Latest Appliances Technical Articles

Hall-effect-based ICs such as the A1337 can help your device to perform a variety of sensor tasks related to angular motion.

Hall-effect-based ICs such as the A1337 can help your device to perform a variety of sensor tasks related to angular motion.

You can improve performance in motor-control applications by using brushless DC motors and handy driver ICs such as the…

You can improve performance in motor-control applications by using brushless DC motors and handy driver ICs such as the BU69090NUX.

Isolation components, such as the ACPL-C799, allow you to transfer data without establishing a direct electrical…

Isolation components, such as the ACPL-C799, allow you to transfer data without establishing a direct electrical connection between two parts of a system.

This article will help the reader understand the different types of power semiconductors: how they work, their key…

This article will help the reader understand the different types of power semiconductors: how they work, their key parameters, and trade-offs.

Detecting, decoding, and displaying IR (Infrared) signal data is interesting, but using those signals to control stuff is…

Detecting, decoding, and displaying IR (Infrared) signal data is interesting, but using those signals to control stuff is more interesting . . . and sometimes useful. Read on to learn how.

Remote controls for electronics often use IR (infrared) radiation in a very precisely coded sequence for channel surfing,…

Remote controls for electronics often use IR (infrared) radiation in a very precisely coded sequence for channel surfing, volume adjustments, and more. One of the most popular codes is the SIRC (Sony Infrared Remote Code) which may be used with a PICAXE microcontroller to manage a stepper motor, or most any other electronic or electro-mechanical device.

Tracking an infrared light source is not as difficult as you might think; a 14-pin PICAXE, a stepper motor with a driver…

Tracking an infrared light source is not as difficult as you might think; a 14-pin PICAXE, a stepper motor with a driver IC, three phototransistors, and a few other components will do the trick.

A PICAXE 08M2 can be used to read the amount of IR (infrared) light falling on a phototransistor and respond by moving a…

A PICAXE 08M2 can be used to read the amount of IR (infrared) light falling on a phototransistor and respond by moving a servo to a predetermined position.

Finally, we have everything we need for a functional robot. Let’s put the pieces together and see what the C-BISCUIT…

Finally, we have everything we need for a functional robot. Let’s put the pieces together and see what the C-BISCUIT demo bot can do.

The Zambroombi is the next step up from your neighbor's fancy Roomba. Set it and forget it!

The Zambroombi is the next step up from your neighbor's fancy Roomba. Set it and forget it!

This object detection toy will keep your cat's head spinning for hours!

This object detection toy will keep your cat's head spinning for hours!

We’ll discuss some important layout and manufacturing concepts as we look at the PCB for the Robot Control Board.

We’ll discuss some important layout and manufacturing concepts as we look at the PCB for the Robot Control Board.

This technical brief will explore some fundamental details related to solenoid operation and implementation.

This technical brief will explore some fundamental details related to solenoid operation and implementation.

We’ll continue our discussion of the C-BISCUIT demo bot by looking at portions of the RCB schematic that weren’t…

We’ll continue our discussion of the C-BISCUIT demo bot by looking at portions of the RCB schematic that weren’t covered in the previous article.

In this article we’ll take a close look at two sections of the custom-designed control board for the C-BISCUIT demo bot.

In this article we’ll take a close look at two sections of the custom-designed control board for the C-BISCUIT demo bot.

The C-BISCUIT saga continues as we combine the various system components into a demo bot.

The C-BISCUIT saga continues as we combine the various system components into a demo bot.

This technical brief covers some useful details regarding a common MOSFET parameter referred to as on-state resistance.

This technical brief covers some useful details regarding a common MOSFET parameter referred to as on-state resistance.

The CAT-apult! is the robotic food launcher your cat never knew it needed.

The CAT-apult! is the robotic food launcher your cat never knew it needed.

This technical brief explains a quick, straightforward procedure for evaluating a switch/driver circuit based on an NPN…

This technical brief explains a quick, straightforward procedure for evaluating a switch/driver circuit based on an NPN bipolar junction transistor.

Sensor fusion is the art of combining multiple physical sensors to produce accurate "ground truth", even though each…

Sensor fusion is the art of combining multiple physical sensors to produce accurate "ground truth", even though each sensor might be unreliable on its own.