Latest Communication Technical Articles

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

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

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

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

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

IoT Communication Protocols—IoT Data Protocols

Dive deeper into the Internet of Things (IoT) communication through a brief overview of the different IoT data protocols.

June 16, 2022 by Ignacio de Mendizábal

Demystifying LoRa and LoRaWAN Wireless Network Protocols

In this article, get a basic understanding of wireless communication networks—LoRa and LoRaWAN.

April 17, 2022 by Brandon Satrom

A Low-Cost Method of Powering a Microcontroller

This article proposes a simple microcontroller power-supply circuit that is worth considering when you’re developing a (very) cost-sensitive system.

October 30, 2020 by Robert Keim

Low-Pin-Count Serial Communication: Introduction to the 1-Wire Bus

The 1-wire bus, though not as widespread as other protocols, is a valuable communication technique for certain applications.

March 09, 2020 by Robert Keim

Introduction to the I2S Interface

This article discusses the characteristics and applications of a serial communication protocol intended specifically for audio systems.

March 04, 2020 by Robert Keim

Predicting Battery Degradation with a Trinket M0 and Python Software Algorithms

Learn how to build a setup that will help you predict a battery's performance as it ages using a Trinket M0 and software algorithms.

December 09, 2019 by Aaron Hanson

What Is Brown Out Reset in Microcontrollers? How to Prevent False Power-Downs

Brown Out Reset is an important function to increase the reliability of a microcontroller after start-up. Normally used to solve problems with the power supply, this article shows how Brown Out Reset can prevent another problem.

October 09, 2019 by Stephen Colley