Maxim has announced a suite of integrated circuits and reference designs for industrial automation using IO-Link communications. IO-Link is a short-range (<20m) point-to-point industrial bus developed to connect sensors and actuators to a local hub, from which the data is transferred to a remote PLC (programmable logic controller) via Ethernet or other long-range field bus. “The IO-Link interface allows every ...

One of the key moves which propelled Arm into the titan it is today was the 2004 takeover of the physical IP company Artisan. Back in 2004, when Arm had revenues of under $150 million, it was seen by many as a very bold step to pay $900 million for the third party physical IP supplier Artisan when most IDMs ...

Over lunch with Sir Robin Saxby, pondering the chip industry’s past and present, the inevitable question came up – what are you doing under the restrictions? Lockdown hobbies are the topic of the day – DIY,  gardening, cooking,  cocktails, book clubs, yoga etc – with the more ambitious writing books, learning languages, learning to paint, learning how to play an instrument, taking online degrees ...

Leti today announced a new collaboration with Intel on advanced 3D and packaging technologies for processors to advance chip design. The research will focus on assembly of smaller chiplets, optimizing interconnection technologies between the different elements of microprocessors, and on new bonding and stacking technologies for 3D ICs, especially for HPC applications.  In 2019, Intel introduced a 3D-stacking technology called ...

We’ve covered Moogs in various ways before on Electronics Weekly – even an April Fool’s version – and here’s another Moog synthesizer story. Moog Music is doing a limited re-issue of the analog synthesizer that you construct yourself. Suitable of course, in theory, as it was modular in design. “Werkstatt-01 is a patchable analog synthesizer kit based on classic Moog ...

SiFive has created a PC-style motherboard as part of a platform for native Risc-V code development that “enables developers to create the Risc-V-based software they need for Risc-V platforms”, it said. “From real-time operating systems to custom Linux distributions, and the compilers, libraries, and applications that go with product design. Called ‘HiFive Unmatched’, at its heart is the SiFive FU740 ...

Maxim is measuring blood oxygen, ECG, heart rate, body temperature and activity data in its third generation of wearable health monitor reference design, this time entirely wrist-worn. Called Health Sensor Platform 3.0 (aka MAXREFDES104#), it comes in a ready-to-wear wrist form with algorithms to provide heart rate, heart-rate variability (HRV), respiration rate (RR), SpO2 , body temperature, sleep quality and ...

Time once more to see which are the five most popular articles on ElectronicsWeekly.com that were written in the last seven days, using the figures from Google Analytics. It’s a chance to see what your peers have been reading. What areas are covered? There’s FCC clearance for OneWeb, a lab-in-a-fab for piezo MEMS, exploratory drone swarms,  Cree selling its LED business and Imec ...

Essex-based Pickering Interfaces has announced a PXI-based module that simulates current loop based sensors in industrial control applications – a PXIe version is also available. Called ’41-765 Analog output/current loop simulator’, it is intended to tests transceivers using 4-20mA current loops. In addition, is also simulates other interfaces including 0-24mA, +/-24mA, 0-5V, +/-5V, and +/-12mV. A channel can source or sink, emulating ...

Alps Alpine has revealed more about its high-power haptic vibrator, following Dialog Semi’s announcment of the driver chip inside it yesterday. Haptic Reactor Heavy Type is intended for touch feedback, primarily in automotive applications. “There is currently growing demand for vibrational feedback, which allows more intuitive control and does not require any shift of gaze,” according to the company. Heavy Type ...