Understanding Electrocardiograph (ECG) Measurements

By Don Tuite, May 10, 2012

A description of the electronics in an electrocardiograph and what signals they measure to produce the “leads” on an ECG strip chart or video display.

What’s The Difference Between Voltage-Feedback And Current-Feedback Op Amps?

By Don Tuite, May 07, 2012

Voltage-Feedback operational amplifiers (VFA op amps) allow circuit designers to swap gain for bandwidth. current-feedback op amps (CFAs) are simpler to use than VFAs, but do not offer gain-bandwidth tradeoffs, and have poorer slew rates.

Do LEDs Have A Dark Side?

By Don Tuite, April 17, 2012

Today’s LEDs for lighting applications promise uncertain lifetimes, flicker migraines, and the dreaded droop. But that doesn’t mean they’re too good to be true.

Understanding Amplifier Operating “Classes”

By Don Tuite, March 21, 2012

High-level review of amplifier classes for engineers ot techs whose education might have stopped at "Class C.". This will get you through Class-H.

What’s The Difference Between Reactive Power Factor And AC-DC Supply Power Factor?

By Don Tuite, March 19, 2012

Differences and similarities between traditional v x i cos(theta) PF and "harmonic" PF.

Understanding U.S. And European Standards For Electric-Vehicle Charging

By Don Tuite, March 05, 2012

Description of charging rates and the “control pilot” handshake used by SAE J1772 and IEC61851.

Understanding Noise Terms In Electronic Circuits

By Don Tuite, March 02, 2012

Get a high-level overview of the sources and impact of noise in electronic amplifiers.

How Three Companies Established Smart Grid Leadership

By Don Tuite, February 17, 2012

Analysis of how Bloom Energy, Silver Spring Networks, and Maxim Integrated Products took different paths to establish early footholds in distributed generation, system management/SCADA, and municipal lighting control.

Automotive ICs Keep Catastrophes At Bay

By Don Tuite, January 17, 2012

New Devices support Adaptive-Speed and Roll-over control, and fight power-bus surges

GaN And The Smart Grid Continue To Shape Power’s Future—Hopefully

By Don Tuite, December 27, 2011

Commercial 600-V GaN devices were promised in 2011, but didn't appear. They probably will in 2012. The clearest vision for the directions the Smart Grid will take after the fuss over smart meters dies down comes from Cisco.

Analog Chipmakers’ Announcements Signal Trends

By Don Tuite, December 27, 2011

An analysis of analog chipmakers’ 2011 product announcements reveals the ratio of “standard” to “complex, vertically targeted” new products.

Bob Adams: Navigating The Sigma-Delta Roadmap

By Don Tuite, December 01, 2011

Analog Devices’ Bob Adams is a pioneer in many aspects of professional audio and is recognized for his contributions to the art and science of sigma-delta converters.

Boost Charger IC Completes The Energy-Harvesting Puzzle

By Don Tuite, November 29, 2011

Description of TI's bq25504, a boost charger IC for nano-power energy harvesting and management, which was ED editor Don Tuite's choice for best power product of 2011.

This Year’s Best Analog Design Will Find You In The Dark

By Don Tuite, November 29, 2011

Description of Analog Devices ADIS16407 iSensor inertial measurement unit (IMU), which integrates a tri-axis gyroscope, tri-axis accelerometer, tri-axis magnetometer, and pressure sensor with associated signal conditioning, selected as "best" analog product for 2011.

Competing ECG AFEs Reveal Chipmakers’ New Business Paradigms

By Don Tuite, November 28, 2011

Analog Devices and Texas Instruments share the honors for "best" medical electronic product in 2011 with competing analog front ends for electrocardiographs.

As Linear Technology Turns 30, Electronic Design Interviews CTO and Co-Founder Robert Dobkin

By Don Tuite, November 15, 2011

Contrasts Mark Analog Design Tool Use

By Don Tuite, October 24, 2011

Comparison of chipmakers' on-line tools for analog circuit design with each other and with the kind of collaborative, intutitve design activities that create the chips themselves.

Design Disciplines

By Don Tuite, July 25, 2011

Integration, Evolving Markets Cast Analog Designers In New Roles

By Don Tuite, July 25, 2011

Responding to manufacturing's move to China, Semiconductor companies have increased their analog-engineering staffs in order to build and sell application-specific reference designs. Article is about why and how the evolution occurred, with examples.

Mixed-Signal Tools Evolve To Accelerate Complex Designs

By Don Tuite, June 23, 2011

Assessment of existing mixed-signal tools for engineers who are not themselves chip designers.