ICs & Semiconductors

Cortus, a technology specialist in low-power, silicon-efficient, 32-bit processor IP, has announced the first of a new family of products based on its v2 instruction set. The APS23 core has been built to deliver a new level of efficiency, provide ease of integration and cost of ownership for low-power, connected intelligent devices. The core reduces embedded system power by optimising the size of the instruction memory.

Maxim Integrated Products has unveiled a new reference design. The MAXREFDES70# ultrasonic flow meter reference design will enable utilities to improve water- and heat-metering accuracy by an order of magnitude, while operating for up to 20 years on a single “A”-size battery.

Microchip has announced the availability of MPLAB Harmony Version 1.0. MPLAB Harmony is a flexible, abstracted, fully integrated firmware development platform for all 32-bit PIC32 microcontrollers (MCUs). It takes key elements of modular and object-oriented design, adds in the flexibility to use a RTOS or work without one, and provides a framework of software modules that are easy to use, configurable for specific design requirements and that are purpose-built to work together.

Belgrade-headquartered development tool chain supplier MikroElektronika has signed a formal agreement with FTDI Chip to create mikroC, mikroBasic and mikroPascal compilers for the FT90X 32-bit microcontroller offering. The FT90X utilises a proprietary 32-bit RISC architecture - allowing it to set performance benchmarks beyond 2.93DMIPS/MHz, with true zero wait-states operation up to 100MHz frequencies, as well as capacious memory and an array of advanced connectivity resources.

Integrated Device Technology has introduced a family of IEEE 1588 time and frequency generator chips that not only reduce costs but also meet the synchronization needs of LTE-Advanced, wireless backhaul and heterogeneous networks. The device architecture and capabilities are fully documented and accessible to allow IEEE 1588 software designers to implement their own clock recovery algorithms and add value for their customers through customisation and quick turnaround support.

Dialog Semiconductor has released a new iW1770 PrimAccurate primary-side controller that is able to offer a 60W peak power mode from a 40W supply, eliminating the need to oversize the power supply design and enabling compact, light-weight, high power density adapters for Ultrabooks, network devices and other home electronics products.

X-REL Semiconductor, a specialist in high reliability and extreme temperature integrated circuits, has broadened its clock and timing product line by introducing a low-power, small foot-print crystal oscillator driver, XTR60010. Intended for operation in high-reliability, extreme temperature and extended lifetime systems, the XTR60010 is tailored for crystal oscillators, clock generation, clock buffering, frequency division and precision timing applications, with supply voltages from 2.5V to 5.5V and with crystals from 32kHz to 50MHz.

TSMC has announced that its collaboration with HiSilicon Technologies has successfully produced the foundry segment’s first fully functional ARM-based networking processor with FinFET technology. In what is being described as a milestone in the close collaboration between the two companies TSMC is now well placed to provide industry-leading technology to meet the increasing customer demand for the next generation of high-performance, energy-efficient devices.

STMicroelectronics is commercialising its innovative piezoelectric MEMS technology combining high-volume MEMS design and manufacturing with a broad range of new application opportunities offered by piezoelectric technology. ST's TFP (Thin-Film Piezoelectric) MEMS technology is a foundational process platform that can be customised, allowing ST to work with customers around the world to jointly develop specific MEMS products, optimised for particular applications.

Microsemi Corporation has unveiled the first product in its new Timberwolf family. Powered by Microsemi’s AcuEdge acoustic technology, the ZL38040 delivers best-in-class high definition (HD) voice communication solutions for the enterprise hands-free speakerphone markets.