Latest Digital ICs Technical Articles

This project brief describes how to build and use an Arduino-compatible interface board that reads a 2-axis thumb…

This project brief describes how to build and use an Arduino-compatible interface board that reads a 2-axis thumb joystick and transmits its position over an RS-485 network.

This project brief describes how to build and use an Arduino-compatible relay interface board that switches a 10 A load…

This project brief describes how to build and use an Arduino-compatible relay interface board that switches a 10 A load over an RS-485 network.

This article shows you how to configure Software Standby mode and implement a periodic wake-up routine on the Renesas…

This article shows you how to configure Software Standby mode and implement a periodic wake-up routine on the Renesas FPB-RA0E1 Fast Prototyping Board, built around the Arm Cortex-M23-based RA0E1 MCU.

This project brief describes how to build and use a four-channel differential line receiver module for balanced RS-422…

This project brief describes how to build and use a four-channel differential line receiver module for balanced RS-422 and RS-485 data links.

This project brief describes how to implement a four-channel differential line driver module for reliable long-distance…

This project brief describes how to implement a four-channel differential line driver module for reliable long-distance data transmission over balanced twisted-pair lines.

This project brief describes how to assemble an isolated half-bridge IGBT gate driver module built around the…

This project brief describes how to assemble an isolated half-bridge IGBT gate driver module built around the NCD57085DR2G. It features onboard current sensing and overcurrent protection.

An RTL glitch in an eFuse controller can permanently brick costly silicon. This article covers defense-in-depth FSM…

An RTL glitch in an eFuse controller can permanently brick costly silicon. This article covers defense-in-depth FSM design, redundant watchdogs, and formal SVA verification.

The Hogge phase detector plays multiple roles in CDR circuits. In this article, we'll explore the Hogge detector's…

The Hogge phase detector plays multiple roles in CDR circuits. In this article, we'll explore the Hogge detector's behavior, highlight its main drawbacks, and introduce a different configuration that addresses them.

Learn how the Hogge detector addresses the challenges of clock and data recovery (CDR) for data signals with limited…

Learn how the Hogge detector addresses the challenges of clock and data recovery (CDR) for data signals with limited clock information.

Learn how PLLs enable communication in which a clock signal is not transmitted with the data. We’ll look specifically…

Learn how PLLs enable communication in which a clock signal is not transmitted with the data. We’ll look specifically at return-to-zero (RZ) and non-return-to-zero (NRZ) data formats.

This article explains the importance of incorporating delay into the feedback path of a phase/frequency detector (PFD)…

This article explains the importance of incorporating delay into the feedback path of a phase/frequency detector (PFD) and examines its effect on performance.

Learn how using a phase/frequency detector (PFD) in place of a phase detector improves the acquisition range of a PLL.

Learn how using a phase/frequency detector (PFD) in place of a phase detector improves the acquisition range of a PLL.

Learn about this simple sequential phase detector and how it compares to the XOR gate. We'll also examine some key…

Learn about this simple sequential phase detector and how it compares to the XOR gate. We'll also examine some key limitations and circuit implementations.

This article explores the operation of the simplest digital phase detector: the exclusive-OR (XOR) gate.

This article explores the operation of the simplest digital phase detector: the exclusive-OR (XOR) gate.

To complete this project, we add backlight control and temperature-sensing functionality to the clock we built in the…

To complete this project, we add backlight control and temperature-sensing functionality to the clock we built in the previous installments.

We continue our design of a clock that uses analog ammeters to display time and temperature. In this installment, we…

We continue our design of a clock that uses analog ammeters to display time and temperature. In this installment, we examine the second of the two circuits that enable the timekeeping function.

This article explores the operation of the Gilbert-cell phase detector for both small and large signals.

This article explores the operation of the Gilbert-cell phase detector for both small and large signals.

This project turns old-school analog ammeters into a working clock that can also display the ambient temperature.

This project turns old-school analog ammeters into a working clock that can also display the ambient temperature.

The device technology co-optimization (DTCO) methodology requires generating large numbers of layouts. This article…

The device technology co-optimization (DTCO) methodology requires generating large numbers of layouts. This article introduces a few ways of speeding up this time-consuming process using automation.