Newhaven Display is an American company specializing in the design and production of a wide range of LCD, TFT, OLED, and VFD displays. The manufacturer is continuously looking for new solutions and is dedicated to developing convenient tools and easily implementable solutions, and to providing support to engineers and programmers.All these factors have contributed to the creation of two interesting series of displays by Newhaven Display, which are now available straight from our stock.2.7" OLED touchscreen displaysA new series of graphic OLED displays includes 2.7" modules featuring 128x64 pixel resolution. They are equipped with a factory-installed capacitive touchscreen. As multipurpose products, they can be connected to a control system via a 20-pin flexible flat cable (FFC) or a 20-pin socket. In both cases, the user can construct devices that are capable of communication through a parallel or serial peripheral interface (SPI), compliant with e.g. Arduino modules, as well as almost all, even the least advanced, models of modern microcontrollers. The maximum image contrast ratio reaches up to 10000:1 and is programmable. The color emitted by the monochromatic display can be yellow or white.The clear display and the responsive touchscreen are a perfect match.The capacitive touchscreen boasts an incredibly short response time and can detect up to 5 points of contact simultaneously. While designing the module, the manufacturer made sure to reduce the emissions and impact of electromagnetic interference (EMI). The products are mainly intended for industrial control panels, Internet of Things (IoT) applications, smart devices, etc.SpecificationItemDetailType of displayOLEDKind of displaygraphicScreen size2.7"Display resolution128x64Dimensions*82x47.5x7.2 mm or 82x47.5x8.1 mmViewing area (H x W)63.31x32.59 mmEmitted colourwhite or yellowNumber of pins26Kind of controllerSSD1322Connector pinout layout1x6, 1x20Contact pitch*1 mm or 2.54 mmOperating temperature-40...85°CType of touchscreencapacitive* depending on the model3.5" TFT displays with an MIPI interfaceThe displays are ideal for building handheld gaming consolesWhen it comes to compact TFT displays, the 3.5" display size has become a standard. There are many variants of these modules available on the market, however, the solutions from Newhaven Display offer several significant features that are not commonly exhibited by other products.Above all, the displays are made with the use of IPS TFT technology, which allows for a shorter response time, higher contrast, and a wider viewing angle while displaying more accurate colors (in contrast to "classic" modules). It is also important to mention the resolution of the displays, which is as high as 640x480 pixels. All of these features guarantee that the image is sharp and of exceptional quality.The manufacturer has also made sure that the displays are convenient to use – the built-in controller makes it easier to control the display via a microcontroller and provides additional EMI shielding to reduce the risk of electromagnetic interference.The main difference between the old and the new products offered by the supplier involves the implementation of the MIPI DSI bus (Mobile Industry Processor Interface Display Serial Interface), which is a new and fast interface used for communication with microcontroller systems. The standard was designed with these exact display modules in mind. It uses four data lanes for fast transmission of data to the display, ensuring a high refresh rate. Thanks to this, the users can enjoy smoother animations, deeper colors, and improved comfort of use. The MIPI DSI interface also offers reduced image compression and requires less cache memory (buffer).The display is available in two variants: standard or with a built-in capacitive touchscreen. The products are intended for demanding applications, medical and industrial equipment, and multimedia devices such as video game consoles (e.g. for retrogaming) based on SoC circuits or single-board computers.SpecificationItemDetailType of displayTFTKind of displaygraphic, IPS matrixTouchscreen*none or capacitiveScreen size3.5"Display resolution640x480BacklightLEDViewing area (H x W)52.56x70.08 mmDimensions*76.9x63.9x3.2 mm or 76.9x63.9x4.95 mmOperating temperature-20...70°CEmitted colourRGBInterfaceMIPILuminosity808 cd/m2 or 950 cd/m2Connector pinout layout*1x40 (+ 1x6)Number of pins*40 or 46Ribbon cable pitch0.5 mmBacklight colourwhiteKind of controller*FL7703NI, FT5426-003*depending on the model

Jaguar Land Rover and Wolfspeed have today announced a strategic partnership to supply Silicon Carbide semiconductors for next generation electric vehicles, delivering increased powertrain efficiency and extended driving range.Under its Reimagine strategy, Jaguar Land Rover is transforming to an electric-first business, to become carbon net zero across its supply chain, products, services, and operations by 2039.Wolfspeed's advanced Silicon Carbide technology will be used specifically in the vehicles' inverter, managing the transfer of power from the battery to the electric motors. The first Range Rover vehicles with this advanced technology will be available from 2024, and the new all-electric Jaguar brand the following year.The partnership builds on Wolfspeed's existing relationship with the race-winning Jaguar TCS Racing team competing in the ABB FIA Formula E World Championship, where its advanced Silicon Carbide technology has been used to accelerate on-track efficiency and performance.The agreement is the latest in Jaguar Land Rover's programme of establishing strategic partnerships with industry leaders for its future modern luxury vehicles: in February 2022, Jaguar Land Rover announced a partnership with NVIDIA focused on software-defined, advanced automated driving systems for next-generation vehicles starting in 2025.Thierry Bollore, Chief Executive Officer, Jaguar Land Rover, said: "We are not strangers having collaborated together with the Jaguar TCS Racing team for the last five seasons. By developing that into a strategic partnership as part of our Reimagine strategy, we can integrate Wolfspeed's advanced Silicon Carbide technology into our next generation electric vehicles, delivering extended range and performance capabilities for our clients."Wolfspeed President and CEO, Gregg Lowe, said: "Wolfspeed is proud to partner with Jaguar Land Rover, supporting its bold commitment to electrify its iconic brands by using Silicon Carbide's superior performance, efficiency and range. The energy efficiency of Silicon Carbide will play an essential role as Jaguar Land Rover pursues its own zero carbon goals, and as the world transitions to an all-electric transportation future."The partnership agreement sees Jaguar Land Rover participate in the Wolfspeed Assurance of Supply Program, to secure the supply of this technology for future electric vehicle production needs. This will enable greater visibility and control over Jaguar Land Rover's future supply chain and is key to the new value chain approach of the company's operations and supply chain under the leadership of Barbara Bergmeier, Executive Director of Industrial Operations. Wolfspeed's world leading technology is powering electric propulsion systems across the entire voltage spectrum – from 400V to 800V. The Silicon Carbide power device solutions will be produced at Wolfspeed's Mohawk Valley Fab in Marcy, New York, which opened in April 2022 as the world's largest 200mm Silicon Carbide fabrication facility. The fully automated facility dramatically expands capacity for Wolfspeed's Silicon Carbide technologies, which will supply the increasing demand for EV production and other advanced technology sectors around the world.For more information visit www.media.jaguarlandrover.comThrough its Reimagine strategy, Jaguar Land Rover is transforming to an electric-first business, on a journey to carbon net zero by 2039Strategic partnership with Wolfspeed will secure supply for Silicon Carbide semiconductor technology

PXPay Plus, a new addition to the electronic payment industry, was officially launched on September 1st, 2022. In just 10 days, the number of registered users reached one million people and is on track to hit the magical number of two million people ahead of schedule by the end of the year. The rapid growth of PXPay Plus is due in part to its system stability enabled by the robust support of Chunghwa Telecom's internet data centers (IDCs).With Chunghwa Telecom's IDCs as service of choice, PXPay Plus can fully focus on its core businessNick Chen, Manager of Technology Department at PXPay Plus, believes that while building its own server rooms would give the company full control over all operational aspects, renting IDC server rooms is, however, more cost-effective. Not only does Chunghwa Telecom boast the largest bandwidth in Taiwan, the hardware specifications of its IDCs also meet high international standards. Coupled with Chunghwa Telecom's highly experienced IDC maintenance and professional information security teams, PXPay Plus is able to fully focus its resources on its core business without any worries.Chunghwa Telecom's IDCs provide a one-stop total solution that enables its customers to eliminate the inconvenience of managing multiple vendors and connection vulnerabilities. Furthermore, they can also reduce compliance risks and communications costs. In the event of future expansion, customers also need not worry about rising costs associated with labors, and environmental control and maintenance as the scale of their operations grows. PXPay Plus's ultimate decision to opt for Chunghwa Telecom's IDCs has effectively saved the company millions in costs.Flexible bandwidth, information security, and network protection to deliver uninterrupted business services"On the day of the press conference, the highest instantaneous network traffic was five times the current daily traffic!" Camel Lo, Manager of IT Department at PXPay Plus, indicates that the ability of Chunghwa Telecom's IDCs to quickly respond to bandwidth demand can effectively solve problems of sudden bandwidth shortages. He also points out that in the future, the company no longer has to worry about its system being overwhelmed due to customers' immense enthusiasm following certain marketing campaigns which often leads to subsequent customer complaints and negative effects on the corporate image.Camel Lo also explains that Chunghwa Telecom provides multiple data centers as backups, featuring a high-availability architecture that is directly connected to the HiNet backbone network. This can minimize network transmission delays and allow the network traffic to be adjusted flexibly at any time without having to wait for the adjustment to take effect and risk interrupting the service.Chunghwa Telecom's IDCs have also complied with the requirements of Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI-DSS), successfully obtained the System and Organization Controls (SOC) report, and provided DDoS protection drills, as well as DDoS protection services. With professional IDC service capabilities, complemented by each company's internal firewall, Chunghwa Telecom's IDCs provide customers with a level of protection where they no longer need to fear the network attacks. Chunghwa Telecom enables the electronic payment industry, which handles highly sensitive data, to create a high-quality and secure digital financial environment.Nick Chen indicates that the company plans to double its technical staff within a year due to the rapid business expansion of his company. With robust support from Chunghwa Telecom's IDCs, the new staff shall be able to devote themselves fully to developing and optimizing system functions, thus aiding the company in its efforts to becoming a dominant player in the electronic payment industry.To learn more about Chunghwa Telecom's IDC server rooms, please visit URL: http://www.idc.hinet.netEnterprise Customer Service Hotline: 0800-080-365Camel Lo, Manager of IT Department (left), and Nick Chen, Manager of Technology Department at PXPay Plus (right)

Two years ago, a unique baby monitor that used artificial intelligence (AI) to accurately determine the cause of a baby's crying – whether the infant may be hungry, sleepy, or needs a diaper change – was launched in the childcare market. This baby monitor could even actively play soft, soothing music to immediately calm a baby. This product was called "Pixsee AI Smart Baby Monitor" and it was built by Shennona, a Compal subsidiary.What's special about Pixsee is that it was the world's first consumer product to be certified by Microsoft's Azure IoT Hub. By utilizing the Azure IoT Hub at its core, Pixsee links the cloud, the monitors, and cell phones to integrally manage all Pixsee devices. It also realizes high-speed and safe services by utilizing Azure's encryption technology and multiple information security solutions, thereby allowing parents to safely use Pixsee AI smart baby monitor and various app services.Shennona, a Compal subsidiary, has created "Pixsee AI Smart Baby Monitor" and has achieved high-speed and safe service design by integrating Pixsee and peripheral Internet of Things (IoT) products by using Azure IoT Hub; credit: Shennona Co., Ltd.Integrates cloud and local encryption to achieve a worry-free and secure experienceHaving had many years of experience in the medical industry, Shennona is expanding to cater to consumers of all ages. After developing smart medical solutions for the elderly, Shennona is currently striving to build the Pixsee brand to cater to newborns by utilizing its existing competencies in AI and IoT technology as well as strengths in product design, which have helped it to win the iF Design Awards from Germany in the past.The purpose of Pixsee is to provide 24/7 care for babies while storing all precious memories, which could, for example, then be provided to the babies and their families. Pixsee's AI can gradually learn about and understand the people and objects found in the babies' environments. The Pixsee team focused on AI-enabled voice recognition in the first stage, but recently the team has moved into the large-scale introduction of AI-enabled image recognition technologies. These are the fruitful results of the Pixsee AI team's collaborations with Microsoft. Looking forward, Shennona will launch more peripheral equipment for Pixsee. Its features will gradually move from the basic requirement of providing "care" to a more well-rounded "edutainment" goal by introducing "learning" and "play" functions.Pixsee's comprehensive collaborations with Microsoft include the following three aspects: First, to build a comprehensive encryption system for the cloud and local AIoT products in order to ensure total privacy protection for audio and video information, for both individuals and entire families. Second, to achieve a high-speed and safe service design by integrating Pixsee and peripheral IoT products by using Azure IoT Hub. Third, as information security laws become more stringent all over the world, Pixsee can accelerate its global expansion plans by relying on Microsoft's highly compliant information framework to fulfill the requirements of personal information protection laws throughout the world.Acquires more market opportunities by riding on the shoulders of giantsGiven Microsoft's strong AI team and its years of experience in AI research and development, Pixsee has made repeated efforts throughout the development process to utilize Microsoft's AI platform to augment the competencies of its own internal AI development team. For instance, in terms of safety, the covered face detection on a child requires an immediate response, and should therefore be deployed locally and directly built into the Pixsee device. On the other hand, the music scheduling service does not require immediate attention, so this function may be split up between different devices. Some of its features may be cloud-based and could take advantage of the AI derivative applications developed over several decades by Microsoft. This would help the Pixsee AI team to overcome its manpower constraints. By riding on the shoulders of the Microsoft giant, Pixsee can achieve faster deployment to win more market opportunities.In addition, Pixsee uses financial institution-grade encryption for its baby monitor, which utilizes irreversible encryption alongside Azure's industrial encryption computing technology. Furthermore, in order to fully satisfy consumers' requirements for privacy protection, Shennona has also extended the length of encryption keys from 128 bits to 256 bits.Pixsee's brand positioning is not only limited to baby monitors. Going forward, it will also strive to build a record of the most touching moments of all family members and record them through an AI-enabled, smarter day-to-day life. It is expected that Microsoft's continued support will be crucial to the Pixsee brand in the foreseeable future as Shennona moves toward more diverse developments.Builds expandable core solutions to increase user loyaltyAccording to Terry Chang, Microsoft Asia-Pacific IoT Solution Specialist, there are three main types of assistance provided by Microsoft's services to Pixsee.A. Device management - By using the Azure IoT Hub as a global device management platform, Pixsee was able to comprehensively realize device deployment and setup, remote data collection, firmware version control, device life cycle management, and edge-to-cloud safety management.B. Information analytics - By using Azure Log Analytics in its backend, Pixsee could enhance the user experience and optimize the contents of its app by performing multi-dimensional information queries from different data sources, including the Pixsee app, remote device monitoring data, and consumer data.C. Information management - Azure Data Lake Storage helps Pixsee implement big data management; by using Azure Data Lake's built-in data life cycle management function, hot and cold data could be automatically separated to not only reduce the cost of data storage but also allow Shennona's staff to focus on developing their core businesses.Pixsee has made repeated efforts throughout the development process to utilize Microsoft's AI platform to augment the competencies of its own internal AI development team. For instance, in terms of safety, the covered face detection on a child requires an immediate response; credit: Shennona Co., Ltd.Going forward, it is expected that there will be even more close-knit collaborations between Microsoft and Shennona's Pixsee. Microsoft's Senior Manager of Device Partner Sales Department Jimmy Huang has compiled three major directions. The first is "innovating quality solutions", in which Azure's AI, machine learning, and slew of tools and the Microsoft team's experience and technical support can facilitate Pixsee's team's development of more innovative solutions compatible with end users' usage environment, thereby helping them to cater to the users' lifestyles. The second is "strengthening information safety and transparency". Microsoft has always been committed to information security; it can integrate edge-to-edge protection, AI, and automated functions to tackle safety concerns from all angles. Since privacy is a key issue for all of Pixsee's various services, the company may use Microsoft's diverse information security services including Defender, Sentinel, and Purview to provide comprehensive information security protection and data governance.Finally, in terms of "digital transformation", Microsoft will help the Shennona team build an expandable and repeatable core solution founded on Pixsee. This will benefit the further development of Shennona's terminal equipment, facilitate users' loyalty to its services, and finally help the company to create a broader living and caring platform with even more enriched solutions.

ADLINK Technology Inc, a global leader in edge computing, introduces two new modules in the 6-CH EU Series digital I/O – the ECAT-4XMO motion control and trigger module, and the ECAT-TRG4 trigger modules. The new modules are a dynamic extension to ADLINK's EtherCAT System and are designed to perfectly complement the EU Series, enabling higher performance in automatic assembly, test, and inspection equipment across a multitude of applications including cell phone glass inspection, battery cell assembly, camera lens assembly and test and glue dispensing machinery, as well as inspection equipment.The ECAT-4XMO motion control and trigger module is a 4-channel control and high-speed trigger module that connects to both EtherCAT and non-EtherCAT motors, including stepper motors, linear motors, direct drive and AC. Advanced functions of the ECAT-4XMO include high precision motion interpolation, continuous contouring, axes synchronization, point table for circuit limit and 2D compensation. The superior performance of the ECAT-TRG4 includes high speed position comparison trigger (4 channels, 10 MHz linear/table), pulse outputs (12 MHZ), encode inputs (20 MHz) and support for encoder re-driver operation. The flexible expansion interface of the ECAT-TRG4 allows easy connection to cameras and air guns."Industrial automation equipment, depending on different usage conditions, needs to control pulse-type motors and communication-type motors at the same time, as well as trigger control based on different signals," said Simon You, Director, Smart Machine Business Product Center, ADLINK. "Generally, it takes separate systems to control different types of motors, which consumes larger floor space, and increases maintenance efforts and costs. With ADLINK's highly integrated and compatible EtherCAT solutions, users are allowed to control pulse motors and communication motors via a single system at the same time, fulfilling the demands of many trigger control applications."In addition, ADLINK offers an all-in-one automation software (APS SDK), which serves as a uniform interface to access all ADLINK machine automation products. With APS SDK, users can operate ADLINK motion products in a simple and consistent way, minimizing the reprogramming hassles of adding or removing devices. APS Function Library also allows existing motion control users to easily upgrade to EtherCAT-based solutions without complicated program modifications or application redevelopment.The new modules feature sliding side-by-side installation and screwless design, to reduce installation costs, and support nearly all field applications in a smart factory. In test applications, the EtherCAT system delivered total cost of ownership (TCO) savings of up to 10% and up to 30% increases in productivity.ADLINK launches new EtherCAT modules, completing the EtherCAT solution for industrial automation

The back-end semiconductor manufacturing process refers to the IC packaging and testing that people often hear about. Specifically, the process known as chip probing (CP) is conducted to test the electrical characteristics of each die on the wafer, so that dies with faulty electrical performance can be vetted before packaging, effectively reducing unnecessary manufacturing costs from faulty products.Once probing is complete, the second process is called sorting, which is a quality inspection process. The goal of sorting is to quickly distinguish the dies that meet the desired specifications from those that don't. For products that pass the sorting process, the manufacturer may have them further binned into levels 1, 2, 3, or even more levels to match the specifications needed in the production of various electronic components, while defective ones can then be subjected to follow-up repairs and adjustments.Ray Lin, ADLINK Smart Machine Product Center Manager, said that increasing sorting efficiency is without a doubt the main goal for semiconductor manufactures looking to speed up packaging and testing to quickly and accurately distinguish good dies from defective ones. The reality of the situation, however, is that speed and accuracy are often opposing goals, in which meeting one means sacrificing the other. This is the biggest conundrum that many manufactures have to face.To solve this, ADLINK developed a die sorting solution that integrates both image acquisition cards and motion control cards. This solution allows end users to easily achieve capabilities like multiaxial integration and rapid feedback response through a single coding process, striking the optimal balance between speed and accuracy.More units to be tested create demand for higher motion control efficiencyLin pointed out that several pain points exist in semiconductor sorting, with the first being the complexity of simultaneous multiaxial control. During normal sorting operations, a robotic arm will pick the die up, rotate to the destination zone, then unload the die down to the tray. This process not only involves x-axis and y-axis movements between the dies and the tray, but also z-axis movement owing to the lifting and unloading motion of the arm. Consequently, the sorting machine will have to control 6 to 8 motion axes to guide the movement of arm, the suction head, video input, and other sub-systems to integrate into different work areas. To have a traditional PLC-based control system perform these tasks would involve an extremely high level of coding complexity.Second is the fact that the commonly seen traditional PLC-based infrastructures lack flexibility and usually do not support video input. If an end user wishes to achieve fast and accurate positioning on such system, then a separate video system needs to be purchased and arduously integrated into the system, greatly ramping up development costs.Yet another issue will be caused by the demand for higher testing efficiency due to the increase in the number of units to be tested. Take this year (2021) for example, as smaller and smaller dies become more in demand, wafer manufacturing processes have also evolved, resulting in 3 to 4 times the number of dies that can be cut in comparison with that of the past. This has in turn translated into a much higher number of units to be tested. Motion control efficiency must therefore also increase to match previous production speeds, presenting a challenging task.Fusing video and motion control to easily achieve multi-work station integrationFeynman Lin, Technical Director of the ADLINK Smart Machine Product Center, said that ADLINK can provide components like image capture cards and motion control cards under a unified PC-based infrastructure to give them exceptional compatibility and usability. Furthermore, since the cards share a unified interface, end users are also much less likely to make errors during operation. More importantly, ADLINK's sorting solution is built ready-to-use and based on the premise of integrating machine vision and motion control into a single system, meaning that end users can easily perform further customization to create a single program that can coordinate between visual input and simultaneous multiaxial motion control. Not only does this help reduce development costs, but having the steps of visual location, suction loading, arm rotation, and unloading be performed as a continuous motion can contribute towards further raising packaging and testing efficiency.It is also worth noting that as the industry moves towards the age of the Internet of things (IoT), factory operations are also starting to rely on more types of ports for greater connectivity. International interface standards like USB and Ethernet jacks, are being used for connectivity to various sub-systems like machine vision, temperature sensing, and pressure detection. On this front, PC-based solutions undoubtedly provide superior flexibility and compatibility compared to traditional PLC-based industrial controllers, making PC-based solutions better at meeting clients' various needs for precision equipment.Lin stressed that ADLINK's sorting solution includes three other major functions that make it the optimal choice for solving pain points in the sorting process. First, the solution can quickly adjust itself based on real-time feedback of the detected die surface (e.g., unevenness of the surface) to reduce sorting time by 20% to 30%.Second, the solution has an "instant trigger" function that combines machine vision and multiaxial precision positioning compensation technology to swiftly sort out faulty products from non-faulty ones with a precision of up to 30nm, and separate the dies according to their levels and place them into corresponding trays. Lastly, ADLINK's sorting solution supports automated sorting processes that can be quickly adapted to different pre- and post-processing needs. For example, this solution can be made to transfer an object in the "NG die" tray to the repair station or send an object from the "Level 1 qualified die" tray to the corresponding testing machine to verify that the die truly meets Level 1 specifications. This is the main reason why ADLINK's sorting solution has been well received by end users.For the past 25 years, ADLINK has been pushing the boundaries on new solutions for the semiconductor industry as many clients have become reliant on ADLINK technologies. The Company has become the best equipment partner for major semiconductor players in the Greater China region. ADLINK's comprehensive sorting solution combines machine vision and motion control for faster, more accurate, and more productive solutions in preparation for future market demands.Ray Lin, ADLINK Smart Machinery Product Department Manager, said that increasing sorting efficiency is without a doubt the main goal for semiconductor manufactures looking to speed up packaging and testing to quickly and accurately distinguish good dies from defective ones.ADLINK can provide components like image capture cards and motion control cards under a unified PC-based infrastructure to give semiconductor exceptional compatibility and usability.

Consumer demand for higher audiovisual quality is driving the evolution of technologies behind LCD displays. Specifically, mini-LEDs, with their superior contrast and color gradation performance, have emerged in the field of display backlights. With a strong R&D foundation in the field of mini-LED technology, Macroblock recently launched a series of mini-LED backlight driver ICs that correspond to various LCD display sizes. According to Chris Chen, Macroblock backlight product manager, the company can help clients create the most suitable products tailored to the needs of different groups in the market.Chen further stated that while the earliest backlighting in LCD displays used cold cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFL), companies later switched to LED-backlit for their purer white lights that enhance the color gamut of the display. In recent years, breakthroughs in mini-LED technology have also led to companies attempting to adapt mini-LEDs to be used as backlight despite the higher costs. The newest iPad Pro released by Apple in April 2021 also uses this technology, anchoring the status of mini-LEDs in the backlight market.By looking at the actions taken by Apple and other companies, Chen mentioned that mini-LEDs may well become the mainstream technology for LCD display backlighting, driving an increase in market demand accordingly. In response to this trend, Macroblock has released a series of backlight driver IC solutions for small- to medium-sized and medium- to large-sized LCD displays.Chen also pointed out that small- to medium-sized LCDs tend to be found on consumer products like laptops and tablets with limited interior space and shorter product development cycles. Therefore, the Macroblock MBI6322 integrates peripheral components like the built-in switch (MOSFET) into a single unit. The integration simplifies the internal PCB design, reduces the overall cost, and lowers the error rate during PCB mounting. Another benefit of a design with more integrated wiring and layering is that it cuts down on the PCB layout review time during product development. Furthermore, engineers can choose from commercially available timing control ICs or bridge ICs compatible with the MBI6322 to control the dimming signals of the mini-LED panels without the need for an MCU, keeping the small- to medium-sized LCD displays thin and elegant.Besides driver ICs with integrated MOSFETs, Macroblock also offers designs without this integration. This type of design can be further divided into two other types based on whether the driver IC itself still controls the external MOSFET. The MBI6334 and MBI6353 are two types of driver ICs that can control the external MOSFETs. The MBI6334 is the same as the MBI6322 in that they are primarily used to control the backlighting in small- to medium-sized LCD displays without the need for an external MCU, saving potential software coding time. The MBI6334 also utilizes rectangular BGA packaging and is compliant with the Video Electronics Standards Association's (VESA) recommended regulations for timing control circuit boards of laptop, making it a perfect fit for narrow PCBs. On the other hand, the MBI6353 is primarily used in medium- to large-sized LCD displays. Its high-current tolerant design makes it suitable for lighting boards with a large number of LEDs connected in parallel such as TVs, PIDs, monitors, etc.There is also the MBI6328 which has external MOSFET that is not controlled by the driver IC. The MOSFET is instead controlled by a MCU. Macroblock is currently working with various MCU manufacturers to ensure smoother product development. The MBI6328 is a driver IC suitable for medium- to large-sized LCD displays with more than 1,000 dimming zones that allow displays to provide ultra-fine HDR effects. Moreover, the high voltage tolerance of the MBI6328 allows it to be used when multiple backlight LEDs are connected in series.Lastly, Chen indicated that Macroblock not only has a strong R&D foundation regarding mini-LED backlighting, the company is also working with Elan Microelectronics to build a complete industry ecosystem. With support from partners in different fields, Macroblock plans to expand the applications of its mini-LED backlight driver ICs to areas like vehicles, laptops, and tablets. The company also provides comprehensive after-sales services to help customers shorten their development time and create high-quality LCD displays that meet market demands.Chris Chen, Macroblock backlight product manager, pointed out that mini-LEDs will become a mainstream technology for LCD display backlightingMacroblock's mini-LED backlight driver ICs are designed for various LCD display sizes and can help clients create the best productsDifferent LCD displays require special backlight driver ICs with varying designs

Sintrones' in-vehicle computers offer a complete solution for in-vehicle applications, including driver behavior monitoring and self-driving capability. They have high flexibility, support a wide range of peripherals and connectors, and can be adapted to various vehicle management systems. Common use cases include: fleet management with GPS requirements, vehicle maintenance systems, and computing for autonomous vehicles.The key highlight of Sintrones' in-vehicle computers is their easy-to-use and intuitive interface, which is highly suitable for self-driving cars, public transport, and other applications that require large capacity systems while maintaining functional simplicity. What's more, these systems can manage the capabilities of the inner components of vehicles to accurately assess and track the state of hardware and software, usage status, and operation of all of the fleets.Among industrial PC manufactures in Taiwan whose core business is in-vehicle computers, Sintrones stands out because of its expertise regarding in-vehicle computer hardware design and manufacturing. They have accumulated years of practical experience and business relationships with end users, which have helped them gain valuable first-hand interactions and insights from countless customers. Sintrones have continuously challenged their own design capabilities for creative inspiration, and eventually rolled out products optimize for in-vehicle environments and usage, achieving impressive results. Since its establishment in 2009, it has continued to accelerate its growth. In 2019, it was successfully became a public listed company in Taipei Exchange.Technological progress for communication systems, driving in-vehicle computers' growthSintrones' Account Manager of the Greater China Region, Juergen Ko, explained during an interview that the development of in-vehicle computers began with integrated systems that incorporated GPS and 3G communication technologies. Back then, Europe was a major region, and also where Sintrones began and developed its business, first by setting a firm foothold in the region with Finland's taxi fleet management, followed by applications in various commercial vehicles such as buses, trucks, taxis, and even trains, etc., which began to sprout and grow rapidly.Take 4G for example, in-vehicle applications have high demand for Power over Ethernet (PoE) technology. Thanks to the application of Internet of Vehicles (IoV), IoT devices were all , including IP cameras. PoE played an important role by solving power supply issues while greatly reducing wiring complexity, with that, in-vehicle monitoring, troubleshooting, and Internet services became mainstream. Although the market was fragmented in its early days, and the difference between requirements among different applications was vast, Sintrones still seized the opportunities for growth, offering specialized custom-made in-vehicle computers for these industries.5G applications sparked a new type of competition for in-vehicle computersWith the advent of the 5G era, public transport systems introduced smart applications en masse, realizing various benefits of living in a smart city, such as bus tracking apps, which allow people to catch it right on time, or traffic control for ambulances which reduces the chance of traffic delays and saves precious time. Both of these applications are backed by in-vehicle computers.The requirements of smart applications center around artificial intelligent (AI), and with the brand new lineup of 5G communication modules and GPUs, in-vehicle computers are on the same track with the future development of next-gen electric vehicle applications. Although the high-diversity, low volume nature of product specs continues to challenge our engineering teams' design flexibility and customization capabilities, the gross margin is over 30%, so the profit structure is relatively stable compared to other electronic manufacturing service industries in Taiwan.According to Manager Ko, in order to keep up with the advent of 5G applications, Sintrones EBOX-7000 series has built-in hot swappable SIM card auto activation modules, which offers Dual SIM Dual Standby, allowing end users to easily switch between SIM cards. The EBOX-7000 series also supports different 5G telecom service providers, offering users the best online experience. Thanks to this, Sintrones has set a new benchmark in the highly competitive 5G application market.Wide temperature and voltage range, positioning us as the hidden campionThe competitive edge of in-vehicle computers is closely related to the engineering teams' experience in design, from wiring layout to thermal design, and customers expect every bit of the details to work in unison. Take Sintrones' entry into the snowplow vehicle market for example. One of the global top three snowplow providers separated from the Mercedes-Benz Group, which also happened to be Sintrones' client, and mentioned that in the presence of heavy snow, thickness detection with GPS and real-time readiness of vehicle and personnel information are required for proper plowing; in such cases, resource allocation efficiency and safety monitoring abilities are crucial for a successful operation. Now, when we compare the taxi fleet in the distant desert area of Dubai and this case, it is clear that both rely on the wide range of temperature design capabilities required to adapt to the extreme environments of the polar region and desert.The biggest difference between in-vehicle computers and common industrial computers is their power input design. Since the voltage supplied to other electronic devices when a car starts up is unstable, our engineering team needs to devise a multi-stage delayed booting mechanism, where the computer will react differently based on the distinct characteristics of cars. For example, a design where the computer is formally booted 5 or 10 seconds after the car starts up once the voltage supply is stable. Moreover, the 9-to-36-volt wide voltage plays a key role in adapting to the voltage fluctuations in cars. The rising trend of electric cars has brought a different set of requirements for power management and control, and Sintrones has already actively deployed applications in the electric vehicle market.Aiming at electric vehicle applications in the coming ageTaking a look at Sintrones' clientele, we can see that business in the quantity-oriented taxi fleet management is going strong. As for cases that serve as indicators, aside from the application in German snowplow vehicles, the application in AI smart buses in Singapore is a key milestone for our high-grade model. This case combines AI with unmanned autonomous vehicle systems by integrating ADAS and using GPUs' high-speed computing capabilities to predict road conditions. At the same time, it meets the various needs of vehicle emergency response; it is currently one of the best models in high-end applications.Our AI applications have also entered the Japanese market. Currently, a key example is a case with a client who specializes in the manufacturing of excavators and construction machinery, where are used as integrated applications in machinery safety warnings and GPS linkage. After years of continuous efforts, Sintrones received wide praise from our clients in the Japanese market. This is now our largest market in Asia, and also one of our key growth-driving forces worldwide.With electric vehicles becoming all the rage around the world, we maintain business relationships with all of the major players, whether it's Foxconn's Make It Happen (MIH) Electric Vehicle Alliance in Taiwan, or mainstream electric vehicle manufacturers from Europe, the U.S., and China. Take France's leading autonomous vehicle manufacturer, Navya, as an example; our collaborative product development plan is only the first of many to come. Regarding the business prospects of in-vehicle computers, as the market continues to undergo huge and drastic changes, Sintrones, who specializes in hardware design and manufacturing, will continue to prioritize promoting this technology and maintaining close contact with frontline system integrators and software vendors. Moreover, by sharing resources with leaders from other industries, such as an alliance with AUO, we will offer more comprehensive solutions to our clients. This is Sintrones' best strategy for our future success.Sintrones' Sales Manager of the Greater China Region, Juergen KoPhoto: CompanySintrones produces flexible high-performing industrial computers, satisfying various smart edge computing requirementsPhoto: Company