Ham Antenna Rotator: The Teardown
The hy-gain rotor is a very sturdy design that has passed the test of time. Paul Rako takes a look inside to see what makes it endure.
View ArticleHow V2X Will Affect the Future of Automobiles
Communications capability is the key to future success in the automotive industry, and vehicle-to-everything technology could very well be the linchpin.
View ArticleTwin DFT and Mission-Critical Safety Apps for Pre-Silicon Design Verification
Combining these Apps with an emulation environment makes it possible to increase fault coverage, increase production yield, and reduce ATE test time and cost.
View ArticleWhat’s All This Industrial Design Stuff, Anyhow?
Industrial design goes far beyond the outside shape of a product—it dictates the cost and assembly methods as well.
View ArticleThe Chronicles of GND (Part 4): Supply Currents—When Simulations are Both...
Could it be that your simulator is giving you the correct answer to the wrong question? And what do time constants have to do with it? The Filter Wizard weighs in on reactions to Part 3.
View ArticleWhat’s All This eFlea Stuff, Anyhow?
Silicon Valley’s electronics flea market, which is revving up soon once again, is a fun social destination for engineers seeking bargains. Paul Rako recounts his last visit to the eFlea.
View ArticleTroubleshoot the Wiring to Your Battery-Cell Test Fixture
After initial setup of your cell tester, or when it undergoes repairs, it’s important to make sure the tester delivers the proper results and that its safe by troubleshooting not only the fixture, but...
View ArticleDelving into Deep Learning
In a recent talk on deep learning, BabbleLabs CEO Chris Rowen said, “I think of it as the construction of a complex numerical model that mimics the behavior of an even more complex but hidden system....
View ArticleWhat’s All This Subthreshold Stuff, Anyhow?
Operating transistors and ICs in the “leakage” zone lowers power consumption by an order of magnitude.
View ArticleThe Cree LED Floodlight Teardown
This costly to make, but rugged, consumer product shows solid mechanical and electrical design. Paul Rako shines a light on what makes it tick.
View ArticleWhat’s All This T-Coil Stuff, Anyhow?
Adding a T-coil inductor and capacitor combo to your amplifier will extend its bandwidth. These circuits are also useful in high-speed digital I/O and video distribution.
View ArticleWhat Goes Into a “Simple” Buck-Regulator Chip?
With a good company, you’re buying much more than the chip. You’re also obtaining the confidence that the chip was in good hands, because it’s usually designed by experts in the industry.
View ArticleThe Effect of Wire-Path Resistance on Battery Measurements
Wire and contact resistance, which can lead to voltage drops, will wreak havoc when testing cells. Here are some tips that can help you alleviate those headaches.
View ArticleThe Front End: Taking the Mystery Out of “Minimum Stable Gain”
Compensated…Decompensated…Optimized for higher-gain apps…What does it all mean? The Filter Wizard reaches back in time to bring some clarity to “op-amp compensation.”
View ArticleA Tour of the 2019 APEC Power Conference Show Floor
Power electronics components on display targeted every corner of industry, from consumer to industrial to automotive. Paul Rako got to meet up with a number of the movers and shakers in the power world.
View ArticleIs Automated Analog Layout Finally a Reality?
Methods for EDA in digital layout continue to advance, but progress on the analog layout side has seemingly stalled—or are there signs showing otherwise? Here are some thoughts on how to really get it...
View ArticlePicture-Perfect Box Camera System Design
A "copy-ready" reference design became a worldwide hit. Talking to the engineer in charge of it all, Paul Rako reveals the story behind the design’s success.
View ArticleTempest in a Cuisinart Tea Kettle
The tea kettle has a great design and solid assembly, yet it still caught fire. Paul Rako tore it down to find out what the heck went wrong.
View ArticleA Peek Inside the KSU Nuclear Reactor
Paul Rako had the opportunity to tour Kansas State University’s “TRIGA” nuclear reactor, which serves an educational facility for students and researchers alike.
View ArticleWhat’s All This Stuff Stuff, Anyhow?
Analog guru Bob Pease left behind a lot of stuff when he passed, and now it’s housed at Texas Instruments. The big question remains “what to do with it all?”
View ArticleWhat’s All This Shush Circuit Stuff, Anyhow?
Quiet please! Paul Rako builds an analog circuit that sounds out a shush noise when the room gets too loud.
View ArticleMaking 12-V Power More Reliable
With the heavy use of 12-V accessory devices in applications from automotive to industrial, it’s crucial that design engineers know the quality of device they’re using, especially imported products...
View ArticleThe IoT Really Does Work in the Factory
Industrial IoT pays off big in terms of reduced maintenance and operating costs. As Paul Rako discovered, implementing an IO-Link chip can help cultivate those advantages by managing the power in your...
View ArticleWhat’s All This Pease Prototype Stuff, Anyhow?
Digging through boxes of the prototype circuits that Bob Pease had amassed over the years proved to be a fun time for all involved.
View ArticleWhen Kirchhoff’s Law Doesn’t Work
A vigorous argument has emerged on the premise that Kirchhoff’s law will fail when energy is dynamically added to the circuit.
View ArticleThe 1992 Honda Radio Teardown
Leaking electrolytic capacitors ruined what was otherwise superior Honda design and quality. Paul Rako looks under the hood to see what exactly happened.
View ArticleMechanical Engineers Should Design Our Interfaces
A return to common sense: The systems knowledge and versatility of mechanical engineers make them more suited than programmers and EEs when it comes to practical interface design.
View ArticleA Clever Voltage-Fed Half-Bridge Converter Architecture
If push (or push-pull) comes to shove, you can put the buck regulator on the bottom of a cascaded converter design.
View ArticleMEMS Relays Push Power Limits
Here’s a MEMS relay with an integrated FET that can handle higher power levels, breaking away from the “low power” moniker associated with MEMS parts. Paul Rako takes a closer look at what makes this...
View ArticleWhat’s All This 3D Printing Stuff, Anyhow?
Inexpensive 3D printers can make engineering prototypes, not just action figurines and fidget spinners.
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