GNU Radio modules for the BB60C and SM200A spectrum analyzers allow the analyzers to be used as I/Q sources from within GNU Radio, as blocks in a flowgraph, components of a hierarchical block, or called from a script. According to Roger Rush, lead developer on the project, “Signal Hound and GNU Radio share a software-based […]
Safety guidelines for hipot testing and setting up a safe testing area
A few simple steps ensure testing takes place safely when potentially lethal voltages and currents are involved in the testing process. . Kevin Clark, Vitrek Inc. Hipot testing has long been a standard procedure for assuring the electrical safety compliance of electronic equipment. Early commercial hipot testers were actually not much more than a variac-driven […]
GaN FETs boost efficiency in electric vehicle chargers
The role gallium-nitride FETs play in the design of an EV charging circuit help illustrate how these wide-bandgap semiconductors facilitate energy efficiency. FENG QI, TRANSPHORM THE PHASE-SHIFT FULL BRIDGE (PSFB) is a classic topology for applications that must accommodate a wide range of operating voltages, as with battery chargers. A PSFB converter generally uses four […]
How long can a battery really last?
It pays to know how a testing regime can reveal whether specific types of lithium batteries will last as long as an application demands. SOL JACOBS, TADIRAN BATTERIES DESIGNERS MUST UNDERSTAND how their end device will consume power before they can choose a battery. Will the battery be depleted in a matter of hours, as […]
Don’t be led astray on three-phase power measurements
Measurements made on one power analyzer may differ from those on another because different manufacturers employ different settings and wiring assumptions. KEN JOHNSON, TELEDYNE LECROY POWER ANALYZERS have been manufactured for many years and are used in a wide variety of applications. Often, the settings and preferences dialed in from the front panel can significantly […]
Energy efficiency, smart lighting, and the IoT
Sure, smart lights will save energy, but they’ll also be the backbone of systems that can help minimize mini-catastrophes. CEES LINKS, Qorvo THE IoT (internet of things) INCLUDES a rich offering of energy efficiency benefits. Smart lighting is, of course, one of the most common elements of any IoT energy efficiency discussion. Lighting is a […]
Optimizing the energy efficiency of converters and controllers
Here’s how to evaluate efficiencies associated with components that make up widely used power conversion circuitry. FRANK DE STASI, MATHEW JACOB, TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INC. IN SOME WAYS, selecting a module, converter or controller for power conversion resembles deciding whether to take a flight, board a train, or drive from point A to B. Once you’ve […]
5-W surface-mount current sense shunt runs cool at high power levels
The HCSM2818 is a 5-W surface-mount current-sense shunt with excellent long-term stability and good TCR. The HCSM offers 4 and 5-mΩ values in 200-ppm TCR and 10, 15, and 20 mΩ values in 75-ppm TCR. The molded package and larger terminations provide exceptional thermal resistance and allows the part to run cooler at higher power […]
Drag & drop facility speeds ordering process for PCBs
The prototype specialist and PCB manufacturer Beta LAYOUT says it has radically simplified the online ordering process for printed circuit boards. The redesigned PCB-POOL online calculator now allows the direct data upload of a PCB design via Drag & Drop in several native file formats. Current accepted files formats include Altium Designer, EAGLE, Target 3001!, […]
Evaluating options for USB Type-C connections
Port controllers, transceivers, and special dc/dc converters now simplify the task of adding USB Type-C functions. DANIEL LEIH, MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY INC. CONSIDER THE VIRTUES of the USB-C connector. In addition to its 10 Gbit/sec (Gbps) bandwidth and Alt Mode video capabilities, two attributes in particular make this form factor incredibly valuable: a reversible plug and […]