Part 1 of this FAQ provided context and background on the PC board, and discussed its first widespread appearance as a phenolic-based board. Part 2 looks at some board issues and the widely used FR-4 PC board substrate. Q: I see the term “solder mask” — what is that? A: Solder mask (also called a […]
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Solving the end-of-life headache
by Edel Griffith, Adesto Technologies The technology business rarely stays still as new technologies emerge, and newer versions supersede older products. Semiconductor devices have been around for over half-a-century now, and the pace of technological change is, if anything, increasing. While this pace of innovation brings many benefits in terms of enhanced functionality and increased […]
Basic instrumentation for the electronics workbench
Engineers and technicians doing design, development, and testing have a wide range of instrumentation available for use on the test bench. So it might be useful to consider which instruments are considered the “basics” for the general case. Here are a few nominations along with the device properties that are generally considered “must-haves.” The unassuming […]
Isolation technology helping solar power connect to grid
by Rudye McGlothlin, Silicon Laboratories Although solar cells were invented some 60 years ago, solar technology is just now becoming a mainstay energy source for utility operators as they move to offload fossil fuels and incorporate more renewable energy sources. Despite a slowdown in 2018 after a reduction in solar feed-in tariffs in several countries, […]
How can you improve the next-generation IMU?
At Sensors Expo 2019, Lou Thaddeo, the Director of Business Development for Thales Visionix Inc. discusses how Visionix’s newest NavChip Series 3 inertial measurement unit (IMU) plays a critical role in helmet mounted displays for pilot head tracking and other applications. The 6-axis (3-axis accelerometer and 3-axis gyroscope) IMU implements enhanced performance over NavChip Series […]
Difference between linear amplitude and decibel amplitude
In the time domain, amplitude, the dependent variable, is shown in volts relative to the Y-axis. In an oscilloscope display, for example, we may see branch circuit voltage as 325 V peak-to-peak, but the meaningful figure is 115 to 120 V, depending on your distance from the transformer, wire size and loading. One hundred and […]
The first undersea transatlantic cable: An audacious project that (eventually) succeeded, Part 2
Part 1 of this feature looked at the people, project, and the vessels of the first trans-Atlantic cable project. Part 2 looks at the cable, test and repair, and implications of the final success. The cable Managing the cable and rolling it out smoothly with the proper tension so it would not snap with the […]
Printed Circuit Boards, Part 1: Context and phenolic boards
Despite appearances, there’s nothing simple about the materials or fabrication of the ubiquitous PC board, and the requirements of multi-GHz systems are increasing the performance demands placed on these boards. We take the standard, usually green, printed circuit board (PC board or PCB) for granted, but it has an interesting history, alternatives, and future. This […]
How to design a Peltier module system
Thermoelectric cooling, using a Peltier module, gives designers flexibility to cool objects to a precisely controlled temperature, even below the ambient temperature of the application if required. It is a great choice if forced-air cooling is not possible, and a thermoelectric device is typically smaller, lighter and more energy-efficient than cooling using a compressor and […]
Sensors and the future of food tech
Scientists and research engineers are developing technologies to boost food yield economically and efficiently in order to feed the world’s growing population. New ideas continue to emerge as the scientific community devotes time and energy in solving this problem. One futuristic approach involves creating an ideal environment for growing food in the air without soil, […]