Electronics news & updates

THIEF RIVER FALLS, Minnesota, USA - DigiKey, a leading global commerce distributor offering the largest selection of technical components and automation products in stock for immediate shipment, announced today that Lippincott, DigiKey's renowned branding agency, has been awarded Gold in the Graphis Design Awards 2025 global design competition for DigiKey's brand refresh.

 The Graphis Design Awards 2025 highlight award-winning creative work that sets new global design industry standards. Graphis Awards competitions are recognized as some of the most prestigious in the creative industry, honoring exceptional talent and visionary work worldwide. The winning project, a result of the dynamic partnership between DigiKey and Lippincott, was honored for creating a new brand purpose and visual identity and showcasing its ability to accelerate progress for designers, buyers and builders.

The updated logo and brand system is an evolution of the company’s historic look that allows for design flexibility across digital platforms while reinforcing an engineered feel in a more modern, timeless way. It was designed to emphasize progress and connection with suppliers and customers while reflecting DigiKey’s digital-first, forward-looking perspective. The refreshed brand identity also features a simplified company name to better reflect its deep technical product and digital solutions portfolio.

“DigiKey is honored to receive this prestigious recognition in partnership with Lippincott,” said Tim Carroll, vice president of digital business at DigiKey. “Being recognized at this level is a tremendous honor and reaffirms our commitment to creating the best experiences possible for our global customers, suppliers and team members.”

“We are thrilled with the work we completed in partnership with DigiKey. Every element of the brand was considered and optimized to support the company’s long-term strategy — all in the language familiar to designers and engineers,” said Tim Cunningham, senior partner at Lippincott. 

The Graphis Design Awards attract entries from top-tier design firms and brands worldwide, making this win a significant achievement for DigiKey and Lippincott. For more information about DigiKey’s brand refresh, please visit the DigiKey website.

New Delhi,:- Dr. Abhilasha Gaur, Chief Executive Officer of the Electronics Sector Skills Council of India (ESSCI), recently delivered a comprehensive presentation on ‘Building a Sustainable Workforce’ at SEMICON India, a flagship event organized by SEMIIndia. The event brought together stakeholders from the semiconductor and microelectronics industries to discuss the future of workforce development and skills crucial for the sector’s growth.

Dr. Gaur’s presentation focused on the evolution of India’s skilling ecosystem, tracing the journey from traditional industrial training programs to modern, industry-aligned skilling initiatives. She emphasized how ESSCI is driving this transformation by standardizing training programs to meet global industry demands, thereby ensuring India’s workforce remains competitive in the semiconductor and electronics industries.

“Developing a highly skilled workforce that adapts to the evolving needs of the semiconductor and electronics sector is crucial for India’s goal to become a global manufacturing hub. ESSCI is dedicated to this goal by focusing on sustainable skill development and industry-aligned programs,” said Dr. Abhilasha Gaur, CEO of ESSCI.

Dr. Gaur further highlighted ESSCI’s key initiatives, including vocational education and specialized training in semiconductor process technologies, product design, and clean room operations. These programs aim to build technical expertise while also fostering cross-functional skills such as leadership, continuous learning, and digital literacy. By aligning with National Occupational Standards (NOS) and focusing on both technical and soft skills, ESSCI is preparing India’s workforce for the sector's dynamic needs.

Dr. Gaur also emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships and collaboration with academic institutions as critical elements in scaling skilling initiatives. She showcased ESSCI’s partnerships with over 4,500 training centers and 3,000 industry partners, as well as its efforts in certifying over 8,000 trainers, which form the backbone of the nation’s skilling efforts.

SEMICON India, organized by SEMIIndia, serves as a pivotal platform for discussing workforce readiness in the semiconductor and electronics manufacturing sectors. SEMIIndia is dedicated to advancing India’s role in global semiconductor manufacturing by addressing both technological and human resource challenges.

As India’s semiconductor and electronics industries continue to expand, ESSCI is committed to ensuring a robust and sustainable talent pipeline. Through its network of 250+ training partners and 140,000 apprentices under the NAPS initiative, along with continuous alignment with National Occupational Standards, ESSCI is playing a key role in driving India’s workforce towards greater proficiency in semiconductor manufacturing and related sectors.

Aloe Semiconductor, Inc.’s demonstration will be supported by Broadcom and Eoptolink

A new way to cope with the growing bandwidth demands being placed on data centers and high-performance computing (HPC) operations will be demonstrated for the first time at the ECOC Exhibition in Frankfurt, Germany, next week. Aloe Semiconductor, Inc. (Aloe), a silicon-photonic integrated circuits (PICs) company, will demonstrate the first ever practical use of dual-polarization technology (DP-PAM4) to double the capacity of short-reach fiber links to 425G per lane.

 Aloe’s dual-polarization solution saves the cost, size, and power of short-reach networks for data centers and HPC as it can be integrated into existing links. That means networks can be scaled up leveraging currently sampling DSP chips, bypassing the need for new silicon development. The demonstrated pluggable is an Eoptolink OSFP containing a single-chip DP-PAM4 silicon-photonics transmitter and receiver with direct drive from a Broadcom DSP.

 “The technology we’ve developed offers a much more efficient way to deliver higher speeds, which we can’t wait to demonstrate to the wider industry at ECOC as an alternative to the photonics status-quo,” said Aloe’s CEO Christopher (Chris) Doerr. “This demonstration will encapsulate our mission to create radically low-cost, low-power and high-performance advanced silicon photonics and electronics solutions for optical communications.”

 Aloe’s product, available to module makers, also saves power as 425G rates can be achieved without requiring an increase in symbol rate, laser count, or stronger Forward Error Correction (FEC) and also paves the way to 850G per lane. The demo will be running at Eoptolink stand D60 and requires a reservation to attend. Please contact Chris at cdoerr@aloesemi.com for more details.

 "We're really excited to be a part of what will be a truly pioneering use of dual polarization technology for 400G-per-lane networking", said Khushrow Machhi, Senior Director of Marketing, Broadcom. "We've been pleased to provide our high-performing PAM4 DSP used in the demo, as well as technical support. Broadcom's success has come from our focus on innovation, collaboration and engineering excellence, and the demonstration that we are helping to facilitate with Aloe is the latest example of our ethos in action at the ECOC Exhibition."

A key challenge that Aloe’s solution solves is the transition for networks to scale to 425G and then 850G per lane. The industry is currently moving from 56-Gbaud PAM4 to 106-Gbaud PAM4 reach 200G per lane. Aloe’s solution can be used with 106-Gbaud to achieve 425G per lane by applying the concept of dual polarization. This allows for a 3.2T DP-DR8 module without needing to increase the baud rate above 106 Gbaud.

 Dual polarization involves transmitting and receiving signals in two distinct polarizations, such as horizontal and vertical. Aloe’s solution borrows the concept of polarization multiplexing from coherent optics and applies it to intensity-modulation direct-detection (IMDD) transceivers to double the lane capacity.

 Unlike coherent, however, the demultiplexing is done using silicon photonics and no specialized DSP is required. Aloe’s solution leverages current IEEE rate and FEC compliant PAM4 212.5 Gbps DSPs thus scaling to higher speeds with immediate buildout. Furthermore, there are no additional cost or power implications.

 Once the industry moves to 212-Gbaud PAM4, Aloe’s DP technology can be used to achieve 850G per lane. DP-PAM4 offers an alternative to coherent optics to achieve such rates. Coherent technology requires specialized lasers and DSPs and cannot share volume with electrical retimers, making it very difficult to compete financially with PAM4 for short-reach networks which are typically less than 500m in length.  Aloe Semiconductor, Inc. was founded in 2022 by former Acacia Communications Associate Vice President of Advanced Development Christopher Doerr and is based in New Jersey, USA. Find out more about the company here: https://aloesemi.com/.

Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, Sep 13, 2024: OMRON Automation demonstrated its expertise in Surface Mount Technology (SMT) and Through-hole Inspection solutions at the Productronica India 2024. The showcase was comprised of Automated X-ray Inspection (AXI), Automated Optical Inspection (AOI), Solder Paste Inspection (SPI) solutions.

One of the remarkable exhibits was the company’s newest solution - OMRON 3DCT AXI - X850. This technology allows for comprehensive inspection of power semiconductors by leveraging advanced X-ray capabilities. It ensures reliable detection of defects, such as voids, insufficient solder, and misalignments, thereby enhancing overall product reliability and uniformity.

Elaborating more on the need of the solution, Sameer Gandhi, MD, OMRON Automation, India, elaborated, “As the world swiftly transitions toward electric vehicles (EVs), semiconductors play a crucial role in driving this change. Semiconductor chips are central to various critical systems within EVs, impacting battery management systems (BMS), adaptive cruise control, and improving efficiency and safety. The trend towards faster charging, product miniaturisation, and increased horsepower has shifted from single-layer products to multi-layer ones, necessitating high inspection accuracy to identify defects at each layer ensuring they meet stringent quality standards, enhancing their reliability and performance in various applications.”

The showcase also had AOI systems that offer precise inspection capabilities for surface mount components, ensuring top-notch quality control in production processes and the SPI technology that delivers high-accuracy solder paste inspection, optimizing solder joint quality for electronics assembly.

These solutions have a great utility for the automotive and networking equipment industry which have rigorous inspection and quality control necessities to ensure the safety, efficiency, and reliability of the technologies involved.

The rise of CASE and 5G is significantly increasing the demand for high-accuracy inspection due to several factors. Connected and Autonomous Vehicles rely heavily on sensors, cameras, and other advanced technologies that require precise calibration and inspection to ensure safety and reliability. Electric Vehicles involve new components and technologies in their production, and maintenance, which need specialized inspection processes. The deployment of 5G technology requires meticulous inspection of network equipment and devices to meet high standards for performance and reliability.

“As a leading provider of automation solutions, OMRON is dedicated to equipping manufacturers with the tools needed to achieve operational excellence. By showcasing its full range of inspection technologies, the company reaffirms its commitment to driving innovation and setting new standards in the semiconductor, automotive and networking equipment manufacturing industry and giving a boost to the production of digital goods in India”, Sameer added.

Notes for editors :

The solutions are notable for the following capabilities:

•  Complete inspection coverage:

OMRON provides all three primary inspection methods - AOI for surface defects, SPI for solder paste deposition, and AXI for deeper analysis of solder joints, including those on through-hole components.

 •  3D Inspection technology:

The company offers advanced 3D imaging capabilities on their AOI and SPI systems to accurately detect defects with better precision.

 •   High-speed inspection:

Designed for high-volume production lines, OMRON systems can perform inspections at fast speeds while maintaining accuracy.

 •  Ease of use:

User-friendly programming and intuitive interfaces make it easier to set up and operate inspection programs.

Agreement aims to provide customers a carbon capture solution for power plants from two leading energy solution providers

INDIA, September 18, 2024 – Honeywell (Nasdaq: HON) announced today a collaborative endeavor with SAMSUNG E&A to jointly market solutions aimed at the hard-to-abate power plant sector globally. The initiative seeks to reduce carbon emissions and contribute to the fight against climate change. It also supports Honeywell’s alignment of its portfolio to three powerful megatrends, including the energy transition. 

SAMSUNG E&A, a total solutions provider for the global energy industry, will leverage Honeywell’s industry-leading carbon capture technologies to help power plants reduce carbon emissions and meet environmental goals. Together, the companies will offer customers access to a carbon capture solution by jointly marketing Honeywell’s advanced solvent carbon capture (ASCC) technology.

“As two carbon capture leaders, our collaboration highlights the importance of cooperative approaches in reducing greenhouse gas emissions,” said Hong Namkoong, president and CEO of SAMSUNG E&A. “Deploying Honeywell’s carbon capture technologies allows SAMSUNG E&A to offer viable, more sustainable solutions for global clients during this energy transition.”

Carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) can significantly reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions, acting as a crucial stopgap during the expected transition from fossil fuels to lower-carbon energy sources. These technologies help to mitigate the environmental impact of various industries responsible for greenhouse gas emissions.

"Honeywell has long been a global leader in carbon capture technologies and our collaboration with SAMSUNG E&A only further highlights our commitment to reducing emissions and tackling climate challenges,” said Ken West, president and CEO of Honeywell Energy and Sustainability Solutions. “With decades of experience and a broad portfolio of carbon capture solutions, we are ready to help businesses meet growing carbon mitigation expectations and increasingly stringent environment goals by abating emissions from existing sources."

Honeywell’s CCUS technologies have been developed and deployed in numerous applications globally. Between 2023 and 2030, Honeywell estimates that the company’s CCUS technologies will have a cumulative impact of mitigating 320 million metric tons of CO2e.

For more information on Honeywell’s CCUS technologies, visit https://uop.honeywell.com/en/energy-transition/carbon-capture.

●  Google Quantum AI and Keysight joined forces to enhance Quantum circuit simulations with frequency-domain flux quantization

●  Provides an extended library of quantum devices and a robust circuit design environment

●  Enables faster development of large, highly nonlinear parametric quantum circuits, enhancing qubit readout fidelity

September 18, 2024

INDIA – Keysight Technologies, Inc. (NYSE: KEYS) introduces Quantum Circuit Simulation (Quantum Ckt Sim), an innovative circuit design environment that speeds up the development of intricate quantum circuits. In addition, by joining forces with Google Quantum AI, the solution incorporates advanced flux quantization which marks an industry-first achievement. 

In the realm of superconducting quantum circuits, accurately modeling flux quantization is paramount. This fundamental property ensures that the magnetic flux through a superconducting loop is quantized in discrete units, a critical aspect for the operation of quantum circuits. Google Quantum AI and Keysight have collaborated to address this challenge and enhance quantum circuit simulations through the integration of frequency-domain flux quantization into circuit solvers. By precisely modeling flux quantization, the new solution enables researchers to design more reliable and efficient superconducting circuits.

The collaboration's success is detailed in a recently posted technical paper, titled “Modeling flux-quantizing Josephson junction circuits in Keysight ADS”. This paper demonstrates the innovative approach to flux-quantization and its significant impact on the field of quantum computing.  The success sets a new standard for accuracy and efficiency of modeling superconducting circuits.

The new solution streamlines quantum workflow with advanced flux quantization in the frequency domain, providing unparalleled accuracy and capability in analyzing large, highly nonlinear quantum circuits. This enables researchers to model complex quantum circuits with better accuracy, reducing computational errors and enhancing the overall reliability of simulations.

Key features of the Quantum Ckt Sim design and simulation solution include:

•  Quantum Devices Library – Incorporates a library of quantum devices in Keysight ADS encompassing those most frequently used such as RF/DC SQUIDs, SNAILs, FLUXONIUMs, and SNAKEs.

•  Comprehensive Design Environment – Features a range of nonlinear circuit simulators such as harmonic balance, transient / convolution for time domain, circuit envelope for modulation domain, and x-parameters nonlinear model generator.

•  Enhanced Quantum Control – Enables the driving of superconducting circuits with external flux, allowing for more precise control and manipulation of quantum circuits in advanced quantum computing applications.

•  Streamlined design – Simplifies the design of parametric quantum circuits including quantum amplifiers, the critical blocks on the output chains of quantum systems that improve readout fidelity.

Google Quantum AI, has established itself as a key player in the quantum computing arena, driving significant advancements in the field. With its state-of-the-art quantum processors and pioneering research, Google has achieved notable milestones, including the demonstration of beyond-classical computation and has been actively involved in the development of advanced quantum amplifiers, which are essential for enhancing the performance of quantum systems.

Ofer Naaman, Research Scientist, Google Quantum AI, said: “Using Quantum Ckt Sim, it is now possible to enforce flux quantization conditions in ADS frequency-domain simulations of superconducting devices. This is a critical capability whose absence thus far limited the usability of modern EDA tools in microwave superconducting circuit design.”

Mohamed Hassan, Quantum Solutions Planning Lead, Keysight EDA, said: “It’s thrilling to witness the accurate modeling of frequency domain flux quantization of superconducting circuits using an EDA tool for the first time. This significant milestone leverages EDA capabilities to streamline the design of superconducting microwave circuits for quantum applications and beyond. We anticipate this advancement will empower quantum engineers to enhance the performance of parametric quantum circuits, particularly in terms of power handling and bandwidth, which are crucial for the readout of qubits in quantum computers.”

Resources:

•  Product: Quantum Circuit Simulation

•  Keysight EDA Solutions for Quantum: Quantum EDA

•  Technical paper: Modeling flux-quantizing Josephson junction circuits in Keysight ADS

New Delhi- 18th Sep, 2024- Gautam Solar, a 27+ years experienced solar manufacturer, is preparing to launch a significant venture to establish a 2 GW solar cell manufacturing plant in the first phase. With an estimated investment of Rs. 1000 crores for the 2 GW solar cell facility, the company wants to cater to the growing demand for renewable energy in India. Gautam Solar is aligning itself with the Government of India’s guidelines on including solar cells in the Approved List of Models & Manufacturers (ALMM) to provide a push to domestic manufacturing while reducing the dependency on imports.

This new solar cell facility will enable Gautam Solar to meet the rising demand for DCR (domestic content requirement) panels, crucial for government-backed subsidy projects requiring locally manufactured components. The company aims to enhance its competitiveness by offering high-quality, DCR-compliant solar cells, positioning itself as a strong alternative to Chinese manufacturers, who currently dominate the Indian solar cell supply chain.

Gautam Solar has already acquired a 60-acre land parcel in Bhiwani, Haryana, for the purpose of manufacturing solar panels and their raw materials. However, it’s still open to considering other locations based on the overall ecosystem. By vertically integrating its operations, the company will further expand its capabilities, complementing its already operational solar module manufacturing plant in Haridwar and the upcoming module manufacturing expansion in Bhiwani.

Mr. Gautam Mohanka, CEO of Gautam Solar, remarked, "Our forthcoming 2 GW solar cell manufacturing plant is aligning with MNRE’s guidelines on promoting indigenous manufacturing of solar cells. We have 27+ years of experience in the solar industry, and we are further strengthening our manufacturing by integrating solar cell production into our existing operations. We are committed to delivering cutting-edge, reliable solar solutions that empower India's transition to a sustainable future."

Gautam Solar’s expansion into solar cell manufacturing will significantly contribute to India's targets to achieve a renewable energy capacity of 500 GW by 2030 and help secure its position as a global solar energy hub. As the plant begins production in the near future, the company is well-poised to address the growing demand for DCR-compliant panels, further establishing itself as a leader in the renewable energy sector.

Latest Signo models provide options to meet varying climate condition, aesthetic and budget demands

Bengaluru, September 18, 2024 – HID, a worldwide leader in trusted identity solutions, announces the expansion of its signature line of Signo™ Readers to include models that meet varying customer needs – from harsh conditions and stylistic preferences to streamlined, economical requirements.

The latest Signo models include:

●  Signo Readers available in white – provide a very clean, minimalist, and modern look, offering architects, designers, and anyone looking to blend their access control readers into new environments with a bright and neutral aesthetic.

●  Signo Mechanical Keypad Readers – provide a high-performance, reliable option for harsh environments, ideal for use cases where cold and wet weather conditions require gloved hands or when users may have low visibility. They also provide an option when there is a preference or specification for a traditional mechanical device.

●  Signo Express – distills the essential capabilities from the Signo line to deliver a simplified and cost-effective solution for secure physical access control.

“Signo Readers are designed with versatility in mind to satisfy the increasing demand for customisation,” says Cristian Cotiga, VP of Product Management for Physical Access Control Systems at HID. “These latest models provide customers even more ways to meet their unique and evolving security needs.”

Helping Organisations Meet Dynamic Security Needs

HID Signo Readers feature a sleek, upscale design and deliver innovative features to help keep organisations secure, including:

●  Highly versatile — Support for the widest range of credential technologies, including HID Mobile Access via native Bluetooth and near field communication (NFC) capability. Also features Apple’s Enhanced Contactless Polling (ECP) to support credentials in the Apple Wallet, and support for mobile credentials in Google Wallet.

●  Enhanced performance — Secure storage, plus a surface detection feature that enables the reader to automatically recalibrate and optimize read range performance.

●  Connected to the future — Out-of-the-box support for Open Supervised Device Protocol (OSDP) for secure bidirectional communication. Each reader is also designed to be connected and managed remotely without “sneakernet” or the need to be physically touched.

Learn more about the latest Signo models at: https://www.hidglobal.com/product-mix/signo-readers

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