Latest Technical Articles

Learn the roles of the three security keys in Bluetooth LE—Long Term Key (LTK), Connection Signature Resolving Key…

Learn the roles of the three security keys in Bluetooth LE—Long Term Key (LTK), Connection Signature Resolving Key (CSRK), and Identity Resolving Key (IRK).

The Y-factor method simplifies noise figure measurements by allowing the use of variable attenuators in place of a…

The Y-factor method simplifies noise figure measurements by allowing the use of variable attenuators in place of a calibrated power meter. In addition to defining the Y factor, we will discuss noise source uncertainty and fixturing losses that can introduce errors in your noise figure measurements.

Improve your understanding of switch-mode voltage regulators by examining the electrical characteristics of a step-down…

Improve your understanding of switch-mode voltage regulators by examining the electrical characteristics of a step-down converter during the on and off portions of its switching cycle.

This article will demonstrate that the AC current density decreases exponentially into a conductor. It will also explain…

This article will demonstrate that the AC current density decreases exponentially into a conductor. It will also explain why we can assume that the total current has a uniform distribution from the surface down to one skin depth of the conductor.

Learn how whitening filters solve problems in low-power radios when transmitting long identical bit sequences. Explore…

Learn how whitening filters solve problems in low-power radios when transmitting long identical bit sequences. Explore their significance in protocols like BLE and ZigBee.

This article will analyze in detail the operation of a step-down DC/DC voltage converter. Using SPICE simulations, we…

This article will analyze in detail the operation of a step-down DC/DC voltage converter. Using SPICE simulations, we will investigate the output voltage settling, voltage ripple, and inductor and load currents.

Electromagnetic-based side-channel attacks are non-invasive, meaning the attacker does not need physical access to the…

Electromagnetic-based side-channel attacks are non-invasive, meaning the attacker does not need physical access to the device to steal information. We’ll look at how these EM side-channel attacks work.

This article presents the design of an unweighted (Z-weighted) audio filter with a flat frequency response from 20 Hz to…

This article presents the design of an unweighted (Z-weighted) audio filter with a flat frequency response from 20 Hz to 20 kHz for the measurement of audio noise.

Learn how ATT and GATT protocols help Bluetooth LE devices store and manage data, making it easier for connected devices…

Learn how ATT and GATT protocols help Bluetooth LE devices store and manage data, making it easier for connected devices to work together seamlessly.

This article introduces high-frequency conductor losses in transmission lines caused by a phenomenon known as the skin effect.

This article introduces high-frequency conductor losses in transmission lines caused by a phenomenon known as the skin effect.

To understand known vulnerabilities and attacks on Bluetooth LE devices, we review some studies from the past 4+ years.

To understand known vulnerabilities and attacks on Bluetooth LE devices, we review some studies from the past 4+ years.

Switching regulators are an essential circuit for efficiently generating stable supply voltages and for translating…

Switching regulators are an essential circuit for efficiently generating stable supply voltages and for translating voltages up or down.

This article will help you understand losses in high-frequency transmission lines that include traces on PCBs. We will…

This article will help you understand losses in high-frequency transmission lines that include traces on PCBs. We will also investigate how these losses impact signal propagation and the quality of digital signals.

Let’s modernize a circuit from a Science Fair 150-in-1 Electronic Project kit using a solderless breadboard, new…

Let’s modernize a circuit from a Science Fair 150-in-1 Electronic Project kit using a solderless breadboard, new electronic components, online EDA tools, and an M5Stack Core microcontroller.

This article provides an introduction to the computational number system known as binary-coded decimal or BCD. This…

This article provides an introduction to the computational number system known as binary-coded decimal or BCD. This numeric encoding scheme is historically significant and still advantageous in certain applications.

Understanding PCB material parameters such as relative permittivity and loss tangent allows us to discuss some important…

Understanding PCB material parameters such as relative permittivity and loss tangent allows us to discuss some important considerations for choosing the right material when designing a high-speed/high-frequency application.

Ultra-thin, flexible, and low-power displays support wireless, IoT, and energy-harvesting applications that continue to…

Ultra-thin, flexible, and low-power displays support wireless, IoT, and energy-harvesting applications that continue to bring intelligence to more products. This article examines two of the most popular low-power reflective display technologies—electrochromic and electrophoretic.

Understanding two key Boolean canonical forms, the sum-of-products and the product-of-sums, is important in digital…

Understanding two key Boolean canonical forms, the sum-of-products and the product-of-sums, is important in digital system design and optimization. We will introduce how to generate these forms and provide guidelines on when it is typically best to use each form.

The Y-factor method is a widely used technique for measuring the gain and noise figure (NF) of RF components. This…

The Y-factor method is a widely used technique for measuring the gain and noise figure (NF) of RF components. This article will help you understand the differences between the insertion gain and the available gain, while avoiding potentially significant errors when measuring the noise figure.