Here’s an application note from Maxim describing how to protect printed circuit boards (PCBs) against ESD destruction: Large steel buildings, automobiles, mountains, even people survive real atmospheric lightning. Humans can also create their own miniature lightning bolts (sparks) and survive. When those sparks reach an IC, however, major trouble results. In this tutorial, we will discuss […]
Category Archives: app notes
App note: Modular-exponentiation timing with MAXQ30 microcontrollers
Here is an article from Maxim on modular exponentiation, modular arithmetic accelerator (MAA) and lists typical times to execute various sized exponentiations: The MAXQ1050, MAXQ1850, and MAXQ1103 are secure 32-bit microcontrollers that provide hardware support for performing modular arithmetic. This is done using an engine called the modular arithmetic accelerator (MAA). This application note gives typical […]
App note: Avoid PCB layout “gotchas” in ISM-RF products
Here is a tutorial from Maxim giving some hint on how to avoid pitfalls in high frequency PCB layouts. RF products for industrial, scientific, and medical systems (ISM-RF) often feature very compact circuitry. To avoid common design pitfalls and “traps,” the PC-board (PCB) layouts for these applications warrant careful attention. Operating in the various ISM […]
App note: Solar power DC-DC converter
Here is an app note from Microchip describing the design of a solar power DC-DC converter. The focus of this application note is to identify how to get the maximum power out of a solar panel to power a remote application.
App note: Pulse Oximeter using dsPIC33
Here is a reference design of a pulse oximeter built around the dsPIC33 digital signal processor. Pulse oximeter is a non-invasive medical device that monitors the oxygen saturation of a patient?s blood and heart rate. This application note demonstrates the implementation of a high-accuracy pulse oximeter using Microchip?s dsPIC® Digital Signal Controllers (DSCs) and analog […]
App note: Ensure long lifetimes from electrolytic capacitors
Here is an article from Maxim describing the longevity of electrolytic capacitors in conditions which require high temperatures. As well as some pointers in LED light bulb design. Electrolytic capacitors are notorious for short lifetimes in high-temperature applications such as LED light bulbs. The careful selection of these devices with proper interpretation of their […]
App note: Various audio amplifier classes
Here is a design guide from Maxim describing various classes of audio amplifiers. This has been a brief survey of the many types of audio amplifiers commonly used in designs today. Clearly, when designing an audio circuit for any type of device, care should be taken in determining the audio amplifier topology best suited to […]
App note: CMOS current source
Here’s a video describing CMOS current sources. CMOS current source circuits are examined. The voltage versus current and layout are presented. The channel region versus the voltage/current curve is explained. The equation to calculate the Gate-Source voltage is given. The CMOS cascode current source is also explored.
App note: Avoiding MOSFET driver overstress
An application note from Microchip: Avoiding MOSFET driver overstress (PDF!) This application note describes how to avoid MOSFET driver overstress. MOSFET drivers are used in many applications to drive the high input capacitance of a power MOSFET device. MOSFET drivers are very reliable when used within their operating specifications. Care must be taken, however, to […]
App note: picoPower Basics
Here’s an application note from Atmel on power saving techniques to reduce energy consumption (PDF!): In this demonstration we will show you how to extend the battery life of our application by multiple factors by modifying only the firmware. You will see that while some of the modifications are very simple and only require setting some […]
App note: Build precise S/H Amps for fast 12 Bit ADCs
An app note from Analog Devices: Build precise S/H Amps for fast 12 Bit ADCs (PDF!) S/h amplifier circuits will use one of several standard architectures: closed-loop or open-loop, and inverting or noninverting configurations. No matter what circuit type designers employ, they need to incorporate a high-speed amplifier to buffer the input signal and a […]
App note: In house unit with bluetooth low energy module hardware user guide
In house unit with bluetooth low energy module hardware user guide (PDF): This document describes the design details of the In House Unit (IHU) project. It will guide the user to know and start the design based on this IHU board. It gives a clear concept of the entire design. The IHU design with CSR […]
App note: PWM Margining with the MAX34451
This application note outlines the performance of PWM margining when the MAX34451 is connected to the MAX15041 evaluation (EV) kit: Pulse-width modulation (PWM) margining is a simple technique to adjust the output voltage of power supplies. This application note discusses the effect of PWM on the power-supply output-voltage noise, the enabling and disabling of PWM, […]
App note: Practical guide to implementing Solar Panel MPPT Algorithms
An application note from Microchip: Practical guide to implementing Solar Panel MPPT Algorithms (PDF!) This application note describes how to implement MPPT using the most popular switching power supply topologies. There are many published works on this topic, but only a tiny portion of them show how to actually implement the algorithms in hardware, as […]
App note: Using the WeX timer/counter extension
Here’s an application note from Atmel: Using the WeX timer/counter extension (PDF!) This application note describes the various functions of the Waveform Extension (WeX) to Timer/Counter 4/5 available on the Atmel® XMEGA® E. It details the differences and improvements according to the AWeX extension to Timer/Counters of the previous XMEGA (see AVR®1311 Application Note). Included […]
App note: Techniques for robust touch sensing design
Here’s an app note from Microchip describing the best design practices when developing capacitive touch applications in noisy environments: This application note will begin by defining the problems caused by noise, and explain how that noise typically affects systems. Hardware guidelines will then be provided to help maximize the natural signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the application. […]
App note: RF Layout with Microstrip
Here’s an application note from Atmel on microstrip layout techniques to get optimal RF performance from wireless ICs (PDF!) : Poor layout can seriously degrade wireless performance. This application note outlines practical microstrip layout techniques to connect wireless microcontrollers with baluns and antennas. Unbalanced and balanced (differential) microstrip techniques are discussed for 4-layer PCBs using […]
Technology Changes: From a portable power point of view
Here’s an app note from Maxim – Technology Changes: From a portable power point of view Portable power presents a range of design challenges. While major changes such as new battery technologies make headlines, the minor, almost negligible shifts are arguably more fascinating. The effects of these shifts is often non-linear µ a small change […]
App note: ASF – USB Composite Device
Here’s an application note from Atmel: ASF – USB Composite Device (PDF!) The aim of this document is to provide an easy way to integrate a USB composite device application on a new or existing project. This document is associated to USB device class Atmel® application notes AVR4903 to AVR4909.
App note: Precision RTD instrumentation for temperature sensing
An application note from Microchip: Precision RTD instrumentation for temperature sensing (PDF!) Precision RTD (Resistive Temperature Detector) instrumentation is key for high performance thermal management applications. This application note shows how to use a high resolution Delta-Sigma Analog-to-Digital converter, and two resistors to measure RTD resistance ratiometrically. A ±0.1°C accuracy and ±0.01°C measurement resolution can be achieved across the […]