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Examining the Unbalanced Loading Effect of a Difference Amplifier on a Bridge Circuit

Examining the Unbalanced Loading Effect of a Difference Amplifier on a Bridge Circuit

In this article, we’ll see that in addition to having high common-mode rejection, in-amps should provide high and equal input impedances.


An Introduction to Switched-capacitor Circuits

An Introduction to Switched-capacitor Circuits

In this series of articles, we’ll discuss one of the fundamental building blocks of analog IC design: the switched-capacitor circuit.


Types of Magnetometers

Types of Magnetometers

This high-level guide introduces common types of magnetometers, including scalar, vector, gradient, and more.


Assessing the Advantages of Ultra-wideband Systems Through Impulse Radios

Assessing the Advantages of Ultra-wideband Systems Through Impulse Radios

Using impulse radios as an example, we'll examine the advantages of ultra-wideband (UWB) technology compared to other short-range wireless communication technologies.


Learn About Three-Op Amp Instrumentation Amplifiers

Learn About Three-Op Amp Instrumentation Amplifiers

In this article, we'll discuss instrumentation amplifiers (in-amps) which have high common-mode rejection and provide high and equal input impedances. We will also look at the advantages and disadvantages of a commonly-used in-amp often referred to as the three-op amp in-amp.


Four Lessons an Adult Engineer Can Learn From Children’s Toys

Four Lessons an Adult Engineer Can Learn From Children’s Toys

Children’s toys aren’t just for children. Inside every toy, there are hundreds of hours of engineering experience just waiting to be discovered.


What Is a Magnetometer?

What Is a Magnetometer?

Learn the basics of magnetometers, including their relation to hysteresis curves and their applications.


What Is the Power Spectrum of Quantization Noise?

What Is the Power Spectrum of Quantization Noise?

Our series on quantization noise begins with a clarification of the framework the author used to determine the scope of his investigation into quantization noise.


Common-Mode Rejection: A Key Feature of Instrumentation Amplifiers

Common-Mode Rejection: A Key Feature of Instrumentation Amplifiers

In this article, we’ll examine a bridge measurement system to show why an in-amp needs to have a high common-mode rejection to successfully extract a small differential signal.


Adding a Low-pass Filter to an ADC Model and DAC Modeling

Adding a Low-pass Filter to an ADC Model and DAC Modeling

In the final part of this series on modeling ADCs, we discuss one more model and also briefly cover DAC models.


Modeling ADCs Using Intermodulation Polynomial and Effective Number of Bits

Modeling ADCs Using Intermodulation Polynomial and Effective Number of Bits

In this article, we discuss another methodology of how to model ADCs in system simulations, this time by using the effective number of bits and also adjusting our ADC by introducing a 5th order polynomial to the ideal quantizer input.


Modeling ADCs Using Effective Number of Bits (ENOB)

Modeling ADCs Using Effective Number of Bits (ENOB)

Learn about the concept of ENOB (effective number of bits) and how it can be used in modeling data converters in system simulations.


How Should Data Converters Be Modeled for System Simulations?

How Should Data Converters Be Modeled for System Simulations?

This article launches a series exploring the question of how to model data converters for system simulations.


Requirements for Good Communications Link Performance: IQ Modulation and Demodulation

Requirements for Good Communications Link Performance: IQ Modulation and Demodulation

In this article, we'll discuss the requirements for an analog IQ modulator and demodulator, and then the requirements for DACs and ADCs used at baseband (for an analog IQ approach) and for DACs and ADCs used at RF (for a digital IQ approach).


Digital or Analog? How Should I and Q Combining and Separation Be Done?

Digital or Analog? How Should I and Q Combining and Separation Be Done?

How should I and Q combining be done? Through analog or digital means? This article will discuss the basics of the analog and digital IQ approaches.


PCB Layout Techniques for Reducing Harmonic Distortion of a Differential ADC Driver

PCB Layout Techniques for Reducing Harmonic Distortion of a Differential ADC Driver

Summary


All About Seeing Your Projects: Optical and Digital Magnification

All About Seeing Your Projects: Optical and Digital Magnification

Smaller electronics call for more powerful inspection equipment. If you're building a collection of at-home lab equipment, these visual tools may help you see where you're going on minuscule boards.


How to Use Decoupling Capacitor Placement to Reduce Harmonic Distortion

How to Use Decoupling Capacitor Placement to Reduce Harmonic Distortion

Learn how to reduce second harmonic distortion by following some guidelines for placing decoupling capacitors in your PCB layout.


When Things Go Wrong: Battery Management System Failure Mitigation

When Things Go Wrong: Battery Management System Failure Mitigation

What is thermal runaway in Li-ion battery systems? And how do battery management systems help mitigate failure for improved safety? Learn more in this technical article.


Introduction to Battery Management Systems

Introduction to Battery Management Systems

Learn the high-level basics of what role battery management systems (BMSs) play in power design and what components are necessary for their basic functions.