Unleash the Full Features and Power of BlueRiver® With Pro AV 2.0

Since the successful launch of the BlueRiver ASIC for Pro AV in December 2019, Semtech has continued to add new features and functionality to both the ASIC firmware and the Software Defined Video over Ethernet (SDVoE™) API that’s at the heart of all SDVoE-based systems. This has culminated with the firmware version 2.0 release in February 2023, which enables the full potential of the platform. So, what’s Pro AV 2.0 and what does that mean with respect to Semtech’s Pro AV ASIC product lines?

Low-Dropout (LDO) Regulator for Battery-Powered Wireless IoT Sensors

The Internet of Things (IoT) is a network of sensors and devices connected to the Internet to share and exchange data and instructions with a local or Cloud gateway/server (Figure 1). IoT sensors are a vital element of the IoT ecosystem, and increasingly they are using wireless technologies to service and connect all types of use cases and location-specific constraints. These sensors collect real-time data and share it with the gateway to forward to a Cloud-based application for processing, enable better decision-making at the ‘edge,’ or automate processes. Wireless communication protocols such as LoRaWAN®, cellular, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi help transmit the data.

Protecting Keyboards From Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) Events

The Importance of Keyboard ESD Protection

Since the dawn of computers, the keyboard has been the primary communication mechanism between human and machines. Over the years, many technologies and interfaces have changed, but the keyboard has barely changed in both form and function. Recently, I bought an exclusive wireless keyboard. Initially, it communicated with the computer via Bluetooth without any issues. However, after a month or so, it suddenly stopped. When I opened the internal circuit, I was surprised that the keys had no electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection. Any electronic device's keypad, side keys or push buttons are vulnerable to ESD due to constant human interaction with them. Adding ESD protection devices in a keyboard/keypad/side keys can avoid disastrous situations such as the failure of my keyboard. Let us discuss ESD in general and how we can protect our electronic devices from it.

Welcome To The New Semtech

After months of hard work and dedication, we are proud to unveil our new brand!

Our new logo is modern, sleek and embodies the tech-forward innovation and quality leadership Semtech brings to the industry. It speaks to our vision to deliver leading-edge, innovative and high-quality technology solutions that enable the transformation to a smarter, more connected and sustainable planet.

CES 2023: LoRa®-enabled Sensors Deliver on Smart Industry Promise

We’re grateful to be at CES 2023, where the momentum around solutions with Semtech’s LoRa® devices and the LoRaWAN® standard is incredibly strong. This morning, we had the pleasure of connecting with a wide range of customers, LoRa ecosystem partners and industry experts to discuss the powerful impact of low power, long range Internet of Things (IoT) technologies on enabling a smarter, greener and more resilient future for our planet. The journey to lower carbon emissions — and, more broadly, help the enterprise achieve its environmental, social and governance (ESG) goals — is a cornerstone to Semtech’s innovation for a better world. 

BlueRiver® Applications Part 5: BlueRiver & SDI

In this fifth and final installment of the BlueRiver applications blog series, we’ll look at how two Semtech products lines – Semtech’s BlueRiver® ASIC platform for Pro AV and SDVoE™, and broadcast Serial Digital Interface (SDI) – can enable a unique set of “SDI-over-IP” products and applications.

The Perfect Holiday Wearables and Hearables 

Buying the perfect holiday gift for friends or family is challenging enough but trying to buy the perfect tech gift can be even more difficult. Between sifting through the flood of new products and then ensuring the gift arrives on time, figuring out the exact gift is a moving target. Plus, how do you know if the wireless headphones or smartwatch you’re buying will really perform as promised?

Complete Protection for HDMI-SDI/SDI-HDMI Converters

Whether you are watching an action replay of a baseball game on a giant screen at a stadium, a movie on your large-screen TV or streaming a video on your laptop computer, a high-quality audiovisual (AV) experience is always expected. Ultra-High-Definition Serial Digital Interface (UHD-SDI) and High-Definition Multimedia Interface (HDMI) are two standards for digital AV transmission. UHD-SDI standardizes the transmission of uncompressed and unencrypted digital AV signals over coaxial or fiber optic cables. HDMI is a digital interface for transmitting high-definition, high-speed digital multi-track audio and uncompressed video signals from HDMI-compliant sources to AV displays. Even though they both can transport ultra-high-definition AV signals from a source to a display, HDMI is preferred to connect consumer gadgets such as computers, gaming consoles, Blu-ray/DVD players, televisions, projectors, etc. UHD-SDI is preferred for high-end applications such as professional indoor/outdoor video production and television broadcasts because it supports long-range transmission and a rugged connection with the help of a physical lock mechanism at each end of the cable. UHD-SDI coaxial cable can transfer signals up to 300 feet, whereas HDMI cables struggle with excessive signal degradation even within 50 feet. These two interfaces can be used together via an HDMI-SDI or SDI-HDMI converter. For example, as shown in figure 1, an HDMI display would be used for confidence monitoring of an SDI stream to avoid the need to use specially calibrated SDI-specific displays.

Protecting the Health of a Fitness Tracker

Not too long ago, my only fitness tracker was a pedometer in my pocket to measure my daily step count. Things have since changed very quickly. I now have a smartwatch on my wrist to track my daily activities, including steps completed, distance covered, calories burned, heart rate, and breathing pattern. I also receive alerts for messages, take calls, listen to my favorite podcast, and check the weather via my smartwatch. These are all in addition to seeing the accurate time of the day. Due to all these innovative features, wearing a smartwatch and using it as a fitness tracker is the trend for the health-conscious population worldwide. While these wearables help people remain fit, extra care needs to be taken by the manufacturers to protect these wearables from electrical overstress (EOS) and electrostatic discharge (ESD) generated from the body of the person wearing these devices.

Solving SAR Compliance Concerns on Mobile PCs

Laptop and tablet users want the same lightning-fast connections and long battery life as smartphone users. Whether they are on a video conference for work or playing a AAA game for fun, they expect nonstop performance — and their already-high expectations are only increasing with the emergence of new technologies and wireless protocols like 5G and Wi-Fi 6/6E.