Bandwidth has an array of meanings, depending on the context. Often, but not always, the term is applicable to a situation where one frequency is superimposed on, mixed with, or modulates a different frequency. A simple and fundamental example is amplitude modulation and its close relatives, frequency and phase modulation. When speaking of a broadcast […]
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Wireless charging in vehicles — making the cables disappear
By Laird Technologies, Inc. According to a Mobility Report from Ericsson, there will be 6.1 billion smartphone users by 2020, or about 75% of the world’s population at that time. Today, it is estimated that there are 2.6 billion smartphone subscriptions globally. As a result, the mobile communications industry is moving faster than ever to […]
What are MRAMs?
MRAM, Magneto-Resistive Random Access Memory, is a type of non-volatile memory (NVM) capable of holding saved data even if the power is down or the power is accidentally cut off. MRAM — also called Magnetic RAM — is not new. It has been in the market for more than two decades, but there have been several […]
A magnetic diode? Yes, there is such a thing
A diode that conducts and blocks electrical current magnetically, rather than through an interface between two semiconductors, has been developed at the University of Missouri. The development comes from a group of physicists led by Deepak K. Singh, associate professor of physics and astronomy at the University of Missouri. The diode is comprised of a […]
Microwave/Millimeter Wave interconnects, Part 2: Connectors and cable assemblies
Part 1 of this FAQ look at the coaxial cables used in microwave/millimeter wave interconnects and cable assemblies. But a cable alone is only half a solution; the cable must be terminated with connectors. Often, the completed cable/interconnect assembly is also called a cable, but this is generally not an ambiguous situation (but it may […]
Wireless charging, Part 2: Implementation
Part 1 of this FAQ looked at the overall context of wireless charging of personal devices. This part looks in more detail at the approaches to wireless charging and the implementation specifics. Q: What approaches are available for wireless charging? A: There are three basic topologies: single-coil inductive, multi-coil inductive, and resonant. Q: What are […]
How to use oscilloscopes with integrated test instrumentation
Many manufacturers have in recent years have introduced oscilloscopes with integrated test instrumentation. This means that the smaller and lighter oscilloscope enclosure actually houses about five additional test instruments. An example is the Tektronix MDO3000 Series which includes a digital voltmeter, arbitrary function generator, spectrum analyzer, logic analyzer, and protocol analyzer. All this integrated test […]
Wireless charging, Part 1: Context
Wireless charging of devices is a hot and growing area. This FAQ explores the rationale and options for implementing this form of energy transfer, storage, and charging. Q: What is wireless charging? A: It consists of two functions which are closely linked. The first is the transmission of electricals power wirelessly from a transmitting source […]
On-chip RF transformers could shrink thanks to rolled-up membrane design
Researchers at the University of Illinois say they have devised more efficient RF transformers by depositing conductors on a membrane that, once complete, rolls up to create a high-turns-ratio transformer. The transformers consist of two sets of rolled-up coils deposited on some kind of SiNx material. Researchers say they’ve used the technique to realize up […]
Microwave/Millimeter Wave interconnects, Part 1: Coaxial cables
Cables, connectors, and interconnects (cable assemblies) are essential yet often underappreciated parts of a system design. Even though the popular meme is “everything is going wireless” thus eliminating the need for cable assemblies, the reality is that these assemblies are critical both within circuits at either end of a wireless link, or as the only […]