Optical sensor improves performance, shrinks footprint

A reflective optical sensor, the VCNT2030 from Vishay provides a high current transfer ratio (CTR) and increased sensing distance in a tiny surface-mount package. The VCNT2030 packs a vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) and silicon…

Partnership elevates video doorbell security

Omnivision and iCatch Technology are working together to bring enhanced color pre-roll and edge AI processing to wireless home security products. With pre-roll enabled, users can save up to 4 seconds of video footage prior to the camera’s…

Power MOSFETs target automotive ECUs

Infineon offers six OptiMOS 5 MOSFETs in the 60-V and 120-V range housed in TOLx packages for use with automotive ECUs requiring 24 V to 72 V. The compact TOLx packages include the TO-leadless (TOLL), TO-leaded with gullwing (TOLG), and TO-leaded…

Kyocera-AVX launches supercapacitor modules

Series-connected supercapacitor modules in the SCM series from Kyocera-AVX provide strong pulse power handling with high capacitance and low ESR. The double-layer, electrochemical supercapacitor modules can be used by themselves or in conjunction…

Take-back-half thermostat uses ∆Vbe transistor sensor

Cobbling up precision temperature control systems typically poses two particular design challenges: Accurate and cost-effective sensing of the temperature to be controlled. Closure of the feedback loop between temperatures sensor and heat and/or…

Intel, Tower, and the diary of a failed acquisition bid

The termination of Intel’s bid to acquire Tower Semiconductor seems to be the latest fallout from semiconductor business-related tensions between China and the United States. It could also be seen as a heavy blow to Intel’s foundry ambitions…

Blue screen of deterioration

The song “Love Is Blue” has been recorded by many artists. One version I really like is by Marty Robbins and can be watched here while an instrumental version by Paul Mauriat can be watched here  but the issue below takes the concept of…

Cutting into a conventional USB-C charger

Back in March, EDN published my teardown of a 30W USB-C output gallium nitride (GaN) transistor-based charger from a company called VOLTME. At the time, I told you, and I even showed you: that I’d also recently acquired a conventional (non-GaN)…

Generative AI and memory wall: A wakeup call for IC industry

Judged by the presence of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies at 2023 Design Automation Conference (DAC), the premiere event for semiconductor designers, computing hardware for accelerating AI/ML software workloads…

Fast(er) frequency doubler with square wave output

Whenever I find myself harboring a constantly nagging thought, I know I will eventually have to get busy and find a way to put it to rest. When I read EDN’s Design Ideas, I look for the range of frequencies over which the circuit will operate,…

Why MCU suppliers are teaming up with TinyML platforms

Infineon’s recent acquisition of Imagimob, a Stockholm, Sweden-based supplier of TinyML platforms, raises a fundamental question: where the chip industry stands in adopting and accelerating this artificial intelligence (AI) technology used…

PCIe 5.0 SSDs store up to 30 terabytes

Architected for server and cloud applications, Kioxia CD8P SSDs offer storage capacities ranging from 1.92 TB to 30.72 TB in EDSFF E3.S and 2.5-in. (U.2) form factors. These read-intensive NVMe solid-state drives leverage a PCIe 5.0 x4 interface…