In connected car news are alkaLi, Molex, proteanTecs, 3SS and TomTom.
alkaLi Lithium Production
Gradiant, a global solutions provider for advanced water and wastewater treatment, announces the spin-out of alkaLi™, a standalone company dedicated to accelerating the scaling of battery-grade lithium production. alkaLi is powered by EC2, the world’s only all-in-one solution engineered to Extract, Concentrate and Convert battery-grade lithium.
With electric vehicles, energy storage systems, and portable electronic devices driving global demand for lithium, EC2 offers producers an unprecedented new means to rapidly scale lithium production. EC2 features instantaneous production measured in seconds, not years; reduced costs with 50% lower OPEX and zero CAPEX costs; industry-leading sustainability with significantly reduced carbon and water footprints; and expedited permitting to meet the global lithium demand. The complete system is balanced, integrated, and adapts to a broad range of source inputs.
alkaLi’s EC2 is a highly modular, three-stage system adaptable to the broadest range of source inputs to date, including – brine, evaporation, and recycling. The technology can be deployed in full or standalone stages, integrated with existing site infrastructure with an option to supercharge production with SmartOps AI. EC2 has been bench-tested and field-tested, and successfully completed a commercial proving system with SLB in 2023. alkaLi will continue to offer the business model flexibility that Gradiant is renowned for: providing producers with a zero CAPEX option in which the company builds, owns and operates the solution.
“A clear purpose drives Gradiant, and that is to ensure water for generations to come. With that comes an affinity for holistic environmental solutions beyond water, including the successful electrification of our societies to reduce the burden on fossil fuels,” said Prakash Govindan, COO of Gradiant. “Demand for lithium is outstripping supply. We must accelerate the scale of production solutions, and it is for this reason that we will spin out alkaLi, a completely independent company with a dedicated focus on maximizing the production efficiency of battery-grade lithium.”
“Gradiant is different. We’re more than a water company; we’re a technology company,” added Siva Kumar Kota, Head of Technology. “Our revolutionary RO Infinity with Counter-Flow Reverse Osmosis technology powers EC2. CFRO operates with significantly lower demand for energy and water, concentrating to limits approaching saturation without the environmental impacts common in incumbent technologies.”
alkaLi’s EC2 solution sets new industry standards to Extract, Concentrate, and Convert battery-grade lithium with optimized efficiency and sustainability throughout each stage:
Extraction: Synthesized resins and novel membranes optimize lithium extraction far beyond industry norms, uniquely reaching Generation II levels and the richest lithium stream possible for maximum downstream efficiency. A second Li-lean stream is output, and each flows to CFRO units in the Concentration Stage.
Concentration: Powered by Gradiant’s award-winning CFRO to maximize system efficiency, consuming an order of magnitude less energy than thermal processes.
- CFRO I receives the Li-rich stream and further concentrates to levels sufficient to convert to battery-grade lithium
- CFRO II receives the Li-lean stream and reduces TDS to below regulatory limits, allowing expedited permitting
Conversion: The concentrated lithium is precipitated into a solid to produce battery-grade lithium carbonate (Li2CO3) or lithium hydroxide (LiOH).
Molex Breaking Boundaries: Uniting Ruggedization and Miniaturization in Connector Design
Molex, a global electronics leader and connectivity innovator, has released a report that explores the ever-increasing role of ruggedized, miniaturized interconnect solutions in unlocking new possibilities for electronic device innovation across a growing swath of industries. The report, entitled “Breaking Boundaries: Uniting Ruggedization and Miniaturization in Connector Design,” looks at the trends, tradeoffs and enabling technologies that remove roadblocks while helping shape the future of electronics.
“Increasing demand for electronics in new vehicle platforms has intensified the need for smaller and rugged interconnects designed to withstand the harshest environments,” said Carrieanne Piccard, VP and GM, Transportation Innovative Solutions, Molex. “As a result, the ruggedization of miniaturized connectors has emerged as an overarching design principle, requiring a holistic approach across the entire lifecycle of components to achieve optimal product reliability, performance and longevity.”
Critical Connectivity Enablers
In this industry report, Molex defines miniature connectors as having a pitch of 2.54mm or less while ruggedness refers to features for withstanding the harshest environments and mechanical stresses. The convergence of interconnect ruggedization and miniaturization has enabled major innovations in the automotive industry, especially in supporting electric vehicles (EVs) and zonal architectures. Now the trend is permeating other industries, including consumer electronics (e.g., fitness trackers, smartwatches and smart home devices); industrial automation (e.g., industrial robots, touchscreens and sensors); as well as medical devices (e.g., endoscopes, insulin pumps and wearable health monitors).
Growing adoption of compact, durable connectors is gaining traction in other application areas, such as smart agriculture. Vertical farming systems with dense sensor and lighting installations require space-efficient connectors that work in wet, humid environments without interruption. Smaller, lighter and rugged connectors found in agricultural drones or “flying tractors” also must be protected against extreme temperature and excessive vibration, along with exposure to moisture, dust and corrosive chemicals.
Pushing Design Boundaries
Molex’s new report explores best practices for clearing major design and manufacturing roadblocks to facilitate the design of increasingly smaller, lighter and more reliable connectors. Aluminum alloys and specialized, high-strength steel, as well as high-performance polymers, offer exceptional durability and lightweight construction. Processing these materials into complex connector geometries, however, often calls for specialized techniques, ranging from micro-molding and high-precision machining to laser welding or selective plating.
In addition, dense pitch layouts enable higher-contact density to accommodate smaller device footprints, but they require high-precision manufacturing and assembly. Increased risk of crosstalk and ineffective heat dissipation also can occur. To mitigate these issues, engineers can rely on advanced signal routing techniques, shielding and isolation methods, along with advanced thermal management strategies like heat sinks or thermal vias. Molex DuraClik Connectors feature housings made from high-temperature PBT material and secure terminal retention to withstand extreme automotive environments.
Multi-Functional Terminals (MFTs) represent a significant leap forward in miniaturized connector technology by integrating multiple functionalities — power, signal and even mechanical features, like locking mechanisms, into a single compact connector. Molex’s new report also investigates top environmental factors that can compromise component reliability while offering strategies and solutions to ensure optimal connector performance in harsh conditions. Strain relief features and contact design help optimize connector performance despite constant exposure to the stresses of vibration, shock and repeated mating cycles.
At Molex’s Global Reliability Lab, engineers simulate real-world vibration, temperature cycling and exposure to harsh chemicals. Molex Micro-Lock Plus Connectors address vibration challenges with a positive locking mechanism to ensure secure mating while averting accidental uncoupling in high-vibration environments. The connector’s metal solder tabs provide added strain relief to solder joints for enhanced resistance to mechanical stress and vibration.
Since even a single drop of water or speck of dust can create corrosion, shorts, and ultimately, device failure, ingress protection is essential. Molex’s Squba Connectors feature IP68-rated seals certified as resistant to nearly five feet of water for 30 minutes. These compact connectors optimize power delivery in one of the smallest, most durable form factors available.
As devices continue to shrink in size yet grow in functionality, Molex engineers are pushing the design boundaries of miniaturization and ruggedization to solve real-world business problems and exceed customer expectations.
Parade Tech retimer
Parade Technologies, Ltd. (Taiwan OTC: 4966.TWO), a leading high-speed interface, video display, and touch controller IC supplier, announces PS8830 USB4/TBT4 retimer shipping in key OEM customer Copilot+ PCs based on Snapdragon X Elite and Snapdragon X Plus platforms which offer game-changing AI performance and efficiency.
The PS8830 USB4/TBT4 retimer is optimized for use with the Snapdragon X Elite and Snapdragon X Plus platforms. The PS8830 is compliant with USB-IF USB4 specification supporting up to Gen 3×2 40Gbps (2x 20Gbps) and Thunderbolt 4 featuring TBT 3.0 up to 41.25Gbps (2x 20.625Gbps). USB4 tunneling of DP 1.4a and USB 3.2, and DP 2.1 alt mode up to UHBR20 are supported.
Customer implementations with Snapdragon X Elite and Snapdragon X Plus platforms may also include Parade PS185 DP-HDMI 2.0 converter for adding HDMI connectivity, PS8719 USB 3.2 Gen 1 redriver and PS8811 USB3.2 Gen 2 retimer for USB-A connectivity, benefiting from their proven performance and industry leading compatibility.
“Through extensive support for Snapdragon X Series platforms, we have enabled USB4/TBT4, a complex and challenging high-speed technology for our mutual customers,” says Jimmy Chiu, Executive VP of Marketing at Parade Technologies. “OEMs can readily offer Copilot+ PCs with Snapdragon X Series platforms with the PS8830 USB4/TBT4 retimers along with the PS185 DP-HDMI 2.0 converter and PS8719/PS8811 USB-A 3.2 retimer solutions. This allows for ease of design and greatly reduces development time and cost.”
Availability
The PS8830 is in production in a 6mm x 6mm 105-ball BGA package.
PS185 is in production in a 56-pin 7x7mm QFN package.
PS8719 is in production in a 24-pin TQFN package.
PS8811 is in production in a 36-pin 4.2×4.2mm QFN package.
proteanTecs RTSM
proteanTecs, a global leader of health and performance monitoring solutions for advanced electronics, announced the launch of RTSM™ (Real-Time Safety Monitoring), a deep data application for fault detection and failure prevention in mission-critical automotive applications.
The rapid advancements in automotive architectures, particularly with the rise of software-defined, electric, and autonomous vehicles, have introduced advanced electronic systems and complex semiconductor technologies. This, coupled with stringent safety requirements of the ISO 26262 standard, results in a new set of challenges for automotive manufacturers and OEMs. Maintaining safety standards without compromising performance becomes a critical challenge.
proteanTecs RTSM introduces a new industry-grade safety layer, serving as the ECU’s silent guard. A real-time safety monitoring, predictive & prescriptive maintenance application, it allows systems to stay always-on while receiving immediate alerts about faults before they become errors. RTSM augments the best-in-class safety diagnostic methods, by monitoring timing margins in the chip at a real-time resolution, under actual workloads and with high diagnostic coverage. Combining on-chip data with algorithm-based identification of issue severity, RTSM enables dynamic system adjustment and failure prevention.
Key benefits
- Predictive Maintenance – algorithm-based Performance Index and notifications of risk severity, based on thresholds, affected areas, logic, power domains, and history of events
- Prescriptive Maintenance – real-time operational system adjustments to avoid failures
- Safety Mechanism – the detection of logical failures due to timing violations
- Faster reaction time – low latency warning signals and real-time actions
- Non-stop monitoring – always-on and in-mission mode
“With the automotive industry undergoing rapid transformation, our new safety monitoring solution comes at a crucial time,” said Uzi Baruch, chief strategy officer at proteanTecs. “RTSM is poised to revolutionize the automotive electronics market by providing manufacturers and OEMs with the tools needed to meet the demands of next-generation vehicles. We are committed to helping our customers stay ahead of the standardization curve with a future-proof safety layer, driving the path to zero failures together.”
RTSM is part of the company’s comprehensive portfolio of Health and Performance proteanTecs Monitoring solutions, addressing the needs of the AI, Datacenter, Automotive, Consumer, Aerospace & Defense, and Telecommunications markets.
The latest addition to their robust suite of applications for Automotive electronics, RTSM leverages proteanTecs’ foundational deep data approach, and adds real-time monitoring to their existing software offering of Degradation Monitoring, Mission Profile Monitoring, and Continuous Performance Monitoring.
proteanTecs will be demonstrating RTSM and other cutting-edge, deep data applications at the upcoming Design Automation Conference (DAC) in San Francisco. For the full presentation agenda and to book a private demo, visit here.
3SS & TomTom
3 Screen Solutions (3SS), leading provider of TV and multiscreen entertainment software solutions, and TomTom, the location technology specialist, announce their partnership and technical pre-integration of their respective platforms.
Award-winning 3Ready entertainment user experience technology now operates within TomTom’s advanced digital cockpit solution.
3Ready Automotive is the powerful technology platform that delivers entertainment to vehicle displays in customizable user-centric experiences. 3Ready’s abundance of appealing partner content, apps and services provides discovery and delight for all the car’s occupants. OEMs choosing to deploy 3Ready Automotive additionally benefit from the expertise gained through 3SS’ widely recognized track record in enabling superior viewing experiences for pay-TV operators, broadcasters and streamers the world over.
“3Ready Automotive is the ideal complement to the TomTom Digital Cockpit SDK for next-level entertainment experiences,” says Lyle Baumgarten, Product Manager, Digital Cockpit SDK at TomTom. “The flexibility and diversity of 3Ready Automotive enables OEMs to provide customers with highly engaging entertainment that transforms the enjoyment of any car journey.”
“Moreover, the combination of TomTom and 3Ready provides vehicle manufacturers with unprecedented opportunities to monetize the cockpit’s entertainment service while galvanising brand relationships, and maximising value, for everyone in the vehicle,” Baumgarten adds.
Powered by TomTom, acknowledged leader in location technology, TomTom Digital Cockpit SDK is a modular in-vehicle infotainment software development kit which comes with the most important infotainment applications pre-developed and fully tested. Its flexible architecture and customization tools set the ideal foundation for OEMs and Tier-1s to create immersive, branded experiences that redefine the act of driving.
With TomTom pre-integrated with 3Ready, carmakers can elevate in-cockpit entertainment user experiences, while benefitting from faster time-to-market, lower cost, and minimized technology risk.
3Ready Automotive comprises a diverse in-car entertainment ecosystem, built on 3SS’ long-standing partnerships with world-class content and technology providers. Automakers can create and deliver an entertainment experience that fully blends into their HMI with a tailored look and feel. 3Ready transforms traditional app grids into content-centric discovery, reducing time to find relevant content and services, while boosting interaction and engagement.
Significant trends are leading to greater emphasis on in-vehicle entertainment
The partners share the vision of how concurrent trends in the automotive industry are leading to greater emphasis placed on in-vehicle entertainment.
Firstly, display screens are becoming bigger and more advanced, so the experience of watching video is improving. Secondly, with electrification, many drivers will spend more time in the car (e.g. while charging) and wish for that time to be enjoyable or productive. Also, the proliferation of advanced driver-assistance systems (ADAS) means that OEMs have unprecedented opportunity to engage with users whose attention need no longer exclusively be on the road.
Comments Felix Walter, 3SS Head of Automotive, “OEMs everywhere are putting in-vehicle entertainment high on their agenda in recognition of the opportunity to stand apart from the competition by providing a superior in-cockpit experience, while earning revenues and increasing engagement and interaction with customers.”
“Together with TomTom, we’re presenting the industry with a powerful pre-integrated solution that complements the many capabilities of TomTom’s Digital Cockpit SDK with a customizable array of appealing content, enabling communications and monetization opportunities that fundamentally reinvent the commercial potential of in-car entertainment,” he added.
Enhanced monetization opportunities, new kinds of experiences
With the powerful and flexible 3Ready entertainment platform, vehicle manufacturers gain unprecedented opportunity to monetize the real estate within the products they sell, namely unlocking the revenue potential enabled by in-car displays.
In addition to delivering great entertainment, 3Ready gives carmakers a unique chance for their screens to become a highly targeted communication channel. They can build brand loyalty by providing marketing content and product information straight to the vehicle’s display console. The result is a compelling on-brand experience that strengthens the customer’s relationship with both vehicle and OEM.
3Ready uses automotive APIs and TomTom Map SDK data points to recommend and personalize the content depending on the user’s state and driving scenario. This groundbreaking implementation showcases how to re-use vehicle data to create next-level onboard experiences.
For example: Say you’re in a car equipped with TomTom Digital Cockpit. You’re watching a video and, when you pause it, you’re shown a recommendation for a local business that might interest you in that specific moment. Because it’s nearby you can navigate to the destination in just one click.
“This contextualization capability, enabled thanks to our location-based technology, is a meaningful first step in the future of entertainment and business in the connected car,” said TomTom’s Baumgarten.
Content engagement & monetization platform built-in
3Ready has built-in Content Aggregation, Management and Monetization capabilities. Carmakers can adapt the user experience through a web-based content management system, dynamically, with no software updates required.
OEMs can manage, style, tailor and target the content on-the-fly, all remotely, across their whole fleet with a non-code approach. For the first time, an OEM’s Marketing, Brand and Customer Relationship teams have the possibility to engage with customers in real-time, with no delay or need for software updates. They can deliver targeted content, promotions, trending video content, social media, even live conferences. The service can combine entertainment from all sources, from the OEM’s own, to local and global third-party content, creating new revenue opportunities in the Software Defined Vehicle era.