The intention is that the Strata platform will provide a faster and simpler way for engineers to work with evaluation and development boards, delivering the latest documentation, product information, design and application notes, and reference design files straight to the desktop.
"We’re adding more software to our hardware portfolio and that’s where Strata comes into play," explained Edward Osburn, Strata Project General Manager at ON Semi. "We have more than 80,000 products – and counting – each of these have diverse and deep set information attached, from simple data sheets all the way application notes, software, sourcecode etc. If you think about all of these products having all of these different things available to it, the total amount of information for customers to look through is pretty daunting. We want to make sure that all our customers are up-to-date at all times.
"We reimagined the research, evaluation, and design process of hardware systems, creating a holistic Software as a Service (SaaS) solution to unencumber and speed customers in their quest to develop innovative new products."
The platform provides design teams with a user interface to the board, giving direct control of the configuration parameters and visual feedback of the board’s functionality. At the same time, Strata will download all the design information an engineer needs to start evaluation or design.
The Strata Developer Studio is provided as a Microsoft signed application connecting to the company’s SaaS platform. It features secure authentication, data transfers and full information containment using encrypted and EU General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) compliant databases. All information and security follows National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) Cybersecurity guidelines.
“Strata brings the world of information to you in a single, secure application,” commented Ian Cain, Director of Software and Chief Architect of Strata at ON Semi. "Normally, software engineers have to go out and collect the information they require, but we have reversed the flow. Now we bring them all the information they could possibly need."
He explained that "information hierarchy" was important in the creation of Strata however. "We didn't want to overload the customer of course," he explained. "We designed it so the information is defined by evaluation board. It's specific and limited by the hardware, so you only get the data and notifications relevant to that particular board."
He continued: “Security First and Security Built In was followed throughout the software development life cycle, providing the user with full privacy and content controls."
The roadmap for the Strata Developer Studio will see its functionality increase rapidly, as new boards are supported and new features are added. Initial boards include a Configurable Multifunction Logic Gate, a Dual 100W USB-PD Automotive Charging System, and a Universal Offline 200W 4-Port Type-C USB-PD Source.
With regards to the future, ON Semi intends to make all its new evaluation boards ‘Strata-Ready’, meaning they will automatically be recognised by the Strata Developer Studio when they are connected to the host computer.
"This technology is bringing the semiconductor and product design industry into the 21st century," concluded Osburn.
