STMicroelectronics, one of the world’s largest semiconductor manufacturers, is using the Embedded Systems Conference in Bangalore from July 21-23, 2010, to showcase its leading-edge embedded systems technologies aimed at India’s fast growing consumer and industrial segments.
STMicroelectronics offers one of the widest semiconductor portfolios for embedded systems applications. This broad offering enables the cross-fertilization and leveraging of its cutting-edge technologies including complex single-chip solutions and complete hardware/software integrated solutions, encompassing microcontrollers, MEMS ICs, memories and advanced analog and power devices. ST will also showcase innovative solutions that were developed at its Greater Noida Design center, such as an IP-camera controller IC, Point-of-Sale controller MCUs, a MEMS-based 3D remote controller, and high-efficiency switching regulators.
Microcontrollers
In microcontrollers, the ‘brains’ of embedded systems, ST offers an industry-leading range: from ultra-low-power MCUs that allow manufacturers to meet eco-design targets and enable battery-powered devices to operate longer between charges; to high-performance and advanced-peripheral MCUs that make platform scalability possible for even large complex applications.
ST’s 32-bit STM32 family of MCUs benefits from the Cortex-M3 architectural enhancements, in addition to features such as low power consumption and optimum code density, delivering higher performance at low cost. Enhancements such as software-driven touch and proximity sensing adds advanced features, while new technologies such as a resistive multi-touch controller add unique capabilities to end products. Additionally, for specific applications and functions, ST also offers the low-power high-performance STM8 family, which includes automotive-grade MCUs. The STM8 family enables lower system cost and development time while increasing performance in industrial and appliance applications.
MEMS
As the industry leader in MEMS solutions for the consumer electronics and mobile handset market, ST continues to lead the way in sensor technology development. ST’s MEMS solutions offer increasingly powerful and user-friendly features, while constantly reducing footprint size and controller overheads. In addition, ST is at the forefront of combining different MEMS devices such as accelerometers with gyroscopes or magnetometers, or even with MCUs to create ‘smart sensors’. On the horizon, ST also sees high-growth applications in new areas such as sports, healthcare, logistics, as well as factory and building automation.
Memories
ST’s latest offering, a dual-interface EEPROM, marries the strengths of non-volatile memory with industry-standard RFID technology, bringing about an unprecedented level of flexibility for data exchange. In addition to its traditional I2C interface, the new dual-interface EEPROM also allows data transfers via an RFID reader, without the need for any physical connection or power supply. This hybrid product has the potential to stimulate new applications with powerful features and capabilities that will greatly impact production processes, supply-chain management, product security and manufacturing costs.
Power
As the industry leader in power conversion ICs, ST’s technology leads as best-in-class for high-efficiency conversion and low-power standby mode, enabling its customers to position their products as ‘Green’. ST’s smart power and dedicated ICs for optimizing motor control systems have also enabled variable speed and frequency control, extended lifetime, rapid time to market and optimized cost, positively impacting the consumer electronics, home appliance, IT and industrial sectors.
Together with ST’s power conversion technologies, its analog LED drivers are also enabling the future of ‘green lighting’. In solar power, ST is introducing improvements that will truly help move this energy source to the mass market. ST’s cool bypass switches for temperature control are designed to improve the reliability of panel electronics, and its Maximum Power Point Tracking solutions maximize power conversion from solar panels.
Smart Analog
Among its wide range of high-performance analog ICs, ST has introduced new smart pushbutton 'on/off' controller ICs that are designed to improve user experience for virtually any battery-powered portable device, including e-readers, tablets, media players, smartphones and digital cameras. The new chips will enable next-generation mobile products to offer easy-to-use 'power-up', 'power-down' and 'unfreeze/reset' functions that will prevent damage to the end-user product.
Another analog offering is ST’s technology in touch-sensing applications, which is a powerful enabler for product engineers and stylists, allowing them to achieve a new level of user-interface sophistication with the replacement of mechanical buttons with touch sensors. This technology opens up a whole new vista in the form-factor and aesthetics of product design. ST’s highly sensitive technology also enables proximity sensing. And in the area of LED drivers, ST offers monolithic high-efficiency drivers that allow superior dimming capabilities, flexible fault management and longer life-span.
Source: http://www.st.com/