PWM to Voltage Converter – PWM to Voltage Output DAC

The project presented here is a dual 12-bit PWM-to-voltage output DAC with high accuracy. The board is based on the LTC2644 chip. The LTC2644 measures the period and pulse width of the PWM input signals and updates the voltage output DACs after each corresponding PWM input rising edge. The DAC outputs update and settle to 12-bit accuracy within 8μs typically and are capable of sourcing and sinking up to 5mA (3V) or 10mA (5V), eliminating voltage ripple and replacing slow analog filters and buffer amplifiers. The circuit has a full-scale output of 2.5V using the 10ppm/°C internal reference. It can operate with an external reference, which sets the full-scale output equal to the external reference voltage. Each DAC enters a pin-selectable idle state when the PWM input is held unchanged for more than 60ms. The project operates from a single 2.7V to 5.5V supply and supports PWM input voltages from 1.71V to 5.5V. The PWM frequency can be any frequency between 30Hz and 6. 25kHz. The input level can be between 1.71V and 5.5V, set by a separate IOVCC pin. This project solves many problems associated with filtering a PWM signal to produce an analog voltage, producing a fast-settling, accurate analog voltage in response to a digital PWM input.

Features

  • Supply 5V (Range 2.7V to 5.5V)
  • Current Consumption approx. 15mA
  • Input PWM Signal Level Can be Between 1.71V and 5.5V
  • 2 Channel Input and Output
  • Input PWM Frequency 30Hz to 6.25Khz
  • Output 0 to 2.5V (0 to 99% Duty Cycle)
  • On Board Power LED
  • Header Connector for Inputs and Outputs
  • Jumper For Power Down
  • Jumper for Internal Reference or External Reference
  • Jumper for Idle Mode
  • Jumper for IOVC
  • PCB Dimensions 31.43 x 22.86 mm

Standalone Operation

For standalone operation. Connect a 2.7V to 5.5V supply to the VCC and a GND of CN1 Pin 1 and Pin 4. Connect the IOVCC(IOV) to VCC using Jumper J2 such that the input logic level matches the VCC supply. If a different logic level is required, remove the IOVCC(IOV) jumper and connect the middle pin2 of J2 to a supply equal to the PWM signals’ logic level to the IOVCC(IOV) and GND. There is no sequencing requirement between VCC and IOVCC. Any convenient PWM source can be used to convert the PWM signal into a voltage output.

Jumpers Settings

  • Jumper J1 (Idle Mode Select Input): Connecting this jumper to VCC or GND determines the DAC behavior when the PWM input remains high or low for more than the Idle Mode Timeout time (50ms minimum, 70ms maximum). When set to VCC (High), a low level on a PWM input will set the DAC output to a high impedance state. A high level will cause the DAC output to hold its last value. When set to GND (Low), a low level on a PWM input will set the DAC output to zero-scale, and a high level will set the DAC output to full scale.
  • Jumper J2: For normal operation Connect the IOVCC(IOV) to VCC using Jumper J2 such that the input logic level matches the VCC supply. If a different logic level is required, remove the IOVCC(IOV) jumper and connect the middle pin2 of J2 to a supply equal to the PWM signals’ logic level to the IOVCC(IOV) and GND.
  • Jumper J3: Set to GND (default) to use the internal reference. Set to EXT to supply an external reference to the REF CN2 Pin 2.
  • Jumper 4: Connect it to VCC for normal Operation, GND Power-Down.

REF: Reference Output/Input. When the REFSEL jumper is set to INT, the LTC2645’s internal reference can be measured at this point. Nominal impedance is 500Ω. If it is used to drive external circuits it must be buffered appropriately. When REFSEL is set to EXT using Jumper J3, an external reference between 1V and VCC may be connected to this point

LTC2644-L12: Supports Frequency up to 6.25Khz, for higher frequency select below chips.  

  • LTC2644-L12 Chip Supports 12Bit resolution, 30Hz to 6.25Khz input
  • LTC2644-L10 Chip Supports 10Bit resolution, 30Hz to 25Khz input
  • LTC2644-L8 Chip Supports 8 Bit resolution, 30Hz to 100Khz input

Connections and other details

  • CN1: Pin 1 = VCC 5V DC, Pin 2 = Vout Channel A, Pin 3 = Vout Channel B , Pin 4 = GND
  • CN2: Pin 1 = VCC 5V DC, Pin 2 = External Reference Optional, Pin 3 = PWM Input Channel A, Pin 4 = PWM Input Channel B
  • Jumper 1 = IDLE Setting High/Low
  • Jumper 2 = VCC for Standalone Operations Internal VCC
  • Jumper 3 = Internal Reference or External Reference Selection, Connect it GND for Normal Operation
  • Jumper 4 = Power Down, Connect it to VCC for Normal Operation, GND = Power Dow
  • D1 Power LED
  • CN3, R3, R4, R5, R6, C7, C8: Optional, can be used for output filter for smooth Output

Schematic

Parts List

NO.QNTY.DESC.REF.MANUFACTURERSUPPLIERSUPPLIER PART NO
11CN14 PIN MALE HEADER PITCH 2.54MMWURTHDIGIKEY732-5317-ND
21CN25 PIN MALE HEADER PITCH 2.54MMWURTHDIGIKEY732-5318-ND
38R3,CN3,R4,R5,R6,C6,C7,C8DNP
41C110uF/10V CERAMIC SMD SIZE 0805YAGEO/MUARATADIGIKEY
52C2,C4100nF/25V CERAMIC SMD SIZE 0805YAGEO/MUARATADIGIKEY
61C310uF/10V CERAMIC SMD SIZE 0805YAGEO/MUARATADIGIKEY
71D1LED RED SMD SIZE 0805OSRAMDIGIKEY475-1278-1-ND
84J1,J2,J3,J4JUMPER/3PIN MALE HEADER PITCH 2.54MMWURTHDIGIKEY732-5316-ND
91R11K 5% SMD SIZE 0805YAGEO/MUARATADIGIKEY
101R210K 5% SMD SIZE 0805YAGEO/MUARATADIGIKEY
111U1LTC2644CMS-L12#PBTANALOGDIGIKEY505-LTC2644CMS-L12#PBF-ND
123SHUNTSHUNT FOR JUMPERSULINS CONNECTDIGIKEYS9001-ND

Connections

Gerber View

Photos

Video



LTC2644 Datasheet

Dual 2A Power Amplifier Module for TEC

This Dual 2A Power Amplifier module is a low-cost operational amplifier designed for driving a wide variety of loads while operating on low-voltage supplies. The dual amplifier can drive high output loads with a current of up to 2A. This Dual 2A Power Amplifier has been designed as a TEC (thermoelectric cooler) driver but it can also be used for other applications such as valve driver, servo driver, transducer excitation, linear power booster, laser diode pump driver, and TEC driver. Please refer to the datasheet of OPA569 for more info. A complete temperature control loop can be created using this board and additional PID (proportional, integral, differential) control circuits and temperature amplifier modules such as the INA330. The module also can be controlled using analog voltage or DAC.

Features

  • Power Supply Input: 2.7V to 5.5V
  • Load Current: 2A
  • Output Swing: 150mV of Rails with IO =2A
  • Thermal Protection
  • Adjustable Current Limit
  • Two Flags: Current Limit and Temperature Warning
  • Shutdown Function
  • PCB Dimensions 54.77 x 31.91mm
  • PCB Mounting: 2.5mm x 4 Holes

Applications

  • Thermoelectric Cooler Driver
  • Laser Diode Pump Driver
  • Valve, Actuator Driver
  • Synchro, Servo Driver
  • Transducer Excitation
  • General Linear Power Booster For Op Amps
  • Paralleling Option For Higher Current Applications

The OPA569 is a low-cost, high-current, operational amplifier designed for driving a wide variety of loads while operating on low-voltage supplies. It operates from either single or dual supplies for design flexibility and has rail-to-rail swing on the input and output. Typical output swing is within 150mV of the supply rails, with output current of 2A. Output swing closer to the rails is achievable with lighter loads. The OPA569 is unity gain stable, has low dc errors, is easy to use, and free from the phase inversion problems found in some power amplifiers. High performance is maintained at voltage swings near the output rails.

The OPA569 provides an accurate user-selected current limit that is set with an external resistor, or digitally adjusted via a Digital-to-Analog Converter. The OPA569 output can be independently disabled using the Enable pin, saving power and protecting the load. The IMONITOR pin provides a 1:475 bidirectional copy of the output current. This eliminates the need for a series current shunt resistor, allowing more voltage to be applied to the load. This pin can be used for simple monitoring, or feedback control to establish constant output current. Two flags are provided: one for warning of thermal over-stress, and one for current limit condition. The Thermal Flag pin can be connected to the Enable pin to provide a thermal shutdown solution.

Connections and Other Details

  • CN1: Pin 1 = VCC, Pin 2 = Current Limit Flag 1, Pin 3 = +IN 1 Op-Amp, Pin 4 = Thermal Flag 1, Pin 5 = Enable 1, Pin 6 = GND
  • CN2: Pin 1 = VCC, Pin 2 = Current Limit Flag 2, Pin 3 = +IN 2 Op-Amp, Pin 4 = Thermal Flag 2, Pin 5 = Enable 2, Pin 6 = GND
  • CN3: Pin 1 = VCC, Pin 2 = GND
  • CN4: Pin 1 = Current Monitor 1, Pin 2 = GND
  • CN5: Pin 1 = Current Monitor 2, Pin 2 = GND
  • CN6: Pin 1 = VCC, Pin 2 = N2 -IN 2 Op-Amp, Pin 3 = N1 -IN 1 Op-Amp
  • D1: Power LED
  • U3: Pin 1 = -TEC, Pin 2 = +TEC

Schematic

Parts List

NOQNTYREFDESCMANUFACTURERSUPPLIERSUPPLIER'S PART NO
12CN1,CN26 PIN MALE HEADER PITCH 2.54MMWURTH732-5319-ND
21CN32 PIN SCREW TERMINAL PITCH 5.08MMPHOENIX277-1247-ND
32CN4,CN52 PIN MALE HEADER PITCH 2.54MMWURTH732-5315-ND
41CN64 PIN MALE HEADER PITCH 2.54MMWURTH732-5317-ND
51C1470uF/25V ELECTROLYTIC SMDPANASONICPCE4605CT-ND
62C2,C30.1uF/50V CERAMIC SMD SIZE 0805YAGEO/MURATA
71D1LED RED SMD SIZE 0805OSRAM475-1278-1-ND
81R1470E 1% SMD SIZE 0805YAGEO/MURATA
98R2,R4,R5,R6,R10,R11,R13,R1410K 1% SMD SIZE 0805YAGEO/MURATA
101R30E SMD SIZE 0805YAGEO/MURATA
112R7,R85.76K 1% SMD SIZE 0805YAGEO/MURATA
122R9,R12DNP
132U1,U2OPA569 SOICTI296-14174-5-ND
141U32 PIN SCREW TERMINAL PITCH 5.08MMPHOENIX277-1247-ND

Application Diagram

Connections

Gerber View

Photos

OPA569 Datasheet

Electronic DC Load using TLE2141

The circuit shown here is a low-cost electronic DC load designed to sink current from a power source. This test equipment can be used to test power devices such as power supplies, chargers, solar panels, and batteries. The board is built using op-amp TLE2141, LM385 provides the reference voltage. Resistor R11 acts as a shunt resistor and provides load current feedback to the op-amp, potentiometer P1 is provided to adjust the load current, and D1 is the power LED. A 10-turn Potentiometer is provided for fine current adjustment. The user may use a single-turn PR1 trimmer potentiometer. The load current range is up to 2.5A, and the project can handle higher currents with large-size heat-sink and forced air using a Fan. You may use a 0 to 5A Current Meter in series to measure the load current.

Note: It is advisable to use a large-size heat sink with a fan to cool the MOSFET.

Features

  • DC Power Supply 12V DC @ 20mA
  • Load Up-to 2.5A and Up-to 24V
  • On Board Power LED
  • 10 Turn Potentiometer for fine Load current Adjustment
  • Barrier Terminals for Load Connections
  • PCB Dimensions 49.53 x 46.36 mm
  • 4 x 3 mm Mounting Holes

Connections

  • CN1: Pin 1,2 = VCC 12V DC, Pin 2,3=GND
  • CN2: Pin 1 = Optional/External Ref In, PIN 2 = GND
  • CN3: Pin 1 = +Load, PIN 2 = GND
  • CN4: 10 Turn Potentiometer (Don’t Install PR1 if P1 is used)
  • PR1: Optional Single Turn Trimmer Potentiometer.
  • D1: Power LED

Schematic

Parts List

NOQNTYREF.DESC.MANUFACTURERSUPPLIERSUPPLIER PART NO
11CN14 PIN MALE HEADER PITCH 2.54MMWURTHDIGIKEY732-5317-ND
21CN22 PIN MALE HEADER PITCH 2.54MMWURTHDIGIKEY732-5315-ND
31CN32 PIN BARRIER BLOCK PITCH 9.53MMTE CONNECTIVITYDIGIKEYA98495-ND
41CN43 PIN MALE HEADER PITCH 2.54MMWURTHDIGIKEY732-5316-ND
511PR1,R3,C3,CN5,R7,R8,R12,R13,R14,R15,R16DNP
61C10.1uF/50V CERAMIC SMD SIZE 0805YAGEO/MURATADIGIKEY
72C2,C610uF/25V CERAMIC SMD SIZE 1206YAGEO/MURATADIGIKEY
82C4,C51nF/50V CERAMIC SMD SIZE 0805YAGEO/MURATADIGIKEY
91D1LED RED SMD SIZE 0805OSRAMDIGIKEY475-1278-1-ND
101R610K 5% SMD SIZE 0805YAGEO/MURATADIGIKEY
111Q1IRFP064PBF OR IRPF250VISHAYDIGIKEYIRFP064PBF-ND
122R1,R91K 5% SMD SIZE 0805YAGEO/MURATADIGIKEY
131R2220K 1% SMD SIZE 0805YAGEO/MURATADIGIKEY
141R415K 1% SMD SIZE 0805YAGEO/MURATADIGIKEY
151R5100E 5% SMD SIZE 0805YAGEO/MURATADIGIKEY
161R100E SMD SIZE 0805YAGEO/MURATADIGIKEY
171R110.1E/2W 1% SMD SIZE 2512YAGEO/MURATADIGIKEY
181U1TLE2141 SOIC8TIDIGIKEY296-10454-5-ND
191U2LM385-1.2V TO92TIDIGIKEY296-50311-ND
201P110K TEN TURN POTBOURNS INCDIGIKEY3590P-2-103L-ND

Connections

Gerber View

Photos

Video

TLE2141 Datasheet

LattePanda Team Launches LattePanda Sigma – a Hackable Single Board Server with Mighty Power

LattePanda launched the powerful and hackable single board server, the LattePanda Sigma. With its   supercomputing power, this device opens up endless possibilities for tech enthusiasts, small businesses & enterprises. With its innovative design and unique features, the LattePanda Sigma is poised to redefine the world of single board servers and drive innovation to new heights.

The LattePanda Sigma is powered by the 13th-generation Intel Core i5-1340P Rapter Lake (12-Core, 16-Thread) processor and features Intel Iris Xe Graphics, providing optimal graphics performance. Its optimized power consumption minimizes power usage by almost 50%, making it an eco-friendly choice. With 16GB of high-speed Dual-Channel LPDDR5-6400MHz RAM, the LattePanda Sigma can handle even the most demanding tasks with ease, making it perfect for graphic design, gaming, and video editing.

Key Features

  • Ultimate Performance: The LattePanda Sigma features an Intel Core i5-1340p processor with an 12 cores and 16 threads. With a maximum turbo frequency of 4.60 GHz for a performance-core and 3.4 GHz for an efficient-core, this advanced processor delivers exceptional performance and productivity for demanding tasks and multitasking.
  • Lightning-fast Memory: The dual-channel LPDDR5-6400 RAM with a capacity of 16GB ensures smooth and fast performance.
  • High-level Graphics Capability: The LattePanda Sigma adopts the advanced Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics technology which provides users with multiple display outputs, allowing for enhanced multitasking capabilities and flexible display configurations. With support for high resolutions and refresh rates, the LattePanda Sigma delivers a highly immersive and smooth visual experience.
  • Quad 4K Displays: Offering a superior viewing experience for work and play, allowing multiple applications to be displayed on the screen simultaneously. The high resolution of Quad 4K Displays provides highly immersive and realistic visual effects for gaming and entertainment, creating an exceptional viewing experience.
  • Effective Cooling: The LattePanda Sigma’s heating pipe design facilitates faster heat conduction and efficient heat dissipation, maintaining high performance and stable operation.
  • User-friendly Interface Layout: The LattePanda Sigma boasts a user-friendly and reasonable interface design that enables plug-and-play with ease.
  • Rich Interfaces: Unlocking limitless possibilities with rich interfaces, offering seamless connectivity and enhanced user experience. Dual Thunderbolt™ 4 ports provide lightning-fast data transfer speeds and versatile connectivity. Dual 2.5Gb Ethernet Ports allow for higher throughput and lower latency between devices, achieving better overall network performance.
  • Diverse OS Support: Supports Windows and Linux

Specifications

  • Processor: Intel® Core™ i5-1340P
  • CPU: 12-Core,16-Thread,12M Cache, up to 4.60 GHz (Performance-Core), 3.40 GHz (Efficient-Core)
  • Graphics: Intel® Iris® Xe Graphics, 80 Execution Units, up to 1.45 GHZ
  • Memory: 16 GBDual-Channel LPDDR5-6400MHz
  • Storage: M.2 NVMe/SATA SSD (Separately installed)
  • Network: 2x 2.5GbE RJ45 Ports (Intel@ i225-V), M2 Wireless Module (Separately Installed)
  • USB Ports: 2x USB2.0 Type-A(480Mbps), 2x USB3.2 Gen2 Tpe-A(10Gbps), 2x Thunderbolt™ 4 Type-C(40Gbps)
  • Display: HDMI2.1, up to 4096 x2304 @ 60Hz; DP 1.4a via USB Type-C, up to 7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz; eDP1.4b,up to 4096 x 2304 @120Hz
  • Co-Processor: Arduino Leonardo
  • Expansion Slots: M.2 M Key: PCle 3.0×4; M.2 M Key: PCle 4.0×4; M.2 B Key: SATA/PCle 3.0 x 1,USB2.0,USB3.0,SIM; M.2 E Key: PCle 3.0 x 1,USB2.0,Intel CNVio; Micro SIM Card Slot
  • Audio: 3.5mm Microphone Headphone Combo Connector
  • Operating System: Windows 10, Windows 11 and Ubuntu 22.04
  • Dimension: 146mm x 102mm

“We are thrilled to launch such a fantastic single board server, the LattePanda Sigma. Our team has worked tirelessly over the past months to perfect every detail of this innovative product, leaving no stone unturned in our quest for excellence. Despite the challenges and setbacks we faced along the way, our team has truly excelled in creating a powerful, energy-efficient, and compact computing solution that caters to the growing market demand. With a target audience spanning developers, IoT enthusiasts, individual users, small businesses and enterprises, our versatile and mighty power server is the perfect solution for a range of applications, including game & media servers, edge computing, home automation, AI inference and etc,”

said Youyou Yu, Product Manager of LattePanda Sigma.

To view LattePanda Sigma‘s more improved functions, please go to LattePanda – x86 Windows/Linux Single Board Computers.

Adjustable Load powered by LT3080 Regulator

Technoblogy has posted details about an adjustable load that provides a constant-current load for testing power supplies and batteries. It enables you to set the load current to up to 1.05A, using a potentiometer, and displays the current on a three-digit LED display controlled by an ATtiny84. The adjustable load can be used for more than just testing power supplies; it can also be used to test rechargeable NiMH and Li-ion batteries under different load conditions. It measures the current over time and displays the battery’s capacity in mAh or Ah. This is helpful for determining which battery brand is best, or if a battery needs to be replaced.

The constant-current circuit is based on an LT3080 regulator, which uses a current reference of 10µA, rather than a voltage reference like regulators such as the LM317. This regulator will operate down to 1.5V and a few mA, and is sensed by a 1Ω resistor, which is fed to the sense input of the regulator, via a 100kΩ potentiometer and 5.1kΩ resistor. The output of the regulator is maintained at 1.05V across the 1Ω resistor, producing a constant current of 1.05A. The LT3080 is available in a few different packages, with the TO220-5 package providing a separate VCONTROL pin, and is convenient to mount on a heatsink. The current is displayed on a three-digit 7-segment display, with a 0.28″ three-digit common anode seven-segment LED display being used.

A separate 3.7V Lipo battery is used to power the ATtiny84 and display, as this allows for testing inputs down to as low as 1V, and ensures that the microcontroller and display remain powered even when the test supply drops to zero. The potentiometer is a 100kΩ linear type, with an Alps Alpine RK09K1130C94 or Bourns PTV09A-4020U-B104 being suitable. The 5.1kΩ series resistor is added to be able to adjust the current slightly above 1A. The VCONTROL voltage must be more than 1.2V to 1.35V greater than the output voltage, and is connected to the 3.7V supply used to power the ATtiny84 and display, allowing for the adjustable load to control to as low as 1V.

The PCB was designed in Eagle and ordered from PCBWay. It was designed to fit the heatsink used, which has a thermal rating of 6.8°C/W. The total current consumption of the controller is about 10mA and it is powered by a small 3.7V Lipo cell. The PCB includes space for a 2×3 pin ICSP connector to program the ATtiny84A. All the components are through-hole, so it should be easy to solder by hand. The TO-220 LT3080 is designed for vertical mounting and needs to be gently bent with a pair of flat-nose pliers to fit the PCB. The 1Ω 2W resistor is mounted slightly above the board to improve airflow around it. The PCB also provides a 2.35″ x 1.25″ area of copper which can be used as a heatsink.

For more information about the adjustable load, visit the project page.

Picovoice Koala Noise Suppression Engine supports Raspberry Pi and Nvidia Jetson Nano

Picovoice Noise Suppression Engine on Raspberry Pi

Noise suppression technology is essential for providing clear audio during communication by eliminating unwanted background noise. While several noise suppression engines are already available, Picovoice has developed its own due to several limitations in existing technology. Most notably, the current technology lacks support for three essential parameters that a reliable noise suppression engine should possess – the ability to run on the edge with minimal latency, improved speech clarity, and platform independence.

According to Picovoice, conventional digital signal processing models are small. They can run on the device with minimal latency, but may not produce the best results in terms of noise suppression. These models are limited in handling complex and diverse noise patterns. On the other hand, deep learning models can produce higher speech intelligibility, but they typically have larger model sizes and require higher power and computing resources. As a result, running such models in real-time and across multiple platforms is not feasible.

Therefore, there is a need for a noise suppression engine that can run efficiently on-device, with minimal latency, and without requiring high power or compute resources while still producing high-quality results. Koala Noise Suppression is a noise suppression engine based on deep learning technology that enables it to achieve higher speech intelligibility while maintaining efficient performance.

Picovoice Noise Suppression Engine

The Picovoice Koala Noise Suppression technology has the capability to process voice data on the device itself, ensuring privacy and security. It can also run seamlessly across various platforms, including desktops, mobile devices, web, and embedded systems. The software model is designed to be deployed easily and quickly, with an intuitive software development kit that simplifies the integration process. This means that developers can quickly and easily implement noise suppression technology into their applications without requiring extensive knowledge or expertise in machine learning or deep learning.

Koala, an on-device noise suppression engine, recognizes the importance of supporting Raspberry Pi to enable its technology to be utilized in a broader range of applications. Additionally, the noise suppression engine is also compatible with Nvidia Jetson Nano, which is extensively used in edge artificial intelligence applications like entry-level network video recorders (NVRs), home robots, and intelligent gateways that have full analytics capabilities.

By supporting these platforms, Koala expands its potential user base and enhances its versatility in various applications. It is worth noting that the ability to operate on these platforms reflects the high adaptability of Koala to different environments and requirements.

AI accelerator module from Aetina integrates four Hailo-8 edge AI processors

Aetina has introduced AI-MXM-H84A, an MXM-embedded graphics accelerator that is specifically intended for AI processing and has been launched by Impulse Embedded. The AI accelerator module from Aetina integrates four Hailo-8 edge AI processors that offer 104 TOPS performance on a single embedded MXM graphics module. The company has designed the hardware system to be used in robotics, machine vision, autonomous vehicles, and more.

The Hail0-8 edge AI processing system offers 26 TOPS AI performance that has a power consumption of 2.5W. This application-specific integrated circuit comes from an Israel-based embedded manufacturer, Hailo. The company has designed hardware with the flexibility to offer lower power consumption and high performance in a single-design architecture.

Aetina chose MXM, which is a mobile PCI express module form factor device previously designed to be used in laptops. The AI-MXM-H84A, an AI accelerator module, can operate efficiently even in harsh environments and is intended to be incorporated into other embedded systems.

The MXM 3.1 Type B module is highly efficient and has a compact form factor, which makes it convenient for developers and system integrators to incorporate it into various embedded systems. It can handle intensive AI inference workloads with low latency and without consuming excessive power like conventional discrete graphics cards.

AI-MXM-H84A AI accelerator module hardware overview

Specifications of the AI-MXM-H84A AI accelerator module:

  • Hardware system: AI-MXM-H84A AI accelerator module
  • Processor core: 4x Hailo-8 AI processors
  • AI performance: 104 TOPS
  • Form factor: MXM 3.1 Type-B
  • Display ports: No display outputs
  • Interface: PCI Express 3.0 x16
  • Max power consumption: 115W
  • Power: Bus powered
  • Cooling: Passive, no fans
  • Dimensions: 82×105 mm

Interestingly, Aetina decided to integrate Hailo-8 processors instead of the recent launch of the Hailo-15 series of advanced vision processors. In our previous coverage of Hailo-15, the processor is specifically designed to be incorporated into smart cameras. The Hailo-15 lineup raises the benchmark for computer vision and video processing using deep learning, offering exceptional AI capabilities for a range of applications in diverse industries.

Impulse Embedded has not provided any details on the pricing; however, interested developers can choose to inquire on the official website for a quote on the chosen products.

Ambarella and Neusoft Reach front ADAS smart camera in mass production

Neusoft Reach and Ambarella;s front ADAS goes into mass production

Ambarella and Neusoft have partnered to deliver smart sensing solutions for automotive manufacturers across the globe. The co-developed front advanced driver assistance system has gone into mass production in mainstream models of a Chinese car manufacturer. The solution involves Neusoft Reach’s X-Cube 3.0 front-view smart camera that is equipped with Ambarella’s CV22 AI vision system-on-chip (SoC).

Neusoft Reach has been able to achieve significant improvements in the performance of its AI models through the utilization of Ambarella’s CVflow AI architecture, which has a unique unstructured sparsity capability. The unique unstructured-sparsity capability of Ambarella’s CVflow AI architecture allows for the creation of AI models that consume less power and memory while maintaining high levels of accuracy. This has a significant impact on the development of intelligent driving systems, which rely heavily on the processing of large amounts of data in real time.

The two companies have plans to continue their collaboration in China to explore new possibilities in the field of ADAS using Ambarella’s advanced system-on-chips. They focus on developing Level 2 ADAS products for passenger cars in China, aiming to provide a safe and comfortable driving experience.

“Our CVflow SoCs provide a high-performance AI processing engine for Neusoft Reach’s advanced neural network algorithms. Additionally, our integrated image signal processor continues to set the industry benchmark for image quality, while our efficient SoC architecture provides the industry’s best AI performance per watt,” says Fermi Wang, president and CEO of Ambarella.

Ambarella designed CV22 system-on-chip to combine CVflow architecture with deep neural network processing designed for next-generation applications in wearable cameras. The hardware uses 10nm process technology to combine low-power and high-performance capabilities for computer vision use cases.

Inside the CV22 is a quad-core Arm Cortex-A53 processor core clocked up to a frequency of 1.0GHz. The system-on-chip supports ThreadX and Linux operating systems for advanced image and video processing. It is able to achieve more than 800 MPixels input rate through dual independent sensor inputs.

This cooperation between Ambarella and Neusoft Reach showcases our effective implementation of autonomous algorithms, providing innovative technology solutions for the industry while helping to create a new ecology of intelligent networked vehicles,” says Liu Wei, deputy general manager of Neusoft Reach.

In our previous coverage of Ambarella, we discussed the launch of the CV5 AI vision system on chip that supported 8K video and 4K video processing along with CVflow computer vision processing in a single and low-power design architecture.

Sony Semiconductor Solutions expand its industrial reach through Raspberry Pi

Sony Semiconductor Solutions has made a strategic investment in Limited to provide Aitrios, an edge computing platform deeper into the Raspberry Pi community. Neither company has disclosed the investment amount, but it is speculated that this partnership will enable Sony Semiconductors to leverage Raspberry Pi’s acceptance in the industrial markets.

The collaboration is not the first of its kind since both companies have previously worked on leveraging Sony’s imaging solutions for the Raspberry Pi modules and computer boards. Sony believes that its support for Raspberry Pi boards will enable the community to utilize its edge AI solutions to provide a seamless and unique development experience.

“Our goal is to provide new value to a variety of industries and support them in solving issues using our innovative edge AI sensing technology built around image sensors,” says Terushi Shimizu, president and CEO of Sony Semiconductor Solutions Corporation.

In an analysis by Junko Yoshida, she says, “Sony, which is not an MCU vendor, has not cultivated its own IoT developers’ community. Sony is betting on Raspberry Pi to create a foothold.” This means that the industry looks at this as a new way to explore markets where the company does not have a stronghold, leveraging the partner’s ecosystem.

Sony Aitrios edge AI sensing platform

“This transaction will allow us to expand our partnership, bringing Sony Semiconductor Solutions’ line of AI products to the Raspberry Pi ecosystem, and helping our users to build exciting new machine-learning applications at the edge,” says Eben Upton, CEO of Raspberry Pi Limited.

Sony Aitrios is designed to be a B2B platform to provide all the necessary software and application development environment to design edge computing applications. Recently, at the tinyML Summit 2023, the edge AI sensing platform service, Aitrios, won the tinyML Awards 2023 for Best Innovative Software Enablement and Tools.

Earlier this year, Sony also announced that the Aitrios edge computing platform could be accessed from the Azure portal. The partnership combines Sony’s advanced image sensor technology with Microsoft Azure’s powerful AI development environment and pre-trained AI models. This allows the developer to create edge AI solutions by prioritizing customer security and privacy.

Antmicro creates an open hardware Xilinx Kintex K410T development board

Antmicro Kintex-7 K410T development board

Antmicro, known for its open hardware ecosystem, has designed the AMD-Xilinx Kintex-7 development board for developers to explore its potential as an RTL prototyping platform. Antmicro has introduced this board as part of its extended open-source SystemVerilog toolchain. The company chose the AMD FPGA design because it has already been widely used in open hardware projects, such as the Data Center RDIMM DDR4 Testers and the DDR5 Tester.

The AMD Xilinx Kintex-7 FPGA provides 400k logic cells in a 900-pin package with input/output ports divided into 7 high-range and three high-performance banks. The PCB has a compact form factor of a nano-ITX board which measures 120×120 mm and can be powered using multiple power sources— regular DC power jack, 40W PoE++ on Gigabit Ethernet connector, and a 45W USB Type-C power delivery.

Antmicro’s Kintex K410T development board provides users with the ability to synthesize custom RISC-V-based processing platforms. This allows developers to create custom processing platforms that can be tailored to meet the specific needs of their applications.

The Kintex K410T development board features a range of I/O options, including the industry-standard FMC connector. The FMC connector provides PCIe x8 on 12.5Gb/s transceivers and 50 I/Os, consisting of 24 length-matched differential pairs and two single lanes, all in the 3.3V domain.

The PCIe x8 interface provided by the FMC connector allows the Kintex K410T to achieve high-speed data transfer rates, making it suitable for applications that require high-performance data processing. The 50 I/Os provided by the FMC connector also provides developers with a wide range of options for connecting the Kintex K410T to other devices and systems.

One of the key benefits of the Kintex K410T development board is that it allows for hardware-in-the-loop testing of designs with multiple IP cores and peripherals, such as OpenTitan and its variants. This means that developers can use the Kintex K410T to test their ASIC designs in a real-world hardware environment, which can help identify and correct any issues or bugs before the final product is manufactured.

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