ICs & Semiconductors

Infineon launches ultra-high current density power modules to enable high-performance AI computing

Wed, Oct 09, 2024

Data centres are currently responsible for more than two percent of global energy consumption. Fuelled by AI, this number is expected to grow to up to around seven percent in 2030, matching the current energy consumption of India. Enabling efficient power conversion from grid-to-core is vital to enable superior power densities and thereby advance compute performance while reducing total cost of ownership (TCO). Infineon is therefore launching the TDM2354xD and TDM2354xT dual-phase power modules with best-in-class power density for high-performance AI data centres. These modules enable true vertical power delivery (VPD) and offer industry’s best current density of 1.6 A/mm 2. They follow the TDM2254xD dual-phase power modules introduced by Infineon earlier this year.

“We are proud to enable high-performance AI data centres with our TDM2354xT and TDM2354xD VPD modules. These devices will maximize system performance with Infineon’s trademark quality and robustness, thereby enabling best TCO for data centres,” said Rakesh Renganathan, Vice President Power ICs at Infineon Technologies. “Our industry-leading power devices and packaging technologies, combined with our extensive systems expertise, will further advance high-performance and green computing as part of our mission to drive digitalisation and decarbonisation.”
The TDM2354xD and TDM2354xT modules combine Infineon’s robust OptiMOS 6 trench technology, a chip-embedded package that enables superior power density through enhanced electrical and thermal efficiencies, and a new inductor technology to enable lower profile and therefore, true vertical power delivery. As a result, the modules set new standards in power density and quality to maximize the compute performance and efficiency of AI data centres. The TDM2354xT modules support up to 160 A and are the industry’s first Trans-Inductor Voltage Regulator (TLVR) modules in a small 8 x 8 mm² form factor. Combined with Infineon’s XDP™ controllers, they offer extremely fast transient response and minimise on-board output capacitance by up to 50 percent, further increasing system power density.
The new modules will be showcased at Infineon’s global technology forum OktoberTech 2024 in Silicon Valley on 17 October and at electronica 2024 in Munich from November 12 to 14 (hall C3, booth 502).

https://www.infineon.com/aipowermodules

> Read More

Imagimob’s Edge AI solutions are now available for the AURIX product family

Tue, Oct 08, 2024

Autonomous and automated driving is a megatrend in the automotive industry, along with electrification. AI plays a critical role in this trend, enabling vehicles to detect pedestrians, analyse driver behaviour, recognise traffic signs, and control trajectories, among many other use cases. A key enabler of this is Edge AI, as autonomous and automated driving is highly dependent on the need for AI systems with machine learning capabilities and processors that can handle large amounts of data in parallel, safely, secured, and in real time. To address this challenge, Imagimob, an Infineon company, has enhanced its automotive machine learning portfolio by integrating machine learning capabilities into Infineon’s Automotive ASIL-D complaint MCUs like AURIX TC3x and AURIX TC4x.

“The integration of secured and dependable AI capabilities into microcontroller families is crucial for advancing autonomous driving applications in the automotive industry,” said Thomas Boehm, Senior Vice President Microcontroller at Infineon. “We are proud that our AURIX microcontrollers are now supported by Imagimob Studio, making them accessible to developers worldwide. This highlights our role as a leading innovator in the industry.”

“With the integration of AURIX into our Imagimob Studio, we are bringing full machine learning (ML) compatibility and capabilities to the automotive sector,” said Alexander Samuelsson, CTO of Imagimob. “This means that all the use cases we support with our platform are now also available for Infineon’s AURIX microcontrollers.”

With Imagimob Studio, developers can now create robust ML models for the Edge and deploy them onto Infineon’s proven AURIX MCUs. The process starts with creating machine learning models in Imagimob Studio. Once the AI model is complete, users can select to deploy on the MCUs directly within the platform. They are then guided through steps on how to deploy the code seamlessly, simplifying the implementation of machine learning on MCUs and enabling the creation of sophisticated ML models. In addition, Imagimob Studio offers a sample project for siren detection, demonstrating model creation and deployment. By using the code example, users can also learn how to create acoustic models with AURIX MCUs and a microphone shield. Furthermore, Imagimob has developed new regression models that can be used to calculate remaining battery power, health status, and usage time.

The AURIX TC4x scalable MCU family offers a seamless upgrade path from the AURIX TC3x family of ASIL-D compliant automotive MCUs. This enhanced performance is powered by the next-generation TriCore 1.8. In addition, the AURIX TC4x features a scalable accelerator suite that includes a parallel processing unit (PPU) and multiple intelligent accelerators to support cost-effective AI integration. For the AURIX TC4x family, these advancements translate into enhanced machine learning capabilities, enabling developers to deploy multiple models simultaneously or more complex ones. For instance, while the AURIX TC3x can handle basic siren detection, the AURIX TC4x enables both siren detection and voice interaction simultaneously.

https://www.imagimob.com/studio

> Read More

u-blox extends reach of PointPerfect GNSS correction service via RTCM RTK data format

Tue, Oct 08, 2024

u-blox extends the reach of its PointPerfect GNSS correction service by adding the Radio Technical Commission for Maritime Services (RTCM) data format standard, opening the service to use with all GNSS and real- time kinematics (RTK) receiver hardware.

PointPerfect has until now exclusively delivered the correction data using the SPARTN data format. Designed for increased flexibility, the addition of RTCM now lowers barriers to adoption and expands the addressable market of scaled-up high-precision positioning solutions. The high-precision service works seamlessly with any GNSS RTK receiver module, u-blox or non u-blox, and even with mixed device fleets without a need for integration expertise.

This expansion introduces RTCM users to PointPerfect’s uniquely flexible usage-based pricing plans as an affordable alternative to the rigid high annual service fees of conventional RTK suppliers. The pay-as-you-go plans allow users to pay only for the hours that they use. Pooled plans make it simple to optimise costs by sharing service hours across the whole device fleet.

This expansion of the PointPerfect GNSS correction service will address a broader range of devices in segments that utilise the RTCM data standard, such as robotic lawnmowers, service delivery robots, UAVs and precision agriculture.

The PointPerfect RTCM service expansion provides centimetre-level accuracy in seconds, is simple to use, cost effective, offers seamless coverage over entire continents, countries, and regions, and with 99.9% uptime availability for reliable performance.

https://www.u-blox.com

> Read More

ST reveals Page EEPROM two-in-one memory to boost smart-edge performance and efficiency

Wed, Oct 02, 2024

ST’ Page EEPROM combines the power efficiency and durability of an EEPROM with the capacity and speed of a Flash memory, creating a hybrid memory for applications that face extreme size and power constraints.

The new memories address growing demand for storage in embedded applications, needed to support increasingly sophisticated features and run data-hungry edge-AI algorithms. One example is behind-the-ear hearing aids, where Page EEPROM can reduce the bill of materials and help create products that are slimmer and more comfortable to wear.

In addition to wearables, Page EEPROM is ideal for applications such as healthcare devices, asset trackers, e-bikes, as well as other industrial and consumer products. “The intelligent edge has evolved quickly and is profoundly changing demands on embedded memory storage density, performance, and power consumption,” said Philippe Ganivet, STMicroelectronics EEPROM product line manager. “Our new Page EEPROM is the perfect ultra-low-power memory to complement a microcontroller for remote IoT modules that operate on battery power.”

“ST’s Page EEPROM is the perfect non-volatile memory, a true best-of-both worlds solution that enabled us to achieve the ambitious targets we set when creating the latest generation of our flagship product family of GPS trackers, IoT devices, and all other designs where high performance, high reliability, small size, and low power are required,” said Patrick Kusbel, owner of BitFlip Engineering, one of the first customers to use the new memory ICs. “The M95P is up to 50 times faster yet consumes as little as one-tenth the power and delivers five times the reliability — at 500k writes compared to 100k writes — typical of other parts we used before. It’s a game changer.”

ST’s Page EEPROM family offers densities of 8Mbit, 16Mbit, and 32Mbit, greatly increasing storage over standard EEPROM devices. Embedded smart page-management allows byte-level write operations for processes like data logging, while also supporting page/sector/block erase and page-program up to 512 bytes for efficiently handling firmware over the air (OTA) updates. The devices also allow buffer loading, which can program several pages simultaneously to cut the time for loading software in production. The data-read speed of 320 Mbit/s is about 16 times faster than standard EEPROM, while write-cycle endurance of 500,000 cycles is several times higher than conventional serial Flash.

Also featuring a novel peak-current control, Page EEPROM minimizes power supply noise and prolongs the runtime of battery-operated equipment. The write current is below that of many conventional EEPROMs and there is also a deep power-down mode with fast wakeup that reduces the current to below 1µA.

Longevity is assured, with 100-year data retention. The devices are included in ST’s 10-years product longevity program that guarantees long-term product availability.

The X-NUCLEO-PGEEZ1 expansion board and X-CUBE-EEPRMA1 software package are available now, for users to learn how to interact with Page EEPROM and adopt the new devices in application designs. The software includes a demonstration application that shows how to test the memory’s hybrid architecture and quickly build a proof of concept.

The M95P08, M95P16, and M95P32 Page EEPROMs are in production now and available from $0.50 for the 8Mbit M95P08. The X-NUCLEO-PGEEZ1 is ready to order from the eSTore at the budgetary price of $40.00.

https://www.st.com/page-eeprom

> Read More

About Smart Cities

This news story is brought to you by smartcitieselectronics.com, the specialist site dedicated to delivering information about what’s new in the Smart City Electronics industry, with daily news updates, new products and industry news. To stay up-to-date, register to receive our weekly newsletters and keep yourself informed on the latest technology news and new products from around the globe. Simply click this link to register here: Smart Cities Registration