Technical Articles

The combination of 4G and IPv6 will bring about a new world of smarter M2M communicationRamanuja Konreddy, Microchip Technology Inc.The internet has already revolutionised the way in which people communicate with each other and now it is ready to enable another revolution: the proliferation of smart communication between machines.The technologies which will introduce smart machine-to-machine (M2M) communication are the high-speed 4G wireless standard and Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6). Together, these technologies will enable designers to create a world ... more

The latest addition to Microchip’s PIC32 family increases performance, integration and connectivity.Bill Hutchings, Microchip Technolgy If there is one characteristic that all modern devices strive to demonstrate - irrespective of the end-application - it is responsiveness. The ability to react ’immediately’ is, of course, an illusion, sustained by the speed with which the microprocessor can respond to an event. Improving the response time of a microprocessor is often closely influenced by the software it executes, however the underlying metric ... more

Keith CurtisMicrochip Technology Inc.The choice of which Microcontroller to use is made at the start of an embedded-control project. The options are to select an 8-bit, 16-bit or 32-bit MCU and either start from a low-cost micro and migrate up, or downsize from a high end micro.There are no hard and fast rules: a number of factors will influence the decision including the level of control and processing power the project will require, the power limitations... the list is almost ... more

Digital signal controllers add intelligent control and communication to LED lightingCharlie IceMicrochip Technology Inc.LED lighting is transforming the way in which light is being used and opening new opportunities for designers to add intelligent control and colour-mixing to LED-lighting fixtures. DSCs can drive innovation in applications ranging from automotive head-lights and tail-lights, to state-of-the-art light shows which can turn a public building into a work of art.The unique combination of efficiency, dimming capability and long life enables LEDs to make ... more

The market review "Electronic Scales Production in Bulgaria" covers a large number of manufacturing companies. Its purpose is to outline the current status and trends in the production of electronic scales in Bulgaria.ATARKATARK is specialized in manufacturing, importing and maintenance of weighing systems and is a representative for Bulgaria of world-famous companies such as Cardinal/ Detecto Scale Co. - USA, CAS Corporation - South Korea, Rice Lake Weighing Systems - USA, KERN - Germany and others. Its product portfolio includes ... more

Reliability and sustainability are central themes of special shows at productronicaThe market is calling for products that are increasingly reliable and sustainable. This is a major challenge, and one that also affects the sectors for electronics and electronics manufacturing. Several special shows will examine these aspects and add depth to the wide range of exhibits at productronica: Automotive Electronics, Blue Competence in Electronics Production, the Cleanroom Event Stage, the Cleaning &Contamination Testing Center, and Coilware Manufacturing.Automotive Electronics special showAutomobile manufacturers ... more

Serbia is a home to a rich tradition in the electronics industry, but the story of this field in the country begins with Nikola Tesla, one of the greatest pioneers and inventors in the field of electricity. Of his countless discoveries and contributions to science, Tesla’s most notable achievements include a forerunner to commercial electricity, the alternating current (AC) system and important work leading to the invention of wireless communication and the radio. His colorful personality and groundbreaking achievements have ... more

The latest mixed-signal controllers combine the best of both the analogue and digital power-conversion worldsStephen Stella,Microchip TechnologySince the introduction of digital power conversion designershave had a clear choice between using analogue or digital for their designs. Each approach has its own distinct benefits as well as drawbacks, but the development of mixed-signal or hybrid controllers is making it possible for designers to combine the best of both power-conversion worlds.Analogue for performanceThe advantage of analogue power conversion is that it offers ... more

Using Digital Signal Controllers (DSCs) for sensorless control of Brushless DC (BLDC) motor control to bring this technology within reach of low-cost, mass applicationsCharlie Ice, Microchip TechnologyAs the technology of choice for many high- to mid-range systems, Brushless DC (BLDC) motors offer a constant or variable speed drive combined with high reliability and ease of control. The use of even a few Hall Effect sensors, however, adds to the total system cost which can take BLDC out of the reach ... more

Stephen Porter, Microchip TechnologyA state-of-the-art user interface used to be a couple of knobs on the front of a television screen giving the user the power to get out of their chair and adjust the volume and the channel. Now, users don’t even need to get off the sofa to control simulated surround sound or high-quality video.As appliances become more complex and users expect more from the user interface, designers are faced with increasingly complex decisions such as: what information ... more

The following article presents the results of an extensive survey organized by South-East European INDUSTRIAL Market (SEEIM) magazine with manufacturers of medical electronics (including dental, laboratory and cosmetic devices) in Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia. The purpose of the survey was to outline the current status of the medical electronics industry, as well as the prospects for the development of the sector in the region. The survey examines OEM companies, reviewing regional developers and manufacturers of medical electronics and major EMS ... more

Jonathan Dillon, Microchip TechnologyIntroductionIt is critical that replaceable or disposable accessories for medical devices have a method of proving that the correct accessory, or attachment, is being used. If incorrect accessories are accidentally used, such as accessories designed for another model of the same equipment, or for another manufacturer’s equipment, thiscould cause safety issues. Furthermore, the reuse of disposable accessories may result in inferior performance and is likely to be unsanitary. Counterfeit accessories also pose a serious threat as they ... more

Ralf Hickl, Rutronik Elektronische BauelementeAnyone wanting to expand an existing device to include wireless technology usually connects a transceiver to the microcontroller. It sounds simple, but it isn’t. It requires recalculations regarding cost, quality and risk ratings, development and logistics costs increase and the reliability of the device often drops. Reason enough to consider a microcontroller with integrated transceiver. Many MCU manufacturers have already responded to the wireless trend and the growing demand for transceivers, supplying their chips with different ... more

Implementing MCUs which combine graphic display controllers, with support for capacitive-touch, touch-screen and USB peripherals.Rishi Vasuki, Microchip TechnologyHMI designs in embedded systems are evolving fast as the cost of manufacturing fashionable and more elegant interfaces continues to decrease. Some applications are already combining touch-sensitive interfaces, such as keys, sliders, touch-screens and haptic feedback, with rich graphical displays using the latest generation of microcontrollers (MCUs) which integrate graphic display controllers, with peripherals for implementing capacitive-touch, touch-screen controllers and USB onto a ... more

Bulgaria is a key electronics manufacturing hub in Southeast Europe. The country is increasingly being preferred by many electronics assemblers and is set to emerge as one of the key recipients of foreign direct investments in electronics industry. The article presents three successful long-standing investments in the sector.Melexis BulgariaMelexis Bulgaria has now more than 13 years of successful presence in the market and represents the first foreign investment in the area of microelectronics in Bulgaria. Since its start, the company ... more