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.
Tag Archives: app note
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: 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. […]
App Note: Digital potentiometer in analog applications
Here’s an app note from Maxim describing the use of a digital potentiometer in analog circuits like amplifiers and filters. By using a digital potentiometer in an op-amps feedback loop, a digitally controllable variable gain amplifier is constructed. Variable gain amplifiers often use a mechanical potentiometer to set the gain. An example is a volume […]
App note: Diode turn-on time induced failures in switching regulators
A video from the comments on our post about fast diodes for switching regulators: Recently, switching regulator clock rate and transition time have become faster, making diode turn-on time a critical issue. A potential difficulty due to diode turn-on time is that the resultant transitory “overshoot” voltage across the diode, even when restricted to nanoseconds, […]
App Note: Linear Databook and the two-volume Linear Applications Handbook
Drone tipped us to scanned versions of the Linear Databook, and Linear Applications Handbook (vol.1 and vol.2) available online. These are collections of many app notes produced over the years by Linear Technology. Freely view/download the venerable set of Linear Technology Corporation’s Linear Databook and two-volume Linear Applications Handbook. Free to view online or download […]
App Note: Practical guide to high-speed PCB layout
Here’s an article from Analog Devices going into the details of high-speed PCB layout design. While the article mainly focuses on analog electronics, lots of good tips can be picked up for digital designers as well. Intelligent circuit-board layout is important to successful op-amp circuit design, especially for high-speed circuits. A good schematic is the […]
App Note: Combining peripherals to implement a high resolution PWM
Here’s an app note from Microchip describing how to use the configurable logic cell (CLC) and the numerically controlled oscillator (NCO) peripherals to generate a high resolution pulse-width modulation signal. These peripherals are relatively new to Microchip’s product line and can only be found on some PIC10F and PIC16F devices: By itself, the NCO peripheral […]
App Note: DACs vs digital potentiometers
Here is an article from Maxim describing the differences between DACs and digital potentiometers. The article explains the characteristics and advantages of each, giving you a better idea of what you may need for your project. This application note compares digital to analog converters (DACs) to digital potentiometers. Traditionally digital potentiometers were meant to replace […]
App Note: Nuts and bolts of delta-sigma analog to digital converters
Here’s is a video from Texas Instruments describing the inner workings of delta-sigma analog to digital converters. The DS ADC is broken down into it’s basic parts. The delta-sigma modulator and digital decimating filter are then discussed. Delta-sigma converters are ideal for converting signals over a wide range of frequencies from DC to several megahertz […]
App note: Zero cross detector for AVRs
Atmel describes how to implement zero cross detection on an AVR. Zero cross detection is used to find the exact moment when a signal crosses from positive into negative, or vice-versa. This is useful in periodic AC signals as it gives you a reference point of when a new half period has started. This application […]
App note: Bootloading 101
Texas Instruments describes bootloaders and what they are all about. A bootloader is a piece of code that allows new firmware to be loaded into a microcontroller without a dedicated programmer. All of our projects use a bootloader so you can upgrade over a USB or serial connection. For PIC micros we usually use two […]
App note: Simulating fast transient loads for testing power supplies
How to implement a fast load transient simulator for power supply testing. One of important factor of power supplies is how they react to fast changing loads. This article describes how to design a system that measures power supply performance under quickly changing loads. To obtain fast load transients, we combine a power MOSFET and […]
App note: Digitally Addressable Lighting Interface
Microchip describes the digitally addressable lighting interface (DALI). This interface was designed to control dimmable fluorescent ballasts. Two wires are used to transmit Manchester coded message packets. The timing is standardized at 1200 bps so there is no need to transmit the clock signal, similar to how UART transmission works. The Digitally Addressable Lighting Interface […]
App note: Motor pre-drivers vs integrated drivers
Here is a video from Texas Instruments describing the differences in motor pre-drivers vs integrated drivers. Pre-drivers have all the control circuitry but the FETs are external, while in integrated drivers everything is on one IC. Because pre-drivers use external FETs, you can select the ones with much lower RDS-on resistance. This will give you […]
App Note: Various solutions for calculating a pulse and duty cycle
Here’s an app note from Microchip describing various methods for measuring pulse in periodic and non-periodic waveforms. Calculating duty cycle in periodic waveforms is also described. Many times it is desirable to quantify the pulse width of a periodic signal, such as that of a servo motor or duty cycle of a pulse-width modulated signal. […]