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U.S. Restricts AI Chip Shipments From Nvidia And AMD To Select Middle Eastern Nations

The United States has broadened its export limitations on high-tech artificial intelligence chips from Nvidia (NVDA.O) and Advanced Micro Devices (AMD.O), extending beyond China to include several countries in the Middle East.

In a recent regulatory filing, Nvidia disclosed that these restrictions, specifically targeting its A100 and H100 chips – vital for enhancing machine learning tasks – would not significantly affect its immediate financial performance. AMD, a competitor of Nvidia, was also notified of similar constraints.

Historically, the U.S. has enforced export controls predominantly for national security concerns. A parallel directive last year marked an intensification of the U.S.’s measures against China’s tech prowess. However, the underlying risks associated with exports to the Middle East remain unspecified.

Last year, AMD revealed license restrictions on its AI chips’ exports to China. Subsequently, Nvidia, AMD, and Intel announced plans for less potent AI chips for the Chinese market. Nvidia’s recent filing, without specifying reasons, indicated U.S. concerns over products possibly being used for military purposes in China. Nvidia didn’t detail Middle East sales; however, most of its $13.5 billion quarterly sales came from the U.S., China, and Taiwan. In October 2022, the Biden administration introduced comprehensive export controls, restricting China’s access to certain chips made using U.S. equipment. Japan and the Netherlands instituted similar measures. Without U.S. AI chips, Chinese entities might struggle with advanced computing for tasks like image recognition, which is vital for both consumer tech and military applications.

JOB: Maintenance Engineer – Electronics At General Electric In Sanand

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Location: Sanand

Company: General Electric

Job Description Summary

Install, maintain, and repair internal factory equipment. Supervise employees who perform maintenance and tool making. Impacts quality of own work and the work of others on the team. Executes standard operational/technical tasks typically subject to instructions and work routines. There is latitude to rearrange the sequence to complete task/duties based on changing work situations.

Roles and Responsibilities

  • This position is needed to meet CNC machines maintenance, spare part management, and other production equipment maintenance.
  • Ensure that equipment and tools are in good condition for use. Propose plans for preventive maintenance and corrective action. 
  • Basic understanding of key business drivers; uses this understanding to accomplish own work. Good understanding of how work of own team integrates with other teams and contributes to the area.
  • Breakdown maintenance and preventive maintenance of all the equipment and maintaining their records and history card in all 3 shifts.
  • Must have knowledge of Siemens CNC 840 D-SL (Encoder, LMS, Backup and restore of data, Basic CNC commissioning and maintenance) and Siemens S7 PLC (read and modify PLC logic, STL, FBD and LAD language must).
  • Should have knowledge of VFD, Compressor and other utility system.
  • Maintenance of EOT Cranes up to 500T capacity
  • Spare part management and vendor development.
  • Maintenance of UPS up to 400 KVA.
  • Calibration of equipment and maintaining their records.
  • Complete knowledge of field instruments like RTD, Thermocouple, Flow meter, Pressure transmitter, Proximity switch etc.
  • Must have knowledge of electrical safety and LOTO procedure.
  • Should be familiar with MTBF, MTTR, Kaizen, WHY-WHY analysis, RCA, TPM.
  • Should be familiar with CMMS.
  • Lead 5S and safety improvements
  • Idea generation and Kaizen implementation
  • Operational Know-how
  • Proactive and technically robust approach to technical problems
  • Ability to react quickly and work accurately to meet internal and external deadlines.
  • Effective analytical and problem-solving skills.
  • Highly willing to perform, and result oriented.
  • Risk management.
  • Sense of urgency.
  • Leadership Know-how
  • Strategic and cultural competence.
  • Good team player.
  • Effective communication & listening skills.
  • Good Time management skills.

Required Qualifications

  • Bachelor’s degree / Diploma in Electronics Engineering from an accredited university having 6 -10 years relevant experience.

Desired Characteristics

  • Strong oral and written communication skills. Ability to document, plan, market, and execute programs.

JOB: Electrical And Electronic Design Engineer 1 At Vitesco Technologies In Bengaluru

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Location: Bengaluru

Company: Vitesco Technologies

Mission / Job Description / Responsibilities

The Electrical and Electronic Design Engineer transforms component requirements into an industrialized product.  The focus will be primarily on the realization of electronic controller products (eDrive Control Unit, eDCU …) for electrical machines in the 2-wheel vehicle market.

This person will be responsible to perform key design activities and generate key design deliverables for electronic hardware components:

  • Design and develop analog/digital circuits using mathematical analysis, simulations, & bench verifications.  Address effects / robustness to electrical stress, error/tolerance contributions, impact of power dissipation, component lifetime, and fault conditions.  Review designs with peers and stakeholders.
  • Construct electrical schematic, review with peers and stakeholders.
  • Support PCB layout with directions and recommendation from electrical design context.  Review layout with peers and experts.
  • Perform DFMEA, WCCA using MATHCAD.
  • Perform requirement / specification compliance confirmation, High Voltage safety analysis.
  • Generate validation test plan (DVP&R), including mission profiles, test modes, configurations, setup, and needed equipment.  Verify setup and conduct/support validation testing in laboratories.
  • Generate test criteria for parametric testing in manufacturing & functionality in validation cycles
  • Elevate material life cycle value of components / materials in coordination with project SQM.
  • Interact with New Product Launch / Industrial Engineering team members to ensure Design for Manufacturability concerns are addressed with the design outputs.
  • Support Change Management: Analyze & estimate impact of new & changed requirements, focused on all aspects of the hardware: cost, size, time, effort, validation activities, mfg test, etc

Requirements / Qualifications

  • You have a degree (at least Bachelor, Or Masters) in the area of Electronics / Electrical Engineering
  • You should have sound knowledge on Manufacturing process of Electronic assemblies for automotive environments.
  • You have gained several years (5+) of experience in design & development of products to automotive standards
  • Proficient in standard office software tools: Windows, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project
  • Proficient with electronics laboratory tools: oscilloscope, DMM, function generator, power supply
  • You are fluent in English (written and spoken)
  • You have strong analytical skills and excellent communications skills
  • You show initiative & are motivated to work in a project team environment to collectively achieve customer focused goals
  • PCB layout experience is a plus.

JOB: Field Service Engineer At Alcon In Bhubaneshwar

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Location: Bhubaneshwar

Company: Alcon

As a Field Service Engineer supporting the Field Service Engineer Family, one will be trusted to work on providing technical support and advice to customers including commissioning, installing, testing and life cycle support of products/equipment.

Primary Responsibilities

  • Collaborating with customers to provide technical and administrative support activities including repair, preventative maintenance, and upgrades on Alcon Surgical and Alcon Digital Smart Suite equipment within a geographical region. Provide the highest level of service, customer experience and achieve financial objectives.
  • Provide timely technical services on Alcon Surgical and Digital equipment as required including phone support, remote and onsite corrective maintenance, preventive maintenance, installation, and other service-related duties.
  • Leads the planning and installation activities of Alcon connected product by coordinating with customer, IT, and commercial team to assure successful installation.
  • Provides timely and accurate documentation on services performed.
  • Strategically promote, educate, and market Alcon services to customers.
  • Communicate equipment problems, quality issues and customer concerns to the appropriate in-house personal within the established guidelines.
  • Expense management and perform duties within budgetary guidelines.
  • Accurately handles company assets (Company vehicle, test equipment, computer, etc.)

Key Requirements/Minimum Qualifications

  • Associate degree in, Electrical/Electronics/Networking/IT or equivalent years of directly related experience preferably within the Medical Devices industry.
  • Proficiency in networking and EHR (Electronic Health Record) /EMR (Electronic Medical Record) Systems and DICOM Communication configuration; Solid understanding of cloud technology.
  • Proven leadership and effective decision-making capabilities.
  • Strong analytical, problem solving and negotiation skills.
  • Excellent verbal, written, and communication and customer service skills.
  • Experience supporting healthcare customers with customer agreements, network, security, data, and privacy concerns.
  • Experience working remotely in a customer facing position.
  • Experienced with Microsoft Office tools including Excel, PowerPoint, Visio, MS Teams, SharePoint, MS Project, or similar tool.
  • Physical Requirements – Ability to lift tool kit to use in STP/SOP of the equipment’s.
  • 2 Years of Relevant Experience

Foundry Model For Flexible Chip Design

Discover how a shift to the foundry business model, traditionally reserved for silicon chip production, is revolutionizing the world of flexible electronics. 

The foundation of modern computing relies heavily on silicon chips, epitomizing the “oil” of the digital era. However, the recent chip shortage crisis underscores the fragility of this reliance. Conventional silicon chips, while pivotal, lack mechanical flexibility, posing limitations in certain applications. In contrast, the realm of flexible electronics, propelled by thin-film transistor (TFT) technology, offers promising alternatives. TFTs boast a spectrum of potential applications, spanning from wearable health monitors to bendable displays and IoT devices. Despite advancements, TFT technology remains underutilized, primarily serving in display integration for smartphones and other gadgets.

To unlock the full potential of TFTs and foster innovation, a shift akin to the foundry business model of silicon chip production is proposed. This model streamlines mass production in semiconductor fabrication plants. It empowers chip designers by granting access to advanced manufacturing processes. Kris Myny, a professor at KU Leuven and imec, advocates for extending this model to thin-film electronics. Their research demonstrates the feasibility by successfully producing a TFT-based microprocessor through two foundries. Published in Nature, their study showcases the adaptability of the foundry model beyond conventional silicon.

Advancing Flexibility in Chip Design

The team’s creation, a reincarnation of the MOS 6502 microprocessor, epitomizes the potential of flexible electronics. Manufactured on substrates using different TFT technologies, the chip exemplifies a multi-project approach, enabling diverse chip designs on a single platform. Thin, measuring less than 30 micrometers, the microprocessor opens doors to various applications. Its flexibility makes it ideal for medical wearables, offering comfort and functionality surpassing traditional silicon-based counterparts.

While the performance of the microprocessor may not rival modern chips, its creation marks a significant step in flexible chip design. Myny emphasizes that the aim is not to compete with silicon but rather to catalyze innovation in flexible electronics. The team claims that adopting the foundry model for thin-film electronics heralds a new era of possibilities. By democratizing access to advanced manufacturing, it paves the way for groundbreaking innovations in wearable technology and beyond.

Auxiliary Power Supply Reference Design

Streamlined design boosts operational efficiency, reliability, meeting rising demands in industrial and solar gear.

In response to the increasing requirements for efficient, reliable, and cost-effective offline Switch Mode Power Supplies (SMPS), particularly in industrial and solar settings, the development of a low-power (<100W) power converter with galvanic isolation becomes paramount. This auxiliary power supply plays a critical role in converting electric power from a High Voltage Direct Current (HV DC) bus to a Low Voltage (LV) source, powering essential control circuits, sensing circuits, cooling fans, and various equipment, ensuring optimal functionality and performance.

The design by Microchip offers efficient high-voltage (HV) to low-voltage (LV) conversion for LV subsystems, incorporating a single switch mode flyback topology with a 1700V mSiC MOSFET, which not only ensures efficient conversion but also protects against peak switching voltage and voltage fluctuations across the transformer leakage inductance. The design has a wide range of voltage inputs, from 250V to 1000V, paired with dual-voltage outputs of +24V/2A and +15V/1A, catering to diverse industrial and photovoltaic applications where voltage variations are prevalent. Key features include a single switch mode flyback topology, wide input voltage range, dual voltage outputs, and high power conversion efficiency. The integration of a single switch mode flyback topology enhances efficiency and reliability in HV to LV conversion, while the wide input voltage range ensures adaptability to diverse voltage variations. The provision of dual voltage outputs meets the multifaceted power requirements of various equipment and systems, while the high power conversion efficiency optimizes energy utilization and reduces operational costs through a current-mode Pulse-Width Modulation (PWM) controller-based closed-loop control.

The versatility and reliability of this power converter design make it suitable for a myriad of applications, including industrial motor drives, solar inverters, uninterruptible power supplies (UPS), general-purpose inverters, cascaded H-bridge converters, and modular multilevel converters. In conclusion, the integration of innovative features and robust design principles culminates in a power converter solution that addresses the evolving needs of industrial and photovoltaic applications, setting a benchmark for performance, reliability, and cost-effectiveness in the realm of SMPS technology.

Microchip has thoroughly tested this reference design, which includes Altium design files, a PLECS software model, a user guide, a Bill of Materials (BoM), and more. Additional information about the reference design can be found on the company’s website. For further details on this reference design, please click here.

JOB: Final Assembly & Test Technician At Harman In Pune

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Location: Pune

Company: Harman

About the Role

This position is responsible for all Assembly stations & tester machine maintenance activity

What You Need

  • Education: Diploma in EEE or ECE
  • Experience: 2-5 Years in the Automotive industry
  • Strong knowledge in Basic Electronics, Panel Wiring & Schematics, Pneumatics, and Equipment troubleshooting, new equipment installation, Document activity, & having exposure to C coding, basic HW design & Mechanical design is an added advantage
  • This includes attending breakdowns, equipment troubleshooting, a new machine installation, panel wiring, maintaining calibration of devices, Documentation activity, poke yoke, MTTR, FTT, etc…

What We Offer

  • Access to employee discounts on world-class Harman and Samsung products (JBL, HARMAN Kardon, AKG, etc.)
  • Extensive training opportunities through our own HARMAN University
  • Tuition Reimbursement
  • An inclusive and diverse work environment that fosters and encourages professional and personal development
  • “Be Brilliant” employee recognition and rewards program

Exploring The Potential Of Bi-Directional EV Charging

In the driver’s seat of change, bi-directional EV charging stabilizes grids, offers emergency power, and maximizes renewable energy integration. The road to a better tomorrow is a two-way street, and your EV can lead the way.

The world is at a critical point, seeking sustainable solutions to combat climate change and reduce our carbon footprint. Electric vehicles (EVs) have emerged as significant players in this pursuit, offering a cleaner alternative to traditional gasoline-powered cars.

While the adoption of EVs has been on the rise, the concept of bi-directional EV charging has emerged as a game-changing technology that could revolutionize the way we think about energy management and grid stability. In this blog, we will delve into the intricacies and workings of bi-directional EV charging, exploring its benefits, challenges, and potential impact on our energy landscape.

What is bi-directional EV charging?

Traditional electric vehicle charging involves drawing energy from the grid to charge the vehicle’s battery. Bi-directional EV charging, also known as V2G (Vehicle-to-Grid) technology, takes this concept a step further from the traditional one-way flow of electricity. While the traditional charger allows the electricity to flow from the grid to the vehicle battery, bi-directional chargers enable a two-way exchange of energy.

Bi-directional EV chargers work by converting the direct current (DC) power stored in the EV battery into alternating current (AC) electricity. This means that not only can you charge your EV from the grid, but your EV vehicle can also feed excess energy back into the grid or power your home during energy outages.

Benefits of bi-directional EV charging

Grid stabilisation

One of the key advantages of bi-directional EV charging is its potential to stabilize the electric grid. EVs can absorb surplus energy during periods of high generation and feed it back during peak demand, thus helping to balance supply and demand fluctuations.

Emergency power

In the case of power outages or emergencies, bi-directional EV charging could provide a backup power source for homes, hospitals, and other critical facilities. EVs could act as distributed energy resources, enhancing the resilience of the energy system.

Demand response

With bi-directional charging, EV owners could respond to price signals and grid needs by adjusting their charging patterns. This could incentivize charging during off-peak hours and discharging during peak demand, resulting in cost savings for EV owners and reduced strain on the grid.

Renewable integration

The intermittent nature of renewable energy sources like solar and wind can be mitigated with bi-directional EV charging. Excess energy generated during sunny or windy periods can be stored in EV batteries and released back to the grid when generation is low.

Challenges and considerations

Battery degradation

The process of frequent charge and discharge cycles can impact the lifespan of EV batteries. Implementing proper battery management systems and algorithms is essential to mitigate degradation.

Regulation and standards

Establishing uniform regulations and standards for bi-directional charging is crucial to ensure interoperability, safety, and effective grid integration across different vehicle manufacturers and charging infrastructure providers.

Cybersecurity

As EVs become more integrated into the energy ecosystem, cybersecurity becomes a paramount concern. Ensuring the security of communication between vehicles, chargers, and the grid is essential to prevent potential breaches.

Infrastructure investment

Bi-directional charging requires a robust charging infrastructure capable of handling bidirectional power flows. Investment in both vehicle and grid infrastructure is necessary for the widespread adoption of this technology.

Future prospects and implications

Bidirectional EV charging represents a significant leap forward in the integration of sustainable energy solutions. As technology continues to evolve, we can expect to see wider adoption of bidirectional charging infrastructure and further refinement of the associated technologies.

Many leading automobile manufacturers have shown interest in bi-directional charging and confirmed their models will have bi-directional EV charging capability in the coming future. In a few countries, testing has also started on a larger scale, using EVs to stabilize the grid and provide frequency regulation.

In a nutshell, bi-directional EV charging not only transforms the way we charge our vehicles but also empowers them to be active participants in the broader energy ecosystem. With the potential to stabilize grids, increase energy resilience, and maximize the utilization of renewable resources, this technology is poised to play a pivotal role in the sustainable future of transportation and energy.

By embracing bi-directional charging, we are not only charging our vehicles but also charging towards a greener and more sustainable tomorrow.


The author, Sumit Ranjan, is Associate Director of Hardware Engineering at VVDN

JOB: RF Software Test Development Engineer At Rohde & Schwarz In Bengaluru

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Location: Bengaluru

Company: Rohde & Schwarz

Your tasks

  • Enhance and extend system tests & automation library.
  • Integrate and validate new tests and help manage and improve test suites.
  • Oversee test execution and results reporting of new software releases
  • Analyze failures and identify root causes
  • Solve and improve test system robustness problems
  • Close collaboration with international development teams.
  • Ability to work in dynamic and agile environment.

Your Qualifications

  • Engineering Graduate/Post Graduate from top class university/college in Electronics & Communication or Telecommunication engineering or Computer Science.
  • Proven experience in Telecom domain, including experience with testing and preferably test case development.
  • Experience 4 to 6 years.
  • General understanding of 3GPP cellular operation
  • Good understanding of LTE/LTE-Adv & 5G NR basic RACH, Attach/Registration Procedures
  • Good Understanding of Open Loop & Closed Loop Power Control, TPC commands
  • Good Understanding of LTE/LTE adv/5G NR RF Tx Measurements: Especially ‘EVM, In band Emission, Power Monitor, Spectrum Emission Mask, Power Dynamics, ACLR, SRS and PRACH’
  • 3+ years of experience in test automation (preferably Python) towards the development of Automation Frame works, Test API & Script development.
  • Exposure to JIRA or RTC and test automation tools like Jenkins is a plus.
  • Experience in Non-Sig testing on CMW100 and/or CMP180 is an added advantage.
  • Excellent communication skills to work with R&D teams in Germany.

JOB: Engineering Manager – Residential IoT Solutions At Emerson In Pune

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Location: Pune

Company: Emerson

Eaton’s Residential Connected Solutions (CS) Team is looking for a technology leader for our cross functional team comprising of Firmware, Hardware, Cloud SW, Mobile App Development, DevSecOps and QA. The ideal candidate should have a proven track record of building and scaling technology teams and delivering cutting edge IoT solutions that leverage electromechanical, hardware, firmware, cloud, data, and mobile technologies. The leader needs to provide strategic leadership on Innovation, solution definition to delivery, following Agile practices, drive continuous improvement and sustenance of the solution. The leader shall shape up the proposals with deep system understanding and strong consumer centricity, to make the CS portfolio rich, venture into new use cases and drive the best-in-class solutions. Enrich & foster climate of innovation to drive growth & accelerate capability development. Collaborate with global product engineering teams and internal / external stakeholders to perform system development activities during project execution. Perform technical reviews, including detailed design reviews. Help drive the roadmap and achieve leadership position in key focus areas on Next Generation Connected Solutions (Home Energy Management) and drive the strategy on Home as a grid through Eaton offerings.

Qualifications

  • Bachelors in Engg Electrical/Electronics/IT or similar.
  • 15+ years of overall experience including 6+ years of experience as Manager and 6+ years of hands-on expertise in one of the technologies like Hardware design, Firmware development for IoT solutions
  • Experience in managing cross functional teams (including hardware, firmware, software) and delivering products from ideation to production.
  • Excellent strategic intent, linking customer and business requirements to technology roadmap
  • Strong expertise in capability, competency and capacity building for Connected IoT products cutting across multiple functional domains, including V&V and lab infrastructure.
  • Lead & execute global programs with Engineering leadership from Pune
  • Manages department budget and performance to forecast
  • Drives and promotes innovation rigor in the team in order to create technical differentiators and new value propositions. Provide growth opportunities and protect IP through patents and trade secrets
  • Ensure Eaton stays abreast of new and emerging technologies to design and evaluate product integrity in order to facilitate rapid deployment.
  • Understand customer requirements and communicate them to teams, and act as the liaison for program activities as appropriate.
  • Trains, develops and motivates subordinates to achieve their performance goals and review their accomplishments and conducts performance reviews. Recruit and retain a team of engineers.
  • Monitors progress and achievements on projects. Provide regular reports on development and support activities.
  • Strong process knowledge of IoT product development and integration of multiple sub-systems
  • Review technical concepts of projects and enable execution; Synergizes and leverages engineering capabilities across groups.
  • Manages and develops people: identifies, attracts and develops key engineering talent for the organization.
  • Excellent communications skills, global exposure, high degree of aptitude, creativity is required.
  • Strong collaboration with industrialization teams and enable end to end product development (customer requirements to manufacturing).

Desired

  • DFSS certification; Agile certification
  • Digital mindset with knowledge of Digital tools that aid core product development and digitalization of next-gen products.

Skills

Leading team in agile atmosphere, creating technical proposals, stakeholder communication, process definition