DESIGN East builds on the foundation of the Embedded Systems Conference (ESC) that has been an industry event for 24 years to deliver a new experience with more learning options and more value for according to the web site. It covers embedded hardware and software design, total systems integration, power management, open source software, android, embedded security and more.  DESIGN East is comprised of 5 Summits: ESC Boston, Android Summit, DesignMED, LED Summit, Sensors in Design to bring more than 120 sessions in 21 tracks.

The exhibition had about 100 companies displaying products and services covering these subjects.  The main presence included companies related to wireless M2M type applications with modules/software for things such as Zigbee, WiFi, Bluetooth, etc.  Of course, the giants in this area such as Intel, Qualcomm, Sierra Wireless, etc. were there along with major module suppliers like NXP, STMicro, Murata, Freescale, etc. represented.  There were also companies related to software, design, processors, memory, power management in addition to test and measurement experts like R&S and Teledyne LeCroy.

Spending some time in the exhibition, I visited Rohde & Schwarz who was displaying their latest measurement setups like their NFC testing system, synchronous time and frequency domain analysis, wideband complex modulation analysis and ADC debugging/evaluation.  We did a nice short video on their 4 GHz oscilloscope demonstrationfrom their booth.

Teledyne LeCroy also was also displaying some impressive oscilloscope capabilities with both 12-bit solutions providing improved vertical resolution.  Their High Resolution Oscilloscopes are a new kind of instrument delivering up to 600 MHz bandwidth, 2 GS/s sample rate and true 12 bit vertical resolution. The true 12-bit ADC digitizes signals using 4096 levels, 16 times more levels than an 8 bit ADC with only 256.

Freescale was displaying a very interesting application of their wireless modules for medical uses.  As an example, they use Bluetooth low power modules to transmit the blood Glucose levels measured by the monitor to a small wireless module on the patient to automatically administer the correct amount of insulin based on the reading and the food consumption entered.  The dose is automatically calculated and administered via the remote module which is a small waterproof unit that can be attached to an arm without restricting movement (you can even swim with the unit on).

There were many small design companies and custom PCB manufacturers on site including Streamline Circuits.  They are in Santa Clara, CA and provide custom, high quality PCBs with quick turnaround.  They encourage people with challenging designs to come to them to help solve their design problems quickly and efficiently.

It seems like Design East is leveraging off the successful Design West show with many west coast companies represented based on their good experiences with that show.  I think Design East will grow into the same kind of successful show.