Single-Photon Revolution: Ubicept’s Vision for Machine Perception

This week my esteemed guest is Ubicept CEO & Co-Founder Sebastian Bauer. Sebastian and I delve into Ubicept’s mission and discuss the inherent limitations of today’s computer vision systems.  We explore Ubicept’s core strength: working with Single-Photon Avalanche Diode (SPAD) sensors, and where Sebastian sees bottlenecks are popping up as SPAD sensors become more accessible. Finally, we discuss the transition of the computer vision industry to … Read More → "Single-Photon Revolution: Ubicept’s Vision for Machine Perception"

How Optical Switches Can Cut AI Hyperscale Data Center Power by 40%

I’m about to wax eloquent on a new generation of optical switches that are poised to revolutionize the communication capacity and performance of data centers—especially the AI and hyperscale flavors (ooh, tasty—and very real, as operators like Google have already proven)—while also cutting power by 40%, but first…

The phrase “It’s a funny old world, and no mistake” is an informal, colloquial British … Read More → "How Optical Switches Can Cut AI Hyperscale Data Center Power by 40%"

The Electrified Skies: Battery Design Challenges for Electric Aircraft

In this week’s podcast, we are investigating the challenges of designing batteries for electric aircraft with Dr. Graham Dudgeon from MathWorks. Graham has some great insights on how modeling and simulation are helping aerospace engineers tackle the thermal, electrical, and mechanical complexities of these cutting-edge power systems. Graham and I also chat about … Read More → "The Electrified Skies: Battery Design Challenges for Electric Aircraft"

Efficient Computer’s Efficient Computer is 100X More Energy Efficient than Other General-Purpose Processors

I remember the heady days of the 1970s, when new and exciting 8-bit processor architectures were sprouting like metaphorical mushrooms. I’m sure that, like me, you are thinking of little beauties like the 8008 (1972), 8080 (1974), and 8085 (1976) from Intel, the 6800 (1974) from Motorola, the 6502 (1975) from MOS Technology, and the Z80 (1976) from Zilog.

However, there were many other contenders that deserve mention, such as the 8-bit PPS-8 (1974) from Rockwell International, which … Read More → "Efficient Computer’s Efficient Computer is 100X More Energy Efficient than Other General-Purpose Processors"

January 19, 2026
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featured chalk talk

Speed Matters: Methods and Methodologies to Get the Most Performance
In this episode of Chalk Talk, Ludovic Jacomme from Siemens and Amelia Dalton investigate the benefits that Siemens Veloce proFPGA CS can bring to your next FPGA-based prototyping project and how you can take advantage of this solution today.
Jan 19, 2026
6 views

featured video

Revolutionizing AI Chip Development: Synopsys Solutions for the Future

Sponsored by Synopsys

In the AI era, demand for advanced chips is soaring, creating scaling and power challenges. Discover how Synopsys accelerates AI chip development with innovative solutions, robust partnerships, and cutting-edge silicon IP for first-pass silicon success.

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discussion
Posted on Jan 19 at 7:33am by Max Maxfield
Joe just replied: "Yea, it was 0 originally, right until the emulator started stamping all over memory lol"
Posted on Jan 19 at 7:31am by Max Maxfield
Hi Doug -- I'm replying to your last question here because there's some sort of depth limit in this commenting system re replies. You said: I have a question about the value that appears in the zeroth nybble of $00: should it be a 0 instead of a 2?" It should -- I ...
Posted on Jan 19 at 7:22am by Max Maxfield
Personally, I'm not happy with any of it -- but I'm all for cutting power consumption by 40% :-)
Posted on Jan 17 at 10:41pm by Doug
Tell Joe, nice job on the emulator. Looks like a potential mock up of a front panel if I can get at those signals. I have a question about the value that appears in the zeroth nybble of $00: should it be a 0 instead of a 2? Reading the assembler I see ...
Posted on Jan 16 at 10:43pm by Doug
Self-modifying code, eh? My parents warned me about doing that. Well, er, I might have done it when I was trying to save memory on a MC6809; but, I didn’t inhale. If Joe’s architecture lends itself to address mode dexterity and recursion, I’m all for it. Anything ...
Posted on Jan 15 at 11:09am by monsonite
Max, A Nvidia H200 needs 600W to run, and a further 400W to circulate its coolant. That is more energy input than an average European house. We are literally turning hydrocarbons into teraflops, or petaflops or whatever. What do these teraflops do for us? Well Trump is going to get ...
Posted on Jan 15 at 7:11am by Max Maxfield
Although not related to my current 4-bit CPU project, you might find my old HRRG Computer concept to be of interest: https://www.clivemaxfield.com/diycalculator/sp-hrrgcomp.shtml
Posted on Jan 14 at 10:52am by monsonite
I disagree, the 74181 was a convenient kludge. It is long dead - so no need to worship it anymore. If you don't nail your colours to its mast, you can probably come up with something much better for a lower transistor count. How about 40 simple gates, for something that is ...
Posted on Jan 14 at 10:37am by monsonite
Max, I will link your blog to all my members in Minimalist Computing. Part of the groups' activities is to study early, simpler machines, and find ways to implement them using readily available parts. We try to stick to a list of 60 or so 74HC parts that can still be ...
Posted on Jan 14 at 8:01am by Max Maxfield
WOW! That IS tasty -- Led-Transistor Logic (LTL) -- who would have "thunk"?
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featured blogs
Jan 13, 2026
The last thing I need at the moment is yet another project, but I'm sorely tempted by the Framework Laptop 12 DIY Edition....
Unlocking Cost-Effective and Low-Power Edge AI Solutions
In this episode of Chalk Talk, Miguel Castro from STMicroelectronics and Amelia Dalton explore how you can jump-start the evaluation, prototyping, and design your next edge AI application. They also investigate the details of the cost-effective and lower power edge AI solutions from STMicroelectronics and how the tools, the ecosystem, and STMicroelectronics MCUs are enabling sophisticated AI inference right on the device.
Jan 15, 2026
6,740 views
Power-over-Coax (PoC): Solutions for Automotive SerDes
Sponsored by Mouser Electronics and TDK
In this episode of Chalk Talk, Erik Landi from TDK and Amelia Dalton explore the impact PoC communication has had on automotive innovation, the benefits TDK Power over Coax solutions can bring to your next design, and where PoC technology is headed in the future.
Jan 12, 2026
9,290 views
eUSB2 Redriver (Non-Retiming Repeater)
In this episode of Chalk Talk, Dong Nguyen from NXP and Amelia Dalton explore the features of NXP’s PTN3222 eUSB Redriver. They investigate how it overcomes signal integrity challenges and why it’s the ideal solution for ensuring seamless compatibility between your cutting-edge silicon and the world of standard USB 2.0.
Jan 12, 2026
6,335 views
High-Speed FAKRA-Mini Interconnect System
Sponsored by Mouser Electronics and Molex
In this episode of Chalk Talk, Kirk Ulery from Molex and Amelia Dalton explore the trends driving a need for external and internal data connections in automotive applications. They also investigate the benefits of the FAKRA Mini interconnect system and why the new locking and shielding mechanisms make this system rugged enough for the harshest automotive environments.
Dec 22, 2025
55,614 views
Simplifying Position Control with Advanced Stepper Motor Driver
In this episode of Chalk Talk, Jiri Keprda from STMicroelectronics and Amelia Dalton explore the benefits of the powerSTEP01 is a system-in-package from STMicroelectronics. They also examine how this solution can streamline overall position control architecture, the high level commands included in this solution and the variety of advanced diagnostics included in the powerSTEP01 system-in-package.
Jan 21, 2025
31,009 views