Latest Microcontroller Technical Articles

Categories

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

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

Is Assembly Language Still Relevant for Embedded Software Development?

As embedded systems continue to evolve, you might wonder: should I learn assembly language for embedded software development? Learn the answer in this article.

November 06, 2022 by Darby Hewitt

Ratiometric Resistance Measurement Basics Using an Analog to Digital Converter

Learn the basics of ratiometric resistance measurements in analog to digital (A/D) converters, how it's measured, and example uses in a digital multimeter (DMM), microprocessor, and various resistive sensors.

October 07, 2022 by Harry Trietley

TinyML In Action—Creating a Voice Controlled Robotic Subsystem

We’ll be walking you through creating a robotic subsystem with a voice-activated motor leveraging machine learning (ML) and an Arduino Nano 33 BLE Sense.

July 03, 2022 by Jake Hertz

An Introduction to RISC-V—Understanding RISC’s Open ISA

This article is a primer into the basics of RISC-V. The open architecture philosophy is exposed, along with a technical description of the modular ISA, and some commercial RISC-V microprocessor implementations.

June 12, 2022 by Eduardo Corpeño

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.

March 24, 2021 by Mark Hughes

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.

February 08, 2021 by Enrico Sanino

Introduction to JTAG and the Test Access Port (TAP)

In this article, we’re going to be talking about JTAG, the ubiquitous hardware tool used for testing, programming, and debugging.

November 18, 2020 by Sam Gallagher

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

Using a Supervisory Circuit to Turn a Conventional SRAM into Fast Non-Volatile Memory

How can you build a fast non-volatile memory from a conventional SRAM? It turns out, you only need a back-up battery and some control circuitry.

August 21, 2020 by Dr. Steve Arar

An Engineer’s Introduction to Mechanical Ventilation

Learn about the basics of mechanical ventilation in terms of subsystems, control loops, and algorithms.

April 12, 2020 by Dr. Steve Arar

Watchdog Timers in Microcontrollers

This article is the fourth of a series on microcontroller timers which discusses internal watchdogs.

February 10, 2020 by Stephen Colley

Real Time Clocks (RTCs) in Microcontroller Timers

This article is the third of a series on microcontroller timers which describes the RTCs inside a microcontroller.

February 09, 2020 by Stephen Colley

Pulse-width Modulation (PWM) Timers in Microcontrollers

This article is the second of a series on microcontroller timers. This article describes a more complex timer called the PWM or pulse-width modulation timer.

February 07, 2020 by Stephen Colley

Introduction to Microcontroller Timers: Periodic Timers

This article, the first in a series on “timer/counter” functions in microcontrollers, discusses periodic timers.

January 14, 2020 by Stephen Colley

How to Calibrate a Microcontroller Internal Oscillator: A DIY Trimming Procedure Algorithm

This article presents an algorithm intended for humans to calibrate the internal oscillator of an MCU, with the help of an oscilloscope and a spreadsheet. An example experiment with numbers is also shown.

December 13, 2019 by Eduardo Corpeño

How to Calibrate MCU Internal Oscillators

This article describes the internal RC oscillator calibration mechanism available in low-end microcontroller units. A basic calibration procedure and considerations on automated calibration are presented.

December 12, 2019 by Eduardo Corpeño

The Good and the Bad of MCU Internal Oscillators

This article describes the benefits and requirements of the internal RC oscillator often available inside many low-cost Microcontroller units, including the calibration procedure to obtain the best possible accuracy.

December 11, 2019 by Eduardo Corpeño

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