If you’re looking for a portable oscilloscope for field troubleshooting or for demonstrations, look at the Micsig TO series. Here’s my take on the four-channel 300 MHz variant, TO3004. The Micsig TO3004 oscilloscope (Figure 1) is an 8-bit, four-channel, tablet-sized portable oscilloscope that’s also available with 100 MHz and 200 MHz varieties with two or […]
FAQ
How to use convolution to implement filters: part 4
A windowed sinc function can implement a low-pass filter, and a two-dimensional convolutional filter can blur or sharpen images. In part 3 of this series, we introduced a low-pass filter based on the Sinc function and described the need for windowing to compensate for sampling and truncation. Q: How can we apply this filter? A: […]
Why engineers need IC ESD and TLP data
Design Engineers need ESD and TLP characterization data to make informed decisions to design robust circuits and systems. Engineers often review semiconductor data among several manufacturers when designing a circuit or system. While two or more ICs may perform satisfactorily under normal operating conditions, they may not perform the same under extreme conditions, such as […]
What is bit jitter, and what are its component jitters?
Bit jitter can be a problem. A digital data stream is composed of a series of rapidly changing “ones” and “zeros.” Bit jitter can make it difficult to tell the difference and result in data errors. This article begins by defining jitter, then looks at its component jitters, compares bit jitter with clock jitter, considers […]
How to calculate and apply the inverse discrete Fourier transform: part 4
In part 3 of this series, we used the inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) to create 100-Hz time-domain waveforms of various amplitudes and phases. We can also use the IFFT to create waveforms containing multiple frequencies. If you look closely at Figure 1 in part 1 of this series, you’ll notice that the time-domain waveform […]
How to calculate and apply the inverse discrete Fourier transform: part 3
The inverse transform can create a time-domain waveform where no waveform has been before. In part 2 of this series, we used the discrete Fourier transform to convert a waveform from the time domain to the frequency domain, operated on the frequency-domain data, and used the inverse transform to reconstruct the altered time-domain waveform. That’s […]
How to calculate and apply an inverse FFT: part 2
In part 1 of this series, we looked at the formula for the inverse discrete Fourier transform and manually calculated the inverse transform for a four-point dataset. Then, we used Excel’s implementation of the inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) to verify our work. Could we try something more realistic? Sure. We can take a signal […]
How to calculate and apply an inverse FFT: part 1
The inverse Fourier transform (inverse FFT or iFFT) reverses the operation of the Fourier transform and derives a time-domain representation from a frequency-domain dataset. In early 2024, EE World published a series on the Fourier transform, which can convert a time-domain signal to the frequency domain (Figure 1, red arrow). The process is reversible (Figure […]
How can EMI be weaponized?
Electromagnetic interference (EMI) can be an unwanted and disruptive aspect of electronic system designs. It can also be amplified and weaponized. EMI is being weaponized in purpose-built high-power microwave (HPM) tactical systems that devastate electronics without the side effects of physical destruction. The initial weapons have been deployed, and a roadmap has been outlined for […]
Controlling EMI and improving sustainability
Optimized designs require less electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding and other materials, improving sustainability. Improved EMI performance extends system life and reduces e-waste, further enhancing sustainability. More sustainable shielding materials are being developed for use when shielding is required. This article reviews the basics of EMI, examines common shielding materials to provide a baseline for comparing […]
