Headline: Think Silicon and LVGL Collaborate to Boost MCU Graphics Performance
Athens, Greece and Budapest, Hungary – Nov. 24, 2024 – In an exciting development for the embedded systems industry, Think Silicon, a leading provider of ultra-low-power GPU IP, has announced a strategic collaboration with LVGL, the free and open-source embedded graphics library. This partnership aims to create optimized, high-performance graphics libraries designed specifically for microcontrollers (MCUs). By enhancing LVGL’s ultra-light graphics libraries, the companies seek to deliver significant improvements in performance and power efficiency for graphical user interfaces (GUIs) on MCUs.
Elevating Graphics Performance for Modern Applications
As the demand for compact and efficient GUIs in various applications continues to escalate, software developers require access to advanced graphics libraries. Think Silicon’s NEMA gfx-api software development kit (SDK) offers a game-changing solution by accelerating LVGL’s graphics library rendering speeds by up to five times in comparison to traditional software-only rendering methods. Furthermore, Think Silicon’s innovative lossy compression technology dramatically reduces memory usage by as much as eight times while achieving up to ten times better GPU power efficiency than running equivalent workloads on MCU logic.
Ulli Mueller, Vice President of IP Management and Marketing at Think Silicon, emphasized the collaboration’s potential: “The synergy between Think Silicon’s cutting-edge GPU technology and LVGL’s innovative graphics libraries offers unprecedented performance and energy efficiency in MCU-based GUI development. Our combined solution is indispensable for designers of power-constrained devices, including wearables, e-bike computers, navigation systems, instrument clusters, industrial products, and medical applications.”
Collaboration for Enhanced User Experiences
Gabor Kiss-Vamosi, CEO of LVGL, also recognized the fruitful partnership. “Teaming up with Think Silicon exemplifies how collaboration can yield significant advancements,” he said. “Our shared goal is to simplify the process for developers to build sleek, responsive interfaces without sacrificing performance or power efficiency. By integrating LVGL’s lightweight open-source graphics library with Think Silicon’s advanced NEMA GPU-Series, we can help system developers provide faster, more energy-efficient solutions crucial for microcontrollers, which play vital roles in everyday technology.”
Accessible Technology for Developers
The accelerated LVGL libraries are available now on GitHub, specifically optimized for the NEMA gfx API versions v8.4.0 and v9.1.0, and tailored to the NEMA | pico VG 1000 GPU-Series. Developers can access these libraries at: LVGL on GitHub. For further information about the collaboration and the newly optimized graphics libraries, readers are encouraged to visit the official websites of Think Silicon and LVGL at think-silicon.com and lvgl.io, respectively.
About Think Silicon
Think Silicon, a member of the Applied Materials family, leads the industry as a provider of ultra-low-power 2D/3D GPU and display processors for MCU-based systems. Their flagship NEMA™ GPU IP is utilized in millions of devices spanning various sectors, including wearables, infotainment, and AIoT. The company, known for launching the world’s first RISC-V GPGPU, NEOX™, revolutionizes graphics and AI capabilities for wearables and IoT devices within a single IP framework. Based in Greece, Think Silicon also boasts sales and support offices across North America, Europe, and Taiwan.
About LVGL
LVGL is renowned for its embedded GUI library, developed with community support. The company is dedicated to aiding customers with diverse services, such as creating dynamic graphic designs, implementing UIs, and consulting on system improvements. LVGL’s goal is to enable its clients to create fast, reliable, and aesthetically pleasing user interfaces that captivate product users.
Readers are encouraged to share their thoughts on this collaboration. How do you think these advancements in GPU technology will impact the future of embedded systems? Share your insights in the comments below!
**What specific examples of real-world applications can leverage this partnership to deliver a significantly enhanced user experience compared to traditional embedded GUI solutions?**
## Revolutionizing Embedded Systems: A Conversation with Think Silicon and LVGL
Today we delve into the exciting collaboration between Think Silicon, a leader in ultra-low-power GPU IP, and LVGL, the well-known free and open-source embedded graphics library. We’ll be speaking with **Ulli Mueller, Vice President of IP Management and Marketing at Think Silicon, and Gabor Kiss-Vamosi, CEO of LVGL**, to explore how this partnership aims to redefine the possibilities of graphical interfaces on microcontrollers (MCUs).
**Section 1: The Need for Speed and Efficiency in Embedded GUIs**
* **Interviewer:** The demand for sophisticated GUIs on smaller, power-constrained devices is growing rapidly. Could you both elaborate on the challenges developers face when implementing GUIs on MCUs, and how this collaboration addresses those challenges?
* **Interviewer (to Ulli):** Think Silicon’s NEMA SDK is highlighted as a ‘game changer’. Can you explain what makes it stand out and how it specifically enhances the performance of LVGL?
* **Interviewer (to Gabor):** LVGL prides itself on its lightweight and open-source nature. How does this partnership with Think Silicon maintain those core values while unlocking new levels of performance?
**Section 2: Technological Synergy: Hardware and Software Working Together**
* **Interviewer:** This collaboration relies on the synergy between Think Silicon’s GPU technology and LVGL’s graphics library. Could you both delve into the technical details of how these two components work together? What are some tangible examples of the performance improvements developers can expect?
* **Interviewer:** The article mentions impressive figures like “five times faster rendering speeds” and “eight times reduction in memory usage”. Could you explain the technologies behind these achievements? What role does Think Silicon’s lossy compression technology play in this?
**Section 3: Impact and Applications: Shaping the Future of Embedded Systems**
* **Interviewer:** The article mentions a wide range of applications benefiting from this collaboration, from wearables to industrial products. What are some specific use cases where this technology can truly shine, and how will it ultimately impact the user experience?
* **Interviewer (to Ulli):** Think Silicon is known for its focus on low-power solutions. How does this partnership contribute to the growing trend of energy-efficient electronics?
* **Interviewer (to Gabor):** LVGL has a strong community backing. How do you envision this collaboration empowering developers and encouraging further innovation within the embedded systems community?
**Section 4: Open Source Collaboration: Democratizing Access to Powerful Technology**
* **Interviewer:** The optimized LVGL libraries are openly accessible on GitHub. Why was it important for both companies to make this technology freely available?
* **Interviewer:** What message do you have for developers who are interested in exploring these new libraries and incorporating them into their projects?
**Closing Thoughts**
The collaboration between Think Silicon and LVGL represents a significant step forward for embedded systems. By combining cutting-edge hardware and software, this partnership has the potential to unlock new and exciting possibilities across diverse applications.
We want to hear your thoughts! How do you think this collaboration will impact the future of embedded devices? Share your comments and insights below!
