IoT sensing/communication/MCU components attract chip vendors to flock layout

MCUs, RFICs and sensors are the core elements of the three Internet of Things. Optimistic about the growth prospects of MCUs, in addition to existing manufacturers, automotive peripheral IC design operators are also actively investing; wireless communication chip related companies expand their market territory through mergers and acquisitions; and sensor demand is rapidly rising, also attracting new innovations. The company is competing to invest.

The Internet of Things market is dominated by sensing, low-power smart control, and multi-wireless connectivity. The growth of shipments of MCUs, wireless RF integrated circuits (RFICs) and sensors by IC designers has been strong, and all relevant companies have invested heavily in the development of these three types of chips in an effort to make a profit in the IoT market. money.

With the IoT IC pushing the IoT applications such as wearable devices, smart homes, car networking and automatic control, the demand for microcontrollers (MCUs), wireless communication ICs, and sensors is on the rise. Investigate in research and development, and look forward to a share of the Internet of Things.

Introduced machine learning technology, Lou's enhanced microphone noise reduction

The concept of Internet of Things has set off a wave of corporate mergers, which often stimulates better products; in the case of Knowles CorporaTIon, the company acquired Audio Solutions provider Audience in mid-July 2015. Later, the latter brought three important technologies to Lou's, namely Beam-forming (BF), Blind-source Separation (BSS) and Machine Learning, which allowed Lou. Introduce a more complete noise reduction solution.

Figure 1 Jiang Zhengyao, vice president of software product management at Lou's Electronic Wisdom Audio Division, explained that the company can provide customers with one-stop solutions and enhance DSP technology to enrich the company's product line.

Jiang Zhengyao (Fig. 1), vice president of software product management at Lou's Electronic Wisdom Audio Performance Department, said that the beamforming mode uses two microphones, one of which is responsible for receiving the sound, and the other microphone is responsible for suppressing external unwanted noise; Use multiple microphones, regardless of whether the signal is useful or not, all of them are included in the device and processed together. Machine learning combines the above two techniques to provide many different audio samples to artificial intelligence exercises to identify which audio is noise.

In order to make machine learning more efficient, it is useful to classify these messages in advance. After the integration of Audience, the company's technology can integrate all the sounds in the environment, identify which signals are needed, which audio can be matched, and then beam-make these signals.

Whether it is beamforming, blind source separation or machine learning, a multi-microphone solution is required. Jiang Zhengyao explained that because a single microphone can't make the device do a good voice processing; for the current high-end smart phones, for example, most of them have more than three microphones, and even some mobile devices have five microphones built in.

Jiang Zhengyao emphasized that multi-microphones are definitely the future trend in terms of the current application of the device. The application of two microphones is more suitable in a quieter place; however, if there are more car sounds, child crying, wind noise and other factors, the quality of the radio will be poor, and the solution of three or more microphones will be Unnecessary noise can be suppressed, although it can not be completely eliminated, but the performance is quite remarkable.

Multi-microphones are widely used. For example, smart phones are used. Each user has different postures when talking on the device. Some people may take it upside down, and some people may lie in bed. If using a multi-microphone solution, the call is made. The quality can also be improved; in addition, the multi-microphone can easily distinguish whether the audio source is left or right channel in the noisy recording environment. For the most popular VR devices, the multi-microphone solution can be used. When using the device, the experience is more immersive.

UAV / wearable demand strong barometer after the trend

Recently, shipments of smart phones have slowed down, and the demand for applications such as wearable devices and drones (Figure 2) has soared. Optimistic about this trend, domestic micro-electromechanical (MEMS) manufacturers Global (GlobalMEMS) in the first quarter of 2016 launched a barometer with a resolution of 10 cm, second only to the international manufacturer's eight-centimeter resolution. Suitable for lower price/consumer drones.

Figure 2 The demand for a barometer for drones is strong.

Wu Mingqing, CEO of GlobalMEMS, said that in addition to smart phones, the demand for barometers for drones is quite strong, especially for lower-end/consumer drones. Most of them used to be equipped with Global Positioning System (GPS) only. It can have a plane positioning function, which may cause the drone to be difficult to control or drift up and down when flying to a certain height.

Wu Mingqing further explained that the high-priced UAV built-in ten-axis solution has perfect control and stability; at present, the company's barometer will launch an offensive against the low-cost/consumer drone market. Because the stability of such a drone is relatively poor, it may crash if you don't pay attention to it; if the drone is equipped with a gas pressure device, it can automatically activate the protection device when it falls for several meters, allowing the computer to intervene in the system control. , the device can be safely landed.

It is understood that the company's barometer is based on Silicon (Silicon), although it is not as large as the quartz sensor (Crystal) based barometer of the sensor abroad, the finest resolution can reach a resolution of one centimeter. However, GlobalMEMS's barometers are cheaper and more practical; because if they are applied to a drone device, it is possible to generate a change of more than one meter at a time when the airflow is disturbed.

On the other hand, Wu Mingqing also believes that the wearable device also has a high demand for barometers. In the past, such devices only had the function of a pedometer. If the function of the barometer was added, the user could know his or her status and be more complete when climbing or doing other more challenging sports. / Meet the consumer's athletic effect.

In fact, high-end mobile phones with a barometer of NT$20,000 or more are standard equipment, but most consumers don’t feel deeply about this component; for example, in the first-tier cities such as Tokyo or New York, these cities are mobile devices. The 3D map can be viewed on the map, and even the floor is clearly visible. However, the function of indoor navigation is not significant. Even if the user can know the floor by the barometer in the device, the meaning of the actual use is still unclear. However, if it is applied to devices such as wearable devices and drones that have high demand for height/pneumatic pressure, the market opportunities are infinitely bright.

2 Rates Power Meter Socket

Power Meter Double Rates, Power Meter Two Rates, Cost Rate Socket, Power Meter Cost Rate, Energy Meter Cost Rate, Cost Socket, Cost Plug

NINGBO COWELL ELECTRONICS & TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD , https://www.cowellsockets.com