3-leg regulator in shunt mode makes variable power supply symmetrical
Surprising facts, like “old fangled” 3-leg linear regulators (LM317, LM337, LM350, et al) can be used in shunt regulator topologies and can sometimes inspire “new, fangled” circuit designs. Figure 1 shows a useful example.
Figure 1 Symmetrical-output…
Layoffs at SiFive as RISC-V upstart faces a crossroads
SiFive, a prominent player in the RISC-V design arena, is going through a radical makeup. While layoffs at one of the early RISC-V startups are making headlines in trade media, what’s happening underneath is a significant shift in its business…
Power Tips #122: Overview of a planar transformer used in a 1-kW high-density LLC power module
Growing data center power demands are driving server equipment manufacturers to reach higher power-conversion efficiencies in order to reduce the thermal footprint of their systems. The transition from a 12-V power distribution bus to a 48-V…
RISC-V Tensor Unit claims to turbocharge AI applications
A new RISC-V Tensor Unit, based on fully customizable 64-bit cores, claims to provide a huge performance boost for artificial intelligence (AI) applications compared to just running software on scalar processors. The Tensor Unit provides matrix…
Activation locks and other hardware-created forced-obsolescence case studies
In another post this month, I mentioned (or will mention, depending on the publication order that EDN chooses) that I’m in the process of replacing my Microsoft Surface Pro 5 laptop with two successors, a Surface Pro 7+ (SP7+, for short) and…
Optimizing capacitance in power delivery network (PDN) for 5G
When designing the power systems for 5G applications, designers must consider the wide range of frequencies intrinsic to such applications, from mid-range frequencies in the voltage regulators to high-clock frequencies in the FPGA core. This…
Partners collaborate on DOCSIS 4.0 chipset
Comcast and Broadcom are working together to develop a DOCSIS 4.0 chipset that embeds AI and ML capabilities to create AI-powered access networks. The chipset will be one of the first to incorporate DOCSIS 4.0 Full Duplex (FDX), Extended Spectrum…
Event-based vision sensor caters to edge AI
Prophesee has launched the GenX320, an event-based Metavision sensor architected for integration into ultra-low-power edge AI vision devices. Offered in a tiny 3×4-mm die size, the back-side illuminated (BSI) stacked sensor provides a 320×320…
Signal-conditioner ICs join PCIe 5.0 ecosystem
PCIe 5.0 retimers and redrivers from Phison provide signal enhancement for PCIe-deployed devices like NAND flash, FPGA, ASIC, and other accelerator technologies. They are part of Phison’s portfolio of PCIe 5.0 storage and signal conditioning…
DOCSIS 4.0 chipset targets modems and gateways
Puma 8 is MaxLinear’s DOCSIS 4.0 cable modem and gateway chipset supporting frequency division duplex (FDD), also known as Extended Spectrum (ESD). The chipset comprises a DOCSIS SoC, AnyWAN SoC, and a low-power, ultra-high split upstream…
Bluetooth 5.3 module performs energy harvesting
The GTI-ATM3330e Bluetooth 5.3 module from GlobalScale integrates Atmosic Technologies’ energy-harvesting technology for battery-free designs. GlobalScale, an original design manufacturer (ODM), selected Atmosic’s ATM3330e SoC as the core…
How Arm Total Design is built around 5 key building blocks
The ecosystem has been Arm’s key strength and is evident from its latest initiative: Arm Total Design. After unveiling the Neoverse Compute Subsystems (CSS)—high-end cores for infrastructure applications like AI, cloud, data center, and…
