NXP provides some PCB layout design guidelines for the ADC modules in their LPC1100 and LPC1300 microcontrollers. These ADC modules, like many microcontrollers, use the power supply voltage as a reference so special care has to be taken to eliminate … Read more
Here is an app note from Maxim describing how to implement touch screen calibration. It provides the reader with the necessary mathematical tools needed to address issues with mechanical misalignment and scaling due to imperfections in the touch screen: Mechanical … Read more
This reference design from Texas Instruments shows how to build a USB keyboard design using a MSP430 microcontroller. The article contains the full design: the keyboard matrix, schematic, and the firmware needed to get it going. This application report describes … Read more
Here is an app note from Microchip explaining how to implement the USB printer class on PICs that have USB host capability. This will allow you to connect your project to a printer. The USB Printer Class, used on one … Read more
Some IC packages have a large exposed pad on the bottom. It’s usually connected to the chips ground, and helps cool the chip by transferring heat to the PCB. This app note from Maxim describes the functionality of exposed pads, … Read more
Here is an app note from Texas Instruments on how to power various systems required for portable media players. These devices require several different voltages, multiple power sources, as well as integrated battery charging. The article describes each individual section … Read more
Learn how to implement fixed current limiting in power-supply designs: In every power supply application there exists the possibility to short the output to ground causing excessive current to be drawn from the power supply. In order to limit the … Read more
Texas Instruments’ advice for isolating digital and analog power supplies in mixed signal circuits. This application note recommends power supply and ground noise-reduction techniques through the use of bypass capacitors and ferrite beads in TI’s PLL-based clock distribution circuits (CDC) … Read more
TI on limiting phase noise from oscillators [PDF!]: This report provides the description of local oscillator (LO) phase noise degradation due to supply noise. Brief theoretical information supported by experiments carried out to demonstrate this degradation is discussed. The importance … Read more
How to drive capacitive loads with op amps. Operational amplifiers that drive large capacitive loads can have problems like oscillation and peaking. This article describes how to anticipate and limit theses problems: Other problems include: reduced bandwidth, lower output slew … Read more
How to chose a voltage reference and digital to analog converter chips to get the precision and stability you need: This application note focuses on Maxim’s 3-terminal voltage references and precision DACs. To design a system, one must first understand … Read more
Here is a voltage reference circuit collection from Linear Technology. This is a 32 page article with a ton of reference designs and specifications for each. How to select passive components for best performance is also covered.
Analog Devices describes the fundamentals of working with digital-to-analog converters: This tutorial outlines some important issues regarding DAC interface circuitry including the voltage reference, analog output, data input, and clock driver. Because ADCs require references and clocks also, most of … Read more
This is not really an app note, but more of a tutorial on DIY op-amp based linear regulators. The article describes the basics of op-amp regulator, and includes schematics and in-depth explanations of how the various circuits work. This article … Read more
Here is an app note from Texas Instruments describing the theory of operation of linear regulators. It goes on to explain and compare various topologies used in integrated linear voltage regulators. The explosive proliferation of battery powered equipment in the … Read more
Here is an USB keyboard demonstration from Atmel. The document describes how to start, and design USB HID class keyboard applications on the STK525 starter kit.
Here is an app note from Maxim describing how to add high voltage capability up to 300V for the MAX47X (which have been replaced by MAX407X) bidirectional current sense monitors. Since the MAX47X draw low current, a simple floating power … Read more
Here is a app note from Microchip describing how to implement the Auto-Baud detection for UART operation on dsPIC30 digital signal processors. This function is useful when the oscillator of the dsPIC is unknown and/or the baud rate is unknown. … Read more
Here is an app note from Atmel describing how build DIY touch keys using Philipp springs (or any spring made from conductive material) and their qTouch ICs. This design allows PTH LEDs to be mounted inside the keys. The Philipp™ … Read more
Here is an app note from Microchip describing how to use dsPIC digital signal processors to implement digital lock-in amplifiers. Lock-in amplifiers use phase-sensitive detection to measure the presence of small signals buried in large amounts of noise. By measuring … Read more
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