Modern electronics should be able to easily solve a temperature-sensing challenge, but the harsh real-world complexities make it a difficult proposition. Part 1 of this article looked at the basic issues of railway bearing failure and detecting these before they happen. This part looks into more details and sensing options. Q: What can the railroad […]
FAQ on railroad hot-box-temperature sensing, part 1
Modern electronics should be able to easily solve a temperature-sensing challenge, but the harsh real-world complexities make it a difficult proposition. Freight railroads are a very important part of the logistics infrastructure around the world for transporting raw materials as well as finished goods. They are a major constituent of intermodal transportation along with trucks, […]
The Radio Data System: FM radio adds features to stay viable, part 4
Broadcast FM radio has extended its user-friendly capabilities through the addition of embedded, backward-compatible functionality which adds text and even graphics to the radio display. This part concludes with additional RDS details and IC implementations. Q: Where is the RDS signal in the FM-channel spectrum? Does it affect existing FM stereo broadcasts? A: One of […]
The Radio Data System: FM radio adds features to stay viable, part 3
Broadcast FM radio has extended its user-friendly capabilities through the addition of embedded, backward-compatible functionality which adds text and even graphics to the radio display. RDS is part of FM radio’s effort to maintain relevance and meet user expectations in the face of many alternative ways in which users can access news, music, and more […]
The Radio Data System: FM radio adds features to stay viable, part 2
Broadcast FM radio has extended its user-friendly capabilities through the addition of embedded, backward-compatible functionality which adds text and even graphics to the radio display. This part looks at other radio-receiver upgrades that preceded RDS. Q: Is this the first time that FM radio has been “upgraded”? A: No, not at all. In the 1970s, […]
The Radio Data System: FM radio adds features to stay viable, part 1
Broadcast FM radio has extended its user-friendly capabilities through the addition of embedded, backward-compatible functionality which adds text and even graphics to the radio display. From the late 1920s and for decades afterward, AM-based broadcast radio was the primary real-time mass media in the US and the world. In the AM band (550 kHz to […]
FAQ: Antenna-in-package answers the “last mile” RF challenge, Part 2
If you think antennas must live “outside” a circuit, think again: they can also be housed in a small package adjacent to the active components they serve. The previous part established the context and rationale for AiP; this part continues the exploration. Who are some of the AiP technology suppliers or OEMs? ASE, a leading…
FAQ: Antenna-in-package answers the “last mile” RF challenge, Part 1
If you think antennas must live “outside” a circuit, think again: they can also be housed in a small package adjacent to the active components they serve. The RF signal chain has become increasingly integrated in the past years. Whether by merging RF circuitry with the digital function onto a single die or by co-locating…
Titan submersible reminds us you can’t ignore materials science
When doing engineering development at a keyboard, it’s easy to overlook the huge role that materials and material science play in electronics and their amazing components. We don’t know what caused the apparent implosion and subsequent loss of OceanGate’s Titan submersible, and we may never know the root causes. Various experts and pundits have chimed […]
FAQ on fractal antennas, Part 2
Antennas based on fractal mathematics offer some significant advantages but also some controversy. The first part of this article looked at the basic concept and history of fractals. This part looks at the relationship between fractals and antennas. Q: All this fractal discussion is interesting, but what does it have to do with antennas? A: […]