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Schematic Design for a Solar-Powered Charge-Pump Power Supply Circuit

Schematic Design for a Solar-Powered Charge-Pump Power Supply Circuit

This article discusses a 3.3 V power-supply circuit that is built around an inductorless DC/DC converter and a solar cell.


Selecting and Implementing Photovoltaic Cells for Solar-Powered Devices

Selecting and Implementing Photovoltaic Cells for Solar-Powered Devices

This article discusses details that will help you choose the right kind of solar cell and successfully incorporate it into your next project.


The Circuit Designer’s Guide to Photovoltaic Cells for Solar-Powered Devices

The Circuit Designer’s Guide to Photovoltaic Cells for Solar-Powered Devices

This article presents the equivalent circuit for a solar cell and discusses some implementation details.


Save for Your Own Royal Wedding (of Sorts) with the Gentleman Maker’s Savings Incentivizer

Save for Your Own Royal Wedding (of Sorts) with the Gentleman Maker’s Savings Incentivizer

In this project, we'll use a Raspberry Pi to create a responsive piggy bank that belittles you when you slack on your savings!


Projects May 10, 2018 by Robin Mitchell
Hardware Evaluation for the Cypress S6AE102A/S6AE103A Eval Kit for Energy Harvesting Applications

Hardware Evaluation for the Cypress S6AE102A/S6AE103A Eval Kit for Energy Harvesting Applications

In this article, we will assess and characterize the hardware of two power management IC development boards from Cypress Semiconductor, designed for energy-harvesting applications.


The Gentleman Maker’s Sun Informer Lets Homebodies Safely Enjoy Intermittent Sunshine

The Gentleman Maker’s Sun Informer Lets Homebodies Safely Enjoy Intermittent Sunshine

In this project, we will create the Sun Informer, a device that will alert us when the sun comes out and then alert us when we have been out for too long.


Projects Apr 26, 2018 by Robin Mitchell
How to Stream Sensor Data from Bosch’s XDK110 Evaluation Board to the MQTT Messaging Service

How to Stream Sensor Data from Bosch’s XDK110 Evaluation Board to the MQTT Messaging Service

In this article, we will take a look at the XDK110 rapid prototyping kit, characterize its hardware, explore its software environment, and demonstrate connecting the device to the MQTT messaging service.


Projects Apr 12, 2018 by Mark Hughes
Comparing Optical Sensors: Understanding D-Star

Comparing Optical Sensors: Understanding D-Star

This technical brief discusses a parameter that conveys the sensitivity of an optical detector.


How to Build a Particulate Matter Detector for Air Quality Measurement

How to Build a Particulate Matter Detector for Air Quality Measurement

Use a Honeywell particle sensor to measure 2.5 µm PM and 10.0 µm PM concentrations in your environment.


How to Use a Diode as a Thermometer

How to Use a Diode as a Thermometer

This article, part of AAC’s Analog Circuit Collection, presents a straightforward circuit that allows you to measure temperature with little more than a diode and a BJT.


Capacitive Control Panel PCB Design Considerations for TI’s MSP430FR2633 Microcontroller

Capacitive Control Panel PCB Design Considerations for TI’s MSP430FR2633 Microcontroller

This article provides a closer look at the PCB design considerations and programming of a custom capacitive touch interface device.


Simplify Your Life with an Analog Window Detector

Simplify Your Life with an Analog Window Detector

This article, part of AAC’s Analog Circuit Collection, presents a simple yet effective replacement for ADC-based window detection.


Building a Capacitive Touch Interface with the Texas Instruments MSP430FR2633

Building a Capacitive Touch Interface with the Texas Instruments MSP430FR2633

The MSP430FR2633 is a low-power microcontroller with multiple GPIOs and capacitive touch pins. This project creates a circuit that supports a custom capacitive touch panel with LED and haptic feedback.


Projects Jan 12, 2018 by Mark Hughes
GPS Times, Atomic Clock Frequencies, and the Increasing Accuracy of GPS

GPS Times, Atomic Clock Frequencies, and the Increasing Accuracy of GPS

GPS as we know it requires the precision of atomic clocks. This article looks at the importance of timing for GPS and the clocks that provide it.


The FitByte: How to Make an ATtiny85 Powered Activity Tracking Wearable

The FitByte: How to Make an ATtiny85 Powered Activity Tracking Wearable

This is a protoype of a fitness wearable device designed to vibrate when it detects stagnation.


Projects Dec 13, 2017 by Demsey Kirkwood
How to Check and Calibrate a Humidity Sensor

How to Check and Calibrate a Humidity Sensor

How accurate is your humidity sensor? Find out with this project.


Tamper Detection with Differential Inductive Sensing Coils

Tamper Detection with Differential Inductive Sensing Coils

This article demonstrates the creation of an inductive switch cabinet lock that can detect the movement of a conductive target. The purpose is to create a door that cannot be opened without triggering an alarm.


Projects Nov 06, 2017 by Mark Hughes
How to Interface an Ultrasonic Sensor with an LCD Using a Microcontroller Dev Kit

How to Interface an Ultrasonic Sensor with an LCD Using a Microcontroller Dev Kit

Let's interface an ultrasonic sensor and a lighting system! In this project, we'll design a sensor subsystem and then use it in a parking sensor application.


Projects Nov 02, 2017 by Nick Davis
All About BLDC Motor Control: Sensorless Brushless DC Motor Controllers

All About BLDC Motor Control: Sensorless Brushless DC Motor Controllers

Learn about sensorless brushless DC motor controllers, some example ICs, and some disadvantages of using such motors.


How to Build a Weighing Scale Using a Load Cell and a Microcontroller

How to Build a Weighing Scale Using a Load Cell and a Microcontroller

In this project, we're making a weighing scale using a C8051 microcontroller development kit, a load cell, and the Simplicity Studio IDE. The measured weight will be displayed on an LCD screen.


Projects Oct 10, 2017 by Nick Davis