Embedded Systems

Analog Devices and National Instruments are offering a beta version of the LabVIEW Embedded Module for Blackfin processors as part of a collaboration on embedded system development. The beta version builds on LabVIEW Embedded technology and includes Blackfin-specific, hand-optimised analysis and signal processing functions; integrated I/O such as audio and video DACs, ADCs and CODECs; as well as on-chip debugging. ...

The popularity of embedded computing applications, such as point-of-sale terminal, display and security systems, has led to the creation of a new type of single board computer (SBC) with PC-quality graphics capabilities. According to Andy Stevens, a product manager from Trident Microsystems, embedded SBCs now include radical improvements in the on-board display driver capabilities. Typically for units with 40in. LCD ...

Design of embedded control systems has been greatly simplified with the availability of out-of-the-box development kits which contain hardware and software which will dramatically speed early system development. Suppliers are queuing up to offer development ‘starter kits’ which can also save time for more experienced users. Adlink, Kontron, Arcom and Micro Robotics are among those embedded control board suppliers offering ...

High Wycombe developer Sonaptic is working with Vodafone, Sun Microsystems, Nokia and Ericsson to create a Java-based standard for 3D audio on mobile phones. Java-enabled mobiles are rapidly emerging as an important platform for new types of multimedia services based around the J2ME Java applications suite. An applications programming interface (API), called JSR-234 for mobile video and audio, has been ...

Philips Electronics and Texas Instruments are joining forces to drive the adoption of the worldwide RFID standard known as EPC Generation 2 standard. The collaboration on conformance testing for ensuring interoperability is intended to accelerate deployment of RFID labels, hardware and systems. The royalty-free EPC Gen 2 standard, which is an RFID specification for UHF band centred around 900MHz, is ...

Cars containing multiple cameras will be on the market in the next three to four years, according to the semiconductor industry. “I have been in contact with every German automotive system manufacturer and every German car manufacturer and everyone is working on something connected with cameras,” said Peter Lieberwirth general manager of the automotive segment at Toshiba Electronics, Europe, “and ...

The Government is about to release the specification for its e-passport chip. “We will be rolling out e-passports from the end of the year and our offices will be issuing them by the end of the second quarter next year,” said a spokesman for the Passport Office. Last week the German government announced Philips as the lead system provider for ...

Demand for personal video recorder (PVR) products increased tremendously during the past year, as unit shipments rose from 4.6 million in 2003 to over 11.4 million in 2004. This is according to In-Stat, which said the demand stems from increased consumer awareness about the concept of time-shifting television programming. Both pay-TV service providers and PVR product manufacturers are reaping the ...

Mini camcorders and portable digital video recorders are just a few of the applications Protocom Technology has in mind for the most recent device out of its labs. The Californian company’s GoldenReel PR818S MPEG4-ASP device will provide the processing power behind Samsung’s new Miniket Mega 4-in-1 memory-based camcorder. The Samsung device offers features including PC/Internet and MP3 capabilities and flash ...

Philips and Microsoft have announced non-exclusive agreements to connect PCs with Nexperia-based products. Philips plans to support Microsoft Windows Media Audio and Video and Windows Media Digital Rights Management 10 (DRM) technology in its Nexperia ICs for use in digital media receivers, personal video recorders, portable audio players, IP set-top boxes and video phones. “By supporting Windows Media technology in ...