Another app note from NXP/Phillips Semiconductor on I/O voltage level shifting. Many reasons exist to introduce 3V systems, notably the lower power consumption for mobile applications and the introduction of parts that use technologies with such fine geometries that 5V is simply not allowed any more. The introduction of the 3V standard as supply voltage […]
Tag Archives: app note
App note: CPLD timing
See from Xilinx app note the timing constraints on CPLDs. In this application note we will discuss how to constrain a CPLD design and how to verify that the design has met timing. Fundamentally, CPLD timing is the same as FPGA timing; however, the CPLD timing constraints are a subset of the FPGA timing constraints.
App note: Understanding XC9500XL CPLD power
Here’s an app note from Xilinx on calculating power consumption for a CPLD. The goal of this application note is to discuss XC9500XL CPLD power estimation and optimization and provide the reader with an understanding of sense-amplifier based CPLD power dissipation. A brief discussion of the process for estimation is given. With this information, you […]
App note: CPLDs as Motor Controllers
Here’s a simple motor controller implementation using CPLDs from Xilinx. To enable a CPLD to turn the electromagnets on and off, external transistor drivers must be used. A unipolar stepper motor can be driven by four identical NPN or N-channel drive transistors. The various Xilinx CPLDs can operate with I/O voltages from 1.5V to 5V. […]
App note: Xilinx in-system programming using an embedded microcontroller
Program Xilinx’ CPLDs and FPGAs with the aid from this app note. By using a simple JTAG interface, Xilinx devices are easily programmed and tested without using expensive hardware. Multiple devices can be daisy-chained, permitting a single four-wire Test Access Port (TAP) to control any number of Xilinx devices or other JTAG-compatible devices. The four […]
App note: Small, high-voltage boost converters
Produce high-voltages from low input sources as low as 2.5V, Maxim’s app note discusses three topologies and their limitations as well as their advantages on achieving these large voltages. The biasing of avalanche photodiodes (APDs), piezoelectric transducers (PZTs), vacuum fluorescent displays (VFDs), and microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) require high-voltage power supplies. This app note presents three […]
App note: Model of chip cap tombstoning
Here’s a graphical app note from TDK on the phenomenological “tombstone” when doing reflow soldering. If temperature and solder quantity is inappropriate during substrate mounting, products may not be mounted properly, which causes tombstone
App note: Four channel digital voltmeter with display and keyboard
Here’s an old but quite clever approach app note from Microchip on utilizing microcontroller I/O’s to handle multiple display and switches with only few pins. This application note demonstrates the capability of the PIC16C71 and has been broken down into four subsections: • Multiplexing Four 7-Segment LED Displays • Multiplexing Four 7-Segment LED Displays and […]
App note: Temperature measurement using thermistors
Another temperature sensitive device, introducing the thermistor. From its name you could guess that its a temperature dependent resistor which varies its resistance as the temperature changes. See Cypress’ application note on using these devices. A thermistor is a temperature-sensitive resistor in which resistance varies with temperature. There are two types of thermistors: positive temperature […]
App note: Temperature sensing using diode
Last time we covered using watchdog timer as temperature dependent component of a microcontroller to do temperature sensing. Now lets take a diode to do the same thing, they are pretty much accurate and cheap, see Cypress’ application note about its implementation. There are various sensors available for measuring temperature such as Thermistor, Thermocouple, resistance […]
App note: F-RAM for smart E-Meters
Cypress’ application note on smart E-Meters and why its more advantageous to use F-RAM over conventional EEPROMs. This application note provides an overview of a smart electricity meter, or Smart E-Meter, and explains the benefits of using nonvolatile serial F-RAM rather than EEPROM in Smart E-Meter designs.
App note: Tone Generation and Melody Player
Two application guides (Tone generation and Melody player) from Microchip to get you started on tone generation basics, these might help create musical greeting cards to give to your fellow geeks this coming holidays. A general purpose resonator routine is implemented using a PIC17C42. This routine is used to generate multiple tones. A tone signal […]
App note: Rework method for surface mount MLCCs
Things you might need to know about doing SMT rework on Multi Layered Ceramic Capacitors (MLCC). An application guide from TDK Rework is necessary when surface mount (SMT) components become misaligned or improperly mounted. This paper will answer questions concerning rework of SMT capacitors. Specifically, equipment, procedures, and technique are covered.
App note: properties and application of bypass capacitors
Another primer app note from NXP on capacitor bypassing. Bypass capacitors are applied between the power supply pins VCC and GND of integrated circuits. They reduce both the power supply noise and the effect of spikes on the supply line. They also provide instantaneous current demands of the integrated circuit as it switches. This application […]
App note: LCD biasing and contrast control method
Application note on direct Liquid crystal display driving using PIC microcontrollers. This Application Note provides methods that can be used to provide biasing voltages for Liquid Crystal displays. This document covers most of the biasing methods used in the PIC microcontrollers with an LCD controller.
App note: PICmicro device programming, what you always wanted to know (but didn’t know who to ask)
The basics of how to get your firmware into your PIC microcontroller. App note can be found here. For more than a decade, Microchip has published a lot of information about programming its 8-bit microcontrollers. There is now so much information out there, in fact, that it’s sometimes hard for engineers and technicians who are […]
App note: EMC design considerations
Ever wonder why your project acts funny and sometimes causes unexpected outcome then one of these reasons are interference and how they inject into or emit from your designs. Learn more about EMC from Atmel’s design consideration notes. The electromagnetic environment is getting tougher. High-frequency radio transmitters, like mobile telephones, are found everywhere. More and […]
App note: EMI noise protection on electronic equipment
This application manual from Murata packs a lot of information about noises generated from most electronics equipment and what are the right filters to suppress these. To make effective noise suppression in electronic equipment it is necessary for design engineers to have a good understanding of the various types of EMI suppression filters available and […]
App note: Application of optical sensors – Reflective
The second type of optical sensor, here’s Vishay app note on how do they operate and their considerations when using one of these on your projects. These sensors integrate an infrared emitter and photo detector in a single package. The most common types of optical sensors are transmissive and reflective sensors. Both types detect the […]
App note: Application of optical sensors – Transmissive
Optical sensor basics and its considering factors of these type of contactless switches, learn more from Vishay’s app note on transmissive optical sensor. These sensors integrate an infrared emitter and photo detector in a single package. The most common types of optical sensors are transmissive and reflective sensors. Both types detect the presence of an […]