Reference Articles 1 - 100 of 417
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BeagleBone Black opensource Linux™ computer unleashes innovation
Description: BeagleBoard.org was founded to give developers, hobbyists and students robust open-source hardware development platforms so they could quickly and cost effectively assemble systems by leveraging the ...
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The Yocto Project: Changing the way embedded Linux software solutions are developed
Description: Enabling complex silicon devices such as systems-on-a-chip (SoC) with operating firmware and application software can be a challenge for equipment manufacturers who often are more comfortable with ...
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Power-saving techniques lead to ultra-low-power processors for battery operated devices
Description: Over the years, Texas Instruments Incorporated (TI) has pioneered the transfer of ultra-low power consumption technologies from the wireless industry to the broader and newly emerging segments that ...
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Let Your MCU Do the Heavy Lifting
From: Silicon LabsDescription: Editorâ s Note: In this Product How-to design article, Pedro Pachuca and Tom David of Silicon Laboratories use the companyâ s SiM3U1xx/SiM3C1xx Precision32 MCUs to demonstrate how techniques such as ...
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Optimizing LCD Power Consumption
From: Silicon LabsDescription: We are all familiar with small liquid crystal displays (LCDs) â not the 50-inch big-screen LCD TVs on your holiday shopping list, but the much smaller segment displays that are found everywhere. LCDs ...
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An architecture for compute-intensive, custom machine vision
Description: This white paper addresses a particular class of machine vision systems - those that are compute intensive - by detailing an architecture and additional resources the reader can use to move forward ...
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Accelerate multicore application development with KeyStone software
Description: This paper explores how Texas Instruments KeyStone multicore SoCs offload many software functions into hardware AccelerationPacs or other architectural elements to reduce the amount of software needed ...
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Get Into the Zone: Building Secure Systems with ARM® TrustZone® Technology
Description: The main focus of this paper is to draw attention to aspects of security that are becoming increasingly important for those types of embedded systems which have been driven to a large extent by ...
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Leveraging ADC Technology to Capture, Compute and Communicate in Microcontroller-Based Embedded Systems
From: Silicon LabsDescription: System designers using microcontrollers (MCUs) continue to benefit from Moore's Law with ever-increasing, feature-rich functionality available in smaller footprints and at lower costs. Today's MCU ...
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Balancing Performance and Power Efficiency in Embedded Systems
From: Silicon LabsDescription: Optimizing embedded systems for low power consumption requires developers to find a balance between performance and power usage. However, achieving this balance can mean compromising product ...
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White Space - Potentials and Realities
Description: White Space is the common term used when referring to the reuse of the guard bands (white space) in the digital TV spectrum for the purpose of broadband Wi-Fi® networking. The formal ...
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ARM in 2013
From: Mouser Electronics, Inc.Description: This year, the ARM® CortexTM-M series will become the go-to family of cores for most new microcontroller applications. ...
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An introduction to MSP430™ microcontroller- based temperature- sensing solutions
Description: As the world grows ever smarter, the use of electronic systems in industrial, consumer, home automation and other areas has become progressively commonplace. With this trend comes the increasing need ...
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Intelligent LED lighting control with the ultra-low-power MSP430F51x2 microcontrollers
Description: Lighting accounts for about 2,200 terawatt hours (TWh) per year - almost one-fifth of total worldwide energy consumption. This number will grow by 80% unless the world adopts more energy efficient ...
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Benchmarking MCU power consumption for ultra-low-power applications
Description: Developers of battery-powered devices often have the challenge to offer high levels of functionality and performance while simultaneously maximizing battery life. Applications like water and gas flow ...
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Introducing advanced security to low-power applications with FRAM-based MCUs
Description: Security is becoming increasingly important in a wide range of applications including smart phone accessories, smart metering, personal health monitoring, remote controls and access systems. ...
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ARM® Processors Selection Guide
Description: Evaluating an ARM-based processor for your next design? Download TI's ARM Processor's Selection Guide for an overview of the ARM products, tools and software that are available for your designs. TI is ...
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Autonomous 32-bit Microcontroller Peripherals Push the Boundaries of Ultra-Low-Power Embedded System Design
From: Silicon LabsDescription: The market demand for low-power embedded systems will continue to accelerate, requiring MCU and embedded system designers to advance beyond the traditional power-saving techniques that are standard in ...
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How Can I Extend My Application's Battery Life without Sacrificing Performance?
From: Silicon LabsDescription: Decreased power consumption results in longer battery life, and, in some cases, enables the use of a smaller, less expensive battery. Traditional MCUs perform the voltage conversion with inefficient ...
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How Can I Reduce the Power Consumed by My Liquid Crystal Display?
From: Silicon LabsDescription: Traditional Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) controllers implement the switching of charge across their capacitive segments in an inefficient manner. On the physical LCD, each segment can be thought of as ...
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How to Maximize the Amount of Time in Sleep Mode
From: Silicon LabsDescription: Maximizing the duration of time in sleep mode is extremely important in low-power applications. In these applications, the microcontroller (MCU) spends the majority of the time in the low power or ...
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Using DMA for Data Transfers without CPU Intervention Can Reduce Power and Extend System Battery Life
From: Silicon LabsDescription: The implementation of direct memory access (DMA) in 32-bit microcontrollers (MCUs) based on ARM® cores has limitations. Specifically, DMA does not support chaining (connecting a string of ...
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Developing an advanced, predictive battery health monitoring solution with a low-cost microcontroller solution
Description: In today's world of advanced communication, industrial process control and automotive systems, the reliance on batteries to ensure power delivery is always available is becoming increasingly critical. ...
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Multicore Programming Guide
Description: As application complexity continues to grow, we have reached a limit on increasing performance by merely scaling clock speed. To meet the ever-increasing processing demand, modern System-On-Chip ...
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Smart thermostats are a cool addition to the connected home
Description: Over the last several years, the concept of the connected home has become a reality across the world. The morphing of devices like the basic thermostat into a breed of power smart thermostats has ...
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Accelerating motor control design for functional safety
Description: Designing a differentiated motor drive is a complex task. Often these drives are single processor that combine constraints of real-time embedded designs such as limited memory size and processing ...
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Accuracy Considerations for MCU-Based Temperature Sensors
From: Silicon LabsDescription: Consumer and commercial thermal applications all rely on temperature sensors. Complex industrial applications, such as optical transceiver modules and motor control systems, often use the temperature ...
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Developing a multi-channel wireless inductive charger
Description: Wireless inductive charging is gaining popularity for use in consumer rechargeable applications such as cordless power tools, net books, notebooks and other power-hungry rechargeable devices. With ...
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Bringing Intelligence to LED Lighting Applications
Description: As the lighting industry continues to make the transition to LED technology, there is an increasing need for more intelligent controllers and drivers. The rising price of electricity presents a major ...
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Implementing Arc Detection in Solar Applications: Achieving Compliance with the new UL 1699B Standard
Description: With increasing interest and demand for renewable energy sources, the market has seen a surge in the deployment of solar photovoltaic systems that convert sunlight to electricity. While new ...
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Implementing Energy Harvesting in Embedded System Designs
From: Silicon LabsDescription: Energy harvesting technology is rapidly emerging as a viable power supply option for embedded system designers, enabling wireless sensors to be used in applications that previously were not feasible ...
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Integrating Raw Die Can Enable Innovative Packaging Solutions for Embedded Systems
From: Silicon LabsDescription: Embedded system designers have benefitted from procuring integrated circuits (ICs) such as microcontrollers (MCUs) in die form for many years. Because the dimensions of die are much smaller than when ...
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TMS320xF24xx to C2000™ Piccolo™ TMS320F280xx Microcontroller Migration Overview
Description: If you currently design or have designed power electronics using Texas Instruments (TI) TMSxF24xx DSPs, this guide will highlight the migration path and benefits to migrating TMSxF24xx-based designs ...
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Precision Analog 32-Bit Microcontroller Peripherals Add Value to Signal-Intensive Applications
From: Silicon LabsDescription: General-purpose 32-bit microcontroller (MCU) devices are ubiquitous in today's interconnected, sensor-rich embedded world. The proliferation of embedded intelligence and connectivity in virtually all ...
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Next-Generation IDE: Maximizing IP Reuse
From: Atmel CorporationDescription: New white paper: Learn how Atmel Studio 6 maximizes IP reuse for faster design process. The integrated development environment (IDE) has gradually changed the face of software development over the ...
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Implementing peak current mode control of a switch-mode power supply with a single microcontroller
Description: n the quest for higher efficiency in high wattage power supplies, designers are turning to the digital implementation of these power systems in greater numbers. This article features the ...
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Enhancing Barcode Scanner Designs through System-Level Integration
From: Silicon LabsDescription: Barcode scanners have become such a ubiquitous technology that it is easy to take the complexity of their underlying designs for granted. Barcode scanners require multiple discrete integrated circuits ...
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Driving Innovation in 32-bit Embedded Designs with Standard MCU Peripherals
From: Silicon LabsDescription: Today's 32-bit microcontroller (MCU) designs integrate a wide variety of standard peripherals, such as analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), digital-to-analog converters (DACs), universal ...
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Simplifying Crossbar and Peripheral Pin-Out Configuration for 32-Bit Microcontrollers
From: Silicon LabsDescription: Evaluating 32-bit microcontroller options for a new embedded design can be a tedious and time-consuming process. Having access to an easy-to-use configuration interface paired with software tools that ...
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Microcontrollers for the drive train in hybrid and electric vehicles
Description: The various development stages of electric vehicles range from simple start/stop systems, to mild hybrids, in which an electric motor provides the combustion engine with torque support, to full ...
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Gesture recognition: Enabling natural interactions with electronics
Description: Gesture recognition is becoming a commonplace technology, enabling humans and machines to interface more easily in the home, the automobile and at work. Gesture recognition has long been researched ...
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Paving the path for wireless capacity expansion
Description: Various predictions of data demand on wireless networks over the next three to ten years show significant growth, outpacing the predicted network capacity. Operators can act defensively and start ...
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Session Border Controller Selection
Description: Today, SBCs typically use a general-purpose processor to implement control, signaling and management function. Specialized hardware in the form of DSPs is added for efficient transcoding, tone ...
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Provisioning Analog I/O in Configurable Systems
From: Altera CorporationDescription: The evolution of embedded systems has taken a new direction with the appearance of what we at Missing Link Electronics are calling Smart Products. This term borrows meaning from the recently coined ...
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Improving perceptual video quality: Skin-tone macroblock detection
Description: To improve the overall perceived quality of images that focus on human faces, skin-tone macroblock detection offers a low-complexity solution. This paper shows how different techniques can be ...
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Ultra-low-power pioneers: TI slashes total MCU power by 50 percent with new "Wolverine" MCU platform
Description: TI achieves the "Wolverine" platform's impressive power gains through its new 130-nm ultra-low-leakage (ULL) process technology, integrated low-power non-volatile memory and enhanced MSP430 DNA with ...
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Optimize Embedded Designs with a Flexible 32-bit USB MCU Architecture
From: Silicon LabsDescription: MCUs provide versatile, configurable platforms for embedded systems, giving developers the flexibility to implement new system features easily and efficiently through firmware updates and I/O changes. ...
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Selecting a 32-bit MCU That Makes Your Job Easier
From: Silicon LabsDescription: There are many variables to consider when selecting the best 32-bit microcontroller for your designs. Most ARM-based MCUs meet the basic requirements (memory size, number of I/O pins, etc.), so you ...
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The Precision32™ Family of Mixed-Signal Microcontrollers
From: Silicon LabsDescription: By Linley Gwennap, Principal Analyst, The Linley Group This paper describes Silicon Labs' new Precision32™ microcontrollers, the company's first 32-bit MCUs. In addition to the ARM-compatible ...
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Design Considerations for a Natural User Interface (NUI)
Description: Recent revolutionary advancements have shown that a more intuitive, engaging and captivating user interface will not only improve the effectiveness of the system, but also boost the productivity of ...
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Embedded software development is a multi-dimensional effort
Description: Designing, developing, integrating and deploying a complete software system for an embedded application involves a large number of interrelated questions and optimization tradeoffs. With proper ...
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MityDSP®-L138F Software Defined Radio Using uPP Data Transfer
Description: Critical Link was approached by a customer who needed to develop a spread spectrum radio transceiver for several applications. The end result of this project was a prototype system that has been used ...
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Recon Instruments revolutionizes ski experiences with MOD Live optics and sensors kit for snow goggles, using complete TI solution - embedded processing, wireless connectivity, analog and power management
Description: Recon Instruments created a "first" in winter sport goggles with the MOD Live, utilizing TI's solutions to develop a product that met all design requirements and goals. With integrated ...
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EtherCAT® on Sitara™ AM335x ARM® Cortex™-A8 Microprocessors
Description: Texas Instruments is world's first semiconductor company to license EtherCAT technology and integrate it into the Sitara AM335x ARM generation of ARM Cortex-A8-based microprocessors (MPUs). This ...
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Creating cloud base stations with TI's KeyStone multicore architecture
Description: The Cloud RAN (Radio Access Network) is a hot topic in the wireless community. Cloud RAN takes its place along with small cells, distributed antenna systems (DAS), ac¬tive antenna arrays (AAA) and ...
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Network coprocessors are altering the makeup of gateway systems
Description: This paper examines the evolution of media gateways, the role that TI's digital signal processing (DSP) technology has played in this evolution and how the emergence of the network coprocessor (NetCP) ...
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How to Design Power Efficient Smart Gas and Water Utility Meters
From: Silicon LabsDescription: Designing a smart water or gas utility meter can present a vexing low-power challenge for embedded control systems requiring RF connectivity. Since a single service call from a technician often ...
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Estimating Power Consumption on the TMS320C5504/C5505/C5514/C5515 and TMS320C5532/C5533/C5534/C5535 DSPs
Description: This document assists in estimating the power consumption for the TMS320C5504/C5505/C5514/C5515 and TMS320C5532/C5533/C5534/C5535 digital signal processors (DSPs). Power consumption on these devices ...
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Migrating from TMS320C5515/05 to TMS320C5535/34/33/32
Description: This document provides the minimum changes required to migrate from TMS320C5515/05 to TMS320C5535/34/33/32. Enhancements or new features of the TMS320C5535/34/33/32 devices that do not affect ...
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Using the TMS320C5535/34/33/32 Bootloader
Description: This document describes the features of the on-chip ROM for the TMS320C5535/34/33/32 digital-signal processors. Included is a description of the bootloader and how to interface with it for each of the ...
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APIdeology: Application Programming Interface best practices
From: Silicon LabsDescription: The public interface of a software component, i.e., an element such as a header file thatâ s readily visible to the developer, is often the softwareâ s most important feature. Best practices in the ...
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Optical Tamper Detection Technology Leaves Criminals in the Dark
From: Silicon LabsDescription: On June 3, 2011, three men in their early 20s were arrested in Derbyshire, England, on suspicion of tampering with a co-op cash machine by taking money before it actually reached the external cash ...
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PIC12LF1840T48A Microcontroller
Description: The PIC12LF1840T48A is a Microchip microcontroller that has an on-board transmitter. The transmitter is suitable for operation in the 418, 434 and 868 MHz license-free ISM bands. The modulation is ...
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Stepper Motor Control with dsPIC® DSCs
Description: This application note describes how to drive a stepper motor with a dsPIC33F motor control family DSC. The eight PWM channels (six pins from the PWM1 module and two pins from the PWM2 module) are used ...
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Using PIC32 MCUs to Develop Low-Cost Controllerless (LCC) Graphics Solutions
Description: As the demand for Graphical Embedded Applications becomes more popular, so does the need for developing cost effective solutions. Many companies today offer solutions involving an additional internal ...
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Migrating From MSP430F2xx to MSP430FR5xx Family
Description: This application report enables easy migration from MSP430F2xx Flash-based MCUs to the MSP430FR57xx family FRAM-based MCU. It covers programming, system, and peripheral considerations when migrating ...
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ARM® Cortex™-A8-based DM3730 DaVinci™ digital media processor powers Kopin's Golden-i®, a monocular, head-mounted device for hands-free communication and control
Description: Golden-i headsets are cutting edge devices activated by hands-free natural speech recognition and user gestures to enable fi eld-based medical, public safety, industrial and construction professionals ...
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Low-power DSP uses in connected audio applications
Description: his white paper addresses the challenge to add more features in peripheral device systems to improve sound and voice quality. Peripheral audio devices are moving towards adding more complex features ...
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An Introduction to the Stellaris® LM4F Family of Microcontrollers
Description: Stellaris® microcontrollers (MCUs) were the first MCU on the market to be based on the ARM® Cortex™-M core, an architecture that has quickly become a top choice for many developers ...
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Hercules™ Microcontrollers: Real-time MCUs for safety-critical products
Description: Electronics continue to play a major role in products where functional safety is the most important consideration. Ensuring that products meet the stringent functional safety requirements of standards ...
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Selecting the Optimal Battery for your Embedded Application
From: Silicon LabsDescription: Engineers have many options when selecting the optimal battery to support and maximize service life of their applications. As batteries become more sophisticated in design and function, you must weigh ...
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The Energy Harvesting Tipping Point for Wireless Sensor Applications
From: Silicon LabsDescription: The ability to power wireless sensor nodes from harvested energy sources allows embedded designers to offer self-sustaining systems with significantly reduced cost of ownership for the end-user as ...
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The Heartbeat behind Portable Medical Devices: Ultra-Low-Power Mixed-Signal Microcontrollers
From: Silicon LabsDescription: Embedded developers and product managers are under continuous pressure to push the envelope of cost, size, power consumption and performance in their next portable medical device designs. In order to ...
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OpenCV on TI's DSP+ARM® platforms: Mitigating the challenges of porting OpenCV to embedded platforms
Description: In today's advancing market, the growing performance and decreasing price of embedded processors are opening many doors for developers to design highly sophisticated solutions for different end ...
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KeyStone Multicore SoC tool suite: one platform for all needs
Description: Historically, a signifi cant challenge in implementing and deploying multicore System-on-Chip (SoC) devices has been the availability of proper tools to program and debug these platforms. For ...
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Low-Power FRAM Microcontrollers and Their Applications
Description: Texas Instruments recently announced a new microcontroller family that implements FRAM as non-volatile memory instead of Flash, today's most common programmable, non-volatile memory technology. The ...
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The role of multicore in the evolution of communications
Description: In the last decade we have experienced huge changes in the way we communicate. We have moved from fixed and wired plain old telephone service (POTS) to briefcase-sized mobile phones, and more recently ...
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Embedded technologies are helping the video security industry 'go green'
Description: Going green isn't just a trend. It's a necessity today because of obvious environmental reasons. Most industries have started taking a green approach, but semiconductor manufacturers have taken this ...
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Intelligent I/O processing for DSP+ARM® SoCs
Description: This white paper discusses results of input/ output (I/O) processing on the general-purpose processor (GPP) for a DSP-centric programming model using a system-on-chip (SoC) containing both digital ...
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Power management in embedded systems with dual OSes
Description: In today's system-on-chip (SoC) platforms containing multiple heterogenous processors, the system architect needs to know how to deal with power management facilities provided with different operating ...
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Performance without Compromise: Implementing Real-time Control and Communications with a dual-subsystem microcontroller
Description: With the growing importance of energy efficiency and smart grid technology, there is an increasing need for reliable silicon that supports real-time control with an interface capable of connecting to ...
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Programmable Real-Time Unit (PRU): Extending Functionality of Existing SoCs
Description: As the complexity of applications implemented on SoC devices continues to increase, higher performance and many different connectivity options are required. TI continues to extend the capabilities of ...
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Software and hardware design challenges due to the dynamic raw NAND market
Description: This white paper will highlight the difficulties in developing and maintaining fi rmware (bootloaders), middleware (OS/application drivers) and hardware IPs for interfacing with raw NAND devices. ...
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The Stellaris® Graphics Library Makes Short Order of Assembling a Dynamic HMI
Description: A well-designed human machine interface (HMI) can be a major selling point for an embedded electronic system. From medical instruments and consumer devices to industrial controls, a nice display with ...
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Programming Controllers- C vs. Relay Ladder Logic
From: ElectromateDescription: This paper examines two methods of programming embedded controllers and describes the benefits of using C-Language in industrial control applications. ...
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Solving Noise Problems (.pdf)
From: ElectromateDescription: This white paper describes common causes of noise and suggests ways to reduce or eliminate noise problems. ...
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Selection Guide: TI Processors based on ARM® Technology
Description: Realizing the need for low-power, cost-effective solutions, TI is committed to strengthening its embedded processing portfolio with a range of ARM-based solutions meeting the power, performance and ...
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Customizable System Interfaces Add Value to Embedded Processors (.pdf)
Description: Standard interfaces integrated into an embedded processor helps ease a system designer's work by providing interoperability with other products and reducing design cost and cycle time. But they can ...
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High Temperature Guide (.pdf)
Description: The High Temperature Guide offers an overview of TI's wide range of semiconductors for use outside standard temperature ranges. These components form a complete signal chain roadmap for electronics ...
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Developing Functional Safety Systems with TÜV-Qualified FPGAs (.pdf)
From: Altera CorporationDescription: This white paper discusses how market trends, the need for increased productivity, and new legislation have accelerated the use of safety systems in industrial machinery. This TÜV-qualified FPGA ...
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Lowering the Total Cost of Ownership in Industrial Applications (.pdf)
From: Altera CorporationDescription: Approximately one-third of embedded designers surveyed on the adoption and use of FPGAs for embedded applications responded that they perceived FPGAs as too expensive to use in their designs. However, ...
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Methods of Controlling Multiple LED Strings with C2000™ Microcontrollers (MCUs) (.pdf)
Description: As more applications continue to integrate LED technology, developers find themselves facing the challenge of driving greater numbers of LEDs while lowering system cost and increasing power ...
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Bringing Efficient Communications to Real-Time Motor Control and Power Conversion Applications with TI's Viterbi Complex Math Unit (VCU) (.pdf)
Description: To take advantage of the growing opportunities in Smart Metering and other energy-control applications, developers need to be able to add communication links to existing systems in a cost effective ...
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What it Takes to do Efficient and Cost-Effective Real-Time Control with a Single Microcontroller: The C2000™ Advantage (.pdf)
Description: Performance, efficiency, flexibility and protection - these are the attributes paramount to power electronics technologies, such as motor control, digital power, renewable energies, lighting, and ...
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C2000™ MCU Motor Control Primer (.pdf)
Description: Digital motor control has been a challenging subject since the beginning of early implementations. Although digital control techniques and the availability of high-speed microcontrollers made life ...
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TI Delivers Flexible Power Line Communications Solutions (.pdf)
Description: Power line communications use existing power line infrastructures as a cost-effective alternative to wireless and other wired communications standards, introducing intelligent monitoring and control ...
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Maximizing the Power of ARM ® with DSP (.pdf)
Description: Texas Instruments' (TI) Integra™ DSP+ARM devices combine a digital signal processor (DSP) and an ARM® processor, enabling developers to create applications best suited for executing a ...
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Get to Work in 10 Minutes (.pdf)
Description: When developing a new systems design, evaluating and choosing the proper microcontroller (MCU) is a critical step. An evaluation kit needs to demonstrate how capable the MCU is at performing the tasks ...
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C6Accel DSP Software Development Tool (.pdf)
Description: Texas Instruments (TI) has a long history in offering optimized production-quality Digital Signal Processing (DSP) software in the form of signal-processing libraries and math libraries that have ...
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C6Run DSP Software Development Tool (.pdf)
Description: In 2005, Herb Sutter famously predicted that the free lunch of ever-increasing processing performance was over. Events since that time have confirmed his analysis. While transistor counts in ...
