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Simulating Pulse-Frequency Modulation for DC-DC Converters

Simulating Pulse-Frequency Modulation for DC-DC Converters

Using a pulse-frequency-modulated buck converter as an example, this article describes techniques for incorporating PFM into switching regulator design and simulations.


Pulse-Frequency Modulation for Switching Regulators

Pulse-Frequency Modulation for Switching Regulators

What’s the difference between PFM and PWM? We explore pulse-frequency modulation as a technique for controlling the output voltage of a switch-mode voltage regulator.


Bluetooth LE: Security Modes and Procedures Explained

Bluetooth LE: Security Modes and Procedures Explained

In Bluetooth LE (BLE), security is a multifaceted beast. Learn the three main security modes of BLE, along with five critical BLE security procedures.


X7R, X5R, C0G…: A Concise Guide to Ceramic Capacitor Types

X7R, X5R, C0G…: A Concise Guide to Ceramic Capacitor Types

This technical brief attempts to dispel some of the fog surrounding the three-character naming convention used to describe ceramic caps.


Closed-Loop Control for an LTspice Switching Regulator

Closed-Loop Control for an LTspice Switching Regulator

Learn how to simulate a switching voltage regulator with a voltage-controlled PWM waveform in LTspice.


All About the Inverting Buck-Boost Converter

All About the Inverting Buck-Boost Converter

Learn about the inverting buck-boost converter, a switching voltage regulator designed to handle unstable input voltages.


Building a One-Shot Multivibrator with an ESP32 Terminal Display:  A Radio Shack Classics Circuit Remix

Building a One-Shot Multivibrator with an ESP32 Terminal Display:  A Radio Shack Classics Circuit Remix

In this hands-on project, we will update a 1980s version of a one-shot (monostable multivibrator) circuit by giving it a modern, colorful output while also examining the circuit's operation.


Projects Sep 17, 2023 by Don Wilcher
Assessing Conductor and Dielectric Losses in Transmission Lines

Assessing Conductor and Dielectric Losses in Transmission Lines

Understanding the causes of attenuation in a transmission line can help us choose the right solutions for our application. In this article, we’ll learn about attenuation caused by conductor loss and dielectric loss.


Output Voltage and Diode Current in a Boost Converter

Output Voltage and Diode Current in a Boost Converter

Learn how output voltage and diode current affect the behavior of a step-up switching regulator.


Understanding Bluetooth LE Pairing—Step by Step

Understanding Bluetooth LE Pairing—Step by Step

Pairing is an important concept in Bluetooth LE. Let’s examine the fundamentals of Bluetooth LE pairing, outlining how LE devices securely share keys between trusted devices.


Inductor Current in a Boost Converter: a SPICE Analysis

Inductor Current in a Boost Converter: a SPICE Analysis

With the help of LTspice, we examine how inductor current affects the functioning of a boost converter.


Understanding the Operation of a Boost Converter

Understanding the Operation of a Boost Converter

Learn how a step-up switching regulator generates an output voltage higher than its input voltage.


Introduction to Dielectric Loss in Transmission Lines

Introduction to Dielectric Loss in Transmission Lines

Understanding the effect of dielectrics on transmission lines is an important aspect of many high frequency system designs. This article will introduce concepts like relative permittivity and loss tangent and describe how they affect the performance of transmission lines.


Introduction to the Boost Converter: Structure and Design

Introduction to the Boost Converter: Structure and Design

What is a boost converter? This article discusses key initial design tasks for a step-up voltage regulator and describes its structure.


Choosing Capacitance Values for a Step-Down Switching Regulator

Choosing Capacitance Values for a Step-Down Switching Regulator

Designing a buck converter? Read this article for practical guidance on selecting an output capacitance value.


The Skin Effect in Cylindrical and Rectangular Conductors: Eddy Currents and Current Crowding

The Skin Effect in Cylindrical and Rectangular Conductors: Eddy Currents and Current Crowding

The distribution of AC currents in real conductors with finite dimensions and circular or rectangular cross-sections is non-uniform. This article will discuss Faraday's law and how AC currents create eddy currents and current crowding in real conductors.


Choosing the Right Type of Output Capacitor for a Switching Regulator

Choosing the Right Type of Output Capacitor for a Switching Regulator

Capacitors are a crucial component of step-down switching regulators. Learn about the different capacitor types and how each one affects regulator performance.


Selecting Inductors for Step-Down Switching Regulators, Continued

Selecting Inductors for Step-Down Switching Regulators, Continued

Are you picking out components for a step-down switching regulator? Learn how to think about inductance values and inductor current when choosing an inductor.


Introduction to Servo-Loop ADC Testing

Introduction to Servo-Loop ADC Testing

Servo-loop testing allows the determination of an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) transfer function. This article will describe the basics of servo-loop ADC testing and illustrate several different servo-loop test configurations.


The Challenge of Integrating an Antenna Into Small IoT Devices

The Challenge of Integrating an Antenna Into Small IoT Devices

Designing antennas for compact IoT devices is a tricky task, but an increasingly important one. Learn more about this challenge and how to meet it.