Today sees the formal adoption of the latest Bluetooth wireless comms standard – Bluetooth 5 – incorporating all the low energy features previously seen in Bluetooth Smart

Read full article: Bluetooth 5 signals second-generation beacons

Leti has developed a new light-sensing device that integrates photodiodes below the buried oxide (BOX) of FDSOI transistors, making the transistors very sensitive to visible light. Photodiodes were co-integrated in the SOI substrate, replacing conventional FDSOI transistor backgate. This device architecture may lead not only to very small pixels with maximized fill factor, but also …

Read full article: Leti integrates photodiodes below BOX of FD-SOI transistors

Even in India, the market for what has become known as internet of things (IoT) applications is starting to grow. On the increase are the number of connected devices coupled with increasing internet penetration. But now significant growth in the IoT market is anticipated in the coming years due to launch of government projects – Smart …

Read full article: India could be the next big IoT market

NI has joined up with IBM and SparkCognition to bring the capabilities of artificial intelligence (AI) and big data analysis to the maintenance of aging assets in heavy machinery, power generation and process manufacturing. The collection of raw data can be used for analysis and to improve operations, equipment and processes. The companies propose to use artificial intelligence-driven prognostics warn of component failures …

Read full article: NI and IBM bring IoT analytics to heavy industry

Graham McBeth is the new president of Premier Farnell following the acquisition of the online and catalogue distributor by Avnet earlier this year. McBeth, who was president of Avnet Abacus, replaces Premier Farnell’s interim President Steven Webb, who will remain with the company until January 31, 2017, to assist in the leadership transition.   “Since Avnet …

Read full article: Avnet names McBeth Premier Farnell president

TDK-Lambda has packaged a range of 15W DC-DC converters in a metal case designed for providing six-sided shielding for reduced radiated EMI. The CCG15 has the industry standard 1 x 1 inch footprint, and can operate over a 4:1 input range. The CCG series is available with 3.3, 5, 12 or 15Vdc output voltages and can …

Read full article: TDK puts 15W converter in metal can to reduce EMI

Imec has achieved the CMOS integration of vertically stacked gate-all-around (GAA) silicon nanowire MOSFETs. Key in the integration scheme is a dual-work-function metal gate enabling matched threshold voltages for the n- and p-type devices. Also, the impact of the new architecture on intrinsic ESD performance was studied, and an ESD protection diode is proposed. These …

Read full article: Imec makes CMOS GAA nanowire mosfets

There were once two brothers who started a semiconductor company. They started off manufacturing in a converted bakery and later on in an old knitting mill. The company’s first product was a point contact germanium diode with a welded gold whisker suitable for the military because it could handle higher voltages than other diodes. The …

Read full article: Fable: The Company That Was Down And Dirty

ARM has completed its physical IP platform for 7nm and it is now available to SoC designers for evaluation and licensing. The first licensee is Xilinx and the first tape-out on 7nm is expected to be a Xilinx design. “We expect the first tape-out as early as Q1, with H2 of 2017 for engineering samples, …

Read full article: Xilinx is first licensee for ARM 7nm physical IP platform

Intel has launched a functional safety processor designed for use in safety-critical systems. It is the Intel Xeon processor D-1529 with industrial IEC 61508 certification. VxWorks, Wind River Linux and Wind River Simics are all supported by the Intel Xeon processor D-1529. Intel says it has already received a TÜV IEC 61508SIL 2 certification for this processor …

Read full article: Intel certifies Xeon processor for safety-critical design with Wind River RTOS