Texas Instruments introduced the world’s smallest MCU, expanding its comprehensive Arm Cortex-M0+ MSPM0 MCU portfolio. Measuring only 1.38mm2, about the size of a black pepper flake, the wafer chip-scale package (WCSP) for the MSPM0C1104 MCU enables designers to optimize board space in applications such as medical wearables and personal electronics, without compromising performance. With over […]
texasinstruments
Teardown: AMD Radeon HD 7970 graphics card
Identifying the components reveals clues as to how a graphics card works, assuming you can read the identifying marks and find documentation. Wandering through an electronics swapfest, I found someone selling a graphics card and wondered what was inside. I bought it for $20, opened the case, and looked up the architecture and components. Released […]
IoT: Microcontrollers and sensors must work as a team
Get an understanding of how to select sensors and microcontrollers for your IoT product, with an emphasis on circuit design to optimize performance. Sensors in IoT devices collect data from the environment, after which the data can be processed and analyzed to make intelligent decisions. The quality of your sensors and how well you integrate […]
What are top applications of CAN protocol?
The CAN (controller area network) protocol was developed by the European automotive electronics company Robert Bosch GmbH in 1983 for in-vehicle networks. The intention behind the development of the CAN protocol was to enable robust data communication between different electronic control units (ECU) and microcontroller control units (MCU) of a vehicle on a single wire […]
New SimpleLink family of Wi-Fi 6 companion integrated circuits
Texas Instruments introduced a new SimpleLink™ family of Wi-Fi 6 companion integrated circuits (ICs) to help designers implement highly reliable, secure, and efficient Wi-Fi connections at an affordable price for applications that operate in high-density or high-temperature environments up to 105ºC. The first products in TI’s new CC33xx family include devices for Wi-Fi 6 only […]
Teardown: Amazon 4th generation Echo Dot
One of the latest incarnations of the Echo Dot boasts premium sound and an ability to pair up with Fire TV devices for a home theater audio experience. Construction-wise, there are usually a few changes from one generation of Echo devices to the next, and sometimes between early and later models of the same generation. […]
Evolving radar technology in ADAS
Lidar may become unnecessary for future autonomous vehicles thanks to advances in highly integrated RF chips. Prajakta Desai, Texas Instruments Over the years, the application of radar within the automotive industry has improved both safety and convenience. Radar can work in extreme environmental conditions such as rain, snow, dust and bright sunlight and also provide […]
BLE MCUs target economical applications
Texas Instruments expanded its connectivity portfolio with a new family of wireless microcontrollers (MCU) that enable high-quality Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) at half the price of competing devices. Featuring best-in-class standby current and radio-frequency (RF) performance, the SimpleLink Bluetooth LE CC2340 family is built on the foundation of TI’s decades of wireless connectivity expertise. Pricing […]
Vehicles move into the software realm
New processors have been developed with vehicle safety and connectivity in mind. David Maples, Texas Instruments The trend towards autonomous driving, electrification and connectivity to the cloud is making software a priority. That’s why automotive designers are reworking the architecture of modern-day vehicles and migrating toward a software-defined car. Many systems within cars today are […]
Teardown: Cisco Explorer 8642HDC high-definition DVR with multi-stream cableCARD interface
The Covid-19 pandemic has forced many people to spend more time in front of a TV set. Here’s a look at what’s inside the cable box responsible for a large portion of home entertainment. Examine the hook-up for many cable TV customers and you’ll likely find something like the Cisco Explorer 8642HDC DVR. This set-top […]
