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Car engineering Can We Engineer an Uncrashable Car? The uncrashable car is not a distant dream. It's an engineering reality in progress. But while we're making rapid strides toward vehicles that can avoid accidents, there are fundamental challenges that still need to be solved. For engineers working on this frontier, the integration of numerous sensor modalities, the complexities of sensor fusion, and the scalability of E/E architectures are key barriers that must be overcome. This article Read Article
Strategies for Sourcing Hard To Find Electronic Components Strategies for Sourcing Hard To Find Electronic Components Sourcing hard-to-find components can be a significant challenge. Whether due to supply chain disruptions, obsolescence, or sudden spikes in demand, the availability of critical electronic parts can impact production timelines and costs. This article explores four practical strategies for sourcing these elusive components, detailing their value-add and providing insights on when to use each approach. 1. Building Strong Relationships with Suppliers Read Article
Wafer Fab Capacity Packaging Capacity Octopart As Wafer Fab Capacity Grows, Where is the New Packaging Capacity? The semiconductor industry is going through a major change. With the growing demand for faster and more efficient electronics, companies are increasing their wafer production to keep up. However, a big question is emerging: where will the new packaging capacity come from to support this growth? Advanced packaging technologies are essential for connecting wafer production to the final semiconductor products. The industry's future depends on these Read Article
Electronics Components Top 10 Electronics Components Every Engineering Student Must Know Understanding the fundamental components of electronics is crucial for any engineer. Whether you're starting your first project or refining your skills, knowing these components will enhance your ability to design and build effective circuits. This guide will help you understand the key components you’ll often encounter throughout your electronics design journey. It also explains how to use resources from the Student Lab—like the Mouser Read Article
Reshoring and Regionalization Supply Chain Reshoring and Regionalization: Mitigating Supply Chain Risks and Lead Times Many companies are reconsidering where they manufacture their products in today's interconnected world. Over the past few decades, it has been common for businesses to offshore production to countries with lower labor costs. However, there is a growing trend of companies moving their manufacturing operations closer to home, a practice known as reshoring or regionalizing their production. This shift aims to reduce risks in the supply chain and Read Article
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Blockchain Fighting Counterfeit Electronic Components Blockchain: The New Sheriff in Town for Counterfeit Components It's a worst-case scenario no one wants to experience: You discover that a batch of components in your latest product is counterfeit, and you realize the dizzying array of potential consequences – system failures, safety hazards, and a PR nightmare. Unfortunately, this scenario isn't just a bad dream for many. Industry associations estimate that counterfeit electronic components likely cost U.S.-based semiconductor companies over $7.5 billion Read Article
Leading Component Distributors 7 Leading Component Distributors Powering Electronics Innovation Imagine this: A design engineer is burning the midnight oil, racing to finish a prototype for a groundbreaking medical device. With a sudden spark of inspiration, she realizes that to solve a design challenge, she needs a specific microcontroller – and fast. What does she do? Who does she turn to? An electronic component distributor, of course. There are thousands of component distributors today, including many regional and specialist suppliers Read Article
Fight Against Counterfeit Components and How AI Can Help The Fight Against Counterfeit Components and How AI Can Help Counterfeit components are a continuing concern. Even the most vigilant companies can fall prey to fake parts despite stringent quality controls, as counterfeit components are nearly indistinguishable from genuine ones. For supply chain professionals, the ability to identify and prevent counterfeit components from entering production is vital. Failure to do so can result in product failures, financial losses, and even legal repercussions. This Read Article
Growth Prospects for GaN and SiC Semiconductors Growth Prospects for GaN and SiC Semiconductors The semiconductor world is abuzz with gallium nitride (GaN) and silicon carbide (SiC). Word is GaN and SiC are ready to disrupt the long-standing reign of silicon. It’s in the spotlight because we're talking about major leaps in efficiency and performance that are already impacting major industries, including electric vehicles, renewable energy, and consumer electronics. Why is this such a big deal? As we race towards more compact, powerful, and Read Article
Chiplet Will 2025 Be the Year of the Chiplet? As we approach 2025, the semiconductor industry is at the initial stage of a monumental shift toward chiplet technology. While 2025 won't be the year chiplets come to dominate the market, it will mark the beginning of a decade-long transition that will see chiplets change the face of electronics design and manufacturing. This evolution builds upon the trends we discussed earlier this year in Why Future Electronics Designs Might Be Chiplet-Based Read Article
CHIPS Act First Big Win is the Apple A16 Vertical CHIPS Act First Big Win is the Apple A16 A $52.7 billion bet is about to pay off. TSMC is starting production of Apple’s A16 SoC in Arizona. About the CHIPS Act The CHIPS and Science Act, passed in 2022, was a landmark initiative designed to boost the domestic production of semiconductors in the United States. With the global semiconductor supply chain heavily concentrated in East Asia—primarily Taiwan, South Korea, and China—the U.S. government recognized the strategic importance of Read Article
Renesas Power Challenges Renesas Is Solving the Power Challenges of AI, EVs, and Data Centers The power demands of cutting-edge technologies are skyrocketing. From artificial intelligence (AI) to electric vehicles (EVs), the world’s energy requirements are exploding, and Renesas is at the forefront of developing solutions. This article explores how Renesas is expanding its portfolio and addressing key power challenges in AI, data centers, and EVs. Renesas: A Powerhouse Beyond Automotive Historically, Renesas has been recognized for its Read Article
Integrated Circuits What Are Integrated Circuits? Electronic integrated circuits (ICs) are known by various names, such as microchips, computer chips, or compact electronic chips. Whatever you call them, these mini powerhouses are the driving force behind many of the devices we rely on daily, including computers, smartphones, and televisions. But what exactly are integrated circuits, and why are they so important? Come with us as we explore what integrated circuits are, the different types Read Article
through-hole resistor The Essential Guide to Through-Hole Resistors Resistors might seem like humble components, often overlooked in favor of more complex devices like microprocessors or sensors–however, these small yet mighty components play a critical role in ensuring that circuits function smoothly and efficiently. Whether you're designing a simple LED circuit or a complex computer system, resistors are fundamental in controlling voltage, protecting sensitive components, and managing current flow. We'll Read Article
Chip Counterfeits How Chip Counterfeits Are Getting More Sophisticated Despite the quality assurance and rigor of semiconductor standards, the industry is still prone to counterfeiting, which can only have detrimental effects the longer it continues. There are various elements that should provoke electronics buyers and manufacturers to dig deeper into the procurement process to uncover any potential blemishes in products they wish to purchase. With shortages afoot in some areas of the PCB market and abundances in Read Article
Chemical Processes Could Make Semiconductor Manufacturing More Sustainable Chemical Processes Could Make Semiconductor Manufacturing More Sustainable Although essential to modern life, semiconductor manufacturing is energy- and resource-intensive, demanding higher consumption of electricity, water, chemicals, and process gases, all of which contribute to greater energy use and environmental impact—an unfortunate reality that is further compounded by the increased complexity of advanced chip manufacturing and increased demand. "If the current growth path were to continue unchecked, carbon Read Article