All About Circuits

Latest Industrial Automation Technical Articles

Categories

Learn to Build a Photoelectric Sensor System Using an Arduino Uno and OpenPLC

Learn to Build a Photoelectric Sensor System Using an Arduino Uno and OpenPLC

Since photoelectric sensing can be achieved with electrical, electromechanical, and electronic components, learn to build, test, and implement a prototype photoelectric switch using off-the-shelf components with Arduino OpenPLC.


Projects Mar 12, 2023 by Don Wilcher
Reducing Quantization Distortion Via Subtractive and Non-subtractive Dithering

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.


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

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.


Mismatch Loss Effect on RF Power Measurement and Gain of Cascaded Amplifiers

Mismatch Loss Effect on RF Power Measurement and Gain of Cascaded Amplifiers

Using the mismatch loss equations, learn about the effect of mismatch loss on RF power measurement and the gain of cascaded amplifiers.


Mismatch Loss and Mismatch Uncertainty in RF Systems

Mismatch Loss and Mismatch Uncertainty in RF Systems

Learn more about RF wave reflection parameters, namely mismatch loss and mismatch uncertainty.


RF Design Basics: VSWR, Return Loss, and Mismatch Loss

RF Design Basics: VSWR, Return Loss, and Mismatch Loss

Learn about voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR), return loss, and mismatch loss, which helps characterize the wave reflections in a radio frequency (RF) design.


Transmission Line Theory: Observing the Reflection Coefficient and Standing Wave

Transmission Line Theory: Observing the Reflection Coefficient and Standing Wave

Learn about radio frequency (RF) wave propagation and reflection via transmission lines, equations, and example waveforms.


Investigating Lossless Transmission Line Phase Constant and Infinite Bandwidth

Investigating Lossless Transmission Line Phase Constant and Infinite Bandwidth

Learn how to derive the wave equations for a lossless transmission line and look at its infinite bandwidth and phase constant.


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

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

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


RF Design Basics—Introduction to Transmission Lines

RF Design Basics—Introduction to Transmission Lines

Learn about voltage waves and how they relate to an important basic concept of radio frequency (RF) circuit design: transmission lines.


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

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.


An Introduction to Current Sources

An Introduction to Current Sources

Current sources are less familiar than voltage sources like batteries and AC wall power. Current sources usually are buried, unseen, inside electronic circuitry. Learn what they are and how they are designed.


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

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.


Trim Out ADC Offset and Gain Error Using Two Point Calibration

Trim Out ADC Offset and Gain Error Using Two Point Calibration

Learn about the two-point calibration method and the fixed-point implementation to compensate for analog-to-digital converter (ADC) offset and gain errors through an example.


RTD Signal Conditioning—4-Wire Configuration, Ratiometric Measurement, & Filtering

RTD Signal Conditioning—4-Wire Configuration, Ratiometric Measurement, & Filtering

Learn about RTD (resistance temperature detector) signal conditioning through a four-wire configuration, ratiometric measurement, and input RC filters.


RTD Signal Conditioning—Voltage vs Current Excitation in 3-wire Configurations

RTD Signal Conditioning—Voltage vs Current Excitation in 3-wire Configurations

Learn about resistance temperature detector (RTD) signal conditioning techniques such as voltage vs. current excitation and the three-wire configuration for dealing with the lead and wire resistance error.


Is Assembly Language Still Relevant for Embedded Software Development?

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.


Understanding CMRR and its Relationship With ADC Offset Error

Understanding CMRR and its Relationship With ADC Offset Error

Learn how variations of the common mode rejection ratio (CMRR) can affect an analog-to-digital converter's (ADC) performance.


An Introduction to RTD Sensor Signal Conditioning Circuits

An Introduction to RTD Sensor Signal Conditioning Circuits

Learn about the basics of different signal conditioning circuits for RTD applications, including a voltage divider, Wheatstone bridge circuit, and delta-sigma (ΔΣ) converter.


Magnetic Field Strength Meter and Calibrator

Magnetic Field Strength Meter and Calibrator

This project will explain how to develop a system to measure magnetic field emissions at frequencies up to 150 kHz from high-current power cables without cutting or disturbing the cable.


Projects Oct 28, 2022 by John Woodgate