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An Introduction to Optoelectronics

In this article, we talk about the basics of optoelectronics, including a brief lecture on photons. Also, various optoelectronic devices will be discussed including lamps, LEDs, photodiodes, photoresistors, and laser diodes.

July 10, 2017 by Nick Davis

Radio Meets Fiber Optics: RF Over Fiber

Radio Over Fiber (ROF) combines RF and optics, providing optical links to replace strategic portions of cellular, satellite, and copper based systems.

June 14, 2017 by Marie Christiano

An Introduction to Laser Diodes

Learn about the laser diode, including package types, applications, drive circuitry, and some laser diode specifications.

June 12, 2017 by Nick Davis

Simplify Your Lighting Design: A New Constant-Current Regulator from Diodes Incorporated

ICs such as the BCR401U provide high-quality control of LEDs for applications that require something better than the typical series-resistor arrangement.

May 25, 2017 by Robert Keim

Dealing with Variable Lighting: CMOS Vs CCD Image Sensors

Despite the convenience of CMOS imagers, CCD imagers still have their place. And if you really need low-light performance, consider a device with EMCCD technology, such as the KAE-02152.

May 03, 2017 by Robert Keim

Quark D2000 I2C Interfacing: Add a Color Sensor and Asynchronous Mode

Use I2C on the Quark D2000 development board to interface a color sensor and get acquainted with using asynchronous mode.

January 13, 2017 by Raymond Genovese

Quark D2000 I2C Interfacing: Add a Light Sensor and an LCD

Get acquainted with using I2C with the Quark D2000 development board by interfacing an ambient light sensor and an LCD.

January 12, 2017 by Raymond Genovese

Build a Wireless “Tipping Bucket” Rain Gauge, Part 3—Receiver, PICAXE, and LCD

Here's a rain gauge that empties itself and that you can read from your easy chair. Best of all, you can build it, yourself.

August 19, 2016 by Charles R. Hampton

How to Build a Raspberry Pi Camera

In part 8 of the "Building Raspberry Pi Controller" series, readers will learn how to attach a camera board to a Raspberry Pi and write Python code for photo imaging projects.

August 01, 2016 by Don Wilcher

How to Build a Simple Arduino-Based Calculator

Learn how to use an Arduino in combination with an LCD display and a keypad to make a calculator.

June 13, 2016 by Aleksandar Tomić

Build an Automatic Computer Display Rotator With an Arduino

Learn how to build a device which senses when your computer monitor is physically rotated, and automatically tells your computer to rotate the display accordingly.

April 12, 2016 by Matthew Davis

Building Raspberry Pi Controllers Part 6: Displaying Messages on a LCD with a RPi

Readers will learn how to wire a standard 16x2 LCD (liquid crystal display) to a Raspberry Pi to display messages.

March 04, 2016 by Don Wilcher

Make a GPS Clock With a PIC Microcontroller

In this article I'll show you one way to use a PIC microcontroller to get the time and date from a GPS module.

January 29, 2016 by Jens Christoffersen

Using Scilab GUI for RGB and Lux Measurements

Gather data via USB from a BH1745NUC optical sensor and then display color characteristics and illuminance values.

January 28, 2016 by Robert Keim

Measuring and Calculating Lux Values, Part 2

Use data from an RGB sensor to improve the accuracy of illuminance measurements.

January 15, 2016 by Robert Keim

Measuring and Calculating Lux Values

Learn how to translate the output of a photosensor into an illuminance measurement.

January 13, 2016 by Robert Keim

Understanding Illuminance: What’s in a Lux?

A practical introduction to quantifying perceived light intensity.

January 11, 2016 by Robert Keim

Design a Luxmeter Using a Light Dependent Resistor

Take a few minutes to characterize a light dependent resistor (LDR) and you can build a simple and reasonably accurate light meter can be built using an LDR and an Arduino.

December 13, 2015 by David Williams

Build Raspberry Pi Controllers: LED Flasher

In this project, you'll learn how to wire an LED and flash it using the Raspberry Pi. Also, to isolate the Raspberry Pi's + 3.3VDC compliant output pins from supply voltages greater than this power source, an opto-isolator will be introduced as well.

December 11, 2015 by Don Wilcher

How To Build A Thermostat with a PICAXE

An inexpensive PICAXE microcontroller makes it easy to read a temperature sensor, compare the temperature to a setpoint, and turn a heater or cooler circuit on or off.

October 14, 2015 by Charles R. Hampton