Electronic Design Technology-EDN Asia

Ultra-sensitive QTC Ultra Sensor avoids light loss
Implementing wakeup and non-motion detection
Sharp's solar cell achieves 44.4% conversion efficiency
Organic image sensor offers improved dynamic range
Silicon-based nanoparticles to cut LED production costs
Altera outs Generation 10 FPGAs and SoCs
How to extract M2M automotive data
Understanding DO-254 requirements traceability
Sensor-less gesture recognition enabled by WiFi
Prying Eyes: iFixit opens up cheaper iPod Touch
Radio achieves 25bit/s per Hz of spectral efficiency
Graphene image sensor detects broad light spectrum

Ultra-sensitive QTC Ultra Sensor avoids light loss

Peratech's QTC Ultra Sensor is so sensitive that it can be placed behind the OLED display to detect finger touches on the front of the display, which results to no loss of light and more efficient battery usage.

Implementing wakeup and non-motion detection

MEMS accelerometers can output different kinds of interrupt signals. Learn about a method of using one accelerometer interrupt pin for both wakeup and non-motion detection to automatically switch on and off the screen.

Sharp's solar cell achieves 44.4% conversion efficiency

Japanese electronics manufacturer Sharp has developed a concentrator triple-junction compound solar cell that achieves 44.4% conversion efficiency, as certified by the Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy.

Organic image sensor offers improved dynamic range

The organic CMOS image sensor developed by Japanese companies Panasonic and Fujifilm can capture a dark subject with vivid colours and rich textures due to its 88dB dynamic range .

Silicon-based nanoparticles to cut LED production costs

Researchers at the University of Washington have created a low-cost material using silicon-based nanoparticles that soften the harsh, blue light emitted by LEDs, resulting in a warmer shade.

Altera outs Generation 10 FPGAs and SoCs

Altera unveils Generation 10 of its Stratix and Arria FPGAs and SoCs, which include embedded processors. The Stratix 10 devices leverage Intel's 14nm Tri-Gate process, while the Arria 10 devices leverage TSMC's 20nm process.

How to extract M2M automotive data

With the growth of M2M technology adoption, vehicle OEMs are now looking into how the valuable data produced from in-car electronics can be gathered in real time and used to provide additional services.

Understanding DO-254 requirements traceability

PLDs, FPGAs and ASICs used in commercial airborne hardware are subject to the stringent development process outlined in the DO-254 guidance. Know the rationale behind requirements traceability, including its purpose and resulting benefits.

Sensor-less gesture recognition enabled by WiFi

By using an adapted WiFi router and a few wireless devices, users could control their electronics from any room in the home with a simple gesture. The technology developed by University of Washington researchers have no need for cameras or sensors.

Prying Eyes: iFixit opens up cheaper iPod Touch

Apple has quietly launched its updated 5^th Generation 16GB iPod Touch recently and this cheaper version is creating quite a stir. iFixit dives into their 5th Gen iPod Touch 16GB teardown with the usual gusto and here are juiciest bits.

Radio achieves 25bit/s per Hz of spectral efficiency

Mimotech's Starburst Janus, a high-capacity point-to-point radio designed for last mile LTE, achieves 25bit/s per Hz of spectral efficiency using multiple antennas, which enables data rates of several Gbit/s on a single frequency channel.

Graphene image sensor detects broad light spectrum

Singaporean researchers from Nanyang Technological University created a graphene-based image sensor that's 1,000 times more sensitive to light than current low-cost imaging sensors and uses 10 times less energy as it operates at lower voltages.

Design Center

Automotive
Communications/Network
Computing/Peripherals
Consumer Electronics
IC/Board/Systems Design
Industrial/Mil/Aero
Medical
Power/Smart Energy
Test & Measurement

Automotive

Achieve progressive regenerative braking
Read about the theory behind a simple and effective technique that uses the motor speed sensing.

Solder-free car electronic systems manufacturing
Know the key advantages of compliant pin technologies as well as the important design guidelines.

Achieve high-quality wireless audio in the car
Car drivers and passengers are expecting the same functionality and freedom associated with a wire-free environment.

Eliminating automotive data-net bottleneck
Read about how to avoid cabling and connector issues with a high-speed vehicle network technology.

Basics of automotive cabin climate control
There are different methods for delivering the perfect climate for individual passengers, but they all rely on similar components.

Communications/Network

Overcome hurdles in high-voltage connector design
Here are the most common design road blocks and some tips on how to avoid and overcome them.

Employ middleware for energy harvesting networks
The middleware that simplifies the integration of energy harvesting wireless technology into networks is now a reality.

Oscilloscope for EMI debugging? Really?
New digital oscilloscopes bring EMI debugging capabilities to the design engineer's desk.

The lowdown on narrowband PLC (Part 2)
The second instalment focuses on the typical applications and implementation challenges.

Protect networked embedded systems from intrusion
Recent technological advances feature protection without sacrificing system performance, power cost or board space.

Computing/Peripherals

Is your process up to the obsolescence challenge?
It is important to have the right processes in place for dealing with obsolete end-of-life components.

Overcome the embedded CPU performance hurdle
Learn about the silicon limitations, how they affect CPU performance and how to use multi-core design to overcome these.

Algorithm for lossy image compression using FPGA
Here's a look at a novel algorithm for lossy compression and its comparison with existing techniques.

Examining the underlying technologies for NVM
Explore non-volatile memory options that may address industry objectives for greater scalability, performance and efficiency.

Windows 8 upgrade: Booting issues on EFI systems
Your OS will usually not boot when you decide to manage EFI boot options or migrate to an EFI-based computer?from?another?one.

Consumer Electronics

Prying Eyes: iFixit opens up cheaper iPod Touch
The only visual difference between the new and newer iPod Touch is colour and the absence of a rear camera and Touch Loop.

Boost high-end active speaker performance
Achieve the best audio quality from high end active speakers using digital active crossovers.

Prying Eyes: What makes up a 1TB NAS drive
An external NAS drive almost turned into a perfectly functioning doorstop, but it was donated to science for a teardown.

What's responsible for the recent LED advances?
Key developments in manufacturing have enabled current LEDs to provide high performance and space savings.

An overview of photometry applications, trends
Read about various pulse-oximeter trends and engineering advances in this area.

IC/Board/Systems Design

Understanding DO-254 requirements traceability
Know the rationale behind requirements traceability including its purpose and resulting benefits when done correctly.

Equations, impact of setup and hold time
Here's a look at the equations for setup time and hold time, as well as the relationships between two talking flops.

FPGAs, multi-core CPUs alter embedded design scene
Find out how FPGAs, multi-core CPUs and graphical programming environments are changing embedded system design.

SoCs combine MPU flexibility, FPGA performance
Embedded-system architectures built on MPUs and FPGAs offer adaptability across diverse applications.

Overcome the embedded CPU performance hurdle
Learn about the silicon limitations, how they affect CPU performance and how to use multi-core design to overcome these.

Industrial/Mil/Aero

Overcome hurdles in high-voltage connector design
Here are the most common design road blocks and some tips on how to avoid and overcome them.

The BigDog robot leads the pack
BigDog, a four-legged, three feet tall and three feet long, 109kg dog-like robot can manoeuvre up a muddy slope and carry a 154kg load.

LED ergonomic displays for industrial apps
Here's a roundup of a number of the basic types of LED components that might be used in original equipment designs.

Understanding Stuxnet and embedded security
Find out why we shouldn't fixate on Stuxnet, what questions we should be asking and where we should go from here.

Engineers create tiny terahertz imager
The tiny silicon microchips boast of signals more than a thousand times stronger than existing approaches.

Medical

An overview of photometry applications, trends
Read about various pulse-oximeter trends and engineering advances in this area.

Prying Eyes: How remote thermometer works
The Melexis infrared thermometer allows safe measurement without having to physically touch surfaces.

Employ BLDC motor control for respirators
Learn about the use of high-speed sensorless BLDC motor control in medical devices.

Gauge trans-thoracic impedance for patient monitor
Understand the nature of the respiration measurement based on thoracic impedance.

Prying Eyes: How Pillcam wirelessly exposes your innards
Find out how Given Imaging has optimised the Pillcam Colon 2, a gentler alternative to conventional endoscopy and colonoscopy.

Power/Smart Energy

Overcome hurdles in high-voltage connector design
Here are the most common design road blocks and some tips on how to avoid and overcome them.

What's responsible for the recent LED advances?
Key developments in manufacturing have enabled current LEDs to provide high performance and space savings.

Employ middleware for energy harvesting networks
The middleware simplifies the integration of energy harvesting wireless technology into a wide range of applications.

Boost switched-mode audio power amps (Part 2)
The second instalment of this series focuses on predictive energy balancing.

Achieve cost-effective lighting with GaN LED
Here's the solution regarding the issue with silicon being mismatched both mechanically and thermally from GaN.

Test & Measurement

Oscilloscope for EMI debugging? Really?
New digital oscilloscopes bring EMI debugging capabilities to the design engineer's desk.

Resistance measurement: Two-wire vs. four-wire
This article offers a quick overview of how to determine the most appropriate technique for a specific application.

Fix costly impairments with pre-deployment testing
Know the best practices for data centre operators to ensure that the network equipment they use has been thoroughly tested.

Testing EPC to prepare for LTE/4G billing
In order to maintain profitability, operators will need to move beyond a flat data rate model.

Stress testing for LTE devices
Know the role of stress testing in improving the performance of LTE devices in the field.

Educational Resources

Webcasts

Webcasts

High Voltage Wafer Level Test - Tips, Tricks, and Pitfalls
In this seminar, we will identify, discuss, and propose solutions for a number of challenges related to high voltage wafer level parametric test. Some key areas include: High voltage probe card requirements; The risks of hot switching and cable charging; Protecting low voltage instruments during high voltage testing; High voltage parametric test roadmap.

Understanding Electrical Characterization of Solar Cells
The target objective of the majority of research into photovoltaic devices is in the areas of improving the conversion efficiency and lowering the cost of manufacturing. In order to verify that conversion efficiency has improved, a photovoltaic device must be electrically characterized.

Ethernet SFF-8431 SFP+ Compliance and Debug Testing Webinar
Are you ready to tackle the challenges related to the SFP+ PHY Product Testing? The Tektronix SFP+ PHY Testing Webinar will explore Tektronix Ethernet Solutions, SFP + PHY product testing challenges, as well as relevant Tektronix debugging solutions and demonstrations...etc. For more details, please join the Webinar!

Regional Roundup

Samsung presents 10nm, 7nm process roadmap
Samsung discussed that by applying a strain technology used for improving channel carrier mobility to FinFET, improvements can be achieved...

• 5,000 Panasonic workers to lose jobs
• STATS ChipPAC expands SG operations with new facility
• Agilent opens 2 offices in Vietnam

Tech Impact

Sharp's solar cell achieves 44.4% conversion efficiency
The concentrator triple-junction compound solar cells use a stack of three photo-absorption layers...

• Organic image sensor offers improved dynamic range
• Fully-organic imager targets x-ray apps
• Materials breakthrough to push even smaller electronics

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