Analog design for integrated circuits (ICs) involves creating devices and systems that process continuous signals. Analog plays a crucial role in translating real-world information such as sound, light, and temperature into electrical signals and vice versa. This article discusses the primary differences between analog and digital ICs, reviews key analog applications, and explores common analog […]
FAQ
What are the important specifications of USB oscilloscopes: Part 2?
USB oscilloscopes can be highly useful design, development, and testing tools. Like many tools, they need to be optimized for specific use cases. This second FAQ looks at specifications for triggering, input ranges and probes, zooming, and control software. Part 1 considered specifications for the number and types of channels, bandwidth, sample rate, refresh rate, […]
What are the important specifications of USB oscilloscopes? part 1
USB oscilloscopes are compact and low-cost. If properly specified, they can be highly capable instruments. This FAQ reviews some important USB oscilloscope specifications including the number of channels, sample rate, bandwidth, refresh rate, and memory depth. Part 2 of this series considers specifications (available Sept. 8) for triggering, input ranges and probes, zooming, and control […]
Power sequencing — options and tradeoffs: part 2
Proper sequencing of the multiple power rails in a system is a critical function and can be accomplished using different approaches. For applications with many rails, complicated sequencing requirements may require many additional components. There are two paths to resolving this advanced sequencing challenge, both offering the needed capabilities. One is based on a user-programmed […]
Power sequencing — options and tradeoffs: part 1
Proper sequencing of the multiple power rails in a system is a critical function and can be accomplished using different approaches. Experienced designers know that one of the riskiest periods in a product’s operating cycle is when power is turned on. This power-up phase is when each of the multiple power rails must come up […]
What are the six microphone polar patterns used for?
Microphone polar patterns, sometimes called pickup patterns, define microphone sensitivity in different directions. The different polar patterns are used for controlling sound pickup and isolating the sound source, or sources, of primary interest from surrounding sources. There are six common microphone polar patterns: cardioid, supercardioid, hypercardioid, omnidirectional, lobar, and bidirectional. Polar patterns are represented by […]
Active baluns bridge the microwave and digital worlds
To achieve the datasheet performance of ultra-high-speed data converters, now clocking to 64 GS/sec, the handoff to and from the microwave domain must be near perfect. To preserve the data converters’ spurious-free dynamic range, a new category of component has been developed that converts between the differential and single-ended signal domains while amplifying and filtering out-of-band signals.
Las Vegas sphere 16K immersive LED technology
Inside the Sphere in Las Vegas is a 15,000 m2 (160,000 ft2, 4 acres) 16K resolution wraparound LED screen with over 170 million pixels. It’s 240 feet high and wraps around the audience to create fully immersive visual effects. The entire visual content generation and control system is completely redundant to ensure uninterrupted entertainment. This […]
Las Vegas Sphere spatial audio technology
The Sphere’s immersive spatial audio system is powered by 167,000 amplifier channels and sophisticated multilayer speaker arrays. This FAQ begins with a review of the amplifier technology, looks at the structure of the speaker arrays, and closes with the audio beamforming technology used to create spatial audio in the Sphere. The 167,000 channels of amplification […]
Las Vegas Sphere infrasonics, haptics, and 4D effects
The Sphere is all about entertainment. The entertainment incorporates numerous special effects, including infrasonics and haptics, to create 4D environments. In this case, “D” doesn’t refer to a physical dimension; it refers to additional sensory inputs beyond audio and visual. This FAQ reviews the use of moving magnet linear motors and class D drivers and […]