In recent columns, we’ve given a quick review of some basic instrumentation common to most engineering work benches. Here are a few more instruments found in many engineering labs. Signal generator Signal Generator is a generic term describing various instruments, all sharing a single rationale, which is that a device under test (DUT) requires a […]
FAQ
Comparing magnetic cores for power inductors
It is helpful to know how the material properties and geometries of magnetic cores affect the ability of inductors to store energy or filter current. There can be a mystique surrounding the specs of magnetic cores used in power inductors, due partly to the fact that magnetic materials may not be well characterized for handling […]
Breaking BLE – Vulnerabilities in pairing protocols leave Bluetooth devices open for attack
Despite built-in safe-guards, Bluetooth Low Energy IoT devices are vulnerable to hacks when they communicate over the air. Here are the basics of the problem. Leland Teschler, Executive Editor If you eyeball internet-of-things items ranging from smart ac plugs to motion sensors you typically find connectivity via the Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) standard. A lot […]
Developing connected medical devices for the IoT
Super-small radio SoCs are being paired with innovative battery technologies to bring inexpensive medical electronics online. Adrie Van Meijeren, Low Power Connectivity • Dialog Semiconductor The Internet of Things (IoT) has disrupted many industries in short order. However, when it comes to adopting the IoT, the medical and pharmaceutical space has largely been held back. […]
How to test USB4 designs
Designers must look at and characterize the entire Type-C ecosystem when testing USB4 designs. Jit Lim • Keysight Technologies The USB Type-C connector has received significant adoption with ubiquitous standards like USB, DP, and Thunderbolt. The next-generation variant of USB is USB4. USB4 will transmit and receive on all four lanes of the Type-C connector […]
Selecting the right Bluetooth Low Energy SoC
Tricks of the trade for optimizing the energy consumption of BLE chips affect memory size, clock speed, operating modes, and other factors determined during the initial design. Emmanuel Sambuis, Silicon Labs It can be challenging to optimize Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) applications for minimal energy consumption. An understanding of BLE and the underlying system-on-chip (SoC) […]
Overview of electrical measuring instruments – Part 2
In a recent column, we gave a quick review of some basic instrumentation common to most engineering work benches. Here are a few more instruments found in many engineering labs. Curve Tracer The curve tracer is a member of the oscilloscope family of measuring instruments. In its CRT or flat screen display, the user sees […]
The hot wire anemometer, Part 2: Implementation
The hot wire anemometer for measuring fluid speed offers unique advantages but also has some challenging use issues. Part 1 looked at the basic principles of the hot wire anemometer. This part contains the discussion with issues related to calibration and practical concerns. As with so many other sensors, the HWA looks simple enough: It […]
The hot wire anemometer, Part 1: Principles
The hot wire anemometer for measuring fluid speed offers unique advantages but also has some challenging use issues. You are undoubtedly familiar with the classic wind-speed anemometer with three cups rotating as the wind blows, while a tachometer reports the revolutions rate (Figure 1). This is a “tried and true” way to measure large-scale wind […]
A new technique to maximize scan diagnosis throughput
by Jayant D’Souza, product manager Tessent group at Mentor, a Siemens Business Charged with the task of improving yield, product engineers need to find the location of defects in manufactured ICs quickly and efficiently. Typically, they use failing test cycles to perform scan diagnosis, which is then analyzed to reveal the location and root cause […]