Artificial intelligence (AI) technologies play a critical role driving the transition to Industry 4.0. In particular, their use in combination with machine vision has become the first step that most manufacturers are taking to incorporate smart systems into their production process. By leveraging deep learning algorithms, machine vision systems can learn by themselves to determine the quality of the device under test. However, there are certain barriers to overcome before manufacturers are able to make use of AI technologies, according to Kai-Hsiang Hsu, senior product manager, smart machinery business and product center, ADLINK. To help manufacturers make a smooth transition to smart manufacturing, ADLINK has introduced AI-enabled machine vision solutions developed by combining its accumulated strength in machine vision and AI. ADLINK's plug-and-play (PnP) solutions make it easy for manufacturers to make the first move toward smart manufacturing.AI technologies are mainly used in the manufacturing sector for machine vision and robotic arms. Deep learning algorithms are being used for predictive maintenance of production equipment, optimization of production efficiency and improvement of product quality. Taking the PCB and the plumbing parts sectors for example, Hsu noted PCBs are printed with fine and intricate circuits and are produced at a rapid rate. Plumbing parts are characterized by curved surfaces. AI technologies will be the key to enhancing inspection system efficacy for the two types of products as they require high-performance inspection systems. Aside from examining items on the production line, AI-enabled machine vision systems can also be used for factory management, for example, to perform image analysis on factory floor operators to ensure labor safety or recognize objects in the factory to help control the work environment for better management efficiency.With AI's strong performance and diverse applications, manufacturers largely agree that AI will be the way to go. However, when attempting to incorporate AI, most manufacturers will find a gap between idea and execution. ADLINK assistant manager Chia-Wei Yang pointed out the challenge is that AI is not just a device equipped with accelerators but a complete hardware and software architecture implementing highly-specialized know-hows such that AI-enabled machine vision systems are intelligent enough to achieve smart manufacturing.Extending on Yang's view, Hsu talked about proof-of-concept (POC) systems of AI-based machine vision emerging on the market in recent years. With their current model training process, they have been unable to meet expectation when put to practical use on the factory floor. This is mainly due to a lack of professional know-how. According to Hsu, successful AI implementation requires both industry-specific know-how and AI expertise. Each specialty of manufacturing has its own unique production process and every factory has different production equipment. Every piece of new machinery including AI-based systems needs to work in synergy with the existing equipment and production model. However, most AI system providers lack a full grasp of industry-specific knowledge. As to AI systems, it requires highly specialized expertise to build a system with an ideal hardware and software combination best suited to the production line. According to Hsu, neural networks carrying out deep learning algorithms are very complex. On top of that, the different AI accelerators designed by leading chip makers, including Google's TPU and NVIDIA's GPU as well as Intel's and AMD's AI processors, may deliver different performances on the same neural network due to their individual characteristics. As such, AI system developers not only need to know about deep learning and neural networks but also fully understand the features of AI accelerators on the market so as to come up with the best solution that meet the system requirements while working with the end equipment in accordance with expectation.However, to build up the manufacturing know-how and AI expertise needed to implement a precise AI-enabled machine vision system requires tremendous resources and time. Engaging professional third-party vendors will be a smart move to most system developers and manufacturers. Ming-Chang Kao, R&D manager, industry platforms, ADLINK, noted starting out as a provider of automation solutions, ADLINK has built up extensive experience and knowledge in the manufacturing sector. ADLINK also has established an AI team long dedicated to the R&D of various software and hardware solutions so it is capable of designing tailor-made AI-enabled machine vision solutions for all kinds of manufacturing specialties.Kao added that with a full understanding of deep learning algorithms and hardware accelerators on the market, ADLINK can put together an AI-enabled machine vision system that closely matches customers' production line needs and thereby boost the operation success rate on the factory floor. Furthermore, ADLINK provides a highly integrated hardware and software solution, allowing customers to make a one-stop purchase of an all-in-one system. The plug-and-play system is ready to use, helping manufacturers quickly get the system up and running, calibrate the parameters at any time and flexibly reconfigure the production line. ADLINK's machine vision solution perfectly meets manufacturers' every expectation.ADLINK's AI-enabled machine vision solutions have been used in manufacturing systems at home and abroad. According to Che-Hsian Huang, CEO of LEDA Technology, a close partner with ADLINK, on top of its years of experience in machine vision, ADLINK is making additional efforts toward AI research in recent years. With a dedicated AI team, ADLINK is able to design hardware products that quickly satisfy system vendors' needs so that system vendors can focus on developing the algorithms. ADLINK's team of experts also offers consultation services to customers to help with their system design and shorten their development cycle. ADLINK is committed to assisting manufacturers as they make the first step on the transition to smart manufacturing.ADLINK assistant manager Chia-Wei Yang (right), senior product manager Kai-Hsiang Hsu (middle) and R&D manager Ming-Chang Kao (left) talk about ADLINK's extensive experience in AI and machine vision and how its solutions can help customers quickly build up smart systems

Amid rising global trade tensions in 2019, the semiconductor industry is experiencing revenue declines as it struggles with the changes and uncertainties resulting from the technology war between the US and China. Flash memory prices peaked in 2017 but then started to go on a downward trend until reaching a bottom in 2019. With the tug of war between market demand and production capacity in addition to the shift in product segmentation, there are still global economic uncertainties going forward. However, a slew of new applications enabled by 5G x AI technologies are catching market attention, including automotive electronics, artificial intelligence (AI), 8K TV and streaming video, smart home, and smart IoT. They will open up new opportunities as the year 2020 unfolds.Ming-Cheng Lin, Macronix marketing center director, expects the year 2020 to bring favorable news to memory suppliers as the flash memory market welcomes a strong demand for memory chips, which will accelerate a change in demand for high-capacity memory products and future development. Prices of all types of flash memory products are surging, followed by those of DRAM. What is noteworthy is that with limited foundry capacity on top of priority planning and capacity reduction, rapid advances and transformation of high value-added memory products as well as memory chip process improvements and breakthroughs, Macronix is poised for a wave of steady growth as the market embraces surging market expansion.NOR flash enjoys ongoing popularity with flourishing applications to keep fueling growth"Memory demand from new applications is on the rise, calling for a seven percent to 10 percent increase in production capacity," said Lin. "However, supply unable to keep up with demand may be the main reason for the current surge in memory prices. True Wireless Stereo (TWS) earbuds such as AirPods and AirPods Pro, as well as a new generation of smartphones coming with OLED displays, are boosting demand for memory products. Moreover, with micro-servers being increasingly used at 5G base stations, data center equipment and server suppliers are focusing efforts on edge computing technologies, making the segment a key area of competition, which also exacerbates memory shortages.Citing NOR flash as an example, Lin pointed out that global semiconductor supply has dropped from 900,000 wafers per month to 750,000-800,000 wafers, calculated based on 12-inch equivalent wafers. Buoyed by continuingly growing innovations of small-sized smart devices, NOR flash demand remains high with a six percent CAGR between 2018 through 2023. Although NOR flash's costs may trend downward due to its large supply, the global NOR flash market will maintain a US$2 billion market worth, thanks to growing demand. As related production capacity is unlikely to see any further expansion, latecomers to the NOR flash memory market will have difficulty catching up with existing market leaders.Macronix secures its lead in the NOR flash market, targeting 256Mb or larger medium- and high-capacity productsWith U.S.-based NOR flash firms exiting the market, Macronix has stepped up to fill the void. Furthermore, as most China-based competitors are fabless design houses, they sustain a more serious impact from foundries giving priority to producing chips with higher profit margins such as contact-image sensors. The situation favors Macronix, allowing it to maintain a leading position.In analyzing NOR flash products with different capacities, Lin further noted that, despite only representing 10 percent of the shipments to the market, 256Mb and larger NOR flash products contribute 30 percent to 40 percent of the total revenues. The competition in the segment is also less intense. In view of this, Macronix has decided to focus on 256Mb and larger medium- to high-capacity NOR flash products, making the category its breadwinner and a major growth driver that boosts its 2020 revenues and profitability.Cost advantage and in-house production maximize SLC NAND flash benefitsSecuring the largest share in NOR flash and ROM markets, Macronix is stepping up efforts toward its latest NAND flash, making it another important product line. Commenting on the market of SLC NAND, which is often used in embedded systems, Lin spoke candidly that the cost advantage and in-house production are the key to success. Cost is the main consideration to system integrators when choosing SLC NAND, so suppliers have to stay ahead in semiconductor process technologies or they will not be able to keep up with customer requirements on cost. As such, Macronix led the industry in producing SLC NAND on the 19nm node after making a more than NT$10 billion capital investment. Macronix launched a new-generation SLC NAND solution in 2019, guaranteed with not only the absolute cost advantage but also industry-leading chip capacity and size.Meeting the requirements and trends of iconic IoT applications such as smart city and smart home, SLC NAND is widely used in white goods including refrigerators, air conditioners and even cleaning robot. This goes to show that growing use of and demand for SLC NAND will become a sure trend. With its capacity expansion plans clicking into place, Macronix will be able to maintain stable production and prices and therefore is poised to capture exclusive business opportunities.As Macronix's NOR flash is being used in most 5G base stations, production priority will increasingly be committed to 5G applications. Although the prosperity is exciting, what Macronix hopes to achieve is to obtain more market share amid the flash market reshuffling and to capture the opportunity that has opened up with the market changes. Despite the upcoming memory price rises, Macronix will still endeavor to assist customers to achieve success.Ming-Cheng Lin, director of Marketing Center, Macronix

As opposed to multi-level cell (MLC) and triple-level cell (TLC) memory, single-level cell (SLC) NAND flash enables high-speed reads and writes as well as excellent reliability and therefore meets the requirements for high performance and high durability imposed by IoT devices, automotive electronics and emerging embedded applications. However, amid fierce market competition, the ability to maintain a cost advantage continues to play an instrumental role in a product's success. Memory manufacturers have been leveraging progress in miniaturization of semiconductor integrated circuits to help them keep costs down and stay ahead of the competition.Psyche Kuo, deputy director of product marketing at Macronix International, noted that as a leading manufacturer of nonvolatile memory solutions for three decades, Macronix has accumulated extensive experiences in the volume production of SLC NAND, making its way onto the list of the world's top three SLC NAND suppliers. Its outstanding track record in SLC NAND applications in embedded systems, on top of its excellent product quality and production capacity, has enabled Macronix to win support from system integrators and its memory spec to become mainstream standard used in wide-ranging embedded systems. To stay on top of market demand, Macronix has again introduced new-generation SLC NAND solutions produced on the 19nm node, taking advantage of advanced semiconductor process technologies.In full control of production with its own fabrication facilities, Macronix boosts customer satisfactionMacronix expects the family of 19nm SLC NAND products to become a major pillar supporting its 2020 revenue. The 19nm SLC NAND family comprises two subgroups: SLC NAND featuring full support for the Open NAND Flash Interface (ONFI) and Serial NAND. They target niche application markets including smart speakers, set-up boxes, streaming TV, smart home devices and other high-profile electronics, as well as niche high-end network communication products such as broadband network access equipment. Satisfying customer needs in memory capacity and cost, Macronix's 19nm SLC NAND will further strengthen its leading position in the embedded memory market.First and foremost, Kuo pointed out that embedded system customers attach great importance to product quality and supply stability. Macronix operates its own fabrication facilities and thus is in control of production capacity. It is capable of planning production capacity to accommodate customers' shipment schedule. With a proven track record of shipping billions of chips and years of experience in volume production, Macronix is able to maintain long-term relationships with brand customers based on the guarantee of supply stability and agile production planning.As it moves to advanced technology, the SLC NAND naturally will require a host controller to handle stronger error correction code (ECC). Macronix's 19nm SLC NAND requires the same 8-bit ECC as other 2x-nanometer SLC NAND in the industry now, which is the mainstream specification. Additionally, the Macronix family provides tailored features to satisfy more needs to customers in niche markets.Macronix taps growing niche markets with a diversity of new product featuresAside from ECC requirement following the mainstream specification, the new SLC NAND is the first to come with a unique ID (UID) based on the "physical un-clonable function" (PUF), which comes from cell characteristic and it is truly random and un-predictable. Macronix's new 19nm SLC NAND components allow for checking the authenticity of a memory component to make sure it has not been swapped with an unauthorized one. The UID can be retrieved using a read-unique ID command. The microcontroller can compare the read-out of the ID with the original one stored in a safe area.The new SLC NAND also features randomizer function, which is especially for a special data pattern, such as extreme an unbalance data pattern on the distribution of zeros and ones. For NAND read interference caused by errors in this kind of case, this function is used to pre-transform the data into evenly distributed zeros and ones and to resolve the risk of data being read inaccurately.In addition, the NAND memory is susceptible to the Read Disturb effect due to highly intensive and frequent reads - a situation that can easily cause read data errors after high-intensive frequent erasure and data modification (Program Disturb), as well as long-term data retention requirements. In response to these situations and high-quality reliability requirements, a special read function named the Special Read for Data Recovery is provided in the Macronix 19nm SLC NAND for data recovery. This function can adjust the internal condition of NAND FLASH, and may save data and extend the memory lifetime from that. These new features effectively reduce errors during data reading, improve system stability, and meet the stringent requirements of embedded systems for data access applications.Shipments of the 3V 4Gb model began in the fourth quarter of 2019 with 1/2/8Gb devices to follow in the first quarter of 2020. Macronix is also preparing to launch of 1.8V 19nm SLC NAND. Kuo has high hopes for the 3V product family due to large market demand and the wide range of embedded system applications needing SLC NAND, especially those running Linux OS. Macronix is envisioning large orders going forward into 2020.19nm SPI NAND flash with cost advantage allows processors to maximize their benefitsMacronix's 19nm SPI NAND series is positioned as niche and high-value-added products. As CPU manufacturers scramble to add powerful computing cores to cope with the demand of smart Automotive Internet of Things (AIoT) applications, equipping CPUs with 8-bit, 12-bit or even higher ECC capability is becoming standard in the market. In view of this, processing of ECC by the memory is inefficient, while ECC-related specifications vary among memory vendors, thus posing problems for microcontrollers to adopt ECC. Macronix specifically removed the built-in ECC function of 19nm SPI NAND memory products, allowing customers to fully enjoy the high-performance advantage of cost and processor control, in line with its strategy to move toward customization and cater to market demand.Macronix regards satisfying leading semiconductor firms as its top priority. Moreover, as 19nm chips are smaller and therefore can better accommodate different system-in-package (SiP) designs by leading semiconductor firms, a wide variety of customized semiconductor solutions can be made through with them. Major system chipmakers can use a stack of different density memory chip with logic chips or processors to integrate some customized semiconductor solutions. As leading vendors, Macronix is the first to launch a complete solution for 19nm SLC NAND memory, which takes an important step forward in embedded applications and helps international brands to expand the markets for smart devices, smart communication and AIoT systems.Psyche Kuo, deputy director of product marketing at Macronix InternationalMacronix introduces new 19nm SLC NAND flash

China-based IC design firm Sage Microelectronics Corp. (Sage Micro) completed the acquisition of Beijing-based ChuZhi for US$18 million (CNY125 million) during the last week of 2019. According to Sage Micro founder and CEO Jerome Luo, the deal is aimed at further strengthening Sage Micro's ability to integrate high-end storage controller chips at the system level.With the advent of the big data era, the storage sector is among the most important and fast-growing industries in recent years, promising prosperity and a bright future for flash memory chip makers including Samsung, Micron Technology and Toshiba. This also gives rise to burgeoning business opportunities in controller chips for memory cards and solid-state drives (SSD) and the start of companies including Marvell, Sandforce, as well as Taiwan-based Silicon Motion, Inc (SMI) and Phison. However, US-based firms still dominate the segment of system-level high-end controller chips in the storage market as they control the core technologies of cloud storage and high-performance servers. As the industry chain advances toward maturity, China-based system providers such as Inspur, Sugon and Huawei have increasing demand for high-end controller chips. Sage Micro's acquisition of ChuZhi matches with the China government's policy to pursue chip self-sufficiency.So far no IC design houses in Japan, Korea, China and Taiwan have attempted to challenge US-based firms' dominance in the high-end storage controller chip segment. Focusing efforts on PC, manufacturers in Japan, Korea, China and Taiwan engage in competition on detailed spec of consumer and industrial products. They lack the market sense and presence in mass storage systems. Furthermore, their products are less known for use in program controlled switches, cellular network base stations or optical fiber communication systems compared to smartphone processors, fingerprint modules and SSDs. None of them seems to be known for producing core controller chips for mass storage devices. US-based firms including LSI, Broadcom, IBM and PMC remain the leaders dominating this segment. With the cloud storage industry undergoing waves of growth, the storage controller chip segment will continue to expand and become increasingly concentrated.China-based Sage Micro is set to turn a new page. During the last week of 2019, Sage Micro completed the acquisition of Beijing-based ChuZhi for CNY125 million. Sage Micro is the first IC design firm in China to take over a big data system solution provider. The deal is aimed at strengthening its system-on-chip (SoC) design and applications as part of its strategic planning toward high-end chips including RAID controllers, bus aggregators and bus expanders.As an innovator in China's storage chip industry, Sage Micro focuses on high-speed interface, solid-state storage, information security IC design and supplies USB-SATA bridge chips and SSD controllers to markets worldwide. Without state funding, Sage Micro is one of the very few among the slew of small and medium privately operated technology firms in China capable of selling products internationally. The company started out as a provider of SSD controller chips and has expanded its offerings to include flash memory controller chips supporting all interface protocols encompassing SD, USB, CF, SATA, SAS and PCIe. It was the first to begin volume production of SATA SSD controller chips and SAS RAID controller chips in China.Luo operated his own business in Silicon Valley for more than a decade. He recently received the golden award at the World Zhejiang Entrepreneurs Convention 2019. Zhejiang entrepreneurs have performed outstandingly in business and politics in China. Luo noted that Sage Micro generated total revenue of CNY300 million in 2019, growing at a steady pace. As state-owned memory suppliers like Yangtze Memory Technology Corp establish market presence, Sage Micro can have a sure and clear roadmap for its SSD controller chip research and market development. The merger deal with ChuZhi marks a historical milestone. It is a strategic move on Sage Micro's road to localized supply of big data storage devices and servers in correspondence with the initiative to produce servers and other high-end equipment domestically after it has secured footprint in the SSD controller chip market. Going forward, Sage Micro will concentrate efforts toward high-end chips including RAID, server bus switch and expansion solutions.The merger between Sage Micro and ChuZhi is not only a case of vertical integration in the storage sector but also an inspiration to the IC design industry. With unprecedented SoC design complexity today, it may be a good strategy for IC design firms to climb new heights by expediently expanding into the system integration business and designing high-end chips to suit system needs.Sage Micro founder and CEO, Dr. Jerome Luo

Established for over 10 years, ThroughTek, an IoT platform cloud provider based in Taiwan, kicks off the new year by making its debut at CES 2020, which will take place on January 7 in Las Vegas. At the event, ThroughTek will introduce its 3S operation and unveil the upgraded core platform technology, Kalay Platform 2.0.Since the Kalay Platform was launched in 2015, it has enabled connectivity in the cloud for more than 66 million global customers with devices. Among these devices, 80% are image or surveillance-based IP camera related products. Besides providing connectivity for video surveillance devices, the Kalay Platform also enables sensors to allow interactivity for IoT devices working together. In the second-half of 2019, ThroughTek invested to provide a stronger service capability by implementing a new decentralized architecture for the Kalay Platform. The new platform will enable an increased-level of data security for IoT solutions with imaging and sensor applications. It also aims to provide a subscription-based economy to match the social demand for subscription service models. Making its debut at CES, ThroughTek is fully prepared to showcase its wide-range of cloud service offerings, attracting various industry sectors.3S Operation code-name introduces the Kalay Platform 2.0ThroughTek's 3S Operation, code-named "3S" stands for Smart, Security and Subscription. Besides demonstrating the core advantages of its upgraded Kalay Platform 2.0, the operation also represents ThroughTek's take on meeting new trends and market demands for cloud applications. In addition to providing a comprehensive set of modular features, the Kalay Platform 2.0 can seamlessly integrate third-party application services, such as AI image recognition, IFTTT, or other automation tools. The platform also enables interoperability between different communication protocols and technology brands so that users can effectively and conveniently execute commands to realize a true "smart living."SmartKalay Platform 2.0's "decentralized" architecture considerably simplifies the pairing and communication process, which allows for greater flexibility and interoperability between devices. This empowers home owners and consumers to easily control and manage their devices by creating their own custom scenarios and rules settings.SecurityThe first step to improving data security is by addressing the vulnerabilities of UID pairing process design. Kalay Platform 2.0 upgraded to a new two-phased UID design, which combines multi-tiered authentication and end-to-end encryption for dynamic key pairing. With a decentralized design, communication across servers, end devices, and users is safeguarded to prevent data breaches, while improving online privacy and protection.SubscriptionTo meet the demands of new market trends and growth of subscription-based models, ThroughTek launched monthly cloud subscription services to offer its customers greater flexibility compared to the traditional one-time sale model. ThroughTek's focus on the life time value of services will greatly benefit its customers. The Kalay Platform serves as an intermediary, connecting Edge AI and Cloud AI, to create solutions for customers looking for cloud subscription service models. Subscription services can provide, for example, advanced services with the combination of surveillance applications and facial recognition using Kalay VSaaS and AI, to deliver valuable insights from the data and images captured, as well as create valuable offerings for revenue-generating services.KDC makes deployment capabilities easier for operators and developersIn addition to providing customers with services that provide enhanced process flows and operational efficiencies, ThroughTek's R&D team recently developed a Kalay Developer Console (KDC) service, which allows operators, installers and developers to effectively integrate services and information with transparency on the Kalay Platform, to improve automation and online collaboration processes. It also provides scalable solutions that makes it easy for deployments of large quantity devices that require installation and managed services from a backend system.Hausetopia: An universal app for ultimate control of devicesBesides introducing the upgraded Kalay Platform 2.0, ThroughTek will also unveil Hausetopia, a new smart home app designed for managing devices in the white-label market. The name of the app combines the German word "Hause" (house) and Utopia to provide seamless integration of various IoT devices operating on different systems and communication protocols across different brands. With the Hausetopia app, users can easily connect, manage, and control their devices without having to worry about sticking to one brand or the complexities of setting up multiple apps for each device. The Hausetopia app will greatly benefit hardware suppliers and end users that are already using the Kalay Platform, as it will allow for user-friendly integration and enable interoperability among a variety of IoT devices, such as IP camera, routers, sensor devices, and other home appliances. In the near future, end users will be able to easily identify products that is a part of Kalay Platform's device community or is powered by its cloud services and technology on the packaging label.ThroughTek recently celebrated its 10-year anniversary, as well as achievements and milestones made over the last decade. 2020 will be a pivotal year for ThroughTek, as the team works continuously to develop and advance the Kalay Platform based on market trends and demands to create valuable new services that will shape the future for IoT solutions.

LitePoint, a world-leading provider of wireless test solutions, announced recently the inauguration of its 5G lab in Taipei.It is a customer-oriented lab designed to provide a complete test environment for 5G beamforming technology. With the Compact Antenna Test Range (CATR) and Far Field measurement chambers in place, as well as IQgig-5G - the first one-box test system in the world, the lab will help customers solve problems quickly with much shorter setup and calibration time.To address the high cost of mass-production testing for the key 5G technology Beamforming, as well as the shortage of qualified professionals, LitePoint has invested heavily in sourcing hardware devices and attracting professional engineers for the test to meet the pressing needs of customers. In addition, the lab works with world-renowned chip manufacturers to provide test solutions that were verified and proven."We have long been prepared for the 5G lab, whose importance is self-evident," said Richard Hsieh, Vice President, Worldwide Sales at LitePoint, "LitePoint is committed to providing innovation and localization services for customers, helping them control the cross-ecosystem and supply chain, ensuring they are more capable in process manufacturing, and achieving shorter time-to-market, higher productivity, and maximized profits. This is actually the goal set for the lab."For more information on LitePoint 5G solutions, please visit: https://www.litepoint.com/insights-5g/IQgig-5G - the first one-box test system in the world

With 5G infrastructure aggressively being deployed around the world, global industries are optimistic about the changes to business models that 5G commercial operation will enable. However, based on current market observations, most smart 5G applications are still in the development stage and vendors are only testing waters with their new service models. Nonetheless, digital imaging is a continuously growing market with many creative applications and market opportunities. Thanks to the advancement of Internet of Things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) developments, the seamless connection between edge computing and cloud service platforms has given rise to eye-opening solutions centered around data-driven approaches.Recently celebrating its tenth anniversary in July 2019, ThroughTek (TUTK), a well-known for providing platform as a service (PaaS) solutions in security industries across the Taiwan Strait, successfully connected 66 million smart devices with video streaming capabilities on its Kalay Platform. TUTK's service scope has expanded beyond providing P2P software technology in the early days to enabling integrated cloud services. Prior to the opening day of the world's largest consumer electronics show, CES 2020, TUTK CEO Patrick Kuo and vice president of product development center Scott Yang talked about the company's first-time attendance at CES in an interview. TUTK is fully prepared to present the upgraded Kalay Platform 2.0 and its entirely new cloud service offerings. It has even code-named the operation to introduce Kalay Platform 2.0 to the North American market as "3S."According to Kuo, TUTK's cloud service earnings exceeded 20% of the company's total revenue, marking an important milestone on TUTK's road to business transformation. Starting out as a software provider dedicated to connecting devices for hardware manufacturers and solution providers, TUTK has expanded its portfolio of cloud service application products to include cloud video recording, user account and device management, push notification, online firmware update, billing service, as well as backend operation and management platform. In addition, it has a diverse range of value-added services, such as making its AI API available to customers. TUTK's cloud service platform has transcended to a whole new level this year due to the outstanding achievement of its R&D team for implementing a new decentralized architecture for Kalay Platform 2.0.Increasing usability with smart user-defined actionsTUTK's operation to introduce Kalay Platform 2.0 to the market is code-named "3S" - Smart, Security and Subscription. This is also a manifestation of TUTK's take on consumer market demands for IoT products and applications. Elaborating on "3S", Kuo noted in terms of smart implementations, Kalay Platform 2.0 can integrate functions of different types of end devices across communication protocols and operating systems. It can also serve as a bridge or interface connecting edge AI and cloud AI. For example, IP cameras integrated with Kalay VSaaS and AI image recognition form an event analytics platform that performs image collection, recognition, tagging and event triggering. It further allows users to define the actions that they want their devices or home appliances to perform. Take the IP camera as an example, the images taken by the camera are processed and certain user-defined images are recognized. For instance, the motion of an elderly family member falling is recognized and the event will trigger alert messages to be immediately sent to family members' mobile phones.Aside from offering a wide range of modularized functions, Kalay Platform 2.0 can also operate with third-party services such as AI-based image recognition tools and IFTTT applications. It can also integrate different voice assistants, functions of various hardware devices, and sensors for a variety of application scenarios. Regardless of their brands or communication protocols, the devices can receive and execute user-defined commands efficiently, so that users can conveniently enjoy security, convenience, and flexibility that smart solutions can bring to their lives.A decentralized architecture to ensure enhanced information securityAs to security - the second S in "3S," Kalay Platform 2.0 raises the IoT security protection mechanisms to a whole new level. The implementation of the decentralized architecture is a major breakthrough for TUTK this year. It considerably simplifies the matching and communication process between devices, enabling optimal flexibility for M2M interaction and thereby maximizing the benefits. According to Yang, to address the vulnerabilities of UIDs being reproduced or compromised, TUTK converted to a new two-phased UID design to enhance security. Multi-tiered authentication and end-to-end encryption for dynamic key matching are implemented for the communication across servers, end devices, and users. This allows data transmission between end devices and end users to be secure and safeguarded. With a decentralized design, the risk of data tampering or breach can effectively be reduced, while improving online privacy and protection.Cloud subscription services offer opportunities for explosive growth in the North American marketThe final S in "3S" represents cloud subscription service. In observing the rise of Internet and social media communities spurring the growth of a subscription-based economy, TUTK believes it will become a revenue stream for cloud service operators. Increasingly, companies are eyeing monthly subscription-based business models to generate a long-term and steady revenue. And, it has the potential to replace traditional one-time sale of hardware products. The outlook of subscription service models is very promising, and TUTK expects its cloud services to be an important growth driver for the company's revenue. Kuo revealed that the growth rate in the North American market reached an unprecedented record 200% this year. Wyze Labs, a startup located in Seattle and a TUTK customer, generated 3 million units in product sales within the last 18 months. Wyze Labs is also looking to leverage Kalay Platform 2.0's cloud functions to tap into opportunities arising from subscription-based services.Furthermore, according to Yang, TUTK offers JSON API or original app program templates to help customers build cloud subscription services. On the other hand, for brand customers that place emphasis on time-to-market, TUTK provides fee-based app development services to accommodate different customer needs in order to help them quickly expand footprint in the market.TUTK's ability to provide services that satisfy installers' demand is another major force driving its growth in the North American market. Yang pointed out that TUTK's Kalay Developer Console (KDC) is built on the DevOps management interface that is widely used in the industry. Offering significant improvements to the automation and online collaboration process, KDC helps customers create better service flows and products. The Kalay Platform provides integration services that are efficient and transparent, enabling quick installation and deployment of a large quantity of devices. In addition, TUTK offers customizable features that include billing services and instant message notifications, making it easy for large-scale installers to operate their businesses and services, while differentiating from competition.Hausetopia, one app integrating all white-box devicesTUTK has created Hausetopia, a new app for integrating all types of networking devices operating on different communication protocols. The name combines the German words Hause (house) and Utopia. The purpose is to allow consumers to be able to identify products that use TUTK's cloud services and technologies as white-box devices continue to flood into the China market. Products that use the Hausetopia app interface for interconnection and control of devices will be marked accordingly on the packaging and user guides. Consumers will know that the products they purchase, regardless of the brand, are built on TUTK's Kalay Platform and that communication between products of different brands is enabled by one app – Hausetopia. More importantly, TUTK's customer base largely comprises suppliers of IoT hardware devices or cloud services. They offer a wide variety of products, encompassing IP cameras, home gateway, sensor devices, home appliances, and others. They will be able to benefit from the device community conjoined by TUTK, which will allow for more convenient and user-friendly IoT technologies. The Kalay Platform 2.0's new communication technology enables the last stretch for everything to go online and will break brand barriers, allowing quick integration and connection of various IoT devices.TUTK's debut at CES next month will be grand and highly anticipated. The Taiwan-based IoT cloud service platform provider expects to shine on the global stage.ThroughTek CEO Patrick Kuo and vice president of product development center Scott Yang will lead the ThroughTek team at CES 2020Fully prepared to take on new challenges in 2020, ThroughTek introduces the upgraded Kalay Platform with operation "3S"

Increasing global awareness on environmental protection is spurring burgeoning developments in the renewable energy sector. According to International Energy Agency (IEA), nearly a third of the Earth's electricity will come from renewables by 2024. Minmax has geared up for market opportunities in this high-growth sector with a portfolio of power supply products and solutions suited to renewable energy applications.As opposed to other industrial application markets, the renewable energy sector imposes more demanding requirements on power supply modules such as resistance to heat, moisture, dust and other harsh conditions during the operation. It also sets higher safety standards than other industrial application markets. "Power supply units for renewable energy applications demand ultra-high isolation, which is also one characteristic that sets them apart from conventional power supply products," highlighted Whittaker Cheng, Minmax marketing and technical manager.Featuring ultra-high isolation, Minmax power supply solutions satisfy high-standard requirementsCompared to general industrial power supply modules that come with 1500 VDC isolation, power supply modules for renewable energy applications are required to achieve 3000 VAC isolation.Minmax takes great pride in its ultra-high isolation power supply solutions. The company's power supply modules designed for renewable energy applications feature reinforced insulation, 5000 VAC isolation and 15kV/μs common-mode transient immunity. They are also able to withstand ripple and noise generated during fast switching of insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBT).It should be noted that Minmax has extensive experiences in designing power supply solutions with high isolation, high insulation and heat resistance features. As part of its efforts to expand into the railway power module business more than a decade ago, Minmax has engaged in the R&D of this type of high-standard power supply solutions. "Railway applications actually have even more challenging requirements on power supply spec and features than renewable energy applications. With Minmax's high caliber in designing high-standard power supply solutions that meet the requirements by railway applications, there is no doubt about its capability to produce power supply solutions for the renewable energy sector," indicated Cheng.For solar power as well as offshore and onshore wind energy applications, Minmax offers a variety of power supply modules for use in control panels, motor drives and energy storage systems. It also provides power supply solutions for additional purposes such as for use in energy saving devices and home power management systems, power conditioning systems and charging piles to accommodate diverse customer needs in their product designs. On top of that, Minmax has introduced chassis & DIN-rail mounting DC-DC converters, allowing quick installation and enabling optimal convenience.Minmax provides one-stop service with its complete product portfolioTargeting renewable energy markets abroad for the time being, Minmax has made progress in Europe, the US and China after years of efforts. As to the local Taiwan market, Cheng commented on offshore wind energy development that is catching public attention lately and indicated "Offshore wind energy systems that Taiwan currently need are mostly imported in complete units from Europe so we have yet to see local market opportunities."Minmax's general product planning strategy is to design standardized solutions for specific application fields. This applies to the renewable energy sector as well. Accordingly, Minmax's power supply solutions can be put to use in renewable energy applications whether it is wind, solar, biogas or nuclear power generation.A power generation system may need a diverse range of power supply solutions, encompassing high-standard and regular industrial power supply units based on design and cost considerations. Minmax has a complete product lineup that meets customers' needs for both types of solutions, enabling the convenience of one-stop service.Battery power supply solutions for energy storage needsBattery power supply solutions are among the five new product lines that Minmax has recently introduced for the renewable energy sector. There are a lot of mid-size and small-size renewable electricity generation systems on the market but the electricity they generate is not distributed on the grid that power companies operate. The systems need to store the electricity in batteries. When power in the battery is supplied to a user's device, the battery's voltage needs to be converted to the one that can be input to the user's device. "For example, the battery's 100V power is converted to 5V before supplies to the handset," explained Cheng. In view of such market opportunities, Minmax has launched solutions exactly for this purpose.Going forward, aside from staying committed to satisfying common requirements by various types of renewable energy applications on power supply solutions, Minmax will step up efforts in developing products and solutions tailored to respective needs of solar and wind power applications. In doing so, Minmax will further strengthen its efforts toward the renewable energy sector and secure its market presence.Minmax offers a diverse range of ultra-high isolation power supply modules that meet the requirements by renewable energy systems

Digital technologies enable innovation to snap at the heels of many industries, success will come to the businesses that ensure their workforce is skilled in the best practices of the digital age. Of all the industries on the cusp of digital transformation, none are more politically contentious, tightly regulated, scientifically significant or economically important than health care and medical industries. Hospitals around the globe will drive, and at the same time be shaped by these disruptive innovations.On the other hand, one of the most observed trends for global healthcare is the impact of the aging population. This will in turn lead to greater demands for pushing more investments into medical innovation. Emerging trends show collaboration between startups, medical centers and venture capitalists that accelerate the further development of smart healthcare innovations.The BEx Accelerator program aims at medical startupsIn this interview, Arthur Chen, Executive Director of BE Capital, alongside Dr. Wayne Huang, Dean of IRCAD-Taiwan/AITS, share their perspectives on how to join efforts for both teams to initiate seed funding partnership programs to turn medical challenges in Taiwan into opportunities. The accelerator fund has raised US$ 5 million and next year will raise another 30 million US dollars to support further development. Through this startup fund platform, BE Capital is linking to a global network of entrepreneurs and innovators to accelerate medical devices of minimally invasive surgery being developed at Show Chwan Health Care System.Meanwhile, the dedicated BEx Accelerator program, a new breed of accelerator model designed by BE Capital, will kick off a proprietary evaluation and commercialization process that helps startups identify and advance medical innovation. Unlike most accelerators, the BEx program does not have your traditional Demo Day deadline. With one year period of time to provide one-on-one coaching support from BE Capital staff and mentors, BE Capital will work intensively with the startup teams to help them meet their individual business goals including to gain customers, raise capital, build marketing and sales collateral, and refining an investor pitch.Chen indicates that traditional accelerator model might work in the technology startup space such as Internet of Things, smart retailing or information technologies. But it rarely goes well in the complex world of healthcare. The BEx program is focusing on the medical products designed and evaluated for safety and efficacy for patients, Chen highlights. The long-term development cycle of higher end medical technology products rely on intensively in health care coordination, patient engagement, and workflow improvement. At the same time, it is also playing an important role in giving candid feedback from key opinion leaders (KOL), who are generally an experienced and trusted physician in the community. That's the reason why the collaboration with larger medical center is so important.Leveraging IRCAD-Taiwan to build the platform for medical innovationsShow Chwan Health Care System is a family own hospital chains with 8 hospitals located in Taiwan. With revenue of over US$ 400 million dollars in a year and a professional team of more than 600 physicians, Show Chwan setup a goal to be an international medical care center. One of the major actions to achieve this goal is through innovation. And medical devices innovation is an exciting area for Show Chwan that requires surgeons and engineers to work closely together, to create a viable business that will not only succeed financially, but also benefit patient outcome at the end.In 2008, Show Chwan cooperated with French Minimally Invasive Surgery Training Centre (IRCAD) to set up Asian Minimally Invasive Surgery Training Centre (AITS), or short named "IRCAD-Taiwan," at Chang Bing Show Chwan Health Park, aiming to nurture first-class minimally invasive surgery talents in Asia. Today, IRCAD-Taiwan has trained over 8000 surgeons and invited over 1000 experts including leading surgeon educators from around the world and top management executives from market leaders in endoscopy and surgery.All these training activities link with other registered Asian surgeons through high speed internet connection. It is bringing the on-line education models and comes together for a powerful platform to discuss the future of surgical education and medical innovation. IRCAD-Taiwan is creating a great opportunity for Show Chwan. Huang points out, "Taiwan market is limited. With technology innovation and good quality of products, Taiwan will have the chance to position itself as a hub for technological innovation in the medical sector."The global medical devices market size is scaling fast. The medical device market is projected to expand in value to over USD 500 billion. Need-based innovation is a process in which problems are identified and sorted based on impact and opportunity. Through IRCAD-Taiwan, it will provide a platform to explore the possibility for medical innovation. As a physician-innovator, Huang sees the value how IRCAD-Taiwan to provide a powerful platform for gathering resources and linking with KOL communities to validate products to reach its full potential.Furthermore, the hospital is the gateway to the entire healthcare ecosystem. This startup fund associated with hospitals will encourage the physician-innovators to collaborate with the startup teams for developing products to identify unmet user needs and fulfill them. With IRCAD communities, the collaboration of startups and physicians will help each other to accurately develop medical products that have high market demand. This will in turn save time and R&D costs.Select Japan market as the first stop for global reachingThe Vision of this joint fund of BE Capital and Show Chwan Health Care System is making Taiwan becoming "The Gateway to Asia for HealthTech and MedTech" and assisting international medical startups to go to Taiwan for clinical evaluation and testing medical products through resources of Taiwan hospital chains. The medical R&D teams from around the world gather to share pioneering research and improve efficiencies with clinical trials leveraging Taiwan hospital chains to form a powerful platform. Once the medical products passed the certification, it will open up sales opportunities for expansion through international medical distribution channels to expand the Asia markets.The link with global investors and partners will be the next big step for medical startups, Chen continues. Through the long time cooperative training programs between BE Capital and Show Chwan, they have brought the Standford Biodesign program to Taiwan for helping R&D teams to build an innovation process from medical needs identification to product design and fulfill the needs. This approach is tightly linked with industrial ecosystem partners to solve the problems to create a great business potential in the market. Through this partnership, BE Capital will help medical device startups to develop their products faster and more efficiently.As Japan's pharmaceutical industry opens up to the world, for quickly scaling up the medical products and expanding global market, BE Capital is linking the global network to the Japan market bridging Taiwan medical products to test and certify them in Japan. The massive goal is making Taiwan medical products into the Japan health insurance coverage medications listing or in the self-paid listings. To achieve this goal, the one-year BEx Accelerator program provides hand in hand assistance and training courses to selected 10 to 12 startup teams. Each of them will receive an investment of $200 thousand US dollars as a maximum. Through the strong relationships with Stanford Biodesign Alumnus in Japan and other areas in Asia, BE Capital will help the global partners and investors recognizing Taiwan's strengths and seek commercial opportunities to work with Taiwan startups to realize their full potential supporting global health needs.The BE Capital will run the selection process for startup teams from December 16, 2019. For the further details, please visit the website at https://beaccelerator.comBE Capital and Show Chwan HealthCare System to invest in Medical Startups building Gateway to Asia for global presence

Smith, a global distributor of electronic components and semiconductors, announces the relocation of its Shanghai office. The office's new location positions Smith in the heart of Shanghai's central business district - the world's most populous urban area and a global hub for transportation, finance, and innovation.Since opening in 2004, Smith's Shanghai office has more than tripled in staff size and built long-lasting relationships with customers. The relocation provides more office space, as well as a convenient place to meet local customers in person. Additionally, the newly constructed tower is LEED Platinum certified - the highest achievable distinction for buildings that promote clean and renewable energy, making it one of Shanghai's first office towers to be recognized.Shanghai is home to several industrial zones and serves as a major manufacturing center for China. Automotive, shipbuilding, and technology are among the many industries with a strong presence in the area. Smith will continue to focus on procuring high-quality components and providing custom supply chain support to global and local customers alike."Our new office location will give our Shanghai employees new opportunities to develop relationships across the many industries represented here," said Choon Byun, President - APAC at Smith. "We look forward to continued growth and success in this dynamic city and around the world."The new office is located at: Units 06-07, 38F, One Museum Place Office Building, 669 Xinzha Road, Jing'an District, 200041 Shanghai, ChinaSmith relocates its Shanghai office