The embedded software or firmware is the brain of an embedded device. This type of software, however, works differently than conventional forms found on PCs or mobile devices — these are generic and work identically on such operating systems. PC software runs without directly accessing the underlying hardware. The purpose of embedded software works alternatively […]
FAQ
How RF measurements verify satellite links
Noise measurement, LO substitution, receiver stress testing, power measurement, CCDF and PAPR characterization, and antenna-pattern measurement play critical roles in link budget, bit-error rate, and SNR requirements. Low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite systems are being deployed for mission-critical use cases at an accelerating rate. This brings associated critical test requirements that, if not performed accurately, could…
Measurements verify power integrity
Engineers should measure and analyze power integrity on the power and ground planes of a board’s power distribution network. Understanding power integrity is crucial when evaluating circuit power quality because it has a direct influence on performance. Power integrity is a subset of signal integrity, whose assessment ensures that signals have suitable amplitude, rise time, […]
What is MicroPython?
MicroPython implements the Python 3 programming language for microcontrollers and microcomputers. It is a firmware solution designed to implement the high-level language features of Python into low-level hardware platforms. The firmware is optimized to run in constrained environments while allowing a small subset of Python 3 standard libraries into embedded programming. MicroPython firmware can run […]
How advanced control strategies and system architectures contribute to sustainability
Doing something the same way as in the past rarely produces improved results. Technology is constantly evolving and improving, and new technologies can require new approaches. In the case of the power electronic systems discussed below, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) are common themes in these advanced control strategies and system architectures. Another […]
FAQ on traction motors, part 3
Traction motors are optimized for locomotives, EVs, elevators, and other situations where high torque at start-up and low speed is needed. The final part of this article examines additional traction-motor issues. Q: What about physical size and associated issues in traction-motor applications? A: Inner-city urban light-rail vehicle (LRV) floors are typically low since the stops […]
The top computer vision tools for embedded systems
Computer vision is reaching new levels, far beyond basic image processing. This is thanks to the integration of artificial intelligence. AI now enables computers and systems to derive meaningful information from digital images that can be used in advanced industries. Currently, one of the most common applications is in security and surveillance. A computer vision […]
What is jitter and what can I do about it (part 1 of 2)?
Measuring and quantifying jitter are the first steps toward controlling it. Jitter is a measure of the timing performance of a digital data stream such as Ethernet, USB, PCIe, or HDMI. It defines when data transitions occur in relation to an ideal waveform. Excess jitter can lead to signal-integrity problems that result in high bit-error […]
FAQ on traction motors, part 2
Traction motors are optimized for locomotives, EVs, elevators, and other situations where high torque at start-up and low speed is needed. The previous part of this article established the context for traction motors. This part looks at traction motors in more detail. Q: What is the relative position of DC versus AC traction motors? A: […]
What are varactor or tuner diodes?
A varactor diode or varicap diode is a semiconductor diode that changes its junction capacitance significantly depending on the applied reverse bias voltage. Many semiconductor PN junction diodes are designed to exhibit specific electrical properties; the varactor diode or varicap diode is one such semiconductor — it is specifically designed to exhibit unique junction capacitance […]