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Video analysis software adds auto-rotated models, Linux support and an API

Thu, Apr 05, 2018

BrainChip has demonstrated its BrainChip Studio, version 2018.1. BrainChip Studio is an artificial intelligence (AI) -powered video analysis software suite delivering high-speed object search and facial classification. It can be used by law enforcement, counter terrorism and intelligence agencies.

New features of the 2018.1 release are designed to make it easier to find objects from a variety of camera views. It is also possible to enable large-scale Linux deployments, and the addition of an API simplifies integration with other applications.

BrainChip Studio 2018.1 auto-generates rotated models. The software’s one-shot object training creates a spiking neural network model of an object in its initial captured orientation. This spiking neural network technology can learn autonomously, evolve and associate information just like the human brain, says BrainChip. The technology, which is proprietary, is fast, completely digital and consumes very low power.

With the auto-rotation feature, BrainChip Studio will automatically create multiple rotated models, improving the ability to locate the object in other camera views, where the orientation may vary depending on the installation.

BrainChip Studio 2018.1 now runs on Linux, enabling cost-effective, large-scale server installations. Linux is cost-effect in larger installations and the OS provides a 10 per cent performance improvement for BrainChip Studio, compared to Windows, reports the company.

The 2018.1 release also includes a version of BrainChip Studio that can be controlled with an API-level interface. This enables the functionality of BrainChip Studio to be integrated into third party applications, either off-the-shelf video surveillance software or end-users’ custom software. This version of BrainChip Studio can be re-sold by OEM customers or integrated into cloud-based SaaS frameworks.

In the past six months, BrainChip Studio and BrainChip Accelerator have been recognised internationally, winning awards from Security Today Magazine in the United States, the Milipol Innovation Award in France, and commendation at the Security and Counterterrorism Expo in the United Kingdom.

BrainChip Studio 2018.1 and BrainChip Accelerator are available immediately.

http://www.brainchipinc.com

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Linear LED controllers do not require inductors for signage and smart-lighting

Thu, Apr 05, 2018

Diodes offers the AL5814, AL5817, AL5815 and AL5816 linear LED controllers, claimed to deliver dimmable and adjustable drive current for LED strings with more than 80 per cent efficiency. The AL58xx series provides a low bill of materials cost for a range of applications in the commercial and industrial areas including signage, instrumentation illumination, lighting of appliance interiors, architectural details and general smart-lighting installations.

Input range is 4.5 to 60V. The AL5814, AL5817, AL5815 and AL5816 linear LED controllers do not require inductors and maintain good EMI performance, making system integration simpler. Internal power dissipation is also minimised compared with other designs due to an external power transistor, says Diodes. The AL58xx series is capable of providing up to 15mA to an external MOSFET or bipolar transistor to drive LED strings. The LED drive current is configured by an external resistor with four per cent reference voltage accuracy and excellent temperature stability. In addition, the AL5815 and AL5816 devices support PWM diming, while the AL5814 and AL5817 devices support both analogue and pulse width modulation (PWM) dimming.

Protection features include over-temperature and input under-voltage lock-out. The AL5814 and AL5817 devices also provide ‘LED open’ protection via a Vfault pin, as well as LED thermal fold-back protection.

The linear controllers exhibits good EMI performance and the wide temperature range of -40 to +105 degree C enables the parts to also operate in harsh environments.

The AL58xx series is available in SOT-25 and thermally-enhanced MSOP-8EP packages.

Diodes manufactures and supplies application specific standard products within the broad discrete, logic, analogue and mixed-signal semiconductor markets. Diodes serves the consumer electronics, computing, communications, industrial, and automotive markets.

The company’s portfolio includes diodes, rectifiers, transistors, MOSFETs, protection devices, function-specific arrays, single gate logic, amplifiers and comparators, Hall-effect and temperature sensors, power management devices, including LED drivers, AC/DC converters and controllers, DC/DC switching and linear voltage regulators, and voltage references along with special function devices, such as USB power switches, load switches, voltage supervisors, and motor controllers. Diodes also has timing, connectivity, switching, and signal integrity solutions for high-speed signals.

Corporate headquarters and Americas’ sales office are located in Plano, Texas and Milpitas, California, USA. Design, marketing, and engineering centres are located in Plano, Milpitas, Taipei, Taoyuan City, and Zhubei City, Taiwan; Manchester, England; and Neuhaus, Germany.

Diodes’ wafer fabrication facility is located in Manchester, with an additional facility located in Shanghai, China. Diodes has assembly and test facilities located in Shanghai, Jinan, Chengdu, and Yangzhou, China, as well as in Hong Kong, Neuhaus and Taipei.

http://www.diodes.com

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Low dropout voltage regulator packs performance into small footprint

Wed, Apr 04, 2018

Trade-offs between quiescent current, output power, dynamic response, and package size are relieved, says STMicroelectronics at the launch of its STLQ020 low dropout (LDO) voltage regulator.

By combining small size with high performance and energy efficiency, the STLQ020 is particularly suitable for use in battery-powered consumer products like smartphones and tablets, smart watches, audio or media devices, and wearables. It helps extend battery life in IoT endpoints such as smart meters and wireless sensors, healthcare devices like wearable monitors, and industrial applications such as factory automation or sensor networking.

Drawing just 300nA quiescent current (Iq), and capable of supplying up to 200mA to the load, power-supply rejection (PSRR), and transient response, the STLQ020 is available in a choice of compact packages which can be as small as a 0.8 x 0.8mm flip-chip4.

The STLQ020’s dedicated low-power design and adaptive bias circuitry is claimed to ensure fast response and a stable output with high PSRR. In addition, dropout voltage as low as 160mV (typical) at maximum load allows longer equipment runtimes as the battery discharges. The 5nA logic-controlled shutdown mode allows the STLQ020 to extend the interval between coin-cell replacements in low-duty-cycle applications, like remote sensors.

With an input voltage range of 2.0 to 5.5V, the STLQ020 can be powered directly from a suitable battery voltage (VBAT) or logic rail. The output voltage can be set between 0.8 and 4.5V, with either fixed-output or adjustable-output versions available. The fixed output voltages are selectable in 50mV increments.

The STLQ020 is in production now, and available as a 2.0 x 2.0mm DFN6, 0.8 x 0.8mm flip-chip4, or 2.1 x 2.0mm SOT323-5L.

A quad-LDO evaluation board (STEVAL-LDO001V1) based on STLQ020 and three other low-dropout (LDO) voltage regulators are available to order.

http://www.st.com

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Low power microcontroller duo extends battery-powered sensors and wearables

Wed, Apr 04, 2018

Two microcontrollers from Maxim Integrated, the MAX32660 and MAX32652 are based on the low-power Arm Cortex-M4F. They are suitable for wearable sensors and battery-powered applications such as IoT sensors, environmental sensors, smartwatches, medical/preventive health wearables, and other size-constrained devices.

The MAX32660 and MAX32652 microcontrollers provide designers with the means to develop advanced applications under restrictive power constraints, says the company. Maxim’s family of Darwin microcontrollers combine its wearable-grade power technology with the biggest embedded memories in their class and what the company claims is some of the most advanced embedded security in the world.

The MAX32660 is characterised by powerful processing in a tiny form factor. Memory, size, power consumption, and processing power are critical features for engineers designing complex algorithms for smarter IoT applications. Existing solutions either have sufficient power consumption but limited processing and memory capabilities, or if they have higher power consumption there are more powerful processors and more memory. The MAX32660 offers designers access to enough memory to run some advanced algorithms and manage sensors (256kbyte flash and 96kbyte SRAM). They also offer power performance down to 50-microW/MHz), and a small form factor of 1.6 x 1.6mm in a WLP. They are also available at a cost-effective price point, adds Maxim, enabling engineers to build more intelligent sensors and systems that are smaller and lower in cost, while also providing a longer battery life.

The MAX32652 is a low power microcontroller with scalable memory. As IoT devices become more intelligent, they require more memory and additional embedded processors which can each be expensive and power-hungry, explains Maxim. The MAX32652 offers an alternative for designers with the low power consumption of an embedded microcontroller with the capabilities of a higher powered applications processor. With 3Mbyte flash and 1Mbyte SRAM integrated on-chip and running up to 120MHz, the MAX32652 can be used in IoT devices that strive to do more processing and provide more intelligence. Integrated high-speed peripherals such as high-speed USB 2.0, secure digital (SD) card controller, a thin-film transistor (TFT) display controller, and a security engine position are integrated. With the added capability to run from external memories over HyperBus or XcellaBus, the MAX32652 can be designed to do even more tomorrow, providing designers a future-proof memory architecture and anticipating the increasing demands of smart devices, Maxim believes.

MAX32660EVKIT# and MAX32652EVKIT# evaluation kits are also both available via Maxim’s website.

http://www.maximintegrated.com.

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Video analysis software adds auto-rotated models, Linux support and an API

Linear LED controllers do not require inductors for signage and smart-lighting

Low dropout voltage regulator packs performance into small footprint

Low power microcontroller duo extends battery-powered sensors and wearables

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