Tomisin Olujinmi, Author at CNX Software

October 24, 2024 by Tomisin Olujinmi - No Comments

Renesas RX260 and RX261 64 MHz RXv3 MCUs target power-efficient touch applications

Renesas RX260 RX261 RXv3 microcontrollers

The Renesas RX260 and RX261 two new 64 MHz microcontrollers part of the high-performance, high-efficiency RX product family with integrated capacitive touch-sensing and high power efficiency in both active and standby modes. The microcontrollers are based on the RXv3 core with a performance score of 355 CoreMark @ 64MHz, which is “2.5 times higher than competing 64 MHz class MCUs.” The chips are also power-efficient, with a consumption rate of 69μA/MHz during active operation and 1μA only in standby mode. According to Renesas, the chips are up to 25% more efficient in active mode and 87% more efficient in standby mode than other 64 MHz class MCUs. Another competing factor is the onboard 8KB of data flash, eliminating the need for external EEPROM. The RX260 and RX261 Group MCUs support noise- and water-resistant capacitive touch via Renesas’ third-generation capacitive touch IP (CTSU2SL). They also integrate an “automatic judgment function” that […]

October 22, 2024October 22, 2024 by Tomisin Olujinmi - 1 Comment

Realtek Ameba RTL8730E Cortex-A32 audio streaming module offers a cost-effective solution for wireless audio applications

StreamUnlimited and Realtek Semiconductor Corp have collaborated on the Stream210 audio streaming module based on the Ameba Smart RTL8730E Arm Cortex-A32 chip from the Ameba E series, with support for Wi-Fi 6, Bluetooth 5.3, and Matter for edge computing and IoT solutions. We have looked at previous Ameba IoT products, such as the Ameba RTL8722DM development board, Ameba Arduino, Ameba RTL8195AM module, and the Ameba RTL8710BN. The Ameba Smart chip is the first entry in the series to feature a Cortex-A32 processor. The Stream210 module is aimed at various audio and IoT applications, including digital radios, streaming audio receivers, wireless speakers, smart speakers, home automation products, and Wi-Fi headphones. Other wireless audio modules we’ve covered in the past include the Up2Stream Pro HiFi board, TTGO T9, and 8devices’ Tobufi module. Stream210 specifications: SoC – Ameba Smart RTL8730E dual-core Arm Cortex-A32 processor @ 1.3GHz Memory – 2Gbit RAM Storage – 2Gbit […]

October 18, 2024 by Tomisin Olujinmi - 20 Comments

Spectra is a customizable, JavaScript ESP32-S3 and nRF52832 smartwatch (Crowdfunding)

Spectra is a JavaScript-based hackable smartwatch based on the ESP32-S3 WiFi and Bluetooth microcontroller that aims to offer the quality of high-end consumer smartwatches with the repairability of a maker-targeted device. The Spectra smartwatch combines the ESP32-S3 microcontroller with a Nordic Semi nRF52832 co-processor to optimize the battery life. The ESP32-S3 is maxed out with 8MB of RAM and 32MB of external flash memory, and the microSD card slot in the watch supports up to a 512GB memory card. It shares a similar concept with the Bangle.js and the Bangle.js 2 customizable smartwatches. According to the maker, Spectra is not bound to be fully open-source, since the project uses “external proprietary code [they] aren’t allowed to share.” They plan to publish Arduino libraries and hardware design files, but there is no live GitHub repository yet. Other hackable smartwatches include the TinyWatch S3, the ZSWatch, and the Sensor Watch Pro. Spectra […]

October 15, 2024October 15, 2024 by Tomisin Olujinmi - No Comments

MSI MS-CF17 is a 3.5-inch fanless single board computer with Intel Raptor Lake-P SoC

The MSI MS-CF17 is a fanless 3.5-inch single board computer powered by the Intel 13th Gen Raptor Lake-P series with options for embedded and industrial SKUs. It comes with up to 32GB of DDR5 SODIMM memory and features an M.2 M key (PCIe Gen4) socket and a SATA III storage slot. It also supports four 2.5GbE ports, four internal COM ports, eight USB interfaces, and M.2 Key-B and Key-E sockets for wireless expansion. It supports four independent displays via four HDMI 2.0 ports and an eDP/LDVS display interface. Potential applications for the fanless single board computer include industrial automation, digital signage, edge computing, transportation, and imaging systems MSI MS-CF17 specifications: SoC – Intel 13th Gen Raptor Lake-P Embedded/Industrial SKU Series; P-core: 4.3GHz ~ 4.9GHz; E-core: 3.2GHz ~ 3.7GHz; Intel Iris Xe Graphics (Core i5/i7) or Intel UHD Graphics (Core i3) Core i7-1365UE / i5-1345UE / i5-1335UE / i3-1315UE / U300E, […]

October 9, 2024October 10, 2024 by Tomisin Olujinmi - 7 Comments

Taoglas AntJack is an RJ45 jack-mounted Wi-Fi antenna for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 6/6E, and Wi-Fi 7

Dublin-based Taoglas has unveiled the AntJack described as “an industry-first Wi-Fi antenna for an RJ45 Jack”. The AntJack, also known as the FXM100, can be mounted on any standard RJ45 Ethernet connector to create a 2-in-1 solution that saves space and enhances wireless performance across 2.4 GHz, 5.8 GHz, and 7.1 GHz frequency bands. It is a compact (26.6 x 15.6 x 13.1 mm), omnidirectional dipole antenna with support for Bluetooth, Wi-Fi 6/6E, and Wi-Fi 7. It can be used in various applications, such as modems and routers, industrial gateways, factory automation, industrial robotics, and test and measurement systems. The AntJack is especially well-suited for embedded applications with space constraints and positioning challenges such as 4 x 4 or 8 x 8 MIMO configurations. It features an easy “peel and stick” design manufactured from flexible PCB material with adhesive conductive foam, allowing straightforward installation on RJ45 connectors. According to Oliver […]

October 8, 2024October 8, 2024 by Tomisin Olujinmi - No Comments

Infineon EZ-USB FX20 programmable USB controller supports up to 20Gbps speeds, features LVDS interfaces

EZ-USB FX20 programmable controller BGA package

The EZ-USB FX20 is a programmable USB controller supporting speedy transfers via USB 20Gbps and LVDS interfaces. It is the latest addition to Infineon’s EZ-USB line designed to add USB connectivity to devices with high-performance requirements in AI, image processing, and other demanding applications. It offers up to six times the bandwidth of its predecessor, the EZ-USB FX3. The FX20 is powered by a dual-core MCU subsystem, with ARM Cortex-M4F and ARM Cortex-M0+ cores. It features 512KB flash, 128KB SRAM, 128KB ROM, and seven serial communication blocks (SCBs). The cryptography accelerator and high-bandwidth data subsystem enable Direct Memory Access (DMA) data transfers via the supported interfaces. The programmable USB controller includes 1MB of SRAM for USB data buffering. EZ-USB FX20 specifications: CPU – Dual-core, ARM Cortex-M4F core@ 150 MHz, ARM Cortex-M0+ core @ 100 MHz Memory – 512KB flash, 1024 + 128KB SRAM USB – USB 3.2 Gen 2 x2 […]

October 3, 2024October 3, 2024 by Tomisin Olujinmi - 8 Comments

Jumperless V5 programmable breadboard is based on Raspberry Pi RP2350B, features a built-in power supply (Crowdfunding)

Jumperless V5 is a one-of-a-kind, programmable breadboard based on a Raspberry Pi RP2350B microcontroller that lets you skip the jumper wires and jump right into prototyping. It is described as “an Integrated Development Environment (IDE) for hardware.” The Jumperless V5 also removes the need for test equipment as it comes with built-in power supplies and can function as a multimeter, oscilloscope, function generator, and logic analyzer. As the name implies, the Jumperless V5 breadboard is a revamped version of the original Jumperless, with significant upgrades to make the board easier to use. The Jumperless V5 features a 14 x 30 LED matrix display under the breadboard, a probe for making connections and measurements, four ±8 V, 300 mA power supplies, daisy-chain headers, and overcurrent/overvoltage protection. The software-defined jumpers allow all points to be connected. The four individually programmable ±8 V power supplies, GPIOs, and management channels for voltage, current, and […]

October 1, 2024September 30, 2024 by Tomisin Olujinmi - 14 Comments

Sensor Watch Pro turns the Casio F-91W into a modular Arm Cortex M0+-based digital “smartwatch” (Crowdfunding)

Joey Castillo of Oddly Specific Objects has released a follow-up to the Sensor Watch, aptly named Sensor Watch Pro. The Sensor Watch Pro remains a board swap for the classic Casio F-91W or A158W digital watch that replaces the original quartz movement with the low-power ARM Cortex-M0+ microcontroller. The Sensor Watch Pro retains features from the Sensor Watch Lite and comes with a few upgrades such as a louder piezo buzzer, an RGB LED, an infrared light sensor, and a completely soldering-free experience. The new watch integrates a custom-fabricated metal spring connector that previously had to be manually soldered after purchase. We had also looked at other hackable watches in the past, such as Bangle.js, Bangle.js 2, and Watchy. Buyers can opt for a custom LCD that extends the number of segments available from 72 segments to 92 segments. It comes with an onboard temperature sensor and can be connected […]