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.
Component Footprints for Hardware Start-Ups

Creating a hardware start-up is perhaps one of the most challenging tasks an entrepreneur can take on, especially because a hardware start-up requires a vast amount of resources.
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 […]
How to Create a Bill of Materials

Organizing an electronics project can be a daunting task. Collaborating between design and engineering teams—while making sure a project uses the best parts for the job—can get complicated quickly.
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.
ULN2003 Datasheet: Discussing Transistor Arrays and Parameter Necessities

Instead of using multiple discrete transistors to build Darlington pairs, you can use a ULN2003 or one of its variants. Here’s where you can find a ULN2003 datasheet. IoT products, environmental products, and anything else that needs analog sensor fusion will operate at a variety of signal levels. The signal type also varies from sensor […]
Making the Best Engineering BoM For Your Electronics Production

An engineering BoM, also called an engineering bill of materials, specifies how a finished electronics project is designed. It is a standardized and centralized source of information that guides electronics manufacture. In its simplest form, it can be a single table of materials with their associated costs and other relevant data. Its construction is often […]
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 […]