GHz-harvested power for Gbps wireless link is a double win

A clever millimeter-wave lens enables a high-speed, backscatter-powered GHz-band link. Wireless system designers are often asked to deliver on seemingly incompatible and contradictory goals such as supporting ultrahigh wireless data rates, and…

AI/ML integration in medical systems

Artificial intelligence and machine learning (AI/ML) are increasingly being integrated into medical systems. This delivers smarter and faster care by bringing intelligence closer to where the data is created and used. The most recent advances…

Google I/O 2026: Agentic AI gets serious

This week’s latest iteration of Google’s yearly developer event reiterated the company’s significant AI commitment. What’s different from messaging and examples past? Maturity. One of the technologies showcased in the most recent edition…

More EcoFlow woes: So it goes

Portable power station design apparently isn’t easy. So suggests this engineer’s most recent two case studies, not to mention the long-term history (kudos to Kurt Vonnegut for the inspiration). My first writeup last month discussed why one…

How machine vision, intelligent sensing, and edge AI are powering smart factory

Manufacturing is at a pivotal moment. Global supply-chain volatility, increasing energy costs, workforce shortages, and growing expectations for quality and customization are forcing factories to rethink how they operate. Traditional automation,…

Multiphase controllers optimize mobile Vcore power

Three digital multiphase controllers from AOS enable Intel IMVP9.3 Vcore power delivery in high-performance mobile systems. When paired with the company’s DrMOS and Smart Power Stage devices, the AOZ71049QI, AOZ71149QI, and AOZ71146QI form…

LED driver animates exterior vehicle lighting

Lumissil’s IS32FL3776 matrix LED driver brings expressive intelligent signal displays (ISDs) to software-defined exterior automotive lighting. With 36 constant-current channels providing 60 mA each, it drives dynamic LED light matrices up…

MCUs bridge I3C across voltage domains

Microchip’s PIC18-Q20 MCUs integrate up to two I3C peripherals and Multi-Voltage I/O (MVIO) in 14- and 20-pin packages as small as 3×3 mm. Well suited for sensor interfacing, real-time control, and connectivity applications, they simplify…

Motor MCU integrates driver and control functions

Toshiba is sampling the TB9M040FTG motor control device, which integrates an MCU and motor driver for controlling small automotive motors. Part of the SmartMCD series, it supports single-channel motor drive currents up to 2 A, enabling direct…

CPU IP processes mixed scalar and vector workloads

The SiFive Performance P570 Gen 3 is a RISC-V out-of-order superscalar vector processor IP designed for scalable performance. SiFive says it delivers a substantial performance improvement over the P550 Gen 1, along with a comprehensive set of…

Designers guide: Sensors for medical devices

The healthcare industry is progressively moving from a centralized, clinical model to a more patient-centric approach, requiring monitoring solutions that are portable, wearable, and patient-focused. This process involves significant technical…

Triple-duty current loop calibrator

It’s always gratifying when a simple and successful design idea luckily turns out to have additional applications that you didn’t originally envision.  Here’s an example. Wow the engineering world with your unique design: Design Ideas…