Regulatory creepage and clearance requirements are increasingly affecting mainstream designs; understanding and meeting them is a complicated, multifaceted process. Electrical, mechanical, and packaging designers who work with lower power rails of just a few tens of volts usually have few or no concerns about product safety with respect to stray voltage and user shock. Now, […]
FAQ
What are the key specifications of digital isolators? Part 2
Digital isolators have two primary functions, to provide isolation and to transmit information across the isolation barrier. Part one looked at the various specifications related to voltage and isolation performance. Part two details key specifications related to the transmission of information. Common‐mode transient immunity (CMTI) is one of three key specifications of digital isolators. The […]
What are the key specifications of digital isolators? Part 1
Digital isolators have two primary functions, to provide isolation and to transmit information across the isolation barrier. This first of two FAQs on digital isolator specifications looks at voltage and isolation specs. Part two details key specifications related to information transmission. Two basic voltage specs are: Working voltage (VIOWM) is the maximum rms, or corresponding […]
What is a capacitive digital isolator?
Capacitive digital isolators consist of two digital CMOS dies connected with a capacitive isolation barrier. The barrier provides galvanic isolation to meet safety regulations, reduce noise from ground loops, and connect interface communication boards or subcircuits that operate with different supply voltages. They are used in power converters and motor drives, electric vehicles (EVs), consumer […]
What’s a quantum sensor?
Quantum sensing is important in the control of quantum computers and in advanced sensor applications ranging from navigation to medical diagnosis. For a discussion of quantum control, check out the FAQ “What’s quantum control and how is it used?” This FAQ looks at how quantum sensing is used to measure various physical parameters and efforts […]
How many types of radar are there?
Radio detection and ranging (radar) uses reflected radio waves to detect and determine the distance, angle, and velocity of objects relative to the radar system. A basic radar system consists of a transmitter producing electromagnetic waves in the radio or microwave spectrum (these can be pulsed or continuous), a transmitting antenna, a receiving antenna (often […]
FAQ on Luneburg lens to increase radar signature: Part 3
The Luneburg lens is an extremely efficient reflector of radar energy based on advanced principles and fabrication techniques. The theoretical Luneburg lens requires a smooth, continuous gradient of the refractive index from the center to the outside. In practice, this is generally not a viable type of construction (but that is changing). Q: What is […]
Embedded digital-capacitor ICs enable antenna tuning
Femto/picofarad antenna-tuning ICs enable smartphones to work over several bands and scenarios, thus solving the challenging impedance-matching dilemma. One of the indicators of innovative engineering is to take an attribute that is normally considered to be a drawback and not only negate that characteristic but actually use it to advantage in another setting. Consider this…
When battery life rules, turn off 5G
The data is clear. My phone’s battery charge life looks better with 5G turned off.
FAQ on Luneburg lens to increase radar signature: Part 2
The Luneburg lens is an extremely efficient reflector of radar energy based on advanced principles and fabrication techniques. This section looks at the Luneburg lens, used to enhance radar visibility by increasing the RCS. Q: What is a Luneburg lens? A: There are several ways to describe it, both qualitatively and quantitatively. The Luneburg lens […]