Microelectronics world news

Photonic integration firm Photon Bridge of Eindhoven, The Netherlands has debuted its integrated tunable laser photonic integrated circuit (PIC), powered by its patented cantilever waveguide coupling technology (which combines III-V speed with silicon scale)...

A breakthrough in wearable technology is redefining what smart glasses can do: generative AI running entirely on the device, without the need for a phone or cloud connection. Powered by the new Snapdragon AR1+ Gen 1 platform, the glasses allow an AI to interact seamlessly in every day scenarios-from shopping or any home tasks.

AI Fitting Inside Glasses

In a live demonstration, a generative AI assistant operated directly on smart glasses using a compact language model (SLM). During a simulated grocery trip, the assistant helped with a recipe, delivering audio guidance and text directly on the lenses all without any external device. This is a strong demonstration of what is going on with smart glasses from mere accessories to full-blown, standalone AI tools.

Snapdragon AR1+ Gen 1

The Snapdragon AR1+ Gen 1 processor, 26% smaller than previous generations, brings enhanced power efficiency, improved image quality, and the ability to run small language models directly on the glasses. These improvements are crucial for thinner, lighter frames that don’t compromise performance or functionality.

Flexible XR Ecosystem

Next-generation smart glasses will be available in various form factors. Some will be standalone, and others will be linked to nearby devices like smartphones, tablets, or portable computing “pucks.” This modular system provides flexible, high-performance experiences across various configurations while keeping AI interactions speedy, private, and responsive.

Improved Vision and Multimodal Inputs

Sophisticated camera features enable glasses to record and perceive the world in rich detail, enabling proactive suggestion and context-sensitive help. Even when not connected to other devices, these glasses can be paired with other wearables like smartwatches or rings, enabling new forms of interaction and input.

Conclusion

This demonstration represents the beginning of a new era in wearable AI, in which intelligent glasses have the capability to provide tailored, real-time support on the move. Powered by the Snapdragon AR1+ platform, Qualcomm is making some of the thinnest, cleverest, and most powerful glasses possible that might change the way we engage with technology in our everyday lives.

(This article has been adapted and modified from content on Qualcomm Technologies.)

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The hardware, software and  Intelligent Factory concept presented by market and technology leader ASMPT drew strong interest from trade visitors at this year’s productronica India.

At the joint booth with long-standing distribution partner Maxim SMT, the spotlight was on the fast, precise, and process-stable DEK TQ solder paste printer platform and the SIPLACE TX high-speed placement solution. The SIPLACE CP20 and SIPLACE CPP placement heads on display also proved particularly well suited to the high-volume production that characterizes the Indian market, offering manufacturers maximum flexibility and productivity in demanding high-volume production.

Integrative concepts for high-volume production

Many visitors took the opportunity to gain a detailed understanding of a complete ASMPT production line in personal technical discussions. Of particular interest was the integrated concept of the intelligent factory, where standardized interfaces across all ASMPT machines continuously collect and process data, making it available where it can be used to enhance quality, prevent errors, and eliminate production bottlenecks.

Comprehensive software portfolio

ASMPT’s extensive software portfolio attracted strong interest from the expert audience. At the core is the WORKS Software Suite, which supports all line-related processes, complemented by the Factory Solutions for holistic optimization across the entire manufacturing environment – including critical areas such as material intralogistics. Live demonstrations featured WORKS Optimization, the intelligent inline expert system for end-to-end process improvement; the Factory Equipment Center, an integrated asset and maintenance management system; the Material Flow Optimizer, ensuring efficient intralogistics and smooth material supply; and SMT Analytics, providing in-depth analysis of the entire SMT production process across all lines.

“We were very pleased with the strong interest shown in our insights and the solutions we showcased for state-of-the-art electronics manufacturing,” summarized Neeraj Bhardwaj, General Manager for India at ASMPT SMT Solutions. “The lively response confirms that we are on the right track in this important growth market.”

The post ASMPT at productronica India: Transform your SMT production with ASMPT appeared first on ELE Times.

New digital micromirror device with real-time correction enables equipment manufacturers to achieve high-resolution printing at scale, maximizing throughput and yield

What’s new

Texas Instruments is enhancing the next generation of digital lithography with the introduction of the DLP991UUV digital micromirror device (DMD), the company’s highest resolution direct imaging solution to date. With 8.9 million pixels, sub-micron resolution capabilities and a data rate of 110 gigapixels per second, the device eliminates the need for expensive mask technology while delivering the scalability, cost-effectiveness and precision needed for increasingly complex packaging.

Why it matters

Maskless digital lithography machines – which project light for etching circuit designs on materials without a photomask or high-end stencil – are becoming increasingly popular for the manufacturing of advanced packaging. Advanced packaging combines multiple chips and technologies into a single package, enabling high-computing applications, such as data centers and 5G, to have systems that are smaller, faster, and more power-efficient.

With TI DLP technology, system assembly equipment manufacturers can leverage maskless digital lithography to achieve the high-resolution printing at scale necessary for advanced packaging. The new DLP991UUV acts as a programmable photomask, offering precise pixel control with reliable high-speed performance.

“Just as we redefined cinema by enabling the transition from film to digital projection, TI’s DLP technology is once again at the forefront of a major industry shift,” said Jeff Marsh, vice president and general manager of DLP technology at TI. “We’re enabling the creation of maskless digital lithography systems that empower engineers around the world to breakthrough the current limits of advanced packaging and bring powerful computing solutions to market.”

The post TI DLP technology delivers high-precision digital lithography for advanced packaging appeared first on ELE Times.

Synopsys recently announced expanded generative AI capabilities through offerings such as Ansys Engineering Copilot and AgentEngineer technology.

Nuburu Inc of Centennial, CO, USA — which was founded in 2015 and developed and previously manufactured high-power industrial blue lasers — has announced a quarterly update on its business performance, strategic initiatives, and outlook for the upcoming period...

I was inspired by the recent post from u/MaxwellHoot regarding a local parts inventory system. I did indeed end up using one of my old Palm devices, the SPT1800 to be exact. It has a built in laser/barcode scanner just for this purpose. While it can't do QR codes, the barcodes work just fine. Using abandonware - the "CatScan" Palm app, "J-Pilot" Linux app, and a custom script to turn the database into an HTML file, I now can scan all my mouser bags and inventory items rather quickly. The webserver is read-only, but still useful. It might be fun to develop everything into a kiosk, but I don't have time right now. submitted by /u/vtfrotex [link] [comments]

Today, the FPGA company revealed an array of new announcements at its annual Altera Innovators Day developer conference.

One of my electronics interests is building radios, particularly those featured in older UK electronics magazines such as Practical Wireless, Everyday Electronics, Radio Constructor, and The Maplin Magazine. Most of those radios are designed to run on a 9-V disposable PP3 battery.

Wow the engineering world with your unique design: Design Ideas Submission Guide

Using 9 V instead of the 3 V found in many domestic radios allows the transistors in these often-simple circuits to operate with a higher gain. PP3 batteries are, at a minimum, expensive in circuits consuming tens of mA and are—I suspect—hard to recycle. A more environmentally friendly solution was needed.

In the past, I’ve used single 3.6-V lithium-ion (Li-ion) cells from discarded e-cigarettes [1] with cheap combined charger and DC-DC converter modules found on eBay. They provide a nice, neat solution when housed in a small plastic box, but unfortunately generate a lot of electromagnetic interference (EMI), which falls within the shortwave band of frequencies (3 to 30 MHz) where a lot of the radios I build operate. I needed another solution that was EMI-free and environmentally friendly.

Solution

One solution is to eliminate the DC-DC converter and string together three or more Li-ion cells in a battery pack (B1) with a variable linear regulator (IC1) to generate the required 9 V (V1) as shown in Figure 1. Li-ion cells, like all electronic components, have tolerances. The two most important parameters are cell capacity and open circuit voltage. Differences in these parameters between cells in series lead to uneven charging and ultimately stressing of some cells, leading to their eventual degradation [2]. To even out these differences, Li-ion battery packs often contain a battery management system (BMS) to ensure that cells charge evenly.

Figure 1 Li-ion battery pack, with 3 or more Li-ion cells, and a variable linear regulator to generate the required 9 V.

As luck would have it, on the local buy-nothing group in Ottawa, Canada, where I live, someone was giving away a Mastercraft 18-V Li-ion battery with charger as shown in Figure 2. The person offering it had misplaced the drill, so there was little expense for me. Upon opening the battery pack, it was indeed found to contain a battery management system (BMS). This seemed like an ideal solution.

Figure 2 The Mastercraft 18-V Li-ion battery and charger obtained locally.

Circuit

The next step was to make a linear voltage regulator to drop 18 V to 9 V. This, in itself, is not particularly environmentally friendly, as it is only 50% efficient, and any dropped battery voltage will be dissipating as heat. However, assuming renewable power generation is used as the source, this would prove a more environmentally friendly solution compared to using disposable batteries.

In one of my boxes of old projects, I found a constant current nickel-cadmium (NiCad) battery charger. It was based around an LM317 linear voltage regulator in a nice black plastic enclosure sold by Maplin Electronics as a “power supply” box. The NiCad battery hadn’t been used for over 20 years, so this project would be a repurpose. A schematic of the rewired power supply is shown in Figure 3.

Figure 3 The power supply schematic with four selectable output voltages—6, 9, 12, and 13.8 V.

In Figure 3, switch S1 functions as both the power switch and selects the output voltage. Four different output voltages are selectable based on current needs: 6 V, 9 V, 12 V, and 13.8 V can be chosen by adjusting the ratio of R2 and R3-R6 as shown in the LM317 datasheet [3]. R2 is usually 220 Ω and develops 1.23 V across it, the remaining output voltage is developed across R3-R6. To get the exact values, parallel combinations are used as shown in Table 1.

Resistor #	Resistors (Ω)	Combined Value (Ω)
3	910, 18k, 15k	819
4	1.5k, 22k, 33k	1.35k
5	2.2k, 15k	1.92k
6	2.2k	2.2k

Table 1 Different values of paralleled R3 to R6 resistors and their combined value.

A photograph of the finished power supply with a Li-ion battery attached is shown in Figure 4.

Figure 4 A photograph of the finished power supply with four selectable output voltages that can be adjusted via a knob.

Results

Crimp-type spade connectors were fitted to the two input wires, which mated well with the terminals of the Li-ion battery. Maybe at some point, I will 3D-print a full connector for the battery. With the resistor values shown in Figure 3, the actual output voltages produced are: 5.96 V, 9.03 V, 12.15 V and 13.8 V. While these are not the actual designed values due to the use of preferred resistor values, it is of little consequence as the output voltage of disposable batteries varies over their operating time and there is of course a voltage drop due to cables. With this power supply, though, the output voltage of the power supply will remain constant during this time, even as the output voltage of the Li-ion drops due to its discharging.

Portable power

Although the power supply was intended for powering radio projects, it has other uses where portable power is needed and a DC-DC converter is too noisy, like sensitive instrumentation or some audiophile preamplifier [4]. 

Gavin Watkins is the founder of GapRF, a producer of online EDA tools focusing on the RF supply chain. When not doing that, he is happiest noodling around in his lab, working on audio electronics and RF projects, and restoring vintage equipment.

Related Content

• Drive any electronic clock with a high-precision 10-MHz reference
• Analogue charge pump produces high-frequency, high-voltage pulses
• Investigating a vape device
• Double Lithium-Ion/Lithium-Polymer USB Type-C Charger
• Low Cost Universal Battery Charger Schematic

References

1. Reusing e-cigarette batteries in a e-bike, https://globalnews.ca/news/10883760/powering-e-bike-disposable-vapes/
2. BU-808: How to Prolong Lithium-based Batteries, https://batteryuniversity.com/article/bu-808-how-to-prolong-lithium-based-batteries
3. LM317 regulator datasheet, https://www.ti.com/lit/ds/symlink/lm317.pdf
4. Battery powered hifi preamp, https://10audio.com/dodd_battery_pre/

The post An off-line power supply appeared first on EDN.

Welcome to the first All About Circuits Summit Day of 2025! This guide will introduce the features of our first Wednesday schedule and help you plan your month-long participation.

Anritsu Corporation will participate in the upcoming India Mobile Congress (IMC) 2025, taking place in New Delhi, India, from October 8 to October 11, to showcase its latest innovations in communications test and measurement solutions.

As the mobile and connectivity industry continues to expand with the rapid adoption of 5G, IoT, and emerging technologies such as AI-driven services, cloud computing, and immersive XR applications, the demand for robust, reliable, and efficient test solutions has never been greater. At IMC 2025, Anritsu will highlight its comprehensive portfolio designed to meet these evolving needs, supporting operators, device manufacturers, and ecosystem partners in accelerating their technology development and deployments.

Virtual Signalling Tester

5G Network Simulator, a software-based solution for 5G IoT chipset and device testing. It enables virtual 5G network simulation on a PC, supporting RedCap tests and efficient device verification.

Radio Communication Test Station MT8000A

All-in-One Support for RF Measurements, Protocol Tests and Applications Tests in FR1 (to 7.125 GHz) and FR2 (Millimeter-Wave) Bands. MT8000A is used by Mobile Chipset, Mobile Handset, IoT Device, 5G base Station R&D and manufacturing companies.

Field Master Pro MS2090A

Handheld Spectrum Analyzer delivers the highest continuous frequency coverage up to 54 GHz and real-time spectrum analysis bandwidth up to 150 MHz to address current and emerging applications such as 5G &LTE Base Station Measurement, Satellite System Monitoring, Interference Hunting, EMF measurement and much more.

Anritsu Collaborates with Altair to Demonstrate Integration of Anritsu Monitoring Systems with Spectrum Management Software WRAP.

Altair WRAP integrates georeferenced data from Anritsu spectrum analyzers to validate coverage, interference, and spectrum compliance with field reality.

VectorStar Broadband VNA ME7838

The VectorStar ME7838 Series broadband VNA offers the widest available 2-port single frequency sweep from 70 kHz to 110, 125, 145, and 220 GHz with mmWave bands up to 1.1 THz. Vector Star is a cost-effective solution for OnWafer Measurements, RIS, Novel Channel Sounding applications along with active and passive devices measurement supporting 5G and 6G technology.

Optical Spectrum Analyzer MS9740B

MS9740B offers Single mode and Multimode Fiber application and high-speed optical devices such as optical transceivers, VCSEL, and DFB light sources testing R&D and production.

The post Anritsu Showcases 6G and NTN Test Solutions at IMC 2025 appeared first on ELE Times.

Infineon Technologies AG of Munich, Germany has expanded its CoolSiC MOSFETs 400V G2 portfolio with the top-side-cooled (TSC) TOLT package as well as the TO-247-3 and TO-247-4 packages. In addition, three new products in the TOLL package have been introduced, with rated voltages of 440V (continuous) and 455V (transient)...

Infineon Technologies AG of Munich, Germany has expanded its CoolSiC MOSFETs 400V G2 portfolio with the top-side-cooled (TSC) TOLT package as well as the TO-247-3 and TO-247-4 packages. In addition, three new products in the TOLL package have been introduced, with rated voltages of 440V (continuous) and 455V (transient)...

The industrial scenery is getting reshaped by digital twins and physical AI. These virtual replicas of factories, facilities, or even processes were once mainly conceived for planning purposes and now have become more operationally oriented, mainly concerned with training autonomous robots, AI-powered machinery, and operational systems to perform their tasks safely and efficiently in the real world. High-tech OpenUSD, immersive simulation tools, and AI-driven modeling are helping developers create high-fidelity digital twins at scale, removing most of their manual labor and fast-tracking industrial AI deployment.

Scaling Industrial AI and Physical AI with Digital Twins

Digital twins provide a virtual environment within which physical AI agents such as autonomous robots or smart factory systems can learn and adapt before deployment. Simulations of a finer quality came at the cost of much manual effort. Today, with advanced OpenUSD, neural reconstruction, and world foundation models (WFMs), developers can now set about constructing these complex digital replicas far more rapidly.

Key developments include:

SDKs bridging between simulators: They allow people to simulate robots and systems in diverse simulators, thus virtually providing access for robotics developers anywhere in the world.

• Neural rendering and 3D reconstruction libraries: These allow the capture and reconstruction of sensor data from the real world, simulation, and photorealistic rendering.
• Open-source robotics frameworks: Offer readymade environments and schemas for robots and sensors to help reduce the simulator-to-reality gap.
• World foundation models (WFMs): Used to create synthetic datasets and to carry out higher-order reasoning on these datasets for the benefit of physical AI applications.
• Advanced rendering and AI-assisted material modeling: Provide scalable ways to create industrial-grade digital twins.

OpenUSD: Powering the Future of Industrial 3D Innovation

OpenUSD constitutes the backbone of industrial 3D workflows, having become a standard for digital twin creation with interoperability between industrial and 3D data. By now, the Alliance for OpenUSD (AOUSD) has been extended to include Accenture, Esri, HCLTech, PTC, Renault, and Tech Soft 3D, thus showing great endorsement of OpenUSD and present objectives of uniting industrial 3D workflow.

To support this growing ecosystem, NVIDIA has introduced an industry-recognized OpenUSD development certification and a digital-twins learning path, helping developers gain the skills needed to build the factories and industrial systems of tomorrow.

Industry Applications Driving the Future:

Some of the global leaders use digital twins and OpenUSD for transforming industrial operations:

• Siemens: Teamcenter Digital Reality Viewer allows working with large-scale digital twins for visualization and collaboration, thereby reducing physical prototyping and faster time-to-market.
• Sight Machine: Operator Agent platform amalgamates live production data with AI-driven recommendations and digital twins for better plant visibility and faster decision-making.
• Rockwell Automation: Emulate3D Factory Test creates physics-based digital twins from simulation to optimize automation and autonomous systems.
• EDAG: Uses digital twin for project management, production layout optimization, worker training, and data-driven quality assurance.
• Amazon Devices & Services: Uses digital twin environments to train robot arms for assembly, testing, packaging, and auditing, all with no physical intervention.
• Vention: Offers plug-and-play digital twin and automation solutions so intelligent manufacturing systems can be deployed more speedily.

Conclusion:

The combination of OpenUSD, digital twins, and AI-driven simulation is transforming industrial operations on the ground. By proving the exact, scalable virtual environment, they allow manufacturers, robot developers, and physical AI engineers to innovate faster, cut down expenses, and systematize safer and smarter solutions faster than ever before.

(This article has been adapted and modified from content on NVIDIA.)

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Wolfspeed Inc of Durham, NC, USA — which makes silicon carbide (SiC) materials and power semiconductor devices — has completed its financial restructuring process and emergence from Chapter 11 protection...

Epirus Inc of Torrance, CA, USA says that, in an invitation-only demonstration on 26 August at Camp Atterbury, Indiana (attended by representatives from throughout the US Department of Defense, other US Government agencies and nine allied countries), its Leonidas solid-state high-power microwave (HPM) system — which uses gallium nitride (GaN) transistors to minimize size, weight and deployment time — delivered weaponized electromagnetic interference to counter swarms of robotic, asymmetric threats...

The global energy sector is at a historic turning point. Renewable energy integration, EV promotion, and AI-driven consumption create more demand on already complex grids. The transformation calls for a new era of energy professionals who can build a bridge between traditional engineering and digital technologies-the infrastructure upgrades alone cannot solve the equation.

The Digital Shift in Energy Systems

Modern power systems evolve into interconnected, intelligent networks. Smart grids, real-time balancing, and consumer-driven energy management are redefining how electricity flows. Still, the digital revolution carries many challenges requiring upskilling and interdisciplinary knowledge to solve.

Top Challenges Facing the Next Generation Workforce:

1. Dual-Skill Gap

Engineers today need expertise in network-relevant issues and traditional grid operations, plus in cybersecurity matters. Still, there are few professionals with an engineering background and digital expertise; this scarcity leads to inefficiency in troubleshooting and system reliability.

2. A Shift Toward Virtualization

Careful changes from hardware-based to software-driven operations have increasingly taken protection and control functions onto a virtual platform. Hence, engineers will have to embrace digital tools with data analytics and server technologies that are not traditional to the power area.

3. Cross-system Collaborations

Data exchanges must be smooth as renewable assets such as solar and battery storage interfacing with distribution and transmission networks. Therefore, engineers must manage various protocols and formats, settling voltage, frequency, and power flows after the interface in real time.

Building the Workforce of Tomorrow

Such challenges require: Full-training in digital communication, grid standards such as IEC 61850, and advanced networking.

Simplified Tools and Platforms that reduce technical complexity and enable engineers to focus on system optimization.

Collaborative Ecosystems where power engineers, IT experts, and operators work together to maintain resilience across distributed networks.

Conclusion:

The future of energy will be shaped as much by people as by technology. Companies that invest in digital skills, upskilling programs, and collaborative frameworks will lead the transition to resilient, intelligent grids. Industry leaders such as Moxa, with their training initiatives and global expertise, are playing a vital role in equipping professionals to thrive in this new era ensuring the workforce is ready to power the grids of tomorrow.

(This article has been adapted and modified from content on Moxa.)

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ANRITSU CORPORATION has developed and launched its new 60 GHz optical sampling oscilloscope MP2110A-080 option for the BERTWave MP2110A. This option verifies the performance of 200G/Lane optical transceivers forming the foundation of faster data-center communications and growing AI deployment. It delivers high PAM4 TDECQ evaluation accuracy and measurement productivity for next-generation high-speed optical transceivers, such as 1.6T and 800G, supporting strong quality assurance of large-capacity, high-speed communications infrastructure.

This test solution was exhibited as a reference at the China International Optoelectronic Exposition (CIOE 2025) on September 10, 2025, and will also be showcased at the European Conference on Optical Communication (ECOC 2025), one of the world’s leading international conferences in the field of optical communications, to be held in Copenhagen, Denmark, from September 29 to October 1, 2025.

Development Background
With the growth of AI data centers, optical communication speeds are increasing from 800G to 1.6T, and transmission rates are shifting from 50 Gbaud (100G/Lane) to 100 Gbaud (200G/Lane). As transmission speeds increase, there is a growing need for wideband sampling oscilloscopes capable of evaluating higher frequency components in optical transceiver signals.

Product Features
The all-in-one MP2110A solution integrates the necessary functions for physical-layer evaluation of optical transceivers during development and manufacturing. This new 60 GHz oscilloscope MP2110A-080 option enables evaluation and analysis of next-generation high-speed 200G/Lane communication standards.

• High-Accuracy PAM4 TDECQ Measurement: With the performance of a reference receiver supporting PAM4 signals up to 120 Gbaud, the MP2110A offers reliable TDECQ evaluations by leveraging the high measurement accuracy of existing models.
• Improved Efficiency with Simultaneous 4-Channel Measurement: By measuring four optical signals simultaneously, the MP2110A cuts measurement time and improves operation efficiency. Batch evaluation of multiple channels simplifies measurement systems and processes to enhance productivity.
• Further Productivity Gains with Faster Measurement: Increasing the MP2110A sampling speed fourfold compared to previous models shortens measurement times even further. Stable operation with a built-in PC improves R&D and manufacturing efficiency.
• Cost-Effective 4-Channel Software Upgrade Option: With a software upgrade path to 4-channels, the 2-channel option lowers initial costs, allowing flexible deployment supporting future expansion matching budget and evaluation environment.

The post Anritsu introduces a 60 GHz Optical Sampling Oscilloscope for 200G/Lane 1.6T Transmission appeared first on ELE Times.

Built on Nordic’s 22-nm technology, the latest addition to the nRF54L series promises robust communication, long battery life, and compact designs.