This 50 MHz pulse generator was built as solid as a rock. It's almost all metal. We take the unit completely apart and look at it from a system and board level. On a visit to the MIT swapfest in 2024, I came across an HP 8112A 50 MHz pulse … [Read More...] about Teardown: HP 8112A pulse generator
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FROM THE EDITORS
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Aimee Kalnoskas
Signal analyzer combines spectrum and vector network analysis in three models -
Martin Rowe
RF instrument connects 12 75-Ω ports to a 2-port VNA -
Rick Nelson
How to choose analog-signal-chain components: part 2 -
Emma Lutjen
Design World presents the 2024 LEAP Awards Winners: Test & Measurement -
Kenneth Wyatt
How to compare EMI absorption materials with a cookie tin
FAQs
What is intersymbol interference — and why should I care about it?
Real-world digital signals and their channels are characterized by complex equations that lead to improved link performance. When engineers think or talk about digital signals, there’s often the sense that these are nice rectangular pulses with right-angle squared-off corners, but that’s only in … [Read More...] about What is intersymbol interference — and why should I care about it?
How to choose analog-signal-chain components: part 2
Signal conditioning can prepare a sensor’s output for digitization. In part 1 of this series, we looked at a typical analog signal chain that you can use in conjunction with analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) or digital-to-analog converters (DACs). A key building block of the analog signal … [Read More...] about How to choose analog-signal-chain components: part 2
How to compare EMI absorption materials with a cookie tin
Product enclosures have frequency resonances that can produce unwanted EMI. Absorption materials in the cavity can reduce EMI. Use a cookie tin to compare materials before inserting them into your product. As operating frequencies approach microwaves, enclosures can appear as resonant cavities … [Read More...] about How to compare EMI absorption materials with a cookie tin
How to choose analog-signal-chain components: part 1
Signal conditioning can prepare a sensor’s output for digitization. In a previous series, we looked at the analog-to-digital converter (ADCs) and sources of error that occur within the device. Of course, errors can creep in upstream of the ADC along the analog signal chain as the signal to be … [Read More...] about How to choose analog-signal-chain components: part 1
Understanding ADC specs and architectures: part 5
ENOB describes an analog-to-digital converter’s performance with respect to total noise and distortion. In the earlier parts of this series on analog-to-digital converters (ADCs), we looked at the basics (part 1); gain error, offset error, and differential nonlinearity (part 2); and integral … [Read More...] about Understanding ADC specs and architectures: part 5
How you can use smart design to enhance rare earths recycling
Rare earth elements (REEs) are important for society because they enhance the performance of a wide range of green energy, industrial, medical, aerospace, and consumer devices. They are rare because, while not uncommon, they are widely dispersed in the Earth’s crust and not generally found in high … [Read More...] about How you can use smart design to enhance rare earths recycling
Understanding ADC specs and architectures: part 4
The AC performance of an analog-to-digital converter depends on its architecture. In part 3 of this series, we discussed the integral nonlinearity (INL) error of an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), noting that gain, offset, and INL error all contribute to the total unadjusted error. This metric … [Read More...] about Understanding ADC specs and architectures: part 4
Understanding ADC specs and architectures: part 3
Integral nonlinearity tracks the cumulative effects of an ADC’s differential nonlinearity. In part 2 of this series, we discussed several sources of error in an analog-to-digital converter (ADC), including gain, offset, missing-code error, and differential nonlinearity (DNL). We concluded with an … [Read More...] about Understanding ADC specs and architectures: part 3
Understanding ADC specs and architectures: part 2
Specifications such as gain error, offset error, and differential nonlinearity help define an analog-to-digital converter’s performance. In part 1 of this series, we discussed an ideal analog-to-digital converter (ADC), noting that it would have infinite resolution and bandwidth. Then we looked … [Read More...] about Understanding ADC specs and architectures: part 2
Understanding ADC specs and architectures: part 1
Analog-to-digital converters are the heart of most test equipment, setting the stage for the digital processing of analog signals. Several posts over the past year or so have involved digital signal processing. For example, we have covered the fast Fourier transform (FFT), the inverse FFT, and … [Read More...] about Understanding ADC specs and architectures: part 1
Sponsored Content
What is the importance of resolution in an oscilloscope?
When looking at the oscilloscope feature of a multi-instrument device or when comparing two benchtop oscilloscopes, the first specifications that we look at are the bandwidth and sample rate. While these are incredibly important specs, often most design work is done well within the limits of most products and the more critical specification to consider is resolution. Did you know that while most […]
