In a recent post, we reviewed the basics of Spice circuit simulators. Most circuit simulations involve transistors, either as discrete components or within an integrated circuit. So it is useful to understand a few basics about how Spice models transistors. Transistors may have multiple states, typically saturation, cutoff, active and reverse. And transistors have an […]
Design
Op-amps and their most important parameters
The operational amplifier (op-amp) has been one of the most successful integrated circuits. A type of differential amplifier with high gain, the differential inputs and single output enable this small, inexpensive IC to use negative feedback in a wide variety of applications, in which its gain (hundreds of thousands of times higher than the difference […]
Web-based jitter measurement utility gives product designers critical timing test results in minutes
The new Jitter Measurement Utility is a web-based, fully automated tool that enables designers to quickly and easily evaluate the jitter and phase noise performance of their custom clock configurations without using their own test equipment. “The need for higher timing performance is being driven by the introduction of new technologies such as 5G, mmWave, […]
Tools for optimizing circuit bias
If a semiconductor or vacuum tube is to accurately reproduce or amplify signals on its input, it must have on its input a non-time-varying dc voltage, i.e. dc bias, the purpose of which is to keep the device in its linear operating range. Otherwise, the input signal to be reproduced may drive the device beyond […]
Digital design toolset takes on tough debugging challenges
The new Five Wire is a professional-grade toolset that takes over where oscilloscopes and software debuggers fall short, allowing engineers to quickly capture and source signals to assist with debugging and verification of embedded designs. With Five Wire, digital designers and firmware engineers get the power of five debugging tools in one instrument so users […]
Making measurements with Matlab
Matlab was released in 1984 by Mathworks, an American privately-held corporation whose other major product is the closely-related Simulink. Additionally, Mathworks offers close to 100 other programs, such as Polyspace, SimEvents and Stateflow. Matlab’s main focus is numerical computing, including matrix and algorithm operations, plotting of data and functions and creation of user interfaces. It […]
Test and measurement with LabVIEW
LabVIEW is an awesome product created and maintained by National Instruments. It consists of systems engineering relating to test, measurement and control of instrumentation, devices and machinery, and it is currently used worldwide in numerous applications. Rather than endless lines of textual coding, LabVIEW has a simple graphic interface where devices such as an oscilloscope […]
Interoperability testing for the Internet of Things
The Internet of Things might also be thought of as the internet of interoperable things. A systematic testing regime can help uncover problems when devices work in concert. DELMAR HOWARD, INTERTEK GROUP PLC The Internet of Things (IoT) is growing at an exponential rate. In three years, the number of IoT-enabled products is expected to […]
Measuring energy without getting fooled
James Prescott Joule, in formulating what is now known as Joule’s Law, found that various forms of energy such as mechanical, electrical and heat are essentially identical and can be changed one into the other. His work formed the theoretical basis for the First Law of Thermodynamics. Joule further investigated the phenomenon of magnetostriction. He […]
Thermal camera, stand optimized for benchtop analysis of PCB thermal characteristics
FLIR Systems, Inc. (NASDAQ: FLIR) today announced the launch of the FLIR ETS320 thermal imaging solution for electronics testing in engineering benchtop environments. As the first FLIR camera designed specifically for benchtop work in testing and analyzing the thermal characteristics of electronic components and printed circuit boards (PCBs), the FLIR ETS320 aims to advance testing […]
