Transients are sudden high-frequency overvoltages that can destroy a chip. A silicon Transient Voltage Suppressor (TVS) is a circuit protection component that either attenuates (reduces) or filters a transient voltage spike (overvoltage), thus protecting your circuit. Another type of TVS diverts a voltage spike away from your circuit (also known as shunting, clamping, or bypassing.) […]
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Supercapacitor or ultracapacitor basics: What you need to know
A supercapacitor, also known as an ultracapacitor, is a high-capacity capacitor that possesses a lower energy density than batteries, but higher than conventional capacitors. In the race for longer smartphone life, batteries have not made as much progress in the capacity as semiconductors have made in power efficiency. However, semiconductors are fast approaching a point […]
A monopulse tracking system for satellite tracking
by Anil Pandey A tracking system in earth station antenna tracks the motion of the satellite. Especially in the case of Low-Earth-Orbit (LEO) satellites, that appears for the small time window to earth station antenna, it’s necessary to communicate with satellite effectively in that short duration of time and receive or download all necessary data, […]
Top analog threads on EDAboard.com – November
(editor’s note: Intrigued by the problem? Have a question or optional solution? Then click the “Read more” link and follow the conversation on EDAboard.com or log in to EDAboard and participate in the analog IC forum threads.) Loop gain greater than 0db – In a typical feed-forward operational amplifier or for that matter any other […]
Measuring the linear operating region of instrumentation amplifiers
by Peter Semig and Collin Wells, Texas Instruments There are numerous publications from the past two years that discuss the theoretical linear operating region of instrumentation amplifiers. The publications cover the three primary topologies of instrumentation amplifiers: three-op-amp,[1] twoop-amp,[2] and two-op-amp with gain stage,[3] which are shown in Figure 1. Each publication derives the node […]
Trade-offs in reducing noise with linear power supplies vs. switch mode power supplies
Some analog applications are very noise sensitive such as medical equipment, communications equipment, instrumentation, or test and measurement equipment. Elimination of all potential noise sources in a circuit may be necessary, including conducted, radiated, and thermal noise. One possible source of conducted noise can be found in the power supply bus. Eliminating this noise […]
Transimpedance amplifier role in current to voltage conversion
A transimpedance amplifier (TIA) converts current to voltage. Transimpedance amplifiers can be used to process the current output of photodiodes, pressure transducers, accelerometers, and other types of sensors to a voltage formatted as a useable signal output. TIAs provide simple linear signal processing using an operational amplifier and a resistor for dissipating current. Figure 1 […]
Ground rules: earth, chassis, and signal ground
In analog design, the relationship of a signal to ground is of fundamental concern (and can create issues in digital designs, too.) However, “ground” as a concept can be confusing as it relates to three different situations: chassis ground, signal ground, or earth ground. All three indicate connecting to a point of (theoretically) zero voltage, […]
What are the noisiest resistors?
Noise in circuits is always going to exist in one way or another. For those working with or designing electronics, noise can ride the working signal and can obscure small signals altogether. Barring any other sources of noise, if very low-level signals are important, you may want to look at your resistors. Resistors are inherently […]
Top analog threads on EDAboard.com – June
(editor’s note: Intrigued by the problem? Have a question or optional solution? Then click the “Read more” link and follow the conversation on EDAboard.com or log in to EDAboard and participate in the analog IC forum thread.) Query about VU meters – I bought one today and tried it just now I am probably using […]
