Category Archives: app notes

App note: Getting the most out of the MAX14920/MAX14921 high-accuracy battery-measurement AFEs

An  application note from Maxim on getting the most out of the MAX14920/MAX14921 high-accuracy battery-measurement AFEs: The MAX14920/MAX14921 is a high-accuracy battery-measurement analog front-end (AFE) ideal for cell balancing and battery-measurement applications. The performance of the system in which the MAX14920/MAX14921 is used, however, depends highly on the components that support and surround it. This application note provides […]

App note: FT800 video controller from the ground up

Enable lower cost graphics capability solution integrated to your MCU with this FT800 video controller from FTDI (app note). The FTDI FT800 video controller offers a low cost solution for embedded graphics requirements. In addition to the graphics, resistive touch inputs and an audio output provide a complete human machine interface to the outside world. […]

App note: Stepper Motor Driver for Smart Gauges

A smart gauges stepper motor driver app note from Cypress. This application note shows how to use the PSoC® Programmable System-on-Chip to drive a low-power stepper motor for smart pointer gauges. This application note demonstrates how to perform micro stepping in the stepper motor using PSoC 1.In addition; this application demonstrates using a PC-based utility […]

App note: MAX31730 3-Channel remote temperature sensor

Here’s an application note from Maxim on triple remote temperature sensor: The MAX31730 temperature sensor monitors its own temperature and the temperatures of three external diode-connected transistors. The operating supply voltage is from 3.0V to 3.6V. Resistance cancellation compensates for high series resistance in circuit-board traces and the external thermal diode, while beta compensation corrects for temperature-measurement […]

App note: Wi-Fi data logger

An app note from Microchip on Wi-Fi data logger (PDF!): Dataloggers are used in a variety of industries, some examples are: Environmental sensors Motor RPM measurements Location tags using GPS Temperature sensors Light sensors Motion sensors A data logger can be configured in a number of ways depending on the application. This case study covers the following application […]

App note: STM32™ in-application programming over the I²C bus

Programming the STM32F10x via I2C with this app note from STMicroelectronics A key requirement for most Flash-memory-based systems is the ability to update firmware once the system is installed in the end product. This is referred to as in-application programming (IAP). This application note describes how to perform in-application programming using the STM32F10x’s I2C peripheral. […]

App note: STM32F10x in-application programming using the USART

Programming the STM32F10x via USART with this app note from STMicroelectronics The STM32F10x microcontroller can run user-specific firmware to perform in-application programming (IAP) of the microcontroller-embedded Flash memory. IAP driver must be program first to the Flash memory base address via JTAG/SWD interface using the development toolchain of your choice or the factory-embedded boot loader […]

App note: Understanding multidrop address assignments for thermal sensors

Here is a app note from Maxim on multidrop thermal sensing: In many thermal applications, it may be desired to utilize multiple temperature sensors, placed in different physical locations, to monitor the operating temperatures in predefined ‘zones’ within the system. To accommodate this desire, many thermal products have the added flexibility of user-defined slave addressing. A […]

Application note: WiFly WebScan

Here’s an application note from Microchip: WiFly WebScan (PDF!) WebScan is a special firmware release based on the standard WiFLY firmware that is designed to run on all Roving Networks Wi-Fi™ modules such as the RN-171 and RN-131. The Webscan firmware adds Real-Time Location System (RTLS) capability and is designed specifically to address the key requirements in […]

App note: Adjustable Electronic Load for Low Voltage DC Applications

Here’s an old but still good app note from Unitrode (Texas Instruments) on Adjustable Electronics Load. Testing power supply regulation over a specified output current range is greatly simplified with the use of an adjustable electronic load. Load current can be varied from zero to the full rated value with the twist of a panel […]

App note: How P-Channel MOSFETs Can Simplify Your Circuit

An app note from International Rectifier on using P-Channel MOSFETs P-Channel HEXFET Power MOSFETs offer the designer a new option that can simplify circuitry while optimizing performance and parts count. In principle, nothing can be done with a P-Channel MOSFET that cannot be done with an N-Channel plus some extra gate drive circuitry. The main […]

App note: Class D Audio Amplifier Basics

A good read about class D Audio Amplifier, an app note from International Rectifier A Class D audio amplifier is basically a switching amplifier or PWM amplifier. There are a number of different classes of amplifiers. This application note takes a look at the definitions for the main classifications.

App note: High resolution RGB LED color mixing

This application note from Microchip demonstrates color mixing using the PIC12F1572 MCU (PDF!): This application note demonstrates color mixing using the PIC12F1572 processor. The PIC12F1572 processor features three 16-bit pulse-width modulators (PWMs), among other peripherals. The 16-bit PWMs allow precise control over each RGB LED, allowing smooth transitions even at low-brightness/luminosity levels.

App note: Enable automotive USB power – Managing the increasing currents, longer cables, and tight portable-device specifications

Here’s an application note from Maxim:  Enable automotive USB power – Managing the increasing currents, longer cables, and tight portable-device specifications This application note discusses the challenges of rapid USB charging of today’s portable devices (PDs) in an automobile. The PDs may not charge quickly or charge at all, especially the more recent power-hungry devices. […]

App note: Solar-LED streetlight controller with 25 W LED lamp driver and 85 W battery charger based on the STM32F101Rx

A great app note from STMicroelectronics on Solar lighting application. The solar-LED streetlight controller described in this application note is designed to achieve an 85 W solar energy battery charger and a 25 W LED lamp driver. During the daytime the controller preserves the electricity energy gathered by the solar module (PV module), then stores […]

App note: STM32F0/F1/ F2/F4/L1/F30xC/Bx/F358xC/F37x timer overview

Get yourself familiar on STM32Fxxx Timer peripherals with this app note from STMicroelectronics This document: • presents an overview of the timer peripherals in the STM32F0, STM32F1, STM32F2, STM32F4 and STM32L1 microcontroller series, STM32F30xC/Bx, STM32F358xC, STM32F37x microcontrollers lines. • describes the various modes and specific features of the timers, such as clock sources, • explains […]

App note: Debugging stand-alone real-time clock/calendar-based applications

Here’s an application note from Microchip:  Debugging stand-alone real-time clock/calendar-based applications  (PDF!) An increasing number of applications require Real-Time Clock/Calendar (RTCC) devices. Microchip’s RTCC’s (I2C™ and SPI) are feature-rich devices that incorporate EEPROM, Time/Date registers, Time-Stamp registers, alarm modules, SRAM, a watchdog timer, and event detect modules, making them useful in many timekeeping applications. This application […]

App note: Direct-sampling DACs in theory and application

An application note from Maxim:  Direct-sampling DACs in theory and application  High-speed digital-to-analog converters (DACs) with high resolution in the 12- to 14-bit range enable new types of transmitter designs that employ a direct modulation scheme. In such designs, the modulated transmission signal is generated directly on the base frequency. This application note explains how […]