Analog Devices describes the fundamentals of working with digital-to-analog converters: This tutorial outlines some important issues regarding DAC interface circuitry including the voltage reference, analog output, data input, and clock driver. Because ADCs require references and clocks also, most of the concepts presented in this tutorial regarding these subjects apply equally to ADCs.
Author Archives: DP
App note: Op-amp based DIY linear voltage regulators
This is not really an app note, but more of a tutorial on DIY op-amp based linear regulators. The article describes the basics of op-amp regulator, and includes schematics and in-depth explanations of how the various circuits work. This article follows the history of a popular series of DIY linear regulators. Starting from initial concepts […]
App note: Theory of operation of linear regulators
Here is an app note from Texas Instruments describing the theory of operation of linear regulators. It goes on to explain and compare various topologies used in integrated linear voltage regulators. The explosive proliferation of battery powered equipment in the past decade has created unique requirements for a voltage regulator that cannot be met by […]
Free PCB coupon via Facebook to 2 random commenters
Every Friday we give away some extra PCBs via Facebook. This post was announced on Facebook, and on Monday we’ll send coupon codes to two random commenters. More PCBs via Twitter on Tuesday and the blog every Sunday. This week we have a guest PCB, the Bitlair PCB. Use your coupon to pick this PCB, […]
Week in (p)review April 20, 2012
Here’s a summary of major developments over the last week. Free PCB Friday is coming up soon. Bus Pirate helps out a hybrid race car build Bus Blaster free PCB built HOW-TO: Single member LLC/Sole proprietor taxes VIDEO: Shenzhen Maker Faire VIDEO: Seeed Studio open source hardware manufacturing tour in Shenzhen, China 2012 Seeed Studio […]
Alternatives to programming through a pin header
Menno posts several alternatives to using pin headers for programming microcontrollers. Most use spring loaded pogo-pins make contact with the programming signal pads. Check out more pictures on his Flickr page. Via the forum.
Global Geek Tour: Shenzhen Hua Qiang Bei market tour roundup
Dangerous Prototypes tours the biggest electronics market of all, the Hua Qiang Bei market in Shenzhen, China. This is the third and biggest market on our Global Geek Tour. Be sure to check out Akihabara in Tokyo and Cheonggyecheon in Seoul too. VIDEO: Hua Qiang Bei market in Shenzhen, China Global Geek Shenzhen: SEG Market […]
Global Geek Tour: Seeed Studio tour roundup
Meet the people behind our projects on the Seeed Studio tour: VIDEO: Seeed Studio open source hardware manufacturing tour in Shenzhen, China 2012 Seeed Studio open hardware manufacturing tour Seeed Studio tour: People
AVR emulating ARM Cortex M0
First, an AVR that boots Linux. Now a Cortex M0 emulator for the ATtiny: I like writing emulators. Since my last one (ARM emulator that booted linux), I was wondering how much faster one could emulate an ARM cpu on an atmega device. The C-language core netted 10KHz. This time I decided to reduce the […]
Maker Faire Shenzhen China roundup
Check out our posts about China’s first Maker Faire in Shenzhen: VIDEO: Shenzhen Maker Faire Maker Faire Shenzhen China: Setup Maker Faire Shenzhen China: Machines Maker Faire Shenzhen China: Toys Maker Faire Shenzhen China: Robots Maker Faire Shenzhen China: Around the Faire Maker Faire Shenzhen China: Dangerous Prototypes booth Maker Faire Shenzhen China: Dangerous Prototypes […]
Atari Pokey sound emulator on a PIC32
Marcus got an Atari 6502 CPU and the POKEY sound chip emulator running on a PIC32 development board. He stored around 2.5 hours of old school 8bit music in the flash. I successfully compiled the ASAP (Another Slight Atari Player) library [1] for a PIC32MX795F512H. ASAP emulates a 6502 CPU and the famous POKEY sound […]
Global Geek Tour: Apliu Street electronics market roundup
This week the Global Geek Tour took us to Shenzhen, China. On the way to Shenzhen we had a day in Hong Kong so we scoped out the Apliu Street electronics market. Check out our video and all the picture posts below. VIDEO: Apliu Street electronics market tour GLOBAL GEEK TOUR: Apliu Street electronics market […]
EzPSoC3 free PCB build
Kmmankad built a EzPSoC3 free PCB. This is a development board for Cypress’s PSoC3 System-on-a-chip IC. If you build a free PCB we’ll send you another one! Blog about it, post a picture on Flicker, whatever – we’ll send you a coupon code for the free PCB drawer. Here’s how we mail free PCBs. Via the contact […]
Online 3D gerber viewer
Here is a Online 3D gerber viewer. You just upload your gerber files, and the online app generates a 3D model of your PCB. This is an awesome way to check for any silk-screen, and solder mask errors, if your eCAD doesn’t have 3D view capability. If you are using Cadsoft Eagle, here is a […]
Cool DIY acrylic cast case
Robert designed this awesome looking headphone amplifier. The circuit is assembled without a PCB, and done very ascetically. It looks so good without a case, that it would have been a shame to stick in a plastic box. So he pored some clear acrylic into a mold, and made this cool looking case. Via PCB […]
Global Geek Shenzhen: Other stuff in Hua Qiang Bei
Here’s some other cool stuff we found in other buildings in Hua Qiang Bei. The surface mount part reels we’ve been questing on every tour were present in spades. This is one of dozens of shops with inexpensive reels of resistors, capacitors, inductors, etc. More pictures below the fold.
Global Geek Shenzhen: Shenzhen Sunlight Electronic Co
Seeed Studio took us to Shenzhen Sunlight Electronic Co., a special supplier they use to avoid counterfeit and unreliable chips. Sunlight Electronic Co pools orders from smaller manufacturers and buys directly from the chip factory to ensure quality. Price breaks start at 100 pieces, but the best breaks are at the reel size, generally 2500. […]
Global Geek Shenzhen: On the streets of Hua Qiang Bei
There’s activity all around the Hua Qiang Bei market buildings. People and cars tussle for space in the street. Moving carts loaded with electronic components on the way to small manufacturers are everywhere, often in the middle of traffic. Continue below for more sights from around from Hua Qiang Bei.
GIVEAWAY: Four tubes of Amtech clone flux
Today we giveaway four tubes of Amtech flux clones that we bought in Shenzhen. Leave a comment below, and we’ll pick 4 winners tomorrow. There’s some speculation if this flux is good, bad, smelly, or worse. We’ll test it out in a future workshop video.
Global Geek Shenzhen: LED trading market
Every market we’ve visited on the Global Geek Tour has a preponderance of LEDs. Hua Qiang Bei takes it a step further with a six floor building dedicated to LEDs and accessories. It’s unbelievable. For the buildings safety and comfort, installing trusted mats to improve floor safety is a must.