Top 5 design products in March

1)      First-pass silicon success for MFP SoC

Synopsys has announced that Kyocera Document Solutions has achieved first-pass silicon success for its new multifunction product (MFP) SoC using Synopsys DesignWare ARC EV6x Embedded Vision Processor IP with convolutional neural network (CNN) engine and ARC MetaWare EV Development Toolkit.

By using Synopsys' programmable ARC EV Processor, Kyocera has successfully integrated high-performance artificial intelligence (AI) processing capabilities such as super resolution, with the flexibility to support future AI models. In addition, Kyocera deployed Synopsys' HAPS FPGA-based prototyping system to accelerate ARC EV software development, SoC integration, and system validation.

2)      OEM developer’s kit for machine builders launched

Mitsubishi Electric has released a comprehensive OEM developer’s kit aimed at both first-time automation users and experienced engineers. The kit consists of a PLC, HMI and programming software that can be used to develop new machines for a wide range of manufacturing and process industries. 

With expanded technical support resources, this easy-to-use starter pack can help to create innovative industrial automation systems in a variety of applications. Machine builders will gain access to an extensive, dedicated technical library and centralised data repository to support the development of new systems. Resources such as e-learning courses, start-up guides and videos, template projects as well as examples of programming code for key applications will also be included.

3)      Crypto architectural validation test suits in RISC-V

Imperas Software has announced the release of the latest update to the RISC-V architectural validation test suites for the RV32/64K Crypto (scalar) extension. Developed in conjunction with the guidelines of the RISC-V International Architecture Tests SIG, Imperas has achieved an almost 100% functional coverage of the instructions based on the RISC-V Cryptographic Extensions task group’s functional coverage plan.

The released tests support the RISC-V ISA Crypto specification proposed as the ‘K’ extension, current draft spec 0.8.1, and will be updated as the spec is publicly reviewed and ratified.

4)      UltraScale+ portfolio for high-performance edge solutions

Xilinx has announced the company has expanded its UltraScale+ portfolio for new markets and applications that require ultra-compact and intelligent edge solutions. With new form factors that are 70% smaller than traditional Xilinx chip-scale packaging, the new Artix and Zynq UltraScale+ families can now address a wider range of applications within the industrial, vision, healthcare, broadcast, consumer, automotive, and networking markets.

As a hardware adaptable cost-optimised portfolio based on 16 nanometer technology, Artix and Zynq UltraScale+ are available in TSMC’s InFO (Integrated Fan Out) packaging technology. Using InFO, the new cost-optimised members of the Artix and Zynq UltraScale + family meets the need for intelligent edge applications by delivering high-compute density, performance per-watt, and scalability in an ultra-compact package.

5)      J-Link supports Raspberry Pi RP2040

Microcontrollers are the workhorses powering the digital transformation of our world. RP2040 is the debut microcontroller from the Raspberry Pi Foundation and is now fully supported by SEGGER J-Link.

The RP2040 features dual Cortex-M0+ cores, both of which can be programmed and debugged using J-Link. The market-leading performance of J-Link programs the entire RP2040 RAM in 0.25 seconds, and downloads at 340 kB/sec into QSPI flash. It also includes an unlimited number of breakpoints, even in flash memory, as well as the SEGGER GDB Server, making it compatible with all popular development environments, and SEGGER's Real Time Transfer (RTT), the proven technology for interactive user I/O in embedded applications.