It’s not enough to model and simulate circuit behavior – you also have to investigate the effects of component variations from their nominal values due to unavoidable tolerances. There’s a semi-serious quip that scientists can build one of anything – but just one; it takes engineers and production experts to build it again and again […]
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Optical links for spacecraft, Part 2: Projects and progress
Using laser-sourced light beams rather than wireless RF to link spacecraft with Earth offers the possibility of a significant increase in data rates. Still, there are significant technical challenges to the concept. The previous part of the article established the need for higher-speed data links to spacecraft and their missions and looked at some of […]
Optical links for spacecraft, Part 1: The throughput limitation
Using laser-sourced light beams rather than wireless RF to link spacecraft with Earth offers the possibility of a significant increase in data rates. Still, there are significant technical challenges to the concept. Scientists, engineers, and researchers communicating with spacecraft have a problem: there’s so much data coming from these spacecraft – and to send to […]
4 free PCB design tools every PCB engineer should use
by Ken Ghadia, Production Manager, TechnoTronix PCB manufacturing process is quite expensive and needs a diligent design tool to be used. There are several PCB designs tools available in the industry for free download. It’s always suggested to use the latest tools available in the market, and the free tool should be simple to use […]
The PC-board atomic clock, Part 3: The CSAC cesium physics cell
Atomic clocks have shrunk from room-sized assemblies down to PC-board mountable modules, admittedly with lower performance than their big siblings but still far better than crystal-based timing alternatives. Every engineer knows that developing a viable design and product is not just a matter of theorizing a design, identifying the constituent components, or building a single […]
The PC-board atomic clock, Part 2: The CSAC design
Atomic clocks have shrunk from room-sized assemblies down to PC-board mountable modules, admittedly with lower performance than their big siblings but still far better than crystal-based timing alternatives. Engineering is largely about tradeoffs and constraints, and atomic clocks are no exception to this situation. As these clocks are being designed into smaller packages through innovations, […]
A comprehensive guide to PCB prototype testing
By Arshon Technology For PCB prototype applications, one prerequisite is a must: reliable testing. These early products are built with the sole purpose of testing design ideas to ensure they work for approved use and sale. Be that as it may, PCBs can be unpredictable as there are many parts and patch associations. When electronic […]
The PC-board atomic clock, Part 1: Primary and secondary standards
Atomic clocks have shrunk from room-sized assemblies to PC-board mountable modules, admittedly with lower performance than their big siblings but still far better than crystal-based timing alternatives. Atomic clocks are based on the transitions of energy states of specific elements such as cesium, ytterbium, rubidium, and others under specific and tightly controlled conditions. They are […]
The practical magical first-order analog filter: Part 1
Finding the right analog filter to build a sensor circuit doesn’t have to be complicated. Understandably, the plethora of filter options can be overwhelming. Also, selecting a less-than-ideal filter may result in compromises, potentially increasing system cost, or affecting performance. To help simplify filter selection, this series of blogs explore key considerations when assessing your […]
An overview of filters and their parameters, Part 4: Time and phase issues
Understanding how filters are characterized is the first step in choosing an appropriate topology with suitable specifications. Thus far, we have focused on filters primarily in terms of their frequency response. However, it is equally legitimate to look at their time-domain and phase-related performance, and in many cases, just as or even more important. Q: […]
