Consumer Electronics
Diode classifications
We might tend to take the word “diode” for granted if we’re thinking of a “diode” as just a two-lead or two-terminal device that gets used in this or that place for this or that purpose. It can become a bit humbling to contemplate just how many kinds of diodes we actually have at our…
Using an oscilloscope’s zoom functions
Zoom is a display tool that expands the view of the selected waveform. The source trace can be expanded horizontally and vertically for detailed visual analysis or further processing. Each zoom trace can have its own horizontal and vertical scale setting, enabling views of the source trace using multiple horizontal and vertical scales. All digital…
Increasing ADC resolution by adding dither to DC signals
An EDN Design Idea (DI) presented a discussion of how to increase the resolution of an ADC by adding a non-deterministic, zero-mean, Gaussian noise dither waveform to a signal to be converted; then, oversampling the sums, and low-pass filtering (thereby averaging) the ADC conversions. (As noted, a filter that optimally removes out-of-band high-frequency dither noise is generally…
RingConn: Smart, svelte, and econ(omical)
Life is rife with dichotomies. Good and evil. Black and white. Up and down. Left and right. And, apparently, Ultrahuman and Ringconn ;-). My previous post detailed my experiences, observations, and conclusions from a week or so evaluating the Ultrahuman’s Ring AIR smart ring, following up on last month’s smart ring introductory overview write-up. This…
No more missed steps: Unlocking precision with closed-loop stepper control
Bipolar stepper motors provide precise position control while operating in an open loop. Industrial automation applications—such as robots and processing and packaging machinery—and consumer products—such as 3D printers and office equipment—effectively take advantage of the stepper’s inherent position retention. This eliminates the need for convoluted sensor technology, processing power requirements, or complex control algorithms. However,…
Program sequence monitoring using watchdog timers
WDT in safety standards With the prevalence of microcontrollers (MCUs) as processing units in safety-related systems (SRS) comes the need for diagnostic measures that will ensure safe operation. IEC 61508-2 specifies self-test supported by hardware (one channel) as one of the recommended diagnostic techniques for processing units. This measure uses special hardware that increases speed…
Apple’s M5: The SoC-and-systems cadence (sorta) continues to thrive
A month and a few days ago, Apple dedicated an in-person event (albeit with the usual pre-recorded presentations) to launching its latest mainstream and Pro A19 SoCs and the various iPhone 17s containing them, along with associated smart watch and earbuds upgrades. And at the end of my subsequent coverage of Amazon and Google’s in-person…
A logically correct SoC design isn’t an optimized design
The shift from manual design to AI-driven, physically aware automation of network-on-chip (NoC) design can be compared to the evolution of navigation technology. Early GPS systems revolutionized road travel by automating route planning. These systems allowed users to specify a starting point and destination, aiming for the shortest travel time or distance, but they had…
“Not Only Do You Get Versatile And Affordable Hardware, But You Also Gain Access To A Vibrant And Supportive Community”- Dr Umesh Dutta, Manav Rachna
– Advertisement – What does it take to transform an idea into a functional IoT solution? How can academic programmes equip students with skills the industry truly values? EFY’s Vidushi Saxena spoke with Dr Umesh Dutta to explore how Arduino and Manav Rachna are bridging the gap between learning and real world innovation. Dr Umesh…
Inside Walmart’s onn. 4K Plus: A streaming device with a hidden bonus
Walmart onn. coverage Walmart’s onn. (or is it now just “onn”?) line of streaming media boxes and sticks are regularly represented here at Brian’s Brain, for several good reasons. They’re robustly featured, notably more economical than Google’s own Android TV-now-Google TV offerings, and frequently price-undershoot competitive devices from companies like Apple and Roku, too. Most…