An app note from Atmel, voltage reference calibration and voltage ADC usage (PDF!): Features • Voltage reference calibration. – 1.100V +/-1mV (typical) and < 90ppm/°C drift from –10°C to +70°C. • Interrupt controlled voltage ADC sampling. • Calculation of voltage and temperature from voltage ADC measurements. Some of the new Atmel AVR Smart Battery devices contain […]
Category Archives: app notes
App note: LCD fundamentals and the LCD driver module of 8-Bit PIC microcontrollers
An app note going back to LCD display basics from Microchip. This application note provides an introduction to the basics of LCD: its construction, physics behind its operation, and the different factors affecting its properties and performance.
App note: Using PIC32 MCUs to develop low-cost controllerless (LCC) graphics solutions
Adding a low-cost virtual graphics on embedded application, app note from Microchip. This application note describes the LCC Graphics Board that enables the implementation of a low-cost controllerless graphic method using a PIC32 microcontroller.
App note: Digital sound recorder with AVR and DataFlash
An app note from Atmel, digital sound recorder with AVR and DataFlash (PDF!): This application note describes how to record, store and play back sound using any AVR microcontroller with A/D converter, the AT45DB161B DataFlash memory and a few extra components. This application note shows in detail the usage of the A/D Converter for sound recording, the Serial Peripheral Interface […]
App note: Using the enable Pin in a linear regulator as a voltage supervisor
Clever way using linear regulator’s enable pin implementing a voltage supervisory circuit control, an app note(PDF) from ON Semiconductors. The combination of a voltage regulator and a voltage supervisor, is a popular circuit configuration. The addition of the supervisor ensures that the regulated output turns on and off at sufficient input voltages, as well as […]
App note: using MOSFETs in load switch applications
App note(PDF) from ON Semiconductor. The load switch is controlled by the system, and connects or disconnects a voltage rail to a specific load. By turning unused circuitry off, the system as a whole can run more efficiently. The load switch provides a simple means to power a load when it is in demand and […]
App note: 868 MHz, 915 MHz and 955 MHz inverted F antenna
868 MHz, 915 MHz and 955 MHz inverted F antenna (PDF) application note from Texas Instruments: This document describes a PCB antenna designed for operation in the 868 MHz, 915 MHz and 955 MHz ISM bands. This antenna can be used with all transceivers and transmitters from Texas Instruments, which operates in these frequency bands. Maximum […]
App note: Minimizing power consumption when sensing switch inputs
An app note (PDF!) from Renesas on how to minimize power consumption when sensing switch inputs A switch input is one of the simplest interfaces to an MCU. However, when very low power designs are needed the pullup or pulldown resistor for the switch can draw a significant current. If the switch input is a momentary […]
App note: LED array drivers
Here are STMicroelectronics’ portfolio of LED array drivers(PDF). The use of LEDs in applications like displays, information and advertising panels, signs, traffic signals, automotive lighting and architectural lighting is becoming more and more common. LED array drivers, with accurate constant current regulation and embedded serial interfaces, offers a solution that is suitable for most of […]
App note: Using the STM6600, STM6601 smart push-button on/off controller
An app note(PDF) on smart on/off controller and voltage monitoring chip from STMicroelectronics. These devices allow easy and safe control of applications run with one or two push-buttons by securely starting or powering down a system and also resetting the processor or disabling power in case of a non-responding application (e.g. code in a dead […]
App note: Slew rate verification for wideband amplifiers
Linear Slew rate verification for wideband amplifiers from Linear, an app note (PDF) : Slew rate defines an amplifier’s maximum rate of output excursion. This specification sets limits on undistorted bandwidth, an important capability in A/D driver applications. Slew rate also influences achievable performance in D/A output stages, filters, video amplification and data acquisition. Because of its importance, amplifier slew […]
App note: Self-starting can be hard to do – Understanding power-on-reset requirements in regulators and bandgaps
Things should be set-up properly before putting all load back again. Here’s a tip(PDF) from MAXIM on self-powering/recovering from power loss. Self-starting is a necessary but sometimes difficult task, whether it is motivating humans, starting cold automobiles, or providing power-on-reset (POR) for ICs. PORs ensure systems start in known and safe states. This app note […]
App note: How to design in and program the PCA9641 I2C arbiter
I2C arbiter chip application(PDF) from NXP. The PCA9641 is highly integrated and smart design for 2-1 I2C-bus multiplexer. It is used in a system that needs two masters sharing the same slave devices. The internal switch is programmed by the masters but it will not switch in a middle of the task once owned by […]
App note: Level shifting techniques in I2C-bus design
Level shifting techniques in I2C-bus design from NXP, app note here (PDF): Logic level shifting may be required when interfacing legacy devices with newer devices that use a smaller geometry process.For bidirectional bus systems like the I2C-bus, such a level shifter must also be bidirectional, without the need of a direction control signal. The simplest […]
App note: Using the USI module as a I2 C master
This application note (PDF) from Atmel describes the implementation of a TWI master: The Two-wire serial Interface (TWI) is compatible with Philips’ I2C protocol. The bus was developed to allow simple, robust and cost effective communication between integrated circuits in electronics. The strengths of the TWI bus includes the capability of addressing up to 128 devices […]
App note: Lithium coin-cell batteries: Predicting an application lifetime
An application note (PDF) from MAXIM. The typical specification for lithium coin-cell batteries has been to provide a 10-year battery lifetime in the absence of system power. End users should evaluate the anticipated lifetime in their specific application, especially for those that exceed typical commercial environments or that need to last more than 10 years. […]
App note: I2C interface connects compact flash Card to microcontroller
CF cards needs a lot of I/O resources in order to communicate, here’s MAXIM’s solution(PDF) using their MAX7311 I/O expander to interface these type of data storage devices. This application note explains how to use an I2C I/O extender to connect a compact-flash (CF) card to the I2C interface of a microcontroller. The software commands […]
App note: AXI Chip2Chip reference design for real-time video
AXI Chip2Chip reference design for real-time video application (PDF!) from Xilinx: The LogiCORE™ IP AXI Chip2Chip is a soft Xilinx core that provides bridging between Advanced eXtensible Interface (AXI) systems for multi-device System-On-Chip solutions. This application note provides a setup demonstrating real-time video traffic across Kintex®-7 FPGA and Zynq®-7000 All Programmable (AP) SoC boards. The setup uses […]
App note: 8-bit RISC microcontroller
Here’s an app note (PDF!) for In-System Programming Solution for AVR microcontrollers from Atmel: Features • Complete In-System Programming Solution for AVR Microcontrollers • Covers All AVR Microcontrollers with In-System Programming Support • Reprogram Both Data Flash and Parameter EEPROM Memories • Complete Schematics for Low-cost In-System Programmer • Simple Three-wire SPI Programming Interface This application note […]
App note: Power-supply solutions for Xilinx FPGAs
MAXIM’s power solution for Xilinx’ FPGAs. App note here (PDF!) Field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) are used in a wide variety of applications and end markets, including digital signal processing, medical imaging, and high-performance computing. This application note outlines the issues related to powering FPGAs.