Holtek’s App note about their audio to digital signal converter chip BH45F0031 that together with an phone app, communication via audio phone jack is possible. Link here (PDF) The BH45F0031 is a Flash type 8-bit high performance RISC architecture microcontroller, which is designed for smart phone headset interface applications that can directly transmit data and […]
Category Archives: app notes
App note: Charging batteries using USB power
Fairly old application note from MAXIM Integrated about getting out power from USB ports. Link here (PDF) Many devices with rechargeable batteries use USB power to recharge the batteries while they are connected. This application note describes the power available from USB and how it can be used to charge batteries, including circuits and some […]
App note: Improve flicker performance of direct AC driven LED fixtures with self valley fill
Application note from ON Semiconductors on LED lighting flicker caused by its own AC supply by adding an improved self valley fill circuit. Link here (PDF) To provide power to LED loads from AC input, SwitchMode Power Supplies (SMPS) are generally used since LED need to be driven by regulated current. Consequently, LED lighting solution […]
App note: Using touch interface in harsh environments
Tough design and software reference from NXP of touch interface. Link here (PDF) The touch-sensing method is used to replace most of traditional tact switch inputs as a new type of human-machine interface used in home-appliance applications. However, using such kind of detection method in harsh environment is still a challenge for most of product […]
App note: Water level monitoring
A reference design from NXP about water level detection using pressure sensor. Link here (PDF) Many washing machines, even the ones using the best cleaner for washing machine, that are currently in production, use a mechanical sensor for water level detection. Mechanical sensors work with discrete trip points enabling water level detection only at those […]
App note: Choose the right voltage regulator to extend battery life in wearables
App note from Maxim Integrated on wearable devices demanding reduced quiescent and shut down currents when in idle and in sleep mode in a voltage regulator. Link here Wearable devices have emerged as the next big market opportunity in the electronics industry. Smart watches are among the most popular wearable items today. The healthcare market, […]
App note: Voltage reference long-term stability reduces industrial process control calibration costs
Application note from Maxim Integrated about improved long term stability of their voltage references. Link here (PDF) Large industrial plants such as those in the oil, gas, electricity, pharmaceutical, and food and beverage industries rely on electronic instrumentation to provide accurate, stable measurements to control their processes. The stability of an instrument very much depends […]
App note: Designing reliable drones using proper circuit protection
Littelfuse’s application note on drone circuitry protection, offering guard against overcharging its batteries, I/O and ESD protection. Link here (PDF) No doubt “pilot losing control” is behind many drone incidents and crashes. But what’s behind that “loss of control?” After all, even small recreational drones depend on a host of subsystems – GPS, receiver antennae, […]
App note: Magnetic sensors’ and reed switches’ capacitive Loads
An application note from Littelfuse on peak current considerations when reed switches and magnetic sensors are handling capacitive loads. Link here (PDF) When there is significant capacitance in a reed sensor, reed relay or reed switch circuit, the peak current and energy switched by the reed contacts should be considered. However, if the capacitance is […]
App note: Simple Switcher PCB layout guidelines
Simple Switcher PCB layout guidelines from Texas Instruments, app note here (PDF!) One problem with writing an application report on PCB layout is that the people who read it are usually not the ones who are going to use it. Even if the designer has struggled through electromagnetic fields, EMC, EMI, board parasitics, transmission line […]
App note: Testing inductors at application frequencies
An app note from Coilcraft on inductance and Q parameters which are the important factors of an inductor and how these values are found. Link here (PDF) The accurate measurement of an inductor has always been more difficult than the measurement of other passive components. The primary difficulty with coil measurements lies in the fact […]
App note: Working voltage ratings applied to inductors
Coilcraft’s application note about why there are no voltage ratings specified on inductors. Link here (PDF) Voltage ratings are often specified for many electronic components, including capacitors, resistors and integrated circuits, but rarely for inductors. This article addresses the reasons why working voltage ratings are not typically published for inductors. There are challenges to determine […]
App note: Operation evaluation of ultra low ON resistance MOSFET supporting quick charge for 1 cell Lithium ion battery protection
ON semiconductor’s application note on faster charging of Lithium Ion batteries with consideration on heat suppression. Link here (PDF) Currently, because LiB (Lithium Ion Battery) is superior in current density and electromotive force, it becomes mainstream of batteries for mobiles such as smart phone. However, because LiB is weak at over-charge and over-discharge, a control […]
App note: Application precautions: Power MOSFET application notes
Toshiba’s application note on the things to consider when picking a power MOSFET. Link here (PDF) This document explains selecting MOSFETs and what we have to consider for designing MOSFET circuit, such as temperature characteristics, effects of wire inductance, parasitic oscillations, avalanche ruggedness, and snubber circuit.
App note: Redefining a new state-of-the-art in microampere current-sense amplifiers
Silicon Lab’s TS1100 and TS1101 current sense amplifier’s features discussed in this app note. Link here (PDF) Sensing and controlling supply current flow are a fundamental requirement in most all electronic systems from battery-operated, portable equipment to mobile or fixed-platform power management and dc motor control. High-side current-sense amplifiers (or “CSAs”) are useful in these […]
App note: Multiple Capture/Compare/PWM (MCCP): Extending the functionality for low-cost motor control applications
Microchip’s MCCP module on PIC32 devices demonstrate the built-in majority detection filter for simpler motor control drives. Link here (PDF) The motor control industry has been focusing on designing low-cost motor control drives for various applications. The consumer demand for low-cost motor control applications is driving this trend. Microchip has recently introduced the PIC32MM family […]
App note: Add a “Black Box” fault logger to your “Big (or Small) Box” system
Application notes from Maxim Integrated on adding log functionalities in your system. Link here (PDF) This article describes how to add a “black box” functionality – nonvolatile fault logging – to networking, communications, industrial, and medical equipment. It outlines the benefits of recording fault data, including faster, more definitive failure analysis.
App note: Selecting current sensors and transformers
Selection guidelines from Coilcraft. Link here (PDF) Current sensors detect the flow of AC or DC current in a wire or circuit trace. They can be used to detect an on/off/ pulse current condition or to measure the magnitude of the current in the wire or trace. This discussion is limited to AC current sensors. […]
App note: Bluetooth low energy digital pedometer demo design
An application note (PDF!) from Microchip: A Bluetooth low energy digital pedometer demo design A digital pedometer is a portable electronic device that counts each step a person takes by detecting the motion of the person’s body with an accelerometer. This application note demonstrates the implementation of a Bluetooth Low Energy Digital Pedometer using the Microchip PIC16LF1718, […]
App note: IR remote control transmitter
IR remote control transmitter application note (PDF!) from Microchip: This application note illustrates the use of the PIC10F206 to implement a two-button infrared remote controller. The PIC10F2XX family of microcontrollers is currently the smallest in the world, and their compact sizes and low cost make them preferable for small applications such as this one. Two […]