#Semiconductors & Electronics

[mindblowingscience]

Scientists from NTU Singapore have developed ultra-thin semiconductor fibers that can be woven into fabrics, turning them into smart wearable electronics. Their work has been published in the journal Nature. To create reliably functioning semiconductor fibers, they must be flexible and without defects for stable signal transmission. However, existing manufacturing methods cause stress and instability, leading to cracks and deformities in the semiconductor cores, negatively impacting their performance and limiting their development.

Continue Reading.

[materialsscienceandengineering]

New hydrogel semiconductor could lead to better tissue-interfaced bioelectronics

The ideal material for interfacing electronics with living tissue is soft, stretchable, and just as water-loving as the tissue itself—in short, a hydrogel. Semiconductors, the key materials for bioelectronics such as pacemakers, biosensors, and drug delivery devices, on the other hand, are rigid, brittle, and water-hating, impossible to dissolve in the way hydrogels have traditionally been built. A paper published today in Science from the UChicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (PME) has solved this challenge that has long stymied researchers, reimagining the process of creating hydrogels to build a powerful semiconductor in hydrogel form. Led by Asst. Prof. Sihong Wang's research group, the result is a bluish gel that flutters like a sea jelly in water but retains the immense semiconductive ability needed to transmit information between living tissue and machine. The material demonstrated tissue-level moduli as soft as 81 kPa, stretchability of 150% strain, and charge-carrier mobility up to 1.4 cm2 V-1 s-1. This means their material—both semiconductor and hydrogel at the same time—ticks all the boxes for an ideal bioelectronic interface.

Read more.

[mistresshailey001]

Am gonna re-hydrate right now then

[inbabylontheywept]

Kevin vs. Intro to Quantum

Our first suspicion of Kevin was that he had, somehow, cheated his way up to this course. He just seemed perpetually confused, and strangely antagonistic of the professor. The weirdest example of this was when he asked what an ion was (in a third year class?), and was informed that it referred to any positively or negatively charged particle. It would have been strange enough to ask that in a senior level electrical engineering course, but his reply of "Either? That doesn't sound right" sealed him in as a well known character in the class of 19 people.

The real tipping point in our perception of him was during a lecture where the professor mentioned practical uses for a neutron beam, and Kevin asked if a beam could be made out of some other neutral material. When asked "Like what?", he replied "An atom with all of its electrons removed." When we pointed out that the protons would make that abomination extremely positively charged, he just replied with "So what if we removed those too?" and then was baffled when we informed him that would just be neutrons.

That's high school level chemistry. Not knowing it was so incredibly strange that I felt like something was off, so I waited until after class and asked him if he'd like to grab lunch. He accepted, we chatted, and I finally began to get a sense of his origin story.

See, Kevin wasn't a junior/senior year electrical engineer like the rest of us. Kevin was, in fact, three notable things: A business major, a sophomore, and a hardcore Catholic. All three of those are essential to understanding his scenario.

What had begun all of this was actually a conflict with Kevin and his roommate. Kevin frequently had his fundamental belief in Absolute Good, Absolute Bad, and Absolute Anything pushed back on by his roommate, who was in STEM. Said roommate kept invoking quantum mechanics as his proof against Absolute Knowledge. Kevin had gotten tired of having something that he didn't understand thrown at his beliefs, so he decided to take a quantum course to settle things once and for all.

Despite not having any of the pre-reqs.

He'd actually tried to take quantum for physicists first, but the school's physics department wouldn't let him. It's actually pretty strictly regulated, because it is a mandatory class for physics majors, so they limit who enters in order to make sure all the future physicists can grab a seat. However, because the engineering department's introductory quantum course is not mandatory, there aren't really any built in requirements for the class. It's just assumed that nobody would actually try to take it until their at least third year because doing so would the be the mental equivalent to slamming your nuts in the door. Just, pure suffering for no good reason.

Apparently, the counselors had tried to talk him out of it, but if Kevin was one thing, it was stubborn. He'd actually had to sign some papers basically saying "I was warned that this is incredibly stupid, but I refused to listen" in order to take the class.

He was actually pretty nice, if currently unaware of how bad he'd just fucked up. I paid for the lunch, wished him the best in the class, and reported back to the discord me and about eight other people in the class had been using. We'd all been curious about this guy's story, but now that I had the truth, I could share it with the world.

Feelings were mixed. Some people thought he was going to drop out any minute now. Others thought that he wouldn't, be also that convincing him to drop now, while he still could, was the only ethical thing. Others figured that a policy of non-interference was best. The counselors couldn't dissuade him, and if we tried to do the same, he'd probably just think it was STEM elitism trying to guard its little clubhouse. He'd figure out how hard things were, or he'd fail. Either way, it would help him learn more about the world.

We wound up taking the approach of non-interference. If nothing else, understanding his origins gave us more patience when he asked bizarre questions. He wasn't trying to waste our time, he was just trying to cram three years of pre-reqs into a one semester course. He did get a little bit combative sometimes, and we could tell that he was really wracking his brain to try and find some sort of contradiction or error that he could use to bring the whole thing down, but he never could. He just didn't understand it well enough to have a chance at poking holes in it.

First test came by, and he bombed it. Completely unprepared. He'd taken Calculus I, but he didn't know how to do integrals yet. Worse, he was far past the drop date. I imagine most people in his shoes would've stopped struggling. They'd realize they were fucked and just let themselves fail, at least salvaging their other classes grades in the process. Why waste resources on an unwinnable battle?

Kevin didn't ask questions like that. If he was stupid enough to try it, he was gonna be stupid enough to finish it. God bless him.

He invited me to lunch after the test and said that the class was more fascinating than he'd ever imagined, but he didn't know if he'd be able to pass it. He asked if I could help, and I said "Maybe." I brought the request to the discord, and from the eight people I got three volunteers who admired this dork's tenacity. He was in over his head, miles over his head, but we admired his fighting spirit and were willing to bust our asses to see if we could get this guy to pass the class.

Some of the stuff was just extra homework we gave to the guy. We told him he needed to learn integrals, stat. We sent him some copies of basic software that can be used to teach the basics of linear circuit equations, and he practiced that game like it was HALO. Just, hours sunk into it.

We were very impressed.

He was still scrabbling for air at just the surface level of the class, but he'd gone from abysmal failure to lingering on the boundary between life and death. Other people in the class started to learn about Kevin's origin story, and our little circle of four volunteer tutors grew to six. Every day, he had someone trying to help him either catch up in some way, or finish that week's homework. He'd gone from being seen as a nuisance that wasted class time to the underdog mascot.

He was getting twelve hours of personal tutoring a week, on top of three hours of classes, on top of six hours of office hours, on top of the coursework. I don't think it's an exaggeration to say that this kid was doing 40 hours a week just trying to pass this one single class.

Second test comes around and he gets a 60. He's ecstatic. We're ecstatic. Kid's too young to take out drinking so we just order a pizza and cheer like he just won gold at the Olympics.

After that second test, things hit another tipping point. With so much catch-up under his belt, he was able to focus a lot more on the actual material for the class. A borderline cinematic moment happened when I was trying to get ahead on the homework so that I could put more hours in on my senior project. Nobody else had finished it yet because it wasn't due for another week, nobody else knew how to do it, and when I went to the professor's office hours, Kevin was there. The professor was trying to help me, but I was still struggling. After leaving the office, I got a text from Kevin asking me to hop onto zoom.

Kevin had finished it earlier, because Kevin starts all of his homework the moment its assigned in order to make sure that he can get it done. He'd finished it the day before, and was able to walk me through it.

From student, to teacher. I'm not exaggerating when I say that he probably saved me eight hours on that assignment. I could've kissed him.

Final comes around. As soon as we're done, we six ask Kevin how he did. He's nervous, there's so much new material for him in this class that his retention hasn't been great. Us six are also a little stressed: We're going to pass the class, but the final was hard.

We wait.

We wait.

We wait.

Table with final scores, and overall scores is posted, curve included. From our class of 19 people, 4 withdrew within the deadline, 4 failed, 1 got a C, 8 got B's, and 2 got A's. We can see that the curve for a C is set at 59.2% overall.

We call Kevin. He's crying. End score, 59.2%. Teacher curved the C just to him.

It's a week into winter break so we can't gather the forces around for a party like last time, but we're all losing our shit. Kevin's losing his shit. He can't believe how stupid he was to try this course, he can't believe that six people busted their ass just to make sure he didn't die, and he can't believe that the professor basically just passed him out of effort alone.

He says it's the stupidest thing he's ever done, and while I doubt that, it was outrageously stupid. And yet, I've never been so invested in a fellow student before. I'm prouder of Kevin's C than I am of my own B. I walked on sunshine for weeks after getting the news. I still think about him sometimes. It's been two years, and I still google him, just to see that he's doing well. And he is. Man's a machine. I like to think of how many people this little pinball has bounced off in his life, how many impressions he's made.

I can't be the only person cheering for him. There must be an army of us, proudly watching babybird fly.

[icgoodfind]

Beginner's learning to understand Xilinx product series including Zynq-7000, Artix, Virtex, etc.

Xilinx (Xilinx) as the world's leading supplier of programmable logic devices has always been highly regarded for its excellent technology and innovative products. Xilinx has launched many excellent product series, providing a rich variety of choices for different application needs.

I. FPGA Product Series

Xilinx's FPGA products cover multiple series, each with its own characteristics and advantages.

The Spartan series is an entry-level product with low price, power consumption, and small size. It uses a small package and provides an excellent performance-power ratio. It also contains the MicroBlaze™ soft processor and supports DDR3 memory. It is very suitable for industrial, consumer applications, and automotive applications, such as small controllers in industrial automation, simple logic control in consumer electronics, and auxiliary control modules in automotive electronics.

The Artix series, compared to the Spartan series, adds serial transceivers and DSP functions and has a larger logic capacity. It achieves a good balance between cost and performance and is suitable for mid-to-low-end applications with slightly more complex logic, such as software-defined radios, machine vision, low-end wireless backhaul, and embedded systems that are cost-sensitive but require certain performance.

The Kintex series is a mid-range series that performs excellently in terms of the number of hard cores and logic capacity. It achieves an excellent cost/performance/power consumption balance for designs at the 28nm node, provides a high DSP rate, cost-effective packaging, and supports mainstream standards such as PCIe® Gen3 and 10 Gigabit Ethernet. It is suitable for application scenarios such as data centers, network communications, 3G/4G wireless communications, flat panel displays, and video transmission.

The Virtex series, as a high-end series, has the highest performance and reliability. It has a large number of logic units, high-bandwidth serial transceivers, strong DSP processing capabilities, and rich storage resources, and can handle complex calculations and data streams. It is often used in application fields with extremely high performance requirements such as 10G to 100G networking, portable radars, ASIC prototyping, high-end military communications, and high-speed signal processing.

II. Zynq Product Series

The Zynq - 7000 series integrates ARM and FPGA programmable logic to achieve software and hardware co-design. It provides different models with different logic resources, storage capacities, and interface numbers to meet different application needs. The low-power consumption characteristic is suitable for embedded application scenarios such as industrial automation, communication equipment, medical equipment, and automotive electronics.

The Zynq UltraScale + MPSoC series has higher performance and more abundant functions, including more processor cores, larger storage capacities, and higher communication bandwidths. It supports multiple security functions and is suitable for applications with high security requirements. It can be used in fields such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, data center acceleration, aerospace and defense, and high-end video processing.

The Zynq UltraScale + RFSoC series is similar in architecture to the MPSoC and also has ARM and FPGA parts. However, it has been optimized and enhanced in radio frequency signal processing and integrates a large number of radio frequency-related modules and functions such as ADC and DAC, which can directly collect and process radio frequency signals, greatly simplifying the design complexity of radio frequency systems. It is mainly applied in radio frequency-related fields such as 5G communication base stations, software-defined radios, and phased array radars.

III. Versal Series

The Versal series is Xilinx's adaptive computing acceleration platform (ACAP) product series.

The Versal Prime series is aimed at a wide range of application fields and provides high-performance computing and flexible programmability. It has high application value in fields such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, data centers, and communications, and can meet application scenarios with high requirements for computing performance and flexibility.

The Versal AI Core series focuses on artificial intelligence and machine learning applications and has powerful AI processing capabilities. It integrates a large number of AI engines and hardware accelerators and can efficiently process various AI algorithms and models, providing powerful computing support for artificial intelligence applications.

The Versal AI Edge series is designed for edge computing and terminal device applications and has the characteristics of low power consumption, small size, and high computing density. It is suitable for edge computing scenarios such as autonomous driving, intelligent security, and industrial automation, and can achieve efficient AI inference and real-time data processing on edge devices.

In short, Xilinx's product series are rich and diverse, covering various application needs from entry-level to high-end. Whether in the FPGA, Zynq, or Versal series, you can find solutions suitable for different application scenarios, making important contributions to promoting the development and innovation of technology.

In terms of electronic component procurement, Yibeiic and ICgoodFind are your reliable choices. Yibeiic provides a rich variety of Xilinx products and other types of electronic components. Yibeiic has a professional service team and efficient logistics and distribution to ensure that you can obtain the required products in a timely manner. ICgoodFind is also committed to providing customers with high-quality electronic component procurement services. ICgoodFind has won the trust of many customers with its extensive product inventory and good customer reputation. Whether you are looking for Xilinx's FPGA, Zynq, or Versal series products, or electronic components of other brands, Yibeiic and ICgoodFind can meet your needs.

Summary by Yibeiic and ICgoodFind: Xilinx (Xilinx) as an important enterprise in the field of programmable logic devices, its products have wide applications in the electronics industry. As an electronic component supplier, Yibeiic (ICgoodFind) will continue to pay attention to industry trends and provide customers with high-quality Xilinx products and other electronic components. At the same time, we also expect Xilinx to continuously innovate and bring more surprises to the development of the electronics industry. In the process of electronic component procurement, Yibeiic and ICgoodFind will continue to provide customers with professional and efficient services as always.

[electroniccomponentsupplier]

Electronics distributors play a crucial role in the supply chain for electronic components and devices. They act as intermediaries between manufacturers and retailers or end-users, providing a range of services including inventory management, logistics, and technical support. Here are some notable electronics distributors.

[semikart]

🌟Buy Components from Element14 on Semikart! 🌟

Element14 Electronics, a premier high-service distributor of technology products, for electronic system design, maintenance, and repair, is now available on Semikart.com

Explore a vast array of Element14 Electronics’s high-quality products on Semikart.com. Elevate your projects with Element14 Electronics's unparalleled support and vast offerings.

[smbomcom]

What Is An Inductive Force Sensor?

An inductive force sensor is a type of sensor that utilizes the principle of electromagnetic induction to measure force. It operates by detecting changes in inductance caused by the force applied to the sensor, translating these changes into corresponding electrical signals. Typically, such sensors consist of coils, a magnetic core, and an outer casing. When force is applied, causing a displacement of the magnetic core, it alters the magnetic flux density within the coil, thereby generating measurable electrical signals.

Get more details: What Is An Inductive Force Sensor?

[suvsystemltd]

At SUV System Ltd, sustainability isn't just a buzzword; it's a commitment. As a #leadingsupplier of #electroniccomponents, we're dedicated to implementing eco-friendly practices throughout our #sourcing and #distribution processes.

From partnering with environmentally conscious manufacturers to utilizing energy-efficient #technologies in our #warehouse, we're doing our part to protect the planet. Our strict recycling programs and #ecofriendlypackaging solutions help reduce waste, ensuring that our operations leave a minimal carbon footprint.

Choose SUV System Ltd for your #electroniccomponent needs and experience the difference between quality products with eco-friendly practices

By choosing us, you're not only getting top-quality components but also supporting a company that values #sustainability. Let's work together to create a greener future.

Feel free to contact us at sales@suvsystem.com or connect on Skype at sales@suvsystem.com

You can also visit us at https://www.suvsystem.com/

[lindahall]

The Transistor – Scientist of the Day

Seventy-five years ago, on December 16, 1947, John Bardeen and Walter Brattain successfully tested the world’s first transistor in Murray Hill, New Jersey.

read more...

[millenniumsemiconductors00]

Millennium Semiconductors - Leading Innovation and Powering the Future

Millennium Semiconductors India Pvt. Ltd.: Pioneering Excellence in Electronic Components Distribution.

With an illustrious journey spanning 28 years, Millennium Semiconductors India Pvt. Ltd. stands as a beacon in the domain of electronic component distribution. Our portfolio encompasses a diverse range of active, passive, wireless communication, power, and electromechanical products and Specialty Chemicals and Materials.

What sets us apart is our unwavering commitment to operational excellence paired with innovative business solutions, ensuring we not only meet but exceed our customers' expectations.

Credibility & Recognitions: As an ISO 9001:2015 certified company, our credentials are further accentuated by recognitions from esteemed institutions such as Dun & Bradstreet, CRISIL, and the distinction of being a Great Place to Work.

Our Distinctive Edge:

• R&D Centre: Spearheading innovations and advancements.

• Design Excellence: From the nascent concept to prototype or production, tailored to specific needs.

• Optimization: Upgrading designs for enhanced features and cost-effectiveness.

• Re-engineering: Revamping projects for cost reductions and functional enhancements.

• Component Expertise: Recommending proven components for precise applications and providing embedded design support.

• Training Initiatives: Collaborative technical sessions with suppliers to enhance product understanding.

• IoT Enablement: Driving the future with IoT solutions for industrial and smart devices.

• Robust Supply Chain: Ensuring consistent and timely deliveries.

• Flexible Billing: Offering multi-currency billing options.

• Systematic Approach: Leveraging tools like Salesforce, SAP S4 Hana, WMS, and our dedicated Customer Portal.

At Millennium Semiconductors, our essence is to provide a holistic solution, affirming our position as the premier choice in our domain.

Millennium Semiconductors, we're not just a provider; we're your partner in progress.

For More Details Visit - https://www.millenniumsemi.com/

[materialsscienceandengineering]

First ever visualization shows photoexcited charges traveling across the interface of two semiconductor materials

UC Santa Barbara researchers have achieved the first-ever "movie" of electric charges traveling across the interface of two different semiconductor materials. Using scanning ultrafast electron (SUEM) techniques developed in the Bolin Liao lab, the research team has directly visualized the fleeting phenomenon for the first time. "There are a lot of textbooks written about this process from semiconductor theory," said Liao, an associate professor of mechanical engineering. "There are a lot of indirect measurements." The ability to visualize how this process actually happens will allow semiconductor materials scientists to benchmark some of these theories and indirect measurements, he added. The research is published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

Read more.

[engineering-guff]

Electronics Components and Uses:

Here is a list of common electronics components and their uses:

Resistor:

Use: Limits or controls the flow of electric current in a circuit.

Capacitor:

Use: Stores and releases electrical energy; used for filtering, timing, and coupling in circuits.

Inductor:

Use: Stores energy in a magnetic field when current flows through it; used in filters, transformers, and oscillators.

Diode:

Use: Allows current to flow in one direction only; used for rectification, signal demodulation, and protection.

Transistor:

Use: Amplifies and switches electronic signals; fundamental building block of electronic circuits.

Integrated Circuit (IC):

Use: Contains multiple electronic components (transistors, resistors, capacitors) on a single chip; used for various functions like amplification, processing, and control.

Resistor Network:

Use: A combination of resistors in a single package; used in applications where multiple resistors are needed.

Potentiometer:

Use: Variable resistor that can be adjusted to control voltage in a circuit; used for volume controls, dimmer switches, etc.

Varistor:

Use: Protects electronic circuits from excessive voltage by acting as a voltage-dependent resistor.

Light-Emitting Diode (LED):

Use: Emits light when current flows through it; used for indicator lights, displays, and lighting.

Photodiode:

Use: Converts light into an electric current; used in light sensors and communication systems.

Zener Diode:

Use: Acts as a voltage regulator by maintaining a constant voltage across its terminals.

Crystal Oscillator:

Use: Generates a stable and precise frequency; used in clocks, microcontrollers, and communication devices.

Transformer:

Use: Transfers electrical energy between two or more coils through electromagnetic induction; used for voltage regulation and power distribution.

Capacitive Touch Sensor:

Use: Detects touch or proximity by changes in capacitance; used in touchscreens and proximity sensing applications.

Voltage Regulator:

Use: Maintains a constant output voltage regardless of changes in input voltage or load; used for stable power supply.

Relay:

Use: Electromagnetic switch that controls the flow of current in a circuit; used for remote switching and automation.

Fuse:

Use: Protects electronic circuits by breaking the circuit when current exceeds a certain value; prevents damage from overcurrent.

Thermistor:

Use: Resistor whose resistance changes with temperature; used for temperature sensing and compensation.

Microcontroller/Microprocessor:

Use: Processes and controls electronic signals; the brain of many electronic devices and systems.

fig:google-electronics

fig:google-electronics

fig:Crystal-Oscillator

This list covers some of the basic electronic components, and there are many more specialized components used for specific applications within the field of electronics.

[lanshengic]

Daily Semiconductor Industry Information By Lansheng Technology

1. At the VLSI Symposium 2023, which will be held next month, Intel will demonstrate the PowerVia technology verification chip.

2. On May 5th, Samsung Electronics is expected to surpass its main competitor TSMC in the field of chip foundry within 5 years.

3. According to media reports, Meta recruited a team from the British artificial intelligence chip company Graphcore. The team previously worked in Oslo, Norway, and was developing AI networking technology at Graphcore until late last year.

4. On May 5, 2023, semiconductor product companies Alpha and Omega Semiconductor once fell by 11.64% in intraday trading, and once touched $20.64. The stock price hit a new low since November 18, 2020.

5. Following in the footsteps of #Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron, the US chip giant Qualcomm’s latest quarterly revenue fell -16.9% year-on-year to US$9.275 billion, and its net profit fell sharply -41.9%. The three major business segments of mobile phones, automobiles and IoT All have declined to varying degrees, and its forecast data for the third fiscal quarter is also lower than market expectations.

Lansheng Technology Limited (https://www.lanshengic.com/) is a global distributor of electronic components that has been established for more than 10 years, headquartered in Shenzhen China, who mainly focuses on electronic spot stocks

[icgoodfind]

China's integrated circuit output increased by 26.9% year-on-year in July. #integratedcircuit #semiconductor #chip #icgoodfind #IC #Electronics www.icgoodfind.com

[emmasmith1402]

Soft Robotics Market Forecast 2024 to 2032

Soft robotics is a field of robotics that focuses on creating flexible and adaptive robotic systems inspired by the natural movement and mechanics of living organisms. Unlike traditional rigid robots, soft robots are made from materials that are deformable and compliant, allowing them to interact with their environment in a more gentle and versatile manner. Soft robotics combines principles from engineering, material science, and biology to develop robots capable of tasks such as grasping delicate objects, navigating through complex and unpredictable environments, and interacting with humans safely. These robots often utilize pneumatics, hydraulics, or smart materials to achieve their softness and flexibility, enabling them to perform tasks that are difficult or impossible for traditional robots. The Soft Robotics Market was valued at USD 371.81 Million in 2022 and is expected to register CAGR of 46.57% by 2032. The soft robotics market is driven by several factors that contribute to its growth and adoption including increasing human-robot collaboration, increasing demand for automation in manufacturing and increasing research and development efforts. Get a free sample PDF Brochure By Types: Soft Gripper Inflatable Robots Exoskeletons By Applications: Medical & Healthcare Food Logistics 3C By Market Vendors: Cyberdyne Soft Robotics Ekso Bionics Holdings ReWalk Robotics RightHand Robotics Parker Hannifin Beijing Soft Robot Tech Co.,Ltd Myomo Bionik Laboratories Panasonic Read More