The linear variable differential transformer (LVDT) is a widely used, inherently rugged, linear-position sensor offering accurate and consistent performance over a wide span of distances. Sensing of physical position is among the most commonly needed parameters in industrial, military/aerospace, robotics, scientific measurement, and control applications, and there are many sensors in use to accomplish this. […]
FAQ
Shedding light on how much UV-C you need for disinfection
The idea of using UV-C light to kill the COVID-19 virus by disrupting its RNA has captured the imagination of many in the technical community. Unfortunately, important application details about factors such as necessary exposure time and intensity levels may be hard to discern, particularly for those who are new to the technology. A complicating […]
How can engineered substrates accelerate sensor designs?
Silicon on insulator (SOI) substrates are the starting point for fabricating many sensors. One company offering a portfolio of advanced engineered substrates presents an interesting design alternative to customers. IceMOS Technology Ltd of Belfast Northern Ireland has a very attractive alternative to unprocessed starting wafers. Outsourced engineered substrates enable a company to expand their MEMS […]
Basics of oscilloscope probes — Part 1
Engineers know what an oscilloscope probe is. It basically permits the user to measure the voltage at any terminal or wire and display the waveform. It usually incorporates a needle point that is capable of getting into a tight place without shorting out to another pin, wire or grounded surface. And it can be equipped […]
Memory centric computing and memory system architectures
This three-part FAQ series began by considering “Memory Basics – Volatile, Non-volatile and Persistent.” Part two looked at “Memory Technologies and Packaging Options.” Recently developed persistent memory technologies, three-dimensional packaging for memories, advanced multicore processors, demands to process larger and larger datasets and databases, and artificial intelligence are driving the emergence of a new category […]
Westinghouse and the fail-safe train air brake, Part 4: Post-Westinghouse
The story of Westinghouse Electric and affiliates does not end with its bankruptcy, but it does change dramatically. It is a twisting tale of getting into new markets, abandoning old ones, having some successes, and having some abysmal failures, which completely transformed what remained. A few of the many highlights and developments include: setting up […]
Memory technologies and packaging options
Solid-state memory devices are available in a wide variety of standard package styles that they have in common with other semiconductor devices, including DIP, TSSOP, DFN, WLCSP, and many others. And various packages are offered in plastic, glass, ceramic, and metal containing one or more devices. They are also available in hermetically-sealed packages and non-hermetic […]
Memory basics – Volatile, non-volatile and persistent
Computers, gaming consoles, telecommunications, automobiles, industrial systems, and myriad electronic devices and systems rely on various forms of solid-state memory for operation. Designers need an understanding of the various options for volatile and non-volatile memory devices to optimize the performance of systems. A new form of solid-state memory called persistent memory (PMEM) has recently emerged […]
Westinghouse and the fail-safe train air brake, Part 3: Electric brake control
The man who brought fail-safe brakes to railroads once had a major role in the 20th-century industry, but a combination of events and decisions have left only his braking system as a recognized legacy. Thus far, we have looked at the classic, and still widely used fail-safe pneumatic brake (Part 1 and Part 2) However, […]
A fractional Fourier Transform? Yes, there is such a thing.
The Fourier Transform, outlined by French mathematician and physicist Joseph Fourier (1768-1830) in The Analytic Theory of Heat (1822), asserted that any function of a variable, whether continuous or discontinuous, can be expanded in a series of sines of multiples of the variable. His focus at the time was the propagation of heat in an […]