Tag Archives: app note

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: 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: Adding intelligence to LED lighting

Here’s a tutorial from Maxim on how to design smarter LED lighting.   How smart is your LED lighting system? While LED lighting holds the promise of reducing energy consumption and maintenance costs, smart LED lighting designs improve system performance in both areas, achieving higher performance per watt and reducing cost in the long term. […]

App Note: Get the maximum power out of a solar panel

Here is an application note from Microchip describing how to get maximum power out of a solar panel. 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. The Maximum Power Point Converter is essentially a DC-to-DC converter, where the […]

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: 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: 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 […]