If the idea is already in the design phase, you may just be looking for a company that will manufacturer (fabricate or fab) your device. The choice of a fab involves different criteria including, of course, cost. In addition to the wafer fabrication packaging is also a major consideration. A fab process that allows wafer […]
FAQ
Charging electric vehicles, Part 2: The connections
Part 1 introduced some of the issues related to charging of electric vehicles. Part 2 continues with a look at the hardware (which also involves software, of course). Q: What about the electrical and physical connections? A: There are three connection situations, called “cases”: Case A has the charger connected to the AC mains, and […]
RF Switches, Part 2: Analog and MEMS switches
Part 1 of this FAQ looked at the venerable electromechanical RF switch – still widely used in some applications, where it is the only viable option – and use of PIN diodes as RF switches. This part looks at analog and MEMS-based switches. Q: What is an analog switch? A: It’s conceptually straightforward: in basic […]
Testing LVDS devices at the margins with an AWG
Advanced arbitrary waveform generators have simplified the testing associated with communications over low-voltage differential signaling lines. Chris Loberg | Tektronix First introduced in 1994, low-voltage differential signaling (LVDS) has gone on to become widely used in products such as LCD panels, automotive infotainment systems, industrial cameras and machine vision, notebook and tablet computers, communications systems, […]
What’s new in USB Power Delivery 3.0
A new version of the USB spec puts additional demands on testing regimes that wring out power-handling options. David Maliniak | Teledyne LeCroy Since its official debut in 1996, the Universal Serial Bus (USB) protocol has seen numerous revisions spanning three generations of the standard, with USB 4.0 waiting in the wings for later in […]
Test instruments that aid PCB repair tasks
Basic tools such as DMMs and oscilloscopes may be the only test gear needed for small printed circuit board repairs, but it pays to know when automated systems would be a better choice. Alan Lowne | Saelig Co. Inc. PCBs are more complicated to repair today than even a few years ago. Manufacturing mistakes and […]
What you should know about Wi-Fi 6 and the 6-GHz band
While there are still interference issues to be resolved, new specifications for Wi-Fi in the 6-GHz band will bring instantly better wireless performance. Eve Danel | LitePoint Wi-Fi technology turns 20 this year, and it has proven to be successful beyond the wildest expectations. The recent announcement by the FCC to consider allowing 1,200 MHz […]
RF switches, Part 1: Mechanical and PIN-diode switches
There’s a ubiquitous and increasing need to switch RF signals ranging into the tens of GHz; four basic switch technologies – electromechanical, PIN diode, analog, and MEMS – are available, each with different features and capabilities. The need to switch RF signals has been a necessary design function since the earliest days of “wireless.” This […]
Charging electric vehicles, Part 1: the numbers
It’s nice to envision that recharging an electric vehicle is as straightforward as filling up an internal combustion vehicle, but it’s not: there are multiple charging, power, and connector options as well as limitations. You’re driving your internal-combustion (IC) car, and the gauge indicates it’s time to get “gas” (of course, it’s actually gasoline). So […]
Basics of cavity resonators
Experimenters beware! If you think it might be instructive to dismantle a microwave oven and power up the magnetron to make a space gun, don’t do it. A microwave gun (called a magnetron) in a state other than as manufactured has numerous potential hazards. (Nevertheless, you can find a lot of YouTube videos describing exactly […]