BackToBasics: Analog Computing

I was doing some history reading on computing earlier this week and got hooked on the concept of analog computing. It’s fascinating to think about how this technology, that dates back several decades, is making a comeback even in the AI era.

First, the basics. Digital computing is all about 1s and 0s. Meaning you have an electrical signal and you convert it into digital domain via an ADC(Analog to Digital Converter) and do the rest of the process in mostly software. Although it has many good things going for it like its precise, configurable & repeatable, one of the main points is its slow(think conversion time) and power-hungry because of the extra steps needed.

This is where analog computing shines. Unlike digital, analog doesn’t use binary. It uses continuous signals, like voltages or currents, to represent and process information. It’s fluid, parallel, and highly efficient. For AI tasks, like neural network operations that involve lots of matrix math, analog systems can process data directly without all the energy-intensive conversions digital systems need. Its energy efficient and can perform computations at a fraction of the cost making them great for AI edge applications like sensors, cameras, wearables etc.

A company worth looking into is Mythic AI, which uses compute-in-memory technology. Here, matrix multiplications happen directly in the circuit, using analog signals. Imagine a DAC generating voltages across varying resistors; measuring the current in the line gives the multiplied result V=IR. This is a fundamental multiplication block. Scale this across a large node matrix, and you achieve fast, low-energy matrix operations without transferring data between memory and processor which cant be avoided in digital computing.

I think the future might be about combining the two to create systems that are both powerful and efficient. As of today, since the o3 release from OpenAI, I feel the only wall(if any) AI is going to hit, is the compute shortage wall, nothing else.

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BackToBasics: AntiStatic Vs Shielded Bags

If you’ve ever purchased electronics online from major distributors, you’ve likely noticed components packed in different types of bags. It’s important to understand what these bags are because they can make or break your parts during storage. Broadly, they fall into two categories: anti-static bags and static shielding bags. Many people often confuse these two without fully knowing their differences or its purposes.

Anti-static bags are designed to prevent the buildup of static electricity on their surface. They achieve this by being made from materials with high electrical resistance (in the gigaohm range), allowing static charges to dissipate safely. Usually found in pink or blue transparent colours, these bags are effective in preventing static buildup even during storage or transport, where bags may rub against one another. It’s important to note that anti-static bags do NOT protect against external Electrostatic Discharge (ESD). If an ESD event occurs and your sensitive device is inside an anti-static bag, the IC will likely be damaged.

For proper ESD protection, static shielding bags are essential. These bags have a multi-layer construction, including a dissipative outer layer to prevent static buildup and a metallic layer, often made of aluminium, that acts as a “Faraday cage” to block external electrostatic fields. Static shielding bags are categorized based on the placement of the metallic layer: metal-in, where the metallic layer is closer to the inside, and metal-out, where it is closer to the outside. Metal-out bags are particularly useful when faster discharge of external charges is required. Static shielding bags, which are typically metallic or dark in appearance, are crucial for protecting highly sensitive electronics such as processors and memory chips.

So, the next time you’re handling electronics, remember: anti-static bags are good for general protection, but static shielding bags are essential for high-stakes components. Understanding the difference ensures your sensitive equipment stays safe.

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