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Monthly Archives: June 2023

Software converts STM32G0 MCU to UCSI USB Type-C PPM

ST X-CUBE-UCSI expansion package

STMicroelectronics has released software to make its STM32G0 32bit Cortex-M0+ microcontroller into a UCSI ‘platform policy manager’ (PPM) to manage USB Type-C connectors – in particular for its STM32MP135F-DK development board. UCSI is the USB Type-C connector system software interface, controlled by a specification from the USB Implementers Forum. The software, ‘X-CUBE-UCSI expansion package’, consists of libraries, drivers, sources, APIs ...

Farnell signs global distribution agreement with Seeed Studio

Farnell stocks Seeed Studios

Farnell has signed a deal to distribute Seeed Studio products. “California-based Seeed Studio is an IoT technology company which specialises in hardware research, production and sales for edge computing, network communication and smart sensing applications,” according to Farnell. “Farnell customers will benefit from flexible customisation options and low minimum order quantity (MOQ) requirements.” Products include the Nvidia Jetson based reComputer, ...

Downturn Or Structural Change?

Back in the downturn of 1998, a chip CEO was interpreting it not as a traditional market fall but as a structural change in the industry. “This is not a downturn but a major structural change in the industry,” said John Dickson, president of Lucent Microelectronics. “Two or three years ago people were talking about a ‘new paradigm of uninterrupted ...

Do you have problems with DesignSpark Mechanical?

I have been a long-term user of DesignSpark Mechanical from RS (a re-badged and simplified version of SpaceClaim). In January, RS re-jigged its DesignSpark offerings, and now anything before DSM version 6 will not work – but you do not get a message why. Later: some annoying issues with DSM6 have appeared You did indeed get a ‘May 31 2023 ...

Dutch government restricts ASML DUV exports

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Today the Dutch government has published new regulations regarding export controls of semiconductor equipment, reports ASML. As announced earlier in March, the new export controls focus on advanced chip manufacturing technology, including the most advanced deposition and immersion lithography systems. Due to these export control regulations, ASML will need to apply for export licenses with the Dutch government for all ...

Board accepts four rotary encoders and outputs I2C

AdaFruit quad rotary encoder module

Adafruit has made an I2C interface for four rotary encoders. It comes in the form of a PCB with four footprints that accept one of the most common rotary encoder forms (Bournes PEC11 horizontal style), allowing the user to pick devices with the appropriate step-count per revolution, with or without a push switch. “The [pre-soldered] on-board microcontroller is programmed with ...

“It’s totally nuts,” says AI CEO

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“It’s totally nuts,” says Mustafa Suleyman (pictured), CEO of Inflection AI referring to the huge interest in AI. Suleyman has just raised $1.3 billion with investment coming from Microsoft, Nvidia, Bill Gates and Eric Schmidt the former Google CEO. The total amount it has raised so far is $1.525 billion. In May, Inflection launched a conversational chatbot called Pi. The ...

Harwin signs TME

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Harwin has added Transfer Multisort Elektronik (TME) to its distribution network. Headquartered in Ustronna, in central Poland, TME has been serving the European electronics market for over 30 years. An array of different Harwin product lines will be kept in stock at TME’s  logistics centre near Łódź. “The addition of TME as a franchised distributor will bring an extra dimension ...