As Moore’s Law approaches retirement age[1][2], the technological advances wrought through the improvements in silicon process technology are staggering. The ability to tailor a process for high power, high voltage power electronics vs low power, low voltage, extremely dense microprocessor and memories enables the proliferation of technology in the age of the Internet of Things (IoT). However, for all the advancements, each silicon component can only have one process; a compromise necessary for each circuit that needs to be optimally built. Where Moore’s Law left off from the perspective of the individual component, packaging technology has taken up the reigns. Packaging technologies are able push the boundaries of form, fit, and function beyond that which is possible with System on a Chip (SoC) technology. Systems in a Package (“SiP”s) can enable new levels of integration and size reduction for embedded systems[3][4]. However, like the technologies that have come before it, SiPs require enormous investments of design time and effort. In this paper, we introduce the future of SiP: the Universal Connection Matrix (UCM) . This allows for faster design and prototyping with SiP devices. Instead of large, monolithic designs, the UCM provides a breadboard in a package.
We are excited to announce the most completely integrated 1GHz Arm® Cortex®- A8 computing platform, the OSD335x C-SiP™. This COMPLETE System-in-Package provides everything you need to design a powerful Linux computer in half the time, while using half the space. (Read More…)
Austin, TX (September 27, 2018) – Octavo Systems, the leader in System-in-Package (SiP) technology, announced today, the most completely integrated 1GHz Arm® Cortex®-A8 computing platform, the OSD335x C-SiP™. The OSD335x C-SiP (Complete System-In-Package) integrates the required components for a computing system into a single IC package that is about the size of a standard Lego block. The newest addition to the OSD335x family, the OSD335x C-SiP is a complete system containing:
It is always worth our while to review the state of the art of integrated circuit technology. As one who has been in the middle of it for over 40 years, it is interesting to see how we have advanced the technology by driving the learning curve, exploiting the physics of silicon and creating new ways to design billions of transistors into functioning, reliable, affordable products. The products that have revolutionized the world we live in.
I believe we are only at the beginning of a transition from integration at the component level to integration at the system level. The new heterogeneous integration method known at System-in-Package (SiP) will be the technology of choice.
That is why Octavo’s products and strategy are based on this proven technology platform known as SiP. Although the technologies associated with SiP integration have been around for over a decade and are well established in the semiconductor industry, they have not been exploited for system integration. Our goal is to develop these existing technologies, along with new concepts, to deliver to you unprecedented integration and design flexibility.
SiP technology will help increase the performance of products while increasing their reliability.
At Octavo Systems, we are always looking for ways to help designers be more productive, be it with application notes, tutorials, reference designs, or design collateral. The goal of our System-in-Package technology is to create modular building blocks that abstract away tedious, repetitive, and complex tasks that designers are forced to spend time on, but don’t really add value to the end system so that they can create better, more innovate products.
Today we took another step in making designing with Octavo Systems devices easier by adding an Altium symbol library for the OSD335x-SM for you to download from our website. Scroll down to the link to download.
“Internet-of-Things” or IoT and it’s challenges have been on my mind long before it became a popular term. I’ve just finished writing an 18 part blog series on the subject, hosted on an internationally respected news site, Embedded Computing Design. After reading this short article, I’d like to invite you to read the whole series, and engage in the discussion.
However, you may need motivation to go look for the series and actually read it. So, let me motivate you. I first heard the concept of “Cloud Computing” many years ago at a press conference in Beijing, China. My response to the question of “what do you think about Cloud Computing” surprised even me as the words came out of my mouth. Several months later I heard a better descriptor of the concept called the “Internet of Things”. What surprised me next was the apparent confusion of what the IoT was.
At Octavo we are committed to making it as easy as possible to develop embedded systems. We have revamped our App Notes page and added new content to ease your design tasks. We have included some of our favorites below! (Read More…)
Due to its openness, flexibility, and tremendous community support and development, Linux has become the operating system of choice for most new embedded systems. Be it Industrial control systems, robotics applications, or IoT devices, Linux distributions pull together drivers, utilities, libraries, and application software that reduce time to market and development costs. However, the challenge with Linux is:
How does one get started using Linux on a new Embedded System?
With the exciting upsets, shoot-outs and close matches of the FIFA World Cup games this year, predicting who will win each game has been challenging. Therefore, we turned to technology and built an electronic Magic 8-Ball to help make decisions for our bracket.
Decide New Features Quickly with Rapid Prototyping
Fortunately, developers can now rapidly prototype with the OSD3358 System-in-Package (SiP) using the BeagleBoard.org® PocketBeagle®and MikroElektronika click boards™. BeagleBoard.org® is a 501c3 Foundation focused on education. PocketBeagle® is a completely open source, highly affordable super tiny single board computer featuring the OSD335x-SM SiP. One of the most exciting things about the BeagleBoard.org® PocketBeagle® is that is conforms to the standard of the MikroElektronika mikroBUS™ click boards™. This is an open standard interface for which over 400 compatible add-on boards have been created. These compact boards provide a range of added functionality and features from sensors to connectivity and storage. The OSD3358 SiP has the performance capability to process multiple sensor inputs, process information quickly and perform actions such as driving displays, motor control, or communication.
You’re busy. We get it. You ask: Do I really have time to learn about Linux? You don’t have time NOT to. 8 reasons why MCU users love switching to Linux on OSD335x :
1. Code is written while you sleep
The software libraries and device drivers for Linux are supported by a huge open-source community that stretches around the globe with thousands of passionate programmers and developers. This means that device drivers and software libraries, like OpenCV, an image processing library, or the TCP/IP stack, a complete set of networking protocols, are already available for most hardware components in your design. Even with new hardware that has just hit the market, there is a good chance that someone has already started developing or has developed the software you need. It is like having your own world-wide team of software developers.
2. A friend has started your hardware design for you
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