The Kynix Blog - General electronic semiconductor

In recent years Artificial intelligence (AI) has become a technology that global companies are desperately trying to take advantage of, as it is one of the most emerging and competitive technologies. However, a lot of AI technologies focus on the software, with operating speeds low which makes them a poor fit for mobile devices. For this reason big companies are focusing on developing AI with low power and high speeds, hoping to make AI fit for mobile use.   Professor Hoi-Jun Yoo of the Department of Electrical Engineering, along with his research team and collaboration with start-up company, UX Factory Co, has developed a semiconductor chip, CNNP (CNN Processor), which runs AI algorithms with ultra-low power, and K-Eye, a face recognition system using CNNP. Consisting of two different formats, the K-Eye series is available as a wearable type and a dongle type. The wearable type device can be used with a smartphone via Bluetooth, and it can operate for more than 24 hours with its internal battery. By conveniently hanging the K-Eye around their necks users can check information about people by using their smartphone or smart watch, which connects K-Eye and allows users to access a database via their smart devices. A smartphone with K-EyeQ, the dongle type device, can recognise and share information about users at any time.  It works by recognising an authorised user looking at the screen, which then automatically turns the smartphone on, without a fingerprint, passcode or iris authentication. The smartphone cannot be tricked by the user’s photograph, as it can distinguish whether an input face is coming from a saved photograph versus a real person. Other distinct features are carried out by the K-Eye series. Detecting a face at first and then recognising it is one, and it is possible to maintain ‘Always-on’ status with low power consumption of less than 1mW. The research team devised two key technologies to complete this: an image sensor with ‘Always-on’ face detection and the CNNP face recognition chip.  The ‘Always-on’ image sensor, the first key technology, is able to determine if there is a face in its camera range. Then, it can capture frames and set the device to operate only when a face exists, reducing the standby power significantly. Additionally the face detection sensor combines analogue and digital processing to reduce power consumption. Using this approach, the analogue processor, combined with the CMOS Image Sensor array, distinguishes the background area from the area likely to include a face, and the digital processor then detects the face only in the selected area. Therefore, it becomes effective in terms of frame capture, face detection processing, and memory usage.    Following this the second key technology, CNNP, is able to achieve incredibly low power consumption, by optimising a convolutional neural network (CNN) in the areas of circuitry, architecture, and algorithms. Specially designed to enable data to be read in a vertical direction as well as in a horizontal direction, the on-chip memory integrated in CNNP also has immense computational power with 1024 multipliers and accumulators operating in parallel and is capable of directly transferring the temporal results to each other without accessing to the external memory or on-chip communication network. Additionally, convolution calculations with a two-dimensional filter in the CNN algorithm are approximated into two sequential calculations of one-dimensional filters to achieve higher speeds and lower power consumption.  CNNP achieved 97% high accuracy but consumed only 1/5000 power of the GPU thanks to these new technologies. Face recognition can be performed with only 0.62mW of power consumption, and the chip can show higher performance than the GPU by using more power.  Developed by Kyeongryeol Bong, a PhD student under Professor Yoo, these chips were presented at the International Solid-State Circuit Conference (ISSCC) held in San Francisco earlier this year. CNNP, which has the lowest reported power consumption in the world, has achieved a huge amount of attention, which has led to the development of the present K-Eye series for face recognition.  Professor Yoo commented: “AI - processors will lead the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. With the development of this AI chip, we expect Korea to take the lead in global AI technology.”  Ref.MT9V022 OV05633

The CC2640R2F SimpleLink ultra-low-power wireless microcontroller from Texas Instruments (TI) is in stock at Mouser Electronics. Part of TI’s CC26xx SimpleLink family of 2.4GHz devices, the CC2640R2F microcontroller features a small, single-chip system that integrates a flash-based microcontroller and Bluetooth Smart radio to target Bluetooth 4.2 and Bluetooth 5 low-energy applications. The microcontroller combines a 61μA/MHz ARM Cortex-M3 microcontroller and a rich peripheral set that includes an 8.2μA/MHz sensor controller. The 48MHz ARM microcontroller offers 128 kBytes of flash and 28 kBytes of SRAM and supports over-the-air (OTA) updates. The sensor controller is ideal for interfacing external sensors and for collecting analog and digital data autonomously while the rest of the system is in sleep mode. The device includes a 12-bit analogue-to-digital converter, up to 31 general-purpose inputs and outputs (GPIOs), and built-in robust security on chip with one of the simplest radio frequency (RF) and antenna designs available. Minimal RF expertise is required to implement the device, which helps make development and layout extremely easy. The wireless microcontroller is available in 2.7×2.7 mm WCSP and 4×4, 5×5 and 7×7 mm QFN packages, and is designed for a board array of wireless Internet of Things (IoT) applications, including health and fitness, industrial, and home and building automation. With ready-to-use protocol stacks (including the SIMPLELINK-CC2640R2-SDK software development kit for Bluetooth 5), the SimpleLink portfolio of wireless connectivity solutions not only offers designers maximum flexibility and support but also delivers multi-standard capabilities with code- and pin-compatibility across Bluetooth Smart, 6LoWPAN, ZigBee and ZigBee RF4CE.   Ref: KY32-MB91F376GPMCR-GS KY32-MB90F548GSPFV-G KY32-HD6417604SVF20

Two microcontroller lines from STMicroelectronics increase energy efficiency, flexibility, and feature integration at the high end of the STM32F4 Access Line for high-performance embedded designs. Qualified up to 125°C, these STM32 devices target always-on sensor acquisition and general-purpose industrial applications and present a robust and cost-effective upgrade from STM32F1 MCUs. The STM32F413 and crypto-enhanced STM32F423 integrate up to 1.5MB Flash and dense SRAM of 320KB. These are the most highly featured of the STM32F4 Access Lines, with rich audio capabilities including a Serial Audio Interface (SAI) and an enhanced voice-acquisition interface with multi-channel Digital Filter for Sigma-Delta Modulators (DFSDM) that enables low-power sound localisation and beam forming. The devices also provide peripheral integration, with two 12-bit Digital-Analogue Converters (DACs), up to 10 UARTs, and three CAN 2.0B active interfaces. The crypto-enhanced STM32F423 also has a True Random-Number Generator (TRNG) and AES-256 cryptographic hardware accelerator.Sitting at the top of the STM32F4 Access Lines, the MCUs introduce a 100MHz dual-mode Quad SPI for connecting serial off-chip memory, 16-bit Flexible Memory Controller (FMC) for external SRAM, PSRAM or NOR Flash, up to 16-bit QVGA or 8-bit WQVGA LCD interface, and USB OTG with Link Power Management (LPM) and dual power rails that save external level shifting.In addition, both lines feature a RAM-access scheme that uses the Instruction and Data (I/D) buses and the System BUS (SBUS) to connect to separate RAM1 (256KB) and RAM2 (64KB) areas thereby minimising contentions. An enhanced DMA Batch Acquisition Mode (BAM+) takes advantage of these separate RAM1 and RAM2 areas to process code and data extremely efficiently in sensor-hub applications.Delivering high performance, the STM32 microcontrollers combine the 100MHz 125DMIPS/339 EEMBC CoreMark ARM Cortex-M4 core with ST’s power-saving Dynamic Efficiency technologies that cut RUN mode current up to 112µA/MHz. These Dynamic Efficiency technologies include the ST ART Accelerator for zero-wait execution from Flash, and the supply-voltage extending down to 1.7V, to maximise the battery life of always-connected devices.Designers can immediately start their projects using the NUCLEO-F413ZH development board. This STM32 Nucleo-144 board comes with the ST-LINK/V2-1 debugger/programmer, software libraries and examples, and can be used directly with ARM mbed online resources. Ref:KY32-STM32F401CBU6KY32-STM32F401CCU6KY362-STM32F401C-DISCO

This article introduces 5 excellent microcontrollers that you might not be familiar with, offering alternatives to mainstream development boards.I Brief IntroductionEven if you are a casual microcontroller enthusiast, you've probably heard of the biggest names in the business: Arduino, Raspberry Pi, and ESP32. However, there are less renowned but still high-quality microcontrollers that you may have missed but should get to know.II Five Microcontrollers You Should Know About2.1 MSP430 LaunchPadLaunchPad is a low-cost, ultra-low-power microcontroller development platform from Texas Instruments. As of 2025, the MSP430 LaunchPad ecosystem has expanded significantly, with prices ranging from $10-30 depending on the model. The latest MSP430FR series features FRAM (Ferroelectric RAM) technology, offering non-volatile memory with extremely low power consumption.The MSP430 excels in battery-powered applications, with some models consuming less than 100nA in standby mode and waking up in less than 5 microseconds. Modern variants offer up to 256KB of FRAM and 8KB of SRAM. The platform is supported by Texas Instruments' Code Composer Studio IDE and is compatible with Energia, an Arduino-like programming environment, making it accessible for beginners while powerful enough for professional applications in IoT sensors, wearables, and medical devices.2.2 Nanode (Legacy Platform)Note: The Nanode project has been discontinued and is no longer actively maintained. While it was an innovative Arduino-compatible board with built-in Ethernet connectivity designed for Internet of Things applications, modern alternatives have superseded it.Modern Alternatives: For IoT projects in 2025, consider the ESP32 (with built-in WiFi and Bluetooth, $5-15), Arduino MKR WiFi 1010 ($30-35), or Raspberry Pi Pico W ($6) which offer better performance, active community support, and modern connectivity options.2.3 Pinguino (Limited Availability)Pinguino was an open-source microcontroller platform based on Microchip PIC microcontrollers, designed as an alternative to Arduino. However, the project has seen reduced activity in recent years, with limited board availability and community support.Current Status: While some Pinguino boards may still be available through specialty retailers, the ecosystem has largely stagnated. For PIC-based development in 2025, consider Microchip's official Curiosity development boards ($25-50) which offer better support, documentation, and integration with MPLAB X IDE.2.4 STM32 Discovery & NucleoSTMicroelectronics' STM32 ecosystem has grown tremendously and is now one of the most popular professional microcontroller platforms. As of 2025, the STM32 family includes hundreds of variants, from the ultra-low-power STM32L series to the high-performance STM32H7 series running at up to 550 MHz.Discovery boards ($15-50) feature specific peripherals for evaluation, while Nucleo boards ($10-25) offer Arduino-compatible headers. Modern STM32 boards feature 32-bit ARM Cortex-M cores (M0+ to M7), with RAM ranging from 20KB to over 1MB, and flash memory up to 2MB. The platform is supported by STM32CubeIDE (free), and has excellent Arduino compatibility through the STM32duino project, making it accessible to hobbyists while meeting professional requirements for automotive, industrial, and consumer electronics.2.5 Teensy 4.1The Teensy platform has evolved significantly since 2017. The current flagship Teensy 4.1 ($31.50) is a powerhouse featuring an ARM Cortex-M7 processor running at 600 MHz, 1MB RAM, 8MB flash, and optional microSD card slot. It's one of the fastest Arduino-compatible microcontrollers available.Teensy boards maintain their compact form factor while offering exceptional performance for audio processing, real-time data acquisition, and complex control systems. The Teensy 4.0 ($23.80) offers similar performance in an even smaller package. Full Arduino IDE compatibility, extensive library support, and the powerful Teensyduino add-on make these boards excellent for advanced projects requiring high processing power in a small footprint. Popular applications include synthesizers, high-speed data loggers, LED matrix controllers, and robotics.FAQ1. What is a microcontroller used for?Microcontrollers are embedded computers used to control electronic devices. In offices, they're found in keyboards, monitors, printers, and phone systems. At home, they control appliances like microwaves, washing machines, thermostats, smart home devices, and entertainment systems. In 2025, microcontrollers are essential in IoT devices, wearables, electric vehicles, drones, and medical equipment.2. What is a microcontroller and what does it do?A microcontroller is an integrated circuit (IC) containing a processor core, memory (RAM and ROM/Flash), and programmable input/output peripherals. It's designed to execute specific control tasks in embedded systems, reading sensors, making decisions, and controlling actuators or displays.3. What is the difference between microprocessor and microcontroller?A microprocessor (like those in PCs) contains only a CPU and requires external components for memory and I/O. A microcontroller integrates CPU, memory, and I/O peripherals on a single chip. Microprocessors are designed for general-purpose computing with maximum performance, while microcontrollers are optimized for specific control tasks with lower power consumption and cost.4. What are the advantages of microcontrollers?Key advantages include: low cost ($0.50-$50), low power consumption (microamps to milliamps), small size, integrated peripherals, reliability, reprogrammability, and real-time control capabilities. Modern microcontrollers also offer built-in security features, wireless connectivity, and advanced power management.5. What is Arduino?Arduino is an open-source electronics platform consisting of programmable circuit boards (containing microcontrollers) and development software (Arduino IDE). It simplifies microcontroller programming with an easy-to-learn language and extensive library support, making it popular for education, prototyping, and hobbyist projects.6. Which is faster: microcontroller or microprocessor?Microprocessors are generally faster, with modern CPUs running at 2-5+ GHz. Microcontrollers typically run at 8 MHz to 600 MHz (as of 2025). However, microcontrollers offer better real-time response and deterministic behavior for control applications, and their integrated peripherals eliminate external bus delays.7. Which is better: microcontroller or microprocessor?Neither is universally "better"—they serve different purposes. Choose microprocessors for complex computing tasks requiring high performance and large memory (computers, servers). Choose microcontrollers for dedicated control tasks requiring low power, small size, and real-time operation (embedded systems, IoT devices).8. How does a microcontroller work?A microcontroller executes programmed instructions stored in its memory. It continuously reads inputs from sensors or user interfaces, processes this data according to its program, and sends output signals to control devices like motors, LEDs, or displays. This happens in a loop, often thousands of times per second.9. What are the characteristics of a microcontroller?Key characteristics include: integrated CPU (8-bit to 32-bit), volatile RAM (1KB-1MB+), non-volatile program memory (Flash/EEPROM, 4KB-2MB+), digital I/O pins, analog-to-digital converters (ADC), timers/counters, communication interfaces (UART, SPI, I2C, USB), and often specialized peripherals like PWM, comparators, or wireless transceivers.10. What are the disadvantages of microcontrollers?Limitations include: limited processing power compared to microprocessors, fixed memory capacity, complexity for beginners, limited high-power device interfacing (requires external drivers), and platform-specific programming. However, modern development tools and extensive communities have significantly reduced these barriers.11. Why choose Arduino over bare microcontrollers?Arduino provides a complete ecosystem: pre-tested hardware, simplified programming environment, extensive libraries, and a massive community. This dramatically reduces development time and learning curve compared to programming microcontrollers directly. It's ideal for prototyping, education, and projects where development speed matters more than per-unit cost.12. What is the difference between Arduino and a microcontroller?A microcontroller is the chip itself. Arduino is a complete development platform that includes a microcontroller, supporting circuitry (voltage regulation, USB interface), standardized connectors, and software tools. Arduino makes microcontrollers accessible by handling low-level complexities.13. Are microcontrollers expensive?No, microcontrollers are very affordable. Basic chips cost $0.50-$5 in volume, while development boards range from $5-50. The integrated design reduces external component costs. Even high-performance 32-bit microcontrollers are typically under $10 in single quantities.14. Why are microcontrollers used in embedded systems?Microcontrollers are ideal for embedded systems because they integrate all necessary components (CPU, memory, I/O) in a single, compact, low-power, cost-effective package. They provide deterministic real-time performance essential for control applications and can operate reliably in harsh environments.15. Why is it called a microcontroller?"Micro" refers to the microscopic transistors (measured in nanometers in modern chips) and the small physical size. "Controller" indicates its primary purpose: controlling other devices and systems. The term distinguishes it from general-purpose microprocessors by emphasizing its control-oriented design.Article Updated: November 2025Original Publication: 2017

The piezo actuator with haptic feedback and integrated sensor functionality has been presented by TDK Corporation at this year’s electronica. The new actuator features unrivalled performance in terms of acceleration, force and response time, and offers an unprecedented quality of haptic feedback. The compact and powerful actuator enhances the sensory experience of HMIs significantly by engaging the full range of human tactile sensitivity.Driven by the miniaturisation of devices and applications and the requirements for more ease of use, multifunctional touchscreens and touch surfaces have become nearly ubiquitous. While these human-machine interfaces (HMI) do feature many advantages, there is one important drawback: the haptic feedback to user actions is very limited and not strong enough.As a result of this such HMIs are often less user-friendly and prone to errors. They can sometimes be s safety risk.The new actuator is based multilayer piezo plates with cost-effective copper inner electrodes. Thanks to the multilayer technology the actuators can be driven with relatively low operating voltages up to 120V.When activated, the piezo plates only expand minimally in the z axis, but due to the constant volume of the piezo effect contract simultaneously in both the x and y axes. The new component employs cymbals on both sides of the plate as levers to amplify the contraction by a factor of 15 in the z axis. The actuator is initially available in two types, a 5N type that achieves a displacement of up to 100µm and a 20N type that can achieve a displacement of more than 200µm. Despite their compact dimensions of 12.7x12.7x1.6mm and 26x26x2.4mm, respectively, the new actuators can generate forces of up to 5N and 20N.Compared with conventional electromagnetic solutions such as eccentric rotary motors (ERMs) and linear resonant actuators (LRAs), the piezo actuator with haptic feedback features the highest acceleration and force, the lowest insertion height and the fastest response time, all in a single component with integrated sensor functionality: Under a load of 0.1kg, the 5N type delivers an acceleration of 5.0g with a rise time of 2ms while the 20N type features 15.0g after just 1ms.Unlike conventional electromagnetic solutions the piezo actuator with haptic feedback can excite the entire stimulation range between 1-1000Hz. They have no significant frequency or amplitude limitations for customized haptic feedback to key human mechanoreceptors. In this way, the new actuator enables designers to custom develop high-definition haptic feedback profiles that users expect from cutting-edge HMIs. Applications for the piezo actuator with haptic feedback can be found, for example, in vehicles, smartphones and tablets, household appliances, ATMs and vending machines, game controllers, industrial equipment and medical devices. Main applicationsVehicles, smartphones and tablets, household appliances, ATMs and vending machines, game controllers, industrial equipment and medical devices.Main features and benefitsVery large forces of 5N and 20N, respectivelyLarge displacement of 100µm and 200µm, respectivelyExtremely low insertion height of 1.6mm and 2.4mm, respectively Reference:KY45-EKMB1203111KY45-AMN41122KY45-AMN14112 

Parts fail and things break. It's a fact of life and engineering. Some component failures can be avoided by good design practices, but many are out of the hands of designers. Identifying the offending component and why is might have failed is the first step to refining the design and increasing the reliability of a system that has been experiencing component failures.How Components FailThere are numerous reasons for why components fail.Some failures are slow and graceful where there is time to identify the component and replace it before it fails completely and the equipment is down. Other failures are rapid, violent, and unexpected, all of which are tested for during product certification testing. Some of the most common reasons for components to fail include:Over currentOver voltageOver temperatureConnected incorrectlyChange in operating environmentManufacturing defectMechanical shockMechanical stressRadiationContaminationPackagingConnectionsAgingCascading failureCorrosionRustingOxidizingThermal runawayLoose connectionsElectroStatic Discharge (ESD)Electrical stressBad circuit design Component failures do follow a trend. In the early life of an electronic system, component failures are more common and the chance of failure drops as they are used. The reason for the drop in failure rates is that the components that have packaging, soldering, and manufacturing defects often fail within minutes or hours of first using the device. This is why many manufacturers include a several hour burn in period for their products.This simple test eliminates the chance a bad component can slip through the manufacturing process and result in a broken device within hours of the end user first using it.After the initial burn in period, component failures typically bottom out and happen randomly. As components are used or even just sit, they age.Chemical reactions reduce the quality of the packaging, wires, and the component, and mechanical and thermal cycling take their toll on the mechanical strength of the component. These factors cause failure rates to continuously increase as a product ages. This is why failures are often classified by either their root cause or by when the failed in the life of the component.Identifying a Failed ComponentWhen a component fails there are a few indicators that can help identify the component that failed and aid in troubleshooting electronics. These indicators are:Visible-The most obvious indicator that a specific component has failed is through a visual inspection. Failed components often have burnt or melted areas, or have bulged out and expanded. Capacitors are often found bulged out, especially electrolytic capacitors around their metal tops. IC packages often have a small hole burned in them where the hot stop on the component vaporized the plastic around the hot spot all the way through the IC package.Smell- When components fail, a thermal overload often occurs which causes the magic blue smoke and other colorful smoke to be released by the offending component. The smoke also has a very distinct smell and varies by type of component. This is often the first sign of a component failure beyond the device not working. Often the distinct smell of a failed component will stay around the component for days or weeks which can aid in identifying the offending component during troubleshooting.Sound- Sometimes components make a sound when they fail. This happens more often with rapid thermal failures, over voltages, and over current events. When a component fails this violently, a smell often accompanies the failure. Hearing a component fail is rarer, and it often means that pieces of the component will be found loose in the product so identifying the component that failed may come down to finding which component is no longer on the PCB or in the system.Testing- Sometimes the only way to identify a component that has failed is to test individual components. This can be very challenging on a PCB since often other components will influence the measurement since all measurements involve applying a small voltage or current, the circuit will respond to it and readings can be thrown off. If a system uses several subassemblies, often replacing subassemblies is a great way to narrow down on where the issue with the system is located.