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PDM microphone claims to have industry’s widest dynamic range

Tue, Jan 21, 2020

A pulse density modulation (PDM) microphone by Invensense is claimed to have the widest dynamic range in the industry at the lowest power.

The T5818 is a 66dB signal to noise (SNR) / 135dB acoustic overload point (AOP) digital microphone. It has a dynamic range of 107dB at 590microA which allows for “excellent” acoustic performance in environments that shift from very quiet to very loud, such as far field voice pickup barge-in for smart speaker applications, explains TDK.

The T5818 microphone operates at 590 microA in high quality mode (HQM) and decreases power consumption to 215 microA in low power mode (LPM). The microphone captures high-quality audio inputs, used in artificial intelligence (AI) engines and cloud-based applications that require a PDM microphone interface. Current analogue output wide dynamic range microphones require expensive ADCs to take advantage of full acoustic capabilities but the T5818 provides this ADC conversion while maintaining excellent dynamic range with the benefits of a PDM low latency bitstream, claims TDK. This makes the T5818 suitable for a range of applications, from mobile phones to active noise control (ANC) headsets. It can be used in microphone arrays, smartphones, tablets, cameras, Bluetooth headsets, notebook PCs and security and surveillance equipment.

The T5818 is supplied in a surface mount package that measures 5.0 x 2.65 x 0.98mm.

T5818 is currently in mass production.

InvenSense is a TDK Group company, providing micro electrical mechanical systems (MEMS) sensors for consumer electronics and industrial areas with integrated motion, sound and ultrasonic products. InvenSense’s solutions combine MEMS sensors, such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, compasses, microphones, and ultrasonic 3D-sensing with proprietary algorithms and firmware that intelligently process, synthesise and calibrate the output of sensors for maximum performance and accuracy. InvenSense’s motion tracking, ultrasonic, audio, fingerprint, location platforms and services can be found in mobile, wearables, smart home, industrial, automotive and IoT products. InvenSense became part of the MEMS Sensors Business Group within the newly formed Sensor Systems Business Company of TDK Corporation in 2017. In February of 2018, Chirp Microsystems joined the InvenSense family through its acquisition by TDK. InvenSense is headquartered in San Jose, California, USA and has offices worldwide.

http://www.invensense.com

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Compute libraries provide safety-critical framework for autonomous systems

Fri, Jan 17, 2020

A suite of safety certifiable compute libraries supported on CoreAVI’s Vulkan compute and graphics platform include a safety critical framework and a suite of algorithms and libraries. ComputeCore is claimed to be the industry’s first safety certifiable platform to enable high performance accelerated compute and autonomous systems.

ComputeCore facilitates a path to safety certification from non-safety critical OpenCL or CUDA applications by providing pre-written algorithms that can be used immediately, saving time and money on algorithm design.

Designed from the ground-up for safety certification, ComputeCore is offered by CoreAVI in conjunction with CoreAVI’s VkCore SC safety critical graphics and compute driver. It supports a number of compute functions such as FFT computations, matrix manipulation (including matrix multiplication, transpose and inverse), optical flow analysis, and image filtering in the spatial domain including edge detections, blurring, standard deviation filtering, and noise removal.

A building block approach makes it easily expandable to meet a wide range of compute algorithms, notes CoreAVI. The ComputeCore framework and suite of libraries is automotive ISO 26262-certifiable to ASIL D, and avionics RTCA DO-178C/EASA ED-12C-certifiable to DAL A.

ComputeCore suits a range of machine learning and autonomous applications such as neural network inferencing, augmented vision systems, signal processing, detection and analysis, image processing, and encryption. CoreAVI offers services to facilitate the migration of existing CPU/FPGA/OpenCL/CUDA compute functions or algorithms to safety critical Vulkan to realise its performance gain benefits and scalable capabilities, adds CoreAVI.

Core Avionics & Industrial (CoreAVI) is a pioneer in the military and aerospace sector, providing software and hardware IP that enable safety critical applications. CoreAVI’s real-time and safety critical graphics, compute, and video drivers, “program ready” embedded graphics processors, and DO-254/ED-80 certifiable COTS hardware IP enable the design and implementation of complete safety critical embedded solutions for aerospace, automotive, and industrial applications that achieve the highest levels of safety certification with long-term support.

CoreAVI’s solutions are deployed in commercial and military avionics systems and support rapidly emerging compute applications in the automotive, unmanned vehicle, and IoT markets.

http://www.coreavi.com

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Microchip introduces MPLAB TÜV SÜD-certified tools

Thu, Jan 16, 2020

Functional safety certifications can be time-consuming and expensive, so Microchip has announced TÜV SÜD certification of its MPLAB XC compilers for functional safety. The tools significantly simplify the functional safety qualification process for Microchip’s PIC, AVR and SAM microcontrollers and dsPIC Digital Signal Controllers (DSCs), claims the company.

To further simplify testing and diagnostics, Microchip also introduced MPLAB Code Coverage license, which determines parts of software that have or have not been executed with minimal impact to the application.

The MPLAB XC functional compilers certified by TÜV SÜD contribute to satisfying the verification and validation requirements specified in the ISO 26262 standard for automotive safety, IEC 61508 for industrial applications, IEC 62304 for medical software and IEC60730 for automatic electric controls. The MPLAB XC Compilers for Functional Safety will be packaged with additional documentation for qualification of the MPLAB X integrated development environment (IDE) and MPLAB debuggers and programmers. With no annual renewal fees, the licenses are the lowest-cost solution on the market. Using Microchip’s microcontrollers with the functional safety licenses will reduce application costs and time to market, the company advises.

Ensuring high test coverage of embedded software using code coverage tools often requires a large amount of hardware modification, expensive software and significant effort searching large data files for pertinent information. MPLAB Code Coverage has less than one per cent impact to test time. Through a patented process, code can be tested in a single pass without breaking the code into blocks. This saves time and eliminates sifting through large data files.

In addition to offering development tools that make it easier, faster and more affordable to comply to functional safety standards, Microchip also offers many PIC, AVR, dsPIC and SAM microcontrollers that are functional safety-ready. For all functional safety ready microcontrollers, Microchip provides Failure Mode Effect and Diagnostics Analysis (FMEDA) reports and safety manuals targeting ISO 26262 up to ASIL-B safety levels, with some products achieving ASIL-D.

MPLAB X IDE version 5.25 is available for free on Microchip’s website. The MPLAB Code Coverage workstation license and MPLAB XC8, XC16 and XC32++ functional safety workstation licenses are available today.

http://www.microchip.com

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Bluetooth 5.0 Low Energy module has a long-range reach

Thu, Jan 16, 2020

The long range Bluetooth 5.0 module, the PAN1780, is for IIoT and smart home applications, says Panasonic Industry Europe. The module is based on the Nordic nRF52840 SoC controller. It has an output power of up to +8dBm and the high sensitivity of the nRF52840 which is combined with the low energy-coded PHY.

It also enables a higher symbol rate of 2Mbits per second, using the high-speed Bluetooth Low Energy (LE) 2M PHY. The new LE advertising extensions allow for much larger amounts of data to be broadcasted in connectionless scenarios, says Panasonic Industry Europe.

The module’s qualified Bluetooth mesh profile stack supports Bluetooth LE 5.0 with 802.15.4 and NFC-A. The Cortex M4F processor, 256kB RAM and the built-in 1Mbyte flash memory enable it to be used in standalone mode, eliminating the need for an external processor. This saves complexity, space and cost, says Panasonic Industry. A variant with an AT command set, the PAN1780AT, is available.

The compact module measures just 15.6 x 8.7 x 2.0mm and features an Arm TrustZone Cryptocell 310 security core that supports a secure boot process. A temperature sensor is integrated in the PAN1780 module. The operating temperature range is -40 to +85 degrees C and the supply voltage ranges from 1.7V to 5.5V.

The PAN1780 module is suitable for industrial IoT applications, such as devices for smart city infrastructure, industrial mesh networks or robotics within Industry 4.0 environments. It is also suitable for smart health and secure medical peripherals or building automation applications like smart locks or intelligent lighting. The Cryptocell also makes it suitable for edge computing.

Panasonic Corporation develops electronics technologies and solutions for customers in the consumer electronics, housing, automotive, and B2B businesses. The company celebrated its 100th anniversary in 2018 and operates 582 subsidiaries and 87 associated companies worldwide.

Panasonic Industry Europe is part of the global Panasonic Group and provides automotive and industrial products and services in Europe.

http://industry.panasonic.eu

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PDM microphone claims to have industry’s widest dynamic range

Compute libraries provide safety-critical framework for autonomous systems

Microchip introduces MPLAB TÜV SÜD-certified tools

Bluetooth 5.0 Low Energy module has a long-range reach

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