Here are the most popular threads on EDAboard this week pertaining to test and measurement topics: Measuring an RF transceiver: I have a low-noise mixer IF amplifier and IF filter on the PCB. I want to measure signal power, return loss, insertion loss on the PCB. What is the best solution for this? Should I […]
New Articles
Basics of rectification
By David Herres Thomas Edison, in the waning years of the 19th century, attempted to make a case for his preferred dc electrical system. But George Westinghouse and Nikola Tesla prevailed. AC has endured and with good reason. A simple passive device, the transformer, suffices to change voltage levels for transmission over various distances, and […]
Basics of lasers, part two
By David Herres The heart of the most common type of laser is the optical cavity. It is typically cylindrical and contains the gain medium. The gain medium is a material through which light passes and is where light amplification takes place. Highly polished mirrors sit at either end of the optical cavity. Energy in the […]
Basics of lasers, part one
By David Herres Electrons travel freely through the comparatively vast spaces between atoms or they are confined to orbits around an atom’s nucleus. The orbits do not lie in a single flat plane like those of planets orbiting our sun, but instead the orbital planes are angled to one another. They are best pictured as […]
Video: Saving Screenshots in the Tektronix MDO 3104
Using a flash drive to save, store and display signals from the Tektronix MDO 3104 oscilloscope to a computer.
Video: Networking Two Oscilloscopes
A simple method for connecting Tektronix and LeCroy oscilloscope arbitrary function generators.
Tools correlate physical layer, protocol layer data on a single display
We’re now happy to announce additional Measurement and Graphing Features for our CAN FD Solution are available. Teledyne LeCroy announces the addition of unique measurement and graphing capabilities to their industry leading CAN Flexible Data-Rate (FD) serial trigger and decode solution. Teledyne LeCroy is the only provider of CAN FD measurement and graphing capabilities, […]
Basics of analog modulation
By David Herres When you modulate a signal, you are varying one or more properties of a periodic waveform, called the carrier signal, with another signal, the modulating signal, that contains information to be transmitted. Typically the modulating signal has a lower frequency than the carrier. Modulation is applicable for combining two or more signals. […]
A brief history of wind power
By David Herres Wind, the motion of air with respect to the earth’s surface, is a potent source of energy that may be harvested. Our ancient ancestors built sailboats powered by wind that crossed navigable waters and measureless seas. At first they went only a cautious distance offshore, primarily along coastlines. Eventually, seafarers crossed vast […]
Basics of hand-held oscilloscopes
By David Herres Hand-held oscilloscopes are available in a wide range of prices. For a robust instrument such as the Tektronix THS3024, expect to pay about one-third the cost of a mid-level bench model. Naturally, the screen size, display clarity and range of features including bandwidth are less, but there are some palpable advantages. Today’s […]