Use of open-source hardware is growing

element 14 RioTboard

RioTboard

The impact open source hardware has had in the past year has been momentous. Educators, students and hobbyists have all traditionally been big proponents of open-source hardware, but in the last 12 months we finally saw large companies and professional engineers begin to openly embrace the open source movement as well.

Open source hardware is the affordable building option of the future and has assumed a position at the forefront of a growing electronic components market.

For the unfamiliar, open source hardware is hardware whose design has been made widely available to study, modify, distribute and build upon.

Any designs or hardware that use or modify this hardware may be sold by the developer. Some of the most popular open source hardware products include the hugely popular SBCs Raspberry Pi and Beaglebone Black.

Importantly, open source hardware provides people with the opportunity to take full control of the technology and freely share their knowledge with others – who in turn are encouraged to do the same.

These principles may sound familiar – they are the same ones adhered to by open source software, such as Mozilla’s Firefox internet browser, or the GNU/Linux operating system.

Designers have already discovered a seemingly endless number of applications for open source products; from capturing images in space and powering robots, to controlling home devices and processing word documents.

Their functions and uses are only limited by the imagination of the developer and, by encouraging users to learn how they work and share this knowledge with others, open source hardware is making programming and design engineering more accessible to everyone

To underline the significance of this, we surveyed 4,000 professional electrical design engineers and 4,000 students and hobbyist designers.

The survey found that 56% of professionals made more use of open-source hardware in 2013 than in any previous year. Amongst students and hobbyists that number rose even further, with more than 80% planning to make more use of open source hardware than they had in the past.

Clearly the impact of this is an increased emphasis on ease of access and use of electronic components, as well as the need for a strong community that can help bring these ideas and designs to life.

But more significantly, if we are seeing open-source hardware gain traction then there is a growing need for electronics distributors to adapt if they wish to remain relevant to these users – it’s no longer enough to just sell open-source components.

Due to the sheer availability of open-source tools and resources, many of the traditional risks associated with designing in open source for commercial use have been mitigated.

This mitigation has also led to the rise of a complete line of new development kits and accessories dedicated solely to open source hardware. As a result, the landscape has shifted and both distributors and manufacturers need to encourage further open-source lines if they wish to keep up with changing demand.

As an example, we partnered with major silicon providers in order to develop new open source platforms, with the aim of giving people access to technologies they wouldn’t traditionally have access to. This ensures low-cost development tools are available in an environment where developers can work on those tools and share their knowledge.

But the real shift will need to be seen long-term, after sales support.

With the rise in the use of open-source hardware, this is no longer optional if a distributor wishes to support engineers at all stages in the design process.

A good distributor will provide customers with free tools and the opportunity to work with other engineers, to both speed up their prototyping and make their lives easier.

This can cover something as specific as learning how to program a microprocessor, help with using and installing operating systems, or aiding in the discovery and application of new technologies – such as sensing, lighting, displays and I/O control.

Now we are halfway in to 2014, I’d expect that an updated survey would show further traction having been made across professional engineers, hobbyists, educators and students. As the tools used by both professionals and hobbyists continue to crossover, no doubt we will start to see even more significant impacts upon the workplace.

If both groups are using a Beaglebone Black in their designs, there’s no doubt they’ll be using many of the same tools and resources to achieve their goals. The fact that one is using these tools and accessing this information whilst in the workplace, and another in his home is inconsequential.

Richard Curtin

Richard Curtin

The impact of this cannot be overstated, with few other trends or products managing to influence the purchasing and design preferences of everyone from suppliers, to engineers, makers, students and beyond. The real challenge for those of us in the industry is in making sure we adapt in such a way that we are meeting the needs of the developers using these new products and enabling them to share their knowledge.

Writer is Richard Curtin, global director of strategic alliance, Premier Farnell

 

DAC is stable for capacitive loads

Linear 2668Linear Technology’s latest 16-bit voltage output digital-to-analog converter (DAC) has 16 outputs which can be independently configured for one of five selectable unipolar and bipolar output ranges up to ±10V.

“Each rail-to-rail DAC output is capable of sourcing or sinking 10mA with guaranteed load regulation and is stable driving capacitive loads as large as 1000pF,” said the supplier.

The LTC2668 DAC is designed for driving optical modules, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), MRI and X-ray imaging, automatic test equipment, laser etch equipment, spectrum analyzers and oscilloscopes.

The chip can be operated from a single 5V supply, or from dual bipolar supplies depending on the output voltage range requirement.

There is a precision 2.5V 10ppm/°C max reference on-chip to generate the five output ranges, or it can be driven with an external reference.

The LTC2668 also supports an A/B toggle function for generating an AC bias or for applying dither to a system.

Configuration of the LTC2668 is handled via an SPI-compatible serial interface which can be powered from an independent 1.8V to 5V digital supply.

The DC2025A evaluation board for the LTC2668 family is supported by the Linduino firmware development system, using the DC2026A.

Agilent digital multi-meter has power supply functionality

Agilent-U3606B-DMMAmplicon have added to their range of combined digital multi-meters/DC power supplies the Agilent U3606B.

The recently released U3606B is a compatible replacement to the U3606A.

For when a device under test (DUT) requires a power source the digital multi-meter/power supply combines a 5½ digit digital multi-meter and 30W power supply, which operate simultaneously and independently.

As a result the digital multi-meter/power supply is capable of powering the DUT while making measurements of voltage, current, frequency or other operations.

Improvements to the accuracy of the constant voltage settings, as well as constant current settings, have also been made.

The SCPI programming command set has been expanded to include several more commands, as well as some general improvements to the ripple and noise performance and the transient voltage response time.

Manufacturer says Europe is competitive again

Slovakia SMT Line4

Slovakia SMT Line4

UK-based electronics manufacturer AWS has increased investment and expanded facilities in its operation in Slovakia.

Business in Europe has picked up since the region has become more price-competitive with other parts of the world.

The upturn in business has experienced has come from existing customers moving all or part of their work streams to Slovakia to benefit from lower costs.

The contract manufacturer is also seeing some re-shoring from S.E Asia into eastern Europe.

“We recognise that many of our customers are under pressure to regularly review pricing structures in order to remain competitive in today’s fast-moving and challenging business environment. We have been able to alleviate some of this pressure through offering low-cost manufacturing in Slovakia,” said Paul Deehan, AWS Group CEO.

“Our expanded facility in Slovakia is now fully self sufficient – all equipment mirrors that within our UK facility,” said Deehan.

AWS’s facility in Slovakia has the same equipment as its UK site, plus slightly more surface mount production capacity.

Five lines with thirteen pick- and-place machines can place down to 010005’s, and on-site process capabilities include X-Ray, Flying Probe, Mertec AOI, Robotic ultrasonic wash, selective and automated conformal coating, potting, encapsulation and cable over-moulding.

AWS predicts that the trend for re-shoring or dual sourcing with a presence in CEE will to continue over the next few years, particularly as its cost structure from the Slovakia facility is amongst the lowest in the EU and comparable with countries such as China and Malaysia.

Over the last two years, total investment has amounted to more than £2m.

$50 bn capex for top semi spenders

Hynix will spend $3-3.8 billion on semiconductor capex and Samsung will spend $11.5 billion says Digitimes Research.

With Samsung planning to begin install production equipment at its Line-17 fab in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, its semiconductor capex in the second half of 2014 will be higher than in the first.

Having already set up seven semiconductor production lines in its plants in Hwaseong and Xian, China, the Hwaseong plant will aim to migrate to more advanced process nodes in 2014, while the Xian plant will focus on ramping up its vertical-NAND (V-NAND) flash capacity.

The Line-17 fab, which is slated for completion in the second half of 2014, will focus on offering wafer foundry services using 20nm and below processes.

Hynix’s main capex for 2014 will be used to build its M14 fab. Construction of the M14 line is expected to begin in mid-2014.

Companies spending over $1 billion on capex this year include Micron, Toshiba and SanDisk.

Micron is expected to accelerate the migration of its DRAM production to 20nm process, while also ramping up its NAND flash capacity.

Toshiba and SanDisk will expand the production capacity of V-NAND flash at its plant in Yokkaichi.

For non-memory chips, the 2014 capex of Intel, TSMC, GloGo and UMC..

Intel will deepen its development of 14nm and below processes, TSMC will focus on 16nm FinFET process. GloFo and UMC will raise the ratios of their 28nm production,while beginning to develop 20nm and below technologies.

Combined 2014 capital spending of these semiconductor firms with a capex budget of over US$1 billion in the year is expected to amount to US$49.3 billion, Digitimes Research estimates.

The top-three DRAM chipmakers will move to upgrade their processes to 25-21nm, while the NAND flash industry will focus on ramping V-NAND flash production as well as to migrate to 19-16nm processes.

No takers for Kilby’s Chip

Christies - Jack Kilby ICA prototype of Jack Kilby’s original IC failed to sell at Christie’s New York yesterday.

The highest bid was $850,000 which was below the reserve price.

The chip was to be sold with a letter dated April 30th 1964 written by Tom Yeargan who performed the actual fabrication of the IC and kept the prototype.

The letter includes the statement:

‘I assisted Jack in his work on semiconductor networks.
‘I remember working on the first unit, a phase shift oscillator.
‘At the time, I was assigned to Stacy Watelski and had been working for him on germanium transistor having a horse shoe base and dot emitter.
‘In this work, I evaporated metal to form the base and emitter.
‘I heated the germanium and then evaporated the metal.
‘When metal hit the germanium, it became alloyed in.’

There are two earlier prototypes of Kilby’s IC – one in the Smithsonian and one in the Chicago Museum of Technology.

Apple iWatch moves into early stage manufacturing

Reuters reports that the Apple iWatch will move into production at Quanta in July.

The commercial launch of the iWatch will be in October, says Reuters.

The screen is said to be 2.5 inches on the diagonal and protrudes slightly from the band.

The interface will be touch and the charging will be wireless.

Messaging and voice will require a paired iPhone. The iWatch will only be compatible with devices running iOS.

Apple is said to be planning to ship 50 million of the devices in the 12 months after launch. Quanta is said to be responsible for 70 % of the production.

Smart watches have been launched by Samsung, Sony, Motorola and LG with little market success.

Chinese company in top ten LED makers

China’s massive investments in LED manufacturing capacity are paying off, with a Chinese company entering the top ranks of the global market for the first time ever, according to IHS Technology.

China’s MLS Electronics in 2013 rose to the No. 10 rank in the worldwide market for packaged LEDs, up from 14th place in 2012.

The other top 10 players are based in Korea, Japan, the USA, Germany and Taiwan.

“Since 2011, most of the new LED production capacity that has been added worldwide has occurred in China,” said Jamie Fox, principal LED analyst for IHS. “Because of this, it was inevitable that Chinese companies eventually would penetrate the ranks of the top 10 LED suppliers. MLS was first to join the global elite, having established itself as the clear leader in the Chinese market by capitalizing on strong domestic demand.”

MLS is one of many Chinese LED suppliers that have sprung up amid the surge in production. However, the other firms do not even rank among the top 20 global suppliers. China’s LED supply base is massive and highly fragmented, with thousands of small manufacturers located across the country.

“Despite leading the domestic market, MLS accounted for less than 10 percent of Chinese LED revenue in 2013,” said Alice Tao, China LED analyst at IHS. “The next five largest LED suppliers in China represented only about 20 percent of the market.”

With the rise of LED manufacturing capacity in China, concerns have risen relating to overcapacity. Some of the equipment purchased for metal-organic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) manufacturing—the most important process step in LED production—is now sitting idle in China. Observers have fretted that the overcapacity could result in the shutdown of some Chinese suppliers.

However, only a few of the smaller Chinese vendors so far have closed their LED operations. Most of the top companies remain active in the market, with some posting strong profit margins.

MLS and the smaller Chinese suppliers mostly compete among themselves for a share of the large domestic LED market. The international portion of sales for these companies is very small.

At the same, the extremely low prices in the Chinese market make the country inaccessible to overseas suppliers. Because of this, foreign LED makers don’t encounter Chinese competitors very often.

But that situation will change rapidly. IHS expects the LED revenues of Chinese vendors to grow steadily over time, as the country’s economy continues to grow strongly. Because of this, Chinese LED suppliers will begin to sell more internationally and come into competition with foreign rivals.

Both intellectual property and quality are concerns for international customers that are considering Chinese suppliers.

However, several factors suggest these concerns could be alleviated over time. These factors include patent expirations, China’s established history in other industries, the sheer volume of manufacturing capacity in the country and the fact that many LED lamps are assembled in the nation.

Top-tier LED suppliers such as Nichia, Osram, Lumileds and Cree so far have seen only a small impact from Chinese vendors on their sales. This is especially true in the market for general lighting in regions such as Europe and the Americas. Such will not necessarily be the case by the end of the decade.

X-Fab builds two new MEMS fabs

X-FAB Silicon Foundries has expanded its MEMS manufacturing capabilities in Erfurt and Itzehoe with two new dedicated MEMS fabs with cleanroom space totaling more than 2000 square metres.

MEMS devices manufactured at X-FAB include pressure sensors, micro-mirrors, microphones and microfluidic devices used in mobile, consumer, medical and automotive applications.

“With the two new dedicated MEMS fabs, we are well prepared for volume MEMS manufacturing and able to meet the growing demand we see from our customers,” says X-Fab’s Peter Merz.

In Erfurt, X-FAB will use 1300 square metres of new MEMS manufacturing space alongside its existing CMOS and MEMS semiconductor fabs on site. The new cleanroom will be used for high-volume manufacturing of 200mm MEMS and related processes with the first equipment to be installed in December this year.

In Itzehoe, X-FAB is moving its operation into a new state-of-the-art 1000 square metre fab commonly used with Fraunhofer ISIT.

In addition, X-FAB will expand its R&D cooperation with Fraunhofer Institute. The Itzehoe fab was opened last month with the first tools already installed.

“X-FAB offers a variety of CMOS processes for analog/mixed signal, high-voltage and power applications in combination with a wide range of MEMS process capabilities,” says Merz, “customers benefit from this one-stop-shopping approach. In addition, X-FAB simplifies the supply chain by supporting integration and interface challenges on all levels.”

More on: Amazon phone focuses on gesture

Amazon Fire phoneAmazon has gone for touch-less gesture recognition in a big way with the release of its long-awaited phone, called Fire.

Amongst other things, one-handed gestures can be used for scroll, tilt and swivel navigation.

Four front face image sensors and four infra-red LEDs form the physical interface, and inside are a dedicated custom processor, real-time computer vision algorithms, and a graphics rendering engine, said the firm.

Gesture recognition is part of something it has branded ‘Dynamic Perspective’.

“Dynamic perspective uses a new sensor system to respond to the way you hold, view, and move Fire, enabling experiences not possible on other smartphones,” claimed Amazon, which is providing a dynamic perspective software design kit (SDK).

Image sensing also plays a part in something called Firefly, which auto-recognises web addresses, email addresses, printed phone numbers, QR codes, bar codes, printed text on signs, posters, magazines and business cards. “Make a call, send an email, save as a contact, or go to the website without typing out URLs or email addresses,” said the firm.

Combined with communications to the firm’s data base, and the phones microphones, Firefly is also said to be able to identify over 100 million items, including movies, TV episodes, songs, and other things amongst its products.

“Later this year, Firefly will include artwork recognition, foreign language translation, and wine label recognition,” said Amazon. Firefly also has an SDK.

The phone’s hardware includes a 2.2GHz quad-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor with 2Gbyte of RAM and a choice of 32 or 64Gbyte of flash.

The display is 4.7in (12cm), with an ambient light sensor, and wireless interfaces include: nine bands of LTE, four bands of GSM, five bands of UMTS, 802.11ac (and Wi-Fi channel bonding), NFC, and Bluetooth.

As well as the gesture sensors, there are two conventional cameras: at the rear camera is a back-side-illuminated 13Mpixel sensor with LED flash, a five element f/2.0 lens and optical image stabilization (OIS). While at the front is a 2.1Mpixel camera. Both can record 1080p video.

There are two speakers with Dolby Digital Plus for what Amazon describes as “a virtual surround sound experience”.

Case wise, Fire has front and back Gorilla Glass, aluminium buttons, stainless steel details, and a compliant polyurethane grip area.