When Silicon Labs launched their wireless Gecko system-on-chip (SoC) last February, the silicon and software provider promised further expansion of the portfolio with improvement in key specs and additional functionality such as an optimized software stack architecture that enables more efficient multiprotocol switching between protocols such as zigbee and Thread mesh networking, Bluetooth 4.2 and 5 standards, and proprietary wireless […]
Consumer Electronics
Nintendo Switch will carry several STM chips
STMicroelectronics today announced that its advanced semiconductor solutions, including motion sensors, touch-screen controller IC, STM32 microcontrollers, and NFC controller IC, have been selected for Nintendo Switch™ system, Nintendo’s latest innovative gaming device. Nintendo Switch is a home gaming console that can be played anywhere, and consists of a console, two Joy-Con™detachable controllers, Joy-Con charging grip […]
Teardown: The Garmin Forerunner 220 sport watch and heart monitor
Chest-mounted electronics do a more accurate job of counting heart beats than do optical sensors on the wrist. That’s one of the conclusions to come out of a close look at this sport watch aimed at runners. Leland Teschler Executive Editor A sport watch from Garmin called the Forerunner 220 is basically a runner’s watch […]
Eight-bit processors feature core-independent perhipherals
The PIC18F “K42” family, which combines an extensive array of Core Independent Peripherals (CIPs), high-resolution analog, on-chip Direct Memory Access (DMA) and vectored interrupts for fast processing, is now available from Microchip Technology Inc., a leading provider of microcontroller, mixed-signal, analog and Flash-IP solutions. The DMA controller enables data transfers between memory space and peripherals without Core Processing […]
Flash memory controller targets mobile phone use
Silicon Motion Technology Corporation announced the launch of its new UFS (Universal Flash Storage) 2.1 controller family, a complete product line supporting UFS HS-Gear3x1L and HS-Gear3x2L, enabling high-performance, high capacity and low power embedded memory for mobile phones. Designed with Silicon Motion’s proprietary MIPI M-PHY, low-power architecture and advanced LDPC (Low Density Parity Check) ECC […]
Miniaturized LC filters suppress EMI in smartphones, base stations
TDK Corporation presents the MEM1005PP251T – a new LC filter for EMI suppression. With dimensions of just 1.0 x 0.5 x 0.35 mm the filters are ideally suited for use in smart phones and base stations. Volume production began in March 2017. The usual method for suppressing interference in the communication frequency bands of smart […]
Diodes protect high-speed HDMI, USB lines from static discharge
Littelfuse, Inc. introduced a series of TVS Diode Arrays (SPA Diodes) designed to protect electronic equipment from destructive electrostatic discharges (ESD). SP3042 Series Bidirectional Discrete TVS Diode Arrays include robust back-to-back TVS diodes fabricated using a proprietary silicon avalanche technology that can safely absorb repetitive ESD strikes up to the maximum level specified in the IEC […]
SoC for smart phones includes 10 ARM cores, GPU, LTE modem, hardware-based 4K2K 10-bit HDR10 video decoding
Inc. announced the commercial availability of its MediaTek Helio X30 system-on-chip (SoC), the most powerful addition to the Helio family for today’s high-end smartphones. MediaTek Helio X30 is entering mass production and gaining accolades with design wins. Smartphones powered by this flagship chipset will be available in Q2 2017. The MediaTek Helio X30 brings together MediaTek’s 10-core, […]
Dual-camera zoom reference design for mobile devices
OmniVision Technologies, Inc announced its collaboration with dual-camera technology pioneer Corephotonics in producing a new dual-camera zoom reference design for mobile devices. Combining OmniVision’s OV12A10 and OV13880 image sensors with Corephotonics’ proprietary zoom and Bokeh algorithms, the reference design brings best-in-class optical zoom capabilities commonly found in DSCs and DSLRs to smartphone camera applications. The […]
RF front-ends for mobile apps includes GaAs power amps
Qualcomm Incorporated announced that its subsidiary, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. (QTI), is introducing a suite of comprehensive RF front-end (RFFE) solutions, making it the first mobile technology provider to develop and commercialize a comprehensive platform spanning from the digital modem to the antenna port. The latest additions to the Qualcomm® RF360™ family of RFFE products are […]