Megachips

[Fullmoonfever]

After the new podcast I had a deeper look into Nintendo. There'd been a leak about technical features of the forthcoming new console. Code of the Nvidia Orin platform been found. Orin with integrated Akida is in use in the Mercedes EQXX.
Again only in German, maybe you can find some further information in English.

Nintendo Switch 2/Pro: Das müssen Sie wissen

Jüngste Gerüchte deuten auf eine 4K Switch Pro im nächsten Jahr. Es gibt auch Hinweise im neuen Trailer zu "Breath of the Wild 2".

www.pcwelt.de

@Perhaps

Translated below and highlighted chip / code section. Cheers.

Nintendo Switch 2/Pro: Everything you need to know​

Dominic Preston, Kaja Fischer, Birgit Götz | 04/13/2022 at 15:10
A new 4K Switch Pro is rumored to be coming out next year. What specifications will the new console bring? In this article you can read what we would like to see and what we can probably expect.

• Does New Breath Of The Wild 2 Trailer Have Switch 2 Hints?
• Hints at new switch in leaked code from Nvidia?

Nintendo Switch OLED with Joy-Con controllers
Ever since the Nintendo Switch launched in 2017, fans have been eager to know which console version is next - Switch 2, New Nintendo Switch, Switch Pro - or something else entirely.

The Switch has already been updated several times. There was a slightly tweaked version of the original with improved battery life, there was the portable Switch Lite, and more recently the Switch OLED with an improved display.

Buy Switch OLED in neon red and neon blue on Amazon
Buy Switch OLED in gray from Amazon
With the OLED version, many thought this was a 4K-capable Switch version, but that wasn't the case. But that's not to say Nintendo isn't preparing a major update. There are already reports of a new Switch.
Recommended by

Here's what we know so far and what features we're hoping for, including a new Qualcomm chip and 5G switch gaming.

When will the Nintendo Switch 2 be released?

Rumors about the Nintendo Switch 2 have been circulating since the original Switch launched in 2017.
The Switch Lite was launched in September 2019, the Switch OLED followed in October 2021. With a further gap of two years, a new console could then be presented in autumn 2023.
An upgrade, however, could come sooner. Gaming industry analyst Serkan Toto told Bloomberg that Nintendo may already be working on a "real upgrade."

Does New Breath Of The Wild 2 Trailer Have Switch 2 Hints?​

Nintendo Switch 2 could be released alongside or after Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 . The game was originally supposed to be released this year, but Nintendo postponed the release to spring 2023 at the end of March 2022 ( we reported ).

The recently re-released trailer for "Breath of the Wild 2" could contain hints that the game will be released with a new Switch model in the near future. Digital Foundry tech tech Richard Leadbitter said of the game's latest trailer , "The jump in image quality compared to the first title is glaring," leading video producer Alex Battaglia to argue that this footage may not have come from a Switch at all.
"I honestly don't think it is [Switch footage]. We've very rarely seen volumetric clouds on the Switch, and these don't collapse as obviously. Camera cuts also have perfect anti-aliasing, which even for an Xbox Series X - or PlayStation 5 game is rare. It could be the next Switch," argues Battaglia, continuing:

"I generally think that since they're delaying it now, it's going to be the equivalent of what we're seeing with Breath of the Wildly seen it launch on the old as well as the new, and we're seeing the nice benefits of the new in terms of Switch Pro, Switch 2, Switch EX, whatever."

A Bloomberg report from September 2021 stated that the 4K Switch will be released "at the end of 2022 at the earliest". It cites anonymous developers who are said to be working on 4K Switch games that are slated for release "in or after the second half of 2022".

Nintendo is keeping a low profile on the launch date of the Switch successor. All that was said was that the switch would be launched in "20XX". One can assume with certainty that new hardware is coming.


Nintendo switch
©Amazon
What will the new Nintendo Switch cost?

It is likely that the Switch 2 or Pro will be more expensive compared to the existing Switch models .
The Nintendo Switch can currently be found on Amazon from 279 euros , while the OLED version is available on Amazon from around 440 euros .
When an upgrade comes out with features like 4K support or more powerful graphics, it's very likely going to cost more.
Nintendo Switch OLED in the PC WORLD price comparison
Nintendo Switch Gray in the PC WORLD price comparison

What will the new 4K switch be called?

Many expected the Switch OLED to be called the Switch Pro. With the new Switch, this name could indicate that the new model is more powerful but still belongs to the same generation of consoles. Like the Switch OLED, it could also simply refer directly to its key new specs and go by the Nintendo Switch 4K name.
A name that ties in with the company's previous naming is more likely: the New Nintendo Switch. The company has already used the "New" branding on some of its 3DS upgrades and might repeat it here.
Of course, if Nintendo sees the new console as a whole new generation, it could just as easily be called the Switch 2. Another classic Nintendo move would be to call it Super Nintendo Switch, but that seems unlikely.
And finally, Nintendo could ditch the Switch name altogether and opt for something entirely new. The SNES and Wii U are the only two home consoles to carry the name of their predecessors, and only one of them has stood the test.

What will the Switch Pro specs look like?

Since the OLED model was announced, not many direct leaks or rumors have surfaced about the specs of the next Switch.
Two previous Bloomberg reports claim that Nintendo was considering more processing power and high-resolution 4K graphics, citing several anonymous third-party game developers who claim that Nintendo asked them to make their games 4K-capable.
These statements were backed up in a September 2021 Bloomberg report , which claimed that at least 11 gaming companies - ranging from major publishers to small studios including Zynga - have 4K switch development kits arguably available at the time of the OLED -model had been distributed.
Both Zynga and Nintendo were quick to deny the report. Nintendo tweeted that there are no plans for any model other than Nintendo Switch OLED.

However, that report (and denial) came before the OLED model was launched. It's understandable that Nintendo would want to downplay any reports of future consoles so as not to disrupt sales of that hardware. Therefore, any official statement should be treated with caution.
In fact, the Switch OLED itself gives some hints that Nintendo might be working on 4K support, or rather, the dock is. Twitter user KawlunDram pointed out that the new dock includes a Realtek chip that's spec'd for 4K support, and that it comes with an HDMI 2.0 cable that also supports 4K. Both are changes from the original Switch.
However, that doesn't mean the Switch OLED will get a firmware update for 4K support. Because although the Nvidia Tegra X1 chip technically supports 4K@60fps, in practice it is not powerful enough for many demanding Switch games.
Instead, this appears to be evidence that Nintendo is preparing its supply chain for 4K hardware. Or another reason for speculation that the OLED model was originally supposed to support 4K and plans have changed.
4K will only be intended for the TV output of the console, if at all. The handheld's display will either remain at 720p or receive a slight upgrade to 1080p.

A later EDN report claimed that Nintendo wants to use a mini LED panel made by Taiwanese manufacturer Innolux, which would help with better picture quality and longer battery life.
4K support could be powered by a new Nvidia chip utilizing the company's DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) technology, which uses machine learning to render higher-resolution images more efficiently. However, this requires support to be enabled in games. Don't expect older Switch titles to support 4K output unless developers take the time to patch them.

Hints at new switch in leaked code from Nvidia?​

Nvidia code was recently leaked, which the hacker group Lapsus$ stole from Nvidia ( we reported ). In the code there is an API called "nvn2". This is interesting because the API for the code for the switch is named - you guessed it - "nvn".

The code hints at support for Nvidia's Ampere GPU architecture, which supports DLSS - along with ray tracing, although the latter is unlikely to find its way into Nintendo's hardware. The leak also points to T234 - the code for Nvidia's Orin system-on-chip - and T239 - supposedly a customized version of that chip previously said to be in the works for the Switch Pro.
Other older rumors may still be relevant. Switchbrew hackers delved into the 5.0 firmware update that was distributed to Nintendo Switch consoles in March 2018 and found evidence of technologies not present in the current console, such as a new T214 chip (the is a small improvement on the current T210 chipset) as well as an updated PCB (Print Circuit Board) and improved RAM (8GB instead of the current 4GB).

Nintendo is also working on the next-gen designs and has filed a Joy-Con patent in Japan. It's about a pressure point on the current switch that's comfortable in the handheld module for a long time.

Nintendo seems to be aware of this issue and is considering fixing it with improved bendable Joy-Cons . As can be seen in the image below from the patent, the top third of each Joy-Con can flex, which should improve ergonomics during long periods of play. Of course, that's not a confirmation that these updated Joy-Cons will ever come to market, but you can tell that Nintendo is actively working on improvements.

What we're hoping to see in the Nintendo Switch 2

After a few years with the first-gen console and our criticisms of the Switch OLED review , here are the changes we'd like to see in the Nintendo Switch 2.

Higher resolution display and 4K output

One of the biggest drawbacks of the Nintendo Switch is the 720p display. Sure, the console can output full 1080p HD when connected to a TV. But at a time when there are 4K smartphones on the market, Nintendo could have upped the screen to at least 1080p.

While the Switch OLED sticks with a 720p display and 1080p output, we'd like to see the Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade to a 1080p display and 4K TV output to enable Switch games like Zelda: BotW and Super Mario Odyssey look really great too.


Better battery life

The battery life of the Nintendo Switch is by no means bad, mainly compared to gaming laptops, but as we all know, it can always be better. There are a plethora of Nintendo Switch power banks and handy accessories out there to extend the console's battery life. But they're heavy and bulky, and unless they attach directly to the console, you have to carry the accessories around.

2019 saw a slightly updated version of the Switch with small battery life improvements, but the OLED upgrade promises no further improvements.

The introduction of fast-charging technology could reduce charging time and allow the console to be charged quickly before taking it on the go.

More on-device storage

The Nintendo Switch has 32GB of built-in storage, which has been increased to 64GB on the OLED model and can be expanded using a micro SD card. That's enough for a few Switch games, but it's a far cry from the capacities offered by the PS5 and Xbox Series X.

With the Switch 2, it would be nice to have more storage, it doesn't have to be 1 TB, but 128 or 256 GB would be an advantage. This would allow gamers to store a large collection of games without having to invest in a micro SD card .

With storage prices falling every day, that shouldn't be much of a challenge.

Improved specifications

In addition to a larger storage capacity, we would like to see a significant improvement in graphics performance. The biggest downside to the Nintendo Switch is that it's not powerful enough to play some of the biggest and best games.

All Switch models on the market are powered by the 5 year old Nvidia Tegra X1. It's about time Nintendo equipped the Switch Pro with a more powerful chip.

A boost in graphics performance would bring more high-end games to the console, speed up Switch releases, and generally make games look better, making them more appealing to a larger audience.


5G support One

feature we didn't know we needed until it was offered: 5G support. Chipset maker Qualcomm has unveiled a chip called the Snapdragon G3x Gen 1 that could power a new generation of Android handheld gaming consoles. A first development kit has already been developed in cooperation with Razer .

This or a future generation of the chip could power the switch. Should that be the case in the future, it would enable 5G use in addition to the processor potential.

Imagine a Switch 2 that lets you play online or download new games from anywhere without worrying about connecting to a Wi-Fi network. That would fundamentally change the Switch as a portable platform and massively improve its position in online gaming.

On the other hand, online gaming and networking have never been Nintendo's forte...

This post first appeared on our English colleagues on techadvisor.com

 

[Deleted member 118]

@Perhaps

Translated below and highlighted chip / code section. Cheers.

Nintendo Switch 2/Pro: Everything you need to know​

Dominic Preston, Kaja Fischer, Birgit Götz | 04/13/2022 at 15:10
A new 4K Switch Pro is rumored to be coming out next year. What specifications will the new console bring? In this article you can read what we would like to see and what we can probably expect.

• Does New Breath Of The Wild 2 Trailer Have Switch 2 Hints?
• Hints at new switch in leaked code from Nvidia?

Nintendo Switch OLED with Joy-Con controllers
Ever since the Nintendo Switch launched in 2017, fans have been eager to know which console version is next - Switch 2, New Nintendo Switch, Switch Pro - or something else entirely.

The Switch has already been updated several times. There was a slightly tweaked version of the original with improved battery life, there was the portable Switch Lite, and more recently the Switch OLED with an improved display.

Buy Switch OLED in neon red and neon blue on Amazon
Buy Switch OLED in gray from Amazon
With the OLED version, many thought this was a 4K-capable Switch version, but that wasn't the case. But that's not to say Nintendo isn't preparing a major update. There are already reports of a new Switch.
Recommended by

Here's what we know so far and what features we're hoping for, including a new Qualcomm chip and 5G switch gaming.

When will the Nintendo Switch 2 be released?

Rumors about the Nintendo Switch 2 have been circulating since the original Switch launched in 2017.
The Switch Lite was launched in September 2019, the Switch OLED followed in October 2021. With a further gap of two years, a new console could then be presented in autumn 2023.
An upgrade, however, could come sooner. Gaming industry analyst Serkan Toto told Bloomberg that Nintendo may already be working on a "real upgrade."

Does New Breath Of The Wild 2 Trailer Have Switch 2 Hints?​

Nintendo Switch 2 could be released alongside or after Zelda: Breath of the Wild 2 . The game was originally supposed to be released this year, but Nintendo postponed the release to spring 2023 at the end of March 2022 ( we reported ).

The recently re-released trailer for "Breath of the Wild 2" could contain hints that the game will be released with a new Switch model in the near future. Digital Foundry tech tech Richard Leadbitter said of the game's latest trailer , "The jump in image quality compared to the first title is glaring," leading video producer Alex Battaglia to argue that this footage may not have come from a Switch at all.
"I honestly don't think it is [Switch footage]. We've very rarely seen volumetric clouds on the Switch, and these don't collapse as obviously. Camera cuts also have perfect anti-aliasing, which even for an Xbox Series X - or PlayStation 5 game is rare. It could be the next Switch," argues Battaglia, continuing:

"I generally think that since they're delaying it now, it's going to be the equivalent of what we're seeing with Breath of the Wildly seen it launch on the old as well as the new, and we're seeing the nice benefits of the new in terms of Switch Pro, Switch 2, Switch EX, whatever."

A Bloomberg report from September 2021 stated that the 4K Switch will be released "at the end of 2022 at the earliest". It cites anonymous developers who are said to be working on 4K Switch games that are slated for release "in or after the second half of 2022".

Nintendo is keeping a low profile on the launch date of the Switch successor. All that was said was that the switch would be launched in "20XX". One can assume with certainty that new hardware is coming.


Nintendo switch
©Amazon
What will the new Nintendo Switch cost?

It is likely that the Switch 2 or Pro will be more expensive compared to the existing Switch models .
The Nintendo Switch can currently be found on Amazon from 279 euros , while the OLED version is available on Amazon from around 440 euros .
When an upgrade comes out with features like 4K support or more powerful graphics, it's very likely going to cost more.
Nintendo Switch OLED in the PC WORLD price comparison
Nintendo Switch Gray in the PC WORLD price comparison

What will the new 4K switch be called?

Many expected the Switch OLED to be called the Switch Pro. With the new Switch, this name could indicate that the new model is more powerful but still belongs to the same generation of consoles. Like the Switch OLED, it could also simply refer directly to its key new specs and go by the Nintendo Switch 4K name.
A name that ties in with the company's previous naming is more likely: the New Nintendo Switch. The company has already used the "New" branding on some of its 3DS upgrades and might repeat it here.
Of course, if Nintendo sees the new console as a whole new generation, it could just as easily be called the Switch 2. Another classic Nintendo move would be to call it Super Nintendo Switch, but that seems unlikely.
And finally, Nintendo could ditch the Switch name altogether and opt for something entirely new. The SNES and Wii U are the only two home consoles to carry the name of their predecessors, and only one of them has stood the test.

What will the Switch Pro specs look like?

Since the OLED model was announced, not many direct leaks or rumors have surfaced about the specs of the next Switch.
Two previous Bloomberg reports claim that Nintendo was considering more processing power and high-resolution 4K graphics, citing several anonymous third-party game developers who claim that Nintendo asked them to make their games 4K-capable.
These statements were backed up in a September 2021 Bloomberg report , which claimed that at least 11 gaming companies - ranging from major publishers to small studios including Zynga - have 4K switch development kits arguably available at the time of the OLED -model had been distributed.
Both Zynga and Nintendo were quick to deny the report. Nintendo tweeted that there are no plans for any model other than Nintendo Switch OLED.

However, that report (and denial) came before the OLED model was launched. It's understandable that Nintendo would want to downplay any reports of future consoles so as not to disrupt sales of that hardware. Therefore, any official statement should be treated with caution.
In fact, the Switch OLED itself gives some hints that Nintendo might be working on 4K support, or rather, the dock is. Twitter user KawlunDram pointed out that the new dock includes a Realtek chip that's spec'd for 4K support, and that it comes with an HDMI 2.0 cable that also supports 4K. Both are changes from the original Switch.
However, that doesn't mean the Switch OLED will get a firmware update for 4K support. Because although the Nvidia Tegra X1 chip technically supports 4K@60fps, in practice it is not powerful enough for many demanding Switch games.
Instead, this appears to be evidence that Nintendo is preparing its supply chain for 4K hardware. Or another reason for speculation that the OLED model was originally supposed to support 4K and plans have changed.
4K will only be intended for the TV output of the console, if at all. The handheld's display will either remain at 720p or receive a slight upgrade to 1080p.

A later EDN report claimed that Nintendo wants to use a mini LED panel made by Taiwanese manufacturer Innolux, which would help with better picture quality and longer battery life.
4K support could be powered by a new Nvidia chip utilizing the company's DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) technology, which uses machine learning to render higher-resolution images more efficiently. However, this requires support to be enabled in games. Don't expect older Switch titles to support 4K output unless developers take the time to patch them.

Hints at new switch in leaked code from Nvidia?​

Nvidia code was recently leaked, which the hacker group Lapsus$ stole from Nvidia ( we reported ). In the code there is an API called "nvn2". This is interesting because the API for the code for the switch is named - you guessed it - "nvn".

The code hints at support for Nvidia's Ampere GPU architecture, which supports DLSS - along with ray tracing, although the latter is unlikely to find its way into Nintendo's hardware. The leak also points to T234 - the code for Nvidia's Orin system-on-chip - and T239 - supposedly a customized version of that chip previously said to be in the works for the Switch Pro.
Other older rumors may still be relevant. Switchbrew hackers delved into the 5.0 firmware update that was distributed to Nintendo Switch consoles in March 2018 and found evidence of technologies not present in the current console, such as a new T214 chip (the is a small improvement on the current T210 chipset) as well as an updated PCB (Print Circuit Board) and improved RAM (8GB instead of the current 4GB).

Nintendo is also working on the next-gen designs and has filed a Joy-Con patent in Japan. It's about a pressure point on the current switch that's comfortable in the handheld module for a long time.

Nintendo seems to be aware of this issue and is considering fixing it with improved bendable Joy-Cons . As can be seen in the image below from the patent, the top third of each Joy-Con can flex, which should improve ergonomics during long periods of play. Of course, that's not a confirmation that these updated Joy-Cons will ever come to market, but you can tell that Nintendo is actively working on improvements.

What we're hoping to see in the Nintendo Switch 2

After a few years with the first-gen console and our criticisms of the Switch OLED review , here are the changes we'd like to see in the Nintendo Switch 2.

Higher resolution display and 4K output

One of the biggest drawbacks of the Nintendo Switch is the 720p display. Sure, the console can output full 1080p HD when connected to a TV. But at a time when there are 4K smartphones on the market, Nintendo could have upped the screen to at least 1080p.

While the Switch OLED sticks with a 720p display and 1080p output, we'd like to see the Nintendo Switch 2 upgrade to a 1080p display and 4K TV output to enable Switch games like Zelda: BotW and Super Mario Odyssey look really great too.


Better battery life

The battery life of the Nintendo Switch is by no means bad, mainly compared to gaming laptops, but as we all know, it can always be better. There are a plethora of Nintendo Switch power banks and handy accessories out there to extend the console's battery life. But they're heavy and bulky, and unless they attach directly to the console, you have to carry the accessories around.

2019 saw a slightly updated version of the Switch with small battery life improvements, but the OLED upgrade promises no further improvements.

The introduction of fast-charging technology could reduce charging time and allow the console to be charged quickly before taking it on the go.

More on-device storage

The Nintendo Switch has 32GB of built-in storage, which has been increased to 64GB on the OLED model and can be expanded using a micro SD card. That's enough for a few Switch games, but it's a far cry from the capacities offered by the PS5 and Xbox Series X.

With the Switch 2, it would be nice to have more storage, it doesn't have to be 1 TB, but 128 or 256 GB would be an advantage. This would allow gamers to store a large collection of games without having to invest in a micro SD card .

With storage prices falling every day, that shouldn't be much of a challenge.

Improved specifications

In addition to a larger storage capacity, we would like to see a significant improvement in graphics performance. The biggest downside to the Nintendo Switch is that it's not powerful enough to play some of the biggest and best games.

All Switch models on the market are powered by the 5 year old Nvidia Tegra X1. It's about time Nintendo equipped the Switch Pro with a more powerful chip.

A boost in graphics performance would bring more high-end games to the console, speed up Switch releases, and generally make games look better, making them more appealing to a larger audience.


5G support One

feature we didn't know we needed until it was offered: 5G support. Chipset maker Qualcomm has unveiled a chip called the Snapdragon G3x Gen 1 that could power a new generation of Android handheld gaming consoles. A first development kit has already been developed in cooperation with Razer .

This or a future generation of the chip could power the switch. Should that be the case in the future, it would enable 5G use in addition to the processor potential.

Imagine a Switch 2 that lets you play online or download new games from anywhere without worrying about connecting to a Wi-Fi network. That would fundamentally change the Switch as a portable platform and massively improve its position in online gaming.

On the other hand, online gaming and networking have never been Nintendo's forte...

This post first appeared on our English colleagues on techadvisor.com

A while back I was reading an interesting article regarding NVIDIA using RISC-V for the forcoming console, just tried to find it again but had no luck

 

[Fullmoonfever]

A while back I was reading an interesting article regarding NVIDIA using RISC-V for the forcoming console, just tried to find it again but had no luck

On mobile and time for quick search shows NVIDIA running Risc-V workshops since 2017. PDF Presso link below.

Suggest they be well across it you'd think.

https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://riscv.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Tue1345pm-NVIDIA-Sijstermans.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjHgtrk-ML3AhV33jgGHZm-BrQQFnoECCoQAQ&usg=AOvVaw15HGYkdCufy9D_T3r87L_m

 

[Deleted member 118]

On mobile and time for quick search shows NVIDIA running Risc-V workshops since 2017. PDF Presso link below.

Suggest they be well across it you'd think.

https://www.google.com.au/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=https://riscv.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/Tue1345pm-NVIDIA-Sijstermans.pdf&ved=2ahUKEwjHgtrk-ML3AhV33jgGHZm-BrQQFnoECCoQAQ&usg=AOvVaw15HGYkdCufy9D_T3r87L_m

I have done some research into this and just took another look and came up with this

AMD Seeks New Embedded RISC-V Employee

AMD Radeon Technology Group (RTG) looking for a CPU and GPU Engineer RISC-V for its current development team building RISC-V embedded processors. The new job posting indicates that AMD’s RISC-V solution development is in full swing, and the fact that Radeon Technologies Group is hiring may give...

www.aroged.com

 

[Perhaps]

Another interesting part of the MegaChips podcast was the information of customers priority on low power consumption and cheap production costs. As far as I know there is no chip design in the rising neuromorphic market which can rival Akida in case of production costs.

 

[Fact Finder]

I think it won’t be long before the 1,000 Eyes will need to stop trying to find customers of Brainchip and switch over to helping Rob Telson find those who aren’t because they will be rare as hens teeth.

My opinion only DYOR
FF

AKIDA BALLISTA

 

[Fullmoonfever]

From couple days ago.

At least we already got an office in India

India plans to launch a high-end RISC-V chips in the coming years - Game News 24

The government of India announced a plan for the development and production of semiconductor products based on the RISC-V architecture. In parallel, the

www.google.com.au

India plans to launch a high-end RISC-V chips in the coming years​

The government of India announced a plan for the development and production of semiconductor products based on the RISC-V architecture. In parallel, the country sets a ambitious goal of launching the production of highly-known chips at the end of the next year.

Image source: blickpixel/pixabay.com.

DIR-V provides the use of data from technical and technological institutions in India for the development of chips for servers, mobile devices, cars, microcontrollers for various purposes and IoT devices. Rajeev Chandrasekhar, former India’s ‘expert’, said that DIR-V plans to progress in chip designs and manufacturing by December 2023.

The minister said that the programme is based on the experience gained in the development of existing Indian chips on Shakti and Vega architecture. Until now, these solutions aren’t a model of the Shakti family, because of its multi-bit architecture, the new chip was developed in accordance with the 180 nm process technology and provides high frequencies from 75 MHz to 100 MHz. To be able to use an alternative version of Shakti, it was created to use the 22-nm process technology, but this solution is still only available in paper. The Vega version is more advanced and is currently used in chips according to several reports.

The government defines these projects as early steps in the development of a processor. The many most mature projects don’t exist until the time period given to the minister and thus rely on them on that base to make quality goods within the time frame given. Nevertheless, Indian companies actively participate in the development of semiconductors-related enterprises with a world reputation often turn to relatively low-paid professionals from this country to help them.

India has shown a strong interest in RISC-V since at least 2020 when it launched a design competition to promote local projects for the platform. Now, the country announced that he is a member of the non-profit organization RISC-V International which oversees the development of this architecture. To the second time, a representative of the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology will be appointed chairman of the board.

Indian authorities also plan on developing cooperation in the semiconductor industry and in other areas. The country is in discussions with Intel, TSMC and GlobalFoundries to build chip factories in the area.

 

[Deleted member 118]

I think it won’t be long before the 1,000 Eyes will need to stop trying to find customers of Brainchip and switch over to helping Rob Telson find those who aren’t because they will be rare as hens teeth.

My opinion only DYOR
FF

AKIDA BALLISTA

Not heard as rare as hens teeth, more like as rare as rocking horse shit thou

 

[JK200SX]

Not heard as rare as hens teeth, more like as rare as rocking horse shit thou

or, the number of companies that aren't BRN customers will be lower than a ducks arse!

 

[Fullmoonfever]

Recent article on Megachips and BRN fit.

Pradeep's Techpoints!​

Technology, imagine, deliver!

pradeepstechpoints.wordpress.com

MegaChips enters US for edge AI chips market​

POSTED ON MAY 2, 2022

Osaka, Japan-based ASIC provider, MegaChips Corp. (Japan) has announced its entry into the US market. MegaChips is one of the world’s leading custom ASIC providers for consumer, telecom/network, industrial and automotive apps. Headquartered in Japan, it has offices in Silicon Valley and Taiwan. MegaChips is ISO9001 certified and ensures the highest levels of intellectual property security.

Douglas Fairbairn.
Right on time!
Looking at the announcement, has Megachips made a late entry into the global edge AI chips market? Douglas Fairbairn, Director of Business Development for MegaChips LSI USA Corp., said: “From our perspective, we’re not late for production, but right on time. There have been a number of companies entering this market from an IP point of view. However, those companies, in general, are still gaining traction and are not yet at the volume production stage, which is where we’re most interested in participating. We see a lot of market potential for volume ahead of us. There are still areas that might be a good early entry point for us to take advantage of beginning in 2022, and ramping up in 2023 and 2024"

There are already a couple of areas where volume has been attained, such as the data center market, which is dominated by Nvidia and Intel. However, MegaChips is not addressing that market.

So, how is the AI chip industry positioned to address emerging cases for integrated processors, etc.? By integrated processors, things like RISC-V, or ARM, that are being embedded in other chips, or in SoCs. If that’s the case, the AI chip industry is very well positioned to take advantage of that emerging trend, which has been underway for some time.

What people have found is that the existing processors from ARM or RISC-V do not address the power performance requirements of the AI industry. There are some low-end cases that can be handled with software on these embedded processors. In general, people are looking for either accelerators to pair with those processors, or completely new processors, that would replace the embedded processor and AI into a much higher performance functionality.

In this case, MegaChips’ partner, BrainChip, is an example of an accelerator that would be combined with the existing embedded processors. In the case of its other IP partner, Quadric, they could be either used as an accelerator, or even supersede the need for an embedded processor.

Determining success
Now, there have been attempts from some others, but not with much success. How can MegaChips determine its path?

According to Fairbairn, we see this as an emerging market. Those who tried to enter with volume production capabilities up until now were too early to the party. It’s only now that people are reaching the point where they are in need of volume production opportunities.

There have been many obstacles to the adoption of AI, and adoption has been relatively slow. MegaChips realized that, and partnered with a couple of IP vendors that already had some significant traction, but also needed the muscle of pairing up with a silicon vendor to actually provide a complete solution to the customer.

By combining forces and offering that complete solution, and with the ability to help the customer determine which solution is best to integrate into a single chip or module, we can help overcome those things. We are investing heavily in internal capability to address this very need. We believe that we’re hitting the market at an ideal time to be involved with some designs that can go into production in the near future.

Approaching Taiwan
Therefore, why hasn’t MegaChips approached Taiwan companies who are more bent toward AI chips?

As per Fairbairn, it’s an interesting potential market. We think that we’ll be able to tap into those through some of the relationships we have in the US and Taiwan. Eventually, we will establish a base there, as well. Although we are focusing on the US at the moment, we actually see that there are Taiwanese companies interested in working with US-based IP companies. We may be able to help them enter the market.

Elaborate on the best ways to implement desired AI functionalities. He said the answer depends on the app! This is one of the factors that is slowing the adoption curve down, because customers have trouble trying to figure out which is the best solution. They might have questions like, “Can we do it with purely software solutions using the processors I have already embedded? Do I need an accelerator? If so, which ones should I adopt?”.

Customers want to make sure they have the right solutions that will significantly increase the performance capabilities without increasing costs. We’re in a position to help them decide which is the best way, and help them figure out the most comprehensive solution. Our knowledge of the industry and capabilities will greatly help overcome this problem.

US entry
He also elaborated on MegaChips’ entry to the US. What is it looking to achieve? Fairbairn said we’ve already done a major push into working with IP partners like BrainChip and Quadric. Every one of those IP vendors needs to have a path to silicon, and we are interested in working with any IP partner who are ready to put their IP to test in real silicon to demonstrate their capability.

We think there are significant opportunities in the United States because it tends to be an early adopter versus what we’ve seen with some of the Japanese companies. There is also a wider variety of markets and systems companies, such as in wearables, appliances, office and factory automation. All of these represent significant opportunities beyond what is available in Japan.

We’re eager to get our name out there and be better known in the US, with the goal of becoming the leading ASIC vendor for embedding AI functionality into your chips. If you have any AI or ASIC requirement, MegaChips is your first and best choice supplier here in the US.

So, do they have any any tie ups to announce? He added that the ones we’ve announced are the ones we have. Others may be forthcoming in the future.

Also, what about Europe and Asia? According to Fairbairn, Europe is an interesting market. We’ve found that there are representatives of European companies based in the US with operations here, who are doing some of the advanced development work. We’re already working with those companies, so we have a path to Europe. But, it’s not a focus of our activity right now.

With Asia, as we are reflecting on Taiwan, all of these companies have some sort of operation, typically a more advanced development operation, here in the US. We can get to those companies through those US outposts. Right now, we think the US is our largest opportunity. As we develop and mature in that marketplace, we will be expanding our capabilities and awareness into other markets as well.

 

[Deleted member 118]

About MegaChips | MegaChips Corporation

Founded in 1990 as Japan's first manufacturer of R&D-oriented system LSIs, MegaChips leads the world market through innovation and creativity.

megachips.com

MegaChips is one of the world’s leading custom ASIC providers for consumer, telecom/network, industrial and automotive applications.​

Headquartered in Japan, with offices in Silicon Valley and Taiwan, Megachips has over 30 years in business and has successfully completed more than 1,500 ASIC projects. MegaChips operates as an extension of our customers’ design teams, to provide a whole solution from concept-to-silicon and has recently expanded to address the growing global demand for embedded AI solutions. With a strong emphasis on cost effectiveness, delivery schedule, and product quality, MegaChips is ISO9001 certified and ensures the highest levels of intellectual property security.

History​

Starting in Japan
MegaChips is an unusual example of a Japanese company founded by an entrepreneur and bootstrapped into the largest ASIC company in Japan. Masahiro Shindo founded the company in 1990 as the country’s first fabless semiconductor company. The company was profitable in its first year of operation. The company has faced many challenges, including the 1992 economic downturn and the 1995 earthquake which forced 30% of the employees into evacuation centers. However, MegaChips overcame them all and continued to grow.
In 1998, the company achieved the goal that all startups dream of, an initial public offering (IPO). And like so many US-based startups, all the initial 21 employees held stock options, and at the time of the IPO, all the employees were shareholders.
Moving to the US

MegaChips came to the United States in 1995, but kept a low profile. However it has made a number of strategic investments in the US. It acquired SiTime Corp, located in Santa Clara CA, in 2014 and then spun it out as a public company in 2019. In July 2021, MegaChips invested in SiliconBrite, a company focused on analog and mixed-signal technologies. Later in 2021, MegaChips struck a strategic partnership with Motus-Labs to work jointly on products for the robotics and automated equipment.
In a much more aggressive move, in mid-2020, founder and Chairman, Masahiro Shindo, identified AI/ML technology to be critical to Megachips’ future and asked the US operation to take a leadership position in moving the company in that direction.
MegaChips began an internal training program to allow a group of dedicated engineers to become experts in this important technology. The company made significant investments in the US to identify key partners, build relationships with local universities, and acquire key talent in this space. In 2021, the company made multi-million-dollar investments in two key AI/IP partners, Brainchip and Quadric, to bolster its offerings in the Edge AI market. The company is now positioned to make an aggressive move into the US ASIC market, using its skills in Edge AI as a key component of that move.

 

[CompanyMaker]

I recommend that all BRN investors listen to this podcast about the launch of MegaChips in the U.S. and more specifically their relationship with BrainChip. The whole podcast runs for 22 minutes. The specific discussion about BrainChip starts after the 12 minute and 30 second mark. Some great insights regarding opportunities in the edge AI space.

Podcast EP84: MegaChips and Their Launch in the US with Doug Fairbairn - Semiwiki

Dan is joined by semiconductor and EDA industry veteran Douglas Fairbairn. Doug provides details about MegaChips, where he currently heads business development. MegaChips is a large, successful 30-year old semiconductor company based in Japan. Doug is helping MegaChips launch in the US with a...

semiwiki.com

 

[Fact Finder]

I recommend that all BRN investors listen to this podcast about the launch of MegaChips in the U.S. and more specifically their relationship with BrainChip. The whole podcast runs for 22 minutes. The specific discussion about BrainChip starts after the 12 minute and 30 second mark. Some great insights regarding opportunities in the edge AI space.

Podcast EP84: MegaChips and Their Launch in the US with Doug Fairbairn - Semiwiki

Dan is joined by semiconductor and EDA industry veteran Douglas Fairbairn. Doug provides details about MegaChips, where he currently heads business development. MegaChips is a large, successful 30-year old semiconductor company based in Japan. Doug is helping MegaChips launch in the US with a...

semiwiki.com

Great find generously shared. Lots of information.

The thing that jumped out was confirmation that Brainchip had multiple customer engagements and the emphasis on wearables in particular medical.

The reference to patches ties in with the work being done by Professor Haick from Technion/NaNose which @uiux has posted about at some length.

There of course was the statement by both men that Ai will be in every chip produced and some might find that exciting.

My opinion only DYOR
FF

AKIDA BALLISTA

 

[CompanyMaker]

Great find generously shared. Lots of information.

The thing that jumped out was confirmation that Brainchip had multiple customer engagements and the emphasis on wearables in particular medical.

The reference to patches ties in with the work being done by Professor Haick from Technion/NaNose which @uiux has posted about at some length.

There of course was the statement by both men that Ai will be in every chip produced and some might find that exciting.

My opinion only DYOR
FF

AKIDA BALLISTA

The reference to the significant edge AI opportunities in the wearables market also caught my attention, together with opportunities in the security and industrial space (@ 9 min 40 sec in podcast). Importantly, these opportunities will bring in more revenue than the automotive space in the shorter term.

 

[davidfitz]

Nice to see that they have updated their website as the old one was atrocious. Much more professional and a sign that they mean business.

 

[Proga]

He hit the nail on the head when he said there is a lot of demand but not a lot of understanding and capability when it comes to Edge AI development (8.55 mark). We need to be patient while the understanding and capability develops within the ecosystem.

 

[Terroni2105]

What a great podcast, I really like the sound of Doug Fairbairn and think it’s going to be a wonderful and fruitful relationship between Megachips and BrainChip, and sooner rather than later

 

[KMuzza]

Nice to see that they have updated their website as the old one was atrocious. Much more professional and a sign that they mean business.

View attachment 9157

View attachment 9156

David- I like this more than their website-

News Releases | MegaChips Corporation

Please check MegaChips latest information and new releases.

megachips.com

A formal announcement 22 May 2022- but nothing on the Brainchipinc.com website under news / etc
And a great podcast with Doug Fairbairn

AKIDA BALLISTA UBQTS

 

[Rise from the ashes]

David- I like this more than their website-

News Releases | MegaChips Corporation

Please check MegaChips latest information and new releases.

megachips.com

A formal announcement 22 May 2022- but nothing on the Brainchipinc.com website under news / etc
And a great podcast with Doug Fairbairn

AKIDA BALLISTA UBQTS

 

[supersonic001]

BrainChip on LinkedIn: Podcast EP84: MegaChips and Their Launch in the US with Doug Fairbairn -…

Podcast EP84: MegaChips and Their Launch in the US with Doug Fairbairn - Semiwiki - BrainChip mentioned around the 13 minute mark... https://lnkd.in/dQMM3Z2a

www.linkedin.com