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How to Use Simple Converter Circuits

How to Use Simple Converter Circuits

Different circuit connections are explored here. For instance, an inversion of source and load converts the buck converter into a boost converter, the cascade connection of the converters leads to the formation of the buck-boost, and the Cuk converter from the basic buck and boost converters.


Discontinuous Conduction Mode of Simple Converters

Discontinuous Conduction Mode of Simple Converters

Discussed here are the discontinuous conduction mode, mode boundary, and conversion ratio of simple converters.


How to Use Relays to Control High-Voltage Circuits with an Arduino

How to Use Relays to Control High-Voltage Circuits with an Arduino

To control high-voltage or high-power circuits with an Arduino, you have to isolate them from the Arduino with a relay. Here's how!


Concepts and Variables with State-Space and Canonical Models

Concepts and Variables with State-Space and Canonical Models

An analysis of the concepts and variables associated with state-space, canonical and system transfer function representations of the common converters. In direct circuit linearization averaging technique, dynamic behavior of the circuit cannot be studied at the resonant frequency as the switching frequency component of the output for the resonant converter is different from the local average value frequency. Thus, the integral expression of the average value needs to be extended using the Fourier series; and the derivative expression with respect to a particular frequency is required for the dynamic analysis.


Find Your Digital Multimeter Soulmate

Find Your Digital Multimeter Soulmate

Choosing a DMM isn't as simple as it looks. To choose the right DMM for your application, there are a number of factors that you should consider.


Opposites Attract: A Review of Basic Magnetic Theories

Opposites Attract: A Review of Basic Magnetic Theories

Electric machineries are based on the basic principles of electromechanical conversion, which use either the electrostatic or the electromagnetic principle. This technical article deals with the magnetic circuit theory for the conversion of one form of energy to another.


Basic Inductor Design

Basic Inductor Design

Inductor design characteristics are defined in terms of various parameters. Inductor winding is made of a conductor material which may be a single round wire or a unique multi-stranded conductor known as Litz wire. Litz wire has the main advantage of reduced skin effect. Inductor design characteristics are defined in terms of various parameters which are discussed in this technical article.


Analysis of Four DC-DC Converters in Equilibrium

Analysis of Four DC-DC Converters in Equilibrium

This technical article deals with the analysis of the four fundamental DC-DC converters (or choppers) in equilibrium. The four basic DC-DC converters considered for analysis are the following: Buck Converter, Boost Converter, Buck-Boost Converter and Ćuk Converter.


Skin and Proximity Effects of AC Current

Skin and Proximity Effects of AC Current

When an AC current flows through a conductor, outer filament of that conductor carries more current as compared to the filament closer to its center. This results in higher resistance to AC than to DC and is know as skin effect. Proximity effect, the alternating flux in a conductor is caused by the current of the other nearby conductor.


Make a Digital Voltmeter Using an Arduino

Make a Digital Voltmeter Using an Arduino

It's easy to make a simple digital voltmeter using an Arduino and 16x2 liquid crystal display (LCD).


Projects Jun 04, 2015 by Tim Youngblood
Saelig’s New Low Power Radio Transceiver

Saelig’s New Low Power Radio Transceiver

The new 2.4 GHz radio transceiver module is designed to facilitate the simple embedding of wireless capabilities in industrial remote control equipment.


News Jun 04, 2015 by Jennifer A. Diffley
Osram Introduces Low-Cost LIDAR - One Step Closer to Autonomous Driving

Osram Introduces Low-Cost LIDAR - One Step Closer to Autonomous Driving

Osram’s high power pulsed laser diodes with integrated driver simplify the design of laser systems and reduce their cost.


News Jun 03, 2015 by Jennifer A. Diffley
Knowles Introduces the Market’s Smallest and Most Power Efficient Digital MEMS Microphone

Knowles Introduces the Market’s Smallest and Most Power Efficient Digital MEMS Microphone

Knowles introduces the most advanced Inter-IC Sound, or I²S, interface MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical Systems) microphone for wearables, remote controllers, automotive, and smart home automation and security.


News Jun 03, 2015 by Jennifer A. Diffley
USB-C Set to Change Course of Technology

USB-C Set to Change Course of Technology

Built on the USB 3.1 spec and much smaller than a standard USB-A connector, USB-C can provide enough power to charge a laptop, enough bandwidth to carry a display signal, and fast enough data speeds for almost any normal user.


News Jun 03, 2015 by Tim Youngblood
Switching Losses: Effects on Semiconductors

Switching Losses: Effects on Semiconductors

We review switching losses involving diode recovery charge, transistor switching with clamped inductive load, device capacitance and leakage, package, and stray inductances, and the efficiency versus switching frequency curve.


Use an Arduino to Control a Motor

Use an Arduino to Control a Motor

Controlling a motor with an Arduino is relatively easy. In addition to simply spinning the motor, you can control the position of the motor shaft if the motor has a rotary encoder.


Projects Jun 03, 2015 by Tim Youngblood
Modeling the Pulse-Width Modulator

Modeling the Pulse-Width Modulator

Pulse-width modulation can be of many forms. A PWM signal of constant frequency can be obtained by comparing the ramp signal (or carrier signal) with the error between the desired and the actual output voltage signal (Vc, compensator voltage signal).


Create a Motion-Sensing Alarm with an Arduino and IR Sensors

Create a Motion-Sensing Alarm with an Arduino and IR Sensors

Infrared (IR) sensors are normally used to measure distances, but they can also be used to detect objects. By connecting a couple of IR sensors to an Arduino, you can make an intruder alarm.


Projects Jun 02, 2015 by Tim Youngblood
ARM’s New Chip Design Extends Battery Life of IoT Devices

ARM’s New Chip Design Extends Battery Life of IoT Devices

ARM is trying to resolve the thorny problem of battery life in Internet of Things devices with a new chip design that will significantly reduce the power consumed by processors, sensors and wireless chips. The company has overhauled the way it designs low-power Cortex-M chips that go into IoT devices such as health monitors, smart home devices and sensors. The restructured design could almost double battery life, ARM executives said at Computex in Taipei on Monday.


News Jun 01, 2015 by Tim Youngblood
Qualcomm and Google Power Project Tango Smartphone Platform

Qualcomm and Google Power Project Tango Smartphone Platform

Qualcomm announced at Google I/O that its premium tier Qualcomm® Snapdragon™ 810 processor will power Google's next generation Project Tango smartphone development platform. Project Tango devices combine the camera, gyroscope, and accelerometer to estimate six degrees of freedom motion tracking, providing developers the ability to track 3D motion of a device while simultaneously creating a map of the environment.


News Jun 01, 2015 by Kate Smith