ICs & Semiconductors Archives - Page 4 of 230

u-blox introduces PointPerfect Global, completing its GNSS correction service portfolio

Tue, May 13, 2025

u-blox has announced PointPerfect Global, the latest addition to its high-precision GNSS correction services. Designed for demanding applications such as precision agriculture, UAV-based mapping, and autonomous outdoor robotics, the new service provides sub-decimetre positioning accuracy worldwide – even in remote locations – via internet and L-band satellite broadcast.

Part of the expanding PointPerfect portfolio, PointPerfect Global completes the u-blox correction services offering—joining PointPerfect Live, the regional nRTK service for the most demanding applications, and PointPerfect Flex, the original PPP-RTK service optimised for wide-ranging and flexible IoT deployments. Together, the portfolio delivers scalable, high-performance positioning solutions that meet even the most demanding customer expectations.

PointPerfect Global delivers PPP-AR (Precise Point Positioning with Ambiguity Resolution) corrections via IP and satellite L-band, enabling convergence times under 2 minutes and <10 cm accuracy. It is optimised for products built on the X20 platform. The u-blox ZED-X20P all-band, high-precision GNSS receiver will be the first to support PointPerfect Global, integrating native L-band support and allowing reliable performance where cellular connectivity is unavailable.

With its broadcast-based global coverage, PointPerfect Global supports scalable deployment across continents without complex regional integration. It enables OEMs and solution providers to bring autonomous systems to market faster, reduce operational complexity, and streamline global logistics. Applications span agriculture, robotics, drones, industrial automation, and automotive, where consistent performance and minimal infrastructure dependency are critical.

Early access to PointPerfect Global will begin in late 2025 and general availability is expected in H1 2026.

https://www.u-blox.com

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NXP unveils third-generation imaging radar processors

Thu, May 08, 2025

NXP Semiconductors have unveiled its new S32R47 imaging radar processors in 16 nm FinFET technology, building on NXP’s proven expertise in the imaging radar space. The third generation of imaging radar processors delivers up to twice the processing power versus the previous generation, alongside improved system cost and power efficiency. In combination with NXP’s mmWave radar transceivers, power management and in-vehicle networking solutions, the S32R47 family meets functional safety ASIL ISO 26262 ASIL B(D) requirements and prepares the automotive industry for new levels of autonomous driving.

According to Yole Intelligence’s Status of the Radar Industry 2024 report, by 2029, approximately 40% of vehicles entering the road will be passenger cars with driving automation Level 2+(L2+)/ Level 3 (L3) as well as an increasing number of vehicles with Level 4 (L4). To serve the fast-growing autonomous driving market for SDVs, automotive OEMs and tier 1 suppliers need to improve radar performance as it is essential for safe, advanced autonomy features such as piloted driving or fully automated parking.

“The S32R47 can efficiently process three times, or more, antenna channels in real time than today’s production solutions. It enables improved imaging radar resolution, sensitivity and dynamic range – required by demanding autonomous driving use cases – while still meeting the stringent power and system cost targets set by OEMs for volume production,” said Meindert van den Beld, Senior Vice President & General Manager, Radar & ADAS.

Imaging radar leverages richer point cloud data for more detailed modelling of the environment. This is a key enabler for AI based perception systems which allow for assisted and autonomous driving in the most challenging environmental conditions, such as complex urban scenarios.

The S32R47 integrates a high-performance multi-core radar processing system, allowing denser point cloud output and enhanced algorithms that enable next-generation ADAS systems. This results in better separability of objects, improved detection reliability and more accurate classification of objects such as vulnerable road users or lost cargo.

The new solution delivers up to 2x processing performance in the radar MPU in a 38% smaller IC footprint. It also includes AI/ML support for features like enhanced Direction of Arrival (DoA) processing and object classification.

https://www.nxp.com

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AKM launches new series of power management ICs for energy harvesting

Wed, May 07, 2025

Asahi Kasei Microdevices (AKM) has developed the AP4413, a new series of ultra-low current power management ICs (PMICs) ideal for battery charging systems used in energy harvesting applications. The AP4413 series enables efficient battery charging while consuming an extremely low current of 52 nA and features four variants with voltage threshold characteristics matching several common rechargeable battery types. The AP4413 comes in a tiny 3.0 × 3.0 × 0.37 mm HXQFN package and has been in mass production since February of 2025.

Equipped with AKM’s proprietary ultra-low current voltage monitoring system, the AP4413 series enables autonomous charging of a small rechargeable battery via energy harvesting, which is becoming increasingly common across a wide range of applications such as remote controls, Bluetooth trackers, and IoT sensors, which have traditionally used disposable batteries. This is particularly relevant in Europe, where the transition to rechargeable batteries is being promoted by Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 to evaluate the feasibility of phasing out disposable batteries.

These devices allow system designers to utilise small amounts of ambient environmental energy, such as indoor light and body heat, to operate a variety of electronic devices, many of which are battery-operated. This is especially beneficial for IoT environmental sensors such as CO2 monitors that are installed in locations where line power is not easily accessible, and where battery replacement would be difficult.

Using energy harvesting to charge batteries is challenging, because the harvested voltage and current tend to be small and often unstable. It is therefore essential to minimise the PMIC’s power consumption and prevent excessive charging and discharging. The AP4413 series’ ultra-low 52 nA current consumption has minimal impact on a system’s power budget, and its voltage monitoring system prevents rechargeable batteries from becoming completely discharged, allowing for quick startup and/or recovery. Furthermore, the addition of an inline capacitor allows the AP4413 series PMICs to support system operation even when the battery is completely discharged, while recharging it at the same time.

https://www.akm.com

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Microchip introduces MCU family to simplify analog sensor design

Wed, Apr 23, 2025

Microchip has released the PIC16F17576 microcontroller (MCU) product family with integrated low-power peripherals and the ability to precisely measure volatile analog signals.

PIC16F17576 MCUs feature a new low-power comparator and voltage reference combination that can operate while the MCU core is in sleep mode, allowing for continuous analog measurement while consuming less than 3.0 µA of current. The Analog Peripheral Manager (APM) controls which peripherals are active to minimise total energy consumption and enable battery-operated applications to monitor signals effectively without excessive power drain.

Engineered for applications that measure volatile analog signals, PIC16F17576 MCUs include operational amplifiers (op amps) with software-controlled gain ladders. This feature enables a single op amp to switch between multiple gain options, helping mitigate noise while maintaining precision and power efficiency. Equipped with up to four op amps and a 12-bit differential ADC with automated averaging, the MCUs enable precise signal measurement over a wide range of inputs.

“Sensor systems can quickly become complex, often requiring multiple analog components that add board size, cost and power draw,” said Greg Robinson, corporate vice president of Microchip’s MCU business unit. “With the integrated analog features in our low-power PIC16F17576 MCUs, we’re cutting that complexity. You can eliminate parts and reduce power consumption, cutting costs and simplifying the overall design process.”

PIC16F17576 MCUs are well suited for measuring analog signals in a number of industries, including environmental and industrial monitoring, smart home and building automation. Key applications include vibration and strain measurement, flow metering, gas detection, cold asset tracking and motion sensing.

Development Tools
PIC16F17576 MCUs are supported by MPLAB X Integrated Development Environment (IDE) and MPLAB Code Configurator which allows designers to easily manage the functionality of the APM and analog peripherals. The devices are compatible with Microchip’s Curiosity Nano EV14L29A development board and MPLAB PICkit development tools.

https://www.microchip.com

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u-blox introduces PointPerfect Global, completing its GNSS correction service portfolio

NXP unveils third-generation imaging radar processors

AKM launches new series of power management ICs for energy harvesting

Microchip introduces MCU family to simplify analog sensor design

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