TLC5940: Applications and Types of LED Sink Drivers
The TLC5940 is an electronic component optimized for handling current flow and heat dissipation in LEDs. It has multiple variants in different shapes and sizes.
SN754410: DC Drivers and High Current Needs
In order to avoid the potential output glitches, power dissipation, and current flow problems of the SGS L293, the SN754410 was designed as a replacement.
PCF8574 and I/O Bus Expanders
Every so often, a new innovation comes barrelling into the electronics industry and remains useful for decades to come. Almost 40 years after it was introduced, the inter-integrated circuit (I2C) protocol is still a popular low-speed signaling standard for interfacing between host controllers, sensors, slave components, and much more.
MSP430: Applications for Low Power MCUs
When you think of embedded systems, plenty of different applications come to mind. Anything from a programmable microwave to an electronic control unit in an automobile qualifies as an embedded system. Each of these applications needs a different type of processor to provide its functions. For smaller devices like wearables and always-on products, you’ll need […]
Comparing a Step Down Converter vs Voltage Regulator
Handling electrical fluctuations is an important part of modern electronics. Some type of step down converter or voltage regulator is present in almost every electronic device people use on a daily basis.
NE5532 Datasheet: Save Space with Dual Op-amps
Most engineers are familiar with the LM358 and LM741 op-amps, but the NE5532 op-amp may be a better choice in some higher frequency applications where lower noise is required.
LM358 Datasheet: Applications for Low Power Operational Amplifiers
Every engineer remembers the classic LM356 op-amp from their electronics lab classes. Looking for an op-amp for your next system? Every engineer is likely familiar with the LM358 and the specifications in the LM358 datasheet. This common op-amp has plenty of uses in DC and low-frequency AC applications. There are many other op-amps that provide […]
Electrical Component Availability Problems? Use Aggregated Sourcing Data
Would you design your board around this IC if you knew it wasn’t available? Use a search engine to check electrical component availability first. If you’ve designed a PCB and waited until the design was finished to check electrical component availability, you know the headache involved in redesigning the board around available components. With the […]
Common Op-Amp ICs and Selection Guidelines
Who doesn’t have a drawer full of LM741 op-amp ICs? Every engineer will develop an intimate relationship with op-amps during their electronics courses. These are fundamental circuits in analog electronics and are used as the building blocks for high-precision power systems, amplifiers, filters, and many other devices. You probably won’t be using the same op-amps […]
0402 Package Footprint: Resistor Sizes and Parameters
Electronic components come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from extremely complex land/ball grid array components to simple axial resistors and capacitors. If you have experience working with SMD components, you’re probably familiar with chip resistors and their wide range of package sizes. Among the smallest, and yet most popular, is the 0402 resistor, and […]