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HiFi DSP boosts audio and neural network processing

Thu, Nov 01, 2018

The first DSP optimised for speech and audio processing, the Tensilica HiFi 5 is the fifth generation HiFi DSP from Cadence. It is the first IP core optimised for high-performance far-field processing and artificial intelligence (AI)-based speech recognition processing, according to Cadence. This version of the HiFi DSP offers two times audio processing and four time neural network (NN) processing improvements compared with the earlier HiFi 4 DSP. The device can be used for voice-controlled user interfaces in digital home assistants and automotive infotainment.

Advanced DSP algorithms are rapidly evolving to eliminate noise and isolate the speakers’ voice for increased understanding, requiring higher processing capabilities and improved energy efficiency. At the same time, NN-based speech recognition algorithms are performing more tasks locally, rather than in the cloud, due to concerns of latency, privacy and network availability.

The DSP includes five very long instruction word (VLIW)-slot architecture capable of issuing two 128-bit loads per cycle. There is also twice the MAC capability of the HiFi 4 DSP for pre- and post-processing, including support for eight 32 x 32-bit or 16 16 x 16-bit MACs per cycle, optional eight single-precision floating-point MACs per cycle, four times MAC capability, compared with the HiFi 4 DSP, for NN processing.

The HiFi NN library offers an optimised set of library functions commonly used in NN processing (especially speech). These library functions can easily be integrated into popular machine learning frameworks.

The DSP also has software compatibility with the complete HiFi product line totalling over 300 HiFi-optimised audio and voice codecs and audio enhancement software packages.

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https://www.cadence.com

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600V GaN FET supports applications up to 10kW

Tue, Oct 30, 2018

Claimed to double power density in industrial and telecomms applications, the LMG341x family of high-voltage GaN FETs has been announced by Texas Instruments.

The 600V GaN FETs of 50 and 70-mOhm power stages support applications from sub 100W to 10kW. The FETs enable designers to create smaller, more efficient and higher-performing designs compared to silicon FETs in AC/DC power supplies, robotics, renewable energy, grid infrastructure, telecomms and personal electronics applications.

The LMG341x family devices provide an alternative to traditional cascade and standalone GaN FETs by integrating functional and protection features to simplify design, says TI. This enable greater system reliability and optimisation of the performance of high-voltage power supplies. With integrated current limiting of up to 100 nanoseconds and over-temperature detection, the devices protect against unintended shoot-through events and prevent thermal runaway. System interface signals enable a self-monitoring capability.

TI’s integrated GaN power stage doubles power density and reduces losses by 80 per cent compared to silicon MOSFETs, explains TI. Each device is capable of fast, 1MHz switching frequencies and slew rates of up to 100V/nanoseconds.

The family of GaN FETs is backed by 20 million hours of device reliability testing, including accelerated and in-application hard switch testing.

The LMG3410R050, LMG3410R070 and LMG3411R070are available now in 8.0 x 8.0mm split-pad, quad flat no-lead (QFN) packaging.

Visitors to the Texas Instruments stand C4-131 at electronica (13 – 16 November at Messe Munchen, Germany) will see a 10kW cloud-enabled grid link demonstration, jointly developed by TI and Siemens. The demonstration uses TI’s LMG3410R050 600V GaN FET with integrated driver and protection, enabling engineers to achieve 99 per cent efficiency and up to 30 per cent reduction in power component size compared to a traditional silicon design.

Texas Instruments is a semiconductor design and manufacturing company that develops analogue integrated circuits (ICs) and embedded processors.

http://www.TI.com

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Farnell element14 adds Symbisa IoT deployment and data monitoring

Tue, Oct 30, 2018

Combining hardware, mobile connectivity and easy access to data to make the IoT accessible, Hanhaa’s Symbisa is an Excel-integrated IoT device that is now available from Farnell element14.

The Symbisa module is an all-in-one, always-connected device, approximately the size of a smartphone, that carries sensors capable of detecting and collecting environmental information including GPS location, orientation, temperature, light and humidity. Typical applications include the monitoring of temperature and humidity of greenhouses or storage areas, or tracking equipment on hire, including whether it has been in an accident or dropped in transit.

Based on Microsoft Excel and with an Excel add-in, it enables users to bring real-world data streams directly into any desktop or mobile device that runs Excel for Office 365. Each Symbisa sensor is associated with a custom function in Excel, as are pre-configured events, meaning sensor data flows directly into Excel worksheet cells. Users can also push data from Excel up to a unit’s e-ink display. It can therefore be used by anyone with basic spreadsheet knowledge, says the company, to explore the possibilities of the IoT, interpreting sensor data, developing dashboards and triggering events that require follow-on actions in a matter of minutes – without coding, engineering capabilities, or a WiFi or network link-up.

Connectivity is through Hanhaa’s secure global mobile network which charges by how often data is captured rather than the amount of data used. Users can send messages or barcodes direct from Excel to be displayed on the e-ink display on the module, ready for a person or machine to read and action in the field.

Key sensor parameters are location accuracy, with standard GNSS resolution down to three meters provided with the position dilution of precision (PDoP) parameter). Symbisa also detects shock up to ±16g, ambient light at 560nm and has a pressure sensing range of 260 to 1260 hPa and humidity sensing range of five to 90 per cent non-condensing. It operates at -15 to +50 degrees C.

The Symbisa board measures 130 x 100 x 10.5mm and weighs 160g and has quad band GSM radio for communications. Units also carry an e-ink display for text and/or barcode messaging, a battery sufficient for over two weeks’ standalone use, and a USB 2.0 connector for re-charging or hard-wired configuration.

Symbisa is exclusively available from Farnell element14 in Europe and Newark element14 in North America.

http://www.element14.com/symbisa

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RS Components offers UrsaLeo Pi for IoT-sensor development

Fri, Oct 26, 2018

Based on the Raspberry Pi compute engine, the UrsaLeo Pi development kit delivers all the functionality of the UrsaLeo UltraLite development kit at a lower price, says distributor RS Components.

The development kit combines Silicon Labs Thunderboard 2 sensor module with a Raspberry Pi development board, to deliver all the functionality of the UrsaLeo UltraLite development kit at a lower price. There is less debug support and restrictions on hardware re-use, but the kit offers price-conscious development for sectors such as industry 4.0, automotive diagnostics, healthcare, and general data monitoring, according to RS Components.

The Thunderboard 2 module contains temperature, humidity, UV, ambient light, barometric pressure, indoor air quality, and gas sensors, a six-axis inertial sensor, a digital microphone, and a Hall sensor. The integrated Silicon Labs EFR32 Mighty Gecko multi-protocol 2.4GHz radio supports Bluetooth Low Energy, Thread, ZigBee, or proprietary short-range protocols. Sample applications and application program interfaces (APIs) are provided to manage sensors, run diagnostics, and share information with enterprise software or business intelligence applications.

Like the UrsaLeo Lite, UrsaLeo Pi is ready to connect to the UrsaLeo platform, which allows users to view sensor data and launch IoT applications such as storage and analytics from within a customised dashboard. New sensors can be added simply, and additional users can be invited, for the sharing of data and co-development of projects while protecting the owner’s Google Cloud account information.

UrsaLeo also provides a customisable dashboard and user-definable events to trigger alerts (texts, emails and actions). Up to 50Mbyte of data per month can be sent to the cloud platform, free of charge, by a single user.

The UrsaLeo Pi is in stock now at RS in the EMEA and Asia Pacific regions.

RS Components is a global multi-channel distributor, offering more than 500,000 industrial and electronics products, sourced from over 2,500 leading suppliers, and provide a range of services to over one million customers. It has operations in 32 countries and ships more than 50,000 parcels a day.

http://www.rs-online.com

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HiFi DSP boosts audio and neural network processing

600V GaN FET supports applications up to 10kW

Farnell element14 adds Symbisa IoT deployment and data monitoring

RS Components offers UrsaLeo Pi for IoT-sensor development

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