Latest IC Design Articles and Videos

Jump start your embedded projects with Freescale's new software platform!

Jump start your embedded projects with Freescale's new software platform!

Teaming up a PICAXE µC, a DS1307 real time clock module, and an LCD117 serial adapter with a liquid crystal display is…

Teaming up a PICAXE µC, a DS1307 real time clock module, and an LCD117 serial adapter with a liquid crystal display is a fun, educational way to assemble your own date and time demo.

This article reviews the basics of finding Thevenin and Norton equivalents and discusses how to apply Thevenin's theorem…

This article reviews the basics of finding Thevenin and Norton equivalents and discusses how to apply Thevenin's theorem to a practical circuit.

Ferrite beads used in conjunction with bypass capacitors can provide improved power-supply filtering and decoupling.

Ferrite beads used in conjunction with bypass capacitors can provide improved power-supply filtering and decoupling.

Proper component selection and careful PCB layout are integral to power supply bypassing.

Proper component selection and careful PCB layout are integral to power supply bypassing.

Having beautiful-looking technology is becoming increasingly performance. Here we showcase five beautiful designs housing…

Having beautiful-looking technology is becoming increasingly performance. Here we showcase five beautiful designs housing innovative tech.

A thorough understanding of bypass capacitors will help you to properly incorporate these critical components into your designs.

A thorough understanding of bypass capacitors will help you to properly incorporate these critical components into your designs.

Electronic and electric devices are not synonymous. Here's an overview of the differences between each and why the…

Electronic and electric devices are not synonymous. Here's an overview of the differences between each and why the distinction can be confusing even for professionals.

Part 2 in the “How to Make an EFM8-Based Sound Synthesizer” series.

Part 2 in the “How to Make an EFM8-Based Sound Synthesizer” series.

Part 1 in the “How to Make an EFM8-Based Sound Synthesizer” series, which will design a sound synthesizer that can…

Part 1 in the “How to Make an EFM8-Based Sound Synthesizer” series, which will design a sound synthesizer that can play standard musical notes. We will accomplish this using a low-cost, small-form-factor EFM8 microcontroller in conjunction with a few external components and a speaker.

In this article I will discuss what switch bounce is and some ways to deal with it. First I will take you through the…

In this article I will discuss what switch bounce is and some ways to deal with it. First I will take you through the theory, and later I will show you some ways to handle it in both hardware and in software.

I hear about it all the time: planned obsolescence. People can't believe that their computer parts are already breaking…

I hear about it all the time: planned obsolescence. People can't believe that their computer parts are already breaking and their iPhone started to slow down just days before the next generation of the phone was released. Your TV seems to be programmed to have bugs whenever the manufacturing company wants to push a new product. Companies break their own products to get you to buy more of the same product: light bulbs, phones, batteries, cars, microwaves, computer screens, and even your car key transponder will all stop operating eventually. Either the marketing team or the designers wanted it that way, right?

Basic refresher on instrumentation amplifiers, followed by a several real world applications in which an engineer would…

Basic refresher on instrumentation amplifiers, followed by a several real world applications in which an engineer would find this circuit.

Getting started with PSoC®, the Programmable-System-on-Chip by Cypress Semiconductor for developing and testing embedded systems.

Getting started with PSoC®, the Programmable-System-on-Chip by Cypress Semiconductor for developing and testing embedded systems.

A guideline for proper considerations when making electrical platforms that can be easily, cheaply, and quickly…

A guideline for proper considerations when making electrical platforms that can be easily, cheaply, and quickly manufactured. The purpose and methods of proper board design, validation, testing, and technical support is discussed, from small to large scale production.

This is the first in a multi-part series on writing PICAXE BASIC code. This article covers how to read PICAXE pin-out…

This is the first in a multi-part series on writing PICAXE BASIC code. This article covers how to read PICAXE pin-out diagrams, a circuit for coding practice, and the general program format.

The use of dependent sources when using Nodal Analysis.

The use of dependent sources when using Nodal Analysis.

Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) are software applications that provide a programming environment to streamline…

Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) are software applications that provide a programming environment to streamline developing and debugging software programs.

LTSpice is a versatile, accurate, and free circuit simulator available for Windows and Mac. This is an overview of AC and…

LTSpice is a versatile, accurate, and free circuit simulator available for Windows and Mac. This is an overview of AC and DC simulation, as well as how to analyze output signals.