ICs & Semiconductors

The 8A34001 system synchroniser is part of Renesas’ ClockMatrix family of precision timing. It is used in AMD’s Zynq UltraScale+ RFSoC DFE ZCU670 evaluation kit and reference design for 5G New Radio (5G NR) and generates low jitter, precision timing signals based on the IEEE 1588 precision time protocol (PTP) and synchronous Ethernet (SyncE).

It exceeds next-generation 5G radio requirements including synchronisation and offers full ITU-T G.8273.2 T-BC/T-TSC class C and D compliance. Renesas offers open source SYNCE4L and PCM4L, that is built on open source PTP4L, and device drivers already in a Linux kernel for the 8A34001. Alternative solutions rely on proprietary software that can be difficult for end customers to integrate and customise on to their software platforms.

The AMD ZCU670 is an evaluation and development platform based on Zynq UltraScale+ RFSoC DFE, the latest AMD silicon for 5G NR targeting both FR1 and FR2 (mmWave) O-RAN applications. 

The 8A34001 performance has been verified on the ZCU670 evaluation platform and has been shown to exceed the 5G system requirements, reported Renesas. The relevant compliance reports and test results are available from Renesas on request. The 8A34001 system synchroniser will be made available as part of the AMD O-RAN reference design where it is used to implement the S-plane functionality in an O-RU reference design. 

Renesas offers a broad silicon timing portfolio in the industry, including a wide range of buffers, oscillators and clock synthesiser products, to resolve timing challenges in wireless infrastructure, networking, data centres and consumer applications. 

The AMD Zynq UltraScale+ RFSoC DFE ZCU670 evaluation kit is available today for qualified customers. The entire ClockMatrix family of timing devices is available from Renesas and its authorised distributors. 

http://www.renesas.com 

Linear current regulators from STMicroelectronics provide dynamic automotive lighting control using the CAN FD Light protocol. The driver is intended for use with OLED lamps for bright, homogeneous and high contrast lighting from a small surface area.

The L99LDLH32 has 32 regulated current sources, independently programmable from 1.0 to 15mA. The regulator can drive individual pixels in external and interior lighting applications. Global dimming is also provided, with eight-bit resolution. The driver is powered at the vehicle battery voltage and produces outputs of up to 35V to cover a wide emitter forward voltage spread.

The integrated CAN FD Light protocol handler and transceiver simplify connection to the vehicle’s communication infrastructure and controlling domain ECU (electronic control unit). CAN FD Light’s synchronised commander / responder communication is engineered for controlling simple devices such as lights and sensors. According to ST, this saves costly external components such as timing crystals. 

The data bandwidth of 1Mbit per second enables designers to create complex animated light patterns and permits smoothly modulated transitions and dimming.

On-chip memory cells allow programming of parameters, such as current level and PWM dimming for standalone operation, to provide a failsafe mode in the event of the communication bus or controller malfunction. 

The L99LDLH32’s features for functional safety include a fault-status pin, voltage and temperature monitors, a programmable timeout watchdog, short-circuit and open-load detection. In addition, frequency dithering minimises electromagnetic emissions.

Consequently, target applications include safety critical lighting such as taillights, stoplights, and turn indicators. 

The driver is monolithically integrated using ST’s BCD9sL process. It is AEC-Q100 qualified and packaged in a 7.0 x 7.0mm QFN48 device with wettable flanks and an exposed thermal pad to aid dissipation

http://www.st.com