By Robert S. Villanucci, August 14, 2008
Measurement and process control loops often use 8-bit microcontrollers. The devices are inexpensive and widely available, and they can be programmed in many popular high-level languages—like C and Basic. However, if the loop requires a nonlinear
By Joseph Diecidue, May 08, 2008
Care must be exercised when you try to “quickly” charge a nickel-cadmium (NiCd) cell or battery pack at a current density that approaches or exceeds one-third of its capacity (C/3). As the battery becomes fully charged, the high charging curre
By Robert F. Coughlin, February 28, 2008
Adding “intelligence” to measurement systems has become commonplace because 8-bit microcontrollers are inexpensive and widely available, and they can be programmed in many of today’s popular higher-level languages (e.g., C and Basic). Often, t