Tag Archives: app note

App note: Using PIC32s with wireless data and navigation equipment

Microchip covers how to use PIC32s with GSM/GPRS/GPS wireless data and navigation systems.  It uses their Machine to Machine board with a GSM/GPRS/GPS communication module: [Machine-to-Machine] uses a device to capture an event, which is then relayed through a network to an application that translates the event into meaningful information. A common application of M2M […]

App note: Common audio inter-IC protocols

Here is a design article from EETimes about the common inter-IC audio protocols. The article covers the traditional audio signal chain, fully digital audio signal chains, I2S protocol, and PDM. As audio integrated-circuit (IC) designs move to finer geometries, it becomes more difficult to design, and less cost-effective to integrate, high-performance analog circuits on the […]

App note: Minimizing switching regulator residue in linear regulator outputs

Here is an app note from Linear Technology describing how to minimize switching regulator noise in linear regulator outputs. Linear regulators are commonly employed to post-regulate switching regulator outputs. Benefi ts include improved stability, accuracy, transient response and lowered output impedance. Ideally, these performance gains would be accompanied by markedly reduced switching regulator generated ripple […]

App note: Theory behind Delta-Sigma analog to digital converters

Maxim describes the theory behind Delta-Sigma ADCs: This in-depth article covers the theory behind a Delta-Sigma analog-to-digital converter (ADC). It specifically focuses on the difficult to understand key digital concepts of over-sampling, noise shaping, and decimation filtering. A description of new converter, the MAX1402, and several applications for Delta-Sigma converters are included. The 16bit ADC […]

App note: Extending the life cycle of emulated EEPROM in program memory

Some applications require you to store data that wont be lost if the power goes down. Usual solutions involve either using an on-chip EEPROM or external memory devices. This app note from Microchip provides an alternative that allows you to store your data in the programming memory without having the usual low rewrite cycles associated […]

App note: 2-wire virtual remote sensing for voltage regulators

Here is an app note from Linear Technology describing the use of virtual remote sensing of wiring voltage drops in power supply designs. Here, the LT4180 Virtual Remote Sense™ (VRS) IC alternates output current between 95% and 105% of the nominal required output current. The LT4180 forces the power supply to provide a DC current […]

App note: Understanding and interpreting logic IC datasheets

This app note from Texas Instruments focuses on understanding and interpreting datasheets for logic ICs. To assist component and system-design engineers in selecting Texas Instruments (TI) standard-logic products, this application report is a synopsis of the information available from a typical TI data sheet. Information includes a brief description of terms, definitions, and testing procedures […]

App note: Charge pump DC-DC converters

Here is an app note from Maxim describing the theory behind, and implementation of charge pump based DC-DC converters. Charge pumps are often the best choice for powering an application that requires both low power and low cost. This application note discusses integrated charge pumps and explains how to calculate power dissipation in a charge […]

App note: Slave I2C communication and setup on PIC devices with MSSP modules

Here is an app note from Microchip describing how to setup, and implement slave I2C communication on Pic devices with MSSP modules. It also features assembler code for PIC18s and PIC16s. Many devices in the PICmicro family have a Synchronous Serial Port (SSP) or Master Synchronous Serial Port (MSSP). These peripherals can be used to […]

App note: Need for power and ground cleanliness

  Some tips and tricks on how to reduce noise on PCB power and ground traces. It warns digital engineers that the analog nasties are lurking in power supplies, and can cause unexpected surprises for inexperienced PCB designers. Many times electronic system failures are blamed on the parts when the real cause was human error. […]

App note: Audio applications using PIC32 microcontrollers

Here is an app note from Microchip introducing the audio-specific features of the PIC32 MCUs. One of the features disused is the hardware SPI module that supports some standard audio communication modes. In this application note, the available audio-specific features of the PIC32 MCU are explored to address these needs. The SPI module supports different […]

App note: Ball grid array explained

Here is Texas Instrument’s application note on Ball Grid Array IC packages. It provides general information about BGAs, and the many versions of the same. Leaders in the consumer electronics industry will be determined by their ability to deliver increasingly miniaturized products at lower costs. The Ball Grid Array (BGA) package achieves these objectives by […]

App note: Common IC interface problems

A somewhat humorous app note describing the common IC interface protocols like I2C, SPI, and GPIO. Also covered are some problem with these interfaces that turn happy faces to sad. How can an interface change a happy face to a sad face? Engineers have happy faces when an interface works properly. Sad faces indicate failure […]

App note: Bridge circuits

Another app note from Jim Williams and Linear Technology [PDF!], describing  various bridge circuits. Bridges described here are mostly made of passive components, and should not be confused with bridge motor drivers. Bridge circuits are among the most elemental and powerful electrical tools. They are found in measurement, switching, oscillator and transducer circuits. Additionally, bridge […]

App note: Improving USB system reliability with transient suppressors

Adding transient suppressors to USB devices [PDF!] can help prevent damage from static discharge. This is important because USB devices are handled without protection, carried in pockets, tossed in bags, etc. Because frequent human interaction with the USB system occurs as a result of its attractive hot-plugging ability, there is the possibility for large ESD […]

App note: Graphic displays with the PIC32

Pretty user interfaces with a PIC 32: As the demand for Graphical Embedded Applications becomes more popular, so does the need for developing cost effective solutions. Many companies today offer solutions involving an additional internal or external graphics controller as part of a system, which may result in higher costs and more complicated designs. In […]

App note: Using LT5400 high precision resistor neworks in high precision analog designs

  Here is a design note from Liner Technology explaining how using their LT5400 matched resistor networks in your analog design can improve it’s precision by an order of magnitude. The actual performance of precision amplifiers and ADCs is often difficult to achieve since data sheet specifications assume ideal components. Carefully matched resistor networks, such […]

App note: DSP library for LPC1700 and LPC1300 microcontrollers

Here is a reference guide from NXP for the DSP library made for LPC17xx, and LCP13xx microcontrollers. You can download the library here. The DSP library has been developed as a commonly used set of DSP functions optimized for the NXP Cortex-M3 LPC1700 and LPC1300 family products. Most functions have been implemented in Thumb-2 assembler […]

App note: Using Atmel’s DataFlash ICs

Atmel describes their DataFlash memory chips and how to interface with them: The DataFlash is perfectly suited for digital voice-, image-, code- and data-storage applications, especially where low power consumption is required. In these storage applications, the DataFlash’s small page size not only  makes it easier to manipulate data, it also increases storage efficiency.