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Characterize RF Noise Components Using Equivalent Noise Temperature

Learn another way to characterize RF noise components using noise temperature and how this concept clears up how noise figure measurement instruments actually work.

May 28, 2023 by Dr. Steve Arar

Improving ADC SFDR Using Dithering for Communication System Applications

Learn more about dithering, namely improving the spurious-free dynamic range (SFDR) of an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) that exhibits differential nonlinearity (DNL) errors.

May 21, 2023 by Dr. Steve Arar

Noise Figure Concepts—Power Gain, Lossy Components, and Cascaded Systems

Learn about the RF noise figure (NF), its power gain, lossy components, and cascaded systems.

May 15, 2023 by Dr. Steve Arar

Analyzing a Negative Voltage Charge Pump in LTspice—Source and Load Resistance

Learn about using LTspice simulations to provide important insight into the performance of a switched-capacitor voltage-inverting power supply.

May 14, 2023 by Robert Keim

A Primer on Power and EM Side-channel Attack Countermeasures and Prevention

Get a high-level understanding of designing electronics to prevent the threat of side-channel attacks (SCAs), namely power- and EM- (electromagnetic) based attacks.

May 12, 2023 by Jake Hertz

Designing a Wideband Analog Voltage and Current Meter

Design a wideband analog multimeter to measure AC voltages and currents from 20 Hz to 1 MHz with a selectable sensitivity from 1 mV to 100 V, while the ammeter has a selectable current sensitivity of 10 mA to 10 A.

May 03, 2023 by John Woodgate

Creating a DCO-based Audio Synthesizer With an Arduino Nano

In this project, learn to create a digitally-controlled oscillator or DCO-based audio synthesizer with an Arduino Nano or an Arduino Uno.

April 09, 2023 by Darby Hewitt

Can Voltage Be Negative? Understanding Negative Voltage

In addition to explaining the nature of a negative voltage, this article briefly discusses how negative voltages are generated and why they are useful in circuit design.

April 02, 2023 by Robert Keim

Receiving and Sampling Signals in Digital Pulse Amplitude Modulation

The receiver in a digital PAM system must sample and measure the amplitude of a signal that is affected by the frequency response of the transmission channel.

March 05, 2023 by Robert Keim

Reducing Quantization Distortion Via Subtractive and Non-subtractive Dithering

Learn how dithering can suppress both harmonic and non-harmonic spurs and two different types of dithering systems: subtractive and non-subtractive topologies.

February 24, 2023 by Dr. Steve Arar

Introduction to Double Date Rate (DDR) Memory

Learn about double date rate (DDR) memory key concepts and applications surrounding this digital communication technique, where two data words are transferred during one clock cycle.

February 03, 2023 by Robert Keim

Error Analysis in Analog-to-digital Converter (ADC) Applications

Through four different examples, learn about analog-to-digital converter (ADC) system error analysis.

January 20, 2023 by Dr. Steve Arar

ADC Resolution vs. Accuracy—Sub-range ADCs, Two-step ADCs, and TUE

Learn about characterizing different analog-to-digital converter (ADC) error sources such as resolution and accuracy.

January 08, 2023 by Dr. Steve Arar

Understanding ADC Integral Nonlinearity (INL) Error

Learn about the integral nonlinearity (INL) specification and how it relates to analog-to-digital converter (ADC) errors.

December 26, 2022 by Dr. Steve Arar

ADC Nonlinearity—Missing Codes, Monotonicity, and Nonlinearity Effect on SNR

Learn about eliminating missing codes through averaging, analog-to-digital converter (ADC) monotonicity, and the effect of ADC nonlinearity on the system's signal-to-noise ratio (SNR).

December 18, 2022 by Dr. Steve Arar

Using the Noise Figure Metric to Analyze Noise in RF Circuits

Concerning noise analysis in RF analog design, learn about the noise figure metric, including key aspects of this specification through examples.

December 16, 2022 by Dr. Steve Arar

Digital Square Wave Generator Design Via a Ring Oscillator, 555 Timer, and Arduino

Learn about digital square wave generators using a ring oscillator, a 555 timer-based oscillator, and an Arduino-generated square wave oscillator.

December 11, 2022 by Nicholas St. John

What is Dithering? Using Dithering to Eliminate Quantization Distortion

Learn how dithering can be added to a signal to improve the performance of an analog-to-digital conversion system by eliminating quantization error and distortion.

December 04, 2022 by Dr. Steve Arar

Introduction to MEMS Microphone Technology—Analog vs Digital Microphones

MEMS silicon microphones are in everything from cellphones, hearing aids, smart speakers, computers, and vehicles. Learn the basics of how they work, their use, and what’s available.

November 25, 2022 by Harry Trietley

Op Amp and Transistor-based Analog Square Wave Generator Design

Analog oscillator circuits are commonly used to create square wave clock signals for the timing of synchronous circuits. This article covers the theory, design, and key features of analog square wave generators.

November 13, 2022 by Nicholas St. John