Electro-optic sensors span a wide range of technologies, from various types of imaging devices to infrared (IR) detectors. They are used for various defense applications that enhance situational awareness, including intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR), search and rescue, threat detection and target identification, and protection against IR-guided missiles. Electro-optic and IR (EO/IR) sensors convert electromagnetic […]
FAQ
How will neurotechnology and sensing impact automotive: part 1
EEG sensing can improve driving safety.
How hardware-assisted verification (HAV) transforms EDA workflows
Many semiconductor companies rely on hardware-assisted verification (HAV) to optimize sophisticated monolithic system-on-chip (SoC) designs and chiplet architectures. HAV streamlines verification and validation by integrating emulation, field-programmable gate array (FPGA) prototyping, and virtual platforms. This approach enables design engineers to efficiently verify individual components and system-wide interactions while validating functionality at granular and system-wide levels. […]
FAQ on high-side vs. low-side load switching: part 1
The difference between high-side and low-side power switching is not apparent to many new designers, but it is a critical aspect of a viable circuit. Applying power (voltage and current) to a load and removing it using a mechanical or electronic switch is a requirement in most systems. Even if the system is powered on, […]
FAQ on high-side versus low-side load switching: part 2
The difference between high-side and low-side power switching is not apparent to many new designers but is a critical aspect of a viable circuit. Part 1 looked at the topology of high-side versus low-side arrangements; this part looks at switches and decisions in more detail. The switches Q: Is a high-side switch the same as […]
How to integrate theft-prevention tracking capabilities in IoT devices
Microcontrollers and wireless modules combine to add connectivity and theft-prevention features to IoT devices for automotive, industrial, medical, and smart-home use. Many original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) integrate theft-prevention tracking capabilities into their IoT devices. This article reviews key trade-offs and considerations for selecting wireless tracking technologies and highlights the crucial role microcontroller units (MCUs) play […]
How Amazon Sidewalk differs from Wi-Fi, cellular, and LoRaWAN networks
Amazon Sidewalk uses 900 MHz to send low-bitrate messages to IoT devices. It has a more extended range than Wi-Fi and requires no base stations. Amazon Sidewalk is a free community network that provides secure, reliable connectivity for smart IoT devices. This low-bandwidth, low-power network leverages sub-GHz frequencies to transmit small data packets over distances…
Parasitic extraction in EDA: what it is and why it matters
Parasitic extraction (PEX) in electronic design automation (EDA) calculates parasitic effects — such as capacitances, resistances, and inductance — within integrated circuits (ICs). Parasitics are introduced during the physical manufacturing process in semiconductor foundries, affecting both IC devices and their interconnects (Figure 1). This article explores the three primary categories of parasitic effects, compares field […]
How to calculate and apply an inverse FFT: part 2
In part 1 of this series, we looked at the formula for the inverse discrete Fourier transform and manually calculated the inverse transform for a four-point dataset. Then, we used Excel’s implementation of the inverse fast Fourier transform (IFFT) to verify our work. Could we try something more realistic? Sure. We can take a signal […]
FAQ on intrinsically safe systems: part 1
Potentially explosive hazardous environments demand intrinsically safe electronics. Most designers are familiar with ruggedness mandates regarding temperature, vibration, heavy use or abuse, and dirt/dust in the context of military, aerospace, automotive, and even some consumer products. However, there’s another special design mandate with which most are less familiar but is also very important: intrinsically safe […]