Relays vs. Transistors: Which Is the Correct Choice?
Not all user input needs to be applied mechanically—mechanical switches and buttons are not going to disappear from every electronic system, but sometimes you need electrical actuation in a system to provide switching behavior.
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.
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?
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.
IPC Naming Conventions and the Quest for Staying on Top of Standards
IPC is a global trade organization working to create consistency in the electronics industry. IPC standards are not limited to physical objects; however, multiple separate standards exist simply for naming things.
Finding Reliable PCB Distributors for Your Electronic Hardware Design
Reliable distributors are vital to the success of any PCB project. Without reliable PCB distributors, designers couldn’t create new prototypes, be made aware of changes in the supply chain, or predict what the PCB markets might do next. A project’s choice of distributor can determine whether that project succeeds or fails, and it is not […]
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.
Data-Driven Circuit Design
PCB design—particularly designs involving circuits—requires the gathering and analysis of a lot of data.