This video discusses electrical overstress of analog integrated circuits.
Category Archives: app notes
App note: Benefits and pitfalls of aluminum electrolytic capacitors
A video tutorial on the benefits and pitfalls of using aluminum electrolytic capacitors. Learn how these capacitors degrade, and how their life cycle is proportional to the stresses you put them through.
App note: Filtering 101 whiteboard series
Here’s a series of video tutorials on filtering from Analog Devices. First in the series (embedded above) covers simple single pole filters made out of resistors and capacitors. The series moves onto active filtering with op-amps, and finishes with multi-pole Sallen-Key filters. Geek alert: theory and math zone!
App note: Regulator output voltage accuracy
Texas Instruments goes over regulator output-voltage accuracy, warning that feedback resistor tolerances have a high impact on the output accuracy and should be chosen with care.
App note: SCT2024 16 channel LED driver
A part presentation from the Electronic City blog describes the SCT2024 16 channel LED driver with programmable current output and a serial control interface. SCT2024 integrated circuit is a serial-parallel interface for LEDs with the programming and the limiting of the current on outputs in between 5 and 45mA. It makes an ideal option for […]
App Note: Capacitors and their parasitic components
As with all electronics components capacitors can never be ideal, there are always parasitic components that have to be considered as well. With capacitors the most prominent parasitics are Equivalent series resistance (ESR), and Equivalent series inductance (ESl). The video recorded by Texas Instruments describes 3 most common capacitor technologies, (ceramic, aluminum electrolytic, and aluminum […]
App note: MCP19111 enhanced power analog controller
The MCP19111 enhanced power analog controller is a 1.2 MHz buck controller with an integrated PIC12F inside. It features programmable coil current limit, over and under voltage protection, adjustable feed back loop, as well as up to 12 GPIOs.
App Note: Boost converter that works with voltages down to 0.5v
EDN Network covers the design of a very low voltage boost converter. The circuit in question is an LED flashlight designed to power 2 LEDs from voltages as low as 0.5V. The circuit uses an integrated constant current boost converter LT192, though for a cheaper design look no further than the Joule Thief. Via Electronics […]
App Note: Designing a simple isolated flyback DC to DC converter
Here’s’ a video tutorial from Linear Technology describing how to design a simple flyback DC/DC converter. The video promotes the use of LT’s LT3573 IC, but it also provides information that could be applied to other designs as well. Isolated power supplies are needed in a wide variety of applications. Galvanic isolation is achieved by […]
App Note: Differences between switch mode, linear, and pulse Li Ion battery chargers
Here’s a tutorial from Maxim describing the differences between switch mode, linear, and pulse Li Ion battery chargers. Advantages and disadvantages of each are covered by the article. There are three methods to charging Li+ batteries: switch-mode, linear and pulse. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages. Switch-mode charging minimizes power dissipation over a wide […]
App Note: Reballing BGA devices tutorial
Here’s a video tutorial on how to reball BGA devices. First you’ll need to remove the IC, and clean up the leftover solder from the IC and the board. Next step is to place the ball grid template over the IC and add tiny solder pellets which when heated will adhere to the IC. Once […]
App note: Thermocouple 101 video series
Here’s a web video series from Analog Devices describing thermocouples (TC) and how to get the most out of them. TC is a temperature sensor that outputs a voltage dependent on the temperature difference between these two ends.
App note: Understanding the output current capability of DC-DC buck converters
Here’s a tutorial on output current capability of DC-DC buck converters that output a lower voltage from an input voltage. The article outlines the theory of buck converters, and how to calculate output current: Due to the widespread availability of highly integrated DC-DC switchmode converter devices, system design engineers no longer have to put much […]
App note: PIC24 peripheral pin select (PPS) reference manual
We often use the peripheral pin select (PPS) feature of PIC24F devices. This feature gives you the option to map some peripherals onto many different pins, instead of being locked onto specific pins. Here’s the reference manual for PPS. Most of the PIC24F family devices support the Peripheral Pin Select (PPS) feature. The PPS constitutes […]
App note: Understanding noise that comes with inductor based DC-DC converters
Here’s a tutorial from On Semiconductor describing noise that comes with inductor based DC-DC convertors. The article highlight the key areas where noise is generated in such systems, and provides suggestions on how to tackle them. The main purpose of this document is to clarify the source of such a noise, and assess the risk […]
App note: USB on the go (OTG) basics
Here’s a tutorial from Maxim describing the basics of USB on the go (OTG). OTG gives, devices that support it, the capability to act as hosts to other devices. But OTG concept doesn’t end just there, it also allows for on the fly role reversal, and gives the peripheral the ability to request power from […]
App note: Current sense circuit collection
Here’s a current sense circuit collection from Linear Technology. The collection is organized by application type and for each one there are a few example circuits. High side, low side, level shifting, high and low voltage, fault sensing, etc: Sensing and/or controlling current flow is a fundamental requirement in many electronics systems, and the techniques […]
App note: PCB layout tricks, striped capacitors, and more
While it doesn’t matter what direction non-polarized capacitors are soldered into a circuit, some feature a stripe indicating which contact is connected to the outer shell of the capacitor. The article describes how to best take advantage of this in your designs. The outside foil of a spiral-wrapped film capacitor shields the inner conductor. In […]
App note: Using USB flash drives with USB host capable PICs
Here’s an app note from Microchip describing how to use USB flash devices with microcontrollers that have USB host capability. The article also provides instructions on how to use the USB OTG Configuration tool. This document describes the USB Data Logger, Mass Storage demo application. It gives an overview of the application’s firmware, how it […]
App Note: mTouch CVD capacitive sensing method
Here’s an app note from Microchip describing the implementation of the mTouch capacitive voltage divider (CVD) capacitive sensing. CVD is a capacitive sensing technique designed to only require a single ADC pin to function. CVD measures capacitance connected to this pin by comparing it to the internal capacitance of the ADC sample and hold circuit. […]