Archive : 15 April 2015 год

Imagination Technologies has unveiled the first members of its Ensigma Whisper flexible connectivity IP family, which have been designed specifically to enable the integration of ultra-low power communications in SoCs targeting wearables, IoT and other connected devices that require extended battery life.

The Ensigma Whisper radio processing units (RPUs) have been designed to give customers the option to choose to integrate Wi-Fi 802.11n, Bluetooth Smart, or a combination of the two standards, depending on their specific application.

The Whisper RPUs are based on the ultra-low power Ensigma Whisper Series5 architecture and complement the Ensigma Explorer RPU family, which is focused on high-performance on-chip communications. With built-in processors and a high level of configurability, Ensigma RPUs are flexible and can support multiple standards.

According to Imagination repurposing mobile or other existing connectivity chips or IP doesn'twork when it comes to designing wearables and other ultra-low power IoT devices.

"Connectivity IP must be built from the ground up for these new applications, with a focus on low power consumption and compact area," explained Richard Edgar, director of communications technology.

As a result the new Whisper IP cores are configurable engines that are purpose-built for integration onto next-generation SoCs targeting IoT and other applications including smartwatches, home automation, healthcare, automotive, industrial and beyond.

In addition, a range of customisable RF and analogue front-ends are available from Imagination if needed.

Imagination is initially offering the Whisper RPUs in three versions: the C5400: Wi-Fi 802.11n IP for low-power devices capable of audio/video streaming, which enables customers to achieve Wi-Fi connectivity at the power levels of Bluetooth Classic while delivering better performance per MHz; the C5300, Bluetooth Smart IP for ultra-low power, short range connectivity providing control functionality in devices including sensor hubs, wearables and home automation and the C5401, which is intended for applications such as wearables. This IP combines Bluetooth Smart for control applications and Wi-Fi 802.11n for streaming; capable of operating concurrently

Ensigma Whisper RPUs feature highly optimised, configurable hardware along with Imagination's PowerGearing for Ensigma that optimises both static and dynamic power consumption in the cores.

The Whisper architecture, with its tightly coupled modem/MIPS processor, is able to offer improved levels of standby power by enabling IoT and wearable devices to awaken more quickly and consume less power in the wake-up process.

The tightly-coupled modem/processor in Ensigma Whisper RPUs means that for sensor applications, customers can choose to eliminate the host processor or alleviate its load, leading to the smaller embedded system size and lower power consumption.

Author
Neil Tyler

Source:  www.newelectronics.co.uk

Nokia has announced that it is planning to buy French rival Alcatel-Lucent in a deal worth €15.6billion. Under the terms of the deal Alcatel-Lucent shareholders will own 33.5% of the new combined firm, and Nokia shareholders 66.5%. The takeover is expected to be completed by the end of the first half of next year.

Alcatel-Lucent has been struggling and has undergone repeated rounds of restructuring since the 2006 merger of France's Alcatel and US-based Lucent Technologies. It is currently laying off more than 10,000 workers and made a net loss of €118million last year.

Currently both companies are the weakest players in the telecoms equipment market and the merger will form a European telecoms equipment group worth more than €40bn (£29bn) and a market share of over 35 per cent, second to Ericsson which currently has a 40 per cent share.

Nokia's chief executive, Rajeev Suri, said the firms' complementary technologies would give them "the scale to lead in every area in which we choose to compete" and both firms expect to make savings in terms of operating costs of nearly €900m by 2019. Nokia also added that it would not cut jobs beyond what Alcatel had already planned.

Reaction to the news has been mixed with worries that Nokia is taking a significant risk with the acquisition. Analyst Mikael Rautanen from Inderes Equity Research warned that the merger could become, "a long and rocky road and investors could lose their patience following through the integration programme that will take years,"

Author
Neil Tyler

Source:  www.newelectronics.co.uk

The test and measurement equipment management company, Microlease, along with Keysight Technologies, the University of Portsmouth, the University of Southampton Science Park (USSP) and the Future Solent Green Growth Programme have invested £500K in two centres of excellence to support innovation and start-up companies in the Southampton and Portsmouth region.

The Wireless & Digital Development Hubs, housing state of the art wireless and digital test equipment, are located in dedicated lab spaces at the USSP's Science Centre and in the University of Portsmouth's Innovation Space. This project is supported by the Regional Growth Fund.

"The University of Portsmouth and the USSP along with the Future Solent Green Growth Programme are doing superb work to support early stage companies and innovation in the region," said Peter Collingwood, CEO, EMEA at Microlease. "The two new development hubs will provide first class facilities and training that would otherwise be unavailable to young companies and entrepreneurs developing advanced technologies. We are delighted to invest in this exciting project with all the partners."

The Development Hubs are being kitted out by Microlease with equipment from Keysight Technologies. Among the systems that will be made available are: Wireless Generation and Analysis tools including a 26GHz Spectrum Analyser with 160MHz real-time analysis bandwidth together with an 8GHz real time bandwidth Oscilloscope with 10bit ADC, and Battery Drain Analysis equipment. Together this equipment will offer testing potential for almost all modern wireless standards such as 4G, LTE and LTE-A and emerging 5G standards, WLAN and ZigBee, as well as modern digital standards such as PCIe, USB, HDMI and DDR.

To further support the Hubs, Microlease and Keysight will be offering a variety of seminars and workshops to encourage target applications such as the Internet of Things, Wireless Connected Devices, Automotive, Aerospace and, Green Energy. The first event to be held in May will cover RF Fundamentals.

The Wireless & Digital Test Hubs can be booked through Microlease by companies and individuals on a flexible and short-term basis.

Author
Neil Tyler

Source:  www.newelectronics.co.uk