DigiKey, a leading global commerce distributor offering the largest selection of technical components and automation products in stock for immediate shipment, announced the launch of its new MedTech Beyond video series.Sponsored by NXP Semiconductors and RECOM Power, the MedTech Beyond is a three-part video series that dives into how medical devices are evolving and allowing for faster and more accurate diagnosis and treatment. From wearables to immersive tech and AI-powered innovations, the series explores how medical technology is creating opportunities to live longer, more fulfilling lives."As healthcare needs and technology both rapidly advance, DigiKey is proud to support the needed technology advancements," said Josh Mickolio, supplier business development manager – wireless and IoT for DigiKey. "Medtech advancements are enhancing every aspect of healthcare and ultimately leading to longer, more fulfilling lives.""Our power supplies play a pivotal role in enabling cutting-edge medical devices to operate flawlessly, ensuring precision and reliability," said Chris Wolf, president, RECOM Power. "At RECOM, we take pride in contributing to the advancement of medical technology, and we remain dedicated to powering a healthier and more connected world.""An important change in the medtech landscape is the 'scale' of care, as we see an increased need to manage healthcare in the home," said Luca Difalco, senior vice president, global sales offerings for NXP Semiconductors. "Our technology enables the democratization of health monitoring and diagnostics while helping to ensure the security of the data and device. The ability to offer advanced quality, long product lifecycles and a wide portfolio of offerings positions NXP well to help advance the medtech industry."The first of three videos in the series, "Holistic Health," is now live on DigiKey's website, and investigates the evolution of tech-assisted personal wellness and patient care. Personal wellness tech is no longer limited to counting steps. A new generation of patient care and personalized medical devices are using the latest technology to provide a better patient experience and a more holistic look at daily health.The second video, "Engineering Better Health Outcomes," explores how innovation happens behind the scenes with industry leaders. Given the critical importance of patient safety and security, medical device engineers, designers and supply chains face more pressure than most.The third and final video in the first season of the series, "Curing Tomorrow," examines the big thinkers investigating the next medtech breakthrough. From AI-powered diagnostics to predictive analytics, investigate how today's innovations are helping diagnose and treat the diseases of tomorrow.To learn more about the video series and how DigiKey is supporting the rapidly evolving medtech sector, visit the DigiKey website.

Prosemi Pte Ltd Singapore, a leading provider of electronic testing services, is proud to announce that it has been approved for ISO/IEC 17025:2017 and AS6171 (Detection of Suspect/Counterfeit Parts) accreditation from the ANSI National Accreditation Board (ANAB), Certification No. AT-3240. This accreditation is the international standard for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories. It is a prestigious accreditation that demonstrates Prosemi's commitment to providing high-quality testing services."We are very proud to have been awarded ISO 17025 accreditation," said Mr. Sheng Chuan Lee, Quality Director of Prosemi Pte Ltd Singapore. "This accreditation demonstrates our commitment to providing our customers with the highest quality testing services. We are confident that our ISO 17025 accreditation will give our customers the peace of mind of knowing that their products are being tested by a competent and accredited laboratory."To achieve ISO 17025 accreditation, Prosemi underwent a rigorous assessment by ANAB. The assessment included an evaluation of Prosemi's technical competence, management system, and quality assurance procedures. ANAB found that Prosemi meets all the requirements of ISO/IEC 17025.

The first carbon-neutral seminar for the communication industryPhoto: DIGITIMESThe seventh annual seminar of the Auden Techno Corp. recently concluded (9/26) at the Hua Nan Bank International Convention Center. In response to the impacts of climate change and the increasingly important topics of energy conservation and carbon reduction in different industries, this year's theme was "Wireless Convergence for Infinite Sustainability." Exploring the idea of "Infinite Sustainability," the goal was to integrate wireless communication through smarter software, more efficient designs, and more open architectures, building networks that are ubiquitous across various domains. This year's seminar notably added the topics of ESG, the net-zero carbon emissions goal, and sustainable development as a whole. This event was the first carbon-neutral seminar in the communications industry. Besides encouraging participants and staff to bring their own water bottles and environmentally friendly utensils to reduce carbon emissions, under the guidance of the new group venture, - Auden Intelligence Carbon Solution Co. Ltd., international carbon rights were purchased to offset the carbon emissions from this event, actively responding to international climate action and putting it into practice.@ A Collaboration of Industry, Government, Academia, and Research, Covering a Diverse Range of Topics,The chairman of the Auden Techno Corp., Chang Yupin, mentioned that the group has hosted the seminar for seven years now and expressed his gratitude for the wide-ranging support received. He acknowledged various government agencies such as the National Development Council and the Ministry of Digital Affairs, for their project and financial support, which allowed Auden Techno to continually make strides in forward-looking research. In addition to its new subsidiary, Auden Intelligence Carbon Solution Co. Ltd., which assists companies in achieving global carbon neutrality, another subsidiary, Auray Technology Corp., is one of the major globally recognized ORAN laboratories. It is committed to promoting open communication standards. There were separate sessions in the afternoon discussing topics related to ORAN and information security. Other topics included wireless communication, smart healthcare, energy conservation, and carbon reduction, with the hope of fostering exchanges between all participants.Chairman of the Auden Techno Corp., Chang YupinPhoto: DIGITIMESThe opening ceremony invited distinguished guests such as Vice Director Hu Peiti from the Administration for Digital Industries of the Ministry of Digital Affairs, Convener Wu Juipei of the Taiwan Electromagnetic Industry-Academia Consortium, Director Chen Weichun from the Space Technology Application Division of the Taiwan Space Agency, and Vice Director Chen Chiunghua from the Industrial Development Division of the National Development Council. Vice Director Hu Peiti stated that the government announced last year that a dedicated 5G network would be launched this year. After joint efforts by industry, government, academia, and research institutions, it has finally been implemented and has been done so with more flexible pricing. This year, 20 companies have applied for the 5G dedicated network. For example, Taipei Mackay Memorial Hospital has realized telemedicine through the 5G dedicated network, allowing doctors to more easily grasp patients' heart or abdominal conditions and provide medical services. Ms. Hu expressed hope that advances in communications can bring changes to human life. Director Chen Weichun discussed how Auden Techno has continuously made technological breakthroughs in the field of low-orbit satellites and is a member of the Taiwan Space Industry Development Association and the Low Earth Orbit Satellite Alliance. He anticipates that Auden will lead the industry and play an important role in the process from millimeter-wave antenna technology to comprehensive Low Earth Orbit Satellite development. Convener Wu Juipei pointed out that climate change has begun to attract the attention of the electronics and electrical industries. It has also led to the cultivation of related talents and planning for how enterprises should respond to future technical blueprints. At this year's Auden Techno seminar, it was evident that these related issues could not be ignored. As people look forward to technological developments, it's expected that carbon reduction actions will be implemented.From left to right in order are Convener Wu Juipei, Vice Director Chen Chiunghua, Vice Director Hu Peiti, Chairman Zhang Yubin, and Director Chen Weichun of the Taiwan Space Agency.Photo: DIGITIMES@ Regulations Regarding High-Frequency Wireless Power Absorption in the Human Body Catch the Attention of Regulatory Agencies Worldwide The morning keynote speech was chaired by Professor Wu Tsunglin from the National Taiwan University. It brought together professionals from industry, academia, and research institutions to share significant technical developments and market trends. The first session was delivered by Dr. Niels Kuster, a professor from the IT'IS Foundation and the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Zurich. His talk, "Methods and Procedures to Determine the Absorbed Power Density," focused on the issue of bodily absorption of wireless radio frequency power. Dr. Niels Kuster stated that there is still no definitive conclusion on the regulations for the absorption power density of wireless radio frequencies in humans continuing into the development to 6G from 5G. However, regulatory bodies worldwide have already begun launching related testing plans to prevent unnecessary harm to the human body. At this stage, frequency bands below 10GHz have been regulated, which is particularly important for the soon-to-be-widespread Wi-Fi 7 technology.However, as we enter the realm above 10GHz, more discussions are necessary. Many standard-setting organizations have also started drafting regulations with concrete results expected in 2 to 3 years. Currently, the IT'IS Foundation has made progress in this area. Dr. Kuster shared several different methods for measuring absorption power density such as the scanning system, which is expected to offer commercial solutions to meet market demands by the end of this year.Director, IT'IS Foundation & ETH Zurich /Prof. Dr. Niels KusterPhoto: DIGITIMES@Metamaterials Contribute to Enhanced Performance in Space Antenna Design Following that, Dr. Erik Lier from Lockheed Martin Corporation shared his insights on "Practical new antenna designs based on metamaterials." Lockheed Martin, with 100,000 employees worldwide, covers a range of businesses including aviation, missile and fire control systems, aircraft manufacturing, etc. Given that most operating GPS satellites are manufactured by the Company, its significance in the aerospace industry is evident.Dr. Erik Lier is dedicated to technical developments in the space sector, discussing the development of Metamaterials in various application areas, as well as sharing the current status of antenna system developments such as Short Backfire Antennas (SBFA) and High Gain Low-Index Metalens Antennas. The development of Short Backfire Antennas has been ongoing for over sixty years, and they can be seen in use by NASA, on ships, and even on the New York TV tower. However, despite the impressive performance of these antennas, Dr. Lier pointed out that SBFAs have a relatively low aperture efficiency. To enhance antenna performance, they tried to increase the quality of the antennas, which led to an increase in the antenna mass - a challenge not easily overcome in the space domain. This issue led to the exploration of whether metamaterials could provide a solution. The results demonstrated that indeed, metamaterials could resolve the aforementioned problem.Senior Technical Fellow, Lockheed Martin Space Life Fellow, IEEE and IEEE DL /Dr. Erik LierPhoto: DIGITIMES@ Net Zero Carbon Emissions Has Become a Consensus and Target Among Taiwan's Industry and Government Echoing the theme of sustainability, Dr. Lo Shihfang from the Chung-Hua Institution for Economic Research discussed "Corporate Net Zero Carbon Emission Pathways and Internal Carbon Pricing." She mentioned that internationally, the goal is to achieve net zero carbon emissions and natural gas usage by 2050, with plans being made to progressively approach this target. However, the practical means of achieving these standards are areas that need discussion. Initially, Taiwanese businesses were relatively passive regarding the topic of net zero carbon emissions. It was not until TSMC joined RE100 that the attitude changed to be more positive. TSMC has also announced that it will accelerate its progress towards the RE100 sustainability goal and achieve it by 2040, hoping to exert its influence and motivate Taiwanese enterprises to practice environmental sustainability goals. The Taiwanese government also has corresponding plans for the net zero targets. Dr. Lo Shihfang quoted content previously released by Kung Minghsin, Chairman of the National Development Council, stating that the Council has planned related budgets up to 2050. In other words, this is the largest budget plan from the public sector so far.Furthermore, Dr. Lo talked about twin transformation, which represents the sweet spot between digital transformation and sustainability transformation. How can enterprises find this balance? She cited data from the World Economic Forum indicating that if businesses introduce digital technology, they can achieve a 20% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. Taking Qisda Corporation as an example, the Company claims that "one hour after a product officially enters mass production, a carbon footprint report can be presented." Dr. Lo believes this is not easy in practice, and the cooperation with numerous suppliers aside from their own factories will also be a significant challenge. She, however, recognized their efforts towards carbon reduction.Dr. Lo Shihfang, Researcher at Chung-Hua Institution for Economic ResearchPhoto: DIGITIMES@ ITRI's Information and Communications Research Laboratories Empowers Domestic Sustainable Living Development through Technical R&DThe keynote speech by Dr. Ting Pangan, director of the Information and Communications Research Laboratories of the Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI), was titled "A Discussion on Communication Network Ecosystems Supporting Greening, Intelligentization, and Openness." He mentioned that from the perspective of the Information and Communications Research Laboratories, the vision for 2035 revolves around four major axes: smart living, healthy lifestyle, sustainable environment, and resilient society. The sustainable environment can be further subdivided into three sub-items: decarbonized energy, low-carbon life, and resource circulation. Based on the current technical and application scope covered by the department, they will assist in the successful development of the aforementioned four major axes through smart networking, green sustainability, intelligent empowerment, and innovation.From the perspective of green sustainability, the department also has many technological advancements that assist in putting the application scenarios into practice. For example, in data center applications, that have been increasingly popular in recent years, immersion cooling technology can reduce space and energy consumption by 40% compared to traditional air-cooling technology. The Department provides system software for immersive technology, which can support all server products available on the market.Dr. Ting Pangan, Director of the Industrial Technology Research InstitutePhoto: DIGITIMES@ ORAN's focus on RIC technology aids diverse application scenariosORAN has always played a crucial role in discussions related to 5G technology and applications. Auray Technology Corp. was the first OTIC third-party impartial laboratory globally recognized by the international O-RAN. Dr. Jinsung Choi, the chairman of the ORAN Alliance, was specially invited to share "AI-Driven Open RAN: Reimagining Wireless Networks" at this seminar.Dr. Jinsung Choi not only reiterated the basic principles of ORAN, such as openness and compliance but also considered AI to be an important technical criterion in its development. He gave examples such as the RAN Intelligent Controller (RIC), management systems based on AI and machine learning, and automated deployments to enhance operational efficiency, etc. He further introduced the features of RIC. Conceptually, RIC can be divided into two types. One is for near real-time responses, and the other is primarily non-real-time responses. There is only a one-second time tolerance difference between the two. However, these two different RICs can flexibly respond to various application scenarios due to this time difference.According to the data quoted by Dr. Jinsung Choi from research reports, the majority of manufacturers believe that RIC is crucial in network deployment and plays a very important role in the field of ORAN. He further extended the discussion related to RIC, comparing it with SON (Self-Organizing Network) and IBN (Intent-Based Networking). Each of these three technologies has its pros and cons, but they all aim to optimize the performance and cost of 5G networks to a considerable extent and achieve automation. In other words, these three technologies can complement each other to meet the increasing network demands of the future.Chairman, O-RAN ALLIANCE /Dr. Jinsung ChoiPhoto: DIGITIMES@ The Afternoon Session Brings Together Professionals From the Industry, Government, Academia, and Research Institutions, Combining Forward-thinking And Practical ConceptsIn the afternoon session, professionals from industry, academia, government, and research institutions gathered to present forward-looking and practical concepts. The agenda broadly covered fields like the integration of communication technologies, construction of B5G/6G ecosystems, biomedical electronics development under precision medicine, ORAN and network information security verification technology, and regulations for green energy and carbon reduction.Track A, titled "Unified World: Full Network Integration" focused on B5G and 6G technical developments. Chaired by Associate Professor Chung Mingan from the National Taipei University of Technology, the session included talks held by the Auden Group's Senior Director Tuan Chunchung and Senior Manager Hsu Yuchun on the design challenges of multi-orbit satellite UT. Professor Hu Chengnan of the Asia Eastern University of Science and Technology, CEO Dr. Chou Hsienkuang of the Ship And Ocean Industries R&D Center, and CEO Dr. Chu Chihyuan of Ohmplus Technology Inc. were also invited to share their experiences and observations.Track B, "AI Simulation: Smart Medicine," was chaired by Dr. Tsai Chengen, Vice General Manager of OBI Pharma, Inc. This panel invited Dr. Taylor Newton from IT'IS Foundation to discuss personalized bioelectromagnetic modeling in precision medicine. Dr. Kuo Liwei from the National Health Research Institutes, Professor Yang Chihchieh from the National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, and Professor Li Polei from the National Central University also shared their research outcome and contributions.Track C, "Deconstructing Telecommunications: Secure Openness," which targeted ORAN and cybersecurity issues, was hosted by Professor Cheng Juikuang of National Taiwan University of Science and Technology. Invited speakers included Vice Group Leader Chiu Pichen from the ITRI, Director Tsai Chengyu from the Institute for Information Industry, Kuo Tsolin from Telecom Technology Center, and Project Manager Lin Tsungyi from Auray Technology Corp.In response to industry trends and this year's theme, a new track was added: Track D, "Enterprise Sustainability: Zero Carbon." It covered international and Taiwanese sustainable development trends and corporate strategies. The session was chaired by Yang Chihchien, the project host from the National Renewable Energy Certification Center. Invited speakers included Group Leader Huang Chihwen from the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection, Assistant researcher Feng Kuanchuan from Taiwan Institute of Economic Research, Distinguished Professor Wang Lichih from Tunghai University, and Manager Chiu Tsungyung from Auray Technology Corp.The Auden Group has been deeply involved in the communication field for many years, accumulating rich resources in industry, government, academia, and research institutions. In addition to continuous technological innovation to improve quality of life, it also addresses global net zero carbon emission issues, takes on corporate sustainability responsibility, strives toward global carbon neutrality with practical actions, and offers a unique perspective in the communication industry. Looking forward to the future, the Auden Group seminar will bring more imagination to the next generation of smart life through the integration of diverse industry topics, collectively marching towards the goal of net zero emissions!The seventh Auden Group seminar concluded recently at the Hua Nan Bank International Convention CenterPhoto: DIGITIMES

STMicroelectronics (NYSE: STM), a global semiconductor leader serving customers across the spectrum of electronics applications, is holding its first-ever ST Taiwan Tech Day at the Taipei New Horizon on November 2. The event is designed to provide valued customers and partners with the most up-to-date information on ST products and solutions to facilitate innovation and achieve success.With the theme "Our Technology Starts with You," this extensive technology event, ST Taiwan Tech Day, will offer insightful speeches and showcase over 40 demonstrations centered around four mega trends: Smart Mobility, Power & Energy, IoT & Connectivity, and Sensing the World. Attendees can experience first-hand the latest innovations and learn how ST's technologies are contributing to a safer, greener, and more connected world. It will also be a great opportunity to help developers and innovators stay ahead of the curve in today's rapidly evolving market.Innovation highlightsSmart MobilityZonal Gateway: Zonal Gateway acts as a bridge between the automotive central computer and traditional signal-based ECUs. This technology is supported by ST's wide range of automotive-grade products and enables Service-Oriented Architecture (SOA) with Data Distribution Service (DDS) protocol and Firmware Over-The-Air (FOTA). The Zonal Gateway offers a solution for modernizing automotive systems, allowing for seamless communication between different components and enabling efficient and secure updates.3rd-Generation SiC Modules: The industry leader in Silicon Carbide (SiC), ST offers a wide range of solutions to help developers improve the power efficiency and reduce the size and weight of automotive inverters with its 3rd-generation SiC modules. The traction inverter is a critical component in electric vehicles as it converts energy from the battery to drive the motors in the drivetrain. These converters must handle high power and currents, provide fail-safe operation, and handle EMC challenges. Alongside the SiC modules, ST's range of solutions includes AEC-Q101 qualified IGBTs, silicon and silicon-carbide MOSFETs and diodes, AEC-Q100 qualified galvanically isolated IGBT and MOSFET gate drivers, and SPC5 32-bit automotive microcontrollers. These offerings enable scalable, cost-effective, and energy-efficient EV traction inverter solutions.Power & EnergyDigital Power: ST's digital power solution is a comprehensive set of reference designs that empower designers to create efficient, feature-rich power supplies for a wide range of applications. The demo highlights two powerful solutions: the 25kW DAB DC/DC converter with ST's ACEPACK module, a highly efficient and reliable power converter ideal for industrial and automotive applications, and the 30kW Gen3 SiC MOSFET three-phase interleaved LLC solution with an STM32G4 MCU for ultra-high voltage EV charger -- a cutting-edge power supply designed to provide ultra-fast charging for electric vehicles.With these solutions, designers can create custom power systems that are efficient, reliable, and tailored to their specific needs.Precision Position Control: ST is a leading technology provider for motor control and servo drives, offering power device technologies, computational processing, isolated devices, industrial safety, ecosystem for industrial automation, connectivity, and predictive maintenance. With ST's state-of-the-art motor-control technologies, the motor can precisely control movement to a specific position. The demo consists of two small BLDC motors that can hold two shapes that do not fit together when they are in phase. The precision motor-control algorithm enables the rotation and movement of the shapes towards each other at any time, offsetting the relative position of the two shapes by 90 degrees while rotating. This unique position allows coupling between the shapes, with a rotation speed that ensures the phase shift is not noticeable, demonstrating precision position control in a harmonic movement coordinated simultaneously with other shapes.IoT & ConnectivityEdge AI Washing Machine Solution: This solution utilizes artificial intelligence (AI) to achieve unparalleled levels of energy and water efficiency by accurately measuring the weight of clothes inside the machine. The AI model generated by ST's NanoEdge AI Studio significantly improves measurement accuracy compared to traditional algorithms by analyzing and learning the features of current signals. This technology can advance the washing-machine industry to a next level by optimizing energy and water consumption while providing more accurate measurements.Compact Production Line with IO-Link System: The IO-Link automated product line demonstrates ST's total solution application in a smart factory, utilizing IO-Link technology to manage digital input/output, sensors, and solenoid air valve drivers. The demos include digital IO boards, sensor boards, and actuator boards from ST's Automation Competence Center's reference demo boards. The IO-Link products simplify the installation, setup, maintenance, and repair of factory automation systems, enhancing system flexibility to produce different product models. The IO-Link diagnostic function enables smarter and more reliable factory operations.Sensing the World3D Sensing Solutions: ST showcases the advanced imaging capabilities of the 3D stereo-vision camera solutions for machine-vision applications. The eYs3D stereo camera reference design features ST's high-performance, near-infrared VD56G3 global-shutter image sensors, ensuring the highest quality depth sensing and point-cloud creation. Additionally, the VD55H1 low-noise, low-power, indirect Time-of-Flight (iToF) sensor die, manufactured using advanced backside-illuminated, stacked-wafer technology, enables the creation of a small form-factor 3D camera capable of producing high-definition depth maps with a typical ranging distance of up to 5 meters in full resolution and beyond 5 meters with patterned illumination. This demo highlights ST's commitment to providing cutting-edge technology for machine-vision applications.ISPU for personal electronics: ISPU (Intelligent Sensor Processing Unit) is a new processing category embedded in ST's LSM6DSO16IS MEMS module. It is an ultra-low-power, high-performance programmable core that can execute signal processing and AI algorithms in real-time. The ISPU offers C programming and an enhanced ecosystem with libraries and 3rd-party tools/IDE, making it a state-of-the-art feature for any personal electronics.In addition to the insightful speeches and exciting technology showcase, more than 20 in-depth technical presentations covering Smart Mobility, Power and Energy, and IoT and Connectivity will provide a close look at the cutting-edge technologies that are shaping our world.To learn more about the exciting demos and program, please visit the ST Taiwan Tech Day event page.

MEAN WELL, the leading global supplier of Standard Power Supply (SPS), announces it will be participating in the 2023 Hong Kong International Lighting Fair Autumn Edition and showcasing its latest XLN series and theXLC series Compact Size LED Drivers, of which the power current output can be adjusted through NFC configuration. The company will also display an upgraded version of the XLG series with tunable digital light adjustments and new DALI-2 features, the LCM-40TW series of DT8 LED power supply driver, and the DC Centralized Bus Lighting Solutions. Visitors of the Lighting Fair will experience firsthand the systemic perfection of MEAN WELL's DALI and KNX lighting solutions.New product alert: XLN series and the XLC series Compact Size LED DriversBefore it officially goes to the market in November 2023, MEAN WELL's latest XLN and XLC series of miniature interior LED driver power supply will be shown at the Hong Kong International Lighting Fair. The new products have plastic coverings designed for Class II/2 and dual insulation. They are suitable for both interior lighting and commercial lighting with outstanding characteristics, including a constant power output, tunable power adjustments through NFC on the MEAN WELL App, 3-in-1 digital light adjustments, DALI-2, and other light adjustments through KNX, Bluetooth, Matter, and so on.MEAN WELL XLN and XLC series miniature interior LED driver power supply, featuring Class II/2 and dual insulation design and suitable for both interior lighting and commercial lightingThe XLN series are all wire types, and the XLC series are terminals either with a side covering (which makes them wire types) or without a side covering. Rex Lin, the product manager of MEAN WELL's Product Strategy Center, said the new series is meant to satisfy the diverse needs of MEAN WELL's customers. Miniature lighting, for example, requires an independent power supply due to the lack of space for an internal power supply and the need to meet regulations and make repairs. The new series ensures user safety and product quality by complying with IEC 61347 and UL 8750 specifications for lighting.DALI-2 features for higher product compatibilityMEAN WELL highlights the new DALI-2 features of its tunable XLG power supply series, allowing its customers to integrate with smart lighting controls. DALI, which stands for Digital Addressable Lighting Interface, is an international protocol for digital lighting controls in compliance with IEC 62386. As the DiiA association continues to work on new specifications of DALI-2 applications, the protocol provides clear and thorough specifications.MEAN WELL XLG power supply series covers constant current or voltage lighting applications, providing IP67 water-proof, 3-in-1 light adjustments, DALI-2 digital light adjustments functionalities for customers to perform integration on their smart lighting control systems."Standardization has brought many benefits. As of today, all products aligned with the DALI-2 protocol are compatible and interchangeable. That has solved many incompatibility issues we used to see," Lin said.While complying with the latest safety requirements, the XLG-DA2 series provides distinctive pairing applications with constant current or voltage lighting. With iron coverings, they allow for systemic integrations of DALI light controls with different types of interior and exterior LED lightings and are pairable with constant current lightings, such as streetlamps and projection lights, and constant-voltage light strips at 12V, 24V, and 48V.Tunable color temperature for a user-centric experienceBesides DT6 LED light control, MEAN WELL is adding DT8 features to the LCM-40TW series, aiming to create a more human-centric user experience. In compliance with the DALI association's IEC 62386-209 (DT8) standards, the series provides an automatic tunable color temperature based on users' lifestyles. The new feature makes lighting a part of the users' lives, creates a high-end ambiance, and helps improve users' wellness and work efficiency.The LCM-40TW series has two output circuits for two sets of LED lights with different color temperatures. They can pair with multiple power currents falling within 500 to 1050 mA. In addition, the series can change the color temperature of the lighting through DALI ports. Users can change the color temperature with a push button without connecting the lighting to a DALI master cable.Seamless integration of the DC Centralized Bus Lighting SolutionsAt the 2023 Hong Kong International Lighting Fair Autumn Edition, visitors can experience MEAN WELL's smart DC Centralized Bus Lighting Solutions integrated with DALI or KNX lighting systems. Designed for interior lighting, the DC Centralized Bus Lighting Solutions reduces power waste and saves power costs for users. The installation costs of the overall lighting system are also significantly lower.Tony Hsieh, Section Manager of MEAN WELL's Technical Service Center, said his team has completed many successful use cases over the years. For example, a boutique watch store at the Taipei 101 shopping mall has adopted DALI digital lighting. As demand for green buildings and carbon-neutral operations increases, MEAN WELL's distributors have contacted many property developers to expand sales of the solution, according to Hsieh. He pointed out that the remote software configurations of MEAN WELL's products make the set-up of lights, groups, scenarios, and sequences much easier and faster.Follow MEAN WELL's Virtual Expo, LinkedIn account, and YouTube channel for the latest product information if you cannot visit the 2023 Hong Kong International Lighting Fair Autumn Edition.

With the impact of various external factors such as the pandemic and the Russian-Ukrainian conflict, global semiconductor supply chains have been thrown into chaos. System integrators face increased challenges in procurement which in turn affects their product development processes and their choice of suitable semiconductors. To address these difficulties and to ensure that clients can have a smooth system development process in the post-pandemic era, WIN SOURCE has signed a strategic partnership agreement with Supplyframe.Established in 1999, WIN SOURCE is a leading B2B business platform specializing in electronic and semiconductor components. The collaboration between WIN SOURCE and Supplyframe was announced at the recent electronica Electronics China in Shanghai. It symbolizes a shared vision between the two companies, promising unprecedented value for customers and the industry. Utilizing Supplyframe's "Design-to-Source" solution on its B2B e-commerce platform, WIN SOURCE aims to accelerate its supply chain services and enhance customer experience.Since 2018, the world has faced challenges from inadequate semiconductor supply chain inventory and the COVID-19 pandemic. These factors have caused drastic fluctuations in global supply chains of semiconductor and electronic components, triggering multiple crises, affecting over 169 industries, and causing unprecedented delays in product launches and surges in costs. This serves as an important warning bell for system integrators. As a result, semiconductor suppliers, distributors, and system integrators must adjust their supply chain strategies and build more flexible supply chains to respond to future changes.The core of the strategic cooperation between WIN SOURCE and Supplyframe is to connect WIN SOURCE's e-commerce platform to Supplyframe's AI platform. This platform can capture market signals from millions of different sellable electronic components, providing users with optimal procurement strategies within the best timeframe. Customers of WIN SOURCE can directly benefit from this platform, which offers real-time smart procurement features. Customers can search, compare, and order over a million in-stock components, covering price fluctuations, delivery time changes, and potential risk notifications at the same time.This collaboration is considered one of the key strategies for WIN SOURCE. The Company is rapidly rising in the global electronic component agency industry, demonstrating its determination to adopt the most advanced technologies. The collaboration will further enhance the Company's supplier management and inventory control skills, expanding its capacity to serve global customers. WIN SOURCE's commitment to quality and environmental management, which is evident from its ISO9001 and ISO14001 certifications, has received high praise in the market. WIN SOURCE has grasped how to significantly reduce operating costs with strategies such as 24-hour delivery and 3-year warranty.Headquartered in Pasadena, California, Supplyframe redefines supply chain management with a comprehensive ecosystem made up of targeted marketing solutions, engineering resources, and supply chain tools. Its Design-to-Source Intelligence (DSI) solution can interpret billions of signals related to intent, demand, supply, and risk to provide valuable insights throughout the product lifecycle. Supplyframe's products and services include data analysis, market intelligence, price trends, supplier evaluation, component search, etc., all aiming to help customers better cope with the challenges of the electronics component supply chain and make smarter business decisions. This business partnership sets an example for future collaborations, alliances, and innovations.Credit: Company

SK hynix Inc. announced today that it has started commercialization of the LPDDR5T (Low Power Double Data Rate 5 Turbo)*, the world's fastest DRAM for mobile with 9.6Gbps speed.SK hynix (or "the company", www.skhynix.com) said that it has obtained the validation that the LPDDR5T is compatible with Qualcomm Technologies' new Snapdragon® 8 Gen 3 Mobile Platform, marking the industry's first case for such product to be verified by the U.S. company.*LPDDR: Low power DRAM for mobile devices, including smartphones and tablets, aimed at minimizing power consumption and that features low voltage operation. The latest specifications are for the 7th generation, succeeding the series that end with 1, 2, 3, 4, 4X, 5 and 5X. LPDDR5T is a newly developed version by SK hynix, and an upgraded product of the 7th generation (5X), prior to the development of the 8th generation LPDDR6.SK hynix has proceeded with the compatibility validation of the LPDDR5T, following the completion of the development in January, with support from Qualcomm Technologies. The completion of the process means that it is compatible with Snapdragon 8 Gen 3.With the validation process with Qualcomm Technologies, a leader in wireless telecommunication products and services, and other major mobile AP(Application Processor) providers successfully completed, SK hynix expects the range of the LPDDR5T adoption to grow rapidly.The company plans to provide 16GB-capacity product, a combination of multiple single LPDDR5T chips, of which data processing speed is 77GB per second, equivalent to processing 15 Full-HD movies within a second.The LPDDR5T product also holds an edge in power consumption, performing at the lowest voltage of the 1.01~1.12V standards stipulated by the Joint Electron Device Engineering Council, or JEDEC.SK hynix applied the HKMG (High-K Metal Gate)** process to bring a remarkable improvement in both speed and power efficiency. With the adoption of this technology, the company expects the LPDDR5T to gain a large share of the market before the next-generation LPDDR6 is introduced.**HKMG: A next-generation process that uses a material with a high dielectric constant (K) in the insulating film inside DRAM transistors to prevent leakage currents and to improve capacitance. It reduces power consumption, while increasing speed. SK hynix was the industry's first to integrate the process in mobile DRAM in November."Generative AI applications running on our new Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 enables exciting new use cases by executing LLMs and LVMs on device with minimal latency and at the lowest power," said Ziad Asghar, Senior Vice President of Product Management at Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. "Our collaboration with SK hynix pairs the fastest mobile memory with our latest Snapdragon mobile platform and delivers amazing on-device, ultra-personalized AI experiences such as AI virtual assistants for smartphone users.""We are thrilled that we have met our customers' needs for the ultra-high performance mobile DRAM with the provision of the LPDDR5T," said Sungsoo Ryu, head of DRAM Product Planning at SK hynix.Ryu said that smartphones are expected to grow their presence as the key devices where the AI technologies are fully applied onto in coming years. "I believe the smartphone functions, backed by excellent DRAM for mobile, should continue to improve. We will continue to work toward strengthening our collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies to advance the technology in this space."

IoT applications are expanding in scope now that the technology has matured. Industrial computers that form a key part of the IoT network architecture must also continue to evolve in response to workflows and operating environments in different scenarios. The Human-Machine Interface (HMI) that serves as the bridge between users and devices requires high stability, high compatibility, and high tolerance. These attributes are essential to fulfilling system introduction goals such as improved performance and reduced costs. Industry veteran ADLINK supplies total solutions for HMI. In response to market demands, rugged display panels from AUO Display Plus have now been adopted to supply customers with HMI products that combine quality and reliability.AI Drives Need Reliable Processing Power and Fast Data Transfers Over Extended PeriodsSmart technology is now sweeping through global industries bringing new advances to HMI functionality. Derrick Tu, Business Development Manager of the Edge Visualization BU at ADLINK, states, "Edge computing is a product of AI technology and IoT. Industrial-grade tablets and displays need the ability to provide reliable processing power and fast data transfers over extended periods of time. System integration requirements have also emerged from large machines in factories and self-service kiosks in retail stores, leading to a growing emphasis on compatibility and expandability on a functional level." Certain fields have ruggedization and tolerance requirements due to their environments. Manufacturing equipment requires a wide temperature tolerance, as well as dust and vibration resistance. Medical fields involve frequent disinfection and require grime resistance.ADLINK has developed a complete portfolio of industrial-grade displays targeted at the above requirements ranging from 7" to 43" in size. Two more 32" and 43" large form-factor displays and the 4:3 aspect ratio were also introduced this year to satisfy the requirements of different customer applications.ADLINK Offers Products-as-a-Service with Flexible Specifications for Different ApplicationsFor touch industrial tablet PCs, ADLINK released an open tablet PC that supports customer customization of processing power, touch control display type, and I/O interface. ADLINK's proprietary Function Module supports customer-defined device functions and I/O. The ADLINK tablet-to-tablet connector guarantees compatibility between smart tablets. ADLINK will soon unveil models featuring a stainless-steel housing with M12 waterproof connectors, a fully flat fanless design, and compliance with the IP69K standard for full water, dust, and corrosion resistance. The unit can be hosed down with hot water, making it suitable for industries that require a clean production environment.Diversification of HMI Requirements See ADLINK Partner with AUO Display Plus to Build the Optimal User ExperienceRugged display panels from AUO Display Plus are now used across the full range of ADLINK industrial-grade displays and tablets to further enhance their ruggedness and durability. Tu notes, "AUO Display Plus is an AUO subsidiary specializing in industrial touch control technologies and large display form-factors suitable for outdoor or semi-outdoor environments. It is therefore a perfect complement to ADLINK's expertise in industrial computer technology." The post-pandemic era has led to greater diversification of HMI requirements in the market. The complementary partnership between ADLINK and AUO Display Plus will provide customers with greater product diversity and better specifications.There are three main advantages to the adoption of AUO Display Plus panels in ADLINK HMI products: 1. Improved durability to support extended system operation; 2. Improved clarity through high-brightness products that clearly display information both indoors and outdoors; 3. Improved usability with support for multi-touch controls that provide an enhanced user experience. Tu emphasizes, "ADLINK and AUO Display Plus both have more than 20 years of experience in industrial control. Customer requirements and pain points are therefore anticipated and overcome in advance during the product design phase. The next step for ADLINK is to leverage AUO Display Plus products for the development of specialized high brightness, semi-outdoor, and narrow bezel models."On top of enhancing product performance through partnerships, another key competitive advantage of ADLINK's industrial display and tablet business is its precise and well-developed one-stop customization service. According to Tu, "Long-term collaboration between ADLINK and leading vendors such as Intel, Qualcomm, MediaTek, and NVIDIA ensures the most forward-looking product support. This, combined with ADLINK's extensive experience in industrial computers and global locations, ensures the delivery of swift, professional customization services. Resultant products will not only meet current requirements but can also be customized to craft edge visualization solutions that offer high stability, compatibility, and tolerance for customers."For more information, please contact the ADLINK's website.Derrick Tu, Business Development Manager of the Edge Visualization BU at ADLINK. Credit: Company

Looking at the overall condition of the Printed Circuit Board (PCB) market in 2023, efforts to reallocate and adjust the electronics supply chain are palpable amidst the decline in demand for consumer electronic products and the economic impact of high inflation. However, these endeavors seem powerless in reversing the domino effect created by the risks in a recessionary environment. Even though the economy has been relatively conservative, several trends reveal some optimistic news from an analytical standpoint. First, the industry is excited over the robust demand capacity for IC substrates, strongly reflecting the long-term need for advanced IC substrates brought about by Beyond fifth-generation (B5G), Artificial Intelligence (AI), High-Performance Computing (HPC), and ADAS automotive chips. These potentially high-growth segments can be seen as new blue oceans for Taiwan's PCB industry.Maurice Lee, the chairman of the Taiwan Printed Circuit Association (TPCA), stated in an exclusive interview before the TPCA Show 2023 that despite the estimated downward revision of the total production value of the domestic PCB industry chain (PCB, equipment, and raw materials) to TWD $1.09 trillion in 2023, a yearly decrease of 18.9%, he still sees positive aspects in several developing industries. Firstly, the market demand and the main direction of technological development remain the same as predicted at the beginning of the year. The downturn in operation rates has led to a conservative investment in capital expenditure (Capex), causing a slowdown. PCB manufacturers are trying to enter new markets such as AI, automotive, and satellite, and are actively setting up new locations to disperse risks, setting up cornerstones for future growth as part of their transformation strategies.Taiwanese PCB Manufacturers and Supply Chains Actively Expanding into Southeast AsiaIn a turbulent geopolitical environment, the global electronics technology industry faces a "China + 1" trend. Key component PCBs cannot remain aloof, triggering cross-strait PCB manufacturers to move and set up in new countries such as Thailand. More than ten Taiwanese PCB companies have already chosen to set up factories in Thailand, at least eight of which are indicative manufacturers ranked within the global top 20. This wave of expansion southward also includes locations in Vietnam and Malaysia, with upstream PCB materials and process equipment manufacturers joining in. The clustering of PCBs encourages equipment manufacturers to establish service points close to their customers. The pattern of Taiwan's PCB industry and supply chain moving into Southeast Asia is apparent.For Taiwanese businesses, this Southeast Asian expansion differs significantly from the westward strategy of 2001. The shift to Southeast Asia mostly stems from pressure from customers. Amid the tense atmosphere of global geopolitics and U.S.-China tech competition, decisions for transformation to disperse risks are urgently needed although PCB still suffers from incomplete inventory destocking and lack of new demand. Challenges created by this southward investment include local personnel training, rising wage costs, an incomplete supply chain, and management impact due to linguistic and cultural differences. These are all operational challenges directly faced by Taiwanese PCB manufacturers and the supply chain.Innovation in High-end IC Substrates and Manufacturing Techniques Generate Remarkable Growth Momentum of AI Servers and Automotive BoardsFurthermore, Maurice Lee observed several key growth areas with IC substrates being an important growth engine. BT substrates used by CSP or tiny BGA chips are expected to see a reduction in the supply-demand imbalance until 2024. As for ABF substrates currently receiving a lot of attention, present demand mainly relies on high-grade cloud servers and robust growth driven by booming AI servers. The supply-demand gap needs to wait until at least 2026 for alleviation. Notably, although servers contribute only 6.8% to the overall production value of Taiwan's PCB industry, this kind of product is what Taiwanese companies excel in, and the high-growth prospects brought about by the AI market are just around the corner.The size of these high-end ABF substrates has quickly grown from approximately 20mm x 20mm to an area size of 110 mm x 110 mm, containing up to 24 layers of multilayer boards. The key to success for Taiwanese IC substrate manufacturers lies in yield as manufacturing technology thresholds and product unit prices are both high. Maurice Lee boldly predicts that the production value of AI servers will surpass cloud servers. The demand for AI servers is apparent with growth exceeding 30% in 2023, and it can maintain an annual growth rate of over 20% for the next few years. The explosive growth of AI servers and related applications could generate great production value, surpassing the production value of cloud servers as early as 2025 or 2026.Outside the strong development of AI servers, the performance of the automotive PCB market is also impressive. With the gradual increase in demands such as vehicle electrification, Autonomous Driving Assistance Systems (ADAS), and vehicle networking, a new car will grow from its past usage of 500-600 chips to over 1000 chips. Flexible Printed Circuit Boards (FPCB), HDI boards, and substrates all equally stand a good chance of achieving higher growth. Overall, automotive PCB is trending towards miniaturization and high functionality with major growth in applications such as millimeter-wave radar for ADAS, automotive sensors, etc. All the applications require advanced HDI technology, as well as soft, bendable FPCBs that can replace some automotive wire harnesses. The small size and high-density characteristics will gradually expand the application of automotive boards, making automotive PCBs an area where Taiwanese manufacturers can release their full potential.Maurice Lee emphasized, "The reason why Taiwan's PCB industry can stand out in the fiercely competitive international market is that we have the strongest supply chain globally." He encourages the industry to participate in the 24th TPCA Show 2023 and the 18th IMPACT International Packaging and Circuit Board Symposium. These exhibitions have great knowledge value. Participants can explore IC substrates, high frequency, high-speed PCB material developments, and focus on 5G-related applications such as semiconductor packaging, substrates, zero carbon emissions, smart factories, etc. One can also attend the International Electronics Exhibition, the AIoT Exhibition, and the Optoelectronics Exhibition besides the TPCA Exhibition, which altogether provides a technological feast, allowing the guests to grasp the complete dynamic of the PCB industry. The official website for TPCA activities is as follows: https://tw.tpcashow.com/

AMICCOM released a new generation of low current sub1-GHz wireless SOC, named A9129M0. AMICCOM continues to integrate the existing RFICs with MCU and roll-out highly integrated SOC products. The new A9129M0 SOC, like their previous generation products, come from integrating MCU with A7129, which have excellent RF performance and extremely low receiving current. The A9129M0 supports FSK modulation. This chip integrates high performance ARM Cortex-M0, built-in 128Kbyte Flash Memory, 16 Kbytes SRAM, 22 GPIOs and various digital interfaces. 2-wire ICE can be developed with Keil C.The maximum TX Power of A9129M0 is +12dBm, the receiving sensitivity is -118dBm @2 Kbps FSK. The A9129M0 also integrates a DC-DC converter to provide efficient power applications. With input voltage 3.3V for DC-DC converter, A9129M0 RX mode current is 4.16mA, TX mode current is 16mA (+10dBm). It also supports programmable RF output power (-30dBm ~ +12dBm) and programmable data rate (2kbps ~ 2Mbps).The MCU core of A9129M0 is ARM Cortex-M0, which can provide fast computing, user can adjust the MCU speed according to the overall power consumption requirements. A9129M0 has a flexible power management system, the current consumption in deep sleep mode is 110nA and the current consumption in sleep mode with internal timer (32KHz) turned-on is 1.3uA. The A9129M0 has a built-in AES128 co-processor which provides data protection and security. All above features make A9129M0 suitable for various low-power IOT applications. A9129M0 is equipped with a variety of digital interfaces such as UART, I2C, SPI. It has 2 PWM outputs, two 32-bit timers and one 32-bit dual timer. These interfaces share pins with 22 GPIOs, which can be used according to user's application requirements. A9129M0 is also equipped with 12bit ADC, which provides up to 8 channels for external signal measurement.Overall, the A9129M0 is a wireless transceiver SOC with high performance and low power consumption. It has excellent RF performance with 12dBm output power amplifier, and supports a variety of digital interfaces and I/O. Especially it's suitable for applications that are powered by battery and require a long-life cycle. All functions are integrated in the QFN5x5 package.For AMR application, wireless M-Bus is a communication protocol designed for remote reading of gas, electricity, and water. As global urbanization and resource management become increasingly crucial, the technology to effectively read and manage these resources is of paramount importance. AMICCOM can provide the wireless M-Bus protocol reference codes which support T-mode, S-mode, and C-mode to accelerate customer's development work.Supply and packaging:A9129M0 package is 5 mm x 5 mm QFN-40 and is now available from AMICCOM and its authorized distributors. Welcome to request IC samples and evaluation modules, and start development work. Please contact AMICCOM Electronics for more detail.sales@amiccom.com.tw