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Thermal Design with Exposed-Pad Packages

Thermal Design with Exposed-Pad Packages

This technical brief discusses thermal design techniques for IC packages—such as QFN, DFN, and MLP—that incorporate an exposed thermal pad.


The Quark D2000 Development Board: Moving Beyond “Hello World”

The Quark D2000 Development Board: Moving Beyond “Hello World”

Start to get acquainted with the new D2000 microcontroller development board by exploring the GPIO and PWM.


Teardown Tuesday: IoT Power Outlet

Teardown Tuesday: IoT Power Outlet

Today demand for IoT devices is rapidly growing. What are inside of an IoT power strip? Find out in this teardown!


News Jul 12, 2016 by Alex Udanis
Driving LED Arrays with an Arduino

Driving LED Arrays with an Arduino

All you need to know about LED arrays. If you want to learn about them, drive one using an Arduino, or build them, this is the place to start.


Understanding Arduino UNO Hardware Design

Understanding Arduino UNO Hardware Design

This article explains how Arduino works from an electronic design perspective. It also explains the role of every part of the Arduino.


Build Your Own PCB Chemical Tank

Build Your Own PCB Chemical Tank

Learn how to make your own DIY printed circuit board (PCB) tank, step by step.


Projects Jun 30, 2016 by Robin Mitchell
Build a 4-Bit Binary Counter with 5x7 LED Matrix

Build a 4-Bit Binary Counter with 5x7 LED Matrix

In this project, you'll learn how to build a 4-bit binary counter using a 5x7 LED matrix for data count value visualization. The project will use a combination of standard electronic and surface mount components.


Projects Jun 20, 2016 by Don Wilcher
Reflow Soldering? It’s So Much Easier with a Solder Paste Stencil

Reflow Soldering? It’s So Much Easier with a Solder Paste Stencil

In spite of their convenience, the cost of solder paste stencils has prevented many hobbyists from using them. But the use of polyimide film has brought the prices within reach... if you know how and where to get them.


C-BISCUIT Power: Assembly and Testing of Regulator and Crowbar Circuits

C-BISCUIT Power: Assembly and Testing of Regulator and Crowbar Circuits

Continuing the C-BISCUIT series, this article outlines how to populate and test the surface mount PCBs designed in a previous article using a hot air rework station and other various electronics tools.


Projects May 31, 2016 by Patrick Lloyd
How to Build an Arduino-Controlled AM/FM/SW Radio

How to Build an Arduino-Controlled AM/FM/SW Radio

Combine the Si4844-A10 analog-tuned radio receiver with an Arduino to make a full-featured multiband radio.


Build a Development Platform for a PICAXE 40X2

Build a Development Platform for a PICAXE 40X2

The PICAXE 40X2 features 32 I/O ports and speeds up to 64MHz; a development platform simplifies project design using this workhorse.


Easier PCB Design: EAGLE CAD Tips and Tricks Part 2

Easier PCB Design: EAGLE CAD Tips and Tricks Part 2

Most hobbyists and many professionals use EAGLE CAD as a daily tool in designing schematics and laying out PCB. I’m going to share with you more of the most important tips and tricks for using EAGLE CAD, which make my work much easier and faster.


Easier PCB Design: EAGLE CAD Tips and Tricks

Easier PCB Design: EAGLE CAD Tips and Tricks

Most hobbyists and many professionals use EAGLE CAD as a daily tool in designing schematics and laying out PCB. You're going to learn some tips and tricks for using EAGLE CAD, which will make your work much easier and faster.


Build a 2-Digit Up/Down Counter with a PICAXE 20M2

Build a 2-Digit Up/Down Counter with a PICAXE 20M2

Counters using 7-segment LEDs are fun and useful projects for scoreboards and other numerical displays; here's one you can build.


Thermal Design with Linear Voltage Regulators

Thermal Design with Linear Voltage Regulators

Will your linear regulator function properly under all possible operating conditions? To find out, you need to understand power dissipation and thermal resistance.


C-BISCUIT Power: Crowbar Protection Circuit for 5V Regulator

C-BISCUIT Power: Crowbar Protection Circuit for 5V Regulator

Over-voltage and over-current protection circuit for use with the C-BISCUIT platform's main computer, the Wandboard.


Projects Mar 09, 2016 by Patrick Lloyd
Building Raspberry Pi Controllers Part 6: Displaying Messages on a LCD with a RPi

Building Raspberry Pi Controllers Part 6: Displaying Messages on a LCD with a RPi

Readers will learn how to wire a standard 16x2 LCD (liquid crystal display) to a Raspberry Pi to display messages.


Projects Mar 04, 2016 by Don Wilcher
C-BISCUIT Power: 5V 3A Buck Regulator for Wandboard

C-BISCUIT Power: 5V 3A Buck Regulator for Wandboard

Design and theory behind the 5V-3A buck regulator based on the LM25575 to be used in the C-BISCUIT robot project.


Projects Feb 26, 2016 by Patrick Lloyd
Building Raspberry Pi Controllers: IR Remote Event Counter

Building Raspberry Pi Controllers: IR Remote Event Counter

In part 4 of this Build Raspberry Pi Controllers series, the reader will learn how to build an IR Remote Event counter using littleBits.


Projects Jan 19, 2016 by Don Wilcher
Custom PCB Design with an EFM8 Microcontroller

Custom PCB Design with an EFM8 Microcontroller

Tips and techniques for incorporating EFM8 microcontrollers into your custom hardware.


Projects Jan 18, 2016 by Robert Keim