Electronics Weekly – Renesas Memory MCUs, Synopsys SoC Prototyping and More

Analog Devices Boost Regulator

LTM4661 boost regulator. (Image courtesy of Analog Devices.)

Analog Devices announced the LTM4661, a low-power step-up µModule regulator in a 6.25mm x 6.25mm x 2.42mm BGA package. The LTM4661 incorporates a switching DC/DC controller, MOSFETs, inductors and supporting components. It operates from a 1.8V to 5.5V input supply and continues to operate down to 0.7V after start-up.

Furthermore, the LTM4661 provides 4A continuously under 3.3VIN to 5VOUT, and 0.7A continuously under 3.3VIN to 12VOUT. The device employs synchronous rectification, which delivers as high as a 92 percent conversion efficiency (3.3VIN to 5VOUT). The switching frequency is 1MHz and can be synchronized to an external clock ranging from 500kHz to 1.5MHz.

For more information, visit Analog Devices’ website.

Microsemi FPGA-in-the-Loop Workflow

FPGA-in-the-Loop workflow diagram. (Image courtesy of Microsemi.)

Microsemi and MathWorks have collaborated to launch hardware support for field programmable gate array (FPGA)-in-the-loop (FIL) verification workflows with Microsemi FPGA development boards. The integrated FIL workflow with HDL Coder and HDL Verifier from MathWorks lets users automatically generate test benches for hardware description language (HDL) verification, including VHSIC Hardware Description Language (VHDL) and Verilog, providing prototyping and verification of designs.

“MATLAB and Simulink are widely used by engineers to develop algorithms targeting FPGAs,” said Paul Barnard, MathWorks director of marketing for Simulink. “Now that HDL Verifier supports FIL for Microsemi development kits, engineers can connect designs implemented on these FPGA boards directly to MATLAB and Simulink test benches, streamlining a crucial validation step in developing safety-critical avionics, space and other applications.”

Additional technical specifications are available on Microsemi’s website.

Renesas Flash Memory MCUs

(Image courtesy of Renesas.)

Renesas introduced the RH850/E2x series of microcontrollers (MCUs), which incorporate up to six 400 MHz CPU cores and feature a built-in flash memory up to 16 megabytes as well as enhanced security functions and functional safety.

Targeting ASIL-D, the ISO 26262 functional safety standard for automotive E/E systems, the RH850/E2x Series adopts the dual core lock step CPU structure that ensures calculations performed by two CPU cores are identical. The RH850/E2x also provides up to four sets of CPU pairs and features various hardware functional safety improvements.

For more information, visit Renesas’ website.

RS Components Multipurpose Electronics App

DesignSpark Toolbox app. (Image courtesy of RS Components.)

RS Components unveiled a multipurpose electronics app for iOS, Android and Windows devices. The DesignSpark Toolbox app is available for download free-of-charge and provides a single point of access to common electronic reference materials, calculation and conversion tools in an easy-to-use format for electronics design engineers, makers and students.

DesignSpark Toolbox has a range of functions, which are grouped as icons on the main screen, such as engineering calculators, converters and lookup tables. These functions include filter frequency calculators, a 555 timer configurator, calculators for various voltage regulators and op-amps, and tools such as numbering systems converters, an Ohm’s Law calculator, and lookup tables for battery types and sizes. The app is customizable and available in 17 languages.

A complete list of the app’s features can be found on RS Components’ iOS page.

Synopsys SoC Prototyping

HAPS-80D desktop prototyping system. (Image courtesy of Synopsys.)

Synopsys announced the availability of its HAPS-80 Desktop (HAPS-80D) system for mid-range system-on-chip (SoC) prototyping. HAPS-80D accelerates prototype bring-up and interaction with real-world I/O through built-in infrastructure to support GPIO, UARTs and various SoC peripherals. HAPS-80D’s I/O functionality enables optimization of connections to support multi-FPGA design requirements.

HAPS-80D also provides built-in debug infrastructure for HAPS Global State Visibility(GSV) with support for Synopsys’ Verdi SoC debug platform, as well as direct connection to a software debugger through Arm CoreSight, JTAG20 or MICTOR 38 interfaces.

For more information, visit Synopsys’ website.

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