Quantum computers are cryogenically cooled because their quantum bits (qubits) are extremely delicate and sensitive to disruptions from even minute amounts of thermal noise, such as Johnson-Nyquist (J-N) noise. J-N noise is generated by the thermal agitation of electrons, regardless of any applied voltage, when the conductor is at equilibrium. Even small amounts of J-N […]
Analog IC Tips
What kinds of attenuators are there?
Attenuators are often defined as electronic devices that reduce the power of a signal without introducing significant distortion. While that’s not incorrect, it’s also not complete. For example, optical attenuators can be based on fixed or variable neutral density (ND) filters and are largely mechanical constructions. This FAQ considers basic types of electronic attenuators. Other […]
What are digital twins, and where are they on the “hype cycle”?: Part 2
Digital twins are getting lots of deserved attention, but are they the cure-all for whatever simulation issues you have? Although digital twins are undoubtedly valuable tools along with basic simulation, modeling, HITL, and others, the associated all-good/no drawbacks promotion concerns me. When a tool, product, or other development gets a lot of “pumping up” to […]
What are digital twins, and where are they on the “hype cycle”?: Part 1
Digital twins are getting lots of deserved attention, but are they the cure-all for whatever simulation issues you have? Lately, I’m seeing what are called “digital twins” cited everywhere. What is a digital twin? In addition to having that very catchy name, it is a highly advanced model of the system which can be used […]
IP67-rate, tactile switch in tiny 3 x 2 x 06 mm package
CUI Devices’ Switches Group announced the introduction of one of the industry’s smallest tactile switches. Housed in an ultra-compact 3 x 2 x 0.6 mm package, the TS19 series carries an IP67 rating for dealing with moisture and environmental contaminants as well as a rugged lifecycle rating of up to 300,000 cycles. These tactile switch models feature surface […]
Polymer chip capacitors now offer 35 Vdc ratings
The XMPL Polymer Chip Capacitor Series has been expanded to match applications with higher voltage and capacitance requirements. Their excellent capacitance and voltage stability with temperature and frequency make these conductive polymer capacitors ideal for applications where bulk storage and high ripple current filtering are needed. Possessing much lower ESR and a shorter height profile […]
Automotive-grade chip resistors excel at handling pulses
High-reliability chip resistors can be more difficult to find and even more so when there are pulse handling requirements. Typically, the manufacturing process for thick film chip resistors allows for variation in the calibration trim, leading to variation in pulse handling performance. Stackpole’s recently released RPCA series addresses all these needs. The RPCA has limited to […]
Elastomer socket for BGA324 packages with 23-W power dissipation
A new socket handles ASE package BGA 324 devices. The sockets use an elastomer technology as a contactor between the IC package and the circuit board. The elastomer can support +50 GHz bandwidth and comes with a protective cover. (The cover is necessary because the elastomers are sensitive to dirt.) The elastomer has a low […]
Elastomer sockets handle BGA1365 chip packages
New sockets handle ball grid array devices with a 1,365 pin count and a 0.65-mm pitch. The socket utilizes a high-performance elastomer contactor and has over 40 GHz bandwidth with a -1 dB insertion loss. The self-inductance is 0.21 nH. Capacitance to ground is 0.15 pF. Current capacity is 4 A/pin. The socket operates over […]
What are MEMS relays good for?
MEMS relays (also called MEMS switches) have high isolation when open and very low insertion loss or resistance when closed; they can handle signals from DC to multi-GHz, operate with very little power, and their micrometer size means that many can be packed into a small space. These attributes make MEMS relays well-suited for 5G […]
