Page 103 – Electronics-Lab.com

BrainChip announces successfully taped out AKD1500 chip on GlobalFoundries’ 22nm FD-SOI process

Posted on 4 March, 20234 March, 2023 by Abhishek Jadhav

BrainChip, a leading provider of ultra-low power edge AI technology, has successfully taped out its AKD1500 chip on GlobalFoundries’ 22nm FD-SOI process. This marks an important milestone for BrainChip as it proves the portability of its technology and enables the company to take advantage of the benefits of GlobalFoundries’ process.

The AKD1500 is BrainChip’s flagship product designed to deliver AI processing capabilities on edge. The chip features BrainChip’s patented spiking neural network (SNN) technology, which is capable of learning, recognizing, and processing patterns in real-time. The AKD1500 is ideal for various applications, including advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS), surveillance, and autonomous robotics.

The AKD1500 combines event-based Akida AI IP with GlobalFoundry’s low leakage FDX process technology platform to deliver an always-on, at-sensor application with low power consumption, suitable for industrial automation and the automotive industry.

GlobalFoundries’ 22nm FD-SOI process is an ideal choice for BrainChip as it provides several benefits, including low power consumption, high performance, and excellent reliability. The process is also well-suited for edge AI applications as it offers a compact form factor and low cost.

“This is an important validation milestone in the continuing innovation of our event-based, neuromorphic Akida IP, even if it is fully digital and portable across foundries. The AKD1500 reference chip using GlobalFoundries’ very low-leakage FD SOI platform, showcases the possibilities for intelligent sensors in edge AI.”

The AKD1500 chip is expected to be available soon and will be a significant addition to BrainChip’s portfolio of edge AI solutions. The company has already received strong interest from several customers looking to use AKD1500 in their products.

BrainChip’s successful tape-out of the AKD1500 chip in GlobalFoundries’ 22nm FD-SOI process is an important milestone for the company. This will help BrainChip to deliver more innovative and advanced AI solutions to its customers in the future.

Arduino-compatible ATmega32U4 USB Type-C dev board

Posted on 4 March, 20234 March, 2023 by Abhishek Jadhav

Ping Hobbyelektronik has released a new open-source board called EPI-32U4. This tiny board is Arduino-compatible and offers USB Type-C connectivity, making it an excellent choice for makers and hobbyists.

The EPI-32U4 board measures just 23mm x 13mm, making it one of the smallest Arduino-compatible boards available in the market. Despite its small size, the board packs a punch, thanks to the ATmega32U4 microcontroller, which offers 32KB of flash memory and 2.5KB of SRAM. The board also features a built-in USB Type-C port, which provides faster data transfer and faster charging speeds.

The ATmega32U4 is a high-performance, low-power, 8-bit microcontroller with advanced RISC architecture and non-voltage program and data memories. The microcontroller features power-on reset and programmable brown-out detection. There are six sleep modes, including idle, ADC noise reduction, power save, power down, standby, and extended standby.

Specifications of Epi 32U4 development board:

Manufacturer: Ping Hobbyelektronik
Microcontroller: Atmega32U4
Clock frequency: 16MHz
Operating voltage: 4.5V to 5.5V
Input/output ports: 23 available pins
LED pin: Pin 13
Interfaces: USB Type-C port
Dimensions: 22.75×12.75 mm

The EPI-32U4 board can be programmed using the Arduino IDE, a popular programming language for makers and hobbyists. Additionally, the board includes 23 general-purpose input/output pins, which include 12 analog to digital inputs, and 7 PWM outputs, making it versatile enough for a wide range of projects.

The board is also open-source, meaning the hardware design and firmware are freely available on GitHub. This makes it easy for users to modify and customize the board to fit their needs.

The EPI-32U4 is an excellent choice for makers and hobbyists looking for a small and powerful Arduino-compatible board with USB Type-C connectivity. Interested professionals can sign up on the product page for timely updates.

Arduino Nano 33 BLE Sense Rev2 supports edge computing using Edge Impulse platform

Posted on 4 March, 20234 March, 2023 by Abhishek Jadhav

Arduino designed Nano 33 BLE Sense Rev2 board for beginners and entry-level professionals to get familiar with embedded machine learning capabilities. The Arduino Nano 33 BLE Sense Rev2 features Nordic Semiconductor’s nRF52840 microcontroller featuring an Arm Cortex-M4 32-bit processor with FPU, clocked up to 64MHz frequency.

The Arduino Nano 33 BLE Sense Rev2 supports the TensorFlow Lite library to allow customers to explore the ability of edge computing on this miniature device. To get started with TinyML, the board supports the use of the Edge Impulse machine learning platform, which can be used to train, deploy, and monitor machine learning algorithms.

Specifications of Arduino Nano 33 BLE Sense Rev2

Microcontroller: Nordic Semiconductor nRF52840
Onboard sensors: APDS9960 is a gesture, light proximity, and color sensor; LPS22HB is a barometric pressure sensor, and HS3003 is a temperature and humidity sensor
Machin learning capability: Support TensorFlow Lite library and capable of using Edge Impulse platform
Operating voltage: 3.3V
Input voltage: 21V
Clock speed: 64MHz
Storage: 1MB
Memory: 256kB
Serial communication: 1x UART, 1x SPI, 1x I2C
Analog input pins: 8x ADC 12-bit 200k samples
LED: Pin 13
Interfaces: USB Type-C port

The Arduino Nano 33 BLE Sense Rev2 runs on the Arm Mbed operating system, which is open-source, easy-to-use software for IoT applications. This operating system is specifically designed for Arm Cortex-M-based microcontrollers and includes security, storage, connectivity, RTOS, device management, and drivers for sensors and input/output devices.

The hardware platform is equipped with several onboard sensors that can detect color, proximity, motion, temperature, humidity, audio, and many more. The board can connect to Bluetooth Low Energy wireless connectivity to transfer onboard data. The BLE module from U-Blox has an internal antenna and can transmit data between different devices using the ArduinoBLE library.

The device has an omnidirectional digital microphone that can capture and analyze audio in real-time to create a voice interface for any IoT project. The sensor uses the Pulse Density Modulation library to use these functionalities. Here is a detailed guide on how to control the onboard RBG LED light with a microphone.

For interested professionals, the Arduino Nano 33 BLE Sense Rev2 is currently available for purchase at $40.50.

RoomSense IQ is a smart sensor that can detect human activity using millimeter-wave Radar

Posted on 4 March, 20234 March, 2023 by Abhishek Jadhav

RoomSense IQ is a smart sensor that can detect motion, temperature, humidity, and light levels. It is designed to be placed in any room in your home, and it can help you keep track of the temperature, humidity, and light levels in each room. It can also help you monitor the activity in your home by detecting motion.

The hardware platform uses millimeter-wave radar technology and PIR sensors to detect and measure the movement of individuals in a room. RoomSense IQ features a temperature and humidity sensor for monitoring indoor climate. It also has an ambient light sensor for the control of lights. All this information can be accessed in real time via the Home Assistant dashboard.

Inside the RoomSense IQ is the Espressif ESP32S3 microcontroller with Wi-Fi wireless connectivity. The board includes a USB Type C port for power and serial communication, allowing customers to connect the sensor to a computer for local controls.

RoomSense IQ also has a number of customizable settings. You can set it to alert you when certain conditions are met, such as when the temperature in a room gets too high or too low. You can also set it to turn on lights or other devices when motion is detected in a certain room.

The onboard PIR sensor is also used to reduce false alarms as it is designed to filter out non-human activities. This allows the hardware device to differentiate between human and non-human activity inside the room and only trigger when necessary.

RoomSense IQ is designed to be user-friendly and easy to set up. You simply use the Home Assistant platform through the MQTT protocol. The system provides an open-source dashboard to view real-time data in eight distance bins, including macro and micro energy levels. The app provides step-by-step instructions on its GitHub repository.

In conclusion, if you’re looking for a smart sensor that can help you keep track of the activity and environment in your home, then RoomSense IQ is definitely worth considering. Its customizable settings make it a versatile and valuable addition to any smart home setup.

Vodafone’s 5G network on a modular Raspberry Pi based hardware

Posted on 4 March, 20234 March, 2023 by Abhishek Jadhav

Vodafone, one of the leading telecommunications companies in the world, has recently announced the development of a prototype 5G network built on a Raspberry Pi computer. The Raspberry Pi is a low-cost, credit card-sized computer that is commonly used for educational purposes and prototyping.

The development of this 5G network prototype on such a small and affordable device is significant because it demonstrates that the technology required for 5G networks is becoming more accessible and affordable. This could potentially open up opportunities for smaller companies and organizations to experiment with and implement 5G technology in their operations.

“Whilst this is just a prototype, it has the potential to bring new cloud, AI, and big data technologies within reach of many of the small businesses we support across Europe. The next step is to take ideas like this to a place where they can be developed and eventually produced. Our door is open to interested vendors,”

said Santiago Tenorio, Vodafone’s Director of Network Architecture.

The prototype 5G network built on the Raspberry Pi uses open-source software designed to be modular and scalable. This means it can be easily adapted and modified to meet the specific needs of different applications and industries. The network prototype also includes a cloud-based mobile edge computing (MEC) platform, which enables low-latency processing and data analysis at the network edge. This could have significant implications for industries such as healthcare, where real-time medical data processing is critical.

Vodafone’s development of this prototype 5G network is part of its broader efforts to accelerate the adoption and deployment of 5G technology across its networks. The company has already launched 5G networks in several countries and is investing heavily in developing and deploying 5G infrastructure. The development of this prototype network on a Raspberry Pi is just one example of the company’s innovative approach to 5G technology. It will be interesting to see how it is further developed and applied in the future.

Vodafone will be demonstrating its 5G solution based on the Raspberry Pi at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

Qualcomm Aware platform combines edge computing and cloud technologies for IoT solutions

Posted on 3 March, 20233 March, 2023 by Abhishek Jadhav

Qualcomm, the leading wireless technology innovator, announced the expansion of its offering by introducing a new suite of products and services called Aware. The new offering aims to simplify and accelerate the implementation of the Internet of Things (IoT) across various industries, including industrial, commercial, and consumer markets.

With the growing demand for IoT solutions, businesses face various challenges, such as device management, security, and connectivity. Qualcomm’s Aware platform addresses these challenges by providing a comprehensive solution that includes hardware, software, and cloud-based services. The platform leverages Qualcomm’s expertise in wireless technologies, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to provide businesses with a reliable and scalable solution.

The Aware platform includes various hardware and software components, including IoT sensors, gateways, and edge computing devices. These devices are designed to capture data from various sources, process it locally, and transmit it securely to the cloud for analysis. The platform also includes software tools that enable businesses to manage and monitor their IoT devices and cloud-based services for data analytics and machine learning.

//players.brightcove.net/1414329538001/BJv5wEFt_default/index.html?videoId=6320892259112

One of the key features of the Aware platform is its security capabilities. Qualcomm has integrated advanced security features into the platform, such as device authentication, encryption, and secure boot. These features ensure that the data collected by IoT devices are protected from unauthorized access and tampering.

Qualcomm has also designed the Aware platform to be flexible and adaptable to different business needs. The platform is compatible with various communication protocols, including Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and cellular networks. This allows businesses to choose the best connectivity option for their use case.

In addition, the Aware platform is designed to be easy to use and deploy. Qualcomm has partnered with leading system integrators and solution providers to offer comprehensive support and services to businesses. This includes consultation, design, implementation, and ongoing support.

The Aware platform is available now, and businesses can visit the product page on Qualcomm’s website to learn more about the various components and services included in the platform. With the introduction of the Aware platform, Qualcomm aims to empower businesses to leverage the power of IoT and drive innovation across various industries.

Eoxys launches two machine learning modules for advanced IoT applications: Xeno+ Nano ML

Posted on 3 March, 20233 March, 2023 by Abhishek Jadhav

In today’s world, data is everywhere, and the need for data analysis is increasing rapidly. One of the most promising technologies to enable an intelligent analysis of data is Machine Learning (ML). Machine Learning has revolutionized many industries by helping them make sense of the vast amounts of data generated daily. However, building machine learning models requires expertise, infrastructure, and time. Eoxys has developed Xeno+ Nano ML, a powerful, easy-to-use, and cost-effective machine learning solution to overcome these challenges.

Xeno+ Nano ML is a machine learning solution developed by Eoxys, a leading provider of IoT and AI solutions. It is a complete end-to-end solution that helps developers build, train and deploy machine learning models quickly and easily. Xeno+ Nano ML provides a comprehensive suite of tools that make it easy to build and train ML models using various algorithms and data sources. It includes an intuitive web-based interface, pre-built models, and access to a vast library of machine-learning algorithms.

The Xeno+ Nano ML is designed to be flexible and scalable, allowing developers to customize it to their specific needs. It supports multiple platforms, including STM32 and Nuvoton, making it compatible with a wide range of hardware.

The Xeno+ Nano ML STM is the version of Nano ML that is compatible with STM32, a popular microcontroller used in embedded systems. The module is powered by the STM32L4 series Arm Cortex-M4 controller clocked up to a frequency of 80MHz. This is an excellent solution for developers looking to integrate machine learning into their existing STM32-based projects.

The Xeno+ Nano ML Nuvoton is based on the IoT microcontroller unit, Nuvoton Arm Cortex-M23 trust zone series clocked at a frequency of 96MHz. This module is ideal for a Trusted Execution Environment with Trusted Applications, featuring the security capabilities of TrustZone for Armv8-M technology.

Both modules feature Syntiant NDP120 neural decision processor that runs multiple audio and sensor applications with lower power consumption. The module also includes InnoPhase IoT’s Talaria TWO certified Wi-Fi and BLE module that provides integrated support for wireless connectivity.

The Xeno+ Nano ML is compatible with popular machine learning frameworks and supports multiple platforms, making it a flexible and scalable solution for a wide range of use cases.

STMicroelectronics unveils NB-IoT modules with GNSS and geo-location capability

Posted on 3 March, 2023 by Abhishek Jadhav

STMicroelectronics, a global leader in semiconductor solutions, has recently launched its latest series of industrial modules for Narrowband Internet of Things (NB-IoT) applications, featuring advanced geo-location capabilities using Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) technology. The ultra-compact and low-power modules are designed to offer an all-in-one solution for industrial IoT applications, providing high performance and cost-effectiveness.

The new modules are part of STMicroelectronics’ extensive portfolio of wireless modules, designed to provide reliable and efficient connectivity for IoT applications. The modules combine the latest NB-IoT technology with GNSS positioning capabilities, allowing them to be used in various applications, including asset tracking, smart cities, and smart agriculture.

The modules are designed to operate in extreme temperatures and environmental conditions, making them suitable for use in various industrial applications. They also feature a low-power design, enabling them to be used in battery-powered devices for extended periods of time.

The ultra-compact size of the modules means they can be easily integrated into a range of devices, making them an ideal solution for developers looking to add connectivity and geo-location capabilities to their products. The modules are also pre-certified for use in various global markets, reducing development time and costs for developers.

According to STMicroelectronics, the modules are designed to offer a number of key benefits, including reduced time-to-market, improved reliability, and lower development costs. They are also designed to meet the demanding requirements of industrial IoT applications, providing robust and secure connectivity in challenging environments.

“NB-IoT is rapidly gaining momentum in industrial applications, driven by the need for reliable and efficient connectivity in challenging environments,” said Fabio Gualandris, Industrial & Power Conversion Division General Manager, STMicroelectronics. “Our new modules combine the latest NB-IoT technology with advanced geo-location capabilities, providing an all-in-one solution that meets the needs of developers and manufacturers looking to create innovative IoT products.”

The new modules are available for evaluation and sampling, with volume production expected to begin in the second half of 2022. With the launch of these new modules, STMicroelectronics is well-positioned to meet the growing demand for reliable and efficient connectivity in industrial IoT applications, providing developers with the tools they need to create innovative products that can deliver real value to businesses and consumers alike.

NGK Develops Evaluation System That Visualizes Remaining Battery Capacity of Li-ion Rechargeable “EnerCera” Batteries Together With onsemi

Posted on 3 March, 2023 by mixos

NGK INSULATORS, LTD. (hereinafter “NGK”) has developed an evaluation system that visualizes the conditions of Li-ion rechargeable “EnerCera^®” batteries, including remaining battery capacity, together with ON Semiconductor Corporation (Headquarters: Arizona, U.S., hereinafter “onsemi”). Being able to assess the status of the battery will enable the efficient use of EnerCera.

The evaluation system is equipped with a battery sensing integrated circuit (IC) for monitoring the remaining battery capacity with high accuracy that onsemi has optimized specifically for EnerCera and ultra-low power consumption. In addition to remaining battery capacity, it enables the visualization of conditions such as voltage and temperature, which helps save power and extend the lifespan of devices and systems. The evaluation system also eliminates the need for verification of individual data of battery, which had previously been required to measure remaining battery capacity, and can verify items such as the load and stability of EnerCera while the device is operating, making it possible to reduce the duration of development of devices, etc. that use EnerCera. As part of development support, NGK will provide all customers that use EnerCera with reference designs and evaluation boards free of charge starting from November 2022 to improve development efficiency.

EnerCera is an ultra-small and ultra-thin Li-ion rechargeable battery. Through a semi-solid battery that uses NGK’s original Crystal Oriented Ceramic Plate as electrodes, NGK realizes characteristics sought in power sources for IoT devices such as high capacity, high output, high heat resistance, and a long lifespan, which were difficult to combine in conventional Li-ion rechargeable batteries.

EnerCera is currently being adopted in smart keys and smart cards, and sensor-equipped wearable devices, etc., and progress is being made on sample evaluations at over 500 companies worldwide. NGK will continue to develop and provide various power source solutions using EnerCera toward the popularization of IoT devices, and contribute to the development of a digital society.

Evaluation system with onsemi’s built-in battery sensing IC for monitoring remaining battery capacity

The UP Squared Pro 7000 Introduces MIPI CSI Camera Support, LPDDR5, and 1.4x the CPU Performance to the 4″ x 4″ Form Factor

Posted on 3 March, 20233 March, 2023 by mixos

AAEON produces the world’s first industrial motherboard with Intel^® Core™/Atom^®/N-Series processors (formerly Alder Lake-N).

AAEON, a leading manufacturer of AI development solutions, has released the UP Squared Pro 7000, bringing the acclaimed UP Squared Pro series into its third generation.

The UP Squared Pro 7000 sees dramatic improvements when compared to the boards preceding it. The first of these is that it is the world’s first industrial motherboard equipped with the Intel^® Core^™/Atom^®/N-Series processor platform (formerly Alder Lake-N), which offers 1.4x the CPU performance of the previous generation, alongside the benefit of supporting the Intel^® Distribution of OpenVINO^™ Toolkit. In addition, the board hosts 16GB of onboard LPDDR5 4800MHz system memory, doubling the bandwidth and data transfer speed of the previous model, while increasing overall energy efficiency.

A first for the UP Squared Pro product line, the UP Squared Pro 7000 supports MIPI CSI cameras via an FPC port, freeing up its two 2.5GbE (Intel^® i226-IT) and three USB 3.2 Gen 2 ports for other peripheral devices. Developers also gain access to exceptional expansion from the dense, 4″ x 4″ (101.6mm x 101.6mm) board, with the same 40-pin GPIO header alongside M.2 E, M, and B Keys for CNVI, PCIe, and USB add-ons.

Another change likely to attract vision-intensive application developers is the board’s improved display interface, which boasts HDMI 2.0b and DP 1.2 ports and DP 1.4a via USB Type-C to achieve three simultaneous 4K displays. Combining this with Intel^® UHD Graphics for 12th Generation Intel^® Processors makes the board an excellent base for bringing intelligent factory robotics and digital signage solutions to market.

The UP Squared Pro 7000 also features onboard TPM 2.0, alongside OS support for Windows^® 10 IoT Enterprise, Windows^® IoT Core, Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, and Yocto 4; in addition to its support for the Intel^® Distribution of OpenVINO^™ Toolkit.

For more information about the UP Squared Pro 7000, please visit our product page or contact an AAEON representative directly.