Communications
Control your TV with your voice
Voice-over remote control technology, developed by Texas Instruments, has been selected by Comcast for use in its XFINITY TV remote control. The ZigBee RF4CE wireless MCU integrated within the remote control allows consumers to use voice commands to search for networks and shows, set DVR recordings and receive recommendations.
Ultra HD SoCs support Google's VP9 compression standard
Two Ultra HD SoC devices, which support Google's VP9 open video compression standard, have been released by Broadcom. Designed for client and media gateway STM applications, the BCM7251S and BCM7252S support VP9 decode alongside 60fps on the new codec.
Infotainment system enhances in-car interaction
Aiming to enhance the way that consumers interact with their vehicles, Texas Instruments and Ford have collaborated to produce the Ford SYNC 3, a communications and infotainment system. The SYNC 3 incorporates TI’s OMAP 5 processor, a member of the Jacinto automotive processor family, the WiLink 8Q single chip, combining WiFi, Bluetooth 4.0 and GNSS, power management and FPD-Link III Serialiser/Deserialiser (SerDes).
One-chip solution for smart car access enables wearables
A true one-chip solution for smart car access, which is claimed to be a world first, has been introduced by NXP Semiconductors. The NCF29A1 combines Passive Keyless Entry (PKE), an RF transmitter for remote control and an immobiliser in an HVQVN32 package. Key designs and form factors such as PKE chips in smartphones, smartwatches or smartphone cases, which support complementary car access via mobile devices, can be realised using this solution.&...
DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem SoC is a world first
A DOCSIS 3.1 cable modem SoC, claimed to be the world’s first, has been introduced by Broadcom. The BCM3390 enables cable operators to deliver data to homes at speeds faster than 1Gb/s. Compared to existing spectrum allocations, the cable modem SoC delivers video content with a nearly 50% increased efficiency, and allows for the delivery and use of a new range of content and services.
Ultra-HDp60 SoC ICs decode Ultra-HD HEVC at 60fps
The STiH314/318 and STiH414/418 Ultra-HDp60 quad-core SoC ICs have been released by STMicroelectronics, expanding the company’s Cannes/ Monaco family. The SoCs can be used to decode Ultra-HD HEVC at 60fps with 10-bit colour depth streams, and display this on the latest gen HDMi2.0 at 6Gb/s.
Design tools complement 28nm Super Low Power process to achieve 2.0GHz performance
Cadence Design Systems and GLOBALFOUNDRIES have jointly announced the delivery of quad-core silicon built around the ARM Cortex-A17 processor, implemented using GLOBALFOUNDRIES’s 28nm Super Low Power (28nm-SLP) process with High-K Metal Gate (HKMG) technology. GLOBALFOUNDRIES utilised Cadence tools exclusively to achieve 2.0GHz processor performance at typical operating conditions, which matched pre-silicon design performance pred...
Bluetooth 4.1 network processor operates from 1.7V
Supporting the latest Bluetooth version 4.1 enhancements, a BlueNRG Bluetooth SMART network processor has been introduced by STMicroelectronics. The BlueNRG-MS network processor introduces 1.7V operation for longer-lasting battery-powered applications.
MOST network interface controllers now support Linux
Microchip Technology has joined The Linux Foundation and Automotive Grade Linux (AGL), a collaborative open source project developing a common, Linux-based software stack for the connected car. Microchip has also begun enabling designers to use the Linux operating system with its portfolio of MOST network interface controllers.
Controller chip supports ZigBee 3.0
Designed for Smart Home and IoT networks and devices, the GP691 ZigBee communication controller chip and GPM6000 integrated ZigBee module has been released by GreenPeak Technologies. The GP691 controller, which provides IEEE Standard 802.15.4-compliant robust spread spectrum data communication in the worldwide 2.4GHz band, is capable of running the full stack and application for ZigBee applications, including ZHA and ZLL profiles.