Bath University students become drone world champions
➀ Students from the University of Bath won the drone world championship by designing, building, and flying their own drone;
➁ They narrowly defeated Beihang University (China), the reigning champions, in the competition;
➂ The event also included participation from the Politecnico di Milano (Italy).
July 14
- Fortec Elektronik to buy professional monitor maker Nottrot
➀ Fortec Elektronik signed a contract to acquire Dutch professional monitor manufacturer Nottrot for a single-digit million euro sum;
➁ Nottrot specializes in maritime, military, and industrial monitors, reporting €3.2M revenue and €800k EBIT in 2024 with a team of 8;
➂ The acquisition strengthens Fortec's data visualization solutions in maritime and defense markets, funded through existing cash reserves as part of succession planning.
- What if people stop wanting to pay for AI services?
➀ Sam Altman highlights the existential risk to AI development if users stop paying for AI services, despite ongoing massive investments in datacenters like the $500B Stargate project;
➁ Current AI models rely heavily on subscription fees and API usage, but many providers operate at a loss due to high operational costs;
➂ The industry's sustainability depends on external investments from entities like Saudi Arabia and the UAE to keep infrastructure afloat amid uncertain consumer demand.
- Interstellar raises $61.8m Series F for ZERO rocket
➀ Interstellar Technologies raised $61.8 million in Series F funding from investors including Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp., SPARX, and Japanet Holdings;
➁ Funds will accelerate production of its ZERO orbital rocket and satellite communications, aligning with Japan's space infrastructure goals for autonomous driving and smart logistics;
➂ The company aims to replicate SpaceX's vertically integrated model, advancing both launch vehicles and satellite networks under Japan's SBIR program.