David C. Brock: The Chemical History of Electronics

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

The rise of semiconductor electronics is one of the most important developments in recent history. The manufacture of semiconductor devices relies fundamentally on chemical processes, equipment, and specially produced materials. 

David C. Brock is a senior research fellow with CHF's Center for Contemporary History and Policy. As a historian of science and technology, he specializes in the history of semiconductor science, technology, and industry; the history of instrumentation; and oral history. He is the author of Understanding Moore's Law: Four Decades of Innovation and, with Christophe Lécuyer, Makers of the Microchip: A Documentary History of Fairchild Semiconductor (Acquired by Onsemi).

In this history of chemistry webisode, David Brock talks about the history of how the microprocessors that power iPads, iPhones and other digital devices came about. An excellent presentation! 

RELATED TOPIC: From Sand to Silicon : The making of Intel microprocessors
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Introducing BodyCom Technology

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 

Microchip Technology introduced the BodyCom system, a new short-range wireless connectivity technology that uses the capability of the human body to transport a few signals, providing intuitive, simple, and safe communication between two electronically compatible devices. 

Communication between BodyCom system devices occurs when they are within a few centimeters of the human body: a simple proximity or touch detection can establish a BodyCom system connection.

The BodyCom system was implemented with the following priorities:

     • Very low consumption, especially for the Mobile Unit

     • Fast system response

     • Stable and Robust communication with Fault detection

     • Limited field of action (as little as a few centimeters) to allow an identification when the
        touch action takes place from whoever wears the Mobile Unit

     • Low cost and complexity

The signal transmission uses capacitive coupling between the human body, the Base Unit and the Mobile Unit (see Figure 1). 

Figure 1: BodyCom System Working Principle

Because of this, the signals are more attenuated at low frequencies than at high frequencies, requiring the signals that are transmitted to have higher amplitude for lower frequencies. The Mobile Unit is a battery-powered portable device, and power consumption is a priority, while the Base Unit can deliver more power.

On the video, Applications Engineer Chris Tucker, makes an introduction to BodyCom Technology utilizing the BodyCom Development Kit demonstration.

For more details check out the AppNotes. 
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Go Wireless with Renesas WiFi Out-of-the-Box Solutions

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 

Renesas Electronics the world's number one supplier of flash microcontrollers and advanced semiconductor solutions, presents RL78/G14 RDK kit. This kit features an integrated Wi-Fi utilities to provide a simple yet powerful mean to configure the WI-FI settings of this demonstration kit, define point to point Wi-Fi connections, run in a web server mode and connected to external clouds. 

Three presenters from Renesas Electronics Americas and from Gainspan Corp. are taking turn to introduce the feature of this new kit and all live sensor data feed can be transmitted over Wi-Fi. Alternately, it is shown how to :

• Connect a PC or Notebook to the RDK over Wi-Fi

• Connect to the embedded Web Server and read sensor data

• How to launch and run smartphone applications (iPhone or iPad or Android phones) and do the same thing.

Renesas low power RL78/G14 demo kit gives customers exciting off-the-shelf building blocks to quickly prototype and create their own Wi-Fi cloud-connected M2M products. Customers can evaluation Wi-Fi connectivity and multiple connection modes with this low-cost demonstration kit.

For more information and to purchase a kit go here. Discover other Electronic related stories and  stay updated by subscribing to our News feeds. Comment below or send us your suggestions for the future.

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Microchip Technology : Get ready to see a new world of 8-bit PIC MCUs

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 

PIC microcontrollers are finding their way into new applications like Smartphones, Audio Accessories, Video Gaming Peripherals and Advanced Medical Devices. 

Microchip provides solutions for the entire performance range of 8-bit microcontrollers, with easy-to-use development tools, complete technical documentation and post design-in support through a global sales and distribution network.

PIC16F1512/13 MCUs (28-Pin Flash Microcontrollers with XLP Technology) combine eXtreme low-power technology and high digital & analog peripheral integration for use in a wide variety of applications. Check the short presentation below by Primo Castro (Product Marketing Manager at Microchip) and learn about the details on this Data Sheet. 

If you like this article you can discover more about MCUs and DSCs and Microchip Technology.

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Microchip Technology : Spizzle Motion Sensing Software Demo

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

Microchip’s Motion Sensor Demo Board (Part #DM240316) is powered by a PIC24F microcontroller with on-board USB functionality and includes an MRF24J40MA 2.4GHz wireless transceiver that sends data wirelessly to a ZENA wireless adapter. 

The board integrates an MPU-6050 motion sensing chip from InvenSense. The MPU-6050 has a 3-axis gyroscope, 3-axis accelerometer and uses sensor fusion technology to create a 3-D reference frame. 

Microchip’s Motion Sensor Demo Board allows you to easily add this breakthrough technology to your next gaming accessory, tablet PC, digital camera, robotic component, or any other consumer application. 

The Spizzle Demo is actually a PC gaming application where you rotate a spherical puzzle and try to line it up for the approaching/matching pieces.

Learn more at Microchip's Quick Start Guide.

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Microchip Technology MCP3911 (High Accuracy Energy Measurement)

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

The MCP3911 is a 2.7V to 3.6V dual channel Analog Front End (AFE) containing two synchronous sampling Delta-Sigma Analog-to-Digital Converters (ADC), two PGAs, phase delay compensation block, internal voltage reference, modulator output block, and highspeed 20 MHz SPI compatible serial interface. 

The MCP3911 is capable of interfacing a large variety of voltage and current sensors including shunts, current transformers, Rogowski coils and Hall effect sensors.

The video below presents a brief introduction to the MCP3911 Analog Front-End and reviews the MCP3911 ADC Evaluation Board for 16-bit MCUs for high accuracy energy measurement and data acquisition applications.

Learn more at Microchip. Please share this article with your social circles and show your support. If you want to get future updates to your email inbox or feed reader then kindly subscribe on our RSS feed and Newsletter. Do not miss also our trending news and tweets for today!

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Microchip presents World's lowest current 16-bit MCU PIC24F GA3 Series

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description : 

As more electronic applications require low power or battery power, energy conservation becomes paramount. 

Today’s applications must consume little power, and in extreme cases, last for up to 15-20 years, while running from a single battery. 

To enable applications like these, products with Microchip’s nanoWatt XLP Technology offer the industry’s lowest currents for Run and Sleep, where extreme low power applications spend 90%-99% of their time. 

Discover more on this page. 

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Microchip's Microstick II for PIC32MX1 & MX2 Microcontrollers

Posted by Andreas Christodoulou

Description :

The Microstick kits each deliver a complete development hardware platform for select Microchip 16-bit and 32-bit microcontrollers (MCUs) and digital signal controllers (DSCs). 

It’s the perfect solution to those looking for a low-cost, easy-to-use development platform.

All Microstick kits are USB-powered and include an on-board debugger/programmer, a Device Under Test (DUT socket) for easy device swapping, a user LED and reset button. 

These kits are designed for insertion into a standard prototyping board for easy connection to additional circuitry. 

The kits are extremely portable as well and is still about the size of a stick of gum!

Key Features :

- Low Cost

- Integrated USB programmer / debugger - No external debugger required

- USB Powered - Ease of use, No external power required

- MPLAB support.

- DUT Socket - Flexible, Easy device replacement

- 0.025” Pin headers - Enables plug-in to Breadboard with room for jumper wires

- Easy access to all device signals for probing

- Small size - Smaller than a stick of gum at 20 x76mm (approx) - Easily Portable

- On board User LED and Reset Switch

- Free demo code

Check out the video!

More on : 

http://www.microchip.com/microstick

http://mchp.us/qCIHcm

http://ww1.microchip.com/downloads/en/DeviceDoc/51951B.pdf

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