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Negative Feedback, Part 6: New and Improved Stability Analysis

Negative Feedback, Part 6: New and Improved Stability Analysis

This article will show you a handy alternative approach to assessing stability via open-loop gain and the feedback factor.


Control an Arduino with Bluetooth

Control an Arduino with Bluetooth

This article will show you how to set up two way communication between an Arduino and your Android Smartphone using Bluetooth.


Why Google and Apple Are Failing in India

Why Google and Apple Are Failing in India

After winning over China, both Google and Apple may have assumed they'd have the same success in India. But this year proved the companies have much to learn.


News Nov 25, 2015 by Jennifer A. Diffley
Sinusoidal Steady-State Power Calculations

Sinusoidal Steady-State Power Calculations

Let's delve into AC power concepts, how to calculate instantaneous power, average power, reactive power, complex power, and the power factor. We'll also talk about the relationship each concept has to one another.


Convert a Vintage Thermostat into a Modern Energy Saver

Convert a Vintage Thermostat into a Modern Energy Saver

Programmable thermostats can save a lot of energy and money. But you don't have to buy one- you can convert an old mechanical thermostat into a programmable thermostat using an Arduino and a servo.


Welcome to the World of Wireless Payments

Welcome to the World of Wireless Payments

It's a scary world. Here's a roundup of the wireless payment contenders and the technology they're utilizing to ensure the future of payments is safe and easy.


News Nov 24, 2015 by Jennifer A. Diffley
Buck Converters and Their Cool Applications

Buck Converters and Their Cool Applications

The buck converter is a ubiquitous DC-DC converter that efficiently converts a high voltage to a low voltage efficiently. Efficient power conversion extends battery life, reduces heat, and allows for smaller gadgets to be built. The buck converter can be used in lots of cool applications.


Navigating the Boost Converter’s Vulnerability with Alternative Power Conversion Topologies

Navigating the Boost Converter’s Vulnerability with Alternative Power Conversion Topologies

Here are some great power conversion topologies that can be used as alternatives to the boost converter; they are much less vulnerable to short circuit load conditions.


Negative Feedback, Part 5: Gain Margin and Phase Margin

Negative Feedback, Part 5: Gain Margin and Phase Margin

How to use frequency-domain simulations to analyze loop gain and evaluate the stability of your amplifier circuit. We need a way to determine whether a circuit is sufficiently stable—in other words, stable enough to ensure that the circuit will perform properly despite part-to-part variations and environmental or operational conditions that affect the characteristics of the open-loop gain or the feedback network. There is where gain margin and phase margin come into play.


Use LTspice to Understand the LM741 OpAmp: Part 2

Use LTspice to Understand the LM741 OpAmp: Part 2

How an op amp works with LTspice simulation. We left off last time finishing up how the input stage of an op-amp works. The next important stage is made up by transistors Q3, Q4, Q5, Q6, and Q7.


PCB Layout Style Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Design

PCB Layout Style Mistakes That Can Ruin Your Design

This article discusses style mistakes in PCB layout that can make assembly and debugging PCBs difficult. This is vital for designers!


Understanding Analog-to-Digital Converters: Deciphering Resolution and Sampling Rate

Understanding Analog-to-Digital Converters: Deciphering Resolution and Sampling Rate

Resolution and sampling rate are two important factors to consider when selecting an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). In order to understand these fully, concepts such as quantisation, and the Nyquist Criterion must be understood to a certain degree.


Add Short Circuit Protection to Your Boost Converter

Add Short Circuit Protection to Your Boost Converter

The boost converter is a DC-DC converter used to created an output voltage that is higher than the input voltage. Boost converters are also used to drive LEDs placed in series in products like LED flashlights. The boost converter suffers from vulnerability to a short circuit load. Learn how to protect them from shorts!


Everything You Need to Know About Direct Digital Synthesis

Everything You Need to Know About Direct Digital Synthesis

Direct Digital Synthesis is used to generate precise analog waveforms that can quickly change frequencies. It's used in test equipment, spread spectrum techniques and to enable frequency sweeps.


NXP’s Thread Platform Makes Low-Power IoT Design a Cinch

NXP’s Thread Platform Makes Low-Power IoT Design a Cinch

NXP demonstrated its Thread Platform at ARMTechCon last week. Based on the JN5179 wireless MCU, with Secure Element, NFC, Thread encryption, its own dc/dc converter and featuring ARM's mbed OS, the Platform makes secure home automation application design a whole lot easier.


News Nov 19, 2015 by PatrickM
Build a Raspberry Pi Pushbutton Switch

Build a Raspberry Pi Pushbutton Switch

Learn how to build a variety of electronic controllers using the Raspberry Pi. In part one, you will learn how to wire a basic pushbutton switch and read the status of its electrical contacts using the Python programming language.


Projects Nov 19, 2015 by Don Wilcher
Negative Feedback, Part 4: Introduction to Stability

Negative Feedback, Part 4: Introduction to Stability

Why are negative-feedback amplifiers susceptible to oscillation? What is the fundamental criterion for stability? Let’s find out.


Use LaunchPad to Make a Laser Tripwire Alarm

Use LaunchPad to Make a Laser Tripwire Alarm

Use the Analog to Digital Converter (ADC) feature of LaunchPad to build a laser tripwire alarm. This is a great way to familiarize yourself with LaunchPad while simultaneously making something cool.


Projects Nov 18, 2015 by Tim Youngblood
How to Build a Robot - Avoiding Obstacles

How to Build a Robot - Avoiding Obstacles

Part five of a series of articles on building a robot that can follow lines or walls and avoid obstacles!


Use an Arduino to Convert an Old Mechanical Thermostat into a Programmable Thermostat

Use an Arduino to Convert an Old Mechanical Thermostat into a Programmable Thermostat

Programmable thermostats can save a lot of energy and money. But you don't have to buy one. You can convert an old mechanical thermostat into a programmable thermostat using an Arduino and a servo.