ICs & Semiconductors

Rutronik UK supports STM32MP1 processor

Wed, May 15, 2019

System memory for the recently introduced STM32MP1 multi-core microprocessor series includes compute and graphics support combined with power-efficient real-time control. The aim is to aid the development of high-performance solutions for industrial, consumer, smart home, health and wellness applications.

Rutronik UK has combined STM32MP1 technology with approved technology partners Nanya in the form of a 4Gbit DDR3L SDRAM 16-bit and also Toshiba Memory’s 4GByte eMMC. The multi-core microprocessors and the memories, recommended by ST, are available from the distributor.

Engineers can used the STM32MP1 microprocessor series to develop a range of applications using the new heterogeneous architecture that combines up to two Arm Cortex-A7 and a Cortex-M4 core. This flexible architecture performs fast processing and real-time tasks on a single chip, always achieving the greatest power efficiency, reports Rutronik UK. The STM32MP1 embeds a 3D graphics processor unit (GPU) to support human machine interface (HMI) displays.

Rutronik also offers an evaluation board, the STM32MP157C-EV1 and two Discovery kits, the STM32MP157A-DK1 and STM32MP157C-DK2.

A firmware package, STM32CubeMX, is designed for software and hardware configuration of both the Cortex-A7 and Cortex-M4 cores. It handles C-code generation for the M4 core, DDR SDRAM interface configuration, and tuning tool. It can also generate Linux device trees.

Rutronik UK operates as an independent company in the UK. Its parent company, Rutronik Elektronische Bauelemente, is a broadline distributor for semiconductors, passive and electromechanical components in addition to storage technologies, displays and boards and wireless products. The markets that the company primarily targets include automotive, medical, industrial, home appliance, energy and lighting. It also offers support in the areas of product development and design, individual logistics and supply chain management.

http://www.rutronik.com

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Programmable PMIC increases ADAS reliability

Tue, May 14, 2019

Space can be saved in advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) and reliability increased with the L5965 power management integrated circuit (PMIC), says ST Microelectronics.

The seven-output automotive PMIC enables more compact and reliable electronic control units leveraging direct operation from battery voltage with register-programmable output voltages and sequencing and integrated functional-safety mechanisms, explains ST Microelectronics.

With seven regulated outputs, a single L5965 can power an entire camera- or radar-based driver-assistance system including the sensors, memory ICs, processor, and CAN interface circuitry. One-time programmable (OTP) cells for setting the output voltages and sequencing allow the user to configure the PMIC for a variety of ADAS and other in-car applications.

The L5965 can operate directly from the vehicle battery which allows its use without a pre-regulator. Its register-programmable outputs also eliminate voltage setting resistors, and the on-chip regulators can be used without external compensation circuitry.  The PMIC reduces both footprint and bill of materials. The savings in external components also increase system reliability and enhance accuracy, explains ST Microelectronics, by eliminating fluctuation due to environmental effects on external components.

The integrated functional-safety features are designed in compliance with ISO 26262 and enable systems to fulfil Automotive Safety Integrity Level (ASIL) requirements up to ASIL-D. The mechanisms include a failure status pin, voltage monitors, ground-loss comparators, analogue and digital built in self-test (BIST), and temperature monitors.

Samples of the L5965 are available now in a small and low-cost 7.0 x 7.0mm QFN48 package that requires no heatsink.

http://www.st.com

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Ray tracing technology uses light modelling for realism

Mon, May 13, 2019

PowerVR Ray Tracing technology is now available for licensing from Imagination Technologies. The intellectual property (IP) enables realistic 3D graphics for any market, says the company.

PowerVR Ray Tracing technology uses light modelling techniques for realistic image rendering that can be integrated into graphics processing units (GPUs) across mobile, automotive, server and other markets.

The PowerVR Ray Tracing architecture is an efficient method of processing billions of rays per second (Gigarays, or GRays). According to Imagination, it makes it realistic for SoC manufacturers to offer ray tracing capable hardware within a range of power and thermal envelopes. The technology is particularly suited to adding realistic ray traced light, shadow and transparency capabilities to traditional GPUs and can even be used to create full ray tracing solutions.

Ray tracing available today is used for PC and consoles but does not offer the efficiency required for mobile, augmented reality (AR) or automotive applications, explains Imagination. Its approach is to design the architecture from the ground up for power efficiency with the ability to scale from battery-powered embedded designs to large-scale server farms.

“We are confident that ray tracing is going to happen across many applications, and in a 5G world it is likely to be very disruptive. Our ray tracing architecture matches much larger and less power efficient solutions gigaray for gigaray,” said Nigel Leeder, executive vice president, PowerVR.

Imagination PowerVR Ray Tracing technology available for licensing today includes patents, architecture, GPU integration references and standards-based application program interface (API) support for easy application integration.

Imagination holds over 220 patents and applications based on its ray tracing technology.

Imagination’s PowerVR Ray Tracing IP technology is available now for licensing. It can be used in conjunction with a wide range of GPU architectures, including Imaginations’ PowerVR graphics cores.

Imagination offers a broad range of silicon IP which includes the key processing blocks needed to create the SoCs that power all mobile, consumer and embedded electronics. Its software IP, infrastructure technologies and system solutions enable its customers to get to market quickly with complete and highly differentiated SoC platforms. Imagination’s licensees include many of the world’s leading semiconductor manufacturers, network operators and OEMs/ODMs who are creating some of the world’s most iconic products.

http://www.imgtec.com

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Infineon introduces first current sensor in industrial family

Thu, May 09, 2019

The first member of Infineon Technology’s current sensor family for industrial applications is the XENSIV TLI4971.

The family will consist of stable, coreless Hall sensors. Users can program individual product parameters to tailor the device for current range, over-current threshold and the output mode.

The XENSIV TLI4971 is the first sensor in the family to be released. It covers measurement ranges from ±25 to ±120A and is designed for industrial applications such as electric drives up to 50kW or photovoltaic (PV) inverters. Further members of the product family to follow in 2020 will be qualified for automotive applications, says Infineon.

The coreless open loop current sensor offers an accurate and stable current measurement which is provided as an analogue output voltage. The sensor uses Infineon’s temperature and stress compensation for sensitivity error as low as two per cent at room temperature. It can be reduced below two per cent with a single point in-system calibration, advises Infineon. Differential measurement with two Hall cells ensures high accuracy even in a noisy environment with cross-talk from adjacent current lines or magnetic stray fields, adds the company.

The TLI4971 has two output pins for fast over-current signals. Customers can program the threshold levels of the over-current signals and adopt them to system requirements without the need of further external components. The signals can be used for pre-warning and system shut-down. In addition, the device also provides a signal in case of an over- or under-voltage condition for the supply voltage.

As the design is coreless, the TLI4971 fits into an 8.0 x 8.0 x 1.0mm leadless QFN type package (TISON-8). The layout of the current rail provides best in class thermal performance for currents up to 120 A, at no extra cost, claims Infineon. The sensor is intended for use in high voltage application and incorporates galvanic isolation up to 1.1kV (maximum repetitive isolation voltage V IORM).

The XENSIV TLI4971 will begin sampling in August and will be launched in September 2019.

http://www.infineon.com

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