The optimization of microcontrollers (MCUs) in power-sensitive applications such as wireless sensor nodes and wearables is all about maximizing power management effectiveness. To minimize power consumption, low-power MCUs typically operate at frequencies below 50 MHz, compared with hundreds of MHz or even 1+ GHz for conventional MCUs. These power-optimized MCUs also use low-power peripherals; they […]
Wearables
ultra-low power MCUs optimized for space-constrained IoT applications
Renesas Electronics Corporation introduced a new Group within its 32-bit RA Family of microcontrollers (MCUs). The RA2E2 Group, based on the latest Arm Cortex-M23 core, offers a unique combination of extremely low power consumption, a set of excellent peripherals targeted at IoT endpoint applications, and space-saving packaging options including a tiny 16-pin WLCSP (Wafer Level […]
MEMs oscillator targets power and space-constrained applications
SiTime Corporation introduced the SiT3901 µPower digitally controlled MEMS oscillator (DCXO) targeting power-sensitive and space-constrained mobile and IoT applications. The SiT3901 improves wireless charging speed by up to 25% while reducing the overall timing solution area by up to 90%. The MEMS oscillator is ideal for wireless charging systems for smartwatches, activity trackers, hearing aids, […]
Updated MIPI I3C basic simplifies designs, boosts speed
The MIPI Alliance announced the first update to its publicly available, royalty-free, MIPI I3C Basic specification. Version 1.1.1 dramatically enhances the speed and flexibility of I3C Basic, simplifying the development of innovative designs for products such as smartphones, wearables, and systems in automobiles and server environments. As the successor to the legacy I2C interface, MIPI I3C/I3C Basic provides a […]
Cryptographic controller targets low-power-use applications
Analog Devices, Inc. unveiled the ultra-low-power MAXQ1065 cryptographic controller featuring its proprietary ChipDNA physically unclonable functionality (PUF) technology, which offers the strongest protection for edge-to-cloud Internet of Things (IoT) nodes, including medical and wearable devices, against invasive security attacks. The security co-processor provides 30x lower power when compared to similar products and its extended lifetime and […]
Industrial CMOS vision sensors carry 2 MP, 1.5 MP resolution
Teledyne e2v has introduced its Topaz series of industrial CMOS sensors with new 2MP and 1.5MP resolution devices. These new 1920 x 1080 and 1920 x 800-pixel format sensors use state-of-the-art low noise, global-shutter pixel technology to offer powerful solutions and enable compact mobile designs for many applications. Housed in a tiny 4.45 mm wide Chip […]
Thin-film common-mode filters for mobile devices
TDK Corporation has developed the TCM0403M Series of miniaturized thin-film common-mode filters for mobile devices. The 0403 case size (0.45 x 0.3 x 0.23 mm) is 58 % smaller and 56 % lighter than previous products. With their high common-mode attenuation characteristic, these products reduce intruding noise and improve wireless signal reception sensitivity. The common-mode […]
hand-held camera cube reference design enables AI at the edge
Maxim Integrated Products, Inc. unveiled the MAXREFDES178#camera cube reference design, which demonstrates how Artificial intelligence (AI) applications previously limited to machines with large power and cost budgets can be embedded in space-constrained, battery-powered edge devices. The MAXREFDES178# enables ultra-low-power internet of things (IoT) devices to implement hearing and vision and showcases the MAX78000 low-power microcontroller with neural […]
Air quality gas sensor module enables ultra-low power ozone measurements
Ozone gas is a significant cause of poor outdoor air quality that poses health risks. The enhanced ZMOD4510 is the industry’s first fully calibrated, miniature digital Outdoor Air Quality sensor solution with selective ozone measurement capabilities, offering visibility into the air quality in users’ immediate environments for a personalized experience. The ZMOD4510’s ability to quantify […]
SoC/RAM combo targets IoT hi-rez display apps
Winbond Electronics Corporation announced a collaboration to combine HyperRAM and Apollo4 to deliver ultra-low-power system solutions for IoT endpoints and wearables. Several customers are in design with Ambiq’s Apollo4 SoC and Winbond 256Mbx8 HyperRAM Hybrid Sleep Mode (HSM), with volume production expected in 2022. HSM power consumption is about 50% if comparing to normal standby […]
