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Cambridge Wireless is discussing ‘Sensing from Radio’
Cambridge Wireless, Short Range Wireless and Sensing SIG Event: 'Sensing from Radio' 29th September 2010, Cambridge, UK
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CAMBRIDGE, UK – 2nd September 2010 – Cambridge Wireless announced today the latest presentation from the Joint Short Range Wireless and Wireless Sensing Special Interest Group taking place on 29th September 2010 at Murray Edwards College, University of Cambridge. For more information, please visit www.cambridgewireless.co.uk/events Wireless systems have been an invaluable part of sensing and telemetry. However, the radio system itself can be used for sensing and measuring things like location, medical phenomena, even the weather. This event will present a range of topics where wireless itself provides the transduction, and possibly the data carrier too. Topics will range from ultrawideband, spectrum monitoring, THz devices and CMOS and the latest Ofcom study results into wireless devices and much more. Steve Edwards from Rohde & Schwarz, the sponsors for this event has this to say, “We value the opportunity to take part in events such as these as the collective expertise can often provide valuable insight and ideas that may contribute to future product development.” This event is an arena to discuss the latest developments surrounding this topic with the crème de le crème of the industry with the opportunity to debate the potential new avenues of development in the usability of radio. Dr Soraya Jones, CEO of Cambridge Wireless says “This forum will open up the debate on the future business opportunities surrounding this field, tackling the core issues and providing a clear path for future commercial development.” Confirmed speakers include; Dr Andy Ward, Chief Technology Officer, Ubisense Ltd, Stirling Essex, Director of Business Development from CRFS, Dr Lorenzo Tripodi, Philips Research, Dr Steve Methley, Quotient Associates Ltd, Dirk Trossen, University of Cambridge and Eiman Kanjo of Cambridge Mobile Sensing. This SIG is championed by Tim Whittaker of Cambridge Consultants, Peter George of Anritsu and Antony Rix of TTP from the Short Range Wireless SIG and Rob Blake of Philips Research UK, Dirk Trossen, University of Cambridge, Eiman Kanjo of Cambridge Mobile Sensing and Simon Loe of Alcatel Lucent of from the Sensing SIG. Cambridge Wireless is also delighted to have Rohde and Schwarz support in sponsoring this event. - ENDS - Notes for editors follow For Cambridge Wireless please contact: Natalie Childs, Marketing and Events Executive, Cambridge Wireless Tel: +44 1223 422 365 Email: admin[at]cambridgewirelesspdot]co.uk. www.cambridgewireless.co.uk About Cambridge Wireless Cambridge Wireless is one of the world’s leading wireless communities with a rapidly expanding network of companies interested in the application of wireless technologies. In addition to VIP Networking events, our activities are based around a number of Special Interest Groups (SIGs), each focussed on a specific technology and/or market area. SIG meetings provide opportunities for member organisations to meet, discuss developments in technologies and markets, showcase their capabilities, and explore opportunities for new business. For more information visit: http://www.cambridgewireless.co.uk Distributed on behalf of Cambridge Wireless by NeonDrum news distribution service (http://www.neondrum.com) --Liz Hartney 2010-09-02 10:14:41
DNA Electronics and Ion Torrent Sign License Agreement
License offers Ion Torrent access to DNA Electronics’ intellectual property
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LONDON,August 3, 2010- DNA Electronics Ltd., an innovator of semiconductor solutions for healthcare, announced today that it has signed a non-exclusive, worldwide license agreement to provide Ion Torrent, the semiconductor sequencing company, access to DNA Electronics’ intellectual property. No further details about the agreement were disclosed. DNA Electronics Founder and CEO Prof. Chris Toumazou FRS, an electronic engineer and innovator who has spent his career working in semiconductor technology, moved into healthcare because he saw the huge benefits chip technology could offer clinicians. “I’ve always believed that if you could apply just a fraction of semiconductor technology to healthcare, you can begin to make major innovations,” said Toumazou. “Those innovations are now very near on the horizon, and the great work that DNA Electronics has been doing positions our company to play a key role in this coming healthcare revolution. I am delighted that Ion Torrent is pioneering semiconductor sequencing, and I believe this will bring about a new semiconductor revolution in the Life Sciences and Healthcare industries.” About DNA Electronics (http://www.dnae.co.uk) DNA Electronics is a provider of scalable semiconductor solutions for real-time nucleic acid detection which enable faster, simpler and more cost-effective DNA analysis platforms. The company’s IP portfolio includes techniques for monitoring nucleotide insertions using solid-state biosensors on standard CMOS chip technology, enabling label-free electronic DNA sequencing and diagnostics platforms. DNA Electronics (DNAe) has developed the Genalysis® platform of disposable silicon chip-based solutions for real-time nucleic acid sequence detection at the point of care, providing end users with technology as yet unavailable outside a laboratory. DNAe’s Genalysis® portfolio of silicon-based point-of-care solutions delivers fast and accurate handheld gene tests with all the appeal of consumer electronics: anytime, anywhere. Interchangeable, disposable “lab-on-chip” cartridges can be tailored to any sequence of interest, making this a customizable semiconductor technology amenable to a wide variety of applications and markets. The ability to accurately detect a gene sequence in real-time using a standalone, fully portable, low power electronic readout presents disruptive new opportunities in diagnostics, data capture and therapy. PRESS CONTACT for DNA Electronics: Nicky Denovan EvokedSet Email: nicky[@]evokedset[dot]com Tel: +44 (0)844 870 8025 Mobile: +44 (0)7747 017654 Distributed on behalf of EvokedSet by NeonDrum news distribution service (http://www.neondrum.com) --Liz Hartney 2010-08-03 05:45:48
New Waspmote Sensor Board enables Precision Agriculture
The new Agriculture Sensor Board for Libelium’s award-winning Waspmote platform enables very precise irrigation and climate control for vineyards and greenhouses by monitoring up to 14 environmental parameters.
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Zaragoza, Spain – June 15th, 2010 – Libelium, a technology leader in wireless sensor networks, announces a new Agriculture Sensor board for its Waspmote platform. The new board enables up to fourteen environmental parameters to be monitored in a wireless sensor network. This sophisticated monitoring brings extreme precision to crop growing in vineyards and greenhouses by enabling irrigation and climate control to be matched to local conditions. The new Agriculture Sensor Board extends the award-winning Waspmote platform by supporting the measurement of the following key parameters: air temperature, air humidity, soil temperature, soil moisture, leaf wetness, atmospheric pressure, solar radiation, trunk/stem/fruit diameter, wind speed, wind direction and rainfall. The board allows more than ten sensors to be connected at one time. Libelium’s CTO, David Gascón says “A Waspmote sensor network using the new board can measure irrigation effectiveness, crop growth and micro-climatic conditions as well as detect adverse weather events”. Local variations in soil, drainage and evaporation can mean that irrigation is not uniformly effective. For example it is possible that, within a vineyard, some vine roots are too dry while others are waterlogged. If three soil moisture sensors are simultaneously placed at different depths the local water retention in the soil can be assessed. By measuring evapotranspiration it is possible to work out how much irrigation water is being actually absorbed by the plants. Using sensor data to automatically adjust irrigation to match local conditions conserves water and is equally applicable to vineyards, greenhouses and golf courses. Avoiding over-watering also helps prevent certain crop diseases including rot, fungi and bacteria which thrive in wet conditions. Precision agriculture aims to optimise production by taking account of local soil and climatic variations. David Gascón says, “This new board enables vineyards to be controlled with a finer granularity than existing precision agriculture techniques”. He explains, “Accurate dendrometers, capable of measuring changes in diameter of a few micrometres, allow the measurement of water intake of individual vines from irrigation. Using a PAR (photosynthetically active radiation) sensor checks the conditions for photosynthesis”. The Agricultural Sensor Board is also highly applicable to greenhouses where the creation and control of microclimates is important to the growth of delicate crops such as exotic fruit. For mushroom farming, Waspmote’s Agricultural Sensor and Gas Sensor boards can be used together to measure and control soil moisture and temperature, CO2 level and air temperature. The board also supports meteorological sensors such as air thermometer, hygrometer, anemometer, wind vane and rain gauges (pluviometer). If the temperature falls below a threshold, heating can be automatically started by the wireless sensor network. Meteorological sensors can trigger warnings in the event of adverse weather such as high wind or torrential rain. Waspmote does not need to monitor values continuously and can spend long periods in a power saving mode. However if wind exceeds a threshold the anemometer will send a signal to wake up the Waspmote board. In hibernate mode the board consumes just 0.7 microamperes current resulting in outstanding battery performance. Should continuous measurement be required, a socket enables the board to be powered by a solar panel also available from Libelium. Agricultural sensor networks using Waspmote send data using ZigBee (using 2.4GHz, 868MHz, 900MHz frequencies). The radio range depends on undergrowth but can be up to 12 km for line of sight links or up to 6 km for non line of sight. Alarms can also be sent to the mobile phone network using Waspmote’s GSM/GPRS board. Waspmote users – such as agricultural consultancies - can add value layers to the platform by using the open source API and programming environment. This enables the platform to be easily integrated with third party applications. It can also be extended by addition of different types of sensor. Waspmote was chosen by Sensors Magazine as one of the most exciting new products at the recent Sensors Expo & Conference in Rosemont, Illinois. Libelium received a Sensors 2010 "Best of Sensors Expo" Award in the Data Acquisition Products category. About Wireless Sensor Networks Wireless sensor networks (WSN) consist of small battery powered electronic devices – often known as “motes” – which gather data from built-in sensors. A WSN is self-organising allowing it to have high availability, scalability and simple installation. Applications include environmental monitoring, fire or gas detection, smart metering, farming, logistics and security. For more information visit http://www.libelium.com/products/waspmote/wsn About Waspmote Waspmote is a modular platform for building wireless sensor networks. The platform comprises: the Waspmote board with microcontroller, memory, battery, accelerometer and sockets for add-on modules; open source API and compiler; Xbee range of ZigBee wireless communication modules offer a choice of protocol versions, radio frequency and range (up to 40 km); wireless modules supporting Bluetooth, GPRS, GPS; a gas sensor board supports the detection of gases arising from industrial pollution, fires, farms and chemical and industrial processes; a physical event detector board support security, flood detection and vibration and impact monitoring; and outstanding power management - an unprecedented 0.7 microamperes is required in hibernate mode. Waspmote is CE, FCC and IC certified. For Waspmote platform details visit http://www.libelium.com/waspmote About Libelium Libelium designs and manufactures hardware and communication protocols for distributed wireless networks. The product portfolio consists of the Waspmote low power platform for creating wireless sensor networks; the Meshlium multi-tech router integrating WiFi mesh (2.4GHz - 5GHz), ZigBee, GPRS, GPS and Bluetooth technologies; and N-vio platform for proximity marketing and messaging via Bluetooth. The company was founded in 2006, is privately held and is based at the European Business and Innovation Centre CEEIARAGON, Zaragoza, Spain. For more information call +34 976 54 74 92 or visit http://www.libelium.com Press Contact David Gascón CTO Libelium Tel: +34 976 54 74 92 e-mail: d.gascon[at]libelium[dot]com Distributed on behalf of Libelium by NeonDrum (http://www.neondrum.com) Nicky Denovan Tel: +44 7747 017654 nicky[at]neondrum[dot]com --Liz Hartney 2010-06-15 05:39:52
StarChip announces the successful tape-out of its 32bit-Secure Chip SIM platform based on Cortus APS
StarChip, high volume, secure microcontroller design expert, announces the tape-out of its 32bit-Secure chip SIM platform. This new technology includes Flash secure 32-bit SIM architecture based on Cortus APS3S core and providing high-level endurance management, fast personalization mode and fully secure lifecycle handling.
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June 10 2010 - StarChip, high volume, secure microcontroller design expert, announces the tape-out of its 32bit-Secure chip SIM platform. This new technology includes Flash secure 32-bit SIM architecture based on Cortus APS3S core and providing high-level endurance management, fast personalization mode and fully secure lifecycle handling. StarChip believes that the only way to implement a secure architecture including core protection and customization would require close cooperation with CORE IP design experts. Only Cortus were found who combines a native powerful and cost effective 32-bit architecture with access to the processor experts required to support the development of an innovative secure SIM architecture. Moreover, the redistributable complete Cortus tool chain enables StarChip to supply secure, customised and state-of-the-art development solution to its customers. In addition to the close collaboration between StarChip Engineers and Cortus experts, the APS3 was chosen for its small silicon footprint and low power consumption. As part of the solution Cortus provided extensive test benches which saved weeks of the development time and improved confidence in the overall design. Yves Fusella, CTO of StarChip, said “We were very satisfied with the exemplary reactivity and quality of the support provided by Cortus which was key to the success of our project. Cortus provides a powerful core solution which allows introducing the 32-bit performances in the SIM market with the cost and power consumption of a standard 8-bit core. In the future, we plan to build a complete and consistent 32-bit offer based on the APS3S core from the low-end SIM chips to the highest levels of security” Mike Chapman, CEO of Cortus, said “We were delighted to rise to the challenge of developing the secure SIM solution with StarChip. Our processor experts were excited to be able to work closely with a customer to bring an innovative design to market. The result of this partnership has been an innovative solution that offers both security and ease of development to StarChip customers.” The Cortus APS3 is a fully 32-bit processor designed specifically for embedded systems. It features a tiny silicon footprint (the same size as an 8051), very low power consumption, high code density and high performance. A full development environment is available, which is available for customization and branding for final customer use. The ecosystem around the APS3 is rich and well developed, it includes a full development environment (for C and C++), peripherals typical of embedded systems, bus bridges to ensure easy interfacing to other IP and system support and functions such as cache and memory management units. For the most demanding designs the APS3 can be used in a multi-core configuration. The APS3 processor core is currently in production in a range of products from security applications to ultra low power RF designs. About StarChip: StarChip has been founded in early 2009 by experienced former managers of the semiconductor industry. StarChip is dedicated to help large OEMs designing, then transferring semiconductor products to high volume production, thus helping customers to directly benefit from a reduced added value chain. We license a Product-IPTM which can be bought directly by our customers in volume from selected and qualified foundries and test houses. StarChip expertise is of two folds : • Focus on secured microcontroller design including Flash memory, analog and security for various commodity markets such as communications, consumer, PC, including circuits for Smart Card and M2M. • Complete knowledge of Product Engineering, Quality and Production aspects of the semiconductor industry. Products are specified according to customer requirements and integrate industry standard cores. About Cortus S.A.: Cortus S.A. is the price/performance leader for 32 bit processor IP for embedded systems. Cortus cores are used in applications where one or more of small silicon footprint, low power consumption, good code density/small code memory size and high performance are important. http://www.cortus.com. Starchip Contact: Lucien Brau, +33.4.42.26.45.77 lucien.brau[at]starchip-ic[dot]com www.starchip-ic.com Cortus S.A. Contact: David Kerr-Munslow, +33.4.30.96.70.00 david.kerr-munslow[at]cortus[dot]com Distributed on behalf of Cortus S.A. by NeonDrum (http://www.neondrum.com) Nicky Denovan Tel: +44 7747 017654 nicky[at]neondrum[dot]com --Liz Hartney 2010-06-10 07:12:10
Sital Announces the Availability of Minuet™ - World’s smallest Mil-Std-1553 Component
Sital today announces the availability of the world's smallest 1553 bus controller based upon fully compliant and proven 1553 designs. Compatible with DDC legacy firmware while offering significant technology advantages, Minuet is the first in a family of 1553 products from Sital that will offer great flexibility and capability to avionics and space systems designers.
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Kfar-Saba, Israel, June 3, 2010. Sital Technology, the world leader in Mil-Std-1553 IP cores and products, announces the availability of the world’s smallest Mil-Std-1553 bus controller component– Minuet™. Minuet™ is a family of compact, standalone, Mil-Std-1553B protocol terminals, which includes Bus Controller (BC), Remote Terminal (RT) and Monitor (MT). Depending on the configuration, Minuet™ can be configured as BC/RT+MT or RT+MT. Minuet™ is available in high-density packaging at 8mm square Chip Scale Ball Grid Array (csBGA) or at 17mm square in 1mm pitch ftBGA packaging. Minuet™ devices are software compatible to DDC® Enhanced MiniACE® components and architecture, with 8K or 16K Words of internal memory. A Minuet™ device is able to work in conjunction with any standard 1553 transceiver and transformer, or with Sital’s discrete transceiver. Combining the 8mm Minuet™ with National Hybrid™ Bus+™ products from API Technologies, offers the world’s smallest available complete solution for 1553. Sital and API Technologies will debut the solution June 3-4, at Military and Aerospace Electronics Forum in San Diego, California. Each device can be configured for Local Bus or PCI interface, supporting PCI burst mode for very fast data transfer to and from the device. Operating Clock frequency is flexible, with a wide range of frequencies selectable by writing to a register within the device. This eliminates long bus cycles and multiple clock domains on board, simplifying timing requirements and reducing EMI and RFI problems. Minuet™ is available in several configurations: - BC/RT/MT or RT/MT with local bus interface. - BC/RT/MT or RT/MT with PCI interface. - 8K (csBGA, 8 x 8 mm package) or 16K (ftBGA, 17 x 17 mm package) Words of internal memory “We are delighted to release this device now,” said Ofer Hofman, Sital’s founder and CTO, “With Minuet™ we are able to provide the smallest and the lowest cost solution for 1553, which is compatible to DDC® legacy interface,” he added. Duli Yariv, Sital’s VP of Sales and Marketing said: “Our customers can now choose between a wide variety of components and IP core implementations to meet their performance and cost criteria. Minuet™ is the bridge between the proven legacy software developed in the past and the form-factor and flexibility that is required for the future.” More information can be found at Sital Technology web site - www.sitaltech.com. For pricing and availability please contact duli@sitaltech.com or call +972-9-7633300. About Sital Technology Founded in 1993, Sital Technology is a leading provider of IP cores, test units and products for Mil-Std-1553. SITAL Technology's key quality resource is its creative, talented and professional staff. Most engineers in Sital are veterans of the Israeli Air Force, who served in the technical units of the F-16 avionics systems. They gained knowledge and experience with the MIL-STD-1553 standard from the bottom up, both as design engineers for MIL-STD-1553 components and as technicians working on the aircrafts. Among Sital’s many customers you can find NASA, Honeywell, Israeli Aircraft Industries (IAI), Rafael, Elbit, Thales, Astronautics, Tadiran, the Israeli Ministry of Defense, Elta, BAE Systems, RADA and many others. Distributed on behalf of Sital Technology by NeonDrum (http://www.neondrum.com) Nicky Denovan Tel: +44 7747 017654 nicky[at]neondrum[dot]com --Liz Hartney 2010-06-03 06:58:14
Embedded Systems Conference (ESC) India 2010 Announced
The largest technical conference in the embedded space
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UBM India and EE Times Group, a UBM company and the daily source of essential business and technology news, analysis and intelligence for the electronics industry's decision makers, today announced that the 4th Annual Embedded Systems Conference (ESC) India will be held from July 21-23, 2010 at NIMHANS Convention Centre, Bangalore. ESC India 2010 will be the largest embedded event in India and is aimed at those who are actively seeking to upgrade their design expertise, knowledge and skills. ESC India 2010 will showcase a team of recognized experts from around the globe and will focus on addressing critical issues faced by embedded software and hardware engineers today. The conference will also host an exhibition to showcase new and emerging technologies in this domain. The cast of speakers include Michael Barr (President - Netrino), Robert Oshana (Director of Global Software R&D for Networking and Multimedia - Freescale Semiconductor), Clive Maxfield (President – TechBytes), Gary Stringham (Founder - Gary Stringham & Associates LLC) and Bob Zeidman (President and Founder - Software Analysis and Forensic Engineering Corporation). Apart from this the conference will also witness some of India’s most renowned experts delivering exclusive technical classes. “A large share of work done by semiconductor companies in India is in software for embedded product testing, device drivers, APIs, algorithms and firmware. However, lack of support for development tools, DSP tools and RTOS are limiting India from leveraging opportunities in the embedded industry. Events like ESC provide platforms for design and embedded systems engineers to discuss, debate, and explore solutions that provide answers to their current design challenges” said Meenu Sarin, Executive Board Member and spokesperson for SSIA, Singapore Semiconductor Industry Association. “Our research has shown that developers in India desire the same career enhancing content as developers in the rest of the world, so that’s exactly what we’re going to give them. ESC is the fastest-growing embedded event in the world and if you're an engineer involved in designing and developing embedded systems, you cannot afford to miss ESC” said Kailash Shirodkar, Director & Publisher, UBM India. --Rasick Gowda 2010-06-02 01:15:16
VSIDE - VSDSP Integrated Development Environment
VLSI Solution has today announced VSIDE - the Integrated Development Environment for VSDSP Processor Family.
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Tampere, Finland, 13th May 2010 - VLSI Solution has today announced VSIDE - the Integrated Development Environment for VSDSP Processor Family. VSIDE is an integrated development environment for VLSI Solution's 16/40-bit VSDSP digital signal processor family. It contains a complete set of development utilities, including an optimizing ANSI-C compiler, assembler, linker, profiler, etc. All programs are integrated into a simple-to-use, easy-to-learn package running on a PC / Windows XP or Vista platform. VSIDE supports emulator-based debugging using real hardware. It also contains several example projects to help users get easily started. The beta version of the tool has been successfully used in the development of many audio products such as echo cancellation for Skype phone and pitch shifting of the audio source for a portable karaoke product. DSPeaker's (www.dspeaker.com) award winning Anti-Mode™ algorithm was debugged in a short time by using the powerful tools of VSIDE. VSIDE currently supports VLSI Solution's audio codec chip VS1053 as well as VLSI's all-new digital signal processor circuit VS8053. Support for the low cost VS1000 audio system chip will be added by Q1/2011. VLSI Solution's current programming examples will gradually be ported to VSIDE. Keeping with the spirit of VLSI Solution's openness policy, VSIDE can be downloaded for free at: http://www.vlsi.fi/en/support/software/vside.html About VLSI Solution VLSI Solution is an innovative new technology creator that designs and manufactures integrated circuits. Within its 19 years of existence VLSI has build an extensive in-house IP library and has the capability to pull through complicated mixed-signal IC projects, ranging from digital audio to RF applications. For more information, see http://www.vlsi.fi/ Henrik Herranen, Henrik.Herranen[at]vlsi[dot]fi, +358331408225, +358504623211 (mobile) Distributed on behalf of VLSI Solution by NeonDrum (http://www.neondrum.com) Nicky Denovan Tel: +44 7747 017654 nicky[at]neondrum[dot]com --Liz Hartney 2010-05-13 07:16:59
Industry Leaders gather together in Cambridge to plan the future of wireless
Cambridge Wireless Hosts the Future of Wireless International Conference 2010
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11th March 2010, Cambridge, UK —The Future of Wireless International Conference, a two day high-profile event to be held in Cambridge on 29th & 30th June 2010, brings together from around the world more than 300 key players, including business leaders, entrepreneurs, technologists, investors and academics, to explore the key market, business and technology opportunities for wireless - and it’s potential impact on society - over the next five years. The breadth of topics to be covered is impressive, including such matters as re-inventing business models and the value chain, bridging the digital divide, wireless delivery of healthcare, low-carbon smart homes, future wireless devices and the impact of cloud computing on life in the 21st Century. As well as informative presentations, there will also be lively, thought-provoking panel discussions and plenty of opportunities for attendees to engage and participate. The Cambridge Wireless free online partnering service enables delegates to maximise business development and partnering opportunities by facilitating pre-arrangement of meetings with other delegates. "The Future of Wireless conference brings together an industry that has already revolutionised the world through the availability of mass market voice and data communications. At this conference, we are examining the next wave of products and services that can be enabled and enhanced by wireless,” said Peter Whale, Board Member of Cambridge Wireless and Director of Product Management for Qualcomm. “The opportunities are extensive to connect people with each other in new ways, and to connect people with a vast range of personalised and relevant on-line and physical services.” Keynote speakers include high profile leading industry experts such as Robert Crow, VP of RIM, Houston Spencer, VP Business Strategy of Alcatel Lucent, James Collier, CTO of CSR; Martin Jackson, VP of Plastic Logic, Tudor Brown, President of ARM and many more! “The Future of Wireless International Conference 2010 is an essential meeting point for the global wireless industry, packed with vital knowledge and powerful opinions from industry leaders.” said Chris Walklett, Business Tax Partner and Head of PEM Technology, the technology team at Peters Elworthy & Moore (PEM). “"PEM are delighted to be a sponsor of such a forward thinking event”. For information, visit the conference web site at http://www.cambridgewireless.co.uk/futureofwireless - END – Notes to Editors: About Cambridge Wireless Cambridge Wireless is a leading and vibrant wireless community with a rapidly expanding network of companies interested in the application of wireless technologies.. In addition to VIP networking activities and business development support, we run a number of Special Interest Groups focussed on specific technology and/or market areas, providing opportunities for member organisations to meet, form partnerships and exploit opportunities for new business. Cambridge Wireless has a number of partnerships with like-minded organisations around the world, and we endeavour to keep members fully up to date with the latest developments, and assist in exploring new business opportunities with local and international companies. For more information, please visit our website: www.cambridgewireless.co.uk For Cambridge Wireless please contact: Jo Harrison, Events Manager, Cambridge Wireless Tel: +44 1223 422 366 Email: jo.harrison[at]cambridgewireless[dot]co.uk www.cambridgewireless.co.uk Distributed on behalf of Cambridge Wireless by NeonDrum (http://www.neondrum.com) Nicky Denovan Tel: +44 7747 017654 nicky[at]neondrum[dot]com --Liz Hartney 2010-03-11 08:17:21
AnXplorer from AgO Inc sets new standards in optimization for analog and RF circuit design
New simulation- or equation-based optimization tool AnXplorer accelerates device sizing and centers circuit across corners to improve device yield
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Sunnyvale, USA, 3rd March 2010. AgO Inc, a technology leader in analog and RF circuit optimization, launches AnXplorer – a new tool for optimizing analog and RF circuits. Starting with an unsized SPICE netlist, variables for device dimensions and a set of design objectives and constraints, AnXplorer optimizes device sizes by rigorously exploring the design space. By centering the design across all specified, process, temperature and voltage corners, AnXplorer achieves a robust design thereby enhancing the yield and improving the probability of first time silicon success. The analog and mixed signal segment is growing much more rapidly than the rest of the semiconductor market. This trend is unlikely to change with the current massive growth in mobile data communications requiring both RF and mixed-signal design. By 2014, Cisco predicts that mobile data traffic will increase a staggering 39 fold from 2009 to 3.6 exabytes per month globally (source: Global Mobile Data Traffic Forecast Update 2009-2014). Despite this, analog design automation has remained largely unchanged for many years. Circuits are usually entered by schematic capture and device sizes are manually tuned over many transistor-level simulation runs. AnXplorer can fit into commonly used design toolsets as it works with industry standard SPICE netlists and simulators. A designer can create an unsized circuit, design variables and objectives. AnXplorer will then generate an optimized, centered circuit that meets or exceeds the design objectives across all corners specified by the user. It uses a new multi-algorithmic optimization strategy aided by an expert system. A major challenge facing developers of analog and mixed signal ICs is the frequent failure of analog circuits to meet their requirements. Design respins not only significantly inflate the IC’s development costs but also adversely impact the final product’s market entry. Hillol Sarkar, CEO of AgO Inc said “AnXplorer helps analog designers converge on their design objectives rapidly”. He added, “Analog circuits are responsible for 50% of all IC design respins; by automating the analog circuit optimization, AnXplorer can significantly improve the likelihood of first time silicon success”. The tool’s optimization approach rigorously explores the design space searching for robust solutions over all process, temperature and supply voltage corners thereby improving yield. Users can control the way optimization takes place by defining a hierarchy of design objectives. Unlike weighted-based handling of multiple objectives, the tool tries to meet high priority objectives before optimizing lower priority ones. AnXplorer’s design exploration database records all points during the optimization process. This enables designers to undertake “what-if” analysis or to trade off conflicting objectives if all objectives cannot realistically be met. About AnXplorer AnXplorer is a new generation circuit optimization tool for analog and RF design. It uses a novel optimization approach based on either simulation or equations. The tool works with industry standard SPICE netlists and supports industry standard simulators including Synopsys HSPICE, Cadence Spectre and Legend Design Technology MSIM. It runs on the Linux operating system. For more information go to http://bit.ly/b-data About AgO Inc AgO Inc, headquartered in Sunnyvale, California is an EDA company focused on analog and RF circuit optimization. Its new generation optimization technology enhances the productivity of analog and RF circuit designers and enables yield improvement. AgO Inc is a privately held company. For more information contact North America & Asia Hillol Sarkar CEO AgO Inc Tel: +91 983 035 7206 or +1 949 310 9002 e-mail: hillol.sarkar[at]gmail[dot]com Europe Roddy Urquhart Tel: +44 753 158 7023 e-mail: roddy[at]alpha-star[dot]eu http://www.ago-inc.com Distributed on behalf of AgO Inc by NeonDrum (http://www.neondrum.com) Nicky Denovan Tel: +44 7747 017654 nicky[at]neondrum[dot]com --Liz Hartney 2010-03-03 05:33:18
Cortus Announces uCLinux for the APS3 Family of Processors
Cortus is pleased to announce uCLinux for the APS3 family of processors. This version of Linux is ideally suited to low power, high performance, embedded systems. The APS3 family of processors are modern, powerful processors, specifically designed for embedded systems, featuring a tiny silicon footprint.
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February 23 2010 - Cortus is pleased to announce uCLinux for the APS3 family of processors. This version of Linux is ideally suited to low power, high performance, embedded systems. The APS3 family of processors are modern, powerful processors, specifically designed for embedded systems, featuring a tiny silicon footprint. The APS3 architecture is ideally suited for uCLinux. The clean, uniform, architecture means that the ported kernel code is straightforward, easily implemented and understood. There are no hidden pitfalls due to inconsistencies in the architecture which could reduce performance or trip up unwary programmers. Developing application programs is uncomplicated and creating drivers for new peripherals and hardware is simple. Thanks to the rational design of the APS3 and close coupling of the compiler developer team and hardware engineers the port employed very little assembly code, in contrast with most other ports, whilst retaining all performance and features. This means that the port is easy to understand and the development of additional drivers is facilitated. An example of the advantages of the APS3 architecture is shown by the efficient implementation of system calls. By taking advantage of the “trap” instructions and flexible register set most system calls pass parameters without using the stack or external memory – ensuring no cycles are wasted. For more details see www.cortus.com/index.php?page=linux Mike Chapman, CEO of Cortus, said “We think that this must be the smallest ever CPU core running Linux. We are delighted to be able to offer a cost effective solution to our customers who require the power of the Linux operating system for their sophisticated applications. Using our core gains silicon space and power consumption and now with more operating system choices, our processor cores are a perfect fit with operating systems and this port allows our customers to provide a high quality, simple to use, solution to their customers.” The Cortus APS3 is a 32-bit processor designed specifically for embedded systems. It features a tiny silicon footprint (10k gates, the same size as an 8051), very low power consumption, high code density and high performance. A full development environment is available, which is available for customization and branding for final customer use. The ecosystem around the APS3 is rich and well developed, it includes a full development environment (for C and C++), peripherals typical of embedded systems, bus bridges to ensure easy interfacing to other IP and system support and functions such as cache and memory management units. For the most demanding designs the APS3 can be used in a multi-core configuration. The APS3 processor core is currently in production in a range of products from security applications to ultra low power RF designs. About Cortus S.A.: Cortus S.A. is the price/performance leader for 32 bit processor IP for embedded systems. Cortus cores are used in applications where one or more of small silicon footprint, low power consumption, good code density/small code memory size and high performance are important. The Cortus APS3 was crowned “the King of Lilliput” by the Microprocessor Report in May 2009. http://www.cortus.com Cortus S.A. Contact: David Kerr-Munslow, +33.4.30.96.70.00 david.kerr-munslow[at]cortus[dot]com Distributed on behalf of Cortus S.A. by NeonDrum (http://www.neondrum.com) Nicky Denovan Tel: +44 7747 017654 nicky[at]neondrum[dot]com --Liz Hartney 2010-02-23 06:09:53