AI PCs were undoubtedly the hottest topic at Computex 2024. Various PC manufacturers presented related solutions, and major CPU players like AMD, Intel, and Arm highlighted the importance of AI PC applications.
As one of the first companies to implement AI functions on PC, Synaptics introduced even more advanced solutions with Edge AI technologies this year. Their latest innovations are based on its three technological pillars: detection, processing and connection.
“In the demos you’ve seen, even for things like a PC touchpad, there are techniques like accidental touch mitigation (ACM), which uses AI algorithms,” said Satish Ganesan, Executive Vice President and General Manager of the Intelligent Sensing Division and Chief Strategy Officer at Synaptics. . “Our goal is to incorporate more and more AI capabilities into PCs, smartphones and automobiles at the sensing area level where the user interacts with the device.”
“The other side is our processing solutions with our new Astra family of processors, where we are uniquely positioned. We build processors that address markets wherever computer vision, voice or any form advanced AI are required, such as in smart home, industrial automation, etc.,” he added. “Some of the same elements are then used in the PC space where you have seen techniques. presence detection systems that implement vision AI algorithms to improve the overall user experience.”
During a demonstration at Computex 2024, Synaptics showed how the intelligent sensing solution with its new Edge AI chip improves the PC user experience. The demo focused on practical, everyday use cases in office environments. Features include human presence detection (HPD), head pose tracking, and gesture control, which enable automatic adjustments such as waking the computer, locking it, and managing battery and privacy settings.
For example, users can mute their microphone or switch focus between monitors effortlessly using gestures. The integration of vision AI algorithms and PC cameras provides seamless interaction, ensures user privacy and security, saves energy and improves overall productivity by recognizing user identity and preferences , thus illustrating the real benefits of AI-enhanced PCs beyond just technological advancements.
Ganesan pointed out that a lot of the big company AI PC discussions at Computex 2024 have focused on the computing power of the processors, but “We’re not going to compete with those core processors, we’re not doing LLM processing or things like that, our value.” The proposal will be for other areas, where we provide chipsets for touchpad, fingerprint, etc. Of course we do this on Astra for other markets as the main processor.
Synaptics Astra was launched at Embedded World with the launch of the SL Series, a new family of cutting-edge AI processors described as “native SoCs for AI” capable of running Linux and Android operating systems. The series uses Arm Cortex-A cores, scales from 2 to 8 TOPS performance, and targets multi-modal consumer, enterprise, and industrial IoT workloads. The upcoming SR series MCUs with multi-level inference were also shown. With the SL Series, MCUs make context-aware computing a reality in the smart home, factory, and workplace.
According to Synaptics, the SL and SR series of Astra SoCs deliver a unified experience combining open, standards-based software frameworks, rapid prototyping kits, comprehensive AI/ML toolkits, and Wi-Fi and Bluetooth connectivity solutions. from Synaptics. The SL Series is also supported by the Astra Machina Foundation Series Development Kit, which allows for simple and rapid prototyping.
Beyond hardware, Synaptics’ solutions focus on optimizing AI algorithms to operate efficiently at the edge, “so we can work with a smaller memory footprint and slower processors,” he said. mentioned Ganesan. “Right now, the adoption rate of AI PCs is still quite low, but I think it’s going to be quite explosive. We’ve focused on AI from the beginning, and most importantly in AI mainly concerns the software and the framework.” Synaptics’ AI software accepts commonly used input frameworks such as TensorFlow, TFLite, TLFM, ONNX, CAFFE, and PyTorch.
For customers with varying levels of AI expertise, the company can provide comprehensive support, including the compiler, tools, and resources such as pre-built models and libraries for different use cases, such as vision and audio. “This is where we will differentiate ourselves in the market,” Ganesan said. “Most companies focus only on hardware or software; we are the only ones offering an end-to-end solution. This would help our customers get to market faster because they don’t have to learn from scratch. We have done all the learning for them.”
Advances in docks, enterprise headsets and fingerprint sensors
Beyond the smart sensing technology applications for PC HPD functions mentioned above, Synaptics also demonstrated a range of other solutions at Computex 2024, including docking station solutions supporting the latest DisplayPort standard (DP) 2.0 and offering the ability to add virtual screens and enhanced user functionality. troubleshooting guides. Low latency wireless video was also demonstrated, as well as audio solutions enabling ultra-low power enterprise headsets supporting simultaneous audio streaming with BT Classic, BLE, DECT and USB connected devices.
When it comes to PC touchpad and fingerprint solutions, the fingerprint market is moving away from traditional palm rest placement toward keyboard integration. This change provides a more streamlined and reliable integration.
The touchpad industry is seeing a significant increase in size to accommodate larger screens, highlighting the importance of advanced palm rejection technology. Synaptics’ AI-based algorithm can improve palm rejection, addressing common complaints about accidental cursor movements while typing. The algorithm improves accuracy when distinguishing between fingers and palms, especially at the edges of the touchpad.
Additionally, the integration of Zoom and Teams functions directly into the touchpad has been introduced. This allows users to control mute and video settings without moving the slider, simplifying the user experience during online meetings.
This customization provides flexibility based on OEM preferences. And the haptic force touchpad is poised to become dominant on flagship PCs, offering a larger touch area and integrating touch and force using a single chip. This technology allows clicking anywhere on the pad and provides a consistent touch response, improving the user experience. The development of piezoelectric technology, combining thin piezoelectric discs with tactile sensors, promises even more precise and localized haptic feedback, potentially simulating different textures and offering advanced notification patterns.
The central role of Taiwan
Due to the rise of AI PCs, this year’s Computex brought together many executives from large companies and attracted worldwide attention. Ganesan also recognized Taiwan’s central role in the global PC market and ecosystem: “Taiwan is a big center for PCs, almost all PC manufacturers and ODMs are here. We’re going to see a lot of development here focused on AI PCs and the like. like that. It plays a very important role in the hardware ecosystem provided worldwide. This is why Taiwan is one of Synaptics’ largest R&D centers.
While the local team is already large, as the market for AI PCs and other Edge AI applications grows, Ganesan did not rule out the possibility of further expansion, with more investment and the recruitment of more local talent. Synaptics plans to enhance its support and infrastructure in Taiwan, leveraging the country’s central role in implementation and innovation.
During a demonstration at Computex 2024, Synaptics showed how the intelligent sensing solution with its new Edge AI chip improves the PC user experience.
