Fitness Tracker Design with the MAXREFDES103
Use the MAXREFDES103 to get started with fitness tracker design Sometimes, a designer needs to pivot into a new application area and start designing unfamiliar systems. As fitness trackers grow in popularity, you might find yourself wanting to try your hand at designing these in-demand wearables. Fitness trackers are small devices involving multiple microelectronic sensors […]
MSP430 Datasheet: Explanation and Analysis
A few popular MCUs have dominated the embedded marketplace: Atmel’s iconic Atmega328P is massively popular thanks to the Arduino platform, STM32 and ESP8266 are two of the most popular 32-bit MCUs, and Microchip PIC MCUs are popular for networking equipment.
Four Quadrant Triacs and the BT136 Datasheet
In electronics, two of the most important functionalities are the ability to TURN ON and TURN OFF current flow as necessary.
MCP4725 Datasheet: Digital to Analog Converter Parameters
Converting between analog and digital signals is essential for electronics to interface with the real world. Many MCUs and other processors include analog to digital converters (ADCs) and/or digital to analog converters (DACs) built into a design.
0805 Capacitor Datasheet: Explanation and Analysis
A single distributor may offer hundreds of thousands of unique SMD passives and semiconductor options. With so many possibilities to choose from, it is important to understand how to read a component datasheet to determine the SMD component best-suited to meet your specific needs.
Thermal Sensor Array Parameters and the MLX90640 Datasheet
Temperature checks may seem like an inconvenience, but just think how much more so it would be if we were still using invasive mercury thermometers. Today, fortunately, electronic thermometers allow for temperature measurement at the surface or at a distance.
IRLZ44N Datasheet: Power MOSFET Design Necessities and Parameters
With so many MOS transistors marketed as power MOSFETs, how can designers choose the best option for their power system?
How to Identify and Avoid Counterfeit Electronic Components
Whenever I have an order in and there is a delay, it causes me to cringe. However, as frustrating as hold-ups are, they are understandable—logistics can be complicated.
Embedded System Design Using MSP430 Ultra-Low-Power MCUs
Embedded systems applications and components have always seemed to lag about 2 decades behind their conventional computing counterparts. However, embedded computing capabilities are finally catching up and enabling a range of unique products.
Passive Electronic Components and Their Purpose in a Circuit
Passive components are the cornerstone of all electronics, both in terms of physical design and the language of circuit models that describe electrical behavior in more complex systems. Many integrated circuits include passive electronic components and many circuit boards contain some discrete passive components.