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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.

September 17, 2023 by Don Wilcher

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.

September 10, 2023 by Nthatisi Hlapisi

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.

August 18, 2023 by Nthatisi Hlapisi

Understanding Security Keys in Bluetooth Low Energy

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).

August 13, 2023 by Nthatisi Hlapisi

EM Side-Channel Attacks on Cryptography

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.

July 26, 2023 by Jake Hertz

ATT and GATT—How Bluetooth LE Devices Store Data

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

July 21, 2023 by Nthatisi Hlapisi

Vulnerabilities and Attacks on Bluetooth LE Devices—Reviewing Recent Info

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

July 16, 2023 by Nthatisi Hlapisi

Securing BLE Connections—An Overview of the Security Protocol

Learn about Bluetooth LE's security features and tools, how to use them, and understand how they keep connections secure.

June 23, 2023 by Nthatisi Hlapisi

Breaking Down the BLE Link Layer—The 7 States of Bluetooth LE Radio

Explore the seven states of the Bluetooth LE radio, how the link layer state machine manages the LE radio, and the roles of these states in wireless communication.

June 16, 2023 by Nthatisi Hlapisi

What is an Application-specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC)?

Indispensable for modern electrical engineering, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs) form a diverse group of integrated circuits (ICs) that help designers to optimize sophisticated electronic devices.

June 14, 2023 by Robert Keim

Controlling a Potentiometer-based Servo Motor Using a M5Stack Core

In this project, learn how to use a potentiometer's reading on the M5Stack core to control a servo motor.

June 04, 2023 by Don Wilcher

Understanding the RF Noise Figure Specification

Take a closer look at the definition of the RF noise figure and discuss some subtleties to help avoid erroneous interpretations of this specification.

May 07, 2023 by Dr. Steve Arar

Using the Smith Chart to Design a T and Pi Matching Network

Learn more about L-sections and impedance matching by designing T and Pi matching networks using a Smith chart.

April 12, 2023 by Dr. Steve Arar

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

L-type Matching Network Basics—Examining L Network Frequency Response and Bandwidth

Learn about two-element networks (L-sections or L-networks), how they transform one impedance to another, their frequency response, estimating their bandwidth, and their limitations leading to T networks.

April 07, 2023 by Dr. Steve Arar

Design a Two-element Matching Network Using the ZY Smith Chart

Learn about the immittance Smith chart (ZY Smith chart), the effect of adding series and parallel components, impedance matching, and finding a two-element matching network.

March 31, 2023 by Dr. Steve Arar

Designing Firmware for Embedded Systems Using Warnier-Orr Diagrams

Go from chaos to clarity by learning how to design programs for embedded systems leveraging the Warnier-Orr diagrams.

March 10, 2023 by Nthatisi Hlapisi

Exploring the Basics of Bluetooth Low Energy: A Beginners Guide To BLE

Learn about the Bluetooth low energy (BLE) wireless communication protocol, namely its features, protocol stack, and how it communicates with devices.

February 19, 2023 by Nthatisi Hlapisi

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

From Parallel to Serial and Back Again: Understanding SerDes

Serialization/deserialization circuitry, known collectively as SerDes, provides important benefits for digital communication systems, especially when high data rates are required.

January 15, 2023 by Robert Keim